Invoked Read online

  A kiss on the top of her head and she looked up into those hazel eyes haloed in shadow. Earl looked out at her. A sigh escaped. She hardly knew what to think only that where there had been despair there was suddenly hope, and where there had been a future for her without Earl, it now seemed full of promise.

  They arrived home. Earl walked, heading for the stairs, her hand firmly in his. Inside, Earl knew where to go as he carried her up the stairs and into her room, despite her protests. Kicking the door shut behind him, he placed her on the bed and then looked her up and down. ‘A shower I think.’

  Nea couldn’t stop looking at him, devouring the sight of him. He’d invoked himself into existence for her. He’d done the unimaginable to save her from that knife.

  Looking at herself, she realised the blood on her clothes was not her own. Earl was covered in blood too, and he had that bit of velvet tied around his middle. ‘You’ll need some clothes,’ she said rather lamely. ‘Humphrey must have forgotten to get you some.’

  ‘I was hoping to go without for a bit …’

  Nea cocked her head, frowning. She was finding it hard to get her thoughts together. She needed to do things, see how Gregor was … but there was Earl in front of her. Her gaze kept coming to him, resting there and then shying away. It was as if she expected him to vanish despite knowing him to be flesh and blood and full of warmth. ‘Right then.’ She puffed out a breath. ‘Um … Jake left some jeans and T-shirts here; they should fit. I’ll get those while you have a shower.’

  Earl shook his head, his eyes alight with seduction. He stepped back and nodded to the bathroom.

  Nea found it hard to breathe. This was Earl who’d come into being for her. Forget duty. Forget everything except this man before her. He didn’t need clothes. She definitely didn’t need clothes. ‘What was I thinking?’ she said with a laugh.

  ‘I have no idea but come with me.’ He held out his hand palm up and then lifted his fingers, inviting her to come along.

  She looked down at herself and back at him, a smile breaking out. With a nod, she kicked off her shoes and then peeled off her panties, tossing them in the corner. The remains of her robe came next and the scraps of her bra. All the while her gaze was locked with his. With a tug of her talent, his covering dropped to the floor. Nea grinned as he blushed. Imagine that—Earl Pressonville blushing. It was delightful.

  Nea’s smile grew. Earl was shy. She shook her head at the wonder of it. The things he had done to her, the joy he had given paled in comparison to this moment. Earl was alive. He might have been a daring phantom, but in real flesh he was hesitant. He was three-dimensional and blinking. Nea understood that their knowledge of each other was imperfect.

  Her body reacted to the scent of him, the physicality of his body and the full interplay of his mind. The phantom had been the essentials of Earl and now he had to navigate his flesh-and-blood life and his relationship to her and others. She sucked in a breath when she comprehended the scale of his adjustment and consequently hers. The power balance between them had shifted. Earl was hesitant and she was sure. She wanted this. She wanted him. It was up to her to take the lead.

  ‘Come on then.’ She took his hand and drew him into her tiny bathroom. With her talent, she flicked on the water so that by the time they stepped in under the flow it was hot. Earl shuddered and closed his eyes as the water hit his skin. His expression was half surprise and half adoration.

  ‘Good?’ she asked, her gaze eagerly drinking the sight of him in. His hair was now plastered to his head, his eyelashes full with water so that they were even thicker.

  ‘Goddess yes!’ Earl took her hand and kissed her palm, then ran his tongue along her fingers, licking off the water and then sucking the end of each one. Nea’s knees wobbled as her arousal woke. Closing her eyes, she let herself drink in the sensation of his tongue on her skin. It awoke in her the need to use her tongue on him. That body of his was new. No one else had had it. If he was luxuriating in the feel of the shower how would he react to her more tactile exploration? He’d given her the most amazing sexual experience at their first encounter. He’d shredded her reserve and awoken her to new possibilities. Now, Nea was primed to give even more to him.

