Crossin' Through Dead Dingo Pass

Alana was very, very wet already.

And as Jake spoke, she grew even more wet. She tried to rub her thighs together in order to get some relief. It didn’t really work, especially as Jake talked and she could see the hard outline of his cock.

She glanced from him to Howl, wondering if the sorcerer was getting aroused as well. Sure enough, even though their face was stony, Alana could see a bulge straining in his trousers.

That pleased her.

If she played her cards right, maybe she’d get to suck two cocks tonight. 

“Yes, please,” Alana said, batting her eyelashes as she looked up at Jake. 

“And with your hands tied, you’ll really have to get that pretty little mouth working,” purred Howl. He looked at Jake. “I don’t suppose you’d be interested in taking turns, hmm? After you, of course. I’d like to see her lips at work.”

Alana parted her lips on cue, hanging her tongue out low, and looked at both people standing above her. 

And part of him couldn't help but think that, well, especially for some of the guys, it was a nice chance for them to hang out with other men.

"We've got Maximus, Copper, even ol' Perry comes along and gives it a go. And the Phil and Winston play in the other team, so it doesn't just have to be my team," he pointed out with a wry smile. "So it's always fun - although I have to warn you that if you joined the opposition, Q would probably take it as a deadly insult and start gunning for your ankles."

Herc chuckled.

"But no pressure, it's just if you ever fancied getting back into that sort of thing."

Jake winced with a sharp inhale dramatically, "Yeah... don't want to face off on Q, I'm sure she's got something to charge at me for." He did not need to complicate their sibling dynamic thank you.

Plus, despite him having made amends (sort of, unofficially with time) with Phillip Knightley for a moment of insanity many years ago, he wouldn't be mad at the chance of beating him or mistakenly kicking a ball in his direction on the opposition.

"I mean, I think that'd be great." He genuinely looked a bit excited about the prospect. "Thanks, Herc. Just let me know when."

"Hopefully nothing untoward," Basil grimaced a little, hurrying still towards where Toby has his nose planted to the floor and ears practically running along the ground as he sniffed and snuffled his way off in chase of the scent. There was a vague worry in the back of Basil's mind. Toby had been trained as a sniffer dog. There was every chance someone might not welcome the sight of him coming and alerting for what was none of Basil's business.

"Perhaps someone's having a nice sausage sandwich or something," he said, cracking a grin that looked more confident than he felt. "Does yours normally go after things like this?"

@crickey-itsjake

"He does get into things following his nose." Jake said, brows furrowed as they both seemed to follow in the same direction. "Hoping its something tasty like a sandwich and not something that's just rotten and strange smelling." He kept the rotten vague enough on it.

He looked over to the man with a friendly smile, "I'm Jake, by the way. That's Sparky."

Would he have looked more like his Papa? If he was smaller? Would it be less obvious that he was adopted?

Where had the height come from? That question that always lingered...

"I guess a lot of people just slowly catch up, right?" Herc added. "But yeah, I figure if you're doing so much physical labour then it probably kept you in better shape than a lot of people."

"Have you ever thought about playing some football again? I play in the local five-a-side league-" he explained, before he sipped his beer again.

The Australian's eyebrows rose as he took another sip of his beer, "Oh yeah? I mean, I'd be keen to check it out, I reckon. I've heard about some of the leagues over the years but I never really knew anyone in 'em."

He needed to probably get himself out there again. He'd settled in with Chief as a mate and unfortunately, his pursuit of other friendships had kind of dwindled down.

"Toby?!" Basil called, breaking into a light jog with a caustic sigh as he strained his eyes to try and spot where the dog had got to this time. "Oh come on buddy," he chastised, mostly to himself. He should have seen the warning signs, when Toby suddenly started sniffing and staring off into the distance like that. He'd got a scent of something. Exactly what, Basil would have to find him to know.

"There you are!" He cried, seeing the dog pawing at someone's leg rudely. "Toby! Sit! Stop that-" He ran over, slipping the leash back onto the dog's collar.

