The spirit in which an enchantment is performed often delivers as much magic as the spell itself.
The sacred circle was cast, and all my dream guardians were set in their place. As I anointed myself with oil, the strong scent of roses filled the air. Wiping my hands clean, I picked up the single stem rose that I had just bought that morning and gently held onto it. The flickering light of the candles on the altar illuminated the petals until the delicate bud seemed to glow in my hands. I felt the power of the Goddess surround me as I took a deep breath and inhaled my rose’s sweet scent.
I chanted this incantation three times:
"Candle light, sacred light,
Burning steady, burning bright.
Scent of rose fill the night.
Dream lover, I do invite.
With this rose as my gift,
Soft asleep I do drift.
In my dreams, make us one.
So be it, this charm is done!"
Then I put the rose carefully beside my bed and watched the candles as they burned down. All the while concentrating on the one thing that I wanted most in this world.
Goddess please let this work! I'm so tired of being alone!
When the candles finally extinguished, I stretched out on the bed and fell asleep with the scent of roses filling the air. I woke up to the sound of rain on the roof and the distant rumbling of thunder. Getting out of bed I went to the window and looked out. Why did it always have to rain on this day? I couldn’t remember a Beltane in the last couple of years that it hadn’t rained.
I hoped the muddy back road into town wouldn't flood. This was going to be another wet and dreary day at the business again.
In the shower, I thought about all the things that I needed to accomplish at the shop before I closed up for the day, and all those items I'd need to pick up before the ritual. Every year we planned an outdoor ritual, and every year the same situation came up. It was starting to become a running joke with the other members of my Coven. I'd hoped that this year would be different, but I should have known better.
My mind was still on the ritual we were to perform that night, as I sat down on the end of the bed to put my shoes on. I looked at the rose on my bedside table and sighed. I was putting a lot of faith and hope into this delicate bud. Reverently, I slipped it into the red satin pouch I'd made just for this purpose and pinned it to the inside of my bra. I made another silent plea to the Goddess for her help. This spell had to work. It just had to.
I spent the day in town keeping busy. I put up stock at the specialty shop that I owned, answered calls and tried to keep my mind off of the red satin bundle nestled between my breasts. However, by the time it was four o'clock the rain that had been falling all day showed no sign of letting up. In fact, it was really getting worse. Huge fat drops splattered against the shop window, while thunder rumbled angrily overhead. Bright streaks of lightening lit up the black threatening clouds and that made me jump slightly. I had always loved to hear the sound of rain on the roof, but something about this storm felt different. The feeling in the air was like an electric tingle that crept into my bones and kept me nervous and edgy.
Standing by the window, I cradled a cup of tea that I'd made for myself, while I looked out at the nearly deserted street. The brew was hot and tasted of honey and lemon. The warmth of the cup helped to still the noticeable trembling in my hands. I looked up at the clock over the door. Ten after four--was that all? Time seemed to drop to a crawl, and I seriously considered closing the shop and heading for home. I hadn’t made any decent sales all day, and I didn’t think that closing a couple of hours early was really going to make that much of a difference.
I put my cup down on the counter and was digging in the pocket of my jeans for my keys, when the sudden ring of the bell over the door made me look up. A cold gust of rain scented air blew against my face as a male figure came into the shop and closed the door behind him. At first, I didn't recognize him for his rain gear, but one look at that finely chiseled face, and I knew him immediately.
"Ryan! What are you doing here?" He was a mess from the rain. I slipped quickly behind the counter to grab a handful of napkins. "I thought you were still in England."
“I was." His fingers brushed lightly against mine as he took the paper napkins and started to wipe the rain from his face and hair. "Chloe called me."
"Chloe?" Suddenly, I was suspicious. "Why on earth would she call you?" I asked, feeling a chill run up my spine as if the temperature in the room had dropped to below freezing.
"I think that my sister had an ulterior motive." The skin around his dark brown eyes crinkled slightly as he smiled. "After all, it is Beltane you know."
My face flushed hot with embarrassment. Chole wouldn’t have! She couldn’t have!
Think about it, my girl! I heard a voice whisper in my mind. Oh, no! Against my better judgement, I chose to ignore it. This had to be coincidence.
"Do you have a partner for the Great Rite yet?" Ryan watched my face closely for response. I could tell from the slight grin on those sensuous lips that he was enjoying my embarressing predicament immensely.
"I'm not doing that this year." I turned away from him quickly and took a long, slow cleansing breath. When I turned back around, he was pouring himself a cup of tea from the pot that I had left sitting on the counter. "So I suppose Chole will be taking over that duty again."
