Sensual Bites

Sensual Bites A Compilation of Short Romantic Stories With A Hint of Caribbean Spice By Dahlia Rose

Sugar and Spice Press Copyright 2008 by Dahlia Rose Cover Art By: Kendra Egert www.scrapfairydesigns.com Formatting By: Anastasia Rabiyah www.RabiyahBooks.com No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. ISBN: 0-9815572-3-6 978-0-9815572-3-6 Published by Sugar and Spice Press, a subsidiary of Guiding Light Publishing www.sugarandspicepress.net 1800-218-1320

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Of Gods and One Woman An Eternal Flame The Lover’s Diary Apparition The Desires of Colleen

Coming Soon About the Author

Of Gods and One Woman

Chapter One She battled men who were more than twice her size. She was outnumbered six to one but he remained, mesmerized by her movements. Sirens wailed in the distance, nowhere near where she was. No help was coming to her, but instead of running, she kept on fighting without fear. He watched from a distance as she fought. Beautiful and fierce, she kept on fighting without fear. Why does she do this? he thought to himself. She was not dressed in the uniform of the mortal law enforcement he had come to know. He had been watching her for months now, watching her fight, and prowl the endless parade of back streets she monitored. She helped other mortals, as if her nightly activities would make a difference. He longed to ask her what her motives were, and maybe join in a fray or two. But he kept himself invisible to her and watched her dispatch those who would prey on the weak. He admired her beauty. It was soft and sweet, which belied the intensity of the way she fought. She captivated him with the way she dressed. Tonight she wore a plain white shirt without sleeves, now filthy from her fighting in the dark dirty alley. Her longs legs were encased in dark leather pants that fit her like a

Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman second skin. He appreciated her feminine curves as her legs kicked or she flipped while she fought. She had already knocked one of her opponents unconscious. Tiny thing, but yet she fights like a predator, he mused to himself once again. “What are you doing here?” A voice came out of the darkness. He glanced next to him at the figure who’d appeared there and made a disinterested sound, taking his gaze back to the scene in front of him. “It does not concern you why I am here. What do you want?” “I’m supposed to be here; the point being, Ares, you are not. What does the god of war need with a lowly ruckus in a foul smelling back alley?” “What I do is my business, Hades.” He caught on to Hades’ previous words and knew: someone was about to die. He looked over once again. “What do you mean you’re supposed to be here?” “I have come for her,” Hades replied nonchalantly. “You don’t collect souls from this world anymore, Hades. We don’t even exist to them.” “Ares, you know in some rare cases mortals from this world are given afterlife in the Elysian Fields. She is one of them. She is a champion to the helpless.” “I could never understand this mortals' need to help the helpless. War and battles: that’s where my heart lies,” Ares commented. “And yet here you are watching this, instead of on a battle field watching those big guns you carry on about.” “She is to die, then?” Ares asked. For some reason it felt wrong to have this flame snuffed out. To walk around in constant happiness in Hades’ Elysian Fields seemed boring to Ares, and not for this mortal. “Yes, that’s what usually happens when someone goes to the Underworld.” “Spare me your sarcasm, Hades.” He felt his anger rise and on a whim said, “Give her to me; let me have her.” “Whatever for?”

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Dahlia Rose “Because we’re brothers; because it would make me happy. Because I would owe you a favor.” Ares hated the impulsiveness he’d displayed. But he wanted her nonetheless. “When in, our long and sometimes tiresome existence, did I ever care about your happiness, Ares?” Hades tapped his finger on his chin. “But having you owe me a favor does have its appeal.” As he spoke, the battle changed. The girl had begun to lose the upper hand. Five of the men were down, but she was tiring quickly, and the last man had now gotten his meaty fingers on her shoulders. He threw her against the wall hard, knocking the breath from her body. Before she could retaliate he plunged a knife deep into her chest. Ares watched her face register shock at being bested, and her body crumple down into the dirty alley. “Give her to me, Hades!” Ares spit out. He watched as the blood pooled out of her body, mixing with the grime of the street. “I have never seen you this excitable, Ares; I must say it does—” His words were cut off as Ares grabbed him by the neck. “Will you give her to me or not? A favor for a favor, brother.” Knowing not to tease his brother when he got mad was something Hades had learned from an early age. He remembered the last time he was on his list of enemies. Ares went on a killing spree and sent thousands into his dark world at once, plunging everything into chaos. Hades nodded, and the other god let go of his throat. “You get her body. Her soul is already walking free. Bring her to the Underworld, and she will be yours.” “Shouldn’t her soul still be here?” “Well, while you were trying to throttle me, it left her body, and she walked away. She’s confused; it will not take long to find her.” “I am in your debt, Hades,” Ares replied. He strode over to the young body now lying motionless. The fight and life had gone from her in an instant. Five of the men still lay unconscious, but the one who’d stabbed her was already long gone. He shimmered into visibility and lifted her body 3

Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman gently, her dark hair spilling across his hands. He disappeared once again, taking her with him. “I do intend to collect on that debt,” Hades murmured, watching his godly brother leave with the girl’s body. He went off to find her soul. She could not have gone far; after all, she was dead.

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Chapter Two Ares paced around Hades’ Underworld home impatiently. Where is my brother with her soul? There was just a small window of opportunity to replace her soul before she could not be returned to her once vibrant self. He looked over at her lying in one of his brother’s chairs. If Hades screws this up he is going to pay dearly, he thought, and had already started planning many ways to get back at his brother. As he was about to go searching for her soul himself, Hades appeared, holding on to the struggling and very angry soul of the woman who had fallen in battle. “Let me go, you ass!” she screeched, trying to kick and punch him. Hades had her held so her arms were pinned to her sides, and he had taken a few hard kicks in the shin. “Here is your soul, brother. You owe me big time. I don’t even think she deserves the Elysian Fields.” “When you let me go, I’ll show you what you deserve, you freaking bastard!” Ares raised an amused eyebrow. “Isn’t she supposed to be confused and afraid?”

Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman “You tell her that. If she wasn’t dead already, I’d be tempted to kill her myself.” Hades grimaced as she caught him on the shins again. He pushed her roughly at Ares, who caught her around the waist. “Here, you take her.” From the time he got hold of her, she started to struggle and fight, her long hair flowing wild as she screamed and cursed them both. Ares grabbed a handful of her hair by the roots and held her firmly. He saw her wince in pain, but she did not cry out. Her eyes flashed with fire as she stared at him furiously. “Death does not become many women, but it suits you. You are still full of life even in death,” he murmured as he looked at her. Up close she was beautiful. Her full mouth called out to be kissed; she tempted him unlike anything he’d felt in a long while. “I’m not dead! You two freaks kidnapped me!” she hissed between her teeth. “Then why is your body over there and you are here?” Ares turned her head and showed her own body lying limp with one leg hanging off the chair. He saw a flash of doubt and fear run across her face for the first time, but then the mask was quickly replaced with anger. “I don’t know what you slipped me when I got knocked unconscious! But I’m going to take you out and to the cops, as soon as I’m done beating you senseless for giving me drugs!” Her voice was so loud that Hades winced. “What is she talking about?” “Drugs, brother, like when humans use mushrooms to hallucinate. Things like cocaine and marijuana. For some reason, they find it very “radical and groovy” to lose control of their senses.” “’Radical! Groovy!’ When are you from? The seventies?” she asked in amazement. “Listen to me. You died in the alley. Now you have a second chance at life.” Ares looked at her. “Still don’t believe me? Look, then.” He waved his hand in the air, and the scenes of what had happened flashed in thin air in front of her.

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Dahlia Rose He watched as the realization hit her. “Now do you believe? If I let you go, do you promise not to run?” “Let her run. A few of the demons down here would love a go at her if she ran the wrong way,” Hades said carelessly. “I don’t like you,” she spat out at Hades, but turned and nodded slowly. “I won’t run. Who are you people, anyway? Some sort of secret government agency? And where the hell am I?” He released the hair that was gripped between his strong fingers and smiled. If it was not the time of mortals, he would be the government. “I am Ares, god of war, and this being you dislike is my brother Hades. As for where you are, you were right on the first guess. You are in hell.” Ares looked down at the tiny girl with the warrior heart. “And who might you be?” She met his eyes with hers and he could see the defiance there; her spirit captivated him. Even when she was afraid she met it head on. “My name is Sasha…Sasha Green.” *** Oh shit! I’m dreaming. No; he said I was in hell, Sasha thought wildly. Why would I be in hell? I did good, damn! Maybe I was too rough with some of those guys. She looked around the room; it seemed to be very nicely decorated for hell. Her gaze rested on her body in the still blood-stained shirt, and she felt panic rise once again. This was no dream. She had died, and now she was going to burn forever. “Are you listening?” The deep male voice belonged to the man who’d said he was Ares. She had thought he was a fruitcake until the whole pictures out of thin air thing. “Um, I missed part of it; what did you say?” “I said, Hades can put your soul back in your body-- for a small price, of course,” Ares explained. “First off, you…” she said, pointing at Hades, “Why am I in hell? I thought when you helped others you went to heaven. And you….” she said to Ares, her eyes looking at him with suspicion. “What is this small price I have to pay?” 7

Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman Hades rose casually from his chair. “I’ll start, brother. You are technically in the Underworld, not hell.” He walked around as he spoke, and Sasha’s eyes warily followed his every movement. “You see, the Underworld is divided up to suit a soul’s life. The good people go to the Elysian Fields—.” “The bad guys get their own personal hell, and the middle ground souls are in between, lost souls wander….yeah yeah. I took Greek mythology in high school. My question is, why am I here?” Sasha had interrupted Hades, and he gritted his teeth. “Some mortals are allowed to come to me to go to the Elysian Fields. That was where you were going, until Ares asked me to put you back in your body.” Hades sat once again and looked at his brother. “Now, it’s your turn, brother. She irritates me.” “So why, Ares? I still don’t believe you two, but if I did, why would you want me back in my body? What is this small price?” Sasha asked. “If I let Hades put you back in your body, you will be my concubine in the mortal world. I need to get caught up. I have not been around for a few years.” “I’d say since the seventies,” Sasha muttered. He wanted her to be a concubine! Now she knew he was out of his mind. They would see about that. He continued as if he did not hear her. “I want to see things, explore this world, and fight battles with you.” Sasha looked at him dubiously. “You want to fight crime with me. Aren’t you the god of war? You’re supposed to love strife, not want to help combat it.” “The motive behind the battle is irrelevant, as long as I’m in it. So, do you agree to my terms?” Sasha hesitated for just a moment and then answered. It was not a hard choice, really. “Yes, I accept your terms, Ares.” “Excellent.” His smile was wide in approval. “Hades, put her back.”

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Dahlia Rose Sasha looked at him. He was not an ugly man. There was a thin scar running near the corner of one eye. His face was rugged and unshaven and his long dark hair was thick on his shoulders. Compared to Hades, who was blond and model handsome, Ares was strong and manly. Hades came to stand in front of her, and she asked. “Is this going to hurt?” “Yes,” he replied simply and stuck his hands into her body. Sasha screamed in agony as he lifted her, with his hands buried in her chest. It was actually her soul, she knew, but it felt like her whole body was being torn apart. Hades walked over to where her limp corpse lay and pressed her soul back into her body. It was agonizing, because she was meant to be dead. Her soul was being ripped from its new home and replaced to where it came from. Finally, the connection was made between body and soul, and Sasha’s eyes flew open. She took the first breath in hours into her body and screamed once more. Her body hummed with a dull pain, but it was slowly subsiding. “You bastard!” she cried to Hades. “Hurt does not mean unbearable.” “What’s the difference?” he asked mildly, and walked away. Sasha rose up to attack him, but Ares caught her hand. “Leave it be. You have been in the Underworld long enough. It’s time for you to start repaying your debt.” “How long am I going to be repaying this debt?” “For as long as I see fit. Until I get bored.” With that, he disappeared from the Underworld, taking Sasha with him. “Good riddance.” Hades muttered, and left the room. They were back on the damp New York street where it had all started in an instant. Sasha looked around and saw the pool of blood where she’d been stabbed. The men she had fought were long gone. “So where do we start? I say we find a good battle,” Ares said eagerly, rubbing his hands. ”I say we don’t,” Sasha replied. With a swift movement she dropped to the ground and lashed out at Ares’ legs, sweeping him off his feet and catching him by surprise. He hit the ground with a solid thump. In quick 9

Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman succession, she brought her leg solidly down on his chest and then kicked him in the jaw. “Thanks for the life and all, but I won’t ever be anyone’s concubine!” She ran quickly down the alley and in a few seconds was on the main street. It was early evening and Sasha lost herself in the crowd, hoping to escape the god of war. Ares lay where he fell, burning with anger. “That ungrateful….” But soon a grin crossed his face, and deep rich laughter boomed out of his chest. He’d let his guard down and she surprised him. It seems the chase is on. He shimmered away from the alley and went to find his concubine.

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Chapter Three Sasha rushed into her apartment and closed the door behind her. She leaned against it and took a long breath in. Damn, she couldn’t remember running away from anyone since she was fourteen and was being chased by bullies. She had learned to stop running and stand up for herself then, but this was the god of war, for goodness sake. Who stood up to him? She turned to make sure she’d locked the door. “Did you really think you could get away that easily?” She made a little squeak and whirled towards the voice behind her. There Ares sat on her sofa, like he did it everyday. “How did you get into my apartment?” “Come now, Sasha, you are not that dense. Does it look like I need to use a door?” he replied cockily. “Damn it, I should call the cops on you! But what’s the point? you’d disappear before they got here and I’d look like I should be in the looney bin.” He raised his eyebrow in a question. “Looney bin?”

Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman “Mental institution, for crazy people.” Sasha sighed in frustration. “Now I’m explaining the term looney bin to a god. You aren’t going to hold me to that concubine thing, are you?” “Yes, I am. I don’t make deals on a whim. I could have just as easily gone back to Hades and told him to take your soul back.” Ares got up and crossed the room to face her. “Why the hell don’t you?” Sasha asked in defiance. She was grateful to be alive again, but she could not live with him holding it over her head every day. “Because of you; even when your heart trembles with fear you are bold. I can feel you tremble on the inside, yet you don’t look away from me.” He murmured this, looking down at her. He reached up to caress her cheek and ran his finger across her full bottom lip. Sasha felt the first sliver of heat run down her body at his touch. She wanted to close her eyes and lean into the sensation. Instead she turned her face and bit him hard on the hand. For her defiance, Ares’ hand went to her throat and slammed her against the wall next to the door where she stood. “I should break your neck for that! No one defies me, Sasha.” “Maybe I would prefer to be dead than to be under you?” she spat out. “Let’s test that theory, shall we?” Ares said, and took her lips in a hard kiss. She felt the flash point of desire slice through her the instant his lips touched hers, and could not help but open her mouth under his. His tongue took the invitation and slid into her mouth. He tasted of sweet honey and something different and intoxicating. She vaguely thought of the food of the gods, ambrosia; if she was to guess she would say it was how he tasted. He lifted her effortlessly and her legs wrapped around his waist. Her fingers buried themselves in his thick hair and combed through it, making him growl in pleasure. Ares broke the kiss and she could see the hunger in his eyes. It thrilled her, excited her, but she feared it as well. 12

Dahlia Rose “It seems you would not mind being under me as much at you think.” His comment rushed reality back to Sasha as quickly as his kiss had taken it away. “I will never be under you, Ares. Never!” She struggled in his arms, and without a word he let her go. She fell to the floor with a thud and felt a stinging pain run though her bottom. “We shall see, but for now I would like to battle,” he said mildly. Why did he give up so easily? Sasha wondered. She eyed him suspiciously as he walked around her tiny apartment looking around, picking up nick knacks and placing them back where he found them. “I’m tired, and my night is over. It’s not every day a woman gets killed and brought back to life.” Ares looked over at her as if noticing for the first time that she looked exhausted. “I keep forgetting this mortal need for sleep and rest. Fine; I’ll be back at sunset on this day. Don’t try to evade me, Sasha Green. I can always find you.” With that he disappeared from her sight, leaving only a silver shimmering outline of himself, before that faded as well. Sasha threw herself onto her sofa and screamed into the pillows. How did she get herself into this mess? Now she was stuck with a god trailing behind her. He was aggravating, cocky and so very appealing. Sasha felt doomed and alive all at once. Maybe if she slept, she would wake up and find this was all a dream. She curled up on the sofa and pulled a blanket she had thrown there over herself. She could feel sleep overtaking her, and she tried to convince herself once more that this was all a very strange dream. *** Ares appeared in his home, or at least where he called home for now. He chose not to live with the other gods on Mount Olympus. He could not stand it up there-- Zeus and his licentious living; the other gods and their simple lives. He could not live every day with the decadence of it all, lying around all day and only existing, not caring that humans had forgotten them. Ares wanted to feel excitement, and to live, and now he had Sasha to help him do that. He would not have to sit on the sidelines and 13

Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman watch mortals. He would be able to interact. He looked at himself in the mirror, wondering if he should change his appearance to suit the modern day. No; he would not change. Sasha liked this look, he thought with a cocky smile. “Since when do you primp in the mirror, god of war?” Ares looked over and felt his irritation rise instantly. “Eris, have I not told you more than once not to appear in my home?” “Ares, you know I hate that name. Call me by what the mortals call me,” she whined. He gritted his teeth. “Discordia, what do you want?” “That is not the greeting I was expecting.” She crossed the room dressed in black, her flawless skin showing through the see-though material. Her fingers trailed across his chest as she stood behind him. “I was expecting that we could entertain each other tonight.” “Your type of entertainment takes days, not only one night, Discordia. Besides, I am not in the mood. Go find another god to play with; maybe Zeus needs a playmate tonight,” he replied, pulling away from her touch. During many a century Eris was his playmate. Her voracious sexual appetite left him spent and happy on many occasions. Now was not one of those times. She had lost her appeal. “Can’t I change your mind? I could go get Bellona. I know how much that type of play appeals to you,” she encouraged. “You and your friend do not suit my taste at the moment.” “And what suits your taste now, Ares?” Discordia asked angrily. “Nothing you can give me.” “I wonder who captures your interest lately?” Ares looked at her with deadly intent. “Careful, Eris. Remember what curiosity does to the cat?” He made sure to use the name she disliked so much. “Ahh, but you know me, Ares. I like cats and all they bring,” Discordia replied.

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Dahlia Rose “You grow tiresome; leave now.” He turned away and went to his bed, lying back against the soft sheets that were red as blood. With his eyes closed, he heard her make a sound of anger when he stopped paying her any attention. Ares could tell when she left, and a smile of satisfaction crossed his face. He sat up, held his hand up, and a goblet of wine appeared out of thin air. He sipped and thought about Sasha, how she fought and how she defied him. It was only she who could give him what he desired. *** Discordia went to the part of the dark side of the realm she shared with Bellona, Goddess of war. She threw anything and everything that came to her hand in anger. How dare he refuse her! She was Eris, Goddess of discord and mayhem! Bellona walked in on her rage a few moments later, eyeing the destroyed room in mild interest. “What has you in such a mood?” Bellona asked, as another crystal goblet hit the wall and shattered. She winced as Discordia’s screech filled the air. “That does not help me, it just destroys my hearing. Who has started the wrath of Discorida?” “Ares refused me! Me! Who have pleasured him for centuries. How dare he!” She yelled and threw yet another piece of crystal. Bellona did not care about the destruction. She was accustomed to these tirades, and even had a few herself. “Why would that be? He has never refused you before.” “He refused us, Bellona.” she whined. “I offered you to him as well, but he still said no. Some one else has taken his interest away from me.” Bellona crossed the room and held Discordia against her. “Do not fret; he will come back.” “I want to know who has his favor now!” She hissed. “I’ll make them both pay!” If there was one thing Bellona knew, it was how vengeful Discordia was. Ares was her long time lover, and jealousy made her anger fierce. “Yes, you will, and I shall help you.” Bellona waved her hand and the room 15

Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman was immaculate once again. Everything broken was remade anew. She lifted Discordia’s face to her own and kissed her, sipping at her lips and letting her body mold against hers. “Until then we shall make our own play.” Discordia smiled; it was both evil and sexual all at once. She let her hands travel to Bellona’s perfect, smooth globes and massaged them gently. “Yes, for now we shall take our own pleasure. Then I will dispense my punishment.” Bellona led her to the bed and for the moment Ares was forgotten, but only for a moment.

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Chapter Four “Wake up, little one.” The deep masculine voice broke into her sleep. Sasha mumbled a curse and turned over, burying her face in the pillows of her couch. “Come now, princess; I know you can hear me.” There was the voice again disturbing her, and Sasha knew who that offending voice belonged to. “What the hell are you doing back here already?” she asked irritably. Her voice was muffled in the cushions. “Princess, it is after six in the evening. Time for us to get up and play,” Ares responded. She heard the humor in his voice. Sasha rolled back over. She cracked her eyes open and peeked at him, standing big and bold in front of her. “Listen, I don’t even go out until after nine, so you can just poof back to where you came from.” “I will wait for you here.” Ares sat down and crossed his legs. In his hand a goblet of wine appeared, and he took a sip. “That’s a neat little trick there, must save on food bills.” “Money is of no concern to me.”

Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman “Well, it is to me. I still have to go online and answer my email orders before I go out.” “What is this online? You wash clothes for a living?” he asked curiously. This time she had to grin. “You don’t know what online is?” “No; should I?” She got up and slowly stretched her body. She felt his eyes on her as she moved. “You wanted to learn about the present; well, here you go.” Sasha pulled her laptop off the table and sat down once again. “Get over here.” Ares raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He moved silently and sat next to her. “This is a computer, a laptop, to be precise,” She explained. “I work from this. I sell my painted glass art online.” “Like the hummingbird you have hung by the window?” Ares asked. “Yes; like that.” She had a smile on her face, pleased he’d noticed her work. Sasha replaced the smile with a scowl. She didn’t need him getting any ideas that she liked him. She explained the working of the Internet, and she noticed how quickly he picked up the concept. She ended up answering all his questions and then left him playing with the TV while she took a shower. When she came out he barely noticed; he had the TV volume up and was watching an action movie. The explosions from the TV were deafening, and Sasha shook her head while she walked to the kitchen. Opening her fridge, she pulled out a carton of milk and made herself a bowl of cereal, and then, as an afterthought, made him one as well. She sat next to him and handed him a bowl. He looked at it and sniffed it before asking, “What is this gruel? You would feed me this?” “Number one, you can whip stuff out of the air. If you don’t like it don’t eat it; I was just being friendly. Number two, it’s granola and it has milk on it. Don’t knock what you haven’t tried.”

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Dahlia Rose She watched Ares take the first tentative spoonful and chew it. His face changed expression as if he was considering whether he liked it or not. His face broke into a beaming smile. “I like this!” “Oh, I am so glad you do.” Sasha’s tone was dry. “I always wondered how they fit these large battles into this small box.” he commented. After a car exploded and blew apart on the TV screen: “I love television, but I could never get it where I call home.” “It’s recorded; and where do you live, anyway?” she asked. Sasha had to admit she was curious about what the gods did in modern times. Where they lived, and how many of them chose to roam around interfering in this world. “I live anywhere and everywhere I choose.” “Uh-huh; then if you do that, why me? You could go do anything or use anyone you want.” “Sasha, I am not using you. This came about purely because it benefits both of us.” He put another spoonful of granola in his mouth and chewed before continuing. “I was around before, but when my father found out, he was not too pleased.” “What did he do?” “He banished me for a few years to the dark side of the world. He thought it would cure me of my fascination with mortals.” Ares’ voice became sarcastic and angry. “It seems as if only he can consort with humans, and that was in the old days. Now we are banned from this world, and that was my punishment.” “So what will he do when he finds out you were consorting with us lower beings once again?” His stare was cold, and Sasha felt a shiver of fear run through her. “My father no longer has a say or tells me what to do. I do not live under his rule any longer.” “Why—.” He cut off her question and got up suddenly, waving his hand for silence. “Enough questions; Sasha, I am tired of this! You are here for my 19

Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman pleasure and play. It would do you well to remember that. When will we go find your battles?” She got to her feet, and stood nose to nose with the god of war. “You don’t dismiss my words. I am not one of the lowly servants or the peasants you terrorized in the past! I am Sasha Green! I will be respected by you and any other person. You want to fight with me, you will respect me!” By the time she finished speaking, her chest was heaving. How dare he speak to me like that! She didn’t care who he was; she wasn’t going to be talked down to. His eyes burned into hers, and she felt as if she could see the fires of hell. But she didn’t back down or take her gaze away; she would never back down for any man, god, or mortal. “I will try to remember not to talk to you as if you were my servant or a peasant,” Ares relented. Sasha assumed it was as close to an apology as she was going to get. “If you are going with me, you’re not going dressed like that.” “What’s the matter with my clothing?” he asked, outraged. He was wearing tight leather pants and a tight vest to match. The leather was rippled and crafted in the front, and leather strips hung down the sides of the pants. On each arm where his muscles bulged, he had a strip of leather tied around each bicep. “You look like one of the Village People.” She could see the question forming in his head and answered before he could even ask. “It was a musical band who sang a while ago; forget it. We need to get you some new clothes, buddy.” “I can do that.” With just a snap of his fingers, Ares changed his clothes to something he’d seen on TV. Now he was wearing army boots and camouflage fatigue pants, a black tank shirt, and a long black leather coat. He raised his hand and slipped on a pair of dark sunglasses. “I was hoping for jeans and a T-shirt, but I can see you love the extreme.” Sasha shook her head with amusement. The anger she felt only minutes before had faded as quickly as it came. She pulled her coat on as well, and walked to the door. “Well, let’s go, and get this farce over with.” 20

Dahlia Rose Ares followed her through the door and they stepped into the night. He wanted a battle, but Sasha wanted to help those she could. This was the only way she could do it. She had her own demons to fight, her own internal battles waged every night. *** He wanted a fight, and she found him four. Each time it was for almost the same reason. The first was an old man being hassled on his way home on the train. He got off at his stop, and a group of thugs asked him for money. He had none to give them and tried to move on, but they would not let him. They shoved him around until he fell to the ground. Sasha was there standing over him before any of them could strike the first blow. They laughed, and figured they could take her money too. They were wrong. When her fist hit the first one and her kick caught him on the chin, he fell to the hard concrete floor of the subway station. They found out how wrong they were. Ares let out a yell, a lion’s roar, and joined in the fight exuberantly. Sasha let him fight while she helped the old man to his feet and up the stairway. By the time she came back, the ground was littered with unconscious bodies and Ares had the last one dangling over the train tracks. “Ares, no!” She ran over to grab his arm, which was solid as marble and just as unmoving. The young man’s shrieks filled the air when he heard the horn of an approaching train. “You can’t do that. Let the police take care of it!” “Why, when we can just drop him?” He gave his hand a little shake and the boy’s screams grew louder. “Who would care?” “I would care! Listen, you big buffoon, my way, remember? I don’t kill people. That would make me just as bad as them.” Ares sighed and pulled the boy back just as the train was passing. He knocked him out with just one punch and threw him on the ground with his already unconscious friends. “Very well; now I must fight without killing. I don’t know if I like that idea at all.” 21

Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman “You better like it; buddy; I don’t kill.” She turned and started to tie up the unconscious men, leaving a tidy package for the cops to pick up. For the rest of the night she had to constantly remind Ares about her no killing rule. The pimp that beat up his girls almost got thrown off a building; the gang almost got wiped out when Ares got hold of a gun they had. Finally Sasha told him she was calling it a night and going home. By that time it was after two in the morning. Ares felt alive and excited; he tried to convince her to stay out for just a little while longer. But she was adamant about going home, much to his disappointment. “I don’t see why we could not battle for a while longer,” he grumbled. He had not had this much fun in centuries, only being able to watch from the sidelines as others fought. “You are like a big whiny kid when you don’t get your way, Ares.” “I’ll have you know that I have been at every major battle in this world’s history,” Ares informed her. His chest puffed out in pride as they walked back to her apartment. “Well, my piddly little forays must seem so lowly in your long and esteemed career,” Sasha said sarcastically. “You make it sound like it was a sporting event or a tournament. Thousands of people died in those wars. And by the way, when was the last time you got to take part or cause a war, instead of being a spectator?” Ares made a disgusted sound in his throat. “Since the time of mortals began, I have not been in battle. You don’t understand the thrill of humans dying with honor on the battle field. I miss that.” “I understand death, Ares, more than you know,” Sasha muttered. He looked at her curiously when she made the remark. But she did not elaborate. He found he had a need to know all her secrets and those dark fears running around in her head. She stopped and turned to Ares, grabbed his hand and shook it vigorously. “Well, here I am, back at home. Thanks for the help. I’ll see you around.” She tried to pull her hand away, but he had it held fast.

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Dahlia Rose He pulled her to him so she fell against his chest and wrapped his arms around her. “Oh no, princess, you don’t get away from me that easily. Do you know what excites me after a good fight? the pleasures that a woman’s body can bring.” He pressed a hard kiss against her lips and shimmered away, taking her with him. Sahsa’s protests were caught in the wind as they disappeared.

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Chapter Five “You big buffoon!” Sasha kicked and struggled against him when they reappeared. He let her go and she whirled around to run. “Where the hell am I now? The Underworld again?” She was so tired of him appearing and disappearing at will and taking her with him. This was a situation she could not control, and she hated that the most. Ares casually stood watching Sasha in her fury.“You’re magnificent in your anger, do you know that? And to answer your next question, we are at my home.” She whirled on him. “Your home! Where is your home? And you’ll see more of my anger if you don’t take me back to my apartment!” “I live anywhere and everywhere. Would you like some wine?” Ares lifted his hands and a goblet materialized in each of them. “I don’t want any of your god damn magic wine. Next thing you know I’ll be all goo-goo eyed at you. That isn’t happening, Ares.” “This is part of our bargain, Sasha Green. Your life, and in return you will be my concubine.” “In this day and age I could take you to court for extortion and sexual harassment!” Seething in fury, Sasha picked up a very expensive looking

Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman vase sitting on a pedestal and threw it at his head. Ares dodged it easily and it smashed against the wall. “I hope you know that was given to me by Attila the Hun for helping him win a very important battle.” His mild tone only made Sasha even angrier. “Who gave you this?” She held up a red bowl that looked as if it had spun gold worked through the clay. “Ghengis Khan, after we sacked a very important village in Mongolia.” He walked towards her. By the time that he finished the sentence, he was ducking as she threw it at his head. He kept moving forward, dodging different vases and statues she lobbed at him. Not one thing stopped him from getting closer and closer to her. Sasha raised her hand to throw another statue, but he caught her hand and took it from her. Ares dropped the item on the floor as he stared into her eyes. Sasha heard it shatter, but she could not pull away from his gaze. His eyes were dark and smoldering, and she saw the promise of such dark glorious pleasure there. Her body trembled from fear or anticipation; she could not tell the difference. She felt needs rise up in her she thought were long gone. Ares pulled her to him and Sasha’s hands rested on his hard shoulders. “Don’t deny you feel something inside you burning for me, Sasha. I can see it in your eyes. I can see you turning to molten lava under my touch.” She opened her mouth, to say every negative thing she could think of, but nothing came to her mind. She couldn’t deny it, she wanted him. What powers did he have over her to make her want him in only two nights? “Ah, crap,” was all she muttered, before tangling her fingers into his thick mane and kissing him fiercely. Ares lifted her off her feet, and Sasha wrapped her legs around his waist. And he stumbled back, knocking over one of the pedestals where one the broken statues once stood. The crash barely registered in her mind. All she felt was his lips against hers and his tongue invading her 26

Dahlia Rose mouth. He tasted so sweet, a man should not taste so sweet, but Ares did. His lips ravished hers and Sasha feasted on him. She wanted more, god she wanted more from him. “And you’ll have it, princess,” he muttered against her lips. His fingers worked on pulling her shirt from the waist of her tight jeans. “You can read my mind?” Sasha asked breathlessly; trying to help him. “I am a god, Sasha; I have powers unlike anything that you have ever imagined.” Finally free of the confines of her shirt, her breasts spilled free. Ares stood her on the bed. Her breast was in his mouth instantly. Sasha gasped in pleasure; she arched her back, pushing her smooth globe deeper into his mouth. “Oh yes,” she moaned and Ares groaned in response. She did not even realize her jeans were gone; she was now gloriously naked and open to his touch. . “I have to taste you. I can smell your nectar like a bee can smell honey.” He growled. Sasha pulled away and went to her knees, slowly lying back. She let her hands travel down her body, cupping her breasts and pinching her nipples. Her hands moved down the smooth skin of her stomach and his eyes followed her hands to the apex of her thighs. She spread her legs, tantalizing him with the view of her moist wetness. Sasha let her fingers slip between the slick folds of flesh, parting them slightly. “Then come taste me,” she whispered. “I want to feel your mouth on me.” Ares needed no other invitation. With a snap of his fingers, he was naked, and joined her on the bed. He buried his face between her legs, tasting the most secret part of her. His tongue licked and his fingers touched and penetrated, sliding into her over and over again. Sasha’s hips moved, pressing that part of herself more intimately against his lips. She cried out as each sensation assaulted her body. Her fingers grabbed at his hair while her body came apart under his mouth. 27

Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman “I want you inside me, now. Now!” “Oh, I am going to be, right now.” She could feel his hard length pressed against her stomach as he came over her to kiss her. Their tongues dueled and mated. He reached around and pulled her legs up high around his waist before pressing his cock into her waiting pussy. He groaned in ecstasy as her hot body accepted every inch of him. “God, yes, that is so good. I am so full of you.” She grabbed his hair and pulled his head from her breasts. “I ache on the inside; make the aching stop.” Ares pumped himself in her with deep strokes, pushing himself to the hilt inside her. She was hot and slippery with the wetness he had created with his mouth only a few minutes before. Her hips rose to meet his every thrust and she tightened her legs around him. Their bodies were slick with sweat, and Sasha could hear the wet sound they made together. “You are so hot and tight, princess. This is my body, and you are mine!” “Your body,” she gasped out. “Say my name, Sasha, tell me who you belong to.” “Ares, I belong to you, Ares. Oh yes, I’m going to come.” She felt her body reaching for completion. It was as if the dam broke and Sasha screamed, as her body shook from the intensity of her orgasm. He let himself go when he felt her juices flow around his cock. He pounded himself inside her and followed her into the bliss of his release. Their bodies heaved as they tried to catch their breaths. Sasha willed her heart to slow down to its steady beat. “You know anything I say under sexual duress cannot be held against me,” she murmured when he finally rolled to lie next to her. “What does that mean?” he asked and sighed in contentment. “It means this body belongs to me, Ares, no matter what I said earlier.” “Really; well, we’ll see about that.” He rolled her body on top of his. He let his already hard cock fill her again. 28

Dahlia Rose “Again? You can’t be ready again?” she gasped out as he moved under her, filling her slowly. Ares grinned devilishly. “I am a god, princess. Now who does this body belong to? Who makes you feel like this?” He asked the question as he went deeper inside her with every stroke. “You do,” Sasha moaned. Her eyes closed as he built the fire up inside her once again. I’m doomed was the last thought she had, before she lost her hold on reality. *** Hades watched as his little cousin Discordia walked around his Underworld home. She never came down here unless she was in trouble or wanted a favor. He could guess why she was here now. Ares probably sent her from his bed and now she wanted to know why. Hades knew she had a viper’s heart, and if the little witch caught scent of Ares’ new interest-- well, Sasha had not a chance in hell. He was wary of Discordia, but on the other hand, he knew his brother’s wrath would be unlike anything he could ever imagine. But still, he could drop a little clue to set her on the right path. To help Discordia cause a little discord. He grinned at his private little use of words. “Hades, are you listening to me?” Her pouty voice brought him back to the situation at hand. “Yes, I am; go on with your tirade.” “It is not; I just think it’s unfair how Ares treats me.” “You two have been on again, off again for centuries. What makes this different now?” “Because he has never told me no; even when we were on again, off again, as you say.” “Well, maybe he’s tired of your brand of play. Maybe mortal love is what he is looking for now.” Hades let the little hint drop like a stone to the ground. He watched as her fingers curled into her palms and her talon like nails cut into her own flesh. He watched her blood drop to the floor and sizzle like acid. 29

Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman “He is dallying with a mortal?” Discordia hissed the words out. “I never said that,” Hades said hastily. “I said maybe. I cannot be certain. Besides, doesn’t Bellona warm your bed when Ares cannot?” “He is mine! And no mortal bitch can do for him what I can! I will rip her to shreds and feed your dogs with her flesh!” Hades listened to her voice screech out like a crow’s and he winced at the noise and her graphic evocation of what she planned to do to Ares’ new play thing. “Must you be so descriptive with your plans?” Discordia took a deep breath and raised her hands, letting the deep gouges she’d made in herself heal and the blood disappear. “See, all better now,” she said sweetly. But Hades could still see the fire flashing in her eyes. Oh, this is going to be fun to watch, he thought. There wasn’t much to do lately in the Underworld, and even a god needed a little fun to spice up his life every now and again. Ares has his way to play and I have mine, he thought, as Discordia disappeared from his sight. *** Discordia disappeared from Hades’ home and reformed instantly in Ares’ sanctuary. She was invisible to the couple in the room; only her eyes could be seen in a dark corner. Ares would have been able to sense her, but he was otherwise engaged at the moment. She watched and her fury built as the god dared make love to a mortal. She watched as the candle light glittered off the woman’s bronze skin. “Sasha.” She heard Ares whisper her name as he pulled her next to him, and fell asleep with his face against her back. The mortal bitch will die and Ares will suffer. That thought alone appeased her-- for the moment. Now was not the time to strike. But she would have her vengeance, and Ares would come crawling back to her.

