Glenna had been kissed four times in her life. The first came at the age of ten, a good-humored buss from a male playmate. The second, more serious in nature, came from the same said male chum. They were sixteen years of age, and the kiss reflected their inexperience in its tentativeness and sloppy execution on both their parts. The third came from Viscount Ravenswood two years ago, and it had been an eye-opener. Desire had sparked to life within her. A kiss powerful enough to fuel her intense, sensual dreams for the months that followed.
But this. Oh, this. Devastating. Thorough and deep. Passionate and emotional. Scorching to the point of combustion. Nothing like the one he’d given her as Ravenswood. Entirely different. Perhaps it was not as confident, but more of everything else. He brought her in firm against the solidness of him. Glenna could feel his arousal. Though his skin was cool, his mouth was a fiery furnace, the flames on full roil. Every nerve ending sparked with energy as she shamelessly ground herself against him and kissed him back with an aching desperation.
Luke slid his right hand upward, slowly exploring and brushing past her breast, which elicited a low moan from her. He cupped her jaw, angling her head again for another probing exploration. Both were breathing hard, and Glenna moved restlessly against him, wanting more.
By degrees, Luke ended the kiss, lowering the intensity until he stepped back. His multi-colored eyes glowed with a colossal heat, causing her entire body to react. Her nipples hardened, her stomach dropped, and moisture gathered between her thighs. A hot wave enveloped her, and her cheeks flushed. She wanted to throw herself back into his arms. Beg for him to ease the ache within.
“Thank you. I will cherish your gift,” he murmured, his voice husky.
Shamelessly, she looked him over. His magnificent chest rose and fell with each ragged breath, his hands clenched into fists, and his arousal plain to see. She lingered, fascinated, committing him to memory.
A low, gruff groan left his throat. “Glenna…don’t.”
Finally, she tore her gaze from his impressive erection and looked him in the eye, hiding nothing. Let him see what he reawakened in her. “Don’t what?”
A sudden knock quickly broke the erotic mood. Luke turned away as Reed opened the door and strolled in, oblivious of the passion that still lingered in the air. “Time is growing short. If we are to have tea, we should do so now,” he stated.
“Luke? You will join us?” she asked, her voice shakier than she would have liked. He nodded, keeping his back to them. “Stay in the parlor and relax. I will let you know when it is ready. Reed, may I have your assistance?”
He cocked an eyebrow, and Glenna pointed to the dining room. “Oh, yes. Of course.” Reed followed her out into the hall before closing the parlor door. Luke was recovering at a quick pace, and Reed should be told the particulars right away. The kiss? That was her memory to keep and none of Reed’s business. Absently, her fingers brushed past her still throbbing lips. The aftereffect reverberated through her entire body. By the time they reached the kitchen, Reed said, “Shouldn’t one of us stay with him? What if he wanders off?”
“He will not get far on his leg. He is limping quite noticeably. Besides, you can go upstairs immediately. First, I have to tell you what he had to say… And he said it well. His speech has returned.”
* * * *
Luke was grateful for the time alone in the parlor. For a brief moment he again considered fleeing, but realized he had nowhere to go. He could barely walk about this room, let alone run away. And he had no funds to aid him on the journey. He must devise a workable plan. Besides, what he required more than escape was answers. He aimed to acquire them. Also, he needed to regain control of his emotions and bodily reactions. God, he was aroused, and to the point of agonizing pain. Instinctively, he knew of a way to relieve himself of such a state, hardly a polite thing to do while standing in the middle of someone’s parlor. Though, it was bloody tempting. There was no denying that while he held Glenna in his arms, while he kissed her, he managed to forget the stressful anxiety of the past several days, the strange circumstances of his arrival, and what he was. Instead, he felt human, alive, surging with emotion.
Reed came to fetch him, and he followed the man into the dining room. Luke sat at the table with these two cousins, tea, sandwiches, and biscuits lay out before them along with a china tea service, matching plates, and napkins. All proper and formal for an afternoon tea, Luke guessed. Glenna poured, and he nodded his thanks. Then he focused his attention on Reed. “How did you bring me here?”
“In a wagon, covered with a tarp,” Reed replied in a sharp tone as he stirred a spoonful of sugar in his cup.
