Valentine's Wishes (12 page)

“Then yer shouldn’t say such funny things, should ye?” He smoothed her hair back from her face and used his thumbs to brush away the two tears she hadn’t manage to still. She fixed her gaze on his and the love in his eyes dissolved her need to pout.

How I love him. The world is a sweeter place with him in it.
She couldn’t stop her lip trembling.

“My sweet, the choice about a babe is yer own, always. Ye know it, I hope.”

“Aye,” she said.

“If yer wish to stay away from the court then I’m happy to stay with ye. Believe me?”

A quivery little sigh escaped her. The way his lips curved as he smiled lured her thoughts from anything else.

“And as for babies, I shouldn’t even have mentioned it. ’Twas such a surprise though, to find the thought of one with ye appealed. I’d not thought on it ever before, not seriously. I’m sorry and I didn’t mean to worry ye. Yer much younger than I, had less experience of the world and of magic.” He caressed her face, bent and placed a kiss where she knew the freckle spoiled her complexion. “I’m happy to wait with ye, Poppy. I’ll wait until yer decide ’twould be a good idea for us to have a little Poppy of our own.” He slid a hand round the back of her neck to pull her head down until she rested her cheek on his shoulder again.

“Yer would wait for me to decide?” Her heart swelled at the very thought and the words came out all crackly.

“I’ve said I love yer, haven’t I? I’d do a lot more than wait for yer to make a decision. For me to see yer smile and know yer happy and love me is all I need.” He stroked through her hair, twined his fingers in it and bent his head to press a kiss to her lips.

“I thought, ’twas all about the lovin’, you know, the flyin’ and such,” she murmured, while heat flamed to her face.

“Aye, but there’s more to lovin’, so much more, my flower. We have an age to be together, if yer want it.” He wrapped his arms tight around her and his kiss followed slow and sweet.

“And yer truly don’t mind if the wishes I make get muddled?” she asked when he let her mouth go.
He’s such a clever fairy, he’s bound to mind, and no matter what I do, things don’t seem to go right.

“Now, yer being silly again, my flower, because ’twas only one wish that went wrong. True ’twas a very big wish but ’twas an accident like yer said, and lots of accidents happen. I agree more than most seem to happen to ye. Perhaps yer what is called accident-prone. But the rest of the wishes ye’ve sent since have worked, haven’t they?” He gave her an encouraging smile.

She thought for a moment and nodded. “Aye, I suppose they have, and some of the ones in the house before the party.”

“And later today, yer can send another one to the last mortal couple and all will be well.”

She couldn’t answer him right then, because he whispered gentle kisses on her throat, and his lips turned her body to a needy mass so she ached and longed for more of his touch.

“Cedar,” she murmured when he helped pull the gown over her head.

“Tell me later, my flower, we’ve the whole of this cold day to spend together.” When he yanked off his clothes and lay down beside her, she entwined her legs around him, found the sweet hollow of his throat to kiss, and stroked over the faint shimmer that began to gleam through his flesh.

* * * *

Their snowy day passed too quickly. Only as a heavy tread crunched on the snow covered path beneath the nest did she lift the blanket from over their heads and realize the evening had arrived.

“Quick, it’s him,” she said and peeked over the edge of the nest down to where Surjan stood waiting after he rang the doorbell. Cedar snuggled close behind her.

“Patience, sweetness, wait until they are both together,” he murmured caressing her hips.

Bal answered the door, her pink hooded jacket already buttoned up tight. “Surjan, are you sure about this tonight?” Bal asked.

“Yes, I haven’t driven in snow since my visit to Canada last winter. You’ll love it. Come on.” He smiled wide as he reached for Bal’s hand.

“Now,” Cedar whispered, as the two mortals walked down the path to the large red car.

She let the power of the wish swell fast and as she let it go the wish flew bright and fast, and landed right where she’d sent it.

“And now it’s all fixed?” she said, as Surjan opened the door for Bal to get in the car.

“Aye, ’twill all be as it should have been before they drank the punch.” Cedar slid a warm palm to cup her breast another to stroke her hip.

“Good.” She turned her head to kiss him and made to rise from where she knelt.

“No, my star, don’t move yet,” Cedar whispered close into her ear. Solid, velvet warmth parted her folds and nestled at the entrance to her pussy.

