“The colors and the detail…” she trailed off. “It’s just gorgeous.”
“Thanks,” he said, coloring slightly. “You’re the first person who I’ve shown it to. Usually they stay in their place of honor on the bedroom closet shelf.”
She looked at him in a new light. So underneath it all, Des was harboring closet creativity. “You should at least hang them on the wall.”
“I do it for fun, not for decorating purposes.” He sat down next to her again.
“I bet.” She gave him a sideways glance that was sort of but not quite meant to be sexy.
“I know you have work to do, so I’ll just sit here and latch hook. I won’t bother you.”
“Finished with that for the week.” He slid his arms around her and kissed her neck. “You always smell so good,” he murmured, his lips close to her ear. “Like cinnamon and vanilla.”
Her body responded before her brain could as she felt the hot throbbing start between her thighs and her nipples tighten under her t-shirt.
“You say the nicest things, Des.” She meant it to be a teasing joke but in her state of arousal it sounded sincere. She felt flushed and slightly out of control.
They hadn’t yet slept together, her reluctance with getting too involved and his suddenly busy work schedule serving to keep them apart after their first few dates.
“I missed you.” He spread his hands across her belly, under the tee. The muscles under the skin fluttered, causing her to gasp slightly. His erection nudged her thigh making the warm liquid feeling spread lazily from her sex to other parts of her body, weakening her knees and quickening her pulse.
“I… I missed you too, Des.” He licked her neck from the crook to just under her earlobe, then blew lightly on the moist trail he had created. She sighed, her insides turning to melted butter. “You’ve been busy.”
“Too busy.” Moving one hand from her butterfly filled stomach, he traced the rim of her ear down to her earlobe. She shivered under his touch and leaned even further into him.
“Sakaria,” he whispered.
She shivered again at his breath on her neck. It was now or never. What was she waiting for anyway?
“Take me to bed, Des. I don’t want to wait any longer.”
* * * *
Sakaria never thought a kiss could be as good as the first time, but each time, Des proved her wrong. His lips were hot and greedy, capturing hers with a passion that belied his usually calm exterior. She parted her lips to allow his tongue to explore her mouth, flicking against hers, each touch inflaming her desire for him even more. He cupped her bottom with both hands, pulling her close and rubbing the ridge of his cock against the heat between her legs. Sakaria groaned aloud, and wrapped her legs around him, cursing the layers of fabric between them.
She reached for the waistband of his jeans, her shaking fingers clumsy and awkward.
“No,” he said, breathing harshly. “You first.”
Unceremoniously, he pulled the t-shirt over her head, taking her breath away. He lifted her up slightly and with an expert snap undid her bra, sliding it off of her shoulders and tossing it aside.
The breeze from the bedroom ceiling fan caused her nipples to draw into tight peaks and she started to cross her arms over her chest.
“Don’t,” he whispered to her as he unbuttoned his shirt, whipped it off. “Let me look at you.”
And so she kept her hands crossed across her stomach, feeling vulnerable and exposed, but less so as she could see the desire and need in his eyes.
He lay next to her on the bed, turned her face to his gently.
“You’re beautiful, you know that?” He smiled at her in the semi-darkness and cupped one of her breasts in his hand, his thumb dragging across her nipple. She closed her eyes and whimpered in her throat. Please, she thought desperately as she reached for him, the ache in her sex becoming unbearable.
Desmond lowered his head to her breast, his breath hot on her flesh as she wriggled in needy anticipation. He drew the hardened nub of her nipple into his mouth, sucking urgently, his tongue flicking over it mercilessly, then nibbled on it until she nearly screamed with pleasure.
She could feel him smiling against her chest and she raked her fingers through his hair, a silent demand for more.
“You like that?” Not waiting for an answer, he turned his attention to the other breast, lavishing it with his lips and tongue while he gently stroked the other.
Hot, greedy lust swooped through Sakaria’s body. Her panties felt wet and too tight, each tiny movement causing the moist cotton to rub maddeningly against her clit. She moaned and begged him not to stop, to give her some relief.
