Stir Until Petrified

by Theda Vallee

  His hand moved to my breast, exploring the fullness as he cupped it in his hand. His thumb moved to find the hard-peak straining against the fabric of my borrowed shirt. Lazily he moved his thumb around my nipple in light teasing circles. I arched my back straining to press in closer. His mouth broke contact from my lips again to trail down my chin heading for my neck. Shivers shot through my body as the warmth of his breath brushed against my skin. Lips pressed into the extra sensitive spot between my neck and shoulder. He slowly bit down, allowing my moans to help him find the perfect balance of pain and pleasure. I leaned against the Porsche trying to get some leverage. My legs threatened to give out with the waves of pleasure that now washed over me in a nonstop barrage of my senses.

  Luc’s hand reached up pulling the tie out of my hair. My curls poured down around my shoulders as his hand wove itself into the loose waves pulling me in for a deeper kiss. I wanted to remove all the barriers between us. I wanted to lose myself in a frenzy of body parts. I wrapped my legs around his body, straining to get as close as possible. The hard shaft of his cock pressed against me through my pants. I ground myself on him, angling to hit my throbbing sweet spot.

  “Excuse me, sir, ma’am? I'm going to need to see your license and registration.” Just as quickly as it had started everything came to a screeching halt. Like a balloon deflating, I felt all the desire rush from my body. Luc pulled away abruptly dropping my feet to the ground. I turned to find a very young highway patrol officer, blushing furiously as he tried to uphold the law.

  Luc produced paperwork without glancing in my direction. We both stood like sullen teenagers while the officer left to run our information. To avoid eye contact I poured my concentration into a thread at the bottom of my borrowed hoodie. I was terrified the fireworks show would start all over again. What the hell was wrong with me? I was supposed to loathe this man, not dry hump him on the side of the road. How did it even happen? How could I go from wanting to leave him there to jean jamming on him in a matter of minutes? I’m Catholic!! I’d never done that to anyone before. Even with Red, I’d been too shy to be aggressive about things. What was up with the electricity? That’d never happened to me before either.

  “Everything came back clean. You folks want to tell me what you’re doing making out on the side of the road? I'm pretty sure I don't need to tell you why that’s a bad idea,” the officer advised.

  “No, officer, we’re well aware that was probably one of the stupidest things we’ve ever done. I can assure you it will never happen again.” I jumped in before Luc could open his mouth.

  “Never?” Luc cocked an eyebrow at me as if he had other plans.

  “Never. Ever. Ever.” I wanted to throw in a few more evers but hopefully he got the idea.

  “I'm sorry, officer. We’d been arguing. I stopped to calm down. As you can see, we made up. I can assure you it’s not something we’re in the habit of nor will we be making a habit of it,” Luc explained.

  “Well, let’s make sure it doesn't happen again. I’m going to let you off with a warning. The bedroom is best suited for those activities, OK, guys?” The officer winked at Luc as he handed him back his papers.

  “You’re right. I’ll give it a go in the proper setting. Thank you, sir.” Luc’s smile stretched from ear to ear with what could only be described as a shit eating grin.

  I wasn’t amused. I slid into the car waiting for him to follow. He was a moment behind, probably stopping to give the cop a bro fist. I wasn't ashamed of what had happened, but I wasn't going to let him strut around like a conquering hero. One make-out session, no matter how phenomenal it was, didn’t mean the history between us was erased. Something had gone awry with our hormones, something that probably had to do with my out of control magic.

  As Luc got into the car, I made sure he saw that I was unhappy. My arms were crossed across my chest, and my mouth was set in a harsh line. “I don’t know what the hell just happened, but it can never happen again.”

  “Why?” he asked with a smug smile plastered to his face.

  “Do I really need to list out the reasons? You're my boss. I don’t trust you. Those two things are enough.” I fumbled for my seatbelt slamming it across my body.

  “Right, but there is something there. Something I don't think either of us has ever experienced before.” He held my gaze for a moment, the liquid honey center of his eyes flickering with heat.

