Chapter Four
She was crazy. She knew she was crazy. Why else would she be standing on the beach at one o’clock in the morning, preparing for a spell that would call the storm and take her to Z?
It had been three days. Three days of darkened windows and restless nights. Three days of closing her eyes and seeing him, remembering how he felt against her. His kiss. Days and nights of fighting against herself, telling herself she was well rid of him, that it was good that he’d gone before he could hurt her or steal her power.
But she was hurting. It didn’t make any sense, but she’d felt his absence in the world like a gaping wound, a deep abyss of emptiness that she couldn’t logic away. She barely knew him, but she’d always known him. She’d been raised to be afraid of everything he was and everything he might be, but she had to find him.
When she did, she was going to give him hell for leaving her wanting, and for the dream she’d had last night. The one that had left her craving him like a drug.
He’d appeared before her, like he had a dozen times before, but right away she knew something was different. It felt real.
She’d stood in the middle of a field of red flowers. Poppies that were emitting a powerful scent that pushed a liquid blast of lust through her veins and between her thighs.
“When will you call the storm and come to me, Dorothy? I’ve shown you how.”
She turned to find him beside her in the field. She tried to concentrate on his words, but the sensual aroma of the flowers, the sight of him after days of absence, robbed her of coherent thought.
A part of her marveled at her actions as she knelt in the grass, hands swiftly undoing the ridiculous ties on his pants. “You might want to look into zippers, Z.”
When he didn’t respond, she looked up and gasped. Z’s expression had changed from surprised to feral. His fist curled into her hair and tugged before she could open his pants. “If you think I’ll tell you to stop, you’re crazy. I’ve been waiting too long to feel those full lips wrapped around my cock.”
Dorothy smiled. It was as if all her inhibitions had disappeared. She felt no shame, no fear, no worry about the future. She wanted to taste him more than she wanted to breathe. She spread the soft fabric of his pants and tried to wrap her fingers around his shaft.
He was so big.
Z pulled his shirt over his head with his free hand, tossing it on the ground behind him and eliciting more of that sweet, sexual scent. What kind of poppies were they?
Dorothy forgot her question at the sight of his erection and licked her lips. All she knew was that a glimmer of arousal wet the tip and she needed to taste it.
“Yes, Dorothy. Lick it, sweet. You’re just as hungry as I am.”
He tried to gently guide her mouth onto his cock, but she resisted. She wanted to tease him, to make him as crazy as he always made her. Her tongue danced on his shaft, light and provoking. Her fist loosened until he growled.
“Never tease a horny wizard.” That was the only warning she got. A flash of light lit the strangely colored sky and Dorothy blinked to find herself naked with her arms tied behind her back in the middle of the same poppy field, lying across Z’s lap with her face full of flowers.
Goddess, they smelled good. “What are they doing to me?”
“They’re intensifying your desires, easing your fears and increasing your appetite.”
“Magic,” she murmured hotly.
“Of course,” Z agreed. “But don’t pretend you wouldn’t be just as wet for me without assistance.”
She could tell his jaw was clenched from the way he spoke. He was just as affected as she was. He couldn’t stop touching her, rubbing her, pressing his rigid erection against her hip.
“Why am I tied up?” She wasn’t afraid. Just curious.
“So you won’t stop me when I do this.” His cupped hand landed right between her thighs, spanking the lips of her sex with just enough force to sting.
“Oh. My. Goddess.” He did it again. And again. Laughing because he knew she loved it. How could he doubt it? She was pressing against his soaked fingers with every swing, amazed at her reaction.
He spanked her until she felt an orgasm waiting just out of reach. Then he stopped. Z gripped her hips and slid her to her knees between his thick thighs, his massive cock pressing against her cheek. “Now finish what you started. Suck me.”
Was he kidding? She was shaking with her need, her thighs slippery with arousal. She needed to come.
He wrapped his fist around his cock and pressed it to her lips, and she knew the only way she’d find her release was if she gave him his.
Wizards.
