“It will be okay,” Aegir asserts.
Then he turns around and hugs me tight. I tense up at first because I’m surprised that he’s doing this, right here in front of the President’s security detail, but I find I don’t care, and I sink into his embrace. He’s so huge and his arms are so long that Kari, Loge and I are all wrapped into one enormous hug and Aegir’s chin is resting on the top of my head. His barbed tail curves around my back, giving me an extra embrace. And now my cheek is pressed against warm skin, with two sweet babies wiggling close and I can hear the steady thump of his heart. And I already feel much better.
I take a deep, calming breath. “You won’t be gone that long?”
“No,” he chuckles. “You know me. I won’t be gone long.”
True.
“He won’t be gone that long,” the guard agrees.
Aegir’s leaving, without a single complaint? That easy? I’m struck dumb at the fact that he is willingly stepping out the front door. He never goes anywhere. He runs on his high-tech treadmill and lifts huge weights in his home gym. The farthest he gets from the house is my driving lessons, or the backyard. In fact, last weekend he and Bergelmir had a fire breathing, wrestling match in the backyard. Bestla, the babies and I, watched and clapped. And you bet your ass I got pictures and vid of the whole thing. And holy crap, it went viral.
“And I’ll return with bug spray,” he promises.
I give him a huge smile and I stare up at Aegir’s scary-red face, the gleaming fangs and the black horns and I wonder—have I sold my soul to the devil? Will I ever be the same if this isn’t real?
He kisses Kari and then Loge on the head and then he’s gone.
Twenty minutes after Aegir leaves, I realize I have to get out of this freaking house because it’s bug-infested.
It’s a good thing the moms group is meeting today.
I’m actually pretty excited because we’re taking a field trip outside of our neighborhood to Rykeil’s house and I get to meet my hero from the vid channel. She’s having a mommy-get-together. Sherkis, Justical and Lurcas are definitely going to be there too, as well as a bunch of other moms I’ve never met. It’ll be fun for me as well as a great outing for the babies because there will be other infants and mommies for them to interact with.
Click, click, click.
Oh gods, I swear I can hear the insects’ pincers from anywhere I stand downstairs. I cannot be near them while they’re running wild. A shiver of fear races down my spine. I pull the babies out of their play stations and race upstairs.
I get dressed and ready, and then I get the babies ready too and load them into the utility vehicle. Which takes an hour.
“We’re off,” I yell as I start the X5. I glance back at delicate Kari and sturdy Loge. I have them freshly washed, with clean diapers and fed and dressed and secured properly in their seats—which was a feat. I deserve a medal for getting this far.
We cruise around town in the amazing car Aegir bought me. I can’t help the goofy smile on my face. I have to admit this car is all kinds of fun. This is helping to take my mind off the bug infestation and the fact that it’s not being taken care of until Aegir returns from his meeting, whenever that is. I open all the windows and the panoramic sunroof and turn my original planet country music up loud so the babies and I can rock out. At an intersection, two Hyrrokin parked in the next vehicle over gawk at the sight of a human. This happens all the time. I wave and smile back. They laugh and shake their heads. Hyrrokin are always amazed at my colorless skin, the hair on my head, and my lack of horns. And I’m so small compared to them. I have the driver’s seat pushed all the way forward, as far as it will go, and it barely fits.
I pull into Rykeil’s street and park in front of her house. There are a lot of other vehicles already there. I get out and slide open the side door so I can start unloading all the baby paraphernalia.
And then I hear a soft gasp.
I turn around and I’m shocked to see a well-dressed Hyrrokin female standing right there, so very close. Where did she come from?
“Babies,” she says, with a soothing voice. She’s staring far too intently at Kari and Loge for my comfort.
Is she one of the other mothers coming out to greet me? “Um, hi,” I say. “I’m Riley. And you are…?”
Her lips thin. “I’m their mother,” she says sharply.
