STAIN (My Soul To Wake Book 1) (14 page)

He makes a smooth turn of the wheel, changing our course.

“
The old town limits were different than today
,
” he explains.
“
There were farms then. Homesteads. Sometimes it would take the better part of a morning to walk from one to the next
.
”

“
How did we find it back then
?
” I picture two star-crossed lovers meeting in their secret place.

He seems to like my interest in the past, in wha
t’
s possibly
our
past.

“
Marcell
e’
s cottage, your cottage, was just outside Sale
m’
s limits. When a trip into town would need to be made for supplies, schoolin
g
… the easiest way was to cut through the Richte
r’
s land and then through the back wood and field to get to the main road
.
”

He does
n’
t even hesitate before answering. No time to piece together his information. He just speaks it, reveals it, as if h
e’
s recalling some long forgotten fact.

I look up into the sky through the car window next to me. I
t’
s beautiful, clear, crisp. Almost exactly like the scene on paper in the back seat.

The truck rolls to a gentle stop, with Will shifting the gear and letting the truck idle before removing his key from the ignition.

“
W
e’
re here
.
”

I swallow hard and exhale deep. Here goes. I pull on the door latch and exit the truck, stepping foot onto grassy soil tha
t’
s soft underfoot. I close the door behind me but hear no other door. Looking over my shoulder, I see Will through the windshield. H
e’
s watching but does
n’
t follow. He nods to me, though, showing i
t’
s all right.

I press forward, extending my hand to push at some overgrown branches in my path. Old dried leaves from last yea
r’
s autumn litter the land among the trees and shrubs. Sunlight casts its rays through the large oaks and willows from above, shining in streaks through the breaks in leaves up high.

The golden rays glisten, almost lighting my path, casting brightly and shadowed at the same time. There is a brilliance ahead, a growing luminescence that almost blinds me. Once the last of the ancient protective trees is at my back, I shield me eyes with my hand, squinting to adjust to the sudden shimmering scene around me.

My sight takes a moment to adjust, leaving other senses to take the opportunity to search this place. I hear birds calling, tiny little insects buzzing about, zipping in and out in the distance. The wind brushes past my ear, continuing on to rustle the leaves far off.

The tiniest of baby hair covering my arms is lifted in the passing breeze. The freshness painting over me is pure, untouched by nearby contaminants thickening the delicate air.

My eyes focus and adjust to the new light shining down, radiating this place like a glowing vision. The grass is high, the blades tall and tickling at my ankles. The never-ending sea of green floats around me, vibrant and lively, offering a brilliant backdrop to the thousands of petals growing between.

Every color of the rainbow, and each shade among them, can be seen. The depth and vibrancy of each blossom and every bloom leaves me in awe. I clear my view, focusing on individual stems to see an abundance of beautiful yellow bees nourishing the flowers, working to keep the beauty of this place alive and well.

I lower my hand, bending and lengthening my fingers to touch the delicate top of the wild flowers at my side. Soft, plush, and supple cushions of beauty greet me, sharing their untouched and unspoiled richness.

My fingers dance from petal to petal, bloom to bloom, communicating with each one, expressing my gratitude for providing this rare glimpse at true elegance in its simplest form.

I close my eyes and tilt my head up, taking in the warmth from above, letting it wrap around me, engulf me. I hear the calls of each of the living things, singing in unison to be heard above the static of these times.

I move my body round and round, twirling in the natural beauty and wonder that has shown itself to me. I hear the beating of my heart loud and strong, amplified by the theater of the living earth around me. It grows louder, the even sounds echoing. Ther
e’
s not just one, there are two. Two hearts beating together as one.

I open my eyes and see him walking the same path I had, making his way toward me. The strong muscles of his body flexing with each step, set in their purpose to bring him to me. Are they really bringing him to me? Or is it me that is calling to them, willing them to deliver my love to me.

His chestnut-colored eyes watch as I in turn watch him. The same breeze that pushes through my hair from behind, snags at his shirt, molding it to his body, revealing the firm, chiseled torso beneath.

My body longs for him, aches to feel him as I had last night. The magic of this place, the holistic powers it has, fascinates me. The trivial concerns of the outside world are not measured here. The truly important things in life are revealed in this moment.

Him. Me.

Tha
t’
s all that matters in this moment.

I reach forward and run the back of my hand down his cheek, expressing this sudden realization to him. He closes his eyes lightly, the lashes fluttering in the breeze. They are beautiful. Just like every cell of his body, every drop of his blood.
He
is beautiful to me.

I use that same hand to bring him to me. The deep breathing that grows in excitement at his presence returns, thickening the heat between us. My lips find his in the blinding light of the sun as it christens our union.

My hands find the familiar places of him I had worshipped last night. Our bodies find each othe
r’
s flesh as we work feverishly to rid each other of the offending clothing.

