by Cree Storm
Cobra’s cock was hard as steel, and the thought of getting his sentience naked and beneath him was all he could picture in his lust-filled brain. That was until the sound of Taco gasping had them pulling away from each other and turning to their maharishi.
Taco brought his clawed hand to his head, the wheezing and cough had Calvin leaving Cobra’s arms and rushing to Taco’s side. “What’s wrong, Taco?”
Taco dropped to the ground panting, “I… I… don’t… kn…”
Taco’s eyes rolled back into his head as he fell the rest of the way to the grassy floor.
“Taco!” Calvin and Cobra shouted, and Cobra rushed to his maharishi and longtime friend. Cobra placed his head on his dragon’s chest, “His heartbeat is normal.”
“Taco will be fine… well, until I kill you, Cobra. Then, I’m sorry to say, he will be dead too. Such a shame he is such a sweet dragon. Right now, he’s only sleeping. I put a shit ton of sleep medicine in his taco meat. Don’t worry Calvin. I knew you would never eat the tacos. That dragon means far too much to you.”
Calvin stood up, his eyes focused on the large gun the man held in his hand, “Cameron, what are you doing?”
“What I was hired to do over twenty-five years ago. Does the name Rory Conde mean anything to you, Cobra?” Cameron asked.
Calvin turned to Cobra asking, “Who’s that?”
“Rory Enrique Conde was a serial killer I put away a long time ago. You might have known him as the Tamiami Trail Strangler.” Cobra stated, never taking his eyes off of Cameron.
Gasping, Calvin said, “He killed a cross dresser because he said he tricked him into sex or something right?”
Nodding, Cobra replied, “Yes. He also killed five prostitutes after that… or at least that’s all we know of. He would strangle them then have anal sex with them after they were dead. A real sick fuck for sure.”
Cameron fired his weapon at their feet shouting, “Liar! My brother never did any of those things and you know it. Your testimony put him behind bars and he’s facing the death penalty as a result. You, Cobra, are the reason I will never hug my brother again.”
“Your brother’s sick fucked-up mind is why you can’t hug the bastard again, not me. Fuck, it’s been so long he’s been on death row, I should have killed the motherfucker when I had the chance. It would have saved everyone a hell of a lot of grief!” Cobra snarled, trying to put Calvin behind him.
Calvin saw the infuriated look on Cameron’s face and he knew what it meant. It was the same look his father had when he was about to kill someone he felt had betrayed him.
Everything was like slow motion as Cameron lifted and aimed the gun at Cobra. Without thought, Calvin pushed around Cobra jumping in front of the man, then pain like he had never felt slammed into Calvin.
All sound stopped as he watched Smoky appear from nowhere and grab the gun from Cameron’s hand. Spirit then swooped down, dropping Taj to the ground, and picked Cameron up, flying into the sky. Azul flew down to them with Pit on his back.
Suddenly, it was as if real time smacked into Calvin. Pain and the sound of Cobra begging him not to die were the first real live things Calvin realized were going on around him.
Pit dropped next to Cobra, telling him, “Keep pressure on that, Cobra.” Turning, he shouted, “Smoky go get Jude!”
“It’s going to be alright, Calvin. Jude’s gonna help you out.” Looking towards Taco, Pit asked Taj, “How is he?”
“He’s coming round.” Taj replied.
“Why did you do that, Calvin?” Cobra asked
Calvin could see tears shimmering in Cobra’s eyes. Calvin lifted a shaky hand to the man who had claimed they were mates, softly saying, “Di… didn’t wa… want y-you hurt.”
“Damn it, where’s Jude?” Cobra shouted.
Calvin had no idea whether anyone answered Cobra as he drifted into darkness.
* * * *
Cobra sat in a chair watching his sentience sleep. Thanks to the gods above, Jude was able to save his mate. It had been touch and go for a while, since the bullet apparently had nicked an artery, but Jude was able to fix it, and with a small blood transfusion from both him and Taco, Calvin was on the road to recovery. “Now if you would just wake up.”
Taco lifted his flattened-out body from Cobra’s arm, whispering, “How is he?”
