My Evil Eye, page 16
“It’s nice that you can adapt to my weird times.”
“I met a night owl, I suppose,” he replies with a shrug.
Ooh!
“Don’t say that word.”
Ooh, I hate that word. I shudder at just the sound of it. Owl. Oh, how I loathe owls. Owls disgust me.
I turn from him. Then I lean against the door and stare out the passenger window again.
“Did I say something wrong?”
“I can’t stand owls.”
“Oh,” he says with a chuckle. “I don’t mean to laugh, Gorgi. You have so much different stuff I’m learning about you. By the way, where are your glasses?”
“I lost them running after ditz Grace. My other pair is still in the library.”
“I like it.”
“Well,” I say, scooting back in my seat and gazing straight through the windshield, “don’t be getting any silly ideas like actually looking into my eyes.”
I run my hand along his arm. He’s wearing a white-and-blue checkered button-down with jeans. It’s more rustic, I suppose. Of course it looks good on him. Anything looks good on him. I’m wearing the yoozh: my brown fluffy sweater and baggy pants. But he’s right about my eyes. I have to be careful where I gaze. There’s already been like three close calls with Ash.
“I haven’t camped in a long time,” I say. “I brought some stuff I think you’ll like. Gracie made some cookies. Even though she’s absolutely crazy, she knows how to bake.”
“She is crazy. I don’t think I like her.”
“I really don’t like her. Still, the disaster last night was good in a way.”
“Why?”
“We’re able to spend the night together alone.” I shrug. “After last night, she’s so scared of me that I’m sure she’ll stay put at home—at least tonight.”
He squeezes my hand and nods.
We drive down a dirt road that parallels a lake. We’re here, I think. The lake is really a dark blotch surrounded by shadows. The shadows are trees and bushes. There’s nobody out. We pass another parked car, but that’s the only sign of civilization. And yet we’re only about an hour outside of campus.
He parks the car. Then he clips off his seatbelt and looks at me.
“I’ll get the stuff,” he says with his to-die-for smile.
“It looks nice. I’ll get my picnic basket.”
“No, I’ll get it, Gorgi. You just relax.”
I open the door and walk over to the dark lake’s edge, stretching real tall. There’s a full moon. The stars are prettier out here in this rural area.
I walk right up to the edge of the water. Then I look at myself in the moonlit reflection. God, this sweater is awful. Its ugliness is just too ugly. I can’t believe I didn’t fool Ash. Do you see this thing? How can Asher stand it? My hair would look better free too. Maybe I’ll take the sweater off for Ash. But I can’t let them wigglies go free. No, I can’t do that. Especially in case I get excited around him.
Giggles.
I look back and Mr. Handsome has his hands full. I run over to help him, grabbing my cute wicker picnic basket.
“Thanks, Gorge.”
“Looks like you know exactly where to go?”
He nods and takes out a foldable chair, along with a bunch of other stuff, which he lays down on the dirt. Then he cocks his head back. “I went with some friends here last year. We could have done the beach, but you told me about last night. It’s quiet here and—”
“Lovely. It’s beautiful, Ash.”
He nods. Then he takes out all these plastic pole thingies to get a tent constructed. I open my picnic basket. I take out my roast beef sandwiches and Grace’s baked cookies.
It doesn’t take Ash long to erect the tent. Then I watch him build a fire. It’s a real small fire. We don’t want it too bright at night—it’d mess up the view. Not to mention, it’s not too cold. But it wouldn’t be camping without one. I don’t tell him that I could probably light a fire about three times faster without all his fancy stuff—see I lived outside in the woods for eons. When I was an outcast, I had to live alone in the woods. He takes out a rug and drapes it by the fire. I move the food there. And then I sit beside him, tent behind us, fire in front, as we gaze out at the lake. In the sun, of course, it’d be better. But my eyes are adjusting, and the water is reflecting the full moonlight. It’s pretty. He leans back against more blankets and puts an arm around me.
