Patchwork pixie, p.14
Patchwork Pixie, page 14
“Fuck yeah!”
They laughed, and then Marshall snuck up behind Ruby and ran his hands over her hips. “Time to remove one.”
She nodded, and he peeled her spandex down on one side and peeled the hormone patch off.
Polly blinked. “What was that?”
“I am going into heat tomorrow, but we want to make sure that Rayden can play in peace, so hormone patches are in place. Well, one less now.”
Polly snorted. “Good luck. My heat after suppression lasted seven days. Poor Minoru was exhausted, and his beast was grinning all the time.”
“Well, this one is a false heat. I will recover from the drop quickly. I always do.”
“You have done this before?”
“Oh, yeah. Elite omegas don’t like to have their uteruses available for occupancy if we don’t have our mates. Regular Elite can sniff us out if they suspect we are nearby. We don’t like that, so we are excellent at hiding as betas.”
Polly nodded. “Right. Why didn’t you turn into a beta when the police showed up?”
“Oh, the main reason is that I was on the camera footage as me.”
“Right.”
The air had a cold bite, so they went back inside.
Inside, Minoru was shaking Marshall’s hand, and Ruby and Polly hugged as that handshake meant the end of the visit.
Polly grinned and waved happily at Ruby. They exchanged numbers and promised that the next playdate would be at Polly’s with the babies.
When the car lights pulled away, Rayden wrapped his arms around her. “Time for bed, little omega.”
She turned in astonishment and blurted, “Little?”
He grinned. “To me. To Marshall. To any dark Elite who wants to lose a limb.”
She pecked him on the cheek. “Just a few more hours and he’s dead.”
“That has to be the hottest announcement of death I have ever heard. Let’s go and get you ready for bed.” There was a purr to his words.
“I thought you had to skip frisky activities before a game.”
“Absolutely not. In fact, knowing that I can continue frisky activities as soon as I get home is going to make it the fastest three periods ever.”
She looked at him innocently. “You get a period?”
“I am going to smack your ass.” He grinned.
“You had better not. Save something for the anniversary of our meeting.” She blinked. “Wait. Tomorrow was supposed to be at the shop.”
“Have the funds come through?”
“No.”
“Then, you don’t work for free.”
“Oh. Right. And I am going to be a little distracted tomorrow.”
He purred again. “You definitely are.”
He released her, took her hand, and headed up the stairs. “I put my stuff in here. Shoot. I am going to have to go home to get my stuff.”
Marshall came in. “We will have movers bring it over, and if you don’t have a realtor to sell it, I know a few people.”
She smiled. “I will consider it. All my pyjamas have cartoon animals on them.”
Rayden looked over and grabbed a set. That started her laughing. Penguins playing hockey.
She nodded. “Right. Of course.”
She put the clothes on the bed and stripped to the skin before putting the shirt and loose bottoms on. She looked down. “Fuck.” Everything was super snug, and her shirt was now a crop top.
Rayden laughed. “I wondered when you were going to figure it out.”
Marshall smiled. “I will be back in a moment.”
He went to his room and brought a black silk sleep shirt that would fit him. She sighed and took off her small shirt before putting the silk on. It felt like she was wearing a cool breeze.
“Thank you, Marshall.”
“You are welcome, Ruby. We will be sleeping in my room. Bigger bed.”
She looked at the bed in the guestroom and smiled. “Yeah, the math here isn’t mathing.”
He laughed. “So, lose the trousers and come to bed. You have had a trying evening.”
She wiggled out of the trousers, and Rayden folded the set carefully. She laughed and walked out with Marshall.
The bedding was folded down, so she bounced into bed and watched Marshall and then Rayden get undressed. Dark muscle, white hair, bright red eyes focused on her when they caught her looking. She was definitely interested, and that was unusual.
To say she was surprised when they got into bed naked was an understatement.
Rayden tackled her to the pillows, and Marshall laughed. He said a soft word in that Elite language, and the light nearly completely dimmed. Marshall kissed her lips, and Rayden slipped his fingers between her thighs. She moaned softly, and Marshall laughed gently against her lips.
Rayden slipped two digits into her, and she shuddered. Marshall unbuttoned the top and caressed her breasts. She gasped softly, whining as the hands on her got her closer to cumming until she moaned and her skin flickered wildly in the darkness.
When she came down from the warm pulses in her body, she was literally glowing. “Aw, fuck. You guys get a report card.”
Rayden chuckled, and Marshall smiled as they cuddled her. Marshall murmured, “It is one of the only advantages we get.”
She trailed her hand over his hip and shifted to grip his erection. “One of the only advantages?”
He carefully pried her hand away. “More playing after your heat. A lot more.”
“So, what was that?”
Rayden whispered in her ear, “Tuning the orchestra.”
Chapter Eleven
Ruby contacted her sister, who was still not mated. It seemed her second was out of town, so her primary was engaging in a slow courtship with occasional make-out sessions. Ruby smiled and touched her own lips for the fiftieth time that day.
