Chapter 22HarborSilas
Chapter 22
HARBOR
I jerk awake, and as my consciousness returns, I struggle to take in my surroundings. Turning my head and taking in the room, the faint glow of a table lamp in the room next door shines through and illuminates just enough where I can see that I'm currently tucked into Talon's bed. Oh yeah, I called him and asked for him to come get me. I knew as soon as my temperature dropped that I had maybe an hour to get somewhere before my body shut down. Fertility cycles are rare for syrens, but I guess bonding with my mate encouraged it to show up.
As I think of Talon, I grow curious as to where he is. I throw back the covers and gingerly support myself as I stand for the first time in several days, at least. On my way out of his bedroom, I stop off to relieve myself and to freshen up. I doubt he could rouse me to eat for very long, let alone shower. As I wash my hands, and then my face, I wonder just how long it's been. And what time of day it is.
As I emerge into the main living space, I hear noises from outside. Walking to the door, I peek through the window, wondering what I'll find. Kane and Talon, together, naked and under the outdoor shower, is not what I expected. Gods, they are both so hot. I hate feeling like I'm intruding, but they aren't exactly hiding. Watching them, I wonder what has transpired between them while I was asleep. They appear to be quite taken with each other, and well, if Talon feels free enough to hook up with Kane, that kind of opens the door for me. Right?
As I peer through the window, I watch how Kane takes care to prepare Talon to take him. Kane is no lightweight, and while Talon is large all over, Kane has the girth to satisfy and he has the piercings. I swear, I didn't know he was pierced until he used his tail to pull it out. Going down on him this week was a shock. I didn't expect his hardware to have hardware… The steel balls warmed quickly over my tongue, and they added the slightest weight to my mouth. He didn't need any help, but it was a pleasant surprise. Knowing he can bring something extra to the table is intriguing, and it got me so turned on that night, I didn't expect him to tell me to get on the bed.
That night was so much fun. After the craziness of the weekend and our kiss we shared on the beach, I was ready to move forward. At least, a little. I jumped at the chance to go down on him, because after twice when he wouldn't let me touch him, I was slightly jealous. Finally, getting my hands on his cock was so exhilarating, and the noises he was making had a direct line to my clit. When he asked to go down on me too, I had to do something . I wasn't ready to be pinned underneath him without a way to have power over him, and even though I knew about his wings before that night, I never thought he would use them to get into my room. Being able to touch his wings and make him weak with lust was that security I needed to allow him to lean over me. This way, I knew we'd both get off.
Shaking my head from the memories fogging my vision, I watch as Kane gently bites down on Talon's neck and thrusts into his entrance. The look of pure pleasure that washes over Talon's face warms my heart, knowing they are sharing a bonding moment for themselves. The care that Kane takes with Talon is admirable, knowing he's being gentle for Talon's first time. It's also sexy as fuck, watching Kane push Talon to the brink of ecstasy before pulling back slightly. The effort he makes to give this moment to Talon says a lot about Kane; he takes his pleasure from giving pleasure to others. I'm curious what it will be like when I finally relent, and possibly if we are all together.
It doesn't take long for them both to finish, and I've never seen such a sexy sight. They end up collapsing into the spray of the shower, taking a moment to recover while they hold each other. At this point, I know I'm intruding, so I just go have a seat on the sofa and wrap a blanket around me. Damn hormones, my body still hasn't regulated.
It takes a few minutes, but they eventually come inside, fully clothed. “Hi, guys,” I mumble.
Both men look over, startled at my appearance. “Kaia,” Kane breathes as they both rush to the sofa. Kane kneels at my feet before gently picking up my hand to hold. “I've missed you. I only just found out why you weren't answering my messages.”
“Sorry about that,” I say with a wince. “I didn't have much time. I needed to be secure, and I had to get Talon to help me back here. Once we got here, I had a fueling snack, and then prepared to hibernate, in the most basic sense. I had to message my professors, as well. That I did from bed,” I say with a chuckle.
Talon slides onto the sofa beside me, softly caressing my cheek before turning me to face him. He looks deep into my eyes before leaning in to brush his soft lips against mine. His fresh masculine scent of patchouli and musk wafts over me, and my body sings for the closeness of my mate. When Talon pulls back, we meet each other's eyes and smile. “I've missed you, Rogue.”
“I'm glad to be back,” I say, pouring my heart into my words. I hate that my body shuts down for so long, but I know that's just how my kind are.
“Are you hungry?” I think my stomach was on the same page, because right as Talon asked that question, it decided to voice its protest of the fast I'd put it through with a loud gurgle. Embarrassment flushes my neck at the loud noise, but the guys only laugh it off. “I'll fix that,” Talon says. “Would you like something substantial? Or start with something light?”
