Chapter Nine

She checked her reflection and put the dark lip stain on, blotting it once it set. Drin put in two of the large gold earrings that Ekron had purchased for her, and she left the bathroom.

Her heels clicked, and the dress slithered around her legs. It was cut to the navel in the front and a chain wrapped around the base of her spine to keep the dress in place. Another chain kept the top in place with links under her breasts. She smoothed the dress down nervously.

She entered the living room where Ekron was waiting and asked, “Are we on time?”

He turned to see her, and he dropped his glass. It bounced harmlessly off the thick carpet. “Oh, I am going to be incredibly smug tonight.”

He was wearing a dark blue dinner jacket and black trousers. She was wearing all black except for the earrings and chains.

“Okay, we are going to pick up Techor first. We all need to see you lead the master of Hell out of his domain.”

“How do you know Techor?”

“He was two years above us at the college. He hit the law hard and fought to get equal treatment given his activation. He had to prove that perception could skew memories and has done a lot of research on the memory of conscience.”

He led her out of the penthouse as he spoke, and they were in the elevator in short order. They walked through the lobby, and the doorman smiled and inclined his head when they passed. He opened the door to the limo, and Ekron helped her settle in and scootch over. He was nearly giggling. His self-control was taxed to the limit.

She sighed. “Do I look that awkward?”

“You are stunning.”

She scrunched her shoulders. “I know.”

He laughed. “Tease.”

“I know that, too.”

They glided into a suburban area and pulled up in front of a very nice home made of stone with carved trim.

Techor left his home and entered the limo, settling before looking at her. “Holy shit.”

She wiggled her fingers at him and said, “Evening, Techor. Nice day at work?”

He smiled. “It was shorter than I anticipated.”

The SUV limo moved on to Hell.

Techor stared at her, and she smiled shyly.

When they pulled up to Hell, the line was around the block. She got out when the bouncer opened the door, and she ignored the comments as she walked past the crowd and smiled at the bouncer. “Is he in his office?”

He nodded. “Yes, miss. He’s waiting for you.”

“Somehow, that does not surprise me.”

The man beside the door pulled it open, and she walked in after nodding her head in thanks. The club noise was intense, and she took a moment to orient herself as she looked around. One of the bouncers inside came to her, nodded, and escorted her to the office. A server came toward her with a militant look, and Drin stepped back as the beverage was launched at her. It caught the edge of the bouncer’s arm, and he whirled in surprise. The server was shocked as well.

Another bouncer was on his way, but so was Vikor. She watched him part the crowd by walking through it, and he held a hand out to her. She stepped neatly over the puddle of slushed alcohol and took his hand. His kiss of greeting was intense, and she was pressed against his bare chest. He growled, and she slumped against him, one hand over the heavy thudding of his heart. His fingers traced gently over her exposed back, and he lifted his head. “Have fun shopping with Ekron?”

“It’s exhausting. I would rather just... never mind.”

He grinned. “You would rather just fuck him and ignore the shopping?”

“I didn’t say that, but I was thinking it. Oh, geez. Techor is going to tell him.”

“Come with me. I have something for you.”

“Lead on.”

He kept her fingers linked with his, and the server stood nearby, shaking.

He looked at her. “Clean it up. If anyone makes another move against her again, they will be blackballed from working in the city. They won’t even get a job in fast food. Are we understood?”

She nodded and darted for the clean-up kit. “Sorry, sir. Sorry, miss.”

Drin walked with him. “Aw, she calls you sir as well.”

“Yeah, but it doesn’t get me hard like it does when you do it.”

She stumbled. “Oh.”

He chuckled. “Come on. Let’s get you closer to acting on your impulses. I look forward to that day.”

He brought her through the security office and into his private office. He let her go and hummed to himself as he got something out of a cabinet. “Lie down on my desk.”

“What?”

He turned, and there was a relatively small object in his hands. “Get on my desk and lie down.”

“The guys are waiting for us.”

“They will appreciate this.” He chuckled. “For that matter, you will appreciate this.”

