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  Jezbah thanked me again and left. Darrios and I were alone again.

  “Why are you still here?” Darrios asked coldly. “Gregg is probably waiting.”

  “Why are you talking to me like that?”

  “I’m sorry,” he snipped. “I’ve had a rough day.”

  “I know,” I said, softly. “I just want to help you. You helped me. Please...let me help you.”

  He softened. “I don’t want you to remember me...like this. Use your wish and go home, Maggie.”

  I looked down and then back into Darrios’ eyes. “I can’t. I already used it. You were bleeding so much...and I was so afraid. I used my wish to save you.”

  His head snapped back and he looked at me, stunned. “You did that for me?”

  I nodded. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes again and I did not want to cry. “Of course I did, but why didn’t you? You had a wish too. Why didn’t you use it?”

  “Um...I...I’d already used it when the molterg got me. I, ah...wished I would kill the molterg.”

  “Oh.”

  “I’ll make it up to you, Maggie. As soon as I get a little stronger, I’ll get you to Avascon, again...and get you home.”

  His voice sounded shaky. “I just wish that the last time I held you...”

  “Ssshhh,” I said. “Not right away, but in a few days...when you get a little stronger.”

  “Maggie, I don’t know what to say.”

  “You need to get some sleep. The sooner you feel up to it, the sooner we can make this happen. Let’s get you into bed.”

  I helped him down the hall and into bed. I started to leave, but he grabbed my hand and pulled me back.

  “Don’t go, Maggie, please stay with me. I want to feel you next to me.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you.”

  Darrios shook his head. “You won’t,” he whispered.

  I knew I shouldn’t stay. What I should’ve been doing was distancing myself from him. I was going home soon and it would be hard enough, but when I looked into his pleading eyes and thought about his touch, I couldn’t say no. He needed me and I wanted to be there for him while I still could.

  I slipped out of my jeans, took my bra off, and crawled in bed next to him, forcing myself to stay awake until his breathing took on the rhythmic sound of peaceful slumber, instead of the tormented sounds of the pain he’d been in.

  It seemed like I’d only been asleep for a few moments when I heard Jezbah come in. I slipped out of bed, pulled on my jeans, and tiptoed out of the room, glancing back at Darrios as I left.

  Jezbah had lit a couple of scented candles. The odor of blood no longer lingered, replaced by something citrusy and vanilla-ish. He smiled as I came into the living room.

  “How is our boy?” he asked.

  “He’s sleeping, finally,” I whispered.

  Jezbah became serious and took my hands in his. He kissed me on the cheek and thanked me.

  “What are you thanking me for now?” I inquired.

  “For caring about Darrios. I can see that you do and it’s been a long time since he’s had somebody, particularly a woman, do that.”

  I smiled and nodded, feeling a twinge of guilt. I really had come to care about him...but I knew I still had to go back.

  Jezbah left and I went back to the bedroom, undressed, and crawled back into bed with Darrios, my heart heavy in my chest. He pulled me into his arms and held me, breathing softly and evenly in my ear.

  I lay there, my body up against his, feeling totally confused. I suddenly had doubts about my future, my past, about everything that I’d been so sure about in my life. The heaviness in my chest made it hard to breathe in.

  I wasn’t in love with Gregg and he certainly wasn’t in love with me. And what about Darrios? What about my feelings for him? Were they a result of the circumstances...or something more? It didn’t matter. I told myself if I was supposed to have a future with Darrios, I would find a way back.

  ****

  I woke in the morning with Darrios spooning me, his unmistakable arousal pressing into my bottom. “I take it someone’s feeling better,” I said playfully.

  He chuckled and said that he was. He began to caress my body and he whispered in my ear, “I want you, Maggie. I need to be inside you.”

  I sucked in a breath, feeling myself getting moist. I turned to Darrios and whispered back, “I’m afraid I’ll hurt you.”

  He caressed my face with one hand, slid my panties off with the other, and assured me he’d be fine.

  “Get on top,” he suggested.

