CHAPTER 1
Spook scanned his survival gear laid out on his bed. If he needed more than that, he’d just return and get it. Eveque needed his eyes, but for what exactly was necessary to know what he’d require. If his babysitting hunch turned out right, knowing how far from the Birdhouse this Maggie girl would be staying would help. And how old was she? Did she have any other handicaps besides being mute? Was she literally mute or just didn’t talk?
He pulled his phone out and dialed to get specifics.
“Spook, how’s it going?”
“Hey, I was wondering how far the girl will be from the Birdhouse to know what kind of gear I need to bring.”
“Uhhh…”
“If you don’t have those specifics yet, I can just come home and get things I need.”
“I don’t have those specifics, but I need to figure it out.”
He considered their options at Eveque’s indirect plea for help. “The Birdhouse has a shed. I can probably turn that into a shelter if you think I might be there a while.” He didn’t like asking about job length with this situation, but really hoped to know that. He was no stranger to babysitting as leader of a whole Hatch, but this felt different somehow.
“I wish I had that answer for you.”
“What answer?” he heard his woman ask.
“He’s wondering how long we’ll need him.”
“Oh, right. Good question. Maybe tell him we should know after the first week?”
“I agree. Beth thinks after the first week we should know.”
Spook nodded. “Fair enough. I’m about done packing and I’ll head that way.”
“We’re headed to the airport,” Eveque said. “I already sent my brothers out there to get started. See what’s needed.”
“That works.” He wanted to ask questions, unsure how to frame them. “Can I ask how old this girl is?”
“Twenty-nine.”
Shit. He’d not expected that old. “Does she have any other handicaps I should know about besides mute? I’m assuming I’m babysitting from a distance.”
“I would think so.”
Spook rubbed the back of his neck as all these unknowns pricked at his skin like ants.
“She’s fully capable of caring for herself, minus a couple of things.”
“That’s good. Like what?” he asked, feeling like it was a legitimate enough question.
“Well, we have a list of stuff the doctor sent. How about I text it to you and you can figure it out from that. You okay with that?”
He realized he was asking his woman and waited.
“Having the list would be very helpful,” he said, hoping to sway the decision.
“Oh, yes,” she said. “And tell him I said thank you so much for helping.”
“I’ll text you the list we have, and Beth says thank you.”
“Yeah, no problem. Happy to help. I’ll hang up and wait for the list.”
“Thanks Spook. I’ll call you soon.”
He paced in his small room, watching the screen as the ant feeling on his skin grew till it required self-discipline. He forced himself to stand still, then focused on his breathing. The ding of his phone brought his finger to the screen, sliding it open. He touched the attachment and read. His legs returned to auto-pilot-pacing along the room as he read the entire list and started again.
He sat on the bed and picked up his small notebook, pulling the pen from the spiral top. He began writing everything that might apply to him.
He’d looked after his mom and dad for the past ten years. You couldn’t get stranger needs and triggers than theirs. And he highly doubted this woman could be ornerier than them. Her issues might be different, but he could handle different.
All that really mattered was The Eveque asked him to help. And until he drew his last breath in God’s glorious swamp, his loyalty belonged to him.
****
“That was Spook?” Beth hoped to know more about him since he’d be around his sister indefinitely. And how around was he going to be?
“Yes,” Sahvrin said, checking his rearview mirror. “He’s nervous.”
That odd notion made her curious. “About what?”
“Well, he’s in my group and there’s the celibacy rule for one. But I’m convinced even without that rule, he’d be no different. He’s a bit of a perfectionist, which is what makes him the best at what he does. Just comes with a price for him.”
She wondered what he was saying about the celibacy. “You think he’s…gay?”
His laugh shot down the brief hope of not having to worry what kind of guy he was. “He’s not gay,” he said, somehow sure about that.
“So what is he nervous about I wonder. Now I feel bad for him. If you trust him, then so do I.”
“Good, because I would never put anybody around your sister I didn’t have complete faith in, Ma Petite. He’ll want to do everything perfectly and me not giving him each detail is probably giving him fits.”
“I’m nervous too,” she admitted. “So he’s in your group you said. Is this the group you mentioned that you lead? The Twelve men?”
