Illusions by Elisa Adams
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Copyright ©2007 by Elisa Adams First published in 2007, 2007 NOTICE: This eBook is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution to any person via email, floppy disk, network, print out, or any other means is a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines and/or imprisonment. This notice overrides the Adobe Reader permissions which are erroneous. This eBook cannot be legally lent or given to others. This eBook is displayed using 100% recycled electrons.
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Illusions by Elisa Adams
A Total-e-bound Publication ****
**** www.totalebound.com Illusions ISBN # 978-1-906328-27-6 ©Copyright Elisa Adams 2007 Cover Art by Anne Cain ©Copyright July 2007 Edited by Michele Paulin Total-e-bound books This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author's imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Total-e-bound eBooks. 3
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Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-e-bound eBooks. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork Published in 2007 by Total-e-bound eBooks 1 The Corner, Faldingworth Road, Spridlington, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, LN8 2DE, UK. Warning: Warning: This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has been rated total-e-sizzling.
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ILLUSIONS Elisa Adams
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Chapter One Coming here may have sounded like a good idea in theory, but now as Alexis eyed the creepy place she was having serious doubts. It had been one thing to volunteer to deliver the contracts when she'd been in the office, but it was an entirely different situation now, as she stood on the front steps staring up at a house that looked like it might cave in on itself at any moment. The fact that it was after dark only exacerbated her anxiety. The tales about the renovations to the old house causing a restless spirit to wake up came back to her, making goose bumps break out all over her skin. When had she become such a wimp? She wasn't here for a tour of the so-called haunted mansion of Bellville. She was here on a work-related matter, and she had no reason to be a chicken. She raised her fist and knocked on the door. It swung open, creaking on rusty hinges. Oh, Lord. Could it get any more cliché than this? She would have laughed if she wasn't scared out of her mind. What had happened to the big, tough office manager she had to be on a daily basis? So the place was a little dark. So it looked like it was falling apart. So what? She'd been in worse situations than this. Most of them in high school when she'd been young and stupid. Back then, she and her friends had been looking for thrills wherever they could find them. They'd been addicted to bad horror movies and had even worked at the local haunted house every 6
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October. What had happened to her that a dark, run-down house scared the living daylights out of her? She'd grown up. She'd learned about the real world and had developed some fairly nasty fears. Fear of the dark. Fear of the unknown. Fear of spooks that didn't really exist. Time to put those fears to rest. Now was the perfect time to do it. All she had to do was step over the threshold. Murky blackness stretched in front of her and she shook her head. This had to be some kind of joke. It was the only thing that made any sense. Jeremy Talbot, the owner of the house, was probably trying to get her back for the pranks she'd played on him when they'd been kids. Karma at its finest. That had to be what this was all about. "Jeremy?" she called, stepping into the foyer. Of course, he would be here. Someone had opened the door. They didn't just open on their own. "It's Alexis Moran. I have the updated contracts for the renovations. Sean asked me to drop them off on my way home so you could take a look at them." Silence greeted her. Little fingers of anxiety crept up her spine. She fished around in her handbag until she pulled a slender flashlight out and turned it on. "This really isn't funny. I know you're home. You just spoke to Sean a half hour ago on the phone." Still nothing. Not even a cricket chirping or a floorboard squeaking. She tightened her grip on the flashlight handle. Since she couldn't get her hand to stop shaking, the beam wavered in front of her and made it look as if the shadows were moving. 7
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She took another step into the large entryway, shining the flashlight around and following the beam with her eyes. The place was huge. Cavernous. And covered with a thick layer of dust. She frowned. Even the walls and floor looked grey. No footprints marred the ground. A shudder wracked her body. How was this possible? It looked like no one had been inside for years. Probably because of the ghost waiting to eat humans. This time she did laugh. Her eyes had to be playing tricks on her. The house was occupied. Any dust collected on the floor probably came from the work crews tearing down old plaster to replace with drywall. The locals really should know better than to believe the place to be haunted. Everyone knew there were no such things as ghosts. Then why do I feel the almost overwhelming urge to turn tail and run? Because she was a chicken, plain and simple. Usually she ran on adrenaline, but not in places like this. Alexis Moran was afraid of the dark. And, man, was it dark in here. Even the flashlight couldn't cut the oppressiveness. A heaviness hung in the air, almost bleak in nature and tangible, like a living thing. How anyone could live in a place like this was beyond her, but then again, the Talbots had always been a little strange. Jeremy, the oldest son, was no exception. She supposed if she thought about it, he'd be right at home in a place like this. When they'd been growing up she'd liked him well enough, but there was always something about him that seemed a little ... off. A creative type, her mother had always said. Given that 8
