Lotus (Spell Library Book 13)

by Nikki Jacks

  Sliding down her body, I placed Lotus’s legs over my shoulders and inhaled. Her scent was sweet with a hint of spice, just like her. I swiped my tongue over her, and Lotus cried out. Using my hands to hold her in place, I started an assault on her core. I licked at her entrance, nibbled her lips, and then sucked her clit into my mouth.

  I’d felt the quivering in her thighs and knew she must have been close to an orgasm. As I sucked her delicious little nub into my mouth and flicked it the same way I’d done to her nipple, Lotus shattered. Her body stiffened, and then she screamed my name as convulsions started. I took my time to lap up what her body so generously offered me, and then slid up her body.

  Staring languidly, Lotus met my eyes. “That was so intense, Evan, but I need more. I need you filling me, please.”

  “As you wish, my fe’yanil.”

  With that, I slid one of her legs up onto my hip and gently eased my throbbing cock into Lotus’s waiting body. I groaned as I moved deeper. Once I was fully seated, I had to stop and catch my breath. Lotus’s body was so hot and wet, but tight; I felt like I was going to explode in that moment.

  While I waited for my body to calm down, I looked down at Lotus. Words of binding tried to spill out, but I knew it wasn’t the time. Instead, I leaned down and kissed her deeply. Knowing that she would understand what I wanted, I brought Lotus’s other leg up to my hip. When she locked her ankles behind me, I slid even deeper into her welcoming body. Blindly reaching to find her hands, I brought them up over her head and linked our hands.

  Finally ready to move, I started a slow rhythm. I wanted nothing more than to ram my body into hers, creating that slapping sound that could only mean one thing, but that was coming. In that moment, I was going to adore my mate with my body. I wanted to make love to her, something I’d never done with another.

  Sensing my intention, Lotus matched her pace to mine. I unlinked our hands long enough to grab a pillow to slide under her hips. With the angle changed, my pelvis rubbed along Lotus’s clit with every thrust. As I continued the unhurried pace, we both climbed higher and higher until Lotus’s cries of passion exploded into a deep cry of my name.

  As her body started to milk my cock, I groaned out, “Fe’yanil,” and orgasmed. I’d felt the ripple moving up my spine, but the force had me seeing stars. Once I could see straight, I carefully pulled out of Lotus and stood. I moved into the bathroom to get a washcloth to clean Lotus.

  When I returned, Lotus was not fully conscious. I gently cleaned her up and then tucked her under the covers. Putting the used cloth into the hamper, I rounded the bed and climbed in next to Lotus. Gathering her into my arms, I kissed her gently on the head. As sleep pulled me under, I thought I heard her mumble, “My mate.”

  29

  Lotus

  I floated back to consciousness feeling well-rested and thoroughly loved. I couldn’t feel Evan’s presence at my side but wasn’t worried. I stretched and sat up. I looked around Evan’s room—there had been no taking in details last night. On the wall across from me was a fireplace. I remembered its warmth and the play of shadows on Evan’s body.

  There was a door to my left that must have been a closet. The door to my right was closed, but I could hear movement, so I assumed it was an en suite bathroom. Framing the bed were French doors that confirmed my thoughts about the verandah.

  The room was masculine in color and furniture choices. I looked behind me at the headboard of the bed, wondering if it was anything like the one Evan had let me borrow. There were no crystals embedded, but the headboard was covered with vines and what looked like moons and stars. It was just as beautiful, and I wondered about the artist who had created the beauties.

  The door opened as I was inspecting the headboard, and I shot a glance over my shoulder. Evan stepped out of the bathroom, looking fresh from his shower. He had on slacks but no shirt. His hair still glinted with dampness and was slightly tousled. I wanted to run my hands through it and tousle it even more.

  Giving me a smile as he stepped fully into the room, Evan said, “Good morning, my fe’yanil. Did you sleep well?”

