Scapulimancist (Seven Forbidden Arts Book 7) Read online

  She planted a kiss on the skin her fingers had tortured. The follicles still tingled where she’d pulled his hair. Those fingers gripped the flat disk of his nipple, this time giving a pinch. He sucked air through his teeth. The bite of pain was rewarded with another gentle kiss, her lips wet and hot.

  She looked up at him from her under her lashes. “Does it feel good?”

  He cupped her head, threading his fingers through her hair. “You know it does.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  She pushed her cheek into his palm before removing his hand and holding it up in front of her. She first kissed the nail he’d hit with his hammer and then guided his fingers to her breast. He knew what she wanted. It had made her soaking wet that first time in his bed. He palmed the curve and caught her nipple between his fingers, rolling it in the same way that had made her cry out before. Her ecstatic moan was almost his undoing. Those whimpers would drive him to his knees. There was an animalistic satisfaction in knowing he was the cause of her cries. A perverse part of him wanted to make her scream instead of mewl, and a primal part wanted those sounds to belong to him and him only. Thoughts like that didn’t help him hold back. He lifted his hips, rubbing his cock between her breasts. Skin on skin. He wanted to rip her clothes from her body. She pushed him past the point of control. The first drop of pre-cum was already slick on the head of his cock. He wanted to last. He moved his free hand between their bodies and gripped the root hard, preventing more from spilling, but Sara pushed his hand away.

  His cock twitched as another drop released, glistening in the light of the torch. She cupped his balls, testing their weight, all of her attention now focused on his groin. Her head tilted as she studied him. She dragged a fingernail over the length of him, sending a shudder up his spine. He groaned when she rolled her palm over the head, lubricating it with his pre-cum. The intent was there in her eyes when she finally lifted them again and wetted her lips. Sara wasn’t shy. She measured his reaction unabashedly when she gripped his shaft and held it for her mouth. Her tongue was hot like coals, wet like liquid fire as she licked the head like it was a dripping ice cream cone.

  “Dammit, Sara.”

  He dragged in a ragged breath and held it while her mouth opened wider and her lips stretched around him. She took him deep.

  “Fuck, dammit.” He groaned loudly.

  With her good hand, she fisted the part her mouth didn’t reach, squeezing while her cheeks indented from the suction.

  Air got stuck in his throat, his Adam’s apple throbbing with repressed sounds that would be too animalistic to utter.

  Cold air washed over his wet skin when she released him with a soft pop. She dragged her tongue from the top of his shaft down to the bottom, keeping his sac in the gentle vice of her hand. She had him by the balls in more than one way. For this woman, he’d go down on his knees and do unimaginable things, anything she wanted, except giving her his land. Not now. He didn’t want to think about the land now. Unconsciously, she helped him out by sucking him back into her mouth, not a second too soon.

  Her mouth was so hot he’d forget his name, his past, and his future. In that moment, there was pleasure, so much fucking, delicious pleasure, and still larger than that was the woman. Only her. Everything else was out shadowed by her touch. Her silky hair fell around her face and his crotch. He wanted to see her eyes as she made him come. One hand fisted in her hair, twisting the strands around his hand, while the other fastened on her breast. He needed to touch her, even if he was beyond caressing her. He couldn’t focus on anything but her mouth and her fingers. For the first time in his life, he gave over while being with a woman. He surrendered his control. All he could do was hold on to her hair and her swaying breast as she moved up and down without urgency, the torture drawn out but sweet.

  Heat pierced his backbone and climbed like a red-hot chain link by link up his spine. His balls contracted and pulled deep up his groin. His hand tightened in her hair.

  “If you don’t want to swallow,” he gritted out, “now’s the time to stop.”

  She didn’t stop. The knowledge that she’d take his seed down her throat made his release come harder and faster. He erupted with a suppressed cry, biting down the sounds so he wouldn’t attract unwanted attention. Son of a bitch that he was, he didn’t want it to end. For a selfish moment, he kept her head in place, unwilling to lose the heat of her mouth until his shaft was empty and the pleasure in his body dissipated. Only then did he let up, pulling gently on her hair to lift her face. Satisfaction hummed in his veins when she licked her lips with a little sigh.