“Yes. He’s our best tracker and survivalist. He will make sure nothing happens to Maggie.”
Something loosened in her stomach only for another fear to take its place. Time to think about things she could actually do something about. “The list for Maggie is… intimidating,” she said, hoping maybe he had ideas. “What if I forget the right calming technique? There seems to be a different one for every trigger.”
“You may have to carry the list until you memorize it maybe,” Sahvrin said. “He did say everyday can be different with her.”
“Right,” she complained. “That makes it even worse.” She stared at his hand between hers and stroked his fingers, her heart skipping a beat at how beautiful and thick and tan they were. “I wonder how she’ll treat me.”
He shot her a glance. “What do you mean?”
“Well…Uncle Wigs said she doted on me like a mother. What if she still sees me as hers to dote on and protect?”
“Then we’ll help her learn you’re grown up and I’m here to watch over you.”
“The one lacking skin tone and the right eye color,” she muttered, taking a deep breath.
“You have trained for this kind of thing, I’m thinking?” he said gently, making her laugh.
“Sexual therapy is not remotely helpful here.”
“Maybe you can…adjust the information to fit? Treat her like a woman who has been damaged and you’re there to help her heal.”
He was right. She had plenty of education to help her. She pulled his hand to her mouth, sliding it along her lips, the smell of mint and musk on his skin a wonderful distraction. “Thank you. I’m sure I’ll figure out something.” She put their hands back in her lap. “You said you were going to tell me everything about you and what marrying you will require from me.” She glanced at him.
“I did.”
She smiled and leaned a little toward him. “Do you want me to beg this out of your sexy mouth, mon-ami?”
He gave her a vagina-tickling laugh and leaned for a kiss while keeping his eyes on the road.
“Mmmmm,” he said with hunger as she feasted on his mouth for five seconds then pulled away before he wrecked. “When do I get to fuck you is what I need to know.”
Her body erupted, making her flounder inside. “I don’t know… looks like we won’t be able to till we get back. We aren’t stopping on the way, and I wouldn’t dare do it once we have her.”
“I should talk about other things then,” he said, glancing in his blind spot for a lane change. “I will tell you all about me and what I do and how that affects you.”
“Good, yes.”
“There is not much to it,” he began. “We formed our group around fifteen years ago when devil worshippers invaded our swamp with child trafficking.”
“I heard a little about it from your Aunts. They told me that’s where Lucas and Luseah came from.”
“Yes. We could have saved more had we been ready and better organized. So, we formed The Twelve which are men who preside over twelve areas of land in the swamp where our people live. Each man runs a Hatch or a group of soldiers that specialize in various abilities.”
“What kind of abilities?”
“Well, we divided the Hatches by various defenses, this way the men can perfect their skills.
“That’s smart.” She grabbed the bag of chips from the floor and offered him one. She smiled when he leaned with his mouth open and popped it in. “So what kind of stuff do they do?”
“Let’s see. We have Hurricane. His Hatch specializes in demolition jobs. Spook specializes in tracking and survival. Nitro is the leader of our explosives Hatch and…8-Bit is our tech leader, or Gras Nerd as I like to call him. You’ll like him I’m sure, he’s looking forward to meeting you because of your geospatial education.”
“Oh,” she said, happy about that.
“And there’s Bullets, leader of our firearm Hatch. Shank is leader of our blades Hatch and Lesion is leader of poisonous weapons.”
“Goodness, poisonous weapons?”
“Yes. We like diversity. And Spar is leader of human weapons. He basically specializes in hand-to-hand combat. And then there’s… Traps.”
“Who sets traps?” she asked.
“Correct. And Patches who leads the medic Hatch.”
“What are you called?”
“They call me The Maker because I make everything.” He winked at seeing her smile. “We are a simple people.”
“I like it.”
“I forgot Bacon. He leads the supply Hatch.”
“Bacon,” she said with a grin. “I might like his name the best.”
He gave her a sexy smile. “Ma Petite likes bacon?”
“I loooove it.”
“I wonder what your ass would look like on a strict bacon diet.”
