Strife and Stipulation

The night had grown dark and silent except for the faint chirp of insects and the even fainter break of waves against the rocky shore of the beach. An occasional laugh or muffled voice from the living room could be heard ever so often signaling that the others were still awake and moving about outside. Jos breathed out a heavy sigh of contentment as Russ traced patterns across her arm with his fingers. A blush spread across her cheeks as her stomach let out a loud growl that seemed to fill the silence of the room.

Russ chuckled softly. "We've been in here for nearly the entire day, maybe we should go grab a bite to eat." He said as he slid both their bodies up in the bed. He kissed the top of her head before pushing the sheets back and standing up.

Jos's eyes watched the flex of his ass as he bent to retrieve his discarded shorts. Her palms tingled with the memory of the way his glutes felt under her tight grip as they flexed with every pump of his cock inside her. A moan slipped past her lips, and her hand shot to her mouth as to stop it.

Russ chuckled as he turned toward her, her clothing now in his hand. "Keep that up and we'll be spending another couple hours in here." He teased as he set the clothes on the bed beside her. He leaned down planting his knuckles on either side of her hips and kissed her lips deeply, pulling another heated moan from her throat.

"Ummm, Russ..." She moaned against his lips sweeping her fingers through his hair at the sides of his head, the outer edges of her hands brushing the velvety arch of his ears.

He smiled against her lips before wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her to the edge of the bed. He pressed himself against her center as her thighs spread wider to accommodate his wide hips. He bit and pulled at her bottom lip with his teeth then let it pop back into place teasingly. His eyes sparkled with mischief and love as he reached beside her and retrieved a baggy tee and hooked it over her head. "Get dressed, baby. We have all night for this, for now let's get you fed." His smile widened at the confusion playing across her wide eyes. He gathered the material of each leg of her shorts and bent to slide them over her long, lean legs. He placed light teasing kisses to each knee before standing, taking her hands, and pulling her up from the bed.

Jos's face reddened as she caught sight of her reflection in the large mirror over the dresser. "I can't go out there looking like this." Her eyes were focused on her taught, pert nipples pebbled against the thin material. She ran her fingers through her sex rumpled hair before sliding her fingers across her red, swollen lips. Her eyes shot to his in the mirror. His eyes had heated with desire as he'd watched her fingertips slide across her swollen lips and were now filled with desire. He bit his bottom lip and stared boldly at the reflection of her breasts. "Russ..." Her words came out as a raspy whisper, reflecting his own desire.

Russ stepped in behind her, holding her gaze in the mirror as he trailed his hands over her rib cage and up cupping the mounds of her breasts. "You are so fucking beautiful." He growled huskily behind her.

One of his hands had barely slid past the waist band of her shorts when her stomach let out another embarrassingly loud growl. She cupped both of her hands over her middle in a failed attempt to drown out its protests. His hands released her, and he took a step back placing a light kiss on the top of her head. She met his eyes apologetically in the mirror. "Sorry..."

He smiled down at her taking her hand. "No need to be sorry, baby. Come on." He pulled her hand to his mouth and placed a kiss across her knuckles before leading her from the room.

Five sets of curious eyes met theirs from the living room as they moved to cross it. Jos's breath caught as her gaze fell on the tiny woman sitting in Raven's lap by the fire. She froze in panic. "Isha?" Jos asked.

Isha nodded as she pushed away the tight grip of her wife's arms and stood. "Kraken." She addressed Jos and slightly bowed her head in acknowledgement and the standard greeting of the courts.

Jos gripped Russ's arm tightly. She could feel the stiffening of his tight muscles flex under her grip at the name Isha had used to address her. She drew in a shaky breath before stuttering. "Are... Are you here to visit with Raven or... or... by order of the council."

Isha's dark golden-brown eyes met her sadly, "Both..." She brushed her hands over her short but elegant dress as she cleared her throat. "I came with information..." Her cheeks heated as she glanced back at Raven. "Granted I could have sent word by other means, but I have missed my wife... especially since we only recently made up..." Her eyes moved to where Jos and Russ's arms linked. "I see you two have as well..." It was more of an observation than a question.

