174. Maybe One Day

Louis

I was back at the compound after Marcus’s thoughts ran me over. There to ask Juliet if she would take me down into those tunnels and give me a six-minute ride… No, I would have begged if it came down to it. She was taking care of Chris after Caleb had brought him back. All three were lying on the bed as a family with one common goal. Chris was hooked onto an IV. My immediate reaction was to let them be. Fall back and let them spend precious time together.

Juliet smiled when she saw me. We had one wild night… thanks to Charlene… Other than that, we’d spent little time together after Zoreah... After Chris lost his powers, the new schedule Juliet implemented was a problem for Marcus, too. He had thought about their whole conversation after they slept together. Ran me through how she was with him.

I stepped into Marcus’s room, hoping she would follow. I knew she wouldn’t ask. Not at that time. She didn’t know what I was thinking. Where my thoughts were running off to. I closed the door that separated the two rooms. I had so many arguments with myself. Sometimes, I didn’t even know whose thoughts were whose. When I read so many people all the time, my mind was a little lost. She did open the door and closed it again. Sat down next to me and took my hand. “What’s up?”

Asking for sex was not something I ever had to do. It was probably the first normal relationship thing I would be doing. I don’t think any guy liked having to ask for it. But it was the woman that needed to “put out.” They were the ones who had to open that part of their physical body to be taken. A risk of hurting their minds and their souls. Juliet was already on such a fragile line. I felt I was doing something wrong. We didn’t really have that luxury in our harem to draw close. Use the whole day to build up to it, and I didn’t want to use her… “Louis…” Juliet whispered. I guess my thoughts drifted. My pride was taking a beating. I had to eventually step out of my comfort zone.

“I… need release.” My hand ran through my hair.

Juliet smiled. “You’re asking!” She jumped on me, throwing her legs over me. “Is that why you’re here. It’s still so early. Why not wait till tonight?”

“Uhmm… Something happened at The Tower….”

Her eyes turned to slate, and her tongue ran over her teeth. Her first thoughts were of Rana. It irritated me. I had to try harder.

“I want to go down into the tunnels… Have you chosen an outfit yet?” My eyes lingered on her lips. My fingers rubbed her waist. Juliet’s smile fell again, even worse than when she thought I was pent up about another girl. She felt she couldn’t. “Why…? Why Marcus and not me?” She swallowed hard just thinking about me in that chair. Judging her. “Why would I? Not like anything you did.”

“You might think that I’m okay with your past, but sometimes it’s a bit daunting… Men are so critical when they have a high body count. Expecting porn star performances…”

I chuckled and pressed my lips to hers. “But why Marcus? I would have thought you’d choose Chris.”

“Urgh, no! Neither of you. I almost didn’t let Michael brand me. I was so nervous.” She got up and stood in front of me.

“You’re no coward, baby. Why is this so difficult?”

“I’m just having a hard time with the rejection… Marcus has a way of compartmentalizing. I knew he would just… see it as something else he had to do. I don’t think I can handle another… setback right now.” She said it but thought that she wouldn’t be able to handle one of us hurting her. Juliet was definitely not her chipper self… Her tank was a little low.

“Your plan failed miserably, baby.” I got a chortle. “I’m here because Marcus started thinking about it.”

She laughed some more. “Maybe… I also didn’t think any of you were the type… That would want that. Something like that. Especially not you.” She flicked me on the forehead.

“Why don’t you give me a chance, huh.” I pleaded.

Her eyes dropped from mine, thinking about the outfit she chose. It got me even harder… Thinking about her taking it off, moving around that pole.

Her hand was clutching her bottom lip between her fingers. “Okay.”

“Really?”

She licked her lips and smiled. “Then it has to happen right now before I change my mind.”

I took both her hands and laced our fingers, pulling her closer. “I’m so ready….”

“You will want a happy ending, so take a shower. After Marcus…” She held her breath. “I think I should take it easy… I’ll get you there…” She laughed. “In both ways.”

Juliet opened the door and rummaged in her closet. “Where are you going?” Chris asked as I went into the bathroom.

