Page 49 of Charmed

Thirteen

Stone knocked on the door to Persimmon’s room the next morning, hearing her voice call out from within.

“Come in.”

“Persimmon? Are you up?” He cracked the door and peeked inside, but didn’t see her. “Sweetheart?” He entered the room fully, getting the air knocked out of him as Persimmon barreled into him, throwing her arms around him, kissing him hard on the mouth.

“Oomph!” He chuckled, taking her in his arms. “What was that for?”

“Come in and close the door. Quickly,” she told him.

“What? Why? I was just going to leave to track down the thieves.” He pointed out into the corridor.

“This is more important. And if it works, you won’t need to look for the thieves because I will be able to tell you anything you want to know.”

“What does that mean?” She was acting odd this morning and he wasn’t sure what she had in mind.

“Close the door. Please.”

“All right.” With one arm still around her, he reached out for the door with his other hand and slammed it closed.

“I was thinking about it all night and I finally figured out the answer.”

“You did? What answer? What was the question?” he asked, still very confused.

“Quickly, undress.” Her hands went to his weapon belt to help him.

“Wait. What? Why?”

“Each time we were together, and especially when you kissed me, I was closer and closer to actually being able to scry.”

“So?”

She stopped unbuckling his belt and looked up at him. “So, that means coupling is what will activate the orb and also my ability to scry.” She pulled off the belt and weapons and laid them on a table.

“Persimmon, this is crazy. You are telling me that if we make love, somehow you will acquire the power to scry?”

“That is exactly what I mean. It has to be what unleashes my power. It all makes sense now. And I also think my mother was frightened for me and that is why she put me in the convent. She knew that being there I’d never acquire my scrying power.” She started pulling his tunic over his head but he stopped her.

“I know men don’t normally think this, but don’t women usually want to be in love before coupling with a man?”

“We don’t have time for us to fall in love, Stone.” She gave up on him and started to remove her own clothing. “I can help you find the thieves and collect the king’s gemstones, I know I can. All I have to do is unlock the orb’s power and then gaze into it. I’ll be able to see the future and know what any of us should do in any dire situation. Don’t you see? This will help everyone. I’m sure this must be how it works. So we need to make love. Now.”

“It’ll help everyone,” he repeated, trying to take it all in.

“Don’t even try to talk me out of it because I’ve decided this is what I want to do to help you.” She dropped her gown to the floor, standing there only in her shift.

“Do you even know for sure that this will really unlock your power? I mean, what if we make love and it does nothing at all to help you scry?”

“That won’t happen,” she said. “And even if it does, I won’t regret trying. Will you?”

She removed the last of her clothing, standing there in front of him looking like a naked goddess. Suddenly, his mind was fuzzy and he couldn’t think straight. Lust overtook him and his aroused form strained against his breeches. What he wanted more than anything right now was to make love with this beautiful, fantastic, lovely, but crazy woman.

“Well? Will you do it? Please?” she asked, batting her long lashes, looking even more seductive with a little pout on her lips.

“I’ve never been in such an odd situation before, but neither does it matter. Right now, I feel that if I don’t make love with you, I am going to burst. My desire for you is so strong right now that I can think of nothing else.”

He quickly pulled off the rest of his clothes, sweeping her off her feet, scooping her up into his arms. Her long hair trailed over one side, her long legs over the other. “I’ve never been seduced this way before by a woman.” He headed toward the bed.