SharingTavi

SHARING TAVIA

BY

TIANNA XANDER

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 book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Fantasy Games — Sharing Tavia Copyright © 2007 Tianna Xander Coverart by Martine Jardin All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. Published by eXtasy Books 2006 Look for us online at www.extasybooks.com

To my husband, whose unfailing love and devotion made this story possible. I love you, too.

Sharing Tavia

T

wo years ago, Tavia Brezilla was considered one of the most beautiful women in the world. One car accident—not even her fault—screwed it all up. The other driver involved, was a visiting dignitary with diplomatic immunity. Somehow, she didn’t think that should cover drunken driving. She’d been living the good life, or so she thought. She’d had it all—a wonderful job modeling, a sexy vampire with looks to die for, for a mate… It all changed after the accident. Logan hadn’t left—he didn’t have to. They had a huge house so he’d moved his things into a spare bedroom ‘so she could have space because he didn’t want to hurt her.’ That move had hurt her more than the accident—that and his mental withdrawal. They’d been connected, mind to mind since the first time he’d taken her blood. But not now. She felt nothing from him these days unless his emotions were strong. Her heart and mind seemed so empty without the familiar 1

Tianna Xander touch of his thoughts to hers. He’d withdrawn from her when she’d struck out at him telling him she didn’t want him to feel her pain, her weakness. What hurt was he’d never linked minds with her again, even after the surgeries stopped. She could reach out and feel him if she tried, but he never entered her mind anymore and she didn’t know how to request him to re-establish their bond. What if he didn’t want to? She fisted her hands at her sides blinking back frustrated tears, irritated at herself because she couldn’t bring herself to ask. She wasn’t sure she could deal with the rejection if he chose to never bond with her again. For two long years they’d slept in separate bedrooms and lived separate lives. For those same two years, he’d not made one move toward her sexually. Maybe it was time she faced the facts and got on with her life. What was left of it. She dabbed at her eyes, careful not to smear her eyeliner. “I refuse to stay here wishing for dead dreams to come true,” she said, digging through her closet. It was time she stopped feeling sorry for herself and took control of her life. Getting dressed, she slipped on her favorite light-blue angora turtleneck, a pair of black slacks and her new knee high black boots. Running her fingers through her long blonde hair, she brushed it forward to hide the scar along the left side of her 2

Sharing Tavia face, slipped on her hooded jacket, and quietly left through the front door. He wouldn’t miss her, even if he was home… Tavia brushed the tears away such thoughts inevitably caused and waved down a taxi. “Take me to the best bar in town. I’m in the mood to party.” What she was in the mood for was to get drunk, and get a man drunk enough to think she was pretty enough to fuck. Her husband obviously didn’t desire her. With what little remained of their mental connection, she felt his surprise and anger when he’d found her missing. It was strange how she never realized he checked on her while she slept. She had no idea why he bothered. He may not be human, but he was a man, and her looks disgusted him. They had to. She sickened herself. It had already been too long since they’d made love for her to believe he hadn’t already found another woman to warm his bed. He used to make love to her every night. Sometimes several times a night—no man with that type of sexual appetite could withstand two years of abstinence. She ordered a drink and waited for him to arrive. He would be angry but he would hide it. Anger always made his eyes glow a bit. It wasn’t noticeable unless you knew what to look for. No, he would saunter into this bar like he hadn’t a care in the world, let her have her drinks, and carry her 3

