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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Familiar Desires Copyright 2011 by Olivia Starke ISBN: 978-1-61333-079-1 Cover art by Dara England 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 Decadent Publishing Company, LLC Look for us online at: www.decadentpublishing.com
Familiar Desires Olivia Starke
A 1 Night Stand Story Book Ten
~DEDICATION~
To Val and Kate, my partners in crime on this series, as well as all the other fabulous authors who have 1NS stories to share.
Familiar Desires
Chapter One Ashley Adams peered around the hotel lobby, watching the entrance while the sweat-dampened pages of a high-fashion magazine crinkled in her fisted hand. With legs crossed, she bounced her foot, a black four-inch stiletto pump dangling from her toes as she did her best to appear relaxed on a soft leather sofa. A special purchase just for the occasion, her wardrobe had needed to be sexed up a bit, and the shoes screamed sex. Each time the door to the hotel slid open, her heart nearly palpitated as a guest or couple breezed past. She swallowed over the lump of nervousness lodged in her throat. God, this is too nerve wracking. On a whim, she’d booked a flight to Vegas after joining the dating service, 1NightStand. A close friend steamrolled her into it, insisting the business was on the up and up, even if for only one night of passion. Ashley had to admit a chance to feel sexy again with the super hot guy Madame Evangeline, the owner of 1NightStand, had found for her, would do wonders for the waning self-esteem she struggled with. She had yet to find a man who really did it for her. Some too tall, others too short, there was always something she could find wrong with the man or relationship for a huge letdown. It’d been months since her last date. She inhaled the scent of leather from the sofa as she tried to settle her nerves. Perhaps she’d be single the rest of her life. Just around the corner, forty stared her down like a snorting bull. Coupled with the fact she worked at an upscale salon in Manhattan alongside twentysomethings who’d labeled her Mom. Were her fine lines really that noticeable now? She blew out a long, shuddering breath and checked her watch again. Twenty minutes past eight. Maybe he’d had a change of heart. Maybe he’d seen her picture and decided an old lady like her didn’t flip his switch. At twenty-six years old, tall, dark, and handsome Justin met the total babe criteria. If he walked into her New York salon, he’d certainly have his pick of women, and some men, too, if
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he swung that way. Ashley closed her eyes and shook her head free of the rash conclusions. Traffic would be heavy on Friday night in Vegas. “Hi, are you Ashley?” Her head jerked up, and she stared into the darkest, most soulful eyes she’d ever seen. The man studied her face, a lopsided grin curling his lips. “I apologize; I got caught in traffic.” Before her stood the gorgeous hunk in the photo she’d stashed in her suitcase. The same man she’d fantasized about the night before as she’d given her vibrator a good workout. Her face heated at the memory, and she darted a look at his feet, fearing he’d somehow read her wayward thoughts. Worn cowboy boots. Sexy…. “Yes, Justin. Hi.” Her voice squeaked and she winced. The magazine fell with a loud rustle to the floor when she made to stand, but as her foot came down, the loose pump twisted sideways and threw her off balance. His hands shot out, grasping her forearms before she toppled into a heap. He flashed another dashing grin, shooting a jolt of awareness to her toes, but he remained mercifully quiet, though amusement twinkled in his eyes. Her cheeks burned. Smooth move, you dork. She waved a hand and stretched her face into a smile to salvage what she could from her first impression. “I swear I haven’t been drinking—I’m naturally this graceful.” Justin laughed, the rich baritone sending a warm rush over her flesh. It quelled the sudden urge to bolt from the lobby of the upscale Castillo Resorts Hotel. Why do I have to be such a klutz? He still held her, and his thumbs stroked the sensitive skin on the inside of her elbow. Her throat went dry, as her panties became wet. Who knew the crook of an arm could be such an erogenous zone? His eyes, glittering in the soft lighting of the lobby, were the color of rich chocolate and tempted her sweet tooth. Thick, dark brows and glossy black hair, a little long at the collar, coupled with an olive complexion, gave him the appearance of a romance cover hunk. Maybe he’s a crazy serial killer. The idea tumbled around her brain, and she shoved away the silly thought. Madame Evangeline did thorough screenings on 2