She slid her lips over the silken head of his cock, taking him deeper while her tongue lapped at every bit of flesh it could reach. “That’s right, sweet. Take it all.”
She breathed out and loosened her throat, lowering her head into his lap. She could feel the tip of his shaft pressing against the back of her throat. He bucked his hips, fisting his hands in her hair when she swallowed around him.
Dorothy squeezed her thighs together to ease the emptiness, sucking and nibbling on his cock until he was crying out her name and pumping his climax down her throat. She swallowed greedily, unable to get enough.
She needed more.
He shivered, and then she was on her back in the poppy field, legs spread, knees pushed up past her shoulders. “I can’t wait, Dorothy. I can’t wait for you to come to me so we can do this right. I have to have you now.”
She moaned thankfully at the brush of his cock against her aching core. Finally. Finally.
Then nothing.
The angry cries of some strange animal sounded in the distance, and Dorothy opened her eyes to see Z standing over her, eyes alert. “It’s time for you to go.”
“You’re leaving me like this? Again?” She knew she sounded petulant, but they’d been so close. He lifted her to her feet apologetically.
“I wouldn’t be of much use to you if I was found in the middle of a dreamspell. I’m totally helpless until I pull myself out of it. And something is coming.”
The next thing she’d known she was waking in her own bed, tears of frustration running down her cheeks. She’d decided at that moment that she had to find him, if only to give him one good punch right in his magical jewels. She couldn’t wait until Aunt Glin got back to ask her advice. Couldn’t wait another day.
“Zenamulous.” She whispered his name to the wind and sent out her power in a way she never had before. He’d done that to her. Given her that knowledge somehow.
“I knew I’d find you here.”
Dorothy whirled around in shock. “Emily? What the hell are you doing here? Go home right now.”
Her stepsister glared mutinously. “No.”
What was going on with her? Ever since Dorothy had left her apartment that night, Emily had been calling, demanding to talk to her. Dorothy hadn’t been able or willing to deal with explanations. But nothing could stop Em when her mind was set on a goal.
“How did you know I was here?”
“I went by your place and discovered you’d left that little old lady next door in charge of Suki. She said you’d be gone for a few days, but she didn’t know where. I figured I’d stop here first since you always come here when you’re upset.”
“I do?” Dorothy hadn’t realized.
“I used to follow you to watch you doing your weird Wiccan thing. Pretending to call the wind.”
“You watched me? I never saw you. You never said anything.”
Emily shrugged, her expression uncertain. “I feel bad, Dee. Don’t ask me why. Ever since you left I’ve been feeling like I did something wrong or said something that pushed you away. And tonight I just, well, I just knew you were here and that’s kind of freaking me out. I’m not into any of that hocus-pocus. I need you to tell me what happened that night. Are you okay, Dorothy?”
“No, I’m not. But it isn’t your fault.” It wasn’t like Emily to wor
ry like this. Not about her. It was…nice. What else had Z done to her when he’d wiped her memory? “Go home, Emily. I’ll call you in a few days.”
If I make it back. If I survive. If this isn’t some elaborate trap.
“That’s weird,” Emily changed the topic abruptly. “There isn’t supposed to be a storm tonight, is there? I swear, the weather has been so strange lately.”
“Huh?” Dorothy looked out over the ocean. Black clouds roiled over the moon, coming fast and furious. And straight toward the shore.
“His name.” She’d said his name. Just a whisper. But he’d said that was all she would have to do.
“I’m not ready, damn it!” She took Emily’s arm, dragging her back toward the small hill that led to the road. “Run, Emily. Get away from that storm.”
Emily struggled against her grip. “What about you? What’s going on, Dorothy? What are you doing out here?”
The wind stole her breath, the loud roar of the powerful storm deafening. There was no time. She grabbed onto the now-screaming Emily, hugging her struggling body close and shouting at the wind. “Zenamulous!”
She thought she heard his voice inside the funnel that was forming around them. “Sweet Dorothy.”
And then the storm consumed her, the air thinning so rapidly she saw spots in front of her eyes. She was flying. She was tumbling.
