Autumn's Affairs

Butterflies flutter around in my stomach as I get ready for my first date with Felix.

I apply some light pink lipstick and then bite my bottom lip as I study my appearance in the full-length mirror that leans against my bedroom wall.

My skirt reaches just above my knees, flaring out in a cute, flowy way, my off-the-shoulder top fits my body like a glove, and tucks into the skirt.

I run my fingers through my light brown hair, letting the waves fall back to rest on my shoulders, and my face heats up as I look at myself…

Felix hasn’t seen me in anything like this before. Every time we’ve met, I’ve been in my kitchen uniform, and usually covered in sweat from working over the big stone ovens all day.

I think back to the first time I saw him; I was taking out the trash at the end of my shift, throwing it into the barrels that are out back for the dump workers to pick up in the mornings.

I had the feeling I was being watched, which is strange, because there’s never anyone on that side of the building. I was so distracted by the feeling that I didn’t throw the last bag high enough, and it hit the edge of the barrel and fell to the ground, splattering old food and dirt all over my pants. I remember my face turning a deep shade of red, and I turned around slowly, gasping when I stared into a pair of the lightest eyes I had ever seen.

Which is actually quite the achievement considering I live in Autumn’s Fall, home to a coven of air witches who all have light eyes. But his were so close to white, with swirls of very light purple that sucked me in and made everything else disappear… until he chuckled at my misfortune, bringing back my embarrassing predicament.

“Don’t worry, I got you,” he said, snuffing out the blunt he was smoking and making his way to my side.

I remember my heart picking up its pace the closer he got, and the beads of sweat that formed on my forehead as I realized how attractive he was. I was speechless as with just a flick of his hand, the mess disappeared; he even got it cleaned off my pants.

“Sorry if I startled you,” he said sheepishly. “There’s never anyone out here, so it’s usually a good place for a smoke.”

All I could get out was a stuttered, “N-no, i-it’s fine, th-thanks” before I scurried back inside the building, and slumped against the door, literally fanning myself like some boy crazy teenager.

You’re twenty-four years old, Ana, get a grip, I thought, forcing myself to finish cleaning the kitchen for the next shift.

The rest of the week, I seemed to run into Felix every day when I was at work.

I’d see him sitting in the lounge of the coven house when I arrived in the morning. He would wave and give me a dazzling smile, and I would blush furiously while speed walking my way to the kitchens.

He seemed to know when my breaks were, because he just so happened to be eating in the dining hall during every single one, and I could feel his eyes on me the whole time. And near the end of each of my shifts, he would be waiting outside, smoking a blunt, in the same place I met him, and each time, he took the trash out of my hands with an “I got you,” disposing of it himself.

By the fourth day of this, I finally plucked up the courage to say thank you when he threw my trash into the barrels.

He grinned at me. “She finally speaks,” he chuckled, and his smile almost knocked the wind right out of me.

“Sorry,” I muttered, embarrassed by my shyness.

“Don’t be, I like the way you blush when I’m near you,” he grazed my cheek with his fingers, and I felt the heat rush to my face. “Just like that,” he said quietly.

Aside from feeling like I was about to pass out, I also felt like I was soaring with the clouds, and when he dropped his hand, it felt like my heart dropped with it, sinking into the pit of my stomach.

No one had ever been so forward with me.

He cleared his throat, a little nervously, “Ana, would you like to go on a date with me?” I was shocked, to say the least and caught completely by surprise.

“A date?” I confirmed that I heard him right, but then my breath got caught in my throat. “Wait, how do you know my name?” I asked him suspiciously.

“I know things,” he said with a shrug. “So, I’ll pick you up tomorrow at dusk?”

For some reason, I found myself nodding at this strange man, excitement bubbling up inside me.

“Perfect,” he said, his voice like silk. Then he leaned down to kiss my cheek. “I’m Felix, by the way,” he whispered, before disappearing through a portal of raging wind.

I remember just standing there for a few moments, my fingers trailing along the place where his lips had touched my skin, and I’ve been unable to think of anything else since.