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he was an artist now, a painter, the explanation made sense. Still ... unless he painted tragic scenes, she couldn't imagine this house being good for his creativity. She sniffed a little and sneezed at the musty scent in the air. A burst of movement from a doorway to her left caught her attention and she turned her head toward it. That was when she saw him, and her heart threatened to stop. Her feet froze to the floor. Fear clogged her throat and she tried to swallow it back. It tasted metallic. Jeremy? No, couldn't be. This man was much too big, much too dark. Tall and imposing, he wasn't much more than a shadow hovering in the doorway. She'd never really bought into ghost stories, but looking at him, how could she not? She swung the flashlight in his direction and took note of his black pants and matching long-sleeved shirt. His skin was pale, almost too pale, and his hair as dark as the clothes. Even though the light was trained on his face, something seemed to mute the glow and keep her from truly seeing his features. Was it Jeremy or someone else? She couldn't see what he looked like, not really. All she could manage was a fuzzy impression of a man. Except for one thing. His eyes. Oh man, his eyes were red. They glowed in the darkness, shining like beacons of demonic light. It had to be a trick. None of this could be real. Instinct forced her to back up a step, and then another, inching toward the door. "Who are you?" "Wrong question." She blinked as recognition hit. She knew that voice, had heard the deep, gravely texture many times over the years. 9
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She relaxed but only marginally. It was Jeremy, but there was something very wrong with him. This man wasn't the man she'd known so well. "Excuse me? What do you mean, wrong question?" "The right question is what are you doing sneaking around my house in the middle of the night?" "It's not the middle of the night. It's only a little after sunset. Didn't Sean tell you? I—" "Are you like the others? Here to torment the restless spirit?" He laughed, and it sent a shiver down her spine. His words made her pause. Was the man delusional? No, of course not. He was playing with her. No way would she feed into his sick games. "Knock it off, Jeremy. This isn't funny." "Really? Strange, but I think it's hilarious. You should see your face, Alexis." Unsure of how to respond to his taunting words, she said nothing. She narrowed her eyes. The humour in his tone made her want to scream. Back when they'd been kids, she might have. She also might have flung herself at him and punched the living daylights out of him, but she was an adult now and all she could do was grit her teeth and hand him the papers. If things had been different... But they hadn't. She let out a sigh. So much for her silly fantasies. "Why are you here?" he continued, cutting into her thoughts. "You really live here? In all this mess?" 10
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He laughed again, but this time it held a mocking edge. "Does that bother you?" "It's not really my business. I'm just here to deliver the contracts Sean told you about on the phone. So where can I put them?" So I can get the hell out of here. Not that she'd ever admit it to him, but he was freaking her out. Then again, that was probably the plan. "But seriously, how can you stand to live somewhere so ... dirty?" "You used to be so much fun. I remember all the times you tried to scare me when we were kids. What happened to you?" "I grew up." She pushed her shaky fingers through her hair, edging a little closer to the door. If she had to, she'd drop the contracts on the floor and run. He might be getting a kick out of this, but she didn't find it amusing. "What's all the talk about the ghost that supposedly lives here, anyway?" "I thought you just wanted to deliver the contracts and leave?" She froze. He had her there. "I'm curious. You should know that by now, since we spent so much time together as children. We know everything about each other. At least we did." "There's a little problem with that theory, Alexis." He took a few steps forward, walking into the flashlight beam. "There are some things I never told you. I'm sure you kept secrets, too." "I didn't." Except that she'd had the oddest crush on him when they'd been teenagers. She'd thought it had 11
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disappeared when she'd left home for college, but faced with him once again, it seemed to be back full force. Crush wasn't exactly the right word. She was drawn to him, like a moth to a flame. Standing next to him, she'd never felt so alive. She would have classified the feeling as supernatural, had she believed in otherworldly things. He'd grown into a beautiful man, though probably not in the conventional sense. His features were chiseled, his cheekbones slashes across his face. His skin was pale, at odds with his nearly black hair. His eyes ... they weren't red as she'd imagined, but they were a strange shade of silvery blue that had always reminded her of winter twilight. The look in his eyes stirred something low in her gut. One corner of his full lips rose in a sexy half-smile she hadn't seen him use before. She liked it. A lot. He grasped a lock of her hair, rubbing it between his thumb and forefinger before dropping his hand to his side. "Everyone keeps secrets. Come with me. Let me show you around the house a little. It's not as ... dirty as you might think." With that, he backed up and disappeared through the darkened doorway. If he expected her to follow, he had another think coming. No way was she going to stick around here any longer than she had to. Hold on a second. This was Jeremy. Sweet, kind Jeremy Talbot who would never even kill a spider. Though she had to admit he didn't look so sweet or kind now. An idea hit and she shook her head. He'd been put up to this, hadn't he? Someone was trying to scare her. Her sister, 12