Tianna Xander home. She bowed her head, contemplating another night in her lonely bed. Tavia stiffened when a man sat next to her—a very handsome man. And, if she wasn’t mistaken, he wasn’t quite human either. She could feel it. Her connection with her vampire husband changed her somehow. Dressed in jeans and cowboy boots, he looked every inch a cowboy, even the way his hat curled up at the edges like it had seen better days. His reddish blonde hair was pulled back in a short queue and the t-shirt he wore looked two sizes too small. But vampires had a feeling about them. Or an aura…it was almost as though they exuded sex and danger. The man looked like he could fuck a woman senseless then turn around and kill a man without lifting a finger. A mortal man, anyway. “Hiya, beautiful. Can I buy you a drink?” Beautiful? Tears started to fill her eyes. She blinked them away as she stared down into her drink. She kept herself busy twisting her glass, making the ring of moisture beneath it larger and larger. Logan may not have been as attentive as she would have liked, but she didn’t want him in a fight with another vampire. A pitiful part of her still loved the big jerk. She didn’t want him hurt. “Thanks, but I—I was just leaving.” She stood, threw a few bills on the counter and headed for the door. She twisted her hands in her coat when 4

Sharing Tavia she sensed him stand to pursue her. She couldn’t very well let him follow her home, so she went to the restaurant next door. Just as she thought, the man hadn’t taken no for an answer. He’d tagged along behind her like a hungry stray—or a horny one. A waitress approached when she slid into the booth just inside the door. She wasn’t surprised when the cowboy settled into the seat across from her. The waitress, a buxom redhead, ambled toward the table, swinging her hips so hard it was a wonder she didn’t throw her back out. She smiled at the cowboy, her gum snapping in her mouth as she chewed. “How can I help ya’ll?” she asked in a too sweet southern accent. Pulling her gaze from the cowboy, she looked Tavia over like a germ beneath a microscope, grimacing at the sight of her worst scar. The woman stared blatantly at the left side of Tavia’s face, now hideously exposed in the glaring light of the diner. With a cruel smirk, she turned her attention to the handsome man who made himself quite at home in the seat across from her. She took a deep breath and told herself it would be better if Logan found them sitting here than in the bar. He was on his way. She felt it. She couldn’t sense any anger though, and that was strange. Was he glad she’d left and now he could find her with another man and have an excuse to 5

Tianna Xander end it without feeling guilty? “Well, beautiful? What will you have?” The waitress barely covered her snort of derision at his endearment, but the man didn’t seem to notice. Maybe women only picked up on that type of insult. Who knows? Tavia flinched and tried not to notice how his thick bicep flexed when he reached across the table and brushed the hair back from her face, further exposing the scar that ran from her temple to her ear. The hideous line curved down her neck to end on her upper shoulder, just inside the neck of her sweater. “I—I’ll have a glass of milk and a bowl of chili.” She closed the menu and slid it toward the edge of the table. “I was sure you were going to order a salad.” He shook his head. “If you’d have ordered a salad I would have stood up and walked out of your life.” He spread his arms, grinned at her and winked. “But now you’re stuck with me.” The waitress turned her attention to Tavia’s uninvited companion and batted her eyes. “What’ll you have, gorgeous?” The woman leaned forward, her full breasts practically spilling from the too small uniform she’d squeezed into. “I can recommend something hot for dessert.” She winked at him and licked her lips suggestively before she straitened. She thrust her shoulders 6

Sharing Tavia back and her chest out, obviously trying to draw his attention to her oversized breasts. He barely spared a glance at the brazen woman as he ordered. “I’ll take a cup of coffee and steak very rare. Thirty seconds on the grill on each side and call it good.” He leaned forward, his elbows on the table. “Why do you keep looking toward the door, sweetheart? Expecting someone?” She nodded, nervously twisting her paper napkin until it was useless. “My husband.” He sat back, stuck his hands in his pockets. “And I should be worried?” “He’s like you.” “Like me?” He pulled his hands from his pockets and leaned forward to whisper, “What is that supposed to mean?” “You know very well what I mean. He’s a vampire, too,” Tavia whispered, surreptitiously keeping an eye on the whereabouts of their horny waitress. She wanted to make sure the other woman wasn’t close enough to overhear them. “I’d rather you two didn’t get into a fight or something when he finds us together.” “What would make him fight me, beautiful? Don’t forget. I can read your mind. I know what you think. How empty your home life has been. Perhaps he’s coming to give you to me. Would you like that?” He took one of her fisted hands in his and kissed her knuckles. “I can see through 7

