Restricted MC (The Nighthawks MC Book 14)

by Bella Knight

  Saber mock-glared at his son. “Family night,” he said. “We’ll play You Don’t Know Jack afterward.”

  “Works for me,” said Warren, and he began putting parts in the plastic box.

  “What is this thing, anyway?” asked Saber.

  “Duh, Dad. It’s red?”

  “The human heart,” said Dina. Warren shot her an entirely real glare.

  “Well,” said Saber, heading off the incipient fight. “Are you trying to learn about heart valves? They’re learning how to grow them in a lab, you know.”

  “Cool!” said Warren.

  “That can be your job. Making hearts grow.” He yawned, stretched. “Or artist, astronaut, nurse…”

  “Dad,” said Warren. “I can make my own decisions.”

  Kat and Saber shared a look. “Yes,” said Saber. “You can.” He stood, stretched, felt his back pop. Rimmel tried to help him do a few yoga moves. Saber laughed, and stretched some more.

  “Okay, Dad, I’m ready,” said Warren. Saber sat on the floor, and acted as his son’s surgical nurse while Warren put the heart together.

  Sigrun stole a kiss from Saber (and Warren and the dogs) when she got home, paint still in her hair. Saber sat down with the girls while Sigrun and Kat finished off dinner, grilled chicken, stuffed baked potatoes, and cherry and lime waters. Kat took the part she’d cooked for her own family, kissed everyone, and went home.

  “How was your day?” Saber asked Sigrun, as the kids debated what games to play after dinner.

  “We put five more artificial arms in the mail today,” she said. “Then another mural. I’m getting paid and graded at the same damn time.”

  Sigrun worked with a team of artists that worked to eliminate graffiti by hiring talented graffiti artists to do murals. The work was hard-hitting, critically acclaimed, and made the city look better, wall by wall. Sigrun was paid less than the graffiti artists.

  “Like herding cats,” she said, referring to the graffiti artists. “And then a big pow-pow of the anatomy and physiology exam, and then the pediatric plastic surgeon and I had a talk.” She sighed. “He wants me to go for a medical degree.”

  All three kids immediately focused on her. “Way to go, Mom,” said Dina.

  “Go for it,” said Sondra.

  “Awesome,” said Warren.

  “Wait a minute, guys,” said Sigrun. “We’re talking a bachelor’s degree, which I’m almost done with due to the miracle of online classes. I’ve got to take four more years of medical school, and three more years of a residency.” She threw up her hands. “And, I’m an artist! I want to see and understand the human body, under the skin, how it works, to make better arms and legs. I’m kind of a 3D sculptor that works with the human body.”

  “And that’s even cooler,” said Saber. “Do whatever makes you curl your toes.” She laughed, and threw a napkin at him.

  “And a scientist,” said Warren. “Seeing under the skin is science. 3D printing is science. Load tolerances and materials fabrication is science.”

  Saber looked at Warren, and dropped his jaw. “Sigrun,” he said. “Did you use those words with Warren earlier?”

  “No, Dad,” said Warren, laughing. “I had to find out what Mom does, right? So I looked it up. Materials science is way cool.”

  “Did you have any trouble putting the heart together?” asked Sigrun.

  “Oh, I have you to blame for that,” said Saber, grinning.

  “Dad helped me,” said Warren.

  “No, I gave you a box. You put the thing together.” Saber winked at Sigrun. “Next time, get the plastic boxes with dividers in them in order to divvy up the parts into manageable sections.”

  “That was a test run. Want to make 3D body parts, like Alo made 3D hydroponics beds.” Sigrun sipped her lime water.

  “That’s cool,” said Warren.

  “That’s amazing,” said Saber. “You can fund more printers like that.”

  Sigrun made a noise like an explosion, and threw out her hands. “Boom! Yeah, that’s the plan. Gotta fund this long past me moving on to greener pastures.”

  “Um, Mom, all pastures have grass. That’s why it’s a pasture. They’re all green.” Saber looked stumped.

  “It’s part of an aphorism, a statement that is obvious when you think about it, usually with a moral,” said Sigrun. “‘The grass is always greener on the other side’ is an aphorism about wanting to move somewhere, and finding out things are actually pretty much the same over there.”

  “Wasn’t when I moved,” said Warren.

  “Same for me,” said Dina. “So glad that witch is in jail.”

