Awaken the Elements (Elemental Trilogy) (37 page)

             
River slid over and sat beside her. “Rebel fire is still out of control,” he notified her.

             
“Geez,” she said, turning to peek over the edge. It looked like hell out there. Little white missiles flew everywhere.

             
“I’ve been hit four times already.”

             
“I’ve been hit three.” They both peered over the edge.

             
“In coming,” someone shouted as another golf ball landed in the fountain.

             
“I got this one!” Drake ran to the fountain. He looked over at Autumn and River. “Thieves!” he shouted.

              “Damn,” Autumn muttered. She got up and jumped into the fountain just as Drake did. Both jumped for the ball, soaking themselves as they hit the water.

             
“My ball!” Drake demanded.

             
“Eat water, golf ball head!” Autumn pushed Drake’s head into the water.

             
“My ball!” He sat up, spitting water and grabbed for the ball.

             
“Nope, mine,” she said, splashing him.

             
“You’re mean,” he announced, splashing back.

             
“You going to tell my mommy?” She splashed him again. They were both laughing as they splashed each other back and forth.

             
“Need some help out?” River asked.

             
She and Drake exchanged smiles and nodded to each other.  “Sure,” she said.

             
River held out his hand, and she grabbed it. Pressing her feet against the wall inside the fountain, she managed to pull him in. River got to his knees coughing out water. He splashed Autumn.

             
“We be wet fishes, yo!” Drake called out.

             
River splashed him, “Dork.”

             
“Dork.” Autumn agreed, splashing him too.

             
“Whatcha doin in the fountain, guys?” Rowan asked.

             
“We were hiding,” River said.

             
“Hey, Rowan. Wanna help me out?” Autumn asked.

             
Rowan gave her a charming smile, “Sure, always enjoy helping a woman in distress.” He held out his hand. Autumn did the same thing she did to River to get him in the fountain.

              “Look, another wet fishy to the collection,” River laughed.

             
“Ha-Ha,” Rowan sat up, splashing them.

             
“Stop splashing me, fool,” Drake ordered.

             
Rowan splashed him, and the four began a splash fight. Autumn took refuge behind Rowan. She pulled on his shirt, so he knew she was behind him. He paused and turned to look at her. She kissed him. The other two had finally stopped splashing. “It’s weird to kiss you while you’re wet,” he said, and pulled her to the front of him.

             
“It’s not like we haven’t done it before,” she said.

             
“Ew,” Drake said. “Get a room!”

             
Autumn stuck her tongue out at him, and he returned it. She stood up and helped Rowan up, trying not to slip. They managed to stand up, but helping River made her slip. Rowan caught her. “Damn, slippery fountain,” she kicked water at Drake.

             
“I need to change once again,” Rowan said. He got out of the fountain and helped Autumn.

“I’m glad I had no shoes on.” She found her dry slippers she had taken off when she
laid on the fountain edge. “I hate the feeling of wet shoes.”

             
Rowan noticed the cuts on Autumn’s hands. “These aren’t from the fountain.”

             
Autumn shook her head. “I wasn’t the only one who was having fun. The electronics store down the way is rather untidy,” she looked at her cuts too.

             
Rowan looked down toward the electronics store, and then picked up her left hand. “You did this over there?”

             
“Yes,”

             
“So that’s where you got the idea for us?”

              “No, I got it afterward.” She pointed up to the Hot ‘4’ Boyz sign.

             
“Ah, I see.” Rowan slipped his arm around Autumn’s waist. “Want to accompany me to change?” he asked. He moved his eyebrows up and down foolishly.

             
She looked around. “Are you going to put the Band Aids on?”

             
“I will,” River said, catching up with them.

             
They started walking to the elevator, “Anything else you might need attending to?”

             
She shook her head. “You guys are so bad.”

****

Rowan and River took time with each other and Autumn. No one rushed. They had learned the secrets
of each other’s bodies. They played, and kissed, and rubbed each other. Autumn loved watching her guys play with each other. She was watching as they broke the kiss.

