Destiny

DESTINY

UNEDITED REVIEW GALLEY

Destiny By Rachel Carrington

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The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal, and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, places, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Royal Blood, Sons of Zeus Copyright (c) 2005 by Rachel Carrington Cover art (c) 2005 by Marianne LaCroix All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form without permission, except as provided by the U.S. Copyright Law. Printed and bound in the United States of America. For information, you can find us on the web at www.VenusPress.com

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She couldn’t believe she was here. Castle Lehr. Inside the walls lay the perfect blend of history and twenty-first century beauty. And she wasn’t just talking about the structure itself. The owner of the castle had long hidden himself away behind the reinforced walls and she’d been the only reporter thus far to have been granted an audience. Fortune had smiled upon her. Her hands tingled as Abby climbed the stone steps leading up to the double, wooden doors gracing the entrance. She’d read about the expansive structure with its fiberglass, concrete walls, but it was the inside she wanted to see. She’d been salivating at the prospect of catching a glimpse of the castle’s glitter and beauty since she’d suggested this assignment to the senior editor of “Life Abroad” magazine. The owner’s agreement to take her on a tour had been a definite bonus in her book. With each step, she silently congratulated herself that she’d made it this far without turning back. For some unknown reason, nerves had kicked in the second she’d boarded the plane for England. As she reached the top of the stairs lined with potted delphiniums, one of the doors creaked open. Eyes wide, she leaned in toward the opening. “Hello?” Eyes the color of mud peered out at her. Abby gave a little yelp and stumbled backwards. “Hello?” she murmured again. “I’m Abby Baker and I...” The door opened wider before she could finish her sentence and the man positioned himself just across the threshold. “Welcome.” Abby hesitated before stepping inside. “I’m not ordinarily so jumpy. It was probably the movie I watched last night.” She clutched her leather bag closer. “All about ghosts and the like.” “No ghosts live inside Castle Lehr. I am Mr. Hiller and on behalf of His Grace, the Duke of Lehr, I welcome you.” Hiller bowed low. Abby glowed with delight. “Oh, this is perfect. You mean a Duke lives here, too? I thought the titles were just a formality now.” She followed the butler. “Why 3

is the Duke of Lehr welcoming me when he doesn’t even know me? I thought I was meeting the owner of the castle, some portly guy by the name of John Hiller.” Her lips pursed. “Oh. That would be you.” “That is correct, Madam.” She hitched the strap of her purse further up her shoulder. “So is the Duke the owner then? Is that why he wants to see me?” She shivered at the prospect of meeting a real, Duke. “Yes, Ms. Baker and the Duke enjoys good company.” “How does he know I’m good company? I could be a thief or an escaped criminal.” Mr. Hiller smiled, a mere twitching of his lips. “My employer has a sixth sense about the people he invites into his home.” Abby ignored the warning bells clanging in her head and kept pace with the portly butler. *** “I’m in another dimension,” Abby said to herself as she circled the room Mr. Hiller had left her in, her arms held wide. The room was straight out of another world complete with brocade drapes and gas lamps on the wall. Were it not for the Italian marble floor and the 24kt gold finishes, she might have actually believed her statement. “Miss Baker, may I present the Duke of Lehr,” Hiller announced. Abby couldn’t speak as the Duke approached. Her head tipped back to accommodate the difference in their height and her vision was filled with the image of shoulder-length black hair, eyes the color of the Aegean Sea and a face carved with a sculptor’s perfection. Beautiful. It was the only word that came to mind to describe the magnificence of the man facing her. “It is a pleasure to meet you. Welcome to my home.” The Duke bowed low and taking Abby’s hand, pressed a kiss against her knuckles. She shivered at the touch, while his voice mesmerized her, pure silk. “Thank you for your hospitality,” Abby finally managed to say. “The pleasure is all mine. We have much to discuss.” He placed his hand on the small of her back and heat spiraled low in her abdomen. Entranced, Abby couldn’t think of one eloquent word to say. “We do?” “We do. I will explain everything shortly.” The smooth, cultured tones were infinitely polite, charming. Still, Abby felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise.

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“You act like you know me.” “I do know you. You are a reporter and you’ve come to Castle Lehr because you wish to write about my home, to explore its intricacies and to discover what lies within its walls. But much more than that, you’ve come to find what has been missing in your life.” Abby stared at him, her eyes narrowing. He spoke with calm assurance. It rattled her somewhat. “Part of that is true, but I also came to interview you. I believe you told my editor you would agree to a meeting with me.” With pure grace and charm, the man smiled. “You’ll have plenty of time to refresh my memory.” The nerves had returned, dancing within her stomach like mating butterflies. “Have you been drinking, Your Grace?” The smile remained firmly intact as he extended his hand toward a silk brocade settee. “Please sit and I will explain.” He walked across the plush, trackless carpet. “I’ll stand, thank you.” The Duke inclined his head. “As you wish. You are a successful writer, but this castle has haunted you for years. You dream about it at night, about the love you would find within its walls.” He strolled toward the window and Abby heard the whisper of his linen shirt against broad shoulders. Her panties grew damp as confusion wrapped around her. She barely knew the man. How could she respond like this? And furthermore, why wasn’t she negating what he said? “And you have dreamed about me for even longer.” The Duke’s voice drew her out of her ruminations and Abby jerked suddenly, taking a backward step toward the door. “How do you know these things?” “Abigail,” the Duke’s voice was softly insistent, compelling her to turn around. He was so close. How had he gotten behind her? His eyes were glittering like blue diamonds set against a bed of black silk and Abby could sense the danger even as she looked into the liquid pools. “Who are you?” “I am your destiny.” Abby stared at him a brief moment longer before her legs gave way and darkness enveloped her.

