Mayan Afterglow

by A. S. Fenichel

  The shaking worsened. “I’m going outside to build a fire,” he said.

  Smashing an old wooden chair and part of a wooden desk felt disturbingly good, and the fire burned easily enough. It was still colder than it should be for October in Tennessee but the boy had been right. At least there was no snow.

  He knew she was there before she spoke. Her presence eased his mind, but not enough.

  “I know you think something terrible has happened to you, Ian, but you’re wrong. Whatever that thing convinced you of was not real. It was an illusion meant to scare you and make you doubt yourself.”

  “It worked,” he said.

  She touched his arm. “You’re stronger than you think.”

  Thunder rolled across the sky and in the mountains. Ian gazed across the horizon at the dark red of a dying world. He turned toward her. “I would have done what that thing wanted if you hadn’t used your magic.”

  “No,” she insisted.

  He grabbed her by both arms.

  She cried out.

  “Yes, Aileen. I would have joined the other side. I would have betrayed you and Asher and helped Mictlan kill you. I was this close to doing it.” He showed her an inch between his thumb and forefinger.

  “Ian, it’s not true. He wants you to believe that, but you’re too good for that. It was a moment of weakness during a ride that made you ill. Mictlan took advantage because in that moment he could read you.”

  He shook her. “Don’t you see? That’s the point. He can take advantage of those moments, and I could kill you or the boy.”

  “Look at me.”

  His gaze had been off in the distance but at her command he turned. Dark circles marred the skin under her eyes, which appeared dimmer than usual. Her exhaustion was evident. Using the magic had done this. He was sure of it.

  He loosened his grip on her arms.

  Her smile was weak. “He can take advantage of any of us during those moments, Ian. It is you who must see. When you’re weak I’ll be strong. I don’t know what the boy’s role is but he held up pretty good up there. We need him, and I need you.”

  “I think it might be best if you went on without me.” The pain of saying those words burned his chest. “I got you away from Mictlan. Maybe that was my part in all this. Now I should go.”

  “No, I need you.” She reached up and touched his cheek. “I can’t do this without you.”

  “Maybe what we want doesn’t matter anymore, sweetheart.”

  Her anger was palpable. “If that’s the case then what’s the point of saving this world? I lost everything just like you, Ian, and from what I can tell I had a lot more to lose. My parents and two sisters were all gone in an instant with no chance to say goodbye. If at the end of it there is nothing else worth living for then why should I do this?”

  “I don’t understand,” he said though it was half a lie. He wanted to hear her say the words.

  She took his face in both her hands. “Love is the only reason to risk everything. You are my only reason for making this journey, Ian. I was ready to let Mictlan have me. I had given up. Then you risked everything to save me and all of that changed.”

  “You make it sound like I made a conscious decision, Aileen. I only acted instinctively when I ripped you from the lightning.”

  She smiled up at him. “And what about since then? You saved me from the crows and that creature in the lodge. Was that instinct, too?”

  “No,” he admitted. “The idea of losing you…” He shook his head.

  “I know,” she said. “We go on together or we do not go on. Do you understand me?”

  He pulled her close.

  “Ehhhhhem.”

  Both Ian and Aileen turned toward the sound of Asher in the doorway.

  “I thought we might eat something before it gets too late,” he said holding up three cans of soup and an opener.

  “Then I can take the first watch.”

  After a few minutes spent telling Asher exactly what to look for and how to handle different situations, Ian stepped into the dusty hangar office. Aileen stood at a small window looking out into nothingness. Her shoulders were slumped with exhaustion. She looked deflated. Had he done this to her? Had his own fears and insecurities pushed her over the edge? A half-hour ago she had been giving him a pep talk. She hadn’t actually said that she loved him but that she needed him. His stomach clenched with his own need.

  If she knew he was in the room she gave no indication. His arms slipped around her tiny waist and she sighed contentedly.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “Just tired,” she admitted folding her arms in with his.

  “Let’s get some sleep then.” He nuzzled her neck.

  She allowed him to lead her over to the large, worn, leather couch on the far side of the office. He stretched out and pulled her down. She curled up in front of him. Her firm, round butt fitted perfectly against his crotch. Immediately his cock responded to the contact, but he knew she was tired so he concentrated on suppressing his desires.

  It took him several minutes but his erection was beginning to fade to the point where he might be able to get some sleep.

  Aileen’s body pressed against him and her ass wiggled.

  He grabbed her hip. “Do you know what you’re doing to me, Aileen?”

  “I hope so,” she said in a soft, seductive voice that was nearly a growl.

  Without releasing her hip from his steadying grip he said, “I thought you said you’re tired.”

  The room was dimly lit with the red glow of the night sky. He saw her shoulders rise and fall as her hand slipped around behind her and she touched his now completely rigid shaft.

  He groaned deeply. “Aileen, I’m trying to be a gentleman.”

  She rolled toward him until her breasts were pressed hard against his chest. “Don’t,” she said, her voice at once serious and playful.

  He immediately grabbed her ass with both hands and pulled her hard against his erection.