Instead, he kissed her, sucking and nibbling her eager lips before swirling his tongue around hers as he shimmied her skirt and panties off. Completely naked, she was now at his mercy. As he gently traced the contours of her body, his mouth lightly teasing her lips, neck and breasts in turn, she had to fight not to spread her trembling legs, to open herself up to him and beg him to fuck her.
His body was hot against hers and she spread her hands over the smooth skin of his back, feeling his muscles working under her fingers. The fine hair on his chest tickled her breasts and she inhaled his now-familiar citrusy, woodsy scent, the same scent that had attracted her to his keys that long ago day under the bleachers.
“Des,” she whispered, once again tugging at the waistband of his jeans, her hands sandwiched between their bodies. She wanted to feel his bare skin against every inch of her body. “Your turn. Hurry.”
“Hold on,” he murmured, kissing her neck one more time.
When he pushed himself off her, she sat up too, bare legs hanging off the side of the bed. She wanted to see him.
Their eyes met and in them she saw the passion she felt reflected in his. Even in the semi-darkness of the room she was able to admire his finely muscled body that was usually hidden under starched oxford shirts. The shadow that she had often seen peeking through the open collars of his shirts was a fine brush of hair that extended across and down the center of his chest to his navel.
“Pants off,” she whispered, only half joking. She moved slightly, rubbing her wet, sticky thighs together to create some friction against her throbbing clit.
He grinned at her and dropped his jeans along with his underwear. Even in the low light of the room, she could see his impressive erection. She reached out to touch him.
“Down, Sakaria,” he said in a chiding tone. “You first.”
He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her forward until her bottom reached the edge of the bed. She shrieked in surprise, which he covered with a quick kiss and knelt in front of her.
The first swipe of his tongue made her yelp, the second made her arch off the bed and the third made her call out in a voice that wasn’t her own. He took his time, sliding his tongue up and down her damp folds, pausing occasionally to give her clit a lazy swirl, which only served to drive her further up the wall. She stared at the ceiling fan as it turned slowly, her body vibrating.
Sakaria closed her eyes when he eased a finger, then two, inside of her, rubbing the rough spot at the top of her walls. He continued to suck and nibble on her sensitive bud and she came in a breathless rush, so suddenly that her head spun and the air whooshed out of her lungs.
As she attempted to catch her breath she heard the ripping of the condom wrapper and her walls clenched in anticipation. His skin heated hers when he straddled her, propping himself above her, teasingly sliding the head of his cock against her slickness.
“You’re such a tease, Des,” she whispered as she wrapped her legs around his waist. “Now, you’re just playing hard to get.” She put her arms around his neck, trying to wiggle herself into place. She put her lips close to his ear. “Fuck me.”
“Patience is a virtue, Sakaria,” he said as entered her with one smooth thrust.
Sakaria gripped his back, her fingers sliding over his sweaty back and tasting salt in her mouth as she pressed her lips to hi
s neck, resisting the urge to bite him there.
He pulled back and drove into her again. This time, she bit her own bottom lip and lifted her knees to more fully accept him. She groaned again as his hot swollen flesh stretched, making her back arch with carnal delight. It had been so long since she’d been this close to a man that she nearly hiccupped with pleasure. His rhythm was steady and powerful, each stroke bringing her closer to a second climax.
“Oh, Des, oh, my.” She wrapped her legs around his waist again and held on, squeezing herself around him.
“Tell me you like it.” His breath came fast and hard in her ear, matching the rhythm of his thrusts. Her body arched in wild response to him, lifting her hips to upwards to feel him deeper within her.
“I like it.” She licked his neck and rubbed her face there, resisting the urge to yowl and scratch.
“I like you,” he whispered fiercely.
She slid against him, hot, and totally abandoned to the erotic sensation. He was just perfect, she thought as she orgasmed again, her sex fluttering around him as she exploded in ecstasy.
