Running for Home

by Zenina Masters

  Juno shrugged and sipped at her tea. “I suppose an actual town where the more obvious shifters can be themselves might not be a bad idea.”

  “I believe that is precisely what Dira is currently up to. The moment that that baby is in her arms, this world is going to change.” Teal sighed. “We are just going to hold on.”

  Juno felt Derix’s approach, and she watched as Tony and the fey entered the Meditation Centre. Derix was carrying two bags.

  Juno got to her feet and walked to him. One of the bags was hers. “So, you are in?”

  Derix wrapped an arm around her and pulled her flush against him. “I have a week with you in my arms. I am definitely in.”

  His kiss was a little surprising considering the audience, but she guessed that Teal and Tony had seen worse.

  She held onto his shoulders and gave in to every hormonal impulse she had. She was wrapped around him and moaning in under a minute.

  Tony cleared his throat. “The new hotel is ready. You can go now.”

  Juno pulled away from her handsome hunter and panted. “I think that would be wise.”

  Derix grinned and released her, inclining his head to the guardians before linking an arm with her and guiding her out the door.

  They had a hike on their agenda, and it was time to get started.

  When they were out of the Crossroads proper, Derix reached into a pocket and handed her a granola bar.

  She chuckled. “Tony told you.”

  “That and you are a little grey. It isn’t a good colour for you. I prefer you cream or orange.”

  She munched the bar as they walked. “You make me sound like an ice cream.”

  He laughed. “I will save any lewd comments. I am on my best behaviour.”

  “Good to know.”

  They walked onward until they were at the crest of a hill. Down below, they could see two expanses of water. One to the left, one to the right and a small town was perched in between.

  “That is where we are going?” She blinked and smiled. “It looks adorable.”

  “I like the forest just beyond the town. It looks like home.”

  She grinned. “That is nice, too.”

  They walked together down the hill and onto the path that led into the town. There were only a few folk visible, but their smiles were genuine. Everyone pointed them toward the large castle-like structure in the centre.

  The building was empty but polished and elegant at the same time. A woman came in behind them, and she chuckled in way of greeting. “Hiya. I am Eloha Danvers.”

  Juno turned to greet the woman with the work-worn hands and glossy brown hair. “I’m Juno. This is Derix.”

  “Well, this place is completely, magically automated. You just have to think of what you want and it will appear. Oh, and we have Wi-Fi. Well, we will when I finish running it.”

  “Meals are available in the dining room, and you can pick your rooms or room if you only want one.”

  “I think a meal is in order.” Derix smiled.

  “Excellent. Drop your bags and think of where you would like to sleep, and they will be on their way.”

  “That could get confusing.” Juno smiled.

  “You are testing all of the features, so feel free to test them out.” Eloha winked. “I will be on my way. If you are aquatic, there are wet entrances to the fresh water and salt water down below.”

  “Thank you, Eloha.”

  Derix put the bags down and closed his eyes. They disappeared in a heartbeat.

  Juno looked around and sought out the dining room, making no bones about her hunger. She sat, and a menu was displayed in front of her. She prodded the items she wanted, and Derix sat next to her, perusing his own choices.

  The air in front of her shimmered, and food appeared. By this point, Juno didn’t care, she was hungry and she was going to eat immediately.

  Her food disappeared as fast as she could eat it. Derix consumed his meal with much more decorum.

  “So, Juno. When we are done here, did you want to go exploring?”

  “Of course. We should start with the wet entryway and work our way to the tower. I think that will give us enough time to walk off lunch.” She grimaced and looked at the wreckage on her plate. “Or just me.”

  He chuckled. “You were hungry. You need to satisfy your appetite.”

  She pushed away from her food, and the plates vanished. “That sounds suggestive.”

  “I meant it to. We have one entire week where we will not be interrupted, no matter what we get up to or where.”

  He finished his meal, and it disappeared as well. “Let’s go for that walk.”

  She smiled and felt renewed as she got to her feet. “It sounds delightful.”

  He took her hand, kissed the back of it and they were off exploring.

  Everywhere they went, he was sliding his arm around her waist, touching her shoulder or pressing soft kisses to her temple. The slow seduction was having a definite effect.

  After they entered the library, Juno was tired of waiting.

  She grabbed Derix and displayed some of the strength that shifters were famous for—pressing him into sitting on the edge of a heavy oak table before leaping into his lap and circling her hips against his.

  She was wearing a wide-skirted sundress and low heels. Juno pressed her breasts against him and shifted her skirt out of the way. “I believe your criteria were light and plenty of it. This room definitely fits the bill.”

  She kissed his neck as her fingers caressed the bulge of his erection under the fabric.

  He swallowed. “Anyone could come in.”

  His sudden bashful turn was a surprise. He slid a hand up the back of her thigh. “You aren’t wearing any underwear.” His words came out as a strangle groan.

  His hand was clenching around the curve of her ass, the fingers gripping and caressing in turns.

  “You are very astute.” She worked until she got the snap undone and slowly lowered his zipper. It didn’t take much to ease his cock free.

