by Bekki Lynn
“Nitika, angel of precious stone. She was Elan’s great aunt.”
Cassandra looked closer at the woman, wondering why her grandparents would have photos of her, but also seeing a slight resemblance to her great-nephew. She flipped through a couple of pages and found she was in quite a few with her grandmother, her parents, and other people. Her grandfather stopped her and pointed out another photo of him with another man.
“This is Pritim, Elan’s grandfather.” He moved to the next photo. “This one here with the young boys is your father, Nartan, and Mohan. Mohan is Elan’s father. He died about five years before Nitika. Nartan, his uncle, still lives on the reservation.”
Cassandra’s head spun with the realization her family had been so close to his. She had no recollection of spending time with any of them. However, she couldn’t help but wonder why Elan didn’t remain on the reservation. Wasn’t family the glue for his people? She didn’t dare ask and risk it being mistaken for more than it was—mere curiosity.
All the same, an impending sense of something she couldn’t quite name filled her. It sat in the center of her stomach like large peach pit sprouting.
Her grandfather turned the page back to the necklace. “One day a month, she and my Maria would go into town for lunch, shopping, who knows. They’d deck themselves out, and be gone for hours then come home giggling. I never asked. It made her happy.”
He studied the photo, but she sensed his mind had gone beyond it, and then he reached over and covered her hand, giving it a loving squeeze. “Nitika was smitten with you. She called you her Mesa. Your joyful smile could heal the soul like the Peridot Mesa, she used to say.”
Cassandra fingered her bracelet. “Is she the reason I have this attachment to the gem?”
“Could be.”
“Odd. I don’t remember her.”
He patted her leg and got up. “Wait here.”
She turned through the pages wondering if there was any of Elan, but then realized she wouldn’t know him if she came across him. It did have her wondering if they’d been sandbox babies? No, it would be too weird. She didn’t want to know. Closing the album, she set it on the end table and went to the kitchen to start dinner.
“I found it,” her grandfather said, coming into the kitchen.
“Found what?” she asked as she shut the oven door on the fish and turned around.
“The necklace.”
She froze with the wine glasses in her hand. “You have the necklace?”
“She left it for you to receive on your wedding day. To ward off pain, she said.” He opened an old, red velvet box and grinned as he looked down at the contents. “It needs cleaned.”
Cassandra reached for it and turned it toward herself. Her breath hitched at the site. While it wasn’t set in gold as Elan’s set was, the design was identical to his, and to the drawing she’d made. She frowned as tears filled her eyes. “How is this possible?”
“I’d say it was destiny to happen.”
“No, grandpa. We had to have seen it.”
“No, she wore it only when she went out with your grandmother.”
She sat the box down, retrieved the bag of steamer vegetables from the freezer, and put it in the microwave, pressing the number six button. Then she returned to look at the necklace again. It was beautiful. “Why would she want me to have it and not her family?”
“You are tied by a connection beyond this earth.”
There it came, the setup. She stared at him. “Would my father have approved of this thing you have going with Elan’s grandfather? Arranging me with Elan, I mean.”
“He was a blood-brother and promises were made.”
“You mean as a kid, my father cut his finger and mixed it with his pals.” She sighed. “Grandpa, kids do and say things to their friends when as adults they don’t recall or expect to happen. They end up laughing and talking about how stupid they were.” She took the wine from the freezer and opened it. “When the right man comes along, I’ll let you know. Until then, I’m fine, Elan’s fine. Now, please, you must drop it?” She set the bottle on the counter and pulled dishes from the cupboard.
“Take the necklace now. You can have it cleaned and put it up for a special occasion.”
“You’re pushing awfully hard. Is there something you’re not telling me? Are you telling me everything about your checkups?”
“I’m healthy as a horse. I want you settled with a good man.”
“Well, it’s a closed subject now. Go wash up, dinner will be on the table in a few of minutes.”
