Erecting Barriers Page 7

  “Miss Vesca.” He cleared his throat. “Would you care to share my eggs with me?” The unexpected rejoinder clearly popped out of his mouth unbidden.

  Jake, duly chastised, kept his lips locked in a situation he might otherwise have bedeviled. Smart man. Ken looked uncertain enough without his input.

  Attention turned to Vesca. Now the goddess squirmed uncomfortably. Obedience gathered that she’d acted in the heat of the moment, taking Jake to task in such an uncharacteristic way. What would she do now? Her norm each morning was to grab a couple of granola bars and return to the nursery. Would she do so, now, or accept Ken’s invitation? My, my. Breakfast had become interesting this morning. Obedience took a big bite of muffin, and sat back, anticipating.

  Surprisingly, Jake came to the rescue. “Ma’am. I apologize for my rudeness.” He blew out a breath. “To you too, Ken,” he admitted. “I’ve been an asshole.” He didn’t go farther. The pair of agents would set things straight later, without an audience. “Ma’am?” His eyebrows rose at a prolonged silence from Ken’s protector.

  She sighed. “Vesca,” the goddess finally corrected. “I’ve been in the house almost six weeks. I think you can call me by name.”

  “I’m sorry. Vesca,” Jake ran a hand back through his thick, dark hair. Unused to apologizing, he’d done it twice in one breakfast. “Ken always makes enough for two, hoping I’ll just eat my share and leave his alone, but I’m not taking any today. I’m heading to my office, and I’ll catch a bite there.” He looked sheepish as he misted out. “Bye all.”

  Bee-Dee knew the DEA boss would get a ration of crap from Candy and Enlil when the two joined him in LA. But right now, they were as intent on the Ken/Vesca goings-on as Bee-Dee, and they weren’t going anywhere.

  The wet-nurse turned her attention back to Ken, and gave a shy smile. “I have time for breakfast this morning. Tess and Marduk are with Girin and told me to go relax. I…I…have nothing else to do.” She stammered and shrugged.

  Ken went to the table and dragged out a chair. “Please.” He gestured. Vesca shyly edged in and sat down. He turned the eggs onto two plates, and added the toast he’d been keeping warm. “Coffee?” he asked.

  “No thanks.” She reached for the jug of orange juice on the table. “The caffeine gets in my milk and agitates the baby.” Vesca said it very matter-of-factly, but Ken’s gaze automatically strayed to her large chest. He hesitated a moment too long and Vesca noticed.

  She let out an exasperated breath. “Yes, they’re always this big.” The goddess shot him a quelling look. “And if you want to get a good look, just come to the nursery anytime. I’m on display several times a day if you’re interested.”

  Now Ken’s ears really did burn. Obedience knew he hadn’t meant to disrespect the nanny, but what guy wouldn’t be impressed with such an ample bosom. She looked down at her own average ‘C’ cups and fluffed. “Maybe you should be flattered, Vesca. Nobody’s taken that much of an interest in mine for a good many years,” she lamented. “And running a nudist camp, there’s been plenty of opportunity I guess we’re never happy with how much we’ve got.”

  I’m happy.

  Did she just hear those words in Kulla’s dulcet tones, or was she going nuts? She rooted around in her head for more, but came up empty. She brought her attention back to Vesca, whose eyes were now twinkling.

  “Sorry,” the nanny said. “I didn’t mean to be touchy about it, but sometimes it gets old being ogled for my breasts instead of my winning personality.” A personality that Bee-Dee realized might be a little snarky. Huh. Welcome to the Blue Hills women’s group. What did Lenore say they called their bunch? The Goddess League? A definite pseudonym for immortal women with attitude. It certainly worked for her.

  Ken put a plate down in front of Vesca, and placed his own just a few inches away. He tugged a chair up next to the goddess. “You hide away too much,” he said gruffly, advocating for a change of subject. “I haven’t had a chance to get to know your personality.”

  Vesca’s eyes went wide. “Would you like to, Ken?” she asked, and seemed surprised.

  He played with his eggs for a minute before answering. “I’ve been hoping to.” He put down his fork and turned his head, pinning her with a warm chocolate stare. “Oh, Hell. I’ve been trying to wangle a way to talk with you for weeks.” How appealing, the way his shoulders went back and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. Ah, spring, Bee-Dee thought, and love is in the air.

