by Honor James
“Well, we’re only about two hours away so convince the fur balls to bring you out at some point,” he said. “You can come for the weekend, we’ll do up a barbecue. Nowhere near as extravagant as this of course, but we can do a day on the lake with water skiing, or maybe just lounge on the boat soaking up the sun and then have some good old-fashioned home cooking. David does a mean rib, and his sauce is to die for, literally. You ever learn the secret ingredient you’re never heard from again.”
She snickered and shook her head, “I would, but I can’t swim and I’m terrified of water, so I think the whole water skiing thing and swimming thing will be out of the question. I would be more than happy to stay on the safe shore and watch you guys though.”
“Well then, you can sit in the Jacuzzi and drink margaritas while they all showboat for you,” Raymond told her. They came to a stop as a frazzled woman climbed out of the truck looking too pleased. “That’s Miranda, Mahon’s mother. Though she may ask you to call her Daffodil as it’s her name given by the moon goddess or some such crap,” he whispered in her ear. “The gent trying to do up his pants before getting out is his father, James. Can’t recall his otherworldly name but I’m sure one of them will tell you.”
Snickering, Goldie shook her head. “Right. I will keep that in mind.” She liked the comfort she felt around these people. It calmed her, made her feel at peace.
Ark handed Mahon’s mom a tissue and tapped his cheek with a grin not quite hidden. As she mopped her face and talked to Mahon, he turned and met Goldie’s gaze. Snickering, he moved a little ways away as he appeared to fight with his laughter.
“For the love of the God, mother,” Mahon said.
“Don’t be so tense, my boy,” she patted his arm with a happy grin. “Look at how relaxed your father is.”
Arkadios doubled over wheezing now as he tried to fight his laughter.
She began to snicker, holding her hand over her mouth and just giggled. Finally, she couldn’t help herself and her snickers became audible. When Mahon cast her a look, she was unable to stop herself from laughing aloud.
“This is not funny, Goldie,” he said turning back to his mother. “Dad is so damned relaxed, he hit the same tree again. Can you not come out here once without slamming into it?”
“Mother Earth will forgive us as she always does. We just got carried away in the heat of the moment is all,” his mother clicked her tongue. “You could do with some of the same I’m thinking, my son. You are much too tense. You should have your mate there deal with that.”
All eyes turned to Goldie. Many were filled with laughter, but a few held something else.
“Hey, don’t look at me. We relax quite often. I can’t help he’s wound as tightly as he is,” Goldie said before she could think twice about her words. She then felt her cheeks heat and added, “Well crap. See?” She shook her head. “Told you I just blurt out the first thing that pops into my head.”
Raymond was howling in laughter, no help there. Arkadios was on the ground wheezing for air he was laughing so hard, no help there. Torben had his back turned, shoulders hunched. Mighty suspicious, no help there either. Everyone else were either grinning, chuckling, or pretending to be looking at something else. All except Mahon who looked about ready to throttle someone. Likely his mother.
Goldie shook her head and moved to Mahon. Taking his hand with hers, she gave it a squeeze and smiled up at him. “Come on. While they are all pissing themselves laughing, how about you and I go inside and have a nice lovely drink and wait for them to come join us?”
He threw another look at his parents, made a sound of disgust, and nodded. “Good idea,” he said with a growl. Pressing a kiss to her temple, he wrapped an arm around her waist. He practically pushed her toward the front door. Mahon was walking quickly, but his arm around her waist kept her from stumbling at any point.
Goldie stopped Mahon when they were just inside of the home and cupped his cheek lovingly with her hand. “I love you, Mahon. How about you and I go up to the bedroom so you can kiss me in private?”
He let out a sigh that shook his whole frame. He rested his forehead to hers, his hands on her hips and after a long moment nodded. “I think that might be best,” he said softly. “I need a moment away from everyone after that.”