  There was something going on. I’d watched electricity float off my body and move through the air toward him. It had sought him out as if it’d been searching for him. I’d seen enough love spells in my time to be very suspicious. “Can you think of any reason that someone would cast a love spell on us?”

  “No. Who would benefit from that? Except for you. All the pleasure none of the guilt. Did you have your sister cast a spell on me? I can’t say I blame you. All you had to do was ask, I’d have gladly complied,” he said with a wink.

  “You sound like an idiot when you try to fit the bro man stereotype,” I snapped.

  “Sorry. I was kidding. I don’t know what happened. I’m going to have to do some research when we get back.”

  “Can we keep this between us for right now? I don’t want the team I’ve never met knowing about this.” I was mortified at the thought of facing a group of strangers who’d been regaled with the story of our roadside make-out fest.

  “Of course,” he said steering back on to the highway.

  “Please try to get me home without any more stops. My family’s waiting for me.”

  After what seemed like an eternity, we turned down the street to the bakery. Tears filled my eyes as I watched the familiar sights pass. I’d thought I’d never see any of this again. For half of my life I’d looked at these buildings in contempt. The bakery nestled in between two buildings had always seemed squat and unremarkable. A symbol of the dull broken existence I led. Almost dying changes your perspective. Today, this was the most beautiful, vibrant, darling of a neighborhood I’d ever seen. This was home.

  Luc slowed the car, double parking on the crowded street. “Keep your phone on. I’ll call you sometime in the next day or so to get started on your training.”

  I didn't bother acknowledging him. All I cared about was getting inside to see my family. I hopped out of the car walking briskly towards the front door of my home.

  “ETTA!!! Oh, my ETTAA!!!! You’re home. You’re alive. We thought to never see you again. I’ve been at church praying for a safe return. I telled all the ladies in my prayer circle that they needed to send out prayers and to light candles. I tell them you were dying of plague, it’s a small lie but thank Jesus it worked anyways. You're here!” Aunt Sophia had seen me through the window before anyone else. I didn't make it in the door before her thick arms encircled me. She held on tightly sobbing in between praising the heavens.

  “Auntie, I can't breathe.”

  “So sorry, dolce. I’m just inside myself.” She sobbed dramatically into my neck. I was positive some of the liquid soaking my shoulder was not tears. I needed to get her in the house before she fainted on the sidewalk. She’d been known to do that in the past. I disentangled myself and took her hand. Stepping over the threshold into my home the air left my lungs as the reality of the last few days slammed into me. I was almost murdered by the Osservatori. Now I was an Osservatori. Holy shit! My knees almost buckled as all the strength I’d mustered for the last twenty-four hours disappeared.

  Before I could allow myself to have a proper breakdown, pandemonium broke out around me. A wall of sound overtook me as the rest of my family realized I was home. My sister latched onto my side, racked with long shuddering sobs. Gia had tears streaming down her face as she tried to calm Aunt Sophia who appeared to be hyperventilating.

  “Dolce, please let me see you. Are you hurt?” Nonna stood in front of me stoically. Not a tear to be seen. She was the anchor in the storm. Her imperturbable mannerisms couldn’t be taken at face value. I watched as her eyes methodically cata
loged my body parts to ensure they were all still there. She scanned me thoroughly looking for any sign that I’d been brought home damaged. In a deadly calm voice, she asked, “Where is that stronzo?”

  “He dropped me off. You’ll have to wait a few days to kill him,” I lamely joked.

  “You’re here. You’re whole. Revenge can wait.” Nonna smiled her most beatific smile but her eyes were all predator. They gleamed with the spark of a jaguar who was ready to destroy its prey. If I were Luc, I’d be beyond terrified of this tiny woman. “Get off her everyone. All this nonsense. Screaming and crying. She has probably not had anything to eat in forever. I made penne and sauce. Let’s feed her first before we smother her.”

  Two hours later I was bursting at the seams. Nonna had flavored the sauce with meatballs and pork chops. I shoveled savory hunks of meat into me as quickly as I could fish them out of the sauce. I’d missed Easter, so I had some making up to do.

