Homelands Pt. 05 Ch. 01

"Relax," his mother said, with a chuckle. "Just keep doing what you were doing."

"Sorry," he said, looking up from her sharply angled hips.

Her smile was languid. "No, no. My fault. Shouldn't have made you think that you were about to break a record or something."

Before he could reply, she pushed him back to her hips.

It was a long time after that before he finally gave her what she craved. Her breasts, hips, navel, ass, neck and spine had all demanded homage first. Eventually, though, he knelt before the opening through which he'd entered the world and guided his mother through a couple of intense orgasms. When both ejaculate and sexual energy poured forth from his mother, he smiled, taking that as a testament to his skills as a lover.

After that, she reminded him that he'd inherited his tongue from her. And then she took him in her warm snatch. By the time the two of them finally called it quits, the sun was starting to come up.

#

Though she hadn't slept more than two hours the night before, Gabriela woke up feeling about as energetic as she'd ever felt. She and Eric had gone at it over and over again, and her baby boy had fed her a ton of energy along with his many loads of cum.

Even if he hadn't, even if she'd moved closer and closer to physical exhaustion, she'd have had a hard time putting a stop to their marathon lovemaking. The hunger in her son's eyes, the steady thrum of energy in his Libido, the eagerness with which he grabbed at her, all made her feel like a woman. Made her feel alive.

Nonetheless, it probably ought not to have surprised her that as noon crept closer and closer, she started to crash, and crash hard. They were, after all, still physical beings. With physical needs. Some of which didn't even have anything to do with sex.

And as the afterglow from her amazing night with Eric slowly faded away, it became harder and harder to keep Jennifer from her thoughts.

Gabriela hadn't thought the emotional little brunette had meant half of what she'd said the night before. She often didn't. At least, she frequently apologized later, claiming that she hadn't. This time, though, Jennifer apparently hadn't been kidding. She'd told Gabriela that she was going to leave her, and take her kids with her.

And, for the most part, she'd done just that.

She and Annie were gone by the time Gabriela woke up. Nick and Veronica had still been asleep in their beds, but the woman who'd raised Patty as if she were her own daughter really had gone and walked out when she was needed most.

And to think, Jennifer was the one who had never forgiven Hank for leaving.

Eric walked in to the kitchen, wearing nothing but a pair of boxers that were just tight enough to get Gabriela's blood pumping.

"Where's your brother?" she tried to ask. Just at that moment, though, a monster yawn came over her, and the question came out sounding more like, "Air's oar of her?"

"Huh?" Eric asked.

"Sorry," she said. "Might need to put a second pot of coffee on."

Or perhaps a little hair of the dog that bit her. Just a little quickie to get some of her son's energy. Would that be so wrong?

"Anyway, I was asking where Nick is."

"Showering, I think." Then, with resignation, he asked, "About time to have that talk?"

"Fraid so."

He nodded and leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. Then set about fixing a pot of coffee.

Gabriela smiled to herself as she watched her son fill the carafe with water and measure out the grinds. For most of his life, he'd been an impetuous, stubborn, spoiled brat. Those words didn't come easy. Had Jennifer called him that just a few weeks ago, the two of them would have gotten into one of their epic fights.

But it was true all the same.

Now that he was finally beginning to mature, though, to develop into a responsible and considerate young man, it was easier for Gabriela admit to herself what he'd been like in the past. Just a few days ago, even, her son would have been unlikely to notice that her comment about another pot of coffee, and the yawn that had preceded it, could be seen as a hint that maybe there was something he could do for her. Not that she'd meant as such. But the little gesture was more than appreciated all the same. Something had changing in Eric. Be it his feelings for her, or the whole incident with Patty leading him to think of himself as the man of the house. One way or the other, Eric was now showing a lot more interest in doing anything and everything he could to put a smile on her face.

Her little boy had grown up to be the man of her dreams. He knew how to take care of her, in every sense of the word.

Of course, it didn't hurt that he was drop-dead fucking gorgeous. He had the tiniest little waist you ever saw on a guy, with a powerful back that flared out from said waist to form a pronounced V. His broad shoulders simply radiated strength and security. His arms were powerful and ripped. His ass was tight and round. His legs were long and hard and shapely. His calves were like baseballs and his quads and hamstrings steel cables.

