Outlaws Read online

Chapter 2

  We traded places with one fancy eye-catching white wagon and pulled into a lot adjoined to the main road.

  “I want you on your best behavior,” Esther warned as we prepared to depart.

  “Why’d you single me out?” I asked.

  “Because I know what you’re like. No causing trouble. And don’t share your secret with anyone.”

  “It worked out okay in New Hoffen.”

  “That was a town. This is a city. You can’t compare the two.” Esther stared at me. “Nothing to nobody. Understand?”

  “Got it,” I sighed, rubbing my neck. “Not like I was planning on it in the first place.”

  “Then there’s nothing to worry about,” Esther said, opening the wagon.

  I took my first steps on Grabadon soil. It wasn’t exactly the most glamorous spot for them. We were in an outside garage, boxed in on most sides by standard brick walls. Opposite the entrance was an open building, filled with tools and machinery. There was a hunched man inside, putting a hammer to good use.

  “What’d I just say?” he snarled. “I don’t want your stinking money. You’re not welcome here.”

  “How cruel. And we got along so well last time,” Esther responded.

  He lifted his goggles and faced us. His anger drained away and was replaced by a jaunty smile. “Buckle my breeches. Look who it is.”

  A long braided beard dangled down to his apron-covered gut. That wasn’t as far as it could have been. He was wider than he was tall and it wasn’t anything to do with being fat. Stockiness perhaps, but it was more a testament to his short stature. There was no way he hit five-foot. Not even close. Age was somewhere he excelled. He was getting up there. His bushy, brown beard was losing ground to the devious gray plague. Still, he was some way from having one foot in the grave.

  “A dwarf?” I said, earning myself a rib nudge from Esther.

  “Hello to you too, mister detective,” he laughed. “What gave me away?”

  “Jake, this is Diarmuid,” Esther said.

  “That’s me. Welcome to my humble abode,” Diarmuid said, giving me a bone-creaking handshake. “You need anything repairing, I’m your guy. That includes that fancy piece of wheels back there.” He whistled, glancing it over. “Always love seeing it parked in my garage. That goes for you fine ladies as well.”

  “Diarmuid, you old flirt,” Dessa giggled in her usual sultry manner. “Are you trying to talk me out of my panties?”

  “In my dreams. I’m too old to hang with you youngins,” he laughed. “What you all doing in the city?”

  “Trading. Some maintenance,” Esther explained. “Perhaps a tad of R&R.”

  “I’m sure you kids have earned it. Speaking of kids, where’s the other one?”

  I hadn’t noticed but he was right. We were a Titania short.

  Esther sighed. “Bet she’s sulking in her room. I’ll go fetch her.”

  “Please. Can’t wait to spring this on my one.” Once Esther was off, Diarmuid flashed me a smile. “Hey, lad. How’d you end up with this bunch? You get snared in by that one?” He nudged his head toward Dessa.

  She responded with an air kiss and flutter of her thick eyelashes.

  “Esther, actually,” I said, prying my eyes away from Dessa’s enchanting curves.

  “Really? Didn’t know she had it in her.”

  “It’s not what you think. She saved me. I owe her one.”

  “Oh, so that’s her style. Sly girl.”

  “She works him hard,” Dessa added, emphasizing with a moan.

  “Lucky sod,” Diarmuid chuckled. “If I was a century younger, I’d be green with envy.”

  “Hey, come on. I’m not a boy toy,” I protested.

  “You’re not?” they responded in unison. Dessa wasn’t even trying to help.

  “Cut me some slack. I’m a genuine hunter.”

  Diarmuid reeled back, eyes popping. “A male demon hunter?!” He looked to Dessa, the most reliable source around.

  “It’s true. He does that as well,” she confirmed. “Although, I do prefer him in the bedroom.”

  “Well shine my shoes. A male demon hunter.” He held my arms flat at my sides and inspected me like a prized breed at a grooming show. “Not seen one of your ilk since I was wee. Guess you look the part. Much better than those guards playing dress-up.”

  “Erm… thanks?” I said while trying to ignore how uncomfortable I felt.

  “Are you harassing my Jake?” Esther said on her return, securing my freedom from those firm dwarven mitts.