“Light, I think,” I say. “I can always have more later.”
“I made some soup yesterday. I could heat some up for you?” Talon is an amazing cook, so when he mentions homemade soup, my mouth waters at the flavors I can imagine he's included.
“Yes, please!”
“Okay. I'll be right back,” he says, placing a brief kiss on my forehead.
“So,” Kane says, clearing his throat. “I guess you know what just happened.”
“Yeah,” I say with a smirk. Is he nervous?
“What do you think?”
“I thought you both were hot, to be honest,” I confess. “I didn't see much, but what I did see I thought was genuine and sexy as fuck. That was so much hotter than when he went down on you, the time he fucked me in your lap.”
“Ugh,” Kane says, smiling through his grumble. “Don't remind me of that. That image will forever stay in the forefront of my mind. You are a goddess, and the way he works you over is masterful.” I can't help but blush at his words. That was one of the most thrilling experiences I can remember.
“And this week,” he continues, “that was something to do with your cycle?” Gods, my blush doubles in heat. Kane has no issues with asking personal questions, does he?
“Yes,” I say. “Syrens differ from other beings. We basically shut down for about a week. Our body temperature lowers, and if we are in Thalassia, we'd be okay. Since I'm on Naesala, above the water, my body behaves differently. Because it's hotter above the water, I still need food and water. That's why I required someone nearby who I could trust to remember to wake me. My mate was my first choice, and I knew I could count on him.”
“Yes,” Kane says. “I can completely understand that.” Despite his agreeable words, the look on his face hints at disappointment. I hope I didn't hurt his feelings by not warning him. “So, does that mean you and Talon are going to prepare for a baby in the near future?”
“Um, no,” I say, giggling. “I'm nowhere ready to be a mom. My bond with my mate certainly helps the situation, but I plan on continuing my birth prevention spell. At least for now. I have to finish my studies here before I consider possibly being in charge of another being.”
Kane nods as he listens, his dejected look softening a little. “I get that. It's a smart idea,” he says.
“So,” I say, changing the subject, “how long was I out?”
“Just over six days,” Talon says, reentering the room. The tray he carries holds a glass of water and a steaming bowl, so I quickly adjust my position to accommodate the tray. As he approaches, the savory aroma finally reaches me, and my mouth waters with anticipation. The scent of garlic and other herbs complements the hearty vegetables, and I spoon some out, blowing gently to cool it.
“The only new thing I know recently is there is a new club open. Some guys I dance with messaged me about it. It's next door to Erotic Dreams, and I was told it is supposed to be a more 'hands–on' experience. I don't know what that means, considering how interactive Dreams already is.”
“That is strange,” I murmur, slowly sipping my meal. “Talon, this is so good. Thank you!”
“You're welcome, my love. I'm glad it was still fresh.”
“The flavors blend so well after sitting overnight. This is perfect.”
I sit back and enjoy this delicious soup, closing my eyes and tuning out the guys for a moment. When I finally open them again, I look around at everything. I have my mate, the one the stars decided to gift to me, and our close friend and confidant. I don't consider Kane my brother, as he's not related to me, and we only just met this year. We have been blessed to find each other, and I'm feeling grateful for my small little family.
“How are you feeling now?” Talon captures my attention, and I glance up to him and meet his gaze with a smile.
“I'm feeling better,” I say, spooning up the last of the soup. I sip the spoon before placing it in the bowl and grabbing the cup of water. Talon stands and carefully picks the tray up from my lap, returning it to the kitchen. “I feel like I might be awake for a while, since I woke so late in the day. I'd love to go to the library to work on catching up on this week's assignments. Would either of you like to join me?”
“I can't,” Talon says. “I have a quick after-hours meeting with my Familiar advisor, to check on how Onyx and I are getting along. Can I join you afterward?”
“Please. You can walk me home,” I say with a smile.
“I can walk you to the library, but I can't go in,” Kane says. “We're having two practices a day for this week, since our last tournament is next week.”
“That's fine,” I say. “I'll take all the company I can get.” I quickly get dressed and pack my bag, giving Talon a longer kiss than before as we walk out the door. He splits off and heads toward the other side of campus, while Kane and I start the short walk to the library.
“Kane,” I say as we walk, “can I ask you a question?”
“Sure,” he says.
“Are you happy?”
He stops walking and looks at me. “What makes you think I'm not happy?”
“Well,” I say, linking my arm in his and gently tugging him forward, “you looked sad earlier. When I was talking about kids, your face dropped. I want you to know that you still have a family with us.”
“I know, Kaia. You are too kind to think of me.”
As we approach the library, I stop, leaning up to kiss his cheek. “I'll see you later. I have my phone now, so you can always reach me.”
