Strung

by Costa, Bella

  “This is ridiculous. He knows exactly where the dog flap is.” Chayton moans watching Dog run off into the dark.

  “Well, we should be getting back to the cottage. I haven’t felt this comfortable and relaxed in ages. Thank you.” Edward rises and May stands to grab her father’s hand.

  “Something is bothering you. You looked a lot more relaxed ten minutes ago.” Chayton comments and I study Edwards face. It’s true. Edward suddenly looks very worried. Maybe he’s just remembered the massive changes the two of them will have to endure now.

  “No. I’m okay. It’s just, well...” he chews on his lip, frowning. “The dog’s behaviour just now - do you know where the high risk areas are, for avalanches and rock slides, on the mountain?”

  “Yes of course. Why?” says Chayton looking concerned.

  “Is this site safe?”

  “Yes very. Our only risk is the access road. It does pass beneath a slide zone about a mile before the main road but that’s already had a major slide this year.”

  “Good, nothing to worry about then.” He smiles and leaves for their private cabin.

  “We will get going too,” says Susan quietly, speaking for the first time tonight. “I have thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Thank you.”

  Chayton escorts them out and closes the glass doors. “I need to check a few emails. I’ll be in my office for a while. Will you be okay?” he asks.

  “Sure, don’t get lost in there.”

  “I won’t,” he gives me a cute smile and blows me a kiss, disappearing down the hall toward his office.

  Grace and I clear up the cups and tidy up the cushions, tripping over the pups who have woken and are stumbling about aimlessly. We are just finishing up when Edward appears at the glass doors, tapping urgently. I cross over to open the door.

  “Edward, is everything alright?” I ask, taking in his laboured breathing and flushed almost excited expression.

  “I’m not sure. I just checked some of my equipment and well I think I know what was wrong with your dog.”

  “Dog. His name is dog.”

  “Oh, how strange,” he frowns trying to get head around the name.

  “Long story.”

  “Yes well, I think we are going to have an earthquake.”

  “Oh gosh. Hold on. Chayton!” I call, turning back to Edward. “You can predict earthquakes? I thought that was still impossible. Are you sure?”

  “I’ll go find Chayton,” says Grace, swaying her ample body through the maze of furniture with ease, making her way to the hall.

  “Come in. Is May alright?”

  “She’s okay. She’s fallen asleep so I’ve tucked her under the metal bed frame. She’ll be safe there. I just thought I should warn you.”

  “I really thought we couldn’t predict earthquakes yet?” I ask, trying to shush the pups who are now yapping loudly at nothing in particular.

  “We can’t. Not with any certainty; and certainly not with any period of useful notice.”

  “So you could be wrong?”

  “Yes, it’s possible.” He nods wistfully. “But your dog, sorry, Dog probably isn’t.”

  Chayton and Grace join us, Chayton sweeping an arm possessively around my shoulder.

  “It is well documented - but not as well researched - that animals are very sensitive to tremors, earthquakes and volcanoes. They often behave very strangely before an event. Some snakes have been known to beat their heads against solid objects until they’re dead. Anyway...” he shrugs apologetically. “I decided to check my monitoring equipment. It gives me access to sensors scattered throughout Washington State and I’m getting some strange readings. I don’t know exactly what it means, but it seems to be centred in the Cascades area. Not far from here. It could turn out to be nothing more than a twitch and we’ll get a mild tremor, but it could be a lot worse.

  “Do you know how long?” Chayton asks.

  “Seconds? No more than a couple of minutes. I just thought I would warn you, but I need to get back to May, so please excuse me.”

  “Yes of course. Thank you.” says Chayton, Grace and I nodding in agreement. “Would you mind warning Susan?”

  “Sure,” replies Edward. We watch him sprint across the damp ground to the cabin.

  “Well now I know why he was asking about rock slides and avalanches,” Chayton mutters frowning.

  “Shush you two,” he orders and both pups cower on their bellies whining softly at the sound of his voice. One of the pups can’t help himself and lets out one last yap. Chayton glowers at the little fella, who puts his head on his paws in silence. Oh my! The poor things; they’re only little, Chayton. You’re so mean!

