Isela's Love

by Sasha Cain

Darrios landed on his back, the viocomen on top of him, the knife pinned uselessly between them. He couldn’t try to get it free because all of his attention was needed to hold the monster back away from his face. It had three rows of long, pointed teeth, determined to chew up Darrios’s face.

  It took every bit of strength Darrios possessed to keep his face out of the reach of those teeth. He pushed its chin away, trying to turn his head. The viocomen’s breath alone was enough to kill him. It snapped its powerful jaws repeatedly. Darrios’s arms shook. He couldn’t hold it off much longer.

  “Evan, I’m kind of in a jam, here buddy,” Darrios grunted. “I could use a hand. Now would be a good time for you to wake—”

  The viocomen yelped and then fell face first onto Darrios. Evan came up behind him, his chest heaving. Reaching down, he twisted the knife in the back of the now-dead viocomen before pulling it out. With his foot, he rolled the body off of Darrios, offering him a hand.

  Darrios took it, allowing Evan to lug him up. “Talk about perfect timing,” Darrios said.

  “That fucker hit me in the head with a rock.”

  Darrios suppressed a smile. He was sure it was just nervous energy, but seeing the incredulous expression on Evan’s face lightened the moment considerably.

  “Let me look at that. It looks bad.”

  Evan waved him off. “When did the fucking viocomen learn to throw rocks? How are you?” Evan asked, softening.

  “I’m fine. I’ll admit, I was a little worried, bro.”

  “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you, Darrios.”

  Darrios laughed. “Are you kidding me? You saved my life. That thing knocked you out cold, and you still took it out with one knife. I tried to use your other two, but it turns out I am not good at throwing knives.”

  Evan snickered, giving Darrios a sideways grin as he bent to gather up his knives. “Too bad you didn’t have your gun.”

  “Careful, I think that rock made you loopy.”

  “I’ll bet I’m gonna have one helluva headache.”

  Glancing around for any more danger, they grabbed hold of the wagon and made it to the prison gates as quickly as possible.

  Guarros’s guards let them right in, ushering them to the kitchen area. Darrios searched the crowd for Brendan. He wouldn’t be expecting Darrios to be there again so soon, so he wouldn’t be looking for him.

  Luckily, Brendan was mopping the floor near the dining area. Darrios made eye contact with him, sighing with relief. Brendan picked up the mop bucket and headed to the kitchen. Darrios continued rolling the meat in with Evan flanking him, acting as if he hadn’t even noticed Brendan.

  Brendan refilled his bucket, ignoring Darrios and Evan unloading meat behind him. Darrios stashed the letter down the back of Brendan’s pants. Brendan didn’t even flinch. He hauled the bucket out of the sink and set it down.

  “Auri,” he said to the girl stirring vegetables in a pot over the fire. “I need to run to the restroom. I’ll be right back.”

  She nodded without turning around. Darrios and Evan continued unloading, slowing it down to give Brendan time to read Darrios’ letter.

  ****

  Brendan locked himself in the bathroom stall. He opened the letter, reading silently.

  Brendan,

  Everything is in place. We have at least eighteen guys who want Guarros’s head. We’ll be outside the gates before noon, so Bashua will be safe. Keep inside the interior of the prison until you hear the explosions. Ask Bashua how many to listen for.

  Once the blasts are over, we’re going to try to make the most commotion at the loading area. You take Isela and go the opposite direction. Head toward the east side of the building. I’ll have Bashua blow an escape route at the end of the east hallway adjacent to the gardens.

  Once you get out, run your asses off like your lives depend on it...’cause they do. Get through the gates and haul ass toward the path leading to Inland. You’ll see a tree with a torn piece of yellow cloth. Instead of continuing down the path, turn right at that tree. Go about one hundred feet and you’ll see clump of bushes. Get in there and wait. I am deadly serious, Brendan. If this thing goes bad, I do not want to have to explain it to your sister. Follow me? I’m gonna hang around here until I know we’re square. Give me a sign. Do something. Once for yes and twice for no.

