The Essence of Fate

by Alison E. Steuart

“Ian.” She’s begging without words. But I want to hear it.

  “Say it.”

  “Hard…now! Dammit…spank me hard…Ian.” Her back arches and she turns to look at me. Suddenly confident in her demands. “Mark me…I need you to mark me…” My hand lands in a stinging smack that echoes down my spine. Fuck! This is better than I anticipated. Pushing her to be comfortable with herself, with her own wants and desires. All of it heightened by the freedom of being out here on the water, the full exposure of being outdoors enhancing every touch, every sound…every sensation.

  Another smack echoes, and I see her pussy tighten with the contact. I do it again…and again…and again, harder and harder. She’s pushing herself toward me, ass cheeks bright red, her perfect lips pulsating and begging. Barely holding herself up, she looks over her shoulder, hair in wild disarray across her body, her face lethal with desire. It triggers a madness inside me like I have never known. My adrenaline spikes, making my heart pound as her pleasure becomes more intense…as her brain is injected with endorphins. It’s like a drug, and she’s already addicted.

  One last smack and I spread her apart, then bury my face in her wet cunt. I drink her in before taking my throbbing cock to her entrance, sliding it between her swollen lips all the way to the base and holding it there, hands firm on her hips. I pump hard against her core as I yank her toward me, buried as deep as I can go before slowly pulling it out again, admiring how she is perfectly stretched around me. Just before the head comes out completely, I drive it back in, slow and measured, pushing her limits. When her slight contractions begin to squeeze my shaft, I pick up my pace and start pounding into her, my grip still tight on her hips, pulling her to me, our wet skin slapping together.

  Growling out, I hear myself say, “Mine. You’re mine.” My voice sounds otherworldly as it becomes saturated with emotion and pleasure. She screams out my name as I continue fucking her through orgasms so intense and so drawn-out I’m afraid we both might black out.

  As the intensity finally wanes, I fall forward, unable to stand any longer. She collapses underneath me. “Charlotte?” I ask weakly. “Are you okay?” I get a small nod in response. Still inside her, the feeling is indescribable as she slowly milks me dry, the gentle, involuntary contractions like an exquisite dessert after an unforgettable entrée. Every now and again my cock jumps, making my breath hitch from the flow of lingering pleasure.

  My back is starting to burn, and our sweat has mingled together all over her back and my chest. Getting up so we can sit in the shade, I pull her with me and cradle her in my lap.

  Once we are comfortable, her head falls to my chest, and I know she’s still there—in that strange place between consciousness and unconsciousness. That place that is like being awake in a dream you don’t want to end. It’s beyond peaceful. It’s pure and healing and powerful…and she will crave being there as much as I crave putting her there.

  Time passes as I hold her, staring at her and thinking of all the ways I want to spoil her and make all her dreams come true. When she eventually comes around, she doesn’t open her eyes, but she smiles and says, “I think I just died from intense pleasure exposure…literally. IPE…I’ve wondered if it was possible more than once over the past week, but now I know it is.” She opens her eyes and asks in the most serious tone, “How did you bring me back to life?”

  Laughing, I respond, “That’s cute, LeFay. Plan on being permanently afflicted with IPE, a condition that is not deadly but quite rejuvenating. Although it may not seem that way when an acute attack occurs; the benefits tend to build with each experience.” She’s giving me a look that says, Oh really?, so I continue. “It actually makes you stronger. Before long, you’ll have superpowers.” I smile down at her and my heart skips a beat from the happiness shining in her eyes. She is very much in love with me. I can see it…I can feel it.

  We seem content to simply look at each other. Studying each other’s eyes and all the features we find so appealing about one another. With a straight face, she breaks the silence. “Erika said something to me the other day, when we first got here. I needed to talk to her because I was confused about my feelings for you, how intense they are.” She laughs a little. “And that I told you I love you after being with you for…what? Two days, maybe? And that I meant it, with all my heart.” She looks away—evidence of her lingering insecurities.

  “Charlotte, you do realize this is all a good thing, right? You don’t need to be afraid of it.”

