by Kristie Cook
When I reached them, the words, “You know the rest. Remember.” glared brightly at me. Had they meant more than remembering that Jeric and I were Jacey and Micah? I hadn’t realized it before, but I thought so now. Then came “Save Rebethannah.” Scratched onto the page, like a prisoner would etch on a wall.
Theo’s instructions echoed in my mind:
“Believe.”
“Follow your instinct.”
“Trust your intuition.”
“Believe in yourself, little bird.”
I rolled over onto my back and closed my eyes, listening to the words bounce around my skull. If only my instinct wasn’t broken. Even when I reminded Jeric that he was supposed to follow my intuition, I couldn’t believe in it myself. I didn’t exactly have the best track record in understanding my gut, most recently proved by being wrong about Bex. In fact, following my soul’s pull to the manor and thinking we should have listened to Theo and Mira instead of jumping out of the window our first night there had probably been the only two times my intuition had been right. Well … and inviting Jeric to the lake with me. Trusting him …
Besides those, I had a history of making poor decisions. Something my mama never let me forget.
I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling as my thoughts transitioned to my mother and father and my multiple discussions with Theo about them and our familial status. I hadn’t been surprised when he called our relationships temporal, as much as I didn’t want to believe it. I knew deep down we hadn’t been a close-knit family. In fact, I didn’t tell Theo, but I’d always had an underlying suspicion that my dad cheated on my mother. During those times she’d treated me like a puppet and no more, I even fantasized about Daddy having another family and we’d run off and live with them. Since he worked so much, I always thought we’d had a good relationship, just that we didn’t get to spend much time together. But reconsidering now, I saw that we’d been little more than two people who lived in the same house. Judging by my lack of reaction at the moment, I supposed I’d also known that deep down all along.
The sound of my truck’s engine rumbled across the park, and my soul felt Jeric’s approaching. I smiled to myself, always pleased to have him near, and rolled back over onto my stomach. As I reached for the Book to close it, my breath caught for a moment. In huge letters, “HELP HER” scrawled across the page that only a few minutes ago had been blank. “SAVE HER” scrolled across the opposite leaf. I turned to the next page, and the word “BELIEVE” repeated across the left side and “INSTINCT” filled the right.
“You’re still right where I left you,” Jeric said, his footsteps coming down the short hallway and into the bedroom.
I didn’t know why, but I didn’t want him to see the words. Maybe because I knew they were specifically for me? Or because I didn’t want him to know how much I doubted myself? Either way, I slammed the Book shut, pushed it to the side of the bed, and turned to face him. “Yeah, I was just getting up.”
He leaned over and placed a hand on each side of my shoulders so that his torso hovered over me, effectively trapping me with his body.
“But you’re in my favorite place,” he murmured before brushing his lips across mine. His bright blue eyes skimmed over my face, and then his gaze lowered over my skimpily clad body. He gave me a sexy half-smile. “And dressed perfectly.”
He delivered a more proper kiss, his lips lingering on mine for a good long time before moving to my chin and jaw.
“Did you see Ty?” I asked as I rolled my head to the side, giving him better access.
“No,” he said, his lips not moving away from their path down my neck.
“It’s been almost a week.”
“I know.” His breath fluttered over my skin in a sigh. “He’s a grown man, though. Not much I can do.”
“I hope he’s okay.”
“I’m sure he is. The Lakari are still hanging around here, so they haven’t gone after him.”
“Unless they’ve already done something to him and left his body in the woods like they did Bex.” I paused, my heart contracting at the thought. “I mean, Jacey’s Bex.”
Jeric lifted his head to look at me. “You’re the one who doesn’t think he’s going Dark. Do you think they’re after Ty now?”
I frowned. “No. I’m worried about him, though.”
“He probably just needs time away from this town and its memories again, now that Bex has moved away.”
“He could have at least called you. You’re like his boss, aren’t you?”
Jeric dropped one arm to his elbow, shifting his weight to the side of me. “More like he’s my boss. If he doesn’t want to fight, I can’t make him. He’s his own manager. He’s a big boy, Leni, and probably doesn’t want to feel like he has to check in with anyone. I’m definitely not his mother.”
With one arm free from holding himself up now, he used that hand to play with the strap of my cami.
“Speaking of Bex, did you know she was coming home?” he asked.
I tilted my head on the pillow and gazed up at him. His eyes followed his finger as it pushed the strap over my shoulder. “I had no idea.”
“I saw her car at her trailer early this morning when I went for a run. Just hers, as if she’d spent the night there. But as I was headed home a few minutes ago, I passed both her car and Mason’s headed for the interstate.”
I gave a little shrug, enough to move my cami to expose the rise of my breast. “She didn’t call me. She probably decided to move something else down there.”
Jeric lowered his head to press his lips on the skin I’d just bared, nudging the fabric down farther with his mouth. His hand moved to my waist, and his thumb slid up and down along the sensitive skin over my hip.
“I’d like to move something down there,” he murmured as he pushed the waistband of my panties down.