“Caleb… Can you give me a minute with your dad?”

“Yeah, I’ve got a lot of reading to do.”

The two bathroom doors were open. I got in the shower. It was still a little weird for Chris. Us all together. “You know about Michaels’s ultimatums for the brandings?” She asked him.

“Yes, but that kinda fell through the window when he changed into whatever he is,” Chris answered. “He’s going to live longer than all of us.”

“There was one thing… that didn’t. He threw it in my face the other day. He threw a lot in my face.”

I was going to end Michael. Why Marcus thought about their time together in the first place. Marcus couldn’t conceive how Michael would be ready for anything like that. I glanced back at Chris. He met my eye and couldn’t possibly connect the dots. Juliet was just as nervous to tell him.

“Michael asked for a… dance… A lap dance… Stripping… You know.”

Chris smiled. “Yes, I do know. Not that I like watching other women on stage undressing.” Chris looked at me again. He was getting there.

“I asked Marcus to help me prepare….”

“You what?!” Chris sat up. “Help you do what?”

“I suck at… it all, and I needed someone to tell me… Honestly! That I wasn’t making a total fool of myself.”

Chris laughed lightly and looked at me again as I got out of the shower. I shrugged my shoulders. “I guess he did… And you didn’t suck as much as you thought you did… And Louis found out.” Chris was happy. He knew what was coming. “Louis asked… And you’re going to perform for him.”

Juliet nodded.

“Well… I can tell you, Juliet. I will be waiting for my turn in expectation… Anticipation and… It will have to be soon.”

She walked around the bed and hit him with the pillow. “I give you my full permission to let Louis watch you.”

She hit him again. “But no judging! And if you laugh one time… I leave.” She pointed a finger at Chris.

“Oh no! I won’t be laughing… Don’t worry.” It was actually helping her. Giving her confidence. She held up the outfit. Chris’s smile fell. His thoughts went down the same path as mine. He nodded. “Yes…” He said in a husky voice. “That will do… Can I come with you right now? You can have an audience.”

“Hell no!” I yelled.

Juliet left the room on her way to the tunnels while I got dressed. I sat down on the bed. “I know we’ve not really crossed that line, but….” Chris ventured.

“Marcus didn’t like her first outfit or the music. It was kinda corny. But like she knew, he handled it perfectly… And made it even better… He changed it… Told her to dance naked to build confidence… He shoved her against the wall… Manifested, losing control. And slept with her like that.”

Chris fell back onto the bed. “This girl is going to drive us all mad.”

I laughed lightly. “That might well happen. I’ll let you know. How are you feeling?”

“I’m not ready for that anyway. It’s like my soul got sucked out of me… I don’t know how to tell her.”

“It doesn’t matter… You handled it perfectly. She wouldn’t know… Just keep telling her you don’t have the energy.”

I got up. “Enjoy the show.”

***

I had to take the long way down that corridor. It was dark, and she had chosen a room where no one would have even thought to go looking. It did set the mood, walking in the darkness towards one open door. I rounded the corner and took in the sexy, dimly lit room. Juliet stood waiting in a creation out of Brylee’s closet. I closed the door and locked it. Carl had taken all Brylee’s clothes from Palmyra and left them on En-gannim for Juliet to enjoy. Her room and office were still waiting for her. We were all still waiting for her to forgive us.

“Do you want me to tie you up?” She gestured to the chair.

I nodded. The cuffs were black, with fur lining and chains fastened to the floor. “Are these creature proof?”

Juliet started her music. She pulled me closer and slowly undressed me. Our eyes never left the others. She pushed me back with one hand until I was down on the chair. She was taking her time tying my wrists and ankles. “You might as well test them.” I did and couldn’t move. I manifested and used all my strength, making sure Michael wouldn’t be able to get out of them. Not that I wanted to take the chance. I didn’t want to ruin the mood by asking if he would be able to teleport out of them. It put a damper on my spirits, thinking about Michael. She was doing it all for him, and I was still scared there would be some accident. Juliet wasn’t so nervous anymore. She had practiced, and I wasn’t going to read her again.

