Tower Of Loneliness

Tower Of Loneliness By Carys Weldon

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.

Tower of Loneliness Copyright  2004 Carys Weldon ISBN: 1-55410-119-0 Cover art and design 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, a division of Zumaya Publications, 2004 Look for us online at: www.zumayapublications.com www.Extasybooks.com

Dedication: To my husband Tony, the great lover in my life—the man that taught me everything I know about making love!

Tarot: The Tower Description: A large tower is struck by lightning, flames roar out of its windows and a man and woman are thrown from its heights, toppling to the ground. Association: The Tower is associated with the number sixteen and the astrological planet of Mars. Positive Meaning: Exhilarating change and transformation. Your life is about to be turned upside down. This may seem disruptive and even violent at first, but such change is necessary for it brings freedom and enlightment. Negative Meaning (reversed): Violent and sudden change resulting in personal loss. This card reversed can also mean imprisonment, either mental and physical. Matters cannot be improved immediately but freedom will come eventually at a cost. You're looking at the Tower of Loneliness, right? It is for the Major Arcana--Tower Card--card number sixteen, which is ruled by Mars. So, forget the fact that the story starts with a tarot reading fortune teller named MARSy, who foresees a man being lonely in a tower with sixteen floors that has a fire safety issue... And you'll see that HER life is turned upside down in one night when she has sex with two men-(separate events). It releases her from her virginal imprisonment, takes her seven years to improve the whole mindset situation and go find the two men

again--who've basically been on her mind all that time. With thoughts of revenge for one... she never suspects that the freedom from that night will finally come when she confronts the one she ran away from-the one who was ready to commit--even then. In short, Marsy really had to change, transform herself, and come back around again to not be afraid of what Josh offered.

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Introduction Renaissance Faire, St. Bonaventure University hovered around the drama club booth most of Josh the day. It was the hit of the faire, and Marsella Garcia was the prime time key feature—dressed as a fortunetelling gypsy hag. He’d done her stage makeup. He’d picked her costume. He’d selected the tarot decks she used. And he’d watched every move she made. He circled her repeatedly, like a male dog watching his mate come into heat. She was a tease and she had him dripping in want, but Marsy didn’t seem to notice him. At least, not like that. Like a bitch not yet ready…she turned her back on him time and time again. Busy playing her part. Focused on the clientele. She was a little too real. Her gypsy heritage was demonstrating in full spades. And damned if she didn’t play the part like she’d been taken over by her great-great grandmother Gypsy Ginny. The fact that she really was psychic had spread. The 1

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history…fortunes…she was giving out were right on the money. People were lining up like ants at a spilled sugar buffet.

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Chapter One

M

arsy rarely had a break, and those were brief necessity runs. Her quick hikes, with her long skirt in hand--yanked up to her knees, were worth waiting around for, kidding her about. Worth filing away. And they were getting Josh even hotter under his ruffed collar. Josh knew he had to get away before he did something to mess up their friendship. Like throw her down, push her skirt up even farther and fuck her like a rapist. Geez, all he could think of was the smell of her, climbing inside, collapsing on top of her. It wasn’t helping that she’d shed the underskirt on one trip to the bathroom and passed it off to him with a flip, “Hold this for me, Josh. I was getting a little too hot down under, if you know what I mean.” Lifting a sardonic brow, he’d grabbed it and said with amusement, “Don’t tease me, Marsy. A man can only stand so much.” Totally unaware of the effect she was having on him, and a little distracted, she said, “What? Sit down, then. I’m telling you, it makes your buns sweat.” He’d laughed, but yeah, his buns were sweating 3

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just at the thought of her taking off her undergarments…one at a time. Sure enough, the pantaloon-style knickers came off on the next trip. “Geez, Josh. Take this, would you?” He’d looked over at the porta-privy door and asked, “What goes on in there? Every time you go in, you come out with less on.” “It’s freaking hot in there. That’s all I can say.” “It’s getting hot out here, too.” He tugged at his ruffle collar. Then he lifted his surcoat, exposing his washboard abdomen, hoping she’d key in on it. Well, that or the fact that every time she got near, he got turned on. Did she notice his erection? How could she miss the bulge in his pants every time they were together? He wanted nothing more than to strip down, get naked, and raise her temperature to its limits. Marsy’s gaze dropped. She pretended to clean her nails. Covertly she eyed the swirl of hair that rose up the center of his belly between his navel and the top of his low-slung, drawstring Renaissance pants. Noting that, Josh slid the tips of his fingers just inside the waistband and scratched idly, itching to reach further in and take hold of his interest. She averted her eyes, fanned herself. “Damn, it’s hot.” Reaching into the scoop neck of her top to adjust her bra strap, she said, “I think I’ll strip this bra next. Strap keeps slipping.” She got the high sign to get back inside. “Oops. The masses are grumbling. Gotta go.” Sure enough, next trip to the privy, the bra came 4

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off. Wadded up in a bunch, she passed it to him, mumbling, “Sorry, Josh. I don’t know where to put it. Can’t hardly hang it over the crystal ball. Can you keep track of it until I’m done with this whole thing?” He looked at the lacy, light blue fabric she’d handed him. He asked, “How hot could this be? There’s not much to it.” Marsy’s husky laugh rained over him. “That’s what makes it hot, Josh. Geez. Get a clue, would you?” She was gone again. Behind the curtains. In a tent that had a corner filled with satin flat sheets and pillows. The genie’s bottle. At least, that was the effect they’d been going for. “What kind of clue do you want me to get?” He yelled it after her. All he wanted was…something. Some sign. Anything to say that she was serious. Her head peeked back through the curtain and she said, “If I have to tell you….” Goosed from behind, she giggled and said, “Gotta zip. Lena’s getting nasty back here.” Goosed again, she squealed and disappeared.

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Chapter Two

L

ena. Marsy’s best friend. Or…the potty break fillin faker, as she billed herself. Le slipped out a second later, took one look at the bra in his hand and lifted an eyebrow. “And she called me nasty.” She grinned. Josh tucked the lace into his pocket and said, “She’s gonna kill me, Le.” He adjusted himself without any pretense to hiding it. Lena looked down. His arousal was definitely noticeable. “You need to tell her how you feel, Josh.” She hooked an arm through his and leaned her head against his shoulder. “You two are making me tired just watching your foreplay.” He shook his head. “If I told her what I think about every time I’m near her, she’d shoot me. Or, at the very least, walk away and never look back. She doesn’t think of me like that. I’m the guy she says, “Here, hold this,” to. She wouldn’t give her bra to one of the frat guys.” Disparaged he said, “I’m under no illusions here, Le. She’d leave me sure as shit if I opened my mouth.” Lena sighed before spouting the old cliché “It’s 6

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better to have loved and lost…” With an impish grin, she added, “Maybe you should tell her what you’d like to do with your mouth.” She tapped his lips. “Use that tongue, Josh. Tease her a little.” “She’s got me tongue-tied.” Josh’s chest tightened. “I just wish I could hold her. Not say a word. You know, show her how I feel.” He wasn’t talking about a one-time thing, either. He wanted to have her in his bed forever. Lena encouraged him. “Take a chance, Josh. You might be surprised. I mean, geez.” She pulled away from him. “You two have been dancing around each other for ages. She doesn’t look like she’s going anywhere to me.” Reaching with familiarity to tug on the bra strap that was spilling out of his pants, she said, “Besides, how much does the girl have to give you…to get the point across that she’s interested?” Josh defended Marsy. “I’m just holding it for her. She has no—” “You’re a fool, Josh. Isn’t that your card?” Earlier, when they were getting the booth ready, Lena had passed him The Fool card out of a tarot deck when he’d missed an opportunity with Mars. She was forever urging him to make a move. He bit his lower lip. They both knew it was. And they both also knew he was working from the reverse. Taking everything slowly. They’d talked about it a hundred times. “I think the only thing I can say is…if you don’t get your shit together, Josh, Uranus is going to be your calling card.” “Ha. For a student of the tarot, who has it all 7

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memorized, how come you’re so lousy at it?” Flippantly, she shrugged. “Maybe I’m not as bad as you think. After all, I saw you coming. I pointed Mars in your direction. And what did you do? Wasted it.” Her lip curled a little over that. “I haven’t wasted anything. We have a good, solid, friendship.” “That’s the problem. She has no idea that you’re really interested in anything but that. She’s tired of waiting. She’s getting desperate.” When he didn’t say anything to that, she added, “Read Marsy’s cards, Josh. She’s losing her virginity tonight. She’s getting rid of it one way or another.” Josh tensed, his gaze narrowed on Lena. “Did she read her own and see that or did you—” She smiled, “Better get your act together.” Josh reiterated his biggest worry, “She’ll leave me. She’ll turn her back on me.” Lena groaned, rolled her eyes and mumbled, “You snooze, you loose, bozo,” as she walked away.

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Chapter Three looked toward the tent, pining, really. Marsy Josh had no idea that he was in love with her. That every time he got near her, he got hard up. His cock was aching, dripping, begging for release. When she found out that he wanted more, she’d walk away. She’d get scared. He just knew it. He reached in his pants and adjusted himself, squeezed. How could she not know how he felt? Maybe he’d put up too good a front? He’d read his own cards. That had been his big mistake. They’d scared him. Marsy was going to break his heart. And she was going to turn her back on him. He was blocking as much as he could, just to keep the moment at bay. Buying time with her. Keeping her around just a little bit longer. Falling under her spell more and more with every breath she took, every tease she made. Could she have been doing it on purpose? Trying to provoke a response? Maybe he really was a fool. Pulling his hand out of his pants, he glanced at his watch. Breaks excluded, every two hours, he exchanged her cards for her. It was almost time for 9

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another switch. He went back to the table where they kept them and sorted through. As his hand hovered over the flowery deck with fairies, he felt a certainty that it was the one she wanted. Josh closed his eyes. The impression was strong. So strong that he picked up the deck and shuffled. What card was calling to be read? He knew when he found it. The hair on the back of his neck stood up. He flipped it. The Magician. If he read it for himself, it was pretty apt. In reverse, it represented his procrastination, his indecisiveness. He went to slide it back in the deck, then hesitated. What could it mean for Mars? That she should go after her goals? He had to wonder…did she really want to lose her virginity before midnight? Or was Lena just pushing him again? Le came back from the drink booth next door. “Thirsty?” She handed him a soda. Popping the top of the can, taking a long draw, he eyed her over the top. “What?” Making up his mind, he said, “I’m going to have to take a break for awhile. Pretty soon.” Fidgeting, he looked away. “Got to get ready. Maybe unload my gun so it doesn’t go off before—” Lena wrinkled her nose, interrupting his talk about masturbation. He’d told her plenty of times that he did it often because of Marsy. To keep from embarrassing himself in front of her. He was always hot for the girl, went around with a constant wet spot and steel-hard erection most of the time. Josh had been hoping that 10

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she’d somehow manage to point out his needy state to Mars, but so far, Marsy hadn’t let on that she’d noticed. Lena said, “Those guys haven’t shown up. The ones you set up with the joke? What do you want me to do?” “Just keep an eye on Mars. I won’t be gone long. Don’t let her go anywhere.” Lena grinned. “You’re taking my advice, aren’t you? I mean… really.” He smiled, too. “Yeah. I think so.” “What are you gonna do? What’s your plan? I set up the tent for this, you know.” “I hadn’t thought of that.” He had. But not seriously. Josh hated to hope too hard. “What were you thinking, then?” “Well, for one, I’m taking her slip, bloomers and bra back to my place. That way I’ll have an excuse to get her up there…where we can have some privacy.” He took another sip of the soda. “So, uh, yeah. I’m going to go for it…I think.” Frowning, Lena looked down at the arrangement of tarot decks they had. “Which one are you going to take her next?” “I think she wants this one.” He lifted the fairies. “Stop giving her what you think she wants, Josh. That’s your problem.” She tapped another. “Try this one.” It was a dark, erotic deck. All the characters were naked. “Let her know you’re on the same wavelength, subliminal messagery and all that.” He chuckled. “Nah.” He picked up a romantic one. “How about this?” 11

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Lena’s lips screwed up and she stared down at the rest of the decks with him. She shrugged and walked away again, “Suit yourself. It’s your life, not mine.” Her comment worried Josh. So, he stuck around a little while longer, rearranging the tarot decks repeatedly, trying to think out a line of approach, vacillating again and again over which one to hand her next. A variety of decks on standby seemed to help with the energy flow. Kept things fresh. Maybe relieved her boredom? For the first time all day, Josh wasn’t sure what to give her. In the end, he went back to the romantic deck. It was the message he wanted to convey. He got glimpses of her pretty often as the curtain opened and shut between customers. He calculated how long it would take him to get back to his place, set out some candles, light a little incense… Occasionally, Marsy waved at him, or winked or called out to him. Or worse, gave him the widetoothed gypsy grin. He couldn’t wait to get her out of that make-up. Josh made up his mind once and for all. Lena was right. He needed to take a chance. He needed to stop toying with the idea and just do it. He waited for the curtain to push aside again. Tapping his foot nervously, he wondered what on earth she was telling her latest customer. He knew what he was going to tell her. That he was gonna be gone—just for a few. He’d do it as soon as she got a little restless, gave him the sign that she was bored with the deck she had. 12

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Marsy didn’t appear bored. Time dragged for Josh, made his stomach turn. She smiled at everyone, showing off the blacked-out teeth he’d worked magic with over her fine and even supermodel smile. The end result was a little eerie. The fact that he wanted to make love to her, even in hag costume, annoyed him a bit. He had it bad for her. His frustration had him eyeing every male ticket buyer menacingly, just in case they got a similar idea. He put the mental whammy on most of them, too. Things were going okay. Until…she finally wrinkled his nose and called, “Josh! Help me out. This deck’s gone limp.” Her choice of words combined with his cold feet and he just grabbed the first deck his fingers came to. Handing her the erotic-looking set of cards on the first break after darkness fell, he said, “Why don’t you try these then, Mars?” She took one look at them and tried to hand them back, complaining, “I was going to use…” The pretty ones with flowers and fairies. When it came to stuff like that, he could definitely read her mind. Well, he couldn’t really. He just knew what she liked. Josh wrapped his fingers around hers and the deck, willing her to look him in the eye. “I have a feeling about these cards—Mars.” Well, he was relying on Lena’s feelings, anyway. She wouldn’t steer them wrong, would she? Josh stared into Marsy’s eyes as he elaborated on the cards. “Pivot point in our little world. For everyone at the fair.” He smiled. “The stars are lining up above us.” He winked, then joked, “Mars is in the 13

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house.” When she wrinkled her nose over his sense of humor and tried to push the cards at him again, he grinned bigger. “Why don’t you just do as you’re told? Make me happy?” Fluttering, long, black lashes lifted, revealing the depth of Marsy’s ebony eyes. She smiled. She flirted, “Is that what makes you happy, Josh? A woman who does as she’s told?” He laughed. “That… and the fact that she’s a good actress and doesn’t let me see when she’s miserable.” “Great. Buck up. Suck up. I got it.” Both of them stood there, envisioning the reality of her words. He wanted nothing more than for her to drop to her knees, undo his pants, take him in her hands… and begin sucking. The image made him groan, shake his head for clearance. He was pretty sure she didn’t get it. But he wanted to give it to her. She distracted him from his thinking when she arched her back a second later, stretching, bringing her breasts a few inches closer to him. Her head fell backward and her eyes closed for a minute. So beautiful. So sexy. He wanted to drop to her feet, worship her, push her skirt up, bury his face against her lower lips, tonguing her, lapping and licking her until she swooned. She let out a little sigh, and a half groan, expressing the pleasure of her stretch. Josh shook himself. “Want to go through the lines with me again?” He was referring to the joke he’d set up. Some jerks from one of the Frats were coming by. 14

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It was all part of the campus Renaissance Faire activities. They went around the booths and got pieces of info, lines to riddles and rhymes and had to put it together to win the most points. A little disappointed that the lustful moment, so real, had been interrupted, Marsy said through tight lips, “Nope. I know the riddle. I know the rhyme. Bring in the suckers—any old time.” It was their drama club joke. Repeated before every skit, every performance, and most of the practices. She turned her back on him. He thought she was irritated with him for some reason. And she was. He just didn’t get it. Reaching out for her before she got away from him altogether, he turned her back to him and said, “That’s my girl.” He kissed her. “For luck!” Her stunned expression had him adding, “Break a leg, Mars. The big act is yet to come.” And he walked away. This time, he actually left the booth.