Tired and feeling like one more thing piled on her plate would send her screaming, she opened the back door and stood there. The air was cool, but when she tried to inhale the air cleaned by the rain, she smelled Elan. His scent was in her nose, but Rick’s roughness still crawled over her body. The combination sent chills through her. She wanted to go up to her apartment, shower and read herself to sleep, but it had to wait.
The microwave beeped and she went to put dinner on the table when her grandfather came back into the kitchen. He steered clear of the previous topic and discussed how he wanted to rearrange the shop while they ate. She let him go on, agreeing with most things, thankful the previous topic had been dropped.
The peridot from the necklace reflected through the muted gold of the wine in the glass, mesmerizing her. All she could think about was Elan’s arms comforting her, soothing the shakes, but also by doing so, he added fuel to a fire already burning steady. It was a shame they couldn’t have a sexual relationship without any other ties.
“Sandra, are you all right?”
She looked over at her grandfather and realized her mind had wandered and she hadn’t heard what he’d said. “Yeah, tired, I guess.”
“Finish up and get an early night. I’ll clean up.”
“I think I will.” She stirred the vegetables around and took a bite.
* * * *
Cassandra stood at her dresser looking at the necklace one more time before she locked it up in her jewelry tower. Its power to remind her of the night she spent with Elan was more than her will not to think about it. She wanted him there, in her bedroom and now, in her shower waiting for her. It was futile, but she needed release.
Tense, she stripped out of her dress and nylons while the vision of water running over his chest, her tongue laving his rock hard nipples sent shudders through her. Padding to the bathroom, she turned on the water, adjusting it until it was lukewarm before stepping under the spray. She moaned as the water ran over her heated skin, and reached for her gauze sponge and put a little aromatherapy body wash on it, not that it ever helped her sleep, but she liked the scent. She’d given up on the ones meant to help you relax. The scents heightened her sexual need.
The feel of the sponge never failed to revitalize her skin, but when it brushed against her pubic hair, a whimper escaped. The sensitized flesh hidden beneath the blond tuft screamed for attention. She widened her stance and gently washed the folds, but couldn’t take it any longer and dropped it to use her fingers. To take the edge off, she told herself. She’d never full-blown masturbated before, wasn’t sure she could fulfill the hunger a cock could, but if she could at least ease the painful throb in her clit, maybe she could fall asleep for a while.
“Oh,” she moaned when her fingers slipped into the slit of her pussy and deep into the tunnel as she remembered how Elan had done this to her. While it felt good, she wanted his cock. She needed the feel of him thrusting hard and fast into the core of her. Her breathing came out in ragged pants and she grabbed onto the showerhead as she rubbed and tapped her clit until the pressure built and she bit down on her bottom lip, felt the pain and let go as the orgasm hit her. Her body convulsed, and she continued to rub until it eased. She leaned back against the tiled wall and gulped in air. When she could stand on her wobbly legs, she shampooed her hair in a hurry, a little embarrassed she’d had to resort to taking care of herself.
Subdued by her actions, Ca
ssandra dried her body, her hair and pulled on a pink floral nightshirt. Tired, she climbed into bed to read more of her latest reading material. A book on successful business tips. It was boring, and should help her drift off to sleep.
* * * *
Noises…moans…gasps penetrated her subconscious and her eyes darted around her. Her body screamed with unsatisfied need though it lay in an exertive sweat. Oh, god, it’s happening again.
The clock said it was eleven. Damn it! She’d been in bed a bit over an hour this time. Cassandra set the fallen book on the nightstand and got up, pulling her bathrobe on. She needed to feel the night air, to breathe and chill the passion crawling through her before she lost her mind.
She stepped out on the landing outside her door, relishing in the coolness of the wet wood on her feet. The rain had passed, but the sky was starless. She inhaled the crisp air and rested her arms on the railing.