She hopped onto the clean surface and lay back. He bent her legs at the knee and set her feet next to her hips. It was not comfortable.

He chuckled. “Ekron does prefer a thong. Good. It will be an excellent starting point.”

He held up a small bullet-like object. “This is going to help you out. It is going to expand to fit your available space, and every time you relax or get aroused, it will expand a little more. Each time we remove it, it will shrink back here and then it will begin to expand a little more.” He smiled. “Each time it expands, it sends a note to my com so I can keep an eye on things.”

He took the toy and held her thong out of the way. He moved it around her slippery entrance, and when it was inside, he set the thin strap back in place and patted it. “There you go. How does it feel?”

She lay back. “It’s fine... it’s... oh my god, it’s getting warm.”

He nodded and kept a hand on her belly. “Like your com, it is powered by body heat. Your sex is very hot, and a comfortable fit is necessary. It heats itself using your own heat. You would have to ask Zera about the details. She was in this afternoon and offered this to me. I was initially going to go with graduated toys over a few weeks, but this is gentler and more rapid.”

Inside her, it was moving, swelling, and stretching her from opening to cervix. Fortunately, it was pulled down from the sensitive interior.

“How does it feel, pet?”

She could feel her body getting slicker around it, but it wasn’t uncomfortable, just odd. “Strange.”

“No pain?”

“None.”

“Let’s go to dinner.” He smiled and helped her to her feet.

He got a notice and flicked a gaze to his com. “Good girl.”

She sighed. “If you give me a dog biscuit, I am going to punch you.”

“I will have Klauz make something up for you.”

She gasped as they walked out. “That’s not fair.”

“Oh, sweet, I am many things, but fair isn’t one of them. I am playing to win, and you are the prize.”

Her body flexed, and his com chirped. His eyes widened as he checked the readout. He slid his hand into her dress at her waist. The warm palm on her skin caused a movement inside her, and he chirped again.

He grinned. “Best. Toy. Ever.”

They exited the club, and he tucked her in the car before getting in himself. He fit but just barely. She blushed at that thought, and the toy shifted again.

She tried to find a way to sit comfortably.

Ekron snorted. “Vikor, what the hell did you do?”

Drin sat while he explained the new addition to them. It got smaller while he went over the details of the toy.

She sat still as they headed to Klauz’s. Ekron grabbed and pulled her onto his lap, sliding his fingers up her inner thigh to investigate the new addition.

His fingers were careful, and he kept brushing her clit, and a moment later, he had moved the fabric aside and was nuzzling and sucking on her breast like he was trying to remove her soul. The toy reacted violently as she wrapped her arms around him and held on. Her orgasm hit suddenly, and she bowed back with a low moan.

She rippled and clutched at the toy with muscles that were pretty strong for never being taken for a test drive.

Ekron let her go with a slow lick of her nipple. He tucked the fabric back in place. “I missed you.”

“I was gone ten minutes tops.”

“Eh, the thought of Vikor having his hands on you while I wasn’t there to supervise sent chills through me. Our poor little pet trapped in Hell.” He nuzzled her.

Vikor growled. “Ekron, stop getting your scent all over her.”

“It doesn’t bother the rest of us.”

Techor chuckled. “It gets a little thick for me. Like wrapping her in chewing gum.”

Ekron frowned. “Hey.”

Vikor looked smug. “And with just that, she is most of the way there.”

“Just that? I was paying close attention to her.”

She grinned and patted his cheek. “There, there, little fella. You did just fine.”

His hands started to curl on her skin when Vikor pulled her onto his lap. As she was pulled away, she muttered, “At least I didn’t endanger your junk this time.”

He paused and then cracked a smile. “You are a fun little pet, Drin.”

She flipped him off. Techor laughed. Vikor held her tight, and then, they arrived at the building.

Ekron left first and took her hands as she came out. Her heel caught a pebble, and he caught her. Vikor got out of the car, and the judge came last. They walked into the building, and the doorman looked down at a screen and then up again. “The elevator is waiting. You will be in the private room.”

They moved to the elevator and rode up to the restaurant, where they were seen, greeted, and escorted to a private space.

