soulofawitch_463-9e1.htm

by Soul Of A Witch (lit)

  "Of course it does. It affects us all on one level or another." He hated seeing her cry, knowing there was nothing he could do to ease the emotions she was feeling.

  He wanted to gather her close, to tell her it was all right, to wipe the memories from her mind. That he couldn’t do it frustrated him.

  "Your being sick was a reaction to what you’d seen, wasn’t it?"

  Lifting her hand, she wiped the tears away. "Yes. I couldn’t help it. The last thing I wanted to do was eat there, but I knew I had to. You came to my rescue, you know." She smiled a watery little smile.

  That smile went straight to his heart. Picking up her hand where it lay across her stomach, he linked their fingers together and rubbed his thumb on the back of her hand. "You’re one of the bravest women I’ve ever met, Beulah."

  "Heaving up my belly hasn’t put you off?" She said it half jokingly, but he saw the shadow in her eyes.

  "Never." Leaning forward, he brushed his lips across her brow, then leaned his forehead against hers. "You just proved that you’re not above being sick like the rest of us."

  "I’m not above anyone, Sinya. Not ever."

  "I know." He breathed deeply of her night blossom scent, now mixed with the mint on her breath.

  "Everyone sees me as someone magical, someone who knows everything."

  "You are magical to me."

  "I’m not perfect, Sinya. Please don’t make the mistake of thinking that I am."

  Sitting back, he said softly, "I don’t think any less of you for what just happened, Beulah. Never think that."

  Sighing, she closed her eyes.

  Sensing her weariness, Sinya stood up and gently laid her hand back down on her stomach. "Go to sleep, sweetheart. I’ll check on you later."

  Leaving the cabin, he turned off the light.

  The rest of the day he spent tracking their progress to Hortra’s place, ensuring his crew had done their duties, though he knew they would have, and checking on Beulah, who slept restlessly.

  ~ * ~

  Wes floated in the dark cloud. His fear had evaporated a little, as Hortra had gone to bed. At least, he thought he had.

  Cautiously he sent his senses seeking outside the dark cloud, only to feel the evil closing in on him. With a cry of fear, he slid back inside the dark cloud.

  ::You mustn’t go out unprotected!::

  ::Aria?:: He swallowed, glad for even her sudden voice.

  ::Don’t you know how to protect yourself? Are you stupid?::

  ::Of course I’m not stupid!:: Anger slid through him.

  ::But you don’t know how to protect yourself, do you?::

  He had to admit it. ::I’m not sure what you mean by that.::

  ::Don’t you know how to place a barrier around yourself, to keep away the bad things?::

  ::No. I wish I did. I mightn’t be here, then.::

  ::You wouldn’t be here. The witch tried to protect you by a white light, but you pushed her away. Your rejection broke the barrier, made you an easy target for Hortra.::

  ::I didn’t know. He tricked me.::

  Aria made a sound of childish disgust.

  ::Can you teach me to protect myself?::

  ::It’s too late for that now.

  ::But when Sinya rescues me--::

  ::Sinya will die if he comes here. No one takes things from Hortra, and none comes here unless he wants them to.::

  ::Sinya will be looking for me.::

  Aria remained silent.

  ::Beulah the witch-woman will help him. She promised me she’d not leave me here.:: Feeling the desperation rise, Wes tried to concentrate on Aria.

  ::Beulah will die, too. No one is powerful enough to save you, Wes.::

  ::I can’t stay here, Aria!::

  ::The only thing you can do is try and get away. Protect yourself.::

  ::I don’t know how!::

  There was silence for a few seconds, then Aria spoke again. ::I’ll try to help you learn, but only until I feel Hortra come. Then I will hide again.::

  ~ * ~

  "I have paid my debt." The Overlord looked at the figure in the corner of the room.

  "I thank you, Father."

  "I do nothing for anyone, unless it suits me, but you..." He shook his head. "You are my weakness."

  An affectionate laugh greeted this, and the woman crossed the room to put her arms around his neck, and rest her scarred cheek against his white cheek. "I love you, Father."

