“*You can’t just spank me like this*! *Who do you think you are*?”
**A lot of things, actually*. *Your mate, your boyfriend, your guardian, your future husband- the list goes on*! *Now, that’s thirteen additional spanks, bringing the count to nineteen*. *But, I’ m going to add one more, because I can*.”
“Wha-*!” He smacked my right ass cheek before bringing a finger to my lips to shush me.
“*Shh*. *Be a good girl, my angel, and start counting*. *I promise you; the reward will be worth it*.”
And it was.
But there was something about that whole dynamic that I was struggling to understand. While Onyx was punishing my ass with an open palm, that same star-bursting sensation erupted in my chest again. My heart sank into a void of warmth from its spread, and I felt happy. I’ve heard of people wanting and even liking to be spanked, but never did I think it would happen to me, of all people! After my wolf mate finished, I crawled into his chest, feeling not only elation but safety. I felt safe. I felt secure.
Goddess, I wanted so much more. I wanted-!
“**Are you going to start the video call or what**?” Artemis’ voice blitzed through the illicit thoughts and desires I have for Onyx, her tone coy and amused. ***We can’t keep our friends waiting.”
**R-right, of course!” I cleared my throat and flipped my computer open. “Get that smirk out of your tone, Artemis*. *I know what you want to say*.”
“**
**Enlighten me, Kiki**. **What was I about to say**?”
**You know exactly what you were about to say.” I retorted, pressing the power button.
Artemis let out a soft chuckle. “**It’s normal to want more**. **Didn’t I tell you to have fun**? ** It sounded like you had *lots* of fun**.”
“Yes, I did, but now I need to focus on the hex-breaking ritual”.”
**Ah, the infamous diversion you’re so skilled at**. **That’s alright. Kiya**. **If you’re curious, I had a lot of fun too**. **The way he works with his fingers is just **”
“Hi, Kiya!” I jumped when Violetta shouted through the computer’s stereo. Phoebe and Asim logged in minutes later. Exhaling a sharp breath, I pushed the sinful thoughts out of my head as I fished my earphones out of my skirt pocket. I plugged them in, and we got started discussing the ritual business.
Line after line, my notepad was filled with notes of potential ingredients for the ritual. We wanted this to be the most powerful ritual we’d conduct together because we shared a common goal: to help Neron. My thoughts strayed from their path a few times during the conversation, skittering back to the person in question. Onyx told me Neron was doing alright, and I wanted it to remain that way.
“Kiya?” Phoebe pulled my attention back to her. “I think what would really help is if you made a talisman for Neron made of selenite. The crystal has many benefits outside of being the spiritual bridge between you and Selene.”
“That I can do,” I said, making a note of it. “Does the type matter?”
“It should be something he can wear, or just hold close to his person.”
“A bracelet? I did make him an onyx bracelet for his birthday.”
“That’s perfect.”
“I can make black salt,” Violetta suggested. “It’s just activated charcoal and sea salt.”
“You’re going to buy sea salt from the supermarket?” Asim asked.
“No way. I’m going to make it! I’m not getting the processed shit.”
“Fair enough.” He chuckled. “Might I make a suggestion? As good as the suggestions are, we need to figure out the method of activation. While we can bless and chant the ritual, we need to ensure its effectiveness. I suggest we also use fire, as that is a historical cleansing agent.”
“That’s where the herbs come in,” Phoebe explained. “We can make a magic circle or grid for Neron to stand in the center of. It’ll be made of a variety of protection herbs-thyme, black pepper, cloves, elecampane, dragon’s blood, devil’s dung-”
“Wait.” I held my hand up. “Did you just say devil’s dung?”
“*Where exactly are you going to get a piece of the devil’s shit*?” Nuria shouted in Phoebe’s background. “You’re not doing anything dangerous under my watch”.”
“Nuria, it’s a plant, not an actual stool sample.” The witch corrected her while shaking her head. “People actually use the powdered form in Indian and Middle Eastern cooking.”
“Are they talking about asafoetida?” On Asim’s screen, Nailah popped her head in the camera, shining her diamond-studded smile.
*Hello, pretty lady*!
“Yes, they are.” Asim grinned, planting a kiss on his wife’s cheeks. “You know the ritual I told you about? We might use asafoetida with it.”
