Chapter 16 Declan #3
Traversing the streets back to the entrance to Manny’s basement, Veronica did a bit more sightseeing, glancing at storefronts, houses, and restaurants as we went along.
Many of her kind lived and worked in these hidden neighborhoods.
They still ventured out to the human world often, but out there they couldn’t be themselves.
It was different here. There were even schools for magical kids here.
Almost on cue with that thought, a group of preteen kids came running around the corner.
One of them was a shifter, fully in their panther form, another a pale-skinned vampire, and the rest witches.
I grinned as they rushed past. Veronica, however, gasped and reached out to grab one of them, digging her fingers deep into the fabric of the girl’s shirt.
“Wendy?” Veronica shouted, spinning the girl around.
We’d found pictures of the missing girl over the last ten days. This child did look remarkably like Veronica’s friend, but upon closer inspection, the resemblance was only passing.
The girl flinched away in terror. “Let go of me!”
Veronica let go of the girl as if she’d been burned, and the kid ran along to join her friends. People had noticed the interaction, though, because eyes were turning in our direction. Not good.
“Let’s go,” I said, taking her arm and moving along, walking as fast as I could.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I really thought it was her.”
“It’s okay. I know,” I said, ushering her into the alley to Manny’s bar. Thankfully, no one followed us. I let out a sigh of relief as we made our way up the stairs
On the ride home, Veronica was quieter than usual, staring out the window at the drizzling rain.
I let her have her quiet reflection. After the weird interaction with Wendy through the stuffed animal at the academy, we’d had no other contact with the girl.
It was a pretty damned impressive piece of magic, especially for a kid that young.
It proved she had skill and talent, but the fact she hadn’t tried since meant one of two things.
First, she’d been incapacitated in some way—best case, she was knocked out with a spell, potion, or drug; worst case, the kidnapper had killed her.
Second, her powers had been neutralized in some way.
There were a dozen ways a witch or fae could have their magic negated.
Veronica had probably come to the same thought as well.
Back home, I tucked my newly enchanted pistol in the closet—I didn’t want to accidentally activate the spell before I needed it—then Veronica and I sat at the laptop to look at the location of the party.
“This is it,” she said, pointing at a picture.
“Belmont’s Event Center? Doesn’t seem very…uh…magical.”
“Don’t be dense,” she said and swatted my leg. “That’s the cover story. They book it for humans for weddings and quinceaneras and stuff, sure, but it’s actually a temple to the horned god and the triple goddess, the main deities of Wicca. It’s where the gathering is held every year.”
“Got it,” I said. “Doesn’t look too difficult to get into. What sort of security measures do they have for stuff like this?”
“Doormen will be checking for weapons, most likely magical ones. Witches don’t use guns. You know enough to have passing conversations, but don’t get too deep into magic. You don’t want to arouse suspicion.”
“I can bullshit my way through most general convos,” I said. “Are you okay?”
She turned her head quickly, looking surprised. “Yeah. Why?”
“You haven’t quite been yourself since we left The Shadow Streets.”
Veronica sighed. “It’s fine,” she said, shaking her head. “My head hurts. That doesn’t help. I’m good.”
“Well, I can help with that.” I put my hands on her face, kneading gentle circles around her temples.
“Oh, God, that feels good.”
Running my fingers up into her curly hair, I massaged her scalp, going across the crown of her head, along the sides, and then toward the base of her skull. She moaned as I worked.
A minute into my massage, her fingers glided across my crotch. I took a deep breath, massaging her head as her hand grew more pronounced on me. My cock hardened, pressing against the fabric of my jeans.
I knew her head wasn’t the reason for her being withdrawn, but it appeared she wanted a different outlet for her sadness than talking. I wasn’t going to say no. I wanted it as much as she did.
As if reading my mind, Veronica slid my zipper down and pulled my cock out, stroking me until I was rock hard. She took me in her mouth, her tongue flicking around the head of my shaft.
I ran my hands over her back as she bobbed her head, using her hands and mouth to pleasure me.
I pulled my cock free and lifted her chin, kissing her while she continued to stroke me. Each time we had sex, I felt closer to her. Veronica had already become the most special person in my entire life. All I wanted was to take care of her. To protect her and make her happy.
