A Witch in Shining Armour

'He's fast asleep,' Gemma whispered, as she pulled the door to on the bedroom her son was sleeping in. 'He looks so cute.'

'All four-year-olds look cute,' Amber said, smiling. She patted the Queen-sized bed she was sitting on. 'Now get in, you've had a long day, hon.'

'I know, and that bath has sapped all my energy,' Gemma said, going over to the window. Rain drummed noisily on windowpane driven by an unrelenting high wind that buffeted the small cottage they were staying in. 'It's dark already,' she said, pulling her dressing gown tighter around her although the temperature in the room was warm enough.

'Pull the curtains and get into bed,' her friend said gently but firmly.

'Stop giving me orders,' Gemma rebuked good naturedly.

'Sorry. Am I fussing again?' Amber pretended offence.

'Yes.'

'Do you want me to stop?'

Gemma thought for a moment before replying. 'Maybe,' she said cryptically, provoking a laugh from her friend. Amber's expressive eyes, she reflected, alternated between mischievousness and playfulness. They were a light green with a hint of hazel set into a soft round face framed by dark wavy hair that matched Amber's vivacious personality. She had a lithe shapely figure that had an almost cat-like quality to it lending Amber a peculiar gracefulness when she moved.

Gemma took a step towards the bed and cried out, almost losing her balance. 'Fuck!'

Amber sat up straight, concerned. 'You okay? What happened?'

Gemma bent down picking up something off the floor. 'Nothing, it's just one of Stevie's toy cars. They're everywhere. I told him not to play with them in his room.'

'All four-year old boys like toy cars,' Amber laughed, relaxing again.

'Like them? He never stops playing with them.'

'Maybe he'll be a racing driver when he grows up.'

'I think I'd prefer him to be a driving instructor,' Gemma said. She ran her fingers through her wet hair. 'Wish I'd remembered to bring my hair dryer,' she said, not for the first time.

'My hair's drying out okay,' Amber responded, touching her shoulder length chestnut brown hair. Like Gemma she wore a dressing gown.

'You had your bath first. Your hair has had more time to dry.'

'Of course. You were settling little Stevie, weren't you?'

'Hmm. You're lucky you didn't use up all the hot water.'

'I wouldn't dare,' Amber sniffed, with exaggerated pretense.

'Let's get into bed,' Gemma said, turning off the main bedroom light. Only the soft light from the bedside lamp now illuminated the room.

'You sure you don't want me to sleep on the sofa, hon?'

'For the hundredth time, no. I'm not having you sleep on the sofa. Besides it's taken.'

'Taken?'

'Yes, Benji's sleeping there.' Benji was Gemma's pet Cairn terrier.

'That's that decided then,' Amber said, taking off her dressing gown. Underneath she wore a clinging satin black nightie that accentuated her shapely figure. She pulled the duvet back and climbed in. Gemma shed her dressing gown and got in the other side.

'Anyway,' Gemma said, moving close to Amber, so their faces almost touched. 'I don't want to sleep on my own tonight.'

Amber putting a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder. 'Stop worrying. The police will find him. He's not going to get away with it this time.'

'Do you know what date it is today?'

'It's the thirty-first.'

'The thirty-first of October. Halloween. I should be back at home in London taking Stevie out trick or treating. Instead, I'm holed up like some refugee in my parent's holiday cottage in Kent in the arsehole of nowhere.'

'Don't be so hard on yourself. You and Stevie are safe and that's all that matters. Once they find him, you'll be able to go home. There'll be plenty more Halloweens to take Stevie trick or treating.'

'Do you know what Stevie asked me this morning? He asked me if there was such a thing as monsters in real life, and I told him there wasn't. But there is, isn't there? There really is.'

'Hey,' Amber soothed, giving her friend an affectionate hug. 'Everything is going to be alright.'

There was a sudden loud increase in the rain pelting against the windowpane, and a fierce gust of wind rattled the windows in the small cottage. It was as though something was trying to get in, Gemma thought. After a few seconds it seemed to die down a little.

'Halloween,' Gemma breathed. 'You used to be into all that stuff, didn't you?'

'Halloween?'

'Yes, I remember when we were together back at Uni. You were quite heavily into all that stuff, paganism and witches -- what was it you called it?'

'Wicca,' Amber said softly.

'Yes, that's right. That's an old word for witchcraft, isn't it?

'

'Early twentieth century, actually.'

'But it's all to do with witches, making potions and casting spells, isn't it?'

