She sensed someone nearing and she scrambled backward, frantically scanning the room to pinpoint their exact location. The men who came could hide themselves from the view of humans, helping to encourage the belief she was crazy if she spouted off about seeing men surrounding her. It had taken her nearly a year before she’d come to fully realize no one but she could sense them when they pulled their vanishing routines. It was a year’s worth of sedation and restraints, of learning to tap into her inborn magik to keep them at bay. She was far from helpless as many of them could attest to.
Her wrists ached at the thought of memories over ten years old now. She rubbed her wrists, taking tiny, measured breaths as she remained in the ready position. There were times when the lines between sanity and insanity blurred and she wondered if it was the fear of being held down and forced to lose control because of the administering of medications, or the fear of being taken by the star men that scared her more.
“Sidney,” said a deep voice from the other side of the room. It didn’t strike fear into her as did the others, but she knew better than to trust any of them. They were sly and calculating when they needed to be. Their stunning good looks and powerful bodies could easily make a girl forget they were deadly. Some who had come had attempted first to gain her trust by offering cunning smiles and trying to court her in their own way. She never let her guard down with them, going on instinct where it concerned them. Others resorted to violence almost instantly. In the end, it didn’t matter what avenue they took, they’d all felt the same to her.
Wrong and dangerous.
Well, almost all of them did. This one seemed different and that unnerved her even more than the fact he was in the room with her.
“I won’t hurt you,” he said, with a slight lilt. His voice was like velvet and the pull of it alone almost had her giving in.
Sidney used the wall behind her to push to stand. The cold floor bit at the soles of her bare feet and the thin hospital-issue pajama bottoms did little in the way of warming her. Her nipples hardened from the cold and she could almost feel the man’s gaze snap to them. Heat flared through her. The desire to have the man come forth and touch her, tweak her aching nipples and ease the burning deep inside, caught Sidney off guard. Never before had the men who came made her body react so.
A light rapping at the door caught her attention. “You all right in there, sweetheart?” Barry, the night security guard, asked. His voice was a deep baritone and it seemed to have a naturally calming effect to it. One she welcomed when she felt lost and alone.
She made her way around the room, keeping her back pressed to the wall as best she could. When she got to the door, she maintained her stance in order to watch the room closely. “I’m fine, Barry.”
An audible sigh came from Barry’s side of the door. “Have another dream, pumpkin?” he asked, the slightest hint of a Southern drawl evident in his voice. He was a good man. One of only a few guards she genuinely liked. His first grandchild was due any day now and he’d worked at the hospital since Sidney arrived almost ten years ago. They’d forged a friendship that had stood the test of time.
She nodded, keeping her back to the door. “Yes, but I’m better now. I just can’t sleep. That’s all. I’m fine.”
Barry did what he always did when she was having problems sleeping, he sang softly. It was a hymn, one of many he knew by heart. While Sidney held little to no faith in the higher power that Barry did, she was comforted by his gesture and always had been. He’d sung to her the first night she arrived, terrified, drugged, screaming to keep the men from the stars away. It was Barry who took pity on her, refusing to treat her as a nutcase without feelings but rather a young girl, going through a rough period.
Sidney leaned against the door, sinking a little as she hummed along with him, the need to be consoled too great to reject. Tears threatened to fall but she held tight to them, refusing to let the enemy see her weakness. As Barry finished, Sidney closed her eyes. She heard Barry’s footfalls and knew he’d left to do his rounds. It was easy to read his emotions and his thoughts. He, like many people, never knew Sidney was prying into his mind. It broke his heart to leave her alone when she couldn’t sleep.
Something brushed over her cheek lightly and Sidney drew in a hasty breath. Soft, warm lips pressed to her ear. An inborn awareness trickled up her spine, telling her this man would not hurt her. The newfound alertness guided her, telling her that whoever was there wouldn’t show themselves just yet. She kept her eyes closed a moment, enjoying the sensation of peace and safety.