  Returning his smile, I responded, “I did. This bed is just as comfy as the one you are letting me borrow.”

  “I’m glad to hear it. I don’t want to rush you, but I have to go into work today. And with your opening tomorrow, I’m sure there are last minute things you want to finish. Lance called me earlier when he couldn’t reach you, and I explained you were still sleeping. He’ll be at the shop in a short while and said to come in when you are ready.”

  “Oh no! I forgot Lance and I were meeting early to go over what we wanted to have available tomorrow. Where’s my bag? My phone is in there. If it’s not dead, I need to talk to Lance; he’s going to be so upset!”

  “Calm down and breathe, fe’yanil. Lance didn’t sound upset in the least when I talked to him. There might have been jealousy, but that’s because he knows what must have happened if you slept here. He said he was going to get some doughs and batters working to test the equipment like you talked about but that everything else would wait until you got there.”

  I stopped, took a long breath, and released it. I felt calmer and able to think more clearly after that. “Can I borrow your shower real quick, Evan? I can at least clean up here and then change once you drop me off at the shop. Is there enough time for that?”

  “There is. I placed a fresh toothbrush on the counter for you as well. Clean up and I’ll get some breakfast ready for you to eat in the car.”

  Standing up from the bed, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for taking care of me.”

  “Always, my fe’yanil. It is my greatest joy and honor to do so.”

  A bit puzzled by such an earnest declaration, I stepped around Evan to head to the bathroom. I was thankful I’d showered yesterday before my evening with Evan. While I was wearing last night’s clothes again, I hadn’t been in them for more than a couple hours before Evan had stripped them from my body.

  As I stood under the pounding water of Evan’s shower, I thought about what we’d done last night, and smiled. While my neediness and pleading were uncharacteristic, I couldn’t have stopped myself if I wanted to.

  The need I had for Evan had consumed me. It should have scared me, but everything felt right. Evan had been conscientious and made sure I was on board with everything we did. He didn’t just look at this as finally scoring with the girl he was dating. He’d touched me on a soul deep level. My time with Drake had been intense and amazing, but last night with Evan had been soul-moving. It made me think about what being with Lance fully for the first time would be like.

  Thankful for short hair that didn’t require much, I was in and out of the bathroom in ten minutes and headed to find Evan. When I stepped into the kitchen, I was not expecting the long shock of fire engine red hair attached to a svelte, female form.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you had someone else here, Evan. I’ll just grab my coat and bag and call a taxi. Don’t let me put you out. I’ll talk to you later.”

  I turned quickly and walked from the room, head high. I would not let the tears that had gathered in my eyes fall until I was out of Evan’s house. I couldn’t understand why I felt shattered at that moment. Sure, we’d had a serious connection last night and were dating, but no firm commitments had been made.

  That’s what you get for begging someone to take care of you. You are a strong, independent woman. You are capable and don’t need a man to step in and take care of things for you. Not even sexy things. Quit being an idiot, Delilah Annabelle Metairie! You started letting your guard down yesterday because of the crap with the delivery guy and this what you get. You weren’t supposed to let it get like this!

  “Fe’yanil! Lotus! Wait, please!” Evan’s voice sounded slightly panicked as I heard his steps behind me. I’d grabbed my things and was making my way to the front door when he gripped my shoulder.

  “Lotus, wait a minute.
It is in no way what you may be thinking.”

  “He’s right, you know. Whatever you’ve got going on in your head is absolutely wrong.”

  “Phoenix, not now. Please go back to the kitchen while I talk with Lotus.”

  “Seriously, Evanore? You’re sending me to the kitchen like a little kid? This is ridiculous!”

  “When you decide to act like more than a child, I’ll treat you as such. And please, here in the Human Lands, call me Evan, not Evanore.”

  “This is so dumb…”

  “Could someone please tell me what is going on? I do need to get back to town—I’ve a grand opening to finish preparing for, and this is not helping my mood.”

