I Dated a Legal Devil, page 25
“Techor knows where I am.”
Stella smiled. “Hope you find some peace and quiet.”
“This place is getting loud and about to get louder. How do you like kids?”
Stella grinned. “I love them.”
“Good. The guys want a bunch.”
“What do you want?”
“A solid night’s sleep and some peace and quiet to think about my future or my present or just to think.”
“I will only mention your location if they ask.”
Drin patted her on the shoulder and looked toward the patio as she dashed into the woods and found a tree with suitable branches, and she climbed up twenty feet high and settled into a small ball in the tree. She felt Techor move across her thoughts, but he left her alone. She relaxed in the cradle of the tree and went to sleep.
* * * *
Techor murmured, “She’s asleep.”
Remark frowned. “Is she upset?”
Vikor grunted. “She’s just tired. While we have been taking turns, she is the centre of attention and is not used to it.”
Evali nodded. “She’s very self-contained.”
Vikor nodded. “She hasn’t had any resources, and human women are actively aggressive to her. She’s been exhausted and hunted for six years. She’s only been in the BDC for eight months and at Z-Tech for a year. She has few friends outside of those two businesses. She is about to step out and meet the world again, and it might not welcome her. She knows it. She needs some peace and quiet.”
Ekron asked, “You are going to let her sleep in a tree all night?”
“Fuck no, but I will leave her there while we chat.”
His parents were there. Ekron’s mother was there, and his father was across the world working for a different active team. It was where he got his heavy-hitter gene.
Klauz’s family worked with Drin. Vikor had no idea about Techor’s family, but he and Klauz were the eldest. Remark had to surrender his family relations when he joined a team. If they wanted to keep a connection to him, they would have an opinion on these matters.
“Right, so is there anyone here who doesn’t want one of Drin’s kids?”
The guys looked at each other.
“So, who wants to go first?” All hands rose up.
Evali scowled. “Wait. You want five children at the same time? I might kill you for that.”
Vikor looked at his parents. “What would we need for that many kids at one time?”
Niseth smiled and started to rattle off the logistics of what would be required. She was a master of logistics and probabilities, which had only ever been blinded when her youngest child had died. That day, her senses went blind.
Vikor smiled. Seeing his mother return to her true self again was nice, but the sheer amount of items was astonishing.
Niseth smiled and held her husband’s hand. “We will help. We owe her a lot, and more grandkids is an excellent thing.”
Evali laughed. “You aren’t the only grandmother involved. And of course, there are the other three families.”
Techor shrugged. “I was an only child, and my parents have passed.”
Remark smiled slightly. “My parents cut me off, as per capitol protocol, but then, I was invited to Aksalla, so we are still trying to find ways to reconnect.”
Klauz shrugged. “My family just wants more family.”
Vikor nodded. “Right. So kids for us and keeping the stress off Drin. Gentlemen, we have a challenge.”
Evali smiled. “One decanting every six weeks, so the children’s birthdays aren’t too close. Avoid the school holidays for deliveries. Birthdays during the summer suck. Imvari has her birthday in the middle of summer, and getting people to her birthdays was always a chore. Stick to the school year for birthdays. If you can choose, choose. Get the eggs, make the embryos, and then mark the calendar. Drin is resilient, but she will participate if you give her something to plan for. By the time the first baby is born, she will have been looking to the future for forty weeks. It should be the toe-hold on the future that she needs.”
Varun asked, “How do you know that?”
Evali smiled. “I wasn’t ready. When Iron planted this big twit, I was not ready in any way for a boy, but he’s here now, and while things were scary for a while, I got through it with help and remembering that he was going to turn into an adult with his own hopes and dreams and plans.” She smirked. “But if I had known he was going to join a link with a very nice young lady at the centre, I might have worked harder on his manners with the ladies.”
Ekron chuckled. “I have always done fine with the ladies.”
“You have always done well with women, son. Not ladies. Drin is definitely a lady. Five guys or not.”
Vikor tilted his head. “How can you tell?”
“When she cuddles up to you, are you worried about her picking your pocket or selling an image to the tabloids?”
Vikor frowned. “Of course not.”
“That is how you can tell.” Evali smiled. She looked around at the guys. “Any of you worried she will use you to her advantage?”
They all shrugged and shook their heads.
“That is how you know you found a good woman. Hell, she won’t even ask for help. Not even when Varun had her dumped in a cell, and the bitches in there tried to take her face off.”
