The Sleeper: A Woman Scorned Nia K. Foxx All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2008 Nia K. Foxx
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The Sleeper: A Woman Scorned Nia K. Foxx A woman scorned. That description didn’t explain half of what Dr. Alexis “Lexi” Douglas felt. She knew she wasn’t alone. In her practice she’d talked with enough women to see the psychological damage caused by men and quite frankly she was tired of preaching about empowerment and ready to demonstrate a little of it, witch style. Seven hundred and eighty years of slumber was not nearly long enough for Cor Sielas. His last assignment prevented the expansion of the Mongul Empire, so he’s irritated to learn that the Forces of Nature have awakened him to handle one vindictive little witch. He takes some solace in the knowledge that his subject is female. For the first time he’s interested in mixing business with a little pleasure.
Prologue “The lowlife son of a bitch!” Alexis Douglas slammed her office phone down, not caring whether or not the overpriced attorney who “represented” her was still on the other end. After the new asshole she’d just ripped the man it would be no surprise if he’d hung up halfway through her tirade. Maybe now he’d stop calling her with her exhusband’s new torturous demands disguised in the form of injunctions. She might as well have represented herself for all the help he turned out to be. Perhaps it was paranoia talking, but lately she was feeling as if he were secretly working for her former husband. It wasn’t enough that her bastard of an ex had cheated on her for the better part of a year, cleaned out her bank accounts, and gotten half of what she had left in the divorce settlement. He just kept coming back for more. And to her amazement her lawyer could only give her blank stares while the judges continued to grant his ludicrous requests. All male judges, she noted. Alexis felt as if she were being made to pay for scores of women who’d managed to walk away with their wealthy exes’ fortunes in the past. It wasn’t worth ruminating over the unfairness of it all. Trying to pinpoint exactly where things had gone wrong had proven fruitless too. She accepted her mistake lay in falling for the charm of Harrison Blake those many moons ago. Still in medical school, she’d been a bright-eyed twenty-three-year-old flattered by an older, extremely handsome and cultured grad student with aspirations of being an actor. Even after she began her residency Harrison was still aspiring, performing in community theaters and landing bit parts in movies. Alexis was so enamored with him she didn’t mind supporting them while he pursued his dreams. Her career flourished, providing them with a substantial income.
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Harrison’s interests had shifted from acting to directing, and Alexis found herself providing the seed money for many ventures that would never amount to anything. She’d even put her desire to have children on hold because he’d wanted to wait until he was in a better place in his career. The intercom on her phone buzzed and her assistant announced her next appointment. Alexis took several deep breaths before giving the go ahead to send her three o’clock in. As unprofessional as it might be Alexis couldn’t help but feel a certain affinity for her next patient, one Sierra Gonzalez. Mrs. Gonzalez was dealing with a particularly difficult divorce of her own, but Alexis felt her stakes to be far greater. The woman had two daughters. She’d petitioning the courts for sole custody of in light of allegations of molestation committed by her ex-husband. She handed the petite Mrs. Gonzalez another set of tissues as she sobbed through the end of her session. She empathized with the helplessness Mrs. Gonzalez felt. “Thank you, Dr. Lexi. Talking to you helps, even if it’s only for a little while.” The woman’s lightly accented English was full of sorrow. “I wish that I could do more for you.” “Don’t feel guilty, Dr. Lexi. I understand that your kind is limited in what you can do.” Alexis stiffened in her chair. What did she mean, her kind? In the three months she’d been working with Mrs. Gonzalez, not once had it occurred to her that the woman would have a problem with her race. Although she was the product of a biracial marriage, Alexis, more so than her other two siblings, physically favored the AfricanAmerican side of their family. Her reddish brown complexion was darker than her sisters’ caramel tones and her tight curly hair was even more pronounced in the short style she wore. She didn’t trust herself to speak as she waited for Mrs. Gonzalez’s next words. Mrs. Gonzalez fixed her with a puffy brown-eyed gaze. “It’s not what you’re thinking, Dr. Lexi. I don’t care about race. I’m talking about the thing that makes you different from other humans, Doctor. You know what I mean.”
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She couldn’t know. It wasn’t possible. Regular mortals weren’t privy to the existence of witches or warlocks beyond what they saw on the silver screen or read in books. Secrecy was paramount to the coven. She’d even hidden her lineage from Harrison, which was possibly the best decision she’d made in dealing with her former husband. She shuddered to think what he would do with the knowledge. “I can assure you that I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “I know you do, Dr. Lexi, and I understand why you must deny it so I won’t say anything else. But jus’ think, why it is that God made you different from the rest of us if not to help people in need?” Alexi opened her mouth to protest but Mrs. Gonzalez’s halting hand kept her quiet. “Jus’ think on what I said, Dr. Lexi.”
*** The phone was ringing when she pushed into the apartment, balancing a grocery bag and briefcase in one hand and trying to maintain a hold on Bach’s leash to tug him inside. His resistance left her wondering if he was getting enough exercise at the new doggy daycare she’d enrolled him in. “Come on, boy,” she coaxed. She was grateful when he finally did an about face to lead her inside. The ringing stopped, but she hadn’t been in any hurry to answer anyway. So she didn’t doubt her mother had been the caller. She’d call back and leave another message suggesting Alexis come home for a while to take her mind off things. As if. Her mother’s inability to reach her eldest daughter seemed to give her little choice but to leave lengthy messages and bring her up to speed on the happenings of the family. Apparently Christine’s coffee house was turning out to be a success in the little town she’d moved to. Her luck was obviously carrying over into her personal life too because her mother continued to refer to a new paramour. Alexis tried not to sneer at the mention of her sister’s beau, a guy named Falcon. Knowing Christine he was probably some euro-trash hippie she’d met in a “Love Thy Slug, Know Thyself” seminar or something equally as useless.
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As she waited for her phone to flash with the new message she set out fresh food and water for Bach. To her surprise the phone came to life again. Her mother was definitely becoming more persistent. “Hello.” She attempted to sound neutral but knew it was a huge leap after the day she’d just had. “I figured you’d be home about now. Always so predictable.” Anger flared in her at the smug familiar voice on the other end. “How’d you get this number, Harrison?” “Never you mind your pretty little head about that. I was just calling to check on dear sweet Bach. My lawyer informed me that he’d been in communication with your attorney today.” God, how she wanted to slam the phone in his ear, but that would give him far too much satisfaction. He’d just call back. Since she’d discovered his infidelity, Harrison had done everything in his power to infuriate her. Now he was demanding custody of her three-year-old golden retriever, Bach. “Get to the point.” “I thought you’d be interested in a compromise. A rather generous one on my part considering how much Bach means to me.” Lying fucker. “I’m hanging up.” “Now that wouldn’t be too smart.” “Get to the point or get off my phone.” “I’d like to work out a schedule for use of the cabin. I’m working on a film and I think the location would be the perfect place.” Surely she wasn’t hearing him correctly. No one could have that much gall. “You’re kidding, right?” “I’m sure you know the answer to that, hun.” “You really are a piece of work. Well, the answer is no, Harrison, there’s no way I’ll let you get your paws on my grandmother’s cabin, not even for a minute.” “Even if it means losing our sweet Bach?”
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“Bach is my dog and I’ll see you in hell before I let you put one greedy finger on him. You couldn’t give a rat’s ass whether he lives or dies.” “Well, I guess there’s no need to mince words. Either you work out an amicable schedule with me on the cabin or I’ll pursue my full legal rights regarding that pooch of ours. I’m being more than generous here, so let’s not turn things ugly.” “Kiss my ass, you no talent hack.” This time she didn’t care if he thought he’d affected her or not. She slammed the phone on a second man that day. For good measure she turned off the ringer. Seething with anger, she dropped into a chair at her dining table. Bach plopped down in front of her and gave her his most sympathetic look. It helped. A little. Mrs. Gonzalez’s words rang in her ears. Maybe she was right. What was the point in having a gift if you didn’t get a chance to do anything with it? Her entire life she’d heard about how important it was to fit in with regular humans. She’d spent hours in training with her sisters at the hands of her parents and grandparents, but had been warned against using magic publicly or against humans. The coven that governed witches and warlocks had very strict rules about practicing magic and all her life she’d heeded the warnings. Could she risk it? Temptation boiled over as she thought of the countless women who, like her, were being royally screwed by men they’d loved and trusted. The wife who dealt with the daily physical and verbal abuse from her husband because she was too afraid to have her kids grow up without a father. The woman whose partner cited her weight gain for the reason he couldn’t keep his dick in his pants and out of other women. The daughter whose father made her feel guilty for her mother’s death and kept her beholden to him. Poor Mrs. Gonzalez who cried herself to sleep every night her daughters spent with their father. All of those women needed help. They all needed vindication, but who would help them? For some, the courts treated their lives like a bureaucracy, while fear and obligation crippled the others.
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No more. No woman anywhere should ever be made to suffer at the hands of a man. If the coven wanted to punish her for helping herself and others, well, let them do their worst.
