“Yeah.”
“Are you okay?” Mercedes asks.
“Do I look okay?”
“Okay. Just breathe.”
“I’m trying to.”
“You need to be out there when that song ends,” Lucy says.
“She’s right.”
“Okay I’m okay.”
Criss is at the door. “Are you okay, Bell?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I just need to be at the banister when he gets done with the song.”
“Okay.”
When he stands up Belladonna is standing right there clapping. He blows her a kiss and goes back to the mic for the rest of the set.
All the girls dance together since Lucy isn’t comfortable with men. Damari offers to dance with her. Giving her plenty of space. She agrees to try it. He gives her more than enough space. Belladonna jokes that a car could fit between them. Cooper starts dancing with Belladonna. Mercedes dances with Miller. Criss dances behind Belladonna. Not overly close but close enough that you know he is dancing with her. Gatlin sits and drinks. The song ‘I Want You’ comes on. Belladonna chuckles to herself remembering the time in the house with Criss. She feels Criss touching her neck and then she hears his voice. “I want you. I want you so bad. I want you. I want you so bad it’s driving me mad. It’s driving mad.”
Belladonna smiles to herself and sends him back visions of the evening. Of her up against the door. She knows he is getting hard. She feels him lick her neck. He finally says, “I want you now. I’ll meet you in the restroom in five minutes. Please meet me. Please.”
Criss walks away. Cooper looks at her and nods his head.
She goes into the women’s restroom and the handicap stall Criss is waiting. As soon as he sees her, he is kissing her. He has her pressed up against the wall. He pulls down her panties along with his pants and boxers. He feels how wet she is. He slides inside of her. He is going as fast as he can. He is trying not to scream out. “My god you feel so good around me. So damn good. My hot sweet princess. Going to burn me up. I can barely stand it. I want you again. I want you all night. I know I can't have that, but I want it. Damn I want it. You feel so good. My little girl. God my sweet little girl.”
“Bite me, Criss. Please bite me.”
“Yes, Bell whatever you want.
Is that what you’ve been missing? Stretching me out to fit you? Making it perfectly fit for you? Do you remember that? God you are forgetting to breath King. Oh, that got you. Show me how bad you missed your princess. Harder. Remember you don’t have much time. It will be slow next time. This time it’s just about connecting. Show me how much you love me. Breathe Criss. Breathe.
“I’m about to cum from that. You still fit me perfectly. You are still mine or rather second place mine.”
“I like that second place mine. I love you, Criss.”
“I love you, Belladonna.”
Belladonna came out of the restroom first. Cooper met her outside. Kissing her and they went to go get a drink. Criss came over to them and got a beer. Pete and the band were playing their heavier stuff now. Lucy hugged Belladonna when she came back over. “I thought you left me.”
“I would never do that.”
“Mercedes said that.”
“She would know.”
“He keeps looking for you.”
“He sees me now.”
“He’s happy now.”
“Yes, he is.”
Belladonna is singing with Lucy and Mercedes singing as well. Most of the girls are singing and dancing. Gatlin says, “Yes male bashing songs. Bringing the girls together since the dawn of time.”
All the guys laugh.
“What’s great is Pete singing it,” Sam says.
“Well, he does it for the masses,” Rogers says.
“He is popular for it,” Damari says, pointing to the posse of women he has.
“He only wants one woman.” Miller points out.
“Yes, I know.” Cooper says laughing watching his wife laughing and dancing.
“I think I’m going to head out,” Criss says.
“Are you okay to drive?” Sam asks.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just tired.”
“I’m taking you home.”
“I don’t need a driver.I only had a beer.”
“Well, you got drugged man.”
“Nicolae.”
“Yeah Criss.”
“Will you lock me up in my room.”
“I already planned on taking precautions for you.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Nicolae, Sam, and Criss all leave together. They give Criss a drug test when they get home and he tests positive for B72. It’s like the date rape drug but for supernatural people is how Nicolae explains it. Criss goes into his bedroom where they lock him up tight. Nicolae stands guard outside of his room. Sam stays until more people come home.
“Well maybe I’ll see you tomorrow on campus.”
“Maybe if nothing else I’ll see you Saturday at my place.”
“Yes, you will.”
Lucy pauses for a moment then kisses Belladonna on the cheek and leaves. They wait until she is out of earshot. “She wanted to kiss you,” Mercedes says.
“So do over half the men in our group,” Roger points out.
“Very true.”
“All right we’re going home,” Belladonna says.’
“What the boss says.” Cooper grabs Belladonna’s hand.
They head out to the car. He locks the doors and starts kissing her. He whispers into her ear. “Getting you in that shower when we get home.”