  She hummed low in her throat and her hand lightly feathered across the crotch of his jeans. He could barely feel her touch but the sight of her small hand flowing gently across him was so erotic that the skin around his groin tightened painfully pressing against the rough denim.

  With one clever tug, the first two buttons of his fly released. Her fingers brushed over the V of hair that disappeared below the elastic of his briefs. He couldn’t stop the moan that escaped his lips as one delicate finger slid beneath that elastic. Another tug at the fly of his jeans and the rest of the buttons gave way. Before he had time to think, her hand was inside his underwear and her fingers were wrapped around his cock. She held him lightly, barely touching his taut skin. Her feathery touch created aching need and he moaned her name through clenched teeth.

  His head lolled back and his eyes closed as she teased and tickled him from base to crown, circling the broad head with one teasing finger.

  “Aileen, you’re killing me.”

  “I know,” she said and he could hear her arousal in the tightness of her voice.

  He was surprised when she moved away from him but when he opened his eyes she was standing in front of him and lifting the edges of her tunic. She tossed the garment to the edge of the couch and did the same with her jeans and underwear. In an instant she was before him completely naked.

  Her curves were marred by bruises that pained him to see. Reaching out, he touched a large bruise under her left breast. Her eyes only left his when he leaned forward and lightly kissed the dark blue smudge. A few inches away another darker mark bloomed and he kissed her soft skin there as well. He tongued the delicate underside of her breast before coming around and pulled the tightly pearled nipple into his mouth and sucking hard.

  She called his name and he released the bud. Immediately his tongue swirled around the pink areola.

  “Ian,” she cried.

  When he looked up she was watching him intently. Her eyes glazed over with passion and she held
his head, pulling him toward her. He could smell the musky scent of her arousal. She cocked her head to one side when he moved away to sit back on the couch. She was adorable. For a moment, he was tempted to allow her to wonder what was happening just so he could admire her. Unable to wait, he reached forward and taking her by the hips lifted her to stand astride him on the worn cushions placing her pussy directly in front of his mouth.

  She gasped his name as his tongue lashed out only barely touching the hair covering her slit. His hands slid down tracing light swirls on the soft skin at the backs of her thighs.

  “Aileen, what do you want?”

  “I…” was all she managed before his tongue slipped between her nether lips and her knees buckled.

  He pulled her gently forward supporting her so that her knees were leaning against his shoulders. Her warm, wet pussy pressed into his face and he opened his mouth to suck the taut bud.

  She called his name over and over again like a mantra.

  His hands slid up and gripped her ass, crushing her to his ravenous mouth. His tongue traced the curves of her inner lips dipping into her slit each time he reached the bottom.

  Glancing up at her he could see her head was thrown back and her breath was coming faster and faster. Her hands gripped his hair nearly to the point of pain. He didn’t mind the small discomfort. It was the only thing keeping him from embarrassing himself and coming before he’d even thrust inside her. Her response was the most erotic thing he’d ever experienced and he was nearly undone when she screamed and her vagina pulsed around his tongue.

  He pulled her hard against his face until the waves of pleasure passed over her. Her hands eased up on his hair and she collapsed into his lap.

  “That was amazing,” he said.

  She said something but her sleepy, satisfied mumble was lost in translation against his body. The round flesh of her bottom nestled against his painfully hard cock but he didn’t move. Holding her and having her cheek rest against his chest while the musky smell of her enveloped him was too perfect to disturb.

  Her lips moved first. Warm and moist they strayed across his hair-dappled chest until she found his nipple. The sting of her gentle bite made him moan her name and his cock jumped higher. She wiggled around until she was facing him kneeling on the couch. She struggled for a moment to free his erection from his jeans. Her warm, wet pussy pressed against his rigid member and she leaned back, lifting herself up on her arms so that he slid up and down her slit but didn’t enter her.

  “Aileen, you don’t know what you’re doing to me.”

  She stilled and smiled. “Oh, but I do.”

  He reached forward and pressed his thumb against her clit. Her head fell back and a small squeak escaped her mouth. Her hips moved faster and faster and little gasps and sighs continued to emanate from her open, panting mouth.

  It was too much. Being just outside her pussy was like going home after a long, terrible trip but not being able to open the front door. He lifted her off his lap and in one fluid motion she was lying on her back on the couch and he was leaning on his elbows above her. His cock touched her labia but he did not enter her.

  “Look at me, Aileen.”

  She opened her eyes. He could see her love and desire for him and more. She trusted him. In his entire life no one had ever put any trust in Ian Scott. He was a thief after all. Who could trust a thief?

  Slowly, without taking his eyes away from hers, he sank into her warm, wet slit. He wanted to go slow. He wanted to make the night last forever but as soon as she pulsed around him he lost all control and he was pumping into her hard and fast and calling for gods that he didn’t even believe in.

  With one last thrust he emptied himself into her and she screamed again, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and shoulders with her nails biting into his skin.

  He collapsed for a moment, but then worried that he was crushing her petite body. He lifted his torso up onto his elbows and looked down at her. Her eyes were closed but her mouth was drawn up in a satisfied grin. With one hand he brushed a stray curl off her cheek.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  “Mmmm, you?”

