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Felicity took the main road through the town and headed toward Kilmurvey. After two kilometres she continued past an old lighthouse, and crossed the fields divided by stone walls. It was dark when she finally reached Dún Eochla.
The stone ring fort was located in the middle of the island near the village of Eochaill. She imagined the view would be spectacular during the day, but it was kind of eerie at night. The flashlight shot a beam across the distance, but it didn’t light up the area. Even though she’d dressed appropriately for the terrain, she immediately regretted not waiting for Niall. She should turn back...except she heard a soft moan in the distance. It sounded like someone was hurt.
“Hello,” she called out into the darkness. “Dillon?”
Silence.
Then she heard sobbing. When she tried to focus on what direction it was coming from, she realized it came from inside the fort. Felicity started walking toward the noise. With the howling wind, she couldn’t tell whether she’d imagined it. She focused instead on putting one foot in front of the other. The steps up to the ramparts, and the long hike to the top, left her out of breath.
Felicity came into the inner circle, and at first she couldn’t see anything except a large, dark mass. There was a pile of rocks toward the centre of the fort; she flashed the beam of light in its direction and settled on a smaller lump on the ground.
It was moving, and then it moaned.
She slowly made her way to the body crumpled on the ground, and gasped. Maelíosa was tied with rope, and she’d been beaten up pretty badly. Even with only the light from the flashlight, Felicity noted that Maelíosa had a busted lip and a broken nose. There was a cut across her stomach, surrounded by a dark stain where her shirt had absorbed some of the blood.
Felicity shuffled through her purse, looking for anything she could use to cut the rope. She cursed herself for not being more prepared. “Hold on. I’m going to get you out of here.”
“In my boot. They took my dagger, but they didn’t find the one I keep in my boot.”
She found the knife and began to saw through the rope at Maelíosa’s wrists. “I’m sorry I’m not better at this. Try to hold still so I don’t nick you.”
“Aye, you’re doing it all wrong.”
Felicity laughed nervously. Her adrenaline was pumping. She had to get these ropes off and get them to safety. “Do you think you can walk?”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m a fast healer, but being away from the Realm and getting me arse kicked makes it a wee bit slower.”
She winced. Felicity found she really liked Niall’s sister, and she could see the resemblance despite the blood and bruises. They shared the same sense of humour, but she was shorter, slightly rounder, and more smart-mouthed than her brother. The rope was double-tied and hard to cut through. She’d made it through the first binding when Maelíosa sucked in a sharp breath.
“Look up,” she whispered.
Felicity leapt from her crouched position.
“I was wondering when you’d finally get here. You wanted a story. Well...there’s your story. She’s the púca that’s plagued our island,” Caitlin said as she gestured toward Maelíosa.
* * *
THERE WOULD BE HELL to pay if anything happened to his sister. The clan was in a frenzy when he’d left. He’d crossed over the veil and headed back to the cottage to meet up with Tomas as planned. When he returned, it hadn’t taken long for him to find Felicity’s note.
Niall,
I’ve gone to Dún Eochla to meet Dillon. He’s the construction worker who came into the pub with a head wound. He says he’s got proof that púca exist. I couldn’t wait for you. I don’t trust him, but if he has your sister, then I need to go help her. Even if he doesn’t, I need to find out what he knows. If I’m not back then you know where to find me.
Felicity
He balled up the paper and threw it. Damn her. He could wring her neck. Of all the stupid things to do... If he lost his sister and his true mate... Niall couldn’t wait for Tomas—he reached out to him with his mind instead.
-Meet me at Dún Eochla. Felicity might be in trouble.-
-Aye.-
He shifted back into his stallion form. The dirt road pounded beneath his hooves. Niall only hoped he wasn’t too late.
* * *
FELICITY STARED AT Caitlin through the darkness. She was still holding the knife, but she’d never used one on anything other than a steak. Despite her fear and seeing what Caitlin had done to Niall’s sister, Felicity had the upper hand. She was also a foot taller and outweighed Caitlin. At least she had that going for her. Her best bet was to keep Caitlin talking and move closer—get the knife within striking distance. Obviously she was behind the whole thing, and Dillon must’ve been working with her. Where was he? She slowly moved toward Caitlin.
“How do you know she’s a púca?” Felicity asked, taking a few more steps toward her.
“You bloody liar! Plague the island... We’re not the ones responsible for any of this. You wait until I get loose,” Maelíosa yelled.
