Chapter 17

RAINDROPS PATTERED steadily against her umbrella. They also splashed up in muddy droplets from the rapidly forming puddles. As she hurried along, it felt odd not to have Remus or Tarus at her side. In the weeks since they first mated, they had rarely left her unattended. Tonight, with the emergency sirens shrieking about trouble at the mine, they were needed and had no choice.

Before quitting time, Tarus sent her a message. There was a minor cave-in with no injuries, thank goodness, but they would be late helping shore up the unstable roof to prevent another collapse.

Please be careful, she messaged back.

She worried about her warriors. The site of the new mine wasn't ideal, unlike the original, but sabotage, which released radiation, made it unsafe to use for years. It would have been many thousands of years, if not for the Primarian technology that would neutralize the radioactivity at a rapid pace. For the interim, they were mining, not at the second but the third choice, and they'd already had several incidents.

Since they weren't sure how late they would be, and wouldn't be able to do so themselves, Tarus' message also directed her to arrange for an escort home.

Amy dashed off a reply: I'll be fine on my own .

She should have known that wouldn't satisfy him.

Tarus: You will get someone to escort you home, mate.

He didn't use exaggerated punctuation to show he expected compliance. He didn't have to. It rang through clearly, especially when he added: That was not a suggestion.

When she left the clinic, it was gray and dreary, but still daylight. No one was going in her direction, and she didn't want to put them out after a long day, so she took off on foot by herself.

Within a block, she regretted not doing as she was told when a chilling sense of unease overtook her. The feeling intensified when she made a right turn at the edge of town toward the residence halls and had no choice except to walk along the path by the woods. As the thick canopy of leaves and intertwining branches rustled and creaked in the wind, Amy hastened her steps.

Suddenly, a faint whisper halted her in her tracks. Was that her name?

Amy glanced behind her, only to find the recently paved sidewalk lining the rough dirt road empty. Curiosity compelled her to turn and peer into the dark shadows of the trees.

She laughed softly, blaming her overactive imagination for the unsettling paranoid thoughts. If her warriors were here, she'd have seen and heard nothing of the sort. She started walking again. Despite her laughter, at a more rapid pace.

You can try to ignore us, human. But we won't let you escape so easily, a voice called out.

Whirling, this time when she peered into the trees, her heart pounded, seeing a white waxy figure emerge from the darkness. His eyes, devoid of any emotion, bored into her, causing an icy chill to creep up her spine. She opened her mouth to scream, but her voice faltered, as paralyzed by fear as the rest of her as the being drew nearer, its gaze penetrating her soul.

Terrified, Amy turned to run, the sound of twigs snapping and bushes rustling behind her. She could feel the creature closing in, its presence suffocating her with fear.

When she thought she couldn't go on, she stumbled and fell. A shadow appeared next to her own on the pavement, and a cold, evil presence enveloped her.

With a cry, Amy jerked violently awake. Gasping for breath, with her heart pounding, she sat up and looked around her living room. She was alone. The only light was the glow of the holo-vid screen. She must have fallen asleep while watching the suspense movie she'd picked out.

A commotion outside her door startled her, and her panic resurged. Before she could react, the door burst open, and Tarus and Remus stormed in. Standing shoulder to shoulder with weapons drawn, their eyes darted around the room in search of a threat.

Finding none, their gazes fixed on her.

"Are you all right?" Tarus asked, scanning her from head to toe. "We heard you scream."

"We feared someone was in here with you," Remus added, his concerned gaze mirroring his twin's.

Still shaken from the nightmare, she took a steadying breath. Still, her voice quivered as she explained, "I fell asleep and had a disturbing dream." Her hands twisted in her lap as she tried to stop them from trembling. "It seemed so real," she added in a whisper.

The twins were immediately at her side. Tarus' arm encircled her shoulders, while Remus' big hand grasped her thigh. As he leaned in to press a gentle kiss on her temple, his whispered words calmed her fears. "We're here now, koria . There's no need to be afraid."

With their presence, the terror that gripped her slowly faded, replaced by a warm sense of safety.