  “Come here.” He pulled her up to his mouth.

  Her lips were moist, and her tongue tasted of him. He wanted to capture the essence of that moment with all of his senses. He ate her mouth like he intended to eat her pussy, knowing the taste of her would make him drunk.

  “Sara,” he hummed.

  Her breath was coming fast. He gripped her thighs and arranged them so she straddled him, then pushed her down to cover her body with his. Her legs came around his ass. He yanked at her jeans and fumbled with the button. It was a dangerous game. He knew it. His control had to be steel not to take her with more than his tongue, but fuck if he could help himself.

  “Wayne.” She moaned into his mouth, her body soft and giving, her legs falling to the sides, inviting him in.

  Out of his mind. She was driving him insane. His hand trembled so much he couldn’t undo the damn button, a definite first for him. She swatted his hand away to help. Their panting filled the air, their breaths vapors that mingled with the mist bank rolling in from the sea. Another noise infiltrated his lust-filled haze. A crescendo of angry voices lifted from the party. Sara stilled under him.

  She pushed on his shoulders. “What was that?”

  He sat up and listened. It sounded like a fight.

  “Come.” He helped her up and adjusted her clothes before pulling on his own, and then took her hand and ran back toward the waterfront.

  As they neared the picnic area, he made out Christian’s tall figure in a semi-circle of people. He was facing Thinus, and both men had their fists poised in the air.

  “Stay,” he said, leaving Sara at the edge of the crowd.

  He rushed to where men shouted, cheering on the fight. Thinus circled Christian like a hen scrubbing a nest, his feet kicking up sand and his fists punching air.

  “What’s going on?”

  He grabbed Christian’s arm, but Christian shook off his touch.

  “Stay out of it, West.”

  “Don’t do something stupid.” Something that could get Christian fired.

  Christian spat in the dirt. “Get away.”

  Christian needed the job as badly as he did. Nobody else but Clive hired.

  “Chris,” he said, his tone softer this time, “let it go.”

  Some of the fight left his friend’s shoulders. His stance slackened, his elbows lowering an inch.

  “You too, Thinus.” Wayne pinned Christian’s opponent with a stare. “Cut it out before someone calls the cops.”

  The bystanders booed when Christian dropped his arms to his sides.

  “You’re right,” Christian said, “it’s not worth it.” He shook his hands and if he wanted to untangle his fists.

  “Givin’ up?” Thinus said with a cocky grin.

  Wayne grabbed Christian’s shoulder. “Let’s go.”

  “Yeah, before I knock those pearly white teeth out of his filthy mouth.”

  Wayne steered him to a safe distance. Spotting Bella in the crowd, he paused to say, “Can you get Sara for me? She’s over there.”

  “Sure. Go sort out Christian.”

  At a stall, he got a beer and ginger ale and handed Christian the beer. “Here. This’ll cool you down.”

  Christian took the beer without a word. Wayne waited until he’d finished at least half before he asked, “What happened?”

  “Fucker shoved me on the dance floor. Called me the crony
of a motherfucking murderer. He’s looking for trouble.”

  Wayne tensed but forced his muscles to relax. “Then don’t give him what he wants.”

  “Next time he pushes me, I won’t let you or anyone pull me out of the fight.”

  “That’s fair. Take him out next time. If he’s an insisting little pest even Clive won’t step in, but he won’t let you get away with losing your cool over a shove and an insult.”

  “He insulted you.”

  “I’m used to it.”

  “You shouldn’t be.”

  “Let it go, buddy. I appreciate you standing up for me, but giving Thinus a beating isn’t going to change the past. What you should worry about is pissing off Clive.”

  “I’m not afraid of fucking Clive.”

  “Neither am I, but we both need our jobs, and that wasn’t a fight worth fighting, even less a fight worth your job.”

  Christian fumed. “If Clive hadn’t done you in, we would’ve both worked on your land.”