  “Yes. I know. It’s not that…really. It’s that it’s so different, like nothing I’ve ever even heard of. But Erika told me I needed to chill out because it was quite obvious you and I are soulmates. I believe her words were…this isn’t the first go-round for you two lovebirds, and it won’t be your last.” Her expression is serious again as she continues. “Do you believe that, Ian? I know you’ve made reference to it before, but do you think that could be true?”

  “Yes,” I say succinctly. “There is something uncommonly powerful between us. But I don’t question it. I think I see it for what it is, whether we give it a title or not.” I hold her a little tighter.

  “For me, it may be easier to accept the idea of having a soulmate, if that’s what you want to call it. You see, my family is from Scotland, and Nana is quite proud of our Scottish heritage and all the superstitions therein. She’s been telling me since I was a boy that I have an old soul because of my ‘wisdom, sharp instincts, and turquoise eyes,’” I boast as we both laugh. “She says the McAlistair line runs deep within me, and I agree with her… There is something there, but it’s not something I can pinpoint or really describe. It’s just there. I think that’s why she and I are so close—she has an old soul, as well, and a sixth sense that is never wrong,” I explain, but Charlotte only half smiles, as though her thoughts are elsewhere. “What is it? Did I lose you with all that boring stuff about Scotland and old souls?”

  Sitting up to straddle my lap, she looks at me and almost seems bashful. Finally, she says, “Ian, I hope you don’t think I’m crazy when I tell you this…because it is kind of crazy, but it’s true and I don’t know what to make of it.” She’s looking down to where her fingers are tracing paths around my stomach and chest.

  “I love your kind of crazy, now out with it.” I’m growing impatient with curiosity.

  “The other day at my condo when…Gabriel texted me…” That last part came out uncomfortably. About as uncomfortable as it makes the inside of my chest feel. Good thing she let the nuisance know before we left to back off, she’s taken. “You kissed me.” She looks up with a smile that lights up my world. “And it was amazing, as always, but different somehow.”

  “Yeah…you fainted and gave me a fucking heart attack,” I sternly add.

  “Yes, well, no. I didn’t faint. It was…something else entirely. I don’t know, maybe because of the tension of the moment or the fact that you were pushing me to come clean with my true feelings for you…” She’s serious, yet her eyes are distant. “But something happened during that kiss.” Looking away, she takes a deep breath, then continues. “It was really strange, but there was this sudden bright light, then out of nowhere we were standing in a meadow that was the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. We were still kissing, but I was seeing this strange place at the same time, almost like I was watching myself. The sky was the purest blue, there were mountains in the distance, purple flowers everywhere, a stream running nearby… I could hear the sounds of it and smell the clean air and feel the coolness on my skin. Ian…it was so real, but I knew at the same time that it wasn’t. Regardless, I felt so happy I didn’t want it to be a dream. I wanted it to be real. I wanted to stay there…with you. But then, what made my legs give out was… Oooh, this is the part that really freaks me out, and I know you’re going to think it’s weird.” She’s running her hands through her hair, then to her neck, as if to rub away the tension.

  “Honestly, I’m totally intrigued by everything you’re telling me. So pleas
e, don’t stop now.”

  “Okay”—she takes another deep breath—“when we stopped kissing, I noticed a stone building not far in the distance. It was old, had to be more than three stories high. It was huge! But then I shifted my eyes back to you…and the only thing that was you were your eyes. Exactly as they are right now, that amazing turquoise with jet-black lashes… Oh, and your smell, that was the same,” she says, giving me a coy look. “But your features were different. Your nose, your mouth. You had long hair that was pulled back in a low ponytail! And now that I think about it, you had on a navy-blue jacket with gold trim and a high collar. I mean…it was so strange, like I suddenly woke up in some historical movie or something!” I can tell she’s relieved to get this off her chest, but more so, there is something about this image that makes her happy.