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maybe. As soon as she got out of here, she'd have to pay a visit to Melissa and tell her what she really thought of the little joke. "Thanks anyway," she called into the darkness. "I think I'm just going to go. It was nice seeing you." Alexis spun around and hurried back toward the door, but she hadn't made it two feet when the flashlight died, plunging her into total darkness. The light dropped from her hand and clattered to the floor as she moved forward, undaunted, feeling around in the inky blackness. Her heart pounded. Her blood rushed behind her ears. She was sure if she'd been able to see, her vision would have greyed. Don't pass out, you big wimp. This is all a trick. The thought calmed her, but only marginally. Finally, finally, she grasped the doorknob and tried to turn it. It wouldn't budge. "Leaving so soon?" Oh man, he was right behind her. Apparently he wasn't finished with his little prank. Had Sean been in on it, too? She spun around, hands raised in a defensive position, when the lights in the foyer burst to life. With the lights on, the place looked a whole lot less spooky. It wasn't dusty, just run down and in need of some TLC. She let out a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding. She'd freaked out for nothing. There was no ghost here, just a man trying to give her a little fright. She narrowed her eyes at him. Jeremy met her gaze with an amused grin. "You okay? You look a little pale. I won't hurt you, you know." 13
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You would be scared too if someone tried to give you a heart attack. Asshole. "I'm fine. Here." She thrust the papers at him, trying to still her hands. He reached out to take the contracts, his fingers brushing against hers. The contact sent a spark all the way up her arm. The startled look in his eyes told her he felt it too. After a few seconds he pulled away and dropped the paperwork onto an oval table next to the door. He withdrew from her, coming to rest against the banister half a dozen feet away. "Thanks. Tell Sean I'll get back to him as soon as I can on these. Sorry for scaring you. I just couldn't resist." Her hands still shook, even though she'd started to relax. The whole night had taken a surreal turn right about the time she'd stepped through the front door. Even though her fear had started to subside, something here didn't feel quite right. He wasn't exactly the same Jeremy she'd known. He was different. More unusual. "Feeling better?" he asked in a whisper. A touch brushed her cheek and she shivered. How was that possible? He wasn't anywhere near her, yet deep inside she was certain it was Jeremy's touch. She wanted to lean into it, but instead, she shook the phantom fingers away. She really was losing her mind, wasn't she? "Would you feel better?" "I told you I wouldn't hurt you, and I won't." "What reason do I have to believe you? You're holding me hostage in this house."
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Chapter Two Jeremy watched Alexis through half-slitted eyes, not sure what he should do with her. Still the same long, sleek brown hair. The same wide green eyes. She hadn't changed much. Looking at her stirred so many memories. The smart thing would be to send her away, to pretend everything was fine and normal. Too bad it was anything but. With her eyes wide and her sexy lips parted, she still looked scared, in shock and ready to bolt. Maybe scaring her the way he had was a bad idea, but he hadn't been able to help it. As a kid, he'd spooked easily. She'd exploited that fact at every possible turn. He'd only wanted to get her back, to show her he wasn't the same Jeremy who ran whenever she said "boo" anymore, but it looked like he'd gone too far. He chuckled to himself. What would she say when she found out the truth? That her childhood friend wasn't the human she'd always assumed him to be. "I'm not holding you hostage. You can go anytime you want to." He said the words, but he didn't mean them. From the moment she'd walked into the house, it all came rushing back. For so many years, he'd been a kid with a crush. He'd loved her in secret, never daring to tell her. If he had, he would have had to explain another reality to her. One that really would have sent her running. So he'd made himself content with being her friend, and eventually, they'd grown apart. They'd gone off to separate colleges and hadn't reconnected once they'd graduated. Tonight, he hadn't been 15
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able to resist finding a way to keep her close, even for a little while. Big mistake, though, idiot. If you wanted to talk the woman into your bed, you went about it all wrong. Didn't he know it. Maybe he really had been trying to scare her off. His subconscious was probably trying to tell him this was a bad idea. Bad, yes, but having her in his home felt so right. She didn't want to go. At least part of her didn't. He'd seen the attraction in her eyes, mingling with the fear. The small sliver of interest was enough to make him search for a way to convince her to stay. Not an easy task considering he'd frightened the poor woman out of her mind. She reached behind her and jiggled the doorknob, never taking her gaze off his. "The door's stuck then, if you aren't keeping me here. I can't get out." He walked over to her, reaching behind her and crowding her body against the door. His cock twitched, being this close to Alexis. All those years of friendship and he'd never had the guts to even kiss her. He could do it now, just settle his lips over hers and thrust his tongue into her mouth when she parted her lips in surprise. He glanced down at her, trying to gauge her reaction to his closeness. Her head was tilted up, her eyes glazed over a little. Yeah, she wanted him to kiss her. She might not be willing to admit it, but she did. He turned the knob and pulled the door open a fraction, keeping his body right up against hers. He could just about 16
