Seduced by Innocence (15 page)

He'd kept his eyes closed as instructed, and I debated about whether to use my mouth or hand.

Bending down, I flicked my tongue out and licked his tip, tasting his tangy pre-cumome.

The muscles in his body jerked and tensed as I continued to lick, while I used my nails to tease his balls. Hoping that I wouldn't choke, I guided his cock into my mouth and sucked harder on his tip. His hands reached up and gripped my head, digging his fingers through my hair.

Emboldened, I took him in deeper, using my hand to stroke the base of his cock while I sucked and licked.

I'd been watching him the night before, as he brought himself to climax, and I tried to match the rhythm that had worked for him. Stroking, licking, filling my throat with him, the power of this position delighted me.

I could do anything to him as he submitted to my touch, my stroke. My senses expanded beyond my own needs to include every twitch, thrust and groan from his body. He became a book to read, a new landscape to study, a map to memorize, and I reveled in that discovery like an explorer on a new continent.

He grew harder, more urgent in his moaning. "Rose, I'm going to come soon, if you don't want to swallow, pull back."

I ignored him and kept sucking, ready to take whatever he could give.

My sex slickened with arousal as I brought him closer and closer to his own climax. I hadn't expected to be so turned on by this but, seeing him respond to me so sensually, it opened up a desire inside me.

I worked to keep my own passions dampened, resisting the urge to finger myself as I sucked him.

Thick come, salty and tangy, shot into my throat and I licked and sucked, swallowing it down as his body spasmed.

When he finished, he collapsed on the floor and pulled me to his chest, kissing me deeply. "You are one amazing woman."

I'd just given my first blowjob and I'd loved how in control and powerful I felt. A thrill coursed through me to know that I could give so much pleasure, bring him to such great heights of ecstasy. I couldn't wait for the day when he could safely spread my legs and slide his tongue along my pussy, teasing my clit until I came.

But until then, we could do this. We could find ways to be together without breaking my rules, but while still having fun.

And fun we had. For another six days, we ignored the world and explored each other in as many ways as we could. I told him as much about my life as I dared without revealing my secrets, and he shared more stories of his. We went on long walks, cooked meals together, played games by the fire, and found creative ways to explore each other's bodies.

Whether they were love, lust or some combination, I wasn't yet sure, but my feelings for him had grabbed hold of my heart and wouldn't let go. I knew that if I survived the attack on the Druids I'd find a way to be with him, no matter what. Even if that meant going against my family for good.

On the seventh day, I woke to a snow-covered world. Not wanting to wake Derek, I used the bathroom and took Sandy out for a walk, leaving a note for him on the bed so he'd know where I'd gone.

I loved fresh snow, that pristine look of undisturbed nature. Sandy enjoyed it too, and I let her off-leash to run and play. She barked at squirrels and danced in the snow. Her depression had abated during our time in the cabin with Derek. She'd fallen in love with him and stayed near him wherever he went. It seemed that she needed him in our lives just as much as I did.

Enraptured with the snow and the promise of a new day, I didn't notice when Sandy went stiff until she barked, then howled, then started running back to the cabin in distress.

All I could think as I followed her was that something had happened to Derek, and my heart shattered at the thought.

These violent delights have violent ends

And in their triumph die, like fire and powder

Which, as they kiss, consume.

— William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

SNOW FROSTED THE
cabin, and I wondered it if would still burn down effectively. I'd waited for six days, watching them kiss, touch and undress for each other as rage took up residence in my heart.

Rainbow expected me to call in if Rose didn't go on a true walk-about as promised. I hadn't called in, because I needed to handle this problem myself.

They hadn't strayed more than a few feet from each other this whole time, leaving me little opportunity to end Derek's life while sparing Rose and her dog. I knew this would hurt her, but I didn't want to physically harm her. Emotional wounds could heal, and this was just a fling. I'd be there to comfort her, to offer her support. She'd see how much I truly loved her. How much I deserved her.

That morning I caught a break. Rose came out of the cabin with Sandy by her side. I waited for Derek to close the door behind them and walk hand-in-hand with her, as if he couldn't spend a moment
not
touching her. But he never came.

Once she had gone far enough into the woods to be out of harm's way, I took the cans of gasoline and the matches and crept up to the cabin. I still had the coven's power protecting me, though only Rainbow knew that, so I didn't fear being seen. Shifters might be able to sense more than others, though, and I didn't want to risk getting caught.

I poured the gasoline around the porch and splashed it onto the walls, then lit a match and threw it. A whoosh of fire flamed to life, consuming the carefully crafted vacation home. Somewhere inside, Derek would meet his end.

