Jericho

by Nini Church

  None of them fit.

  One pair of gorgeous jeans wouldn’t even go over her thighs.

  That’s why she was out of sorts.

  In search of a scale to weigh herself, Abe went downstairs only to have Fifi and Matty stare at her as if she had horns coming out of her nose. “Don’t either of you ever check your weight?”

  Matty shrugged her off. “Whatever for? I try not to torture myself. I don’t wanna know, you know.”

  Fifi nodded sagely, distracted when noticing Abe’s thickening waist and the fullness of her breasts. Her face was rounder too, just slightly, almost not enough to notice, but Fifi did. A smile slipped out which she wiped away for fear Abe would take it the wrong way. Ah, life just got interesting. Real interesting and it might be that she was the only one who knew this secret. A thrill of sheer delight ran up Fi’s spine.

  Abe scrunched her face up. “I do since I’m piling on the pounds here. All the clothes I ordered online don’t fit. They don’t fit!”

  Impatiently, Matty stated, “So, send them back, order a bigger size and lie to yourself about it.”

  Abe snorted.

  Fi stayed quiet, studying Queen of the Jinn. Yes, Abe would do just fine – after she figured it out.

  “I need my weight to know what damn size to order. A tape measure too so I know exactly how big I’ve gotten.” Abe started digging around in the kitchen drawers, pawing through one after another for a tape measure.

  Fifi refrained from pointing out there were several in Elron's toolbox – beside the back door.

  Matty glanced at Abe – her t-shirt didn't hide her already sizeable bust which appeared even larger – if that were possible. Her jeans were also skin tight – uncomfortably so across her flabby belly. Hell, Abe had put on more even pounds than Matty suspected.

  How could she have put on so much weight all at once? Wary, Matty’s brown eyes narrowed, then grew wide with disbelief as she turned her back on Abe to study Fifi – who so far had been unusually silent. Not a word out of her. And if there was one thing about Fi, she was never quiet.

  She didn’t know what she was thinking, but when Fifi nodded at Abe still on her mission to nail down a tape measure, something clicked in Matty. She knew – it was an instinctive female thing – one to another. Symbiotic in a way linking females together. “No way!” she mumbled softly.

  “Indeed.” Fifi again nodded sagely. She went to Abe, gave her a quick hug of reassurance. “You’ve been eating well.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. But I don’t like it. I have to order new bras, even my old ones don’t fit and Matty only bought them a couple of weeks ago. I’m moody too and I can cry over anything including the toilet paper roll on backwards.”

  Alarmed by what she considered advanced symptoms of Abe’s condition, Fifi peered into Abe’s eyes. “How long has this been happening?”

  Abe’s face flushed red. “Since we mated. I felt different the next morning, but I’ve been sidetracked and haven’t really paid much attention.”

  Fifi’s blue eyes flicked to Matty who only shrugged. That sealed it. She’d keep a close watch over Abe for the next couple of days to confirm what was already obvious.

  “Do you think something is wrong, Fi?”

  “No, certainly not. It probably wouldn’t hurt to have a check-up though if you’re going to worry.”

  Maybe it was a good idea. She did feel odd since mating Jericho.

  Matty always on point and trying to break the tension, mischievously cut in, “You know we can maybe wrangle Cal and Zulu to take us for a drive around the compound.”

  Fi glared at Matty. “Absolutely not! You heard Jericho’s orders as well as I did. Besides, Abe promised him she would stay safely inside the house.”

  “I wish Daddio was here. He’d take me shopping.” Abe actually pouted. It wasn’t cute.

  “Let’s go stretch our legs then. We can do a couple of laps in the gym," Matty suggested. "Maybe you can have a go at the punching bag while you’re at it. Get some of that extra weight angst out.”

  Abe grinned, ducking her head. She’d been hard to live with lately and with no reason why it was embarrassing that Matty pointed it out.

  “But what about shopping?”

  Abe’s emerald eyes glowed with pleasure.

  “My girl, your wish is mine to command.”

