* * * *
Brand was pacing the hallway like a caged tiger when Aniela quietly entered the house. Coincidentally, when he’d wanted to talk to her earlier, she had been off visiting one of her cronies. Holly’s parting words repeated in his head as the day wore on, putting him in a foul mood. Who was she to judge? She didn’t know him or the circumstances surrounding that night. Unless Colwyn told her or she heard people talking around town.
Brand stopped in the middle of the hall and crossed his arms over his chest. “Where have you been?”
“Last I noticed, young man, I am old enough to stay out all night if I wish to.” She gave him a dark look. He just managed to dodge a calculated swing of her cane as it brushed dangerously close to one of his shins.
“We need to talk. Holly is crazy.” He twirled a finger around his temple.
“Oh, dear. She told you?” Aniela handed him a heavy box and moved past him. He followed her down the hall to the kitchen. “I was hoping to ease you into it. Just tell you a little at a time. Where is she?”
“Upstairs. You believe her?”
“Of course, I freed her from the snowflake.”
Brand sat down hard on one of the antique chairs. “Tell me this is just one big joke you cooked up. She must have hypnotized you? Used some kind of nerve gas? Made you a tea out of special leaves?”
His aunt gave him a sharp look as she opened the box he had practically dropped on the table, and lifted out a large plate of holiday cookies. “I’m going to pretend that you didn’t just question my intelligence. I know what happened. I found the ornament hidden in an antique box. I found the spell that released her and I freed the poor thing. She was terrified when she appeared in front of me. Not knowing where she was or how much time had passed. Really it was heartbreaking.”
“A spell? What kind of spell? Don’t you need a magic wand or herbs or some sort of circle?”
“You’ve been watching that TV show with the three skinny girls again. Welcome to real life. Magic isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes all you have to do is believe in something for it to work. I know I don’t have any children, though certainly not from a lack of trying. You know I just never found the right man, or two that could keep up to me.”
“Ewwwww,” Brand groaned and debated on covering his ears. Fortunately, she realized his discomfort and didn’t say any more on the subject. Wiping her hands on a tea towel first, she crooked a finger at him. He dutifully followed her into the living room where a large decorated Christmas tree stood. She plucked a snowflake ornament off the tree and handed it to him. She was etched in the middle there as plain as day.
Brand stood there inspecting the innocent-looking ornament as his aunt filled him in on the details of Holly’s appearance.
“There has to be a reason all this happened. She needed to forgive herself for trying to curse that man so many years ago. Maybe you need to do the same. I love you and always thought of you as my own child. All I want is for you to be happy.”
Unable to think of anything to say, he just sat there, holding the beautiful crystal ornament. Imagining for a moment what it would look like with Holly trapped in there. Purgatory in its truest form. All that life and energy trapped in an emotionless prison of perfection.
His chest tightened as he thought about Brittany’s death. He hadn’t been in love with her, but he’d allowed her to assume otherwise. That had been his crime—he’d always wanted to try a ménage and had used her feelings for him to manipulate the situation. He’d talked Colwyn into joining them in bed one night and forced the issue with her. When she had reacted badly to the idea, he’d let her get behind the wheel of a car. What kind of man let anyone drive, knowing it wasn’t a good idea?
While he’d sat around getting drunk and feeling sorry for himself, angry that the situation hadn’t gone well, Brittany had died an icy death wrapped around a tree. For the last ten years, he’d believed he didn’t deserve to be loved. In a way, he had trapped himself in a prison of numbers and cold, emotionless computer programs denying himself a friendship that he felt he didn’t deserve. Not much different than the sterile crystal Holly had been trapped in.
“Brand, I know what happened that night. Colwyn told me.”
He felt a familiar bitterness wash over him. “Is there anyone that Colwyn didn’t tell?”
