“How’d you know it was me?”
“The scars on your body. There’s a spot on your wolf’s neck that’s bald, and you have a really bad scar there. I’ve always been fascinated by them. And one day, I want you to tell me how you got all of them. But the wolf that attacked me had the exact same scar. I knew. I knew it was you.”
“Hmph,” Kenneth snorted. “You’re smarter than I’ll ever be. I’m sure that a werewolf dragging me off into the woods would have scared the living shit out of me—so much so I never would have noticed something so small as a scar.”
I just smiled.
“You know, you’re the only one I’ve ever felt safe around, and as soon as I saw that scar, I knew it was you. I don’t think I was nearly as scared as I should have been.”
“Wow. You’re something else.” He winked at me and smiled proudly. “Anyway, you and I arrived at almost the same time, you were walking in as I was entering Granddaddy’s yard. As soon as you entered the house, your daddy started to beat on you. Then it dawned on me. I’d given you the ability to protect yourself, and the wolf would have done exactly that, but it would also kill your daddy. I didn’t want you to have to live with that. Regardless of how he treated you, he was your father. I couldn’t let you kill your own father. He’d already knocked you out. I didn’t have much time until the wolf would wake up and take over, so I went in and… I made a lot of mistakes that night, Hood. I’m really sorry…” Kenneth trailed off.
This time it was my turn to squeeze his hand. I understood. And I respected him more for his actions, and for him wanting to protect me.
“When you regained consciousness and saw the mess around you, you did what any of us would have done. You called the police. Of course, that didn’t end up going so well. I’m so sorry, Hood. None of this should have ever happened.
“I was actually waiting until you finished your last year of school. I was gonna ask if you wanted to come with me. I wanted to do it right.”
“I know you did.” I got up and hugged him tight. I didn’t think I’d ever let go. Although it had all gone to hell, and we’d left a trail of death and destruction in our wake, exposed our kind to the world, and busted me out of prison, Kenneth had done it all out of love and a desire to ensure my safety.
How could I possibly blame him for any of it?
Skoll, who had been very quiet during the entire conversation, sat back and finished his coffee, and then spoke. “I’ve seen some fucked-up shit in my life. But never anything like this. Lowell, I will speak to the Adjudicator on your behalf. I know there’ll be a price to pay, but hopefully I can say something that will minimize that. After everything you’ve been through, Hood, you deserve to have someone by your side who not only loves you as much as this guy but will also protect you. We don’t all get that in life.”
I hadn’t seen that coming. Skoll had always struck me as somewhat stoic and a bit more severe. Perhaps things would work out.
It was late, and we had to leave early in the morning to travel the distance to get to the inquiry Kenneth was expected to be present for.
After helping Skoll clean up the dinner table, Kenneth and I retired to a separate bedroom. I was exhausted, and tomorrow would prove to be another long day. We both got undressed and slid into bed, but we wrapped ourselves around each other, and I couldn’t help myself. My paws went everywhere. Kenneth was just as eager.
I stopped and pulled away and studied Kenneth Lowell carefully.
Confused, he frowned. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing. I’m just taking in everything about you. I’m scared I’m going to lose this, and I just got it back. You know, you have the biggest brown eyes I think I’ve ever seen.”
“All the better to see you with.”
“You also have the biggest heart in the world.”
“All the better to love you with.”
“You would do anything for me, wouldn’t you?”
“Yes, Hood, I would.”
“Me too.”
Tomorrow would be another day. And neither of us were sure what was going to happen. Wolf law, as I came to understand it eventually, could be brutal and swift in its execution. But I couldn’t think on that right then and there. I had Kenneth, the big bad wolf, exactly where I wanted him.
About the Author
J.P. Jackson is an IT Analyst by day working in the health industry, but at night, when the monsters come out, he writes. Demons, shape-shifters, and a host of non-human entities converge around the computer as disturbing tales are shared and recorded.