  Fifi and Matty couldn’t move. It was hard enough to take in he was a God, but even harder was the way one look at the gorgeous male mesmerized them both. His eyes were golden, skin bronzed, hard roped muscles everywhere and very tall with a mane of blonde hair the color of wheat – almost white.

  The beautiful God wore a really sweet pair of blue jeans and a white silk shirt – open to the navel. Both females were besotted and under his spell. He didn't have to do anything but stand there and they'd be happy.

  Fifi shook her short curls and pulled her shoulders back. “We can’t. It’s against house orders.”

  “Technically anyway.” Matty added.

  “Assumptions will never do ladies.” Metatron bowed to both briefly before snagging Abe in a big hug. It did his old heart good to be around her and she hugged him back just as fiercely. “Shopping, daughter?”

  “Indeed, Daddio.”

  “No, most certainly not. You can’t just come in here and...” Fifi clamped her lips shut, not sure if she had just stepped over the line, ordering a God around – now that would be a first.

  Metatron bowed slightly. “Ladies, we shall shop in my world and it most certainly is not this linear one. You won’t be breaking orders as those issued pertain only to this dimension. We’ll go well beyond that.”

  Matty opened her mouth, but closed it abruptly as Fi pinched the back of her arm and everything dissolved around them. It was pleasant enough, but there was a sensation of shifting underfoot. A sensation that didn’t bear thinking about right this moment or ever.

  Fifi keep her eyes tightly closed, refusing to open them even when Matty pulled on her hand.

  A vast room formed, all the windows open to the sounds of a market place below. Very much the epitome of a harem room, long white sheers draped furniture, doorways, ceilings and were also used to divide the room into segments.

  Abe smiled at Matty and Fifi. Both were shell-shocked and not sure what to make of it when the room suddenly filled with people.

  Met barked out orders, calling for materials and those with needlecraft skills.

  “Listen you two, you’re gonna love this.” Abe winked. “Just tell them what you want and they’ll make it.”

  “Where are we?” Matty croaked.

  All big blue eyes no longer twinkling, Fifi appeared lost and completely out of her element.

  “Probably the Fifth dimension. It’s where the old man usually hangs out.”

  “I heard that daughter!” Met let his voice boom louder than normal.

  Silence descended until Abe threw back her head and laughed.

  “It’s Father, Padre, Papa, Daddy or any other term you wish to use when addressing me. All but that one.”

  Abe ignored him. “Ladies we have to undress. They’ll take our sizes that way. There are robes. We’ll have tea and pick fabrics. They have the greatest denim here, real soft.”

  Soon they were ensconced in three chaise lounges pouring over swatches of gorgeous fabrics and deciding on a short list for each. A tray with goodies and a big pot of tea sat on the table at their feet.

  After that it was simply a divine spa afternoon as it turned out. They waxed, peeled and hot stoned it until their new clothes were ready.

  Before they left the Fifth dimension, Met took a moment to hug his daughter, leaning down to whisper, "Tell your mate, my girl."

  Delighted, a big grin split Abe’s face. "So it's true?"

  "More than you know." He kissed the tip of her nose. "Tell Jericho."

  Big emerald eyes shimmered with happiness. "I will."

  Yeah, it was a great afternoon.

  Only
problem was; it was way more than a couple of hours on Earth, the Third dimension, where every ounce of time is ticked and tocked – not so in the Fifth dimension – a small defense for Met.

  That Third dimensional clock had tick-tocked an entire day away – twenty-four individual, single hours of time.

  It slips by differently when shopping with a God.

  Met deposited his daughter and the two females inside the house at the foot of the front stairs before promptly vanishing.

  The house was strangely silent until, arms full of bags, they all chattered away at once.

  Great day.

  Woo-hoo! Best. Ever.

  It was delish-

  “Aaaaaaabe!” Jericho screamed, thundering in from the dining room.

  “Matty? Mattilda! Matty?” Zulu shouted, huffing loudly, beads clattering together madly as he rushed in shadowing Jericho.

  Skidding to a halt, Jericho was livid. His jaw twitched rapidly as big veins bulged in his neck and his eyes were no longer blue, but raging deep purple.

