Bayou Bishops Box Set: Books 1-12

CHAPTER 4

Samuel eyed the heavy gait of his Eveque as he made his way to the porch at the back of the Dry Dock. His Bishop attire fit the black mood he was in after that not-so-shocking announcement from Mah-Mah. He didn’t look forward to telling him he’d seen it but hadn’t realized what he was seeing.

Samuel moved to the edge of the porch as Bishop came to a slow stop at the bottom of the steps, gazing at the mist hovering above the bayou’s warm waters.

“I saw it,” Samuel confessed quietly, earning Bishops dark gaze. “I didn’t know what I was seeing at the time.”

Their eyes remained locked as Samuel made his way down the steps and stood before him. He placed his hand on his shoulder and sucked in a slow breath as the tidal wave of darkness rushed in. It was familiar, but not from the past. These were new and potent and immediate terrors that Samuel was intimate with of late. He nodded at his Eveque. “I hear you, brother,” he said quietly.

“I’m sure you do,” he muttered, making his way up the steps.

Samuel dove right in with, “You ready for what I think?”

Bishop gave a dry laugh, sitting on one of the wooden pews. He leaned forward with his forearms on his knees, hands hanging with his head.

Samuel sat next to him and kicked out his legs with a sigh as he crossed them at the ankles.

“God’s hand is heavy on those he looks fondly upon,” Bishop muttered.

Samuel regarded him. “You remember that,” he said, pleasantly surprised.

“More like can’t forget it.”

He nodded, surely understanding. “Those were dark…dark days, my Eveque.”

He shook his lowered head slowly. “I think I preferred when I was your son.”

“You still are,” Samuel said, grinning at him. “You will always be seven years yonder to me.” He got serious, eying his lowered profile. “You know…even though terror rages in your bones, you’re still a fearless leader, brother. Our fearless leader. Because it was out of fears that the man sitting before me was conceived. And out of fire that the man before me was purified. Good news is…this terror you now face will be a sanctifying deliverance. For all of us.”

This got his Eveque’s full attention. “This what you see, brother?”

Samuel nodded. “It’s what I just saw. Clear as the sun rising in that sky. You just have to trust the lies of the darkness.”

He stared at him, gaze burning. “What does that mean, Seer?” he pled with tired conviction.

“You have to trust that everything the dark throws at you is lies. God’s got this, son. He always has. The darkness is always showing you this truth.”

Bishop’s pain from past betrayal suddenly became suffocating to Samuel. From his first love, to a God he never understood that forged him with the agony of multiple defeats. Reduced him to blood, tears, and unspeakable pain. Samuel gripped his shoulder tightly, again taking it into him. “This war may be terrifyingly different, but we will win it.”

Bishop was back to lowered, heavy headshaking. “I sure as fuck wish I had your faith.”

“Oh, you do. What’s mine is yours. Always has been.”

Bishop stood at the sound of a buzzing and pulled his phone from his pocket. “8-Bit,” he answered after hitting the button. “What’s up.”

Samuel watched his Eveque’s pacing come to a sudden stop. He closed his eyes, waiting, listening.

“Dieu, 8-Bit, are you sure?” Bishop let go a breath as he collapsed onto the pew. “Oh fuck.”

An ache pressed against Samuel’s chest with a dreadful seeing as Bishop hung up. “Her father,” Samuel said, looking into his Eveque’s tortured gaze.

“He’s fucking dead.”

****

Maggie watched as Spook drew their monster on the dirt and proceeded to educate her on every body part and function. “What about all those teeth?”

“Harmless if you shut its mouth.”

She shook her head, dumbfounded. “How?”

“Rope.”

She balked. “A rope?” This translated to shoestring in her mind. She recalled the wrangling videos she’d watched. “They…thrash.”

He nodded. “They can. But once I secure his jaws, it won’t matter,” he assured.

She stared at him then his drawing, angling her head. Kneeling next to it she pointed to the spot just behind the skull. “Here?”

