Sharon Karaa The Last Challenge (Northern Witches Series #1)

by Unknown

  He gathered me into his arms and held me, positioning himself back down on the bed beside me. I rested my head in the crook of his arm, enjoying the feel of our bodies together.

  “I did it to protect you and our child,” he whispered. I held him tightly to me as the tears finally came. His arms tightened until my tears were spent, and when I looked up, I saw that his eyes were rimmed with unshed tears too.

  “My life is nothing without you in it.” I kissed his chin, then his cheeks, and eyes, and finally his luscious lips, soft and sweet. “I’m sorry for not giving you a chance to explain. I promise you that will never happen again.”

  Daniel looked at me through lowered lids and smiled. “Well, there are ways you can make it up to me.”

  “You smell like matches.” I grinned at him to break the tension. He kissed me and jumped out of the bed, his nakedness outlined by the soft moonlight coming in through the curtains.

  “I’m going for a shower, are you coming?” he asked, holding out his hand to me.

  I jumped up and we walked along to the bathroom together. As he turned to switch on the shower, I stripped off my clothes. He turned back to me, his eyes widening at the sight of me naked before him. He pulled me into his arms. I revelled in the feel of his nakedness pressed up against me. He kissed me gently on the mouth three times, then his head came down once more, his lips parting mine and his tongue sliding inside, devouring me. I groaned and leaned into him, feeling my naked breasts against his solid chest. His cock pressed against me and I felt the heat flare up between my legs.

  I pulled back, looking into his eyes. “We shouldn’t be doing this, you need to heal.” I whispered. He pulled my head back to his, his lips capturing mine once more.

  “I need you,” he said, in between hungry kisses. He stooped down and swept me into his arms, carrying me into the shower cubicle where the warm water bounced off our bodies.

  I picked up the shower gel and squirted a generous amount in to my palm, lathering it into his chest as he lowered my feet to the ground. I groaned at the feel of his delicious skin beneath my fingers, my hands circling lower on his abdomen, exploring his six pack, then lower still, until I captured his solid shaft in between my soapy fingers. He gasped in pleasure and leaned back against the wall, spreading his legs slightly apart and allowing me the freedom to explore his body.

  I soaped every part of him, massaging his balls, and then returning to pump his shaft gently. As the soap rinsed away, I kneeled before him and took his bulging head in my mouth, sucking gently, sliding the length of him as far back into my mouth as it would go before pulling gently forward. He groaned again and then pulled me up, pushing me against the wall and taking the gel from my hand.

  He started with my breasts, massaging gently until my nipples protruded painfully as he flicked his fingers back and forth across the tips. He pulled me further beneath the spray, removing the soap and then lowered his head, almost kneeling before me, and captured a taught nipple in his mouth, suckling gently as his fingers travelled down to my core and slid across my throbbing bud. Pulling back, he changed breasts and then moved his fingers lower, gently pushing them into my moist sheath. I shuddered with the sheer pleasure of it. When I thought I could take no more, his head came up and he spun me up into his arms, elbowing his way back out of the shower and stepping toward the door. I lowered a hand and turned the handle, realising his intention, as he almost ran us back into the bedroom. The cool air caught my damp skin but did nothing to dampen my ardour. I needed him as much as he needed me.

  He kicked the bedroom door shut and it slammed in its hinges as he stepped towards the bed and dropped me unceremoniously on top of it. Before I could right myself, he prized my legs apart and his mouth lowered to capture my bud. He sucked gently, still holding my thighs apart, then moved his hands to my ribs and devoured me, his tongue darting out across my clit and sending me into spasms of rapture. I threw my head back in pleasure, moaning louder now, and arching my back to open myself further to him.

  His hand went down between my thighs and I felt his fingers probe my opening and then gently slide inside, his tongue flicking across my clit and his fingers pumping slowly inside me. I didn’t want to come like this, I wanted him inside me. I pushed him away and jumped up on to all fours, bearing my sex to his gaze. He groaned as he took me in his mouth again, sucking me.

  “I need you inside me.” I said, panting.

