Shifting slightly on the bed, Dom opened his eyes as he recalled the events of the day. Angie had been wonderful, and he kind of liked that he didn’t have to leave in the dead of night after a tryst. Glancing at the clock, he was surprised to see that it was late afternoon, and that they had only gotten a few hours sleep. 1
Their bodies were intertwined, chest to chest, arms around each other, and one of his legs resting between hers. Hardening again, he shifted enough so he could enter her, smiling as a grin spread over her face.2
“What a way to wake up,” she breathed, moving against him. “And shocking that you’re not tired out.” 3
He replied by bringing a hand up to caress her chest. Truth be told, he was slightly tired, not used to being up most of the day while having hours and hours of fast and furious sex in his bed. Angie had been more than willing to be with him, and that made him want her even more. 4
Angie moaned as his body slid against hers, the movement bringing back pleasing memories of earlier that day. For someone that didn’t seem to like intimate contact, he was surprisingly talented at it. His fingers caressed all the right places, and his tongue could make her squirm in delight with nothing more than a well-placed lick.5
Her lips were swollen from kissing, her legs sore from being wrapped around him, and her body completely wrung out from multiple climaxes that he seemed to obtain from her each and every time.6
Once again, thanks to both his movement and lips on hers, he brought her to and over the pinnacle, kissing harder as she loudly moaned against his lips. Slowing his own thrusting, Dom moved from her lips to her neck, kissing gently, with the occasional lightly running his fangs over her smooth skin, which brought a shiver from her. 7
“What was-“ she started to say, breaking off as Dom moved back to her lips. After kissing her nearly enough to draw all reason from her mind, he pulled back.8
“What was what?” he whispered, his tone low and sensual.9
“Hm?” she asked, lost in thought as his voice seemed to touch her most intimate places.10
Gently rolling off her, Dom placed an arm around a smooth shoulder as she snuggled against him. 11
“Thank you for giving me a day,” Angie finally said, raising her head and placing a small kiss on his lips.12
“About that,” Dom said slowly, “I was wrong.” He moved so he could sit against the headboard. “I’ve been living the past few years trying to avoid things, while hanging on to other ideas…” He trailed off.13
“It can be hard to let go of a past that you want to keep with you,” Angie said quietly. 14
“You have no idea,” Dom breathed.15
“I may not,” Angie said, “but I do know that sometimes the things that hurt us the most are memories we won’t let go.”16
Looking down at her, he could see the indecision in her eyes, mixed with hope. “It’s not as easy as it sounds,” he said. “I’ve been told recently that I use the pain as a shield to keep people away, and I guess that’s true, but I’ve been doing it for so long that I can’t figure out how to stop.”17
“I…I could help,” Angie offered, her voice tinted with apprehension that saying it might push him away. He’d already made some things clear, yet being with her like this seemed to go against his own rules.18
Dom closed his eyes, wanting to push her away with a ‘thanks for the fuck, can I call you a taxi?’…but he knew that doing something along those lines would be grossly unfair to her, and somewhat unfair to his own self. Not only would it end up in a god bolt or ten if he walked away, he realized that he felt a calmness at that moment that he hadn’t felt in a long time. 19
Holding Angie after magnificent sex had found a part of himself that he didn’t know was lost, and he knew that he’d feel the same way if he could hold her for eternity, and never have sex again. But… that was one thing he wasn’t willing to try out, so he went with the idea of possibly holding on to her for sex, and also experience her beyond the bed sheets.20
“I’ll never stop loving or missing them,” he explained, his voice barely above a whisper.21
”I’m not asking, or expecting you to,” Angie said. 22
Closing his eyes, he steeled himself for what he was about to do. “Okay,” he said as he opened his eyes. “I’d really like to experience this with you.” 23
“That would require you give me more than one day, though.”24
