Just One Golden Kiss

by M. A. Thomas

  “Look, I don’t blame you for not wanting to help us. But we need to know your answer,” Zel said.

  “Will you lie with me tonight?” Xavier asked Lela.

  For goodness sake, a few weeks ago a frog had asked her the same question. She was beginning to think she was going to spend the rest of her life lying with strange men to help break some witch’s curse.

  She stared at them; they looked so lost and sad and pathetic, holding hands, tears in their eyes, she couldn’t say no. She believed they were telling her the truth. Forgive me, Eldrich.

  “Come morning, you will take me home to Eldrich,” she said to Xavier. “And you and Zel will never cross paths with us again.”

  “Understood,” Xavier said.

  “Thank you!” Zel said, darting to the staircase. “I’ll sleep outside tonight.” She disappeared down the steps.

  “We have a room with a bed. Or if you’d rather we stay here,” Xavier said, his voice shaking.

  “I’d rather we not do this at all but since I agreed, I prefer a bed,” she said, her thoughts on Eldrich. Sharp pain went through her heart and she wondered if he would ever forgive her.

  Xavier led her through a narrow hall and into a small room lit with candles. In the center of the room was a round bed.

  “I won’t do anything you don’t want me to,” Xavier said, unbuttoning his trousers.

  “You’re going directly to it,” she said.

  He blushed. “I’m sorry, I admit to being nervous.”

  “Let’s get it over with,” Lela said, removing the cloak Zel had given her.

  She was now completely naked. He took off his trousers; she looked away.

  “May I kiss you?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  His lips touched hers. They were warm and soft, unlike Eldrich’s lips which were firm and rather cold.

  Xavier kissed her as if she were a dying flower which he was tenderly trying to bring back to life. Continuing to kiss her, he placed his hand between her legs and began to caress her; slowly he moved his fingers inside of her. He then took her hand and placed it on his cock. She grasped it and moved her hand up and down on it, slow at first and then faster.

  He pulled his lips away.

  She thought her knees were going to give out.

  He shifted lower on her body and began to blow air between her inner thighs, nipping and tugging at her.

  She ran her fingers through his silky hair. Forgive me, Eldrich.

  Turning her so that her buttocks were in his face, he ran his fingers up and down her… and then stretched her legs. May I rot in the darkest place of all the Kingdoms for allowing myself to feel pleasure with this man. May I rot for wanting him inside of me.

  “Don’t feel guilty,” he said.

  Could he read her thoughts? Not possible, but then she hadn’t even known angels existed until today and therefore had no idea what skills they possessed.

  In the next second, he picked her up and carried her to the bed. Then he placed her on her side and pressed his cock against her. Eldrich’s cock, she confessed, was not the size of Xavier’s.

  “May I enter you,” Xavier asked.

  Sweet Gods! She wanted his huge, firm cock in every way.

  His wings expanded.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “When I’m aroused, I can’t hold back my wings.”

  Closing her eyes, she said, “Enter me.”

  He slid his cock in and she swore she felt it in her throat. She couldn’t resist making loud sounds. Noises she had never made with Eldrich.

  Before she could hold her tongue, she said, “Don’t ever leave my body.”

  He answered by driving deeper into her.

  “What else do you desire from me?” he asked. “I will do anything you want.”

  “I want you to do what you will. Surprise me, scare me…”

  He jumped off the bed.

  “No, please come back,” she cried. “I want you…need you inside of me.”

  Smiling at her, he said, “I won’t be long.”

  Lying on her back, she touched her every part. She felt she was drowning and she didn’t care. She could not explain her feelings, her desire for this stranger, this angel with whom she only had one night. A single night of exhilarating enjoyment before she would have to come to her senses and face Eldrich, the man to whom she had given her heart, the man she loved.

  Xavier returned holding a squash! Lela had seen servants entertain themselves with oh so many different things including vegetables. Lela couldn’t help chuckling. Yes, she’d play along.

  “I want you up against me,” he said.

  She lifted her buttocks, holding herself up with her elbows. He came behind her and began teasing her with the squash, rubbing it between her legs. This was madness!

  Then he pushed in the squash just a little and she screamed.

  “Am I hurting you?” he asked.

  “No,” she managed to say.

  He moved the tip of the squash into her and she had the most intense orgasm she had ever had. Bloody hell, she was having sex with a vegetable!

  He set the squash on the bed.

  Collapsing on the bed, she said, “I’m humiliated.”

  “You have nothing to be ashamed of. I’m glad you enjoyed it. I was afraid you wouldn’t.”

  The sight of his sprawling wings aroused her even more.

  He plunged into her and she wrapped her legs high around his back.

  “Call out my name,” he whispered.

  “I can’t,” she said.

  “We have only this night,” he said, his cock rocking her.

  She was ashamed for liking what he was doing to her. She more than liked it. She wanted more.

  “Xavier,” she said.

  “Again,” he said, escalating his movements.

  “Oh Xavier, I’ve never felt such intense pleasure.” He was ripping into her, causing her to have multiple orgasms.

  He finally pulled out of her and released his fluid on her stomach. She took in a long breath.