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Chapter Four soon as his back was turned, she grimaced. She Aseyed his retreating back until he slipped around a corner. Then she muttered, “Break a leg. That’s original.” She was discouraged, to say the least. The kiss had been a peck. A no-hoper as far as she was concerned. Break a leg. A peck. She made a face. She wondered aloud, “Couldn’t he see my nipples through my top? What’s it going to take to get his attention?” She looked down at herself, feeling a definite lack of self-esteem. “Maybe I just don’t have it. Give up, Mars.” She tucked her blouse into the waistband of her skirt. She hated the unbecoming costume, but she’d been suckered into the whole get-up on a bet and damned if she wasn’t going to stick it out, even if it killed her. Lena yelled, “Oh, yoooohoooo. The cattle are stomping their feet. I think they’ll stampede if you don’t get back in here.” Marsy was worn out. Disparaged. Pouting, she went in and took her place again. Lena sensed her mood immediately. “Listen, witch. Pull it together. I just got word. The bulls are heading 16

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toward the corral.” Mars looked at her, fighting the stupid grin. “What happened to you? Some cowboy type sweet-talk you or something? I feel like I’ve stepped into the Alamo.” Lena winked. “Just thought you needed a laugh.” Marsy rolled her shoulders. “I need something. I’m pretty sure that isn’t it.” Despite the fact that the line was lengthening, and people were starting to get loud, Lena’s concern for her friend came to the fore. “Stop giving them the real thing, Mars. You’re looking trashed.” Lena moved toward the curtains separating the crowd from the fortune room. Peeking out, she said, “It’s not like they take you seriousl—” Marsy was definitely drooping. Licking her lips, looking bleak, she interrupted, “How much longer before I can take another break? A real one?” For some reason, the minute Josh left the booth, her energy levels had bombed. Lena bit her lip, glanced outside again and said, “Look. There’s this pompous ass type and his buddies out there. A bunch of them. I think they’re the bulls. You know, the frat guys we’ve been waiting for.” She paused, pursing her lips while she squinted through the curtain. “Mm, mm. We really ought to hit some of those frat parties. Mars. Mmhm.” Marsy’s head came up from the deck of cards she was looking over. Nudists, every one. “Oh. This is great timing. I should shoot Josh, you know.” Lena looked surprised. “Why?” She waved a card at her. “Naked cards, just in time for—” 17

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Lena’s face told Marsy immediately that she had a hand in that. “Sorry, chick. I was trying to help out. You know, plant a seed in the boy’s head. Told him to think naked.” Marsy dropped the cards to the table. “You told him…” “Hey! What’s holding up the show? We got things to do!” The voice outside was a bellowing football player, no doubt. Lena said, “Look. You give these guys the big reading and then I’ll put the sign out. You can get up, walk around for a bit and come back for fake fortunes. Or call it a night. The real thing takes too much out of you. You should do like me.” She giggled. “I told the last guy that he was going to break out in zits and look like he had the chicken pox for the rest of the semester.” Marsy glanced over at the tip jar. “Bet he didn’t leave you an extra buck.” Lena didn’t seem to mind. “He gave me a tip. Told me not to quit my day job.” “Cliché.” Marsy rolled her eyes. “Did you say, touché?” She giggled, “Nope. Told him where I worked. He offered to pick me up when I got off shift tomorrow night. Could pan out. I’m excited.” “Aah. Is that what excitement looks like?” “You should take advantage of your opportunities here, Mars. I feel one coming for you.” Lena shivered purposefully. “And what? Dazzle them with my smile?” Marsy flashed the blacked-out teeth again. “I think Josh 18

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effectively cut my chances of getting dates when he did this.” She pointed at her mouth. “You know why he did it, don’t you?” “Because I lost the bet. I’m under no illusions, Le. And don’t get my hopes up.” Lena rolled her eyes. “You are so fucking blind for being the all-seeing gypsy.” Marsy didn’t want to hear the lecture again. Lena had this stupid idea that Josh had a thing for her— in her head— for months. Like he returned her lust. Hardly. His quick kiss, “For luck!” came to mind again. Nah. He wasn’t harboring anything more than friendship for her. And she needed to just face it and give up on that. Inhaling deeply, steeling herself for the next customer, Marsy announced, “I am getting tired.” She flexed her fingers. “Tired?” Lena let out a little laugh. “You’re starting to look the part, Mars. For real.” “Oh. Thanks, Le. That’s just what I needed to hear. Boost my spirits before the good-looking frat guys come in.” Lena shrugged, “What are friends for? I mean, if I can’t tell you the truth…” “This make-up looks real, huh?” Marsy touched the edge of her face, where the gray wig met the convincing foundation of a wrinkled old woman’s face. Lena screwed up her nose. “Josh did a great job. You really do look like a hag.” Marsy had heard enough. She knew she was as ugly as sin in the garb. Waving she said, “Let’s get 19

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this over with. Send in the next one.” Peeking out at the customers, Lena said, “Uh oh.” The hair on the back of Marsy’s neck was already standing up. “What?” Marsy’s black eyes were dark pools in the glow of candlelight that added to the spooky effect of haggardness. Absently, she scooted the pedestal candle to the side. When a frisson of awareness crawled over the flesh on her arms, Marsy shivered. She didn’t have to hear the words. Lena said them anyway. “These are the targets. There’s a bozo out there with a toga on. Just joined them.” She looked at Marsy, “You have your lines down. Right?” Checking her wig pins, Marsy asked, “Am I the best actress St. Bonaventure University has, or what, Le?” Lena said, “Don’t do anything stupid with these geeks. Just do your lines and send them out.” Marsy closed her eyes. The symptoms of a migraine were coming on, making her head hurt. “Oh, God. Give me a minute.” She rested her forehead in her hand. She hated the visions that started like that. Wincing, she waited while she was assaulted…

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Chapter Five

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ithout getting up to look, she could see the four men in the outer curtained area. Her first impression? Assholes. They were touching everything. Making fun of just about anything and everyone that walked past. Worse… she heard one guy distinctly say, “This is all a bunch of shit.” She rubbed the center of her forehead, wishing the pain away. Keying in on him, she knew instantly that this was the main target of the evening. Toga bull. Super jock. Mr. magnificent. Ultra-brilliant boy wonder. The name Theo Veloz buzzed through her brain. His appearance stopped Marsy’s heart. Damn if he wasn’t the sexiest thing she’d ever seen. Every bit as good looking as Josh. His complete opposite. A whole different type of confidence. Total, dark allure. She was feeling this guy’s aura from this far? Talk about your brooding, sensual type. Marsy heard Lena ask, as if from the far end of a tunnel, “You okay, babe?” Harder, she rubbed the psychic eye spot in the middle of her forehead. The guy was coming through 21

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a curtain, a crowd of his friends, and Lena’s protective presence? She shuddered some more. What was he saying? Marsy concentrated. Theo tapped one of his buddies on the elbow. “Look at this.” They had posted Polaroids of Marsy and the other fortunetellers in costume… with fake names underneath. Hers read Gypsy Ginny Incarnate. For the real thing. He laughed outright. “Bet this gyp hasn’t had sex in a hundred years.” The joke went back and forth. Marsy’s lip curled. She hated being truly psychic. And she hated even more that the jerk was right. She was saving herself. Or, she had been. A little angry, she grunted, “Send somebody in.” She cleared her head and her throat. She needed to get the whole thing over with. How the hell could he tell if she had had sex recently—ever—just by looking at a picture? Or was he just making fun of her altogether? She muttered, “I’ll show him a bunch of shit.” Lena slipped into the outer vestibule. Toga Boy didn’t come through first. It didn’t matter. One by one, Marsy gave the other guys the planned readings. She’d been sitting there the whole damn day waiting for the oafs to come through. Real, honest readings had drained her completely. So, giving them her lines came much easier. Until Theo walked through into her private sanctuary. Stacking up her tarot cards when he entered, she shivered again, pointing to the chair opposite her, not wanting to look him in the eye. “Sit. Gypsy Ginny has been expecting you… for a hundred years.” 22

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He laughed. “Is that right?” He craned his neck a little, trying to get a better look at her face. The hair on his arms was standing up. Oh, yeah, the energy in the genie’s bottle was up and frizzling. “Maybe she’s been waiting for a real man—in a toga—eh?” He adjusted the draping over his chest with an air of arrogance. “I’ve been getting compliments on it all day.” Was he fishing for another one? She didn’t smile. In fact, she frowned. Her breasts were tingling. Moisture was pooling at the juncture between her thighs. She was too busy asking herself, “What the hell is going on with me? Hot flashes?” She never got this with anyone but Josh. Was this some sort of omen? Were her stars really changing? What was it he’d said? The stars were lining up? She muttered under her breath. “You bet, Uranus.” Toga Bull said, “What?” A little louder, she said in her best Gypsy Ginny voice, “You want to know your future.” He laughed. “Duh. You’re one of those real psychics, huh? I’ve got that all planned out already.” Thumbing over his shoulder, he said, “I paid my buck.” Dropping into the chair, he laid his elbows on the table. “Do your thing so I can get the hell out of here.” Her eyes flashed up at him. And her throat tightened. Where the hell had she been hiding? How could she have missed him in all her travels across campus? She knew, of course. She’d been looking only at Josh. His back. His butt. She muttered, “Kiss my butt.” 23

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Again, Theo did a double-take. “Excuse me. Are you talking to me…or…?” Bright green eyes, the color of sage, were illuminated, glossy—and keen. He was obviously judging her. Seeing into her soul, more likely. Marsy silently cursed Gaia’s joke on her. She shuffled the cards, tapped them twice and flipped the top one, just for her own sake, asking who is my destiny. The Magician card. Marsy blinked. Was this the man of her dreams? The great magician? She shuffled the card in and took her time sliding the cards in and out of each other before passing them across the table. Maybe she needed to give this guy a real reading. He pushed them back. “You and I both know this is a bunch of shit. Just give me my clue and I’ll be on my way.” And he has no respect for the thing that was her whole center? He didn’t believe in psychics, the supernatural, or anything that might be up the same vein? Everything that was her blood, her breath? Which apparently was getting harder and harder to come by. She picked the deck up. Okay. No cut. She sat there in a semi-stupor. She couldn’t remember her lines. That had never happened to her before. “So? Get with it, gypsy. I’ve got chicks to chase, beer to guzzle.” Her gaze met his again. He was lying. He was uncomfortable in her… lair. He could feel it, too. Something was going to happen. She prayed for fate to give her a hand. And her 24

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tongue back. That’s when it happened. Like warm whiskey over ice, she felt a waterfall of energy slip like a mantle over her. And she went under the spell of her visiting avatar. It was a welcome relief to let go, to hear her voice being used by someone else. In short, she was rescued. The reading was long. It started with the dialogue she’d rehearsed. All the way through that, Theo chuckled, nodded, and said, “Right. Bunk. Sure. Bullshit. I think I have it figured out. Okay. That’s good.” Her avatar slowly receded, letting Marsy take over when she could. Drawing deep from her lungs when she surfaced, her voice deepened and she slid the cards to Theo. “Why don’t you cut the cards now?” “What? I thought we were about done.” Marsy smirked. Her eyes flashed. “We were. The game’s over. Now I’ll give you a real reading.” She blinked as self-preservation skills tried to get her to finish up. She stuttered, “If… you want.” She waited for the rejection. She’d done the required task. He didn’t get up. Fate was insisting on something more. She told him sincerely, “I think there is another message here.” She pushed the cards at him again. “Just cut. Unless you’re afraid?” Theo rolled his eyes. “Right. Geez.” He cut the cards deep. She muttered her grandpa’s favorite line. “Cut them deep, read them and weep.” He laughed. “I figured you’d say that. What would 25

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you have said if I cut them thin?” She tried not to giggle. “You’ll never win.” He passed her his all-American smile. The blood pooled in her belly. Several seconds passed. Finally, he asked, “So? You gonna do something with these cards or what?” Leaning forward, lowering her voice to a whisper, she had to ask, “Don’t you feel it?” “What?” His fingers tapped nervously on the table. He was feeling it. And it was making him jittery. Pissing him off, actually. He was attracted to a freaking old lady at the fair. She asked, “Before I turn your card, let me tell you… I think you’re going to get lucky.” His whole body jerked. She really did. He had good fortune ahead of him. It was oozing around him like a sponge soaked through. Marsy could read his mind. Thank God for Grandma’s gifts. Gypsy blood. She smiled fully at him. He did a double-take, of course, because it exposed her blacked-out teeth. Theo said, “I don’t think I want to, thanks.” She shook her head, amused at his take on her comment. “I wouldn’t force you into anything.” The scents of patchouli and jasmine mingled around them, rising up from the incense cones Lena had lit an hour earlier. Theo looked around, noting the details in the genie’s bottle. No question… it was a den set for sex. The ambiance was sensual. 26

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Mars glanced over at the pillows and sheets, too. What was she doing? Virgin girl, dressed like a hag…offering her most precious…to a jerk? On what? The whim of an unforeseen urge? She never did things like this on impulse. Not that he was going for it. But why was she offering? Theo turned around in his chair, taking in the whole view. Incredulously, he asked, “You’ve got to be kidding. Right?” She rolled her shoulders. It must be the brain drain that was in charge. Because she would never have sex with a stranger. And an ass whose rep preceeded him at that. A guy in a toga at a Renaissance faire. Theo surprised the hell out of her by standing up abruptly and saying, “Lift your skirts, granny. Let’s get it over with.” Marsy blinked. Theo reached out with a hand and asked, “Promise me that the last card is worth doing this for.” She managed to eke out, “It is. I promise.” She didn’t know what was possessing her. Her avatar had abandoned her. This was all her own doing now. Putting her hand in his, she let him pull her up out of her seat. His gaze nailed to hers, he mumbled, “I think I’m fucking crazy tonight. But what the hell?” She repeated his words stonily. “What the hell?”

