Registry's Secrets (The Mengliad Series Book 2) Page 11

  ‘Is there anywhere they’re not?’

  ‘The moon?’

  ‘When’s the next shuttle launch?’

  Laughing, he snaked his arms around her. ‘Don’t know, but I swear, earlier, I saw stars.’

  Me, too. She smirked, content as she melted against him. Her tension had eased a little, but after a moment, it returned with a vengeance. ‘You’ll have to drag me in there. I don’t think my feet will move on their own.’

  He nodded, but before he released her to take her hand, he whispered, “I want to take a shower with you.” ‘We smell of lovemaking. Pleasantly, I think, but others might not agree.’

  ‘Then what was the point of threatening Josiah’s life? Everyone in there will know if we take it together.’

  ‘Everyone will know anyway. We smell of it.’

  “Great.” Sarcasm could not, of course, mask her mortification.

  ‘Baby, relax. It’s not the big deal you think it is. No one will care, trust me.’

  ‘I care.’

  Nothing he could have said right then would have changed her perspective; instead, he gave her hand a gentle tug, encouraging her to step with him towards the door.

  ‘When will my Enyoh start spiking?’

  The question stopped him from grabbing the knob in mid-reach. ‘Start of the second trimester, I think, is when it will first become noticeable. You have a couple weeks still, but you’re right, we should start telling people soon.’

  ‘I’m nervous about telling them.’

  ‘I know. It’ll be okay.’ He brought their clasped hands to his lips and kissed hers. “You ready to head in? Josiah is probably wondering if we live out here now.”

  The joke prompted a smirk in response, but it was only slight, and then it faded. ‘Just open the door and pull me hard.’

  As soon as they stepped inside, Josiah spun around, obviously relieved to see them.

  “Finally,” he said. “I was beginning to think you lived out there now.”

  Craddock and Jessica both burst out laughing, which just confused Josiah, and brought the attention in the house over to them.

  The friendly yet unwanted chaos that followed caused Jessica to shrink away, both physically and mentally. Ever the protector, Craddock was quick to intervene.

  “Um, guys? We appreciate the warm welcome and all, and we thank you for allowing us to crash here while we figure stuff out, but right now, what we really need is just a bit of space. We’re tired, and hungry, and would love to just take a shower, eat a little something, and then crash for hours.”

  The woman who had introduced herself as Elsa just a minute before responded at once, graciously. “Of course! We should’ve given you guys time to settle in before attacking you like that.” Her tone and smile were kind. “If you go down this hall here,” she pointed in that direction, “you’ll find the master bedroom. Second door on the left. It has an attached bathroom, so you guys’ll have some privacy there.”

  “Thank you,” Craddock returned politely, and then he gave Jessica’s shoulder a slight nudge. ‘Say thank you.’

  “Thank you,” Jessica repeated, pulling a strained smile onto her face.

  “Not at all.” Elsa dismissed their gratitude with a wave of her hand. “There are clean linens in the closet in the bathroom, and a change of clothes that Jessica is more than welcome to use, hanging in the closet in the bedroom. We’ll hunt something down for you, too, Craddock, if you’re interested in changing clothes as well.”

  As the woman spoke and instructed, Jessica glanced around at those standing nearby. She found Wade in the crowd, but she couldn’t see Shea, Stacy, or Bibi. She also didn’t see any sign of Jeramey or Marcy. This concerned her.

  ‘They’re probably just in another part of the house. I swear I didn’t imagine it. I talked to them.’

  ‘I know.’ And she did know. She could see the memory playing out inside his mind.

  “The kitchen is through there,” Elsa gestured towards a swinging door in the near distance, “and is fully stocked, so whenever you’re ready to, go ahead and help yourselves.”

  They thanked her again, Craddock first, Jessica after his prompt, then slowly made their way through the group that had assembled as they headed for the hall. Upon reaching the end, as Craddock reached for the door knob, Josiah called out to him.

  “Doc! Hold up a sec!”

  ‘Go on in, baby. Get the shower started. I’m right behind you.’