“Sounds like a deal.”
“You need to check on Criss first.”
“I will.”
“Then you’re mine.”
“I’m always yours.”
“I’m well aware.”
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
Belladonna holds his hand the whole way home thinking about how much she loves him. Wondering if he would still love her if he knew the truth about her. Probably not. She could hope so but probably not. It was a necessary evil. She squeezes his hand hoping he’ll realize she is trying to send out an S.O.S. but he doesn’t think so. He thinks she is just showing her love. Soon he’ll realize it and by the time it will be too late. So so too late. “Coop?”
“Yes, my love?”
“Do you think after I have this baby you could decorate a tattoo for me?”
“Yes of course I can. I’d love to do that.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
When they get home, Nicolae lets Belladonna in the room to see Criss. He is passed out. When she reaches out to touch him, He looks like he is going to kill her. “You aren’t her.”
“Baby, it’s me.”
“Prove it.”
“You never liked me going down on you. You thought it was degrading for your princess to do it. One night you fell asleep, and I did it. You woke up and I was doing it. You were so mad, but you were enjoying it so much. You finally calmed down and came for me. You made me promise not to do it again. You would let me do it from time to time but not frequently. You couldn’t stand to see me do it. I always thought it was an age thing but even when I got older you wouldn’t let me do it.”
“It’s you. I missed you. God I missed you. I was drugged with B72.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’m okay. We’re okay. You’re okay. Everything is good.”
“Mercedes has a vision of a threeway between Lucy, you, and me.”
“Never going to happen. I’m a you only guy.”
“I know you are.”
“I really will be.”
“Oh, you’re going to.”
“Yes. I can’t risk it.”
“I understand.”
“It’s too easy to happen.”
“I understand.”
“Are you going to stay in here f
or a bit or do you need to go to bed.”
“I need to go to bed.”
“Okay get some sleep.”
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
Belladonna reaches down and kisses him. Criss pulls her down on his bed. He wraps his arms around her and kisses her. His hand slides up her leg and under her panties. She starts moaning. She puts a silencer on the room. “Can I have you?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
The plantation was even more beautiful the second time seeing it. Belladonna looked for Easton but didn’t see him then she heard him off to the left. He smiled. “I wanted to give you time to enjoy the view.”
“It is gorgeous.”
“I am so glad you enjoy it.”
“I really do.”
“I will be with your group on Saturday.”
“Seems like you were with us tonight.”
“I just wanted an idea of what you were like.”
“And?”
“It’s interested vampires, fae, witches all hanging out together.”
“We’re different.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Anything else you noticed?”
“The connections between people are very strange.”
“Such as?”
“Okay take that girl that was beside you.”
“Yes Lucy.”
“She has a connection to Gatlin. It’s an old familiar connection. Once romantic. Then there is a new connection with you. One of our first lessons is to learn connections. They will save your life. Understand?”’
“Can I ask a question?”
“It’s not recent. I do believe she is doing this for him.”
“Thank you, that's what I needed to know.”
“Cooper?”
“What you think you know about him is what you know about him. He loves you above all else. He puts you above all these. He worries about you. Don’t take him for granted ever.”
“I would never. He is my life.”
“I know. I can tell. He means the world to you. You protect him about all else. Even before your daughter but he’s the same way. You two have a very unique connection. Very unique. It’s beautiful. People would kill to have what you two have. Never worry about it. You two can weather any storm. Remember that.”
“I will.”
“He loves you unconditionally.”
“I love him unconditionally.”
“Don’t worry then.”
“I do worry.”
“I know you do.”
Easton hugs Belladonna. She starts to cry softly. He rubs her back and shhs her. She finally calms down. Easton sits her down on the grass in front of the house. She just sits there. “I think I’m ready to leave.”
“Okay. “
Belladonna is in the forest. Cooper comes out from behind the trees with
a huge smile on his face. “Did you miss me already?” Cooper asks.
“Yes, I did.”
“We just made love for a couple hours. I didn’t think you could possibly miss me.”
“I miss you the moment I leave you.”
“I feel the same way,” Cooper scoops Belladonna in his arms and holds her tight.
“I love you unconditionally.”
“I love you unconditionally.”
“Promise no matter what you’ll always love me.”
“I swear it.”
“Okay just want to make sure.”
“What’s going on.”
“Nothing.”
Belladonna felt the air change. She knew Cooper made it safe. Very safe to talk. He looks at her in that way that says everything is fine. Tell me you killed the President and I’ll get you out of it. She didn’t know how to get out of this. She stood there shaking now. Cooper didn’t touch her. He knew better. He just waited. Finally, she got herself together. She looks at Cooper. He comes over and holds her hand. She supplied the information he needed in a touch. He looks at her with his mouth open. She waits for him to yell. Scream, Demean her. Slap her. Something. Instead, he hugs her. He HUGS HER. “It’s going to be okay. We’ll find a way out of this. We’ll find a way out. I swear. We’ll find a way out. First thing first we take care of the girl.”
