“Fuck me hard, big boy,” she called out, balancing herself with one hand while the other one slipped into her pussy. He pulled on her tits harder, thrusting into her as far as he could and holding her there.
“Yes,” she cried, spreading her legs wider for him to impale her. He nearly lifted her up as he pulled out and thrust in again, deeper and harder.
“Oh!” she moaned, her fingers still dancing on her clit. She tossed her head, pressing against him. As she enjoyed him filling her up, she opened her eyes for a moment and saw the Harmoni mural glimmering and glinting.
“We’re doing it,” she cried.
“We are?” Devin looked over at the painting. The excitement of seeing it shimmering into life spurred him to filling her deeper and completely.
“We’re almost there,” she cried as the trembling waves of orgasm engulfed her. With throbbing pleasure coursing through her, she grew aware of a breeze rustling her hair. She shuddered in delight, squealing as she savored the ride. The darkened mural of Harmoni split along the wall. A violet light spilled forth from a crack. The floor seemed invisible or transparent, a violet-and-blue carpet of grass and fauna.
“More. We’re so close.” She pushed him backward until he was sitting on the couch. She never missed a beat as she took control by pushing herself from him and shifting her hands to his thighs. She filled herself, feeling his reactions to gauge how well she was doing in pleasuring him.
Devin was very pleased as he laid his head back, not caring that Harmoni was spilling into his living room, unfolding and transforming before him. Adele was transfixed as the more she headed towards a second powerful climax, the fuller the room—or, rather, the trees and bushes were growing.
“We’re doing it,” she said. “You and I, creating magic, creating history. We’re creating a brand-new world.”
Devin held her pinned, trembling on the verge of his own climax. “I’m afraid if I come, I’ll lose our Harmoni.”
“I don’t know,” Adele said. “Oh, God, I’m coming again.”
As another wave of pleasure rushed through her, they were in Harmoni again.
“We’re here,” she sighed. “We made it.”
“Oh, Lord,” Devin cried as he looked around, slowly pulling himself from her. His erection was still full as he had prevented himself from coming. Adele looked down at his swollen cock.
“I feel so bad. I want you to come,” she said.
“It’s okay. I’d rather be here. I can come anytime.”
Devin was gasping, his breath short as he sat on the grass, trying to calm his excitement. The couch was with them, and Adele gathered up their clothes and they put them on. She felt in her caftan pockets for her obsidian ball and herb pouch, then gave Devin his clothes. He held them, looking up at the sky.
Harmoni didn’t feel as pleasant as it had in the past. The sky was dark and murky, and the wind was a bit chilly. Adele didn’t like how things felt at all. She looked at Devin. His aura was dark, and it frightened her.
“Are you okay?” she asked, sitting close, rubbing his shoulders.
“I’m fine,” he said, standing. He put on his clothes quickly. “We have to find the house again.”
Adele looked at the sky. In the distance dark, menacing clouds were rolling toward them. She wasn’t even certain they were clouds; after all, they were in a strange land where anything could happen.
“Maybe today isn’t a good day to be here,” she said. “Maybe we should come back another time.”
“No, we tried too hard to get here. We should find the house, find that lady,” Devin said.
“But why? What does it matter?”
“I don’t know, but we need to do it.”
She pressed her lips tightly together, not sure what to say.
He started to walk purposefully and quickly, and she had to work hard to follow him. They climbed hills and searched from the peaks for the house but couldn’t see it.
“I’m sure it’s not far,” he said. “It was right over there somewhere, I’m sure it was.”
He barrelled off down the hill, and Adele ran after him. She thought he was on the right path as well, going toward where they had been before, so she followed. They walked through woods and along the stream. They went up and down more hills, but still there was no sign of the house.
“I don’t think it’s anywhere,” Adele said. “Maybe we’re not meant to find it this time.”
“No, we need to find it. We have to find it.”
Adele rubbed the obsidian ball in her pocket, hoping that whatever protective powers it held would prove valuable, should they need them.
Devin’s whole countenance had changed. He marched along the paths, looking through trees and shrubs for a glimpse of the house.
“It’s so big. I don’t know how we could miss it,” Adele said. “Maybe we took a wrong turn. It would be easy to do. So many of the paths look the same.”
“I guess. But I was so sure...” Devin frowned and wiped the sweat from his forehead. His aura was dark purple and black, with threads of red and orange snaking through it.
Maybe he’s frustrated because he hasn’t come. Maybe he needs to come for the house to appear.
“Devin?” Adele asked quietly.
“What?” Devin snapped.
“I was wondering if maybe you need to come, to get some of the agitation out. Maybe it would make the house appear.”
“No, I don’t think so,” Devin said sharply. “It’s nothing to do with the house. Goddammit, where is it?”
“Why do you care so much? We can come back another time.”
“But I need to go there now. I need to see.”
“See what?”
“Does it matter? Do you really care? Are you in my head?”
“No, that’s not—”
“Then keep your thoughts to yourself. We have to find this place.”
Adele walked on, what little enthusiasm she held dissipating by the minute. The walking, whether dream or reality, was exhausting her. She followed him through paths she was certain they’d already explored. They ended up back at the couch, and she sighed in frustration.