'There's a bit more to it than that,' Amber was absent-mindedly stroking Gemma hair.

'Are you still into it?'

'No, that was years ago, back when we were students. You know, trying out different things -- you were quite a militant socialist if I remember.'

Amber laughed, 'God, yes, I was well into going on protest marches, lobbying politicians, I had Che Guevara t-shirt and everything.'

'There you go then. You're not still off on protest marches, are you?'

'No, not with little Stevie to look after. I only asked because, well, when we bumped into each other again back in August in Tescos, I'm sure you were wearing a necklace with one of those pagan symbols or whatever -- that star thingy, you know the one?'

'A pentagram.'

'Yes, that it. A pentagram. You were wearing one of those.'

Amber shrugged, 'Yes, well I still have some old jewelry I used to wear. I bet you too do.'

'Yes, I do have stuff I still wear -- cheap n tacky.'

'No, it's not.'

Gemma sighed. 'I was so lucky running into you again. After all this time.'

'it's only been ten years,' Amber said.

'Ten years and here we are back in bed together. How long did we date? Two months, was it?'

'No, five weeks, maybe six. Then you went off with Liam Kelly, the tallest, best-looking bloke on campus.'

'Yeah,' Gemma smiled remembering. 'And the biggest wanker too. God, what did I see in him?'

'His big shlong?'

'Well, yes, he was pretty well endowed.' She sighed again. 'And that was it. Every guy I've dated since then was a either a total tosser, a psychopath, or both. I thought when I met Stevie's dad I'd landed a decent bloke, but after I got pregnant, he didn't want to know. Didn't see him for dust. Then when I met Craig on New Year's Eve last year I thought my luck had finally changed. What a fool I've been.' She gave a bitter laugh.

Amber gave her a kiss on the forehead. 'Don't be so hard on yourself. Psychos like Craig don't walk about with a warning label stabled to their face. They should do but they don't.'

Gemma touched Amber's cheek with her fingers, gazing into her eyes. 'I should never have left you,' she whispered.

Amber frowned, 'You were never a lesbian, Gemma. You were just experimenting when you were with me. Lots of people do when they go to Uni.'

'It was a bloody nice experiment,' Gemma said softly. She leaned into Amber, closed her eyes, her lips slightly parted.

'Gemma, please,' Amber said, pulling away.

Gemma opened her eyes, she looked hurt by the rejection.

'Sorry, hon, I just don't think you're in the right place. Emotionally, I mean. After all you've been through lately. I don't think we should do anything we might regret in the morning.'

'You don't want me, do you?'

'I didn't say that, Gemma. You know what I mean.'

'So, you do want me?'

'It's not about what I want. More about what you need, and I think you need some time and space before getting involved intimately with anyone, let alone with me.'

'I need you.' Gemma reached around Amber under the covers, placing her hand on Amber's back to draw her closer.

'You have me, Gemma. I'm not going anywhere. We don't need to rush into anything.'

'Okay, so we should just go to sleep now?'

'I suppose, yes.'

'I have a problem with that, Amber.'

'What, aren't you feeling tired?'

'A bit, I suppose. But my big problem is I'm also feeling incredibly horny.'

'In that case, Gemma, I think we're both going to have trouble getting to sleep.'

Both women lapsed into silence, gazing into each other's eyes in the soft half light in the room. In the intensity of the moment the sound of wind and rain battering the house seemed to fade away as though the distant background noise was inconsequential, like a television or radio having been left on.

Amber leaned in, her lips brushing lightly against Gemma's, a ghost of a kiss. 'You sure?'

'Very,' Gemma breathed.

This kiss was fuller, both women's desires brimming over. Amber opening her mouth to allow Gemma's tongue to mesh with her own, her hands moving over Gemma's back pulling her closer, feeling her warmth through the thin material of their nighties, the soft press of Gemma's ample breasts against her own chest.

Gemma's cupped Amber's face in her hands. Small sounds of pleasure came from both women's throats as they reveled in each other's touch, taste and desire.

Amber's hand slid from Gemma's back and moved to her breast, kneading it gently before finding the top button on Gemma's nightie and unfastening it. Her fingers worked quickly as they moved down undoing each small button with haste, until the last one was freed, and Amber could push aside the material to completely expose Gemma's breasts and stomach to her touch and view. She slid her hand over Gemma's large breasts feeling the hardened buds of Gemma's nipples against the palm of her hand. As they kissed, Amber shifted her position, so she was on top of Gemma.