Their dark eyes looked at her
, promising pleasure and fun. River sat against the bed frame and pulled her onto his lap so her back was against his stomach. She sunk onto his hard dick as he kissed along her neck, his hands on her hips, moving her on him. Rowan sat back on his knees, watching them.

Autumn moaned with each thrust from River. He was sheathed so deep inside her. Rowan lay down between their legs. She looked down as his mouth attached itself to her lips. His tongue lapped at her clit.

“Oh,” she said, reaching down to touch his hair.

“Mm
m,” River said. “Does his tongue feel good?”

“Yes.”

“Are you going to come for us, Autumn?” He said and nibbled her earlobe.

“Yes,” she said and moaned.

“Good, we are going to make you come all night,” he said as the pressure released, washing over her.

****

             
“So you’re sleeping with both?” Anatha asked. She thought she would be jealous, but she was okay.

             
“We sleep together,” Autumn said.

             
“You are one lucky bitch,” Hazel said.

             
“And it was their idea?” Anatha asked.

             
“Yeah,” she said. They sat around in their PJs having a girl’s night.

“How does it work?” Anatha asked.

“Oh, yes, Autumn, tell us.” Hazel said, leaning forward.

Autumn felt her face heat up. “Well
, it just depends on what mood we’re in.”

“Do they do each other?” Anatha asked
, her face bright red.

“Sometimes,” Autumn replied.

“And you watch?”

“You know she watches,” Hazel said. “I want to know which one is a bottom
. I say River.”

They all giggled. “Why would you think that?” Anatha asked.

“He might be more built, but I think he likes it.”

“I can’t believe we are talking about this!” Anatha exclaimed.

Autumn was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes. “Well, they take turns,” she said.

“Interesting,” Hazel said
, sighing. “I wish I could be you for one night. So how is Jaime?” Hazel asked. I saw his ass in those jeans.

             
Anatha’s face became even redder. “He is awesome.”

             
“Details,” Hazel said.

             
Autumn laughed, shaking her head. “I don’t think I want to know more.”

             
“He is amazing,” Anatha said with a small sigh. “He makes my body tingle, and he makes me…you know.” She said the last in a whisper.

             
“There is no hope for you,” Autumn said.

             
“Hey, we aren’t so lucky to have two,” Hazel said.

             
“I want to be jealous, but I think I love Jaime,” Anatha said and clapped her hands over her mouth.

             
“Ohhh,” Hazel and Autumn said at the same time, and they all laughed.

****

“It’s nice seeing everyone get along,” River said
, watching the girls giggle, shooting them looks.

             
“You know they’re talking about us, right?” Frank said.

             
“Fuck it,” Jaime said, “I have nothing to hide.”

“
I’m with Jaime on that,” Rowan said and they all nodded in agreement.

Chapter 16

              “What do you want to do?” Rowan asked.

             
Autumn sat between him and Stefan. “I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Stefan, any ideas?”

             
“We can go up top and play football,” Stefan suggested.

             
“Sounds good to me,” Anatha replied on the other side of Stefan.

             
“I haven’t been out in a while,” River added, sitting across from them.

             
“Who has?” Drake asked.

             
“It’s a bad idea,” Angel hissed. Anatha gave him her shut up look.

             
“Why do we even bother?” Adair said.

             
“Guardians, my ass,” Angel said which made Autumn and Stefan hide a chuckle with coughs. He gave them a dirty look.

             
“I’m not going up there with you two,” Adair said and walked off.

             
“For once, I agree,” Angel said and slithered away.

             
It was true. No one went out much anymore. The older adults on the fourth floor were too scary. If someone went up to the fourth floor for any reason, they were likely caught, and well, it’s too horrible to talk about. The group sat there thinking of ways to get to the roof without getting caught.

             
“I know. We can split up,” Jaime proposed.

             
“From where?” Anatha asked. She watched as Janice came by to sit beside him. She leaned in, and he shook his head and told her to go away.

             
Autumn sat silently thinking, while the others argued amongst themselves. She put together a quick plan. “I got it,” she finally said. She felt their eyes looking at her as they stopped arguing. “Three groups. Two go up from Toy World, and the other group goes up the escalators. The group up the escalators has a quicker chance to get to the roof. The two groups that go into Toy World will split up as they leave the store. One group goes one way, and the second group goes the other way. Each group goes with walkie-talkies. If you see one of the fourth floorians, contact the others.”

