Awakening (The Magic of the Black Forest Book 2) (8 page)

A canopy of trees filled the mountainsides and valleys with the vivid colors of red, orange, yellow and green. From the tippy top of the mountain the view could be seen for miles. Bradley pointed in the direction of the waterfall, it was so far away, and could barely be seen from up here. Next, he pointed out where our house was, as well as where Black Forest was located, neither could be seen through all the forestry. There were only two ways down from this glorious view: the long narrow spiral stairway or down the side of the mountain. The landscape appeared to be too rugged for a human to attempt, especially someone like myself.

“Thank you for sharing this with me, Bradley. It’s unbelievably beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it. Can we stay and enjoy the view for awhile?”

“You know, Natalia, the day we got married all of this became half yours.” He smiled and kissed me gently. “Of course we can stay and enjoy the scenery. There’s a boulder on the other side of the mountaintop that we can sit on. If you think this view is beautiful wait until you see the other side, it will take your breath away.”

Bradley and Seager made it look easy to get to the other side. To me, it looked tricky. Seen through my eyes there were a few slippery jagged boulders that could cause me to slide my way down the side of this endless steep mountain. It doesn’t look like it would be a fun sleigh ride. After Bradley saw my hesitation, he flitted back to my side.

Wrapping his arms around my waist, his hands slid down over my butt cheeks, “Would you like some assistance, ma’am?” Lifting me up before I got to answer his question, I wrapped my legs around his waist and nodded.

Holding my hips firmly, Bradley gyrated his hips against mine flirtatiously while kissing my neck. A few pats on my ass and he was sporting that wicked sexy smile I’ve come to adore. Preoccupied momentarily, my heart skipped a beat when he leapt into the air to the other side of the mountaintop. With my legs still around his waist, Bradley sat down on a rather large rock. Moving his arm through the air, he said, “Check out the view.”

Without turning around, I checked out the view and from where I sat on Bradley’s lap. It was amazing indeed. Not wanting to leave the security of his lap, I tried leaning my head back, hoping to see the scenery behind me. Once again sensing my inability to move freely, Bradley stood up and turned around, facing me in the opposite direction.

Appreciative of his caring devotion, I smiled and stared adoringly into his eyes.

“Check out the view, not me, Natalia. It really will take your breath away.”

“I’m already breathless.” Boy I sounded like a corny schoolgirl. Prying my eyes from his, I could feel my cheeks growing warm, and suddenly I felt shy. It made me giggle inwardly.

The view, picture perfect, had the tranquility of a Thomas Kinkade canvas oil painting. Few words could describe it. It’s definitely beautiful, but breathtaking… No. Staring into Bradley’s smoldering blue green eyes… That took my breath away. They’re stunning doorways leading to his soul. We stood quietly on the mountaintop, enjoying each other’s company and the rural, vibrantly colored landscape in the forests below.

After a short while, he said it was time for us to leave. When we walked toward the cave entrance I noticed Seager was no longer with us. Bradley said he took the long way down and would meet us at the front door. Deep in thought, thinking about Bradley’s eyes and soul, I missed their conversation. I hadn’t even realized Bradley had put me down. Had I been paying attention, Seager would be with us, not going down the side of a mountainside alone. Seager is my child, if anything ever happened to him it would all but kill me. And, even though Bradley assured me that he would be fine, my anxiety ran rampant. The sooner we got downstairs the sooner my anxiety would go away.

“Well it’s going to take us forever to get down those steps so we better get started.”

“There’s a quicker way for us to go. Are you up for a quick ride?” His mischievous eyes gave him away. Wanting to get downstairs as quickly as possible, I ignored the fact that Bradley was up to something and agreed.

Bradley lifted me up again and told me to wrap my legs tightly around his waist, then added a warning, “Keep your knees close and snug to my body.” I was more than happy to oblige until he jumped down the center of the spiral staircase. The steps were flying past forcing me to close my eyes. I thought for sure we were going to hit the railing. Suddenly the air whipping past my ears fell silent and still, like we were no longer falling.