Chapter One Cor was slow to open his eyes. Even after receiving the information that filled in the gaps for the period of his stasis, he didn’t relish leaving his slumberous state. Seven hundred and eighty years had passed since his last awakening, and mankind had achieved technological advancements beyond what he expected for the species. How much more they could have accomplished if only more time were spent on cooperative efforts. He saw progress in the formalization of governments but tsk’d at the way larger nations used their might to model smaller ones in their own image under the auspice of democracy and national security. Some things never changed. He reviewed the current events in smaller chunks as he tried to sift through and isolate the cause of his awakening. To his chagrin there seemed to be an abundance of potential catastrophes just waiting to plague mankind. Humanity’s pursuit of technology and power could have a high trade off indeed if they continued to barrel down their current paths. He cringed at the state of the global environment but did not dwell on its ills. Such matters were the concern of other Sleepers and he didn’t doubt it wouldn’t be long before they too were called forth. Chaos inflicted on a global scale was his area of concern. There was so much information, so many events he couldn’t just isolate one. Many were interlinked and the key persons at fault became convoluted. Names, faces, and conspiracies blurred until, for the first time in Cor’s twenty-three-hundred-year existence, he thought he might be developing a headache. His eyes snapped open as he telepathically separated the crystallized encasement he rested in. He tested his vision and surveyed the nondescript cavern that had been his home for many a millennia. Crystal stalactite formations hung like enormous spears and spanned the chasm of his underground dwelling. The only sound came from the
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gurgling of a nearby spring. Cor stepped out of the rock confused. The Forces of Nature could have summoned him for any number of potential events. There was only one way he’d get the answer to the mystery of his awakening. With reluctance Cor summoned pantaloon-like leggings to cover the lower half of his nude body and leather slippers for his feet. For good measure he added a loose cloth vest in a half attempt to conceal his chest. It was his effort to appeal to the Forces of Nature’s sense of propriety. Content with his appearance he lowered his eyelids briefly. When they reopened he was in the shimmering onyx room he’d come to know well over the course of his life. By virtue of his presence in the room he knew the Forces had granted him his audience. Five nondescript light orbs hovered in a semi-circle in front of him. “You summoned.” The center orb glowed the brightest, signaling who the representative would be for the briefing. “We have reason for concern.” The androgynous, monotone voice echoed in the hallowed room. “I have reviewed my lapse in Earth’s history since my last awakening and understand the reason for your concern. However, it is not easy for me to discern who my target will be.” An image, no doubt induced by the Forces of Nature, formed in his mind. Cor directed his attention to the vision. A woman. Beautiful. The word manifested itself in several languages in his mind, repeating softly as he absorbed her features. She wore her hair in a masculine cropped fashion but the look was definitely feminine on her. Her face was oval shaped with pronounced cheekbones. His attention focused on her full mouth. Lips like hers were created for the purpose of long leisurely kisses. The thought disturbed him. He’d never given serious consideration to kissing anyone before. His limited experiences with women in the past fulfilled a sexual need that didn’t require the joining of lips to exact their mutual goals. He’d always selected a more than pleasing human form which women were drawn to.
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The encounters, although unhurried, were for a singular purpose. Sex in its rawest, primitive form. There was no cajoling, no seduction. He didn’t need to indulge in such human efforts. He ensured the women were thoroughly satisfied before taking his own pleasure and that was easily accomplished without the melding of mouths. So why the fascination with this woman’s lips? The Forces were showing her to him for a reason which most assuredly disqualified her as a potential sex partner. His gaze moved up to her eyes. Honey brown in coloring, they were round and luminous framed by thick dark lashes. Captivating yet sad and pained, reflecting her story. The fact that he wanted to hold the picture longer gnawed at him. “What does this woman have to do with anything?” “She is your assignment.” Her? “Why?” Cor expected the next set of images being transferred to his mind. In a flash he knew everything about her. Dr. Alexis Douglas. Witch. Daughter. Sibling. Former wife. He viewed her life as one would a movie in fast-forward. Things slowed as the last two years began to unravel. Deception. Hurt. Pain. Betrayal. Anguish. The emotions bombarded him with enough force to start a dull pain in his head. It was a most uncomfortable experience and probably why the Forces rarely made him privilege to human emotions. Yet for this woman they held nothing back. The woman suffered because of the intentional thoughtlessness of her former spouse. He sensed an overwhelming kinship with the women she counseled. She wanted to right their wrongs. Her wrongs. “She is but one minor witch. What could she possibly do that would warrant me?” “You need to look beyond the surface, beyond the pain.” He delved beneath the shell of her mortal exterior and reached for her aura, her essence. He was surprised by the power that radiated within. It lay dormant like a docile cat curled in the safety of sleep, but there was no doubt as to the damage that could be done once crossed. Never before had he seen a human possess such a strong
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essence. She’d yet to tap into the strength and it was obvious she was completely unaware of the power she could wield. Closer proximity would give him clearer access to her thoughts, but even from this distance he could sense the strength of her overwhelming emotions. The current direction of her thoughts coupled with raw emotion could easily be channeled into something completely devastating. “You believe she has the capacity to intentionally do harm.” “With the right catalyst, yes.” “And her former husband is that key?” “We believe he laid the foundation for future events.” “Shall I kill her?” It was a routine question but one that gave him pause for the first time. It shouldn’t have. This was his life and if instructed he’d be obligated to take necessary action. “We do not believe her behavior requires anything so drastic at this point. Not if you can convince her to let go of her anger.” Cor cocked his head to one side as he considered the directive. Yes, some of his past assignments had required him to use simple coercion to redirect potentially destructive behaviors, but he’d never been assigned to a woman before whether witch or regular human. He recalled the woman’s image and his mind veered down a path of more sensual methods of persuasion. He mentally shook off the thought. She was his assignment and he would approach her in that fashion, utilizing techniques he’d used many times before. If he was successful the crisis would be averted; if not there was no doubt the Forces would expect the witch’s death. “You have complete autonomy and our full support in carrying out your task.” Cor closed his eyes a second time, pondering the Forces’ parting words. In the past they’d never felt the need to give such an endorsement. It was understood that he would employ the necessary means for the successful completion of his assignment. Their words were curious indeed.
***
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She suspected the scene probably looked a bit clichéd as she dug in the back of her closet to retrieve a small wooden chest. It was old and dusty with darkly colored bronze studs and metal hinges. Having been in her father’s family for generations, the chest was passed on to her as the firstborn daughter of their line, like those before her. Alexis had only ever seen it opened once and that was years before she’d hit puberty. She remembered the day vividly while visiting her Nana Douglas one summer. Now, she sat the box on her bed and stood in silent contemplation before reaching for its lid. The hinges creaked but gave no resistance. The smell of sage and jasmine assaulted her nostrils, reminding her of her nana, Emily Abeni OlubunmiCoombs-Douglas. Her grandmother had explained that there was no need for a lock because a powerful spell had been cast to make it only open for successors. Sorrow swelled in her chest. She really did miss her grandparent. Had she been alive when Alexis brought Harrison home for the first time, the elderly woman would have easily seen through the man’s charming façade. Never one to hold her tongue, her grandmother would have warned Alexis against pursuing anything with him. No matter how in love she considered herself to be she would have listened and acted on her grandmother’s insight. She skimmed the chest’s interior. The contents were as they’d been since its last opening. The Olubunmi family book of spells sat in the center with two slightly used candles placed on either side. Tucked in one corner was a small leather pouch. Her grandmother had said the contents looked no different than household flour, but looks were deceiving. Her nana had taken great care in unwrapping the book and showing her just what markings called for the use of the mysterious concoction. According to her, the contents of the pouch were over nine hundred years old. “Only a truly powerful spell will need its use, chil’. Those spells… well, dem the ones you don’t really wanta mess over. It’s just best to leave ’em alone altogether, ya hear?” Alexis pulled the heavy book from the chest carefully, unwrapped it as she remembered her grandmother doing. Placing the leather-bound book atop her thick
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bedding, she was in awe of its presence much as she had been all those years ago. To think the information within contained the secret spells of her ancestors. Embedded on the cover was the Yoruban word Ogún. Inheritance. “You come from powerful magic, my dear. Before our ancestors made their way here and intermarried, we helped many Africans escape capture. The only regret of our ancestors was tha’ they couldn’t save more. So many were lost. And today so many have no desire to remember those who came before dem.” “Did the coven stop our Olubunmi ancestors from helping others, Nana?” she’d asked with the innocence of her age. “Yes and no. It’s all very complicated. Just remember no matter how gruesome or unbelievably horrible, all things do happen for a reason, even if it seems slow in manifesting itself.” As a child Alexis bought the message hook, line, and sinker. Now faced with the opportunity to help other women who’d suffered at the hands of men, she considered her nana’s words. To date there was no evidence of anything being positively reaped from slavery, at least not from the skin she stood in. And as far as men were concerned, too many caused more havoc than actual good. One need only look at the state of the world and the primary decision makers’ genders or look at the startling statistics both in the US and abroad regarding rape, spousal abuse, or the disparaging inequalities between the sexes. Perhaps a little nudging was necessary to have things manifest themselves in a more positive light for women worldwide. Alexis opened the book gently, being careful of the stiff, aged parchment paper inside. She skimmed the first carefully written page and immediately recognized it as a protection spell. Admittedly her Yoruban was a bit rusty. The only occasions she’d ever had to use it was with Nana Douglas and her sisters when they wanted to secretly communicate. A witch not to be outdone, their Nana Quigly had equally expected them to learn the ancient Manx dialect of their Scottish ancestors. Out of love for their maternal grandmother the girls complied but only their middle sister, Summer, fully
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embraced the Manx. She, however, conformed to conversing with her sisters in Yoruban for fear of missing out on any secret discussions. It had been years since she spoke with her sisters in their “private” language yet Alexis felt versed enough to be able to find what she needed in the Ogún. She thumbed through several pages before stopping on a crop spell. Would this work on desperately neglected house plants? “Starting small never hurts.” She read through the spell countless times, making sure to get the right inflections. When she was confident that she’d memorized the incantation correctly she walked the short distance into her living room and eyeballed the numerous half dead plants that suffered under her ownership. Closing her eyes, she conjured up the images of foliage as they had looked in perfect health and recited the incantation in the melodic way taught to her. She opened her eyes expecting to see the plants return to their previous splendor. What she wasn’t prepared for was the vibrant red and white blossoms that sprouted even bigger and brighter than when she’d first purchased them. Alexis inhaled the fragrance, easily distinguishing the sweet smell of the lilies from the light airy smell of roses. For the first time in over a year, a spark of hope bloomed in her chest. Hope that the tables were finally about to turn on Harrison. Eager for what other treasures the book held, she rushed back into her room. She spent hours sitting in her bed bent over the book, taking her time to read through each page. There was so much to learn. Close to midnight she took a stretch break only to realize she still had on her work clothes. It was so unlike her to deviate from her normal ritual, but she chalked it up to the first of many things about to change in her life. A quick shower and one sandwich later she tucked herself back into bed and pulled the book onto her lap once again. Hope and excitement about the future filled her in a way she never thought possible again. The tides were definitely about to change.
