by Ariana Dupre
A burst of cool wind swept around her. She could feel Aunt Martha's love. The breeze whispered to her. I love you too, Angelina.
Angie smiled. Aunt Martha would always be with her, of that she was sure.
* * * *
Angie looked out her bedroom window, watching the guests take their seats.
Jared had indeed arranged it all. The Turners helped prepare the guest list. Even Alan was in on the surprise.
Taking a shaky breath, she smoothed the satin fabric across her stomach. A smile lifted the corners of her mouth. Terri had even special ordered the gown. Then Kimmie had been slick in covering up the fitting so that Angie didn't even guess she had tried on her own wedding gown. It was indeed a perfect fit.
A soft tap on the door brought Angie out of her thoughts. “Come in."
She turned to see Alan smiling brightly at her. Then the smile faded.
"What's wrong, Alan?"
Alan reached for her gloved hands and smiled, his eyes full of emotion. He kissed her on the cheek. “You are so beautiful you take my breath away. I swear if I were fifty years younger..."
"I'd marry you in a heartbeat!” She laughed, hugging him tightly. “Don't make me cry, Alan. My makeup will run."
"Are you ready for this?"
"Yes,” she whispered, linking her arm in his.
"You know, sweetheart, after the wedding, you're going to have to get Terri fixed up with someone. Help her find true love so the curse can be broken."
"You're still stuck on that?” she wrinkled her nose up at him. “You're forgetting about the unknown one."
Alan smiled and kissed her on the cheek, “The unknown will appear when the time is right."
Angie laughed. “You sound so mystical."
The music started and Alan led her down the stairs then out to the sycamore tree. Angie kept her eyes glued to Jared's. Her smile was only for him.
Surely, my heart will burst with love, she thought as Alan gave her to Jared and then took his seat.
Jared's eyes were dark with emotion. Grinning, he squeezed Angie's fingers. With the words “You may kiss your bride,” he drew her into his arms, dipped her back and kissed her with an intensity she'd known only with him.
The whoops from the guests egged them on until he finally ended the kiss by showering her face with many small kisses.
They were introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Jared Maxwell; then everyone moved into the ballroom for the reception. Angie winked at Jared when Terri caught her bouquet, and elbowed Terri when Sid caught the garter.
Then Angie whispered in Jared's ear.
The ring of a silver utensil against crystal did nothing to quiet the quests. A long, loud whistle did the trick.
"Thanks, Burt,” laughed Jared before addressing the crowd. “I'd like to thank everyone for coming out today. You've made my surprise to Angelina very special. But now we are out—of—here!"
More whoops and whistles followed.
"Hang on everyone,” Angie interrupted. “I want you all to write this on your calendar ... the day Dansburg's oldest virgin got married. But now I'm really anxious to see what all the fuss is about, so if you'll please excuse us..."
Laughter erupted. The guests cheered when Jared lifted Angie and carried her outside into the night. Whisper, illuminated by the porch light, was draped in white flowers.
"Oh Jared,” Angie exclaimed, “she's beautiful."
"Not half as beautiful as you, my love.” he said, lifting Angie onto the horse and pulling himself up behind her. Waving to the guests, they galloped down the road.
"Where are we going?” she asked, leaned back against his chest.
He didn't answer but brushed his lips across her cheek. They stopped in front of the Davis house. Dismounting, he pulled Angie from the animal and carried her to the doorway.
"I thought we decided to market this as a lover's getaway, not a honeymoon suite,” she said, her arms wrapped around his neck.
Turning the handle, he carried her inside. Candles illuminated the house. The scent of lavender and jasmine filled the air. “Jared, you did this for me?"
"Just for you,” he said, still holding her.
"Look!” she whispered, then pointed into the living room. “Do you see them?"
Turning his head in that direction, Jared gasped.
"You do see them, don't you?"
Jared nodded. Angie smiled at the apparitions.
Theodore and Mary smiled back then faded away.
Turning his face back toward her, Angie kissed Jared lightly on the lips. “Are you taking me upstairs?"
"Huh, oh yeah,” he said, walking toward the steps.
"Angelina."
A figure appeared in the doorway.
Jared stopped dead in his tracks. “What the—?"
Looking over his shoulder, Angie exclaimed, “Aunt Martha!"
Jared turned toward the voice.
"Angelina, my darling, you've married a wonderful young man.” Aunt Martha smiled at them.