“Okay, Natalia. We’re at the bottom, you can open your eyes and let go now.” He chuckled and began to pry my frozen arms from around his neck. “Open your eyes, love. It’s okay.”

Finally, I opened my eyes and we were in the upstairs hallway. Not letting him go completely, I asked him what was behind the other locked door. He immediately changed the subject never answering my question. Since we had plenty of time to learn everything about each other, I didn’t push the issue.

When I saw Seager outside the front door waiting for us, relief washed through me. After getting a quick bite to eat, we jumped onto the quad and took a long ride. Bradley whipped along the path, ignoring my yelps and pleas for him to slow down. His fast and crazy driving over the rugged trail made it difficult for me to hang on. Wrapping my arms around his waist, I intertwined my fingers, locking my hands together, holding on tight.

We went deeper into the woods where we came upon the small waterfall Bradley told me about. It had a colorful rainbow going through it.

We spent the remainder of our day lying in the open field as the sun warmed our chilled bodies. The field—filled with white, orange, yellow and purplish-pink wild flowers—seemed to dance in the gentle breeze. Lying there, my mind drifted in and out of dreamland, racing with all the memories, both good and bad, that I’d accumulated throughout the last year or so. Meeting the love of my life made me complete; nothing could bring me down now.

Waking me from my reverie he said, “Natalia, my love. It’s time for us to go. After dinner I have one other thing in store for us this evening.” Taking hold of my hand, he helped me up.

During the ride back I asked him several times what he had in store for us. Each time, he said I would have to wait and see, insisting that I would enjoy the surprise. He’s always had the ability to keep secrets from me especially if it’s a surprise. The suspense can be quite annoying at times, but always well worth waiting for.

As soon as I finished eating dinner, I jumped on his lap and practically begged for him to tell me what he had planned. He sat there grinning at me. Several minutes passed before he said or did anything. Then he finally took my hand and led me to our bedroom.

With his gaze moving over my body, taking me in, he slowly removed my clothes before laying me down on the bed. Digging through the satchel that Colleen prepared for us, he found and pulled out a bunch of lotions and oils. He insisted that I take my time to smell each of them, to pick out my favorite. There were four different aromas, I selected the lotion that smelt like lavender and would surely relax me.

Pleased with my choice, he had me lay with my head on the pillow, face up. Starting at my feet, he massaged the lotion into the sole of each foot and in between each toe. That, along with the scent of lavender in the air, was very relaxing. Once finished with my feet, Bradley began working his way up my legs; first the left then the right, stroking and massaging my calves and thighs with fervor.

The erotic sensation left me longing for more. With each circular motion my mind wandered and fantasized, longing for him to be inside me. He skipped over my stomach and breasts, and moved to my arms. Pouting, slightly disappointed, I cleared my throat to get his attention. Ignoring me, he gently pushed, requesting, “Roll over and lay on your stomach.” Rubbing my back with a slow circular motion felt good, but massaging the lotion on my butt was torturous. Squeezing my ass, spreading my cheeks, it made me hotter than ever. 

He was driving me insane. Just when I was about to lose it, he flipped me over onto my back and began massaging my torso. By the time he got to my breasts there was an uncontrollable fire raging below. Cupping his hands on the side of each breast and pushing them together, he began to tantalize my nipples by flicking them with his tongue. Arching my back, I tried to press them closer to his mouth. Instead of him suckling them, I felt his warm breath as he let out a low husky chuckle. Rubbing and grinding my hips against his stomach, I invited him to take me. When he finally engulfed my breast with his mouth I cried out with pleasure. Heavy breathing and a dry mouth made it difficult for me to speak. Just as I opened my mouth, about to beg him to take me, I heard the doorbell ring.

“Please tell me that wasn’t what I thought I heard,” my barely audible voice cracked as I whimpered my frustration into his ear.

“Unfortunately, you heard the same thing I did. It could only be one person and I have no idea why he’s here.”

Sexually frustrated from non-gratification, I whined, “Doesn’t he have a key? Can’t he just let himself in? Please, Bradley!”

