Enchantment (32 page)

“You want me to chase Josh?”

“What?”

“You said you needed a chased boy to kiss you.”

How was she supposed to explain the concept of sexual purity to an eight-year-old kid? “I need someone that can kiss me the way Prince Charming kissed Sleeping Beauty.”

“And Josh can’t do that?”

“No. He can’t.”

“And I can?”

“You have the pure heart of a prince, Elijah. If anyone can break a curse with a kiss, it’d be you.”
 

“Did Josh want me to kiss you?”

“Neither of us wanted you to kiss me. But we didn’t know what else to do. We believe that since you saw the Book of the — the magic book, it wanted to punish you too. That’s what the book does, Elijah. It hurts people. It discovers our hopes and dreams and uses them against us to create the perfect curse. It looked into your heart and found your tender feelings for me and used that against all of us. Josh and I did not want to hurt you.”

“How will you know if my kiss broke the curse?”

“If the curse is broken, I’ll be able to touch Josh’s bare skin without hurting him. If not, my touch will cause him excruciating pain.”

Elijah offered his hand to Channie and said, “Come on, let’s go see if it worked.”

~***~

Josh lay spread-eagled on his back with his square chin pointed at the ceiling, one long, bare foot exposed at the bottom of the sofa. Channie knew in her heart that the curse was not broken. There was no need to prove it by burning Josh.
 

But she was still hurt and angry. Chastity’s energy boiled inside her — filling her mind with vulgar and obscene images of what must have taken place at the race — demanding Channie punish Josh for his sins.
 

Enchantment’s influence was weak, a butterfly in the maelstrom of Chastity’s power. But Channie could feel it, prompting her to wake Josh and tell him what had happened. She ignored the prompting and wrapped her fingers over the tender skin of his instep and squeezed, searing her palm.
 

Josh’s scream of agony incinerated Channie’s anger and left behind nothing but the ashes of shame and guilt.

She let go of his foot and righted the lamp he’d knocked off the table. “Josh. You’re alright. Elijah kissed me. I just wanted to see if it broke the curse.”

She turned on the lamp and Josh flinched away from her. His arms, bent at the elbows and raised into a defensive posture to protect his head, did not hide the mask of horror on his face. He was terrified. And no wonder. It was bad enough to suffer the agony of the curse when you were fully conscious. How much worse to be torn from the peaceful oblivion of sleep and plunged into the hellish reality of unbearable pain.
 

Josh’s dilated pupils constricted into pinpoints as comprehension replaced confusion and terror. He glanced at Elijah then leveled his gaze at Channie. “So, I guess it didn’t work.”
 

Still cradling her hand in front of her body, Channie said, “I’m sorry I hurt you.”
 

Elijah’s angelic face crumpled into a distorted mask of rage. He pointed an accusing finger at Josh. “I’m glad it hurt. I hope you die and burn in hell forever.”

“Gee, thanks squirt. I love you too.”

“I hate you, Josh.” Elijah turned his tear-streaked face towards Channie and hiccuped twice before he said, “And … and I don’t like you very much either.”

“That’s okay. I don’t like me very much either.”
 

Elijah turned and ran upstairs. Channie wanted to go after him, to console him, but she needed to make things right with Josh first.
 

His eyes were cold as stones on the bottom of a frozen riverbed. He looked at Channie for a moment, shook his head slowly, then rolled onto his side, facing the sofa.
 

“Josh … I—”

“Go to bed, Channie.”
 

She ran back to her room and buried her face in her pillow to stifle her sobs. But this time she couldn’t cry herself to sleep. She pulled out her journal and read the most recent words of the spell, focusing on the middle stanzas that had somehow been obscured by the seemingly more important words about true love’s kiss.

