I allowed my tongue to mix with his. When his hand slipped inside of my pants, I raised my hips in encouragement. I helped remove the last barrier of cloth. His mouth left mine and found my breasts. He sucked and flicked my nipples causing them to stand erect, begging for his mouth. He moaned when he felt my breasts grow under his mouth and forced his mouth to cover most of my breast.
“Oh, Lilly, your skin is so sweet.” He lifted his head and began twisting my hard nipples between his fingers. “Tell me what you want from me,” he requested through heavy breaths. I didn't know how to respond. What I wanted he couldn't give me. I wanted him off of me. I wanted to go home. I wanted to be held and loved by Shep. It didn't matter what my head or my heart wanted because my body was betraying me. I felt the moisture between my legs. I felt my insides warm up, anticipating what was to come. I pushed my fears aside. I pictured Shep, and I relaxed.
“I want you to taste me, all over,” I whispered, pulling his head up and kissing him hard and deep. “I want to feel things I have never felt before. I want you to make love to me in every possible way, with your mouth, with your hands, and with your cock.” As I spoke I felt his penis grow hard against my thighs. I felt his hips move just enough that I felt his swollen shaft against my moist spot. He began to swivel his hips, his tip needing to enter me. “Not yet, Theron, be patient.” I kissed his neck, sucking and biting until this time I drew his blood. I kissed his mouth again, allowing him to taste his blood on my tongue.
“You drive me crazy, Lilly,” he breathed. “Well, you haven't driven me crazy yet, Theron. Come on, you wanted this. Drive me crazy, Theron. Make me want you inside of me. Make me beg for your manhood. Push me to the brink and bring me back, over and over. Come on, Theron, be a man!” I pushed him off of me. He fell onto his back beside me. I took him in my mouth and tortured him with my tongue. I caressed and sucked until he was almost to the point of pleasure. I stopped and sat up. I heard his breath catch. “Why did you stop?” He asked in disbelief. I lay down on his chest. I kissed his mouth again. I thought of Shep again.
“You wanted this. Do you think I am going to allow you to feel pleasure that easily, before I have felt my own pleasure. You asked what I wanted from you. I want you to please me in any way you know how.” I rolled off of him and waited for his next move. He started at my breasts again, but only hovered minutes before his mouth explored my belly and moved down to my thighs. I opened them for him. He kissed me between the legs softly at first. “I want you to feel pleasure with my tongue. I want to taste your pleasure.”
“Then pleasure me.”
He did, soft and gentle then with passion and urgency. One hand tortured my nipples while his tongue pushed me to the brink. I lifted my hips to his mouth, pushing his tongue inside. I felt my body shudder under his mouth. He moaned loudly when he tasted my pleasure. “Let me feel you inside me now,” I told him. He took a final drink of me before plunging inside. He stroked my insides with his manhood and when he found his release I found mine again. He collapsed on top of me. “I love you, Lilly,” he whispered. “Yeah, I know,” I replied and wiped the tears from my face. I let him enjoy it this time. Next time I would be ready.
~Chapter Twenty Nine~
No words were spoken as Shep, Denali, and Leah made their way back to the compound. Shep's mind played thousands of scenario’s over in his head. The one that continued to appear was Lilly with another man, Lilly loving another man, Lilly making love to another man. Shep couldn't stand the thought of another man touching his Lilly. His guts were in knots, and his heart was in constant panic mode. He had to find her. He would find her.
They landed at the compound and Leah broke the silence. “Shep, what's your plan, son? Are you going to fill us in?” She asked. He looked at his mother. She saw the fear and hurt in her son's eyes. He allowed that fear to show through for just a moment and only for his mother to see. “We will find her, you must believe that.”
“I know we will,” he replied and replaced his hurt and fear with anger and vengeance.
“So, what's your plan?” She asked again.
“I'm going to see Calista,” he replied, his voice determined.