  I straddled him, trying not to look at his arm and shoulders. I wanted him to come quickly so he could wish to be completely healed.

  We made love, but try as he might, he could not bring me to Avascon. When he climaxed, he apologized, but I told him not to be ridiculous. I jumped up and pulled my panties on.

  “Make your wish,” I ordered excitedly.

  He closed his eyes and wished for his wounds to be completely healed. It wasn’t like something you could watch happen. One second he was bloodied and bruised and the next minute he wasn’t. It was a miracle. I gingerly touched the spot where he’d been cut so badly, and then where the deep gouges had been.

  “Does it still hurt? Does it feel any better?” I asked hopefully.

  He smiled broadly. He shook his head and laughed. “No, it feels wonderful!” he hollered as he leapt out of bed, grabbed me, picked me up, and spun me around.

  Our moment was interrupted by a swift knocking on the door. Darrios set me down and we both pulled on our jeans. He padded down the hall and opened the door. Sandra rushed in and threw her arms around Darrios, then immediately jumped back.

  “Sorry, sorry, sorry,” she rambled. “Did I hurt you?”

  She inspected him up and down, narrowed her eyes, and then wheeled around to Evan, who stood in the doorway holding a basket full of what appeared to be baked goods. The heavenly aroma coming from the basket deliciously supported my theory. Sandra put her hands on her hips.

  “You said he’d been horribly wounded.” She turned back to Darrios. “He had me worried to death. He said you were attacked...and your arm...”

  She gingerly touched his shoulder, which now barely showed any signs of the excruciating wounds he’d suffered the night before. Evan stepped in and I eagerly took the basket from him when he offered it to me. I inhaled deeply. The scent of cinnamon and nutmeg tickled my nose as well as called out to my taste buds, distracting me for a moment.

  “I also told you Maggie saved him.” Evan winked at me. “She wished him to be saved, and voila.”

  All eyes turned to me and I felt myself blush. God, I might as well have been wearing a sign that said, “Highly orgasmic when it comes to Darrios.”

  I shrugged and set the basket down on the counter, leaning over to sniff the contents once more and avoid everyone’s gaze. Sandra grabbed me and hugged me, with far more strength than I would have thought possible for a woman as tiny and as pregnant as she was.

  “Thank you, Maggie. No matter what happens, we will always be indebted to you for bringing Darrios back to us.”

  I didn’t know what to say. I really didn’t think I’d done anything anybody else wouldn’t have done, but on the other hand, I would have been willing to do anything to save him.

  “I’m just glad I was able to do something to help,” I said.

  Darrios draped his arm around me and kissed me on the cheek. “Me too,” he said.

  “Well, I brought you some muffins,” Sandra said. “We’re not going to stay long. I just had to make sure you were all right.”

  Evan asked Darrios to come outside with him to go over some of the details from the night before, in case Darrios didn’t remember, after nearly being eaten and all. They went out onto the porch, leaving Sandra and I alone.

  “So, I’m kind of surprised you’re still here,” she said with a hint of smugness.

  Without making eye contact, I said,
“Well I couldn’t very well leave him to die, now could I?”

  “No, of course not. But he looks terrific. I’d say almost completely healed. At least three wishes worth.”

  I blushed again, stammering, “I...we...he...”

  Sandra giggled. “I think it’s fantastic. He’s obviously doing something right, eh, if you’re...getting there that often? Hell, if he’s that good in bed maybe that will convince you to stay.”

  My head jerked up and I stood there gaping at her with my mouth hanging open.

  “Oh, don’t be so shocked. It’s just girl-talk,” she said, smiling ever so innocently.

  I so did not want to have this conversation. I’d never been comfortable discussing my sex life. Maybe because I’d never had one like this before. I must’ve smiled at the thought because Sandra clapped her hands together and giggled again.

  “Well, I certainly hit the nail on the head...or should I say the screw?” she asked before laughing hysterically at her own joke.

  My face heated up to I’m sure a nice shade of beet-red. I shook my head and grabbed a muffin.