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Abby came to with a pounding headache and rage curling her insides. Destiny her ass. The minute she hopped a redeye back to the States, she would fire up her laptop and begin a lengthy dissertation on the horrid nature of London’s Dukes. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and pushed herself to a sitting position. The realization that she was wearing little more than a flimsy nightgown brought a downward curl to her lips. No doubt the Duke had fun undressing her while she’d been practically comatose. Heartless bastard. A quick survey of her surroundings didn’t put her mind at ease. Where were the modern conveniences of today’s society? Why was she seeing a porcelain stand with pitcher and water basin next to the bed? And what about the lights? Did the Duke not believe in electricity? Her teeth chattering, she swept her gaze to the opposite side of the room. Downstairs, she’d caught a glimpse of the rich furnishings and gilded entranceway, but here, inside the obviously masculine bedroom, she’d been thrust into another century. The bedroom door swung wide, the doorway filled with the Duke’s massive frame. Intimidating and breathtaking, he walked toward her. Abby jumped to her feet and immediately swayed, reaching behind her to grasp hold of the bedpost. Instantly, he was there, guiding her back to the mattress behind her, but she shook him off. His touch wreaked havoc inside her breast, causing her heart to hammer against her ribcage. His arm brushed against her nipple and she bit her lower lip to keep from moaning. He made every nerve ending in her body come to life. He frowned. “You should lie down. It is possible you are still feeling jet lag from your flight.” Abby muttered a word, which was crude in any language and pushed her thick mass of hair away from her eyes, shaking off the Duke’s hand. “I can stand on

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my own and I have no intentions of lying back down.” She clamped her hands on her hips. “You know, you really have some nerve. Feeding me all that nonsense about knowing me and, and, destiny. Well,” she waggled a finger in his face for emphasis. “I don’t know what you did to me to get me in here in the first place, but I can assure you that I have no intentions of staying. I’m leaving and you won’t like the article I print about you and Castle Lehr.” Sensual lips curved into a smile. Abby wanted to punch him, to wipe that smug look of superiority off her face. “Why leave the one place that could satisfy all your deepest fantasies?” Abby’s eyes narrowed. “Fantasies? Who said anything about fantasies? I’m leaving and if you try to stand in my way, there won’t be enough royal blood left in your veins to transfuse a rabbit by the time I get through with you.” She walked to the door. One dark eyebrow lifted. “You must be a magnificent writer. Your language is very colorful.” “Don’t pacify me.” “And you may call me Nathaniel.” “I’ll call you a lot worse if you don’t get out of my way.” Abby squared her shoulders and tipped her head back to see the shadowy planes of the Duke’s handsome face. Darkness had fallen and without benefit of modern lighting, Abby couldn’t see much beyond those shapely lips and masculine chin. But it was enough to tell that he was still smiling. And she still wanted to hit him. . “I am afraid I cannot allow that. You are not well at the present.” “I’m perfectly fine. If there’s anything wrong with me, it’s being trapped with a man I barely know who claims I’m his destiny.” “I see. Well, perhaps it might be better if you stayed here for the evening.” The Duke made the suggestion but the words reflected the command. “That’s not going to happen. I came here to write a story and since that isn’t what you have in mind, I’ll just be on my way.” Abby took a step forward, swayed and then felt the Duke’s strong, muscular arms closing around her waist from behind. “I don’t know what’s come over me.” The Duke was already escorting her back to the bed, her elbow cupped in his hand. “You are extremely tired. You need to rest.” In spite of her desire to resist him, Abby found herself leaning against his strength. “I would appreciate it if you would allow me to decide what I need.” 7

He chuckled, the pleasant sound echoing against the walls. “I will certainly attempt to allow you those decisions, Abigail.” She stopped so suddenly his shoulder bumped against hers. “Allow me? You have no decision in the matter when it comes to my life and furthermore, you don’t even know me. You have no right to make any kind of assumptions about me. And as soon as this damned dizziness passes, I will be on my way and hopefully, will never have to see your face again.” The Duke brushed his knuckles down her cheek in an intimate caress. With the light of the gas lamps, Abby could see a flare in his eyes, or was it a flame? And when had the fires ignited inside the globes? One minute she’d been cursing the darkness, but now, she could see him clearly. And his eyes were pools of heat, drawing her in. She could bask in the warmth, drown in their heated depths. Magnetism was pushing her forward, making her seek his strength. She needed the feel of his arms around her, the inviting expanse of his shoulder. She reached up to touch his face. “What are you doing to me?” she whispered. “I do only what you want me to do.” The intimacy of his words made her moan aloud. She could think of billions of things she’d like him to do, starting with her toes and working his way up. “Touch me.” The voice wasn’t hers and yet, she’d given the command. He bowed low. “As you wish.” One hand curled around her neck, drawing her closer and closer until their breaths mingled in the early morning light. “Would you have me kiss you then?” “Yes,” she breathed, anticipating the sweet succor of his lips. The kiss came sweetly at first, a gentle gliding of his lips over hers. Abby moaned again, leaning in until her breasts pushed against his fine linen shirt. His tongue caressed hers, inviting exploration. She lost the ability to think, to reason, as her breaths came in short, staccato bursts of air. His hand slid over her waist and around behind her to palm her ass through the gauzy material covering her. “Let me taste you,” he intoned in a voice dipped in pure wickedness. Abby’s knees went weak. Did he mean…? He guided her back to the bed and pushed her down atop the heavy blankets. As his hands pushed up the hem of the nightgown, Abby realized he did, indeed, mean what she thought he meant.

