The Beckoning of Beautiful Things (The Beckoning Series) (19 page)

“More wine?” Marissa asked after retrieving the silk wrapped stones. She carefully placed them on the coffee table and gave her dog a stern look. “Don’t touch!” Sober wagged his tail, got up, and stretched.

“Just bring the whole bottle out, dulzura.”

When she’d returned, she filled their glasses and sat next to him.

“To fruitful discovery,” Daniel said, extending his glass.

“To fruitful discovery,” she repeated. They clinked glasses, sipped, and smiled at one another. The fluttering zone between her legs appealed to her senses. She swallowed her arousal.

“Open the scarf, please,” Daniel said. “It’s a beautiful scarf, by the way. I imagine it would look splendid around your neck.” He flashed his mischievous smile. “With nothing else on.”

Marissa blushed and fanned her face. “Aren’t we bold?” She bent down and tentatively seized one corner between her fingertips and peeled back the red and turquoise silk. Then she unfolded the other corner. The gems winked and shone in the lamplight.

Daniel picked up the Herkimer diamond and hefted it up and down. He closed his fingers around it and handed it to her. “So this stone will never leave your side. Never again.” His lips were tight.

Marissa opened her palm for the diamond.

He uncurled his fist and released the contents into hers, clasping her hand tightly.

When the stone touched her skin she heard the words
Never ever, ever again, dulzura,
in her mind
.
She looked over at Daniel in surprise.

He grinned at her. “Got it?”

She nodded.

“I’d like you to get your jeweler to fashion a pair of beautiful earrings that you will wear at all times.”

“If I’m wearing it all the time why don’t you just teach me how to do that ether mind to mind thingie that you do? What if I lose it or something?”

“We can work on that.
These are your training wheels.”

“What about that privacy piece you want to ensure?”

He shook his head at her. “While it might be charming to overhear every thought in your head, I assure you I’ll only listen when you are asking for me, specifically.” He gave her a pointed look. “Trust me.” He picked up the yellow Jasper. “What did you learn of this fine stone?”

“That it’s a protection stone used to, um…” She thought for a moment. “Used to ground and ease pain and suffering.”

“That’s correct. This one can be embedded into an anklet that you’ll wear around your beautiful ankle. You’ll focus on it when you need to remember to keep your feet on the ground, so to speak.”

“Um, okay.”

“On to the red diamond.” He picked it up and did that thing with his jaw where he swished it side to side, as if the most delicious piece of chocolate in the world had been placed upon his tongue. “This is a rare piece, my love.”

“Oh!” she yelped. “Oh, my goodness.”
Wild birds fluttering, streaming, flowing out my core.

Daniel laughed, as if sensing her heat. “So you understand its meaning.” His eyes moved up and down her body. “This one – this stone will be fashioned into a delicate golden chain which you will wear like so.” He leaned over and encircled her waist with his large hands.
“And like so.” He drew his thumbs from the crease between her legs up to her waistline. “The diamond will rest here.” He brushed his fingertips across her belly, a few inches below her navel. “The chain will form a triangle, marking this sacred space.” He used one fingertip to trace a triangle along her abdomen, the apex pointing down to her core. “Sí, amor?”

She squirmed and tried to quell the flutters inside. “Sí,” she uttered, wondering if she was going to melt like a pool of hot butter and soak into the sofa, never to be seen again. “You can see I don’t wear much jewelry,” she said, swallowing hard.

“You’ll learn. A beautiful woman such as you should always be adorned with jewels. Inside and out.”

She swallowed again and asked, “Inside?”

“Yes. This jewel right here.” Without removing his eyes from her, he picked up the glistening ruby.

Marissa’s tissues pulsed in anticipation. “That jewel.”

“This gem will be embedded in a crystal egg. You will insert the egg here and practice mastering your sexual energy, of which you have an abundant amount.” He swallowed hard, extended his thumb and pressed it between her legs, right at the opening to her core.

She searched for something bright to say
, but all she could think was
want. Now. Want.
“All the time?” she croaked.
Oh, God,
she criticized.
Get it together, Engles.

“No. How will I enter you if you have something in the way?”

“I don’t know, I just…I don’t know,” she managed to say. She stared into his blue eyes, settling into the velvety folds of the cushions.

He placed the teardrop of glistening, blue-veined lapis lazuli in her palm.

“I love that stone. Tell me what you’ll do with it.”

“That gemstone, mi corazón, will be set in a gold chain and will encircle your tender neck.” He spread his large, warm hands and mantled her throat with his palms, stroking her tender skin with his thumbs.

