Strange Love

The buzz of the alarm sounded through the room, bringing Jos from a fitful sleep. Though she and Arei had made up and ended up falling asleep snuggled in each other's arms, she'd been plagued with nightmares the entire night. She rolled away from Arei's warm body as he lifted to retrieve the phone that was buzzing. Jos laid there rubbing her temples, her eyes squeezed tightly shut as she tried to recall even the slightest of details of even one dream... but she couldn't. "Ugh!!!" She growled out.

"That bad, kitten? Is there anything I can do to help?" Arei asked as he turned his attention away from the now silent phone over to her. "Did you have too many glasses of wine last night?"

She shook her head. "No, I don't think so... It's just that... Ugh..." She growled again, rubbing her fingers along her crinkled forehead. She finally let her hands fall away as she met his curious gaze. "I keep having dreams that frighten me awake all night. I haven't gotten a solid night's sleep in so long; I can't even tell you when... I thought it was stress from this or that but now, I know it has to be something more... I just can't figure out what, and it's driving me insane!"

He chuckled as he rolled over onto his side and stroked her temples soothingly. "I'm not entirely sure it's not still stress, kitten. You worry and overthink things more than anyone I've ever met..." He bent and kissed the crease still contorting the usually smooth skin of her forehead. "You're probably just stressing about the meeting today is all."

She frowned, "No... well... I mean maybe, but this is still something else..."

He took her hands and pulled her up into a sitting position. "How about you put my tee-shirt on, without complaint this time, and I'll call down to the kitchen and have the waiting staff bring some breakfast up?"

She squinted up at him from where her hands were back to rubbing her face. "I'm pretty sure this is more than simple hanger, Arei." She barked out in irritation.

He let out a guttural laugh. "Maybe so, but I'm still tempted more than ever to throw a snickers bar at you from the far corner. I wouldn't be surprised if a tentacle or two didn't pop out, you look so angry." He brought his hand up and tousled her already messy hair, causing her glare to intensify. "What about you get ready, and I'll go down and check on breakfast." He sent her a playful wink.

She grabbed the shirt from the floor and pulled it on before begrudgingly crawling out of the bed and stomping over to her luggage. "I'll go down with you, maybe some coffee with an extra shot or three of espresso will ease this headache."

He arched his brow as he tugged on his gym shorts, not bothering with a shirt. He'd given in to no barriers between them during cuddling and sleeping last night and she'd given in to not pushing for s.e.x. In all honesty, he would love to take that step with her, but it just wasn't a good idea on either of their parts right now. It was easy enough for her to say she wanted nothing else to do with the pup when he was nowhere around, but what happened when they went back to the island... What happened if they ended up having to work closely with them while figuring out all this palace and Fern shit. Would she still choose him over the kid if they were back to seeing each other daily? Would he be willing to give her up once again... doubtfully... even more doubtfully if s.e.x were involved? He let out a sigh as he followed her out the bedroom door. Besides, what she didn't know was the extent he was willing to go not to bring children into this world. If it meant nothing more than cuddling with her until they reach the island, then so be it. But as of right now, he knew well enough she wasn't on any form of birth control and any c.o.n.d.o.m he or Ry would have stashed in this room would be so outdated, it would probably disintegrate the second it was taken out of the packaging... and going bareback wasn't an option with her. He knew well that once buried inside her, he wouldn't have the will to pull out.

All eyes fell on them as they walked through the doors of the kitchen. Jos didn't say anything as she stormed over to the coffee maker and popped in a single-serve cup. She rested her head against the cabinet as she waited for it to brew causing several sets of curious eyes to move from her back, clad in his shirt, to him. Arei shrugged. "She woke up with a migraine after a night of bad dreams."

Chary laughed loudly as she shot a wink to the wolf. "I bet it was a night filled with horrors alright."

Arei shook his head as he rolled his eyes. "You're the worst, you know that?"

She waved him off. "Nah... third worst at best." She sent Shelly another wink as she took another bite of the waffles they'd been eating.

