Beautifully Broken

by Christa Simpson

  It can’t possibly be!

  His groan sounds like a mask of desire. It slowly penetrates her chest until it hits her heart and delivers endorphins through the rest of her body at lightning speed. “Don’t lie to me, woman. Tell me you’re wearing underwear right now.”

  She bites her lip the more turned on she becomes. “Just a second. Let me check.” She slips her hand inside her panties and begins to massage herself. She’s so sensitive to the touch. Her teeth cut into her lower lip and she whimpers softly into the phone, as if it were him touching her.

  “Are you touching yourself?” he begs. “Oh, God. Tell me you’re not touching yourself.”

  The urgency in his voice takes her pleasure to new heights. “So what if I am?” Her fingers smooth up and down in a soft, circular motion, the same way she remembers Matt touching her.

  When she whimpers again, Matt sounds like he’s about ready to expire on the other end of the phone. “My God, this is fucking sexy.”

  She smirks, loving the way he reacts to her. Who knew playing with Matthew Knight’s imagination could be this fun?

  “You like it when I talk sexy like this to you?” he growls. “Does it feel like those are my fingers touching you? Let me touch you.”

  His voice touches her everywhere. “Mmm,” she moans, shocked by how quickly she’s ready to spiral out of control. She wishes he would touch her. That would send her over the edge for sure.

  It’s like he senses her hesitation through the phone. “Okay. Listen up,” he orders with a firm voice. He acts like he’s calm and in command now. “Take that pretty little hand of yours and slip a finger in.”

  “Matty.” She doesn’t even know why she says his name.

  “Please. Just get it wet for me. Just one finger. Just a little bit. Can you do that for me, Felicia? Can you get it wet?”

  Felicia answers with a throaty moan. Her breaths become labored as she begins to give more pressure to her quickened motions. His orders have her very turned on. Listening to his instructions, she inserts a finger from her other hand.

  “Yes!” he shouts, as if he’s there in the room with her. He is loving this almost as much as she. “You’re going to finish.”

  Felicia doesn’t answer him, holding her breath as her orgasm mounts quickly. The phone falls from her shoulder, but it remains next to her ear.

  “You are, aren’t you?” Matt says. “I can tell. You don’t even have to say a word, I can hear it on your breath.”

  She releases the air, but doesn’t stop the sensual assault. "Bye, Matty," she breathes into the phone.

  “No!” he hollers as she ends their call and gives in to the all-encompassing swirl of excitement magically storming her body.

  She lies there basking in a sweet release. With her eyes closed she feels like she has Matt lying next to her in the bed. She hasn’t done anything sexier in all her life and hasn’t felt this kind of pleasure in months too long. She knows Matt will have stepped up his game now, but he isn’t prepared for what she has in store. It will only get better from here.

  Chapter 8: Bad Medicine

  “Everyone is expected to stay on the castle grounds,” a security guard hollers out to Matt.

  Yeah, I think not.

  When Grant arrives at the castle gates, there is no way Matt can turn back now. The fresh air isn’t cutting it. He needs to resort to something stronger. The way Felicia has him reeling leaves him in a bit of a frenzy. Seeing her with that blond guy again after the stunt she’d pulled infuriates him on another level.

  “Hey, Grant. What are you up to?”

  Grant kicks at a round grey rock. “Honestly, I was just roaming around. There’s not much to do here. There’s a beast of a library with some dusty old books in it. The gardens are nice, if you like that kind of thing. But the kitchen staff is already growing tired of my large appetite.”

  “I hear that. You wouldn’t want to get out of here with me for a few hours, would you?”

  “Can we do that?”

  “Do you really think Destiny has any say in what we do? We’re adults. Besides, we’ll be back with plenty of time to spare.”

  Grant looks around. Does he expect Destiny to jump out of the bushes and point fingers at them?

  “I don’t know. Have you seen Destiny this morning? She means business. She’s a bridezilla in the most beautiful form.”

