Stag: A Masquerade Ball Romance

by Angela Blake

  Rachel made a face.

  "Or I could just try to give you a ride home right now…"

  "No," Rachel interrupted. "It’s fine; my mother can do without me for a bit longer."

  He grinned. "Excellent. I promise not to keep you too late…or you could stay really late and I could drop you at work in the morning."

  "Oh yeah? Shall I do the walk of shame to work?" Rachel crossed her arms, and narrowed her eyes at him.

  Brendan resisted raising his eyebrows as she bristled at him. He looked like he was swallowing his laughter with some effort.

  "It isn’t called a walk of shame anymore. Haven’t you heard?"

  “Ooh, I didn’t know I was dating some woke guy. Okay then what’s it called then?”

  Brendan shrugged, “Something like walk of happiness or something.”

  Rachel smiled, “You really have that much confidence in your abilities huh?”

  Brendan’s eyebrows rose, “What do you mean?”

  “I mean you’re so sure I’ll be happy in the morning huh?”

  Brendan shrugged and smirked at her, “I’ve yet to hear any complaints.”

  “Ugh, smug bastard,” Rachel said.

  “You love it.”

  “Yeah, I really do,” Rachel thought.

  Chapter Fifteen: The Curse is Broken

  Once they moved the party to the bedroom, Rachel was on Brendan in the space of a second. She grabbed at Brendan’s jacket roughly and pulled him towards her, kissing him hungrily. Their bodies were flush against each other now, and Rachel could feel Brendan’s quickening heartbeat, smell the lingering aroma of hot chocolate and the distinct scent of sandalwood and mint that seemed to be Brendan’s own. They tore at each other, clothes flying off them quickly, tumbling towards the bed soon enough.

  Rachel pushed Brendan down on it and made herself follow. She put her arms on either side of Brendan’s head and spent a few seconds simply looking. It’s the first time she’s been sober with him while completely naked in a sexual situation, and Rachel felt drunk with it. Brendan was flushed, his pupils were dilated and his breathing hard. It made her wonder how she got so lucky to be able to do this with him. She kissed him again, tongue exploring the inside of Brendan’s mouth in quick strokes, Brendan giving her full access to whatever parts of him she wanted. Rachel pulled herself further down, hissing and arching when she brushed against his hardness.

  “Fuck!” Brendan said. “Rachel. Rachel.” It sounded like a plea.

  “Yeah, Brendan,” she answered. “I got you, this time. Let me pleasure you.”

  She trailed kisses down Brendan’s chest, licking and biting lightly at his nipples. She let herself look at Brendan’s cock then, big, dark and achingly hard. She thought about teasing Brendan, but didn’t think he would appreciate it at the moment.

  She didn’t know what she was supposed to do. She’d never done anything with a cock before, but she knew what she had liked when Brendan had done things to her. So she tried to replicate that. She wrapped her hand around the base of his dick, eliciting a gasp from Brendan, and then licked the tip.

  The precum tasted salty and slightly bitter, but not completely unpleasant. She groaned, and Brendan bucked his hips. It was sloppy and messy; Brendan definitely made her gag a couple times when he jerked his hips unexpectedly. That was before Rachel held his hips down. It was so hot, though, that Rachel didn’t care, and by the sound of it, Brendan was definitely enjoying himself.

  “Rachel, aahh, Rachel, if you don’t stop now, I’m going to come.”

  Rachel shot him a glance from under her lashes and quirked her lips. “Isn’t that the point?”

  “Smug woman. I want to fuck you.” Rachel thought Brendan sounded just a bit embarrassed by the admission.

  “Now?”

  “No, next July. Fuck, now, yes,” Brendan said, pained and slightly desperate. The sound went straight to Rachel’s vagina and she reached over to the side table for some condoms.

  “You’re a regular boy scout, Brendan. Were you really so sure I’d spend the night?”

  “A guy could dream right?”

  “Yes well, I’m not exactly complaining. Better with the condom than without.”

  “Touché.”