  “C’mon, give me something, here,” she urged. “Throw me a bone...hah! A bone.”

  She howled again with laughter. Against my will, I couldn’t help but laugh too.

  “All right fine, since you’re so persistent, I will tell you this. He’s very attentive...and gentle...and sexy.” I found myself suddenly unable to shut up. What the hell was wrong with me? “Oh, fine, Sandra, he’s goddamn amazing, okay? But that doesn’t change anything. I still have an aunt and a brother who I’m sure are both going crazy worrying about me. I have to go back.”

  The guys came back in and she winked at me. “I can still hope,” she whispered.

  I blew out an exasperated breath.

  “Yeah, I need to go out to the farm tomorrow,” Evan said to Darrios. “Apparently, the fence is starting to come down out in the north pasture. I don’t want the livestock getting out and trampling through the gardens.”

  “I’ll go with you. Maybe I can help.”

  “Are you sure you’re up to it?”

  Darrios grinned and shot me a glance. “Thanks to Maggie, I’m perfectly fine.”

  I felt my face flush again and I lowered my eyes. Why was broadcasting the frequency of our sex all of a sudden acceptable social conversation? Jeez.

  As Sandra and Evan were leaving, Burgess showed up, relieved to find Darrios so much better. Jezbah followed, insisting on fully examining Darrios, despite his arguing.

  “I’m fine. I don’t need you poking at me to know that. Watch.” He dropped to the floor and did a few push-ups. Then he got up and ran in place followed by a few jumping jacks. Then he twirled around and held his arms out. “Happy?” he asked, not even slightly winded.

  Jezbah stood firm. “I will be,” Jezbah replied, “once I examine you properly. We can do this the easy way or we can argue about it awhile and I’ll still win. What do you say?”

  “Fine, poke and prod away,” Darrios said, sitting down in a chair.

  I excused myself in order to give them a little privacy. A few minutes later, as I was making the bed, Darrios’ voice from behind me startled me.

  “Why are you wasting your time like that?”

  I jumped and whirled around to face him. He leaned against the door frame looking perfect in just his jeans and no shirt. His hair was a bit tousled and he had the faintest amount of stubble from not shaving. Little licks of desire began popping within me. I tried to ignore them.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “The bed. Why are you putting it back together when I have a very clear mental picture, not to mention every intention, of the two of us tearing it apart?”

  A flash of heat rushed through me. That smoky, seductive rumble he spoke in made my mouth go dry, I’m sure, because of how wet other parts of me were becoming. He stepped into the room, put his hand on my waist, leaned in close, and heatedly whispered, “We’re alone again. How about you let me show you how happy I am about that?”

  Liquid fire pooled within me. I stared at his lips, craving to feel them on my skin. As if reading my mind, he kissed my mouth and then moved to my cheek, my earlobe, and my neck. I moved closer to him and snaked my arms up around him.

  “Please tell me if it’s too much for you,” I said, concerned he was pushing himself harder than he should be.

  He looked deeply into my eyes with a pained expression. “Don’t you know by now, Maggie? It could never be enough.”

  Then he abruptly took my face in his hands and kissed me, delightfully savagely, making love to my mouth with his tongue. I didn’t want to stop, but I needed to feel my skin against his. I pulled away and practically tore my shirt off. I unzipped my jeans and pushed them over my hips while he watched hungrily.

  Darrios pulled back the bedcovers and I climbed in. He took his jeans off and kneeled down on the bed over me. He kissed me again, more gently this time, but with every bit as much passion and need.

  He put his weight down, leaning on his elbow, and cupped my breast, his thick erection pressing against my thigh. He rolled my nipple and tweaked it, instantly hardening it into a rosy peak. When he took it into his mouth I moaned. He suckled and nibbled as he moved his hand down between my legs.

  Slick with desire, I pushed into his fingers as he stayed just within the outer folds, teasing and taunting me until I was gasping and pleading with him to go in. He pushed a finger inside me, and then two. I shuddered and moaned.

  Darrios whispered huskily into my ear, “Maggie, I need to taste you.”

