123 Coming together (1/2)

Laughter erupted from the floor to ceiling glass double doors as a bruised and bloody Arei followed by a large red wolf carrying a pair of gym shorts in his mouth busted through from outside. ”You got some balls, kid, that's for fucking sure!”

The smell of bacon, eggs, and pancakes wafted throughout the kitchen and into the other open areas of the home. Jos and Ry were business as always by the stove, each with comically cute aprons one with cats and the other with ruffles and heart poke-a-dots. Raven sat on one of the dining chairs with Isha straddling her lap talking a mile a minute about one thing after another. She had decided to extend her visit by a few days after discovering what fun was to be had in the large cliffside home. They were schedule to leave directly after dinner tonight.

Raven was the first to tilt her head has the men walked inside. ”What in the world happened to you?” She asked looking Arei over.

He chuckled, ”The pup got a few good blows in and one hell of a ballsy trick, but not to worry my last one took him down quick enough.” He winked in the girls direction. ”If you ladies will excuse me, I'm going to take a much needed dip now.”

Russ was already halfway to shifting and pulling up his shorts when Jos, Raven and Isha's attention turned back to him. ”And you? Felt the need to shift before coming inside this time?”

Russ's hand rubbed over his perfect shoulder as he grimaced. ”I'm not sure I'll ever learn to fight against these two's water manipulation tricks.” He shook off the memory of being impaled by a watery staff yet again as he strolled over to Jos. ”Looks delicious, as does the food he said.” Nipping at the tender flesh of Jos's neck.

She shuttered her attention on the sizzling bacon in the pan. Her face heated of thought of his mouth on other parts of her body only an hour earlier before they had gotten out of bed for the day. For all the time they had spent apart or fighting he'd sure found a way to make up for the lost time, especially now that Isha was here to help fulfill all his twisted fantasies in Jos's fashion department with a snap of her fingers. She'd even taken some pages from his book and gotten kinkier with Raven.

”I'm going to go find a shirt. Love you, baby.” He pecked her cheek as he made his way to their bedroom. Jos blushed as she continued concentrating on the bacon.

”How much longer?” Raven called from table, Isha still on her lap. ”I'm starved and we need to get going soon. I still want to stop by the bar and check on Liam before leaving the country.”

”About 20 minutes or so.” Ry called out.

Raven tapped Isha's ass to get her to stand. ”Alright, well yell at us when it's ready I'm going to go gather the last of my bags. Gotta get my queen here to teleport my shit ahead of us, ya know.” She laughed giving Isha's small shoulders a squeeze as she lead her toward the bedrooms.

Jos nodded but refused to meet his curious gaze.

”Have you really agreed to marry him?” Ry asked.

Jos nodded. ”If... as long as... well ya know...”

He arched a brow, ”As long as you don't end up locked up in that cave for another hundred years or so...” He filled in for her.

Her cheeks reddened. ”That yes... and as long as his people accepts me.” Her timid eyes finally met his. ”I couldn't rightfully stand by his side if they didn't.”

He nodded, ”Understandable.” He said as he flipped another pancake perfectly onto its uncooked side. ”I was just thinking it wouldn't be so wise, ya know... telling the kid what he wants to hear now, to keep the peace and whatnot.” He gave her a knowing look as he continued. ”Seems like the best course of action would be honesty up front.”

Jos frowned as she busied herself with anything but meeting his gaze. ”He's happy... I'm happy... why ruin that?”

Ry laid the spatula down on the counter and turned fully toward Jos. He hooked his finger under her chin lifting her face to his as he leaned his hips against the counter. ”That's all fine for now but what happens later when the truth of the matter comes out?” He smoothed a large thumb over wrinkles of her scrunched up brow. ”I care for you, Jos, and no matter how much I like poking the boy, I've began to care for him as well. I don't want to see either of you hurt like this.”

Her frown deepened, ”What would you have me do then? He refuses to take no for an answer, Ry. He refuses to take uncertainty for any kind of answer.” She shook her head against his hand. ”I don't know what to do other than make him happy and enjoy the now.”

A sad smile spread across Ry's face as he lowered his lips to her forehead and placed a light kiss there. ”I understand.” He whispered as his lips lingered there.

”What the fuck! I already got to deal with this big mother fucker trying to move in on my girl, now you?” Russ teased as he and Arei moved into the kitchen.

Arei grinned widely and sprinted over to Jos lifting her up off the ground and spinning her around in his arms. Holding her tightly to his chest he chuckled, ”Just call us the 'still yo girl twins'!” He joked. His teasing eyes went to Ry's and caught the almost unnoticeable head shake. His gaze slowly turned to Jos and he noted she was trying her best to fight back tears. He forced a smile as he lowered her to the ground, turning her head into his chest and very gently rubbing his knuckle playfully into her scalp. ”I mean come on, she obviously has a type, am I right.” He said loudly but the gaze he held her eyes with asked without saying the words 'are you alright?'.

Jos covered a sniffle with a small laugh. ”I must, animals, the lot of you.” She shoved against him with the hand that had been clinging to the front of his shirt moments ago in anxiety. She glanced nervously over to Russ, but was surprised to find he'd simply ignored the exchange and was now fingering through the stack of pancakes greedily. When her attention moved back to Arei the salient question still remained. His wide hazel eyes moved back and forth between her and Russ's back. Jos simply shook her head and took another step back away from him as his grip slowly loosened around her arms.

”So how does someone like you learn how to cook like this, anyways?” Russ asked around the pancake he'd shoved whole into his mouth.

Ry shrugged, not looking up from the pan as he flipped the last of the pancakes over. ”It's relaxing.” He smacked Russ's hand with the spatula as it shot out to take another pancake. ”You a fork, kid.”

Russ laughed as he grabbed a fork and ran it through several pancakes at once and loaded them onto his plate. ”I wouldn't be as hungry if your roided up clone over there would stop trying to turn me into a human shish-kabob.”

”Too bad I missed.” Arei growled as he continued following Jos around the room with his eyes. She'd quietly made her way over to the pantry to remove and fold the apron she wore.

Russ simply laughed and turned to find her almost instantly. ”Want me to make you a plate, babe?” He asked holding an empty plate into the air.

Jos shook her head. ”I'm not hungry... I... snacked while we were cooking.” She lied. ”I think I'm going to go see how Raven and Isha are doing, see if they need a hand or something...” She paused and turned back to Russ. ”Maybe make on for Shelly? I don't think she's came out of her room yet.” With that she headed for the stairs mounting them quickly.

Russ nodded and made his way out to the spacious patio with his plate. As soon as the door closed behind him Arei turned toward the steps and made short work of the distance between the kitchen and the stairs. ”I'll be back.” He called to Ry over his shoulder.