I can't believe I haven't updated in over a week. OVER A WEEK! Dumb work! UGH! And because of STUPIDITY and a busted time clock, I'm currently not getting paid for all the overtime I put in at the other store. But boss is finally back from his two week vacation. And he's pissed about me not getting my hours. (And a few other things that he had me come in on my first day off in weeks and fix.) So I will get my hours eventually, he said. He's gonna call and yell at come people.
Okay. ENOUGH RAMBLINGS! HERE'S A CHAPTER!
A Push Pop is a cylindrical sucker in a spring loaded container that pops up when you pop the cap off. I don't know if it's a widely known candy. It's quite fun to play with.
Raptor
Chapter 19: Lick
She ran the length of the fence, her eyes darting everywhere. [Dad! Dad! Dad!] But she saw no sign of him. No sign of his big growler or of the little one. She wasn't sure which one he used that morning. She just knew that she saw neither of the growling things that Alpha rode and that meant he wasn't there. But he'd promised! He'd be there all day! And she could play with Trip! Daddy had said she could play with Trip! [Daaaaaad!] She screamed as she circled again.
[Echo!]
She slid to a stop immediately and ducked behind a bush. She pressed herself to the ground, trying to hide.
[Echo! See!]
Echo snorted loudly and popped her head out. [Look dad.] She said, tilting her head.
Delta stepped closer and shook her head. [Alpha.] She corrected.
[Dad!] Echo insisted.
[Alpha!] Delta snapped.
Echo shook her head. [Dad, dad, dad!] She said loudly, bobbing her head.
Delta snorted loudly and turned slightly. [Tell Blue.] She said.
[No!] Echo darted out of the bush and shook her head again. [Echo look Alpha.] She said softly.
[Alpha gone.] Delta said.
Echo breathed out loudly and bounced a bit. [Echo play Trip! Alpha said!]
[Trip gone.] Charlie said, stepping out to join them. [Echo okay?]
Delta snorted loudly. [Echo loud.] She said snidely.
Echo snapped her jaws at Delta and darted away when Delta moved to snap back. [Echo fast!] She laughed.
[Echo fat!] Delta called loudly, watching her.
Echo stuck her tongue out and turned. And ran straight into Blue. The beta raptor was standing tall, watching. There was a glare in her eyes and a growl in her throat. Echo fell back to the ground and let out a whine. [Echo play!] She said sadly. [Echo play Trip. Alpha daddy say. Echo good day. Daddy say Echo good. Echo play. Echo good for Sir Dickwad.]
Blue narrowed her eyes for a moment. Then she huffed out a breath and leaned down, closer to Echo. She touched sister gently on the side and nodded her head. [Echo good.] Blue agreed. And she had been. All the raptors had preformed excellently for the investors and for Sir Dick. All day yesterday and all morning.
[Why leave?] Charlie asked, looking from Blue to Echo. She and Delta had been off in another part of the paddock.
[Trip lick daddy.] Echo said, getting up. She shook herself and sneezed. She'd gotten something in her nose. She turned to the side and sneezed again, louder that time. She shook her head.
[Lick?] Delta repeated and looked at Blue for confirmation.
Blue nodded her head.
[Why?] Charlie asked.
Blue titled her head. She wasn't exactly sure why. She had an idea. But she wasn't going to tell them. Not yet, at least. She wanted to ask Alpha first.
Delta tilted her head slightly. [Something on Alpha face?] She asked.
Blue blinked at her for a moment. Then she snorted out a laugh and shook her head. [No.] That was a worse idea than her own. [Silly Delta.] She said.
Delta huffed out angrily and turned to the side. [Not.] She mumbled.
[Alpha mad?] Charlie asked.
Blue wasn't sure on that, either. He seemed mad, but he also seemed confused. Blue didn't think he was mad at them or Trip, even. Blue thought he was mad at himself. But again, she wanted to talk to him first.
