The Twelve Zenati Pt. 35

"How's the pain after your shower," Helena asked.

"A few twinges, but the local you gave me seems to be holding up," she smiled. "Umm, how important is it that I go to Darwin? Can't you have the antibiotics or whatever sent to us? You have Zanto here, and he is far sicker than me," Marcella reasoned. "It was just a little crocodile love bite after all. It's not like he chewed off my leg," she laughed.

"It bit you in the sea and the sand, and without knowing what other bacteria covered those teeth, I can't guarantee that you won't get an infection. But, love bite or not, the risk of infection is real, and complications can arise faster than we can account for sometimes," Helena explained her decision to send Marcella onto Darwin.

"I would be a good patient here. The last time you put me in that hospital in Darwin, it didn't work out so well for anyone," Marcella said meaningfully. "Please don't make me go there, I just don't want to go anywhere right now, and I will be good and let you play with my leg every single morning. Twice a day if you wanted!"

"Plans have already been made," Helena said.

"Plans can be changed," Noah said, coming into the room. "Have you met my cousin Hector?" he came to sit beside Marcella on the edge of the bed. "Tell me what's going on?" he asked.

"I don't want to go to Darwin or be in this clinic even. Can't I just go back to the beach house? I will be the perfect patient there and take all the antibiotics in the world if that's what it takes," she bargained.

"Okay," Noah agreed, shocking Marcella speechless. "Maybe not the beach house, but another house rather than a clinic or hospital. Could you handle that?" he asked his cousins as they watched him.

"I guess the portable scanner can do the job. The wounds have been cleaned and stitched, and we know Helena would have done a thorough job. Fortunately for us, she doesn't know how to make a mistake. I want to look at her notes and treatment regime before agreeing to this plan of yours, though," Hector said.

"What plan is that?" Marcella and Helena asked almost in unison.

"I appreciate that you are very careful with my fiancé's health, but from the preliminary notes and the damage I saw when I arrived to distract her while you put in the stitches needed, it didn't look so bad. It was a small croc compared to the ones we have seen on the beach or in the streams. I doubt she is in any danger of infection; her tetanus shot is up to date, and the mobile scan will reassure you if you insist on it. There is no need to subject her to a hospital stay when we know that is a trigger for her PTSD," Noah pulled no punches as he laid out Marcella's current condition for his cousins.

"Oh, shit," Helena whispered, looking horrified. "Sorry, Marcie. I guess I do make mistakes," she admitted and scowled at the soft chuckle from her brother.

"Everyone has triggers and phobia's, but they are more like snakes or people chewing loudly, rather than receiving medical attention. So it's not exactly normal, I know," Marcella admitted finding it wasn't as hard as usual to admit to the weakness in front of Noah, who knew her well at this stage of their relationship.

"Noah's right. There is no need for her to go to Darwin except to appease your obsessive need to check every box," Hector said. "Tell you what, you can take the decoy to Darwin, and I will take responsibility for not sending Marcella to the hospital."

"My obsessive need! You will take over my patient! You expect me to go to Darwin with a decoy? A decoy for what pray tell, little brother?" Helena fired up as her voice rose in anger.

"Over to you, Noah," Hector chuckled and stepped away from his furious sister.

Noah outlined the plans he had hastily made with Xavier, Dom and his brothers. First, Gideon and Genesis would take the girls and two decoys posing as himself and Marcie to Darwin with the new bodyguard he had just appointed. Then, while the eyes of Konrad were on the plane and the hospital, he and Hector would take the woman he loved somewhere safe where no one would even think to look for them until Konrad was dealt with for good.

*****

Gideon taxied the plane toward the hanger as Genesis, one of their uncle's, and two cousins reminded everyone of the secrecy of their mission, even amongst the other watchers. They'd asked everyone to surrender their phones until they were at the safe house attached to the clinic, where security was at its tightest. By this evening, it wouldn't matter who knew they had taken off, with decoys on board, and that Noah and Marcella had gone into hiding. No one would be able to track their exit from the gathering with the plan they'd hastily concocted. Hopefully, all eyes would have been on the emergency plane if he had an inside man who told him of the crocodile attack like they assumed.