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smell her arousal mixed with her fear. Now if that wasn't a heady combination, he didn't know what was. "It's all in your head. I think you're still a little shaken. Why don't you stay for a while until you feel up to driving again? You can come and see what your company's accomplished so far in my house." With that, he shut the door, but he didn't back up. Now that he was this near to her, he couldn't resist. Even now, his greedy body tried to suck in all the heat she gave off. All the emotions, good and bad. Didn't matter what they were. He could feed off of them all, and it had been way to long since his last ... meal. He leaned in close to her neck, breathing deep, allowing himself a small snack of the energy pouring from her. What would she think if she knew what he needed to survive—and that he'd been taking it from her for years? "What are you doing to me?" she asked, her voice soft and breathy. It hit him right where it counted, hardening his cock. Ah, damn. He ached for the woman. Had since they were teenagers. Stay, Alexis. Spend some time with me. With a little effort, he managed to worm his way into her mind to help influence her decision. He couldn't—and wouldn't—force her if she really wanted to leave, but he could plant a suggestion. His life had been so lonely lately. "Nothing. I just want to catch up with an old friend." Alexis hesitated for only a few seconds before she nodded. "Okay. I'll stay, but only for a little while." **** 17
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What had she just agreed to? Alexis followed Jeremy down a hallway toward the back of the house. And how had he been able to convince her to stay with just a few whispered words? It made no sense, but she could almost feel him inside her head. Her anxiety had turned into comfort somewhere along the way. No, comfort was the wrong word. When he'd been so close to her, she'd thought he would kiss her. She would have welcomed the kiss. Even now, she was considering grabbing him and tugging his head down to hers. She fisted her hands at her sides to keep from following through. "Jeremy?" He stopped and glanced at her over his shoulder. "Yeah?" "Never mind." She almost laughed at her own stupidity. If she'd asked him if he was messing around with her—without even talking to her—he'd think she was nuts and send her on her way. She didn't understand it, but right now the only thing on her mind was spending time with him. Getting to know him all over again. She expected him to lead her into a living room where they could sit and talk, but instead they walked through the back door and out onto a stone patio. The yard was overgrown and the brick wall to the left of the patio crumbling, but an odd sense of peace washed over her. "It's nice out here." Even the air seemed a little warmer than it had when she'd first arrived. 18
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"Yeah, it is. This is why I fell in love with the place. When you're on the property, it's almost like you're in a different world." "I can understand why you bought the place despite the amount of work it needs." He chuckled softly. "It doesn't need as much work as you might think." Before she could respond, he leaned in and kissed her. The kiss was tentative at first, gentle, but the contact was what she'd needed for so long. Not giving herself a chance to question her sanity, she put her hands on his shoulders and pulled him close. The kiss was brief, no more than a few seconds before he pulled away, but it was enough to ignite a fire inside her. Her pussy dampened. Her nipples hardened. He left her panting, wanting more. So much more. She reached for him again, and he took her hand to press a kiss to the centre of her palm. "What's going on here?" he asked. "I don't know. I just know that I want you." She tore her gaze from his and glanced out at the yard again. A gasp lodged in her throat. Where once there had been weeds, there were now flowers blooming in the night. She swallowed hard. "What happened to your yard?" Jeremy didn't take his eyes off her. "What do you mean?" "Look around you." She pulled out of his grasp, barely managing a whisper. "This just isn't possible. What are you doing to me, Jeremy?" **** 19
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Jeremy's skin felt hot. Tight, like it could no longer contain his body. For too long he'd wanted to touch her, studying her from afar but knowing he could never really have her. Alexis was good. Pure. He was not. She deserved someone better than him. "Maybe you aren't seeing what you think you are," he said, hoping to placate her. He'd been so caught up in the moment he'd let the illusion slip, spooking Alexis when she'd just started to feel comfortable with him. Getting her to relax again would take some fancy work. His hands on her shoulders, he turned her around, knowing he'd be lost if he kept looking in those soulful green eyes of hers. He grasped her hips and tugged her toward him so her back rested against his chest. His cock nestled into the hollow of her lower back, right above her ass, and he shuddered. There was no way she could miss his reaction to being so close to her. She'd always gotten to him. Always. Now when he was near her the need was almost overwhelming. Wanting her as an adult was so very different from his childhood crush. The gentle swell of her hips fit so well in his palms. He dragged his hands up her sides, letting her get used to his touch. It had been so long since he'd allowed himself to hold a woman like this. Years. Out of necessity, he avoided human contact, except when the hunger became overwhelming. Even then, it was just sex—and it had been so long since that had held any real pleasure. Now it had become a means for survival. It was the best way to feed and get the energy he needed. 20
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With Alexis, it would be different. When emotions were involved, it was always different. Alexis leaned against him, bringing her hands back to rest on his hips. The woman was going to kill him. He couldn't wait to get inside her. He brushed his lips across her shoulder. "This is stupid," she whispered, and he wondered if she realised she'd said the words out loud. "What is?" "Why should I trust you? I don't even know you anymore. Maybe I never really did." He let out a shaky laugh. He had as much to fear from her as she had from him. Letting her close could tear down the carefully constructed life he and his family had worked so hard to build. A life based on illusion. "You have nothing to fear from me, but you shouldn't have come here." Instead of pushing her away like he knew he should, he cupped her breasts in his palms. Her nipples hardened under his touch. One of his dogs howled in the distance. How fitting. It filled him with a sense of peace, but Alexis would probably take the sound very differently.
