Chapter Twenty-One: Bethany's Choice
3430 Words
Bethany..
She woke to find herself surrounded.
Barbatos had her pulled into the curve of his body as he laid on his side, spooning against her back. Drew lay facing her, their foreheads almost touching, his breath softly puffing across her face, his legs tangled around hers. One of her hands was clasped tightly in Drew’s and Ginger was at her feet. For a moment, she was surprised Barbatos allowed the dog on the bed, but then again it wouldn’t be the first time, and if he was asleep..
Then the feeling of anxiety hit her. She was trapped. What if something happened and she needed to run?
"Calm, bear-killer. I would never let anything happen to you." Barbatos' voice broke into her thoughts. His voice along her neck emphasized how closely she was packed in the bed with the men and Ginger, and her body heated just before she thrashed, needing to escape.
Barbatos’ teeth instantly sank into her Mark with a growl, and she bucked, hard, knocking Drew in the face and kicking him so hard he rolled from the bed. A thump was followed by shouting and cursing, and Barbatos suddenly rolled them, pinning her on her stomach, flat to the mattress. She screamed in muffled outrage, fighting hard, but Barbatos had her trapped.
“‘Tos, what’s going on?” Drew’s cautious voice questioned from beside them on the floor.
“De-sensitization training.” Barbatos snarled around her flesh.
“She looks like she doesn’t like it..” Drew rose from the ground, his voice also rising to be heard over her muffled protests.
“Of course she doesn’t!” Barbatos snapped. “That’s the point of desensitizing her!”
“And would you agree to this same treatment concerning touch?” Drew demanded, and Barbatos stilled above her. His grip slowly loosened.
“Damn it Drew, why do you have to be so level-headed all the time?” Barbatos grumbled.
Bethany found herself being released and scrambled off the side of the bed, falling heavily to the floor, where she took great, gasping breaths. She was barely conscious of Drew giving Barbatos an earful until Barbatos finally broke in with a loud snarl.
“Enough, Drew, I understand your viewpoint. However, I also feel mine is valid. How is she to coexist with not just one partner, but two when she might randomly panic because we’re too close?” Barbatos growled.
“That’s beside the point! You went about it the wrong way! That’s-” Drew fell silent for a few moments, then crouched down, still several feet from her. “Bethany, are you ok? Is that true? Is that what made you upset?” Bethany could feel the old familiar anger rising, that trusty defense mechanism she used to keep all problems at arm’s length. Her face got hot, which meant she’d probably turned red, and she struggled to keep her breathing from spiraling even more out of control.
“I don’t know, ok?” She glared at Drew. “I just panicked!” The lie felt slimy leaving her lips. It coated the trust she’d begun to build with this man, tainting it. Bethany looked away. Drew made a disbelieving noise in his throat, but let the matter drop.
“Well, you know what I always say?” Drew remarked, stretching. “Nothing heals like food. Particularly a bruised ego.”
“What-?” Bethany gaped.
“You never say that Drew.” Barbatos griped, but Drew waved a hand.
“Strawberries for you?” Drew phrased it as a question, but it was more of a statement as he pointed to Bethany with a c****d finger-gun and a raised brow. “Something hot and steamy for you.” He didn’t wait for her answer, but turned to Barbatos next. “What’ll it be? A hot drink or a sizzling bacon and egg sandwich?” Barbatos grumbled under his breath, burying his face in his arm for a brief moment.
“Coffee and a sandwich sound great Drew, you incorrigibly tempting, twisted manipulator.” Drew grinned as Barbatros spoke, Barbatos’ arm still covering most of his face.
“Right. Since I’m cooking anyway then, Beth, want a bacon and egg sandwich? It’s my specialty.” Drew winked at her, and Bethany at first felt like refusing, but the thing was, she’d slowly begun to relax. She’d realized she was hungry, but she shook her head.
“Just the strawberries please.” She murmured, She murmured, letting her tense arms release the hold on her legs. Drew examined her, then nodded at her slowly.
“All right, I’ll holler for you guys in a bit.” Drew stated, and Bethany watched mutely as he left the room. Drew had one thing right. Her heart felt bruised, more than any physical ill her body had suffered, and for a few long moments, she merely stared at the door after Drew disappeared.