             
“Wow, it’s sort of like a secret mission,” Linden replied.

             
“I’m up for it.” Envy stood up and looked up toward the roof.

             
“Me too,” Ivy Lee said, copying her. “My middle name is danger.” The group laughed as the girls ran off to find walkie-talkies.

             
“You really think this will work?” Stefan asked.

             
Autumn shrugged. “I dunno. There are twelve of us, counting Hazel and Frank. Four in a group.”

             
“Well, I’m going with Autumn,” Stefan replied.

             
“So am I,” Rowan said.

             
“No way.  River and I are going with Autumn,” Anatha spoke up.

             
“I can take on five,” Autumn looked at the others. “So Frank, Jaime, and Hazel will go up the escalators.”

             
“Why do we have to go up the escalators?” Hazel asked.

             
“Because you guys are a smaller group,” Autumn replied.

             
Janice walked in. “I want to play too,” She announced.

             
Autumn looked at Jaime who was shaking his head. “If you can get up to the roof,” Anatha told her.

             
“Linden, Drake, Envy, and Ivy Lee will take the easy way out of Toy World. And since we’re a huge crowd, we’ll go the long way. That way we can split up if we have to.”

             
Envy and Ivy Lee handed out the walkie-talkies. “Are we ready?” Envy asked, clicking on her radio.

             
Linden and Drake both got up. “We are,” Linden said.

             
Anatha nodded as she got to her feet. “If we have to do this, we might as well get it over with.”

             
“Wait,” Stefan said. “When is the next drop date?” he asked. Everyone looked around at each other. “No one knows?”

             
“It’ll be just my luck if we get to the roof, and it’s a drop day,” Autumn said. She took a deep breath and stood up. “Let’s go.”

             
They quietly went over to the escalators. “Should we wait until you guys are up on the fourth floor?” Hazel asked.

             
Autumn looked around, thinking. “Yeah. It might be safer.”

             
“We’ll call you,” Envy said.

             
“I don’t like this,” Jaime muttered, looking up the escalators. The power was on.

             
“I got the football,” Stefan ran over to them.

             
“At least you have it. I’d probably drop it,” Anatha replied.

             
“Me too, probably,” Autumn murmured as she looked up the escalators too.

             
“If we’re going to go, it better be now, Autumn,” Envy said.

             
“Fine. Okay.” Autumn started off for Toy World.

             
Stefan followed her. “Come on, guys. What are you waiting for?” He caught up with Autumn.

             
“Stefan, your willingness to have fun is cute,” Anatha said.

             
“Thanks,” Stefan replied. He paused, “You just noticed that?” She nodded.

             
“It is,” Autumn said, giving him a wink, and he grabbed her around the waist.

             
“If we get caught, at least we’ll have each other,” he said and made a fake kissy face at her.

             
“Hands off,” Rowan said. River nodded behind him.

             
Autumn laughed, pushing away, “If we get caught. I’m going to blame it on you.”

             
“Will you really?” He looked at her, frowning.

             
“No, you’re too cute to blame,” Anatha pinched his cheek.

             
“Stop. You guys are spoiling him,” Rowan said with a touch of jealousy in his voice. He cut in between Stefan and Autumn.

             
“Like you aren’t spoiled?” River asked, putting his arm protectively around Autumn’s waist.

             
Rowan shrugged, “I don’t kiss and tell.”

             
“Yeah, right,” Autumn said, and River chuckled.

             
Rowan gave Autumn a look, and she laughed as they turned into Toy World. She hushed them as they neared the stairs. She listened for any sign of children or parents. She heard no one. She went up the stairs followed by the others. When they were on the fourth floor, they told Jaime and the others to start up. “Make it quick,” she reminded them.

             
They stood in the store as quiet as they could be. They heard nothing from the other group, not even something to let them know they had reached the roof. “You think they’re okay?” Ivy Lee asked.

