Midnight Magic, page 167
“Watch out,” Juniper cried out. She pushed Chey out of the way, and a branch struck her sister in the forehead.
Juniper crumpled to the ground. She couldn’t find and lose a sibling in the very same week. Cheyenne dropped to her knees. An angry welt striped Juniper’s forehead. Her eyes fluttered opened and she moaned. “What the hell? Did you see who hit me? Everything’s moving.” She struggled to sit up, and slumped back.
“Lay still. A branch hit your head. You may have a concussion or something.” What did you do for someone with a concussion?
With a growl, the creature chasing them broke through the final cluster of trees. It was tall, over seven feet, yellow and furry. Its snake-like eyes focused on Cheyenne and Juniper, and it opened its mouth with a snarl. Drool pooled from its lower lip, and Chey’s stomach churned. If she didn’t do something, and quick, they’d both be out of luck.
“Don’t come any closer!” She held her palms out toward him, summing all and any power possible. She focused on the fear and the anger. How dare someone break into her home, her safe place, and threaten her?
An energy built within her, and the fury rose. It had no right. He had no right, and she suspected Meredith had something to do with this attack.
The creature charged, its sharp claws outstretched. The moment it grew close enough that its putrid breath caressed them with its foulness, a blast of air poured forth from her palms, like a directed wind tunnel. She cheered.
“You go girl!” Her sister called out. “You give it to him.”
The monster – really she had no idea of it was a he or she – flew back, striking a tree and collapsed in a heap of ratted fur.
Now that it was knocked out, it didn’t look as scary as it sounded when it was chasing her. Actually, the splotchy fur was missing patches like someone had yanked chunks out.
“Good job,” Juniper said, pushing past her. “Now, let me finish it off.”
She carried the danger from her belt, and approached the unconscious figure.
“No, wait!” Cheyenne cried out. Attacking it while it was down didn’t seem right. Maybe they could do something to help it. What if there was some type of mistake?
Juniper didn’t hesitate. The knife slid into the chest of the monster – right where the heart should be – with ease – almost soundless. An oily substance gushed out, spilling over its yellow fur. Cheyenne gagged, feeling the biscuit she’d eaten threaten to come back up.
“Jesus Juniper.”
It gave a nod, as if in thanks, and shut its eyes. A deep sadness filtered through the air and dissipated.
“He needed to be re-killed. That reanimated state wasn’t safe for us, or fair to him.” She wiped the slimy goo from her blade off on her the side of her thigh.
“You don’t think she did it, do you?” Cheyenne was afraid to even mention the evil witch’s name at the moment. As if saying it gave her some type of power, or she’d be able to zero in on their location. “I mean, that’s going a little far.”
“What are you not getting? She already possessed you. What would stop her from pulling a body out of a grave, another dimension or wherever that creature came from?”
“What are we going to do with the body? I mean, the estate’s big but a huge furry stinking carcass on the grounds will eventually get some attention.”
A thin trail of smoke rose from the body, right where Juniper had pierced the heart. A sense of unease struck. Chey knew something was happening, but wasn’t quite sure what.
“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem. We gotta move back.”
She grabbed Cheyenne’s arm and tucked them both behind the trunk of the largest nearby tree. A gigantic “whoosh” thumped through the forest, her ear drums popped.
“Get down.”
They folded down into themselves, huddled together as the air filled with a vacuum compression that whooped and just as fast, dissipated. A light yellow fuzz, like something that would be found on a stuffed animal but in a massive abundance, rained over them.
Between the dampness of the forest, the mud of the floor and now this gunk, Cheyenne was done.
Juniper held her arms out, twirling in the damn stuff, laughing.
Hell, had she lost it? She’d been blessed to find this sister, and maybe cursed. Maybe they were all destined to become insane.
“How do you find anything funny in this hell?” she asked, and attempted to dust off the grime.
“Come on. You gotta laugh or you will go crazy. Did you expect that to happen?” Tears streaked Juniper’s face. “I mean –.” She gulped in a breath. “I’ve heard of vampires going whoosh, but as soon as I saw that smoke… I knew.”
Cheyenne imagined the look on her own face as she stood there, staring at the smoking corpse. Damn. It would have been much worse if they’d been close. The bizarreness of the experience struck, and a giggle erupted. Being chased by a giant furry creature through the woods. It was the stuff of nightmares. Cursed by a rival of love.