  "And you’re the only one to ever say." He patted her back, pink eyes narrowing in pleasure. "Once Beulah and Sinya reach Hortra’s boundaries, they are on their own. But I will get them there safely."

  "Thank you." She kissed his cheek. "I must go now."

  "You be careful what you do, daughter, and where you go." His pupils dilated. "Be very careful."

  "I will." She laughed, the sound merry from under the veil she wore across her nose and lower half of her face. "You’re not going to ask about your son-by-marriage?"

  The Overlord glared at her, which only made her laugh more. "The bounty hunter is of no concern to me."

  "He says the same of you, too. How odd." Laughing merrily, she left the chamber.

  The Overlord shook his head. Life had some funny twists in it sometimes. It was better not to be able to look too far into the future.

  ~ * ~

  It was well past midnight when Sinya switched off the viscomm on his desk and decided to head for bed. Everyone else had retired hours earlier. Deciding to get a cup of hot una before he did so, he left his cabin and went down to the second floor. Stepping off the staircase, he padded in bare feet down the lit corridor towards the dining area. About to pass the living area, he halted at a sound.

  Someone was in there, but he knew instinctively that it wasn’t any of his crew. The scent of night blossoms came to him, and pleasured anticipation tugged at his heart.

  Beulah.

  Turning in, he saw that the light of the actual area was off, but the light from the corridor cast it in a soft glow. Beulah was lying on the sofa, her head resting on a cushion. She’d obviously been reading a book, for one lay open face-down on her stomach. She was also dressed in a nightgown, a thin robe thrown carelessly over top of it.

  Sinya shook his head. Beulah had no qualms about walking around half dressed on his ship. Then again, to give her her due, she obviously didn’t expect anyone to be up at this time, either.

  Crossing the open room, he stopped beside the sofa and slid his gaze over her, taking in the long, heavy braid that hung over her shoulder, and down to her waist. The nightgown outlined her slender waist and rounded hips, and her breasts pushed enticingly against the thin material. The longing to touch her surged upward from where he kept it hidden. Longing and the protective instinct that was never far away. As it wouldn’t be, seeing as how she was his soul mate.

  The thought made him draw his reaching hand back, and his gaze turned thoughtful. Looking at her face, he retraced every familiar, elegant line. The bowed lips that could tighten in worry, or curve with delight. Thick black lashes hid the black eyes that sparkled with intelligence, life and mystery. Black brows arched up above her eyes, and her high cheekbones and small, determined chin made up the oval of her face.

  Even if he closed his eyes, he would know every detail of her lovely face.

  Emotions bombarded him--caring, worry, uncertainty, warmth, longing and fear.

  Sinking onto his knees beside the sofa, Sinya continued to gaze down at her while trying to sort through his feelings. In the quiet of the night, with the very woman who was never far from his thoughts, he now had the luxury of examining the phenomena that had occurred between them. Sitting back on his heels, he placed his palms on his thighs and regarded her closely.

  Beulah had said they were soul mates, and oddly enough, he could accept that. For the life of him, he couldn’t imagine not being with her, not having her around somewhere. But did that mean that he loved her?

  He searched deep inside him
self, trying to find the answer, almost afraid to find it, yet unwilling not to do so. He’d never loved anyone apart from his little brother. Could he love this woman--this witch--in the same way?

  A rueful grin tugged at his lips. He certainly didn’t love her in quite the same way. There were a few differences. For starters, he wanted to kiss her and touch her in a way he certainly wasn’t interested in doing with his sibling. He wanted her to look at him with a flush in her cheeks, and heat in her eyes. He loved her as one would a soul mate.

  Okay, I love her. The thought made him grin to himself. I love her. That’s not so hard to admit. His heart flooded with warmth.

  But to admit it to himself wasn’t enough. He wanted to tell her, see the expression in her eyes. Hear her tell him that she loved him back.

  Meaning to touch her shoulder, he reached out, but instead his hand moved with a life of its own. Picking up the heavy braid, he plucked the tie free and unravelled the soft strands, marvelling at the pure white tresses. The strands slid like silk through his fingers.