When had she lost control of her life? It was too easy to blame it on the supply closet incident. Sex between her and Rick was standard, man on woman, man gets off, and woman might every now and again feel a twinge. He never wanted to experiment, play, or take things up a notch. She did. She needed hot scorching sex that left her sweat-soaked, exhausted, yet starved for more. Maybe this was the driving force behind this fantasy stuff. It was all in her subconscious and none of it real. She was asleep and watching a movie in her mind. When she woke, she’d find Rick beside her, snoring and—
“Cassandra.”
She jumped and whipped around toward the stairs. Elan stood at the bottom. At least, she thought he did. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, opened them, and then choked on her own air. He stood before her.
Chapter 12
“Damn it, why can’t you make sounds when you approach someone?” Cassandra asked, her heart thudding against the wall of her chest.
“I’m sorry. Are you all right?” Elan asked.
“No. What are you doing here?”
“You came to my thoughts.”
“Why?” She studied his face wanting to know if he wanted her, needed her as she needed him.
“You’re strong, but the psyche isn’t. I wanted to be sure you were all right.”
Damn it! He hadn’t come to her with need. He’d come because of the parking lot incident. She felt foolish. To him, she wasn’t a woman he’d ravished and wanted more of. She was a member of the family close to his. “I’m not worried about what happened with Rick.”
“I don’t want you going into work tomorrow.”
“Not your decision.” She hadn’t thought about it, but when morning came it might have been a concern. Now, she simply wanted him. His coming had to mean something, didn’t it? He didn’t have to come. He could have waited until she came to the studio or if he had to appear in court as a witness. Maybe, he wasn’t sure if she’d want to go another round with him. She had agreed that one night was only a means to an end. Problem was, it hadn’t ended, not for her. Now she held knowledge he didn’t… Well, neither here nor there. She had to have him. “The curse, the spell, whatever was done…Tomorrow, I need to talk to you about it. Tonight, I…” She reached up, pulled his head down to hers, and never felt as complete as she did when her lips touched his. She snaked her tongue between his lips as his hands slipped inside her open robe, resting on her hips.
Cassandra’s midsection fell under the weight of the feelings swimming around in her. Now wasn’t the time to explore them. She wanted to explore the body of this man who consumed her spirit. Leaving his mouth, she moved over his jaw to his ear and whispered, “I crave you.” Air whooshed past her ear and she pressed her groin into him and felt the hardness of his cock. Elan did want her. She inched his sweater up, caressing, anxious to feel his flesh beneath her hands. He whipped it off over his head as she ran her hands over his rippling muscles, skimming the hard buds. She shivered and pulled his mouth back down to hers.
His hands eased her nightshirt up as his teeth grazed her bottom lip, slowly nipping corner-to-corner, driving her wild. She drew his mouth closer, taking it with hunger. Her breath hitched when his fingers slipped between her thighs. He swallowed her muffled moans and probed her with deft fingers intent on their destination. She widened her stance, allowing him to open her wet, swollen slit and thrust into her. Her hands fell from his head and clutched his shoulders. He massaged her juices around the inner folds of her flesh and over her clit then deep in her tunnel and back out sending liquid fire through her. Her breath caught in her throat as she arched, letting her head fall back. Nails bit into his upper arms while waves swept her up on secluded beach. “Oh,” she moaned “Yeah. Needed you so much.”
The brightness of the moon filtered through her closed eyelids and she opened to see him. He watched her with such an intense lust, her knees buckled. He lowered her down, nipping the tips of her breasts through the fabric as he undid his pants freeing his shaft.
He rose over her and she wrapped her legs around him as he slipped into her wet heat. “Oh yeah,” she moaned. His eyes penetrated hers and she felt them wanting to close, but needed to watch him as they moved together. “Heavenly,” she murmured. I love you, my Apache Love. You’re mine, I’m yours and we’re united. Shocked by the thought, she closed her eyes, swallowing.
He kissed her, long, slow, and her heart was gone. She knew if they didn’t get down to it, she was going to let forbidden words slip into the thick air.