  Candy and Enlil must have gotten the same vibe. The couple disappeared in a swirl of mist, and she guessed they’d be late reporting to LA. Her inner tingle told her it was time to go up and check on Kulla. She’d leave the youngsters―of course, nobody knew Vesca’s actual age―to figure things out.

  “Excuse me.” Obedience wiped her mouth with her napkin, arose and brought her plate to the sink. The two wouldn’t even notice her leaving. Their heads were already bent together in avid conversation.

  Obedience made her way upstairs and toward the infirmary. Huxley had just come out, obviously visiting with his wife, the doctor, and his lips were slightly swollen. He grinned in her direction and whistled down the hallway. What was it about this place? There had to be something in the water. Her own libido―not dead, but dormant for centuries―could barely be contained around Kulla. It probably had to do with that whole Chosen thing, and she had no choice. What? Obedience went rigid and corrected herself. As a witch, and a pretty powerful one at that, she remained in control of every aspect of her life…well, almost. But if she didn’t want to be a Chosen, dammit, mere hormones would not drive her to become one.

  Dani-Lee tugged down her shirt as Bee-Dee entered. “Hey, Bee-Dee,” she greeted. “How was breakfast?”

  “Entertaining to say the least.” Obedience, not beyond a bit of gossip, spilled the latest. “Jake tried to compel Ken again, and Vesca, of all people, intervened.”

  Dani’s eyebrows rose.

  “Oh yeah. If I had to guess, I think you might want to sharpen your knives. Another finger removal might be in the cards.” Bee-Dee smirked and they both snickered. When a god mated a mortal woman, half his amulet went to her, making her a deity. But when a human male mated a goddess, they severed his little finger and placed it in his shoulder to become an amulet. Goddess blood was poured into the cavity, activating the powerful talisman before it got split, sharing it with the waiting goddess. A much messier operation than male god to female, but one that destined couples were eager to undertake.

  “Ken’s a worthy man,” Dani nodded. “I’d be pleased for him if it happened.”

  “Right.” Obedience agreed. “And then Jake better watch out.” She snickered. “Pay-back’s a bitch.”

  Dani left the room laughing and Bee-Dee turned to Kulla. She moved close and stroked his bright curls. His hair appeared damp. Dani must have washed it. She lowered her nose and inhaled his unique cedar musk. No amount of shampoo could cover up the pheromones that drew Obedience to him. She finger combed his ringlets and crooned a small spell under her breath. It wouldn’t hurt, even being a god, to get a healing push from some witchy magic.

  “You sang that when I cut my thigh.” Kulla’s eyes slowly opened and looked his fill of her as she hovered over him, reminding her of an injury he’d sustained while cutting firewood for an outdoor tryst. His mind had been distracted, he’d said, centered between his legs at the time.

  Obedience smiled, and rather than let him see her joy at having him back among the land of the living, she hid her delight at his waking with bluster.

  “That’s because the wound inflicted came so close to your manhood,” she said on purpose to get a laugh, gratified with his amused huff. “What if you lost the use of that wondrous muscle? I would have been sorely disappointed.” His molten gaze roamed over her face, and she felt the heat.

  “And why do you sing it now?” he questioned softly. “My nether parts are not in jeopardy.”

  “Yes, but how will you chase me with no leg
s?” Now she teased with attitude. “And what of that unfinished structure you’re erecting outside of my window? You expect me to throw myself at you for a mere four courses of stone?”

  Kulla let out a bellow of laughter and his face contorted in pain.

  “I’m so sorry.” Obedience placed her hands on his shoulders and pressed his doubled body back onto the pillows. “I shouldn’t be taunting you. Should I get Dani?”

  “No…no.”

  Sweat formed on his forehead and she wiped it away.

  “Give me a minute. I’ll be fine.”

  Not true. Obedience could see the agony chiseled into his face. The gods told her it would be like this. They purported the burn of generating new limbs to be horrific. She thought to take his mind off it.

  “I see that Dani has washed your hair.” She stroked his locks. “Would you like me to give you a sponge bath?”

