Spellbound

Something atmospheric, intimate, enchanted, and more on the mellow side for Halloween.

- - -

The first thing I notice is her voice - her laugh, to be specific. The way it lilts, its warmth and generosity. Breaking off mid-sentence after hearing it, I look through the crowd to see who it belongs to. So many people are clustered about, but no one I see is her.

Another laugh, this time getting more distant. Alex waves his hand in front of my face - I've completely lost the thread of conversation.

"Sorry, I have to, uhhm... I'll be right back."

Rude, definitely, but there's suddenly a deep pull within me, compelling me to make my way towards the edge of the crowd, where the night thickens a bit more and faces are cast in half shadow.

After a minute or so I begin to feel pretty dumb just standing there, looking lost, so I start to walk back. A catch around my arm stops me -

"Rowan? This is wild! Didn't expect I'd see you here - do you know Noah? And how??"

"Ana, hey! Ha, yeah, through work friends. I'm kind of here by accident... as a wingman, of sorts, and a ride if anyone needs."

"Oh, that's perfect actually! I was thinking of heading out soon, and Violet is coming with me. Can we hop in?"

"Of course. Plenty of room. You still in the historic district?"

"Sixteenth and Delancey now."

"Oh no shit, we're neighbors then."

"Really? This is crazy. Yeah, moved there last month, but come with me - I'll introduce you to some people, and Violet. She's the new roomie."

Weaving our way further down the lawn, under the haze of cafe lights that give everyone an amber halo, I see one ahead that seems to glow a touch brighter against the dark foliage.

"Hey everyone, this is Rowan. We worked at Sway Studios together, oh god, forever ago. Rowan, this is Cole, Amira, Miles, and Violet."

My head turns towards each new face as I give smiles and nods, settling on Violet last, when all the sudden - for one quick second - I can't breathe. The lyrics "pin me with your black sphere eyes" come into my head. A beat more and she lowers her gaze, breaking the moment.

I look around to see if anyone noticed. They haven't.

I've arrived into the middle of a bawdy conversation, where it's obvious the late hour mixed with the drinks are fueling its enthusiasm. Cole is decided on her point, Miles isn't sold, Amira's taking Cole's side, and Ana is whispering something to Violet, who's gone quiet.

Finally Amira says, "I don't know, all I'm saying is if I'm vibing that hard with someone, I'm doing something about it. What's the use in wondering 'what if'? Go for it! Cole - you have my vote to go for it."

In the middle of this, Violet murmurs a low conversation to Ana, and I'm close enough that I catch her words. It causes a jolt, and then a flutter in the pit of my stomach.

-

Walking to the car, Ana's clearly had a fun night because she's singing near the top of her lungs with an arm looped through Violet's - the only thing keeping her from hitting the ground, it seems.

"Shit, I forgot to say goodbye to Della. She'll be so pissed if I just disappear. One second, I'll be right back." Ana turns and runs faster than either of us can stop her, so Violet and I share a mildly panicked look before a shrug, then a laugh.

Then I realize I don't know what to say... and I couldn't tell you why, but something in me is feeling unnaturally bold, so I ask.

"Did you mean it?"

She tilts her head. "Mean what?"

She has no clue I heard her confess to Ana that something about me has her deeply distracted, and she can't seem to ignore it - almost like she could sense me, viscerally, before I arrived. That beyond her ability to control the thought, she wants to know what it'd be like with me... and it's been too long since -

"What you said to Ana."

Shock flickers across her face.

"... You heard that?"

Looking down at my feet, I nod. "Yup."

I notice her breathing becoming shallower. She doesn't answer, so I rejoin -

"This is going to sound... ha, truly insane, but uhm..."

Ana comes running back into view. "Okay! We're set, let's rollllll - shotgun!"

-

Glancing in the rearview, I see Violet in the backseat, returning my gaze, softly, but intently. My pulse quickens; I'm alert to every sensation, and I need to continually remind myself to keep my eyes on the road... and to keep Ana from leaning too far out the window as she tells us for the fortieth time how refreshing the night air is.

Pulling in front of their place, I walk them to the door.

