She looked up at him provocatively, then stuck out her tongue and rolled the barbell piercing, letting Dagon know just what would be touching him. He drew in a sharp breath, anticipating. She licked the head of his cock and then brought the solid metal up and around the underside of the first ridge. He moaned and rocked his hips in ecstasy.
She continued the torment while his hands gripped her head, threading his claws through her hair, holding her in place while she traced his scales with the warm, smooth hardware. Twice, three times she moved from top to bottom with a slow tickling torture up the underside of his golden cock, and when Holly finally opened her mouth just above his quivering rod, she looked up at him as if undecided. He groaned and she smiled. Then in one gut-clenching drive, she mercilessly devoured his prick, taking as much of him as she could deep into her throat. She held him there, swallowing around him, and the pressure was astounding.
He would come hard in seconds. His cock lengthened and his balls drew up taut into his body. Dagon tried to draw Holly’s head away but she held tight, gripping him in her mouth like she’d never let go. Dagon felt the tingle at the base of his spine, the surge up his shaft, and shot off with a yell, sending his release down her throat. His whole body shook with his orgasm. Never in his life had he come so intensely, but gods…had he been too rough?
Holly’s mouth continued to surround him, and Dagon wondered if she remained immobile out of fear. He dared a peek down, and caught the impish glint in her eyes. Indeed, once he’d settled, she thrummed around him, milking him of every last drop and licking him clean.
Dagon could only stand, mute and shuddering. Holly popped his cock free of her lips and came up with a wicked smile. She traced a pathway with her tongue up over his scaled groin, and sighed into his belly.
“That was unbelievable.” She breathed. “You taste like the ocean, and I may never get enough.” She licked a spot that she might have missed, and his cock twitched.
Gods, this woman was beyond words. He was never letting her go. Dagon grabbed her up and kissed her into oblivion.
****
Holly awoke to the feeling of soft fingertips tracing across one breast, and opened her eyes to see Dagon—her Dagon—looking at her in wonder. She raised her hand to his face.
“You’re you again,” she said. His amulet was finally dormant.
“I am.” He continued to stroke, and her nipple rose to dusky attention. “I’m sorry I lost it and changed into my alter ego. I couldn’t stand the thought of you under Nergal’s hands.” He reached down to give a gentle pull on the ring that threaded across Holly’s sex. “But after my initial rage…to be honest, it turned me on.”
Dagon’s cock stirred against her hip. She laughed. “Hey. If you keep tugging on that ring, we might have to start all over again.”
Dagon lowered his head for a kiss. “That wouldn’t be so bad,” he murmured against her lips.
“Perhaps not.” Holly decided to tease. “Clinically speaking, and just for the record,” she attempted to sound scientific, “we need to find out how you, as a god, perform in relation to your serpent.”
Dagon cupped Holly’s breasts, brushing his thumbs enticingly across their tips. He rubbed until her breath came in excited little puffs. “I’m ready to oblige, professor.” His shoulder lit again as he lowered her hand to his pink but still rock-hard cock. “Just make sure you take very thorough notes.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Tess was so excited she didn’t care if she stepped out with the devil himself. She silently chuckled. Erra was probably the closest thing to one that she would ever encounter. She’d been cooped up so long, ever since her ill-advised trip to the mall with Lenore, that she’d been going stir crazy. She hoped Erra wouldn’t hold the whole “underwear caper” against her. Hmm…and she had kicked him in the balls. Well, fuck him if he couldn’t take a joke. He’d deserved it.
Her husband and the god had reached a deal to make the grocery shopping trip a reality. Tess would drive, accompanied by Erra, but Kulla would play the third wheel, monitoring them from above to make sure no “extra” energy appeared to surprise Marduk’s goddess. Tess had the keys to the old green junker that Anshar had picked up in Plymouth, and was assured that Erra would meet her as soon as she passed through the magic bubble around the compound.
The PP had been told that she was in the war god’s hands and that they should not mess with her. She only hoped they knew enough to listen because Marduk and company had positioned themselves at her point of egress to quell any overt signs of aggression…and it wouldn’t be pretty.
