‘Witch problems,’ Faye said with a laugh.
‘Right? You know. Where did you practise, in your village? Did you have an outside space you could use? Hampstead Heath’s been used by London covens for a long time. We’re lucky to have it. But there’s still a fair amount of time we’re in someone’s front room,’ Ruby said.
‘Oh, right. Well. Abercolme is on the Fife coast. So, I used one of the beaches there a lot. And the shop, out of hours. It used to be the front room of the house, so I like to think of all the past magic of my ancestors, stuck in the corners, up in the webs and the dust on the ceiling.’ She smiled. ‘That said, I like a good spring clean. And I think there’s definitely a place for modern design.’
‘Cool.’ Ruby looked impressed. ‘I’d love to do more sea magic. It’s hard to do here. I mean, some of us have done, like, day trips to the coast and hung out and done some stuff. But sometimes it’s bloody freezing on those beaches at night. Or I’ve done more subtle stuff in the day, you know. Stuff you can do that people don’t realise is witchcraft. But if you live right by it, it must be so much easier.’
‘It is, yes.’ Faye felt a tug of homesickness for Black Sands Beach and for Abercolme and swallowed it back like a bitter medicine. ‘I miss it,’ she added quietly.
‘I bet. More reason for you to come out with us. Be with your own kind,’ Ruby said kindly.
‘Thanks. That will be really nice.’ Faye smiled. She needed friends of her own here, and she missed her connection to the moon and the sea. A forest would be a good change of pace.
There was a knock on the door, and Annie poked her head around it.
‘Hey, babe. Thought you’d like lunch, if you’re done here?’ she said.
‘Definitely. It was good to meet you, Ruby.’ Faye made sure she folded up the piece of paper and slipped it in her pocket.
‘I’m sure I’ll see you again.’ Ruby winked.
‘Always good to meet a kindred spirit,’ Faye replied, smiling.
5
Faye was hurrying. She was late to meet Ruby’s coven.
She was late because Rav had halted her just before she’d got to the door of the flat, picked her up in his huge, muscular arms, put her over his thick shoulder, walked into the bedroom and thrown her on the bed.
‘The Beast needs to eat.’ He’d smiled lazily as she’d gazed up at him in surprise. ‘I cannot have my Queen going out into the world unsatisfied.’
‘Indeed.’ She had felt the familiar rush of desire for him as she looked up at him, lying prone underneath where he towered over her.A few minutes of pleasure won’t hurt,she thought. ‘But a servant’s head should never be above mine.’ She raised an imperious eyebrow. ‘Why am I craning my neck to look up at you? Get on your knees, Beast.’
‘Yes, my lady.’ A smile played around Rav’s mouth, and he knelt on the carpet and waited patiently, though Faye could see that under his loose joggers, his crotch was already bulging.
‘I thought you were hungry. So hungry that you had to have me right here and now,’ she continued, feeling herself growing wetter, enjoying the tingling between her legs.
‘I am, my Queen,’ he replied.
‘How hungry?’ She delayed him, knowing that his pleasure would increase the longer he had to wait for it. The fact that she would probably be late was an easily dismissed thought when the desire burned between them like this.
‘Starving.’ He smiled wickedly up at her. ‘Desperate to taste you.’
‘Hmm. I don’t think you sound nearly hungry enough to dine on such a queenly pussy as mine,’ she replied disdainfully. Since she and Rav had begun playing these power games, she often caught herself saying things she would never previously have dared to utter; sometimes, she found herself unrecognisable. Yet, she loved this new Faye. She loved being the queen that Rav adored, even if that was just in the bedroom. The rest of their relationship was normal. They were friendly and loving. Somehow, this dynamic had developed between them, but she loved it.
‘I am, my Queen. So very hungry,’ Rav replied seriously.
‘Beg me.’ She looked into his eyes as he gulped in desire. ‘Show me how much you want it.’
‘Please, my Queen. Please permit your Beast to eat.’ He stared back at her, his gaze intense and full of lust. ‘Please.’
‘As you wish.’ Faye sighed theatrically. ‘You will have to position your Queen accordingly. If you think I am going to waste energy moving for you, you are very mistaken.’
‘Yes, my Queen.’ Rav didn’t need any more permission. He reached for Faye’s calves with his huge, meaty hands and pulled her roughly towards him so that his face was parallel with her thighs. He pushed up her skirt and pulled her panties down roughly.
‘I did not say that you could be so rough.’ Faye tried to keep the thick desire from her voice, but she was too far gone already. She wanted him, and she wanted his face pressed into her; shewas desperate to feel his tongue on her. She loved the roughness, loved knowing how badly he wanted her.
‘I’m sorry, my Queen.’ He put a strong, heavy hand on the soft curve of each hip and pulled her closer to his mouth, until his lips were an inch from hers. Gently, he kissed the inside of her thighs. ‘Is that better?’ he breathed.