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each of her clients, and there was no reason for her to start finding fault now—as she did with all men. “So, do you have a room, or do you want me to get one?” His voice had a southern twang; his profile stated he’d been raised in Kentucky. God, they know how to grow men in that state. Lost in her own daydreaming, she blinked several times to clear her head. “Um, yeah.” Seconds ticked by. “So, which is it?” His perfect white teeth appeared as he smiled. She nearly swooned. “Oh, uh, I already have the room. Sorry, I had a long flight.” She took a deep breath and collected herself. Justin picked up her suitcase, and she thanked him before grabbing her purse. “Just follow me.” She fumbled in her bag for the key. “My pleasure.” The purr in his voice shot hot shivers down her spine. Oh, heaven help me if I do one more stupid thing tonight. They stepped into the elevator, and she punched the button for the fifth floor. Electric pinpricks of awareness raced down her left side at Justin’s nearness. She glanced into his face to find his own eyes intense as his gaze swept over her features. She shifted from one foot to the other beneath the scrutiny. “You’re more beautiful than your picture.” He reached past her shoulder and hit the emergency stop. Her breath caught in her throat when the elevator jolted to a halt. “What are you doing?” She darted a glance up at the security camera. The way his mouth curved at the corners made her knees knock. “Your profile said you liked to be adventurous.” The tip of his tongue stroked over his bottom lip as he watched her through heavy-lidded eyes. “I—I meant trekking through the wilds of Africa, sky diving, that sort of thing.” Her heart beat so loudly, surely he had to hear it. He stepped forward—his finger traced her jaw line before he tipped her chin up. She swallowed. “Sky diving? Can’t say I’d have the guts to try that, though I’d love the chance to kiss a pretty girl in an elevator.”
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A corny come-on line if she’d ever heard one, but spoken with a whiskeysmooth Kentucky drawl—damn, it works for me. That’s what she’d come for, to have an unforgettable night with a hot hunk to stir up her humdrum life. After all, she’d dished out the funds for the flight, half the price of the hotel room, and the 1NightStand fee. He moved in close, and a wonderful, heady mix of musk and spice filled her nose. Her insides somersaulted in anticipation, wicked intent written all over his perfectly chiseled face. They could be kicked out of the hotel, or worse—arrested and appear on one of those dumbest criminals shows. The elevator wall pressed into her back, but when he leaned forward and touched his lips to hers, all the reasons they shouldn’t be doing this in the elevator evaporated.
*** Damn, she’s beautiful. Her fit figure curved in all the right places, absolutely perfect without a doctor’s tampering—something rare in Vegas. Since relocating to the city a year ago, he’d quickly become jaded by the women who called the Vegas strip home. He drew her tight to his pelvis and slanted his mouth over hers to coax her mouth open. But Ashley is something special. He’d known it to the marrow of his bones the moment her wide blue eyes had peered at him from her photo. Not one to challenge instinct, he’d sought out this woman who now set fire to his senses. She groaned and clutched his biceps as her tongue tangled with his. Granted, he didn’t like to move things this fast, even with a one-night stand, but he couldn’t help himself. “Honey,” he whispered against her lips, “if we don’t get this elevator started now, I’m going to take you right here.” Justin fumbled until he hit a button that sent the elevator humming back to life. With one hand beneath the hem of Ashley’s miniskirt, his mouth trailed down the side of her neck, savoring the sweet taste of her skin, inhaling her soft scent that reminded him of honeysuckle. His cock throbbed; it’d been too long
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since he’d known the lust that boiled within him now. Other women didn’t have this effect, and as arousal took over his body, bitterness settled in the back of his mind. The bell dinged and the door slid open. He glanced over to see the wideeyed, slack-jawed gaze of an unexpected witness. Ashley gasped as the red-faced brunette woman backed out of the elevator and disappeared behind the closing doors. Glancing at the panel, he realized the elevator had returned to the lobby. Ashley reached a shaky finger to punch the fifth floor button, right before laughter burst from her lips. “Well, I think we gave her a bit of a shock.” The warmth of her laugh seeped into his skin as he studied the gold flecks mixed in the dark blue of her eyes. “I reckon so—let’s hope she’s here to have some fun tonight, as well. Maybe we gave her some ideas.” He pulled Ashley to his side, and the second time the doors opened to an empty hallway. She teetered out to the fifth floor, gripping at the wall to keep steady. He studied her shapely legs encased in black stockings, her round butt, small waist, his gaze traveling up to her glossy, strawberry blonde hair. He preferred brunettes, but her unusual gold and sapphire eyes had caught his attention the moment he’d seen her photo. The thought of her in nothing but thigh