Laughter escaped from him before he realized it, and he brought his forehead down to rest against hers.25
~~~~~~~~~~~~26
“Hey, wolfie,” Aiden said into her cell phone, using the speaker function. “Need a favor.” 27
“Do I have to kill someone?” 28
“Don’t think so.”29
“Oh.” The disappointment in Fury Kattalakis’ voice was virtually tangible. “Well, that’s an annoyance, but… what can I do you for?”30
“Up for another bout of playing bodyguard?”31
“As long as it doesn’t end up like last time,” he said. “I’m not in the mood to be a Daimon punching bag.” 32
“I give no guarantees.”33
The sigh was audible, then Fury spoke again. “Is she cute?”34
“She’s a friend of a tall Goth biker type dude.”35
“So,” Fury said, not missing a beat, “doesn’t really matter if she’s cute or not.” He paused. “Yeah, I’ll do it.”36
Staring throughout the entire conversation, Tria took a step back as a man appeared directly behind Aiden. She raised her hand to send a fire ball at him, stopping when he growled at her. 37
“No hurting the wolf,” he offered with a snarl. “’Cause the wolf hurts back harder.”38
“Nice first impression,” Aiden said as she turned. “Maybe if you’re lucky, she’ll toss you over the back of the couch.”39
“Foreplay aside,” Fury said, intending to get a rise out of at least one of them, “is this the body that needs guarding?”40
“I can take care of myself,” Tria said. She gasped as the man changed into a large white timber wolf, and bared its teeth at her. Taking a step back as the animal stalked towards her, Tria held out her hand, creating a fireball in it. 41
Fury stopped walking, changing back to human form, and purposely waiting a few seconds before creating clothes on his body. “Neat trick,” he admitted. “But can you outrun a wolf?”42
Giving him a good once over, Tria sighed in acceptance. Tall, absurdly handsome, with dark blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail, he absolutely oozed both animal magnetism and danger. “Your name?”43
“Fury,” he replied, then added his common blurb, “and trust me, it’s not just my name, it’s also my temperament.” Walking up to her, he stared. “And you would be?”44
“Wendy,” she said, going for the alternate name that they had decided on, the combination of her middle and maiden names. “Wendy Peters.”45
Fury nodded once. “Do you prefer Wendy, or liar?”46
“What?”47
“You’re lying, lady,” he said, sniffing slightly. “I’d call you human, but there’s a scent that refutes that label.” Studying her closer, he moved in, sniffing her hair, and lowering to his neck. “Don’t move,” he ordered as she started to take a step back.48
“Sorry,” she said stiffly. “I’m not used to people sniffing my neck.”49
“Another lie,” Fury said. “You’re just full of ‘em today, ain’t cha?” He straightened, and looked at Aiden. “Who’s after you?”50
“A Dolophoni,” Aiden said. 51
“Eagle girl says what?” Fury asked in disbelief. “Whoa. Hold on. You got the assassins of the gods on your ass, and you invite me in to take them on? Are you fucking insane?”52
“Since when did you get so melodramatic?”53
“Nearly getting killed, more than a few times by just being around you tends to have that effect on animals.” 54
Rolling her eyes at his words, Aiden sighed. “So, are you in, or not?”55
“Sure, what the hell,” Fury said with a shrug. “Been nearly a year since I’ve had my ass completely kicked by some supernatural being.”56
Suddenly feeling like she was stuck in a surreal movie, Tria shook her head. “I have to go lay down,” she said, turning for the door.57
“Need company?” Fury asked, his eyes going wide as she turned with the evilest look on her face. “Relax, pseudo-Wendy,” he said. “I’m not into humans. I was asking if you wanted me to come along and lounge on your couch, eat your food and make long distance obscene phone calls.”58
“No thank you,” Tria said. “I’m just across the hall, so I’ll be fine.” She opened the door and walked out.59
Fury laughed as he watched the door close. “God, she’s easy to bug.” He turned to Aiden. “Fill me in.”60
They talked for a half an hour, getting the gossip, rumors and the past few months caught up on. A year ago, it would have been next to impossible to even imagine these two being in the same room together without trying to kill each other. Now, they had the ease that came with friends who shared a special platonic connection that both would carry forever.61
