Chapter 25
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CLEM.
“I’m going to be late for work—again.” Otis grins when we’ve finally got our breath back from another early morning love-in.
I’m flopped on his chest, legs splayed wide over his hips.
Seems to be one of our favorite positions, but we didn’t knot.
In fact, we’ve not done that as often as I’d like; there hasn’t been time for us to uncouple due to how busy life is.
While our lovemaking is frenzied and often, Otis says we need time to laze in bed afterward for that kind of intimacy.
I get it, making love to a guy with a knot is a very different ball game—excuse the pun. And of course, those are in the equation too, those beautiful green orbs beneath his swollen knot. I love to cup them with my hands, especially when they are full to the brim.
“Don’t go,” I whisper now into his neck, loving the scent of him. Orc scent is so good. It’s hard to explain, but I’m sure his musky sweet and salty scent has something to do with the overriding need I feel to jump his bones as soon as he walks by.
“I have to get to work, babe,” he groans. “We’re getting to the pointy end of our mission.”
I roll into him and snuggle up, making a little squelching sound. Orcs do produce a lot of cum, and between that and my juices and lube, everything gets pretty wet down below.
I lay little kisses against his chest. “At least phase one went well, and Jax is safely back in the Labyrinth.”
“I know, and that’s a relief, but I need to check if we’re getting any useful intel coming through from that device.”
Otis kisses me, then gets out of bed and heads for the shower. When he returns, his green hair standing up in spikes around his head, I watch him hungrily while he dresses. His body will never cease to turn me on.
I sit up in bed, hugging my knees. “You know what? I’m going to the markets to buy some craft materials. I’ve got an idea for a present I want to make for your mom’s birthday.”
“That’s sweet of you.” He ruffles a hand through his hair, frowning. “I guess I should call Amy and the twins. It being Mom’s fiftieth and all.”
I just nod. I should tell him that I meddled, but I can’t quite bring myself to, not with everything else going on. I don’t want to raise his hopes, even though Amy said she’d come sometime.
“I’ll get something for dinner as well, it’s my turn to cook,” I say. “Missing you already.” I stand on the bed and he comes over, so we’re face to face. He rubs a big thumb around my jawline and across my cheek, before kissing me softly on the lips. “I want you naked in bed when I get back.”
“Your wish is my command. Shall I have these at the ready?” I point at the set of handcuffs on the bedside table.
“You bet.” He grins, his tusks gleaming and his red eyes dancing.
Even though I’m sated, I can feel the drag of desire already reappearing.
Yep. I’m insatiable for my big green guy.
After the front door closes, I go over to the window and watch him stride down to the jeep, jump inside and drive off.
And then I get ready to go to the markets. I have a plan all worked out for his mom’s birthday present.
But first, I pick up the phone and call Amy.
I get the answering machine. Guess she must be at work already.
“Amy, it’s erm, Clem. Otis’s,” I hesitate, “friend. Just thought I’d let you know there’s a little party for your mom’s fiftieth birthday in two days’ time at her care home, so, yep, that’s all I wanted to say.
Would be so lovely to meet you and the twins.
And I know your mom would love it if you were there. ”
I put the phone down, my heart pumping hard, feeling a little guilty for interfering, and worrying that Amy will think I’m being a pushy human.
But then, what is there to lose? Either they will come or they won’t.
I gather my bag and purse and stroll down the alley to the markets.
It’s early, so they are still setting up the stalls.
I go straight to the lace and crafting stall run by Lottie, a pixie with a mass of iridescent blue and purple curls, and matching freckles on her nose.
I explain what I want to make, and Lottie loves the idea.
I buy a soft padded picture frame made from silk, which will save me having to cover it myself.
I buy lace and some silk flowers in shades of soft pastel shades of pink with green leaves, which will complement the green of the orcs in the photo.
The frame is just the right size, so Sally can hold it; a cuddly photo frame. And it will keep the picture from disintegrating, because it’s all that Sally has left of her husband, and it’s what binds her to Bradley and her kids.
I sure hope she likes the result.
And then I buy chops and vegetables for dinner.
I’m just about to head home, when I hear the guttural sound of a motorbike.
Looking up, I see Jax, drawing to a halt atop his black bike at the entrance to a side alley, almost the exact same spot I saw him last time. He’s staring in my direction. I remember it could be a fae, so I wave tentatively. He waves back, and then he beckons me over.
“Hi, Clem.” His voice is muffled behind the visor.