Tianna Xander those scars to your heart. Can he?” He let her go, sat back and waited for her answer. “Or is that what you’re afraid of? The man you love giving you to another man. Is that what frightens you?” Was it? Was that what truly scared her? That Logan would give her up without a fight because she’d become so hideous he could barely stand to be in the same house with her? The scars on her face weren’t the only ones she had. She had them on her back, her stomach, the front of her neck. She wasn’t stupid. She knew she looked like a Raggedy Ann doll with all her seams in the wrong places. She stared out the window swallowing thickly as the waitress, whose nametag read Deb, returned with their orders. Deb slammed Tavia’s chili down in front of her, the hot thick soup threatening to slosh over the sides of the bowl before she turned toward the cowboy, her smile sweet as maple sugar. “Here’s your steak, honey. I hope you enjoy it.” She set the plate gently in front of the cowboy. “I timed them cookin’ it myself.” “I’m sure it’s fine,” he said, otherwise ignoring the waitress. He picked up his fork and knife. “You going to eat or just watch that congeal as it grows cold?” he asked, cutting into his steak and taking the first bloody bite with relish. “It really is better off the hoof,” he murmured after Deb sauntered away. “But dead cow is good too. It’s 8

Sharing Tavia better to leave it alive for dinner tomorrow, but when in Rome and all that…” He saluted her with his fork. “You have got to be the strangest vampire I’ve ever met.” She kept her tone low, since Deb couldn’t seem to stay away from their table. The woman kept bending over the booths on the other side, cleaning the seats and wiggling her ass toward them. The short skirt of the tight uniform rode up her thighs, exposing part of her ass and the fact that she wore a thong. I didn’t know they made butt floss that big, she thought cattily. Her companion almost choked on his steak and gurgled out a laugh. She scowled at the proof that he’d read her mind again. “What do you want? An old timer vamp? You’re in the wrong district for that. Besides, I was just turned about twenty years ago.” “Turned?” “Sure. You did know you could be turned, didn’t you?” He looked her over. “He didn’t offer? I mean after the accident.” He waved his fork at her face. “He didn’t offer to turn you? You would have healed faster, better. No scars. Don’t tell me he didn’t offer it to you.” She nodded. “He did.” “Then why didn’t you accept?” Tears ran down her face. “I don’t know. I guess I had some idealistic man in my head who would 9

Tianna Xander tell me everything would be all right. Someone who would say, the scars don’t matter because I love you.” She turned to look out the window to her right. The dark street was nearly empty. Everyone was either already home or still partying next door till closing time. “I was stupid.” She pushed her chili away, no longer hungry. “He never told you that?” Tavia shook her head. “He offered to turn me so I could heal without the scars. Then all I could think of was that he only wanted me because I was beautiful, not for me. I want him—”she sobbed, “—I need him to love me, for me.” She brought her hands to her chest before covering her face with her hands and wept. The door opened behind her and she felt her husband’s presence. He was upset, but she still no felt anger from him. Not the type she would have expected, anyway. The anger emanating from him felt directed at himself. “Hello, Darrin.” “Hiya, Logan. What brings you out so late?” “Your little tête-à-tête with my wife perhaps?” Tavia blew her nose into the napkin she’d pulled from the shiny metal holder on the table, then turned to face her husband. “You two know each other?” Logan stood in the doorway for a minute, a muscle ticking low on his jaw. He looked good. He 10