Tess’s wallet was stuffed with money, and what Marduk didn’t know was that she planned on making this a very long outing. It was Saturday, and her plans included hitting the big farmer’s market down by the courthouse, the surplus store over on Newport Avenue, and the super-sized grocery store right around the corner. What she hadn’t told anybody was that she intended a stop at the baby store in Braintree, whether the powers that be liked it or not. Catalog shopping was fine, but she wanted to handle some honest-to-gods baby clothes, and no overprotective immortal husband would stop her.
As good as his word, the massive red-haired god of destruction waited patiently for her on the fire road out. Tess glimpsed a few human PP underlings milling about in the trees, but none of them were on alert. She pulled up beside Erra and, thankful that the fairly stripped down car had electric windows, slid the passenger one down.
“Get in,” she said as he stood there, looking at the car. Tess was impatient to get started. “Well?”
“How does one…enter?” He sounded like he’d been working on his English, but his voice still held an exotic flavor.
“Oh, sorry.” Tess remembered Marduk’s first internal combustion ride and how confused he’d been. With contrition, she hopped out and ran around to let Erra in. “I forgot that some of you gods aren’t familiar with cars.”
Tess made a point of slowly grasping the handle, pushing the button with her thumb—it was an older model, after all—and pulling the door open. “Like that.”
She didn’t wait, but scooted back to her side. She was used to Marduk’s hulking build, but this guy was complete and total intimidation when he loomed. How tall was he anyway? She was happy to see that his hair cleared the headliner, and laughingly tried on a mental image of the god in a subcompact. No way was that going to happen.
“Grab hold of that thing there,” Tess pointed across his body to the armrest built into the door, “and pull it toward you.”
Erra did as he was told, albeit with a lot of force, but the Detroit metal held up under the stress as he slammed the door.
“Now your seat belt.” Tess reached for her own and waited until he did the same, mimicking her, before she clicked it into place.
The god fumbled, swore, and fumbled again, clearly not getting tab A in slot B. Impatience got the better of Tess. She wanted to get moving.
“Here. Let me,” she said and unhooked herself to reach across his over-sized body, extending the belt as far as she could before fitting it in the proper hole. She tensed as Erra sniffed her head.
“Good.” He grunted.
You are not to smell her hair! Tess got Marduk’s broadcast loud and clear. She didn’t know whether it was for her benefit or Erra’s, but she could hear in his voice that he was more than ready to call this whole thing off.
Tess railed. Get out of our heads, or I’ll be forced to block you. I won’t have you ruining my day keeping tabs on everything that goes on.
Fine. Marduk agreed grumpily. But Erra, he sent a warning to Mr. War, I’ll be checking in periodically to make sure you treat my Chosen with respect, and don’t forget for a moment that Kulla is watching your every move.
Erra obviously couldn’t resist goading Marduk. Wife much better natured than you. Not asshole. He was clearly happy with his choice of words as Tess caught the smile on his face.
“Don’t get too cocky, big boy,” she warned
. “Marduk is on the edge as it is.”
“Searching word,” War responded. “Erra find cock is male chicken. Why goddess call Erra? Not chicken.” Tess tried to keep herself from choking on laughter. “Lion,” he said proudly. “And good Marduk is on edge. He on cliff, Erra push over.”
Tess stopped trying to smother her amusement at the miscommunication, and gave Erra a big grin. “No, I didn’t mean a chicken. I meant…” How to explain it to him. “Oh, never mind.” She hit the main road and sped up, watching Erra surreptitiously from the corner of her eye. Sure enough, he was green in the face. She slid down his window. “If you need to barf, aim it outside.”
Another word not familiar to Erra, but he seemed thankful for the fresh air and took great lungful’s to stop his nausea. Most of the gods wondered how humans could stand these hunks of rolling torment.
Eventually he must have gotten used to the movement, and he made an attempt at conversation. “Goddess with child.” He looked pointedly at her flat stomach.