"I'm terribly sorry," he said, shaking his head as he looked up at the person apologetically. "He got a scent of something and then just was off-"

"Sparks!" Jake called after him, jogging behind his dog and seeing the other man chasing after his own.

"Seems like they're both after somethin'." He said to the other man, brows furrowed. "Wonder what it could be."

Jake's upbringing made a lot of sense, it was almost too much what Herc might have expected, so much so it was almost surprising because of it. It must've been pretty great training for Jake though.

"Sounds like you were pretty much training for the job from day one then," Herc smiled.

"Oh, me?" He chuckled to himself. "Nope."

Herc sipped his drink, and then shrugged. "Honestly before I came here I was this scrawny, weedy little teenager, I'd never been allowed to play any team sports because I was too small. It was one of the teachers at the secondary school who spotted that I could maybe try athletics." He was so grateful, so glad that the man had seen a way out for this lonely, miserable young man who had so much anger and no place to put it but to weigh himself down, and given him an option.

"Oh yeah? That's wild to me, thinking of ya in a scrawny small way." But it made sense. Some guys who had been big their whole lives didn't necessarily know to look out for the little ones.

"Guess I shouldn't be surprised though, I was a bit of a gangly bloke myself." He wasn't by any means jacked now or big, but he was toned enough, and his body kept him doing what needed to be done in either job. "Think we had that much in common. I didn't really play team sports all that much. Little soccer here and there but low stakes. Most of my time working out was just doin' chores around the station and hiking up plateaus. Took up climbing for a bit too which kept me in shape."

In reality, it had been the option she’d been hoping most for. And she knew that Jake probably knew that. 

“Excellent,” said Howl, who was still very much not looking at her. Alana had a feeling that this, too, was deliberate. All she wanted was attention and the fact that they were denying her was deliciously frustrating. 

Howl spared her a glance. Just a glance.

“You heard him,” he said, almost lazily. “On your knees, darling.”

“Fine,” she snapped, but obeyed nonetheless. She slid off the bed and knelt on the ground, her bound hands in front of her as she looked up at Jake with long-lashed blue eyes. 

“Let’s do another tie — perhaps something a little more complicated?” One of the ropes raised itself then twined around Alana’s torso, shaping into a harness. “No need to repeat that — I simply wanted to see how pretty she’d look.” Howl looked at Jake now. “You’re welcome to play with her now.” 

“And we can lock you in a single room with just your food, water, and litter box,” Alana retorted. “That’s right — no Law and Order.”

It did occur to Alana that… maybe they ought to do something about the cat. She had no idea what, though. She had YanYan because of Charlie and Charlie was… well, Charlie was in Canada. Maybe she’d have to bring it up the next time they Facetimed and see if he had any idea at all about what to do with her.

“It seems were are at an impasse,” Yanyan growled. She looked at Jake. “I won’t scratch up your children if you promise me unrestricted television access.” 

“You do realize we can report you to the Order? It works both ways.” Alana was not sure how to even get in contact with the Order of the Dragon. “And then they can throw you into a high-security prison instead of a cushy flat.”

Yanyan’s eyes widened. She must’ve bought Lana’s bluff.

“I’ll be sooo patient with your kids,” she purred, leaping from Lana’s arms to Jake’s shoulder and nuzzling her naked body against him. “Just leave them to Auntie Yanyan. I’ll even babysit.” 

Luckily his wife was a quick closer in negotiations and could bluff her way through just about anything. It was truly horrible playing against her in any card game.

Jake did not expect to have a cat parroting his shoulder and rubbing what amounted to a raw rotisserie chicken against his beard and face. He murmured in a slight grumble, "Think the baby would end up sitting on you."

