THIS TIME (The Grace Allen Series Book Three Paranormal Romance) (5 page)

SIX

“Lift her
up!” 

Stars
swirled inside my head. The jolt that had sizzled inside me was now a faint
hum.

“Shit.
What the hell was that?”

That’s
Amelia. How do I know that? I recognize her voice. For some reason, I feel like
I’ve always known her voice. It…comforts me.  I wonder why?

“I don’t
freaking know. You guys are the ones who touched her!”

That
was Stevie. She’s panicking. Why can’t I open my eyes?

“It was
some kind of magic.
Crap
, we have to get her up before he gets through
that charm.”

“Oh, I’m
afraid it’s much too late for that.”

Lu.

I jerked,
suddenly fully alert. He had finally found me.

“What the
hell happened?” I mumbled as several hands lifted me. Standing, I came face to
face with my husband. “Where have you been?” I asked him quickly. My head felt
full of helium gas. My vision was struggling to clear. “You just took off.” I
accused.

His brows
drew together. “It seems I was unavoidably detained.” Folding his powerful
arms, he glared at my new friends.

“Hey, you
don’t get to be mad.” I blinked and rubbed the inner corners of my eyes. “You’re
the one who ditched me.”

I took a
small step back and he grabbed my arm, jerking me to his side.

“Damn,
Lu!” I yanked my arm out of his grip and turned, meeting his eyes and whispering
a warning. “They’re nice people. They were only helping me after I fainted for
cripes sake, so be nice.”

I turned
back to them and smiled. “Well, thanks for catching me.” I laughed, watching
them as they watched Lu. Their collective expressions as we moved to leave had
me stumbling to a halt.

Frozen
in horror
was all I could think, and I frowned in confusion. “Um, well, I hope we can
meet again,” I offered as they continued to stare at Lu with contempt.

He looked
down at me and growled, flashing his teeth in a terrifying smile. I smacked his
arm. God, he was being a total ass. I glared again and he sighed and
straightened his suit. Then, smiling, he gently clasped my hand in his.

“Well,
thank you all for being so
conveniently
handy,” he sneered, his lip
curled as he spoke through his clenched teeth. “I’m sure we won’t be meeting
any of you again.”

Without
waiting for a reply, he spun and strode away, dragging me with him in his wake.

“Hey.” I
squeezed his hand. “That was rude,” I chided as he pulled me along. I turned my
head to look at my new friends. Meeting Andrew’s eyes, I saw something that
made my breath catch. His face looked pained, his eyes filled with regret, as a
tear slid down his cheek.

SEVEN

“They
don’t matter.”

Lu kissed
me as the elevator doors closed.

“I’ve
worked too hard for a life with you, my darling. We have no time for petty
souls. Yours is the only one I want to taste.” I let his lips travel a path
across my face and neck.

I sighed,
and then suddenly my body filled with heat as Andrew’s face flooded my mind.

Such
sadness.

I was
missing something big, I could feel it. So many questions. Why had I passed out
at their touch? Why did I feel like I knew Amelia and Stevie? I had a feeling
that the answers to these questions were just beneath the surface of my mind.
If I could just grab them. But whenever I felt close enough, Lu would swoop in
and distract me. Put me back in my place, tightly pressed to his side.

The doors
opened.

“I have a
surprise for you.” He rubbed his hands together, smiling.

“What is
it?” I frowned at his playful attitude. I had too many uneasy feelings which
made me feel guilty and suspicious all at once.

“Come,
it’s all laid out.”

I let my
shoulders fall as he moved quickly into the bedroom. I followed at a slower
pace, afraid of what was waiting.

I jerked
back and, grabbing my chest, I heaved out a breath and then met his eyes from
across the room.

He stood,
gazing at a gown so ornate it could only be for one thing. I frowned at him.

