Chapter 35
A big party was held for the departure of Antonus and Carlton. The Almighty joined in as well. Gaia held a bonding service and placed a circlet of gold on Lauren's head and gold armbands on Antonus, Carlton, and Gerald. She then put silver arm bands on Cartrell and Tom.
God saw this and waved his hand changing all the bands to gold. "There will be no separation or difference in the children of this family. All children will be eligible to be the next keeper."
No one questioned God's word. "Very well. Let's bless this union of woman and men. Let it be fruitful and prosper. Let there be happiness and joy that spreads across all of the realms and all of creation. Amen."
Everyone yelled, "AMEN!" And the music and dancing went on through the rest of the night.
"It's time for you to go back to the land of the living. In coming here, you accomplished more than was expected. Cartrell, you are a wonderful addition to the kingdom of heaven, and so are you, Tom."
"What do you mean?" Tom asked. "I am from a rejected god. I am not a part of the Earthly gods."
"That band not killing you begs to differ.' God pointed out the gold band on Tom's arm. "You are now a part of the heavenly gods and my son-in-law. Tom, you were wronged as a child. I hope this makes up for that wrong. I grant you the knowledge of your powers and you will never be looked down on again." God pulled Tom into a hug and hugged him until he relented and hugged him back.
"Thank you. I appreciate the change in my status. I wouldn't want to be the one thing that is bad in Lauren's bonds, mates, and consorts team." Tom tried to joke, but Lauren wasn't having that.
"Even if God had not changed anything, You were not bad. I like you so that makes it good." She gave him a mental and virtual hug. "I will see all of you in a minute I guess. How does this work? I am physically here with Cartrell. What about the rest?"
"Well, you have Tom and Gerald here virtually, so you just let those images go. Antonus and Carlton will meet you in the animal kingdom's capital. You and Cartrell deserve a little more time alone before the trials by fire. Antonus and Carlton can help MaGayla with the trials. That way everyone in your kingdom can try out, even the people that you usually have set up the trials can participate."
So with God's final words, everyone went to their prospective places and time moved again. "Wow. Well, we told MaGayla we were taking the day and it is only 10:00. Let's enjoy our time." Lauren suggested.
"Good idea. I was hoping you wouldn't want to go back yet." Cartrell replied. " I wanted to show you, Africa, by an elephant." Suddenly an elephant appeared. Cartrell wondered if that was what God meant when he said he had been given a change of status.
"Sounds like fun. Let's go." They got on the back of the elephant and rode to different places the rest of the day. They rested in an oasis so the elephant didn't get tired. They swam in a heated pool of crystal clear water in the middle of the Sahara desert. Lauren gave in to the feelings she had for Cartrell and they made love. Cartrell allowed her to have control again. He was afraid that if took control, his lion would come out and try to mark her. He knew he had to tell her about the marking he so desperately wanted, and needed to do before his lion pushed the issue. But this ride was for her pleasure and he knew he would get pleasure from it as well. When she released her built-up pressure, he knew Gerald felt it too. She could overwhelm all of her mates. It was so glorious.
"Lauren," Cartrell drew her attention once they were laying on the side of the pool in each other's arms.
"Hmmm." She replied.
"I need to talk to you about something important to my lion."
"Okay." Lauren opened her eyes and looked at him.
"My lion is a separate being from me that has a need that I have been wanting to ask you about. You see, my lion wants to meet its mate."
"What do you mean? We have been intimate, haven't I met your lion?"
"Well, no. I have been intimate with you and you have seen my lion but you have not been intimate with him. He is a bit rough when he is intimate and I have not let him participate in our lovemaking. That's why you have been in control. He won't allow that. I don't want to frighten you. It is something that needs to happen or I might lose control. He is very anxious to mate with you."
Lauren was confused. "It is just like you mated with my dragon." Gerald said in her mind. His lion will take over his body and be the dominant personality. He will want to mark you. He will bite the back of your neck." Lauren took in the information.
"What will mating your lion entail?" She heard what Gerald told her but she wanted more time to think about what Cartrell was asking of her. He wanted her to mate with his lion and let him bite the back of her neck to mark her. She also didn't want him to know she was communicating with Gerald. It felt weird.
At the end of his explanation, he said, "We would usually mark each other by biting the back of the neck. He knows you are not in heat but he doesn't care. He wants the bond that comes from the mating."
"Is this dangerous? I've seen the size of your lion."
"He won't hurt you. He knows that Gerald would kill him and I would suppress him. He knows better. He just wants to be with his mate. Will you allow it?"
"Let's just lay here for a little while and I will think about it. Just hold me while I think." Lauren lay in his arms and took in his warmth.
