Page 62 of Earthbound

‘Oh no, remember we’re not to discuss the past, or the future. Just this moment. We are two people coming together, for the first time.’

‘The first time?’ Yeeran’s breath was hot on her neck. ‘You had better tell me what you want, then.’

‘Undress me.’ It was a simple command, but Furi’s favourite.

Yeeran took her time. Each button revealed more skin that she had to savour, to kiss, to knead.

Furi quivered beneath her touch. But she wanted more and she told Yeeran so.

‘Then guide me.’ Yeeran took Furi’s hand and placed it along her jaw. ‘Tell me where you want me.’

Furi smiled. This was a game she was going to like very much. First she drew Yeeran’s mouth to her chest. Her other hand she used to pleasure herself, while Yeeran teased her breasts.

The first ripple of ecstasy came quickly, too quickly. She guided Yeeran’s lips lower.

‘I don’t want to ever let you go,’ Yeeran said. Had she meant now? Or always? Either way, Yeeran looked back at her sincerely.

‘Then don’t,’ Furi replied.

And then Yeeran lowered her mouth to her navel and all talk of the future was forgotten.

Chapter Thirteen

Lettle

Neither of them had spoken for some minutes. Lettle wasn’t sure what to say. Here in front of her was a man over a thousand years old.

‘How?’ she said after the silence became too much.

His silver eyes lost a little light. ‘Afa is what my mother called me.’

‘No, but how? How are you here? How are you alive?’

‘Alive.’ He looked to the waterfall. ‘It is a peculiar conception, is it not?’

‘…Are you not alive?’ Lettle leaned into Ajax, taking comfort from his warmth.

‘Oh, you think me an apparition?’ His laugh grated on Lettle’s ears. ‘No, I am animated by the same blood that circulates in your body.’

‘Then how are you here?’

He was silent again as though considering something. ‘I will answer your questions, but first you must fulfil your side of the bargain. Where did you get that grimoire?’

Lettle held it against her chest like a shield. ‘I told you, it was found by an obeah in the cave above.’

‘But who?’ he said with an intensity that frightened her.

‘A fae called Najma, he was a prince in Mosima.’

‘Of the Jani bloodline?’ He stepped towards her and she backed away slowly. Ajax started to growl.

‘Y-yes.’

Afa’s relief was as palpable as Lettle’s, and he stopped advancing.

‘It worked, it veritably worked,’ he whispered to himself. ‘Only half the plan was foiled. No matter, we have other options. Yes, yes, we have other options.’ His gaze snapped to Lettle’s and his lips spread into a smile.

It perturbed Lettle more than a little.