Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
CLEM.
When I wake up, there’s something heavy weighing me down.
My sleepy gaze drifts down to see Otis’s arm looped over my midriff, one big green hand resting on my ribs, just under my breast. My heart expands and my pussy clenches. I love seeing the green of his fingers so close to my rosy pink nipple.
Memories of yesterday flood back. Of how lovely it was to share special moments with his mom, to bake together, eat together, and then… oh, damn, he worked late and I fell asleep, and we didn’t get to…
But maybe there’s time now…
Gently, I lift his hand. Initially it’s still limp, but as I maneuver his fingers to my nipple, I realize he is making a deep growling sound. His fingers start to circle my nipple and I know I’ve woken him, and that he’s enjoying the moment as much as I am.
I sense him propping himself up on his elbow and, turning my head, see his handsome face, dark red eyes still hazy with sleep. He’s licking his lips and staring over my shoulder at his fingers working my nipple.
I let out a little mewl of approval and he bends his head and lays kisses along the back of my neck.
When his hand moves lower across my belly I watch, fascinated, as a big green digit dips into the dark curls of my pussy, and then shiver with delight as he traces a path between my folds.
I let out a little whine as he vibrates his thick finger against my swollen clit, wet with arousal already.
He slips and slides and growls, and keeps kissing the back of my neck, and then his finger thrusts gently inside my entrance. Soon another joins it, and he finger fucks me as he nibbles on my neck, the sharp points of his tusk adding an extra measure of delight.
I grind my butt into his erect cock.
Otis speeds up the thrust of his fingers, voicing guttural expletives in orcish and egging me on with words I understand. “That’s it, that’s a good girl, come for me… good girl.”
Obligingly, I do, fast and hard, chanting his name as the waves of pleasure pulse through my core.
“I want you inside me,” I beg.
He obliges, his cock nudging me from behind, huge and slippery, and already I’m almost coming again as he nudges into me, my body accommodating his girth. He lifts my leg and bends it up to my stomach, leaning over me but somehow keeping his weight off me as he thrusts deeper.
He’s almost up to the thick bulb of his knot now, and it’s pressing against my seam, sending shock waves of pleasure through my vulva.
As his thumb pad vibrates on my clit, and his cock pulses inside me, my eyes roll back and I come in shuddering waves, my inner walls clamping hard around him.
“Knot me, again.” I plead.
“Fuck, I want to, Clem, but… we’ll be joined for too long… I-I can’t be late for work today.” He pants into my neck. “Babe, I’m so sorry. Believe me, I want it as much as you do.”
He looks so desperate, I’m not going to let him go to work without relieving him. He can hardly walk around at half-mast all day, can he?
“At least let me pleasure you.” I ease my still-thrumming pussy away, and when he’s withdrawn from me, turn toward him and stroke my hands over his swollen cock.
It only takes seconds before he comes with a loud shout, and fountains of cum spurt onto my belly.
Soon we’re laughing and gasping and kissing.
“You’re fucking amazing, you know that?” he says, gazing at me for several long, intense moments.
Then, snapping into sheriff mode, he orders, “Right. Shower time for both of us, before I leave for work.”
He picks me up and carries me into the bathroom, and together we wash off the fruits of our lovemaking. I watch as he dresses in his uniform and can’t help imagining that it’s going to be like this every day for the rest of our lives.
When he’s dressed, I stand on the bed and straighten his collar and kiss him some more. Then he puts on his jacket, and I touch his sheriff’s badge.
“I can’t believe it’s just a few days since I turned up in your study and you lent me your jacket,” I say softly.
“Yeah, it seems like you’ve been here forever. And if it was up to me, I’d keep you here forever.”
My mouth falls open a little. Has he just read my mind? His red eyes take on an alarmed hue.
“Just forget I said that.”
“No. No Otis, I don’t want to forget it. I-I feel that way too, I can honestly imagine living in the Labyrinth from now on.” I plaster myself to his chest, hear his strong, steady heartbeat.
“Really?” he rumbles finally.
“Yes, really.”
“You wouldn’t be too lonely?”
“What, when all the monsters are so kind and friendly? How could I be? Though I will admit, I really miss Sammy.”
“Has she called you yet?”
I shake my head, “I guess they’re finding their feet, it’s only been a day or so.”
“Why don’t you call her while I’m out? The number is in my address book under T for Trojan pack.”
“That’s a great idea,” I enthuse.
I follow Otis into his office. He opens a drawer in his desk and pulls out a red, leather-bound book and lays it on the desk. “All my important addresses and contact numbers are in here.”
“Thank you,” I say, “I’ll phone her as soon as you’ve gone. What have you got on today?”
“A big meeting with all my deputies. Last night I finished the coding on the devices we’re going to smuggle into Sparkle.”
“How will you get them up there?”
I sense Otis hesitate. “Jax will place them.”
“Jax! It’s too risky for him to go into central Sparkle.”
“We have a strategy, Clem. He’ll be wearing the portal cape, so he’ll be invisible…” He pauses. “He knows how to keep himself safe…”
“Oh yeah? Excuse me if I’m not confident about that, based on his past record. How exactly, Otis?”
“He’ll be here to tell you himself shortly.”
I narrow my eyes. “Knowing Jax, he’ll find an excuse.”
“He will be here,” Otis responds firmly. “I promise.”
After Otis leaves, I sit down at his desk and leaf through the address book. I find the number for the Trojan pack. I guess that’s the right one to call.
My hands shake a little as I dial. I hope the wolf who answers is polite.