  Matt outright laughs. “Are you coming with me? I’m going, so . . .”

  “Do you have a ride?”

  “I’m waiting for my cab as we speak.”

  Grant nods his head, checking back toward the castle doors again. “Okay.”

  Matt grips the rear wheels of his chair and propels himself down the winding gravel path until they can’t be seen from the castle anymore. A white cab appears from a whirling fog of dust and pulls up next to them.

  A window rolls down and a middle-aged woman with a raspy voice shouts, “Are either of you Matthew Knight?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Matt answers.

  He reaches for the front door handle, but she presses down the lock button.

  “Back seat,” she snaps.

  He lifts a finger slowly and shakes it. “Right.”

  The trunk pops open and Grant laughs as he folds up the wheelchair. After sliding it in place, he pushes the trunk closed. Then he walks to the other side of the car and gets in the back seat next to Matt.

  “Where to?” the woman asks instantly, as she makes a three point turn.

  Matt glances at the identification tucked into her visor. “Nice to meet you too, Rhonda.”

  “Seriously, guy. Where are you going? I charge by the minute.” She steps on the gas and motors down the gravel driveway.

  There is an easy five minutes just to get to the main road so he doesn’t know what the hurry is.

  “Well, Rhonda. I was reading this pamphlet in the castle about a psychic in town, and I happen to need a miracle. Have you heard of her?”

  Rhonda is suddenly intrigued. “Madam Val. Yeah, I’ve heard of her. That woman is magical.”

  “Magical?”

  “She works magic, I’m telling you. She can read your thoughts, see your life and tell you the future. It’s amazing. She told me I’d get stuck in a dead-end job after I caught my husband cheating on me and that I would have to work my ass off if I expected anything to change.”

  “Has anything changed?” Grant asks her, appearing very curious about the matter.

  “Well, no. But my husband is cheating on me and here I am.”

  Matt smiles. “She’s the real deal then, not a phony, like the whole lot of them in the city?”

  “No, no. She’s good. I know you’re thinking she’s looked me up, maybe had someone follow me around for a day or two, but that’s just not true. She’d come to a party a friend of mine was hosting. There were twenty of us there. There was no way she had all that dirt on everyone without chalking it up to a special power. That woman is charmed.”

  “Good to hear.”

  Rhonda peers into her rear view mirror to look at Matt when she talks to him. “Why do you want to see her? You might learn something about yourself that is better off buried alive.”

  “Honestly, Rhonda, it can’t possibly be any worse than the reality I’m forced to face every day.”

  “Sorry to hear that.” She peers at him again, showing him an expression of remorse. “I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

  “Me too, Rhonda. Me too.”

  Another ten minutes pass before she pulls right in front of an old red-brick building that looks like it’s ready to fall over.

  “This is it?”

  “I’m afraid so. It’s really much nicer inside, I hear.”

  Matt tilts his head and looks to Grant. “Are you coming in?”

  “Oh no. You couldn’t pay me to step foot in there. I don’t like all this hocus pocus, talking to dead people, mumbo jumbo.”

  Matt laughs. “Who said anything about talking to dea
d people?”

  “You never know what can happen when you’re dealing with a medium like her.”

  “She’s a medium? You never told me that.” Matt’s looking to Rhonda again.

  “It shouldn’t be a problem if you don’t bring it up. People have been known to get readings, but she doesn’t say anything unless you ask her to.”

  “How convenient.”

  Grant’s the one looking to Rhonda now. “Would you mind sticking around for a while? I’m going to have a look inside the old shops up the road. We shouldn’t be long at all. Right, Matt?”

  “This is a small town, fellas. I think you’re my first call this week. I think I can stick around for you. It’ll cost you, though.”

  Matt smirks as he gets out of the car. “I’m sure you’ll be fair.”

  She smiles at him. “I’ll give you a discount if you tell me what happens in there.”

  “Sounds fair. Wish me luck.”