  “You mean your demon hunter. That ain’t something you keep mum, lassie. I mistook him for your plaything.” Diarmuid’s focus changed when he noticed the petite orc sulking behind Esther. He snatched her up before she had a chance to escape. “Tina!”

  Titania flopped like a fish in his arms. “Lemme go!”

  “Can’t an old man hug his favorite niece?”

  “We aren’t even related!”

  “You used to call me uncle all the time.”

  “Shut it, you damn pervert!”

  “Nay, you little lassies don’t do anything for me. I need them with some experience,” Diarmuid laughed, letting her go. “Stay right there. I know someone who’s dying to meet you.” He marched into the building adjoining the garage and returned leading a girl.

  She dragged her feet and took a great interest in the floor. Her face was obscured under a mop of dark indigo hair. The fringe made a wonderful mask and the rest was tied into two clumsy, low-hanging twintails. Her clothes weren’t what you’d call feminine. She wore blue overalls over a baggy white shirt. Rather fitting for a garage.

  “Blair,” Diarmuid said. “Say hello.”

  “H-hello,” she mumbled, without lifting her head.

  “Not like that. Put some fire in it. Don’t you see who it is?”

  Blair found the courage to peek. She jerked, spilling the bangs from her face. It revealed her darling features.

  They were quite breathtaking for a first-time viewer and not just because she was a pretty little thing. She had pale lilac skin, the first I’d seen of that particular tone. Her succulent lips were a darker shade of violet. It didn’t appear to be makeup. There were certainly no tricks used higher up. You couldn’t fake her attention-grabbing eyes. They were big, bright, and yellow. Pint-sized suns framed by thick lashes.

  She rushed straight past me and hugged Titania. “Tina. I’ve missed you.”

  Titania stiffened but didn’t kick up a fuss. “Hi, Blair.”

  “I didn’t know you were back. You should have told me.”

  “We just got here.”

  “Really?! That’s great! How long are you staying for? I wanna hear all about your adventures. Oh, and I have some new gadgets to show you. If that’s okay with you.”

  Cute. That was the word that came to mind. Cute. Blair was around Titania’s height with a voice as soft as a teddy bear. Her face looked adorable brimming with enthusiasm. She had a small, thin nose and round cheeks flushed with color. They complemented the rest of her feminine features. Seemed a shame to hide it under a messy fringe. Cut those bangs and the boys would be all over her.

  There was one other detail about Blair I couldn’t help noticing. If anything, I was doing my best to not notice them. Her arms. She had six of them. Six skinny lilac arms, all hugging Titania.

  I’d met orcs, onis, elves, beast-girls, dwarves, and this one race with blue skin and long tails. It was my first time meeting someone with more than two arms.

  Blair caught me staring. She jumped and shuffled behind Titania.

  “Hey!” Titania snapped. “What you looking at?!”

  I groaned and rubbed the back of my neck. “Well, I…”

  “The lad did nothing wrong,” Diarmuid said. “Don’t be rude. Introduce yourself.”

  “She doesn’t need to.”

  “Nonsense. It’s common courtesy.” Diarmuid folded his arms. “Come on, love. You can do it.”

  Bla
ir whimpered. Between Titania’s shoulder and her hanging bangs, it was hard to see her face. “H-hello,” she whispered.

  “Not like that. Come out here.”

  She shuffled out, reluctance obvious. There was little sign of the girl who had been talking Titania’s ear off moments earlier.

  “Hey,” I said, trying to help. “I’m Jake. Nice to meet you.”

  “H-hello. M-my name is Blair.” Her six hands toyed with each other. “Nice to m-meet you too.”

  “That’s my girl,” Diarmuid said, patting her back. “Two more and Tina’s all yours.”

  Blair gave similar greetings to Esther and Dessa. She wasn’t quite as awkward with them but at no point did she approach smooth territory. I wasn’t sure whether to be pleased that her behavior wasn’t targeted at me.

  Once Blair was done, she rushed to Titania. “Wanna come see my newest inventions?” she asked, tugging Titania’s hand. “I’ve been working on some cool boots. They don’t work right… but I still worked hard on them.”

  “Sure,” Titania relented, letting Blair drag her into the garage.

  “Talk about a personality one-eighty,” I said.