“Like an elephant!” she gushed.
“Mmmm, Dieu, I love your ass.”
“Stop,” she barely said, shoving chips in her mouth, breathless. “That’s really cool that you have everything so organized to take care of everybody. I really love how you all stick together. So what is that tattoo you have? What does it mean?”
“It means we dedicate our entire lives to The Twelve Hatches or communities and agree to live by The Twelve’s codes.”
“Which…I need to know about?”
“Yes.”
She turned a little, facing him. “Tell me. What do the wives of The Twelve have to do?”
“I’m the first member to take a wife.”
“Oh no.”
He laughed. “Why oh no?”
“Well…that means…there’s no other women I can talk to. To maybe get help.”
“You will be my right hand in The Twelve if you choose to. You won’t need a woman’s help, you’ll have mine.”
“What do you mean choose to be your right hand. I’m marrying you, so…”
“I mean you don’t have to choose to be my right hand. You can choose to just be my wife at home. But this is a choice you must make, nobody else.”
She regarded him, wondering. “Well…what do you want?”
His laugh shot out, confusing her.
“Why is that funny?”
“Because I knew you would say that. Always about what I want when Ma Petite is making decisions for herself.”
“Well…I’m supposed to consider my husband, that’s what makes a marriage work.”
“Husband. Mmm,” he murmured, leaning his mouth for another kiss while watching the road. She laughed, only giving him a peck on the cheek. “I agree this is true,” he said. “And I’m very happy to know you will apply this except in this one thing where my wife is required to decide what she wants for herself.”
She stared at him for a moment then looked forward. “Well, it’s not my fault I’m selfless,” she said, getting obstinate headshaking out of him. She considered her options. “So, I can choose to work as your right hand in The Twelve, or I can choose to be your wife. At home.”
“That’s correct. And motherhood trumps both. Should you become with child,” he said, casting her a look that said he really wanted that, “then your choice is made for you. Baby gets mommy full time and daddy can go fuck off.”
She laughed at that, wrapping her arms around him in excitement. “What if I made a mistake and am already pregnant.”
The sudden serious look he gave made her laugh.
“I’m kidding.”
His anger made her laugh more.
“Awww, somebody really wants a baby.”
“I very much do, but only when you’re ready.”
“And now that I know you’re ready, that influences my thinking.”
“And that’s another decision I forbid you to make based on that. You must be ready and wanting it for you, not for me.”
She eyed him with a smile, tightening her arms and kissing him on the cheek. “I really do like the idea of staying home and cooking and cleaning and pining away for you while you’re gone,” she said dreamily.
“And how do you feel about the other?”
She regarded him, trying to find a hint in his expression of what he preferred. “Working as your right hand? Under your authority? Assuming this means I’d assist you at the job and always have access to your body whenever I need it.”
“Mon fucking Dieu, I never thought of that.”
She smiled. “Somebody’s giving away their preference.”
“I never said I liked it more,” he assured. “I like both equally.”
She eyed him extra hard. “You like one more than the other,” she assured. “And I’ll figure it out. And when I do, I’ll add that to my decision-making process.”
“So you would disobey a direct order from your husband?”
“We’re not married yet,” she said, giggling. “By the way, what exactly does a swamp wedding look like? Ever since you said it, I’ve been fantasizing. But I don’t want it anything like yours and Katrinas. Wait, when did you get divorced from her?”
“My father ripped up our wedding contract when it was time.”
“When it was time?”
“We don’t do marriages like most, Ma Petite. But this isn’t a hard rule for me, I will marry you wherever you want me to within reason.”
“How do you do marriages?” she wondered, smiling in excitement at that news.
“We believe the father is the spiritual leader of every family and has the authority to marry his children.”
“That’s so cool,” she cried, hugging him again and laying her head on his shoulder. “I love that.” She went quiet as she thought of her father. “I hope my dad is okay. I want him to walk me down the aisle.”
“My Angel,” he said, placing his hand on her face and stroking softly. “I pray this too.”
“Maybe Uncle Wigs will know something by the time we get there.”
“That would be great, yes.”
“So how long do I have to decide what I’m going to be?”