He wiggled his nose a bit as her tail brushed up against it, "Guess we've got ourselves a deal and a family plan then." He snorted, Sparky pawing at his leg to also have uppies like the cat, "Next year or so start things up, have at least three, possibly four... I'll stay at home with the kids and Sparky." He lifted Sparky up in his arms so the dog could give Yanyan a long, wet lick over Jake's shoulder, "And Yanyan gets her cushy flat and tv time when the kids aren't around." Last thing he wanted was them to grow up watching their cat watch Law and Order.

Sounded strange, but also sounded like a perfect little life for them together.

"Plus we only had this little flat, so there really wouldn't have been any room for a pet. I always kind of wanted one though," Herc said, although as he said it he only felt a pang of lonelieness.

He had wanted a friend so badly, someone he could come home to who would always be pleased to see him ... besides his parents. A pet that he could play with.

Herc took a sip of his beer again, trying to play it off and let it pass by. "But, guessing that means you've always been an animal guy, right? That's where you got into your line of work?"

Jake couldn't imagine his life without animals or creatures or whatever else. There was just some kind of draw and understanding. They were much easier and straightforward than people.

"Oh yeah, always been. Mum had me roping calves as soon as I could throw it far enough. Always been working my whole life with 'em. Out in the field, at the parks, during most of my school years as well with research." He took another long sip of his beer, "Made a life off chasing creatures big and small and figuring them out. Down in the dirt. Had to learn to be less of a bogan bloke when I moved here, started seeing Alana, got a professional career job and all that." He left out Bianca and the real reason why he'd come to Swynlake. Didn't matter. "You always been a fitness guy?"

She reached over to give Jake’s bum a squeeze.

“Though, maybe that’s not so appropriate for children. Though, that could just be showing our children what gender equality is.” She laughed at how ridiculous the concept was, then curled up closer to Jake. Idly, Alana ran her hand up and down his arm.

“Imagine,” she said softly. “Eight years ago I puked all over your shoes. Who would’ve thought we would end up talking about kids and families with big shiny wedding rings on our fingers.”

She felt all warm and fuzzy and then tilted her head up to Jake —

Immediately, the moment was ruined by the unmistakable sound of a cat retching.

Yanyan had taken this moment to crawl out from underneath the cough and start heaving onto the floor.

“Oh my God — not the rug!” Lana got up and grabbed the cat, who yowled and flailed her naked limbs in the air. 

“That’s what you two get for being nauseatingly disgusting!” screeched the cat. 

He gave a shrug with a grin at the squeeze she gave his ass, "Listen, I could always wear my dad clothes over it." He joked, "But you know, I'm not above wearing something frilly for gender equality. Could have ourselves a boy who wants to be the prettiest princess and a girl who'd rather be in the mud than deal with her mum's fashion. Either way, I think we can handle it." It made him feel that warmth deep in his chest just saying it. Yeah, they could handle it. Kids, a family, all of it.

"Think the pancakes really saved it." He murmured with a small soft grin, but just as he was about to lean over and kiss his wife the worlds worst noise rang out.

Yes, the potential for vomit, but also the screeching of a talking cat that he still found hard to get used to.

"Oi, what is wrong with you?" He shook his head and got up to help Alana.

He found it hard not to slightly threaten/mess with the creature, "Also, you know who loves cats? Children. Smelly handed, rough petting, tail pulling children. Doesn't that sound nice?"

Sparky sprinted out of the bedroom and looked all over the place for what was going on before he trotted over to Alana and panted happily, staring up at the displeased cat, "See? Sparky seems pretty pleased about it."

The way the silk pulled slight against Alana's wrists as she waited there for them had Jake struggling to keep his attention on the knot and not his wife's gorgeous tits that were currently pressed forward with her arms tied in front of her.

"Think I've got it." Jake said with a smirk as he looked to Howl and then back to Alana. The kneeling bit made sense, though the way Howl was looking at him, the kneeling seemed to have a little more to do with their teacher. Though he wasn't used to taking orders in the bedroom from anyone, let alone someone who wasn't his wife, he knelt down in front of Alana.

