Lacey's Luhpynes [Beyond the Veil 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) (18 page)

“Absolutely.” He smiled, lifting her hand to kiss her fingers. “Come, it’s just a short ride to the house and then we will meet the parents. No panicking. Slow, deep breaths and remember, mom is likely more terrified of you than you are of her.” He let out a laugh at that and shook his head.

“All right.” She looked into Zhubin’s eyes and sighed. “Whose vehicle is this?” she asked with a frown. “The one coming for us? Is it one of your parents?” She wasn’t a typically trusting woman at all and they would know that.

“It’s one of theirs, yes,” he said, letting her hand go. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and gave her a hug. “It’s likely Sam coming to pick us up. He runs the household and tries to keep my father on a schedule. Sometimes it works, most times not so much, especially if Mother is around.”

“Sounds like someone else I know.” Only it was more them trying to keep her on a schedule. She was notoriously late, always had been and likely always would be. If not for these two men she would never make it anywhere on time. Hell, likely not even her own funeral.

The vehicle slid to a smooth stop and a slim male stepped out. “Master Zhubin, Master Ansell.” He clicked his booted heels slightly and tipped in a bow. “Welcome home, sirs.”

“Hiya, Sam.” Ansell grinned and move to the back of the vehicle to toss in his bag.

“Sam, this is Lacey. Lace, this is Sam. You need anything and can’t find me or Ansell, you ask Sam. Even weird shit this man can find. I don’t know how and I do not ask any more,” Zhubin told her.

“A pleasure, miss.” He smiled at her and gave another slight bow.

“Nice to meet you,” Lacey returned with a smile. “How long have you known Zhubin and Ansell, and would you be willing to give me some nice wonderful details about their lives? I would very much like to know any and everything that you would be willing to tell me.”

“I’m sure that I have no idea what you could mean, miss,” he said. But his lips were twitching and the glint in his eyes said he knew a lot. “I’ve known them both since they were quite young. I’ve worked for the Lady and Regent for a number of years. I’m sure that if you ask the Lady she will gladly tell you everything you’d like to know. She may even have video of some situations.”

“Oh but you see, a mom would never give up the really, really good stuff on her sons. I would love to be able to get the really and truly good stuff on them,” she teased happily. “And who better than an impartial third party?”

“He’s hardly impartial,” Ansell said, coming up behind her. “Especially after that thing we did when we were, like, fourteen. I’m amazed his eyebrows grew back, actually.”

Sam frowned at that. “That story I don’t think should ever be repeated. You two were a menace to all of society until you finally matured. Or pretended to mature, I suppose would be the better description for you two delinquents.”

“Oh now see I want to be able to hear that story even more now. You can’t say something like that and not tell me the story. I mean it. Really, come on. I very much would like to hear at least this story. Please?”

“I will tell the story,” Zhubin said with a chuckle as he shut the back of the vehicle. “But we should get moving. I’m starting to feel hungry and knowing what Mum will have ready for us I’m definitely more than ready to roll. So let’s all load up and I will tell you all about the day Sam lost his eyebrows and most of his hair.”

Laughter poured from Lacey and she leaned back in the plush seats of the vehicle. “Well then I very, very much look forward to hearing all about that day then. Please don’t leave out any details, no matter who it might incriminate.”

Ansell settled next to her with Zhubin across from her in the limo-like backseat. Sam got behind the controls with a mutter and they were moving. “Oh it incriminates me and Ansell a lot. We were bored, as boys tend to get when forced to stay inside on nice days doing schoolwork. So while our tutor was droning on we started to plan.”

He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “We had it all figured out. Big bang, lots of noise, light and screams. But no one would get hurt. After our lessons we gathered everything up. Ran out and got it set, someplace where nothing could burn and where no one was supposed to be.”

“Notice he said ‘where no one was supposed to be,’” Ansell put in with a shake of his head.

“Yeah, that didn’t work too well. There were people around but well away from the area. We were in countdown when Sam comes wandering out. He goes right up to it, we’re at T-minus ten and he leans over to see what’s on the ground. We’re both huddled behind a tree terrified this is about to go horribly wrong.”

“I jump out and call to him he looks up, straightens and boom!” Ansell throws his hands up.