"You're trembling, little one," Tarus observed. "Tell us about this dream. Sometimes it helps."

"I was walking home from work. As I passed by the woods, I saw something in the trees. Something...not human."

"Can you describe it?" Remus asked.

"It had no features, really, except for black eyes in a white chalky face. It was hideous and chilled me to the bone." As if to prove it, a shiver raced through her.

"Black eyes in a white face," Remus repeated in a whisper, exchanging a worried glance with his brother.

"Yes. But it was only a dream, wasn't it?"

His fingers flexed on her thigh. "Of course, it was," he stated as he rested his head against hers.

Despite the lingering uneasiness from her dream, she knew her warriors would protect her. As she nestled into their embrace, she felt a sense of peace settle over her, especially knowing she was no longer alone in this strange new world.

"How did you get home today?"

Tarus' simple question pierced the peaceful atmosphere. She stiffened. "I...uh...walked. "

"With whom?" he inquired.

"Um..."

He nudged her chin up, his gaze unwavering as it met hers. "The truth, mate," Tarus urged. "It can easily be confirmed by speaking to your colleagues at the clinic."

"I didn't want to put anyone out."

"And therefore disobeyed a direct order?" Remus questioned in a steely voice, completely unlike him.

"I shouldn't have," she admitted. "But it was only a few blocks."

"Blatant disobedience is unacceptable," he replied, his voice brimming with anger.

"You understand we can't keep you safe unless you do as you're directed?" Tarus asked, serious but calm.

"I realize that," she said in a small voice, regretting her actions and more so, disappointing her mates. "It won't happen again."

"It had better not!" Remus decreed. "In fact, reinforcement of the rule is required."

Suddenly, she was facedown over his lap. A sharp crack filled the room as his hand landed firmly on her bottom, the thin material of her nightgown offering little protection.

"I'm sorry," she yelped, with a second swat. The sting was intense and brought tears to her eyes, as did each subsequent smack, as his hand, relentless and unwavering, drove home the lesson.

"Remus, please!" she pleaded as she squirmed. "I've been taking care of myself for seventeen years."

"You have mates to do that now," he shot back, not giving an inch. "And you'd better get used to that pretty quick, or you'll find yourself over one of our knees with a stinging bare bottom until you do. "

His hand continued to fall swift and strong with no sign of stopping as he forced her to confront her transgressions in the most intimate of ways.

Part of her was incensed that he would take her to task like a child. Another part understood the necessity of the lesson. She had been independent for a long time but had a support system now. Warriors whose job it was to protect and defend, who gave orders and expected compliance. Remus clearly intended to make her understand that.

She knew she needed to adapt to her new circumstances, to trust in her mates and accept the guidance they offered, but it was an adjustment.

After what felt like an eternity, Remus' hand ceased falling. Panting heavily, she lay across his lap, her bottom on fire. Suddenly, a waft of cool air bathed her hot skin, as he raised her gown to her waist. His hand gently caressed—rather... their hands did, since there were four of them.

"I hope you understand," Remus whispered, his voice no longer angry but filled with concern. "We only want to keep you safe. Following the rules is a necessary part of that, mate."

She nodded and whispered, her voice barely audible. "I should have done as Tarus asked."

The next moment, she was perched on his lap. She hissed as her bare, freshly chastised bottom connected with his uniform pants.

"Is it so bad?" Tarus asked. "You bottom is barely pink."

"From the way my skin burns, it should be flaming red!"

"That was exceedingly mild as punishments go," Remus stated then he stiffened. "You have been spanked before, haven't you? "

"Never. And your idea of mild is as far apart as Earth and Primaria," she said with a huff.

"He went easy, koria ," Tarus assured her. "If you were over my lap, you wouldn't be sitting now."

Her eyes flew wide as she looked from Tarus to Remus for confirmation. He nodded. "I'm the fun-loving, gentle twin, remember?"

She squirmed on his lap, doubting their definitions of those adjectives too.

Tarus rose, saying over his shoulder as he strode to the bedroom, "Bring her. I'll get the cooling lotion."

