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Chapter 15 Interlude 1: A much needed conversation.

"We should talk."

Jack and Tetra each chuckled once.

He rubbed a part of his neck. "Things just, kept on getting in the way this morning huh?"

She nodded. "Indeed."

They stared at each other silently a moment. "Um...alright. I'll be the gentleman." Jack said. "You go first."

The arachne smirked for a second. Then her expression sobered and was almost sad. She placed her free hand on her chest. "I should apologize Jack."

He tilted his head questioningly.

"Last night I... put you in a difficult position. I was very selfish and allowed my aggressive instincts and well..." She shrugged one shoulder. "Predatory nature to influence my actions." She sighed once. "In huntress parlance, I pounced on you."

He nodded lightly.

"Then I manipulated you emotionally. Demanded another kiss and threatened to leave." She closed her eyes and made a fist against her chest. "I didn't realize it at the time but...I acted like my mother, to get what I wanted."

Jack tilted his head to the side. "Um, you've done a lot of thinking since last night."

"Yes." She acknowledged while opening her eyes.. "Sula's outside perspective helped me realize what I'd done."

"Right." Jack nodded. "Syleris mentioned that you two talked."

"Yes." She held up a claw. "I can't help but suspect an ulterior motive on her part, but her concern that our relationship might make everything unravel is not unfounded."

"Yeah. She noticed something was off with me this morning." He glanced down. "So I told her." He looked back up at Tetra. "Did she tell you why she was upset last night?"

The arachne shook her head. "Not specifically. But I gather that she values this homestay position very much."

Jack nodded. "I think, that she thinks, that I'm the only host that would take her in. At least as far as Smythe's jurisdiction goes." Tetra leaned her head back. "So if I lose my host position..." He trailed off.

"I see."

"I don't think she minds us being together." He held up a hand. "She's worried about what would happen if we broke the law."

"So." The arachne said after a moment. "Sex is off the table." She made a sweeping motion with her arm.

"Yep." He sighed. "As dumb as that is."

The arachne tensed briefly at his words. If he hadn't been holding her hand Jack might not have even noticed.

He looked up at her intently. "Tetra? You alright?"

She blinked once and pressed her lips together. Her apprehension was starting to concern Jack.

"Tetra? Is there something else?" He looked at her askance.

She gripped his hand a little tighter. "Yes." She answered just above a whisper.

Jack searched her face trying to discern her discomfort. "So...what is it?"

She placed her other hand on his shoulder. "There's something else I should tell you Jack."

He waited for her to continue. He dipped his head to prompt her. "I'm listening."

Her hands tightened again. "I'm..not ready to say it."

Jack nodded his head lightly and glanced to the side. "So...don't." He placed his free hand on hers. "We've got plenty of time." He smiled. "And I'm not going anywhere."

"Oh, Jack." She leaned forward and hugged him tight. "Why are you so good to me?"

He grunted at the sudden weight of a seven foot tall woman embracing him. "I told you last night didn't I?" He turned his head in and kissed the side of her neck. "Sexiest woman I ever met."

A small shiver went through her body. She hugged him tighter. "You keep talking like that." She warned in a tone made of silk. "And I can't be held responsible for what happens next."

One of her arms started sliding down his back. Jack's head drew back and he attempted to wriggle out of her grip. "Um yeah...we...I mean I, should probably... um."

The arachne stopped. She relaxed her arms and let him slip out. He back-pedaled a few steps and attempted to compose himself. "Man..."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "This...is going to be more difficult than I thought."

Jack straightened out his shirt. "No shit." He ran a hand through his hair and exhaled. "Kinda why I asked you not to..." He cut himself off as her eyes flashed open.

"Um..." He swallowed. "I mean..I.."

She held up a hand and he stopped stammering. "No. Your are quite correct, Jack." She crossed her arms. "I should not have pounced on you, like I already said. But what's done is done." She blinked once. "Or, not done, as the case may be." She growled lowly.

He nodded. "Yeah...so." He looked up at her. "What do we do?"

The arachne raised an eyebrow. "We go to this counseling."

"Alright...and until then?"

She smirked. "We behave like responsible citizens and follow the law."

Jack couldn't help but feel disappointed that she hadn't suggested something else. Something that they could do...

"I will keep trapping you in my webs." She grinned.