The laugh started at the pit of her stomach and exploded, releasing all the pent-up fear and anger she’d been holding. She leaned over, hands on her thighs, and let it all out. Is this what growing up with a sister would have been like?
After a few moments, the laughter subsided and the ambient noises of birds and wildlife returned.
“Feel better?” Juniper asked.
“Yeah, I do.” Cheyenne wiped the wetness from the side of her face with the back of her hand. “Think we can head back to the house now?”
“It’s probably safe. I’d love a shower. You do get that she’s not going to stop now, right? Now that her first two attempts failed. She’s going to keep coming, and will have to be stopped.”
For someone who’d just been laughing her head off, Juniper got real serious, real fast.
“I get that. If only we knew what she planned next.”
“If targeting you hasn’t worked, I have an idea about that. What do you think would hurt you the most?”
“Rafe.” Saying his name struck fear in her heart. “If she can’t have him …”
“No one will.”
CHAPTER 9
The burst of bright light cloaked the horizon. Cheyenne shaded her eyes with her hand, and squinted into the sun, trying to make out the approaching figure. Her mind wanted to raise the alarm for the unknown visitor. It’s not like like they had many dinner deliveries out on the estate. It was an almost twenty-minute hike from the main road, and they were surrounded by acres of forest.
No one made the journey by accident. The question was friend or foe?
She tapped into her senses. It didn’t necessarily have to do with a magical power, sometimes you needed to go with your gut instinct.
And right now, her gut was telling her not to worry. She lacked any of those telltale signs like the hairs on the back of her neck being raised. Instead, she remained open and curious, as if knowing a loved friend or family member was coming for a surprise visit.
The front door opened, and Juniper came out to stand beside her. “Should we go inside?”
Cheyenne glanced to where her sister stood, slightly behind her. Dried blood clung to her cuticles, and she pushed down the cringe.
“Not yet. I think it’s all right.” She crossed her arms over her chest, waiting not so patiently.
“Are you expecting someone?” Juniper picked at her nails, bring her index finger to her mouth and nibbling.
“Will you stop that.” Cheyenne pushed her sister’s hand away from her mouth. “You’re making me nervous.”
“I get you haven’t had someone in your life to watch your back,” Juniper said, using said finger to now point at Chey. “But you’re too nice. You can’t trust everybody. It’s better to be on the offensive than the defensive.”
“It’s my home, and my battle. I’ve already survived being possessed and chased by some reanimated monster. I’m not running or attacking yet.”
She expelled her frustration. “All right, I’ll go with you here. Maybe I’m a bit impetuous. Too quick to defend myself. I’ve been told I can have a bit of ‘bloodlust.’ Maybe, there’s something I need to learn from you.”
Bloodlust. That was an odd way to say Juniper seemed to have a fondness for violence. Cheyenne’s attention turned back to the front of the grounds. They’d only just defeated one very unwanted intruder. She didn’t think she possessed enough energy for a second battle in a day.
The spelled wrought-iron gates swung open. One step down. The fence didn’t keep the person out. Either they had great strength, or they were someone who had been there before, and were welcomed.
As the sun shifted, she recognized the figure and the burgundy jacket first. Before she saw his face, she began to run.
“Rafe!” He’d made it back to her. She shouldn’t have doubted his strength or his return. Maybe they were lucky that Meredith didn’t have the ability to attack on multiple fronts simultaneously.
She took in every detail about her fiancé. His gait was off. He walked with a slight limp, and dark spots as if it’d been singed, marred the once-plus jacket. One tear sliced across his breastbone.
The closer they got to each other, he hesitated, not fully stepping into her welcoming embrace.
“It’s really you, right?” he asked. Concern etched across his face.
Of course, the last time he had seen her, she hadn’t been quite herself.
“All me. I promise.”
The moment Rafe saw her, he stopped worrying about Cheyenne.
“When I heard that explosion, I thought I’d lost you,” Rafe said. He pushed back her hair, inspecting her eyes as if he was studying them. “It’s really you, right?”
“I think so. It’s quiet in there.” She raised her eyes, as if able to look inside her own head. “She was noisy, chaotic. She’s never at peace. I don’t think she’s going to stop until she gets what she wants.”
Rafe cringed, his whole body turning inward. “Too bad that’s me.”
“Don’t say I blame the gal.”