“Goodnight,” he says, smiling as he walks off.
I watch him walk away, thinking I wish I could make this easier on him. Turning, I head toward the library's doors. Just as I reach them, however, the doors burst open, and Silas Oramar storms out.
“Watch it,” he spits, nearly knocking me over. I just shake my head, knowing he's always been an asshole, and he'll likely never change. That in itself almost makes me feel sorry for him, but then I laugh and continue on my way. I don't have time to pity assholes, especially after losing a week.
SILAS
As the music thumps around me, I look across the bar at my new club. The opening of Carnal Desires was a tremendous success; we've had a line wrapped around the block every night. The first night, we were at capacity within minutes, and the club was as addictive as we'd hoped. Of course, that meant trouble with patrons waiting for entry. I quickly hand-signed numbered tickets for the next night, and I set Brent on a mission to figure out a reservation system ASAP. We wouldn't stay successful if people couldn't gain entry. I also ensured Brent had a cycle to the system. Something to the effect that customers could only reserve entry once a week; they had to plan carefully, and if they wanted to come back, the line would be open until we couldn't take any more people.
As the people mill around the bar tonight, ordering their ‘free drink’, I'm pleased that, more often than not, they are ordering extras from the infusion menu. The clientele is exactly what Father predicted, mostly my age or maybe a little older. They are the ones who love this type of club and are the perfect target age range for the infusions we sell. Father may be old, and he may not pay attention all the time, but he definitely knows his investments.
I remember showing Father the numbers from the first weekend. His elation at the success quickly transformed into pride for me, representing him so well. My smile lasted all the way until this evening. I've been here every night, at school during the day, and private combat training and studying at the library every afternoon. I don't know when I'm sleeping, but that's why people say ‘sleep is for the dead’.
Today pissed me off, though. I'd finally finished studying and was running late to get here, so I practically ran out of the library. The Princess almost got in my way, though. Would've served her right for being in my way if I knocked her over. After-school studying is the only time I get by myself, and of course I ran into the bitch. I couldn’t stand the fact that she's always showing up. I still have to plan on how to make her pay for my sister's death, too. She’s always around to taunt me, shaking her round ass in my face, wearing clothes that seem to conform to her tits. It’s slowly driving me insane, knowing how hot and fuckable she is, flaunting herself all over campus. Not to mention, she supposedly has a mate, but then she’s been rumored to be spending a lot of time with the dickhead, Ambrose. I try to ignore the chatter, but it’s hard when she’s the one in everyone’s mouths. And, I guess, when she has everyone in her mouth.
Just as I take a healthy sip of a fine Fallodorian whiskey to wash thoughts of the princess away, one client approaches me. It’s clear he’s older than I am, but only by a few years. As he walks up, he extends his hand.
“Hi, my name is Marshall,” he says. “Are you the manager?”
“Yes, I am. As well as a partial owner. What can I do for you?”
“I just wanted to tell you this place is outstanding! I love everything; I'm surprised there aren't other places around that are similar.”
“Thank you,” I say with a wide grin. “I'm thankful you're enjoying yourself. We're always open to suggestions, too.”
“Have you considered themed rooms? Or rooms with toys?” His questions prompt a mini-brainstorming session in my head.
“I haven't, as this was a quick set up, but I will look into making those happen.”
“That's amazing. Also,” he says, “Are you hiring? I know someone who might be interested. She’s a succubus, and I think she’d love to work here.”
“Have her stop by during the midday hours, and we’ll do an interview,” I say. My grin spreads as I hold my hand out to him again. “Thank you so much for helping us get this club off to an impressive start!”
As the gentleman walks back to the entertainment rooms, his suggestions roll around in my mind. Themed rooms. Would that mean costumes or scenarios? Or maybe both? That I would have to assign to Brent; I have no more time in my day to research for the club. Then my thoughts turn toward toys. Yeah, that's going to require a budget for itself.
As far as his friend, what he said has me curious. I might have to hide this one from Father, and also discreetly poll our current employees. They've all been excellent so far, but I’ll have to convince Father to disclose how he chose them.
My mind comes alive, lighting up like the dance floor. An evil grin spreads across my face as I consider all the options. I have so many ideas, and we might have to get someone in during the day for some demolition and redecorating, but this idea…it has potential. Specifically, if we can get sound proofing for certain rooms.
That also reminds me, I will have to invest in potions for our staff's protection. Did Father ever book that contract with Hudson Del Mar? I'm going to have to check in with him tomorrow, as I'm booking everything else. The timing is essential for this idea of mine, and I can't wait. Everything's coming together, I think, tossing back the last of my whiskey. I just need a little time to gather the materials, and then this club can truly put on the show of a lifetime.