highs and a smile sent longing through him that proved just about more than a man could stand. He grabbed her suitcase as well as his own bag and followed her to the room. Ashley muttered approval as they stepped into the suite. Perhaps a little over the top for a simple one-nighter, but he’d made sure special accommodations were provided. There wouldn’t be much wining and dining, but he needed a bit of romance. Fresh cut flowers sat in crystal vases, their aroma filling the room, and a massive bed with an ornately carved headboard and luxurious cotton sheets dominated the space. After tonight he hoped things would be different, that he’d have the chance to settle the ghosts that haunted him. With wide eyes, Ashley took in their surroundings, and his nerve endings sizzled with her nearness. Electric currents passed between them, though it seemed he was much more aware of it than she was. He closed his eyes and she was replaced by a woman from long ago, one with long, sable hair, but all too similar eyes. 5
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Chapter Two “This is incredible, Justin, way more…elegant than what I expected.” Ashley did a circle in place, taking in the antique, Victorian-style furniture. The bed took her breath away. A tall, finely carved mahogany headboard depicted cherubs and angels, with a footboard of the same lustrous wood—she nibbled her bottom lip and worried over the charge that would appear on her credit card statement. What if she’d misunderstood the cost for the night? She walked over and ran her fingertips along the footboard, the wood sleek and cool to the touch. Déjà vu hit her like a bolt of lightning, knocking her back a step. Justin placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry about the cost. You won’t be charged extra for this.” She peered into his brown eyes, startled he’d so easily read her thoughts. Awareness of a different sort settled within her, recognition. She blinked; liquid heat swirled within his gaze. Far from that of a complete stranger, she stared into the desire of a man who strummed chords other than her libido. The room faded, and the floor rocked beneath her feet. She cleared her throat and backed away, breaking the odd spell. The sweet aroma of roses hung in the air, no doubt from the several dozen white long-stems overflowing delicate vases placed around the room. She inhaled and closed her eyes to savor the moment and banish the strange feeling that had settled in her stomach—white roses were her favorite. The awkward, college-style gropefest she’d feared had been replaced with a romantic ambiance, undoubtedly throwing her off-kilter. Her eyes drifted open. “This looks like a room fit for royalty.” Justin gave her a sly grin. “Actually, there is something special about this room. About the furniture, anyway.” She cocked a brow and met his gaze. “I’m intrigued. What is it?” “The furniture belonged to a princess.” He leaned in close, his solid chest pressed against her soft back.
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She screwed up her face, and he laughed. “It’s true. About a hundred years ago, a Russian princess came to America with her family. She wouldn’t go anywhere without her own furniture, so she traveled with all of this.” He nodded to the bed. “And….” He paused for effect and brushed her hair over her shoulder. His hot breaths tickled the bare skin at the base of her neck. “And it is said that she died of a broken heart in that very bed.” Ashley drew her brows together as she studied the delicate pattern of lace on the comforter. “I’m not sure if I want to sleep in a bed where someone died.” Justin chuckled, stirring her womanly places. “Who said anything about sleeping?” He pulled her around to face him. This time the kiss moved slower, matching the sensual aura of the room. Her palms slipped beneath his T-shirt to explore the smooth flesh of his back. Muscles bunched beneath her hands, his skin hot to the touch. Scorching. She made to pull away, but he clutched tighter. “What’s the matter, honey?” he asked against her lips. “You feel like you have a fever.” “I’m fine.” His mouth moved to her earlobe. “You know how to warm a man’s blood.” The tip of his tongue traced the outer curve of her ear. Pure magic sizzled from his touch as he teased her nipples, drawing them tight beneath the rough lace of her bra. He palmed her breasts, and she leaned into his broad hands, her knees weak. “Let’s lie down,” she whispered between gasps of breath. He swung her around and they fell to the bed in a jumble of entangled limbs. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she ground against the rough denim of his fly. Wet and horny, she writhed beneath his weight, her nerve endings on fire. God, it’s been too long since I got laid. The spicy musk of his cologne filled her lungs as the warmth of his body enveloped her. He found her slick folds beneath the silky G-string and parted her lips with two fingers, teasing her in an unreasonable, wonderful way. Always one to drive me to madness for sport….