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Chapter Six The weeks seemed to fly by for Ares; every night he fought alongside Sasha, and every night she fell asleep in his arms. Her body fit his so perfectly, and instead of his hunger for her fading away, it became more insatiable. He’d assumed by now he would be over the novelty of spending time with her and would release her from her contract. Instead, he wanted to be with her even more and now his thoughts were filled with only Sasha. Her smell, her taste, they way she fought-- each was a new and different sensation to him. He did not know what to do. It was late one evening when he appeared in Sasha’s apartment. He expected to find her sitting at her laptop answering her electronic mail, as he liked to call it. It made her laugh when he did. Now he did it on purpose, just to please her and make her smile. Instead her apartment was empty, there was no coffee in the pot, and the television was suspiciously silent. “Sasha! Princess, where are you?” he called. Her apartment was not very big and it took only a minute for him to figure out she was not there. Where could she have gone without me? he wondered, and sat to wait for her. Five hours later he was still alone. Ares’ temper began to simmer as the hours ticked by. By morning, the god was beyond furious, and playing with little lightning bolts only made him want to hit something with one of them. Finally he heard the door unlock and Sasha walked in. He was up in an instant, dragging her in the door and letting it slam.

Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman She was very femininely dressed, in a white skirt that went to her ankles and a yellow blouse. “Where have you been? I have been here dwindling away for countless hours waiting for you!” His tone was furious, and he saw the anger spark to life in her eyes. “Did I ask you to wait for me? I assumed you would see I was not here and go on with your godly business. You know messing around with me, a lowly mortal, has to be trying sometimes,” Sasha replied sarcastically. “I asked you a question, Sasha Green; where have you been? Has some other mortal been touching you?” Ares’ voice boomed furiously. It shook her little knick knacks on their shelves. “And what if I was? You just use me for your pleasure anyway!” The thought of another man touching her made Ares livid with jealousy and he roared. “Who is he? I will kill him!” He pulled Sasha close, kissing her furiously. She grabbed his hair painfully and tried to pull away, but soon she was kissing him back as well. He backed her up against the wall of the apartment and quickly tried to pull her shirt off. The little buttons running down the front of the yellow blouse scattered across the floor as the flimsy material tore under his hands. The material of her skirt was pushed up as she locked her legs around his waist. He was furious, and Sasha was battling her own demons. Neither of them cared about clothing. She was pressed against the wall as her panties were pulled aside, and his rigid cock was buried inside her. He heard her moan in pleasure as he took her nipple into his mouth. He pulled away and kissed her once again. With his forehead against hers, he said harshly. “Say you’re mine, only mine, that no one else will touch you! Say you’re mine!” He accentuated each word by stroking deep into her body; each time she cried out in pleasure. When she did not respond, his voice took on a pleading tone. “Say you’re mine, Sasha. Say you are mine!” “I’m yours, Ares, only yours.” The words were torn from her as she fell over the peak of ecstasy. Ares groaned low in his throat. He pounded into her and his body tightened as he went over that edge as well. Her legs slid from around his body weakly. The only thing holding her up was his strong arms around her. Ares pulled her to him, kissing her softly on the top of her head. “I missed you, princess.” Sasha pushed away from him. “Get out.” She walked to her bedroom on wobbly feet and Ares followed. “What? I’ll lie with you. We need not go out to battle tonight.”

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Dahlia Rose “I said get out, Ares! You got what you wanted! A roll in the hay from your concubine; that’s what I am, isn’t it?” She yelled it at him with tears running down her cheeks. Her tears were his undoing. His princess was crying and the sight of her tears made him feel something burning in his chest. “Sasha, I’m sorry if I hurt you. I forget you are mortal sometimes. Let me take you to my home and I shall make you feel better. I shall make servants bathe you in a milk bath to soothe you.” He tried to console her. She was not listening. “I said get out. You got your pussy for the night, Ares. I do not want you near me!” She threw a pillow at his head and it hit with a soft thump against this chest. She fell across the bed, crying uncontrollably. He stared helplessly at her, not knowing what to do. He was never good with tears, and why did it make him feel like he was the worst male in the universe right now? He shimmered away silently with the sound of her sobs in his ears. *** Ares went to the only person he could ever talk to in his long existence, his sister Aphrodite. Now she sat and watched him with catlike eyes as he paced around her marble floor and ranted about how he left Sasha a little while ago. “So she was crying and screaming at me to get out, and I did.” He finished relating the story to Aphrodite and let out a big sigh. “What is the matter with her?” “Ares,” Aphrodite said, her voice like a melody played on a flute. “It seems to me the mortal girl had a little bit of a problem, and instead of trying to find out what it was you ravish her. It is not always about pleasures of the flesh, you know. Women need to be romanced and shown affection and caring.” Ares threw of the notion. “That is nonsense! She is a warrior like me. She does not need any of those things. Our lovemaking is passionate and wild!” “That may be so, but she is also human, and they need these emotions, Ares. If you only wanted wild, you would have been still playing games with Discordia.” “Tell me, sister, why does it feel like I have a hot lump of coal in my chest? When she cried I felt helpless! Me! God of war, feeling helpless! I cannot stop thinking about her, Aphrodite.” Aphrodite’s smile widened as she listened to Ares’ explanation of how he felt. “It seems to me, brother dear, that you have been struck by Cupid’s arrow.” 33

Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman “What?” Ares turned to her with an angry look. “If your son has been playing frivolous games and hit me with one of his confounded arrows, I will throttle him myself.” “No, no, that is not what I meant. And you-- do not dare touch a hair on his little blond head.” “He is thousands of years old, Aphrodite, and bigger than Hades. He is a grown man.” “He is still my son. He will always be my baby. What I meant is, you are feeling the pangs of love.” Ares looked at her as if she was out of her mind. He knew his sister was the goddess of love and prone to flighty behavior, but thinking he was in love! That was a stretch even for her. “Ares, god of war, in love with a mortal?” He scoffed at the idea. Aphrodite looked at him crossly. “What is so funny, brother? We are gods, yes, but we have emotions as well. You, brother, are in love with this Sasha Green, and that is that.” “I am not!” Ares roared. “All the signs are there. You described every one of them. You are in love,” she replied smugly. “Accept it or not, that is how it is.” Ares sat on one of her plush red chairs, and a goblet appeared in his hand. He took a long swig and sighed heavily. “I am doomed.” Aphrodite laughed. “No, brother dear, you are in love.” Her laughter rang out in the room and Ares’ moan of despair mingled with the sound. What was he going to do now? *** Discordia sat and watched Sasha sleep. She was pretty enough; if she didn’t hate her because of Ares, she might have been tempted to try her out herself. Willingly, or with a little bit of magical coaxing, she would have made her do some very naughty things. But she of course did not want Sasha now, because Ares favored her. Discordia walked around the little bedroom, looking at the little insignificant things she kept. Mortals. Why do they keep such paltry things? she thought, carelessly tossing a piece of blue ribbon she’d picked up aside. Why not collect jewels or fine silks? Not pretty cards and old flowers pressed in between the pages of a book. Stupid mortals. She sat next to Sasha, who was lying asleep in her bed, unaware of the venomous goddess who sat beside her, caressing her hair. Her fingers with their long black nails trailed down Sasha’s cheek, making her shiver. Discordia smiled cruelly. I’ll make you scream soon enough. She disappeared from where she sat next to Sasha, who just turned in her sleep and pulled the blanket up around her neck. 34

Chapter Seven Ares hadn’t come around for over a week. Even though she had practically thrown him out, if you could throw a god out of an apartment, Sasha missed him. She missed his arrogance, and how he would make a beer appear magically for her when they came home from a battle. Battle, she thought with a smile. He had even called her crime fighting battles. Every night she went out, she half expected to see him come up behind her and take out a thug or two, but he didn’t. She was starting to think he’d let her out of the deal they made. Good riddance, she thought angrily. I didn’t want to be part of it anyway. He didn’t care about her. All he wanted was sex and fighting. But why couldn’t she get her mind off of him? Sometimes in the days he wasn’t around she felt as if someone was watching her. She would look around to see if he was somewhere near, but there was nothing. She stepped out of her apartment and started her routine of looking for people in need of help. She walked down the street slowly in the neighborhood she knew so well. Her mind was on helping the helpless, but her heart was not into it. The thrill was not there for her tonight. Going down through one dark alley, she heard a strangled scream coming from between two buildings. Sasha moved quickly to where she heard the noise and saw a man holding a young woman by the neck with one hand and trying to rip her pants off with the other. “Hey. Let her go!” Sasha yelled, and moved towards them.

Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman The man turned and sneered at her; he shoved the young woman to the ground. “What are you going to do about it, Ms. Thang? I’ll fix you and have her for desert.” “You could try,” Sasha said sweetly to the burly man. His head was shaved and the tattoos on his neck were clearly a gang affiliation. Sasha knew the mark well. She told the girl, who had crawled further away, “Run; go home quickly.” The girl scrambled to her feet and ran down the alley, not even looking back. With her footsteps fading away, Sasha said, “I guess you just have me to play with.” With a snarl, the man charged at her, and Sasha moved quickly to side step him and kicked him in the stomach. He doubled over and she put her elbow into the back of his neck sharply. He caught her around the waist and used his body to slam her against the wall of the building. Sasha’s breath whooshed out of her body, but she brought her knee up and caught him on the chin. He let her go, and after two quick jabs to the throat and one to the side of the neck, the thug crumpled to the ground. With her chest heaving from the exertion of the fight, Sasha bent over with her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. “How do you expect to see anyone committing a crime if your head is facing the ground?” His voice made her heart leap in joy, but she set her jaw firmly as she turned to face him. “What do you want?” “I have come to battle with you,” Ares said. “As you can see, my battle with him is over. By the way, I have been fighting by myself for a long time now, Ares, before you came around. You can go back to wherever you were for the last week.” “Is that jealousy I hear in your voice, princess? Did you miss me?” “I missed you like I miss a cold sore.” Sasha retorted angrily. “I thought I told you to leave me alone.” “I’m sorry.” Sasha’s eyes widened in surprise “What?” He waved his hands in the air and a bouquet of exotic flowers appeared in his hands. “I am told that mortal women like flowers when their man apologizes. I am sorry, Sasha Green.” “Exactly what are you apologizing for, Ares? Do you even know?” “Ah, I don’t exactly—“ He sighed in frustration. “Listen, I am the god of war! I don’t have to say I’m sorry. But you…..you, Sasha Green…When you didn’t come home, I thought there was someone else you gave yourself to and it enraged me!” 36

Dahlia Rose “Did you ever think that instead of jumping on me you could ask a decent question?” Sasha said with her hands on her hips. “I am the—” “Yeah, yeah, you are the god of war; you don’t have to ask questions. But if we are in a relationship, that is part of the deal.” “Are we in a relationship?” Ares asked. “I don’t know what we are,” Sasha replied and sighed. “I don’t know what we are.” “I think I’d like to be in a relationship with you.” “Ares, in the thousands of years you have been in existence, have you ever been in a relationship?” He made a face Sasha found endearing and kind of cute. “I have had women, lots of women….” “Yeah, enough said....” she replied. She did not want to know about the women in Ares’ life before her. He took her hand and pulled her to him and she went, willing, into his arms. “But you can teach me, Sasha Green, to be in a relationship.” “I can, huh?” He nodded. “Yes, you can. You taught me to use the Internet thing.” Sasha laughed. “Yes, I did. Okay, take me home, big guy, and we’ll discuss the whole relationship thing.” He smiled down at her gently and wrapped his arms around her tightly before disappearing from in the dark alley. *** Later that night he lay in her bed next to her as she discussed the finer points of relationships with him. He idly played with her hair and listened to her voice contentedly. “So that is all there is to it?” he asked when her voice trailed off. “I should listen to you, and be understanding and not be so aggressive all the time?” “I happen to like you aggressive, big guy. But at the right times,” Sasha said with a smile. “Ahhh, and what would be those right times, I wonder?” Her voice was a sexy purr. “Use your imagination, stud.” Ares’ laughter boomed out of his chest. “You are incorrigible, Sasha Green.” “I went to see my father.” He heard the quiet statement when his laughter died; he heard the somber tone of her voice. “Your father?” “Three years ago…I lived with him in a building not far from here. One night when I was at school one of our neighbors was being mugged 37

Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman and my father stopped them.” She took a deep breath and continued. “They followed him home and broke into our apartment and…..and they beat him up really bad. I came home and saw him lying in a pool of blood.” Sasha’s breath caught on a sob and Ares felt something inside him break. He wanted to kill them. The men had caused her pain. He rubbed his hands along her shoulders as she spoke, hoping this was some small comfort to her. “He never woke up. He had been in hospice care since that night. He finally died that day, and I had to go make arrangements.” She turned over and looked at Ares with eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “That is why I do this. I go out every night to help people, like my dad did with the neighbor. Except when they hit, I hit the hell back.” “That’s my princess, with a true warrior’s heart.” Ares kissed her with loud smacking noises and delighted himself with the sound of her giggles. Play turned serious when she climbed on top of him and her kisses were filled with passion. “Make me forget I am alone in the world now, Ares. Just for a little while.” He pulled her into his kiss once more, his hands caressing and kneading her smooth breasts. He felt her hips move against him and his body hardened in response. She reached between them and took his manhood in her grasp. He groaned his approval as she let his thick cock slip inside her. Her back arched and she let her body take up its sexual rhythm. He watched her above him as she rode him. Her lips parted and her eyes closed in pleasure. There was nothing more beautiful to him than her at that moment. His hands clenched on her hips as her movements increased, in a frenzy for completion. Her little cries as sensations rocketed through her drove him on as well. He lifted his hips and brought her down onto him over and over again. He took control of their pace and pounded himself inside her until her body spasmed and trembled around him; only then did he let himself go with a low moan that heralded his own release. As she lay in his arms, falling asleep while their bodies cooled from the passion they had just shared, Ares caressed her hair. He felt such tenderness towards her, an emotion he could never say he’d ever experienced. But this tiny mortal with a warrior’s soul elicited such a response from him. He loved her, just like Aphrodite said. It was the first time he’d ever felt love. What was supposed to happen after that? he did not know. He opened his eyes, sat up quickly and looked around. Beside him, Sasha murmured in her sleep, and he lay next to her once again. He swore he had sensed someone watching them. He shook it off as his imagination and wrapped her in his arms once again. 38

Dahlia Rose “Don’t worry, Sasha. You have me. You’re not alone,” he whispered. He nestled his head into her sweet smelling hair and fell asleep. *** She has you, does she? Discordia thought. Well, not for long. She let her eyes disappear from Sasha’s apartment where the lovers slept. Ares never treated her with such tenderness. He never caressed her while she slept. Not that she wanted it anyway; such emotions were meant for the weak, for mortals. And Ares! falling prey to those feelings! Something had to be done, and done now. He would thank her when she took the pathetic mortal woman away from him. He would thank her for saving him from the weakness Sasha made him feel. Then he would be back, and everything would be as it should be. The way it used to be. Discordia went back to the home she shared with Bellona, who sat waiting for her. “Make a place for one guest, Bellona. We’re going to have company.” “And who might that be, someone we can play with?” Bellona asked. “No she is not for play; this is Ares’ mortal whom I am going to destroy.” Bellona looked at Discordia doubtfully. “Are you sure you want to do this? You know of Ares’ wrath. If his care for this mortal—” “Enough!” Discordia screeched. “He will thank me when I throw her in the pits of Tartarus!” “Ssssh, now, my sweet girl. I meant not to anger you, just ask you if it was a wise course of action.” Bellona walked over to her and caressed her face. “Why do you doubt me?” Discordia whined. “I don’t, my sweet, I don’t. You are right. Ares will thank you for what you are doing.” Bellona leaned over and bared Discordia’s breasts. Licking the nipples, she let her hands glide between her legs to play with her mound. Discordia moaned her approval and let her legs widen to Bellona’s touch. Her anger faded and was replaced by lust-- for now.

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Chapter Eight Sasha woke up to find Ares gone, but in the place where he’d slept were flowers. In fact, there were flowers all over the place, in vases on her dresser, in baskets on the ground, and petals across her bed and her blankets. The different blooms filled her senses with their intoxicating scent. Sasha leaned back against her bed with a smile. He was trying to be sweet. He was trying to act like a boyfriend. Sasha laughed aloud at the thought. Ares, god of war, the one person who was responsible for more strife in the world’s history, whether it be myth or fact, trying to be a boyfriend! He would get bored with her soon and go off to find someone or something else to get his jollies. But why did the thought of his leaving make her heart drop like a heavy stone in the pit of her stomach? She sat straight up in bed. I AM IN LOVE WITH ARES! The words echoed through her head like a shout in an empty room. She started to panic, then pace the room, and then sat on the bed once again. “Look, princess, what I have brought for you! pomegranates from Greece, figs from the deserts of Arabia and different tropical fruits from the Caribbean.” He looked at her sitting on the bed. “What is it, Sasha? Your face looks rather odd; what is wrong?” “My face,” Sasha repeated numbly. She was still trying to process her feelings.

Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman “Yes, your face; you looked dazed. Has something happened?’ Ares set his gifts on the bed and sat next to her. Sasha looked at him. “Why are you doing all this for me; Ares?” “Because you said when people form a relationship—” “But we aren’t people…well, I am, but you’re not. So why this?” “Last night we talked about relationships and you explained my role. I felt like pleasing you,” Ares responded. “Ares, I’m not holding you to anything we talked about last night. It was an intimate time for both of us and I just needed to feel close to someone.” Sasha explained. “I am your concubine until you get bored, remember?” “I want you to hold me to those things we discussed! Sasha, I have come to the conclusion I have formed a feeling of love towards you.” Sasha goggled at his words and stood up pointing an accusing finger at him, and backing up in the process. “Oh, no! You don’t pull that with me, buddy! Just because you think you formed some sort of emotional attachment to me, doesn’t mean you can change the rules!” She felt panic rise in the back of her throat. This was not happening. She was in love with a god. A god was claiming to be in love with her. “Princess, my sister Aphrodite explained this to me, and I think she is correct.” Ares said. “Now come and eat your fruit. We have much to discuss.” “So your sister, who happens to be Aphrodite, talked you into believing you’re in love with me? You couldn’t tell for yourself?” “Well, I have not felt it before, so it warranted some explanation on my part. At first I thought her son Cupid—well his name is actually Lares—hit me with one of his arrows. But she told me that I formed these feelings on my own.” Sasha listened to his recounting of the conversation he had with his sister. The gods are having discussions about me. Either she was in a coma somewhere and this had been a really long dream, or her life had been turned topsy turvy by the gods. “This is nuts, positively nuts,” she murmured. “You want nuts? I have some here with the fruit.” “No, you dolt; I mean the situation is nuts! It means that it’s crazy! You can’t be in love with me and I am not in love with you. Do you hear me! I am not in love with you! So go and tell your sister she’s wrong!” “Sit, eat, and we can discuss you coming to my home with me on a more permanent basis. Of course, we can still battle on the mean streets of New York… I learned that from TV. But you can live with me wherever 42

Dahlia Rose we please to.” Ares talked as if he did not hear her and placed a fig in his mouth, chewing away happily. Sasha watched him pick up another fig and knocked it out of his hand. “I am not shacking up with you! You are not in love with me! I am not in love with you. Is that understood?” “You will love me, Sasha Green!” he roared, jumping to his feet. “You will live with me and we will be happy people in a relationship!” “I will not! Now get out and don’t come back this time!” she yelled in return. Ares grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her against him. He kissed her senseless and then shoved her away from him. He shimmered away from her. The last thing she saw was the cold anger in his eyes. Sasha slumped against the wall and a sob caught in her throat. She knew she’d picked the fight on purpose. She did not know how else to handle it. He was offering her things beyond her wildest dreams, and she was so tempted to take him up on his offer. But he was a god, and from what she knew of them, they got bored very easily. He would break her heart when he decided to move on and there would be nothing she could do about it. It was better it ended today and in this way. “Finally he’s gone. Now it’s my turn to play. You should have sent him away long before now. He is not yours, after all.” The soft womanly voice with a sinister edge made Sasha look up sharply. There was no one to be seen and she was instantly wary, ready to defend herself. “Who’s there? Where are you?” “Right here, little one.” Discordia appeared slowly to Sasha, dressed in black silks showing off every secret her body had. “I’m Discordia, goddess of mischief and mayhem. And Ares belonged to me first. I was his consort before you stole him away from me.” “Yeah, well, you can have him, sister. I don’t want him.” “He will not come back until you are out of his memory. For that to come to pass, you need to be out of existence.” In a flash, Discordia was standing face to face with her. Sasha was prepared and lashed out at this new nemesis, but was only able to hit her twice before her arms were caught and pinned by the unworldly power of a goddess. “Ah, ah, ah, little one, you don’t get to strike me again. I’m going to enjoy playing with my new toy.” With that statement, Discordia shimmered away with a struggling Sasha in her grasp.

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Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman *** “Ares!” Aphrodite screamed and dodged another lightning bolt. “Stop destroying my home this instant!” “Damnable mortal women!” Ares raged, and let another flash of power leave his fingertips. “She chooses not to love me, to send me away! Well I choose not to love her!” “Ares, I said stop!” Aphrodite let her voice build until it shook the pillars of the mountain fortress. He finally turned with a heaving chest and slumped into one of her very overstuffed red chairs. “She spurned my love, sister, sent me away, saying you talked me into thinking I was in love.” “Ah, we are back to your mortal again; that is what all of this is about,” Aphrodite commented as she walked past him. She arily waved her hands and fixed all the destruction Ares had caused. “I have never felt so frustrated and angry at one soul, but in the next breath wanting to possess her, comfort her and be…be gentle.” Ares said the word in a whisper, as if he was even afraid to say it. His sister laughed. “That, dear brother, is love in the purest of forms. Tell me, what did you say to her when she said she did not love you?” “I ordered her to love me,” Ares mumbled. “You are a fool, Ares! You cannot order someone to love you! You need to be able to bend and convince her of your love.” “Aphrodite, I know war. I know battle. I do not know how to say sweet things and woo her!” “But you do, brother; look past all the years of battle and blood. The words will come,” Aphrodite said gently. “And if that does not work, then you can throw her over your shoulder and carry her away like a barbarian.” “I should do that now!” Ares said, jumping to his feet. Sasha was his, and that was all there was to it. She would accept it in time. “Try it my way first, brother,” Aphrodite said, amused. “You might find the results quite surprising.” Ares made a gruff sound. “Fine, fine, but my way seems more like an Ares thing to do.” As he faded away, Aphrodite called, “Sometimes it’s best not to be yourself!” He shimmered into Sasha’s bedroom, expecting to find her still there, but she was not. He could tell instantly something was wrong. There were no signs of a struggle, but the air felt different and unsettled. He closed his eyes and honed his powers, and his eyes flew open in anger. Discordia! She had been here. She did not even try to mask her trail so he would not know it was her. He closed his eyes once more and tried to find her, but now she 44

Dahlia Rose was suspiciously invisible to him. The conniving bitch had Sasha and could not mean anything good. But how did she know about…? And then one name came to his mind: Hades. Foreboding and dread filled him at what Discordia would do to Sasha out of some misplaced sense of jealousy. A rage unlike anything he’d ever felt filled him as he shimmered away to the underworld. A clap of thunder followed as he disappeared. He was going to unleash hell on the god of the Underworld.

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Chapter Nine “Hades!” Ares’ roar made the stones holding the Underworld together shake. A few pebbles came down and hit one of Hades’ little dark gremlins in the head. It sent the curious creature scurrying off holding his head and yelping in pain. His next shout was like thunder echoing through every hollow tunnel and each room of Hades’ underworld fortress. Hades heard the shouts and gulped. His brother’s wrath was at his front door and there was nothing he could do but go out and face the piper. He knew if he didn’t, Ares would tear the Underworld apart looking for him. “Ares! What a pleasant surprise!” Hades said with a huge smile on his face, crossing the room to his brother. Ares’ hand shot out and grabbed Hades by the neck, cutting off whatever words he had left to say. “Your treachery brings me here, brother. Tell me what you told Discordia!” “Why, I have not seen my little cousin—” Hades’ throat closed as Ares’ fingers tightened around his neck. “I can sense her vile malevolence just as if she stood right in front of me.” “There was a time her malevolence fueled your desires, brother.” “She has Sasha, and if she harms her, nothing I ever did to you in the past will compare to what I have in mind now, Hades.” Ares’ cold and deadly threat made Hades turn visibly pale. “Discordia will not harm her, Ares; she is just jealous. Give up the mortal and she will come to her senses,” Hades cajoled.

Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman “I will not give her up. I love her. You do understand love, don’t you, Hades? Like the love you have for your darling Persephone.” Ares smiled; his pearly teeth gleamed in the dim light, reminding Hades of a shark before biting into its prey. “I wonder how she would feel about your dalliances with the Sirens, or maybe the little thing you have going on with the pretty blond muse. What did she say-- once more and she was gone, leaving you and never coming back?” “How do you know—?” Ares’ eyes were glittering black pieces of coal as he stared into his brother’s now worried face. “There is not much the gods do that I don’t know about. Let’s see what she thinks about your little trysts, shall we? Persephone!” Ares made sure his voice was loud enough to carry, and knowing Persephone’s hearing, he did not doubt she was in tune to this conversation already. “Sshh, calm yourself, brother,” Hades said hastily. “If you will let go of my neck, I’ll tell you all I know.” Ares let go and was not gentle in the least. His anger was coming to a boil and he was trying very hard to stay rational. He looked on as Hades rubbed his sore neck, waiting for him to speak. “I may have let it slip to Discordia about your mortal. Whatever plans she made after that I do not know. I just assumed she would make you miserable, not go after the poor girl. I would never put a mortal up against my cousin’s viperous intentions,” Hades explained. “Where did she take Sasha?” “Ares, this I do not know.” Hades saw Ares’s chest expand as he was getting ready to yell and added in haste: “You should ask Bellona. You know she is like the right hand to Discordia’s left. If anyone knows where she is, it will be her.” “If Sasha is harmed, Hades, you might be the god of the Underworld but I will rain down hell upon you,” Ares growled menacingly. Hades could only nod at his statement. “You have fallen in love with this mortal. Who would have thought the god of war would be felled by a mortal!” “Don’t be too amazed, Hades. Be amazed if you come out of this unscathed.” With this last dire threat, he faded from Hades’s home and went in search of Bellona. Ares knew exactly where to find her. Bellona was a creature of habit. She would be at home waiting for Discordia to come to her. The relationship she had with her lover was more dysfunctional than anything else. She was more timid and willing to follow Discordia into any foolhardy plan, just to please her. Even though she was submissive and shy underneath, 48

Dahlia Rose hers was a cold hearted soul with a manic personality. Which is what made her and Discordia such a perfect couple; they fed each other’s insanity. Ares shimmered into their little love nest; he had been there more than once sharing in the pleasures they offered him. “Bellona, where is Discordia?” “Why, Ares; no hello? Only demands from you?” Bellona sat filing her nails as if she had not a care in the world. “I have no time for pleasantries. She has Sasha; tell me where she is!” Ares’ fury came across in his voice and Bellona’s eyes widened in fear. “Why would I know? Discordia’s comings and goings are hers and hers alone.” Ares moved towards her slowly like a predator stalking its prey. “Because you are her little slut puppy. You do as you are told, when you are told. I know you both. She would not plan any kind of torturous play without you. Tell me; aren’t you tired of being her slut puppy, Bellona? her toy to pick up and cast aside as she chooses?” “As I recall, Ares, you took part in some of that casting aside, when you did it to her for your mortal.” Bellona’s eyes flashed fire as she spoke. “But I never belonged to her or you, so Sasha cannot be punished for something that was my choice.” “I do not know where Discordia or your mortal may be. So leave me at once!” Ares moved in a flash and pulled her up by her shoulders until they were eye to eye. “Tell me where she is, because if anything happens to Sasha, you will share her punishment. For every minute Discordia has her, for every minute Sasha suffers, will be one year that Discordia will pay dearly. Do you want to share her fate?” Ares felt Bellona shiver in fear, and he knew his deadly words rang into the place in her mind actually not filled with insanity. “Where is she?” “She took her to the black pits! There is a cave there she likes to use to torture mortals every now and again. The cliff hangs over the endless cavern, so when she is finished she can drop their bodies in!” Ares shoved her away cruelly and she fell against the chair he’d pulled her from a few moments earlier. As he walked, he shimmered away. Sasha was in more danger than he thought and his heart filled with fear for his love. Those pits were called black because of one thing and one thing only. They had no ending, none anyone knew of. Even the immortal gods had never seen the bottom. If Discordia cast Sasha into one of them, she would be lost to him forever. He heard Bellona’s pleading scream echoing as he faded out of sight. “Ares, please don’t hurt her!” 49

Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman Too late for that, he thought mercilessly. If she harmed Sasha, she would pay with her life. *** The Black Pits were deep in the bowels of Tartarus, where the screams of the tortured filled your ears and could drive man or immortal mad with the sound. Ares could see why Discordia liked it so much. She could get away with all kinds of evil things and no one here would care. The demons of Tartarus thrived on hate, pain, and torture. They were of Hades’ creation. This place was made for the most evil of humans once they’d walked the earth. Now they suffered for eternity with punishments no one could imagine. Even Hades stayed away from this place, directing from his palace in the Underworld the special punishment for its victims. When Ares shimmered down to the hot rocks, the smell of sulfur and decay assaulted him. The screams were even more horrible than he remembered. He was amazed he’d counted this as one of his favorite places to play when he was a child growing up with immortal powers. Because of Sasha, he’d found his battles could be fought and he could still find peace. Maybe that was what he’d been searching for all his existence, peace. His philosophical thoughts were cut off when he heard a string of filthy words being screeched out from a very familiar and very angry voice. It was Sasha, and she was okay! Ares’ heart leapt in joy when he heard her. Good girl; take on the evil bitch, Ares thought with a smile. But when the resounding slap came from hand hitting cheek, Ares’ fury built until he saw flames start at the ends of his finger tips. “Hit me again, you crazy Goth bitch. Hit me again, because when I get out of this rope, I am going to kick your ass!” Sasha’s fury was a sight to behold as Ares came close enough to see. You could see the energy crackling around her as her eyes flashed fire at her captor. He looked at her. Her lip was bleeding and she had a few bruises on her face. Her hands were shackled against the rock ledge she was standing on and Discordia was there, holding a knife that glinted as she moved in front of Sasha’s face. The ledge was precarious and it hung over the pits. If he moved too quickly, Discordia could have Sasha in the pits before he could stop her. “You are so much fun to play with, Sasha. I wish I could have had you in my bed, but alas, I hate you, so now I must kill you,” Discordia said. She sliced at Sasha’s skin and left a line of blood trailing down her arm. Aries wanted to jump out and throttle Discordia, but he knew the time was not right.

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Dahlia Rose “You better make sure I am good and dead, lady, because if I can pull one last breath into my lungs I am going to make you regret ever coming after me! Why not fight me fair, huh? Untie me and let’s have a fair fight!” “You can’t kill me; I am a god,” Discordia said with a smug tone. “You are a demi-god, Discordia, under my rule.” Both women turned at the sound of his voice. Sasha’s eyes lit up with joy and she mouthed the words I love you to him. Ares grinned and turned his attention back to Discordia, who stood seething quietly, but Ares could see the flames in her eyes. “Discordia, we have to have a little talk about you overstepping your boundaries,” Ares said with deadly calm. “Not before I make a stand of my own!” Discordia made an unholy shriek and raised her hand. From the crevices and tunnels poured out demons of all shapes and sizes with only one thing in their sights, Ares and Sasha. Ares flung a bolt of energy, Sasha’s hands broke the chains binding her, and she lithely jumped over next to him. He pulled her in for a hard kiss on the lips before they turned back to back, ready to fight. “Hang on, baby, this is going to be hell,” Sasha murmured. “No, this will be battle, my love,” Ares replied, looking at their foe. He saw Discordia standing behind the mass of demons, waiting to see if they would fall. Two long blades appeared in his hands and he gave one to Sasha. “Fight to kill, Sasha Green. These are not mere mortals. Aim for the head or the gut; those are their weakest points.” “Gotcha, don’t worry about me. I got your back,” Sasha replied, while eyeing the demons as they moved closer. “As I do yours.” The crowd of demons surged forward and with a loud cry from both Ares and Sasha, the battle began.

