Home in Your Arms (4 page)

“Sapphire City is guarded by magic so strong that even the
Witches cannot break it. You’ll be safe inside the palace walls but until then,
we must be careful.” He paused, debating on how much to tell her. “The Witches
want to hurt you because they fear you. If you are the One, you’ll have more
power than all three Witches combined. They’ll try to stop you from getting to
the palace at all costs.”

Her golden gaze met his and she said softly, “I trust you,
Ian. I know you won’t let anything happen to me. Besides, I’m just a plain girl
from Oklahoma. There’s nothing special about me.”

Her words burned in his chest. She didn’t even know him and
yet she trusted him. He turned from her so she wouldn’t see the fear in his
eyes. He would not let her down. He would do everything in his power to make
sure she got to the palace in one piece. And she was wrong about one thing. She
was damn special.

Their first obstacle grew closer with each step they took.
He led Lexi on the path that ran next to the cornfields of Sinoda. Birds
chirped happily as they ate at the outskirts of the corn crops. He knew as they
went farther into the fields that the scenery would change dramatically.

Many years ago, the cornfields were a major source of income
for Sinoda. The farmer, Horace, was one of the richest men around, both in
income and in life. Everyone who met him loved him. Then the Witches decided
they wanted his wealth and captured him. After torturing him for weeks, the
Witches let Horace go to run his cornfields.

But instead of being the kind farmer all knew, he became a
killing lunatic. Ian had once called Horace a friend. Now he would kill him if
the opportunity presented itself.

Ian held up his hand and stopped. Lexi stood behind him
barely breathing.

“What is it,” she whispered, icy fear in her voice.

“We’re getting close to Horace’s cornfields. When the birds
stop chirping, I want you to crawl behind me. Do you understand?”

She nodded and he prowled cautiously ahead. He prayed
silently that they could get to the forest before the sun rose. It would be
their only hope.

* * * * *

“Horace,” a sultry voice whispered. “Horace, wake up.”

Horace opened his eyes and glanced around in dread. He knew
that voice. Oh he knew it so well. But why was she here after all this time?
She had promised she was done with him but he should have known better.

“What the fuck do you want?”

“Oh Horace,” another voice danced around him. “That’s no way
to talk to us. We just want to play.”

He sat up in his little bed. He could see no one in his one
room shack but he knew
they
were there. He grabbed his coat and stood.

“Tell me what you want and then get the hell out of here,”
he demanded.

His voice held false courage and he knew that they knew.
Three women appeared in front of him and he shrank back. No, not women. They
were the Witches and they would never let him go. They stood before him in
their black lingerie, making their green skin stand out. Though they were pure
evil, they were also beautiful, forever frozen in time as temptresses.

Before giving their lives over to magic, the three had been
ordinary triplets with dark hair and decent breasts. Their once ivory white skin
turned a jade color with their powers. Their eyes turned from sky blue to a
black as dark as their hearts.

Their magic had made them irresistible. So irresistible that
Horace felt himself getting lost in their soulless eyes once more. It was
pointless to fight them, a lesson he learned years ago. Fighting them only led
to more pain. And while pain was good sometimes, they would hurt him until it
became too much.

One reached out and stroked his face.

“Horace, someone is coming to take all your corn,” she
purred.

Another stepped up and rubbed her hand down his chest. “Yes,
Horace. Two travelers head this way.”

The third reached out and grabbed his cock through his
pants. She squeezed and Horace groaned as he grew hard. This one…he could never
resist her. She was the leader of the three. She was his master, too,
commanding his every breath.

A green hand unzipped his pants. Horace closed his eyes as his
temptress pulled his cock from his pants, kneeled and put it in her mouth.

She sucked it just the way he liked, letting her tongue roll
around the head. Horace gasped for air. Her mouth felt like a million mouths
and he pumped his hips against her.

“Yes,” one moaned. “Let me have a taste, sister.”

His cock went into the mouth of another Witch. Horace reached
out and stroked a pair of breasts. It did not matter which one it was. They
were all the same to him. They were all the death of him.

“Horace,” purred a voice. “We want you to kill them.”

He panted. Their mouths seemed to be everywhere. Against his
neck, his ass, his cock. He closed his eyes and tried to block their evil faces
from his mind. His body had other ideas though. His balls tightened and he knew
he was about to come.

“Horace. You will kill them.” a firmer voice demanded.

