Managing Expectations

by Erin R Flynn

  He rolled us and gently pulled out of me before pushing his fingers in me, taking care of me that way while still holding my wrists behind my back.

  Something we both really liked.

  “You are so fucking sexy, I cannot even stand it, agra,” he groaned when I begged for more… After my third orgasm that way. “You didn’t even put up the barrier, and I’m loving that the guards heard you begging and screaming for me.”

  “I’ll beat you tomorrow,” I promised. “Just fuck me. Please. I need you in me, Darby.” Honestly, I was getting tired, but he was worried he’d come so fast while two of my mates were crazy marathon sexy guys.

  We had enough issues without Darby getting new insecurities.

  He moved my hands above my head, checking with me it was okay, and then took me so I was spread wide for him. It felt as if each thrust was deeper than the one before somehow, and he was trying to brand himself onto my soul.

  “I love you so much, Tamsin,” he rasped in my ear.

  “I love you too.” I moaned as he lifted my hips slightly. “There. Oh please, right there, Darby. Yes. Gods, I needed this.”

  “I just need you,” he grunted as he moved faster. “I’ll give you everything you need always.”

  Sounded good to me.

  He brought me twice before finishing deep within me, somehow, it meaning more that he did than normal. And he seemed to not be able to leave my body, kissing every inch of my skin as we recovered while not letting go of my wrists.

  “Sleep, agra. I can feel how tired you are. I’ll take care of everything. I’ll always take care of you as long as you come back to me safe.”

  Oh, right. He was upset I went to face off with a councilman. Most would be. That was just my norm now.

  Whoops.

  4

  “Hudson, waking to your cock poking my ass and your face snuggled in my hair is a bit more than I can take,” Darby grumbled the next morning, waking me up.

  Hudson cursed quietly and I felt the bed shift. “Sorry, I thought you were Lucca.”

  I swallowed a laugh, but then couldn’t hold it in with Darby’s unfiltered, before-coffee reply.

  “Yes, my pale Irish ass gets confused often for the much taller black man. I can see how you made the mistake. I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to hear you mistook our builds as remotely close.”

  Hudson didn’t reply at first. “Don’t tell Lucca.”

  I died. For real, I laughed so hard my side hurt. What a way to wake up.

  But then I seriously had to pee.

  I walked out of the bathroom after taking care of all the morning niceties and gave Hudson a slow kiss. “Thanks for setting the tone of the morning to lots of fun.” Then I went over to Darby. “Never stop being such a prickly pear. I enjoy it so damn much, I cannot even put it into words.”

  “Glad you do, agra,” he chuckled.

  A strong arm wrapped around me and lifted me off the ground like I weighed nothing, huffing teasing my ear. “Come back here.”

  “Hey, don’t get pushy when you snuck into our bed,” I teased Hudson.

  “I was doing interviews and answering questions as one of the witnesses until later. Lucca’s going to be even crankier as he didn’t tell his dad that our plans involved you. So he had to go deal with that mess after all the reports were done.” He tossed me onto the bed after grumbling all of that and then joined me, trying to tuck us back under the covers.

  “We can nap under the sun later, but I’m hungry.” I glanced at him over my shoulder. “You want to be lazy in bed or play while I’m in a bikini?”

  He narrowed his eyes at me. “I didn’t plan on being lazy, but adding to all the scent of sex. I can smell how much fun you had on this bed, my princess.”

  “Without putting up a barrier so the guards heard,” Darby boasted, throwing fuel on the fire.

  Hudson snorted as I rolled out of bed again. “The fairies are coming around to liking you. Give it time. They’re more nervous of me because we’re mates and I’m next to rule. They think that might cost them their heir.”

  “They told you that?” I asked, not hiding my shock. I could see in his eyes that it wasn’t that. “Tanesha. Your aunt’s been around them.”

  He shook his head. “It’s exceedingly rare to get anything off a fairy. I didn’t know that Taeral talked with her about it when they decided he would take over your instruction on telepathy. Only young fairies or injured ones since their focus is crap since they’re hurt.”

