ShadowQueen Ch. 26: It Was Just My Imagination, Running Away With Me…

Ever so protective, he stays and watches as she goes inside and locks the door behind her before he moves to return to his car. When he gets in and sits down he can feel something is off. He isn't the only one in his Mercedes. "She looked quite beautiful tonight wouldn't you say?", he hears a voice chime from the back seat, "you made an excellent choice nephew", he hears his intruder conclude. "You again!", he all but growls darkly, mood completely changed. "Why can't you just leave me be?", he asks his unwanted guest angrily. "Now, what fun would that be, nephew?", Le Croix asks cheekily sitting forward into the light from her position in the darkened backseat. "Do NOT call me that, you are NO family of mine", he demands gravely, "cher, as long as your dearly departed father, Baron Samedi-Le Croix is my dear brother, I will always be your aunt whether you like it or not", she says smoothly.

She is fully unfazed by his anger so she continues to prod him saying, truthfully, "…and whether you like it or not, nephew, as a Samedi man you are the next to take your place as Shadowman in the realm beyond. You can't keep runnin' from it cher...". Every word she utters steams him to no end, especially when she goes to say, first mumbling more to herself, "… and you… stupidly seeking refuge in the same woman that got you here", then says clearly to him, "remember, boy, this is what you signed up for when you let your love for your dear Regina make you come my way… you kn-", she says before he cuts her off exclaiming, "DON'T YOU DARE! Don't dare say that like I came to you because I wanted this… this prison!", he retorts furiously staring fire lit daggers at her through his rear view. "Don't dare throw this on me like I wanted to be separated from my family, to give up my throne and crown, to, yearly, be stripped of everything good within me, to be this dark-hearted person. Like I wanted to continuously be separated from my Regina, leaving her lonely and broken-hearted, thinking I'd left on my own accord when I hadn't… what I wanted was for her to be healthy and whole!", he all but yells as he sternly sets her straight. Calming down he concludes truthfully, "all I wanted, and still want is to be with her! Damn the Samedi line! Damn being a goddamned Shadowman. Damn the so-called 'power' it brings. Damn it all! I was LEAD your way, by the Dark One, no less, because I was desperate and you both took advantage! Period!".

She knows what he's saying is truth but, still, couldn't care less. Le Croix is dead set on him doing as she's said. "Either way cher…", she says with a heavy sigh and roll of her eyes, "as true as all that be…you a Samedi Shadowman, through and through, and you got a place to claim this coming change, whether you want to or not! Cher, I'm not goin' to let you ruin the family line, like Tiana's daddy almost did, because YOU, just like him, want to live this menial human existence and be in luuuvv!". Her words are futile at this point as they fall on deaf ears. He no longer sets energy to even listen to her. Too long has he been played like a sucker by his captor, doing as she's commanded because he was completely under her control, but that's no more. The same 'Fire Fly' ruby that, by chance, freed his cousin, Tiana's father, from his obligation to becoming a Samedi Shadowman is the same ruby that has helped to free him of her complete bind on him. The only thing keeping him at the service of his captor and her desire for him to permanently become a Shadowman is the contracted deal he made with her all those years ago to help his Dear Regina.

As she spouts all this about 'ruining the family line' and 'the power he can have as the Shadowman of the realm beyond', he knows all of it is a load of bullshyt. In his new found partial freedom he's wisened up as to the real reason she's been such a persistent thorn in his side. "I'm no fool, captor. You couldn't care less about me 'ruining the family line'… you only care about yourself and your own power… nothing more, nothing less", he says matter-of-factly. It burns her that he's become so insolent since getting his hands on that damned wretched 'Fire Fly' ruby. She knows if it weren't for him not wanting to incur the repercussions of him fully breaking his contract, he'd be long gone and she powerless; unable to take a bodily form, stuck as a grave-keeper in the realm beyond… a servant herself. His desire for the love of and to love this woman Regina has made her nephew useless. A lost cause, just like, her brother, Baron's father, was before she turned him against that damned Margaux. It frustrates her to no end the depth of his love for this woman, Regina. It was much easier to sway her brother from him 'love' than it has been to sway her nephew… just as hard as it was to sway her other nephew, Tiana's father. If she can't get him to give up this godforsaken love that he has, no matter how dark she makes him during his soul-stripping, that light of love will keep his feet partial to this world; torn between man and shadow, useless to her cause. And heaven forbid he does get her to marry him… his feet will forever be bound to this world. He'll be free to traverse to realms as he does now, with only their contract to keep him employed to her will. She can't have that happen, now can she?

