Chapter 48

G iven the all-clear from Jo and Lukar under the condition I took it easy, as Celuk scooped me up and we headed off, Jeh-kal hot on our heels, I couldn't get the look of shock on Dorothy's face when I'd shown her the evidence of everything that had happened to me out of my mind.

Dorothy was safe, she didn't judge. There was some satisfaction to be had when she got angry on my behalf. It was comforting, thinking about all the beings I had in my corner. Beings' reactions still hit me pretty hard, though, even if I truly did understand.

"Are Gopher and Odix with Rek?" I asked, brushing my fingers absently through Celuk's damp mane.

"Out look for Jo, like Celuk and Tor," Jeh-kal answered.

After assuring me I was probably just overdoing it but to be careful just in case, and plying me with bland cracker biscuits and tea she said she swore by with her pregnancies, Dorothy had offered to run me a bath. I knew I smelled a fright from alternately freezing my butt off and sweating like a moose. I probably looked as bad as I felt I stunk.

I'd agreed, but I didn't need assistance, or a babysitter, much as I knew she didn't mean to hover. I'd been alone in that cave with Buu for so long it was like my social battery had shrunk dramatically.

The second Celuk had cottoned on to my solo bath plans, he'd barged in and taken over. Dorothy looked pleased on my behalf but flustered on her own as Celuk politely escorted her out of the room and locked the door on her behind her.

There was no hanky panky to be had during bath time— or conversation really unless a purring rumble from the sexy beast at my back counted —neither of us were feeling amorous with the baby concerns on our mind and about a million other things, or talkative for that matter— but he'd washed my hair for me while I scrubbed between my toes, and before I knew it I was a raisin and ready to get out.

Celuk was a bit of a bossy butt but he knew when to pick his battles. Tug and pull for my towels to help dry me off was not one of those battle it out moments for either of us. He meant well and I loved him all the more for it. Truth be told, despite my protests, I felt pampered, loved, spoiled.

Jeh-kal had looked so disappointed to miss out on wet Joanie time, finding himself caught up by the males gathered around with a million and ten questions— but Celuk promised him that next time was his turn.

My eyebrows about kissed my hairline imagining a next time, trying to wrap my head around the idea of every washup now involving some hot, hunky dude eager to join me and suds me up. I could get used to this.

I'd pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming but didn't feel like pulling out the sass when one of them inevitably scolded me for it. I was relaxed from my bath, still more than a bit sleepy, and feeling rather antsy as we headed off for Rek.

As we approached the monstrosity that stood in place of Rek's old hut, I scrubbed at my eyes and blinked several times to make sure I wasn't seeing things. "What in the world have you all been doing while I was gone?" I blurted, gaping at the mishmash of add ons of a McMansion that stood where Rek's large but simple, bungalow-esque updated hut once had been.

"Make room," Celuk rumbled out softly.

"For what, a herd of indoor unitatotos? Did Baby have babies?"

"Herd of mates for our Jo. For Rek's Jo," Jeh-kal grunted out. He sounded rather amused.

Celuk chuckled at that.

Glancing between them, I supposed I'd just have to see exactly what they meant by that for myself.

A jaw cracking yawn left me as we reached the doorstep. "I still feel like I'm about to drop," I mumbled.

"Need rest," Jeh-kal grumbled.

"Yeah, but I don't want Rek to get upset if I drop off on him-" Stopping myself, realizing I was not even ten seconds back and I was already slipping into old, familiar patterns.

"Like Rothy say, Rek has same pants get glads in," Celuk rumbled out softly.

Worrying my lip with my teeth, Celuk kissed the spot until I quit it. "My Jo? Rek no care. Rek no' think about care. Rek be happy have him Jojomines back."

"And if that's not the case?" I blurted, uncertain.

A soft growl rumbled their chests in unison. It was Jeh-kal who spoke. "Celuk first mate. Tor second, Hyde third. Rek no want that be case."

My eyes widened in alarm as Celuk opened the door, his displeased rumble cutting off, and quietly stepped into Rek's abode.

The place was shockingly void of anything but the sounds we made entering, soft breaths, and an odd little whimpering noise that occurred at random.

Jeh-kal put a finger to his lips as he quietly strode ahead of us.

The layout was completely different. Instead of his bedroom joining the living room and kitchen area, we walked into a large entryway, where Celuk pointed to hooks on the wall, my things neatly placed and lined up as if I'd already made it my own.

It was a sort of mudroom.

Stepping further into the house, it spilled out into a large communal area, the hearth larger than it had been before, the kitchen and chairs the center focus of the room, and off to the left were large pieces of furniture for even Jeh-kal's oversized hide to fit comfortably on.