  His fingers searched and found her wet and ready.

  Juno positioned herself and got the thick head of his cock into place, slowly easing down on him.

  She shuddered and leaned back, closing her eyes as her body surrounded the hot, pulsing shaft and magic skated along every nerve like wild static.

  She panted and lowered her hips to his. She shivered and twitched with every inch gained.

  “You are killing me, Juno.” He grunted, and his hands flexed on her hips.

  “Oh, not yet. I have plans for you.” She laughed and leaned forward to kiss him, plunging downward until he was in to the hilt.

  She caught his gasp and started to move.

  He freed one hand from her skirts and held her mouth to his as she rode him, and he consumed her from the lips outward. As their kiss grew wild, so did the pounding of her hips, until she locked on him and shuddered, pulling his breath into her with a sharp drag. He laughed and moved the hand under her skirts between them, shifting on her clit in slow, hard motions until she screamed. She shook and jerked against him as he kept the agonizing pressure up. When his torture was finished, he broke their kiss and gritted his teeth as his own orgasm struck.

  The same static power on her skin was now inside her, crackling away. Another round of aftershocks rippled through her, and she pressed her forehead to his shoulder, gasping and trying to get her wits back.

  He chuckled and kissed her temple. “Not what I had thought about but definitely a memorable start.”

  She nuzzled his shoulder. “It seemed like a good way to break the ice. This way, I had control.”

  “So, how do you feel?”

  She sat up slowly, with him semi-hard inside her, and smiled. “I think we should go somewhere with a bed and try again.”

  “What do you think? As many times as it takes until we get it perfect?”

  “Perfect is unattainable.” She smiled and kissed him softly, her swollen lips feeling the soft ca
ress through her entire body.

  “Ah, but it will be so very much fun to try.” He moved to the edge of the table and stood, cupping her butt to keep her on him.

  She didn’t know how he managed to walk up all those steps with her impaled on him, but she did know that she could only stand it for seven floors before an orgasm ripped through her. This was something she didn’t know about herself, but now, she thought of it as lucky number seven.

  Chapter Eight

  The bedroom was palatial, and their bags were open with the clothing hanging in the closet.

  “So, what possessed you to go without panties today?” Derix was slowly undoing her dress and kissing each bit of skin as it was uncovered. If it looked particularly tasty, he licked it.

  Juno shivered and waited for him to finish teasing her. The bed was calling with a nearly audible summons. She trusted him enough to surrender her independence in bed, and she wanted to make sure she didn’t lose her nerve.

  “Well, the skirt doesn’t really call for one. It is heavy enough to hold its position in a stiff breeze. Plus, I haven’t worn panties since that first night when you played for me... just in case.”

  She shivered as he parted the dress and slowly eased it from her shoulders.

  “The gesture is definitely appreciated.” He feathered kisses down her spine to her coccyx. The slight touch on her tailbone caused a riot of eagerness to ripple through her.

  He whispered against her lower back. “Your skin is so amazingly sensitive.”

  “It is new. The healers fixed it.”

  She could feel him pause.

  “You didn’t mention that.”

  “It wasn’t something I wanted Apollo to hear. He would have charged out to find the man who did it.”

  “It wasn’t Falkir?”

  “No. He would loan me out to his companions for their favours. He did not care what they did to me. One liked to whip the skin.”

  “Damn, Juno. You didn’t mention it.” He pressed his forehead to her lower back.

  “No. I didn’t want a manhunt to take place. The fey will surface eventually, and if I have time to write their names and descriptions down, I will. For now, that is one place that is too raw. I promise to get to it soon, but I can’t deal with it yet.”

  He tugged her dress away from her, and it pooled at her feet. She turned to him and knelt, face to face with him. “When I am ready, I will provide the names and give the images to the council. I just can’t do it now. I don’t want to lose myself in hate before I have something else to hold onto.”

  She stared into his lovely eyes. “I have chosen to hold onto you if you don’t mind.”

  He stroked her cheek. “When you decide to tell the council the rest of it, I will be there. I won’t like what I hear, but I will be there to be something you can hold onto.”

  Juno smiled. “I didn’t want to pull you into this if you weren’t willing, but everything I have learned about you so far tells me that you are.”

  He cradled her face in his hands and kissed her softly. “It has always been you, since the day I met you. My future focused on you.”

  She smiled and blinked the tears out of her eyes. “Then, Derix, you are wearing far too many clothes.”

  He smiled and peeled his shirt, shoes and pants off in a matter of seconds. If he was wearing underwear, she didn’t see it. What she did focus on was the muscled columns of his legs, the thick stalk of his penis and the cobblestone abs that filled her vision.

  She rose up on her knees and licked at the head of his cock with delicate precision. Juno could still taste traces of herself on him, and she smiled when his flavour overwhelmed the residual markings. She sucked the head of his cock into her mouth, and he groaned. She pulled back on him and then continued the suction as she moved forward, and he groaned again.

  She pulled away and looked up at him. “Should I continue, or do you want to be inside me?”

