Home in Your Arms (8 page)

“Well it’s definitely something I can help you with.”

“I wish you would.”

She stepped away from him and took off her corset and skirt.
She was naked a moment later and he could see the juices glistening on her
pussy. God how he wanted her. His eyes ran up to her breasts and the air left
his lungs in a whoosh, as if he had been punched in the stomach.

Her nipples budded from the cold air but he could also see small
marks around them. Marks that he knew too well.

“What’s wrong?” Lexi asked.

He reached out and caressed her breast. She leaned into him
and made a sound of pleasure.

“Your nipples are sensitive, almost like someone used a
clamp on them,” he said, watching her face for a reaction.

Her eyes fluttered open but she didn’t meet his gaze.

“I think the corset has just been rubbing them.”

He looked away for a moment. Only one person he knew loved
to use clamps but it couldn’t have been him. Ian couldn’t shake the nagging
feeling in his gut. He wasn’t jealous at the thought of Andrew being near but
he wondered how it was possible. Did Lexi realize what had happened?

She reached up and pulled his face down to hers. Her lips
caught his.

“Please, I want you now, Ian. We can talk later.”

He nodded and began to undress. “Okay. But we aren’t done
talking about this.”

He pulled her into his arms and carried her to the tent. She
tried to scramble from his arms but he stopped her.

“We are going to do this my way. Get down on your hands and
knees.”

Her eyes grew large in excitement as she dropped to her
knees.

“Do you want me to suck your big cock, Ian?” she asked as
she reached up and stroked it.

He was already hard for her but he pushed her hand away.

“I said hands too, Lexi. Now.”

He was going to show her that he was in control and that no
one would ever fuck her as he could. She dropped onto her hands and he made a
circle around her. Those lovely large breasts were hanging down and her nipples
were even more peaked, if it were possible.

Her ass was in the air and her legs were open so he could
see her pussy. She was so ready for him.

“I love your pussy, Lexi. It’s so fucking beautiful,” he
said as he squatted down next to her.

He ran his finger through her folds to her clit. She took in
a sharp breath and he tapped her clit.

“One day, you’ll think back on this moment and you’ll always
remember that no one knows your body like I do,” he said in a low voice.

“Yes,” she agreed.

He smiled. “Good. Now get some rest.”

He lowered next to her and tucked his arm under his head. He
yawned and then looked over at her. He had to swallow back a laugh when he
caught sight of the look on her face.

“Are you…are you kidding?” she asked slowly.

“No, we have an early morning so grab some sleep while you
can.”

“But you had me get on my freaking hands and freaking knees.
And I took my freaking clothes off.” By the rise in her voice, he knew she was
getting angry.

He nodded. “As I said, you’ll always look back and remember
this
freaking
moment, Lexi. Now, good night.”

She glared at him and he bit back a smile. Turning, he tried
to ignore his hard on. He could hear her huffing as she put her clothes back
on. When she finally settled next to him, he glanced over his shoulder. “And
the next time Andrew appears while I’m sucking your clit, you should really let
me know.”

He waited to see what her reaction would be.

Her mouth dropped open and she said defensively, “I wasn’t
sure if that was real.”

He hadn’t expected that.

“What do you mean?”

She glared at him. “When you were…doing what you were doing,
I just kept thinking about what it would be like for someone to suck my nipples
at the same time. And all of a sudden someone
was
there sucking my
nipples.”

Ian could feel the anger simmering beneath his skin.

“No, you didn’t wonder what it would feel like for
someone
to have their mouth on you, you were thinking of a specific person.”

She didn’t flinch from his gaze and nodded. “I’m sorry, Ian,
but how was I supposed to know that if I thought about Andrew he would appear?
Is that normal here? Because I can tell you that things like that don’t happen
in Oklahoma.”

Ian turned away from Lexi. No, it definitely wasn’t
something normal, even in Sinoda. Only two types of people could summon someone
at their desire. And thinking of Lexi as either choice scared him to death. He
just prayed no one had noticed Andrew’s appearance in the brothel. It would
only bring more unwanted attention to Lexi in Sapphire City.