Jos nodded loosening her grip slightly on Russ's arm. "We... we... have..." She stuttered, unsure if it was wise for a member of the council to know they were together.

Isha nodded. "If you would like to speak in privacy then-"

"If you have something to say to her, then you can say it in front of me as well." Russ growled cupping his hand over the two tiny hands gripping his arm.

"We can discuss it as a group, he means. Everyone here are close enough to speak freely, I assure you, Your Majesty." She blurted, glaring up at Russ as she addressed Isha by title.

Isha nodded. "Isha, please. As you said, we are all acquainted here." She sat back down beside Raven this time and crossed her dainty legs as she sat back.

Jos sent her a nervous smile as she too nodded. "And you may call me Jos, please." Her cheeks heated as she glanced quickly over to were Ry and Arei sat, their expressions tight as they tried masking their apprehension. "I haven't went by 'that name' for a very, very long time." She said her head still bowed.

"As you wish." Isha said as she glanced from face to face around the room, her dark chocolate cheeks heating with a deep scarlet as her eyes quickly darted past the twins and Shelly who laid on a cushion by their side. "This should prove to be... interesting..." Her eyes widened and returned to Raven as Raven squeezed her knee.

"I'll get you something to drink." Raven said as she pushed herself up from the chair they shared, pausing only long enough to give Isha a tender kiss on the lips. Raven nodded to Russ and Jos as she walked past them and toward the kitchen.

Russ and Jos followed her inside. "What is she really doing here?" Russ whispered roughly as he leaned against the counter crossing his arms over his chest.

Raven shrugged. "She wasn't lying, we made up... Ask Ry and Arei if you like, they walked in on us upstairs earlier." She pulled a glass down from the cabinet before moving her attention to Jos and her eyes softened. "I would love to say she doesn't still hold a contemptment for you... but I'd be lying." she said on a heavy sigh.

"What does she have against Jos?" Russ growled pushing away from the counter and stomping after Raven as she moved toward the fridge.

Raven muttered as she filled the glass with juice. "She blames Jos for our separation." Raven kept her eyes focused on her tasks. "She couldn't stand the idea of me being 'locked away' with Jos during her imprisonment... or while raising you and your sister..." Raven swirled the liquid around in the glass watching the funneling of the juice as she continued. "She was convinced Jos was at the very least bi and had fallen in love with me. Especially after so much time had passed and Jos had not attempted moving on with another relationship aside from 'ours'." Raven shrugged as she finally looked up glancing back and forth between Jos and Russ. "When she found out you two were hooking up and that her fears from all that time had been for nothing, she'd finally given in and we worked, are working things out."

Russ let out a heavy sigh as he nodded in understanding. "And the information?" He asked.

Raven shrugged. "She hasn't said. She wanted to tell Jos directly."

He nodded again and uncrossed his arms. "Fair enough. How much have you told her about what has happened?" He asked holding out his arm for Jos to come stand by him as she finished placing their cold dinner in the microwave. He pulled her against his chest, wrapping his large arms around her shoulders as he leaned against the long dining table.

Raven huffed out a stress-filled breath. "I've caught her up to speed on nearly everything, the good and bad." She narrowed her eyes to where his arms met at Jos's back. "Including everything that I know about Shelly, though some parts of it can only be filled in by Shelly herself..." Her words broke slightly as she added. "As much as I hate the idea, if it does go to trial Shelly may have to testify." She took the glass and turned back to the living room without saying anything more, her shoulders hanging heavier than before.

Jos's eyes met Russ's. "Surely they wouldn't make her do that... would they?" Jos asked as tears built in her eyes. "I think I'd rather be imprisoned again verses making Shell relive that trauma."

Russ wiped her tears away with the pad of his thumb as he smiled softly down at her, trying to hide his own concern. "Shell's stronger than you give her credit for. If it came to her reliving what that bastard did and seeing you punished for protecting her, she would most definitely want to help you."