She was gone.
***
Dorothy sat up slowly, groaning at the pain shooting up from her backside to her shoulder. “Not exactly a soft landing. And I’m naked. Great. Thanks for letting me know that would happen, asshole. At least I didn’t land in the middle of downtown traffic.”
“Holy. Shit.” A familiar voice swore from somewhere behind her.
Dorothy’s chin dropped to her chest in resignation. Of course she was here. “You okay, Emily?”
“I’m naked.”
She sounded so shocked that Dorothy had to laugh. “Join the club. I’d be worried, only I’m lying in a forest when I was just on the beach, the sun is shining and it looks like there’s an extra moon in the sky. Priority wise, naked isn’t exactly at the top of my list.”
“I think I’m looking at priority number one.” There was a strange timber to Emily’s voice, so strange that Dorothy got to her feet in concern. As she rounded the base of the large, purple tree, she didn’t have to ask what Emily was referring to.
“Come on, Z, you’ve got to be kidding me. A centaur?” The man-horse shuffled backward, widening his stance to aim his bow at them both. He certainly looked realistic enough. And he seemed nearly as pissed as she was.
Dorothy couldn’t decide what to cover as he openly eyed her naked body. If this were an ordinary situation, she’d no doubt be mortified. Right now, irritation reigned. When she got her hands on that wizard… “Emily, get off your butt and come stand beside me, okay?”
Emily shook her head frantically, but she did as she was told. She stopped and squeaked with fright when the centaur aimed the bow her way. “This is a dream, right? Is it food poisoning again? I ate some leftover lasagna for lunch.”
Dorothy ignored her and kept her eyes on the mythological creature threatening them. “Can you understand us? Who are you?”
He raised one brow disdainfully at her question. “I am Braxim of the Equus Clan. Who are you? And why do you speak the name of our Wizard? Did she send you to distract him with your wiles?”
Dorothy snorted. “Oh yeah, I’ve got miles of wiles. And I’m here because Z invited me. Sort of.”
“Lies. He has brought no one to our camps to service him before. She might think we’d believe it of him, knowing his proclivities, but she has never seen him at war. Now—”
“Braxim?” Emily cowered behind her, shivering, and Dorothy glared at the tall equine. “I don’t know who you’re talking about, but before you finish what promises to be a righteous and epic rant, I suggest you either shoot us or give us something to cover ourselves with. We’re not nudists and we’ve both had a rough day.”
He looked uncertain for a moment, his gaze drawn over her shoulder to the terrified Emily. His expression softening, he lowered his bow, reached into the pack thrown across his back and tossed them a shirt and a blanket. Dorothy handed the long shirt to Emily, wrapping the blanket around her body like a sarong. It was itchy and not all that flattering, but at least it covered everything important. “Thank you.”
He nodded, face sharpening with appreciation at the sight of Emily in what Dorothy could only assume was his shirt. She rolled her eyes. Males were all the same.
“Now, can you take us to your wizard?”
“All prisoners are taken back to our base. The Wizard will be there. Whether he chooses to speak to you is up to him.”
Prisoners? Emily whimpered, and Dorothy took her hand instinctively. Sibling rivalries and spite seemed out of place in a situation like this. It wasn’t like she’d asked to come along for this ride.
“Fine,” Dorothy sighed, and Braxim’s shoulders relaxed in relief. She had a feeling he was as new to this prisoner business as they were and had no real desire to harm two defenseless women. He seemed like a decent guy. For a centaur.
As they trekked through the woods, Emily’s hand gripped hers so tightly her fingers started going numb. She could only imagine how much harder this would be on someone like her sister. Centaurs and storm travel. That unavoidable extra moon. They’d definitely left normal behind a while ago. Dorothy had been raised knowing magic existed, and she was still a little overwhelmed.
A different world. Z’s world. He hadn’t been lying.
“Em, how are you holding up?”
Her chuckle was grim. “Super. I’m having a nightmare I can’t wake up from, that’s all. And when I do wake up, I’m headed straight to my therapist. She’s gonna have a field day with sexy Mr. Ed back there. Ow! Son of a bitch.”