“What are you doing here?” I ask. He just says, “Climb on, I’ll take you home.”
“Only if you go slow.”
He gives me a thumbs up, and I smile and clamber onto the big black bike.
“Be careful, I’ve got a bag full of shopping,” I say, clasping the bag to my chest.
He takes off and I loop my arms around his leather-clad torso, and we zoom through the streets, except… suddenly it dawns on me that we’re not heading toward Otis’s house.
I thump his shoulder. “Hey, where are you taking me?”
Jax doesn’t answer, he just speeds up. My bag of craft stuff flies out of my hand and bounces onto the road behind us. “Jax, you bastard, stop, I’ve dropped my shopping!”
He just keeps going, picking up even more speed along the tunneled streets.
I start to panic. “Please—stop!” I scream over the noise of the engine.
Jax leans forward over the handlebars. I doubt if he can hear me. I have no idea what this little game is all about.
I can’t jump off, he’s going way too fast. And I have no helmet or leather gear, I could be seriously hurt. Monsters scatter as the bike zooms around corners.
“If this is a joke,” I shout, “it’s not funny.”
No response.
Suddenly I see the large metal doors of what I know to be a portal entrance ahead of us. Jax doesn’t slow down, not even a tiny bit as we head straight for it, and I duck my head, my eyes screwed up, waiting to hit those huge metal doors at full pelt.
But instead, as if by magic, they slide open.
And suddenly we’re inside the portal itself, all shining steel, from floor to ceiling. Jax brings the bike to such an abrupt halt I’m almost thrown off.
He reaches out to the control panel on the wall. A leather-gloved hand presses a button and the doors slide shut behind us.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I clamber shakily off the bike and glare at him. “This is crazy. You know I don’t want to go back to Sparkle.”
He just stares at me through the smoky glass of his visor.
“Jax!” I scream. “Just fucking answer me, you shithead.”
Finally, slowly, he takes off his bike helmet. Shakes out his hair.
His blond hair.
My mouth goes slack with horror.
It’s not Jax at all.
It’s jerk guy from Paradise Beach.
The guy who was going to abduct me the day Jax rescued me.
His teeth glint menacingly as he smiles at me. “Hello again, sweetheart.”
OTIS
Jax and I are sitting in my office, listening in to the recording from the tiny bug under the desk in the army captain’s office.
Their voices are clear as a bell, which is fantastic. It means the messages from above ground are reaching us.
Except nothing is being said that’s worth listening to.
The captain and his second in command are trying out the cigars Jax delivered last night.
“Smooth as,” the captain rumbles.
A volley of coughing follows. “Yeah,” croaks his subordinate. “Amazing.”
Jax rolls his eyes. “That little fucker has never smoked a cigar in his life. He’s just sucking up to the boss.”
For the next ten minutes they talk about frivolities. About the movies they’ve seen, the leave they’ve taken, how they are going clubbing next weekend at the resort they are allowed to frequent as higher-ranking soldiers. The women they’re going to fuck.
“Perks of the job,” Jax explains.
I yawn. Jax slouches and vapes.
We sit for another ten minutes listening to this garbage. The subordinate laughs at everything his superior says, a high-pitched sound like a donkey braying. And the captain is a thick-skulled idiot who loves the sound of his own voice.
I’m about to stop listening and go and do something else when suddenly there’s a commotion. I hear the sound of a door banging, then chairs scraping, as if the two men are jumping to their feet.
I sit bolt upright, all my senses on red alert.
A voice shouts, “I’ve got a defector. Get me transport to HQ, now.”
“Let me go, you bastard!” screams a female voice.
A voice I know.
A voice I love.
I stare at Jax. Jax stares at me.
“That’s Clem,” I croak.
“What the fuck!” Jax shoots out of his chair. “How did they get her?”
“She went to the markets this morning,” I say, the blood draining from my face.
“Shit. I need to get up to the periphery, fast. I’ll get her away from them, tell them she accidentally found her way into the Labyrinth, that it’s all a big misunderstanding… I’ll think of something.”
I grab my keys. “I’m coming with you.”
Jax shakes his head furiously. “No way. A fucking orc turning up will blow everything. The mission will be done for.”
“I don’t give a fuck.” Nothing matters except getting Clem back. “I’m coming.”
I can’t lose her.
I can’t.
My one true love.
My mate.
We jump into the jeep, and I drive like a maniac to the first portal elevator.
Jax flings open the door as I skid to a stop, and he’s running like the wind toward the portal.
I run after him. Fear lending me speed.