“That’s it,” he murmured to her. “That’s what I was looking for.”
He began moving faster, his eyes narrowed in concentration as he reached his climax, burying his face in her shoulder as he let out a harsh cry.
In the quiet of the room, their breathing was harsh and ragged. He slowly withdrew from her, leaving her feeling empty even as he kissed her belly.
“Back in a second,” he said and no sooner did she hear the flushing the toilet that he was back next to her, his arms drawing her close, kissing her temple and her cheek.
Sakaria snuggled against his chest, her cheek brushing the soft hairs there. She wanted to cry and laugh at the same time, she wanted to stay right here in the safety of his arms and she wanted to run the streets, wild and dangerously free.
“Des?”
“Yes?” She could tell that he was close to falling asleep, even though his hand stroked her naked thigh absently.
What was she going to tell him? How was she going to get out of here?
“I can’t stay,” she said, nearly choking on the words. “I can’t.” Her mind scrambled for an excuse. “My mom. She’s calling long distance from Arizona.”
He looked at her with sex-drowsy eyes and there was nothing she wanted more than to stay and curl up with him till the sun rose in the morning. But she couldn’t. Not tonight, not any other night. She wanted to slap herself as she dressed quickly. It had been selfish of her to sleep with him.
She tried not to see the look of disappointment in his eyes as she dressed and kissed him goodbye. “Tomorrow?”
“Yes,” he said, quietly. He had pulled on his jeans to see her out. “Tomorrow.” He walked with her to the door, yawning.
At the front door, he took her arm, gently. “Is everything all right?”
“Of course,” she reached up and kissed his cheek. “I’ll call you.”
* * * *
Though he tried to go back to bed, he missed Sakaria’s warmth next to him. Sweet and hot, the two words that best suited her. He lifted his hand to his face to smell her scent, wondering about the long distance call from her mother. Don’t dwell on it. Let it be.
He flicked on the light to the kitchen. The takeout that Sakaria had brought for him sat on the counter where he’d left them and he slid them into the refrigerator. He grabbed the half-gallon of milk and snatched a bowl from the cabinet. Cereal was good for any occasion and especially appropriate when your girlfriend flew the coop right after you had sex for the first time.
He sat at his dining room table, his ears picking up the murmurings from the radio that played at a low volume in the kitchen. The cereal was tasteless but he spooned it into his mouth anyway as he stared at the blackness through the windows in his back door.
Chapter Ten
As she trotted through quiet backyards on her way to the downtown area on this pleasant night, she knew that her human days were numbered, according to Will. One part of her hoped he wasn’t correct. She figured she could live a near normal life even if she had to go around as a cat every once in a while. On the other hand, she actually derived pleasure from the freedom of roaming the streets, the mindless joy of simply being.
But then there was Des to think about, not just herself. They had been seeing each other for a few months now and the bond between them was growing stronger even as the deadline for the curse drew near. She hadn’t yet figured out how to approach him with the whole cat problem, though she told Julie that she was “working on it”.
When she rounded the corner to the alley that was the unofficial cat meeting place, only the huge gray and white striped tomcat was waiting for her. Well, not actually waiting, she amended, but he immediately stopped digging through the garbage when he caught her scent. She froze for a second, laid her ears back and hissed at him, an empty gesture, since not for one moment did she plan on fighting him.
He sprang and slashed at her, catching her ear on his sharp claws. Startled by the sudden attack, she leapt backward, then turned and ran for her life. She still wasn’t very well versed in the ways of the cat, books and Wikipedia can only tell you so much, but she wasn’t going to let this huge tom teach her a lesson in cat manners tonight. She could almost feel his breath on her tail as she dashed as quickly as her four legs would carry her, dodging and leaping over obstacles in her way. Her slashed ear burned, and she could feel the blood dripping on her fur.
