Haunted (8 page)

Shayne pressed up to look at her, lightly caressing her face. His gaze burned into her eyes.

“Be sure,” he whispered hoarsely. “Please, be sure.” His shaft pulsed within her, making his voice catch. “I will take you,” he murmured, his voice strained. “And not this world or any other will stop me.”

“Yes,” she breathed. “Yes to you, yes to all of this, forever, yes.”

When he thrust into her, it was pure pleasure. His cock stroked her in a way it hadn’t before. The hot length of him moved within her, stretching her, pushing into the place she needed him most.

“You’re perfect,” Shayne muttered through clench teeth, as he sank himself to the hilt. “You are mine.”

She whimpered at the words, taking him in. She wanted to be perfect for him. She wanted to be completely his. She raised her knees, desperate to bring him closer.

He sucked in a breath, his massive torso arching over her, then he drew his hips back, and thrust. She groaned. Gods, he’d gone deep––but not deep enough. She crossed her ankles in the small of his back. He thrust again, even deeper. Then again. His gorgeous body flexed as he pounded into her. His thrusts pinned her to the floor.

I’m not fragile. I’m just yours. Take me hard, please.

With a sudden movement that told her exactly how strong and fast Shayne was, he wrapped his arm around her and sat back. He knelt and she was suddenly straddling his thighs. They had never separated, but now she was sitting upright, clinging to his shoulders.

“I want you to ride me,” he growled “I want to watch you. I want to see how much you need this.”

“Oh gods,” she whimpered, and rode his cock.

She pleasured herself on it, rubbing her aching clit on his hard body. Her gloved hands clasped him behind the neck. Her hips whipped back and forth, desperate for release. But when his fingers found her sensitive nipples, her hips flew into a paroxysm of grinding gyrations. She bucked against him, as his shaft pierced her core. Her thighs squeezed him as they thudded together. She knew that she was whimpering and grunting with every motion. She didn’t care. Inside her, the fire rose higher, and then even higher. Tension wound in her belly until her entire body trembled. Her lungs burned, but the sweet slide of his flesh up into her, the tug of it one second, the fullness of it the next, kept her thrusting. Ecstasy built as her body strained. She was stretched to the breaking point.

Suddenly, his hands were hard on her hips. He plunged upward, raising and then lowering her. He picked her up and shoved her down, thrusting up into her with a strength that left her breathless. She couldn’t control the pleasure any longer. Fire spilled through her body, as she clung to him with insane strength. Lights exploded behind her eyes, as deep and ferocious clenching claimed her. Pain mixed with ecstasy, as she cried out and impaled herself on his shaft.

Her climax triggered his. He brought her down on his cock, one final time with brutal ferocity. He roared as he spilled inside her. She quaked with the aftershocks of her pleasure, but now combined with his, it was all she could do to hang on. He jerked inside her, spewing molten heat. It slapped up into her, pulse after throbbing pulse. There was no separation, only their two bodies, caught in an eternal rhythm. He crushed her to him, as the last of her climax milked him. Their chests heaved against one another, their harsh breaths filling the air. For several long moments, they only clung to each other, shaking. Slowly, carefully, Gillian released her death grip on Shayne’s neck.

He lifted her off him, resting her on her back. Then he lay down next to her, stroking the hair out of her face. As she rolled to him, he gathered her in his arms.

“Forever,” he whispered into her hair.

“Forever,” she echoed quietly against his chest.

She saw the dim glow of the flames glinting off his skin, and felt a warmth deep within her that she had not expected. As Shayne’s breathing slowed and he eventually dropped into sleep, Gillian couldn’t close her eyes. She didn’t want to miss a moment. She nuzzled into his chest, and he sighed, but didn’t wake. If they never made love again, this would be enough. It would have to be.

THE NEXT MORNING dawned bright. Though Gillian wasn’t hungry, she heard Shayne’s stomach growl. But they quietly got dressed, and Shayne rolled up the bedding.

“Are you ready to go home?” he asked, putting the bedding in a corner.

She barely stopped herself from saying that he was home. “It’s been…quite a ride hasn’t it?”

Shayne grinned at her, moving the table that had blocked the door.

“You, my dear, have a talent for understatement. When we get back to the world, I’ll take you out for some amazing food. Then we’ll see about that understatement.”