  Game on, brother,

  Darrios

  Brendan chuckled at the closing. He tore up the letter, flushed it, and headed back to the kitchen. Darrios and Evan were just finishing up. Brendan picked up one spoon and dropped it on the floor. Darrios stifled a laugh, and shook his head.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Brendan knocked softly on Isela’s door. She opened the door smiling, her aqua eyes sparkling. It took Brendan’s breath away. He shut the door behind him and gathered her into his arms. His energy ran high tonight. In two days this would be over and he and Isela could begin their life together.

  “Are you as excited as I am?” Isela asked as if reading his mind.

  “I am. I can’t wait to be free of this place and to be able to be with you out in the open. I hate all this sneaking around.”

  “I do too, but it’s only for two more days.”

  “You’re right.”

  Isela stepped back from him, resting her hand on his chest. “You have to promise me something, Brendan.”

  “Anything.”

  “When all hell breaks loose, please make sure Mae gets out safely.”

  Brendan furrowed his brow. “What are you talking about? You’ll be with me.”

  “I know. I mean if anything should happen. If Guarros—”

  Brendan grabbed Isela, hugging her. “No, Guarros isn’t going to touch you. I won’t let him get near you. You and I will get Mae out together.”

  “Brendan—”

  “I mean it, Isela. Don’t you believe me?”

  “I just don’t want to underestimate Guarros. He’s destroyed my hopes and dreams so many times; I guess I’ve come to expect it.”

  “Not this time. We are going to be free of that loathsome motherfucker once and for all.”

  Brendan gazed into her beautiful eyes, drinking in all of the love and trust he saw there. A wave of emotion rolled over him. He sighed her name before brushing his mouth over hers.

  She parted her lips, tightening her grip on him, drawing him in. Her tongue teased and tantalized him until he was aching for more. He reached up under her shirt, cupping her breast in his hand. When his palm grazed over the pert little peak, desire engulfed him. He rolled her nipple between his thumb and finger. Isela arched against him with a breathy moan.

  “Raise your arms, Isela,” he said in a raspy whisper.

  Her eyes trained on his, she lifted her arms. He pulled her shirt over her head, tossing it away then he practically tore his own off. He needed to feel nothing between them but skin. He kissed her wildly, hungrily, and she gave it right back.

  Kissing his way down her throat, Brendan hooked his thumbs in the waistband of her pants. Isela threw her head back, giving him more access to her neck. As he lowered her pants, she wriggled out of them. Brendan groaned, his arousal straining against the fabric of his own trousers.

  Isela mimicked his move, hooking her thumbs in his waistband. She gently lowered his pants, freeing his throbbing erection. He kicked them out of the way, clutching her bottom in his hands. He pulled her to him, grinding himself against her.

  Practically panting, he whispered into her ear, “I want you so much, Isela.”

  She nodded as she backed up and sat down on the bed.

  He dropped to his knees and pushed her legs apart, burying his face between them. Isela gasped. Brendan softly kissed the inside of her thigh, moving inward, toward the prize he desired. He licked once, barely making contact. She whimpered, attempting to push herself into him, but he held her hips, keeping her right where he wanted her.

  He glanced up at her, flashing a mischievous grin before returning his attention to wh
at he’d been doing. He flicked his tongue over her core, again, hardly touching her, a few more times. Then he increased the pressure. She purred as he swirled his tongue over her most sensitive areas, tasting her, reveling in the fact that she was his.

  The pleasure he experienced being able to make her react like this paled to what he felt when she grabbed fistfuls of his hair, rocking into him and screaming his name. He kissed his way up over her trembling belly until he lay side by side with her. She threw her arms around him, kissing him greedily. His body ached to be inside hers. Brendan effortlessly scooted Isela further back onto the bed, his engorged shaft pressing against her thigh, the tip moist with wanting.

  He positioned himself over her, gently pushing her legs apart with his knee. She rose her hips up to meet him as he entered her. His eyes rolled back as liquid electricity shot through him, her body still contracting from her orgasm, gloriously squeezing and pumping him. The sensation nearly sent him over the edge with his first thrust.