I take a whiff of the fresh air. I smell the special perfume I have on for Ash—a smelly fruity thing from Grace. She insisted I use it for him tonight. Hell, I think after last night, she’d give me everything she possesses. He’s got a nice fittingly woodsy cologne on.
We munch on sandwiches. The fire crackles.
After we finish, I lean into his arms…and, well, it’s nice—real nice, you know.
“Maybe we should stay tomorrow too,” he says. “I can skip class.”
“I can’t,” I say with a sigh. “I’d love to, but I have to work. You should go to lecture. And I don’t trust Grace alone. She’ll probably burn down my house.”
“But you should enjoy the sun. Last time I was here, no one came by this spot all day. You can let your hair out—for real, Gorgi. I think it’s terrible you can’t come out during daylight. At least the morning sun would be nice.” He touches my neck and then presses the bun. I’m sure if it weren’t wrapped, he’d feel movement. “I can’t believe you have snakes hidden in there.”
“But I do. Which is another reason why we won’t be staying here tomorrow, mister. I don’t want you to see them. And stop touching them, please.”
“Okay. But can I kiss you?”
“Yeah. Of course, you can do that.”
“How? Gorgiana, I can’t look into your eyes. How can our lips touch if I can’t be near your eyes?”
“Easy. For one thing, most people close their eyes when they smooch. But, just in case—” I slowly turn. He can probably see my profile. I close my eyes. “Close your eyes. We both will. Then we just touch. Like this. That’s how it’s done. But I’m really serious. Keep your eyes closed.”
He nods. I turn, move his arm, and cheat, gazing at his face. My eyes turn his features green. That’s from desire. And I can feel the wigglies hurting my bun trying to burst out. I touch his face and his cute stubble. His eyes—
“Don’t open them! The only other way is blindfolded. Do I have to do that?”
“Sorry…but, why? What’s the worst that happens? You freeze me for a minute? You said you can’t turn me into stone.”
I lean forward and kiss his cheek. Then I kiss his closed eyelids. Each of them.
We’re touching lips. I enter his mouth and our tongues touch. It’s like last time, but sweeter. Gentler. There’s no rush fearing that something will take him away. No one can see us out here. So we have the whole night to ourselves. So my tongue stays whole—barely.
“But why don’t I blindfold you, Gorgi?”
“I’d never let a man blindfold me.” I sound angrier than I intended. He nearly opens his eyes again. “Don’t open them. I can’t let anyone restrain me, Ash. I can’t, because of my past. Will you keep your eyes shut?”
I let go and touch his lips, harder this time. Then I reposition myself, straddling my legs over his and facing him straight on. I run my hands inside his shirt. Then I lift his shirt and sneak my head under it. It’s like his shirt acts as a tent.
“You can open them now,” I say with a giggle inside his shirt.
With my green eyes, I watch as my fingers glide along his musculature. His skin twitches from my touch. My fingernails get sharper. I have to be careful that I don’t cut him. I run along his nipple.
“I’m gonna take your shirt off. You’re gonna have to close your eyes again.”
“Do whatever you want,” he says.
I’m getting too excited. My fingers are close to my eyes, and even this close up I can pinpoint each finger as it runs over the ridges of his tight green abs. I’m falling into predator mode, and my eyes are getting super sharp. My ears are pricked too. I can hear birds sleeping. I hear their breath. I even hear two alligators lurking about a thousand yards across the lake. But there aren’t any humans around.
So I can have sex with him, right? I can remove his clothes and have him right here in front of the lake. Is that wrong?
Uh…no. Until he sees your snakes.
I hesitate to remove his shirt. That cue could be enough to drive me over the edge.
He does it for me—with eyes still closed, of course. Good boy.
I touch my lips to his again, now running my hands along his bare chest.
“Perhaps we should stop.”
“Why?” He laughs.
“You just asked for a kiss,” I say, between kisses. “This is going too far.”
He surprises me by grabbing my body hard and pulling me closer to him. He kisses me more passionately than ever.
