Chapter 40

Opal couldn't understand how Herry did this training week after week. It was early evening when they took her back to their home and she was the only one that seemed absolutely and completely exhausted. Herry snagged Opal's arm around her elbow and tugged her into the kitchen.

"You hungry?" he asked, flicking open the fridge.

"Not really," she said and reached for the freezer to remove the ice cube tray. She popped out the whole tray of ice cubes and wrapped them up into different tea towels. She took a seat at the kitchen table and began icing her various welts as she waited for Herry to construct himself a sandwich.

He scooped up his sandwich and waved Opal over to the doorway. Mouth full he muttered for her to follow. She slipped out from the kitchen table and came with him up one flight of steps. He opened the first door on the right and welcomed her to his room.

"Are doing okay?" he asked her, gesturing to the icepacks she was holding against her skin and she groaned, "Don't worry, it'll get easier."

"Can you come ice this spot on my back for me?" she hesitantly shuffled over to his bed and sat. She lifted her shirt over her head, but kept it on her arms and bunched against her chest.

"Sure," he sat on the bed behind her, shoving the last of his sandwich in his mouth as he scooped up an icepack. It was obvious which spot she meant, right under her bra strap was a bright red and raised welt. Gently he dabbed the ice on it and she straightened from the cold before she relaxed into the relief.

"Thanks," she told him reaching for the teddy bear on his pillow to hug.

"No problem," with his free hand he started to gently run his fingers over her shoulder and down her arm. The gentle touch of his fingertips left a trail of tingling skin wherever they went. Opal fought back the shiver that threatened when her stomach started to flutter. He had the hands of a laborer, covered in rough calluses, almost scratching as they brushed her skin, but she had always found comfort in calloused hands. When he took the ice away he placed both hands on either side of her neck and started firmly rotating his thumbs into her upper back. It took a lot of effort to stay still as he massaged, his force was a touch painful, but it was worth the ecstasy left behind when he was finished.

"Can you do everything else now?" she asked when he stopped, snaking his arms around her waist to pull her up to sit on his crossed legs, pressing her back against his front. He smirked and gently bushed her hair away from the side of her head so he had a clear shot to her neck. He planted a kiss there and she leaned her head to the side to allow him better access. She hummed in delight and twisted around so she could kiss his lips when he pulled away from her neck. He reached up a hand to tilt her head up, his thumb placed under her jaw and his fingers tangling into the hair at the base of her neck. She tossed his teddy bear away to reach up her hand to the back of his neck, playing with the soft hair that curled there.

He moaned through their interlocked mouths. Without warning he lifted her to shift down on the bed. His strong arms manipulating her how he pleased, it sent a thrilling surge through her, placing a ball of hot ice in her stomach. He was on top of her now, one legs planted between hers, and on either side of her head his elbows propped him up on the mattress. He shifted his weight to one side so to run his hand down the curves of her side as he continued to ravish her with his kisses. She couldn't stop the shiver from the sensation of his hand on her bare skin.

She clutched her bunched shirt to her chest as her heart began to pound. Things were getting much more heated than they ever had before and at an alarming rate. Her body was starting to react to his touches in ways she had never experienced before. There was sudden warmth that wouldn't stop building. The sensations were starting to frighten her. What if Herry was feeling them too and this would be pushed further than just kissing. She hadn't known him long enough to be comfortable with anything more intimate. Her lungs constricted at the thought, there was no way she could do this now and when his thumb hooked into her pants she pulled her head away.

He stopped instantly and rose up from his elbows to his hands to send her a worried look, quietly he whispered, "Do you want me to stop?"

She nodded and tears began to sting her eyes.

"Hey, hey, stop that," he told her when one escaped.

"I'm sorry," she wiped it away and pulled her shirt back over her head.

"Stop crying," he demanded when another trailed down the other side of her face. He needed to make her laugh, now, so her eyes would stop doing that terrifying thing. He searched around his room and smirked when he saw the pile of full sized envelops on the floor by his desk. He jumped off the bed to snipe one up.