His one hand held the rope, but before he got to tying it, he leaned forward to press a kiss to his wife's pouty lips, before he set to tying the knot the way he'd been shown, tugging on the ends a bit to secure it more tightly as his fingers traced along the skin of her wrist where the ropes pressed into.

Jake looked behind himself up at Howl once he was done, his hand slipping up along his hand bound wife's thigh, giving her body just a little bit of attention, "I reckon I managed it." He grinned a bit, proud of his knots.

The knotwork was far fancier than anything she and Jake had done before. It was beautiful, really. Alana twisted her wrists, trying to see if she could wriggle out of them, but they held firm.

Howl tsk’d their tongue. 

“Now, now, did I say you could struggle?”

“It’s more fun when I do,” Alana shot back, already slipping into her usual bratty attitude. 

Howl laughed, leaning forward to tilt Lana’s face up with two fingers. She pouted a little, but instinctively parted her legs wider, hoping that he would take the hint. 

Again, though, Howl turned his attention to Jake.

“Now next steps — how do you want her? Lying on her back with her legs spread apart? On her knees? Ass in the air? That will inform the next steps.”

It was pretty clear that Howl was depriving her of the one thing she craved most in the bedroom: Attention. He would be lying if he didn't admit he found it a bit amusing and kind of hot to watch Alana struggle to gain that attention, slipping into her bratty attitude to try to get them to bite.

His eyes lingered on the ropes that pulled against Alana's skin and the fingers tucked up under his wife's chin with that little pout on her lips before he turned his gaze back to the sorcerer. A smirk crossed his features at the question, "Oh, that is a tough one." His eyes turned back towards his wife and took in the way Alana was positioned at the moment, "Let's have her on her knees."

Alana hadn’t given the other job much thought recently. Jake didn’t speak about it a lot, for obvious reasons. And Alana didn’t ask about it. Also for obvious reasons. 

Still, in the past, there had been some late nights, some long days away that stretched into weeks, where Jake’s only explanation was “the other job.” Alana worried. But she had to trust that Jake was smart and capable and would come back to her.

He always did. 

She tried not to think of the other possibility.

With a family, it would be different. 

“Makes sense,” she said, slowly. “I’ll need you at home more if I’ve got my business empire to run, after all.” She laughed, lightening the mood, because she did not want to think about that other possibility. “I mean you should definitely still work your day job, but without the extra one, you can be a proper house husband.” 

The blonde let out a snort, "You know, I never thought about the possibility of not working." His fingers stroked along her arm absentmindedly. "Could go part time as well with the teaching job, raising the real young ones will take some time while you're building your business. Kind of was one this evening too." He said referring to the dinner and dishes, "Might be an easy transition."

Jake smirked with a grin, keeping the mood light as Alana had, "Will there be a uniform required? We'll have to really go over what my duties are for the house husband job role."

"Wow, yeah, that must've been something," Herc chuckled, trying not to imagine what it would feel like to have that sudden moment of immersion; a cold plunge into the sea, before you got used to the temperature.

"Oh, uh, yeah. So I guess half and half," Herc joked, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm an only child, but I've got seven cousins, just on my Papa's side, so whenever we were back in Greece things were kind of chaotic and intense." He missed them all though, so much it ached sometimes, but they were all good, and they chatted in the group chat most days.

"But uh, I'm the oldest there so it's kinda different- one of the oldest," he clarified, as if he could hear Sofia arguing. "It's complicated," Herc laughed to himself.

"Ah, that's nice that it's not chaotic every time. Get a little quiet calmness in." Jake was outgoing and generally charming, but deep in his bones, he was very much an introvert. Maybe it was just growing up as he had or where he had but he liked the quiet. It was only until Alana that he comfortably shared that quiet with someone.

Jake chuckled, "Right, yeah, well, I was always the youngest growing up to be pretty honest, at least until I went off to college and got friends my own age. I'd hang around my mums adult friends and the jackaroos on the station more than I'd make too many plans with kids in my class." He had a thought afterwards, "Well, guess the youngest in human terms. I had a lot of animals that took up my time. They weren't all mine, but I considered most of 'em friends."