  Pushing her hair back, he revealed more of her body to his gaze. It also brought the book she’d been reading to his attention. Lifting it off her carefully, he noted the title, ‘History of 5003’, and shook his head. Now what could have possibly interested her in a time over 2000 years ago? He had much better things to interest her.

  Laying the book to the side, he returned his attention to Beulah.

  Now that her hair was pushed aside, he could see her body again. The leg closest to the sofa back was bent slightly, and her nightgown dipped enticingly between her thighs, before getting caught where her thighs met.

  The sight was enough to bring heat to his loins. God above, if the sight of her clothed can make me hot, what’ll happen when I get her naked?

  Her soft sigh made her breasts swell out, drawing his gaze like a magnet.

  Pushing upright on his knees, he moved right up to the sofa and lightly laid his hand on her hip. It was warm beneath his palm. Mesmerized by the sight of his hand against the pale material, Sinya watched as he traced his hand caressingly over her hip and into the indent of her waist. The material caught in his hand, and he released it before continuing further up. He wanted to see her naked, yes, but he loved the feel of her beneath the clothes, too. A tantalizing temptation waiting to be disrobed for his hunger.

  Beneath the swell of her breast he lingered, drawing out the anticipation of cupping the soft flesh. Grazing the bottom of the swell with his thumb, he felt his loins tighten, the stirring of his staff. Just the thought of what he intended to do was enough to send a pump of blood to his maleness. Finally he trailed his fingertips up over her breast, then traced her nipple with the faintest of touches.

  The small nipple pebbled immediately in response, peaking up through the material. Placing just his fingertip on the little bud, he massaged it lightly.

  God, I love playing with Beulah. The grin on his face was dark and totally hedonistic. He knew it and didn’t care. He revelled in touching her like this, knowing he was going to awaken her from her innocence. Knowing he was the first to touch virgin territory--both outside and inside.

  The thought made his staff swell carnally, and he felt it thicken and stretch, pressing against the front of his pants demandingly. Never could he remember getting aroused this fast, with just a few little teasing touches to a female body.

  Then again, the female bodies he’d touched in the past had never been Beulah’s. No other female body would ever arouse him again, either, he knew.

  Beulah shifted, arching up in her sleep, a soft murmur escaping her lips. Her far leg shifted restlessly, bending even more, and her nightgown slid down one thigh to bunch up lightly just below the apex of her thighs.

  The innocent yet seductive move that told of sensual awareness growing, made Sinya’s heart pick up beat. Shifting his hand, he laid his palm on her ankle and exerted the slightest of pressures. Her ankle was slender, her feet small and neat. Fingertips gliding up the inside of her trim calf, Sinya enjoyed the view of his darker skin against her pale flesh. Higher he trailed, pausing at her knee to trace a light circle around her kneecap.

  Beulah shifted again. "Mmmm."

  She’d be doing more than humming her pleasure soon, Sinya thought with a wicked grin. He intended to make her scream.

  Stopping just below the nightgown that hid hot secrets, Sinya repeated his tracing pattern on her other leg, starting at the ankle and trailing his fingers upward. This time he pushed the nightgown up her leg as he went, until he stopped at the apex of her thighs. Now it was bunched up on both sides.

  The woman had great legs. Shapely, and just the right length as far as Sinya was concerned. He couldn’t wait to see the rest of her delectable body.

  Dipping his hand in-between her thighs, he laid his palm flat against her warm skin, just below the joining of her legs. He could feel the tantalizing brush of hidden curls against his fingertips, and it made his staff throb in response.

  Leaving his hand in place, he leaned up over Beulah, gazing into her face to see the faint flush in her cheeks. She still slept, but it was lightly now. Awareness was growing inside her that she wasn’t alone.

  Dipping his head, Sinya traced his lips down her throat, and almost automatically she turned her head away, allowing him access. He licked the pulse that beat in her throat, then drew the skin carefully between his teeth and sucked gently.

  "Mmm..." Beulah stirred sleepily.