Shelves lined one wall, my books placed on one, an overstuffed chair with big, fluffy pillows in the corner just waiting to be curled up in for a good book binge and a cup of tea.

The windows were different, large and open with heavy curtains for privacy.

Celuk paused for a moment as I took in the room. "Celuk, Rek room this way." Celuk turned to gesture down a hall to the right. "Odix, Jeh-kal, Gopher rooms there. Carr-ree old room." He motioned to the left.

"She still has a room? You mean she finally left?" I muttered, knowing I sounded like a jealous bitch and owning it.

Celuk grinned at my green jelly eyes and kissed me. "Rek want Carr-ree have place go, she needs it," he murmured softly.

"I know she got him help. I know it's not what it looked like— he did right by her— I know that now— but, damn it, don't defend it. I need to quietly be a grump about it for a while and feel the fucking loyalty, okay?" Fidgeting in his arms, I sighed, the sound long suffering but too loud to sound like a real fuss. "Who did she end up shacking up with? Can- Can we trust them? Are they good to her?"

"Jo loves Carr-ree mate." Celuk's eyes twinkled as he stared down at me.

"Doogie?" I guessed.

Celuk snorted quite loudly. "Doogie be happy hear him ‘noying aunt-sissy loves him," Celuk teasingly purred.

My hand smothered any further teasing from the lout. "You hush up now." I shook a finger at him from my free hand.

His eyes crinkled at the corners, he smiled so wide.

Leaning in, I grumbled, "If I remove my hand, you're going to tell me, yes? I'm too tired to play guess her mate ."

"Elle," Celuk rumbled the second I lifted my hand.

"Elle what?" I mumbled.

"Elle take Carr-ree for Elle mate," Celuk informed me.

A little niggle of happiness filled me. Elle had a mate! But just to double check, "This is a mutually agreed upon taking her for a mate? This isn't a sitch where I'm going to need to distract Elle while someone extricates Carrie from the situation, is it?"

Celuk shook his head. "Elle make Carrie happy. All the smiles, all the times."

"Yeah?" My lips kicked up at the corners. Elle and Carrie. Glancing from Celuk and back towards the left hall, I muttered, "Is it irrational to be nervously excited for Elle? Like, I don't know how to kick protective big sister mode, but… On the one hand, I'm happy for her. On the other, if Carr-ree breaks my baby sister's heart, the urge to kick her butt inward is strong. And that's nothing to do with Rek or any of that. Does that even make any sense?"

Celuk let out a much softer snort. "Jes," he said without needing a second to contemplate it.

Jeh-kal stepped from the hall to the right and into the main room we were quietly talking in.

Kirch followed him out, a large book I knew to be Zhuii's fairytales in his hand. Kirch lifted the book with a soft smile. "Rek likes Zhuii's drawings."

Knowing Rosa must have had a hand in getting Zhuii to let them borrow his much coveted book had my throat tightening, emotions threatening.

"Can I- Can I go and see him now?" My gaze darted from Kirch, to Jeh-kal, to Celuk.

Celuk set me down and followed me over to Kirch.

Kirch nabbed me up in a bone crushing hug that only softened when I made a soft eep that had Jeh-kal and Celuk growling at him quietly to ease up.

"Rek be so happy him Jojomine's back," Kirch choked out. "Kirch happy Jojo back."

"Thanks. I'm glad to be back too, Meanie's bitch." I found myself patting him on the back until he got ahold of himself.

Pulling back as he forced sniffles back with a vengeance, he frowned, leaned back in to sniff, to jerk his gaze down to my belly. A soft hoh of a noise of surprise left me. "Oh… Jojo," he breathed.

He started to drop down as if he meant to give my stomach a sniff but I jerked back quickly.

Celuk stepped in. While motioning with one hand for Jeh-kal to muzzle the growl he let loose, Celuk's free hand slid to my belly, urging me closer to him.

"No smell our Jo," Jeh-kal grumbled.

Kirch stood quickly, nodded, and his hands shot up. "Kirch ‘pologize. No think. Happy Jojo has baby."

"It girl. No smell," Jeh-kal huffed and puffed at him.

Kirch's eyes bugged and his lips parted. "Girl baby? Rek has girl baby?" His bug-eyed surprise turned into the happiest grin I'd ever seen on the male outside of the ones he shot towards his mate. "Kirch gets ‘nother girl baby?"

"Not Kirch's," Jeh-kal grumbled. "Jo's baby. MINE."

Kirch frowned and his gaze darted from me to Celuk. "Kirch hold baby, yes? Kirch good with babies. Kirch loves Kirch's Princess Lottie."

My hands slid over Celuk's and I laughed. "Oh my god, this kid is going to be spoiled rotten from every angle."

A startled noise and a loud crash from the right hall had me jumping.