Her clothing was upstairs, and most of the furniture was in storage. It had happened that morning, so the rest of the day had been involved in contacting companies that weren’t involved in security systems.
Marshall walked up behind her and rubbed her shoulders. “How goes it?”
“Trickier than I thought. I need to get a clearance from Tanner’s company, but I think it is in bad taste to do it so soon.”
“I will put Ark on it with their legal department. They can’t expect you to be bound to the department of a dead man.”
“Right. Hey, I have gotten a weird email today. Can your legal brain take a look at it?”
“Sure.”
She opened it, and he grabbed her computer and flicked the page. “Have you requested a quote for actually purchasing the company?”
“No. I used to joke about it at work, saying that things would be easier if I just owned the department and subbed it to the company.”
He returned her computer and said, “They want to accept your suggestion and have you take over. They must have been preparing this for a while. More than the last few days.”
She paused. “What is the respectful amount of time before I decline the offer?”
“Now is fine. It won’t go directly to them, but you can ask for your contract release.”
Ruby asked, “When you realized he had a gun pointed at me, did you get nervous?”
“Not once you turned around. We saw your face and stayed out of your way.”
She smiled. “Sensible. I was just concerned with avoiding spraying needles toward the car. I didn’t think about you. Target fixation.”
He smiled. “I have trees you can practice on.”
“I would prefer to do it on something less alive.”
“Fair enough. We will build you a target area.”
She smiled. “Thanks.”
“Time for the last patch to come off.”
She shimmied her leggings down again, and he peeled the hormone patch off. He folded it up and left to dispose of it. Larger clothing had already been ordered and would be arriving Monday. She loved shopping online.
Ruby looked at the offer letter to purchase the arm of the company where she used to work and exhaled slowly. There was a time she would have loved to take over, but that was before she started dating Tanner. He had tainted everything.
She checked the time and went to the living room, where the large television was set. She turned the large screen on and went to find the sports channel. The pre-event stuff was underway.
Marshall chuckled. “If we are lucky, his team won’t make the playoffs.”
She wrinkled her nose. “How likely is that?”
“Not very, but we can hope. Of course, his fan group will hate you, but I believe you can manage that.”
She shrugged. “I can take ‘em.”
Marshall stroked her hair. “Yes, you probably can.”
She laughed and watched the team members’ introductions.
Marshall settled behind her and started to play with her hair. He took the top layer and tied it into a long ladder down her back. It confined her hair into a net of her own creation.
Marshall kissed her neck and whispered something in her ear.
“You have to be kidding me.”
“Nope. His coach has asked if you will do a video call before the final period. He wants to start showing him off as a dark Elite. You are the gateway.”
“Oh. Right. Because he’s going to see me and straighten up.” She smiled.
“Yes. Well, he will be aroused and won’t be able to contain himself, and he will be on national television seconds later.”
She snorted. “Does he know?”
“No. The coach asked me this morning. I said sure. You are going to be on the giant display though, so I think it is best that we find something screen-appropriate.”
She blinked. “Oh. Right. Like what?”
“His practice jersey.”
“Is it clean?”
“No.”
She looked at him. “That’s just mean.” Her sex had started relaxing and tensing with the occasional soft orgasm all day. The only stimulation she had had was the scent of Marshall everywhere around her, gradually teasing her into a receptive state.
He got the jersey, but it was sealed in a plastic bag.
“Ruby, do you know what a puck bunny is?”
“Vaguely. I am guessing it has something to do with the big socks you are holding.” She smirked. “Also, is there a version of this that would work with you in court during deliberations?”
His eyes crinkled as he grinned. “I think I have a costume judge’s robe you could slip on. What you do with the gavel is your business.”
She laughed. “Funny.”
“I thought so. Well, the condoms and spermicide are laid in. By the time he gets home, you should be well on your way, Ruby.”
“Right. So... snacks?”
Marshall helped her to her feet, and they headed into the kitchen. “There will be more food brought in throughout the afternoon. You will need a fast recovery from your heat.”
“Right. Family dinner. Oh, that is going to suck.”
He laughed. “Yes, it is.”
She sighed and then washed her hands before snacking. “I am trying to figure out my next career path.”
“You don’t want to stay in security?”
“I am not used to lacking an occupation. Even my skin feels weird, and I know that I am no longer going to be able to walk through the world nearly invisible, which means some alterations in how I live. Oh. And you two.”
He snorted and handed her a cup of coffee. “I understand.”
She sipped at the coffee and tried to think of ways to fill her days. “I need to talk to Emmy about this.”
“Why don’t you?”
She bit her lip and sent a message, but it wasn’t to Emmy. She watched her phone while she ate, and when it lit up, she took the phone and smiled softly. The smile turned into a grin, and she sent a message to Emmy.
Emmy responded immediately. “Send me the time and address. I will be there.”
Ruby smiled and sent the information.
Marshall smiled. “Your sister?”
“Yeah.”
“She’s coming to dinner?”
“Tomorrow. Yes.”
He smiled. “Good. Now you won’t be as outnumbered.”