“Trust in me, Sidney,” he repeated, seeming to want to stress it as often as possible.
She remained still, mulling over his words. Trust in him? Could she dare? Would hope be what finally broke the fragile state of her sanity? She’d come so far. Stood against so many. To openly allow one under her defenses could be her undoing.
Powerful magik crept over her slowly, heating her body and causing liquid to gather at the juncture of her thighs. Her chest rose and fell, slow at first and then faster as the magik slid between her legs, caressing her feverish skin and delivering sweet suffering. Alarmed, she resisted at first, the intrusion new to her.
“No,” she whimpered.
“Trust me, Sidney.” His mantra returned, tranquility settling over her once again.
She didn’t relax. Moving as much as she could, she pulled her knees close to her chin, hating her traitorous body. Cream flooded her sex. She wanted more but was too scared to give in.
“He can’t hurt you anymore,” the man said. “He’s dead. I promise.”
He?
The mystery man spoke as if only one star man had come for her. She would have corrected him but the feel of a mouth pressing to her neck made a tingling sensation rush over her. She squeezed her eyes shut tighter, shaking her head back and forth.
“Sidney,” he hinted. “Do you want me to go?”
Yes. No. She didn’t know.
Reaching out, she managed to make contact with him. Her fingers curled around his powerful shoulder. Any thoughts she might have had about sending the mystery man away vanished. Not only did he promise pleasure, he promised peace. Too long she’d been denied both.
She clung to him. “Don’t leave me,” she pleaded, desperation coating her every word. She wasn’t sure why. Sidney had thought she’d hardened herself from vulnerabilities. Obviously, she’d been wrong.
“I won’t,” he promised, easing closer to her. Still, she refused to open her eyes. He traced a finger under her right eye. “I’m here now, Sidney. You don’t have to be afraid anymore.”
“I’m not afraid.” Even she knew it was a lie but she said it all the same, scooting closer to him.
His muscular arms enveloped her body. He tugged her closer and a shuddered breath escaped her. “I know.” The way he said it let her know he was appeasing her. She didn’t care. It was comfort and she was starved for what he offered. So many others of his kind she’d refused, battled with all she had while locked away. Him, she seemed instantly drawn to and so far, she sensed no trickery on his part.
“No games,” he whispered, his lips brushing her ear. “I told you that you can trust me and I mean it.”
She would have questioned how it was he tapped into her thoughts but others of his kind had done similar things in the past. Of course, when they did it, it felt like someone was pealing back the layers of her mind with a sharp object. Not even a hint of pain lingered with this one. He read her thoughts and emotions with ease and without harming her.
Unsure how much time had passed, Sidney squirmed slightly, still staying close to him. She stretched her legs and then pulled them back up, keeping them tucked in near her.
“Talk to me, Sidney,” he said, his embrace warm. “Tell me something about yourself. About your past. Anything.”
“I once had a dog named Copper,” she blurted out, not exactly sure why. “He’s dead now though.” Her father had shared the news with her on one of his
many visits. Sidney had been heartbroken, but her father’s attempts to talk her into agreeing to “get better” had overshadowed the dog’s passing. It would have been easy enough to convince the doctors and the hospital staff that she wasn’t crazy and that she’d found her way back from whatever mental disorder they’d labeled her with that week. She didn’t because her safe haven was just that—a place she knew well and where she knew she could take on the men from the stars and hopefully prevail. In the outside world, the real one, she wasn’t so sure she could handle it all.
The compulsion to talk to the man took over. “I like to read. Dr. Marmora is good about bringing me books. When I was little, I liked to draw and paint. It’s lost some of its shine now though.”
“But you haven’t,” he said. It was odd and she found herself snuggling against him.
“Funny. I feel like I’ve lost all my shine.”
“You haven’t,” he assured.