The woman standing next to Cheyenne talked, and Rafe looked at her closely for the first time. A wave of familiarity overcame him, as if he were looking at a painting made from a wood carving. The two were eerily similar. If he didn’t know any better, he’d say they were sisters. But Chey was an only child, right?
“My sister, Juniper,” Cheyenne said. “She showed up at the perfect time to help save me from an undead henchman that Meredith probably sent after me.”
“I guess thanks are in order then.” He shook her hand, getting a fierce surge of power from her core. Although he’d never met her before, the connection to Cheyenne rang true. They were linked on the family tree.
“I only just found her – I didn’t want to lose her.” Juniper smiled wide, showing off what appeared to be sharp canines. She closed her mouth quickly, and he questioned what he’d seen. There was some sunlight left in the day, so obviously she couldn’t be a vampire outdoors, right? Who was her mother?
CHAPTER 10
They went inside, catching up on the latest misadventures. Part of the road had been blocked, and Rafe had to ditch his bike and walk the rest of the way in.
It grew quiet, and Juniper excused herself. “You two love birds need to catch up. I hear tomorrow’s a big day.”
Her hands shook from nerves. Although they’d known each other for such a long time, they hadn’t taken their relationship to the physical level. It never felt like the off-limits “just friends” realm. It was more like they knew they were meant for each other, and simply waiting for the perfect moment.
“You are the most beautiful woman,” Rafe said, “and will be the most powerful witch.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” The blush warmed her cheeks. “There are so many more powerful than me in the world.”
No, she couldn’t take compliments well, and honestly it really wasn’t the truth.
“All right, how about this: You’re the most beautiful and powerful witch who’s destined to be my wife – and soon.”
“Ah, way to narrow the playing field.” She slipped her fingers into his shirt pocket and tugged, bring him close.
He glanced at her movement, and stepped closer. A light breeze swirled around them, and Cheyenne almost heard an accompanying song. The slight curls of his hair picked up and danced.
“You do realize that we’re indoors, right?” His right eyebrow quirked, arching.
“Whoops. Sorry. Well, maybe I’m not.”
The power within her swirled. Kiss him. She wanted to, and despite everything that had happened over the last week, somehow he still wanted her. Or at least he hadn’t gone running and screaming from the house. Yet.
“Let me see what you’ve got.” She teased him, knowing that his powers increased with hers.
He closed his eyes, concentrating, and an audible click of the door’s lock engaged.
“Nice. Telekinesis. Did you know you could do that?”
“I pressed a button, ensuring us some privacy,” he joked. “That’s about the extent of the strength of my skill so far.”
“It’ll only grow in time.” Sleeping with him, confirming their union, might increase his range, too.
She nipped his lower lip, and let her tongue tease his mouth open. He sighed into the kiss, releasing all the entangled emotions. Their bodies seamed, his cock pressed against her lower belly. She hooked her ankle over the back of his thigh, angling to move it more into a position that rubbed in the right way.
There. Harder. More furious. His hard length caressed her clit through the thin layer of her skirt, and she moaned – this time her passion transferring to him.
She fisted the back of his shirt, and untucked it from his pants, raking her fingers along the sensitive skin of his lower back.
Love filled her being, and she yearned for more. She needed him, physically. She walked backward toward the chaise lounge – not breaking the physical connection. The back of her calves hit the lounge, and he stopped.
Off came her shirt, and then his. She splayed her fingers over the bare skin of his chest. She’d seen him without it before, by the pool or at the beach but it was totally different to know she was able to touch him, and he was hers.
He trembled under her touch. She trailed one index finger over the curve of his shoulder, dipping down over the pectoral muscle, and let it follow the path of fine hairs leading down his stomach. As she reached the zipper of his pants, he sucked in a breath. She slipped three fingers into the waistband, seeking his soft flesh.
“You tease me. Now your turn.”
When she sat, his crotch came direct with her eye level. He drew her bra straps down her shoulders, and then the cups, tucking them under the swell of her breasts. The dark purple material complemented her olive toned skin, and the position pushed them toward him in offering.
She felt so exposed, so put on display for all to see, for him to highlight all her assets. He took, dipping his head down and licking one nipple, and then the other. His attentions brought them to peaks, and she craved more. She threaded her fingers into his hair, and encouraged him. It was as if each stroke of his tongue connected directly with her sex, and she reached for him, grabbing his cock.
“Two can play that game.” Cheyenne broke contact for a few moments, unbuttoning his pants and pushing them and his underwear off in one smooth motion. She pressed her lips against the head, slicking her tongue over the tip. Her hands cupped his ass, and she took him deep into her mouth.
