A Wicked Beginning Page 4

  Chérie started fingering his jeans, pulling at the waistband. He stopped sucking her breasts long enough to unbutton and unzip. He sat Chérie up, pulled her shirt off, and pushed her shorts down off of her legs. He left her lacy underwear on for a little visual action, as he tore his shirt and pants off in impatience. Now he was completely nude, gazing down at his beautiful Chérie, laying there clad only in her lacy red underwear with seduction in her eyes. His breath caught in his throat as he regarded her lithe, athletic form, and he swallowed again. This was not the Chérie he remembered. That Chérie had been so shy…so hesitant…so unwilling to let go with him... Now she seemed like she was in command of herself, just like she’d been on the river a while ago. Well, the two of them had rode those cascading waters together, why not this ride too?

  “Cam…” she began.

  “What…?” he said hoarsely.

  “I’ve never had anyone inside of me when I’ve been in this place.”

  “So this will be a first, huh? I can say the same, babe.”

  “We need to be careful. I don’t have mastery over my powers yet. I don’t know what will happen.”

  “Yeah, but you’re willing to try it out, right?” Shit…that had come out weak and desperate. “I mean, I’m willing to try if you’re willing.” God, how he was willing….

  “Okay…if you’re sure, Cam.”

  He tried not to betray the intense hunger coursing through him right about now. But it was useless to lie to himself…or to her for that matter. “Jesus Christ, Chérie, I want to be inside you so bad right now I can hardly stand it. I’ve never wanted anyone so much in my life.”

  “There’s a catch…”

  “Lay it on me…whatever it is, we can deal.” His cock was pounding with aching need and desire; that little dude with the bicycle pump must be slamming up and down with all his might on the pump mechanism.

  “I have to be in love for this to work.”

  “Are you…?” He could barely stand it now…just barely holding on by a filament right about now.

  “Are you…?” she asked. “I think we both have to be in love.”

  “What do you think?” He didn’t think he was going to make it. Just hanging on by a spider webs worth of thread…

  “Tell me, Cam. Say it.”

  “God, Chér, I told you before, I realized how much I loved you when we split up. It’s only grown since then. That Big Boulder Field down there is baby stuff compared to what I feel for you.”

  “Say it.”

  “I just did.”

  “Say I love you.”

  Hell, he was starting to spin out now. “I love you, Chérie Abella Manhattan, I fucking love you with all my heart.”

  She laughed. “I love you too, Cameron Delaney Tyson. Now, pull off my panties, and let’s try this.”

  His hands were trembling now as he ripped her panties off. He watched her body start to undulate all snakelike and sensuous, glowing like a bonfire. She moved her legs apart, and he experienced his cock being pulled into her, like she had some sort of magnetic homing beam and he was a chunk of iron. “Shit,” he growled, when his shaft had slipped inside of her. “Goddamn, Chérie.”

  “Shut up, Cam,” she commanded. “Too much talking…just feel me and respond to the energy.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he murmured before surrendering to sensation. And what sensation…Class 4 rapids, Class 5, beyond classification, this feeling was just swallowing him up. It was like riding a riptide being inside of her. He didn’t know the moves, didn’t know where to thrust his paddle, where to pivot to make it safely though these waves. Her head was thrown back, and she was moaning in ecstasy, like she was on some distant planet or some galaxy somewhere. Sweet Jesus, this was so fucking radical. And then, out of nowhere, they both heard two distinct growls at the edge of the woods. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” snarled Cam. He didn’t want to stop, not even if the Hounds of Hades were upon him. He tried to sink back into the sensation and ignore the approaching danger. Then he saw those same shimmers they had seen on the riverbank, and they were racing towards him and Chérie.

  Chérie pushed him off of her and screamed. “Cam, get behind me.”

  In a heartbeat, he was up on his feet, all thoughts of sex shot from his mind like a slingshot snap.

  “Figment!” she shrieked. “Figment…stop…stop now!” Vicious snarls and snaps could be heard just to the left of them. They saw dirt and grass whirl in the air, along with what looked like a blur of a whirlwind moving around and around. “Figment…!” Chérie screamed. With her back to him, she yelled, “Cam, grab everything and run like hell to the car. Do it…now!”

