Kraken the whip, p.9
Kraken the Whip, page 9
He grinned. “I don’t ink in this form.”
She rolled her hips against him. “Are you sure? Feels sticky. Have you gotten me as open as you would like?”
He groaned. “Your words are driving me nuts. You are almost as open as I need you to be, but at this point, I just want to stay inside you.”
Penny smiled. “Which will change the moment that Liella gets up.”
“Yeah. You have no idea how much I am looking forward to next week.” He grinned. “I get to be a grown up without having to cover up.”
“So, does Thorstein have an unusual colouration or whatever?”
He grinned. “Does he have tentacles? No. His cock is more... well, you will find out.”
She pinched his waist. “That’s just mean. This is not the kind of suspense I enjoy.”
He chuckled. “It isn’t something I can really describe. Just like I can’t describe my own.”
She opened her mouth and closed it again. “Right.”
He leaned in and nuzzled her. “But he does purr. Sort of.”
She blinked. “Sort of?”
“I have only heard him do it after a big dinner with dessert.” He pressed soft kisses along her jaw. “But I am guessing he will do it with you, too.”
She blushed and caught his lips with hers. He was still sliding around inside her until her breath hitched, and she arched against him. She whispered what she had planned for Liella’s birthday, and he grinned. “I think she’s going to love it.”
“I don’t think I am getting her what she wants for her birthday. What else can I get her?”
He gave her suggestions, and they gave her ideas, and then she was thrashing against him trying to cum. He didn’t leave her desperate for long. She screamed and kept her arms around him as her body rioted, and he kept moving inside her.
When she slowly relaxed onto the soft surface under her, she swallowed. “I am beginning to see the appeal of a nest.”
He smiled and kissed her forehead. “Me too.”
The noise that he made while withdrawing from her was a very wet slurp. She put a hand over her forehead. “Oh, that is distressing.”
He laughed. “Get used to it.” He patted her thigh and reached to a cupboard. He got wet wipes and cleaned her up and then himself.
Chapter Eight
Everything went back into storage neatly, and she sat up in her damp underwear. Penny worked her skirt back into position and sighed. “Where did I put my shoes?”
He helped her to her feet, his own appearance serious and tidy.
“You think you will be able to manage in here?” he quietly asked.
She nodded. “I am sure I will.”
He smiled. “Let’s head to the family room and we can discuss a few things.”
“Don’t you have work things to do?”
“I am taking time off so we can settle in. I do believe I have mentioned that before.” He put his hand at the small of her back.
“Dude, if I am not acting as Liella’s proper nanny, or whatever else is on your assignment, I am going to need some exercise gear or casual stuff or something. I mean, I don’t even have jeans. I miss jeans.” She sighed as they walked upstairs.
“Ask Thor. He might be willing to take you shopping.” He smirked and squeezed her butt.
“If I had a car, I could just go.” She smiled. “If I got my scooter, I could use that.”
“We are not trying to stop you from travelling, but logistics haven’t lined up. Mind you, we know you can get into town on your own if you have to.”
“Without stealing your car.”
“Yes. Avoid that. I don’t have Liella’s booster seat in my other cars.”
“Wait. Other cars?”
“Sure. I have a collection. The others are all standard transmissions.”
She looked at him. “Can I see them?”
“Of course. As soon as sleeping beauty is up so she doesn’t freak out.”
“Right. Is it far?”
“No. The garage is just through the woods. I try not to make things too flashy, but the vehicles belonged to my father, so a mechanic comes in regularly to maintain them.”
She grinned. “I can help with that.”
“Really? You like cars?”
“The more you know how they work, the easier it is to negotiate for serious repairs. Same with home repairs.” Penny smiled. “I am very good at patching drywall and replacing electrical sockets.”
“Wow. Actually, there are a bunch of small repairs around here that need to be done. If you could make a list, we could get a contractor in.”
“I can probably fix most of the things around here if I’m allowed to.”
He brought a hand to his lips. “My home is your home. Fix it or bash it up.”
“Do you have a toolbox?”
“I might.”
She sighed. “Can you tell Thorstein to skip the mug and get the toolbox? It’s in my entryway, next to the shoes.”
He grinned and brought out his phone, tapping with a smirk. The phone chirped back immediately registering a new message. Jax laughed. “He’s got it, and he’s pissed. And he’s on his way back here.”
“Great. As long as I get my tools.” She started to look around and spotted things that needed to be fixed. Loose knobs, drawers that didn’t quite shut, small dents in the wall. They all made her eager to get her kit in her hands.
Jax walked them into the family room, and he sat on the couch, easing Penny against him. He answered his messages, and she napped while they sat in the warm, quiet space.
The thud of the door made Penny jerk awake, but she wasn’t alone. Liella was curled up against her belly, and she also started stretching awake.
Thorstein walked in and saw her stretching against Jax. “Aw, not fair.”
Liella stretched, mimicking Penny. “Hey, Detective Thor.”
“Hello, Liella.”
