by Liv Brywood
She stares at me with tears in her eyes. A slight smile brightens her face.
I lean in. She meets me halfway, and our lips touch in an explosion of electricity. We dance the tips of our tongues together briefly before we slide them deep together. I gently guide her hand up my thigh to my hard cock, which bulges against my jeans.
I ache for her.
She sighs into my mouth as she caresses the outline of my cock. I slip my hand up her thigh under her skirt. Her skin is hot, and a damp heat radiates from her pussy. I brush my fingers over her wet panties and my cock jumps.
I slide one hand to the back of her neck. I pull her mouth hard against mine. With my other hand, I gently massage her pussy through her lace panties. Wetness drenches the thin fabric. She opens her legs a little and moans softly.
I slip my fingers beneath her underwear and slide them up her wet lips toward her swollen clit. When I touch her, she lets out a little whimper and her body pulses against my fingers. She unbuttons my jeans and slips her hand inside my boxers. As she strokes up and down my hard shaft, I grit my teeth against the need to come.
As I kiss down the side of her neck, I rub my finger in little circles over her clit.
“I want you so bad,” I groan.
“I want you too.”
“You’re so wet.”
“You do this to me.” She spreads her legs even farther and moans when I slide two fingers deep into her wet pussy.
“You’re so hard.” She squeezes my shaft. “I need you inside me right now.”
Her hot breath against my ear sends a shiver down my spine. For a second, I fear I might come, but I quickly gain control of myself.
She grabs at my waistband. I raise my butt off the bench so she can work my pants down toward my ankles. I stroke her wet pussy as she leans over and takes my cock into her mouth.
“Oh, shit.” I wasn’t expecting that.
She slides me all the way down her throat. When her lips wrap around the base of my shaft, I throw my head back and groan. As she bobs her head up and down, she moans onto my cock. Her hips move back and forth involuntarily as I massage her g-spot.
I grab her hair and pull her off me, so I won’t come in her mouth. I press her lips to mine again. Our kiss is sloppy and wet.
“I need to be inside you. Now.”
I hoist her onto me. She throws her leg over to straddle me. I pull her panties to the side and guide my cock toward her delicate pink pussy. She shudders when I caress her clit with the head of my cock.
“Put it in, please.”
I slide her down onto my hard shaft. She cries out and her eyes roll back. I wrap my arms around her, hike up her skirt, and grab her ass firmly in both hands. She rocks back and forth on my cock.
“Oh, my god, you feel so good.” She grabs my hands and squeezes them so hard it hurts. Her eyes are closed, and her expression is saturated with pleasure.
I rock her back and forth faster now. I lift her shirt so I can caress one soft, perky breast. I flick my tongue across her other nipple. She moans loudly. She pulls her shirt over her head and tosses it aside.
“You’re so sexy.” I concentrate on relaxing my muscles. I don’t want to come too quickly.
“Oh, my god. Yes, like that. Faster.” She drops one hand down to caress her own clit. “Oh, my god. Fuck, I’m going to come. Oh, my god. Oh, my god, I’m coming.” Her low, guttural moan is positively feral. I have to fight not to come inside her.
Her pussy spills juices all over my cock. She contracts and convulses as she continues to rock back and forth sporadically. I can’t hold back.
I grunt as I thrust deep and explode inside her. I grab her hips and pin her down on my lap. My cock jerks until I’m empty and completely satiated.
As I lie back against the cool wood, she rests her head on my chest. I’m still inside her and it’s exactly where I want to be.
“That was amazing,” I murmur.
“So amazing.”
I can’t believe what just happened. I just made love to Iris. I thought for sure I would be the odd man out in our little foursome, but it turns out there might be room for me in her life after all. I don’t care if I have to share her with the other guys. As long as I can have her, that’s all I need. She’s what I need, and I never want to let her go.