"That's too strong," she said, perhaps a touch more reproachfully than she'd intended.

"Sorry," he said, without offense. He scooped some of the coffee out of the basket and dropped it back into the bag. "Good?"

"Perfect," Gabriela said, running a hand down his strong back.

Where had he gotten muscles like that? They were so beautiful. Her womanhood ached at the mere sight of them. Feeling them beneath her fingers only made it worse.

As pick-me-ups went, coffee would do. But it sure was a poor substitute for what she really wanted. With any luck, the conversation with Nick and Veronica wouldn't take long.

"Morning," Nick said, stepping down into the kitchen from the staircase.

Speak of the devil.

"Hey, punkass," Eric said.

"Fuck your butt," Nick replied. "Any bacon left?"

Gabriela had been about to ask how he'd known that she'd made bacon and eggs. Or how he'd managed to descend the stairs without making a sound. But she simply smiled instead. That was Nick for you, after all. Gabriela never quite knew what was going on inside that mind of his. Never knew how he knew the things he did, or how he could command the spotlight one moment and fade from the view the next.

"Not for you," Eric said.

"Bite me," Nick said, stepping up to the counter to investigate. He found the covered pan. "Jackpot." Without even bothering to grab a plate or warm the meat up or anything, he started gnawing on a few strips.

Gabriela folded her arms beneath her breasts and leaned back against the far counter. The two boys were so different, yet so alike. There they stood, side by side, making her head spin. Eric wore boxers that barely hid his slab of meat. Nick wore black silk pajamas that were too loose to reveal much. Her son's skin was bronze to Nick's brown. One had hair like wheat, the other's was black as coal. Eric had a narrower waist, broader shoulders, and enough mass to make Nick look smaller than he was.

But for all the differences, they were more alike than either would ever admit.

And they each had the kind of bodies that made grown women behave like hormonal teenagers. Different in subtle ways, yes, but equally perfect.

Nick's eight pack made Gabriela want to pour water down his chest and watch the rivulets trickle into the deep grooves between his abdominals. To bounce her fists against those hard mounds. Eric's was no less impressive, butit was sometimes hard to remember to look at her son's abs. He had so many other beautiful assets, after all. The two were also nearly of a height, though Eric was an inch or two taller. They had smooth bodies, with just enough hair in just the right places to keep from looking like greased-up pigs.

Her husband had left her. Then her wife had as well. But Nick remained. And he was worth a hundred Hanks, and a thousand Jennifers.

"Eggs are over-" she started to say.

"Got it," Nick said, reaching past his brother to grab the covered plate. "Thanks, ma."

Gabriela smiled wistfully at that. It almost felt out of place, for him to call her that. But she wasn't about to object.

"So, I was thinking," Nick began.

"Whoa, call CNN," Eric said. "When a powerhouse like that comes online, the world deserves to know about it," he added, pointing at his brother's dome.

Nick gave Eric's upper arm a quick jab.

Gabriela swooned at the mere sight of her son's bicep tensed in anticipation of the blow.

"As I was saying," Nick continued, "seems to me that we'd be going easy on Phil if all we did was start knocking of his kids one by one."

"That's what you call going easy?" Gabriela asked.

"Discovered a way to use our powers to mimic a hydrogen bomb, eh?" Eric said.

Nick rolled his eyes. "No. Just sayin' that if we kidnap one or two of his kids, he'll-"

"Save it," Eric said, in a tone that was brooked no argument.

Gabriela drew a deep breath.

She could all but hear Jennifer's voice coming out her son's mouth. Perhaps by way of Veronica. Not that it made any difference. The Hardts all thought alike. And it was the Hardt party line that they were about to hear.

That Nick had stuck around said a lot for him. But Gabriela couldn't have been more pleased that her son wasn't interested in this line of argument.

Eric's hand came to rest on Nick's shoulder. "Look, I get what you're doing."

Nick didn't allow any expression to show. "Oh? And what is it that I'm doing?"

"Trying to avoid an all-out war."

For a few moments, no one spoke.

When they heard Veronica's car pull up into the driveway, Gabriela gave a start.

"I won't say you're being a chick-shit," Eric said, in a voice that suggested that it had taken all of his willpower to avoid making precisely that accusation. "I'm sure your heart is in the right place. But, all the same," he paused for a just a moment, "go fuck yourself."