“I see the
question in your eyes.” He smiled at me and then slowly ran his hand across the
bodice. “Yes, it is a wedding gown.” He looked at me again, his smile was
contagious and I laughed nervously. “I have arranged to renew our vows for our
anniversary. We leave for home in a few days.”

I wanted
to scream.
God
, what the hell was wrong with me? I had the most
beautiful man in the world, who was wealthier than Midas, not only married to
me, but wanting to do it all over again and all I could think of was Adam and
Andrew. I wanted to see if Andrew was alright. I wanted to talk to them again
and ask them questions. I knew something. I felt something when I was with all
of them. I had to find out what was going on.

“You don’t
look excited.” Lu’s smile deflated. “What is it?” He watched me, his eyes
scrutinizing my every cell. “You need more medication.” He reached into his
pocket and removed the little golden box. “Here, take these and we’ll have a
nice hot bath.” He placed the two pills into my palm and went into the
bathroom. Returning, he held a glass of water. His eyes watched me like a hawk
and I lifted the pills to my mouth.

“They’re
terrible,” I mumbled and took the water glass from him.

“They are
necessary, my love. Don’t fuss.”

He watched
my mouth, unconsciously chewing his bottom lip. He looked nervous. That chorus
of voices in my head screamed out their warning and I stopped before the pills
went down. I closed my eyes, unsure of what to do, when all of a sudden the
pills were magically no longer inside my mouth. I opened my eyes in shock and
swallowed the mouthful of water I had been holding.

I opened
my mouth. “There, all gone.”

I smiled
as Lu’s shoulders visibly relaxed. He took my hand.

“Now we
can relax, my love.”

I was
reeling. What just happened? He was acting like he’d just
roofied
me or
something. The delight on his face after he believed I’d swallowed those horrid
pills made me want to run from the room. I knew it wasn’t about sex. We had no
worries with that at all. So why in hell would he want to drug me?

EIGHT

“Grace?
Finally, you have come!”

“Adam?”

I turned
toward the voice.
Wait, he wasn’t the same man
.

“Who
are you?”

I stumbled
backward. It was Adam, but
not
. He was pale, his silver eyes shone like
polished mirrors.

I looked
at him. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me.

“I know
you?”

“Yes,
Sweet. You most definitely do.”

He smiled,
his teeth ran out to form stark white points.

Vampire?

I smiled,
feeling no fear.

I watched
him as he closed the distance between us. I reached out. He took my arm,
pulling me into his embrace. I drew in a deep, cleansing breath. His scent
filled my body, enveloped my mind. Oh, yes. He was my home.

“Seth?”
I cried
and pulled away to look at his face in wonder. He closed in, his lips inviting
me to taste. I wanted his mouth on mine.

“I knew
you would remember. I felt it. We will never truly be apart.”

…Remember?
I can’t, he will never allow it.

“You
traitorous whore!”
My
head ripped back, I screamed and grabbed my hair as Lu’s face filled the vision
forcing the other man out.

“I
don’t know how you’ve been pulling it off, but you will swallow these fucking
things, even if I have to shove them down your treacherous little throat!” He
roared his hands shaking with fury.

The bitter
taste of Lu’s disgusting pills seared my tongue as he shoved them into my
mouth. He moved his heavy body on top of mine, pinning me to the floor. His
mouth latched onto mine, his tongue shoving the pills deeper
into my throat.
I gagged and coughed trying to
breathe around his serpent tongue. I began to choke and still he forced them
down. I felt them pop. The thick liquid burned my throat as it slid slowly
down. I swallowed, hissing as he sucked my tongue into his mouth.

“You
will fucking obey me, Grace.”
He tore my clothing, adjusting his weight on my
body.
“Even in your dreams, you will fucking obey.”
I closed my eyes as
he kissed my tear stained face.

***

“No. she’s
still sleeping. I’ll send for you a little later. She had a rather rough
evening. No, just a few nightmares I think. Yes, as I said, later.”

