Showdown

Recognizing what was happening Heather smiles and goes around to each of them to give them a hug before ending with me. I lean into her soft, encompassing embrace. In my ears I can still hear her swearing to me that she would protect me today. One part of me prepares myself in case she wasn’t able to keep that promise through no fault of her own, that amazing biology of hers was double bladed after all, but it fills me joy that she had told me that.

“Come on, handsome.” She kisses my head. “Let’s get dressed.”

The others all grin, knowing as well as I did that ‘let’s get dressed’ was also a code for my morning service. They watch me go, with some envy, as the settle in and chat as Lily chills on the sofa to rest her sore feet and Mia and Bri make breakfast under the less than helpful supervision of a donut munching Julie. I wished we had time for me to service them all but that breakfast buffet would have to wait for another morning.

Soon after I am on my knees orally attending to my woman as she gazes down with that all encompassing love in her brown eyes. I could see the worry in there too, but the love drowned everything else out. After I’d taken my bukkake level facial we clean up and get dressed for the day. I help her, she helps me, we help each other in a way as natural as the cycle of the day. Before long we are back out with the other just in time to sit down for a shared breakfast.

The mood was upbeat but there is a strange energy in the house as the family rallies around me. We were united both by our love and our bonds but also by a sense of trepidation about the impending arrival of Liam. A storm was coming. One that threatened to shatter the family peace. None of us knew how this would end. Each time I look at one of them I see at first a look of concern which is quickly replaced by warm affection. Each time I look back with a reassuring smile.

Julie had a bristling aggression just below the surface, like some ancient viking psyching themselves up for battle. Lily was contemplative, her thoughts as much on Liam as on me. Briana was just…solid, here to provide quiet support for a friend who had to go through some shit. Mia was the most scared of us, but also the bravest. The way she looked at me I had no doubt she would throw herself in front of Liam’s fist if she had to. It was something I was going to have to watch for as the last thing I wanted was for Mia to get hurt. As we eat I hold her hand to keep her anchored in the moment. And then of course there was Heather, the quiet calm over it all. Only I, with the special bond I shared with her, could sense the unease in her heart. But for them she was the rock, the leader, the Matriarch.

We are just finishing our pancakes when Lily gets a text. “They’re on their way.” She says as she reads her screen.

“They?” I ask.

“Rebecca and Roger is with him.”

“He’s had all night with them.” Julie says, punching her open palm. “Probably got them on side.”

Thinking back to my experiences in the dungeon and the talk I had with Roger I say. “I don’t know, Julie. We’ll see.”

From her pocket Julie pulls out…a nose clip? She put it on her nose, clipping her nostrils shut, then stands up and begins to pace. Lily facepalms. “Julie, what are you doing?”

“Taking away Liam’s edge.” She says in with a comically stuffed up voice. “Tactics. A game plan. If I can’t smell him he can’t get me.” She punches her palm again. “The rest of you bitches can’t fight for shit. Liam’s as big as Elliot and I put together, so I’d say that’s a fair fight. Not that I plan on fighting fair. Let him try his kung fu shit, I’ll go all Donny Brashear on his ass.”

“Who?” Bri mutters.

“Nobody’s fighting!” Heather says as Mia presses close to me and grips my arm.

Lily is chuckling, despite the tension in the room. “That’s…so stupid it’s brilliant. But there’s more going on than simple pheromones, Julie. If it was merely olfactory…”

“I’m just going to stand here while he pulverizes my…” Her voice catches. “My boy.” She glances around at the other then to me. “Our boy. I’m not gonna do it!” I stand and go to Julie. Taking her fist in my hand I give it a squeeze. She looks at me then pulls me roughly into a hard hug. “I love ya, cutie.”

“I love you too, Julie.” I hug her back and hold her a moment while the other watch in silence. As we part I grab her nose and pull the clip off. Putting it in her hand I say. “You don’t need this.”

With a sigh her tense shoulders slump and she nods. Tucking it away in her pocket she punches my shoulder. “If he does take a swing…nut shot. Hard as you can. Don’t hesitate.”

I grin and shake my head. “Thanks coach.”

We return to the table and finish our meal, tension building with each passing second. It was as were were cleaning up Mia says from the front window. “They’re here.”

Pulling up in front of the house was a hatchback of the same year, make and model as mine, but nice. It gleamed a shiny royal blue with none of the sputters and rattles of my decrepit jalopy. It glides to a smooth stop, not a squeak to be heard. In the driver’s seat is the familiar bald head of one of the high justices of the state’s supreme court. Smiling and shaking my head I realize that it was indeed my car. When I was told Rebecca was having it taken to the shop I imagined a tune-up not a total restoration! In retrospect, knowing Rebecca as I did, I don’t know why I ever thought different. Roger gets out and look toward the window. He and Mia wave at each other then turns his attention.

Drifting in behind my car comes a sleek silver Jaguar, Liam at the wheel. As Roger goes to open the door for Rebecca Liam gets out looking like a tanned, long-haired Adonis in tailored slacks and a snug collared shirt. I feel Heather’s hand slip into mine, my other arm is clutched by Mia. Standing tall Liam rolls his shoulders, an **** gesture of his that sent a chill through me as I recalled him doing it just before kicking my ass all those times back in school. He turns to the house and stops a moment, taken aback by the six faces staring back out at him from inside the house. “Fuck.” His lips were easy to read as his eyes scans across the group until locking onto me.

Rebecca and Roger come up beside him. She was talking but he wasn’t listening, his dark eyes drilling holes into me. Without waiting for Rebecca to finish he strides toward the front door.