Page 28 of Of Poison & Pumpkins (Of Witches & Men #3)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Rynn

I lay like a starfish among the softest fabrics in the universe, silk and satin.

There’s no chance that floating on clouds in a robe of feathers would be more comfortable.

The cozy room smells like fresh laundry, oranges, and wishes.

On the floor, we’re surrounded by comforters, blankets, and even a stuffed unicorn that I may have to steal in the morning.

Two pairs of slippers sit in the corner. I bet one is my size.

Elias sits next to me on the blankets, legs bent with his arms wrapped around his knees. He had said he loves me. And I replied with ‘oh.’

Soft orchestra instrumentals play from a speaker in the walls.

“Kind of makes you want to take your clothes off, doesn’t it?” Elias chuckles awkwardly and I can’t help but grin.

“Was that a suggestion?” I ask.

His throat bobs, then he bites his bottom lip.

My heart pitter patters in my chest. Never in a million years had I expected Elias to become so outrageously nervous.

My pulse is rapid, but more so from not telling him about my eczema before now.

I doubt he’ll care about the splotches on my legs, but it could be a mood killer if he doesn’t understand.

He stares silently at his bare toes. When did he take his shoes off? Well, I may as well catch up. One foot at a time, I slip off my boots and scoot a little closer. Heat fumes off his body like he’s a furnace.

“You’re hot.”

“What? I mean, thanks,” he stutters. “So, are you.”

“I mean you’re burning up.” I rub a finger down his forearm, making him shiver. “Do you need me to ask Shannon to turn the air conditioner higher?”

He gulps again as sweat beads on his forehead. “Nah, I’m good. Actually, I think I’m gonna call it a night.” He pauses much longer than usual. “Do you care where I sleep?”

My hopes sink since he still hasn’t looked at me. It doesn’t seem like he’s joking. Apparently tonight isn’t our big moment despite the perfect setting amongst this pillow monstrosity. Is his mood because I didn’t return the sentiment?

Do I love him?

Do I enjoy spending time with him? Yes. Do I want to get to know him better? Of course. Am I glad we reunited? Sure, but that doesn’t define love.

Love is giving away the last strawberry at the bottom of the bin and wanting to stay home to cuddle instead of attending a knitting festival. Love is being terrified of dropping him during a risky climb.

No, I can’t be in love because I still want to crush his shop in the competition. If both he and Tinz needed my help at the same time, I’d pick my best friend instead of Elias. Sure, I want to fuck him until it feels like a dream, but I’m not in love.

“Elias?” I swallow. “You know I care about you too, right?”

He’s already creating a mattress-of-sorts from extra blankets. His forced smile doesn’t light up his eyes. I never want to be the one to extinguish his spark.

“Yeah, I know, Sunflower.” His voice is quiet, weak. “I think the excitement has finally caught up to me. My body shut down about three and a half minutes ago. And I may have pulled a muscle in my back in the rage room.” Wincing, he stretches out and tries to rub it.

“Here, let me.” I crawl towards him, flabbergasted that the floor doesn’t hurt my knees because there’s so much padding from the blankets.

“You don’t have to … Oh, oh, that’s good.” He groans as I slowly massage his back.

“Take this off. The fabric keeps bunching,” I say, pulling at his shirt while shifting into a straddle over his back.

He does, but moves slower than usual. Apparently, he wasn’t joking about straining something.

My hands happily run up and down the edges of his spine.

Underneath warm, soft skin, he’s pure muscle.

I can’t deny how much I want to run my lips down the valleys and curves of his shoulder blades.

His soft sounds of approval could motivate me to continue this for hours.

Damn, it’s hot hearing a man in pleasure—no, not any man— mine.

Feeling brave, I stretch forward and run my hands all the way up his arms.

“Mmm, Rynnlee, that’s amazing. Never stop,” he grumbles into a pillow.

“Well, you’ll owe me, then.”

“Anything. What do you want?”

A dozen ideas springing to mind. Only one of them remains front and center. The raw need to see and feel him fully sends tingles up my own spine.

“I want to feel all of you.”

A heavy, layered sigh puffs from his mouth and he slowly turns over onto his back so that I’m straddling his very hard, very large erection. His pained face shows me his answer before he speaks.

“Rynnlee, don’t look at me like that. Because when I’m inside of you for the first time, we won’t be on a floor. You deserve better. And when I slide into you, it’ll only be after you beg me, after I’m certain you can’t last another moment without me.”