He placed the
phone quietly on the table and then turned and met my tired eyes. I felt a
sudden jolt, my stomach tightened.

Damn,
I needed to remember
something urgent but it passed as soon as it had come.

“Good
morning, my beauty. Are you feeling better?” He walked slowly toward the bed, a
vision of masculine beauty in his thin pajama pants and bare chest.

I
stretched and rolled to the side. I was sore from his attentions in the tub
last night, and my throat hurt, which was baffling because I didn’t remember...

Well
, my mind was cloudy. I
frowned.

Sitting up,
I yawned. “What time is it?”

He smiled
and leaned forward, kissing me. I laughed and pushed his chest.

“Again? I
can barely move this morning you insatiable man.” I wrapped my arms around his
neck and pulled him close. It was then that I saw it. Another tiny, silver bud
had bloomed on the vine on my wrist.

I shrank
back in horror. He smiled and shook his head.

“You
really shouldn’t drink so much in Reno, my love. Tattoo parlors are like weeds.
Let me see your latest?” He reached for my arm and I blindly followed his
movements.

No way
. I thought.

“When did
I have the time to do this?” I demanded, watching him study the art, a smile of
appreciation painted on his face.

“After we
went to dinner last night. I couldn’t persuade you not to. You insisted. I must
say it is lovely, so of course I got one to match.” He showed me his wrist and
among the vines and poky things, sat a single, fully-bloomed rose. It was so
innocent sitting there among the thorns, at home in a sea of danger. I sighed
and looked at my tiny rose and tried to pull the memory from my damaged mind.

 “Last
night?” I scratched my head, wincing at the dull ache I found there. “I don’t
remember.” I closed my eyes and fell back onto the bed. “I’m sorry.” I rubbed
my throat.

He
laughed, his muscular neck sweeping back. “Oh, my Alice. My dearest Alice. When
we are wed again, I promise things will be different. Once at my home,
our
home
, you will be treated like a queen. You will never have to worry about
anything ever again. Our servants will bow at your feet and I will forever be
at your side. At the snap of your fingers, your every need will be met.”

I looked
at him, a laugh bubbled up and I shook my head. He frowned.

“You’re
serious?” I laughed again and he stopped moving to get off of the bed and
looked at me.

“You
honestly think I want all of that? Why on earth would I want that? I’m not an
invalid or some pampered princess. I may not remember who I am, but I know in
my heart that living like some kind of spoiled brat is not the life I want.”

His brows
lowered. “What do you mean? Every woman wants to be pampered and prized. Every
female wishes to be a queen. I can give you all of that. Every woman I have
ever known has wanted the world at her feet! Why are you being difficult?”  He
was genuinely confused.

“Really?
Wow, you must have had a pretty shitty love life back then. I guess it’s good
that I don’t remember what you must have gone through. They sound perfectly
terrible.” I went to place my hand on his shoulder and he flinched back.

“I want
none of your pity,” he spat. “The women in my past are who define the rest of
you. Believe me, there have been plenty and they were
all
the same.” He
shook his head, his lip curling in disgust. “You say you don’t want these
things, but inside you know you are just as greedy and selfish as every other
whore out there.”

I goggled.
“
Who the hell are you?
I’ve never needed those things!” I shouted.
“After all of these years together you should know me.” I tried to calm my
voice. “All I want is the freedom to enjoy my life. The freedom to be myself.”

His
shoulders stiffened. “Freedom?” he spat. “You mean freedom from me! You are a
fool, you can’t even remember last fucking night and yet you think you know
what you want!”

I shrank
back, stunned. Where was this coming from? I hadn’t meant to make him so
furious.

He shoved
off the bed. “Why the hell do you think I have worked so hard?” His skin was
beginning to take on a reddish flush as he grew more and more angry. “I have
abandoned an entire world to be here with you!” he spun. “I have legions to
command and I have tossed it all aside for you!” He leaned close, his face
twisting with anger. “I am ignoring everything in order to make you happy, so
when we return, you will have the life that
I
chose for you!”