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Chapter Three Alexis shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. "Do you have wolves around here?" "Dogs. German Shepherds. Are you cold?" Jeremy asked, concern in his tone. She wriggled out of his grasp and turned to face him. "No." "You're nervous. Why?" As if she could come up with a simple explanation. "I don't really know you anymore." "Sure you do. I haven't changed." She swept her hand around. "No, not at all. You've always been able to do magic." The sarcasm in her tone had him fighting a smile. Not that she really believed in magic, but she couldn't find any other explanation for the things that had gone on here since she'd arrived. The strange sensations, the flowers ... and Jeremy himself. He wasn't exactly what she could call normal anymore. Had he ever really been? Jeremy's soft chuckle filled the floral-scented air around her. "Can I tell you a secret?" "Okay." "I could always do magic." She frowned. Did he think she was daft or something? "No, you couldn't. I would have known." "Maybe you were just ignoring what was right in front of your eyes. Maybe you're still ignoring it, hoping it'll go away, 22
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but it won't. Whatever's happening here tonight was supposed to happen. Don't doubt that." Before she could say anything in response, he took her face between his palms and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. A sense of tranquillity washed over her. The feeling was odd, out of place, but at the same time very welcome and comforting. This was Jeremy. He'd always been there to protect her. What did she have to worry about? "I would have known," she repeated, her stubborn streak coming to the forefront. "I was very careful." He leaned in to kiss her again, and she realised what she'd been missing all her life. He tasted like spice and mint ... and coming home. He was so familiar, yet foreign at the same time. She wrapped her arms around him, holding him close while he stroked his tongue into her mouth. He nudged her backward until she bumped the side of the house. She should have felt trapped, but she couldn't think of much beyond the feel of his mouth on hers. All those years she'd wondered. Now she knew, and it was better than she could have ever imagined. He broke the kiss to trail his lips down her neck, dipping his tongue into the hollow of her collarbone. The soft, gentle touch of his mouth belied the sense of urgency pouring off him, echoing somewhere inside her. His hard cock pressed against her belly, making her want so much more than he was giving her. She suddenly needed ... everything. As if he sensed her plight, he brought his hands to her waist before dropping them lower, to her ass. He lifted her 23
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and tugged her against him, grinding his hips, driving the need in her pussy higher and higher. For a moment, she thought about protesting, asking him to slow down, but then she realised she'd been wanting this with him for as long as she could remember. He raised her skirt, bunching the material at her hips, and moved her legs apart to push her panties out of the way. And then his fingers were on her, inside her, stroking and teasing and making her cry out in frustration. He touched, but never where she needed him for long. Her clit ached. It had been months since she'd been with a man and already her body was striving for release. It made no sense, given that he'd barely touched her, but nothing about tonight could be easily explained. She had two choices. She could either deny the facts or accept them, and at the moment, she knew what she needed to do. She clung to Jeremy, never wanting to let him go. He kissed his way back up to her lips, thrusting his fingers into her sheath. After a quick brush of his lips against hers, he met her gaze, and she swallowed hard at the urgency in his eyes. It was stark, raw, and it made her want to tear his clothes off and beg him to fuck her right then and there. "Jeremy," she moaned, her whole body shaking. "Please. I need you. Right now. I don't want to wait. I don't think I can stand much longer." That sexy half-smile tipped his lips again. "You won't be." He broke away long enough to unzip his pants and free his cock, and then he was back against her, wrapping her legs around his waist, thrusting the hard length of his erection 24
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deep into her waiting pussy. Her whole body sighed in relief. Finally. She cried out at the welcome invasion. He stretched her, filled her so completely she wondered how any man before him had ever satisfied her. He set an urgent pace, driving her back against the wall with every thrust. It was all she could do to hang on. Her head dropped back, her lips parting on a silent scream. She'd been so ready for him, and it had been too long. Her hips kept rhythm with his for as long as she could, but the frantic pace wasn't something she could match, so she held on and enjoyed the ride. She would be sore in the morning, but it would be worth it. Jeremy would be sorer, most likely, given that he was holding her up as he thrust inside her. She hadn't realised how strong he was. He shifted, changing the angle, and every stroke hit her clit. She moaned at the pleasure, almost unbearable in nature. She clutched at his shoulders, fisting the material of his shirt in her fingers and digging her nails into the muscles there. Jeremy grunted and thrust harder, faster, the pain seeming to drive his passion even higher. It wasn't long before she shattered around him, her inner muscles clenching his cock, trying to pull him deeper inside her. Her vision greyed. She slammed her eyes closed, riding wave after wave of intensity until she didn't think she could take anymore. Her body went limp. Boneless. Every stroke of his cock made her shudder. Why had she been upset with him? Funny, but she couldn't remember now. 25