“Goddess!” He thrust into her mouth. “You feel amazing.”
The power of his pleasure flowed through her. She was able to give him satisfaction. She increased the friction, using her hands to pump the sensitive skin as she sucked. The head slid against the inside of her cheek, and she angled to take him deeper.
A tremor pulsed in her sex. The sensitivity transferred to her body. Each stroke of him, brought her closer to coming. How was that possible?
Rafe flicked his thumb over her nipple, over and over, and she gave him head. Everything around them faded, and the focus turned completely physical.
“Please, let me touch you. I’ve waited so long.” He stepped back, and his cock bobbed as he pulled out. “Plenty time for that …”
He knelt before her, making her think of his first attempt of asking her to marry him. But this time, he was pushing her skirt over her hips, and removing her panties.
“So slick, and hot.” He pressed his fingers into her, collecting her wetness and using it to rub in the most perfect spot.
She lifted her hips, helping him find the perfect rhythm to help her come.
They’d waited so long. One more night before they finished consummating their union. While Rafe belonged to Cheyenne in his heart, he wasn’t free yet to give himself completely to her.
“Come to bed with me. Stay the night.”
Rafe laid a kiss on her forehead. “After tomorrow, I promise, I will be with you always.”
CHAPTER 11
“I’ve got a surprise for you!” Juniper put the finishing touches on Cheyenne’s hair, and went to open the bedroom door. “Guess who’s here to be a second bridesmaid?”
“Second what? You’re my witness. We’re not having a big, official ceremony!”
“Our sister, Justine!”
A striking woman with red hair walked in, followed by a tall man with dark hair. “I’m so happy you invited us!” She squealed. “My husband, Lucas.”
She hugged her and Cheyenne got a whiff of the ocean breeze. “And you’re wearing the same emerald shade at Juniper’s dress? How is this possible?”
“Magic.” Justine winked. “Ready to get this show on the road?”
In front of the gazebo stood her husband to be, his brother as the best man, and her two long lost and newly found sisters. Rafe’s parents and other members of the Witches’ Council sat in the front row on the groom’s side. On the bride’s side was Ms. Jardin, Justine’s husband and a few other close family friends.
Juniper crumpled to the ground. She couldn’t find and lose a sibling in the very same week. Cheyenne dropped to her knees. An angry welt striped Juniper’s forehead. Her eyes fluttered opened and she moaned. “What the hell? Did you see who hit me? Everything’s moving.” She struggled to sit up, and slumped back.
“Lay still. A branch hit your head. You may have a concussion or something.” What did you do for someone with a concussion?
With a growl, the creature chasing them broke through the final cluster of trees. It was tall, over seven feet, yellow and furry. Its snake-like eyes focused on Cheyenne and Juniper, and it opened its mouth with a snarl. Drool pooled from its lower lip, and Chey’s stomach churned. If she didn’t do something, and quick, they’d both be out of luck.
“Don’t come any closer!” She held her palms out toward him, summing all and any power possible. She focused on the fear and the anger. How dare someone break into her home, her safe place, and threaten her?
An energy built within her, and the fury rose. It had no right. He had no right, and she suspected Meredith had something to do with this attack.
The creature charged, its sharp claws outstretched. The moment it grew close enough that its putrid breath caressed them with its foulness, a blast of air poured forth from her palms, like a directed wind tunnel. She cheered.
“You go girl!” Her sister called out. “You give it to him.”
The monster – really she had no idea of it was a he or she – flew back, striking a tree and collapsed in a heap of ratted fur.
Now that it was knocked out, it didn’t look as scary as it sounded when it was chasing her. Actually, the splotchy fur was missing patches like someone had yanked chunks out.
“Good job,” Juniper said, pushing past her. “Now, let me finish it off.”
She carried the danger from her belt, and approached the unconscious figure.
“No, wait!” Cheyenne cried out. Attacking it while it was down didn’t seem right. Maybe they could do something to help it. What if there was some type of mistake?
Juniper didn’t hesitate. The knife slid into the chest of the monster – right where the heart should be – with ease – almost soundless. An oily substance gushed out, spilling over its yellow fur. Cheyenne gagged, feeling the biscuit she’d eaten threaten to come back up.
“Jesus Juniper.”
It gave a nod, as if in thanks, and shut its eyes. A deep sadness filtered through the air and dissipated.
