The Fractured World 5

by David Aries

That was all the permission I needed to do my thing. Within moments, Trez was undressed and straddled on top of me. She was crying out my name as I rocked her up and down.

  “Arguing? Jealousy? None of it is needed,” I said as my powerful hands held Trez in place while my lower half thrashed. “I won’t let it be needed.”

  Three times in a row? No problem. How could it be when I had girls like this, begging for my touch? Trez wanted me, so she got me. I gave her my everything and made sure she was left as drained as those who had come before her.

  Hold back because she was already carrying my child? Not happening.

  Not this time.

  By the time Trez hit the bed, there was no point debating whether or not she’d reached serenity. It was written all over her spaced-out face.

  Without so much as a warning, I grabbed Faris’s hand and pulled her into a deep carnal embrace.

  No rest for the wicked, and all that.

  She didn’t deserve to be left out; I wouldn’t leave her out. I greedily devoured Faris’s mouth while driving her to her limits and beyond.

  Over and over again, she shuddered. She moaned. She felt the rapture only a woman could.

  My woman.

  I was here to please and please I did. Three had come before her, and two still awaited their turns, yet I treated Faris like she was the only other person in the universe. I didn’t try and rush or cut corners; I gave her everything she needed.

  And, in return, she made me feel like the most incredible man in the universe.

  Akko knew she was next, yet her shaking hands struggled to remove her clothing.

  Fortunately, I was there to rip them apart and take what was mine.

  My name bounced off the ceiling, putting the ship’s soundproofing to the test.

  I didn’t care if it failed or succeeded. So what if the entire ship heard Akko crying my name at the height of exaltation? I loved my girls, and I had no interest in hiding it.

  What would they do? Mock me for taking them to heaven?

  Fat chance. Other men should have envied not being able to see Akko the way I did. The way her composure crumbled as I pinned her into the bed, the way her body shuddered as I sent her crazy, and the way her eyes looked at me like I was a prince from one of her stories.

  I did everything I could to fill the role—nay, surpass it. She deserved better than what simple words on a page could bring.

  Much better.

  That left only Vay, a goddess who sought to turn any act of intimacy into a competition with supremacy on the line.

  Not this time.

  I pinned her straight down and gave her no room to counter. For today only, my body strove to remind her who was in charge.

  In a way, it seemed like I was punishing her, but that was wrong. It was more like I was trying to teach her and the others a lesson they should have learned a long time ago. Besides, it wasn’t like Vay didn’t like it this way. Her feminine moans said as such. So did the way her body squeezed me, along with that sultry look on her beautiful face.

  She loved this; she loved me.

  And I loved her too.

  My body proved it. Sure, I might have seemed like a damn monkey, but I couldn’t have gotten like this for just anyone—I wouldn’t have. My girls were special; only they were capable of turning me into this beast.

  Into this fiend who wouldn’t stop until the deed was done.

  I went on, and on, and on until I could go no longer… yet I did. I pushed myself past my limits to make sure there could be no complaints.

  So my girls could know without a doubt that I didn’t play favorites.

  Vay was the last I filled with my adoration, yet it was no less or not more than I’d given to Casella at the very start. To me, that was what being their mate meant… and it was something I took seriously.

  When I eventually staggered back, my bed was no longer mine. It had been taken over by six exhausted angels, bodies glistening under the room’s lights as they gasped for air.

  “There,” I said, needing a refill of my very own. “If anyone’s still got any complaints, hands up.”

  Nobody answered my call.

  I grinned. If that wasn’t a point well made, I didn’t know what was. We were about to start a long life together; it was important to make sure they knew nothing was going to change just because we’d escaped The Fractured World.

  I was still a man they could count on.

  For a moment, all I could do was stand and stare at the enchanting sight monopolizing my bed.

  Wow! I really did a number on them.

  Of course, that wasn’t unusual, but it was still a sight to behold.

  If they could move, it would surprise me.