Sharing Tavia always did. His dark, almost black hair was short, barely brushing his collar, his blue eyes bored into hers, but they weren’t accusing. They were filled with something else…something different. He knelt next to her and took her hands in his. “I thought you knew how I felt about you. I never thought you needed to hear it. I’m a man, Tavi. Give me a break. If you want to live the rest of your life like that I’ll let you and I’ll stay by your side. I love you just as much today as I did before the accident. Maybe more. These scars,” he reached out to run his finger over her cheek, “show me you’re a strong woman, a fighter. They make me ashamed to even wonder if I would have the strength to live through what you’ve been through—all those surgeries and the pain.” He bowed his head for a minute before he stood and slid in next to her on the seat. Reaching up, he pushed the hair back from her face and pressed little kisses down the length of the scar. “You awe me with your strength, Tavi. I love everything about you. I always have.” He took her hand in his and pressed it against his rock-hard erection. “And I want you with everything in me, if you’re ready to have me. I don’t want to hurt you.” He brought her hand up and kissed the inside of her wrist. “But just this once, I want to give you something. So you know what I’m telling you—” He looked toward his friend, “—what we’re telling 11

Tianna Xander you is the truth. Your beauty isn’t skin deep. It never has been.” He stood, walked to the register and paid the bill. His gaze bored into the eyes of the mean spirited Deb. “You will never treat another woman with such disrespect.” She nodded, her eyes glazed over. When he turned, Darrin had stood and offered her his hand. She took it, hesitantly, constantly keeping her senses open to Logan’s emotions. Logan joined them, took her other hand and they led her through the door. A black limo waited at the curb and Darrin climbed in, followed by Logan who pulled her gently into his lap. The two men sat close together. It was a bit strange, considering how large the interior of the vehicle was. Darrin leaned over and whispered, “May I?” She wasn’t sure whose permission he asked, but it was Logan who answered. “Yes, you may. Like I told you before, I want her to know how beautiful she is, regardless of her scars.” Before she could protest, before she even knew his intentions, Darrin’s lips were on hers, gently begging entrance to her mouth. Do it. Logan urged, finally re-establishing their bond. Tonight you will know you are beautiful if I have to bring a dozen of my friends to you. She opened her mouth, allowing Darrin to kiss 12

Sharing Tavia her, his tongue sliding against hers as she sat on her husband’s lap. She wound one arm around Logan and one around Darrin’s neck as her tongue sparred with Darrin’s, and Logan’s hands kneaded her breasts. Logan’s mind filled her with warmth and love, as guilt settled in her gut, and she decided she couldn’t do this to him. Besides, they were in the back of a limo for goodness sake! Even with no lights and the dark window separating them from the driver, she felt so…exposed. As soon as the thought formed and she pulled away, they stopped in the drive of an expensive hotel. Tavi stumbled from the limo as fast as she could, still drunk from Darrin’s kiss and confused that her husband did nothing about it but hold her on his lap and fondle her breasts. Stunned, she let them lead her to a suite, where once ensconced in its decadent luxury—where champagne, chocolate covered strawberries and canapés awaited them—she turned to look at them, a frown on her face. “Who the hell are you and what have you done to Logan?” she asked pressing at his chest. He laughed. “I’m proving to you that you are beautiful.” “No, you’re not. You’re proving to me I’m horny. That’s about it.” She paced back in forth in front of them, unsure of what to do next. Could 13

Tianna Xander she make it past them to the door? They’d both lost their minds! Another step and her boots disappeared off her feet. “What the—” She looked down at her feet. “Put those back!” They shook their heads. “Not until you believe you are beautiful, just the way you are,” they said in unison. Oh, god. How could she fight them and their vampire magic? Logan seemed bound and determined to let this man see every one of her ugly scars. “At—at least turn off the lights,” she whispered, pleaded, as she trembled before them in her almost bare feet and wondered what article of clothing she’d lose next to their paranormal powers. Her jacket went next. It exposed her in her favorite baby blue turtleneck. It also exposed the fact that she wasn’t wearing a bra beneath it. Her nipples pebbled. She wanted to say it was from the cold of the room, but she couldn’t lie to herself. She might be scared, but a part of her burned to know what they had planned for her. And still another part was ashamed to show them her body. “The lights please, Logan,” she begged, tears trembling on her lashes. She dashed them away, determined to try to be the strong woman Logan claimed to love. 14