  Cam did as he was told; crushing their clothes, the cooler, and the whole messed up picnic in the center of the blanket. Then, he raced for the car, the soles of his bare feet jamming into the small, sharp rocks at the edge of the meadow, wrestling in the pocket of his jeans to find the keys.

  “Start the car,” Chérie yelled. “I don’t know what Figment’s doing, but he’s keeping the other creature at bay. I’m going to make a run for it…open my car door, Cam.”

  Cam leaned across the seat and pushed the car door open, shouting, “Get in here, Chérie!”

  “Wait, Cam…get ready to move.” He watched her poised like a panther about to strike her prey, still fixated on the invisible snarling beasts. “Okay, Cam, NOW!” She bolted over to the car, leapt in the seat.

  Cam peeled out before she had time to close the door. He grabbed her arm to keep her from falling out on the unpaved road. The gas pedal was jammed to the floorboard and they were jostling and bouncing along the dirt road, heading towards the highway. The door slammed shut on one of the jarring bounces. Neither one of them said a word as they sped down the road. Cam kept checking the rear view mirror to see if they were being followed. Thankfully, he saw no shimmers, no tracks in the dirt. Still, he kept it floored until they reached the paved road. Quickly checking right and left, he screeched out onto the street in a tire burning skid. Still looking in the rear view, he saw Chérie craning her neck to look behind them too.

  “You okay, babe?”

  “I think so…how about you?”

  “Yeah…who the fuck is Figment?”

  “That’s the lynx that appeared in my dreams a few times. That was the one who pinned you to the bed…remember I told you that dream?”

  “Yeah…I remember. Why do you think that was the dream cat?” He was still freaked, but alert, watching for cops and grotesque heat wave shapes as he zoomed along.

  “I don’t know…I just knew…I just knew that was my cat. Maybe Figment is my star dreamling?”

  “Yeah, and you are a Galaxy Dancer…right, Chér. And aliens patrol the planet,” he scoffed.

  “Well, we know I’m different than most people. I think you just got a big dose of that before the dream cats came.”

  He noticed her giving him a sarcastic glare as she rustled around in the back to find her clothes. “Yeah, okay. Point taken…” This brought to mind that incredible sensation of being inside her. “Mm, yeah, point definitely taken...want to pull off the road up a ways and press replay on that scene?” He gave her a self-assured grin.

  “Cam…” She pursed her lips. “I think we’ve got more important things to think about. Cam, look out!”

  Cam looked up to see that he was veering off the road, distracted by his lusty intentions. He pulled the steering wheel and righted the car. “Shit. Sorry about that.” Then he remembered tonight’s dinner. “Chér, I forgot to ask you if you wanted to eat at Mano’s…at my house tonight.” He hoped it was not going to be his permanent residence, now that Chérie was warming to him again. “Manoko’s got some new dishes to try out on us.”

  Chérie wrinkled up her nose. “Normally, I would jump at the invitation. I don’t know, though. I’m still a little shook. Aren’t you?”

  “Let me take you back to your house. You can get cleaned up, rest a bit, and then decide. How’s that sound?”
>
  “What will you do?”

  He gave her a sidelong glance. “Help you rest…what do you think?”

  “Cam…” she protested.

  “I’ll lay down wherever you want. You’ve still got my couch, you know.”

  “Okay, deal.”

  “Deal it is,” Cam said, still buck-naked, unable to conceal his hardening member.

  Chérie chuckled as she wriggled her shorts up her hips. “Cam, you’re amazing. We just get chased by some invisible snarling dream beasts who wanted to do who knows what to us, we’re speeding down the highway to escape, and you’re thinking about dinner and getting all turned on again.”

  “I can’t help it. Chérie, you are fucking hot, babe…like forest fire hot. Like solar flare hot. And I may have made a few mistakes in the past, but if I have any chance of having you in my life on a more regular basis, I’m going to take that chance. You think I’m going to let this opportunity pass me by?” He tapped the steering wheel with his wiry fingers. “And, you did say, I heard you say loud and clear, that you and your rapids rider have to be in love or your powers don’t work. I think we just learned that I qualify. And I am not going to let you go this time. I’m not going to run or fuck this up this time. Not without a fight.”