“I know you do, love,” Goldie told him and rubbed her hand up and down his arm as she guided him from the living room and toward their bedroom. When the door closed behind them, she turned and simply wrapped her arms around his middle, holding onto him to keep him close.
His arms folded around her and squeezed. “I adore my parents, but I swear,” he let out a growl. “I just don’t get them. And I hate feeling like I’m the one that’s the parent in these situations.” His nose brushed over her neck lightly as his arms loosened a little.
“They are in love.” Goldie didn’t even hesitate when she spoke, “That’s why they behave as they do. They are in love just as I love you. Just as we have a very hard time keeping our hands off each other. They don’t deny themselves. They give in and they take every single chance they can get to reaffirm their love. I think it’s actually sweet.”
Mahon’s head lifted and he stared down at her. “I don’t care they can’t keep their hands off one another. I care about the fact they do it while operating a vehicle. What if that hadn’t been the tree? What if it been you or Josie? That’s what I’m trying to make them see and they just fucking don’t.”
“Oh.” She hadn’t thought of that. “Have you actually said those words to them? That you don’t care they can’t keep their hands to themselves and so on? About the vehicle? It could be they simply don’t see it. They may simply not see there is an issue there?” Sometimes people get ‘tunnel vision’. She knew she could do that from time to time as well.
“Yes, I’ve said the words,” he growled. Mahon shut his eyes and seemed to be forcing himself to calm. “But all they see is the tree. It’s just a tree after all. Which given their stubbornness of sticking in the seventies I’m not fully getting. They seem to believe they could never hurt someone, anyone. I’ve tried to explain that while they may not intend to, should Josie or another dash out unexpectedly, they could very well kill that person. Which would be unforgivable.”
“It would. It would be bad. Maybe if we talked to them together? I think perhaps we need to stage an intervention for them and their ways. I don’t know how that would work or be received, but I will do anything to ensure you are not upset any longer.”
His eyes moved over her face and finally, he gave a nod. “Alright. Thank you, Goldie,” he said quietly. Leaning in, he pressed a kiss to her lips, his hands sliding over her back slowly. He nipped at her lip before drawing back. “We should likely get back to the party.”
“Actually I think you and I both need to get naked. Maybe a shower before we return to the party?” she offered with a grin. Goldie’s hands moved up and under his shirt, lightly she caressed him and waited, her eyes on his for his decision.
A flare of interest in his eyes had her hands moving higher. “They will wonder why it’s taking so long for us to come back down you do realize. All of them know I cool off really fast. So there’s no way you’d be taking so long to calm me.”
Goldie shrugged and grinned, “And I care why? I honestly don’t care they know what we are doing. You are mine and I am yours.”
“You are everything, Goldie.” He lifted a hand and used a finger to stroke her cheek. “You are amazing, strong, sweet, and yet have a nifty little vindictive streak.” Mahon smiled before he let out a long breath. “A shower would be good. Not having to go back down there would be better.”
“Then you and I need to have ourselves a shower. I do believe that would be a wonderful thing.” She bit her lower lip as she spoke. “I look forward to being naked with you.” Naked was a terrific thing, especially with her guy.
“You just want to get me naked,” he grinned. “I see your ploy now, sneaky female. But it is all righ
t by me.” He pushed on her hips slightly, moving her back as he stepped from the wall. “Get naked quickly, Goldie, or we’ll have to explain why you needed new clothing on top of the delay.”
Goldie’s hands moved to the clothes and she stripped as quickly as she possibly could. Licking her lips, she went to him when he was naked as well. Hands on his hips she tugged him closer, tilting her face up to him in need.
His mouth crashed onto hers, slotting together perfectly, his tongue sliding deep to duel with hers. The low growl he made vibrated through her at every point of contact with his body. Mahon slapped his hands to her ass, cupping and squeezing each globe in turn.
Lifting herself, using his shoulders and the wall of the shower, she hooked her legs around his hips and rubbed against him. When she released his lips, she was panting. She pressed her forehead to his. “Mahon, please,” she begged.