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Jeremy's head dropped to her shoulder, his lips on her neck. His ragged breath fanned her skin, his fingers digging into her ass cheeks. Soon after, he followed her into release, whispering her name as he emptied himself inside her. Even afterward, when her breathing had returned to normal and he'd set her on the ground to straighten her clothing, she could still feel the aftereffects of his touch. She had the odd sensation that, if she looked in a mirror, she would find her skin glowing with it. His hands skimmed her back, his lips brushing over her cheeks and chin. The touch was feather-light, not much more than a tickle. The caresses were so tender she smiled. "Wow." Jeremy laughed. "Sorry about that. I wanted to take you upstairs to my bedroom. Wanted to do it right the first time. That was very ... quick." They'd both come, so she failed to see the problem. "I don't need romance." "Every woman does, whether she wants to admit it or not. Next time. This time, the urgency of it sort of took over and I lost control. You're just so beautiful, so alive and vital. I needed to..." His voice trailed off and she looked up at him, meeting his gaze. "Needed to what?" His eyes darkened for a few seconds before he shook his head. "I just needed to get inside you. It was as simple as that. I couldn't wait any longer." "I liked it." "We'll see if you still feel that way in a little while. There's something I need to talk to you about." 26
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Chapter Four "Why did you really come here?" Jeremy asked Alexis, running his hands up and down her arms. They'd moved inside to the living room and were standing by the window, looking out at the moon. "I know you said it was the paperwork, but I think you had other reasons." She shot him a quick glance over her shoulder, deciding she'd rather not answer so soon. He'd said he had something to talk to her about, but so far he'd been silent. With her luck, he had a wife or girlfriend he'd forgotten to mention. Instead of delving into territory she wasn't sure she was ready for, she chose to change the subject instead. "People say there's a ghost who lives here, in the main house. That the construction you started last year woke up a restless spirit." Jeremy took her hand, twining his fingers with hers. "There's no ghost here. It's only me. I want to show you something, but you have to promise not to freak out." Any more than she already had? She probably looked unstable to him, at best. "I don't think there's anything you could show me that would scare me more than you already have." "Okay. Turn around." He stepped away, leaving her cold. She had no choice but to do as he asked. Spinning around to face him, she found herself staring at the room around them instead. "What is this? Earlier..." 27
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Her voice trailed off as she took in the scene around her. It wasn't possible. Where there had once been dust and decay, there was now a dark sort of beauty very fitting of the man Jeremy had become. Antiques and oil paintings filled the room, everything appearing in perfect condition. "What did you do?" "Removed the illusion." "Illusion." She repeated the word in a whisper, not caring if he heard. Not sure what was real anymore. And here she'd thought the night couldn't get any odder. "How is this possible?" She shook her head without waiting for an answer. It wasn't. She was more convinced than ever that this was one of Jeremy or her sister's pranks gone horribly wrong. They'd all be laughing at her for weeks. And Jeremy ... she'd slept with him. Was she just the punch line in this joke? "Okay, okay. You guys have had your fun, but the joke's over now. I've got you all figured out." "I don't think you do." He passed his hand in the air in front of him again, and the room changed back. Another pass, and it once again shifted. "This is my home. How it really looks. How I live. The illusions are for protection." "From who?" "The outside world." **** Jeremy watched Alexis, sure she was ready to bolt. This would be too much for her to accept, and he had yet to fill her in on a very important detail. Even now, her eyes glazed over 28
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as if she were going into shock. She licked her lips, raked a hand through her tangled hair. A nervous laugh escaped her lips. "You have to be kidding me. What sort of damage could the outside world do to you?" He hesitated before answering. He should get rid of her now. He'd fed, and there was no sense keeping her around, getting his hopes up for a normal life with a woman he'd always been fascinated by. He turned around, not wanting to face her right now. He should tell her the truth, but instead he chickened out. She would never understand. As children, he and his siblings had always been warned not to tell anyone—except for the person they would spend the rest of their lives with. He shouldn't tell Alexis, but he wanted her to know. Her hands came around to his chest and she pressed her lips to the skin between his shoulder blades. "Tell me, Jeremy. Make me believe all this." "You're right about the magic. My whole family has the ability. It's not something we can announce to the world." "Why didn't you ever tell me?" He turned around then without breaking the circle of her arms. It felt so good to be held by her. So right. "I couldn't risk it." "But you're telling me now." Not everything. Instead of pushing her away like he knew he should, he pulled her close, tracing the seam of her lips with his tongue 29
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until she opened for him. Her hands threaded through his hair, fingertips massaging his scalp. The taste of her warmed him from the inside out. Why had he waited this long to enjoy a woman this way? Waiting had been a mistake. He could give as well as he could get. He just had to be careful what he took from her or his touch would harm her. She moaned into his mouth. He released her lips, trailing his own down the side of her neck to her chest and the hint of cleavage exposed by the neckline of her shirt. He dipped his tongue there, revelling in the salty-sweet flavour of her skin. He moved lower, to where her nipples pressed against her shirt. Closing his lips over one of the peaks, he suckled it through the soft fabric. Alexis rewarded him with another moan. Her fingers tightened in his hair to the point of pain. His cock twitched. She released her hold on his head and brought her fingers to his chest. Her nails raked the skin through his shirt, her back arching. He loved the immediate, feverish way she responded to him. Like a woman starved. Lord knew, he could understand what it felt like to be needy for affection. Their coupling outside had been quick, just a way for him to get the energy he required before sending her on her way. She wasn't going anywhere, though, and now plans had changed. He wanted to make it better for her. To make it last and give them a night they'd both remember. Alexis deserved everything to be perfect. If he'd been smart when they'd been in high school, he would have asked her out. Instead, he'd made some pretty big mistakes. 30