  “What about Kayden?”

  He felt his face crumple. “What about fucking Fabio? You tell me. Are you done with him or not?”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t seen him lately.”

  “Well, there you go. Your mystery man is still an elusive mystery. Why don’t you give you and me a chance?”

  “I want to, Cam, I really do. I just don’t know. I’m changing in so many ways I don’t know who I’m becoming…what kind of assurance I can offer you…or anyone.” Then she started laughing.

  “What…?” Cam asked, annoyed.

  “It’s only…I remember having a conversation like this with you a few months ago. Only I was on the receiving end. The circumstances were different…but I find it funny, that’s all.”

  “Laugh all you want, hot stuff, but who’s sitting in the car with you right now?”

  “You are, Cam.”

  “And you and I just had an awesome connection, based in love, right, Chér?” He thumped his heart.

  “Right…”

  “So, deal or no deal…we give this a try?”

  She laughed again. Cam grinned back at her. He really liked this new Chérie.

  “Okay, Cam, you’ve got yourself a deal. Let’s see how this plays out.”

  Then she reached over and placed her hand on his shaft. She had never done that before. What else did she want to try out? Fucking A. This was starting out good. Who was he kidding? This was starting out incredible.

  Chapter 5 – Chérie and Cam

  When we’d gotten to my house, I’d taken a shower and a long nap. Cam had rested on the couch, as promised. Before falling asleep, I thought about what it had been like to see him again. He looked good. He looked different. Just as I’d grown when we were apart, he seemed to have made changes too. Whatever they were, I sure wanted to get to know him all over again. His dark blond hair was longer, falling down below his ears. It always got wavy when it was longer which I found very sexy. Now, instead of it falling in his eyes all the time, he wore it pushed back, off his forehead. His cerulean blue eyes, with a touch of shimmery gold around the irises that looked like sunlight dancing along the water, seemed more…more intense…more vivid… His lavish lips…oh, God, those lips…I swallowed hard just thinking about his kisses. And his well-proportioned body was as muscular as ever. I savored the memory of that body on top of me, the feel of his firm butt and solid back under my hands, the strength of him…yum. I was glad to be resuming our relationship. Quite glad, indeed…I drifted off to sleep, delectable thoughts of Cam whirling around in my head.

  After awakening, I decided that dinner at Manoko’s was just the thing. He was a great cook and food always restored me to sanity.

  We didn’t say much as we drove across town. When we arrived, Cam pushed the front door open for me and stood to the side so I could enter his new home. I’d never seen it before.

  Entering the hallway, I was captivated by the fragrant smells coming out of Manoko’s kitchen. I didn’t know Manoko as well as Cam did, but anyone who knew him at all knew he was an amazing cook. Cam led me into the kitchen where Manoko was holding court over the pots and pans on the huge Wolfe range. The kitchen was a symphony of smells, ranging from earthy meats to delicately herbed vegetables to the sweet fruit of the pie resting on the counter. “Yum, Manoko, this smells incredible.”

  “Hey, you two,” Manoko said without turning around. “Get yourself something to drink out of the Sub-Zero. We’ve got cocktails, soda, water…and wine down in the basement. Suit yourself. Oh, and if Cam remembered, there’s beer.”

  “Chér? Cam asked politely.

  “Hmm…a glass of wine would be great.”

  “Okay, wait right here. I’ll go pick something out for you.”

  After Cam left, Manoko put the lid on the pan he was stirring and turned around to greet me properly. “Hello, Chérie. How was your day at the river?”

  “Oh, good, bad, awesome, a little strange…like that.”

  Manoko narrowed his eyes at me. “You look different than the last time I saw you… Was it last summer?”

  “I think so,” I said, a rosy flush appearing on my cheeks. Then I gave a nervous laugh. “Yeah, you could say things have changed for me.” Like last summer I had no idea that I had super powers, a man of mystery, something called the ka’kriyayaga swirling inside of me…things like that.