“Jude says he made it through surgery fine, and all he needs now is some rest. How are you feeling?” Cobra asked his longtime friend.
“Better. I still can’t believe Cameron drugged me.” Taco muttered.
“He knew that with you by my side he didn’t stand a chance of killing anyone.” Cobra explained.
Sighing, Taco replied, “I know, but why? Why did he not try and hurt us sooner?”
“He couldn’t. Like you said, we’re always away on one mission or another, and when we’re here I never mix it up with the people from Drago. He needed to get close to me to even have a chance of success. He and Calvin were friends, and he knew how Calvin felt about me, so he stuck close. I think when he found out that Calvin had sent me that last note, he knew this was his chance. Cameron must have suggested he make the picnic lunch, and knowing your love of tacos, he laced your meat with something to knock you out. Then, he waited for everything to fall into place.” Cobra explained.
“He just didn’t expect that with everything that’s been happening to D.O.A., that you guys would be so paranoid and think Calvin was doing something devious.” Taco finished, in understanding.
Sighing, Cobra replied, “I don’t equate being careful with being paranoid. Besides, just because your paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you.”
Calvin surprised both Cobra and Taco when he turned his head, rasping, “Well, I don’t know what’s been happening to you guys, but I will forever be grateful for the paranoia.”
Cobra sat up as Taco lifted a little higher from his arm. Cobra brushed Calvin’s hair gently, softly asking, “How ya feeling, baby?”
“Like he’s been shot.” Taco muttered.
Calvin giggled, then groaned, “Oh gods, don’t make me laugh.”
“With as beautiful as you look when you laugh, I plan on making you do that regularly, once you’re healed, for the rest of our lives... if you’ll let me?” Cobra replied.
Calvin’s eyes widened. Cobra could see the hope within the man’s gorgeous blue-grey eyes, “You want me for the rest of your lives?”
“Oh yes, Calvin. We want that more than anything. We already told you, our lives will cease to exist without you in it.” Taco said with a smile.
Calvin tilted his head to the side, looking at Taco, asking, “You do know that is really freaky, right? It reminds me of a newspaper comic strip come to life.”
Taco peeled off Cobra’s arm and slowly grew until he stood as tall as Cobra, smiling, “Is this better?”
Calvin smiled at his friend, “You were fine like you were before, Taco. It was just a bit freaky, but I’ll get used to it.”
“Does that mean you’re willing to give Taco and me a chance to prove to you how good we can be together?” Cobra asked.
Calvin looked at Cobra as he replied, “I have dreamed about you for twenty-five years, Cobra. There is no way in hell I’m giving up a chance to be with you and Taco, but first… I mean after everything you said… I think it might be good to get to know each other a bit before we talk lifetimes.”
Cobra leaned over Calvin, whispering, “Thank the gods, because there is no way in hell I would be willing to give you up, and if you want to wait a while, I will do my best to honor your choice. I just wish you hadn’t written all those notes for twenty-five years, but instead forced a face-to-face meeting. We wouldn’t have wasted so much time.”
Cobra’s lips met Calvin’s before the man could say anything. It was a soft kiss, but filled with a desire Cobra had been feeling since smelling his sentience.
Taco hissed, “Damn that’s hot.”
Slowly pulling back, Cobra whis
pered, “Let me go get Jude. He asked to be notified when you woke up.”
Calvin was panting hard, but then grabbed Cobra’s forearm. “Wait... What notes?”
CHAPTER 4
“But you said you wrote that note I got asking me to meet you at the park?” Cobra said, in question.
Calvin was finding it hard to speak, and looked around. Cobra, thankfully, saw his dilemma, and quickly picked up a cup of ice. “Jude said you could have a couple of ice chips. Hopefully it will help.”
Calvin opened his mouth, moaning as the cool soothing liquid trickled over his dry throat. Opening his eyes, he hadn’t even realized he had closed, he felt his cock twitch trying to make a valiant effort to rise and saw a heated look in Cobra’s caramel-colored eyes.
Within seconds, Cobra blinked and stepped back, murmuring, “Sorry.” Cobra took another step back, saying, “I’m going to give Jude a call, and then if you can, I need to know what you meant by not writing those notes to me all these years.”
