Shifting Currents (12 page)

“It’s so hard to find good help these days,” Lewis said. “I speak from experience. My Shifters were supposed to let me eat my dinner in peace.”

“They’re being kept busy running after my men.” From another corridor, a willowy woman dressed in an evening gown and heels entered the room. She tilted her face toward the light and heat.

“Misha, what a lovely surprise.”

“Is it?” She stalked closer and Lewis drew off his belt with a snap and held it like a whip.

He turned his back completely on the ragged man with the club, who snarled “Tribute!” again.

“Misha, if you wanted an invitation to dinner, you must let my secretary know.”

“He’s not one of mine. He’s Garegoth’s minion.”

Lewis made a moue of distaste and snapped his fingers.

Clark shot the man in the back. Bethany clamped her hands over her ears. They rang from the close shot.

The rabble scattered like mice but wasn’t frightened enough to leave the food and silver.

Misha shifted into a creature of scales and teeth, her evening gown shredding into silk confetti. Lewis dodged her snapping teeth, and cracked the belt into her side. On four legs, she resembled a scorpion, and she lashed and missed with her tail.

“Who is she?” Bethany asked.

“A former partner,” Clark said. “Hell hath no fury, and all that.”

“How did you scorn her?”

Clark didn’t answer.

It looked like Misha and Lewis were going to dance all night when a troll barreled into the room. It was the same color as the rubble, and if it had been still, Bethany would have mistaken it for a boulder. This boulder careened into the center to join the battle.

“It’s like Grand Central station tonight,” Lewis said, then laughed at his own joke.

The troll grabbed Misha by the tail and swung her across the room where she hit the wall and lay dazed and twitching.

“Garegoth, you party crasher you.” Lewis laughed.

Clark emptied the pistol into it. Garegoth staggered back and then turned to face Clark. The troll’s smile featured sharp, pointed teeth covered in moss. The only thing that stopped Bethany from running was that with her luck she’d run into Misha’s or Garegoth’s followers.

Garegoth chortled. It sounded like thunder. He took a step toward them.

“Stop screwing around, Lewis,” Clark yelled.

“I haven’t had this much fun in ages. I would have stopped sending you kids long ago if I knew you’d come out yourself to play.”

“Kids?” Bethany cried.

“Relax. Baby goats,” Clark said.

Bethany reached out and sounded every train whistle in the station. What the heck, she was half-deaf from the gunshots anyway.

The troll clutched his elephantine ears. The scorpion writhed. Lewis raised an eyebrow.

“Lewis, this has been a lovely experience, but I’m afraid I have a busy day ahead of me, and I should get to bed… Alone,” Bethany added as an afterthought.

“Pity,” Lewis said. “Aren’t you going to stick around to see what I turn into?”

“Rain check?”

He shook his head.

“The other Tech did she see what you turn into?”

“And threw herself in front of the train rather than face the horror? No, she went crazy, down here. Hearing voices in her head. Have a pleasant night, dear.”

He lashed out with the belt at a still quaking Garegoth.

Clark walked her across the station, carrying her bag of battery chargers.

“Is he going to be all right?” Bethany said.

“He’s a show-off. It wouldn’t surprise me if he arranged all that.”

“Why?”

“To impress you.”

“I’m impressed. It’s not every day I join up with men who screw over gigantic scorpions and rock trolls.”

“Bethany, we’ll
screw
over anyone.”

“Good to know,” she said. “I’m not interested.”

“It’s a long way to California.”

When they were aboveground again, the blast of November night air ripped through her lungs, and Bethany shivered. Clark shrugged out of his jacket and placed it on her shoulders.

A coughing growl shattered the night, and a large cougar leaped in front of them. He reared up and batted the jacket away. Bethany didn’t even have time to flinch, but his claws never touched her.

“Your Shifter, I suppose,” Clark said and backed away, showing his hands. “It would be easier if you changed back before we get on the train.”

Lucas eyed him and fell in step between them, shouldering Clark away from Bethany.

“It’s easier to report when you can speak,” Clark muttered.

Lucas let out a rolling growl that scared the birds out of the trees.

Chapter Seven

Bethany

Clark showed them to a semiprivate berth. There were four sleeping compartments, two on each wall, one above the other. A small ladder allowed access to the top bunks and heavy curtains provided a bit of privacy. For the moment, the compartment was empty except for the three of them. Lucas took up most of the floor room and positioned himself so Clark had to either back out or trip over the big cat.