  It completely corrupted the mood of such a lovely day.

  Eyes drilling into his mate with sheer disbelief, Jericho opened his mouth and roared. Yes – roared. “Where the fuck did you go?”

  “We were with the old man, he uh…well we went to the…ugh.” Abe couldn’t sputter out a complete sentence if her life depended on it. He was mad like Mamam used to get mad. It was nothing if not trouble with a capital T.

  Matty pitched in, giving it a go. “Metatron took us to the Fifth dimension…er shopping…and well, we really were only gone...”

  Purple eyes blazed at her and words dried on her tongue. Literally. There was no explanation – no defense enough. As King he had given clear orders and Matty was all too aware that no one and nothing denied, refused or ever refuted Jericho's orders. Abe was supposed to stay safe inside the house at the compound – with her and Fi. Oh yeah, King or not, he had every right to be furious.

  Abe cleared her throat loudly, drawing her mate’s attention. “Jericho. Listen to me. We only went shopping. There wasn’t any danger. Daddio was with us the whole time and you know how he is. We spent a couple of hours enjoying each other’s company. What harm is there in that?”

  “A couple...of hours?!” Jericho sputtered and couldn’t get any more out – his rage going molten, smoking hot.

  Zulu tssked several times, the beads at his temples rattling noisily as he shook his head.

  Conn, Reno and Caleb held back. Jericho had been nuclear for hours now and on a hair trigger.

  It was truly clear once and for all – no one was going to calm Jericho down except a petite blonde with big green eyes. A true Queen and one willing to give Jericho a run for his money every day all day – hell! – they all hailed her silently.

  Rad didn’t hesitate, wading right in. “Hey, you gotta know it’s been more than a couple of hours you've been gone.”

  “A whole fucking day! Twenty-four fucking hours! I’ve got half the world lookin’ for you three.” Jericho stormed back and forth – shit-kickers pounding in an arc around the females, wearing doubtful, solemn expressions.

  Abe ducked her head. “Uh, oh. Daddy has a way of stealing time.” Emerald eyes tearing, she admitted, “I’m so sorry, Jericho. We just took off and didn’t tell anyone we were going with Daddio. I know it’s no excuse, but the old man is an in the moment kind of guy.”

  “El? I didn’t mean it sweetie. You must have been worried sick.” Fifi ran to her mate. Elron’s arms stole around her. He closed his eyes before tears fell.

  “A whole day? Zulu?” Matty waited.

  The big tribal warrior, arms crossed defensively over his chest now, only nodded. He didn’t trust himself to speak or move. Until Matty did – she rushed him. He opened his arms, folded her into his body and rested his chin on top of her head. A perfect fit.

  Abe opened her mouth and Jericho grabbed her, smothering her, hand clamped at the back of her head and the other splayed over her ass, holding her close. Her breasts were smashed against his chest – oddly fuller than he remembered. He didn't care he was being rough with her. “Don’t you ever, ever do that again. Promise me. Now.”

  “I promise we won’t ever do that again.”

  “We?”

  “Yes, I'm using the royal we.”

  Jericho looked at his mate for a long time, noting again her beautiful breasts were larger before he caught the twinkle in her eye and could only wonder what the fuck next. All he wanted was Abe and time on his side, them together and just livin' it. He craved her, craved time with her – just them. Yeah, for the first time ever – another first! – he wanted peace and harmony and to live with her beside him – his mate, his Queen.

  Sternly, Jericho barked, “Matty, Fifi, I want your promises too.”

  Both females eagerly and loudly proclaimed they’d go nowhere with Metatron ever. Silently they pledged – no matter the temptation or power Met had over them. Vigorously, they avoided the word temptation altogether as they made their promises. Misleading to the max it would only cause more trouble with their males.

  It was a female thing and they were sticking to it.

  “It’s not Abe’s fault. Her father commands, he doesn’t ask.” Matty’s big brown eyes were wary as she waited for the penny to drop, hoping Fi wouldn’t spill the beans and admit Abe had called her father with a wish – cause Abe sure didn’t look like she was admitting it any time soon.