“That’s it. One quick jab severs the spinal cord and dispatches him instantly.”

“Then you…”

“Take him back here to harvest.”

“Harvest,” she whispered, her stomach getting queasy. “What…what does that involve exactly?”

“Skin him and cook him. Harvest bones and teeth for whatever we want.”

She eyed his cute smile on her, unable to wipe the disgust and fear from her face. “Can’t we just…feed it to the…other animals maybe?”

He held her gaze, his smile unwavering. “Kind of hard to have a sacred ceremony without it.”

She regarded the drawing in the dirt, swallowing. “I’m…” She bit her tongue on the scared word. She was, but…not really. Not with him. Nervous, yes. “I’m sure I can do it,” she whispered, nodding a little.

“I know that you can. Are you ready?”

God, she wasn’t. But she was ready to get it over so she could be married. She nodded and stood.

“I have a gift for you.”

He walked over and knelt next to his green canvas bag against the tree while her heart skittered at what it might be. Was it a ring? He turned and presented an oblong something wrapped in leather. She took it and untied the string and opened it. She glanced up at him. “A knife?”

“A wedding knife.”

She gasped at the inscription on the backside of the bone looking handle. To my beautiful wife. For slaying monsters.

She blinked back the tears stinging her eyes as she turned it over, admiring the craftmanship. “Did you…make this?”

“I did,” he said softly. “Just for you.”

She couldn’t stop the tears as she held the knife to her chest. “Just for me.”

He kissed her, holding her face in his strong yet gentle fingers. “Just for my beautiful wife.”

She let go a sob. “I didn’t get you anything.”

“Baby, you are the only gift I ever want.”

She moved to hug him and cried out when he hissed. “Oh my God, did I cut you?”

“Nah, just the shirt,” he said, laughing.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know how to use anything like this.”

He gently took it from her hand and wrapped his arms around her. “You’ll practice. I have a leg harness for it so you can carry it at all times.”

“Wow,” she whispered, snuggling into his neck. “I’ll be like…Jane.”

“I don’t know who that is,” he murmured at her ear.

She pulled back, looking at him. “Tarzan and Jane?”

He raised his brows, slowly shaking his head. “Not ringing any bells.”

“You’ve never heard of Tarzan and Jane?” Wow, she thought everybody knew them.

“Swamp blinders,” he explained. “Don’t know much about the world outside of it.”

That made her smile. “I like that.”

He was kissing her in that sexy, slow way again. “You like that?”

She nodded, getting dizzy at the teasing glide of his tongue. “I like you.”

He gave one of his sexy groans. “And I like you.”

Ten seconds of that kiss and she was back to desperate. “Let’s go.”

“You ready?”

“I’m ready.”

“You ready to slay monsters with me?”

“I’m ready, Monte, I’m so ready.”

“Let’s fucking do it.”

****

“There he is,” Spook whispered, pointing.

Maggie strained to make out what he saw. “Who?”

“Monsieur Bouchée,” he whispered again. “Means Mr. Mouthful.” He glanced back at her with a grin, and she refocused her squinting gaze at the location, heart pounding as her nausea returned.

“I don’t see it,” she whispered.

He set the oar in the boat slowly and pointed. “That tree with all the moss. Look at the base of it.”

She sucked in a breath. “I see it!” Heavens it was ginormous. “Why are you looking for him?”

“Because he’s our special guest at our wedding ceremony.”

His stories about his parents’ romantic alligator wedding mixed with her immediate reality and became a lot less romantic. “So…he’s…our monster?”

“Yep.”

She stared at the creature as Spook removed his t-shirt, initiating panic. “What are you doing?”

“Getting ready.”

“For what exactly! You can’t just do stuff without telling me! I have to be ready!”

“I explained everything we’re doing Maggie,” he said, sounding humored and way too relaxed.

“But…you didn’t give an exact timeline,” she cried quietly. “Like step one, step two, step three. I need this in an order, I need time to prepare!”