Felicity edged even closer to Caitlin, who’d turned to glare at Maelíosa. Crap. She really wished Maelíosa had kept her mouth shut. Although, if she was arguing with Caitlin, it might give Felicity an opening to use the knife. She moved further away from Maelíosa, using the outburst to inch closer with the blade. She wasn’t entirely confident she’d be good at using it, but she’d worry about that later.
“Shut your bloody mouth before I gag you,” Caitlin said coldly.
Felicity was almost directly in the centre of the fort.
Caitlin circled around Felicity, staying to the edge of the ring fort. She was too far away, out of Felicity’s reach. Felicity imagined Caitlin was deliberately keeping her distance because of the knife in her hand.
“Look at me, not at her,” Felicity said, trying to keep her voice calm. It wasn’t working. The hand holding the knife shook.
For a moment, Caitlin stopped moving. “What do you think yer going to do with that? If you were going to use that on me, then you’d have rushed me already.”
Felicity’s heart was pounding in her chest. She was thinking of running straight at her and shoving the knife wherever she could, but Caitlin continued around the fort, staying close to the wall. By the time she got to Maelíosa, there was a good distance separating them. It was too risky for Felicity to make a move.
Caitlin pulled a rag and some duct tape out of her satchel. She never turned her back on Felicity, even though she seemed unimpressed with the knife she was holding. She stooped slightly and shoved the rag in Maelíosa’s mouth, then covered it with tape.
Fury burned in Maelíosa’s eyes.
Felicity cursed herself for not taking the advantage while she’d had it. She was scared the knife might end up somewhere it shouldn’t. Her women’s self-defence class had given her a healthy fear of weapons being used against the person possessing them.
“Much better,” Caitlin said with a smile.
Oh, my god. She’s mad. “Maybe we could talk?”
“That’s not very polite when you’re holding a knife. Throw it over there.” Caitlin gestured to the stone wall to the right.
Felicity weighed her options carefully.
“Fine.” Felicity tossed the knife. She was still taller and had a weight advantage on Caitlin. She could take her, and rushing her without a sharp object might work out better anyway. Besides, she still had hairspray in her purse. She was far more comfortable using that than a knife that might end up jabbing the wrong person.
“You wanted a story. I can prove she’s a púca.” Caitlin kicked Maelíosa. “Shift!”
“Stop. I believe you,” Felicity said. It was better to agree with her so she wouldn’t hurt Maelíosa again. She had to wait for the right moment if she was going to win this fight. Let her take a few steps away from Maelíosa, so she wouldn’t get hurt in the process.
Caitlin eyed her sceptically. “You’re just saying that.”
“No, I’m not. I know you’re telling the truth. Niall is a púca too. I believe you.” Felicity knew Caitlin had been groomed to take her aunt’s place, so it wasn’t like she was revealing anything Caitlin didn’t already know.
“Good. I want you to write about this on your blog. I want the world to know.”
“Why?”
“It’s been my family’s legacy to keep their secret and to serve them. I want no part of it.”
“No one’s forcing you.”
“I wasn’t given a choice,” Caitlin snapped. “Besides, this is going to make Dillon and me a ton of money.”
A chill ran down Felicity’s spine. “How?”
“Dillon told Mr. Archer about my family, and when he heard the legend of the púca was real, he jumped at the opportunity.”
“I don’t understand,” Felicity said.
“If the whole world knows about the púca, everyone will come to the island. They’ll need to see for themselves, and of course they’ll need a place to stay. Business for the resort will be booming. Besides, we could use a good tourist attraction aside from these piles of rubble.” She flung her arm toward the rocks in the middle of the fort. “And Mr. Archer is paying us a lot of money.”
Felicity couldn’t believe her ears. “No, I won’t do it. I won’t write your story. It’s not right.”
Caitlin laughed. “Then you’ll die like her, and I’m sure the blog will cover your obituary. We’ll make your death look like a supernatural accident—that will keep the readers riveted, and have them flocking to the island to visit your grave.”
Caitlin stepped away from Maelíosa and turned toward Felicity.
Felicity finally had an opening. Instead of waiting for Caitlin to reach her, Felicity grabbed the hairspray out of her purse. She ran at Caitlin and sprayed her in the face. Felicity tackled her to the ground, punching and pummelling the bloody hell out of her.
Caitlin tried to push her off, but it was no use. She was tiny, and not nearly as strong as Felicity. Plus she was screaming, probably from the burning sensation of hair product stinging her eyes. Served her right.