“What do we do?”
“Harperion might be able to help us with that and get Gatlin at the same time.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll take care of that.”
“Okay.”
“I need to get a hold of The Society.”
“The Society really?”
“They help our kind. I think they would in this case.”
“They might just say screw you too.”
“Let me try.”
“Easton the new teacher. He might be on our side.”
“I’ll find out.”
Belladonna sits down on the ground. Cooper sits down beside her. He puts his arm around her. “It’s going to be okay. Our family is going to be okay. I swear they are.”
“I know you’re right.”
“We saw it. Everything is going to be okay. We also saw….”
“That could have easily been Criss. I choose to believe it was Criss. You should ask Sam if you can look. Sam is up there in abilities he should be able to let you see.”
“You’re right.”
“Well let that work.”
‘“Okay I will.”
“Now lay down.”
“Yes husband.”
“Thank you, wife.”
Harperion has a full house today, first though to take care of Criss. “I understand what you request. I can grant it for you. At a price.”
“What is the price?”
“To erase what happened to her as a child.”
“She doesn’t want that done.”
“She doesn’t?”
“No.”
“Well then I guess I’ll do it for you then. Get in the circle. Hold this black candle. Red sand around you. I’m giving you a little bonus.” Harperion uses the small spell he recited for Cooper and Belladonna. To allow communication, not to be duplicated, and no sex with others. He also did the same thing with Nicolae when he came last night. “Okay Criss you are done. You may leave.”
“Is there any way I can get the thread back?”
“Let’s worry about that later, okay?”
“Okay you’re right.”
Criss leaves and Cooper comes in. Harperion switches a button, and the room becomes like a fortress. “This room is safe already; this makes sure it’s super safe. Not even they can hear out there. I got your request. I can do it. I just want to make sure this is what you want.”
“Harperion, it has to be done. Bad things are coming. Things that will affect you greatly. All of us.”
“I will do it. I will also put extra steps into place for things to “fall” into place. Hopefully, that will stop things enough. Hopefully. I checked on Easton. He is a member of The Society. So they know what is going on and brought someone to fix things. I feel as though The Circle is also got a hand in this as well. I’ll find out. Let’s do this spell. Well, several spells.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s worth it if it stops The Emptiness.”
She is on her break of the day when someone brings her flowers. She gets the
Card and reads it:
Hope I didn’t make too big of an ass out of myself last night.
All my love-
P
Belladonna smiles at the yellow roses on her lap and puts the card up. Damari is just sitting there doing homework. “You didn’t make an ass out yourself last night. I loved it.”
“Well, you haven’t said anything about it.”
“We haven’t been alone to say anything about it.”
“No, we haven’t.”
“Did you want to have the discussion in front of Damari?”
“No not particularly.”
“Okay then so wai
t until we’re alone.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Belladonna can you walk with me?” Pete asks.
“Yeah, hold on.”
“I’ll see you in class,” Damari says.
“See you there.”
“This better?” Pete asks.
“You tell me you are the one who wants to have the conversation.
“Not really. God I have huge butterflies. I think the butterflies have butterflies.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Did you like the song? Generally speaking. Did you like the song?”
“I loved the song.”
“Okay that’s good. Now personally what did you think of the song?”
“I honestly thought that four months ago if you would have played the song everything would have been so different in my life, but now I have ninety-seven guys after me. It’s the worst time in my life for it.”
“Tell me you only like me as a friend.”
“I can’t do that. Cause I’ve never only liked you as a friend.”
“You said that once, but I overlooked it.”
Yes I did.”
“I’m not giving up that easily.”
Belladonna laughs. “We’ll see how that works out for you.”
“Gorpine will help me.”
Belladonna freezes for a moment not long enough for Pete to notice. “Will he?”
“Yes.”
“Guess we’ll have to wait and see.”
“Yes we will.”
Pete kisses her cheek and Belladonna goes off to class like nothing is wrong.
After classes Cooper picks up Belladonna to take her to the doctor. Belladonna sends him the information about Gorpine to which makes Cooper almost drive off the road. He holds her hand, and they talk about meaningless school stuff. Pete’s flowers. His attempt to be with her. “Mercedes wasn’t at school today.”
“I wonder why?
“I don’t know. I tried calling but there was no answer.”
“I’m sure she is probably playing hooky with Miller.”
Queen: Part One Page 21