"Sooner or later you'll come to your senses nephew… one way or another. Whatever happens from this point on… understand you brought it on yourself", she says before exiting his backseat to go to the drawing board to plan and put in motion the 'one way or another'. With the threat made upon her exit, Samdi sets determination to get that damned dagger… without setting his love, Regina, off. He's stuck between a rock and hard place and fully knows it. He needs the dagger to void their contract and send his captor back to guarding graves before the solstice comes and he becomes powerless to her, at her beckon call. Helpless to her command, forced to do all that she orders. However, he can't just go for it outright, he must tiptoe around his efforts to dispel Regina's suspicion that he is the untrustworthy person she believes him to be. She, without knowing the full extent of the truth, would never believe that his desire for the dagger is all about her. She'd never believe it's all for her, all so he can love her fully. So that he can be there to stay with her forever, never having to leave her without warning ever again. So, they can have all they dreamed of back then without consequence, repercussion or interruption. He was sincere when he told her she is his priority. If he could tell his love everything he would have decades ago. Alas, he cannot without the very love he's spent his entire life protecting suffering the consequence he's been fending off since the initial agreement between him and his captor.

With that, Samdi knows then and there he has his work cut out for him. He must work toward the dagger without raising Regina's suspicions, all while keeping her happy and not obliterating the Dark One like he wants to. For, the Dark One is the main reason why he's in the predicament he's in right now. However, the desire for revenge on his proclaimed mortal enemy is completely out the window now that the unscaled crocodile has become one of his love's allies. And above all, he CANNOT let the truth slip of the underlying reason of why he is who he is and why he must do what he's doing. Not only will the flooding back of the memories he had taken from his love crush her, it would be breach his contract causing her to suffer in turn. Damn this shyt sucks! But, he will not let that take precedence over his Dear Regina. She and her happiness are at the forefront of his focuses. So, he will table the anger he feels right now, set plan for the dagger but actively work to spend time with and love his Dear Regina…starting with lunch tomorrow. With his thoughts settled, Baron pulls off and sets toward his home.

Upstairs, Roni stands behind the now closed door of her loft and takes in a deep breath as her mind replays the splendor of the evening she just ended with her 'new' boyfriend. The smile that spreads from ear to ear, makes sparkles shine in her eyes. She cannot remember the last time she's felt so school-girl giddy in her adult lifetime. She slips off her heels as she walks from the door to her bedroom where she turns her back to her bed and allows the power of gravity to pull her down to the mattress. "I have a boyfriend…", she thinks aloud on a breathy chuckle with a slow shake of her head, "…whoa shit…". She closes her eyes and rests in joy-filled, peaceful silence for a short while before heading to the bathroom to undress and shower for bed. On the streets of Hyperion Heights, Baron drives home in silence, trying desperately to keep his mind on the more joy-filled parts of his life, i.e. his love Regina, aka Roni. So, when he reaches his apartment and gets settled inside, the first person he thinks to text is her. "Hello again my beautiful Queen. I know we just left one another's presence, but I just can't seem to get you off my mind".

On the other side of town, his love's phone lights up and buzzes with the receipt of his sent message but it goes unanswered. His love is oblivious to any and everything that is not the shower she's currently in. She stands under the spray of the heated water allowing the rhythm of the pelting drops to soothe her while she washes the long day from her body. She lathers then washes the suds from her hair, shoulders, chest then lower extremities. Another smile spreads across her face as her mind replays the events of the previous night and earlier that morning. She only slightly regrets one part of their night and that is not dragging that chocolate Adonis upstairs and allowing him to serve to her body every bit of pleasure she's definite he can. But, she remembers again that it's Roni and Baron's first date so, forgoing sex for the night was indeed for the best. Although yearning a bit, it doesn't go for not because all of the tension she is feeling adds to her appetite for him. It's just fanning the flames that will ultimately combust when Roni and Baron do get to the point in their courtship where sexually devouring one another is appropriate.

