Tawny taylor, p.1
Tawny Taylor, page 1
A Fairy in Stilettos Tawny Taylor
All rights reserved. Copyright ©2004 by Tawny Taylor
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Editor: Pat Haley Cover Artist: Sahara Kelly
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Chapter 1
If Belle St. Fèe hadn’t seen it for herself, she would have sworn it wasn’t possible. The infamous Captain H. was back from the dead. And like most men who pay a visit to hell, he was back with vengeance in his blood.
She was grateful for only one reason. Her many years of boredom, since her longtime friend Peter sent the wicked H. to his former resting place, were over — with a bang. So what if she had to put up with mayhem and chaos now? It sure beat the hell out of the miserable case of the same-old-same-olds she’d suffered from for eons.
And so, as she watched the captain turn his wooden schooner about overhead, high above the trees, she braced herself for another round of cannon fire while contemplating her next move. The Boys were safe below for now, huddled in their underground sanctuaries built ages before, for just such emergencies. Thankfully, they hadn’t been completely abandoned after H’s last defeat. Belle suspected everyone knew even hell couldn’t contain a man as wicked as Captain H.
“Fire!” he shouted from high above. Belle, perched on a tree limb, plugged her ears against the deafening sound of metal cannonballs pounding into wood-framed houses and mature trees. When a full block of homes were leveled, she knew it was time to yank the captain’s chain a bit and send him on his way.
No doubt about it. There was only one who could defeat the crafty captain and Belle would have to travel to a dimension she’d refused to enter for ages to find him.
“What a shame.” She smiled, then turned toward the ship directly overhead and took flight. As she approached the schooner, which like its captain had seen better days, she sing-songed, “Oh, Captain!”
Lightning quick, he spun around. His scowl made his face, which she’d formerly sworn couldn’t get any uglier, hideous.
He roared, “Who dares approach my ship?”
“So, captain, we’re playing these games again? You know full well who it is. It is I, Belle St. Fèe. I’ve come to ask for mercy.”
Low laughter rumbled through the sky, sounding like distant thunder. “Mercy? Why would I be foolish enough to do that?”
“Foolish? I’d say you would be wise to grant us mercy. For the one you seek isn’t here, and you’re running low on ammunition.”
The pirate ambled forward, his skull ring flashing in the sunlight as he lifted his hand and twisted his handlebar mustache. Long black hair hung limp around his face, despite the rising winds. His once finely sewn suit, now torn and tattered, clung to his thin frame. He caught the hook that took the place of his hand, lost long ago to a crocodile, on the mast rigging, and asked, “Then where is he, Belle St. Fèe? Tell me now, or watch your world be plundered. Since escaping the grip of Hades, I have no patience for games and riddles.”
“Well, neither do I and I’ve yet to visit anywhere worse than a swamp. Bad water does a number on me. Turns my insides in knots. Believe me, I’m one cranky fairy, who could care less about games and riddles, and when —”
“Enough!” he shouted, his voice booming over the land. “Speak now —” He raised his hook hand, “Or I fire!”
Feigning nonchalance, she picked at her fingernails. “To be honest, I’m not sure where he is. But if you ask nicely, I might be convinced to go find him.”
“Then be gone.” The captain handed her a compass. “But return before the needle points south, or you’ll find your beloved home in splinters and your Boys so far underground no shovel will be able to dig them out.”
Thus, it was decided. Belle St. Fèe would go to America, a place she hadn’t visited for centuries, to find her dearest friend, Peter.
She only hoped he was still the same boy he used to be.
*
Traveling between dimensions wasn’t a pleasant thing, certainly not something Belle did without a companion. Fortunately, it didn’t take a lot to coerce — correction — convince — Julie, the only other female residing in Ne’erland, to accompany her. After a sweep of her wand to change their apparel to a more appropriate — granted uncomfortable — design so they wouldn’t draw attention to themselves, they took flight, Belle’s magic dust allowing Julie to fly too. They soared up, straight to the stars. The force of traveling so fast made the fairy grow instantly nauseous and dizzy. Thankfully, with a flash, they crossed into Peter’s world and slowly descended, straightening hair and clothing blown askew from traveling, toward Peter’s last known location.
“These clothes are miserable. Can’t we change?” Julie asked, tugging on the front of her gown.
“No. We want to fit in with the people. This is what they wear —”
Immediately, Belle realized the place Peter had once called America had changed. And not for the better.
The streets were crowded. The air filthy. The noise enough to shatter her eardrums.
“This place is…horrible! What is that?” Julie said, staring at a creature walking toward them. Its hair was blue, its skin covered with smudgy black drawings and little metal balls and hoops protruded from various points on his face.
“It’s curious. I’m guessing a human male, but I can’t be sure. I never saw one like that before.”
Julie spun around, watching the retreating back of the creature. As if it knew it was being watched, it turned and scowled.
“What you staring at, bitch?” it growled.