They stopped as Emily lifted her bloody foot, leaning heavily against Dorothy. She blanched, and Dorothy remembered what a weak stomach her stepsister had. She couldn’t stand the sight of blood. Especially her own.
She was about to ask if Braxim’s pack held any bandages, when two strong hands slid beneath Emily’s arms and lifted her up onto his back. “I will carry you. It isn’t far. We’ll tend your wound when we arrive.”
Emily wavered a bit, and he gripped her hands, wrapping them around his muscular chest. “Hold on to me. I won’t let you fall.”
Emily’s blue eyes grew to the size of saucers at the feel of his smooth, rock hard flesh. “Oh my.”
“Oh brother.” Dorothy turned and started walking once more, ignoring her own sore feet and aching backside in favor of imagining the damage she was going to do to Z once she got her hands on him.
Come to me, he’d said. Well, she was here, but he was nowhere in sight. Hadn’t she heard him? Hadn’t he been the one to send the storm?
She saw the smoke from the camp less than thirty minutes later and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. She’d been a heartbeat away from begging for a turn on the centaur. Not that she had a chance in hell of making that happen. Emily, who was obviously sticking to her dreaming theory, was flirting and giggling with the handsome Braxim, who seemed to be charmed instead of irritated by her endless rambling.
Before she could take another step, a flaming bolt landed at her feet, scorching the ground in front of her. “What the fuck—”
“Gliders! I’ll give cover. Run toward the base.” Braxim slid Emily off his back beside Dorothy, turning and aiming his bow in one smooth motion. He fired off several rounds as they ran as fast as their feet would take them, adrenaline giving them speed.
Braxim was still a little ways behind, shooting toward the sky, when someone landed directly in front of them. He was covered with orange feathers, but his face was almost human. His glare didn’t look at all friendly.
“Pretty,” he sneered. “Too bad I can’t play with you, but I have my orders. The wizard doesn’t get his hands on you.” He reached fo
r Emily, his long taloned fingers gripping her by the throat, lifting her into the air.
A shout of rage sounded behind them. It was Braxim, galloping toward them with murder in his eyes. The birdman spread his wings, pushing off to soar toward the sky with Emily pressed against him.
Something inside Dorothy snapped.
Her fault. She should have forced Em to leave the beach, shouldn’t have called the storm until she was sure she was alone. Emily was a pain in the ass, but she was her pain in the ass, and she’d be damned if she let anyone hurt her if she could help it.
She threw up her hands, pushing her power with all her might. She wasn’t sure if it would work in this world, wasn’t sure it would work at all, but she had to try. Years spent controlling her emotions and hiding her magic faded in an instant as energy rushed through her, the wind whipping through her hair and crackling beneath her skin.
Five creatures flew through the sky, shooting flaming arrows at the fighters below. One of them was carrying her stepsister. All of them needed to— “Stop.”
They screeched in panic as the wind changed, stopping completely before whipping around them in individual funnels of energy. They instantly began to spin, so fast all she could see were blurs of orange, white and silver.
Dorothy gasped. She hadn’t meant to do that.
The orange blur dropped Emily to grab his head. Before she could scream out a warning or send more wind, Braxim was there, catching Emily easily in his arms.
Dorothy tried to call back her power, but she couldn’t seem to control it. It wouldn’t stop. It was killing them. Shit. She didn’t want to kill anyone.
“Stop!”
The birds froze in the sky at the sound of the booming male voice behind her.
That was what she’d meant to do.
“Go back,” the voice echoed all around her. “Go back to your lady and tell her that what she wants cannot be gained through force.”
The bird men didn’t hesitate, weaving and wobbling through the air as they attempted to regain their balance enough to escape.
Dorothy refused to turn around. She knew that voice. She’d come here to find him and spent the day limping through the forest and cursing him for not meeting her as soon as she arrived. Yet now, when he was finally close enough to touch, she hesitated.
Surrender Dorothy - KINDLE Page 4