  “I didn’t know that,” I muttered. “It’s not like that for me.”

  He answered my unasked question without making me say it. “I’m born of one of the strongest dragon bloodlines, Tams. I hear a lot more than most people would think of a dragon. My father, even more so, since he’s older. He’s caught a few snippets and so have I. Nothing bad. Truly. Just valid concerns and a few conversations.”

  “What? How can you say that’s valid or—”

  “Agra, you’re going to be their queen,” Darby said gently. “Of course they’re going to discuss this stuff and worry about it all. You hear people do it all the time about Hudson, or even Lucca, since he’s going to be Alpha.”

  “I never said I’d take the damn job,” I reminded them, both of them doing a double take. I simply shrugged. I hadn’t. People sort of needed to remember that and stop assuming shit. I didn’t want to talk about any of that over my rare break. “It just creeps me out. People talk about my life like they get a vote in it or I’m public property, and it fucking creeps me out.” I shook my head. “Let’s eat.”

  Hudson was on his feet and in my way before I blinked. “Sorry.”

  I blinked up at him. “Why are you apologizing because people are too nosy?”

  “I brought it up and it ruined your mood.”

  I crooked my finger at him so he leaned down. I kissed his nose which always amused him and normally he rolled his eyes. “I prefer we talk like adults, and it was good Darby knows that. Adulting is good instead of ignoring stuff or running away. I’m going to try and do more of that as long as it’s in small doses.”

  “Good plan.”

  “I think it has to do with the fun we had after the ‘adulting,’” Darby busted before closing the door of the bathroom.

  “He’s not wrong,” I agreed before darting around Hudson, their laughs echoing behind me.

  I arrived at the full kitchen the “cottage” had to find it packed. It killed me that a resort would list anything with eight bedrooms as a cottage, but apparently it was how things worked. I simply pointed at people and then shook my head, going for the juice Irma was undoubtedly pouring for me.

  And gave her the stink eye as I leaned over the counter. “You were invited to relax. You have the cottage next door with all the hobgoblins to have a vacation too. You are not here to take care of me like normal and—”

  “Are you getting saucy with me?” she asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

  “No, I would never,” I muttered, immediately accepting the juice and taking a sip.

  “Good.” She lost the fight trying not to smile—especially since her yellow skin give her away—and grinned at me. “We are, but we need to eat too, and there’s no reason to have two setups. We coordinated with Izzy and will handle it over the lavish vacation you provided us.”

  “Okay, as long as you really promise to have fun.”

  “We will.”

  “Then I accept your feeding me.” I opened my mouth like a baby bird and made impatient noises for effect, dodging when she tried to snap a towel at me.

  “I’m glad you’re in such a good mood because things went well last night, but enough with your saucy pants,” she chastised.

  “I’m not wearing pants,” I mock whispered. “Just the robe. Don’t tell anyone.”

  “Oh good, you’re in a mood,” Geiger drawled, his mate, Cluym, looking as if he was dying.

  I shrugged as I sat down at the table next to Cluym. “Last night was a good win.
I got to fuck with Shurr big time. And I get a whole week of no Neldor. I mean… I’m coming up blank as to why not to be in a really good mood, mate.”

  “Yes, well, we decided to crash your morning buffet plans to discuss your ‘fun’ with Shurr and show you the start of it before you are blindsided,” he replied, his tone oddly bland and neutral.

  Which meant whatever had happened had to be good.

  “We’ll do all the samplings and notes for the social media stuff, and you just eat,” Izzy added as she worked on organizing it all. “Let me know what’s super or whatever.”

  “Oh, that bad?” I chuckled darkly.

  She shot me a worried look, and the tension in Craftsman’s shoulders when he walked in carrying paper bags full of more containers spoke volumes.

  “I have a feeling I know what’s happened, so everyone stop giving themselves ulcers,” I muttered, glancing at Geiger. “Hit me.”