Ryan shook his head. "She can't."
"What do you mean 'she can't?' It's already been planned!" I blurted out. "We were gonna all meet at her farm."
"Sometimes the-best-laid-plans must be cancelled. We're going to meet at your farm instead. You haven't torn down your grandmother's barn since I left, have you? We can always use that as an alternative site."
Ryan set down his cup and leaned against the counter. He was watching me intently. His dark eyes seemed to trace my every curve. I suddenly felt very naked and vulnerable under his gaze.
"Unlike last year, our high priestess will not have to use the athame and cup to represent the unity of the Lord and Lady."
I shuddered. I hoped he didn't see it, but his next words told me he did.
"It's time that you realized your full potential and performed the rite as the Goddess expects you to do, my Elizabeth."
I bristled slightly at the commanding tone of his voice. I might have been something like a wallflower, but I wasn't about to let any man talk to me as if I were beneath him. Even the way he used my name irritated me. He never called me Liz, Lizbeth or even Lizard-Breath like some of my friends. With him it was always "My Elizabeth."
Ryan Sheridan had always made me feel nervous even when he wasn't getting under my skin. There was something dark and dangerous about him. Even as a youngster he'd had that smoldering sensuality. Plus, those long dark eyelashes made women go crazy, especially hungry, demented, extremely hesitant females like me.
I couldn’t even imagine that Ryan would want to share something as magical as the Great Rite with someone whom he believed to be inferior to him.
"Wait a minute, we can't have a bonfire around all that hay," I replied. "Besides, if it keeps on raining, we may have to cancel the ceremony anyway. You know how those old country roads just love to flood."
He smiled knowingly. "The rain will stop."
"What are you now, a weather forecaster or something?" I tried to joke to hide the anger that I could feel boiling up inside of me.
"I have my connections." He pushed away from the counter and took a step toward me. "We will have the ceremony tonight, my Elizabeth. Count on it." He touched my arm, and I felt the power in those strong fingers. "In fact, I look forward to it."
A light breeze was blowing, and the stars were glittering brightly overhead when I pulled the car into my driveway and set the brake. There were several other cars already parked in the yard around the old barn and the odor of burning apple wood smelled strong in the night air. Apparently, Chloe and Ryan had warned everyone about the change in plans as soon as they'd decided it was to be held at my grandmother's farm.
"I guess everybody already knew, but me," I muttered. "Hey, folks! Don't mind me. Let's just gather at my grandma's place."
Still, I was glad that I'd decided not to sell the old farmhouse or any of the land that my grandmother had left me in her will.
Even though she was a God-fearing woman, my grandmother always had a rather dark side to her nature. I could've never told my mother or my aunts, but she'd never batted an eye when I'd confessed to grandma about my interest in Wicca. She'd actually helped me in my studies, and prompted my search to find my own way. I would always be grateful for the love and guidance she'd given me.
On nights like this, when the power between the Goddess and the Earth seemed so powerful, these were the moments I felt my grandmother's presence. "I hope you’re here with me, Grandma. I sure do need you right now," I whispered to myself, as I headed for the barn.
"Looks like we're not going to have to use the barn after all, Lady Silverwind." Wild Fire remarked as I came into the light. "Thank the Goddess."
Wild Fire was the one that had approached me all those years ago and asked me to join his Coven. Over the years, I'd slowly worked my way up into becoming High Priestess. But he would always be my most senior member and my best friend. Throwing back the hood of his cloak, he took my arm and pointed his flashlight down the narrow path.
"Has everyone arrived already?" I asked as we made our way down the slippery path to the field below.
"Everyone but Ravenwing."
Just like I thought, no Chloe.
My old friend averted his eyes and pretended to be watching the ground. "She sent someone in her place."
"You don’t sound like you approve." I stopped and turned to face him. "It's him, isn’t it?"
"I just hope that you know what you're getting into, Lady," Wild Fire said. "Lone Wolf is not exactly the one that I would have picked to partner you for this ceremony. Are you sure that you don’t want one of the others to take your place? Their magic won’t be as strong, but somehow I think that the Goddess would understand."
No, I don’t think she would, I thought to myself. Something else was going on tonight, and it was more than just the fact that this was Beltane. There was a power in the air. I could almost taste it on the wind.
"Don’t worry about me, Wild Fire. I'll be all right." I reassured him. I just hoped that I wasn't being a fool by trying to reassure myself.