             
Anatha went to the exit. She peeked out and saw the coast was clear. “Maybe they haven’t thought about sending us a message yet.”

             
“Well, that’s pretty stupid,” Linden said.

             
“Look who we’re talking about,” Envy replied.

             
Anatha shook her head. “Actually, Jaime is pretty smart underneath his stupid hardcore exterior.”

             
“Come on,” Autumn told them. “You guys make it to the roof, and we take the long way around.”

             
“If all goes well, we’ll confirm we hit the roof,” Ivy Lee said, saluting her.

             
“Try not to get caught,” Stefan said. They all chuckled as they split up and left.

             
“You think they will get caught?” Linden asked as their group started walking to the stairs.

             
“Of course, and if they don’t, I still want to make it to the roof first,” Envy told them.

****

             
“God, we’ll be caught,” River whispered.

             
“Shut up,” Anatha pinched his arm.

             
“Ow,” River said, holding his arm to his chest. “Was that necessary?”

             
“Listen to the woman. If you keep complaining, we will get caught,” Rowan said.

             
“Shut up, both of you,” Anatha, Stefan, and Autumn said at the same time.

             
“I hear people,” Autumn spoke up. “Split up. I’ll take Anatha. You guys go in and hide.” Anatha and Autumn ran off.

             
“What the hell?” Rowan said.

             
“Trust Autumn. She knows what she’s talking about,” Stefan assured them.

             
“What now?” River asked.

             
“We hide,” Stefan replied. They went into the closest store. Stefan looked around. It was Millers Outhouse. Their slogan hung everywhere: All Toilets, All Day Every day. You Mess It, We Clean It was their second motto. Stefan read it on the sign by the cash register.

             
“Did you read the mottos?” Rowan asked.

             
“Gross,” River replied.

             
“I’m glad you can actually read, River,” Stefan joked.

             
“Not cool, dude,” River said.

             
“How do you think life will be on the outside when this is all over?” Stefan asked.

             
“Almost three years,” Rowan whispered. “Close to four when we get out.”

             
“It won’t be what we left,” River said.

             
“That’s what I’m worried about,” Stefan sat on one of the toilets.

             
River laughed. “Come on, who has thought about killing either Linden or Drake, raise your hand.” Each guy raised a hand.

             
“I wonder if Boy Toyz survived?” Rowan mused out loud.

             
“I know for sure they killed each other,” River thought of Bashtian. Bashtian was Rivers equivalent in Boy Toyz. They performed at some charity about a year after they became a band. Each member of Boy Toyz fought amongst themselves throughout the whole event.

             
“I think it’s safe to go and search for the girls,” Stefan said, standing up.

             
“Okay,” River replied and took the lead out of the store.

             
“Autumn, someone’s coming,” Anatha grabbed her arm.

             
They went into the closest store and hid behind the counter. They heard voices. “Dude, I swear I saw someone come in here,” Howard said.

             
“Why would anyone come in here?” Anatha’s dad asked.

             
“You ever curious about what could be in here?” Howard asked.

             
“It’s a sex store,” Bud said.

             
“Yeah, but it’s for both sexes. You might find something for your wife,” Howard laughed. Autumn wondered what they were talking about, and then noticed the elephant speedos on a hook across from them. Eyes wide, she motioned to Anatha to look at it. Anatha put her hands over her mouth to hold in her laughter.

             
Autumn mouthed to her cousin, “What store?” Anatha shrugged.  They both looked at the other underwear hanging from hooks.

             
“It has this secret room toward the back,” Howard told the men.

             
“Full of what? Life size rubber dolls?” Anatha’s dad asked.

             
“No dudes, its way cooler. Come on, I’ll show you,” Howard told them as he walked into the store. They heard the men’s voices disappear into the back.

             
“Ew,” The girls whispered. The girls sat and waited. They heard more voices from outside the store.

             
“I know the girls had to come this way,” Rowan said.

             
“You think they got to the roof without us?” River asked.

             
“You go save them,” Autumn whispered to Anatha. Anatha gave her a quick nod and ran to the entrance. She hissed for them all to follow her, and they all quietly collapsed behind the register.