Calvin watched as Cobra left the room. Taco was standing there quietly, looking at Calvin in concern, and asked, “Are you hurting? Can I get you anything?”
“I hurt, but that just means I’m alive.” Calvin teased.
Taco gasped, “Don’t even joke about that! You could have died. That bullet… it nicked an artery. You could have bled out before Jude could save you. You could have…”
Calvin grabbed Taco’s large clawed hand, “Hey, I didn’t die. It’s okay.”
Shaking his head, a tear dribbled down Taco’s cheek, “No, Calvin it isn’t alright. You could have died and I can’t stand here and listen to you making light of that. It’s unacceptable. You are my and Cobra’s mate, and just the thought of you dying rips my heart out.”
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to make light of it, Taco, but if I think too much on it I might freak out, and honestly, I hurt too much to do that.” Calvin replied.
Taco sniffled, “I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that.”
Just then Jude walked in with Cobra right behind him. Jude smiled, saying, “Well, hello there, Calvin. I just want to check your vitals and do a bit of an exam. Nothing that should hurt too bad. However, when I check on your incision I’m not going to lie, it might get a bit uncomfortable.”
“It’s fine, Jude. Do what you need to do. Trust me, I had worse... not in a long time, but believe me when I say those times were unforgettable.” Calvin said with a sigh.
Jude brought a penlight out, saying, “I did see some interesting scars. Maybe one day you might feel safe enough to explain them to us.”
Calvin felt his gut tighten. He didn’t want to think about that time in his life. He didn’t want to think about the scars... or how he had gotten them.
The monitor started to beep rapidly, and Jude placed a hand on Calvin’s shoulder, “Hey, no one is going to push you into telling us anything. I just wanted you to know you can. Now, take a couple of deep breaths.”
Calvin did as Jude instructed. It allowed Jude to listen to his lungs and for him to calm down easier.
Once Jude had done all he needed to do, he wrote something on Calvin’s chart, saying, “Well, things are looking very well. I would think that being human your wound wouldn’t be healing like it is. Maybe it’s because of the blood donated to you by your mates, but I have to admit it is interesting.”
Calvin mumbled, “I’m not human.”
Jude looked at him curiously, “I didn’t note any shifter blood in your blood workups.”
“I’m not a shifter.” Calvin said, the monitor indicating Calvin’s unease.
“Breathe, Calvin. No one is going to hurt you. However, I do need to know what you are if I’m going to be able to treat you properly.” Jude insisted.
“I’m a multiplex elemental.” Calvin grudgingly admitted.
Taco gasped. Cobra and Jude both asking, “A what?”
When Calvin didn’t speak, Taco answered for him. “They are a very rare and unique individual. They look, smell and, for the most part, are human, except they stop aging by the time they turn twenty-five.”
“Okay, but that doesn’t tell us what a multiplex elemental is.” Cobra stated in confusion.
Taco turned to Cobra. “Usually an elemental is born with one gift. It can be air, water, earth or fire.”
Cobra smiled, “Cool. Which one are you?”
Calvin turned away, unable to look at the men in the room as Taco said, “He is all four.”
Jude whispered, “Holy shit. We need to get Pit in here.”
Calvin felt despair at Jude’s words. Gods, what would happen to him now? Would Pit expect him to hurt people like his father had? Would he force him to work with D.O.A.? Calvin didn’t want to hurt people. His father had tried to get him to do just that and when Calvin had refused, his father had tried to kill him.
The soft brush of a hand running down his hair had Calvin jerking, only to turn and see Cobra standing there, looking at him in concern. “What has you so upset?”
“I don’t want to hurt anyone. Please don’t ask me to do that.” Calvin practically begged.
Cobra’s eyes widened in shock, “Baby doll, no one is going to make you hurt anyone. What would make you think we would want you to hurt someone?”
Pit walked into the room with Jude and Taj. Calvin realized he hadn’t even noticed Jude had left the room. Calvin could see and feel the anger in the leader. Gods, what if Pit ordered him to do something he didn’t want to do and Calvin refused. Would he be beaten and left for dead like his father had done? Shit, would he be banished from Drago? Either one meant life as Calvin knew it was over. What was he thinking, telling Jude, Cobra, and Taco what he was?