  Soap suds created a smooth surface in which to run her hands up his body, over his nipples and up along his shoulders as she traced her hands over his biceps down to his hands. His eyes were fixed on her, smouldering and dark. Gently, she guided him to turn around and he acquiesced, his dark gaze never leaving her until he faced the wall. Running her hands up and down his back, she then took in the curve of his taut, rounded buttocks. Water arrowed between his butt cheeks and Nea’s soap-smooth fingers followed the trail. Earl let out a whoosh sound and then leant his head against the wall. A shuddering breath and then he eased his legs apart, giving her greater access. Nea’s hand continued down, spreading his cheeks and then caressing his scrotum from behind. A tremor ran through Earl, and he let out a joyous yell.

  Nea got more shower gel and lubricated her hands. She stroked him from his balls to the top of his butt, using the edge of her hand to separate the flesh. Earl opened himself up to her. His hands were now on the shower wall on either side of his head and his butt was hers to play with. On the next trip down to his balls, she reached up higher and touched the base of his erection. Buoyed by his response, she soaped his anus, using a knuckle to soften the opening.

  ‘Nea!’ Earl near yelled. ‘You’re killing me.’

  ‘Not yet I’m not.’ He’d tongued her anus when he’d been a phantom lover. It had been one of the most enlightening experiences of her rather limited sex life. Now, she knew the power of it. She would give back the pleasure to him.

  She was amazed at the trust he had in her. She slid a finger inside him and he opened to accept it. Another followed, and she moved them in an out. Earl was yelling now but he didn’t fight her—just let out his ecstasy. She didn’t want to overexcite him because she wasn’t done yet.

  She withdrew from him and then washed the soap away before reaching over to shut off the water. Earl turned and faced her. She held up her hand. ‘Wait. I’m not done yet.’

  Earl’s eyes glittered, his lips full and waiting to be kissed. Nea would get to that. She knelt. His lack of restraint fed hers. Lifting her eyes, she saw his engorged cock. It was delightful. Leaning up, she ran her tongue along the tip. Earl shuddered and he locked his knees together. The head went into her mouth and she swirled her tongue around it, tasting him and then sucking him. His hands grabbed her hair and clenched. Nea opened wider and took him deeper.

  Earl yelled her name, excited words that fell on her ears. ‘Oh Nea!’

  Nea smiled on the inside. It was so good to have someone respond to her, to let her make love to him. Using her hand, she drew down along his length, keeping the suction on the head.

  ‘Oh please, Nea. Stop! It’s divine … I don’t want to come yet and I will if you keep that up.’

  Nea eased off but before she stood up, she licked his balls. Earl did crumble then. Down on his knees, he grabbed her, his lips hot as he sought hers. He crushed her to him, and Nea loved it and abandoned herself to the embrace.

  They kissed, broke off and then dived in for more. Nea revelled in the out-of-control way his mouth tasted hers. Grabbing her hair to tilt her head, he kissed her neck, placing firm pressure on the juncture.

  Nea’s blood thumped through her veins. ‘Don’t stop,’ she said and Earl began to suck and nip at her soft, sensitive flesh. Nea squirmed as she was driven out of herself. Goddess! I’m in heaven.

  Together they tumbled to the bathroom floor, then they half crawled along the carpet—hot mouths meeting and parting, then diving for the next piece of flesh. Earl covered her with his body, his mouth on her neck making her hot and wet. He swapped to the other side, nibbling her ear and then slowly suckling lower until she was a gasping heap of need.

  Nea tried to slide backwards to get to the bed, but they weren’t going to make it that
far. As soon as she moved back, Earl latched onto her breast, suckling hard, while beading the other nipple with his fingers. Nea bucked, shoving her hips upward.

  ‘Not yet, Nea. I’m going to drive you crazy first. Just like you did me.’

  He swapped his mouth to her other nipple and she made high-pitched squeaks with each tug on her breast. She was close to coming. He kept up the pressure, his tongue alternating between licking the tip of her nipple and exquisitely suckling her. ‘Earl. Oh Goddess!’ She breathed deeply. ‘You’re killing me.’

  He lifted his head. ‘You won’t die from this. You’re going to live like you never have before.’

  He dove between her breasts, nipping and suckling his way across her belly and further. Anticipation was killing Nea. Would he lick her? Just the thought had her juices flowing, her breath catching, her mind spinning.

