"Thanks, Hakua. You're the best," I whispered.
"I knew that, but thanks for reminding me," she laughed and I shook my head.
"This is why people don't compliment you," I joked.
"Tsk. Of course, they don't. They’d just be telling me things I already know," she beamed.
"Goodnight, Hakua."
"Goodnight, Crimson. Let's do a sword training lesson tomorrow morning. I've missed having someone with skills like yours. We can play around with your newly acquired powers." Hakua grinned and excitement sparkled in her purple eyes.
"Deal. Sleep well," I bid farewell and walked into the hall. I glanced at the garden and took a deep breath of the chill air.
It wasn't super cold where Hakua lived, but the mountains were filled with snow and there was the area where there was constantly a blizzard. Time for bed. I wonder where the others are sleeping?
I moved down the hall and turned to see Quil relaxing against a wooden pillar. He wore a black robe and was staring out at the garden.
"Quil?"
He blinked out of his daze and looked my way. A small smile formed on his lips and his expression softened.
"Hey," he spoke softly.
I smiled, walking up to him. He held out his arms and I stepped into his embrace. "Were you waiting for me?"
"Yes. Did you have fun with your friend? I walked by earlier, but you two were still talking," he confessed.
"Yes, it was great. I really missed her and I updated her with what's going on. I trust her enough to not tell anyone else. You didn't have to wait for me. Were you here long?" I inquired. It made me feel warm and fuzzy that he waited for me.
"No, just a few minutes. Itsuki's setting up the futons, but didn't want you walking back alone. And it’s fine you told her. I can see she cares deeply about you and wants the best for you. She wouldn't put you in danger," Quil approved.
"Arigato, Quil."
He looked into my eyes and his smile widened. "Why? I didn't do anything."
"You waited for me, when you didn't have to. You and the others accepted Hakua with ease and didn't ask questions or anything. You all gave me the day off to enjoy her company and I'm just so grateful," I acknowledged with a smile.
"No need. If you’re happy, anything is fine with us. Plus, she has character," Quil smirked. He leaned down to my ear. "And if you ever need to relieve that tension we're causing, you can always come to me," he whispered, then kissed me on the cheek.
I froze and my face went red. "You...heard...that?" I squeaked.
He pulled back and gave me a playful grin. "Heard what?" he teased, sliding his hand into mine.
We began to walk back to our room and I prayed the cool air would cool off the growing desire I had for Quil after his comment.
These men are gonna be the death of me.
"You look like a little kid who just got their favorite scoop of ice cream," I teased.
Akihiro turned his head and an ear-to-ear grin was still plastered on his lips. "I get you all to myself today. Why wouldn't I be happy? It's like I won a giveaway or something."
"Men. You guys are weird," I scoffed, shaking my head with a smile on my face. I rested my head on Aki's shoulder as we waited to reach the top of the ski slope.
Hakua and her cleverish ways decided she needed some extra help with classes today because of some field trip event and Aki had still been asleep. So when I woke up and saw Quil's note explaining and Aki emerged asking where the others were, Aki decided to take advantage of the situation and show me all the different activities that could be done up here.
"Did you sleep well last night?" Aki inquired.
I knew he was asking if I had any weird dreams or experienced any of Storm's memories. "I did. No dreams or anything. Maybe I was having them because I was anxious?" I considered.
Aki's hand went through my hair and he was quiet for a moment. "It could be another trait from Storm. She sometimes had dreams that ended up coming true, but only on rare occasions. I don't think you have anything to worry about," Aki reassured me.
"Even the blizzard dream?" That was the one I always found the most worrying, especially with us being in a snowy place.
"We're far away from that area. I remember from when I came here with Storm. Only a few people know where that specific location is. It's shielded with some type of invisible wall. You wouldn't know you were in it until it was too late," Aki explained.
"But can't you just walk back out?" I asked.
"Nope. I don't know what magic that area holds, but if you walk through, you’re placed right in the middle of the blizzard."
"That's a pain in the ass. How did you guys get out? Wouldn’t it be freezing?" I inquired.
"There's a spell you can perform to stabilize your internal heat. Even if by chance you get stuck for hours in the snow, you wouldn't die. You might experience frostbite if you’re out there for a long time, though. Storm hadn't been feeling well when we got caught, so the spell was a lifesaver; I kept her warm as best as I could," Aki admitted.
"Were you in your half Kitsune form?" I remembered how well he was able to warm me up in that form.
"My full form, actually. There's a cave within the deeper parts of the blizzard area. I carried her there and shifted into my full form to keep her warm and give her time to recover. We didn't have to wait long before the others found us," he explained.
"The guys were able to find you?"
"Malachi has heightened senses. So do Itsuki and Quil. They don't need to be familiar with an area to find a person. Haru, Quil, and I can track someone by their magic, as long as they’re familiar to us."
"Interesting. Well, I'm glad you guys made it out okay."
We got off the lift when we reached the top and made our way to the starting point.
"Ya," Aki whispered.
I paused and he stopped to give me a confused look.
"What's wrong?"
"I feel I shouldn't be bringing Storm up, I don't know. It's just rubbing salt in a wound, especially when we're in a place like this where you guys shared memories together," I disclosed, feeling guilty.