He turned more to her. “First, I bait him. Then, when he gets close, I lock his jaws. Then you’ll dispatch him like I showed you, and then we’re done.”

Her pulse threatened to burst right through her veins at all the things that might go wrong. “How will you close his jaws again?”

He lifted the rope.

Right. The shoestring.

“Your knife is next to you. Might want to get ready.”

“Wait!” she hurried when he turned. “Where will the alligator be when I have to dispatch it?”

“Next to the boat.”

Oh God. “I have to… lean over the side and stab it?” she whispered.

“Yes,” he answered like it was the most common thing. She realized it probably was.

“I’ve never done anything like this before,” she reminded him.

“I know. I wouldn’t ask you to if I didn’t know without a doubt that you can.”

Ugh, she wanted that confidence!

“You’re going to be fine. I’ll be right here with you. You trust me?”

She closed her eyes, nodding. “It’s me I don’t trust.”

“Well, you’ll have to trust my faith in your instincts.”

Right.

“You ready?”

She forced a jerky nod, getting hold of her knife and holding it the way he showed her. “Just…plunge it hard and fast.”

“That’s right,” he said. Dead center behind the skull.”

“What if I miss?”

“You won’t.”

“But…how do you know?” she wail-whispered.

He chuckled and shook his head, throwing something into the water next to the boat. “I know.”

“Is that the bait?” She watched the pieces of meat bob around in the water.

“Yep. Now be quiet and still.”

She did as told, sure her heartbeat could be heard by every animal in the near vicinity. Spook let out a low sound that reminded her of a gurgling growl and to her surprise Mr. Teeth slithered into the water.

“Oh God, he’s coming!” she whispered.

“He is.”

She watched the monster swim right up to the boat and chomp up the meat like he did it every day. Just feeding time, that’s all. Spook dumped another few chunks near the boat and got his noose looking rope ready. The moment Mr. Teeth got close enough he slipped the rope over his snout and yanked.

“There we go,” Spook said quietly. “All done.”

“It’s done? That’s it?”

Something moved out of the corner of her eye. “Oh God there’s more coming!”

“Yes, they smell the food. Go on and dispatch our wedding guest.”

She moved next to the edge of the boat and realized she’d have to reach to make the stab.

Spook grabbed hold of the back of her shirt. “I got you. Do it.”

She raised both arms and aimed for that spot and brought the blade down quickly. The alligator thrashed against the boat before she could pull back and she felt herself going over.

Spook pulled her back and the boat tipped and rocked wildly sending her jerking back too much. Spook lost his hold of her and she flailed her arms as she went over the other side of the boat. Spook was in the water before she even surfaced, grabbing and shoving her back in to safety.

Once in, she screamed as Spook went under water as an alligator snapped its jaws for him. Spook came up on the other side of the boat near Mr. Teeth. “The knife! Get the knife!” she screamed. It was still embedded in his spine and Spook lunged, yanking it out then going under water again.

“Oh God, oh God. Spook!” She searched the waters around the boat. He came up with a gasp and stabbed the thrashing alligator with snapping jaws. It went still like Mr. Teeth and Spook climbed back in the boat.

“You’re bleeding!”

“It’s just scratches,” he hurried as he took the paddle and worked a dead Mr. Teeth toward the boat. He reached in the water and lifted the rope and looked at her, winded. “That was kind of fun. You want to paddle us back or hold Monseur Bouchee while I do?”

She sat there in shock, unable to respond.

His brows furrowed a little before he wrapped the end of the rope several times around a hook on the top edge of the boat. “You catch your breath. I’ll paddle. We’ll get you back and I’ll return for our lagniappe catch.”

It wasn’t until they were back on land that Maggie could even think. She still couldn’t speak, she just paced around as he pulled the alligator onto shore. Then he started his happy whistling tune and her anger hit. “What the hell, Spook! That did not go like you said! And now you’re…happywhistling like you didn’t nearly get eaten by alligators! This is anything but funny!” She spotted the dark area on his t-shirt realizing what it was. She raced over and lifted it, gasping in shock. “A fuckingscratch!?” She eyed him in fury now. “That’s three gashes that need stiches!”

