Traps and Gretchen (Bayou Bishops #19)

Fear Knot

Gretchen searched for her dress along the bed and found it, trying to recall if there was a lamp as she felt along the material for the opening. She froze at the sound of female laughter then quickly slid the dress on, hurrying to find her panties and bra. She made her way toward the door and located the light, turning it on while trying to identify the voices. Was that Spar’s booming laugh?

Her tummy flipped when Neelo’s voice hit right in her womb. She spotted her panties and snatched them from the floor, stumbling into them while looking for her bra. Racing to the other side of the bed, she found it, glancing toward the door as she quickly lowered the dress sleeves and put it on. She looked around for a mirror while removing the high ponytail, her scalp and privates flashing with pleasure memories. I love my Bee-shjoo more. Her stomach knotted with fear and dread, and she shoved it down. Not everything had to break. Not everybody had to be a threat. Not everybody was selfish. She knew that. Those were real facts. And he’d shown her that over the past two months of hell she put him through. She’d been as wrong about him as she’d longed to be. And then she’d taken a terrifying chance with him and thank God she did.

Damn, he had no mirror. Not a surprise. Somebody that beautiful had to know they were.

She decided to leave her hair down, not wanting to chance an up-do without being able to see. Plus, she wanted to know what women were there. Maybe just one. If it was Spar, who would be with him? She sucked in a breath, wondering if the terror triplet was there. Ever since she’d learned about them, she wanted to meet them. That would be so cool. The Fetch one was supposed to come for supper and if they had, then that should be his wife she heard.

She made her way out of room, taking in a deep, steadying breath, pausing just before she entered the kitchen where they seemed to all be gathered. She heard three men. And two women. The temptation to be one of her confident personas rose up in her. Be the woman Neelo created. Just… focus on Neelo, and how he makes you feel. Be that person. You can do this. You can even pretend it’s another persona just this time.

She stepped into the kitchen but the first eyes she met weren’t Neelo’s but a golden pair.

“Speaking of your salvation,” a woman said with an Irish sounding accent. “She’s right behind you.”

Her heart dropped to her stomach when Neelo took two big steps and caught her up in a huge bear hug, lifting her off her feet and kissing her. “My Belle Bee-shjoo, how did you sleep?” he murmured on her mouth.

“So good,” she whispered as he kissed all over her face while she fought to let him. Being in the spotlight was not her thing. She was besties with the shadows because they allowed her to learn the terrain without distraction. He finally set her down and she focused on stabilizing her mind and body as he introduced her.

“You know Spar,” he said.

“Hey Bee-shjoo, ” the giant warrior said with a grin and teasing wink.

She flashed a wave at him.

“And that’s Sister Scarlett,” Neelo said of the woman on Spar’s right.

“She’s training me and I’m training her,” Spar explained.

“Training?” Gretchen wondered, eyeing the nun attire she wore down to the white headdress.

Spar put his huge arm around her tiny shoulders. “I’m teaching her to spar with humans.” He aimed a grin at the girl. “And she’s teaching how to spar with demons .”

The poor woman couldn’t hide what the esteemed Swamp Warrior’s touch did to her, not even a little. And she was such an adorable looking thing with the clear green eyes and the kindest demeanor, as if her skin radiated with compassion. It wasn’t often Gretchen felt safe around people but with this woman, she absolutely did.

“And that is Fetch,” Neelo pointed to the huge man with the beautiful face next. “First of the three triplets, and his wife, Rowan.”

The pull of the triplet’s bright blue gaze was inescapable, and she finally met it with a quick nod. The power in it became magnetizing and she panicked at realizing he might see inside her. He suddenly glanced at his wife, allowing Gretchen to do the same.

“Very nice to meet all of you,” Gretchen blurted with a wobbly nod.

“And that is… Handy,” Traps said to the golden eyed man.

Handy. She nodded, getting sucked right into his stare which was also full of power, only this one had a heat to it. “Nice to meet you, sir,” she sputtered. Not sir, he’s not a sir .