Getting up to pour herself another coffee, Aiden looked over the top of the counter table at him. “How are your brothers?”62
Fury shrugged. “Vane’s still bragging over the baby, and Fang’s still whining over Aimee.” He shook his head. “Both very undignified wolf-like actions.”63
“You sound jealous.”64
“Extremely,” he admitted in a low voice. “Vane’s kids are perfect, and well worth bragging over. And Fang… even though he and Aimee can’t be together, they still try.” He sighed. “The bears will never let her be with him, doubly so since they’re not mated, and it’s hurting him.”65
Aiden gave him an understanding smile. “How about you?” she asked. “Any bitch grab your eye?”66
“Not yet,” he said. “But I’m having fun trying to find her.”67
Before she could reply, Aiden turned as she caught a shimmer out of the corner of her eye. Regarding Savitar cautiously, she took a step forward, gasping when he reached out and pulled her gently the rest of the way to him. Lips connected as his hands caressed her back and sides. 68
“You know,” a voice said from the couch, “if I was human, or actually even cared, I’d probably be embarrassed right now by this display.”69
“Shut up, wolf,” Aiden said as she pulled back slightly so she could speak.70
“Yes, shut up wolf,” Savitar echoed as he continued to kiss Aiden’s face, moving down to her neck as his hands slid over her backside. “And maybe go away for a couple hours.” 71
Fury sighed dramatically as he hoisted his body off the couch and went to the door. “I’ll check on your guest,” he said. “When you two are done bopping like bunnies, let me know.”72
Savitar growled as the door closed. “Remind me again why I can’t kill him?”73
“Because I asked you not to,” Aiden said as his leg gently nudged hers apart. 74
“Oh, yeah,” he said, then dissolved their clothes in an instant. 75
~~~~~~~~~~~~~76
The headache had grown considerably over the past few hours, with Ash talking, and Artemis seemingly not listening. “I’m. Not. Sleeping. With. Aiden,” Ash said slowly, punctuating each word.77
“So, it’s just sex then?”78
Resisting the urge to place his head in his hands in annoyance, Ash just stared. “As I’ve been saying for the past few hours, Artie, there is not, never has been, nor will there ever be any form of sexual relationship between me, Acheron Parthenopaeus, and the Gerakian Arcadian Were-Huntress Aiden Falconidae.” He exhaled in annoyance. “Does that make it clear enough?”79
“You’re acting a little offensive,” Artemis said.80
“Defensive,” Ash corrected her. “As in being a little annoyed that you did this.”81
Rising from her opulent throne, Artemis strode across the marbled floor. “I’m sorry,” she purred. “Maybe I can make it up to you somehow?”82
Ash stiffened as she approached, not wanting to go anywhere near where he knew this was heading. “And now,” he said, employing his legendary quick thinking, “I should smooth things over with Savitar for you.”83
That was enough to bring the lust out of Artemis’ eyes. “I want an apology from him.”84
“Why?”85
“He threatened me.”86
“You threatened his lover,” Ash said, willing to toss that little bit of information out. Not like it was a huge secret any longer.87
“His who?”88
“Lover,” Ash repeated. “You know, the Huntress that you assumed I was fucking.”89
Curling her nose at his phrasing, Artemis scowled. “You could have told me that before.”90
“It’s really none of your business who Savitar fucks,” Ash said, secretly delighted as her nose curled further in response to his crass choice of words. “Actually, I think you owe him an apology.”91
“Swans will fly before I do that!”92
At times, she spoke so much like Simi that it was creepy. “Swans? Swine? As in ‘when pigs fly’?”93
“You know what I mean!”94
“And that’s the scary part.” Ash turned from her before she decided she wanted an hour or five in the sack. With his thoughts confused at his future, he wanted to steer clear of her bed for a while. Plus, he had the feeling that she would be able to sense that someone else had been on his body, and that would start a mini-Armageddon. 95
“Leaving?” she said.96
“Yeah. I’m going to visit a surfer and see if I can talk him out of wanting to take a swipe at your ass.” With that, Ash vanished from Mount Olympus, and appeared on the sunny beaches of Neratiti. “Wonder if I can log frequent flyer miles,” he muttered as he looked around.97
