Something Wicked This Way Comes 1, page 21
part #1 of Something Wicked Series
“You’re breathing hard. Are you okay, honey?” Sam asked.
He seemed far away. She heard herself say, “Fine. I want more. Don’t stop.”
“We’ll give her a moment,” Perry said. He looked at Sam. “You should be naked too. You’re part of this scene.”
Sam took a breath then stepped out of his clothes and tossed them aside. “What next?” he asked.
Perry glanced at his groin. “A couple options considering the hard-on you have. We’ll see how it goes. Now slide her feet close to her bottom so her knees are bent as far and comfortably as possible.” Sam complied and Perry wound the cord to keep her knees up and legs spread wide. Anita’s pussy was open and wet.
“This does turn you on,” Rene said. “I can smell how sweet you are. And look how beautiful her breasts are, nice and swollen and full.”
Anita’s nipples were taut and hard and no one had touched them yet. Her clit was swollen too, all because she was restrained. The bondage was secure but not painful. “I can’t move at all,” Anita said.
“Anything feel too tight?” Perry asked.
“No.”
“Good. Sam, lick her but don’t make her come.”
He crawled up between her knees and lapped at her pussy. She’d never been pleasured with two other people in the room, but she was so close to an orgasm, she didn’t care who watched. “Sam, I won’t last long.”
“Stop, Sam,” Perry ordered. “She’ll be coming a few times tonight.” From Rene’s bag of toys, Perry held up a large vibrator with a rounded head. “This will keep you occupied for thirty minutes or an hour depending how long I decide to torture you.”
“I don’t think I can handle—”
“I didn’t ask you if you could,” Perry scolded. He tied the vibrator between her legs and rested the knob against her pussy. No matter what she did, she couldn’t move it away. “It’ll stay there until I remove it.” He flicked it on and Anita bucked from the sensations that rocked her body.
“Feel good?” Rene asked with a smile.
“Yes,” Anita breathed. “It’s intense. God, I’m going to come soon.”
“Not before you make a decision,” Perry said.
She looked up at him, wondering what he could possibly do to her now.
“Do you want to watch Sam jerk off while you come multiple times or do you want to watch Rene suck him off?
Anita laughed. “That’s easy. I want to watch Rene do it.”
“Good girl,” Perry said as he walked over and undressed his wife.
Sam’s eyes never left Anita’s as Rene knelt down and took his cock into her mouth. Anita groaned and her pussy trembled as the first orgasm shook her. Arms and legs struggled against her binds, which seemed to intensify the throbbing in her groin that spiraled outward. The pulses eased, but the vibrating wand remained on her sensitive flesh.
“Good,” Perry said, stroking her hair. “It won’t be long until the next one hits.”
“Too sensitive,” Anita complained, wiggling and trying to move the wand.
“That’s the idea,” Perry said.
Rene was working hard on Sam’s shaft. Braced against the nightstand, he rocked and thrust his hips to match her rhythm. He was lost in the moment and Anita enjoyed watching her man receiving pleasure.
“Don’t let him come, my love,” Perry said to Rene.
“Then I better stop.” Rene stood up and gave Sam a quick kiss, then stood by her husband. “She’s doing well.”
Sam knelt on the bed between Anita’s legs. “Wow, that’s hot,” he said. Then the next orgasm hit her. Hands grabbed at the ropes and her toes pointed as her body shuddered through another release.
“Easy now,” Perry said. “Or your legs will cramp.”
“Am I done yet? My pussy is raw.”
“Not yet, sugar.”
Her clit was swollen and no matter how she struggled, she couldn’t move the knob over to the side. The vibration focused directly on her tight bundle of nerves. “Another,” she moaned.
“Yes,” Sam said.
“Sam, untie the vibrator. I’ve had enough.”
“You sure?” Perry asked. “I think you could go an hour.”
“No, goddammit
Quickly, Sam untied the knots and placed the vibrator on the side of the bed. “Do you want me to untie everything?”
“No.” She smiled. “Fuck me like this.”