It would have worked if not for Felicity getting clunked on the head. Her world spun as she rolled off Caitlin. She wasn’t sure what Dillon had hit her with, but he loomed over her as grey spots danced in front of her eyes. She prayed it wasn’t one of those rocks piled in the middle of the fort. Everything went black as she sunk into unconsciousness... knocked out cold.
# # #
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CHAPTER ONE
FELICITY MOANED SOFTLY. She felt as though she’d been hit by a bus, and her head was killing her. Light danced behind her closed eyelids. She forced herself to open them. They were no longer at Dún Eochla. Their captors had moved her and Maelíosa to an unfamiliar cottage.
Maelíosa was lying on her side across from Felicity, her wrists and ankles bound with duct tape. If not for the gentle rise and fall of her chest, Felicity would have thought she was dead. Aside from her breathing, she was motionless.
“Maelíosa...” Felicity whispered.
Maelíosa didn’t respond. Crap. Felicity was also bound with duct tape at her wrists and ankles, but at least they’d bound her hands together in front of her. Maelíosa’s were trussed together at an impossible angle behind her back. Felicity had to figure out how to get them out of there.
“Maelíosa!” she hissed.
Still no response. Suddenly, Felicity heard arguing from another room. The door was slightly ajar, and she recognized Caitlyn’s high-pitched whine and the lilt of Dillon’s voice. She leaned forward, trying to make out their conversation.
“You shouldn’t have hit her in the head,” Caitlyn hissed, as if afraid they might hear her.
“What would ye rather I’d done? Let her keep blinding you with hairspray and punching you in the gut? It wasn’t like ye were on the winning end of that particular fight.” Dillon’s speech oozed with sarcasm.
Felicity smiled to herself. If Dillon hadn’t knocked her out, she would have won.
“Oh, shut yer hole. If you weren’t so bloody slow getting back to the fort, we wouldn’t be in this position now. And I could’ve taken care of Felicity without yer help.”
Dillon laughed. “Aye, it certainly looked like it.”
Caitlyn muttered something that sounded like a curse. There was a shuffling sound, as if she’d paced to the other side of the room.
“We wouldn’t have had to move them if it weren’t for you. The moment you hit her in the head, that púca bitch blabbed that Felicity is Niall’s true mate. So we’d better pray Felicity wakes up, or we’ll be bloody sorry. She reached out to her brother telepathically because of you!”
Dillon sighed. “Nothing to be done about it now.”
Not that Maelíosa needed to reach out to Niall because Felicity had left him a note letting him know exactly where she’d gone. But now that they weren’t at the ring fort, she couldn’t count on him saving her. She’d have to take matters into her own hands.
“Do you know what that means? She’s his true mate. He will come for her.” Caitlyn’s voice rose an octave. She sounded a little scared. Felicity heard the shuffling footsteps of her pacing again.
Good.
She should be worried. The only thing Felicity regretted was not telling Niall how much she cared about him. If he couldn’t track her scent, or if he was too late, she might not get the chance. Felicity wasn’t about to wait around to find out what her captors were going to do to them. Despite the nausea churning in her stomach and her splitting headache, she had to do something.
“Aye, but Archer is a smart lad. He had us move them. We’ll wait for him like he told us to. He’ll know what to do.”
She certainly didn’t want to find out what Archer had planned for them, either.
“They both have to die. I was hoping the blogger would help us. I had no idea she was involved with Niall,” Caitlyn murmured. “There’s no other choice. We have to get rid of her too.”
Felicity swallowed.
“It’s too late now. We’ll have to wait and see how Archer wants us to stage their deaths,” Caitlyn continued.
Dillon was in the kitchen and moved past the door to the room where they were being held. Felicity could see the agitation lining his forehead. When he turned toward the doorway, she closed her eyes and slumped her head, pretending she was still knocked out. The door creaked.
“This isn’t what I signed up for, Caitlyn. You told me this would be easy,” Dillon said.
Felicity sensed him standing over her. It was time to give the best acting performance of her life. The hair on the back of her neck prickled, and she forced herself to keep her breathing even. The footsteps came closer.
“And it will be. Think of all the money,” Caitlyn said.
She hoped her playing possum was a convincing act. Maybe if they thought she was still unconscious they wouldn’t keep vigilant watch. It could give her an opportunity to escape. The wheels were already turning in her head, figuring out how to get out of the duct tape. It wouldn’t be easy, but she could manage it with the room key she had tucked into the front pocket of her jeans.
