Blown Away

by L. J. Vickery

  Sal had been hot for her from the get-go, and how she’d talked her way out of his bed time and time again had been a feat of magic. He’d shown a lot of patience when she’d been his employee. She was sure he wouldn’t allow her the same courtesy now.

  The question remained: how long would he fuck with her before he slit her throat and dumped her into the sea? And would he be pleased or pissed when he found out she was a virgin? If she got lucky, it would prolong the amount of time he wanted to play. And, in that case, she’d have her ass rescued, but its’ innocence―and her not-long-for-this-world hymen―would be long gone.

  Candy swallowed definite regrets. Why couldn’t she have dropped her guard a few days ago and let Enlil fuck her? Yeah, he was an arrogant prick, but at least he would have treated her right. Who knows what Sal had in mind? The thought of his skanky dick did nothing to help her relax. She looked around the room for possible weapons, and noticed none. Even her boots were gone. Unless she could use sheets as garrotes, she was fucked…literally.

  Her stomach rumbled, reminding her it was well past breakfast, and Candy became aware of footsteps outside her door. She repositioned herself to vertical, up against the wall by the foot of the bed. No way would anyone take her down without a huge struggle.

  Candy let out a breath when Sal’s right-hand man, Gustavo―or Stave as he was known―walked through the door. He had a covered tray in one hand, and no visible weapons. Candy wondered whether the platter held food or torture devices. The odds were fifty-fifty.

  “Good morning, Candy,” he said levelly.

  “Stave,” Candy acknowledged, keeping her head lowered. Possibly she could head-butt him if he approached aggressively. But no, Stave walked slowly into the room.

  She’d always liked this guy. He had seemed decent for a perp up to his ass in drugs. He gently put the tray down on a small table and removed the covering. Hmm. Eggs. And toast. Candy’s mouth watered. Food was good.

  “No silverware,” he stated calmly. “I assume you’d try to make a weapon out of anything.”

  Candy snorted. She noticed the tray was cardboard and the plate paper. They took no chances.

  He indicated she should have a seat on the bed to eat, then took the only other chair in the room, which was attached to the wall.

  “You know Sal is not happy with you, Candy.”

  Under lowered lashes, she noticed he looked at her with something akin to disappointment in his face. “He was very good to you…very patient,” he chastised. “And you played him for a fool.”

  Candy sat down and ate the food with her fingers. As much as it had gone cold and tasted like crap, she needed to keep up her strength. “I did my job, just like he did his,” she said between mouthfuls. “Difference is, I happened to do mine better.” She looked up at him fully for the first time, and saw his mouth tighten.

  “Huh,” he grunted. “The guys did a nice number on you, didn’t they?” He didn’t look happy about it. But then, for his enormous size and bluster, Stave had always seemed soft hearted.

  “I hope I did some damage back.” She nibbled at the rubbery toast with her teeth, and was surprised to hear Stave chuckle.

  “Niko has a broken hand, and Anatol has a shiner to match yours. A few others sustained minor injuries.” He relinquished that small bit of information and got Candy’s crooked smile in return.

  “Good,” she said, then took a swig of slightly acidic orange juice and dared to ask. “So now what?”

  “Well, I don’t know if you keep tabs on your cases after the busts are complete, but Sal is under house arrest in his hotel suite back in LA, which is why he can’t be here in person just yet.” Stave regarded Candy closely. “But his lawyer is telling him he’ll be off his monitor by the end of this week, which is in two more days.”

  If he hoped for panic, Candy didn’t give him the satisfaction. “Don’t tell me,” she spoke around her eggs. “He wants everything from me I wouldn’t give him before, am I right?”

  Stave nodded, then added darkly, “Everything and more.” He huffed. “Sal would have treated you like a queen before. You would have wanted for nothing. Now, he’ll use you up and spit you out.” Stave had obviously seen Sal do his thing before.

  “It’s what I figured,” Candy said agreeably. She was elated, doing mental high fives because her people would surely find her before Friday.

  “The problem is…” Stave slowly rose to his feet with purpose. The toast suddenly became dry in Candy’s mouth. “He doesn’t want you to feel neglected before he gets here.”

  “So?” Candy did not want to know.