Sometime later, the lowering of the temperature of the shower's droplets marks the end of her water massage. Regina steps out the shower onto the plush mat to soak the dripping droplets falling from her drenched form as she dries off. Fully bare, she runs the towel through her hair while walking from the bathroom back to her bedroom where she is met with the buzzing of her iPhone. When the home screen lights up she sees a list of messages following the first unanswered one from her love. The message right after reads "Roni? Are you there?", the next that came in minutes later reads "my sweet?", the one she just received reads "well, I take it you're sleeping. I hope you rest well my dear. Until tomorrow beautiful". "Aww, Baron…", she says with the reading of his night's farewell until the morning. She lightly places a hand on her chest as her heart slightly lurches at the thought of her 'new boyfriend' longing for her.

Regina quickly unlocks her phone and swipes to his contact to give him a call before he turns in for the night thinking that she already has. Within no more than three rings he answers on the other end, "hello there beautiful, I'm surprised you called. I thought you'd turned in for the night". He then thinks quickly that she indeed was and was disturbed by his messaging so he asks with apologetic tone, "I didn't wake you, did I?". She shakes her head as if he can see her then says aloud, "no, you didn't. I'm still fully awake… I didn't answer you back before because I was in the shower. I left my phone on my bed". On the other end, Baron's eyebrows raise at her telling of being in the shower, "mmm, is that right? A shower you say?", he says, the brass of his deep voice coating each word. Brass that sends a shiver straight down her spine. "Yes, it is… and yes I do", she says silkily with a crooked sultry grin spreading across her face. "Well, I hope you thoroughly enjoyed it my sweet. After such a long day, you deserve it beautiful", he offers sincerely, "I did enjoy it, it was very relaxing", she says in return and thinks 'it'd been better if I had you in there but…', "thank you", she finishes aloud.

"You're more than welcome beautiful. I'm glad you called instead of texting. I love that I could hear your lovely voice before I lay down to rest for the night… having the melody running through my mind will definitely help me rest better tonight", Baron says as he lays back on his pillow. The cold from the pillow's fabric makes him shiver a bit as he is now only clothed in pajama pants and a pair of socks. Regina's smile in response is so big and bright it can practically be heard on the other end of the line. At her silence, he pictures the smile on her face even without seeing it, then says, "I'm really looking forward to lunch tomorrow", "me too", she concurs as she sits on her bed and places her back against her pillows. "Anything in particular you have a taste for?", he asks suavely, "no, not really… surprise me. After tonight's outfit choice, I'm curious to see what you come up with. Hopefully, the meal choice will be as awesome as the dress and shoes were. You really did a good job with that tonight, by the way. I don't know if I told you that or not", she tells him. "No, you didn't. But, I'm glad to hear it now. I'm happy I could please, my dear", he offers in return.

Although he and Roni are at the premiere of their new relationship, Baron dares to ask his longtime love Regina, "speaking of outfits my Queen… do you mind if I ask what you're wearing now", he inquires in tones that are a hybrid of sexy and sweet. Knowing he has switched their gears she, Regina, indulges, "no…I don't mind at all…", she says. Then, she decides to take this opportunity to turn up the heat. It's not like she can get in any trouble they're city miles away. "…I have on… nothing, actually". At her telling, his eyes close and he bites his bottom lip before saying, "mmm…oh really?". At his brief silence and silky response, she knows she has him near sweating from the heat, so she continues smoothly, "yes really… I haven't dressed for bed yet. As soon as I stepped out the shower, I saw your text message come in", she says sexily. "And you? What do you have on handsome?", she asks, "pajama pants and socks", he answers. "No shirt?", she inquires with raised eyebrows, "no ma'am… I don't like much on me when I sleep, 'unless it's you', he thinks to himself before asking, "… is that okay, my sweet?". At his telling, all she can envision are the hard lines of his muscular chest and abs, which leads her to answer, "absolutely… it's more than okay".