I giggled and rolled onto my side to face him, pulling him away from my breast. I cupped my hand to his cheek and directed his mouth toward mine. Our lips parted almost immediately, and our tongues reintroduced themselves, although it always felt like the first time they met. Kissing Jeric sent chills across my skin every single time. As the kiss deepened and we explored each other’s mouths, his hand slid down my thigh, over my knee and to my calf. He hitched my leg up over his hip, causing his pelvis to press against mine. His erection grew between us. His hand moved back upward, to my butt, where it stopped and squeezed and caressed, his fingers often grazing the tiny piece of material between my legs, teasing the area underneath. I moaned into his mouth and moved my hips against him.
“Damn, Leni,” he gasped against my mouth. “You have no idea what hearing you moan like that does to me.”
I did have an inkling of an idea, feeling it pulse against the thin fabric of his running shorts as his lips traveled over my jaw again, heading southward once more. I leaned away enough to pull the cami over my head.
“Mmm ….” I moaned, louder this time, as he trailed kisses over my breast. His thumb dug into my hip, his fingers splayed over my ass, and he squeezed at the same time his tongue traced a circle around my areola. Then he jerked me harder against him, his lower head pressing into me right as he flicked my nipple then clamped his mouth over it and sucked. I arched my back, trying to thrust my tit further into his mouth while rocking my hips so our most sensitive areas felt the friction through the clothing. “Oh, God, Jeric.”
His tongue ran a circle around my nipple as he gazed up at me before he pulled away and smiled. “I like hearing that even more.”
I grasped at the bottom of his shirt and yanked it upward, pulling it over his head. I reached for his nipples and pinched and tugged on the rings until he leaned out of reach. He backed up, onto his knees, his bare chest a beautiful sight to behold as it rose and fell with his heavy breaths. Slowly, my eyes lifted to his fac
e, questioning. That smile—mischievous and daring—lingered on his lips as his blue eyes pierced me to my soul.
“You know what I love to hear more than anything?” he asked.
I propped myself up on my elbows and stared back at him. “I love you, Jeric.”
His smile faltered. “Well, besides that.”
“Um …” My head fell back, though my eyes remained glued to his. He circled his hand around one of my ankles and moved my leg to other side of him, and his fingers trailed lightly over and between my breasts, down to my belly button, making my tummy quiver. “Make love to me?”
Both hands were on me now, sliding over my hips and under my panties, pushing them down. I lifted my butt up so he could continue, and the lock of our gaze broke. His eyes jumped lower, watching as I lifted one leg and then the other, allowing him to free my panties from my body. His hands clamped onto my bent knees and pushed them apart. His tongue slid over his lips as he stared hungrily at my center. I couldn’t help but wriggle under his gaze. The corners of his lips tilted into that teasing smile again. His eyes traveled up my body, leaving a trail of tingles as though he’d actually touched me, and back to my face.
“I love to hear you beg,” he said huskily before he crashed down on top of me, his mouth pulling on my tit and his fingers digging into my thighs.
“Please, Jeric,” I said as I arched against him. “Make love to me.”
He pulled my nipple between his teeth, then said, “Nuh-uh. Not like that,” before diving after the other one. His hands continued squeezing and kneading my thighs as they made their way toward my butt. Toward the area that throbbed with an aching need. His thumb barely grazed me.
“Touch me,” I whimpered.
He released my breast, my nipple standing hard and long, and moved his mouth downward, while his hands pushed my thighs further outward.
“That’s better,” he said, his breath hot on my stomach. “But not quite.”
His lips and tongue left a trail as they moved around my belly button and side to side across my pelvis. He clutched my thighs, now spread wide, and his thumbs stroked and massaged an outer circle, not touching the normal sweet spot, but still sending shockwaves over me. His eyes held mine as he stretched his legs out behind him, hovering his face right over me.
“Oh, God, please, Jeric,” I moaned, and I reached down and grasped his head. “Lick me, baby.”
“That’s more like it.” He dipped down, his thumbs separated me, and his tongue swept against me. My pelvis jerked toward him, my hands fisted in his hair, and I cried out. When he didn’t do it again, I looked down at him. He was staring at me, his eyes glassy but expectant.
“More, please,” I whined. He licked me again, and then his tongue lingered over my clit, swirling and flicking. “Oh, yes. Don’t stop.”
Thankfully, he didn’t. His tongue and his fingers and his lips did miraculous things over the entire area, from my pelvis to my ass, making me moan and cry out and convulse against him. He built me up and up and up until I was screaming his name, about to lose myself completely. And when I thought he had no more magic to perform, his lips wrapped around my clit, his fingers slid inside and twisted and stroked, and waves and waves of orgasm overcame me.
“I want you,” I gasped as I tried to pull him upward.
He leaned back, then stood up to take his shorts off. My eyes fell to exactly what I wanted, and my tongue slipped over my lips.
“Beg, Leni,” he said.
“Make love to me,” I said again, my voice raspy and my chest heaving.
He shook his head, but he dropped down over me, bracing himself with his hands. His erection rubbed my belly. “What do you want?”
“You,” I said. His eyes narrowed. “Your cock?” His lips quirked. That must have been what he wanted to hear. I lowered my voice. “Give me your cock, Jeric.”