A shout issued and then it sounded like a drunk bear was stumbling its way down the hall.

"No mean wake," Kirch called out.

"Rek hear- Rek hear- Rek think Rek hear-"

I wasn't prepared to see Rek looking so thin, large sections of his body absent of fur. His chest was the worst. Not only was it angrily red with an odd, large round spot but it was completely hairless and I could clearly see his ribs.

Rek stumbled into the room, gripping the wall to hold himself up. He blinked owlishly once, twice. Spying me, he froze. Whatever he'd been about to say died on his lips. "Hoh- Hoh-" He kept making that soft sound, over and over again.

Holding my hands out, I approached him slowly. When I was right before him, only a few feet separating us, I tried to smile, ignoring how lopsided it felt, and would have reached out to touch him but he quickly jerked away.

It was disheartening to see him like this and near impossible not to take his reaction as a rejection.

"Hey," I mumbled awkwardly.

Rek leaned around me. His gaze went from Kirch, who nodded encouragingly, then Celuk, who did the same, and finally Jeh-kal, who seemed to be the one to snap Rek out of it when he barked something at him that had Kirch and Celuk snorting in response.

Rek moved in closer, bent his tall frame, and stopped just shy of pressing our foreheads together.

Throat working convulsively, he slowly closed his eyes and started whispering something in Lo denaii.

"Not dream." The way Celuk spoke to him, softly, with such care, made me love him all the more.

Reaching out, I lifted my hand. Rek flinched right as my fingertips touched his cheek.

Still chanting to himself, now louder, faster, I went for broke and smoothed my fingers up the side of his face and into his hair. "I've missed you, tube sock," I teasingly taunted.

A garbled purr warbled to life in his chest and proof of his disbelief slipped from his cheeks. "No want wake up this dream. No want wake up," he croaked out hoarsely.

"You're not dreaming." I didn't know how else to convince him.

Kirch made a lip smacking sound.

With a fuck it shrug, I grabbed his face and mashed my lips to his.

Rek's eyes snapped open and his arms wrapped around me. "MINE," he growled out so fiercely, his purr so loud as it cranked up it drowned out all else, I couldn't help but grin against his lips.

When he would have picked me up, I stopped him. "You haven't been feeling well and I'm frah-jeelay!"

Rek grunted and pulled back. I knew the moment he took note of the scars on my face. Leaning in, he sniffed at them but dismissed them just as quickly.

"Where? Where my Jo has jeelays?" he grumbled. Following up with, "What that? What jeelays? My Jojo no' smell sick."

"Jo belly jeelays," Kirch offered.

"Belly?" Rek grumbled, right as I muttered, "I was getting to that, big mouth."

Rek dropped down, looking like he'd collapsed to the ground more than any sort of graceful maneuver. His hands slid up my stomach. His fingers stilled as they encircled that bump.

Yanking my shirt up, he pressed a kiss to my belly, choked purring noises leaving him, and then gently smushed the side of his face to my belly and wrapped his arms around me to clutch me to him via grabbing my ass.

"My Jo- My Jojoknee," he croaked. "Oh, my Jojomine." Rek trembled so hard it was a struggle for him to hold tight. "Rek- Rek so happy. Haves my Jojomine. My Jojomine gives Rek baby. Rek so happy. Rek very happy."

Holding him to me as he sniffled against my belly, I brushed my hand over the top of his head comfortingly as we gave him a moment.

"We have baby!" He lifted his head to look from Jeh-kal to Celuk, who were smiling along with him.

Tears stained Rek's face. He didn't seem to care. He was comfortable with them. In my absence, they'd bonded, I realized.

"We so happy," he told me.

"Girl baby," Kirch chimed in, getting a dirty look from me to hush it and let him have something.

Kirch threw his hands up. "Kirch happy too!"

"Girl baby?" Rek kissed my belly once more to pull back and smooth his hands over my stomach. "My Jojomine gives Rek girl baby?" he whispered.

I blushed at the awe filling his voice.

"Celuk say him find my Jojomine. Celuk… Celuk gives Rek back my Jojomine, and baby. Gives Rek everything." Rek got choked up again, standing to kiss me once, twice, hug me, then stumble his way over to Celuk and practically tackle hug him.

Celuk embraced him back, bumping the side of his jaw along Rek's temple the way I'd seen other males show affection to their fellow beast-husbands amongst their family groupings.

"Odious and Goober back?" Rek asked. He even went as far as holding out his arm to Jeh-kal, waiting for Jeh-kal to do it back, then gently bump temples with him, and then stumble his way back to me.

Hugging me to him once more, he kissed me three times in quick succession before curling me back against him.

"I'm glad I brushed my teeth before we got here," I admitted.