  His hot breath whispered across her lower belly, then his tongue tasted her tentatively. A whimper escaped. If he kept this up she was going to jump him and fuck him half to death. Then without warning, he dove in, his mouth cupping her clitoris and his tongue stroking at the same time. Nea screamed as she came so hard, it took a few minutes for the spasms to fade. Panting, she lay there as Earl held her, then just as she stilled he dove in again, this time sweeping her labia with his tongue, working his way all over her sex. Nea cried out. She wanted to get at him but his arm lay over her middle while his mouth exhilarated her. Another climax was building.

  ‘Ahhhh!’ she cried out, her tremors leaving her replete. She shook her head. No, she couldn’t fade out now. She tried to attack his cock again with her mouth but he held her off.

  ‘No. Not Yet,’ he said, his eyes humid with arousal. ‘Lean on the bed.’

  ‘Earl, please.’

  ‘I like it when you beg.’

  He helped her turn and lay over the edge of the bed. He nudged her knees apart, exposing her. Then he ducked into the bathroom and came out again. Cool ointment touched her anus. She quivered. Gently he touched a finger to her opening, running circles around the tender skin. It was so sensitive she moaned with pleasure. The pressure got firmer and she opened to him. A finger slid in, working its way in and out. Nea’s legs shook and her imagination was going haywire. She pictured his cock sliding into her and cried out.

  ‘Yes, that’s it,’ Earl said. ‘Give it to me, babe. Give me everything.’

  He slid another finger in, working her so gently that she barely felt the next one. She was pushing back against him now, almost ready to beg him to fuck her up the arse. He plunged his fingers in and out, quickening the rhythm. The orgasm hit, burst in on her mind. Her voice was ragged from screaming and shouting. He withdrew from her.

  ‘Get on the bed,’ he said as he went to wash the ointment off. Earl was no longer shy.

  Nea’s eyes travelled all over him as he stood there in front of her. His erection was hot and dark. ‘Fuck me, Earl.’

  ‘Open your legs. I want to look at you.’ Their gazes were locked and she did as he asked. He held her gaze a few moments more and then his eyes shifted. ‘Goddess, you’re gorgeous. I don’t …’ He choked up and tears welled in his eyes. ‘I don’t deserve you.’

  She sat up. ‘Earl?’

  He stood there, brushing away tears.

  ‘Earl, come to me now. I deserve this fuck.’

  His eyelids widened and a laugh escaped him. ‘You sure do.’ He practically dove onto the bed. ‘Nea. This is my first time. Be gentle with me.’

  Nea laughed. Positioning herself, she sucked his bottom lip, nipping it gently. He replied with a groan.

  ‘If I come too soon, it will be your own fault,’ he said in mock anger.

  Nea laughed out loud. ‘If you come too soon, you’ll have to start over.’

  ***

  They were making love for the third time. Exhaustion curled at the edges of his mind and body but he had to keep going, had to have as much of Nea as she could bear.

  Earl could feel her arousal, the lick of flame in her belly, the molten need in her moist cleft. He thought he’d lose that insight now that he was whole and flesh but he hadn’t. They still had a connection. Intimacy. If only he’d learned about that before he …

  Dark thoughts of Pris arose. He had to punch them back down. It was done. It was over. This was now.

  Her hands feathered along his back, drawing low across the curve of his buttock. The sensation was thrilling. He could sup on that forever, the frisson of her fingers titillating his flesh. He ached to be inside her, but he didn’t want to rush. He wanted each time with her to be special. If his experience had taught him anything it was that this could be their only moment. Life and death were full of possibilities. What you had the one minute could disappear forever. He needed to cherish this moment, every moment he had with Nea. It would always be a gift. Like his gift of life. He owed his redemption to her and he ached to tell her.

  Her legs were locked around his. ‘Please, please,’ she begged him.

  He looked down on her heated face, flushed with excitement, and he watched her eyes widen as he slid inside of her. His groan echoed around the room. Nothing could compare to that sensation of being inside her, moist, hot, firm, giving. He slid back and then sunk deeper, capturing her heavy sigh with his mouth, licking her lips, teasing her chin with his teeth.