He rolled his eyes. "Of course." He paused and considered the implications. "When you do though..." He looked straight at her. "And I can't get out. Then it's all on you."

She steepled her claws and tapped them together in rhythm. "Oh, don't worry about me Jack." She said in a tone that conveyed he should absolutely worry. "I can get quite...creative at that point."

The feeling of scared prey staring at a predator settled onto Jack like a heavy cloak. "S-something tells me I should start my training with Sula as soon as possible."

Tetra slid her tongue along her teeth. "It can't hurt."

Jack took a slow breath and attempted to not jump to any conclusions about her 'creativity.' The way she was grinning and tapping her claws together gave his imagination some dark suggestions-

Nope! He shook his head. Not going there right now.

He closed his eyes and attempted to clear his head. He took another slow breath. When he opened his eyes she was smirking but her hands were planted at her waist.

Jack took a moment to try to evaluate what their relationship would be like.

What the hell have I gotten myself into?

"Shall we discuss anything else?"

Her question broke through his thought process and he rattled his head to refocus himself.

"Um..yeah." He glanced down. "Or rather..." He trailed off. She lost her grin and tilted her head slightly.

"Yes? What is it Jack?"

"I'm not sure how to say this...but." He raised his eyes back up at her. "I guess...thank you."

She narrowed her eyes. "For what?"

He swallowed. "For not suggesting that we lie to Smythe."

She stayed still for a few seconds. Then she folded her arms. "Arachne value honesty above many other traits, Jack. Smythe is just as responsible for my good fortune if not more than you." She raised a claw by her head. "I will not sully my honor just to indulge my personal desires."

Jack cocked his head slightly as she continued.

"I agreed to follow the Exchange laws and an arachne's word is her bond." Her severe tone reflected her expression. "I may not understand the point of the prohibition clause...at all." She paused to consider her next words. "But I will not violate it."

Jack stayed still for a moment. Then he smiled. "Okay. Now I know this is going to be awesome."

She took on a skeptical expression. "Because we won't have sex?"

He shook his head. "Because I have a totally honest girlfriend."

She righted her head. "You've... been lied to by a ex?"

He shook his head again. "Not me personally, but friends of mine have been victims of liars. Messed them up pretty bad for a couple of them." He took on a more serious tone. "And former friends of mine have been said liars."

The arachne didn't say anything.

Jack glanced upward. "I guess that kinda turned me off to relationships for a while too." He looked back at her. "Helping to clean up the mess selfish people leave behind gets exhausting and kinda serves as a horror story for relationships in general."

Neither of them said anything for a while. Then Jack coughed and waved a hand. "Whatever. Enough about the bad old days. Let's welcome our new guest." He blinked. "Or guests, I guess I should say."

"That is a little odd to think about." Tetra nodded. "And somewhat disconcerting."

"Yeah." Jack agreed and walked over to the door. He put a hand on it but didn't turn it yet. Something felt odd to him. He turned back at her.

Tetra hadn't moved. She had her arms crossed and was just staring ahead.

"Tetra?"

She still didn't move. He let go of the door and stepped toward her. "Tetra."

"When I kissed you, the first time," She asked. "was that selfish of me?"

Jack took a moment to think. "A little...but I already forgave you for that." He waved dismissively. "So forget about it."

She didn't move again.

"Tetra, don't dwell on something you can't change." He told her. "Believe me..." He looked down. "you do that too much and you start thinking crazy things. You do some crazy stuff." He snorted. "Like give your parent's house away."

She darted her eyes at him. "Do..you regret giving your parent's house to the Exchange?"

"When I first saw this place...what they did to it." He frowned. "Maybe." Definitely.

Then he smiled and looked up back at her. "Now though, totally worth it."

She couldn't help but smile herself.

He lifted a hand. "I won't pretend to know what's bothering you... but like I told Sula: we're family now. We look out for each other."

She smiled wider and nodded. "You're right Jack. There's no use thinking about what might have been." She walked forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you ."

He grinned lopsidedly. "You're quite welcome Tetra."

Her smile half morphed into a pout. She narrowed her eyes. "Oh, you cocky little human. You think you can mock me and get away with it?"

He nodded his head side to side and made a show of mulling it over. "Wasn't really mocking you, more of a call back. Or paying forward a quote." He grinned again. "But yeah, I think I can."

She withdrew her arm and folded them. Arachne and human stared at each other.