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Chapter Ten Metal cut into flesh. The shrieks and cries of demon things sounded as they fought. Ares and Sasha moved quickly, slicing into anything coming at them. The pack of demons advanced and retreated, circling them, trying to gain a better advantage. But every time they attacked, Ares and Sasha fought them back. Sasha cried out because one of them got close enough to gouge her with its talon-like claws. That was enough for Ares; he knew they could not kill him, but Sasha was just mortal. If one of them struck her and mortally wounded her, she would be gone forever. Her soul could not be put back into her body twice. He refused to lose his love. With a loud roar, he raised his hands over his head and created a ball of blue light between his hands. “Get down, Sasha!” he called to her as he arched his hands wide and the ball of blue light grew. Sasha bent low and wrapped her arms around his strong legs, anchoring herself to him as he sent the ball of energy outwards. The sound was deafening as it cut down the screaming demons and bounced off the rocks around them. The force was so powerful, boulders rolled down from a high cliff. Some of the big rocks hit the surface where

Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman they were standing, coming perilously close to them and breaking off the edge of the ledge where they stood. The others fell straight into the black pits, falling forever and never finding the bottom. Finally, the ground stopped shaking and the sounds ceased. Everything became quiet, and the stillness was almost as deafening as the tumbling rocks before. Sasha stood slowly and Ares wrapped her in his arms. “Princess, I have you now; you are okay.” It felt good to be held by him once again. She looked at him and grinned. “Thank you for saving me, stud.” Sasha heard Discordia’s wail of anger and despair. “An old girlfriend, I assume?” “Very old. I did not have such discriminating taste as I do now.” Ares smiled and caressed her cheek. Discordia rushed forward with her fingers bared like claws, with Sasha in her sights. This time she was ready for her attack. She side stepped Discordia’s advance and caught her around the neck. She twirled Discordia to face her, letting loose with a fist to the face. “That was for cutting me!” With the next blow, Discordia fell to her knees. “And that is for hitting me!” “Ares, don’t let her do this to me!” Discordia wailed as she crawled over to him. He lifted her to her feet and looked at her. “For too long I have let your madness loose on the world and the other realms, but no more. You were under my reign and you thought yourself above my rule. I strip you of your power, Discordia. Immortal, but no more than one of the servants who live on Mount Olympus.” *** Her pleading was cut off by his kiss. Sasha watched as he sucked the power he had bestowed on Discordia from her body. She slumped to the ground and Ares stepped away from her, crossing over to where Sasha stood. “Ready to go, my love?” he asked. 54

Dahlia Rose “Still thinking you love me, huh? Well, listen, buddy you might have saved me—” Sasha’s words were cut off by his kiss as well, and she felt her knees go weak and her insides melt when his lips moved over hers. “Be quiet!” he whispered against her soft full lips. “I love you, Sasha Green; that is all there is to it.” Sasha gave a tortured sigh, but inside her body her heart leapt. With a smile she touched a finger to his cheek. “Fine, then, I guess I love you too.” “You will die! If he is not mine, then no one will have him!” The words screeched out, from the throat of an enraged and insane fallen goddess. Out of the corner of her eye, Sasha saw movement. Discordia was heading directly at Ares, with the intent of sending them both over the edge into the black pits. Sasha did not think, she only reacted to the man she loved being in danger. She pushed Ares with all her might out of Discordia’s path. Discordia hit her solidly and they both went careening over the ledge of rock they stood on. “Sasha!” Ares cried out, and the sound filled her ears as she fell into endless darkness. I’ll be falling forever, Sasha thought as the darkness engulfed her. Discordia’s scream of terror was gone, long gone, as she fell deeper in to the pits. Ares-- her thoughts went to him and her heart felt heavy. Just my luck, I fall in love with a god, and now I am going to be dead by the time I ever hit ground in this pit. Getting ready to accept her fate, Sasha’s arm bumped a hard surface. The pain shot up her arm. “Shit!” she hissed out, and then it hit her. She must be close to the side of the pits. Giving up fled her mind as she reached out her hand and felt the bumpy surface of the rocks as she fell. She groped and grasped, pulling rocks loose, hoping to find one solid crevice where she could grab on. There! Her fingers held onto a small space and she was jarred from her fall. Her body hit the side with a thud and it knocked the breath from her body, but she held on tightly and

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Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman found a foothold for her feet and another space for her hand. She clung onto the side like a spider, catching her breath. Just hold on until he can get to you, just hold on. She looked up, not knowing how far she’d fallen, and started screaming the name of her lover, hoping he could hear her. *** If she thought Ares was sitting there just looking over the edge into the darkness, she was wrong. As soon as he saw her go over the edge with Discordia, he was climbing down the jagged rocks. He could not shimmer to her because there was no definite place in the black pits. There was only endless darkness. If he fell, he too would be lost, but he had to find her. If it took him centuries to get to the bottom, he would climb all the way down; he had to see if she was there alive or not. “Ares!” The faint cry came to him out of the darkness. He thought he’d imagined it until he heard it come once again, and his heart leapt with joy. “I’m coming, princess! I hear you!” He maneuvered down the rocks faster, not knowing exactly where she was, but knowing he could hear her and she was alive. He thought quickly and stopped his downward climb. Ares formed a ball of lighting in his hand and sent it down into the pits, hoping he could catch a glimpse of her. There she was! Clinging against the rocks far below! It was going to be a far climb, but he was going to get to her. “I’m coming, Sasha Green! Do not let go!” he called to her. “You bet your ass I am not letting go!” Her reply traveled up to him and he laughed out in joy. It seemed to take forever for him to get to where Sasha clung for her life. As he climbed down, he called to her, knowing her arms were tired and her strength was waning. A few times when he did not hear any response, he called to her and made her angry. When she yelled up filthy curse words at him, it was like love poems to his ears. As long as she kept talking she was there and holding on. Finally he stood right next to her and 56

Dahlia Rose pulled her into his strong embrace. She collapsed weakly against him, slipping into her own darkness as she went unconscious. Her mortal body had tired from holding onto such thin cracks for so long. “I’ve got you, princess,” he murmured, kissing her head that lay weakly against his chest. He closed his eyes and shimmered back to the surface, and then to his home. There he bathed the grime and dirt from her body and placed her in his bed. He watched her sleep for hours, and then walked over to the window to stare out at the roaring ocean as its waves broke against the cliffs. “Hey, stud.” Her quiet greeting broke him from his thoughts. He turned to see her chocolate brown eyes staring at him. “Hello, Sasha Green; how do you feel?” he asked gently as he walked over to sit on the edge of the bed. She took his hand off his lap and held it in her small ones. “Will you ever stop calling me Sasha Green all the time?” “Why? That is your name. What else should I call you?” She laughed softly. “Never mind. Come here.” She held out her arms to him, inviting him to lie with her. Ares stretched out beside her on the bed and let his head rest against her breasts. Her fingers played with his long hair and he sighed in contentment. It felt so good to be held by her like this. Ares knew there was no place he would rather be, for an eternity. “Thank you for saving me,” Sasha said quietly. “Why did you push me out of Discordia’s path, princess? I would have been able to manage to evade her better than you could.” The image of her going over the edge of the pits filled his head and he felt a surge of anger and fear all over again. “I wasn’t thinking like that, Ares. She was trying to kill you and I had to protect you.” “I have never had anyone, let alone a mortal, try to protect me.” “Well, when you love someone…”

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Sensual Bites: Of Gods and One Woman He lifted his head and looked at her, smiling broadly. “Ah, so you admit now that you love me without reservation.” “Don’t get smug, big guy; it is not a good quality. But yes, I admit I love you,” Sasha replied. “I have a gift for you. I have been thinking—” “Ares thinking? That is a first.” “Sasha Green,” Ares warned. “Sorry, sorry, I am listening. You are giving me a gift.” Sasha said, stifling a smile. “Take me into you,” he said softly. Sasha nodded as his lips found hers. Their fingers entwined and his body covered hers. Sasha was already naked under the silky blankets and Ares’ clothes magically disappeared. Her legs widened to accept him between them as he slipped his cock inside her. She fit him so perfectly. Her legs loosely wrapped around his waist as he pressed himself deeper into her warmth. Their love making was slow and unhurried, so different to the passionate and vigorous couplings they’d shared before. It took no words, only sighs and small cries from Sasha as she reached peak after peak. Before he fell into his own abyss of ecstasy Ares kissed her once again. This time he let the power he took from Discordia flow into her. Sasha’s body arched, and she was filled with a new kind of magic. Another orgasm overtook her; Ares groaned his release and his body slumped against hers. Minutes passed before he moved and pulled her close against him. “What did you do to me, Ares?” Sasha asked breathlessly. “I gave you what I took from Discordia. That was my gift, to make you my Goddess. For us to spend an eternity of loving each other. Are you upset I did this?” “No, but you know that this will not change who I am. I will still fight for the helpless. That was my promise to my father, and to myself.”

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Dahlia Rose “I would have you no other way, princess. And I shall battle by your side,” Ares promised and grinned “So have I conquered you after all, my concubine?” Sasha swatted him and snorted. “I shall never be your concubine, Ares! I said I loved you, but that’s it, buddy, don’t you forget it!” “We shall see,” he said. He rolled his body onto her once again, biting her neck playfully. Sasha giggled and wrapped her arms around him, with sparks of magic coming to life at her fingertips. They were first signs of her new power and immortality. She gave him a smacking kiss on his lips and shimmered away, leaving his arms empty. Her laugh echoed in the room as she heard him roar her name like only he did. “Sasha Green!” The End

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An Eternal Flame

A Fireman’s Prayer

When I am called to duty, God Wherever flame may rage, Give me strength to save life Whatever be its age. Help me embrace a little child Before it is too late Or save an older person From the horror of that fate. Enable me to be alert And hear the weakest shout And quickly and efficiently To put the fire out I want fo fill my calling And to give the best in me, To guard my every neighbor And protect his property. And if according to my fate I am to lose my life, Please bless with your protecting hand My children and my wife.

Prologue September 20th 2001 A light rain fell, making a mist in Long Island, New York. No one seemed to notice it as the bagpipes played their mournful song, and the funeral procession passed. People lined the streets to watch and to show their respect. They might not have known who died, but everyone felt it as if it were someone they knew or loved. So many tears had fallen in the last few days that it was no surprise the sky cried, too. Firefighters, all in their dress blues with white gloves, marched somberly. The rain made teardrops on their wool jackets as they kept up their slow cadence. In front of them was a fire truck with a coffin draped in a flag; on top of the flag was a beat-up, dirty fireman’s hat surrounded by white roses, and a grieving family trailed the solitary vehicle Simone Collins walked soberly behind the fire truck. Her face was wet with tears as they silently trailed down her cheeks mixing with the raindrops. On her left was the woman that would have been her mother-in-law while her right hand was held by another fireman. In the coffin lay her fiancé, Matthew Daley. He was one of the firemen that fell nine days before in a disaster that was felt around the world. None felt it more than the wives, children, mothers, and fathers of the firemen and police officers that were lost the day the towers fell. Simone’s heart shattered when she got the news that Matthew was lost. They were still digging for others while he

Sensual Bites: An Eternal Flame was being buried. She thanked God that they didn’t have to dig far to find him. He was almost out of the south tower when it fell. She couldn’t bear the thought of him still being stuck under a pile of metal and debris. Just like now she could not stand the thought of him being gone. Instead of wearing white for her wedding that was to be on September 30th, she was wearing black, and her joy was replaced by grief that felt like a stone in her chest. The funeral procession stopped outside the burial ground, and Matthew’s brothers in arms helped lay him in his final resting place. The flag was folded soberly as his tribute was given, and then the fire commissioner handed it to his mother along with his helmet. “You take it, Simone,” his mother said in a whisper. “He was going make you my daughter, and you should have this piece of him.” Simone could only nod as she held the folded flag tightly against her chest. Her voice was gone days ago from screaming as they told her he was dead, to the gut wrenching sobs remove extra space every day since. How she wished it could soothe the sharp pain that was searing her soul right now. As they lowered his coffin into the ground, in her head she screamed his name begging him to come back to her. Matthew was gone; he was gone, and he was not coming back! As she stood, she felt her feet give way beneath her. She had no more strength to stand as grief overtook her. Before she could fall to the ground, two strong arms caught her and held her against a powerful chest. It was not the arms of Matthew that held her up but his best friend Julian McCall. “Don’t worry, Simone. I got you. I won’t let you fall,” he whispered. She could hear his voice break, and his grief over losing his friend came through. They were more than firefighters; they were like brothers when Matthew was alive. His sadness was as much as hers. Simone nodded slightly as he helped her to her feet. She felt him grasp her hand as they walked behind the fire truck. She reached out and gripped Matthew’s mom’s hand in her own, and the three of them left the graveyard as the sky wept with them.

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Chapter One Present Day… Julian walked up the block in the cold winter wind. Winter in New York was a bitch sometimes. The blustery weather could bite through the layers of clothing like it had teeth, and you could feel the cold straight to your bones. He tucked his head down deeper into his coat’s collar and walked briskly to his destination with the wind ruffling his dark hair. At thirty-five Julian counted himself as only average. His hair was black, and the sides had its first tint of gray. He chalked it up as being the stress of being a fireman. His eyes were hazel, and his nose crooked from when he broke it in a bar fight early in his fireman career. Julian didn’t notice the little extra glances of appreciation women gave him as he passed. He counted himself as an average Joe, but to the opposite sex he was ruggedly handsome. Julian usually drove to Brooklyn, but on unusually cold days like this he took the subway from Long Island to Brooklyn. It was just easier than trying to maneuver New York traffic especially in the Monday morning rush hour. After waiting for the Long Island Rail Road for twenty minutes, he was finally on his way to his destination. The ride to the Jay

Sensual Bites: An Eternal Flame Street Station in Downtown Brooklyn took another half an hour, and then he had to take the G train to the Classon Avenue Station. To him the time the trip took didn’t matter, nor did he not even grumble at the packed subway car. He was going to see Simone, and somehow that made his day a little better. Since his best friend Matthew’s death almost six years ago, Julian had made sure he looked after Matthew’s mother and his fiancé, Simone. In that time he had watched her grieve and mourn the loss and learn to go on day-by-day. Over the years that had passed he’d fallen in love with the girl whose eyes always held sadness even when she smiled. She moved from Long Island to Clinton Hills Brooklyn soon after Matthew’s death. She bought a loft and converted it into half apartment, half artist studio for her painting. Every time he had a day off from the fire house he would make the trip to Brooklyn to see her. She had become a big part of his life. He just couldn’t find a way to tell her how he felt, so he kept coming to see her hoping one day he would find the courage to tell her he loved her. Julian walked up to the familiar doorway and pressed the buzzer waiting for the husky hello to greet him. When he heard her voice, he could feel a smile pull at the corners of his mouth. “Damn, Simone, who else is going to ring your bell at nine in the morning? Open up. It’s cold out here!” “I should leave you out there Julian for coming here so early.” “I brought you coffee and fresh bagels from Downtown. Does that help?” He grinned as he heard the buzzer and the click of the automatic lock in response. He took the stairs to her loft two at a time, excited to see her like he was every time he came to her apartment. She had already unlocked the door, and Julian strode in heading directly to her little open kitchen. He called out when he didn’t see her. “Where are you? Simone padded out of her bedroom wearing orange pajamas and purple socks grumbling. “I’m here. I’m here. This is an ungodly hour I hope you know this, Julian.” 68

Dahlia Rose Julian looked at her outfit and grinned. She had the knack of wearing some of the brightest colors known to man and mismatching them. Even then, she still managed to look appealing. She had colored her hair to a shade that was a little under bronze, and in the years since the funeral she had let it grow long with a few bangs on her forehead. She reminded him of a pixie with a tiny mouth and wide brown eyes. She couldn’t be more than a hundred and ten pounds soaking wet, and her skin the color of honey completed the perfect package in his opinion. “I didn’t know you were trying out to be in the circus, Simone,” he teased as she sat on one of the kitchen stools. She eyed him taking the first sip of the large coffee he had brought her. “What are you referring to, may I ask? I’m assuming its not my clothes since I can throw you back out into the cold.” “Um…well, you do like some unusually loud colors.” “I like colors in general, Julian,. Artist, remember?” Simone reminded him. “Yes but not every artist lives in an apartment that looks like Moulin Rouge,” he said, gesturing to the large feathers and beaded curtains she had in the room. There was also mismatched furniture, at least three lava lamps and a doll and puppet collection that was unimaginable. “I swear these dolls watch me every time I come here, very creepy.” Simone laughed. “Big, bad you afraid of a few dolls.” “I am not afraid of them, just a tad bit leery,” he replied. Simone spread cream cheese on her cinnamon raisin bagel. “I promise they don’t come alive, Julia.” “I told you to stop calling me that. It makes me sound like a chick,” Julian made a face while referring to how she shortened his name. “Hmmm and yet I seem never to listen,” she bit into her bagel. “You have a little cream cheese right here,” he said using his finger to wipe it away from the corner of her lips. He had the irresistible urge to kiss the spot where his finger just left. Oh God, I don’t know how much longer I can stand not being with her, he thought miserably. There was no one that 69

Sensual Bites: An Eternal Flame occupied his thoughts like how Simone had for the past few years. He’d tried dating, to see if he could get her out of his system, but nothing worked. Simone had his heart and didn’t even know it. “So, Julian, you never told me what you are doing in Brooklyn so early in the morning?” “Oh right, totally forgot, I wanted to come and see if you want to take in the museum exhibit with me.” He opened the bag with the bagels, pulled out his second, and generously spread cream cheese on it before biting into it. Simone watched him and teased. “How do you not gain weight the way you eat? Museum, huh, didn’t know you knew what that is.” “Why, Simone, I’m outraged that you think just because I’m a fireman I can’t appreciate fine art,” he had a tone filled with fake outrage. “By the way, I have a great metabolism, and you could stand to gain a few pounds.” “You do know it’s cold as hell outside, and you invite me to Manhattan, which is colder, to spend the day in a museum?” “Yup.” “Okay, well, let’s go! I’m going to go change and be out in a few,” She bounced up from her stool and rushed to her bedroom. “No clown colors!” he called after her. He smiled as his teeth bit into the bagel and chewed with the big grin still pasted on his face. He was going to spend the day with Simone, and the thought filled him with joy.

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Chapter Two An hour later they were on the subway heading to Manhattan. Simone opted for the C train since it had a subway station right under the Museum of Natural History. It was much better than braving the cold to walk from another train. She stood and looked around as Julian paid their entry fee. She always loved this museum from the first time her parents brought her here when she was a child. Her mom and dad had died when she was twenty-five, and since she had no brothers and sisters, Simone was alone in the world until she had met Matthew. A sad smile crossed her face when she remembered how he brought her here one Saturday knowing what fond memories she had of it. They had spent the day acting like kids on a tour, and he had stolen kisses in the dinosaur exhibit. “Hey, what’s wrong?” Julian asked walking over to her. Simone smiled. “Nothing. I have good memories here. That’s all.” “Are you sure? Because you looked so sad there for a minute,” Julian said. “Matthew brought me here on our third date. I was just reminiscing.” “Well, let’s go make some other memories today, okay?”

Sensual Bites: An Eternal Flame Simone nodded and smiled as he threw his arm over her shoulder and pretended to be one of the tour guides. They spent the rest of the day in the museum, looking at every exhibit, from the mummies to the paintings. Julian bought them lunch at the restaurant that was settled right in the midst of the huge building, and then Simone convinced him to wear a dinosaur hat that she bought him from the novelty store. He in turn bought her a King Tut hat and back-scratcher to use as a scepter. Simone laughed uncontrollably when a boy who was no more than seven years old pointed at Julian and laughed. Julian’s sense of humor kicked in, and soon he had the entire group of children laughing at his antics. By four in the evening, the sky was already turning dark, and they headed downstairs to take the train back to Brooklyn. Julian walked Simone back to her building in the darkening city. He stood next to her, and she unlocked the door. “You coming up for some coffee to warm you up?” she asked. “Sure I could use some since I have that train ride back to Long Island.” He walked in behind her and let the heavy door close behind him. Upstairs, Simone threw her coat, gloves, and hat into a soft chair by the door and walked into the kitchen to start the coffee. Julian walked over to the red plush sofa and sat down, picking up the remote and turning on the television to the sports channel like he always did when he came over. Simone smiled while she walked over with their finished coffee. “How are the Jet’s doing this year?” “You are kidding right? You do know this is February, and the Super Bowl was yesterday?” Julian asked incredulously. “So, the Jets won the Super Bowl? How cool!” she exclaimed. Julian looked at her in shock. “Simone, the Jets were nowhere near the Super Bowl.” “I was busy painting. How would I know?” “You’ve been painting since last September?” he asked. “Simone, I am amazed you remember the date and year.”

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Dahlia Rose “I find there are better things to watch on TV when I do have the time,” Simone said primly. “Name one thing you have watched lately?” he asked. “Uh…Spongebob Squarepants, yesterday afternoon!” she exclaimed with a big smile. Julian laughed out loud. “Oh, that is such enlightening viewing on your part, a yellow sponge that wears shorts.” “Hey, he is funny as heck!” Julian put his cup on the table and reached over, pulling her into his embrace. “You crack me up, Simone.” Simone hugged him back, wrapping her arms around his broad back. He pulled back and looked into her eyes with a smile on his face that slowly faded. Simone felt the air around them change. His eyes seemed to look straight into her. She felt a flutter in her belly. Something she had not felt in a long time. Before she could stop him, Julian leaned in and kissed her. Simone made a muffled sound. Was it in protest or pleasure she couldn’t tell, and her eyes fluttered closed. His lips were warm against hers, and his taste was intoxicating. Simone felt him coax her lips open with his tongue before slipping his inside her mouth. Her arms wrapped around his neck as the kiss heated up with passion that had been untapped for a long time. She molded her body to his, and he quickly pulled her onto his lap. Her fingers sank into his thick hair, and Julian made a rumbling sound that came from his chest. Simone felt it vibrate through her, and she kissed him back with intensity. Julian’s hand slid up her ribcage and cupped her small breasts through her tight shirt. She pushed herself more firmly into his hands wanting to feel his touch on her skin instead of through the material of her clothes. The sensations of pleasure shot straight through her, and Simone wanted to feel more. She had not been kissed like this in a long time, not since Matthew. With that thought, her eyes flew open, and she pushed Julian away. “Stop! Why did you do that?” 73

Sensual Bites: An Eternal Flame Julian looked at her, his breath shallow with need. “I don’t know. I wanted to kiss you. I’ve wanted to for a long time” Simone scrubbed her lips. “You shouldn’t have done that! I belong to your best friend!” Julian jumped up angrily. “Damn it, Simone. I loved Matt just as much as you did, but he’s dead, and we can’t keep living in grief for the rest of our lives!” “How dare you!” she shrieked at him. She let the hurt and anger in, hoping it would replace the guilt she felt at kissing Julian. “Don’t you think I know he’s gone? I live with it everyday! I live with losing him everyday!” “Do you think you are the only one who lives it, Simone!? What about his mom? What about me? Since his death, you shut yourself off from the world! No friends! Nothing! All you do is sit up here and paint! You haven’t even gone to visit his grave. Like if you don’t go it will mean he is not dead. You don’t even visit his mother!” Julian’s breath heaved out as he spoke. “She told me she hasn’t seen you in three years, Simone, and you only talk to her if she calls!” “It’s my life, Julian! This is how I handle it, but you take advantage by coming here and kissing me? What did you think was going to happen? That I was going to fall naked under you, and you would have a piece of your best friend’s girlfriend?” she sneered. Julian strode over and grabbed her by the shoulders and spat out. “You live like you died with him! Well, let me tell you something, Simone. A piece of all of us died with him that day along with other families who lost someone! You’re not the only one who had to deal with grief, you hear me? I know Matt. I knew him long before you did, lady! And he wouldn’t want you to live like this! I have feelings for you. You understand me? And I’m not going to let you hide anymore!” He shook her a little for emphasis, or maybe he was so hurt by her reaction. He didn’t know but enough was enough. He kissed her again, soundly and hard. “I have real feelings for you, Simone. Now, deal with that. You are thirty-two and living your life in love with a ghost.” 74

Dahlia Rose Julian strode over to the door and threw Simone one last look before going through and letting it slam behind him. Simone stood in the same spot where he left her with shaky hands against lips that he just kissed. She slowly sank to her knees next to the sofa staring at the door, and then the tears began to slide down her cheeks. Soon wracking sobs began, and Simone couldn’t make them stop. Matthew was gone, and now she had chased the only person that cared about her out of her life as well. Julian was gone, too. *** Shit! Julian cursed himself as he rode home on the train. He went over there with every intention of leading her into the idea of being with him slowly, but instead he ended up kissing her and yelling at her before slamming out of her apartment. All he wanted for her to do was to live and love again. To love him, God, he wished he had a time machine to go back and fix this. The train pulled into the station in Long Island, and Julian walked to his black SUV he had parked in the lot early that morning. He got behind the wheel slowly and pulled out into traffic. He couldn’t go home and sit there rehashing this in his head, so he went to the one place where he knew he could get it all out. Two minutes later Julian pulled into the driveway of his sister’s house. He walked into the chaos of his sister chasing three kids and a dog. “All of you get back here!” His sister whirled around when she heard the front door open. “Julian! This is a surprise. What are you doing here?” “Nothing, can’t a brother stop by and visit?” Julian said. “This mad house? Uh no, and you have on that I’m a sad boy look. Go to the kitchen and grab a beer. I have some miscreants to catch.” Julian watched as his sister ran downstairs to the basement family room after his one niece and two nephews. Charlene Montgomery, now Charlene McCall once again after her recent divorce, was his formidable older sister, by three minutes. She never let him forget she was born first. She also didn’t let the fact that her husband left her and his kids to run off with his assistant get her down. Her outlook was he was no good for 75

Sensual Bites: An Eternal Flame them anyway, and she could be both mom and dad to her kids. From what Julian could see, she was doing a heck of a job. Of course, if she ever needed help, he would be there in a flash to take care of anything she needed. “So, what’s going on with you little bro? Why are you at my house looking like a whipped puppy?” “Gee Charlie, could you be a little less sympathetic?” he grumbled. “Hey, you try working all day and chasing three rug rats all night. Unless you’re bleeding internally, this is what you get. So, stop pouting and tell me what’s going on,” Charlie replied. “I had a fight with Simone.” “Uh-huh, the Simone you’ve been lusting after for years and never got the courage to say anything about,” Charlie queried. “Well, I guess I said something tonight. I kissed her,” Julian said glumly. “Yay, it’s about time! What happened?” “She freaked out and made it seem like I was trying to steal my best friend’s girl. I mean she made it seem like we were cheating. I figured after five years she would be ready to move on. I guess I was wrong.” “What did you do Julian?” Charlie asked softly. “I told her that Matt was dead, and I knew it better than anyone. Charlie, you know how we grew up. Matt was like our brother!” Julian said helplessly. “I was so mad I told her she didn’t corner the market on grieving. Then I told her I had feelings for her and to deal with it. What was I thinking?” He dropped his head into his folded hands. Charlie took a swig of his beer. “I think you did the right thing; plus might I add it’s about time.” “What? Are you nuts, Charlie? I trashed her grief. I wouldn’t be surprised if she never spoke to me again.” “Listen, Julian, you and every one around her has been treating her with kid gloves for years. I admit me, too. We let her withdraw from everyone and everything saying she’d snap out of it. Well, she didn’t, and 76

Dahlia Rose she has to! She has to live again, and you have to help her. Trust me, she’ll come around.” “You think?” Julian asked hopefully. “I think. Now, go veg out in front of the TV with the kids. I’ll bring you down some dinner,” Charlie said shoving his shoulder as he passed. Julian grabbed her head and pulled her into a friendly hold under his arm. It was something he did from the time he turned into a teenager and knew he outweighed her. “Thanks, sis.” He walked down the stairs to spend time with his niece and nephews. All the while his mind was on Simone, and he wondered if she was okay. Before he could get comfortable his beeper went off, he didn’t even have to look at it to know what is was. He was only beeped when there was a bad fire. He was on call, once again, to go in to the heat others would be trying to escape. “Gotta go sis,” he kissed her on the head as he passed her coming down stairs with a steaming plate of dinner and headed towards the door. “Be safe!” She called out to him. “I will,’ he raised his hand in a good bye as the door closed behind him. He never looked back when he was leaving because he knew he would see the fear and worry in her eyes. It was his little superstitious quirk when ever he went on duty to never look back to see their fear. He couldn’t let it in his heart when he walked into a fire and he couldn’t bear to see it on their faces. It took only minutes for Julian to get to the fire house. It was close to his sister’s home and with the red light flashing in his SUV every one knew to get out of the way. “Hey Julian glad to see you made it!” It was the voice of his bunk buddy and one of his closest friends, Will. After September eleventh and losing Matt, Will had become one of the only things that kept him centered on the job. He was drinking buddy when Julian was grieving and he wanted to no else to see. Now Will had his back in every fire they went into.

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Sensual Bites: An Eternal Flame “I wasn’t going to let you be the hero all by yourself today.” Julian grinned. He shrugged into his uniform and pulled the suspender up to his shoulders. The fire truck had already begun to move when he was pulling on his boots. So he ran and grabbed on to the silver rails at the back. One of the other firemen in his crew slapped him on the back while the sirens blared for every one to get out of their way. Julian grinned as he felt the surge of excitement go though him like it always did when he went out on a call this was what he was born to do, be a fireman.

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Chapter Three For a week Simone painted furiously. As if she were possessed by demons, she hardly slept. Emotions swirled through her, and she didn’t know what to do with them when she let herself feel, so she painted. She heard the phone ring countless times but paid no heed to the insistent melody of her cell phone. Her apartment buzzer was pushed from downstairs over and over again. Simone wouldn’t answer. She knew who it was. “Come on Simone answer the door!” It was Julian, and she couldn’t face him. “Please… I’m just going to keep coming back!” He yelled up to her window but she didn’t go over. When she heard his voice her hands stilled with the paint brush held between trembling fingers and she sat down on the chair until he stopped shouting her name. It ached not to be able to talk to him more than once she almost reached the door to press the buzzer and welcome him inside. But she always stopped herself, not sure if it was because she was mad at him or because she knew if he came inside she would want to kiss him again. With one kiss he had re-awakened feelings she thought were buried

with Matthew. With one kiss he made her more confused that she ever was in her life. At one point as days progressed with no word from her, Julian must have called in a favor from the police precinct that was up the block from her apartment. The officers pushed her buzzer, and when they couldn’t get her to respond, they contacted her building super who lived in the basement, and he let them into the building. When they knocked on her door and called “police” through the thick barrier, she opened the door a crack and informed them she was fine. They looked at her curiously and nodded before leaving. Downstairs Julian waited impatiently, and the two officers informed him that she was okay when they came out of her building. All he could do was look helplessly up at the window that he knew was hers and walk slowly down the block to where he parked his SUV. Simone watched him walk away from behind the curtains at her window. She moved her finger and let the thick red drape fall back into place and went back to her painting. Around three in the afternoon on Wednesday, she heard her buzzer go off again, and as usual, she paid it no attention until she heard yelling outside her window. “Simone, I know you’re in there!” The female voice was heavy with the New York accent with a Long Island twist. “If you don’t buzz me in, I’m gonna keep yelling, and you know I can do it for a while.” Simone recognized the voice instantly as Charlie, Julian’s sister. She rushed to the door quickly and pressed the buzzer next to it. Unlocking the door and opening it, she heard the footsteps coming up the stairs to her apartment, and then she saw the top of Charlie’s pony tailed head. “What are you doing here, Charlie?” Simone asked. “Are you crazy? You can’t yell outside my apartment like that. First Julian yelling outside and now you screaming at the top of your lungs.” “Why not? It got me in here, didn’t it?” Charlie replied without remorse. She took in Simone’s paint spattered face, clothes, and dishev-

Dahlia Rose eled appearance. “I wanted to come and say hey, Simone. I haven’t seen you since the last time Julian made you come to dinner. What was that a year ago?” “I guess so,” Simone responded. “Gonna offer me something to drink?” Charlie said. Simone walked over to the fridge and took out a bottle of Snapple and passed it to Charlie. “It’s a long trip from Long Island for a bottle of Snapple Iced Tea.” Charlie sat down. “What are you doing blockading yourself up like this for the last week?” “I’ve been working on my painting. You know how I get when I…” “No, you are hiding because Julian kissed you.” Charlie cut her off. “You’ve been hiding from the world, Simone, for a long time now.” Charlie’s voice gentled, and Simone sank into the sofa next to her. “I don’t know what to do, Charlie! Julian, he’s been my best fried and my rock, and he ups and changes the rules on me!” “Simone, why do you feel so guilty because Julian kissed you?” Charlie asked. “I don’t know! It’s like I am betraying Matthew’s memory!” “Listen, you know how Matt was. We all know what he was like. What do you think he would say right now if he could?” Simone smiled sadly. “He would say for me to be happy and to love again, and he would probably say Julian was the best guy in the world other than him, of course.” “See, if you know that, then why stop yourself from being happy, Simone?” Charlie asked. “I can’t do this again, Charlie! What if I let myself feel and something happens to Julian? He’s still a fireman. I don’t know what I would do if—if it happens again!” “That won’t ever happen again. We all survived, and we came out stronger because of it.”

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Sensual Bites: An Eternal Flame “You don’t understand! There is always the next big fire! The next thing that could kill them when they run into a burning building! How can I live everyday knowing that if I took the risk, then one day he might not come home?” Simone cried out. How could anyone understand what she was going through? She couldn’t love another fireman and lose him. The thought of it alone was too much to bear. Charlie made a frustrated sound in her throat. “So, you’re using Matt’s memory not to take a risk? Simone, life is full of risks, and if we live everyday hiding from them, we lose out so much. I spend everyday worrying about my kids as soon as they step out the door, but I could never see my life without them.” Charlie’s voice took on a pleading note. “You spent five years playing in the surf. Now, it’s time to jump in the ocean. Think about it.” Charlie leaned over and gave Simone a big squeeze and took her bag up to leave with a smile. “I hope I’ll be seeing you on the island very soon, Simone. Clean yourself up, girl. You look like one of my kids used you as one of their art projects.” Simone watched as Charlie left and closed the door behind her. She flopped back against the cushions of the sofa and stared up at the ceiling. Jump into the ocean. Could it be that easy after living so long trying to just stay afloat? Simone jumped up and quickly ran to her bedroom. She flung clothes from her closet and quickly found something to wear. She crossed the room to her bathroom and turned the water on letting the temperature set to what she liked before stepping in to get cleaned up. Before she could take that leap of faith, there was somewhere she needed to go. *** The wind in Long Island was brisk. There were no tall buildings to be a buffer against the cold breeze. Simone stood alone in the cold graveyard looking down at the headstone in front of her. The ground was hard. The dirt frozen in winter, but still she sat in front of the headstone placing a bouquet of white roses next to it. She sat silent for a long time before speaking softly. 82

Dahlia Rose “Hey there, stud.” She smiled remembering the pet name she used to call Matt. She had not said out loud in years, only when she whispered it in the dark at night. “I’m sorry I didn’t get out here before now. I couldn’t bear the thought for a long time that you were lying here. I know where you are now. You are probably looking at me saying why is this woman sitting here? I know you hated stuff like this.” Simone stopped and took a deep breath. “Yeah why are you sitting here talking to a stone?” Simone’s eyes flew up and she met the face of her lost love Matthew standing over her. “Oh shit I’m cracking up, I’m cracking the fuck up!” “You could be, who knows? I always said you were a bit weird, but I loved you anyway.” Matthew sat down and leaned against the headstone. “Ok, you’re a figment of my imagination and I’m hallucinating.” She reached out her hand to touch his face. “Oh I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” His grin was unmistakable. It was one of the things she fell in love with, how easily he smiled. His words stopped her. Her hands went back to her lap and she could only whisper. “Is it really you Matthew?” “I guess you could call me your imagination or maybe I am a ghost, who knows? “ He shrugged and looked at her his eyes filled with sadness. “ But what ever I am Simone you have some thing to say to me and I’m hear to listen.” “Oh god, I miss you, Matthew. I’ve missed you everyday since I lost you, and I’ve let that eat me up inside for a long time. Why did you leave me, why couldn’t you have stayed home? I begged you not to go!” “I miss you too, muffin, but if I had stayed do you think that would’ve been me?” He asked softly. “No it would not have been you, but God when you died a part of me died with you!” She could feel her tears spill on to her cheeks, hot against the surface of her skin made cold by winter. “Honey, if I could’ve gotten away from death don’t you think I would have done it for you? But neither of us can go back and change it.” 83

Sensual Bites: An Eternal Flame “Your best friend made a pass at me.” She laughed softly. “Oh really, that dog, good for him!” Matthew replied. “You’re not mad?” Simone asked. “Babe I know it might sound callous but I’m dead. How could I be mad?” “He kissed me, and you know what? I think I’m going to accept and make a pass right back at him. It’s time for me to take that leap again, Matthew.” Maybe it was a bit crazy her hear explaining her decision to a ghost or whatever, but some how it felt right. “Good for you then, Simone, I’m glad.” Matthew’s smile was gentle. “I love Julian, and I thought it was the love I had for a friend. But now, I see it’s much more than that. I’ll always love you!” She added hastily. “But now I have to make room in my heart to love someone else and treasure the memories of you.” “That’s what I wanted to hear. Live again Simone, love again.” As he faded from her gaze she swore she felt a kiss against her cheek, maybe it was the wind or her hallucination wasn’t actually what she thought it was. She wasn’t going to try to figure out which, she got up off the ground. For the first time in a long time, her heart didn’t feel as heavy as it used to. She was ready for this, to move on and hopefully have a life with Julian. “Sleep well, stud, until I see you again.” Simone walked slowly out the entrance to the gated graveyard and down the sidewalk. She didn’t see a lone figure standing, watching her as she left. *** Julian observed her walk away without calling to her. What could he say? Nothing, he was in love with a woman who could never love him back. She was still in love with Matthew, and he couldn’t compete with that. He walked in the other direction and got into his SUV. He’d waited until she was gone and couldn’t see him before he pulled slowly away from the curb, and drove home.

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Dahlia Rose A knock on his door a few hours later pulled him out of his selfimposed solitude. He didn’t want visitors. He wanted to sit in his house and watch the sports channel and be by himself. He swore silently as he crossed the living room and decided if it was one of the guys from the fire house, he was going punch him first and ask questions after. It wasn’t one of the guys but Simone who stood in his doorway. Shivering. “I got lost,” she said looking up at him. “Can I come in?” Julian only nodded. He thought she’d left for Brooklyn a long time ago and was safe at home. “If you were lost, why didn’t you call me?” “I didn’t know if you would talk to me; plus I wanted to get here by myself. I got turned around. That’s all. Got any coffee or something? My fingers are frozen.” Julian left her where she was standing to go into the kitchen. He came back with a mug. The steam was rising out of it in invitation. “I added a drop of brandy to it.” Simone took the first sip and closed her eyes as the warm liquid hit her system. “Thank you so much. This is heaven right now.” “How long have you been out wandering the streets lost?” he asked curiously. He knew he’d seen her at the graveyard around three. “I’ve been on the Island since about two. I stopped and got something to eat remove extra space and built courage to see you. I’ve been lost since five. After the third bus totally put me off at the wrong place, I took a cab.” “It’s after seven now, Simone. You have been wandering around Long Island in the dark for over two hours! Are you crazy!?” He said in exasperation. “I was fine. It was a learning experience,” she said with a smile. Julian looked at her. There was something different when she smiled. It carried to her eyes like it used to. “So, why are you still on the Island?