"So did you guys find anything else helpful?" Arei asked as he pulled out one of the chairs. Noting the wolf's sudden blush and unease, he turned back to Chary and arched his brow again.

"Let me guess, you tormented them by reading all the graphic s.e.x?"

Chary burst out laughing again. "Maybe?!" Her eyes moved over to where the wolf was cringing.

He shook his head. "You're at least second worst if not first."

"What can I say, the girl could write!" Chary said throwing up her hands in self-defense. Her smile widened as she tilted her head toward Jos who was intently focused on the coffee maker. "And how was last night? Doesn't seem like you let her get adequate sleep, little brother... Shall I have the maids go ahead and start work on preparing the old nursery?"

He glared at his sister, tossing a roll from the table at her. "My view on that has not changed where she and I are concerned and especially on my opinions of bringing an innocent child into the f.u.c.k.e.d up family."

Chary's smile fell. "I was only teasing, there's no need to get your p.a.n.t.i.e.s in such a bunch. I was just trying to lighten the mood. She seems upset and you seem like she shoved a broomstick up your b.u.t.t."

He blew out a breath. "She's not slept well for weeks now. She woke up again just now complaining of nightmares."

Chary shrugged as she glanced over to Jos who had just finished dumping a double shot of espresso into her cup and was working on brewing a third. Her eyes widened as she arched a brow. "I mean nightmares aren't uncommon especially after all that's happened lately."

He pressed his lips together in a stiff line. "No not in themselves, but she never has memories of any part of them..."

Chary rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Could it be a leftover side effect of the teas Peg gave her to regain her memories?"

He blew out a heavy sigh. "I'm not sure, but I'm worried for her. I'll ask when I talk to him next."

Jos tilted her head as she walked over to join them at the table. "Talk with who next?" She held her mug in both hands, blowing the steaming mug between words.

He bent toward her and kissed her head. "I was just telling Chary how odd it was that you can't remember any of the nightmares you've been having. She suggested it may be a side effect of the lotus tea." He let his hand slide under the table and gave her t.h.i.g.h a squeeze before letting his hand rest there while he moved on to other matters. "So you never said, did you find out anything else useful last night."

Chary shook her head. "Nothing that will be helpful at least. After having Fern chased from the lands, they had the majority of the passageways blocked off. It seems like Ales handled most of that, and she either asked little about it or wasn't made aware. Nearly everything that she spoke of from there on was about struggles with their new roles and the added stress of having to oversee all the things Fern had once dealt with." She pursed her lips together. "It seems that the palace's current state was done with intent on Fern's part. Judging by what we read last night, he was more than capable of handling finance and had done so since before his father's death. Even as much as Cam seemed to hate him, she herself noted how intelligent he was or rather is." She shrugged as she jabbed a sausage link with her fork. "There were some names mentioned, so I believe they are starting there today."

Arei nodded his head, his focus moving to the clock on the fancy microwave. He let out a long sigh as he gave Jos's t.h.i.g.h another squeeze. "We should probably head upstairs and get ready. Prometheus will be here in less than an hour."

Jos let her cheeks fill with air before blowing it out. "It will take me longer walking back to that room than it will to actually get ready."

Chary laughed gutturally. "If you're not hiking at least a mile between rooms, are you even really living in a palace?"

Jos shook her head. "I one hundred percent prefer living in a normal home. This reminds me too much of working and going to school on campus with almost no convenient parking." She rolled her eyes as he pushed up from the table. She leaned down and gave Shelly's head a light kiss. "I'll find you once the appointment is over." The wolf nodded and moved back to her food.