His main concern now was keeping Vivienne safe. Both she and Olivia were weak spots for Marcella. He didn't put it past Konrad to use them as pawns in his game, even though Noah pointed out he never did the dirty work himself and had no time to put any of his convoluted tactics in place. Even if he was capable of thinking several moves ahead, there was no way he could have planned for a crocodile bite. Still, if anything happened to Vivienne or his unborn child because of this mad man, he wouldn't be responsible for what he would do to find and catch the bastard.

They didn't disembark until the plane was in the hangar and the doors closed to anyone who may be watching. Still, the decoys were loaded into a waiting ambulance, and they all left the airport in the convoy down the main drag toward the heart of the city before making their way to the clinic.

"How are you holding up, Gorgeous?" Gideon asked Vivienne, pulling her close once they were out of the cars that picked them up at the airport.

"I know we have just been sitting in a plane for forever, but I can never relax fully on a plane, and I'm worried that Marcie will flip again and kill Noah for isolating her from the people who love her. It's not fair Gideon, we only just got her back," Vivienne took a deep breath as her eyes misted. "I think I will go and lie down and try to think happier thoughts, like the baby shower we started to plan."

"I'll check in with everyone and find out which room we can take," he said gently, leaving her with a worried looking Olivia and Genesis for a moment. When he returned, he smiled and held up keys to one of the spare rooms that had been remodelled since the new table had made this clinic their home base. "You get your old room," he tossed Genesis one of the keys he held.

Gideon walked with Vivienne to their room and opened the door, letting her in. As usual, she made a beeline to the bathroom. He smiled. She was beginning to show now and becoming more aware of her body as it changed. He loved it, but she just couldn't see it and all the work he had done trying to make her comfortable by showing her how much he desired her body and how hard it made him seemed to crumble away. He did not doubt that she knew it logically, but while they had been so busy recently, sex had been relegated back to the bedroom with the lights out once again.

While the drama in their lives was far from over, Gideon decided now was a good time to remind his wife how much he loved every curve on her delectable body, especially those caused by his child. So he took her into his arms and kissed her deeply as they exchanged places in the bathroom, letting her know what he was in the mood for this afternoon.

When Gideon came back into the room, he couldn't help but smile. There was his beautiful wife sitting on the bed propped up by pillows. She was rubbing her belly and singing a slow lullaby to the baby. He removed his shoes and jacket, keeping an eye on her. She had changed into comfortable clothes to rest. She was wearing one of his shirts and, as always, sensible underwear. He had never thought sensible cotton tail panties would be a turn on, but this woman was his catnip. He couldn't get enough, not ever. The shirt rode up with her rubbing, partially exposing her belly and did little to disguise her braless soft round breasts. Gideon's cock was so hard as he stared at her, thanking his lucky stars that he had found her and that she loved him back.

"Stop staring. I'm so swollen and bloated," Vivienne said softly, looking away from his heated gaze. "This, or these can't possibly turn you on," she indicated her belly and swollen feet, which had more to do with the constant flying than the pregnancy. She had only just started showing in the last week or two, but she loved her bump even if she had no desire for her husband to see her naked.

"You are gorgeous, even more so for having my baby in your belly," Gideon took a couple of big steps towards Vivienne and knelt by her feet, massaging them with large, strong hands. "You are the most beautiful mother-to-be."

Gideon leaned up and kissed Vivienne hard, his hands caressing her breasts. He had had no idea how big they would get, but he looked forward to all the changes this pregnancy would bring them. He rubbed her large nipples she whimpered. Her sex drive was always equal to his since their marriage, and she had been enjoying exploring the many ways they could find pleasure together. Recently, however, she had almost always wanted it with clothes on, in the dark.

"Gideon, not now," Vivienne protested, but Gideon was not giving up. He stood up. His hands fumbled with his pant zipper as his eyes stared into hers. "I want you right now just like I always want you, Gorgeous. Why not now? You're looking so irresistible in my shirt, even though I just want to take it off you."

The moment Gideon pulled down his pants and boxers, Vivienne smiled. He had no reservations about his body and made no apologies for any faults, not that she could ever see one. She had always loved sex with Gideon, yet at this moment, she was being torn in two directions. She was as aroused as he was, yet she didn't want him to see her naked. Gideon didn't give her a choice as he yanked off her panties and climbed up between her legs, kissing and nibbling to the apex of her thighs.