Chapter Two Cor found her in bed when he materialized in her bedroom. His masked form was now devoid of the clothing constraints he’d conformed to for the benefit of the Forces and his cock stirred with life at their close proximity. Briefly, he stared at the budding erection as if it were an alien aberration before shifting his gaze back to the cause of his reaction. At her side lay a large dog and she absently stroked its golden fur while she read. Simultaneously, both her and the animal’s head rose at his invisible manifestation. “So I’m not the only one who feels it,” she directed at the dog while her eyes scanned the room. They’d sensed his presence. He wasn’t surprised by the animal’s keen perception, but for him to register on her radar was nothing short of impossible. Witch or not, she was human and therefore required less shielding than other earthly creatures. He added another barrier to his cloaking. He wouldn’t be so careless the next time. She and the dog exchanged looks before the animal settled down on the bed and she dipped her head over the book once more, her hand absently stroking the animal. Cor frowned at the creature lying so expectantly at her side as if it deserved the attention it was receiving. He sneered at the direction his thoughts were taking. His mission had nothing at all to do with the animal. The text in her lap looked ancient. He’d have to get a closer look once she was asleep. For now he would content himself with studying his subject further. Had he not seen her aura firsthand he would have thought the Forces mistaken. The woman looked completely non-threatening in her long satin pantaloons and scant top. Cor’s eyes were drawn to the dip in her loose shirt which gave a glorious perspective of her full
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cleavage. He itched to pull it over her head to get a better view. He was certain her breasts would be nothing short of perfect. His cock stretched, but that wasn’t enough to jar him out of his trance-like fixation. She yawned tiredly yet he sensed her reluctance to be done for the evening. In the end, she laid the book gently on the nightstand. It was his opportunity to get a better look at the text yet his gaze was riveted to her form. She sat up straight, arching her back and neck. Heat infused him. His breathing became shallow. Blood rushed to his cock and it swelled with a vengeance. Cor sucked in his next breath as his eyes were drawn to the way the silvery material, similar in color to his own flesh, hugged her upturned breasts. His color suited her. Beneath the top her nipples pebbled as if stroked into a heightened state of arousal. She looked more like a woman in serious need of a good coupling than a threat to mankind. Raw lust sliced through him, touching every nerve ending in his body. He wanted her. Correction, he needed her. He sent a mental order for her oversized hound to leave the room. For a moment he thought she would call the dog back. Instead she followed after him and gently closed the door in his wake. Cor touched her mind. What he found there caused his entire being to throb. She was aroused too. He wondered if he’d accidentally projected some of his own lust on her. It would be the first time, but everything surrounding her was turning into a precedent for him. It didn’t matter. He wanted her and she definitely wanted to be fucked. There was only one logical outcome. Assignment or not he’d give the lady what she wanted. Using the guise of her own subconscious, he encouraged her to seek the relief she wanted. It didn’t take much effort. A naughty smile spread across her lips as she reclined on the abundance of pillows behind her. Her lids closed over her beautiful eyes. His connection to her made him privy to the image she conjured up in her mind. A different type of heat merged with the one raging through him as the picture became clear. She lay with her legs splayed while her imaginary lover feasted on her pussy. Fantasy or not, he didn’t like the idea of her succumbing to pleasure at the hand of
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another. When she would have slipped her hand into her satin pants, he had to do something. Undress. She paused. The fantasy faded and she stared with frustration at her ceiling. Why on earth would I even think to do that? I can masturbate just as easily this way. Why masturbate when you can conjure your own man? She rolled her eyes and he could sense her sudden irritation with herself. No thanks. Why the hell would I conjure up another friggin’ man? They can all rot in hell for all I care. He gritted his teeth. It doesn’t have to be a human, just a male. Wouldn’t it feel so much better to have a thick hard cock inside you? That’s what vibrators are for, she countered. But a vibrator can’t touch you. True. So do it. She hesitated. I’ve never done anything like that before. What if I do it wrong? Have a little faith in yourself. She sighed in frustration. Her resolve was slipping. He felt her internal war but remained silent as she came to her own decision. His legs went weak when she suddenly sat up to pull the soft fabric of her top over her head. Stars in heaven, did she have the most beautiful tits he’d ever seen. Ripe. Round. Like her they were a medium brown hue, but her nipples… her nipples were dark as mahogany. So long and taut. Perfect for sucking. He couldn’t wait to take one into his mouth. Hurry. He’d never been so hard in his life. She didn’t bother to slide off the bed, opting instead to raise her hips and push the material of her pants down long legs. In seconds she was nude and looking completely ready to be ravished. She spread her thighs wide and her fingers dipped to touch the folds of her nether lips.
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Summon him now! Her hand stilled. He could hear her racing thoughts trying to think of just the right words to say. Impatiently he sent a useless chant to her. “Man of fable, man of lore, I summon you forth… Cor?” Maybe not the most creative conjuring spell but time was of the essence. He needed her urgently. He dropped the shields used to hide his presence and she gasped as he materialized only inches from the foot of her bed. “I am Cor.” “Wow, I guess I wasn’t kidding when I said it didn’t have to be a human,” she mumbled aloud. Cor cursed his unusual eagerness. He hadn’t thought to hide his true physical form from her. There was nothing he could do about it now. He observed her silently as her eyes roved his body. “Holy shit!” The exclamation rolled off her tongue as her gaze landed on his jutting cock. Fully aroused, he knew he’d be intimidating to her. “Somebody was being a little ambitious. On second thought maybe I should just send you back to wherever you came from. Something like that could put a hurtin’ on a woman.” Like hell she would send him away. “I am here for your pleasure.” “That thing looks like it’s more for impaling than pleasuring.” “Allow me to show you.” He moved forward, not wanting her to have the opportunity to change her mind. To his chagrin she closed her legs and drew them to her chest. He’d just have to show her how much pleasure he could actually deliver.
*** Alexis couldn’t believe her eyes. She hadn’t expected the ridiculous sounding spell to work let alone for it to conjure up a giant man. Scratch that, he definitely wasn’t a man, although he did have all the right appendages, plus some. He was the tallest man she’d seen outside of the NBA. But his large muscular build rivaled that of any basketball star. As impressive as his height and stature were, it was nothing compared
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to the rest of his physique. For starters his coloring was unlike anything she’d ever seen, well, at least not on a person. His skin was silver-toned and seemed to sparkle with a crystal-like quality. His face was all sharp angles beyond what could be described as chiseled. His lips were full although with his mouth currently forced into a straight line they didn’t look as soft as they probably were. He looked serious, like he was concentrating on something important. She wondered what conjured sex slaves thought about. Duh, probably sex. Hmm, probably deliciously wicked ways to bring a woman pleasure. She focused her attention on the wide but sharp angle of his nose before allowing her gaze to settle on violet-colored eyes that were a sharp contrast to his light skin. He settled on the edge of the bed, twisting his large self toward her. She pulled her legs closer but still his proximity had the tips of her toes touching the side of his bare thigh. So much for personal space. Just don’t look down, she told herself, trying to fix on a focal point that would prevent her gaze from venturing south. It wasn’t hard to find things about him to draw her attention. His closeness allowed her to notice two sharp ridges in the center of his forehead. Their protrusion and downward slope reminded her a bit of the fictional Klingons she’d seen depicted on Star Trek. Although his ridges were less pronounced they still served to give him a harsh barbaric quality. She half expected his lavender and silver colored hair to reach down his back but found it to be sheared just below his shoulders. Of all the men to conjure up, she’d made up one that Gene Roddenberry himself would be proud of. It was official. She was quitting the SciFi channel cold turkey effective immediately. For several moments he studied her the way a lion might his intended mate or prey. His exotic eyes possessed a hot-bloodedness she’d never encountered. Not even Harrison’s most passionate moments had him looking at her in that way. Her former husband was always soft and gentle in his approach to her sexually. Alexis doubted the adjective could ever be associated with the silent man watching her. She half expected him to pounce and grew slightly nervous wondering what he was waiting for. If he
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hoped for instructions from her he had a long wait coming. She just wished he’d finally do something or disappear back to the world of giant lavender-haired people. As if reading her thoughts, Cor took hold of one foot, pulling it onto his lap. His large hand engulfed her appendage and worked its way up and down. He found a pressure point with his thumb, never once taking his gaze off her face. She couldn’t deny that it felt damned good. “What would you like to do?” Could she really go through with it? Why not? As soon as it was over she could just send him back to where he came from and tomorrow there would be no need for self-recrimination. She cleared her throat. “You said something about showing me.” “With pleasure.” He leaned forward, easing her thighs apart as his face hovered in front of hers. She could feel his hot breath against her lips and couldn’t help but think how real he felt. He moved closer still until the tips of their noses touched. He watched her the entire time even as her lids closed with the first contact of their lips. She wasn’t sure what to expect from him but found herself submitting to the instant claim of his mouth over hers. There was no gentle persuasion on his part. He took her mouth as if it were his right, as if she were the sex slave and not the other way around. To her surprise she responded with a need of her own. She surrendered herself to the probing of his tongue, moaning into him when he pressed for more. Alexis slid down on the bed and he was right there following her, spreading her legs wider to accept his girth. He growled low in his throat but didn’t cease his penetrating kiss. Of their own accord, her arms wrapped around his thick neck, pulling him completely into her. His hard cock pressed into the soft flesh of her belly. He pulled away from her, raising himself up to stare at her. It was molten. Never had a man looked at her in that fashion. So possessive. Primitive. His head dipped and he trailed searing kisses down the column of her neck. His quest didn’t stop until he reached the
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tips of her breasts. The growl came again as he sucked a beaded nipple into his mouth, causing her to arch off the bed. He wrapped an arm beneath her back to aid her. “Oh yes.” Her fingers dug into his hair, anchoring him in place. She wanted to beg for more but suddenly found herself incapable of speech. He tore his mouth away only to switch his attention to the other nipple. Her heart pounded heavily in her chest as he sucked her dangerously close to an orgasm. He pulled his arm free and let her back relax onto the bed. Cor rose above her body until she was forced to relinquish her hold on his hair. For a brief moment she wondered if he was going to stop completely. If he disappeared on her now, she’d die from frustration. She gasped as he suddenly pinned her arms above her head. One big hand easily held her wrists in place. She felt a brief moment of alarm from the sheer strength of his hold. There was no doubt who was in control. His other hand slid down her body making its single-minded quest to reach her sex. He dipped between her labia folds, his finger pressing firm strokes against her clit until she jerked beneath him, only able to make soft mewling noises. He watched her reaction, repeating the strokes until she was bucking against him. She whimpered when his efforts stopped just as she was close to what promised to be an exquisite orgasm. He cupped her mound, rocking his palm against her before dipping a finger into her soaking slit. It wasn’t his dick but at that point she’d take whatever she could get from him. She bore down on his finger. Her eyes pleaded with him not to stop. She could barely contain herself as another finger joined his steady fucking. She was close. Her pussy gripped his fingers. Her nails bit into the palms of her hands. “So tight. I look forward to having my cock inside of you.” His words excited her and there was no holding back. The first wave of the orgasm took hold, spreading through her as she rode his fingers with fierce thrusts. Her pussy gushed. Her climax drenched his fingers with her feminine juices. “Next time will be slower,” he vowed as he pulled fingers from her still throbbing cunt. Her mind was reeling as he poised the bulbous head of his cock over
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her entrance. The hand around her wrists remained while the other held his shaft steady. He pushed forward with slow pressure. His eyes changed then from lavender to an even darker hue. He worked his length into her tight, wet core and Alexis felt stretched beyond belief. She was beginning to think all of him wouldn’t fit when he thrust forward, sinking deeply into her cunt until she swore she could feel the tip of him touch her womb. He held the position, but Alexis was aware of the effort it must have taken. She saw the veins that bulged in his neck, the tightening of his jaw until finally he could take no more. “So good.” He pulled back only to bear down again with steady controlled thrusts. The unthinkable happened as a spark of renewed pleasure coursed through her. She met his next thrusts with enthusiasm, eager to explore the pleasure of a second orgasm. It would be a first for her. Damn, but he was thick. Each sliding motion rubbed against her sensitive clit, pushing her arousal to the forefront yet again. She bucked against him, once, twice, until he used his hand to hold her still while he pounded her with unrestrained fierceness. She writhed underneath him, fueling the fire raging through both of them. Her orgasm took hold and wrenched the release from her body. Above her Cor grunted toward his own completion, fucking her at a faster rate until he drove into her one final time, his cock swelling even larger inside her before releasing his hot load into her womb. He threw his head back and bellowed through the orgasm. His cock jerked inside of her. Prepared for him to fall off her as Harrison had always done, she was surprised when his head dipped down again for a long sensual kiss. The hand on her wrists relaxed its hold and when he finally rolled away he pulled her atop his hard body. She didn’t protest. What was the harm in basking in the afterglow for a little while? Even if he weren’t mystical she doubted her more than average size would do any damage to someone of his significant makeup. His chest rose and fell slowly beneath her head and she listened to the alternating beats from within.