"I sure have, haven't I? Aunt Martha, I'd like you to meet, Jared Maxwell."
"You take good care of my niece."
Jared's eyes widened. “I ... will..."
Angie grinned at her aunt. “He's in shock."
"I know, dear.” Martha glided closer to them. “Angelina, I'm moving on. We will not see each other again. Your part of the curse is broken.” She folded her hands in front of her. “Oh, and sweetie, will you please speak to Alan? I appeared to him tonight to tell him that I love him, but that silly old coot thinks he imagined me."
"I will, Aunt Martha."
"I love you, Angelina."
Angie smiled. “I love you too, Aunt Martha."
In an instant, she disappeared.
Jared stared at the now empty space. “Okaaay, we market it as a lover's getaway with a haunted twist. What's this about a curse?"
Angie laughed. Kissing him, she teased his lips with her teeth. “I'll tell you all about it later. Right now, all I want to know is if you're taking me upstairs or are you going to stand here holding me all night?"
Jared answered by carrying her up the steps and into the bedroom. The floor was covered in white rose petals, the bed in red petals. “Oh, Jared."
"White roses for your purity,” he whispered. “Red roses for our love."
"Don't forget that red is for passion too. Now put me down, Mr. Maxwell."
Jared stood her in front of him. Taking the veil from her hair, it cascaded in long dark locks around her bare shoulders and down her back.
Softly, their lips met. “I'll love you forever, Angelina,” he said against her lips. Without giving her a chance to answer, he kissed her deeply.
Then sweet, slow, and seductively he moved from her mouth, to her shoulder, and around to the nape of her neck. Holding the clasp of her zipper he slowly inched it down to her waist, kissing the skin underneath as it became exposed.
The gown fell to her ankles.
Angie gasped, shivered with anticipation.
Jared hooked his fingers in the sides of her lace panties, slid them down, ever so slowly. He followed with his mouth, covering her with hot, wet kisses.
When he reached her knees, he turned her around. Looking up at her, his gaze ravaged her body. “My God, Angelina, you're exquisite."
His hands skimmed her thighs, hips and sides as he stood and scooped her in his arms, carrying her to the bed.
I must have died and gone straight to heaven, she thought as the sound of her heart pounded loudly in her ears.
She watched Jared unbutton his shirt, tug it out of his pants, and throw it aside.
His eyes blazed, burning into her. She had to have her hands on him. Now.
"Jared, wait.” Sitting up, she scooted to the edge of the bed, reached for the waistband of his pants. “I want..."
What do I want?
To help. To do something other than lay here. To touch.
Fumbling with the button, then the zipper, she push
ed the pants down, leaving just his tented boxers. He stepped out of his pants, and then slipping the boxers off he stepped out of them too.
Angie's eyes widened. “Oh my God!"
Jared chuckled. “Whatever you say, my dear."
He laid her back on the bed and dropped a kiss on the rise of her breasts. Taking one in each hand, he kneaded, tweaked, and pinched until she was taunt and tight.
"Jared ... I'm so hot."
He took a nipple into his mouth. Arching into him, Angie held on to his shoulders. She lifted his head with her hands, crashed her mouth against his.
The hot fire intensified.
She wanted ... no needed ... all of him.
The soft caress of his chest hair against her nipples, the hardness pressing low against her, set her ablaze.
Reaching down she took him in her hand, slowly caressing the length of him. His body was like silken heat.
"Ah ... Angelina...” he groaned against her neck.
Moving his hand down her stomach to the slickness that waited for him he slipped a finger inside, capturing her gasp with his mouth.
She was consumed with him. With what he made her feel. She arched against his hand.
I'm beginning to understand what all the fuss is about. I'm so glad I waited. Jared is the only one for me.
And then his thumb stroked her, just there.
Hot ecstasy plunged through her. Her body rocked with the spasms he sent through her. Quaked until she was so tender she pulled his hand away.
Still she wanted more.
"Jared..."
"Baby ... the first time might hurt,” he whispered, gazing at her, his eyes burning with desire.
"It can't be worse than this wanting.” She nipped his arm with her teeth, ran her tongue along the inside of his elbow. “I love you, Jared. My body's burning for you. Don't worry, you aren't going to hurt me."
Splaying her legs, Jared lowered his mouth to her breasts. His tongue teased her until she moaned with pleasure. Suddenly Angie, grabbed his hips, and pulled him to her. Pausing at her center, he locked his gaze with hers.
"Yes ... Jared ... now."