Varun paled and ran his hand over his face. “I had forgotten about that. I am going to have to apologize.”
Vikor stiffened. “What the fuck happened? I know she was shaken up when I saw her... but you ordered her beaten up?”
“I didn’t order it. I just asked the duty officer not to intervene if there was an issue in the cells, at least not right away. She was pale and thin in court.”
Techor sipped at his drink. “She was beaten by the human population, so she used her activation to inspire the actives in the cell. They defended her, but it cost her a lot of energy.”
Evali nodded. “And that would also make it difficult for her to carry to term. One hostile incursion and her body would defend itself first and her offspring second.”
Niseth was staring at Varun. “What did you have them do to her?”
He flinched. “You said you didn’t want her near our family.”
She slapped him on the chest, and he staggered back. “That was when we learned what happened to Vaka, and we saw all his personal effects, and every image had her in it. Seeing her was like seeing part of our son mourning his loss. It hurt, but that was six years ago. Six years of grieving in silence. If I had been forced to the light earlier, we might have met our grandson before he felt it necessary to call us ma’am and sir. We might have been there for his first steps, his first day at school. I asked you to give me time, and you gave me all of it and left me there.” She was crying.
Vikor watched his father embrace his mother, whispering apologies. “It has been an emotional reunion for everybody.”
Evali nodded. “It has, and I expect a full house for this year’s memorial. I have a special outfit planned for Drin.”
Vikor felt a lump in his throat. “It will be the first one she can attend and the first one Shisha and Vaken can attend.”
Niseth made a fist and punched her husband.
Vikor smiled. His father had treated his mother like she was made of cracked porcelain. Apparently, her cracks had healed, or she was willing to risk sharper edges. Either way, his mother was showing signs of the woman he remembered.
Evali brought out a tablet and showed the group the outfits she had designed for Drin. She made notes, and Remark smiled. “Can you do something in orange and green instead of endless shades of blue?”
Ekron snorted. “I like blue, and my mom knows it. Plus, aside from sprints into Hell, I will be the one most often seen with her. My like of the colour blue is well-known.”
Vikor grinned. “And he is footing the bill for the wardrobe.”
Techor chuckled. “I have ordered a few things for her.”
Vikor laughed. “Me, too. What did you get?”
“A gold chain overlay to put over some of the more fitted gowns. It will be a nice accent piece to the bands and collar.”
Vikor raised his brows. “Where are you getting it?”
“Tomorrow Jewellers. I also have an order in for filigree greaves and vambraces for when we go to the symphony. I know she likes music.”
They continued to discuss Drin into the night, and when she sent Techor a request, he shared it with Remark, and their flier went to get their little bird out of a tree.
Vikor looked at his sleepy darling as Remark settled in a chair with Drin in his arms. Her hair was tousled, and Remark carefully plucked leaves out of it.
The more she was fussed over, the more she glowed. It was nice to see her accept that she could be happy, and it showed when she was happy.
Vikor felt a nudge at his elbow. His mother was staring at his face. “You are happy when you see her.”
He inclined his head. “I always was. My fascination with her is not new. Since I first came home from college and she was studying with Vaka, I knew she was mine.”
“Are you sure about that? You were seen with a different female every week after that.” His mother chided him.
“The pheromones that I put out are for her only now. They have changed. My managers have commented on the subdued effect over the last few days. I don’t need it anymore. I have her.”
Niseth stared at him. “You are serious? You will be content with her?”
He chuckled. “The part of me that was scrambling around has calmed. Ekron is the same, as is Klauz and Techor. Remark is slightly younger, but he still is calm and his eyes bright. The energy Drin outputs now is specifically for us and is very beneficial.”
“This is the same power that helped Vaka?”
“It is, but it is tempered with age and support. Vaka loved her, but he wanted to take from her, and that taking left her weak.” Vikor squeezed his mother’s hand. “Across all of us, we are trying to heal the damage that her activation and the years of struggle have caused.”
His mother asked, “Do you think you can?”
“Her past is trauma; her present is stress. We are trying to architect a future with joy and enjoyment.”
On the other side of the patio, Remark ran his fingers slowly through Drin’s hair, kissing her softly and whispering to her.
Techor crouched next to them and stroked her cheek, pressing his forehead to hers.