  “They’re just making you be an Osservatori? How can they do that? What if you say no?” Nerina asked.

  “Saying no isn't an option. They had a trial in front of the entire Osservatori council. I sat there while they voted whether to let me live or die. It was terrifying. I’m out of choices.” I sighed as I said the words. It’d been sinking in slowly as the day had gone by. Another layer of resignation applied itself to my psyche every time I repeated or said the words I’m an Osservatori.

  “Non si serra mai una porta che non se n’apra un’altra,” Aunt Sophia uttered. The string of Italian flowed from her mouth flawlessly. She was four glasses of wine gone. Could that make her Italian better?

  “What does that mean, Mama? What door opened when the door on Etta’s life closed today?” Gia demanded.

  “You’re alive and very dolce, dolce, dolce,” Aunt Sophia babbled incoherently as she tucked into her fifth glass of wine.

  “For once, my sister may be onto something even if she is babbling it like a drunken fool. What she says is an old saying, that never a door is closed that does not open another. Etta, you have sat in this house for six years mourning the loss of your life. You are empty. I too know what it is to suffer. I lost a child, a husband, a brother, and my parents. There is little left of what I started with in this life. If I wanted I could sit down in that garden to mourn forever. The pain does not stop no matter how much time passes. What a dishonor to all those that I lost to waste a life they could not have. I'm done watching you sit, allowing life to go on without you. You are being given an opportunity to use the magic that is your gift. The gift you squander every day. Perhaps destiny is kicking you in the behind my dear. Who are we not to answer the call?” Nonna stared at me intently searching my face for a reaction.

  “How is this something good? All this is going to do is ruining my life even further!” I said dropping my fork in frustration.

  “No. Dying would have ruined everything. This is just another obstacle. A challenge to embrace. We hold the blood of centuries of strong women in our veins. Women who did not topple over at the first hard thing to happen. They did what needed to be done. You have that strength in you. You have to choose to use it.” Nonna challenged.

  “I don’t want to use it. I’m tired of always having to be strong. I’m tired of having to fight. This isn't the first hard thing in my life. It’s like the twenty-fifth. Why can’t we just have a normal life?” I lamented. Hadn't I already been through enough?

  “You haven't fought.” Gia stood slamming her palms on the table. “You curled into a ball and gave up when Red left. You can scowl at me all you want. We’ve all tiptoed around your pain for years. Guess what? Your willful neglect got you into this predicament. If you’d learned to control your magic and registered years ago, I wouldn't have had to watch my mother get arrested. You do realize we only got home a few hours before you? I love you but grow up. You don’t own the market on pain. This sucks, but you’re alive. You’re going to get paid. On the scale of disasters, this one isn’t turning out so bad!”

  Was I the crazy one? Nonna just told me that this was going to be good for me. Aunt Sophia, from what I could piece together, thought I needed to embrace it. Gia was clearly over me and my constant problems. How could they act like this was something that I should accept? My whole life had just changed course.

  “I guess I have a lot to think about. I’m tired. It’s been a long few days. We can talk more in the morning, but I think I'm going to excuse myself for the night.” I said getting up from the table.

  I’d been so happy to be home a few hours ago, and now I felt like they’d all turn-coated on me. They could go back to their normal lives, while I was being forced down an unknown road that could end with my death. Instead of getting the support I needed, I basically just got a great big suck it up buttercup from everyone at the table. I needed to get away from them before I lost my shit.

  I went through the motions of hugging everyone before heading off to the shower. It would feel wonderful to stand underneath the scalding water scrubbing myself with my favorite floral scented body wash. I couldn't wait to get into clothes that smelled clean and fit me!

  Fatigue set in as soon as the hot water hit my skin. I rushed through my routine, terrified of falling asleep under the hypnotic spray. Fresh from the shower I headed to my room. My sanctuary. I flipped on the light to find Nerina sitting on my bed. Really? A person couldn't get five minutes alone in this house! I should’ve had Luc drop me off at a hotel.

