Witch on the Edge, page 6
Hunter and Skylar were stunned into silence. That was more than they ever wanted to know about Baba Yaga and Fabio’s sex life. How did one even reply to such a confession? Hunter shivered in disgust because envisioning the Wicked Witch of the West naked was asking too much of any man.
“Well, since there’s no other questions, my job is done. Carry on. Namaste,” Fabio said as he disappeared into thin air.
Hunter turned and looked at his wife. “I need a shower to wash off all this piss and the icky moment Fabio just engrained in my brain.” Yet, he had to admit the idea of angry, make-up sex with his wife was very appealing.
Skylar laughed. “Me too.”
When they looked around, the living room was back to normal. The only noticeable change was outside. Millie was playing with her brother Bean, and she looked happier than ever. “Guess we have another addition to the family,” Hunter said.
“It seems that way,” Piper said as she kissed him on the cheek and walked away. “Dinner is on you,” she yelled before disappearing into her bedroom.
Hunter smiled and did a fist pump. “Yes, I’m back in.”
Hunter ordered several Italian dishes from Rizzoli on Market Street before he rushed into his bathroom to take a long, hot shower. Tonight, was all about them. They still needed to clear the air, and he wanted to know what happened with Dr. Feelgood. The man was gunning for an ass beating and he was just the person to do it. He just needed to figure out a way to bring up the subject without getting into an argument. On the other hand, an argument could lead to hot, dirty, sweaty, up-against-the-wall sex, which he was more than willing to try for the sake of their marriage.
While the hot water felt amazing on his skin, the time on his watch indicated the food would be arriving in fifteen minutes. He needed to get out, get dressed, and transform their living room into a romantic evening because that’s exactly what his wife deserved. He smiled because thinking of Skylar as his wife never got old. It was time to claim his woman, which had the wolf in him howling with joy.
“Something smells delicious,” Skylar yelled as she exited her bedroom and walked into the living room. To her surprise, Hunter had dimmed the lights and lit candles. There were plates of Italian food spread out on her coffee table that smelled amazing. Two pillows had been placed on the floor in front of the table where he’d made two place settings. He’d pulled some of her nice China from the cabinets along with two wine glasses. A bottle of Chardonnay was chilling in the ice bucket. For dessert, he’d ordered her favorite, cannoli’s. The man had thought of everything.
Hunter smiled. “I hope you’re hungry because I ordered a lot of food.”
“Starving,” Skylar said as she joined him at the coffee table.
Hunter poured his wife a glass of wine before he clicked the remote and Vic Damone started singing Let’s Fall in Love.
Skylar sipped her Chardonnay and listed to Vic Damone explain why their hearts were meant to fall in love. She wanted to close her eyes and make her own paradise with Hunter. It was time to stop being afraid of it. Vic was right. There was no reason why they shouldn’t fall in love. Now was the time, while they were young and carefree. She accepted the plate that her husband offered, full of delicious smelling chicken Alfredo, fettuccine and oven-baked pasta. The tantalizing scents wrapped around her body like a warm blanket. Her husband had thought of everything. This night couldn’t get any more romantic or so she thought. They ate in companionable silence until Frank Sinatra started crooning The Way You Look Tonight through the sound system.
Hunter stood and held out his hand. “May I have this dance, sweetheart.”
Unable to say no, Skylar nodded in agreement as she too stood. They swayed in their living room to one of the most romantic songs of all time. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment when Hunter began singing in her ear.
* * *
Yes, you’re lovely, with your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft
There is nothing for me, but to love you
And the way you look tonight
* * *
She held her breath as the song finished because Hunter was staring deeply into her eyes. His dark orbs were dilated and all she wanted him to do in that moment was kiss her. Luckily for her, he didn’t disappoint. Unlike their previous kiss that was rough and full of desperation, this one was soft and moist, hot and breathy. Hunter kissed her like no man had ever kissed her. He wasn’t trying to win a battle but create a union of closeness as they shared one breath, one sensation, one timeless and passionate moment.