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The errant thought drew her from the moment. Frustrated, Ashley muttered please until he massaged her clit, dispelling the unsettling voice in her mind. The room spun out of control as choked sobs escaped her throat. “I know you like this, honey,” he said in a ragged whisper against her neck. “Relax for me.” Despite the incredible pleasure he wrung from her, sharing her body with a total stranger left her tense. Yet, there seemed more to it than just a lack of knowing one another that made her muscles bunch, even as she wanted to melt into a wanton puddle. “You’re still so lovely, breathtaking.” Still? Along with the odd word usage, the whiskey drawl disappeared behind a stronger, more pronounced accent. She sucked in air and before she could puzzle over the switch, Justin slid a finger deep within her. He pressed against her Gspot and her concerns drowned in the new sensations flooding her body. She opened wider to him, and he moved down her body until his hot mouth found the juncture of her thighs. Pushing aside her panties, his tongue slid over her clit, and she bucked against him. He held her hips firm with his free hand while waves of ecstasy washed through her, building deep within as he devoured her pussy. Everything that she’d ever wished a man would do during oral sex, he did, without any direction. He pushed a second finger inside her, testing her tightness. Dizzy, she couldn’t catch her breath. The world swirled until at last the pleasure crested. Dazzling lights exploded behind her closed eyelids as she screamed his name. How could an orgasm like this have escaped me for my entire life? As she drifted in bliss, a vision expanded before her closed eyelids of green rolling hills blurring into bright blue skies in the distance. Sod buildings dotted the landscape and sheep grazed the lush pastures. A crisp breeze stirred the hair around her shoulders, long, dark locks and not the reddish blonde she’d always possessed. How weird. She fingered the silken, wavy tresses. Something pressed against her ankle and when she looked down, she met the wide-eyed gaze of a black cat. Her eyebrows drew together as the feline dashed away. She wanted to follow, but her feet wouldn’t move, and a horrible sense of foreboding gripped her. 8
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“No!” She sucked in a breath, her eyes popping open as she reached out. Justin grasped her hand. “What’s wrong?” He placed kisses on her palm as he stretched out beside her. His gaze bore into hers and sent hot prickles over her flesh. “Nothing.” She kissed his neck, hiding her eyes. The recurring and disturbing dream had never come to her while awake, and she shook herself free of the niggling fear. It was silly, and she’d invested so much cash and time into this evening, she wouldn’t let anything ruin it. “I want you naked.”
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Chapter Three He moved above her, his dark eyes full of lustful purpose as she clawed at his clothing. “Ah, lass, you know how to drive a man mad,” he whispered against her lips. Her lust-muddled thoughts picked up on the switch in accent again and she pulled back. “Your voice has changed.” He fumbled with the zipper on the side of her skirt. “What, honey?” he asked in a perfect Kentucky drawl. “Nothing.” She pushed him on his back and straddled his hips, not sure what was up with her nutty mind tonight. Jetlag, maybe? “I think I need to return the favor, now, and really drive you mad.” Yanking the knitted top over her head, she pitched it aside. His growl of appreciation did wonders for her confidence and her self-esteem swelled. A wanton wickedness took over. She dismounted and stood next to the bed. He propped up on an elbow, looking a bit put out at her abandonment. Ideas flowed to her. “I think I know what you’d like.” She peered at him through her lashes and shimmied her shoulders in a bellydance-type move. “I’ll put on a little show for you.” Her hips swayed, drawing slow figure eights in the air, the seductive movements familiar to her as she smoothed her hands over the mounds of her breasts, down the soft curve of her stomach, until they rested at the waistband of her skirt. She wiggled her hips as a temptress within her took over. “Would you like to see more?” “Mmm, yes.” Justin stretched out onto his stomach. The game drew her in more. “Yes, what?” His lip quirked at the corner. “Yes, my Mistress.” The title set fire to her already heated libido. The zipper of the skirt gave way between her fingers, before it dropped to her feet. The lace bra soon joined the skirt.
