Enchanted Bookstore Legends (5-book complete epic fantasy romance box set)
Page 23
He grinned sheepishly. “You’re right. I redid this room for you. I hope it pleases.”
“Mmm. It does and you please me even more.” She turned to him, rose on tip-toe to hold onto his shoulders, and initiated a passionate kiss. The slight unsteadiness of her balance added to the sensation of their kiss—carefree, sweeping her away to a place with only the two of them.
He pulled back slightly. “We have dinner waiting outside.”
They descended to find a dozen sprites whipping around the outdoor table, each leaving a sparkling trail of magic. Cullen lowered his staff and a flame ignited into a fire pit.
Her breath caught. Instead of a fire of flames, small laser beams radiated from a central point. They waved in the gentle breeze like arms of an anemone, and most amazing—they reflected the pinks, oranges, and reds of the setting sun.
“What a beautiful campfire.” She sat on the bench and he moved in beside her, looking out onto the colored lake and fire. Once in a while, a thin crackle of lightning connected the sun’s rays to their laser show.
Sprites poured from a decanter into wine goblets set on the table. Dinner materialized before them. The tiny ladies served them roast duck and new potatoes with steamed green beans.
Lyra sipped the beverage. Its grape flavor exploded on her tongue and the alcohol immediately flooded her mind. “This isn’t wine. What is it?”
“Special sprite brew.” He chuckled. “Really, it’s wine to begin with. Distilled alcohol is added along with lots of magic.”
She sampled the food, and the first bite made her mouth water. Through the meal, the light show slowly changed colors to deeper, richer hues of blue, burgundy, gold, and silver. She lost track of how much wine she drank since the sprites kept topping up her glass. “How does the light play like that, in the sky, the water, and the fire? Colors seem to flow from one the other.”
“The atmosphere is different here. The magic in the air bends the rays, creating dazzling effects.”
After the entrée, the sprites flitted in, cleared their plates, and produced a large dish of strawberries…and poured more wine.
Cullen fed Lyra a plump berry, and she giggled, her head warm and fuzzy with the spirits. “I’m full and the meal was delicious.”
He gave her a devious glance. “Let’s see if we can get lost in all that white lace upstairs.” He stood and offered her his arm.
Inside, he waved a hand to extinguish the lights on the first floor, leaving a single candle burning to show their way. He did the same when they reached the bedroom and motioned through the large triangular transom window to increase the intensity of the campfire. A rainbow of lasers danced on the white walls of the room.
She gasped at the light show. “This evening and this place are as special as you promised. Thank you.”
He pulled her close to his chest. “What I wanted for our first time, but the pool and your first scrying vision…”
“That was special too.” She tipped her head back, anticipating his lips.
He pressed his lips hard onto hers and thrust his tongue inside her mouth while his strong hands pulled her against him. His fingers played in the strands of hair, hanging long against her back. He guided her to the bed and lowered her onto the fluffy down comforter.
Soft bedding enfolded her. She kicked off her shoes. He lay on top of her, and she felt warm and secure, surrounded by his love. She moved her hands under his open shirt, along the firm muscles of his back.
He pressed hard against her thigh, as his hand inched up the long skirt. His fingers trailed along the bare skin of her calf and she shivered. He traced his tongue along the edge of her bodice, slower over the tops of her breasts and in the valley between.
She moaned and heaved her chest higher to him, begging for his mouth.
He teased her. Beginning to unlace the front of her bodice, he paused to catch a handful of light reflected from its beading and released it as a sphere to float around the room.
Her heart swelled with love, knowing how much he wanted to please her, but her passion raged hotter by the minute. She pulled his shirt from his shoulders. While he slipped his arms free, she caressed the muscles of his chest.
Finally, he finished unlacing her top and it fell away.
She lifted her chest again, wanting him.
He wasted no time, his mouth hot on her firm nipples.
She wrapped a leg around him, pushing into him.