  She could hear the battle going on in his mind as if he spoke it aloud. On the one hand, he’d have her attention on every part of his body. On the other, she’d see his terrible raw stumps and the beginnings of the regrowth, which wouldn’t be pretty.

  “Stop,” she commanded. “I’ve seen worse.”

  “When?” he demanded.

  “You forget.” Her face became hard. “Once you left me”―at least she hadn’t said abandoned―”I had to deal with the aftermath of many ‘inquisitions’ meted out by the elders in Salem.” She hoped her look said it all. “The tortures the so-called judges inflicted before sentencing kind souls to death were as bad as anything you’ve ever seen.” She didn’t know that, of course, but she wanted him to realize what he’d put her through by not taking her away.

  “Obedience.” His eyes briefly closed. “There were reasons I had to walk away from you. Perfectly good…”

  “Not now, Kulla. Please,” she implored. “If I don’t like what you have to say, I want to be able to fight with you, and how can I feel good about that when you’re lying here, helpless.” She gave him the ghost of a smile, allowing him to harbor the same hope that grew within her own breast. Obedience felt a weight lifted. When Kulla regained his health, she’d be ready to listen. In the meantime, a little visual reminder of what she once had, wouldn’t go amiss. “As for that bath…?” She waited for him to acquiesce.

  “Okay.” He grimaced as new cramping took hold. “But you’ll stop if I tell you.”

  “Absolutely,” Bee-Dee assured him. “And after we get you clean, you’ll be hungry…”

  Kulla coughed, interrupting. And did he blush?

  “Uh, right now I have a more pressing need.” He indicated the IV in his arm. “Dani’s got me so pumped up with fluids, I feel like I’m going to burst.”

  “Oh.” Obedience or Dani should have thought of that. Of course he had to pee…and he couldn’t get up. She looked around for a bedpan. “Let me get you something to go in.”

  Kulla groaned.

  “Are you hurting again?” she asked, half way across the room to a basin that would suffice.

  “No. I just didn’t think the first thing involving you and my…manhood, would involve urinating.” He grimaced when she laughed and returned with the pan. He worked his arm out of the blankets and took it from her. “Now go and give me some privacy.”

  “Shy bladder?” she asked, cheekily, but gave him a quick buss on the cheek that she knew did little to help the situation, and scurried from the room.

  “Ahhh.”

  His sigh of relief sounded through the door. He wouldn’t like that she had to take the basin and empty it, but she’d make it up to him. Obedience gave him a minute. “Is it safe to come in?” she called.

  “Yup.” He sounded more relaxed. The witch didn’t give him a moment to protest, but whipped back his blankets and snagged the bedpan before he could think. All business, she covered him back up and took the receptacle into the bathroom, emptied and washed it. There. No time to be embarrassed. She laid the plastic on a towel to dry and reentered the room. Kulla stared at the ceiling. On to the next bit of business.

  “So about that bath?” Obedience wouldn’t let it go. She’d been worried to death over him, and wanted the opportunity to examine every remembered inch of his body.

  He sniffed. “Fine.”

  Bee-Dee filled a new basin with warm soap and water, while his gaze followed her every move. When she came back to his bed this time, she lowered the coverings with great care; revealing each delectable inch of him with deferential relish. Even draped in a hospital gown, he still possessed the most beautiful body she’d ever encountered.

  She folded back the sheet, careful of his tender stumps, then urged him, without words, to lift his head so she could untie the gown. With the lacings undone, she peeled the cotton material slowly down over his chest. Ah, she breathed. Magnificent. She dipped the sponge and applied it gently to the fine blond hair that sprinkled across his chest. She lifted one arm, then the other, and lovingly applied it to each armpit.

  The care with which she washed down each arm and through his fingers, had his eyes at half-mast. And when she went back to his chest, she made sure that his brown nipples got the attention they deserved.

  “Hey,” he drawled. “Is this a bath or a seduction?” She registered the sexual growl in his voice, and preened.

  Placing his arms back in the gown, she smoothed it back to cover his upper half, then grasped the hem while gazing deeply into his eyes.

  “Bee-Dee,” he warned.