  Saber tightened his jaw. He’d been furious to find out Dina’s foster mother had neglected her, to the point of her being underweight and also missing a needed surgery on her hip to get her out of pain. “She’s where she should be,” he said, trying to keep the rage out of his voice.

  “It’s good now, Dad,” said Dina. “Okay, let’s get this stuff off the table. Key lime pie after the first two rounds of board and card games.” They cleaned the table so fast that the adults didn’t have to get involved.

  Sigrun grinned, and Saber grinned back. “Our kids rock,” she said.

  “They do,” said Saber.

  They were in a spirited game of Uno when Wraith breezed in, reheated her food, and ate it standing up at the kitchen counter. “Mama, you’re creepy,” said Warren.

  Wraith raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

  “You’re just staring,” he said.

  “Just looking at my gorgeous kids.” Wraith ate some potato; it was laden with cheese, bacon, black olives, chives, and sour cream, and heaped onto her plate.

  “I love you,” said Sigrun.

  “Back at ya,” said Wraith.

  “You guys are gross,” said Warren. Wraith left her plate and ran over and kissed one of Warren’s cheeks, while Sigrun kissed the other. “Ooh, gross!” said Warren. Everyone else at the table laughed as he wiped his cheeks. Wraith laughed, and went back to finish her meal.

  They switched to Splendor, with Wraith getting her Warren-time by playing the electronic version of Monopoly with him, with all transactions via a card swipe. He actually enjoyed it, and the electronic version was small enough that they were able to do it on the corner of the couch, with Rimmel’s head on Warren’s lap.

  “No fair,” said Wraith. “The dog is helping you.”

  “Mama,” said Warren, exasperated. “I don’t speak dog.” Everyone got a belly laugh out of that one.

  Warren won, and they put away all the board games and played the electronic quiz game You Don’t Know Jack. They laughed their heads off, entering bizarre answers on their cell phones to the prompts. Then, each parent took a kid to shepherd through a bath, brushing teeth, and for a story in bed. Warren wanted The Belgariad, and Wraith and Saber had fun acting out various characters in The Hobbit. Warren went out like a light. Rimmel snuggled with Sondra, and the girls settled in to read on their phones.

  Asia followed Sigrun to the bedroom. Wraith showered, and Sigrun sat her down on a cushion and braided her hair, pick comb in one hand, hair in the other, beads, rubber bands, and bobby pins in a little container at her side.

  “How was your day?” she asked.

  “It was a pain in the ass. Chess-piece people, getting around traffic to get everyone picked up and dropped off at the airport. A starlet that just had to go out and get drunk in public. Shiva acted like her second skin, danced and pretended to drink with her, got her out of there without the client getting groped or drugged. And, it wasn’t even the late afternoon yet. The casinos are all dark and cool, and she was determined to be in the tabloids. No one reading that trash will have any idea when the drunken revelry took place. She tried to flash her hoo-hah, but Shiva didn’t allow that one.”

  “Did you just say hoo-hah?” asked Sigrun.

  “Sorry about that. Long day.”

  Saber came in, relaxed against the padded headboard. “I’ve gotta
say, I’m ready to fall over. All the playing board games, loving dogs, that sort of thing.” He patted the bed, and Asia leaped up. He petted her head, and she looked at him with doggy adoration. Roxie showed up, leapt onto the dresser, and looked down upon them all as she washed her feet, one at a time.

  “Poor baby,” said Wraith, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “One of my operatives had to keep a nineteen-year-old rich girl from exposing her vagina to the public.”

  Saber did a full-on body cringe. “Just… yuck.”

  “Beyond yuck,” said Sigrun. “I love my own vagina, and yours, Wraith.”

  “Good to know,” said Wraith. “I don’t think people should expose themselves in public. Scares the horses and the children.”

  “And the dogs,” said Saber, petting Asia.

  “And the dogs,” said Wraith. Sigrun put in a silver bead, and started on the next braid. “And what else happened?”

  “Chess pieces,” said Wraith, moving her hands. “The good news is that everyone did what they were supposed to do.” She rested her body on Sigrun’s legs.

  “I got to herd cats,” said Sigrun. “Graffiti artists don’t work and play well with others. I marked off segments, and got them to go to separate corners.” She bent down and kissed Wraith. “I learned that from you.” “Thanks, love,” said Sigrun.