He rolled to one side, slid his hand along her hip and grabbed hold of her bottom, kneading her soft flesh. His breath was ragged in her ear. In an instant, he pulled off her skirt.
She reached for his belt buckle, and he assisted, removing the rest of his clothing.
He grabbed her by the hips and rolled her on top of him.
They moved in unison, their rhythm quickening. She arched back to feel him deeper, her soft cries lost in his strong groans. With a sigh, she stretched out on top of him, satisfied and happy.
After a few uneven breaths, she raised up on her elbows to look into his eyes. “Cullen, I’ve tried to tell you, but the words always froze somehow, with all the pain…” Her voice cracked. “I love you.”
He stroked her hair. “Being able to know your emotions isn’t always pleasant. I’ve read your guilt, shame, and failure from your divorce, even though you attempt to wall it off. I also felt your love for me, never doubted your heart…so I waited.” He rolled them onto their sides and propped up on an elbow, still holding her with his other arm. “I love you too. I never thought I’d feel this way. Decades ago I longed for a woman to share life with. When I met you twenty-five years ago, I felt a connection to you, but I didn’t know then what would grow between us. But…years passed. I lost hope.”
She sighed, relieved. “Those years that I struggled to be a good wife, part of the perfect couple, pleasing someone who I never really knew. It left me drained from giving more and more. Now…it scares me to give what little is left of me.”
He entwined his fingers through hers. “Give me little bits as you heal, and I will treasure those emotions.”
“I’ve been worried I couldn’t give you enough.”
“Time will allow you to trust. The bigger question—how will we fit our lives together? We live in two worlds. My magic won’t permit me to be in yours full time, and for you to be in mine you must gain much more magic.”
She squeezed his hand. “Take your own advice. Trust. If we love, there will be a way.”
He smiled and pressed his lips to hers for a tender kiss.
She lay in his arms for a long time, quiet, enjoying his soft caresses and the lights dancing on the walls. Finally, she said, “I wish I could stay, but I need to go home soon.”
He released her. “Yes, you do. You must finish writing.” He scooted off the bed, located and helped her with her clothes. Once they were dressed and outside, he extinguished the campfire.
“I hope I can see that again sometime,” she said wistfully.
He smiled and kissed her cheek. “Many times. I promise.”
***
In the wee hours of the morning, Lyra tiptoed through the foyer and into the master bedroom. Her aunt slept peacefully, and breathed soft and steady. Enjoying the stillness of the hour, Lyra kissed her forehead. “Big Bear, I’ve found the most wonderful man. He makes me happy. If I can only find a way to live our lives together.”
Jean’s legs rustled, and she rolled onto her side toward Lyra. Her aunt’s eyelids fluttered open, “Lyra, it’s you. I heard your voice, but thought it was a dream.” She took hold of her niece’s hand. “You’ll find a way, dear. You deserve to be happy again. Turn on the small lamp, so I can see you.”
She complied and asked, “Do you need something?”
“No. I noticed you were dressed up, and I wanted to see better. My, you look lovely. The dress and jewelry.” She smiled and closed her eyes. “You can turn out the light now, my Little Butterfly.”
The fabric of her dress shimmered
in the soft light and the crystals down the bodice sparkled. Nice of Cullen to apply a spell to allow Lyra to keep the outfit outside of Dragonspeir. She clicked off the lamp and called softly from the doorway, “Night, Big Bear.” At the foot of the stairs, she lifted the full skirt to step up.
In her room, she paused as she passed the dresser mirror. Cullen had created such a beautiful gown. She smiled at the images of their evening passing through her mind. As she untied the bodice laces, she ran her hands over her bare breasts, remembering his touch. She lay the dress on the upholstered chair in the corner to see it when she woke. Once washed and wearing a nightie, she snuggled under the covers and watched the gown’s beading glint in the moonlight until her eyes closed.
