JoshuasMistake

by A. S. Fenichel

  She took his hand and let herself be led up to the porch. Adianca sat in an old rocker and watched the mess in her yard being cleaned up. Joshua stopped in front of Adianca. “Shaman, this is my woman, Tessa Clark.”

  Everything inside Tessa tightened as if she were a rubber band pulled too tight. His woman, was that what she was? He’d said he loved her. She knew she felt the same, but he hadn’t asked about her feelings. In the spirit world she’d told him the truth, but that had been so surreal.

  Adianca took her hands. “I am glad you found your way back, child. Only a very strong person could have gone so deeply into the spirit world and then returned and it will take such a woman to make Lakeland happy.”

  The old woman stood and tugged gently on Tessa’s hands to bring her low enough so she could kiss her forehead. “I wish you a very good life.”

  Joshua leaned forward and she kissed his forehead as well. “Thank you, Teacher.”

  “Now go and sleep. You will have much to do once you have rested.”

  The two women, Rain and Lucy, forced her to eat and drink something before she was allowed to go to bed. They were right of course, but she could barely lift a fork to her mouth. Her body had not been active, but she had had no rest either. All she wanted was to lose herself in sleep and pray she would not dream.

  Even as badly as Tessa needed to sleep she wanted a shower. She managed to step into the stall and let the warm water beat down on her for a long time. She didn’t move, too tired to lift the washcloth and soap.

  Joshua’s mind caressed hers as he stepped inside the large shower stall. She never opened her eyes only let his loving thoughts slip through hers. She allowed his hands to move over her body soaping her. He didn’t miss an inch of skin, soaping and massaging her sore muscles as he went. He washed her hair with strong yet tender fingers. When the last bit of soap was rinsed away he turned off the water.

  She wanted to protest, to insist she needed more of the pounding water. Yet she didn’t. Her eyes opened and she found him tugging the towel down from the rack. He dried her face, shoulders, neck and arms. He made his way down her body, slowly and methodically drying every inch of her. It might have been erotic if she hadn’t been so completely exhausted.

  Lifting her off of her feet, he carried her into the next room and placed her on the bed. She made no objection to being treated as if she were a child. Even that would have taken too much energy. She sat cross-legged in the middle of the large mattress, her eyes slid closed and she dozed until she felt the tug of a brush through her short hair. Once the snags were pulled away the motion soothed her and she never felt the last brush stroke.

  She didn’t know how much time had passed. It was dark outside when she woke to find herself tucked close against Joshua’s warm body. She didn’t remember being moved to lie on the bed or having the covers pulled up over her. It was a bit sad to have missed such loving moments of Joshua taking care of her.

  “Go back to sleep, beautiful.” He kissed her shoulder.

  Giving the pillow a plumping, she complied, letting sleep pull her back under.

  * * * * *

  It was even darker when she next opened her eyes. Joshua’s arms still held her. She could see a tray of food on the nightstand.

  “How do you feel?” he asked.

  “Strange.” It was true. She didn’t feel pain or fear. Her body was a little stiff and suddenly being in the real world was odd. Had she cheated death?

  “It’s almost dawn. I helped you sleep.”

  “How?” His admission should have made her nervous, but she trusted him.

  “I blocked your dreams, made them unimportant. I thought you might have nightmares and you needed to sleep.”

  “Thank you. Did you sleep?” She rolled in his embrace so she could face him.

  His fingers ran through her hair, pushing it out of her face. “I did. I can direct your dreams while I sleep as long as we are connected. I hope you don’t mind my entering your aura without permission.”

  The corners of her mouth tugged up. While sensing auras was not one of her psi talents she did sense the hum of his presence within her. He didn’t invade, only kept the thread of their connection secure. It was as warm and comforting as being in his arms. “You always have my permission, Joshua. You may stay linked with me for as long as you wish.”