  “Someone had the best time ever getting arrested. Give me all the details. Did you finally ride that disco stick? Was it amazing? Did he make you scream like a banshee?” She fired out rapidly.

  “Can we talk about this tomorrow? I’m seriously so tired.” It was a long shot, but I gave her my best exhausted look.

  “Nope. Not going to happen. Come on. Please, Etta? I need to know, or I’ll never sleep tonight,” she pleaded jutting out her bottom lip in a pout..

  “How’d you even know something happened?” I didn't have any marks on my neck. I’d double checked in the bathroom.

  “You reeked of sex and magic when you got home.” She grinned at me. Of course. Her two favorite things, no way she’d miss that smell.

  “Where’s the wine? We’re going to need at least a bottle or two.” I asked. Nerina smiled like a Cheshire cat, as she reached behind her. When her hands appeared again, a bottle of red wine and two mason jars filled them. She was a good sister.

  “Nothing actually happened until he was driving me home. I spent the rest of the time loathing him.” I recounted in excruciating detail everything that I could remember happening in between long gulps of wine. I ended with the epic make-out session on the side of the road. Even the retelling of it made me squirm a little.

  “First, we need to find that Leander guy because he sounds hot. Second, that elf dude is a dick. Fuck him. Third, how did my sweet born again virginal sister outdo me in the category of weird places to make out? What do you think would’ve happened if the cop hadn’t shown up?” She asked grinning so hard I was afraid she was going to strain a muscle.

  “I want to say that I would’ve stopped but if I’m being honest, I don’t know. I wasn't in a frame of mind to stop.” I blushed remembering the all-consuming lust that had filled me.

  “Was it big? He’s huge, so I feel like it’d be proportional?” she smirked at her perceived clever innuendo.

  “Stop. I’m not going to talk about how freaking huge it was. It’s a lost cock to me. I don’t want to lament over what will never be!” I said taking a sip of wine to drown my sorrow. It had been really big.

  “Fine. We won’t talk about his huge dick. Instead, let’s talk about what the hell is going on between you two. You realize this sounds like spell work, right? Give me a sec. I need to get something. Don’t you dare lock me out. I know how to pick the lock with a butter knife.”

  She left the room and came back within a few minutes with a wooden chest intricately carved with flowers, vines, and ancient s
ymbols. I’d seen this chest a thousand times. It was her toolkit for spell work. She sat the box next to me on the bed and began gingerly pulling items out. A red candle was placed on the nightstand alongside a satchel of dried basil and a red cloth. Carefully she set the candle upright, then she sprinkled basil in a circle around it.

  “Do you really think someone’s pushing us together?” I asked hoping she’d say yes. I wanted to believe magic was at work here, not my own uncontrolled libido.

  “Some of the things you said are really suspicious. The uncontrolled lust. The magical fireworks. None of that is normal unless you’re in a fairy tale, well, a sexy fairy tale anyway. You both felt compelled towards each other which is not the way attraction works. It should never feel like you don’t have a choice. He’s hot, but after everything he’s put you through, I doubt you’d be feeling the want to hump his brains out on the highway. This screams magic.”

  It would make sense. He was my mortal enemy. You don’t want to have hot passionate sex with your mortal enemy. Granted I’d never had a mortal enemy before, but I was confident that was the case. After Nerina cast this spell and we confirmed that magic was responsible, we’d have an even bigger mystery to solve. Why the hell would someone want us to sleep together?

  Nerina took a pair of scissors from her box. She reached over grabbing a curl from the back of my head. She deftly snipped it off holding it in front of her to inspect the length. Seemingly satisfied she began wrapping my hair around the red fabric, making two full rotations before tying the hair into a knot. She lit the candle, chanting softly as the flame fluttered to life. Her voice resonated with intent as she passed her hands above the candle in a circular motion. Spell work required a perfect balance of every component. The movement, the words, and the tools all had to be present to weave together enough energy to shift the fabric of magic that sat over the earth like a thin crust. Nerina made it seem easy, but I knew it was an intricate dance that required talent.