Jeh-kal snorted out a laugh. "Babies pukes no stop Jeh-kal."

Lifting my head, I made a face at him that matched the gagging noise Kirch was making. "Ew," I said softly. Ew was enough.

"My Jojomine sick?" Rek's hands began to hover over me, worry thick in his eyes.

"Need sleep. Do too much. Rothy say take easy," Celuk said simply.

As I silently agreed it was probably best not to bring up the whole spotting thing to Rek in his current condition, Jeh-kal did not share those sentiments. "No spots blood with baby no mores," Jeh-kal grunted out.

"Blood? Blood spots? My Joanie baby bleed?" Rek fretted.

"I was overdoing it. I started to spot," I quickly interjected. "I don't plan on walking for hours on end anymore with Bump brewing. I feel much better now. I'm just tired and-"

A harumph noise left Rek and he took my hand, then wrapped his other arm around me, to escort me down the hall. "Kirch make stew. Not good like Rek's or my Joanie's but not awful like Lukar and Doogie's."

Celuk burst out laughing at that.

"Kirch food not bad!" Kirch called after him. "Hmmph. It not burned." Lower, he grumbled, "My Mina and babies eats it. See? Hear? Thanks Kirch get. Pfft!"

"Why it smell funny?" I could make out Jeh-kal ask loudly with a snuff.

"It not smell funny! Jeh-kal nose broke! Maybe Jeh-kal smell funny. Sniff upper lip!" Kirch caterwauled, to Celuk's further amusement.

Rek's bedroom was much bigger than before. His bed had plenty of room for him, me, and a few additions.

He had a closet with my clothes hanging up in it. There was a whole section of outfits I didn't recognize.

"When did I move in?" I joked.

"Rek make room for my Jojomine." He looked exhausted as he stood beside the bed, waiting for me to finish admiring it before turning to him.

My penis statues were lined up on a shelf over a large dresser, by size from biggest to smallest.

My suitcases sat in the bottom of the closet. Several white pelt belts hung up next to my clothes.

"Babies rooms here. Need make door." Rek pointed to the last room before his.

"You thought of everything, didn't you," I murmured appreciatively.

"Rek think everything but not have everything. Not have my Joanie," he croaked out.

Sitting on the bed, I motioned for him to join me. The second he did, I turned, crawled into his lap, straddled him, and kissed him senseless.

A shiver racked his frame. "Oh, my Jojomine. Rek miss my Jojo so much."

"Missed you, too," I whispered against his lips, then dove right back in.

Rek shook as I kissed him and kissed him. Once we started, it was like we couldn't stop.

Scooting further back on the bed, he dropped us to our sides. Our hands were everywhere but we made no move to take things any further than that. I just needed him, this closeness.

"Rek so sorry. Never want hurt my Joanie's heart, ever ‘gain. Want Joanie with Rek, always," he got out between hot and heavy smooches.

"I love you," I mumbled over and over against his lips. "I love you so fucking much. Oh god, I've missed you. I-"

A rough throat clearing had us breaking apart long enough to watch as Jeh-kal held out a cup, then brought it to his mouth to press on it. He winced as he did it, but a thick, clear substance slowly began to dribble from his fangs and into the cup.

Once he was finished, he set it on the nightstand, grabbed the smallest dildo statue on the shelf, and tossed it to Rek.

Rek hesitated before calling out to Jeh-kal, right when he would have left. "Too weak," Rek admitted with a slumped-shouldered scowl.

Nodding, Jeh-kal called out down the hall.

The sound of the front door closing pricked my ears.

Celuk came down the hall moments later and softly closed Rek's bedroom door behind him. Without hesitating, he walked over to the bed and started to crawl towards me.

Crawl wasn't quite accurate. Prowl was more fitting.

Though he only had eyes for me, he spoke to Rek.

Rek glanced from Jeh-kal to Celuk uncertainly.

"She be ‘kay," Celuk assured him.

Feeling another set of eyes on me, I glanced up as Jeh-kal prowled towards me from the foot of the bed.

"I don't know if right now is the best time to pile on Joanie," I blurted with a nervous chuckle.

Celuk smiled, kissed me, then rolled me to my side, to face Rek better, as he snuggled up behind me. "Be ‘kay," he swore, nuzzling my throat.

Snagging one of my boots, Jeh-kal started to pull it off, then the other. My pants were next.

Okay, so we're going to all be dressed the same for bed, then— birthday suits for everyone.

Jeh-kal said something to Rek that had him glancing towards him briefly before leaning in to press his forehead to mine. "Love my Jojomine. Love so much. Rek has all the loves for my Jojo."

"I love you, too- Ah-" A squeak left me as Jeh-kal, having tugged my pants free, leaving my lower half exposed, dipped his large frame and made as if to make himself right at home, playfully nipping at my inner thigh.