  Wait a second…

  If they were too tired to move, wouldn’t that mean none of them could raise their hands? Didn’t that mean there was a chance none of them had learned a thing?

  There was one way to find out…”

  “Okay,” I began. “Hands up anyone who wants to go again.”

  Six hands gingerly rose into the sky.

  I exhaled and shook my head. Well that answered that. And it also meant sleep would have to wait until later…

  Epilogue

  The policeman flew through the bar’s window.

  His fellow officers ducked behind their hovercar. One of them grabbed the radio and said, “Requesting backup! We’ve got an inebriated trellophan on the attack.”

  A teetering twelve-foot green giant stumbled through the shattered window and onto the sidewalk. “Bloody pigs. Can’t you let a guy drink in peace? I’m not causing any trouble.”

  “Stop where you are!” one of the cops ordered. “Put your hands on your head!”

  “Shut up!” the drunk replied while hiccuping. “Where do you get off telling… hard-working, decent citizens what to do?” He kicked the patrol car, caving in the rear door.

  An officer wielding a stun baton snuck up on the giant from behind. He jabbed the trellophan in the spine and gave him a shock.

  The drunk didn’t go down.

  “Huh?” he groaned as he spun and grabbed the officer by the arm. “Damn pig! Who said you could assault me?!” With a roar, he flung the officer clean over the road and into a shop on the other side.

  The other cops watched before ducking back down. “Oh man. How are we supposed to stop this guy?”

  “Requesting backup! Backup! Will someone please get here and stop this brute?!”

  A car skidded to a halt.

  “Calm down. I heard you the first time,” the owner said as he got out. “Seriously, can’t a guy take a half-day in peace?”

  One of the cops gasped. “Brandon!”

  I waved at the duo as I moseyed forward. “Hey, Vicle. Kami. Seems you two are in a spot of bother.”

  “You think?!” Kami replied.

  I grinned as I started stretching my muscles. “You’re lucky I was in the area. Technically, I’m supposed to be off-duty, but I guess I can spare you guys a few minutes.” I marched past them and toward trouble.

  The staggering lout stopped when he saw me. “And who the fuck are you supposed to be?”

  “Sup. Name’s Brandon, and I’m the guy who’s going to put you to sleep for a bit.”

  “Huh? You a cop too? Then come here.” He lunged forward with the sort of composure you’d expect from a twelve-foot drunkard.

  I darted low and struck him in his beer belly. Then, before he could cover me in a shower of puke, I leapt up and took him down with an uppercut.

  The big lug collapsed onto his back.

  “That takes care of that,” I said while giving my knuckles a rub.

  “Brandon!” Kami said as she and Vicle rushed out. “That was amazing!”

  Vicle laughed. “As expected from our golden rookie. I don’t know what we did before you joined the force.”

  “Happy I could be of service,” I replied. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go pick up Pestelle.” I waved
them off and jogged back to my car.

  “Who’s Pestelle?” Kami whispered.

  “You don’t know?!” Vicle replied. “It’s his zerrin wife.”

  “He’s got a zerrin wife?! No wonder he’s so strong. What’s he doing working with us?”

  “Nobody knows. He definitely doesn’t need the money; I’ve heard him and his wives are loaded.”

  “He’s got more? Hmm… think he’d be interested in anoth—ow!”

  I chuckled as I drove off to my appointment and left them to clean up.

  They were definitely right about me not needing the money. The compensation from the APK, along with some other revenue streams, meant I didn’t need to work at all. However, I still chose too. I’d been given an incredible gift that had the potential to do a lot of good; it felt like a waste not to use it.

  Lancer had actually invited me to join the Allied Peacekeepers, but I turned him down. I didn’t want any job that would separate me from my mates.

  Nope, being an average cop in the nearby sci-fi megalopolis was enough for me.

  I cruised through its streets, having grown rather used to them in the eleven months since moving to this planet. Once I reached a familiar office complex, I pulled up and opened my door.

