The Drakos Dynasty - Book 3

3 - Wanting & Speechless

Rayne awoke to ecstatic laughter from the living room. Zane’s laugh was infectious. The sweet smell of pancakes and bacon filled her as she got up from bed and slipped into a one-piece purple pants romper. She loved the silkiness of the material and the comfort of rompers in the morning, especially while pregnant. Had she become that wife and mom that relaxation clothes were more in abundance in her closet than anything else? She chuckled at the thought and decided she like it that way. Checking her hair in the mirror, Rayne took a side turn to see how she was looking. Being pregnant so soon was definitely not the plan but that breakthrough night with Dimitri made it all seem reasonable.

She looked at Zane as she entered the living room. There was a pile of several extra down comforters as the base and about ten pillows piled around like bedding. He was camped out in the middle of the floor with Dimitri watching some animated cartoon. Evidently it was stupidly funny as Dimitri was just sitting there shaking his head trying desperately not to laugh. Her eyes looked up to the sizzling and clanking sounds coming from the kitchen. Darius. It was so good to have him home, she had missed him in an apron of feminine design, smiling silly while cooking meals. Her heart was bursting. This was real and it was finally complete. The nagging in her soul thought of Darius’ captors and what would turn out when they found out the money was stopping and he was free. Darius was a liability and liabilities were often killed or never heard from again.

“Good Morning love. Are you hungry?” Darius asked as she approached the Decaf Coffee pods.

 “Hmmm well personally I am not hungry but this little bean pot inside me could eat half the food in this house and be hungry an hour later.” She smiled fixing her coffee.

“Well that is a sign of a healthy growing baby. It should all be ready in about ten minutes.” Her voice quieter. “Darius. Are you ok? You trembled and shook while talking in your sleep a lot last night. I am not trying to pry but am just asking.”

He stopped what he was doing and closed his eyes taking a deep breath. He opened his eyes and she could see the uncertainty of wanting to respond. “Never mind. Another time. Breakfast looks good. I am gonna go make the bed and clean up. Go ahead and eat, I am a bit queasy this morning.” She leaned up on her tip toes and kissed his cheek. He made a sound of thankfulness in his throat and smiled. Rayne new what had happened to him was extreme. It would take time to forget it for sure but he needed to talk to someone or, as she was well aware of, it would fester and consume him entirely. 

Leaning down and kissing the top of Zane’s head, she caught gaze with Dimitri. He raised his eyebrow and squinted his eyes studying her for a moment. She just winked and nodded that all was good. Rubbing her belly, the indication of her nausea was understood. He moved up to his knees kissed her belly and then pulled her in to kiss his lips fully. She felt Darius watching and out of the corner of her eyes she could see his facial expression. Heading into the bedroom she proceeded to make the bed, clean up various items and straighten the bathroom. She collected all the dirty clothes in one hamper and pulled it to the doorway of the bedroom, so she could tackle laundry later. Walking into the oversized closet and looked around to see if anything else needed to be taken out. Her clothes were on the left and hanging neatly on one bar up top and one bar below.

On the right side, Dimitri’s suits and clothes were lined up by color and type. He started with sleeveless, then color coded, then short sleeve t-shirts – color coded, short sleeve business and so forth. It was reflective of his OCD. The shoe shelves were nearly full except two now empty shelves. Dimitri had obviously moved his things to make room for Darius now. The two eight foot bars on top and bottom at the back wall were bare and empty.

Taking seat on the circular cushioned bench in the center of the Closet, Rayne stared at the empty space. Whether it was the pregnancy emotions or the fact that over seven years of thinking someone she had

loved wholly was dead, yet was actually still alive and standing in her kitchen now, was perplexing. Tears started to fall down her cheeks and she sat in the closet and wept. Cleaning out her soul from the sadness she retained inside for someone so kind and loving that left unexpectedly was a much-needed event. While his touching and kisses were present and she still seemed to stir something inside him, it was still so different on many levels. What if she was not what he needed anymore? Could she handle watching another capture his heart and soul? Her love hadn’t left just muted and now he was here but not really.

 “Why are you sitting in the closet?” The voice startled her out of the emotional uncertainty that flowed out of her eyes.

 “Geezus Kristos. You know how to warn a girl you are coming? Damn stealthy bohemian.” She wiped her eyes and stood to greet him with a hug and double kisses on each cheek.

 “Wait what the hell are these tears for? Are you alright sunshine?” his concern was genuine.

 She shook her head and looked up at him sadly. “I just don’t know where to go from here. Things were awkward and different last night. I know I need patience but he was so fragile and unresponsive. He doesn’t want to talk about what happened and he is in pain. The worst thing for me to feel is helpless. And I do. Gruesomely so.”

 Kris wrapped his arms around her and just let her stand there in the arms of someone who would love her forever no matter who else came in or out of her life.

 “He has had years of seeing you in his mind’s eye but you weren’t really there. I am sure some of the hesitation is the fear of it ceasing to be real. Just be there for him and it will come around. I saw the way he looked when the thought of you standing behind the front door was brought to his attention. He was a wreck before he came in the door yesterday. His largest fear was you rejecting him. I am sure there is some awkward for him as well. You are pregnant with Dimitri’s child. You have been alone with his son for years and he has no tangibility right now. Be patient. Look how much of a pain in the ass you are for me and I am still here, loving you.” He laughed.

 “Wow, f*****g thanks. So glad my burdensome ways are still tolerable.” She laughed and kissed his cheek. “Now, I need to get him clothes, all the essentials, Miranda and I have our Krav Maga class and we need go to the grocery store.”