Even now, a full day later, and a cleansing bath, I can still feel the tingles there. I take one last look at my outfit, giving myself a nod of approval. I do look pretty good. I’m no beauty queen, but I think I have a pretty face and a decent body… hopefully, Felix thinks the same.

There’s a knock on my front door and I rush to open it, my heart hammering in my chest, and the butterflies in my stomach fluttering around madly.

“Wow,” Felix breathes out when he sees me. “You look incredible.”

Of course, I blush deeply at his words. “Thank you,” I say quietly, looking into his gorgeous eyes, and trying not to get lost in them.

“Shall we?” he says brightly, stepping back and holding out his arm for me.

I nod, snaking my arm around his and stepping out of my house into the evening air.

It’s the first day of Autumn, so it’s still fairly warm outside, but there’s a hint of the crispness that always accompanies the windy season.

“Where are we going?” I ask timidly.

He gives me a wink that makes my heart skip a beat, “It’s a surprise.”

He opens a portal, a circular vortex of blowing wind, and I find myself freezing in place.

What the hell am I doing? I barely know this man, and this is not a safe world to live in. People go missing all the time.

And he’s a witch!

I know I work for witches, but that doesn’t mean I usually fraternize with them. The elemental portal in front of me looks terrifying, and I shiver at the thought of walking through it.

He notices my hesitation, his eyebrows pulling together in concern, “Is everything alright, Ana?”

“How do you know my name?” I demand, my voice giving away how nervous I am.

“Because you work in my home,” he says softly.

“Your home?” I look at him suspiciously, “I’ve worked in that coven house for years, and I’ve never seen you there until last week.”

“I was away for a while, but I came back a few weeks ago, and my aunt Carissa invited me back into the coven house.” He shifts awkwardly, “I’m sorry if I freaked you out, you just… You make me feel things I’ve never felt before.” He scratches the back of his neck, and I grin at the blush that rises to his cheeks.

“Wait, Carissa Crowley, as in coven mother of Autumn’s Fall?” I ask him, my eyes widening as I realize he belongs to the family that controls this town and keeps me employed.

“Yes, I’m Felix Crowley, my mother is Carissa’s second in command, they try their best to keep this place in order… but, you know how things here can be.”

“I do,” I say, nodding my head thoughtfully. ”So, you’re like, really important then?” I blurt out, he must have a lot of responsibilities if his aunt is the coven mother.

Felix shrugs, “Not in the slightest. I like to fish, so Carissa lets me supply the kitchens when I bring in a good haul… that’s why I was back there that day, I had just dropped off a load to the head chef.”

“And then decided to go smoke a blunt next to the garbage bins?” I say, laughing at his guilty expression.

“Do you not like that I smoke?” he asks seriously, as if he would give it up for good if I said no.

I shake my head, “I don’t mind,” I tell him truthfully. “I’ve never tried it before, but maybe you could share it with me sometime?”

His face lights up, “So, you still want to go on this date?”

I stare at him; tall, gorgeous, from a wealthy family, and interested in me. He seems too good to be true, but I’ll be damned if I don’t at least enjoy every second of him that I can.

“Of course!” I build up my courage, forcing myself to the tips of my toes, and placing a quick kiss on his cheek. He begins to blush again, and my chest swells with pride.

He takes my hand, leading me through his portal, which I walk through very timidly, but find the howling wind has no effect on us whatsoever, and we come out into a small clearing in the woods. There’s a thick blanket spread out on the ground, with a basket placed neatly in the middle.

I freeze in place again, this time in awe at his thoughtfulness in planning this date, picking such a beautiful place and preparing such an intimate atmosphere.

He stares at me anxiously, “Is it too much? Not enough? What’s wrong?”

A giggle escapes me at his worry over trying to please me. I’ve never had a man so intent on making me happy.

“It’s absolutely perfect!” I say, pulling him over to the blanket and sitting down. “I can’t believe you did all this for me, thank you,” I lean forward to kiss his cheek again, but he turns his head at the last second, pressing his lips to mine.

Sparks erupt inside me, and my eyes flutter closed as I melt into him. I enjoy complete bliss for a few moments, until I let out an almost carnal moan, causing me to pull away quickly, embarrassment overtaking my desire.

