Free Valentine's Wishes by Daisy Banks

would be said by them back home if yer didn’t.” She hung her head as guilt flooded through her again, but he tilted her chin so she peered up to his smile. “Don’t yer fret, I give yer a hand. If last night’s wish is anything to go by, I think ye’ll need a bit of a hand, for by Pan’s twin horns, yer have no idea of control.”
    “Thank ye,” she whispered and buried her cheek against his glowing skin.
    “Aye, once yer’v shown me how thankful yer are, we’ll get dressed and go sort things out.” He cupped her chin in his palms and covered her mouth with his.
    Her pleasured sighs echoed once more.

Chapter 8
    The birds screamed so loud Keri winced. Grimacing she lifted her head from the pillow. The thump of pain she had thought a part of her dream remained.
    Lucy made the punch much too strong. There’s no other explanation .
    Her recollection of last night remained hazy and her mouth sandy dry. She dragged on her robe to go get a drink of juice.
    Downstairs, a confetti scatter of CD’s, shrunken balloons, glasses, and empty drink cans greeted her. She stepped through a tangle of pink streamers. We’ll have some cleaning up to do today. I hope the others are up to it because I don’t think I am.
    In the kitchen, she poured a tall glass of orange juice and events from last night flashed through her mind as she gulped it down. Oh my God. The memory of kisses with Surjan flooded through her. Bal’s possible future husband. And I spent the evening kissing and dancing with him while Bal sat watching.
    No, hang on, that isn’t quite right. Yes, the kisses and dances I remember, but Bal was engrossed with James, Lucy’s James. And Lucy, of course, as usual, made a bee-line for the most interesting man at the party. The guy I checked out who looked so good, and after only a brief conversation I thought sounded even better.
    She put the empty juice glass on the counter. If I thought Jez was so interesting, how come I ended up with Surjan? He’s nice enough but not my type. This is more than weird. She filled the coffee machine to make the largest pot she could. If the others wake feeling like me, they’re going to need coffee.
    While the coffee pot steamed and burbled, she wondered again about the party. What happened to all three of us last night? Maybe a real heart-to-heart with the Bal and Lucy is needed. We all made some big mistakes somewhere along the line.
    “Is there any juice?” Bal asked with a hand to her forehead. Her normal golden glow was pale and dark shadows shaded beneath her eyes.
    Keri poured a glassful and handed it over. She waited while Bal drank the whole glass down. “Bal, about last night—”
    “I don’t want to talk about it. I’m glad I found out what kind of guy Surjan is.” Bal closed her eyes as though the subject was finished.
    “Now, hang on a minute. I don’t think it was his fault. You were busy with James, so you can’t blame Surjan for dancing with me.”
    “He did more than dance as I remember.” Bal accepted the cup of coffee Keri handed over. “I can’t wait to tell my mother.”
    “I’m sorry,” Keri began and turned as Lucy arrived in the kitchen. Lucy stared, eyes narrowed at Bal.
    “Did you have a good time with my date last night?”
    “Yes,” Bal retorted and stomped through to the sitting room.
    “Wait a minute, Lucy; you were busy with Jez weren’t you?” Keri tried to keep the edge out of her voice. After all, I’ve no claim on Jez, mores the pity, I’d have liked the chance to get to know him and maybe stake a claim. “I mean what did you think James might do? Sit and watch you dance with another guy all night?”
    “I don’t know how it happened. One minute I was talking with James and the next I was dancing with Jez.” Lucy drank coffee and fumbled in the cupboard where they kept the few medicines. She swallowed two tablets. “My head is killing me,” she murmured.
    “I know, you need to drink hydrating fluids. Come on,