Echo snorted loudly and hung her head a bit. [Alpha lick Trip.]
Charlie lifted her head a bit and blinked. [Alpha no mad Trip?]
[Echo know not. Alpha leave.] She answered.
Delta stamped her foot on the ground, dragging her large claw through the dirt. [Delta bite Trip!] She growled.
Echo's eyes widened. [No!] She snapped. [No bite!]
Delta nodded her head. [Trip make Alpha leave!] She argued.
Charlie stepped in between them, shaking her head. [Stop.] She said. Echo leaned over Charlie's back and stuck her tongue out at Delta. Delta growled loudly and Echo darted back. [STOP!] Charlie snapped louder, startling both. Charlie was always the soft spoken, sweet, gentle one. She never raised her voice to her sisters. Delta backed up a step and ducked her head a bit. Echo was practically on the ground again. Charlie breathed out. [Alpha lick Trip.] She said. [Mean no bite.]
Echo lifted her head a bit and looked up at Charlie. [Alpha lick us.] She said softly.
Charlie nodded her head. [Yes.]
Delta tilted her head, confused. [Family?] She asked.
Blue shook her head. [Different.] She said.
Echo swung her head over to look at Blue. [Why?]
[Alpha no lick Barry.] Charlie pointed out. [Trip no Barry.]
[What Trip?] Echo asked, looking back at Charlie. Charlie looked at Blue and the others did as well.
Blue took a step back and turned slightly. [No sure.] She answered. [Blue ask Alpha. No bite yet. Might family.] She said, nodding her head. The others nodded their heads, satisfied with the not-quite answer. For now, Trip was deemed family. They wouldn't threaten him.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Zach was on his way back to the hotel when Claire called. Just wandering around slowly, with no real intent or anything. His mind was on Owen. It was weird, this attraction Zach felt to him. More than just the man being hot. Because he was really hot. But it wasn't that. He really had no clue what it was. It was just something. Something weird and wonderful and just completely indescribable. Because he could still feel the man's lips on his, still feels his hands on him, he could just feel Owen around him. It wasn't until the third or fourth ring that Zach actually realized his phone was ringing. He pulled it out quickly and for a second, hoped it was Owen. He glanced at the display before answering and let out an audible sigh. "Hello?" He said, putting it to his ear.
"Zach, sweetie." Claire said. "How are you doing?"
"Fine." Zach answered, slowing. "Better. I uh... went out walking."
There was a pause. "By yourself?"
Zach rolled his eyes and sighed. "I'm 17. I don't need a babysitter." Unless that babysitter was Owen. He'd take Owen any day. He bit his lip and dropped his gaze to the ground.
"I guess you're right." Claire answered after a moment and then let out a sigh. "Okay, look, something came up and I have to go meet with my assistant. But I promised to take Gray to this demonstration."
"Day off, huh?" Zach said, shaking his head slowly. But he had to give her credit. She almost lasted two days.
She sighed deeply. "I tried. I really tried." She sounded genuinely upset about it.
"Okay, yeah." He said. "I can take Gray."
She paused for a moment. "You want me to call Owen?"
"No!" Zach said quickly. "We'll be fine on our own." He added quickly.
"Alright. It'll be about an hour. Or maybe two." She added slowly. "Well... we have to meet Owen for dinner. Reservations are for 6. So I will definitely pick you up by then."
Zach rolled his eyes but smiled. He had to admit it. She was trying. She just wasn't very good at it yet. Maybe they'd just have to come back next year. Then Owen wouldn't have any excuse. The idea made him smile. "Yeah, okay. When's this thing Gray wants to see?"
"There's a show at 2 and another one at 4." She answered.
"I'm almost at the hotel." Zach said, looking around again. "Drop him there and we'll go at 4."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
It was a quarter to four and they were walking around the gift shop, wasting time. Anything and everything that could ever have dinosaurs plastered all over it existed in the too large gift shop. Toys and shirts, hats, and cups were a given, of course. They weren't out of place. But every kitchen utensil and article of clothing and bedding and pillows and rugs and towels and Zach wondered if somewhere in the world there was a house covered in Jurassic World paraphernalia. Zach rolled his eyes at the t-rex shaped vacuum cleaner and went to find Gray.
