Chapter Three
She was crazy. She knew she was crazy. Why else would she be standing on the beach at three 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. Three days where she had fought against herself, had told herself that she was well rid of him, that it was good he’d gone before he could hurt her.
But she was hurting. She felt his absence in her world like a gaping wound, a deep abyss of emptiness that she couldn’t logic away. She had to find him. If only to give him hell for leaving her so abruptly.
And to get him back for the dream she’d had last night. The one that had left her craving him like a drug. Desperate to see him.
He’d appeared before her, like he had a dozen times, only this time was a little different. She wasn’t in her bedroom; she was in the middle of a field of red flowers. Poppies. They were emitting a powerful scent that sent a liquid blast of fire through her veins.
“When will you come to me? When will you call the storm?”
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 a few days absence, robbed her of coherent thought. She had to have him.
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.”
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 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 moaned and pulled his shirt over his head with his free hand, tossing it on the ground behind him, eliciting more of that sweet, sexual scent. Dorothy licked her lips at the sight of his erection, so close, so powerful. A glimmer of arousal wet the tip and she leaned in to taste it.
“Fuck. Yes, Dorothy. Lick it. I knew you’d be like this. Knew you’d be this hungry.”
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 lightly here and there on his shaft, featherlight. Her fist loosened, barely touching him until he growled.
“Lesson two. Never tease a horny wizard.” That was the only warning she got. A flash of light lit the strangely colored sky and Dorothy blinked. She was naked with her arms tied behind her back in the middle of the poppy field, lying across Z’s lap with her face full of flowers. Goddess, they smelled good.
“These flowers are special. Magic. They intensify your desires, ease your fears, increase your appetites. But I’m guessing by those juices dripping down your thighs that you’ve already figured that out.” She could tell his jaw was clenched as he talked, tell he was just as affected as she by the way 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.
“It’s part of the lesson. This way 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. God.” 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 the sensation and her reaction to it.
He spanked her until she felt her 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. Suck me.”
Dorothy moaned. Was he kidding? She was shaking with her need, her thighs slippery with arousal. She needed release. 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, sucking him down deeper as her tongue lapped at every bit of flesh it could reach. “That’s right, baby. 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, loving his taste.
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. 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 to go.”
“What? Are you fucking kidding me?” 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 someone is coming.”
The next thing she knew 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. She couldn’t wait until Aunt Glen got back. Couldn’t wait another day.
“Zenamulous.” She whispered his name to the wind. He’d ensnared her as surely as if he’d left her bound to that wall.
“I knew I’d find you here.”
“Are you kidding me? Emily, go home.” What was going on with her? Ever since Dorothy had left without a word, Emily had been calling, demanding to talk to her. Dorothy hadn’t been able or willing to deal with Emily’s drama, so she hadn’t been returning her calls. But nothing could stop her stepsister when she had her mind set on something. “How did you know I was here?”
“You always come here when you’re upset. I used to watch you doing your weird Wiccan thing out here, pretending to call the wind.”
Dorothy turned to look Emily in the eye, shocked. “You watched me? You never said anything.”
Emily shrugged. “I feel bad. Don’t ask me why. But ever since you left I’ve been feeling like I did something, said something. And tonight I just, well, I just knew you were here. I need you to tell me what happened. I can’t remember half the night. I thought at first it was food poisoning, but now… Are you okay, Dorothy?”
“No. But it isn’t your fault.” It wasn’t like her to worry about hurting anyone’s feelings either. What else had Z done to her when he wiped her memory? “Go home, Emily. I’ll call you in a few days.” Maybe.
“There isn’t supposed to be a storm tonight, is there? I swear, the weather has been so weird 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’d 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. “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 Emily, hugging her stru
ggling 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, blackness consumed her.
She was gone.
Not exactly a soft landing. Dorothy sat up slowly, groaning at the pain shooting up from her backside. “Naked. Great. Thanks for letting me know, buddy. At least I didn’t land downtown.” Yet another reason to read him the riot act.
“Holy. Shit.”
Dorothy sighed heavily. “Emily? You okay?”
“I’m naked.”
She sounded so shocked that Dorothy had to laugh. “Me too. And I would be worried, only I’m lying in a forest when I was just on the beach, it’s daytime when it was three a.m. a few minutes ago, and there is an extra moon in the sky. So, priority wise, naked isn’t at the top of my list.”
“I think I just found priority number one.” There was a strange tone to Emily’s voice, so strange that Dorothy stood and walked toward her, concerned. As she rounded the base of a large tree, there could be no doubt what was wrong.
“A centaur? Come on, Z, you have to be kidding me.” The man-horse shuffled backward, widening his stance to aim his bow at them both. He certainly looked realistic enough. And more than a little intimidating.
Dorothy couldn’t decide what to cover as the man openly eyed her. If this were an ordinary situation she’d no doubt be mortified. Right now, she was just pissed. When she got her hands on that wizard… “Emily, stand up and come over here, okay?”
Emily shook her head frantically, but she did as she was told. She stopped and squeaked with fright when he aimed the bow her way. Dorothy needed to distract him. “Who are you?”
“I am Braxim of the Equus Clan. The question is, who are you? And why do you speak the name of our Wizard? Did she send you to distract him with your wiles?”
“Oh yeah, I’ve got miles of wiles as you can see. Look, I don’t know who she is, but your wizard is the reason I’m here. He invited me. Sort of.” Emily cowered behind her, shivering, and Dorothy raised one irritated brow at the tall equine. “Braxim? Either shoot us or give us something to cover ourselves with. We’ve had a rough day.”
He looked uncertain for a moment, his gaze drawn over her shoulder to the terrified Emily. 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, but at least it covered everything. “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. Even magical creatures weren’t immune to her sister’s good looks.