I knew I was dead when I squeaked out, "Should we be doing this?" and Jeh-kal began to rub his thick fingers caressingly over the scar on my calf.

"No fair," I gasped out.

"No fair Rek," Rek huffed and puffed, nuzzling my cheek. "Rek no have special mouth. Can't help my Jojomine keep baby in… Too weak to please my Joanie, even Rek wanted to."

Celuk scraped his fangs along my shoulder as he helped me out of my top, those sharp points grazing right over one of his previous love bites. As if reading my mind, he rumbled, "Rek pleases Jo." Switching to Lo denaii, Celuk cupped one of my breasts as they filled and grew heavy, gently kneading it as I squirmed, sandwiched between all of them.

"Who sanctioned the Drive Joanie Crazy Plan? This doesn't feel healer approved," I stuttered out as I shivered in place.

"Lukar," Jeh-kal paused long enough to rumble out.

Resisting the urge to whimper out loud as Jeh-kal nuzzled his way closer to my aching pussy to work his healing mojo on me, I grabbed for Rek, urging him closer. A soft growl left him as my hands slid lower, right for the thickness jerking between his legs.

"Rek- Rek- Soon," he choked out as I worked my hand up and down his furry foreskin several times before pulling it back, exposing a fat cock with precum already oozing from the tip. "Rek not make it!" That was all the warning I had before he lost it right then and there.

Celuk growled softly in my ear, one of those deep, sexy, rumbly , you like that, baby? kinda growls that had me shivering from head to toe.

Jeh-kal was just about to put me out of my misery as he dipped his head and his tongue lightly stroked along my labia, but then three heads shot up at once and they all growled deeply.

"What is it?" I whispered as my gaze darted between the trio and I scrambled to cover myself. Kinda impossible to be any kinda decent with jizz painting my naked belly and hand, and Jeh-kal crammed in between my legs, ready to go to town.

"Celuk get," Kookypants snarled out softly. Glancing sharply at Rek, he said something to him that had Rek glancing from me to my bosom pointedly. Blinking from my tits to me, then back to Celuk, his brow furrowed in confusion.

Celuk kissed me one last time, then dipped his head to bring my nipple to his mouth. A rumbling purr rattled his chest as he took one long drag on my breast, to let it slip free of his mouth with a wet pop, and stood to quickly quit the room and close the door firmly shut behind him.

Jeh-kal snapped something at Rek that had him snapping out of it. Rek was tired and showing signs of wear.

"It's okay," I'd started to say, but Jeh-kal had other plans.

"Rek no want, Jeh-kal take," he rumbled out curtly. His hot breath fanned over my pussy lips. My toes curled, bordering on get a mad toe cramp territory. Do it! Just do it already! Give it to me!

Jeh-kal started saying something but Rek's growl drowned it out.

The equivalent of an ‘Oomph' sound left Jeh-kal as Rek came at me. He latched onto me in every shape, way and form of the word.

I had a mental image of what this must look like as Rek wrapped his body around me, leg slung over me, arms wrapped around me tight, head dipping to latch onto my aching breast, Jeh-kal snarling suddenly at god knows what touching him of Rek's.

I'd just started to giggle over the thought, when Jeh-kal did something that had Rek jerking and clamping down on my nipple reflexively, and then Jeh-kal's mouth was on my sex, his tongue burying in my pussy, and his purr- my god , that growling, deep, rumbling purr. Big Business was a god in the bedroom.

They both ended up having to hold me down as I cried out and my back bowed.

Rek growled against my breast as I fought to grind down into Jeh-kal's face. One hand gripped Rek's back, the other latched onto Jeh-kal's head, and I was using everything I had to force Jeh-kal to stay there. Jeh-kal didn't seem to mind. If anything, it egged him on.

Jeh-kal held a hand up but I couldn't tell what it was holding. I just knew that the hand holding something up wasn't holding any part of me. At this point, about to scream my release, I didn't give a shit.

Rek had begun to growl softly, aggressively. It took me a minute as he kind of started to move jerkily yet made no additional contact with my person, and a glance down between us confirmed it, Jeh-kal's big mitt was cupping Rek's groin, essentially stopping Rek from unintentionally humping his head.

Right as I was starting to come, Jeh-kal pulled back quickly. Barking something at Rek, he lifted Rek up like he weighed nothing, assisted Rek in his weakened state to get things going, and with a guttural warning at him to be, "Easy. Careful our Jo," he gripped Rek's hips as Rek notched his cock at my entrance and started to slide home, and literally played personal sex assistant to Rek while making sure things didn't get too rough.

Rek groaned and began to shake after the first pump.