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Sensual Bites: An Eternal Flame “You could invite me to sit, Julian. It’s been awhile since I’ve been out here. I’m sure when you come to my place, I don’t make you stand at the door,” Simone teased. “Sorry,” he mumbled and gestured to the living room. “Are you hungry? My sister brought me some dishes of food today. I could warm something up for you?” “No thanks, maybe later,” she said and shrugged off her coat laying it on the sofa next to her. Later? Julian thought. Implying she will be here for a while? He said nothing as he sat on the other side of the long sofa making sure he was nowhere near touching her. He looked at the television not knowing what to say and not knowing what he should do. “Julian, look at me?” Simone said softly. He turned to her and remained silent waiting for her to speak. She took a breath and said, “I’m sorry for the way I reacted when…when…well, you know.” God, she couldn’t even say he kissed her, he thought miserably. “It’s not your fault. I shouldn’t have done it. “No! Don’t regret it! Please! I don’t.” “You could'a fooled me,” Julian muttered. This wasn’t going right at all! Simone put her cup down on the floor, kneeled in front of him, and looked up at him. “I needed that to see. I was living in a fog for so long, and you brought me out of it! By kissing me, by yelling at me! “Great, I made you see. Simone, I saw you at the grave today. I can’t compete with the love you have for Matthew. I can’t fight with a ghost. I won’t.” “You don’t have to Julian! Don’t you see!? I want to jump in the ocean head first!” “Huh? You want to jump in the ocean?” Julian repeated completely perplexed at her words.

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Dahlia Rose “Ah, screw it!” Simone said. She reached up and took Julian’s face in her hand and kissed him. The kiss went on and on, and when she finally pulled away, Simone said the words that Julian had longed to hear for years. “I love you, Julian. I have for a long time. I was just too stupid to see.”

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Chapter Four “You’re not kidding me, right? If you are, this is a cruel joke, Simone,” Julian said staring into the depths of her eyes. Simone laughed. “No, I’m not kidding, Julian. It took a good swift kick in the butt from you and your sister to show me that I have been hiding, and I don’t want to anymore. I loved Matthew, and when I lost him, I lost a piece of myself. I will always have him in my heart, but you will never have to compete with his memory. I love you, and if you still want me, I’m yours.” “Still want you? C’mere.” Julian pulled her into his embrace and swiftly took her lips in a searing kiss. Simone kissed him back with everything she felt inside her. It was as if a dam had broken, and all of the emotions she had kept a lock on burst free. Nothing had felt this right in a long time. She was meant to be in his arms. As she knelt between his legs, his hands framed her face while he kissed her. Julian’s kiss and taste enflamed her body and her heart. “Simone.” Her name was like a growl. “I have to stop. I’m not going to be able to if I keep kissing you.”

Sensual Bites: An Eternal Flame “I don’t want to you to stop. Make love to me, Julian. I don’t think I could stand it another night without you.” He held his hand out to her, and Simone placed her own into his strong grasp. He stood, helping Simone to her feet and pulling her body against him. “I think your kisses made my knees weak,” she joked as she stood and felt her legs wobble. Julian swept her up in his arms. “Don’t you remember, Simone? I told you I would never let you fall.” He held her close and carried her up the stairs only setting her on her feet when he got into his bedroom. “Wait, I want to make this perfect.” Simone watched as he crossed the room and lit large candles on the table next to his bedroom window. “I remember those candles. I gave you them for Christmas last year. You still have them? I thought by now they would be burned down to nothing. You know, you and a hot date.” “Yes, you did give them to you me and no to the hot dates.” He crossed the room and reached behind her to turn off the light, leaving the room only illuminated by soft candlelight. “If you haven’t figured it out by now, it’s only been you in my thoughts.” Simone walked in his arms and pressed her cheek against his chest. “Oh, Julian.” “Are you sure about this? You can still change your mind.” In response she reached up and kissed him softly on the lips. Her eyes drifted closed as he took over the kiss. His hand stroked and caressed her body as he slowly undressed her. Simone’s fingers trembled as she unbuttoned his shirt and slid it off his muscled shoulders. His hands felt hot on her naked skin, and she trembled while he trailed a slow caress up her ribcage to cup her breasts. A gasp of pleasure escaped her as he fingered the sensitive tips. Julian let her jeans slide to the floor lifting her from them and laying her gently on the bed. Simone felt the heat of his gaze, and she watched from under heavy lids as Julian undressed quickly to join her. 90

Dahlia Rose This was exciting and thrilling for Simone, but the butterflies in her belly reminded her that she was nervous. She held her hand out to him silently in invitation. He climbed into bed next to her and stretched out his long lean body on top of hers, settling between her smooth thighs. Simone arched in pleasure when he kissed and licked her neck. The combination of his weight on her and the feel of his tongue against her skin sent delicious frissons of pleasure along the nerves in her body. His hands reached and captured hers twining his long fingers with hers and holding them above her head. He lowered his head to suckle her once again. “God, I love how you taste.” “Julian.” She moaned his name softly and wanted to feel more of him, and she raised her hips pressing against his hard cock that was rigid between her thighs. He rolled her suddenly, pulling her on top of him and burying his hands in her hair. The kiss turned wild and untamed; their tongues mated sensually. Simone couldn’t wait any longer to feel him. She took his hard length in her hands and slowly sank over him inch by inch until he was buried deeply inside her. “Oh God, baby, you don’t know how good this feels.” “Move on me, baby. Let me feel you ride me.” Julian groaned out. She gladly obliged, teasing him with the slow movements. She could feel her pussy, wet, warm, and wrapped around him. Each time she let herself slide on to his hard manhood she felt him throb inside her. She rocked against him, torturing him, making him ache for more. “My turn,” he said suddenly and flipped her under him again. He pushed into her wet waiting pussy hard, pounding into her deeply with every thrust. Her body shuddered under his onslaught. Simone could hear the tiny sounds of pleasure that came from her lips merging with the manly moans and harsh breaths that escaped Julian. She felt his hands slip under her hips pulling her more firmly under him. Simone wrapped her legs around him and lifted into each of his thrusts. 91

Sensual Bites: An Eternal Flame “More, Julian, I need more of you!” She gasped out in pleasure. Her fingers gripped his hair as he took her to dizzying heights. “I’m going to come. Please don’t let me fall alone!” “Oh, baby, I’m here with you, all the way. Let go, sweetheart, let go with me,” Julian encouraged. His words sent her spiraling over the edge, and she felt him follow. His body was taut above her as he spilled himself inside her. Simone could not stop her body from trembling. She felt her heart beat try to slow to a normal rhythm. Julian lifted his head and looked at her; then he rolled to his side and pulled her next to him without even breaking contact. “Damn, wow,” was all he could manage to get out. Simone giggled. “Does that mean I did good?” “Honey, I’ve waited to be with you for three years. You’re lucky I didn’t go off like a firecracker,” Julian replied. Simone laughed out loud at his comment. “You’re crazy.” “Crazy in love with you,” he murmured and kissed the top of her head. “I love you, too, Julian. I really, really do,” she said, kissing the soft mat of hair on his chest. “Good, because God knows I don’t want to be used for my body,” he joked. Simone poked him in his ribs and giggled once again. He wrapped his arms around her. She could feel his laughter rumble in his chest. *** Julian ran downstairs an hour later and brought them up dinner courtesy of his sister’s care package.. They sat in bed and polished off beef stew, buttered rolls, and beer before their other appetites for each other took over. They showered and got back onto bed together with Simone teasing him about his cold feet. His solution was to get up and put on socks just to please her.

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Dahlia Rose He woke up later that night, hard and wanting her once more. He looked over at her sleeping on her stomach. His eyes traveled along every curve of her body under the blanket, and soon his hands did the same. He traced his hand along the curve of her bottom and between her legs that were slightly parted in sleep. She wiggled in her sleep and murmured something unintelligible before letting out a soft snore. Julian grinned, but soon his focus was back on what he was doing. He slipped his finger inside her. She was tight and hot. She pushed back against his finger, and his digit went deeper inside her. He used his thumb to press against her clit. Simone moaned and stirred. Julian kissed her ear and whispered, “No, stay there, honey, just feel.” Julian was rock hard, and every time he dipped his fingers inside her she moaned, and he wanted to bury himself in her until they could not tell where she stopped and he began. Soon her body was shaking, and he could feel her pussy flow as she came all over his hand. It was all he could take. Julian spread her legs a little farther apart and was deep inside her in an instant. His chest was against her back, and his arms went around her cupping her breasts even though she was pressed against the bed. Simone writhed beneath him. “Oh God, yes! Julian bit her neck while he moved inside her. His hands squeezed and massaged her smooth breasts. Her taste, her skin, her smell, the scent of her sex was all around them, driving him crazy, making him wild for her. He felt like a starving man engorging himself on her. He loved her, and that seemed to heighten his senses. Each time his cock rubbed against the smooth wet velvet walls of her pussy, he felt as if he was biting off a piece of heaven. Her body quaked and shuddered as she cried out over and over again. He felt her come once and then twice before he let out a moan of pleasure as he followed her into his own orgasm. Trying to catch his breath, he vaguely heard the insistent ringing of the phone. He moved, making a sound in the back of his throat as he 93

Sensual Bites: An Eternal Flame reached over to the bedside table to answer it. This had better be good to interrupt me in the middle of the night, he thought. But he already knew a call this late meant work. “What?” was all he said into the receiver. He was up and alert in a second, moving off the bed and listening intently to who was on the other line. “I’m out and on my way.” Julian hung up the phone and turned to Simone. He saw the worry in her eyes. He sat on the bed, hoping to appease her anxiety before he left. “I got called in, Simone. There is a four alarm in an apartment building. They’re calling everyone in.” “I wish I had time to love on you a little more. Will you be gone long?” To Julian, the way she said it made it seem like she was already expecting him never to come home, and she was bracing herself for the worst. “I don’t know, baby, but I’ll be back.” He cupped her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Hey, I promise you, I am going to be back. Okay?” She gripped his hand suddenly. “Don’t go, Julian. Please don’t go. I don’t think I could handle if…” “Simone, I can’t stay. You know I have to go.” “But why? Why do you have this need to be in the midst of a fire? I never understood that. It took Matthew from me, and now it’s going to take you, too!” She cried. “Don’t think like that, Simone. If I stayed, I would not be, Julian, just like if Matt had stayed, he wouldn’t have been Matt. We wanted to be firemen from the time we were six years old. I love this job, and I love you, too. Don’t make me choose, honey. I’d pick you in a heartbeat, but taking away my job would take a part of me, too.” He hoped she could see past her fear to what he was saying. Being a fireman was a part of him, and he was honored to be able to have a job where he knew men like Matt. Men that died protecting people and saving them. “Please understand. I’ll be home, my love. I pinky swear it.” Simone nodded, and he kissed her soundly on the lips. “Stay here. Don’t go back to Brooklyn. I want to see you here when I come home.” 94

Dahlia Rose He got up and quickly pulled his gear together. He wouldn’t have time to go to the firehouse. He had to go directly to the scene. As he pulled out of the driveway, he saw her standing at the window with her hand pressed flat against the glass. He blew her a kiss before driving off to another fire, to do the job he loved.

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Chapter Five Four hours later Julian was still at the scene of the fire. It raged around him and the other firefighters. The flames licked at them from every corner like heated little tongues, and all they could do was to try to keep pushing them back. In the building the firemen searched each and every room looking for victims unconscious or trapped. They were thorough and would open every door until they made sure everyone was out. Julian was with his partner searching the building. He always buddied with Lou on a fire call. They knew how to anticipate each other’s cautious moves. It cut down on talking and helped them to conserve air. On the fifth floor Julian made the signal that he was going to check the final apartment on that level. There was no fire on this floor as yet, but it was moving fast, and they had to move fast to search and get out. Julian knew that older buildings in New York were built in balloon style construction where the walls were hallow. The fire would travel quickly through the walls to each floor. In a big building one apartments ceiling was another’s floor the fire would work its way upwards quickly. It would turn everything to cinder starting from the top of the building making anything above their heads very

Sensual Bites: An Eternal Flame dangerous. He pressed his hand against the door, making sure it was still cool to touch. A heated door meant there was a fire behind it. If it was opened, the fire would feed off the oxygen in the hallway, and it would explode outward like a bomb. He opened carefully even though it was still cool and stepped inside slowly with his partner Lou close at his heels. “Fire department. Anyone in here!” Julian called out as they went through each room. They were going to turn and walk out when they heard a faint noise coming from the bathroom. Julian went back quickly and pounded on the door. “Hey, someone in there? Open up. We have to get you out of the building!” The door opened cautiously to a woman holding a small child in her arms wrapped in a damp blanket. She had the window to the bathroom open trying to get clean air in and yelling for help. The window faced the alley, so no one seemed to hear her. The baby was crying softly beneath the blanket. “Thank God someone heard me!” she said. “I couldn’t get through the smoke!” “Don’t worry, ma’am. We’ll get you guys out of here,” Julian replied with a reassuring smile. “Lou, get on the radio. Tell them we’re coming out with two rescues, one a minor child, and to have oxygen and EMTs standing by.” Lou got on the crackling radio and relayed the message while Julian re-dampened the towel that the baby was wrapped in and replaced it around its body, and he did the same for the mother of the child. He had to give her credit for knowing that a damp towel would keep the heat off the baby’s skin and help filter out the smoke keeping it from filling tiny lungs. They moved out of the apartment and into the hallway. It was filled with more smoke than before, and Julian knew the fire was in the walls and working its way upwards. He group moved quickly down the hallway to the backstairs. The ones they knew were still safe. The woman held her child close to her and was in front. Lou was in the middle with his hands on her shoulders, and Julian brought up the rear. 98

Dahlia Rose Julian stepped, and he heard a creak from above. He looked up and yelled, “Move, Lou move!” Everything seemed to slow down as he saw Lou push the woman quickly out of the way. Julian moved as well, but he wasn’t fast enough. The fire had spread onto the sixth floor, and the ceiling was coming down. He was going to be caught in the falling debris. He could only do one thing as the pieces of burning beams and brick fell. He curled himself tightly against one wall, and the fiery rubble fell. *** Simone watched the scene unfold on the television. She was curled on Julian’s couch with her feet tucked under her, and her eyes were riveted on the screen. The reporters were calling it the worst apartment fire in five years on the island. Seven fire companies had responded, and she watched them run hoses and ladders to the building that was engulfed in flames. Fear had Simone’s heart in its grip, but she couldn’t stop staring at the television, hoping and praying she would see Julian’s face. If she saw his face, she would know he was okay, and then she could breathe again. She saw a flurry of activity in the background, firemen running toward the building quickly. More hoses being directed to a certain spot and fire chiefs yelling directions. A fireman came running out of the building. He had his arm wrapped protectively around a woman. In her arms she carried a child. A reporter flashed in front of the camera suddenly reporting that there was a collapse in the building, and there was a fireman trapped. Simone’s hand flew to her throat while the reporter spoke. The fire had spread quicker than expected. It had to be controlled before the other firemen went on to mount a rescue for their fallen brother. Simone heard a soft moan of anguish escape her lips. It was Julian; she knew it. Her heart knew it. “Oh God, oh God. You promised you’d come home. You promised.” She whimpered softly and curled into a ball on the sofa. Her eyes were still fixed on the television searching the crowd for Julian. Please bring him home, she pleaded silently. 99

Sensual Bites: An Eternal Flame Two hours later she paced the floor of the living room restlessly. Still nothing, he had not called and the fire had been controlled. The firemen had got in and got their injured man out. As they brought him out and placed him on a gurney, she strained her eyes to see who it was, but the cameras were so far away she couldn’t make out a face. She tried to reassure herself that he was okay, she watched the minutes tick by, and with every minute she felt as if she was crumbling from the inside out. Finally, she heard the sound of a car passing, and then the beams of the headlights pulled into Julian’s driveway. She rushed to the window and pulled the blinds back expecting to see his black SUV. Instead, she saw a white car that had the familiar insignia of the Long Island Fire department on the side. She felt another moan of pain rise up in her throat. Not again! Not again, she thought wildly. In her head she could see another funeral, another love she would bury, and this time she wouldn’t be able to pick up the pieces. Simone moved slowly to the door and opened it, watching as two doors opened and two firemen got out on each side. They were still in their sooty turnout gear and Simone wondered why. They probably came straight from the building fire to tell her he was gone, she thought. But why wouldn’t they go to his sister? No one knew they were together. One of the firemen opened the passenger side door, and her hand flew to her mouth. She watched Julian slowly unfold his large frame from the backseat of the car. “Julian!” she cried out in excitement and relief. She felt tears begin to fall as he was helped up the walkway to the front door. There was a bandage on his forehead, and his hand was wrapped in gauze to the wrist. It was held in a sling close to his chest. He had a sheepish grin on his face when he stood facing her. “Hey, sexy lady, sorry it took so long for me to get home.” “Baby, I don’t care! I am just happy you are home. You came home to me!” “Ouch! Ouch!” he groaned out as she threw herself into his arms.

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Dahlia Rose “I’m sorry. I knew it was you that was injured, and when the hours passed and I didn’t see you… I was so scared!” She held his face in her hands, kissing him over and over again on his lips and all over his face. “Not in front of the guys, baby!” he muttered under the onslaught of her affection, but there was a grin on his face. “I don’t care! They can close their eyes!” “Baby, I told you I was going to come home. I promised you, didn’t I?” She was laughing through her tears. “Yes, yes, you did, but the fire was so bad, and you got hurt.” Julian touched her cheek, his face serious as he looked at her. “Baby, there is no fire that could keep me from coming home to you. You are my eternal flame, my heart’s fire, Simone. Always.” Simone kissed him softly and pulled him inside. She would always be afraid when he left for work, but she would take the risk with him every day. She had lost love, and because of Julian, she had found it once again. The End.

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The Lover’s Diary

Dedicated To: Big daddy, who from oceans away found my soul and made it his. Who patiently waited to hold me in his arms and show me love’s true embrace. Who broke down every wall I put up and mended a heart I thought was too shattered to heal. You are sunrise and sunset, my joy and my world, my everlasting soul mate You have fixed me and I will love you until eternity ends.

Dear Reader, I write this hoping that all women in some way know my words and the feelings I try to express. Though each of my stories have different names and characters, they are all me. I am the innocent who is new to love, the jaded who has seen to much to believe in Love, the scared who is too afraid to take a leap of faith, the angry one who is jealous when she can’ have what she wants the most. The petulant woman who is not willing to share. The wiser woman who know that some things must be shared for happiness to reign, the sexual one who derives pleasure from her lover and gives it freely because in doing this she shows her true feelings. My sexuality is my energy and I live through my passions. I am the goddess who believes in magic, the romantic who cries at the wonderment of feeling love. Even though my words are sometimes filled with sexuality and eroticism, read carefully, because it all leads back to one thing. I am them and they are me and it all comes down to what we strive for in our lives. We are the women, ruled by the moon and our emotions; we are the caregivers, the Lovers, the life givers and the mothers of the world. We feel things to our core and we can be hurt in the worst of ways, but we never stop in our quest. Even though we fear the unknown we continue on in our search. Love is one gift we all strive for; we mourn the loss of our love and rejoice when we find a new bloom of passion. We are scared at the thought of loving but when it takes hold we give it, knowing the consequences can tear at our very souls. I tell you this, no matter where we find love; it should be counted as a gift. We are all not meant to be housewives or business women. Our destinies can be changed so easily and by our own hand. What ever kind of life you live or love you find, embrace it, never let the what-if turn you away from a path that feels right in your soul. No one can judge your heart, no one can judge you. Only you will know what best for you and what your heart desires. I like to say, “Soul mates can be found in the strangest of Places”.

Love is giving without restrictions; it’s the calm you seek in a stormy life. Love chases away the darkness and the nightmares, leaving a glow that melts away the gloom. Grief binds the heart and keeps it hidden; love is the phoenix rising from the ashes, the heart opening to a world anew. Love gets to the core of you; you feel it with every breath. Love is warm on a cold night: cradled in a lover’s embrace where warm kisses fall where they may, words of love are whispered in sleepy voices, while love casts its spell to create a cocoon. Love can be hard, the pain is like thorns to the skin, but the pain can be sweet to the point that it’s almost too much to bear. Love is the taste of honey and wine. Love can be harsh with anger and tears but then as lovers find their path again, soothed and calmed after the storm has passed. Bodies entwined, Passions embrace. Kisses hard and unrestrained lust. It’s like a rock unable to be moved even by the worst of trouble. Love has its power and fire that can melt sand into glass Smooth and wonderful, it fills you with the magic you need to exist You feel it flow from your fingertips as you create, it fills your imagination with new possibilities. Love makes you want to dance naked by the light of the moon. Love makes your soul ache and you long for the sound of your lover’s voice. It makes your soul cry in agony; your soul dies to be with the one you love. Love enters your dreams where lovers meet to share stolen moments. There is no inhibition with love, every layer is left exposed. With no reservation you let your soul mate in. Love is hot and panting, parted lips and soft moans Hands clenched in sheets, with the sweet torture of lovemaking. Loves is bodies together, searching for release Liquid fire as a touch and a caress. The secret part of woman hood flows like thick nectar beckoning a lover to drink and taste. Souls melt together, two become one, the hardness meets the flower, and the lover’s quake in pleasure. Two hearts reach for the stars, and ache for the only bliss they have ever known. Love is eternity, passing from one life to the next. A love will seek out its mate and find it as time and worlds pass from generation to generation. Only fools see value in possessions, Love is rare and in its pure forms a priceless treasure.

Chapter One: The Playful Lovers “Come now Dahlia,” James said. “Stop this. I have been waiting all day to have you in my arms and you play games”. Dahlia evaded his grasp and went around the other side of the big mahogany table, far out of his reach. She had been in a playful mood all day, happiness bubbling up and flowing out into her world, so now that James was home she was anxious to pull him into her fun. For the last few minutes, since his kiss at the door, a fierce game of “Catch me” had been going on around the table. She watched James’ moves carefully, knowing how quick he could be, so she could escape and prolong her fun just a little longer. “Oh James, now you are cross with me,” she said coyly with a little pout on her full lips. “I just wanted to play.” “Yes, I’m very angry at you,” he growled softly even though there was a twinkle in his eyes as he said it. He could never be too mad at her. It was always something new and exciting when he came home. He could never call their life together boring. Dahlia asked in the same coy voice. “Am I to be punished then Daddy James? Or can I use my get out of trouble card?”

Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary “You used the only one left when you pulled me into the tub with my clothes on. Do you remember Monday of last week?” “Oh,” was her meek reply. “Well then you’ll just have to catch me.” “I already have Baby Doll,” James said softly as he began the slow predator hunt of his prey. A shiver ran down her back with the use of his pet name for her combined with the hungry look in his eyes. Somehow the game had turned in his favor and it thrilled her to know it. His move came unexpectedly as he lunged across the table and grabbed her. Dahlia was not quick enough to get away and a squeak escaped her lips as she was grasped in those wonderfully strong arms. They both tumbled to the floor with a thud and Lisette(should this be Dahlia?) was giggling. “Being caught is better than the chase,” she said between laughs as Dahlia rained little butterfly kisses all over his face. James finally sank his hands in her hair to hold her still while he ravished her mouth with a wild sensual kiss. His tongue slid between her teeth to taste her. It was after five and she tasted like coffee. “She had to have had a cup recently,” he mused but the thought was wiped instantly from his mind when her tongue followed his back into his mouth. Her kiss became just as wild as his. “Making me chase you comes with a punishment dirty girl.” The comment alone made her wet but Dahlia wanted something different from her lover this evening. He was always so erotic and loving and she wanted to feel all that tonight. “James, my love,” she whispered in his ear before she flicked her tongue out to run along the edges. “Hmmmmmmm?” That’s all she heard while he was nuzzling her neck. She almost lost the battle of thought when he did that to her and it gave her goosebumps. “Can I have something tonight, darling?” “Anything love.” “Pamper me, Daddy. Make me feel like a princess.” James’ eyes lit up at the prospect and he asked. “Can I do anything I want?” “Yes. Please.” 112

Dahlia Rose “Then go and get undressed and put on your robe.” Dahlia scrambled up quickly and dashed to the bedroom to undress. James looked up from the items he was laying out to see her there standing in a short, purple, silk robe, the one he’d bought her as a gift, and smiled. He knew it was her favorite. She walked across the room and sat on the couch in front of him, slowly spreading her legs to reveal her nudity. He felt himself harden immediately. In his mind he could almost taste her and feel the warm wet folds of her pussy enclosing him. Not now, he told himself. That’s for later. “I think I am going to enjoy this,” he murmured to himself, as he got comfortable on the footrest. He took her foot in his big hands and slowly began to massage it in firm strokes from her calf to the tips of her toes. Dahlia’s head fell against the back of the over stuffed sofa, closing her eyes in pleasure, as her man massaged her feet and dropped tiny little kisses wherever he pleased. Even on her toes, which he licked or sucked into his mouth every now and again. To Dahlia it was heaven to feel and watch James worship her body. She knew with most men that love and sex came with restrictions, but not with James. He never said no to any new erotic game. Dahlia learned that with James, pleasing his woman was the key to his own pleasure. She knew that he loved to see her face when she was in ecstasy, or in the current situation, when she was just content to feel his touch. Dahlia shivered as he smoothed shaving gel over her legs from knee to ankle. Then with slow gentle movements he shaved Dahlia’s legs, taking long, slow strokes from top to bottom to make sure he covered every inch of her skin. He handled each run of the razor against her leg with care and soon both of her legs were shaved beautifully. He took a wet warm washcloth and cleaned off what was left of the gel. “James you do that so well, have you been practicing without me?” Dahlia asked. “Never kitten,” he replied, “But I’m not finished making you purr.”

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Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary With that comment he picked up her left foot and kissed each of her toes before removing the nail polish. He then did the same with the right, placing soft cotton balls between each dainty digit. He knew her favorite color (was (pick a shade)___)and easily picked up the bottle of purple nail polish from its spot at the top of the multicolored pile. With her foot resting against his crotch James painted her toenails, repeating the little nursery rhyme ‘This Little Piggy’ playfully while he worked. Dahlia couldn’t help but laugh at his antics. He can always make me laugh she thought. She wiggled her damp toes delicately against his groin and he looked at her with raised eyebrows. “That’s for later, honey.” “But why make me wait?” “Because you asked to be pampered and you know I never do anything half way.” “That’s true. I guess I’ll have to be patient.” “Patience is a virtue, sweetheart,” James commented. “A pity I have so little,” she responded. With her little piggies all painted, and James blowing on them to dry them faster, Dahlia was in bliss. The days they spent together not doing anything but relaxing around the house and immersing themselves in each other were some of her fondest memories. “Open your robe and spread your legs,” James ordered. “Time to play daddy?” “In a little bit.” Dahlia did as she was told and spread her robe, revealing her naked body and already moist pussy. James ran a finger along the slit of her mouth and then did the same to her pussy. Her body shivered and she spread her legs wider in a silent plea for him to slip his finger inside her. Instead he raised it to his lips and licked it slowly. She felt the warm washcloth against her and then he slowly rubbed the shaving gel on her core. James rubbed the gel until he got the foamy lather he wanted and then shaved his Dahlia’s pussy. He started with the outer edges before 114

Dahlia Rose working his way carefully around her clit. After he accomplished that he spread the thick lips of her womanhood open to get further in between, consistently careful not to nick or press the blade of the razor to hard against the sensitive skin. Oh God, she thought every time she felt the gliding of the razor and the touch of his hands against her. He opened her further, sliding delicately against her skin in search for anything he might have missed. It was driving her to the edge of reason, and she knew she wouldn’t be able to hold on much longer. Her excitement was building. James could see this, and with a bit of torture he added touches to his routine that were totally unnecessary. A small flick of his finger across her clit or a slow circling around her opening as if to penetrate her had her biting her lips in agony. James noted this with a wicked smile and Dahlia raised her eyebrows at him in question. The effects were not only making her aroused but also doing the same thing to him. She could feel his hard cock straining against the zipper of his jeans, wanting to burst free and bury itself deep inside her pussy. He was as hot and bothered as she was. Dahlia’s eyes closed in pleasure as her breath came in short pants. She was trying to control her reaction but it was too late in the game for such restraint. Her body tightened and arched, and with no sound escaping her lips, she shuddered with her first orgasm. Her sweet juice mixed with the shaving cream on her pussy. James watched in fascination as her body gushed and when Dahlia could finally catch her breath she knew that pampering time was over. He used the wet washcloth to wipe the remaining lather off her skin and Dahlia could not help but watch him as he did it. She knew her eyes had that wild erotic look she normally got when she wanted to fuck. He looked at her once and moved quickly to get the lather cleaned off. He dropped the washcloth and held on to her thighs, pulling her closer to him and burying his face into her pussy. His tongue burrowed deep inside, tasting her flavor. The action wrenched a moan from her lips as her hands grabbed his head and pulled his face deeper into her soft 115

Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary wetness. Dahlia could tell he was more than excited by her womanly fragrance. His tongue was almost furious with its penetration of her wet pussy. She could feel herself losing control as she pressed against him, smearing her juices across his lips and his face. James knew just how to make her come again so he slid three fingers deep inside her while still tasting her pussy. He pushed deeper until she almost screamed as her body convulsed and tightened around his fingers before the warm flow of her juices dripped down his hand. “Now James, now!” She cried out. “I want you to feel me from the inside. I want your cock.” “Is this what you want?” He asked the question as he knelt between her legs rubbing his cock against her making the tip slick and wet with her come. “Please…Please now, James, now!” He gladly obliged and sank deep inside his woman, her legs wrapped around his waist. They moved together in unison, thrust meeting thrust, her hips grinding towards his trying to take more and give more all at the same time. “Tell me you want me, tell me I can make you feel this way.” His voice was a harsh whisper by her ear. “You’re mine do you understand?! Tell me you’re mine!” His voice barely registered through the fog of pleasure clouding her thoughts but she knew it was true. No one before him ever made her feel like he could with just one smile and she knew in her heart there would be no one after him. “Only you, always you James,” she said on panting breaths. “Oh baby, I’m going to come. I can’t hold back.” Even as the words left her mouth she began to tremble and her pussy throbbed around his cock. With his head pressed against her breast and her nipple in his mouth, he let himself go and fell over the abyss with her. The aftermath of their loving was slick bodies lying side by side on the cushions of the sofa, the cool air drying them as they cuddled and kissed. Soft words of love were 116

Dahlia Rose whispered, secret smiles and looks that only lovers share were exchanged. For James and Dahlia time stood still when they were together and for that time the world ceased to exist beyond the door.

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Chapter Two: Crushed Flowers James stood at her door with two-dozen roses in his hand. They were yellow roses tipped with red, their fragrance subtle. He knew she was mad at him and this was his way of asking for forgiveness. The argument was silly to him but important to her, Dahlia thought he’d given her a gift not from a place of emotion but out of obligation. Her words to him were. “Everything I have given to you including my body was done so with only love in my heart. ‘If you feel obligated to give to me I would rather not have it at all.’ Now she was questioning every little bauble he’d ever given to her. He was under the impression that a gift was a gift no matter what, but now he realized it wasn’t that way to her, Material things had never been a factor to her. James should have known she would appreciate a soft note of affection rather than a present that had no emotional content to it. I have to admit that when I got the damn thing it was rushed and at the last moment, he thought miserably. He should have figured she would see through the pretense and now the piper must be paid because she was seriously pissed off at him.

Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary He stood at the door and could hear her movements behind the barrier as loud angry music blared. Alanis Morrisette. A smile crossed his lips because he knew behind that door was a seriously fuming woman and that was her angry music. James thought of her “his Dahlia” as unique as her name. To listen and to watch her was amazing, she believed and loved so many different things. Her eyes could light up with passion, with fire, with love. He had seen her cry over the smallest incident and dance in the moonlight. Wild and untamed her laugher echoing in the wind while she dared him to join her. He had seen her sad, so sad that he longed to take her pain. She left things unsaid and took on the world alone. Parts of her life were kept secret from him, her choice. Sometimes she could be so fucking secretive, and it drove him crazy. But that was what made her who she is. Dahlia, the warrior woman, the seducer who searched but was scared to love or be loved. With a sigh James stepped back from the door and knocked, better to pull the band-aid of all at once instead of little by little, it hurts more that way. He heard her walking across the room, and felt her hot gaze on him through the peephole. It was not good when she wasn’t rushing to open the door. Finally, he heard the bolt and chain rattle as she unlocked the barrier between them. “What?” Her curt question held no emotion except anger. “Well hello to you too.” His response was snapped out because she was starting to piss him off as well. Can’t she see that I am trying to make amends here?. “Listen to me James, don’t you dare come to my home and snap at me!” James cut her off with a kiss and showed her the flowers. “Forgive me?” She stared at the flowers then at James., He could see in her eyes she thought they were insincere. 120

Dahlia Rose Before she could say anything he said again. “I’m sorry. Forgive me, pwease?” Ahhh he had her, she could never resist it when he did the little boy routine. James saw the fire in her eyes melting away, she was ready to do battle before but now it was fading. All Dahlia said to him was, “Don’t put me in the category of other women who need material things to feel fulfilled. If you came to me with empty arms and open heart I would want you more than anything you could buy me.” She took the flowers and put them on her table before stepping into his arms. He folded her in and held her close knowing that this was all she really wanted from him. The other things, store bought tokens were just to show her he cared, trinkets of love. She tilted her head up and kissed his lips, soft butterfly kisses at first before she pressed her body closer to his and deepened the kiss. James could feel the passion come to life inside her and pour out from her lips to his. He grabbed her ass and pulled her even closer. His tongue slid inside her mouth and he pulled it away hoping to tease hers between his lips. “Give me your tongue, I want to make love to it” she whispered. His cock hardened at those words alone. So he slipped his tongue into her mouth again. She slowly slid her lips up and down as she sucked and he could feel her tongue tease his with every tiny suckle. I want to feel those lips around my shaft the thought ran through his mind as she sucked on his tongue. Her hands roamed over his chest and tangled in the hair before rubbing his nipples, her touch went down his back to squeeze his ass. “Saucy Flirt” he thought but that was soon pushed away. He wanted to immerse himself in the sensations that her mouth was giving him. She stepped away and picked up the flowers that lay on the table. “They are so beautiful” Her fingers trailed over the delicate petals. “But I don’t want to watch them die day after day, it seems sad and a waste.”

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Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary She walked over to her bedroom and James followed curiously to see what she was going to do. Dahlia took each flower and pulled the blooms off spreading the petals on the bed, until they were scattered all over the soft sheets. She turned to James and took off her dress, the red fabric falling to the floor around her feet. She stood nude before him and he marveled at the beauty of his Dahlia. He was already undressed by the time he walked the few steps to her. Excitement to have her naked body against his hurried him to his nudity. The passion they felt was mirrored in each other eyes when their bodies touched. Their kiss became wild and hot, Dahlia tore her mouth away from his and licked his chest. Biting and nibbling all over the hard surface. She kissed him once more while her hands wrapped around his cock and stroked him with long smooth movements. James was so hard and his body jerked every time she touched him. He tried to touch her but she pulled away and pushed him against the bed. “I want you now, I want it hot and rough and hard,” she said. Her breath was coming in short little pants. Dahlia didn’t wait for a response. She climbed onto James’s body while his hands rubbed her soft skin. She ground her hips and rubbed her wet pussy against his manhood. “Damn!” the word was hissed out between his teeth. James went beyond the point of thinking. All he could feel was her body against his. The smell of flowers and hot sex was all around them filling the air and his nose with the exotic scent. She rose up and pulled his cock into her. “Ahh yes,” she moaned in pleasure. He groaned as well when her pussy sank down around him, hot and wet like a glove that fit perfectly. James felt the muscles of her womanly folds try to pull him deeper. Her body moved making the tempo of their lovemaking almost angry like the music that was still playing. She lifted her hands to her nipples and rubbed them as she rode him. He watched her through heavy lids as if drunk on their passion, never taking his gaze off of her while she moved her hips in a sexual dance. 122

Dahlia Rose “I love to watch you fuck me,” he whispered. Remembering the expressions of pure lust on her face made him long for her every time he was in the same room with her. “God I love fucking you, lover.” Her reply was moaned in to the curve of his neck. It felt so good to him when she rode him hard, her body slapped against his every time she took his cock. He rubbed his thumb against her clit and watched as her body spasmed around him. Her head was thrown back in ecstasy, little moans coming from her lips. She increased the pace of her movement and the feel of her body tensed beckoning release like a bow drawn tight. He could feel the beginning of his Dahlia’s orgasm. He grabbed her hips squeezing them hard and opened her legs wider with his. He pounded into her body, pumping his hips upward to meet her downward thrusts. “Oh Fuck. Yes!” Dahlia was almost screaming in ecstasy while she was moving over him “Come for me, baby” James coaxed. Her body exploded as she came, her nectar dripping down his shaft, but she didn’t stop riding him. Every movement seemed to drive her to a higher and higher peak. He gave her no chance to catch her breath, she wanted rough, now she has it! He thought to himself. He flipped her under him so Dahlia was lying on her tummy. James spread her legs and used his fingers to penetrate her and bring her to orgasm again. The insatiable need to feel his cock explode in her body over rode all other thoughts. The sheets were wet with her juices. James raised her hips and slipped his cock into her waiting body. She was on her hands and knees trying to push against him but James was having none of that. He pushed her back flat on to the bed, he was in control this time. He was pounding into her now, and slipped his thumb into her tight ass. Her body bucked wildly and she let out a low scream, dug her hands into the bed and clenched the sheets.