Nick scoffed, eyes wide in disbelief.

"I mean that in the best possible way."

"Of course you do," Nick said.

Gabriela felt like she was frozen in place. She couldn't move, couldn't speak. Couldn't do anything but watch the drama as it unfolded.

If she'd heard Jennifer's voice coming out of Nick's mouth a moment ago, she was now listening to her own son speak with her brother's voice.

And not Wes' either.

Her boy had never even met his Uncle Alan. Yet he was apparently turning into him, right before her eyes. Only that wasn't really how it was. Just how it seemed to her because she'd refused to see it before. Truthfully, it had been happening for a long time. If she hadn't refused for so long to allow herself to think about her brother, she'd have seen it.

Did the same fate await House Moody now as had befallen it then?

"Hey, everyone," Veronica said as she walked in.

The skin-tight black tank top and skimpy gray vest she wore over it accentuated her large breasts, but her oversized sunglasses hid half her face, and her loose-fitting jeans did her no favors. Even now that she'd started wearing her true appearance as a matter of course, the girl was something of a mess. Not without potential, to be sure, but it was hard for Gabriela to see exactly what Nick saw in her.

She'd often thought much the same of Jennifer, but only out of jealousy, truth be told. In her calmer moments, Gabriela could admit that Jennifer was a serious fox. Nick could definitely do better than Veronica though.

"Morning, dear," Gabriela said. Her words sounded distant, hollow, even to her ears.

Veronica gave her a quick smile before turning to her brother and kissing him on the cheek. Then, to Eric, she said, "You make coffee now too?" Over her shoulder, the girl added, "You know, Mom, I think you just might want to hold onto this one."

Gabriela let out a bittersweet laugh.

Nick was less easily distracted. "If that's how it's going to be, you're on your own."

Eric frowned. "Is this a fucking joke?"

"Not at all."

"I assume I don't need to remind you that it's Patty we're talking about?"

Nick stood up a little taller, staring his brother in the eyes. "I'm well aware of that."

"So who's got your balls in a jar? Vee? Or your mother?"

"That ain't the problem."

"Whoa, whoa," Veronica said. "Who said anyone's got anyone's balls in a jar?"

"So what is?" Eric asked, ignoring his sister.

"We're still gonna do what we can," Nick said. "But we're gonna do it the smart way."

The smart way. Of course.

Gabriela wanted to smack her son.

"You mean you want to make sure that any retaliation targets House Moody and only House Moody," Eric said.

"Exactly," Gabriela muttered under her breath.

Veronica stared up at Nick, her facial expression asking him if he was going to take that.

Nick did not reply at first. Eventually, he said, "I'd like to think I've earned a little more respect than that, but whatever helps you sleep at night."

The little muscles at the corners of his mouth were bulging. His whole body was rigid. Gabriela had never seen that look on Nick's face. Defiant, angry, and utterly convinced that he was standing on the higher ground.

"Baby," Gabriela said. "Maybe we should take a few steps back."

Eric raised an eyebrow at her.

"That's not fear on your brother's face," she said. Damn, it was hard to second guess her son when he leveled that penetrating gaze at her. His glacial blue eyes could be so gold. So hard. "Whatever's holding him back, it ain't cowardice."

"Never said it was," Eric said.

The hard edge had gone out of his voice though. He wasn't protesting. In fact, it was almost like he was pleading wit her. Begging her not to think him unreasonable.

"Sooo," Veronica said. "How 'bout some coffee?"

No one made a move to pour any.

"What exactly did I miss, anyway?" the girl asked.

Nick slipped up behind his sister and put his hands on her shoulders. "I was just telling them that we're going to try and get Patty back our own way. They aren't big fans of the hostage taking approach."

"Oh?" Veronica asked. The way she said it, you'd think it was some deep and meaningful comment, rather than the most unassuming question one could ask.

Gabriela even thought there might be a hint of an accusation to it. Like Veronica thought that the only reason that Eric wasn't more receptive was because Nick hadn't tried hard enough to sell him on it.

Well, that answered one of Gabriela's questions.

"Yeah," Nick said.

Veronica turned to regard Eric and Gabriela. "Why not?"

"Difference of opinion," Eric said, through gritted teeth. Then, with a little more warmth, he added, "But we understand that you want what's best for Patty too. If you want to try something on your own, that would be appreciated."

