Jewel of Inanna (Perils of a Pagan Priestess Book 1)

by Hannah Desmond

  Roland’s tongue slid down her body to the bottom of her torso. Lying back, his tongue explored between her legs. She froze. Confused by his exploration, her body clenched. Roland looked up and said, “Relax, you’re going to like this.”

  Lying back, her body softened. Her breath quickened as his tongue worked magic and she arched her body. She teetered on the brink of orgasm. Roland stopped and made his way up her torso to her breast.

  Lilly’s legs opened and wrapped around Roland’s waist as he entered her. Taking her legs in his hands, he placed them over his shoulders and penetrated her deeply. The feel of him inside of her was ecstasy. She lifted her body slightly, moving slowly at first. Abandoning all cares, her body demanded more. Roland brought her to the edge of orgasm, slowed, stopped, kissed her and began again. Their love making went on longer than Lilly thought possible.

  She felt the vibration before she heard the sound coming from deep in his throat as his body moved faster and faster, penetrating her depths with each stroke. The momentum built quickly and they climaxed together releasing primal cries of ecstasy.

  Roland awoke a few hours later and looked around for a clock. Lilly awoke as he sat up. “Hey, sweet lady, you want to do me a favor?”

  Lilly ran her fingers through his tangled silky hair. “Ah, huh, what do you need?” she asked with an invitation in her voice.

  “Will you braid my hair, it is too wild for me to deal with right now.” Lilly grabbed a hair brush as Roland dug a piece of leather cord from his jean pocket.

  She worked the tangles out and pull his long thick hair up ready to braid. “What is this?”

  Roland felt her finger tracing a familiar design on the back of his neck. “It’s a birth mark,”

  “No, I’ve never seen a blue birth mark and it looks like a knot. You know what it looks like? It looks like one of those things sailors get. Ya’ know the heart with ‘Mom’ or ‘Forever?’ Oh, what do they call those things?”

  Roland turned his head trying to see her sitting behind him, hair brush in her hand. “Do you mean a tattoo?”

  “Yes, are you sure it is not a tattoo?”

  “Yea, I’m sure it’s a birthmark. I’ve had it all my life.”

  “I’ve got to get going Lilly, sound check it at 9PM and I’ve no idea what time it is.” Lilly quickly braided his hair and tied the end with the leather cord.

  “It’s 8 o’clock, you have time for some coffee and eggs before you head out,” she said as she opened the refrigerator and lit the burner on the stove.

  They ate quickly at the coffee table. Roland put his boots on and Lilly walked him to the gate. “Music starts at ten. Come on over when you are ready. I’ve put you on the guest list. Give them your name at the door.”

  “Thanks, Roland. I can’t wait to hear the band.”

  Roland laughed, “We are in rock and roll mode tonight it is going to be far out!” He kissed her like he meant it and walked off toward Bourbon Street.

  Lilly returned to her apartment, lay back in her bed and replayed every moment of the most extraordinary love making she had ever experienced.

  Chapter 15

  Wild Magic

  Arriving at the Cave a little after 10:00, Lilly could barely squeeze in the door. The city was working its way into Carnival mode and Bourbon Street was rocking. The Doorman gave her a thumb’s up as she yelled her name over the music.

  The afternoon’s melodious music in the square had morphed into some serious rock and roll. The medieval costumes were replaced by bell bottoms and fringed leather vests. Roland was firing mind shattering leads on his electric guitar. Trey was playing rhythm guitar. Bart’s long blond hair swung as his electric violin screamed. Leon the gentle gnome, held it all together, hidden behind a huge set of trap drums.

  Lilly made her way as close to the stage as she could. The crowd pressed close dancing until the floor was overflowing. The tabletops became mini dance floors as young girls with short skirts and men with long hair undulated to the driving beat of the music.

  Watching Roland play electric guitar was mesmerizing. Lilly swayed and danced until sweat was running between her breasts. She quenched her thirst with Dixie beers and, finally climbed onto a chair, her arms pumping and her hips moving in time with the electric throb of the music.