She walked over to the stage, placing one hand on the pole. The gladiator sandals she wore were woven in patches of material up her shin, tied around her leg, hugging her calf. Those long legs disappeared under ruffles hanging diagonally over her thighs in a triangle, following the line draped seductively over one shoulder. A short, soft cotton, mesh dress in the lightest shade of red gave me glimpses of her skin and breasts hugged in a crop top underneath.

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She hung down from the pole in the middle of her set with one leg wrapping around. She dropped her arms, and the material slid down to the floor. Juliet was rather good at it. Too good. She stepped toward me seductively and reached around her back, undoing her bra, holding it up and in place with one arm, and dropping it on the floor. My heart was beating faster when she started dancing in place, coming over and moving around me and touching me.

To take off her panties, she bent down in front of me, sliding them down. It was difficult for me to hold myself back, not able to touch her when she shifted over me, straddling my legs. Juliet ended up in front of me on the carpet with her ass in the air… Full-on display, with nothing on but those sandals. “Untie me.” She looked back at me. “Juliet. Untie me…” She swiveled and walked over on all fours, sliding her hands up my thighs. The music fueled me to get out of those restraints. “Baby, please…” She slid a finger into my mouth, took me in hand, and lowered her mouth onto me.

***

“And?”

“You don’t need to ask… Do you? I was naked the whole time. You could see my reactions… Right now, I want to be deep inside of you.” Her hands were on my waist, and she pulled me close while I fastened my belt. She was waiting. “It was… perfect, babe. You still rock my world. Don’t change a thing. I don’t know what you were worried about.”

I checked my watch. She didn’t like it. “You’re not leaving… Are you? Not after all that. Please, Louis.”

I tucked some hair behind her ear. “I don’t have the last say, remember… You’re other husband gave me an hour. As is, I’m late… Come with me.”

“No! I want to go out. Take me somewhere to eat. At a restaurant… Can one of you just take me on one date?” Bright eyes were pleading.

I was reminded of her words. Not once are we allowed to go into work mode. I forced myself to relax and focus on her. It had taken so much for her to do it… And for me to ask… I was going to take her. She wasn’t just asking but begging. She needed it and I was on Juliet duty. I would let her handle Marcus when we got home. “There is a place in Paris.” Her smile was reward enough, and her arms wrapped around me. I closed her in an embrace. “Anything else? Mademoiselle”

“I’ve never been up the Eifel- Tower. Or seen your house.”

“What? Then off to Paris, we go. You got something else from Brylee to wear. You need to look the part.”

More smiles and kisses. “Your hair needs coloring.” I ran it through my fingers. “I know a guy.”

She pulled my lips towards hers and pulled away at the last second. A nervous laugh escaped me. Juliet was going to make me go mad… I was glad that she was all there with me.

Juliet and I spent that day and night in Paris. I had the best time. We walked the streets, shopped, and ate whenever Juliet saw something she wanted to try. Near dusk, we ended up standing in line like an average couple to go up the Eifel Tower. In the crowded elevator, we were huddled in the corner, close together, not talking… Just staring at each other, touching and kissing, taking that time to connect. It was the most normal thing we had done in a long time. The sun was setting as we reached the top. I missed her so much. From behind, I wrapped my arms around her. “I would do anything for two weeks on the boat… And before you ask… Yes, even with you pregnant.”

“You know Marcus asked me.”

I sighed. “Yes… He says you’re different. When last did you want… to go? I wasn’t reading you while you were dancing. But even after. It didn’t do anything for you… And it is kind of scary if you don’t want Marcus to make you squirm.”

“I can’t remember…” I kissed her neck, trailing up and down her skin while she was thinking. Juliet’s thoughts drifted to Chris coming to her and… not asking. Taking over and sorting out her and all her problems. My fingers closed around her shoulders. I was failing miserably. I had promised that I would keep them all in line, but it was more complicated than I thought. “Isn’t it helping? Being busy the whole day?” She asked.