He found his brother in one of the many candy isles. He was rifling through a box of suckers, looking at the labels. "Steggoberry? Triceromelon? Brontemon?" Gray read out loud as Zach walked up. "Terederry?" He held it up and looked back at Zach. "What flavor is that?"
Zach peered at the label and shrugged. "Cherry, I think." He said, staring at the cartoon flying dinosaur holding a cherry. He picked up another. "Tyrannolime. Orangaptor." He shook his head. "Whoever named these should meet Blue."
Gray smiled. "Echo would probably want the orange one." He pointed to one of the Push Pops.
Zach rolled his eyes and shook his head. He remembered the weird candy. It was a cylindrical sucker in a spring loaded container that popped up when the cap was popped off. Yeah, he could imagine the raptor trying to play with the spring-loaded candy. And she would try to play with it. He smiled and grabbed one. Then looked at Gray. "Want anything?"
Gray pulled his hand back from the candy and shook his head. "No."
"Get something." Zach pulled out the credit card. "We should take full advantage of this." Gray selected a Moesacocoa bar and Zach rolled his eyes at the name. Ridiculous. They paid for the candy and headed outside. People were already starting to gather. All dressed in business suits. There were a few kids. Probably sons and daughters of the stuffy business suits. Zach looked around, staring at them all and wondering. "What is this again?" He asked, moving through the crowd with Gray.
"Animatronics..." Gray started.
"Robots, right?" Zach interupted.
Gray nodded. "Basically robots. Aunt Claire says they sing and dance. She said they'll be like... little mini attractions placed around the park."
Zach suppressed a shiver. "Like the creepy giant rats at Chuck-E-Cheese?"
Gray nodded again.
"Okay. Yeah. That sounds fun." Zach said, trying to muster up some sort of enthusiasm but failing. He'd hated those robot rats when he was younger. He remembered crying at his 9th birthday party because his dad had put him up on stage and told him to dance with them. "Stay close." He said as he grabbed Gray's shoulder.
Zach didn't understand why a park that had real dinosaurs needed robot ones. Was it just because they sang and danced? He bet Echo could sing and dance better than them. Zach smiled at the thought, because that was something he'd pay to see. But aunt Claire had said it was geared towards kids. Zach glanced down at Gray. Much smaller kids. He rolled his eyes and shook his head. He really should be nicer. Gray wasn't hurting anyone with his excitement. And he was still a kid. Zach reached out towards him and touched Gray's shoulder. He nodded forward and Gray smiled and started moving closer to the stage. Zach watched him for a moment and then pulled out his phone. He really had no interest in watching the robot dinosaurs. He opened up his text messages and clicked on Owen's name. Watching some dumb robot dinosaurs. He typed and sent.
A moment later, a response popped up. I know.
Zach shivered and stared at the phone. You're here?
Behind you.
Zach looked up from the phone. He turned, his eyes scanning the crowd. He held his breath for a moment as he searched. Was he really there? Why was he there? And then Zach saw him. Owen was standing at the back, near a small building or shed or something. Zach couldn't read his expression or gauge his mood. He was too far away for Zach to get a good look or feel. And he couldn't just go up to Owen. Not with all these people around. And with Gray. It was too dangerous. Zach turned slightly and glanced at Gray. The kid was turned towards the stage, watching the dumb singing robots. Zach fingered his phone for a moment. Text flirting seemed like a viable option. But Owen could just ignore him. He slipped his phone back into his pocket. And his fingers grazed the candy push pop he'd just bought. And he had a thought.