  His arm wrapped around her ass and pulled her in tight so she felt his cock hard against her pelvis. A hum of excitement vibrated along the thread. “And if I say for the rest of our lives?”

  She was sure her eyes must have been wide. Her heart sped up and a bubble of excitement started in her belly and spread outward. Joy and shock warred in her mind. “Is that true? Is that what you want?”

  “I want you, Tessa. I want you for as long as you’ll have me. I don’t know what I would have done if you’d stayed in the spirit world and your body had died.”

  She didn’t know what to say. It probably should have been something warm and fuzzy. A normal girl would have hoped he’d have stayed with her but anger at the man who’d nearly left her shattered in the world of the dead pushed to the surface. “I hope you would have gotten yourself out and killed that bastard Banta.”

  He pressed his lips lightly on her nose. “I would not have let you die in vain, if that is what you are asking.”

  “But I didn’t die. You saved me.”

  He shook his head. “I only convinced you to save yourself.”

  “I don’t see the difference.”

  He was quiet and even though she could have read his thoughts through their link she waited to hear his words. Some things meant more when spoken out loud. “I love you, Tessa. You are the one woman who is meant for me. I would die for you.”

  If her heart could have exploded from pure joy that would have been the moment. Her chest ached with the pressure of the expansion. It took her a moment to draw enough breath to speak. “I love you too, Joshua. I don’t know how it can be possible in such a short time, but I’ve loved you almost from the moment you walked into the room where I was chained to the table.”

  The smile that spread across his handsome face was filled with so much joy she was sure she would have said anything to keep the expression there. His cock pressed harder between them. She pressed her hips forward in invitation.

  “Come with me.” He pushed up off the bed and away from her.

  She couldn’t help smiling back at him. She looked down at her naked body and up at his glorious form. “Where are we going?”

  Joshua pulled on a pair of jeans and tossed her clothes onto the bed. “Hurry, there isn’t much time.”

  “Time for what?” She had no idea what he had in mind, but in spite of her curiosity and the fact she wanted his cock buried deep inside her, she sat up and pulled on her jeans.

  As soon as she was dressed he grabbed the Indian blanket off the end of the bed and a gun from the nightstand. He tucked the first under his arm and the second in the back of his jeans. Taking her hand, he tugged her out of the room, through the quiet house and out the front door.

  Several men stood guard outside the house. Two were obviously FBI and three others must have come from the reservation to protect their shaman. One of the men nodded at Joshua and he acknowledged him before leading her to a jeep parked with several other vehicles. As soon as she was buckled in he drove them into the desert.

  The sun had not yet crested the earth as they made their way across the cold rock and sand.

  They’d traveled two or three miles before he pulled to a stop.

  She looked at the canyon and back at him. “Is that the Grand Canyon?”

  He smiled and grabbed the blanket from the backseat and the gun from the consol. “No. We’re still in Nevada. The Grand Canyon is not too far off.” He pointed toward the east. Come on. Let’s get out of the jeep.”

  She walked with him to a group of rocks standing twenty feet from the edge of the cliff-face that dropped off sharply. The rock walls were stil
l in shadow as Joshua leaned against a boulder and pulled her back against his chest. His arms wrapped around her middle and she relaxed against him. His warm body and the cool desert air were the perfect complement to each other.

  A sliver of sunlight shone over the horizon. Light bled onto the earth and filled the canyon with color. Orange, red and purple were the most vibrant colors, but every other hue filled the land as if it were a kaleidoscope against the rock cliffs.

  “My God.” Her breath caught on the words.

  Joshua’s lips touched the side of her neck and without taking her eyes off the stunning beauty before her she leaned her head to the side to give him better access to the sensitive spot. “Not bad, huh?”

  “It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” As more sunlight drenched the canyon more colors saturated the rock walls. A few gashes of clouds across the sky glowed pink and red. She had to remind herself to breathe.

  “You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, Tessa. The desert sky pales in comparison to you.”