“Sorry, my love, but I won’t rush something so lovely. I promise we’ll pick up where we left off after he leaves.” He sounded a bit smug. If I didn’t know any better I’d think he was pleased with the fact that he brought me to the brink of an orgasm without having sex.

As I lay in bed, frustrated, Bradley went to let Dave in. I didn’t hear anything at first so I decided to get dressed. How is it that every time we have any type of sex my hair gets this huge knot in the back of it? A hundred strands must be ripped out by the root with every brushing in an attempt to tame the mess. Now decent, I go to say hello to our guest.

It isn’t until I’m outside the kitchen that I hear them whispering and talking very fast, so fast that there’s no way for me to make out the words. By the sound of Bradley’s voice, Dave had come bearing bad news. He sounded angry, they both did. They stopped talking and turned towards me when I entered the room.

Unable to control the look on my face, I asked worriedly, “What’s the matter? Is everyone okay?”

With a comforting tone Bradley replied, “Everyone is fine, honey. It’s just time for us to go home, our honeymoon is over.” I frowned disappointedly. Smiling he says, “Let me rephrase, we’re moving our honeymoon to your house.”

If everyone is fine then why must we leave? First frustrated then worried, now I’m angry. Why the intrusion then? We were in the middle of a very intimate moment, why leave if all is well? Confused and angry I crossed my arms over my chest and stomped out of the room to go pack our belongings. Disappointed, I shoved our clothes into our bags. I didn’t know Bradley had followed me into the room until he wrapped his arms around me, sighing into my ear.

“I knew we’d have to leave soon so I wanted to make tonight, and every night after, special. I was hoping to end our honeymoon on a more positive note.” Disappointed with our situation, Bradley tried to explain. “Natalia, please forgive me, but we must leave. How about we pick up where we left off when we’re in the safety of your house?” With his breath on my neck, his playful tone sent a warm sensation through my chest.

“There’s nothing to forgive, I realize you’re trying to protect me. I really wish you would tell me what’s going on.” I spun around to look him in the eye. As serious as I could be I said with dismay, “Don’t worry about picking up where we left off, there’s no need for that.” I hesitated just long enough for him to think I wasn’t interested at all.

After a few seconds, I changed my facial expression to flirtatious and said, “I would prefer if we started from the beginning with exception to you making me wait so long. It’s not very gentlemen-like to make me beg.” I giggled as I leaned up to kiss his neck. He smiled and sighed with relief.

“Natalia, you had me worried for a minute. I promise we will start from the beginning and I will be a total gentleman.”

While I used magic to pack up our belongings, he explained why Dave was here. Apparently, his father and Anthony had heard about our wedding. They’ve been looking for us and making threats of bodily harm. When I asked if Dave could have been followed, Bradley replied, “Dave assured me, repeatedly, that he wasn’t followed. Don’t worry Natalia. Everything will be okay.” Supposedly, Cheryl led Anthony and his father on a wild goose chase out of the country.

He added that Jess and Colleen were on their way, and once they arrived, we’d all head back to our house.

Unfortunately, it won’t be long before they realize she’s been lying to them and return with vengeance. I asked Bradley why his father wanted to harm me. He said he wasn’t sure but he thinks it’s because I’m human. As for Anthony, he wants to hurt me to hurt Bradley. Regardless, the end result is to harm my beloved Bradley, and this can never happen. I would die, even commit murder, before I let that happen. A lifetime in prison would be a small price to pay compared to the alternative.

Since I used magic, we were packed long before Jesse and Colleen arrived. While we waited, Dave asked about the house. Bradley explained that he still had a problem with the electricity upstairs. He asked if, after things calmed down, Dave could take a look at it. He also made a point to tease me for screaming in the night and waking him.

“She woke you up from a trance? Did anyone get hurt?” Dave asked, his eyes cautiously skimmed over my body. Once he’d determined Bradley didn’t hurt me he joked, “What were you thinking about that put you into a trance?” He elbowed Bradley a few times then shook his hand as if to congratulate him.