Perry laughed.
Sam seemed overcome with lust as he slid his cock inside her with fast and deep thrusts. She gasped as delicious heat spread through her. Although her knees were stiff from their bent position, she didn’t want to stop. The look in Sam’s eyes was primal, surreal, and it thrilled her.
When his face strained, she knew he was close to release. “Yes, Sam. Do it. Take me like this.”
An orgasm rose in her, a deep, intoxicating thrumming, unlike any other she’d ever experienced. She cried out.
He groaned and thrust one last time as his body shuddered and tensed. A rattlesnake hissed from under the bed for a few seconds, then stopped. No snake appeared. Then a few notes of Lola played, and Sam didn’t have his iPod turned on. The music appeared to come from nowhere. Then it too stopped.
In the corner of the room a shadow lurched. “What is that?” Anita asked. “Sam, I’m scared. Untie me now.” Sam finished untying Anita and gently stretched out her legs and arms.
“It won’t hurt you,” Perry said. “It doesn’t stay long.”
The shadow drifted over to Rene. She didn’t move. A moment later, Rene seemed to be experiencing an orgasm.
“Is she all right?” Anita asked.
Perry nodded and laughed. “It’s all yours. It’s a little demon.”
“Demon?” Anita squeaked. The new curse. Moments later the shadow demon vanished, and Rene sidled up to her husband. It’s not right. I wished for darkness. I shouldn’t get a dark demon, that doesn’t balance. This will never end. She dropped onto the bed, curled up in a ball and covered her face with her hands.
Rene finished dressing and Sam stood face-to-face with Perry. Anita sat up and for a moment she thought Sam would flatten Perry. “You two started this.” Sam’s voice was low and threatening.
A muscle twitched in Perry’s jaw. He gave Sam an unreadable smile. “Just get a referral and it’ll be over. The curses will end. Don’t torment yourselves. It’s time to pass the problem on to someone else.”
How could they do this to someone else? Anita thought.
Rene sat next to Anita. “Cassandra’s magic is powerful. Each tattoo makes her more powerful. Don’t feel bad about passing this on.”
Anita glared at her. Rene rolled her eyes, got up and stood beside her husband. Glancing over to Sam, Anita searched his face. “How could we?”
“If you do,” Rene added, “you get to keep the hot sex.”
Sam took her hand and sat next to her. “I’ve been thinking about that a lot. I know you enjoy the adventurous sex. I do too, but I don’t want any more tattoos.”
“Neither do I.”
He hesitated before continuing. “And I can’t unload these spells and curses on anyone else either. It’s not right.”
She leaned into him and touched his cheek. “Won’t the snake, the song and that demon drive you crazy after a while?”
He pulled her into his arms. “We chose this. It’s our fate. We’ll deal with it. I don’t intend to ever let you go, curses or not.”
“I agree we can’t trick anyone else either.”
“So we agree, we tough it out. No more tats?” Sam asked.
“Yes, no more tats and no referrals.” She loved him for standing by her and doing the right thing.
“I love you.” Sam took her mouth in a kiss that was both sensual and a promise for the future. Hand in hand, they stood and faced Perry and Rene. “Get out!” they ordered.
Perry laughed bitterly. “You’ll change your mind or go mad.” He glanced at his wife who was scratching vigorously at her arms. “What’s wrong?”
“Feels like my skin’s crawling,” Rene said. She looked down at her arms and screamed. “Look! What’s this?”
Perry grabbed her wrists and examined her arms. “Fuck! Looks like new tats on top of the old ones. Purple flowers and vines.”
“No, it looks awful,” Rene cried.
He scratched at his arms too. “What the fuck? It’s on me too.” He narrowed his gaze at Sam and Anita. “What the hell did you do?”
“Look at them!” Rene pointed to Anita. “Her arms.”
Anita held up her arms and gasped. Her tattoos were gone, completely gone, and no spots. She checked her ankle and the dragon had vanished too. “Yours are gone too,” she said to Sam. “How about my neck?”
