By the Enchantment of Moonlight (The Forbidden Realm #2.5) (4 page)

“Perhaps I should have invited you both to join in,” the woman said with a heated glint in her eyes. “But I'm afraid there was no time for such niceties. My partner—as you likely noted—tends to keep things rather abbreviated. Sadly, the festivities are usually over for him before they've even begun for me.”

Now she was raking over Swift's defiant form with dark, hungry eyes. Pimma's wings vibrated with indignation. How dare this lusty human look at a respectable fairy with such obviously foul intent!

Swift would never engage in such degenerate behavior as Wain. If anyone consistently followed the rules, it was Swift. He was absolutely devoted to the Fairy Code. Did this human female think she could corrupt Swift the way she obviously had Wain? Well, she would be sadly mistaken.

Unless maybe Pimma was the one who was mistaken. She glanced over at Swift then had to take a second look. His eyes were transfixed on the woman, and the fire burning behind them was obvious even to Pimma. She could feel tension and need radiating off of him and his wings were held perfectly erect.

Was that the only part of him that could do that? By the Skies, where had that wayward thought come from? Pimma blinked hard, forcing her gaze not to wander down toward the front of Swift's tanned moleskin pants and search for the same sort of bulge she had noted on Wain. Swift's would be larger, of course, comparatively speaking. Even in his human-sized form, Wain had been unimpressive, she thought. Swift, however, would be magnificent.

Not that she should even imagine such fantasies about him, though! What did she know of such things? Pimma had very little interaction with humans, and certainly this escapade was the closest she'd ever come to observing their most intimate acts. To even let her mind linger on these thoughts—and to include Swift in them!—was way out of line. She needed to stop it right now.

That was easier said than done, though. Strange emotions and unfairylike images swirled inside of her. She was suddenly going warm. What had started as an uncomfortable flush of embarrassment was quickly becoming something quite different. Her cheeks had gone hot, but now more intimate areas of her body were flickering to life with a very different sort of heat. What had happened to her? She'd never felt anything like this before.

“What is it?” the woman asked them, moving closer. “Do these sensations you feel frighten you? Go ahead, give in to them. Let yourselves feel what you've been denied for so long.”

Her voice was sweet and low, filling the air with warmth and enticement. Pimma tried not to hear her, but of course she couldn't help it. Her ears seemed to tune out every other sound, the whir of distant machinery, the echo of the woman's footsteps in the huge building, the heavy breathing of Swift beside her…all of it was fading into nothing while only the alluring timbre of the woman's words embraced her.

Desire was not simply the heat and the tingle inside of Pimma, it was rapidly becoming the air that she breathed. She knew Swift felt it, too. His need was practically pulsating off of him, adding to Pimma's yearning. His wings were so close, she wanted to touch them. She could just reach out her hand and trace the velvety sheen, stroke the muscular juncture where fairy wings joined his humanlike frame. It was sensitive there. How would he react if she were to touch him?

Her mind raced with images of her skin connecting with his in other, more intimate places. Those pants he wore were so tight, so well fitted…she could barely keep her eyes off of him. How would it feel if she ran her fingers over the solid contours of his form? Would he moan with pleasure if she did? Would he react for her as Wain had when that woman reached for his engorged maleness?

She swayed, just a bit dizzy at the thought of it.

The woman continued moving closer to them, her gaze fixed and her tantalizing voice floating as its own entity around them.

She practically cooed as she spoke. “Admit it. You're wondering what it would be like to ignore your silly Fairy Code and dabble in some of the pleasures we humans enjoy.”

“Stop,” Swift interrupted her quickly, his voice jarring Pimma out of her trance. “You aren't any human. I can sense your true nature all over you.”

“Oh?” the woman questioned. “What is it you sense?”

“Darkness. You aren't human; you're from the Dark Realm.”

Where Pimma had been warm she was suddenly cold. The woman's eyes widened in surprise. It was obvious that Swift had guessed correctly. This woman hadn't expected him to be so astute.

“How perceptive of you,” she said with a respectful nod, although her advance continued and her gaze was still sultry and determined. “I didn't know fairies had much knowledge of the Dark Realm.”