What the
fuck? An entire world and…
Legions
? What the hell was he saying? I felt
my stomach tighten as his beautiful face became more and more alien with anger.

He pointed
his finger at me. “You will take everything I choose to fucking give and you
will drop to your fucking knees and thank me for it! I will not be denied,
Madea
!
Not this close!”

His words
hit me like lightening. A shock of recognition coursed through my body.

“What did
you just say?” I whispered as chills raced along my skin.

That word
was a bolt to my brain.
Madea
. Voices began to chatter in my mind. He
was keeping so much from me. What was he saying? I knew there was so much more.
God, so many lies. I was shaking with anger. I stood. Fisting my hands at my
sides I took a step closer to him. “Now that you have had your say, let me clue
you in on a few things.” My voice was low and steady.

He curled
his lip and folded his arms across his chest. “Please, enlighten me with your
muddled, female prattle.” He sneered, looking down his nose.

The air
around me chilled and I smiled. “You know nothing about me. The mewling, little
bride you’ve been bossing around has left the building. You say we must restore
my memories? Well
, my darling
, I sort of understand why I’ve chosen to
block them out.” My hair began to lift from my shoulders and I shook it,
feeling for the first time that I was coming out of my trance.

He slowly
lowered his arms to his sides, his eyes focused on my hair as it snaked around
my shoulders with a life of its own. My eyes felt hot as my vision sharpened.
He took a step back, his face no longer the arrogant mask of superiority.

“You’ve
been lying to me, Lu. I feel it. Now it’s time for you to cough up the God-damned
truth.” I took a step toward him. “I’m not afraid of you.”

Something
in the air shifted, he lowered his chin, his eyes focusing on mine like a cobra
on a mouse.

“Well,
now,” he snarled as his eyes bled crimson. “I certainly can’t have that,
can
I?
” I sucked in my breath and fell backward in terror. He smiled and I
scrambled back, my feet sliding as I tried to get away.

I felt the
scream leave my throat a second before he leapt.

I was on
the ground, my head in his hands as he smashed the length of his heavy body
onto mine. A memory
pooled to the surface of my
consciousness. It had been a nightmare but now it was real.
I struggled
to free myself
, frantic in the knowledge that this
man was not who he claimed. That I was not who he said I was.

“I’ll
crack your fucking head again if I have to, Grace, I fucking swear it!” he
roared, and I screamed as his power scorched my skull. His hand moved to cover
my mouth. I couldn’t breathe and I kicked my legs wildly. Then, just as my
vision began to dim, he plugged my nose. When he moved his hand, I opened my
mouth, desperately filling my lungs. He used that second to shove a handful of
bitter red pills into my mouth. Holding my lips closed he replaced his hand
with his mouth. Pinning my arms to my sides painfully, his lips sealed onto mine
and he shoved and twisted his tongue, warring with mine to keep the hideous
capsules in my mouth.

He
grunted, grinding his groin into my stomach, he shifted again, ripping my
clothing, I tried to scream again and bite but I was slowing, sucked into lethargy.
Then, searing pain shot through my scalp as he fisted my hair in his hands. I
wanted to hurt him. To somehow move his body off of mine, but the thought never
fully formed. My head spun as the man who called himself my husband robbed me
of my will to fight and filled me with a new sense of fear.

I lay
dazed, his face pressed close to mine.

“Two pills
are clearly not enough,” he whispered, “that fucking Madea mind wants out.” His
breath was hot on my cheek as I tried to understand, tears flowed and ran into
my ears. “I don’t want to hurt you, but you leave me no choice. But don’t fret
my darling,” his hot tongue slid along my face as he licked away my tears. “I
guarantee that you won’t remember a thing.”

 My head
rolled to the side and my eyes blurred but I was still able to watch him stand.
He looked down at me and then, laughing, he walked from the room.