“You know you can't see her. If you go to her your love for Lilly will disappear. You will be bound to her.” Leah's words were coming fast and urgent. She was trying desperately to talk Shep out of going to the Fey.
“No, mom, you're wrong. My love for Lilly will never disappear. I am going to Calista.”
“You don't understand, Shep!”
“Yes I do! Fey's are magical, sexual, and beautiful. If you see one you are bound to them forever, want it or not! I know! I have heard the story! You and Lilly are not affected though, are you? There is a reason for that. Calista helps us. Her sisters help us. I will not be affected by her. Trust me, Mom. I know what I am doing.”
“And what if you don't? I will go to Calista, not you!”
“No, it has to be me, only me.”
Denali came to stand by Shep. “He's right, Leah. He will not be affected. He is the one that has to go to the Fey,” Denali said and saw Leah's face burn crimson.
“Have you both lost your damn minds?” She yelled. Shep said no more. He turned from his mother and made his way to the compound. He heard his mother yell after him. He heard her cuss at Denali. He knew Denali was holding her back. He was preventing her from stopping Shep. He was thankful for Denali's help. He knew Calista was the only one that could help him find Lilly. For some reason she was connected to him and Lilly. He just prayed she was awake when he reached her. Prayed she would be strong enough to see Lilly. He was almost to the Fey's room when he and Fionna nearly collided.
“Sorry, Shep,” she said naturally before she realized he shouldn't be there.
“What are you doing back already? Did you stop Kelsha? Is everyone safe? Where is everyone?” Her questions were flying fast and he knew she was worried, rightly so. However, he didn't have the desire to waste time with explanations just to soothe her fears. He looked down at her and saw her sad eyes, so scared. He sighed before offering a quick explanation.
“Some guy named Theron took Lilly. Only my mother, Denali, and I came back to the compound. The rest are back on Ellurrah guarding Kelsha and her people. Don't worry everyone there is safe for now. I have to find Lilly before I can continue this fight,” he said quickly and tried to make an escape. Fionna stopped him when she spoke. “I know Theron, Shep. Think back, you do too,” she began.
“Look, I don't care if I remember him or not. I have to find Lilly. I don't have time to reminisce about our days together,” he said more harshly than he intended and immediately felt bad when he saw a flash of hurt cross Fionna's face. She pushed it away and grabbed him.
“Now you look at me, Shep! I am not reminiscing and the fact you say that really angers me but that is for another time! You have to remember him so you can remember what he is capable of. You need to know of his abilities. I am not trying to slow you down, but you can't be ignorant, Shep. Think! You will never find Lilly if you don't think!” She said scolding him.
“I am going to see Calista. She will tell me where Lilly is. I don't need to think about that Theron asshole!”
“Yes, you do! Even if Calista can see where Lilly is you will never find her if you don't use your head!”
“Fine! You win, Fionna! Who the hell is this fucker?” He asked sarcastically. He was annoyed that she was slowing him down.
“You trained him closely, Shep. He is the image maker?”
“The what?”
“He can push anything that is in his imagination out of his mind so that it appears real to whomever he is with. He makes you see things that are not real. He can create an entire habitat and make you believe you are there if he wants. He can create a nightmare and put you in the middle of it. You were training him to project his darkest desires. You told him if he wraps his enemies in darkness or fearful images he would always be protected. You helped him perfect an abilit
y that was barely understood at the time. You have to understand his mind. You have to be prepared for his games if you are to face him, if you want to rescue Lilly. Calista can tell you where she thinks they are but you will never enter his imaginary world unless he allows it. Understand?”
Shep ran his hand through his hair, willing himself to remember the man that stole his wife. Slowly, images of Theron began to appear in Shep's mind. Suddenly, he remembered him. “Oh shit,” Shep said out loud.
“That's right, Shep. Now, you can beat him but you have to understand him.”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it. Dammit! This is going to be harder than I thought and I didn't think it would be easy in the first place. Thanks, Fionna. Thanks for making me remember,” he said and kissed her forehead in a friendly manner.