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He kissed her knee, the smooth expanse of her thigh, the heat of his breath hovering mere centimeters away from her damp pussy. She didn’t know what to do with her hands so she clenched them at her sides. His knuckles brushed over her mound and Abby jerked. Any minute now, she would come. Just by his touch. She squirmed atop the mattress. She wouldn’t beg him to ease the ache between her thighs. The lick startled her, making her lift her back off the bed. He’d barely touched her, just a simple flick of his tongue over the lace between her legs. He hooked two fingers in the edge of her panties and drew them to one side. “I love the way you smell.” The words sent a rush of heat straight to the center of her core. “Nathaniel, please,” she groaned in spite of her earlier determination. She needed to feel him and though she didn’t understand the intensity of her feelings, she recognized the craving. He gently parted the folds of her cleft, exposing her wet sheath. She held her breath as he inched closer. “Tell me if you like this,” he ordered before his tongue drew a lazy circle around her clit. Abby arched her hips and cried out his name. It was just the opportunity he needed. He cupped her ass and held her in place while his tongue lavished her. He stroked, suckled, and drove her to a screaming orgasm and then began his relentless pursuit again. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had such a blissful orgasm and Nathaniel didn’t seem to be in any hurry to stop. She didn’t know him and yet, she knew everything about him. She’d seen him in her dreams. And now, he worshipped her body. He came to his knees on the bed and Abby’s eyes widened at the massive bulge pushing against his black pants. “I need to be inside you.” He released the buttons and with them, his pulsing, hard cock. Abby stared at the length and rolled to one side. Dipping her finger in her mouth, she then brought it to the head. Nathaniel made a strange sound in the back of his throat. She edged forward on her elbow and slid her tongue over the glistening tip. Nathaniel growled. She pushed herself up to all fours and peeked up at him. “I think it’s my turn to have a taste.” She didn’t give him a chance to respond before she took him in her mouth. The muscles in his thighs jumped and he fisted his hands in her hair. Stroking him with infinite care, Abby drove him to the edge of reason. Her short, manicured nails massaged his balls, while her mouth worked up and down his 9

cock. She heard his moans, his pleas, before finally, he snatched hold of her arms and brought her up the length of his body. He held her in place for a long second, simply staring into her eyes before he tossed her back against the mattress. “Now, I will have you,” he proclaimed. Abby didn’t protest. Her thighs fell open in blatant invitation, as the wanton images of her dreams became reality. The head of his cock probed the slick lips of her pussy just as in her fantasies. And when he pushed deep, the sleepless nights segued into a sweet surrender. “Ah, God, Abigail. You are sheer perfection. Just as I imagined.” “Talk later. Fuck me now,” she commanded. His hips moved and he pounded into her with a ferocity that was both delirious and frightening. Abby looked up into his eyes, startled by the intense look on the face of a man who should have been a stranger. But he wasn’t. She knew him. Too well. “Come for me, Abigail. I want to hear you scream my name as your juices bathe my cock.” The erotic words stoked a fire within her and Abby’s breathing became labored. “I’m close.” He dipped his hand between their bodies and found her clit with two fingers. As he rolled the tiny nub between calluses, Abby bucked beneath him. “Oh, God, Oh, God,” she cried. “Yes, that’s it,” he soothed, bumping his forehead against hers. She clenched the tight muscles of her sheath, holding him as the spasms began. Warm, delicious waves of release swept over her and Abby had never felt such perfection. She moaned low and long, burying her face in his neck, tasting the salty texture of his skin. His fingers dug deep into the flesh of her hips and his body went rigid. Abby contracted her muscles again and Nathaniel came, her name bursting from his lips. “Abigail. My sweet Abigail. You’re finally home.” *** She was here. He’d waited for her for centuries and now she was here. In his home. In his life. Nathaniel moved about the parlor slowly, stealthily, prowling like a large jungle cat. He knew he’d scared her with his declaration. She couldn’t know what he knew. She had to be the one, the woman with the flaming hair and eyes like emeralds. She would be the one to release him from his torment and allow

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him to resume a normal life. The woman to free him. If only he could convince her to stay. Allowing her to leave wasn’t an option. Though she believed herself to be a reporter, he knew better. She was the one woman who would break the curse and allow him to find love, to lead a normal life outside the bounds of the witch’s curse. Nathaniel cursed and slapped his palm against the paneled wall. He’d waited for centuries for this moment. He wanted to take his time, to convince Abby to stay on her own, to give her the space she needed to fall in love with him. But time was in short supply. In a matter of days, the curse would become permanent and Nathaniel would be forced to live eternally as a creature of the dark, a being Abby would never understand and could certainly never love. “No.” The word broke from his throat. He wouldn’t allow it. Abby would stay. He would use whatever means necessary to ensure it. Abby dragged her knees closer to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. There was no doubt in her mind that Nathaniel wouldn’t let her leave now. She wasn’t afraid of him. There was no malice in him. She could feel his strength, his powerful will, but no evil. And over the years, Abby had gotten very good at reading people. But it was tougher to read the Duke. She’d seen desperation in the depths of his eyes and something more, a touch of pain, which made her want to stay, to find out what had caused the pain and if she could somehow ease it. She had no idea what had made her fuck him. She’d certainly never been promiscuous and one-night stands had never enticed her, but Nathaniel, he’d done more than entice her. He’d mesmerized her. Enthralled her. Taken her by surprise and she’d succumbed. Her body still tingled in the most pleasant of places at the memory. He’d been incredible. Had made her feel alive and sexier than she’d felt in the longest time. Of course, that wasn’t really difficult to do considering she spent her days behind a desk, barking into a telephone in a feeble attempt to convince celebrities to bare their souls. The repeated rejections didn’t exactly work to build up a woman’s self-confidence. Shaking her head, Abby dropped her legs to the side of the bed and stood, testing her own strength. Grateful the dizziness had passed, she padded across the solid flooring toward the door. With one hand closed around the doorknob, she swung open the hard wood and stepped out into the hallway. The corridor was 11