“He needed to be re-killed. That reanimated state wasn’t safe for us, or fair to him.” She wiped the slimy goo from her blade off on her the side of her thigh.
“You don’t think she did it, do you?” Cheyenne was afraid to even mention the evil witch’s name at the moment. As if saying it gave her some type of power, or she’d be able to zero in on their location. “I mean, that’s going a little far.”
“What are you not getting? She already possessed you. What would stop her from pulling a body out of a grave, another dimension or wherever that creature came from?”
“What are we going to do with the body? I mean, the estate’s big but a huge furry stinking carcass on the grounds will eventually get some attention.”
A thin trail of smoke rose from the body, right where Juniper had pierced the heart. A sense of unease struck. Chey knew something was happening, but wasn’t quite sure what.
“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem. We gotta move back.”
She grabbed Cheyenne’s arm and tucked them both behind the trunk of the largest nearby tree. A gigantic “whoosh” thumped through the forest, her ear drums popped.
“Get down.”
They folded down into themselves, huddled together as the air filled with a vacuum compression that whooped and just as fast, dissipated. A light yellow fuzz, like something that would be found on a stuffed animal but in a massive abundance, rained over them.
Between the dampness of the forest, the mud of the floor and now this gunk, Cheyenne was done.
Juniper held her arms out, twirling in the damn stuff, laughing.
Hell, had she lost it? She’d been blessed to find this sister, and maybe cursed. Maybe they were all destined to become insane.
“How do you find anything funny in this hell?” she asked, and attempted to dust off the grime.
“Come on. You gotta laugh or you will go crazy. Did you expect that to happen?” Tears streaked Juniper’s face. “I mean –.” She gulped in a breath. “I’ve heard of vampires going whoosh, but as soon as I saw that smoke… I knew.”
Cheyenne imagined the look on her own face as she stood there, staring at the smoking corpse. Damn. It would have been much worse if they’d been close. The bizarreness of the experience struck, and a giggle erupted. Being chased by a giant furry creature through the woods. It was the stuff of nightmares. Cursed by a rival of love.
The laugh started at the pit of her stomach and exploded, releasing all the pent-up fear and anger she’d been holding. She leaned over, hands on her thighs, and let it all out. Is this what growing up with a sister would have been like?
After a few moments, the laughter subsided and the ambient noises of birds and wildlife returned.
“Feel better?” Juniper asked.
“Yeah, I do.” Cheyenne wiped the wetness from the side of her face with the back of her hand. “Think we can head back to the house now?”
“It’s probably safe. I’d love a shower. You do get that she’s not going to stop now, right? Now that her first two attempts failed. She’s going to keep coming, and will have to be stopped.”
For someone who’d just been laughing her head off, Juniper got real serious, real fast.
“I get that. If only we knew what she planned next.”
“If targeting you hasn’t worked, I have an idea about that. What do you think would hurt you the most?”
“Rafe.” Saying his name struck fear in her heart. “If she can’t have him …”
“No one will.”
CHAPTER 9
The burst of bright light cloaked the horizon. Cheyenne shaded her eyes with her hand, and squinted into the sun, trying to make out the approaching figure. Her mind wanted to raise the alarm for the unknown visitor. It’s not like like they had many dinner deliveries out on the estate. It was an almost twenty-minute hike from the main road, and they were surrounded by acres of forest.
No one made the journey by accident. The question was friend or foe?
She tapped into her senses. It didn’t necessarily have to do with a magical power, sometimes you needed to go with your gut instinct.
And right now, her gut was telling her not to worry. She lacked any of those telltale signs like the hairs on the back of her neck being raised. Instead, she remained open and curious, as if knowing a loved friend or family member was coming for a surprise visit.
The front door opened, and Juniper came out to stand beside her. “Should we go inside?”
Cheyenne glanced to where her sister stood, slightly behind her. Dried blood clung to her cuticles, and she pushed down the cringe.
“Not yet. I think it’s all right.” She crossed her arms over her chest, waiting not so patiently.
“Are you expecting someone?” Juniper picked at her nails, bring her index finger to her mouth and nibbling.
“Will you stop that.” Cheyenne pushed her sister’s hand away from her mouth. “You’re making me nervous.”
“I get you haven’t had someone in your life to watch your back,” Juniper said, using said finger to now point at Chey. “But you’re too nice. You can’t trust everybody. It’s better to be on the offensive than the defensive.”