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She stood bare to the world, but without self-consciousness—if anything, his lusting eyes liberated her. I haven’t forgotten you, what you desire from a man in your bed. This time the voice in her head belonged to Justin. She’d worked long hours before this impromptu vacation and had too little sleep in the last few days. Jetlag, it’s jetlag and not sudden schizophrenia. He sat up, waiting, and with a steadying breath she unrolled first one stocking, then the other. She slid the silky material through one hand and leveled her gaze on him. “Take off your clothes.” He pulled the T-shirt over his head, pushed off the bed, and kicked out of his boots and jeans. She eyed the boxer briefs and quirked a brow. His eyes flashed before he shoved the white cotton knit down his hips, leaving him as exposed as she was. She approached with slow, measured steps—he remained still, watchful. When they were but inches apart, she stopped and stared at him through her lashes, his thick cock brushing her belly. His dark eyes branded her, and in that moment she knew she’d never be the same after tonight. It was as certain as the sun rising in the east in the morning. Inside of her, feelings ebbed and flowed— confusion, desire, and something deep within her psyche that didn’t have a name. “Do you want me?” The words slipped from her lips, her voice carrying a foreign inflection. She swallowed as his dark gaze penetrated her. “Aye, more than breath,” he answered, his voice a rough brogue. Desire welled up, powerful, taking a life of its own, and swept away the questions she wanted to voice. His nostrils flared as she traced a finger down the center of his chest. His pectorals were developed in a way that spoke of physical labor and not weight lifting, absolutely perfect. When she reached his navel, she slid both palms over the ripped planes of his abs until she grasped his wrists in a tight hold. “Will you submit?” He drew his bottom lip between his teeth and looked down at her through heavy-lidded eyes. It took a span of several heartbeats for him to answer, his voice low, barely audible. “If you give good reason.”
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She wound the silk stocking around Justin’s wrist. Knotting it, she drew his wrists together behind his back, binding him. Never had she explored bondage of any kind, and this new territory thrilled her. She placed a kiss over his pounding heart before running her tongue over his flat nipple. He sucked air through his teeth as she trailed the tip of her tongue lower, sinking down until she was on her knees. Her lips teased the tip of his cock before she licked the salty moisture from its tip. She blew a breath over his glans and raked her nails teasingly down his thighs. He growled and tested his bonds. “What would you have of me tonight, Mistress?” Ashley grinned. “Hmm, that sounded too much like a command.” She shoved him back to the bed, and crawled onto his lap. He leaned back on his hands as she let his tip toy at her entrance. This new bondage twist could be taken much further, she knew it as she locked gazes with him, but the fear of the unknown held her back. Opening the door to a much kinkier, albeit satisfying, sex game was one thing, stepping through it with someone she barely knew, another. Though not entirely true, she did know this man in a deep, intimate way, and she feared exploring it as she did BDSM. She wanted sex with a stranger this evening, and she didn’t want to know Justin better. She didn’t care that his Kentucky drawl had been replaced by a Scottish brogue. It added to his intrigue, nothing more. And she certainly wouldn’t admit that she craved the Scottish inflection, the natural cadence of his voice, because how could she possibly know that? She reached for him and wrapped her fingers around his girth in determination. On instinct, she stroked with a firm hand near the base and was rewarded with his sharp intake of air. She fell to her knees once more before him and took his head in her mouth, sucking as she massaged his balls. His hand wound into her hair, somehow freed from the stocking, as she ran her teeth lightly down his steely flesh. “Aye, Mistress—you have not forgotten.”
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The room grew hazy as uninhibited lust consumed her. She raked her nails down the solid muscles of his thighs. He grasped her upper arms and pulled her to her feet. “You’ve always been one to taunt the wolf in his den.” He pushed her back on the bed then covered her body, pinning her hands above her head. “Yes, when that wolf happens to be you.” She drew in his energy—it filled her like floodwaters—and lost herself to the woman within her she didn’t recognize. He tried to press his hips between her thighs, but she crossed her feet at the ankles in defiance. “’Tis a game you have never won, lass.” He rolled her to her stomach. “For I’ll simply take you from behind.” He slapped her ass, before his cock pressed between her butt cheeks. She arched, ready for him, needing him more than air. He slid his hands beneath her body, grabbing her breasts, squeezing her nipples between his thumbs and fingers as the tip of his cock teased the inner folds. They needed protection—it nagged at the back of her mind. He pulled back, her skin cooled at his absence, but he quickly returned wearing the latex barrier he’d pulled from his