“We don't,” Swift informed her. “But I can recognize a succubus well enough.”

A succubus!
By the Skies, is that what this woman was? Pimma's mind had been clouded, but things were slowly becoming clear again. She could sense magic in the woman, the ancient kind that had existed before even fairy magic. And just as Swift had declared, it was dark.

The woman seemed pleased that Swift recognized her for what she was. She seemed even more pleased to sense Pimma's growing anxiety. The succubus eyed her, studying her as if selecting a meal. Her smile practically sizzled. Pimma felt timid and small under this creature's hot, eager gaze.

“What a pretty little fairy you are,” she said, her seductive words practically dripping sweetness. “So ripe, so ready to learn. I wonder who will be your teacher?”

Pimma didn't get the chance to ask what in the Skies she meant by that before the succubus turned her desirous focus onto Swift.

“And you…you are most remarkable,” she said, her gaze trailing over Swift's body. “I sense something special in you, my virile enforcer. What is it? What has made you so different…affected you this way?”

Her voice trailed off as she narrowed her flashing eyes, now all but ignoring Pimma. What did this dark creature sense in Swift that held her attention so thoroughly? The succubus certainly had not appeared nearly so interested in Wain, and she'd been actively engaged in carnal activities with him! What could she be contemplating in relation to Swift?

Pimma had to study him herself. Of course he was a remarkable fairy, his form was excellent and he carried himself with confidence and purpose. His eyes, Pimma had to admit, were really quite striking. The color of emeralds, they seemed to miss nothing as he assessed the world around him.

These were the things that anyone could detect in Swift right away. A quick glance would reveal his physical qualities as well as the honor, intelligence, and dedication that formed his essence. Yet this succubus seemed to be picking up on something deeper, something less obvious in him.

Perhaps there
was
something unusual in him, though. Some sort of change…something about him that Pimma had not noticed before he'd been sent off on his mission. But what sort of change was it?

He'd been able to recognize the succubus for what she was, hadn't he? How had he seen that so easily when Pimma hadn't? Desire and carnal activity had confused Pimma, yet somehow they gave Swift clarity. Wain obviously had not seen through the dark creature's sensual deception, and Pimma herself had fallen under the spell.

So what was it about Swift? What had made him different? It seemed the succubus wanted an answer just as much as Pimma did.

“You've been in contact with some very unusual forces,” the woman said, now standing directly next to the tall stack of crates where they had perched. “I believe I need to find out just how you managed this. What have you been getting yourself into, I wonder?”

“My actions are none of your business,” Swift informed her sharply. “I'm here to ask you a few questions.”

The succubus simply shook her head with pretended remorse. “As much as I'd love to stay and chat—and do other things—I'm afraid I have to be going. Maybe some other time you and I can get better acquainted. Hmm? You'd like that, wouldn't you?”

“I'd like to know what is going on here,” Swift replied.

“Unfortunately, that's not something I can tell you.”

“Then I suppose I'll just have to make you tell me,” he declared, wings buzzing and voice raised.

Swift's hand went to his pouch of Fairy Dust. Pimma readied herself to join in if he should need her. There was no guessing what he had planned for the succubus, but surely two fairies working magic against such a dark, powerful creature would be much more effective than one. At least, she hoped they would.

Once they got the creature under control, Swift would have a way to make her tell them what she knew. He probably carried a good supply of Truth Dust, as a matter of fact. Swift was an enforcer, so he'd be authorized to carry such a highly controlled substance and he could use it at his discretion. Pimma doubted that even ancient Dark Magic would be unaffected by it. Swift would soon have the succubus telling him everything he wanted to know.

Except that she must have anticipated this.

“Don't think you can use your paltry Fairy Dust on me,” she hissed at them. “Wain…get over here!”

Wain was suddenly at her side. “You need me again?”

“Yes. It seems we have unwelcome visitors.”

Wain followed where she gestured and glanced up to notice them. Rather than being upset that his activities had been discovered, he smiled. Pimma couldn't imagine that was a good sign.

“Dorn indicated this might happen,” Wain said.

