The Wielder: Sworn Vengeance (The Wielder Series) (41 page)

I’m a bundle of nerves.  Th
e kind of nerves you feel when you’re the last one up at bat – last inning and a tied game. Or the one getting ready to bust into a bunker full of German commandos.

Done
both.  Baseball’s much better.

I imagine Silithes isn’t feeling any nerves.  This is
probably just like another day in the office for her. Millennia upon millennia of predation and manipulation have this whole thing down to a very fine art for her that requires little if no thought.

Just another victim…

I shake my head, realizing that now is not the time to sabotage myself.  What an idiot…  Next thing you know I’ll be having performance anxiety.  Performance problems aren’t supposed to be an issue with one of her kind.

I haven’t dressed up.  Haven’t dressed down either
... I hastily un-tuck my shirt in an attempt to at least appear a little casual. At least my shoes and socks are off.  I take a deep breath.  Stick to the plan I remind myself.

I am her wielder after all…

Another deep breath and I head to sit down on the sofa, only to be stopped by knocking on the door - it’s time.

I walk slowly to the door,
trying to calm myself with every step.  Before reaching for the door I remind myself, this isn’t about me.  This is her night.  It’s what she wants.  What she deserves.

And with an inward smile, I admit
– yea me too.

I close my eyes. With a simple twist of the wrist I turn the knob and open the door.  Then I open my eyes and take her in.  Allow myself to take her in is more like it. She
is wearing a green slinky spaghetti strap nightgown.  It’s clinging in all the right ways on all the right places.  Her smile is inviting, eyes sparkling and headlights showing.

She knows I like that.

“Invite me in?”

“But of course
,” and I offer her a flourish to follow.

I’ve never
, ever allowed myself to appreciate her beauty.  It’s artificial, of course.  But still, the “human” Sil mirrors the real Sil. Early on, knowing that Dory was my ideal, she tried to copy her and I busted Sil good with a heaping helping of my rage.  After that, she just defaulted to being a human version of herself. 

Herself is hot stuff.  I’ve always known that.  I’ve never let myself admit that.
So, I allow myself to admire her entrance, the curves, the strength, the nuances of how she moves.

She turns around to me as I close the door.  “I’ve never seen you look at me that way. I think I like it.”

“Well, Ms. Silithes… I have never really let myself appreciate all that is… you.”

‘Mmm
,” is the only response I get, plus a nice swirl with her arms raised above her head to show it all again.

I very much appreciate that.

Her second twirl-go-round ends facing me with one of the most cat-ate-canary looks she’s thrown me in a while. She moves towards me.  “Time for more than a look, baby.”

I let her get close enough to stop her with
gentle hands on the shoulders. “Not yet.  There are some requirements and rules to this little adventure that you have to agree to. “

She stops and looks at me not in a complete “what the heck” kind of
a way - but about three shades short of it. “Requirements and rules… really?”

I nod back to her emphatically.  Emphatically because I mean it. 

She tries to press for a kiss. I hold my arms firm and nod no to her.

“Well then, do share” she says taking a step back, which I appreciate.

“Three things Sil.  That’s all. First is real simple. No neuromancy crap. We’re going to enjoy each other naturally.”

Th
is rule gets me her patented Elvis sneer.”Arthur, honey, I don’t know if that can happen. There’s this little thing that happens when I get real happy… You don’t want me happy? I’m not sure I can help it. Or want to."

Crap.  She’s told me about that thing – bunches of times.  I nod back to her.  Apparently the Cubati have a self defense mechanism which is a
n involuntary neuromantic blast that encourages whoever they are with at their time of climax to do the same.

As she explained
it to me, it’s hard to take advantage of someone at that moment when you’re having a moment yourself.

“Ok
ay Sil, no voluntary neuromancy – how about that,” I ask.

I receive
great big smile n return. “I agree,” she purrs and closes for a kiss.

This time I let it happen. Her lips are soft. Our mouths meet and it is
warm, nice and sweet. The kiss goes on and on. Our arms wrap around each other. The kiss breaks and she looks at me knowingly.  She takes my hand and turns to my bedroom.  But I’m not going.  There are two more things we have to agree upon.

She gives me a look to indicate her confusion.  I address that quickly.

“Still two more things.”

“Do tell.”

This time I approach. I kiss her lips ever so briefly and wrap my arms around her waist. Looking her in the eyes I say, “Tonight needs to be honest. I want to make love to you. Not an image meant to attract me.  Tonight is about you and I coming together, not just getting off. I want the real Sil. Horns, tail, wings – you.  I will not be making love to a false image.”

“Really?” she asks
. “Making love?”

I nod ye
s.

“You are such a romantic Arthur MacInerny
,” she tells me. With a shake and shimmer the real Silithes stands before me.  Horns, wings, alabaster white skin, purple lips and pointy ears.

I stand back a moment to take her in.  Still the same killer body...  Her face, the same beauty.  Her hands are
a bit oversized, sure. But they aren’t totally ugly.  Yea, those feet are kind of freaky. I smile at her and say “You know you’re beautiful right?”

“Yes I do
,” she says right back, not missing a second.  “I just didn’t know you thought so.”

I step forward to her and with a brush of the hands knock the very slight straps of
her gown down and watch happily as she is revealed while the dress falls to the ground.

“Oh my
,” I whisper allowing myself to cup her now bare breasts.  Her hands move for my belt. I gently move them away.

“What?” she says affixing me with those green alligator like eyes of hers. “
You unwrapped yours. I want to unwrap mine too.”

I smile and take her hands into mine. “There’s that third thing.”

“Whatever it is I agree,” she proclaims and moves back in to unwrap hers.

But
the game is on now. And I realize I have the upper hand. “Sil I can’t have you entering into a blind contract with a human, it just wouldn’t be fair to you.”

“Then what is it?” she ask
s me, pulling me back in close, kissing me.  Oh, the kissing.

I break that kiss and look her in her those green alligator-like eyes, then kiss those warm purple lips again ever so briefly.

Her hands move for my belt and I again gently shush her away.

“There’s
still the third thing.” I whisper in her ear.

“Well don’t tease me” she replies
.

“Aww
,” I say, then lean down and wrap my mouth around her breast and tease as best I know how.  The moving of her hips, shuffling of her tail and ruffle of her wings tells me that maybe the teasing isn’t such a bad thing.

I stop and look
up into her eyes. They are pleading.

“What’s the third thing, Arthur? Tell me, I’ve already agreed to it.”

I move up and kiss her on the nape of her neck. That kiss moves up her neck, causing more wing ruffles and swishing of her tail. Then I kiss her ear full on.  She pushes me back grabs the bottom of my shirt and tears it open sending buttons flying. Then she closes in with a tight hug.

She feels so very good pr
essed up against me, skin to skin.

“You want to know the third thing” I whisper into her ear.

She just relaxes and says, “yes.”

I pull back and
flash her a mischievous look.  “It’s pretty simple.  Just a little illusion – a tiny manipulation.”

That gets her looking
at me, confused. “Whatever you want.  Tell me.  I’ll be happy to do whatever you need.”

I
give her a wink, take her hand and twirl her in a circle. I bring her in, spin her around, give her a dip, raise her up and take her on a nice box step across my living room area.

She’s th
inking so far off the map. So I come in close and whisper the answer in her ear. “Just the smallest illusion – that maybe, just maybe, it's me seducing you.”