…
Son of darkness, heed this advice, forsake all others that might entice and lead astray with a wanton smile the foolish boy they wish to beguile. Burn the image in your heart and mind of true love’s kiss, and surely you’ll find the strength and the will and the power to keep the promise you made so your love would not weep
…

A chill crept up Channie’s spine and encircled her heart. The evil Book was testing Josh. She had been a fool to ignore the warning. What would happen if he failed the test and cheated on her? There was more at stake here than just their relationship — as if that weren’t bad enough — Josh was in serious danger. Channie got dressed, hugged her journal to her breast and crept back downstairs. She had to warn him.

CHAPTER NINE

Choices

Channie could tell by his rapid and irregular breathing that Josh was awake, but he refused to roll over or answer her as she begged his forgiveness and tried to explain the danger he was in.
 

“Josh, I know you’re mad at me and don’t want to talk to me right now, but you need to listen. Open your phone and read the words of the spell. Pay attention to the middle two stanzas. I don’t want to lose you, but more importantly — I don’t want you to get hurt. I’m so sorry I got you involved in this mess.”

Channie whispered, “I love you,” and turned towards the stairs.
 

Josh sat up and said, “Channie, wait.” He tossed the blankets aside, got up and wrapped his arms around her. Their thin cotton pajamas protected them from the fiery curse, but not from the flames of their passion.
 

Josh said, “Go get some clothes on and meet me in the basement.”

“But it’s late.”

“So? Tomorrow’s Sunday. We can sleep in.” He smacked her butt and said, “On second thought, don’t get dressed. I like your jammies.”
 

“I’ll meet you downstairs, but pajamas are not an option. Get dressed.”

He bit his lip and deliberately pulled it through his teeth.

“And stop trying to seduce me.”

“I’m not trying to seduce you.” The way his gaze traveled over her thinly clad body said otherwise.
 

When Channie got downstairs, Josh was wearing his gloves. She could have asked him to take them off, but … she missed holding hands. She missed the way his cotton-clad fingers felt on her face as he traced patterns over her cheeks, brow and lips. She missed other things too, but refused to think about that.

They sat on the sofa and cuddled as they talked about the dilemma presented by the Book of the Dead’s latest revelations. Josh was more concerned about “true love’s kiss” than he was about the dangers of succumbing to the temptations of other girls. He seemed to be having a hard time focusing. He also had a hard time keeping his hands to himself.
 

Channie kept her rebukes lighthearted and playful. Josh would apologize and calm down for awhile, but then go right back to trying to slip his hands under her hoodie.

He said, “Do you remember suggesting that we should try to desensitize ourselves and practice touching?”

“Yes. And I also remember you saying that the more we touch the more you want.”

“I won’t deny it. I want a hell of a lot more than you’re willing to give — but I won’t force you. You know that, right?”

“I’m not worried about you forcing me. But I am worried about you persuading me.”

Josh smiled. But it wasn’t his usual goofy grin. This smile was seductive and full of temptation. Channie’s resolve melted like butter on hot cornbread.
 

He said, “I’ll try to be less persuasive. But since our plan to use Elijah was a complete failure, we need to move on to plan ‘B.’”
 

“And that is …?”

“To desensitize ourselves, like you suggested. So we can kiss without lust and break the curse.”

“I don’t know—”

“Think about it Channie. Do you remember how thrilling it was just to hold hands when I first bought these gloves?”

“Yes, but I still like to hold hands. I’m not desensitized to it.”

Josh lifted her off his lap and slid away from her then picked up her hand. “Is this as thrilling as the first time?”

“Well, no, but—”

“How about this?” He put his hand on her knee, but didn’t try to slide it up her leg the way he had been for the past hour.

“Alright. I see your point. But what are we going to do if we get carried away while we’re trying to desensitize ourselves?”

“I’m prepared for all contingencies.”

Channie narrowed her eyes. “I’ll just bet you are.”
 

“Come on Channie. What’s the worst that can happen?”

“I could get pregnant.”

“No, you can’t. No skin to skin contact, remember? Even if the curse weren’t a problem, I’d never put you at risk. I’d use protection. Besides, just how carried away do you think we’re going to get while Mom’s upstairs? There’s not even a lock on the door.”