The table was elegantly set and had all kinds of snacks on it. At the sight, Drin’s stomach rumbled.

Klauz came through the doors and opened his arms to her. She ran to him and hugged him. Her arms wrapped around his chef’s whites, and she smiled up at him. “Hi.”

He grinned down at her. “You are making me wish we weren’t at my place of business, little miss.”

She beamed. “Me, too.”

“You look spectacular, Drin.”

“Thank you. Ekron did all the work.”

She felt his hands stroking up and down her back.

Klauz murmured, “Kritz and Arcady are here. Did you want to see them?”

“Oh, no. Not today. This is too new. I will tell Arcady that I am social with her brother-in-law tomorrow.”

“Oh, we went far beyond social. I think we were downright cordial.” He pressed a kiss to her temple. “I would like to be cordial again.”

Ekron laughed. “This afternoon, she was dazed and barely coherent. She mumbled that was not dessert for three minutes.”

Klauz laughed and stroked her pink cheek. “It wasn’t for you. It was for me.” He grinned. “I like dessert, and if you are hoping to keep this arrangement from Kritz, you are too late. I can see through his eye, and he can see through mine. He nearly broke an experiment. He hasn’t seen that sort of thing through my eyes recently, and he is probably going to find a reason to come by your desk tomorrow.”

She shivered. “Somehow, I didn’t think this would leak into my day-to-day.”

He toyed with her hair. “What did you think would happen?”

“I would wake up?”

The other three chuckled. Klauz leaned in and kissed her. “You are awake, dessert. We are what happens after you decide to join the real world. We are as real as it gets.”

She looked back at the others, all sitting or standing casually. “Real is kind of overwhelming.”

“We will get you through it, Drin. Frankly, we are just surprised you aren’t screaming right now.”

She looked back at him and smiled. “Being able to abuse Ekron at random intervals has helped.”

Ekron sighed. “She won’t stop jumping on me.”

“Not in this outfit. You are safe.”

Vikor chuckled, and she could imagine Ekron’s face.

Klauz slid a hand down to cup her ass.

She muttered, “You had better wash your hands before going to the kitchen. I have gotten sweaty a few times since my shower.”

She heard a ping, and Vikor chuckled as Klauz used his grip to pull her up against him. Klauz murmured, “What was that sound, and why did you blush?”

Ekron gleefully spoke. “Oh, I want to tell! Vikor got a toy that expands as she gets aroused, and then, it holds her wide until the next flicker of excitement relaxes her.”

Klauz’s hand went between her buttocks and followed the line of her G-string down until he reached the toy and her slippery lips. She looked up at him. “Dude, you are seriously going to need to wash your hands.”

He laughed, and to her consternation, he slid a finger between her flesh and the toy, and he slowly circled around there. “Oh, still room to move and not uncomfortable?”

She stared into his eyes without saying anything. A roar of need ran through her, and the toy moved again, pressing against his finger.

He smiled slowly. “Almost there, dessert.”

She pressed her forehead to his whites as he kept circling slowly. It moved again, and she heard it register on Vikor’s com.

Her stomach growled, and Klauz paused. “Oh, we can’t have that.”

She muttered, “I either have you, or I have food. Not fussy at this point.”

His eyes widened. “Interesting. Why did you say that?”

She played back her sentence and covered her mouth. “I don’t know.”

He took her hand and slipped her fingers into his mouth, swirling his tongue around her digits and sucking lightly. She whimpered, and he released her. He whispered, “Vikor is giving me a look that says he would rather I didn’t satisfy any other hunger in here.” His finger moved slowly around her again. “However, I am the oldest here and want to see what happens if I go around a few more times.”

Her startled gaze locked with his, and the third slow circle of her stretched flesh produced what he was looking for. Her knees went weak, and he continued to work his finger between her and the toy until she hung in his arms, gasping. He reset the G-string and patted her butt. He held her and eased his hand out of her dress.

“I will satisfy your other appetite when we have time and privacy. You are stretched well enough to fit me.” He winked. He licked his finger and ran his tongue down his hand and up again. “Seems all that cream I am feeding you is doing you good.”