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Two hearts? Fascinating. He really was unique. She didn’t stop her questing hand as it roamed the contours of one arm. Solid hard muscle greeted her fingertips. “If you continue I will want more.” She considered it seriously for several seconds. How often did a girl get to conjure up a fantasy lover? In the end he took the decision away from her with two simple words. “Rest, Lexi.” It was a good idea. Already her lids were becoming heavy. She finally gave up the effort to keep her eyes open. “Are you leaving now?” “No, just sleep. I will be gone in the morning.” She didn’t bother to ask how. Her brain had begun its shutdown sequence and she was fading quickly. Her last conscious thought was she didn’t remember telling him her name.
Chapter Three The day started out well enough. Two clients in the morning. The first’s biggest worry was over whether or not to have a breast reduction. The other considered the pros and cons of allowing her teenage daughter to spend the summer in Europe. The problems of the wealthy seemed to pale in comparison to her pro bono clients like the Mrs. Gonzalezes of the world. As much as Alexis wanted to discount it, her particular form of stress relief the night before had played a part in her relaxing day. True to his word Cor was gone by the time she opened her eyes that morning. Not even an indent was left to represent where he’d rested his large frame for most of the night. She’d warred with herself briefly over whether to summon him up again for a morning quickie but a glance at her bedside clock had her rethinking the indulgence. Wednesdays were her early days and she couldn’t afford to be late for any appointments. More than ever she needed the money to recover from the devastation of her divorce and make her palimony payments. She cursed Harrison’s name as she’d done since discovering his infidelity and pushed herself out of bed. A quick search of her closet revealed a bag large enough to tote the book of spells. For the first time in a long while she felt like she had a reason for smiling. A night of great sex and knowing her ex was about to get his comeuppance was heartwarming indeed. She carried the comforting feeling with her throughout the morning. By the time lunch rolled around she headed down to the hot dog vendor with a little extra pep in her step. It was the first time in a long while she craved one of the savory links. The morsel would surely be wolfed down while she read. “The usual, Dr. Douglas?” the vendor asked with his tongs poised to dive into the warmer for a kosher dog.
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“Please, Fred.” He didn’t comment on her lapse in visits. In fact he greeted her with the same genial look he’d always done. Automatically he added the works to her dog. “Dr. Douglas?” an unrecognizable female voice called from behind her. She turned to face an attractive blonde who was wearing a casual warm up suit. “Yes. Can I help you?” Alexis cringed as she saw a small manila envelope being extended to her. “Nope. Just wanted to make sure I was serving the right person. Have a great day.” Son of a bitch. Having gone through this more times than she cared to count, Alexis already knew what was in store for her once she opened the package. She clutched the thick envelope, wishing it were Harrison’s neck. With a mumbled goodbye, she paid for her lunch and headed back to her empty offices with her meal and her ex-husband’s latest blackmail efforts. As suspected the envelope contained a formal complaint. In it he not only sought full custody for Bach but was seeking a monthly stipend for the dog’s upkeep. Un. Fucking. Believable. Appetite completely ruined, she tossed the uneaten frank into her wastebasket and reached for the bag containing her family’s book. If she were lucky she’d find a nice spell to turn Harrison into the piece of shit he was. No, that wouldn’t do. She wanted something that would make him suffer. She flipped quickly through the pages, skimming the names as she went. Halfway through the book it dawned on her she hadn’t really processed any of the headings. Calm down and focus. She took a deep breath and closed the book. “That’s it. Just take your time and the right one will probably just leap out at you.” Two more breaths and she concentrated her thoughts on the book. “All I need is one spell. Preferably one to teach cheating, underhanded, abusive bastards a lesson.” Nothing.
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Maybe she was going about it the wrong way. She held on to the thought but this time allowed her hands to hover over the book. Still nothing. It worked on Charmed. TV witches had it easy. Feeling annoyed and disgusted with her failed efforts, she realized she’d have to resume her search the old fashioned way. She stared at the book and turned back to the place she’d left off the night before. Prepared to hunker down, at least until her assistant returned from lunch, Alexis cursed when the diet soda she opened shot out with a furious spray. Instantly she shoved away from her desk and took some satisfaction in seeing the pages of the book unstained. She’d have to be more careful. Her cream-colored blouse wasn’t so fortunate. She groaned at the sight of the top she’d picked up only yesterday from the cleaners. Please don’t stain, she chanted silently as she rushed to the bathroom. A little effort and a lot of water managed to get every diet cola stain out. Once the water spots dried she’d be as good as new and her next client would be none the wiser to her mishap. She stared at her reflection in the mirror. Yes, she looked the epitome of a cool, collected professional. It was an image she’d worked hard to achieve and even with the problems in her life she was determined to maintain it. Certainly a far cry from how you looked last night. The statement intruded on her thoughts. She wasn’t sure why her mind even drifted in that direction. Not you, Lexi. It’s Cor. Her eyes widened and she surveyed the bathroom through the mirror’s reflection. She was most certainly alone. All you have to do is summon me, darling, and I can be right there at your side. The voice she’d initially thought belonged to her subconscious had altered drastically, sounding exactly the way Cor had last night. Fat chance. How are you doing this anyway? I didn’t call you. But you needed me so here I am. In my head?
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To a certain degree.
Great, only she could conjure a sex slave who turned out to be a stalker. Well, I
don’t like it one bit, and you’re quite wrong. I don’t need you. I’m at work. Hmm, why don’t I see if I can figure out what it is you like and need, Lexi? I’m not summoning you. She felt his mental shrug and expected him to vacate her mind. Of course she was wrong. Suit yourself, but I don’t need a physical form to satisfy you. She didn’t get a chance to ask what he meant because in that instant she felt pressure on her shoulders, like two strong hands, pushing her over the sink. “What the hell?” She gripped the porcelain to keep from falling into it. The hands left her shoulders but she found herself immobile in spite of her efforts to straighten. She stared into the mirror but was again only greeted with her own reflection. What are you doing? You don’t know? Her modest black skirt was jerked up over her hips. Nice. She assumed he meant the pink silk panty and garter set she wore. Let’s not forget your big beautiful ass, but the garment complements it well. A good choice. I didn’t wear them for you. You should because I like it. Although, the thick stockings and shoes are a bit too puritan for my taste but it’s probably best your clients don’t know what you’re concealing. Well, now you know what’s under my skirt. Happy? Hardly, but I will be once I know you are. What is that supposed to mean, Cor? You need to cut it out now before someone walks in. What a sight you’d make being fucked by the invisible man. You wouldn’t. His silence was answer enough, that and the feel of a hand rubbing her ass. You can’t.
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Apparently he could. Interest in simply rubbing her derrière soon switched gears. Her fingers gripped the sink tighter as he forced her legs apart. Her panties were pushed to one side to give invisible fingers access to her sex. She felt him spread her labia and quickly find her clit. The protest she intended came out as a gasp. This shouldn’t be happening, but it was and he rubbed her clit with deft strokes. She did her best to resist the urge to grind against the unseen pressure but like the night before she succumbed quickly to his manipulations. The invasion stopped suddenly and her legs felt weak. The ripping of her panties penetrated her aroused mind and she saw the expensive garment tossed aside. Fear mingled with sexual need as her body was lifted several inches off the ground and made to hover. Her ass cheeks were spread wide. She felt Cor’s hot breath before something warm and wet penetrated her rectum. “Ooohhhh,” she groaned, unprepared for the sudden assault in her ass. It sank deep, strumming every nerve. His tongue. He’d gotten his tongue that deep in her ass. As if the infiltration weren’t enough, it flicked several times until she cried out. He fucked in and out of her ass with a steady rhythm, making her pussy throb in longing. Cream gathered in her cunt. In and out he drilled her until the familiar tension coiled through her. She whimpered when his tongue cruelly withdrew from her ass. More. There was no mental reply, just a firm hold on her ass and deep thrust of his cock into her slit, filling her pussy instantly. The swiftness of his actions left her gasping. She could feel every vein in his shaft as he took her mercilessly. He gripped her hips in a tight hold. Her vaginal walls constricted around his thick member, pulsating even with the tension inching up her spine and twisting through her abdomen. The blood rushed from her head as the orgasm finally ripped through her. She pulsated around his cock. Her come drenched him and he picked up speed. He swelled unbelievably inside her.