Horace cried out as he came. He opened his eyes slowly,
wishing it were just a dream. The three Witches played with their nipples as
they waited for him to speak. They knew he could not resist them, not like
this, with their areolas a deep hunter green against their jade skin. A green
he wished to have in his mouth again.

“I will kill them. No one takes Horace’s corn.”

The Witches smiled at one another. He always saw things
their way.

“You are so smart. When the task is done, you can enjoy our
bodies for as long as you desire.”

“Yes,” chimed in another. “You always know how to make us
happy.”

The third Witch said, “Make sure they suffer.” Then she
added, “And we will be watching so try not to fuck this up.”

With those words, the three vanished from his room. Horace
stood with his pants at his ankles. The Witches’ words were more than a threat.
They were a promise. If he fucked up, they would make him pay with his life.
Horace pulled his pants up and went to his gun rack.

Oh yes. Those corn-stealing travelers were going to pay.

Lexi silently followed Ian. She watched as he glanced around
with an alert eye. With each step they took, his shoulders tensed up to the
point that it looked painful. She took the time to look him over. His damp
shirt clung to the muscles in his back. His butt was tight in his pants and she
fought the urge to grab it. She shook her head. Now was most definitely not the
time to be horny.

She grinned at the thought and covered a smile with her
hand.

“What’s so funny?” Ian asked as he turned around.

“Nothing,” she said innocently. “Just enjoying the scenery.”

She giggled softly to herself. Sunrise drew near and she
could see everything better. She needed to focus on something other than Ian.
Glancing down, she noticed the path was made of yellow and beige stones. A loud
snort escaped her lips as she tried in vain to cough it away.

Ian stopped in mid-stride.

“What?” he demanded.

“It’s a brick road. You know, like in the movie,” she said
with a grin.

She then wondered if they even had movies or TV in Sinoda. Come
to think of it, there hadn’t been a set at the compound.

His smile held no humor as he replied, “Sadly, we are not in
a movie. So take care. And. Be. Quiet.”

Her face fell. She glared at him and muttered, “Party
pooper.”

Ian suddenly turned toward the cornfields at the same time
she realized the birds weren’t chirping and it was far too quiet.

“Fuck. Horace must know we’re on our way.”

“How would he know?”

He replied as he crept forward, “The Witches know we
approach.” He pointed to the sky. “They have spies everywhere.”

Her senses went on high alert with his words. Goose bumps
ran up and down her arms and she rubbed them away. The gently blowing winds
were now still, as if holding their breath.

With the arrival of dawn, the sky turned different hues of
red and pink. For a moment, it almost looked like streaks of blood. She prayed
it wasn’t an omen but she knew better. Even in Oklahoma, the skies could warn
of things to come.

Ian crouched and pulled her down next to him. He pointed to
the cornfields.

“We have to run through the fields. When we come out on the
other side, we’ll be at the forest. Run until you get into the safety of the
trees.”

Her heart beat violently. “I thought we were going to
crawl.”

He shook his head. “It’s too late for that. We have to make
a run for it. It’s our only hope.” His expression stilled and grew serious. “When
I give you the word, I want you to run down the path between the corn rows. Don’t
stop. Don’t look around. Don’t wait for me.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to cover you.” He stood and pulled her up. “If
you see a man, run. Run, Lexi, with all your heart. I promise, he won’t think
twice about killing you or worse so don’t give him the chance.” He paused and
then said, “And if you see three Witches, get the hell out of there. Do
whatever it takes.”

She nodded as icy fear twisted around her heart. She looked
into his eyes, never fully appreciating how beautiful they were. Reaching, she
caressed his cheek. He growled and took her mouth with a savage intensity that
took her breath away. She kissed him back, loving how his kiss did not become
softer. It almost felt like goodbye.

Ian pulled away.

“Run,” he commanded. “Run, Lexi.”

Without looking at him, she gathered her skirts above her
knees and took off. She ran down the small path between two rows of corn.
Stalks hit her face but she ignored the stinging and kept moving. She vaguely
heard Ian behind her.

A gunshot echoed in the distance. She cried out and ran
faster. Her heart pounded with each step she took. A rock jutted up from the
soil and caused her to stumble and fall to her knees. She could feel blood
trickling down her leg but she didn’t care.