  “That’s when my legs gave out!” she enthusiastically clarifies. “I didn’t know what the hell was happening, but Ian?” She pauses to look at me, taking my hands in hers. “When I finally caught my breath and cleared my head, I had this overwhelming need to tell you how much I love you. It was like, I could finally say it. Like I was given a chance that had been taken away and it was so wonderful, I don’t even think words can justify the feeling.” I can see tears forming in her eyes, but she smiles through them, stealing my heart for the tenth time today.

  “Wow, Charlotte. I have to say, that is a pretty powerful story. I think you must have had some kind of memory from a past life, as strange as it may seem. I’m not sure how else to make sense of it. Extraordinary things happen with no explanation, and this is one of them.” Reaching up to touch her suntanned face, I still see the skepticism in her expression. “Relax, you. Just let it be what it is. Look at it as a gift. Your soul is letting you know that this is okay, that we are meant to be together. The idea that we have loved before, in some other place and time, is beyond spectacular.” I pull her closer, wanting her warmth and scent that has become comforting and grounding. “I’d be disappointed if that weren’t the case, Charlotte.” Holding her face, I kiss her softly. “Stop overthinking it. We are together now, and that’s all that matters. Got it?”

  She nods and gives me a knowing smile. We stand and I guide her to the back of the boat, then with a quick smack on her bare cheek, I say, “Now get your sexy ass in the water to cool off. I want to watch you swim naked. You’re a masterpiece and I could look at you all day.”

  And so she does, swimming around as if it were some kind of choreographed dance, so graceful and effortless. I stand there completely ensnared by all that she is and the significance of everything we just discussed. A sudden flush raises the hairs across my body as I thank God and the universe along with every ancient god and goddess known to mankind for making her mine…in this life and any other that has been or will be.

  Twenty-Three

  Charlotte

  Sitting at Laney’s, I’m lost in thought as I wait for Erika to join me. It’s been four and a half months since Ian and I returned from the Abacos, but time has not faded the memories or the longing to go back. There was something ethereal about our time there, about how we came together in a way that was so much more than physical. Although, the physical part could actually be considered spiritual since, on more than one occasion, I ended up in a dreamlike realm that is so peaceful—where nothing of this physical world even exists to cloud what really matters. I can’t help but think that is what heaven would be like, and then I wonder to myself, is that blasphemy?

  Ian was right, though—it is rejuvenating, and I am stronger, like I’ve tapped into a power and confidence I didn’t know existed within me. Now, when I look at the drawing Ian did of me, portrayed as a faerie that is so comfortable in her own skin, with her natural beauty, strength, and power, I recognize more of myself in her. It’s as if Ian knew who I was before I did, which is fitting considering everything that has happened between us.

  “Bet I can guess what’s going on in your head right now,” Erika says, startling me out of my daydream. “It starts with Ian and ends with orgasm. And don’t try to deny it… It’s written all over your face.”

  Laughing out loud, I respond, “That’s only partially correct. I was thinking about our trip to the Abacos.”

  “Really? Still? What the heck did he do to you over there?” she asks, getting comfortable in the seat across from me.

  “Good question. I’m not sure there is even a name for it. But it goes way beyond good sex.”

  “Well, from what you’ve already told me, I would say that’s a pretty accurate statement!” Erika says enthusiastically. “The only sucky part of this whole thing is that, now, my sex life pales in comparison. Which actually doesn’t make any sense, because I’m the one totally focused on super-hot sex where I get spanked and tied to the bed and penetrated…everywhere…by a super-hot guy that makes my toes explode with intense, rapid-fire orgasms. The Law of Attraction is supposed to make this my reality. You haven’t been focused on this kind of juicy love, so how the heck did it come your way?” she finishes, genuinely confused.

  “Huh…maybe your subconscious mind felt sorry for me because I wasn’t getting any love, juicy or otherwise, and it redirected the focus toward me.” I pause for a second to smile at her and the catty expression forming on her face. “Erika, how sweet of you!” I reach over and put my hand on hers, trying not to laugh. “You are a true, and very generous, friend.”