“Lie back,” I whispered, pulling my lips from hers.
Grinning, she scooted back on the couch. I took my time undressing her, worshipping her skin with my hands and mouth. I made quick work of my own clothing, and once we were both naked, I lay on top of her and kissed her perfect lips.
She twined her arms around my neck, her thighs falling open
My cock was aching to be inside her. When I adjusted my hips to place the head against her slick opening, I almost whimpered with desire.
Instead, I clenched my teeth, and eased myself inside.
Veronica let out a slow, steady exhale until I was fully inside her.
Tilting my head down, I took her right nipple in my mouth, sucking, pulling the tight warm flesh into my mouth in time to my strokes.
Veronica moaned, lifting her hips to meet me, taking me as I took her. Unlike most of our intimate moments, this was slower, more careful, and loving than wild fucking. I trailed kisses down her neck, her collarbone, as I rocked against her.
Digging her nails into my shoulders, Veronica threw her head back, a rapturous smile on her face as I plunged into her over and over again.
Her breasts glided across my chest with each thrust, hard nipples grazing my skin, erotic and seductive in their touch.
I wanted to devour her, to consume her in every possible way I could imagine, to become one with her body.
Even while my mind blurred from the sheer pleasure of being with her, I was in awe of her beauty. Dark curls splashed across the pillow, full lips parted in ecstasy, skin flushed and shimmering. Nothing and no one had ever looked as beautiful as she did right then.
Veronica clung to me as I drove deeper into her. Her tight pussy clenched around my cock, sending my mind spinning. She felt so fucking good.
“Don’t stop,” she moaned, biting down on her lower lip.
I moved faster, thrusting with abandon, the sound of my cock sliding in and out of her so erotic that it nearly made me come, but I held off, wanting her to finish first. Sitting up on my knees, I gripped her hips and pulled her toward me.
“You look so fucking hot like this,” I grunted through clenched teeth
“God, Dec,” she cried, looking down to watch my cock spear into her. “I need to come.”
Licking my thumb, I placed it on her clit, circling it in time with my thrusts.
Her body responded, a red flush creeping up her chest, her breathing growing ragged and shallow as her mouth fell open.
Veronica slammed her hips toward me, taking my cock even deeper as she came, clamping down on my cock like a vise.
“Good girl,” I whispered. “Come for me.”
“Oh my god!” she screamed, her face red with exertion.
My climax built quickly, urged on by the sight of her in carnal bliss.
Gripping her hips, I yanked her toward me as I pounded into her, until finally, in an explosive release, I came.
My cock spasmed, sending waves of pleasure through me.
I grunted, unable to form words as I continued to move within her, slowing until I collapsed forward, my lips crashing against hers.
Veronica ran her fingers through my hair, kissing me back.
We lay like that, both breathing heavily, quiet in our post-coital bliss, but Veronica grew even more silent than to be expected. Her body tensed, and I finally lifted my head to look at her face.
“What’s wrong?” I said, pushing myself up to look at her.
Her eyes were red with unshed tears.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Fear surged through me. Had I been too rough? Had I hurt her or made her uncomfortable? I sat up and gathered her in my arms.
“Did I—”
“It’s not you,” she said, shaking her head. “I can’t get it out of my head. That’s all.”
“Get what out?”
“What might be happening to Wendy. After I saw that girl in The Shadow Streets, I… I wondered if she was being hurt or tortured.”
I held her as she sobbed, letting her get it all out. After a while, she seemed to come back under control and wiped her eyes.
“Oh, god,” she muttered. “This is so embarrassing.”
“You shouldn’t be embarrassed. It’s natural.”
“Natural to sob after a really hot guy has fucked your brains out?” she asked.
“Well…yeah. Sometimes. Depends on how good or bad the dick is, I guess.”
She burst out laughing, a melody I’d grown to enjoy.
“Thanks,” she said. “I needed that.”
“Tell me about Wendy. What kind of person was she? What jokes did she tell? Her favorite foods? All of it. It’ll help.”
Veronica snuggled close to my side. “You’re a really amazing person, you know that?”
“There’s nothing special about me,” I said.
“You’re wrong about that,” she said, but she launched into her story of how she got to know Wendy and all the eccentricities that made the child unique.