“And you’re going to burn it?” Nailah scrunched up her face. “It has such a horrible smell when burned. Your nose is very sensitive, *Habibi*. I have a couple of nose clips for you.”
“You’re exaggerating my nose is not sensitive.”
“There was this wonderful floral perfume I tried back at the bazaar when we visited New Delhi. Might I remind you what happened when you smelt it?”
“Not in front of the ladies,” Asim grumbled. “It wasn’t as bad as you thought it was ”
“I thought you’d gotten asthma overnight!” She exclaimed. “I’ve learned a valuable lesson: you’
re allergic to jasmine and to keep your nose clips close just in case we discover more of your allergies.”
Violetta covered her smirk with her hand, showing off her black and blue nail polish. “How are you a powerful avatar, but you’re defeated by a tiny flower?”
“That is not the topic of discussion!” Asim retorted, as his cheeks brightened with his blush.
“Aww, he’s embarrassed!” The women and I burst out into laughter while the man rolled his eyes, shaking his head at our antics. My chest started to hurt a little, so I inhaled a few deep breaths to calm down.
Suddenly, loud stomps echoed beside me.
A large shadow stretched over my head.
And a large tongue licked up the side of my face.
“Oh, my-Onyx!”
Black fur smacked into my face, muffling my squeaks. I raised my hands to push it away, but all I got was a disappointed whine and another lick, this time on the column of my neck. This big-ass dog! I struggled to lift Onyx’s head off my body because the alpha was determined to cover me in a thick sheen of his drool. The top of my short-sleeved blouse was ruffled, and the heat that surrounded me got worse because the wolf’s coat was way too soft and way too warm.
Suddenly, I heard. “Aww, Kiya! Onyx loves you!”
“Alana?” I squeaked. Pushing down the wad of fur from my mouth. I looked up to see Alana and Aiyana sitting on top of Onyx’s back like he was a horse. They grinned and waved.
I spit out a few strands of shed fur. “What are you girls up to?”
“Onyx wanted to give us a ride on his back!” Aiyana explained. “I can see the top of your head! Is it normal for alphas to be as big as horses?”
“Pretty much. Do you mind telling your horse to get off me so I can breathe?”
The black wolf lifted his head up and puffed a gust of hot, stinky air in my face because I offended him. Before I could reprimand him, Onyx stretched downward with his front paws. arching his back, and the girls hopped off his back onto the grass. They scampered up to me. Aiyana asked, “Can you breathe now?”
Violetta covered her smirk with her hand, showing off her black and blue nail polish. “How are you a powerful avatar, but you’re defeated by a tiny flower?”
“That is not the topic of discussion!” Asim retorted, as his cheeks brightened with his blush.
“Aww, he’s embarrassed!” The women and I burst out into laughter while the man rolled his eyes, shaking his head at our antics. My chest started to hurt a little, so I inhaled a few deep breaths to calm down.
Suddenly, loud stomps echoed beside me.
A large shadow stretched over my head.
And a large tongue licked up the side of my face.
“Oh, my-Onyx!”
Black fur smacked into my face, muffling my squeaks. I raised my hands to push it away, but all I got was a disappointed whine and another lick, this time on the column of my neck. This big-ass dog! I struggled to lift Onyx’s head off my body because the alpha was determined to cover me in a thick sheen of his drool. The top of my short-sleeved blouse was ruffled, and the heat that surrounded me got worse because the wolf’s coat was way too soft and way too warm.
Suddenly, I heard. “Aww, Kiya! Onyx loves you!”
“Alana?” I squeaked. Pushing down the wad of fur from my mouth. I looked up to see Alana and Aiyana sitting on top of Onyx’s back like he was a horse. They grinned and waved.
I spit out a few strands of shed fur. “What are you girls up to?”
“Onyx wanted to give us a ride on his back!” Aiyana explained. “I can see the top of your head! Is it normal for alphas to be as big as horses?”
“Pretty much. Do you mind telling your horse to get off me so I can breathe?”
The black wolf lifted his head up and puffed a gust of hot, stinky air in my face because I offended him. Before I could reprimand him, Onyx stretched downward with his front paws. arching his back, and the girls hopped off his back onto the grass. They scampered up to me. Aiyana asked, “Can you breathe now?”
I nodded, brushing away stray strands of black fur from my body. “Yeah, I can, thank you.”