He gave a slow smile at her, as if knowing she was fighting to escape a full-blown panic attack just from being three seconds in his odd stare. “The pleasure is ours,” he said, flashing a one-sided smile that said he was best friends with mischief.

Wait. Ours?

It suddenly hit her, and his brows rose along with hers as if he knew the connection she’d made. He was the man with two people living inside him! The one Maggie said had done something with his powers to her! Is that what he was doing to her?

“Ma Belle Bee-shjoo is hungry,” Neelo said, taking her hand and pulling her to the cooking side of the room and from the man’s eye-snares. “Allow me to fix your supper.” He leaned and kissed her right on the mouth. “I hope that doesn’t make you uncomfortable,” he murmured at her lips. “Because I’m doing it anyway.” He returned to filling a huge bowl with gumbo before angling his quirked brow at her.

She couldn’t believe he was all hers and her smile couldn’t get bigger as she shook her head. “I love it.”

He leaned and kissed her again. “And I love you.”

With that he led her to the table and set the monster sized bowl of food down, opening her chair. He then proceeded to seat her like a queen before putting his mouth at her ear. “You were hungry and there is a very good chance you are carrying your monster’s baby now. So… get to eating.”

Her jaw dropped as he pulled his chair closer and sat while the chatter continued and her mind and stomach spun with his impossible words. She stirred her food, down to begging her nerves to settle down so she didn’t get sick from this level of excitement. She couldn’t remember ever experiencing so much and that had her nervous and without escape plans or coping ideas.

Just keep pretending to be the new you. It’s okay that it feels new. Because it is. Go slowly. You can do this.

The room filled with talk of various forms of training as she took her first bite already knowing how good it would be. He was such an excellent cook. He could teach her she realized. She would love to be the one fixing his bowls of food and sitting her monster king at their table. She suddenly had visions of her sucking his cock while he ate.

She blew on a steaming spoonful, daring a glance around and getting sucked right into the golden eyes across the table watching her, the half-smile only hinting now.

She blinked her way out of the snare and quickly took a bite, realizing she was using the worst thing for a shield. The last thing she needed was the debilitating stomach cramps she got when under too much stress.

Neelo leaned in. “Good?” he checked.

“So very good,” she whispered. Her stomach nearly gave the bite back to her mouth when Neelo’s hand found hers under the table and grasped it tightly. He did it to comfort her, not realizing he was the biggest wrecking ball to her nerves in that room. The only thing that was powerful enough to calm her was something they couldn’t do in public. She squeezed his fingers anyway, wishing she was in his ropes, bound so very tight and forced to feel what was perfectly wicked and perfectly right. It occurred to her that he was the thing she’d been seeking all her life. The one big enough to crush all her fears and feed all her secret needs.

She forced her ears to the conversation.

“Once she scared off a gang of hooligans harassing an elderly woman with the word of God alone,” Rowan bragged at a blushing Scarlett.

“Did she?” Spar laughed with raised brows.

“Oh yes!” Rowan hurried. “She screamed at the scary lot of ‘em at the tippy top of her lungs, like a lunatic banshee!” Rowan stood then, re-enacting it. “‘You think you can get away with this evil? The Lord will strike you with confusion, madness, and terror! Your flesh will decay while you’re still standing, your eyes will melt in their sockets, and your tongues will rot in your mouths! Run from here or suffer the fire and brimstone. There’ll be no place to hide!” Rowan pointed a finger straight at the invisible enemy before her. “‘You’ll be devoured by wild beasts, burned with fire, and turned to dust. Your blood will spill like water, and your bodies will be left for the scavengers! The hand of the Lord will wipe you out, and no one will remember your name. Run, before it’s too late, before He breaks you like brittle clay in His hands.’”

“She exaggerates!” Scarlett cried.

“I bloody do not!” Rowan assured, sitting back down and getting a very sensual kiss from her husband.

The conversation and laughter continued on, and she stared down at her next bite of food. Her body had reached enemy level and with every second and controlled breath, it turned its back on her.

Suddenly Neelo released her hand under the table and stood, along with the other men. What did she miss? She watched Neelo’s face descend to hers, his lips pressing softly on her mouth. “I’m showing the men the new traps I’ve made out back,” he whispered to her. “Take your time and eat. Make friends.”