  “It’s lovely having you here,” Wraith said to Saber. She reached out, and he grasped her hand with his non-dog-head-scratching hand.

  “And I’m glad I’m back.” He squeezed her hand. “I have to talk to you guys about something,” he said.

  “Okay,” said Sigrun. She put the next bead on.

  “I love you,” said Wraith.

  “Ditto, to you both,” said Sigrun.

  “Ditto,” said Saber. He sat up. They both swiveled their heads to him. “I’ve got something to tell you. I’ve got synesthesia.”

  Sigrun got it first. “You taste things as colors?”

  “I see speech as colors,” said Saber.

  “Does that affect your reaction time?” asked Wraith.

  “I’ve been to the shooting range, and requalified,” said Saber. “It’s just fucking weird.”

  “Welcome to reality,” said Wraith. “It is always weird.” They all laughed.

  “So, what sound looks like what color?” asked Sigrun, starting on another braid.

  “Warren is blue. His voice is blue.”

  “Oh my god. That makes sense. He’s so solid, you know?” said Sigrun. “Wait, what am I?”

  “Yellow with silver edges,” said Saber. “And you, love,” he said to Wraith, as he ran his thumb over her fingers, “are dark chocolate cherry.”

  Wraith let out a bark of a laugh, and Asia let out a soft woof with her. “I sound… decadent.”

  “You are,” said Saber, a huge grin on his face. “And Asia here sounds red when she barks, but a reassuring one. Kind of maroon.” Wraith kissed the tip of his fingers.

  “Quit trying to jump our husband,” said Sigrun to Wraith. “Last two braids.” She smiled. “This is kind of cool,” said Sigrun.

  “Kind of awesome,” agreed Wraith. “And I’m going to jump you when Sigrun finishes.”

  “Hey!” said Sigrun. “What am I? The yellow daisy no one wants to kiss?”

  “No, honey,” said Wraith, stroking her leg. “You’re sunshine.”

  “Wait. What about Dina?” asked Sigrun.

  “A gray that’s almost purple, or a purple that’s almost gray. Um, the last one,” said Saber, kneading Wraith’s hand. “Sondra’s a nut brown.”

  “Makes sense,” said Sigrun. “One, her skin color is that way from all the hours she spends outside. Which is good; she’s got Dina moving around a lot more. Dina’s not quite ready for the soccer team yet, but Dina does the Yang Short Form outside with Warren and Sondra.”

  “And Rimmel?” asked Wraith.

  “An earthy brown. Not like sand, much deeper.” Saber flipped over Wraith’s hand and dug into the fleshy part near the thumb, making her groan.

  “And Kat?” asked Sigrun, putting in the second-to-last bead.

  “She’s gold, like hammered gold,” said Saber.

  Both women sighed. “That’s just… gorgeous,” said Sigrun. She started on the last braid.

  “I’ve got to text Kat,” said Wraith.

  “Later,” said Sigrun. “Hold still. Last one.”

  Saber let go of Wraith, and he reached into the side drawer. He pulled out a box of condoms from the nightstand drawer. He pulled out three, and put the box back. Then, he held Wraith’s hand again.

  “Three, really?” said Wraith. “Someone has a high opinion of himself.”

  “Well, I’d be an idiot not to, really,” said Saber. “I have two gorgeous women in bed with me. All the chores are done. It’s the end of a very long day for the two of you. The kids are asleep…”

  Wraith pulled her hand away and smacked him. “Don’t jinx it!” she said.

  “Too late,” said Sigrun. There was a little patting knock on the door. “Come in,” said Sigrun.

  Warren stuck his head in. “Geez, hair braiding. Did anyone ever tell you girls braid their hair too much?”

  “I braid mine sometimes,” said Saber. “You need something, Warren?”

  “I need a million dollars.”

  “Good try, but no,” said Saber. “What can I actually do in the real world for you?”

  “May I read in bed?” asked Warren.

  “Duh,” said Saber. “Kind of the point of going to bed.”

  “Thanks,” said Warren. He gently shut the door. Then, he opened the door again. “Glad you’re home, Dad,” he said.

  “Get in here,” said Saber. Warren opened the door, ran, and took a flying leap into bed. Asia moved out of the way, and Saber held Warren close. Sigrun put in the last bead, and then she grabbed Warren’s foot. She pulled him over and hugged him too.

