Chapter 3
Chapter Three
The dark spirit is inside me. The unseen that never leaves.
—Lorinne Leroux’s private journal.
The giant window in Tarik’s guest room let in soft morning light. His décor was simple: cream-colored sheets with matching pillows, comforter, and drapes. The neutral colors left the focus on his wall of jerseys. Each one was fitted inside a fancy frame to display his lucky number: forty-two.
With phase two swiftly approaching, Winter set some clothing aside.
She’d already made peace with leaving unnecessary items behind.
This wouldn’t be a permanent trip into the past; it would be a temporary adventure.
First and foremost, leggings. She needed at least six pairs, and in a variety of fabrics to suit every possible occasion.
Vegan leather, polyester, cotton, jersey, nylon, and wool.
Then she selected a few oversized sweaters and some cozy socks.
Toiletries, check.
Makeup, check.
Underwear, check.
Avoiding Kaden would be impossible now that her shield, Tarik, had left for preseason training.
She’d considered staying with Ender and Cole for a couple of days, but decided against it.
Their filthy apartment smelled like beer.
And they both worked a lot, so keeping Kaden’s groping hands away would be too tricky.
Her phone buzzed. It was him.
I’m here …
Another message came through. A duck-lipped selfie of himself posing in the elevator mirror.
Groaning, she walked from the guest room to the living room. Wall-to-wall windows overlooked Silver City—street after street of metallic high-rises, reflecting the giant sun. Elemental air-magic kept interiors cool, but they couldn’t protect the exteriors.
According to city officials, controlling heat exchange on an atmospheric level would require too much energy. It was January twentieth in the northeastern quadrant of the Mortal Realm and approximately seventy-eight degrees. It would be a brutal spring, and a far worse summer than last year.
Winter missed the small town of Elmwood.
Escaping the city was something she’d always enjoyed about her commute to Caldwell Archives.
Thirty miles north of here, things were simpler and it was always a few degrees cooler.
Small suburban neighborhoods were intersected by the occasional restaurant, school, or strip mall.
There wasn’t much to it. But here, it was the opposite.
The population was too many to count without a lick of space between buildings.
She padded through Tarik’s stainless steel kitchen.
His appliances blended in with the cabinets, and she still had to guess which one held the trash receptacle.
A thin hallway just beyond the kitchen led her to the front door.
Instead of opening it, she checked herself out in the mirror.
Her lip tint—called Santa’s Slay—was charmed by the company to remain bright red for seven days.
“Are you going to open it?” Kaden’s voice came through the door.
She glared and said, “One second.” After tossing her hair over her shoulder and plastering on a smile, she turned the handle.
“Winter, you look ...” Without so much as a hello, he gripped her hips and pushed her against the wall. The door clicked shut when her toes left the floor. “Good enough to eat,” he purred, pressing his mouth against hers. Hard. His lips forced hers apart, tongue probing where it didn’t belong.
She gave herself an internal shake and kissed him back. Having prepared for this moment for weeks, she’d always known proving her love to Kaden would always come down to one thing: physical intimacy.
Recently, she’d discovered their relationship had been tethered by sex. He had a master talent for giving her exactly what she wanted, but never what she needed.
“Let’s go sit,” she whispered.
He obliged, carrying her into the living room like he owned the place. The moment he set her down on the oversized sofa, he slipped a hand between her thighs. She grabbed his wrist and stopped him. “Can we talk first?”
He sighed, collapsing next to her. “What’s wrong? We finally have a chance to be together. I thought—”
“Well, that’s what I want to talk to you about.”
He scratched his head. “You’re still mad at me?”
Yes. You’re a thief and a cheater. “No, of course not, but after everything that happened, I’m not sure if I’m ready for that yet. I—”
His finger landed on her lips. “Then we can wait. I’m happy to keep kissing you, Winn.” He dove back in.
She relented.
If he would just let her explain, maybe he’d understand how hurt she was. The thought of having sex with him, or anyone, was … It was too much to think about. She’d been abused, tortured, and betrayed. The way Kaden could settle back into their normal so quickly was concerning.
Winter shouldn’t have expected him to listen. He only cared about stealing ancient books and scoring futuristic pussy. The time for revenge was now. She pulled away, grinning. “I didn’t say we couldn’t play.”
Kaden leaned in, tapping his forehead to hers. “Are you sure?”