  When Jessica disappeared inside, Craddock closed the door and turned to face his friend. “What’s up, Joe?”

  “Marcy and Jeramey wanted me to give you a message.”

  There was something in the way that was said, that caught Craddock’s attention. Did Josiah sense, as he and Jessica did, that their being here was a potential problem?

  “‘Kay. What’s the message?” Craddock forced his tone to neutralize. Letting on that he had concerns would only serve to worry Josiah, and he didn’t want that. He couldn’t hide things from his wife, but he certainly could from his oddly sensitive best friend.

  “They had to go, because I guess they’re still Registry agents, and they needed to check in so that they wouldn’t get suspicious. But they asked me to tell you that they’re interested in talking with you guys about stuff, and they asked me to tell you both not to worry.”

  Craddock cocked an eyebrow. “Why did they think we’d be worried?”

  “No clue.” He leaned in. “But it’s weird that they’re here, isn’t it?”

  It was weird, but Craddock could then tell for certain that Josiah was as concerned as they were about that, so he decided to downplay it.

  “Weird in the coincidental sense, maybe. Why? Are you worried? Was something said?”

  “Well, no, nothing was said, really, but, I don’t know, it just seems strange to me. They seemed pretty loyal to the Registry a year ago! What changed?”

  He gave a casual, dismissive shrug. “I guess we’ll find out later, when we all sit down to talk. In the meantime, don’t stress about it.”

  Josiah wasn’t ready to let the topic drop quite yet. “Does Jessica know?”

  “She knows.” Even if she hadn’t known before, she knew now; she was just on the other side of the door, listening.

  “She’s not worried?” Josiah’s brow furrowed when Craddock glanced at the door before answering.

  “We’re waiting to see what happens – what’s said – before we jump to any conclusions.” When Josiah only stared at him with that same quizzical expression, Craddock mirrored it. “What?”

  “It’s true, isn’t it? You can have actual conversations with her telepathically, can’t you?”

  Craddock recognized the tone; Josiah was hurt, probably because he had never really spoken to him about it before. “Yes.”

  “Bibi said something about it, but I thought she was just imagining things. Then Wade said it, right before the rescue, but I just thought he was talking about the Chimie thing.”

  “He was. We’re not magical! The only reason we can read each other like this is because of the Chimie.”

  “Fine,” Josiah conceded, “but why didn’t you tell me?”

  ‘Tell him I asked you not to.’

  ‘He’ll feel slighted. Best if I tell him…’ “I didn’t want to advertise the fact. It wasn’t personal.”

  ‘I’m gonna go start the shower now. Give you boys some privacy.’

  ‘Thanks, baby. I’ll be right in.’ His eyes had drifted to the right for a moment, but were now back on his friend. “Joe, look, you’re like a brother to me… I’m not trying to exclude you, but there will be things that Jessica and I will want to keep private. Can you be okay with that?”

  Josiah’s dejectedness shifted into guilt. “Yeah, I’m okay with that.”

  ****

  Jessica adjusted the water temperature, testing it periodically while stripping out of her clothes. She could still read Craddock’s thoughts, but she struggled not to. What good wa
s the promise of privacy if she invaded it?

  ‘You’re not invading my privacy. It’s like asking someone not to eavesdrop while you’re yelling in their face.’

  As soon as he stepped into the bathroom, she grinned.

  ‘Josiah’s okay?’

  ‘He’s fine. He’s worried about Marcy and Jeramey, too, though.’

  ‘I caught that. Why do you suppose they asked him to give us that message?’

  Shrugging, he whipped his shirt off, quick to catch up to her state of undress. ‘Probably ‘cause they figured we’d be worried.’

  ‘Do you think it’s a ruse? To get us off our guard?’

  ‘Don’t know. Put it out of your mind for now, okay? I just want to shower with you, grab a quick bite, then sleep in your arms for days.’

  Wanting that as well, she followed him into the stall and fell into his embrace.

  With her exhaustion mattering more to him than his own, he reached for the bar of soap behind her and worked it into a lather, dropping it back into the caddy before running his hands up her back. She hummed in response.

