Page 21 of Pocket Full Of Posies (Snowberry #2)

It’s been two days since the night I spent with Kai in the greenhouse and had sex for the first time. It was amazing, more than I ever expected it to be. I didn’t realize how having such an intimate connection with a person while being sexual, would enhance everything so much. Since then, there has been a lot of making out and groping, but no sex. Not for lack of wanting, though I’m optimistic about the equinox tonight.

We decided Kai would meet us at the house, then all four of us would make our way to the equinox celebration, in the forest on Hunter’s land, together. Since that land connects to ours, we’ll be walking there.

Last night I packed a small overnight bag, just a change of clothes, a toothbrush, and a hairbrush. I don’t need anything else. Food will be provided, and Kai has assured me we will have a tent fully stocked with bedding and a small wood burning stove for heat, even though he can provide all the heat I need. His words, not mine.

Kai arrives before sunrise and quickly scoops up my bag and places a chaste kiss on my lips.

“Good morning, Blossom. Are you ready for your first equinox celebration?”

“She better be, because I’m not letting her back out now,” Sage answers Kai’s question before I can, as he exits the house locking the door behind him. “I’ve been trying to get her to attend since she was sixteen and I’m not letting her miss out on another one. If she tries to run you make sure to grab her, you hear me, Kai? Tobias won’t force her, but I know the only reason she’s going is because of you. So, you’re the final line of defense if she tries to run. She’s done it before.”

Kai cocks his head at me and licks the tip of a fang with his tongue, a move he knows draws attention to his mouth and makes me want to kiss him.

“Is that so? You a runner, Blossom? Am I going to need to tie you up and carry you there?”

I smack him on the arm, a bare arm because ever since I told him I like him shirtless he has remained shirtless. “No, you do not need to tie me up. I’m going on my own. I want to go, I’m excited.”

“Good. I’m happy you’re finally joining us.” Tobias wraps an arm around my shoulders and gives me a squeeze, his own bag slung over his shoulder.

“Alright all, let’s get going!” Sage leads the way down the deck and towards the back of the house.

We all follow, Kai placing himself at my side and threading my fingers through his. His skin is warm and burns away any chill from the early morning hour. My feet are covered with fur lined rubber boots today. I would be fine without them. I’ve gone barefoot longer into winter than this. The morning may be cool, and the temperature may be lowering, but it’s still nice enough out to wear shorts. However, Kai was insistent that I do. I only wear them to appease him, because he threatened to carry me the entire time if I didn’t.

Ten feet from the wood line, Delphi’s furry blue and white body scurries the short distance to us and bounds into my arms. She’s chattering away nonstop, obviously excited I’m going to the equinox.

“Hi Delphi. I’m happy to see you too. Are you ready for the celebration?”

Delphi chirps and chitters, pawing at my hair and flowers. Daisies, geraniums and an iris today. I’m excited to be going but also nervous. What if people stare? What if they try to talk to me and all I can say is the life cycle of an annual bloom?

It’s okay, even if I do Kai, Sage, and Tobias will be there with me. Oh, and Delphi. She curls around my neck and purrs, rubbing her soft body against me. I expect her to settle in for the walk but before she can, she spots Kai, and a high-pitched excited chirp comes from her mere moments before she leaps to his shoulders. She settles around his neck and Kai chuckles, scratching her behind her ear.

It takes about thirty minutes of walking before we reach the designated celebration area. The fairies have cloaked it in a shield, concealing everything inside from prying eyes. The veil has a slight shimmer that only a non-human can spot, a rainbow of colors flickering in the early morning sunlight over a dome, just as thin and flexible as a soap bubble.

All of us approach the barrier and without hesitation Sage and Tobias waltz through, disappearing to the other side. Delphi leaps from Kai’s shoulders and bounces through the air passing through the barrier as well. When it’s my turn, I pause at its boundary and try to see beyond the magic. I can’t. There are no sounds beyond the breeze through the trees and the chirping morning birds. I can’t see anything in the distance or right in front of me other than trees and grass.

“Are you okay, Daisy?”

Kai’s hand presses warm and firm against my lower back, a strong reassuring presence.

“Yeah, I just needed a second.”

“Don’t worry. Whatever’s kept you from attending in the past, I promise there’s nothing over there to be afraid of. If you ever feel uncomfortable or awkward, we’ll just go back to the tent, okay?” Kai pulls me by the elbow, turning me into him and wraps me in his arms. I feel instantly safe and calm. “We can lay naked in a bed of silk and pillows, staring up at the stars through the top of the tent. And if you’re really upset, I can console you with my body.”

With a wicked grin, Kai leans down and licks the tip of my nose. No longer am I worried about people staring at me, instead I’m thinking about all the things we are going to be doing in our tent later.

“See. All you have to do is think about me naked and everything is better.”

A smile stretches across my lips, and I look up at Kai through my lashes.

“And if I’m not upset? Will you still console me with your body?”

“I planned on it either way, Blossom. There’s no escaping me.”

I want to take Kai back to the tent right now and skip the rest of the celebration. Food, music, and dancing have nothing on naked Kai in silk sheets under the stars.

“Come on. We’ll be late.”