Finally, he said, “Go to sleep, Lexi. We’ll talk more in the
morning and figure this out.”

Lexi barely slept all night. She kept running Ian’s words
over in her mind. He was mad at her for summoning Andrew, which she understood.
She didn’t know how she would feel if he summoned another woman to appear while
they were having sex. It also bothered her that he aroused her and then told
her to go to sleep.

The more she thought about it the more she was starting to
realize she was changing. She had gone from getting glimpses of what people
were feeling to being able to summon them. Deep down, somewhere inside her, she
knew she could summon anyone she wanted to and it scared her. Was it because
she was the One or a Witch?

Ian was trying to hide his thoughts from her but she had
still been able to pick up on a few. There was something about the queen that
he wasn’t telling her and it was something important. She narrowed her eyes as
she looked at his sleeping profile.

“Jerk,” she muttered.

She desperately needed to use the restroom so she quietly
left the tent. Her cramped muscles protested as she stood and stretched her
back. When she looked around, the sight she saw made her gasp.

Apples were scattered all over the grass. The morning dew
caused them to shine like rubies. The apples in the trees were more
breathtaking though. Gone were the red apples from the day before. Now they
were a light green with yellow mixed in.

“Yum,” she said to herself. “They look like golden delicious
apples.”

She reached up, about to caress one of the delicious fruits
when a hand pulled her back.

“Don’t eat it,” Ian commanded with a firm tone.

“Why not?”

Ian wasn’t listening to her, though. His eyes scanned the
horizon rapidly. She could see his pulse throbbing in his neck. Something was
wrong.

“What—”

He shot her a look that told her to be quiet. She followed
his gaze, trying to see what he saw but nothing looked out of place. In the
distance, she could see smoke rising from a chimney. At least, she thought it
might be a chimney. The smoke drifted lazily into the air, mixing into the
purple and blue streaks of the sky.

“Ian?”

He finally looked down at her but it wasn’t a look she
wanted to see.

“The Witches have been here.”

Panic rioted within her chest and she swallowed loudly.

“How do you know? Are they still here?”

Ian stepped away from her and ran his hand through his hair.
His silence was worse than anything he could have said. The Witches had the
perfect chance to capture or kill her and they hadn’t. What kind of game were
they playing?

He finally said, “The apples. I know they were here because
the apples have turned. Nature can’t fight their magic so it’s always the first
hint they’ve been near. Their magic must have called to the fruits while we
slept.”

“What would’ve happened if I ate the apple?”

From the look on his face she knew what he was going to say
before he spoke and the anguish she felt coming from him took her breath away.
She would have been poisoned on the spot and died a horrible death.

“You would have died.”

He turned from her and went to the tent, breaking it down in
a few moments. She watched silently as he put it in his pack and then extinguished
their campfire, erasing any evidence that they had been there. His words danced
in her mind. She would be dead if he hadn’t come out of the tent to check on
her.

She sighed. The only thing she wanted was to be home, in
Oklahoma where there were no Witches. Except…back in Oklahoma there was no Ian.

Without looking, Ian knew Lexi was scared. The nervous vibes
radiated off her beautiful, pale skin. His hands clenched into fists. She had
nearly died right before his eyes and for a split second, he feared he wasn’t
going to save her. One bite from the green apple would have poisoned her
instantly. She would have been dead before she hit the ground.

The Witches must not have seen their campsite, though. If
they had, they surely would have killed them while they slept. It would have
been an easy kill and that very fact pissed him off. Why had he left the
holding compound without backup? He should have insisted that Andrew accompany
them. It almost felt as if he was playing right into their game.

He finished packing and stood.

“Lexi, we have to get to the palace today. Each moment you’re
outside the protected walls, you’re in danger.”

She nodded silently and gazed at the apples in the trees. He
wished she would say something but she didn’t.