dark and uninviting, but Abby moved with sure steps toward the parlor, instinctively knowing where Nathaniel was. He’d left her so suddenly after he’d shocked the hell out of her with his words. Now, she had to find him. She needed answers. The door to the study was open and she saw him standing by the gothic window, his back to her. His broad shoulders obliterated her view of the panes and she found her eyes traveling down to his muscular ass encased in snug-fitting black pants. Her mouth watered. “I’ve been expecting you.” The Duke’s voice didn’t startle her and Abby began to wonder if she’d dropped into some alternate dimension. “You know, some women consider it bad manners for a man to haul ass after he sleeps with her.” There was some censure in her voice and more than a little curiosity. Now that he’d slept with her, would he change? That had always been the case with the few men in her life. Enjoy a good fuck and then take off the next morning for parts unknown. “Enough!” The snap startled her and Abby recoiled back against the entranceway. “Enough what?” His eyes blazed into hers, hot chips of blue. “The other men in your life were not your destiny.” She smacked a hand to her forehead. “Oh, we’re back to that again, are we? Look, I’ll admit that it’s against my personality to sleep with a stranger, but hell, any woman can have a lapse now and then. Let’s just chalk this up to that and leave it alone. Shall we? And by the way, I’d really appreciate it if you’d stop looking at me like you want to eat me.” She paused. “Again.” Nathaniel moved away from the window, toward her. With infinite grace, he swept out a hand toward the nearest chair. “I’ve always heard that asking for seconds was a compliment to the chef.” She felt the heat rushing up her face. Good Lord. Did the man have a manual? Abby sat, afraid her legs wouldn’t hold her for much longer. “Why did you welcome me home after we, well, you know?” “Because that’s where you are.” “Your home. Not mine.” He nodded slowly. “I knew you would need time to absorb my words.”

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“Isn’t that the truth?” She blew out a breath and wondered why she didn’t feel uncomfortable facing him now. She’d slept with a stranger and yet, he wasn’t really. Now that they were face to face, she knew him. Had seen him many times in the vivid images sweeping over her at night. “Will you tell me why you don’t want me to leave?” His face hardened and he sat down across from her, dropping his hands between his splayed knees. “You would not understand.” “I think I have a right to know anyway, especially now.” He inclined his dark head. “Perhaps.” Nathaniel shifted, his muscles bunching beneath the silk shirt he wore. His hard features, chiseled from stone, softened momentarily. “But maybe it would be best to give you some time to adjust.” Abby sat up straight in the chair, every muscle in her body attuned to his words, every nuance. “Time to adjust to what?” She managed to swallow past the lump in her throat, but didn’t take her eyes off his face. She saw no deception there, just blatant honesty. That scared her more than the thought of a lie. “Your new life.” Abby’s heart began a rapid thump inside her chest. “You mean here?” Hands folded, he met her stare boldly. “Yes.” “I was right then. Here I thought all along you aren’t going to let me leave.” “I cannot allow it.” Abby struggled to breathe. Momentarily, she was overwhelmed to the point of fear, but her Irish temper flared, helping her to regroup. “You cannot allow it. I see. Your Grace, are you aware of what century we’re living in? Are you aware that women can make their own choices now? I don’t know if you fell asleep and woke in the wrong century, but here, we have freedom to come and go as we please. We can walk away. And don’t think the marvelous sex is enough to make me stay. Some women prefer one-night stands.” She pushed herself to a standing position. “And though I’m not usually one of those women, it’s apparent to me I can’t stay here. You’re far too bossy for my tastes.” He had approached her again without her knowledge. That thought alone was enough to frighten her into backing against the closest wall. She wanted to push him away, but his closeness was overpowering, drugging, almost. Her hands came up to rest against the span of his chest. The steady beat of his heart should have reassured her. He was alive, a normal male. Okay, well, maybe not normal, 13

but he was at least a male, a man who with the sheer magnetism of his presence was attempting to overwhelm her. Gathering her resolve, Abby began to inch along the wall. “So if you will excuse me, I’ll just be....” The Duke had moved swiftly, one hand pressed against the door to prevent her escape. “Abigail, I need you to stay.” She blinked up at him and her world tilted slightly. She couldn’t have mistaken the catch in his voice. “Tell me why.” “It is a long story.” “It would appear, I have all night.” “I am cursed,” he spoke harshly, stepping away from her, his hands dropping to his sides. He spun around, presenting his back. Abby bit down on her lower lip and considered his words carefully. “Cursed how? You mean like possessed or do you just have bad luck?” He gave a cold laugh; it chilled her. “Bad luck? No, this is far more than bad luck.” He pivoted to face her in slow motion. “I was born July 3rd.” Abby’s brow furrowed. “Okay. I was born May 10th. That makes me a Taurus. So what?” “1702, “he added. The furrow deepened. “1702? What about it?” He sighed, almost with irritation. “I was born July 3, 1702.” Abby laughed. “Yeah. Right. And I’m Joan of Arc. That would make you over three hundred years old and while I watch a lot of strange television shows, I’m not so stupid as to believe a man could still be living, looking as good as you do, at three hundred years of age. And you, well, what I just slept with wasn’t an old man. So nice try, but you can’t be that old. It’s physically impossible.” The Duke didn’t speak, simply stood, arms folded, waiting for disbelief to segue into belief, for Abby to step into a world where impossibilities existed. Her eyes widened. “That’s impossible.” “That is my curse.” “Age is your curse?” “Immortality is my curse, at least a portion of it.” Perspiration pooled between her breasts. “Could you speak in English here because, while I’m open to the supernatural and unusual phenomenon and all that bullshit, I’m really having a hard time with this one?”

