Enchantment

by Lawna Mackie

  It was definitely cooler here. Dressed in jeans T-shirt and black leather jacket, he wondered what to do next. Kerrigan figured he could teleport to a close proximity of where Meeka should be, but then what? What would he say to her? What if she told him off and slammed the door in his face?

  Meeka would never disrespect him. She had a good heart—a pure heart—and thinking little of her only shamed him. Rising to his feet, he straightened his shoulders, his lips lifting upward as he heard the words he needed to say flow through his heart.

  Chapter Forty-One

  Meeka awoke and ran for the bathroom.

  Why am I still sick? What is wrong with me? I never get sick.

  They had been back in her apartment for two days, and she had been sick ever since.

  Catz walked her way to the bathroom door and sat staring up at her. Catz looked much better. Meeka, on the other hand, didn’t look so good. “You were sick again?” It was more of a statement than a question.

  Meeka sat on the edge of the tub and smiled. “Catz, it’s great to be able to talk to you like this. And, yes, I was sick again. I don’t get it. I never get sick. I guess I must have picked up a bug.”

  Catz made a small leap from the floor to Meeka’s lap, pushed up against her, and closed her eyes.

  Meeka laughed and hugged her tightly.

  Catz, on the other hand, wasn’t laughing at all. The fur ball looked alarmed and struggled out of Meeka’s hold.

  “Catz, what is up with you? I thought you just wanted a hug,” Meeka fussed, her brows drawn together in confusion.

  “Meeka, we are not alone,” Catz said.

  Meeka jumped from the bathroom in a protective stance, ready to fight and defend herself and Catz.

  “No, that’s not what I meant, Meeka. You are sick for a reason.”

  “Catz, I don’t understand you. You’re taking in riddles.” Meeka glared good naturedly at the furry creature.

  “You’re going to have a baby.” Catz purred, a pleased look on her face. “Yes, it’s there, and I think you’re going to be an amazing mom.”

  Meeka froze, and the room spun.

  Oh my God!

  Reaching out for the wall, she made her way to the couch.

  But I can’t be…I just can’t. Meeka placed a hand over her flat belly and closed her eyes. She felt it; the tiny life force was there. How foolish she had been to not even consider protection! “Oh, Catz, what have I done?” Tears began to fall down her cheeks “I can’t have a baby alone!”

  Catz nudged her. “You’re not alone. I’m here with you.”

  As Meeka continued to cry tears of happiness and sadness, Catz nudged a box of tissue into her lap.

  Stop it. No more tears.

  Again she placed her hand over her stomach. Unwillingly, a tiny smile pulled at the corners of her lips.

  “Well, I’m not sorry, Catz. I will love this baby and tell him his father was strong and brave and…and…” She choked on her own emotion.

  Catz licked her hand. “We’ll get through this. Besides, now I’ll have a reason to stay with you.”

  She was alarmed once more. “Catz, don’t even tease me about leaving. After everything, I’m afraid to say I want some boring old peace and quiet.”

  “I will stay, don’t fret,” Catz reassured her.

  “Oh, no—” Meeka unceremoniously dumped Catz off her lap, running for the bathroom.

  There was nothing left in her stomach to bring up. “Catz, I’m going to have a shower, find something to eat, and then we need to make a quick visit to my parents’ place,” She yelled from the bathroom.

  Within a half-hour, Meeka was showered, dressed, and eating a bagel. “I’m ready if you are, Catz. I need closure on this. I’m not scared of my parents anymore, and I’m not going to let them treat me like they have in the past. I don’t deserve it.”

  Keys in hand, Meeka walked out the door with Catz in tow.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Through the windshield of her beat-up Ford, Meeka stared at the trailer park. Nothing changed. It just got older and nastier. She could almost smell the stale stench of alcohol and cigarettes, hear the screaming insults. Trepidation filled her, but resting a hand on her stomach, she straightened. Her baby would never know this place. It would be her secret. The only thing she did know to expect was that they’d be drunk.

  Meeka turned the truck off, undid her seat belt, and turned to Catz. “Catz, I need to do this alone. You stay here.”