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Chapter Six

T

heo told her directly, “I’m not going to kiss you.” “I wasn’t expecting you to.” Her chest heaved. She didn’t believe he was going to do it. Not really. But she didn’t want to back down. He was just playing with her. Surely? He had to know that she was a college student. For all she knew, Josh had put him up to this. And that thought made her a little angry. Maybe this whole joke had been on her? Josh was a real friend. She knew he’d been planning the Renfaire clues for the frat competition… for how long? Half the year? Suddenly unsure of herself, she came to the conclusion that Josh had somehow paid Theo to come on to her, despite her outfit. Oh. He was on her list. And she would show him. The jerk. Theo was hesitant, she could see that. Well, she could feel it. He was assessing her. His thumb was running over the top of her hand, feeling the smooth skin there. A dead giveaway that she wasn’t an old lady. Just mad enough at Josh to prove a stupid point, 28

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she told Theo, “Your fortune awaits.” Canned fortuneteller joke. Theo surprised them both. Not usually the slowmo man, he closed his eyes. The fuddling of his fingers as he reached for her hips, fumbled in pulling up her skirts to expose her bare legs, drawing her close, cupping her ass—it was like time was virtually standing still—for both of them. Marsy tilted her head back, closed her eyes, too, and let him feel her up, really believing that the joke would stop at any second. She wondered who would have the last laugh. Theo’s head dropped, his lips pressed against the pulse at her throat, finding it on instinct. And her fingers found a grip on his biceps. She moaned. He grunted. A second later, she felt his hands slide under her, gripping her butt cheeks. He yanked her against him, the mass of skirting wadded up between them, but she was arched at an angle where the front of her pelvic area could feel his arousal. They didn’t talk. His lips skidded over the flesh at her throat, down across the upper edge of her breasts. With his nose, he pushed the elastic of the gypsy top down and buried his face between her boobs. He held her there, like that, for several seconds. The wait was so…enticing…that Marsy groaned and slid her hands up around his neck, holding his face there. Softly, she begged, “Please. Don’t stop.” Still, he just stood there. Obvously contemplating his next move—whether to go on or not—fighting the impulse to take her standing up. Marsy couldn’t help arching into him more, 29

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practically smothering him with the pressured grip. She urged him, “If nothing else… suck…” Theo sounded a little feral, then. With a noise like a wolf coming from down in his chest, his lips and tongue roughly razed her, finding first one nipple and then the other. It wasn’t sweet. It wasn’t a tease. It was a possessive, starving man response. And she reveled in it, urging him on.

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Chapter Seven

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arsy’s eyes flashed open for a second there. What was she doing? She was a little afraid of the driving instinct that had taken her over. Would she pay for this later? She knew without a doubt that she’d be sorry about it. It didn’t make her stop, though. He drew her leg up to his hip. Suckled harder. She winced. And she closed her eyes, almost wanting to cry. How could she want this so bad? Theo heaved her up onto the table. Briefly, she smiled. It was a good thing she’d held out for the heavy wood pedestal over the flimsy card table Josh had set up first. Of course, the wood one was round, suited the fortune telling purpose better. Had fate directed that decision? Conscious thought flew out the window. The cards spread underneath her, face down. She felt them at her shoulder blade. He lifted his toga with deliberation, handling his cock with a firm grip. Through hooded lids, and long black lashes, she watched his expression. He was angry. He was proving a point? He’d blocked his thoughts. What did 31

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he have to be angry about? When he rubbed himself, his eyes opened. His gaze pinned to her breasts which were now rosy in the dim light, abraded from his roughness. Slowly, he lifted his chin and stared her in the eye. He was expecting her to say no, to tell him to stop, giving her time to draw her wits together. When she simply took in a deep breath and waited, he shook his head and reached for her. Marsy felt his fingers at her clit, as he spread her lips, and moved closer. He pressed the knob of his erection, seeping and oozing as it was, at the entrance to her body. But still, he waited, giving her ample opportunity to stop him. She was wet. Dripping wet like she’d never been before. And she was aching something horrible. Swallowing her better thoughts, she closed her eyes, lifted her arms and said, “For God’s sake, do it.” Theo plunged into her then. And he pumped frantically, holding her at the hips while he rammed into her. It didn’t take long. And she held onto his forearms the whole time, squeezing. With her fingers. With her inner muscles. Gritting her teeth. The first pain had been excruciating. No easy probing. One hard thrust and a prolonged, back arching grunt of pleasure. She had cried out. Certainly the people waiting outside had heard? He didn’t ask if she liked it. He didn’t make sure she reached climax. He took her, plain and simple. And when he was done, he just stood there, letting his body throb into her, releasing every last bit of juice. His eyes were closed. His grip on her hips was still 32

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intense. It took ages for him to let go, to withdraw, lower his toga and reach out to pull her skirts down. She didn’t want to move. Eyes closed, throat convulsing, she just wanted to cry. Although exciting, something she’d encouraged, she was left feeling raped, used. She didn’t want to face him. He stood there for what seemed like ages. Just watching her. Maybe getting his breath back to normal. Finally, he leaned over her, examining her face. With a tad of humor in his voice, and his lips twitching, he asked, “You didn’t fall asleep on me, did you?” She fought back a grin, but rolled her eyes. “Hardly.” That’s when she realized he was resting his hand lightly, with fingers spread, over her abdomen. He was looking into her eyes. “For an old woman, you have beautiful eyes.” She smiled—with her lips closed. She was still aching for release. And there was a part of her that hated him for leaving her wanting. For stopping without giving her that. Marsy tried to get a grip on herself. She quipped, “You did that like a little boy. You need to learn about foreplay and climax.” The verbal slap wiped the pleasure out of his expression. Instantly, she regretted saying it. He lifted his hand, grabbed a card at her shoulder and flipped it. He passed it in front her face. She saw it clearly, even in the dim light. The Tower. A real vision split her conscious thoughts. Without thinking, she quipped again. “Read ‘em and weep, boy. Your greatest accomplishment will be the loneliest place on earth.” 33

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He glanced at the card. With one hand, he absently reached out for her. She took hold of it, and let him help her up. While he pondered it, she adjusted her wig. “What is this card?” She slipped off the table, smoothed her fingers over her skirting, glanced back at the pedestal candle on the table. It was a good thing she’d set it to one side, instead of in the center. Funny how that thought came to mind. Destiny? Fate? He repeated, “What is this card?” Absently, while adjusting her skirt, tucking her shirt back into the waistband better, she said, “Major Arcana. The Tower. The sixteenth card in the deck, actually.” She let out a little huff of a laugh. “Your magic number, believe it or not.” “But what does it really mean?” Their eyes met. She offered him a weak, closed smile. “Don’t worry. You’re destined for great things.” He fingered the card, considering it at great length. “A lonely place, huh?” She shrugged. That’s what she’d seen. Him. In a tower apartment. Lonely as hell. All the riches in the world around him. People milling, drinking, enjoying themselves. To all else, it was the perfect party, the top of the world. And there he was, standing at the window. His sadness had been palpable. Regret for something had circled him with a heavy aura. Yet success was evident all around him. “You make your own choices.” She looked away, suddenly disappointed that he wouldn’t recognize 34

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her in the light of day. Nor would he really want to. Not to repeat this encounter. She closed her eyes, just wishing he would go. Softly, she said, “I wish you would leave now.” He told her, “Perhaps you don’t know who I am. I have more friends than I can count.” He flipped the card at her and turned to go, saying, “Lonely. Ha!” As he went through the curtain, she turned to pick up her cards. Her hands were shaking. Tears were slipping out the corners of her eyes, causing her make-up to run. She heard one of his friends ask, “What took you so long?” He responded loudly, “Just getting plenty of bang for my buck. Let’s go get drunk.” She heard Lena yell after them. “Good riddance!” Muttering as she came back into Marsy’s sanctuary, she said, “Geez, Mars. What were you doing in here? Did he buy it?” Marsy shrugged. “How do I know?” Lena laughed, dropping down onto the pillows in the corner. “You are psychic, Mars. If anyone would know, you would.” Marsy kept her back to her friend. “Did you turn the sign? I don’t want to do any more.” “I did.” Lena cocked her head sideways. “You okay?” Marsy bobbed her head, straightened the chair, getting it ready for the booth keepers on the morrow. She sniffed, “We should charge more.” Lena struggled up off the pillows and advanced toward her. “Mars?” Marsy turned to her friend, then, and buried her 35

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face against her chest, crying. “Oh, Le. I’ve really messed up now.”

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Chapter Eight

L

ena patted her back, held her close, coaxed her to the pillows, let her cry her eyes out. But all Marsy could get out was that fate was cruel, life was lonely, and she hated men. Especially Josh. Lena wasn’t a brain surgeon, but she put two and two together and came up with a partial truth. She knew, without a doubt, that Marsy had given Theo the gift. Eventually, Lena talked Marsy into peeling off her gypsy wig, washing her face, and sharing a bottle of wine. It took half a bottle of that before Lena suggested, “Josh should be back any time.” Marsy wasn’t interested. She was wallowing in her stupidity. And she didn’t think Josh would care one bit. “I’m done with him, Le. Completely done with him. No more following him around.” Just under the influence enough to be totally honest, Le shook her head. “No way. You’re in love with him.” Marsy looked her in the eye. “You know… I thought so, too. I was wrong.” Le laughed a little. “Geez. What did that guy do to 37

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you in here?” She looked around. “Tell you your fortune?” Marsy sipped from her goblet, morosely absorbed in the burgundy beverage pooling inside. “Yeah. I think so.” The thing she hadn’t told him was that their futures were linked. She knew that she’d be in that tower…watching him in all his loneliness. And part of her would gloat over it. Marsy hated knowing that. Generally, she wasn’t the type to take joy in someone else’s hard luck. She didn’t like the glimpse of herself that she’d gotten. And worse… she had the distinct impression that she was… a hooker. The vision had been brief. But her corset had been pinching, unmistakable. Her feet had been killing her. And she’d looked down to see thigh high leather boots—stiletto heeled. And the top of them didn’t reach the bottom of her skirt. No, Marsy’s glimpse of the future had not been a comfort. She tipped the bottle repeatedly, wanting to drown out the images that swarmed her brain. It was no time before they were nearly out of sustaining liquid. She was dripping the last of it into her glass when Le said, “Let me go get another bottle.” “Don’t leave me.” “I’ll only be a few minutes, Mars.” “Don’t go.” Lena was going anyway. “Just wait right there. And don’t fall asleep on me.” Marsy made a face. Rolling onto her belly, she drained her glass one last time and said, “Don’t be gone long.” 38

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“Promise.” Lena disappeared. Setting her glass aside, Marsy snuggled a pillow to her chest, propping herself up on her elbows, picking at the frayed fringe. Josh appeared a minute later, peeking in. “There’s my little gyps. How’d it go?” “Leave me alone. I’m tired.” She didn’t look up. He didn’t seem to notice her surliness. The next thing she knew, he was making himself comfortable. Out of the corner of her eye, she glared at him. “What are you doing?” “What’s it look like?” “Irritating me. Go away, Josh.” He chuckled. “Too much a drain, this fortune telling business?” “You got it. Get the hell out.” She rolled away from him, watching the door, willing Lena to return fast. Confused at her attitude, Josh asked tentatively, “So… how’d it go?” Annoyed, she looked over her shoulder at him. “How do you think it went? Didn’t Mister Asshole report back to you yet?” Suddenly leery, Josh asked cautiously, “What are you talking about, Marsy?” “The joke was on me, Josh. I figured it out. You win. Go away. Go collect. There’s got to be money riding on it somewhere.” “What do you mean… the joke was on you?” Guarded, he sat up straight. “Did they do something to you?” She could tell he was getting angry, just at the thought. She wrinkled her nose. She wanted to hold 39

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Josh responsible. “No. What could they do to me?” Turning to look him in the eye, she asked, “What could they do to me, Josh? What was it, exactly, that you had in mind?” Cautiously, he asked, “Mars? What’s going on?” Lena chose that moment to cheerily arrive. “Got it! Look! Two.” Seeing Josh wiped the smile from her lips. The bottles she held aloft in each hand dropped instantly to her side. “What the hell are you doing here?” Josh was definitely confused now. “I told you I’d be back.” Lena waved toward the door. “Well, you were gone too long.” Marsy threw out, “Never mind where he went or how long he was gone. The deed’s done. And now he’s here for the report. And I already told him… Lines delivered. Joke’s on me. Get out. He doesn’t listen.” Lena nailed him with a glare. “Josh. You’ve done enough for one night. We don’t think you’re funny any more. Hit the road.” Josh wasn’t going anywhere. “Not until you two lighten up. What happened?” Marsy scooped up her glass and told Lena. “Pop one of those, please. I’m getting drunk tonight and it’s happening way too slow.” “Whoa.” Josh looked from Lena to Marsy. “What the hell happened?”

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Chapter Nine

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arsy ignored him. Lena set one bottle down and worked the other open. “For one… you were gone way too long.” She filled both their glasses, not offering Josh any. Marsy held out her hand and Lena gave the bottle to her. Readjusting herself on the pillows, Marsy wondered if Josh even cared that she’d had sex with Theo. A good friend should care about that sort of thing, even if they didn’t have any interest themselves, right? Now that she thought on it, she wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. He probably wanted Theo to tease her. Not to really take her. Who would have expected him to go for it when she was wearing that awful make-up? No. Surely, Josh hadn’t expected Theo to throw her up on the table and have his way with her? Not that she believed--not for one second--that Josh cared more than any other friend would. Or that he wanted her for himself. Josh told Lena, “I was getting things together. You know.” 41

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Marsy glanced up at Lena. “Getting what together?” Lena shrugged, “Doesn’t matter.” Over Marsy’s head, she reiterated to Josh. “Doesn’t matter now, Josh. Can’t you see Marsy’s upset?” Josh said, “Yeah. But what did I do? I wasn’t even here.” Trying to relieve the stress of the moment, Josh switched the subject to the weather— always a safe subject— the other Renaissance faire booths, and campus life in general. Anything to keep things on an even keel, to keep him in the tent, while he tried to figure out what was going on… what had happened in the short time he’d been gone. Finally, Lena offered him a goblet, but it remained empty because Marsy wasn’t pouring for him, and she wasn’t letting loose of the bottle. It was almost gone before she rounded on him. Right smack in the middle of his description of the frat party going on up the street, she blurted, “I can’t believe you, Josh. You sit here like nothing happened, like you didn’t set me up for a big fall, like you’re my friend. What am I? The campus joke? Are they laughing over me up at the big keg?” He looked a little confused. “What are you talking about, Mars?” “Your boy.” She slurred her words. “You know the one I’m talking about.” “My boy?” Josh looked over at Lena questioningly. She shrugged. She obviously didn’t want to be in the middle of the conversation. She said, “You know what? I think I’ll go relieve myself.” They watched her go. Just before she disappeared, 42