“How long do you need?”
She thought about it and shrugged. “I think I’ve made my decision.”
“Ma Petite.”
“What? I know what I want, and you didn’t even have a say in it!”
“It’s barely been a day!” he laughed.
“Fine, you want me to tell you my answer tomorrow or next week? It won’t change.”
“How did you decide this so quickly?” he asked, sounding suspicious.
“I have my methods.”
This got a good laugh out of him.
“I choose to work with you.”
“You realize once you choose, that’s it? No changing your mind unless motherhood steps in to save you.”
“Or unless I choose motherhood when I’m ready as you said I must do.”
He said a long string of French and she smacked his leg.
“What did you say?” she demanded.
He laughed, grabbing her hand. “Tell me your method and I’ll tell you what I said.”
She stared sideways at him with jaw dropped as he laughed and laughed. “I heard the word God in all that French.”
“Yes, you did,” he assured, laughing still.
“I should tell you my method in Italian. We can fight in languages we both don’t understand.”
“Do it,” he said. “I dare you.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Fine.” She said—in Italian, “I decided to work with you until I’m ready to be a mother. Win win.”
“Thank you, Ma Petite.” She watched as he pulled his phone out. “Hold the wheel for me, please?”
“Only because I’m curious about what low down scheme you’re up to,” she said, holding it.
He opened his phone and repeated her Italian back into the phone making her gasp. “Holy shit, no fair! How did you remember it?”
“I am good with remembering things,” he said, telling it to translate while she tried to get the phone from him.
“Ugh!” she said, not wanting to make him wreck. As it translated it back nearly perfectly, she turned her head away from him as he howled in laughter at her method.
“Tell me what you said now,” she demanded, looking at him. “Be honorable!”
“Honorable,” he barely said between laughs. “Ma Petite, you will make a very fine, and I do mean that in every sense of the definition, right hand woman. And what I said in French is that you cleverly spotted the loophole God had for you.”
She stared at him. “And how do you feel about that?”
“I told you I love both.”
“I still don’t believe you.” She realized they were getting to the airport. “And all this laughing proves I’m right.”
He didn’t say another word until he parked, and then he said it all with a kiss that had her forgetting her name.
“You have one week to change your mind because you deserve time to be sure.” He grabbed her face, devouring her mouth again with lusty groans, moving his hand under her dress. “I need to make you come,” he argued.
“I can’t, it’s…daylight.”
“Lay on the seat,” he breathed, pushing her.
Seeing he wasn’t listening to no, she did, gasping when his finger plunged in her pussy.
“Fucking rub your delicious clit. Fuck, yes,” he said between thick breaths as she obeyed. “So fucking hot already?”
“Yes, oh God, yes.”
“I’m going to fuck your soft pussy so hard when we get back, fuck yes,” he gushed.
His dirty talk and hammering finger brought her in under a minute. “Oh God, oh God!” She grabbed the dashboard, writhing on the seat in the exquisite pleasure.
He leaned down and grabbed her hand, sucking her finger then licking her clit before giving it open-mouthed kisses.
She finally sat halfway up, peeking around as he pulled her face to his, kissing her again.
“I love this Angel so much. Was that fucking good?” he asked, sounding so horny still.
“Yes,” she murmured. “So good.”
“Mmm, you should come several times a day.”
“Okay,” she said, still dizzy and lust dazed.
He grinned and kissed her forehead repeatedly then hugged her so tight. God, he felt amazing. “I love you too much,” she whispered.
He pulled back and held her face, kissing at her lips now with smiles. “Too much? I have never been loved like this.”
“And you never will be again.”
****
Sahvrin watched His Petite fight with her carryon bag while keeping an eye on their good neighbor getting the royal ass-in-face treatment. “I swear I got it,” she quietly said, as if hearing his thought to snatch it from her and shove it in the compartment.
The cute little summer dress with the easy pussy access was loose enough, but there wasn’t a single thing she could wear that didn’t showcase her ass.
“There,” she said with a huff, sitting.
“Would you like the window seat?” he asked, ready to put distance between her and the dude.
“Oh, no, I’m fine.”