  “Good luck!” Rhonda shouts.

  Grant crawls over the back seat and climbs out the same side of the car as Matt. He doesn’t even try to hide his anxiety. “Be careful, man.” He pulls out the wheelchair and hangs onto it until Matt is seated comfortably with his cane flattened across his lap.

  Matt makes a hand motion that is a mix between a check mark and a salute. “Catch you back here in a half hour or so.”

  His arms flex as he propels his wheelchair toward the dilapidated red door on the front of the building. A bell dings when he pulls it open and, as he crosses the threshold, it feels like he’s passed into a different dimension. The walls are dark, like the night sky. Golden stars are painted in random clusters across the walls, with splashes of glitter catching the dim lights cascading from the dramatic chandelier.

  The place isn’t old and worn like the exterior. The space is tidy and spacious, with an odd serenity about it. Everything seems to be orderly, like it’s been put there for a reason. He runs his finger across a dream catcher and then a wind chime. It makes a loud melodious sound that reminds him of summers at the cabin. He continues to take in the space around him, until a beautiful blonde woman appears from the back room.

  “I like that one too,” she says. “I’m Madam Val. Can I help you with something?”

  “You’re the psychic? But you’re so young?”

  She’s got an easy decade on him, but she gives off the impression of class and intelligence.

  “You expected some old hag with scraggly hair and a wart on her nose?”

  Matt suddenly feels childish. “I apologize. It’s just that you’re blonde.”

  “You’re a smart one.”

  He shakes his head and reaches out a hand. “I’m Matthew Knight.”

  She takes it and stares into his soul. “I know who you are.”

  His eyes grow wide. How does she know that?

  “Calm down, Mr. Knight. I read newspapers too. The whole town knows that part of the Montgomery Castle is being rented to the Knight family for a wedding this week and you don’t look like you’re from around here. No special powers, you see?” She wiggles her fingers like a magician. “Your brother’s photo was in the paper too. You two have very similar features.”

  She’s smart and observant. He wonders if she does know secret spells.

  “I take it you’re not here for a dream catcher . . . a gift for the wedding perhaps?”

  “No. Nothing like that. Destiny won’t accept anything but cash.”

  Madam Val’s laugh sparkles. “I expect most women would feel the same, my dear boy.”

  “Yeah. Women. That’s my problem.”

  The smile doesn’t leave her angelic face. “I’m afraid if you’re looking for me to fix that problem, you’ve come to the wrong place.”

  “So, you can’t help me?”

  “No. No. I didn’t say that.” She gestures for him to pull up to her table, then sits across from him and takes his hand. “Is this okay?”

  He stares at her curiously. “Of course. Of course.” He’s too intrigued to back away now.

  Her fingers massage over his palm and slide up his wrist where she finds a few scars. His cane is clamped tightly in his other hand.

  “Relax, Mr. Knight. This isn’t going to hurt.”

  He instantly releases the cane and it clatters onto the floor.

  “Good. Now then, I hope you’ve come bearing funds. Unfortunately I do not offer my services for free.”

  “I understand.” He reaches into his back pocket for his wallet and slaps five crisp bills onto the table.

  She stuffs them into her pocket. “Thank you. You should know that I offer a one-time money-back guarantee. If you feel like I’m feeding you a line, or that my service today is unhelpful, I will give you a full refund before you leave my shop.”

  “That is appreciated. But I am hopeful that your services will be every bit as useful as the town’s folk boast.”

  Madam Val smiles and then closes her eyes as she massages Matt’s hand again. “You’re suffering a lot of pain. You have the scars to prove it.”

  “That is very observant of you.”

  She peeks out of one eye. “Mr. Knight . . . if you want this to work, then you’re going to have to lose the attitude. The more you help, the more you’ll gain from this experience.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “As I was saying. You are scarred. I can see it in your soul. Yes, your body is still mending, but those are not the scars I’m referring to. This one in particular is hindering your ability to fully recuperate.”