“I don’t really care,” Savitar said in an even voice as he appeared behind him. “Artemis can bitch all she wants, because she’ll never get any apology from me.”98
Ash sighed as he quickly turned to face him. He knew that there was no chance in Hades of the surfer apologizing, but it never hurt to ask. “I figured as much. I do appreciate you not killing her.”99
“Don’t worry,” Savitar smirked, “you’re still firmly encased under her thumb.”100
”A-ha ha ha,” Ash laughed drolly. “I’m going to have to find someplace else for Tria to stay.”101
“She wasn’t after Tria.” Savitar ran a hand over his goatee as he thought. “And you know as well as I do that another attempt will happen, it’ll just be sneakier, and harder to trace back to her. But, I’ll know it was her, and she’ll be in for a universe of hurt, and then you’ll get all noble for her and try to slap me down… which won’t work, by the way…and it’ll solve nothing in the end.” He inhaled evenly. “Just get your ass moving, and do whatever it is you’re going to do. Tell one of them that you love them and will be there for the rest of her life, or move on, or something, because, damn it, this shit is seriously cutting into my surfing!”102
“We can’t have that.”103
“No, we can’t.” Savitar sighed in annoyance. “Aiden’s place is the first spot Artemis would look. Katoteros would be the second. They could stay in a sanctuary, but that would be placing others at Artemis’ whims, and she’s fucked over the Weres enough in the past.”104
Ash silently fumed at the surfer talked. There were times when he wished the guy would just get to the point. “There’s Neratiti.”105
“No.”106
“You offered it before.”107
”And you knew I was lying when I said it.” Savitar turned slightly to look over the tropical island. “You know where you should take them. You’ve been thinking about it since you left the Goddess of Permanent PMS.”108
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~109
“Dom?” 110
His eyes cracked open at the voice outside his door, and tried to focus. “Yeah?” he called out.111
“Up and at ‘em, bossman,” Craig called through the door. 112
“Gawd.” Dom grabbed the small clock from the night table and tossed it towards the door. “I’m tired, go away.”113
“Does your guest need a lift home?”114
Dom’s eyes shifted to Angie, who looked surprised. She gave him a small shrug. “Yes,” he called out. “Now go away before I hurt you.”115
Angie sat up on the bed, slightly hurt at the dismissal in Dom’s voice. “So, I guess I’ll get dressed then.”116
Slowly sitting, Dom swung his feet the to floor and stared at him while his mind tried to clear of sleep. “I have a whole slate of meetings tonight,” he said vaguely. “Craig’s going to representing me at a couple more,” he paused. “With time zones and all, I should be done just before dawn. Could I pick you up around then?”117
Angie smiled. “I guess so.” She couldn’t exactly blame him, since she herself wouldn’t let someone alone in her place after only one night together.118
“Need a shower,” Dom muttered as he stood. “How about you?”119
“I could use a lather, rinse and repeat,” Angie said, her voice heavy with sexual innuendo.120
An hour later, with Angie dressed, and kissed enough to warrant another romp in the shower or sack, Dom pulled on a pair of jeans and opened the door to his bedroom. Walking out, he motioned for her to follow, and they made their way to the main part of the house. Angie looked at the strong back in front of her. His hair fell down his back, and she realized that it gave him a dangerous look.121
Ignoring the smirk from Craig as they walked out into the living room, Dom gave her a kiss, then smiled slightly as his squire approached.122
“Angie?” Craig asked. “I’ll get you home. Dom? Go finish getting dressed or something. You’re making me feel vastly inadequate.” 123
~~~~~~~~~~~124
Surfboard in hand, Savitar teleported himself out to a large wave, riding it back to the shore with ease. This was more like it…no people, kickin’ waves, and unlimited sunlight to surf those waves. It would have been nice to have Aiden with him, but there were times when he needed to be alone to do what he did best. 125
Being omnipotent and all-knowing had its drawbacks, and this was one of those times. He was always privy to little tidbits that people tried to hide, and schemes that they tried to pull over on those around them. Most times he left them alone unless it directly affected him, then he had a penchant for manipulating things so the outcome went his way. 126