He turned so he knew Owen could see him. He pulled the candy Push Pop from his pocket. He pulled off the plastic and popped the cap off. He watched for a moment as it sprung up. He lifted it to his mouth and licked the orange sucker. Tasted like orange. He moved back to the base, and licked it up to the tip. Then did it again. He didn't know what he was doing, of course. He knew the basic mechanics. And he tried not to feel silly. Well he felt a little silly. He put the whole sucker in his mouth. Then pulled it out slowly. He snaked his tongue around the tip and then put his lips on it.
And then Gray was walking towards him. "What are you doing?"
Zach pulled the sucker from his mouth quickly and looked at Gray. "Nothing." He said way too fast.
Gray frowned at him for a moment.
Zach rolled his eyes and stepped forward. He grabbed Gray's shoulder and pushed him lightly. "Just turn back around, okay?"
"Why?" Gray asked, looking up at him. "You going to do it again?"
"Gray, turn around." Zach hissed. "Watch the dumb robots."
Gray narrowed his eyes for a moment. Then he sulkily turned back.
Zach watched his brother for a moment more before turning and seeking out the raptor alpha again. But Owen was nowhere to be seen. Zach silently cursed his little brother for distracting him. Well... guess I can watch the show, he thought, turning back around. Nothing else to do. He popped the cap back on the Push Pop and shoved it in his pocket.
A hand snaked out of the crowd, grabbing his shoulder. He was yanked back hard, a hand suddenly over his mouth. Just as quick, he was shoved behind a tiny building, maintenance or something, and pushed against the wall. Well hidden from view. Owen. Owen had him pinned. And the man looked pissed. "Do you have any idea who you're messing with?" Owen hissed out between clenched teeth.
Zach smiled broadly. He tilted his chin up and leaned back against the wall. He was suddenly glad he had taken a dose of pain meds right before they left the hotel. "You." He breathed out, his voice barely a whisper.
"This isn't a game!" Owen snapped lowly, leaning closer. His face was just inches away.
Zach tilted his head slightly. "Are you trying to scare me?" He asked, a smirk on his lips.
Owen's eyes narrowed. "I can show you scary, you little shithead. You don't know scary."
"Is that a threat..." Zach started slowly. He lifted his hands to Owen's stomach, touching him lightly. He felt the man's muscles tighten under his finger tips, but Owen didn't move or pull away. "Or a promise..." Zach drug his fingers upwards, tracing the muscles lightly. He followed the lines and curves up Owen's chest, then across to his shoulders. "Or an invitation..." He finger tips slid across Owen's skin before he laced them together around the man's neck. And he smiled. Owen let out a growl, the sound vibrating deep in his chest. And Zach jumped slightly. That was weird. Maybe a little hot. Or a lot hot. He wasn't quite sure. Zach was suddenly feeling a bit dizzy.
Owen could feel the primal instinct in his blood. Need. Want. Mate. Mine. He could practically hear the raptor screaming in his head. Hell, the kid had been pretty much been begging for it since they'd met. Quite literally a few times. Owen could feel his resolve breaking. It would be so easy to slam the kid against the wall and give him exactly what he wanted. What they both very clearly wanted. And it would be so good! But he was just a kid! An injured kid. So no. No wall slamming. Wall slamming was bad. This was all bad. But the way Zach was touching him! Owen didn't know how much longer he could keep his hands off Zach. And that scared the living shit out of him.
Owen's eyes dropped to Zach's lips. And that was a mistake. Fuck it. Owen bent forward to gently touch their lips together. And then Zach tightened his grip and pulled him closer. And Owen picked him up and pressed him against the wall and Zach's legs were around his waist and all of Owen's resolve and restraint dissolved. Zach gasped and threw his head back. Owen's lips were on his neck again, at the juncture with his shoulder. And Owen was struggling against the urge to bite. His teeth grazed the soft skin for a moment.
And then a voice broke the spell. "Zach?"
Both froze for a moment. And really, it had only been a matter of moments, since Owen had grabbed Zach out of the crowd. Zach's eyes widened and his mouth opened and his breathing was off. He loosened his grip and Owen set him down, trying really hard to ignore the way the kid slid down his body. Because wow!