Luke sneered. He found he did not care for sarcasm, not when it involved matters of crucial importance. “You are well aware what I mean. Where did you obtain my body? From whom? We know the purpose, a mad experiment.”
Reed sipped his tea. “Not so mad. Here you sit. Seems it was quite the success. You are speaking rather well.”
“Not a success to me,” Luke retorted angrily. “Answer, as I am losing what little patience I have.”
“You lingered in a comatose state for a few days, then you…passed away. I bought you from the doctor who had seen to your care. With no identification, a lot of unknown and destitute people wind up this way. A bad business, but a business nonetheless. I kept you on ice until I had the right environment to conduct my test. A lightning storm.”
“Take me to this doctor,” Luke demanded.
Reed reached for a wedge of egg sandwich and shook his head. “I think not. How would he react to seeing you up and about? However, I will write the doctor and ascertain where he found you. I will also make inquires and see if anyone has been reported missing from the surrounding area. You must stay here, hidden, and recover fully before we decide what is to be done next. Surely you see the wisdom in this.”
Luke pounded the table with his gloved fist; the china cups rattled on the saucers. Glenna visibly winced and glanced down. Reed, however, continued to nibble absently on his sandwich as if he did not have a care in the world. Luke was sorry to make her start, but he was rapidly losing his temper and his patience with both these cousins. “I am to trust you? Hardly seems wise considering you have both lied to me from the beginning.”
“What small lies we told, we did to protect you and ourselves. We had no idea what you would be. Perhaps a murderous, hulking thing with no morals or sense of right or wrong. Someone not in control of his emotions, which by looking into your face it seems you are not. Until we know more of your life state and your amazing and swift recuperation, you cannot go anywhere.” Reed lowered his cup. “I will need to do blood tests. You have recovered from your injuries far quicker than any mortal human. That in itself is alarming. This bears further study. Until then, and until we have all the answers to all our questions, you must remain here.”
Luke frowned. “Hidden in a dark cellar like a foraging rat.”
Glenna touched his arm and squeezed gently. Again a rush of comfort rolled through him. “Not for long, but for a time until we have all the answers, as Reed said.”
Her look was quite earnest, how could he not believe her? Luke longed to trust them, Glenna at least. He had to try and make an effort. “Then I request you no longer lock me in like a wild animal. I give my word I will not escape. Sensibly speaking, where would I go? Until I am given truthful answers, and by God, I will have them and in a timely manner, I will stay and remain out of sight from others.”
The cousins exchanged glances, then Reed nodded. “Very well. I will leave you a key. But when you are alone downstairs the door is to remain locked. I have other keys to gain entry if needs must. It is time for us all to show a little trust.”
“I agree to your terms.” Luke glanced at the plate of assorted sliced beefsteak and chopped egg sandwiches. Not hungry. But if he wanted to appear somewhat normal, he must make an attempt at it. He reached for one, and Glenna let go of his arm. Chewing thoughtfully, his gaze moved between the two cousins. Still didn’t quite trust them. Glenna more than Reed, but not by much. Caution would be prudent in his dealings with them going forward.
Surely he had a former life. No doubt had a family or those who cared about him. But in his present state, would they welcome him home?
* * * *
Glenna tossed and turned in bed for close to an hour. Guilt kept sleep at bay. This could not go on, the lying and the obfuscation. Things were going to come to a head, yet Reed kept insisting Luke should be kept in the dark to see if he would remember on his own, while hoping above hope he did not recall any of it. Not a practical plan at all.
Well, the past several days were like something out of a Gothic horror. But in all the upheaval and lunacy, she came to the realization she did not want Luke to recall his former life. That man was a monster, in his personality at the very least, if not by deed. In all truth, she had not thought of Luke as Ravenswood since the first day of his reanimation.
Curling up on her side, Glenna pulled the blankets up under her chin and sighed. The time had come for her to admit she was infatuated with Luke. Fascinated by him. Attracted to him. And how could that be? He’d been dead. Buried. She stood at his grave and cursed him for eternity. Could this be all on her? Was he brought back from the great beyond because of childish utterances born from her smashed and vengeful heart? There goes her vivid imagination again. Logically, she should be running from him in disgust. For when all was said and done, he was a creature from supernatural and unnatural doings. Scientific doings as well.