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Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary “Fuck me,” she was repeating the words over and over. But James could hardly hear her. He could feel his own orgasm forming and he was striving for control without success. She was also on the edge, ready to plunge in to the pleasurable abyss with him. “Go with me, come with me,” she pleaded and he was lost. James couldn’t refuse his Dahlia anything and his pleasure could not be held off any longer. They fell together into an orgasm that left them both stunned and breathless by the intensity of it. They lay there between crushed flowers and let their bodies cool. Petals were stuck to their sweat slicked skin and James plucked one out of her hair. He showed it to her, she giggled and her eyes lit up. Those eyes that showed him her soul, he pulled her close, rolling and taking her with him. Over and over again until more petals were covering their bodies and falling to the floor. He tickled her and she pealed out in laughter, he couldn’t help but laugh as well. They stared at each other and nothing needed to be said the feelings were there without words. On those crushed flowers James could not be any happier.

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Chapter Three: A letter To Her Lover My Dearest Lover Dahlia writes, You see me when you can, and I wait for the moments to be in your arms again. From the time you enter the room, I can feel the passion in the air. Your eyes burn into me as if you can see into my soul. I want you to know exactly how it feels to be loved by you, to be made love to by you and only you. Your hands caress my face and go to my neck pulling me into your kiss. You scent surrounds me; it’s like an aphrodisiac to my senses, while you kisses entice me, making me crave things, emotions that I had long thought lost to me. You lift my chin up with your finger, I am afraid to look into your eyes, what will I see there? Will it be anger? Disappointment? These are feelings you tear from me, brought to the surface like a sprouting seed bursting through soil to the rays of the sunlight. These feelings scare me, I am afraid because if they are taken away, my heart will shatter into so many pieces that I fear it would never be whole again. The words that Dahlia wrote came from her soul and though it seemed difficult she knew it must be put on paper. The feeling inside her had never been this opened as it was now. She continued with her letter to the man that holds her love. “Look at me,” you, whisper softy. I remember the moment you said it because it was as if time stood still. I open my eyes slowly and I stare into yours. The startling blue of your eyes always amazes me like a Caribbean sea from miles away in the sky; I see the changing colors in them. But now I look beyond that color into your soul and what I see there fills me with wonder and joy. Because I see the love you have for me reflecting back through those beautiful eyes and warming me to my very core. You kiss me softly with those lips I have come to know so well over the past few months, lips that have filled

Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary me with excitement and passion that can tease me to the point of madness. They now kiss me with something new, making me feel cherished and almost revered by you, my darling lover. Your lips trail soft kisses to my ears and there I hear your whisper again. “You are my everything, my all and my world. My touch will never hurt or harm you; you will never have to fear me or losing my love. You can be open and speak your mind with me regardless of your mood. I will kiss your tears away when you are sad and lift you higher when you smile and your happiness makes you bubble up inside. I will watch with awe as your skin and body glows with passion and I will hold you against me while you sleep, my arms will keep you safe. Through good times and bad you will feel nothing but love from me and with me. We were meant to be, you and I, and I will love you until eternity ends and then beyond that.” She could remember vividly the night James said those things to her. He was looking at her with all the love he had in his eyes and in his words. Offering them to her and expecting nothing in return. Dahlia had learned long ago not to let her feelings show. Now she also had to learn in the face of a love like this she had to let him in. One day she knew that she would break free of all the hurt of the past and express the love she had for James. But for now the only way for her to tell him was to put pen to paper. Your words left me reeling; I have never felt anything like that in my life. But doubts still swirl in my head. I have spent so long trying to live behind the barriers I have created and I am so scared to feel. I know I love you and I know I cannot live without you, but I cannot bring myself to let you in all the way, I can’t deny my feelings either so I echo your statement, my love. “I will Love you until eternity ends”. Our lips meet with sudden fierce passion, so hot and quick like a spark that quickly flashes to fire. Bodies touching straining to get closer but there is no closer than this time, this moment. The words whispered to me have made cracks in the dam inside me that I spent so long to build and it spills some the intensity of my love for you. No restrictions, no barriers I am open to you in all ways, I was frightened by my feelings for you, frightened that they would scare you away, I feel things so strongly at times it scares me with how it runs through me, how can I expect you to understand or except Love this strong. Now I think I can show you my love. As time passes I will let go completely of things in the past but for now hands unbutton and strip clothes off in a hurried race, I hear the tear of cloth and I don’t know if I did it or if you. It doesn’t matter, I just have this need to feel you skin against mine, I crave you unlike anything I have every felt. I can hear your moan when my hands touch your hard manhood stroking slowly but impatiently. I need to feel you inside me. My whimper of pleasure comes when you slide your hand between my legs. No teasing this time you slip your fingers inside me deeply. My head falls against your chest and I lick your nipples. The room is silent except for our breathing. We can’t wait any longer, you sit on a chair I keep in my room and I straddle your hips taking you deep inside me in on simple motion. Oh my love, you touch the center of me, making me bite my lip as the sensations roll through my body like waves racing towards land 126

Dahlia Rose breaking over and over again. As I move against you, your hands rub all over me before you bring my lips down to be enveloped in your kisses. I can feel the beginning of my explosion as well as yours, I can feel you get harder inside me and my body trembles as it begins this thrilling ride to completion. “Come with me, be with me,” I whisper to you. This is part of me and one of the things that always will be yours. No other hands will touch me but yours, and this is a promise I kept to you. Our bodies are moving faster now, flesh meeting flesh in this wet smacking sound. My hands curl around you as I pump faster, grinding against you. I hear you groan a long slow primal sound and it sends me over the edge. I take you with me; behind my closed eyes I see the fireworks you cause for me. My body is taut as the peaks of pleasure travel through it each one higher than the last. You ride out each one with me holding me close. Reading back, her words left her own body flushed and tingling with the memories of that night. He had never let her go even as passion swirled around them, she didn’t feel alone. Her words continued to flow on to the paper as if wrenched from a soul that finally needed to break free of its own confinement. When we move over to the bed we are still touching even though it’s just us holding hands. From the time I see you, I need to feel your skin and as I lie against your back and listen to you breathing slowly into the steady sounds of sleep I kiss your back. I have this need to cherish you, there is no other man in the world like you, and you deserved to be cherished. My arms that have so longed to hold you are wrapped around you and then you still manage to hold my hands. Did you know that I needed to feel this way with you? Did you sense what I needed in my life? Did fate, destiny or some cosmic forces send you to be my hero? You have fixed me, fixed those things in me I had long thought broken or even lost and for this, you are my beloved. I lay there against you thinking about the words to a favorite love song. “Now I’m living in your afterglow”. I smile softly against your back thinking that every single love song I have ever heard or liked has something in it that I can relate back to you. Maybe my heart has been searching for you since it first began to beat only finding you now in a place like this. Things in your life I have accepted without reservations because it would be worse if my life did not have you in it. I feel giddy like a teenager first in love. It makes me happy and this time a small delighted laugh escapes my lips. Oops, it disturbs your sleep but for the better. You turn to me and I am now wrapped in your arms, in your love. You kiss my neck in a sleepy way and murmur ‘I love you’. I kiss your ear and whisper back “I Love you, my darling lover”. As I drift off to sleep in your arms I know there is no better place than this to be. To be with you is all I ever wanted. Soon this will be over and I will patiently wait for your return to me, going on with life and my day-by-day routine. I will go out with friends, smile, laugh and all the while you will be in my thoughts and in my heart. And my heart will jump with excitement when it’s time to be with you again, and when the doubts and fear surface I will fight them until they are all gone. Forever yours…Dahlia. 127

Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary With the words finally at an end, Dahlia looked at the pages she had written and smiled. She kissed the pages and left the imprint of her lips in soft pink lipstick and sprayed a little of her favorite perfume in the envelope. When he opened it she knew the scent would make him long to be home and close to her. Licking the seal on the envelope she closed the flap and placed a stamp in the corner. Tomorrow her words would go on its long journey until her letter reached the hands of her lover James.

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Chapter Four: Misery Breathe, just keep breathing, she kept reminding herself. Midnight, the witching hour or is that twilight? Who knows she thought to herself, her mind was going around in circles at this time. Dahlia found this was the worst time for her when all was quiet and she lay in bed. Then her mind started up again and she could not stop the flood of thoughts that she had been able to evade all day. She kept them at bay with meaningless tasks and banter with friends. But when the city slept, it was if a dam broke loose and the flood overtook her consciousness. Sometimes Dahlia laid in the dark until she saw dawn breaking before she was able to grab a few hours of sleep. Her mind screamed as she turned restlessly in bed “Stop! Enough already! But who was going to hear? Her thoughts are her own curse and she could only lay there with the mass swirling around in her own head. She prayed for a ledge to catch herself on while the dark water in her own thoughts churned until she fell into the blissful abyss of sleep. Dahlia recalled what she found out before her day ended and she went back to the stillness of her apartment. She had an IQ of 135. One of her friends, who was majoring in Psychology, gave her the test and here she sat at 135. A wry smile formed on her lips and though her eyes were closed she still could not fall asleep. The average IQ was anywhere between 85 and 109, so she found out she was borderline genius. The absurdity of the situation made her chuckle. This time she voiced the thought out loud in the dark room.

Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary For such a smart person I am certainly dumb as a rock when it comes to matters of the heart, she thought mirthlessly Love was one of the murkiest muddy waters she had ever come across and there she sat dirty and disheveled on its banks. Dahlia rephrased it to herself knowing that she had fallen in and was going under for the final time. In the raging waters with no life preserver to save her in sight. “I remember stories, things that my mother said she told me fairy tales before I went to bed, she spoke of happy ending he’d take me away one night. I’d be so happy with him. He never came to save me; he let me stand alone, all full of emptiness all on my own. The story ends as stories do reality steps into view, no longer living life in paradise, no fairy tales” The words sung by Anita Baker never rang more true. No fairytales, no prince charming. No happy endings. Goddamn! I sure screwed up! Her choices seemed grim but choices nonetheless. Build walls around her heart, emotions and be lonely? Or Love and be hurt, those choices are fucked up. Dahlia didn’t know which one seemed worse but she had experienced both and they both sucked. She had built the walls around her heart and made them solid. But in a leap of faith she let love in and now it hurt like nothing she had ever felt before. The good times are great, mind you, but the bad times are hell on wheels, basically. Dahlia picked up a pillow and flopped it over her head and a muffled moan of frustration could be heard though the plush material. How could she have fallen in love with a man who sometimes made her wonder if she could ever have him fully? So many things were between them, so many obstacles they had to face. The worst thing to her was their relationship wasn’t met with approval by the closet person in her life. That hurt most of all because she did not like James and it was ripping Dahlia apart inside. Doubts filled her head when she could not be with him because she was unsure if he still wanted to be with her. Handling the distance was easier when she was so certain he loved her. Now the words he said didn’t seem to carry to his voice. Because of a disagreement about her close friend Dahlia felt a love she longed for slipping away. The one person she could talk to about anything, didn’t want to hear about this. And the argument came about because of her and her criticism of their relationship. Their friendship that had withstood every test in 23 years was now strained. So Dahlia kept all her fears and doubts inside, wishing there was someone she could talk to, that could see it from a different perspective. God it hurts so much! Should she fight for this forbidden love or let it go? The thought of James and his love being gone made her heart die in her chest. Color would leave her world leaving an empty place where nothing grew. From the little time they had spent together she knew she hadn’t been loved like that before. On two different sides of the 130

Dahlia Rose same coin she had never been happier or unhappier in her life. Dahlia couldn’t deny that the fault laid on her and the choices she had made. But her closest friend! She should be supportive of her and the relationship even though she did not like it, right!? The last conversation they had was almost cruel and a sob caught in Dahlia’s throat at the memory. At lunch on girls day out she couldn’t even mention his name around her friend that was more like a sister. I have always been there for her! She thought angrily. No matter what! She is so caught up in her own relationship it’s like our friendship has been forgotten. But yet she thinks she can dictate mine! I have always been her rock! And I need her love and her support so much right now. The pact they made as children and kept through adulthood seemed like a distant memory. Never let anyone or anything between us and our friendship. For the love of a friend she could honor that pact as she has always done. Her friendship was so important that she could see her and not even bring up James’s name. The love for her oldest and truest companion was so important that she could do that without question. But she missed being able to talk to her about important things. Dahlia lay in her bed with tears running down her cheeks, wishing she knew the unknown, how this was going to end. In some ways a crystal ball would do so well for her, but then life is dull when all could be foreseen. Her heart longed for him when he was gone; it felt like every minute stretched slowly dragging and moving like molasses. She rolled out of bed and walked to her window staring out into the darkness with only streets lamps for light. Ok, it’s four am. Now this is definitely twilight. The sky was turning this wonderful color of blue and around the edges has a tint of orange, the sun trying to break free of its dark hold. A kind of sadness fell over her at that realization. At this time the world was empty and beautiful, soon it would be filled with the sounds of cars and horns and people moving around in their lives. The world moved on and she felt somehow angry at it because no one could feel her restlessness. She left the curtains open and went back to bed once again and stared out at the sky. Her fingers toyed with the locket she wore around her neck. It became her cherished possession, given to her by James with love, and carried his picture inside. It became her habit to fiddle with it while it lay against her chest. Flicking it open and rubbing the picture inside made her feel closer to him in some way. She traced the intricate little rose and the design, the words that are engraved there have long been committed to memory. “Forever In My Heart” it read. She wondered if that was the truth, was she really forever in his heart? Did he long for her as she did for him? Was she the last thought before he went to sleep and the first one when his beautiful eyes opened to the morning? Did James long to have the taste of her on his lips? Then how can you stay 131

Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary way for so long and leave me in this agony I am in. My God! The ache in her chest increased with every second he was away. Was love supposed to hurt like this? Love could skewer your heart with a hot arrow, it burned and sometimes you could not escape the moan of anguish that welled up in your throat. Dahlia took another deep breath and tried to reassure her doubtful heart. She knew what he felt for her. How could she not believe in him when she had seen it in his eyes? “Eyes are the window to the soul,” the phrase is one she remembered well from a book she read long ago. After a kiss when his eyes slowly opened and met with hers, in that breathless moment, she knew they could not lie. It made her wonder when they’re so far apart if she could be so easily put out of his mind. All these questions and more ran through her mind every night until she saw him again. Then they miraculously disappeared when she was held in his arms. His strength complimented her weakness and visa versa. Dahlia would have walked across hot coals to save him and she knew he would do the same. Her mind finally decided to give her repast so she could catch a few hours of sleep and her eyes grew heavy. One of her last thoughts were “It’s not as bad as you think. Love can be hard and difficult and wring you out like a wet wash rag, but once it right, as long as it is good and true, its worth every blessed slice of pain it brings, Its worth it”. Until tomorrow night when the process started all over again and she watched the sun come up. She begged him to hurry home in her mind, a silent message she hoped he could hear. To hurry home so she could fall asleep in his arms again.

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Chapter Five: The I Love You Dialogue “I Love you,” he whispered softly as he rubbed his cheek against her face. The wind blew softy through the open window, ruffling the sheer white curtains. The breeze was warm against her back. Dahlia was standing encircled in his arms naked except for her sheer silk stockings. The sun was setting and sent a shadowed light into the room. She looked up at him, watching the different colors of the oncoming twilight pass across his face. Such beauty in one man was not only in looks but also in his soul. She also knew the dark desires that hid there as well. She accepted them as she accepted him and sometimes more often than not, she longed for them. The small taste he had given her of his desires made her want more, to experience every pleasure his mind could conjure. While she rubbed her face against his chest he whispered again “I Love You”. This time he expected an answer and she obediently replied, “I Love you too”. “Do you really?” James said softly as if he wondered to himself. “Yes,” such a simple answer came to her lips and that seemed to be all he needed. He kissed her, his lips were demanding. From his kiss she knew what he wanted as he did every time they were together but she was still restrained.

Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary He sensed it and he ended the kiss. “To Love is to trust completely, to give without reservation and to take with awe and grace this gift that is given in love.” His voice was like a caress on her skin. “Do you accept what I am giving to you?” She nodded her head slowly looking into his eyes. She saw nothing but what he offered. “Then why do you resist when you know it is what you want, what you need? Dahlia, you are a strong woman and your need to be in control is admirable, but sometimes weakness for your man is the greatest strength a woman can have. Will you submit to me? Will you show me no barriers and only the love you have for me?” James asked. Dahlia couldn’t deny him any longer, her soft answer was all he needed to hear so it came from her lips “Yes I submit to you”. “Then let’s begin.” He led her over to a leather sofa with two small footrests in front. James kissed her again, their mouths mated sensually, hot wet kisses with tongues intertwined. A soft moan escaped her lips while his hands moved up to her hair burying into the thick tresses. His fingers tightened into a fist capturing the dark curls and he pulled her head back with slow deliberation exposing her neck. His lips caressed her ears and then down the soft skin of her neck. A shiver ran through her body and she could feel her pussy moisten with it womanly nectar, so wet she could feel it against her thighs. While he nibbled her neck he secured her hands behind her back with a silk scarf he had in his pocket. Not too tight but Dahlia would not be able to get them free unless he untied it. “Sit,” he ordered. “And put your legs up, one on each footrest”. The leather was smooth and cool against her skin. With the silk stockings she was wearing, the texture felt sensual and erotic. As she put her feet up, Dahlia noticed that James had put the footrests evenly apart and pulled them away from the sofa. This left her legs spread and her center exposed to him. She leaned back on the sofa, her bound hands beneath her and resting against the soft cushions. He stood there looking at her, his eyes traveled from her face to her breasts then to her pussy. James smiled eagerly when he noticed how wet she was through the stockings that covered her. He walked over to her and knelt between her legs. He massaged her breasts slowly the smooth round globes were enveloped by his big hands. It sent shocks waves to her core as he teased her nipples, pinching them softly at first then with more pressure, almost to the point of pain. She closed her eyes as the sensations flooded her body, letting them overtake her. 134

Dahlia Rose “Open your eyes” he commanded softly. “I want to see what my touch does to you; I want to see the changes in your eyes”. Dahlia opened her eyes slowly, they felt heavy from the pleasure he was creating and met his hungry gaze. His eyes, though blue like the spring sky, were dark with an intensity that she had never seen before. He leaned over and kissed her breasts lovingly. Licking and taking deep tastes of the sweet flesh. He murmured “I Love You, I Love You” every time his lips touched her skin. Dahlia wished she could run her hands through his hair, to pull his head closer to her. But she was bound by the silk scarves that kept her hands tied behind her back. She could only follow his tune by whispering I love you in return. He trailed kisses down her torso until he reached the most intimate of places. When she felt his hot breath against her pussy, Dahlia shuddered in anticipation. He teased her with one little flick of his tongue against her clit. Her breath caught in her throat making her hips shift restlessly. Dahlia felt her need building. The sweet pleasure to feel what he was going to do next became more than she could bear. She moved again lifting her hips to invite him to take off the stockings and taste her. James did the unexpected; he took his fill of her through the stockings that covered her snatch. My God! Her mind screamed. The feeling of his hot mouth mixed with the feeling of raw silk was her undoing. Dahlia moaned as his mouth played with her, it sounded primal even to her own ears. His face was pressed in between her thighs, his tongue roamed hungrily trying to get inside her. The barrier of pantyhose kept them both from the pleasure they sought. It kept her from feeling James tongue inside her but Dahlia went over the edge under the onslaught of his mouth. “Yes! Yes! Please baby, now!” She moaned. Her body arched and their eyes were still locked, she came for him trembling and calling his name. He licked as her juices flowed, his groans of pleasure and delight at how her body responded to him filling her ears. His breathing was just as labored when he raised his head from between the legs, Am I to get the pleasure of having him inside me now? She wondered. Dahlia anticipated the feel of him filling her but he did not give her that pleasure quite yet. His fingers trailed over her pussy, up and down, in slow deliberate movements. Barely rubbing over her clit he then teased the entrance that she longed for him to fill. Her body shivered again, under his control. She tried to move, to let his fingers bury deep inside her, yet he only teased her, circling the sensitive outside flesh. 135

Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary “Please” Dahlia whispered, her head tossed restlessly on the back of the chair. “Please what?” James wanted her to ask for the pleasure she was seeking. “I want your fingers inside me. Fuck me with your fingers.” Dahlia pleaded. “Look at me,” he ordered her again. Her eyes snapped open and their eyes connected. His hands were on her pantyhose. She raised her hips expecting him to take them off but instead he ripped them, making an opening over her soaking wet pussy. “Oh God yes!” Dahlia cried out. His finger slid into her slick opening, so very slowly until he had it buried and the knuckle of his other finger was pressed against her clit. He kept the pace slow until she begged. “Harder, faster, I need more!” “Bad girl.” the word hissed between his lips. He was just as excited at her response and the words he used were not to demean her but to excite them both. Two fingers now, sliding them deeper, faster and her head fell back in ecstasy as he played with her. She could feel the excitement build inside her like a cauldron overheating, going from simmer to boil. She spread her legs wider taking more of his fingers. With every breath she took a moan was released. Even though her hands were tied behind her back she was reaching for something anything to hold on to. But all her fingers touched was the smooth surface of leather. “Dirty girl, you’re going to cum for me now aren’t you?” “Ooooooooh yes please!” Her hips were pushed against his fingers when she reached the pinnacle, her body drawn tight like a bow, and Dahlia was almost to the point of screaming as she orgasmed. His finger and hand was dripping with her juice and she slumped back against the sofa trying to catch her breath. He stood up from between her legs and walked a couple of steps away before turning to watch her. She slowly came back down from her sexual high but that didn’t mean he was going to give her anytime to bask in her after glow. “On your knees,” he commanded. Dahlia’s legs felt like jelly and her movements were slow. She let her body slip off the sofa until she was on her knees. “Now!” He growled low and sexy. “And crawl over to me.” She quickened her pace and with her hands still bound she walked over to him on her knees. Kneeling in from of him she stared directly at the bulge in his pants. He unzipped the cool gray slacks and stepped from 136

Dahlia Rose their confinement. His cock stood erect and Dahlia longed to wrap her lips around it, but she waited for his command. “Wanton little girl, is this want you want? Do you want to taste it?” She nodded slowly licking her lips sensually. “Yes Daddy.” “Lick it Baby, make love to my cock until I spill my seed between your lips” She licked the tip of his cock slowly then ran her tongue down the erect shaft. Inch by pleasurable inch, she took the entire length of the smooth shaft in her mouth. She sucked his cock with a little pressure and with a smooth motion. Her tongue always moving, she sampled the rod he slid in and out of her mouth. “Yes naughty one, ahhhhh yes, suck my cock, you do that so good, show me how much you want me.” He moaned. His body tightened and the strong muscles of his thighs flexed, he couldn’t stay still and let her lips do all the work. His groans of pleasure drove her to quicken the pace of her lips around his manhood. He tangled his hands in her hair to keep her head still then he began to fuck her mouth pumping his cock between her lips. Not to be held back Dahlia moved her tongue against him every time he pushed between her luscious lips. His groans turned to growls and she had the first taste of his come on her tongue. He pulled away and looked down at her with a small smile on his face. She licked her lips like a satisfied kitten who had a bowlful of cream and that made him laugh aloud. James helped Dahlia up off her knees and led her back over to the leather sofa. She stood and he bent her over the back of the couch. Her tummy was against the cool surface, her knees pressed onto the soft cushions. She was already moaning in excitement when she felt the tip of his cock against her pussy. She wiggled her hips as if to tell him she needed to feel him inside her. James rubbed his cock up and down from her ass to wet slit of her pussy. He grabbed her curvaceous hips and rammed his cock deep into her center. This was not the sensual torture moment from before, just pure hot dirty fucking. The noises they made were pure, raw and animalistic. Their bodies made wet smacking noises every time they came together. Dahlia chanted, “fuck me,” over and over again, as he took her. Her body’s orgasms came one after the other like the ocean waves as they hit the beach. Her pussy was so wet it ran down her thighs. Without losing pace James slipped from her pussy into her tight ass. He smacked her hard leaving a sting all the while pounding himself into her. He spanked her again, two sharp slaps. “This is how you want it, rough and hard…Tell me this is how you want it!” 137

Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary “Yes, this is how I want it, please more…. more!” Dahlia could hardly speak the pleasure and pain mixed was a potent blend to her senses. “Come on lover, give it to me.” James listened to her begging for his seed. The plea pushed him over and with a growl his body released, giving her what she wanted to feel. His hot seed filling her love channel. His body fell against hers and for a moment they laid still trying to catch their breath. He untied her hands, sat on the cool leather and pulled her onto his lap. Her head cradled against his shoulder, he rocked her slowly. They held hands with their fingers laced together and he whispered against her ear. “I love you”. She shivered not only from the sensation of the whisper, but the sensation the words brought to her heart. Dahlia lifted her lips against his ear and she repeated the same words “I Love You”. To them it felt as if they made their own little world inside that room. At least for a time, soon the noise and reality of the world would have to break into their sanctuary. Even though the passion from their bodies had cooled, the passion in two hearts was still there. Two halves missing something coming together make one, just by three simple words that meant so much… I Love You.

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Chapter Six: Caribbean Breeze The day’s sun began to set yet the breeze was still warm off the sea, caressing Dahlia’s face like a lover’s hand. The moon will be full tonight and it will cast a silver glow against the waves that break across the sand. She mused while she looked across the ocean. She stood with her toes buried in that same soft sand, so fine and the color of pearls that people come from thousands of miles away just to see it. Her white sundress billowed when a breeze picked it up from against her skin and she watched the sun slip behind the ocean. The sky turned a fiery orange that made her catch her breath in its beauty. She felt excitement bubble up once again because she knew that James was on the very same soil where she stood, the island that called to her when she slept. For the longest time she wanted to bring him there, to the land where she was born. For him to breathe the same air she drew into her lungs on her first breath in this existence. It was imprinted into her soul forever sweet with the scents of hibiscus and mangos. She needed him there in this place with her and now her dream had come true, her heart felt full and complete. She looked across the sand as day turned to night and saw James walking towards her. She knew her man’s way of walking and recognized him instantly from a distance. James looked so carefree and relaxed, his jeans were folded up against the surf and his shirt lay open, flapping in the breeze. A wicked grin was on his face. Dahlia smiled thinking that he was probably remembering his day of windsurfing with her brothers. He had won a race with them even though he told them he’d never done it before.

Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary Somehow she thought he lulled her brothers into a false sense of superiority when it came to the windsurfing. But she would keep that secret to herself. When he finally reached where she stood he wrapped his arms around her. Her hands slid up against his chest, which was still warm to the touch from the day’s sun. “You smell of the sun and the sea,” she said. Pressing her lips against his neck to inhale his scent and in a kiss of welcome. “How are you enjoying my island?” “It’s great! You know it’s better than that because I’m with you” “It must be the coconut rum with pineapple you are enjoying more.” Dahlia replied laughingly. For her remark she got a swat on her bottom. Dahlia danced away from him laughing and spread a blanket down on the sand. Her hips swayed to the calypso music that they could hear faintly playing somewhere in the distance. “Come with me baby and take a swim.” She invited. Not waiting for a reply and she walked into the surf. The waves had already begun to soak her dress and it clung to her body. “Are you going to take that off?” James called out to her. Her response was a laugh that caught on the wind. He took off his shirt and jeans and chased after her in his boxers. Even though she grew up on the island and visited regularly, it still surprised her how warm the water was at night. She let the waves push her into his arms and kissed him. The taste of the salt water mingled on their lips. She wrapped her legs around his waist and as the sea moved they followed in its sensual rhythm. Her body was pressed tightly against his with every ripple in the current. James’s cock hardened and Dahlia could feel it against her stomach. Their tongues tangled from his mouth to hers, Dahlia leaned back and stripped off the dress she was wearing. Completely nude underneath it, the white fabric floated away with the surf. She didn’t care about the piece of material, only to have the feel of her skin against his. His hand slipped between them and rubbed her clit under the water, her body shuddering with his touch. “I want you inside me,” she whispered against his lips. Dahlia reached between them to fill herself with his cock. “Hard and fast baby, I’m going to fuck you hard and fast.” James told her. His voice low, he captured her face in his hand. Kissing her hard he let himself sink into her. She was mesmerized by his eyes holding hers captive in his gaze. His cock was buried so deep inside her but he hardly had to move. They let the waves do all the work. He rubbed her nipples against his palms, the few calluses that had formed there since they arrived 140

Dahlia Rose caused such a pleasurable friction. When he gently bit her nipples it made her moan his name. Soon that wasn’t enough for either of them. Dahlia’s legs were still wrapped around him when they left the water for the blanket on the sand. He let her slide down his body before they knelt facing each other. They tasted, biting each other’s lips and necks, every expanse of skin they could reach wanting to devour each other’s being. “I want your cock in my mouth,” she said in a fevered tone. She pushed him back and his hand hit the blanket, then she filled her mouth with his cock. Maybe it was the night or the sweet Caribbean air but they had become carnal in their lovemaking. His body strained against her lips and he grabbed her hair to push himself deeper into her mouth. Dahlia took every inch of him moaning gently as she loved him with her mouth. He wanted her taste as well and got it by lifting her across his body. The lovers were locked together a tight sixty-nine, rolling and twisting trying each in their own way to take more. “Oh sweet Jesus!” the thought flashed through her mind when she felt his tongue penetrate her wet pussy. His lips sucked on her clit and his fingers pressed and spread the soft folds of her flesh. Dahlia could hardly stand it, she moaned and each sound was like her begging for more even though her mouth is filled with his manhood. He drove her beyond reason and all she wanted to feel was his cock fucking her. The sounds of the Caribbean night faded into the background and all their senses could comprehend was each other. She moved suddenly pulling away from him, breaking their intimate contact and took him into her hot velvet sex. His hands were squeezing her firm ass with hard fingers as she rode him. “Take me James, please take it all!” She cried out in earnest. “The things you make me feel. I want to be your everything! Your lover, your slut, every dirty little fantasy that has every passed through your dreams.” Her body begun to shake in pleasure, she talked to him whispering the dirty little words that he loved to hear. “I want you slow and seductive, rough and fucked with abandon. I want to be your all!” “Open your eyes, I want to see what I do to you, I want to see the pleasure in your eyes.” James said as he grabbed her waist and flipped her under him. “Open your eyes!” His voice a harsh passionate command and her eyes opened to stare into the vivid blue of his. “Who do you belong to?” James asked while he pounded into her body, deeper with every thrust, pushing Dahlia to a blinding orgasm. “You,” she moaned. “I belong to you. Only you.” He grabbed her hair and wrapped it tight in his hand. “No one else can touch you; no one else will ever make you feel like this! You’ll always be mine, every time you spread your legs to take a bath, when you touch 141

Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary yourself, when I am not around and you play with your pussy, you’ll remember, that you’re mine!” His words flowed over her like honey and Dahlia couldn’t hold back any longer. With his hands tangled in her hair, their eyes connected, her body exploded and shattered in ecstasy, so much so she hardly caught a breath. James watched her tumble off that pleasurable edge. He slid deep into her wet pussy and pulled out suddenly and he followed with his cock pressed against her belly and his arms holding her tight against him. He rubbed against her soft skin making sure his manhood was trapped between them tight. She felt his hot come against the flatness of her tummy and it sent her spiraling into another orgasm. The lovers lay against the blanket with the soft sand beneath them, waiting for their hearts to slow. The sounds of the sea crashing against the beach filtered in to their consciousness. Moving slowly they walked hand in hand into the waves to wash themselves off with the warm water before walking up to the house. A hot shower together made them even more relaxed before slipping between cool sheets. The windows were open and a cool Caribbean breeze blew in. With her head against his shoulder Dahlia drifted in a sleepy state. Before sleep overtook her, she let him know one thing. “James,” she whispered. His reply was a sleepy, “Hmmmm?” “I think I’ve known you all my life, my heart knew you all my life. It just took a while to find you.” He responded in a way that made her smile. He rolled over and pulled her closer whispering in her ear. “I Love you too.”

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Chapter Seven: Time Stands Still Time, it seemed like there was so much of it in the world but so little when it came to James and Dahlia. To them it slowed and dragged on until it seemed that every second turned to an hour when they are apart. But then it sped towards the light of day when they were together. James and Dahlia waited for those times with anticipation and excitement, like she was now. She lay in bed waiting for him hoping that he arrived there soon. She had the candles lit and wine opened for their night together. There were times when she got so scared of James’s intensity and his love, scared of losing him as well. But he was always patient, soothing her fears even when she let it sabotage her faith in him. When she got angry, Dahlia knew that she sometimes did not take consideration of his feelings, not even letting him explain the reasons why. She could accuse him of not understanding her feelings, of not caring for her as much as he said. And instead of raging at her, he calmed her, waiting out the storm. Knowing it was only from past hurt that made her struggle with the concept of unconditional love. He made her smile after the storm of emotion passed, boyishly pouting at her for being mean to him. Her anger dissipated and was replaced just as quickly by guilt for blowing anger his way when there was no need. He made her world perfect, if only she could make time stand still for them. The knock came to the door, firm and bold, “There you are” she thought to herself with a smile on her lips. She rolled off the bed and hurried to open the door. James walked in with his usual air of confidence

Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary and her hand automatically went to his face. It was a gesture she did every time she saw him. He leaned in for a kiss and their lips met for a quiet hello, when their lips parted there was a smile on his face. “You know you missed me,” he said. A cocky grin fixed firm on his face. “And you didn’t miss me?” Dahlia retorted. Her hands went to her hips and taking the defensive stance. She was really kidding but sometimes he cannot tell so he threw his arms around her in a big bear hug squeeze to reassure her. “I missed you most of all, Scarecrow,” he said, quoting a line from the Wizard of Oz. “So now I don’t have a brain?” . They looked at each other and end up laughing uproariously. The humor of the conversation hits them both. We have so much in common Dahlia thought to herself while she looked at him. He had a big grin plastered on his face. Where some would turn this into an argument, he is like me and sees it as teasing and fun. He slid his hand around her neck again and pulled her into a long passionate kiss. His taste was something that was imprinted on her memory. When tongues met and mated, Dahlia felt her arousal begin like liquid warmth in her belly. “Let’s get some wine” She said in a breathless voice and moved away to pour them two glasses of Merlot. A minute or two more of them kissing and touching and she knew where it would lead. Dahlia laughed to herself knowing full well that he had the power to cloud her senses and how much she was hooked on him. She was wearing a low cut dress in crushed velvet and in her favorite color. It molded and curved to her body and she could feel his eyes watching her as she bent over to give him his glass. It wasn’t his favorite drink, she knew it but he took a couple of sips anyway. Dahlia smiled and reached behind the chair to grab something. Her hand came up with an ice-cold beer she had hidden behind it in an ice bucket. She wiggled her eyebrows at him comically, James laughed out loud and grabbed her for another hard kiss on the lips. Dahlia felt the pleasure of his approval wash over her, it pays to know my man’s tastes, she thought to herself. He took his first long sip and looked over curiously when she moved away. She didn’t go far, only to put on a CD and to lower the lights so the candle’s glow was all they had. James came up behind her and she felt the warmth of his hands slide around her waist. He pulled her against the hard muscles of his chest and began to nibble the sensitive spot between her ears and neck. “A nice ambiance,” his voice whispered against her ear.