  She bent her knees, raising them, clinging to his hips, giving him deeper access. They moaned together as he drove into her time and time again. Isela held on, riding him, finally arching her back, clutching the blankets.

  “Yes, Brendan, yes,” she cried.

  The way her channel embraced his cock, kneading it as her muscles clenched around it, was more than Brendan could take. Fireworks exploded in his brain as he let go, filling her with his release.

  They lay together unmoving, listening to one another’s racing hearts and labored breathing. Brendan pushed her hair, now damp with perspiration, off of her face. He grazed her forehead and her eyelids with soft kisses.

  “My God, Isela, what you do to me.”

  “What I do to you? I thought I might shatter into a thousand pieces.”

  He held her to him, raw emotion invading his senses. “I love you, Isela.”

  She propped herself up onto her elbow. With her free hand, she stroked his face. Closing his eyes, he kissed her palm.

  “I love you too, Brendan.” Her voice trembled. “I never thought I’d find love...and yet here you are.”

  “And I’m not going anywhere.”

  She playfully pounced on him, rolling him onto his back. Laughing, she said, “Well not without me anyway.”

  He rested his hands on her hips. “I’ll never go anywhere without you,” he said very seriously.

  After lying together for awhile, Brendan told her what Darrios’s letter said, pointing in the direction they were supposed to escape. Isela sat up, running her hands through her hair.

  “Don’t forget about Mae,” she reminded him.

  “I won’t. I know what she means to you. We’ll get her out safe and sound. Have you told her yet?”

  Isela shook her head. “Not yet. I don’t want to give her too much time to think about it. She’s a worrier. If she acts weird or something, Guarros might get suspicious. I know I sound paranoid, but I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize this.” She lowered her eyes. “Or our future together.”

  “Nothing could do that, Isela. I won’t let it. Not Guarros, not anything.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The day had arrived. Today was the day Bashua planned to get himself cast out of the prison and into Midland. Brendan hoped like hell Darrios was waiting. His brother-in-law was dependable. He was more than likely already at the rendezvous spot with the cavalry, but still, they were gambling with Bashua’s life. He couldn’t relax until this was all over and he knew Bashua and Isela were both safe.

  He saw Isela as soon as he walked into the dining area. She was bent over a table laying out cutlery and napkins. Brendan chuckled to himself as he admired her rear end, thinking how he planned on bending her over later, but for an entirely different reason.

  Keeri came out of nowhere, stepping in front of Brendan, smirking. His smile faded, as did his amorous thoughts. He sighed.

  “What do you want?” he asked.

  She ran her index finger down his chest. “Such a grumpy Gus today,” she said in a pouty baby voice.

  Brendan rolled his eyes, losing his patience more quickly than he thought possible. She stepped closer to him, resting her palm on his chest.

  “I thought maybe we could find someplace quiet and get to know each other a little better,” she said suggestively, grabbing his finger and sucking it.

  Brendan scowled, snatching his hand away and wiping it on his pants. He took a step back, shaking his head. “How many times do I have to tell you I’m not interested, Keeri? I don’t know how I can be any clearer.”

  She flashed a predator’s smile then licked her lips. “Why don’t you let me change your mind? I mean, you might as well give in. I’m going to get my way in the end.”

  Brendan raised an eyebrow. “You think so, huh?”

  She tried to close the distance between them, but Brendan put his hand up, stopping her.

  “I know so,” she said.

  Brendan’s patience had drained completely. Now he was just annoyed. Who the hell did this bitch think she was? He snorted a little laugh. “Keeri, just because most of the guys in this place have fucked you ten times next to sideways, doesn’t mean we all want to. In fact, I can tell you with one hundred percent certainty that there is not one circumstance out there that would ever get me to touch you. So get used to disappointment or move on to another victim. Either way, my dick is one of the few you’re never gonna see.”

  Anger flashed in her eyes then something malevolent shined in them instead. She dropped her flirtatious approach.

  “Really, Brendan? Then maybe I’ll have to tell Guarros that you’re having a fling with his precious Isela.”