Sharing Tavia The lights dimmed a bit but stayed on. “That’s it, my love. I want to see you as I make love to you. Darrin wants to see you as he makes love to you. We both want to see your incredible blue eyes darken to cobalt when you come. We want to feel your unbelievable mouth on our cocks while you look up at us with those amazing eyes. I want to see the fullness of your breasts, your pink nipples hard and perched atop them like ripened cherries as we caress your body and bring you to your pleasure. No, Tavi, the lights will dim no more.” “Oh, my god, I don’t believe this is happening.” He was going to just stand by and let a strange man make love to her? If that’s what it takes, baby. Both men began to remove their clothes. It brought tears to her eyes. They were beautiful. Logan’s looks always moved her. She loved the way he looked with his darkly tanned muscular body, mahogany hair and blue eyes. She hungrily stared at every body part as he exposed it, wanting this, wanting him. It was when Darrin began to undress that she began to worry. They were serious! They were really going to make love with her and they were both ready, if the evidence standing at full-mast at their crotches was any indication at all. Omigod, omigod, omigod! 15

Tianna Xander She squeezed her eyes shut when she noticed a drop of clear fluid drizzle down the length of Darrin’s cock. He was a stranger for goodness sake, and all she could think of was dropping to her knees in front of him and taking his lovely erection into her mouth while he stared down at her with his chocolate colored eyes. She wanted his hands fisted in her hair as he watched her take his length into her mouth. “Then do it,” Logan said. He was now fully naked, his thigh muscles bunching and releasing as he moved to sit in the chair by the window. “I want to see you do it,” his voice was husky again. The way it always got when he was very aroused. He really wanted to see her giving head to another man? “Oh, yes, angel.” His hand moved to his own erection and began to stroke himself. Again, he flooded her mind with warmth and love and she moved closer to Darrin who stood in front of the bed, naked and awaiting her decision. Lowering herself to her knees, she wondered just when Logan had planned this. Should she be mad, or glad, that he loved her enough to bring in a third to make her feel beautiful? Reaching up, she cupped Darrin’s sac and he barely suppressed a groan. His hands clenched at his sides as she got the impression that he wanted to bury his fingers in her hair and pull her closer. 16

Sharing Tavia Her fingers trembling, she wrapped her other hand around the base of his shaft and smoothed her tongue over the glistening trail that led down over his most prominent vein. He did groan then, and finally buried his fingers in her hair. His hands tightened, his nails digging into her scalp as she moved her tongue along the moist head, circling the most sensitive spot. He gasped, his hips jerking in response to her ministrations as she finally took him fully into her mouth. “God, that’s good,” he panted. She looked up at him, unable to resist. His thighs and stomach muscles clenched as she moved her mouth over his length. His hips jerked involuntarily as she hit the obvious hypersensitive spot, just below the head. Her right hand, still cupped his tight sac, gently squeezing the sensitive spheres. His fingers tightened in her hair just to the point of pain as she continued to move her mouth along his length. His hips began to move rhythmically, driving his length in and out of her greedy mouth. “Does a man desire an ugly woman this way?” Logan asked, moving behind her to gently massage her body with scented oil. His hands moved over her back and shoulders, then slowly circled her waist to slide over her stomach and 17

Tianna Xander breasts. It wasn’t until then that she realized all of her clothes were gone. God she hated it when he used that vampire magic of his on her. She fought the urge to pull away and cover her scars. She merely closed her eyes and let herself imagine she was her old self as he continued to rub the oil in places he never had before. His fingers slid over her rear, moving into the crease until he inserted one finger, then another into her anus. She groaned, wriggling down over his fingers. She pressed herself down as her mouth continued to move faster over Darrin’s cock. Darrin stilled, his breaths coming in short gasps as he prevented her mouth from moving over his massive shaft. “Damn, baby. You’re going to have to stop before I come and miss what I’m here for. I so want to fuck you up your tight little ass,” he breathed onto her lips as he bent to kiss her. Logan pulled her from their embrace and turned her in his arms. “Your pussy is mine, love. If we make a baby tonight, I want to be the daddy, honey.” He pulled her up from her knees, kissing his way up her body, kissing every pucker, every scar. He suckled her breasts, nibbling and biting her flesh as his sharp incisors lightly scratched her skin before he laved away the slight sting. “Wrap your legs around my waist, baby.” She did what he asked when he lifted her in his 18