Twitter: @Canuckbear88
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jpjacksonwrites/
Tumblr (18+ only): www.canuckbear88.tumblr.com/
Other books by this author
“A Tended Garden” – short within Into the Mystic, Volume One
Daimonion
The Gingerbread Woman
Donna Jay
Chapter One
ONCE UPON A time, a devious old woman slid a huge metal tray out of the oven. Disbelief and excitement bubbled up inside her, she’d finally done it.
“Oh yes, come to mama,” she murmured as her gaze landed on the life-size gingerbread woman. The mere thought of snacking on the tasty morsel laid out before her made her mouth water. It would be her little secret while her husband was out chopping wood in the forest.
She hummed a happy tune, smiling to herself as she placed strawberry drops atop small mounds completing perfectly formed breasts.
Inhaling the heavenly aroma of cinnamon and spice, she picked up an icing bag and carefully piped on big round eyes, a cute button nose, and luscious mouth. She took a step back and rubbed her hands together, savouring the moment.
In the next heartbeat, she almost fainted, startled beyond belief when the woman’s confection eyes flew open.
THE SECOND GINGER managed to pry her eyes open, her gaze landed on a wrinkled old woman hovering over her, drooling like a rabid dog. Instinctively, she knew she had to flee. And so, before the old woman could react, Ginger leapt off the tray. With the table acting as a barrier between them, she tore off out the door.
The woman lunged and missed, her face flushing an angry red. “Come back here, you ungrateful cookie.” She plucked a rolling pin up off the table and waved it in the air. “How dare you flee your maker.”
The absurdity of the words and the sight of the woman lumbering after her made Ginger cackle like a lunatic.
Not daring to slow her pace, she mocked the woman over her shoulder. “Run, run as fast as you can. You can’t catch me; I’m the Gingerbread Woman.”
Branches grazed her delicate skin as she dodged in and out of trees. Just as she thought freedom was near, a burly old man emerged from behind a tree, blocking her path.
His lascivious gaze roamed over Ginger’s naked form, making her shudder. “Where do you think you’re going? I want to eat you.”
Determined to outmanoeuvre him, Ginger dodged left, feigned right, and while the old man was off balance, she darted around him.
Exhilarated, she dashed away, singing at the top of her lungs, “Run, run as fast as you can. You can’t catch me; I’m the Gingerbread Woman.”
Small birds flittered from tree to tree as if egging her on. Where she was running to, Ginger had no clue, but she couldn’t stop. The breeze on her face and the heady sense of freedom made her feel invincible.
Sadly, her elation crashed and burned like a car slamming into a brick wall the second she broke free of the forest and stepped into a clearing. An expansive river lay before her—no way across and no way around.
Heavy footfalls grew nearer. Ginger slumped in defeat. Before long, the old woman and old man would be upon her and her five minutes of freedom would be over. Would the old man lop her head off right there with his wood-chopping axe, or would they drag her back to the cottage and eat her one limb at a time?
She should’ve known escape was too good to be true. The memory of her brother being outsmar
ted by a sly old fox sent a cold shiver down her spine.
Just when Ginger thought all hope was lost, a silver object glimmering on the water caught her eye. Hope flared in her chest. She sprinted toward the river, long blades of grass licking at her feet.
Once she reached the bank, Ginger jumped up and down, waving her arms in the air. “Help, help, over here.”
Her gaze flicked back and forth between the couple fast approaching and the wide-eyed brunette paddling frantically in her direction.
The second she was within reach, the woman extended a hand. “Get in.”
Ginger took hold and jumped. The boat dipped dangerously to the side, then righted itself once she settled her backside on the hard wooden seat. She flung her arms around the waist of the woman sitting before her, breathed in her scent, and revelled in the flex of her strong back muscles as she paddled them to safety.
An indeterminable amount of time passed before a small jetty came into view. Relief washed over Ginger and her rescuer’s ribcage expanded and deflated as she tried to catch her breath, no doubt as relieved as Ginger to have put some distance between themselves and the couple yelling obscenities at them.