“Then you know what to do about it, don't you?”

Wain nodded, but looked to the succubus for assurance. “The box, my dearest?”

“But of course,” she replied sweetly.

Suddenly, with a poof of magic and a sparkle of Fairy Dust, everything went dark. Had the lights gone out in the huge warehouse? No, this wasn't some simple power outage. This was a trap!

The succubus had known they would be here and had Wain ready this container. Pimma could feel its repressive properties right away. Whatever this box was, it was made to restrict magic. They were caught.

Swift was close at her side—she could feel his wings brush against hers. He uttered a rather bold-sounding fairy oath and called her name. She reached for him, her hand latching on to what turned out to be his arm.

“I'm here,” she assured him.

Outside, Pimma could hear the succubus laugh. “Don't worry, little fairies. I don't intend to hurt you, not when I might have need of you later. However, I do need to make certain you won't interrupt my plans.”

“And what plans are those?” Swift demanded loudly.

She laughed again. “The ones to take over the Forbidden Realm, of course.”

T
hey had to get out of here.
Swift could feel fear radiating off of Pimma. She wasn't whining or whimpering, and he appreciated that, but their situation was not exactly comfortable. He wished he could assure her they'd find a way out.

Their magic was useless and there was no telling what the succubus had planned for them. In this dark, confined space there was little he could do but try not to be so very aware of Pimma's soft skin, flowery scent, and rapid breathing. He wanted to touch her, but that would only add to the precarious nature of their situation.

He decided to focus on their environment. He ran his hands over the smooth interior walls and was mildly surprised to find that it wasn't constructed of iron—a naturally magic-dampening material. It felt more like…plastic. But that was a human construction. So, this was yet another example of humans involving themselves with magic.

Voices nearby convinced him that they had not been transported somewhere, but that the box had been placed around them where they had been. They were still in the warehouse, atop the stack of crates. Wain and the succubus were still nearby, planning their next move.

“All right, Wain,” the succubus said. “We need to be going.”

“Should I bring the box with us?” Wain asked.

“Of course you should bring it. How else am I going to be able to— Wait, someone is coming.”

“What? There's no one here. You've sent the crew off,” Wain protested.

“Hush, and disguise yourself! Get rid of those damn wings.”

Swift listened closely as Wain grumbled something. The succubus did not repeat her demand, so Swift could only assume Wain had complied. He must have taken on the only disguise practical in this situation—he'd used magic to make himself appear human in every way, not just larger. It was an almost unthinkable breach of the Fairy Code.

“What are they doing?” Pimma whispered beside Swift.

He was about to respond when he heard footsteps echoing on the concrete floor. A human was approaching; a man, from the bold, determined sound of his stride.

“Miranda,” the arrival said, still drawing closer. “What are you doing in here?”

“I'm arranging that shipment, like you asked me to do,” the succubus replied with a cheerful lilt.

“The McGowan equipment is shipping from Warehouse B. This is Warehouse A,” the human announced.

“I know, that's what I was just telling Wain,” the succubus cooed. “He gets confused sometimes, but I've got it all under control, Devin.”

“All right, then,” the human said. “Go ahead, Wain. Get to the other warehouse and assist with that shipment.”

“Of course we will,” the succubus said quickly. “Come along, Wain. Mr. Sandstrom doesn't want us to waste any more of his time.”

“Actually, Wain can go on ahead,” the human said. “Miranda, if you don't mind, I'd like a word with you, please.”

Swift wasn't an expert in human interactions, but he had a good idea what sort of word this man wanted with the succubus. Her voice had been sweet and sultry, and it wasn't difficult to imagine how the human must have responded to her. Swift dreaded what was inevitably to come.

If they were subject to another session of the succubus's noisy coupling, Swift really couldn't be sure what he might do. Alone here with Pimma, his senses full of her and his body already aching in areas that had no business aching, he had serious doubts about his ability to withstand temptation. He would have to get control of himself and get them out of this box quickly.

Pimma seemed to agree. “Should we do something?” she whispered. “Maybe this human could free us.”

“I doubt our captor would ever allow that.”

“The succubus treats him like someone in authority. Who do you suppose he is?”