  He sighed, giving me a tablet that had a video ready to play.

  I understood their upset as I watched it.

  And I had a hard time not laughing at what I saw.

  Shurr made an announcement that I was now his. People thought he’d come to deliver a statement about what had happened with his aide and assigned council guards trying to abduct me and instead, he sounded like a lovesick teenager sharing way too much information about his first time having sex.

  His story was I came to him after I miraculously escaped his and other council members’ plot to abduct me. I came to him and we gave in to our passions. He apologized to his family and mate for how this would hurt them, but they would understand that his mating was an alliance one and be happy for him taking a mistress for love.

  Oh, but wait, there was more.

  After our life-altering sex, I accepted his protection and promised never to see Darby again, the councilman doing so much more for me than my boyfriend ever could. Shurr couldn’t answer what species I was, but I was his and now protected from any councils, so everyone should stop trying for me. He was especially focused on my moving on from Darby and glossed over the rest.

  I burst out laughing as he walked away muttering he had to contact me and see when I was coming back, everyone stunned. I mean, they were so fucking shocked that the normally aggressive supe reporters didn’t ask him a single question.

  “So you did push him in this direction or in a way that you saw this coming,” Geiger surmised.

  “Not exactly like—not to this level,” I promised in between gasping for air. “This is way more than I thought would happen or possible. Damn. Like dayumn. Okay, so I need to make a statement and deny this. Call in or on camera?”

  My reaction and moving on so fast shocked everyone there as much as the reporters.

  “On camera would be best and not anywhere near this area,” Geiger finally answered. “There’s a lot of speculation that you’re staying here after where the trap happened. That’s dangerous, so being seen somewhere far away with Darby and a well-placed tip to the media you will be there is perfect. You can give a statement and play this however you want.”

  “Sounds good. If you have a location that would work best or safest for cover, I’m open to suggestions. We just want to have fun.”

  “You’re awfully amiable on this, love,” Craftsman muttered, giving me a curious look. “What exactly did you do to the git?”

  “I’ll tell you later,” I promised. “And I’m normally willing to agree with the team and do what’s best for the group. I let my temper get the best of me last night and while I do think it’s the best move, I do understand how my actions affect everyone. I’m trying to cap the fallout.”

  “The guilt pouring off of you is too much,” Cluym worried. “What happened to Geoff’s pack is not your fault, Your Highness. No one blames you but you.”

  I swallowed loudly, hating he’d busted me in the group but still addressed it. “I can’t help the way I feel, Cluym. If you know the magical switch to flip to make it stop, I’ll gladly do it but until then, I’m doing the best I can to process it all in a mature, healthy way instead of shutting down and running. I would appreciate any support or counsel.”

  “You always accept counsel, child,” Geiger said gently. “I have given you too much flack at times for not coming to the adults, but you are not an actual child. I forget that and how mature you are from having lived as you have. Please, please, do not overcorrect how you have been, because we are partly at fault too.”

  “How so?” I asked, studying him.

  “He’s used to spoiled elites who act like children who need their parents all the time at twenty,” Hudson filled in as he sat with several containers. “So I taste it and log my thoughts?”

  “Yes, basically,” Izzy answered. “I agree. You have a lot more experience than Geiger or Claudia were used to. You lived years on your own and then they wanted to parent you a bit too much sometimes. Or this one wanted you to act more like an adult and that means making decisions. You can’t always do all of it or both. You do the best you can and the bad people are at fault.”

  “I agree, and I’m man enough to admit that when I saw how often you kept getting hurt, my frustrations got the better of me,” Geiger interjected. “Forgive me?”

  “We’re always cool, Geiger,” I promised. “But thanks. I needed to hear that.” I winked at him to let him know I meant it. “I’m still up for ideas for where it’s best to handle this.”

  “I have a few, yes, good.”

  “This is amazing,” Hudson muttered before scooping more food into his mouth.

  Izzy smacked him upside the head. “One bite of everything in the container. Your bites are bigger than most of my snacks. Don’t be greedy.”