“Is this the ‘silent treatment’ now?” Barbatos asked gruffly from under his arm, and Bethany’s attention turned slowly back to him.
“Do you deserve anything better?” She murmured. It wasn’t her customary challenge, but it was enough. Barbatos rolled to face her, his eyes dark and inscrutable. She had expected to see the red Demon’s glow so much, that his human eyes actually shocked her.
“I can’t answer that Bethany.” Barbatos answered softly. “Some people I have known would surely tell you I deserve much worse, while others might suggest I deserve better. I think that is for each person to decide on their own, and in the end, whose opinion but my own truly matters?” There was no malice in his response, almost no inflection at all, and Bethany sat back, stunned. The conceit of his response! But also, something resonated with Bethany. It needled at her, pricking at her vulnerabilities. Why should anyone else’s opinions matter but her own? She looked away with a scowl. Was she really going to take advice from a Demon?
“Well you sleep with me, don’t you?” This time, Barbatos’ voice seemed full of amusement, and she looked up sharply. How did he know what she was thinking? He sighed, meeting her gaze steadily. “I told you, as our connection grows, it’s easier to get inside your head. Especially when you’re thinking very loud, angry thoughts about me.”
Bethany gaped, then shoved up from the floor and stomped from the room, hearing another breathy sigh from Barbatos behind her. She plodded to the front door, then turned back to head to the kitchen as the smell of food hit her. Or rather, the tantalizing smell of bacon. Her stomach growled and she followed her nose to the scent.
“It’s not quite done yet, but have a seat. Oh! Bethany!” Drew blinked owlishly for a few seconds at her, before remembering himself and using his spatula to test the eggs in the pan. “I didn’t quite expect you to be the first one to follow your nose.” Drew chuckled softly. “Usually ‘Tos is hounding me for food well before it’s done.” He tsked.
“Well what do you want me to do, people ya?” Barbatos grumbled in a half-hearted attempt at a joke, sliding up behind Drew to steal a piece of bacon off a plate. Drew smacked the back of Barbatos’ hand with the spatula, but Barbatos merely bared sharp teeth at Drew in an evil grin and slunk away. Drew sighed.
“See what I mean?” Drew shook his head, and Bethany found herself staring again. There was always some new aspect to these two that shocked her.
“I..” She stammered.
“Take a seat, take a seat!” Drew waved her towards the table, and she helplessly obeyed, observing Drew as he hummed happily as he finished cooking. Bethany truly felt off-balance for a few moments once again, watching the two men. Would she ever get used to their ever-changing relationship? Or maybe they hadn’t been changing at all, only she had. Disgruntled, Bethany stared at the table between her hands while Drew brought out the food.
First was a plate heaped high with egg and bacon sandwiches, and second was a bowl of strawberries sliced and coated in sugar, which made Bethany’s mouth water almost as much as the smell of the sandwiches.
“Get one while you still can, because once ‘Tos gets into them, that’s it, they’re gone.” Drew told her, nodding at the plate with a grin as he took his own. Bethany’s head spun at the strange normalcy when mere moments before things had been so strange. But she couldn’t deny that the delicious scent of the sandwiches had her craving one, so she grabbed it off the plate and watched as Barbatos wolfed down the rest. Drew shook his head with a small smile as he munched his own salvaged sandwich. Days later, Bethany would remember the whole incident like it was part of a dream, and she was never entirely sure if that was Barbatos’ Demon gifts at work, or her own mind playing tricks on her.
Drew..
The trauma on Bethany’s face was only exceeded by what was echoing through the bonds he shared with Barbatos and Bethany, and he would never forget it as long as he lived. The way she looked almost hunted when she had fled Barbatos’ arms was heartbreaking. Which, Drew supposed, that was exactly how she had felt.
She didn’t mention it again, nor did Barbatos, but it stuck with Drew. Even as he swung his mallet, driving interlocking pieces of wood together, her expression haunted him. It seemed like it stuck with Bethany too, even though she didn’t say anything. It was like she had withdrawn from their connection, and he couldn’t help but worry over it as he drove the mallet down on the wood.
“..Drew!” Barbatos’ voice indicated he’d been yelling Drew’s name for some time, and Drew blinked at him blankly.