“I insist, please,” he said, standing and helping her out of her seat. “I know how much you love seeing the clouds.”
He held back his laugh at her confused sputtering as she cooperated. He’d explain later when he was quietly fucking her in that bathroom—another airplane perk he’d completely forgotten about.
She eyed him after sitting and he leaned in for a kiss on those perturbed lips.
“You’re welcome.” He took her hand for soft nibbles and her immediate arousal from the small gesture electrified him.
“So, I’ve been wondering,” she whispered, tearing her eyes from his mouth.
He put her hand down, eying her. “Tell me.”
“I know being your right hand has its requirements. What sort of things will I be doing?”
“You would be consorting with me in all group business and giving advice.”
“That you don’t have to take,” she said, making him nod with a grin.
“But you can trust I will consider it sincerely.”
“What else? I mean what kind of business do you normally do?”
“Everything to do with caring for The Horde’s needs. We make sure all the families’ needs are met. Food, shelter, whatever necessities they might need. If they lack anything, we see that they get it.”
“Wow,” she said, eagerly. “So like an actual family, only a very big one?”
“Yes, and The Twelve, when not defending, are leading those community services in some way.”
She gave a light gasp. “I love this! So, as your right hand—”
“Belle Eveque,” he clarified. “You’d be La Belle Eveque, which means The Beautiful Bishop.”
He smiled at the dreamy look she wore now.
“I’m like a queen,” she said, her pretty eyes lit with joy and excitement and maybe eagerness to know what privileges that came with.
“La Belle Reine Des Marais,” he said. “The Beautiful Queen of the Swamp.”
“I can’t believe I’m marrying into swamp royalty,” she whispered, making him resist a huge laugh at how serious she was. “So as…La Belle Eveque,” she continued, making her voice sultry for the title. “I would probably get to tour our family regularly should I choose. See what sort of things I can see. To help with,” she added with wide eyes.
He leaned and kissed her softly. “The swamps have inherited a guardian angel,” he whispered, never happier about anything. “Yes, you would most certainly be free to visit our family and see what your pretty eyes can see.”
She gave a huge smile then got serious. “Do I have the power to make laws and things?”
“You do, but you have to get the votes of The Twelve as well as my Pah-Pah and Mah-Mah.”
She leaned closer. “Our Pah-Pah and Mah-Mah.”
He smiled, studying her mouth inches from his now. “My bad.”
“So… say for instance, I’m touring the lands and I see an adorable elderly couple who I learn are very sad, then I can suggest things.”
He drew back a little, looking at her. “As long as it’s not throwing more parties.”
She gave a cute giggle, reminding him of a mischievous angel getting permission to use all her powers. “Maybe they just need flowers planted or somebody to visit them regularly?”
He couldn”t take another angelic word. “Mon Dieu, I need the bathroom,” he said, staring at her mouth.
“Me too,” she said, going serious. “You go first.”
“No, you go first,” he whispered, “then I’ll follow and wait at the door.”
She wore a secret grin. “Are we sneaking?”
His gaze moved from her mouth up to her eyes. “Maybe.”
His intentions registered in her face with the raise of her brows. He raised his back with a slow nod, confirming.
****
Beth washed her hands, looking at herself in the small mirror while her heart hammered wildly in anticipation. What would he do? There wasn’t a lot of room. Maybe he’d let her do him.
Belle Eveque. What a beautiful title. She wanted it tattooed someplace on her. Like his was. Maybe just above her breast. She recalled seeing the Eveque word in his seal. So it meant Bishop. God how sexy was that?
She opened the door and he entered and locked it back. Before she could wonder what next, he stole the strength from her legs with his mouth on hers, breaths explosive and hot. He yanked her panties aside and stroked his fingers along her pussy before shoving two of them in deep. He covered her desperate cries with a hand over her mouth while thrusting deeper, eyes hot on hers as he reduced her to liquid fire.
He released her mouth and undid his pants, making her heart hammer when he pulled his cock out. He sat her on the edge of the lavatory and opened her leg while she held on to his shoulders, watching his cock slide along her slit.