  Brendan smiled inwardly as Guarros came into the room, Keeri’s statement obviously grabbing his attention. Keeri was so into her threatening rant, she didn’t realize he was standing right behind her.

  “The warden knows better.”

  “I’ll tell him I saw you together. I’ll say you were kissing with your hands all over each other.”

  “So you’d lie in order to blackmail me into screwing you.”

  “No, I’d lie because you refuse to screw me.”

  Brendan shook his head. “You are some piece of work, Keeri. I wish you could see what you look like with your foot in your mouth as well as I can.”

  Within seconds, Keeri fell to the floor. Brendan watched in stunned silence as her leg bent up unnaturally until her foot was in her mouth. He glanced, horrified, between her terrified gaze and Guarros, who looked absolutely mesmerized.

  “What’s happening?” Brendan yelled. “Do something!”

  Guarros stood there smiling, even as Keeri’s whimpering turned to a panicked grunting. He glanced at Brendan for a second, then back to Keeri, anxiously trying to pull her foot from her mouth. A large mirror materialized in front of her. Brendan stepped back.

  “What the fuck?” he breathed.

  “Wish for her foot to come out of her mouth,” Guarros said.

  “What?”

  “Go ahead, make the wish.”

  “What are you talking about? She’s—”

  “Do it!” Guarros screamed.

  Brendan blew out a breath, looking again at Keeri writhing on the floor, her foot well-stuffed into her mouth.

  “I wish Keeri’s foot was out of her mouth and back to normal.

  Just like before, after a few seconds, her foot was out of her mouth and her leg wasn’t at a weird angle anymore. Keeri slumped down, sobbing.

  Guarros crouched down next to her. “I’d say you deserved that judging by the little story you were planning to tell. You’re lucky I’m not taking it out of your hide right now.” He hauled her to her feet. Taking her chin in his hand, he forced her to look at him. “Lie to me again, Keeri, and you will sorely regret it.”

  She sniffled and whimpered, but said nothing.

  “What the fuck just happened?” Brendan asked shakily.

  Guarros gave him a smug grin. “You really don
’t know?”

  “Are you kidding me? Her foot just twisted up and jammed into her mouth by itself.”

  “No, not by itself. You did that.”

  “I never touched her.”

  “You’re the one who wished it would happen,” Keeri sobbed.

  “She’s right,” Guarros agreed. “You wished it. Then you made the second wish and freed her. Interesting.”

  “I don’t understand. That’s impossible.”

  “No, it’s Avascon.”

  Brendan rubbed his temples. “What are you talking about?”

  “I’ve heard of it,” Guarros explained, “but I’ve never experienced it myself or even witnessed it before. Fascinating, don’t you think?”

  “So how do I suddenly have the power to make something happen by wishing it?”

  Guarros leaned forward closer to Brendan. “Who have you been screwing, Brendan?”

  “What? Nobody.”

  Guarros waved his finger back and forth in front of Brendan’s face. “Ah ah ah, now we both know that isn’t true.” He began walking slow circles around Brendan tapping his bottom lip. “The way I understand it, in order to reach Avascon, you start with sex. If you and your partner click and the fire is there, you’ll create some sort of spiritual bond and reach Avascon. Then you get a wish. You wished Keeri could see what she looked like with her foot in her mouth as well as you see it. I’m sure you were referring to the fact that she intended to tell me yet another lie to get you in trouble after you refused to screw her. Clearly the wishes are taken quite literally.”

  “Unbelievable,” Brendan said, the image of Isela and he coming together explosively night after night flashing through his brain.

  “So I’ll ask you again, Mr. Malone. Who have you been screwing?”

  Brendan snapped back to attention. “That’s none of your business.”

  “Oh, but it is.” He stepped closer, only inches from Brendan’s face. “And it better not be Isela or you’re a dead man.”

  Brendan stared daggers at Guarros, not moving, not flinching. He refused to be intimidated by this cretin.

  Guarros snapped his fingers. “Guards, hold him. And keep him quiet.” He turned to his assistant. “Get me Isela.” He smiled at Brendan. “Now we’ll see.”