  His lips pressed against hers. “I feel good.”

  He sat up and pulled his jeans on before retrieving her clothes from across the room where she’d flung them.

  “Do you think Asher heard us?” she asked blushing dark red.

  Ian laughed. “It probably was the only thing that kept him awake.”

  Her blush deepened.

  Settling back down on the worn couch, he pulled her against his chest and kissed her head. “Get some sleep, sweetheart,” he said, closing his eyes and reveling in the feel of her weight against him.

  * * * * *

  Ian watched the ruby darkness thinking of the hours that had preceded it. Even after being attacked twice in one day, holding Aileen in his arms righted his world. She gave everything even though he suspected she knew he held back.

  At dawn he moved inside and shook the boy’s shoulder. “Get the plane ready. I’ll see what I can find to fill the tank.”

  Chapter Eight

  It was late morning by the time they’d drained the bad fuel from the tanks and pumped one hundred gallons of gas into the Cessna.

  Watching the sky from her seat behind the pilot became routine in the hours they spent just below the burnt clouds. Now and then Aileen looked at Ian. She could see by his green-tinged skin that he had not gotten used to the bumpy flight.

  The Mississippi River was just below them and Asher followed the snaking ribbon south.

  “I have a theory,” the boy said.

  Ian turned to the left. “Oh?”

  “Yeah. I think every time we win a battle that dude has to regroup,” Asher said.

  Both passengers were listening now.

  “Why do you say that?” Ian asked.

  He shrugged. “No attack last night.”

  “That’s not exactly conclusive.” Ian’s voice was doubtful but he was still listening.

  “Aileen told me about the attack in that lodge in New York.”

  Ian frowned and she wondered what he was thinking.

  Asher continued. “After you whacked that guy with the rotting flesh in the head, did anything else attack?”

  “No,” Aileen answered.

  “See what I mean?”

  She shook her head. “But the demon came only a few hours after the crows.”

  “Yeah, but we didn’t kill the crows. We only avoided them killing us,” he countered.

  “It’s a good theory,” Ian said.

  Asher’s face lit up with the compliment.

  “Better be ready for anything today. If you’re right, he could be about to throw something else at us and each attack seems to be getting worse.”

  Both the pilot and Aileen nodded and they returned to scanning the sky.

  “Who is he, Aileen?” Asher asked.

  “What do you think?” she asked.

  “The Devil?” His voice was like a small child’s. She could hear the fear under the surface.

  “Maybe. He’s pure evil, I know that.”

  “What does he need you for?”

  “He needs my power to enter our world.”

  She had not lied to Ian the night before. When she had been held by Mictlan she had given up the will to live. She had no one and nothing that she cared about enough to continue to fight him. He had worn her down and taken everything. Contact with Ian and now Asher made her want to win this battle. She cared what happened to them. She wanted to see the boy mature and fall in love. And Ian, she needed to love him. He might never love her as she loved him but he wanted her. That much she knew for sure. It was enough of a reason to live.

  That and revenge for what Mictlan had done to her in the darkness of his hell.

  By late afternoon they were in East Texas searching for a place to land.

  “There,” Ian said pointing off toward the right.

  “Good
thing. We’re getting pretty low on fuel,” Asher added.

  The sign at the end of the runway read, “Welcome to Prayerland, TX” but the three werewolves standing in the middle of the runway didn’t look at all welcoming.

  “Pull up,” Ian screamed. “Pull up, damn it.”

  “I’m trying.”

  She felt his evil before she saw him standing near the sign. And then she heard his voice. “Aileen, you’ve gone far enough. You know what you must do.”

  “Ian, do you hear him? Can you see him?”

  They were rolling forward. She could see him clearly against the sign and the piney woods behind him. His face was beautiful and horrible. He was thinner, almost skeletal. He sneered knowingly.

  “You are mine, Aileen,” he said, but his lips were not moving.

  She felt Ian’s hand close around hers.

  “He’s not real, Aileen. He can’t come through without you. Hold on.”

  She turned away from the specter and gazed into Ian’s clear green eyes. Not real, she thought. “I love you, Ian,” she said before there was time to stop the words.

  “What do I do?” Asher screamed pulling on the yoke.

  Ian looked at the pilot. “Test your theory, Kid.”

  The boy grinned and accelerated down the runway. The werewolves snarled and growled at the oncoming plane. Mictlan’s face showed an instant of realization just before the Cessna crushed all three wolves. Fur and blood splattered the windshield to the point where it was difficult to see outside.

  She looked toward the sign and saw only trees. The sign grew larger and larger in the windshield.

  “Stop,” she yelled.

  “I’m trying,” Asher replied in a voice so high it sounded more like a girl’s.

  The beasts had slowed them down but even with full flaps and screeching brakes the nose of the craft hit the welcome sign with a resounding thud.

  The seat belt yanked hard against her pelvis and she grunted as she was thrown back against the seat.

  “Aileen, are you okay?” Ian was already out of his seat and gently shaking her.

  “He’s getting stronger,” she said.