"What are you doing?" she asked and sniffled.

"Come on," he waved his hand as he headed for the door.

"Herry," she whined in exasperation.

"Don't make me carry you," he tossed back a finger from the hallway.

"That is not fair," she groaned as she pushed her aching body off the bed, "Just because you're like two of me, doesn't mean you can threaten carrying me so I'll come and do something with you."

"Just shut up and come over here," he repeated. She shuffled out into the hall and sent him an irritated look. He sent her a beaming smile and took her wrist to lead her to the basement.

"What are you doing?" she tossed out her hands in confusion when he ran for the small half bath in the basement, watching him fill the brown envelope with shaving cream. He looked over to her with a grin and giggled like a mad man.

"Come on," he took her wrist and dragged her over to Odie's closed door, the sounds of one of his various games on surround sound filtering through. He kneeled down to slip the opening of the envelope under the door.

"Herry," she whispered harshly, horror stricken by the sudden realization of what he was about to do.

"Shh," he looked up to her with his finger pressed to his lips. He giggled again and then slammed his fists down on the envelope. There was a swoosh of air and then an aggravated scream from the other side of the door.

"Gods damn it Herry, I know that was you!" Odie yelled, "Get your ass in here and clean up this mess, there's shaving cream everywhere!" Herry broke into a fit of hardy laughter and jumped to his feet, taking Opal's wrist to drag her back upstairs and into his room.

"Herry, that's so mean," Opal whispered as he leaned his weight against his closed door. Moments later a pounding sounded from the other side and Herry began laughing again.

"Herry!" Odie yelled, "Open the door or I'll go get that envelope you so conveniently left behind."

"Herry," Opal said, placing her hands on her hips, "You have to go clean Odie's room."

He looked over to her with an unimpressed gaze and sighed, "You're no fun." He didn't budge from his door. Humming in thought Opal placed her hands on her hips and looked around his room

"Hey," she smirked and skipped over to his bed, scooping up his teddy, "Who's this? I'd image you wouldn't want him to get caught in the shaving cream carnage." She set the stuffed toy on the floor within the range of potential shaving cream spray, but far enough away he couldn't reach.

He sent her a horrified expression and ordered, "Move him."

"Go clean up Odie's room," she said. He huffed and opened the door to find a fuming Odie tapping his foot on the floor with arms crossed.

Herry sent his friend a smile and laughed like a child caught with their arm elbow deep in the cookie jar, "It was kind of funny."

"Come clean up your mess," Odie stated and turned to storm back to his room. Herry slowly followed him and when he was gone Opal couldn't help but let out a little giggle, it was kind of funny. She followed the two boys downstairs towards Odie's room, but she was distracted by the sounds from the living room. A quick glance confirmed the notes being painfully plucked out were indeed coming from a guitar.

"Oh thank gods," Atlanta exclaimed when their eyes met, the redhead jumped from her spot on the couch and over to the doorway. She grabbed Opal's wrist and pulled her into the room, "You need to do something about this noise."

Opal turned her wide eyed gaze to the brilliant purple electric guitar Archie was attempting to play. She blinked and cleared her throat, reaching out her hand for the instrument. She wasn't an instructor, but she could be a demonstrator. Archie's shoulders hunched and his face furrowed with frustration as he watched her play. When she finished he shot to his feet and stormed out the room, stomping his feed down the stairs to his room.

"Ugh," Atlanta groaned and took the guitar from her instead, "Don't worry about him, he's just a giant baby sometimes."

Opal nodded and took a seat on the couch only when she was prompted from Atlanta.

"So, do you think you're ready for tomorrow?" Atlanta asked, dropping down in the lazy boy.

The answer was no, she was not ready to join them in taking on Cronus, but she was going to try. Jay had confronted her on his plan for her to use her violin to distract the god while they pushed him through a portal to Tartars. The New Year was days away, she needed to help them she needed to make this work. She wished Jay had never told her about the impending darkness, but that information was the push she needed in coming to that conclusion. With her lips pressed together so hard they were white she nodded yes.