"It's okay," I gasped out, because Jeh-kal had already sent me flying before setting Rek up.

There was something so sweet and sexy about Jeh-kal doing this for Rek, for us. He benefited from this in no way whatsoever.

"Come here, muscles," I murmured, reaching out for Jeh-kal, but he just shook his head.

Rek growled, not liking my focus deviating from him.

"Rek claim," Jeh-kal grunted out.

Cupping Rek's face, I smooched the growl right off of those kissable lips. With a groan, his hips began to move faster and faster. He was already winded, panting out my name breathlessly.

I'd missed this, him, them, all of it. There was a secret thrill to the newness of all three of them getting along in this capacity. There was something very sexy about three males working together to keep their mate happy, to help make sure they were each in turn happy.

My hand started to slip between us but Rek intercepted it. "Rek do," he growled out quite vociferously.

I worried for a moment about his longer than normal claws as he replaced my hand with his but it was all for not. He worked my clit, slowing his pace until I caught up, and took me over the edge with him.

Rek came with something akin to a howl but not quite.

Jeh-kal pulled back with a growl, turning Rek so we fell to our sides once more. Jeh-kal snarled as he pulled his foreskin back, hefty length in hand, and began working himself so hard and fast I stared, wide-eyed and open mouthed, at the violence. When he came, he came with a roar that rattled the windows, splashing his essence all over me, Rek where we were still joined, and I couldn't even tell you where else. There was a mess. A big one.

Rek grunted as he found himself the unwanted victim of another male's baby batter splatter.

Instead of getting mad, he gave Jeh-kal a dirty look through the corner of his eye, and then curled himself around me better as if to block the geyser gushin'.

"Is it over?" I whispered jokingly.

Rek's soft snore, his face buried in my throat, had me wriggling to peek up at Jeh-kal.

Jeh-kal shivered and shook as he finished himself off. "Need wash," he said finally.

"I think we need a new bed," I joked.

Jeh-kal grinned at my silly sass, flashing fang. "Goot, have Jo home."

Celuk gave a single polite knock before entering. He got one foot into the room, stopped dead in his tracks, eyebrows winging upward, had himself a good look around, and just started laughing.

"We were careful," I blurted.

"Lukar say ‘kay. Jeh-kal ask," my big grump grumbled defensively. Jerking his chin towards Rek, he grunted out, "Claim Jo, Rek not feel ‘fensive other mates. Jeh-kal help."

"Jeh-kal goot male," Celuk told him. Walking over, he gave him a little slap on the back that had the tension riding Jeh-kal easing.

"Horrible timing, I know, but Mama needs to pee," I cut in on the dude-bro love fest. Yay them but, oi, my bladder.

"Celuk take. Jeh-kal help Rek," Jeh-kal rumbled out softly.

Like they were totally in sync, they worked in tandem. Jeh-kal rolled Rek into his arms, ignoring the way Rek mumbled my name and snuggled right into Jeh-kal, and Celuk took me into his arms, funk gunking me up and all, and we went one way while Jeh-kal and Rek went another.

The room Celuk carried me to after making use of the little girls' room, I recognized immediately. Granted it looked quite a bit different now, but it was the same tub from before, if with a few new additions, namely a very large, separate shower.

Celuk walked over to the shower and set me down just outside of it. Getting the water going, it took more than a minute to warm up.

Sitting on a small stool, I got lost in thought. On the one hand, I was happy to be home and reunited with most of the guys, but on the other, I was sad about Buu. Staring down at the stickiness starting to flake on my skin, coating my belly, I glanced up as furry, damp feet came into view.

Celuk stared down at me, held out his hand, and waited.

Off in the distance somewhere towards the other end of the house, I heard Rek grumbling, the faint sound of water splashing, and Jeh-kal's voice rumbling quietly back.

Celuk dipped down, until we were eye level, and held his hand out again.

I placed my hand in his, eyeing him curiously. His lips twitched into a small, secretive smile and he scooped me up to walk us into the shower.

Once inside, he slid the shower door closed.

I'd already turned towards the water and walked under the spray. I knew the hot water wouldn't last long and saw no point in wasting it.

Celuk came up behind me and hugged my back to his front. Bar of soap in hand and lathered up, he began smoothing soapy fingers over my belly.

"Rek's not going to like that," I singsonged teasingly.

"Still smell like Rek. Rek no care," the cocky rooster at my back stated confidently. "Celuk want Jo," he purred in my ear.

Glancing over my shoulder at him as I finished lathering up and rinsing my hair, I frowned. "Do, uh- To be on the safe side, don't we need Jeh-kal for that?"

Pulling away to step back, he shook his head and repeated himself. "Celuk want Jo. Always want Jo."