When he deepened the kiss, she moaned with pleasure. Heat rose in her cheeks as their tongues met and battled for dominance. Quick, electric, delicious sensations flowed through her body. Curious about the heat that lay within, she stood on her tip toes to deepen the connection as they both chased down the elusive liquid lightning that surged through them.
She immediately regretted the minute they came up for air. “Wow,” was the only word her feeble mind could conjure up. Wow? That’s the best you could come up with. Real sexy, Sky, she said in an admonishing voice. The man just kissed you senseless.
Hunter gave his wife a knowing smile. Her brain was as fried as his from their kiss. “Right back at you, sweetheart. Let’s finish eating dinner.” It was the last thing he wanted to do, but tonight was about romance, not humping his wife like a dog. Although, a little sexy time in the bedroom would be nice.
“Yeah, okay,” Skylar said as she sat back down on her pillow. “Everything looks amazing Hunter. I must admit that when I said you were responsible for dinner, I expected you to order pizza or Chinese. Not that there’s anything wrong with either. I just wasn’t expecting…”
“All the romance,” Hunter finished.
“Exactly. Not that I’m complaining. You can romance me anytime, Mr. Alexander.”
“It would be my pleasure, Mrs. Alexander. Now, quit stalling and tell me everything that happened with Dr. Feelgood yesterday and don’t say nothing because you were very upset this morning.”
With a sigh, Skylar conceded because she knew her husband wasn’t going to let the subject drop without knowing everything. “You really know how to ruin the mood.”
Hunter laughed and pulled her closer. “You’re still stalling, sweetheart. Tell me what happened.”
“Everything was fine until I got to the hospital. The Quinton I knew was long gone. He was on a mission to embarrass me at all costs. He wanted me to hurt the way he was hurting.”
“How so?” Hunter asked as he massaged her neck.
Skylar didn’t want to rehash all the nasty things Quinton had said to her, but she also didn’t want Hunter to blame himself. She wracked her brain and tried to re-arrange the events of the day in her mind, but he noticed her hesitation.
“I need you to tell me everything, Sky. I’m a big boy who can handle the truth, no matter how ugly it might get,” Hunter encouraged.
Skylar finished telling the story without emotion. It was like she was a spectator watching her own life implode and someone who was supposed to care about her ripped her to pieces. But that’s not what had her eyes brimming with tears. No, it was the fact that Quinton poisonous words were now spilling over into their romantic evening. They’d given that vengeful asshole too much credit. He wasn’t worth their time or energy.
“After he called me trailer trash and threatened to have me removed from the premises by the police, I had nothing to lose. So, I socked him in the balls and when he fell to the floor howling in pain like the little bitch he is, I felt better than I have felt in years.”
Hunter wasn’t sure whether to laugh or kill the idiot. Turns out he had nothing to worry about because his wife could take care of herself. “Thank you for telling me. Remind me never to go up against you in a dark alley.”
When Skylar laughed, Hunter relaxed a little. He hated that she had been a target of his stupidity. He needed to reign in his temper because they were lucky this time. There wouldn’t be a next time if he had his way. He was in this marriage for the long haul. Till death do us part and even in the afterlife.
Skylar stood and started clearing the table. “I’ve moped enough today. Don’t let Quinton’s poor behavior ruin our evening. What’s next on the agenda?” Skylar asked.
Hunter nodded in understanding, stood, and kissed her on the cheek. “I couldn’t agree more. The plan is to devour Luigi’s cannolis while watching the season finale of The All Hallow’s Eve Showdown.”
“Oh, my Goddess! I love that show. My money is on The Underbakers. I can’t stand the arrogance of the lead baker of The Sugar Psychos,” Skylar said as she crinkled her nose in disgust.
Hunter looked at his wife like she had grown three heads. “What are you talking about? I love The Sugar Psychos. And honey, what you’re hating is not his arrogance, it’s his confidence.”