She pictured a falcon spreading its wings to shield its prey, and she swallowed her excitement.
What is he doing to me? What is he going to do to me?

As if in response, he leaned toward her
, and covered her lips with his succulent mouth. His tongue delved inside her mouth, teasing hers open, inviting her tongue to tangle with his. His wet lips trailed along her jaw to her neck, nibbling and sucking her flesh. A million birds’ wings fluttered insistently along her slick core, seeking release.

He
sought her eyes and said, “I can’t wait. I just can’t wait any longer. I’m going to claim you,
now,
mi corazón
.”

A tiny voice in her head protested.
Claim me? Honestly?
The rest of her wasn’t listening, not one little bit.
I’m going to melt. I’m going to combust into flames and just melt all over the sofa
.
I’m going to soak into the velvet any minute now.

Daniel seized one nipple in his mouth and sucked.

“Oh, God,” Marissa groaned.

She wound her fingers into his thick hair
, tugging on his silky locks, eager, impatient.

“Not so fast,” he said, gently untangling her fingers from his tresses. “Your beauty must be savored.”

He teased her belly with his stubble-covered jaw…lifted her hips and eased her pants down along her thighs with rough, calloused fingers…nipped her satin panties with his teeth and guided them off her legs.

Marissa stopped breathing. She waited, taut, open, expectant.

The tip of his tongue slid from his mouth. He flashed a dangerous smile. Spreading apart her legs, he bent his head toward her nether region, letting his lustrous hair tickle her inner thighs like a thousand tiny feathers.

She stilled, like a bird, hovering, waiting to explode into flight.

He extended the tip of his tongue toward her swollen bud.

She laid taut, open, eager, his hot breath puffing against her honeyed
pink lips.

He drew his tongue up and down the length of her in a slow, lazy sweep.

She arched like a bow, moaning.

He continued to lick her, sliding one finger, then two along her moist folds before coaxing her to open and accept his fingers into her slippery core.

Marissa gasped and pulled his hair. She lifted her head to see light shooting from her core into his mouth. He seemed to eagerly imbibe the light, like it was food. Her eyes widened. One lick later, her head fell back, completely drugged.
This is my heroin,
she thought.

He
feasted at her core – slow, deliberate, and sensual. He licked. Stopped. Licked again. Stopped. Savored. Paused. Swirled his tongue around her pearl until she was insane with arousal. Paused, the tip of his tongue touching her folds. Trailed his tender tongue up and down again. Rested his mouth against her folds, breathing heat into her. Pushed his fingers deeper until her muscles clenched around him. She moaned and arched her hips.
I’m addicted to this man,
her reasoning mind cautioned.
Go away,
her wanting mind protested.

The excitement built in her like a typhoon, blowing thought and feeling from its path like they were matchsticks. Engulfed in sensation, she arched and undulated against his mouth, completely un
fettered. She cried and moaned. She prepared to surrender into the fiery bliss of her oncoming orgasm. Daniel quickly pulled his sweater over his head, pushed down his trousers, and guided his erection inside of her.

“This orgasm is mine, cariño.” He pushed inside of her in frenzied movements, matched by her own. “I claim you, mi corazón. You are mine, from here to hereafter,” he roared.

Marissa exploded around him, like a detonating bomb. Her body shook and shuddered in full body release as fractured images flew from her head like gunshot – a falcon in flight, snagging its prey from the air…the face of Josephina, her eyes pleading…her own face, exultant, her hair whipping in some foreign landscape…her arms extended holding the heads of men by their hair. Far, far away, in the recesses of her mind, that tiny voice spoke.
The heads of men?

The orgasm shook her, making her feel slightly
crazy. It rolled up through her with tsunami-like intensity, clearing everything in its pathway. It ripped through her like a forest fire, burning away everything unnecessary.

Daniel thundered and bucked inside of her, calling out
“Sum petatur in te omni tempore. Caelum et mare et clamo postea. Meus es tu.”

The hair on her head prickled in alarm.
What’s he doing? What’s he saying?
The words blew away as the orgasm shuddered through her with the intensity of an earthquake. She fell back against the pillows, exhausted and replete.

Daniel relaxed on top of her, shifting slightly so that he did not crush her. His fingers sought her tangled hair
, and he whispered in her ear. “Sum petatur in te omni tempore. Caelum et mare et clamo postea. Meus es tu.”

“English please,” she whispered back.

“It is done. You are mine now.” He buried his head in her hair, his breathing deep and slow.