Sam started laughing. Without another word, Perry grabbed Rene and rushed her out of the hotel room. A dark shadow followed them. Rene’s screams were heard from down the hall.
Epilogue
”I think the locals named this beach Cold Storage to keep the tourists away,” Anita said months later.
The innkeepers at their Victorian bed-and-breakfast on Cape Cod had given them directions to a quiet neighborhood beach. They’d ridden their bikes past cranberry bogs, sea grass and large sand dunes to the isolated bay.
“I bet it lives up to its name in the winter. But in summer, it’s the perfect spot.” Sam sounded a little wounded.
“It is perfect.” Anita floated on her back in the cool water, her body relaxed and tanned. Sam cradled her in his arms and swirled her in circles. The warm August day relaxed her body, but her thoughts were troubled. Sam’s playful attentions should’ve made her happy, but she couldn’t forget why they hadn’t returned to Ocean City. The memories continued to haunt them.
“What is it?” Sam asked. “You’re still thinking about them, aren’t you? They got what they deserved.” He swirled her faster.
“I know.” Anita watched two seagulls cry out and circle above. “I wonder how they made out.”
“Maybe they learned not to inflict their curses onto others.” Sam rocked her and salt water washed over her nipples, making them hard and sensitive. She shivered, getting a little turned-on. “Cold?” he asked.
“No. I’m fine.” Her hand slid over the hard planes of his chest and pinched his nipple. Her latest signal to him that she was in an amorous mood.
He smiled his approval then turned serious again. “I’m sorry I put you through all that,” he said, firmly. “I loved you for who you were. Expecting a magic spell to enhance what was already great was a huge mistake. It could’ve destroyed us.”
She got to her feet and looped her arms around his neck. The soft sand was solid under her feet as she stood on tiptoes and kissed him. “It did bring us closer and made me more sexually adventurous,” she reminded him, giving Sam a teasing smile.
Besides the hot sex, Anita had also found a new job. She was in charge of a research lab on an evening shift that matched Sam’s hours.
Sam pressed his lips together. “I had sex on the brain. I didn’t think about consequences. I wasn’t thinking that far ahead.” He sounded remorseful.
“We can work out our problems together now, better than a witch can,” she said.
“Yeah, no kidding.” He held her close. There was an amused glint in his eyes, his mood turning playful. “Yesterday while you were at the pool, I went shopping.”
Anita groaned. “Not another tattoo parlor.”
“Hell no. I bought us both something. If you don’t like them, I can exchange them.”
Intrigued, Anita took a step back. “What did you buy?”
“The innkeepers at our B & B have been married for years and I saw them wearing ones like these. They’re claddagh rings. Have you seen them before?”
Her stomach jittered. Did he have any idea that these rings were worn as friendship and wedding rings? “Yes, I’ve seen them, they’re beautiful. Do you know what they mean?”
He lifted his right hand and showed her the man’s ring he was wearing. The polished white gold glittered in the sunlight. “Yes, two hands grasping a heart, topped with a crown. It means friendship, love and loyalty.”
She noticed he wore the heart point toward his wrist, the traditional meaning that he was in a relationship. Was that an accident or did he know? Was he giving her friendship rings? Marriage had been a topic they both danced around and avoided.
On his left hand, he showed her a small woman’s ring tucked on the first knuckle of his pinky finger. She gasped. This ring was stunning. It was the similar design in sparkling white gold but the heart was a faceted blue stone that looked like a sapphire. “Sam, it’s gorgeous but weren’t you afraid to lose it in the water?”
“No, I’ve been hanging onto it.” He pulled the ring off. “Try it on. It should fit. I brought one of your rings to the jewelry store to match the size.” He slid it on the ring finger of her right hand with her heart facing her wrist.
“It’s beautiful,” she said breathlessly. “Thank you.”
“Wearing it this way means your heart is taken,” he said.
Their eyes met and her pulse raced. He took her hands and she held her breath.
He searched her face for a few moments before speaking. “They’re also worn as wedding rings. It’s time to think about marrying me.”