  “Sorry,” he muttered, closing the container and handing it to her. “Where is this place?”

  “We’re doing Puerto Rico this break,” I answered. “Starting in San Juan. It’s still the Caribbean vibe like the resort, but they were hit so hard after the hurricane and their tourism hurting that we wanted to hopefully do some good.”

  “Of course, you both did,” Darby chuckled as he joined us, freshly showered. “Because both of you have hearts of gold.” He took the container from Izzy that she’d just received from Hudson. “I’ll help pick up everything for lunch and take over so it’s not all your doing on your vacation as well.”

  She shrugged. “I’m staying next door with the hobgoblins and it’s a great vacation.”

  “You’re staying there just in case someone figures out I’m here and tries for me,” I reminded her.

  She waggled her eyebrows. “Plus, you want to have all the sexy sex time.”

  “Please wait until we leave,” Geiger grumbled.

  I agreed, Izzy looking as if she was losing the fight not to laugh. Brat.

  “I think the best spot would be somewhere vibrant during the day and with a lot of humans for cover, but not much at night, which explains why she was far from where she was staying, checking out something fun,” Cluym offered as we all started eating. “It’s well known she likes markets and street fairs after what you’ve told me.”

  “That’s smart,” Geiger agreed. “And after the slip of the media finding her, we can supposedly hurry to move her to a different resort. So it doesn’t have to be right there since we have portals, but near would make sense.”

  “But nothing too close to what normal human college students would do, as we do need to start worrying about her image. Let’s at least not injure it if we can help it.” Cluym accepted a container from Izzy with thanks. “Simple is best. What about Disneyland or—”

  “I want to go to Disneyland!” I said—well, shouted—shocking everyone there and not just with how loud I was when it was a quiet morning. I cleared my throat, my face flushing so hot that I wanted to dunk in the pool. I couldn’t even pretend I hadn’t reacted like that or backtrack. “Please?”

  “Your aura is pulsing with excitement and joy,” Izzy whispered, blinking at me.

>   Craftsman moved over to her and gave me a wink, sort of his apology and comfort before he leaned in. “Look at these areas. What else is there?”

  “Jealousy?” Izzy frowned, but then met my gaze, sadness filling her eyes. “Right, sorry. Of course you never got to go or… Sorry, Tams.”

  I shrugged, rubbing my arm. “Bad foster parents don’t normally take their paychecks to theme parks.”

  “Then let’s go with Cluym’s idea today, but then go this summer,” Izzy offered.

  “To where?”

  She waggled her eyebrows at me. “All of them. We could stay at each one and eat the whole menus of each place, ride all the rides. Just have fun. Go to the water parks and zigzag all over so no one can figure it out. You unfreeze the peeps and then eat all the corn dogs and crazy expensive park food, but who cares because you’re super rich.”

  “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen you so excited about anything ever, love,” Craftsman muttered, his eyes going wide as he took in whatever he saw in my aura.

  I didn’t respond to him, but Izzy. “All the roller coasters? Even the ones that flip all over and drop or whatever?”

  “Yeah, I mean, I might need a barf bag, but sure.” She smiled when a small squeal slipped out before I could stop it. “I would have thought Mel would have taken you or at least liked them too—”

  “No, she hates them, but promised to take me for my birthday once. Things got messed up and I never brought it up again.”

  Hudson cleared his throat. “It’s hard for dragons who can actually fly to do certain things like ride roller coasters that go extremely fast that we can’t control. Zip lining or hang gliding are out because our dragons want to take over. It’s also why we rarely fly in planes unless we have to for appearances.”

  “It’s the same for hawk shifters,” Darby added. “Any supe that flies does not like to lose that control.”

  I nodded. That made sense.

  Darby came over, his fresh scent filling my nose as he hugged me to him. “Can I take you to Disneyland, agra? We’ll plot all kinds of fun this summer, but let’s go play today for a bit before we come back to the original plan.”