The Beckoning of Beautiful Things (The Beckoning Series) (25 page)

Daniel laughed. “Right. Other than being a party favor. You’ve got much more inside of you than entertainment value, cariño. But for now, let me prepare you dinner, and then I’ve got something to show you.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a surprise, that’s what. Be surprised.” He smiled and stood up. “But first, let me greet you properly. I hadn’t planned greeting you with a shouting match with my father and an exhibition of my dark abilities. Let me greet you in the way I imagined I’d do all day long.”

“Which is?” She smiled and allowed the flutters and stampede inside to have its way with her.

“Which is,” he said, reaching for her face. “A big, juicy, delicious kiss with the promise of more later.”

After dinner, Daniel pushed away from the dining table and leaned back in his chair. “Are you sated, mi amor?”

“Food-wise, yes.” The meal had been delicious. Bacon
-wrapped scallops as appetizers, broiled salmon, garlic bread, wilted greens with savory balsamic dressing, and homemade raspberry sorbet with teardrop sugar cookies for dessert. Abundant wine pairings had accompanied each course. Marissa leaned back, quite full and quite tipsy.

“Would you like something more?” He flashed his brilliant, seductive smile at her.

“I can think of a few things,” she said boldly.

“Such as?”

“I’ll have to show you.”

“Mmm, a most provocative invitation. But first, I have something to show
you
.” He took her hand and led her over to the large, overstuffed couch in the far end of the room. The couch faced a boomerang shaped fireplace. Made of leather, fine wood, and stainless steel, the elliptical fireplace was enclosed in glass on both sides, forcing the heat from the flames in a directional manner.

“That’s a beautiful fireplace. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Marissa sank into the comfortable sofa.

“It’s portable. I could move it from room to room if I so choose. And it swivels in any direction.” He gave the piece a gentle spin. “And,” he said, clearly pleased, “It burns bioethanol, a clean-burning fuel.” He strode over to the stone wall behind the fireplace and pushed at the edge of the huge flat-screened TV. It pivoted and disappeared behind the wall, replaced by a gleaming mirror. A curved shelf protruded underneath the mirror holding a rich, dark, polished wooden box and another smaller box next to it. Daniel picked up the larger of the two and made his way back to Marissa. He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “For you, amorcito.”

“I can’t keep up with your Spanish terms of endearment. At least, I hope they’re terms of endearment.”

“Always,” he said, reaching into his back pocket. He handed her a small, yellow book. “This way you’ll be able to tell.”

“A Spanish dictionary! How thoughtful!” She flipped the pages and read
, “Amorcito
–
my love.” A flush crept up her cheeks. “I’m not used to being so adored.”

“You’ll have to get used to it, if I have my way. Take the box, dulzura.”

She reached for the two foot wide, flat rectangle, running her hands along the glossy, polished surface. “What is it?”

“It’s my first surprise. Open it.” He sat down next to her, his face infused with excitement.

She gazed up at him through her eyelashes before lifting the cover. She gasped. Resting on a bed of black velvet, her gemstones had all been fashioned in an exquisite array of jewelry. “Oh! How beautiful!”

“They pale in comparison to your beauty
, but I hope they’ll serve their purpose well.”

Her fingers stroked the cool gems. “How did he manage to craft these so quickly?”

“That’s a secret only he knows. Here,” he said, picking up the Jasper. It now nestled in a simple setting of gold. A miniscule lightning bolt threaded through the flattened gold chain. “Give me your beautiful foot, please.”

She tugged her socks off and extended her ankle.

With feather-light softness, he ran his fingers up the inside of her calf, circled the knee, and brought his hand down the outside. “Breathtaking,” he murmured.

His fingertips were slightly rough, as if he had worked outdoors. He brought her foot up to his mouth and kissed the arch, letting his teeth graze her skin.

His teeth made her shiver. The kiss was so delicate, she closed her eyes and leaned back into the sofa cushions. They enfolded her in plump, soft luxury.

His fingertips brushed her skin as he draped the gold chain around her right ankle. He clicked the tiny clasp into place and again kissed her arch. “How does this feel, dulzura?” he murmured into her foot.

His warm breath tickled her skin. “It feels…it feels…oh, my…” A sizzling vibration shot down her leg, creating goose bumps all over her body. She looked down to see light arcing and refracting from her skin, pulsing around the Jasper.

Daniel smiled, his face eerily lit by her electrical impulses. “Very grounding, I’d say, wouldn’t you?’