Which, in hindsight, sounded even more lonely and pathetic than his previous statements. This was why he didn't open up often, really. If he was perceived as some cool magizoology creature wrangler hot shot or something, he didn't have to talk about his past. He let out a huff of a laugh, "In any case, don't think I was ever too far from something or someone to keep me interested growin' up. You have pets or anything?"

Howl had an easy confidence that Alana found attractive. They also were not looking at her gorgeous naked body, which she found incredibly frustrating. Instead they kept their eyes on Jake as they demonstrated how to tie a basic knot in the air. The rope levitated and twisted in and out of itself. 

“This will be a simple hand binding,” said Howl. “Hold out your hands for me, darling.”

Alana did as she was told. The ropes wrapped around her without Howl touching them, slowly and deliberately so that she could feel every strand of silk. The end tugged and Alana’s wrists were bound tight.

Alana looked up at Howl, hoping for some feedback on how good she’d been, but once again, their attention was turned to Jake.

The rope slacked and untied.

“Now your turn,” Howl said to Jake. “Best if you get on your knees to do it since she’s seated.”

There was a twinkle in their eye as they said that. 

The way the silk pulled slight against Alana's wrists as she waited there for them had Jake struggling to keep his attention on the knot and not his wife's gorgeous tits that were currently pressed forward with her arms tied in front of her.

"Think I've got it." Jake said with a smirk as he looked to Howl and then back to Alana. The kneeling bit made sense, though the way Howl was looking at him, the kneeling seemed to have a little more to do with their teacher. Though he wasn't used to taking orders in the bedroom from anyone, let alone someone who wasn't his wife, he knelt down in front of Alana.

His one hand held the rope, but before he got to tying it, he leaned forward to press a kiss to his wife's pouty lips, before he set to tying the knot the way he'd been shown, tugging on the ends a bit to secure it more tightly as his fingers traced along the skin of her wrist where the ropes pressed into.

Jake looked behind himself up at Howl once he was done, his hand slipping up along his hand bound wife's thigh, giving her body just a little bit of attention, "I reckon I managed it." He grinned a bit, proud of his knots.

“I think I want at least three kids,” she said, surprising herself. Alana knew that she wanted a family, one day. It was a distant thought in the future, a fuzzy point in the distance. Until now at least. Now, it was taking shape, all these thoughts she’d had that she’d never really pinned down for long.

“I can’t imagine not having siblings,” she laughed. “But maybe a normal amount. Not seven. I don’t know how mum did it. I don’t know how dad did it. Especially after…”

Well, after Athena had died. 

By then Tina and Andy had been able to help. Well, Tina mostly. But they were still kids too. 

“Did you ever want a sibling?” Alana asked, tilting her head. 

"Yeah seven's a bit much." Jake let out a slight laugh as he wrapped an arm around the back of the couch behind her, getting more comfortable. "Especially on your own. Think even I was a handful for my mum and I was just one."

The blonde looked to the side with a slight press of his lips, thinking about the question, "Every now and then I thought about it. Sort of a lonely life growing up in hindsight. But as a kid, I just sort of had my animals and the blokes at the station who worked with my mum. Think I would've probably liked a sibling." He furrowed his brows a bit, "I don't think my mum ever really got close to making another kid though. If she dated much she sort of kept it under the radar. Don't think I met very many blokes who were seeing her." He'd met a few of her female friends, they'd come by and talk about whatever. Usually Jake would get bored and go run around outside. But nah, not any male dating prospects.

He moved on from that though, he sighed a bit, smile still on his face thinking about it, "I think if it's at least three, we might want to consider four. Three is a number just askin' for trouble. Like with herds or groups, ya got three and two always gang up on one."

The Australian looked over to his wife, "When it does happen, the pregnancy and everything, I'm retiring from my other job." He couldn't imagine leaving Alana on another assignment again, or putting himself in danger when there's a few waiting for him at home. "Nothings makin' me not be here."