  ‘That feels amazing. I’m so tired, I can’t even wash myself.’

  ‘Then I’ll do it for you.’ He moved in behind her, her back to his front; soapy caresses sparked little jolts of arousal, affecting both of them, individually and conjointly.

  ‘I don’t have the strength…’ Her weak complaint melted into a moan when his hand drifted lower.

  ‘I’m just washing you.’

  ‘You’re arousing me.’

  ‘I’m arousing me, too.’ He then pressed himself up against her so that she could feel him, eliciting another moan of pleasure. ‘Say no and I’ll stop. Say yes, and I’ll take care of everything.’

  It took seconds only for her to reply.

  “Yes.”

  Immediately, he was cupping and fondling, and stimulating with nimble fingers. She cried out from the intensity.

  ‘Slow down. It’s too fast. I’m going to collapse.’

  ‘I have you. You won’t.’

  ‘God, Craddock, how can we still want each other? We just made love three times!’

  “Clearly,” he whispered in her ear, “a fourth time is needed.”

  The husky tone of his voice, coupled with his breath on her wet skin, sent her over within seconds. He held her tighter to him as she went somewhat limp, but continued to stroke her so that she would climb higher. When he sensed she couldn’t take any more, he cupped her and applied pressure, allowing her to ride it out and float back to Earth.

  Her screams were too loud not to have been heard. Thankfully, she didn’t seem to care.

  ‘God, baby, please. I need friction. I’m so close.’

  Of course she gave him permission; his desperate need for release had him grinding against her, the feel of her slick body helping him to achieve it much faster than he might have otherwise. He let out a strangled cry moments later, his hold on her growing weak in the afterglow.

  ‘So much for being discreet. There’s no way they didn’t hear me.’

  It seemed his presumption that she didn’t care was a tad bit premature. ‘Baby, please, don’t.’

  ‘You say you love my shyness, but then you act like it irritates you.’

  ‘It doesn’t. It only makes me sad when you regret your responses to our lovemaking.’

  ‘I don’t regret them when we’re alone.’

  ‘I know, baby.’ He turned her to face him, gathering her into his arms. ‘I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.’

  ‘Why are you so good to me?’

  The question surprised him. ‘Because I love you. That was an odd and totally random question. Explain, please?’

  ‘You don’t need to apologize because I have issues. And now I don’t want to face them. At least not yet.’

  He chose to respond to the latter comment, ignoring the former one for now. ‘You don’t have to. I’ll go get the food, and you can just stay in here till you’re feeling comfortable.’

  She doubted the likelihood of that happening any time soon, but he was being so sweet to her, she didn’t dare let the thought fully form. Instead, she focused on her hunger. “Thank you, I am hungry.”

  “Good. Okay, good.” After giving her two quick, gentle kisses, punctuating his words with them, he flung open the shower curtain. “Take your time. I’ll be back.”

  Feeling helpless in their current situation, Craddock jumped at the chance to do anything that might make her happy. There was no easy fix to what was happening to them, so he latched onto the smaller things that he could do for her. Grabbing a bowl of food and playing middle-man between Jessica and the excited people at the house were within his abilities, so that became his mission.

  ****

  “Is everything ok? We thought we heard screaming.”

  Craddock was taken aback; while the stranger questioning him seemed genuinely concerned, she was still a stranger.

  “Josiah said it was fine, and that we shouldn’t go in there…?” Her expression held a worried scowl, her tone expectant.

  It was then that he noticed Josiah, sitting at the kitchen table, looking uncomfortable. When their eyes met, Craddock gave him a subtle upnod, to acknowledge his presence and in thanks; had this unknown woman barged in on them while in the throes of passion, Jessica’s mortification would have been off the charts.

  “The water was colder than she thought it would be,” Craddock lied, then cleared his throat and changed the subject. “Elsa said we could raid the kitchen?”

  “Oh, sure, go ahead!” the woman said brightly; her demeanor had just done a complete one-eighty. “Elsa is pretty much the den mother of these meetings. She always has plenty of food!”