She nodded with a smile, setting the spoon in the bowl when it began to shake. “Okay. Have fun.” Hearing the pride in his voice about his traps twisted her guts. She’d wanted many times to ask questions about them but couldn’t. She’d locked herself out of his life with her fear and anger.

He pulled back a little, eyeing her. “You okay?”

She nodded quickly. “Yes. I’m perfect,” she assured, taking hold of his face and pulling his mouth to hers to prove the lie. “So very perfect,” she whispered, getting his sexy mmmm .

“You are surely so very perfect.”

She held his hot stare as he pulled up and then pried his eyes from hers before heading for the back entrance.

If these women asked her about this trap, she couldn’t be ignorant. Not because she cared about what they thought of her, she didn’t, and that alone was huge progress. She cared only about protecting him. He deserved a wife that obsessed over everything he touched. And she did.

She didn’t want to use other personas anymore but if it meant helping him or protecting him, she would. With all her talent and might.

Lacy. Lacy from “All That and Then Some.” She was the perfect heroine to borrow for the rest of the night. She was fully capable of ensuring her beautiful husband wasn’t touched by her silly past issues and stupid tantrums.

“Well, I can tell you this,” Gretchen announced, standing. “I never get this much company and I’m too excited to eat. How about while the men tinker with traps we do something… I don’t know…” She gazed at the two women. “Would it be really weird if we made homemade ice cream at this hour? I know a secret fast recipe.”

She got two big smiles as the women both rose from their chairs, looking eager to do anything besides sit. “Point me in a direction,” Rowan urged.

Scarlett hurried next to her with happy nods. “I can cook, clean, and a little of everything in between.”

“Wonderful!” Gretchen spun to the fridge and pulled out the glass jug of raw milk then opened the freezer for ice.

“I’ll start on these dishes,” Rowan announced.

“I’ll help,” Scarlett said eagerly, hurrying to Rowan.

“How about some music!” Gretchen thought after she gathered her ingredients, heading for the stereo. “Neelo has a surprising selection of fun tunes,” she said, finding her favorite one she liked to play when he wasn’t around. “He inherited all these from his grandfather I learned,” she said, pulling the album from its worn sleeve.

“What is it?” Scarlett wondered, sounding excited. “I love music,” she declared.

“That she does,” Rowan vouched over her shoulder.

“Remember the Christmas party at the retirement home?” Scarlett asked.

“Will never forget it!”

Gretchen began dancing with her pretend partner—which was always Neelo—when the music began. The girls turned and laughed, forsaking the dishes and grabbing each other’s hands, joining in.

Gretchen gasped a laugh, watching them. “You two are like real professionals! Where did you learn this, what is it called? Teach me!”

“It’s called the Jitter Bug,” Scarlett said, reaching out for Gretchen’s hands.

“We learned it from all the old folks we tended,” Rowan giggled as Scarlett tossed Gretchen around and shoved her about ‘till she was laughing hysterically!

“They were a lively bunch!” Rowan called, intercepting Gretchen in one of the spin-tosses and whipping her into another set of moves. “This is the Lindy Hop,” she yelled over the music right as Scarlett stepped in for another turn while Rowan circled them with shoulder shaking and funny hand moves over one eye then the other. “Hand Jive, baby!”

“Let’s show her the East Coast Swing!” Rowan yelled, getting Scarlett’s eager squeal as they launched into a new kind of footwork, jerking one another this way and that, making Gretchen squeal in delight.

“It’s like a dance fight!” Gretchen called, watching the moves.

Scarlett’s upper body bent backward in Rowan’s arm, her face upside down for a split second before getting yanked up for a slide right between Rowan’s legs then out again, back on her dancing feet. Gretchen clapped and cheered right as the back door opened and the men came back in, watching the two oblivious ladies, dancing their hearts out.

When the ladies realized they had a grinning audience glued to their every move, they immediately stopped, laughing in embarrassment.

