A Christmas Tail (4 page)

Isaac stopped before a security station as four warriors he hadn’t met stood there looking at the controls, but stepped back as Isaac moved in. “Five human men, look like gang bangers, have made their way up the left side tunnel. All our security has been for our people and for the others. We weren’t prepared for humans.”

Lacey snorted. “That’s obvious.” She moved up to the control panel and flicked a couple of buttons. “Betsy, come here. Were these the guys who attacked tonight?” Lacey pointed to a screen.

Following Betsy over to the monitors, Barry glanced over Betsy’s head at the monitor. “Same colors of the ones we killed earlier. Looks like the punk that got away brought his friends.”

“They’re from a local gang here in Detroit. We had a truce as long as they didn’t step over the line, and it seems they have. That one there,” Lacey pointed to the screen “is the official leader of the gang. He’d kill his grandmother if she got in his way. It’s one of the reasons we were monitoring him.”

“How did he find the tunnel that we knew nothing of?” Isaac asked, already ordering the four men to meet these men and deal with them.

“Those tunnels have been here for a long time, even before Maya bought the place. Most of the gangs know we own this place and it’s likely they know of the old tunnels, but they kept away after the one gang that had tried to move on us disappeared. Let’s just say it wasn’t pretty.” Lacey stretched. “I suppose you won’t allow me the pleasure of having some fun?” she asked and already Isaac was shaking his head.

“I don’t think so, my cat. You are going to bed. You need your rest and you’re lucky I don’t beat your butt for taking off like you did earlier. But you are right. We need to make sure humans can’t enter here or at the new place without us knowing about it.” Isaac lifted Lacey up in his arms and moved back down the tunnel.

“I think tomorrow we’ll have that tunnel closed down. Anthony, I’m sure the others are worried. Would you go inform them that everything is all right and meet us back at our room. Barry, we’ll meet you in the morning around 8:00 in the kitchen. We’ll have breakfast and head for the plane.”

“We’ll be there,” Barry said and laughed when Davis swung Betsy up over his shoulder.

“Put me down, you oaf!” she squealed, but he only laughed as they made their way back to their room. “I just ate. It would serve you right if I puke all over your cute butt.” She laughed and pinched his ass.

Davis growled and squeezed her butt check. “You know I have your ass at my mercy here so I wouldn’t be pinching mine.” Davis turned toward their quarters and Betsy squirmed to get down.

“Put me down, Davis. I need to go to see Abby,” she stated sliding down the front of Davis’s body when they entered their room.

“Why do you need to go to Abby’s room? All your belongings are here and she knows you’ll be staying here until we fix the house up,” Barry said, moving to the fireplace and lighting it.

“You had no right, Barry. I’ve told you I’m not ready for all of this,” she stomped her foot and growled.

He looked over his shoulder at her. “Are you having a problem kitten?” Barry slowly stood and stared down at the beauty in front of him.

Her eyes were alive and he could tell she was ready to start yelling again when he held up his hand. “Listen, you are our woman, our promised. I know you want to take it slow and we will, but kitten, I must insist you stay with us. With new threats popping up all the time, I will not risk losing you, kitten.” He leaned down and kissed her lips softly.

****

Betsy stepped back and shook her head. “You are lethal. Fine I’ll stay, but Barry, I’m not ready for anything else. Now, where are my things?” She asked and he pointed to the dresser.

“What you had is all in there.” He frowned. “Do you have other stuff somewhere else we need to go get?” Barry asked.

She dug through the dresser drawer and shook her head. “No, the less you have, the easier it is to take off in a hurry.” She turned and faced him. “I’ve learned over the years to keep my possessions to a minimum, but I guess it’s time to change that.” Betsy smiled taking her favorite T-shirt that she slept in to the bathroom.

“You better watch out. I might make you three take me shopping in London.” She stopped. “You know that might not be a bad idea. I need to start on my Christmas presents. I do have a storage unit in Lansing, but all that’s there are things I picked up for the children over the years. I’ll have to go up there and load everything up when we come back.”

“We will go with you, so don’t worry about it and I’d be happy to take you shopping. There are a few shops I would love to take you too.” She turned to see him scanning her from head to foot.