He lifted her up and pressed his cock to her, “Take me in,” he demanded. He kissed her again, his teeth nipping at her lip gently. His mouth moved along her cheek, then lower, to her neck and shoulder.
Adjusting herself on him, Goldie slowly moved over him and then took him deep inside of her pussy. Leaning back, she adjusted herself so she could move up and then back down once more on him. Tilting her head to the side, she gave him full access to her neck and waited.
Sharper teeth scraped over her skin, his growl filling the shower stall. Mahon’s hands moved to her hips, thrusting into her slowly as she met him. “Perfection,” he whispered quietly against her skin. His teeth skating a path to her mating mark, the one he’d left previously, and he nipped.
She cried out in pleasure from the bite, no other word for the sob that came from her throat. “Mahon!” his name came out in a shout and moan combination. “There. God right there.” She squeezed him with her inner muscles, her pussy milking him with intense need and happiness.
He thrust into her harder, faster. The slap of their flesh meeting loudly, though nearly drowned out by his growls. “Mine,” he snarled and bit her harder. His teeth holding her down as his cock slammed up and into her.
“Always.” Her nails scraped over his shoulders and back. The water cascading over and around them made her pleasure even stronger, more intense. She rode with the moment, rode him as well, and loved every single moment of it.
One thrust, another and then, complete bliss. Her name from his lips was a moan. He held her down over him as his body shook with his release. Mahon didn’t let her shoulders go, and his fingers dug a little harder into her hips.
She didn’t release him; if anything she held him even tighter. Shivering, she rubbed her cheek to his neck and rumbled in her happiness and joy. “Hell yeah,” she moaned against his neck.
Mahon’s tongue slid over her neck lightly. “If we didn’t have people downstairs who would invade our privacy, I’d suggest another round. But since they will, cheerfully and with cameras, I think we should clean up and head down.”
“Damn, that’s too bad,” she mumbled and shivered. “My nerves are wound so tightly from the expectation of meeting all of your families,” she whispered honestly.
“Most of them are fairly normal. Just my family is a little weird unfortunately.” Mahon let out a sigh and straightened up slightly. “I should warn you there will likely be photos. A lot of photos. My mother tends to travel with every photo album she owns and whips them out at the most inopportune and inappropriate moments. Be warned also, there will be naked photos of the parents in there. Try not to look until she starts telling you about the photo. It’s the only way to save you from permanent scarring.”
“Oh my.” She licked her lips and dropped her head on his shoulder. “Well then,” she sighed. “I will trust you to help keep me from being scarred and never being able to look at your parents again. Please?”
“I will do my best, Goldie, but she will separate you from the pack, corner you, and whip them out. I don’t even know where she hides them, but she always has them on her, at least the most embarrassing among them all.”
She laughed at that and shook her head. “Well just keep hold of me so she can’t steal me away,” Goldie’s tone was teasing and light. “Come on, big boy. Let’s do what we need to do so we can get through this day. Okay?”
Nodding, he set her down on her feet. Reaching around, he drew his hand back with the soap in it. “Wash up and then we’ll go downstairs. Quick though or I’ll say to hell with it. I’ll lock and barricade the door, and we’ll just stay here until they all leave.”
Goldie couldn’t help but laugh at that one and shake her head. “Oh honey, we both know your niece wouldn’t let us stay here for too long.” Sad but true. “So we should get out just so we can do what we need to do and get through this night. As soon as they all leave, I say we come back up here and have some more fun. Deal?”
“Arkadios’s niece,” he said looking at her. “Not mine. I’m just an honorary uncle like Torben is until someone’s about to get in shit for getting her hyped up on sugar before returning her to her parents. Then it’s all Ark.”
“Right, see and that is why she wouldn’t let us be stuck in here all night. Besides, I really do want to meet your parents. I want to know the families of the men I love. So let's get ourselves out of here shall we?”