Without waiting for him to move, Angie pulled his hips again, pushing him inside her. Jared, thrusting once, filled her; then held very still.
Blinding heat pierced seared though her core, branding her as his. A moment later the pain passed.
Angie pushed his hips away with her hands, pulled him back into her. “More, Jared. I want all of you!"
Jared took over, thrusting deeply as she rocked against him, meeting each thrust with one of her own.
So this is the big deal! she thought. I like it.
Moving faster, he pressed against her. Her body tightened. Something built, grew within her. Like a wild animal she pulled at him, wanting him closer, needing him deeper.
Until she went over the edge in release, her body felt as if it rocketed skyward, exploding in some other dimension.
"Jared!” she moaned, still spiraling out of control.
Holding her tightly, Jared murmured her name; then followed her into the abyss.
Lost in each other, they didn't notice as a glowing light appeared in the room. Swirling around them, it enveloped them in its mist.
Suddenly a brilliant radiance flashed from their bodies, streaming out of the bedroom windows, streaking through the darkness of night until it found the souls of the cursed and plunged into them.
Holding Angie in his arms, Jared rested his forehead against hers until their ragged breathing slowed.
"I'll love you until the end of time, Angelina."
Angie lifted his head, her eyes molten with desire, “And I'll love you until the end of time and beyond."
Teasing her lips with his mouth, Jared rolled over, pulling Angie onto his chest, whispering against her lips. “And beyond, my love, and beyond.
* * * *
Epilogue
A summer breeze gently swayed the treetops as an early morning mist rose from the forest floor. The flurry of feathers rode on the wings of silence.
Large oaks, planted in a circle two centuries earlier, dominated this section of woods. In the center of the sphere, a huge boulder jutted out of the earth, stretching five feet towards the sky.
An iridescent glow hovered above the flat top of the large rock, waiting.
Eight sheer forms appeared outside the circle of oaks, moving in from all sides. Each encircled the gigantic stone once, their bodies becoming denser when they stopped side by side in front of the glowing form.
A quick fierce wind blew into the circle, white sparks flitted through the air as the glowing orb slowly floated down to the rock. In a flash of light the orb transformed into the gypsy witch. His smoky eyes reflected the surrounding mist. Nodding, he quietly acknowledged each spirit form in turn, before moving to the next, until all were greeted.
Standing atop the boulder, he opened his arms up to the sky. As he lowered them back to his sides, the wind calmed to stillness.
"The time has drawn near,” the gypsy witch said, sitting down on the stone.
"What can we do?” asked Mary Slayton.
"We have done enough, you and I,” he said, the strength of his voice filling the air. “The curse I cast for you is near its end. In one year's time, we shall all be set free or doomed to walk these lands for eternity. The virgin who dreams has found true love. Now two more must do the same."
Stepping closer, Mary gazed up at the gorgeous young man whose eyes were now black. “Why are we trapped too? And Theodore? I don't understand."
The gypsy witch gazed down at Mary. “Theodore cursed himself to haunt Ruby and Clyde with his dying words. The curse I cast for you came back on us threefold. By cursing others, we cursed ourselves."
"I didn't know...” Mary said, stumbling over the words.
"Neither did I at the time.” He let his gaze linger on Mary for a moment. “Thus,” he said on a sigh, “because of our actions, we are bound to these lands as those we have cursed."
"Will the other two find true love?” asked Mary, stronger now.
"That is blocked from my sight. I can see that the task the sister faces is great. Yet, she is strong and has the gift of clairvoyance. The outcome I cannot see."
Mary stepped back into the line with the other cursed souls. “Gypsy witch,” she whispered, “will we see you again before the year's end?"
The gypsy witch spread his hands, palms outward in front of him. “You are eight from families four, bound by death at its door. I as one who can decree, by my hand, I do agree. We meet here once more to see, should true love stay or shall it flee. When twice you look upon this face, then we each shall know our fate."
Placing his hands back in his lap, a blue glow surrounded the gypsy witch until he dissolved into a brilliant whiteness in the center of an iridescent blue oval.
Eight returned the way that they had entered, once around the boulder, the denseness of their bodies becoming more translucent with each step. One by one, they left the circle, disappearing into the mist.
Songbirds began their morning melody as a breeze played gently within the leaves. Flickering toward the forest floor, the sun evaporated the mist, warming the earth.
The blue glow faded, shrinking in size until, alone on top of the boulder, sat a single gray cat.
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