Dreams of Ivory

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  That little bit of excitement that had grown within her when he’d touched her side started to shrivel up. There was no way he’d want to be with her when she was the tooth fairy.

  Fate really was a bitch sometimes.

  “I’ll have someone drop by all you’ll need tonight, dear. You’ll be fine.”

  Honor snorted. “You say that as if I know what I’m doing.”

  “Of course you do. It’s all in the blood. You’ve been ignoring it for so long that you’re just afraid. And, no, that wasn’t a guilt trip, so stop frowning. Take Jackson with you tonight and show him what it is you do. It’ll bring you closer.”

  The only reason Honor didn’t roll her eyes at that comment was that it would probably hurt her head, but it was a close call.

  “Fine. Thanks, Aunt Clementine.”

  “No problem, hon. And Honor?” Her aunt took a deep breath. “I’m so happy you’re okay. Don’t scare me like that again, okay?”

  Honor swallowed hard. “I won’t.” She winced. “Can you call Tucker?”

  Her aunt snorted. “Already did. He’d be on his way over now if it wasn’t for me yelling at that boy. You need to work on your magic and on that man of yours. You don’t need your brother lurking about and brooding.”

  Honor smiled at the thought. “He does do that, doesn’t he?”

  Her aunt chuckled. “Yes he does. Now get some rest and let that handsome Cooper take care of you. You have an easy night tonight, dear.”

  She hung up and looked up at Jackson.

  “I caught most of that since your aunt isn’t a quiet speaker. I guess I’m stuck with this whole sandman gig, huh?”

  Her heart went out to him. “For a bit at least. I’ll help you though. Sandmen work with kids and so do I. We can work together. Plus if you’re here in Holiday, your territory is smaller than most. That’s just how things in Holiday are. I’m sure Justin has a smaller territory with his job with Santa.”

  He nodded but didn’t look convinced. “We also have a field trip tonight I hear.”

  “Tonight’s my first night working as a tooth fairy. I’m sorry I forgot.”

  “You were a little busy trying not to die, Honor. We’re fine. I don’t know that I like that you’ll be out and about so soon after the accident, but I’ll be by your side. You’re too stubborn to listen to good sense.”

  She scowled. “Jerk.”

  His mouth lifted in a semblance of a smile. “Get some rest, and I’ll do the same. I’ll watch you prance around in a tutu tonight.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “No tutu for me. No tiara either.”

  “Well damn. There goes my image of you in that get-up.”

  “You’re a disturbed man, Jackson Cooper.”

  “True. See you in an hour.”

  They slept on and off throughout the day, and after eating some soup Jackson had heated up, she felt much better. Her head still hurt a bit, but not as bad as it had before. The doctors had said she’d be fine within a day or two as long as she didn’t bang her head against a wall or something equally as stupid. Her side hurt if she bent the wrong way, but other than that, she was healthy. Yes, she missed her car, but she hadn’t lost her life.

  Her aunt had sent over her things for the night so she was ready to go. Unlike the outfit Jackson had joked about, there wasn’t a uniform. She’d be wearing black jeans and a black shirt though because she liked to blend in. She picked up the small wooden box in her bag and smiled. Once she held this, those without magic wouldn’t be able to see her at all. Her aunt had also packed one for Jackson, so they would be safe from prying eyes. They could keep the boxes in their bags or in their hands. As long as it was on their persons and in the middle of its magical duty, they were okay.

  “What’s that?” Jackson asked as he strolled in wearing dark clothes that clung to his toned body.

  She swallowed hard and pulled her gaze to his face. It wouldn’t do to pant after the man when she needed to work.

  “You’ll see, but you’ll have to carry one. The box will keep you hidden from prying eyes and little kids who wake up when you get into their rooms.”

  Jackson frowned as he took the box. “It would be easier for me to just pull the teeth in my office and collect them there.”