After three rings a deep, gruff voice says, “Howdy.”
“Oh, um, I-I’m ringing to speak to Sammy Buggins.”
“Who’s calling?”
“I’m her friend—best friend, actually. Clem Summers.’’
“Summers, eh?” the gruff voice replies, with maybe a hint of… what? Interest, amusement even. “Any relation to Jax Summers?”
“Erm, he’s my brother. You know him?”
“We’ve met a few times, yes.”
“Oh. I see.” I don’t, of course, but I’m not game to ask any more. The wolf on the other end says, “I’ll get Sammy for you.”
I guess he didn’t sound unfriendly.
I wait, trying to slow my breathing.
And then I hear my bestie’s voice and I relax.
“Clem!” she squeals. “I’m so happy you called.” She sounds fine, chirpy even, and relief floods through me. “I was going to contact you later today, but you got in first.”
“Otis gave me your number. How are you settling in?”
“I’m fine, great in fact. It’s different here, a little more rough and ready than on level one. But everyone’s very welcoming and kind, and we have our own den in the complex that I’m setting up to be like home.”
“That’s so good to hear. I’ve been thinking of you lots.”
We chat for a while, about the different food and way of life of wolves. They seem to live more communally with small dens to sleep in. It sounds… okay. And Sammy sounds relaxed and happy.
When we finally end the call, I put the phone down and look at the address book. For some reason, I find myself flicking through it until I get to C for Cane.
There are the twins’ names written in Otis’s neat handwriting: Dwayne and Nathaniel.
And below them is Amy’s number. I remember Otis saying that Amy has had more contact with her mom. She’s the right person to start with, I reckon.
I chew on my lip for long moments. And then I pick up the phone and dial her number. My heart is pounding as I wait… and wait.
As the phone keeps ringing, I sigh with a mix of disappointment and relief.
And then a voice says, “Hi, this is Amy.”
Is this her message bank? I pause, then the voice queries, “Hello, who’s this?”
Okay, not a message bank. “Hi,” I squeak.
“Hi—who is this please?” she repeats.
I take a deep breath and launch in. “You don’t know me, but… my name is Clem and I work for your brother, Otis.”
“In what capacity?”
“I’m his assistant, I guess, er, housekeeper. Sort of. Friend…” I finish, cringing furiously even though I know she can’t see me.
“Friend, or friend?” She emphasizes the last word in a way that’s too obvious to misinterpret.
“Quite close friend, I guess.”
Amy laughs suddenly and it’s nice, kind of rumbly, like a female version of Otis.
“So my boffin brother has finally met someone. That’s fantastic. What’d you say your name is?”
“Clem.”
“And you’re calling me because…” Her tone is not unfriendly, she’s just prompting me to stop dithering, I suppose.
There’s really no point in hedging around, so I plunge in. “Otis is under the pump right now with work and all, and erm, I think, actually I know it would mean a lot to him if you came back to visit. And it would mean the world to your mom to see you.”
“You’ve met her?”
“Yes, yes, just yesterday in fact. She did ask after you and the twins, wondering if you’d be coming by.”
“How is she? It’s been a few weeks since I called her to be honest.”
“As well as can be expected. Missing you and your brothers.”
There’s a long, long silence. I chew on my lower lip. Maybe I shouldn’t have called.
But finally I hear a huff on the end of the line. “I know this sounds like I’m making up excuses, but I work long hours, y’know and… er, my brothers don’t want to see her like this… They got hit hard by Dad’s death, and then Mom going downhill was a real shock to them.”
“I understand. She’s not the way she was, from what Otis tells me.” I pause, then add softly, “I lost my mom when I was nine years old. I wish—” I gulp, “I wish I’d had more time with her.”
“What happened, to your mom?”
“She just disappeared one day, went to work and never came home.”
“Disappeared? From where?”
“Sparkle City.”
“Fuck! Are you human?”
“Yes. But not a bad one.” I wince, shoulders braced, ready for her to put the phone down.
“I thought you were a sprite.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. With that sing-song voice, you sound like a sprite.” She laughs. “I guess you know my brother’s bitch of a fiancée was a sprite. But hmmm, human… that’s unusual. Not a peripheral?”
“No, absolutely not a peripheral. I’m Jax Summers’ sister.”
“Ohhhh, right.”
Clearly Amy knows of my brother. Seems everyone does.
“You’ve heard of him?”
“Oh yeah, we all know Jax, he’s an okay human,” she says, but doesn’t elaborate.
There’s a long silence. I still feel sure she’s going to turn down my request.
Finally, Amy says, “You were right to call me.” Her voice cracks a little. “I’ve been angsting about visiting Mom. I’ll talk to the twins, and we’ll come and see her, I promise. Very soon.”
“That’s great, Amy.” I beam, gripping the phone tight in my fingers. “I’m so glad we got to talk.”
“Yeah, well… sorry to hear about your mom. That’s the pits.”
“Yes, I guess it was— still is.”
“And Clem? Thanks for… being Otis’s friend. He’s a really good guy with a solid gold heart.”
“I know,” I say. “Goodbye, Amy.”
“Goodbye, Clem. Guess we’ll meet soon.”
“I hope so.”
When I put the phone down, I’m smiling.
I’m so relieved I had the courage to make the call. My hunch was correct. Amy needed a prompt to visit her mom, but it clearly wasn’t going to come from Otis.
I hope my little nudge will do the trick.
I guess now I’ll have to fess up to Otis that I’ve been playing Cane family go-between.