Calvin’s heart began to race out of control and he quickly found it hard to breathe.
Jude immediately rushed to Calvin’s side, telling him, “Hey calm down. Everything’s going to be alright. I told you, no one here is going to hurt you.”
Cobra cupped Calvin’s cheek, giving him a steely look, “If anyone was to try they would have to get past Taco and me both.”
“Bu… but Pit is angry and… and the leader. H-he can… do… whatever he wants.” Calvin said through ragged breaths.
“I’m not angry with you, Calvin. Well, let me rephrase that. I’m angry at the situation, not at you. To discover that Clem sent me a multiplex elemental without telling me, pisses me off. He left Drago vulnerable, and there are many lives here that could have been put into jeopardy had you turned those powers against us.” Pit stated firmly.
Calvin’s eyes widened, “I would never do that. Heck, it’s because I refused to use my gifts that brought me in Drago to begin with.”
“Slow down and calm down, Calvin.” Jude urged, then turned angrily towards Pit. “I brought you here because I knew you needed to know about Calvin, but if you continue to upset my patient, Pit, I’m going to have to insist you leave and do this later. He may be healing from his gunshot wound, but he is not healed yet, and stress can cause bigger problems for him right now. So, tone it down, or get out.”
Calvin couldn’t believe the way Jude was speaking to the head of the D.O.A. Everyone knew the man was lethal… hell, some people in Drago felt as if Pit could kill you with just a look.
Pit sighed, “I apologize, Calvin. I didn’t mean to upset you. I’ve just found out that the agent Cameron had bring him here was bogus, as was his reasons for being here. His papers and reasons for coming seemed legit, and when Wiz and Nautical pulled them, it was clear how bogus the man was. It makes me wonder if anyone else in Drago might be a threat to us. Now Jude has explained to me what you are…” Letting out a deep breath, Pit seemed to calm, saying, “I don’t like being duped. Clem and I had become close and I trusted him enough not to do the proper checks when it came to you. I feel as if he counted on that, which was why he brought you to Drago to begin with. Knowing I fucked up doesn’t make me a happy man.”
“I think added technology might
have made discovering Cameron’s deceptiveness clearer, and as for my situation, I begged Clem not to tell you. He didn’t like it, but he honored my request.” Calvin softly replied.
“Why didn’t you want us to know?” Cobra asked.
“It was because of your father.” Taco stated without a doubt.
Nodding, Calvin whispered, “Yes.”
“I know this might be difficult, Calvin, but I need to know everything. How did you end up here? What do your gifts have to do with that? Who is after you, and why? How did you know Clem? What would make him agree to not disclose everything about you to me?” Pit asked in rapid succession.
Calvin felt his throat tightening up on him once more. Looking at Jude, Calvin asked, “Can I have some water now?”
“Just a couple of small sips. I don’t want you getting sick and ripping out the stitches I put in if you start to throw up.” Jude stated.
Taco grabbed the cup with ice in it and quickly went to the sink to fill it with water. Adding a straw, he placed the tip to Calvin’s lips.
Calvin drank down a couple of sips before Taco pulled the straw away. Calvin tried to chase the thing with his lips, but Taco shook his head, “He said a couple of sips. I’ll give you some more in a bit.”
Cobra gently caressed Calvin’s hair, saying, “Are you ready to answer Pit’s questions, or do you need to rest a bit first?”
Pit turned to Cobra, his lips tight and brows drawn down, “I need answers, Cobra.”
“And he is healing from a gunshot wound. One he took that was intended for me, Pit.” Cobra snarled back.
Taco gave a sharp nod, snapping, “Add to that, he is our sentience, and his health comes before your questions. If Calvin wishes to rest, then that is what he will do.”
“Please don’t fight because of me. I’m okay to talk to Pit, and besides, he’s long overdue for some explanations.” Calvin said, grunting as he tried to move.
Jude saw his discomfort, saying, “You have five minutes. Then I’m giving him something for the pain, and he needs to rest.”
