Tricking Tara (5 page)
His release was not so subtle. His fingers dug into her hips and pulled her hard against him as his body emptied into her.
She collapsed onto him, the wet and sticky moisture of their coupling seeping from her. “I think we need to take a shower and order pizza.” Her chest was still heaving with the effort of catching her breath.
"Sounds like a fantastic idea. I haven't ever had pizza before."
He started to shift beneath her, but she needn't have worried. He carried her to her bathroom and they engaged in a leisurely shower, followed by towelling off and her refusing more nookie.
The pizza arrived and she used her remote to slide back one of the dioramas and make her couch appear.
"Is your entire house rigged for dual purpose?"
"Pretty much. Although, the lobby is rarely used as a bedroom. Just for the record.” She was snuggled in his arms as they made their way through a pepperoni and mushroom slice. With the soda that she had fished out of the fridge, she was in post-coital heaven.
"Nice to know. So are you still meeting with Michael tomorrow?"
"I am.” There was no hesitation. Michael satisfied a different part of her than Alexi.
"Even after this evening?"
"Yes. I do hope that that doesn't make you upset. But I need to choose between you both on equal footing."
"So you will let him make love to you?"
"I might jump him, but yeah."
"Good.” And with that cryptic word, he turned back to the movie and the pizza.
What the hell had he meant by that?
Enthusiasm and excitement was spreading throughout the crew of the Haunted House. It was their first payday. They all received their cheques and she sat back and smiled at their excitement.
They only received two cheques while working for her, one that was for training and the larger for the tours. She had only fired two employees in the last ten years that she had been running the house, but it had been for gross negligence and trying to sneak friends in after hours. Each worker was given five free passes so there was never a reason to sneak in.
Michael was scowling a bit more than he needed to be with the grand opening coming in two more days, so she had a word with him. “What is the problem, Michael?"
"You and Alexi."
"What about it?"
"Have you chosen him?"
"No.” Those two letters immediately caused a blooming smile to cross the face of her moon. She couldn't help but smile in return. “I will see you at nine."
"I will see you then.” He took her hand in his and kissed the knuckles, then practically skipped away. He was really happy about something.
Alexi merely sighed and left with a promise to see her the following day. Tara qualified it with, “Not before four in the afternoon, please.” She wasn't about to get caught up in that one again.
The doorbell summoned her with cheerful charm and she swung the door open before she reached it. There was her date, attired in a black shirt and jeans, which made his moon-white skin glow in the dim lighting. He was holding a box and a picnic basket. Apparently, they were staying in.
He extended the large box with the golden bow, “This is for you."
She smiled and opened the box with trembling fingers. It was a light parcel, but something solid was inside. The solid thing was a dress of silver cobwebs. “It's beautiful.” She held it up against her and gave him her best smile. “Can I go try it on?"
"By all means. I will wait here."
"Just a minute, I will get the couch to come out.” She fumbled with the dress, the box and the remote before she remembered that she could do it via her mind. Her face flamed as she let the dress and box fly into the air, while bringing the house remote to her hand. The home theatre was set up in a few seconds of sliding panels and rising platforms and she led the way for her dress around the corner.
She slipped the gown over her head the instant that she was out of his sight, and of course, naked. The gown clung too tightly to allow for under clothing. She would simply have to go commando. One of the mirrors that lined the small sitting room that she was in showed her that going sans underwear was definitely the way to go. The webs of the gown played hide and seek with the light, concealing and revealing at the same time. Very daring. At least she wouldn't be wearing it out in public. In fact, her audience of one had gotten tired of waiting.
"You look wonderful."
She would have whirled to confront him, but she could see him in the mirror. The appreciation in his dark eyes was all the compliment she wanted. She turned to face him, slowly, letting him enjoy the view. “Does it fit?"
"Better than I could have imagined."
He came toward her slowly, letting her see his desire, love and lust, all in those dark eyes. She went into his arms gladly, with a smile on her lips. Where Alexi made her feel wanted, Michael made her feel cherished. Both were important, but right now, the cherishing won, hands down. He ran his hands over her curves, learning, memorizing and appreciating with every touch. She took her time learning him as well. The column of his neck, the cool silk of his hair, the breadth of his shoulders and the feel of his body under her hands.
Where Alexi had been fire, Michael was water, everywhere at once with a cool and deliberate motion. She let him wash over her as he took her in his arms and carried her to the couch. He laid her back and caressed every inch of her through the gown, finally sliding his hands up and under the hem to work his fingers toward her heated core. She was more than wet, more than ready, but he took his time. Two fingers moved within her in a slow pulsing, then removed to circle her clit and, after a few of these repetitions, she arched and shook against him. Then he removed his clothing and took up a position between her thighs.
His cock speared her cunt and slowly moved within her. Nothing that he did was hurried, nothing was out of control. She didn't even have enough presence of mind to try and hurry his pace. She was simply along for the ride. And what a ride.
Their eyes met and held, black into brilliant green, her passion and growing affection meeting his love, lust and attraction. Her body clenched around him as she reached one peak after another and still he thrust slowly within her.
Waves of pleasure swamped her until her world was in his eyes. She surrendered everything that she was to him and finally he gave it back. When he plunged hard into her with his mind and body beyond his control, she simply held him. Waiting until they could recover together.
His hoarse shout rang through the stone rooms of the basement as he spent himself inside her. The cool cement of the floor beneath her back had her squirming under his limp form. She didn't know how they had gotten there until she remembered his talent. “Michael, did you move us here? Through the floor?"
"Um. Yes, my lady. Sorry about that."
He rose from her body and suddenly she was cold. Wait, no she wasn't. The cobweb dress hugged her and warmth flowed from it. “Michael? Is this dress alive?"
