The Sword And The Pen (10 page)

He saw the enthusiasm I displayed. "You can have them all if you want. Animal control won't take 'em. They're full up, and if I bring them home Dad will probably drown them."

This was an answer to my prayers! Not only would I be able to present the wizard with a gift beyond value, I could retain a pheline for myself. I gripped the edge of the box. "Thank you, yes, I'll take them all." I pushed aside the tiny part of me that wondered why the boy would be willing to part with creatures so precious.

"That's great! Here." He shoved a clear bag filled with tiny hard brown nuggets into my hands. "Some kitten food." And without another word he scampered off.

Something wet and rough scraped across my knuckles, then something sharp bit into the flesh on the back of my hand. I jerked my hand away and looked down to see one of the tiny phelines attempting to climb out of the box. The other two had curled together and fallen asleep, but this one looked boldly up at me and uttered a plaintive meow.

I curled my hand around its middle and lifted it up to my face. Pure white silky fur tickled my palm. Wide blue eyes met mine without flinching as its body draped over my fingers. When it started to vibrate with a deep rumble that seemed too loud for its little form, I nearly dropped it.

The noise of a vehicle pulling into the paved area in front of the eating establishment brought me back to myself, and I glanced around dazedly. The wizard would return soon. This was not the place or the time to present his gift.

I returned the white pheline to the box with the other two, one black and one gray. I put in the bag of food and used the flaps to shut the box. I hurried over to the wizard's conveyance and placed the box on the floor behind his seat. I'd only just returned to the table when he arrived with the food.

Brandon put the food-laden tray on the table and sat across from Seri. She looked different from when he'd left her a few minutes earlier: less stressed, more relaxed. A knowing smile hovered around her lips and lit up her face.

She eyed the food with appreciation. "There's enough here to feed an army."

"I didn't ask what you wanted, so I got a bit of everything. Hamburgers, hotdogs, fries, onion rings and some ice cream. What would you like?"

"I don't know. Everything smells wonderful. I'm hungry enough to eat a tarak." She smiled as she named the desert lizard common to Barue. With sharp teeth and claws, a thick scaly hide and a bad attitude, the creatures were difficult to catch, harder to kill and unpleasant in taste--but they bred like rabbits, providing a meager source of nourishment for desert tribes and travelers.

"You'll enjoy this more." He handed her a hotdog smothered with all the fixings.

She took the offering and sniffed it. The aroma of grilled meat, onions, mustard and ketchup must have pleased her, because she took a bite. A look of delight spread over her face. In seconds she had devoured the hotdog and reached for a hamburger.

Fascinated by her appetite, he almost forgot to eat. Most women he'd known--his mother, Wanda and Hillary--merely nibbled at their food. They always claimed to be on diets, yet never seemed to lose any weight. His grandmother had been the exception. Until her death, she'd eaten anything and everything and never gained an ounce. She'd claimed magic kept her thin.

Seri ate with gusto and didn't seem interested in counting calories or carbohydrates. Whatever she did in life she kept her body trim and fit. The pile of food diminished. She glanced at him. Her hand paused as she reached for the now melting ice cream.

"Why aren't you eating?"

The sudden suspicion in her tone reminded him to tread carefully. He grabbed a handful of fries.

She relaxed and picked up the dish of ice cream. "What is this?"

"Chocolate ice cream. You'll like it."

"Mmmm," she groaned around a mouthful. "This is astonishing. I think I could easily live on this alone."

"It's full of fat and sugar, and loaded with calories."

"I know fat and sugar. But what are calories? Are they dangerous?" She gave the now empty container a wary glance.

"Only to your waistline."

Understanding spread over her face. She grinned. "Ah, I see. You fear I'll grow obese and lazy."

"No, I didn't mean that. I only meant. Well, I. . ." He stumbled.

She leaned forward and placed her fingers over his lips. "I but tease. Only the very rich and powerful can afford to grow stout and indolent. And those that do so, soon lose their wealth and their power to those who are hungry."

Slick from the fries and cool from the ice cream, the feel of her fingers against his lips sent a jolt of awareness straight to his groin. Without thinking, he sucked one finger into his mouth. The taste of salt and Seri exploded on his tongue.