“Somewhat… But we don’t get to come back and spend time with our wife. And no, it doesn’t bother me as much as Marcus… Michael is still avoiding you, and Chris is still very weak… So it’s all working out. Don’t worry… I’m just telling you that I miss you, baby.”

“Are we okay, Louis? Are you okay? Is there anything you need or want?”

I let her go and turned her around. My hand ran up her neck and massaged the tight muscles in the nape of her neck. Juliet was always thinking about us. How to make things better and make us happy. “No, Babe… I’m so happy. After the other night with you. And today… It’s good. We’re good.”

“I am sorry I didn’t come and untie you and Marcus.”

“Marcus and I actually bonded. We got to spend some… quality time together.”

Juliet hit my shoulder. I laughed. “You know I would completely freak out … If the four of you started sleeping together.”

“I know. But let’s be realistic. Marcus nor I would sleep with Michael. I don’t think Chris would ever. Marcus and Chris might if they spent enough time together.” I got a fist in my stomach. I stroked her hair. “I would never cheat on you… I know I screw up most of the time… And I am sorry for hurting you… I…” Juliet reached for my lips and kissed me long and hard. “Come, let’s get out of here. We still have to go walk along the river.”

The following day, I woke up a little disturbed, like Marcus. Juliet was outside on the balcony, taking in the view and having a cigarette. Nothing that happened had helped Juliet with that inner struggle going on. She didn’t want to leave and was thinking of ways to make it happen. There was so much we needed to do. Fahan’s branding had tipped the scales. I needed to get back to The Tower. “Let’s go have breakfast… Before we leave. There is a bakery, and we can get coffee and pastries.” Juliet jumped up at the sound of pastries. I laughed again. That wasn’t so hard. Until I had to drop her off with Chris. She was hesitant to let me go, clinging to me like she always did with him. We had a long goodbye. For the first time, we kissed. I glanced over at him for help. He would need to fill that void for that time. He blinked his eyes slowly.

When I walked in on En-gannim, Marcus wasn’t even angry. I had Jessy give both him and Chris copies of her two sessions. It was the first time we were sharing anything about our sex lives. I had thought it was time. Marcus smiled as I walked in and lifted a chin at me. Michael eyed us suspiciously. “So, are you going to tell me what happened?”

“We have the coordinates for Ahasuerus’s stash. It’s not somewhere we’ve been before. We checked it on the map, and it’s in another galaxy?”

“What?”

Michael sighed, playing with the pointy end of his beard. “The bad news is… The galaxy is very close to ours. Too close… We got some astrologers and scientists in here… Earth has always thought Andromeda and the Milky Way would collide one day.”

Collide? The word sent my mind racing, nor was I sure where Michael was going with it. “And?”

“With our technology, they are almost certain it will happen. Soon… Our arms are almost touching… They will work tirelessly to figure out the aftermath and how long we’re looking at.”

“That’s not all.” Michael hesitated. I sat on the couches, rubbing my forehead. Both of them came over. I noticed Rana wasn’t there, and they didn’t care if anyone was listening. “Caleb and I know where the army is. Unfortunately, their numbers are more than ours. And they are spread out. That’s why I couldn’t track any of them.”

“How can it be?”

“They had more time to prepare,” Marcus said. “I don’t think all of Ahasuerus’s army went with Brylee to Zoreah. We might think they shipped out, but… Now… I think Zoreah was another step in their plan. To see what they were up against…Covering all possible outcomes. If they do start to plunder small islands… We will have a hard time. It will last for… years. Especially because they have Palmyra and the Chadari… They have some advantage.”

“When Caleb and I were there… The scientist was already planning to come here to use that massive teleporter.”

“They are going for the vault … It makes more sense… ” Michael bobbed his head. “So now we’re in a race?”

“If Fahan allows it. They haven’t approached him yet, but Caleb and I can’t keep waiting there. We can’t surveil from there. It would be pointless. He can’t keep following Rana and her mother. We can’t send him to do all the work... I don’t want to put him in too many dangerous situations. Our luck will run out some or other time.” Marcus commented. I felt the same way. Marcus didn’t want to use Juliet because she was pregnant. And Caleb was supposed to help for a few days. Not indefinitely. My good day had just turned into a nightmare. War? Years and years of fighting.