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she said, “I might be a while. Give you two time to hash things out.” Silence ensued. Finally, Josh reached out and put his fingers over hers, curled around the neck of the bottle. “Talk to me, Marsy.” He pried the bottle away. She didn’t let it go easily. She said, “I know your future, too, you know.” She didn’t. When it came to Josh, she’d always drawn a blank. And that was what drew her to him. Why she put up with his pranks, fell in with his plans, followed him around. With him, nothing was mapped out. It was all an adventure with an unwritten ending. Well, she was tired of that. She knew where she was going, thanks to him introducing her to Theo Veloz. Lifting her chin, she asked, “Why don’t you just tell me what the real purpose was behind tonight’s little venture?” “What?” She jogged his memory. “The man in a toga?” “The annual Frat Ren-riddle competition? They’re up there now, trying to figure out the meaning of life.” “Yeah. I bet.” Silkily, he responded, “I bet you’re tense. It’s been a long day. Want a massage?” “No.” He smiled. “Come on, Mars. Let me help you relax.” Intent on getting the evening back on track, and getting to the bottom of her irritation, smoothing it away, he didn’t take no for an answer. Before long, he coaxed her into sitting up. 43

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Sliding the gypsy top down over her shoulders, he rubbed the muscles at her neck deeply with his thumbs. She belligerently withheld the oohs and aahs that climbed up her throat. “Like that, don’t you?” He smiled when her head rolled forward. Five minutes later, he had scooted closer to her and was breathing on her neck while his fingers worked their magic. Softly, he dropped a kiss above her shoulder blade. She stiffened, not sure of what had just happened. “What was that?” He ignored the question, kneading the tight muscles into relaxation, before he suggested, “Why don’t you give me a reading? You haven’t tried that in a long time.” “Because you’re a blank, Josh.” He thought it was funny. “You can read everybody else but me. How can all three of your eyes be blind to me?” She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter.” “What doesn’t?” Incredulously, he asked, “You’re not telling me that I don’t matter, are you?” When she didn’t answer, and she didn’t look at him, his caress stilled. A second later, his arms slipped around her, cuddling her back against his chest. Kissing her beneath the ear, he asked, “Mars? Why aren’t you talking to me? What happened?” Marsy was silent, tense. Waiting for something. That’s when she realized that his body was rock hard against her butt. Josh was aroused? At being close to her? Or the thought that someone else had been with her? Surely he could smell Theo all over 44

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her? How could he not know? She felt changed. The next she knew, Josh was laying her back, readjusting himself to lie beside her, propping himself up on one elbow above her, brushing the back of one hand on her cheek, looking into her eyes. Was she reading love there? Or was that just wishful thinking? “You’re beautiful, Mars.” His thumb slid across her lower lip. She felt a reverence in him. It covered the sadness within her own being. She wondered if he’d hate her if he knew what she’d done? She asked him softly, “You think I’m beautiful?” The wonder in his expression, the twist of his lips… “You have to ask?” Josh leaned in, crowding her face. She licked her lips, refusing to focus on anything. The wine just made it easy. “Marsy?” She didn’t answer. “How could you not know?” He kissed her. It was soft, a fluttering of lips, really. A taste. The tenderest of exchanges. It required nothing from her at all. It made her close her eyes. Unbidden, the thought that Theo hadn’t kissed her ran through her brain. She swallowed convulsively, pushing that episode away, wondering instead what game Josh was playing, wondering why she was letting things happen to her tonight, why she didn’t stop this now. But part of her desperately wanted him to assuage her guilt, wipe away the ugly feelings of self-deprecation that were threatening to swallow her up. He kissed her again. His fingers on her cheek 45

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fanned out, slid into her hair, which was now gloriously free of pins, cascading in a long onyx sheet of silk over the pillows beneath her. Skidding his fingers down over the exposed flesh of her throat and the upper curve of her breast… tantalizing her briefly by hesitating, cupping lightly over her breast— through her blouse—then squeezing possessively before letting go to slide down to her waist… he watched her eyes. Then he moved over her, pressing his chest onto hers. Sliding his tongue into her mouth, he kissed her again, deepening it when she sucked in air. Marsy let him. That’s what it boiled down to. Somewhere inside of her, she appreciated the tenderness. She’d wanted Josh to make love to her for a long time. This was the answer to her dreams, her hopes, the lust that had been building up inside of her for months. And she didn’t want to think any more. She’d messed up earlier. And she didn’t want to examine that at all. Briefly, she wondered at Josh’s timing. How long had she waited for this? For Josh to see her as a sexual, sensual being? Anger began to rise inside her. Why now? When the kiss ended, and he hovered over her, looking down at her, she managed to ask, “What are you doing, Josh?” His lips twitched. “What does it look like?” “I don’t know. Marking territory?” Gut punched, he jerked. A vicious streak inside of her urged her tongue. 46

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“You lose, Josh. Another dog stepped in.” His whole body tightened around her. Where a minute before he had been relaxed, but tensile steel— crushed against her, intensely held in check, but gentle— she suddenly, definitely, felt smothered, threatened by the rigidness in his arms and upper body. Her eyes went wide, her lips quivered. But she didn’t back down. She wanted him to know that the joke was on him. But they’d both lost.

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Chapter Ten

T

hrough gritted teeth, he asked, “What are you talking about?” “You know.” She willed him to guess the truth. His gaze bored into hers. Crystal clear blue eyes framed in Adonis-blond straw. Chiseled cheeks pronounced more with the sucked in expression of his growing anger. He assessed. And he guessed the truth. He sniffed. Theo’s cologne was all over her. And her woman’s scent was mingled with something else. They could both smell it. She didn’t have to say anything. She thanked God that he got it. She didn’t want to tell him, “I’m a whore.” Or did she? What did she want? To rub it in his face? Or for him to make the memory go away? Was she hoping he would want her anyway? That he would tell her she was beautiful still? That it didn’t matter? But it did matter. And she was messed up in the head over it. Mostly because she knew she’d asked for it. She had wanted desperately to shed her virginity, get rid of her morality barriers and release all her 48

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inhibitions. But she’d wanted to do it so she could be with Josh. She’d wanted Josh to take her stupid little gift. Her hang-up. But it was too late for that now. Marsy sighed, closing her eyes, fighting to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. Damn her stupidity. She worked through that, and into her anger at him again. Damn Josh for not wanting her sooner. Not taking her. Her lids popped open. Her eyes flashed. Part of her wanted to hurt him. To announce to the world that Marsella Garcia was no longer a virgin. Memory of the earlier premonition skidded through her brain again. Oh yeah. She wanted to tell him thanks… that she would be a whore before it was all done. She was on a downward roll. Why stop now? Something cracking inside of her—her heart and soul, maybe—pushed her to say, “Want to see for yourself?” He was confused. “See what?” “How wet I am?” Josh blinked. “You’re drunk.” “Damn straight I am. I’m also not a virgin any more.” There. She’d said it. Verbalizing it put it into perspective for her. She half laughed, “I’m fucked.” Josh pulled back. Instantly, she regretted the words. Now it was out. And all the teasing that had ever gone before, the toying pretense of practicing parts for drama 49

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scenes…kissing for the craft…they would stop here. She just knew it. Not that there had been anything behind them on Josh’s behalf. But she’d savored them. Dreamed. She could see that his brain was racing. He narrowed in on the leader of the frat instantly. “Theo?” She let out another little laugh. “What? Think I’d settle for second best?” She propped herself up on her elbows. “That’s what it was all about, wasn’t it?” “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Josh had changed into normal clothes when he’d gone back to his place. Adjusting his T-shirt over the top of his jeans, he worked on getting a grip on his feelings. “What did you come here for then, Josh?” He spared her, “What did you think?” It never occurred to her that Josh showed up— wherever she was—pretty much every night, even if it was just to say, “Hey.” Sick over what she’d done, a little viciously, she said, “I think you came for sloppy seconds.” The blood drained from his face. He didn’t look her in the eye. He said, “Well…you think wrong, Mars.” Getting up, hiding his hurt, and his anger, he told her, “This is fucked, Mars.” She agreed. “Yeah. The whole world is.” What she really wanted to say was, “Why don’t you fuck me, too?” But then, she felt that he already had—in one way, anyway. Still, she hadn’t got any satisfaction out of what happened. Not at all. Her body ached. Her heart was downright grieving over the whole thing. Would she 50

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ever get that to go away?

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Chapter Eleven was struggling. He had been so close to making Josh love to Marsy right there. And she went and blew it. So much for the incense burning back at his place. She’d never see the flowers he’d bought her. That’s what had taken him so long. Picking out stupid flowers. Josh hated the fact that he wanted to cry. Impotence was welling up inside of him. He wanted to beat Theo’s brains in. His fists clenched and unclenched repeatedly. He itched to go do it. Marsy was watching him. Her lips were pushed together in a pout. Her eyes were narrowed meanly. He could see she was angry. But what had he done? Of course, he knew what he’d done. He’d left her unprotected. He’d been gone less than an hour, but what did that matter? Truth be told, he was a little angry at Lena. Why had she encouraged him? He never would have left the booth if she hadn’t pushed him to go, to make plans. Marsy made a little noise. A sniff. With the back of her hand, she swiped at the corner of her eye. Josh looked down at her. Was she crying? 52

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If she was, she was hiding it pretty well. He asked, “What do you want me to say, Marsy?” “I don’t know, Josh. What do you want to say to me?” Like a bad movie, he responded, “I don’t know what to say, Mars.” He rubbed the back of his head and looked around the tent. “Maybe you should have told me that you liked Theo. A little warning would have been nice.” A choking sound came from her throat. “You’re an idiot, Josh.” She sat up. Pushing her hair over her shoulder, she reached for her wine glass again. “You don’t have to tell me that.” A self-deprecating laugh eased out of his throat. “And here I thought taking your bra off was for my benefit.” He wanted to hurt her back. He could feel the ugliness clawing up inside of his belly, the dog that wanted to leap out and chew her up, bite her back for what she’d done to him—to them. “You know what? I’m outta here.” He had to get away before it escaped its cage. Before he did hurt her. Josh wanted one thing in his life. Marsy. And this was killing him. She said, “That’s right, Josh. Get the hell out.” Still, he hesitated. He wanted to tell her, “I love you, Marsy. I have always loved you… since the first moment I laid eyes on you.” Instead, he said, “Okay. I can see that we’re done here.” “Done?” She rose up. Her voice escalated. “Done?” She threw a pillow at his back as he turned to go. “We never started here!” He didn’t look back. That made her even madder. She got up and went 53

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after him, throwing all sorts of things in his wake. “I hate you, Josh!” She accentuated that one with the lob of a candle. It hit him pretty hard, dead center in his back. It didn’t matter. It didn’t hurt near as much as the pains ripping through his chest. But he grunted, spinning around. His fists squeezing, he yelled at her. “Oh! That’s good to hear! Thanks, Marsy, for letting me know.” Getting louder, he threw her words back at her. “Right now I pretty much hate you, too!” It just came out. He wasn’t thinking. He was just reacting. He saw her flinch like he’d hit her. Her big, dark eyes reproached him. He could see that her chest was heaving. The damn moonlight illuminated her form beneath the thin cotton of the gypsy shirt and skirt. A breeze ruffled the fabric against her, sliding it between her legs, pasting it to her body. Instantly, his cock did its thing. Blood flowed through it, stiffening it in his pants again. “Fuck.” He knew he should leave. He’d said enough. But she started to cry, swiping at her tears angrily. When she didn’t say anything, but turned her back, Josh panicked. He couldn’t leave her like that. Not with her shoulders drooping, knowing she was crying. He went to her. Putting his hands on her shoulders. “Ah, Marsy. I’m sorry.” He pulled her back against him, caressed the flesh beneath his fingers. 54

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That’s when he realized his own tears of anger and frustration. He sniffed a little and closed his eyes. It felt so good to hold her against him. That’s all he’d ever wanted. She melted into his arms. Marsy sobbed uncontrollably for the space of several minutes. Josh rested his chin on the top of her head and soothed her with things like, “It’s okay, Marsy. It’s gonna be all right.” The fair goers had all moved up to the keg parties, taken the revelry indoors. There was no one around. Except Lena, who watched from afar, leaning against a tree. And she waited until Marsy turned into Josh’s arms before she left. They stood like that for what seemed like ages. Josh’s strong arms encircled her, made her feel safe and protected…loved. He whispered, “I don’t hate you, Mars. I could never hate you.” That made her cry more. The wind picked up. She shivered. He suggested, “Why don’t we go back inside? Get out of this cold air?” Sniffling, she nodded and let him lead her into the tent. Once there, the arm he had around her pressured her to turn into his arms again. Marsy didn’t fight it. Josh slid one hand up to cup the back of her head, holding her against heart. He closed his eyes. Her fingers rested on his hips. Her thumbs tucked into his belt loops. Marsy’s hair was soft. It smelled like flowers. Josh dropped a kiss on the top of her head. 55

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She looked up at him, swallowing heavily. “Josh, I couldn’t stand it if you hated me.” He smiled at her and shook his head. “Never happen. I don’t know why I said it.” “You’re angry at me.” Josh debated on being completely honest with her. Finally, he said, “I’m hurt, Mars.” “Why?” He didn’t want to talk about his feelings. He wanted to show her. Cradling her face, he debated that, too. He decided to take a chance. He kissed her. Marsy’s lips parted readily. Her head fell back. Her lids closed. And Josh slid his tongue into her mouth for the second time. Within seconds, she was sucking on it and he was thrusting it around, mimicking what he really wanted to do. He was a little surprised when he realized that she was pressing against him. He could feel her hardened nipples through their shirts. And she was applying pressure on his hips, pulling him into her pelvis. Rotating her own hips a little, she slid a leg between his and humped his thigh. His hands started roving. He couldn’t help it. Josh needed desperately to feel her skin. Drawing her shirt out of her skirt, Josh splayed his hands across her back, spread his thumbs under her breasts. Her bared breasts, free from the encumbrances of a bra. He dragged his tongue from her mouth and worked his lips across her cheek, down under her ear. Licking, kissing. 56

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She arched. Her hands slid up between them, snaked around his neck, and pulled his head down, encouraging him to move his attentions to her breasts. He didn’t go very far. At least, not before he began to suck. The top mound of her breast was so enticing that he spread his lips, flattened his tongue over it and voraciously applied suction. Hungry for more, he nuzzled with his chin, pushing the elastic of her bodice until he could take her nipple into his mouth. Marsy moaned. And he sucked harder. Before long, his hands grazed forward, supporting her breasts from beneath, forcing the orbs up into a better position, so he could suck both nipples at once, and bury his nose in her cleavage when he needed to get his breath. At one juncture, he muttered, “Jesus, Marsy.” He couldn’t think straight. But he noted that she was so moist between her legs that the wet heat was warming his leg. She was making puppy noises, whimpering for more. He wanted to prolong it all. He could feel his cock throbbing and he knew he was dripping cum. He knew it would be all over in a heartbeat, if they got that far. Oh, he wanted to slide it inside of her so bad that his balls ached. He looked up into her face. Did she really want this? Was this some sort of rebound thing?