“Why does that not reassure me? And what kind of stores are you talking about? Slow Barry, remember. You promised me slow.”

“And we will go slow, but seeing you in nice things brings us pleasure. Would you deny us that?” he asked and ran his finger over her lips.

“We’ll see,” she backed up. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to change.” She spun around and ran right into Orion.

“What are you changing into? I thought we were going to bed. Do you need to go somewhere?” Orion asked looking down at her nightshirt.

She rolled her eyes. “This is what I sleep in and don’t say a word.” Betsy scooted round Orion and Barry laughed.

“Soon kitten there will be no clothes allowed in our bed, but since you need this, we will not say anything, but be prepared. We don’t sleep in anything.”

“You sure you want to do that when you’ll be sleeping on the floor. It’s going to be awful cold,” she teased and shut the bathroom door and locked it.

“There will be no sleeping on the floor, little kitten. You will be sleeping in my arms,” Barry said on the other side of the door.

A shiver rode up her arms as Betsy stared into the bathroom mirror. Dark circles formed under her blue eyes making her look sad with the scar on her face. She reached up and ran her fingers over the personal marking from her father. It moved down her cheek to her right breast, his calling card.

Not wanting to go down that memory lane, she stripped down to her undies. She didn’t even bother to look at her reflection knowing it would only make her more depressed, seeing all the markings from her father’s men and the memories of abuse and rape.

“Kitten, I can feel your sadness and distress. I can’t bare it. I’m coming in,” Barry stated before opening the door and stepping into the room as she pulled the nightshirt over her head.

“I’m fine Barry, just another night of remembering the past. It’s hard not to when you have permanent reminders,” she mumbled stuffing her arms into the T-shirt.

As soon as she yanked her shirt down, Barry wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tight. “From this night forward, we will make our own memories that will replace those unhappy ones.” He lifted her into his arms, staring down at her. Compared to Barry she was tiny. He was built like that a football player, but so far had always been gentle to her. She knew there was a very dangerous man underneath the calm facade, one who wouldn’t hesitate to kill anything that threatened what was his.

“And now you are under that protection. Orion, Davis and I would die to protect you, kitten.”

She leaned out and looked up at him. “How did you know what I was thinking? We haven’t exchanged blood.”

“You forget I’m different. I’m part demon. Does that bother you? All I have to do is touch you. However, your thoughts are very loud. We’ll have to work with you on forming a shield, but until then we’ll help block your personal thoughts from others.” Barry moved to the bed and lowered her feet to the floor, before stepping back.

His clothes disappeared as did Davis’ and Orion’s. Betsy’s gaze traveled down Barry’s body, muscles, the large tattoo that started on his stomach and ended before his...”What the... no way?” she backed up and fell on the bed, pointing.

“NO WAY!” she glanced at Davis, her eyes going right for his cock and groaned. “I would be split in two!” she chanced a peek at Orion and shook her head. “Yep, Woman Dies Split in Half by Massive Cocks, I can just see the headline now. Are you related to the Gigantes?” she mumbled and all three of them started laughing.

“No, and you’ll be fine.” Barry moved around the bed and crawled into the middle of it. He sat up and grabbed her, lifting her up and placing her onto his body before lying back down. “Bring the covers up, Orion. Our little kitten does not generate heat as we do.” Barry placed a kiss on the top of her head. “Relax Betsy, I promised you we would be good and we will.”

“This is weird, aren’t I squishing you?” she lifted up and stared at him as Orion pulled the blanket up over them before climbing onto one side, while Davis got in on the other side.

He laughed. “Sweetie, you are a little thing, I like having your body on mine. Now stop worrying and sleep. We have a busy day tomorrow.”

Right, she would be lucky to close her eyes and sleep tonight as so many questions ran through her mind. Would her children hate her for upsetting their lives? Had they been hurt? The thought of someone hurting her children pushed the cat forward ready to kill anyone who would hurt her young.

“Shh, little kitten, put your claws back in. We need to find the little ones first and there is no reason to think the worst.” All three men touched and tried to calm her, that’s when Betsy realized she really had buried her claws into Barry’s chest.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry!” she tried to get up, but he held onto her. “I didn’t know. Barry please let me go. I knew this wouldn’t work out!” She struggled to get up, but he just wrapped both arms around her while Davis and Orion scooted closer to them, whispering words of comfort trying to calm her.