  The band announced a short break. Before Lilly could make her way to the stage, Roland was surrounded by a group of adoring girls. Lilly stood a few feet away and nervously rubbed her tingling fingers, wishing the girls would walk away. Instantly, the knot of women surrounding Roland dispersed as they turned as one and put their attention on a bearded, beaded hippy guy.

  Roland looked around and spotted her in a heartbeat. He raised one eyebrow, pointed a finger at her and mouthed, “Did you do that?”

  Lilly guiltily stared at her hands as Roland closed the space between them in two strides and put his arm around her. “I’m sorry,” she said, laughing with a twinkle in her eye. “I am trying to learn to be aware of my thoughts when my fingers tingle. I’m afraid that wild magic escaped before I could stop it.”

  Roland smiled and urged her toward the back door. “Let’s get out of here for a minute, okay?”

  They sat on boxes in the closed courtyard and shared a beer. Roland lifted her hand in his, gently pulling on each of her fingers. “These are your magic wands, Lyla. I don’t mind you dispersing a few groupies, but I want you to be aware how and when you are focusing and channeling your energy. Remember you have a powerful tool at your fingertips.”

  Lilly was stunned. “How do you know about my tingling fingers?”

  Roland responded in a matter of fact voice, “The power of observation. Those twitching fingers are dispersing bits of wild magick. Your ability is getting stronger. The run in with your ex-husband gave you more confidence in your magick, but it also threw you off balance. As long as you are centered, your magic stays in balance. Watch out that wild magick doesn’t fly off those twitching fingers and create havoc.”

  Lilly didn’t know if she wanted to laugh or cry. ‘The idea she had power at the tip of her fingers had been exciting. Realizing it was now, something she had to control became a new responsibility.’

  Lost in reverie, she was surprised when Roland lifted her chin with one finger, “No need for regrets, think about all the fun you can have.”

  Lilly’s pensive frown transformed to a mischievous grin. She wiggled her fingers, nodded her head and said, “Yea, right on!”

  Changing the subject, she exclaimed “Ya’ll sound great! You know how to transition from Celtic music to rock and roll. I never dreamed it would be so electric!”

  Roland laughed, “Yea, we’ve discovered medieval music doesn’t go over well in nightclubs. I like the electric music, it gets the crowd going. I like the way the energy builds and circulates. Its super cool. I could play all night.”

  Lilly smiled, “The music is great but I don’t think I can stay all night. I’ll be heading home after your next set.”

  “Oh, Lyla I was hoping you would stay and come back to the bus when we finished playing. You haven’t checked out our bus.”

  Lilly locked her hands around his neck and drew him close to her, “I have to work in the morning at Panthea’s. I’ve got to get to bed before dawn.”

  “You are too responsible,” Roland said, looking slightly dejected. He took a long pull on the beer as Lilly ran her hand down his back, smoothing his long hair.

  “I have an extra key to the front gate, you can come over to my apartment when you are finished here.”

  Roland leaned over and kissed her deeply. She slipped the key in his pocket and whispered, “We will have time later.”

  “I don’t think I can wait until later,” Roland said in a husky voice as he stood in front of her and pulled her close.

  His passion engulfed her in a wave of deep longing, banishing any hesitancy and fear. Her legs went around his waist and she pressed herself clo
se to him. The heat of her body radiated through his jeans. His hands slipped beneath her shirt and his thumbs rubbed her erect nipples. Lilly unbuckled his belt, opened his zipper and guided him to her. His fingers pushed her panties aside and found her wet and ready. Their bodies pumped together. Lilly watched as he moved rhythmically between her legs. The sight of him entering her faster and faster excited her. She matched his rhythm until they climaxed together.

  ~

  Midnight found Lilly soaking in her claw footed bathtub, aromatic bubbles tickling her neck. She replayed the unexpected ‘quicky’ she and Roland had enjoyed in the courtyard of the cave. She blushed, smiled and anticipated the long slow sex they would have when he arrived later.