 “See? That’s my lil sunshine. Handle business, love your family and all else will fall in place. Dimitri, Darius and I have some work to do today. We are going to figure out if it is possible to send the six-month payment coded with a tracing trail, to try and find the rat that did this to Darius. The sitter Karissa is already at the house, so just drop Zane off when you pick up Miranda.”

 She nodded and smiled widely. Kris always seemed to be there when she really needed him. It was both creepy and perfect. She stood and selected pull on black athletic dri-fit pants, a short-sleeved black shirt with purple letters that said, ‘Good in Bed’ with little baby feet as the O’s. Dressing quickly, she straightened her grown out hair that was nearly past her shoulders in the back and two inches longer in the front. Her purple was growing out and she really wanted to get it done but knew she had to wait. A little mascara and some eye liner was all she needed. Pregnancy did give her this beautiful glow recently.

 Heading back out to the living room all cleaned up and ready to go, Rayne loved the sight of Dimitri and Darius sitting on either side of Zane having breakfast. It was the family she always dreamed about but wasn’t sure it would ever come to fruition. Dimitri stood and placed his plate in the sink. His attention was caught by Rayne standing in the middle of the living room watching them. Walking over to her he stood in front facing her, looking down.

 “First of all, that shirt it f*****g amazing. Second, why does it look like you have been crying?” Dimitri said sternly.

 “I am pregnant and emotional my love. Seeing a tissue makes me want to cry.” She smiled.

 “Seems we will talk later because lying precipitates spankings, remember that my love... But what is your plan today?” Dimitri asked touching her face.

 “I am about to call your tailor but I have to measure Darius first, he needs clothes but his body has changed a little bit. I also need to go to the grocery store and I have my Krav Maga class.”

 “Oh, I forgot my pregnant wife likes her ninja class.” He chuckled. “Miranda going?”

 “Yes, we are going to take the Bentley Bentayga SUV thing… or whatever it is called, is that ok?” Rayne asked honestly.

 “I know you didn’t just ask your husband if you can use the vehicle, he bought for you. That would yet again produce another opportunity for corporeal punishment on that sweet ass.” He smiled and kissed her forehead.

 She patted his ass lovingly, headed to the kitchen drawer and pulled out a pen, paper and material measuring tape. Without asking she started measuring Darius’ arms and chest. He stood without a word and let her take all the measurements. When she was done, he sat back done and smiled widely. She was taking care of him and he loved the way it made him feel. It was all so new but also familiar. It was taking so much time for him to relax but his heart wanted nothing more than her attention.

 “Alright my special dragon, I need you to get dressed and we need to go. Karissa and Arianna are waiting.”

“What? We can’t make them wait! You should have told me that mommy!” He ran down the hall and she could hear drawers opening and the unzipping of his backpack.

 If she had timed him, she was fairly sure that this would be a world record. He was in a t-shirt with a large dragon on the front, black shorts and his slides. His backpack was stuffed full and Rayne really didn’t want to know what was shoved in it.

 Grabbing her purse off the entry table, the list of measurements and her grocery list, she headed for the door. Dimitri stood, walked over to where she was standing and began tapping his foot. Laughing heartily, Rayne placed Dimitri’s hand on her belly. He smiled and softened immediately. Leaning in and kissing her lips, he growled softly in his throat before placing a final kiss on her forehead.

 She turned to see what Darius was doing. She was hoping he would have come to say goodbye as well. Darius just stood at the sink washing dishes. Her gaze stayed planted on him for a moment. Looking up, he smiled but didn’t come close. She was done worrying about it. He would come around eventually or she would be forced to jump him.

 Exiting the house, she headed to the Bentley and got Zane settled into his seat in the back. Shutting his car door, Rayne turned and yelped sensitively. Nearly standing on top of her was Darius. He was so close she could hear his heartbeat. His scent caused her mind to weaken considerably and her body to call his name.

 “Geezus Darius. Are you ok? How did you get out here so fast?” She said out of breath from being startled.

 “No, I am not okay. I am so afraid of things not being real I am pushing myself further and further away. I have to stop this before I lose everything I have been hoping for everyday for the last few years. I want you more than I can articulate but I feel so out of place. I need to tell you what happened to me but not until I can be intimate with you. That is part of my problem. I haven’t been with you in over seven years. It is a bit intimidating.”

 Rayne smiled and ran her fingertip up his crotch and then gripped it in her hand. He was hard nearly instantly. She raised her right eyebrow and changed from a smile to a more deviant smirk.

 “Well it does seem to be all in that head my love. Because this head is ready to go. Look, I get it. I know this isn’t easy but you are here and I want you. So badly my clit is pulsing as we speak. I will give you time, I will be patient but there will come a point where I will just take what I want because I am extremely horny twenty four seven right now and as you mentioned, it has been far too long since I have had you.”

 He couldn’t believe how brazen she was being. It was exactly what he needed but was being too foolish to accept. Did she really still belong to both of us? Was all Darius could think.

 “Now stick your tongue in my mouth and kiss me like you mean it. I will be home later and we will explore this conversation further.”

Darius did what he was told and the sensation was encompassing. Her body in his hands created a stir in him that was starting to become nearly painful to contain. Her lips were full and warm. The way her tongue grazed over his repeatedly was causing his hips to move towards her in more need. She released the kiss, squeezed his crotch once more and turned to get in the Bentley.  As always, she left him wanting and speechless.