I’m his?
Marissa’s rationale mind squeaked. Her sated-self purred with delight as they both fell into a deep, deep sleep.

Marissa awoke to the slurping tongue of her Doberman along her cheek and mouth. She groaned and pushed him away. She lay in her own bed, covered with blankets, alone, except for her dog. She sat up, startled. Fragrant smells of cooking food wafted from the kitchen.

“Daniel?” she called.

“C
ariño,” he called in return, from the other side of the house.

She snagged her robe from the floor and pulled it around her torso. Patting Sober’s head, she prepared to meander out to the kitchen.
This feels awkward,
she thought, recalling the night before.
Was that wanton creature really me?
The ache between her legs told her that it was.

When she stepped into the kitchen, Daniel stood at the stove, wearing jeans and another loose fitting sweater, gently tossing scrambled eggs mixed with some kind of meat.

“I’ve foraged in your kitchen to find eggs, bacon, and bread for toast. It’ll be ready in a moment.”

“It smells wonderful.” She eyed the sweater. “Do you keep spare clothes in your car?”

“I don’t usually, except for my gym clothes. But I did put them in the car the other day. A guy can always be prepared, can’t he?” He flashed a warm smile in her direction.

“How did I get to the bedroom?”

He turned from the stove and mimicked bending down, scooping her in his arms, and lifting her. “Like that. You were sound asleep.”

“Geez, I must have been if you carried me to the bedroom without waking me.” She noted butcher paper opened on the counter, dabs of blood clinging to the shiny brown surface.

“What’s that?”

“It’s chorizo. I’m preparing my infamous Eggs Navid for you.”

“Where did the meat come from?”

“A deli over on California Ave. They make it to my specifications. I had them deliver it.”

“What time is it?”

“Question
s, questions, cariño. Let’s see, it looks to be around 10:15,” he said, peering at the clock on the back of the stove.

“Wow. I never sleep this late.
Good thing we had a three day weekend. Sober must be starving.”

“Nope. Fed, exercised, happy.”

“Exercised?”

“We went for a mud run through the back woods there.” He lifted his hand toward the window. “It was quite sloppy, hence the change of clothes.” He drew an arm up and down his torso.

“A run?”

“It keeps me in shape, dulzura.” He reached for plates on the counter, lifted the pan from the fire
, and scooped the eggs out of the pan. “That and lifting weights.” He opened the microwave and pulled a plate of bacon out. “How many slices for you?”

“Um, two, please.”

“Two pig belly strips, coming up.”

She wrinkled her nose. “That doesn’t sound too appetizing.”

He smiled at her. “Coffee?”

“Please.”

“Toast with jam?”

“Yes, please.”

He waved a hand toward the kitchen table. “Sit.”

She wandered over, Sober by her side.

Daniel set the plates in front of her and leaned over for a lingering kiss, seizing her head in his warm hands, entwining his tongue with hers. Her belly flared with indescribable sensations, like coils and knots of longing, all intertwined with Daniel.
That’s different.

He released her and beamed, whipping out his imaginary notepad. “Right here,” he said, tapping the make-believe paper. “Don’t start what you can’t finish,” he said, adjusting his jeans. “We may have to explore this further after breakfast.”

“I’m game,” she replied, reaching for her fork. “Mmm, these eggs are delicious.” She nibbled on her toast next. “Did that jam come from my fridge? It’s fantastic.”

“No, it also came from the deli. The strawberries were picked yesterday from my garden.”

“You have a garden?”

“Yep. I can’t wait to show you.”

“Yum. And they make it to your specifications, right?”

“Exactly.” He smiled. “But it’s not hard to make good jam. It
is
hard to get berries as good as these.”

She sipped her coffee and set the cup down on the table. “Daniel,” she began.

“Yes, love?”

“What were you saying last night when you, um…”

“When I exploded in your beautiful pussy?”

Her cheeks flamed. “Yes, then.” She stared out the window at the gloom soaked yard. Another rainy day in the Pacific Northwest…

“It was a simple binding spell.”

Her head twisted to meet his eyes. “Binding what to what, exactly?”

“Binding your soul to mine forever more. I said ‘I have claimed you for all time. I proclaim it to the sky and the sea and the hereafter. You are mine.’”

Her eyes widened and a shudder shot up her spine, like someone slammed a mallet on the Ring the Bell game at the carnival, driving the little puck sky high. “Are you joking?”

