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Chapter 43 – Smoking on the Balcony

Samuel, Legate the Third, and Arles stood on the balcony of the penthouse that morning. Samuel was wearing the wool coat he had given Karen, while the other two men were in their ski jackets.

"Why are we out here? It's cold!" Arles complained.

"I can't let you nutters smoke that in there!" Samuel insisted as he put his hands in his jeans in an effort to keep them warm.

Arles took the joint from Legate and shook his head. "Loser. But, I guess you're right."

Samuel flipped up his collar and shivered. The feminine brown scarf was visible making Legate and Arles both laugh to themselves.

Legate blew smoke up and leaned against the railing. "Well, Legate came to see me last night. He's decided to leave."

"Leave?" The both said at once.

Arles waved the smoke he blew away from his face. "Why?"

Legate shrugged his shoulders. "We talked about it. He said that being around Genie, knowing I end up with her, makes him feel…."

"Like a pedophile?" Arles asked and exhaled smoke again.

"Well, not in so many words." He said as Arles handed him back the joint.

"Huh." Samuel said, "I guess it would be strange. I haven't thought about it."

Legate shook his head. "I haven't either. When I'm around the younger Genie, it's….not like….Genie. It's just like this….child who looks like my Genie. When I think of Genie, I think of her as the woman. But, that's probably because I've seen her grow up. That's who I spend so much of my time with. The idea of Genie, calls to mind the image of her as a child for him. After I thought more about it, he's right. It would make it awkward."

Samuel shook his head. "Wow. So, one Legate."

Legate asked Samuel, "You don't want any of this?"

"Nah. I don't think Karen really likes me doing that."

Arles pointed at him. "See, this is why you don't let a woman control your life."

"She's not controlling my life." Samuel shook his head.

Legate looked back at Arles in surprise. "Your mouth runs away with you when you're stoned."

"Helps me stay warm." He insisted.

Legate laughed as he took another hit off the joint. "And dare I ask where you were last night?"

Arles grinned, "Not if you want the answer."

Legate shook his head and looked back at Samuel. "I go to his flat, 2 am. Nowhere to be seen. I nearly alerted the guard."

"Yeah." Arles said as he rubbed the side of his head. "They wouldn't have liked that."

"They?" Samuel asked.

Arles grinned, "Those two girls. They rang and …..needed company."

"Phhhh…." Samuel rolled his eyes. "So, full of shit."

Legate shook his head and handed Arles back the joint as he grunted. "Nope. I can smell it on him. But, it smells like three."

Arles smiled proudly. "It was only two. Your smeller is broken."

"My smeller?" Legate asked.

"It's called a nose!" Samuel informed him.

Arles nodded. "I knew that!"

Legate laughed. "So stoned."

"Three is what you smell, Legate? Perhaps one is really….."

"Don't do that." Arles shook his head.

"Interesting." Samuel teased.

Arles coughed and flipped Samuel the bird.

Samuel laughed and shivered with his hands in his pockets. "So, Legate's gone?"

"He's leaving today. Taking the ship and going back to Kaitos."

"Kaitos? To take back over the rule?" Samuel asked.

Legate nodded. "The governor there is in poor health. It's something I've thought about. He won't live much longer."

Samuel rose his eyebrows in surprise. "Wow. Lartius is going to be all over his ass to take over the kingdom."

Legate nodded as he held his breath from the hit he had just taken. "Yeah. He's already agreed."

Arles shook his head, "Okay, I know I'm fucked up. Legate wouldn't agree to that."

"He did." Legate smiled. "So, now it's off my head. And Lenox's. He's agreed to be the heir. I'm to remain here, in his service."

Samuel laughed. "This is so fucked up! It almost unbelievable! Was he smoking when he informed you of this?"

Legate laughed. "He was drinking. But, I trust it was something he had thought through."

Samuel shook his head in disbelief. "King Legate."

Arles pointed at Samuel, "You had a vision about this."

"But, it wasn't very clear." Samuel insisted. "All of it, is….like looking through water now. Us coming back to this time, has….just messed everything up."

"Have you had any visions since we've returned?" Legate asked.

"I have. They, well, some are….cloudy. It's odd. I need to ask Dad about it."

Legate took another hit off the joint and handed it back to Arles.

Samuel pointed out. "I did see that Arles plays in a baseball game-"

"Ha! You were high when you saw this shit." Arles laughed.

"And….well, I'm a hell of a skier."