  Honor rolled her eyes. “Sure, then I could just walk in and take the teeth there. You could send me a bill for the coins as well.”

  “I was just saying.”

  “I know, but what the tooth fairies do is important. When I take a tooth, I take a little bit of that child’s hopes and dreams with me. Well, not per se, it’s more like I borrow them. When they get older, they lose that part of themselves, and that’s why we have it on reserve. We’re there to make sure that, as kids, they keep that innocence and happiness. When a kid loses a tooth and believes in the tooth fairy, they have the joy that comes with knowing they’ll find a coin or dollar bill, thanks to inflation, under their pillow.”

  “Yeah, but their parents could do that.”

  “Sure, and because of our magic, the parents believe they are doing it, thereby instilling even more hope into the family. If the parents were doing it, though, that reserve of hope and dreams that we have wouldn’t exist.”

  “You mean an actual reserve, don’t you?”

  “Yep. Right now it fills a few hundred caves and warehouses, I think. My aunt really knows what she’s doing with all of that. We fairies collect the teeth then put them in the box. The box, once we’re free of prying eyes, will magically go to the right warehouse or cave and be stored forever. When we’re on our mission, we’ll be hidden. The box knows these things, I promise. Its presence infuses magic and hope into the world, helping more children smile and keep their innocence.”

  Jackson looked down at that small box in his hands, and Honor was afraid she’d said too much. This was a man who hated magic, and here she was going on and on about how much magic there really was in the world.

  “The world’s a lot bigger than I thought, isn’t it?” he said, his words low, his tone a bit sad.

  She took a chance and walked up to him, placing her hand on his forearm. “Yes, but that doesn’t make you small or different. Just more aware.”

  He nodded, and she leaned into him, resting her head on his upper arm.

  “I’ll be okay, Honor. I’m just going to have to get over the fact that my life the way I wanted it—or what I thought I wanted—is over now. Things change.”

  “Does that make you angry?”

  “I don’t know what it makes me, other than a little lost. I don’t like being lost.”

  Her heart ached for him. “You’re the oldest brother. You’re not supposed to like being lost. I’m here though, Jackson. I’ll help.”

  He turned and moved his arm so he could wrap it around her. “Oddly enough, it helps knowing that. Okay, now, what do we do?”

  She let herself warm in his hold a bit before looking up at him. “Well, you won’t be able to feel it, but right now, since the sun is down, I can feel two little teeth that need me. I know it’s weird, but it’s a connection.”

  Jackson nodded. “Tyler and Justin tried to explain their connection to their powers to me before. I never really understood how it could work, but I’ve seen them do it.”

  “I’m glad you have them then so this will seem a bit easier. When you’re trained as a sandman, you’ll be able to feel the kids who need a little more help sleeping or those who need to have good dreams.”

  Jackson let out a breath. “One thing at a time, okay?”

  “Sorry. So, first, the boxes will get us to the place we need to go, so no extra travel. It will transport us to the little kid’s room, and then I’ll take the tooth and place it in the box. Then the box will give me the money or gift depending on the family, and I’ll put it under their pillow. After that, I’ll close the box and get out a new box. One box per tooth. The one you’re holding is an extra one for the night. That way you’re connected to me at all times. When everyt
hing is done, the boxes will send us home, then be off on their way to their final destination. In reality, the boxes are the tooth fairies, and we’re just the carriers, but people help with the whole mystique, you know?”

  Jackson nodded, his eyes wide. “This is crazy.”

  “Yep.” She picked up the little velvet bag that held her other box for the night and gripped Jackson’s hand. “Ready?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  She closed her eyes and concentrated on the connection to the lost tooth. When she opened them, they were standing in a young child’s room. A nightlight lit up a corner of the room, but other than that, the house was dark.

  “Trippy,” Jackson whispered.

  Honor smiled but shook her head and placed her finger over her mouth. No one could see them, but the last thing she needed was people to hear them and think their house was haunted. Jackson’s brother Matt might have been a ghost once, but that didn’t mean she needed to help foster the mystical goings-on of the town.