Her voice trailed away. He pushed aside the tray with the remains of their lunch and leaned across the concrete table. She pulled her hand from his mouth and replaced it with her lips.

She tasted of chocolate, cool chocolate ice cream. The smell of grilled hotdogs and onion rings filled his nostrils. But the hunger inside Brandon wasn't for food. Eager for the taste of the woman he kissed, he ran his tongue over her lips. They parted on a sigh and he delved within.

Hot and tangy, her flavor sucked him in. Heat burned away rational thought as he lost himself in the kiss. Their tongues thrust and parried, the tempo increasing with every breath. Not satisfied with the limited contact of their mouths, he put his hand around the back of her head. Soft red curls twined around his fingers.

Honk! Honk!

"Hey man! Get a room!" a loud voice rang out. Laughter followed, as a car filled with teenagers pulled into the lot.

Brandon jerked away. His elbow cracked against the stone table. Pain ran up his arm. He welcomed the distraction. Seri looked dazed as she settled back on her bench.

Embarrassed, Brandon loaded the garbage from the meal on the tray and used it to hide the erection pressing painfully against his zipper. "Time to head home," he said. What had he been thinking?

That was the problem: when he was around her, he didn't think; he reacted. The depth of his desire for her amazed and alarmed him. She'd come into his life little more than a day ago, and she stirred his blood more than any woman he'd ever known. Common sense and decency dictated he keep his hands off her. She was alone and lost. But his primitive male side urged him to take what he wanted, what he needed from her, the risks be damned. He bit his lip, hoping the small pain would still the unfulfilled passion throbbing inside him. The flavor lingering on his mouth defeated his purpose.

He tossed the garbage in the can and stomped over to the SUV. Seri followed without saying a word.

Roiling dark clouds now hid the sun. The air outside felt thick and muggy with a coming storm.

Once on the road, he closed the windows and turned on the air-conditioning. The blast of frigid air did little to ease his internal heat.

"When we get home I'm calling an old friend of mine to see if we can't figure out who you are and where you're from."

She didn't respond to his harsh declaration.

Calling Sam Picket a friend might be stretching things a little. They'd gone to college together and for a time been close, but despite Sam's efforts to keep in touch Brandon hadn't seen the man in nearly ten years. Maybe it was the birth announcement for Sam's first son Brandon had received several months ago that had triggered his current reassessment of his life.

Sam was an ex-Chicago cop turned private investigator. Brandon hoped he was available for hire. The sooner he found out where Seri belonged and got her out of his life the better.

*** *** ***

I sat silent as the wizard drove. Though he said nothing more, I could almost hear his thoughts. They echoed mine. Without warning passion had flared between us. His taste, rich and smooth like the frozen confection, only hot as flowing lava, remained from his kiss. From the simple touch of our lips my breasts ached and moisture dampened my thighs.

I'd gone to Donoval full of youthful curiosity, and I'd received pleasure, but with him I'd never experienced the rush of need and want I felt when the wizard touched me. Until now, sex had been an agreeable diversion, much the same as a good meal or a warm bath, enjoyable but not necessary. My desire for the wizard confused and angered me.

"Have you bespelled me?" Unable to restrain myself, I blurted the question.

"What? Bespelled you? With what?" He looked annoyed.

"Desire."

He slammed his fist against the steering wheel. "Hell, no! I keep telling you, I'm no wizard."

"Then why do I respond to you so? This is not the norm for me. Is this a test I must pass?"

"You're talking nonsense. A test of what?"

"To prove my worthiness to become a real person."

"How many times do I have to tell you, you are a real person?"

The confusion and frustration on his face reflected my own bewildered state. I shook my head. "At least once more."

He chuckled, and I felt his anger drain away. Like a warm breeze, his amusement caressed me.

"I know I promised to consider what you've told me, and I have no wish to anger you, but despite your insistence I'm not a creature of your creation, I remember no other identity. If I relinquish my belief in your wizardry, where does that leave me? If you didn't bring me out of my world into yours, how did I come to be here? And what will be my fate?"