  Their back and forth had grown tiresome quickly, and I just wanted to lick my wounds in private. Something that would have to be put off until Lance had gone home for the evening.

  “Lotus, I’d like to introduce you to my sister, Phoenix Rose Kallyx. Phoenix, this is Lotus Culcannon, my girlfriend.”

  “Your sister? You guys look nothing alike. And why didn’t you say that Phoenix was coming to visit?”

  “Because I didn’t know. I came downstairs while you were in the shower and she was standing in the kitchen.”

  “Yeah, sorry about that. I needed to get out of the city for a while, and I didn’t want to go back to the Fae Lands. You know how Mom can be. It’s okay if I stay here for a while, right, Evanore? I mean, Evan?”

  “You know it’s fine; your room is ready for you. But we will need to discuss some things. Lotus and I have to leave now. We’ve both got work to do. You have the run of the house today. There’s plenty of food. I’ll see you later this evening.”

  “Wait, can’t I come with you guys?”

  “Phoenix, you know you can’t come to the bank with me. And you just met Lotus. She’s trying to get her shop ready for opening tomorrow and needs to concentrate on that. Stay here for today and we’ll talk later and figure out something for you for tomorrow. Please, Phoenix, just stay out of trouble.”

  Grumbling as she turned away, Phoenix replied, “Fine! I’ll just be in this big, lonesome house by myself all day. What a way to say hi to the sister you haven’t seen in ages.”

  “The sister who showed up unannounced, Phoenix. Please, don’t do this. We’ll talk later.”

  With those words, Evan placed his hand at the small of my back and escorted me out to the car he’d been driving last night.

  “Fe’yanil, why did you mistrust what happened between us last night? I saw the tears in your eyes and knew what you thought. How could you think I would treat you in such a manner?”

  Sniffing slightly while I mentally slapped myself, I replied, “Because where I’m from, something like this is commonplace. You think you’ve made a connection with a guy and then find out that they just wanted to be able to tell people they’d had the princess of the city.”

  “Oh, Lotus! I’m so sorry that you’ve experienced anything like that; but for this unique relationship we are in, trust, honesty, and communication have to be the biggest components. Do you remember the night you moved in and were adamant about that? It hasn’t changed. We are all doing well together and have gelled well, but there will be bumps in the road and we have to communicate to keep them from becoming boulders.”

  “You’re right. I’m so sorry that I didn’t trust you or just ask what was up when I walked into the kitchen. Is this the same sister you mentioned last night that painted the artwork in your living room?”

  “The one and same. She’s been living in the city for a few years now and has been pretty successful as a children’s fantasy writer. I’m not sure why she’s here now, but something must be bothering her or have gone wrong. I’ll talk with her tonight and see if I can figure out what’s going on.”

  “Tell me about this meeting you have today.”

  “It’s nothing major, just an outside company looking to open some kind of franchise here in Silver Springs. They think that if they can secure financing from a local source, it will make their move here more palatable to the residents. What they don’t realize is that Silver Springs is unique for a small town. We don’t have large national or multinational companies here. We are able to meet our needs for food, entertainment, etc., and what we don’t have we can get in Scarborough. We prefer things to be quiet and local, and not just because of our supe population. If our businesses stay local, we know the quality and it keeps our community connected.”

  “I hadn’t thought about that. I guess I should count myself lucky that I got funding from the bank and that Sapphire was willing to work with me too.”

  “Ahh, my little fe’yanil, the difference is you saw something that Silver Springs didn’t have that could add value and richness to the community. Have you noticed that our local shops are gathering places for our residents? People don’t just rush about their business with no awareness. There are times when this happens, but for the most part, people stop to catch up at Jewels Café, or Buttercup’s is used to provide something special for celebrations or just because of treats. Iris provides beauty to the entire town as well as helping mates apologize for their misdeeds.