She nodded, sinking her teeth into her lower lip. “We haven’t had a session in a while.”
His dark eyes churned like liquid in a cauldron. He shifted in his seat, pulling on the seam of his pants. “I know.”
Winter leaned back and folded her arms. “Well then, what are you waiting for?” Her tone went from sweet to deep as she said, “Take it out.”
He snapped his pants into his void, reached beneath the waistband of his briefs, and let his cock spring free. It was the only poised and pragmatic part about him.
She clenched her traitorous vagina, tilting her head. “Good. Now, tell me how much you love me.” Hearing him lie was like a sad song she couldn’t stop replaying.
He started stroking himself. “Winn—”
She flared her nostrils. “I said, take it out. I did not give you permission to touch yourself.”
Kaden tensed, then released his hold. “Sorry, baby.”
“I think you should sit on the floor for disobeying me.”
He slid down until his seat hit the rug.
“Much better. You look so good on the floor, baby.” She hardened her features, rested her elbows on her thighs, and said, “Now tell me how much you love me, and maybe I’ll let you begin.”
He made eye contact, opening his mouth to speak.
She interrupted him. “Uh-uh. Did I say you could look at me?”
He dropped his head, averting his gaze.
“Better, but now you’ll have to wait a little longer.
” Winter stood, stretched her back side-to-side, then sauntered into the kitchen.
She was incredibly thirsty. After pouring herself some sparkling water and taking a few sips, she admired how the bubbles took flight.
Escaping. Minutes passed before she set the glass down and made her way back to the living room.
Kaden was right where she’d left him, like a well-trained wizard.
His legs were splayed wide and his chubby cock tilted to the side.
She pressed her back against the opposite wall, resting between two paintings.
When combined, it was the image of one baseball stadium, but the archaic kind, with grass and flying leather balls.
Fire was used for every sport now. Elemental mages like Tarik had taken over the sports industry hundreds of years ago.
“Okay. Let’s start again.” She twirled her finger at him.
“I love you so much, Winn. My body needs you. Look at what you’re doing to me.” He pulled his black t-shirt up his chest, showing off his tensing abdomen. Hard lines tapered to a perfect V-shape, giving way to his throbbing erection.
If only he’d pointed to his heart …
She couldn’t fault his desire; the barrier between lust and love was awfully blurry. Stray too far towards one side and it was easy to get lost in the haze. Kaden would have to learn the hard way that this view was only a mirage.
“You weren’t given instructions to lift your shirt. Are you disobeying me on purpose?”
Kaden groaned. “No. I’m sorry, baby.”
Winter grabbed her cellphone and pulled up her timer app. “It’s alright, I’ll just deduct a minute. Are you ready?”
He nodded.
After a few clicks she said, “Alright, you have sixty seconds, starting … now.”
Kaden dropped his head and spat on his dick. His hand worked quickly, bypassing slow strokes. He moved furiously up and down his length. Forty-five seconds in, and he was beginning to grunt. Before, she would have slowed him down and studied his technique. Now, she could hardly look.
Amusement played at the edges of her mouth as the time ticked away. “And three … two … one.”
Kaden exhaled, dropping his hand from his cock.
“Very good,” she drawled. “I think you’ve earned your way into the bedroom.”
He went to stand.
“Oh, no.” Winter stepped forward, pressed the ball of her foot to his chest, and pushed him back.
“Walking is a privilege, baby. You know that.” He’d spent a year learning her likes and dislikes, so this was very disappointing.
As usual. “Or do you want to be punished? Because it’s starting to feel like you do. ”
He apologized, getting on all fours.
“Better.” She pointed to the open doorway of the guest room and said, “Thataway.”
When his palms and knees crossed the threshold, she followed. After taking some time to get settled on the edge of the bed, she addressed him again. “Alright, that earned you two minutes. Starting …” She reset the timer. “Now.”
Kaden rolled flat onto his back and squeezed his dick, smearing precum along his length.
He started slow, but after a minute he picked up the pace.
His needy moans filled her eardrums. Finishing wasn’t allowed, and yet the closer he got the more fun this game became.
When his hips lifted and his mouth hung open, Winter cleared her throat.
“You know you’re not allowed to come.” She flipped her phone around and tapped the screen to show him. “There’s thirty-five seconds left.”