He chuckled softly. I gave him a dirty look. “That sounds a little weird from you. But I still like hearing it. Beg some more.”
I slid one arm over his shoulders and reached the other one down between us, and I wrapped my palm around him, guiding him to the right spot. I tightened my grip slightly and slid my hand up and down a few times, making him moan. I pulled him closer to me, licked up the side of his jaw and wrapped my lips around his ear lobe then scraped my teeth over it.
“Fuck me, Jeric,” I whispered, breathing heavily against his ear. “Please.”
He groaned and thrust his hips, sliding inside me. My hands went to his shoulders, and my nails dug lines down his back as he pumped in and out, and I rocked up and down to meet his every stroke. I grabbed his hard ass and lifted my hips out and up.
“That’s right, baby, fuck me hard,” I said, and this must have been exactly what he wanted to hear because he moved faster, going deeper, sending jolts of pleasure up my belly, over my breasts and out to my limbs. Just as I was about to come again, he pulled out.
“Turn over,” he said.
I rolled onto my hands and knees. He slapped my butt cheek, then grabbed my hips and drove into me from behind.
“Oh, yes,” I cried out. “More, Jeric. Give it to me.”
He pounded harder. “Keep begging, baby.”
“Fuck me. Harder. Faster. That’s it. Oh, yeeeessss.”
“Scream my name for me.”
And I yelled it for the whole park to hear as he drove into me over and over, one of his hands splayed over my belly and his finger pressing and rubbing my clit, while his hips slapped against my ass, taking us all the way to the edge and beyond. With a shout from both of us, our souls exploded out of our bodies and collided into each other, heightening every sensation, until we were both screaming for the other even as our essences swirled into one.
Our bodies stayed in the moment as we slowly drifted down from our high. We hovered in the room, no need to leave, enjoying our togetherness for a while. We noticed the Book had fallen to the floor by the side of the bed, and the revelation that it could have powers passed through us, enlightening Jeric. He also learned of the new messages the Book had left. I couldn’t keep anything from him when we were like this. We hoped the Book’s power of communication didn’t mean someone could hear us any time they wanted to. What just happened was only for us. As Jeric told me many times when I’d been a little hesitant to try a few things, what happened in our bedroom stayed in our bedroom.
Eventually we returned to our bodies and jumped into the shower, one at a time because my bathroom was so tiny. Jeric went first, needing less time than me, and after I washed, I stood under the warm water for a few minutes. The words “Believe” and “Instinct” echoed in my mind as “Save Her” and “Help Her” flashed before my eyes, but then my mind wandered back to my parents. To my father, especially. I was still thinking about him after I’d dressed and was combing my hair out, and then I remembered the newspaper page I’d taken from Bex. More specifically, the article about an international summit my dad attended every year for work. I’d wanted to read more about it and find out where it was being held this year. I thought maybe if I saw him one more time, I’d know for sure what I’d always felt but denied.
As I squatted down to retrieve the article from a drawer under the bed, my eye caught on the Book of Phoenix. Water had apparently dripped from my hair onto the cover, and everywhere there was a drop, the leather glowed a silvery blue. I picked it up, stood and studied it in the light. The drops moved across the leather, accumulating together in the parts of the cover that depicted the ocean, showing it as crystal blue. I brushed my fingers over the water, and it disappeared, returning the leather to its normal, cracked brown. But again, something danced on the edges of my mind. A memory? A thought. I had a new idea—something I thought maybe the Book could do. One of the powers I’d given it.
“Hey, Jeric, come here,” I called out to the living room
as I stuffed my phone in my pocket and my feet into the closest pair of shoes. He was by my side in two seconds. “I want to see something.” I had a feeling I knew what would happen if we tested the bottom of the water in the image, below the island and the tree, where the Gate would be, but I wasn’t ready to find out. I wanted to start small. I didn’t really know what to do, but I took a guess. “I’m going to touch the phoenix, and I’m going to believe. If something weird happens, grab me, okay?”
“Believe in what?” he asked skeptically.
“Believe in the Book,” I said, and before he asked more questions and analyzed the situation to death, I stroked my finger over the phoenix engraved into the weeping willow’s trunk.
Color filled the bird’s body and tail, and a ghostly image of it rose from the cover and grew. Blues, teals, peaches, pinks, and purples swirled in the shape of the phoenix, and it flew in a circle around us like colorful smoke, there but not there. As its wings rose around us, the colors in the bird’s body turned into yellows, oranges, and reds, and expanded outward to its wings, head, and tail, and the phoenix burst into fire.
Jeric’s arms wrapped around me, and the flames of the bird surrounded us, licking at our bodies, though we felt no heat or burns. Starting at the tips of the tail and working its way upward, black now filled in the shape of the bird. The phoenix exploded in sparks and ash, and then blackness engulfed us. And then bright light and cold air against my skin. I blinked against the brightness until shapes began to form. White capped mountains in the distance under a clear blue sky. If that wasn’t enough to tell us we weren’t in Florida anymore, the much cooler air was.