“You're welcome, now go find her.”
“I will. I have to see Calista.”
“You think that's safe?” She asked, and he was grateful that she didn't instantly tell him he was making a mistake.
“Yeah, it's safe. I won't be affected by her.”
“How do you know?”
“Just a feeling, I guess.”
“Well, I hope your feeling is right.”
“Me too. See you later, Fionna.”
“Bye, Shep. Be safe.”
“Always.”
He left Fionna in the hallway and made his way to Calista. He stood outside of their room. He felt deep inside that this was the right thing to do. He knew that, if she was strong enough, Calista was the only one that could see Lilly and see where she was. He also knew the dangers of him seeing Calista, but truly didn't feel as though he could be affected. Calista was part of their lives for a reason. She was pivotal in saving his wife. He let out a deep breath and slowly let himself in the room.
The sun had set hours before, so the room was dark. There was silence around him, except for the soft breathing of the Fey sisters. He turned to quietly shut the door when he heard her voice. Soft, soothing, and laced with worry and exhaustion.
“Hello, Shep,” she began. “I've been waiting for you.”
“You have?” He asked quietly.
“Yes. Don't be afraid of me. I believe you are correct in assuming that you will not be affected by the Fey curse. Come sit by the bed so I can see your face.”
He followed her orders and though he was relieved to know she agreed with him about her effect on him, he was still cautious. He allowed his eyes to focus in the dark and slowly looked up into her liquid blue eyes. She was beautiful, that was a given, but he was not attracted to her. He felt immediate relief.
“There now that we are past all that, let's talk about why you are here.”
“Can you see her, Calista? Can you see Lilly?” He asked desperately.
“Yes,” she replied slowly.
“Is she safe?”
“For now, but he is very dangerous, Shep and he thinks he is in love with her. This man will be difficult to find and difficult to beat.”
“How do I find him?” He was anxious to find him, to find Lilly.
“Listen to me, Shep, you will find her but she may be broken. There are things that she will have to do that you will not like, things that will break her spirit. There is wickedness inside of Theron and he will impose that on her. She will do what she must do to survive. Never forget that Shep. Everything Lilly does is to get back to you and James.”
“What kinds of things?” He asked but wasn't sure if he really wanted to know. He felt Calista's hand on his. It was tiny in his palm. She gently rubbed it, and he wondered if it was to comfort him or her.
“You and Lilly are meant to be together. There is no way for either of you to live for very long without the other one. In order to win this war and save Neveah, you have to save each other. You have to be together. You have to understand each other and forgive things that have happened. Those things do not matter. You and Lilly and James matter. Your unborn child matters. If any of you are to stand a chance, if any of us is to stand a chance, your love cannot be broken. You have to fix the bond and break the wicked. I see you both, in the future. I see you as a happy family. I also see you apart, broken, sad, and the land in gray. Your destiny is in your hands. Our destiny is in your hands.”
He was confused. He would always be with Lilly. He knew their bond was strong. How could Calista see otherwise?
“I will always love her, Calista, nothing can change that. Nothing.”
“Nothing but jealousy. Don't let your jaded heart stop you from loving her.”
“My heart is not jaded.”
“Not yet, but it could be if you fail to see the bigger picture, if you fail to forgive her as she has forgiven you.”
He thought for a moment and remembered what he felt when he thought another man may be touching Lilly. The anger was insatiable, the jealousy magnetic. He thought he could and would easily kill any man that touched his Lilly. Could he forgive her, though? Would he? She had forgiven him. Surely, he could do the same. Of course, he could. He didn’t have a choice; one can't live with half a heart. Suddenly, the words that Calista had spoken came back to him. He didn't catch them when she was speaking yet they were there, lurking in his brain.