  I sucked in a breath as he kissed his way down my belly until he reached his intended destination. With a finger barely inside me, he slowly swirled his tongue around, sucking and licking, sending me higher and higher, until I felt myself spiraling to an ecstasy only Darrios could take me. I grabbed handfuls of his hair and screamed for him, still unable to believe anything could feel this good.

  He kissed the inside of my thigh and grinned up at me, clearly pleased with himself, as he should have been. He moved above me and swept the hair off my face, damp with perspiration. My body trembled with aftershocks and my breathing still hadn’t slowed. He softly kissed my shoulder, my collar bone, my chin, and gazed into my eyes.

  Without a word, he guided himself inside me. We fit together perfectly, my body drawing in the full length of him, filling me to the core. He moved slowly at first, going faster at my urging. He began thrusting with more fervor and I wrapped my legs around him to keep him locked to me. It felt so good, but I couldn’t seem to get over that edge.

  “Maggie,” he panted, “I’m sorry, baby, I’m gonna come.”

  He thrust into me twice more, stiffened, and cried out. He remained still for a moment and then withdrew.

  “I’m sorry, Maggie. You had me so hot, I couldn’t hold back. Goddamn, what you do to me...”

  “It’s okay, Darrios, stop apologizing. In case you’ve forgotten, I had a pretty good time myself.”

  “Yeah, but that was during foreplay. I didn’t get you to Avascon.”

  I chuckled and snuggled closer to him. “I’d have to say that counted as a helluva lot more than foreplay. In case you weren’t paying attention, afterward I couldn’t catch my breath or stop shaking.”

  He nibbled on my ear. “Oh I was paying attention, all right. Close attention. I love making you want me like that. I just wish...” He shook his head, leaving the wish unfinished, and by doing so, ungranted.

  I didn’t ask him what. I knew.

  ****

  We spent the remainder of the afternoon talking and just being lazy. I found myself really enjoying the time I spent with Darrios. That night we made love again, but I still wasn’t able to reach Avascon. This time I apologized.

  “I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” I said. “You’re doing everything right...”

  Darrios didn’t say anything, just held me tighter.

  In the morning I asked Darrios
if I could tag along with him.

  “I’ll hang out with Sandra while you guys do your fence thing.”

  Darrios smiled. “Sure. I’ll bet she’ll like that.”

  Sandra hugged us both when we stepped into the foyer of their house. Little Eva came running up squealing for Darrios. He picked her up and swung her around, sending her into fits of giggles. He set her down and asked Evan if he was ready to go.

  “I thought I’d stay here with you,” I said to Sandra. “If that’s okay.”

  “Well duh, it’s more than okay. Eva’s going next door to play with her friend, so it’ll just be the two of us.”

  “Great.”

  Darrios and Evan left with fence-fixing tools in hand. Sandra took Eva by the hand, told me she’d be right back, and skipped out the door, so I sat down on the sofa to wait for her. She popped back in within minutes and plopped down on the couch next to me.

  “What do you want to do first?” Sandra asked. “I’d suggest giving each other manicures, but Celio isn’t really known for its salon products.”

  “What do you usually do when you have the house to yourself?”

  She snorted. “Huh, it doesn’t happen that often, definitely not often enough. But when it does, I usually light the oven and bake something. How do cookies sound?”

  “If your muffins are any indication of your cookie-baking ability, I’m in.”

  ****

  We chatted as we mixed the batter and waited for the oven to heat. Sandra knew how hot it needed to be, but without a dial with a bunch of numbers on it, I was clueless. I had just started spooning batter onto the pan when we heard a knock on the door. Sandra dipped her finger in the batter, sucked it off, and said she’d get the door.

  “It’s probably Mrs. Hooper down the street. She’s forever locking herself out and I have a key to her house. For the life of me, I don’t know why she locks her door. Nobody else locks theirs.”

  She opened the door and said hello to someone named Jeff. She invited him in and started to introduce us. I looked up and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end when I noticed the cloak draped over his right side.