Sharing Tavia arms, settling herself over his hard shaft. “God, Logan, you feel so huge. It’s—it’s been so long. So damned long…” She buried her face in his neck, and sobbed onto his shoulder. He cupped her rear, slowly lowering her over his cock until the head of his penis touched her womb. He was so big, she was sure she’d climax as soon as he moved. “Not yet, baby,” he said as he leaned forward to lave her damaged cheek. He reached between them, thumbed her clit and she screamed her first climax. Something told her there would be many this night before they finished with her. “You’re so wet, and with the oil, so slick, I think I’ll come before I even move inside you.” He chuckled. “It seems so unfair. I’ve waited so long for you, baby. I so need to feel your heat wrapped around me.” He reached out and grabbed her rear, pulled the cheeks of her ass apart and she stiffened when she felt the head of Darrin’s cock pressing at her back entrance. “Relax, love. Just relax,” Logan whispered. “Darrin will go slow and easy. He’ll be in before you know it.” “I can’t—” she gasped. “I can’t take two of you.” Darrin stopped his entrance immediately. “Do you want me to stop, beautiful?” He kissed her shoulder, his lips moving up to her neck. 19

Tianna Xander Dear god, what a decision. She shook her head. “No. Don’t stop.” She pushed back, driving Darrin a bit deeper inside her until he began to push into her again. Logan stood, holding her, her legs wrapped firmly around his waist. His teeth gritted together and she wondered for a moment if he was angry that she’d allowed it. Never that, my love. It’s just that you’re so tight and every inch Darrin moves deeper, you get tighter and tighter. You can feel him, can’t you? She asked as Darrin moved deeper, stretching her beyond what she’d originally thought she could endure. He backed out, and thrust in a bit deeper, a little at a time, until she couldn’t stand it anymore. “Please…” Yes I can feel him and it’s killing me not to move. You were tight before. Now, your pussy is clamped down on me like a vise and the thin barrier between your beautiful pussy and your ass does nothing to shield my cock from the sensation of Darrin’s movements. “Do you like it, baby?” Logan asked. She moaned and gave a little embarrassed nod, her cheeks burning with mortification because she loved everything they’d done so far and wanted more and they both knew it. They could read her mind. Logan’s asking was only a courtesy. Logan pulled out a bit when Darrin settled deeper inside her. He glanced back at Darrin and gave a little nod. Immediately they started a slow rhythm that immediately had her screaming out 20

Sharing Tavia with another orgasm. Logan leaned down to suckle her breasts and Darrin reached around to circle her clit with his fingers. Her toes tingled. Her body tightened into one taut muscle. She threw her head back and screamed again. It was a wonder someone hadn’t called the police, thinking something sinister was happening in the room. Darrin finally had mercy and squeezed her clit between his fingers pulling on the swollen nub while they both moved deep inside her. It sent her over the edge of another mind-blowing orgasm that left her hanging limp in their arms—and still they hadn’t come. “Do you believe you’re beautiful now?” Logan asked. “Do you believe I’d make love with you like this, if I cared one damn bit about those scars? Would you allow me...” he glanced back at Darrin, “…allow us to change you. To make you like us? Cause, baby, I can’t imagine another night not spent in your arms. Either way, darlin’. You choose.” He pulled her to him and leaned his forehead against hers. “Scarred or not, after tonight, you’re not keeping me from your bed. You won’t keep me from kissing every inch of your delectable body ever again.” “Will it hurt?” she asked, a bit scared now that she was seriously thinking about it. They both chuckled and answered at the same time. “Honey, I can promise you it will be 21