  Her heart hammered as she pushed the gate open and made her way toward the porch door. Uneasiness swept over her, and she wondered if somebody was watching her. She tried to see around her truck and into the street. She couldn’t see anything, but the feeling stuck and she wasn’t about to ignore it.

  It’s this place. I hate it here.

  Meeka proceeded to the door and knocked loudly. “Hello,” she yelled. There was no answer.

  She pushed the door open and entered the trailer. The overpowering smell of stale cigarettes made her want to throw up again. Meeka swallowed hard and closed the door. Where were they?

  Down the hall, Meeka could see the bedroom light shining out from underneath the door. She turned and walked toward the room.

  “Hello? Mom, are you in there?” She said loudly.

  The sound of a drawer being opened and closed told her somebody was in there. “Mom,” she pushed the door open.

  Meeka’s mom screamed and dropped the piece of clothing in her hand. “Oh, Christ, Meeka, it’s only you,” the woman said wearily.

  “Hi, Mom.” Odd… Her mom didn’t seem like she had been drinking. It surprised her. On the bed was the old suitcase, the only suitcase their family had ever owned. It was pathetically dusty.

  “What are you doing?”

  Her mom stopped what she was doing and looked into her daughter’s eyes. Her own filled with tears. Her hands were shaking almost uncontrollably, a side effect of years of drinking. “Meeka, I can’t do this anymore.” She cried and sat down on the bed. “You were right—what you said on Saturday. This is the breaking point for me. I don’t deserve to speak to you unless I’m sober.”

  Despite the hard years of abuse and drinking, Bella was still a beautiful woman. Her eyes, however, belied her age, making her look far older than she was.

  “I’ve never deserved you, Meeka. You were always so precious to me, but Lord knows once I started drinking… Well, you know how the rest goes.”

  “Mom, where’s Dad?”

  “I don’t know. He stormed out of here in a rage, and I plan to be gone before he gets back.” Bella sobbed brokenly. “He’ll kill me if he knows I’m trying to leave.”

  Meeka had waited years to hear those words. “Where are you going to go, Mom?”

  “I spoke to the ladies at Alcoholics Anonymous, and I’m going give it a try, Meeka. They have a place for me stay. A place where he…your father can’t find me.”

  Meeka sat on the edge of the bed beside her mother. Could this day possibly get any more incredible? For the first time in her life, she felt a sense of pride in her mother. “Here, Mom. Let me help you fold your shirts. I’ll give you a ride.” Meeka smiled. Bella’s tears ran down her weathered face. “Meeka, I love you so much, I’m so sorry I haven’t been much of a mother to you. I certainly don’t expect you to forgive me. I appreciate your help.”

  “Mom, I’m proud of you. Your drinking problem isn’t one I can fix.” Meeka shake her head. “But I will be there to support you.”

  Bella nodded. “You’ve helped already. Without you, I would never even want to try.”

  Meeka closed the suitcase, then asked her mom the question she’d been dreading since being on Enchantment. “Mom, I need you to answer a question for me, and I know it might not be easy to answer.”

  “Okay, I’ll try.”

  “Is George my real father?”

  Bella lost all expression. “How did you know?”

  “He isn’t, is he?” Meeka sighed,
relieved at the one note of honesty.

  “I was pregnant with you before I met George. He accepted me, anyway. Little did I know what price I would have to pay when it came to his acceptance.”

  “Who is my real father?”

  Bella smiled and her eyes twinkled. “Don’t think bad of me Meeka, but I don’t know his name. I was young, and he was so handsome. I didn’t regret it, and he was such a gentleman. He told me he traveled a lot. I convinced him to hold me and make love to me. Then you came along. You were my little miracle, but I knew I was in trouble… Then George showed up.”

  Meeka hugged her. “Thanks for telling me the truth, Mom.”

  “Meeka, George wasn’t all bad until he started to drink. He treated you like his own, even though you weren’t. But then he started to drink. I didn’t know how to leave him when he got mean. In my cowardice, I started drinking, too. I’m sorry, Meeka. I never showed you how much I loved you. Maybe someday, you’ll let me make it up to you and forgive me.” Bella looked sadly at her daughter.