Getting out of the cornfield was all that mattered. She
pushed off the soft soil and got to her feet. Another gunshot blasted and she
realized just how close it was. Pure adrenaline ensured that she did not grow
tired as she ran this time.

“Get her,” a woman’s voice howled in the distance. “She’s
almost to the forest.”

Lexi didn’t look to see where the voice was coming from. It
didn’t matter. It was one of the Witches and that was not good.

“Come on legs,” she cried out. “Move. Move. Move.”

Her lungs burned with each breath she took. She could see
the line of trees just ahead and they waved to her like a beckoning oasis.

“No,” another woman’s voice screamed. “She’s going to make
it.”

“I’m going to make it,” she breathed out. “I’m going to make
it.”

She ran from the cornfield toward the forest. As she ran,
the sun rose behind her, bathing her in a burst of morning light. Another
bullet whizzed past her. It was so close that she could hear the whistling
noise it made.

“Come on.” she told her legs. “Almost there.”

Footsteps came behind her and a branch broke on the ground.
She didn’t have any more energy to run faster. If this was Horace, then she was
dead. An arm went around her waist and she screamed.

“It’s me, Lexi.” Ian said into her ear. “We need to get
behind that tree.”

He dragged her toward a tree. Another bullet flew past them
and shattered the tree into a million pieces. Ian cursed and led her deeper
into the forest. The gunshots stopped and she heard a man screaming in despair.

“No.” he roared. “I did what you said. Don’t hurt me.”

Ian pulled her behind a large tree and fell to the ground.
He held onto her tightly and she could feel his heart pounding. She closed her
eyes and waited for her own heartbeat to return to normal, if that would ever
be possible.

“Are you hurt?” Ian asked softly. “When you went down all I
could think was—”

“Shhh. I’m fine,” she said as she nestled closer. “What do
you think happened to him?”

“Come on. We’ll look and see.”

He stood and offered a hand to help her. She took it and
smiled in thanks. He peered around the tree to make sure it was safe. He then
pulled her around so she could see. The sight before her eyes sickened her.

Throughout the cornfield, scarecrows were strewn about. They
weren’t normal scarecrows made of straw, though. They were the bodies of people
who Horace killed. They had been left to decay in the heat of the fields, their
scent as frightening as their appearance. Lexi put her hand over her mouth to
hold back her gag.

In the center of the field, a man stood on a platform made
of wood. He wore a coat and pants, much like his scarecrows. His long, thin
hair blew in the wind as he howled in anger. He waved his gun and batted
imaginary things away.

Lexi watched the madman in silence. In pity.

“He was once a good man,” Ian spoke in a broken whisper. “They
made him this way.”

Ian raised his gun.

“I don’t want to do this but Sinoda will be a better place
for it,” he said with a grim expression on his face.

She could not turn away. A single shot fired from the gun
and hit Horace square between the eyes. He fell to the ground and did not stand
up. Horror spread throughout her body. She had just witnessed a man die and
didn’t know what to say. Ian touched her arm and she jumped, pulling away.

He finally spoke, “We should go. We still have a great
distance to travel before this day is over.”

Needing to comfort him, she reached up and took his hand
into her own. He squeezed it and began to walk, this time with her at his side.

* * * * *

The sun overhead indicated that they were three hours into
their journey and that it was nearly nine in the morning. Since leaving the
cornfields, no signs of the Witches were present. Ian imagined they were
preparing retaliation for the death of Horace. It would be a blow to the
Witches’ forces in that area. Horace had been a good pet to them and they would
want blood in return.

He clenched his jaw. Deep down, he thought that Horace would
thank him if he could. His death freed him from being under the power of
evilness. If it were Ian, he would want the same thing. In fact, he had told
Andrew not to think twice about killing him if the time ever came.

“I thought you were brave back there,” Lexi said, breaking
into his thoughts.

Brave? He would never consider himself brave. Not after what
he had done all those years ago.

He replied, “You weren’t so bad yourself. I’ve never seen a
person run that fast before.”

She laughed and he loved the sound of it. It soothed his
troubled mind. For a moment, he considered telling her a little more about the
Witches so she could understand the worst was yet to come but he couldn’t bring
himself to. Speaking of the Witches was like treading on thin ice—it was only a
matter of time before the ice broke and he fell into the icy waters of his
past.

“I used to be on the track team in school. I wasn’t too bad
if I do say so myself.”