Smiling, Sidney found herself blurting out more details about herself and her life. They weren’t secrets but they were pieces of information about herself that she’d never shared with any of the star men before. Time passed slowly and she even noticed herself caressing him as she spoke. He listened quietly, providing the comfort she hungered for.
“Do you have a favorite ice cream?”
She laughed at his question. It seemed out of place but worked to help forge the connection she felt building between them. “I don’t really get to try too many flavors in here. It’s vanilla or chocolate. That’s it.”
“Sometime soon,” he confessed, “I’d like to take you out of here. You could taste as many flavors as you want then.”
She tensed. Leave the hospital? She clutched his arm, her fingers digging deep.
“Sidney,” he said. “It’s okay. I’m not asking you to leave right this minute. I can see you’re not ready for that but I won’t lie, I would like you to leave here.” It was his turn to stiffen as if he were awaiting her answer. “Even just for ice cream?”
A tiny snort fell free from her. “You mean like go on a date with you and at the end of it, you’d kiss me good night on the doorstep to the loony bin?”
His laugh was deep and created a fluttering sensation deep in her belly. “Do they give you a curfew here?”
She knew he was joking and it was appreciated. Twisting somewhat in his arms, Sidney’s body ignited. His lips eased over hers and she tensed, her eyes still shut tight.
“Sidney,” he said softly, touching her chin. “If I continue to shield myself from your view, will you open your eyes?”
“I can’t.”
“Why?” he asked.
“What if you turn out to be like the rest?” She bit her lower lip. “Worse yet, what if I’m imagining you?”
“I’m not and you’re not,” he soothed, tapping the end of her nose lightly. “Please. Open your eyes. You have beautiful ones.”
“Promise not to show yourself first.”
A manly chuckle followed. “I promise.”
Opening her eyes, Sidney half expected to find herself staring at the mystery man. She saw nothing yet knew he was still there, holding her, his mouth close to hers. His lips swept over hers again and she moaned, parting her lips. The feel of his tongue inching around hers had her falling against him, allowing him to take the lead.
Aland knew the kiss was no small victory. He also knew he wouldn’t be satisfied with just a small taste of her. She was pure perfection. Everything he wanted in a woman and more. She tipped her head, giving him a better angle to increase their kiss. He seized the moment, his tongue lacing around hers.
Tightness in his jeans reminded him of the power he was allowing the beauty before him to have. Already she made his cock respond faster than any other woman ever had. He made sweeping, swirling motions in her mouth, mapping it boldly with his tongue.
She broke the kiss, her breathing heavy. Her forehead came to a rest against his lips. “Why did I do that? Why did I kiss you?”
“I kissed you,” he corrected, putting his hands on both sides of her head. He cupped her face gently, forcing her to look upwards. She seemed so lost. His chest ached and guilt nearly consumed him for having left her there so long. “I’m going to do it again, Sidney. You need to understand that.”
Something flashed in her eyes and he could have sworn it was desire. That was all the incentive he needed to return to sampling her mouth. She moaned and he drank it away as he continued kissing her. She fidgeted and he held tighter to her face, ensuring she’d accept him. Before long, it was Sidney who was trying to up the heat level of their actions. He smiled against her mouth and she bit his jaw lightly. There was a wild, wanton woman in her, wanting to be free.
Purring, she rubbed her body against his. His cock twitched, damn near spilling come in his jeans. “Fuck, Sid. You’re killing me here.”
“Mmm, yes, fuck,” she repeated, her hands roaming over the planes of his chest. Aland had to make a conscious effect to keep himself masked from her view. All he wanted to do was drag her to the floor and ram his cock deep into her. She wasn’t quite ready for that, no matter how willing she seemed to be at the moment.
“Touch me,” she pleaded, her voice small. “Please.”
Unable to deny her, Aland ran the backs of his fingers down the front of her body. The thin material of her clothing allowed him to feel her skin. Sidney grabbed his wrist with both her hands and yanked it down, forcing his hand between her legs. “Here. Touch me here. I ache.”
