They talked for a little while longer, then returned to the kitchen where plans were made for escorts from the park sometime overnight.Sera went with Fallon to pack her things, and they spent the last few hours of their time together just being with each other.She didn’t know when she’d be able to visit with Fallon again, but she sure as hell hoped it was soon.
* * *
“I’m sorry, baby,” Avi said as Fallon held onto him while they watched her mom leave, escorted by multiple vehicles from the park, as well as Ford and Grey in the farm truck.
“I just got her back,” she said, her voice wavering.“I know it’s safer for her at the park, but damn, I hate it.I hate Colton and I hate Otto.”
He kissed her temple and hugged her a little tighter.“Eventually, Otto will figure out he can’t get to her and he’ll leave.It’s just his ego running things right now.He clearly doesn’t like to be told no.”
“He probably wasn’t hugged enough as a child,” Zara said.She turned with the security tablet in her hand and said, “I swear the herd is an asshole magnet.I’m not sure where we’d get demagnetized, but I’m going to tell Crew to figure it out.”
“I’m on it,” he said, joining them.“Fallon, how are you holding up?”
“Angry and sad, but okay.I mean, Mom will be safe at the park.I know that, it’s like a fortress there.Otto could do his worst and they’d still be safe.I just…I feel so deflated.”
“Otto is probably watching the roads,” Crew said.“And he’ll know we’re sending Sera to the park.That doesn’t mean he’s not a threat to us anymore, though.He seems like the kind of jackass who would try to abduct you to get to your mom.So no one goes anywhere alone, and we’ll keep up with our security patrols.Neo came with Patton to patrol overnight for us.Neo is mated to Dani, Nancy and Dexter’s daughter.You haven’t met them yet, but we’ll have a herd dinner so you can meet them both officially.”
“Neo and Patton are both gorillas,” Zara said.“They’re going to patrol the farmhouse and clearing, and Crew and I are going to go into the woods and check the security cameras and the feeds to make sure we fixed everything.No more blind spots.”
“Be careful,” Fallon said.
“We will be,” Crew said.“You two go rest.Nancy’s coming over in the morning to help Tris with breakfast, so don’t worry about getting up and helping.Just…go be with each other.”
“Be safe,” Avi said.
Crew nodded and put his arm around Zara, leading her away from the farmhouse and toward the trees.
The two gorillas walked over and introduced themselves.“We’ve got things here,” Neo said.“Rest well, you two.”
“Thanks, guys,” Avi said.
He took Fallon’s hand and led her into the house.“Do you want something to eat or drink?”He saw the clock on the stove, surprised to see it was well after two a.m.
“Um, no.I’m…tired but wired.”
“I get that.We’ll feel better once we’re in bed and can relax.”
She hummed in a way that he thought meant she didn’t believe him.Maybe she was right.Maybe just lying down wasn’t enough to relax, to banish the darkness that had descended on them since Otto had shown his face Sunday afternoon.
They walked up to their room and he shut the door.Leaving her in the dark room, he went into the bathroom and flipped on the light.He looked around, his mind spinning, and then he decided that they needed something to help them relax.He turned on the tub’s hot water, testing it with his hand until it was perfect, and then he stopped the drain.He pushed the shower curtain all the way open, then found some candles on the dresser in the bedroom and set them on the counter.After he lit them, he turned off the bathroom light.
“What are you up to?”Fallon asked from the doorway.
“I thought a bath was just what we needed.”
“Oh?”
He hummed and held out his hand.The candlelight offered just the right glow to the room, flickering and dancing on the walls and ceiling.They stripped each other slowly, fingers sliding, lips meeting, worries and fears cast aside as steam filled the small room.
He turned off the water and stepped into the tub, settling in the water, his back against one end.She joined him, going down on her knees between his legs and leaning forward to kiss him.Then she turned around and leaned against him, her back to his chest, her hands resting on his thighs.
After dunking a washcloth into the water, he gently rubbed her skin, pressing the hot water against her and letting it seep into her skin.She tilted her head to the side, her neck exposed, the beautiful pregnancy rash practically glowing.She wiggled against him as he moved the washcloth down her stomach, gliding it under the water and against her thigh.
He let the washcloth go.
Laying his hand against her pussy, he kissed her neck slowly, from her shoulder to her ear and back, as he gently eased a finger inside her.She shifted her hips, tilting them to meet his hand.As he pulled his finger out and pressed it in again, she moaned softly.
“I love when you touch me like this,” she whispered.“It makes me ache but it feels so good.”