Gemma whimpered at the sensation of Amber's hand on her breasts, placing her own hand over Amber's to encourage her to squeeze and knead her breast harder.

Amber broke the kiss and both women gazed hungrily at each other, their breaths short and rapid. Amber moved in and Gemma opened her mouth in anticipation, but Amber instead kissed her on the cheek then moved down to the nape of her neck. There were four dark blemishes there, bruise marks, and Amber kissed each one as though willing them to disappear. She moved down kissing Gemma's shoulders then down to her chest. There were more bruise marks there dotted around, some older and more faded than others but each one testament to the rough and cruel treatment Gemma had suffered from her ex, each mark a signature of hurt and hate. The shock of seeing them almost stopped Amber cold.

She felt Gemma's hand on the back of her head encouraging more attention and Amber stooped her head, planting light kisses on each dark mark blemishing Gemma's beautiful body, as a mother might kiss the spots where her child had been stung with nettles.

Gemma's impatient hands guided Amber to her nipples and Amber obligingly paid them the desired attention. She used her tongue to make warm wet circles over the areola before planting teasing wet kisses on the nipple, finally taking the hardened pink bud into her mouth and sucking hard.

Gemma inhaled sharply at the intense pleasure Amber was inflicting on her. Amber took her time using both hands to knead and stoking her lover's breasts as she worked her mouth first on one nipple then the other.

'Amber, take off your nightie, I want to feel you,' Gemma said, her voice thick with arousal. Amber moved her legs either side of Gemma, so she straddled her, and sitting up pulled the silk garment up over her head in one smooth motion and tossed it carelessly to the floor.

Gemma's hands glided over Amber's torso, starting at her hips and waist, then sliding up over her soft firm mounds of her breasts. Gemma sat up a little, enough to pull her arms free of her own nightie so both women were now naked apart from their panties.

Gemma's reached for Amber to pull her down so she could feel her skin against her own. Amber moved from side to side, so her breasts rubbed over Gemma's.

They kissed again as they relished the feel of each other's bodies. Amber, being on top, took control and was soon moving down Gemma's body, her tongue leaving a cool wet trail over Gemma's skin as she descended, moving down over her stomach and navel. Gemma's breathing deepened in anticipation as Amber reached her pantie line.

Amber planted gentle kisses over Gemma's pubic mound then moved down to kiss the plump folds of her pussy that dampened the thin silk material of her panties. Amber hooked her thumbs either side of the panties and pulled down the skimpy underwear. Gemma lifted her bottom to facilitate the garment's removal and brought her knees up to make it easy for Amber to remove them completely.

Gemma opened her thighs wide to expose her aching pussy to Amber's touch.

Amber drinking in the heady scent of her lover's arousal, began by working her tongue around the sensitive folds of labial skin before pressing her mouth firmly against Gemma's sex, her tongue darting in and out of the soft wet entrance causing Gemma to cry out from sheer ecstasy.

Gemma placed her hands on the back of Amber's head, and folded her legs over Amber's back locking her in position.

Amber moved her mouth in small circles over Gemma's pussy, her tongue swirling and probing, taking care to avoid stimulating Gemma's clitoris too soon, for she wanted to drive Amber into a delirium of pleasure before giving her the intense climax she hungered for. Amber reached up and found Gemma's soft big breasts, kneading and pressing them, her fingers finding the hardened nipples and crushing them, eliciting moans, curses and cries from Gemma. The music of lovemaking.

Gemma's need was urgent now and she lifted her hips to meet the darting thrusts of Amber's tongue, pressing her pussy hard into her lover's face. Amber moved her hands down to grip Gemma's hips to control her thrusts as she pressed her tongue against Gemma's clitoral bud.

'Oh, God, oh Christ!' Gemma cried out, as an electric current of ecstasy coursed through her. Her orgasm was coming, an unstoppable wave building swiftly to a crescendo. Amber used the tip of her tongue to press and push against the orgasm button.

Gemma's body tensed and her back arched as her orgasm pulsed through her. Seconds stretched into eternity. Amber pushed her tongue deep inside to taste the tangy nectar gushing from Gemma's pussy.

Gemma's body finally relaxed as the powerful orgasm subsided. A sheen of sweat covered her body and her breathing began to return gradually to normal.

Amber planted an affection kiss on Gemma's abused wet pussy before slithering up to lie beside Gemma.

'Thank you,' Gemma said, her breathing restored enough to talk.

'My pleasure,' Amber said, plucking a stray lock of hair stuck to Gemma's damp forehead and planting a soft kiss there.