Chapter Thirty: Dawn of Despair
“Lyra, you need to get up,” a voice called to her, though her eyes were still shut and couldn’t see a face. “Wake up. It’s your aunt.”
The word aunt blasted her mind to alertness. Her eyes flew open.
Nancy leaned over the edge of her bed, nudging her shoulder. Darkness still hung in the room.
“What? What’s wrong?” Lyra hurriedly crawled out from under the covers, raced through the hall, and down the stairs. She rounded the corner to the master bedroom, where the lights shone brightly. “Aunt Jean? Are you okay?” She took hold of her hand and it was ice cold.
Nancy walked up beside her. “Honey, your aunt’s passed.”
Lyra stared at the nurse as though the words might have been part of a dream. Maybe she wasn’t really awake. The woman put an arm over her shoulder, but Lyra didn’t want comfort. Instead, she jumped back and let go of Jean’s hand, which dropped limply onto the bed rail. “No! No! I talked to her when I came home only a few hours ago. It can’t be!”
“I’m used to getting up before dawn for a run, and as soon as I was up, I checked on her, and her heart screen showed a flat line, from three hours before, but there was nothing I could do. I got up and read the monitors at eleven and all was fine, but when my alarm went off at one, I heard you talking to her and was sure you’d look at the screens like you always do, so I stayed in bed to give you two some privacy. I’m sorry, and I know how close you two were, so it’s hard, and she was a special lady, your only relative, and it’s bound to hurt, but eventually time will heal since it always does.”
“No. Her mind was clear. I read the pamphlets from the doctor. Her eyes weren’t glassy and her breathing was soft, not raspy. No, it can’t be.” She clutched her aunt’s shoulders, expecting a response.
“Everyone’s different. She had some signs of terminal illness and not others. Sleep took up more and more of her day. Her blood pressure was erratic the past couple days. There’s no accounting for how a body reacts, but we can be thankful she slipped away quickly without a lot of pain. May well have been something else, like her heart, that took her and spared her from the slow, agonizing death from cancer eating away at the organs, and that would be a blessing.”
Lyra looked at the alarm clock on the bedside table. “We talked just over four hours ago.” She dropped down onto a chair, her mind blank, with no idea what to do.
“Come.” The nurse put an arm around her and pulled her to her feet. “Let’s make some coffee. The medical dispatch staff will be here any minute.
“I don’t want them to take her. No. It’s not right.”
“Dear, you can’t freeze time. It moves on.”
The doorbell rang. Nancy met a crew of two men at the door. They wheeled in a gurney to take Jean away. It didn’t seem possible. Lyra wanted her to stay there, to wake up again, and talk with her again. They couldn’t take her. This was her aunt.
She hovered over the two men, wanting to stop them.
They draped a sheet over Jean, covering her face. That barrier of fabric suddenly blocked Lyra from a woman she’d loved deeply her whole life. The sheet between them jarred her emotions. She realized their separation was final. Anger raged up at that obstacle, at the separation, at death itself. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks and she fled upstairs.
She huddled in her bed, watching dawn light the world. Her thoughts wouldn’t move past the conversation she had with her aunt earlier in the morning, how Jean looked, the smooth, warm feel of her hand, the tone of her voice, her kind words.
Across the room the beautiful shimmering charcoal gown draped over an arm of the chair. Had it been a dream? A few fleeting moments of happiness.
Although no consolation, hardship was more familiar to Lyra. Her own parents died almost a year ago. The scene replayed in her mind, created from pieces she’d put together from what the deputy told her. During their vacation in Costa Rica, a drunk driver swerved and forced their car off a cliff. Lyra’s ex-husband, Jeff, had been no comfort after their deaths. Instead, since she was less able to give to him, arguments precipitated and lead him to file for divorce. Now, she heard their screams along with Aunt Jean’s last breath.
The dragons stirred on their towel beds. At least Nancy hadn’t seen them on the floor in the dark room. Noba hopped beside her, wanting to play. She couldn’t. He stared at her. “Lady Lyra is sad. Tears are on face. Can Noba help?”