***

Arei watched as Jos worked the t.h.i.g.h-high pantyhose over her legs one at a time, slowly... teasingly, if only she knew he was watching. He'd been turned away from her as he put on his own clothes, but the second he caught her movements in the reflection of the dressing mirror his movements instantly froze. When she stood to retrieve her dress from the bed, he had to fight the urge not to go over and bite the plump swell of her cheek that was trapped between the band of the t.h.i.g.h-highs and the high curve of the black cheeky p.a.n.t.i.e.s. He didn't take his eyes off her as she stepped into the dress and began fumbling with the zipper. He bit his lip, flexing his fingers for a few breaths as he pulled himself together. He turned and walked over to her. "Here, let me help you with that." Their eyes met and he could still read the traces of d.e.s.i.r.e that reflected in the aqua depths every time they touched. He placed a kiss at the nape of her neck as he tugged the zipper up. "You look breathtaking." He turned her toward the dressing mirror and stepped aside so she could see for herself. "This cut really suits you, but you must already know that."

She nodded. "Cam taught me everything I know about fashion. It was one of her favorite things. She always kept up with the latest trends and insisted that I did as well..." Sadness fell over her expression as her eyes traveled over the garment. "I suppose I continued after she passed as my own way of remembering her." Her eyes moved from her own reflection to him. Taking him in the corners of her lips lifted. "You don't look half bad yourself, dear sir." She brought her hands up to finish the buttons of his shirt before straightening the tiny handkerchief in his vest pocket. Her smile brightened her lips as her gaze moved lower. "Well, you look well put together from the waist up anyhow." Her eyes moved from his stylishly tattered black denims to his handsome, smirking face as she arched her brows.

"What?" He pulled her against him as he wrapped his arms around her. "Can't a man be into fashion as well? Hell, when you've spent the majority of your life as an animal, it becomes quite the treat to put on something nice and look civilized for a change." He shrugged, his smile turning more devilish. "Besides, it's easier to get my way when I look like this."

Her own smile widened as her brows went up farther. "Oh really? And what is it that becomes easier."

"This for instance." He lowered his head but didn't meet her lips. He let them hover teasingly over hers. "Kiss me, kitten." When she pressed onto tiptoes to do as he'd asked, he smiled against her lips. "See..."

She lowered back down to the floor as she bit enticingly into her lower lip. "Your clothes have little to do with my d.e.s.i.r.e to kiss you, in fact, the idea of you out of them all together seems more appealing to me."

He let out a guttural growl as he spun her around toward the bed. When she stumbled and caught herself on the edge of the bed, he placed a light slap to her backside before bending over her back. "Bad kitty..." He purred into her ear before nipping it.

She glared at him over her shoulder. "I'm bad? Look who's talking..."

His lips pressed upwards revealing pearly white teeth. "As I said, I can give as good as I get." He held his hand out to help her straighten. "Are you ready to head to the office?"

Jos nodded. "Except for my shoes." She walked over to the window seat, using it as support as she quickly slid on a pair of black stilettos.

Arei's tongue shot out over his lips as he stepped behind her once again. He pulled his whole bottom lip into his mouth as he lifted his gaze from her rounded backside to their reflections in the window. "Now, this is a sight that could tempt a saint." His eyes moved over her body. "You bent over this window seat in those shoes... with those little black p.a.n.t.i.e.s and t.h.i.g.h-highs underneath. Umm." He growled again as he lowered his lips to place a kiss to the small of her back before releasing her. He straightened, adjusting the front of his tight pants. "I may have to send you in ahead of me."

Jos turned and ran her hands down the front of his vest before letting her fingers encircle the thick belt at his waist. She used her grip on it to pull him closer as she pressed up onto the toes of her high heels. She parted her lips giving him full access to her mouth still holding his belt with one hand as she let the other slide down the outline of his shaft pressing against the tight fabric of the denims. She held his gaze as she continued stroking his length. "This wouldn't be a problem if you'd just accept that it's what we both want." She didn't wait for his response as she suddenly released him and headed toward the door. Stopping in the now open doorway, she turned back slightly. Her lips curved upwards in amus.e.m.e.nt at the slightly agape expression spread across his beautiful face. "Coming?"

He narrowed his eyes as a chuckled rattled his c.h.e.s.t. "I was wrong about you... you are a little monster." He teased as he followed her out of the bedroom and toward his father's office.