by Alice Sweet
He feigned a pain in his side as one of them began caressing his neck and another his side, cooing and coddling him as they left the alley. The last one offering, “I still have that nurse’s outfit….”
***
Autumn landed in front of the only pub in the next town, closing her eyes and felt Flanagan, though she could not hear his voice. She smiled and calmed herself looking at her reflection in the shiny metal placard bolted to the side of the building. It took her nearly two minutes. Then she pushed open the door and saw Flanagan drinking at the bar alone looking miserable.
Autumn sat down next to him asking, “Why do you look so glum?”
Flanagan turned towards her instantly overjoyed, “Where did you go off to love?”
She smiled warmly, “I had to go get cleaned up and relieve some stress by torturing Galen a bit first.” Flanagan raised his eye brow and Autumn waved it off instructing, “Buy me a drink. I still need to blow off some steam. I am in desperate need of some fun in my life.”
Flanagan grinned, “Fun I can do lass.” Autumn smiled brightly and giggled. Then he ordered for her, “A bottle of rum for the wee darlin’.” Autumn smiled brightly, while Flanagan began by filling her head with stories of challenges in the past. Then they bar hopped following the night until they looped back to the island around two a.m. the following day.
They washed up on shore three sheets to the wind, soaking wet and singing Irish pub songs by then. Autumn smiled brightly as the guards who watched them approaching announced their arrival over their radios. Then they watched them passing by and one of the perimeter guards said to the others, “Go tell Travis.”
She stopped almost stumbling, “Travis? Where is he at?”
“The main guard house on the south end, Madame.”
She smiled a crooked smile, “Hey I want to stop by and see Travis before I head up to bed.”
He smiled just as crooked and slurred, “Sure let’s go.”
She slurred back patting Flanagan on the back, “Yeah let’s go.”
The other guard stepped in front of the inebriated pair and said, “Madame Travis has been forbidden to speak to you.”
Autumn and Flanagan frowned together, “What?”
The guard reported, “Ivan has forbid Travis from communicating with you.”
She huffed, “Ivan.” Then she turned to Flanagan, “I’ll visit Travis tomorrow, after I kill Ivan.”
Flanagan slurred, “Good plan.” Then the pair stumbled and bumped their way towards the castle again. By the time they reached it, the two of them were hanging all over each other, struggling to remain standing.
As they entered the courtyard, they began singing loudly again and laughing at their shoddy attempts at remembering the words. Drake was standing in the door way leaning against the door jam his arms crossed. Autumn smiled happily, “Hey you, what are you up to?”
Drake grinned, “Waiting for you.”
Autumn smiled and then gave him a hug, and grabbed her head, “Whoa my head is really spinning.”
Drake smiled at her and gave Flanagan a dirty look over her shoulder, “A two day drinking binge will do that to you.”
Autumn felt Drake’s chest flaring and she frowned, “Are you angry?” Drake’s eyes flew back to Autumn as she pushed her hands up his chest. “Why are you flaring so hard then?”
Flanagan smiled brightly, “I think you mean high?”
She smiled flirtatiously, “No I meant hot.”
Then she looked up at Drake and smiled, “There are a lot of stairs in this place.”
Flanagan smiled at Drake deviously and then offered, “I can carry you.”
Autumn pouted then, “Nah, your just as sloshed as I am. You’ll drop me between here and there.”
Flanagan rebutted, “You drank nearly four times more than I did.”
Autumn smiled, “I am way stronger than you are.” She smiled again and looked up at Drake Dazed looking. He opened his mouth breathing through it again.
Autumn slapped her hand to her mouth and said, “Sorry I must reek of alcohol.” Then she pushed off unable to concentrate, “I am tired.” Then she turned stumbling off towards the stairs.
Flanagan tried to push past Drake to catch up with her but Drake hit him in the chest sending him flying while she was distracted. Then he closed the door and locked it behind him and followed Autumn up the stairs. He walked next to her up the first flight and then she stumbled and he scooped her up, and she smiled, “Thank you Drake.”