I suck in a breath. Oh wow. I have no idea what to do. I realize right then that neither Aegir nor his family have ever mentioned this possibility, that Kritan might show up while I’m out and about and what to do about it. Is this woman legally allowed to see her own children? “Kritan?” I ask carefully. She’s easily a full foot taller than me. And I can tell that she’s got all the hallmarks of what the Hyrrokin consider the ultimate in beauty—deep red skin, shiny black horns and curves to die for.
She places her silver-tipped claws on her wide hips. “Heh. You’ve heard of me. Who are you?”
“I’m the nanny.”
“Figures. They can afford a human nanny, can’t they? Not even me leaving twins on his doorstep can stop Aegir’s work. There’s nothing his money can’t fix.”
I remain quiet.
“Aegir never gave me any of his time. I always had to beg to see him. I give birth to his twins and I still don’t see him!”
I don’t respond.
“I want to hold Loge,” she demands. “I’m his mother. I want to see my offspring.”
This female carried both of these babies for nine long months, then went through the bother of birthing both of them and lived with them in her own house for a whole month longer (with hired help) and decided she didn’t want them? It wasn’t like she was a surrogate, knowing this was going to be something wonderful she was doing for someone else. She wasn’t carrying offspring that were not genetically her own so she could give another being the gift of parenthood—and being mentally prepared ahead of time that she’d give these babies over to their biological parents. These two babies are literally her own offspring. Babies she was going to birth and parent, and she had the money to hire help. It’s inconceivable to me how she could’ve lived with them for a whole month and then changed her mind and thought, nope, turns out I don’t really want to be a mom. They’ve got to go to their father. It proves to me she didn’t want them in the first place. Their entire procreation and birth was simply a long-con gimmick to lock in Aegir’s attention.
And she hasn’t seen them for an additional six weeks and only now wants to see them? Oh hell, no. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I grit. I don’t trust her motives for a second. This woman tricked Aegir into getting her pregnant, then when she had his babies, she didn’t want them. She left Kari and Loge on his doorstep with a note and a court summons.
She isn’t touching these twins. Not on my watch.
I quietly step between this female and the vehicle door.
“Get out of my way. I’m their mother. I can see those babies whenever I want.”
I cross my arms.
“Kritan,” a deep voice bellows. “Now isn’t a good time for this. Let’s get out of here, I’ve got a meeting to get to.”
Kritan turns and looks back at an older Hyrrokin male she arrived with, the male who’s waiting for her in a running vehicle.
“Who’s that?” I ask.
“None of your business.” She jabs a claw at me. “You’re lucky I have to go. I’m watching you,” she warns. “Tell Aegir I’m watching him too.” And then she turns and jogs to the car.
And suddenly Sherkis is there and so are a bunch of other moms. “Yeah, you’d better run away, Kritan,” she shouts. “Don’t you dare show your face here again.”
My eyes widen.
Sherkis growls in her throat. “She and I used to be friends, but she grew up and changed. I’m still pissed off.”
“I can’t stand her,” Justical growls. “What kind of woman tricks a man into getting her pregnant and then has his babies and gives them up to him? And a
ll this after keeping the babies a secret so he doesn’t even know he’s got twins until the two babies are dropped off onto his doorstep?”
“It’s disgusting,” agrees another mom.
“She’s lucky she’s not in jail.”
Suddenly there’s a shadow on the ground next to me and I look up and notice a huge male towering over me. I bounce back in shock. “Bergelmir? How long have you been standing there?”
He grunts.
“Are you following me?”
He crosses his massive arms and stares at me with a fixed gaze. Which I guess means yes, he’s been following me.
“The babies are fine,” I tell him.
He nods.
“Oh my gods, it’s Bergelmir Touchstone,” Lurcas squeals.
The other moms all let out a chorus of dreamy sighs. Then they start freaking out like groupies at an original planet rock concert.
I bark out a laugh. I can’t help it. And actually, it’s a great stress reliever.
10
Aegir
“Did you get the bug spray?”