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He started to take off her shirt, but she stepped back, shaking her head. "Earlier was about me. This, right now, is about you." He nearly laughed. What an ass he was. It hadn't been about her earlier. Not like it should have been. "No. I was selfish before." She frowned. There's something I didn't tell you about me. Not only was he an ass, he was apparently a coward, as well, because he couldn't force himself to say the words out loud. What he truly was, what he needed to take in order to survive ... the truth would send her running in the other direction, and he couldn't think of a way to make her understand. He wasn't like her or anyone else around here save his small family. The right thing would have been to tell her the truth, but once she stripped off his shirt and splayed her hands across his chest, he knew there would be no confessions. He had to have her again. If he didn't, the need would likely drive him mad. Alexis slid up his body until she could reach his lips. She kissed him again, this time with more urgency. Her lips sealed over his, her tongue spearing into his mouth and her hands caressing his chest. "Alexis, maybe we should slow down. Take this upstairs." He said the words, but didn't mean them. Anywhere she wanted him would be fine. Instead of answering, she gave him a smile and pushed him onto a nearby chair. She straddled his lap and rocked against him. Even through the layers of their clothing he 31
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could feel the heat of her pussy. It drove him slowly insane. The woman was pure torture and she didn't even know it. He wrapped his arms around her back, holding her close, needing to feel her up against him. All the while she swung her hips, driving her pussy against him. It was all he could do not to flip her onto her back, tear off her clothes and nail her right there on the living room floor. As it was, they wouldn't be making it into the bedroom tonight. Frustrated at the material between them, he tore at her shirt, tearing the fabric, and started pulling it from her body. "Lean back for a second." Alexis blinked at him, her expression confused, but she did as he asked and allowed him to peel her shredded shirt from her body. As if reading his mind, she stood and stripped out of the rest of her clothes, leaving them in a pile on the floor. Jeremy smiled. She was bare to him now, and he intended to look his fill. "You're so beautiful," he murmured. She only laughed, kneeling next to the couch and unzipping his pants. She freed his cock from the confines of his boxers before circling her fingers around it and leaning down to press a kiss to the tip. Her tongue touched the skin, running up and down the length of his erection. He groaned. "What do you think you're doing?" he ground out. Alexis raised her head and grinned. "Payback's a bitch, huh?" If this was her version of payback, he'd have no problem living with it. He reached for her, but once again she shook 32
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her head. He curled his hands into fists at his sides to keep from touching her. The urge to grab her and drive inside had become a physical pain. An ache he couldn't deny, at least not without restraint. He didn't have much of that left at this point. She sucked him for a few minutes, bobbing her head up and down, using her tongue as a torture device, before he could no longer stand it. So much for taking things slowly. With her, he might never have that sort of control. He lifted her up on top of him, pulled her hips down, and drove his cock into the wet heat of her pussy. She felt like heaven. His eyes drifted shut as she found her rhythm, her hands on his chest and her hair brushing his shoulders. It wasn't long before she came apart in his arms. Her body bucked and she cried out, her breaths coming in short moans. He opened his eyes, needing to watch her again as she came. It was a sight to behold, his Alexis in the throws of passion. His hands on her hips, he drank in the energy pouring from her body. It filled him, heating his skin and making him feel so alive. She was incredible. He knew at that moment that he would never get enough of her. No matter what it took, he'd find a way to convince her to stay in his life. That was all it took to send him over the edge into his own release. He came hard, his mind shattering, the scent of her perfume and arousal filling his lungs. Sometime later, when he could breathe again, he let his head drop back and closed his eyes, comfortable sleep overtaking him for the first time in too many nights. 33
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**** Alexis raised her head from where she'd been resting on Jeremy's chest and glanced around for a clock. She couldn't find one. Her sense of time had been off since walking into his house, but she had a feeling it was getting close to morning. Now that reality had begun to settle in and the fog she felt like she'd been under was lifting, embarrassment and anxiety washed over her in equal measures. She stood and reached for her pile of clothes, sighing when she remembered what Jeremy had done to her shirt. "Are you okay?" The sound of his voice made her jump. She hadn't realised he was awake. And here she'd been hoping to make a quick getaway. She spun around, clothes clutched to her chest. "I'm fine. Really. A little lightheaded, but I'm okay. I do need to leave, though. It's getting late. Or early. I don't know which, but I've already been here too long as it is. Can I borrow your shirt?" "Sure. Take it." She expected him to protest and ask her to stay, and the fact that he didn't made her go ice cold. "Thanks." She stood, pulling the T-shirt over her head. Her skirt and mules followed, but when she took a step to leave, she felt like she might pass out. She leaned against the wall. "Man, you really knocked me out." When she glanced at him again, she found him buttoning his pants as he walked toward her. The concern on his face made her hands shake. 34
