Chapter 2
Maxine and Madison watched as Jest ushered them into the pool room. They had already changed into their swimming suits and Jocu and Jovi were sitting and waiting for them.
"Well, well…hello there, little ones," Jovi greeted.
"Hi," both girls said at the same time. Madison leaned over to Maxine and giggled.
"I think Jovi is cute," she whispered, now giggling. She missed the arched eyebrow and smirk from the turquoise prince since they all had very sharp hearing.
"Hear that?" Jocu said telepathically.
"Yes, I heard them. Adorable ones, aren't they," Jovi responded.
"Absolutely. I feel Madison is more shy; it's Maxine that's gonna be more of a challenge for Jest," Jocu chuckled.
"Jest knows how to handle it. Remember…he's the oldest of all of us," Jovi laughed.
"True. He will make a great king someday," Jocu replied.
At that moment, Jest slowly walked over to the water and let the water pool around his shoulders, but he noticed the girls were looking somewhat nervous at the pool's edge.
"Come here, you two," he said gently.
"Yes, do come in," Jovi smiled, now leaning on the edge.
"We don't bite…much…," Jocu winked, now making the girls giggle a bit.
Madison was the one that went closer and Jest leaned out and took her hand and lifted her into the pool. Once she was sitting on the edge comfortably, he turned to Maxine, who looked like she wanted to leave.
"Maxine?" Jest soothed out.
"Yes?" She asked.
"Come," he cooed with a smile.
"I…uh…think I better…." She gasped as Jocu got out and walked on all fours and blocked the door.
"I think I better…," he said, now playfully mocking her.
"Stop that!" She huffed.
"Stop that," Jocu repeated, now sounding like he was almost imitating her exact voice. Maxine angrily began to turn away, but she let out a squeak as he came up behind her and began nipping in her neck. "Now, now…surely you cannot stay mad at me…," he whispered in her ears.
"J-Jocu!" She giggled.
"What's this? Are your ears sensitive?" He soothed out. She turned and tried to push on his chest but he only chuckled as he ran a hand over her head and kissed it. "Still mad at me?"
"No, of course not. I was being a brat," she said, now hanging her head. But he lifted her into his arms.
"You were nothing of the sort. Now come…your father is ready for you," Jocu smiled, now pointing. Maxine turned and blushed as she saw Jest leaning out of the pool on his stomach and his tail was wagging in a welcoming manner.
"Come here, little one. I want to see you," Jest smiled, now accepting her from Jocu. Jocu only winked and then walked with Jovi out to give them some time alone.
Meanwhile at the other part of the castle…
Rachel had run into the meeting room where Ecstacio was and she ran to block him.
"Oh no you don't! You're not going anywhere," she said, now giving him a playful look.
"Really?" He said, now arching an eyebrow.
"I am not gonna let you go anywhere. I want you to admit something," she said.
"Admit what?" He said, now placing a hand on his hip.
"Admit that you like us and that you will allow us to bond with you like the girls are with their fathers," Rachel challenged.
"Hardly." He said, now turning.
"Hey!" She said, now turning and blocking him. "You're not getting away that easily!"
"Move, young one," he said, now arching an eyebrow.
"No," she smirked.
"Move…," came the deeper growl, making her almost shudder.
"Nope! Not going anywhere!" She giggled.
"Young one…you have one more chance; remove yourself from my area," he said.
"I will not because I want to get to know you," she said back.
That was all he needed; Ecstacio heaved her over his shoulder and began walking off with her. Rachel let out a surprised squeak and laugh as he took her outside to the tickle trees. He let them each take a limb to where she was in a spread eagle position.
"Give our guest a small taste of what happens when I am defied," Ecstacio said, now sitting down and crossing his legs on a nearby bench.
"E-Ecstacio let me go!" Rachel said, trying to sound stern but couldn't help but giggle.
"Begin," he commanded the trees.
"Ecstacio! I EEEEEEEEEEEK! NOAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Rachel laughed, now seeing the large titan watching her get tickled to pieces with a satisfied smirk on his face.
Meanwhile…
Jest took Madison and Maxine to his room and Jape had his door open where they could see each other. For now, the brothers had doors that could adjoin their rooms.
"How are they?" Jape asked Jest telepathically.
"Better. How is Zambanza?" Came the response.
"She's winding down. I had to get her accustomed to some tickles though," Jape laughed, now running a hand over Zambanza's head, helping her fall asleep.
Jest smirked and then closed the door behind the girls and walked past them to his large navy blue bed. He turned over his shoulder and saw them look at each other in an uncertain way.
"Come here, you two, or am I going to have to come over there and get you," he chuckled, now turning and facing them.
"Oh no…," Maxine said in surprise.