“Mm hmm.” She groaned at the sizzling combustion in her leg. “Oh, God, Daniel. This is amazing.”

“Mmm,” he responded. “I’m pleased.” He shifted his jaw side to side in the now familiar gesture. “Your swan-like neck is next.” He proceeded to unbutton each button on her shirt. When he’d reached the bottom, he pushed the shirt off of her shoulders and eased it from her arms with his warm palms.

Her heart started fluttering as the shirt came off. His glittering eyes seemed to caress and adore her. He left on her sheer bra and seemed pleased with what he saw.

His thumbs pushed back and forth along the sheer lace, making her nipples pucker and tighten. His slightly calloused skin caught on the fabric as he moved his thumbs back and forth, back and forth.

“I don’t remember your skin being calloused.”

“It might not have been. I’ve been busy.”

“Doing?”

“Shhh. You’ll see soon enough.” He cupped both her breasts and squeezed and kneaded them with his strong hands. “You have beautiful breasts, dulzura.” He brought his mouth over the lace and sucked on her right nipple. “Mmm,” he moaned.

Marissa grasped his thick, dark hair and dug her nails into his scalp, panting. “God, Daniel. This is…it’s…”

“Intense?” He unclasped her bra in the front and let the lace fall open, framing her breasts. “Nice,” he breathed. “So very beautiful.” His fingers traced circles around her unsheathed nipples. “You’re a wonder.”

She glanced down at his trousers, swallowing at the outline of his erection pulsing through the fabric.

He smiled and flicked his tongue to the corner of his mouth. “All yours, dulzura. All yours.” He helped her up to sitting, and then lifted the lapis lazuli from the black velvet. Holding it aloft for her to admire, she gazed at five gold strands which had been hammered and braided. They met at a delicate, solid gold chain cup at the center with the lapis embedded in the middle of the cup. Three of the strands cascaded from the center. The other two hung from the back of the cup. Small diamonds dangled from the end of minute thunderbolts hanging at the end of each strand of gold.

“Oh, my! I’ve never worn anything so gorgeous.” Marissa’s hands flew to her face.

“Get used to it, mi amor. A beautiful woman deserves beautiful things. Please lift your hair.”

She gathered her hair into a bundle and lifted it high.

He laid the cool, golden filaments along her collarbones and hooked the tiny fastener behind her neck. His hands lingered at the base of her neck admiring the jewels, just as he had done before. As before, his hands mantled her neck, claiming her as his own, just as a bird of prey would do with its wings. “And how is this piece,
belleza? That means beautiful, in case you wondered.”

A frenzied vibration buzzed where the necklace lay, as if
120 bees were communicating with their queen, moving in circles and shapes along her tender flesh. The electricity felt disturbingly warm, right at the edge of too hot. “That’s a degree or two from blistering my skin, Daniel. Way too warm.” She fanned her neck with her hand.

“Use your mind, belleza. This is the first step in learning to control your powers.”

“It’s hot. It’s a little hard to concentrate. I’m afraid I’m going to be blistered.” Her eyes filled with tears. The buzzing vibration increased in tempo and pitch.

“You must do this. Only you.” He clasped her hands. “Come on now, you can do this. Remember, this awakens the third eye. Allow it to open and channel the energy.”

She closed her eyes and imagined a paint brush in her hands.
Cool water. Cool water trickling along my shoulders.
As her third eye pulsed, the heat began to ripple along her shoulders like soft cherry blossoms trembling in a breeze along her skin. It gradually smoothed out until it became a delightfully warm shiver. It oscillated along her shoulders and spread down her arms. “Come here. Feel this.” Her hands impatiently propelled under his sweater and ran up and down his back.

“Oh, God, lover,” Daniel exclaimed. His eyes closed and he arched from her touch. “Splendid, dulzura. Exquisite sensation. It’s…it’s…” His words tumbled away into a long, low moan.

Marissa smiled as Daniel seemed to struggle between giving into whatever he was feeling and continuing with the gifting.
I’m like this power. I like giving my lover pleasure. I like being in charge.
I
c
ould get used to this
. Carnal heat charged through her pelvis.

Daniel gave off a deep, low, unearthly growl. Ripping sounds punctuated the air and small puffs of darkness leaked into the room, swallowing the light emanating from her.

It appeared as if ghostly hands were greedily grabbing the light streaming from her body, sucking it up into…into…where she did not know. The light pouring from her body sputtered on and extinguished, sputtered on and extinguished. Her eyes grew huge. “What’s happening? What’s going on?” she squeaked.