“Hey!” His aunt pinched the back of his arm. The sudden sharp pain made him jump. “Don’t you dare try to blame everything on him. He stayed here, Brand, and never said a word to anyone about what happened. There were some people who blamed him for her death and said that he was the one who upset her, and he never spoke of it. I knew there had to be more to it and I made that boy tell me the truth.”
A deep-seated guilt pounded at Brand, the same guilt he’d felt for the last decade but had tried to bury away. He’d known that there might be gossip, which was why he’d left so quickly, and thought that Colwyn would be going to school in the city and would avoid the gossip mill.
“I was a self-centered asshole, I still am.”
“Sweets, you were a confused teenage boy and the whispers didn’t last long. Especially when everyone realized you weren’t coming back. Everyone knew how deep your friendship with Colwyn was, and Brittany’s death, while tragic, wasn’t the only casualty that night.”
“I don’t know what to do.”
“Yes, you do.”
She tilted her face to the side and Brand leaned over and pressed a kiss against her cheek.
“You’re a good boy.” She patted his cheek. “I’ll see you in the morning. Don’t eat all the cookies.”
Brand didn’t need a silly story to tell him that he was destined to love Holly. Deep down, he’d known the second that damned cake smacked him in the chest. He could tell that she cared for Colwyn, too. His most heartfelt wishes were being handed to him on a silver platter if he wanted them, but did he deserve it?
Carefully, he hung the snowflake back on the tree, watching the multicolored lights reflect through its heart. Whatever she was or wasn’t, he didn’t care. He planned on taking the next sixty-five plus years finding out. Knowing her, she would keep him guessing, too.
Determined, he headed upstairs to her room, stopping to watch her from the doorway. She moved like a silk scarf caught on the breeze, soft and graceful and sexy as hell. When she bent over to pick a piece of paper up, he actually clenched his hands behind his back. Her skirt framed her ass beautifully. Her clothes might be flamboyant but it had driven him mad all day wondering what she looked like under all those layers. He would tell her how he felt and then convince her that it was safe to tell him everything.
Later.
Right now, he wanted to discover if they were attuned in other ways. He wanted to wrap his fingers around her hips and pull her back against him. His jeans became painfully tight when he visualized the pretty shade of pink her ass would turn after a couple smacks. As if she read his mind she straightened, slowly turning her head as if she feared what stood behind her. She was right to be concerned.
The soft glow from some lit candles encased the room in its warm light. A soft blush stained her cheeks and fiery highlights flickered in her hair. He flexed his fingers, fighting the heightened awareness she brought out of him. He could imagine the silken strands curling around his fingers, burrowing his face in the downy softness at the back of her neck and nipping at the sensitive skin there. After waiting what felt like forever, he saw her peek over her shoulder at him. A flicker of awareness crossed her features, and then wariness. Her pink tongue darted out to wet her lower lip. That invoked memories of earlier, and he could remember her taste and the feel of her skin.
* * * *
Holly’s heart pounded so hard inside her chest he must have been able to hear it. Why wasn’t he moving? His footsteps had echoed down the hall but had stopped at the doorway. Pride kept her from turning around immediately and throwing herself at him. But an intense feeling slipped along her back. It was as if she could fe
el his hands on her. She turned then, expecting to see him standing right behind her.
The look on his face heated her from head to toe and especially all the parts between. The way he gripped either side of the door, leaning forward toward her. The blatant look of hunger on his face. The pounding of her heart slid up into her throat, and her mouth went dry. She remembered what it felt like to be in his arms, to feel cherished and precious.
Suddenly, he lunged at her, swooping her up into his arms and crushing his lips against hers. Hard and punishing, a thumb pressed against her chin, forcing her mouth open so that he could sweep in and take possession, which is exactly what he did. No holds barred, she couldn’t help but sway against him. Following his lead, she wrapped her legs around his waist as he grabbed her butt and hauled her up against him.