Jos frowned but nodded. "Let's hope it doesn't come to either."

He nodded in agreement and placed a kiss to her forehead as he pulled her tighter against his body. He held her there until the microwaved peeped finished. Releasing Jos, Russ walked over to the microwave and removed both bowls. "Grab the forks, baby?" He asked as he carried them toward the living room.

Once everyone had settled in and Russ and Jos had finished their late dinner, Isha cleared her throat. Looking around the room she began. "As you all know, Raven contacted me some weeks ago about this... issue..." She nodded to Shelly, Russ, and Jos. I have agreed to accept my old position on the council back-" She interrupted herself as she raised three fingers into the air. "Only if:" She began calling off her demands. "First, Raven shall leave with me IN THE MORNING," she emphasized the return date. "Secondly, I will not be able or expected to give any special treatments inside the court in the case of a trial, though I am willing to relay any information relevant to your case; and third, IF you are found guilty Raven WILL NOT be in anyway involved in your punishment."

Raven let out an exasperated sigh, "It's not like she would have any say on who over seen her punishments then OR now."

Jos, however, was nodding. "That all seems more than reasonable."

Isha moved her gaze from her irritated wife to Jos. "What are your plans dear? If you're not found liable for these crimes, that is."

Jos and Russ exchanged glances and Jos bit down on her lips. Smiling down at Jos as he answered, Russ said. "I believe I've finally gotten this stubborn woman to agree to marry me." He squeezed her hands in his, ignoring the splatter of water coming from a surprised corner of the room and the piercing gaze he felt on his back that could only be Arei.

Isha's eyes barely reflected any sign of shock. "You know the council and your people will not be accepting of this, right?" She asked.

Russ nodded. "I do. I also know they weren't too accepting of you and Raven at first, but it didn't seem to stop you." He retorted.

Jos gave a tight gasp but to her surprise, Isha simply laughed. "I like you, kid." She giggled, leaning over practically into Raven's lap. "I can see why you like this bunch so much." She said to Raven as she placed a kiss on Raven's turned down lips. "They are so full of energy!" She turned back to Russ and Jos nodding. "It will be a struggled for you as it was for us and there will be those who will never accept your relationship as there are with ours." She gathered Raven's larger hands in her pixy ones as best as she could holding, Raven's gaze. "But in life, you often find that some people are simply too good not to fight for." She leaned forward and wiggled her pert nose against the tip of Raven's causing Raven's irritation to fade completely. "I love you, pookie-bear." She cooed still brushing her nose back and forth against Raven's.

"I love you too, my lil dragonfly." Raven pulled one of her hands free from Isha's cupping her pixy-like face in her hand and kissing her passionately on the lips. A snort from the corner interrupted them and brought their attention back to the room.

Arei snorted again as he pushed himself up from the seat. "On that note, I'm going for a swim. I'm sure one of you can fill me in on the non-lovey-dovy shit when I return." He strolled past the pool and toward the large double doors of the kitchen.

Isha's eyes widen in surprise as she followed his path. "You're swimming out there! But the waters are so rough here."

He sent her a smoldering smile as he pulled his shirt up over his head exposing his muscle, tattooed, and pierced body. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I'm a big boy, I can handle a challenge." His eyes burned into Russ and Jos as he said the last part. Without saying anything more he tossed the shirt to an empty chair and pushed through the heavy double doors.

Isha batted her eyes in farther surprise as she looked back and forth from the now empty dining area and the group around them. "I feel like there's a bit more of this story than you've told me, Dear." She said to Raven as she continued to eye Russ and Jos.

Ry nodded, Pushing his large frame up from the chair by the fire. He bent and patted Shelly's head before straightening and turning his attention to Russ. "The fire's dying down a bit. Come help me gather some more wood from out back, will ya?" He asked Russ nodding to the women. "Let them have their girl talk, or whatever..."