"Maxy?" Madison said, now seeing Jest come forward! "Run for it!"
"Hold on!" Jest laughed, now reaching over them and making sure the door was locked and whisking them into his arms. "I mean you both no harm. Relax…,"
And with that, he placed them on his bed and began nuzzling them. The girls were enjoying the sweet affection and he wasn't letting them go anytime soon.
"There we go…easy….just relax." He smiled, now getting up on the bed and cuddling them. "Are you both that afraid of me?"
"No, it's just that…we don't know much about Lauhinians," Maxine said.
"And we don't know if we will fit in," Madison said.
"Enough of that…you both are part of me. You will fit in by being yourselves," he said, now bringing them closer. He began to create a deep rumble that sounded like a purr; Madison was slowly curling more into him, but Maxine was hesitant. "I want you both to be comfortable around me."
And with that, he pinned them down swiftly and both girls yelped in surprise but burst out laughing as he ticked their stomachs.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKK! GAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA DAHAHAHAHAHAHAD NOAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Madison laughed out.
"And that goes for you too," he said, now bending down and nibbling Maxine's stomach.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Maxine laughed, now grabbing his head, albeit carefully, and pulling him between them.
"Hey!" He chuckled, now feeling the twins sit on his stomach. But because he was face up, he was able to tickle Madison with two hands and grab Maxine with the other two.
"NO! Thahahahahahahahahat wasn't the plahahahahahahahahan!" Maxine laughed.
"I know, you double troublemakers," came the amused chuckle.
Maxine tried to stand, but his tails wrapped around her legs and Madison tried to make a break for it, but he wrapped all four arms around her.
"Got you," he laughed, now gently biting in her neck and making her giggle. "Now I've OW! Maxine, you little rascal!"
For Maxine had playfully bitten his tail and he whisked her over his shoulder and pinned her with her twin. After a few seconds, he kissed their heads and that made them smile at him and nuzzle him back.
"Now, my dears…are you better?" He asked, now seeing them lean up and cuddle against his chest.
"Much better, Jest. Thank you," Madison said softly.
"Yeah, Jest. Thanks…for everything," Maxine said, now blushing as she even said those words. But he only lifted her chin and kissed her on the head and did the same to Madison.
Hearing something behind him, he turned and saw Zambanza and Jape smiling at them.
"It appears the night has gone well," Jape smiled.
"Much better than we both could've imagined. Come…there's plenty of room for you both," Jest said, now seeing Jape playfully grab Zambanza before she could go anywhere and toss her with her friends. The brothers then sandwiched the three girls in between them.
"Well…there's no going anywhere now," Maxine chuckled.
"Run out of magic, Banza?" Madison teased, now playfully tickling the clown.
"GAH! Don't poke me! And ha, ha, ha, I forgot ta laugh," Zambanza said without heat.
"Guys…I've actually liked this," Maxine said honestly.
"Me too," Madison said.
"Yeah, I mean it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be," the clown nodded. But at a second, the girls gasped as both brothers leaned over them.
"Glad you all have had fun. Let's give them some 'energy' before bed," Jape smirked.
"I agree…," Jest smiled deviously. Within seconds, the girls were squealing and laughing as the brothers tickled them to pieces and they could do nothing but laugh and have fun. They were enjoying this experience a lot.
Meanwhile outside…
Rachel was finally released from the tickle trees and she weakly walked towards Ecstacio, but stumbled. Within a flash, he caught her before she fell and carried her bridal style back to the castle.
"You need rest," he said, now carrying her back to the guest room.
"Yeah, I am a little sleepy. But that was fun. Will you rest with me?" She asked.
"I do not rest with humans, young one," he said, now giving her a solemn look.
"Ecstacio…," she pouted. He only gave her a small smirk and placed a finger to her head, making her slowly doze off. "But…I want you to stay…,"
"I know…," he whispered, now carrying her inside and having her lay down. Before he left, he could tell even at that moment that Rachel was fighting the sleep. Almost as if she didn't want him to go yet. Giving a small sigh, he removed his thin-like cloak that hung on his shoulders and placed it over her. Within a second she went to sleep as she curled into it. It may not have been Ecstacio in person, but he did leave her something of his. "Until we meet again…,"
And with that, he turned and walked back out towards his castle in the distance. Rachel groggily opened her eyes and had happy tears, curling up.
"Thank you, Ecstacio…," she smiled, now curling more into his cloak. There was definitely more to him than met the eye.
guestsurprise's words: Hope you all enjoyed the sequel! :)
To guestsurprise: I know I did! :) Looks like Ecstacio is developing a soft spot for Rachel. :)
To everyone else: Please leave guestsurprise a review, but no flames!
GoldGuardian2418