“Well, I’ll just leave you to get settled. Jesse will be by in the morning to show you where you will be working, Bethany. If you need anything…”

Lucas growled, a threatening rumble that made Clark hurry away, sliding the compartment door closed.

When he was gone, Lucas shifted back. He was naked, but the look in his eye was weary.

“Where were you today?” Bethany ran her hand over his chest, the hard muscles tense under her hand.

“I’m a little sore,” he said, taking her hand and kissing it. “I spent most of the day flying cover, looking for ambushes.”

“Did you find any?”

He shook his head and stifled a yawn.

“What did you see?” she asked.

“I think if we can manage not to be attacked before the train leaves the station, we should make it to Ohio.”

“Too late,” Bethany said and then explained about the troll and the scorpion.

“I remember Misha. She hired Lisa and me on the first trip.” He broke off as another loud yawn shook him. “I can barely keep my eyes open. You’ll be safe in here. Don’t wander around until the train departs. Once we’re underway, though, it should be fine.” His eyes closed, and he swayed a bit on his feet. “I’m going to grab a quick nap. Do you want the top or the bottom bunk?”

Bethany had assumed they would share one. “The bottom, I guess.”

He leaned in and kissed her absently on the mouth and then, with a quickness that made her flinch, leaped vertically into the bunk above her. He fastened the curtains, and she heard him getting settled.

Blowing out a breath, Bethany felt a little cheated. They were safe, now. Weren’t they supposed to be having this big heart-to-heart talk? Or at the very least having train-rocking sex? Maybe he had gotten what he wanted, a little voice inside her said. And with that depressing thought, Bethany climbed into her bunk and pulled the curtains closed. Digging around in her backpack, she found a small battery-powered lantern. The charge was full, so all she needed to do was flick a switch. The sleeping pallet had shelves built into the wall, and she unpacked a few things. She slipped off her shoes and got into comfy pajamas, but even with all the excitement and travel, she wasn’t tired.

The door to the compartment opened, and Bethany doused the light. Her pistol was one of the items she had kept out, and she held it ready. Easing the corner of the curtain open, she peeked out and saw two men with towels wrapped around their waists come in. They obviously had just been bathing and just as obviously were a couple.

“So what do you think of this clusterfuck?” a tall, dark-skinned man asked, taking his towel off to dry himself. His legs were sculpted like a statue, and Bethany was transfixed as he rubbed the towel up and down them. He had tribal tattoos on rangy, muscled arms and the swirl of color added to the appeal. His penis was thick and bobbed slightly at his movements. Bethany eased the safety back on the pistol and put it on the shelf.

“It’s good money, for stuff we’d do anyway,” the second man said.

Bethany peeked back out. This one was a pale redhead, and she could see red freckles on his face and chest. He was squatting by the lower bunk, checking over a bow and arrows and a set of bone-handled knives.

The darker man stretched, showing off fine abs and a pierced nipple. Bethany couldn’t look away from his hardening cock. “You mean the hunting or the fucking?”

The redhead smiled. “Both, although I’d rather just be with you.”

“While you’re down there.” The darker man turned so that his penis grazed the other man’s cheek.

The redhead kissed it, slid his tongue over the head, and then grabbed the shaft and started stroking it.

“Oh yeah, oh Ben, I’ve been thinking about this all day.” The darker man sighed.

“Shit, Mark, I would have thought you’d have had enough, considering last night’s party.” Ben increased the pace of his strokes and leaned his head down to lick the other man’s balls.

“Like you said, it’s better when it’s just you and I.”

Bethany felt a tug of guilt as she watched Ben’s mouth slide over his lover’s cock. Mark grabbed the back of Ben’s head and began to move his hips.

“Yes,” he hissed, and Ben dug his fingers into the other man’s ass.

Bethany couldn’t tear her eyes away from the sight of Mark’s penis pumping into Ben’s mouth. It was long and thick, and the satisfied grunts from Ben were making her wet. Her nipples felt heavy, and she unbuttoned her pajama top so she could tug on one. She felt the ache deep into her core. She stroked her fingers across her breasts. Leaning back on the pillow, she made sure she could still see the two men.

“Swallow it,” Mark gritted out and increased his pace. Sweet, slurping sounds filled the compartment. “Oh fuck, Ben. Your mouth is incredible.”