Chapter Two
TWICE A MONTH, Candace looked forward to the solitude of a weekend spent at her one-bedroom cottage in the forest. More than once, she’d found herself lost in the fantasy of stumbling across a sexy stranger who had her wicked way with her. However, never in her wildest of dreams could she have envisioned the events that had just unfolded.
For a minute, she was tempted to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming, but the burn in her arms from rowing harder than she ever had in all of her twenty-eight years, and the warmth of the woman plastered to her back like a wetsuit, assured her this was no dream.
The sight of a stout old woman wearing an apron and waving a rolling pin above her head had been almost comical. The image of an angry old man lumbering toward them, wielding an axe, had been downright terrifying.
Candace only hoped she’d saved this woman before any real harm had befallen her. Other than a few barely visible scratches on her forearms, she didn’t appear to have suffered any physical injuries. But who knew what scars lay beneath? Either way, Candace was determined to find out.
After tying her boat to the dock, she offered a reassuring smile to the woman, watching her every move from the boat. “Come on. You’ll be safe here.” She held out a hand.
A warm smile lit up the woman’s features. She was gorgeous, and not an ounce of fear radiated in her eyes. A fact that struck Candace as odd, but she didn’t want to rock the proverbial boat and upset her.
Heat infused Candace’s fingers as the yet-to-be-named woman’s hand connected with hers. The sexy stranger shot her a panty-melting smile. “Thank you. I’m yours now.”
What the ever-loving fuck does that mean?
AS SOON AS they stepped inside, Candace locked the door behind them. Despite the air being thick and humid in the small cottage, she was too unsettled to open any windows. After gulping down a glass of water, she turned and leaned back against the counter, anxious to get to the bottom of what the hell was going on.
Candace remembered her manners seconds before grilling the woman, who in fact looked like she’d been baked to perfection. “Would you like a cold drink?”
“I’m fine.”
“Wanna tell me what’s going on?” Candace asked as gently as she could.
The sweet aroma of cinnamon floated through the air along with the woman’s reply. “What do you want to know?”
“Let’s start with a name. Who are you?”
“My name’s Ginger.” An alluring smile spread across her face. “I’m the Gingerbread Woman.”
“Right, and I’m the Candy Man,” Candace dead-panned, in no mood for jokes. “Is there someone I can call? A friend?” She nodded toward her mobile phone in the charging dock, hoping like hell she’d be able to get a signal. Some days were better than others.
“No, thank you.” Ginger’s unwavering smile confused Candace. Shouldn’t she be trembling, considering mere minutes ago she’d been running for her life? Or had she?
Perhaps the couple she’d fled from were her parents and the only thing Ginger, if that was even her real name, was in trouble for was getting up to no good. The realization made Candace question the wisdom of offering help to a stranger without question.
“Any family?” Candace asked, hoping to learn something, anything, about the enigmatic woman sitting at her kitchen table.
“My brother died.” The corner of Ginger’s mouth kicked up and her eyes sparkled. “Eaten by a fox.”
Unable to help herself, Candace burst out laughing. “You really are something else.” She shook her head, trying to make sense of the bizarre situation. “Tell you what. I’m going to take a shower and find something for you to wear, and then you can tell me what’s really going on.” Candace winked as if to say, “I’m on to you, so stop messing with my mind.”
Not wanting to leave her guest alone for too long, Candace jumped into the shower, scrubbed the sunscreen off her body, and climbed out again in record time. Glancing at her reflection as she wiped the steam off the bathroom mirror, she marvelled at how pale her skin was in comparison to the stunning woman loitering in her kitchen. However, that was far from where their differences ended.
Whereas Candace could be regarded as your typical green-eyed, long-haired brunette, Ginger had beautiful brown eyes and…
Stunned, Candace’s mind raced.
What the fuck?
The woman she’d rescued was fucking gorgeous…and completely bald.
Before she could draw her next breath, the intoxicating aroma of sugar and spice wrapped around Candace. Her body tingled and her vision blurred as if she was flying high on drugs.