“Yeah, but if today goes how I think it will, I also won’t be able to sit down.”
Marshall laughed. “We will be as easy as we can.”
She nibbled at a carrot. “I notice you don’t say gentle.”
He gave her a rueful look. “You know why.”
“I actually do.” She smirked.
He moved to stand behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “I never knew how much a smile could mean until I saw it cross your lips.”
She was stunned. That took every bit of flirting she had ever engaged in and left it in the dust. “I have no response for that.”
“You do. We will find it later.” He kissed her neck and inhaled deeply. “Your scent is heavy.”
“You have been touching me nearly constantly since yesterday.” She chuckled. “Not exactly chastely.”
“We did our best to keep you comfortable.” His tongue flicked against her pulse point.
“I would not exactly call that comfortable, but it was an interesting evening.” She tilted her head and threaded her fingers into his hair. “And night and morning.”
“And now afternoon.” He grazed his sharp teeth across her skin.
“How long until the game starts?”
“A few minutes.”
She groaned and let go of him before she escalated anything. She grabbed a handful of vegetables and headed back to the television before she turned and wrapped her legs around him.
She cuddled up on the couch and heard the muted roar of the crowd. She nibbled at the raw vegetables and held up the hand she made when Rayden skated onto the ice.
Marshall snorted with laughter and took a photo of her holding up the sign that said, Go, Sports!
They settled in and watched their third doing what he loved doing.
Marshall got her some iced tea, and together, they watched the first period while eating snacks. She asked him, “Is he doing good?”
“He’s doing very well.” Marshall chuckled. “Do you really not watch sports?”
“Nope. I never saw the point. I understand the attraction, but it never appealed to me.” She watched the second period resume and leaned against Marshall. “So, a puck bunny is my new occupation, huh?”
“How do you know that term?” His tone was lightly curious.
“I read a lot of romance novels.” She shrugged. “All kinds. There had to be better men out there than the ones I found.” She smiled and looked at him. “I will let you know my opinion of you tomorrow.”
He grinned. “Can I ask which books you have been reading so that I can guess your expectations?”
She laughed and brought up her app on her phone. “Don’t worry about the blue guys; I am not into cold weather.”
He snorted and started in on the one that was about blackmail, legal representation, and an alpha in rut.
She smirked, and when there were five minutes to go in the second period, she removed her shirt and reached for the bag. The scent of sweaty Rayden hit her, and she groaned. She pulled the jersey on and breathed shallowly.
“Come here, Ruby.”
She grumbled and looked at the city’s logo on her chest. She crept over to him and put her head against his chest. Her focus was on keeping the throbbing between her thighs to a minimum.
“How are you feeling?”
“Gradually more distracted by every passing minute.” She spoke through gritted teeth.
He stroked her cheek and checked her eyes. “Yeah, that’s going to distract the hell out of him. I am just going to fuss with you for a moment. Okay?”
She nodded, and he coached her into a position with her hair draped over one shoulder and her ears fully displayed.
A call rattled Marshall’s phone, and he answered. “Yes, she’s here. Yes, she’s willing to talk to him.”
Marshall muted the television as he handed the phone over to her, and she smiled at the stranger.
“Hello, Miss Lest. We thought to have a little surprise for Rayden’s birthday, so when he casually mentioned that he had a mate, I thought it would be great to have you wish him Happy Birthday in front of everyone.”
“I am going to give him such a wedgie.”
Marshall chuckled, and she flipped him off.
“Fine, I will wish him Happy Birthday. How long do we have?”
“I am going to hand you over right about now.”
She saw her face on the big screen on the television, and she looked down to see a stunned Rayden looking at her. “So, Rayden, apparently, it is your birthday.”
He looked at her. “You are wearing my shirt.”
“Did you get slammed into the boards?” She grinned. She relaxed the control that was stopping her from kicking into a full heat. She could see that her eyes were glowing.
“Yeah. A few times. You are wearing my shirt.”
“Yes. Happy Birthday, Rayden.”
He looked at her through the phone and went from dark-skinned to black and bronze. “How are you feeling, princess?”
“A little tense, but I made something for you.” She grinned and held up her sign.
He laughed. “So, how long do I have?”
“Finish the game and start the clock. You might want to skip any post-game interviews if you want to see this shirt on the floor.” She put down her sign and blew him a kiss. “For those watching today, if you don’t have your tickets for the Patchwork Pixie, what are you waiting for? Rayden volunteered to be the troll prince, and I am one of the pixies. It will definitely be a show to remember.” She looked back at Rayden. “See you at home, birthday boy.”
She disconnected the call, and Marshall was biting his index finger as he cackled. The sound on the television was the laughter of the crowd as the camera focused on Rayden, showing him rubbing the back of his head. He put his helmet back on and fastened the strap. He was still a dark Elite when he returned to the ice, but his eyes glowed red. The opposition looked distinctly nervous, which was funny for a team of alphas.
Rayden made shot after shot at a distance until the ugly-sounding alarm rang. The city fans cheered, and he made a beeline for the exit.