“Sam went flying ten feet back and the light show is going off. Everyone is watching that as we”—Zhubin pointed to himself and Ansell—“go racing over to Sam. He’s lying there, no eyebrows and his hair gone and the top of his head smoldering slightly.”

“We got in so much shit over that,” Ansell muttered, leaning back. “I still flinch any time I think about it. We were on kitchen duty for two months, helping the maids for another three and still had to do whatever Sam wanted of us for a further six months.”

Her hands covered her mouth, laughter danced in her eyes as she looked from man to man and then when Sam looked back and caught her eyes she couldn’t help herself. Lacey burst out laughing. She laughed so hard that her sides hurt from the great gasps she was taking to draw air into her lungs to laugh some more. “Oh God.” She breathed those two words out in her laughter. “That’s utterly priceless. I can so see it too.”

“Sadly, Sam wasn’t as amused, neither were Zhubin’s parents. Oh, the shit we got from that. And we pretty much lived in full terror for a month. We didn’t know what Sam would do to us but we were resigned. It actually wasn’t all bad,” Ansell admitted.

“And what did he end up doing to you? How did he punish the two of you?” Lacey asked curiously and moved so that she was settled back against Ansell once more, his arms wrapped around her and keeping her close just as she liked.

“He turned us into his bitches for the six months,” Zhubin said. He gave a huge grin and chuckled. “Whenever he said to jump, we asked how high. If he said to do something we had to do it, no questions asked. We went where we were told, when we were told and did whatever he asked. It was absolute hell.”

Lacey laughed like mad. She couldn’t help it. Shaking her head, she looked at the men. “Oh God, I love it. I hope he made you boys do a lot of things for him to make up for that. Poor man.” She snickered. “I feel for the guy, and I’m glad that your punishment fit the crime. Sorry boys, but there it is.”

“Our punishments always fit the crime. Though we did get a lot better at ensuring we didn’t get caught after that. We were actually pretty good at staying clean on our capers,” Ansell said. He gave a chuckle. “They suspected but since there was absolutely no proof, they couldn’t point the finger.”

“Oh lordy. We are in for a world of hurt when we have a family aren’t we?” Her grin was clear even in her voice. “I look forward to it though.” Lacey spoke as she cuddled up closer to Ansell. “And I really look forward to reminding you boys of your ‘capers’ and what you did in the past.”

“You can remind us, but it really only works if we feel shame. Other than the one with Sam there is no guilt associated with any of them,” he said with a shrug. His fingers began to stroke up and down her arm. “So if you want to bring them up, go ahead, just be prepared for the consequences that may come of it.”

“Right, well I will make sure that if I do bring it up I am ready to deal with the consequences. But really, what are you going to do? Spank me?” Her tone was one of pure suggestion and desire. “Please?” she added.

Zhubin threw his head back to laugh. “Oh darling, little mate,” Ansell said on a very definite growl. “We thought you’d never ask.” His teeth snapped next to her ear. A moment later the vehicle changed direction. “We’re coming up the drive to the house. You ready, Lacey?”

“Damn,” she muttered, and licked her lips. “Okay, well I guess I am.” She had actually been more ready to jump them than anything. “You totally owe me a spanking,” she all but purred. “Because I really, really like that by the way. Spankings. Being tied up. Blindfolded. I’m not your average gal.”

“We already know that, Lacey,” Zhubin said, smiling at her. “But let’s worry about the mating first before we work on all your sexy little kinky fantasies, shall we?” The vehicle slid to a smooth stop and he got out holding a hand to her. “Sam will take the bags up to a room so all you need to think about now are the parents.”

“Oh crap,” she muttered. “I had really and truly thought that maybe we would have some time before we had to do that.” Taking a deep breath she nodded and sighed. “Okay,” she murmured and placed her hand trustingly into Ansell’s. “Let’s go and meet the ’rents, shall we?”

Chuckling, Zhubin squeezed her hand. Tugging, he led her up the walk toward the house. A large male, obviously his father, stood with a smaller female who was fidgeting. “Mother, Father, I’d like you to meet Lacey, our mate. Lace, this is Thorin and Gennette, my parents.”

“Hello, Lacey Rose,” Thorin’s voice in person was deeper than over the feeds. Odd thing to notice, but she did. “It’s a pleasure to meet you finally in person.”