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“As well you should.” He was back in front of her. How was he able to move without her seeing him? Yet, each time he drew near, she felt him, the heat from his skin. “Are you going to explain it to me?” “I think I’ve told you enough for the night. You should rest.” “Like I’m going to be able to sleep until you tell me the rest of the story. Come on. You can’t expect me to go to sleep with this hanging over my head. I mean, you tell me you’re a three hundred year old immortal with a curse and then expect me to count sheep.” Abby hardened her own voice, her determination strong. “I want some more answers.” The growl came long and low and Abby felt the hairs on the back of her neck raise. “Did you just growl at me?” “It was a warning,” the Duke responded simply. “Well, don’t do it again. And furthermore, it didn’t scare me.” Okay, so, that was a lie, but three hundred years old or not, he couldn’t see her internal shakes. “I want the entire truth, Nathaniel, and I’m not going anywhere until I have it.” “You will not want the entire truth once you hear it. You will not be able to handle it.” “Give me more credit than that. You can expect to tell me that I’m stuck here with you because of some ancient curse and not fall headfirst into hysterics and yet, you don’t think I can handle the rest of the story. Well, buddy,” she tapped his chest and glared up into his impassible face, “I’m telling you, that’s not your decision to make. This is my life and if I’m supposed to be stuck here until some witch or whatever in the hell it was that cursed you gets some bee out of her bonnet, then, I deserve answers!” Nathaniel moved so suddenly Abby felt the wind whip past her ears. And she found herself bracketed in by the hard wall of his body. His hands were on either side of her face, his body pressed flush with hers. His eyes when they stared into hers were an endless pool of fire and fury. And his voice, when he spoke, was deep, guttural and exceptionally dangerous. “You haven’t asked me how I can be immortal, Abigail.” Abby swallowed. A lump lodged in her throat. She tried again, but her mouth was too dry. Perhaps, she really didn’t want to know, after all. Wasn’t this always the part in the movie where the woman made a dignified exit? “I thought you said that was your curse.” 15

“Actually,” he smiled, his lips parting enough to allow her a brief glimpse of sharp, white fangs, “this is my curse.” She willed herself not to faint. She would not faint again. Fainting was for sissies and women who waved fans in front of their faces, while batting their eyes at brawny men on a football field. Instead, she squared her shoulders and observed the length of the fangs and the desperation in the dark eyes that held her face. “You’re a vampire. You drink blood. I guess this is always the part where the woman runs screaming down the hall and you miss out on another supper.” Sarcasm had always served her well in times of desperation. Things couldn’t be more desperate than they were at that exact moment. Nathaniel drew back and blinked at her, momentarily taken aback. Abby bit back a smile of her own. She’d been a little scared at first, but the way she figured it, Nathaniel had had plenty of time to make a feast of her and so far, she was still walking around in one piece. Okay, well, he’d feasted, but not in a bad way. She felt the heat rush to the back of her neck. It was apparent he had other plans . Probably something equally nefarious, but she’d stuck it out this far, she might as well hang around for the ending. She certainly couldn’t fault him for his hospitality so far. Nathaniel folded his arms and surveyed Abby with a steady gaze. “You would be correct in that assumption.” “You’re telling me you were cursed as a vampire.” “The hour is late.” He cupped her elbow in his hand and began to tug her toward the door. “We will have plenty of time to discuss this later. For now, you are exhausted. I can see it in your eyes. You need to sleep.” Abby shook her head. “Like that’s going to happen. Look,” she broke free of his embrace. “Don’t give me this line of bullshit. If you truly are a vampire, then the night is just beginning for you. And now that I’ve seen fangs, I want facts. Are you keeping me here so that your stomach won’t rumble? I just want to know if I’m supposed to be your dinner for the next few evenings.” Nathaniel smiled. “No. I will not be drinking your blood this evening.” “You’re supposed to add or any other evening,” Abby pointed out with a touch of fear in her voice. When the vampire remained stoically silent, she winced. “Okay, so eventually, you’re going to drag me into the world of the undead. I’m sure you’ll pardon me for asking. Why? Why me?” “Because you are my destiny.”

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“You’ve said that. So why haven’t you already changed me?” Nathaniel’s eyes flamed for a brief second before the fire was banked. “It is time for bed now, Abigail. We shall discuss this further when we awake.” “You mean in the morning, right?” Nathaniel took her hand and began to lead her toward the door. “My mornings differ from yours.” “Oh, of course, how could I be so ignorant? You sleep in a coffin. You drink blood and you don’t wake up until the day is gone. Forgive me. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Dracula.” Nathaniel’s shoulders shook with laughter, but he continued his trek back down the corridor. Reaching the bedroom Abby had occupied before, he swept a hand toward the bed. “You shall sleep here.” “And what about you? Going to pull your coffin up next to me?” Nathaniel moved his hand over the bed and the blankets rolled back. “You are very sleepy, Abigail. You need to rest.” He swept a hand behind him and a flames flickered in the marble fireplace. Abby could feel her eyelids drooping. “Oh, this is that hypnotic stuff, right? You can do this to humans. Why didn’t I think of that?” She yawned and felt her body beginning to drift, to float across the room, as light as air. And then the darkness engulfed her, accepting her into the world of dreams.

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~*~

He went to her in the night, unable to resist the allure of her silken flesh again. While she drifted in between sleep and awareness, he slipped the nightgown from her body, tossing it to the Oriental rug below. Her breasts glowed in the moonlight, nipples beading from the rush of cool air. His lips covered one, drawing the tight tip into his mouth. His cock surged upward as the scent of her pussy called to him. He could not possibly leave her bed without feasting on her once more. He would wake her with the sweetness of a release, while he supped on her essence. He crawled down her body, over porcelain curves and smooth skin. She parted her legs instinctively, assuring Nathaniel she welcome him. Her sex lay open before him like a ripe plum, ready for the tasting. The lips of her pussy were already dewy and as he breathed in the fragrant scent of her, his body ached. He pressed his lips against hers, slipping his tongue between those soft petals of flesh. An urgency to caress all of her took over, consuming him as the fire beat at him. Uncaring of waking her, he lifted her leg and drew it over his shoulder before bending his head to savor the nectar she offered. His tongue swept the moist walls of her sheath while her muscles began to quiver. She moaned in her sleep and arched upwards, seeking the invasion. With a low groan of surrender, Nathaniel dove into her, drawing her clit between his lips and swirling his tongue over the sensitive tip. Abigail came awake. Literally. Startled, she clutched at his shoulders, while her body quivered in the aftermath of the orgasm. Nathaniel slid up to lay beside her, wrapping her in his embrace. “Shhhh. Sleep now. You need your rest.” She blinked at him sleepily, confusion swirling in the depths of those emerald orbs, but she couldn’t disobey his command.