The grassy bed below welcomes us as he lowers me down, resting me on the cushion of wildflowers that softens my descent. The sunlight is blinding with its white flameless heat. How hedoes
n’
t incinerate my body with his touch is a mystery to me, for it ignites an almost incandescent inferno between our two bodies.

I summon my strength to drive our mingling limbs so that h
e’
s now benefitting from the earthy bed w
e’
ve made for ourselves. I kiss his neck, his chest as I straddle him, the breeze dancing in waves over my back.

Once
I’
ve found my way down to his most hardened pleasure, I cradle the hull of it with my lips, offering him the heat of my mouth. His body lurches, his calls joining with the natural sounds of this place.

His breathing is erratic, fierce almost, as I deliver to him the pleasure that he afforded me last night. His body is now familiar to me, every plane, every crease, memorized and committed to memory.

My moisture is soaking him both where I straddle him and where I devour him. The most natural and carnal of it mingling with the fragrances from the perennials around us. I
t’
s intoxicating, mixing with his own musk, and inebriating my senses.

I lift my lips, gasping for air from the entirety that was his member. His strong capable hands take hold of my sides, lifting me to rest further upon him, setting me down to rest on the roundness of his manhood.

My breath hitches. The unrecovered area of my body is still reeling from its last encounter with his impressive length. I whisper a muted moan as the flesh joins with his, recognizing its mate.

It takes an eternity to claim the entirety of him, but i
t’
s done, connecting us as if we had never parted last night. His movements are thoughtful, ever mindful of my limits as we stir.

Every muscle engages itself to match his. Every sound I make answers his own. What could be more natural than this? He is my man. I am his woman.

We are one with the blessings of nature around us.

We are one.

CHAPTER TWELVE

A swooping bird flies overhead, followed by a flock of followers. The white fluffy clouds string themselves into morphing shapes above as I watch and task myself with the mindless deciphering of them.

W
e’
re silent. W
e’
ve been silent for some time now, just holding onto each other and reveling in the moment.

The blinding brightness has since dimmed, a cool dull light taking its place.
I’
ve lost track of the hour, he probably has too. The warmth of our exhausted bodies is sufficient enough to keep the cooling breeze at bay, but it is surely a sign of the passing day.

A loud gurgling growl interrupts the peaceful little place w
e’
ve built for ourselves.

“
You did not just hear that. Swear to me yo
u’
ll pretend it did
n’
t happen
,
” I beg.

He laughs.
“
How is it a tiny little thing like you is capable of that kind of hunger
?
” He rolls me over, my hair threading through the flattened grass.

“
I did
n’
t eat much today. Swear to me w
e’
ll pretend it did
n’
t happen
.
” I repeat my request.

He places his flattened hand on my belly. I can feel the grumbling once more, this time vibrating through his own flesh on top of mine.

“
The only thing
I’
m gonna swear to is that
I’
m going to feed you. But I reserve the right to make jokes about this in the future
.
”

I roll my eyes
. Agh! H
e’
s not supposed to hear things like belly grumbles. Not yet anyway. H
e’
s supposed to think I wake up fully refreshed and never burp and never need makeup because
I’
m always glowing.

“
Come on
,”
he pushes himself up and holds out his hand to help me rise. I take it and feel the blades of grass sticking to my skin as I peel off the ground
.“
How
‘
bout I cook for you? I have some steaks back at the house. I can work a grill better than anyone
.
”

We shuffle through the trail of clothes, sorting through the fabric to dress ourselves.
“I’
ll bet you do a lot of things better than anyone
,
” I joke. He eyes me and I suddenly realize how my words could have been taken.
“
I-- I mea
-
”

He pulls me close to him.
“
We kind of got sidetracked last night after your dream. We did
n’
t have a chance to reall
y
… talk about other things. I know that was your first,
I’
m your first, your
only
, God willing. I want you to know it was the most wonderful thing anyon
e’
s ever given me
.
”

He had never flat out asked me about my past, my history.
I’
m sure through little hints here and there, and my obvious lack of experience, h
e’
s been able to verify any questions he had about my innocence.

He kisses the tip of my nose.
“
Le
t’
s get home and get to those steaks. We can go to the tree later tonight
.
”

~*~

Moose whines from his place under the table.

“
No begging, boy
,
” Will reprimands his dog.

I carefully select a small piece of meat from my plate and sneak it down to where my furry friend is not-so-patiently waiting. He takes it heartily and I pat his head as he chews.

Will laughs, rolls his eyes and then sets them on me
.“
He already loves you. You do
n’
t have to bribe him
.
”

I put on my best little girl voice.
“
H
e’
s hungry
.
”

“
According to his last checkup, h
e’
s obese. No more table scraps
.
”

I
t’
s as if Moose understands Wil
l’
s words. He gets up from his place by my feet and sulks away into the corner of the yard near the garden where he proceeds to chew a large stick.

