"Yeah?"
"Merry Christmas,” Nick said as he turned around and took two steps forward. On the third step a bright light engulfed him and he vanished.
There was a lot for Noel's mind to sift through, but at the moment exhaustion swept through his limbs. It hit him like a ton of bricks. All he wanted to do now was give into it.
Noel took a deep breath, wrapped his arms around Natala and lifted her onto the bed. He dropped the covers over her body and climbed into the bed beside her. As he spooned his body behind hers, and felt their bodies warm against each other, everything slipped from his mind and sleep took him.
* * * *
Natala stretched her arms above her head and looked at the window situated behind the bed. The light streamed through the sides but Noel still lay in a deep slumber beside her. She smiled down at him, and kissed his lips lightly.
He didn't move an inch.
They'd made it through alive. In the end she hadn't been as useful as she'd wanted to be, but they were alive and together. That's all that mattered. The fact that her other-self had stayed conscious long enough to hear the exchange between him and Nick was a bonus. The old man that saved Natala and her cousins so long ago turned out to be someone very special. Of course she'd known that from the start. Otherwise, why would Decarabia bother to risk everything like this?
As she pushed her elbows up to lift her body, she noticed that her shoulder didn't hurt at all. Natala jumped out of the bed and went to the mirror. Her neck wound was completely gone, though the telltale signs of dry blood on her skin and dress hadn't magically disappeared. She'd been completely healed, with only a long scar to remind her of what the demon had done to her.
A sound from outside the bedroom suddenly caught her attention. She headed out into the corridor, careful to walk around the splinters on the floor to keep her feet clear of the threat.
She rounded the corner to enter the living room, with her heart pulsing hard. A familiar figure jumped out in front of her, with a small spear tight in his hand.
"Stop right there, demon!” he called out before he even caught a glimpse of her.
Natala lifted her arms up. “I'm not a demon, Trav."
"Oh my, is that you, Natala?” He held the spear in front of him, squinting. “So sorry, my eyesight's not back to normal yet. Everyone looks like a demon to me at the moment."
She couldn't stifle a chuckle. A sense of happiness washed over her body. The relief was so extreme she was sure she'd collapse at any minute.
"It's me all right!” Natala cleared away the chuckle with a cough.
"We were starting to worry about you,” Stefano called from behind the couch. He slowly lifted his shaggy dark-colored head.
"So you're all here?"
"Yes, seven imps and a beauty,” Clara said with a curtsy. Her cousin still wore the similar white clothing she'd first worn when she arrived inside this living room.
"I hope the beauty's you,” Natala said with a wink. “It's so wonderful to see you. When did you get out of those lights?"
Clara hugged her tight.
Ned stepped forward. “At the first glimpse of sunlight. When the light touched the globes, each exploded and we were suddenly here. Wherever here is..."
"We saw Father Christmas,” Relly added with a smirk. “He told us we only have until noon to get back to the Wilds."
"To the Wilds?” she echoed.
"Yes, he said it awaits us. To rebuild, and get ready for all our other cousins to return.” Davi sat on the couch as he answered, both arms crossed over his stomach. “The sooner the better, I say."
A small hand clutched hers and Clara loosened her grip around her.
"You will come with us, won't you, Natala?” Her youngest cousin, Lonie, squeezed her hand tighter.
She sighed. What could she say to them that wouldn't hurt them? “I will help you get back to the Wilds, but I'm afraid my place is here with the man I've fallen in love with."
Lonie's face softened but the hurt was deep in her dark eyes. All her cousins looked the same, no matter if they were male or female. Short, stubby, pale-skinned and cute. “I'm so happy that you've finally found love, but I will miss you terribly. I wish you could come with us..."
"I wish I could come with you, too,” Natala said. Through all those years of slavery, all she'd dreamed about was returning to their place of origin. To live happy, free lives. Yet now, her heart belonged somewhere else. At least, if she could get the imps back on track in the Wilds, it would be enough to reassure her that her cousins would be better off. “I'll miss you too. Now, let's get you home before Noel wakes up. I want to surprise him."
"No objections here.” Davi jumped off the couch.
"Uh, how do we get there?” Ned asked.
Trav pointed at the Christmas tree. “Through there, it's enchanted. Actually, this whole house is enchanted. Did you know that this human was magical before you fell for him?"
She shook her head. “No, I don't think he even knows. But let's get going, huh? I want to make sure you all get home safely. I can't wait to see the Wilds with my own eyes again."
"It's been too long,” Clara agreed with one arm still wrapped around her waist.
Lonie squeezed her hand tighter on the other side.
"Yes, it has...” Natala agreed.
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Epilogue
"And this is called a spa, is it?"
"Yes. Most people have bathtubs but—” Noel stopped himself, took a deep breath and continued “—I've got a spa in the bathroom. It's bigger, has more options, and is definitely big enough for two."
He kissed the top of her head. She snuggled her spine deeper against his chest. Noel wrapped his arms around her, fingers skimming her nipples. Even inside the warm bathroom and water, they tightened in his hand.
