Dark Choices: The Quandary (The Children Of The Gods Paranormal Romance Series Book 41)

by I. T. Lucas

  Edna was a patient woman, but not tonight.

  Reaching between their bodies, she gripped his length and lifted her hips.

  As the broad head breached her entrance, his eyes blazed with surprise, and he stilled, letting her take over and complete the joining.

  29

  Rufsur

  Rufsur wasn’t used to females taking the lead, and it took sheer determination to hold back and let Edna dictate the pace instead of ramming his shaft all the way in.

  He would have been welcomed, he knew that, but he had a gut feeling that she needed to do this her way.

  As Edna’s sex rippled around the tip of his shaft, he gritted his teeth and remained still. Perspiration beading on his forehead, he waited for her to finish what she’d started.

  A look of defiance in her beautiful eyes, she arched up, impaling herself on his length.

  With a growl, Rufsur slid his hands under her bottom and angled her up.

  She held his gaze as he withdrew and then surged in, hitting the end of her channel, but when he did that again, her eyes glazed over with lust and her lips parted.

  Edna had relinquished control to him, and Rufsur was more than ready to take it.

  His fingers digging into the soft flesh of her buttocks, he retreated, and as he slid back in, it was with a corkscrew motion that wrested a throaty moan from her. He did it again, and again, every moan and groan sending electrical currents to his venom glands and his testes at the same time.

  Wrapping her legs around his hips, Edna tightened her grip on him and held on for the ride.

  With the pulsating in his fangs urging him to complete the possession, his shafting became more and more frenzied. Rufsur wasn’t going to last, but then the night was young, and they could go for seconds and thirds and fourths.

  An immortal female could take everything that he could dish out and ask for more.

  The thought was enough to bring him to the point of no return, and as his seed rose in his shaft, he gripped her nape to hold her in place and licked her neck in preparation.

  Edna’s eyes popped open, and as he lifted his head and bared his fangs, she gasped.

  He struck, the sharp twin points sinking into the soft flesh of her neck, and as his seed jetted inside her and his venom flew into her vein, Edna screamed her orgasm.

  If not for his iron grip on her neck, she would have thrown her head back.

  The tight squeeze of her contracting sheath was almost painful, but it was the best agony imaginable, and as one climax followed another, she milked every last drop out of him.

  When it was done, Rufsur expected Edna to black out and float away on the venom-induced euphoric cloud, but she didn’t.

  Instead, she tightened her strong arms around him as if she was never going to let go.

  It was fine with him.

  Rufsur didn’t want to ever leave.

  It had been the best sex of his life, but it was so much more than that.

  Something in his heart had shifted, making room for Edna, and he knew that no one else could ever fill that space.

  It belonged to her.

  When her hold slackened, he lifted on his forearms and looked into her tear-misted eyes. “Are you okay?”

  Edna nodded.

  “So why the tears?”

  “I’m overwhelmed,” she murmured. “I didn’t expect it to be like this.” Her speech was slurred as if she was drunk, which was the effect of the venom, but her eyes were lucid.

  “Me neither. But in what way?”

  She smiled. “Are you fishing for compliments?”

  “Of course. But first, I need to know why the best sex partner I ever had has tears in her eyes after orgasming four times. Or was it five? I lost count.”

  “I’m not sure.” She gazed at him with wonder in her eyes. “I wasn’t counting.” Running her hands over his back, she caressed him softly.

  “I’m sweaty.”

  “So what?”

  Her touch was tender, even loving, and he didn’t want her to stop.

  “It’s gross.”

  “Not to me.” She lifted her head and licked his cheek. “I like your taste, your scent, the way you move. In fact, I like everything about you.”

  Dipping his head, he pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “You seem surprised.”

  “I am. I never expected to feel like this again.”

  “Like what?”

  She shook her head. “Your turn. What did you expect it would be like?”

  He chuckled. “For starters, I’ve never had a post-coital conversation while my shaft was still inside a woman.” As if woken up by being spoken about, his manhood twitched and swelled again.