  A smartly-dressed zerrin, with bright yellow hair that came to a stop just above her shoulders, rushed over.

  “My Brandon!” ‘Pestelle’ cheered.

  I leaned in and greeted her with a kiss. “Hey, beautiful. Hope I didn’t keep you.”

  “Not at all!” she said before rushing around and jumping into the seat next to me.

  I chuckled. “How was work? It looks like it went well.”

  She wiggled in place while showing off a smile that could warm the stoniest of hearts. “It was pretty good, but that’s not why I’m all excited, and you know it.”

  I sure did. After all, today was a special day.

  It was the one year anniversary of our escape from The Fractured World.

  Or whatever the universally-accepted equivalent of a year was. I still hadn’t quite figured that out.

  If the translator says it’s a year, it’s a year.

  Both Casella and I had made sure to get off work nice and early so we could prepare for a big get together at our place. It was going to be our first time seeing most of the Ulium gang in the flesh since we went our separate ways.

  We couldn’t wait to catch up.

  I knew Casella was eager to brag about her office job. There she was, a girl who had been raised to be nothing more than an obedient trophy wife, going out into the big wide world to make a career of her own.

  It was a big fat ‘fuck you’ to the society, and man, that had raised her.

  Our only regret was that she couldn’t do so in her own name. Ever since the doctored story about The Fractured World had become the universe’s leading story, Diamant had been looking for Casella.

  If we had our way, that bastard was never going to get so much as a sniff.

  Once Casella was strapped in, I took off again and aimed for the city’s outskirts, where the traffic laws changed.

  Within the urban boundary, strict rules were required to stop everyone from crashing into each other. Outside, where the area was open and congestion didn’t exist, pretty much anything went. We could fly as high and fast as we wanted, turning our car into the spacecraft it really was.

  Yet, when we arrived at the usual exit, I slowed to a halt.

  The path ahead was blocked.

  A hoverbike was parked across the center of the road. Its owner, a stunning woman decked out in tight black leather, waited alongside it with a face like thunder.

  “You’re late,” Faris said as I tootled over and opened the window.

  “Only by a few minutes,” I responded. “Did you miss me that much?”

  Her scowl intensified.

  I chuckled before leaning out the window and apologizing with a kiss. “Sorry about the wait.”

  She froze, before returning the act. “It’s fine. I’m the one who got here too soon. Stupid class…”

  Casella gasped. “Did they throw you out?”

  “No! It just ended early today.” Faris grumbled under her breath as she put on her helmet. “I won’t let them get rid of me. I’m seeing this through to the end…”

  I smiled. That was my Faris. Apparently, some people had told her she wasn’t cut out to be a counselor, yet she was determined. After what Bogdan had put her through, she wanted a job where she could help others.

  And not just as a faux-soldier.

  Her training was going slowly, but I knew she’d complete it eventually. Compared to escaping The Fractured World, some courses at the local college were nothing.

  Together, the three of us flew away from the city and over the gorgeous surrounding forests.

  Trez had nailed finding us a place to settle down. The planet of Beakona was breathtaking. It was a vibrant world that mixed occasional splashes of prosperous urban wonder with mile after mile of lush open scenery.

  For those who wanted privacy, and had the money, it was an ideal spot to make one’s home without cutting themselves off from the outside world.

  After twenty minutes of travel, we arrived over a blue lake so clear it was practically a mirror.

  We arrived home.

  It had been another amazing find by Trez. She’d gotten wind of some famous rockstar who was looking to sell his lakeside mansion and moved in to snap it up with a chunk of our comp money.

  Thanks to her, we had a place of our own I never could have dreamed of back when I was living on earth by myself. I’d gone from a rundown flat to a stylish villa with a garage larger than a bungalow.

  Then again, there was a special reason for that last part, and it wasn’t because we had four vehicles that needed parking. Half the garage had been turned into a workshop filled with walls of tools, huge machines, and a good old-fashioned furnace and anvil.