“Thank you. It is a pleasure to meet you as well.” Lacey leaned into Zhubin, and twined her other hand with Ansell’s. “So I heard a story about these boys burning off poor Sam’s eyebrows and part of his hair, were they always that rotten?” When she looked up at Zhubin and then Ansell however there was no doubting her emotions for the men.

“Most of the time,” Thorin muttered.

Gennette smacked him and moved closer. She came to a stop though, a foot from Lacey, her hands clenched tight before her. “They were not always so rotten. They were high-energy boys who didn’t like being stuck indoors. I hope that you don’t think it’s a reflection upon us my dear.”

“Not at all.” Lacey let go of her men and impulsively gave the woman a hug. “Thank you for giving me the two men that I love more than life itself. I hope that we can talk later? Just the two of us? I have so many questions.”

Gennette’s arms came around Lacey quickly. “We can talk all you want, Lacey. You are to be my daughter, a most precious gift. Whatever you wish to discuss I will freely and gladly give voice to. I only hope I have all the answers to the questions you hold, my dear.”

Lacey smiled and nodded. “I like that idea. A lot. I like the idea of being able to talk to you. Thank you,” she whispered and gave the woman another hug she nodded. She moved back to her men’s sides and smiled. “Can we go in?” She knew she was the one who was keeping them from going inside.

“Absolutely.” She smiled and turned to her mate. “Well, why are you still standing there, Thorin? Get inside. I’m sure the girl would like a good stiff drink about now. I know I need one to help settle these damned nerves.” She moved up the steps and pushed Thorin through the door. “Bring her along, boys. Now!”

“Yes ma’am,” both said with huge grins.

Lacey grinned. “I like her,” she confessed to her men. “Thank you. For bringing me here. For being willing to share your mom with me.” She gave both her men a small hug and followed, looking over her shoulder and saying, “Well, come on, guys. Your mom mentioned booze and I’m so there with her. Damn nerves.”

“That excuse doesn’t work when you’re not nervous anymore,” Zhubin said. They caught up with her easily just inside the door. “You just like the idea of getting your hands on some Luhpyne alcohol. You do realize that it’s nothing like human alcohol.”

“Really?” Well that was something she didn’t know. “And who says that I’m not still nervous? I still have to have a conversation with your mom so that I can figure out what I’m doing with this whole mating thing.” She honestly didn’t know what in the world she was doing, just that she loved these men completely and fully.

“We all know you’re going to do it,” Ansell was the one to say. “Just don’t imbibe too liberally, Lacey. When Zhu says it’s stronger, he means a lot stronger. Take your most potent alcohol and kick it up a hundred or so notches. You’ll be relatively close to just how potent it is. Whatever you do, drink lots of water while drinking the alcohol. Otherwise that conversation may end up being a tell-all that Gennette really doesn’t need to hear.”

“Right, well it’s not like the three of us have done anything so it’s not like I can tell her a great deal,” she teased him. “Don’t worry, I don’t plan on having a great deal of drink because I want to have a full and clear mind tonight. We are going to complete our mating tonight, right?”

“Yes but you’ve been watching us for five years. The Gods only know what questions you might spout off with if you were drinking.” Ansell muttered behind her as they walked through the large entrance, down a wide light-colored hallway and through a very large doorway. They all moved directly to the long, deep and low-slung sofas.

“Here you are.” Gennette passed Lacey a small glass. There was only a small splash of clear liquid that sparkled slightly at the bottom. “I thought I’d let you try this first and see if you liked it before giving you a full glass. If you don’t, we have quite the selection for you to try.”

“Thank you, Gennette,” Lacey said with a smile. “And it’s my understanding that Luhpyne alcohol is far stronger than anything that I’m used to so I think very small drinks would be very good for me for the next while.”

“Oh, it most definitely is. I’ve also got water jugs all over the place with glasses next to them. If you need some water don’t even ask, just grab it yourself. It helps to dilute the effects but, for reasons beyond me, it only works as a separate entity. Mixing it with the alcohol does nothing at all.”

“How strange. Thank you for that though.” She would have tried to do just that. She would have tried to cut the booze with water. Taking her drink she leaned against Ansell when he wrapped his arms around her from behind and sighed happily. This was what she needed.

“Thanks, Dad.” Zhubin took two glasses from his father, passing one to Ansell. He took a sip and nodded. “Brought out the old stock did you?” He chuckled.