17
Iris
With the four of us all under one roof, it’s not often I have any time alone. The good thing is that I don’t often want to be alone. Remus, Torak, and Nyx are absolute angels. Naughty, sexy, kinky angels, but angels nonetheless. Their constant companionship keeps me sane as preparations to deal with Lexus and the Academy continue to develop.
It’s been some time since we’ve heard from Argus, so we’ve developed a routine while we wait for word. Thyme and Country runs as if nothing is amiss. Sales have gone through the roof lately, which means a steady stream of work for all of us. I guess people are getting ready for the war by stocking up on magical herbs now.
Usually, two people work in the shop and two people make products in the workshop. However, the shop is so busy today that Torak left the workshop to help in the store. Remus must be thrilled by how many customers he has now. I wish I could go help him in the shop, but I’m still in hiding.
Everyone seems to need something from Thyme and Country. Wreaths, in particular, fly off the shelves. Witches even use levitation spells to snag them before others can get to them.
The citizens of Bonfire Falls know something’s up. Orders for the sold-out protection wreaths are piled an inch high on the workbench. Torak is supposed to help me make them today, but it looks like I’ll have to handle it on my own.
I don’t mind. Every now and again, the silence of an empty room is nice.
I smile as I bundle lavender to be dried.
Through a small window, I can see the three of them working together in Thyme and Country. They snap and bicker with each other in a playful manner. We’ve become a family now, and it’s more than I’d ever hoped for.
The sound of fluttering papers grabs my attention.
I set up a special slot in the wall so that orders can immediately be transferred from the store to the workshop. Now no one has to leave the shop to deliver orders to the workroom. As much as I would love to see one of my darling men pop into the workshop to drop off orders, the slot is way more efficient.
I flip through the order slips and notice the influx of demand for oils. The desired ingredients for at least twenty new orders are all for protection. Yep, the locals know something’s up.
The timer on the dehydrator chimes. Another batch of lavender is finished. I take the old bundle out and put a new one in.
Some witches view the use of modern inventions as cheating. Those witches like to make things more complicated. Why wait three days for herbs to dry when I can get the same result in two hours?
With a frown, I stare at the sheer number of orders piled up. I’m damn good at wreaths, oils, and herb caches, but they all take time. The last thing I want is to cost Remus a sale because I’m too slow.
On top of the orders, I still need to find time to go out and pick fresh basil. Yesterday, we completely ran out. Remus had to take the cooking basil from the kitchen to fill the orders.
I meant to pick more last night, but I got too caught up with prep for the today’s wreaths. Had I known I’d be this swamped, I would’ve gone this morning. Instead, I’d enjoyed a lovely breakfast with the men.
Basil is used in many protection spells because it’s easily obtained, but it can be substituted. I’ll have to dip into the less common herb stocks to do so. I never like to do that. I’m always worried I’ll use a rare herb as a substitute only to desperately need it for a very specific spell later on.
I slice fragrant buds from their crunchy stems. I attach them to the wreath bases I made last night. I set three aside to make special wreaths for Remus, Torak, and Nyx as a token of my affection.
I still haven’t decided what
I want to add to their wreaths. Some herbs are obvious choices like coriander for love and fidelity and bellflowers for gratitude. I’ve considered rose buds, but that seems too obvious. Although Remus, with his lover’s soul, might like them.
Three lavender wreaths are done. I’m ready to sprinkle them with essential oils to enhance their effects when the side door opens.
“Are you guys finally going to give me some help back here?” I ask with mock consternation.
When I don’t hear an answer or any other sounds of movement, I get up to investigate.
Lexus is standing in the doorway, dressed in a sleek black pantsuit and stilettos tall enough to be considered lethal weapons.
My blood runs cold.
“Hello, darling.” She puckers her ruby red lips and blows me a kiss. I hate it when she calls me darling. She knows this. “I’ve looked all over for you.”
“So I’ve heard.” I step backward until I bump against the table in the center of the room.
“Have you? And you didn’t make yourself known to me? Your mother clearly didn’t teach you manners.”