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His fingers bit into her. He rammed his sex balls deep into her cunt a final time and his seed filled her womb. If it weren’t for the invisible hold he had on her, she’d surely have fallen on her face. She wasn’t certain how long they stayed in that position with him buried deeply inside her. But she registered his immediate withdrawal with a frustrated sense of loss. Her feet gently touched the ground and Alexis felt something cool and wet pressed against her vagina. The wet paper towels floated and dropped into the garbage. She straightened and pushed her skirt down over her thighs. You’re beautiful, he said as she stared at her mussed reflection in the mirror. That shouldn’t have happened. Says who? Me. It didn’t exactly sound convincing. Summon me tonight. No, I have plans. I’m not asking. And like that he was gone along with her torn undergarments. He wasn’t just a stalker, but a pervert too.
*** He’d lost perspective, that much was evident. Whenever he was around her the purpose of his assignment went out the window. His reaction to her was an enigma. He wasn’t certain if he liked the feelings coursing through him. Two human hours had passed since he’d seen her last and it took his total focus not to search her out, which was problematic in and of itself because he should be at her side. He should be keeping an invisible vigil on her to make sure she wasn’t doing anything rash. Fortunately, he knew her schedule and that she would be in sessions until late. Hopefully by the time she came home he would have a handle on his… emotions. He nearly spat at the thought. Sleepers were not emotional by nature. In fact he could not honestly recall feeling anything beyond a vague curiosity or a natural bout of lust for any woman. Alexis was unique, and not solely because of the power she contained within. No, there was something completely special about the witch. The thought of her had
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him feeling possessive. He wanted her all to himself but it couldn’t happen. At least not until she ended her obsession with her ex. Once she let go of her need for revenge his assignment would be over and he could explore these… feelings.
*** At any moment she expected to have Cor intruding on her thoughts, or worse. Just the idea of him touching her in session put her nerves on edge. Embarrassment heated her face several times during one session because she got caught with her mind drifting back to their bathroom encounter. Unable to focus, Alexis cancelled her last appointment of the day. She didn’t think she was being paranoid. Her experience with sex slaves was non-existent and it was obvious she didn’t know what rules Cor was playing by. Until they were on the same page it wouldn’t do to have him popping in willy-nilly and disrupting her day. She’d have to make sure he couldn’t bother her again unless it was on her terms, preferably after she had a chance to deal with Harrison.
Letting herself into her apartment with an energetic Bach in tow, Alexis quickly freshened his bowls and scarfed down a granola bar to appease her grumbling tummy. Still chewing the final bits of her snack, she set about retrieving the chest from her bedroom before reciting a protection spell found in the first few pages of her family’s book. If her translation was correct the incantation would ward off anyone or thing. She need only insert the name of the nemesis. Cor. Spell cast, book in hand, and feeling confident she could work without interruption, Alexis plopped herself down on her loveseat and began her search anew. The hunt ended an hour later as she flipped to a page marked Vindication. Not wanting to get her hopes up prematurely she read through the spell a few times to ensure she’d gotten the proper translation. She gnawed at her bottom lip nervously. The third read revealed what she’d suspected from the beginning. This was it. She let out a whoop of excitement.
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The spell was short and simple in and of itself; she would have to do a little substitution to direct it. Her giddiness faded a bit as she noted the familiar markings calling for the powdery concoction still in the chest. Her grandmother’s warning rang in her head again but it was superseded as she remembered what had brought her to this point. These were desperate times and not just for herself. There was too much at stake to stop now.
*** Anger. It was another new emotion, and it licked at him as he watched Alexis prepare to do the very thing he’d been sent to stop. If he hadn’t been derelict in his duties, things would not have progressed this far. He wasn’t sure what upset him more, his neglect or the knowledge that Alexis had actually used a protection spell to keep him away. I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Lexi. His words intruded on her thoughts, breaking her concentration. He watched her body tense and sensed her immediate surprise at hearing his voice. Confusion settled on her face and her head whipped back and forth to look for him. How did you get past the spell? A simple witch’s spell can’t affect me. But… but I conjured you. He dropped the shields to be visible to her. She sprang to her feet like a frightened animal on high alert. “It wasn’t you who did the conjuring.” “But I recited the incantation,” she said, flustered. “A useless spell put in your mind by me.” “You? Why? I don’t understand.” “Don’t you? I was afflicted by the same physical need you had last night and I sent the incantation to you.” “So you’re telling me you lurked around my bedroom in the hopes I’d get horny?”
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“No. I lurked in your bedroom to prevent you from making the mistake you’re about to make now.” She shook her head as if in doing so things would all fall into place and make perfect sense. “So you’ve been stalking me? For how long?” “I was assigned to you yesterday.” “Assigned? Assigned by whom, for what reason?” “By the Forces of Nature to prevent you from using your powers to get revenge on your former husband.” She sighed heavily. “Just fucking great. Judges aren’t enough, the bastard gets supernatural help too.” “I’m not here to help him, Lexi.” “Good. So get the hell out and I can get back to work.” “I can’t let you do that.” “And how do you plan to stop me?” “By any means necessary.” Energy built within her, pushing its way to the surface with her temper that flared instantaneously. Her eyes discolored and sparkled a bright topaz then narrowed to mere slits. The kitten had definitely awakened to unleash a ferocious lioness. Her actions were swift. “Wall!” The invisible barrier went up between them before Cor knew what she’d planned. He gritted his teeth in frustration as she reached for the leather pouch in the chest. “Lexi!” It was the only other warning he would issue. To his further irritation she ignored it as she would a bothersome pest. She pulled the string to undo the binding, which forced his hand. A flick of his wrist demolished the invisible barrier she’d erected. He registered the startled look on her face before it was replaced by something else. Outrage. She tilted the pouch, all the while her gaze focused on him. Her mouth moved soundlessly, but he didn’t need the audio to know what she was doing.
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It was another spell directed at him. If he were anything else the spell would have expelled his particles to the universe. He was astounded by her audacity. Surprised and -- dare he admit it -- a little hurt. All those emotions were suppressed as a fresh one surfaced. Rage. With his mind he summoned both the pouch and book. Once they were in his possession, he transported the items away with the barest thought. They were only a means to an end. His target was Lexi. “You have no right!” Her wail would have made a banshee proud. “With you I have more rights than you can begin to imagine, witch.” He couldn’t conceal his emotions and that only fueled the burning embers of his anger. “You will either do my bidding of your own free will or suffer the consequences.” “Wanna bet?”
His mind connected with hers and he locked onto her next thought.
Run.
Escape wouldn’t be easy, in fact it would be impossible from the place he had in
mind. He didn’t consider an alternative because there wasn’t one. She was determined to carry out her revenge and he was equally resolved to stop her. One thought and he transported himself and Lexi to his cavern.
Chapter Four At first she thought it was an illusion. But as she looked frantically around the structure, she definitely knew she wasn’t in Los Angeles anymore. Crystals jutted from the walls and up from the ground in sharp spikes. Those didn’t concern her as much as the jagged daggers above her head that looked ready to drop down at the slightest movement. “Get used to it, Lexi. I think you’ll be here for some time.” There was no mistaking the voice that echoed through the cavern. It was Cor, her sex slave, or rather a damned supernatural agent for her ex-husband. “What did he do, sell you his soul in exchange for torturing me?” She whirled angrily on him. “I should warn you now that you got majorly gypped in the deal. The bastard has no soul.” The expression on his face had her taking several retreating steps to put space between them. He looked larger than he had in her apartment. And the barely there cloth hanging low on his hips made him look barbaric. Dangerous. She was stopped short by a stalagmite directly behind her. “I don’t work for your former husband.” “Could’ve fooled me. I demand you send me back right now or I’ll…” Her voice trailed off as he stepped forward. His lavender eyes shone a bright fluorescent color. For the first time she noted the thick veins crisscrossing over his bare arms and chest. “You’ll what, witch?” It wasn’t lost on her that he’d resorted to calling her by the designation instead of by her name. She wasn’t exactly sure where she was going with her threat. He’d already proven himself to be a powerful magical creature, whatever the hell type he was.
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“Look, I don’t intimidate easily.” At least she hadn’t in the past. “Just send me back and I’ll forget we ever met. You really shouldn’t have been involved in this mess to begin with.” She wasn’t exactly sure what she’d said this time to have his eyes shooting daggers in her direction but it was enough to defuse her dwindling bravado. “You will leave when I say. Understand?” She didn’t understand any of what was happening, but thought it might be in her best interest if she just nodded in agreement anyway. She also refrained from pointing out that his cozy little cave lacked the necessary amenities to keep her there for any length of time. Unless the crystals served dual purposes, she was pretty certain they’d be useless in helping address her most basic needs. She didn’t suspect her comfort was high on his priority list. “So I’m some sort of hostage or prisoner?” she asked, wanting to break the silence that stretched between them but also feeling the need to get answers. Foremost on her mind was who Cor really was and why he’d involved himself in her affairs. “Since I have no plans of collecting a ransom on you, prisoner would be the more appropriate designation.” Her heart skipped a beat. She didn’t really think he’d choose either of the options she’d blurted out. Then why ask? Cor’s voice intruded on her thoughts. “Don’t do that. My thoughts are my own,” she scolded. “I believe that we’ve already established that you are my prisoner and as such everything about you now belongs to me, including your thoughts.” He said it so matter-of-factly. “First, you pretend to be a sex slave that I conjured up. Then, you interfere in a little well-deserved retribution and now you bring me to this place to play some warped game of cat and mouse with me. Why are you doing this?” Were men of every species absolute assholes?