“Like this?” she asked with a glance over her shoulder.

He ran his hand up along her spine and giving her the smile she adored, caught the hair at the nape of her neck. She let out a soft shuddery moan of pleasure as he slid inside and bent to her ear with a deep groan.

“Yes, Cedar. I like this!”

They moved in a swiftly building unity. The glow from him above her shone on her hands as she clutched the side of the nest. Her breathing rate snapped along. She gave tiny cries of pleasure. A fiery heat thrilled through her.

“Cedar!”

Her next shriek rang wordless.

He rolled her hips against his still buried deep and moving fast. “Again, my gem. Once more.”

Filled with the delicious and blissful glow of pleasure, she whimpered agreement and shoved back toward him with a moan. A fresh welter of sensations thundered through her at the increase in the rhythm. He took her so quickly to the edge of orgasm the evening blazed about her in a dazzle of light.

Incapable of words, she gave a shattered cry as he hit the peak with her.

She would never have believed it possible to want someone as much as she seemed to want him. Each time they loved was perfect and made her long for the next. He withdrew and they collapsed down in the nest. She rolled over and wiped the sheen of sweat from his brow. He glistened like a star.

He cupped her face in his hands and bent to kiss her. Their mouths met and the energy spilled from them both to light the nest bright as if by a lamp. “My flower, I’ll never leave ye, I swear it.”

“About the baby idea?” she murmured as he laid her back in the soft springy nest.

“Ah, we’ll talk more about it in the springtime, my flower.” He traced soft over her skin with gentle fingers, and she sighed as she pulled him to her and hid the dazzling brilliance they’d made with one of her pink covers.

May blossom hung white as snow on the branches, the sweet honeyed fragrance enough to delight both the bumbles and Poppy. Cedar lay beside her. He rested his hand on the small swelling beneath her gown.

“Today’s the last day then?” he murmured, his mouth close to her ear.

“Aye, I’m sad to see them go, but at least they’re all happy.”

“And are ye?” he asked.

“Aye, I love ye, yer know it.” She reached over to kiss his face.

“I love yer too, my darling little bud.” He slid his arm around her, and she breathed deep.

The chink of the glasses and the pop of a cork roused her from the lazy bliss of the blossom. Cedar seemed asleep as she turned over so she could see where her three mortals stood.

Lucy poured wine into the glasses which were already half full of orange juice.

“I’ll just have juice, thanks,” Bal said.

Lucy passed a glass to each of them. “To us all, and to love.”

“Here’s to us all,” Keri said.

“I’m going to miss you both,” Bal added as they chinked the glasses together.

Lucy laughed and then sipped. “My darlings, we’re only a phone call away and we’ll still see each other.”

“I know, but you’ve been married a month. For me and Keri it’s not quite the same.”

“Bal, this time next week you’ll be knee-deep in congratulation cards and wedding presents,” Lucy said and her laugh echoed round the garden.

“Yes, so stop worrying, you’ll be fine. There’s the fabulous honeymoon in India you have booked, think about that and not the ceremony.” Keri leant over to kiss Bal’s pink cheek.

“And Keri, what about you and Jez?” Lucy asked as she sipped her drink.

“Most of my things are already at his place, they have been for weeks. There is only the official ‘I’ve moved in’ to say, isn’t there? I mean, let’s face facts, it’s been weeks since I spent a night here.”

Poppy nodded to herself.
Keri
’
s right. Over the last three months, I’ve seen less and less of each of them. They’ve flitted in and out of the house like early butterflies.

The FOR SALE sign had come close to breaking her heart. But Cedar had said it was normal, and with luck, they’d get some nice new mortals. The young couple who had bought the house did seem nice enough, though they had only seen them twice.

“So will you and Jez get married, do you think?” Lucy asked Keri.

“I don’t know for definite yet. We’re both kind of cautious creatures I suppose. Eventually perhaps.”

“Well, don’t leave it too long,” Bal said with a smile.

“So, is Surjan coming to pick you up today?” Keri asked Bal.

“Oh no, not today. Dad will fetch me this afternoon, from now until Thursday I don’t get to see Surjan at all. Part of the traditional ceremony—the next time I see him will be at the temple, and I’m terrified.”

“What? Do you think he won’t turn up?” Lucy asked.