  She didn’t ask if Brendan was sure, and Brendan didn’t tell her he was. She knew she didn’t have to ask, but she was still nervous.

  Brendan smiled and pulled her down for a kiss. She took the pillows and blankets, and arranged them so that she was more comfortable.

  “Want you to ride me. Is that ok?”

  “Yeah, yeah it is,” Rachel answered and kissed him once again while dragging her hands down Brendan’s arms.

  “Just –”

  “—slowly, yeah.”

  The first press of Brendan’s index finger around Rachel’s hole drew out a small hitch in her breath. It was slow, just like Brendan promised. It felt strange to have him beneath her while his finger played around in her wetness, but definitely good. Rachel was relaxed and trusting, which definitely sped things along. Brendan curled his fingers a little, experimentally, and Rachel cried out. So Brendan did it again.

  He did it until he had Rachel writhing, arching and fucking herself up and down on his fingers. she thought that she could come on the spot just from the stimulation Brendan was giving her.

  “Brendan, come on.”

  “Ok,” he breathed out, pulling his fingers out and making her moan.

  She put the condom on him as quickly as possible then aligned herself with Brendan taking hold of his dick so it was standing straight and ready beneath her. She lowered herself onto him as slowly as she could, barely stopping herself from just dropping onto him.

  It was torture.

  When she had sheathed him completely, she waited to adjust to the feeling of being filled, feeling him almost to the top of her abdomen. Brendan gave a small nod in encouragement.

  “Move, please.”

  She took a second to realize just how different this was from anything else in her entire life. It was so much better. It wasn’t just the act of pure physical sex that was new. It was the side of emotional connection to the person she loved probably more than anyone in the entire world. It was Brendan, pure and simple.

  Rachel knew Brendan felt it too. The way he repeated her name like a chant, over and over, which told her everything she needed to know. Rachel would cry if she didn’t think Brendan would never let her live it down.

  She moved, slowly at first, but sped up with every thrust. Brendan lifted himself up on his elbows, and Rachel bent down just enough for their bodies to connect. They were both slick with sweat and almost completely breathless. Their lips joined again, as Rachel increased her pace, feeling that bubble of feeling bearing down upon her. It didn’t take long before they were both crying out in ecstasy, surrendering to their release.

  Rachel collapsed on top of him, breathing in as he breathed out…in sync even in satisfaction. Then she slid off him onto the bed next to him, wrapping her arms around him, and going right to sleep.

  ***

  The morning after was awkward, if only because Rachel hadn’t meant to spend the entire night and this was the first night she’d ever spent with a guy. She was shy and inarticulate, and she needed to use the bathroom. Even in Ireland, Brendan had had his own room so Rachel could wait until he’d gone to relieve herself. But now, they were in his house; she wasn’t sure what the protocol was. Brendan talked easily, making her coffee – which she declined – and then offering to drive her home or to the coffee shop, whatever she wanted.

  “You’d best take me home, my mother will be having chickens.”

  She’d seen her phone. Sixteen missed calls from her mother’s number. She knew she was more than in trouble. Even as her heart pounded with fear, she could not regret that night she’d spent.

  “She’s just gonna have to accept it,” she told her reflection in the mirror. Brendan
had directed her to the guest bathroom where she could have as much privacy as she wanted. He’d also given her a pair of sweat pants and a hoodie to wear. At least she wouldn’t be doing the walk of…happiness in yesterday’s clothes.

  They set off soon after breakfast. Rachel could hardly eat but Brendan’s appetite more than made up for the lack of hers. They pulled up on her street, Rachel somehow expecting all emergency services to be waiting at her door to arrest her or call off the manhunt they were about to start for her. She took a deep breath and turned to Brendan.

  “Run while you can,” she said opening her door.

  Brendan laughed, opened his own door and came around to help her out of the car.

  “What kind of boyfriend would I be if I left you to face your mother alone?” he asked, still smiling as he threaded their fingers together.