  “Are we safe?” demands Grace.

  “From slides and avalanches? Yes. From a quake? Possibly. It depends how bad it gets. Just in case, put your coats on,” he orders, galvanized into action.

  I dart over to the coat rack throwing coats to Grace and Chayton, then slipping on mine. I’ve heard that in the countryside the safest place is outdoors. Earthquakes don’t kill; collapsing buildings do. As I’m buttoning up a low rumble reverberates from the back of the house. We all go quiet as we listen to the sound growing louder and coming nearer like a freight train, rumbling towards us. Chayton suddenly sweeps me into his arms and calls for Grace to follow, running into the kitchen and then the pantry. At the back of the pantry is a walk in refrigerator. He swings the huge door open and ushers us inside.

  “Stay here and for heaven’s sake, do not close the door. I don’t want you to get trapped in here.” He speeds off again, I suspect to fetch Savannah. As we listen, the sound is passing outside and steaming off up the hill.

  “Maybe that was it.” I whisper in the cold.

  “I don’t know honey. I don’t know,” Grace whispers back.

  Then I feel it. It starts in my feet and works its way up my legs, turning my bones to jelly and growing in intensity until I’m sure my legs are not going to be able to support my weight. Then a different noise. Bottles rattle; pots and pans jingling together. Tins are falling off the shelves, and the freight train rumble returns to join the cacophony of crashing, tinkling, clanging and splintering.

  “Oh my God! Where are Chayton and Savannah?” I yell over the noise.

  Grace grasps my hand in reassurance, her other supporting herself as she avoids a frozen roast, which topples from a shelf above us.

  After four very long minutes, it trails off and the world goes silent. A light haze of dust fills the air and Grace and I cautiously step out of the refrigerator into the kitchen. Grace closes the door behind us. The house looks intact. A few loose items on the counter tops had found their way onto the floor. We make our way through to the hall where a log has rolled out the fire grid onto the hearth and Grace quickly sweeps down to pan it back onto the fire stamping out any embers. Everything here looks fine.

  To my relief, Chayton and Savannah appear, looking okay. I blush as Chayton’s eyes sweep over me from head to toe and then back again, lingering a little too long on a few choice curves, relief evident on his face.

  “That was quite severe. There will be aftershocks, so I need you girls to stay together, preferably near a doorway. I need to check on our guests.” Chayton leaves through the glass doors in the cavernous living area and I hear him cursing under his breath before he disappears into the dark.

  “I’ll put on some water for a nice hot drink,” says Grace, ever efficient in a drama.

  “Use a camping kettle, there is one under the sink. It’s safer if we have an aftershock,” says Savannah. “Well there is nothing we can do now but sit it out. Let’s get comfy in front of the fire and see what the news has had to say about all this.”

  We settle down and Savannah picks up a remote and aims it at the panelled wall next to the chimney. I hear a click and the panel slides open to reveal a large flat TV on the wall. Just like Chayton’s room. I wonder what other magical bits of modern tech are hidden beneath the walls. She starts flipping throug
h the channels until she finds a local news channel and Grace joins us, handing out hot mugs of tea.

  The news reader, a blondee with far too much make up and a really orange fake tan, is announcing an earthquake which has rocked most of Washington State and early reports are that it has been felt as far away as Boise, Idaho. She promises to keep her viewers up to date with information as it comes in.

  “Well, the night promises to be an exciting one,” says Savannah, surprisingly cheerful. “And just as my medication has finally started doing something useful, too.”

  “Well good, us girls are so drop-dead-beautiful, we don’t need no beauty sleep anyways!” jokes Grace and we all laugh. I had no idea how tense I had become and the laughter feels good.

  “It’s a good thing you’re so independent up here. I mean what with the solar power and generators, and well water,” I mention to Savannah.

  Her face goes serious. “We should probably use the stored water for drinking until we can get the reservoir tested. I’ve heard stories.”