“No, no, no, don’t stop, ladies,” Neelo begged, his beautiful smile was right on her. Her heart raced harder as he came before her. “Is somebody being a Farkle Fairy?” Before she could worry, his mouth covered hers in a rumbling hungry kiss till her mind spun in a dozen fretful directions. He was to call her that when he knew she wasn’t being herself, but the way he said the name and the way he kissed her felt like… he didn’t mind. Maybe… liked it.

Traps suddenly spun away from her and the next second she covered her mouth with a laugh when him and Spar danced a Cajun Jig that had them all howling. Especially when they began bumping hips together, slowly turning as they did, smacking their butts together.

When he returned to her with a big, laughing kiss, she pulled his ear to her mouth. “Is somebody being a Fatey Fairy?”

He drew back with a curious humored look. “A Fatey Fairy?”

“Have you always hidden yourself this way Mr. Neelo? Where is my witty, poetic monster? Who is this crass baboon you’ve replaced him with? I don’t like him.” She smiled as he smacked her lips. “I want my Mosaic Monster back.”

“Mosaic Monster,” he muttered, sounding impressed. “Your wish is my command.”

He suddenly released her and hurried to the stereo, making her pulse hammer in wonder. The music stopped and he turned.

“Ladies and gentlemen of these esteemed swamps,” he began, passing his gaze around before they landed on her, dark and sparkly. “I have… a poem, I’d like to recite.”

“A what!?” Spar shot out with a booming laugh as Neelo raised guilty hands, nodding.

“Indeed. I wrote it for a particular… special obsession of mine.”

“Hold up, I need to record this,” Spar chuckled, pulling his phone out as Neelo moved to the center of the floor. He suddenly faced Gretchen, holding both hands out to her. He flicked his fingers at her and she hurried to him, getting captured in his gaze and monster hands. The usual fear of being watched in a crowd lost to the intensity of love in his hot stare.

“Your beauty is a darkened form,” he began, his voice shooting sparks through her pulse. “Wispy strands within a crippled storm.” He slid his finger along the hair near her face. “Weaving its way into every thread… that protects my soul and keeps me dead...”

Her heart clenched and seized her breath at those words.

“Decayed fibers guard your heart…

By terror’s strings, you dance the part…

My hidden masterpiece in dark so dark…

I see the rosy glow upon your scars...”

She gasped as tears flooded her eyes.

“Down to the marrow of your beautiful soul…

I’ll trap every shadow in your broken bones…

I’ll find you in your hellish maze...

And set a snare with my binding rage…

Oh, I'll set a snare, of blinding rage...

My love....

My heart.…

My soul….”

He covered her gasping, astonished mouth with his while the room applauded and her emotions sky-rocketed and turned her public-panic up to a thousand.

As the threat of a full-blown panic attack descended upon her, Lacy swooped in with a bright, cheery, “We were making ice cream! I’ll hurry so our guests can enjoy dessert after your wonderful dinner and dancing.”

Gretchen spun away from Neelo as her very own social arbiter took over the task of doing and thinking before things could fall apart.

“I’ll help!” Scarlett hurried next to her in the kitchen. “Tell me what to do.”

Gretchen snatched up the glass mixing bowl and set it on the counter. “First, we’ll…” She paused, eying the golden eyes suddenly blocking her path.

“Allow me,” Handy said so very quietly, his gaze inviting pools of sparkling warmth. He covered her hands along the bowl, his hot, electrical touch seizing her breath and ability to move.

“She’s doing this,” he whispered, sounding amazed and alarmed. “Kaphas. I cannot stop her.”

Gretchen wasn’t sure what his words meant as she stood in a dark corridor in her mind where the walls seemed to warp under the hot and cold breath of time. Years passed in seconds, each filled with hundreds of whispered fears, layers, and layers of familiar dreadful darkness.

“Release her.”

Gretchen recognized the voice of Fetch even though she couldn’t see him while staring into that darkness, but the power in his command shattered the hold.

She stared down at the glass bowl in pieces at her feet as all those secret whispers screamed in her blood.

“Bee-shjoo?”

The careful call of Neelo dragged across her fears like a serrated blade while the voices became louder, forcing her hands over her ears.