“No problem.”
Autumn rested her head on his shoulder and asked finally, “Where did Flanagan go?”
“He took a short cut to the west wing.”
Autumn nodded and mumbled, “Figures he would cheat,” then she put her hand to her head again, “Where is my room?”
He answered, “Not far.” Autumn began to doze off just as they reached her room. Drake opened the door and strode across the room quickly laying her down.
She murmured, “I am cold.” Then he crossed the room and lit a roaring fire with his hand. The room warmed slowly, as Drake watched the flames for a while.
Autumn began pulling her clothes off irritably, and slid under the covers. While Drake avoided looking at her once more, he asked, “Do you want me to go and get Ivan for you?”
She frowned, “No. I do not want to see him right now.”
Drake nodded solemnly, “Do you need anything else?”
Autumn frowned, “No but I do not think that I will sleep well, unless I feel safe. Will you stay with me tonight?”
He turned towards her, “I do not think Ivan would be pleased if I did.”
She nodded, “But I would.”
Drake nodded and took off his over coat. Then he threw it over the chair behind him and sat taking his shoes off slowly still watching the flames. Autumn smiled and patted the bed next to her. Drake walked over and sat on the edge of the bed not looking at her. Then she murmured, “Lay down.” Drake did and Autumn smiled adding, “Can you wake me up an hour or so before dawn?”
Drake answered, “Yes”
Autumn whispered, “Thank you.” Then she drifted off to sleep.
***
Ivan paced back and forth the in the hall in front of Flanagan’s door. Flanagan stumbled up the final set of stairs and saw Ivan waiting in front of his room. He looked back down the empty stair case behind him debating a run. Ivan was instantly in front of him. His eyes were cool and calm, “Where is Autumn?”
Flanagan knew better than to trust the act though and his eyes widened, “She went to bed.”
Ivan narrowed his gaze, “Where were you?”
Flanagan answered seriously, “We went to the pub.”
He snapped, “You were not at that pub, nor any other for miles.”
Flanagan corrected himself slurring, “We went to a few Irish pubs that I know of.”
Ivan snapped, “Then?”
He teetered, “Then we came back.”
Ivan nearly growled, “That was two days ago.”
Flanagan hiccupped, scratching his chest, “She can really drink.”
Ivan slammed him into the wall, and then looked down at his chest, “What happened to your chest?”
Flanagan answered angrily, “It is not what you think. Drake met us at the door. He was angry with me for getting her drunk; the wanker hit me in the chest and locked me out. I had to go half way around the building before I found an open door.”
Ivan huffed, “Then?”
Flanagan shrugged, “He took her to her room, I imagine.” Flanagan blinked and Ivan was gone, then he hummed a dark tune and said to himself smiling deviously, “Drake better be alone.”
***
Ivan knocked and then entered Drake’s room and found it empty. Then he changed into Galen and flew to the cave in search of him, no luck. Then he stomped around the grounds and then back to Drake’s room again. His anger began to rise along with his frustration. Then he headed back to Flanagan’s room were
he found him passed out and shook him. Flanagan lifted his head slightly and opened one eye, “Ya?”
“I cannot find Drake; did he say where he was going?”
Flanagan said frustrated, and a bit annoyed, “Did you check Autumn’s room?”
“No. Why would he be there?”
Flanagan huffed, “Because she likes him, kept asking about him while we talked at the pubs.”
Ivan jerked Flanagan up and asked, “What did she say?”
Flanagan wiped his mouth and stretched, “She was mighty hurt by your reaction to her change. She asked about Isisa quite a bit as well. Then I talked about the dark ages and the wars, then her abilities. Then she told me about the bit with Drake.” Ivan raised his eyebrow, and Flanagan added not looking at Ivan and feeling a bit like he was betraying Autumn, “She told me that she thought Drake was handsome.”
Ivan seemed upset now, his face tightened, “Drake is handsome, those were her words?”