  “So he told me to take care of you in the meantime, and share you with the rest of the boys.” Stave loosened his belt and eased it slowly through the loops.

  Shit. A twist that Candy hadn’t expected. She took a big gulp of juice to dislodge the food caught in her throat. She looked in horror where the front of Stave’s pants swelled slightly in anticipation.

  “You can’t.” She sputtered. “You won’t.” Holy crap. Candy guessed that now would be a good time to find out if Sal would welcome an untapped pussy. If she could make Stave believe her.

  “Take off your clothes, Candy.” Stave sighed. “I’m not happy about this, believe me. But I’ll make it really easy if you don’t fight.”

  The funny thing? Stave would. She knew he wouldn’t be a rutting pig. Hell, he’d probably be a damned gentleman about it, and that would have been well and fine, if she’d been experienced at sex.

  She pondered her predicament for a long moment. If things didn’t work out, and she didn’t get rescued, having Stave be her first would be extremely unpleasant, but a hell of a lot easier than what Sal would do. Should she reconcile herself to the situation and let Stave have at her first? Or divert him with the truth of her virginity, and hope for a quick rescue, saving her goodies for Enlil. Door number two, please.

  “Actually, Stave, I think not. I’m willing to bet your boss wouldn’t like ruined goods.” Candy crossed her arms over her chest and refused to move.

  His pants were open now, and she got a look at the tighty-whitey’s just inside. She hoped that’s all she would see.

  “What are you talking about, Candy?” Stave’s eyes narrowed.

  “I’m a virgin, Stave.”

  His face filled with incredulity. “Yeah, and I’m Peter Pan,” he barked on a single laugh. “Now strip down like a good girl, and let’s get this out of the way.” He grabbed for her and she quickly backed away.

  “I’m telling the truth.” Candy looked him straight in the eye and put the force of her will behind it. “Nobody’s ever touched me before, which is why I wouldn’t let Sal have me.”

  Stave drew back, clearly wondering if Candy told the truth. She held still while he weighed the possibilities. Awareness swept over his face that―if she told the truth―Sal would not want to be deprived of such a prize. And by the small―only semi-interested tent in Stave’s pants―the guy hadn’t really been looking forward to fucking her anyway. He shook his head and pretty much told her so.

  “Shit, Candy, as much as I like you, you’re not my type,” he groused. “I like my women soft and pliant. I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt, and put this to Sal.” Stave took a phone from his pocket and zipped up his fly. “Give me a minute.” He didn’t yet put his belt back on, but Candy figured she’d gained ground. He dialed the phone.

  “Sal, Stave here. Yeah, I was just about to do what you asked, when Candy hit me with a showstopper.” A sharp bark emitted from the other end that Candy picked up from across the room.

  “I know, but this is one you’ve got to hear. She says she’s still a virgin, boss.” Now a virtual tirade of words spewing out of the small ear piece. Stave waited patiently. “No. I guess the new guy didn’t get a piece of her either.” More yelling from the other end. “I don’t know whether to believe her. What do you want me to do? She seems serious.”

  Silence descended, and Stave ey
ed her speculatively. “Right. Uh-huh. Okay. I’ll tell her.” He looked at Candy, who only allowed curiosity to show on her face.

  “Sal says if he finds out you’re not a virgin, when he…well, you know.” Stave seemed reluctant to say the word “fuck” even though he’d been primed for the deed a few minutes ago. “That he’ll cut your nipples off and keep them for souvenirs before he, uh, takes advantage of every one of your orifices.”

  “Seems a bit radical.” Candy nearly crowed because her nipples were safe. “But you can tell him I’ll take that deal.”

  Stave conferred with Sal a little more, relaying Candy’s words, and his demeanor slowly changed. He picked his belt up and threaded it back through the loops while cradling the phone to his ear.

  “Sal says if you’re really a virgin, he understands and almost forgives you for not letting him in your pussy before. If you prove true, he’ll keep you captive for as long as you make him happy.”

  Candy had all she could do not to laugh. Just what she wanted; she’d be Princess Leia to Sal’s Jabba the Hutt. It didn’t get much better than that, but that outcome wasn’t her planned endgame. Nope. She only had to keep everyone on this ship appeased until her boys could come get her out. She polished off the last of the cold eggs.