back pocket. His thickness broached her entrance, her body stretched, and the discomfort mixed with hot shudders of pleasure as he eased his way in. Nonsensical words spilled from her lips as she balled the comforter in her hands. Sensations were wrought from every cell in her body. In slow strokes, he sent wave after wave of electricity through her, knowing just how to hit the spots that drove her crazy. How could a stranger know her so intimately? But Justin couldn’t be a stranger when he’d become a part of every atom in her being. His solid body pressed her into the soft bedclothes, sweat coated their skin—they were one and the same. He an extension of her, and she of him. “That’s right, love. We are one.” He’d read her mind, but it didn’t shock her as distracting images of a kilted warrior filled her mind’s eye, one of a princess warned away from by her elders, but who had paid no heed, for he alone fed her power. Pleasure built to a crescendo, pulled her from the thoughts, and she crashed beneath it as the climax 13
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sucked her under. Her scream mingled with his guttural cry in the most primitive of connections. They drifted weightless in an ethereal world. With eyes closed, she imagined she floated higher and higher, Justin’s weight gone. Her eyes opened and she gasped. Below her was the strong plane of Justin’s back, and under him a woman—her. She flailed her arms as she brushed the ceiling of the hotel room. “Easy now, you’re okay.” An opaque mist hovered near that had Justin’s voice. “What’s happening? Am I hallucinating?” She squeezed her eyes shut, willing the moment away. He chuckled. “Nah, love, you are fine. Calm yourself, feel me with you.” She had lost her mind, no doubt about it, or had been drugged. “You’re crazy. I’m crazy. Oh, my God.” The ceiling pressed into her back. “Trust me, Ashley.” She took a deep breath and closed her eyes in hopes she’d wake from the insane bout of lucid dreaming. Feel me, his voice echoed in her ears as his presence wrapped around her like a warm cloak. They descended.
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Chapter Four “Open your eyes, love.” Ashley kept her eyelids squeezed tight, fearing what she’d see if she opened them. Her heart beat ninety miles an hour. Justin’s lips teased her cheek, and she bravely opened one eye. The pillow fluffed around the side of her face, and she opened the other eyelid to find the comforter surrounding her like a cloud. She was firmly grounded to the bed. With that, she kicked out, and when Justin rolled away, she scrambled backward until her feet hit the floor. Backing away from the bed, she searched the room for her clothes. She had to get the hell out of the hotel and find a psychiatrist or a stiff drink—probably both. Justin sat up and reached for her, his eyes wide. “Wait—” Ashley threw up her hands. “Stay back or I’ll…I’ll….” She grabbed a vase of roses off the bureau and drew back. Justin pushed off the bed and stepped toward her. She threw the vase, but he clapped his hands and as he did so, a surge sucked the air from her lungs. Impossibly, the vase stopped and hung suspended between them. Her legs trembled from the rush of energy that passed through her. “What is this?” She braced her hands on her knees. “’Tis your power I draw from that holds the vase still. I fear it pales compared to what you’re capable of.” He gave her a coaxing grin, but she wanted none of his explanations. “Just stay away from me, you’re crazy,” she warned again, though the threat weak. “Your dreams of the black cat and green rolling hills—tell me of them.” She gasped. “I—I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She stared at the thick carpeting, her voice small with the lie.
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Flashes of the dream took over her mind, the black feline staring at her from the rich, emerald grass. A mist collected around the cat, reforming it, until it was not an animal, but Justin who peered at her. No, not Justin—Alasdair. She ground her teeth and tears pricked her eyes. What is wrong with me? Justin kept back, his wary gaze trained on her face. “You must accept who you are, who you’ve always been, Princess.” She dared a look into his eyes and saw what she’d feared most, the eyes of a man she’d always known. Emotions tumbled over one another—fear, sadness, anger—but none of them belonged to Ashley. She shook her head, desperate to rid herself of the swirl of feelings. “They’re nothing but dreams,” she said, more to reassure herself than Justin. “Stupid dreams.” “No, not dreams.” Justin stepped sideways, and the vase dropped to the floor, the delicate crystal cracking and wetting the carpet as roses spilled out. The draw on Ashley’s energy released and she slumped, ready to join the flowers scattered about. Justin’s hands found her shoulders, keeping her upright. “I’ve searched for you, prayed that Providence would help me find you.” Her vision blurred and hot tears streamed down her cheeks. His thumbs stroked them away as he cupped her face. “Coincidence led me to the 1NightStand, and the moment I saw your beautiful blue eyes, I knew who you must be.” “The black cat is you?” She already knew the answer. Her life as a Manhattan stylist faded, replaced by the opulent living of a Russian of royal blood. It didn’t seem as loony as it should have, and she let the feelings flow. “They never understood me.” Justin placed a kiss to her forehead. “Your family was of the old Russian way, and feared what they couldn’t understand. Your powers were a sin to them.” “I hadn’t asked to be different.” She met his gaze as sorrow and anger mixed with emerging memories. “And the moment they saw us together they damned us, so they had you killed and shipped me off to the America.” “I was a common man, a warrior, of foreign stock, and I drew out your magick. They could see it. They believed me the devil.” 16