“Yeah, what is it?” Drew mumbled, and Barbatos frowned.
“I said you’re going to split that wood if you don’t stop.” Barbatos eyeballed the place where the two pieces connected, and Drew followed his gaze, grimacing.
“Yeah, I guess I beat it to a pulp..” Drew muttered and Barbatos squinted.
“Was that supposed to be funny, boy?” Barbatos demanded and Drew thought over what he said and grinned.
“Sure.” Drew smirked, and Barbatos shook his head. “Honestly though, I’m just concerned about Bethany..” Drew trailed off as Barbatos scowled.
“How many times I gotta tell you that something’s gotta break her out of those old mindsets of hers or she’ll suffer the rest of her life before you believe me?” Barbatos grumbled.
“But I don’t think-I’m saying maybe you went about it the wrong way, ‘Tos! Did you see her face? Really see it?” Drew slammed his mallet against the side of the wooden slab in front of him as Barbatos visibly prickled.
“She’s been hurt Drew. I’m not an i***t, I’m aware of that. But you can’t tame a wildcat that won’t let you touch it-”
“She’s not an animal, ‘Tos!” Drew huffed.
“We’re all animals.” Barbatos retorted under his breath, and Drew eyed him sideways.
“You know what I mean. And I’m beginning to worry. What if..what if she would be happier away from us-” Drew’s heart nearly broke in two, just saying the rods, and Barbatos looked like storm clouds had taken up residence somewhere around his head.
“..I.. don’t like that you might be right, Drew. There’s a reason I defer to you on emotional matters. But don’t be counting us out just yet. I think she found us for a reason. She completes us Drew. And I think we could do the same for her, if she gave us the chance.” Barbatos squeezed Drew’s shoulder. “Give me that chance, eh, love?” A gentle kiss brushed the corner of Drew’s mouth and he turned into it with a sigh.
“Like I would ever refuse you.” Drew murmured to Barbatos’ chuckle.
Bethany..
She almost dropped the drinks she had been carrying to the boys when she heard Drew say she’d be happier elsewhere.
She knew this would happen. That it was only a matter of time. Tears blinded her as she turned in place and dashed back towards the front door. This always happened. People abandoned her. It never failed. Even though she thought she was the happiest she’d ever been. A strangled sob escaped her. Should she just leave now? No, she couldn’t. The weird Dimension thing Barbatos created wouldn’t let her. What could she do? She shoved her way inside blindly, heading for the kitchen.
“Bethany?” Drew’s voice startled her, making her swat at the fresh tears on her face, trying to hide the fact that she’d been crying. “I felt-are you ok? ‘Tos would have come, but he’s well, you know, ‘Tos.” Drew hesitated several feet away from her. She could feel him shifting from foot to foot as she unclamped her hold on the remaining drink, setting it carefully on the dining room table before turning with a wavering smile.
“I’m fine. Just hormonal. It’s probably close to my period or something.” She lied blithely as Drew looked on doubtfully. Behind him, Barbatos entered, removing a pair of roughly worn leather gloves and sniffing the air cautiously.
“Oh no it’s not. But you are most certainly fertile.” He growled, and it was a true, deep rumble of a growl. Panty-melting, terrifying and sexy all at once. Bethany tried to shake herself from the strange muddle her head was now in, having tumbled through so many emotions so quickly. Worse was Drew’s suddenly bright and hopeful look as Barbatos prowled towards them.
“Does that mean-we can try for a child now?” Drew whispered, almost hesitantly. Bethany’s heart gave a pang. She didn’t know how to feel about this, and the look Barbatos was giving her was enough to make her want to find the nearest horizontal surface. But yet, what she had overheard-
“With Bethany’s permission, yes.” Rumbled Barbatos, the sound continuing the growl that made her insides clench down on the emptiness inside her. Barbatos prowled towards her with a predatory look in his eye.
“I..” She was so confused, but bearing their child meant they would keep her, at least while she was pregnant, right? That would give her some time to figure out what to do next, or maybe convince them to keep her.. She could feel the tears in her eyes as she swallowed hard and nodded. “I’d love to.” She murmured, though perhaps her reasons were twisted, even to herself.