"I- I want you, too." Studying him and the odd, sudden nervousness to him, I smiled up at him, hoping it would ease whatever had him fidgeting in place.

Thinking everything over for a minute, an idea struck.

No, we couldn't do things, not without me worrying about it without a little healing saliva assistance from Jeh-kal. I'd be too nervous to really enjoy the situation.

"So… I'm not the best at this shit, bear with me, but…" I'd just started to get down on one knee when a gurgling noise erupted from Celuk.

Barking something at me in his language, he dropped down to help me up. "Hurt? Pain? Cramps?" he blurted in one big rush.

"What? No! I was trying to crane myself down to the floor to ask you to be my bride! I'm not hurt." Lower, I mumbled, "My pride is starting to smart a little if I look like I need one of those elderly, fell and need help, assistance devices."

A choked noise left Celuk. "Bride?" Cocking his head, he gave me a good old fashioned once over. "Jo has ring, ask Celuk be Jo's bride?" He was flat out grinning now, mirth dancing in those blue-grey eyes I could so easily get lost in. My god, he was adorably hot.

"I'm winging it," I grumbled. Waving a hand at him, I admitted, "For one, I thought this might take the fidgets outta ya, and two, if it sounds like I asked you, the furry grumble buns down the hall Jeh-kal is drowning might take it a little easier. Maybe." The more I really thought about it, I had no clue how well it would go down, period. This was Rek, after all.

"Brides need ring." He looked and sounded so fucking serious, I forced back a laugh.

Eyeing him and that meat wand dangling between his legs, I pursed my lips. "Can it be any kind of ring? Figuratively, all that? Or does it need to be a real, tangible thing?"

Celuk pretended he had to think about it for a moment.

"You know… some places have, like, bride prices and stuff. Maybe it's money, or like animals or whatever, but what if… what if your bride price was something else?" I ventured.

Celuk grunted and began to shift restlessly at the look on my face. My tone had changed, turning sultry, smooth, inviting.

"Jo show Celuk bride price?" Poor guy looked like he was trying not to swallow his tongue as I slid up between his legs where he was crouched and encouraged him to stand.

Celuk's breath left him as I started just above his knees, raking my short nails up his fur lined legs, just shy of really digging my nails in.

"What- What- Where Jo ring?" He could barely spit out the words as I stared up at him, my nails raking upwards, and stopped at the tops of his thighs.

"You have to pay very close attention or you'll miss it," I murmured, reaching out to try and wrap my fingers around his length.

A guttural noise left him but he held perfectly still as I took a moment to examine the mad meat he was packing. Mine. All mine.

Pumping my hand up and down his cock a few times, I pulled his foreskin back on the last go.

Grinning impishly, I instructed, "Now, watch for the ring, okay?"

Celuk was panting, claws scraping along the heavy tiles that made up the shower walls. He gave a jerky nod.

Before he had a chance to regain his voice, I took him into my mouth, a taste of the tip first, my tongue swirling around that beautifully shaped head, before delving deeper.

A shocked shout erupted from Celuk and I heard something loudly snap.

I was coming up from my second bob on his cock, trying to take him deeper with each go, when he gripped my hair and jerked me off of him.

I barely had time to let out a soft noise of surprise and he had me up against a wall, wrapping a hand around his dick to keep him from driving very deep. Meeting my gaze, he growled, baring his teeth, and slid home.

"MINE," he growled out gutturally, leaning in to press his forehead to mine as he gripped his dick, making sure it didn't go deeper than about four or so inches, give or take, and fucked me senseless. His fangs struck, hard and deep. The fingers encircling his thickness, his knuckles began rubbing my clit with every pass, harder, firmer. A soft cry left me as he allowed himself to slip a little deeper on the next pass, then a little more, until he was hitting just the right spot and I was drowning out his growls with the ridiculous noises I was making as I climaxed.

Pulling his fangs free from my shoulder, bloodied lips then pressed to mine. Our tongues tangled, the coppery, iron rich tang of my own blood filling my senses. Soon both hands were gripping my ass as he pummeled my pussy. He was in control, so in control making me wild I about lost my mind.

Celuk growled all the while, holding himself back and yet giving himself over to me fully.

"Mine," he repeated, nuzzling his way to my scarred cheek to press small, sweet kisses over every inch.

"You're mine, too, you know," I told him, staring up at him through watery eyes.

Thinking about what Buu had asked of me, his odd, hasty request, I wondered if there was something to that. Leaning in, I sank my teeth into Celuk's shoulder in return. The noise he let loose, something between a snarl and a muffled howl, then lost it all over again, followed by the most insane purr I'd ever heard in my life, told me I'd finally done something right.

By the time the heat of the moment had ebbed, the water was cold and more of a trickle than anything, I was half asleep in his arms already, even pinned as I was, peen impalement pending and all, as he heaved, panted, and purred against me.