“The problem is we will need to split up. Ira and Silvanus are already in the city… They left today for good. We can’t count on them for a whole year.” Marcus continued. “Louis… Juliet and Chris are on Earth. She is safe there. If Michael goes to this planet. It leaves you and me… I don’t want to miss the pregnancy, let alone the birth.”

“But why?”

“The first thing they will do is try and destroy our ability to teleport… I don’t know what will happen if they succeed... Or how the vamps fought wars before we could teleport. My grandfather has hidden a lot of information from us… But if we don’t preempt this….”

“You want to cut off the ability altogether. Make both sides equal? That will give us some time… But what will we do? There will be no traveling. No teleporting on Earth. Not see each other unless Michael is close… Not to mention Earth. The planet is better and healing… They are almost dependent on the quick get-around and just started accepting us again. If it’s years, all our progress will be lost.”

“That’s not the worst,” Michael said. “We do not know how to put it on again. Ahasuerus made sure of that. If we wait and see what they will do, and they do decide to put our future in Fahan’s hands… We’re screwed.”

Marcus’s shoulders fell, his hands clasped. “We need to be here.”

***

Fahan

Since Chris had come to see me, I had been preoccupied, thinking about everything and how to go forward from there. I had no choice but to meet with Marcus after all. It did not seem they wanted me dead. Resolved that we were the inhabitants of the planet. I could not think about Aries and not get angry… At myself.

“Fahan.” I looked up at Dimitrios. Jade behind him. The two of them together were never an issue for me… Until she had turned away from me. But she was looking at me.

“What?” I kept my eyes on my mate.

“The scientist has a proposition.”

I listened with interest. My way out of that mess had presented itself. Aligning with Avrio’s son. It might turn around and come back at us.

“Has this son answered?”

“He has. They say they are launching their attack.”

“Will he meet with me?”

“He is on his way… Tomorrow. He needs time to get out… There is another thing….”

“Speak.”

“One of the men wants to go to En-gannim and do the work from there. He says it will take half the time with only one man there… We can get to Earth sooner than we think. If you will allow it.”

My eyes drifted up to Jade’s. “Give me a minute with my mate.”

Dimitrios left, and we were alone. I would do it… If she would just speak to me. “Come sit with me.” I saw the hesitation in her manner. I hated that her manner was so cold. “What do you want to do?” I asked as she sat down.

“I want my son.” Jade’s voice rose desperately.

I lifted my hand slowly to take hers. “If you ever do that again. I will kill you. And I will destroy this whole planet you put above your son and me.”

We did laugh. And she could hear the familiar sound in my breast. “I am not playing with you, Fahan.”

“I know… I am laughing because… you would be able to kill me… I know that, too… But… I can not ask for forgiveness.” Her nails dug into the wrist she was gripping. “How are you feeling? Are you well?”

She bobbed her head, letting go of me. I grabbed her and pulled her down to the chair she had been sitting on. “Jade….” I whispered.

“I am so angry. You treated me like I was some replaceable rock. One you could order around. At my weakest, when I could do nothing. That was never how we were.”

“You are not replaceable… You know how I care for you. And if you are by my side… I promise you… We will get him back.”

“You promised me when you branded me that it would solve all our problems. I could not do anything without you. I waited… So we could make that decision together!”

“I know. All I thought about was Aries at that moment.”

“If you promise me again. You have to hold true to your word… Not years from now, Fahan. I want to share his days as a youngling.”

I agreed, pulling her a little closer. “Aries, and you are my first and only thought.” I was lying… I knew. Chris’s words had forced me to face the truth again, but I needed her. I couldn’t contend with her anger. She needed to trust me. And I needed her not to do something behind my back. Jade was now the most precious thing on that planet. If she was killed, we would die out anyway. “Do not let this one mistake I made ruin us.” I meant it. I did care deeply for her. I lowered my face to hers. The pull around my lips told her that I wanted her.

“I can not. Not yet. When he is back. I will be back.” She turned away from me… again.