by I. T. Lucas
“My kitten is hungry for more?” Kian’s hand trailed under her T-shirt to palm her breast.
Suddenly, she didn’t want any barriers between them. “Take it off.” She wiggled under him in an effort to free the shirt from under her butt.
“Hungry and impatient. I like it…” He gave her nipple a little tweak before helping her out of the shirt.
Once he bared her, Kian took a moment to ogle her nakedness. “I can never have enough of this. If I had my way, you would wear nothing when we are alone… all day long.”
“Absolutely nothing? Not even stilettos?” she taunted.
His erection twitched. “Uh, that’s one hell of an image, you naughty girl. I’ll allow the high heels, and a diamond wedding ring and choker to go with them…”
The vivid picture he painted in her head had her flood her panties. “Is that a pervy proposal?”
“I’m not asking, I’m stating a fact. You’re mine.” He cupped her through the soaking wet cotton.
“And I have nothing to say about it?”
“You already did…” He sneaked a finger under the edge, stroking her swollen, wet flesh before pushing the thick digit inside her.
Syssi moaned, arching, her hips going up for more.
“I’ll take it as a yes…” Kian’s voice deepened with his arousal. He didn’t wait for her answer. Instead, he dipped his head and took a nipple between his lips, suckling and finger fucking her into a frenzy.
“Yes, oh yesss…” Syssi hissed as his teeth gently closed around her nipple.
She was going to come like that, but it was okay. Before this was over, her wonderful man would make her come again. And again…
CHAPTER 22: ANDREW
On his way to the office, Andrew stopped by the Beverly Hills mansion.
“Hello, Edward.” He flashed his inspector badge again. “Remember me? I’m Inspector Wyatt with the health department. I was here yesterday to collect mold samples.”
“What do you want?”
“I need to collect a few more samples.”
“Why?”
Without Annani to scramble the guy’s brain, he wasn’t as eager to cooperate. Well, maybe the Doomer would respond better to a different approach.
Dropping the condescending mannerism, Andrew ran his fingers through his hair. “Who the hell knows. The guys in the lab don’t give a shit if I need to drive an hour out of my way to collect some more dirt for them to play with. You know how it is. I’m just following orders.”
The Doomer still didn’t give any indication that he was going to let Andrew in. Evidently, friendly wasn’t going to cut it, but a threat might.
“Look, Edward, the test results came inconclusive. I either bring them more samples to test, or they are going to put in a request for the guys in hazmat suits to quarantine the house.”
That did the trick. “Okay, but be quick about it.”
Problem was, with the Doomer breathing down his neck throughout the inspection, Andrew barely managed to plant one tiny listening device in the living room.
Better one than none, though.
With the anticipated reinforcements arriving soon, someone would no doubt make contact with Dalhu’s remaining crew. And when it happened, Andrew might learn something.
It was a shame he had not thought of the idea until this morning. It would’ve been easier yesterday when all of the Doomers had been busy drooling over Annani.
But no harm done.
From now on, Andrew’s little spy would keep transmitting, and anything that was said in its vicinity would be recorded.
Hopefully, he could learn of the Doomers’ new location.
Andrew felt a twinge of guilt over the unauthorized use of government resources for his private sting. But it wasn’t as if he could tell his bosses what was going on and get them on board with the fight against this new and bizarre threat.
He’d be sent to a psych evaluation and suspended from his job before his boss finished rolling his eyes.
But the clan needed his help.
Andrew didn’t have the whole story yet, but it was obvious his new relatives were outnumbered and outmuscled by their enemies. They could really use his particular expertise.
Perhaps he should quit the agency and go work for them.
Kian would love to have him, and the pay would most definitely be better.
Some of the operatives he had known had chosen to move into the private sector. Instead of accepting a glorified desk job once they were deemed too old for the field, they were still out there and making shitloads of money.
But if he quit, he would lose access to the most valuable of resources—information.
True, he had friends that would do him a favor here and there, but it would be just crumbs. Compared to the vast pool of data he had access to with his high-security clearance it would be a drop in the bucket.
No, quitting the agency wasn’t an option. But Kian would have to fund some equipment. Using his access to government data to help the clan was one thing, using its gadgets was another.
A tracker here and there, or one simple listening device he could get away with, but more missing equipment would trigger a red flag at accounting and he’d have internal affairs on his ass.
Still, keeping his job and at the same time helping the clan would be a tough gig to pull. He’d be working endless hours. And if he were to run missions for the clan, he’d have to miss work days at the agency.
As he had done for Amanda’s rescue.
The long hours didn’t bother him. It wasn’t as if he had anything better to do with his life. Always better to keep busy than go home to an empty house and stare at the stupid tube until it was time to sleep.
The problem would be taking time off.
True, Andrew hadn’t used his vacation days in God knows how many years, and he had accumulated quite a lot. Nevertheless, he would run out of them pretty quick if he went on missions for the clan.
He would have to make it work, somehow, because for the first time in God knows how long, Andrew was excited about something, anything, and it felt good.
