Yes, a sexy little red cherry promises me an endless amount of sex, andwow,her voice. As tempting as she may be, I will have to hold out. Sure, there’s an aching emptiness in my core, and my body is working up a sweat, but I think I can resist a little longer.
Madoc snaps his teeth. “Hey, I can give you more than that stupid cherry!”
“Ha, you wish.”
I step away from him now and peer around at the other fruit. A bunch of purple grapes promises me an endless amount of luxury, a world where I will never feel uncomfortable, hot, or cold again, and a fuzzy pink peach promises me an endless supply of love, and the sweet Hallmark type too. The peach almost has me when it shows me a cute Dalmatian puppy with a hearted-shaped nose, and again, love in its purest form.
Nope. No cute love puppies for me, thank you.
A green watermelon promises me money beyond my wildest dreams, and there I am swimming like Scrooge McDuck in a pool of gold. Last but not least, a bunch of blueberries promises me freedom.
There I am, standing atop a mountain, and everything is blue as far as the eyes can see. I feel like I can fly in that world, going anywhere I want. I am not grounded or trapped.
As free as a bird.
I reach forward to pluck at one of the berries, but Madoc slaps my hand, pulling me away from all the fruit. I may not be giving in to their tempting offers, but I am still foolish enough to listen. I guess I was just curious. I never thought I’d be in a forest of talking fruit.
It’s kinda eerie, but cool at the same time.
I wonder how much all this fruit would cost on the black market, and it looks like the money melon got to me. He’s got me thinking about riches.
“Snap out of it, Belle! Come on. We still have a way to go. We’re not out of the woods yet.”
Well, that was a brilliant use of that idiom, but he’s right. Just the fact that I am giving the fruit my undivided attention is enough for them to trick me. I still can’t stop thinking about how delicious that blueberry would be.
Pure, spiritual freedom. Go anywhere you want. Flying in an endless sky of blue...
I need that fucking berry!
Imagine how it would taste with the grape. And a bite of melon too. Imagine how all the fruit would taste together. A delicious fruit cocktail of pure temptation, and now I launch myself at the nearest melon, wrapping my teeth around its ripe flesh. Its yellow juice seeps into my mouth, and my mind explodes with happiness.
All I need now is a freedom berry, a luxury grape, and then I’m good. Riches, sex, and love don’t appeal to me so much right now. I have love, and I get plenty of sex, thanks to my monsters.
But money. All the books I could buy in the world.
Books were always my kryptonite.
I’m doomed.
No. Must resist! I have to save Alice, have to save the human world. My father is waiting for me too. I can’t fail him now.
I spit the juice out of my mouth and bolt. So long as I don’t swallow, then I’m safe. I will pass this test. Must find the exit to this forest.
I break through the trees, sending poor fruit flying this way and that. I’m not sure if it counts, yet who cares. Before long, I skid toward the edge of the forest, almost skittering off a cliff, and holy fuck.
Madoc yanks me back before I fall to my death, and now he wraps his arms around me, pressing me to his strong chest. His wild heartbeat soothes me. I melt beneath his touch, his fire and brimstone scent placating me.
I did it. I escaped the Forest of Forbidden Fruit. One melon fucker almostgotto me, but I passed. Now I can return to the king as smug as a fox.
“You did it, my beauty. I’m so proud of you.”
I pant for breath, placing my ear against his thundering heart. “Y-yeah...”
“You almost caved for a moment. I have to admit. Seeing you ravenous for that forbidden fruit made me horny.”
I roll my eyes, burying my nose into his shirt. It appears we’re finally out of the woods. Now I can give in to temptation again without feeling guilty.
I’m going to enjoy this.