Gabriela gave her son a nod.

The truth was, Nick and Veronica cared just as much about Patty as anyone else. If they felt they couldn't back her and her son's play, the only logical explanation was that they genuinely did believe there was a better way to get Patty back.

They might even be right about that.

Gabriela considered saying as much. Insisting that they all work together, even if it meant doing things Nick's way.

But she couldn't do that to her son.

He was the man of the family now. And he wasn't Alan, however much he reminded Gabriela of her late brother. Things would be different this time.

They had to be.

"So," Eric said.

"Yup," Nick replied.

Then the two stared at each other in silence.

Perhaps as much to avert his brother's gaze as anything, Nick picked at the bacon and eggs some more. Meanwhile, his sister stared intently at her fingernails.

It was all Gabriela could do not to scream. Or to send them to their rooms and tell them that they couldn't come back out until they were ready to apologize to one another.

"Guess this is goodbye. For now," Eric said.

"Seems like." Nick turned to Gabriela and, with a hint of a grin, said, "But we can't leave without a proper sendoff."

#

Her mother was glowing. And not figuratively.

Annie would have loved to believe that was her doing. But she knew better.

She didn't need her mother to tell her what had happened to know the truth either. When she'd woken up in the middle of the night, needing to pee, she'd found her bed empty. In the morning, her mother was beside her again. Add in the telling afterglow, and it wasn't hard to guess that in the meantime, she'd been with Nick.

On one level, Annie didn't even care. She wasn't really that into women anyway. Nor entirely sure how she felt about whatever it was that seemed to be developing between her and her mother. If she were into women, she'd prefer Olivia or Aunt Zoey.

But, at the same time, it felt like the final insult.

She wished she could just go back to the way things were, before she'd turned eighteen. Before she'd discovered that she was a freak, and that her whole family was full of depraved sex addicts. Sex addicts who seemed to have no interest in any kind of sex besides incest.

Ick, ick, double-ick.

Except that wasn't what bothered her. She certainly wished that it was, since that would suggest that she was at least a little bit normal. But even though some part of Annie thought that incest was gross, disgusting, and seriously not-okay, she couldn't deny that she'd have no problem with it if things were playing out a bit differently for her.

No, what had Annie feeling depressed and outraged at the same time was that she was, apparently, butt-ugly. At least by the standards of her people. Better to be a mortal and have to grow old and die than that.

Annie tossed another stone and watched it plunk straight down into the water. It didn't skip so much as once.

"Softer, honey," her mother said.

Annie sneered to herself. Did her mother think that Annie didn't know that you couldn't get a rock to skip if you threw it too hard?

Couldn't she tell that Annie was sulking?

It wasn't like she was being subtle about it.

They were back in Summer. On the Hardt family island. But they were deep inland, where there wasn't even a trace of saltwater in the air. Apparently, Annie was cursed to spend the rest of her life on an island paradise and never again see the shore. As her mother had explained several times already, they weren't allowed to venture too far away from her grandparents' cabin. Even though no one else was likely to set foot on the island for a long ass time, and it wasn't at all clear to Annie who would know if she wanted to feel warm sand between her toes or hear the waves crash against the shore.

Stupid fucking world and its stupid fucking rules.

Why did her mother have to take her here? Make her retire from court life, before she'd gotten any sense of what that even meant?

And why did she have to be so obsessed with her son? For a fucking dyke, she seemed awfully fond of that boy's cock.

It had felt good, for a little while, to feel like she was special. To think that at least someone appreciated her. That had only been an illusion though. Annie wasn't special. Not even in her own mother's eyes.

All she was was available.

No one else wanted her. Eric was all about Gabriela. From the sound of it, he'd once been obsessed with Olivia, but apparently he decided that having good taste in women had gone out of style. And, last night notwithstanding, you couldn't pry Nick away from Veronica with a crow bar. So their mother had turned her attention to the one person who wasn't attached. And that was all that there was to it.

Not that Annie could really blame her mother for still carrying a torch for Nick. Nick was...Nick. Nerdy, but in the hot way. Most nerds didn't have Nick's body. Or his cute dimples. They also tended to shriek and run away from any form of violence that couldn't be resolved by rolling dice or pressing "x" and "circle" over and over again. Nick, on the other hand, never shied away from a fight. Had even gone looking for a few.