The others had gathered around the blazing fire, and as we stepped out into the clearing, they turned to greet us. Wild Fire led me to the edge of the circle, and then stepped back to take his place with the others.
Feeling all eyes on me, I looked up to see Ryan standing on the other side of the fire. His hood was pulled down over his head, and it covered most of his face, but I'd recognize those strong shoulders anywhere.
As if sensing that I was watching him, he raised his head to look at me. Vaguely, I heard the voices of the others begin to murmur, as he moved around the blazing logs to stand beside me. I could understand their discontent. Ryan had always been an outsider, preferring to practice the craft as a solitary. He'd never wanted to be part of a Coven, but still he'd taken the chance and allowed his sister to talk him into joining with us. When he had become disgruntled with all the politics and internal bickering among the others, he'd quit and headed off to England.
It bothered me that I didn't know what Chloe had done to bring him back for this Beltane ritual. Of course, at this moment, I wasn't sure that I really wanted to know.
"Are you ready to begin?" Ryan's deep voice broke into my thoughts, and, startled, I stepped back slightly.
Numbly, I nodded and stepped away from him. I closed my eyes for a moment to calm the fluttering in my stomach. I would need to be strong, and not let my own fears interfere with what I intended to do this night. I'd been chosen to be High Priestess because the others believed that my magic was strong. I was determined not to let any of them down.
I drew my athame from the folds of my cloak and held it high. Its silver handle glinted in the light of the fire. Though the night air was cool, the metal felt warm in my hand. My voice was strong as I called to the four quarters and cast the great circle around us. As always, I felt a thrill of pleasure run through me when I experienced the power of the Goddess enter me. Ryan must have felt it too because his eyes widened slightly in surprise. I could feel his eyes watching me hungrily as I came to a stop directly in front of him.
He looked at me, and, for a moment, I saw someone or something else standing in his place--something dark and powerful. An entity full of raw sexual energy stood before me. I licked my lips and tried to still the rapid beating of my heart, but there was nothing that could have quenched the fire that the Goddess's power ignited between my legs.
I wanted lone Wolf so desperately that it hurt.
The sound of the drums seemed to pound through my veins as the other members of the Coven swayed and danced around us. Ryan winked at me as he lowered the hood of his robe. Reaching down he picked up another log and tossed it into the already roaring fire. Sparks flew up into the rain scented atmosphere as he moved toward me. He reached out to undo the ties of my robe. His eyes were shining as my cloak fell away from my shoulders, and I stood naked before him.
The gentle touch of his fingers as he brushed a hand across my breasts made my nipples harden, and I felt a warm wetness between my thighs. I took his hand and pulled him closer, so that I could undo the ties of his own robe.
It fell away from him, and I marveled at the beauty and grace of his body. Ryan was a very handsome man, and he could have had any woman in the Coven with his movie star good looks and the suave British charm that he'd picked up in England. But still he had chosen me to perform the Great Rite with him. I knew that I should have felt honored, but I had to admit that I was more than a little scared. Ryan was the one man that I had always considered completely out of my league.
As if sensing my nervousness, Ryan leaned close to me. “Don’t be scared, my Elizabeth. I promise you that I will be gentle."
My heart was thudding in my chest as I took a deep breath. I knelt down on the ground and looked up at him. “Blessed are thy feet, which have brought thee in these ways…"
I kissed each of his feet and raised myself to look up at him again. “Blessed are thy knees, which kneel at the sacred altar…” I kissed his knees, and then placed my hands firmly on the strong muscles of his thighs.
“Blessed is thy sex, without which we would not be…” I kissed the tip of his already stiff member and as I slipped my lips slightly around the sensitive head, I felt a shiver run through him before I pulled away and got to my feet. I could feel him trembling as I bent my head to kiss his nipples.
“Blessed are thy breasts, formed in beauty and in strength…” I put my hands on his shoulders and felt the hard muscles beneath his smooth skin. This close to him, I could smell the scent of the spicy oil that he had rubbed into his skin before the ritual. I took a deep breath and looked into his eyes. “Blessed are they lips, which shall utter the sacred names…”
His lips were warm and firm and tasted of strawberries. I would have done anything right then to have made that one simple kiss last longer. Instead I pulled away and stepped back.
“Cernunnos! Lugh! Tammuz!” My voice was clear and strong as I chanted the names. The others echoed me, their own voices adding a rhythm to the beating of the drums.
