April's Fool

by Robbie Cox

  The others just laughed as Sedwick winked at her. “It always grows back,” he assured her.

  And now they all laughed harder.

  Wyatt looked over at Barnabas and Patrick. “Any word on the missing piece of support? April said she talked to Barnabas earlier.”

  April’s eyebrows rose as she pointed to the skinnier of the newcomers. “You’re the monkey I spoke to earlier?”

  Barnabas nodded, smiling at April, his deep blue eye twinkling under his dirty-blond hair. He was thin, his lanky arms matching those of his monkey, and his legs appearing more like broomsticks than actual legs. He stretched out a hand, his fingers long and bony. “Barnabas Stillwell, now in the flesh,” he said, winking as he shook her hand. He pointed to the korrigan who just finished shifting. “The Viking is Sedwick Compton, and the other man with real muscles is Patrick Hayes.” He leaned in, giving her a conspiratorial whisper. “Patrick is good on the eyes, true, but he’s a few crayons short of a full box if you know what I mean.”

  Wyatt chuckled as Patrick reached for the skinny man’s neck. “At least I’m not built like a crayon that’s been sharpened too many times,” he snapped as he yanked the other man into his grasp, wrapped his arm around his neck, and rubbed his knuckles on top of Barnabas’ head.

  “Careful you don’t dull the point of his head,” Sedwick said, chuckling. “It’s the only point he has, you know?”

  “Compton, huh?” April said, her head cocked a little to the side. “Are you two related?” she asked as she gestured between Wyatt and Sedwick.

  Wyatt nodded. “We are. Sedwick’s my cousin. His father was my uncle.”

  Sedwick leaned on the table, nodding. “Yeah, we grew up together chasing the elephants around the circus grounds.”

  April cocked an eyebrow. “Elephants? You chased elephants? Do elephants run very fast?”

  Sedwick grinned at her. “They do when they shift back to their human counterparts. Then they chased us.”

  Wyatt laughed. “And god help us when they caught us.” He shook his head as he lifted his glass to take a sip.

  Sedwick laughed harder. “And Wyatt, here, always got caught while I got away.”

  “Because you shifted into a bird and flew away, leaving me to take the beating,” Wyatt said, sitting up straighter as he shook his head. “Some cousin you turned out to be.”

  Sedwick shrugged, not appearing at all apologetic. “Don’t blame me for our family powers,” he said. “Blame your parents. They gave you the handicap of only having a portion of your powers.”

  Wyatt shifted a little in his seat, biting his tongue on a retort to Sedwick’s jab at his heritage.

  “I’m sure Wyatt made up for not having powers in other ways,” April said, as she reached across the table, taking Wyatt’s hand in hers and squeezing. “I’m impressed with his abilities.”

  Sedwick nodded as the others moved around the table. “Oh, I didn’t mean anything by it, I assure you,” he said. “Wyatt has always been protected, especially by our grandfather.” He glanced over at Wyatt, his smile more a sneer. “After all, our grandfather took him under his wing, especially after my uncle died, and made Wyatt here his protege. Something Wyatt never seemed to want before, preferring to be the circus fool.” Sedwick leaned on the table, his voice dropping to a low murmur. “It’s not like Chester gave anyone else who wanted it a shot.”

  “Enough of this talk,” Patrick said as he gestured for the waitress. “Let’s drink and have some fun.”

  Wyatt stared at Sedwick over the rim of his glass as he took a sip of whiskey. He had never heard his cousin sound so bitter before. His father gave up the circus, walked away when Wyatt’s grandfather disagreed with something he did, something Wyatt couldn’t even remember. Instead, his grandfather sided with Wyatt’s father, praising him for his business prowess and ingenuity. Ingram Compton flew into a rage and stormed off into the night, taking his wife, but leaving his son. At the time, Sedwick just shrugged it all off, expecting his father to cool off and return, but he never did. Wyatt wasn’t even sure what happened to the man and his wife. Chester devoted more time to Wyatt’s father, and then to Wyatt after his father died, and Sedwick was lumped in with the other family members who didn’t meet Chester’s standards for future leadership. Yet, Sedwick was right; Wyatt never wanted to be ringmaster before, and now, with his grandfather’s life in danger, he seemed to want it even less.