  “If you want, I can sleep in another room,” he said, retracting his wings.

  “Please stay with me. I don’t want to be alone,” she said, feeling the oncoming of tears. She didn’t think she could ever face Eldrich again.

  Xavier lied next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

  “I’ll stay with you all night.”

  She closed her eyes and let sleep take her.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Morning came and Lela sat at the table, sipping broth. Zel and Xavier stood on the other side of the table staring at her.

  “You can have more,” Zel said with a smile.

  “Yes, yes, we have plenty,” Xavier said.

  For goodness sake, the situation couldn’t have been more uncomfortable. No matter, Zel was alive and free to live her life with Xavier outside of this dreadful tower.

  “We’re eternally grateful. If you ever need anything from us, we’ll be there,” Zel said.

  What Lela needed was to go home to Eldrich.

  “I wish you nothing but joy,” Lela said. And she meant it.

  Zel kissed Xavier on the cheek, her eyes sparkling.

  “Are you ready to go?” Xavier asked Lela.

  “No, but I will go just the same.”

  “You will have the day to gather your thoughts,” Zel said. “And when the sun goes down, you and Eldrich will be together and all will be well, I’m sure of it.”

  “I hope so.” Lela knew that all would not be well between her and Eldrich and that she had probably lost him forever.

  Zel went to the window and flung open the shutters. “Oh, it’s a glorious day. The air smells wonderful!”

  “May I pick you up?” Xavier asked.

  “Go ahead,” Lela said, standing.

  He scooped her up and walked to the window.

  “I shall return to you soon,” he said to Zel.

  Zel clapped and grinne
d as if she was a little girl having just been given a doll.

  Lela was jealous of Xavier and Zel. They were in love and free.

  In the next second, Xavier went out the window with her in his arms. Down they fell.

  “We’ll die,” she yelled.

  “Hold on tight,” he said.

  Down, down they continued to fall.

  And just when she thought they would surely hit the ground, he spread his wings and flew high into the air.

  “Did you mean to scare me?” she asked.

  “Maybe a little,” he said.

  “You’re a funny, funny man.”

  “I may never see you again. I wanted to give you one more thrill.” He winked.

  She flushed and said nothing more.

  Moments later, they were back in Barmoth. She looked down at the familiar forest and could see the riverbank on which she had first met Xavier.

  “Leave me in the place we met,” she said.

  He nodded and descended.

  Once they were standing on the ground, he took her hand and placed it on the cross on his chest.

  “I’m not ashamed of it,” he said.

  “What will you and Zel do now?” she asked.

  “I’m going to marry her. She will become the princess of the Kingdom of the Lost. And I will love her for all eternity.”

  His words crushed her. Not because she wished he meant them for her but because her thoughts were on Eldrich.

  “He will forgive you,” he said, kissing her hand.

  Tears streamed down her face. “I don’t think he will.”

  “Have faith in your love.”

  “Thank you for bringing me home.”

  “Thank you for saving her…for helping me,” he said.

  “Goodbye,” she said.

  “Until we meet again,” he said and took flight.

  Lela closed the door behind her and slid to the floor. She wanted to find Eldrich’s resting place and wake him even if it meant risking her life. She wanted to hug him, kiss him, and tell him she loved him and that she needed his forgiveness.

  If he refused her, she’d go back to her father with a shattered heart. There were so many things she didn’t know about the world and despite what she had learned in the past few weeks, she felt like an infant learning how to walk. No matter, she knew she loved Eldrich with all her soul. And she couldn’t stand the thought of him rejecting her.

  She lit a few sconces around the house and then sat down on the steps. The sun set and she remained on the steps, her throat threatening to close, sweat trickling down her upper back.

  “What are you doing here?” Eldrich asked.

  Lela looked at him and started immediately crying. “Forgive me.”

  “You shouldn’t have come here,” he said, his eyes cold and empty.

  “Do you still love me?” she asked.

  He turned her from her.

  “If you tell me you no longer love me, I will leave and never bother you again.”

  The seconds passed. Please tell me you love me. Hate me for what I did. But tell me you love me.

  “Do you know how painful it was to know you were with him…letting him touch you, kiss you, my heart is broken.”

  “Zel was going to die if I didn’t lie with him,” Lela said, putting her hand on his back. “Imagine how you’d feel if I died.”

  He stepped forward. “You should have let her die!”

  “You can’t mean that.”

  “Did you enjoy it?”

  “Eldrich, please, I love you.”

  “Answer me. You owe me the truth.”

  “I thought of you.”

  “I hunted last night,” he said, facing her. “I killed last night.”

  “I don’t want to hear this.”

  “And do you think I care what you want? I no longer care about you.”

  “I’ll leave,” she said, making for the door.

  He grabbed her hand and brought her close to him. “I still love you. Damn my soul, I love you.”

  “Forgive me,” she said, throwing her arms around him.

  “I can’t be without you,” he said, kissing her.

  She kissed him back, forcefully.

  “Don’t ever leave me again,” she said.

  “I didn’t leave you.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked.

  “Do you really think I would ever abandon you? I waited outside until the sun began to rise. I had to make sure you were all right.”