Arles looked back at him, "You don't ski."

"I want to try it. I've seen myself, skiing through some hills. You are snowboarding with me, Legate."

Legate coughed, "Genie will hate that."

Samuel shivered and put his hands back deeply in his pockets. "So, Lartius is finally on his way?"

Legate nodded, "Yes. He's due in this afternoon. I'm not sure if Legate plans to see him before he departs or not."

"What does Gene say about this?" Samuel asked.

"I haven't told her. She was all wound up last night about Lewis knowing about us." He pointed at Samuel, "And I'll kick your ass if I found out one of you guys fucking told."

Samuel laughed. "I didn't, mate. You forget, it's my ass on the line, too."

Arles finished the joint and flicked it over the side of the railing. "And you forget who you're dealing with. Lewis the Quauhtin? He can sniff out a fart, three galaxies away."

Samuel laughed, "You talk like Howie when you're stoned."

Arles smiled, "I'm shocked you have been able to keep it from Papa as long as you have."

Samuel rocked on his feet, "What was his bet?"

"Papa's? He says that John will shout, but not hit him. Then, shout at Genie for not telling him."

"Well, that's shit. Dad never shouts at Genie."

Legate nodded. "I know. But, I find it humorous that Lewis thinks he might. He's laid eight grand on it. So, take his money."

"You're not in the pool?" Samuel asked.

Legate smiled, "I've already won this pool. I have Genie."

Arles rolled his eyes. "Legate….in love. Gross. Samuel, don't you dare start acting like this. Madness."

Samuel laughed, "Oh, the things you don't know."

Legate narrowed his eyes. "You and Karen?"

"I'd rather chat about that a bit later." Samuel crossed his arms. "I've never thought about it, but maybe Dad is frightened Genie may break his nose?"

Legate laughed, "Right. Man, you should have seen her. She flew out of that chair and nailed that guy. Pow! Perfect palm heel strike. She's amazing."

Arles added, "And then you jumped him."

"Well, he fucking needed it. He shot me in the leg. Would have shot me in the damn head if Adriano hadn't tackled him when he did."

Samuel teased, "Would have saved me a lot of trouble."

Legate laughed under his breath. "Yeah, it would."

"I haven't asked, but how is your head?"

"It feels…tight…when I get upset."

"Blood pressure rising. Yeah. That's normal."

Legate nodded. "I've not mentioned to Genie. I imagine it's just something I'll live with."

"Could be so much worse-"

"Oh, hell. I know it. I'll never be able to thank you guys enough."

Arles crossed his arms and smiled at Legate. "Just make our sister happy and we're even."

"Done! And I wanted to let you know that I've sorted my Ten."

Samuel became excited and rubbed his hands together. "Yes! We both made the list."

"Well, of course. But, I honestly can't remember it at the moment." Legate laughed.

Samuel shook his head in mock disappointment. "Stoned Quauthin. What would your Primus say?"

Legate pointed at him, "I'll tell him where I got it. Keep that in mind."

Samuel laughed. "There's more where that came from."

Arles chuckled, "Not as much as you think."

"You've been in my shit?"

"Who do you think rolled these?"

Samuel shook his head, "Ah, whatever."

Arles thought to himself. "I need to make friends with this Scott guy."

The door opened and Karen, wearing a fluffy white robe looked at them. "What are you guys doing out here?"

Legate smiled, "Chatting."

Arles coughed, "Catching pneumonia. You would think this man has more love for his brother."

Samuel shook his head. "So much whining. Cry me a river, dear."

"Yes, honey." Arles replied.

Karen stepped out on the balcony and wrapped her arms around Samuel. He kissed her forehead. "It's freezing out here-"

"You guys are out here smoking."

"They are smoking! Not me!" Samuel insisted.

Legate coughed, "That's true. We tried to get him to, but he refused."

"Sounds like you both are bad influences." Karen smiled. "Well, if you are finished, come inside where it's warm."

Samuel rubbed her back and looked back at the other two. "You heard the lady!"

They walked into the penthouse, rubbing their arms and shivering.

"Totally worth it!" Arles declared.

Legate chuckled, "I agree. Oh, Miss Karen. Arles brought you some cake. What did you call it?"

"Battenberg cake."

Karen cheered. "Oh, thank you!"

Samuel looked surprised, "Battenberg cake? That's my favorite."

Arles pointed at Karen, "It's hers, too. How about that?"