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“As I tried to tell you in your home, my kind are called Sleepers. We are a race of beings awakened by the Forces of Nature to prevent events or to set others in motion. In this instance I have been called to prevent a catastrophe caused by you.” “Me? All I wanted to do was make a few people pay for their crimes because it’s more than obvious that justice won’t be served any other way. Why not target the ones responsible for causing all the pain to begin with?” “Because the crime you were about to commit would far surpass any perceived injustices.” “Perceived? You call Harrison’s infidelity and continued harassment perceived? What about my clients who’ve faced injustices at the hands of boyfriends and spouses? They are just the tip of the iceberg. Bottom line, the root cause of all these problems is one thing. Men who have no regard for anyone or anything.” “And you’re prepared to make all men pay for the actions of a few? Where’s your regard for the innocent?” “I’m not evil. Of course I won’t target decent men. I only planned to see justice done to those men who seem to have circumvented it for too long.” “And the ones caught in the cross-fire of your vendetta?” “I wouldn’t be that careless.” “No? Why don’t we see about that?” He took another step toward her and she couldn’t help but cringe. Her back pressed forcefully into the crystal. Maybe if he weren’t so much larger than her or if he didn’t still look so angry, she could muster up some of her previous rage and square off with him. He stopped several inches in front of her. His large, silvery arm stretched out in a sweeping arc over the uneven floor. In front of her the ground shimmered and waved before transforming into a pool. It rippled as if a tiny pebble had been tossed into the center of the pool causing the surface to spread, settle and shine with a bright glow. “Look.”
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It was an order she didn’t dream of disobeying. Alexis eased away from the stalagmite to look into the pool’s depths. Within seconds images took shape and she felt as if she were watching a movie. It took her a moment to make sense of what she was seeing but as the images continued her brows furrowed. Chaos. It was the only word she could think of to describe the scene. Riots abounded. It was mayhem and pandemonium. Countless women filled the streets in every reel. Some wailed in anguish, others looked lost and forlorn, as if their tears could no longer come. It was a not so distant future, or at least she surmised as much from the familiar technology. No, it looked to be only a few years in the future. Two, to be exact. “What’s happened?” “You. Your spell causes a pandemic effect on the male population of Earth, or at least it would have. It started with a disease that only seemed to attack the members of the population with a Y chromosome. The virus had flu-like symptoms and spread just as easily as the common cold, only with a hundred percent fatality rate.” Alexis felt as if her heart had stopped beating. He couldn’t be right. Her spell wouldn’t cause such devastation. But it will, which is why I can’t allow you to return to the surface and carry it out. She thought about her father, her uncles. They were all the men in her life who meant so much to her. They’d shown nothing but kindness and love to the people around them and done nothing to deserve that fate. “Children?” “All males, Lexi.” She hadn’t meant for that to happen at all. Her spell was flawed somehow. She recited the words in her head again, looking for the answer. “Enough!” He waved his hand over the sorrowful scene and it disappeared just as quickly as it came. The ground reshaped into its former self but Alexis kept her head bent as if she could still see the images. “I show you what your retribution will cause and still you plot.”
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“No.” Her head shot up with the denial. “You forget I can read your mind, witch. I saw your thoughts searching for the error.” His eyes blazed again, the ridges on his brow thrust downward in a harsh angle, which rendered her speechless. Her legs felt like jelly and she wasn’t certain how she managed to stand under the pressure of her own weight. “Perhaps you’d like to be on the receiving end of some retribution for your crimes against mankind.” “But I… didn’t do anything.” “Not yet. However, if I left you to your own devices or returned you now you most assuredly would.” Alexis would have denied his accusation if given half a chance but Cor didn’t appear to be in an understanding mood. In an instant he lunged for her, taking a tight hold of one arm and yanking her along behind him. She made one valiant effort to jerk free only to have him snarl over his shoulder. A rather wicked-looking pair of incisors flashed at her and proved to be the only coercion she needed. If she wondered what his intentions were, they became clear when another wave of his hand, toward a particularly jagged-looking wall, had four manacles with chains forming. The wall shaped into a smooth glassy surface and he shoved her toward it. Her outstretched hands braced her from the full impact. Renewed fear pumped through her and she whirled to face him. Her eyes rounded in fright at the dark look on his face. He could kill her -- she knew it, and didn’t doubt he’d do just that without further provocation. He’d already proven his magical superiority, and his physical strength was more than obvious. She was at his mercy with no hope of escape. From her limited view of the cavern there didn’t seem to be an obvious point of entry. She had a strong feeling that teleportation was the only way in or out. She wouldn’t be able to leave without his permission.
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Your assumptions are all correct and now that you understand your situation, let me make one other thing abundantly clear. I will only accept your obedience in all matters. Anything less will lead to punishment. “Isn’t that what you’ve intended all along, to punish me for something I haven’t done?” Alexis argued, hoping to strike some chord with him. “I swear my plan wasn’t to see any innocent persons hurt.” “How do you judge those innocent from the guilty ones? You’ve only taken the tears of distressed women into consideration without knowing the whole truths.” “And you think you know the situations better than me? I’ve counseled these women and heard their stories time and time again.” “Your role as counselor gives you the knowledge of the truth?” “I have a certain insight.” “Did you once consider your judgment may be based on incomplete information?” She knew better than that. She was a leader in her field. Had helped countless women deal with some rather awful truths in their lives and she wouldn’t let some… male try to mar her accomplishments. “Who shall we start with first?” he said aloud. Somehow she knew he was probing her mind although she couldn’t detect his presence. “It seems you have a special affinity for Mrs. Gonzalez. Curious, she is a woman with second sight but cannot seem to discern when she is being deceived by her own child.” Second sight, that would explain the woman’s odd comment of the day before, but what did he mean she couldn’t tell she was being deceived by her daughter? “Come now, you’re a trained medical professional. Did it not once cross your mind that the daughter could be lying about her father’s behavior?” “Why in God’s name would she do something like that? What he does to her is deplorable!” “And a complete fabrication by a person looking to gain materially by playing on her mother’s emotions.”
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The very idea left her feeling nauseated. “That’s not possible.” Cor made no comment as he waved a hand over the space separating them. Like before the pool formed, showing a clear image of a teenage girl standing in front of what appeared to be a closet while she chatted on the phone. “You were right about working this divorce thing to my benefit. My mother took me shopping again this weekend to cheer me up. Maybe next time I’ll make sure to have a bruise or two to show.” The girl giggled at whatever was being said to her. “Maybe I should see her psychiatrist. I bet I could get her to buy this crap too and who knows, maybe I’ll get to go on that ski trip next month.” Mercifully the picture dissolved but the damage was already done. Alexis couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. How could a person, especially someone so young, be so ruthless? All this time Mrs. Gonzalez thought her daughter was being sexually abused and the girl was being nothing more than a malicious opportunist. “Would you like to see how your patient Mrs. Wallace comes to receive the various bruises she arrives with at each appointment?” The client he mentioned was a classic battered wife and her husband’s abuse had slowly begun to escalate to the point he no longer cared about isolating the injuries to non-visible areas. Her spouse only provides the stimulus she begs for. She shook her head. “You’re wrong.” “Would you like to see? Masochism isn’t abuse.” “No.” The word came out in an anguished sigh. Her gaze drifted up to his hard face. “Are you going to tell me that everyone has lied to me, that my whole career is made up of falsehoods or misinformation?” “A good number of your patients have legitimate issues and ailments. This exercise was simply to show you that you were wrong to condemn some on limited or biased information.” “But Harrison --”
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“Is only one man and cannot be used as the standard for all males.”
She knew what he said was logical, if only she could let go, but every fiber of her
being still screamed for justice. Which is why you must stay here. “And if I’m never able to let go, then what? You can’t keep me forever.” “I’m prepared to do just that.”
Chapter Five He meant every word of it. His assignment had taken on a life of its own and there was no doubt in his mind that the Forces were aware it would. Their verbal endorsement became clear now. They were all seeing and had to recognize this woman, this witch, would affect him in ways no other ever had. Because of her, emotions flooded him and compromised his ability to maintain complete focus. This assignment would be his last. Alexis Emily Douglas would become his mate and he’d make sure to keep her powers in check. The expressions flickering across her face ran the gamut. He felt her sorrow for what she’d almost caused but beneath it all the desire to pay her ex back still remained. Her fixation on the human only infuriated him, and not for the reasons it should. There was only one male he wanted her attentions directed at. He had half a mind to end the human’s life now and be done with it, but that was not his assignment. “What about Bach?” The forlorn quality of her voice defused some of his anger. The dog. He hadn’t given the creature a second thought. “He will be cared for.” Something sparked in her. “You can’t let Harrison have him.” He wouldn’t dream of it. Seeing to the animal’s needs, even from a distance, would be simple enough. “He will be cared for.” Her gaze shifted to the manacles on either side of her head before meeting his gaze, and he saw the immediate defiance there. “Now that I know what could happen I won’t cast the spell.” “If I let you go now it will happen.”
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“Unless I’m stopped?” She didn’t give him a chance to respond, most likely because the answer was evident. “And am I supposed to just stand by and let you shackle me to this wall like some medieval captive?” “You’re welcome to try and stop me.” “You know I can’t.” She stretched her arms out toward the manacles like a martyr. “So let’s get this penance over with.” Alarm registered on her face when the clasps clicked in place around her wrists, as if she hadn’t wholly expected to be shackled. “How long am I supposed to stay this way?” He saw right through her brave front even as she tried to mask her thoughts. There was no denying the fear and uncertainty that dwelled within her. The fear of him. “Until your obsession with vengeance is squelched.” “And if that can’t be done?” He saw her doubt. “I have family who would worry.” He noticed the absence of the word friends and searched her thoughts. Humans were known for acquiring close social groups beyond the bonds of familial relations. She knew a great many people and was well respected but he found no confidants. Harrison had been her only friend outside of her family. And when the marriage soured she’d been alone, isolating herself completely from even her family members. She felt guilt and regret over her forced solitude, was angry with herself for her mean-spirited comments to her younger sibling over a business venture. Christine Douglas -- the woman’s name and image came to mind along with someone he hadn’t expected to find. Falcon. He reached across the miles to touch the other Sleeper’s mind. Falcon answered. So you’re the one they summoned to handle my mate’s sister. Your mate? A lot has changed while I slept. Indeed. So far I don’t see any greater catastrophes in the world than what was already present. Your assignment has been successful? In a manner of speaking.