  She didn’t wait for any dissuasion. Up came the gown, and for the first time in several hundred years, Obedience gazed upon the object of countless decades of fantasies. It didn’t disappoint. Under her hooded stare, his cock went from semi-curled, to full-on hard in a split second. She couldn’t wait to touch him.

  “I’m sure you’re very dirty,” she told him, dipping the sponge and pausing above him. His penis twitched.

  “Very dirty,” he agreed with a groan, but a different kind of groan than when he’d been in pain.

  She started with his belly, trying to ignore the bobbing prick so close at hand. She washed back and forth, willing her heart to stop making so much commotion. “Can you spread your legs without too much pain?” she asked in tremulous voice. “I’m going to wash your testicles.”

  Kulla growled. “My balls are just fine,” he stated, but inched his legs apart anyway. When she took his soft orbs in hand, Bee-Dee had what she wanted.

  “Dammit, Obedience. You have to stop. I’m going to lose it, here.” His hands covered hers, halfheartedly, but she nudged him away.

  “Let me,” she said, and finishing up with his balls, she ran the warm wetness up the length of his cock. She paid particular attention to the long distended vein on the underside, and the head, where a relentless bead of moisture kept reappearing. “I can’t seem to take care of this.” She tried to sound clinical, but failed. “I’ll have to use a different method.” Before Kulla could even take a breath, Obedience lowered her head and swiped her tongue across the purple head, licking away his pearl of excitement.

  They moaned in tandem.

  “You taste so good.”

  “That feels unbelievable. Bee-Dee, but we can’t do this. I promised I’d finish your ziggurat first. It’s important. Please stop. Dammit, I’m harder than I’ve ever been in my life.”

  Her gaze went to the door. “I’m locking it.”

  Bee-Dee knew this was craziness. Kulla had just woken up. He was weak, regenerating. He’d made some kind of a god-like pact with himself about those damned stones, but screw that. Her body quaked; a mass of quivering anticipation. What would it feel like to be fucked by him again? She knew it would be even better than what she remembered. Her hands raised to spell the door locked, but before she could say the words, the portal burst open.

  Kulla yanked his gown down, placing a forearm across his dick to keep it from tenting. One of the blue men cockblocked.

  “I’ve been sent to stand guard. The compound is surrounded by demo
ns, and I’m to make sure you remain safe.”

  Bee-Dee looked to where Kulla lay, confined to bed. Her gaze flicked to the hallway as an egress toward the potential trouble. “Really bad timing, huh?” She grinned and sighed at the same time. “And now I have to ask for a raincheck because my witch powers might be needed to help your friends.” She huffed.

  “Obedience. No,” Kulla called, but she didn’t listen. She was already gone.

  Chapter Seven

  Beletseri had done well in her latest trip to the Underworld. She began by interfacing with a couple of higher caste demons whom she worked with before, but they quickly told her a new boss had come to town. They were no longer in charge. An inherently evil, fallen-human soul had done some cleaning house and re-organizing down below, and formed the various ranks of rogue demons into task forces of sorts. This mastermind had quickly taken a system that had been chaos for thousands of years, and shaken it into a semblance of order. He had some balls. Bel narrowed her eyes, intrigued.

  “Take me to him,” she had demanded.

  One of the demons looked sheepish. “That’s not the way it’s done anymore.” He glanced everywhere but at the goddess known for inflicting misery. She raised an eyebrow and remained deceptively calm.

  “What?” The one word held a plethora of meaning.

  “The boss has a calendar, and you have to book an appointment.” The demon sounded pained.

  “Tell him that a goddess demands an audience. Immediately,” she proclaimed, attempting to hold her temper. She would not yet show the new overseer her true nature. At least not until she’d taken his measure and seen what he might be able to do for her. Having an organized band of Hell-spawn might not be the worst thing. It could work to her advantage. Strange that she’d never thought of it.

  Bel didn’t have to wait long. She hadn’t thought she would. The advent of a visiting goddess was unheard of in these nether-parts, and the new soul did well to play nice. Chances are he’d asked the two demons about her, and they’d relayed her hell-on-heels, not good at being put on hold personality. She would be admitted immediately. The unknown schemer already showed some smarts. Bel smirked. Self-preservation became key in a good ally.