“Patience,” he said through gritted teeth. “I’ve got this. I’ve…” The muscles in his neck bulged as he strained for composure. “Release your hands, dulzura, release them now.”

She quickly plucked her hands away.

Daniel panted, his head hanging, his arms shaking as they propped up his body.

“Another one of your reactions to me?” Her body tensed.

“It’s alright, corazón. Give me a moment.” His breathing slowed until he became quiet as a pond in a moonless night.

He seemed to have disappeared, leaving her alone in the room with a stranger. She lay still, barely breathing. Drops of sweat dripped from his face onto her belly, tickling as they rolled onto the couch.
Who the hell are you?

Finally, he lifted his head, lowered his eyelids
, and smiled at her. “We have work to do, you and me.”

“What do you mean?” Her face froze in alarm.

“Just that we both have to master ourselves. Maybe there’s a very good reason we didn’t meet when it was prophesized that we meet.”

“When were we supposed to meet?”

“When you were 16. Instead, my father had other plans. He probably would have done them no matter what, but the loss of your parents worked to his advantage.”

“I’m starting to not like your father.” She scooted back on the sofa. “I don’t even know the man
, but I’m
really
starting to not like him.”

Daniel began stroking her hair. “Shhh, dulzura, shhh. We’re learning about one another. We’re learning how we affect one another. And right now I just learned – again
– that you evoke more than I anticipated.” He lowered over her body and kissed both her eyelids. “I’d like to continue giving you your gifts. Are you ready for more?”

“I don’t know, Daniel, I’m scared right now. I don’t know who you are.”

“Shhh, mi amor. Shhh. Everything’s going to be okay. How can we master unless we experiment? Unless we explore one another?”

She allowed herself to be comforted by him, this strange, dark
, and mysterious man. Her breathing slowed, and as she relaxed, the light began to pulse down her leg, arms, and throat once more. “Okay,” she whispered. “Okay, Daniel. Let’s continue our exploration.”

The bra had disappeared, and Marissa lay back on the couch again, wearing only her skirt. Her anklet encircled leg pulsed with light and her neck resumed its fiery glow.

Daniel’s face assumed a childlike playfulness as he regarded the remaining jewelry. “Let’s do these next.” He plucked the Herkimer diamond earrings from their velvety cradle and held them out to her. The diamond had been cut into two smaller stones. These were encircled in similar chain cups like the necklace. Miniscule strands dangled from the earrings, same as the necklace. They shimmered in the light from her neck. He gently pushed a strand of her hair behind her ears and pushed the studs into her lobes, fastening them in the back. Next, he stood back and admired her, his head cocked, pleasure beaming from his face.
Do you like?

She smiled.
Yes. I like knowing you are a thought away.

I’ve always been that, dulzura. Now you can be conscious of it.

Until I no longer need my training wheels, right?

Right.
He kissed each earlobe, nuzzling her cheeks.

The stubble from his beard scraped against her skin. She caressed his chin with her fingertips, stroking the short hairs. “I can still use my voice, right? I don’t need to get all silent on you, do I?”

Daniel laughed. “No, corazón, you don’t have to get all silent on me. But these will serve you well at dinner tomorrow. We’ll be able to stay in touch if trouble arises.”

A shudder launched up Marissa’s spine
, and she pulled her knees up to her chest. “Oh, dear. I’d forgotten about tomorrow. What will I do if he tries something?”

“Don’t worry.” He pushed his warm hands along her freshly waxed calves and gently tugged on her ankles until she extended her legs. “I’ll be there.” He stroked her leg, deep in thought. “Don’t forget, later, I have another surprise.”

“I do have to be at work in the morning. I’ll need to keep my eyes open.”

“It won’t take long. There’s just something I want to show you. But first…” He reached for the red diamond. It lay nestled in a similar cup of gold as the other pieces. “Stand please.”

She eased off the couch and stood before him.

“That skirt has got to go.”

When she began to push it from her hips, he gently seized her hands.

“My job. My delight, rather.” Crouching before her, his hands flattened against her skin, caressing her waist. His fingers wriggled underneath the waist of the skirt and sought her behind. “Mmm. It’s been so long since I had this kind of pleasure. And I’ve never had such exquisite pleasure before,
ever.
” His eyes sought hers to punctuate his statement. “I adore you, corazón. I’m completely captivated with you.”

A rosy flush crept up her neck and cheeks. “I can say the same. And this is all new for me as well.”

“As it should be. True love should be measured by many firsts, throughout time.” His hands swept down the sides of her legs, taking the skirt and panties to the floor.