"Mine." He purred the word so sweetly, sounding so relaxed and content with the fact I smiled sleepily against him.

"Think we still need Jeh-kal?" I asked, unwilling to move.

"Jes," he said simply.

My left aching breast, still full to bursting, said it might fall off if messing with my Krampus bite scars became the norm. You fill ‘em, you drain ‘em, that was my new motto. My tits might fall off otherwise.

When he briefly fell a little more heavily against me, I grunted and winced as righty was momentarily squished. Glancing up at him, then down at the bazooka of a boob I was packing, I drawled out wryly, "I don't suppose you could help with that one, eh?"

Celuk nodded, pulled back and let his still semi flaccid cock slip free, and would have scooped me up to aid me in finishing my shower if Jeh-kal hadn't come bursting in, Rek in tow, carrying him princess style, marched right up to the shower door and demanded, "Trade."

"My fellow princess," I joked, tossing the glaring furball in his arms a jaunty salute.

"Rek no prinnedcess," he grumbled, which seemed to amuse Jeh-kal so much his lips started to twitch. "Rek not!" he insisted.

Celuk turned to face Jeh-kal and said something to him, jerking his chin from me to Rek, that mollified my annoyed giant. Rek, as well, if I was gauging his reaction correctly.

Huh.

Celuk carried me, dripping water everywhere as Jeh-kall snagged a couple towels and tossed them into Rek's lap, and the train of furballs followed Celuk down the hall.

I knew it was Celuk's room the second we entered it. It was as if he'd made a more compact version of his bedroom in Rek's place.

Rek bitched the whole way, I assumed— he spoke in his native tongue and had that tone he got.

He seemed perkier than before, like he'd caught his second wind.

"Rek can walk!" he grumbled, switching to English. "Rek not baby or prinnedcess!"

"No act like one then," Jeh-kal snapped back just as waspishly.

Instead of snapping back, Rek folded his arms over his chest when Jeh-kal paused and dipped down for him to hop out of his arms if he was going to be so adamant about it. Those bright green eyes glaring at Jeh-kal a moment ago quickly darted away. Rek mumbled something so low under his breath I didn't stand a chance figuring out what it was.

Jeh-kal let out a snort and stood. Leaning in, he chuffed a loud breath over Rek's forehead, a gesture foreign to me but affectionate all the same.

With a muffled grumble and a long suffering sigh, Rek grumbled, "Rek sorry, too. No mean be mean. Rek no' like be tired all times. Want be strong for my Jo."

"Celuk needs Rek help Jo," Celuk chimed in as Jeh-kal set Rek down and laid out several towels and Celuk laid me down atop them.

Rek wriggled his way as close to me as possible. He wrinkled his nose at the smell of Celuk on me but quickly got over it in favor of pulling me into his arms. "Mine," he rumbled possessively.

Celuk rumbled something back at him that had Rek nodding and glancing between us.

Celuk joined us on the bed as Jeh-kal once more began to crawl up the end of the bed.

"Look, I don't know if I can take much more crazy sexing it up tonight," I warned them. I was already dead on my feet.

Jeh-kal wedged his wide shoulders between my legs and stared up at me with the most bullshit, innocent look I'd ever seen on such an enormous beast of a male. "Jeh-kal want help. Make sure baby stay in our Jo."

And I've got a sand box in Florida ta sell ya. It was on the tip of my tongue to call him out on his semi truthful bologna but I refrained. Truth be told, his tongue was worth the lost sleep. My gaze darted around them. They were all worth it.

"We still have to be careful," I warned, to a Cheshire Cat grin from Celuk that had me shivering in place and three happy rumbles full of Yes, Ma'am.

It was a long, healing night in all ways, shapes, and forms. After the third go-round of tongue lovin' healing, I had to throw in the towel.

Rek had opted to be Jeh-kal's little spoon if it meant he got to cuddle me himself. Celuk kept his spot cuddling my back. Jeh-kal's wide palm found my belly, massaging it as I drifted off to sleep.

The tang of blood was thick in my mouth. Jeh-kal and Rek also sported nice mating marks from yours truly.

This was almost as perfect as I'd imagined it. Celuk promised someone was sent out to let Gopher and Odix know I'd been found but they were pretty far out and it might take them a bit to not only get the news but get back home. I still felt like they were here with me.

There was one male that felt far off from me, though. My dreams of all of us being together, one big crazy family grouping, it was all just missing one being who'd presumably opted out at the last minute.

Almost perfect. Not quite, just shy of it.

We can't always get what we want, though.

I just hoped, wherever Buu was, whatever he'd ultimately decided, he was happy.

It was the best I could hope for.