Jack stepped back toward the door and found the handle. He started to turn it and pivot his body toward the exit when she suddenly raised her hand. "Think again."

Threads from around the room suddenly entwined around his legs and torso.

"Wha!" He cried.

More threads wrapped around his ankles and wrists. He was lifted off his feet and rotated laterally one hundred eighty degrees. "Whoa no."

An upside down Tetra approached and pushed one hand against his chest, pinning Jack to the wall.

"T-tetra?"

Her other arm grasped a thread and pulled it. Jack's body was raised until their eyes were level.

A satisfied smirk was plastered on her face. "You owe me, Jack."

"F-for what?" He stammered. "I haven't asked you to make any..thing for ..me...oh no." His panic stricken mind recalled that he had asked her for a weaving service. "Syleris needed clothes." He stated. "The day she got here."

Tetra's smirk parted slightly to reveal a fang. "Correct. Clothes that I made for her."

"Um, but aren't I supposed to make some special meal for you?" He asked desperately.

"Oh, you're going to help me satisfy a different kind of hunger." She leaned in and kissed him.

Hey, upside down kiss. Like in that first Spider-man movie!

She withdrew her head a couple inches. "So Jack. Ready to pay up?"

He blinked a couple times. "Do I have a choice?"

Tetra shook her head. "Nope."

"oh gods."

The arachne chuckled in her throat. "There's only one god in this room, Jackey." She sliced a support thread loose and pulled on another. Jack's body orbited around her in a slow half circle. She pivoted and kept his facing on her. "But you may call me 'mistress'."

Jack's heart raced. His rapid breathing strained the threads on his chest. As she advanced toward him the threads attached to his suspended body pulled him toward a dark corner of the room. Just past her head he could see the door shrinking. His escape slipping away.

He drew in breath to try to scream for help. The arachne stopped manipulating her threads and clamped a hand over his mouth. She narrowed her eyes and got right up in his face. "Are you going to make me gag you?"

Jack shook his head vigorously. She removed her hand. "Good boy."

He tried to think of some other activity they could share.

"I don't suppose we could just cuddle?"

Tetra smiled warmly and patted his cheek. "Oh dear boy. Of course we'll cuddle." Jack's eyes widened in hope. Then she slid the back of her clawed hand down his neck.

He stiffened and tried not to move. Pure cold adrenaline shot into his system. He felt every fiber of her webs against his skin. The smooth chitin of her fingers against his jugular sent his already heightened senses into overdrive.

She made a fist with her other hand. "After I break you." She snarled with glee.

What the hell?

Tetra darted around him and out of sight. He could just sense some sort of motion behind him.

"Tetra. I don't think I'm ready for this." He pleaded.

The motion stopped. Then a thread pulled at his arm and rotated him away from the door. The dim light from across the room dully glared off her carapace.

"Are you refusing to pay?" She flexed the fingers on one of her hands.

"N-no." He stammered. "But does it have to be like this?"

She raised a claw. "I provided a service. I determine the price."

"I didn't agree to pay like this." He protested.

She folded her arms and narrowed her eyes. An huff of frustration got caught in her throat.

Jack just hung there, not sure what to say next. Then he recalled what she said about honesty.

"You're right. I should have settled on a price for Syleris' clothes with you. I assumed, I could just make something for you later..." He exhaled. "I'm sorry."

She closed her eyes and breathed in and out through her nose slowly. "Apology accepted." She opened her eyes and regarded her helpless host.

He smiled nervously. "So uh..you going to let me down now?"

She smirked and unfolded her arms. "Nope." Her claws started threading webs around him again. "You owe me Jack. This is my price."

His eyes darted around. He tried to follow the movements of her hands and figure out what he was in for. But the dim light hid most of the thin threads and he gave up after a few seconds.

"Just." He pleaded. "Go easy. I'm not afraid to admit this is my first time."

She snickered and giggled. "I'm not going to hurt you Jack. We're just going to try a few basic forms and see where your thresholds are." She stopped a moment and eyed him. "We'll test your limits another day."

He closed his eyes and wilted. "I suppose I should have seen this coming." He shook his head. "My new arachne girlfriend is a domme."

She stopped and gave him an expectant look. "Is there something wrong about that Jack?"

"No, no." His eyes flashed open and he shook his head energetically. "I don't have anything against dominatrixes." He blinked. "Dominatrix..sees." He cocked his head. "Dominatrixi?"