“Aye, Archer better pay me double for dealing with this,” Dillon said as he nudged Felicity’s foot.
She managed to keep still, even though she hadn’t expected him to touch her.
“Don’t worry, love. We’ll have more than enough money to do anything we want. We can go anywhere. Get off this bloody island,” Caitlyn said. “And you’ll be with me.”
“Aye, and you’d better be worth it.”
Felicity could make out the shadows of movement above her, followed by the soft sounds of kissing. She imagined Caitlyn was showing Dillon exactly how she’d make it worth his while. Disgusting. She and Maelíosa were tied up at their feet, and the two of them were making out. They were both crazy!
Thankfully the kissing stopped.
“I’ll be back later,” Caitlyn said. “I have to fill in for my aunt at the pub again or she’ll be suspicious.”
“If she isn’t already,” Dillon mused.
Caitlyn laughed. “I highly doubt she knows anything.”
“You don’t give her enough credit.”
The sound of their footsteps faded as they moved away from her. The door creaked again as they went back into the kitchen.
“Relax. I’ve known her my whole life. She always sees the best in everyone. She’d never suspect her own kin.”
Felicity heard the door to the cottage swing open and then shut as Caitlyn left. There was a clinking sound from the other room, and she chanced opening her eyes. She could see Dillon through the door, which was open about a foot. He was sitting at a kitchen table in the next room, pouring a shot of whiskey. Felicity half-hoped he’d get piss-drunk and pass out, but she sincerely doubted she’d get so lucky. After all, he was Irish.
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P.S. I’ve included a preview of my Ever After Series in case you like vampires who are into a little kink and enjoy new adult paranormal. Just turn the page ;)
P.S.S. I was invited to write in Milly Taiden’s Paranormal Dating Agency world. So if you like HAWT shifter romance with alpha males and curvy women then you should check out my book Finding Her Bearing. Turn the page for a little taste...
First love + mistaken identity + one BBW Latino and a sexy bear shifter = one smoking HAWT romance.
If you liked GEEK BEARING GIFTS from the Paranormal Dating Agency you’ll love FINDING HER BEARING.
Trigger Warning: This book was written to shine a light on domestic violence and may be difficult for survivors.
CHAPTER ONE
CARI SMOOTHED HER HAIR, sucking in one last breath before knocking on the door. This was stupid-crazy, and the last thing she needed right now. How she let Jess talk her into it, she’d never know.
The door swung open to reveal a small woman, a shock of white hair framing her smooth features in a stylish bob. She was short, but her wide smile made her seem larger than life.
“Hello, dear. I’m Gerri, and you must be Cari. Why, you’re even lovelier than Jess described. Come on in. I was just about to have some tea.”
Cari smiled at the spitfire of a woman and stepped into the apartment. Gerri closed the door and led her into a small kitchen.
“Have a seat. Would you like some tea?” Gerri’s shrewd, knowing eyes measured her movements as Cari pulled back a chair and took a seat at the kitchen table.
“Sure.”
The woman poured two cups from the kettle on the stove, placed one in front of Cari, and sat across from her.
“Thanks,” Cari said, taking a tentative sip from the oversized cup.
“So, how’s your sex life?”
Cari choked, trying to keep a mouthful of tea from spewing across the table. Jess hadn’t been kidding when she warned that Mrs. Wilder was a bit blunt. That seemed like an understatement.
Cari straightened her shoulders and met her inquisitive, no-nonsense look with bold caramel eyes. “Nonexistent.”
She hated to admit it, but it was true. She hadn’t been with anyone since her ex. That disaster had ended eight months ago, and she’d moved back here. It wasn’t where she’d grown up—Cari moved here with her grandmother in the ninth grade—but she always considered it home. When she inherited her grandmother’s old, ramshackle house two years ago, she hadn’t known what to do with it. Now it was the perfect escape, a place her ex had no idea even existed. Cari had been on her own fixing it up for the past eight months.
“Do you want it to be?” Gerri asked.
Cari thought for a moment. This whole thing was Jess’s crazy idea. They’d been friends since high school; everyone else had been standoffish to the new girl living in the rundown house on the edge of town, but Jess hadn’t cared.
She was enjoying the hell out of her newfound independence, but a woman had needs. She was comfortable with her curves, her plus-size hourglass shape, and her sensuality. Cari licked her lips. Didn’t she deserve to live a little? Besides, she needed a date for her ten-year reunion.