“It’s my home, and my battle. I’ve already survived being possessed and chased by some reanimated monster. I’m not running or attacking yet.”
She expelled her frustration. “All right, I’ll go with you here. Maybe I’m a bit impetuous. Too quick to defend myself. I’ve been told I can have a bit of ‘bloodlust.’ Maybe, there’s something I need to learn from you.”
Bloodlust. That was an odd way to say Juniper seemed to have a fondness for violence. Cheyenne’s attention turned back to the front of the grounds. They’d only just defeated one very unwanted intruder. She didn’t think she possessed enough energy for a second battle in a day.
The spelled wrought-iron gates swung open. One step down. The fence didn’t keep the person out. Either they had great strength, or they were someone who had been there before, and were welcomed.
As the sun shifted, she recognized the figure and the burgundy jacket first. Before she saw his face, she began to run.
“Rafe!” He’d made it back to her. She shouldn’t have doubted his strength or his return. Maybe they were lucky that Meredith didn’t have the ability to attack on multiple fronts simultaneously.
She took in every detail about her fiancé. His gait was off. He walked with a slight limp, and dark spots as if it’d been singed, marred the once-plus jacket. One tear sliced across his breastbone.
The closer they got to each other, he hesitated, not fully stepping into her welcoming embrace.
“It’s really you, right?” he asked. Concern etched across his face.
Of course, the last time he had seen her, she hadn’t been quite herself.
“All me. I promise.”
The moment Rafe saw her, he stopped worrying about Cheyenne.
“When I heard that explosion, I thought I’d lost you,” Rafe said. He pushed back her hair, inspecting her eyes as if he was studying them. “It’s really you, right?”
“I think so. It’s quiet in there.” She raised her eyes, as if able to look inside her own head. “She was noisy, chaotic. She’s never at peace. I don’t think she’s going to stop until she gets what she wants.”
Rafe cringed, his whole body turning inward. “Too bad that’s me.”
“Don’t say I blame the gal.”
The woman standing next to Cheyenne talked, and Rafe looked at her closely for the first time. A wave of familiarity overcame him, as if he were looking at a painting made from a wood carving. The two were eerily similar. If he didn’t know any better, he’d say they were sisters. But Chey was an only child, right?
“My sister, Juniper,” Cheyenne said. “She showed up at the perfect time to help save me from an undead henchman that Meredith probably sent after me.”
“I guess thanks are in order then.” He shook her hand, getting a fierce surge of power from her core. Although he’d never met her before, the connection to Cheyenne rang true. They were linked on the family tree.
“I only just found her – I didn’t want to lose her.” Juniper smiled wide, showing off what appeared to be sharp canines. She closed her mouth quickly, and he questioned what he’d seen. There was some sunlight left in the day, so obviously she couldn’t be a vampire outdoors, right? Who was her mother?
CHAPTER 10
They went inside, catching up on the latest misadventures. Part of the road had been blocked, and Rafe had to ditch his bike and walk the rest of the way in.
It grew quiet, and Juniper excused herself. “You two love birds need to catch up. I hear tomorrow’s a big day.”
Her hands shook from nerves. Although they’d known each other for such a long time, they hadn’t taken their relationship to the physical level. It never felt like the off-limits “just friends” realm. It was more like they knew they were meant for each other, and simply waiting for the perfect moment.
“You are the most beautiful woman,” Rafe said, “and will be the most powerful witch.”
“I wouldn’t say that.” The blush warmed her cheeks. “There are so many more powerful than me in the world.”
No, she couldn’t take compliments well, and honestly it really wasn’t the truth.
“All right, how about this: You’re the most beautiful and powerful witch who’s destined to be my wife – and soon.”
“Ah, way to narrow the playing field.” She slipped her fingers into his shirt pocket and tugged, bring him close.
He glanced at her movement, and stepped closer. A light breeze swirled around them, and Cheyenne almost heard an accompanying song. The slight curls of his hair picked up and danced.
“You do realize that we’re indoors, right?” His right eyebrow quirked, arching.
“Whoops. Sorry. Well, maybe I’m not.”
The power within her swirled. Kiss him. She wanted to, and despite everything that had happened over the last week, somehow he still wanted her. Or at least he hadn’t gone running and screaming from the house. Yet.
“Let me see what you’ve got.” She teased him, knowing that his powers increased with hers.
He closed his eyes, concentrating, and an audible click of the door’s lock engaged.