“I’m sorry,” he says sheepishly. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“No!” I exclaim, “That was an amazing kiss, I’m just a little embarrassed about my reaction,” I admit shyly.

His light eyes darken ever so slightly. “I quite enjoyed your reaction,” he says, his silky voice sending shivers down my spine. “But it was probably a little too much too soon.” He begins pulling food from the basket. “Tell me about yourself, Ana. I feel like all I know is what I found out from your employment file.”

I tilt my head, “Isn’t that like a breach of confidentiality or something?”

Felix shrugs and winks at me, “Like I said, you make me feel things I’ve never felt before, I had to find out more about you.”

“You could have just asked,” I say with a laugh.

“You’re right, and I’m sorry. But I’m asking now, I want to know all about you.” He seems sincere, but I’m still finding it hard to believe that this stunning witch has any interest in me at all.

He could have any human girl he wanted; they would all fall to their knees for him. A witch partner could offer a much easier life, but for some reason, he’s here, wanting to get to know me.

I throw caution to the wind and just start talking; I tell him about my job at the coven house, I tell him about my best friend, Este, who also works there as a gardener, and about her husband Henry, who is a lumberjack, and how we’ve all known each other since childhood. I tell him about my parents, and the boating accident that killed them, and in my pause after finishing the morbid story, I realize I’ve been talking a lot.

“Um,” I say, trying not to feel overly awkward.

He kept up with my rambling, asking questions, and reacting appropriately, but I feel bad for just talking about myself.

“What about you? Tell me something.”

“Well,” he says thoughtfully, handing me some food, which I had forgotten all about.

I take the small bowl of berries and cheese from him, immediately popping a handful into my mouth.

“You already know my family. It’s just my mom and my aunt Carissa, no siblings, my father left when I was a child.” He eats some berries and gives me a smile, “Next question.”

“You said you just got back to Autumn’s Fall, where did you go?” I ask, munching on a cube of cheese.

“First, I spent a few years in Free Port.” He screws up his face, “That town is a lawless land, pirates and thieves everywhere… living there was probably the most fun I’ve ever had.”

I almost choke on my food, “Was it really?”

“Yeah, it’s an interesting little town, it’s dangerous, of course, but the residents sure know how to party.”

I look at him, intrigued and fascinated by the life he lives, and oddly, a little jealous. I’ve never left Autumn’s Fall, and I never really cared to, but hearing about a different place tugs at something inside me, a hidden curiosity about the world I live in.

“Where else have you been?” I ask, eager to hear more.

He grins, taking the bowl of food from my hands and laying it on the blanket. He pulls me into him, positioning me so I’m between his legs, with my back against his chest, and his arms around my waist, encasing me in his warm embrace.

My heart thuds loudly, and I try to keep my breath even, but my entire body reacts to his, and my fingers trail along his thigh absentmindedly while he talks.

“When I left Free Port, I ended up staying in Dragonscale Harbour for a couple of years, then I travelled through some smaller towns, before making my way to Perdita City. I lived there for about ten years, and I left a few weeks ago to come home.”

“How long were you away?” I ask him.

“Seventeen years,”

“Oh, that’s a long time,” I say, a little taken aback. But then I remember that witches live for two thousand years, so he could be hundreds of years old. “H-how old are you?”

He sighs, “I don’t want to freak you out again.”

“You won’t!” I promise him. “I’ve lived around witches my whole life. I know how slowly you age.”

He chuckles, “Just remember, you asked for it.”

His arms slacken around me, as if he is worried I’ll run away when he reveals his age to me.

He clears his throat nervously, “I’m over eleven hundred years old.”

It feels like my heart stops for a moment as I try to comprehend being alive for that long.

“Wow,” I breathe out, trying to not let it show how shocked I am. “Were you around for the dragon wars?”

He seems to deflate, and lets out a long exhale of relief, “No, the dragons had left long before I was born. But the world was a completely different place back then. The land was ravaged, and the population had been slashed to a quarter of what it was before the wars. It was a very difficult time for people.”