Hiding in the bushes, I watched the fire blaze. It didn't demolish the house as fast as I'd hoped. The sheer mass combined with the weather slowed down the fire.

Sandy barked in the distance and came running toward the inferno. Part of me wanted to run up to save the dog, but I couldn't expose myself.

The dog, fearless beyond measure, jumped in through a window that had shattered, howling from pain as the flames licked her legs and glass cut into her flesh.

It took several moments for Rose to catch up, panting and screaming, tears pouring down her face. She hollered to the house. "Derek? Where are you? Sandy! Come back, girl!"

It took a lot for me to stay in place, to not offer her a friend. But there'd be plenty of time for that. I just hoped her dog survived.

Rose ran up to the house, looked around as if praying for help, then ran into the flames crying out for Derek and Sandy.

My heart contracted in pain. If she died, none of this mattered. It would all be for naught.

I knew I had to do something. I sifted through the family magic and pulled a strand of Ocean's powers. She controlled the water element. If I could channel it through her, maybe I could slow down the flames.

Concentrating, I imagined a watery hand reaching out to submerge the fire, stifling their influence.

With energy draining out of me like water drains from a bathtub, I gave the fire everything I had.

Finally, it slowed, then died out, leaving the smoking remains of a once beautiful home.

Five minutes passed as I waited to see if Rose would emerge unscathed. Then ten minutes. It became difficult to breathe.

When she stumbled out of the cabin, I collapsed in relief. Then Derek followed at her heels, carrying a furry bundle that didn't move, and I knew the fire had claimed the wrong casualty.

Ay me! sad hours seem long.

— William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

I HAD NO
choice but to tell my family the truth about where I'd been and who I'd been with. The police department already knew. The fire department knew. Derek had to go home and tell his family, so he dropped me off at the entrance to the coven property.

"Are you sure you don't want me to be there with you when you go home? I can stay, Rose. My family can wait."

I wanted to say yes, but it would be bad enough without dragging him into my drama, and I had too many secrets from him still to introduce him to my family.

"No, I have to do this alone." My voice sounded distant, like someone else was speaking.

I hadn't cried yet, which felt wrong. But my heart had frozen in shock, and hadn't yet begun to beat again. When it did, I was sure the pain would overwhelm me.

Sandy lay in the backseat, lifeless and covered in burns. She'd warned Derek of the fire, but had already been too badly injured by then to save.

By some miracle, we'd survived unscathed and the fire had stopped on its own. I didn't have the energy to probe with my magic to find out why or how. I felt dead inside and just wanted to rewind time and go back to the days before, when the magic of love could have sustained me forever.

Derek pulled me into an embrace and I waited for the wave of emotion to crash, but it didn't. Still, I clung to him, not wanting him to leave despite my words, but I no longer had the luxury of his touch and nearness. I'd have to face this next hurdle alone.

Ocean met us at the gate, her face pale and makeup-less, her eyes rimmed in red and puffy from crying. When I got out of the car, she grabbed me and hugged so hard I couldn't breathe.

"Oh my God, Rose. I'm so sorry. Where is she?"

I gestured to the backseat, and Ocean opened the door. Derek came up next to her and helped her pull out Sandy. Ocean cradled the large dog in her arms.

As Derek drove away, Ocean and I walked side by side toward the main house to face a new kind of fire together.

We'd buried Sandy in the hard winter earth near her puppies. I'd insisted on it, despite the challenge of digging this time of year.

Fate had come full circle, ripping Sandy and her litter from the world just as it had done to her mother and littermates.

Now I sat alone facing my mother. I'd just told her everything, and her face betrayed her disappointment and anger.

I didn't care. She could scream, threaten, throw things… nothing would make me feel worse than I already did.

"If you hadn't disobeyed, and broken the rules, Sandy wouldn't have died."

Of all the things I expected her to say, that hadn't been on the list, and her words were like a knife in my gut.

Seeing my body cave into itself, she twisted the knife deeper. "You're just lucky the young man you shacked up with isn't dead as well. Obviously you didn't have sex, but that was just a matter of time. This fire could have saved his life. I hope you now understand why it's important for you to stay away from boys and focus on your coven. In less than a week, on the new moon, we have to go against the Druids, and I need you focused and at your best."

Still, I said nothing. I had no voice left.

"If you leave this property again before the attack, you'll never be allowed back, not even to collect your things or see your sister or Ocean. Now go home, get yourself together, and prepare for war."