“I have a kit,” he said in light laughter. “I was going to let you see to it as soon as I fetch our surprise guest.”

She realized what he meant, and more fury poured in. “He can wait,” she said incredulous. “He’s already dead! You need to see about that before you bleed out! And I’m surely not touching it.” She raised both hands up to show the violent tremble happening in her. “Unless you want to be further gouged!”

He dropped everything and wrapped his arms around her tight. “Alright,” he conceded softly. “I’m sorry if I scared you. I’ve been swimming with gators since I was a little boy.”

The feel of his strength and hot sweaty skin broke through her trauma and woke other chemicals. Her body gradually relaxed as his large hand moved up and down her back.

“I got you baby. We’re fine.” His hand slid over her butt on one of his passes and squeezed gently. “You did so fucking awesome.”

Her clit went to instantly throbbing at the fucking word while his hand continued to squeeze her butt.

“You ready for the next part of the ceremony?”

She realized she wasn’t sure what that was and looked up at him. “What’s next?” She wouldn’t ask if it was the sex even though that’s what she silently prayed he’d say.

“We dismember our friend and divide up the spoils.” He looked down at her and chuckled. “You don’t like that, I see.”

“I just…have a hard time with these connections. Monsters and childhood animal friends and dismembering and dividing up spoils. And weddings.”

“We believe in honoring our animals that provide us food and ceremonial gifts.”

She still didn’t like it. “Remind me to never be your pet.”

He fixed a smile on her. “I don’t kill my pets.”

She eyed him. “Unless you’re hungry?”

He shook his head. “No,” he said easily. “I can live off of plants.”

She balked at that. “Then why not just…wrangle a bush instead of all this?” She closed her eyes, realizing. “I’m sorry, I’m not trying to…shit on your gruesome ritual. I’m still shaken.”

He kissed her until her hormonal world was re-grounded and she was apologizing on repeat. And then moaning. And forgetting about injuries until he hissed in her mouth and reminded her of the other reality. “I think I’m going to hate alligators after this,” she mumbled around his hungry mouth.

He smiled and pulled back. “Why?”

She eyed him and rolled her eyes. “I’ll never speak it out loud.”

His laughter rang out. “You don’t have to baby. I already know why.” He proved his knowledge with a tight grip on her pussy through her jeans. “I bet your so fucking wet right now even while scared and pissed. Maybe you want to dismember Monseur Bouchee yourself?”

“Can’t we just…offer him to the hungry animals in the wild?”

He laughed as he kissed her while managing to stimulate her clit through the thick material. “To hell with romantic alligator rituals?”

“Well…”

He suddenly lifted her in his arms, and she held on to his neck. “I guess I can dismember him later. Carve out our wedding jewelry from his teeth and bones and make an alligator pouch for all of them…after?”

She gave a light gasp, looking at him. “You’re making our wedding jewelry out of poor Monseur Bouchee?”

She smiled at his big, beautiful laugh, liking when she brought those. “You don’t want that?” he asked, like he might be devastated.

“Of course I do! I’m just being difficult.”

He went serious and kissed her again. “You ready to become one before God?”

She stared at his mouth then looked in his eyes. “If that’s…the fucking part, then yes.”

She giggled at his big laugh and how he kissed her with loud hungry sounds. “Faisons l’amour.”

She kissed him back as he walked with her. “Make love,” she said, feigning distaste. “You mean allon baiser?”

His laughter burst out. “I forgot you know French.” He stood her at the ladder leading up the tree. “Yes, allon basier. Let’s go fuck.”

She smiled at how his voice roughened and imitated him with a little growl, getting his devouring mouth as a reward.

“Get up that ladder before I fuck you right where you stand.”