“I’m not sure I’m ready for a major commitment, but no-strings-attached sex is something I could handle. And I need a date for my high-school reunion.”
Gerri pursed her lips. “Is that so? I may have a shifter in mind, but are you certain all you want is sex?”
Cari frowned. She really wasn’t sure what she wanted anymore. It’d been a long time since anyone even asked her. She was just getting to know the smart, sexy, self-assured woman she’d forgotten. Her ex had really torn her down. Then she thought about the only guy who ever made her feel like a goddess: her high-school crush. It was a like a lightbulb went off. She’d been too scared to say anything back then. Maybe all this reunion business was bringing back old memories, but he was definitely the definition of what she wanted in a mate.
“I just got out of a really bad relationship,” Cari explained. “I’m not sure I can make any promises.”
Gerri studied her for a moment. “You don’t trust yourself.”
Wow. Gerri really knew how to read people, in a spooky, second-sight sort of way.
Cari swallowed. “That’s exactly it.”
Gerri’s eyes lingered on her, and Cari made an effort to keep herself from fidgeting.
“Honestly, I’m not sure I’d know what to do if someone was nice to me. I have an uncanny way of attracting assholes,” she admitted.
Gerri let out a full-belly laugh, and her whole face lit up. “I can see why you and Jess are such good friends! Shifters can get their alpha egos in a twist sometimes, but I can assure you I’ll find you one who isn’t an asshole.”
Cari laughed too. She really liked Mrs. Wilder’s candor, a refreshing change from polite, superficial exchanges. “Hopefully you can find one before the reunion next week.”
“I think we can manage to find you a date. What kind of man are you looking for?” Gerri asked.
Her hunky high-school crush popped into her head again. He’d been sweet, lanky, and easy on the eyes. She squirmed in her seat and cleared her throat.
“I want someone who’s smart, fun to be with, trustworthy, a good friend, and someone who makes healthy choices. I need someone who shows up, and calls when he says he will,” Cari said, her gaze reflecting in the large cup in front of her. “I deserve someone who makes me feel good and accepts me.”
She swallowed against the lump in her throat. She couldn’t believe she was telling Geri all the hopes she’d pinned on relationships that always ended badly. That’s what she wanted, but she attracted men who were all wrong for her. She’d been cheated on, put down, and put up with shit when she should have walked away a helluva lot sooner.
Gerri grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. “You leave it to me.”
Cari couldn’t imagine anyone could measure up to her crush. They’d met painting scenery for the high school drama club. He always made her feel safe and comfortable. Cari could really be herself around him. He was her best friend besides Jess. They’d talk for hours about everything and nothing. She’d always regret not telling him how she felt about him, but it wasn’t until college that she’d embraced her curvaceous Latino body. If only Liam could’ve met the version of herself that was bold, fearless. She wasn’t sure that girl existed anymore.
She wasn’t sure that that Gerri could find someone who met her qualifications, either. Cari smirked. “Well, it’s a pretty tall order.”
“Honey, what you want in a man is what every woman deserves, and I assure you it does exist,” Gerri said, her eyes twinkling.
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“If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink.”
–Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version
Preface
I NEVER GUESSED THAT I would die with a sea of faces surrounding me, all cheering for my death. A woman wearing a jacket dress made of brocade only laughed louder when blood splattered her low, square neckline. Where is Arie? I scanned the crowded club, but all I could see were pale faces, some half-covered by masks.
My time had come, and I prayed she would finish me off quickly. The warm trickle of blood ran down my neck and chest, saturating the corset bustier of my gown. It seemed like a shame to ruin such a pretty dress. Strangely, I felt relieved the bodice was black and not a light color that would show a stain.
The fear of dying, or more accurately the fear of not existing, scared me stiff. Perhaps if I had satisfied this existential anxiety with faith I wouldn’t jump from panic to ambivalence. I should be angry at everyone who simply watched. They must think the gruesome display was part of the entertainment for tonight. After the bloody burlesque show, I could hardly blame them.
-Holly, I gave you the chance to leave.- The telepathic transference hardly seemed relevant at this point. I knew if I’d never gone to the Hellfire Club, I wouldn’t be facing death now. Still, if my death meant the killings would stop, it seemed justifiable.