“No, it’s not that, it’s the whole family thing, you know. If I so much as put a toe wrong, the aunties will be talking about it for months. I’m so glad you two are coming, it will be a drop of sanity in the whole proceedings.”

“I’m glad James and I married quietly, I don’t think I could have borne so much pressure,” Lucy said.

Keri gave a chuckle. “I wouldn’t say two hundred guests at a Cotswold hotel was so very quiet,” she said.

“Believe me, darling, in comparison with what my mother wanted, it was quiet.”

“Oh well, I’ll top you there, won’t I? At the last count, there are about five hundred people coming to the temple ceremony and even more after. Some are flying over especially for the event, and I’m dreading it,” Bal murmured.

Keri gave her a hug. “You’ll be just like a queen, my love. The outfit you have is the most glorious thing I’ve ever seen, with all the gold work on it. You should be grateful you won’t have to walk too much with the weight of it. They’ll be so bowled over you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

“What does your gran say?” Lucy asked.

“Oh, she’s thrilled, absolutely thrilled about the whole thing. At the moment, I’m her favorite granddaughter,” Bal said and smiled. “She keeps ringing me to give me tips on how to keep my new husband happy. It’s too embarrassing, believe me. I would never have thought she knew half the stuff she tells me. I daren’t look at Surjan and think about some of the things she says.”

All the girls laughed and Poppy glanced over beside her at Cedar chuckling too. “What are yer laughing at? Poor little Bal, she’s nervous,” she said.

“Well, do yer want to send her a wish so she’ll stop fretting about it?” He arched an eyebrow, and she shook her head.

“No, I don’t and I think we should go take a peek at the shed yer’ve decided we should move to.”

He helped her up. “Now, my flower, don’t pout. Yer agreed with me when the babe comes we’ll need more room than we have in the nest. I know it’s next door, but ’twill be better. I’ve checked it out well, there’s no cat or anything dangerous in the garden even if it’s so overgrown.”

“I like the nest,” she said.

“So do I, for us two, but when the leaves fall, there will be three of us won’t there?” Cedar said with a smile as he stroked over her stomach. “Come autumn there will be our little Poppy to consider, and yer will be glad of the extra space come the winter.”

“Aye, I’m sure yer right, I’ll be sad to leave here, that’s all. Come on then.”

They flew over the hedge and fence panels to next door and down to the shed. Poppy sighed
. I don’t like it so much next door, but my garden has no shed, and Cedar’s right, the nest is no place for a tiny fairy babe.

“There’s lots of room. Plenty of space,” Cedar said.

“Yes, I suppose so,” she murmured as they peered inside through a gap low down by the hedge. She gave another sigh. “I’m going back to say goodbye to the girls.”

She flew up and back to her garden. No matter what Cedar said, the flowers smelled sweetest here.

The girls still stood on the decking, the pots of flowers around them. “When are the Davidsons moving in?” Lucy asked as she finished her glass of wine.

“Nine o’clock tomorrow morning. The van for our things will be here about two this afternoon. Whatever is left none of us want will go to the charity shop,” Keri said. “You’re both still certain you don’t mind the furniture going to my cousin Rachel and her friend?”

“Of course, don’t you remember when we first moved in?” Lucy said with a grin.

Bal gave a chuckle. “Oh, yes. I remember only too well, it was a month before we had anything to cook on. I can’t believe we ate so many take away meals. I’m glad we found somewhere for the furniture to go and it will do someone some good.”

“It’s a bit strange seeing everything in boxes, hey?” Keri put her glass down on the tray. “But I suppose this is how things should be. Right, let’s tidy these away and get on with moving the boxes.”

* * * *

Poppy and Cedar lounged in the blossoms as the afternoon passed and watched the girls hurry around. Once the removal van arrived, they flew over to the front garden where they perched amongst heavy heads of delicious lilac blooms. Furniture and boxes were all packed onto the van by two men and the girls.

Poppy’s throat grew tight as the wooden shelves were loaded into the back of the van. “Ahh,” she whispered. “That’s where I stood when the Valentine’s wish went wrong.”

“Ah, wonderful. If yer’d got it right, my sweet, then perhaps I’d have flown on somewhere else.” Cedar squeezed her hand.

“What a thing to say! Are yer telling me ’twas only because of the wish yer stayed?” She turned open mouthed to stare at him.