  Just then a rumble, like an echo can be heard closing in and as fast as we can manage, we dash for the nearest doorframe. Nothing falls but Grace gasps, her face ashen, as she points to the large glass wall. We all stare in fascinated horror. The large glass panels are undulating bizarrely in their frames. The pups are both scratching at the bottom of the glass, unaware of the danger.

  It only lasts about a minute and we all sag.

  “How did that glass not break?” asks Grace.

  “The wood frame and the soft putty holding it, I suppose. They were fitted that way to allow the glass to flex. I had hoped we would never have to test the theory, but hey. It works!” Savannah sounds as relieved as I feel.

  The return of Chayton, Morgan in tow, provides a welcome distraction and the pups go nuts when the two men open the glass door, bolting outside. Chayton lets them go.

  “They won’t go far,” he states with confidence, seeing our concerned faces.

  “Well, everyone seams fine, the worst is over. We won’t be able to assess the damage properly till daylight, but Edward is in his element. Apparently we have a brand new fountain in the middle of the glen,” he beams.

  “No!” chorus Grace and Savannah together, rushing to the door to peer into the dark. I’m a little more nervous about approaching the glass.

  “Morgan, will you stay in the room next to Savannahs tonight? Her room is far too isolated from ours if the aftershocks get too rough,” he asks.

  “You don’t have to ask twice,” grins Morgan, pleased with this new development. I get the feeling he is now secretly praying for lots of scary aftershocks.

  “Good. And how are you missy?” Chayton asks, slipping his arms around me and studying my face.

  “Good,” I start, “But if we’re going to have a lot of work to do tomorrow, then perhaps we should try and get some sleep,” I suggest, breathing in the heady scent of Eau de Chayton.

  “I can live with that. Your place or mine?”

  “Yours.”

  “Your wish is my command. Let’s go,” he pulls me in the direction of his suite as we both murmur our good nights to our smiling audience.

  ~.~

  We are taking it slow. Very, deliciously, delightfully, delectably, delovely slow. Still hot and tingly from a very energetic shared shower, I stand in the soft light of a small wood stove, basking in fusion of exotic sensations and smells. Chayton is on his knees, spreading warm body oil over every inch of my skin and I'm torn between the desire for him to continue forever and my need to return the favour. There is so much of his body, I still need to explore.

  He has already worked his way up the back of my body, from my heels to my neck, kneading and massaging where the muscles are tense. Now his is working his way up my thighs with small circling motions. I gasp as his mouth plants a kiss on my belly, right below my navel and starts suckling the spot tenderly. My legs start to quiver and I tangle my fingers in his hair for support as his fingers finally reach my hips.

  "What? No!" I mewl. I feel is grin as his hands bypass the needy stuff and carry on along my waist, to find my breasts.

  "What's the matter Ms. Ward?" he grins rising to stand in front of me, his hands kneading my tender and heavy breasts.

  "You know what, Mr. Donavan."

  "Do I?" he kisses the tip of my nose, smiling darkly.

  He takes both my nipples between his nimble fingers and rolls them, tugging gently. It's almost too much to bear. I promised not to move, but he didn't object when I wove my fingers through his hair, so maybe fingers are exempt from this promise. Greedily my hand finds his impressive length, curling around his girth, squeezing.

  "No, Ms. Ward, hands off. This is my game," he says hoarsely, removing my hand.

  "But..." Chayton's mouth silences me as a hand cups me intimately.

  Okay! Your game is good!

  I squirm as his hand gently squeezes me, the heel of his hand rubbing a desperate little button through its protective mound of flesh, while his fingertips tease, with gentle pressure, at the entrance to my sex. All the while, his tongue possesses me, devouring me whole, as our mouths worship each other.

  For all that is...Arrrrgh...

  My legs start to quiver and my head swims. I feel as if I'm about to erupt. I pull my head away, panting for air, my hips gyrating rudely, my eyes squeezed closed to stop the spinning.

  "Now!" he whispers urgently into my ear.

  Like I can...fucking...Oh shit...help it!

  I come wetly, groaning his name through clenched teeth and collapsing into his arms.