With a gasp, Julie turned forward, nearly running into Belle. Panic written all over her face, she gripped Belle’s arm. “I don’t suppose ‘bitch’ is a compliment in this world?”
“It could be. Should I ask?” Belle suggested, waving her arm. “Pardon —”
Julie clapped her hand over Belle’s mouth. “No! Don’t do that! I want to leave. Now.”
“We can’t leave yet. Captain H. will level Ne’erland. I’m partial to my house. I just finished renovations. Have a heart. I lived without a bathtub for six whole months. And, speaking of improvements, I think we’d better change our clothes so we fit in. I guess American style has changed,” Belle said, noting the trail of curious gazes they were collecting as they walked. No one wore the long gowns and bustles they were sporting any more. In fact, outside of the chains and slick black garments of the studded creature, the other beings’ clothing looked…comfortable…certainly better than the torture device she had under her gown.
Whoever had invented the corset might possibly be wicked enough to put Captain H. to shame. He most certainly had a cruel streak.
After studying the garb of a few more passersby, Belle led Julie around the back of a building and into an alley. She waved her wand. In a snap, they had on the loose-fitting shirts and pants of the Americans. “Oh yes! This is much better.” Belle moved her arms and kicked her legs. “Perhaps America hasn’t fallen completely to ruin.” Anxious to see more of the place Peter had called home since leaving Ne’erland, she walked back toward the street.
There were lights, signs and action everywhere she looked. Oh! Peter’s world was strange, and exciting!
“How will we find Peter?” Julie asked, following Belle out of the alley. “This place is so big and scary.”
“What are you afraid of? I’m not scared. Trust me, I’ve been here before. The worst that can happen is one of their males could mistake us for weak, helpless creatures and start telling us what to do.” She rolled her eyes. Belle St. Fèe was not weak by any man’s standards.
“That part doesn’t sound so bad.”
“Take my word, it’s not as pleasant as you think.”
Julie looked stricken.
“Don’t worry.” Belle checked the captain’s compass. The needle pointed northeast. “Nothing will happen to us. Peter and I have a connection. We’ll find each other. In the meanwhile…” Belle paused, as a window full of boxes playing moving images caught her eye. “Let’s go in here. This place looks interesting.”
*
“Go ahead, I know you want to touch it.”
Pete Payne’s head turned toward the sound.
What a voice! Smooth as silk and sexy as hell. He’d never heard that voice before and he’d spent plenty of time in this store.
Was it a commercial? Some kind of sales ploy to market the latest stereo speakers? Curious, he stepped nearer, trying to look casual while investigating a little closer. What sorts of electronics were on the next row? Not able to remember, since the head above his shoulders wasn’t working as well as the one between his legs, he glanced up at the overhead sign.
Radios.
“Mmmm…that’s wonderful,” the voice said. “Oh, yes. Try there.”
Am I on one of those crazy shows? Where’s the hidden camera? He moved clos
“No, a little higher. There. Yes, oh, yes! I can’t get enough. More.”
Sweet Jesus! I’m going to come! Sweating from head to toe, Pete jerked off his jacket and folded it over his arm to hide the telltale bulge in the front of his trousers. Who’d ever heard of a guy having an orgasm in an electronics store?
“No! Don’t do that. Please, I’m begging…”
I won’t. I promise. Anything you want, baby. It’s yours. It was all over. He had to know what was going on.
Now.
His cock couldn’t take another second of the torture.
Images of a woman, nude, writhing under a man’s touch — or better yet, two women teasing each other — sent him racing around the opposite end of the aisle.
Standing with her back toward him, a slim blonde figure swayed provocatively. Her jeans hugged a round, firm ass and her long hair, shiny as satin, skimmed the middle of her back.
Damn, that was a sight. He licked lips that had become instantly dry and tried to speak. His voice failed completely.
She gripped the headphones covering her ears. “Oh! What is this? It’s wonderful, in a wicked sort of way. I’ve never heard anything like it.”
Neither have I.
“Try the next one,” she said to the second woman, a short brunette, standing behind her and also wearing headphones.
“Here?” the other woman asked, punching a button on the boom box in front of them. As she stepped back, her headphones slipped off, falling to the floor. “Oh!” The woman froze like a deer, blinded by headlights as she turned and reached for the headphones, catching him watching in the process.
Pete considered a hasty retreat, but immediately dismissed it. He had to see her, the blonde with the orgasmic voice and fuck-me sway.
Her mouth open but no sound coming out, the brunette reached forward and tapped her friend’s shoulder.
Still dancing, the luscious blonde with an ass that would stop traffic on a L.A. freeway turned around.
Holy shit! She’s a knockout. I must know more. I have to have her.
Chapter 2
Now, that’s a human male.
A perfect specimen.
Tall, with dark curly hair and a blue-eyed gaze that set her blood on fire. His face had not a single flaw, from his not-too-broad forehead to his perfectly cleft chin sprinkled with dark stubble. His lips were curled up into a sexy smile that made her want to throw herself at his feet and beg for mercy.
