Page 57 of Custodian

Mordecai leaned forward, his arms resting on his bent knees. “She was funny, smart, beautiful. You favour her.”

Max sighed, “I’ll have to take your word for it. I don’t remember her. Well, I don’t remember anything before I woke on the streets.”

Mordecai nodded, “I’m not surprised. I think you must have no memory of your childhood because you weren’t here for it – on Earth I mean,” he clarified. “I think you must have been raised in Otherworld by your mother.”

“Huh?” Max asked, a little stupidly.

“I had a lot of time to think about it and it makes the most sense. I believe your mother had you in her world and raised you there for the first few years of your life. And then when you were old enough, you were brought here,” Mordecai offered an explanation for Max’s lack of memory and also existence before she woke up on the streets.

“So what? I turn sweet sixteen and she dumps me on Earth with nothing but a comfy tracksuit? That’s pretty shitty.” Max stated.

Mordecai chuckled but the sound held no mirth, “It is pretty shitty. And so was the reason you were made.”

Max could see the guilt on Mordecai’s face. In fact, she could taste it, it was so intense and bitter. But she knew it wasn’t his fault. She didn’t even blame her mother. Fate sometimes just was. “I’m sorry, Mordecai. I’ve been a real bitch to you.”

Mordecai was already shaking his head. “No –”

“Yes. I have. I’m not saying I wasn’t entitled to, mind you. I think you’ve earned a little bitchiness. But right now, on the eve of a literal war, I really wish I had taken the time to get to know you. Not as a warden, not as an ally. But as a father.”

Mordecai’s eyes turned a little misty, “I wish that too. But there will be plenty of time for that after this mess gets taken care of.”

Max felt her gut clench but she didn’t dispute his words. Instead she asked, “Will you do something for me?”

“Of course,” he immediately answered. “Anything.”

“After today, will you stay here?”

He looked confused by her request. “Stay here?”

Max avoided his penetrating eyes, looking back toward the ocean, “Yes. Stay right here, with your paladins, in my home.”

“For how long?” Mordecai was frowning.

“For as long as it takes,” she told him, not offering any more information. “Max …”

His voice sounded worried but she steeled herself against it. “Just promise me you’ll stay with them. Don’t ask any more questions. Just promise.”

“I promise.”

Max blew out a breath at the softly spoken words. She knew he meant them and she felt one small burden lift from her shoulders. Now, she just had one more promise to eke out. She just hoped the person she needed to talk to was no longer getting her brains screwed out.

TWENTY-EIGHT

Cali was getting her brains screwed out, she thought, as Dex powered into her. She was lying on the edge of their bed, with Dex standing next to it, holding her hips as he tortured her with his amazing body. She had to admit, it was the perfect position for her to be able to be flat on her back and yet still be able to wrap her legs around his waist like she loved to do.

“Damn,” Dex’s soft hiss, had Cali clenching once more.

She knew she was pushing him to the brink of his control – and she loved it. Dex had spent half the night worshiping her body, taking her to the edge of release, only to pull back. He would calm her pounding pulse and quivering muscles with soft words and soothing strokes, only to start his erotic torture all over again. Two hours. It had been two hours before he had allowed her to finally come. She had pretty much passed out after that, only to wake up satisfied but in no way satiated.

Hence, their current bout of love-making. Dex reached down to pluck at her sensitive nipples, making her gasp and arch. Since the pregnancy, everything had become more sensitive – a fact Dex was well and truly taking advantage of. Cali flexed her hips, feeling her ankles dig into Dex’s fabulous arse, and felt a flush start to take over her body. Cali knew it wouldn’t be long for her now and she wanted her man right there with her. Reaching a hand down between their bodies took some manoeuvring considering the small obstacle in her way, but she managed it. On Dex’s next retreat, she gripped his slick cock and squeezed.

Dex yelled Cali’s name so loud, she wondered if the Great Mother had heard him in Otherworld. He then slammed into her, his hips losing their usual perfect rhythm as he sought his release. All smug thoughts of a job well done fled, as Cali was forced to surrender to her own body’s pleasure.

Several breathless minutes followed, before Dex hiked Cali back up the bed. She rolled onto her side, unconcerned with her nakedness, as she admired her chaden. She loved the way his arse flexed as he walked and she found herself entranced by the divots in his butt cheeks when he twisted his body to search for some clean clothes.

“Are you fucking me with your eyes again?” he asked her, mildly, not looking in her direction.

“You bet I am,” she confirmed, putting her fingers between her teeth and releasing a loud wolf-whistle.

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