DESTINY

Abby was about to have breakfast with a vampire. Hell, for all she knew, she was breakfast. “Good evening, Abigail. I trust you slept well.” That bone-jarring, soulstirring voice engulfed her and Abby whirled, her eyes narrowed. Had she imagined his nocturnal visit? “You know, you really have some nerve. How dare you just stroll in here like you didn’t hypnotize me last night …and…and sneak into my bed while I was asleep!” Abby approached him, poking his chest with her index finger. “You did do that, right? I mean, I hate to think I imagined such a…” She broke off when she realized he was grinning at her. “Was it enjoyable for you then?” She clamped her hands on her hips and tried to ignore the rush of wetness between her thighs. “I’m not even going to dignify that with a response. You know, I’ve been thinking. I don’t dwell on problems. Most of them have solutions and that’s what you are. A problem, not a solution. There has to be a solution and I’m going to find it.” Having said so, she nodded her head and plopped down on the brocade-covered chair, her arms flung out over the sides. “I need coffee.” Nathaniel walked around to stand in front of her. Abby took notice of his attire and whipped her eyes up to his face. “You’re wearing jeans. And a t-shirt.” Nathaniel smiled. “You don’t approve?” How could she not? The t-shirt stretched across his broad muscles, clinging to his biceps and the denim cupped his sex like a lover’s familiar hand. No, definitely no reason to complain there. She sniffed and tried for a blithe response. “I was just expecting a cape or something like that. I told you it’s been a while since I watched that movie.” Nathaniel knelt down in front of her, his hands on either side of her knees. “This isn’t a movie, Abigail.” “I know that and my name is Abby.” She brushed his hands away and jerked to an upright position as a maid carried in a tray laden with coffee and pastries. “Great. I’m starving.” Abby didn’t like the way Nathaniel was looking at her or maybe she did. For a dead man, he looked beyond healthy. His skin glowed with strength and vitality. Even the casual styling of his hair gave him a boyish charm. “Abby, I need you to trust me.”

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Abby leaned forward. “Have you forgotten our conversation last night? The fangs, the immortality. And I’m supposed to trust you? Just don’t be surprised to find me sleeping with a stake under my pillow.” Nathaniel laughed and pulled her to her feet. “You have a wicked sense of humor.” “And you have a wicked set of fangs.” And a tongue, which defied wickedness. Abby freed her hand and poured herself a cup of coffee. “I would ask if you wanted some, but you probably lean more toward B positive first thing in the morning or the evening. What time is it anyway?” “It’s just after six and actually, I’m a universal vampire.” Nathaniel grinned at Abby’s horrified expression. “I do not require matches with my own blood type.” Abby thumped her coffee cup down and stood up. “Great. Should I start hunting for something sharp and pointed?” Nathaniel’s hand was at the small of her back. “I cannot be killed, Abigail.” Her sneakers skidded on the polished floors. “What do you mean that you can’t be killed? Of course you can be killed. All vampires can be killed.” “It is part of the curse.” She heard the pain in his voice. “Nathaniel, tell me what this is all about.” She sensed a weakening in him, the longing to tell her more. “To break the curse, I must find love.” Abby checked her watch. “Well, that’s a tough break, but I have a plane to catch.” He captured her wrist and her eyes. “And I have found it.” “Sorry to disillusion you, but we just met and...” He dragged her closer to his hard frame. “Tell me you feel nothing.” She blinked up at him. “I feel...” What could she say? Heat? A feeling unlike any she’d every known? Had she really found her destiny? Had this been the driving force behind her need to find the castle? Impossible, but then, she thought meeting a vampire in the twenty-first century was an impossibility, too. And look where that had gotten her. He cupped her face. “You feel it, that strange sense of longing.” His lips hovered inches from hers. “The need to follow the path the Fates laid out before you.”

DESTINY

He’d hypnotized her. It was the only explanation for what she was feeling. “Nathaniel, I,” she couldn’t finish her sentence for he kissed her, a long, languorous kiss and she melted, into his arms, into his heart. The need for answers faded, as did the memories of the long, lonely nights. What would being with Nathaniel entail? Would he remain a vampire and would it matter? Could she live life as a vampire? “You must make a choice, Abigail.” “I thought you said I didn’t have any say in the matter?” He tipped her chin up. “You must choose me.” She squirmed beneath his touch. “And what if I don’t want to choose you?” “Then I shall remain cursed.” She glared at him. “Oh, great. So now you play the guilt card. That’s real fair, Your Grace.” He nuzzled her neck with his lips. “Do you really want to return to America and forget what I have given you?” Her knees went weak. She didn’t think she could forget that. No woman could ever forget such mind-blowing orgasms. She didn’t know what to say. His hands stroked her back, her shoulders, while his lips did wild, marvelous things to her skin. “If you intend to leave, I would ask one thing of you.” Abby held her breath and waited for him to make his demand. “Give yourself to me again, as freely as you did last night. Allow me to feel your sweetness close around me.” He edged her closer to the wall. “I want to sink deep into you, Abigail, for I know I shall never find such perfect oblivion again.” Well, put that way, how could she resist? She gave him a primitive smile, full of promise and carnal thoughts. “I think that can be arranged. She reached for the clasp on his pants and found him hard, hot, and heavy. The silkiness of his cock glided over his palm and Nathaniel groaned low in his throat. Her hand moved faster, harder, sliding up and down his shaft. “Is it enjoyable for you then?” She teased. He gave a strangled curse and caught her wrist. “Abigail, you need to stop.” “Do you really want me to?” she whispered against the hard column of his neck. “Yes. No,” he muttered. 21