  Then, Wraith hugged him. “Bed,” she said, standing up, arms full of fresh-smelling boy. She carried him back to his pod, tucked him in, and read to him for five minutes. Warren slid into sleep.

  Wraith came back to find Sigrun’s shorts, tank bra, T-shirt, and underwear strewn all over the bed, and two mounds under the covers. Asia slipped out. “Good call,” said Wraith. She shut the door, and latched it behind her.

  She stepped forward, and pulled the covers off the two bodies squirming underneath. Saber had Sigrun on her back, and was kissing her neck. She flipped him over, and ran her hands through his long hair. She kissed him once, twice, three times. Wraith took off her night T-shirt and shorts she’d been wearing, and lay down next to them, giving them plenty of room to roll over the other way, pulled the sheets up over her body, and pretended to sleep. Her exhaustion was genuine.

  That didn’t last. Wraith ran one hand down her side, from her head to her thigh. She groaned, turned to look at Sigrun. Sigrun rolled a condom on Saber, and kissed him, then scraped the tips of her fingernails down his stomach as he groaned softly so as not to wake the children. She clenched, hard, making him groan again. She rode him in great rolling waves, driving herself deeper, then almost all of the way out, then back in, making him groan and gasp. Wraith rolled over, reached into the drawer on her side, and took out the soft gag Saber liked. He lifted his head, and she tied it behind his head. He was the one that tended to make the most noise, and they didn’t want to wake the children. Wraith reached over to her cell phone, and put on some light rock, not too loud, but something to mask the noise of their lovemaking.

  Wraith was content to watch, letting her eyes play over Sigrun’s body. She reached up, and gently stroked one of her breasts, then licked her finger and played with a nipple. She ran her hands down Sigrun’s back, and when Sigrun leaned forward and put her hands on Wraith’s shoulders, she stroked her buttocks. Sigrun nodded, and Wraith pushed off the sheet and turned around, her feet on the headboard. She began lightly slapping Sigrun’s buttocks, first one, then the other, and never in the
same place. The vibrations traveled through Sigrun into Saber, making him moan and gasp into the gag. Wraith took her hand away because she saw Saber clench Sigrun’s thighs. He came, hard, and Sigrun came with him. He lay there, gasping. Sigrun removed the gag, kissed him, swallowed his gasps into her. Wraith rolled over, got the wet wipes out. Sigrun cleaned them both up, then threw away the evidence.

  Sigrun came back to find Saber using one hand to stroke Wraith. Wraith hummed deep in her throat. The sound apparently made Saber wild, because he groaned and leaned into Wraith.

  “Move over,” said Sigrun, and they both scooted over. Sigrun kissed Wraith, slowly, gently, and stroked the non-braided section of her platinum hair. She kissed Wraith’s mouth, her nose, and her eyelids.

  “Mmm,” said Wraith. Sigrun worked her way down, kissing, sucking, nibbling, making Wraith come once, twice.

  Then she slipped her fingers deep inside Wraith, who was wet. Wraith wiggled, sighed, and came again. Sigrun turned herself around, and got on top of Wraith. Wraith reached up and stroked Sigrun, slid her fingers in, and did the same to her. She used her tongue, lips, and fingers to make it good. Afterward, they spooned, Wraith in the middle, and they slipped into sleep.

  They were awakened in the morning before any of the alarms, by screaming. Sigrun was out the bedroom door and down the hall before the exhausted Wraith could stand up. Saber followed her out.

  Sigrun found Sondra screaming at Dina. “You took it!”

  “Lower your voice,” snapped Sigrun. “Took what? And do you realize it’s five thirty in the morning?”

  Warren stumbled into the room, a baseball bat in his hands. “Good job, Warren,” said Saber. “Girlfight. Let’s go back to bed for a little while.”

  “Mmmf,” said Warren. Saber picked him up and took him back to bed, baseball bat and all.

  “She took my mama’s necklace. My real mama.” Sondra’s voice was high-pitched, and furious.

  Wraith, coming up behind Sigrun, gasped. Sigrun kept her voice even, despite her own stab to the heart. “One, what did it look like?”

  “It was a little silver heart on a silver necklace.”

  “It was broken,” said Dina, in a little voice. “I put it in the repair box.”