Remus set her on her feet and rose alongside her, but he didn't follow his twin. "Your first spanking was well deserved," he said quietly. "Your safety will always be our priority. Let's not have a repeat of this, shall we? I'd much rather make you cry out with ecstasy than from a sore, burning backside. But I'll do it, to keep you well and with us for as long as the Maker allows it."

Amy saw regret in his eyes, but also determination to do what he thought he must. She felt a pang of remorse for not doing what she'd promised she would, and probably for overreacting.

"Maybe I exaggerated a bit," she admitted. "Already the heat and sting have eased." She laid her hand on his cheek. "I spoke the truth when I said it won't happen again."

"Remus, Amy, I'm waiting!" they heard from the other room.

"Lotion time, which means lots of rubbing and likely what you humans call makeup sex."

She grinned. "Maybe I should misbehave more often. "

His eyes narrowed, and he growled, "Don't push it, mate. Unless you want to experience Tarus' style of punishment, which means more than the flat of his hand."

Her smiled had vanished. "More? Like what, for example?"

"How about you try really hard not to find out?" Remus suggested.

"Right." She leaned into him, and his arms came around her.

"If you're good, we could try spankings of a different kind."

Intrigued, she asked, "What kind would that be?"

"Fun ones, where you get the makeup sex without the misbehavior."

Amy squirmed, liking the idea.

Remus grinned. "I see you're on board with the plan." He turned her, and arm in arm, they headed to the bedroom. "There's something to be said about a warm, tingling bottom when you're aroused. I'll talk to big brother about it."

Tarus had the covers pulled back, ready for her to be placed facedown on the bed for a little post-spanking TLC. He'd also stripped to the waist. Remus did so as well, then the two of them joined her and applied the pleasant-smelling, floral-scented lotion.

As they rubbed it into her skin, it provided cooling relief but had the opposite effect on the rest of her body, arousing her, particularly the warm, wet achy place between her thighs. A moan escaped her lips, giving them the signal to continue massaging her back, her thighs, and exploring the intimate space in between .

The sensations of their hands and fingers caressing and exploring sent shivers of desire racing through her with each touch.

Tarus swept her hair aside and pressed a kiss to the nape of her neck, his lips trailing down her spine as Remus moved his hands lower. Caressing her thighs with a gentle touch, he kissed the cheeks he had warmed. Amy's breathing quickened, her body responding eagerly to their intimate attention.

Stretching out on his back, Tarus lifted her on top of him. "Straddle my shoulders and hold on to the headboard," he ordered. Once she was in position, he wiggled until his mouth aligned with her pussy. As his tongue and lips worked their magic, Remus moved behind her and filled her with one long, exquisitely pleasurable stroke.

Amy gasped, arching her back as he moved deep and steady. Combined with Tarus' relentless licking and sucking, they brought her quickly to the brink of ecstasy.

Remus fisted his hand in her hair, pulling her head back so he could whisper in her ear. "You humans have this right. Makeup sex is the best."

"All sex with my warrior mates is the best," she gasped then surrendered to the sensations they created.

Once Amy came, her cries muffled by Remus' lips so as not to disturb the neighbors, he found release right after. Tarus wiggled out from beneath them and, kneeling by her head, filled her mouth with his rigid cock. It took only a few moments of him gliding on her tongue before he found release with a loud, satisfied groan over her breasts and belly.

He collapsed next to them, banging his elbow on the wall with a groan for an entirely different reason.

"We have to find a new place with a bigger bed," he muttered, snuggling against her side.

"And a bigger shower. I have a permanent knot on the top of my head from this one," Remus added, returning from the bathroom with a warm, wet cloth and passing it to Tarus to do the honors.

Once she was cleaned up, they both nestled against her.

"I rather like the closeness of this place," Amy said with a contented half smile and a sleepy yawn. As the vivid memory of her dream resurfaced, she quickly reconsidered her decision. She'd be happier if she never had to pass by the woods ever again. "But I'm flexible. I'll call home wherever my mates are."

"Good answer," Tarus murmured, half asleep.

Remus didn't reply, except to breathe loudly in a soft snore.