  Sylvetty was hard at work within, filing down a metal sculpture.

  “Hey, gorgeous,” I said as I left the car.

  She didn’t reply. Her eyes were locked on the statue.

  “Sylvetty? Earth to Sylvetty,” I continued.

  Still nothing.

  “Hey!” Faris yelled.

  Sylvetty jumped before twisting around. “The feck was that for?! Ya almost made me wreck my piece!”

  Casella tilted her head. “With a file?”

  “Dinnae look at me like I’m overreacting. This has gotta be perfect! Po’s coming around; she’s gonna be expecting a lot from me.” Sylvetty went straight back to filing like a mad woman.

  Ever since we’d gotten settled, Sylvetty had set about training to be the best craftswoman she could be. Leaving Yggris—a place we went to visit every month or so—had given her access to a universe of new techniques and tools. She was eager to become adept with as many as she could and evolve past being a simple uncivilized blacksmith.

  To show off her progress, she’d crafted four matching sculptures from different materials: one metal, another glass, the third wood, and the last plastic… or rubber.

  It was hard to know for sure. It was some substance we didn’t have on earth, which made things tricky for my translator.

  The point was, Sylvetty was going to make it known to everyone that she was no longer just a metalsmith.

  “They already look amazing,” I assured her. “You don’t need to get so stressed.”

  “Brandon is right,” Casella said. “I’m sure everyone is going to love them.”

  “Aye, sure. Once I’m bleeding finished, they will,” Sylvetty said without looking at us. “Now will ya kindly feck off for a bit and lemme finish?”

  “Arf!”

  Sylvetty flinched. “And take that one with ya too!”

  Rocket rushed into the garage and pounced on me. She wrapped her big paws around my shoulders and licked my face.

  I chuckled while stroking her back. “Steady down, girl. It’s good
to see you too.”

  It always was. I was glad the APK had allowed us to bring her here.

  There had been talk of Rocket being moved to a wildlife park due to worries she’d struggle to adapt to returning to her own planet. However, once we’d secured our home, I convinced the peacekeepers to let her come with us. This place was perfect for her. Our nearest neighbor was over an hour away on foot, which meant Rocket had total access to a huge natural playground filled with plants to eat, prey to chase, and big shady trees that made ideal napping spots.

  It felt less like she was our pet and more like she was a wild animal who often came for a visit.

  When she was done with my face, Rocket jumped around in front of me while barking.

  “Sorry, girl. I can’t play right now.”

  However, Rocket didn’t ease up. If anything, she became more insistent.

  That wasn’t like her. A bad feeling welled in my stomach. “Is something wrong?”

  She gave another loud bark before rushing off.

  I gave chase and found a sight that made my heart drop: black smoke was billowing from the house.

  No…

  My adrenaline spiked. As quick as I could, I rushed inside and headed for the scene of the crime: the kitchen. I kicked open the door and came to a sudden halt.

  There was no fire.

  What I found was plenty of smoke, a tray of food that looked like lumps of coal, and two women doing their best to waft the room clear.

  “Fuck, shit, crap, fuck, shit,” Trez said between coughs.

  “You don’t need to be so hard on yourself, sweetie,” Akko said, arms and tentacles slapping at the air. “Everyone makes mistakes.”

  “Yeah, but they don’t keep making them. I’ve been a fucking housewife for… what, nearly a year? And still I can’t cook for shit!”

  “That’s… it’s not a big deal. You can always count on me.”

  “Geez, great,” Trez grumbled under her breath. “‘Hey, Akko. Could you put that voice-over crap on hold for a sec? I need you to help me make something without burning the house down.’” She huffed. “You think that’s how I wanna live? No thanks. I can’t keep relying on ya. You’ve got your own shit to do. And me… I’ve got this.”

  The smoke had cleared, yet the meal remained a charred mess.