  Her face goes expressionless. “You want to know what’s so screwed up? That seriously has merit! While I’ve been out slutting around, trying to figure out who is the best lay in Miami, I’ve been feeling kind of guilty because you weren’t getting any at all. I literally would tell myself…I wish Charlotte would get some good booty, she deserves it more than anyone. That is no lie! I seriously bet my Law of Attraction did rub off on you!” She stops to look at me in mild shock. “Uhhh…you freakin’ owe me. Big time!!”

  I bust out laughing from the look on her face and the fact that she’s starting to believe I reaped the benefits of her begging the universe for more hot sex than she was already having. “Oh, Erika! This is hilarious!”

  “Yeah, I bet it is. Except I feel like you stole my winning lottery ticket. Bitch.”

  Wiping the tears from my eyes, I say, “Stop! You’re making my stomach hurt!” Holding it, I continue, “Blame Sibel. It was her psycho road rage that caused everything.”

  “Yeah…Sibel. Your aggro alter-ego swiped my mojo. I’m having a hard time accepting that injustice!”

  “Okay, okay! I’m sorry we swiped your mojo… I promise to make it up to you,” I concede in a sugary tone.

  She looks at me with one raised brow and an undeniable smirk. “Really? How so?”

  I can only imagine what naughty thoughts are going through her head right now. “I will commit myself to a daily meditation where I ask the universe to bring Erika Fleming her very own Magic Mike to play with, that spanks her, ties her up, and gives her toe-popping orgasms every day.”

  She thinks about it then adds, “You forgot spontaneous nipple orgasms. I want those, too.”

  “Of course, you do. How silly of me to forget,” I say, rolling my eyes while Erika’s smile beams back at me. “What now? You’ve done a complete one-eighty on me and I’m not sure what to make of it.”

  “I’m just happy for you. Seriously…all selfishness and joking aside. I see a dramatic difference in you. Like you’ve come out of a shell I didn’t even know you were in. If that makes any sense.”

  Thinking about her observation, I agree, “Yeah, it actually does, and that’s a pretty accurate description. Whatever it is that you see, I feel and it’s powerful. Here I was, all this time, thinking I had it together and, considering the hellish nightmare I was faced with by the age of twenty, I thought my confidence was well intact. But I swear, Erika, I would have never in a million years thought that submitting to Ian, that trusting him to control my pleasure, would have such a profound effect.” I pause as a sense of excitement fl
ashes through me, like it always does when I think about what he does to me. “Apparently, relinquishing control, at least for a little while, reboots the control that makes me successful at my career, that makes me confident…sharp…happy…everything! It probably sounds unreal, but I swear it’s true.”

  “No, that makes a lot of sense. It’s like how meditation rejuvenates your mind. You wouldn’t think that when you stop thinking and only focus on your breathing, your brain gets smarter, but it does. It must be the same thing with submission,” she states, totally on board with my logic. But as the seconds pass, I can see her mind has traveled at warp speed to reach a conclusion that will likely have her signing up as a member at the nearest BDSM club right after lunch.

  Right as her eyes widen, I try to stop her. “Erika. I can literally read your mind. Stop it!”

  “I am suddenly overwhelmed with the potential of all this fabulous information! Think of the possibilities! I can freely do all that kinky shit I’ve been too afraid to even consider. I’ll just relinquish myself over to some Dom that will whip me into perfection!” Her eyes are actually black with misplaced desire and now I fear for her safety.

  “Erika. Stop being ridiculous! You are not relinquishing yourself over to some Dom. How did you left turn this conversation into Kinktown? I’m not talking about whips and chains. I’m talking about a mutual trust between two people that are in love. There is a big difference.” I’m trying not to be too reprimanding.

  Letting out a huff, she retorts, “I know…chill out. It was fun to think about it for a minute. But it’s a completely unrealistic idea. I couldn’t be with a Dom that’s already Dommed someone else. He’d have to buy all new equipment and sanitize the entire house…and himself! And the hotness level I’d require him to meet sends the whole idea right off a cliff.” And, as usual, she’s dead serious.

  “Oh my God. That was the weirdest, kink version of ‘Squirrel!’ I’ve ever heard. Now stop highjacking my love story!” I say, trying not to laugh at the silly look on her face.