“Shh, kitten its okay. See the wounds are already healed, but baby we can’t and won’t let you get away. Whatever is wrong, we deal with it together.” He lifted one hand and all of a sudden soft Christmas music played in the room.

Betsy stopped struggling and peeked up at Barry. “You are really scary, but thank you for the music. It helps.” She laid her head back down on his hairy chest and sighed. “Why haven’t you asked for the first exchange? Is it because you’re still not sure I’m yours?” Betsy asked, rubbing her cheek on his chest and taking a deep breath of his scent which she thought she loved.

He stiffened under her and his arms tightened around her. “You are ours and there is no mistake, but we wanted to give you some time before we did the exchange. Would you object to it?” Barry asked, almost hesitant, which made her smile as she placed a kiss on his chest.

“Being on the streets so long and always hiding, there was one thing I learned which was to trust my cat and that inner feeling inside me. Believe me, if there was any doubt about you three, I wouldn’t be here Barry. My cat recognizes you three as her mates, but I’m afraid it’s the human part of me that is scared. Yet, I wouldn’t deny you the first exchange. I know how important it is to you.” She cocked her head to the side, exposing her neck to him after Betsy brushed her hair aside. Her gaze going right to Barry’s. “Do it.”

No one moved or said anything for a few seconds, before Barry grasped her ass and slid her up, kissing her neck. “Are you sure?” he whispered against her neck, placing a few more kisses on her pulse while his hand slid under her panties and cupped her ass.

She stared into his face. “I’m sure, but that doesn’t mean there might be times I might bolt. I’m afraid it’s going to take a while to get out of that habit.”

“And we’ll be sure to follow you anywhere you go,” he stated before sinking his fangs into her neck.

Betsy clung to him as Barry drank from her, their connection instant inside her head. He didn’t pry or dig into her memories, just added his shields to her mind making sure no one other than this three could read her.

With a swipe of his tongue, Barry closed the holes and kissed what she knew would be his mark. “I’m surprised. Most humans experience sexual pleasure when exchanging of the blood.”

She shrugged and tried to push away but he held onto her. “I’m different, what can I say.” Betsy peeked up at him. “Isn’t it my turn?” She hoped to change the subject. Sex was not on her top list of things to discuss, especially with Barry’s hands in her panties.

With keen eyes, Barry nodded as a small cut appeared on his chest, right by her mouth. “Drink kitten, take me into you,” he whispered kissing the top of her head.

Not waiting, Betsy covered the small cut, taking him into her, needing to and also wanting to. His warm essence seemed to warm her cold insides. As he did with her mind, Barry was once more protecting her, giving her his strength as she drank from him. She started to pull away, but he laid his hand on the top of her head holding her there.

“No, drink more kitten, you’re too weak as it is and we will talk about this thought that keeps popping up in your mind. You are not deformed Betsy, just because you haven’t had an orgasm. As with your mind and soul, we need to slowly show your body how it is to love and we are very up to the challenge, kitten.” Barry moved his hips up and down her stomach showing her how up he was physically.

Chapter Three

Barry reached over and pulled a sleeping Betsy back on top of him as Orion pulled the covers over the four of them. Watching Orion and Davis mark her and exchange their first drink had him realizing how precious and fragile their kitten really was.

Not only had her father and his men hurt her body, but Barry could see the scars on her soul too. Being half demon, Barry had always been able to see the forms of people’s souls from a distance, but right now, being connected to their woman, he could see all of their kitten’s scars and it wasn’t good.

Orion leaned over and placed a kiss on Betsy’s head. “If the bastard wasn’t already suffering, I’d find him and skin him for what he’s done to her. We are going after Drang?”

“No, at least not now. Right now our first priority is giving Betsy the safe home she needs in the company of her children, but if we run across him while we search, then we’ll deal with it. Right now she believes we’ll leave her or hurt her. Even though we have never hurt her, we are the ones who are going to have to prove our love and devotion to her.” Barry rubbed his cheek on the top of her head.