My host then proceeds to replenish my wine glass with some more Merlot
.“
How was it
?
”

I widen my eyes and nod enthusiastically.
“
Really good! I especially liked the part where you almost burned your eyebrows off. Yo
u’
re a cook
and
an entertainer
.
”

He laughs.
“
The gril
l’
s a little funny with propane settings. Tha
t’
s all right, though. It gets the job done
.
”

It certainly did. That was hands down the best steak
I’
ve had in as long as I can remember. I sip on my wine, reclining back in my chair. Wil
l’
s backyard is large but most of it is just open land. A small section of it is fenced-in and maintained with a garden and a nice stone patio. Ther
e’
s a fire pit burning nearby, keeping the bugs from making meals of us as we sit at the outdoor table and finish the remnants of our feast.

“
How far do we have to go to get to the tree? Is it near the memorial
?
” I find myself asking.

He shakes his head.
“
No. I
t’
s on the other side of town. The memoria
l’
s near the Burying Pointe graveyard, because that was the proper place for it to be. But the graveyard is sacred ground. Th
e
… the
sentences
were
n’
t carried out near hallowed land. It would have been considered a desecration
.
” I can hear him nearly choking on his words, becoming angry at them.

“
The hangings were done outside of the old city limits. Almost no one knows the location of the actual hanging tree besides a few of us. I
t’
s long been forgotten by historians and record keepers. And tha
t’
s the way it should be. They have their little stone memorial that makes them feel atoned and forgiven. The
actual
place, the
physical
tre
e
… tha
t’
s the real memorial. I
t’
s not going to become another damn tourist attraction and photo op
.
”

There it is again. The passion for all things original and old.

Moose jumps up, abandoning his stick and runs to the back door, barking with his hackles raised. We eye each other. Moos
e’
s barks now turn to vicious growls, snarling and dripping.

Will holds his hand up telling me to stay seated as he stands and cautiously moves toward the house.
“
Stay by Leah, boy
,”
he commands the dog.

Like a well-trained police or service dog, Moose instantly runs to my side, blocking me and serving as barrier for whatever he is sensing. Will disappears into the house and I find myself holding my breath waiting for his return.

I lower my hand to stroke Moose, to calm him, but h
e’
s not a pet in this moment. H
e’
s an animal honing his natural protective instincts. I hear voices from within the house. The backdoor opens and Liza appears, followed by Will.

They both look concerned.

“
Babe, I have to take a ride. The construction sit
e’
s been vandalized.
I’
ve gotta go see how bad this is. Wo
n’
t be more than an hour or so. Can you stay and wait for me? I do
n’
t know if the foundation or the structur
e’
s been compromised. I do
n’
t want to take the chance and bring you there if i
t’
s not safe
.
”

I watch Liza as Will speaks to me, letting my womanly intuition take control and guide me.
“
Sure.
I’
ll wait here. Call and let me know everythin
g’
s okay, though
.
”

I see the smallest of hidden smiles reveal itself on her stained lips.
I’
ve put myself right in the palm of her hand. Right where she wants me.

Will leans forward and kisses me quickly.
“
I wo
n’
t be long, I swear. Liza will stay and keep you company
.
”

Ha!
I’
ll bet she will.

“
Be safe
.
” I tell him.

He briskly moves into the house to gather his things before I hear the engine of his truck roar to life from over the fence. Moose inches closer to me, more than happy to attack on command if need be.

Liza smiles. She takes a seat in Wil
l’
s abandoned chair and drinks from his wine goblet, savoring the fruity drink.

“
There was
n’
t anything wrong at the work site, was there
?
” I ask her.

She laughs to herself.
“
You
are
a bright girl, now are
n’
t you
?
”

“
So wha
t’
s all this really about, Liza
?
”

Her eyes are like a light colored stone. Hard. Set on me.
“
Time for another chat, since you do
n’
t seem to take a hint
.
”

“
What do you
want
, Liza
?
”

She sips on the wine some more.
“
For you to leave. To leave Will alone. Go home and never come back
.
”

I purse my lips and nod
.“
Well, at least yo
u’
re up front. Is that so you can have him all to yourself
?
”

She laughs to herself.
“
You do
n’
t know the half of it. Will and I share something special. Something you can never understand
.
”

“I’
ve heard. It seems you two go
waay
back
.
” Could it really be true? Is Liza about to validate Wil
l’
s story? Is
that
what they share?

Her eyes are shooting daggers right now.
“I’
ve been there for him.
I’
m the one who helped pick up the pieces after he had his breakdown. When I met him, he could
n’
t function, could
n’
t take care of himsel
f
… I was the one who did his laundry, cooked his meals and helped him gain the confidence to start his business.
I’
m not going to let some nitwit who coincidentally has the same name as his dead wife come in here and stir things up again. H
e’
d finally moved on, accepted that sh
e’
s gone and not coming back. Then you show up and throw him back into a tailspin. If you cared for him at all, yo
u’
d realize h
e’
s not well and yo
u’
d leave before you do real harm to his mental state
.
”