  “Surprise ya?” Diarmuid laughed. “Don’t let her fool you. She’s not a quiet kid. Get her on the right subject and she’ll talk for hours. Shame she can’t do it more often.” He sighed and watched her talking freely from a distance. “I’m trying to push her, but you saw how it goes. We’re still a ways off.” Diarmuid smiled at me. “You did good, lad. I like you already.”

  “I try. Still, I was wondering. If you don’t mind me asking.”

  “Slow down, lad. I said I like you but I ain’t letting you date her.”

  “That wasn’t it.”

  “Oh, so my little girl ain’t good enough for you?”

  “That’s not it either,” I protested. “She’s beautiful. Not that I was checking her out! I just, you know, noticed. Not saying I wouldn’t be interested. I’m sure she’d make a guy very happy. But that wasn’t my point. It’s just&emdash;”

  “Lad, you’re making a real pig’s ear outta this,” Diarmuid said.

  “Can’t you see why I’m so enamored with him?” Dessa giggled. “Such a way with words.”

  My shoulders slumped. “Don’t rub it in, please.”

  “But rubbing’s what I do best,” she purred, rubbing her collarbone. Her arms mashed the sides of her alluring bosom, pressing her breasts together.

  I averted my eyes before something started swelling. “I’ve never seen a girl like Blair before.”

  “You wouldn’t be the first,” Diarmuid confessed, combing his lengthy beard. “She’s the only arachni in the city. Could be the last anywhere for all I know. Weren’t exactly common when I was wee. Wouldn’t be the only race the demons wiped.”

  The last of her kind. That had to feel lonely. I almost cried when I discovered humanity was going strong.

  “What about you?” I asked.

  “I’m not her real dad. Raised her since she was wee but we ain’t blood. Not that it makes a difference. She’s my baby through and through. Remember that before trying something.”

  “I’m not planning on it,” I assured him.

  “Good lad. Sounds like you’ve got enough company as is.”

  Esther cleared her throat. “I hate to interrupt your male bonding but we’re here for more than just gossip.”

  Diarmuid laughed. “You’re darn right, lassie. Forgive this old man. Let’s go give the girl a look.” He went with Esther to inspect the wagon.

  Engineering did nothing for me. My attention wandered to Blair and Titania. I was too far away to hear what they were saying but Blair was chatting away. It was weird how differently she treated Titania to the rest of us.

  “They’re childhood friends,” Dessa whispered.

  I jumped out of my skin. “I never asked.”

  “You wanted to,” she said, grinning.

  “You caught me,” I sighed. Was I that easy to read? “Guess it makes sense. Still, it’s a bit surprising.” A shy cutie and an argumentative hothead. They weren’t peas in a pod, although Blair seemed comfortable enough.

  As for Titania, something didn’t seem right. Was it just my imagination or was she acting a bit stilted?

  Awkward or not, the two friends hung out until we forced them apart. Our business had long concluded and an orange tone had gained control of the sky. It was almost time for bed and we were without a wagon. We couldn’t sleep in a vehicle taken in for repairs. We needed somewhere to stay.

  “I know a place,” Esther said, carrying her share of the luggage. “It’s not far.”

  “You better not be taking us there,” Titania said.

  “Don’t be a sourpuss.”

  It was only a minute away from the garage, located a street over from the main road. I expected an inn. Maybe a hotel, seeing as we were in a big city. The reality was neither. If you’d given me a hundred guesses I wouldn’t have nailed it.

  “Is this a joke?” I asked.

  “Not at all,” Esther said.

  “But, and correct me if I’m wrong, this is a strip club.”

  Gaudy silhouettes of hot girls graced every sign plastered over the concrete box of a building. It didn’t take Sherlock to decipher them.

  “That’s right,” Esther confirmed.

  “Please, stop being so casual about this. Why are we here?”

  “Yeah,” Titania agreed. “What’s wrong with an inn?”

  “Stop,” Esther said, bopping Titania’s nose. She entered before we could start another round of complaints.

  It was my first time in a strip club. Wasn’t the kind of location you visited when you lived on a shoestring budget. The atmosphere inside was everything I imagined, without the irritating dance music. It stank of sweat, smoke, and booze. Rowdy laughter echoed around the joint. Sexy women, in skimpy outfits, manned the stations. They were behind the bar, acting as waitresses, and wiggling their assets on stage.