  Meeka reached down, picked up the suitcase, and opened the bedroom door. “We can talk about it later. Let’s get you out of here for now.”

  Meeka hadn’t taken two steps down the hall before the front door crashed open and George stumbled in, banging his shin on a stool.

  Instantly, Meeka shoved her mother farther behind her.

  He slammed the front door closed and glared at the two of them. “Well, lookee here. What’s all this?” He eyed the suitcase in Meeka’s hand. “This the hello I get from you?” He slurred and reeled against the greasy counter.

  “Where do you think you’re going, daughter? ‘Cause you know your mother isn’t going anywhere,” he jeered at them, advancing down the hall.

  “Dad, you need to get out of our way. Mom has made a decision, and it’s the same one you should make.”

  “Huh! Just who do you think you are? I guess you need another lesson in manners,” he snarled. “Always acting so high and mighty. Ain’t learned yet, have ya? Just another dumb bitch with nothing to her name. Ain’t got a man, and no job to be proud of. Well, let me tell you something…”

  I’m not scared. I’m not scared. I’m not scared.

  George steadied himself with one hand on the wall, his other already curved into a fist as he backed them down the small hallway toward the bedroom.

  Her fear faded to be replaced by pity. George was a small man, made weaker by the drink.

  With a firm hand, she pushed her mother farther behind her. “Stop it.”

  Bella yelled, “George, stop it. This has nothing to do with Meeka. Let her leave, and we can have a drink and discuss this.”

  George pulled the small flask out of his shirt and took a swig. “Bella, you definitely need another lesson in manners.”

  Remembering those lessons, Meeka fumbled for the doorknob and pushed it open. With a quick motion, she shoved her mother through it and pulled the door closed, locking it with her mind. At least her mother was protected.

  George staggered his way down the hall until he stood nose to nose with Meeka. “You stupid little whore! You’re going to pay for trying to take your mother away from me.”

  “George, I’m warning you not to do this. You’ll be sorry. You need help. How many others have to suffer because you’re an alcoholic?” Meeka pleaded desperately.

  He had pulled his clenched fist back to hit her when a large hand grabbed his wrist. “Touch her, and I’ll kill you—slowly and painfully,” Kerrigan said with deadly sincerity. Shocked to the core, Meeka dropped the suitcase and sat down upon it.

  “Precious! Tell me you’re okay,” Kerrigan said. She nodded her head, her face in her hands.

  Kerrigan hissed as he spoke to George. “You’re not fit to live, and if it wasn’t for Meeka, I’d kill you right now.” He advanced. “You will seek help for this sickness you have. You will never hurt another being as long as you live. Do you understand me?”

  Kerrigan tossed him up against the counter, and he fell to the floor. “What the hell are you?” George snarled.

  “You don’t want to know what I am, but know for certain if you do not do what I have instructed, the pain you feel now will seem a joyful balm in the face of what I will do to you,” Kerrigan swore.

  He dismissed the wretch with a turn of his heel, and stormed down the hall to retrieve Meeka. Kneeling, he tentatively wrapped his arms around her trembling shoulders, pulling her hand against his chest. When she didn’t resist, he buried his face in her hair.

  Meeka looked up at him. “How? How did you get here? How did you find me? Why did you come?”

  Kerrigan laughed and hugged her even harder.

  Bella’s cry broke through their consciousness. “Meeka! Meeka, are you there?” “Oh, quick, Kerrigan, open the door for my mom.” Meeka tried to pull away.

  Kerrigan opened the door, and Bella stumbled out, a panicked, terrified look on her face. “Meeka, are you all right? Did George hurt you?” She wept.

  “No, Mom. I’m all right. Really. Kerrigan, please put me down.”

  “No,” he said defiantly.

  “Oh, for heaven sake, put me down.” Meeka squirmed. “No. I’m never going to let you out of my sight again.”

  Bella looked at the two of them, and a smile lit up her face. “And who might you be?” “My name is Kerrigan, and I’m hopelessly in love with your daughter.”

  Meeka was dumbfounded. “You are?”

  “I love you more than anything, so no, I’m not putting you down. Meeka, we have to talk.” Kerrigan’s tone didn’t brook argument.

