Valentine's Wishes (6 page)

Ouch, it’s hot!

She backed off, determined she’d sit there and try to make sure none of the other mortals helped themselves to any more of the punch.

The numbers of people returning for food or drinks lessened, and she could only be thankful that now most of the mortals didn’t seem to want more of the warm mixture. The only person to try it was Chris, a mortal she’d seen here many times. He promptly fell in love with the last of the pakora, picked up the tray with what was left, and strolled over to the stack of music C.D’s.

That’s not a problem. Chris has been in love with spicy food since I first saw him when I arrived here.

Despondent, she hid behind a jug full of celery sticks where she sat on guard, to make sure none of the other poor unsuspecting mortals suffered because of her wish. She ached to go and find out what might be happening with her girls, but daren’t move.

Tears stung her eyes because never had an evening seemed longer. Tonight she didn’t even enjoy the music, let alone suck in any of the energy which floated and streamed through the air.

* * * *

The moon had disappeared from her view, the music lulled soft and sweet, and her knees ached where she crouched. People called “Bye,” and finally she thought it might be safe to check where her three girls were, and find out what had happened.

In the garden Lucy and Jez danced close, arms entwined. Bal and James sat on the decking near the heater, deeply engrossed in conversation, hand-in-hand.

So where are Surjan and Keri?
A huge tide of panic swept over her.
They can’t be, can they?

Too many people remained for her to risk an open flight up stairs. When she spotted the pair in a tight embrace under the leafless boughs of the old apple tree, she gave a massive sigh of relief, and sank with slow wing beats down toward the ground.

“There yer are, I knew yer were here. I’ve been waiting for ye all night.”

She spun around at the velvet caress of a voice she remembered so well. “No,” she squeaked.

Him!

Not possible.

Her stomach knotted and she wanted to crawl away and hide.

His golden hair glinted in the glow of the colored lights and he smiled wide in greeting. She could hardly keep herself in the air. A wave of heat scorched her face.

“Poppy, ’tis me, Cedar Heartwood. Yer remember me, don’t ye, darlin’?” He flew a little closer, and she nodded as she sank down toward the lawn.

Her knees sagged.

Jellified.

I remember you…who couldn’t? You haven’t changed at all.

His eyes still entranced with hazel gleams. She ached to throw her arms around him, and as she steadied herself, she swept her gaze up to his face again. He still had the most enticing lips she’d ever seen.

Oh, by the wind in the leaves. How many hours did I sit among the daisies and wonder what it would be like to kiss him?
She shook herself, torn between long held hopes and tonight’s despair. He had to go, at least until later. “I can’t speak with ye now, Cedar. I’m busy.”

“Yer can’t be busy, ’tis all nearly over. Come sit with me for a while and we’ll talk. I’ve messages for ye from yer brother. I’d like a long chat with ye.” He reached for her arm and led her down besides the decking, to where the purple winter heather offered a fragrant and comfortable bower. Her suspicion grew he might be offering something she’d always wanted. The familiar tingling sensation he induced made goose-bumps race up her arms and she fought against losing herself in him.

I can’t, no matter what kind of bargain he offers, I mustn’t. Not now.
She tore her gaze from his attractions and peered back at the shadows under the apple tree.
What about my poor mortals
?

She yanked her arm free of the warmth of his hand and closed her eyes to shut out the allure of all she’d dreamed about for so long. “I can’t stay to talk. I don’t have time for ye right now. I have to sort something out for my mortals. I’ll come back to yer after, when everything is right.”

She did her best to ignore the surprise on his face, her own sudden ache to sit close beside him, and flew back up so fast her stomach lurched. A few moments later when she beheld the couples in the garden, it was obvious she’d left it far too late to change anything.

Lucy stood to blow goodbye kisses to Jez. James bowed and kissed Bal’s hand before he left, and Surjan had to be pried away from Keri by Jez on his way out.

Thankful none of the three couples had ended up in bed together, she flew back to where Cedar had appeared. But he’d gone.

Did I imagine him here?

