"Hathor"

Elicia:

“I have cloths at Randi’s.” She motioned for me to follow her as the door clicked open with four, scared and concerned faces as a petite woman stood happily with a bright smile holding a large black rob.

“Here honey. I’m Izzy, these idiots’ mother.” Her voice had a soothing sing song pitch as she tucked me into the rob with a gentle shoulder pat, finding seats along the sectional.

“To begin, I’m so sorry we had to meet like this. I wanted these four to introduce you as gentlemen, not beaten and bloodied.” Izzy’s face held a stony gloss as her eyes raged in emotion, while she held my hand in a cool embrace.

Strange.

“Thank you. Both. I remember Chris fighting Peyton, but things are a little blurry after that.” Smiling nervously as the guys cracked gentle smiles.

“Elicia, the reason I asked if you wanted to stay here is Randi’s house was burned down, while you were here recovering, and we were out of town.” Choking on the bile that collected in my throat as Izzy and Eve held my trembling hands in theirs.

All my stuff gone.

“What about Randi?” Hot, ugly tears poked at the corners of my eyes as the guys smiled softly, looking at me with a gentleness.

“He flew back with us, after our business was handled. He’s speaking with the Fire Marshal and retrieving the fire safe from his house with all your important documents.” Elias spoke with an unsure tone as the other three shared silent smirks.

Relaxing, just enough to breath through the collecting bile that burned at the back of my throat. Taking note that I wasn’t freaking out or having one of my strange episodes of panic.

“Okay. Thank you for the offer but where is Randi going to stay?” Studying their stony expressions as both ladies chuckled beside me.

“I believe, his friend Rex said he could stay at his place until the insurance pays out.” Izzy laughed darkly as her jaded eyes reflected the light gently against the red flecks.

“Sexy Rex” to the rescue.

I dare to take a “wild guess” that more than just sleeping will be taking place. I mean “sleeping” yes, but not the kind of rest.

Why the Hell am I thinking about that?

Oh, that “damn” dream fried my brain cells.

Breathing slowly as the heat crawled along my veins, tickling the tiny hairs to life as the guys smiled in a devilish way, looking at me with hungry eyes.

“Maxine and Sue brought by some cloths for you, until we go shopping later.” Ben held up a beach bag with sand dollars, printed in a pretty ocean blue and red outlines.

Nodding to the warm gesture as reality slowly set in.

Oh, they already have females or girlfriends, whatever.

Why am I feeling jealous of two complete strangers?

Ugh…my head hurts.

“Don’t worry. Maxine and Sue are locals we hired to maintained the house with Sue’s husband John overseeing the grounds.” Roger leaned forward with his elbows resting on his knees as they shared another amused smirk between them silently.

“If you like the room… you can redecorate it to feel more at home, while things get situated.” Chris smiled that goofy grin, causing his nose to scrunch slightly against his creased cheeks.

Examining the grand room with a private veranda overlooking the rolling countryside with the horse stables, just off in the distance to the right with a few Arabian’s roaming freely in the pasture.

Horses.

They’re gorgeous creatures with strong loyalty to their owners and loving, such loving creatures. Remembering the horse ranch LC and Derek helped managed back home, feeling the heavy pang in my heart as I thought about them and the other kids at the orphanage.

Wanting to hear their voices.

“Wait! Where’s my phone and bag from the other day?” Looking around the room, catching small smiles forming along their faces as Izzy and Eve stood to leave.

“We’ll go check on breakfast. You should discuss things in private.” Izzy nodded to the guys as Eve placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, easing the panic the crept slowly at the thoughts of being alone with all four in their house.

“I’ll have Maxine bring your bag.” Eve spoke softly with a happy tone as they slipped out the double-mahogany doors stained in a rustic tone of medium browns.

Sliding my eyes back to the four “Hunks of Muscles” leaning casually onto their knees, flexing their forearms highlighting the beautiful artworks that permanently marked their deep tanned flesh.

“Can I see your ink?” The words left my mouth like another person had taken over, causing the guys to chuckle as they stood with mischievous smirks turning away as they slid their shirts over those glorious, ripped muscles.

Hiding my mouth behind my hand.

Chewing on my lip to suppress the moan that threatened to escape as my eyes drank in the various designs and line work. Starting on their right hands, rolling up and over their sculpted shoulder down along their flexing rib cage muscles, disappearing under the waist band of their gray sweats with a slight disapproval from my inner “demon”.

“They’re so detailed, and vivid. Who did them?” Standing up, trailing my fingers along their shoulders as their muscles and bodies flexed with the delicate tracing of my fingertip.

The soft purrs from their chests had me blushing softly as they turned around, facing me with those deep V-lines peeking out from their waistbands, feeling the room temperature stifling my breath as the heat pooled angerly between my thighs.

“Our brother Dominic’s ma…friend comes from a long line of tattoo artists.” Ben blushed softly as my fingers outlined the colorful “Eye of Horus” on his right pectoral muscle with a tilted smirk of amusement.

“Wadjat, or the “Eye of Horus” is said to be a symbol of protection, royal power, and good health.” Noticing they all had the same symbol with different murals of exotic creatures only found in mythological texts and fantasy novels.

“Speaking of…” Chris rushed over to his backpack laying against the wall by the door, pulling out three red leather-bound books with hieroglyphics.

Pausing in realization those were my books with the detailed bookmarkers hanging from the binding.

“Where did you get those?” Pointing with a shaky finger as Chris returned to me with a soft smile, placing the books into my hands as they shifted awkwardly.

Sitting down on the sectional with a giddy excitement as my fingers brushed delicately through the pages, stopping on “Ra” and “Horus” studying the detailed hand scripting. Panicking at the image of “Hathor” Mother to Ra and Horus, Goddess of dance, joy, love, sexuality, and maternal care, also known to be vengeful protecting Ra from his enemies as my dream flooded back to me with a loud gasping cough.

“You, okay?” Roger kneeled, cupping my cheek softly as his hazel eyes swirled with a crazy hue of golden amber, making it appear like they were glowing under the late morning light.

Which was gray and gloomy like always.

“Yeah, just dry throat.” Coughing into my hand to hide the blush that stained my face hot and crimson, motioning for them to sit back down.

I dreamt about “Hathor”, but it seemed so real like a past life or déjà vu. Groaning into my hands, rubbing my temples that seemed to have been trampled by a hoard of horses as warm palms, set ablaze my already flushed flesh. Looking over my shoulder to see Elias rubbing my shoulders and neck with firm fingers, soothing the thumping while avoiding the stitches that itched and pulled against the shirt material.

“How about we get something to eat, shower, and go out shopping.” Chris smiled brightly at my lazy attempt to nod “yes” as Elias’ magical fingers worked every nerve and muscle into submission.

“Just keep the stitches covered. We can change the bandages out after your done.” Roger helped me up to my lazy feet as we walked over to the double doors.

“This is our wing of the house, so me and Ben are these two doors to the right, and Chris and Roger are on the left. Scream, knock, call, anything you need come to us first. Okay?” Elias smiled warmly as his hot lips brushed gently along my forehead with a strange electrical current ripping through my body as they each placed a gentle kiss to my forehead, before disappearing into their rooms.

Sighing heavily as the doors closed with my body bracing against them, touching the heated patches of flesh where they had placed kisses.

“Get it together girl.” Groaning out loud, pushing up from the door with heavy feet facing towards the large mirror.

Slipping from the plush robe, tossing it neatly along the back of the gray chair outside of the closet door.