She scrambled up while her naughty mind entertained such a scenario. Once on the blanket and waiting, she began undressing. The moment his head cleared the opening, his eyes locked right on her tits and she bit her lower lip as her nipples tightened along with her entire womb. It was finally happening. She was going to feel what it was like making love to him. No…getting fucked byhim.

She watched as he undressed, moving to sit up till he got completely naked. She was torn between staring at his cock and the three claw gashes on his left abdomen. Guilt hit her as she realized she’d forgotten all about it. It was no longer bleeding at least.

He grabbed his cock in one hand, getting her immediate gaze all over it. “This what you want my hungry angel?”

She lay down and quickly removed the rest of her clothes and his body was on hers before she finished kicking the pants aside. His muscles were hot and hard, pressing into every inch of her and she knew nothing could ever feel more glorious. She opened her legs gasping at the slide of his cock against her folds, standing immediately corrected. That was far more glorious. He stroked her entrance with soft glides, his mouth mimicking the delicate movements along hers.

“Let me,” he whispered when she moved her fingers to his butt to help. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

She didn’t think that was possible. “I think my battery lovers paved the way.”

He nipped at her mouth gently. “I don’t think so.”

He continued teasing her with his lips and tongue until she was squirming her hips and back to grabbing his waist. He resisted her pull and opened his eyes, gazing at her. “Let me.”

“You’re taking too long,” she whined softly, rocking her hips and creating pressure against her clit.

“I know exactly how long I’m taking.”

“You’re teasing,” she accused around a moan.

“Maybe,” he confessed, barely pushing inside her.

Her head went back at the delicious feeling. “That’s not fair.”

He let out a lusty groan. “Did you think I’d be fair in fucking?”

That threat turned her into molten fire. “You’re starting a fuck war with me?” she only half teased.

He grinned, pushing in a few more inches. “Maybe I want to reenact our first encounter. Only this time when I pin you to the floor, it’ll be with my cock.”

She imagined the entire thing in her head and gave a desperate moan. “You promise?”

He went suddenly serious and pushed in more, bringing a gasp from the instant stinging pressure. The size miscalculation had her dizzy and wanting. “You’re so big,” she moaned between breaths while reimagining getting fucked by him. She’d fantasized but knew it was achingly unfathomable.

His breaths shuddered in her mouth as he remained poised with a third of his cock inside her. “You’re so fucking hot and tight, my angel.”

The ache in his words put a hard throb in her clit. She undulated her hips beneath his pressing weight, and he pushed again, drawing her soft cry of surprise at the pinching throb. “Please,” she whispered, breathless, her hands back at his butt and barely digging into the silky muscle. “I need it.”

“You ready for it baby?”

“Yes,” she gasped, nodding.

He gave a groan then shoved his cock to the deepest part of her in a single thrust. His tongue plunged into her mouth and took her shocked cry with an eager moan of approval. He sucked along her neck as his cock pulsated deep inside her while growls edged his breaths. Needing, warning, promising.

“Fuck me Monte,” she shuddered near delirium.

He slowly withdrew his cock and plunged back in deep. This time her screams didn’t stop as he fucked her hard, jolting every part of her while his growling breaths filled her. The overwhelming pleasure was beyond anything she could imagine and the sounds it created didn’t slow him down. He drove into her faster and harder till she was holding on for dear life. Then he suddenly seized up and every muscle hardened in her sight. The seething came next and thrashing, his hard body grinding against every bit of her while his mouth bruised with a relentless fervor.

It wasn’t until he collapsed half on her that she realized her fingers were clutching handfuls of his hair. Their labored breaths went on for an entire minute as they lay there in that unthinkable, impossible aftermath.

His mouth was on hers again, soft and delicate. “My wife.”

The croaked, ragged words were a declaration of ultimate triumph, and they filled her to the brim with so much emotion. “My husband,” she whispered back, hugging him tight and wrapping her legs around him. “My beautiful husband. I love you. I love you so much.”