“No!” I could barely hear Arie scream above the cheering voices clamoring for attention. The constant drone defied my effort to form coherent thoughts. I looked up and could see him on the balcony. When I blinked, he’d disappeared into the throng. I could feel the blood continue to trickle down my neck as she drained me. Dizziness threatened to pull me under. The audience applauded her brutality as I crumpled at her feet, looking up at her paper-thin smile.
Blood. So much blood. My blood.
I didn’t want this to be the story of my death, but this part was only a fragment of a narrative as old as time. Its voices filled the shadows with whispers of legend. We are told that the damned cease to exist, and those absolved from sin are given eternal life. The damned can never be saved. They walk the earth in an eternal hell. I fear it will be my curse if death doesn’t claim me instead.
Chapter 1
Chicago
Three Months Prior
I wanted to ask the man gawking at me from behind the counter what the hell his problem was. But I didn’t dare tell off a customer when my boss, Marshall, had been such a hard-ass since his wife died. The tongue-lashing from him wouldn’t be worth the momentary satisfaction I’d get from reprimanding the man for staring at me. Nice to look at or not, it was just plain rude. It made me uncomfortable, yet tied my stomach into knots at the same time. God, I bet he could make my toes curl. I let out a sigh. It had been way too long since someone had ground my hips into a mattress.
I’m not bad-looking—maybe a little mousey, with wide brown eyes. But I make up for it with a narrow waist and decent cheekbones. And I usually wear my hair piled on top of my head, held in place with two pencils. Wiping my clammy hands on my apron, I glanced over at the man.
Damn.
His gray eyes watched my every move, and the coffee cup in front of him looked almost empty. I tried to plaster on a smile to cover my annoyance as I waited on him. Part of me was dying to talk to him, but another part wanted him to approach me instead. He’d been coming in here for a few weeks, and it annoyed me that I got these ridiculous butterflies in my stomach every time he looked at me. There was no way to avoid waiting on him, and nervous excitement bubbled inside me as I approached him. Images of him pressing me against a counter and his mouth tasting every inch of me didn’t make it any easier.
I took a deep breath. “Can I get you some more coffee? You take it black, right?” He smiled in a way that twisted my stomach and made me nervous, but in a good way. “Sure. You’re observant. I like that.”
“Well, you’ve been in here almost every day.” Although I usually ducked away and let Trina wait on him instead. Feeling tongue-tied when he was around was out of character for me. Usually I’d talk to anyone as long as they weren’t an asshole.
“What can I say? I like the coffee.”
I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks from his flirtatious tone. “Yeah,” I said, rolling my eyes. “That’s why this place is so packed. Because I make a mean cup of coffee.”
“What’s your name?”
“I’m Holly.”
“Just Holly?”
“Holly Ellis.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, Miss Ellis.”
The formal way he addressed me and the cadence of his speech were strange, but charming. He folded his hands on top of the counter and I saw a ‘V’ followed by a small dot tattooed on the back of his hand. I bit my lower lip and looked away. Get a grip. He was really hot, and there was something mysterious about him that totally turned me on.
A hefty man who had been reading a newspaper in a nearby booth rose and approached the cash register. Glad for the distraction, I walked over to the customer, pushed a few buttons, the till slid open and I took his money.
As soon as my fingers brushed his hand, unwanted images flashed through my mind. I’ve always had the misfortune of seeing things that normal people don’t see. An image of the hefty man opening a door to a dimly lit bedroom flooded my mind. A woman and another man ground together on the bed, fucking their brains out. The woman looked up in surprise, grabbing at the sheet to cover herself. The man with the newspaper dropped both the paper and the briefcase that he carried.
“Miss, could I have my change please?”
I looked up at the man at the register, wordlessly handing him his change. Shaking his head, he turned for the door.
“Sir...”
The man stopped in his tracks. “Yes?”
“Um...have a nice day,” I said weakly.
What else could I possibly say? ‘Don’t go home, your wife is fucking someone else?’ Years of experience had taught me that people tend not to believe what they can’t see. He’d probably only cause a big scene in front of the mysterious man sitting at the counter. Having the Sight wasn’t a gift—it kept everyone at a distance.
I pushed my ill-fitting glasses up the bridge of my nose. The unnerving stranger had been watching the interaction with a curious expression. God, he must think I’m completely mental. With his short dark hair curled around the collar of his leather jacket, he looked breathtaking. Our eyes met and he flashed a pearly smile before I jaunted down the hall, past the bathroom, and popped my head around the corner. The smell of recirculating cigar smoke marinating Marshall’s office made me wrinkle my nose.