With an inarticulate shout, Mark shuddered, and his grip on Ben’s head loosened. Ben eased his lover’s cock out of his mouth, and Bethany nearly moaned as she saw the wet cum on his lips.

She moved her thumb over her nipple and slipped her other hand into her panties. Flicking her finger, she was hot and creamy. The slightest touch on her clit sent her hips up.

“My turn,” Ben said and tugged off his towel. His penis was long and thin. It strained toward his lover.

Mark gripped the back of Ben’s head again but this time to pull him in for a deep, long kiss. Bethany watched their lips slide over and over each other as their cocks touched and rubbed in an intimate dance. Ben turned Mark around, trailing kisses over his shoulder and neck.

“Reach down into my bunk and pull out my lube,” he said, and after Mark obeyed, Ben poured some down the crack of his lover’s ass. When it was wet and slick, Ben slid a finger into his ass.

“Oh yeah,” Mark said, his head and upper body inside the compartment. “Why don’t you come in here and do me right.”

“Because I’ll bang my head instead of you. Grab those pillows. We’ve got plenty of room out here.” He slid a second finger inside and pumped a few times before stopping.

Mark quickly arranged the bedding on the floor while Ben squirted thick liquid into his palm and coated his cock with it. Bethany’s fingers flew faster, hot sparks of desire making her restless, and she bit her lip to keep from moaning.

“Hands and knees,” Ben said and clutched at Mark’s hips.

Bethany’s orgasm hit her as soon as Ben thrust into Mark. She rode out the waves of pleasure as Ben hammered away inside Mark. Mark’s eyes were glazed, and animalistic grunts panted out of his mouth. He rubbed his cock into the blanket while his hips undulated up to meet Ben’s thrusts.

“Yeah, that’s right,” Ben said.

“Faster,” Mark pleaded. “I want you to feel your cum inside me.”

Ben’s lips curled back into a grimace, and he leaned into his lover, rocking with speed and force. “God, I’m so close.”

Bethany was still riveted and dipped her fingers back inside again, stroking herself to feel the delicious tingles. Her breasts ached. She wished Lucas was with her. She wanted his mouth tugging and sucking on her nipples. She wanted his hard cock fucking her like Ben was fucking Mark. Bethany spread her legs wider and rubbed her clit with her thumb.

Ben shouted, and his face collapsed in joy. For a moment, he just rested his face between Mark’s shoulder blades and hugged him tight.

“We should have done this before the shower,” Ben said.

“Not me,” Mark said. “You were filthy. I wouldn’t have touched you with a ten-foot pole.”

“Speaking of which.” Ben grinned wickedly and slid out of his lover. He turned him over slowly. Mark was hard. Bethany watched as Ben stroked the lube all over his lover’s cock.

“I could stroke you all night,” Ben said.

“Take another bath, and I’ll suck you off while you do it.”

“Tempting,” Ben said. “But I want your cock inside me more.” He stood up and faced the beds, reaching his hands up to hold the top bunk.

“Assuming the position?” Mark said.

“You going to frisk me?”

Mark pushed down on Ben’s back and eased into him.

Bethany saw Mark’s fine, muscled ass contract as he gave Ben a fucking that had all three of them gasping. She jammed her fingers deep into her pussy and turned her head into the pillow to muffle the noises she was making.

The two men tumbled into the bottom bunk afterward, and she heard them kissing and murmuring low words to each other. The loneliness hit her again, making her cold and aching for Lucas. She straightened her pajamas and closed her eyes against the familiar ache.

“Help me!”

Bethany flinched. It was the same mournful female voice she had heard in the train station.

“Who’s there?” she whispered.

There wasn’t any answer. The silence chilled Bethany. Shivering, she pulled out a blanket from her pack. Clutching it to her, she waited tensely for the next noise. But she must have dozed off, because the next thing she knew, the lurching of the train woke her up. They were moving. Not bothering to get dressed, Bethany slipped on her shoes. As a second thought, she grabbed the pistol and clipped the holster Karen made for her onto her pajama pants and underwear, covering it with the heavy flannel top. Pushing the curtain aside, she heard light snores from the bunk above her where Lucas still slept. She could also hear Ben’s and Mark’s deep breaths mingling in sleep. After easing out of the compartment, she stumbled out on a platform, feeling very exposed.