  She did as she’d told Jackson and switched out a tooth for a quarter then they were on their way to the next house. Jackson was silent the entire time but never let go of her hand.

  When they were in the second room, Jackson cocked his head to the side.

  “What is it?” Honor whispered.

  “I don’t know,” he said. “I’m getting a vibe or something from the next room. I’ve never felt it before but I just know that I need to go next door.”

  Honor furrowed her brow but nodded. “Okay, let me take this tooth, and we’ll go to the next room.”

  She quickly took the bicuspid and made her way to Jackson’s side. Honor might not know exactly what was going on, but she knew it was important to Jackson that he see this through. She also had a feeling it was his sandman powers coming into focus.

  They walked into the next room and found another child, this one older, lying down in bed, his eyes wide with stress.

  “Come on, go to sleep,” the boy, who had to be in his early teens, whispered. “I need to go to sleep. I have that test in the morning. Counting sheep totally isn’t helping.”

  Jackson looked at Honor and swallowed hard.

  She smiled at him and cupped his cheek. “Do it,” she mouthed.

  He nodded then opened his palm as if not knowing what he was doing. Suddenly a small pouch appeared and he gasped. Honor looked over at the boy, but he hadn’t seemed to hear.

  Thank God.

  Jackson opened the pouch and took out a pinch of dust. He looked at Honor, then straightened his shoulders as he walked toward the bed. She watched as he took a deep breath then sprinkled dust on the boy’s eyes.

  The boy yawned widely then drifted off to sleep, that little line between his eyes fading as he relaxed.

  Jackson looked toward Honor and smiled.

  Yes, this was what Jackson was meant to do. She’d never been so proud of him. All children needed help sleeping in times of stress and nightmares. Now Jackson would be able to help in more ways than he’d ever thought.

  Her head and side had started to ache by the time they got home. No, to Jackson’s house. She had to remember that, though it wasn’t as if she had a real home at the moment anyway.

  It was only around eleven, so not really too late, but she was exhausted emotionally and physically. She’d done her first night as a tooth fairy and hadn’t had any problems. She’s also shown Jackson a whole new world—one she knew he hadn’t wanted in the first place.

  “You ready for bed?” he asked as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

  Her eyes widened, and she looked up at him.

  “I meant to our separate beds. You’re still hurt, and we need to talk about what we want to do. We’re not going to do that tonight though.”

  She nodded, her cheeks flaming. “I knew that.”

  Jackson moved to cup her face. “I want you, Honor. I want you in my bed and beneath me. Never doubt that, but you’re tired. I’m tired. And we need to figure it all out—something we’re not going to do tonight.”

  He lowered her face and kissed her when he finished speaking, and she fell into him. God, she loved his taste.

  He pulled back and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “Good night, Honor.”

  “Good night,” she whispered, her heart racing.

  Oh yes, they needed to talk all right. She wasn’t sure if she was ready for what was to come, but she had a feeling Jackson would be there. Now she just had to figure out if that’s what she wanted.

  Chapter 7

  “Bend over for me,” Jackson whispered against her skin, his hands on her hips as his cock lay against the small of her back.

  Honor looked over her shoulder and smiled. “And if I don’t want to?”

  He grinned then tightened his grip with one hand and slapped her ass with the other. She let out a gasp while her eyes darkened.

  “Bend over, Honor,” he whispered.

  She bent over the couch, her legs shaking. He ran his hands down her back, her hips, cupping her ass, and then the most intimate part of her.

  “You like this, don’t you?” he asked as he slowly rubbed small circles around her clit.

  She sighed and wiggled, moving her legs farther apart. “You know it, Jackson. I love everything you do to me. God, it’s been so long.”

  He pulled her closer so his cock moved against her folds, her wetness making it easy to slide smoothly. Still bent over, she looked over her shoulder. “Aren’t you going to fuck me, Jacks?”

