Chapter 47 #2
She considered her scarred lover. “Honestly, I didn’t think past wanting you seven.
Is it a lot? Sure. Am I floored? Yes. But it also feels, I don’t know, right?
I mean I don’t really have a problem with any of it, considering the past three years you guys have been, in a sense, preparing me for this. ”
"Then you're dealing with it a lot better than I am," Carter laughed easily. "I still catch myself looking around in total disbelief every now and then."
"I wish our parents were here to see this," Finn said. "I think they'd be proud."
“Well, by what Elise said some of the moms are still about. Leo, you planning to see your mother? Finn? Sister?” Jack said. She knew he had hope that his own mother was around somewhere.
"Of course!" Finn said, right as Leo blurted out, "Of fucking course I am! What sort of stupid question is that?"
Emerson laughed, mirth shining in his eyes. She shook her head. “I know all of them would be proud of the men you became. Hell, I’m excited to meet them, and tell them just how much you are all loved,” she said. “Dirty fuckers that you are.”
Rix smirked at her from across the table. “And it’s exactly what you love.”
“Yes, it is. I don’t think you guys understand how important you all are to me, I mean with all of this, the only thing that really matters is I get to keep you, all of you, as mine.
” And it wasn’t something she had thought would ever happen.
Now part of The Order herself, she was seeing the dreams come true.
“Still need to talk to the girls about it but...”
"Hopefully they'll see how happy you are and be curious about joining," Carter said.
"And I know a few guys who'd be happy to persuade them if they aren't sure," Leo laughed.
“It’s all kinda crazy, right? I mean a direct bloodline to Gaia. And our lovely little victim is part of that bloodline,” Rix said.
“Kildare said our children will be powerful in a way others in The Order haven’t been. Blessed with his favor,” she offered. “I mean if we have kids.”
"We will," Easton said happily. "I've seen it."
“What do you mean?” she asked, curiosity consuming her.
"Since He healed me, He communicates with me sometimes.
Mostly guidance or reassurance, but sometimes in images that I think I'm supposed to paint.
I had one of those visions the night we were in the old temple.
It was a painting of you as the triple goddess—the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone.
I could see you heavy with child as clear as day.
" He shrugged, unselfconscious about the amazed and envious ways the others were staring at him.
"Somehow I knew that I must paint it and that one day it would be true. "
“I...really?” she whispered. “Babies?”
“At least one,” Emerson said. “Do we know who?”
She looked to Easton. “Have you started painting already?” The idea of being a mother never interested her before, but now, the idea of having one, or all of these men’s children...
"Not yet. I was going to ask you to model for me when we get home." He smiled. "I didn't think you'd mind."
Obliviously not. She loved that she was already his muse, the show that was going to go up soon after they got home.
Lorne had been planning one hell of a party for it.
She was excited that she would see something she was not only proud of him for making, but proud of herself for being part of, even if she didn’t know originally that she was.
“Oh, I think you can entice me.”
"As for who the father is, He didn't show me that," Easton said to Emerson. "I don't think it really matters. It or they will be raised by all of us."
“I would have all your children,” she said with a smile.
“Probably what will happen. I mean, we are seven of the original thirteen, with the most holy of bloodlines.” He grinned. “Who else is excited about knocking Petra up?”
"New kink unlocked," Leo said with a smirk, making them all laugh.
“So...” Emerson said with a chuckle, “why don’t we get to why we are here.
Commitment. I don’t think we can all be as bad ass as Easton.
..I mean, original temple and everything.
..” he teased. “But...” he crooked a finger at her.
Getting up, she went to him and settled into his lap.
“I’m committed to this, to you, to all of us, sweet girl.
Nothing is ever going to tear us up, and know without a doubt that anyone that tries to take you from us will be dealt with so severely the warnings will echo in eternity. ”
With his words finished he pulled something out of his pocket and slipped it onto her middle finger on her right hand. “I love you, Petra. Always and only you.” He kissed her.
She looked down after his lips pulled away from hers to the pretty onyx ring, his own house’s gem. “I found it in my father’s vault.”
“I love it...and I love you. Thank you.”
"Show-off," Leo muttered.
"Is that what we're supposed to be doing?" Finn asked, looking at Easton. "Are words enough? What is He wanting here? Were we all supposed to bring gifts?"
"I don't think this came from Him. It was the priests." Easton shrugged helplessly.
Rix went to her and Emerson and picked her up, wrapping her legs around his waist, as he engaged her in one hell of a kiss. The passion, the want behind it...when he pulled away she was breathless, feeling overly warm and dopey. “Wow,” she murmured.