  “You can see this scar?”

  Madam Val peers at him again. “I wouldn’t say I see anything exactly. I feel it. My senses are heightened beyond that of any person I expect you’ve ever encountered. I can be very intuitive. In fact, I can sense that your skepticism has diminished considerably since you’ve walked in.”

  Matt smiles. “You’re a good judge of character too.”

  “Years of experience.” She smiles, and it feels like she’s turned into his therapist. “This woman you speak of. What is her name?”

  “Women. I believe I said women were my problem.”

  “Yes, I know what you said, but I can sense that there is one particular woman giving you the most trouble. Tell me about her.”

  He sighs and wonders if he should race away and stumble for the cab. If he leaves, he’ll have thrown away some time and money and will have gained nothing.

  What do I have to lose?

  “Her name is Felicia.”

  “Good. Tell me more.”

  “What do you want to know?”

  “What does she look like? How did you meet? Why is she causing you all this inner turmoil?”

  Even the questions she poses unnerve him. He tries to hide it, but she’s now watching him, waiting for the answers.

  “Honestly, she’s stunning, perfect from head to toe. She has long, wavy hair that falls below her shoulders. She has a natural spunk that’s intensified from the sparkle in her eyes. The girl is built just the way I like a woman: full in the chest, small in the waist and big in the hips. Her curves above all else are what first attracted me to her.”

  “Okay. Enough about her physical beauty. Do you have anything else to say about this girl?”

  “I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I don’t know a whole lot about her. We met during a snow storm. My brother and I kind of rescued her and her friends one weekend. We took them back to our cabin and one thing led to the next.”

  “The wedding you’re attending?”

  He nods. “Yeah. My brother is the groom. He’s marrying Felicia’s best friend.”

  “I see. How does this make you feel?”

  Matt raises his eyebrows and holds them there. “I feel like I’m in therapy. How does that make you feel?” he mocks.

  “Do I sense some jealousy? Was Destiny the girl meant for you?”

  Matt scoffs. “No! You’ve got it all wrong!” He pulls his hand away from her, wondering why she has to
keep massaging him while he talks. “Are you a psychic or a masseuse? Geez.” He rubs his hand where she’d been touching him, but he can’t shake the eerie sensation.

  Madam Val remains hunched forward and clasps her hands together. “It helps to calm your nerves and keeps me connected with your spirit. It’s okay, though. I feel like we’ve made a good connection here.”

  She starts to creep him out.

  “What are you talking about?”

  She takes a deep breath. “Felicia is the one you’re here about today. I can sense that you have no attraction toward your brother’s bride, but you are very aware of what they share. You want that with Felicia. What is holding you back?”

  He decides to see where she’s going with this, although he himself has not come to this determination yet. “We’ve had a minor setback in our relationship. I should say, we don’t have a working relationship at all.”

  Madam Val’s eyes connect with his. “Your relationship was built in the physical realm but you’d like it to be more.”

  “Yes, exactly.”

  “Unfortunately, there is a large volcanic mass that seems to block your future. I can’t quite make it out, but she was there. You were there and she was there and so was a friend. Until you get past that, there will be no moving forward, with Felicia or with any other woman.”

  “You can see this?”

  “As I told you before, I can’t explain it. I just know.” Now she seems to be the curious one. “Can you explain it to me? What is this massive event that happened?”

  “My accident,” he answers, without question.

  He doesn’t like to talk about it. Sarkis is the only other person he’s ever shared the experience with. But Madam Val has an uncanny ability to make him loose in the lips.

  “I didn’t always walk with a cane. That weekend—the one Felicia and I met—we were only stuck together because her friend’s truck broke down. I’m a mechanic . . . or at least I was. Now I don’t feel like much of anything.”

  “Please, tell me more.”

  “I was parked on the side of the road, fixing her friend’s truck, when another vehicle crashed into us and clamped my body between the two vehicles.”