  Edna arched up and swiveled her hips. “Why? Are you the hit-and-run kind of guy?”

  He smirked. “You are the first who didn’t black out while climaxing.”

  “Because you are so spectacular?”

  “Yes, of course.” He chuckled. “Just kidding. It’s the venom. Human females are knocked out by it and by the multiple orgasms. I guess immortal females react differently. Or maybe it’s just you.” He retreated and pushed back again. “Maybe we should give it another try and see if it works the same way the second time around?”

  Smiling, Edna smoothed her hands down to his ass and gripped. “I love your stamina.”

  “And I love that yours is just as vigorous.”

  “Let’s see who tires first.”

  “Damn, you are a competitive woman.”

  “You have no idea.”

  30

  Kian

  “How was your day, my son?” Annani motioned for Kian to bend down so she could kiss his cheek.

  “It was interesting.” He glanced at the couch where Syssi was sitting between Amanda and Alena.

  They were watching something on Amanda’s phone and were so absorbed in it that none of them had even looked his way when he’d entered the house.

  “I’ll tell you all about it over dinner.” He walked over to the couch and motioned for Alena to make room for him. “What’s so interesting?” He sat next to Syssi and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

  Syssi lifted her head and smiled. “A mock-up of the dating application. Gavin made it.”

  “Remind me who Gavin is?”

  “He’s on William’s genius squad. He’s a game programmer.”

  When a face still didn’t come up to match the name, Kian made a mental note to visit the genius squad and get to know its members. “Didn’t we agree to stop working on the dating application?”

  Amanda waved a hand. “We agreed that you need to renegotiate the deal with Kalugal and that we need to take things slowly. In the meantime, Gavin can keep working on the app.”

  “Have you talked to Kalugal?” Annani asked.

  “I did, but it was in a casual setting, and I couldn’t bring the issue up. Edna was there, fuming about the wedding and how we shouldn’t go to all that trouble to have it in the village.”

  Annani pursed her lips. “I wouldn’t call it trouble. It is just a party. A clan-wide celebration is good for morale.”

  Kian cast Amanda a sidelong glance. He’d hoped that she would tell Annani about the council meeting and later the impromptu meetup in the café, but it seemed like his sister had left the unpleasantries to him.

  “As I’ve mentioned before, I will have to move the civilians out of the new part of the village and have them switch homes with Guardians. We will also have to reinstall the double fence system between the two sections. That’s a lot of work and expense just so Kalugal’s men can attend.”

  “Have him pay for it,” Amanda suggested. “He has the money, and if he wants his men to attend, he will have to cover the costs of making it safe. I think that us hosting the party and paying for the food and decorations is generous enough.”

  Annani’s eyes brightened. “That is a wonderful idea.”

  “Not really.” Kian grimaced. “Kalugal doesn’t want to have another wed
ding. He’s eager to go back home, and the only reason he is still here is out of respect for your wishes, Mother.”

  To say that Annani didn’t look happy was an understatement. Narrowing her eyes, she glared at him. “I am willing to postpone the party if that will appease everyone, but not cancel it. I know what I am doing, Kian, and this party is of crucial importance for our future. We need these matings between Kalugal’s men and our females, and that is not going to happen if he is there, and we are here.” She brought her hands together. “I know that unity is not going to be achieved overnight, or perhaps even over a year or a decade, but the process has to start somewhere, and there is no better way to start it than with a celebration.”

  “We need more time.” Syssi cast Annani a wary look. “I hope you don’t mind me saying this, Clan Mother, but even though I agree a hundred percent with what you are trying to do, I think this is too much and too soon for our people to process. Kian and I and the rest of the summit group have gotten to know Kalugal and some of his men, so we are more comfortable with the idea of cooperating and socializing with them. But after centuries of isolation and of viewing outsiders as dangerous, especially former Doomers, that’s difficult for the rest of the clan. Their deep-seated fears and suspicions contribute to the feelings of tribalism that we are witnessing. Things need to progress more gradually.”