“You said Z is your wizard. Can you take us to him?”
“All trespassers are taken back to our base as prisoners. The Wizard will be there.”
Prisoners? Emily whimpered, and Dorothy took her hand instinctively. Sibling rivalries and spite seemed out of place in a situation like this. They were in it together. Dorothy nodded, and Braxim’s shoulders relaxed in relief. She had a feeling he had no desire to harm them. He seemed like a decent guy. For a centaur. He gestured, and they began to walk ahead of him through the woods. Emily’s hand was gripping hers so tightly it was starting to go numb. She felt a little sorry for her. Dorothy had been raised knowing magic existed and still, she was a little overwhelmed. She couldn’t imagine how she’d feel if she didn’t believe.
“Em, how are you holding up?”
Emily’s 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 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.”
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, imagining the damage she was going to do to Z once she got her hands on him.
She saw the smoke from the camp less than an hour later and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Emily was obviously adapting to her nightmare, flirting and giggling with the handsome Braxim, who didn’t seem to mind her endless rambling. That made one of them.
Before she could take another step, a flaming bolt landed at her feet. “Wha—”
“Gliders! 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 humanoid. And he didn’t look friendly. “Pretty,” he sneered. “But my orders aren’t to socialize.” He reached for Emily, his long taloned hands gripping her by the throat, lifting her into the air.
A shout of rage sounded behind them. Braxim galloped toward the feathered villain, murder in his eyes. The birdman spread his wings, pushing off to soar toward the sky, away from danger. Dorothy watched Emily being carried away, and she snapped. Emily may be a pain in the ass, but she was her pain in the ass, and she’d be damned if she let anyone hurt her.
She threw up her hands, pushing her power with all her might. She wasn’t sure if it would work in this world, but she had to try. It worked better than she could have imagined. There were five beings flying in the sky, some shooting flaming arrows, and one carrying her stepsister. All of them screeched and began to fall as the wind changed, stopping completely before whipping around them in individual funnels of energy. They spun so fast their feathers flew. Dorothy gasped. She hadn’t meant to do that.
The orange bird dropped Emily and grabbed his head, his face turning a definite shade of green as he spun. Before she could scream Braxim was there, catching Emily easily in his arms. Dorothy tried to pull her energy back, but she couldn’t seem to control it. Dread was heavy in her stomach. She hadn’t wanted to kill anyone.
“Stop!”
The birds froze in the sky at the sound of the booming male voice behind her. “Go back, Gliders. Go back to your lady and tell her that what she wants cannot be gained through force.” The Gliders didn’t hesitate, weaving and wobbling through the air as they attempted to regain their balance.
Dorothy refused to turn around. She knew that voice. She’d come here to find him, spent the day limping through the forest, cursing him, yet now, when he was so close, she hesitated.
“Welcome, Dorothy. Welcome to Oz.”
She whirled around with a laugh. “Oz? You’ve got to be—” He was kissing her with the same pent-up passion she’d been feeling for days, and she gave back as good as she got. This is why she’d come, what she’d been longing for. Warm sultry wind rustled the trees around them, loosening the blanket she’d tied across her breasts. Z pulled her closer, gripping her hips in his hands. Dorothy moaned, angry at the clothes that separated them. She wanted to feel him against her, bare skin against bare skin. She wanted him inside her.
“Just when I started thinking this wasn’t a nightmare. Why is your hot neighbor here? And kissing you no less? I had plans for that man, you know.”
Dorothy tore her mouth from Z’s, dropping her head to his shoulder with a sigh. She’d forgotten about Emily. She lifted her head, her eyes widening at the audience surroundi
ng her. The whole camp had come to see the new arrivals. Emily looked comfortable nestled in Braxim’s arms, and she saw several other members of his clan looking curiously at her sister. There were also at least a hundred men who seemed to be made of pure gold, all with amber eyes and ebony hair like Z’s. All but one.
“Kansas? Kansas!” She took off at a run, and he met her halfway, wrapping his arms around her with that happy laugh she’d missed so much.
“Dee baby, how are ya, sweetheart?” She pulled back, looking into his cornflower eyes, that shaggy blond hair that always made him look a little rakish, and beamed through her tears.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were in Iowa.”
“Well, you see, there was this storm…” He winked at her and she looked over her shoulder at Z, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. Z wasn’t smiling. He was watching Kansas with something akin to jealousy. But how could he possibly be jealous? She didn’t think he was capable of that emotion, not someone with his sexual appetite. She turned back to Kansas, ignoring him.
“Did he bring you here too? Is he starting a collection or something?”
“He brought him for me.” Dorothy nearly swallowed her tongue. The velvet voice parted the crowd to reveal a king. He couldn’t be mistaken for anything else. He was tall and broad shouldered and stunning. His powerful features and bald head made him look a little like a young Yul Brynner. Only hotter. And golden.
“Wow.”
Dorothy nodded mutely, for once in total agreement with Emily. Kansas blushed when the man wrapped a beefy arm around his shoulders, pulling him close.
“That’s what I said.” He laughed. “Which is why once I got here, there was no way I was going back home. They don’t make men like this anywhere on Earth.” Now it was the king’s turn to blush.
He eyed the crowd, his royal brow raised. “There’ll be time for introductions later. Everyone get back to the safety of the base. Tonight we celebrate.” He frowned at the spots of charred earth left by the Gliders’ arrows. “We need every reason we can get.”
The crowd shuffled obediently away, sending curious looks toward Dorothy and her sister. She could understand why. No one else looked anything like them. Well, other than Kansas. He brushed a kiss across her forehead. “We need to talk,” he whispered, before allowing his king to lead him away. She nodded, her smile fading at his worried expression.
Surrender Dorothy Page 3