Come and get me. I’m all yours.
She watched his lips move and realized she couldn’t hear, thanks to the gizmo covering her ears. She slid it off. “Sorry. I couldn’t hear you.”
“Hi! I’m Pete,” he said, offering his hand in that quaint human tradition. “You are?”
Belle put her hand in his and a shockwave quaked through her body, heating it from the inside out.
What was that?
“Hi,” she squeaked.
“Do you have a name?” His gaze wrestled hers into submission, knocking her brain out of place in the process.
“Name? Uh…” What’s my name again? And why do I feel like this? I swear my vitals are failing, but that’s impossible. I can’t die. I’m immortal.
Julie gave her a poke in the ribs. “Her name is Belle.”
“Yes, Belle St. Fèe. That’s me. I had a frog in my throat.” She coughed, then giggled until Julie gave her another jab in the ribs. Turning, she mouthed, “Stop that!”
Julie nodded toward Pete’s hand.
“Oh, sorry!” Belle released it, thinking she must look like a complete fool. She wiped at her mouth. Probably looking like a drooling idiot, too.
Julie gave her another jab.
“One moment, please.” She waited for the handsome man to nod then yanked Julie around the corner and out of view. “What is wrong with you? If you do that again, I swear I’m going to break a rib or two.”
“It’s Peter.”
“Who? Where?” She looked to the left, then to the right, but saw no boy.
“Him. There.” Julie pointed where they’d come from. “It’s him.”
“Is not! Peter’s a boy. About waist high with a little squeaky voice and legs the diameter of my wrists.” She glanced over her shoulder, in one way hoping Pete was eavesdropping, and in another hoping he wasn’t. “That gorgeous specimen of humanity doesn’t resemble Peter at all. For one, he’s over six feet tall. Peter is only about three feet tall.”
“Humans grow.”
“Yes, but Peter isn’t…” Belle didn’t continue, suddenly remembering one important detail she’d forgotten up until the present. Peter was human. How could I forget that? “What makes you think it’s him?”
“The scar on his arm. You remember that one? He got it the last time he fought Captain H.?”
“Yeah?” She tried to recall what Pete’s arm looked like, but the only images her mind could get a solid grip on were focused on other parts…like his face and wide shoulders and his thick, bulging biceps and the other obvious bulge…the one between his legs.
“Go look again.”
Oh, yes, yes, yes!
“I’ve never seen a scar like that on anyone but Peter.”
Oh, she meant the scar. That’s too bad.
Julie gave her a gentle push and Belle walked around the corner.
The lump was covered by his coat. Damn!
Oh, and his forearm was covered, too.
Belle grinned at the turn her thoughts had taken for a moment, surprised with herself. Since when did she entertain such sexual thoughts? Hell, why hadn’t she? She’d sure missed a lot of fun over the eons. No wonder she’d nearly died of boredom.
Then again, the only adult she had to inspire those kinds of thoughts had been the captain. The Boys were children. H. wouldn’t stir anything in a woman but disgust.
Pete cleared his throat and Belle looked up at his face. He has the cutest dimple.
Julie poked her in the back.
All right! I’m getting to it. Now, how to get a good look at that right arm? Hmmm… “It’s nice to meet you, Peter — er — Pete. Are you here to buy one of these music boxes? Aren’t they delightful? You don’t even have to wind them. Would you like to give one a try?”
“Oh, no thanks. I have one already.” He smiled, and Belle thought her knees would give way and she’d crumble to the floor.
He gripped his coat tightly in his left hand, pushing it up against his body. Clearly, he wasn’t about to remove his jacket to give her a view of any of the parts she had an interest in. It was time to take matters into her own hands.
Reaching forward, she caught his coat and gave it a swift tug. “This is a very nice jacket. May I?” She tipped her head to peek at his arm.
“No. What are you looking at?” Following the direction of her gaze, he tugged his coat away from her before she had a chance to get a good look at his arm. Then, as if he was embarrassed and trying to hide the scar, he put the jacket on, sliding his right arm in first. Now there was no chance she’d see far enough up his sleeve to check for the scar.
But she had a nice view of the sizable bulge between his legs again.
Thank you!
“Can I give you a call sometime?” he asked.
“Call?”
“Yes. Do you have a phone number?”
“Oh…ah…” Having no idea what a phone was, or how to answer his question, she glanced at Julie who subtly shrugged. “I’m afraid I’m…between phone numbers at the moment.”
His expression changed. The drool-producing smile disappeared. “I see.”
Shoot! What’d I say wrong? “I’m sorry. Is there another way for you to get in touch?” Touch being the operative word.
“What about an address?”
“Oh…I’m afraid I don’t have one of those either.”
Now, looking disgusted, he shook his head. “You know, you could just do what all the other women do and give me a fake phone number.” Turning and giving her a nice view of his ass, he walked away.
No! Don’t go!
“Why’d you chase him away?” Julie nearly screeched.