Ginger’s warm breath whispered across the back of her neck. “Do you believe in fairy tales?”
At a loss for words, Candace shook her head.
Ginger spun her in a half circle. The towel, knotted just above Candace’s breasts, was the only barrier between them. Her heart raced in anticipation as she awaited Ginger’s next move. With a quick tug of Ginger’s hand, the towel dropped to the floor, and there they stood in all their naked glory.
Time stood still as they gazed into each other’s eyes. Heat crackled between them. No words were spoken. Ginger leaned in. Their lips met and their bodies aligned. Breast to breast, thigh to thigh. When Ginger stroked her tongue over Candace’s, a bolt of liquid lust shot through her body.
Ginger put her hands on Candace’s hips, and they felt like they belonged there. They kissed for a long time, tongues duelling, heat fusing their bodies. Candace wanted to kiss Ginger forever, to melt into her.
Eventually, Ginger broke the kiss, leaving both of them breathing hard.
Hypnotized by alluring brown eyes, Candace didn’t resist when Ginger guided her backward until her legs connected with the queen-size bed.
Oh god, she’s going to ravish me. The thought made Candace quiver with anticipation. Despite being near strangers, for some inexplicable reason, she trusted Ginger.
With a gentle shove from Ginger, Candace fell and landed in the middle of the soft bed.
Smiling down at her, Ginger jutted out a hip. “Assume the position.”
“What position?” Candace asked, her ample breasts still jiggling from the impact of hitting the bed.
“The gingerbread position.”
Totally enraptured by Ginger’s playful manner, Candace spread her arms and legs until she thought she resembled the cookie born of fairy tales. Ironically, rather than feeling vulnerable, Ginger’s gaze made Candace burn with desire.
A tiny whimper escaped her lips as Ginger dropped to her knees. “We’re going to rewrite history. In our fairy tale, the gingerbread woman gets to eat the foxy lady. Because make no mistake about it, Candy, you’re a very foxy woman and I’m about to devour every inch of you.”
The words of the pr
omise made Candace throb with need. Her back arched, and she closed her eyes, revelling in the highly erotic sensations zinging from her feet to her clit as Ginger held Candace’s foot and sucked on each and every toe.
Nerve endings she didn’t know she had fired to life. The fact her feet were an erogenous zone took her pleasantly by surprise. She writhed in pleasure, lapping up the attention.
Once every inch of her foot had been kissed, licked, and sucked, Ginger smacked her lips together and planted one final kiss on Candace’s big toe. “You taste divine, like peach candy.”
A chuckle bubbled up inside Candace, but she didn’t bother mentioning her shower gel was apricot, not peach.
Tiny vibrations tingled up and down her legs as Ginger inched her way up Candace’s body, nibbling and sucking on her inner thighs. Her toes curled, and she fisted the bedsheets. Ginger’s painfully slow ascent was the closest thing she’d experienced to erotic torture.
“Oh god, Ginger, I need you.”
Ginger lifted her head and batted her beautiful brown eyes. “Where? Here?” She ran an inquisitive finger along Candace’s folds, then circled her clit. Her touch was gentle despite the slightly rough texture of her fingertips. The erotic sensations rocketing through Candace were indescribable. Heat bloomed in every cell of her being. She yearned to roll her nipples between her thumb and forefinger. But the desire to please Ginger kept her limbs pinned to the bed. Plus, she didn’t want to make a move that would put an end to her being the centre of this gorgeous woman’s attention.
When Ginger flicked her tongue across Candace’s clit, she moaned and bucked her hips. She’d imagined this scenario, being ravished by a sexy stranger many times, but nothing could’ve prepared her for the reality. Ginger’s tongue was soft and warm. Candace arched up. Ginger licked her. Candace shuddered, helpless to do anything but give herself to Ginger.
Tension coiled in her belly; her nipples grew hard and tight. Tiny moans escaped her throat as Ginger blew on her wet centre, her hot breath making Candace writhe.
Once Upon a Rainbow, Volume One Page 36