“I’ve never felt so naked before.”

Are you scared?

No. Surprisingly, no.

Daniel chuckled and ringed her waist with his hands. His fingers moved slowly along her ass, sweeping around to her hips and thighs, moving up her hipbones and swirling back and forth along her abdomen.

She inhaled sharply.

His thumbs landed between her legs. They grazed her pubic hair, nimbly, lovingly, inviting further surrender. She softened and opened her legs wider.

“Perfect. Just like that. Stay,” he said, smiling up at her.

“I’d wag my tail, but I don’t have one.” She returned the smile.

He took the red diamond piece and extended it with his thumbs and forefingers. “Put your hands on my shoulders, dulzura, and step into this, please.”

She put one foot and then the other into the gilded artistry.

He swept the cool metal up her legs with his warm hands. Each place the metal touched flared with electricity. “Oh, my. That’s so intense! I can barely stand it!”

“Own it, dulzura. Own your power. Own what you are made of. Own what you are becoming. Own your Light Rebel self.”

She relaxed and focused on her feet, grounding them on the sheepskin rug and hardwood floor. “Okay. Okay. I’ve got this.”

“Yes,” Daniel said, “You do. Turn please.”

She pivoted
, and he secured the clasp in the back.

“And again.”

She turned back to face him.

He sat back, leaned his hands behind him on the floor and stared up at her. “Oh, my,
Light Rebel goddess! My beautiful, beautiful lover. You are beyond beautiful.”

She laughed. “I’m also beyond aroused. Talk about intense.”

“I take it the gem is stirring your passion?”

“Yeah. Just give me a sec
, and I’ll share. Now
I
just need a moment to relax into the sensations.” She gritted her teeth and scrunched up her face, trying to master the carnal heat that shot through her limbs and core. “I feel like I’m going to orgasm.” She touched the red diamond, eliciting sparks from her fingers and belly, and blew out her breath. “Ho, geez, Louise.”

“Just breath, love. Claim your arousal. You own
it
, don’t let
it
own you. You breathe, and I’ll watch. I’m quite enjoying looking at you.” His tongue slid lazily back and forth across his teeth.

“Okay, well, have fun. This is almost agonizing, it’s so intense.”

The flat, braided chains had been fashioned into a fine-spun belt that hung loosely around her waist. Braided gold hung from the waist, shaping a triangle. The tip of the triangle rested on her mons pubis. Strands of gold formed a spider web of filaments in the middle of the triangle. The blood red gem rested in a delicate gold cup between her mons and her navel. Tiny lightning bolts affixed the strands to the dainty cup. The entire array was lit to Sunday, humming with electricity.

Golden strands tucked lightly along the creases between her thighs and her core, emerging behind her, two trails of gold draping along the cheeks of her ass to meet at the golden yoke resting on her back. Light buzzed and crackled where the chain touched. Shivering sensations volleyed through her pelvis, making her back arch as ecstatic shudders undulated up her spine.

“Oh, yeah, baby,” Daniel uttered. His gripped his erection and stroked it up and down. “Oh, yeah. Oh, God, Marissa, you’re so beautiful.”

“Not so fast with that,” she said through clenched teeth. “I’ve got this. In just a moment…”

Daniel pushed his pants from his legs, kicked them to the side, and stood up. “No,
I’ve
got this.” He scooped her up as easily as if she were a child. “You’ve never seen my bedroom.”

Sober leapt up from his slumber in the corner, stretched
, and trotted next to him.

“You’re right. Here I am, soul bound to you, bound for life
, and I’ve never seen your bedroom. I’ve never seen most of your house.”

“I guess I’d better give you a tour
– after I show you the bedroom – especially the bed.” He strode easily up two flights of stairs, the dog at his side, his dog tags softly jangling.

Her arousal slid to a manageable purr in his secure embrace. “How can you carry me so easily? Aren’t you getting tired?”

“I’m in alignment with your energy, cariño. If I regarded you as an object, I might be straining. Might,” he winked.

“Like the
Coati-lumina,” she murmured. “That’s what Tom said to me when his ginormous Coati-lumina landed on his arm.”

“Oh, that’s not his
Coati-lumina.” He set her down at the top of the landing. “Go find the bed I showed you, Sober. Go.” He pointed to a dog bed in the corner.

Sober obediently wandered over and lay down.

“Where did that come from? Did you have a dog before?”

“No, Sober and I went shopping today. A man-dog needs a man-dog bed.”