  Leaving her throat, Sinya moved down without touching her, not wanting her to awaken just yet. Fanning her skin lightly with his breath, he expertly kept her body aware of him. Skimming over her smooth shoulders, he stopped at the low neckline of her nightgown. With the fingers of his other hand, he untied the ribbon and spread the neckline wide, exposing her breasts to his hot gaze.

  God, she’s beautiful! Round breasts, firm and high, their small, pink nipples now peaked with desire, met his gaze. Ardour burned through him, and the lust of the moment overtook him. Dipping his head down, he captured one nipple in his mouth and drew long and deep on it. At the same time, he slid his hand the last few inches up her thigh and pressed his finger deftly in-between the sheltering folds of her womanhood. The hot moisture already seeping from the entrance to her body sent fire sizzling through his veins.

  Twelve

  Almost instantaneously, Beulah gave a low, husky cry and arched up. One hand grabbed his shoulder, twisting in his shirt.

  Sinya sucked harder on her nipple, merciless in his pursuit of inflaming her senses. Sliding his finger back and forth along the seam of her body, he coated her tender folds with her own moisture. Massaging it around her clitoris, he felt her hips push up into his hand, her legs shifting restlessly, almost mindlessly.

  Leaving her breast, but continuing to work her womanhood with skilled fingers, Sinya lifted his face to hover just above hers. Looking down, he saw that she was completely awake--and completely his.

  Black eyes glittered with sexual arousal, and her soft lips were parted as she sucked in a deep breath. He took the advantage, clamping his mouth to hers and taking her breath inside himself. At the same time, he swept his tongue into her mouth, marauding the sweet depths, sucking her flavour in like a drowning man would oxygen.

  Giving no quarter, Sinya had her writhing beneath his touch. She kissed him back with almost desperate ferociousness, one hand tugging his shirt free of his waistband so that she could run her hands up around his back .

  The feel of her cool skin on his heated back, those slender fingers massaging and feeling his bunching muscles, fanned the flames of desire that coursed through Sinya. His staff ached, throbbed, pushed demandingly against his pants, while his scrotum pulled tight, and he felt near onto bursting with the need to bury himself deep inside Beulah.

  He hadn’t meant to allow his own passions to gain control so quick, but his body had a mind of its own. Combined with Beulah’s hot response, the readiness of her own body, and the low, carnal cr
ies she was panting into his mouth, lust burned through him like a scorching flame.

  Without taking his mouth from hers, Sinya rose above her, and pushed his pants down past his hips. His rod sprang forth, so hard and swollen he could actually feel the moisture leaking from the tip of it. Lowering himself between Beulah’s thighs, he found the entrance to her body unerringly, and nestled the head of his penis against the slick opening.

  He wanted to watch her. He wanted to watch her face when he entered her, when he controlled her body, while he worked himself in and out of her, and watched her own passion build to a crescendo. He wanted to know, not just by feel, but by looking, the exact moment when she was pushed to her limit.

  Lifting his head, he gazed down into her eyes.

  The expression in her black eyes was pure hot arousal. Her cheeks were flushed pink, her lips swollen and red from his kisses. She looked thoroughly ravaged, and thoroughly loved, and he knew he’d remember this moment forever.

  "Please," she whispered, voice trembling. "Please, Sinya..."

  His own need shuddered through his body, but he had to tell her. "I love you."

  "I know," she whispered, and she drew his head down to kiss him passionately.

  Unable to hold back anymore, Sinya thrust forward, tearing through the maiden barrier that proclaimed Beulah’s innocence. At the same instance, he saw a flare of light from the corner of his eye. It manifested in full force around them, and he realized that it came from within them.

  The light was bright, a tinge of red at the edges, royal purple in the centre, and he actually felt the heat and sexual arousal that consumed them both right before that light burned through him, and made his own fire blaze fiercer than it ever had before.

  It scorched in a hot blaze through his veins and nerves, firing him into thrusting hard and deep, seeking to touch the very soul of Beulah. She wrapped her legs around his waist, arching up, gasping his name.