Her blood pounded hot in her veins. It felt as if she waited forever for this moment. Desperation clouded her brain. She didn’t want to leave him or this world. She wanted to stay, but it wasn’t meant to be. There was no way he could love her so soon. Her fingers locked themselves into his hair, holding him close. He slowly walked out of her bedroom and down the hall. His hard cock stroked against her as he walked. Each step teased her more. Brand supported her as she arched her hips to increase the friction. If it feels like this with layers of clothes between us, how exquisite will it be when we’re naked? She moaned against his lips, quivering in his arms. A little more, a few more steps, and she was certain she would discover if Brand could make her orgasm while still fully clothed.
“Oh, no, you don’t. Not yet. I think you need to slow down a bit. Don’t want this to end before I get all your clothes off.”
“Then hurry up.” Her lips caressed his neck as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Knowing it drove him insane, she wriggled in his arms, silently hurrying him along as he carried her to his room. Her feet touched the floor as he kicked the door shut. The predatory look was back. He dropped to his knees in front of her, nuzzling her belly with his lips as his fingers slid up under her skirt and skimmed the edge of her panties.
He caressed her mons and slipped between her legs, moaning deep in his throat when his fingers encountered the soaked cotton. “Jeezus, sweetheart, you’re so wet.”
He scooped her up and tossed her down on his bed. He peeled his shirt off and she watched as he removed the rest of his clothes. I’d love to see him do this to music. She was too impatient to ask this time. She held her arms up to him, but he gave her a mischievous grin and leapt between her knees. She sat up, laughing. “You missed me.”
“Oh, no. I didn’t.” He flipped her skirt out of the way and dipped his head down, running his tongue along the edge of her panties. “Lay back, sweetheart. Trust me.”
She flopped back, pressing her hands against her eyes. She couldn’t watch. His breath felt hot through the thin barrier, a quiver racking her body when he ran a tongue over the material. Sliding his hands under her hips and lifting, she felt him pull her panties down and off her legs, leaving her open and bare to his gaze.
“Now this is my favorite color. All pink and pretty.” Long fingers caressed the sensitized skin, getting wetter with each pass, and swirled around the hooded nub. Wrenching another gasp from her, he slipped a long finger inside and rubbed deep inside. She planted her feet on the bed, lifting her hips and rocking to the rhythm he created. One hand clenched the sheets, the other was buried in his hair. Gasping for air, she actually growled at him when he moved up her body.
“You’re going to need a bit more patience, sweetheart. I can’t do much with all these clothes on you.” He tucked his fingers under the hem of her sweater and slowly inched it up her torso. “We’re going to take this layer by layer.”
That’s what you think. It only took a heartbeat to dissolve the glamour that created her clothes.
“Holy shit! What happened to your clothes?” Brand’s eyes were wide in shock and Holly almost laughed at the look on his face. Because she watched him so carefully, she saw the moment his expression changed. The shock melted under the heat of desire. She didn’t want to answer his questions right now, not when her body ached for touch.
“Brand, please…” She rocked her hips toward him. Her gaze clashed with his, the bright green pierced her, hungry and aggressive.
He leaned closer and looked down at her, a ghost of a smile on his lips as he boldly ran his fingers over her damp curls. “Exquisite,” he whispered as he stroked her.
Holly could feel her limbs tremble at his touch. The emotions that pounded through her were as intense as the ones Colwyn inspired.
Brand stroked deeper and gently parted her swollen labia and ran his thumb down between them. Her hips jerked up instinctively. “That feels so good.”
She watched as he lifted his hand and licked the moisture from the pad of his thumb. “You taste so sweet. I could get addicted to you.” He stroked her again with his thumb and this time, painted her lower lip with moisture. “You try.”
Brand watched her intently as her tongue darted out, tasting herself. Her musky essence danced along her tongue and she heard Brand groan deep in his throat just before he attacked. He pressed her thighs far apart, allowing him full access, rising above her like one of the gods of old. His muscular chest and tight stomach would rival any deity.
Brow creased with concentration, he slipped his hard cock just inside her, stretching her slowly, inch by inch. The slow intensity that his movements caused stole her breath for a moment. She wanted more. She needed more. Now. “Brand, stop being such a good boy and fuck me the way I need it.”