“What? Bug spray?” It’s past dinnertime and I finally make it to my domicile and my female is asking me… Oh hell, she’d asked me to get bug spray on the way home, hadn’t she? Actually, I offered to bring it.
“Aegir.” Her eyes flash with anger.
Riley’s lips thin and I can see she’s annoyed with me. This might be the first time I’ve seen her truly angry. She’s usually optimistic and upbeat. The twins lit the couch on fire, and she took it in stride. She found out I was a Billionaire and my offspring’s biological mother is a stalker. No matter—completely stoic. She learns upsetting info, stabilizes quickly, figures out a solution and moves on. But apparently pests are her undoing. If anything, she’s more upset now than she was this morning.
“It’ll be okay,” I tell her, “I’ll get it later and…”
“No,” she barks out. “No, those bugs have taken over the pantry. I can hear them scratching and clicking and I’m certain they’re going to break free and swarm the house. And they’re touching our food! I can’t handle it. I’ve been upstairs with the babies all afternoon and evening because I can’t be near those bugs. I would’ve gotten the bug spray when I was out today, but I don’t know this planet that well, I don’t know how to describe what we need or what type of bug that is and you said…” I can see tears forming in her eyes. “You said you’d have it when you came home, so I didn’t ask anyone for help with this. But you’re home hours late and you don’t have it with you?”
Now she’s crying. Oh hell, I’ve made Riley cry. I turn around and walk right back out the door. I get into my Series X vehicle and drive straight to the store and purchase the bug spray.
I return to a quiet domicile.
I’m sure she’s put the twins down to bed and she’s in her own room, fuming. If she were Hyrrokin, smoke would be puffing from her nostrils and I’d receive a flash flame. But my female can’t chastise me this way. I change into my favorite pajama pants and go into the pantry to assess this bug trouble she’s dealing with.
I open the door and glance around and my lips twitch. It’s just common typhids. I’ll have to explain to her how they’re harmless. Still, I incinerate the majority of them, spray the rest and set traps. Anything to help my female. While I’m working on my hands and knees, I shake my head, thinking how I’ve spent the entire day pulled into a high-level meeting with President Grindstone and a group of finance ministers. They wanted my opinion on the best way to keep the economy humming in the next quarter. I was presenting my ideas to the best minds on the planet, to males and females I’ve admired since I was a youngling. This was why I was late and why I’d forgotten about the bug spray. And as I was driven home in a Presidential security vehicle, I have to admit I’d thought pretty highly of myself. The President had wanted to talk to me? And then I return to my domicile and she’s all, “Where’s the bug spray?”
A chuckle escapes my lips. At home with Riley, it doesn’t matter my knowledge of the finance markets, my wealth or influence. I’m just a male who should’ve remembered the bug spray. An hour ago, I was chatting with President Grindstone and now I’m on my knees exterminating pests and setting traps in the pantry.
I laugh some more and flick my tail. I have to admit I like how this female treats me. She saw me leave in a Presidential motorcade, but still expects me to remember her and our infants. Which is only right.
I finish dealing with the pests, then I program the cleaning bots to disinfect and remove the dead bugs and any contaminated food products, and to leave the traps I set. I close the pantry and move into the kitchen to wash my claws and arms at the sink.
I hear a noise and turn to see my human. It’s dark outside and the kitchen lights are on and the windows are privacy tinted. She’s wearing thin, form-fitting human clothing with strings that stretch over her soft shoulders. I can see the outline of her full breasts and hard nipples underneath the fabric as if she were naked. And her pajama shorts barely cover her rounded ass.
She’s the most beautiful female I’ve ever seen.
I’m instantly hard. A surge of possessive instincts and every bit of lust I’ve been holding back for the last month return in a flash of heat.
“What took you so long?” she whispers. “I know I don’t have the right to ask that. I’m not your mate or anything, just the nanny. Just the hired help but—”
There’s still an edge of anger to her voice, so I step forward and cut her off with a kiss.