  “The kind who wants to live?” Rachel retorted even as she let him lead her to her door. She knew she should urge him to leave now, but she couldn’t make herself do it. She was too glad of his company. She had no precedent for coming home after a night with a man. She had no idea what she was walking into. Having someone at her back was strangely comforting. She had never felt like that before. Even with Barry and Sergio, they were a distant, removed source of solace. Brendan was here, literally watching her back.

  She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, said a prayer and then opened the door. She half expected that her key would not work but the door swung open easily.

  “Ma?” she called softly as she stepped lightly into the house, Brendan right there with her.

  There was a deep unnatural silence in the house, and the very walls seemed to pulsate with anger. Rachel could feel sweat beading her forehead.

  “Ma?” she said again, voice shaking.

  “Where have you been?” the voice came booming out of the kitchen and Rachel jumped even though she’d been expecting it. She exchanged glances with Brendan before straightening her shoulders and walking into the kitchen to face her mother.

  As she stepped in the door, her mother turned in her wheelchair from where she’d been stationed at the corner of the room, in front of the window. She looked like she hadn’t slept and her face was like thunder.

  “Hi Ma,” Rachel said softly, voice trembling, “Uh…I uh…”

  Sarah Hart was staring daggers at her, face grey with anger. Rachel lost her words.

  “Mrs. Hart, it’s nice to finally meet you,” Brendan said stepping out in front of her. Sarah’s eyes cut to him in surprise and her face blanched.

  “Who…?” she began to say and then stopped, staring, “You!” she accused.

  Brendan stepped back in surprise, “You er, know me?”

  “You’re the boy who climbed in my window. Looking for my Rachel.” Sarah accused.

  Brendan’s eyes widened, “You remember that?” it was more of a statement than a question.

  “Of course I remember. How could I forget the boy with the fur of a stag? Why are you here?”

  Brendan stared at her with wide eyes as Rachel came to stand beside him, threading her fingers with his, “You know about him?” she asked echoing his surprise.

  Sarah looked from one to the other, eyes calculating, “Tell me why you are here,” she said to Brendan at last.

  Brendan rallied, drawing himself up to his full height, “I’ve come to ask your blessing to court your daughter ma’am.” He said.

  “To what end?” Sarah demanded, “My daughter has nothing to offer you.”

  Brendan’s eyes narrowed, “Your daughter is everything to me Ms. Hart. She is my life, she is my soul.” He said with conviction.

  “And so what? You promise to love her forever? She’s a package deal you know. You have her, you have me.”

  Rachel’s fingers tightened on Brendan’s as her heart speeded up with anxiety. It was true what her mother said. Hate it or love it, they were a package deal.

  “I will take you both and gladly,” Brendan said. Rachel whipped her head around to stare at him in disbelief, “I want your daughter forever, and as her mother, you will be my mother too.”

  Rachel wanted to stop him, make him think about what he was saying but movement in her peripheral vision made her turn to look at her mother.

  Her mother who was standing up from her wheelchair, something she hadn’t done in years. She pushed it away from her and took a step toward them. Her shadow seemed to grow, filling the room, and were her eyes glowing? Rachel wasn’t sure.

  “Brendan O’Brien, you have come at last to collect the one you left behind. I congratulate you. The curse, is broken.”

  And then she disappeared in a cloud of green smoke.

  Rachel and Brendan stared at each other, deeply shocked.

  “What just happened?” Rachel asked.

  Brendan’s eyes were shining, “I think she just set us free.” He said.

  THE END

  Bang & Bounce

  Chapter 1

  “Alia, wake up!”

  I opened my eyes and checked outside the tent flap. Ugh, it looked like it would rain later and that meant muddy tracks all around the woods. I yawned, stretched a little, and put on my shorts, pink top and a pair of sneakers. After checking myself out in a small pocket mirror I headed out of the tent.

  “Hey, someone’s awake,” Shirley called out to me. She was sitting by a pit and the boys were building a large campfire to cook breakfast.