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Chapter Twelve

I

t wasn’t like Josh could have called a halt to it. He had to lay her down. He was dying to slide inside her. He didn’t want to know if she was doing this on rebound. No. Josh refused to think on that possibility. He was seizing the moment. He was making love to the one woman he needed in his life. He kissed her with his whole soul. She clung to him: sighing, swooning, enticing him further with her receptivity. Small sounds of pleasure escaped her lips every time he moved against her, touched her somewhere else. And his hands were roving. He couldn’t help it. Gently squeezing her soft places—breast, hip, butt—as his tongue delved deeper into her mouth. Quickly losing control of his desire, the urgency in his kisses and hands took on a possessiveness. The tender touches became firm, less tentative. That’s when he heard himself groaning a little— into her mouth. Her sweet, sweet mouth. She tasted like heaven. No. Strawberries. Her favorite lip-gloss. The one he’d bought her for her birthday. She smelled 58

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like it too, now that he thought about it. That’s why he’d bought it. It smelled and tasted good. For months, he’d been assuaging the urge to take her in his arms and kiss her by popping strawberry candies, sucking on them. He wondered briefly if she noticed the flavor of his kisses. Or how desperate he was to keep a grip, get a better one. Vaguely, he noted the hold she had on him. Clutching fingers. And that she swayed into him, rubbing herself against him in a rhythmic, sensual dance of touch and tease, never letting go of him, never losing contact completely, breaking the kisses for a quick inhale, a searching look, a lick of her lips. She, too, was exploring his body, becoming frustrated by the barriers of clothing between them. Suddenly self-conscious, he wondered again if this was just a rebound reaction, or if she really liked him, his body. The more her hands moved, the tighter his muscles got. Surely she noticed the hours he’d put in at the gym—working off his sexual frustration over her? At one point, she broke the kiss, buried her nose against his throat and just hung on. He wasn’t sure if she was thinking of breaking it off or enjoying the scent of his after-shave. He’d spent hours picking that, too. Woodsy, down to earth with a hint of spice and musk. Marsy expressed her pleasure in it, mumbling, “Mm. You smell great.” A second later, her lips nipped at the flesh of his throat. She applied suction. It took his breath away. 59

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Josh definitely groaned then, losing any coherent reply he’d been trying to muster. He gave up on thinking and swooped in to kiss her neck in return. It didn’t take long for them to work their way back to another lip lock of epic proportions, to begin the dance again. That’s when he heard it. The rhythm Marsy had been working off of all along. A low salsa number coming from somewhere outside the tent. A mesmerizing serpent’s tune that melted into their embrace, directing everything—his renewed French tongue thrusts were punctuated by the drum beats, accentuated by the suck and release she gave in return, the roll of his hips against hers and vice versa. His fingers bunched in her skirt, aching to get a grip on her ass. Yes. That’s what he wanted. To lift her skirt. The thought brought purpose to his hands, clarity to his brain. And somewhere in the middle of all that, he began maneuvering her over to the genie’s bottle area of the tent, easing her backward, step by step, in a slow lambada—to the louder beat of his heart, the throb of his cock’s pulse. It was an inch by inch process. And finally, when he had her close to the pillows, he reached down with both hands and slid them under her skirt, bunching it up as he felt the flesh beneath. Yes. They both moaned then... at that first really intimate touch. And she helped him, encouraged him more. Reaching down with one hand, she pulled her skirt up further, used her elbow to hold it, and groped for 60

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his hand, squeezing it briefly into the soft skin of her thigh. That was all Josh really needed to spur him on. Possessively, firmly, bending his knees a little, he lifted her by the ass. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around him. And then she slid her tongue into his mouth. Josh sucked ravenously on this offering for several seconds. A hungry man starving for every ounce of attention. They were so engrossed in the giving and taking that time lapsed. Josh had to readjust, lift her higher. The fact that she had no panties on finally registered when the moist center of her being touched the flesh of his abs, just above his jeans. They both stilled. She drew back and looked him in the eye. Her pupils were dilated. Her whole body tensed. She swallowed hard. Josh wasn’t sure what the emotions were that swept across her face. Fear? Uncertainty? It didn’t occur to him that she might think he’d reject her for a lack of panties. After all, she’d been undressing all day, one piece at a time, teasing him to death. This… sweet… sweet… death. He wanted to swoop in and kiss her—for being so great. So wonderful. So… sexy. His erection throbbed at the thought, oozing at the proximity of her unprotected femininity. It was all he could do not to drop her. He wanted her so bad that the thought occurred that a swift adjustment could have his pants unzipped and his cock inside of her in seconds. A lift, 61

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a zip, and a settling of her over him. A few thrusts. He was all but undone now. It wouldn’t take much to fill Marsy with everything he had. He didn’t realize how long he stared into her face, thinking about all that. The seconds ticked by though. Marsy waited nervously for him to make a move. To either go on or set her on her own feet. His gaze dropped to her lips, watched the nervous lick and flick of her tongue, the biting on the lower fullness. Did she have any idea how turned on he was? He didn’t think so. He wanted to bite her lip too. In fact, there were tons of things he wanted to do to her. Other places to bite and nip. A million things ran through his mind. Places to lick and taste. Ways to worship her. How to show her he loved her? So many fantasies had played out, tortured his days and nights for months. He didn’t know where to start. But there was one thing he was sure he needed to do. Gathering his courage, he tried to form the words. Things he’d been dying to say for way too long. From the bottom of his chest, he settled for expressing his desire for her. “Marsy, you are… by far…” he swallowed hard, “the sexiest woman I have ever known.” He buckled to his knees and gently laid her on her back. She didn’t say anything. She just watched him. “Tell me you want this.” Josh was afraid of rejection, afraid to look in her eyes suddenly. He glanced around, waiting, half expecting her to tell him to get lost. His hands, bereft 62

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now that they’d let go of her, became lost. One touched the spot where her warm, wet body had been—felt the moist heat that still lingered. The other reached up, smoothed her dress in preparation for covering her. Her fingers shot out, grabbed his wrist, slipped to his hand. “Josh?” She squeezed. He had to look at her then. “Yeah.” Eyes closed, she begged, “Please don’t stop.” She made a choking sound, almost like she was ready to cry. Her fingers tugged at him, pulling him to her as she repeated, “Please don’t stop.” There was no way Josh would have left her then. He leaned forward, putting his arms around her, whispering truth. “I don’t want to stop, Mars.” He kissed her throat, just under her ear. Blindly, eyes closed, they fumbled against one another, nuzzling, hugging, clinging. Desperately pressing kisses until their lips found each other again. Within seconds, Josh was settling his body against hers, truly climbing up between her legs, pushing her skirt higher, grunting at the fabric folds between them, thinking about ripping the damn thing off of her. She helped again. Not breaking the kisses, she reached—with a grunt or two— between them, smoothed out the material, unbuttoned the front of the outer skirt, popped a button or two in her anxiousness, and yanked the whole thing free. All the while, Josh held himself above her, propped on his knees and elbows, trying to give her some maneuvering room. He wasn’t sure what she was 63

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doing. He was just glad she didn’t stop kissing him. In fact, the extra distance added to the suction she had on his tongue. He’d tried to withdraw it, but she wasn’t letting go. It was making him crazy. Finally, Marsy released her grip on his tongue, collapsing back on the pillows, muttering, “There. Thank God.” She reached for him again, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Come here.” She smiled up at him—the guile of a woman that has you right where she wants you—desperate. Who is right where you want her to be—beneath you, legs spread, panties off. Josh scooped her up in his arms, muttering, “Mars… I’m not going anywhere.” Coming maybe. The humorous thought flicked through his brain. He pressed his cock against her cunt, silently cussing the wearing of clothes altogether. The fabric of his jeans—the only barrier between them, stopping him from entering her. He kissed her again—as he rocked against her. And his hands roved some more, sliding down where he could knead her ass, lift her toward him, helping the angle. A few more rubs and he would disgrace himself. Josh wondered if he could take it a step further? That’s when Marsy pushed him away. Just long enough to pull her blouse over her head, give him a second to get some control, and pull him back down to her breasts again, guiding his attentions by arching beneath him, applying pressure to the back of his head. He obliged her unspoken request, diving in, laving around her aureoles one at a time—with 64

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enthusiasm. Several times, he mumbled, “God, you’re beautiful” and, “I’m loving this.” He almost whispered that he loved her, but he caught himself— every time—burying himself in her breasts again, hugging her with his cheek, dropping kisses periodically— everywhere her flesh was exposed. Some seconds later, she grunted and pushed at him again. Reluctantly, he pulled back. She grabbed the hem of his shirt and started forcing it upward. “There’s too much between us, Josh.” He helped by yanking it over his head. Perched above her, he reiterated, “You’re beautiful, Mars.” In the soft light of the tent, her breasts jutted forward, nipples erect, flesh around them pink from his attentions. Her lips were deep red, swollen from his kisses. Her hair was mussed. In short, Marsy looked well-loved. Her fingers reached for his chest, gingerly touched his left nipple, then slid smoothly across his pecs. She looked his bare upper torso over, feeling every dent of muscle and sinew. “You’re beautiful, too, Josh.” At that point, he closed his eyes. He’d fallen forward, resting his weight on his hands. He'd needed the break of rhythm and pressure that had threatened to make him cum in his pants. Making love to her wasn’t going to take long. He knew that. He tried not to think of entering her. He was savoring all the touching, kissing, licking and sucking. He told himself, make it last. *** 65

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Marsy wasn’t thinking, either. She was just going with everything she’d dreamed of, working on instinct and off of every romance novel she’d ever read. She couldn’t touch Josh’s skin enough. Her fingers roved. Once she’d familiarized herself with all the ins and outs of his upper muscles, Marsy’s fingers trailed teasingly down his body. She wanted to feel, to see… everything. With Theo, there had been no time to look, to savor. But Josh was frozen, it seemed, letting her have her way. Her curiosity had kicked in. She asked, “Do you like that?” The velvet smoothness of his skin started to goose pimple under her fingertips. He grinned, “Oh, yeah. Don’t stop.” She, too, wanted to prolong the whole experience. She was afraid it would end all too soon. That it could turn into something like what had happened earlier. Marsy didn’t want to face the fact that she was at a pivotal point of her life. There was plenty of time for introspection later. Right now, her attention was on Josh, his body…how he made her feel. He was erasing the episode with Theo. At least, he was imprinting something else over it. Something she desperately needed. Josh dragged in air and, propped above her, she could see that he was shaking a little. She wondered if he needed this, her, as much as she needed him. A small smile curved her lips. There was some satisfaction in knowing that he was in that state. It echoed hers. At least, what was going on inside of her. She teased him more, tickling lightly with her 66

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fingertips, tantalizing his nerve endings. When her fingers got to the top of his pants and wiggled in, tugging, he lifted one hand and put it over hers, stilling the action. Looking into her eyes, he asked, “Are you sure about this, Mars?” She blinked up at him. Sincerely, he told her, “If we go any further, I won’t be able to stop. I know that.” It was just like Josh to throw out a word of caution just when she had gotten past her brain. She made a face. “It’s your choice, Josh.” His grip on her hand tightened. “I want this. I just want to make sure you do, too.” A little irritated that he was wasting time talking, trying to put sense into the act, she pushed his hand away and tugged at his pants. “Just fuck me, Josh. Stop trying to analyze why we’re here.” He didn’t move. If anything, he tensed more. She pushed his hand away. And then he let her undo his pants, even though it took her several minutes. When she finally managed to get his zipper down, the fact that he didn’t have underwear on became instantly evident. His cock sprang free, right into her hand. He closed his eyes at the silky feeling of her soft fingers cradling it. “Jesus, Marsy. I’ve dreamed of this.” She let out a little laugh. “What? Me holding you?” “Oh, yeah.” He groaned as he rocked forward, stroking into her hand. “Wait.” She let go and readjusted her pillows so she could look at it better. 67

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The head oozed juice. She touched it with one finger, drawing the sticky cum out an inch. He opened his eyes and looked down at her. She didn’t really know what prompted her, but she watched his face as she brought it to her lips to taste it. He was mesmerized by it. And that fact had her suck her whole finger into her mouth. “Shit.” He lost his balance and collapsed on her. It knocked her finger out of her mouth. It didn’t matter, his lips founds hers a second later. He replaced it with his tongue. His hands went wild then. They were all over her, squeezing her breasts, sliding down to grip her hips. Nothing harsh. Frantic was more like it. Marsy’s lids dropped. Her lashes fluttered against her cheeks. She groaned. His cock had found its way to the space between her legs. Drawing her knees up, she put her hands at his waist and pushed against his pants, exposing his butt cheeks. She tried to pull him up inside her. She managed to get the head of his cock to touch her pussy. Marsy arched some more. She just wanted to feel it inside of her. Cum lubricated her clit, not that she needed excess fluid from another source. She was creamy wet already. Sloppy, even. It never occurred to her that some of it was from Theo earlier. That was completely out of her head. The only thing she was thinking of was what Josh was doing. How it felt to have him all over her, wanting her, making love to her. Josh’s fingers slid down between her legs, briefly 68

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cupping her before spreading her lips. He rubbed the nub of her clit, making her moan. Then he tenderly tried sliding a finger inside her. Marsy was tight, having only had the one experience with Theo to stretch her muscles. As Josh deepened the reach of his finger, she gasped. He tensed. “You okay?” She nodded, but her jaw was tight. “You want me to stop?” She begged, “I want you to kiss me.” Josh smiled at her. “I can do that.” Readjusting, he backed up. Lying off to the side of her, but still keeping his fingers where they were, he said, “Marsy, I could kiss you all night long and never get tired of it.” And then he did. For a little while, Marsy was happy at the slow down. Reversing gears a little, knowing that Josh was more concerned with making things right for her… it soothed her aching heart a lot. It helped the love she had for him come through. She didn’t stop to examine it, though. She was too busy reveling in the sensations of his touch. Mars was going with the flow, letting go, allowing his caresses to soothe her spirit. As he kissed her, she writhed under his palm. He was applying a rhythmic pressure that was making her crazy. In the building frenzy that was frizzling through her, she began to tug at him. Desperately wanting him to climb atop of her again, or do something to satiate the lust rising, spiraling and torturing her, she began to groan. Josh didn’t oblige her by entering her. At least, not 69

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immediately. He continued to stimulate her with his fingers. His kisses slipped from her lips, trailed over her shoulder blade again, and took up a tease of her nipples. Sucking deeply, he alternated his attentions from one to the other. And the combination of that, coupled with his hand’s action below, brought her to a quick climax. The shuddering of her body, and the light moans that escaped her lips just excited him more. That’s when he rolled atop her to enter her with his cock. Marsy was too worn out from her first climax to argue, too in-tune to getting all she could out of the whole experience to do anything but hang on. But still, Josh was gentle. He knew it would be over all too soon if he weren’t careful. Rocking against her, the tip of his erection oozed against the fully wet lips that were slathered in her own juices. He waited until she got her breath back, and was beginning to rise up in anticipation once more. Marsy commented, “I want to feel it again.” He laughed. “I’m trying to do that. Give me a sec.” But she really didn’t want to give him a second, or anything else. She wanted to take it. Instinctively, she knew he was fighting for control, trying to make it last. She let her body roll, in a less than rythmic tease against him. She begged, “Oh, my God, please… just climb up inside of me, Josh.” With that kind of invitation, he couldn’t resist any longer. In one deep and steady thrust, he inched into her tight, wet vagina until he was buried to the hilt. 70