  I felt the bed dip as he stood and kneeled behind me. His cock rubbed against my opening and then dipped to lavish my clit, back and forth. He teased me like this until I practically begged, and then when I felt I couldn’t take it anymore, he pushed his entire length into me, filling and stretching me until I screamed out in pleasure. Grasping me by the waist, he pumped slowly into me, pulling out, then filling me again. His hand dipped and he pressed down on my clit, grinding his fingers into me as he continued to torment me with his cock. I felt my orgasm building and gasped in pleasure, urging him on, grinding into him in complete abandon. He thrust into me hard and fast and I felt every inch slam inside me. My muscles tightened around him and I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I moaned my release as my muscles milked his delicious cock, and with one last thrust, he roared and spilled his seed inside me, rocking back and forward until every last drop was released.

  I collapsed on the bed and felt his weight drop down on top of me, both of us gasping for breath and enjoying the feel of each other’s skin. We stayed like that until our breathing had returned to normal, and then I turned and lay in the crook of his arm, wrapping my leg over his to press as much of him as I could to my body.

  His hand came up to stroke my face and I laughed.

  “It’s true what they say about make-up sex,” I said and he sniggered.

  “I guess so,” he whispered as he stroked my face.

  “I don’t know why you’re whispering.” I said, tickling him playfully. “I think we’ve already woken the entire neighbourhood!”

  He laughed out loud and captured my hand, turning on his side and pulling me into him. His eyes sparkled with happiness and my heart melted at the sight of it.

  “I love you, baby. I never knew what it was to love someone until I met you. That day at the river, I wanted to show myself to you then, take away your pain and tell you how I felt. Then rip your dress off and fuck you senseless!” he grinned, his eyes twinkling at me.

  “What? You mean you’ve robbed me of seven years of carnal bliss?” I slapped his chest.

  “Well we’ve got all the time in the world to make up for it.”

  I felt his cock twitch against my stomach and realised we were in for a very, very long night.

  I woke up surprisingly refreshed, still lying in Daniel’s arms. I realised it was the sound of voices downstairs that had roused me, and I gently released myself from his embrace and ran to the bathroom to take yet another shower.

  As I returned to the bedroom to dress, Daniel was lying with the sheet covering him up to his waist and his arms behind his head, looking decidedly happy with himself.

  “Good morning, sexy.” I ran around to his side of the bed, landing down beside him to get a kiss. His arms came down and wrapped themselves around me as my mouth lowered to capture his lips. “Feeling better this morning?” I asked, my eyes twinkling at him.

  “Never better,” he smiled, slyly reaching for the towel to pull it from my body. I jumped up, laughing, and pulled away.

  “I believe we have a houseful downstairs, no time for playing now! Get up!” I admonished him as I darted out of reach. He groaned and stuck a pillow over his head as another part of his anatomy made tents. I felt the wetness build and I knew I was done for.

  I couldn’t resist him. I pulled the sheet out of the way and jumped on the bed. I lowered myself, wet and ready, down onto his cock, guiding it in with my hand as he groaned beneath the pillow then threw it on the floor, looking at me in surprise as I straddled him, his cock buried to the hilt.

  I r
ocked my hips back and forth, relishing in the feel of him filling me as our eyes met. I leaned forward and he captured my nipple in his mouth, sucking and licking the tip while fondling the other as I gently rode him. As the pleasure mounted, I picked up the pace, his hands capturing my hips as he slammed up into me. I couldn’t control myself any longer, the feel of him slamming against my sweet spot sending me in to a frenzy. Finally, I was tipped over the edge into pure bliss as my body contracted around him and wave after wave of pleasure swept over me. He arched into me as he came, groaning and grinding until he was spent and I collapsed in a heap on to his chest, his cock still trapped inside me.

  “Hmmm.” I said, laughing at him as his arms came around me, holding me tight. We lay there in silence until our breathing returned to normal. “I suppose at some point, we’d better get up and go see what’s happening downstairs.” I remarked casually.

  “I don’t want to but you’re right.”

  I climbed off the bed and kissed him softly. “Come on, sexy, let’s go face the day!”