  He glanced beside him at the redheaded banshee who snuck into his heart more and more each day he remained in Black Hollow. If he continued the life he led, he would never have someone like her in his life, and his life needed someone as spunky and giving as April. He squeezed her hand, smiling at her. Would it be so bad to leave the circus and start over in Black Hollow?

  Nineteen

  April unlocked her front door and then turned to face Wyatt, suddenly not wanting the night to end. Things had picked up after Patrick put an end to Sedwick’s morose mood, and the small group had spent the next three-plus hours laughing, downing drinks, and sharing stories from the road as Reina and April hung on every word. The entire time, April held onto Wyatt, not wanting to let him go, his worried look from earlier still deeply etched in her mind. It was good to hear him laugh when he managed to get lost in the conversation and stories, but it never really lasted long. She didn’t blame him, of course; it was hard to put something as traumatic as someone wanting your family dead out of your mind. April wished she had an answer to his misery.

  Placing her hand on his chest, she gazed into his eyes, a soft smile playing at her lips. “I had fun tonight,” she told him. “You have some amazing friends and family.”

  He gave her a weak smile in return as he nodded. “Hard to imagine one of them might want me dead.” He took a deep breath, his mood once more slipping into the somber brooding she witnessed most of the night. He shrugged as he shook his head. “Sorry.” He took another deep breath as he forced a smile onto his lips. “I had a great time tonight as well, even though it might not have seemed it at times.” He reached out, taking her hands in his and squeezing. “I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you. I just wish it was under different circumstances, and we had more time to spend with each other without all the craziness.”

  She smiled at him, nodding. “But it’s this craziness that actually brought us together. If I hadn’t been sent to you that night and then saw you Saturday, I never would have met you.” She gave a weak shrug. “Circuses aren’t really my thing. Sorry.”

  Wyatt chuckled. “It’s all right. I understand. However, I’m glad you did see me and came over.”

  April stared into his eyes, then dropped her gaze to his lips and back up to his eyes. Her heart pounded in her chest to the point she could feel her ribcage bouncing, her breath catching in her throat as she stared at him.

  He stared back, his lips parted slightly.

  And then he moved, slowly at first, and then with a desperate rush of passion that had his arms around her back, pressing her into him as he kissed her, his lips warm on hers, his breath hot against her cheeks. April collapsed into him, her hands sliding along his back, her hands up into his dark hair as she returned his kiss, her tongue slipping past his lips as his slipped past hers, both tasting the other, savoring the hunger that filled them. She could feel her nipples harden, the fabric of her bra rubbing against the sensitive buds of pleasure as she pressed against Wyatt’s chest. She also felt his excitement grinding against her, making her honey stir as the heat pooled between her legs. Her entire body felt as if it were on fire as she stood on her doorstep, locked in a passionate embrace with a man she just met a few days ago, but whom she felt she knew her whole life.

  When they broke the kiss, she gazed up into his eyes, her hands still wrapped in his hair. “Do you have to leave right now?” Truth was, she didn’t want him to leave ever, but she knew the road was his life, and she couldn’t expect him to give that up for someone he just met.

  He kissed her forehead,
his lips even warmer from their kiss. “I have nowhere else I need to be,” he told her.

  She grinned as she slid her hands from his head, taking his hand in hers, and leading him into her home. “Good,” she said as she closed the front door.

  He smiled back as he allowed her to lead him through the house to the bedroom in back. Glancing over her shoulder, she noticed his gaze fixated on her body as she walked. As soon as they were in the bedroom, she turned, kicking her sandals off as she once again wrapped her arms around him and kissed him with a burning that wouldn’t be quenched easily. She needed him. Hungered for him.

  She felt his hands slip under her shirt, felt the fabric sliding up her torso and then off her body, their lips never leaving each other except to slide the shirt past her mouth. He then quickly returned his hands to her flesh, sliding them along her skin to find her bra and making quick work of the clasp. Her breathing grew heavier as she felt his hands cup her ample breasts, his fingers grazing her hardened nipples, sending tremors of excitement throughout her body, bringing a moan to her lips.