  Kian felt his heart swell with pride. If anyone had a chance to convince Annani to slow down, it was his sensible and reasonable mate.

  Leaning back in the armchair, Annani crossed her legs. “That was a well-thought-out argument, Syssi. How do you suggest that we proceed?”

  When Syssi glanced at him, he squeezed her hand encouragingly. And when she glanced at Amanda, his sister nodded her approval.

  “I think that we need to postpone the wedding by a couple of months.” Syssi squeezed his hand back. “In the meantime, Kalugal together with Jacki and a couple of his men, perhaps different ones each time, should make frequent visits to the village under the guise of continuing talks with Kian. I’m thinking once a week, or once every two weeks. They can fly in early in the day and go back home in the evening, so they won’t stay overnight, which seems to trouble Edna and others who think like her. People will get used to seeing him around, and in time, the level of suspicion will decline.”

  It was a good idea in theory but not very practical. “Kalugal has a business to run. I don’t think he will be up to such frequent visits. It’s a schlep.”

  Amanda sighed. “And I don’t like postponing the wedding by two whole months. There is something to be said for keeping the momentum going. Not everyone is fearful, and some are very excited about the fresh wind of change that is blowing through our stagnant community. Especially the females.”

  Annani threw her arms in the air. “Can you all make up your minds and come up with a plan? All this back and forth is grating on my nerves.” She glared at Alena. “And please, for the love of Fates, do not offer me that damn tea.”

  Alena chuckled. “I wouldn’t dare, Mother. I suggest a compromise. Let’s have the wedding in a month. But instead of Kalugal and his party leaving right away, they will stay a couple more days. Jacki needs time to recuperate, and Kian needs time to renegotiate a fair exchange where neither community shrinks or grows because of a disproportionate number of mates leaving or joining them. In about two weeks, Kalugal can come for another visit and stay the night before going home. The next time he returns, it will be for the wedding. I think that’s a plan that everyone can agree on.”

  31

  Kalugal

  Jacki moved the salad bowl an inch to the right, took a step back, and then returned it to where it was. “I feel so bad about having to serve pizza and Cesar salad for dinner. And what’s even worse, the pizza and the salad dressing are both store-bought.”

  “Relax.” Kalugal wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her away from the dining table. “Eva and Bhathian know that we are just guests here and that we have a very limited ability to entertain.” He sat down on the couch and pulled her into his lap. “Besides, I don’t want you to exert yourself. Making the salad was hard work.”

  She waved a hand. “What are you talking about? All I did was to chop the lettuce and add ready-made dressing and croutons. Hivak put the pizza in the oven and set the table.”

  Kalugal pretended to pout. “I wanted to help, but you ordered me out of the kitchen.”

  “Because I was terrified. You almost cut your finger off when you tried to chop the lettuce.”

  “Almost doesn’t count. I’m an immortal with very fast reflexes, and my fingers were never in danger.”

  “Well, my heart was. Watching you, I felt faint.”

  He kissed the tip of her nose. “You are an immortal now too, so your heart was safe as well.”

  When the knock sounded at the door, Jacki jumped up. “They are here.”

  “It would seem so.” Kalugal pushed to his feet and took her hand. “Let’s greet them together, shall we?”

  She nodded. “I’m nervous.”

  “So am I,” he admitted. “Mostly because Eva’s mate is the size of an armored vehicle, and naturally, he’s not my biggest fan.”

  Kalugal didn’t really consider the Guardian a threat, and he was more apprehensive about meeting Eva than her formidable mate, but he didn’t want Jacki to think that he had any lingering feelings for the woman. He’d never had, but he was curious. Was Eva grateful to him for activating her? Or was she mad?

  Pasting a smile on his face, he pulled the door open. “Thank you for coming.”

  Eva regarded him with thinly veiled amusement. “You are exactly as I remembered you. Handsome and cocky.”