Marissa’s heart stirred at the affection between Daniel and her sparkling dog. “I think my man-dog is slightly gay. He’s shown a new preference for a bedazzled body.”

“He’s still a man,” Daniel proclaimed. “He walks to his own beat.”

“So whose is it? The Coati-lumina?”

“She hasn’t been claimed yet,” he said, casually. “I’ve tried to claim that creature for years. Tom’s tried. Others have tried. No one can master her. She allies with us as needed
, but we’re nothing to her. But right now, I’m more interested in other things.” He gestured toward his bedroom. “My pleasure-cave awaits, mi tesoro. That means my treasure, by the way.” He pressed her back against him, positioning his pulsing erection against her skin, and held her close. “And you
are
my treasure, Marissa.”

“Thank you.” She melted into his torso and giggled, marveling at the way she lit up the room. “I guess there’s no need for a night light. I’m your handy dandy night light extraordinaire.”

“You’re so much more than a night light,” he teased. “Go look at yourself in the mirror, and let me admire you admiring yourself.”

She sauntered through the luxurious room. The wood floors appeared to be some exotic wood. The gleaming, cherry and blond boards had been arranged in a sunburst-like effect, with the bed at the center. A huge king-sized mattress rested on an even larger wooden platform, the
two foot edges lined with square, burgundy leather cushions. Marissa pressed her fingertips into the spongy cushions and brushed a hand along the colorful, textured bed covering. “You have amazing taste.”

“The designers do. I just say yes or no. .”

She glanced back at him and smiled, admiring his body leaning in the doorway. The warm color of his skin reminded her of long, lazy days in the tropics. “I’m sure you do.” His runner’s body stood tall, muscular, and lean with just the right amount of hair. Gazing at his biceps, she pictured him holding iron dumbbells, pumping his muscles into submission. His half hard cock hung at an angle, resting against his thigh. She looked at it and swallowed, thinking how she’d never found a man so beautiful before in her life.

Thank you, mi tesoro.
“All yours,” Daniel said. “The mirror’s on that wall, cariño.” He pointed to the wall next to where he stood.

“I’ll get there. I’m exploring.”

Two sweeps of curved wood created the backdrop for sitting in bed. The entire back wall consisted of the same wood as the floors, dotted with soft lighting angled over the bed. A short distance from the foot of the bed, a wide television rested on an elegant wooden stand. Marissa ran her fingers along the top of the smooth, cool plastic.

Daniel inclined against the door-jam, watching her every move. “See that button next to the TV?”

“This one?”

“Yes, give it a push.”

She did and the TV quietly disappeared into the stand. She looked over at him.

“I prefer it this way. So I can see the Sound and the sky. I was just watching something earlier while Sober acquainted himself with his new bedroom. And then you called. And then my father called.” His face soured into an expression of distaste.

She frowned slightly. “I don’t think he’s agreed to live here. Sober might prefer to go back and forth.”

“I’m sure he will. He’s more of a cosmopolitan canine. I just want him to be comfortable when he’s here.”

The bed faced a wall of windows and glass doors leading onto a deck. A giant aquarium filled with sea-life served as the side wall. Openings on either side lead to a ginormous closet. Marissa stuck her head around the side, observed the rows of garments and shoes and then turned her attention to the aquarium. “So many colorful fish.” She stood before the glass, watching the multicolored sea-life, admiring the anemones and plants that undulated in the water. “Doesn’t the light of this keep you awake at night? I prefer it dark.”

“Walk back over to the bed.”

She stepped back to the platform.

“See that button there, in the bed stand?”

“This one?”

“Yes. Press it.”

The aquarium became completely dark, illuminated only by her glowing form.

“I can also make it so that it matches the rhythm of the sun, gently illuminating at sunrise and sunset. Now will you find the mirror?”

“I’ll get there.” She wandered to look at the view from the back. As she approached the glass doors, she caught a glimpse of her reflection and gasped. “Is that me?”

Daniel chuckled. “None other.
Now
will you make your way over to the mirror?”

She stepped across the room and stood before the generously sized full-length mirror. A beautiful stranger stared back at her. She stood, curvaceous and tall, bejeweled and dazzling bright.
I look like one of those sensual, finely detailed illustrations of goddesses I painted in school. I adorned them with jewels, flowers, feathers, and not much else.

Exactly. You’re a goddess.

She turned side to side in wonder. Light burst from her ears, her neck, her belly, and her legs. It streamed down her arms and vibrated from her hands. “Oh, my God, Daniel! Who is this person?”