  Meeka looked toward her mother. “Mom, Kerrigan and I will drop you off on our way back home, if you still wish to continue with your plan.”

  Bella giggled uneasily. “Truthfully, right now, I really could use a drink, but I’m gonna try, Meeka. What happened to George? Will he be okay?”

  Kerrigan spoke up. “Don’t worry about him. I’m quite good at enforcing my wishes on people. I think George will be making a miraculous recovery. He’ll spend the rest of his life trying to make up for his mistakes.”

  Bella responded uncertainly. “I can’t imagine.”

  Catz sat on the hood of Meeka’s truck looking like she’d just swallowed a canary.

  Meeka glared at her, but it quickly turned to a smile. “Catz, why didn’t you tell me Kerrigan was here?”

  Catz grinned. “Because perfect timing is a rare and special gift. And I love a nice surprise party. Meeka, I’ll meet you back home later.”

  Meeka scowled and climbed into her pickup truck. Once upon a time, she would have worried about Catz, but now she knew her companion differently.

  Kerrigan looked questioningly at the rusted machine Meeka was sitting in. “This isn’t going to get us to your home fast enough.”

  Startled, Meeka looked at him and spoke out loud. “It’s not far.”

  She knew the look, and she wanted what the look offered. The heat of his stare kindled a fire she had never expected to feel again. “Get in,” she ordered. “You’re going to have to learn about patience sometime.”

  * * * *

  Meeka dropped her mom off and gave her a tight hug goodbye with the promise she’d return soon. When she returned to the parking lot, her heart flopped at the sight of him lounging sulkily against the fender. Although dressed in perfectly appropriate jeans and a leather jacket, he exuded and air of…exoticness. In addition, he was eating her alive with his eyes.

  Grasping her waist, he lifted her effortlessly into the truck, letting his hand slide over her hip and thigh to graze her white-hot center with his knuckles. “Can we go now?”

  She sucked in her breath, wanting desperately to close her eyes and let him take her.

  * * * *

  How they made it home, she had no idea.

  Keys in hand, she pulled him into her apartment building. With the door barely closed, Kerrigan’s hands were at her waist again, pulling her tightly against him. His lips sought hers
with demanding urgency.

  Meeka was pinned against the wall in the stairway under the onslaught of his brazen desire. She moaned, trying desperately to continue up the stairs.

  “Hurry,” she begged.

  Through the door they plunged, Kerrigan kicking it shut. In almost the same motion, he swung her off her feet and into his arms. “Where’s your room?” he said with a feral desire shining deep in his blue eyes.

  “On the right.” Meeka said quickly before his mouth found hers.

  * * * *

  Kerrigan couldn’t control himself. He’d gone too long without her, too long wondering whether he’d ever see her again. This time, she’d be his forever. On fire for her, he pulled at her T-shirt, seeking the silken warmth of her flesh. He slid his fingers up her sleek tummy and under the edge of her bra. He couldn’t help it—the dragon’s sharp claw sliced open the garment, exposing her creamy breast. Blood pooled in his mouth at the thrust of his teeth forming sharp points.

  A gasp escaped his mouth.

  She grabbed his head and firmly kissed him thrusting her tongue in his mouth. Kerrigan roughly pulled his mouth away in pursuit of her soft breast.

  Disappointment in the form of a whimper escaped her mouth when his lips left hers. His instinct kicked in as she pushed him downward. His mouth captured the puckering flesh beckoning for his attention. He grabbed the nipple between his teeth, suckling and lapping. Meeka cried out in absolute pleasure, trying to get his jacket off.

  “Take it off,” she breathed heavily. Kerrigan stopped his glorious assault, but only for a split second.

  The clothing was gone, and Meeka closed her eyes, wriggling her body against every inch of his firm length.

  She wrapped her long legs around his hips, pressing her core against his hardened cock. Kerrigan froze at the feeling of her wet, moist heat. He wanted to sink into her plush core. With a big breath, he lifted his head and placed his forehead against her chest.

  “Meeka, look what you’ve done to me,” he said, “I want you so badly.”