“Once we get past the orchards, we’ll reach the Enchanted
Fields. Sapphire City and the palace lie beyond the fields.”

She smiled tentatively. “That doesn’t sound too bad.”

He couldn’t bring himself to tell her the truth so he said, “We’ll
be sitting with the king by noon.”

He held out his hand and Lexi took it. The wind blew softly
and he could hear birds chirping in the distance. With luck, they really would
be at the palace by noon. He wasn’t holding his breath, though. Things never
came easy near the Enchanted Fields.

His lifted his eyes toward the sky once more, half expecting
to see the Witches flying above him. They weren’t there of course. They would
not be foolish enough to show themselves until they were ready to kill. And
then it would be too late to do anything.

* * * * *

Hank hid behind a tree. He could see Ian and Lexi ahead of
him. He had kept his word and watched them overnight, making sure no harm came
to them. Now they headed right for the Enchanted Fields just as the Witches had
wanted. A sob left his lips and he put his fist against his mouth to stop it.

“What have I done?” he moaned.

He had single handedly betrayed a Royal Guard member and
possibly sent two people to their deaths. No, not possibly. They would both be
dead by the end of the night. The Witches would see to it.

“Brian,” he whispered to the empty air. “Oh my sweet Brian.
You would have known what to do. You would have been able to help me get out of
this awful mess.”

His beloved Brian was not perfect but he had always been
honest in all his actions. And he knew how to handle the Witches. They never
scared him as they did others. No, he would laugh right in their faces. That’s
why he knew Brian had
not
sent the letter to the queen.

If only he could have talked to Brian before he killed
himself. He knew he could have found out how Brian’s signature ended up on the
letter. But the king had made sure they were kept apart as part of Brian’s
punishment. His own banishment was the last dig toward the man he loved.

Now he would never hear Brian’s deep voice again. He would never
feel his soft caress at night. And he would never know another love as true.

He ran his hands over his face. Ian and Lexi would reach the
fields within an hour. They would be lucky if they made it halfway through
before the flowers became active and overtook them. The Witches would be
waiting, of course, and capture the two. It would work out just as the Witches
planned.

A thought began to form in his mind. If he hurried, he could
reach the other side of the fields before they even entered. Being so…familiar
with the area had its advantages. He would bet his life that not even the
Witches knew of the secret path that led right to the gates of Sapphire City.

Then he could help Ian and Lexi escape. The flowers did not
affect him immediately as it did others. He could use the extra time to get the
two out before they met their demise.

“But what will the Witches do to me?” he asked aloud.

It was a risk he had to take. Besides, saving Lexi would
surely entitle him entrance to Sapphire City. The Witches couldn’t touch him
there. He would be safe for the first time in years. And maybe, just maybe, he
could find out who had framed Brian all those years ago.

A smile lifted his lips, taking years off his face. He began
to run through the apple orchard. Instead of following Ian’s path, Hank ran to
the east toward the secret path. Most would look past the narrow trail, seeing
only thorn bushes and overgrown trees. It was an illusion, though, and every
great thing came with a price.

He pushed past the green vines, ignoring the thorns that
ripped at his skin. Blood and pain fueled him onward. Each cut meant he was one
step closer to getting his life back on track. A moment later, a perfectly
cleared path opened before him. He took in a deep breath and ran as fast as his
legs would carry him.

As he grew closer to the fields, he could smell the flowers
before he saw them. His lungs filled with the sweet air and he exhaled quickly.
He rounded a corner and saw the fields full of flowers. The Witches had not
lied. The fields were inactive. It was the only time he had ever seen them in
such an unnatural state. The flowers craved movement as much as they craved
sunlight or water.

An addictive longing formed in his chest. His blood pounded
through his body, singing for a taste of the flowers. Just one taste would
satisfy him. He slowed down to a walk. He could see the end of the path ahead
and beyond he could see the large gates to Sapphire City. He was so close.