CHAPTER 23: SYSSI
“Come in,” Annani chimed.
Syssi would never get used to the quality of that voice.
Heavenly. As befitting a goddess.
“Good morning,” she said as she opened the door to Amanda’s apartment.
“And a lovely morning to you too. Did you have breakfast already, my dear?”
Judging by the dark sunglasses perched on her pert nose, Annani was about to take her breakfast out on the terrace.
It seemed the Goddess couldn’t get enough of Southern California’s sunshine. Not a big surprise considering her home was in Alaska. Still, with her sensitivity to the bright light, it must’ve been a mixed bag of goods.
“Yes, I did, but I would gladly have another cup of coffee.” Syssi followed Annani out, joining her at the table that was being set by… not Onidu, but someone who must’ve been his brother.
More like a twin.
“How many brothers are there?” Syssi reached for the coffee press while sneaking a surreptitious glance at the guy, but she only got his profile.
“Brothers?” Annani tilted her head, her dark red brows arching above the black frame of her sunglasses.
“Onidu and Okidu and now… I’m sorry, I don’t know your name…” As he turned, Syssi looked up at Annani’s butler, searching his face for dissimilarities between him and his two other brothers.
“Oridu, Madame, at your service.” He bowed at the waist. “Would there be anything else Mistress might require?” he addressed Annani.
“No, thank you.” Annani sounded like she was choking down giggles.
“What’s so funny?” Syssi asked as soon as Oridu disappeared inside.
“I see that Kian did not tell you. He must have forgotten in all the excitement,” Annani chortled.
“Didn’t tell me what?”
“The Odus, they are not brothers, well,
at least not in a strict interpretation of the term, though they were probably made by the same person.”
Wasn’t that the definition of brothers? Or half-brothers at the least?
Annani must’ve realized Syssi’s confusion. “What I mean by made, is manufactured, constructed, not born of a mother and father.”
“Like clones?” Syssi scooted to the edge of her seat. This was so exciting, though somewhat morally disturbing. But to see a living proof that cloning humans was possible? Mind-boggling.
“No…” Annani paused to think. “I guess their creator might have used some genetic material to build their outer shell. And if I would hazard another guess, it was probably his own.”
She chuckled. “Funny, I often tried to imagine the genius behind the Odus, and yet, it never crossed my mind that he might have created them in his own image.”
What Annani was trying to say was starting to sink in.
Except, no way…
“You mean that they are some kind of robots? It’s impossible… or more accurately, impossible with current technology.” But God only knew how… now, that’s funny… how advanced the gods’ technology had been.
“You are right. We do not have the technology either. The Odus are marvelous, practically indestructible, invaluable. They were a wedding present from my Khiann, and they were considered an ancient relic even then.”
Khiann must have been the young husband Annani had lost so long ago. Her voice had faltered when she’d said his name. For her to mourn his death thousands of years later, their love must’ve been indeed legendary.
“And speaking of weddings…” Annani perked up. ““It is time we started to plan yours.”
“Oh, no, Kian and I haven’t discussed anything yet. It is way too early to be even talking about a wedding, let alone planning it.”
“You mean to tell me that there is any doubt in either of your minds? Or that the subject did not come up?”
“No… and yes…” The damn blush was taking over her face again.
“I do not understand. Is it a no, or a yes?”
Oh boy, how to answer when she wasn’t sure herself. “No, I don’t have any doubts, and I’m pretty sure Kian doesn’t either. And yes, the subject came up… sort of…”
“What do you mean, sort of? Has Kian proposed or not?” The Goddess leaned forward, her displeasure evident even behind the dark sunglasses.
Why? Oh, why? Did she have to probe like this? Like I’m going to tell her about Kian’s pervy proposal.
Oh, hell, here goes nothing.
“He did, but I think it was meant as a joke.” Syssi’s ears were so hot they were in danger of catching fire.
Annani smiled and leaned back. “Then it is settled.”
“But what if he was only joking?”
“Trust me, child, men do not joke about things like that.”
Most men wouldn’t. But Kian’s kinky mind had been busy imagining her in nothing but stilettos and a collar, and attempting to make it sound less pervy, he had exchanged it for a diamond choker, throwing in the wedding ring as a bonus.
“I see you are still unsure.” Annani pursed her lips and produced a smartphone from a hidden pocket in her dress. Before Syssi had time to process her intentions, the Goddess’s small fingers flew over the screen and she pressed send.
“What have you done?” She would be so humiliated if Kian laughed at the idea. And why wouldn’t he? It was absurd to talk about marriage so soon.
“Do not worry, my dear. I only asked Kian when and where he wants to hold the wedding.”
As Syssi’s mouth did an imitation of a fish out of water, Annani’s phone pinged with a return message.
“That was quick…” Annani smiled as she lifted the phone from the table. “Let me read it to you; as soon as you can make the arrangements and get all the clan members here. First wedding. We celebrate big.”
“Can I see that?” Syssi wouldn’t have put it past Annani to invent this.
The Goddess handed her the phone.