Vikor turned to his mother. “We have made a pretty good start and have learned what she needs. Now we just have to avoid overdosing her with affection.”
“I don’t think you could.”
“Mom, there are five of us.”
She covered her mouth and giggled. “Oh, dear. How do you deal with the wet spot?”
He winced and pinched the bridge of his nose. “As part of her activation, she directly absorbs contributions from her male partners. You remember how she was always hungry?”
“Yeah.”
“She isn’t hungry nearly as often now.” He grinned, showing all of his teeth.
His mother looked shocked, and then, she started laughing. “Well, that does ease a concern that you would wear her out.”
“She might wear us out, so we will have to continue to be inventive.”
“Why is she wearing the bands?”
Vikor chuckled. “To remind us that she’s ours and that we don’t need to prove it to her. The moment they were on, we all felt better.”
“Didn’t need to prove it?”
“Didn’t need to push too hard. We all have more accelerated sex drives, so we don’t want to cause injury or discomfort. The bands slow us down. They remind us there isn’t a rush.”
Niseth chuckled. “Ah, and that is why she can’t have children.”
“Yes. Her body absorbs all traces.”
“Probably better for her in the long run.” She chuckled. “That could be terribly messy.”
“It is part of what she is, and we are good with it.”
Niseth looked at him curiously. “You really knew it was her back then?”
He didn’t tell her how far the instinct for Drin went, but he said, “Yes. I couldn’t say anything because Vaka would have blown a gasket. He was very protective of his friend. Getting any idea of how much I wanted her would have wrecked familial relations for decades. She was the only bright point in my time at home in those days. Ekron’s too, though he and I fought over it one or two times, dreaming of the day when Vaka would have a mate, and we could make our move on Drin. Then, eight months ago, when the Blind Date Corp opened up in Aksalla, we each compared notes on the escort that had been matched to our needs, and we had the same one. Curvy brunette, low throaty voice, and a shy smile. We had been seeing her for months and never noticed that we never had sex. It took her being in Hell doing the vocal combat for her sister-in-law’s team against Ekron for me to figure out who she was.”
His mother chuckled. “How badly did she lose?”
“Oh, she won. Her presence when performing is impressive.”
Klauz brought food out of the kitchen, and Ekron picked up his guitar, and he began to play as he often did for friends and family. Vikor watched Drin’s head whip toward the music. She loved music.
The music spilled out, and Ekron sang the song that was up for a best single award. It was something he had written and put out after he had started seeing his escort. The energy that spurred creativity had helped him to write a song that everyone in town was humming.
Drin squirmed out of Remark’s lap and ran her fingers through Techor’s hair as she swayed toward Ekron as he played. His voice rolled through the gathering, and Drin walked behind him and wrapped her arms around him as he sang, pressing her palms to his chest. She pressed her face to his neck, and he sang until the notes faded. He turned to face her, and she kissed him, expressing her appreciation in a very basic way.
When Drin lifted her head, Vikor was surprised to hear his mother say, “Drin, dearest. You have such a lovely voice. Do you still play?”
Vikor tensed. He was hoping that the answer was yes.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Drin came out of the trance that Ekron’s lovely voice had woven around her. “Play? No. I haven’t had access to a piano for years.”
Ekron looked at her. “If I get a keyboard set up, will you play for us?”
“I am super rusty, but I can try.”
He kissed her quick and then set his guitar aside, heading into the house.
Drin frowned and then blinked as Ekron appeared a few seconds later with a keyboard and stand. He set it out and sprinted inside to get the stool that went with it. He adjusted it for her and guided her to sit down.
It was a full keyboard, and she settled her fingers on the keys. The first notes were tentative. She paused, flexed her fingers, then plowed into a classic concerto followed by one of Ekron’s biggest hits. She sang along to that one and tried to stand up when she finished. Ekron put his hands on her shoulders. “Oh, no. Play that last one again. I want to sing a duet.”
She snorted and started the music again and began to sing. Ekron’s voice wrapped around hers and vibrated through her body as she played. She was vibrating with arousal when they finished.
“Pet, you have a stunning voice.” He leaned down and licked her ear.
She muttered, “Don’t, don’t!”
His tongue flicked the tip, and she bit her lip and shuddered. It wasn’t the best orgasm she had had, but it was deep. She slowly opened her eyes and covered her mouth in horror. “Ohmygod, I am so sorry.” Evali, Varun, and Niseth were staring at her.