“Nice. Telekinesis. Did you know you could do that?”
“I pressed a button, ensuring us some privacy,” he joked. “That’s about the extent of the strength of my skill so far.”
“It’ll only grow in time.” Sleeping with him, confirming their union, might increase his range, too.
She nipped his lower lip, and let her tongue tease his mouth open. He sighed into the kiss, releasing all the entangled emotions. Their bodies seamed, his cock pressed against her lower belly. She hooked her ankle over the back of his thigh, angling to move it more into a position that rubbed in the right way.
There. Harder. More furious. His hard length caressed her clit through the thin layer of her skirt, and she moaned – this time her passion transferring to him.
She fisted the back of his shirt, and untucked it from his pants, raking her fingers along the sensitive skin of his lower back.
Love filled her being, and she yearned for more. She needed him, physically. She walked backward toward the chaise lounge – not breaking the physical connection. The back of her calves hit the lounge, and he stopped.
Off came her shirt, and then his. She splayed her fingers over the bare skin of his chest. She’d seen him without it before, by the pool or at the beach but it was totally different to know she was able to touch him, and he was hers.
He trembled under her touch. She trailed one index finger over the curve of his shoulder, dipping down over the pectoral muscle, and let it follow the path of fine hairs leading down his stomach. As she reached the zipper of his pants, he sucked in a breath. She slipped three fingers into the waistband, seeking his soft flesh.
“You tease me. Now your turn.”
When she sat, his crotch came direct with her eye level. He drew her bra straps down her shoulders, and then the cups, tucking them under the swell of her breasts. The dark purple material complemented her olive toned skin, and the position pushed them toward him in offering.
She felt so exposed, so put on display for all to see, for him to highlight all her assets. He took, dipping his head down and licking one nipple, and then the other. His attentions brought them to peaks, and she craved more. She threaded her fingers into his hair, and encouraged him. It was as if each stroke of his tongue connected directly with her sex, and she reached for him, grabbing his cock.
“Two can play that game.” Cheyenne broke contact for a few moments, unbuttoning his pants and pushing them and his underwear off in one smooth motion. She pressed her lips against the head, slicking her tongue over the tip. Her hands cupped his ass, and she took him deep into her mouth.
“Goddess!” He thrust into her mouth. “You feel amazing.”
The power of his pleasure flowed through her. She was able to give him satisfaction. She increased the friction, using her hands to pump the sensitive skin as she sucked. The head slid against the inside of her cheek, and she angled to take him deeper.
A tremor pulsed in her sex. The sensitivity transferred to her body. Each stroke of him, brought her closer to coming. How was that possible?
Rafe flicked his thumb over her nipple, over and over, and she gave him head. Everything around them faded, and the focus turned completely physical.
“Please, let me touch you. I’ve waited so long.” He stepped back, and his cock bobbed as he pulled out. “Plenty time for that …”
He knelt before her, making her think of his first attempt of asking her to marry him. But this time, he was pushing her skirt over her hips, and removing her panties.
“So slick, and hot.” He pressed his fingers into her, collecting her wetness and using it to rub in the most perfect spot.
She lifted her hips, helping him find the perfect rhythm to help her come.
They’d waited so long. One more night before they finished consummating their union. While Rafe belonged to Cheyenne in his heart, he wasn’t free yet to give himself completely to her.
“Come to bed with me. Stay the night.”
Rafe laid a kiss on her forehead. “After tomorrow, I promise, I will be with you always.”
CHAPTER 11
“I’ve got a surprise for you!” Juniper put the finishing touches on Cheyenne’s hair, and went to open the bedroom door. “Guess who’s here to be a second bridesmaid?”
“Second what? You’re my witness. We’re not having a big, official ceremony!”
“Our sister, Justine!”
A striking woman with red hair walked in, followed by a tall man with dark hair. “I’m so happy you invited us!” She squealed. “My husband, Lucas.”
She hugged her and Cheyenne got a whiff of the ocean breeze. “And you’re wearing the same emerald shade at Juniper’s dress? How is this possible?”
“Magic.” Justine winked. “Ready to get this show on the road?”
In front of the gazebo stood her husband to be, his brother as the best man, and her two long lost and newly found sisters. Rafe’s parents and other members of the Witches’ Council sat in the front row on the groom’s side. On the bride’s side was Ms. Jardin, Justine’s husband and a few other close family friends.