"It was nice meeting you."

Ana is already inside complaining about how hungry she is and how little food there was on offer earlier. We linger. I know we're both thinking about it, about how truly wild a thing it would be to do - but also, how much we each want it.

"Goodnight, neighbor." She gently offers.

She seems reluctant to part, and I give her a quick little smile after my hand brushes hers post-hug. She had to have felt that too, right?

A half hour later, my phone hums against the table.

- Got your number from Ana. told her I lost my keys and figured they could be in your car.

- Sounds like you need to get them tonight. I can unlock the doors for you.

Each minute after I hit send feels like several eternities.

-

First there's a quiet knock, then I hear the latch click.

"Rowan?" Her voice ripples through me and all I can think about is how much I want to hear her say it again, inside a whimper, under me.

"Hey." My voice directs her attention through the living room into the kitchen.

"Hey." A little smile. She walks over and I hand her a cup.

"Chamomile."

She clinks my mug with hers.

We sit across from one another in the lamplit near-dark, a moonbeam cast in from a tall window spilling across the counter between us. I have some music on low, and every other minute or so we look up at each other and shyly smile.

"This is... totally crazy, right?"

"Completely, definitely... maybe? I don't know." Her little laugh melts me. It's the same one from earlier. "It's certainly not anything I've ever experienced before..."

I nod in agreement, suppressing another shy smile, taking a deep breath in.

"About what you said... when was the last time -?"

"Too long," she shakes her head.

"Any reason?"

She hesitates.

"Honestly?" A bashful laugh breaks her words. "Everyone I kept meeting just, it didn't feel right. So we never made it that far.... So this is pretty strange... really strange, actually. To be so instantaneous. But, I can't seem to..." That little laugh again. "You feel it too, right?"

"Yes, and like you said... instantly."

I move towards where she sits, gravity collapsing the space between us, drawing us into a kiss. Barely, at first. Nervous little breaths and laughs, lips grazing before - mmmhh.

She's so soft, her tongue so delicate against mine - she smells so good. I feel her slightly tremble and something in me illuminates. We press closer. Her touch travels through me and the aching want carried with it makes it hard to think straight.

"You told Ana that, uhm," I give a quick, low laugh, slowly run my fingers up and down her arms.

"You heard everything, didn't you? But how -? You weren't standing that close, and I was practically whispering."

She's right. That's stranger still, now that I think about it. I don't have an answer.

"You're not a mind reader then, are you?" She offers in half jest, giving me a sly look.

"No," I laugh, "definitely not. Or else I wouldn't be about to ask you what you like best."

I lean down to kiss and lick her neck, then gently bite her shoulder. She gasps and arches into me. Wrapping an arm tighter around her waist, my free hand teases her nipple through the fabric of her dress. Soon, both our hands are exploring, grabbing, pulling each other close as we can.

I huff out, "Come here," when she tangles her fingers in my hair.

In the hallway my hips pin her to the wall. Catching her wrists, I stretch and hold them above her head while she lifts her legs around my waist. The heat between her thighs pressed against me makes me dizzy for a second. Our kisses are deep and needy - there's a hunger in them, anticipating what comes next.

Lowering her to sit on my bed, I get on my knees. Leaned back on my heels, I plant kisses on her ankles and take off her shoes. Flipping them over my shoulders draws a suppressed laugh from her, and a playful bite from me - which makes her laugh more openly. What I wouldn't give to always hear her laugh.

My lips running up her legs, with the tips of my fingers I push the hem of her dress over her thighs, kissing my way towards her hips. Mouth so close to what I'm impatient to taste and there's that moment of dizziness again - anticipation, need, and her beckoning scent. I take a breath, slide my hands under her thighs and, staying on my knees, lift her back onto her feet.

Looking up into her eyes, we both smile.

"Hey"

"... Hey"

Her hand runs through my hair as I tuck my fingers into the top of her panties, slide them down, and let them drop. I kiss her through the fabric of her dress. My hand skims back up the inside of her thigh, grazing between her legs.