Still holding him, Abby fell to her knees. Shoving his shirt up, she grazed her lips over his abdomen and felt the muscles knot. Pressing her cheek against the hot skin of his cock, she grew still, simply relishing the feel of his heat and steel. “This isn’t exactly how I planned it,” Nathaniel pointed out in a wry tone of voice. Abby framed her hands at the base of his shaft, running her wet, hot tongue down the length. “Well, I admit I’m a little out of practice…” A small gurgle of sound was his only response as she took him in her mouth. His hands tangled in her hair, wrapping the strands around his fingers. Her tongue laved circles around the tip of his cock as her teeth grazed the taut skin. Her mind registered the harsh sounds of his breath, the way one of his hands dropped to tighten on her shoulder. She increased the pace, pulling back until just her lips touched him. His stomach quivered beneath the light graze of her fingertips. She caressed his balls, his thighs, drawing lazy circles over the clenched muscles before taking him deeper into her mouth. “Sweet Jesus,” he moaned, his hips flexing forward. She raised her head then, saw the need stamped across his face and smiled. “Do you want to come in my mouth or in me?” His response was action only. He hooked his hands around her arms and hauled her up the length of his body. He didn’t have to ask her to remove her clothes. She shed them within seconds, standing before him naked and flushed. His eyes raked her over from head to toe, lingering on the pert tip of her nipples before dropping lower to feast on the tight curls between her legs. His own clothing fell to the ground before he held out his hand. “Where are we going?” When had her voice gotten so husky? She shivered and slipped her hand into his palm. He pressed a finger against her lips. “Just follow me.” Abby didn’t speak again as she fell into step beside him. Their bare feet slapped against the marble floor as he led the way to a gold lined glass door at the end of the hall. Glowing light spilled out onto the polished tiles and Abby caught the soft strains of classical music as Nathaniel pushed open the door. The rich opulence of the room amazed her. She’d entered the twenty-first century again. A warm fire pierced the dusk and the flames licked high in the fireplace, offering warmth and romantic ambiance. Richly paneled walls surrounded a baby grand piano and a three-tiered chandelier, domed with pleated

DESTINY

satin, hung low from the center of the ceiling. Abby felt like she was walking on air when the carpet sank beneath her feet. “What is this place?” “It’s a special room reserved for you.” Confident in his nudity, Nathaniel strode forward and swept open the dual pane Gothic windows. The sounds of rushing water united with the soft music and Abby felt her muscles undulate. “How could a room be reserved for me? You don’t even know me.” As she finished speaking, Nathaniel walked around behind her, brushing his lips over the back of her neck. “We’ve had this conversation before, Abigail. I know you.” He rained kisses over her skin. “And tonight, I’ll know you even more.” He slid his hands down her arms and raised them over her head. “I want you to feel every inch of me, to know that as I’m making love to you, I’m claiming you.” He guided her forward until her abdomen bumped the row of piano keys. “You’re going to…oh!” She gasped as his long, nimble fingers slipped inside her pussy. Her feet stepped apart and she braced her hands on top of the gleaming mahogany. From over her left shoulder, she could hear the gurgling water. She could feel the warm glow of the fire on her face, but most of all, she felt Nathaniel stretching her, pressing deep into the moist recesses of her sheath. Her head fell forward and she moaned. His knee bumped the bench behind her and the hard tip of his cock replaced his fingers. “Ease back, my sweet. Let me fill you.” Abby backed up as instructed, exhaling sharply when rigid steel impaled her. She held still, not daring to move, knowing that this would be the last time she would feel this. Their time together had been so short and yet, she knew she would walk away with more than she’d ever experienced in a lifetime. Nathaniel kissed her back, licking her spine until she shivered with delight. “Talk to me, Abby. Let me hear you.” She felt him begin to move within her. “What do you want me to say?” She whispered with urgency as the pace increased. His hand went around her waist and dipped low, brushing over her muff before he parted the lips of her pussy. The second he caught her clit, she jerked. “Oh, God.” “Just like that,” he responded. “I want to know how you feel. How I make you feel.”

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He rolled her flesh between his fingers and Abby’s breaths quickened. How could he expect her to talk when his very actions were stealing her ability to think? “That’s it. Right there. Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.” “Never, Abby. I’ll never stop. You belong to me.” He came to his feet, forcing her against the piano. The keys resounded with sharp notes as he began to pound into her. “Yes, yes, yes,” she chanted. Between the strokes of his cock and fingers, the orgasm crept closer. Her knees went weak and the muscles in her thighs began to clench. Heat poured over her from the top of her head to the soles of her feet, glorious waves of intense pleasure. He fisted his hand in her hair and tugged her head back. “Talk to me, Abigail.” “Fuck me. Fuck me hard.” His balls slapped against her ass and his fingers ground into her clit. “Yeah, baby. That’s what I want to hear.” He kissed her neck before licking a spot just below her ear. Abby screamed as she came, her hands slamming against the ivories just as intense pain pierce her neck. She didn’t have time to think or to fight. She sagged against him.

DESTINY

~*~

Nathaniel lifted his head, staring down into her unconscious face. The witch had told him he would need to find the one woman who would make him do anything for love. He brushed the glowing red strands of hair away from her face. He’d found her and no matter how much she wanted to leave, he couldn’t let her go. He’d taken the decision from her hands, but then, she wouldn’t remember her past life. That was the beauty of the change. The guilt would eat at him for a while, but he knew he could make her happy. But she wouldn’t have given him that chance. She would have left him, not because she truly wanted to, but because her fears would have convinced her it was necessary. As he wrestled with his decision, Abby stirred in his arms her green eyes popping open to blink up at him sleepily. “Hi.” He kissed her swollen lips. “Hi.” She shifted and turned to face him. “What are we doing in the music room?” She yawned and then her gaze dropped to her state of undress. “Ah. Never mind.” Poking him in the side, she managed to extricate herself from his embrace. “You know, we really need to get another hobby besides sex.” Her feet padded across the floor. “Abigail,” he called to her softly, his muscles knotted as he offered the true test of the change. “I love you.” She paused at the door, her hand resting on the frame. “I love you, too, Nathaniel. Now, shouldn’t we get ready for bed? After all, the night is still young and I’m feeling,” she stretched her arms out overhead, “energetic.” The witch had told him the truth. He’d taken away her memories of her past life and replaced them with created visions of a past she’d never experienced with him. He could hate himself for the deception, but it would serve no purpose. He would spend his life loving her, giving to her, and in return, he would spend that life as an ordinary mortal. In his own time. “Thank the gods,” he muttered. 25