The heat from their brief discussion of sexy inquiries make the pair of them are sparking embers once more. Thankfully, they are those city miles apart. If they were any closer… the entire city would ignite. On Baron's end, the thought of his love completely bare as she's informed him she is causes his member to stiffen. Doubly, on Regina's end, her shower was futile as she is now dripping at the imaginings of her boyfriend's rippling muscles under her touch. They need to end this now, or the next time they see one another it'll be a WWE sexual SmackDown, damn the place or company. So, she makes to end the conversation before they enter that point of no return. "Well… it's… getting really late…", she says apprehensively as she really doesn't want their conversation to end, but it must. "That it is", he concurs dejectedly, "we both have to work in the morning", she reminds, "so, I think it's time we turn in for the night and get some rest". "I agree", he says sincerely then asks, "so, I guess it's goodnight then?", "yep, it is", she says quietly. "Well then, goodnight my sweet. I'll see you tomorrow at 12:30 beautiful", he bids in farewell, "see you then", she agrees before bidding her own, "goodnight Baron". Regina hangs up her phone, sets her alarm for the morning and places it on the nightstand near her bed. She then falls asleep with the memories of her day to fuel her dreams for the entire night.

Across town, Samdi has yet to be able to shake the picture of is love dripping wet in the shower or sitting bare, nothing on heading to bed. He's internally kicking himself for being cheeky earlier and pretty much denying his love AND himself sex this evening. He wants to properly court his love's cursed persona Roni as to make it believable by everyone on the outside that they are still cursed. But, Damn it man! He's not sure how long he can go without making love to his dear beauty before he starts going through withdrawal. He looks down at his member which is still stiffly standing at attention and tries desperately to take his mind off the gorgeous sexiness that is his love, Regina. He lays his head back on his pillow and lays a heavy hand over his forehead before wiping it down his face. His efforts to bring himself back down are futile as all he can think of is his love Regina. How she looks, the tautness of her breast and behind… how tight she is around him, how soaking wet she gets for him, the beauty in her face when she's lost in the throes of love. With no easing of the thoughts racing through his mind he has no other choice but to relieve himself, lest he end up with 'blue balls'.

Unable to take it anymore, he removes his pajama bottoms, reaches in his bedside drawer for a bit of body oil, turns off the light and begins to work himself to a much-needed release. As he grips his member and starts to stroke from hilt to tip, he imagines his love above him riding him toward her climax. In the dark of his bedroom, the feeling of his hand stroke up and down, wrenching one way then the other as he does, his imaginings take him to a place so pleasing it feels real. 'He pulls his love Regina over him to straddle his waist then lifts her slightly to line her dripping wet opening up with his thick long member. "mmm, ahhh, yessss…", she moans softly as he enters her one inch at a time until she's completely filled, so much so she feels him in her belly. Once fully in place he gently taps her behind in silent request for her to begin their sensual rodeo. She places her hands on his chest for stability and begins to rolls her hips from front to back and over again moaning her intense pleasure. "Ahh… mmm…mmm… mmm… yes baby! Ugh, my love! You feel so good! Yes… ughhh… don't stop my love! Don't stop baby! Mmm… I love you so much!".

Their breaths become quicker and heavier as she picks up the pace. Suddenly, she halts the rolling of her hips, much to his chagrin, repositions herself so that her feet are planted on either side of him on the mattress and begins to her movement again. In this new position, she is now bouncing on him, having his slick manhood slide nearly out of her then takes it all the way back in. Baron takes her by the part of her waist right above her hips and begins to match her bouncing with hard thrusts of his own. Both Regina and Baron are in sexual bliss and the voicing of their pleasure is clear evidence of it. "Uhh… uhh… uhh… uhhh… uhhhhh! Ahh! Yeeessss! Baby, that's it! Right there! Oooohhh Baron, right there! Don't stop baby, please don't stop! Ugh! Ahhh!", she all but screams as she moans at the feeling of him in her. With each thrust he touches that place within her that more than makes her toes curl, it sends her swimming in a sea of sexual abandon with no help in sight. As the coil tightens in both lovers she continues to scream her pleasure as he moans sweet nothings to the beauty above him. "Mmm… Regina… my Queen…mmm… you feel amazing! Ugh, you're so wet my love… so tight… ugh so beautiful my love. I love you so much… mmm… I love you so much". Suddenly, her walls begin to flutter around him as she falls off the edge of 'sexual pleasure peak'. At the feeling of her tighten around him, he releases himself deep within her. "Uhh… Regina"…'

At the feeling of his steaming hot seed on his hand, he snaps out of his imaginings, lower body still quaking with the intensity of his orgasm. Hot Damn! If only imagining her can do this to him, he can't wait to have her in his arms again to have it happen for real. Baron gets up, goes to his bathroom to clean himself off, then returns to his bed where he, completely sated for the evening, lays down and goes to sleep to rest up for the next day.