Karen sat at the table and poured herself some coffee. Arles unwrapped the cake slice he had brought and sat it in front of Karen. "And there you are, ma'am."

She closed her eyes as she sampled it. "Arles. This is amazing. It's not….really sweet like it can sometimes be. Thank you."

"Yeah, Dad likes it really sweet. But, that's the way that Samuel prefers it." Arles sipped his coffee as he sat down across from her.

Samuel took off the wool jacket and hung it on the back of the sofa.

Arles crossed his arms and smiled at his brother, "I didn't mention, but I love the scarf with your coat."

Samuel sat beside of Karen and chuckled, "That's Karen's coat. I didn't want to go back into the bedroom and disturb her."

Karen fed him a bit of the cake that she ate.

He moaned and shook his head. "Arles, that's brilliant."

Legate took off his ski jacket and sat down across from Karen and Samuel, next to Arles. "So, thing number two. Poltious has gone silent."

Samuel shook his head, "Well, that doesn't mean anything."

"I know. But, just to make you lot aware. We've tried to contact Tony, too. But…nothing."

Samuel sighed and sat back. "Damn." He looked quickly back at Karen. "Excuse me."

She smiled as she sipped her coffee. "It's alright. Tony?"

"Tony Tyler." Arles told her. "He's off with Legate's father, Poltious. Raising hell."

Legate looked back at Arles. "How stoned are you?"

Arles propped his head up on his hands and rubbed his eyes. "I never recovered from last night! Then you bring me over here!"

Samuel laughed under his breath at Arles as he ate some more of the cake that Karen fed to him. "Arles, this is really nice. When did you make this?"

"Last night. Then I came home and ate the entire thing. I'm grateful I had saved that one piece."

Legate laughed as he poured himself coffee. "Smoking weed is going to make you fat. You came here and ate everything on the table."

Samuel looked back at Karen. "He really did. What can I order you for breakfast?"

She giggled, "I'm good with just this. Arles. You need to slow down on the smoking."

"And the eating." Legate added.

"And the women." Samuel added.

Arles held his hands out, "Why is everyone on my case? No one knows us here, man. I'm going to have a good time. Dad says it won't last long. I'm going to enjoy it while I can."

Karen pointed at Arles, "Is he this way where you guys came from?"

Legate blew his coffee. "He gets it honestly. His Papa is….sorry….was…..just like him."

Arles pointed at himself, "Grown…..ass…man."

Samuel rolled his eyes and told Karen, "Excuse him."

"Let me stop you guys, right now." Karen said as she sat down her coffee cup. "I really don't mind if you swear in front of me. Your accents make it entertaining."

Samuel laughed and sat up proudly. "Carry on, gents."

Legate smiled, "And I didn't even anymore reason to like her. Cheers, Karen."

She looked back at Samuel and rubbed his leg. He took her hand in his and kissed it.

Arles sighed, "Well, Expo tonight. Suits?"

"Tux." Samuel informed him.

Legate and Arles asked at the same time, "Tux?!"

"Pepper said that the entire superstition was just…."

Arles crossed his arms. "I'm not going. Fuck all of that!"

Karen laughed at his insistence, or maybe his accent.

Legate looked back at him, "I'm having dinner with Lartius. I can't go. Who's on tonight?"

Karen was surprised by their reactions. "Guys, it's just a tux."

Arles pointed at Samuel. "The last time Dad wore a tux, some nutter blew up our Mum. Nearly killed her and Sammy."

Samuel sipped his coffee. "Dad's never worn one since. He was kidnapped wearing one-"

Legate added, "Shot wearing one. I was kidnapped wearing one."

"Dad was with you?"

Legate rubbed his chin. "I think he was. I don't know. I've smoked too much to remember anything that long ago."

Arles laughed at him. "We're only 18 years back! That's not that long ago."

"All of the drama of this family, it is!" Legate insisted.

Karen asked, "Hang on. He's from the future, too?"

"Well, there are two. The one from here, and this one."

"I've only seen this one, right?"

Legate smiled, "The other Legate has decided to leave to attend to other responsibilities. So, it's not something you have to worry about."

Karen sipped her coffee and nodded. "Okay. So, Samuel, Arles, Genie, you and…"

"Tony Tyler." Arles added. "And I'll add this entire thing was his fault."

Samuel pointed at him, "And we wasn't wearing a tux when that happened."

Arles shook his head. "Still doesn't make me feel better about putting one on now."