I roll in my lips, unable to form a coherent thought. That might’ve been the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard.

I lay both hands on his chest softly and position my face above his. It’s the first time I’ve noticed the golden specs in his eyes. “That’s good to know. But I only want to touch your ding-a-ling.”

The soft chuckle that rumbles out of his chest is complete proof of how exhausted this man is. He can’t even get out a full laugh.

“My ding-a-ling is yours for the touching tonight. But that’s it, understand?”

I nod and grab one of the millions of sheets, then wrap it tightly around his wrists. A little devious flicker flashes in his gaze, but then his eyes drop heavily into slits.

My chest is tight with anticipation, heart pumping, nerves firing.

Not wasting another moment, I undo his belt as my pulse skyrockets.

Yank his pants down. Pull out his cock and simply absorb what I’m seeing.

It’s a good thing he’s tired, because this piece of art needs a warning label manufactured before it enters me in any way, shape, or position.

I take him in both hands and gasp at his girth. Holy shit. I stroke him slowly, memorizing his lovely twitches, soft grunts, and the way his wrists strain against the bind. The way his veins bulge in his forearms is so sexy.

“You’re magic,” he whispers, eyes clenching shut. “Ooh, flying witches, Rynnlee!”

His muscles bulge even more from pulling at the binds. “Keep stroking. Yeah, like that. A little harder. Fuck! Oh …!”

“Elias Gabriel! Did you cuss?” I say as I follow his command by handling him harder.

“Oh, fuuuuuuck!” His chest rises and falls faster. I’m so turned on by his accelerating pants. Every outline of his abs tighten to form perfect rectangles. “Babe! Babe … I’m gonna?—”

I grab a sheet and let him spill into it as he releases and groans out a sound that might or might not be my name.

I’m entranced by his beauty, and when his whole body relaxes, all I want is to kiss him until I die.

Unfortunately for me, the man can barely breathe.

After he finally calms, I untie his wrists and curl under his arm.

“That was the shortest I’ve ever lasted. I’m not gonna survive sex with you,” he murmurs, eyes shut. “Rynnlee … that was amazing and I want to return the favor, but?—”

I tenderly kiss his forehead and roll away. “It’s okay, Lias. Get some rest.”

His hands go limp, fingers slack, and I’m pretty sure he’s already half-asleep.

Who could blame him after such an intense week?

Honestly, it gives me some time to myself.

I gather up my backpack with all the ingredients and make my way out of the room.

If I were a betting gal, I’d place a thousand bucks on the chance that Elias will be snoring in a minute.

* * *

Bathed in moonlight and starlight, I prepare under a pine tree in Oakmar's vast forest. Other than the crickets playing their strings, there’s no other noise for miles.

The Fury Factory looms in the distance, close enough to run to in an emergency but far enough where no one can witness my spell.

I shiver in the cool autumn breeze, having left my sweater at home.

At least Elias had more sense than me, packing our other essentials quickly when we fled.

I still can’t believe my sister might’ve poisoned the water source. How much hatred results in that type of cruelty? She’s lucky that neither Tinsley nor Maya drank the water, or I wouldn’t be hiding out here.

I want to text Tinsley again, but my phone’s charge might not last until she arrives, so I check her ETA once more.

It’s a good thing I have a fresh memory of Elias being pleasured by my hand as a distraction until she gets here.

Damn, watching him unravel for me was hot.

But something seemed off. It was like his spirit was only half present.

Maybe I should’ve waited. My emotions feel like a knotted pattern a novice would knit, with holes and uneven stitches.

Fear crosses excitement on one thread while weaved together with adoration and frustration simultaneously.

They’re all connected instead of one easy long string with a clear beginning and end.

How am I supposed to know how to approach a relationship with him if I can’t even untangle myself?

A low car engine rumbles from around the bend of trees, followed by gravel crunching under tires. Tinsley pulls up slowly, her face barely visible in the darkness. Yet, when she smiles, her teeth are like a beacon. Pouch in hand, she jumps out of the car and dashes over.

“Careful, there’s a log.”

She hops over it and holds out the bag. “Here are the berries. And I added some extra little gifts in case you need them. By the way, could you have given me a creepier place to meet? I got lucky that Maya fell asleep in the back.”

“She’s with you?!”

“Well, I can’t leave her at home alone, can I?”

“Ugh, sorry, Tinz. I appreciate you finding these. You should get Maya out of here. That factory is haunted and I wouldn’t want her to meet her first ghost too young.”