He withdrew his cock and thrust back into her. “Oh, god! Yes!’
Slapping against each other, she let her feet hit the landing, using it for leverage to match his quick thrusts. She gripped his ass as the fire spread and the sparks shot through her clit and deep within her. His panting, the mumblings of his native tongue poured from him as they hovered and fell over.
When they could move, Elan lifted her in his arms and took her to her bed. “Sleep well, my jewel.”
She reached for him, but he was gone. Saddened and confused, she sat up, looking around. The book she’d been reading fell from her breasts to the mattress beside her. She set it on the nightstand and looked at the clock, ten forty-five. “What the hell?”
She reached for her bathrobe and found it damp and dirty. Oh, god! For a fantasy, it sure had its fingers in reality. “Damn those people for ganging up on me. Hell, I wasn’t even conceived.” She huffed. “Dad hadn’t even met mom yet, and I was already set up with a man who hadn’t existed either.” After she retrieved the necklace, almost sure it was part of the whole…whatever, she pulled a coat on and grabbed her keys. In a hurry, she slipped into a pair of flats and walked out into the misty rain. “Stupid men! They’ll find out how much they can control me,” she mumbled as she went down the steps. “I’m going to hand him the necklace, say my piece and insist he stay on his part of town.” She went through the garage and out to her car. Thankful for a quiet engine, she pulled away from the curb.
At this time of night with little or no traffic, the lights changed almost before she could slow, but then one decided not to corporate. She braked, slowing to a stop. Damn it! She rubbed her forehead and watched a cop pull up behind her. It’d be her luck he’d pull her over for some inane reason then ticket her for being in her nightshirt. Oh, no, she’d forgotten her purse. She glanced down at the passenger seat to see if she’d forgotten the necklace as well. Her purse sat there, but she didn’t remember grabbing it. The jewelry case peeked out of it. So, she’d done it out of habit.
The light changed and she eased through the intersection and kept her speedometer a smidgen under the posted limit of twenty. The cop turned down an alley, going the opposite direction of Elan’s home. She came to the stop sign on Grandview Drive and ran her fingers through her hair, hoping she didn’t have sleep hair. It didn’t occur to her she might want to take a few minutes to freshen up.
With her heart pounding as she pulled into his drive and came to stop in front of the garage, she started having second thoughts about coming here. What if all this was one-side
d now? What if she woke him and he slammed the door in her face?
However, she was here. It was a risk she must take. She debated whether she should slip in through the garage or ring the doorbell on the front entrance. The place was dark. He either was in bed or not home. She opted for the garage entrance. At least she’d see if his car was there. The door didn’t open when she tried it. Ok, now what?
Frustrated, she turned to go to the front door. A click had her turning her head and she saw the door open. “Elan?” No answer. She walked over and stuck her head inside the garage. He was home, but he wasn’t in the garage. Entering, she shut the door and went to the door she’d gone through before.
She started to knock on the door to the mudroom, and then wondered if he’d hear it. Holding her bottom lip with her teeth, she hoped he didn’t mind the intrusion, but she’d come this far. Reaching for the doorknob, the door flew open before she could grasp it. Elan stood before her, dressed to go out. “I…”
He pulled her into the room and pushed her against the wall, devouring her mouth as his hands groped, yanking up her nightshirt. His fingers plunged into her hot, wet pussy while hers tangled in his hair, holding his head close. Their tongues slipped over one another, tasting, dancing and she pressed into him. His erection bulged and she ached for it.
Elan unzipped and pulled his jacket off, undid his pants and pushed them down while he kept her penned against the wall with his crushing mouth. Her jacket followed and he laid her out on the pile and plunged deep in the core of her being. Their bodies rocked and struggled for complete fulfillment. She ran her fingers down his back, letting them bite into his flesh as she felt the orgasm claim them. He panted in her ear. She bit his shoulder.
He pulled up, looking into her eyes. “I was coming to you.”