  He bent down, hooked an arm around her waist and carried her to the bed. It was an excellent answer.

  Derix took his time arousing her, until each touch, each nip of his teeth and slide of his tongue made her crazy.

  She threaded her fingers through his hair and pulled him up to kiss her, groaning and sighing as his hands continued to work their magic on her.

  Climax wasn’t her goal. Surrender to him was her sole aim. She wanted to make sure he knew she trusted him enough to let him do what he would.

  When he fitted himself to her and slid inward, she took him eagerly.

  He pinned her hands above her head and moved his hips against her slowly. She felt the slick drag and pull deep inside; the repetitive motion stroked nerve bundles that were eager to have the attention.

  Tension built, he murmured encouragement and her breath came in low whines. She matched him thrust for thrust and wove her fingers with his.

  She shivered and rocked under him, her body fighting for relief from the building tension.

  Derix moved harder, faster, plunging into her with ferocity. She held onto him and felt the tipping point of her orgasm, pressing upward to grind herself against him.

  It was the last ingredient to her very sharp climax. She shrieked, he muttered in relief and groaned as he jerked his hips against her in short, sharp motions.

  When his body relaxed against hers, she wrapped her legs around him and held him tight. He still had her hands pinned, but he loosened his grip and stroked her palms with his own.

  He pressed a kiss to her temple, moved to her cheek and took her lips in a soft caress.

  She smiled against his lips and lifted her chin as she nipped him. “I love the feel of you against me, inside me.”

  He shuddered and whispered against her mouth. “I love that you can keep up with the fey.”

  “You are the only one I want to keep up with.” She rubbed her palms along his.

  “Music to my ears.”

  She laughed, and he rolled until she was lying against his chest, the light of the day streaming in the windows.

  She sighed and a tumble of happiness ran through her. She was at peace. Months of recovery and longer in the hands of the demented fey and, finally, she was at peace.

  Juno dozed against him, and when she heard the sound of the flute, her eyes fluttered open. Derix had shifted them so that he was leaning against the headboard and she was leaning against him.

  She smiled as the music lifted her soul and sent it soaring. “Where did you learn to play?”

  He paused. “It comes with the bloodline. My mother is a siren, and my father is one of the pan. They both have music in their souls.”

  “They are both still alive?”

  “They are. My mother is the mayor of a small village, and she has been for over a century. My father is the deputy mayor.”

  There was a question she had to ask. “Are they faithful?”

  He sighed. “By fey standards.”

  She felt a flicker of dread in her stomach. “What does that mean?”

  “They sleep with humans, usually together.” He stroked her hair. “If you are worried about me, I only have eyes for you.”

  She chuckled. “I am worried about nature taking over. I know the balance ceremony is supposed to make things equal, but I am fairly sure that I don’t have the temperament to share my mate.”

  “Good. Neither do I. It is no way to raise a family.” He smiled. “I prefer to simply take my lust out on my mate.”

  “That sounds like an excellent plan.” She rubbed her hand along his thigh. “Now, play for me.”

  He lifted his flute to his lips, and he played.

  She let herself rest as the sound swept her away to worlds where she could walk on the waves and listen to the sound of ancient tides.

  The businesses were slowly being occupied, and the café served ice cream that Juno enjoyed while going for a long walk on the seashore.

  “If I had known that ice cream would get you so excited, I would have bought more than a cone.�
�� Derix chuckled as he walked with her through the shifting sands.

  She ran her tongue around the base of the cone before wrapping her mouth around the ice cream and sucking upward.

  “I have to admit your technique is impressive.”

  She chuckled. “As you have admired it a few times in the last few days, you now know how I have been practicing.”

  He groaned. “Great. Now the freezer section of the grocery store is going to get me hard. Thanks for that.”

  She cackled and watched the waves beating at the shoreline.

  “So, your mom is a siren? What does that entail?”

  “She has a wonderful speaking voice and a flair for seducing humans. It doesn’t work on other fey, so she has picked her targets from the humans for the last four centuries.”

  “What does she get from them?”

  “A piece of their energy. It grows back, but it has enough power to give my mother more than the normal amount of magic.”

  She continued to ask questions as they walked through the sand. “And what is a pan?”

  “Forest dweller. He plays the pipes, and women flock to him. He can direct it at will.”

  “So, why did you become a hunter?”

  “I wanted to give and not take. The violence energised me, and the helping of those in vulnerable positions gave me reasons to come into work every day.”

  “That is a little perverse.”

  He grinned. “And you love me anyway.”

  She deep throated the ice cream until she was in danger of brain freeze, but when she pulled away and saw the darkly aroused look in his face, it was worth it. “Perhaps a little.”

  He pulled her to him, belly to belly and the darned fey ate her ice cream cone.

  “Fiend!”

  He mumbled. “I suppose I will just have to get you another. A taller one.”

  She laughed, and they slowly made their way back to the shop.

  A woman with brown hair, brown eyes and the fashion sense of a Walmart in a whirlwind came toward them.

  “Hello, are you Juno and Derix?”

  Juno smiled. “We are.”