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Dahlia Rose The sensation caused shivers to run through her. “You know me, an incurable romantic.” “But you’re my romantic so nobody else gets this right?” “Hmmmmm maybe.” Dahlia got a sharp nip on her earlobe for that remark and she yelped in surprise. “Ok, Ok, you know it’s only for you!” “And don’t you forget it; I’ll have to spank you if you do.” “Promises, promises.” He growled low in his throat, a predatory sound that she loved to hear, he was her Lion putting his mark on his mate. She turned into the circle of his arms, looked into his eyes, and saw his fire burning there. It was for her and knowing that brought her a great satisfaction. The kiss they shared was long and slow, he nibbled at her bottom lip. Kissed each corner of her mouth before plundering it with his tongue. Dahlia would not be denied her taste and their tongues met and dueled, each trying to have more and to take more. He won by holding her face between his strong fingers and taking his prize. His other hand slid down her body over the soft texture of her dress. He knew every curve of her but he still did it as if imprinting her to memory once again. “I can’t get enough of you,” he said. “Baby, I feel the same way,” Dahlia replied. With fingers entwined they walked silently to the bedroom, the candles in the room casting a soft glow around them. They stood facing each other, her hands ran up his chest across the material of his shirt and she wrapped them around his neck. She always thought that looking into his eyes was like drowning into the depth of a crystal ocean. What she saw reflecting back at her humbled her in a way that most only dream about. What did I do right in this life or ones that have passed that favored me this kind of love? She wondered to herself. Dahlia knew for a fact that she knew him before. She had dreamt of him in one way or the next since she was a child. Different dreams of him and of their love in different eras of times past, the face might change but the one constant was the eyes. She knew those eyes; they were always the same. In each life she had searched for them and when she found him her heart knew. She laughed to herself still staring into his eyes with her arms wrapped around his neck. Because Dahlia knew if she ever told him this or what she believed he’d probably call her weird. Some how that didn’t offend her because in a way she was, Dahlia was never one to want to be what society called normal. Her views on life and many aspects of what it

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Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary meant really went against the grain, and that was what made her unique. She leaned in to kiss him again but he pulled back. “Uh-uh, I have a surprise for you.” James said mysteriously “A surprise!? I wasn’t expecting anything. Where is it?” Her voice was filled with excitement as she began to frisk him. He grinned at her and pulled a little box out of his pocket and placed it in her open palms. Suddenly weak in the knees she sat on the edge of the bed with the little box still flat in her hands. Dahlia knew it was not what women would usually think it was at this point. Her views on marriage and the “if it isn’t broken don’t try to fix it” policy were very much known to James. She told him from the very beginning “No to marriage” and he told her as time went by that he would do everything to change her mind. But never the less he floored her with the sentiment, and she was pleased that he always surprised her with unexpected gifts. “So are you going to sit and stare at it all day or open it?” “I haven’t decided yet.” Her voice was barely a whisper “Ok I guess you don’t want it, I’ll just take it back.” He reached for it and her fingers closed over her prize, holding on to the very precious treasure. “Don’t you dare! “I’m just savoring the moment!” “Well savor what’s inside, not the box.” Dahlia sighed and slowly opened it revealing what was inside. The soft ‘ooh’ that escaped her lips showed how perfectly he picked her gift, a silver ring with etched designs all around. It meant more to her than any diamond or jewel could. She looked up at him with a shimmer of tears in her eyes. Not of sorrow but of happiness, because he thought of her enough to know what she would appreciate in a gift. He pulled her to her feet and took her hands into his own; slipping the cool metal on to the finger right next to her thumb “It’s a promise, you have me and always will, this is to remind you of it.” The words go to that place in her heart where everything about him is stored. She kept her feelings hidden from the world but felt them every day so profusely it made her ache. She pulled him in close and held on tight wishing in that instant their bodies were fused together. But instead she kissed him with all the passion and love she could pour into one kiss. It said more than any words ever could. His hands squeezed and molded her to him, his tongue tasted secrets that her mouth had to offer. She gave them up willing needing to have his taste just as much. Her fingers deftly unbuttoned the shirt he was wearing to his waist where it is tucked into his slacks. From there he shrugged out of its fabric 146

Dahlia Rose and left it discarded on the floor. The straps of her dress were slipped of her shoulders and it fell in a puddle of crushed velvet at her feet. With his hands stroking, touching and caressing before pulling her against him in a tight embrace the lovers immersed themselves in each other. The hardness of his arousal was against her as they fell to the bed, her dress left in a pool where she stood. His strength made Dahlia feel so secure, she reveled in the way his body felt pressing her into the bed. His scent surrounded her and his kisses were slow and deliberate. But he knew exactly where to excite and how to make her body respond. She squirmed beneath him and her hands massaged his strong back. Kisses were placed on her closed eyes, on her parted lips then trailed down to her ears and neck where he licked and nibbled. James was making love to his woman. Both knew from past experience as soon as they touched each other fire consumed them and the dirty talk ensued. Battle for sexual control kept stoking the fire and they were like animals running on instinct just to mate and find release with passion and lust. Tonight was a different. A new kind of magic was being built. It was sensual and romantic, and they took the time to feel each other’s pleasure. His lips moved from her neck to her breasts, licking one slowly and teasing the other by just rubbing his hands lightly over the tip. His lips nibbled around the other edges before deeply taking the smooth globe of her breast in his mouth. It left her gasping with pleasure, his warm lips enveloping her breast. Somehow the rest of his clothes were gone and Dahlia thanked the heavens there was no barrier from her searching caress through the passion haze he created in her mind. Soft hands slipped between their bodies and she wrapped her fingers around his manhood and it pulsed against her palm She began a smooth stroke that took her grasp from the tip to the base of his shaft, she felt exhilarated when his body shuddered. He pushed against her hand and she loved how he felt, like steel wrapped in velvet sliding between her closed fist. He grabbed her hands and wrapped them around the bedpost, taking away her touch from his cock “I want to touch you,” she whispered against his lips. “No. Not yet. I know how you get when you get excited Babydoll, this time we are taking it slow.” Their touch and kisses were more heated now but still he took his time. His lips made their way down Dahlia’s body until they reached her moist center. Her body was already slick with arousal when she felt his tongue press against the secret place that was hidden like a bud. Her body rose up as the pleasure hit like an arrow of pure energy. The little cry that escaped her lips still wet from his kiss was unable to be withheld. James 147

Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary used his tongue to sink into her pussy, tasting her feminine honey. Her body writhed, reaching for that place that would make her lose every conscious thought. The pleasure was so sweet it seemed almost unbearable. James took his time, slowly tasting her sweet musk. It was unlike any other time, instead of hard and rough explosions rocketing through her body, he slowly built it up until she could not help but succumb to the sensations. Her orgasms were not with the screams of ecstasy but with little moans. Lying there trying to catch her breath, Dahlia contemplated the two different methods but they lead to the same blinding release. Her thoughts were lost once more as little kisses traveled back up her body until their lips met again. She could taste her light musky flavor on his lips. “I love your taste,” he whispered. “I love when you taste me.” Her reply was muffled and turned to a moan when James went back to exploring her body, long fingers following to where his lips left off. Slowly he circled her wet flesh with his thumb and she tried to press against his fingers, wanting to feel them inside her. They sank deep all at once and his name wrenched out of her as she was rocked by pleasure once again. Before her body was finished with wave after wave of sensations he was between her smooth legs and he slipped inside her pussy. With tenderness he filled her and she wrapped her legs around his waist. Her lids were heavy when she opened them and she looked into his eyes that she loved, the gaze that had darkened with excitement. From the concentration on his face Dahlia could tell he was holding on to the last of his patience by a fine thread. He wanted to bury himself inside her harder and harder with every stroke. But he held on with a tenuous cord that threatened to unravel quickly. He was doing this for her and himself. To show that their love was not built on intense sexuality but so much more. It was an act of love, this thing he was doing to please her, but right now she wanted the fury of her lion. She held on to him tight and brought his head down to her lips and whispered in his ear. “Let go baby, I need you so much. Take me now.” He growled deep in his chest and his control snapped, he unleashed the hold he put on himself and drove deep into her over and over again. Her neck arched with every thrust. It felt like the bliss of heaven and the heat of hell all at once. Her eyes opened to find him looking at her again. His were set on her and he watched as pleasure passed across her face. Dahlia’s body bucked and writhed beneath his and she was thrown into swirls of rapture. She climaxed over and over again until she could hardly breathe. It was her turn to watch as he went to where she lingered hurtling 148

Dahlia Rose off into a place of torturous ecstasy. His eyes became heavy and his body tensed as he pumped into her, his release intense as he emptied himself inside her. In the aftermath, those little growling sounds he made sent shivers though her. His face was buried in her neck and his body was still heavy on hers. She didn’t want him to move from where he was, still buried inside her. Dahlia sighed her disappointment when he rolled sideways to gather her up close to him. They laid facing each other lips almost touching, the rhythm of their breathing almost in unison. Dahlia reached up and caressed his face as she always did and his eyes opened to look at her. Those beautiful eyes that she had known forever in her dreams mesmerize her. There wrapped in each other’s arms time stood still, maybe for just an instant or an eternity. Neither could tell the difference, they were with the one person who caused their world to spin off its axis. The outside would filter in again and time would begin again. But James and Dahlia could stay there forever.

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Chapter Eight: Dahlia Remembers the First Everything There is no forgetting, it has all been branded into my memory forever. Every second that I have had him in my life has been put away in a secret place that no one else knows and can ever find but me alone. When a wistful smile passes over my lips it’s because of a memory I have of us. There are none that are less or more important than the others. To me, everything is treasured and important. I could not love him less, but always more and now I write of the first of everything. To some it may seem like the simplest of things but to me it defines who I am and my life such as it is now, because with him I have healed and loved again. Because of him I live and every sunrise is met with a smile. To Dahlia some of the memories were sad and grief filled her soul. But because of a new love she opened that door that was barred to her heart and let a cleansing light in once again. I lost the man who I thought I would spend the rest of my life with, tragically, without warning to a car accident. No one knew the extent of how that damaged me and my feelings toward love. At first I could not even comprehend the loss acting like it didn’t even happen, but when the reality hit, I could not even breathe. I was trapped in my grief and to even get out of bed was a mass effort, most of the time I just chose to stay there. In bed and in the dark letting it cocoon me against everything. Reality seemed so hard and cold and why would I want to live in a place that takes away from me someone so important to my life? A swift kick in the rear from a friend after she saw it was the only way to get through to me. She tired the patient loving way and when she realized it only served to make me more incapable of trying to heal she went the hard route. It made me understand I couldn’t stay there forever but I couldn’t be unprotected so I had to build

Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary some sort of defense. I had so much hurt inside me and anger at the way love had made me weak. I blamed love for my grief and blamed it for making me too fragile to want to fight back. So I chose to only survive and to keep my serenity I withdrew from the world. I could not stand to feel anything, only to exist day by day. The thought of a relationship terrified me and any time in the years after his death, any man I dated that seemed to be getting to serious I packed up shop and headed to seclusion. For me it was friendship or nothing. I had friends, I enjoyed life the best I could, and I was happy in the way I settled. This was the only peace I could have. It was more times than not the smile on my lips did not get to my heart. I was admittedly lonely but still could not think of having a relationship. A tear fell and hit against the page of the diary she was writing on. Dahlia didn’t even feel it slip from between her lashes. A new love never meant she forgot the one she lost. In her mind she wished him peace and joy, letting him know he would always hold a place in her heart. That all changed when the first email came to me, from thousands of miles away. It was almost like a voice to my ears and from there many words of friendship and affection followed. I anxiously checked my email everyday looking for those lines from a person that I’ve never even seen a picture of but had captured my interest. He made a smile where there was none for along time, a genuine smile. My soldier, always honest, big and brave in my eyes already. When I realized I started calling him “my soldier” I panicked and then told myself it was just me being friendly. When there were no emails I worried for him, telling myself it was because I came to care for him as a friend. Somewhere deep inside me I knew it was more but refused to admit it. The first picture I saw of him standing tall and proud, staring at me with blue eyes. His gaze went through me even though it was just a picture and I was lost, but still refused to admit it to myself. I was scared to feel anything so I pushed it away. More pictures came along with the emails and they were playful, sexy and strong. He made me smile, my body hot and wet all just by his words. He understood me from far away where others couldn’t when they were with me everyday. He gave me a passion I never knew existed and I called him my lover even though he was still so very far away. The first call from where he was deployed came to my home in New York. His voice smooth and southern like thick honey flowed over me. I lay in bed and closed my eyes just listening to him talk. His laugh was husky and soft and I felt my body react to him. The first phone sex (laugh), oh Big Daddy made me melt just by whispering dirty things across the phone lines. The things I did for him and the way I felt could not compare to anything else I experienced. He drove me to peaks I never thought I could reach. I touched myself for him, rubbed and squeezed my nipples, played with my wet pussy. Even over the telephone he left me spent, satisfied and wanting him more each day. No other man could touch me; I wanted no other but him. He knew me and what I needed even from so far away, he read my heart no one had done that in such along time. My heart leapt with excitement when he called. I think through the phone lines 152

Dahlia Rose he knew I was falling fast for him, he asked of my feelings. I evaded the questions. To admit to him that I had feelings for him, I would have to admit it to myself and I wasn’t ready for that. The first gift I got from my Big daddy was a little after my birthday, a pair of boxer shorts and T-shirt and a note. I still have them and treasure them to this day. The first time I said to myself I loved him was after one of our special calls. Our good-byes were always sweet and as prolonged as we could make them. I hung up the phone and closed my eyes with a smile. My eyes popped back open wide in the dark when I heard my heart finally tell my head “You Love him”. As my heart hurt when it shattered when I lost love, it hurt even worse when it found love again. Feeling love was unexpectedly painful, the panic started then the fear came in hard and fast and I curled myself up into a ball and cried myself to sleep. I felt just by loving him I would lose him and I don’t think I could survive that feeling again. I considered ending our relationship to make sure I didn’t get to the point to have to hurt, but by then I could no more say goodbye than I could stop breathing. Dahlia closed her eyes as she remembered the sweet pain of falling in love again. And with each second that ticked by the love in her heart had only increased. Opening her eyes to the new possibilities in life and to a bright new dawn. The first “I love you” I said by instant messenger on the internet, I can remember admitting it writing “Yes, I Love you” and waiting for a reply, thinking to myself “You are the stupidest person to fall in love over the internet and now he’s going to think you are a complete wanker”. But the simple reply that came back was “Guess what?” I replied, " What,” and there it was “I Love you”. If I wasn’t lost before I was definitely after that. In my mind I just kept saying “breathe” and when I took that breath and then another the world did not come to a screeching halt and burn on its axis. I could feel love and love could find me but I had lived for this long time avoiding any kind of emotion, so slow…I would be taking slow baby steps. I was still wary because I knew love could hurt and bring me to my knees once again. We spent the next few months having a relationship over the telephone and via email, soon he was on his way home and I thought, “well ok, here it is…he’ll forget you now he’s home and you’ll be heart broken.” But he never did, we kept up our conversations as best as we could and made plans to see each other. My love for him grew and no amount of offers for dates or relationships could persuade me not to keep being faithful to him. The first time we saw each other, thirteen months after our first emails. He came to New York and we met at a favorite hang out of mine. On the cab ride over it was nerve racking. I made myself carsick by being nervous, the cab came around the corner and I saw him standing out front of the restaurant. His hands were in his pockets, my heart lurched and I was so damn scared like a teenager on her first date. The first touch when I went into his arms, it felt so good like I was meant to be there all along. I pressed my nose into his neck and smelled his 153

Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary scent, one I knew from months before. From the time he sent me his t-shirt and sleep shorts from across the seas, I knew his smell. I suddenly felt shy sitting across from him those blue eyes that captured me in their spell, now were looking directly at me. I felt the heat and I wanted to melt for him right then and there. I kept touching him, holding and rubbing his hand. I couldn’t believe he was there with me. I needed the contact to convince myself he was real. The first kiss was in that same restaurant at the bar where we sat, he lifted my chin with his finger and took my lips in a kiss that blew my mind. I can still feel the texture of his lips on that first night, and every kiss since then is still as sweet. The good-bye kisses when he had to leave were the ones that made me make the choices I made after that night. I didn’t want him to leave. I felt like running after him and begging him to stay but it was unrealistic. Watching him walk away and out of my sight and not knowing when I would be able to hold him or touch him or feel his kisses again. I knew what I had to do, I decided then and there to move back to where it all started, to be closer to him. I would go back to a place I could call home. He never asked me to and even when I told him of my decision he wanted to make sure I knew what I was doing. I knew what I was giving up. I knew it was a big deal. I also knew that I couldn’t live hundreds of miles away from him anymore and that this time I had to take a leap and hope I landed solidly on my feet. The months spent before my move were like seconds ticking away slowly on a clock. I wanted to just go but preparation had to be made, we continued as we had before but this time with a knowledge that we would soon be together. Then I was there, all the time counting down the days and hours until I moved seemed to fade away. He came to see me two nights later and when I was in his arms and felt his lips again, I knew I made the right decision, nothing could feel more right or perfect. The first time we made love was my “fireworks night” as I like to call it. He had been the sweetest man taking me out, kissing me senseless then taking me home (laugh). Being the perfect southern gentleman and taking it very slow even though we had spent months getting to know each other. That night I don’t think either of us could take it anymore. I would like to try to explain every sensation but its not possible with the amount of feelings running through my body, he was passionate, rough, gentle. He knew how to touch me and make me explode, it was as if he knew everything I needed or wanted and more. He took me to the heights of pleasure and when I thought I couldn’t take anymore, he made sure I did. It’s the same up to this day as I write this, can’t hold on to any control when I am with him, he brings everything out and he wants no restrictions from me. He leaves me naked and exposed, physically and emotionally. I took the risk to love again I plunged head first into something without first looking at what was at the bottom. I did it with fear, but I finally did it. There’s still fear sometimes and in the middle of the night when it hits on occasion and I feel the darkness trying to swallow me again, I hold on to him and I feel him. I close my eyes and know that everything is okay. Sleep comes once again and dreams are in color once again. 154

Dahlia Rose Sometimes I think I put too much on his shoulders by loving him so much. Lots of responsibility, but I figured out I have the same responsibility to him. The same way his arms are big and strong and I feel safe in them. He should feel completely safe, contented, and loved in mine. Women like to fantasize about the perfect love, the prince charming that will come and break down those walls and claim them as their prize. I know I have found my love, my soul mate and it probably gives him a big ego boost to know he has conquered me completely. He has taught me to love again and every barrier I have put in his way he’s knocked down. I cannot hide anything from him. He doesn’t let me. Good or bad, he wants me to feel and share it with him. He’s my brave warrior, my big Daddy, my protector and my prince. I am humbled by him and his love for me. It’s without conditions or rules, he accepts me for whom I am and expects me to be nothing I am not. He allows me to be strong when I have to be and will be there to catch me when I fall. You know who you are, my first and my only. Dahlia closed the velvet-covered journal making sure to place the purple ribbon to mark her page. Putting the pen next to the book she crossed the room and climbed into bed. James instantly turned in his sleep and embraced her, wrapping her in his love. She rested her head against the pillow and her eyes closed into sleep.

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Chapter Nine: Touch Two a.m. and her eyes slowly opened to the pitch black darkness of her room. It was chilly tonight and she wrapped her blanket tighter around herself and tried to settle back into sleep. Five minutes later Dahlia found it was useless, sleep evaded her once again. “The late night bouts if insomnia are getting on my nerves” Dahlia thought to herself. Rolling over she picked up the cell phone and tried to call James’s number but it went directly to his voicemail. Blowing out a breath of frustration she looked at the digital clock blinking at her. Two in the morning and it was like she had in infusion of coffee. What’s on the TV? She switched it on and the glare of light burst though the dimness of the room. I can’t watch TV without a strawberry Popsicle. She walked to the kitchen barefoot in her purple panties and bra. She liked to sleep with as little on as possible and walking around in her empty apartment without anything on was an everyday occurrence. Back to sitting on her bed with her tongue wrapped around the cool frozen treat and her feet tucked under her. She flicked through the Premium channels on late night TV, and what’s on but soft porn or erotic bedtime stories as they like to call them. What the heck I’ll give it a whirl, she thought. She settled back into the softness of her pillows to watch what happened in the storyline. Soon she was engrossed in the scenes that played out on the television screen, the Popsicle started dripping against her fingers and she licked them her eyes never leaving the screen. She felt herself getting aroused at the images that played out on the TV. The two stars were rolling around

Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary in bed, their bodies sweaty and hot from trying to please each other. She felt the familiar stirring inside herself and the dampness against her panties. Her thoughts went to James, of course. He was nowhere around tonight work kept him from her. I’ll have to take care of it myself. It wasn’t so bad really I do happen to like this time alone but only some times. A little self pleasure can be fun Dahlia mused with a smile. She put the stick that was left from her popsicle on the bedside table and wiped the remnants from the strawberry treat from her hand. Taking her time she slipped out of her panties and bra, laying against the bed she gently rubbed her nipples. Feeling the shape and squeezing before pinching them between her fingers. They were already hard and beaded tight and because of her nipple rings, so sensitive. She ran her hands down her body, her smooth thighs and tummy, feeling the softness of her skin. Teasing herself with feather-like touches, her hand traveled down between her thighs and felt the wetness stimulated by her own touch.. She rubbed her clit lightly and her body jerked in response. She brought her wet fingers up to her lips and tasted. It reminded her of how many times she had tasted it against James’s lips. She played with her clit once more; her other had massaging her full breasts. She spread her legs wide and plunged her finger deep inside her own pussy. The gasp when pleasure rocked through her body was lost among the sexual moans on the television. God, I want to be fucked! The thought raced through her head along with the images of James standing proud with an erect cock. With her fingers moving deeper inside her wet crevice and rubbing her clit, Dahlia pictured her man, his cock buried deep in her pussy. The heady mix of her fantasy and her pleasure made her moan. Heightened sensations and excitement made her body shudder, building until she could feel that wonderful ride to release happening. Her body tightened and gushed around wet fingers. She gasped out James’s name as she lay there for a moment trying to catch her breath. Her sexual urges were not satisfied and she needed more to get rid of the excess energy that had been created. She reached over to the drawer on the bedside table for the intimate items James bought her from of those trips to the sexy little shops. Just in case his words flashed through her memory from the time he bought those sexy treats. With a smile she pulled them out, a thick dildo, which could be a latex version of his cock and a clit stimulator. Hmmmmm you do know how to please me when you’re not even here. She smiled remembering how much fun they had playing with those toys. Well how much fun James had teasing her with them. She lay back against her pillows and lifted her legs up until they rested against her breast and spread them wide. She pressed the stimulator against her already aroused clit and 158

Dahlia Rose turned it on. The sensations were intense and immediate and she could not hold back the cry of pleasure that escaped from her lips. The thoughts she manifested were wild now, I want more, I need more! She plunged the thick cock inside herself over and over again with a fast rhythm to bring her to the edge of her own ecstasy. With one final thrust she was sent catapulting into her orgasm. Leaving her thighs and ass sticky and her sheets wet with her own come. She felt a languid relaxed feeling settle over her. With drowsy eyes Dahlia got up and cleaned herself off, changed the sheets and curled back up into bed. Next time I want James to be here to watch she thought before drifting off to sleep. In between cool sheets and warm blankets, the dream world came to her and she traveled its road until her day needed to begin.

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Chapter Ten: Let Go James lay in bed, unable to sleep but totally content in his thoughts, his woman lying next to him. Dahlia’s hair flowed across the pillow and her body satiated from their loving. James called her his Babydoll but she was so much more than that to him. She was his lover, his best friend, and his lioness. She nicknamed him Lion for his birth sign and his nature, so why shouldn’t the king of the jungle have a queen at his side. She painted James beautiful pictures with her mind while they lay in bed, places she wanted to go and explore. From the coral reefs in Australia, to watching the northern lights in Alaska. In every picture he was with her enjoying the magic and mysteries the world had to offer. She was wild and exotic, with an enthusiastic way of approaching life. She was expressive with her love and affection to him and sometimes a child-like innocence that came through even in her worldly ways. James looked into her eyes and he saw her love, her feelings reflecting back at him. But then somewhere deep inside her, he could also see reservations and sometimes fear. No matter how much she loved him and felt for him, she held a piece of herself back. James knew of the hurt in her life and he knew that was why she hid intimate pieces of herself behind a barrier. She never said it out loud but

Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary she was afraid she might lose him or that what they had would not last. She didn’t know it but her fears came out in her slumber, when her dreams made her toss and turn and even talk in her sleep. As she lay next to him, he heard her murmur and turn. James automatically reached out to soothe her. Her body curled into his soft, warm all at once and she settled back into her dreams knowing he was right here. Oh how I love her, he thought as he watched her sleep. Sometimes he thought it might overwhelm him yet she didn’t know how much love was inside him or that it belonged only to her. They were so different but so much alike, she was his moon and he was her sun. She had a tattoo on her shoulder of the sun and the moon combined from years ago. More than once she had said it was her heart crying out to meet him, he was her destiny. He wished he could convince her that he was going nowhere, that she was and always would be his long sought after love. James turned to face her and Dahlia’s eyes were open staring into his. When did she wake up? How many times had he woken up to find her staring at him with those soulful eyes? He saw so many mysteries in those chocolate depths and each time he drowned just a little more in her gaze. They stared at each other for what seemed like forever and her hand reached out to caress his face. A gesture that she did often and he had grown fond of. He in turn caressed her face and tucked a stray black curl behind her ear. “You’re supposed to sleep too, you know” she said to him softly “I will,” “You’ll be tired in the morning and cranky with your guys.” “No I won’t,” James replied solemnly. “I’ll be the usual great and wonderful boss I always am.” With that comment she laughed out suddenly, a rich full sound that was warm and thick like molasses. James grabbed her to him and rolled her on top of his body easily, her hair making a curtain of black around their faces. “So you think I’m a bad boss?” he asked with a wicked grin. “Now be careful with your answer there are consequences” 162

Dahlia Rose Trying to keep a serious face she answered James’s question. “You are the most loved boss I know.” But before the comment slips past her lips she giggled. Her punishment, to be trapped by his arms and nibbled in the neck, a place where she was extremely ticklish. “Ok! Stop! Stop!” Dahlia cried out in earnest in between laughter. “You’re a great boss! A wonderful boss! The best boss in the world!” “And don’t you forget it lady.” James released her and she rose up on her elbows to look at him, her eyes gleamed against the semi darkness of the room. He looked into them and they were filled with laughter and love. He lifted his head and kissed her lips with soft kisses and said to her “I Love you.” “I Love you too,” she whispered back. But the veil pulled down again and James saw the reservation back in her eyes. He cupped her face with his hands, stared into her eyes hoping. He wanted to will her into seeing the truth in his words. “I love you!” He repeated with more force, but the doubt was still there. “Why is it so hard for you to believe in me, in my love for you?” James asked in frustration. “I do,” Dahlia whispered and covered his lips with hers. James knew this tactic was to take them both away from the conversation that made her uncomfortable. This time he wouldn’t let her, this time they were having this out in the open. “No, you don’t,” he said after the kiss ended. “Why can’t you just let go Babydoll? Let it all go and trust in me.” She rolled away and sat on the bed, her knees pulled up and her chin resting on them, her eyes down cast. He lifted her chin and turned her face to his. James saw the sheen of tears in her eyes and felt an instant surge of remorse. Maybe I should let it go? I hate to see her unhappy, he thought. The distress in her eyes was almost too much to bear. In his heart he knew for

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Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary them to keep on the right path, they had to walk it together, no fears, and no reservations only trust and love. “It’s not as easy as you think.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “It is. Just feel, feel my heart when it beats faster as you smile at me. Look into my eyes and see the truth of my words that you are the missing part of me and I love you!” “But what if let it all go and I get hurt? I couldn’t stand it if you left or I lost you. If I hold on to some of myself, hold a piece of me back, maybe I could rebuild bit by bit if I lost you”. “But you can’t live like that expecting to be hurt, you can’t expect the worst of life, of me, it’s denying yourself the full happiness you could have, and you’re denying me the one thing I am giving you. All of me.” As James spoke he stared into her eyes and saw the doubt still swirling there like a mist. He made up his mind to show her what true love could really be like, what loving him was going to be like when there was nothing between them without her holding back. He took her into his arms and held her tight; her hands were soft, rubbing against his back as if to reassure herself he was there. “I’m not going anywhere; I swear to you I’m not going anywhere.” He whispered the words to her and his lips caressed her face. “Believe in me, believe in us”. He kissed her slow and deep, letting himself drink in her taste, it intoxicated him and it felt like he never had enough. Their kiss deepened, she nibbled and nipped at his lips, then soothed them with her tongue. She did this until the teasing drove him to the edge and he buried his hands in her hair. He took her mouth, ravishing it like a man dying of thirst. Her mouth always tasted like spiced wine or something exotic. James felt as if he could get drunk off kissing her. Her hands roved across his back to his neck and face. The need to feel her body closer to his burst free. The urge to feel her skin became so fierce he pulled her across his body so she was straddling his lap while he was sitting on the bed. Her legs wrapped around his waist and they became lost in their passion as they often did. But this 164

Dahlia Rose time James would take nothing less but complete surrender from Dahlia, not just her body. But all of the love she had for him, her soul would be joined with his tonight. His fingers caressed down her back, across the firm line of her buttocks and to her thighs. She pulled him closer and he felt her body shudder at his touch. She had always been so giving, with her responses to his lovemaking. He broke the kiss and teased her like she teased him minutes before, biting her lips then soothing them with his tongue. She moved against him in frustration grinding her body against his waiting cock and a moan in her throat came loose to let him know she wanted him. “More,” she whispered. “Please give me more.” “Will you give me all of you, everything that is in you?” James asked her. “I do, lover, I do,” she replied. He continued to caress and kiss her. “I want you to let go, baby. Let it all go tonight, nothing more between us, no more walls. I won’t ever hurt you, I promise, you are my forever.” He vowed to her then and there. He knew it was all true within his heart there was nothing else but her. She lifted her head and looked at him and he saw the first tears slip down her ebony cheeks. He kissed them away and he felt that last wall crumble and fall. She took his breath away with the passion that flowed from her at that moment when all her doubt was replaced by truth. Her hand held him tight as her mouth plundered his. Her tongue twisted and turned in his mouth, a seductive dance enticing his to join hers. Her hand slipped between their bodies and took his hard manhood. Her grasp was firm as she stroked him, James’s body surged in pleasure pressing more intimately against her smooth palm. Her body rose above him and she slid his cock into her hot velvet box. A groan slipped from his lips as he sank into her wetness. She felt so good wrapped around him. James wanted to savor the feeling as long as he could. But Dahlia had other plans, her body moved against him slowly letting his cock slide from her sheath, then taking him in to her tightness again, inch by torturous inch. Her little moans filled his 165

Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary ears; his strong hands massaged the firm globes of her breasts and took the nipples into his mouth. Pleasure infused them both and she ground against him faster, taking his hard rod deeper inside her. Her hands kneaded his back and his fingers tangled in her hair. “Do you like how that feels lover? She asked. “Do you like being inside me, filling me? “Yes, god yes baby,” he growled in response. James could hardly bear the feelings she brought out in him. They were like a fire in his blood. His lioness, she brought out the lion in him making him want to roar for the world to hear, only her. He turned the tables and flipped so she was the one on her back once again. His body pressed deeper inside her and this time it was her who was assaulted by intense sensations, she arched and gasped in pleasure. James could not get enough of her taste, her smell, the way she looked as she was under him in ecstasy, the way she bit her lips when he loved her hard. He bit her neck, her body shivered and he felt the beginning of her body’s ultimate reaction. James whispered to her, “Feel me, feel how much I want you, how much I need you, always…Let go baby. God I love you so much!” Flesh met flesh, again and again in an ancient rhythm, her body trembled and Dahlia’s low cry of pleasure was heard when she found her release, over and over again her cries filled his ears. Her body trembled under him, her womanhood over flowing with her juices and still hot holding him tight. James couldn’t hold on any longer and gave himself over to the swirling pleasure around him, losing himself in her and all she gave. Their bodies’ were slick and each breath was panted from two heaving chests. Both of them lay there until mutual hearts resumed their usual beat. James heard another sound other than his heart beat in his ears, her quiet sobs. He moved quickly off her, wondering if or how he had hurt her. Eyes filled with concern he began to apologize, but Dahlia raised her finger to his lips to stop the flow of words. 166

Dahlia Rose “I’m not hurt,” she whispered to him on a sobbing breath. “I’m really not.” “Well then, why are you crying?” “Baby…” But she couldn’t continue, her tears flowing freely. Then the realization dawned on James and he knew these tears are washing away the past, healing old wounds and opening a new chapter for her. He held her tight as she cried, murmuring words of love and soothing her until her sobs quieted against her chest. “You okay now?” James asked softly. Dahlia responded by grabbing his face and rained kisses on every thing, his eyes, lips, nose, cheeks and even chin, nothing was left untouched. Her response surprised and delighted him so he just sat there holding the love of his life and letting her affection fill the room. With every kiss placed, there was an ‘I love you’ after it and with one final hard kiss pressed against his forehead Dahlia screamed aloud, “I LOVE YOU!” She laughed out loud and James looked at her, free of the barriers she had long built. They were finally all gone and she was even more beautiful than before. The glow that he had always seen from her now shined outward. The smile on her face made his breath catch and he could only hold her close to him in a bear hug that squeezed the breath from her. “I’ll love you for an eternity, and then a day beyond that, I’ll love you for the man that you are and for all you’ll ever give me. I’ll love you when we are together and ache for you when we are apart. You are my world, my lover, my best friend, and my lion. You’ve given me forever.” Dahlia said looking at him and caressed his face. Her words, those things she had in her heart were the things he longed to hear. His words, the ones he said in return. Are the words that he had been saying from the time he fell head over heels for his lioness and they rang true to her now. “I love you, Babydoll, you are my heart and happiness and I will always love you.

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Epilogue: Sunsets and Forevers The sun was beginning to go down slowly behind the crystal blue Caribbean water, casing its orange glow across the sea and sky. The breeze was warm against her face, and it still smelled of fruit and spices. The memory of the first time James was here with Dahlia come flooding back. Many things had happened since then, good and bad and they had overcome them all together. It was the most perfect place for them to end one chapter in their lives and begin a new one. They had the love and support of an old friend who at one time did not believe in their relationship. They had the blessings of another dear old friend who had seen them at their most intimate. Friends and family stood together on the beach to give James and Dahlia their blessings and t celebrate with them as they became one in this sacred union. He saw her walking towards him and his heart skipped a beat. Dahlia was dressed beautifully in white lace and bare footed, her hair free and blowing in the wind. The smile on her face assured him there were no more doubts and the love in her eyes was mirrored by his own. Dahlia’s eyes were only on James as she walked between friends. A glance to the side and she saw her mother’s tears and a thumbs up from a friend that was more like a sister. Her smile widened to a grin knowing that she was finally on their side. That was only for an instant before her eyes are on him again. Her lion stood proud in white pants and a crisp white shirt that was unbuttoned to his stomach, bare footed. James knew that Dahlia thought she would never convince him to dress like this but he gave

Sensual Bites: The Lover’s Diary in without even a grumble. James’ eyes, that mesmerized her from the very beginning, were filled with love for her and only her. She reached his side and stood beside him and he took her hands in his own. The priestess they picked began her blessing of their union, their hands bound together with a gold cord. Dahlia repeated the words that she promised to him before; they became her wedding vows “James I’ll love you for an eternity, and then a day beyond that. I’ll love you for the man that you are and for all you’ll ever give me. I’ll love you when we are together and ache for you when we are apart. You are my world, my lover, my best friend, and my lion. You’ve given me forever.” James followed suit and repeated the words he promised her every day from the minute he had her until she finally let herself believe them. “My Dahlia, I love you, Babydoll. You are my heart and happiness and I will always love you.” The priestess looked at them both with a smile and she blessed their union once again this time pronouncing James and Dahlia man and wife. Their hand fasting completed, James grabbed her to him in a powerful kiss, squeezing her tight and all their beloved guests cheered in happiness. With another big squeeze he whispered in her ear. “Babydoll, I’m never letting you go.” “You’d better not, Big Daddy. You are stuck with me.” Dahlia replied with a laugh. Still in James’s embrace he twirled her around until she was dizzy. Finally he released her and they were enclosed by well-wishers, kisses and hugs were accepted from everyone. The wedding party started in a traditional Caribbean family way, full of food, calypso music and dancing. All the while James and Dahlia’s eyes caught each other whenever they could, looking over the heads of their guests to find each other. When they did get to dance and be close, words of undying love were whispered and sexy promises for later. Sunset might turn to night and then day once again but a pure love would be there between those lovers undying for an eternity. Sealed in the pages of the lover’s diary for generations after to open the pages and read, remember and pass on. James and Dahlia have found a home in each other’s arms, they fought hard to hold on and cherish it. They found their forever and it brought hope to us all.