She's so... so, fucking wet. I wonder for how long -

Since Ana brought me over? When her eyes locked on mine... my own breath catching, and then feeling that quake push through my limbs? The whole car ride home? Just before she opened my door?

Touching my fingers to her clit, I feel it throbbing, aching. Sweet little pulses that let me know how she's feeling. Her legs tremble and I hear her shakily breathe out. A hand on my arm pulls me up into teasing kisses. Her dress falling away, my shirt is pulled off.

I move my mouth next to her ear, reach my hand back between her legs -

"Can I?"

There's a certain note in my voice - like something flimsy is holding back all the passion surging behind my words.

A little sound escapes her throat and she nods. I think I hear her say 'please' but my mind blurs when I feel her hand on mine, guiding it. Fingers gliding back and forth, teasing her clit, gently pressing in, she rolls her hips to meet my palm. It doesn't take long before her breathing unsteadies. Leaning into me, she starts to stroke me through my pants and my own noises thread through hers. Using my free hand to trace her bottom lip with my thumb, I dip it into her mouth.

"What do you want most? What can I give you first?"

Without hesitation, she crushes her lips to mine, undoes my belt, and pushes my pants off. Her arms around my neck, sinking back, I'm pulled between her legs. Fingers slipping beneath my waistband, she tugs down my underwear. The eagerness of her touch sets something loose in me.

"Can't wait, can you?" My voice frays.

"No," she breathes between kisses.

"Me neither."

Grinding against her, lips locked, my throbbing dick slides up and down her soaked pussy lips, driving us both crazy. If she were to just -

"Fuuuckkk..." I breathe out my words as she takes me.

Her wetness, feeling her stretch around me - for a few moments, it entirely overwhelms my senses. She pants out delicate sighs near my ear. My mind empties, muscles relax, and in an instant we're pushing against each another, gasping with ragged breath. And oh, her moans... I want - I need - more. I want to hear her cry and beg me and melt as I make her cum so hard while I'm filling her. I need her voice in my ear pleading with me to keep going until I hear that shift in her breathing, that pause just before she lets go.

"Does it - feel good?" I manage between uneven breaths.

Softly, "... Yes, yes."

She's completely lost in it - I'm barely keeping my head above water.

"Can I... huh, oh fuck, can I make you cum?"

Her answer is a whimpered moan, followed by a needy 'please... oh my god - please.'

"Yes sweetie." Hearing her like this makes me desperate to give her everything. "Mmm... yes, I'll get you there."

Wrapping her legs around my waist, I pull my knees to the sides of her hips.

"Look into my eyes, hold my gaze. I'm going to make you cum, just like this."

Deliberately, slowly, deeply, I keep grinding into her, making sure I'm rocking against her clit, pulling her hips into me. One of my hands moves between her ass cheeks.

Just before I touch her there, "Would this be okay?"

A quivering 'yes' and I almost lose it. I roll my fingertips against her. She tightens on me, and a huffed half laugh and an 'uh, fuck' escape me. I push a finger in, just a bit.

"Keep taking me... keep taking me, baby, just like this, mmm, uh -"

"You feel so good, please don't stop, please - fuuuuck, like that."

Eyes half closed, she's working so hard to keep focus as all these sensations pull her nearer to her edge.

"Still good, sweetie? Ready to cum?"

A barely audible "fuck" is my answer.

"Tell me... yes, baby, tell me just how good you feel. Make your noises for me, let me hear you."

The way she cries, her words melt my entire mind. Soon, a breathy, melodic 'oh my god' escapes her lips.

"Keep your eyes on mine, I want to watch you, fuck, uhh, oh my god, fall apart. Oh, uh, fuck uhhh, yes."

Her eyes plead as much as her body does while her breath deepens and her purring moans become more urgent.

"When I say, baby. Wait until I say..."

A trembling cry tests my limits and I crush our mouths together -

Then I nod permission, tell her "now" into her lips, and feel her break.

Letting out another cry, she arches into me, presses her face into my neck, just under my jaw, making sounds that are shutting off my brain. The way I'm aching, fighting back my own release, wanting to hold on, to give her more - I almost black out.

I partly do.