She tried to run inside, but Ekron held her in place. “Oh, no, pet. You are staying right here.”
“But... I… and folks were watching.”
“Hon, I don’t know if you are talking about the music or the orgasm. You have quite the set of pipes.”
She blushed and hid her face against his shoulder. He stroked her back. “Come on, pet. One more.”
She looked at him. “Are you serious?”
He grinned. “Just a little more.”
Drin sighed. “Fine. This one Vaka wrote with me in grade eleven.”
She played a song that was profoundly lonely and full of memories of childhood. When she pulled her hands back, Vikor asked, “Vaka wrote that with you?”
“For me. He wrote it for me.” She got up and walked past Niseth and cuddled onto Vikor’s lap. She leaned up and whispered in his ear. He laughed and got to his feet. They headed inside for the five minutes she needed with him stroking swiftly into her.
She bit down on his neck to keep from screaming as pleasure billowed through her, and he groaned as he spilled into her. He murmured, “So, you really like it when Ekron sings?”
“I will never admit it to him. He would get a big head.”
He laughed and licked at the bite mark he had left on her neck. “You are going to be tormented at the music awards. He is up for best single, best album, and an achievement award. You are going to be hearing a lot of him.”
She shrugged. “Recordings don’t bother me; it is a problem of his actual voice that has driven me to this quickie.”
He nuzzled her neck. “I will hate to break it to you, but he will be performing at the awards.”
“I will cross my legs.”
“Hah. I have seen your dress. You will be lucky if you can walk.” He stroked her cheek. “But, I absolutely want a picture of you in it without the golden wonder.”
She sighed. “I am going to have a problem sorting out makeup and hair.”
“Oddly, I have gotten an offer from Arcady for you to do the prep at the BDC office, as it is an official date. Just bring the dress that Evali brought by today.” He smiled. “She’s super excited to have you going with Ekron.”
“Should we go back out there?”
Klauz made dinner.
She started to squirm. “How do I get off this ride?”
He was still chuckling when they returned to the patio, and Klauz beckoned her over and set up her standard high-calorie fare. Everyone else got barbeque. She got barbeque, pate, and pastry stuffed with all kinds of fun mushrooms.
Stella smiled. “Hope you find some peace and quiet.”
“This place is getting loud and about to get louder. How do you like kids?”
Stella grinned. “I love them.”
“Good. The guys want a bunch.”
“What do you want?”
“A solid night’s sleep and some peace and quiet to think about my future or my present or just to think.”
“I will only mention your location if they ask.”
Drin patted her on the shoulder and looked toward the patio as she dashed into the woods and found a tree with suitable branches, and she climbed up twenty feet high and settled into a small ball in the tree. She felt Techor move across her thoughts, but he left her alone. She relaxed in the cradle of the tree and went to sleep.
* * * *
Techor murmured, “She’s asleep.”
Remark frowned. “Is she upset?”
Vikor grunted. “She’s just tired. While we have been taking turns, she is the centre of attention and is not used to it.”
Evali nodded. “She’s very self-contained.”
Vikor nodded. “She hasn’t had any resources, and human women are actively aggressive to her. She’s been exhausted and hunted for six years. She’s only been in the BDC for eight months and at Z-Tech for a year. She has few friends outside of those two businesses. She is about to step out and meet the world again, and it might not welcome her. She knows it. She needs some peace and quiet.”
Ekron asked, “You are going to let her sleep in a tree all night?”
“Fuck no, but I will leave her there while we chat.”
His parents were there. Ekron’s mother was there, and his father was across the world working for a different active team. It was where he got his heavy-hitter gene.
Klauz’s family worked with Drin. Vikor had no idea about Techor’s family, but he and Klauz were the eldest. Remark had to surrender his family relations when he joined a team. If they wanted to keep a connection to him, they would have an opinion on these matters.
“Right, so is there anyone here who doesn’t want one of Drin’s kids?”
The guys looked at each other.
“So, who wants to go first?” All hands rose up.
Evali scowled. “Wait. You want five children at the same time? I might kill you for that.”
Vikor looked at his parents. “What would we need for that many kids at one time?”
Niseth smiled and started to rattle off the logistics of what would be required. She was a master of logistics and probabilities, which had only ever been blinded when her youngest child had died. That day, her senses went blind.