They settled into a comfortable silence. He meant what he
said. Lexi impressed him with her running skills. Not many people would have
been able to remain calm enough to get to safety. Many of his soldiers were not
as lucky and had ended up as Horace’s scarecrows. He tried not to think about
the familiar faces he had seen in the field, or what was left of them.

The gentle bubbling of a stream ahead caught his attention.
It would be a nice place to rest.

He pointed ahead. “We’ll stop in a bit to eat some
breakfast.”

“That sounds great.”

He led her to the stream. Large trees were scattered up and
down the banks making a shaded retreat. In some areas, the clear water pooled
deep enough to take a dip. He sat down on the grass near a tree and Lexi sat
next to him. Inhaling, he smelled the familiar scent of cedar.

It reminded him of his youth and a much simpler time, before
the king had summoned him. He had been sad to leave his life behind but when a
boy was called to become a guardsman, there was no turning back. His only
regret was not being able to contact his family. Once he took the oath of the
Royal Guard, they became his family.

In his bag, he found some bread and handed Lexi a piece. He
was glad Andrew had prepared the bag. Others may have packed the dried meat and
he didn’t think he could handle eating that again.

“Can I ask you something?”

He replied, “Sure. No promises I’ll answer, though.”

He wasn’t trying to be a smartass. It was the truth. Part of
his pledge to the king was to never speak of anything that may hurt the Realm.
He lived by that pledge and would die by it.

Lexi asked, “Why did it make you so angry that we had shared
the dream last night?”

At the mention of the dream, his cock sprang to life.
Figured she’d ask
that
question. How could he explain that she was under
his skin? How it felt as if he’d known her all his life. Like maybe…just maybe
she was his soul mate? Sinodaians believed that each person had one perfect
mate and they would know upon meeting that person. And Lexi kind of felt as if
she might be his…

“I’ve been trained to block my mind from everyone. No one
has ever been able to get into my mind before unless I allowed it. Not even the
king can see my thoughts unless I grant him access.”

Learning to control your thoughts was pure torture. Blinding
headaches, nosebleeds and blacking out were just some of the side effects that
he had experienced. It was a test anyone who wanted to lead the Royal Guard
went through and wasn’t even the worst part of the test. He had always known he
was meant to lead so it had been worth every moment of pain.

“Well, how do you know you weren’t in my mind?” Lexi
questioned. “I was attracted to you so it could have been my dream…”

Her admission set his blood on fire. So she had been as
attracted to him as he was to her? Could she be sensing that they were indeed
soul mates?

He looked her straight in the eyes and said, “Because
everything that happened in the dream was something I thought about doing to
you since I found you.”

Her lips parted. “Oh.”

He was tired of ignoring his hard-on. He reached out and
pulled Lexi into his arms. His arousal pressed against his pants and she rubbed
against him.

“All I thought about yesterday were your nipples,” he said
as he ran his finger over her breast. “How I wanted to suck them. Lick them.
Bite them.”

Lexi moaned as he pinched a nipple through the corset.

“And then there is your pussy.” He reached under her skirt
with his other hand. “You are always so wet for me.” To prove his point he ran
his finger through her juices. “I could eat you out all day and never get tired
of it. In fact…”

Without saying another word, he flipped Lexi onto her back.
He lifted her skirt to her waist, baring her flesh. He could smell the musky
scent of her arousal and he loved it. He lowered his head and began licking and
teasing her.

She sighed and urged him on. He used his tongue as he had used
his dick the night before. Lexi panted and lifted her hips to meet his mouth.
He grinned against her.

“Ian,” she moaned. “It’s not your tongue I want.”

He laughed aloud this time. He kissed her one last time and
sat up. She looked at him with heavy-lidded eyes.

“We shouldn’t be doing this now,” he said as he unzipped his
pants. “We should be on the move.”

Lexi pulled him down toward her and wrapped her legs around
his waist.

“We can run to make up time,” she said as she raised her
hips.

He caught her lips with his own and kissed her. His dick
throbbed and he held Lexi’s hips as he entered her. He purposely slid into her
very slowly. He wanted her to feel every inch of him. He wanted her to know who
was in charge.

Lexi moaned and tried to lift her hips to take him all the
way. He grinned and began to pull out. He then slid into her soaking depths
again. Lexi squeezed her inner muscles and he moaned. Damn, she knew how to
work her body. And she drove him crazy with desire.