“So says your queen,” Tess admitted. “But I’m going to pick up a test while we’re out.” This time she registered his confusion right away. “An early pregnancy test. They sell them at stores and you pee…umm…urinate on a stick and it turns color to let you know if you’re pregnant.”
Erra probably pictured her squatting over a branch. Geeze, she hoped Marduk didn’t see that in his head.
“Store sell sticks?” Erra asked.
“Not regular sticks,” she tried to explain. “Special ones that have been treated with chemicals.” Tess began to realize how long the afternoon was going to be with the language barrier. “Don’t worry.” She reached out and patted his hand. “I’ll show you.” Tess almost smacked her head. Duh, she was an idiot. With her gentle touch—in great contrast to the last time she’d nailed his balls—and that picture he probably had of her now…showing him how she would pee on a stick, he looked like he was about to swallow his own tongue.
“No! Thank you.” He groaned.
Tess grew less leery of the big, bad god with every minute that passed. Maybe it wouldn’t be so difficult to extract information from him if she continued to confuse him and butter him up.
****
Back at the compound, Marduk chafed at being left behind by his wife and groused at anyone who dared come close. He had left Enten on perimeter duty, while the rest of the gods took the opportunity to scatter during Erra’s absence.
Lahar, after several experimental forays to make sure no god energy followed him, went to Northampton to check on Huxley and Dani. Dumuzi gathered up Archie the dog to go for a long walk on Wollaston Beach. Ishkur left to acquire oil to service the compound’s motorcycles. And Absu? Well, Absu answered to no one and despite a suggestion―that bordered on a command from Marduk―the proper god just disappeared without comment.
The other immortals―and the two witches―lurked about, having reasons of their own to stick close to home.
Anshar, Marduk knew, didn’t want to be away in case Lenore suddenly appeared. Enten not only didn’t mind perimeter duty, he’d requested it. He was a loner. The fucking god of winter. It wasn’t like people felt good sidling up to him. Hell, the only woman back in old Merrymount who’d consented to share Enten’s robes had been from the Abenaki tribe. She was one of a hunting group that came to Massachusetts from frigid Maine, and seemed to enjoy his cold ways. Marduk snorted. That was a hell of an endorsement.
Marduk went out to join the winter god and… Wait! What the hell? An instant infusion of god energy hit him from somewhere just off to his left. Marduk swirled into mist and turned invisible to investigate.
There. The bushes moved and he heard rapid breathing. Marduk honed in on it and immediately recognized Enlil’s distinct energy signature.
“Enlil? It’s Marduk. What the fuck?”
The groan that reached his ears led him right to the god, lying in a tangled heap, torn and bloodied.
“Shit!” Enten, Anshar, come quickly. Enlil has returned and is badly injured.
Marduk rushed to the god’s side, where he pulled him out of the bushes. He saw the blood and rolled Enlil onto his back, then gasped as he took in the size of the hole punched between the god’s ribs. “What the hell happened to you, buddy? And where are the others you’re supposed to come home with?”
“Home,” gasped Enlil. The god looked like he was slowly becoming aware of his surroundings. What might have been a laugh escaped from between his lips. “Fucking bastard.” He grimaced as he turned his head and looked around. “Couldn’t have put me down in a nice, soft bed. No. Had to plant me in the bushes.”
“Yeah,” Marduk concurred. “We’ve got to get you out of here before any of the PP get wind you’re here.” Enlil had landed a good twenty feet on the wrong side of safe and it wouldn’t be long before the troops making their rounds stumbled across him.
“Do you think you can dissolve?” Marduk was pretty sure of the answer.
“Not on my fucking life.” Enlil’s face showed deathly pale under his blond braids. “I was lucky to drag myself the few feet I did to get your attention.”
Gods needed to expend a great deal of energy to become invisible. When injured, it was often beyond their capabilities to dissolve to a safe place. The best they could usually do would be to hide until their wounds healed and their bodies regenerated. Which, in Enlil’s case, looked like it would be a really long time.
Enten, Anshar, Emesh, and Ninurta appeared in a protective circle around the prone god.