She searched across the garden but couldn’t find a sign of his presence. She flew low into the house and breathed a sigh that so few of the guests seemed to be left. Someone tugged the large patio door closed.

While her mortals said goodbye to the last of the guests, she searched further. Her stomach rolled and her heartbeat rose for it had been no imagining. Cedar Heartwood, the true fairy of her dreams, sat beside one of the glasses on a small side table, his knapsack beside him.

Oh no.

His gaze sparked when it lifted to her as she landed, and when the rapt expression crept over his features, she knew she’d returned too late to warn him. She fought off the need to cry.
He’s drunk some of the punch left in the glass.

“At last, yer back.” He stood and reached from under his cloak for her hand.

“No, yer don’t understand,” she said, but his beckoning gaze remained fixed and his smile lured her forward. Her tummy filled with butterflies, for he’d never gazed at her quite that way before. She forced a smile.

“Then tell me about it?” He clasped her hand and urged her toward him, closer. “Why are ye so busy? Why are yer so distracted? Let me help ye?”

Trembling at the light in his eyes and the softness of his tone, she stood so near she could have been in his embrace. The colored lights in the garden went out and velvet darkness turned the big windows to mirrors. The shimmer of Cedar cast a faint sheen, the only light to see by, and she glanced across the room at her three mortals headed for the stairs.

“Well?” he asked, bending his head to her so the warmth of his breath touched her ear and dizzied her. The heat of his hands around her waist warmed before she found the courage to reply.

“I had a bit of an accident,” she whispered.

His gaze caressed and twinkled, and his smile grew broader. She squirmed when his palms stroked over the back of her gown to pull her nearer until she could smell his delightful pine scented fragrance, and his presence sent delicious thrills through her body. All she’d ever wanted stood so close. Cedar smiled so tenderly and tempted her to forget everything else.

He’ll love me, but only because of the wish.
Her heart flipped before it plowed back into despair.
Oh, Cedar,
I shouldn’t let the wish make you love me.
Would it really matter? She gazed into his beautiful eyes and gave a trembly little sigh. If she drank the punch too, he’d love her and she’d love him back.
Can I be that bad? He’ll never know it was because of the punch.

Cedar reached for her hand, clasped it, and bent to press a kiss on her wrist. The tingling romped over her in a racing wave.

This is the badest I’ve ever thought I could be.

He stood straight and tilted his head to one side. His delicious smile forced her to watch motionless, though she knew he was about to kiss her.

Yes, Cedar. Kiss me. Now.

“Tell me about this accident,” he whispered against her ear and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek.

She lifted her arms to wrap them around his neck, angled her face, and unable to resist the temptation, she brushed her lips against his.

Perfect.

He embraced her, cradled one hand at the back of her head, warmed her lips with his, and as she opened her mouth, he made her whimper as he swept his tongue against hers. She clung hard to him for her knees wobbled and warmth flooded through her body. All her imaginings among the flowers weren’t half as good as the real thing.

By the wind in the leaves. I’ll do it. I love him I know I do.

She wrapped her fingers in the silky strands of his hair, reveled in the kiss they shared, and shoved guilt aside.

Cedar slowly lifted his lips from hers. “Beautiful, my sweet fairy. Now what was concerning ye so? Let me help ye?”

Her heart flipped again and she nodded. “Aye, I’ll tell ye. I’ll just have a sip of the punch first.” She took an unsteady pace back out of his embrace, could hardly wrench her gaze from his, and hoped he only saw the love in hers.

Using a little of the magic left in her she lifted the glass on the table so it hovered close and tilted.

The burgundy liquid beckoned and she gave one last glance to Cedar, closed her eyes and sucked in a big mouthful of the wish laden brew. She swallowed and slurped another gulp as the fiery liquid tingled in her stomach.

A new warmth flooded through her weary limbs and the last trace of shame to trick him vanished.
Oh, that feels so good.
Trickles of sensation raised the hairs on the back of her neck as Cedar stood beside her to take another drink from the punch. She let the glass descend slowly to the table and turned her gaze to his. He moved closer until his breath warmed the side of her face and neck.