  The bath water was growing cold when Lilly, reluctantly, climbed out, wrapped herself in her fuzzy, pink robe and placed the jewel of Inanna over her head. She lit a scented candle on the night stand beside her bed, picked up a delicate crystal bottle and dabbed rose oil between her breasts. Her robe lay on the floor beside her bed as she slipped between cotton sheets. Turning on her side, she watched the moon floating through the clouds.

  The morning sun found Lilly alone in bed. Roland had not arrived. Disappointment etched a frown between her eyes, as her hand reached out to the empty side of the bed. It was too late and he didn’t want to disturb me, she assured herself, as she pulled on her robe and put on a pot of coffee.

  Chapter 16

  A Ritual of Unbinding

  Lilly had an apartment and a job. Meeting Roland brought home how much she wanted to be free of Alex. It was time for her to move into phase three, getting divorced. Jolene introduced her to a lawyer, Tyrone Williams. Tyrone was the son of the Vodou Mambo, Alustra Williams and her husband, Shemo. Both were longtime friends of Jolene and James. Lilly was assured Tyrone could be trusted with her story and any secrets she may want to share.

  She met with Mr. Williams in his office downtown on Baronne Street. “What are your grounds for divorce, Lilly?”

  Lilly looked Mr. Williams in the eye, lifted her chin and spoke in a steady voice, “I thought Alex was a wonderful guy, but over the two years I was married to him he became cruel and abusive. He was hurting me, slapping me, choking me. When he took all the doors off the inside of the house I was upset. Not caring how upset I was, he proceeded to put new locks on the front and back door and would not give me a key. I couldn’t get away from him. I was terrified.”

  Barely able to find her breath, Lilly continued. “Things kept getting worse. By Thanksgiving he was slapping me around daily. The abuse was escalating. I was afraid he would lose control and kill me.” She stopped, clenched her hands together in front of her, and spoke in a strong voice, “I want a divorce and I want to get on with my life.”

  “I understand, Lilly. I’ll put the papers together and meet with Alex’s lawyer. “Do you have any photographs of the bruises he inflicted?”

  Lilly looked surprised, “No, I never thought about taking pictures of them. I was focused on hiding them.”

  Tyrone nodded, “I understand. Don’t worry, I’ll get this done quickly. Did Mrs. McCabe tell you about my fee?”

  “Yes, Jolene told me about your fee. I have the money to pay you. I might as well tell you, I stole money from Alex. I used it to escape.” Lilly spent the next few minutes explaining the red shoes and the socks full of money.

  “This is why I want nothing from Alex but my silver flute. I took the money and my freedom. I don’t want to ever see him again and I don’t want him to know where I am.”

  A few days later, Tyrone called Lilly informing her he had met with Alex and his attorney. “Alex denies having your flute. He is also demanding you return the money you stole from him.”

  Lilly gasped! Tyrone gave a short chuckle advising her to deny having the money. “If the money was earned legally, it wouldn’t have been hidden in shoes. It would have been invested. Alex is not going to squawk too loud or too long about the theft of, what may be cash gained through illegal activity.

  After much negotiation over nothing, Alex agreed to sign divorce papers. He stipulated there was to be a two year wait before the final decree. Alex was certain his wife would change her mind about a divorce when she realized how difficult the real world could be.

  Lilly heard the terms for the divorce and surprised herself as she let a long loud exhale. “Ah, that felt good. I didn’t realize I had been holding my breath for months. Her chest and shoulders felt light as she released the weight of Alex from her life. She lifted her head and spoke calmly, “Two years will not make a difference. I am never going to return to him.”

  With the legal divorce proceedings in motion, Lilly spoke with Jolene and Sabine about a ritual to dissolve her marriage on a higher level. “I’m sure vows resonate through the astral, and I want to be free from Alex in every dimension.”

  Jolene smiled, “I’m so proud of you. You’re thinking like a witch! You’re right! Vows made in a binding ceremony do resonate through the dimensions of time and space, and possibly into parallel universes. I know a simple ritual to dissolve the bonds.”

  “Let’s do it!” Lilly exclaimed.

  Jolene, Sabine and Lilly met in the temple for a private ceremony.

  Jolene cast the circle and called the guardians of the four directions.