  A thought came to Lela’s mind. He must have run into Zel. No, no, they couldn’t have!

  “I talked to Zel,” he said.

  She was going to most definitely faint.

  “She told me everything.”

  “Did you–”

  “Of course not. I’m yours, and only yours.”

  Blood returned to her brain.

  “If you had…I’d have no right to confront you about it.”

  “But I didn’t. I hate that you spent the night away from me with another man. I hate it…but I know why you did it.”

  “Let’s never speak of it,” she said.

  “Will you stay with me?” he asked.

  “Forever,” she said. She didn’t know if they would ever truly get past this but she prayed they would.

  He picked her up and carried her up the stairs. “I shall erase all memory of him.”

  “Yes, my love, I beg you.”

  He threw her on the bed and took off his clothes.

  She removed the cloak Zel had let her have.

  He came down on her and wasted no time thrusting into her.

  “To whom do you belong?” he asked.

  “Only to you,” she said.

  As he plunged harder into her, all thoughts of her night with Xavier drifted to the back of her mind. Yes, she had enjoyed her time with him but she did not love him. The man she loved was inside of her and oh, how she had missed him. Sweet prince of mine, my love, my everything, take all of me.

  Eldrich brought his fangs to her neck and she cried out, “Drink from me, do it.”

  In ecstasy, one thought from the night before broke through to the forefront of her mind. She was embarrassed but could not deny that yes, it was on her mind. The squash.

  “I know about it,” he whispered into her ear.

  She had actually said the word out loud! Sweet Gods.

  “I’m sorry.”

  He laughed. “We can try other vegetables if you want, just not squash,” he said.

  She laughed. “Oh Eldrich, I adore you.”

  She knew all was well and they were in love and free. And there were many other vegetables with which they could play.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  It was early morning. The night’s storm had brought down trees and overflowed the river, leaving behind disturbed habitats and an eerie stillness in the air. Lela trudged through the forest on her way to the castle. It had been two months since she had seen her father.

  She had thought about him every day and panged to see him, throw her arms around him and yes, ask him why he hadn’t sent any of his men to look for her after she ran away to live with Eldrich. Although she was the one who left and chose not to come back, she couldn’t help feeling like an abandoned child. No matter, she pressed on and prayed the storm had passed over the castle without incident.

  Oh how she missed the energy of the castle, the servants gossiping and laughing, the aroma coming from the kitchen, dogs barking, and her talks with Lady Rema, the comings and goings of visitors from other kingdoms…she missed it all.

  Before Eldrich had disappeared into his sleeping hiding place for the day, she had told him she was going to go back to the castle to see her father and make sure no harm had come to him or anyone else.

  The storm had ripped off part of the roof from Eldrich’s house and knocked down several trees, one of which scarcely missed hitting the house. She and Eldrich had spent the night pretending not to be worried, playing cards, telling jokes
and talking about their lives together and how happy they were to have found each other. He had asked her more than once yet again if she would stay with him forever. His constant need for reassurance was instilling doubt in her. She was completely in love with him and she was sure he was with her but him asking her the same question made her think he was really afraid she would leave him. She made a mental note to ask him to stop or at the very least limit his questioning to only once per week, a thought that made her chuckle. For goodness sake, here she was in love with a clingy vampire.

  Last night was the first time they had gone without indulging in each other. They had never gone a single night without having sex, not even when she was bleeding. It was during her bleeding time that Eldrich indulged even more, going down on her, licking her and drinking from her as if he meant to walk into the sun at first light and cease to exist. Even now, thinking about his tongue and lips inside of her, nipping, sucking, teasing her sent a sensation through her which made her want to stop in her tracks right then and there and give herself pleasure.

  Yes, it had only been one night but bloody hell, she admitted to missing his warmth, the way he spoke to her during sex, commanding her to do what he wanted, pushing the limits of their desires, but also responding to her wants, her wishes.

  For the moment, just the moment, she evicted him out of her mind and concentrated on her mission.

  It would take her one hour to reach the castle and that’s if she didn’t pause for food and also maintained a brisk pace. Before leaving Eldrich’s house, she had eaten her fill of fruit and bread. Ever since the night she had spent with Xavier fresh bread awaited her every morning in Eldrich’s kitchen. Although she had told Xavier and his golden-haired lover, Zel, never to cross paths with her or Eldrich again, she suspected it was one of them bringing her breakfast each morning. And she was grateful; she’d started to gain back some of the weight she had initially lost when she first came to live with Eldrich and had to rely on berries from the forest.

  When Eldrich saw how much weight she was losing, he started sneaking into villages late at night to steal pieces of meat for her. She was a princess relying on a vampire and an angel to bring her food. For goodness sake, she had fallen far from the King’s crown.

  Thinking of her night with Xavier made her body tingle just a little bit, maybe more than a little bit, if she were to be truly honest. She had had sex with a fallen angel, never mind that she hadn’t even known angels existed before she met Xavier. And what’s more, had she refused to have sex with him, his poor imprisoned and cursed lover would have died. Oh, yes, Lela had considered giving herself the title of Witch’s Curse Breaker.