Goddamnit, Gray! Zach thought as his feet hit the ground. He leaned back against the wall for a moment, because he felt more than a little light headed and thought he might actually fall. He ran a hand through his hair and dropped his gaze to the ground. He took a deep, calming breath and exhaled it out. And then stepped away from the heat that was Owen Grady. And he suddenly felt so cold. Owen turned and ducked farther behind the building, out of sight. Zach stepped around the building and tried hard not to glare at his little brother, tried to act like he hadn't just been caught making out with a much older man. "Yeah?" Zach was like... 99% sure his brother hadn't actually seen them. Since Gray was standing a few feet in front of the building.
"What were you doing?" Gray asked, curiously, tilting his head.
Zach breathed out again. Yeah, Gray didn't have a clue. He shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged, trying to feign boredom. "Trying to sneak into the employee building." He answered.
"Why?" Gray asked.
"Bored." Zach said with a shrug. "You done here?"
Gray nodded. "The show's over."
"Good." Zach said, stepping closer to Gray. He reached out and put his arm around the kid's shoulders. He turned him around. "We're supposed to meet Aunt Claire and Owen for dinner soon."
Gray nodded again. "Yeah, I know."
"Come on." Zach steered him away from the shed. "It's the same reservation she made for her boss, right? So that means some fancy place."
"Probably." Gray said.
"With gross food." Zach stuck his tongue out and Gray laughed. "Means we should like... clean up and dress up."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Owen pressed himself hard against the wall of the shed, like he thought he could melt into it, disappear into it. Forever. He was not going to that dinner. He couldn't go to that dinner. He couldn't be around Zach. Probably never again. The kid had broken him. He wasn't even completely sure how he'd gotten there. Last he was conscious of, he was sitting on his couch, at his bungalow, contemplating what the fuck had come over him at the paddock. And what had come over his other half.
It was the first time he really felt disconnected from the raptor. He knew he was the raptor, it was part of him. But he'd felt this almost disconnection and he didn't like it. The raptor was angry with him. Angry for leaving and angry for even thinking about not showing up to the dinner. The raptor had chosen Zach, for whatever reason, had marked the kid as his. The raptor was attracted to Zach, since he first set foot on the island. And Owen just had no clue why! But it hadn't only been the raptor. Owen was clearly attracted to Zach as well. There was just something about him and he couldn't explain it.
At some point, he must have gotten up and left. Owen wasn't exactly sure how it happened. One moment, he was sitting on the couch, with the raptor's anger in his head. And the next he knew, he was at the central plaza, blinking at the crowd of people standing around. He had no idea why there were all there. Or why he was. And then Owen smelled him and his eyes searched the growing crowd. He caught sight of Zach and there was a feeling of completeness. He wanted to run, to push his way through the crowd. He wanted to grab Zach and sink his teeth in the kid's neck, to mark him. That's what the raptor wanted, to mark the kid as his. But Owen had resisted. He slunk to the back of the crowd. And then his phone had beeped.
He couldn't go. He couldn't trust himself. He couldn't trust his raptor. He couldn't go to that dinner. He just couldn't. Claire would be mad. But he couldn't. Owen waited there, pressed against the wall so hard the bricks were cutting into his skin. He waited, hardly breathing, until Zach and Gray's voices faded. And then he waited longer, until all the footsteps around him vanished. Until he knew he was pretty much alone. Only then, did he step away from the wall, take a deep breath, and then he ran.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Author's Notes: Sexy things make me giggle uncontrollably like a 12 year old. Seriously. It's ridiculous. This is why I can't write porn. And I can barely write a blowjob reference scene. Hell. I can BARELY TYPE THE WORD BLOWJOB! I'm 31. I swear. 31. I'm an adult and everything. With a car and a house and a full time job.
I am ridiculous.