Samuel rose his shoulders. "Maybe it's just that. A superstition-"

"I'm not risking it." Arles insisted. "If I'm needed, I'll be in my flat. Safe, watching telly, smoking the rest of your weed."

Samuel laughed, "Help yourself, man."

Legate smiled, "Leaving the girls alone for the night?"

"I can't tell you that." Arles smiled, "Kills the thrill of slipping out."

Legate groaned and shook his head. "You're going to get me paneled. Then I'm going to break your arm."

Arles laughed, "You can't do that."

Samuel smiled, "He's a Primary."

"He's going to be my brother in law as soon as I make the Promise to Genie. And thus, there is some grey."

"Well, be honest then." Arles asked. "Is that the real reason you are with Genie?"

Legate sipped his coffee and grinned, "Oh, I'm such a happy man."

Samuel pointed at Arles. "You are in such deep shit."

Arles tapped under his eyes. "Right here, mate."

Samuel looked back at Karen and explained. "Legate is a bodyguard. They protect the family from outside attacks, but…"

Arles sat down his coffee. "If I wanted to break Samuel's arm, he wouldn't stop me."

"Well, there are certain limitations." Legate insisted. "But, yeah. There's some grey area in there."

Karen sat down her coffee. "You guys are obsessed with breaking arms."

Legate clapped his hands together. "Damn, I'm hungry again. I'm ordering room service. What does everyone want?"

Karen laughed under her breath. "Munchies."

Samuel shook his head. "They are mad."

Arles stood up and joined Legate to look over the menu next to the phone near the door.

Karen turned back to Samuel. She took his hand and smiled as the familiar sensation began again. He kissed her ring, "That is perfect. Or do you want a different one?"

She answered him quietly, "I love this one."

"That's the one I would have picked, too. It's perfect."

She threaded her fingers through his. "Is this our last night here?"

"You need to return to class."

"Right. Not tomorrow, but we probably need to go back tomorrow afternoon."

"Thank you for reminding me of that. I was looking in your planner this morning. I made some notes."

She giggled. "I hope I like them."

He grinned, "I think you might."

Arles returned with Legate at the table. "And that's sorted."

"They don't have tea?" Arles asked.

"No." Samuel groaned. "I feel like I'm going through withdrawal."

Arles picked up his coffee and sipped it, "Tony has some at his place."

Samuel snapped his fingers, "That's true. He's a tea drinker."

Karen asked in surprise, "Is he?"

Samuel nodded his head. "Yeah."

Legate picked up his jacket and put it on his arm.

Karen looked up at him, "Where are you two going?"

Arles picked up his jacket, "Across the hall. We are having room service delivered there. We figured you lot would rather be alone. Besides, we've smoked all of the joints I brought."

Karen laughed, "How many did you bring?"

Arles held up three fingers. "But, Sammy wouldn't smoke, so I didn't want to waste them."

"My head is in no state for this." Legate picked up his coffee and sipped it. "I need to talk to the guard across the hall about this evening. Especially, if there are tuxes. Ugh. Tuxes?! Why didn't you tell me this before I smoked?"

Samuel held out his hands. "This isn't my fault."

Legate groaned. "Ah, I'm sure it will be alright. I'll just send some more guys out here. Karen, always a pleasure."

She smiled, "It was nice to see you both."

Legate and Arles left the Penthouse.

Samuel brought Karen's hand to his mouth to kiss again. "I'm sorry they were here-"

"Don't be sorry about that. Having them around makes your face light up."

He smiled, "Like having you around?"

She kissed his lips. "I need to shower. When will the dresses be here for me to try on?"

"Oh. I'm not sure. I'll ring and check."

She threaded her fingers through his. "Alright. I'll shower. What are we doing today?"

"Whatever you like."

"I'm happy to stay here until we leave for the Expo."

He smiled, "You read my mind. Sure you want to shower now?"

She kissed him and then walked towards the bath. Samuel watched her walk away and groaned. He decided to call to schedule the dress and tux fittings for later in the day.

After he got off of the phone, which took much longer than he thought because he answered several texts from his grandfather, Genie, Rose, and Jackie Tyler, he left his phone on the table and walked to the bath. He tapped his knuckles on the door.

"Come in."

He opened the door and found her, wrapped in a white towel, standing in front of the mirror. She had just finished brushing out her long hair. She smiled back at him, "What did you work out?"

His mind had completely gone blank. "About what?"

"The dresses." She laughed.

"What dresses?"