  “I had no idea you were such a poet.” She teased him and wiggled her backside tighter against his crotch.

  His arms snugged her closer and he trailed kisses along her neck and shoulder. He laughed against her skin. “Neither did I.”

  The myriad of color continued to strengthen and change until the full light of the desert sun began to wash out the deeper shades. So much beauty in such a short time and then it was gone. The canyon and the desert were still beautiful, but the colors paled in comparison to the saturation of the first light of day.

  Tessa took a deep breath and turned to face him. “So what happens now?”

  “Now if you’ll let me I’m going to make love to you in the desert.”

  A giggle erupted from deep in her chest and she leaned in to rest her head on his shoulder. “That sounds wonderful, but I was thinking of our situation.”

  He took her head in both his hands and looked her in the eye. “We win or we die trying. Though I would prefer we live. But first…”

  His lips captured hers with a desperation that surprised her. Even more surprising was her own neediness after everything that had happened. She wanted to touch him and have him touch her. Her time in the spirit world made her yearn for things she could touch, things that did not slip away.

  His fingers raked through her hair and gripped the back of her head. She clutched at his shoulders desperate to get closer while letting him explore her mouth.

  Tongues, lips and teeth gnashed together. Tessa’s body hummed and her pussy tightened with desire.

  Joshua’s grip constricted as his kisses moved across her cheek to her ear. “I thought I’d lost you.”

  “I was lost. I was broken into pieces.” She trembled at the memory of the pain of having her aura ripped away.

  “How can you ever forgive me?”

  She jumped up, wrapping both her long legs round his hips. His cock nestled hard and snug against her pussy. Only denim separated them. “I made the choice to put down my barriers.”

  He gripped her with both hands at the juncture of her ass and thighs. “You were protecting me. I should have been keeping you safe.”

  She palmed his cheeks. “Who made that rule? What are you, some kind of Neanderthal?”

  He laughed.

  “I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time. I could no more let the bullet kill you than you could leave me in the spirit world to die. Now are you going to keep up this guilt thing or make love to me?”

  He eased her back onto her feet. “I’m probably going to feel guilty for a while, but I’m still going to make love to you.”

  “Get over it, Lakeland. We’re both alive.”

  “True.” He took her hand, picked up the blanket he’d lain across the boulder and tugged her back behind the rock formation.

  Once they were hidden she realized the stones formed a circle that protected a small area of earth. Joshua spread the blanket on the ground, placed the handgun on the ground next to it and turned to look at her.

  She kicked the dirt and crossed her arms over her chest, unsure what to do next. It wasn’t as if they hadn’t had sex before, but her heart pounded as if she were a virgin after the prom. Something about knowing he loved her changed the game. Maybe the difference was it wasn’t a game. Somehow, by some miracle, Joshua Lakeland had fallen in love with her and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Just thinking it made her heart beat a bit faster.

  A wicked little smile turned up one side of his mouth. He pulled the T-shirt over his head, revealing his ripped abs and solid pecs. She just stood gaping at him while he unbuttoned his fly and kicked off his shoes. A moment later he stood in front of her, completely naked and unashamed.

  In spite of the cool desert morning his cock was thick and hard. Tessa found her mouth watering at the sight of him.

  His gaze never left her as he stretched out on the blanket.

  She toed off her shoes and stepped onto the blanket. She stripped off her shirt and jeans without waiting to feel self-conscious before straddling his hips and grinning down at him.

  Grinding her hips forward, his cock slid along her slit, sending sensations shooting through her. She was already wet just from the look of him, a deep moan started in her chest and blended with a low groan from Joshua. The tip of his cock found her opening and she pressed down.

  “Too soon,” he said.

  In a heartbeat he flipped her over and braced his hand under her head so she had a soft landing on the hard ground.

  “If you wanted to be on top you just had to ask. No need to be so dramatic.” She couldn’t help the girlish giggle that bubbled up.