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Apparition

Prologue She walks like the whisper of the wind. Her feet never touch the ground, nor is she seen by day. But still she watches as the children play in the park. Their joyful laughter peals out as they ride the carousel in Central Park. At night the massive lawns are empty. In the winter the benches are cold and lonely. But it is only at night when all is silent except the distant sirens or who will brave the park at night that she can be free. As much freedom as an apparition can have. She cannot touch, connect eat, only feel and be there in that time. Such is the existence of Josephine to live this way day in and day out, year after solitary year. She cannot even remember her last name or the circumstances that brought her to where she is now. She has been stuck in limbo that long. Some see her, while running on the many trails or taking a stroll through the small piece of paradise in a big concrete city. They will catch a smell of her light perfume or see the wisps of her misty blue dress. If they try to follow she disappears quickly. Sometimes it is out of fear or just a game to pass the time. What else is there to do when you are in between worlds? But then there are the ones, the ones that she can sense will help. Then she shows herself, beckoning them with an outstretched hand and a plea in her soft brown eyes. No one has ever stayed long enough to find out what she needs. What keeps her on this earthy plain? What stops a lonely apparition from moving on? They run or choose not to believe

Sensual Bites: Apparition what has appeared in front of them. So she walks the hiking paths and lonely roads of Central Park. Waiting for the day someone will help her escape. Waiting for the day that this person will be brave enough to help her answer the questions, she has long forgotten. Present Day “Damn it!” Jared muttered to himself. Where was that damn limo? It was supposed to be there fifteen minutes ago. Jared didn’t want to have to deal with one of his father’s lectures about punctuality, but as he was late he knew he would hear it. Being the son of Dominic and Natalie Cross had it pits falls. At thirty he was one of the most eligible bachelors in NY. Living on the east side of Manhattan in a loft wasn’t so bad to say the least. But Jared did not need his father’s money to survive, he need it for his two projects to survive. He ran two shelters for teenage runaways living on the streets in the city. Instead of sleeping on corners and being forced into prostitution and drug habits. Jared gave them a warm bed, food, a roof over their heads and offered other opportunities for the forgotten of the world. So if he had to listen to his father’s lectures to ensure a handsome donation to his shelter’s he sit and button his lips. Shit! The word was spit out of him. He decided then and there it would better to go through Central Park to get to his parents. The lived not too far from one of the many exits of the park. He’d just hop in a cab on the other side and zip to their place. Dressed in a dark tuxedo that accentuated his large frame Jared crossed the street and headed into the park. He liked this idea better of walking anyway. That way if he ran into any kids looking for a safe place to sleep, he could give them a card and directions to the shelter. Jared walked in front the traffic that was almost to a complete stop, he moved quickly. He smiled knowing that in New York when the traffic is ready to move, you had better be not standing in front of it. Shadows were already beginning to form from the setting sun. The trees made a canopy of shade and Jared walked through the park unafraid. 174

Dahlia Rose He was six two and with long brown hair falling down his back he looked more like a sexy biker that the son of a shipping baron. It was just after Labor Day and the city still had a little humidity from the summer left. In a tux it was hell on wheels and Jared could feel droplets of sweat starting to run down his back. Sitting on a bench were two teens as he passed. He could tell by the wariness in their eyes that they were homeless. Jared knew the routine sit in the park like if you are just relaxing until it was safe from cops chasing them away. The twosome would try to find a place to sleep for the night. The next day the process would begin all over again. Jared hated to see it. But in New York kids like these were looked over. His aim was to do something about it. “Hey guys, you looking for a roof and a meal? He stopped and asked. “Listen asshole, we don’t do shit like that. Shove off!” the boy stood up with his fist balled just in case he had to defend him and his companion. “Whoa calm down kid. I run a shelter. You and your girlfriend could stay there.” Jared replied. His hands were up to show the kid he meant no harm. “She is not my girlfriend, she is my sister.” The girl did not even look up. She seemed withdrawn and scared. Her body language, her silence was the classic signs of brutality. Making a mental note about getting counseling for her, he reached in his pocket and pulled out a card. “Look, go to the “Safe Harbor Shelter. It’s off Columbus Circle. That’s my place, ask for Max and tell him I sent you.” “This ain’t no bullshit, right?” The boy asked warily. “No you guys will be safe there and as long as you follow the rules you can stay as long as you like.” Jared assured him. The boy took the card and helped his sister from the bench and Jared watched them walk off. He called Max later to see if they got there and to set up an appointment for someone to talk to the girl. He looked at his watch again, he was over an hour late. “Damn it!” He said to himself and walked quickly lost in his own thoughts. Jared noticed his surroundings a 175

Sensual Bites: Apparition few minutes later. He had been walking and not paying attention to where he was going, He was sure he made a wrong turn somewhere because this was not where he needed to be. Cursing softly to himself he turned on the smaller path to head back in the direction he came from. How in the hell did I end up in one of the bike trails? That’s what I get for walking and talking to myself, he thought wryly. The part of the park the lanes were smaller and carried more dense bushes. Out of the corner of his eye Jared swore he saw a wisp of blue. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end and he turned quickly to confront whoever was behind him. There she stood dressed in blue with bare feet. Her black straight hair blew gently but there was no breeze, everything seemed to go still. She could be no more than nineteen, her eyes were sad and Jared felt an instant amount of concern that over rode the wariness. He took slow careful steps towards the small woman and reached out his hand talking softly to her. “Hi, are ok? Do you need help?” Her response was to turn and run deeper into the wooded path. “Hey!” Jared called after her and followed. She moved quickly for a woman with no shoes on. She stopped suddenly and faced him once again. Jared skidded to a halt. “Lady, why did you run? If you need help, let me take you to the police or a hospital.” The woman in blue stared at him with the sad brown eyes. This time it was her who reached out her hand to him. Jared stepped forward to take it but she stepped back. “Help me.” She whispered. “Find me.” “Find you?” Jared asked. “You’re right here, I found you al….” Jared words stopped as he watched the woman fade from his sight, her out stretched hand was the last thing to disappear. With his mouth gaping open Jared stared at the spot where she stood a few seconds before. What the fuck! This was not possible he thought wildly. She could not just disappear! Jared looked around expecting to see her standing somewhere else, but there was nothing she was gone. Jared walked away slowly looking back over and

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Dahlia Rose over again to where she last stood. His mind was having trouble comprehending but he knew he had just saw and talked to a ghost. “Jesus H. Macy this had been an odd day.” He muttered. He found his usual path thought Central park and got to his parents building over an hour and a half later that he was supposed to be there. He kissed his mother’s check dutifully and even managed to smiles as she winked thought his father’s lecture about him wasting his life. But his mind was somewhere else. It was on the park and what he saw. She needed help; she needed someone to find her. Find her what her body, her killer? Jared didn’t know but he knew he was going to find out. *** Jared had spent the rest of the night thinking about his encounter. The party broke up around one thirty in the morning and Jared considered walking back through the park. He wanted to go back to the spot where she disappeared to see if she would be there once again. But one in the morning in Central park? Ha! Common sense eventually ruled out his curiosity. He definitely did not want to become a mugging victim or the city’s newest unknown murder. Then they both would be in the same boat, dead in the park. Now Jared sat behind his desk at the shelter, the dawn of a new day. He watched as his friend Max wiped the tears of mirth from his eyes after Jared recounted exactly what he had seen. “You finished?” Jared asked as Max’s laughter faded into a sigh. “For now unless you are ready to tell me you saw the Easter bunny in the park as well.” Max’s voice was filled with amusement. Maxwell Moore, Max for short. Anyone one else who called him otherwise would get a fist in the mouth. He and Jared had been friends since childhood and even then anyone who dared called the big man Maxwell was in for a beating. When Jared had came to him with the idea of opening the shelters and asked him for help. Max agreed without a second thought. He lived on the other side of the tracks. Unlike Jared Max had to learn the streets to survive from one day to the next. Now as he sat 177

Sensual Bites: Apparition across from his long time friend, Jared could see his best friend was finally cracking up. “I’m serious Max, I saw the girl. She needs help and I have to help her.” Jared replied. “What could she possible need help for Jared? Now if you saw her which I am skeptical to believe. She seems pretty much out of existence.” Max concluded. “Maybe she needs help to find her killer.” Jared shot the theory out into the room and Max raised his eyebrow at his friend. Jared sighed. “Listen Max you know I am a rational man and I don’t believe in a lot of stuff. But this I did see. Now I need for you to get on that computer you are always on and find me a missing person’s report matching her?” “Fine, but how am I supposed to find her between all the people that go missing in this city every year?” Max asked. “For all we know she has been in the park for years. If I believe you saw a ghost, I’m leaning towards heat stroke induced by wearing a tux and walking.” “Her dress is one of these new styled things with the halter top.” Jared replied. “You need a date bad buddy if you are sizing up a ghost.” Max laughed. “Max.” Jared said in a warning tone. “Just get me some pictures to look at on the computer and we’ll go from there.” Max was a whiz with computers and they were logged into every missing person database nationwide. Some of the runaways actually had parents who were looking for them. These teens came to New York thinking they could find a better life, that there would be glitz and glamour. Instead they found people who promised them they would be models and pimped them out. They found guys who said hey baby I’m going to take you to the top and ended up getting smacked around. By the time they were done these kids were so brainwashed and scared “corn-fed Iowa” seemed like heaven but they were to scared to even try to get away. It was not only girls, it was guys too and they all needed help. So Max had his database so 178

Dahlia Rose that any new kids that came in could run against missing persons and they kept their fingers crossed hoping to reunite families. It didn’t work out all of the time but the occasions that it did made it worth it. “Gotcha.” Max said. He started to click away on the laptop on the desk. “Oh by the way those kids you sent in are downstairs.” “Good they came in.” Jared said approvingly. He was afraid they would not have gone to the shelter. “They settle in OK?” “Yeah, the boy is pretty protective of his sister. I got Claudia to talk with her. She is thinking rape or molestation. But she is going to take it slow with her.” Max explained. “Here I got some missing person’s files from the database going back two years. If your ghost is not in there, then we’ll go back further.” “Great thanks.” Jared turned the computer to him enthusiastically. Hoping the face of his ghost was on the first page. “And make sure you keep an eye on the girl and her brother. They need a little more help than some of the others.” “I will, but I am not leaving this office until I prove you’re crazy.” Max said he leaned back in the chair to put his foot up on the desk. “You won’t have to wait long buddy because there she is.” Jared stated smugly. He turned the computer to face Max. “That’s the girl I saw.” “You’re kidding!” Max was amazed that he actually found the face. “Her name is Josephine Coulter. She has been missing for a year and a half. Twenty-two and last seen in Central Park. Well pinch my tits.” Jared laughed. “I would but you are not my type.” “What are you going to do now, Jared?” “First I’m going back to the park tonight and see if she appears again. If she does, I’ll know I’m not crazy and work from there.” Jared explained. “Need me to go with?” Max asked. “Nope, but thanks,” Jared replied. He knew this was his little private mission for now. He was on pins and needles all day and in the evening. Jared wanted to get back to the park and concentrating on anything else was a very hard 179

Sensual Bites: Apparition thing to do. By eight o’ clock that night he was stepping out of his apartment and crossing the street into Central Park. Dressed in a pair of jeans and blue t-shirt, the weather felt ten times better than the night before in a tux. Jared walked quickly to the spot where he had last saw his ghost. When had he started to refer to her as his ghost? He wondered to himself? He stood in the exact spot and looked around. The air seemed still in this area and it was eerily quiet. “Hey, um are you here?” He called out. Jared felt a little stupid standing there talking to no one. Especially when two runners passed and looked him as if he was one banana short of a bunch. “Come on,” he coaxed. “I won’t hurt you, just show yourself please. I’m here to help.” Jared was about to give up when a breeze passed him and whipped up the leaves on the ground. He turned and there she stood no shoes and the same sad eyes. “Find me, help me please.” She said her voice like a whisper. “I have, at least I think I have.” He held out a hand to her. “Are you Josephine, is that you name?” She looked at him for a moment and then it seemed as if she was thinking. Her face brightened and to Jared it was as if the sun had come out on the darkened path. This time instead of stepping away the ghost pleading for help stepped forward. “Yes, yes! I think I am Josephine! That is my name! Can you help me?’ Jared smiled, a smile that was both relief and happiness. “Josephine I’ll do my damn best to help you.” Josephine smiled a radiant smile. “Help me to remember?” “I will, I definitely will.” Jared replied. His hand was still reaching out to her and she put her hand in his. Even though there was no flesh and bone to touch Jared still felt the connection. The quest to find Josephine had begun.

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Dahlia Rose *** Walking with an apparition, Jared shook his head and smiled, with his hands folded under his head he replayed the night’s event in his head. Walking though the park as the night’s shadows took their hold. With a woman who could bee seen only when she wanted to be seen. Jared laughed aloud at how many times people passed him and swore he was talking to himself. When he looked over he could see her but they could not. “Do you know how long I have been here?” Josephine had asked him. “We think almost two years.” He had told her. “We?” she asked. “My friend Max helped me find you in the missing person’s data base.” Jared explained. “He thinks I am crazy because I thought I saw a ghost.” “So I am dead? They found my body?” Josephine asked sadly. “No I haven’t found your body….Wait you don’t know if you are dead?” Josephine replied. “No I can’t tell if I am or not. I never have seen any bright light or anything. I’m just here. I feel connected to something. I just don’t what.” “I thought you would know how you….Why don’t you have shoes?” Jared asked. “I do remember that.” Josephine laughed. It was a pretty sound almost magical Jared thought as he heard it flow from her lips. “I loved to walk across the grass in this park bare foot.” “Ok you do know about crack pipes and needles right?” Jared said. “That was when I had a body Jared. Now it really doesn’t matter does it?” “I guess not. Have you ever tried to remember what happened to you?” He asked her quietly. If it was something traumatic he wanted to bring it up gently. “I have but all I feel is like my head hurts. It hurts so badly then I see darkness. There is nothing but pitch black.” 181

Sensual Bites: Apparition “Maybe it happened here in the park?” Jared suggested. “No I came here…No one could see me, no one could hear me and at first I was so confused and no matter how much I tried no one could help me. I came to the park because it was the only place I remembered being happy.” As Josephine explained his heart went out to the woman who was so alone. “How old are you Jared?” Josephine asked. “Do you know how old I am?” “I’m thirty and when you went missing you were twenty two. So you are almost twenty four now.” Jared had looked at his watch then and saw it was well after eleven. “It’s late I have to go Josephine. But I will be back tomorrow, I promise. Hopefully I will know some more.” “Ok Jared.” Her voice was sad as she turned to walk back in to the park. “Hey, don’t worry, I’ll be back.” He assured her. “I know. Good night Jared.” With a wisp of a breeze she was gone. Jared had slowly walked back to the entrance of the park that led to his street. Now he lay in bed with his eyes closed thinking of Josephine. He had figured out that she was lonely. That he was basically the first conversation she had with any one in a long time. He should have stayed with her longer so she would not feel so alone. Shit! He cursed himself for his stupidity. There was a small breeze that blew the drapes in his bed room. Jared lazily opened his eyes and saw her standing by his window. “What the…!” he almost fell out of bed in his surprise. “How did you get in here? What am I asking? You are a ghost, you can get in anywhere. I thought you couldn’t leave the park.” “I never said that.” She teased. “I said that I went there because it was the only place I remembered being happy. I followed you here.” “Great a ghost with a sense of humor,” Jared muttered. “You could have told me.” “Can I stay here with you? The park is nice but I miss being around people.” Josephine explained. 182

Dahlia Rose “Uh… sure I guess so; I mean you won’t be eating all my food.” Jared joked. “I miss food too!” she said excitedly and sat on his bed. “I see people eating hot dogs and pretzels. And I wish I could have one. Can I sleep here with you?” Jared looked at where she was sitting, he knew she was there but her body did not even make a dent in the soft mattress. The timid question and Jared’s eyes flew to her face. Without a second thought he pulled back the covers in invitation. “Sure, you can sleep here with me.” He replied. He pulled back the covers so she could lay beside him. She needed a connection and he would not refuse her that. Her smile was shy as she lay between the covers and the sheets. “Thank you. I get so cold in the park.” Jared was amazed that her body made a form under the blanket and he could feel her against him as she curved her body next to his. She was not solid by any means, but it was like an energy that he could feel. There or not, he could smell the light scent of her, he felt desire curl inside his belly. Jesus now I’m becoming attracted to a ghost he thought. They fell asleep that way, with her curved against his body. All the things he thought he knew about ghosts was being proved wrong. She slept and even murmured in her sleep. In the morning she woke up and roamed his apartment. Looking at everything as if it was new to her, chattering a mile a minute as he made breakfast. She sat next to him and asked him how his juice, eggs and toast tasted. She wanted details and closed her eyes as if she could taste them herself as he explained. There was a knock on the door and Max strode in without waiting for an invitation to enter from the other side of the door. He saw Jared sitting eating breakfast on the sofa with the TV blaring Good Morning America on channel four.

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Sensual Bites: Apparition “Hey buddy, I bought some donuts to go along with those eggs.” Max said jovially as he walked in. “Got any coffee? I think I got some more info on your Josephine.” Jared turned looked as if someone was next to him and nodded. Then he looked at Max once again. “What are you looking at buddy? Max asked curiously. “Why are you nodding like a bobble head?” “Tell me what the donuts taste like… Max right?” The voice came from behind him and Max turned and dropped the bag that held the sweet pastries. “Jesus H Macy!” Max yelped and staggered back towards the center of the room. “Max meet Josephine our ghost from the park.” Jared said, he was laughing and wiping his mouth. “Get the hell out of here! She is real! She is freaking real!” Max exclaimed. “Yup, now if I am crazy, you are to Maxwell.” Jared smirked. “Hey,” Max warned pointing at him. “You want a beating.” “Maxwell is a lovely name.” Josephine soothed. She walked over to stand next to Jared. “And that came from a ghost.” Jared said approvingly. “That is the information I had for you Jared.” Max said. He was slowly getting over the initial shock of seeing the apparition known as Josephine in Jared’s apartment. “She may not be a ghost. There is no Jane Doe’s matching her description in the police files. Not in the last two years.” “What do you mean?” Jared said in confusion. “I might not be dead?” Josephine asked. Did she dare hope for this miracle? “Nope,” Max said smugly. “What we have here might just be a case of her spirit being out of her body. I am thinking that she got hurt and had a near death experience. She got lost and forgot where her body is. She is

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Dahlia Rose probably lying somewhere in a coma. Find the body and the spirit can go back.” Max words left them reeling. Find the body and she could go back. Could it be really that easy? *** After sitting down to breakfast with his best friend and an apparition Max left for the shelter. He was still reeling from seeing Josephine, an actual ghost. They could not call her that now he assumed. If she was really lost from her body, she was not really dead. Over breakfast they had discussed what the best course of action to take to find her body would be. This was New York after all, they were hundreds of hospitals across the tristate area alone. That did not include long term care facilities, hospices and what if she was at home and some one was taking care of here there? It was a staggering reality to how big their task was. Jared and Max decided to start the search in Manhattan. If they did not find her they would work over to Brooklyn then Queens and so forth. Hopefully they would find her in one of these boroughs. Then there was the matter of getting her back into the body. No one knew how it would work so Max volunteered to do research on that. He had gone from not only a counselor at a shelter but now to a paranormal phenomenon researcher. Max shook his head and he left the building. Life in New York, when you think nothing else will surprise you, you get surprised he thought. He was soon swallowed up by the throngs of New Yorkers as he walked down the block to hail a cab. Upstairs in Jared’s apartment Josephine paced excitedly. Well she glided more than walked Jared thought as he watched her. “I had resigned myself to being dead now I may not be dead. Oh gosh I hope I am not dead. I can eat and walk in the park and feel the grass again. Oh! I can go to coffee shops and book stores and shopping. I miss shopping! I can dance again. I loved to dance did I mention that?” Josephine twirled as she spoke.

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Sensual Bites: Apparition Jared listened to her go on and one with a small smile on his face. When she twirled, his breath caught, she looked like a glass ballerina from a music box. “I didn’t know you danced professionally, I mean like, ballet?” She stopped and looked at him. ‘I didn’t know that either until a moment ago. Things are coming back to me in little bits and pieces.” “What else do you remember?” Jared said. “Do you know where you lived or where you family lived? That could help us find you quickly. It could give us a place to start.” “I don’t remember exactly, it hurts when I try to. But when I get the flashed it’s like a light bulb going off in my head.” “Ok let’s try this, Come over here and sit down” Jared suggested. Josephine walked over and sat next to Jared on the couch. She looked at him shyly. “Ok I am sitting now what do you want me to do.” A sliver of excitement ran through Jared with her words but he pushed it aside quickly. “Lean your head back against the cushions and close your eyes. Relax and breathe. Pretend that you are in Central Park in the grass and the sun is on your face. You can smell cotton candy and hear the carousel.” His voice was gentle as he spoke to her. He could see her lips part as his voice relaxed Josephine and soothed her as he talked. “Now I need you to think back for me Josephine. Not to any specific place, let your mind wander.” Jared continued to coax her. He looked and saw he had covered her hand with his own. He wished he could feel her skin. ‘Tell me what you see Josephine?” “I see a dark street, there is only one street light burning and I am walking…” Josephine made a sound of distress in her throat. She didn’t want to see what was going to happen but Jared voice soother her and she continued. “I am looking for my keys in my purse, I have one of the over sized purses and I can’t find them. I stop to dig inside and some…someone knocks me down from behind. I try to scream but he cover’s my mouth with his hand, his gloves smell like oil. He wants my money and I give him the bag but he drags me…me back into the alley. I start to fight him; I 186

Dahlia Rose won’t let him, take what he wants. I scream and I fight and I bite him and he bangs my head against the cement. Its hurts so much I see lights behind my eyes. But I keep screaming and he bangs my head again. I can here someone yelling at him barely and he finally moves off me. I touch the back of my head and there’s blood so much of it on my hands and then everything fades away.” Josephine stopped talking and there is silence in the room. Jared watched her distress as she spoke and he saw the tears trickle from her closed eye lids. He felt a fury was over him, it was all directed to the person who tried to mug and rape the defenseless girl she was two years ago. It was new information but it was not a lot to go one. The crime would have been reported yes. But if the guy ran with her purse she would have had no ID when they took her to the hospital. Unless she could remember where it happened they could not do an effective search with the police. “Do you remember where this took place, Honey?” Jared asked softly. “No…No I don’t I can’t remember! She cried out standing up. Why did that happen to me!? I gave him my purse! He hit my head so hard! Why hasn’t anyone found me!? Don’t I have family that wondered where I was!? I don’t have anyone that cares! That’s why I was alone for so long! She was sobbing uncontrollably. Jared jumped up. “You have me Josephine!” “No, no I don’t Jared! You are real, flesh and blood! I can’t even touch you or feel you arms around me. I can’t even feel a kiss, when I slept next to you I could not feel your skin! And I wanted to! If I never get found you’ll be real and I’ll always be a ghost!” Josephine had tears streaming down her face and her arms wrapped around her self. Jared took a step towards her but she stepped back shaking her head in refusal. Josephine faded away from his sight and from his apartment. He could sense immediately when her presence was gone. “Josephine!” he called out. “Josephine come back!” But she was gone lost in her own despair. Jared sat on the sofa once again and dropped his head in his hands. He didn’t know what to do right 187

Sensual Bites: Apparition now because everything she was feeling he was as well. He was going to go find her when the evening came in and the park was empty. She was not alone and he was going to be there for her no matter what. She had him now. Jared did not have to go and find Josephine. She came back later that evening. He had spent the rest of the day trying to catch up on business that he had been putting off for the last few days. It was the only thing to do to keep his mind off Josephine. He was working on the shelter's finances. His father’s generous donation was divided up between the two teen shelters. It went towards bills and food. He was able to get more blankets and cots there was even enough left over to buy a new TV and video game system for each shelter. Jared made sure all of his workers were well paid and even had a few doctors that knew his family volunteer time and services. He was on the phone trying to get free prenatal care for a pregnant teen at the shelter. He had already found her and the baby a home and got their expense paid until she could work. When that happened he would find safe daycare for the baby. She wanted to be a mother and responsible Jared was going to give her and her child every opportunity. Josephine's presence was announced by her usual breeze in a still room. It ruffled the papers on his desk. Jared looked around to see her standing by his window looking out towards the park. He finished up his call and hung up the phone. He slowly walked over until he stood behind her waiting until she spoke. “I’m sorry for today.” She said softly. “Why? You can have emotions too. This has been hell on you for the past two years.” “I should not have taken it out on you. You are trying to help me.” Josephine explained. “I am so tired of being stuck in this limbo, let me be alive or dead but let me be something.” “You are not dead, you hear me?” He said roughly. “I am not going to find you to just lose you like that.” 188

Dahlia Rose “Would you be sad if you lost me?” she asked looking up at him. “Yes I would be.” His answer was simple. “Wait one minute.” He moved away from her and picked up a remote. Soon the apartment was filled with music. He turned the lights down low and walked back over to her. “Dance with me?” Jared said holding out his hand to her. Josephine nodded and placed her hand in his. She wrapped her arms around his neck. Jared could feel her in his heart and that was all he needed at that point. Her energy surrounded him as they began to move to the rhythm of the music. Jared looked at her as they danced. “At least you don’t have feet for me to step on.” He joked. “I wouldn’t care if you did.” She replied. “I wish I could kiss you.” Jared said “But I don’t know how we could” “Close your eyes and just feel me.” Josephine whispered. Jared closed his eyes and Josephine did as well. Their lips touched as they continued to move. Jared flesh and blood, Josephine something of a dream and only there in spirit. But for a moment just for a single space in time Jared could feel her. He felt his lips tingle and it spread through out his body hitting him in a place that had not been touched in his life. Standing there dancing with what people would call a figment of the imagination. Jared fell in love with his apparition Josephine. *** Night turned into day in New York and Jared slowly woke up to see Josephine looking at him intently. “You know, looking at me while I sleep is a little creepy.” He said sitting up. “And lying in bed with a spirit isn’t?” She countered. Jared grinned. “Good point.” *** After their dance last night Jared and Josephine talked until the wee hours of the morning. He knew he would have more in common with a 189

Sensual Bites: Apparition woman who could walk through walls, than with women he dated in the past. They both shared a love of books and great music, jazz particularly. Josephine told him about her love of Etta James songs and when she sang a few bars of her music. He found out that she had a voice that could melt a man when she sang smooth husky and sensual. Today she would go with him to the shelter and they would start looking for more information on where her body could be. “Are you going to tell me why you were staring at me?” he asked. “I was wondering what will happen if you and Max can’t find my body. I will be like a ghost trapped forever until my body dies.” Josephine replied softly. “I’ll have to go back to the park and just wait until I can move on. “That’s not going to happen we are going to find you and if the worst happen you are going to stay here with me,” Jared said firmly. “I couldn’t do that Jared, you have a life to lead. You will get married and have children. Imagine having to explain to a girlfriend slash perspective wife “Hey honey this is my ghost she lives with me.” “Funny girl,” Jared said with a smile. “How about this, before we make any decisions we try to find you first?” “OK, we’ll do that,” she said with a small smile. The phone rang and Jared rolled and grabbed it from the bedside table and said hello. It was Max on the other line. “Hey Max what’s up?” “Trouble man, the kids you sent here a few days ago. The father found them last night. He knocked out the night counselor and beat up the kid pretty badly and took the girl.” “Shit! I’m on my way. By the way, did anyone called the police?” Jared asked he rolled out of bed and pulled clothes out quickly to get dressed. “Yup, but they said expect it at a shelter for runaways, you know how they are. The kid John told them that his father sexually abuses his sister Jenny; That's why they ran away. After that they were ready to look. The night counselor is fine, but John is in the hospital. He gave me an address of where his dad likes to hold up.”

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Dahlia Rose Jared listened intently to what Max was saying his face had turned to stone when he heard of the father's mistreatment of his daughter. No child should be used that way. “Gimme the address and I’ll meet you over there.” Jared wrote quickly and hung up. “What’s going on Jared?” He explained to her what had happened as he pulled on his sock and then a pair of beat up sneakers. “Let me come with you? Josephine said. “No it could be dangerous.” He replied looking for his keys and snatching them up. “Jared, I’m a spirit, but thanks for caring. It’s more dangerous for you if you go in and he is armed you could get hurt, or Max or the girl. Remember I can walk through walls.” He looked at her contemplating and said, “Come on.” “I’ll be downstairs.” Josephine disappeared and Jared went out the door shaking his head. He would never get used to her doing that. Appearing and disappearing at will, hopefully they could find her and he would not have to. He hailed a cab and was heading to the address that Max gave him a few minutes later. The cab driver looked at him as he sat in the back seat carrying on a conversation, with what seemed to be himself. The cab driver shook his head sadly New Yorkers were crazy. The ride seemed to take forever to Jared. From the east side to Hells Kitchen took forever especially in morning traffic. Finally the yellow cab pulled up in front of a building Jared would call squalor and filth. The city leaders never wanted to see this part of New York where people lived in places that were beyond poor and children grew up laying next to drug dealers. Max got there soon after, he leaned over and pad his cab and stood next to Jared. “Hey man,” he greeted Jared. “So how do we do this, go in blazing?” “No we send in a little bird to have a peek.” 191

Sensual Bites: Apparition “What bird? What are you…” “Hey Max.” Josephine said next to his ear. Max jumped and whirled around. “Jesus! You have to stop doing that. So we are sending her in to see where he is holding Jenny?” “Yes, she can get in without being seen, if he sees us coming he might hurt her.” Jared explained. “Ok guys I’m going to go see, stay outside the apartment until you hear me call for you.” Josephine said. Both Jared and Max nodded and started up the steps of the dilapidated building and Josephine faded from view. “That’s amazing how she does that.” Max commented. “Yes it is.” Jared agreed. The building smelled of old urine and rotten garbage. The hallway lights flickered on and off. Other than that lowly light the hallway was dim, peeling paint on the walls and the doors of the apartments looked rotted and broken. They went up the stairs to apartment number two B and waited outside for Josephine's voice. *** Josephine was already in the room and she looked around. Cockroaches crawled around the little apartment. The sofa was filled with cigarette burns and on it laid a foul looking man. His clothes were dirty and his snores filled the air. On the old coffee table by him sat a spoon and lighter, probably the remnants of his last fix. Still invisible she crossed over to the door way that led to what she only could assume was the bedroom. There on a saggy old bed pushed into a corner laid a small girl covered in a blanket. Her body shook as she tried to conceal her sobs. She was curled into a tight ball beneath the thin blanket. Josephine felt her heart break for this little girl and then such rage at the man that did this to her. He took this little girls childhood and shattered it. “Jenny,” Josephine whispered. The little girl sat straight up in the bed, reveal that she wore just a little thin dress in a tiny body. “Who’s there?” 192

Dahlia Rose The voice was small and barely a whisper her dark eyes darted around the room. Josephine made sure she was sitting on the bed in front of the child before she appeared. “Hi Jenny,” she said with a gentle smile. “Oh gosh, how did you do that? Are you an angel?” Jenny asked. She heard a sound as her father moved in the other room and her eyes darted to the door. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore Jenny, I’m here to help you.” She caressed the little girls head. The energy that came from her made the little girl’s hair stand on edge. “I knew God would send me an angel, that's what you are right!” She whispered excitedly. “I’m kinda like that, I’m here with a few friends and we’ve come to take you to your brother.” “Where are your friends?” Jenny asked looking around. “Are they invisible to?” “No they are outside waiting for me to call them.” “Who the hell are you!” A voice thundered from at the door. Jenny scrambled back in to the corner in fear and Josephine stood to face the big man. “I’m here to take Jenny.” “Bitch I’d like to see you try, I’ll treat you the same way I treat her.” The little girl’s father lumbered forward and tried to grab Josephine who faded from his eyes. She reappeared behind him, the wind picked up blowing her hair as she spoke her voice had become bold and loud. The wind crackled with the energy she created and her eyes glowed in anger. “You will not touch her! How dare you treat your child like this! You will never get to do this to anyone again!” Josephine looked at him and he could not break way his gaze from her glowing eyes. His screams began and he still could not stop looking at her. Jared and Max heard her voice from behind the thin door and looked at each other. With no hesitation Jared kicked it in shattering the flimsy door frame into splinters. The two men rushed in to see Josephine standing in 193

Sensual Bites: Apparition the doorway completely aglow. They could see the energy whip around her and heard the screams of a man in the room. “Josephine!” Jared yelled and her head whipped around to face him. It was like she was coming out of a trance, she shook her head and her vision cleared. “Jared, what happened?” “Uh you tell me, what was all that about?” Jared asked waving his hands around. “I don’t know, it has never happened before, he rushed at me and I wanted him to pay for what he did to this little girl and this happened.” Josephine replied. What had happened she thought to herself. One minute she was comforting Jenny the next she was in the midst of an energy storm. Jared and Max walked over to the doorway and saw the man lying on the floor curled into the fetal position and whimpering. They both looked at Josephine with questions in their eyes but said nothing. Max walked over to Jenny slowly. She remembered him from the shelter and flew into his arms. “Come on little girl let’s get you back to your brother.” Max said softly cradling the little girl. Jenny looked over her shoulder as Max passed and asked. “She is an angel isn’t she? What’s her name?” “Max replied to the girl with a smile. “She’s something and her name is Josephine. But you can’t tell anyone she was here. OK, sweet pea?” Jenny nodded solemnly. Jared and Josephine trailed behind Max carrying the little girl. “We are going to have to talk about what happened in there with her father you know.” Jared said softly. “We will as soon as I figure it out myself.” Josephine was scared. She felt so much power when she was in the mist of the energy she'd created. There was something else to but she could not tell Jared not yet. All she wanted was to be alone for awhile to try to understand what was happening to her. “Talk to me Josephine.” He said simply. 194

Dahlia Rose For some reason She felt trapped all of a sudden and she looked at Jared with an apology in her eyes. “I-I have to go Jared, I can’t talk now, I just have to go for a while.” Before he could respond she disappeared. Outside the building Max still held little Jenny in his arms. I called the police and an ambulance. Where did she go?” He asked looking around. “I don’t know but something is up with her” Jared murmured. “Did you see him on the floor? What did she do to him?” Max asked. “That's another thing we need to find out.” While the two men contemplated what happened when they were not in the room. Josephine went back to the place she called sanctuary, the park she roamed day and night. For now, all of their questions would have to wait… *** This was the second time she kept him waiting at his apartment Jared thought as he paced the length of his living room. He looked out his window that faced the street as if expecting to see her coming to his apartment walking up the block. He made a sound of frustration in his throat wishing that he could keep track of her. He was going to have to talk to her about is disappearing act as soon as she got upset. Until they found her body, he needed to know she was ok. How could he do that if she just faded away when something made her unhappy? After she faded away they had reunited Jenny with her brother at the hospital. Little Jenny was examined and found she was just bruised from a beating but he had not had the chance to molest her once again. Her father had been charged and led away blubbering and crying. Talking wildly about an avenging angel trying to kill him and screaming for his daughter’s forgiveness. As Jared watched him being driven away in the back of a police car still yelling as he passed, he wondered about Josephine and what power she possessed to do that to a grown man.

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Sensual Bites: Apparition A faint breeze blew his curtain and Jared whirled around hoping to see her, disappointment was written on his face when she was not standing in front of him barefoot and wearing her blue dress. He couldn’t take the waiting any longer he strode to the door grabbing his coat on the way and letting it slam behind him. He crossed traffic amidst angry blaring horns when he stepped into a busy vehicles path. Some one yelled a rude comment about people jaywalking towards him as he stepped on the side walk on the other side of the street. Jared’s response was the universal finger that spoke volumes. He was in no mood to deal with idiots in cars. His frustration was growing as he walked deeper into the park knowing exactly where to find Josephine. Reached the familiar spot where she first appeared to him and yelled her name. “Josephine!” When there was no response he yelled again. “Josephine you get your spirit butt out here right this instant!” “Why are you yelling Jared, you look like a crazy person yelling into the air.” Her quiet voice came from behind him and he whirled to see her standing there. “Crazier than I have been for the past few of these weeks? Why do you keep running off like that?” “I need to think Jared, I was trying to understand what happened today.” Josephine explained. Jared made a frustrated sound in his throat. “Why couldn’t you figure it out at the apartment with me?” Josephine opened her mouth to speak but Jared held up his hand. “Ah…my turn to talk.” You appeared in my life and it had been upside down ever since, I enlisted my best friend who thought I was crazy by the way to enlist in finding out who you are. You can’t just run every time you get upset. I worry and you have to understand that its not you alone anymore it’s all of us.