“Calista, Lilly is pregnant?” He asked and as he spoke the words he knew the answer and his heart broke all over again. Tears began to spill. He couldn’t hold the sobs back. She was pregnant with his baby while another man invaded her body, the body that held their baby. The thoughts were torture.
“Yes, she is, Shep. You see, you are magic together. You create magic, literally. Get her back and get out of Neveah and never come back. The magic the two of you possess together mixed with your offspring will always follow you here. There will always be someone that wants what you have. It's in the nature of all living things to want more and they will want what you have. Even after Kelsha and her army, more will emerge if you are here! This is what you do. You dry your eyes. You bandage your wounded heart. You hear that, wounded not broken? You find forgiveness in that heart. You kill Kelsha and anyone else that chooses to stand with her, and you leave here forever. That is where I see you happy, away from here, back in your home where you both belong.”
Shep understood, when they were back in Keno they had been happy, young and naïve but happy. Their world has come crashing down since they discovered Neveah. Shep had been taken with the idea of having a superpower and the beauty of the land, but it had caused him and his family damage, some beyond repair. Yes, he would find Lilly, forgive her, finish this, and leave. He wiped his eyes and smiled at Calista. She smiled back and he kissed her on the cheek.
“Thank you, Calista. Lilly truly loves you. She would be happy to see you awake. That means we are on the right path, even if it doesn't feel like it. I will bring her back safe and sound so she can say goodbye to you.”
“Please do that, Shep. Be safe. Save our girl. She loves you so, don't forget that.”
“I know. I won't,” he replied before leaving the Fey.
He went to find Vivianna. He needed to see his son. He found her in the dining room, singing softly to him. Shep watched them for a moment and felt his heart break knowing it should be Lilly singing lullabies to their son. This thought just gave Shep more determination to get his Lilly back.
“Hey, Viv, can I have a few moments with my son?” He asked as he reached for James. Vivianna smiled up at Shep reassuringly. She patted his arm before leaving the room. Shep snuggled James close to his chest and felt strength with his child in his arms.
“I know I haven’t gotten to know you very well yet, but I love you with all my heart. I want nothing more than to stop this craziness and just be your dad but I can’t. Not yet. I have to go get Mommy and bring her home to you. I am so sorry I didn’t protect her better James but I will get her back. I know you need Mommy. I need her too. I will get her back and we will be a family. I just need you to be good for your auntie Viv a little while longer. I love you, son,” he said before kissing the boy o
n his fuzzy head. Shep allowed himself a moment of weakness with his son before he returned him to Vivianna and went to find his mother.
His mother was still pacing near the animal pens when he found her.
“She's pregnant, Mom,” he said, wasting no time.
“What?”
“Yeah,” Shep replied, unable to hide the sadness he felt. Sad because, once again, she was on her own and pregnant, Shep had to get to her before he lost her forever to Theron.
“Well, what are we waiting for?” Leah asked anxiously.
“No, Mom, I have to go alone.”
“What! No you don't! Why would you say that?”
“I know Theron, Mom. The more I thought the more I remembered him. I think I know where he is. I didn't need Calista to tell me after all, but I did needed her to slap some reality into me. Make me slow down and think. Realize what has to be done. I have to do this alone, Mom. Please understand,” he pled and saw his mother recoil. He didn’t want to tell her that Lilly may have to do things that would break her and very possibly break him. He didn’t want anyone to know what she had to do, and if he found her in a compromising position, Shep didn’t want anyone to see it. He didn’t want to see it himself, but knew that was the only way to get his Lilly back.
Leah made no attempt at hiding her crying eyes. She hugged her son fiercely. Sending him off alone went against every motherly instinct she had but she knew it was the right thing to do.
“I love you, Shep. We will wait here. Hurry up and get back with her,” she said before kissing her boy goodbye.
“I'll be back soon, Mom, don't worry. Love you too, bye.” He walked away already forgetting the goodbye. He had to focus on hello.
~Chapter Thirty~
Neveah Box Series (Neveah Box Set Book 5) Page 69