  “You can be on top, beautiful. Just not yet.” That wicked smile was back. He slid down her body and dipped his tongue into her bellybutton. An almost electric jolt shot directly down to her pussy.

  He moved farther down her torso and she leaned on her elbows so she could watch him as he blew on her wet folds. She gasped, sensations pulsing in anticipation. His tongue slid between her closed lips, finding the spot that would drive her mad and then he pulled back before doing it again.

  The noise she made was more animal than human, half growl half purr. She kept her vision focused on those beautiful blue eyes staring up at her. He moved lower, spread her legs and exposed her sensitive folds to the cool breeze. Joshua rubbed his bristled chin along the inside of her thigh. Her hips rose of their own accord, wanting to add pleasure to the abrasion. He repeated the motion on her other thigh and dipped his tongue inside her pussy.

  She sighed his name, rolled her head back and closed her eyes, fully enjoying the ecstasy of his mouth. He licked from her anus to her clit over and over again until she squirmed beneath him. His tongue swirled around the sensitive bud and she grabbed handfuls of the blanket while pushing her hips up to meet his clever mouth. His thumb perched at her entrance for a long moment. She tried to bring him inside, wanting to be full of any part of Joshua, but he teased by swirling the digit around the very edge.

  He sucked hard on her clit and plunged his thumb inside. She pumped up and down, groaning with pleasure as her orgasm crashed down around her. Joshua held perfectly still while her rapture cascaded and then subsided.

  “You are so gorgeous when you come, Tessa.”

  She wanted to say something clever, but all she could manage was to voice her own desires. “I want you inside me.”

  Instead of climbing on top of her he pulled her to a sitting position. He grabbed a condom from his jeans and rolled it on his shaft. Once he was sitting Indian style, his cock jutting straight up in invitation, she moved onto his lap with her legs wrapped around his back.

  Joshua grabbed her ass and lifted while she pushed herself with her hands on his shoulders. His thick rod balanced at her canal and she lowered herself slowly onto him. His groan echoed off the rocks. Tessa threw her head back and cried out the names of deities she didn’t even believe in as he filled her to capacity.


  Neither one moved for a moment. “You feel so good, Joshua.”

  He only managed another groan of pleasure.

  Tessa leveraged her weight with her arms on his shoulders while he lifted his thighs up, pulling his cock nearly all the way out. A controlled release allowed gravity to bring them back together. Her body pulsed with the coming of another orgasm. When he’d been licking her pussy she’d been too wrapped up in her own pleasure to pay attention to their connection. Now Joshua’s mind was wide open and every time she sank onto his smooth cock, sensations both his and her own swamped her. Her breasts ached to be touched and a second later a hand came up and gripped her breast, pinching the nipple just to the edge of pain.

  Over and over she lifted herself and plunged down, fucking Joshua and feeling everything he felt. Her body quaked with the need to come. Her pussy soaked his cock and they slid together as if they were both fashioned from silk. She couldn’t have stopped if she wanted to. Every thought was about pleasure, every movement about bringing his orgasm.

  He was growing harder, thicker and closer to the edge. Her body tightened in anticipation. Joshua grabbed her hips. Lifting her up and slamming her down harder on his shaft, setting the rhythm he needed until he exploded. As soon as he plummeted over the edge she quaked with her own orgasm. Her entire body shook with pleasure. Clinging to him and drawing herself down to take more of him while her canal pulsed around his cock shot another quiver of pleasure through her.

  Joshua’s legs shook when he felt it too and he relaxed his legs so she could slide a bit farther down. “Joshua.”

  “I know.”

  There was no need to talk about how unbelievable it had been to remain completely open to each other during sex. There were no words that could adequately describe the ecstatic bliss of feeling both orgasms at once.

  In a smooth motion Joshua lifted her from his lap and moved them both to lying. She was rubbery and had no desire to move. His arms pulled her close and wrapped her up. Their legs entwined and he tucked her head under his chin.