  “No use crying over spilled beans.” He’d learned that the hard way. He patted Christian on the shoulder. “I need to get Sara something to eat and see her home. After the fiasco with Thinus’s dick I don’t want him around her. Are you calm?”

  “Yeah, I’m cool,” he said with a scoff. “Let’s get the girls a drink and get out of here.”

  Wayne walked from stall to stall, Christian in tow.

  “What’s with the pickiness?” Christian said when they passed the tenth oyster vendor.

  “Sara doesn’t eat meat. I’m not sure she eats seafood.”

  “And you care?”

  “’Course I do.”

  Christian stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Wait a minute. What happened between an hour ago, and now?”

  Wayne freed his arm and scanned the food merchandise.

  “The other day, when she came to the factory, you chased her off like a dog,” Christian continued. “Tonight, you pretend not to notice her until she dances with me. Now you’re scavenging for food like it’s the most important decision you’ll ever make. Come on, buddy, spill it. What happened? I saw you take off to the beach. Did you get laid?”

  Wayne fixed him with a hard stare. “Nothing happened.”

  Christian lifted his hands. “Okay. Just checking, because your hormones are all over the fucking place.”

  “Don’t worry about my hormones. Keep your own testosterone in check, and we’ll make it home without bleeding noses.”

  Christian laughed. “You’ve got it bad.”

  Wayne stopped at a stand that sold handmade chocolates with fancy twirls and dainty heart shapes in pink, white, and brown. They looked sweet and fragile, and a bit intricate, like Sara.

  Wayne sighed, feeling the weight bog down his shoulders. “She’s SAN, and she’s here to take away the last piece of my land. Yeah, I’d say it’s pretty bad.”

  Christian fell silent at that.

  “I’ll take a dozen,” he said to the vendor. “And four of those fruit kebabs.”

  * * * *

  Sara tried to see over the crowd, but she’d lost sight of Wayne and Christian.

  Someone touched her arm. “Hey.”

  She turned to see Bella. “Where’s Wayne?”

  “Probably cooling Christian down. Come on.” She motioned at the beach. “Let’s take a walk.”

  They strolled to the jetty that overlooked the Heads, the two mountains framing the treacherous entrance from the sea to the lagoon. The earlier festive atmosphere now seemed ominous.

  Sara rubbed her arms. “What happened back there?”

  “Thinus had a drink too many. He was looking for trouble.”

  “I can’t stand him and his cousin.”

  Bella shot her a look. “It’s because of them you keep a snake around, isn’t it? They’re not the only troublemakers in town, but they are the boldest. They know they’ll get away with everything because Clive Theron owns this town.”

  “It’s them who sneaked the mushrooms into my food.”

  Bella’s face contorted with anger. “Figures. It’s about time someone gives those two a good hiding.”

  “I know how to handle myself.”

  “I’m sure you do.” Bella smiled, the wind whipping her hair around her face. “You handled West very well on the dance floor.”

  She cleared her throat. “It got a bit heated.”

  “What are you going to do?” Bella’s gaze was compassionate. “It’s a terrible situation you find yourself in.”

  “I don’t know.” She hugged herself tighter. “I really don’t know.”

  Male laughter startled her. She twirled to see Thinus a yard away from them, swaying on his feet.

  “Well, well,” he said with a slur on his tongue, “if it ain’t the bitch and the whore.”

  Bella pulled herself up to her full petit height. “You’re drunk, Thinus. Take your insults elsewhere.”

  “Don’t get your panties in a knot, slut.” He grinned. “My business ain’t with you.” He turned his foul alcohol breath on Sara. “You owe me an apology, and I know just how you’re gonna deliver it.” He started unbuckling his belt.

  Bella laughed. “You’re an idiot, Thinus.”

  Sara took Bella’s hand. “Bella, don’t. Let’s just go.”

  She tried to move around Thinus, but he blocked their way.

  “We’re not interested, moron,” Bella said.

  “Not interested? Ah, I get it. There’s a price to being interested.” He fished a large roll of bills from his pocket and waved it in the air. “This is what you need to get wet, ain’t it?”

  “No money in the world will get me wet for you.”