"Yes, Tara. The web of a spider goblin. It will keep you warm, clean, defended and as clothed as you want to be."
Ah. Neat. She was wearing a living dress. That may explain why there was no sweat on her, from either herself or her lover. While she was pondering this, her naked elf picked her up and carried her upstairs, back to her living room and back to the couch.
They cuddled together, she in her gown, he sky clad, and watched a movie while digging for delicacies from his picnic basket. Meats, cheeses, fruit and bread were all munched while watching one of his favourite movies—as The 10th Kingdom. A tale of people being moved between the normal world and the world of fairy tales. Michael loved it. Tara loved the character of the Wolf and she personally thought that Virginia was a twit.
She and her elf stayed cuddled on the couch until the movie was over, five hours later. As soon as the movie was over, Michael got dressed and left, with another sweet kiss.
Tara was now left with a decision that she didn't want. The fiery Lios or the soothing Svart. This was going to be one hell of a quandary.
The crucial week had passed without a hitch. The Simmon's Haunted House had once again drawn a crowd, sold out and had everyone leaving happily. Her crew were delighted with their pay percentage and only three people had escaped their tours to try and look behind the scenes. She had shoved them out without ceremony from two floors away.
Her lovers were confused. They had attempted to engage her in further courting and she had refused them both. She didn't want any more confusion to complicate her decision process. She had spent hours on the phone, days working out pros and cons and still could only come to one conclusion.
Today was Halloween, yesterday had been the last day of the house for the year and today she decided to call her lovers to her. She hoped she wasn't making a big mistake.
"Alexi, Michael, I have to make my choice and I have decided.” Tara took a shaking breath, this was far harder than she had imagined. She had no idea how they would take her decision. She had no idea how
she
was going to take her decision.
"My lady, no matter who you choose, we each know that a worthy mate has been found for you.” Alexi nodded and took one of her hands in his own. Michael took the other.
"He is right. There is no shame in losing your affections and your heart to one such as he.” Michael's voice was calm and his eyes warm. He really meant it. No matter whom she picked, he would find a way to deal with it.
"What if I said that I wanted both of you? I have checked with Artemis and Alexi would be welcomed. Could you two get along well enough to both be my mates?” She rushed to add, “Not at the same time, of course."
They both sat completely still for several minutes and then the moon and the sun smiled. “May we have a moment alone?” They were talking to her.
She blinked in surprise and released their hands. “Okay. Um. Okay.” She left them and walked into her kitchen. She was at a loss. She idly turned the taps on and off. The kitchen was spotless. Alexi was one helluva housekeeper. He had taken to polishing her taps every time she turned him down.
When they finally emerged from her study, they looked quietly pleased with themselves.
Michael asked, “Will it be all right if we adjourn to Silverwood this evening? The Halloween season is now over and you don't need to stay in town tonight."
She hesitated, leave her home? “Uh, that is true, but..."
Alexi piped in. “So you can come with us, meet up with Carolyn in Silverwood and then come back here to work on the house or visit whenever you choose."
"We know how tied you are to this community and we don't want to separate you. We just want you to grow ties to Silverwood. Give it a chance."
"But we will still come back here to run the haunted house every year?"
"For as long as you wish it."
She started to smile. It was a slow smile that lit up her face. She could feel it. “We can try it."
Michael's house was amazing. It had two master bedrooms and after a brief conversation, she agreed to adjourn to one of them with one of her lovers. Their coming together held delight, wonder, laughter and the relief of rejoining after just over a week of seeing each other every day.
She stretched in repletion and leaned over her lover, putting her elbows on his moonlight chest. “Your home is lovely, Michael. I just have one question."
"Yes?” He was threading his fingers through her hair.
"How did you and Alexi decide whose bed I would be sharing tonight?"
He blushed, his skin flaring pink, “Uh. I don't think I want to tell you."
"Tell me. Please?” She used her mind to touch him all over. To rub and caress, bringing him to arousal all over again.
He hissed and arched as the phantom fingers trailing around his cock tightened and loosened. “We flipped a coin.” He finally hissed as his hips were rising to meet her phantom touches.
And for the second time in a month, she flew like a witch, up to the ceiling clutching her sides, shrieking with laughter until her other lover arrived. Life was certainly more complicated in Silverwood, but maybe they could all share whatever was coming their way.
Mythos and Valentine were sitting down to dinner, “So do you think that the boys will be dumb enough to tell her that they were a pair all along? She might take offense to it you know?"
Mythos looked up from his plate and gave her a small smile. “I think that they would be better off if only you, I and Artemis knows. Caro and Tara might react a little violently."
"A little? Those two could take the guys’ heads off from a distance. You are right. Better to keep it under our hats, so to speak.” Val looked over at her destined lover. “Are you all right? You look exhausted."
"The dragon finally made it through, but some of the creatures insisted on him going first, so the portal snapped shut on a few of them for about half an hour. We are still sorting out what belongs to whom."
"Sounds rough. So there is now a dragon in Silverwood?"
"Yeah, he is going to be taking classes with Caro and Tara this week. He needs to learn fast, he has someone to be with by Christmas."
Valentine sat for a few minutes digesting the implications. “
He
is the one I sent for for Holly? A freaking dragon?"
"He isn't freaking. He is very calm."
"What do you know about him?"
"He is well respected and he has been on earth before."
"Really?"
"Yes. In fact, for a few seasons, he helped the one that you call Santa Claus. He flew Santa around the world to deliver the toys and fulfil his curse."
"Okay, you are telling me that Santa is under a curse."
"Indeed. He is currently the Oldest Elf as well."
Val stared down at her food. She knew a lot of the elves and creatures on hand had enjoyed momentous moments in history, but still ... Santa?