“Hey, I’m heading out. I helped the last customer and my shift ended fifteen minutes ago.” He didn’t even look up from the slips on his desk and acknowledged me only with a grunt.
I hurried out before he added ‘one last thing.’ Otherwise I’d be working for nothing again. Marshall had a habit of asking me to do things right before the end of my shift, or even after, but he never paid me for my time. By twenty-two I figured I’d be doing more than working at the Coffee Grind.
The dirty slush of melting snow lining the sidewalk and the brisk winter evening greeted me. My breath puffed out in white vapor that lingered in the air, and I hoisted my army satchel onto my shoulder. I couldn’t help thinking about the man with the steely eyes back at the Coffee Grind. It had been a long time since I’d been out with anyone. Not that guys didn’t hit on me, just none that I found appealing. Although my standards aren’t high, it helps if you have a job, sound reasonably intelligent, and don’t cornball me with a cheesy pick-up line.
Mist began to spiral around my legs. I walked along the sidewalk toward my rusted blue Beetle. A dense cloud cover quickly rolled across the gray sky above. -Leave here.- A menacing whisper filled my mind and fear jogged me from my thoughts. My heartbeat quickened as I looked around for the source of the whispering. Its hissed threat made me wonder if I’d really heard it at all. A faded set of hate-filled eyes shaped the clouds that loomed above. I’d never seen clouds do that. They took on the appearance of menacing, feminine-shaped eyes. Across the street a woman walking her dog looked up at the sky, a frightened expression on her face. Okay, it’s not just my imagination playing tricks on me. Clearly, the clouds had morphed into vengeful eyes, and I wasn’t the only one freaked out by the impossibility of it.
Wind whipped trash down the street and a stray paper blew into my face. My hair fell free from the pencil that held it in place and became a tangled chestnut mass that wrapped around my body. -Leave here.- The words were louder and I covered my ears to block them out. Thunder rolled and a streak of lightening lit the sky while the wind pressed against my back, propelling me down the sidewalk.
I heard the bell above the door of the coffee shop chime behind me. I picked up my pace, running instead of walking to the safe confines of my car. The air outside had suddenly turned arctic. Shit. The front left wheel of my car drooped like a deflated balloon against the pavement.
I felt a hand grab my shoulder from behind.
“Looks like we’re in for a storm.”
Reaching for the pepper spray in my satchel, I turned toward the voice. Pale gray eyes, the color of a stormy sky, looked down at me with concern. I sagged against my car, relief washing over me as the stranger from the coffee shop stood in front of me.
“Yeah,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “That’s some storm.” But something in my gut told me it was more than just a storm brewing.
“Can I help you with that?”
“No, it’s okay. I know how to fix a flat.”
“Really?” He took a step toward me and I felt a little dizzy. “Impressive, but let me...do it anyway.”
I wasn’t sure whether we were still talking about the tire or something else entirely. It felt like fog was wrapping around my muddled brain when he looked at me. I found it difficult to concentrate, but the sensation seemed like more than just the desire I felt for him influencing my ability to think straight. “Er... Sure. I mean, thanks.”
Internally cursing myself for the lack of confidence I heard in my voice, I popped open the hood and he removed the spare, with its wheel kit in the center. His pale fingers deftly jacked up the car while I stood shivering. I wonder what else those fingers would be good at. He quickly loosened the lug nuts and took off the flat, his eyes narrowing as he inspected it. His head popped up like a jack-in-the-box and he looked around as if he’d heard something, but only the bitter gust of cold air howled through the street.
He placed the flat tire aside. I hauled it to the compartment where the spare was kept, heaving it inside. When I slammed the hood, he already had the new tire in place and made quick work of tightening all the lug nuts. With the grace of a panther he rose from his crouched position on the concrete.
“That should about do it.”
“You’re fast.”
His grin flashed ultra-white teeth in the fading light. “Yeah, I’ve done it more than once.”
“I don’t even know your name.”
“Arie. Arie Cush.”
Suddenly, I felt like a silly school girl with a crush and looked away. Better stop before my gums start flapping and I sound like a blabbing idiot. Taking deep breaths to regain my composure, I looked up.
“Thank you...”
But my words fell on empty air. As I stood alone, a chill ran the length of my spine.
***
HIS DARK CURLS BRUSHED across my skin as he trailed kisses down my stomach and over my hip. I could feel his stubble scrape across my skin along with his tongue. Cupping my ass with one hand, his tongue traced my inner thigh. Panting softly, I licked my dry lips. My hands were in his hair as I guided his head toward my pussy. He groaned.