“Always wow with you, my little victim.” He leaned his head on hers. “No one else in the world I want to chase...or catch.”
Her giggle bubbled up and she nodded to him. Lord. Her most volatile and unhinged of her lovers had his own way about things, and she adored it as much as she adored his brand of seductions. Kendrix was intense, but he knew without a doubt she belonged to him.
Setting her down, he lifted his shirt and winked at her. Her eyes lit on the carved P just to the side of his pant line. He bled for her. The highest form of praise from him.
“I love you,” she said softly and he winked.
"Come here," Carter said and waited as she scampered across to him, enjoying this little ceremony immensely.
"I don't have the words and a scar like his," he gestured to Kendrix, "would just be another scar in a sea of scars on me, but I can promise you a life of love and a legacy.
Every animal we rescue together will be a testament to the kind of people we are and the love we have between us. I hope that's enough."
“Carter...” she said and kissed him senseless. They were evenly matched on so many things, but their love of animals was the one that brought them together. For them, it was a promise, past a commitment to each other because it went past them together. “I love you so much.”
"Love you, too." He handed her off to Leo, who accepted her with a grin.
"Fuck the pretty words," he declared. "I'll get a new tat when we get home. I'd have done it here, but I don't trust anyone that isn't my guy. And you can choose where it goes. You'll be written in my skin for life. That enough commitment for you?"
“Anything?” she teased him.
"I didn't say anything. I said you could choose where it goes. And at this point, I'd remind you that getting something tattooed on my dick means you won't be riding it for a couple of weeks. Understood?"
“I would never do that, it’s way too important.” She giggled. “But I do like the idea of Property of Petra tattooed on your groin.”
"Absolutely fucking not," he snorted. "I don't know whether to be amused at your attitude or horrified that you think I'm that trashy.
Property of Petra..." He shook his head in disbelief.
"What I was actually thinking was a rendering of your namesake place from the desert.
Petra without words. Like the classy motherfucker that I am.
Fucking 'Property of Petra.' Go to Finn.
I don't want to look at you anymore," he said, eyes filled with mirth.
She giggled, leaning in and nipped his lip. Lord, she loved to teased Leo. She didn’t even get a chance to say something snarky as Jack grabbed her.
“Sweetness, you know I’m committed to this, and to us.”
“I know...”
“Good because I signed us up for a naughty Kama Sutra class.” He grinned. “Take that, Skeezie Keezie.”
With another laugh she kissed him and then was in Finn’s arms.
"I don't have anything to offer you," he said.
"I've been working so hard to build a better Order and a better life for us that I didn't even know what I was supposed to be doing here tonight.
But I hope you know that everything I change and everything I build is for us.
..all eight of us. To keep us safe. To bring our kids into a safer, more loving world.
To serve Him with humility and grace. I intend to keep working toward that for the rest of my life, and I hope that you'll all be with me on that journey. "
“You have everything to offer me, Finn. Everything you are is everything I always wanted, my Devil.” She said the last softly, just enough for him to hear. “I love you so much...love everything you are.” She kissed him softly. Gods, the man was so good, so genuine.
"I love you, too."
"Well thank fuck that's over," Leo declared. "I'm fucking starving. Let's eat!"
She shook her head and settled next to Easton, snuggling close as she lay her head on his shoulder.
He wrapped his arm around her waist, keeping her close as she listened to the guys fill plates and shit talk each other.
Jack settled a plate in front of her, and she smiled at him, then looked to Easton.
“Home soon...you ready to see Niobe?”
"So fucking ready." He smiled dreamily at her again. "Looking forward to you meeting her, too."
“Me, too,” she nodded. “Sleepover when we get back? I can sit for you...” she said hopefully.
All she wanted was to cement their lives together, and she knew starting with Easton would make all the difference.
“I’m going to have to go see the girls, but I honestly just want a few days hiding with you and the guys. ” She grinned.
"Of course! I'd like that a lot." His eyes were unfocused, like he was already picturing her naked in his studio.
"Do you want one of us to come with you to see your friends?" Carter asked, ever the gentleman.
“I'd like all of you to come and see my friends with me. I mean, they want to meet all of you.”
"I'm sure we can swing that," Finn said with a smile. "Remind me again where they are tomorrow and I'll file a flight plan with the jet before we go home."
"You got it, baby. Now...who am I sleeping with tonight?" She grinned as the room erupted in arguments and Emerson grinned back at her, shaking his head.