He beckoned to Penny, and she got up to walk out of the family room and around the corner. He wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted her to the wall, pinning her against him.
“So, was it funny?”
“The mug hunt? Yeah. I kept telling Jax to tell you to stop, but he kept saying later.”
He looked at her with his pretty eyes glittering. He leaned in close and licked her skin, dragging the pointed tip over her cheek and down to her jaw. “You two were playing.”
Penny squeaked. “Playing?”
He leaned back and gave her a serious look. “And then you needed a nap while he remained smug.”
She blushed. “Did you get my toolkit?”
“It’s by the door.”
“Yay. Thank you.”
He tapped his lips.
She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. The kiss deepened a heartbeat later as his tongue slid along hers, and she sighed and tilted her head to get the kiss to the point where she was moaning and he was cupping a breast while he pressed her into the wall.
“Mr. Thor. Why are you kissing my mom?”
Thorstein lifted his head, his chest heaving. “Because she is going to be my mate, too, so that you and Penny will have alphas to look after you.”
Liella smiled and nodded. “So you have to kiss her, too.”
He nodded. “I do. Your father got to kiss her before I did, so it’s not fair, and I have to catch up.”
Liella nodded. “I am gonna get some water.”
Thorstein watched her walk toward the kitchen, and then he looked Penny in the eyes again. “Where were we?”
“You were going to show me my computer and my toolbox.”
He sighed. She looked at his resignation and slumped shoulders. Penny grabbed his jaw and turned him to her, kissing him with her arms around his neck. She felt his grin against her lips, and she realized she had been suckered.
She tried to pull back, but he stroked her neck, and she felt a rumble coming from his chest. It wasn’t a growl; it wasn’t a purr; he was rumbling hard. He slid her skirt high to press his hips against hers. She closed her eyes as she sprinted up the path of arousal, but just before she would have screamed into his mouth, he stopped.
She broke from his kiss and breathed harshly.
He whispered, “That was fun.”
She narrowed her eyes and turned to face him. “Dangerous precedent.”
“What?” He grinned.
“To determine that I can’t count on you for pleasure. Dangerous precedent.”
He looked at her and slumped. “Shit.”
“Not falling for that one again, but yeah.”
“Yeah. A better idea would have been arm wrestling with a penalty.” She squirmed. “Down now.”
He sighed. “I really wanted to do better.”
“Tell that to the five-year-old behind you.” She smiled.
He looked around and saw Liella. “Right.”
Liella was watching him with narrowed eyes. “What are you doing with my mom?”
Penny laughed out loud and went to get her tool box.
Thorstein blinked. “Are you going to run around fixing things?”
“Yeah. That’s the plan.”
He held up a finger and left out the front door, returning a moment later with a bag from a familiar sporting good store. “Here. I got you this because I figured that Jax would keep you in office-ready clothes all day.”
She took the huge bag and dropped it on the floor. She pulled out jeans, leggings, sweats, loose t-shirts, running socks, and a set of sneakers in the same brand she had at her place.
“Aw, sweet. This is great.” She jumped up and hugged Thorstein. “Thank you.”
He hugged her back. “Forgiven for my gaffe?”
“Yup. But remember that around kids, the opportunities are small. They are quick, and they are nosy.”
She grabbed the bag, flipped it over her shoulder, and sprinted up the stairs to her room. Chortling, she picked out a shirt and jeans. The socks felt like heaven.
She wiggled her toes and looked up at the knock on her door. She looked toward the door, got up, and went to open the door. She was unsurprised to find Thorstein. “What’s the password?”
He smiled. “Comfy jeans?”
She nodded. “Close enough.”
He stepped into her room and looked around. “It is just as neat as the ones at your house.”
“Just a habit I got into.”
He sat on her bed. “Are you okay with this? With me, I mean.”
She sat next to him. “I am okay with it. I have watched omega education films, have talked to friends who are upgraded betas and their alphas. I understand how it works. I just never thought it would be directed at me. It’s like guns. I know how they work; I just never want one pointed at me, let alone two of them.”
He sighed. “I guess. I hadn’t thought of it like that.”
“Well, unless you were in a locker room with guys who were aroused and eight-and-a-half feet tall, that would be the only correlation.”
He laughed. “Yeah, that would be disturbing. I am glad you have more calm than I would.”
She smiled. “I am okay with things. So, tell me... can the cleaners get my house habitable?”
“They are working on it. What the hell is he eating?”
Penny smiled. “Knowing what I know now, I think he’s a skunk.”
His eyes widened. “That would do it.”
“So, how big is a leviathan in the open ocean?”
“I dunno. I grew over time. My head’s about twelve feet tall and I have a lot of teeth.”
“Wow, so you are either a giant floating head, or you are a hundred feet long.”
He grinned. She saw the double canines and reached up to tap them. He blinked. “What was that?”
“I like your teeth.”
“I like everything about you.”
“That’s... I am sure you date regularly.” She frowned at him.
“Less than you think. He’s fussy.”
“He?”
He tapped his chest. “The leviathan.”