  I saw the appeal.

  “Hi! Welcome to X-Bomb,” a sultry blonde said, greeting us in the entranceway. She sounded like a stereotypical bimbo and looked the part. Her busty figure filled a tiny red bikini that emphasized her killer hourglass curves. She had swollen lips, dolled up with a thick coating of swimwear-matching lipstick. Her eyes were big and blue with lashes designed to lure.

  It took me far too long to notice her authentic-looking bunny ears.

  When she noticed my stares, as it was kind of impossible to miss them, she swooped in and filled my vision. “Hey, big boy,” she purred, shimmying her chest. “I’m Bunny. What’s your name?”

  My blood surged. Something started stiffening.

  “Jake,” I answered, totally not sounding like a fourteen-year-old boy talking to his crush.

  “That’s such a hot name. It makes me feel so excited,” Bunny moaned. She rolled her tongue along her gorgeous lips. “Like, did you come here for some fun?”

  “He didn’t,” Esther said, elbowing my ribs.

  Bunny looked peeved. Once she got a good look at Esther, her expression brightened. “OMG, it’s Esther. Like, I totally didn’t recognize you.”

  “You were too busy drooling over Jake.”

  “Guilty,” Bunny giggled, nibbling her plump bottom lip.

  I shuddered. This was a valuable lesson learned. Dessa wasn’t the only woman on Terix overflowing with seductive power.

  “You didn’t even notice me,” that very same elf said, muscling into the conversation.

  “Dessy!” Bunny cheered, hugging Dessa. “I’ve totes missed you.” She proved it with a kiss. Not a peck on the cheek. Not even a peck on the lips. We’re talking a kiss. Lips smacking together; moans slipping out. One step further and they’d have traded spit.

  My pants tightened. I couldn’t even feel jealous.

  Esther cleared her throat. “Where’s Gall?”

  Bunny pried her lips from Dessa’s. “Erm… she’s around here somewhere, I thin
k? Like, should I go find her?”

  “Please.”

  “Okay, babes. I’ll be, like, one sec.” Bunny blew a kiss and skipped off, hips swaying with every step. A fluffy white tuft wiggled on her lower back. It was either an amazing costume or her ears were more genuine than I’d anticipated.

  Explained the original name.

  “Titania might have been right,” Esther sighed.

  “Now, now, don’t get jealous,” Dessa said.

  “I’m not.”

  “If you say so.” The giggly elf glanced at me. “You too, darling. Although, you seemed to be enjoying the show.” Dessa gave her lips a sensual lick.

  “Maybe a little bit,” I said, trying to will my hardness away.

  “Such a virile boy. I’d love to catch up with all the girls a little more physically. If you’ll let me.”

  A saint’s willpower wouldn’t have been enough to save me from arousal. Vivid fantasies swirled through my mind. Girl on girl; beauty on beauty. Dessa and Bunny would make an unstoppable double act. Give them a camera and they’d changed the shape of porn forever.

  “Where’s Titania?” Esther said, saving me from going light-headed.

  The lithe orc was missing, again.

  “I don’t know,” I responded. I’d had my eyes elsewhere since entering.

  Esther looked around, finishing her search with a huff. “That girl. I’ll look outside. You two, in here. She better not have run away.”

  Searching the area filled with temptation was more than fine with me. I prepared for a long and thorough search of the enticing establishment.

  I spotted Titania at the bar almost immediately.

  So much for that. I was on the verge of calling out but someone beat me to it.

  “See! I told you it was her,” a drunk woman said, dragging an equally intoxicated guy by the arm.

  “Shit, it is,” he slurred, pointing at Titania. “Long time no see, traitor. You’ve got nerve showing your face here.”

  “Think we all forgot?” the female said, jabbing Titania’s arm. “We don’t forget snakes.”

  I scoffed. Idiots. They’d just arranged their own funeral. It was only a matter of time until Titania gave them a beating.

  “Nothing to say, traitor?” the man said.

  “Think you’re too good for us, bitch?” The woman hiccupped. “Hear that? She lived it large. Now she’s better than us.”