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Ashley shook her head. “What does all of this mean? How am I here if I was someone else long ago?” Justin’s face softened. “You simply moved into the next life after death.” “And what, you followed me, like in reincarnation?” He shook his head. “No, death is not an option for my kind when parted from the one we’ve centered to. I’ve searched for you for a century.” She pursed her lips at his vague explanation. He brushed the hair over her shoulder and smoothed it down her back. “You have it wrong—they never ordered my death. They had me sent to prison, and by the time I escaped and tracked you down to the United States, you were already gone from this world.” She brushed off his touch and backed away, doubt at his explanation returning. “No, none of this is real. I’ve had a mental breakdown of some sort.” Justin grabbed her hand, and held firm as she pulled back. “You are of sound mind, and I know how hard this must be to accept—” Her jaw set. “You’ve no idea what I’m thinking, now let me go. I’m leaving.” He pulled her to him. “Not until you believe me.” “How can I believe you? This kind of stuff doesn’t happen in real life, only in movies. For all I know, you drugged me.” His brows shot up and a smile curled his lips. “How, with a kiss?” They stared at one another in deadlock. “Give me one chance to prove what I say, just one. If you still don’t believe then you are free to go live life as you please.” She narrowed her eyes. “Fine, you have one shot, so you’d better make it a good one.” He spun her around and pointed at the broken vase. “I want you to focus on the flowers and the vase. Imagine it whole again.” The vase remained as it was even as she eyed it. She snorted and waved a hand toward it. “Well?” “No, my love.” His hot breath fanned her ear as his voice dropped an octave. “You are no’ trying. The power is yours, simply draw it from me as you did when we made love.”
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She nibbled her bottom lip and let out a breath as she closed her eyes. Justin’s warmth seeped into her naked skin until she grew hot. Goose pimples broke out over her flesh as energy surged through her much like adrenaline. When she opened her eyes, the vase hovered before her, perfect, the roses splayed over its delicate rim just as it had in her mind’s eye. She gasped and it dropped, but Justin was quick to catch it. He drew the flowers to her breast and the aroma filled her head. Justin nuzzled the nape of her neck. “You were a witch once upon a time, love. And as a witch, you had the most power when paired with a familiar. The black cat in your dreams represented me. I was calling to you.” She stroked the delicate petals of a rose bud and it opened wide beneath the touch, coming to life as did the spark of acceptance within her. “I don’t know how to take all of this, Justin.” His arm wrapped around her waist. “’Tis something you’ll have to grow into. Not all know the power from birth as you did in your last life. As your familiar, I will guide you.” She turned in his arms and met his gaze. “How is it you’re still twenty-six? I will continue to grow old, and you’ll forever be too young for me.” He set the vase aside and stroked his hands over her back, heating her nerve endings. “No, since we are one once more, I will start to age again.” “That’s not a fair trade.” She wanted free, but he held tight, a hand massaging her buttock. “A very fair trade, for I can now pass from life to life with you and not be doomed to an eternity alone.” His hand slipped between her thighs, sliding between her folds. Her breath caught in her throat and her head fell back as he toyed with her clit. “Call me by my name, Princess Natasha.” She moaned, giving herself over to the sensations and to the new reality not of her choosing. Though, if given the choice, she wouldn’t go back to her old life. The vase sat on the bureau, once broken, as her heart had been when she’d lost her beloved familiar, Alasdair. She’d wasted away in her bed, unable to eat, until
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Familiar Desires
illness robbed her of life, as her family robbed her of love, even as they prayed fervently at her bedside. “Alasdair, take me to bed.” He groaned and lifted her in his arms. The crystal vase was now whole, and so was she in her beloved’s embrace.
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~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~
Olivia Starke grew up a child of nature, and loves nothing more than exploring the great outdoors on horseback or with her three dogs. Along with the pups she’s Mom to four horses and seven cats. Luckily, her small farm in rural Missouri is big enough for the growing family of stray critters that find her. She loves to hear from readers and invites them to email her at
[email protected]
Visit Olivia online at: www.authoroliviastarke.com