Regardless of the proceedings, Glenna did not see him as a dangerous creature of horror. To her, he was a man. A man she was growing to care for deeply. Perhaps that was her curse.
A soft knock pulled her from her distressed thoughts. The door opened, and someone with broad shoulders filled the frame. At first she thought it might be Reed, but the shadowy figure was too tall.
“Glenna?”
She sat upright, clenching the bedding in her in fist. “Luke?”
He closed the door, keeping his movements as quiet as possible. “I thought you might still be awake. I have brought you a cup of tea.”
The only illumination in the room came from the banked coals in the hearth. She reached for the offered mug. “How did you know how to make tea?”
“I watched you. I learned.” He placed the chair next to her bed and sat. They both kept their voices low. “I waited until everyone was abed. Do not despair. I will not inundate you with too many questions. I merely wanted…company.”
Good heavens. Glenna was not used to having a man in her bedroom. His masculine presence enveloped the entire area. She sipped the tea. “It is very good. Wait. How did you add the milk?”
“I found it in the icebox in the kitchen,” he replied. “Yes, it seems I know what an icebox is.”
“Have you been wandering about tonight?” she asked.
“I have. It turns out I need little sleep. A few hours are all I can manage. And yet, I am not fatigued. I needed to exercise my leg; so yes, I have been wandering about. I am extremely careful and will make sure I return to the cellar well before dawn.”
It was hard to see his expression in this low illumination, but sitting in shadow he appeared as normal as any man. As she noticed before, Luke’s profile was breathtakingly perfect. Nothing amiss there. His skin tone and scars lay hidden in darkness. He’d always been a dashing figure. She cleared her throat as she found herself becoming aroused. “I think it best we not inform Reed of your nocturnal activities.”
“Why did you allow me to kiss you?” Luke asked, his voice quiet and serious. “Did you feel sorry for me? Was it merely pity that prompted you?”
Glenna frowned at the abrupt change in topic. “Hardly. I kissed you back with great enthusiasm if you recall.”
“What I do recall is that I acted inappropriately according to society. Yes, I do remember there are rules. Not sure why I would recall such a thing. But it was forward of me to make such a request.”
She smiled. “I did not mind.” And she didn’t, in fact she longed for him to do it again.
“Was it your first kiss?”
Blast. Glenna shifted uncomfortably. How to explain? No, Luke. You kissed me in your former life. “My first real kiss came from a dissolute, unfeeling rake that broke my heart.” Well, at least she spoke the truth.
Luke’s gaze softened. “I am sorry you were hurt. Can you tell me about it?”
How awkward was this? Would telling the tale jog his memory somehow? Should she take the chance? She quietly sipped her tea. Again her conflicting thoughts filled her mind. On one hand, she did not want him to remember being Ravenswood. What if he reverted to that man’s horrid personality? On the other hand, she felt compelled to help him recall his former life as it was cruel to leave him in the dark. “He was the heir to an earl. How exciting to think this handsome man could be interested in me. We spoke in the village on several occasions; then he suggested a more private meeting place.”
“And you agreed.”
“Silly, infatuated girl that I was, yes, I agreed. His kiss was bent on seduction. I met him at a private place in the woods to…to… Well, you can imagine. I wanted more than the physical between us. He let me know in no uncertain terms he wanted me for one thing only, and since I refused, he made it crystal clear he wanted nothing more to do with me. He turned on his boot heel and left.”
“A swine of the first order. You had a lucky escape,” Luke said, his tone firm.
This situation almost made her giggle hysterically. How ironic Luke passed judgment on himself. “Yes, a lucky escape,” she whispered.
“I could escape, you know.”
“Why haven’t you?”
“As I said this afternoon, I want answers more than anything. At least, more than I wish to escape.” Glenna could not stop the slight shiver that rolled down her spine. “It is not a threat, merely stating a fact. Do not be alarmed. I would never harm you. Ever.” He thought her shiver came from fear. Far from it. Quite the opposite. “Besides, there is another reason.” He paused, and reached for her hand. Leaning in, he brushed his cool lips across her skin, then gently laid her hand on the bed. “You, Glenna. You mesmerize me. You excite me. The only warmth I feel is when you are near. I need to know if you have experienced the same. I thought to ask you in the shadows, so I would not have to observe the abhorrence on your face.”