Vikor smiled. Seeing his mother return to her true self again was nice, but the sheer amount of items was astonishing.
Niseth smiled and held her husband’s hand. “We will help. We owe her a lot, and more grandkids is an excellent thing.”
Evali laughed. “You aren’t the only grandmother involved. And of course, there are the other three families.”
Techor shrugged. “I was an only child, and my parents have passed.”
Remark smiled slightly. “My parents cut me off, as per capitol protocol, but then, I was invited to Aksalla, so we are still trying to find ways to reconnect.”
Klauz shrugged. “My family just wants more family.”
Vikor nodded. “Right. So kids for us and keeping the stress off Drin. Gentlemen, we have a challenge.”
Evali smiled. “One decanting every six weeks, so the children’s birthdays aren’t too close. Avoid the school holidays for deliveries. Birthdays during the summer suck. Imvari has her birthday in the middle of summer, and getting people to her birthdays was always a chore. Stick to the school year for birthdays. If you can choose, choose. Get the eggs, make the embryos, and then mark the calendar. Drin is resilient, but she will participate if you give her something to plan for. By the time the first baby is born, she will have been looking to the future for forty weeks. It should be the toe-hold on the future that she needs.”
Varun asked, “How do you know that?”
Evali smiled. “I wasn’t ready. When Iron planted this big twit, I was not ready in any way for a boy, but he’s here now, and while things were scary for a while, I got through it with help and remembering that he was going to turn into an adult with his own hopes and dreams and plans.” She smirked. “But if I had known he was going to join a link with a very nice young lady at the centre, I might have worked harder on his manners with the ladies.”
Ekron chuckled. “I have always done fine with the ladies.”
“You have always done well with women, son. Not ladies. Drin is definitely a lady. Five guys or not.”
Vikor tilted his head. “How can you tell?”
“When she cuddles up to you, are you worried about her picking your pocket or selling an image to the tabloids?”
Vikor frowned. “Of course not.”
“That is how you can tell.” Evali smiled. She looked around at the guys. “Any of you worried she will use you to her advantage?”
They all shrugged and shook their heads.
“That is how you know you found a good woman. Hell, she won’t even ask for help. Not even when Varun had her dumped in a cell, and the bitches in there tried to take her face off.”
Varun paled and ran his hand over his face. “I had forgotten about that. I am going to have to apologize.”
Vikor stiffened. “What the fuck happened? I know she was shaken up when I saw her... but you ordered her beaten up?”
“I didn’t order it. I just asked the duty officer not to intervene if there was an issue in the cells, at least not right away. She was pale and thin in court.”
Techor sipped at his drink. “She was beaten by the human population, so she used her activation to inspire the actives in the cell. They defended her, but it cost her a lot of energy.”
Evali nodded. “And that would also make it difficult for her to carry to term. One hostile incursion and her body would defend itself first and her offspring second.”
Niseth was staring at Varun. “What did you have them do to her?”
He flinched. “You said you didn’t want her near our family.”
She slapped him on the chest, and he staggered back. “That was when we learned what happened to Vaka, and we saw all his personal effects, and every image had her in it. Seeing her was like seeing part of our son mourning his loss. It hurt, but that was six years ago. Six years of grieving in silence. If I had been forced to the light earlier, we might have met our grandson before he felt it necessary to call us ma’am and sir. We might have been there for his first steps, his first day at school. I asked you to give me time, and you gave me all of it and left me there.” She was crying.
Vikor watched his father embrace his mother, whispering apologies. “It has been an emotional reunion for everybody.”
Evali nodded. “It has, and I expect a full house for this year’s memorial. I have a special outfit planned for Drin.”
Vikor felt a lump in his throat. “It will be the first one she can attend and the first one Shisha and Vaken can attend.”
Niseth made a fist and punched her husband.
Vikor smiled. His father had treated his mother like she was made of cracked porcelain. Apparently, her cracks had healed, or she was willing to risk sharper edges. Either way, his mother was showing signs of the woman he remembered.
Evali brought out a tablet and showed the group the outfits she had designed for Drin. She made notes, and Remark smiled. “Can you do something in orange and green instead of endless shades of blue?”
Ekron snorted. “I like blue, and my mom knows it. Plus, aside from sprints into Hell, I will be the one most often seen with her. My like of the colour blue is well-known.”
Vikor grinned. “And he is footing the bill for the wardrobe.”