"I really like it. I think we'll be spending a lot of time in here,” she said with a laugh.
"I sure hope so.” He let one of his hands trail lower along the front of her body until he found the smooth hair between her legs. He parted them and she spread them a little further apart. It was all the invitation he needed to slip a finger inside.
Noel closed his eyes to the sensations that touching her this intimately aroused inside him. She was so soft and moist. He found her clitoris and rubbed it softly. He sucked her earlobe as she moaned to the touch. His finger wanted to reach deeper inside her, delve beyond this point. But he knew she enjoyed being touched this way too much to stop now.
"Oh Noel, if I've got anything to say about it, we'll definitely be doing more of this.” She lifted her hips and his finger slipped out.
"Wait, what are you doing?” he protested.
She raised her body out of the water, turned around and kneeled in front of him. Beads of water dripped from her hard nipples and down her firm stomach. “I want to kiss you."
And she did—deep and probing.
"Are you sure you don't regret staying here?” he asked after the kisses halted. He couldn't help but be reminded of how much she'd given up for him. Natala told him all about her cousins being free and in the Wilds now. He wondered if she'd eventually resent him because she hadn't returned too.
"Noel, my place is with you. I've never had more freedom in my entire life,” she said with a smile. “I'm here because I want to be. It's where I belong."
He released a sigh of relief. “I just want you to be sure, okay? There are still so many things I don't understand about your world. Also about what Nick said would eventually happen."
Natala placed her index finger over his lips. “Shh, don't think about that now. Father Christmas is a very wise old man that will exist for a very long time before you have to step into his shoes. As far as my world goes, I'll tell you whatever you want to know about the Wilds, imps ... and anything else that comes to mind."
"Okay, I'll take you up on that. Why did I see two of you when that demon attacked you?” He'd been itching to ask her that questio
n.
She smiled and moved closer. “Ah, for that answer you're going to have to pay very deeply."
"Whatever it takes..."
"Good, because this is what I want.” Natala wrapped her arms around his shoulders and sat on top of him. His penis slipped inside her instantly, so quickly and easily that he sucked in a deep breath of shock. He placed his hands on her hips to lift her small frame up and down along the full length of his erection.
An orgasm teased his brain as her tight, wet walls sucked him in and out. He closed his eyes, prepared for the release when she pulled away completely.
"Wait ... a second, what're you doing now?” His erection was still rock hard and now throbbed with the need for release.
"I'm going to answer your question.” She offered him a cheeky smile.
He watched her kneel in front of him, and a smile spread along his lips. He knew they had a very long time to spend learning every curve of each other's bodies. Right now, he was happy with a little teasing fun. Besides, he really did want to know more about her origins and whatever other information she felt like offering.
"But before you do, I just want to tell you that you're the best Christmas gift I've ever gotten,” Noel said as sincerely as he could, because she was. He sent a silent prayer to Nancy and hoped that wherever she was, she heard him. He'd never forget their time together, but that chapter in his life was closed. Right now there was someone else that made his heart and soul burn with desire, lust and love, and she was sharing a tub with him. “I love you, Natala."
* * * *
She heard the words as if she wasn't there in the spa with him. Natala's other-self was wandering outside the bathroom, restless. Eager to get started on the serious wards she knew had to be set up around the house, but she wasn't ready.
Not yet, she said silently. Her tone was harsh enough to encourage every bit of herself back to this one pleasurable situation.
"I love you, too,” she whispered with a small, soft kiss. The way the words made her flush with excitement was unlike anything she'd ever felt before. Although she truly wanted to answer every one of his questions, and maybe even take him to see the Wilds one day, right now she was as horny as hell. Teasing him out of the climax he deserved also robbed her of an orgasm she desperately needed.
A wicked smile played along her lips as she licked them and watched Noel eyeing her breasts. She remembered how it bothered her the first time he'd done that. Now she never wanted him to stop gawking at them, and the rest of her.
She finally remembered the incantation he spoke to release her from the Christmas lights in the first place. What I wouldn't give for some company right now were the words that initially connected them. Now there was so much more between them that his thoughts were starting to get more decipherable by the hour.
"Well, get on with the story. I'm hanging by a thread here. I need to get back to—"
Natala cried out as his penis lodged inside her again. She was slick and ready to receive him. She thrust her hips up and down as fast and hard as she could, with her gaze pinned to his. The water stirred with her every move and made her excitement peak.
When they came at the same time, Natala held onto him as tight as she could. She promised herself that she'd never let Noel go.
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Author Bio
Yolanda lives in a suburb of Sydney, Australia, with her wonderful husband, cute daughter and adorable cat. She's been putting stories together since her early teens.
Now that her daughter is in school, she gets the opportunity to write every day, for most of the day, and she loves every minute of it!
When she's not writing, she spends as much time as possible with her small family. She also enjoys watching movies, TV shows and reading—she loves to read.
Come visit her online:
www.yolandasfetsos.com
www.myspace.com/yolandasfetsos
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