“Ash…”
I feel him removing my stupid granny sweater. I don’t have my usual ugly button-down blouse underneath. I have a cute gray T-shirt on. So I help him by pulling that off too. Now I’m pressing myself, with only a bra, against his naked chest as he’s kissing me.
Maybe I should make love to him?
“You’re amazing,” he says, running his hands along my back. He presses against the clasp of my bra. I know he wants it off, but I hesitate. I snatch his hand back.
“Can’t I look now?” he asks. “God, I want to see you. I want to see your eyes.”
“No. Do this. But keep them shut.”
I take his hands and run them along my face. I feel his fingers touch my moist lips as I kiss them. Then he fingers my soft cheeks. Now if I lose control, he’ll be feeling ugly crow skin. That’d make him toss me off for sure. But I’m not that far gone yet. And, anyway, when I’m that deeply gone, the man usually doesn’t have a clue what’s going on anymore anyway.
“You’re so beautiful.”
I’m rocking over him a little. I’ve been doing that. I didn’t even realize it until now, but I’m moving up and down over his cock.
“How do you even know I’m pretty?” I ask with a laugh.
“I…seriously, you’re the most beautiful girl in the world.”
“And the deadliest.”
That hardly stops him from rubbing my back. And it bothers me a little. It’s like, he doesn’t realize that he’s fondling an A+ predator, as if he’s petting a tiger or cobra. He doesn’t get just how dangerous I am. I was hoping my words would serve as a warning. It tells me that, even though I haven’t entranced him with my eyes, I’ve mesmerized him with my body.
“We should stop.”
But I’m still slowly rocking up and down over his cock. My body is not obeying my words. I feel his hands roam near my bra strap. I know he wants it off, but I push his hand away again. When my boobs are out, there’s no more discussion.
He nods and stops touching me. I’m surprised. Few men can ever stop at this point—like, no one.
“If you want to, Gorgiana, sure. I didn’t come here for this, I came here just to be with you.”
I want to cry over that. I want to bawl my eyes out. But that would make him run to the car. That’s so sweet!
That’s when I get it. This guy isn’t a crush. He’s the one. “The one” is so rare to find. Sometimes I’ll go for a century without knowing one. But this is “the one.” This is a man that could love me, if I could love him back. Well, I do love him. And I’m thinking, somebody who can withstand this temptation—the greatest succubus in the world—has to be in love with me. Right?
I hope so.
My lips reach over again. Just a peck. But then…we can’t stop kissing. And I’m moving on him all over again. And it feels like we’re kissing more passionately than ever.
“I love you, Ash.” But it sounds almost like a whimper. Then…one last kiss, it has to be, and then…I make myself turn my head and lie still with my face on his chest. “You can open your eyes now, lover.”
“Are you okay?” he asks with a chuckle, holding me tight.
“Never better. Happier than I can remember.”
“Oh, Gorgi. You’re irresistible.” He kisses my head. “You know that?”
“Yeah, I know that.”
“I felt one of your snakes.”
“What!” I ask, jumping from him. But then I quickly lie back on his chest, so he doesn’t see my green eyes.
“I felt something move on your head.”
“Oh, God, Ash. No. It’s so gross.”
“Dirt and mud is gross, Gorgi. But when you go camping, you look to sleep on that. Right?”
“I guess,” I say snuggling closer to his chest with a sigh. “But my hair is super disgusting. Your similitude doesn’t fit this predicament very well. We’re talking about slimy icky snakes.”
“They don’t bother me. I don’t mind snakes. My sister’s the one who hates them.”
“Her impression of me all makes sense now.”
He laughs and shakes his head. “She doesn’t dislike you. She doesn’t like snakes because of what happened to us.”
“What? She was bitten by one?”
“Yeah. Well, sort of.”
“Really?”
I feel him nod. But I’m still leaning against his chest.
“She and I used to hike with our parents in Yosemite. When she was, like five, we were out on this trail. Dad was off nearby, walking with Mom near a trail by the water. You could see this amazing bright view of Half Dome, where we were playing. I didn’t know at the time, but I went back to the same spot many times later.”
“Half Dome with the reflecting granite is very pretty.”