She sat her brush down and looked back at him, "Are you sure you weren't smoking?"

He couldn't think of anything except how beautiful she was. He was speechless. His brain refused to work properly. "Ugh."

"Samuel?"

"Hang on a bit. Just a bit." He insisted and walked out of the bathroom. As soon as she was out of his view, he could think again. Although, not as well as he normally could.

He knocked on the door again. "Me again."

She giggled, "Come in, Samuel."

He laughed under his breath and closed his eyes as he walked in. He stood, with his hands on his hips to speak to her.

She laughed, "What is this?"

He didn't open his eyes. "I know you are still in that towel. And my brain completely, shuts off, seeing you like that."

Karen took off the towel and laid it on the cabinet. "I'm not wearing it anymore."

He groaned. "Trying to tell you something important. Trying to remember it."

He felt her wrap her arms around his neck. Her body was warm from the shower. She whispered, "Tell me."

He didn't open his eyes. "I can't remember. It's gone again."

He ran his fingertips down her nude body, slowly.

"Keep our eyes closed, Samuel." She whispered.

"Okay." He told her as she took his hands and led him to the bedroom. She unfastened his trousers and pushed them down with his pants as he took off his shirt. She took his erect member in her warm hands and blew her warm breath on it.

Samuel groaned in pleasure. It seemed to dust the tingling electricity onto his most sensitive area.

She guided him to sit on the bed and whispered, "Keep your eyes closed."

He felt her kiss his inner thigh and it only made him harder. He moaned her name just as she took him into her mouth and began to suck.

He moaned loudly.

She ran her fingertips across his still stiff member, sending shockwaves through his system. "Don't move. Don't open your eyes."

"What are you doing?"

She kissed his lips, "Something you'll like."

"You better still be naked." He teased.

She giggled as she sounded like she was on the other side of the bedroom. He felt her put a tie across his eyes and tied it. She kissed his neck. "Okay. Now you can't see."

"I couldn't see before!"

She sat in front of him and rose his hands to her chest. "Touch me, Samuel."

He gently ran his hands across her body and felt lacey top that seemed to grip her form tightly. "My hands aren't too cold, are they?"

"No." She smiled.

He slowly made his way to her thighs and discovered it was a short piece of lingerie. He smiled, "You're beautiful. I can see you in my mind."

She whispered, "I'm going to lie down. Keep feeling of everything."

He smiled, "I love this."

She giggled and lay down on the bed. He continued to run his hands across her body, blindly. "You feel….so smooth."

"What else do you feel?"

"Well, the current. It's really strong. Makes me….oh, I want you."

She giggled, "You have me. Take your time."

He moved his hands to feel between her legs. "And it's okay to feel here?"

"Anywhere, Samuel. I've given myself to you."

He smiled as he felt that she had shaven a bit in that area.

"I thought you might like that." She smiled.

He gently ran his hand across her middle, "I can't wait to see this."

He continued to feel of her body as he moved to lie in front of her. She brought her hands to his and he felt of the ring on her finger again. "That, feels perfect."

She giggled, "You've taken the complete tour of my body. Would you like to see it now?"

He took off the tie that she had tied around his eyes and smiled at her. "I love you. I love every inch of you."

She looked in his eyes. "I'm so in love with you, Samuel. I feel like, my heart might explode."

He brought her hand to his mouth to kiss, "I've never wanted anyone so much."

"Will it still be this way when we leave New York?"

He chuckled, "It was like this before we came here!"

She ran her hand through his hair. He took her hand again and looked at the ring, "Six months?"

She smiled, "I'll let you ask me before then."

"I need to fetch the planner." He teased.

She giggled.

"I really want you to be sure." He told her and kissed her wrist.

"I am." She told him. "Besides, you're waiting to ask me. Therefore, this ring is symbolic of that."

"I've already made my decision. You're who I want. That's what that ring is."

She smiled, "And I've already told you that I'll say yes. I'm fine with not waiting. So, let's just let it be that now."

He beamed at her. "We're engaged."

She giggled, "Engaged."

He kissed her hand again. The excitement pulsed though his arms and moved to his chest. "Let's….wait before we announce it though. Is that alright?"

"Of course. Six months?"

He laughed under his breath. "No. Hopefully not. It's just that, Legate and Genie…."

She nodded, "Let them have their moment. I understand."

"I rather like having this secret with you. So, intimate." He teased.

She giggled and pulled his head to her lips to kiss.

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