She squeaked and widened her legs as she felt him nip at her inner thighs. His first tongue swipe across the lips of her pussy made her body writhe in expectation, and her legs widen further. She felt her pussy pulling apart with her legs, his fingers pulling her further apart and his tongue tantalisingly flutter over her clit and inner core.

Gideon wrapped his hands around her hips and held her tightly to him. As his tongue explored her wet pussy, her squeals and whimpers told him of her pleasure.

Vivienne's thighs began to shake as he pushed a thick finger into her while flickering his tongue over her clit. She moaned and began rolling her hips. She tried to brace her feet on the bed to slow the shaking that had gripped her legs. However, she could barely control them, and she whimpered loudly, her head spinning as he pumped his fingers in and out of her and sucked on her clit until she howled out her orgasm.

Moving quickly, he climbed on top of her. He lifted her legs high and rammed his cock into her wanting to feel the last ripples of her orgasm around him. He leaned down to kiss her open, gasping mouth, his cock buried deep within her before rising to begin a slow sensual fuck, wanting to make the moments last. Letting her legs go to wrap around his hips, he leaned in to kiss her deeply, sharing the same breath as their bodies moved together. He could feel her thighs begin to shake again as they gripped his hips, and his pace quickened. Kissing her deeply again, he broke the kiss, rose on his arms and began to pound into her hard and fast.

Vivienne felt as if her first orgasm never left her, but rather simmered on a low point below her skin, keeping her tingling and on edge. As he began to fuck her harder, she thought she could almost cum again until he stopped and started at a slower, more sensual pace. She wrapped her legs around his hips and reached up to stroke the hair at the nape of his neck as they moved together in unison, her hips rocking to meet his every thrust. The sensations built slowly again as he fucked her until, once again, her legs began to shake, and her body quivered in pleasure. Finally, she saw him rise above her and increase his pace and force, sending her quickly to the edge she tried to hold back. Her head exploded as she came hard, her inner muscles gripping his cock.

Gideon was in heaven as the body beneath him shook and writhed, the pressure on his cock milking his orgasm from him. He growled low in contrast to her howl as they both came, and he collapsed on top of her, trying not to crush her as he held her close and kissed her again. Finally, after a few minutes, he rolled off her, but unwilling to break the contact they shared, he pulled her with him to half lay on top of him and wrapped his arms around her.

Neither of them spoke while their breathing slowly returned to normal. Vivienne wanted a drink, but like Gideon was loathed to break the connection, she felt with him at that particular moment. As she listened to his heartbeat, her head resting against his chest. Reluctantly, she lifted her head and went to wiggle free of his arms only to find them wrap tighter around her. He lay back and panted, trying to catch his breath He wanted to stay like this forever, his wife and the new life they had created growing inside her resting against his body as he cradled them to him.

*****

"Trouble is here. Why ya bring yah white boy troubles to old Whipper? Ya dun visit nuff ta hear Aunty call me fat and lazy since I stop watching yah Trouble bum! Can't be that so what ya doing in mob country, ay?" a loud voice called out before they had fully stepped from the Jeep they had been in for what seemed like forever to Marcella.

"Got lost back at the crossroads. There used to be a sign. I guess you haven't any idea how that went missing?" Noah drawled and turned his head to find the speaker.

"Shit! You dating a ghost or what? That white girl is whiter than you," the voice chuckled.

"Jealous?" Noah asked.

"Shit, yeah. How you get a girl like that she blind or something?" the voice continued to antagonise Noah.

"I caught her. She's mine now. Never you mind how I did it," Noah shrugged.

"What he catch ya with, girl? Not that little pink pecker between his legs, O;' Whip know that much!" The man grimaced and held up his pinky finger, wiggling it around, making Marcella laugh and Noah groan rolling his eyes.

"He followed me around until I just got used to him being there. Sort of like a stray puppy," Marcella said uncertainly but getting the impression that these men were long-time friends.