  Manoko continued to scrutinize me. He tipped his head back slightly and sniffed the air like a big Grizzly bear. Then he closed his eyes and held his palms towards me. “Huh…” was all he said.

  “What?” This was an odd way to be greeted.

  He turned around and began fussing over his meal again. I stood there awkwardly, trying to think of something to say. Apparently his conversation with me was completed. “It was nice of you to ask me over to dinner. Thanks, Manoko.”

  “My pleasure…”

  I watched the muscles of his huge back ripple and bulge as he stirred the contents of the pot. He was a beast of a guy. “You’re a good man for renting a room to Cam.”

  “Uh, huh…” Stir.

  “How’s your dog?”

  “Good…” Stir.

  “This is a nice place.”

  “Uh, huh…” Stir.

  “The kitchen’s amazing.”

  “Yes…” Stir. Reach for some herbs. Sprinkle. Stir.

  I scrunched up my face and tried again. “Anyone good playing at the Re-Fly?”

  “Mad JuJu…you might like them.”

  At least he’d strung a few words together again. “What kind of music?”

  “Percussion…funk…edgy techno stuff… I could comp you in if you like.”

  Wow, a whole string of words. Maybe we were getting back on the path of complete sentences again. “Thanks, Manoko. Maybe I’ll ask my friend Zuri if she’d like to join me. You d-d-don’t have to comp her in…” I added, stuttering. Zuri Davidson had been my best friend for around nine years, since age 20. She was a beautiful, voluptuous, mahogany-haired beauty who had a constant stream of boyfriends flowing through her downtown apartment.

  “The brunette? The one you always show up with?”

  “That’s the one,” I said a little too brightly, eager to keep the conversation rolling.

  “No problem, Chérie. I’ll get you both in. I’ll let you know the dates.”

  “Thanks, Manoko.” Now the conversation just died like the wilting lettuce leaves I spotted in the trash can. I sat there, watching his back, wishing Cam would return.

  Finally, I heard him striding down the hallway whistling, with rat-a-tat clacking nails accompanying him. “Look who I found asleep in the basement.” He sat a couple of bottles of red wine on the table. Severe ran over to me and sn
iffed me thoroughly, wagging her tail wildly. She was a cute, friendly dog, looking more like a Border Collie than a Poodle or Shih Tzu.

  “Hi, Severe…” I patted her furry head.

  “Too bad you woke her up,” Manoko said, turning to greet her. “Dog never tires…it took three hours at the dog park to slow her down. Oh, hey, Cam…I had to smudge your room today. There’s some serious wicked energy in there. Sorry, man. I like to respect others privacy but this called for action.”

  I saw Cam’s face blanch. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, you got some intense stuff going on in there. Go check it out for yourself.”

  Cam poured me a glass of wine, got a beer for himself, and we walked down towards his bedroom, drinks in hand. Ever the gentleman, he opened the door and stepped aside to let me in. It was sparse, but had a good vibe to it. It felt homey and nice. I loved the window view of the garden out in the back. It reminded me of the dream I had. “Is that Manoko’s garden?” I asked, amazed. Seeing Cam nod, I stepped closer for a better view. “Wow, that looks fantastic. Look at all those veggies and fruit trees.” I pivoted and considered the room. “This is nice, Cam. Do you like it?”

  “It’ll do…” he replied. “Here, let’s check out the bathroom door.” He stepped into the room and stopped, staring. “Holy shit…”

  “You’re not kidding, Cam. Are you telling me you can see that glow and hear that sound?” The door pulsed with an eerie glow and weird sound, like deep, resonant radio waves.

  “Glow, yes, sound, no…”

  I frowned. “You might not want to sleep here.”

  “Where do you suggest I sleep?” he asked, cocking his head, a look of mirth coloring his features.

  I said nothing, but walked over to examine the door. “Wow. Look at those scratches. Cam, that’s really scary.”

  Cam pushed open the door to the bathroom. “I’d rather show you in here,” he muttered, “than look at shit I can’t decipher. I’ve thought long and hard at the things I’d like to do to you in that tub.” He gave me a wicked leer.