“We’re not getting anywhere,” she said.
“So it seems. Shit.” Devin sat down heavily on the couch. He put his face in his hands, his anger and frustration swirling in dark circles around him. Adele sat beside him and put her hand on his back. Waves of anger and frustration ebbed through her fingers. She leaned into him, closing her eyes, wishing hard that they could get back to the happy moments they had shared mere hours, minutes, whatever time was here, before.
Faster than Adele could blink, they were back in the apartment, the mural of Harmoni dark and dismal on the wall before them. Devin sat up with a start, as if just waking up.
“What happened?” he asked, his eyes wide as he looked around his apartment. His gaze fell on his mural. “Why is my painting so dark?”
“We went to Harmoni,” Adele said.
“We did?” He ran his hands through his hair. “I don’t remember.”
“You don’t?”
“No.”
“You don’t remember how you were insistent on looking for the house again?”
Devin shook his head. He stared at Adele.
“You weren’t very pleasant,” she said.
“I wasn’t? Maybe you had a dream.”
“No, it was no dream. No more than before.”
“Well, I’m sorry.”
“Sure,” Adele said.
Devin took her hand. “No, I am. Whatever happened, I’m sorry.” Adele looked into his wide eyes and knew he was telling the truth. But his aura was still unsettling, rings of darkness rising from him.
“I’m sure you are, if you remembered,” Adele said.
“Well, I am. I feel like I’m apologizing for going on a bender.”
“It’s okay. These things happen,” Adele said as she stood and went to fetch her coat. “I’m going now.”
&nbs
p; Devin frowned. “You’re not mad at me, are you?” he asked.
Adele shrugged. “I’m freaked out.”
“You don’t have to go.”
“Yes, I’m going to go. I need to go,” she said, buttoning up her coat.
Devin went over to her and wrapped his arms around her. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’m just going to go.”
Once Adele was out in the night air, she was able to think clearly again. The experience in Harmoni weighed on her mind. She knew logically that Devin wasn’t perfect. Nor did she expect him to be. Lord knew she wasn’t perfect. Far from it.
It was his insistence at finding that house again that creeped her out. She wondered why he wanted to go there so badly. It had been like he was possessed.
She trudged through the slushy streets, enjoying the mildness of the night. It still was cold, but not winter cold anymore. Spring would come, as it did every year. But it wasn’t there yet.
In the distance, there was the distant howl of a wolf. Her skin crawled to hear it, and she wondered if maybe the wolf had been responsible for the murders. It wasn’t likely. But she never forgot that in a town such as Hermana, anything was possible.
Chapter Seven
Don’t let other people’s problems sabotage your own life.
The shark held her in its mouth as it swam rapidly toward the shore. Adele screamed, trying to pry its mouth open enough to pull her legs out, but it wasn’t possible. Rose petals were thick in the water, thick in the air, slapping her face, preventing her from seeing and breathing. The smell of roses was cloying, gagging her with its perfume.
“Help,” she cried, hoping someone somewhere could hear or see her. She couldn’t tell if the lifeguard was on the beach or not.
“Help me,” she cried again as the shark leaped from the water, holding her tight in its jaws. She stared down at the ocean, at the petals bobbing on the surface.
If only Devin were there to help her.
* * *
Adele woke, sweating and crying. She hugged her pillow, squeezing her eyes shut against the nightmare images that haunted her. As the dream faded, her crying subsided. She flipped over onto her back, exhausted.
She ached to feel Devin’s arms around her. Strong arms that would engulf her and scare away the shark.
Yet would he?
Her thoughts strayed back to the previous night. She acknowledged her new unease with him. She sensed he was leading her into danger, and that didn’t bode well with her at all.
But maybe he hadn’t come with her that time. Maybe that was why he didn’t remember anything. Maybe she had dreamed the visit to Harmoni all on her own. Or maybe his frustration and agitation at not being able to find the house was related to his pent-up sexual energy.
No matter. She had to get ready for work and start her day.
She went over to the bulletin board where she had pinned up one of Gwen’s astrological charts. The planets were all clumped up, and she wondered if that was auspicious or just the opposite.
In trying to read the trines and houses and aspects, she only grew more confused. She decided to check her Internet horoscopes instead. At least they were in English.
The energy surrounding you today makes you distracted and edgy. Beware of secrets and sabotage.
Well, isn’t that just lovely? she thought.
She clicked off the computer and finished preparing for her day.
* * *
Natasha came into the store late in the morning. She wore dark glasses and a scarf wrapped around her head. Her presence surprised Adele—she was rarely out and about during the day. Natasha’s aura was spinning, and looking at her made Adele dizzy.
“Oh, Adele, I need to talk to you. Do you have time to go for a coffee?”
Adele looked over at Lindsay, who shrugged and nodded. “It’s pretty slow today. I’m sure I can manage.”
A few minutes later, Adele sat across from Natasha in a dim corner of the coffee shop. They ordered coffees, and Adele waited expectantly for Natasha to begin.
“It’s so confusing,” Natasha said. “I don’t mean to burden you with my problems, but I need an opinion.”
“What?”