  Jericho huffed out a long breath, eyeing Zulu nuzzling the top of Matty’s head, his face aglow in a world of paradise.

  It was his world too. He just needed it to settle the fuck down some so he could enjoy it. He had worked his ass off over the last week and gotten the majority of treaties signed along with pledges for more open dialogue, finishing a day sooner than expected.

  Eagerly he took to the skies, like a missile arriving at his compound, expecting his mate to be there, safely at home.

  No.

  He had arrived to find utter chaos and all three females gone.

  No trace.

  No exit point.

  No heat signatures – all three had disappeared into thin air.

  Anybody could have taken them – he had called in everyone he knew and reached out to others he knew only by reputation. All came aboard, yet nada turned up on all fronts. As he waited, not knowing what had happened to them, Jericho was amazed by the pledges from all races that came, offering help in any way possible.

  He shivered as Abe held him tighter and he tried to let the fear go, the agony, the not knowing, the waiting – the hope that never died.

  He couldn’t take much more.

  And then he heard it again. A strong beat, then two, four. It didn’t stop. Coming directly from Abe’s rounded belly, her soft creamy skin pressing into his abs.

  Jericho gaped at Abe, deep blue eyes glistening with wonder that turned to amazement.

  Abe pulled back as his hands locked on her waist. Her thickening waist. Even her face had filled out.

  Smile full of pure delight and emerald eyes fiercely ablaze, she giggled. "Yes, I meant the royal we."

  Jericho blinked and then blinked some more – she said some words that...

  Huh?

  WTF?

  He shook his head fiercely, trying to knock the instant fog out until his mind tripped over itself as the very idea took hold. “We're having a fucking baby?!”

  "Yes, Jericho, we are."

  It blew his brain sideways and he felt off balance for a shred of a second before Yahooing at the top of his lungs and hauling Abe around in a circle as Reno kicked discarded shopping bags out of the way.

  “Jericho! Stop swinging her around like a toy,” Matty barked.

  “Fuck. Sorry. Shit. Fuck! Myn lykyng, are you okay?” He engulfed her, curling her into his body, realizing it was gentle all the way from here. A baby! “We’re having a baby!” he crowed with massive delight.

  Abe grinned from ear to ear. Jericho’s reaction
everything she could have wished for and so much more. He was ecstatic at having a child.

  Everyone converged on them, talking over one another, slapping backs, kissing Abe’s cheek until Jericho pulled her close.

  An unlikely duo.

  A King and his Queen – a mated pair.

  CHAPTER 24

  Early the next morning they made love for hours and still Jericho couldn’t get enough. He was mindlessly voracious and Abe was growing uncomfortably sore even with so many orgasms.

  She silently questioned if their honeymoon phase was wearing off so soon. What he needed was a lot more than she was offering it seemed.

  Abe rolled away and keeping her back to him, asked, “I’m not enough for you am I?”

  “Huh?” Jericho blinked rapidly as reality slammed down around him, revealing he wasn’t really present with Abe, but off somewhere else – a dark place in his mind. “You’re thinking too much.”

  “Don’t brush me off.”

  “Okay. So tell me.”

  “I can’t keep up. It’s getting painful. Whatever you’re after, I don’t have it.”

  Jericho pulled back so fast he almost rolled off the far side of the big bed. On his back in shock, his deep blue eyes glazed, seeing nothing as he realized at some point he had disengaged and fallen into the worst situation by taking Abe as if she were a vessel and nothing more – as he did with every female before the New Age of Abe.

  Jericho felt dead inside, no emotion, no feeling, no light. During sex, he drifted back to a time before Abe. All he could do now was feel sorry for himself. It was an empty place.

  That he grinded on Abe just like he did with all his females was the biggest wakeup call of his life. His cock shrivelled to nothing. So gentle and sweet, Abe was giving and loving to one and all not just him. He had morphed from sharing pleasure with her to grinding on her – hadn’t even noticed when he’d shifted from one to the other.

  That left him empty and colder than he had ever been.

  On his back staring at the ceiling seeing nothing, he heard Abe dress after her shower and slip from the room.