Emotion clogged her throat and tears filled her eyes. The tightness in her chest reminded her to breathe. She thought about all they’d been through and how most people wouldn’t have survived it. She wondered about their future and if they could make it through tough times. Of course, they could. They’d both changed over the last few months. He’d proven his willingness to stand by her. And she was stronger too. Above all, she thought how much she loved Sam and wanted him in her life. To grow old together, like the innkeepers, seemed like a wonderful life. She wanted that with Sam.
“You need to know now?” She tried not to smile.
He groaned. “You’re killing me here.”
“Then my answer is a definite yes,” she said. “I love you.”
He tangled his fingers through her wet hair and drew her in for a long and deep kiss. The intensity made her heart soar. He pulled back and the love and heat in his gaze was so powerful, she wanted to freeze that moment in time and remember it forever. Above them, seagulls, dozens of them now, swooped in lazy, graceful arcs, crying out to each other. Anita laughed. “I think we’re drawing a crowd. Must be all the positive energy.”
“Perhaps. More likely, the tide’s going out and we’re standing on the sandbar. They’re searching for food.”
“Ah. Food. I’m getting hungry.” She gave Sam a sultry smile.
“For lunch?” He looked hopeful, but it was obvious he knew she wasn’t talking about food.
“Not exactly,” she said.
“Good. We better get going then. We have a long bike ride back to the B & B.”
“You think we’re going to make it that far?” She turned, making giant strides for shore. “I seem to remember on the ride over there were a lot of hide-a-way places in the dunes. My guess is we don’t make it back.”
The Addiction
Jaid Black
Dedication
To Laurann for her endless encouragement, her generosity with midnight cupcakes and Frappuccinos, and the Tokyo story that always gives me a giggle…thanks, Raymond! ;-) And to Giselle for her unending inspiration. It took me years to find the right heroine for John Calder; one phone call to you and she popped into my head as though she’d always been there. Enjoy those stilettos!
Chapter One
“Come on, Lynette, be a friend. I need this job!”
“Shel—”
“Don’t say it! Do not say I’m fired! I’ll try harder. I promise!”
“It’s not a matter of trying harder, honey. I don’t think there are enough pole dancing classes in the world to help you. I love you to death, but you are the worst stripper I’ve come across in over fifteen years in the business.”
Shelli Rodgers watched Lynette wear a hole in the carpet as her friend and boss frenetically paced back and forth. A cigarette dangled from Lynette’s Botox-injected lips as she strutted around in her well-manicured, and very black, office.
Shelli paused, momentarily distracted from the guillotine that loomed over her head. She supposed the black walls, plush ebony carpet, and dark-as-midnight ceiling were an accurate reflection of Lynette’s current and usual abysmal state of mind, but how could anybody like this much black? It was depressing.
“Look,” Shelli began, her violet eyes beseeching. She ran a hand through her dark-brown hair, which seemed light in comparison to the office. She moved toward Lynette. “I know everything you say is true, but I—oomph!”
She could hear Lynette’s long-suffering sigh as Shelli picked herself up from the floor. She winced, realizing that faux pas wasn’t about to win her boss over. Why did the chairs have to be the same color as everything else in this wretched room? Damn it.
“You see!” Lynette’s nostrils widened as she threw her hands up in dismay. “This is exactly what I’m talking about. You have the grace and coordination of a drunken hyena trying to make its way across a high wire! I’ve seen full-body vomiting that’s more attractive.”
“I’m not that bad,” Shelli said, frowning.
“Yes!” Lynette shrieked, still pacing. “Yes you are!”
“Okay, maybe I am!” Shelli straightened to her full five feet ten inches, which would have been five feet four inches without benefit of the stripper stilettos she wore. Or tried to wear. “But I still need this job. I really, really need it.” How did Lynette keep that cigarette’s long ash from breaking off and falling onto the carpet? Had it been Shelli, the fire department would have already been dispatched. “Another six months and I’ll have my Ph.D. in Anthropology. You’ll be rid of me forever, I promise!”