  She broke the kiss as she reached for the hem of his shirt, yanking it over his head, and tossing it to the ground. They both reached for each other’s pants buttons at the same time, their lips once again locked in a hungry kiss until they had their jeans opened. She gasped as she felt him shove his hand inside as soon as her zipper was down, his fingers gliding across her sensitive pearl. She moaned, one hand clutching at his shoulder as she opened her legs more for his touch. Her body felt as if it were on fire as she felt his finger slide between her slick folds, dipping into her wetness, and sending her almost to the edge with his touch. “Wyatt,” she groaned as she clutched his shoulder harder.

  She felt him pull away, his hands quickly going to her waist as he lifted her off the ground and carried her to the bed. He laid her gently down and then reached for the waistband of her pants. Leaning over, he kissed her soft belly as he slid her jeans over her hips and down her legs, kissing his way along her body as he went.

  April clutched the bedspread as she lifted her ass so he could finish stripping her. She groaned, her eyes clenched shut, as she felt his breath against her mound. She whispered his name again as she opened her legs for him, sliding one hand down to the top of his head as she pressed him to her passion, his tongue pressed flat against her sensitive pearl, making her body shudder even more. “Please,” she whispered, her breathing heavy as her tits rose and fell with each breath she took, her nipples tight buds aching to be touched again. “Please, Wyatt,” she whispered again, her tone more urgent, her need growing. “I want you. Please!”

  Wyatt kissed his way back up her body, his tongue twirling around her hard nipple as he sucked it into his mouth. She could feel his hardness slide along her leg and realized he had stripped without her even noticing. Within seconds, he kissed her again, the taste of her on his lips as his cock teased at her entrance, sliding up and down her wet slit. She moaned as she clutched at his back, digging her fingernails into his flesh. He kissed his way down her cheek to her neck, nibbling slightly every once in a while until he nuzzled the crook of her neck and shoulder, and then with one deep thrust, he plunged his cock into her, burying himself balls deep and making her cry out as she held tightly to him, her chest pressed into his. “Yes!” she screamed, and Wyatt continued to drive into her, his hands holding her shoulders as his hips pounded into hers, their bodies rubbing against each other as his pelvic bone ground against her swollen pearl.

  It didn’t take long for April to reach her own ecstasy, screaming out Wyatt’s name as she clawed his back, her legs wrapped around his as she tried to shove him deeper inside of her. Her body shuddered, her back arching, as her mouth popped open with her groans of pleasure.

  Wyatt continued to pound into her, driving his manhood deep until she felt his own release and warmth fill her as he grunted in her ear, his breathing just as heavy as hers.

  Together, they collapsed on the bed when their orgasms subsided, the room filled with their heavy breathing, their chest rising with the exertion and the pleasure. The room smelled of their passion as April rolled over and kissed Wyatt’s cheek, her hand stroking his chest as she nuzzled into him. She blew out another deep breath as she relaxed beside him, basking in the pleasure of Wyatt Compton. She didn’t want him to leave. Or rather, she didn’t want to leave him. She laid her head on his chest, her hand toying with the trail of dark brown curls that led down to his still-hard shaft. She wondered what life would be like on the road as she glided a finger up his stomach, twirling it around his nipple, eliciting a moan from his lips. They’d be together, and at the moment, that’s all April really wanted.

  A ringing came from the floor, making both of them groan at the intrusion. “It’s mine,” Wyatt admitted as he forced himself toward his jeans on the floor.

  As he answered it, April saw his features twist into panic as she heard whoever was on the other end shout, “There’s been another accident.”

  Twenty

  Wyatt raced onto the school property, desperately searching for his grandfather, his own heart pounding in his chest. The campfires were dimmed, most out altogether as the phantoms whirled around the circus camp, their agitation apparent as they kicked up debris and dirt. Most of the trailers seemed empty even with the lights on as Wyatt passed one after another, April close behind him. At the far end of the parking lot huddled a crowd of circus folk, all staring at something in the middle of their cluster.