Flanagan raised his hand, adding, “But she said that you were as well and that she wished that you were not so frightened of her. She even said that once she could learn to control her emotions, her abilities and most importantly her appearance then she was going to try and get close to you again.”
Ivan furrowed his brow, “Close to me again?”
Flanagan smiled, “Yes she seems to fine you desirable.”
Then he teased, “But me I get the brotherly title. Although it is better than how she sees Grayton though.”
Ivan asked sitting now, “What did she say about him?”
Flanagan replied, “Grayton is a confusing bit, he gets the fatherly title though she admitting feeling confused by his looks, since his face is just so freakin’ young and gorgeous looking.”
Ivan nodded, “And the others?”
Flanagan smiled, “Flora motherly, Henry fatherly, Galen friend, Serena big sister and Helen ally.”
He tilted his head, “Two fathers?” Flanagan nodded, and Ivan asked, “Ally?”
Flanagan smiled, “She sees Helen as a rival for your affections, so she does not get a better title until that is resolved. She sees her as an ally, though not as a friend, just yet.”
He nodded, “Do you think that she will see me?”
Flanagan nodded smiling devilishly, “If you approach her right she will be happy to welcome you to her bed at this point.” Ivan growled warning him, and Flanagan raised his hand, “No, she said that she wished that you had not been afraid.” Ivan listened a little more closely, and Flanagan continued, “If you keep her calm then her appearance will remain the same as before her change.”
Ivan growled, “It got away from me, I was frightened. I did not mean for her to see it. I was unaware that the change would do that to her. Once I saw her eyes I thought that something was wrong. Then she began acting strangely, aggressive and speaking strangely. It cycled out of control quicker than I thought possible, then she was in so much pain. I did not mean to upset her.”
“You still want her?”
Ivan nodded pitifully before looking up, “Did she say something more?”
Flanagan smiled, “She thinks that you are afraid of her. That was why she wants to learn to control herself first. Then try to woo you back, but if you are not afraid...”
Ivan snapped, “I am not afraid, I was scared that something was wrong with her. I love her; I am not frightened of her.”
“I think that is the first time I have ever heard you say that.” He narrowed his gaze at Flanagan, and continued, “Then you should go to her.” Ivan nodded, and stood leaving the room.
Then he shot back through the open doorway, “Thank you.”
Flanagan smiled and waved him off slumping back on to the bed, “You are welcome.”
***
Autumn heard the knock at the door but she did not stir, Drake stiffened though. The door slowly creaked open and a thud against the far wall woke her. She rubbed her eyes and sat up groggily, “What is going on?” Then she saw Ivan standing at the end of her bed and Drake cornered in front of him his hands beginning to smoke. Autumn slid her hand up and threw Ivan back against the wall and held him there, saying calmly, “Thank you for staying with me Drake. I think I need to talk to Ivan now.”
Drake nodded and grabbed his things and then left the room without a word. Autumn released Ivan and raised her finger and beckoned him to her. Ivan walked towards her his eyes black as coals. Autumn tried to remain calm as he crawled across the bed towards her. She smiled as sweet as she could, and then said, “Don’t be angry at Drake I asked him to stay with me so that I could feel safe while I slept.” Ivan did not seem to hear her as he crawled on top of her. Then she added becoming nervous, “I would have asked you but you did not want to lay with me the last time I asked you to. That and I didn’t want to make you upset again.”
Ivan leaned in closely and sniffed her neck and then began kissing her softly there. Autumn instantly put her hands up to push him away but he pulled them away and pinned them above her head. Autumn smiled and let her eyes roll back into her head as his kisses became harder and more wanting. Autumn nearly moaned and then stopped herself asking Ivan, “Am I making you do this?”
He stopped and twisted his head his eyes smoldering, “No, I am.”
Then he began kissing her again, and Autumn rebutted, “Are you sure cause this feels... way too perfect to be you.”
He stopped short then his brows furrowing, “You want me to stop?”