Yasqu leaped up to join them.
“No. You can’t. I don’t feel like playing today. Auntie died.”
“Auntie?” He shook his head and lay curled at her feet, without making a sound.
Lyra’s phone rang. Cullen. How would she tell him? “Hi,” her voice squeaked.
With a tense voice he asked, “Aunt Jean passed away? Am I reading your thoughts correctly? I sure hope this time I’m wrong.”
“She died about an hour after I came home.” She worked to contain her emotions.
“I’m sorry. She seemed extremely ill, but not near death. Are you all right?”
“No. How could I be?” Her throat tightened and she choked. “I just talked with her last night after you and I said goodnight.”
“I’ll be right there.” He hung up and she stared at her phone.
Lyra couldn’t make herself do anything. She lay back down and pulled a blanket over her.
***
The door opened. Cullen whisked in and sat on the bed beside her. He opened his arms, and she willingly entered. The only secure place she knew.
“You’re trembling.” He held her tighter, his cheek next to hers. “I’m here.”
“This isn’t fair. I’m not over grieving the loss of my parents. I wanted to share more with her. She wasn’t ready to die. Why now?”
“I know.” He stroked her hair. “Life isn’t always fair, and it’s often hard.”
She cried hard against his shoulder for several minutes.
When she slowed, he released her. Trickles of tears stained his face. “I’m going to bring you some breakfast.” Before he could leave, Nancy’s footsteps came up the stairs. He hustled the dragons off the bed and into the bathroom.
After a rap on the door, she entered. “Lyra, are you okay, dear? I’m sure glad Cullen’s here to comfort you because you really need someone right now looking after you. I’m going to leave, but if you need anything, groceries, laundry, a shoulder to cry on, an ear to talk to, if there is anything at all I can help with please ask, and you have my phone number in case you need me.” She stepped over and gave her a quick hug.
“Thanks, Nancy.”
The nurse gave a solemn nod and left. After a couple minutes, the front door opened and shut.
Cullen motioned to the dragons. “Let’s go downstairs and get breakfast for Lyra.”
Lyra wandered to the closet and reached for a robe. On the shelf sat a stack of childhood books she used to read years ago during visits, carefully saved by her aunt. This wasn’t happening. She huddled into the robe even though the sun already baked the late July day.
A cavalcade of footsteps signaled that Cullen and the dragons returned. He carried a tray. “I doubt you want much, but eating nothing will make you feel worse.” He laid it on the desk beside her laptop.
“All of those.” He moved her gown gently aside and sat in the chair. “You looked lovely in this last night.”
She slurped the tea. Its warmth comforted her hollow stomach. “Seems like a dream now.”
“It was real and will happen again someday.”
That seemed impossible to her. She stared into space. Would life ever be normal? She’d given up on happiness and settled for wanting normalcy. But, what was normal?
“Eat something, Lyra.” He leaned forward to encourage her.
She ate a few bites of oatmeal and drank the orange juice, then curled up on his lap in the big upholstered chair.
He held her and stroked her hair for a long while. Finally, he said, “I’m going to take the dragons back with me. You’re in no shape to care for them.”
“No. You’re not going to give Yasqu back to Eburscon. I’ll find a way.”
“They can stay in my workroom or above in my apartment.” He hesitated. “I’d rather be here looking out for you. I can take them to Cranewort.”
“No, I’ll be okay. I need some time alone; you can’t do anything.”
Noba’s tail curled between his legs. “We can’t stay with Lady Lyra?”
“Not now. Maybe later when she’s happier.”
“Noba can cheer her up.” He hopped over to her feet.
She reached down and rubbed his neck. “Thank you, but I don’t think anything will make me laugh today.”
“I conjured some meals and stored them in the refrigerator. I’ll check on you soon, but if you need anything, call me any hour, day or night. I’ll come anytime.”