Aki sighed and walked over to me, with his snowboard under his arm. "Crimson. Don't worry about it. It hurts from time to time to think about it, but I'm healing slowly. Just because I've shared this experience with Storm doesn't mean I don’t want to enjoy it with you. Understood?" Aki spoke firmly.
"Hai," I whispered, nodding.
He used his free hand to lift my chin up and laid a soft kiss on my lips. "I want us to enjoy this date. No frowns allowed," he whispered the words against my lips.
I slowly nodded and stared at his lips. I closed the distance and kissed him hard. He pressed back and deepened the kiss. We pulled apart and pressed our foreheads together as we caught our breath.
"I like when you kiss me," Aki revealed.
"Do you?"
He kissed me again before answering, "Yes."
I pressed my lips against him and we kissed for a little longer. We finally broke apart and I smiled. "I like it too, a lot," I confirmed.
He placed a kiss on my forehead and set his board down on the snowy ground. "You ready to try this? This isn't the bunny hill, Crim," he teased.
I huffed and gave him a confident look. "This bunny hill champion will beat you," I proclaimed.
Aki laughed. "We'll see about that."
"All my muscles hurt," I complained before I sipped my hot chocolate and stared up at the night sky.
"You did well recovering from that fall. You sure you didn't hurt anything?" Aki sounded worried. He came to stand next to me on the wooden patio behind the little cabin we were staying at for the night.
"I'm alright. It was really fun." I sipped more of my hot chocolate and continued to gaze at the stars.
I was trying to ignore the feeling of déjà vu as I stood on the patio with Aki standing next to me, but it was hard to shake off. My heart was pounding fast and I tried to disguise my growing nervo
usness: a combination of present nerves and also of Storm’s past feelings. She had stood here in this exact spot, alive and enjoying time with her Aki. Now I was in her place, but instead of enjoying the moment, I was incredibly sad.
I was depressed that she had to die. The vacation in my memories was the last she ever had. But I was here, with the men that still had a part of them that loved and missed her. I wasn't jealous or envious that they would always love her, but would I ever be able to move forward from this? Or would I have to continue to battle between her feelings and my own?
I cared about Aki and the others, but was it too early for me to say I loved them? With Storm's added feelings, my confusion was only heightened because that part of me loved them so strongly and my body was responding to that craving for affection.
I wanted to try and figure out an excuse to get a moment alone, so I could take care of my throbbing pussy that was burning with need. The hot chocolate was the only distraction that helped me focus.
"Crimson?" Aki spoke up, but I remained silent.
I couldn't think straight and for a split second, I felt like the scenery had changed. Back and forth, from the chilly cool night that I knew we were experiencing to a light chill from the past.
"Storm?"
I turned my head to see Aki's green eyes filled with worry. I swallowed the lump in my throat and my eyes trailed down his neck to his chest, then down the thin white robe he wore to cover what I hoped was his otherwise naked body that I craved to touch and kiss.
I wanted to hear him groan and sigh at my kisses and relish the way my mouth worked on his cock in an effort to please him. I needed to feel his lips devour mine and his hands roam along my curves. I wanted to be held in his arms and wrapped in the warmth of his tails as we made slow, passionate love.
Aki's hand brushed against my cheek and I forgot to breathe as I stared into his eyes; the once worried expression shifted to a blank stare.
"Crimson or Storm?" Aki asked urgently.
I swallowed and bit my lips. "Storm," I whispered, not knowing how he would react.
He nodded and didn't budge other than his thumb gently stroking my cheek as if to remind me to try and think straight.
"Take a few breaths," he instructed, but I shook my head.
"I...don't want to leave," I confessed. My essence was in full control and I wanted to take comfort in Aki's touch one last time. He gave me a sad smile and shook his head slowly.
"Storm, I can't," Aki whispered with a ragged breath.
I could hear the hurt in his voice and it only made my heart ache with sadness at his rejection. "But I'm here. It may not be permanent and not my physical body, but I'm living in this moment. Won't you do this for me?" I tried to convince him, needing this so badly.
The essence deep within me that was Crimson understood my struggle. I was dead. My soul was floating in darkness and I would never be able to move on unless my murder was solved and my pocket watch was complete again.
Most importantly, I couldn't leave my men in this world unless I knew they were happy. They deserved every bit of joy in their lives, and though my dead spirit trusted in Crimson, in this minute of control I wished I could still give them some of that comfort and pleasure.
He closed his eyes and a part of me rejoiced in the hope he'd agree to my little request, but another part was sad and felt horrible for doing this. Aki opened his eyes and shook his head.
"I can't, Storm."
"But..." I trailed off, seeing the conviction in his eyes, knowing he’d made up his mind. "You love me, don't you?" If he loved me, he would kiss me like he used to and hold me in his arms like I was his everything.
"Storm, I did love you. You were our world and every day I regret not stopping you that night. But I have to move on," Aki whispered.
"You don't have to move on yet. My magic is still within Crimson. I can't guarantee that you'll see me again after this, though. Can't you kiss me one last time?" I begged.