Taking the soap from her, he muttered nasty things mostly under his breath. “You just live to torture me don’t you? That’s all right, I will remember this later.” He stepped under the water before easing back and scrubbing quickly. One more dunk and then he turned the water off. “Out, female. We apparently have annoying people to go and entertain for the next however many hours until this hell is over.”
“I love you too, big boy,” Goldie called out and stepped out of the shower. Grabbing her towel, she began to dry off, turning and watching Mahon as she did so. “Are you going to be okay, honey? Really, are you okay?”
He gave a shrug as he began to dry, his body still tense. “I sometimes wonder why I was the one to get the irresponsible parents. As a kid, it had its good moments. They’d let us do anything just so we’d experience it. But really, isn’t a parent supposed to stop you from doing stupid shit? To teach you why it’s dumb and not let you nearly kill yourself and your friends at nearly every turn?” He let out a sigh, “I just wish they belonged to someone else now more than not. Does that make me a horrible son?”
“No, honey, it doesn’t make you a horrible son. It makes you one that doesn’t understand his parents, but I think that is every child honestly. We all struggle to learn them, at least the people I’ve talked to have always done that. Just love them, honey. That’s all I can suggest.”
“I do love them but,” he tossed the towel over the shower door. “I don’t know. They frustrate the shit out of me. They just don’t seem to see the world the same way. A prime example is their grand entrance. I’ve tried every way I could to get them to see they could kill someone, but they just keep saying they’d never do that. It’s like we’re from two different planets at opposite ends of the universe.”
“I don’t know what to tell you, honey, I really don’t. As much as I hate to say it, maybe something needs to happen. Maybe somehow, put a ‘faux accident’ into play somehow? Place a dead animal under their vehicle or on the bumper. I know how tacky and terrible that sounds but if it helps, it’s worth it, right?”
“Won’t work. They’ll just do some sort of ceremony to speed its soul to the next world. I know these crazy people, Goldie. Unfortunately, until they kill a person, I don’t think they’ll ever truly get it. Sadly, I have tried absolutely everything in my power. I even took their keys and spark plugs from the vehicles and they just continue happily on.”
“Goodness. I don't know then, honey. I pray that never happens because something tells me your parents would never live it down. Taking a life that is. I just,” she shrugged, “I just want to be accepted and fit in.”
“I know,” he said, running his hands through his damp hair. “Enough of
this. We need to get dressed and back downstairs. I’m not going to cure my parents of their idiocy tonight, or anytime soon from what I know of them.”
“All we can do is simply live and let live, honey. We will figure it all out somehow and someway. I just hope that you are right and no one truly gets hurt.” She didn’t think his parents, or him, would live through it if they hurt someone.
“Ditto,” he said and smiled. “Come on, let’s get dressed again. Then I need a drink, a very large, very strong drink. And space from my parents. Hopefully everyone else is here and out on the deck. It’ll give me a few more minutes to ensure I’ve got my mood under control.”
“And if you need, you can always turn to me. I’m more than willing to give you someone to lean on anytime and anywhere, Mahon, you do know that right? You can turn to me at anytime at all.”
“I know, Goldie,” he smiled slightly. Reaching out, he caught her hand and tugged her toward him. “I also know Torben and Arkadios are there for me too. We’re a unit. A team, I do understand that. Sometimes though I will want to just hide out for a while.”
She smiled and nodded, “Just keep in mind when you hide out from me I will track your sexy ass down, and make you do all kinds of wonderful things to me to make it up. That or I might spank you,” she tossed out.
“So I’m not allowed to hide out? Ever?” he asked. “I only ask because sometimes it’s just better to let me chill for a while. Not too long, I don’t want to stew or whatever. But a little bit of time is usually good. Even Torben and Ark know that.”
“As long as you tell me and don’t just disappear, we will be good. I just don’t want to lose you, Mahon. Even if it’s a mental retreat from me, I don’t want to lose you. I happen to love you too stinking much.”