Next thing I know, she's calming down, little jolts passing through her to me. Long, deep breaths mellowing into quiet, steady ones. Our scent clouds my mind.

I let out a hushed laugh, "mmmm."

Blinking back into the moment, her drowsy look settles on mine and we smile, pleased at our mischief.

"Stay like this, don't move yet," I tell her.

I'm still so very hard, deep inside her, and can feel her gently pulsing and clenching on me yet.

I hold still as I can.

Lying against her like this, lips grazing one another's, feeling her stretched around my thickness - not moving but for the tiniest rocking I can't fight back - has me going a bit wild. It intensifies a deep need I'm getting more and more desperate about. But I want her to start whimpering again first - patience.

Gently brushing my hands across her nipples, grazing lightly, next I roll them between my fingers. Kisses trailed down her neck, I drag my tongue over both of them, sucking and teasing. Her breathing deepens again before catching. I feel her struggle not to move, so I hold her hips in place.

"Not yet... not just yet."

Soon, our breathing syncs up, she starts to whimper, and I let my hips loll into her. Rocking back into me, her hands holding my jaw, she brings our lips together. I start pumping my cock into her steadily, feeling things build again very quickly.

"Fuck, sweetie, I want you on your stomach, back arched as I push into you, so I can keep playing with your beautiful, soft nipples."

We roll and shift, her ass like a heart pressed between my thighs. She looks over her shoulder at me, reaches back for me, my mouth giving her what she wants, my tongue teasing hers. Lips together, I push into her and feel the hum of her moan in my mouth. It makes me weak. I start to find a groove and reach for her nipples as they trace the sheets with each thrust.

"Your weight against me, god, it feels so... so - mhphhh!" She drops her head and the pillow hears the rest of the words I'm fucking out of her.

"Baby, yes, feeling you like this - my hips crashing into your gorgeous ass, your beautiful tits in my hands, pinching and caressing your nipples while you cry into my mouth..." I can't finish my thought; something shifts as I murmur into her ear and she clenches on me.

"Rowan, please..." That desperate note in her voice is back, "please... I'm going to cum again."

"Tell me where, baby, where can I, huhhh uhh, cum, fuck - "

"I want to ride you, oh mmm - please, say I can ride you."

She doesn't have to beg twice.

Turning and pulling her into my lap, she tilts my chin up and answers my question -

"Just like this, don't pull away."

With a hand she pushes my shoulder down and quickly finds a rhythm, bouncing and grinding on it in a way that will absolutely leave me senseless - but I can't stand having her so far, I need her close. I pull her down onto my chest, holding her waist as I thrust up into her. Dragging my tongue along her neck, I feel her moans vibrate in her throat as she starts to come undone again.

My free hand playing with her sensitive nipples again, she cries my name in the most shaky, desperate way and I'm lost. I couldn't hold on even if I wanted to, and I don't.

An arm around her waist, one hand between her shoulders, holding her tight against me while we rock out our orgasms, I'm as deep as I can be when I spill everything inside her. Soon her moans turn into sweet little humming sounds, and she lifts her face back in front of mine. Our kisses are soft and stir something in me that reaches for her.

If I thought her laugh was what enchanted me before, hearing her cry out my name as she cums around me has me fully bewitched. Gathering her into me, we spoon and cuddle. She nestles close and I drift my fingertips over her skin, admitting softly into her ear -

"I feel more than a bit crazy saying this but, it was like I was drawn to you tonight... First I heard your laugh, and without thinking, I started looking for you... Then Ana found me, and next I know, we're being introduced. And... as soon as you looked at me..."

Those lyrics fill my head again. I don't know what next to say. If she wasn't here, tucked up against me, gently breathing in my arms, I'd think I imagined everything tonight.

"Not crazy," she starts. "... I felt like I could sense you, too. I told Ana as much."

"Hmmm, so I heard." I hum.

"Yeah, ha... still can't figure that one out." I see a little smile tug at the corners of her mouth and her head gives a little shake.

A light laugh parts my lips and I kiss behind her ear.

Strange things have happened, I guess... I just wish I knew who to thank for putting us under each other's spell.