  Craddock, giving a polite smile, moved to search what was presumably a pantry. “You guys don’t live here?”

  “No, only Elsa does. Most of us live in New York.”

  He nodded as he located what he had been looking for. “Where did Bibi, Shea, and Stacy go?”

  The woman’s cheeriness ebbed a little. “Shea and Stacy went into one of the bedrooms. They seemed a little flustered. Bibi was in the garden out back, last time I saw her.”

  “Is she okay?” The question was directed at Josiah, but the woman answered instead.

  “Wade said she was, but she seemed kinda down to me.”

  His task of dishing up food was forgotten momentarily. “Did something happen?”

  Josiah side-glanced at the woman, stealthily, before staring back at Craddock. So that was a yes, but it seemed he wasn’t comfortable sharing the details in mixed company.

  “Should I go talk to her?” he asked; Josiah only shrugged in response.

  “Wade’s out there with her now.” The woman was now tentative, fidgeting like she felt out of place. “Should I… leave you guys alone?”

  Josiah was quick to answer her… maybe a little too quick. “Nah, sweetie, you don’t have to go.”

  Craddock hid his smirk – his friend clearly had a romantic interest in this woman – and returned to what he had been doing. “I’m almost done here; Jessica’s waiting for me, so…”

  “Everyone’s real excited to meet her,” the woman mentioned, rejoining Josiah at the table. “When do you think she might be up for that?”

  “Maybe after we catch a bit of a nap?” In truth, Craddock knew she would never be ready for such to-do, so he attempted to preemptively deter it. “But could you do me a favor? Could you let everyone know that she’s real uncomfortable with the ‘in awe of her’ thing?

  “She’s shy, and doesn’t like being the center of attention, especially in a room full of people she doesn’t know.”

  Seemingly pleased with being given a task, the woman was back to chipper. “Sure! I’m Kiff, by the way. Short for Kiffen, but everyone calls me Kiff.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Craddock was cordial but distracted. He just wanted to finish up and get back to Jessica, and leave Josiah to his flirting – he was pro
bably hoping for some privacy while he sweet talked and wooed, anyway.

  Excusing himself, muttering a cursory “see ya later,” Craddock took the bowl of food he had just dished up and headed for the hall.

  ‘…are you? Where are you? Where are you?’

  Craddock grinned as Jessica’s thoughts shifted into focus. ‘I’m coming. Sorry, I was talking with Josiah. Are we chanting now?’

  She laughed at his joke, waiting for him to enter the room before answering. “I was bored.”

  She was more than just bored. She was concerned. Passing the bowl of food over to her, he then climbed into bed beside her. “What did you think I was doing out there?”

  She shrugged. ‘I didn’t know, and I couldn’t read you. The thought of you running into Marcy and Jeramey entered my mind, though.’

  ‘They’re still gone, and didn’t come up in conversation. I did, however, meet a gal I think Josiah is hot for.’

  Her heart skipped a beat when she latched onto his memory from minutes before. ‘They did hear me!’

  ‘And they didn’t care, trust me. They were just concerned, but I covered. Said the water was colder than you had been expecting.’

  She sighed as she pinched a finger full of Mealies, muttering before popping them into her mouth, “I doubt they believed you.”

  ‘They didn’t,’ he agreed, ‘but they also didn’t care. Everyone with half a brain gets it, okay? We’re in love, and comforting each other in a time of need and stress.’

  Knowing they would just go around in circles, she dropped the subject. “You don’t know why Bibi is upset?”

  ‘No, Josiah didn’t say. But Wade’s with her…’ He shrugged, unconcerned. If it had been anything dire, Josiah wouldn’t have been so calm. ‘We should probably get some sleep after this. I have a feeling we’re going to be quite popular here. Kiff was saying everyone was excited to meet us.’

  ‘Me,’ she corrected. ‘No offense, but the excitement has to do with me more than you.’

  She was right, but he wouldn’t have taken offense even if she wasn’t. ‘It’s only because—’

  ‘I know. I’m a freaking wonderment of accidental conversion.’