Oh, double blast. She placed the mug on the nearby table. After pulling back the covers, she swung around to face him. She would also not lie about this. Here, she would speak the absolute truth. Framing his face with her hands, she kissed him with a soft brush of her lips, moving to his left cheek where the scars resided. With overwhelming tenderness, she kissed all along the striated and taut skin up to his temple. Luke’s breath caught, and he sat stone-still. Then a ragged groan rumbled from his throat.
Glenna sat back. “I feel the same, Luke. In all ways.”
“You humble me. I do not deserve your attention or affection. Will you allow me to stay a while? Perhaps we can talk some more if you are not too tired.”
“Yes. Stay.” Glenna pulled the blankets around her shoulders.
“The conversation may be a trifle one-sided. I know of things. I am aware there are four seasons and what they are, but have no memories of any of them. I noticed today when I looked out the parlor window the leaves have changed color. I know the year since I saw it on a newspaper today in Reed’s study. Eighteen ninety-five. But the date on the paper stated April. But this is autumn. What month? October? November?”
“October the twenty-second,” she replied.
“This morning I smelled the wood smoke from nearby cottages, and your cook baking the apple pie. When did I last have a piece of apple pie besides the one you brought me? I do not know. Do I have a favorite color? A preferred season? Do I ride? Have I favorite foods? It is all a blank slate and frustrating beyond words.” Luke sighed, the sound wistful.
“Shall I tell you my favorite color?” Glenna asked.
Luke nodded in reply.
“Blue. All shades. From the dark hue of a naval uniform to the bright summer sky, I adore them all. My quilt is all shades of blue. I prefer autumn. The cool air, the explosion of color. And I love apples, especially when they are freshly harvested. We bake pies and make apple butter and jelly. I love biting into one, the juicy crispness, the tang.” Glenna laughed softly. “I do not ride well, but can manage the wagon. Besides apples or a well-made cup of tea?” She reached for the mug and took a sip. “I do love a roast beef dinner with roasted potatoes and buttered carrots. And fresh rolls or bread.” She gazed out her window, her thoughts turning a little melancholy. “How I long to live by the sea. The sound of the waves battering against the rocks. To hear gulls squawking overhead and smell the salt air and feel the cool mist against my cheek would be absolute heaven. I have often dreamed of living in a house high on a cliff overlooking a rugged coastline.” She laughed again. “It seems I dream far too much.”
* * * *
Luke could sit and listen to her talk all night long. Glenna was at ease in his presence, speaking freely, sharing morsels of information about herself, and he eagerly ate it up and stored them away for later reflection. Even though he could not offer much in reciprocating converse, since he possessed no memories on which to draw, he did try to interject a small comment or clarifying question. Did he like a roast beef dinner? He had no idea, but he found himself smiling at her pleasant chatter.
While she spoke, he had a glance about her room. It reflected her personality. No overt fripperies or clutter, but a tidy area with enough feminine touches to show a confident young woman spent her private time here. By the large bookcase and near the fire stood a comfortable chair, big enough for Glenna to curl up in and read. The walls were papered with a cream colored background with vertical rows of tiny, yellow roses. From what he could tell in the low lighting, the furniture was sturdy and of good quality, and her vanity held four bottles of scent and a silver brush and comb set. Wincing inwardly, he recalled smashing the mirror that no doubt matched them. Inside a small oval frame was a picture of an older couple; family members he guessed. No doubt her parents.
“There is nothing wrong in dreaming, in longing for things we desire,” Luke said, his voice soft. “Perhaps one day you will live on a cliff overlooking a rugged coast. You will live there with a man who will adore you with every fiber of his being and love you with everything he holds in his heart. I see all this for you, Glenna. It is what you deserve.”
He first discovered the fact he could see things in the dark on his nightly walks. Originally, he thought the reason was the light from the moon, but even indoors he could see clearly. Yet another astonishing discovery about himself. Even in the low lighting, he could make out the rising blush on her cheeks, the flutter of her eyelashes, the slight smile curving about her luscious lips at his words.
