VIII.

Best Of Both Worlds


On her knees, shaking, Sophie can only think that if this is the curse she was born for, maybe she should have picked an earlier day to die.

So good. Sensations outside her experience – her heart was beating fast as a bird in her chest, and she wondered if, when he took it…

"Have I not already, Sophie?"

Her heart lurches at the sound of her name in that beautiful voice – more so than at pretty one or glowfly or darling.

"You have – you have – all yours – "

She nearly asks him what he means to do – here, now, on the cold ground, but her skirt is still caught up around her thighs and the wet of his tongue is still chill on her skin, her body still clenching, empty, wanting – wanting – you, Howl. What you will do.

But he does not touch her again – not yet. He draws his fingers across her gaze and she sucks in a breath, takes a step backward. Dark space all around her, no limits, no floor, no ceiling, no vanishing point. He takes her by the hand, and she feels dark wings around her, sees black feathers blotting out the rest of that black view.

When they move she is in a glowing space – great bed at her back, and the wizard before her, and the thousand amulets and auguries of his position all around her, hanging, chiming, shining in light that comes from nowhere to brighten the tangle.

She feels silk under her, against her skin, and has a moment to wonder how this is happening, what great powers he possesses, before Howl is naked against her, hard pressure, hard presence, his hands at her wrists now and his mouth on her mouth, his kiss as sharp as a knife.


A/N: More tomorrow, and of course

Please Review!