  Apparently, she wasn’t mad. Good.

  He dipped his head. “And so are you. You’ve matured, but I still would have recognized you easily.”

  Jacki cleared her throat. “Hi, Eva, Bhathian.”

  Eva smiled. “Congratulations on your marriage. I heard that it was a blast.” She chuckled. “In more ways than one.”

  “Yeah. It was a memorable event, that’s for sure. Please, come in.”

  “Thank you.” The two followed her inside.

  “Where is Ethan?” Jacki asked.

  “Nathalie is babysitting him.”

  “I wanted to see him. He is such a cutie, and those chubby cheeks of his are so kissable.”

  Eva smiled. “As much as I adore Ethan, sometimes I need a break. It’s nice to have an adult conversation once in a while.”

  “If we were living in the village, I would gladly babysit him whenever you need a break.”

  Bhathian put his arm around his mate. “There is no shortage of volunteers for the position, but Eva doesn’t like to part with our son too often.”

  “I bet.” Jacki motioned for them to follow her to the dining room.

  “Hello.” Hivak walked out of the kitchen. “I’m Hivak.” He offered Eva his hand.

  “Nice to meet you. I’m Eva.”

  “Where is your other man?” Bhathian asked.

  “Rufsur had an appointment.” Kalugal motioned towards the table. “Please forgive the modest offering. I’m afraid that grocery shopping is in order, but there is no store in the village.”

  “It’s a problem.” Eva sat down on the chair Bhathian pulled out for her. “The nearest supermarket is half an hour away.”

  Bhathian cleared his throat.

  She smiled. “Oh, right. I’m not supposed to give you any clues as to our whereabouts.”

  Kalugal waved a dismissive hand. “I’m not really interested. Frankly, I’d rather not know and avoid Edna’s wrath. She seems concerned about our presence here. But I digress. How have you been, Eva? I would love to hear your story. What was your life like after your transition? And how did you survive it without medical intervention?”

  “I transitioned so smoothly that I didn’t even realize what was happening. I thought I had the flu, and I stayed in bed for a couple of days.”<
br />
  Hivak came in with the pizza already sectioned into slices. “Please, help yourselves.”

  Eva took a small slice and loaded her plate with the salad. “Later, I started noticing all the strange things, like my enhanced hearing, sense of smell, etc. But I didn’t connect the dots and thought that I was just lucky for having great genes.” She chuckled. “I had no idea how close to the truth I was with that and how far at the same time. It’s funny how we can explain the unexplainable away. Only years later, when I was in my mid-fifties, I had no choice but to accept that I was not aging.”

  “How did you think it happened?”

  She laughed. “I thought that they did something to me while I worked for the DEA. I suspected that I was part of a secret experiment that had the unexpected consequence of immortality. I lived in constant fear of being discovered and hauled away to some laboratory for dissecting.”

  “That’s terrible,” Jacki said.

  “It was. Mostly, I was afraid that if they found me, they would take my child too. When Nathalie started college, I disappeared. I thought that it was the best thing I could do to protect her.” She glanced lovingly at her mate. “If not for Bhathian and his relentless efforts to find me, I would have never discovered that he found our daughter, and that she turned immortal, and that I was about to become a grandmother. I owe it all to you, my love.” She kissed his cheek.

  “I’m confused,” Jacki said. “Did you just say that your grown daughter was fathered by Bhathian? I thought that Ethan was the child you had together. How is it possible?”

  Eva looked at Kalugal and chuckled. “The Fates really wanted me to be an immortal and find my way to the clan. First, I had the random encounter with Kalugal, who unknowingly activated me, and then years later, I met Bhathian, and we had one night of passion that resulted in our Nathalie. But neither I nor he had known at the time that I was an immortal, and we’d gone our separate ways. But Bhathian didn’t forget about me, and he kept looking until he found Nathalie first and then me. We got married, and we were blessed once more with Ethan.”