“You’ll stop the minute I tell you to?”

“Of course.”

“Alright.”

Channie expected Josh to pull her back onto his lap, but instead, he slid off the sofa and knelt in front of her.
His eyes moved slowly back and forth — tiny little movements that she wouldn’t have noticed if not for the sparks of blue-white light refracting along the rims of his irises. He was searching her face — gauging her reactions. Channie smiled, but her mouth felt stiff and awkward.
 

He put his hands on her shoulders and said, “May I touch you?”

“You are touching me.”

“May I touch you … like this?” He slid his hands ever so slowly, inch by inch from her shoulders to her collar bone then down her arms. He’d touched her like that plenty of times already, but somehow this was different — more intense.

After a few minutes, Channie quit trying to analyze everything and let herself enjoy the pleasure of the moment.
 

Josh slid his hands between the seat cushions and the back of the sofa and pulled out another pair of thin, white, cotton gloves. He licked his lips and swallowed then cleared his throat. He said, “You can touch me too … if you want.”

Channie’s hands shook as she slipped on the gloves.

Josh bit his lip, but this time he didn’t pull it through his teeth. He trembled and kept his gaze locked on Channie’s eyes as he crossed his arms and gripped the hem of his sweatshirt. He pulled it off over his head then tossed it on the floor.

Channie skimmed her gloved fingers over the chiseled muscles of his chest and belly.
He closed his eyes. And trembled.
 

When he quit shaking,
Channie said, “Are you desensitized yet?”

“Why? Are you getting bored?”

“How could I possibly get bored with my hands on your body?”

Josh groaned as if he were in pain and pulled her closer. She could taste the cool mint on his breath even as it warmed her cheek. He squeezed her waist and said, “I can’t wait to kiss you.”

“We aren’t ready.”

“I know.” He gazed into her eyes and Channie felt as if she were falling. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”

Channie shook her head slowly. “But, you make me feel beautiful. Especially when you look at me like … that.”

“Like this?” The pulse point on Josh’s neck throbbed. His heart was racing in tandem with hers. He lifted a hand to her shoulder, but instead of sliding it down her arm, he let it skim the front of her sweatshirt.
 

Channie froze for a split-second, her mind unable to process what just happened. Josh slid his hand back up and paused over her breast. Her thoughts were still a jumble of contradictory messages, but Channie’s body didn’t need any input from her brain. She arched her back and leaned into Josh’s hand. What was she doing? This was wrong. Wasn’t it? She’d told
Mrs. Abrim
that she wouldn’t sleep with Josh. But for the life of her, Channie couldn’t remember why.
 

She dug her fingers into Josh’s shoulders as he continued to explore. They were both breathing hard when he stopped and slid his hands to her waist. Why was he stopping? She opened her eyes and found his questioning gaze again searching her face. He wasn’t stopping. He was asking for permission. She gave it, silently nodding her head.
 

Josh slid his hands under her shirt. His eyes never left hers even as he fumbled with the hooks of her bra. When the clasp finally sprang open, Channie instinctively crossed her arms over her chest.
 

Josh froze.
 

Channie took a deep breath and tried to relax, but couldn’t stop shaking.

Josh was shivering too. He said, “We can stop now, if you want.”

It was more than obvious that he did not want to stop. But neither did she.

“No, it’s okay.”

“Channie?” Josh’s voice was breathless and raspy. “Are you sure?”
 

“Yes.“
 

“What about that … uh … moon thing?”

“I stopped it.”

Josh got up and propped a chair under the doorknob. So much for the ‘no lock’ excuse. Without Josh’s hands on her, Channie lost her confidence. What if he was disappointed? And what was taking him so long?

The dim lighting from the television flickered across Josh’s bare back as he opened the closet and pulled out a set of sheets. He really was prepared for all contingencies. He tucked the linens under one arm then leaned over and dug around in his backpack. What was he doing? He put something in his pocket then stood up and looked at her. “Do you want the TV off or on?”