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Until he could feel his balls against her skin. He whispered, “Aaah,” without thinking. But she was moving beneath him, undulating her hips, suddenly frantic for another climax. It was his turn to beg, “Don’t, Mars. Just hold still. Let it last.” “I… can’t, Josh.” And he couldn’t hold back either. He started to pump with full, slow strokes. Her fervor in grunting frustration sped up the process, though, and each thrust became more powerful, less controlled, until his body was slamming into hers with reckless abandon. Marsy’s legs drew up. Her knees pressed against his outer thighs in an effort to ease up the intensity, but Josh spent himself in a hard expenditure of energy and sweat, then collapsed on top of her. She mumbled from beneath him. “Oh, my God, don’t stop now.” “Jesus, you’re killing me,” he laughed. She pushed at him, “I’m serious.” She writhed some more. “I’m this close.” She held up a hand and demonstrated with her first finger and thumb barely a quarter inch apart. So, even though Josh had already cum, he stroked into her some more. The intensity wasn’t quite the same, though, and she finally said, “Maybe if I get on top?” Josh rolled onto his back, taking her—still inside of her—with him. He’d been waiting for this so long, to make love to her, that his manhood was ready to go again. Resting his hands on her hips, trying to help her get the rhythm, he told her again, “Marsy, I can’t tell 71

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you enough… you’re beau—” Interrupting him, she smiled, reached up and shoved her hair out of her eyes and said, “Shut up Josh. I’m trying to concentrate.” He laughed, and closed his lips—for a brief few moments. Trying to recuperate from his own climax, and work up for another run, he watched her reach for her stars. Marsy had no skills in what she was doing. No rhythm. Instinct was driving her. And she quickly found that raising herself to that pinnacle right before ‘getting it’ was a tease and thrill that she ached for. Oblivious to Josh, really, she grunted a lot, maneuvered to different angles, experimented with sitting up straight and leaning over, propping herself up with her hands. Finally, though, Josh’s guiding hands on her hips helped her settle into something of a pattern that had them both sweating and moaning in unison. His hips rolled up to meet her downward impetus. The wetness of their previous climaxes lubricated the whole deal, easing the friction. And the scent of their mingled body liquids rose up around them, enveloping them in a pheromone-sensual cloud. With each effort, the pressure of Josh’s hands became more pronounced, the tightening of her inner muscles became more clenched. His back and shoulders lifted off the pillows, arching toward her, while he gritted his teeth. Pushing, pulling. In, out. Up, down. Grunt, moan. Slip, slide. Slick, slop. Squeeze… He yelled, “Stop!” 72

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But it was too late. She’d found the perfect momentum, and she was going for it. She argued, “I don’t think… I can!” Like Old Faithful, Josh’s cock gushered up inside her, exploding repeatedly while she made the last few strokes toward her own goal. He tried to hold her still, but she kept going… reaching for that last spasm, the perfect and total orgasm, pumping every last drop from him. And when she had shivered with every last frisson of it all, she collapsed on top of him: sweating, exhausted, aching. They both passed out. The weight of her felt good to Josh. Having Marsy draped over him was something he’d dreamed of for months, ever since he met her. Everything about it was right, or so he thought.

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Chapter Thirteen

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hen Marsy stirred, though, she was distinctively uneasy, unsure of herself, totally self-conscious. She slid off of him, pulled her skirt down over her knees and rolled into a fetal position with her back to him. Still half asleep, he rolled over, wrapping his arm over her waist, cuddling close behind her in spoon fashion. The feel of his limp cock against the cotton fabric barrier of her skirt was a soft cushion between her ass and him. He nuzzled her neck, thinking about another go round. That’s when he realized she was crying. Propping himself up on one elbow, he asked, “Mars? You okay?” She sniffed. “Yeah.” Instantly concerned, he tried to prod her to roll onto her back where he could look at her. She wasn’t budging. “What’s wrong?” “I don’t want to talk about it.” He rolled his eyes. Trying again, he scooted even closer. The hand that had wrapped itself around her waist slid up to her ear, pulled back the hair there. He 74

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leaned over and kissed the edge of her jaw. “Don’t cry, Mars.” She sniffed. “Did I hurt you?” Marsy swiped at her tears, sniffing some more. “No. I’m…fine.” Josh rolled his eyes again. “You aren’t fine. If you were, you wouldn’t be crying.” She rolled back then and looked up at him with belligerent lips, accusing him. “You didn’t care that Theo fucked me earlier, did you?” Josh blinked. So it had happened. He cared. He cared a lot. But what was he supposed to do about it? Especially now? He asked her, “What do you want me to do? Go beat his head in?” She didn’t say anything. He asked, “Why did you do it with him?” She grunted and went to roll away, so she could get up. Josh didn’t let her get away so easy. When it became obvious that she wasn’t going anywhere, she shrugged and said, “It… just happened.” “Sex doesn’t just happen, Marsy. Lena said you were planning on it…losing your virginity tonight, I mean.” Incredulously, she asked, “You think I planned…that?” Angered again, she managed to scramble out of his reach and onto her feet. “You know what, Josh? You’re an idiot.” She planted her hands on her hips and looked down at him. Suddenly, his exposed manhood seemed 75

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ridiculous. She pointed, “Put that away. Geez.” Josh tucked himself back into his pants and got up. Attempting to placate her, he stood up and stepped forward with a hand outstretched, “Calm down, Marsy. I wasn’t meaning that you—” “What? Did it on purpose? Or made a big mistake?” Her eyes flashed. “Well, I did both!” Josh wasn’t sure what to do about it. Should he try and get his arms around her? She was obviously upset over the whole thing. He couldn’t tell if she was mad at him, herself, or Theo. So, he just watched her while he tried to figure it out, hoping her body language or next words would spell it out for him. His silence had her narrowing her gaze. “Like I said a minute ago, you don’t care, do you?” Definitely confused, he asked, “Wait. Are you trying to pick a fight with me?” “Damn right I am.” He laughed. That just made her angrier. She turned to stomp away from him, pacing, grinding through her teeth. “Oh! Will you be laughing when I turn up pregnant with Theo’s baby? I won’t. I am so stupid!” She hadn’t been on birth control. She hadn’t used precautions. Josh panicked a little. “You think…?” “Oh, I don’t know what to think.” He suggested, “Why don’t you read your cards?” She hesitated. “I don’t want to know.” “Want me to read them?” “Josh… why—do you care?” A little hurt that she’d have to ask, feeling a little guarded, he said carefully, “Sure I do.” 76

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*** It didn’t convince her. She grunted as the thought that Theo was probably up at the keg party bragging about shagging the gypsy in the drama booth grazed through her mind like a whizzing bullet. The overwhelming honesty of how obvious it would be that he was the father, if she were pregnant, seemed too much to bear. What a laughing stock she would be! Part of Marsy felt that it was absolutely ludicrous to have this idea in her head. What was the chances of her being pregnant? Why had she even thought of it? Why was the skin on the back of her neck tingling? Wanting to get the wondering over, fully confident in the reading of tarot, she said, “You know what? I think I will read the cards.” Snagging the deck on the table, she shuffled quickly, concentrating on the question of being pregnant. She flipped one card. The damned tower card again. She knew where her destiny was. In a lonely prison. “Josh, I need to be alone. To think.” He looked at the card. “What do you think that means?” It said nothing of pregnancy. “You did ask the right question?” Marsy whispered, “Leave me, Josh.” Hesitating, waiting for something more, Josh stood there, watching her. She just stared at the card, squinted actually, like she was trying to see more— something behind the tower. Something obscure. 77

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Something not there. When she didn’t look up at him after several seconds, he eased toward the doorway, one step backward at a time, hating to go. Once at the curtain folds, he asked, “I’ll see you tomorrow, right?” She glanced up at him. “Sure.” Immediately, she reshuffled the tarot cards. With her attention on those, she didn’t see the wistful, very sorry, worried expression on Josh’s face, or his lips moving to say in a silent whisper, “I love you, Mars.” Instead, she concentrated on what she had asked, “What does my future hold?” Answer? The Tower. She needed more. There had to be more. No matter how many cards Marsy flipped that night, and she flipped plenty, she felt that everything pointed her toward a big chance in life. Making choices. She dropped out of college the next day. Seeing the future had been an eye opener. She had to change her course. The cards were right in that. Thinking that college life, with a new reputation as slut…was the road that would take her down prostitution lane…she walked away. From school. From Josh. From Lena. And definitely from Theo. She didn’t go home. She moved to New York City and buried herself there in the crowd. Or so she thought.

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Chapter Fourteen New York City, 7 years later

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he click of Marsy’s stiletto heels on the imported Italian tiles had men craning their necks. She pretended not to notice, but the swing of her flirty thigh-high skirt rocked a little bit more with the slink of each hip as she extended her gait. She wanted them to remember her, to appreciate… but she didn’t want to be late. She couldn’t afford to be distracted, even if every man in the place was wealthy, fresh for the pickings. After all, she wasn’t your average, run of the mill, gold digger. She was looking for more than just a little hard cash. Still, her lips twisted into a smirking smile at the thoughts racing through her mind. Apparently, hours of pre-planning her outfit, this meeting…her makeover…had been time and money well spent. Whispers of, “Did you see that?” and under breath, baritone mumblings of “Mercy!” followed in her wake as she slipped between the gaming tables at Temptation’s Tower, the top scaled, private men’s club, upper east side, New York, New York. 79

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And she knew they weren’t complaining because a woman was in their sanctuary. Oh no. These men liked what they saw. And it was a well-kept secret that high-end prostitutes frequented the private club after dark. They were draped discreetly over the suits at the tables, eyeing her with keen query. Probably spotting her for the fraud she was. But not one said a word to stop her. Perhaps the reach of Madame Florence’s arms had encompassed all the entrepreneurs of the evening? They had certainly opened the door of the club for her. In fact, Marsy had walked right in the front door. Made a point of it. Just like she owned the place. Had paid handsomely for the privilege. Sold her soul. But she wasn’t going to dwell on that now. She had a purpose on her agenda. Click. Click. Click. The tap of her heels rat-a-tattatted behind her, rhythmic as a jungle drum, keeping pace with her pulse. Heavens, she was getting hot already, just at the thought of what she was about to do. Blinking briefly, she forced herself to think about the women she was passing. Elegantly coifed. Expensively dressed. Discreet and sleek. Maybe a little more like the real Marsy than she wanted to admit. Certainly the opposite of the dominatrix in black leather thigh high stiletto boots that she represented now. Usually, the women were brought in the back, let out into a covered portico, tunneled through the lower levels of the tower to the casino which consisted of the belly of the main floor. It sported a chrome-tubed elevator in the center—that rose up to 80

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one destination only. The tower apartment. The den of all decadence. Ah, the symbolism of the plunging cock at the central juncture above. The ornate, phallic carvings…if only you looked up to see the draping head of the elevator shaft. Marsy couldn’t help but see it. She had her gaze set firmly on the tube, knowing full well that these men thought they had her pegged. At least, they were hoping to peg her. They probably suspected her to be the evening’s prize. And by God, she was. Marsy’s step faltered only slightly at the thought. Of course, she wanted them to assume she was a hooker. Well, a courtesan. Practiced. Skilled. She wanted them to clamor after her. What woman didn’t want men to fall at her feet? And rich men, at that? She’d gone to great lengths to create the image. Tutored under a madame, even, for months to get it right. Oh, yeah. Marsy wanted to see men fall all right. Well, man, anyway. She wondered briefly if her information could be wrong, if her target would be lined up for an arrow to the heart or not. Madame Florence had assured her the lubrication had been well applied. He would be expecting her. Drooling at both ends for what she was bringing. Drooling at both ends. Madame’s words. “Just the way a man should be,” she’d said. “Don’t disappoint him, Mars. The man deserves what’s coming.” Yes, Madame Florence had a bone or two to pick with Theo Veloz, too. Marsy had been the perfect tool: pliable, but calculating, a consummate actress— 81

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almost ready. Just a few honing lessons and Marsy was ready to deliver a take-down blow to Mr. Wonderful; the owner of Temptation Tower. All Marsy’s stars had lined up once again. And his, too. Only he didn’t know it. Under her breath, Marsy calculated, “Mars is in the house, buddy boy. And you thought numerology, astrology, tarot, and all that was a bunch of bunk. Ha.” Way too many times, he’d opened his arrogant mouth about the folly of putting credence into a psychic’s ramblings. He’d been quoted repeatedly in the papers. She’d cut and pasted every lousy clip. Along with the news of his Temptation Tower announcements and building plans and progress. “Sixteen floors. Hello. Where’d you get that idea, Theo?” Marsy stopped for a second, propped a boot onto a gaming table and leaned over to wipe the toe tip, grin at the patrons there and say, “Heya. Mars is in the house.” Accentuated with a wink, and she was clip, clip, clipping across the tiles some more. Blow a kiss here. And there. Wink. Pouty-lipped air kiss to that man. She had them all panting. And all the while, her mind was racing. He didn’t believe in ghosts. Ha! He was going to see one tonight. Marsy was sure of it. And he was going to be pale and shaking by the time she was done with him, or she’d hand in her psychic eye, stop lighting incense and turn her back on the tarot for good. No. Marsy had faith in fate. By now, Marsy wasn’t sure if she was working toward revenge for her own sake, or Madame Florence’s. Either way, she had learned the craft of 82

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pleasing men, and dominating their every breath. If there was one thing Marsella Garcia had learned from that lady, it was the upper hand. The eeee-mojjjj, as Floronce called it, that affected disinterest was more fetching to a man than puppy dog begging. That a whip and tongue lashing could be combined to mutual satisfaction— but she had already known that begging for attention, being the dependable girl next door type wasn’t the answer to her dreams. And getting fulfillment wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Marsy didn’t have time to lament the fact that no one had come looking for her—all those years ago. She’d gone over that a million times anyway. Well, she’d done her own looking, finally. And wonder of wonder, all the pieces of her life’s puzzle were in the tower for this one occasion. Lena, Josh, Theo. Imagine that. Her stars were lining up all right. Marsy had grown up, too, got over—yes— pregnancy and losing twins—all by herself. And since then, she’d bided her time, and she had practiced the art of snapping her fingers, barking orders, and lacing up a leather corset. Which, at that precise moment, started to pinch her breast. Déjà vu. The vision in the renaissance fair booth all those years ago? It gave her mental pause. Grunting under her breath, discreetly as possible without breaking stride, she reached up with her freshly French manicured hand and tugged. To those watching, the personal caress upon her person was just a teaser drawing attention to the ample cleavage she was marketing in a proud bustier supported, short-jacketed Armani outfit. Armani really did have 83

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a sleek line to his lady’s after hours (private purchase only) set. Adding to the effect, she bit her lower lip, slipped the nail across the upper rounded portion of her boob and… scrunched hard. Of course, Marsy wasn’t a femme fatale. At least, not of the ilk she was trying to pull off. And her luck was the worst, even at the best of times. She snagged the sheer fabric concealing the sexy partyware beneath. She was hard put to hide her pout over it, too. It never occurred to her that the men watching would eat it up. She didn’t want to smudge her bright red lipstick, though, so the pursing of her lips really got their heads working. Truth be known, she had plans of applying it thickly to the collar of one hotunder-the-collar, way too stuffy college-boy-madegood. Apparently, having sex with her had been a boost to Josh’s ego. He changed majors, went into business with Theo, of all people. And Lena…right there with them. Dodging dagger, the lethal lawyer. That’s what they called her. Lethal Lena. Oh, she was good, all right. The papers wrote up every word she said, every case she won…for T & J Enterprises. Marsy doubted if any of them even remembered her. In fact, she was counting on the fact that they’d at least have trouble recognizing her. She knew though, that he was going to go for what she had to offer, even if she had to set fire to the place and hold the only bucket of water until he begged. That man was going 84