“Leave my mother out of this.” I grit my teeth. “Besides, when you married my father, you were supposed to take over the motherly role. I suppose my manners are proof of your shortcomings as a mother.”
I shouldn’t mouth off to this woman. I don’t want to fight her here. Not now. I’m not ready. I need Remus, Nyx, and Torak with me—preferably a whole legion of shifters too.
I can’t do this alone.
“You’re panicking.” A wicked smile spreads across Lexus’ too-smooth face.
I can tell she uses anti-aging spells. Those are notoriously difficult and cost a great deal of magic if the caster doesn’t want to murder someone to make them work. With Lexus, either scenario is equally likely.
“No, I’m not panicking.”
“It’s okay if you are.” Her voice turns sickly sweet. “I know this has been an overwhelming time for you. I’ve come to tell you it’s all over.”
“Define over.”
“You can come back to me now.” I can’t tell if Lexus is mocking me or if she genuinely doesn’t understand how thoroughly I despise her and everything she stands for.
“I appreciate the offer, but I have to decline. I’ve started my life over. I’m comfortable. Thank you for your concern.”
Lexus cackles like one of those fairytale witches that give us all a bad rep.
“That’s adorable. You’re in the stuffy garage of a glorified doghouse. What kind of life is this? An abysmal one. I can see that for myself.”
Anger flashes through me, but before I act on it, Lexus advances towards me.
“A war is brewing, darling girl. It’ll make the last war look like a skirmish.” She speaks as if I’m a child.
“You’re wrong.”
“Don’t play dumb. It doesn’t suit you. It’s time for you to join our side.”
“I won’t pick sides in a pointless war. I won’t have any part in this insane hatred between witches and shifters.” I lift my chin in defiance.
“At what point did I ask you to choose?” Lexus smirks. “You’ll return to the Academy to fight alongside the other witches.”
“No.”
Lexus lifts a finger to silence me. Her black nails are filed to look like claws.
“You should let me finish. Join the witches, or I’ll kill your little pets.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
Lexus is powerful. I can’t deny that. My wolves will put up one hell of a fight if it comes to it. Despite Lexus’ power, she’s still only one person.
“Believe me, darling. You have no idea how much I want to spill the blood of those brutes. How could you betray your kind like this? Can you imagine my shame when I discovered you here?”
I choke back a laugh. Of course Lexus would feel shame over this.
“Which one are you fucking?” She lifts her brow with a crude smile. This catches me off guard. “Come on, I’m not stupid. Those animals are only good for fighting and fucking. You haven’t been fighting them.”
“They aren’t animals. They’re people.”
“Please. Let me let you in on a little secret. My girls have perfected their training. Their power is stronger than ever, and so is mine. We’re strong enough to wipe out all of the shifter clans now, and we’ll kill anyone—human or witch—who stands in our way.”
“You don’t have enough pupils to be that strong.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. All my students have learned how to force a shifter to change. We can make each and every one of them into puppets.”
The color drains from my face.
“You’re insane.” Fear reduces my voice to little more than a squeak. I know Lexus well enough to know that she doesn’t bluff. My false bravado slowly slips away from me, and my hands tremble.
“I’m insane to want my coven to achieve greatness?” Lexus asks. “The superiority of witches has been set aside for too long. We were given our gifts for a reason. Why should we confine our true power? Why should we have to live equally among beasts?”
“True power allows peace to flourish.”
I glance at the clock on the wall. Remus usually closes the store for lunch in about twenty minutes. However, since it’s been so busy, I’m not certain he’ll close at all.
“That’s what the weak say when they realize how powerless they are.” Lexus rolls her eyes. “I won’t pretend we’ve always gotten along. Honestly, I would’ve preferred it if your father didn’t have a child when I married him. But I’m no fool. You’re powerful. I’d even call you talented. You lack refinement, but that’s easily remedied. Don’t you understand what I’m offering? A chance at greatness.”