  They moved together, hip to hip, his hand guiding her so they didn’t come apart. His tongue captured her nipple and he suckled. Her fingers dug into his neck, holding, urging, begging for more. He enveloped her waist in his hands, lifting, sliding, thrusting. Her cries were music; they set the rhythm, made the pace as he moved in her, with her. And then that moment came when he needed to let go. The pressure was so strong, he couldn’t hold it back. It was like the sun rising and setting simultaneously; it was alien and familiar; it was distant and it was now. ‘Nea?’ And he was gone, blown, sending himself into her and he questioned, wondered, doubted.

  Nea was there, stroking him, kissing him, soothing him with words and touches. It had been real, not a dream. There was wetness between them, exhaustion, sweat, and tears and sighs. Overwhelmed, he found himself with his head on her chest, listening to her heart beat, her soft fingers gently stroking his hair as he wept so suddenly, so inexplicably. He was alive. I’m alive, he wanted to say. Alive because of you.

  And then their minds touched and she knew and felt the same. ‘I’m alive because of you too, Earl. I have a life to live because of you. I want … I want to live it with you.’

  He drew away. Shame coursed through him. ‘I’m not worthy. I don’t deserve your life. I wasted my mine.’

  She put a finger on his lips. Used her thumbs to wipe away his tears. ‘I don’t care what you’ve done. This is now. Not then. You’ve suffered. I tasted your suffering. I was suffering too. I was alone and you were with me, and then I wasn’t alone anymore. You spoke to my heart, you filled me up with love and touch and sex, and made it all so extraordinary. I don’t care what you’ve done. I want you in my life.’

  ‘You don’t understand … I didn’t think clearly. I was obsessed by her. She was deliciously powerful and I couldn’t resist.’ He thumped his chest. ‘I have an essential weakness. I’m unworthy. Your family will see it. Gregor will insist I pay for what I have done.’

  ‘But you saved me. That has to count for something.’

  ‘I couldn’t let her use you like she did me or let Drew harm you.’

  She hugged him hard, close. ‘Earl. Let’s not think about it now. Gregor will come home and we will work out a way forward. Please don’t talk about unworthiness.’

  ‘He knew me back then, you know. He won’t forget easily.’

  Her brows grew together. ‘He did? He never mentioned it. But then, he’s a cagey old man at the best of times.’ She shook her head. ‘Never mind. Let’s not think about that now. Please. Let’s just enjoy the moment.’

  They lay together and let the dark of night cover them. Earl let the worldly sounds keep him a
wake—the sounds of birds and frogs and wind in the trees. He was hearing them with his own ears.

  They made love again in the early dawn until Nea was sore and could bear no more. Earl was sore too, but he would bear anything to be with Nea, inside her, capturing her cries as she came hard, sometimes yelling out her joy. It was so Nea and so right.

  The next morning, there was a hail from Hilda before she came up the stairs. They had time to cover themselves with sheets before she opened the door. Her arm was in a cast and her skin had a greyish hue.

  ‘I heard there was a warlock called Earl at the scene,’ she said, swallowing before continuing. ‘I …’ She squinted. ‘It is you then?’

  Earl glanced at Nea and then back at the older witch. ‘Yes, Hilda. It’s me.’

  Hilda stood still for some time, just looking. ‘Remarkable,’ she said at last.

  ‘You told me I had to save her and I did.’

  ‘Aye, you did and for her I’m glad … but …’ Her cheeks grew pink and she opened and closed her mouth a few times. Then with a frown she spoke. ‘You can’t be here in the house … or … in bed with Nea.’

  Nea stiffened beside him. ‘Why not?’

  Hilda lowered her eyes. ‘Gregor is coming home,’ she said in a low voice.

  ‘So?’ Nea returned as she sat bolt upright, the sheet pressed to her breast. ‘He should be happy Earl saved me.’

  Hilda shook her head and let out a low sigh. ‘He’s grateful you’re alive but he is worried about the taint.’

  ‘Taint?’ Nea’s jaw dropped. ‘From Earl?’

  Hilda’s eyes implored him to help her out.

  ‘Yes, from me.’ Earl sat up higher in the bed, his heart thumping. ‘From the blood magic.’

  ‘Yes, you have been touched by the blood magic, Nea. You might be free of it, but to knowingly consort with a practitioner could lead to your banishment … and annulment.’