“I recognize his name. I think Devin Sandstrom owns this place. They manufacture equipment used in the geothermal industry.”

“Should I even ask how you know that?”

“Probably not. Maybe we should try to find the opening and get out of here while she's distracted with that human,” he instructed quietly.

“Is she going to seduce him the way she did Wain?” Pimma questioned.

“Probably.”

And he'd much rather not be a captive audience for it. But maybe they wouldn't have to be. The human's sharp command sounded less than amused.

“Stop it, Miranda,” the man said loudly.

“Come on, Devin,” the succubus drawled. “Don't you remember how good we used to be? You used to do things to me that no one else ever has. “

“I'm sorry, Miranda. It's not like that anymore,” the man replied.

“But it
can
be. I can still make you feel good, Devin. You can still do whatever you want to me…We can still care about each other the way we always have.”

“We were never anything more than convenient for each other, Miranda. I wanted someone to take my mind off my past, and you wanted to move up in the company. We both got what we wanted, didn't we? Don't pretend there was any caring involved for either of us.”

“It was a mutually beneficial arrangement,” she purred. “Why shouldn't we start again?”

“Because I'm married now.”

The succubus huffed loudly. “So? Your silly wife doesn't need to know what goes on in your office. Or in your warehouse. Come on, Devin. Let me make you feel like you used to…let me take your mind off all your troubles. Let me feel you deep inside my body just one more time.”

Swift was actually thankful for the box they were in. The pull from the succubus was so strong he might have almost stood in line for his turn with her if he'd not been physically prevented. Pimma's breathing was coming in short little sighs now, too. By the Skies, that manipulative creature out there certainly had power.

Apparently, not enough to sway Sandstrom, though.

“We have work to do, Miranda,” he said, and his voice betrayed no hint that he was even a little bit tempted. “Carry on with Wain as much as you want—I'm still not even sure what you hired him to do since he seems incompetent at everything—but don't forget your place around here. McGowan's firm is our biggest contract right now. You should be overseeing that, not dragging your brainless assistant in here for a quick screw. What are these crates, anyway? I thought this building had been cleared out to get ready for our next production run.”

“These are just empties,” the succubus said a little too quickly. “I'll move them out once the McGowan shipment is gone and we have space over there.”

Swift heard some shuffling and scraping. It seemed the man was moving things around. The sound of wood cracking nearby indicated he might have pried one of the slats loose on a crate.

“This one's not empty,” he said. “What is this? This looks like the console for one of our instruments, but what is the mechanism attached to it?”

“It's just a little thing that the guys in Research and Development were working on. I don't think it even runs.”

More wood cracking and some pounding. The man seemed determined to get a closer look at whatever he had discovered inside that crate. Now Swift could hear the whir of some sort of machinery starting up.

“It seems to run,” the human said. “Whatever it is.”

“Look, I'm not sure you should poke around at it,” the succubus warned. “Like I said, it's just a prototype. You know how the R and D guys are. They could have slapped this thing together for kicks and it might come flying apart at any minute.”

By the nervous tone in her voice, Swift could tell she really, really did not want her employer investigating this item. From the steady sound of it, whatever the machine was, it had not been simply slapped together. Swift had seen plenty of strange machines in Iceland and had the strong suspicion this might be one of them. It was interesting to discover that Sandstrom himself had been unaware of what his equipment was being used for.

That could mean the human was in danger. How desperate was this succubus to keep Devin Sandstrom from learning what she was up to?

Suddenly, a siren blared from another building, rattling the box they were in. Swift felt Pimma jump beside him, and nearby he heard the succubus let out a surprised gasp. The human swore.

“What the hell is that?”

Then Wain's voice called from across the warehouse. “Come quick! One of the trucks at the loading dock next door is on fire!”

Pimma was desperately trying not to let Swift know she was physically shaking now. They'd been trapped in a box, assaulted by more of the succubus's vile seduction, and now a wailing alarm rattled her bones. What more could possibly happen?

“Damn it, we don't need any more problems with this shipment!” the human was shouting. “Get everyone out of the warehouses. Evacuate this whole area. Miranda, notify the plant to be on standby in case we need to evacuate them, too.”