“It’s Gus. He’s been acting so strange.”
“In what way?”
Natasha sighed. “I mean, he’s always been kind of weird. But what’s been going on takes the cake.”
“What?”
“He keeps disappearing on me. He says we’re going to meet somewhere and he doesn’t show. When I do find him, he’s distracted and grumpy. He’s not himself.”
“Well, he is a... different kind of person,” Adele said.
“I know. It’s just that with all the murders going on and his strange behavior...”
The waitress came with their coffees and set them down. Natasha continued, “I hate to suggest it, think it, even entertain the idea for a moment, but I’m not so sure...”
“You don’t think he’s responsible?”
“I don’t know. You know what he is. You know what I am.”
“Well, from what I understand, the murders are rather strange. There are no marks, and there’s lots of blood still in the bodies.”
“I’ve heard that,” Natasha said. “Because, you know, I was worried people might think it’s me. I don’t kill unless I have to. And I don’t do it where I live. That’s not smart at all. I try very hard to keep my business out of Hermana.”
“Do you?” Adele didn’t know much about Natasha and how she fed. She only knew a bit about the situation.
“Gus promised to do the same. I hope he has.”
“Well, like I said, the forensic patterns don’t really point to him either, do they?”
“I guess not. I don’t think he’d leave enough for anyone to find.”
“And didn’t you guys do some charts for him?” Adele asked. “To track him? Is he in an unsettled time right now?”
“You know, he did warn me a couple of weeks ago that there were some planetary configurations coming up that would result in some chaos. I guess this is that time.”
“I would venture to say that it is. Maybe he’s just trying to cope and not drag you into it.”
“Perhaps. There is that.” Natasha leaned forward earnestly. “I mean it when I say I have nothing to do with this. I really do.”
“I believe you,” Adele said.
“So what do I do about Gus?”
“You can either be patient with him while he sorts through his stuff, or you can dump him. Seems pretty clear to me,” Adele said.
“I guess you’re right. Maybe I’m just not available enough to him, though it seems like all I do these days is wonder where he is and what he’s up to.”
“Well, Natasha, you’ve been around long enough to know you have to live your own life. In the end, he’s going to do whatever he’s going to do, and there’s not much you can do about it. And hopefully, he doesn’t have anything to do with the murders that have been going on.”
“True,” Natasha sighed.
They both drank their coffee in silence.
“I think men can be moodier than women sometimes,” Adele offered.
“You hit that nail on the head. I think Gus is the king of moody sometimes. Damn Geminis and their split personalities.” Natasha grinned.
Adele laughed. “At least you know what to expect in the unexpected.”
They sipped their coffee, the mood lighter. Natasha’s aura held hopeful sparkles of silver that glittered in the darkness of the room. She looked at her watch.
“Oh my, I’m taking up all your time. I’d better let you get back to work, and I’ve got to try to get some sleep. Too much sun and not enough sleep will play havoc with my complexion.” Natasha smiled as she slipped her sunglasses over her hair in preparation for the outside. She stood, and Adele followed suit.
She hugged Adele warmly. “Thank you for listening to me. As old as I am, I’ve never been able to figure out men.�
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“You have a very special case there. I think he means well, and he does seem to adore you. You just have to be patient, if that’s what you want.”
“I want,” Natasha said as she wrapped her scarf around her neck and flipped it up behind her hair like an Elizabethan ruff. Adele had to avert her eyes from the growing swirls of silver glitter sparkling out from her.
“As for you, young Adele,” Natasha said as she took Adele’s hands. “You must be patient with him.”
“But I barely know him,” Adele said. “I don’t know if he’s worth patience yet.”
“He will be. You have to trust him.”
“I wish I knew how you knew things,” Adele said. “How do you do it? Do you see it? Hear it?”
“It depends. Mostly it’s ghosts telling me things. I can sometimes hear them,” she said. “And sometimes I feel things. Sometimes I just know. I don’t know how I know, I just do.”
“Maybe it’s because you’ve seen so much. You understand human nature and patterns.”
“Maybe,” Natasha said. “I’ll walk you back to the store since it’s on my way.” She put a
few bills down on the table, and they ventured back out into their lives.
* * *
It seemed as though Adele had only been working a few minutes when she remembered she had a lunch engagement with her friends. She took a quick glance in the mirror and informed Lindsay she was leaving again. Lindsey grinned. “Take your time. It hasn’t exactly been Grand Central Station,” she said.
“The March doldrums. Yep.”
“After the insanity of Christmas and Valentine’s Day, it feels like this place could run on automatic pilot.”
“Don’t worry. Once tourist season hits, you’ll be dreaming of these slow days. I know I will be.”
Adele hurried down the street toward the tavern where lunch was being held. She was only twenty minutes late, and Ellie came breezing in on her heels. Adele pulled off her coat and hung it on the hook on a nearby booth, then slid into the bench seat geared to hold eight facing each other.
Maggie waved at her. “Hi, Adele.”
“Hi, Maggie, Ursula, Dorothy,” Adele greeted them. She turned to see Ellie hanging up her coat. “Hey, Ellie.”
Pisces: Teacher's Pet Page 12