Techor chuckled. “I have ordered a few things for her.”
Vikor laughed. “Me, too. What did you get?”
“A gold chain overlay to put over some of the more fitted gowns. It will be a nice accent piece to the bands and collar.”
Vikor raised his brows. “Where are you getting it?”
“Tomorrow Jewellers. I also have an order in for filigree greaves and vambraces for when we go to the symphony. I know she likes music.”
They continued to discuss Drin into the night, and when she sent Techor a request, he shared it with Remark, and their flier went to get their little bird out of a tree.
Vikor looked at his sleepy darling as Remark settled in a chair with Drin in his arms. Her hair was tousled, and Remark carefully plucked leaves out of it.
The more she was fussed over, the more she glowed. It was nice to see her accept that she could be happy, and it showed when she was happy.
Vikor felt a nudge at his elbow. His mother was staring at his face. “You are happy when you see her.”
He inclined his head. “I always was. My fascination with her is not new. Since I first came home from college and she was studying with Vaka, I knew she was mine.”
“Are you sure about that? You were seen with a different female every week after that.” His mother chided him.
“The pheromones that I put out are for her only now. They have changed. My managers have commented on the subdued effect over the last few days. I don’t need it anymore. I have her.”
Niseth stared at him. “You are serious? You will be content with her?”
He chuckled. “The part of me that was scrambling around has calmed. Ekron is the same, as is Klauz and Techor. Remark is slightly younger, but he still is calm and his eyes bright. The energy Drin outputs now is specifically for us and is very beneficial.”
“This is the same power that helped Vaka?”
“It is, but it is tempered with age and support. Vaka loved her, but he wanted to take from her, and that taking left her weak.” Vikor squeezed his mother’s hand. “Across all of us, we are trying to heal the damage that her activation and the years of struggle have caused.”
His mother asked, “Do you think you can?”
“Her past is trauma; her present is stress. We are trying to architect a future with joy and enjoyment.”
On the other side of the patio, Remark ran his fingers slowly through Drin’s hair, kissing her softly and whispering to her.
Techor crouched next to them and stroked her cheek, pressing his forehead to hers.
Vikor turned to his mother. “We have made a pretty good start and have learned what she needs. Now we just have to avoid overdosing her with affection.”
“I don’t think you could.”
“Mom, there are five of us.”
She covered her mouth and giggled. “Oh, dear. How do you deal with the wet spot?”
He winced and pinched the bridge of his nose. “As part of her activation, she directly absorbs contributions from her male partners. You remember how she was always hungry?”
“Yeah.”
“She isn’t hungry nearly as often now.” He grinned, showing all of his teeth.
His mother looked shocked, and then, she started laughing. “Well, that does ease a concern that you would wear her out.”
“She might wear us out, so we will have to continue to be inventive.”
“Why is she wearing the bands?”
Vikor chuckled. “To remind us that she’s ours and that we don’t need to prove it to her. The moment they were on, we all felt better.”
“Didn’t need to prove it?”
“Didn’t need to push too hard. We all have more accelerated sex drives, so we don’t want to cause injury or discomfort. The bands slow us down. They remind us there isn’t a rush.”
Niseth chuckled. “Ah, and that is why she can’t have children.”
“Yes. Her body absorbs all traces.”
“Probably better for her in the long run.” She chuckled. “That could be terribly messy.”
“It is part of what she is, and we are good with it.”
Niseth looked at him curiously. “You really knew it was her back then?”
He didn’t tell her how far the instinct for Drin went, but he said, “Yes. I couldn’t say anything because Vaka would have blown a gasket. He was very protective of his friend. Getting any idea of how much I wanted her would have wrecked familial relations for decades. She was the only bright point in my time at home in those days. Ekron’s too, though he and I fought over it one or two times, dreaming of the day when Vaka would have a mate, and we could make our move on Drin. Then, eight months ago, when the Blind Date Corp opened up in Aksalla, we each compared notes on the escort that had been matched to our needs, and we had the same one. Curvy brunette, low throaty voice, and a shy smile. We had been seeing her for months and never noticed that we never had sex. It took her being in Hell doing the vocal combat for her sister-in-law’s team against Ekron for me to figure out who she was.”
His mother chuckled. “How badly did she lose?”
“Oh, she won. Her presence when performing is impressive.”