Gillian laughed. It felt good to be able to laugh.

They headed back to the central courtyard and the walled portal. She could still remember Celia crumpling to the ground, and the way the tall woman had simply looked at her. Celia had been the Goddess’s price.

“Could you step back a little, please?” Gillian asked. “I’m going to need a lot of light if I’m going to find that switch.”

Shayne stepped back to the short corridor. “Let me know if I can help.”

“Just be ready to move fast. When I saw the woman open the gate, everything happened quickly.”

Gillian prayed he’d get through the gate.

With one long, last glance at him, she stepped next to the wall. But as she started to raise her hands, the light above faded as though a cloud had passed over. She looked up. Though the sky was clear, it was as though a shade had been drawn across the sun. A sudden chill hung in the air. For some reason she couldn’t fathom, a bolt of fear shot through her. As much as she’d been prepared to meet her end, this was different. She turned to Shayne, about to yell for him to get back, when she realized he wasn’t moving. She stared at him for a second before jerking her gaze back to the gate.

It was surrounded with people. They were materializing right in front of her.

“The price,” said a bellowing voice. Though Gillian gaped at the crowd, no one seemed to have spoken. “I will have it,” the voice continued.

Like the sound of a mistuned choir, the disembodied voice shook the very air. She realized the crowd was staring at her. For a single, desperate moment, Gillian wondered if this is what Celia had seen, just before she died.

“I am ready to pay the price,” Gillian said.

“Are you,” the voice said, more statement than question. Around her, the chilled air seemed to shimmer in time with the voice.

The crowd was solid now, and to Gillian’s horror, she recognized two faces. Galia stood at the front, with Mina close behind. Their gazes were empty, and yet Gillian read a sorrow that threatened to crush her. She wanted to run screaming in the other direction. But there was Shayne. She had to get him through the gate. She turned her face up to the shimmering air.

“Who are you?” Gillian said. “What do you want?”

“I am the Goddess. And I want to live again.”

“We want to live.” The gentle moans of the crowd started softly. “We want to live,” they said, growing louder. “We want to live,” they said, beginning to shout. They chanted it at her, demanding, pleading, and begging––all except for Mina.

“She died, she died, of love and pride,” Mina sang.

Gillian covered her ears.

“I’m not a necromancer,” she cried out. “I’m just a researcher!”

The chant stopped, leaving Gillian gasping for breath.

“Little woman of power,” the voice that was many voices said. “I see your gift. I can feel it.”

“My gift?”

“You see more than most,” the Goddess said.

“I see the past–”

The Goddess laughed, a shrill sound that set Gillian’s teeth on edge.

“Glorious,” the untuned choir chortled. When her laugh finally died down she said, “This is priceless. You are priceless. Remove your glove and touch the gate.”

Gillian took a deep breath. Though she’d been prepared to sacrifice her life for Shayne’s, she hadn’t thought to parlay with a Goddess.

“If I do what you say, you will let us go?”

“I will open the gate and let you return.”

“No!” The cry came from Galia. She stepped forward, looking up. “You should have been banished a thousand, thousand years ago. You have had your pain from us, and you will not give it to another.”

The air turned decidedly cooler.

“If you had not been as you are,” the Goddess said, “I would have lived longer. If you had not loved as you loved, I would rule here still.”

“Your time is over,” Mina said, following Galia. “You have had the flesh and blood from us. You do not need it from another.”

Gillian shook her head. “I have to leave,” she said to them. “If this is what it takes, then it’s what I must do.”

Galia turned to her, eyes full of tears. “Please don’t do this. I can’t live this again.”

Gillian tried to touch the other woman, but her hand passed through her.

“We need to go home,” Gillian said. “Unless you can show me another way, I need to do this.” She nodded at the marble wall that surrounded the portal. “I need to touch this.”

Tears were running down Galia’s face. Mina looked as if her heart would break.

“Decide,” said the many voiced Goddess.

In the end, there was no choice at all.

“I’ll do it,” Gillian whispered, closing her eyes. She removed her glove.

As though unseen clouds had parted, the central plaza lit up again. When Gillian opened her eyes, she wasn’t surprised to see that Galia and Mina had disappeared. All of them had. She clenched her bare hand.