And that little millenniums old habit was gnawing at him now, nearly begging for him to take a look at a future event and step in to stop it from even starting.127
This had a tendency to be bad, and change far too many things. But stepping in would alter that even further, and he learned his lesson well enough last time he got too involved. All he could do was watch and trust that it would go the way it was supposed to. Besides, he was getting far too involved in certain lives, and he had to pull back before he the temptation to control all became too enticing for him to ignore.128
He had backed Ash’s decision and knowingly sent two important people into a potentially deadly situation. Worst of all, he was once again using someone special as a pawn in a game of such cosmic proportions that it would take forever and a day just to explain the ramifications to her if she ever found out what he was willing to allow happen.129
Sighing as he once again felt the weight of far too many pushing against him, he flashed himself out to another wave where he could shun the responsibilities of the ages for just that much longer.130
~~~~~~~~~~~131
Fury Kattalakis was to his feet, glaring even before the light solidified into a human form. As quickly as he started, he calmed, nodding at Ash and then returning to his spot on the couch. 132
Ash looked from him, to Tria, then back. “Where’s Aiden?”133
“She was having some private time with the big, bad surfer,” Fury said. “But I think he left.”134
“You should do that, too,” Ash replied.135
Sighing again, Fury got to his feet. “Go, leave, get out, get lost,” he muttered. “And people call animals rude.” He paused by the door. “I’ll be around until Aiden tells me to get lost. At least she’s nice to me.”136
“Nothing worse than a pouting wolf,” Ash said dryly, knowing that Fury was exaggerating. 137
“True,” Fury replied, losing the fake ‘pity-me’ attitude. “Pseudo-Wendy, nice meeting you.”138
Ash watched as the door shut behind him. “Pseudo-Wendy?”139
“Long story,” Tria said with a sigh. 140
Across the hall, Fury knocked briefly on the door before opening it. He’d learned his lesson once by walking in on Aiden and Savitar, and always took that extra precaution whenever the two were more than likely hot and heavy on any available surface.141
Taking a step into the condo, he stopped at a scent. Sniffing, he looked at Aiden as she sat on the couch, staring at the television, which was off. “What’s wrong?” he asked. 142
“I’ve been officially kicked out of my Patria,” she told him. 143
“Oh.” He walked over and stood in front of her. “Want me to track ‘em down and kill ‘em for you?”144
If she hadn’t known he was serious, she would have laughed. “No. It’s okay. I’ve lived the past two years without them, so it’s no big deal.”145
“Except it takes away the Patria’s protection and marks you open season on anyone wanting to take a shot at you,” Fury said. “And not even your surfer can really step in because as Omegrion mediator it would show favoritism.” He smiled slightly at the look she gave him. “He’s already shown impartiality in his dealings with you, but that’s been against Stryker and his merry murderers. If he helps a shamed Were…”146
“Shut up, wolf,” Aiden snapped. “I don’t need for you to start making sense at a time like this.”147
“Sorry. My logic pops up at the weirdest times.” 148
“You better go,” she said in a tired voice. “No sense placing your pelt on the line by being associated with me.”149
Fury snorted. “I decide who I befriend, and if no one likes it, to hell with ‘em.”150
“Even Vane?”151
Fury paused. “Until I hear it from him, then I’m going to assume he’s cool with it. You want a family, you’ve got one with me and the others.”152
Wanting to cry at the generous offer, Aiden ran her hands over her face. “You’d be the flaky, moody cousin that only comes around when the cops are after him.”153
Fury smiled. “Sounds good to me.” He turned as a knock sounded at the door, walked over to peek through the peephole, then opened the door.154
“We’re leaving,” Ash said as he walked in. “Going to take you two someplace no one would think to look.”155
“Which leaves me…?” Fury asked.156
“Still annoying,” Ash supplied, not missing a beat. “And preferably not mentioning this to anyone.”157