“I don’t understand anything about you.”
“I offer you the world.” Lexus’ eyes widen. “You’d have power. All the power you could ever want. I’ll teach you secrets only I know. Secrets I refuse to share with other students. I already have Oscar ready for you. I’ve been giving him extra training. He’s a powerful warlock who worships the ground you walk on. Your children will have more natural ability than even I was blessed with. How can you prefer mangy mutts to everything I’m offering?”
“I’d try to explain it to you, but you wouldn't understand.”
“We’re in agreement there.” Lexus nods. “Deep down, you know I’m right. There has to be some small part of you that wants what I offer. Listen to that part of you.”
“Even if that part of me did exist, I’d rather die than listen to it.”
Lexus’ ample chest sags with disappointment.
“No one can say I didn’t try.” She says this to no one in particular before she looks at me once more. “My patience has run out. It’s time to leave.”
Lexus flicks her bony wrist. Her thin diamond bracelet sparkles in the light as she casts a spell. I’m too slow to block it.
White ropes of pure energy wind around me. They pin my arms to my sides and lock my legs together. A scream rises in my throat, but dark energy forces it down.
I can’t alert anyone that I’m in trouble.
“If this is all it took to make you cooperate, I would’ve done this years ago.” Lexus grins.
With another flick of her wrist, I levitate off the floor. The tips of my toes bump against the ground as she forces me forward.
My fingers are still free. I attempt to weave several spells to loosen my magical restraints, but nothing works. Lexus’ magic is too powerful.
She leads me out the side door and away from the back of the house. She must’ve cloaked us from sight somehow. We’re definitely visible from the road, but no one sees us.
To quell my panic, I convince myself that this is the best outcome. Lexus has admitted I’m powerful. She won’t kill me. Not right away, at least.
Remus, Nyx, and Torak are safe. They’re my best hope for rescue, but I don’t want them to have to fight Lexus without me. For now, they’re alive
and out of Lexus’ sight.
I know she plans on taking me back to the Academy, so I’m not surprised when she leaves in that direction.
Before long, the black spires of that horrible building poke through the trees. She takes me in through the dungeon entrance. I used to dare my classmates to come down here in the middle of the night. I’d always believed that the use of the dungeons had stopped centuries ago, but the bodies in some of the cells tell a different story. There are other people down here.
I’m so terrified she’ll lock me away that I sigh in relief when she takes me up the stairs to the main floor. She uses the servants' staircase to bring me to the dormitory. The hallway is empty as she levitates me into my old room.
With a thrust of energy, she launches me against the wall. I land hard on the stone floor. My muscles protest as I struggle to right myself. Stars swim through my field of vision, but I still sprint for the window.
Lexus quickly blocks it with a lattice of thorny vines. I realize I have no idea of the full extent of her power. We’re far above the ground, yet somehow, she’s commanded plants to grow right through stone.
“I’d intended to remove the restraints, but I see now it’s pointless,” she says.
I stare at her with wide eyes.
“Dear me, you’ve got quite the bump on your head. Lie down and sleep it off. You have plenty of time for a nap.”
With a snake-like smile, she shuts the door. The lock clicks into place. The hum of magic lingers in the air. She’s added a secondary lock, a magical lock, to my door.
It’s only when the click of her heels fades away that I move. I go to my bed. Sitting down is a struggle, but I manage it.
Now that Lexus has moved away, her magical restraints start to weaken. They’ll disperse eventually, but magic this strong takes time to wear off. Not that it matters. I’m trapped here with or without the restraints.
My best option for escape is get through the vines that cover the window. They will shred my hands to pieces, but it’s the only way out.
I consider it for a second, then give up. Even if I managed to get through the tangle, I’d still have to figure out how to climb down the slick stone walls. I’d never make it. I’d fall and break my neck. No one would ever know what Lexus did because she’d say I jumped to my death. She’s such a good liar, even my father would believe her.