“Huh. I hadn’t thought about it. They are separate consciousnesses?”
“Yup. Sometimes they whisper. Sometimes they shout. The animal instincts are hard to deal with in polite society at times.” He asked, “Do you know what gave you the marks?”
“Oh, what is giving the marks in general? No. Not a clue. All we know is that it is localized to this area for the ladies. The guys don’t seem to have any geographic restriction.”
He chuckled. “I would apologize, but it means that we can find you.”
“Yeah. Most of the alphas finding their matches aren’t dicks. Some are, and some just need to understand what just landed in their lap.” She shrugged. “And some never thought this was possible and are treating the betas like gold diggers.”
“What do they do with their new mates?”
“They get rough or reject her, and she gets angry.” She chuckled. “I guess that is where the beast kicks their asses.”
“Do you know any unmatched betas?”
“Sure. A bunch. Some have physical marks, some don’t.”
“Is there a record of them?”
“I think the ones that want to find mates are in some kind of database.”
“Were you?”
“No. I knew where my mate was. Saw him drop off his daughter every day and was content with that.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I already dealt with Alvin. Being up close and personal with alphas again wasn’t on my wish list.”
“Ah. I pulled up his file.”
“Yeah. He likes torturing betas, but that is never the first thing we see.” She shrugged.
“How is his other victim?”
“Working as a bodyguard with my cousin. She had just gotten off a nasty breakup when she went for drinks with him. She was drugged and brought to my apartment, and when I got there, I saw the broken lock and called the police right away. The rest is in the report.” She sighed. “That was a rough night.”
“Yeah. He landed a few punches on arresting officers. He could hit.”
She paused. “Yeah. He could go from zero to rage in a moment. Imagine being half his size.”
“How was the deposition and testifying?”
“Irritating. I had to use holiday time, but I was glad I was there as moral support. We got through it.”
She paused. “You... were there?”
“Yup. I had just sat my detective’s exam and was on patrol. Calls were coming in from your entire building. Running into an apartment where two women were managing to keep an insane alpha at bay wasn’t something that we were used to dealing with. You two were battered and bloody, but you were still standing... at least you were until he was hauled out of the room. Then you two collapsed, but you still insisted she get medical attention first.”
Penny shrugged and was calm when she explained. “She was hurt worse.” He sighed and slumped her shoulders. “She was. She’s good now. Well, as good as she could be.” She paused, “So, what I am getting is that you arrived after I have had the snot kicked out of me. You need to get faster.”
“When we are linked I will be able to feel when you are stressed.”
She shivered.
“The thought freaks you out?”
“I haven’t had a lot of fun being bitten by alphas.” She grimaced.
He slowly wrapped an arm around her and rubbed her arm. “Mating marks are different.”
“Are they? My body isn’t an omega’s. I am not quivering to be bitten.”
He stroked her neck. “This is true, but as no aquatic omega has been seen in centuries, my beast is delighted that you have appeared. He understands your hesitance and will be very careful until he can lend you some of his strength.”
She blinked. “I can borrow it?”
“Yes. And from Jax as well.”
Penny smiled. “Does it weaken you two?”
“No. Consider it as you getting a portion of the adrenalin surge we will get feeling you stressed.”
“That sounds... interesting.”
“It is an excellent self-defense mechanism.”
She smiled. There was a small knock, and she got up to answer it. Liella was there with her dolly. “Daddy says it is time to get dinner started, and he needs both of you.”
“We will be right there, little bit.”
Liella smiled. “You look relaxed.”
Penny smiled. “Thank you.”
Thorstein wrapped an arm around her waist from behind and kissed her temple. “We are on our way.”
She was picked up and walked down the hall. Liella turned to the alpha. “My room is back there. If I fall asleep on the couch, that is where you take me.”
“Good to know. What if Penny falls asleep? Where do I put her?”
“In her room or in Daddy’s room.”
They were now on the main floor, and Penny was being held the same way Liella was holding her doll.
She was carried into the kitchen. Jax looked from Liella to Thorstein, and he snorted with laughter. Jax smiled. “I got the groceries from your truck and thought we should get started.”
Penny tried to get down, but she was held. “Come on. I am a very good cook.”
Thorstein said, “Your mates are trying to prove that they are useful and not helpless in the kitchen.”
“What? Were you planning on bench pressing the grill? I know Jax can cook.”
She looked up. “Liella and I are not helpless either.”
Liella squealed, the doll went flying, and she pushed her step stool to the kitchen sink.
Penny looked up at Thorstein. “Don’t even think about it.”
He laughed and carefully set her down on her feet. She slipped and slid in her socks to stand next to Liella, and they washed their hands. Penny asked, “So, what can we make?”
“The vegetables and whatever you like.” Jax smiled.
She looked at the offerings and took a bunch of things, including vegetables and ground pork. She got a bowl and soaked the vegetables while Liella bathed them like baby dolls. When she found the kebab skewers, she walked carefully with them while the other two were making rubs and glazes.