“Fuck,” he whispered, moving just the head in and out of her. His hand went back over her mouth with a “Shhhh,” as he shoved his cock in deep, stifling her sharp cry. Dear God, so good.
”Play with your pussy,” he ordered as he moved in and out, his breaths thick with lust as he yanked the giving top of her dress down for a greedy grip on her tit.
She fought to hold down her moans, while the hand on her mouth made her horny out of her mind.
She rubbed her clit, staring at his handsome face, so different looking when he fucked. Was like he became another man. More like… Bishop, she realized. God, she loved the Bishop side of him so much.
“Your fucking pussy,” he seethed, watching himself move in and out, slow then fast.
She gave a desperate moan as her orgasm rose, hot and thick, drawing his gaze to hers. Seeing it, he pushed her leg open wide and flicked his hips fast, the hammering sending her over. His mouth suddenly covered hers as he grabbed a fistful of hair at the back of her head, his thrusts bucking. They turned deep and God, his strained groans filled her mouth like food.
She held her breath to keep from making a sound and her lungs burned when she finally released it.
His mouth softened on hers finally. “So fucking amazing,” he murmured, kissing her at various angles. “That’s for being an angel.” She gave a light gasp when his cock throbbed as he kissed her again. “Felt good?”
“Yes,” she whispered, winded still. “I liked…”
His cock thickened as he eyed her, waiting to hear. “Tell me, Ma Belle Eveque.”
She gasped at the sound of that on his sexy lips, desire making her breathless again. “When you…” she licked her lips, fighting her inhibitions. “Covered my mouth.”
He looked down, holding her leg open wide again with a groan then looking back up at her. “You like when I make you Ma Belle Eveque,” he said as if remembering. His intense gaze moved to her breast then down to her pussy then back up to hers.
“Yes, so much,” she whispered.
A knock sounded on the door and his mouth hardened as he cast a glance toward it then eyed her. “Coming,” he called, moving his cock in her again and bringing his hand over her mouth. “Is that what you want, you want me holding you down while I fuck you? You want me to make you take my big cock deep and hard?”
She clenched her eyes tight, fighting not to scream behind his hand as he fucked her so hard and quiet her nails digging into his shoulders. She looked at him right as he came, and it was like when he’d jacked off in the room on the chair only now, he was a foot from her as his head went back and all his beautiful muscles hardened with the pleasure.
When his head came forward, she leaned and kissed him, fighting to be so quiet. God, somebody was standing right outside that door. Please let them not have heard anything.
Once they were dressed again, he opened the door and stepped out, mumbling something to whoever was there while she kept her head down and followed him back to their seat. She hurried to the window, happy to have that spot now, half waiting for the plane police to come arrest them for obscene activity.
“Now, where were we,” he said. “Your power and privileges as Ma Belle Eveque.”
Her heart did a thousand somersaults at the title and being his. “Now I’m glad I made the choice I made.”
“And you have one week to unmake it.”
“Thank you but no thank you. So, when do I officially become Queen?”
She smiled at how funny he thought that was as he angled his head toward her. “When we’re officially married.”
“Which is?”
He pursed his sexy lips with squinted eyes. “I will let Ma Petite pick that.”
“So tomorrow?”
His laughter sputtered out and he put his hand behind her head, pulling her into his kiss. “Ma Petite,” he muttered for her ears only, “I love how eager you are.”
“So maybe we see how things go with Maggie,” she said, realistically. “And I give you our wedding date then?”
“Only if you do it in a note.”
“So you can take me to court if I renege?”
He buried his laughter on her shoulder then said in her ear, “No, so I can frame it.”
It was her turn to snicker then she sucked in a breath. “I should start our family scrap book. I kept the note you left me on my food and the one you left me at Mah-Mah’s.”
He lay his head on her shoulder. “My Angel, you slay me with your sweetness.” He took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. “I would love that. But...what note did I leave you for your food?”
“It was that short and rude one, but I still cherish it.”
“I don’t remember leaving anything rude,” he said, laughter in his voice.
“You wrote ‘Eat it all’.” She repeated an interpretation in a deep voice, “Eat all food or Bishop spank spank Ma Petite.”
They were both doubled over each other in silent laughter now.