Autumn nodded confusing him and said, “No please don’t stop,” he watched as her body writhed under his.
Her back arched to close the distance between them and Ivan smiled, “Were you trying to make me jealous?”
She stopped moving, and smiled guiltily, “No.”
Ivan kissed her neck, adding, “I don’t believe you.”
She smiled wider, “I am sorry that I upset you.”
He replied seriously, “As am I.”
Autumn nodded and then continued, “I did not mean to scare you that night.” Ivan’s eyes went wide and she continued to fill the silence, “If I stay calm I think I can control the change in my appearance, so that you won’t have to see it.”
Ivan’s grip tightened unintentionally, “That was not why I was frightened, I thought that something was wrong with you when I saw you. I never met Isisa and the paintings never showed her changed appearance.”
She frowned, “Isisa could change her appearance as well?”
He shook his head, “Isisa did not want to be remembered as the eye, simply as herself, so all of her paintings were not a true representation of her real appearance.”
She asked frowning, “Was she unhappy being the eye?”
“I do not think that she was unhappy, until her mate died.”
Autumn nodded seriously, “I can see why.” Then she pulled her hand free and stroked his face and he closed his eyes, leaning into it.
“Are you certain that my new appearance does not bother you?”
“Not in the least,” he explained.
“You swear?”
“Yes.” And seeing her look he added the words, “I swear.”
She seemed to breathe easier, “Good,” then she added playfully, “I know I still stink like a sailor but I want to kiss you again.”
He broke into a wide grin and then struck capturing her mouth hungrily before she could make a move. Instantly deepening it, her need increasing as he did, he sent a well of desire to her thighs. He was leaving no room for questions as to his intentions, already shaking with need as he grasped one of her hands and placed it on the bulge in his pants. She let out a gasp, rubbing the swollen member instantly working to free it, from his trousers, as her inner thighs almost immediately becoming moist from the intensity of his desire.
Instantly, he slid his hand down, sliding his hand over her silky panties. Then deftly sliding his fingers under the side of her underwear, he ran his fingers over her already slick folds, sending a soft moan from her lips.
Then he thrust his fingers inside of her and gasped feeling the surprising heat there.
She was trembling under his assault, completely thrilled by her lover’s inability to take their first joining slowly, as was the usual course of action. His cool fingers sent chills and his sudden aching was contagious. As she, now having freed his cock stroked it feverishly unable to contain her desire to touch her perfectly built mate. He quickly pulled his shirt off, and then pushing her panties aside pressing the already glistening tip into her folds.
She began to tremble in anticipation of their joining, while he began to slow down, rocking his hip back and forth cautiously, testing the opening as if suddenly fearful of her response. Impatiently, she gripped the shaft, sending a groan of unexpected pleasure from him as she guided him into her tight, aching space. He tilted his head back in ecstasy surprising her, as she felt the cool spread inside of her as he released his seed instantly. Her eyes grew wide, and she was about to assure him, as she was certain that he had not planned such an act, so soon, when she caught a look in his eyes. It was a self-satisfied gaze, as if he has just done something quite special, just for her.
She smiled, nearly commenting, when a strange tingling sensation began inside her, quickly growing warm and then hot within the length of a breath. Then confusing her further still, he shoved his prick back inside her soiled slit and began his thrusting again, this time with even more vigor. She was aghast, uncertain of how to take such an act, as she had certainly never been taken in such a fashion, but the ach between her legs, soon assured her that it could easily be overlooked.
It was more than just heat and need now, his seed mingling with her own desire, was addling her brain. It was mere seconds, till she reached her moment, as once begun, it continued pulsing through her in a cascade of continuous bliss, which he amplified with his every thrust. Minutes became hours, as the thrusting seemed to never end, as the two of them joined together in a cacophony of joyfully boisterous ecstasy.
***
The following morning, they were awakened to a banging on the door. Ivan cursed under his breath already guessing that the sound meant more trouble for his mate, and Autumn called out, “Enter.”