“Not like I would.” He winked at Aiden, then turned for the door. “Call me later, eagle.”158
Ash watched as the door closed. “Flaky, moody cousin is right.” He turned to Aiden and approached. “Don’t worry,” he said in a quiet voice, knowing what had happened between her and her Patria. “You’ve got family. May not be blood relatives, but we’ll always be there for you.”159
Tria watched, slightly confused as Aiden wiped a few tears away, then turned from Ash and headed to her bedroom. 160
~~~~~~~~~~161
Completely dressed, partially shaved and ready for an evening of slaying, Dom checked a few things on the computer, then made his way through the living room. He had just walked behind one of the couches when his step slowed as an eerie feeling came over him. Looking around, and not seeing anything out of the ordinary, he switched his direction and went to a decorative sword that hung on the wall. Holding it low and ready, he did a complete scan of the living room, studying each shadow for something out of the ordinary. 162
Over the next thirty minutes, he methodically checked every room in the large house, including the basement, and was getting annoyed that the feeling was still there when the place was obviously empty. He hadn’t invited anyone to his house lately except for Angie, and he was fairly certain that she wouldn’t have invited any Daimons or other assorted demons along. 163
Craig hadn’t brought anyone new either, and that only left Ash. Which meant that no one had been invited without his knowledge. Making his way back up from the basement, he heard a small noise and froze. The footsteps matched Craig’s, and he continued up to the kitchen, then through the hall to the living room. 164
“Dom?”165
He turned, bringing the blade up, and out. The sword stopped within a few inches of the squire’s neck who, to his credit, didn’t even flinch.166
“Dom,” he repeated in a neutral voice.167
Lowering the blade, Dom held it loosely by his side. “Give the security a once over, all right.”168
“Something wrong?”169
“Just a weird feeling.” He walked over to place the sword back on the wall. “I knew you were behind me,” he said.170
“Sure you did.”171
“Hard to sneak up on someone that can sense things.” He paused to rub his midsection. “Well, almost impossible.”172
“But you’re tired tonight.”173
“Not that tired.” He said, walking to the kitchen to finish his nightly ritual of reading the paper.174
“You look tired,” Craig commented. “Fucking tired.”175
Dom stopped walking at the not so subtle jibe, shook his head, then continued on to the kitchen. Grabbing the newspaper from the counter, he tossed it on the table, ignoring Craig’s smirk as he also grabbed a bite to eat. 176
Waiting until his boss sat, Craig leaned against the wall. “Ash called earlier.”177
“Yeah?” Dom asked, going back to the newspaper on the table in front of him. “Who does he want me to screw this time?”178
Craig made a face, returning to normal when Dom glanced up again. “He would like for you to take in two guests.”179
That must have been the event his mind was trying to tell him, and he visually relaxed. “Not running a hotel,” Dom said. “A brothel, sure.. that would be fun, but a hotel? No thanks.” Shaking his head, he closed the paper and tossed it towards the door, and the general area of the recycle bin. Ignoring it as it fell a little short and made the floor instead, he stood and stretched. 180
“Which rooms should I put them in?” 181
“Let them pick, get then squared away, and then call me.” He walked past his squire, grabbing the keys to his newly returned car, and walked out of the house.182
183
184
Author notes
and the two stories are brought together....
In a list
Please tell me what you think
Comments
-
Well shit! I had a huge comment typed out, and the damn mouse at the library
Grrr.
Groovy chapter, excellent description, and Fury!!!!!
"“Swans will fly before I do that!”"
Artemis. 
"“You look tired,” Craig commented. “Fucking tired.”" HAHAHAH!!
-
Great
0.o
Good for Dom and Angie and yet I sense something bad coming Dom's way by having Aiden and Tria bunk in his house. Too bad somebody won't put Artemis in her place. I still throw my vote in for death by barbecue sauce. Although she just might give Simi indigestion. It'd be worth it though.
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
Adding your comment:
