Capricorn Cursed (6 page)

“Oh,” Mrs. Hill said to her left. “Your hands are so hot.”

Natasha could hear her but she couldn't respond. She was in the grip of some force, and she let it take her over.

“Yes,” Natasha said in a voice that wasn't hers. “I was murdered.”

Natasha bolted upright and blinked. She stared around the room, her head foggy and her body buzzing.

“What happened? “she asked.

“You brought someone in, but we don't know who,” said Clara.

“It wasn't Percy?”

“I don't think so. It was not him,” said Ian.

Natasha sighed. “I think that's enough for tonight. We shall close the circle now.”

“Do we have to?” Clara asked.

“I don't have the strength to continue,” Natasha said.

Jeannette looked over at the large clock on the wall.” She has been doing this for over an hour.”

“Gosh, has it been that long? It didn't seem that long,” Keith said.

As Natasha regained her strength, she looked over at Jim Hawthorne. He was staring at her, and she wasn't sure what he was trying to see.

“Let's close the portal,” Natasha said. They all held hands as she thanked the spirits and asked them to leave Clara in peace. She was dizzy and weak but knew it would pass.

Once Natasha was out in the chilly night air, she felt better. Still, the hunger surged through her. It was time to feed again. Properly. But not just yet. She was a master at putting off her desires, including her sexual ones. She figured she should get a prize for self-denial when she died. If she ever died.

She drove slowly through the icy roads until at last she arrived back at her loft. She was drained, but she didn't feel like going home yet. She parked the car in her parking spot and donned her hat and gloves.

It was very late, but as she walked through the downtown strip of Hermana, she saw many of the pubs were still crowded. It never seemed to matter which day of the week it was; the little town was full of people who liked to socialize.

She passed by Intuition and heard lively jazz music playing as someone opened the door to leave the club. She decided to go in for a nightcap.

If there had been a crowd that night, it had thinned. She took a seat near the stage and saw Craig had seen her come in. He grinned as he met her eyes, and she knew she had done the right thing by coming there.

The waitress brought her a glass of wine, and she sipped it, trying to let the vibes of the séance recede back to wherever they needed to go. The music soothed her, which was surprising since she wasn't a very big fan of jazz.

When the last song was finished, the audience clapped politely. The band packed up their instruments for the night. As the drummer and sax player wound up the cables and put away the mics, Craig came over to her table.

“Mind if I have a seat?” he asked.

“Not at all,” she said. “I was hoping you'd ask.”

He sat down and, before long, the waitress brought them both a drink. Craig nodded at the waitress.

“Thanks.” He turned to Natasha. “I took the liberty of ordering another round for us.”

“Why are you out so late? And alone?” he asked.

“I had a job tonight. A séance out of town. Thought I'd drop in for a nightcap.”

“I'm very glad you did. I've been thinking about you.”

“And I've been thinking about you too,” Natasha said. “About what you said.”

“Jamming? You interested?” Craig asked.

“Yes, I am,” Natasha said. “In fact, I have an urge to play tonight.”

“Well, I'm up for it. If you want to do guitar and violin. I'm not sure the other guys are in at this late hour, since they have girlfriends to get home to and all.”

“That's fine. I've done it before. Just with guitar, I mean.” She grinned.

“Where do you want to go? Do you want to go to my place?” Craig asked.

“We might as well go to mine. I have a studio, and my violin is there,” Natasha said.

“Very well.”

They finished their drinks, and Craig grabbed his guitar case. They walked through the icy, cold streets until they were back at Natasha's home. She decided she'd take him up the back stairwell through the door that led directly to the music room.

“Very nice,” Craig said as she flipped on the electric candles. “This is an amazing studio.”

“You like it?” she asked. “I'm quite proud of it.”

Craig went over to the shelf and looked at her many instruments. “What kind of guitar is that?” he asked, pointing to a closed case.

“Open it up and try it out,” Natasha urged. “I'll get us some wine.”

Craig's face was flushed with excitement as he opened up the guitar case. Natasha left the room and went into her living area as he oohed and ahhed with delight as he tuned the guitar.

She gathered some wine, glasses and several types of cheese and crackers. When she returned to the room, Craig had the guitar plugged into an amp and was strumming it.

“What a lovely sound,” he said. “This guitar is nicer than all of mine put together.”

“I do take pride in my instruments,” Natasha said.

“I'm glad. Because people like me certainly appreciate it.”

She poured the wine, and Craig set down the guitar to take a glass.

“Let's toast to new jamming partners,” he said.

“Let's.” Natasha grinned as they clicked their glasses together. As they sipped their wine, she studied Craig. He was a pleasant enough fellow, his blue eyes bright, his blond hair curly, but he had a rather weak chin. He was slender, slight and his knee bounced with nervous energy. He wasn't as handsome as Gus, but Gus wasn't here. Gus was far more masculine, with a strong jaw and eyes that held many secrets. Craig's eyes were curious and lively.

“Flattery will get you everywhere,” Natasha said. “Okay, how do you want to do “Are you a Gemini?” she asked.

“Why, yes, I am. Hey, how did you know?”

“Just part of what I do,” Natasha said as she sipped her wine.

“What about you?”

“Capricorn.”

“Oh. That's right now, isn't it? Did you just have a birthday?”

“Not yet. Very soon,” she said.

“Nice. Another year older,” he said. “Here's to your impending birthday.” He clinked his glass against hers again.

“Let's not rush it. I'm not so eager to get any older.”

“Well, it's not going to catch up to you for a while. You can't be 30 yet,” he said.

“I can read music or we can just jam,” Craig said eagerly. “I know these days it's hard to find guitar players that can actually read.”

“Yes, it does seem to be a dying art,” she said. “However, you came here to jam, so let's jam.”

Natasha busied herself with preparing her violin while Craig returned to the guitar. “Can I play yours?” he asked.

“Of course. Whatever you want.”

It didn't take long before they were playing with and around each other. The music soared through a wide variety of styles as they egged each other on. One minute they were playing folk, the next they were rocking. Their fingers flew as the sounds from the strings filled the air.

At last, Natasha put down her violin. “That was great,” she said.

“Yes, it was,” Craig responded, his eyes shining with the exuberance of a session that had gone well.

“We should do it again sometime,” she said.

“Yes, we should.”

They stared awkwardly at each other until Craig leaned over to kiss her. At first, Natasha was reluctant, but as his lips pursued hers, she fell into him.

They kissed passionately in the music room, the vibrations of their jamming still hanging in the air. She could feel the music still swelling through Craig; he loved music as much as she did. She held him tightly, the gnawing in her stomach rumbling loudly.

Craig pulled back.

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

“Just for you,” she said.

“Are you sure? Why don't you take a moment to eat?” he asked, reaching for the cheese tray.

“No, that won't help my hunger. Kiss me again. Your lips feel so good on mine.”

Craig pulled her close again and let his mouth merge with hers. His tongue wiggled into her mouth, and she played with it gently. Craig's hands roamed up her back and down again to clutch her round bottom.

He was growing hard—she could feel him pressing against her. She rubbed into him, and they swayed, kissing and holding each other as if dancing to an invisible band.

“Over here,” Natasha said and led him to a large velvet couch. She sat on it and pulled him down on top of her. He kissed her some more, his slight, thin body wriggling over her. She touched his back, his small bottom, and sighed. His smell was in her nostrils, and her stomach cried out again.

“Ignore it,” she said as he lifted up from her. She took the moment to unbutton his shirt and toss it on the floor. He had many tattoos of vines, skulls and mythical creatures along his chest and arms. “Oh, let me see,” she said, pushing him up.

He grinned. “You like tattoos?”

“I admire the artwork. I don't have one, but I think it's cool when other people do.”

He stood up and modeled for her, turning around so she could see the wings and fire on his back.

“You're an angel?” she asked.

“Or a demon. Whichever you prefer,” he joked.

“Mmm, what else do you have?”

Craig took her encouragement as an opportunity to slide off his jeans. He stood naked before her, his penis standing nearly fully erect.

“So, what do you have to show me?” he asked after she studied him for a while.

She grinned and sat up. “I can show you what I have to offer.” Natasha said, removing her own clothes. She stood up naked in front of him. He admired her full breasts and touched her hard nipples. He ran his hand down her flat stomach to her shaved pubic area. His fingers touched her pussy lips and parted them. Natasha sighed, hunger of all kinds consuming her.

“Mmm,” she said as his fingers found her clit. He pressed on it rhythmically, and she was reminded of the way they'd danced along the fingerboards. His expertise on her body was just as pleasing.

They kissed again, and her hand found his cock. She stroked him firmly, feeling him swell even more between her fingers.

“So lovely,” he sighed. “So beautiful and so skilled.”

Natasha kneeled down and took his cock into her mouth. She slowly teased his head with her tongue, swirling it around as he danced from one foot to the other.

“Suck me,” he whispered.

She took him all the way into her mouth and sucked him hard, pulling him in and out with her hand. His legs shook as she teased him by varying her rhythms.

“Oh my God, you're so delicious,” he said. “I want to fuck you right now.”

He reached for his jeans to get out his condoms. She let him, even though she knew it wasn't necessary.

She lay back on the couch, her legs spread. He took in the vision before he climbed on top of her. His mouth met hers as he slid his cock into her damp, waiting pussy.

It had been a long time since she'd been fucked, and she savored the sensation of him filling her up. She wrapped her arms around him, wishing the little, wiry man was her big, strong Gus. But Gus wasn't here. She didn't even know if she would ever see Gus again. Although, on some dark level, she knew that the games between them weren't over yet.

Craig pushed into her slowly and moaned as he slid in and out. Natasha spread her legs wider, trying to pull him in farther. She wrapped her hands around his ass, pushing him in to the hilt.

“Oh, you like it deep, don't you?” he asked.

“Fill me up, Craig,” she whispered.

Craig pushed her legs up so he could enter her more deeply. His lips met hers, and he pushed harder and faster. Craig had her pinned under him, and she let him take the lead as he pumped. His rhythmic movements built up to an energetic, frenzied fucking.

“More,” she called out. “Faster, harder.”

He laid into her harder, his neck by her mouth. She smelled him, the sweaty man smell that tingled her nose and made her hungrier. It would be so easy to just turn her head slightly and sink her teeth into him.

But she couldn't.

She had to resist. Her head spun. “Fuck me, Craig. Fuck me hard.”

He slammed into her, fast and furious. They both moaned and cried as they reveled in the tension and suspension of holding back their climaxes. At last, Natasha could stand it no more and let herself release.

“Oh my God,” she cried out. “I'm coming.”

“Come on me, Natasha. Come on me,” he cried as his own climax washed over him. He collapsed on her for a moment as he emptied himself into the condom, into her. She felt his twitches and smiled.

At last he eased himself out of her. He leaned over to kiss her. “You are magnificent,” he said. “A great violinist and a great lover.”

“You were fabulous too,” Natasha said.

Her stomach growled loudly.

“You need to eat,” he said. “Eat something.”

“I will. I will. Later. I want to savor the moment.”

They sat on the couch for a few moments, holding each other and sipping another glass of wine. The silence was welcome as exhaustion held them both in its grip.

“I guess I should get going,” Craig said. “It's probably almost morning by now.”

“Yes, I need to get some sleep.” Natasha yawned.

Craig put his clothes back on. He got his guitar and turned to face her. “We should do this again.”

“Which? The jamming or the sex?” she playfully asked.

“Both.” He laughed.

“Maybe we will.”

Once he was gone, Natasha sat in her music room for a few more minutes. At least she had been able to quiet one of her hungers for the moment. But the other hunger made her restless, and she knew she wouldn't be able to sleep very well.