“Yeah, well my sister and I, we were little so we were perfectly happy rummaging through leaves. Anyway, she and I were stirring leaves with sticks. Tons of yellow leaves had collected over the trail. My sister walked to the lake’s edge. Then my voice shrieked before I even realized what had happened. I saw blood along my arm. And this really huge snake slithered away back into the bushes. My sister came over and became frantic screaming at the sight of my arm. Then Mom and Dad ran back.”
“Even when you were little you were bitten by a snake,” I remark glibly.
“Yeah, but the weirdest thing is they still didn’t bother me. After Mom and Dad freaked out with Sandra, they had me see a doctor, or whatever medical practitioner they had in the middle of nowhere back then. But my sister was the one traumatized. Every time Sandra saw a snake after that, she freaked out.”
“She cared about you. It bothered her more than if she had been bitten.”
“Yeah.”
“Perhaps she’s not so bad. No wonder she didn’t like me.”
My body shakes from his laughter. “She might not have cared for Gorgiana the librarian. But she liked Gorgiana, the Medusa. She was in awe of your voice.”
“Yeah, well, she really wouldn’t like my hair.”
He reaches back and kisses my neck. “She’d like you when she gets to know you.” He touches my hair again. “I can feel your hair quiver.”
“Stop touching it then, Ash. Please. You can be weird and like it, but I never will.”
“I want to take the bun down.”
“Please, Ash, no.” I sink even deeper into his chest and move my head farther from him.
“You’re not being fair. You said you wanted me to be Ash. I want you to be Medusa.”
“But Gorgiana and Medusa aren’t the same. All you’ll be feeling is Medusa. My snakes are part of my curse. They’re like my eyes. They’re not who I am.”
“I think you’re Gorgiana and Medusa. I like you both. When I first saw you in the library, I knew there was more to Gorgiana the librarian than meets the eye. The outfit works. People don’t look at you. But I did. I saw a beautiful, intelligent, fascinating woman. That’s why I went over to you that first time. Then there was the Alcove.”
“Don’t stop, Ash,” I say with a laugh. “Please go on.”
And I’m back to grinding again. Fuck. I can’t stop. My head’s still buried in his hard chest, but I’m moving on him again. Shit, I don’t know how I got back to straddling him, but I did. So? Sue me. I can’t control myself. Shameful? Whatever. I’m a monster. I’m also a woman with a very attractive man.
“Tell me more,” I say.
“You’re funny,” he says.
“I’m funny?”
“Yes, very.”
I’m about ready to jump off and take a walk. I don’t know what else is gonna stop me from fucking him at this point. Or maybe I can jump in the cold lake and bathe as if it’s a cold shower?
But I’ve trained my new man. As I look at Ash, he turns from my gaze.
But he’s also a man. His fingers are working my bra strap again.
I laugh. He can’t unclasp it. So I sit straighter over him, my eyes glowing, his whole body green, and reach back and take my bra off.
“Don’t tell me you’re not going to let me look at those too?” he asks, pained.
I laugh harder. I turn my head and close my eyes. “Go ahead.”
But he doesn’t just look, he runs his fingers along the curves of my boobs. Then he touches my nipples.
“Amazing.”
“You mean, what an amazing rack?”
“Yeah. They’re you. Just like your wigglies.”
Fuck it. I undo the bun over that. I don’t think I’m thinking straight, to be honest. I think I’m mesmerized just like Ash is.
“They’re out of the bun, all right?” I say. “Just don’t open your eyes.”
“Feel?”
I dip down closer to him. Then I feel my body shake. I’ve been brave about him leaving. But now? When I desire him more than anything? It’ll kill me if he touches my hair and runs.
He runs his hands along my hair.
Are you worried they’ll bite him? Not Asher. I’m not about to have him relive his childhood memory. Hell, I’d jump into a raging fire before hurting this man. But I’m still so nervous that he’ll bolt.
“Feel them?” I mutter nervously. I start working his pants. I unzip and pull them down under me.
“Yeah.”
“You want to run now?”