  I'm vaguely aware of being carried to the bed, vaguely aware of a low noise and vaguely aware of Chayton, climbing onto the bed next to me, singing softly.

  Singing? I shake my head back to reality.

  Chayton is grinning down at be, humming an old tune. He reaches a particular line and adds the words... "I feel the earth move, under my feet."

  "Was that a well timed aftershock, or did you just do that?" I ask in awe.

  "What if I told you I had the planet at my command and ordered the ground to move at just the right moment?"

  "I'd believe you," I whisper. "But only after asking for a repeat performance to verify your claim." I pull his lips back down to mine and he pushes a welcome leg between mine.

  "More than happy to oblige Ms. Ward. I have the world, and you have me."

  He hovers over me and I tilt my hips up, ready for him.

  "I love you, Angel," he whispers, pushing into me with painful slowness.

  "And I, you." I urge him on with greedy fingers and tortured hips, my muscles squeezing and holding him, drawing him deeper as I start to tense and quiver again and finally he starts to move, long hard pounding thrusts slamming me to oblivion. My nails scrap across his shoulders as the tension coils to breaking point – then snaps.

  Chayton shudders and stills, breathing my name.

  Chapter 12

  9th April

  I stretch, groaning with sadistic pleasure. My muscles ache. My limbs feel disjointed and my breasts feel thoroughly and deliciously abused. Pure, sated, bliss. Light is streaming through my eyelids, coaxing me to consciousness. My brain makes the decision to open my eyes, and I wait for the message to reach my eyelids. A fraction of a moment before the gears start grinding, the darkness is blotted out and butterfly soft kisses flutter across my face.

  "Morning Angel."

  "Morning...ooh...to you too. Mmmm!"

  Wow. And I haven't even opened my eyes yet!

  ~.~

  "Can I try?" I ask sweetly.

  "You want to ride the quad bike?" Chayton looks at me in surprise. "Do you know how to ride a bike?"

  "No, but..." I chill slightly, remembering the lesson my father didn't give me the same weekend he died. "There is a first time for everything. Besides, it might be novel being between your legs for a change," I end with a syrupy smile, chewing on my lip contritely.

  Chayton stands watching m
e, a finger running across his lips, looking serious. "You are incredibly persuasive. Should I be scared?"

  "Oh, be afraid, Mr. Donavan. Be very afraid." I tease.

  "Okay then Angel. I offer you my life!" He grins widely, and lifts me easily onto the forward seat of the large quad bike. He slides on behind me, shifting up real close.

  I try my best to pay attention as he talks me through the controls, step by step, his hands guiding me through each one before allowing me to switch on the engine. With a small jolt, we ease forward and I make a few circuits of the drive to get the hang of it. It doesn't manoeuvre as easily as I imagined, but still; it's fun!

  Chayton guides me on my first proper tour of the property and he takes the opportunity to inspect all the cabins, a small machine shop, the garages, the dining hall, the equipment shed and the small power plant. So far, everything looks to have escaped the mountain's hiccoughs without too much damage. We did find one broken bowl, which after much playful pleading from me, Chayton promised to give a proper burial.

  We pull up to the reservoir supplying the drinking water and I switch off the engine.

  "Yuk! Is the water always this brown?"

  "No." Chayton looks at the water thoughtfully. Leaning down, he cups a handful, sniffing it. "I think the sediment has just been shaken up a bit. Hopefully it will settle. The Staff are back tonight. I'll have the caretaker test the water before we use it. There is enough bottled water for a few days and the gravity tank will have enough for washing."

  "Okay. So where to now?" I ask eager to ride the quad bike again.

  "Want to check out the glen?"

  "Sure. What's this about a fountain?"

  "Just some water that started oozing up from the ground during the earthquake and got Edward seriously turned on. Liquefaction or something. It's probably stopped. You think you handle this thing on mud?"

  "Hell yeah. Let's go," I urge.

  He shakes his head at my enthusiasm and climbs up behind me, kissing and nuzzling my neck as I get the engine started.