“Enlil, Lenore?” Anshar implored with a breaking voice.
“She’s okay, Anshar. I couldn’t…” The apologetic look in Enlil’s eyes seemed to supersede his pain, but Marduk shut him down. Blood gushed when the god spoke. Enlil was too messed up. Before he did any explaining, he needed to be put into Dani’s capable hands.
“Just stay quiet for now. You can tell us what happened, later.” Marduk shot Anshar a look to zip his lip. “Let’s move him in.” He wasted no time lifting Enlil up onto his shoulders, ignoring one friend’s grunt of pain and the other’s of dissatisfaction.
“My…day to be…dummy…in fireman’s carry,” Enlil wheezed. “Between Dagon in the pit…and now you, my…guts feel like they’d been through a blender.” He tried for another laugh, which sounded like shit to Marduk’s ears. “Hell, I’ve even stopped worrying about my legs.”
Yup. Marduk took a look at the two appendages that dangled in front of him, and although in the process of healing, they still looked like ground beef.
One PP heading in from the south, called Shamash, the computer and surveillance genius had stayed back to monitor the situation. Thirty feet and closing.
Anshar was corporeal. Marduk motioned with his head. The all-sky god would take care of it. Slinking into the underbrush while the others moved Enlil to safety, Anshar ducked down to wait. If the asshole kept walking, Anshar would leave him alone. If the PP became suspicious, the god would eliminate the problem.
The sound of water trickling came to Marduk’s ears as they trod quietly away. If things weren’t so tense, he might have laughed. Fucking PP was taking a leak.
All set on the guard. He must have had too much coffee, Anshar confirmed. He poofed out and joined Marduk and crew, now safe on their own side of the protective barrier.
“Put me…down. Need to talk.” Enlil was clearly impatient to tell all what had occurred―and was occurring―in the Underworld.
“Two more minutes isn’t going to make a difference.” Marduk was anxious for news of Tess’s sister, and the impatience for news of Lenore rolled off Anshar in palpable waves, but they would see Enlil at least as far as the couch before they started grilling him for information.
Marduk had one other item of business. Shamash, set me up with that microwave and patch me through to Lahar.
Shamash must have pushed the appropriate buttons because Lahar, who had been scouting for the missing couple in the western part of the state, gave a Yo.
What’s up?
Marduk didn’t hesitate. We need Doctor Dani ASAP. Enlil’s been hurt.
Lahar didn’t waste any time asking questions. Working my way toward them as we speak. I’ve been circling Northampton for hours, and I’ve finally got a tiny blip of god-energy on my radar.
Huxley had only the most minute bit of god’s blood in him—passed down through many generations—but it enabled the gods he’d lived with to recognize his body signature if they came within close proximity. It was just painstakingly difficult. Erra, having never come in contact with Huxley before, wouldn’t have stood a chance. But Ereshkigal….now there was an interesting thought. Their queen had met Huxley, so she would be able to find him via his small amount of deified DNA. That fact would bear remembering.
Back at the compound, Marduk laid Enlil gently on the sofa. He was covered in blood and Marduk shook off the awful possibility that if Enlil’s injury had been six inches up and to the left…well…it wasn’t. Enlil would survive and, with Dani’s help, heal quickly. Even after contact by Lahar, it would be at least two hours before Huxley and Dani made it home, and that sucked. A quick, private chat with his wife was necessary.
Tess, don’t acknowledge that I’m in your head. He felt the tiny smile that always hit her lips when they did the mind-talk thing. I need you to keep Erra away from the compound as long as you can. We have to get Huxley and Dani-Lee back while he’s gone. No need to tell her the reason. If she knew Enlil had come back without Holly and Lenore, she’d be frantic.
Tess must have thought it sounded like a grand plan. Marduk knew how much she loved to shop. No problem. We’re just heading into the farmer’s market now. I planned on a few more stops anyway, she admitted to him in a sheepish voice and then brightened. Now you can tell the ever-vigilant Kulla that I have your approval to do more.
Going Deep Page 23