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And Lexi still lives? Yes, but I suspect the Forces never intended for me to take her life. It has been a unique assignment. Falcon’s chuckle gave him pause. Lately they seem to have ulterior motives for everything. It will relieve Christine to know that her sister is finally in good hands. Has Lexi been revealed as your mate? Not officially, but I will have her as such. Sounds as if she’s gotten under your skin in the same way my mate did. I won’t keep you any longer. If your feelings are anything like mine I’m certain you’re eager to get back to her. In fact Christine hasn’t had a good coupling in hours. Cor thought it best not to mention Alexis’ current state of being and let the connection end. “So what about my family?” “Your sister has been alerted.” She stared at him dumbfounded. “My sister? You talked to her.” “No, with her mate.” “Her mate? She isn’t married. My mother said she’s dating some guy named --” “Falcon.” “You know him?” “Yes. You could say we’re in the same line of work.” “The whole saving the world from vengeful witches thing. Well, I have to say your friend barked up the wrong tree there. Christine has never hated anyone or anything in her life.” “I do not believe you did either until Harrison.” “All water under the bridge.” “If it were we wouldn’t be here now.” “Well fine, fix me so that I can get out of Superman’s Fortress of Solitude and back to my condo with running water and an actual bed.” “The fixing will have to be done by you.”
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“I think we both know that’s not going to happen, so just wave your arms around a few times and cleanse me or something because I refuse to spend forever here with you.” “You find my presence repulsive?”
“That’s putting it nicely.”
“I seem to recall two specific incidents where you craved being with me. More
specifically, me being inside you.” “Both times magic was used in some fashion. How do I know I wasn’t under some sort of enchantment?” “You think your responses to me were magically induced?” “I don’t doubt it. You tricked your way into my bed. What’s to say you didn’t add a few compulsions?” He felt the anger inside of him start a slow simmer. “Be careful what you’re accusing me of, witch.” She crooked an eyebrow at him. “Did I touch a nerve or expose a bit of reality?” “You, my dear witch, have sealed your own fate.”
*** How did the warning about playing with fire go? In her nervous fear she’d stupidly done just that, only she doubted a simple burn would be all she walked away with. The glint in his eyes worried her, especially in her current defenseless position. He’d seemed to calm, somewhat, since his last tirade, but here was little Miss Confrontational provoking him all over again. He closed the short distance between them. Her mind struggled with something to say that would return some relative peace to his features. Nothing came to her, not that it would have mattered because in that moment Cor’s hand snagged the top button of her blouse and ripped downward with a force that sent her pearl buttons flying in several directions. They would be lost forever. The thought passed through her brain at the same time she realized her shirt wasn’t the only casualty of the assault. The silky material of
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her top parted but so did the pink bra she wore beneath it. Adrenaline rushed through her veins but she tried to control her breathing. “No magic,” he said. One arm snaked behind her and she felt the pressure of his fingers working the fastenings of her skirt. Tug. The black material pooled at her feet but her thoughts were too occupied with the closeness of the nearly naked male in front of her. Heat radiated from his silvery flesh and spread to her. She gasped when his hand cupped her bare ass, pulling her close. Her breath hitched from the sudden movement and the feel of his rock hard cock pressed into her soft flesh. She swallowed for lack of anything better to do. A finger under her chin tilted her head up to meet his lavender gaze. His head dipped toward hers, causing her heart to lurch and thump loudly in her chest. At the last possible moment she jerked her face away from his but it hardly deterred Cor. Instead he bent into the hollow of her neck. His long tongue stretched to taste her flesh and she shivered in excitement. Your body cannot deny me, Lexi. She wanted so badly to prove him wrong, but already moisture was gathering in her core. Both hands dropped to her ass, kneading the round flesh before sliding to her thighs and lifting her in one fell swoop. She groaned at the feel of his cock pressed against her nether folds. The thin fabric he wore acted as a barrier between them but did little to mask the veined ridges of his cock. He glided her up and down his length, pressing forward ever so slightly. Alexis whimpered as her cunt throbbed and gushed its arousal all over the cloth. She hated her body’s disloyal reaction. How she wanted to fall limply against him, to be repelled by his touch, not eager to feel his overly large cock pushing its way into her. Say it aloud, Lexi. Let me hear the words. He was in her head again. There was nowhere for her to hide from him. “Never.” “Never is a long time, Lexi. Do you think you have that sort of stamina in you?”
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When she didn’t answer he pressed her back into the smooth surface of the wall and ground into her roughly. Just as quickly he hoisted her up further and she squealed at the height. Her bound wrists thrust downward and she stared at the top of his head. He lowered her until her legs anchored over his shoulders and his head was dangerously close to her snatch. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t. He did. His mouth covered her mons and his thick tongue stuck out to stroke her from her hot cunt to her clit. “Oh God!” The moan was wrenched from deep within her. Her body quaked. He centered his attention on her button, his tongue pressing firmly into the nugget until she writhed against his mouth. She would have given anything to sink her hands into the dense forest of his hair and hold him in place while she rode his mouth. Say the words. He held her in place, tilting her hips slightly to allow his tongue to press into her slit. It was unbelievable how well he filled her with it. More, more, she silently pleaded even as his tongue drove into her with a force that could rival most cocks. Aloud, Lexi. I want to hear the words from you. “Nooo,” she moaned, reaching for the orgasm that loomed so closely. Her scream of frustration at the abrupt loss of his tongue and mouth filled the cavern. She jerked against her restraints, wanting to force his mouth back to work. To her further dismay Cor eased her heated body to the ground. “You… you can’t be serious.” She stared at him in wide-eyed bafflement. “I am if you can’t say the words. I want there to be no doubt that you’re giving yourself to me freely and wholly.” He took a step away from her. “You’d deny both of us?” She looked pointedly at his cock tenting the loincloth. “That’s up to you.” Her blouse draped open to reveal round breasts and stiff nipples. “It’s really a shame too.” He tweaked one hard, pebbled nub and she jerked from the electricity of it. “You seemed to be enjoying yourself so much.” “You bastard.”
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“Such an ugly word from such a beautiful mouth.” His head dipped toward hers just as he tweaked her nipple again. Her soft gasp gave him the access he needed to slip his tongue between her parted lips. His fingers twirled the flesh between them until she felt that she would melt. Last chance, Lexi. What’s it to be? Her eyes opened as he pulled away. “You win. I want you.” “You’re wrong. We both win.” He lifted her again and instinctively she wrapped her legs around his waist. “Yesss,” she crooned in response to his cock slowly working its way into her tight hole. She rocked her hips, impatient to have all of him. “Slow and easy.” “Just fuck me.” It was his turn to groan. In spite of her pleading, he seemed to try his best to take care with her, leaving her with only one option. She used her restraints to raise herself enough to bounce back down with a hard thrust that sent him painfully deep inside her. “Lexi,” he moaned but steadied her hips at the same time, holding himself still. “We need to be careful.” “I know,” she panted through the ache. “I’ll be fine.” Alexis had never been so aroused in all her life, and as the discomfort between her legs slowly subsided there was only one thing on her mind. His sex thoroughly lodged in her, she didn’t fight the pleasure-pain pulsing through her. “Let me,” she urged, starting a slow bouncing. When he wouldn’t loosen his hold she knew it was done as a precaution against causing her further pain. So tight. Wonderfully tight and hot. She heard the tension even in his mental communication. She rode him in short bucks, her climax galloping toward her. Cor swelled and pulsed, signaling his own close orgasm. She wanted to ride him harder, faster, but his hold restrained her. An inhuman sound erupted from him as he shot his load deep in her womb, coating her walls even more. His grip slipped, giving her the control she
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craved, and she took full advantage, bucking hard until the familiar knot corkscrewed in her belly and her pussy throbbed unbelievably before she came apart with a shriek that threatened to bring the crystals down around them. Alexis heard the soft click of the manacles’ release. Her hands dropped limply onto Cor’s shoulders and she managed to wrap the tired limbs around his neck. Her head nuzzled his chest. With him still buried so incredibly deep inside her, he walked away from the wall. She gasped in protest and surprise when he finally pulled free from her body only to let her fall onto the soft surface of a mattress. “Magic?” She raised a brow in playful accusation. He nodded, following her onto the bed where he gathered her up in his arms. “Thank you,” she mumbled, feeling completely spent. “You were right, you know.” “How’s that?” “I did want to have sex with you every time. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’d like to do it a lot more in the future, since it looks like I’ll be here for a while.” Alexis actually thought she heard Cor chuckle but with him fitting himself into her back she couldn’t be certain. I don’t laugh, witch. Maybe not yet, but if you’re intent on keeping me here you’d better develop a semblance of a sense of humor. I don’t seem to recall you having much of one. She huffed. I resent that. I’m pretty darned humorous. I might even break down and tell you a joke or two. Spare me. Hey, I can’t be the only one learning lessons here. “Go to sleep, Lexi.” “You know you can’t just order me to sleep.” “No?” Her eyelids drooped of their own accord. “No fair using magic.”
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He chuckled and not just on the inside either. This time she was sure of it.
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Chapter Six Alexis took a moment to process what she was seeing when she peeked from beneath half closed lids. Several feet away was her sofa, in fact, her entire living room set. Lounging comfortably on one cushioned section was Bach. Her eyes widened and she sat up in bed, aware of her completely nude form beneath the thin blanket. She did a double take as she absorbed the changes to the crystal cavern. Cor had managed to make a comfortable living space, for her. With the exception of the overly large bed, all the furnishings were hers. She even noted her small plasma screen TV mounted on the smooth resurfaced wall across from the sofa. Somehow she doubted they’d get cable where they were. Bach raised his head curiously but his excitement was apparent in the wild thumping of his tail. “You may go to her.” Cor’s voice came from the shadows but it was all the encouragement her dog needed. He slid several times on the smooth surface of the floor before bounding onto the bed. Several wet doggy kisses were lavished all over her face before Bach settled down on her lap as he’d done since he was a pup. Alexis watched as Cor stepped into view sporting another of his miniscule loincloths and nothing else. She didn’t know why he even bothered with them. I can remove it if you like. “You know it would be polite if you waited until you were invited before jumping into my head.” “Somehow I doubt such an invitation would ever be extended.” She shrugged. “You have a point, but I’d appreciate a bit more privacy.” He pretended to mull it over. “Done.”