With one hand in mine, Kai pulls me through the bubble and unveils a world of magic. Floating lights like twinkling stars hover in the branches of the trees, illuminating the waning shadows of pre-dawn. Streamers of flowers stretch from branch to branch, tables are filled with a variety of food and sweets. Blankets are laid out for picnics with games and even a space for a band to play. There’s no music playing yet as things are still being arranged and people are arriving and settling in. In a matter of hours though, I imagine the scene will become far more animated.

Delphi has disappeared to who knows where. Sage and Tobias are in the distance heading towards a line of canvas tents. They’re round, made of ivory canvas and wood posts with an inward slanted roof to a center peek. People come early to pick the perfect spot for their tent. The dedicated ones always come the day prior to get the best locations. I think Sage and Kai came yesterday to claim our spots. Some tents are decorated with drawings and paintings, others have flower or seashell garlands draped around the door flaps. They don’t seem particularly secure or soundproof. Am I going to hear other people having sex? Are people going to hear me having sex? Our tent better be far away from Sage’s.

“Where is our tent at? Is it close to Sage’s?”

“It’s over here.” Kai points in the opposite direction of Sage’s tent, thank goodness. An area off the main path and set back away from the crowds. Our own little secluded haven.

Kai must see the clear relief on my face because he chuckles.

“What? Did you think I would put us right next to your brother? The tents are sprinkled with fairy dust to keep sound out and in, so there’s no chance of them hearing me make you scream with pleasure, but I still didn’t want to risk it.”

“Much appreciated.” I give his hand a squeeze and let him lead me to our tent. There aren’t any decorations or adornments beyond a small posy of daisies tied to the string closure of the flaps. I look to Kai for confirmation this is indeed our tent.

“I didn’t know what kind of decorations you would like. I thought maybe you could use your earth magic and spruce it up a bit?”

He gives me a hopeful look and I return it with a wide smile.

“I suppose I could give it a little sprucing up.”

Kneeling on the ground I press my fingers into the soil and take a long deep breath. The earth below responds, and I can hear and feel the plants and trees around us. This deep in the forest there aren’t many varieties of flowers, mainly shrubbery and green leafy things. I pluck one of the daisies from the posy and stick its stem into the ground next to my hand. Immediately I reach out and connect to the flower. It was freshly cut yesterday and is still vibrant, easy to control.

With less conscious thought and more will, I force the flower to root and grow, sprouting more and more blooms as the vines grow up the side of the canvas and cling to every available protrusion. Within minutes there’s a cacophony of daisies framing the exterior entrance of our tent.

“It’s perfect.”

Kai’s whispered words pull my attention back to him. He’s looking at me with unconcealed craving.

“Why don’t we take a look at the inside? Maybe test out the bed and sheets?” he suggests not so innocently.

Although I would very much like to snuggle into whatever bed is inside the tent, I am way too nervous for naked time just yet. So, I ignore his offer to test out the bed but do open the flaps and step inside.

The interior is far more festive and colorful than the exterior. Lush, patterned carpets line the entire space, overlapping in some areas to completely cover any dirt or grass. Personally, I would like grass in my tent but it’s probably more for keeping the space clean and to not track dirt into the bed. I like dirt but even I like to sleep in a dirt-free bed.

Speaking of the bed, it’s not so much a bed as a giant floor pillow. Like a huge cushion large enough for two people to sleep on comfortably, covered with multicolored pillows and blankets thick enough to cocoon in. A small wood burning stove sits dead center with a tube chimney stretching towards the hole at the center of the tent roof, a pile of precisely cut wood laid to one side of the space. There’s even a low table with floor cushions for eating at.

The entire interior reminds me of the inside of a genie’s bottle, and I kind of like it. I really have been missing out all these years. Even if all I did for the entire event was curl up in the pillow bed with a few good books, a bag of trail mix, and a crackling fire, it would have been worth attending.

“Wow. This is amazing. You set all this up?”

Behind me I find Kai watching as I turn in a circle inspecting all the items, just now noticing the hanging lanterns with colorful glass that I imagine will reflect at night, creating a kaleidoscope of colors and patterns on the canvas walls.

“I did. Do you like it?”

“I love it. Can we just hang out in here the whole time?”

“I like that idea.”

Sounds come from behind Kai and he looks out the open entry. Beyond I spot Endo and Keiko in the distance. Their tents are at least fifty yards away, through a few spread-out trees and bushes offering some separation from his family. Endo and Keiko are great but my interaction with his mother wasn’t the introduction I had hoped for. I should have listened to Kai and just not gone to the party. At least then I could have continued to lie to myself that the rest of his family is more like Kai than the rumors and gossip make them out to be.

“I need to go talk to Endo. Will you be okay by yourself for a few minutes?”

Kai sets our bags at the edge of the genie bed and brings my hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to my knuckles.

“I think I’ll be fine, just don’t leave me alone for too long. If anyone shows up and tries to talk to me, I can’t promise what I’ll end up saying.”

“I’m sure it’ll be something charming and educational. Don’t worry Blossom, I just need a few minutes. Then I plan on being attached to your tail the entire equinox.”

His tail reaches up and curls around mine peeking out from under my shorts. In the time we’ve spent together I’ve grown less concerned with hiding it, at least from other non-humans. I still have to hide it from humans, of course, since they don’t have tails. But I’m less embarrassed by it. Kai likes it, a lot if how he likes to play with it is any indication, and that’s enough for me.