  “I don’t know,” he said honestly.

  She froze then looked up at him, hurt in her eyes. “Why not?”

  “Didn’t I just leave you in your room?” he asked. Everything felt a bit heavy, a bit foggy. “If this is a dream, I don’t want to fuck you. I want the first time my cock is in you, filling you up until you scream my name, to be when we’re both awake. When you’re actually you, not just a figment of my imagination.”

  She pulled back from his hold, her eyes wide. “This is my dream, Jackson. I mean…oh God.”

  He blinked, and the setting changed from his living room to his bedroom. They were both naked, but he felt as confused as he had been before.

  “What the hell?”

  “I don’t know whose dream this is, but we’re both in it, Jacks. You either dream-walked to mine or pulled me into yours.”

  She reached out to him, and he took a step back. Again, the hurt across her features tore at him.

  “I can’t touch you, or I’ll make love to you right here, right now, and I don’t think that’s the best thing to do at the moment considering I’m confused as hell as to what’s going on.”

  She nodded, some of that hurt disappearing. “I don’t know why this happened other than you don’t have control of your powers.”

  He ran a hand through his hair and grunted. “I don’t want powers, Honor.”

  He heard her sigh and forced his gaze to her, trying not to look below her chin at those breasts that could—and had—easily overfilled his hand.

  “Jackson, we need to talk once we wake up.”

  That sounded ominous. “I thought we’d already agreed to that.”

  “Yes, to talk about our relationship and what that means, but first we need to talk about what you are.”

  He hated the way she phrased that. He didn’t want to be anything but human. God, he sounded like a petulant child.

  “I can’t change this, can I?”

  She gave him a sad smile and shook her head. “No, Jacks, you can’t. I’m sorry this was put on you against your will, and I’d give anything to give you a choice, but I can’t. My hands are literally tied here. All I can do is try to explain to you that it’s not that bad. I mean, really, Jacks, your entire family is touched by magic and the paranormal, and they’re fine.”

  Images of the fights, heartache, and near misses that had occurred when his brothers had found their powers filled his mind.

  “I know you’re thinking abou
t what happened to each of them, but stop it. That wasn’t because of their magic. That was because people are cruel and idiotic and tried to gain more power or hurt the ones that they thought had hurt them. It happens with humans daily, Jacks. It’s not just a magic thing.”

  He looked down at her and frowned. He’d never thought about it that way. He’d always associated the violence that had occurred around them with the new powers that had come to his brothers.

  “I…I don’t know, Honor.”

  He didn’t know much of anything anymore, and that, he thought, was the worst of it for him. He didn’t like not being in control. He didn’t like his choices being taken away from him.

  “We’ll get you through this, Jacks, but you have to stop fighting it. You have to stop blaming everything that happens on something you can’t change. It’ll only hurt you in the long run.”

  He took a step toward her and froze, remembering they were not only in a dream, but naked as well.

  “I suppose we should wake up to figure this out, huh?”

  Her body blushed from the tip of her ears to her breasts to those gorgeous thighs of hers. This time he didn’t bother hiding his hungry look. Hell, she was beautiful, and his cock ached.

  “Okay, buddy, that’s enough of that. I’ll see you in a bit.”

  He looked up at her and smiled then froze as she faded away, presumably to wake up. Letting out a sigh, he pinched his arm and found himself tangled in his sheets and covered with sweat.

  Of course, his dick was as hard as a rock, and Honor was nowhere to be found.

  Hell.

  Just as he wrapped his hand around the base of his cock, he heard a knock on his door and groaned. He quickly checked the time and cursed. Well, it was time to get up anyway, but hell, his dick would have to wait.

  “Hold up, Honor, let me put on my pants.”

  He heard her laugh through the door. “Considering I just saw you naked, I’m not sure why that matters.”

  He pulled up his running shorts and groaned as his still-too-hard dick tented out the front.