So the cruel Goddess of Tenebris would have her see the past?

“Fine,” she muttered through clenched teeth. “I will, and I will understand.”

“What are you going to understand?”

Gillian blinked and found herself staring at Shayne. “Shayne?”

“You looked distant for a moment. Are you all right?” He had picked up her glove. “Why did you take off your glove?”

Gillian took a deep breath.

“Shayne, do you trust me?”

“With my life,” was his instant answer.

With her gloved hand she grabbed the front of his shirt. She pulled him to her, and crushed his lips with a kiss. Just as quickly, she broke it.

“I love you,” she said, and slammed her bare hand down on the gate.

• • • • •

Gillian’s story continues in REMEMBERED (Book Five of the Hollow City Coven Series).

For a sneak peek, turn the page.

Book 5 Excerpt:

REMEMBERED

Book Five of the Hollow City Coven Series

Galia fought to keep a smile on her face, happy at her friend’s happiness. But then Mina frowned.

“What happened to your lip?” she said, stepping close. Before Galia could look away, Mina cupped the side of her face. Her thumb lightly drifted against Galia’s mouth. Then her face screwed up furiously. “Who struck you?” she demanded. “What cur deserves to die?”

It was a heartfelt blast of concern that was pure Mina. It had only been hours, but how Galia had missed her.

“Oh, Mina,” Galia said, falling into her arms.

Mina held her close. “You’re trembling,” she whispered, running her hands over Galia’s bare shoulders. “No wonder. You’re freezing.” She checked over Galia’s shoulder. “Back to bed,” Mina said. “Let’s get you warm.”

At the side of the bed, Mina began to strip. Though it was nothing the two of them hadn’t done before, especially to keep warm, Galia hesitated.

Mina was throwing her new clothes to the foot of the bed but paused. “What is it?”

Slowly, Galia unfurled the blanket. The nipple rings glinted gold.

“By all the gods!” Mina exclaimed. “Galia, what did they do to you?” Tears came to Galia’s eyes, and her throat was suddenly tight. “Oh my poor Galia, what have they done?”

In moments, Mina had gently ensconced them both between the sheets, and pulled the thick covering over the top of them.

“Come close, if you can,” Mina said, their noses already almost touching. “Here,” she said, lifting the covers a little.

But as she and Galia both shifted, and Galia nuzzled close, her lips brushed against Mina’s.
 

It was innocent, of course, but both of them stilled. Mina’s soft eyes, looked into hers. She seemed puzzled at first, and then surprised. It was as if the same question were playing through her mind as played through Galia’s: Had that been intentional? But in truth, in that moment, Galia didn’t know.

What she did know was that something was about to change. As though a line were drawn somewhere in the air, Galia knew they were about to cross it. Once they did, nothing would be the same. Galia knew that she should get up and send Mina to her bed. She knew that there might be trouble if they were caught together. Yet when Mina smoothed her fingertips along Galia’s face, all those thoughts fled from her mind. She knew that Mina had done that before, but she could never remember it being so tender. Mina’s fingers drifted back to Galia’s thick hair. They combed back to the nape of her neck. She held Galia still and slowly pressed forward, and when their lips brushed again, there was no mistaking the intent.

Mina’s kiss was feathery-light, and Galia realized she was doing her best to keep away from the swelling. But when Mina’s clever tongue slid along her lower lip, Galia couldn’t help but gasp. Despite the pain in her lip, Galia kissed her back. Mina’s mouth was so soft and inviting. The luscious flesh gave in easily. In response, Mina quickly deepened the kiss, but Galia discovered something she’d never suspected. There was a gentleness about Mina that was heartbreaking.

Galia instinctively pressed close, but just as suddenly broke the kiss. The nipple rings had pushed into Mina’s chest. Galia hissed a little and backed up.

“Oh, Galia,” Mina whispered, her voice almost a cry. “Do they hurt very much?”

“No, no,” Galia said quickly. “It’s nothing.”

Mina frowned. “You should know better,” she said seriously.

Galia gaped at her a little. She hadn’t wanted them pierced. “But it wasn’t me that–”

Mina gently put a finger to Galia’s lips. “You should know better than to lie to me,” she said. With a slight pressure on Galia’s shoulder, she said, “Lie back.”