He turned back to the fields. A stray flower grew away from
the others. It danced seductively in the wind, beckoning him to come closer.
One little taste. That’s all it would take. His body began to sway, dancing
with the wind. The flower glowed a deep red in response. His cock began to grow
hard in anticipation. His mouth watered. His eyes darkened.

Just one taste… He would be finished before Ian and Lexi
needed his help. They would never even know what he had done and he would be so
satisfied. Yes, satisfaction. That is what he needed in that moment.

He went to the flower. It shivered as he approached it and
he laughed.

“It has been far too long, my friend,” he said as he kneeled.

Since Brian’s death, the flowers were truly his only
friends. They would never betray him and they would never leave him. The
euphoria he felt around the flowers reminded him of lying in Brian’s strong
arms at night.

His eyes filled with tears as he pulled the flower from the
ground, pulling up the roots too. Most didn’t know that the plant’s true value
was in the roots. He held the flower under his nose and took in a deep breath.

Each person smelled something different in the flowers of
the Enchanted Fields. Some claimed they could smell freshly baked cookies or
wild roses. Other said it reminded them of the salty ocean breeze. Most never
smelled the same thing twice, though they would spend their life trying.

Tears fell down his face as the scent danced in his nose,
assaulting his senses. He was different. He always smelled the same thing in
the Enchanted Fields. The scent tormented him. It comforted him. It would kill
him slowly. It was only a matter of time.

He broke open the thick root of the flower, careful not to
tear it. He held the root to his nose and snorted the liquid inside. It burned
for a moment before the scent hit him full force. It was the scent of fresh hay
and Brian’s salty skin after a day of hard work and it sent the air rushing out
of his lungs.

“Brian,” he cried out as he fell onto his back. “Brian. Oh
Brian.”

His cries were not out of sorrow this time but out of
pleasure. He could feel the liquid spreading through his body, warming him. His
eyes opened and the sky above him swirled into a million different colors. He
reached up and suddenly became fascinated with his hand.

The colors from the sky were now on his fingertips and he
guided them like a magician using a wand.

“Hank.” a familiar voice called out. “Hank, you’re in danger.
You need to hide. Now.”

His beloved Brian looked down at him from the clouds.

“Brian. Love, I have missed you.”

This was the first time Brian had spoken to him and it was
breathtaking. He had missed that voice so much. He wanted to close his eyes and
relish the moment but Brian was shaking his head, as if to warn him.

“Listen to me, honey. You have to hide. The Witches are
coming. Get in the bushes and wait.”

He nodded and crawled into the thick bushes. He could see
Brian watching him with a worried look on his face. He mouthed, “I love you”
trying to ease his fears. The trees above him began to shake and he knew the
Witches were flying overhead. He could hear them speak as they passed by.

“Looks like Hank did as we ordered. Stupid puppet.”

“Yes,” another purred. “And Ian and that bitch will be dead
in a short while.”

The eldest spoke, “Remind me to personally thank Hank when
this is over. If everything goes according to our plans, I might even let our
little pet out of his cell for a conjugal visit with Hank.”

“Oh sister, you are so bad.”

The eldest laughed. “The best part is that no one ever
suspected that the real Brian has been locked up at our castle for years. They
all fell for the imposter and even let the poor man hang himself.”

The three cackled as they flew away.

Hank climbed from the bushes. The effects from the flower
were rapidly fading away, faster than ever before. His mind could barely process
the Witches’ words. He looked up to the sky and was stunned to find Brian’s
face still in the clouds.

“Brian?”

His voice was shaky to his own ears. Could it be true?

“Listen to me, love. You don’t have much time.”

“I don’t understand. What’s going on, Brian? How is this
possible?”

“Hank, you must make sure the woman makes it to Sapphire
City, to the palace. If she doesn’t, we will never be together.”

His thoughts spun in a million different directions.

“But the Witches said—”

“They lie.” Brian said in a harsh tone. “Hank, the woman is
our only hope. I grow weaker each day I’m here. It’s a miracle I’ve remained
visible this long. Get the woman to the palace, to the king. He’ll know what to
do.”