Ravishing Rapunzel (Passion-Filled Fairy Tales, #6)(2)

Eldon sighed and tried to be friendly. He preferred not to discuss such matters with anyone, let alone this stranger. But the fact that she was the enchantress’s sister meant he should treat her as he would an old friend. “I admit my wife is excitable these days, but nothing I can’t handle.”

The woman nodded, and said, “Of course, of course.” Then she held up the basket she carried in her arms. It had a lid. “I’m sure you’ll do well, but I thought I’d offer you this.” She opened one side of the lid and showed him the beautiful rapunzel leaves within.

“Rapunzel?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said. “I know a thing or two about women at this time, and sometimes the ones with child are overcome with desire. And if you can’t quell it early on, it can even pass on to the child.”

Eldon couldn’t help go wide-eyed with that. These enchantresses were strange beings, indeed.

“So, what I usually recommend is rapunzel. It’s a special variety we grow back home. My sister’s got a whole garden full of it. I picked you this basket full for your wife.” She held it out for him to take.

Fearful of what refusal meant, he grabbed the basket.

“You can give your wife one or two fresh leaves a day, and then hang the rest to dry. This will ease up on her … um … urges.” Then the woman laughed. “Don’t worry. It won’t cut them out altogether. You’ll still need to do your part, but this will let you finish your work.”

Eldon nodded as if he appreciated it, and said, “That’s so kind of you. I’ll give it to her.”

The woman gasped and shook her head. “No, not the whole thing, dearest. Too much is bad. Just makes her want more rapunzel, or more … um, time with you. Definitely don’t give her the entire basket. Just a few leaves each day. They don’t go bad as they dry. She’ll still enjoy them. But just a few. This basket should last the rest of her time with child.”

Eldon nodded. “Certainly. Just a few leaves,” he said.

The woman turned and waddled off. “Have a good day, sir,” she called as she headed down the road.

Eldon was not pleased. He wanted nothing to do with the enchantress, the enchantress’s sister, or her rapunzel leaves. He took the basket around to the back of the cottage and left it there. He’d throw it out after dark, when neither the enchantress nor her sister, could spy him doing so.

When evening came around and Eldon was filthy with a day’s worth of grime and sweat, he came inside the cottage to find Rosalind looking chipper as she stood over a stew pot.

“Did you get your work done, love?” she asked.

“Of course,” he said. “And I appreciate you not coming to get me the way you have the past couple of weeks. I’ll make it up to you tonight--as soon as I bathe off some of this muck.”

She laughed. “No need to make anything up. I’ve been catching up on some of my sewing. I mended your socks, too.”

He smiled. They’d both had productive days.

“I’ve been feeling so much better after having that salad of rapunzel.”

Rapunzel. Oh no. He turned to her. “Where did you get rapunzel?”

She saw his alarm and walked over to him, setting a reassuring hand on his arm. “The rapunzel you left for me in the basket. I was so hungry, I ate it all.”

Eldon felt his heart plummet. No, she couldn’t have.

“What’s the matter, sweets?” she asked, her lips a soft pout.

He couldn’t tell her. He just hoped the woman was wrong. “Nothing, dear. I’d just wanted to have some, too. That’s all.”

She leaned in and kissed him. “I’ll make it up to you tonight, alright?”

He nodded.

*

He had to get more of that rapunzel. The old woman had been right. His wife had been fine for the first couple of days, but then she came at him with a vengeance. Every moment, she wanted to be touched, caressed, fondled, and sexually sated. But there was no sating her desire. She wanted him all the time. He suspected, if she could, Rosalind would cut off his pecker and use it to pleasure herself. He had to get more of that magic rapunzel.

He went to the gated wall around the property and knocked. He’d seen deliveries come this way. Normally, after the person knocked, the gate would open of its own accord, admitting the visitor. Eldon expected as much, planning to walk to up to her, explain what had happened, and ask her what to do.

He knocked. And waited. And knocked. And waited. Knocked. Waited more. The enchantress was gone.

But her garden was still there.

He climbed the wall, gathered as much rapunzel as he could carry, and headed home. He’d hide it from Rosalind, ration it this time. He had to have this for her. She needed this to return to normal. He needed it if he was going to survive the next few months. He’d explain to the enchantress when she returned home.



*

The baby was due in a month, and he’d given Rosalind the last of the rapunzel three days ago. And now she was a sex fiend again. Only, he needed to sell his wares at the market in the next few days. He couldn’t stay with her, pleasing her. He needed to complete his harvest and get to market.

So he went back to the enchantress’ house. He’d need only a few more plants. Just enough to last these few weeks before birth. He knocked, and found she was again not home.