He pauses, his hands move up to caress my bare shoulders, and he leans forward, his breath tickling my ear, “But I got to watch things slowly get better, the land has begun to heal. People’s lives have improved, and the population has grown… but even after everything I’ve seen and experienced, nothing has ever come close to what I felt that day I met you. You were like a breath of fresh air, after being trapped underground, like I could finally breathe again.”

My breath catches, and I feel my cheeks heat up. I’m completely speechless. I want to tell him that he has had the same effect on me, but I can’t get the words out, so instead I just twist my body around so I can kiss him.

As soon as our lips collide, it’s like fireworks explode inside me, and my body feels more alive than it’s ever been, just from his touch.

We melt into each other, our hands gripping the other tightly, the kiss deepening, and his body pressing into mine. The feeling of him against me like that makes my stomach flip, and a jolt of anticipation runs through my entire body, settling between my legs.

He lays me back on the blanket, hovering over me. His eyes roam my body like it’s the most exquisite thing he’s ever seen. My breathing is shallow as I gaze up at his face, taking in his features. His nose is slightly crooked, like it’s been broken, but it somehow fits his beautiful face perfectly. I can see the swirls of light purple in his white eyes much better from this close, and it’s so hard not to lose myself in them.

He looks into my normal, human eyes like they are the most stunning shade of green he has ever seen, and he takes my face in his hands, “You are so beautiful, Ana.”

I’m speechless again, but it doesn’t matter because this time, he kisses me. He moves his lips against mine, and all I can feel is his desire, and I easily give in to my own.

My fingers dig into his shoulders, and he keeps one hand cupping my face, while the other slides down the side of my body, leaving goosebumps in its trail.

When he reaches the waistband of my skirt, he pauses, pulling his soft lips away from mine, “Is this Ok? We can slow down if you want.”

I shake my head a little too quickly, and his face splits into a grin, the sight causing the butterflies in my stomach to implode, replaced by a much stronger feeling, one I can’t quite place. Anticipation, awe, lust, arousal? All of it.

I clear my throat, swallowing my nervousness, and look into his eyes, “I don’t want to slow down. I… I want you.”

Oh my, I can feel how hot my face is, it must be bright red and completely giving away how he makes me feel. But he doesn’t seem to care; in fact, he dots light kisses all over my face before claiming my lips once again.

This is really happening, is the only thought going through my mind.

His fingers hook under my skirt and snake under the hem of my top, trailing along my lower stomach, leaving me trembling underneath him.

I have a moment of complete panic, grabbing his strong biceps to stop his movements, “Wait, stop for a second.”

He listens, immediately freezing in place and looking at me with worry written all over his face.

I groan, embarrassment creeping up on me again, “Um… I feel like I should let you know that… Well, it’s been a while for me.”

He raises a brow, an amused look on his face. “Oh, you think so?” he whispers, his lips hovering above mine. “What if I told you that I once went your entire lifetime without having sex?”

My mouth drops, “You haven’t had sex in twenty-four years!”

He laughs, “No, I had sex three weeks ago.” My mouth snaps shut, and I stifle a giggle. “But about two hundred years ago, I went more than thirty years without it,” he says easily.

“Ok, so, definitely longer than my three years.” I pause awkwardly, “But he was also the only guy I’d ever been with… and he left me.” Why am I telling him all this? This is not sexy talk.

His eyes pull together in concern, “I’m sorry, are you sure you still want to do this? I brought more food. We could eat instead if you like.”

I smile at him, “No, I was just feeling a little self-conscious about my lack of experience, but I don’t want to stop.”

“I’ll go slow, Ok?” He murmurs, kissing my jawline and moving his way to my lips.

I nod into his kiss, letting my eyelids flutter closed, and getting lost in the sensations of him. He keeps his word and slowly works me into a whimpering mess, while barely touching me.

The tips of his fingers caress my exposed shoulders, then move down my collarbone at a snail’s pace, leaving me shivering and covered in goosebumps. He continues this delicious torture, down the front of my body, trailing his fingers over my breasts and down my stomach, finally reaching the waistband of my skirt again.

This time, he looks into my eyes, waiting for me to let him know if it’s Ok. I bite my bottom lip, giving him a nod, and he begins to slide my skirt down my legs, removing it from my body and laying it to the side.