Gemma turned on her side to see Amber more easily. 'I forgot how good you are with your tongue.'

'Glad to see I haven't lost my touch,' Amber grinned, delighted at the compliment.

'I'm glad to have found your touch, again,' Gemma said, kissing Amber lightly on the lips and snuggling closer. There was warmth Gemma felt inside her that she had not felt in a long time. The orgasm on top of tiredness was lulling her to sleep. She did not want to drift off, she wanted to reciprocate the pleasure Amber had given to her, wanted to hear Amber call her name, make her swear and sweat and come, to redden her cheeks with the afterglow of orgasm.

Gemma was just trying to fight off the pull of sleep to find the energy to start another round lovemaking when she felt Amber suddenly tense.

'Amber?'

'Saw something, a light reflected in the window.'

'A light?'

'It looked like a car's headlight. Just for a moment.'

Gemma was immediately awake and alert.

'There,' Amber said.

Gemma turned and saw a glare of light that could only be from a car's headlights sweep momentarily into the room through the rain battered window.

'Oh, my god,' she breathed.

'Now, don't panic. Could it be your parents?'

'At this time of night? No.' She was sitting up now, all vestiges of weariness gone by the implicit threat that had sliced into the night.

Amber was up and out of her bed and pulling on her dressing gown in urgent haste. As she tied the belt around her waist, she scooped up Gemma's dressing gown, and tossed it onto the bed where Gemma, sitting up, had pulled the duvet protectively around her.

Amber saw the fear in Gemma's eyes and taut expression which fed her own growing fear. There was something else she felt, a feeling that had momentarily surfaced as she was exploring Gemma's body and saw the marks of bruises on Gemma's skin -- a seething anger for the person who had hurt and abused Gemma.

Both women shared an alarmed glance as the sound of car wheels on the gravel path leading to the cottage could be heard through a lull in driving wind and rain.

'Quick, put that on,' Amber said, breaking Gemma's panic-stricken reverie. Gemma began to pull on her dressing gown as outside they heard a car brake suddenly, the gravel in the driveway crunching loudly beneath the wheels.

'Your phone,' Amber said.

'It's dead,' Gemma wailed, remembering she forgot to put it on a charger when they had arrived. She had been too preoccupied with little Stevie.

'Mine's in the living room, in my bag,' Amber said, pulling open the bedroom door.

From outside they heard the slam of a car door. Feet on the gravel path.

Benji was up and off the sofa and into the hallway barking excitedly at the front door.

'If it's him, there's not much time,' Amber said urgently. 'Listen, I'm going out to speak to him. You stay in here, lock the door.'

'It doesn't have a lock.'

'Shit. Okay, do you know how to barricade a door?'

Gemma stared helplessly at her then screamed as there was loud thump on the front door. Benji's barking became more frantic.

Amber ignored the sounds. Instead, she grabbed a chair that was in the corner of the room and hauled it over to the bedroom door.

There came a steady pounding on the front door, an angry, threating sound that turned Gemma's blood to ice. She gazed fearfully at the adjoining bedroom where Stevie was asleep in bed.

'You close the door tight,' Amber said. 'Gemma! Look at me!'

Gemma forced herself to look at Amber, trying to push down the rising tide of fear and panic, to hear Amber's words.

'You close the door tight, then angle the chair like this,' she tipped the chair at a 45 degree angle. 'Then wedge the chair's back under the door handle like this,' she demonstrated how to place the chair, then pulled it away and opened the door.

'Amber! Don't go out there, please! You don't know what he's like -- if he's been drinking . . .'

'You stay in here and don't come out, okay. You don't come out until I say you can,' Amber instructed firmly.

The pounding was now a loud frantic tattoo on the door accompanied by the dog's near hysterical barking. 'Let me in you bitch! I know you're fucking in there! Gemma, open this fucking door, now!'

There came a massive blow on the door, and it shuddered in its frame, its chain lock rattling.

Amber went through the living room stopping only to grab her phone from her bag before going into the hallway in time to see the door shudder from another loud blow. The front door was reasonably strong and might just hold, but Amber knew once he went to the back of the cottage, he could get in, for the back door of the cottage was not sturdy and had a large glass panel.

'Craig?' Amber shouted through the closed door.

The pounding stopped.

Benji's barking continued unabated, and Amber tried to calm the dog down grabbing its collar and hushing it.

'Who the fuck's that?' Craig bellowed.

'Gemma doesn't want to see you, Craig. She's nothing to say to you.'