  Fear gripped Wyatt’s chest as he picked up the pace. Hodges had called, telling Wyatt about the accident, the scrawny man’s nasally voice sounding whinier than ever. Wyatt could almost picture the man wringing his hands as he spoke. “Your grandfather was helping Patrick go over one of the rides, the swirling one that goes in a wide circle and then in smaller ones at the same time, you know, red cars…”

  “The Spinning Twirler?” Wyatt asked, clutching his cell phone with white knuckles, wishing the man would just hurry up and tell him what the hell happened.

  “Yeah, that one,” Hodges said. “I told him someone mentioned one of the cars wobbled a little while spinning, and Chester wanted to check it out for himself. You know how hands-on your grandfather is. I swear, if I knew he’d get in the car himself to take a test ride, I never would have mentioned it to him.”

  Wyatt got dressed as he talked to Hodges, the man’s voice more annoying than usual. Beside Wyatt, April started doing the same without him even asking her to join him. He didn’t stop her. Right now, he needed someone at his side. “How bad is he?” Wyatt asked, afraid to hear the answer. He had been prepared for something to happen during one of the shows, but not like this.

  He heard Hodges’ heavy breathing on the other end of the phone. “Hodges!” he snapped. “How bad is it?”

  “I don’t think it looks good, Wyatt,” the other man almost whispered. “The car broke off and went flying into one of the food trucks. Your grandfather has some broken bones, but the real damage was to his head, which hit the truck almost full-force. He’s at the camp now. A Dr. Larson is looking at him.” Hodges took a deep breath that Wyatt heard through the phone. “I think you should get here. Quick.”

  By the time the call ended, Wyatt was already dressed. He shoved his phone into his back pocket. Together, April and he headed for the circus camp at the academy.

  Now, as he neared where the others huddled, he found it difficult to finish crossing the parking lot. He didn’t want to know how bad it was, to know if April’s vision came true. The longer he waited, the longer his grandfather was alive. Each step seemed as if he took it through molasses, as if his feet were leaded weight he couldn’t lift. Already the grief gripped his heart as tears pooled at the corners of his eyes.

  He felt a hand slide into his and glanced over at April, her face a sympathetic mask. She squeezed his hand. “I’m right here,” she promised. “No matter what.”

  He nodded, took a deep breath, and then continued to the center of
the group. As they noticed his approach, they parted, making a path for him to get to the middle. He gripped onto April tighter as she followed behind him, clutching his hand with both of hers. He took strength from that touch.

  As he neared the center of the group, a slender man with dark hair bent over a table, talking to Chester, who laid prone on top. The others gathered around: Hodges, Patrick, Randall, Barnabas, and Chuckles, the Clown. Behind them stood the rest of the griffins and other performers, all watching the doctor as he continued to work on Wyatt’s grandfather.

  Wyatt stepped up to the table, staring down at his grandfather’s broken body. One leg was bent at a right angle, an arm twisted. His left arm was already splinted and bandages covered his forehead, wrapping around his head. Wyatt reached out, touching his grandfather’s side as sobs threatened to wreck his chest. He sucked in a deep breath, gripping down on his emotions so as not to fall apart at his grandfather’s side. Wyatt chanced a quick glance at the doctor, but the dark-haired man just shook his head.

  Wyatt eased down beside his grandfather, taking the older man’s hand in his as he brushed his grandfather’s gray hair out of his eyes. “Hey, there,” Wyatt said, his voice cracking a little.

  His grandfather gazed up at him, a weak smile toying at the corner of his lips. His sparkling red eyes grew dim as he stared up at his grandson. “Wyatt...” He turned his head as a coughing fit shook his body. With a deep breath, he turned to Wyatt, gripping his hand as he gave his grandson a weak smile. Chester shook his head slightly. “Don’t let them take the circus,” he said, his voice a harsh whisper. “Promise me you won’t let them take the circus.”

  Wyatt nodded. “No one will take the circus from you, Gramps. You’ll run it for years. Don’t even worry about it.” Wyatt felt the tears just under the surface, ready to erupt, to break from his resolve and take him down to his knees. He did his best to keep it all held at bay. He wouldn’t break down in front of his grandfather; not now, not when his grandfather needed him the most.