  “Tell Sal I’d be honored,” Candy said with a straight face. Then she told the God’s honest truth. “I’ll be counting the hours until Friday.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  So, who’s the lucky god? Ishkur’s voice penetrated Enlil’s head. The spring rain immortal had just let the other gods know he had Charlie and Maitlynn out front, and that―a few minutes before―they had driven into the compound, passing the one-hundred-yard perimeter.

  That explained Absu’s embodiment.

  Well, fuck. It’s not me. Shamash’s voice let Ishkur know. It seems Absu is the fortunate one.

  Ishkur let out a groan. Shit. It had to be Absu? Man. This is going to be completely fucked up. Then Ishkur laughed. Actually, now that I think about it, I can’t wait to watch this match-up play out.

  Enlil and the other gods didn’t ask Ishkur what he meant. Instead, they let the god keep talking.

  So, here’s the story in a nutshell. Ishkur grabbed everyone’s attention away from Absu, who roused from the floor with a groan.

  Ishkur sounded pleased with himself. As a surprise highlight during my trip to LA, Dunsky’s sister Charlie made me corporeal. But in a protective, family kind of way. Not in a lustful manner.

  Then she got herself into some hot water, and I had no choice but to bring her here to the Blue Hills to protect her. He paused. And to see whose Chosen she is. I’m shocked and amused to find out Absu is the next victim. He’s not my first choice for Charlie, but the fates do mess with us.

  Anyway, she has no idea that we’re gods. She thinks we’re a group like the DEA, and I figure it should be up to Absu to tell her differently. Fill Dunsky and the other humans in before we get to the door. We don’t want them to blow our immortalism. I’m currently stopping the rental on the front drive. See you in a couple.

  “Okay, we have a situation,” Marduk addressed the room. “For you humans who didn’t hear the news. Dunsky’s sister is out on the front steps. And Ishkur is her…uh…his, umm… Cripes, I don’t know how else to say this, Ken. Ishkur is your ancestor and Charlie made him corporeal. It looks like Absu is her intended mate.”

  “Shit.” Dunsky sat back, stunned, and already seemingly in shock from seeing an embodied Absu pass out on the floor. “I should have figured something was up. With you guys teasing, I knew Absu’s had that weird fixation on me for the past few weeks. But it’s because he’s my sister’s fucking destiny?” Dunsky groaned.

  “Be quiet and listen,” Marduk continued, looking around to the gods. “Ishkur hasn’t told her we’re immortals, and until we find a gentle way to fill your sister in, there will be no poofing in and out.” He eyeballed the unmated, invisible gods who had a different capability. “Nor will there be any acquiring and un-acquiring. Everything is to be done human style. Do I make myself clear?”

  Marduk didn’t get his answer, because at that moment the front door opened and footsteps made their way toward the banquet hall. Dunsky’s eyes glued to the door.

  Every physical being immediately rose to their feet when Charlie came in, her arms full of baby. Absu, who now stood next to Ken, had recovered but looked pale.

  “She has a child,” the proper god whispered, more to himself than to anyone else in the room, but Enlil heard him.

  “I am to be a father right away.” Absu’s hand shook as he put down the sponge he’d continued to clutch.

  “And you better be a good one, asshole,” Dunsky growled, so low that only Enlil and the other gods heard him. “Or I’ll beat you senseless now that you have a body.”

  “I will make you that vow.” Absu straightened and ran a hand through his black, shoulder-length hair, his eyes traveling back and forth between woman and child.

  Charlie, clearly unaware of the scrutiny from her brother’s new―supposed―coworkers, gave up a straining Maitlynn into Ishkur’s ready arms and ran to her brother for a hug.

  “Hey, big brother.” She smiled and her long, soft blonde hair, the color of summer wheat surrounded the two of them like a cloud as she sank into his arms. Enlil observed as several strands stuck to Absu’s sleeve in passing, and it looked like the god reverently touched the silken strands before they wisped away. Ah, Absu was already completely screwed

  “Will you introduce me and Maity to your friends?” she continued.