  I grabbed fresh underwear and a tracksuit from the cupboard and dressed hastily, as Daniel jumped out of my bed and ran to the bathroom with the sheet tied firmly around his waist.

  When I arrived in the kitchen, Daniel’s entire family were there, along with Gerwyn and Agnes.

  Today, Gerwyn was wearing a sea-blue cocktail dress and arm length gloves. She looked stunning, if slightly over-dressed.

  Agnes smiled at me and winked. “Morning sweet cheeks.”

  “Good morning.”

  “How is Daniel this morning?” asked Megan, smiling.

  “Well, on the mend. He’ll be down shortly,” I replied as I walked across to the kettle and switched it on.

  Natalia snorted. “I just bet he is!”

  I ignored her but felt the flush spread up from my neck and I turned around quickly to hide my face.

  “Anyone want a refill?”

  A chorus of negative responses went up as I heard Daniel schlep in behind me. I swear you could hear the necks turn as everyone eyeballed him.

  “Feeling better, sweetheart?” asked Beth, hiding a smile.

  Daniel looked at her brazenly and smiled. “Much!” he said, then pushed himself up onto the bench to sit. I handed him a coffee and he pulled me into the gap between his legs. I leaned against him, taking a drink of my own coffee as I observed the observers.

  “So what’s the plan?” asked Selina, as she came in through the kitchen door, setting Geordie down on the kitchen table.

  “How soon can you open a portal to purgatory?” I asked Gerwyn.

  “Whenever you’re ready,” she replied.

  “Hold on a minute! What’s all this about purgatory?” Daniel asked, confused.

  We explained our new plan to free Matthew as he listened. I waited for him to lose his temper and tell me I couldn’t go. In fact, as he looked me in the eyes, I could see that very battle raging in his head. Then he surprised me.

  “Fine,” he said finally. “We’ll go together.”

  “Yes,” said Agnes. “All of us together, that should do it.”

  Gerwyn spun around and looked at her, shocked. “Agnes, my love, you can’t go! It’s not possible to go there once you’ve already been judged!”

  Tears welled in Agnes’ eyes and I could see how much this was going to hurt her.

  Selina wrapped her arms around her in a tight embrace. “Don’t worry, we’ll do our best to bring him home to you!”

  Agnes and Gerwyn set out cleansing the space as Natalia shoved the three vials into her pocket.

  “At some point, we have to decide what we’re going to do with the demon.” she said, picking up the forth vial and tossing it up in the air. I held my breath as she caught it and grinned.

  Selina had managed to con a baby sling out of Megan, and was busy tying it around herself as Megan assisted. Geordie sat moodily on the kitchen table, arms crossed and legs dangling over the side.

  “If ye think am getting in ti that yi’ve got another thing comin,” he grumbled, defiantly.

  “So says the man who pissed himself when confronted with a potato peeler,” Natalia smirked.

  “Yeah, that’s only cos I couldn’t get to your coffee cup quick enough!”

  “Short arse!”

  “If I have ti spend much more time yi yee am gunna poison your fuckin coffee!”

  “If I have to spend much more time with you, I’ll drink it!”

  “Will you pack it in the pair of you!” Agnes stormed, flicking Natalia’s arse with a tea towel then doing the same with Geordie and sending him flying off the end of table.

  Natalia caught him in one hand and he looked up at her, grateful she’d saved him, but not willing to concede. She stood him back on the table top and winked. Then Selina snatched him up and shoved him crudely into the front of the sling.

  “Not one word, little man, or I trade up and get a talking budgie,” she said, her cheeks pink.

  “Right. I think we’re ready!” Gerwyn said with a flourish, probably grateful and looking forward to seeing the back of us.

  I called Daniel in from the living room where he’d been chatting with his family, and the team was assembled.

  Finally, after weeks of preparation, we were ready to go.

  Gerwyn used her athame to create an outer and inner circle. The second circle was a ring of protection around all of us, and the inner circle was, I assumed, where the portal would open. We all chanted the protection spell as she worked. Daniel stood to my right, holding tightly onto my hand, and that was the only indication that I had that he was worried about the outcome.