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“That seemed almost too easy. Why are you being so… nice? Not that I’m complaining but just yesterday you looked as if you could bury me in an unmarked grave.” “That’s not how I remember it at all. In fact I’d say our day ended on a very pleasant note.” She didn’t try to hide her smile as she thought back to the orgasmic culmination of an otherwise frightful day. “So to what do I owe all this?” “I thought it would be a better transition if you had some familiarity around you.” “Really?” “I can send it back if you’d prefer?” “No, no. So does that mean you’ve equipped the place with plumbing and such?” “I can give you a grand tour if you’d like and have you tell me if everything meets with your approval.” She liked. His transformations were quite impressive. He’d made two separate rooms off the large chamber. The first served as a kitchen and was equipped with all the modern conveniences. The other room opened into a large chamber that housed a bubbling spring big enough to double as a swimming pool. Cor pointed out the privacy wall that hid the lavatory, and she was grateful for his thoughtfulness as she took advantage of the facilities. “You’ve really outdone yourself.” “I am glad you find everything to your liking. I was thinking we’d take a quick dip before breaking your fast.” He didn’t get any objection from her and when she settled in the steaming waistdeep water she thought she’d died and gone to heaven. She dipped under the water, feeling instantly refreshed when she emerged. “This is fantastic. I feel good enough to run a marathon.”
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His gaze latched on to her bare breasts. “Hmm. I had something a little more strenuous in mind.” “I thought you planned to feed me first.” “Feed, fuck, but not necessarily in that order.” “I think I can be persuaded to forgo nourishment for a little while longer, with the right encouragement.” “And what might that be?” She eyed his cock pushing through the surface of the water. “You humans have an expression: ‘great minds think alike’.” When he would have reached for her she sidestepped him. The move had a low growl starting in the depths of his chest. His brows furrowed, making his forehead ridges dip dangerously low. “Don’t get your panties in a bunch. I’d just like to take control this time.” “So be it.” He reached for her again only to have her narrowly escape his grasp again. “Lexi.” It was a warning tone. “A few rules. First, no touchy without permission.” His jaw tensed. “Come on, I promise not to bite, too hard.” “Agreed. What other rules do you have?” “You let me do all the work.” “Agreed. Now kiss me before I forget all your damned rules.” She shook her head at his demand but moved forward all the same, latching on to his shoulders and pulling him downward for what she intended to be a brief kiss. Only it didn’t quite work out that way. She broke the kiss all too soon and got a moan of protest from her enthusiastic partner. She eased onto her knees and the surface of the water licked her chin. Alexis didn’t stand on ceremony as she wrapped her fingers around his shaft. The thickness prevented her fingers from touching. Her gaze traveled up the length of his body and locked with his. Lips met with the tip of his cock. Her mouth spread wide to accommodate as much of him as possible,
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which wasn’t a lot. Yet what she could encompass she attacked with full gusto, sliding her hands up and down the remainder of his sex until he stretched incredibly hard. He moaned loudly and one hand twined in the short curls of her hair. She took hold with her other hand and set a fast pace sucking and stroking him until he threw his head back in an orgasmic howl. His body shuddered and he shot his seed down her throat. She did her best to greedily swallow every drop. As the last spasm shook him, she continued to milk his cock with furious pumping of her hands and mouth. “Lexi… that was…” She smiled as he trailed off. “Cat got your tongue, big boy?” After a quick dip into the heated water, she rose to her full height and stood on tiptoes to give Cor a sweet peck on the lips. “I’m going to go see what you have in that kitchen of yours.”
*** Everything about her fascinated him. The curve of her hips, the way she crooked a brow at him whenever he said something she didn’t agree with. He even liked to watch the way she showered attention on the hairy mongrel currently parked in her lap. He was tempted to send the dog off again but knew she’d only call the animal back. Cor wasn’t certain if he could handle another triumphant look from her pet. “Stop brooding and get back to the question at hand.” He dug in his memory for the part of the conversation he’d last tuned in to. So maybe his fascination with her was a little shortsighted. “Your patients.” “Very good. Now I need to know that they are going to be taken care of while I’m… um… away. And if possible I’d love for Mrs. Gonzalez to find out about her daughter’s deceit.” “Done and done.” She looked at him skeptically. “That easy.” He nodded. “Anything else?” “About Harrison.”
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He tensed. It wasn’t a topic he looked forward to broaching but it had to be dealt with sooner or later. “I can’t pretend I’m fine with what he’s done to me, but I’d like to close that chapter on my life once and for all.” “Meaning?” “I’ve just been thinking how lucky he seems to be lately, especially when it comes to acquiring my possessions. Is it possible he could have magical help?” “I don’t see why any magical being would want to help him out that way, but sure, it’s possible.” “Could we find out? I mean, if it’s not against some sort of rule.” There was no law in place that prevented him from looking in on the man. A quick wave of his hand had the flat screen buzzing with life. “That’s convenient,” she muttered next to him but became immediately quiet as her former husband popped into view on the screen.
*** “Damned bitch isn’t answering her phone now. Where the hell is she?” he shouted to an empty room. Alexis hadn’t seen Harrison face to face in months and from the picture she hardly recognized the unkempt features of the man. A scraggily beard lined his jaw and his usually stylish chin-length hair looked thin and in serious need of a wash. His eyes were red and puffy as if he hadn’t slept in days. “I don’t see why you can’t just make me rich and successful,” he ranted to the empty room, or so it seemed until a small voice answered back. Alexis sent Cor an inquiring look. Another wave of his hand revealed what they hadn’t seen before. Sitting on the edge of Harrison’s bathroom counter was a twelveinch gremlin. “I knew it. It explains why the judges favored him in everything, and why my attorney was always willing to just roll over and take whatever he came at us with.” Gremlins were notoriously deceitful little creatures who fed off the bitterness of mankind. From the looks of Harrison, the mischievous creature had been in his life for
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some time. The minor demon, and parasite, was gifted with minimal powers of persuasion that would be used to aid its host so long as the demon got what it wanted. “How many times do I have to tell you that’s not how it works? You’ll get access to the cabin and your chance to make this film a box office smash.” Harrison’s smile and the look in his eyes borderlined on insanity. “Can you tell how long the thing’s been feeding on him?” she asked, somehow knowing Cor would have the answer. “Longer than most. It attached itself once he became jealous of your career and has strengthened its hold ever since.” Alexis tried to pinpoint an exact moment in time but gave up the effort quickly. What did it really matter? He would have had to willingly give the gremlin access to him for the creature to become a part of his life, and the demon was only attracted to extreme bitterness. “I’ve seen enough.” And like that the image was gone.
“I’ll dispatch the gremlin.”
She nodded, knowing it was what must be done, although she doubted
exterminating the parasite would help the host in this situation. In spite of everything Harrison had done to her, what he conspired to continue to do, she felt sorry for him and the sad existence he lived. A chill ran down her spine as she contemplated the terror she’d almost introduced to the world over what amounted to petty jealousy. “Alexis, tell me what you’re thinking.”
“Don’t you know?”
“I wouldn’t be asking if I did.”
“My mind is a jumble of thoughts but ultimately, I’m feeling shame over what I
almost did. If you hadn’t stopped me…” “But I did.” “But if you hadn’t…” Bach whimpered and jumped off her lap to scamper across the wide expanse to the enormous bed. No sooner was he off her than she found herself pulled into Cor’s
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bare embrace. “It didn’t happen, Lexi. That is all that matters. Now we must look to the future.” “The future?” “Yes, our future. Lexi?” She contemplated what a future with him would mean. “I want you to be my mate.” “I’m assuming you don’t mean like the Australian or British word for buddy.” “No.” “Is that even possible… for you to… mate?” “Yes.” “And what about your… um… job?” “There are other Sleepers. If you agree I will retire.” “Mate? Retire and live happily ever after here?” “Part of the time. I like it here but I am willing to visit the surface often enough for you.” “Just like that?” “Does it need to be more complicated than that?” “No, I guess not.” “That doesn’t sound much like a yes.” “I don’t know. A girl has to give some thought to something so permanent. Next you’ll be telling me you want to start a family.” “And you don’t?” Her heart raced at the thought. “Of course I do.” “Then it’s settled.” He rose in one steady motion, pulling her close as he walked them the distance to the bed. Bach whined, jumped from the high surface and passed them on his way back to the sofa. “You know you’re going to give him a complex.” “He’ll get used to it.”
Nia K. Foxx
The Sleeper: A Woman Scorned
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Lexi giggled as he dropped her on the bed and she bounced. “I’m not sure if I will.” By the time he spread her legs and began rubbing the tip of his cock up and down her labia folds she was primed and ready. “You will, in time.” His head lowered toward her and he sank slowly into her slit just as his lips claimed hers in a kiss. He slid in and out of her in deep penetrating thrusts that had her pussy weeping for more. He reared back, maintaining his steady thrusts. “I’ll have you every day for the rest of our lives and you’ll grow ripe with my children.” He filled her so completely. She clawed at his back as his movements quickened and he hammered into her with a need that rivaled her own. Alexis tried to hold back. He lifted her thighs higher, spreading her legs for easier access. She gasped and shivered when her climax washed over her. Cor groaned as her pussy contracted around his thick sex. He buried deep and erupted hotly into her. “I could stay inside of you forever.” She couldn’t stop the grin that spread across her lips. “That would make most things pretty awkward.” “And enjoyable.” “Maybe just a tad.” He rolled onto his back, pulling her with him to rest on his chest. She leveraged herself to look into his face. “You didn’t answer me, Lexi.” “I thought you said it was settled.” “I’d still like to hear you say the words.” “Hmm. Maybe I should think about it some more.” “Perhaps I should chain you to this bed until I get the answer I want to hear.” “Well, if you’re going to be like that about things, I guess my answer will have to be yes.” He brought her face down to his. Their lips touched and for the first time in a long while Alexis felt all was right with the world.
Nia K. Foxx Nia K. Foxx is the proud mother of three beautiful, very active children. They currently reside in a picturesque, small town burg of Michigan, where they enjoy biking, swimming, fairs and traveling in their minivan. Ms. Foxx holds a BA from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in International Politics and Literature. She began an interest in writing romantic stories at the age of twelve, trying her hand at erotica in ’05. She’s been loving it ever since. Nia loves to communicate with other readers of erotic romance and encourages anyone to email her at
[email protected] or read free excerpts on her website at: http://www.niafoxx.com.