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to get hot in his shorts, one way or the other. Her thoughts were running away with her hopes and plans. “Damn,” Marsy muttered when the corner of her nail caught on her blouse, but she kept on moving. She had to reach the elevator before it left the ground floor. The lights above it were blinking as it came down. The clock above those ticked to eleven o’clock on the dot. Sleek chrome doors swished open. Coming up from the basement garage, stopping once to pick up… her. Lifting her chin, squaring her shoulders, Marsy flicked her long, ebony sheet of hair over her shoulder and called out in her practiced husk. “Wait for me… boys. I can’t go down until I go up, can I?” As one, heads swiveled in her direction. Three men put hands out to hold the door for her. To the last one, lopsided grins slipped over their features. Marsy took center stage in the lift of tongue-tied overgrown oafs and graciously said, “Ahhh,” with as much sensuality as she could manage. Grinning, she added, “Chivalry is not dead. How will I ever show my appreciation for all of you? There’s the challenge of the evening, if ever there was one. Don’t you think?” With great exaggeration, she licked her lips, laid a hand to the man closest, spreading her fingers over his crisp white pleats in a possessive manner, and declared, “I sure hope this elevator doesn’t get too hot, sir. My teddy is making me sweat already.” With her other hand, she fanned herself dramatically as the doors closed. “Too many layers, you know.” She 85

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winked. The man nodded his head like a bobble-head in a car window on a bumpy road. “I know. I know.” Excited to be in such proximity and chosen for attention, he said, “I don’t think we’ve met.” Marsy sighed. “Aaah. I think you’re right. Teddy’s been keeping me under lock and key, if you know what I mean.” Deftly, she slipped a hand in her jacket pocket, lifted a pair of cuffs and dangled them in the air. Of course, innuendoes about her undergarments, coupled with a visual on the handcuffs, sent the blood pressures in the elevator right off the scale. The temperature rose within seconds at the speed of the elevator itself. But Marsy had done her research well. She had bet on this reaction. These same men always took this elevator up to the penthouse suite party on Tuesdays—at exactly eleven p.m. They were expecting entertainment of the sensual ilk. A cut above whatever they’d had the week before. Her reputation proceeded her. Not one man thought to ask for identification. Marsy licked her lips, mentally counting the seconds, the floors. They were almost to the top. Number sixteen was her lucky number, too. At least, she was counting on it. Right before the arrival bell dinged, she announced with a pout, “Teddy is all wet. Now what am I gonna do about that? A take down?” Turning toward the door she said, “That’s a wrestling term, boys. It’s time to get slick.” Ding. She stepped out. The plush carpet swallowed up an inch of her stiletto heels. The High Karate 86

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crowd were too stunned to respond. Marsy had to roll her eyes. If it all went that easy, she would be one happy girl by the end of the night. And Theodore Veloz would, indeed, be taken down… at least a peg or two.

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Chapter Fifteen

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ena spotted her straight out of the lift. Marsy looked good. Damn good. Tougher than she had in college. Ready to take on the man of her dreams. Which one would she choose? Lena knew she’d be picking up the pieces of either Josh or Theo. She’d picked Josh up seven years before…soothed his aching heart, sweet lipped his lonely body…and hooked him up right away with Theo. And then she’d worked on Theo’s sense of guilt, tamped it down, got him over the hump, pushed him into his successful suit. Helped them both build the tower. For all her belief in fate, Lena knew that someone had to give destiny a hand. Sometimes a little direction. Lena felt suddenly overheated. Like a cat, she unrolled herself from the sofa she’d twined herself over and went looking for another iced drink. She knew she was just a Band-Aid. Mars had always had the power to slit their throats. But she never knew it. Never grasped her stars. Until now. Would she make or break them? The wait for Marsy to get her act together had been excruciating… watching the door 88

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every day for seven years. Thank God Marsy had finally shown up. Lena was tired of waiting. She chuckled to herself. Dominatrix. She hadn’t seen that coming. Good choice, though. Josh and Theo had both become strong businessmen, calling the shots—even in bed. Marsy’s approach would definitely get their attention. **** Josh and Theo were standing near the window, backs to the elevator, discussing some issues about the Tower’s building code violations. The latest inspection had found more fire issues. Non-working fire alarms. Josh said, “It almost seems like they’re being tampered with. I mean, the ones that weren’t working today were working fine yesterday. You’d think a ghost was going around—” Theo killed his drink. “Don’t start that again, Josh. Which ghost would that be?” A passing waiter held out a tray. Theo dumped the empty and picked up a fresh gin and tonic. Josh pursed his lips. “I’m just saying…I believe in that sort of thing, even if you don’t. Lena does, too.” A little frustrated, he said, “It’s hard to believe that your two tightest business partners are so wrapped up in stuff like that and you can’t see it. What’s it gonna take to make you believe?” “I don’t believe in fate, Josh. I make my own choices. Let it rest. How many times do we have to have this conversation?” Silence from the party behind them caught their 89

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attention. They both turned at the precise moment that Marsy stepped out. Unfolding a whip, she cracked it, snapping them all to attention. Her gaze skittered across the men and women in the room and keyed in on Theo. She missed Josh altogether, because she spotted Theo first. Allowing a slow grin to spread, she crooked her finger at him. Theo looked around, then shook his head. He never came to the crook of a woman’s finger. And he wasn’t going to start in a crowded room, though the idea intrigued him. He asked Josh, “You set this up?” Josh was staring at the dominatrix, squinting. “Not my party. Maybe Lena did.” *** Marsy snapped her whip again. When Theo didn’t come to her, she panicked a little. That could ruin the whole deal. She was such a fake. That’s when she spotted Lena out of the corner of her eye. She was amused at the scene? Marsy pulled her shoulders back, lifted her chin, redirected her gaze back to Theo and said firmly, “Don’t make me come over there, Teddy.” Theo chuckled. Tipping his head a bit, he invited her, “And what if I do?” Marsy didn’t miss a beat. “Guess you get a private party… where I can teach you some discipline.” Striding across the carpet, wasting no more time, she grabbed him by the tie and planted a kiss on him. People around the room cheered. 90

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Josh was too stunned to speak. At least, for the space of the tongue lashing Marsy gave Theo. Full french kiss possession. Theo never knew what hit him. He had never been forcefully approached by a woman before. When she pulled back, still gripping his tie, having tightened it considerably, she asked, “Now, are you going to come willingly?” Her suggestive grin spread again, and she tugged on his tie while licking her lips. The high stiletto heels put her at eye level with him. Madame Florence had provided a layout of the tower apartment. Marsy knew exactly where to take him. Step by step, she walked backward, slowly— drawing him with her. Keyed in on her eyes, a little mesmerized by the dark depths of promise there, he followed. Someone behind them moaned aloud. “Ah… no public foreplay? Nothing for the rest of us?” Marsy tossed her head and looked around, breaking the spell on Theo. “What do you want?” Reaching up to take Theo by the crotch, she asked, “A grope?” She dropped the tie and stepped backward like that, reaching for the door handle behind her. “I promise you, I’ll need more than what he has to offer before I’m done tonight. Have another round. It won’t take me long. I’ll be back for someone else.” She winked, grinned lopsidedly and popped the door open. Theo laughed out loud at that, though he was being dragged along. Over his shoulder, he said, “Don’t bet on that.” And then he built up his own forward momentum and pushed her through the 91

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door and kicked it shut. Her hand tightened, but his countered with a grip to her crotch. “Like that?” Marsy squeezed. “You know what I like?” “What?” She hesitated to spill her cards so quickly. Something inside her had hoped that he’d recognize her—somehow. He repeated, “What?’ Suddenly, she knew… this was all wrong. Yes, she’d seen him—lonely at the window, just as the vision all those years ago had shown her. Well, exuding loneliness. He’d been talking to someone. She’d never even looked. Her compassionate soul wondered if he’d been truly lonely clear back in college, too. If she’d picked up on that as much as anything? Marsy eased her grip, ever so slightly. Licking her lips, she told him honestly, “I’m not really into receiving pain, if you don’t mind.” He eased his grip, too. “Neither am I. Shall we call it a truce?” Letting go, she backed up. “Sure.” He let go, too. Turning away from him, she looked over the room. “Tell me, how do you like living in your tower?” Marsy slipped her fingers through her hair, drawing attention to the length of it. Waist-long, a black sheet of silken curtain. A far cry from that gypsy wig she’d worn the last time she’d seen him. Theo shrugged. His gaze traveled her curves. Realizing that she couldn’t see his response, he said, “I’m on the top of the world. What’s not to like?” 92

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She sighed, dropping down onto the edge of the bed that dominated the room. It was a four-poster pleasure surface. Her fingers idly trailed across the spread, animal fur. It must have cost the earth. For all her practicing, she was no dominatrix. She couldn’t get into the role, now that she was in private. With the audience outside, yeah, she was good. But now… she sighed again. She was out of her league. This was no stage, no dark tent with only candle light. Marsy glanced up at the ceiling. Recessed, easy on the eyes lighting—but it seemed to make everything so clear. Theo eyed her with suspicion. “Have we met… before? You seem familiar.” She half laughed, turning her eyes on him. “I bet you say that to all your party favors.” Theo glanced toward the door. He heard Josh just outside…arguing with Lena. “Actually, I don’t usually stick around for the entertainment. I was, uh, delayed this evening.” A meeting with Josh and Lena over the fire code problem. Without thinking, Marsy said, “Don’t worry. It will all work out.” “What do you mean?” She glanced up at him. “Mind if I take these boots off for a few minutes? They’re killing my feet.” He waved a hand. Slowly unzipping them, she peeled the leather down her legs, and off—one at a time. Theo couldn’t help but sniff the air with interest. She had on fishnet stockings—gartered, obviously. She tugged on those 93

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without any pretense. Standing back up, she adjusted the back clips on them. Asking, “Is that seam straight?” He grinned. “Ah. You’re good, aren’t you?” Innocently, she asked, “What?” He shrugged. “Dominating me wasn’t the answer. So now you’re going all innocent and insecure on me?” He advanced on her. “Not wasting a second getting undressed, are you?” Marsy stopped him in his tracks by saying, “Think you’re gonna get lucky?” Theo watched her face, narrowed in on her eyes. Those words had mocked him for years. “Gypsy Ginny?” She shook her head. “Sorry. She’s dead. Allow me to introduce myself… You’re looking at the mother of your dead son. Twins, actually.” She was sure one was his, and one was Josh’s. Night and day babies. One dark-haired. One blond. Both dead and buried, stillborn. Her chest got heavier at the thought, the vision in her head of the sweet little swaddled babies, lying side by side in a hospital bassinet. One view— that would last her a lifetime. Theo blinked. She came toward him. “Seven years I’ve dreamed of telling you about it. But now I find that the moment lacks…” She looked up at the ceiling, “Any momentum.” She wanted to cry. Stupid thought— vengeance. She wanted to scream, and stomp her foot. So much wasted time. Theo took her by the elbows. “You are her.” He turned Marsy toward the light. “It’s the same eyes. 94

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You’ve haunted my dreams. Did you know that?” “Well, then, we’re even.” He told her, “You were right. This place…it is lonely.” She wondered if he was deaf. Hadn’t he heard that he’d fathered a child and it was dead? Sadly, a little confused at his preoccupation with her identity, she shook her head. “Only because you let it.” “No. It really is lonely.” She made him let go of her. She pulled out of his arms and backed up. “You have two good friends who’ve stood by you for years, helped you build your empire. What are you talking about?” It wasn’t like the hell she’d been living. The torture of losing her twins. The day-to-day living with her mistakes. One stupid day had haunted her. He didn’t know what haunting meant. Distaste crossed her expression. “Josh? Lena?” He blinked again. “My God! That’s right. You were good friends with both of them.” “Were being the operative word there.” Her lips twisted, and she turned away from him. “Is there another way out of here? Suddenly, I don’t feel like playing the party whore.” “Yes. Wait. How did you get in? To this… line of work, I mean…?” She looked at him, then. Incredulous, she said, “I am an actress.” Theo’s tongue had a hard time getting around his next question. “You don’t… do this…all the time?” “Hardly.” She picked up her boots. “I never do this. I had to get closure—get rid of the damaged image in 95

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my head that kept replaying…you know…since that night.” Theo ran a hand through his dark hair. “I thought about you…about that… more times than I can count.” She had to laugh then. “Tell me you got better at foreplay and partner satisfaction, because you—” He cut her off. “I’ve worked on it.” Rolling her shoulders, picking up her boots and hugging them to her chest, she said, “Guess my input was worth something.” Theo reached out, eased her down onto the end of the bed, so they could talk. “You got pregnant?” She shrugged. “Yeah.” “I never knew.” Noise outside the door was escalating. The party was in full swing again. Every so often, the sound of Josh and Lena’s voice—in argument—could be heard. Marsy asked, “What are they doing? Standing right outside? Just like last time?” Theo turned his body toward her. “What do you mean?” “Well, I figured it out after I lost the babies. Lena set me…us…all up. She’s still doing it.” “What are you talking about?” Marsy rolled her eyes. “I should get money for every time I hear that question. The cards don’t lie to me.” She sighed. “Don’t you question where she gets her business savvy from?” Before Theo could answer, Mars said, “Lena does it all. Numerology. Astrology. Tarot. She’s quite the psychic. That’s what drew us together.” She looked at Theo, really, then. He had 96

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tired lines around his eyes and lips. She added quietly, “You owe your fortune to her.” Theo didn’t lie. “She’s been good to me.” “Yeah. Maybe you should think on that.” Swallowing hard, she asked, “How long does she have to wait?” “For what?” “I haven’t seen any wedding announcements.” “That’s because she’s playing back and forth between Josh and me.” Lots of things were coming clear to Marsy. Everything had driven them to this night. As much as she’d spread plenty of blame across Theo and Joss, she’d given Lena her fair share, too. But the fact that they were all in the tower together explained destiny to Mars. Quietly, she said, “It doesn’t take an Einstein to realize she’s in love with you.” A million newspaper pics had shown Lena staring up adoringly at Theo. Was she there to clear the past, to make way for their future? So they could have a life together? Was she a clog in the pipes of their life? “Why do you say that?” She rolled her eyes, disgusted with the conversation, the turn of her understanding. “You weren’t so eager to throw me down and push my skirt up.” Silkily, he said, “I was eager enough.” He reached over and pulled the boots from her arms, setting them aside. She told him, “Yeah. Sure. We’re just taking time, to make this look good. Aren’t we? If that door pops open, are you gonna throw me back on the bed?” 97