  After what seemed like an age, Gerwyn opened a vial and poured a grey liquid into the inner circle. This time, a dark column of smoke rose up in a vortex, encompassing floor to ceiling. I had a small flashback to the night we’d called the spirit of Kincaid when something very similar had happened and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. Daniel squeezed my fingers reassuringly and Natalia caught my eye, winking at me. I looked across at Selina who was mesmerised but holding protectively to the front of her sling. I wasn’t sure if this was to keep Geordie safe or keep him quiet. Gerwyn ushered us forward and Daniel and I took the step into the inner circle together.

  It felt how I imagined money felt in those pneumatic tubes they used to use in shops, except we were sucked quickly upwards. Daniel pulled me into his chest and held me as I found my feet. I realised, that despite seeming to travel at incredible speed, we didn’t appear to be suffering from a gravitational force. I looked below me and could see the heads of Natalia and Selina, one protectively holding the other, and I again thanked my lucky stars to have my familiar in my life. She not only protected me, she protected everything I held dear.

  Our upward trajectory stopped as quickly as it had started, and despite the no gravity, I still almost dropped to my knees. We were surrounded by grey smoke but as we stepped forward, the smoke cleared and I realised it only existed within the portal. I was amazed to see Selina and Natalia standing beside me. It was as if we had all taken the first step out together.

  Daniel pulled my hand to get my attention. “Look over there,” he said, pointing into the distance.

  I looked around us for the first time, taking in the scene before me. We seemed to have landed in a field, but the grass was grey, as was the sky and the trees that were visible in the distance. Everything was different shades of grey. The temperature was slightly cool but not uncomfortably so.

  “Which way do we go?” asked Selina, turning around to scan the horizon. I got the same feeling I had when we’d gone to Hell; it wouldn’t matter which way we went, we would end up where we were meant to be.

  “This way,” said Daniel, taking off across the fields and dragging me with him. Natalia and Selina followed and no one spoke. It was almost as if we were too afraid of attracting attention to ourselves, but there didn’t seem to be anyone there.

  As we walked, I suddenly realise
d where exactly we were. We were on the moor, probably the same moor where Matthew and the others had been hung. I quickly explained my theory to the others, and Daniel nodded grimly.

  “I think you’re right,” he said, pointing to my left where a road bordered the moor. “That looks like the Great North Road.”

  I squinted to bring the road into focus. There wasn’t a car, or indeed anyone travelling the road which was unusual, but nothing about this experience was what you would expect in the real world, despite its apparently mirrored geography. We continued walking towards where I imagined Exhibition Park was.

  “There’s no life here at all,” Selina said in awe. “Have you noticed, there isn’t even a bird in the sky?”

  “I imagine that’s because birds don’t have the capacity for good or evil,” said Natalia, stopping momentarily to look about again.

  “pen’t believe that shite,” came a muffled shout from Selina’s sling. “Those fuckers shit on you any chance they can get!”

  As we walked on, I noticed grey mists swirling around us and stopped in my tracks, trying hard to focus on them. Daniel looked at me, then turned in the direction of my gaze. As we stared, the mists seemed to materialise, taking on more defined shapes. I could see people milling around us now, and I moved closer to Natalia and Selina, pulling Daniel with me this time.

  Just like in Hell, the figures didn’t appear to see us, however they didn’t accidentally walk through us either which was odd. If they didn’t know we were there, how did they avoid colliding with us?

  Daniel suddenly pulled my hand. “Come on, I think this is actually the day of the hangings. Look at that crowd over there.” He pointed towards a growing throng of people and we hurried towards them.

  Sure enough, we came out at what must have been a makeshift gallows. I turned to find Natalia and point it out to her when I saw them. All the breath left my body in a whoosh.

  Nicholson and Kincaid stood with a third man who I could only assume was Shevels. Kincaid looked a lot healthier and happier, smiling broadly and shaking the hand of what looked to be an official, dressed in a ruffled shirt and dark suit. The man handed over a small bag. My blood boiled. That must be the blood money he’d earned for murder.