  I waved at the guys and then took a seat beside her, resting myself atop a log since there were no stools around save for the one Shirley was already on. I looked at her real quick and admired how well she looked even when we were out here in the middle of nowhere. Shirley, at twenty-five, was as gorgeous as she ever could be. She had bright blue eyes, long blonde hair and really long, sexy legs.

  “Took you long enough,” she greeted me and handed me a cup of coffee. I only then noticed she had a thermos filled with hot water and some bread on a paper plate. “Jack and Tommy here were up hours ago. They went hunting for rabbits but only caught one and found some berries.”

  “Well, they did want us to camp out and not really bring any supplies,” I pointed out as I took the cup, sipped and then put it down on the ground. I then called out to the guys. “Hey Tommy, when are you and Jack going to get any hotter?”

  I was joking; they were never going to get hot. Jack was a six-foot tall blub of fat and Tommy looked like a rolling ball. I bet even if I were to add my weight to Shirley’s we’d still be lighter than just one of these two. I didn’t mind, though, we were all friends since we were in middle school.

  Tommy laughed and gave me a sarcastic look as he said, “Yeah, whatever. You know you wouldn’t love me if I wasn’t so cuddly.”

  I giggled, stood up real quick and gave them both a hug and a kiss on the cheeks. I then twirled around and looked back at Shirley, “Your hair’s wet. Where did you take a bath?”

  “There’s a river just a little over a quarter mile back there,” she answered and pointed to a large hill littered with tall pine trees. “There’s even a pool and a small waterfall.”

  “Is it deep?” I was scared of drowning and I couldn’t swim for the life of me.

  “Nope,” she answered and took a bite out of her bread. “At the deepest, it only barely reached my shoulders. Here, I’ll lend you a towel.”

  Thank God, I really wanted to clean myself out. We were on the road for hours yesterday just to reach these camping grounds. I wanted to just settle with the camping site in the local park but they really wanted to try going on full survival-mode and stay in the woods up here in the mountains. I didn’t mind, to be completely honest, but at least let me take a moment to relax, shower and get my bearings after stuffing myself in a car for so long.

  I grabbed her towel and then made my way to the back. She said she was going to escort me there but I waved her off and said I can find it on my own. Someone needed to watch over Jack and Tommy, after
all.

  I needed to get all the junk out of my hair too and that could take some time. I dyed my hair blue the other week but now I was getting tired of the look and I wanted to go back to my ginger hair. Yes, I’m a redhead but a lot of people say I look hot because of it. Maybe the color just blends well with my pale skin and long legs. My eyes were green and the flare of my natural hair color really let that out, whenever I didn’t try to hide them under some dark aviators.

  After a few minutes trekking up the hill and down the slope on the other side, I found the small waterfall and river pool Shirley talked about. I looked around and when I figured no one else was there I stripped down and hopped into the water.

  “Fuck,” I yelped when I realized just how cold the water was. I looked around again, hoping no one heard me. There were other campers out here but we didn’t even see any of them while setting up last night. We just saw their vehicles.

  I figured I was alone so I stood back up, exposing my tits out of the water, and proceeded to wash myself and my hair. Getting the rest of the hair dye out wasn’t hard but it was taking a lot of time. I was starting to regret doing this here instead of just waiting to get back to town and do this at a salon.

  Crack!

  “Who’s there?” I asked out as I dipped my body back in, covering my body with the water. “Jack? Tommy? You guys there?”

  Utter silence. It was probably just my imagination, I guess. I proceeded to continue removing the color from my hair and hummed a song to get my nerves back down.

  Crack!

  There it was again! I didn’t turn around or say anything this time. Maybe if they didn’t know I was aware I’d be able to spot them. I just continued on and slowly turned around, pretending I was just trying to reach a different area of the pool, and then I looked up.

  There were two men hiding behind some bushes, just above the waterfall. They both looked like really big men, probably six-feet tall each. Both men were half-naked, wearing only their shorts, and this let me notice just how muscular and fit they were. I honestly felt my heart skip a beat when I realized my stalkers were so damn handsome and hot.