His tone softened. "You're safe. We're going to figure things out. Relax." He reached over and covered my hand with his. "Trust me."

At that moment I did. The warmth of his skin against mine eased the chill inside me and stirred an answering heat. Before the embers burst into flame I snatched my hand to my lap. His hand lay alone on the seat between us.

"Ouch!" he cried, and grabbed for something on his shoulder.

I looked up to see a small white bundle of fur flying at me. Instinctively I caught the pheline. Needle-sharp claws dug into my hands as the creature hissed at being so roughly handled. Our conveyance swerved and rocked as the wizard struggled to maintain control. We hit the edge of the road. Gravel spewed. The wheel spun out of his hand. We bounced down a grassy embankment. A massive boulder loomed before us. I closed my eyes and clutched the spitting, clawing pheline to my chest.

Ca-thunk! The conveyance slammed into the rock. Something exploded into my face. I jerked forward and back, but was held in place by the belt. I appreciated that the wizard had made me wear it.

The machine's engine sputtered and died. The sound of the crash faded to silence in my ears. I opened my eyes. Steam hissed from under the crumpled front of the metal carriage. In my hands, the pheline wriggled for a moment to get free, then settled against my chest with a soft rumble. From the back seat I heard the plaintive mews of the other two phelines trapped in the overturned box.

"Are you hurt?" the wizard asked. The concern in his tone touched me.

"I'm uninjured. That white cloud protected me." I pointed at the now limp bag draped across my knees.

He unhooked his belt and turned toward me. "What in the hell is that?" He glared at the pheline curled in my lap.

"A pheline." I held out the small creature, but somehow I doubted he was in any mood to appreciate my gift.

*** *** ***

Brandon stared in angry disbelief at the tiny bundle of ruffled fur in Seri's hands. "Where in the hell did it come from?"

"Don't yell. You'll frighten her." She cuddled the kitten close and glared at him.

"I'll yell if I damned well feel like it! That damned cat just caused me to crash my car!" He rubbed at the small pinpricks on his shoulder from the cat's claws.

"Don't blame your inability to control your machine on this innocent creature." She bristled like he'd always imagined an angry tarak would. The kitten blinked its large blue eyes at him, and daintily licked its paw.

He let out a gust of breath, flopped back in his seat and squeezed his eyes shut. "What more can go wrong?"

"Are you injured?" Seri asked in a softer tone.

He did a mental inventory of his parts. Everything seemed to be in working order. Aside from an accelerated heartbeat and the aches he knew they'd both be feeling later on, they'd gotten off lightly. He opened his eyes and looked at the still steaming, crumpled hood. His brand new SUV hadn't been so lucky.

"I'm just dandy."

"I'm unfamiliar with this word. Does it imply you are intact?"

He jumped as she plopped the kitten in his lap and tiny claws latched onto the skin of his thigh. With one hand he snatched the kitten away from that more sensitive flesh then turned to see Seri kneeling on the seat, about to tumble headfirst into the back seat. With his free hand, he grabbed the back of her tunic. "What are you doing?"

She pulled against his hold. Her fanny wagged in his face. "Ah, I have them."

"Have who?" he asked with some trepidation.

She twisted and landed back in her seat with two more kittens in tow. Like mismatched mittens, one black and one gray, they hung in her hands.

"Why me, God?" He raised his eyes up then asked her, "Where did they come from?"

"A young lad at the eatery gave them to me." At his dazed look she paused. "I too was astonished that anyone would wish to give away such magnificent creatures. Are we not blessed to be their caretakers?" She brushed her cheek against one of the kittens. He could hear it purring.

Brandon remembered a vague reference he'd put in one of his books about a rare cat-like creature. "Is everything I've ever written going to come back to haunt me?" he asked.

Seri didn't answer.

The kitten he held licked his hand. Its soft rumbling purr vibrated up his arm. Despite his usual aversion to creatures with fur and claws, he settled the kitten gently on the seat.

As he got out of the SUV to check the damage, he said, "Stay here." He wasn't sure whether he spoke to Seri or the kittens. Neither did he have any certainty they'd listen.