“How kind of you to say. It seems I read far too many books and from there my dreams have become far too vivid.” Glenna pointed to a small bookcase in the comer of the room. “Those shelves contain my all-time favorites. Ones I am content to read over and over again.” His gaze slid to the bookcase. On the shelves were books by Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, and other prominent and not-so prominent fiction writers of the last several decades. He could list the titles, remember certain plots, but could not recall when or where he ever read them.
Glenna rose from the bed and hurried toward the bookcase. In the glow of the fireplace, the outline of her fine figure showed through the gauze of her nightgown. Arousal rolled through him again, hardening his cock. Perhaps he was a beast. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, hoping she wouldn’t notice.
After pulling a novel from the shelf, she handed it to him. “Bleak House. I know the length is rather daunting, but I believe it is one of Mr. Dickens’s finest works. I adore all the characters and subplots and it is complex and entertaining as well.”
The fingers of his right hand made contact with hers as he reached for the book. He lingered, reveling in the light touch. Again, he experienced comforting warmth. He loathed breaking away, but did so with one last feather-like stroke to the top of her hand. Their gazes met, held, and intense and unnamable emotions rose within him. Finally, Glenna scrambled back under the covers.
Luke stroked the leather-bound book. “Bleak House. Things are bleak indeed,” he murmured. More loudly he said, “I seem to recall the plot involved litigation in the Court of Chancery, correct?”
Again, he could make out her smile in the dimness of the room. “Yes. A very long litigation. I have other books here you are welcome to read, or revisit, any time you like.” Glenna stifled a yawn.
He’d kept her awake long enough. Carefully, he got to his feet, making sure he did not place too much pressure on his leg. “Lay down, you need your sleep.”
She obeyed, and he tucked the blue quilt under her chin, then trailed the back of his right hand down the side of her cheek. Such silken softness. As he stepped away and headed toward the door, she called out in a whisper, “Kiss me good night, Luke?” She could tempt the devil himself. In a few steps, he stood beside her bed. “And not a polite peck on the forehead,” she teased.
Well. Luke sat on the side of the bed, placing the book next to him. Leaning in, he braced his hands on either side of her head, leaned down, and kissed her deeply and thoroughly. Curving her hand behind his nape, she sat up slightly and kissed him back. It was a searing kiss from a passionate woman. How did he know this? It did not matter. Nothing mattered except the sparks flying between them. He was well aware what happened between a man and a woman and knew exactly what to do, but remained fearful he could become carried away and forget his own strength. He wanted her that much. Besides, what made him think she would allow any advances beyond a kiss? He certainly caressed her curves in the parlor, even cupped her shapely buttocks and crushed her against the hardness of him. Perhaps she would allow him to do that again, and soon.
Tucking the book under his arm, Luke left the room without another word. As he headed downstairs to the kitchen, he exhaled, trying to gain control of his heated, lascivious thoughts. After laying the book on a nearby counter, he opened the back servants’ entrance and stepped out into the darkness.
The slow chirp of crickets filled the air. This sound would disappear after a few hard frosts. It couldn’t be too cool outside if they still sang in the trees. A dog howled mournfully in the distance. The stars were plentiful tonight. He picked up a long tree limb to use as a walking stick and decided he would stroll for however long his leg could take the punishment.
The few fallen leaves crunched under his boots. While walking, he mentally listed what he knew of himself. The most puzzling and recent development was he healed far more quickly than a mortal human. Each day his strength increased. Last night he lifted the large generator above his head with his gloved left hand, needing neither effort nor a helping balance from his right.
There was also the disturbing fact he did not require as much food or sleep as others in the house. Hunger and fatigue were not things he experienced much since his awakening. Then there was the fact his emotions were heightened. Alarmingly, he was constantly aware of his ever-present libido. Could it be because of Glenna or would any woman elicit such a passionate and fevered reaction?
As each day passed, his senses became more acute. His sense of smell, his hearing, his eyesight, all improved readily and could well continue to do so. As soon as he collected all the answers he needed, he would find a remote place in which to hide himself away and live out the remainder of his days in quiet solitude. Though he may grow lonely, he could keep himself occupied. Reading, music. Maybe writing. Did he paint? He could learn.
Though alive, he was not in the strictest sense of the word “human.” He was something…beyond.