It felt foolish for me to plead for his affection, rather than try to remember what had happened to me. Even with the triggered memories that blossomed on the familiar patio with one of the men I loved, I couldn't help them find who took me away from them.
My essence was the only thing left in this world and even its power was miniscule compared to what Crimson had within. It would be only a matter of time until my watch was restored and then I'd be no more. But I wanted something to hold onto and I wished so badly to feel his lips once more.
"Storm, I've moved on. I can't keep living in the past. Crimson deserves better than that. She's our new light and even if for a few moments you’re in control, that would be like cheating to do that. I can't hurt her like that. I won't lower myself to that level, even for you. I loved you so much, but that was the past. Crimson's my future."
I slowly nodded and I felt my essence fade until I was back to the little section within Crimson. He was right and I knew it. Even though I felt a hint of betrayal, I knew my time with my lovers had expired with my death.
I closed my eyes and in a flash, I felt like myself again, but that left me somehow even more confused and turned on than before. I opened my eyes to see Aki staring at me.
He sighed heavily. "Crimson?" he asked hesitantly.
"Yes, it’s me. I…lost control didn't I?" I questioned, trying to focus on anything but my arousal.
"You did. Storm's essence must have reacted because of her memories of this cabin. I didn't know it would have an effect on you. I'm sorry." Aki bowed his head in apology.
"You don't need to apologize. It's not like we've dealt with this before...but, I do have a question."
"What is it?"
"Why didn't you kiss her...well, me? I get you've moved on, but what if that was truly the last time her magic took control of me? That could have been your final shot to kiss the woman you dedicated years to. Sure, it wouldn't be a direct kiss on her body or soul, but..." I trailed off, unsure how it all worked.
It sounded strange that I was even questioning his actions, but I couldn't believe he declined her request. Storm wasn't like James where the relationship ended on a bad note. She'd loved them with everything she had and died because of it.
Aki took a step forward and our bodies pressed together which wasn't helping my other issue. He tilted my chin up so I looked directly into those green eyes of his.
"I promised to dedicate myself to you, Crimson. Not Storm. The best friend and woman I loved died and her magic can’t replace that void. But with each passing day that I get to spend even ten minutes with you, that void begins to close and is filled with my love for you. Little by little my broken heart is healing and the idea of kissing Storm using your body just felt wrong. My love for you is absolute and no magic will break my morals," Aki vowed.
I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but no words came out. I'd left a relationship with a man who couldn't even hold my hand after more than four years of dating, and entered a relationship with a man who was willing to ignore whatever plea Storm's magic had decided to test him with for the sake of his love.
Regardless of whether it was a test or not, his words made me so happy, I didn't know what I should do, but decided to let my body have what it wanted. I lifted my hands and pressed gently on the soft fuzzy fabric of his robe, gliding them upward until I could wrap my arms around his neck.
I listened as his breathing hitched and his eyes dilated with desire. Seeing him be so affected by my deliberately slow movements excited me. I stood on my toes and pressed my lips to his, delivering a firm kiss.
The kiss sent my overly sensitive body into overdrive and I deepened it in a mission to savor his addictive taste. He moaned; his body pressed against mine while his hands brushed my cheeks, tilting my head to give him better access before his tongue slid into my mouth.
I moaned into his mouth and my legs trembled with arousal as we continued to make out. I couldn't keep track of our movements, but one minute we were standing on t
he chilly patio, and the next we were indoors next to the king size poster bed and I was loosening the rope of his robe.
"Crimson," Aki moaned.
I smiled in satisfaction as my hand slid beneath the soft fabric, easing it off his shoulders and onto the floor. His hands were already undoing the tie of my robe, slowly sliding it off my body, leaving me naked.
We eyed each other and the hunger in Aki's eyes was doing crazy things to me; my mind delighted in the idea of all the things I wanted to do with him. But I knew neither of us had the patience to wait. His hands moved from my shoulders down my arms, making their way to my ribs and down my curvy angles to my hips.
He pressed against me and I moaned, relishing the warmth of his body. My breasts pushed against his muscular chest and even the slightest movement teased my hard, sensitive nipples.
His lips lowered onto my neck and I gasped at the sensual kiss he pressed there, followed by gentle sucks and small bites that left me shaky. When he was satisfied, he moved up to kiss me once more and our hands roamed over one another in a frenzied state.
He moved us slowly backward until the back of my legs met the end of the bed. Slowly, he lowered us to the bed and I broke the kiss to move back until the pillow was beneath my head and Aki's naked body hovered over me.
The undeniable lust that flared in his darkened eyes made me quiver and my pussy ached for him. I glanced at the ribbon in his hair and for a second I wished I could have the chance to enjoy him in his half form.
As if reading my mind he smiled and reached up to grab the yellow ribbon, tugging it with enough force to free his long hair from its hold. His tails and ears materialized and the sight of him and his heightened muscular state in this form alone could have made me cum right then.
He didn't look cute or innocent, he looked like a predator ready to devour every inch of me. He reached up and softly cupped my breasts, pinching my nipples while keeping his hooded gaze on mine.
Taming the Storm (Crimson Storm Chronicles Book 1) Page 25