Yep, there it was, black on screen. “I don’t know what to say.” Syssi cradled the device. “Could you send me a screenshot? I want to save this.”
“As soon as you give me my phone back.” Annani chuckled.
Reluctantly, Syssi did. “Is Amanda still sleeping? I need to talk to her…” Syssi felt like she was falling down the rabbit hole again. She needed Amanda to keep her from going into full panic mode.
Why was all this talk about a wedding making her so anxious? It wasn’t about second thoughts. Syssi had none. Kian was the only man she would ever want. It was just that everything was moving too fast.
What was the rush?
She wasn’t pregnant, so why the shotgun wedding?
“No, Amanda is not here. My daughter decided to take some time off by herself.” Annani sighed. “Poor girl…”
“Where? When?”
And how could she? The deserter. Apparently when the going gets tough, Amanda splits, probably to go shopping.
“She did not say. But Amanda has her phone with her so you can call her with the good news. I am sure she will love to help us plan the joyous event.”
Planning any grand party, and Syssi’s wedding in particular, was definitely something Amanda would love to sink her claws into, and she was much better suited for that than Syssi. Problem was, Syssi didn’t feel ready for a wedding, even if someone else took over the preparations.
“Why the rush, though? I don’t understand. Is it about propriety? I would have thought that your… “ she corrected herself, “…our people don’t concern themselves with things like that.”
Annani sighed and leaned to take hold of Syssi’s hand—the one holding a spoon and endlessly stirring creamer into her coffee. “My dear Syssi, I understand that you are overwhelmed and that everything is moving too fast. And considering that you and Kian have all the time in the world, literally, you do not understand why I am rushing you.”
“Exactly…”
“In part because it is my nature. Once I make up my mind about something, I do not procrastinate, I do not examine and question my decision, I move forward. I trust my intuition because it is smarter than me.”
Annani’s eyes shone with ancient wisdom as she patted Syssi’s hand. “Action is a forward movement, fear and procrastination are not. You have already made the decision to tie your life with my son’s. Do not let fear hold you from moving forward.”
“It’s not about fear…” yeah, it was totally about fear. “I just prefer to progress at a slower pace.”
Annani wasn’t fooled. “Do not fret, child, trust your instincts.”
Syssi sighed, she was going nowhere with the Goddess, and it seemed that resistance was futile when dealing with Annani. “So what is the other reason for the rush? You said it was only in part about moving forward…”
“Excitement, hope. Do you realize that your and Kian’s will be the first clan wedding? The best cause for celebration we’ve had in ages? This is why Kian wants to invite everybody, and why the party we are going to plan must be grand—unforgettable.”
Syssi felt herself relax a little. That kind of a party would take months to plan, maybe even a year, which would give her time to get used to the idea. And in the meantime, Kian would get to know her better, and hopefully still want to stay with her. The worst scenario she could imagine was if Kian regretted his decision. Which he still might, once they spent more time together.
“How long do you think planning and producing an unforgettable party will take?” Please say a year…
“To plan a ball for close to six hundred people, including travel arrangements for those who will come from out of town, we will need at least two weeks.”
“Two weeks?” Syssi croaked.
“Maybe I could shave off a day or two, but no less than ten days.”
Oh, boy, it was getting hard to breathe through the surge of panic. “My parents… are in Africa…” she managed a whisp
er, or rather a whimper… “My mother is a doctor, she cannot just get up and go on such a short notice, and travel is complicated.”
“It is not a problem. We will send another doctor to cover for her in her absence and charter a private jet to bring your parents here. Same for their return trip.”
Evidently, enough money could move things forward very quickly, and Annani was going to move mountains to have her grand celebration in two weeks or less. If Syssi wanted a say in her own wedding, she’d better stop chickening out.
If you can’t fight them, join them. Right?
“What are we going to tell my parents?”
“About what, dear?”
“Who you are, who I am now, why the shotgun wedding…”
“We can pretend to be mortals, and you could tell them that you fell in love with a Scot, who comes from a large family, a clan, and that you are rushing the wedding because his mother has to return home, which is true. I cannot stay here indefinitely.”
Syssi snorted. “Yeah, right. I can just imagine introducing you as Kian’s mother. You look younger than him. And the rest of the clan? You think my parents wouldn’t notice that everyone seems to be no older than thirty-five?”
“Yes, I see, you are right. Which means that you will have to tell them the truth, and then before they go home, someone will have to thrall them.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t invite my parents at all. Instead, I could send them a postcard from my fake honeymoon in Hawaii, informing them that I’ve eloped.” Her parents would most likely prefer for her to do it this way. She would save them from being inconvenienced by their only daughter’s wedding.
Bitter, much?
“It is up to you. Whatever you choose to do, Kian and I will support your decision. But if you decide not to invite them, just bear in mind that you are only getting married once, and later on you might regret not having them witness your wedding.”
Yeah, Annani had a point. After all, it wasn’t as if Syssi was estranged from her parents, or didn’t love them. She shouldn’t let her resentment over petty grievances cloud her judgment or influence such important decisions.