Bigger and faster, the tomcat was getting closer, making her realize that this was a race she couldn’t win. They were now running through yards in a quiet neighborhood, over and under fences and she said a quick prayer that she wouldn’t run into someone’s dog who was sleeping outside. That would just be the icing on the cat cake.
She whipped herself around the corner of a fence, banging her hip in the process. Tucking her tail between her hind legs she slipped under someone’s deck and crawled into the farthest corner. As she dug into the cool, loose, dirt, she hoped that Mr. Tomcat would lose interest and chase another, more willing female.
As she hid, listening for the cat’s breath, occasionally sniffing the air for a whiff of him, she suddenly caught a familiar scent. She inhaled again and yes, it was definitely there.
Slowly, she dragged herself from under the porch, her bruised hip causing her to limp slightly. The smell got stronger as she carefully crossed over into the next yard, keeping her ears and nose peeled for the pushy tomcat. Here it was. She pulled herself up a few steps and pushed through the cat flap.
“Meow,” she said and lay on the floor, exhausted and hurting.
* * * *
Des leaned close to the wooden oval plaque, maneuvering the branding tool over its smooth pine surface of the wood. He had carefully traced an intricate pattern that he was now following with the hot tip of the woodworking tool as he hummed along with the radio. His concentration was total and his hand steady, following the outline that he would eventually overlay with another.
As he worked, he couldn’t help but wonder exactly what Sakaria was doing tonight. He should call her, just to hear her voice. He started to put the tool down to reach for his cell phone.
The cat burst through the cat flap, startling him enough that he dropped the branding tool right in his lap, its hot tip burning his thigh. He jumped up so that the tool fell to the floor and yanked the plug out of the wall. Of all the things that he was expecting tonight, a cat through the cat door was not one of them.
He looked down at the cat. If he wasn’t mistaken, it was the same cat that had retrieved his keys from under the bleachers. It couldn’t be, could it? He knelt down in front of it.
* * * *
Sakaria yowled with joy as she lay on the floor just inside the cat door. She was worn out, hungry and injured. At this point, all she wanted to do was sleep and she honestly didn’t care if she shifted back to human to do so.
“Is that you, Cat?” He had such gentle hand
s, she thought, as he picked her up and examined her carefully, rubbing her back and chest with loving strokes. “Did you come looking for me to return that favor? Hmm?” He held her up to his face and Sakaria meowed. “Looks like you got into a little scrap.”
“You and I must be fated to be together, Cat,” he said, placing her back on the floor where she toddled a bit then sat, her injured hip still bothering her. “Stay there,” he told her. “I’ll be right back.” Before he left, however, he went over to the cat door and latched it. “Just for now,” he said. “To make sure no friends of yours mistake this for a hotel.”
He fixed her ear up quickly with a couple of cotton swabs and some ointment. She sat still even though it hurt. Was it going to leave a scar? How was she going to explain this wound? Now that she was here, how she wanted to snuggle up against him as herself. But she couldn’t do that so she sat and made sad, mewling sounds.
* * * *
Des hummed a little as he worked on the cat, surprised at the fact that she sat so still for him. She was a dark brown long-haired cat, her fur streaked with caramel and black. Her eyes were the color of coffee, a striking, odd look. In his experience, not many cats had dark eyes.
He petted the cat’s head gingerly, avoiding the injured ear and was rewarded with contented purring sounds as it pushed its head against his hand.
“Do you want something to eat, Cat?” He grabbed two bowls and began poking around in the cabinets. By this time, the cat's interest had been piqued with all his rummaging around and was now sitting on the kitchen linoleum floor, watching him. He filled one bowl with water and placed it on the floor, then found a can of tuna which he dumped into the second.
Desmond went out the back door, carefully closing it behind him, to the dark garage with a flashlight and found the old litter box and a half-bag of litter. He brought both inside and dumped the litter in the box.
“All right, Cat,” he said. He pointed. “Litter box.” He pointed to the small rectangle in the back door, which he had unlatched. “Cat door. Use one or both. Please. For all of us.”
Kitty Wishes Page 6