All her dreams were reality.
I know I love this gorgeous fairy. I’ve always longed for him? He loves me. This is wonderful.

“Now tell me, what was the accident?” he said.

“Oh, I made a love wish for the mortals and it went wrong. But it doesn’t matter any more.”

Cedar smiled. “I’m certain they’ll be all right by tomorrow, Poppy. Don’t fret about the mortals, not when we have the whole of tonight together.”

Lost in the depths of his hazel gaze, her body warmed through by the wish laden wine, she nodded. “Not just tonight, Cedar. We have forever.”

Cedar pressed his lips to Poppy’s and clasped one palm tight on her rounded rear to tug her toward him. Her eyes flashed with surprise before they closed. He smiled as she wilted in closer with a quivery little sigh. The pert, pretty half-moons of her breasts above her bodice juddered as she breathed, and he longed to kiss each breast in turn. He smoothed his hands up onto her back and wrapped her in his embrace.

Maybe I should tell her I could taste the wish in the punch, but the effects won’t be quite as drastic as she seems to think. Forever is a very long time. All these sensations will melt with the morning frost.

Tonight though, she’ll adore me. And well, how could I not adore her? She’s changed since last we met, become twice as delicious.
He inhaled her sweet fragrance, dropped soft kisses over the arch of her neck, and pressed his mouth again on her lips.

And I thought so before I touched the punch! Poppy is as beautiful as her name.

He lifted his mouth from hers, kissed the tiny luscious freckle beside her lips, and twined his fingers through the wonderful cascade of red hair that flowed down to her waist. She gave little whimpers, and he kissed her gently, touched his tongue to her lips, and her shudder encouraged him to more. He sucked at her lower lip, ran his tongue over her top lip, and only when she trembled like a beech leaf in an autumn wind did he move his mouth from hers.

She pouted, and her moist lips invited him to return. He covered them with his mouth and kept his movements slow and deliberate as he kissed her again. When he let her go and gazed at her up-tilted face, delicate as the flower she’d been named for, she smiled back. She pressed hard against him as he let the sensual power of her wish flow through him.

Does she have any idea what she’s unleashed?

I always found her lovely before she left the court and perhaps biding my time has been worthwhile, because now she’s perfect.

She parted her sweet lips when he brushed his against them again, and she moaned in response as he slid his tongue into her mouth to explore and tease. Poppy met him halfway, flickering her tongue against his, and a rush of desire thundered up through his body.

Oh, yes, I’m going to enjoy tonight.

The powerful effects of her wish rose to make him dizzy so he swayed with her in his arms. Love, perfect love for her filled him. Twitches of desire flashed over him too, and she was the cause in all ways. The need for her bubbled as he kissed her and held her close.
If I’d made a wish this strong and this rare, I’d be proud of it.

He sighed, for her breath, slightly scented with the punch she’d drunk, came swift and warm against his cheek. She pushed against his chest and ground her hips against his, while her tongue dived and stroked, offering hopes of bliss. He cupped her breast through the soft yellow fabric of her shell-decorated gown.

Perfect.

Her warm breast molded to his palm and the nipple peaked hard beneath the fine fabric. The pressure of her body against his delighted him, and the prospect of discovering more of her thrilled through his blood.

She whimpered when he let her breast go, and he slid his hands down her back to grasp her buttocks and pull her tighter still against him. He had no wish to disguise the erection that surged against his tunic, and she could be in no doubt of his need or intent.

Long minutes passed while he enjoyed the way she snuggled and rubbed against him, before he lifted his mouth from hers. “I love yer. Right now, Poppy, I love ye. Will yer spend the night lovin’ with me, my sweet?”

Her gaze held his, the pupils of her cornflower blue eyes massive and dilated wide. He cupped her chin in his palm. “I want to love ye, spend the night with yer in my arms, my darlin’. Will yer let me?”

She nodded and as her cheeks shone rosy buried her face against his tunic. He breathed a sigh of relief, lifted her into his arms, and prepared to carry her wherever she said.