"Dominatrices." She corrected.

"Right." He nodded. "Nothing against that at all." He paused to consider his next words. "I thought of them like I do about tattoos and smoking. I don't really mind other people doing it but I figured that's not for me."

She tilted her head. "Have you tried smoking?"

"Once." He nodded ruefully. "Stupid teenager. Wanted to be 'cool'." He shook his head. "Thought I was going to need a transplant I coughed so much."

She raised an eyebrow.

He tilted his head side to side. "I...was very over dramatic in high school. Needless to say I didn't pick up the habit."

"Well." She grinned. "Now you get to try something else."

He sucked in a breath right before she applied the first knot. "One last thing."

Tetra exhaled in irritation. "What?" Her eyes held a spark of anger.

Jack breathed in and summoned enough courage to keep on. "I need to point out that, without my consent, this is assault."

She stopped and glared. "You know Jack, I really like your assertiveness. I really do. But it's more annoying than attractive at the moment."

"All I'm asking," He said quietly. "is that you ask me."

She furrowed her eyebrows. "Fine." She waved a claw and sliced a few strands. Jack's body suddenly pivoted again and he was right side up.

"Whoa." He blinked and rolled his head around as his internals adjusted to their proper orientation. The lightheaded feeling faded and he shook his head.

The arachne sulked in the corner.

Jack dipped his head forward. "Well?"

"Well what?" She snapped.

He glanced to the side and then back at her. "Aren't you going to ask?"

She scowled. "What for?"

He closed his eyes and breathed out slowly. "Tetra, please just ask."

Her face trembled and her hands clenched. "Fine." She faced him directly. "Jack, may I.. practice bondage domination on you?"

She doesn't dance around it, does she?

He opened his eyes. Tetra was more than livid. Her whole body seemed like a tightened spring about to explode.

For the briefest moment, a little snotty voice told him to refuse her. Just to see what would happen. Then a more mature voice spoke up.

C'mon man. It's for HER. You can't have sex, so give her something.

Jack nodded. "Yes. You may."

His answer had an almost physical effect on the arachne. She blinked and backed a step. Her hands unclenched and her shoulders drooped.

"I..I thought." She stammered. "I was sure you were going to say 'no'."

He dipped his head. "I did consider that. Just to be a little shit, I suppose." She gave him an odd look.

"But like I told you before." He inclined his head toward her. "You've more than earned my trust. And if you really want this, then so be it. I can at least try."

"Jack..." She whispered.

"I've thrown myself into so many new things these past couple weeks, what's one more?" He shrugged. "Just, don't be too disappointed if I really don't like this."

She stepped forward and hugged him. "Oh Jack. You are the best host ever."

He snorted. "I try." Then he sighed. "Do me a favor from now on though? At least consider asking before you do something drastic like this. Okay?"

She chortled. "Yeah. I'm real bad at that aren't I?"

"The absolute worst." He dead-panned.

She backed up and pointed a claw at his face. "You keep stealing my lines and I'm not going to tell you my safe word."

Jack focused on the sharp object mere inches from his head. "Um..yeah that's.. a good incentive."

She lowered her hand and laughed. "I'm kidding Jack. I'm actually kind of flattered."

He smiled a bit. "Well, I'm a movie geek. So I like a good call back." He stared ahead a couple seconds. "By the way," He looked back up at her. "What is your safe word?"

She grinned. "Inconceivable."

Jack closed his eyes slowly and sighed. "Of course it is..." He shook his head lightly. "You told me you knew very little about American pop culture."

"I did." She admitted. "But that film is one of the few I've seen and really enjoyed."

"Yep. That's a really good one." He agreed and opened his eyes. He looked back at her. "After this, assuming I can still move," She giggled at his dark quip. "You wanna watch it with me?"

"I'd love too." She said sincerely and patted his cheek again. Then she lifted her arms and removed her top.

Holy crap.

"Got your attention? Good." She began weaving a complex net. "Then let's begin."

Hello readers.

I'll be getting to Part 2 of Dawn and Kuro's interview after a couple more short, but necessary, interlude chapters.

In the meantime, the accomplished LindaRoze has made another commission featuring Tetra.

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Thanks for the over one hundred favorites and of course my reviewer 'guest' for all the kind feedback.