  His mouth turned down. “You’re a whore. I pay. You do. Ain’t that so, sugar?” He took a step toward Bella.

  “Leave her alone,” Sara said. “It’s me you’re angry with.”

  “Shut your mouth, bitch. I’ll deal with you after.” He licked his finger, flicked two bills from the roll, and threw it at Bella’s feet. “Get on your knees and suck my cock. If you do it nice and slow, I may even pay to fuck you.”

  Bella closed the distance between them, stepping on the money and putting her body flush against his. She grabbed his crotch and said in a seductive voice, “This is what you want?”

  Drunk or not, Thinus wasn’t fooled. Before Bella could inflict injury, he gripped her wrist and squeezed until her fingers opened.

  “Let her go!” Sara looked around frantically. They were too far from the partygoers to attract attention, but she had to try. “Help!” she shouted at the top of her lungs.

  Chapter Eight

  The music was loud, and they were too far from the party on the embankment. Nobody was going to hear Sara scream.

  Bella reacted fast. She lifted her arm, but before she could bring her fist down on Thinus’s jaw, he’d grabbed her other wrist, too. Sara tried to pull him off Bella, but he sent her flying to the ground with a push. She struggled to her feet, calling for help again, afraid that it wouldn’t come on time, because Thinus had twisted Bella around with her arm bent up behind her back. His other hand was clamped around Bella’s throat.

  Sara jumped on his back, clutching at his hair. With a cry of fury, he shook her off, jerking Bella left and right in the process. The diversion made him slacken his hold on Bella’s wrist, and she managed to turn and bring up her knee, but he backed away in time, his hand still around her neck.

  There was a mad man’s strength in Thinus’s stick-like body. Sara had badly underestimated him. She grabbed hold of his hair with renewed vigor and kicked the back of his knee. At the same time his legs buckled, Bella planted a punch in his stomach. He let go of Bella and dropped to his knees with a grunt.

  “Run, Sara!”

  Sara wasn’t going to leave the tiny Bella to fight her battle. She put her tennis shoe on his back, pushing his upper body to the ground.

  “You go!” she said to Bella. “I’m right behind you.”

&nbs
p; “No, you’re not,” a male voice said.

  It couldn’t be. Sara stared at Nelis in shock.

  His eyes darted to Thinus and back to them. “Stay put, bitches. Thinus, I’ve been lookin’ all over for you.” He pointed a finger at Sara. “Let him go, or I’ll break your fucking nose.”

  She glanced at Bella. The other woman shook her head.

  When Nelis realized she wasn’t going to comply, he took a flip knife from his pocket and flicked it open. The blood ran cold in her veins.

  “Now,” Nelis yelled, swiping the knife at her.

  She didn’t have a choice. Thinus had his face turned to the side in the dirt so he could breathe. When she lifted her foot, he struggled to his feet.

  He spat in front of them. “We’re gonna finish what we started.” He unzipped his pants. “Nelis can watch, and then have his turn. Two for the price of one, eh whore?”

  The men laughed.

  They weren’t going to take both men down and help wasn’t coming. They were on their own. From where she stood, Sara tapped into the life around her. Mice, birds, lizards, crickets, wasps… There, she halted.

  Wasps.

  There was a hive at the back of the boathouse a few yards up ahead. Thinus grabbed her arm, shaking her roughly, while Nelis reached for Bella with the knife. She wasted no time in commanding the wasps, pulling them out of their protection.

  “Down,” Thinus said, forcing her to the ground.

  As her knees hit the ground, a loud buzzing became audible over the sound of the waves. Thinus looked up. A black cloud advanced toward them, visible in the light from the jetty.

  Nelis paused. “What the fuck…?”

  The cloud dispersed right above Thinus’s head. He dropped her to swat at the insects. A bewildered Nelis took a few steps back. Thinus cursed as the first sting fell, but as the second, third, and fourth continued to punish him, the curses turned into screams. He did a wild dance, his arms flailing in the air. His face, neck, and arms were covered, wasps delivering stings wherever skin was bared. Sara didn’t ease up until he dove yelling into the water.