Skylar rolled her eyes. “You call it confidence; I call it arrogance.”
“Want to make a friendly wager, wife?” Hunter asked.
“What did you have in mind, husband?”
“If The Underbakers win, I’ll do whatever you want. But, if The Sugar Psychos win, we start sleeping in the same bed. Are you in or out? It’s time to put up, or shut up, sweetheart.”
Skylar gave her husband a devious smile. He didn’t think she would take the bet. If that kiss was any indication of his bedroom skills, she would come out the winner either way. And after tonight’s heated make out session and Fabio’s talk of dirty, angry, make-up sex, she really wanted to come… out the winner that is.
She held her hand out for him to shake. “Game on. Bring it, wolf boy.”
“It will be my pleasure, sweetheart,” Hunter said, as he pulled her in for a quick kiss. “Somebody’s getting lucky tonight.”
“You got that right,” Skylar laughed. And it’s going to be me.
Chapter 7
Hunter should have mentioned that he had watched tonight’s finale last night On Demand when he couldn’t sleep, but that would be his secret. If Penny knew what was good for her, she wouldn’t dare rat him out. He needed his wife like he needed his next breath. Cold showers weren’t cutting it anymore. His body had an ache only his wife could cure, and it involved smokin’ hot, sweaty, dirty, filthy sex with his wife. Tonight.
Skylar placed the bowl of hot, buttered popcorn on the table and flopped down on the sofa. This was the best night she’d had in a long time. Quinton hated this show, so she watched it alone. “Let’s get ready to rumble.”
Hunter laughed at his wife’s enthusiasm. “Who’s being cocky now?”
“Just start the show and we’ll see who has the last laugh,” Skylar demanded. “My team is going to leave yours in the dust. We may be the underdogs, but we’re mighty and have plenty of fight left.”
“Your team can’t even work together, sweetheart. On the last episode, your candy maker had a meltdown. That doesn’t bode well for you in the finale,” Hunter taunted.
Sky glared at her husband. “Your guys are arrogant and it’s time someone took them down a peg. The Underbakers are just the team to do it. Watch us sneak up on you when you least expect it.”
“Don’t hold your breath, sweetheart.”
“Just start the damn show. And may the best team win,” Skylar yelped, as Hunter wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer.
“That’s better,” he said, before pushing the play button on the remote control.
They both listened intently as the announcer explained that one team would walk away with nothing while the other team would be crowned champion and win fifty thousand dollars. The stakes were high for everyone tonight including Hunter and Skylar. They would either find their groove as a married couple or end up in divorce court at the end of the month. The finale of The All Hallow’s Eve Showdown and the fate of their marriage started now.
Hunter cupped his hand around his ear. “What was that? Sugar Psychos won again. Shocking. Not.”
Sky elbowed him in the side. “Quit taunting me. That was in the past. Tonight, starts a new challenge and they are going down. Who do you think the guest judge will be?”
“Your guess is as good as mine. They have some good ones. I loved it when Elvira was a guest judge.”
Sky rolled her eyes in disbelief. “Please. You enjoyed looking down her cleavage.”
Hunter laughed. “That too, but she was a good judge. I’m curious about tonight’s small scare.”
“Then be quiet and pay attention,” Skylar admonished.
“Yes, dear,” Hunter replied. He turned up the volume as the host explained the small scare challenge.
* * *
There’s nothing ickier than the feeling of a tiny little bug skittering across their foot. Except maybe, when that tiny little bug is a humongous bad bug. For tonight’s small scare, your challenge is to create a massive bug on bug Throwdown. Whoever wins this challenge will get first pick of the pumpkins. You’ve got forty-five minutes starting now.
* * *
Hunter rubbed his hands together. “The winner of this challenge is going to set the tone for the night. What bad bug would you choose?”