* * * *
Such aggressive words coming out of such a sweet mouth. Could she be any more perfect? He fought the urge to plunge into her hot depths and kept his strokes very shallow. He enjoyed teasing, but also allowing her to get used to him. She was so fucking tight, he didn’t want to hurt her, but the drive to bury himself deep within her was almost too hard to bear.
“You’re going to regret that.” He growled, lifting her legs up over his shoulders, and drove deep into her wetness, pounding into her as she urged him on. He watched as her head tilted back and she cried out his name. Even as her orgasm washed over them both, he clenched his teeth and thought of hockey stats.
He lunged in and out of her, loving every moment of this pace. There was no way he could keep it up for long. Her sweet body arched up against him and she circled her hips with every stroke. Already he could feel a white-hot burning in his groin and his balls pulled up tight against his body.
Just as he feared he wasn’t going to be able to hold out much longer, her body clenched around him again. The muscles in her pussy rhythmically fluttered along his length as her heels dug into his shoulders. She was so flexible, he was able to mold his lips to hers and swallow her cries. Burying his face in her neck, he bit down on her soft skin to stop from hollering his own release when it came.
He gently untangled her legs from his shoulders before collapsing beside her. Wrapping his arms around her, he drew her close to his chest and waited until their hearts slowed. He drifted his fingers lightly over her back, drawing innocuous patterns over her soft skin. She fit perfectly in his arms, but there was something missing. It was the same thing that felt missing from his life for the last ten years. He wanted Colwyn here. “Why did you leave, Brand?”
If anyone else had asked him that, he would have told them to mind their own business, but Holly was different. He wanted to share a part of himself with her as much as he wanted to share her with Colwyn.
“Because, I felt guilty for forcing two people I cared about into a situation that caused so much pain. All for my own selfish wants. I told myself that it was something we all wanted. I thought if I could get us all together at the same time it would all work out and magically fall together.”
“You didn’t force her car off the road. From what I understand, it was her driving that caused the accident.”
Brand slid away from the comfort of Holly’s bod
y. I don’t have any right to this kind of comfort when talking about this. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he rubbed his temples, feeling a familiar ache there. “Holly, she died because I let her get behind the wheel of a car knowing she was emotional. I was so angry at her reaction that I told her to leave. Colwyn wanted to stop her, but she ran from him as if he was some sort of pariah. He was my best friend and I lied to him to get him to surprise her in bed. He never would have joined us without her knowledge, but I lied to him. He was so pissed at me, and he had every right to be. The next day I found out that she was dead. It was my fault, and I couldn’t face the truth of it all. This is a small town, people talk, and I knew it would be about me, so I left. It was cowardly and selfish, and I’m not certain that I’m not doing the same thing again now.”
He felt Holly’s arms drape over his shoulders, her soft cheek pressed against his as she leaned against his back. Part of him felt like he should push her away, that he didn’t deserve this gentle touch. Regardless, he couldn’t have moved if Revenue Canada demanded it. He needed her touch more than his next breath.
“We’ve both caused pain in our lives, Brand. I cursed a man because he didn’t do what I wanted. I was selfish in my needs, too.”
“You paid for your mistake.”
“Really, do you think being trapped in a crystal cage for a mere couple centuries is punishment?”
“You were trapped for centuries?” Brand wanted to doubt, but he knew better. No matter if the black-and-white, rational part of his mind demanded proof. Sometimes things had to be accepted in Ecstasy Lake for what they were, without explanation. He spent a great deal of effort in the last decade pretending that he didn’t know any of the strange things that went on in this town.
“How long do you think you need to punish yourself?” Holly gracefully slipped into his lap, forcing him to look at her. “Time served doesn’t fix mistakes. It’s what we do afterward that matters.”
Davies, Corinne - Wrapped in Fur [3xtasy Lake 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 7