It was very noisy and Pimma couldn't tell quite what was going on. Humans were shouting, bustling about. It seemed they were all coming to Devin for direction. He swore a gruff human oath and ordered everyone out of the building. His voice, along with the distinctive click of the succubus's high-heeled shoes, was moving rapidly away. Devin was clearly in charge here, and Miranda was forced to give up any plans she had for her captive fairies.

Eventually a distant door slammed shut and they were left in silence. The alarm still shrieked and the crated equipment Devin had turned on still hummed nearby. Pimma and Swift were alone, still trapped in a dark box with strange machines and a fire raging nearby.

“We have to get out of here,” she said, feeling around for some sort of opening.

She accidentally found herself feeling Swift. She had her hands pressed over his chest. He was warm and solid and the only safe thing she could connect with right now. She didn't pull away.

“We'll be all right,” he assured her. His voice was husky and strong, just what she needed to calm her racing heartbeat.

It didn't calm her, though. Instead, her blood pounded harder. She leaned into him for support.

“I don't understand any of this,” she said softly.

His hands came up to cover hers. “There's a lot going on, and I'm afraid you've been pulled into it.”

The box was so dark…even right here, holding herself against him she couldn't see his features. She wished she could. Swift's eyes were such a beautiful, vibrant color. She would have loved to gaze into their green depths right now.

Carefully, she slipped one hand out from his and reached up to touch his face. Heat flowed between them as her fingers found his chin, traced the rough contours, and then trailed up to study his lips. Her pulse throbbed so loudly she was sure he could hear it. The machinery whirred from its crate on the warehouse floor.

“I'm glad you're with me,” she said. “I'd be terrified if you weren't here.”

His chest expanded as he drew in a deep breath. “You might end up wishing I wasn't…”

“No, there's no one I feel safer with.”

Because she did feel so very safe, she pressed herself even more tightly against him. A low moan escaped him and his arms went around her, holding her. It was the most delicious feeling ever and she almost didn't care if the building burned or the machinery exploded, except that it would put an end to this bliss.

Fairies did not often engage in so much physical contact. They weren't humans, after all, and they certainly did not participate in carnal activities that would require so much touching and rubbing and embracing. The more seconds that ticked by, however, the more Pimma realized she wanted to do all those things. Yes, and she wanted to feel all those things being done to her.

Luckily, Swift seemed to feel the same way. He was embracing her, rubbing his hands over her shoulders, her back, the sensitive areas around her wings, and all the way down below her waist. Their bodies were touching in ways she had never touched another fairy, and it was clearly affecting them both.

By the Skies, Swift was growing hard and ready, just the way Pimma had heard whispered that humans did when they anticipated carnal activity. The succubus must have been able to make Wain react in that manner, but Swift was not with the succubus. He was here, with Pimma. She shuddered at the realization that she could elicit such a response in him. She had never in her life even thought about desire, let alone produced it in someone.

Yet here was the proof that she had done just that. Huge, undeniable proof. Swift's organ strained against his pants and she was even more convinced he must be extremely well endowed there. She wanted to explore this new development, to find out just where this desire would lead.

She wanted to touch him. Not just the form of him pressed against her through his clothes, but to actually feel his skin against hers, to learn the texture of that heated, hardened item that seemed so intent on making itself known. All of this was completely irrational, but she didn't care.

Swift groaned as she slid her body against his. The sound was deep and earthy, as if instinct was taking him over. The sound resonated inside her as a new and unfamiliar impulse came alive.

“We've got to stop,” he said, even as his hands skimmed over her thighs and tugged her skirt upward.

“No. We've got to keep going,” she replied, tugging at his shirt to pull it open.

Skin. She needed his skin. He was taller than her, so once she had his shirt open it was easy to press her lips against his chest. He felt like fire and tasted salty and sweet. She found a nipple, running her fingers over it then slowly moving to taste that, too. He ground himself against her.

“I'm going to lose control, Pimma,” he warned. “We have to stop this.”

“I can't. I don't want to.”

“We're not thinking clearly.”