Klauz brought food out of the kitchen, and Ekron picked up his guitar, and he began to play as he often did for friends and family. Vikor watched Drin’s head whip toward the music. She loved music.
The music spilled out, and Ekron sang the song that was up for a best single award. It was something he had written and put out after he had started seeing his escort. The energy that spurred creativity had helped him to write a song that everyone in town was humming.
Drin squirmed out of Remark’s lap and ran her fingers through Techor’s hair as she swayed toward Ekron as he played. His voice rolled through the gathering, and Drin walked behind him and wrapped her arms around him as he sang, pressing her palms to his chest. She pressed her face to his neck, and he sang until the notes faded. He turned to face her, and she kissed him, expressing her appreciation in a very basic way.
When Drin lifted her head, Vikor was surprised to hear his mother say, “Drin, dearest. You have such a lovely voice. Do you still play?”
Vikor tensed. He was hoping that the answer was yes.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Drin came out of the trance that Ekron’s lovely voice had woven around her. “Play? No. I haven’t had access to a piano for years.”
Ekron looked at her. “If I get a keyboard set up, will you play for us?”
“I am super rusty, but I can try.”
He kissed her quick and then set his guitar aside, heading into the house.
Drin frowned and then blinked as Ekron appeared a few seconds later with a keyboard and stand. He set it out and sprinted inside to get the stool that went with it. He adjusted it for her and guided her to sit down.
It was a full keyboard, and she settled her fingers on the keys. The first notes were tentative. She paused, flexed her fingers, then plowed into a classic concerto followed by one of Ekron’s biggest hits. She sang along to that one and tried to stand up when she finished. Ekron put his hands on her shoulders. “Oh, no. Play that last one again. I want to sing a duet.”
She snorted and started the music again and began to sing. Ekron’s voice wrapped around hers and vibrated through her body as she played. She was vibrating with arousal when they finished.
“Pet, you have a stunning voice.” He leaned down and licked her ear.
She muttered, “Don’t, don’t!”
His tongue flicked the tip, and she bit her lip and shuddered. It wasn’t the best orgasm she had had, but it was deep. She slowly opened her eyes and covered her mouth in horror. “Ohmygod, I am so sorry.” Evali, Varun, and Niseth were staring at her.
She tried to run inside, but Ekron held her in place. “Oh, no, pet. You are staying right here.”
“But... I… and folks were watching.”
“Hon, I don’t know if you are talking about the music or the orgasm. You have quite the set of pipes.”
She blushed and hid her face against his shoulder. He stroked her back. “Come on, pet. One more.”
She looked at him. “Are you serious?”
He grinned. “Just a little more.”
Drin sighed. “Fine. This one Vaka wrote with me in grade eleven.”
She played a song that was profoundly lonely and full of memories of childhood. When she pulled her hands back, Vikor asked, “Vaka wrote that with you?”
“For me. He wrote it for me.” She got up and walked past Niseth and cuddled onto Vikor’s lap. She leaned up and whispered in his ear. He laughed and got to his feet. They headed inside for the five minutes she needed with him stroking swiftly into her.
She bit down on his neck to keep from screaming as pleasure billowed through her, and he groaned as he spilled into her. He murmured, “So, you really like it when Ekron sings?”
“I will never admit it to him. He would get a big head.”
He laughed and licked at the bite mark he had left on her neck. “You are going to be tormented at the music awards. He is up for best single, best album, and an achievement award. You are going to be hearing a lot of him.”
She shrugged. “Recordings don’t bother me; it is a problem of his actual voice that has driven me to this quickie.”
He nuzzled her neck. “I will hate to break it to you, but he will be performing at the awards.”
“I will cross my legs.”
“Hah. I have seen your dress. You will be lucky if you can walk.” He stroked her cheek. “But, I absolutely want a picture of you in it without the golden wonder.”
She sighed. “I am going to have a problem sorting out makeup and hair.”
“Oddly, I have gotten an offer from Arcady for you to do the prep at the BDC office, as it is an official date. Just bring the dress that Evali brought by today.” He smiled. “She’s super excited to have you going with Ekron.”
“Should we go back out there?”
Klauz made dinner.
She started to squirm. “How do I get off this ride?”
He was still chuckling when they returned to the patio, and Klauz beckoned her over and set up her standard high-calorie fare. Everyone else got barbeque. She got barbeque, pate, and pastry stuffed with all kinds of fun mushrooms.