She ducked her head, and he kissed her temple. “Go sit with Vikor. He’s agitated. His steak is going to be rare and bloody.”

“Serve him fish.” She muttered and walked back to Vikor. She carefully crawled onto his lap and curled up against his shoulder.

He shuddered, and the tension in him eased. He ran his hand up her thigh, and his fingers verified the span of the toy and the slick she was leaking. “You like Klauz?”

She looked at the chef, who stood grinning with his arms folded. “He gives and takes at the same time, so I never feel bad for just reacting.”

Vikor sighed. “I know I am demanding a lot without giving much. Yet. Have patience with me.”

She looked up at his upset face and stroked his cheek. “I will. I have waited a decade already. A few days more won’t be the end of the world, and when I wear that collar and cuffs, I think things are going to get a little less on the controlled side when it comes to you. I can and will do whatever you ask, but I am trying to throw anchors out now so I can find myself again when it’s over.”

He turned his head, and his lips brushed her palm. “What makes you think it will be over?”

“Everything ends, and I am too high maintenance to upkeep for long. Even the planning didn’t go beyond immediate requirements. I am not stupid. Fairy tales end, but I am content to play.” She smiled brightly.

Vikor’s eyes got hard. “I am not playing with you, Drin, nor are the others.”

Ekron cleared his throat. “I am a little, but I still don’t have any inclination to let you go. Ever.”

Techor smiled wryly. “I just found you. Why would I let you go?”

She looked at Klauz, who was scowling. “We haven’t even started, and you want us out of your life already?”

“No! No. I am just prepared for when it happens. I have to be. I need to be. It may have escaped your notice, but I am outnumbered. My life so far has not been smooth sailing, and rough patches come up when you are least expecting them. If birth control fails, I know how hard it is to raise a child on your own. I am not a precog. I don’t know what will happen next, and I am scared. If I have all the what if’s, then I can make a plan.”

Techor murmured, “She’s genuinely scared.”

Vikor’s arms wrapped tight around her. “I am not letting you go. Ever.”

She squeaked.

Klauz laughed. Ekron snickered, and Techor chuckled. “He means it. You are as much a part of his mental makeup as his horns and red skin. He has wanted you longer than was appropriate but never acted on it. Now that he knows how to find you, he’s going to woo you with all his considerable talents.”

She was held tight, but she pressed her temple to his jaw. “Only if I can reciprocate.”

“I don’t think we have restraints in my size.”

“Bad forward thinking on your part.”

“I will take a penalty for my lack of foresight.”

Klauz smiled. “Crisis averted. I will be back with servers and the first course. All clothing on, please. I am not zoned for nudity.”

She pressed a smile to Vikor’s neck, inhaling his pheromones. His com chirped, and he chucked as the door closed. “It has been a stressful day for you, pet, and no sleep last night. It is a wonder that you aren’t crying.”

“I rarely cry. I pull up my big girl panties and confront my problems.”

Vikor sighed. “Which is why you brought up that insecurity.”

She nodded. “I don’t want to hide something and have it bite me in the ass later.”

Techor laughed. “That’s my job.”

She tried to squirm around and look Techor in the eye, but Vikor’s grip was firm. “How am I supposed to know if he is serious?”

Techor laughed. “You will have to wait and find out. Minders don’t have the sharp canines, but we can make do.”

She started to fight to turn and see Techor. “Seriously. I need to see if he is serious.”

Ekron chuckled. “We will just have to wait and see how serious.”

Vikor squeezed her again. She asked him plaintively, “Can you at least point me toward the food?”

He snickered and rotated her one hundred eighty degrees. She was able to reach the food and inched the platter to the edge of the table, and she pinched some of the appetizers and nibbled them slowly. It soothed the ache in her gut that was growing by the second.

“Now, what did you mean when you told Klauz that you would take him or food?” Vikor touched the edge of the toy through the skirt.

“You really want to know the answer?”

Three voices said, “Yes!”

She was stuck.