“I want you, Holly. I want to taste you. Trouble or not, I can’t stop.”
I arched my hips off the bed, my clit throbbing for attention, pounding along with my raging heartbeat. I hooked one of my legs over his shoulder as he covered my cleft with his mouth. Searing pleasure pulsed through me. Relinquishing his hair, my white-knuckled grip clenched the sheet beneath me instead. He rimmed my trembling slit, teasing me, taunting me with the promise of orgasm. And I wanted to feel his cock inside me, stroking me until mind-numbing waves of pleasure surged through my pussy.
Meow.
I awoke to warm beams of sunlight shining on my face and Mystic sitting on my chest. He purred loudly, awaiting his morning treat. I groaned. Rolling over, I glanced at my alarm clock; its red digital numbers displayed the time as ten o’clock. Perfect... I still have time for a nice long soak. I scratched Mystic behind his ears and stretched lazily, making him jump off the bed.
“I guess it’s time to get up.”
It was good that no one could see me talking to my cat as he sat on the floor waiting expectantly. Mystic meowed before turning and leading the way to the kitchen. I stumbled sleepily behind his gray tail, which twitched from side to side as he sauntered to his dish.
“Here you go, boy.”
Placing the food in the bowl, I gave his head a quick pat. Yawning my way across the cracked linoleum, I set about getting the coffee brewing and toasting a poppy-seed bagel. As I ate my bagel, I promised myself that this weekend I would do something about the drifts of laundry on my bedroom floor and organize my closet. I kept my small apartment relatively clean, but knickknacks cluttered the living room and books overflowed the bookcase to occupy almost every surface. But it was mine and there was nothing better than having my own space.
My mind wandered to the weird clouds and the threat from the night before. I’d seen lots of strange things with the Sight, but nothing quite like that. I took a sip of coffee, reassured by its warmth as I pushed the nagging feeling in my gut aside. Instead I thought of Arie’s reassuring presence and him changing my tire. I hoped to see him during my shift. Arie... Now there’s someone who could hold my interest. Heat rushed to my cheeks as I fantasized about running my fingers through his dark curls, kissing his mouth, running my hands over his shoulders and more—there was much more I wanted to do to him. I only hoped he would stop by the Coffee Grind later. Mystic jumped on the table, meowing at me. “Oh here,” I said distractedly.
Swiping a finger through my cream cheese, I offered him one of his favorites. He adored and loved anyone willing to give him dairy. Mystic lapped up the cream cheese before begging for more, but his pet human had to be at work in a little over an hour, so I headed to the bathroom with a sigh. I wished there was enough time for me to hop on my laptop and do a little research about the odd atmospheric changes yesterday, but I’d be late if I did that. Besides, I had a feeling that an internet search wouldn’t be able to tell me anything useful to rationalize what I thought was pretty much impossible. Well, at least today I had something other than Marshall’s constant stream of demands to look forward to.
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FOR A FULL LIST OF Books by A.C. James click HERE.
Paranormal Romance
Ride (BBW Paranormal Romance Shape Shifter Serial)
Reading Order:
Felicity & Niall – Episodes 1-4
Ride: Felicity & Niall Box Set
Cyn & Fallon – Episodes 5-8
Ride: Bad Hangover – Episode 5
Maeliosa & Sage – Episodes 9-12
Ever After Vampire Romance Series (Erotic w/BDSM)
Winter Promises – Book 1.5 Short Story
Stand Alone Paranormal Romance
Contemporary Romance
Non-Fiction
NEW YORK TIMES and USA Today bestselling author A.C. James writes paranormal romance and erotica, including Eternal Ever After which was featured in the bestselling Spice Box anthology. She pounds out sexy scenes at her keyboard where romance is laced with horror in hot stories of vampires and bad boy werewolves. Her stories feature strong heroines and alpha heroes, with plenty of action, twists, and turns that will keep you turning pages. A.C. resides in northeast Pennsylvania where she entertains her husband with her imaginative yarns and quirky sense of humor. She spends her time drinking large vats of coffee while taming kids by day and writing by night. Recovering video game beta tester and tech geek who grew-up going to cons and watching SmackDown. There's probably some cosplay pictures around somewhere of her dressed up as Bloodberry from Saber Marionette J. Just don't tell anyone.
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This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.
ISBN: 978-1-948684-08-8
Copyright © A.C. James
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