It didn’t seem to matter to Barbatos though, who growled savagely and pounced on her, lifting her bodily from the floor and kissing her almost violently. The glasses of water she’d filled were brushed aside, spilling their contents everywhere. She gasped as water soaked into her pants, but she didn’t have to worry about it for long, because they were ripped from her, as was her shirt. For a brief moment, she felt embarrassed, and thought about crossing her arms over her chest, however Drew was there in an instant, capturing her arms with that wicked grin of his as they curled in.
“Nah ah ah” He teased. “We want to see you.” He nibbled the inside crook of one of Bethany’s arms and she squirmed, sucking in another breath. She had no idea that that area was sensitive, but apparently it was, and Drew knew it. Or maybe it was just these two men made her feel sensitive. The two she was so terrified of losing. Of being rejected by. Drew watched her expression eagerly, sucking on her skin before moving up her arm.
“How do we do this ‘Tos?” He murmured, tracing kisses up her shoulder to meet Barbatos’ eyes across her torso. Drew’s hands ran up and down her thighs, kneading gently while Barbatos gave Drew a hyper-critical look. “‘Tos, you know what I mean.” Drew scolded as Bethany hiccuped a laugh.
“For a moment, I had doubts about our activities thus far and if you understood the meaning behind them.” Barbatos grumbled and Bethany again caught her breath in a wheezy laugh, which was silenced by Barbatos’ lips on her throat. “You think that’s funny bear-killer?” He growled against her throat. “I may need to teach you a thing or two about it too.” If Bethany was still wearing pants, they would be wet. As it was, she suspected the table had taken one for the team. What was it about the two that affected her so?
“I..” She whimpered, letting her head fall back as Barbatos lowered her to the table. Her back hit the cold wooden surface and she recoiled slightly, but as Barbatos’ mouth traced a path up her inner thigh, she thought again of her daydream, of Drew sprawled across the table as he became a feast for both his lovers. “Wait-I-” She raised up on her elbows, placing her hand on Barbatos’ head to stop him from moving any further upward. Bethany blushed hard as both men looked at her questioningly.
“I want…” Her words died in a strangled mess in her throat. How did she ask for this? For anything? She had never been good at expressing her needs or desires and now..
“What do you want, doll?” Drew didn’t give her the opportunity to waffle around. He massaged her hip to get her attention, and when her eyes met his, he stared straight at her. “Use your words, Beth. What do you want?” She swallowed hard at the commanding tone he exuded, but it also gave her courage, and she nodded meeting his gaze levelly.
“I want to ride you.” She blushed fiercely as she said it. “Preferably, while you take Barbatos.. In your mouth. Oh, but the spines, I don’t know if-” She glanced swiftly between them, and Drew laughed.
“Oh it’s still possible, my sweet, innocent Bethy-doll. And something I’ve done before.” And with that, Drew yanked Bethany towards him, which was towards the edge of the table, despite her protests at being called ‘Bethy-doll’. Barbatos graciously moved out of the way with a grin, and to Bethany’s surprise, she was dropped off the table with a squeak, for Drew to take her place, shedding his clothes as he went. Bethany stared after him in a semi-state of awe, until he turned and laid down, his erection bouncing up as he grinned down at her and offered her a hand..
“Well? Are you coming my Beth?” Drew taunted. Beside her, Barbatos was hurriedly stripping out of his own clothes, and she tentatively placed a knee on the table, reaching for Drew’s hand.
“Will it hold..?” She murmured and Barbatos snorted as Drew’s grin widened.
“Doll, this table was made by Barbatos. More than you and I would be needed to bring it down.” He smirked. With that, he snatched her hand and pulled her upward, and she squeaked again, landing half on Drew’s legs and half in his arms, with his infuriating smirk beaming down at her. Out of spite, she knelt up and bit his lower lip harder than was strictly necessary, and instead of getting upset as she expected, Drew closed his eyes with a groan.
“Bear-killer, our Drew likes it rough.” Barbatos chortled, and Bethany lost her breath as Drew pulled her closer to him to collapse backwards, only letting her go when she straddled his abs and shoved upwards to keep their faces from knocking together as his back hit the table. He smiled again, softer this time, and dropped his hands to her thighs, which he squeezed gently.
“Well, you wanted to ride me,” He teased lightly, slapping his own hip. “Here I am.”
- Writer