"You know it is ridiculous to hide that you are asking me for advice." Gerald laughingly said in her mind.
"I know but I am not ready for, more than one, I guess," Lauren replied.
"You did well with me guiding you when you were with Cartrell your first time."
"This is different."
"Okay. I will give you your way this time. You need to give his lion his way. If you don't it will feel rejected and drive Cartrell crazy. Then it will try to hurt you because you spurned him. Do you not like his lion? He is gorgeous."
"Yes. I like his lion." She was quiet again, then she said, "Will you help me again?"
"I am always here for you," Gerald replied. "Turn your back to Gerald and push your rump back into him." She did as she was told. "Gerald, release your lion. Lauren is following my directions so she can let you know she is willing but she is shy and she doesn't want you to know I am guiding her."
"She is so weird sometimes. Doesn't she know we can talk to each other? Okay. Thanks, man."
"No problem. I get to be with my girl through you." Gerald said. He then focused back on Lauren. "Lauren, get on all four, low to the ground in front of Cartrell. He will take it from there."
Lauren rubbed her rump on Cartrell again and a low growl imitated from him. She didn't look at him but he seemed to get bigger. He nudged her with his head. She moved and got on all four low to the ground like Gerald told her and waited. Cartrell rose up behind her and rubbed his hand up and down her back. He rubbed his face over her back as well laying kisses down her spine and then back up to her neck. She moaned and breathed heavily as he tantalized her body with the heat of his mouth and the roughness of his tongue. He licked the back of her neck and gently put his mouth on both sides of her neck. She lulled her head forward in submission. His lion purred. He mounted her and she relaxed so she could take him. In his lion form, he was larger and he did not wait for her to get comfortable. He bit down on her neck and rammed into her. Short, deep, and strong thrusts that did not seem to want to end. The act was powerful and dominating. His thrusts hit her g spot every time. Over and over again the roughness of his head rubbed it until it was tender and when he was ready to come a barb grabbed her g spot and held on until he exploded deep in her while biting down on her neck. There was pain but not too much before euphoria flowed through her and she fainted.
"But this is why I wasn't sure. She fainted and she hasn't awakened yet. What should I do? I know she is strong. Yes, I have faith in her. I love her. I know I had no choice. Okay, I will calm down."
Lauren woke up to Cartrell frantically talking to someone but she didn't see who. Was he on the phone? No. These are supernaturals so he is probably talking to Gerald in his head. "Yes. Oh, she just woke up." With that Cartrell turned completely toward her and smiled. "Hey, my love, are you okay? I thought my lion had…"
Before he could finish the thought Lauren spoke up. "No. Don't finish that sentence. Don't tarnish that wonderful experience. He is so powerful and regal. May I see him now that he is less, um, panicked?"
"Are you sure? I don't want…"
"It's okay. I am sure I want to talk to him." Lauren gave him a kiss and hugged him tightly. He relaxed in her arms and released a calming breath. When he released his breath his body enlarged and the hug tightened. Lauren knew that her lion was there and that he was afraid he had hurt her as well. "Hey, there big guy. I am okay. It was our first time and you overpowered me that's all. I enjoyed being with you. Can you turn full lion for me?" He raised his head from his shoulder and looked deep into her eyes, then he changed into his magnificent lion form. She wrapped her arms around his neck as much as she could and he licked her face and neck. She then lay in his paws and fell asleep.
"See. I told you everything was fine. Gerald said to Cartrell. Just so you know she heard your panicked talk with me just before she woke up. We have got to get her to realize that we can't keep secrets anymore. We share thoughts and none of you can hide your thoughts from me. We share our emotions and our feelings. There is no hiding. I rather enjoy the voyeurism I get to experience because of Tom's gifts."
"You like to watch her… with other guys?"
"Well, no, not with any guys. So far it has been just you. Obviously. We are the only two she has been with since she has been here. I can't do anything about her past life and I don't worry about it."
"I never thought about her life before being the keeper. She is in her late twenties, even though she doesn't look like it. She is so beautiful. When I first saw her, I thought she was much younger, but as I got to know her, her maturity began to sparkle."
"Yes, well she is 27 years old to be exact. Her birthday is coming up on March 26th. We have to remember to do something special for her. Her age never bothered me. She tried to bring it up once but I steered the conversation to a different topic. I for one don't want age to be a problem seeing that I am well-aged."
"I can see your point."
"Take care of her while she is with you. I must retire and check on our brood. Good night."
When they finally returned to the capital, MaGayla thanked Lauren for sending her the extra help and announced that everything was ready for the trials.