Dampness already resided there and he knew she’d be wet. He clenched his teeth, willing himself to walk away. To let her be.
He couldn’t.
He put his palm against her mound. “Like this?”
“More,” she said, nodding.
He rubbed his hand against her clothed pussy and used his free hand to grab himself through his thick jeans. Sidney whimpered and he knew she needed more. He tugged open the top of her pajama bottoms and swirled his index finger just under her navel.
She hissed, tossing her head back and letting her legs open wide for him. He dipped his hand lower, bringing in the use of his magik as well to ensure her the ultimate pleasure. As much as Aland wanted to drive his fingers into her hot, wet entrance, he resisted. He settled for parting her folds and rubbing her swollen clit while allowing his magik to ease into her cunt, slow at first and then faster.
Sidney nearly shot off the floor at the feel of the magikal fingers spreading her pussy, making her cry out.
“So tight, une srecota moje, so warm,” her mystery man whispered against her temple.
Sidney clawed the door, needing something, anything to ground her as pleasure built. She turned her head to the side and bit her lip, hoping to block her mind from the sensual onslaught. It didn’t work. The power increased as did her pleasure. She gasped as the magik slipped into her body, pushing past her entrance and deep into her pussy. She rocked against it, moaning as an orgasm neared.
It was too much yet not nearly enough.
The energy continued, buzzing about, running over her and bringing with it pleasure. The star men had tried something similar with her before but her inborn gifts and power had retaliated with no thought on her part. This was different. This she wanted.
She opened her legs more and turned her head, panting. The power moved in and out of her cunt, mimicking a cock.
A really fucking big cock.
“Come for me,” the man whispered, his voice calming while the power was hot and branding. “I feel what you feel, Sidney. Give me this gift.”
There was no logical reason why she should obey him but she did. She arched her back to him, nodding as she closed her eyes tight again. She bit her lower lip as the pressure between her legs increased. The energy paid close attention to her clit. It tweaked it with skill, sending her closer to the edge of culmination. She thrashed her head back and forth as her legs began to quiver. Her belly tightened and a sensation like none other crashed into her and
rippled through her entire body.
“Ah yes, une srecota moje. Look at how beautiful you are, covered in my power and sated.”
Opening her eyes, Sidney half expected to actually see the bringer of pleasure. He was still masking himself from her. It was probably for the best. It was easier for her to be brave when she wasn’t staring at the harsh reminder of what hunted her day in and day out.
The power around her began to caress her once more. “Mmm, Sidney, already I can’t get enough of you.”
She couldn’t go through that again. He’d confused her. Made her want him.
Sidney drew upon her inborn gifts and thrust out energy, needing air, anything to clear her head. “No!”
The magik and the hand down her pants jerked away as if she’d scalded them. She knew the source of the power still lingered, waiting and watching her. She also knew he wouldn’t harm her. The strangest sense of peace settled back over her, chasing away the demons in her mind.
Curious, she tipped her head and stared around the room, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. Still, she saw no one. She felt him though. The distinctively male presence was close.
She let out a shaky laugh and thumped her head against the door. The hollow sound echoed throughout the room. If she didn’t stop, Barry would return and worry more about her. “You’re the first one who hasn’t terrified me.”
Sidney wasn’t sure why she admitted that to him and felt no need to take it back. It was the truth. Something she rarely saw much of anymore. Her life was a lie, encouraged by her to ensure she drew the star men close to her, not her sister or her cousin.
Memories of her sister Phoebe filled her head. It had been far too long since Phoebe had visited and Sidney understood why. Almost two full years since Phoebe had arrived in the common room to spend a half hour with her. Sure, Sidney’s parents still visited often enough but it wasn’t the same. It was hard for her sister to see her locked away like a caged animal. It was even harder knowing Phoebe was out in the world, unprotected.
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