Once again, I blush furiously as he sits back on his knees and takes off his shirt. Then he undoes his belt, leaving his pants hanging open, which is extremely attractive for some reason, and I find my legs parting easily to welcome him back as he crawls over me.

His hands duck underneath the hem of my shirt, and his lips find mine again, only parting for a moment when he slips the material over my head, leaving me exposed in just my bra and underwear.

The way he kisses me has me clenching my thighs around him, which he seems to like, judging by the groan that slips past his lips and his hand grabbing my thigh and gripping it tightly.

His other hand wraps around my back, undoing my bra, and he lets out another groan when I remove it for him, letting my breasts fall out. He continues to kiss me, slipping his tongue past my lips and exploring my mouth, while his hands explore my breasts, squeezing gently and rolling my nipples between his fingers.

He swallows my moans hungrily, devouring my mouth in a kiss unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. I find myself becoming a little desperate for him, grinding myself against his lower body in an attempt to create some friction, but also to entice him to do more.

He chuckles against my lips, and his hand slides to my panties, which he moves down my legs, placing them on top of my skirt. I’m completely naked in front of him now, and I expect to feel embarrassed or panicked, but all I feel is desire running through me, setting my body on fire for him.

“Felix,” I moan his name, my voice quivering from anticipation.

“I got you, don’t worry, baby.”

I got you.

The same words he said when I dropped garbage all over myself the day we met. The same words he said every day after that, when he would dispose of the trash for me after my shift. It almost feels like a promise from him at this point, and I can’t help but trust him.

I’m brought back from my distracting thoughts by the feeling of his finger sliding along my clit softly.

“Oh!” I cry out, the sensation filling me with pleasure.

He rubs circles into my already wet clit, and my legs begin to shake as an orgasm overtakes me almost instantly. I feel myself dripping onto the blanket as it flows out of me. I try not to feel embarrassed about how easily he just made me cum; he doesn’t seem to mind in the slightest. In fact, his eyes gleam with an intense desire as he looks at me.

His fingers move down, slipping inside me easily, and slowly moving back and forth, stretching me open. I let out a loud moan that echoes around the clearing as he fingers me, and his name slips from my lips over and over again.

“Do you want more, Ana?” he whispers to me softly.

“Yes,” the word comes out like a breathy moan, and he chuckles as he removes his pants. My mouth drops at the sight of his glorious cock; long, hard and ready for me.

He slides it along my clit, causing a gasp to leave me, which turns into a loud cry of pleasure when he slips inside me. His fingers move a few strands of hair from my face, and he leans down to claim my lips, while thrusting slowly, and I can feel every inch of him stroking me.

My nails dig into his back as he speeds up his movements, hitting a spot inside me that makes my toes curl and my eyes roll to the back of my head. His name leaves my lips like a desperate prayer, and I lose myself in him.

“Are you Ok?” he asks quietly, slowing down slightly.

“Yes,” I breathe out. “Yes, keep going, please.”

He grins, picking up his pace again, and we chase our highs. I meet his thrusts, causing him to hit deeper inside me, and we grip each other tightly, until we fall over the edge together, breathing rapidly, and covered in a light layer of sweat.

He holds me while we come down, and I look up at the sky through the trees, thanking whatever higher deities are out there for this amazing night.

He pulls out and grabs a towel from the basket of food, using it to wipe me down gently.

“Was that…” he clears his throat. “Um, was that, Ok?”

I burst into a fit of giggles, “That was more than Ok, Felix. It was amazing.”

He smiles brightly, the sight warming my heart. The rest of the date is spent relaxing in each other’s arms, while getting to know more about one another. He tells me about what it’s like in other places, and I tell him about my mundane life; my job, my garden, my weekly meet-ups with Este. Stuff I worry he’ll find boring, but he seems so intrigued, and he asks lots of questions, wanting details on the simplest things, like the colour of the dress I wore to Este and Henry’s wedding, or the ingredients that were in the stew that I served at the coven house today.

It’s so warm in his embrace, and I feel so comfortable with him, that at some point during the night, I end up drifting off in his arms.