Skylar thought about his question. “Since I hate rodents, I’d probably design a huge rat ripping a poor helpless cat apart because that’s how much they scare me. What about you?”
“Hmm. I would probably have created a gory scene where a spider rips apart a cockroach, because I can’t stand them.”
“Fair enough. Let’s see what they choose. Team Underbakers for the win,” Skylar yelled as she devoured a fist full of buttered popcorn.
They watched intently as The Underbakers decided to create a nuclear reactor centipede battling it out with a prehistoric beetle in the rainforest. The Sugar Psychos decided to also have a giant beetle in a mech suit battling a giant centipede in the city.
Skylar rolled her eyes. “Your guys can’t even come up with an original idea. We’ve got this one in the bag.”
“Dream on, sweetheart,” Hunter said, as he reached over her shoulder for some popcorn. He ignored how his arm brushed against her soft but firm breast.
“Our centipede is massive. We’re totally getting first pick of the pumpkins,” Skylar announced. “Oh, my Goddess. I can’t believe the guest judge is the actress from Grim.”
“Your team doesn’t have a chance. Look at the cityscape the Sugar Psychos are doing in sugar. Do you know how difficult that is to do?” Hunter asked.
“Hello, baker here,” Skylar reminded him.
Hunter sighed. “Of course, you do.”
“Um, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but your boy’s beetle just broke. Take that. We’ve got this small scare in the bag. Look at how magnificent our beetle is coming along. It’s a damn work of art. The Underbakers’ cake baker has some serious skills. Time is running out for your boys. They better get that leg wired fast.”
“I have to admit that the claws on your beetle look wicked. But it’s nothing compared to our sugar cityscape. It’s massive and our sugar artist is a genius.”
“Time’s running out. Let’s count it down. Four. Three. Two. One. Hands off your displays,” Skylar said, mimicking the host.
The Sugar Psychos were first to explain their scene. The judges were amazed by their control over shape manipulation with hair fine sugar. But they thought some of the details were lost with the mech beetle in the back and the judge wanted the flames to be larger. Now, it was time for The Underbakers to explain their scene.
“Uh oh, the first judge loves our scene. He thinks it’s nightmarish and that’s a good sign. The way the beetle has annihilated the centipede makes him wonder what the beetle is going to do to him. We so have this challenge in the bag. The judges love the way we created the beetle out of modeling chocolate. One judge even described it as spectacular. Too bad too sad sucker,” Skylar said as she held up a pair of deuces.
“It ain’t over until the fat lady sings, sweetheart. So, sit back and relax,” Hunter encouraged.
They both sat on pins and needles as the show went to commercial while the judges made their decision. Hunter used that time to massage Skylar’s neck, which from the sound of her moans, she was enjoying immensely. He no longer cared who won the scare challenge. The only thing on his mind was making sweet, sensual love to his wife. When Penny jumped on the sofa and snuggled closer to Sky, he knew they weren’t leaving their current spot anytime soon.
When the show reconvened, they were all ears. Would it be the Sugar Psychos or The Underbakers? Skylar grabbed the remote and turned up the volume so they could hear the host over Penny’s snoring.
* * *
Teams, today you were challenged to give us a bug battle. Unfortunately, only one of you can win this small scare and the vital advantage of first pick of the pumpkins going into this final round of competition, otherwise known as the spine chiller.
* * *
Both teams were technically precise in details, but the judges felt that one of your designs was repulsive in the best possible way. The winner of this small scare challenge is… The Underbakers. Congratulations, you’ve won first pick in the pumpkin patch.
* * *
Skylar jumped off the sofa, scaring Penny half to death. “Woo-hoo! Take that bitches. The Underbakers are in the house.”
Hunter laughed as he pulled his wife into his lap and kissed her. “You’re a riot. Congratulations, baby!” The radiant smile on her face filled his heart with joy. His father was right, love and laughter made a marriage work. This was the most relaxed they’d both been in days, and he didn’t want it to end.