“Lady Lehr,” Hiller’s voice startled her and Abby lifted her head from the edge of the settee. The book she’d been reading had tumbled to the floor. “Yes, Hiller?” She really hated when he snuck up on her like that. “The horses are ready and the Duke awaits you in the stables.” Abby smiled and got to her feet. “Has he been waiting long?” Her dress fell to her ankles as the clock over the mantle chimed the noon hour. “No, Madam. Not long at all.” She swept past the butler and went in search of her husband. His smile graced her world and he reached out a hand to her. “I fell asleep. And I had the strangest dream.” She stood on tiptoe to kiss Nathaniel on the lips. “You were a vampire,” she informed him with a wry shake of her head. “And I came to the castle to write about it.” A long exhale accompanied a shrug. “I really need to stop reading those stories your sister writes. She does have a vivid imagination. Vampires.” A chuckle escaped her lips. Nathaniel laughed in response and pulled her to his side, but over her head, his eyes met Hiller’s and he smiled, a private communication between the two men. Though the curse had been broken years ago, Nathaniel couldn’t forget. Abby reminded him every day with her smile, her laughter, but most of all, her love. He supposed he should still feel guilty, but his need to keep Abby in his life far outweighed his conscience. She didn’t have memories of the empty life she’d left behind. She’d had a full life so far, at least, in her mind she had. And he intended to make sure the rest of it was very full. One hand fell to her burgeoning stomach. They’d have children and laughter. Most of all, they’d have lives, normal, healthy lives. She thumped him on the shoulder. “Ready for a race, Your Grace?” He loved her mocking laughter. “Not in your condition. You know what the doctor told you.” She wrinkled her nose at him and the fire in her eyes intrigued him. His body grew hard in response. Would he ever stop wanting her? “You’re beginning to sound like an old maid, Nathaniel. I’m feeling perfectly fine and I doubt a simple race is going to hurt me. But if you’re too scared…” The sentence trailed off. He caught the reins of the horse. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist you follow the dictates of Dr. Willoughby. Otherwise, I’m ready for anything with you, my love.”

DESTINY

Abby shot him a dimpled smile and mounted her horse. “We’ll have to see about that.” She gave her horse a gentle push and before Nathaniel could protest, shot off into the wind. “Do you think she knows, Your Grace?” Hiller asked quietly, shielding his eyes against the sun. Nathaniel winced as he climbed into the saddle. “She may have some residual memories, but this is her life now. She loves me. I love her and that’s all that matters.” He stared off in the distance, as Abby became just a speck. “I did what I had to do to improve both of our lives. And now, I have so much more than I ever imagined. I believe she does, too.” Abby slowed the horse to a trot and slipped from the saddle, stretching the tight muscles in her calves. She could hear the thundering hooves of Nathaniel’s horse and she laughed aloud as he scowled at her from atop his stallion. “What took you so long?” He jumped to the ground and raced toward her, taking hold of her shoulders. “Promise me you won’t ever do anything so foolish again. I don’t want to lose you, Abigail.” She covered his hands with hers and tipped her face back to look into his eyes. “What has you so spooked? This doesn’t even sound like you.” He cupped her face and kissed her. “I just couldn’t bear my life without you in it.” The wind lifted the hem of her dress and swirled it around her ankles. The crisp scent of blooming flowers and the heat of the sun combined to add peace to Abby’s soul. She stood on tiptoe and returned the kiss. “I’m not going anywhere, Nathaniel. We have a child to raise and we’ll do it together.” She took hold of his hand and brought it to her stomach. As if on cue, the baby kicked and Nathaniel sucked in a sharp breath. “I meant what I said, though,” he whispered. She knew he was reaching for reassurance. Her heart connected with his even more. “So did I.” The heat of his gaze burned her face. “Promise?” Oh, she could do much more than just promise. It seemed now was as perfect time as any for a revelation of her own. One finger lifted and traced the outline of his lips. “I want to stay right here with you, Nathaniel. My old life holds nothing for me.” 27

“I’m going to hold you…” he broke off, his face going ashen. “Your old life?” His voice came out on a croak. Abby laughed aloud and tugged him closer. “You really didn’t think you made me forget everything, did you? I stayed because I wanted to stay. Plain and simple. Your belief that you’d erased my memories made it easier for me.” He frowned. “You tricked me?” “Oh, don’t go getting all offended on me, Your Grace, lest you forget who tricked whom. I think I have a little more reason to be angry. After all, you did try to erase my memories.” His head lowered. “That I did. Abby, I’m sorry. It’s just that…” She bumped her hip against his. “Did you hear me asking for an explanation?” His eyes glistened with unshed tears when he lifted his head. “You don’t hate me, do you?” “If I’d hated you, I never would have gone along with it.” “Why didn’t you tell me before now?” Her hand slipped into the silkiness of his hair, loving the crisp feel of it gliding over her palm. “A woman has to keep some secrets, you know. Besides, I thought it might be a nice present before you become a daddy.” He crushed her closer and the baby kicked in protest. They both laughed together. “I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you.” She eased herself closer to him, needing to feel his strength, his warmth. “That’s an easy enough answer. You pissed off a witch. By the way, you’ve never told me how exactly you did that.” Nathaniel grinned and hooked his arm through hers. “That’s a long story.” At her raised eyebrow, he continued. “You see, it all started when I thought she was just another town floozy looking for a dalliance with a Duke…”

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BIO

Rachel is the published author of contemporary, fantasy and paranormal romances with small yet vibrant presses. She works full-time as a paralegal and is also the editor for Vintage Romance Publishing, a publisher dedicated to nostalgic romances.

SEE MORE FROM THIS AUTHOR AT, www.VenusPress.com

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