  “There’s a place to gather and just have fun at O’Malley’s, and for those who prefer the nightlife, Vee offers that as well. Many of the ladies go there for girls’ nights when they need a break from their multiple mates. Bob’s brings fun and good food together with a whole lot of quirkiness. The new ice rink is providing another outlet as our hockey team now has a home venue to compete. The shops ringing the skating rink provide additional opportunities for our residents to venture out and gather.

  “So, you see, Silver Springs Ice Cream Shop is an addition to our town that will create opportunities for people to gather. Young families will have another place to tempt their children into good behavior. Everyone loves ice cream, so adults will stop in for something cool on a hot day. The adventurous will love the adult items, and for our older residents, the feel of the soda fountain will remind them of their youths and the fun times they had then.”

  “Thank you, Evan! You’ve managed to soothe some concerns I’ve had and helped me see Silver Springs in a new light. Owning my own business and the independence it could provide have been a long-held dream of mine, but knowing that I am adding true value to my new community really helps.”

  “I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true, Lotus. Now, we’re here. Let me help you inside so you and Lance can finish preparing for tomorrow.”

  I hadn’t paid attention to what was passing outside the car and was shocked to realize we were right outside the shop

  Evan opened my door and helped me out of the car.

  “I’m perfectly capable of walking to the door on my own, Evan. I don’t need an escort.

  He walked me to the front of the shop and stood by while I unlocked the door.

  “I know you don’t, fe’yanil, but it is my honor to do so.”

  There was going to be no winning this with him—he was too old.

  “Thank you for the truly wonderful evening. I’m so sorry I ruined it this morning.

  “You ruined nothing. Please don’t worry about that. Have a good day, and I will talk to you later on.”

  With a lingering kiss to my cheek, Evan walked back to his car and headed to work.

  I took a deep breath and prepared to speak with Lance, the only one of my guys I hadn’t had sex with yet. I hoped he was as okay with things as Evan made him out to be.

  30

  Lotus

  I locked the front door behind me and headed to the back of the shop. “Lance, you back there?”

  “Yeah, babe, I’m working on the batter for the cones.”

  I stepped into the back and was assaulted by the delicious scents of butter and sugar. “Lance, it smells divine in here! I’m so sorry I’m late! I wasn’t planning to stay at Evan’s, but one thing led to another, and well…”

  “Lotus, it’s all good! We told you we’d talked and understood
that we would have to be understanding when it came to you being with three of us. I’m glad you and Evan were able to connect last night. I have a feeling it’s been a long time for him, and not because he couldn’t get girls, but more because he’s just been disconnected and uninterested.”

  “Really? I will be honest I didn’t plan to sleep with him last night. Dinner was great and we talked about so much, but something just came over me, Lance. I just couldn’t help myself. I felt as though I was going to combust if we didn’t.”

  “It’s all good, babe. I will admit that I feel a bit left out, but that’s not me trying to get pity sex. That’s just red-blooded male speaking. Our time will come, and when it does, we’ll both know. Besides, I got an awesome gift you gave me when you were working on the Jizz Cream.

  “Now why don’t you go get changed into clothes you can work in. I can hear your stomach starting to growl, so I’ll run over to Jewels and get you a coffee. I can use some batter to whip up a waffle for you to eat. You better believe I’ll be talking to Evan about not taking care of you. What was he thinking, not giving you breakfast?”

  “First of all, Lance Anders, I don’t need someone to take care of me; I’m capable of taking care of myself. Second, it’s not his fault. He was actually going to make me a breakfast I could eat in the car, but his sister showed up while I was in the shower and things kind of got off-track.”

  “His sister? Really? Wait, go change and we can talk while we work.

  “Don’t try to throw me off. You three have to stop with this whole taking care of me thing. I am capable of taking care of myself, and I’m not in these relationships to rely on a man. We are having fun, but I don’t appreciate you guys jumping in trying to handle things when I haven’t asked or invited you to do so.”