  Maity was already down, having squiggled out of Ishkur’s arms, headed back toward her mother. Charlie laughed at the determined little girl and held out her arms. “You couldn’t stay put for one minute?”

  She looked greatly surprised when Maity stopped short of her and gazed up at tall, dark Absu standing at Ken’s side. Enlil waited to see how this would play out.

  “Da,” she squealed, raising her arms. “Up.” The chortle echoed loudly in the quiet room.

  Absu bent, clearly not knowing what to do, but Maitlynn solved the problem for him by wrapping her plump little arms around his neck and demanding again. “Up.”

  It was all Enlil could do to stifle his sympathetic laughter.

  “I willingly oblige, sweet child.” The god scooped her aloft and held her back from his face. The two took a good long look at each other. Wide, bright blue eyes met the sea green of Absu’s, then Maity reached out to touch the proper god’s darkly hued, café au lait skin.

  “Pitty,” she said, and Charlie looked from her daughter to Absu, whose eyes traveled from daughter to mother.

  “That’s a first for Maitlynn.” A dimple showed in Charlie’s cheek. “I think she just called you pretty.”

  And if Enlil wasn’t mistaken, it looked like Dunsky’s sister had difficulty looking away from the man who held her daughter

  “This is Absu.” Dunsky broke the tension by making the introduction.

  “Nice to meet you, Absu,” Charlie said softly, extending her hand.

  “The pleasure is completely mine. Of that you can be sure.” Absu bent and kissed her knuckles briefly, hefting Maity closer while he did so. Clearly unable to tear his eyes from Charlie, he emerged from his trance only when the little girl tugged at his hair.

  “Da?” she spouted, like she asked a question, and Enlil wondered how Absu would respond. He was saved by Ishkur’s intervention.

  “She calls me that too,” the gray-haired god admitted. “So don’t take it personally.”

  Dunsky cleared his throat again, turning his sister to the room. “Charlie, I’d like to introduce you to the rest of my East Coast workmates. Not that you’ll remember every name right away, but we’ll get started. At the head of the table,” He pointed to the thunder god, “is Marduk, and the very pregnant woman at his side is his wife, Tess. Next, we have Anshar and Lenore, then Dagon and Holly, who is Tess’s twin sister, and the newlywed
couple over there is Enten and Glory.”

  Dunsky introduced at lightning speed, and Enlil could see Charlie’s head spinning. But she’d eventually get it.

  “There’s Tess and Holly’s brother Huxley with his wife Dani. She’s our resident doctor, and the man next to them is the trio’s father, Greg Abelard.” Ken kept on. “Angie and Addie May are Lenore’s mother and grandmother, and Kate is Glory’s mom. Lahar is the one with his mouth hanging open in the corner, and Enlil is the grumpy one at the end of the table.”

  Enlil gave a scowl. He knew why he was grumpy. In light of the new arrivals, and in order not to be rude, he needed to give up his plans for traveling to LA tonight. He brought his reluctant attention back to Dunsky.

  “I think that’s it.”

  That was all Ken needed to say, because the invisibles, though lurking, had to be completely left out of this one.

  Apparently, Maity had different ideas. Over Absu’s strong shoulder, she peaked from under her mop of blonde curls to wave at Emesh, who tentatively waved back and got a three-toothed smile for his efforts.

  Oh my gods. She sees me. Emesh gushed, and drew Dumuzi up from the chair next to him, pointing a finger for Maity to follow. Do you see him too?

  “Guys,” the baby squealed, much to the evident delight of her beaming mother.

  “Wow. That’s another first word.” She grinned. “You guys must have some kind of magic going on.”

  Oh, if only she knew, thought Enlil.

  Before anyone could answer Charlie, Maity sent out another stunner. Hi. She spoke to them in their heads and waved her hand again.

  Enlil was stunned, but Emesh seemed elated to be recognized and addressed.

  Maitlynn, you little doll. Emesh laughed happily. You speak god.

  Rod, she answered, gurgling at her accomplishment.

  Dunsky looked like he’d figured out what was going on, and desperately tried to ignore it, because giving it credence would clearly send him right over the edge, and that wouldn’t do his oblivious sister any good at all. He coughed. “Can we get you some food, Charlie, or would you care to freshen up?” he asked solicitously.