"More like a wombat bulldoze you, I bet. He don't stop when he wants something bad nuff. Come, I will walk with ya while he brings the bags, and old Whipp'll tell you a yarn or two 'bout some of the times I saved his life from crocodiles," the man walked towards her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, turning her towards the vast expanse of red desert dotted with scrubby brush. "Welcome to Kriol country, girl. What does he call ya?"

"Marcella," she answered, truly enamoured by this man whose eyes twinkled under his hat and above a broad nose and white whiskers that covered the lower half of his face showing his age.

"Not ya name girl, what does he call ya?" Whipper indicated Noah.

"Marcie?" she asked, not sure of the answer he wanted.

"Kitten," Noah shook his head at Whipper. "You, however, can call her Marcie, old man and stop flirting with my woman."

"Well, Kitten, it is now my job to keep you and Trouble safe, so just sit back and relax. Ol' Whipper has everything under control," he chuckled and winked at Noah. "It's been too long, boy, but I'm glad ya here now."

"Who else calls you Trouble? I've heard that name before?" Marcella frowned as she looked over her shoulder at Noah, who had followed them to the house with Hector.

"Madrina," Noah replied in a pained voice.

"Not just Madrina everyone knew Armando's boys by the same nicknames, and they lived up to the hype," Hector teased.

"True enough," Whipper nodded, "Though it was only Trouble that needed his life saved more than once."

"Gave me lots of first aid practise at the gatherings," Hector chuckled.

"Alright, I think we have established that I did not always make the best choices when I was younger, which is why you two clowns spent the vacations with me. But, of course, this isn't news to Marcella. I already told her most of the stories because that was then, and I am a very safety conscious man now," he said. "I own an adventure company known for its safety record, for shit's sake."

"So, somethin' finally sank in," Whipper drawled. "The fact that you still travel with your doctor cousin tells me not everything stuck in that hard head of yours."

"Hector's here for me," Marcella admitted. "It wasn't exactly my fault, though. I mean, who expects saltwater crocs to be in the surf shallows?"

"Wholly shit, they made for each other!" Whipper laughed. "We have our work cut out for us now!" He said to the air encompassing everything and everyone around him as if talking to the gods.

"Come in outta da sun before ya fry up like bacon on da fire," a large woman with an enormous bosom said tersely as they got close to the wide verandah.

"I see you, Aunty," Noah grinned, and the woman stepped into the sun and embraced him fiercely.

"Ya bringing trouble to my man agen?" she asked in a scolding tone.

"He was getting too fat and lazy, so I have come to help you keep him from under your feet and skirts," Noah winked.

"You can stay because you brought the handsome doctor with you and the tiny crazy girl who says she will marry you. There is still time to talk her out, if it?" Kylie huffed, but a smile played around her lips.

"Don't even joke about it. It took me too long to get her to say yes," Noah huffed back, not even one hundred per cent sure she had said yes since the mock engagement when they were staying at the casino.

"I'm gonna like you, girl," Kylie grinned widely. "Come, I show ya the house 'fore we go home," she offered, turning and leading the way inside, expecting Marcella to follow.

"This isn't your home?" Marcella asked, confused.

"No, Whippers, but he never stay here. He like my place better," she said as if it was no big deal that this beautiful country house stood empty and ready for them to take up residence. "The Doc stay sometimes when he visits, the clinic down that way," she pointed to her left.

Kylie led Marcella into the house, leaving Noah on the veranda with Whipper as Hector walked in the direction of the clinic, followed by another of the indigenous men who had come out to greet them.

"Tell me, Trouble," Whipper said after he was sure they were alone. "You did nah bring a drivah for ya spoilt bum. Something bad chasing ya this time."

"Yeah, real bad. I can count on one hand the people outside of my family that I trust with Marcie's life," Noah admitted. "Even the watcher who saved her from the croc is undergoing further checks before I let him near her again."

"So, you come home to old Whipper," the man nodded his head and gave Noah a grin. "You stay here tonight. We have a humpy for you tomorrow."

"You want to know about who chases her?" Noah asked.

"He chased ya here. I know enough," Whipper shrugged. "Tonight, ya have a yarn with who ya need ta because tomorrow ya disappear into the Never-Never, understand?"

"I understand," Noah nodded and followed the women into the house with Whipper at his side.

*****