Ryan knelt down before me and kissed the tops of my feet, repeating the same words that I had said to him. When his mouth reached the cleft between my legs I felt his strong fingers push my thighs apart slightly and I gasped when his tongue darted out to flick against the sensitive nub.
Everywhere his mouth touched I felt a tingle and when he finally stood up and looked into my eyes I saw the flame of lust burning clearly in his own. His hands on my shoulders were warm as he pulled me to him and molded his body to my own.
“Brigit! Cerridwen! Branwen!” His eyes were sparkling as he spoke in a clear high voice. As the echoing voices of the others died away, he looked down at me, and then his mouth came down on mine in a searing kiss.
We kissed wildly and his hands seemed to be everywhere all at once. I couldn't even think about trying to resist him when he lowered me to the ground. He leaned over me and I saw the sweat gleaming on his chest in the reddish light of the fire. I knew the others were watching us intently, and I could almost hear their sighs of contented abandon when he lowered his mouth to mine.
I stiffened slightly and bit my lip to keep from crying out when he entered me. He was so big that I was sure that I would never be able to take all of him inside of me.
He felt my hesitation, and he stopped and looked down at me. "Do you want me to stop?"
In answer, I wrapped my arms and legs around him to keep him from slipping out of me. He sighed then, pushing into me deeper and deeper. Each, intense slow thrust was hotter than the Beltane fire that burned beside us. Soon the pain gave way to pleasure, and I found myself trying to match him thrust for thrust. I ran my fingers through his short sweat soaked hair, gasping when I felt his strong white teeth bite gently into the soft skin of my shoulder.
His gasps were coming faster now, and each thrust went deeper as he drove into me relentlessly. I felt the first spasm, as he seemed to expand inside of me. He groaned and twisted his fingers into my hair.
Beneath him I felt the stirrings of my own pleasure, and I moaned as he worked his long hard shaft into me. I dug my fingers into the strong muscles of his arms and cried out, as he locked himself to me.
Ryan filled me with his seed.
I was panting when he finally slowed his frantic thrusts and collapsed on top of me. The fine hairs on his chest were rough against the smooth skin of my breasts, but it was nothing compared to the delicious ache between my legs when he finally pulled out of me. For what seemed like hours, he held me close to him, and I listened to the rapid beating of his heart as he fell asleep nestled against me.
One by one the other Coveners slipped away into the darkness of the trees to perform their own Beltane rites. Soon, we were alone with nothing but the light of the moon and the warmth of the fire to keep us warm.
I felt my eyelids getting heavy, and I when I next opened my eyes I was back in my own bed in the farmhouse. Ryan was curled up on his side next to me. I had no idea how we had gotten back to the farm house, but from the sound of the rain slashing against the windows I was glad that we were safe inside.
He didn't move or open his eyes as I turned over so that I could get a better look at him. His face was relaxed and his eyelids fluttered slightly as he dreamed. Slowly, I slid out of bed being careful not to wake him. Barefooted and naked, I went to the window and knelt down in front of the little table that served as my altar.
Carefully, I lifted the red satin bag that held the rose blossom and held it to my nose. It still smelled as sweet as the day that I had placed it inside. Quietly, I sent up a prayer to the Goddess thanking her for letting me experience at least one night of pure pleasure. I didn’t know how much longer Ryan would stay in my life, but I hoped that it would be for more than just one day.
The bed creaked and I hurriedly laid the bundle back down on the altar being careful to arrange my candles so that it was hidden from sight. Getting to my feet I turned to find Ryan sitting up and watching me sleepily. His grin was all I needed to send me scurrying back to the bed and warmth of his strong arms.
Without a word, he made love to me again. He took his time, using his hands and mouth in ways that I’d never dreamed existed. He took full charge of our joining, thrusting forward and then pulling back an inch at a time. Over and over he did this until I was clutching at him, drawing him deeper and deeper into me. I clung to him, making him gasp out loud when I sank my teeth into the soft skin of his shoulder and bit down in a gentle nip.
His hands tightened on my hips, drawing me closer as he pumped into me wildly. Through slitted eyes I looked up at his face. Something primal and urgent had taken him over. With a loud grunt, he dug his fingers into my sides, and I felt his cock twitch as he came inside of me. I threw back my head, howling out my own delight as wave after wave of pleasure washed over me.
When it was over, I nuzzled his neck. He murmured softly to me and stroked my back with gentle hands until I felt myself starting to drift off to sleep. The sight of the tiny tattoo on his shoulder startled me awake. I realized with a shock that the shape was something that I had seen before but never really noticed.
It was the image of a perfect red rose.
