Caging the Bengal Tiger (8 page)

"Oh my, God." Abby slapped her hand over her mouth, her eyes got big as everyone burst laughing.

Lacey nudged him in the side. "I told you this place would help," she mouthed to him and he nodded.

"Not to worry, Abby. I am well prepared to take care of your sister, Lacey. I've even studied different planets’ sexual toys, and other things which I've added to my bag of treats."

Next to him, Lacey moaned. "We really don't need to talk about my sex life here." She nodded to the double metal doors that were wide open.

Inside Maya, Akaos, and the children all stood and looked around. "How in the world did you do this?" Isaac stood next to Akaos. Birds talked, the sound of a waterfall and even crickets could be heard.

"Can we?" the children asked and Maya nodded. "Go on, have fun."

Dee's son shifted and ran all around, while the little cubs ran out into the tall grass.

"Now, do you see why this place is so special?" Lacey said, before shifting and taking off, running after Maya and Dee.

The men stood and watched the women run, playing with the children. "You know if Maya can do this here, we could create that old practice site on our world into something like this. It's twice as big and has both water and heat." Isaac said looking at Talhrn. "I mean it's not being used for anything, and with more warriors finding their mates among their kind, it might help with the transition plus give our women a place to fill the void when they are on our world."

"It would keep the women busy too while there. Are you and your
kith
staying here on Earth?" their king asked, and Isaac nodded.

"For now. It's important that Lacey help find as many of her kind as she can and I have to agree." He looked at Anthony and Dan and they both nodded. "I think we'll make this our home base for a while."

The king nodded. "Good, and Isaac, your invention worked." He nodded to the women. "They would not be here if it wasn't for it. No one will be able to track our movements. The
Tetraheroes
were impressed and they have agreed this place is important to our women."

Lacey sat next to Maya watching Dee play with the kids while the other women lay around enjoying the grounds. They had run for the past hour, playing, but now they were resting. "I miss you, Maya." She nudged her best friend/sister.

"You can visit anytime. You know that, but you're right. Who would have thought a year ago our lives would have changed so much?" she sighed. "I just wish I could find my sister. I feel as if I'm walking away from her."

She nodded to the men who sat on the bridge talking. "Don't worry, we'll find her. After we close up Dan's apartment, and I get to meet the folks, I have a few leads I want to check out." Isaac took that time to look over at her and she smiled. "God, I have it as bad as you did when you met Akaos."

Maya laughed. "They are fine specimens, aren't they? So tell me about this brother of theirs." She turned, hearing one of her little girls roar.

"He's about Isaac's height and build, but he has their mother's hair, more blondish." She snorted. "But he has their attitude, that’s for sure. From what Lark said, their father kicked him out. Have you heard anything about it?"

"No, I'll see what their cousin knows. So what are these leads?" Maya crossed her legs in front of her and leaned back against the giant boulder.

"You know that house we found a while back? The one right before we left for California? Well, last week I was going through the papers I picked up in the house. I forgot about them with everything going on." She shook her head. "Anyway, there is some mention to a property up in Lansing, bills for this property and it must be big if the electric bill was over $2000 for one month. Now, they might have moved on, but it's a start. Then there are the other houses we didn't get to. I thought we'd go check out those houses with some of the girls and some of the warriors."

"Have you told Dan about those papers?" Maya looked at her and she smiled.

"What papers?" Dan knelt down next to them, scaring both of them.

"Damn, don't do that." Maya slapped him on the shoulder.

"Sorry, now what papers should Lacey tell us about?" Dan asked again, looking right at her.

"What? I just started going through them, so don't look at me like that. It's not like I was keeping it from you." She rolled her eyes.

"Are you giving Dan a hard time, Lady Cat?" Isaac asked, coming over with Akaos, holding out his hand to help her up.

"No! I was just informing Maya of some leads I plan on checking out after we go get back from Dan's parents. I still have half a bag of papers to read though. I'd like to sort those out tonight. We're leaving for Dan's parents in the morning, right?"

"Yes, but first we're going to speak about this need to keep things from us," Isaac said in her ear and then nipped her shoulder.

"I did no such thing. I wasn't ready yet with all the details." She winked at Maya who ignored Akaos, taking her children's hands.

"We need to get back, I'm afraid, Lacey. Oh, and Dan tell your parents I said hello. I wanted to go personally and apologize for what happened, but I wasn't allowed." She glared at Akaos.

"Maya, he was protecting you and I totally understand. Do you really think my parents would want you coming to them and endangering your life? You are part of our family and will be always." Dan looked at Akaos and he nodded.

Dan placed a kiss on her cheek. "You'll always be my big sister, so we'll see you soon." He stepped back to her side and took her hand.

"You better take good care of her, Dan. She needs someone to love her. We all do." She looked at her, then other women who still lay around not moving.

"They'll be okay. Look over there at Abby. That’s the first time I've seen her smiling. I thought we could have a little service for Agatha here. Maybe show those movies we made. You know, have a girls’ night next week if our men wouldn't mind?" she looked up at Isaac and he smiled.

"I don't see why not. Mom could look after the children." He looked at Talhrn and Akaos, both of them nodding.

"Next Friday. I've also have a few men making something for Abby. It should be ready by then. She will also be honored on our world since she was on her way to warn you." Talhrn looked at Dee.

"Then it's set for next Friday." Maya and Dee hugged Lacey and made their way back to her room. Isaac, stood in front of them talking with Anthony while Dan held her hand walking next to her.