I can’t stop myself. If it wasn’t for that damn judgment I’m waiting on, I’d take her to bed and keep her there. I’d show her again and again how sorry I am.
“Oh,” she breathes against my lips, and then melts into my arms.
This first kiss should happen after I’ve formally asked her to be my bound. I’m supposed to prove that she’s not just a potential pleasure mate, but the female I want in my arms for the rest of my life.
But I can’t stay away. I need her. She needs me.
My arms surround her soft curves and I cup her head with my claw. She reaches up and wraps her arms around my neck, pressing that hot body close. I moan, forcing my tongue into her mouth, my fangs tracking against her skin. Her lips are so very soft, her mouth small, and I’m devouring her. I’ve never kissed another female like this before—with everything I have. Everything I am.
She tastes amazing.
She’s kissing me with urgency, her blunt teeth clicking against my fangs. Her taste floods my mouth, my blood, my senses. She has no idea, but I’m never letting her return to her home planet. This female is mine now.
We stand like that, under the lights in the kitchen, kissing and kissing some more. One whole month of pent-up passion and emotion expressed in the power of our lips joining.
Finally, I break off the kiss and I lean my forehead carefully against hers. We’re breathing hard, trying to calm our labored breaths.
“I’m sorry,” she pants. “I know you had an important day, and I really want to hear all about it. I was just so upset…”
And then there’s an alert on my tablet. I growl and twist around and grab it off the counter. For all I know it could be a follow-up from the Presidential meeting.
But it’s my brother, with important information:
Kritan approached your female today on the street. We need to talk.
A storm of conflicting emotions hits my chest with fire and brimstone. Smoke wafts from my nostrils.
A small hand presses against my chest. “Aegir?”
I toss the tablet on the counter, grab her shoulders and meet her confused gaze. “While I was gone you and my infants were in danger?”
“Oh yes, yes I was. Gods, those bugs—”
“Bugs? No, I’m talking about Kritan Softstone. She approached you?”
“Oh?” She pauses, twirls her hair and bites her kiss-swollen lips. “Yes, that’s right. That happened in the morning. Kritan showed up when I
was parked in front of Rykeil’s house and wanted to see the babies. I said no, she couldn’t see them, and then she left. Bergelmir was there. It was fine. But the bugs, those were—”
I place my hands on her tiny waist and lift her to the counter and I’m between her legs.
“Aegir,” she gasps.
“It pains me that I wasn’t there to make sure you didn’t have to deal with her.”
“It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not okay. I let you down today.” I’m on edge. I not only need her scent in my nostrils and her taste on my tongue—I need to mark her as mine. I want Riley and yet I can’t have her. “I need you.”
“I need you too.”
My female deserves slow and easy, but she’ll get none of that from me. I’ve held back for long enough. I tear off her flimsy shorts and spread her thick thighs and I stare at the glory before me. I’ve never seen a human this way. I was wondering how different she’d be from a Hyrrokin female. Her pussy is sopping wet and pink and ready for my touch. I love the sight of my large red hand against her meaty, colorless skin. That same hair that she has on her head is also on her cunt. I touch it with my claws.
“Do you hate it? I can shave it off…”
“No,” I growl. “Keep it.” It’s the most erotic sight of my life. I palm my aching cock through my pajama pants. I’m going to love watching my red dick sinking into that pussy underneath the dusting of yellow hair.
I spread her thighs wider and she braces herself with her arms. I drag my claw along her wet slit and stop right at her entrance, without penetrating. I meet her gaze. “This is mine.”
“Yours,” she breathes.
Now I’m on my knees in front of her and I inhale her unique scent. It’s musky and addictive and I want to lick up all of her cream. I run my claw all over her pussy lips and the outside of her core, exploring, learning. I find her nub at the top, swollen and ready for my touch. She is built very much like our females, but much smaller. I’ll have to make sure she’s ready before I take her. She’s a virgin and a human, which means she’s going to be so very tight and I don’t want to hurt my future bound with my girth.
His Human Nanny Page 10