“Why would I joke about that?” He flashed a captivating smile at her before forking a bite of eggs. He popped them in his mouth with a look of delight on his face.

“You can’t do that! You can’t just bind your soul with mine without asking permission! And you can’t just slip things like that into the conversation like we’re talking about the weather!”

“Shall I refresh your coffee?”

“No. Yes. Don’t change the subject,” she spluttered.

“So that’s a yes?”

“Yes.”

After he’d topped off her mug, she continued. “Don’t you think I should have been consulted? Binding our souls together sounds kind of intense.”

“Oh, it is. But what would you have said?”

“I’d have said no.”

“And there you have it.” He lifted his coffee cup to his lips and took a sip. “Excellent coffee, Ms. Engles.”

“Thanks.” She pushed her eggs around on the plate. “It’s too soon for a…a…a soul binding, don’t you think?”

“Typically, yes, but in our case, it was essential to move fast.”

“So did someone suggest this in your ether meeting?”

“It was advised, yes. But I was
not
adverse. I had already thought of it.” He winked at her.

Her stomach lurched. What did this mean for her future? “So, we’re, uh, bound together forever? That’s it? I don’t know whether to jump for joy or run screaming into the forest.”

He looked at her and kindness radiated from his face. “Dulzura, I’m sorry you weren’t consulted, but it was essential that I do this. With El Demonio on the hunt, I have to keep you safe until you master your powers. After you’ve mastered them, you’ll be able to undo it if you wish.”

Her face brightened slightly.
So there’s a way out?

“It might take time, though, to become that skilled.”

“I still think I should have been asked.”

“Probably. I was just doing what needed to be done.”

So we’re back to the Marines
, she thought glumly.

“You look cute when you pout, mi amor.”

She frowned. “I’m not a puppy dog, you know.”

His eyebrows went up and that same, deliciously mischievous smile split his face. “Oh, I do know that, Ms. Engles. You are a most delectable woman. To be inside of you…” His voice trailed off
, and his eyes fell shut. “Mmm. It was as if the Goddess of Lightning embraced me.” His eyes slowly opened and the corners of his mouth crept up. “I believe she did.”

His sonorous voice stirred the fluttering birds inside. Once more, spirals and twines o
f energy wound between the two of them as if their souls were two snakes, seeking perpetual union. “Oh, dear,” she said, making fists on the table. “I’m afraid I’m in over my head.”

“Oh, yes, mi corazón, we both are. Isn’t it lovely?”

It’s weird to be having a conversation about bound souls and me not being consulted, with him not reacting in the least. Jason and I would be in a shouting match at this point.
“Uh, I guess so.”

“You guess?” He tapped the end of her nose. “Splendid statement. Did you hear that
, Sober? We had the best night I’ve ever had in my life, bar none, and she
guesses
it’s a beautiful thing. Whatever will we do with her?” Sober stood up, wagged his tail, and wandered over to the table. He sniffed Daniel, regarded Marissa, and sat down, expectant.

“The best night ever?”

“Absolutely. Unparalleled.”

“It was for me, too,” she said somberly, reaching over to pat Sober. “Until you bound our souls.”

“Did it hurt?”

“No.”

“Are you now damaged?”

“No.”

“End of discussion. It was essential.”

“You had to do it?”

“Yes.” He smiled at her as if nothing was wrong. “It was my pleasure to feed you, love.” He stood up and began to clear the table.

“You don’t have to wait on me, you know. You’ve already done enough.”
Like bind our souls without asking.

“I want to wait on you. A beautiful woman deserves to be pampered. Now you sit, enjoy your coffee. We’ve got a lot to do today.”

“Like what?”

“We’ve got to swing by your jeweler
’s so I can set up an account. I’ll, of course, pay for everything. I am Night Numen tear-sucking, soul and duty bound. It’s imperative that the jewelry be fashioned immediately. Then, we head out to Tom’s for more instruction.”

“Oh, no,” she groaned, clutching her head. “I have to watch eagles kill bunnies? I love bunnies.”

“I’m not sure what he’ll have you do, but whatever it is, it will be for your own good. But before we head out, I’ve got something else I’d like to do…with your permission, of course.”

So now he asks my permission.
She rolled her eyes. “What is it?”

“What I started earlier.” He leaned down once more and gave her another intoxicating kiss.

As her protests and concerns drifted away, sucked up into the fan over the stove like unwanted smells, she gave in to the tidal wave of sensations washing through her body.
Want. Oh, help me, God, why do I still want this man?
Maybe this soul bound stuff wouldn’t be so bad, after all.