"Tell me what you found?" Dan asked again. She sighed, stopping to look at him. "Fine, I'll tell you, but I want your promise on something." She looked to Isaac, then to Dan. "It's important to my sisters and me that we are allowed to do what we were trained for. No, let me finish." She placed her finger up against Dan's lips and glared at Isaac.

"That's not saying we wouldn't welcome help, but you can't take away what has kept each of us going for so many years. Searching for others isn't just something we decided to do. Even before we each meet, we were already searching for others and if you take that away it's like..." She frowned and turned to Isaac.

"It would be like taking away your need to improve security. I know for a fact you love to work with all those gadgets. Well, think how it would feel if someone told you that you were not allowed to do it. We don't mind you protecting us, but allow us to work with you please."

"If it's too dangerous our men can go in with you. There are no exceptions Lacey, but I'll make sure the men will back up your sisters till it gets too dangerous." He said crossing his arms.

"I'm going to be part of this search, Isaac. I will not be kept at home." She tried to push past Isaac, but he yanked her to him, holding her against his body.

"You're getting a little excited over nothing. Didn’t I tell you we would work with you? Haven’t I gone out of my way to make you happy?" he asked, but not raising his voice. But Lacey knew he was mad. All three of them had done everything she had asked.

Resting her forehead on his chest, tears slipped down her cheeks as she stared down at the floor. "I'm sorry Isaac. I know you are trying and thank you for making this possible, but the only thing that I'm good at is this. It's all I've known since I was 16. I'll always be looking for others."

He placed his hand under her chin and applied a little pressure till she looked up. "We already know this. That’s why I've asked the king permission for us to live here. We will be coordinating our troops that are on Earth from here, while we, yes that includes you, search for others of your kind. Now stop crying and tell us what you have."

***

Even though the women had shared the picnic baskets of food Anthony had supplied, Isaac knew Lacey was still starving. He lifted her into his arms and proceeded down the halls. "We had a few men run to your nearest store to buy a few things. You are going to eat what Anthony prepares for you and you can tell us then what you have. We'll work this out together." He kissed the top of her head and stepped into her quarters seeing all the food sitting in bags on the table.

"Why don't you go get those papers while we clear the table? Anthony can cook and we can go over what you’ve found." He lowered her to the ground and she smiled up at him.

"Thank you. This means the world to me." She went to the back of her room where there was a desk and pulled out three plastic bags from beside it.

"Steaks?" Anthony asked him and he nodded as did Dan. They proceeded to put away things they wouldn't need, but when Anthony looked around, he shook his head. "We can't cook in here. Lacey, where do you cook?" he asked, turning to her.

She laughed, coming over, caring the bags and a notebook. "Bring what you want to cook with and follow me. Any big meals we cook in the large kitchen. Plus there will be more room at the table there to go through these." She held up the bags, and they nodded. "Dan, behind you are my slippers. Could you grab them? I get cold running in the tunnels."

Dan held up a pair of tiger slippers. He couldn't help it, he laughed so hard Isaac was holding his side. "That is too cute," he finally said, following her.

She rolled her eyes, but put the slippers on her feet. "Agatha gave them to me last Christmas. She said they reminded her of me, the blue eyes and the white fur. Come on." She cleared her throat and started down the hall.

"Well, she was right." He picked up one of the bags of groceries and headed down the hall, following her. "Maybe we should put carpet in the hall now that we'll be staying here for a while. I'm sure your sisters would like that, too." He tried to make small talk as they approached the kitchen.

Turning her back to face him, Lacey pushed open the swinging the door with her ass, smiling. "We were going to do that this summer, but never got around to it. Here we are." She placed her bags on the table and went to the industrial-sized fridge. "I think we should maybe make a list and have one of the girls hit the big market. We always like to keep extra food on hand after we change. We burn up so many calories."

"I'll do that," Anthony said, picking her up and holding her up in the air, making her laugh.

"Put me down, Anthony,” she squealed and tried to get out his arms, but he twirled her around, making her laugh some more.

"That's what I like to hear. I love to cook, Lacey, so unless you want to, I expect you to allow me to handle the kitchen." Anthony said putting her down so she could wrap her arms around his neck, kissing him.

"Well, shit," she said looking him in the face, all serious. "If I would have known I would have a personal chef, the girls and I would have dragged your butt in here months ago..." she teased earning her a swat on the ass.

"Smart-ass, now go, do some work. Dan is itching to bury his head in that stuff," Anthony nodded to Dan and Isaac, laughed when he turned to see Dan already pulling out the papers.

"What?" Dan laughed. "All right, you got me. I love this kind of work."

Isaac moaned and sat down at the table after he held the chair for Lacey. "I'm in so much trouble."

For the next hour, they sorted each piece of paper Lacey had found from plane trash to something they needed to check on. To say he was impressed with her reasoning and skills would be an understatement.

"Okay, clear the table for now. Food is ready." Anthony took the pile of papers in front of Lacey and replaced them with her plate, but she tried to grab onto the papers again and Anthony shook his head. "After you eat. They'll be right here." He laid the stack on the counter and grabbed two more plates. "Dan, move them."

Dan laughed and nodded, putting his stack next to hers while Isaac just set his on the ground near his feet and took a deep breath. "This smells wonderful, Anthony."

Hearing Lacey moan, he looked over at her, his cock swelling. "Do not do that. Those moans should be for other things," he growled and she laughed.

With another bite of steak in her mouth, Lacey pointed at him. "Get used to it. You'll hear the moan's when I have my coffee in the morning too." She winked at him. "But don't worry baby, I'll make sure to make my moan extra special for you if I ever get any." Lacey mumbled the last part when she took another bite.

"There are steps we must take, Lacey," Isaac said and immediately regretted it.