  Standing in the center of the protective magic circle, Sabine handed Lilly a sheaf of paper. “Write your name and Alex’s in large letters.” Lilly placed the paper with their names on it next to the brazier on the altar.

  Sabine lifted a red silk cord from around her shoulders. Asking Lilly to hold her hands in front of her, she tied her wrists together.

  “In this space, consecrated to love, to the greater good and to the evolution of our hearts and minds, we are gathered to perform the rite assuring the welfare of our beloved Lilly. This rite insures the permanent separation and ritual unbinding of the body, mind and heart of Lilly LaCouer from Alex Castiglio through all dimensions of space and time. This unbinding permanently breaks the bonds formed by vows made, auras blended and body fluids shared between Lilly and Alex.

  Jolene signaled Lilly to step forward, “Do you, Lilly LaCouer, wish to heal the rend in your heart by consciously releasing all past attachments of love and fear to Alex Castiglio?”

  “I so desire.”

  Lilly heard Sabine’s voice singing in the background, “Purify and heal us, heal us and free us,”

  Jolene signaled Lilly to raise her arms. With one quick slash of her ritual knife she sundered the red silk cord in two.

  “The ties which bound Lilly to Alex are severed. The vows made are undone, retracted and erased from the Akashic records. We ask the Gods and Goddesses to enforce this parting and soothe the heart and mind of Lilly.”

  “So mote it be,” the three women said in unison.

  “Is it in your heart and mind to release all thought of Alex?”

  “It is.”

  “Is it in your heart and mind to turn your attention to the present and the creation of a new life, free of attachment to fear and past hurts?”

  “It is.”

  Jolene turned to the altar and lifted the paper Lilly had prepared for the ceremony. She handed the paper to Lilly saying, “Here in this consecrated circle before the eyes of the old ones, the ancestors, guides, guardians and angels, I bid you destroy this symbol of your togetherness.” Lilly tore the paper in half, placed the edge to the candle and placed it in the brazier. She threw the two pieces of red silk on top of the paper and watched the fire grow in the brazier. She was surprised to feel tears on her face. Any residual attachment she had to Alex was released with those final tears. Her heart thudded sadly for what might have been and what her marriage had become.

  As the paper and ribbons flamed and quickly turned to ash she heard Jolene chanting and joined in, “So mote it be, so mote it be, so mote it be.” Sabine struck the gong as the three spoke in one strong voice, “And so it is!”
>
  Over glasses of champagne Lilly laughed and joked and hugged her mentors. “I am completely free of Alex” she whooped.

  Jolene smiled then cleared her throat, “Lilly, this ceremony has broken your bond to Alex. There is no doubt or regret in your heart and mind about your divorce. I cannot promise that Alex feels the same way. Attachments based on ego and entitlement tend to remain until a heart awakening occurs. The ritual was for you. We cannot do such a ritual for Alex unless he asks.

  “I understand, Jolene. The ritual facilitated my unbinding. Disconnected from any thought form or regret about my marriage to Alex, I feel free. He can wallow in his darkness. There is nothing I can do about it.”

  Chapter 17

  A Chat Below the Pleasure Palace

  Saturday evening the three adepts relaxed in the living room of Jolene’s apartment. James held Jolene’s feet in his lap rubbing them gently while Topaz slept on her stomach, Sabine sat in the rocking chair, her feet up on the ottoman, eating chocolate mint cookies and French vanilla ice cream. “Only about two weeks and the madness is over,” Sabine remarked biting into another cookie. “It has been much easier having a third person in the shop. I am so grateful for Lyla.”

  Jolene nodded in agreement, “Even in her distracted state these last few week, it has been great having another pair of hands and she is good with the customers.”

  Speaking around a mouth full of cookies, Sabine stated the obvious, “She and her new fellow seem to be having a good time together.”

  “You don’t have to tell us about it,” Jolene remarked, “We live underneath their pleasure palace. I don’t think they realize we’re privy to the fireworks and ecstatic explosions.”

  The three of them laughed. James’ face sobered as he mused aloud, “What do you suppose will happen when he leaves with the band?”