Page 14 of Chasing the Flame
He looks me up and down, a slow, cruel smile twisting at the corners of his mouth. “Make sure you change. I love the sporty look, baby, but your boobs are on full display again. I don't want to have to repeat myself about what’s appropriate for the third time.”
“Of course, honey,” I mutter.
His smile widens, and a sickening feeling churns in my gut. Tonight will likely be one ofthosenights. The type of nights where I force myself to stay still—toendurewhatever terrible sexual fantasy he has in mind. He strides toward the foyer, the jingling sound of his keys and the door closing behind him a welcome relief.
I grip the edge of the island counter, slowly breathing in and out, trying to find my center. A sense of unease snakes its way through my stomach, one that has hairs rising on the back of my neck.
I need to ground.
As the sounds of Luke’s car drift further away, I race to the room I’ve designated as my office. Flinging open the door, I scan the room until I find what I’m looking for. A small box sits in the corner, unassumingly named random book shit.
It’s anything but.
No, what hides in this box may send Luke over the edge. I’ve always been drawn to everything witchy. I used tarot cards and crystals to keep up with the more traditional pagan holidays, and I even once had an altar.
Now, most of this sits unused. Today feels different, and I feel a connection to the old me that I thought was dead and gone. Grabbing the scissors on my desk, I quickly cut through the tape, eager to look through it.
Opening this box feels like Yule morning, and I don’t fight the grin that creeps across my face. Three beautiful decks are set in the center, each unique yet part of a theme. Reaching my hands inside, I pull out my favorite.
The box depicts a woman in a billowing gray dress, her dark hair swirling around her, and shadows clouding the background. It’s hereyes, though, that drew me in. They are silver —piercing—and she holds a sword that seems to blaze with truth.
Snatching the deck, I rummage in my box for the amethyst, malachite, and rose quartz buried there. When I find them, I do a little happy dance. Setting my treasured items on my desk, I dig deeper into the box, seeing several of my candles. I grab a black one to release negativity and banish it from our home. The other candle is white, representing cleansing and new beginnings.
Scooping up all my ritual items and grabbing one of my thicker blankets, I make my way to the front of the house and head straight for the water. The gentle waves are lapping at the shoreline, and the earthy scent of the lake fills my senses, instantly grounding me in the moment.
I pick a spot far enough back that the water won’t catch my blanket, but close enough that I can really appreciate the view. There’s no one around. It’s quiet, blissful, only the sounds of the waves lapping along the shoreline.
I guess that’s the beauty of having private property. Slipping my shoes and socks off and pulling the bottoms of my leggings up, I take off toward the lake's edge.
Every thought in my head disappears when my feet hit the water. All that’s left is me, the waves lapping at my feet, and the earth and musk in the air.
The wind whips through my hair, sending it flying all around me. If that isn’t confirmation for a cleansing, then I don’t know what it is. I’m unsure how long I stand here, watching the water move softly in the breeze.
My Scottish and Irish roots have always called me to bodies of water, and I find I practice the ways of my ancestors who followed the Celtic pagan traditions.
A Druid, I suppose, is a more appropriate term for what I am and how I practice magic. I’m not sure why the thoughts of my ancestors come unbidden or why I feel such an intense desire to light those candles.
I return to the blanket and get settled, reaching for my lighter and the needed items. I lift the black candle and call upon The Morrighan, asking her to aid me in banishing the darkness I feel seeping into my life. With the flick of the lighter, I light the candle, setting it in the wet sand. Next, I lift the white candle, asking her to help purify and protect my mind, soul, and body. Once both candles are lit, I rummage around for my smudge stick, coming up short.
I could’ve sworn I grabbed it.
I check my jacket pocket and search through the blanket again, only to find it empty. I sigh dramatically, blow out my candles, and throw on my shoes. It’s a short hike back to the house, and my mind wanders. I’m careful to watch my feet, clumsy as I am. I can't afford to sprain an ankle while no one is around. Idly, I pat my right pocket, a sense of dread sinking like lead in my stomach when I come up empty. Panic rushes through me, and I check the pockets on my legs and jacket again, frantically searching for my phone.
“Shit!” I yelp, taking off in a dash toward the house.
Curse my memory. I left my cell phone in the kitchen, and I’m sure Luke has called a dozen times by now.
My eyes are glued to the ground as I rush across the sand until my feet touch the grass. Hurrying toward the door, I hear a car door shut, whipping around at the sound. My eyes squint, fuck I forgot to grab my glasses, but it looks like the vehicles from Jettson’s crew.
I don’t pay them any mind, knowing they still need to work on the siding around the side and back of the house. The front is coming along beautifully, and Jettson has already replaced the old shutterswith an elegant deep green. I’m excited by how it’s all coming together and can’t wait to see the finished product.
I turn to head up the steps and run face-first into a mountain. “Ow!” I squeal. Firm hands grip my sides, and the smells of pine and sandalwood assault my senses. My head swims, and my heart thunders traitorously in my chest. I lift my head, immediately snared in Jettson’s blue-green eyes.
My breath catches in my throat as a chill races down my spine. The way Jettson is looking at me sends a delicious heat straight to my stomach, centering in my aching, wet pussy.
Traitorous thing. I refuse to be a slave to my raging hormones.
Clenching my thighs like my life depends on it, I suck in a breath, licking my lips, fully intending to move away. To put some distance between us so I don’t look like a fool.