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"What's wrong?" "I told you I'm a little dizzy, but I can manage. I guess I'm a lot more tired than I thought." He said nothing, just continued to stare at her with that odd look in his eyes. "What is it, Jeremy?" "I'm sorry." That was the last thing she'd expected him to say. "For what?" "For everything. For making you sick." "You didn't. I'm just..." Everything came rushing back. She felt like she'd been under some sort of spell, and now it had been broken. She could think clearly again. "What are you?" He said nothing. "Normal humans can't do what you've shown me tonight." "You're wrong." "No, I'm not. Tell me, or I swear I'll walk out of here right now." He hesitated, moving across the room toward the shadows where he seemed to be more comfortable. "You're right to leave. You deserve better than me. I'm a fucking psychic parasite." "Excuse me?" "An energy vampire." She froze, her body going numb and her mind threatening to shut down. What the hell was he saying to her? "I don't understand. An energy vampire?" He nodded. "Are you sure you want to hear this?" 35
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She didn't have a choice. "I need to know." "I'm not like a vampire that feeds on blood. I feed on energy. On emotions. It's automatic. I can't help what my body takes." She glanced around, half-hoping to find a hidden camera. This was above and beyond what she would have expected, and she'd seen some strange things while she'd been with him. "But you've aged. I've seen you out in the sunlight." "I'm not immortal. Sunlight doesn't hurt me." But he did have more strength than an average man, given the way he'd torn her shirt from her body. For a little while tonight, she'd fancied herself in love with the man, but now she couldn't imagine being around him for another second. He wasn't what she'd always thought him to be. Wasn't ... normal. So close to him, she couldn't think straight. "This is too much. I can't handle it. I have to go." Without waiting for a response, she rushed outside into the night. **** Three weeks had passed since Jeremy had seen her. Three horrific, gruelling weeks where he'd all but waited by the phone, jumping every time the doorbell rang. Alexis hadn't tried to contact him, though. He should have expected this outcome. His parents had been right. Telling humans the truth only led to consequences. He'd made a mistake, and now he'd have to learn to live without her. He'd stepped out of his car and headed toward the house, grocery bags in hand, when another vehicle pulled up to the 36
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curb. The driver looked like Alexis, but he had to be seeing things. "A little too much wishful thinking lately," he muttered to himself. When the other driver got out of her car and rushed up the walkway toward him, he froze. It was Alexis. Happiness rose inside him, but he tamped it down. No sense getting his hopes up if she was only here to tell him she never wanted to see him again. "Hi," she said when she reached him. Anticipation filled her expression. "Hello, Alexis." "So formal." She reached up to stroke her fingertips down his cheek. "Aren't you happy to see me?" Shivering at the contact, he took her wrist and brought her hand to his lips, kissing her palm. "Maybe. First, tell me why you're here." She smiled then, the look in her eyes lightening. "I think I made a mistake." No, he was the one who'd made the mistake. If only he could take back everything he'd confessed, he might still have a chance at real happiness. But in all honesty, he'd done the right thing. If he wanted to be with her, wanted her to want him, he had to be truthful. "How do you figure?" "I shouldn't have walked out on you. I should have stayed and listened to what you had to say." She ran a hand through her hair, tucking a lock behind her ear. "What I'm trying to say is, I've spent the past few weeks alone thinking about what you said. It took me a while to accept the truth, but 37
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you're the same person now as you were before. I cared so much for you then, and really, nothing has changed. I'm sorry, and I'm ready to listen." Joy like he'd never felt before filled him. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her before she had a chance to change her mind. "Are you certain?" he asked when she pulled away. Alexis nodded. "I've been half in love with you all my life. The night we were together, I fell all the way. I didn't want to, but it happened. I tried to stay away, but you see how well that plan worked." He couldn't help the laugh that rumbled in his throat. "I've always loved you, but can you live with me the way I am? I can't become something I'm not." She darted her tongue out to wet her lips. "At first, I didn't think I could, but now, I know the truth. You've always been this way, I just didn't know it. Nothing has changed except you've trusted me with your secret. I got scared. I shouldn't have run out the way I did, but I want to see where this will go. It would be a shame not to take the chance." He smiled. He had to agree with her. Every word. "I've missed you. Do you want to come inside?" She nodded. "I'd like that. Maybe this time, we'll even make it to a bed." He gave her a gentle swat on her bottom. "We'll see about that."
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About Author Elisa grew up near Salem, Massachusetts, and has spent most of her life in the New England area. A long-time lover of all things paranormal, she began her writing career with horror stories and eventually branched into romance novels. Her favourite books to write, and read, are dark paranormals, ghost and vampire tales, which she intersperses with the occasional romantic comedy to keep things interesting. When she isn't writing, she can be found curled up on the couch with a book in her hands. Email:
[email protected] Elisa loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at www.totalebound.com
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