Tianna Xander orgasmic.” They began to move inside her again and she groaned. “Logan. I’m not sure I can come again. I feel it there, but…” “Shh…” he pressed a kiss to her lips. “Trust me. You can.” She was afraid she could and it would kill her. Her heart already felt like it was about to explode from her chest. Darrin’s hands slid around to her front, his fingers unerringly found her nipples, squeezing and pulling as they continued to alternately drive into her. She heard a deep, guttural groan and was surprised to realize it was her. She let her head fall back onto Darrin’s shoulder as they both began to suckle her neck. She knew the orgasmic effect their feeding would have on her—she’d just never expected them both to feed at the same time. Her body stiffened and jerked as they sank their teeth into her neck at almost the same instant. There was no pain as they continued to pump their hard cocks inside her, sharing their pleasure and elation through their bond. Her next climax exploded. It was as though a million prisms of light suddenly burst from under her skin to fly into the universe as the two men finally came within her. Logan and Darrin both shot hot jets of come straight into her body. She 22

Sharing Tavia could do no more than feel her own continued climax as ropes of their thick seed shot into her, filling her. Her head lolled back on Darrin’s chest as Logan cut their thumbs and pressed them together. “Now you are one of us…” his words trailed off as her blood mixed with his and her world tilted on its axis and she slumped into an exhausted slumber. **** Tavia woke from her wonderful dream and stretched. She was in her bed, in her home, just as she thought she would be. A lone tear ran down her face when she realized that what had happened had only been a beautiful dream. Today she would find the strength to begin her life anew. She would pack her things and tell Logan goodbye. He deserved so much more than she’d become. Sitting up, she pushed the heavy comforter back and padded over to her closet to pull out her suitcase. She’d kept one packed at all times when she was working and it was still full. She hedged on whether she should take the time to remove the stale out of style clothes or just hurry out the door. She opted for the former. She couldn’t just run around in musty clothes. Even in her condition, it 23

Tianna Xander wasn’t her style. Pulling off her nightgown as she walked toward the bathroom, she dropped it in the hamper and kept going. Maybe she’d feel better about this decision to finally leave Logan after a nice hot shower woke her up. It wasn’t until she was in the large bathroom, surrounded by the mirrors she’d come to hate, that she realized she hadn’t dreamt what happened at all. Her tousled blonde hair hung about her shoulders in long waves, her lips were very pink and swollen, proof that she’d been loved long and well, and when she pushed her hair back with trembling fingers, large blue eyes stared back her, unbelieving that the scar was gone. She looked down at her neck, and stomach—all of them were gone. Leaning closer, she saw the tiny crow’s feet she’d noticed forming at the corners of her eyes no longer existed. It was as though she’d grown younger, along with losing her scars. Tears filled her eyes as she slid her hands down over her smooth skin, no longer riddled with puckers or lines and she wondered how conceited and weak a woman she was, that she couldn’t live with them. “But you could have lived with them. Don’t feel guilt because you are flawless again, love. You were always beautiful. I’ve never felt otherwise.” 24

Sharing Tavia Logan stood in the doorway leaning against the jam, his feet crossed at the ankles. Darrin smiled behind him. “It’s only natural for a woman to want to look her best for the man she loves.” “Do you think that’s it? You don’t think I’m shallow for wanting this?” “Never, love. I could never think that of you.” Logan moved into the bathroom and grinned. “Now how about that shower? I have some interesting ideas.” Darrin followed him into the bathroom, wearing nothing but a wicked smile. “Me too.”

25

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tianna Xander is the author of several paranormal, time-travel and science fiction romance novels, including Virgin’s Blood available now at eXtasy Books. She loves reading everything from romance novels, murder mysteries and encyclopedias, to handbooks on solar energy. Tianna is the first to admit she spends far too much time surfing the internet and chatting with her online friends and critique groups. Having written four novels and working on at least one more at any given time — Tianna still finds time for her family, friends and her many pets. She currently lives in Michigan with her husband, two children, a pair of cats, two big dogs and one occasionally terrorized Netherland Dwarf bunny. Her life is anything but boring.