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“No.” He fingered the ends of her hair. Honestly, he said, “I learned something… that night, you know. Taking something should be calculated. Never taken in lust without forethought. I’ve suffered for hurting you.” His eyes found hers. “Believe me. I’ve felt bad about it.” She let out a heavy breath. He smiled at her. “You’re very pretty, you know.” A self-deprecating laugh escaped her lips. “Would you say…beautiful?” Theo took his time in answering. “Yeah.” He reached up and pushed the hair back from her face, touched her cheek briefly. “Yeah, I would.” She whispered, “I wish we could heal all the wounds, Theo. I need to get on with my life.” Sadness muddied her eyes. Tears surfaced. “I think the past is gone, but it never goes away. There’s too many wounds there. Nice idea, though.” Theo was working up to warming Marsy to her toes. He didn’t want to think, or talk. He wanted to show her that he’d learned about foreplay. But Marsy stopped him when she asked, “Did Josh ever mention me? I mean…” Theo pulled back, and rested his elbows on his knees, rubbing his hands together, looking away from her. “Oh, man.” “What?” “That’s why you’re here.” He shook his head before telling her, “I should have known.” He got up and paced the room before telling her, “He’s pretty much spent a fortune looking for you.” Glancing toward the door, “I didn’t even think. Didn’t put two and two 98

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together out there. I can’t believe you turned up here. That you didn’t acknowledge him, now that I think about it.” Rummaging a hand through his hair, he moved to the window, and looked out on the city lights. The sixteenth floor afforded a fantastic view—night or day. He glanced over his shoulder at her. “Didn’t you recognize him standing beside me out there?” “I had to finish things with you. Kind of onetracked into that. Spotted you and that was it.” She excused it with, “It’s a drama thing.” Theo was looking out the window again. “He’ll probably be suicidal now.” “Sounds like he’s just angry.” The voices were louder outside again… then silence. “Ah. Lena fights with him to redirect him. Before long, he’ll be at the bar and burying his woes in a bottle.” He tipped his ear. “Probably heading that way now.” Marsy reached up and tucked some hair behind her ear. “I thought Josh had put you up to…you know. I couldn’t forgive him. Or you. Especially when I found out I was pregnant.” Theo grunted. “Josh? I hardly even knew him back then.” Once again, he had ignored her reference to the babies. She wanted to leave, lick her wounds again in private. This hadn’t turned out near as cool as she’d planned. All those stupid hours of planning. Wasted hours. Wasted heartache. Wasted life. Theo told her, “Josh was in love with you, you know.” 99

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Marsy sucked in a lot of air. She’d wanted to hear that. But not from Theo. Quietly, she said, “That was a long time ago.” Theo urged, “Why don’t you talk to him?” Before she could say no, he had crossed the room and pulled the door open. Beyond the door, the party noise dropped an octave. Theo called, “Josh!” Lena and he were at the bar, just as Theo had guessed. Marsy could just see them. Self-conscious, she readjusted her corset. She just wanted out of there. Lena dragged Josh to the door and pushed past Theo. Whistles, hoots and hollers went up as everyone outside imagined a foursome about to happen. Theo shut the door without another word, then leaned against it. He said, “Josh, Lena. You remember…” Lena said, “Marsy. You look…good.” Marsy laughed, looking away. “The best money can buy.” She was referring to her makeover. She knew they had taken the bait—thought she was for real. Josh stole a glance at her. He was biting his lower lip. Theo announced, “You know…all those years ago…she lost twins.” They all looked at her. Marsy wanted to cry. He had heard. She hated ugly announcements. That had been a really tough time for her. A million times, she’d regretted the decision to go off alone to deal with that. But she’d never wanted to hold anyone back. Make 100

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anyone else suffer with her consequences. At about the same time, Josh said, “I’m sorry to hear that.” And Lena replied, “Oh, Mars. I was afraid of that.” Marsy held out a hand. She didn’t want their sympathy. Not now. She tried not to flinch. Shaking her head, frowning, she stared into the carpet. “You know…it’s okay. I mean, it’s not okay, but it’s over. A long time, now.” The fact that Lena had foreseen it and never given her an inkling…Marsy was getting more and more depressed—needing to be alone, where she could comfort herself, cocoon herself in her own heartache again. Lena dropped onto the bed beside her. “What happened? Why don’t you tell us about it?” “Doesn’t matter. Point is…it’s done.” Marsy looked up, “I needed closure. Felt like it wouldn’t happen unless I came here. It was stupid.” Josh said, “We looked for you. Everywhere, Mars.” Lena echoed, “Everywhere. I tried the cards every day. I could see what was happening to you, but couldn’t find you.” She reached out and put a hand over Marsy’s, squeezing, relaying her sympathy. “I’ve missed you.” Marsy let out a little laugh. “I don’t know when you had time.” “I’ve been waiting for you. Expecting you.” Lena caught Marsy’s gaze. “You can help us all, Marsy. We’re kind of stuck in limbo here, all hung up on one stupid night.” Marsy rolled her shoulders, pulling her hand out of Lena’s. “I came. Let’s bury the past.” Like I buried my 101

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babies, and my life. Just give me closure. Marsy begged silently to no one in particular. “Get on with our lives.” Josh leaned his butt against an antique table across from Lena and Marsy. A large, oval, onyx mirror loomed behind him, reflecting their images. When he moved, the table creaked a tad, and Marsy looked up at him. She didn’t know what to say or do next. That’s when Gypsy Ginny appeared in the mirror.

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Chapter Sixteen

I

n a voice that only Marsy could hear, Ginny said, “Tell him you loved him—all those years ago. That you haven’t let go.” Marsy blinked. “Tell the others to leave. Forgive them and move on. Take the chance, Marsy.” Ginny winked and disappeared. The silence in the room stretched. They all wanted the same thing, but how to smooth things over was…well…awkward for all of them. Josh cleared his throat. “I’ve missed you terribly.” Marsy’s head jerked up. She told him, “I thought you set me up. And then, took advantage of me. I wondered if you did it on purpose.” Josh flinched as if she’d hit him. “You thought I wanted him…” He thumbed toward Theo, “to touch you?” It was easy to see the sick feeling that filled him. “I wanted to kill him.” Theo said, “He tried.” Marsy looked from one to the other. “Really?” Lena explained, “The next day, when Josh found out that you had left…he came looking for me, then he went after Theo. I think you could call it a big, ugly 103

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brawl.” “More than one, actually.” Theo slipped his hands into his pockets. “Every time he saw me—for ages— he took a swing at me.” Marsy had to smile at the image. “Then how’d you become business partners?” Both Josh and Theo said, “Lena. She’s a pitbull, never lets go of anything.” “It took some doing,” she admitted. “It looks like things are good for all three of you.” Marsy reached for her boots. “You know, I need to get going. We’ve been in here long enough for the crowd to get a cheap thrill.” She never picked up her boots. Josh stopped her when he said, “Don’t go.” To the others, he asked, “Can I get a few minutes alone with her?” They exchanged glances for several seconds. Finally, Theo suggested, “Lena, why don’t you let me buy you a drink?” She chuckled, moving toward the door. “Good idea.” Over her shoulder, she said, “It’s good to see you, Mars. Don’t be a stranger. I think we need you.” She offered her a small smile. Theo touched Lena’s elbow, prodding her out the door, but he, too, hesitated before he closed it behind them. “I’m sorry.” Marsy swallowed heavily, and smiled weakly. “I forgive you.” Theo closed the door. Josh waited a minute before saying, “Do you forgive me, too?” She shrugged and looked away. “Sure.” 104

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Josh suddenly dropped to his knees in front of her and took hold of her hands. “Marsy, I have loved you forever. I never let go. I never stopped looking for you.” He would have never found her. Her phone number was unlisted. She’d used a fake name at the hospital and her apartment was subleased. Marsy looked down at his hands, their hands. “That was a long time ago, Josh. We’ve changed. Things have happened.” He reached up, tipped her chin and whispered, “Did you ever read your cards, Marsy? Read them and ask if we had a future together?” There was a desperation in his voice—impossible to miss. Marsy said, “I could never read you. You know that. It all gets muddled.” “Lena thought you might be coming to be with Theo.” “I was. Well,” she looked up at the ceiling, bobbing her head a little, she said, “to get closure or something. I’m not sure. I just knew I had to come.” Amusement crossed Josh’s expression. “You just had to come.” Her gaze darted to his. She caught the innuendo. It flashed in her eyes. The air in the room changed. Frissons of excitement crawled over her arms, up the back of her neck, over her head, and she shivered. Josh said, “Marsy, I have relived our last night together—over and over.” She had to, but she wasn’t going to admit it. “I want to repeat it.” She frowned. 105

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Josh said, “Every night… for the rest of our lives.” Marsy said quietly, “We’ve changed. I’ve changed.” “Love, Marsy. That’s what I’m talking about here.” Josh leaned forward and kissed Marsy. It was a tender token, a touch of sweetness. Then he told her, “Marsy, marry me. Let me love you forever.” When she opened her lips to protest, he kissed her again. Josh’s hands slid to her upper arms, gently gripping her. His mouth slid over hers, deepening the kiss almost instantly. Marsy closed her eyes and stopped thinking. For once… the first time in seven years… she just wanted to feel a man’s arms around her… his arms around her, his lips on her, his love surrounding her. Somewhere, in the back of Marsy’s brain, she had to wonder if this was a fantasy dream. But the fantasy was real. Josh was there, telling her how much he wanted to be with her, have a future with her. Somehow, he scooted her backward on the bed, until they were lying side by side. She was on her back, he was leaning over her. His fingers splayed possessively over her abdomen and he told her again, “Marsy, let me make love to you.” Punctuating that with another kiss, and a nuzzle that slid down her throat, he whispered, “Aaah. I’ve waited forever for this.” He paused, obviously trying to keep control, get his breath, waiting for her answer. Marsy’s chest heaved. Ever so lightly, she breathed, “Yes.” She wanted to cry as she whispered a second time, “Yes.” Once again, she felt the great desire to let go—and let 106

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Josh smother all the hurt away. Josh drew a leg over hers. Then he moved his hand down past her skirt, finding the short hem at her thighs. Floundering a little as he came across the end clips to her garters, he muttered something unintelligible, something sexy, something that slipped from his lips, which had covered hers— over her tongue, down her throat, right into her soul. When he found the warm and moistening juncture between her thighs, he cupped her there. “Marsy?” She opened her eyes to find him staring down at her. “You’re still beautiful. Even more so, if that’s possible.” Marsy quipped, “You just like the outfit.” Josh shook his head. “I just love the girl.” His fingertip slid inside of her. She arched and closed her eyes again. She didn’t want to think about love. Or anything else. Just like that fateful night, her body was taking over—making its wants known. Josh watched her face for the space of several minutes, while his fingers worked magic on her. When she was nearly to the pinnacle of release, he stopped. Abruptly, the arch in her back flattened out. Her lips pouted, and she reached for his hand as he tried to pull it away. “Don’t stop, Josh. Not now.” It was a breathy begging. She pressed his hand to her. He kissed her again, a quick peck. “Don’t worry, Mars. I have no plans to stop this… ever again.” He managed to free his hand, undo his trousers and free his manhood, in a second’s time. Climbing between her legs, with his clothes still on, very much like a 107

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schoolboy, he told her, “I don’t plan on letting you out of my sight again.” Josh slid into her. And then he groaned and let his wait fall atop her. He grunted, “Don’t move.” She let out a little laugh. “Don’t move?” He had her pinned. But then Marsy’s body answered the call, and she found there was, indeed, wiggling room beneath him. Drawing her legs up, she tilted her pelvis repeatedly. Josh’s arms tightened. So did his buns. “Jesus, Marsy. You have no mercy, do you?” He pumped into her, finding a good rhythm for them both. Marsy clung to Josh with her eyes shut tight. She was reaching again—for that elusive tingle, that remarkable satisfaction… when she almost had it, Josh repeated, “I love you, Marsy.” Without thinking, she answered from her heart. “I love you, too, Josh. Oooh! Oooh! Right there!” He responded with, “Oh, yeah. That’s it!” And he came inside her with a last, throbbing, pulsation that drove her over the edge and pressed into her pelvic bone at just the right angle to massage her inside and out. Marsy cried out as she squirmed into it, tightening every muscle in her body, hanging on to the last spasm of ecstasy. Josh pumped a few more times, just to make sure they’d both worked out every last drop of physical pleasure they could get. Then he collapsed on her. Some time later, his nose buried in her throat, he asked, “Marsy, promise me you won’t runaway again.” She sighed. The restless feelings she’d suffered 108

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through were gone, worked out of her after seven long years and one short excursion into physical lust. She didn’t want to go anywhere… ever. But then again, she wasn’t so sure that she should stay. Madame Florence’s face came to her mind. “You go, gir-lee. Go and give them what is it you say? The what for!” Of course, her accent had made it laughable at the time. Marsy whispered, “What for?” Josh didn’t miss a beat. “For love, Marsy. Do it for love. I’ve been miserable without you.” Marsy laughed at that. She pushed him a bit, so she could look at his face. “You’ve been miserable? You’ve been busy building a tower.” Josh said, “What?” He rolled off of her and looked up at the ceiling. “This tower of loneliness?” She stared up at the ceiling, too. “A tower of loneliness. I never thought of calling it that.” “When Lena came up with the idea…or was it Theo?” He frowned, not sure which one had first brought up the idea. “I opposed it. Then I realized that it would be like a light tower. You couldn’t miss it. It would get lots of press. I thought you might come to us—since I couldn’t find you.” He reached for her, and drew her close. Marsy settled her head on his chest, wrinkling her nose at the fact that he still had clothes on. She wanted to feel skin. Idly, her fingers moved up the buttons, releasing them. She had to sit up a little to undo his tie…push his jacket off…and then his shirt. All the while, he watched her. He helped a little when she pulled to get them out from under his body. 109

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Finally, he said, “I’m glad you came.” She smirked, working to pull his pants off of him. “Me, too.” She tossed those aside as well. Then she stood up at the end of the bed. Slowly, surely, she began to undo her own clothing. Josh watched, his erection growing again by fractions with each garment. The sheer blouse. The skirt. Down to crotchless teddy—gartered fishnets—she hesitated. Tilting her head, she asked, “Am I dreaming this… again?” “That’s what I was wondering.” He sat up, sliding to the end of the bed. Reaching out to grasp her hips, he asked pulled her to him and pressed his lips to her lower ones, whispering, “Ah, Marsy…the way you smell…it’s been in my head forever.” His tongue reached forward to taste her. “I’ve craved this. Us.” Marsy closed her eyes, holding his head with both hands. She had, too. “I feel like I’m on fire.” Josh stopped his laving long enough to say, “Me, too, Mars. Me, too.” She reveled in his--almost worshipping—of her body, turning her face to the recessed lighting, with her eyes closed. For the first time in ages, she realized that she wasn’t lonely any more. She was right where she needed to be. She sighed. He pressed his tongue deeper. And Marsy began to moan. When the lights in her brain exploded, she squealed, “The stars! I see the stars lining up!” She moaned some more, hung on, and sighed, “Finally!” THE END 110

About the Author

C

arys Weldon does her verbal lambada from a hollow down in the Ozarks—on an emachine, no less—e for erotica, e for eXtasy and e for enjoy!