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Dahlia Rose Josephine kept silent until he was finished. “I’m sorry Jared, I didn’t think. I am so accustomed to handling things alone, well as much things as a spirit has to handle.” Jared heard the lack of mirth in her voice and stepped closer to her. He longed to be able to hold her and to reassure her, until that time came he could only say the words and hope she saw it in his eyes. “You don’t have to anymore Josephine, don’t you understand you have me now!” “I know Jared.” “Now tell me what happened today honey. When we saw you were lit up like a Christmas tree and almost translucent. The energy in the room was so thick it made my hair stand on end.” Josephine sighed and turned away. “I don’t know one minute I was comforting Jenny and then he came to the door and tried to tackle me. It was like anger infused me and I was like a battery that was filled to the brim. The energy had to be released and- and that happened!” “OK,” Jared said slowly trying to understand. “And why was he screaming and crying like that what did you do? Hit him with a whammy energy bolt?” “Gosh no! I don’t know how I did it, but I think I projected all the fear and hurt he inflicted on Jenny into his head but ten fold. I could sense his thoughts too it was weird being in his head.” “Hmmmm we’ll figure it out Josephine, don’t worry and look at the bright side you save Jenny.” “Good point, I just didn’t understand it at the time and it scared me,” Josephine said. Just then Jared's cell phone rang in his pocket and he answered the familiar number. “Hey Max what’s wrong?” He asked assuming the worse. “Hey where are you man, I got some news” Max said. “I’m in the park, what’s up?” “I’m on my way, find Josephine and meet me by the entrance near you house. I think I found her body dude!”

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Sensual Bites: Apparition “Really, that’s freaking great! We’ll be there pick me and we’ll take the cab you are in. where are we heading?” Jared asked excitedly. “No cab man I’m in the shelter van and we are heading upstate to Rochester. She is in a long term care facility there called Angel’s of Mercy.” Max said. “Freaking excellent! We’ll be waiting.” Jared said and flipped his phone shut. Josephine looked at him curiously. “What? What did Max say?” “He thinks he found you!” Jared said with a big grin on his face. Josephine squealed in pleasure and rushed into his arms forgetting that she was only energy. For a moment their bodies merged and Jared eyes closed as her energy rushed through him. He gasped out her name as he felt all her emotions running along every nerve ending of his body. He felt her fear, hope anger, attraction for him, pleasure and love. She loved him! She came out on the other side of his body and he could only drop to his knees in the grass. It lasted only a few seconds but it left him breathless. “Oh gosh Jared! Are you ok? I am so sorry, I forgot!” she said concern filled her voice. I’m fine- I’m fine,” that was unbelievable, incredible! He managed to say as he slowly got to his feet. “I could feel you, everything that makes you!” You love me?” Josephine looked down shyly to the grass at her feet and could only nod in response. She loved him. “Hey, he said softly. “I love you too.” Her eyes flew to his face and the radiant smile that filled his heart with joy spread across her face. “Really?” “Yes really, now come on we have to meet Max and go upstate NY, you are there in a coma.” The pair crossed the park quickly, one seen and one unseen but both filled with hope and love. If Max had found her, her ordeal would be soon over and they could be together. Maybe just maybe there was a happy ending waiting for Jared and the apparition he loved…Josephine 198

Dahlia Rose *** Driving to upstate New York seemed to take forever for Josephine, she guessed she could have tried to appear there like she did around the city but she never tried to shimmer that far. Ghost or not she did have a short leash to where she could and could not appear. Max had pulled up in the SUV owned by the shelter, Jared climbed into the passenger. Max smiled into the rear view mirror when he saw Josephine shimmer into the back seat. “You ready to go find yourself?” Max asked with a wicked grin. "Literally find yourself, usually when people say that they are looking for adventure in Europe. With you you’re actually looking for your body." “I am past ready, Sometimes I wish I was in Europe. Thank you so much Max for all that you have done.” “Hey how many times will I get to save a ghost?” he replied. Now on the highway the trio could feel the excitement building. How would this go? Would this even work? What would happen if she could not get back into her body? There were so many questions that none of them had the answers to. Finally Max pulled the large van into the driveway of a small hospital. The facility had gardens surrounding the building for the patients who could still get outside. Josephine looked at the building through the window of the truck. The excitement was being replaced by apprehension and dread. They walked into the two story building together and up to the front desk. Jared spoke to the nurse at the desk who looked up as they walked in. To her there were only two very handsome men coming in through the door. “Good evening ma’ am could we have the room number for Miss Josephine Coulter?” Cute or not the nurse was instantly suspicious. “Miss Coulter has been a resident here for over a year and I have never seen anyone come visit except her sister. Who are you?” “Tell her you are my cousins from Connecticut, Mark and Curtis.” She would not know what they look like.” Josephine whispered in Jared’s ear. 199

Sensual Bites: Apparition Max heard her as well but both men kept their faces passive as she spoke. “Uh we are her cousins from Connecticut; we just came into town and wanted to see her.” Jared relayed the message. “You know she is in a coma right?” the nurse asked. “Yes ma’am we just want to sit with her for a bit and talk to her. Isn’t true that she could hear us and it could help to talk to her?” Max piped in. The nurse smiled at Max. “We believe so. You have to sign in before you go up.” Jared and Max signed the sheet and the nurse told them. “She is room twenty-B take the elevator to the second floor and turn right.” “Whew that was close.” Josephine blew out a breath. When they were in the elevator. Both men looked at her incredulously. “You are invisible unless you want people to se you! How was that close for you?” Jared asked in amazement. “We were the ones sweating out there.” “I was nervous ok.” Josephine said with a smile. The elevator dinged signaling that their one on the second floor. The door slid open. For some reason Josephine’s steps slowed as she approached her room. She didn’t know if she was ready for this. Jared turned to look at her, her steps had gone to complete stop. “Hey I am with you every step of the way.” Josephine nodded and began walking again. Max pushed the door slowly open and the trio walked in. In the middle of the room a lone figure laid in the bed solitary and not moving. The beeps of the machine that kept time with her pulse and the almost imperceptible rise and fall of her chest as she breathed, it was Josephine that was lying in the bed. A small gasp of despair escaped her lips while standing and looking down at herself. She was so pale and still what if it was too late? Jared panicked and he almost forgot to breathe. “How does this work now? Jared asked softly, the room was so still it felt like anything above a whisper was wrong. 200

Dahlia Rose “I don’t know.” Max replied. “Do you feel anything Josephine?” Jared looked at her hoping that something was happening. “No nothing.” She didn’t feel a thing and that scared her more than anything The door to the room open and a woman that was a little taller but resembled Josephine entered, she was digging in her purse as she spoke. “The nurse told me that my two handsome cousins were here.” She looked up and almost dropped her purse. “You're not my cousins! Who are you before I call the cops!” She rushed forward to press the call button next to the bed and she picked up a metal bedpan holding it above her head as a weapon. "Don't make me use this!" “No wait! Wait!” Jared said rushing forward to stop her. “We are her friends!” "Death by bedpan," Max said smiling. "We know Josephine, seriously." “No you are not she would have told me, Why are you in her room!” “Cynthia don’t be afraid,” Josephine said softly. Her sister whirled and this time her purse hit against the floor. “Oh Jesus! Oh my god! Josey, is that you? You’re dead aren’t you?” Her sister’s voice began to break with tears. “I thought you would come back but— but…” “No! Cynthia I’m not dead well not really.” Josephine stepped forward to touch her sister and she gaped as she felt Josephine’s energy against her shoulder. “Could you explain Jared… Max…please.” “You’d better sit down,” Max said and Cynthia sat in a chair next to the bed. And he began to explain how they thought Josephine would get back in to her body. Jared interrupted a few times to explain how he met her. By the time they all had related the story Cynthia was shaking her head in disbelief and amazement. “So all this time your spirit was in the park and could not remember who you were?” she asked looking and Josephine. “Oh Josey I am so sorry.”

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Sensual Bites: Apparition “How were you to know Cynthia? You have been taking such good care of me here. I can sense that. Sometimes I heard a voice…your voice I think but I didn't know who it was or where you were, so I stayed in the park” She replied. “But I think something is wrong, I can’t get into my body. We don’t know why.” “I have been reading up on when people are in comatose states.” Cynthia jumped to her feet and began to pace the room something that she did when she was thinking. Josephine remembered now as she watched her sister move across the room and smiled, Cynthia kept on talking as if she was musing to herself. “Maybe when I was talking to you, you were to far away! Sometimes when I talked to you, you would move your hand or twitch.” So you are saying that maybe if we talk to her now she would be close enough to find her way into her body?” Max asked. “Exactly!” Cynthia said excitedly. “Josey sit down here on the edge of the bed! Close your eyes and we’ll see if this works!” Josephine looked at Jared who nodded his approval, she sat down on the edge of the bed and closed her eyes. Cynthia started talking about when they were growing up and all the fun things they did. She reminded Josephine how close they had to be after their parents died and how much she needed her to come back to her. Max went next, he let Josephine know that he hadn’t known her long but she needed to come back so he could get to know her better. He considered a friend even though she was not in her body. It was Jared’s turn and for a while he stood silent, he reached over and took her hand that lay at her side and began to speak. “I thought I was crazy when I first saw you in the park pleading for help, but from the time I saw you I could not get you out of my head. I knew I had to find you and save you some how. I don’t know when it happened if it was out walks in the park when we talked or when you first asked to stay with me instead of being alone in the park.”

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Dahlia Rose Jared stopped and took a breath. “But I fell in love with you, your mind and your soul, I could feel you even though you were not there in body. Josephine wake up for me please. Let me show you that I can love you as a human and well as a ghost. Please come home baby, I need you.” Josephine felt a pull as if she was tied and was being reeled in, something was changing, she opened her eyes. “Jared! She cried out in fear she did not know what would happening and reached for him. He reached his hand out to her but Josephine disappeared. “Where did she go!” He looked around the room and she was not there. He could tell she was gone but where? *** Jared, Max and Cynthia looked at her lying in the bed hoping to see her eyes open but she was still, unmoving like when they first came in. Hours ticked by that led into days. Cynthia and Max came and went but Jared stayed night and day. When Max came he brought Jared a change of clothes and the nurses began feeding him because he would not leave. They brought him in breakfast, lunch and dinner because Jared would not leave her bed side. Whoever came in found Jared the same place sitting next to her bed and talking to her. He was alone, it was six days since he saw her last and he was beginning to lose hope he pleaded “Please Josephine please don’t leave like this. I need you so much.” He laid his head against the bed and closed his eyes. This was supposed to work! Why didn’t it work! His eyes flew open as he felt a soft hand stroke his hair, he felt it again and was too afraid to move in case it was just dream. He felt the caress of fingers that trailed from his hair to his stubbled cheek. “You’re scratchy. I like it.” A hoarse voice whispered. He looked up, it was soft and weak but it was the voice he knew and loved so well. “Josephine?” “I can feel you, I can touch you.” She said softly. “Oh baby!” Jared leaned his forehead against her and kissed softly. “You came back to me.” 203

Sensual Bites: Apparition “I heard you calling me Jared, it seemed so far away but I came towards your voice.” Josephine said softly. “I thought it was dream, all of it but I heard everything you sad and everything my sister and Max said.” “It’s been six days love and I was so worried. As soon as we get you healthy and walking out of here, I’m going introduce you to my parents, marry you and love you the rest of our lives.” “All that huh?” Josephine smiled. ’I love you Jared, you brought me home.” Jared kissed her again and held her to him. That is how Max and Cynthia found them a few minutes later. Between the joy and happiness was an intense love that formed between a man and an apparition he met in the park. For awhile she walked without a body but love had brought her back and made her whole once again. The End…. Or is it?

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The Desires of Colleen

Love is like a butterfly. It goes where it pleases and it pleases where it goes. It matters not whose arms embrace, but if love is felt with every touch and caress. - From Mia

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Chapter One Colleen Darwin was bored—bored with the city, her job, her life and oh yes, her recent ex-girlfriend, Tia. That happened last week after their final blow up. Colleen got tired of her constant jealousy and accusations; she had no other choice but to tell her goodbye. That didn’t stop the incessant calls and messages that Tia left on Colleen’s voicemail. To Colleen, over meant done and vamoose, no second chances. Her job as a firefighter was no better. She was the only female in the company and her chocolate skin and green eyes made her stand out even more. Her Irish dad was a Boston fireman all his life and she wanted to follow in his footsteps. Part African American and a girl, she had to be as tough, no, tougher than the guys in her ladder company if she wanted to be accepted. When they guys found out that they were having a woman—a lesbian, at that, in their unit, the comments and pranks started. Dildos were hung in her locker, lesbian jokes, constant invites to suck a cock in the locker room, or that one night with them and they could make her straight was grating on her nerves. If she reported it she would be counted as a sell out, if she didn’t stand up for herself she would be counted as a pussy, literally. She needed these guys to watch her back in a fire so she was caught between a rock and a hard place. Now, after two months of the ribbing, Colleen hoped they would get tired of it soon because she was ready to punch one of them in the face. She unlocked the door to her apartment late on Thursday night and dropped her gear and bag on the floor. She sat on the couch and leaned

Sensual Bites: The Desires of Colleen her head back, not caring that she smelled like smoke and soot covered her face and uniform. She was tired and lord she needed a good lay. Colleen reached over and hit the Play Messages button on her answering machine. She was half tempted to return Tia’s call when she heard her sexy purr promising pleasure if Colleen would just return her call. “Yeah I don’t need that,” Colleen muttered to herself and erased the call. Pussy from Tia meant problems later on. Sighing to herself, she leaned forward to the pile of mail. She flicked through bills and junk mail before one envelope caught her eye. It was so elegant, heavy artist paper folded into a perfect square. She turned it over in her hand, admiring the tiny hand drawn hummingbirds drinking from beautiful flowers. Her name and address were written in such gorgeous calligraphy that Colleen ran her fingertip over each letter. She took her pen knife from her pocket and slit the envelope neatly, not wanting to ruin the paper by ripping it open, and pulled out the parchment tucked inside. “Make your wildest fantasies come true. This document entitles you to exclusive entrance into the Arcadia Island Masquerade Ball. Hmmmmmm.” She read aloud the name of the host. “Monsieur Phillipe De Celeste. Doesn’t sound like someone that I know.” Colleen continued to read the directions on how she would get to the Ball on the island. A yacht would be waiting for her at The Boston Marina tomorrow night at nine p.m. She would board from there and it would take her to where she needed to go. The invite made sure to let her know that it was a one time offer. If she was not on that boat at nine tomorrow night she would never have another invitation. She got up from her sofa with the envelope in her hand and walked towards her bedroom. Even as she showered, she thought about the first line of the invitation, Make your wildest fantasies come true. Did she dare to go? God knows she needed a break from everything, a place where she could be anyone but Colleen Darwin for a night and didn’t have to be the tough firewoman. A place do anything she desired. The offer sounded too good to be true. She lathered her body wash over her skin. The smell of passion fruit and vanilla assaulted her senses and increased the arousal strumming under the surface. The days spent at the firehouse were miserable and she needed some kind of release. With her wet brown hair streaming down her back, Colleen leaned against the tiles of the shower. Warm with the steam of the hot water, she let her legs spread. She closed her eyes and tried to envision what the ball would be like, what decadent things she would see there. Her hands went down her flat, wet stomach, between her legs, rubbing her clit gently feeling her body tremble. She could imagine seeing some hot, sexy 210

Dahlia Rose girl dressed in almost nothing, there only to please her. Colleen would make her get on her knees between her legs and let the sexy nymph lick her pussy. “Oh yesss,” Colleen moaned caught up in her own fantasy. Her fingers were now buried in the wet folds of her pussy, working them in and out deeper each time. Her other hand rubbed her breasts, small but with large nipples that were hard and sensitive from both the hot water and her own ministrations. Colleen would order the new plaything to use her fingers to pleasure her while she sucked on her clit until she came. That sent Colleen catapulting to her own orgasm. Her cries of pleasure as she played with herself filled the tiny bathroom until she was left gasping for breath. She finished her shower and toweled herself off before falling into bed naked. She flicked on the TV and let the images lull her to sleep knowing full well that she would accept the invitation. She had every intention to be on that dock tomorrow night, ready to see what decadence Arcadia Island had to offer her.

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Chapter Two The mist rolled in at the marina the next night, which was unusual in itself being July in Boston. Colleen stood there nervously shifting from foot to foot, rethinking her decision. I don’t know this Monsieur Philippe guy what if he wants to kidnap chicks for a harem or something? The ominous thought filtered through her brain and Colleen was tempted to run heels and all back to her car. Somehow instinct told her to stay put, that this would be something to change her life. How, she did not know but she could taste the excitement in the air around her. She looked out to the harbor where she saw lights coming towards her from a boat and her heart leapt. This is it! She watched as the boat pulled up to the dock. It was a massive yacht, the white exterior was pristine and the deck alone could hold more than a hundred people for some exclusive party. She wondered who else was on board as she watched two very large men jump nimbly off the deck. They were dressed in only loincloths and each muscle rippled as they anchored the large boat to the marina post. They lowered the steps of the boat and one stood at each side of as a man dressed in a tuxedo came down off the yacht and approached her. He was distractingly handsome, but Colleen’s taste made her wish it was a female coming to greet her. “I’m sorry no females this time Ms. Darwin maybe on your trip back.” He said with an amused smile. Colleen’s eyes flew to his face in astonishment. ”How did you know what I was thinking?”

Sensual Bites: The Desires of Colleen “It was quite obvious from your face my dear. I am Monsieur Phillipe De Celeste and I welcome you to your journey.” He said bowing low. “Why did I get an invitation?” Colleen asked with suspicion. “Because you, Colleen, are in need of having your every desire fulfilled. You fight fires like a warrior woman and take the ridicule of your brothers in arms because of your sexuality. Theses invitations are given to a select worthy few every year. You are more worthy than you like to think, my dear.” His explanation showed he knew more about her than she liked to admit, but she could nevertheless see no ulterior motive in his eyes. She nodded and began to walk past him. “Ah before you board, Colleen, I must ask to see the invitation that was sent to you,” Monsieur Phillipe asked. She pulled it from her purse and handed it to him with a grin. “Making sure I’m for real, huh?” “Indeed.” “So Monsieur, what happens on Arcadia Island that will make my wildest dreams come true?” Her eyes grew wide as the monsieur held up the invitation and she watched it disappear from his hand in a shower of golden light. “My dear Ms. Darwin, you get to play with the gods.” This is some surreal dream, Colleen thought as she sat back in the plush seats of the yacht. From the moment the invitation magically disappeared from his hand, she figured she was in bed asleep, but a couple of very hard pinches on her hand proved that she was wide awake. He said to play with the gods. How is that possible? Yet everything she desired had magically appeared. Monsieur Phillipe sat across from her and told her to speak of anything she desired and she would have it. She played along and asked for strawberries and cream and it magically appeared before her. She asked for champagne and a glass of sparkling liquid was there next to her treat. As Colleen began to see that her every desire would be met on the boat, her anticipation of getting to the island grew. “We shall be there very soon.” Monsieur Phillipe said. “Can I ask you something, unless you can read my mind?” Colleen smiled. “We could go either way, but ask your question?” he replied. “I remember you saying you are the proprietor of Collier House on Arcadia Island. And if I believe the gods are there to give us mortals our wildest dreams, how did this begin?” “Let us just say a bargain was struck long ago.” 214

Dahlia Rose The mystery intrigued her and Colleen longed to ask more, but she thought better of it. She took a sip of her champagne and relaxed against the cushions while the yacht cut through the water, taking her to her destination. *** “Mistress, you must get dressed for the ball,” a servant encouraged. “Why? It is going to be like last years-- a bunch of simpering women who do not know what they want. No strength. I need someone with strength!” Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, sat, refusing to even look at the golden dress her servant held up. She took a sip of her spiced wine. “I want one woman who is not afraid of me or my power. Am I going to be forced to go to a man with that thing hanging between his legs for satisfaction? I think not!” “Mistress, even now guests are arriving, I am told that Monsieur Phillipe has invited wonderful women and men to live their wildest fantasies.” “Pish Posh! It will be the same. I long for a woman who can bring me to my knees, who can handle the wild urges inside me, instead of pleading to be spanked like simpering fools!” Artemis complained. “Mistress, even if there are none there to suit you, you must attend,” the servant girl pleaded. “I know, I know, . Come bring me the dress and let us get ready for the ball. You may be right, I might find someone to suit my fancy. And even if I don’t, after I play a little there is always hunting.” Artemis slipped into her gown of gold and looked at herself in the mirror. She was the daughter of Leto and Zeus and the twin sister of the sun god Apollo. She prided herself on her purity, having never taken a man to her bed. With her fiery red hair the color of flames and her skin smooth and alabaster, there had been men who had, in the thousands of years that comprised her life, coveted her body. Those few who dared pursue her were punished unmercifully by her hand. There was only one man with whom she had fallen in love, the one love that would have been able to have her body. By trickery she had killed him with an arrow while he swam in the seas off the coast of Greece. Now that love, Orion, graced the sky as a constellation and she swore she would have no man in her bed. She donned her mask and left her quarters to go down stairs to the ball. There she stood and waited while guest arrived.

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Chapter Three She had dressed on the boat and now she stood on the deck as the yacht pulled into the dock. From the time she saw it emerge from the mist, the lighted torches of the island, lights that seemed to be suspended from the heavens made her tremble in excitement. Now as she disembarked on the arm of her host, Colleen knew she had made the right decision. She was dressed in a shimmering red dress that clung to her body, a slit up each side all that allowed her to walk freely. Her brown hair fell loose around her neck and her mask was the color of her gown. She entered a house that was unlike anything she had ever seen in her life. Even the old plantations houses she had visited in Georgia could not compare with the Collier House. with its golden chandelier that hung from the high ceiling of the ballroom and the guests milling about. She knew she was as far away from Boston as she could possible be. The masked guests all moved around, laughing and talking. There was one figure that captured her attention from the time she entered the room-- a woman dressed in gold that shimmered like the sun. Colleen was captivated, and as the night went on she could not take her eyes off the golden beauty with the flaming red hair. She was never one who had to build courage; Colleen walked towards the golden figure who was now talking to another Amazon-like woman with black hair. From what Phillipe had told her, if she wanted a goddess, she would have to claim her. The gods would be marked with one piece of jewelry. As Colleen approached, she noticed her goddess wore hers on a golden chain around her neck.

Sensual Bites: The Desires of Colleen “Play with me,” Colleen said when she stood next to the couple. Her gaze met the fiery redhead’s eyes. She lifted her eyebrows curiously at Colleen’s simple remark. “You are quite bold, but we are conversing.” “You obviously are not too interested since now you are conversing with me.” Colleen teased. The taller woman giggled and Colleen looked at her wondering how such a childish laugh could come from her. She turned her attention back to the golden beauty. “Has she claimed you? Because if she has I’ll step off.” “No she has not.” They both looked at the tall woman who seemed to be now quite distracted by her own dress. “I don’t think she is too bright,” the temptress in gold whispered conspiratorially to Colleen. They both ginned at each other. “Well I am going to claim you and that is all there is to it.” Colleen felt a surge of desire with only looking at this goddess. “Are you in or out?” “As you adequately put it, I am in.” She linked her arm through Colleen’s and they walked away together. They ascended the stairs of Collier House and entered a suite of rooms that were decorated in gold to match Artemis’ dress. Colleen looked around approvingly. Even the bed was adorned in gold sheets. The red mask was beginning to bother her and she pulled it off with little flourish, dropping in onto the chair next to her. “That thing was beginning to itch. I’m Colleen Darwin. I can’t go around calling you goddess so who may I say is gracing me with their company.” Artemis pulled off her mask as well and sat next to Colleen. “I am Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt. I am here, Colleen, to fulfill your wildest dreams. “Same here goddess, same here.” Colleen slid her in fingers around Artemis’s neck and pulled her into her kiss. *** “You taste very good.” Colleen murmured when the kiss ended. Both women were breathing heavily. “I am glad you like my kiss,” Artemis replied. This one was not like the others she had encountered at the balls. She was bold and sexual, not shy and afraid. She could feel herself getting wet at the thought of being with Colleen. “Thanks, now how does this work? I claimed you and now I get to see you naked right?” Colleen grinned. “A little more than that my sweet. We can go anywhere you chose, do anything you desire, I shall give into your desires completely.” As she 218

Dahlia Rose spoke, Artemis conjured images at her finger tips. “We can be anywhere we please, a lush island where no one else lives. The penthouses in the place called Vegas. On the clouds that will hold us up while we lay on them. Whatever you choose.” “Whatever I choose.” Colleen repeated. “I choose someplace I always thought about going as a child when I read the Greek myths. Since it is all true, I choose to spend my time with you in one place, Mount Olympus the home of the gods.” As Colleen’s hands traveled over the breasts of the beauty, Artemis gasped softly. “There is one more thing I want, Goddess.” “What would that be Colleen?” Artemis wanted this one. For the first time in a long time there was fire in her blood. She let her hands slip between Colleen’s legs and felt her wet against her fingers. Colleen grabbed Artemis’s hand and let her fingers slip inside her pussy. She moved the goddess’s fingers in and out of her body until she wrung a moan from her own lips. She let go of her new immortal playmate’s hand. When Artemis held it up, it glistened with Colleen’s wetness. “I want you to submit to me, Artemis. In every way, whatever I want to do to you or you do to me. You cannot say no.” Colleen replied softly. “So be it.” Artemis licked one of her fingers, tasting the light musky flavor of Colleen’s body. She stood and held out her hand to Colleen, who grasped it willingly and stood as well. Artemis took Colleen’s lips in a kiss and as their tongues danced and played from one mouth to the next, she transported them to a place where the gods were born and resided, Mount Olympus. Here, the decadent desires of Colleen would be played out.

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Chapter Four Colleen looked around the home of the gods. She saw clouds float past in a blue sky and gasped in surprise. Artemis had transported them both to a room bigger than her entire house. White stone pillars circled it, with curtains that reminded Colleen of the gossamer wings of fairies. In the middle of the room stood a circular bed covered with plush pillows. Artemis caressed her face. ”Do you approve, Colleen?” “I do, thank you.” Colleen replied. She was never happier she accepted the invitation than she was now. She could never have imagined this even in her wildest dreams. “What else do you want?” Artemis asked. Colleen felt her desire curl in her belly at that question. “I want you nude on the bed and maybe a sex toy or two nearby.” In the blink of an eye Colleen was lying on a bed so soft it felt as if she was laying on angels wings. Next to her, Artemis was gloriously naked and her skin seemed to glisten in the moonlight. Colleen got to her knees over the goddess who was now lying supine next to her. She could see the desire in Artemis’s eyes as she leaned over and took her lips in a kiss. Never had a woman tasted so good to Colleen it was as if her flavor

Sensual Bites: The Desires of Colleen changed each time their lips met. Her hands roamed over the goddess’s skin, skin that felt as if she bathed in milk. Artemis moaned in pleasure as Colleen’s hands followed each curve of her body. Colleen felt her shift restlessly under her caresses. She wanted to make the goddess submit and beg for the pleasure she sought. “What should I give you, Artemis?” She asked her, her voice a sexy purr. “Should I play with your nipples and take them in my mouth? Should I trail kisses down your body and lick your sweet pussy? Or should I slip my fingers inside you and make you come?” With each word Colleen continued to touch Artemis gently, circling her nipples with feather-like touches and leaned over to blow a hot breath in the navel of the goddess. “I want your lips at my breasts, I want all you described and more,” Artemis gasped out. Colleen obliged and let her warm mouth encase the dusky rose areola of her new immortal lover while her other hand massaged the voluptuous globe. Artemis’s cry of pleasure was heaven to Colleen’s ears. She kissed from one breast to the other, laving and suckling each nipple. Her body was lying on top of Artemis and her scent and movements fueled Colleen’s desires. She wanted to taste her, to make her pussy flow under her tongue. She looked at Artemis’s closed eyes and parted red lips, how her hands clench and unclenched in the soft sheets before she began to lick and trail kisses down her body. The goddess spread her legs willingly for Colleen to find her wet and waiting. With no pretence she gave Artemis’s pussy one long lick between the sensitive folds of flesh. Her hips bucked and Colleen held her firm as she blew on her clit before sinking her tongue inside her. Colleen moaned in her throat at the taste of her new playmate. She could only imagine that this was the ambrosia the gods talked about as she fucked Artemis with her tongue. She heard her cries and her legs shifted restlessly when she orgasmed. Her nectar flowed for Colleen and she felt powerful making a goddess submit to her desires.

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Dahlia Rose She spread Artemis’s legs wide and caressed her gently while she caught her breath. She looked at the luscious flesh of her pussy and watched as she slipped one finger, then two inside the quivering flower. The moan from Artemis was high and her body arched off the bed. Colleen pressed her fingers deeper inside her lover. “Say you want it! Say you want more, Goddess!” “More Colleen, please!” Artemis cried out completely lost in the sensation her mortal consort was creating. Her fingers pistoned in and out of Artemis’s pussy, covered in juices that seem to flow like honey from a comb. Colleen bent over once again and sucked at her clit; the immortal woman of the hunt screamed as orgasm after orgasm rocked through her body. Colleen moved back up to lay next to her. She caressed Artemis like a lover should as she trembled and she made tiny sounds of pleasure while her body relaxed from its climax. *** Colleen kissed Artemis gently, shushing the goddess as she trembled after her pleasure. Now it was Colleen’s turn. She licked her lips in anticipation; her body was throbbing with sexuality. “Lick my nipples Goddess.” She ordered and when Artemis did as she was told, Colleen moaned. “Yes, like that beautiful; now the other one, suck on it a little harder. Mmmm Like that.” She liked how Artemis relinquished control to her and was willing to follow her orders. “I want to feel your mouth on my pussy, goddess.” Colleen spread her legs and smiled invitingly at the immortal in her bed. Artemis smiled back and did as she was bid, settling herself between her mortal lover’s legs. Colleen felt Artemis’s fingers spread her pussy apart before her tongue flick out on to lick at her clit. “Mmmmmm,” Colleen moaned and her hips shifted in pleasure. “Lick me baby.” She felt her goddess press her lips against her hot flesh. Colleen reached down and let her fingers tangle in her mane of red hair. She pulled

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Sensual Bites: The Desires of Colleen her face closer to her waiting body and worked her hips against Artemis’s tongue. “Oh that feels so damn good,” Colleen moaned. She could feel her orgasm building in her body. Artemis knew how to please her lover with her tongue because Colleen felt each slither, each breath tenfold. She had the feeling it was somehow magical but she did not care. “Oh god I’m going to come!” she cried out and her body erupted in the strongest climax she had ever experienced. It just fueled her higher, Colleen wanted more, wanted to feel more. She pointed to the strap on cock that Artemis had conjured. “Put it on and fuck me with it.” The goddess scrambled to do as she was told and Colleen could see from the gleam in her eyes she loved the thought. The phallic symbol hung before the goddess of the hunt. “I always wondered what power men held over women with this appendage.” She remarked as she settled between Colleen’s legs once again. “No other woman I have been with at these balls has ever asked this of me.” “I’m not like most women, goddess.” Colleen remarked. With her legs spread Colleen lifted her head to watch and Artemis slowly let the cock slip inside her pussy. She moaned as it went in inch by torturous inch. Their nipples rubbed together as Artemis moved over her, causing a sensual friction for both women. Her hips forced the cock deep inside Colleen. Their breaths were coming in short pants. Colleen’s hips rose to meet the thrusts of Artemis pounding hips. She captured one of the goddess’s nipples in her mouth while she fucked her with the strap on symbol of a man. “Spread your legs a little goddess. That’s it.” Colleen said through gritted teeth. She could feel her orgasm building inside her and she wanted to take Artemis over the edge with her. Her hand slipped between their sweat sheened bodies and she let her fingers slide deep into Artemis as she moved. With every thrust in Colleen cried out and when she pulled out,

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Dahlia Rose Artemis was filled with her fingers. Their rhythm became frenzied as both women could feel the peak of their climax within reach. “Ah god!” Colleen screamed, and her body shuddered over and over again. Artemis’s cries soon followed and they both lay next to each other, trying to catch their breaths. The rest of the time was spent in unadulterated bliss my both mortal woman and goddess, each exploring the endless possibilities where their new found sexuality could take them. They lay in each other’s arms and Colleen heard gentle chimes come from somewhere in the distance. The sound broke into their whispered words and tender caresses. “Our time together is up, Colleen. I must take you back to the ballroom.” Artemis said. Colleen could hear a hint of sadness in Artemis’s voice. She felt the same way for the first time in a long time; she felt a connection she had not felt with anyone. “It’s okay, Goddess. I did enjoy my time with you very much.” Artemis placed a kiss on Colleen’s shoulder, Her lips moved away, and in their place was left a tattoo of a rose. “That is my mark. May it take you on safe journeys.” Colleen looked at her shoulder. “Will I ever see you again?” “At another ball I would hope you would claim me again.” Artemis smiled. “Or maybe I will seek you out in your mortal world some time. You carry my mark now, we are connected in a way.” They shared one sweet kiss and when Colleen opened her eyes she was lying in her own bed in her own apartment. Was this all a dream? She wondered until she saw on the bed the red mask she wore when she entered Collier House. She rubbed her shoulder and there was the tattoo of a rose, left by the kiss of a goddess. Colleen flopped back against her pillows and smiled. “Until we meet again,” She murmured and closed her eyes, her memories of her passion filled night with a goddess. The End 225

Coming Soon From Dahlia Rose Thirst A Vampire Novel Take a bite of this dark Erotica &

Empathy Where a woman cannot escape the mind of a madman.

Thirst

Prologue He sat staring into the fire as he always did on cold nights. The glass he held in his hand was filled with warm red liquid and as he swirled it the ruby red color enticed him to take another sip. When he rested his hand against the velvet arm rest of the chair, the glow of the crackling flames caught the edges of his goblet. He hated the mountains, his exile and the deathly cold that came with winter. His body, his blood was already cold for hundreds of years. But the solitude of the mountains kept the world at bay and gave him the peace he longed for. The only good thing was that the lodges were opened and a tourists girl’s blood always tasted sweet when she just came from exploring. The blood in his glass has just been bled from a young girl that had wandered to far away from the group she was touring with from France. Her accent reminded him of the years he spent in Paris. He would have taken her upstairs and used his charm to woe her into his bed before draining her, but tonight his mind was on other things. “Master, I have the items you requested from the vault.” The voice of one of his youngest pulled him out of his darkening thoughts. “Bring it here.” When he looked at the envelope and what was to go inside he felt a shiver course through his body. This was something that had to be done. The chain reaction that would follow would say for certain what was to happen next in the world of men. One was already lost to the insanity and if this one failed as well. His line would be cut from

Sensual Bites: Coming Soon the earth like a cancer from a human body. He could not allow that to happen. This one was strong, he had felt his strength the day he had passed on his blood over a hundred years ago. He had faith that he would overcome the trial to come, a trial of fire in the blood. He closed the envelope and placed a red seal on it, the one that carried his crest. “Deliver it,” he said handing it back to his servant and turning back to let his gaze rest on the flickering fire. The blood in his glass had gone cold and began to clot in the glass. He didn’t notice, his mind was on the envelope that was on its way to its host. He had set the events in motion and all he could do was wait.

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Chapter One “Damn it! Jael muttered looking through the microscope at her sample. “Why isn’t this working? At thirty years old and standing at five feet six with a willowy figure and cappuccino skin. No one would expect that Jael Saunders was one of the most formidable scientist in the world and in her field of micro Biology. With dark hair flowing down her back and hazel eyes, most people at first glance assumed she was model. But she was one of the most sought after minds in the scientific world and had her choice of where she could work. She chose a small lab in New Orleans called Kline Laboratories. Mainly because it was one of the smaller companies and they gave her leeway to work on her projects. Just as long as her name and work for them kept well funded plus keeping their name in the medical journals. She rubbed her tired eyes and looked back at her test. “That’s all there is to it, I need a live sample from a fully changed host.” She said to no one, she was alone in her lab. She twisted the light of on the high powered piece of equipment violently in frustration. Pulling her coat on she gathered up her notes and files to go home. Other people in her field were all trying to do the same thing and cure the same diseases, each trying to outdo each other. Not Jael, the project she was working on would guaran-

Sensual Bites: Coming Soon tee her the noble prize and her name in the history books. She would be the scientist that proved vampires existed. Her theory was that vampirism was not the myth and legend steeped in mystery like movies portrayed. She believed it was a blood disorder passed on by bites it was like rabies in her mind. She was going to prove it and find a cure. As she walked out of the laboratory she gave a slight wave to the security guard working his shift and stepped into the cool night. Fall had begun only a few weeks ago, even though it was only seven in the evening it was already dark. It was September in New Orleans and since the Hurricane past that decimated the city in 2005. The streets always seemed more silent than usual for this party town. This was one of the main reason she chose to come here and work because she knew she could find her targeted subjects in the back alleys and dreg clubs that sprung up after the devastation. Jael pulled out of the parking lot in her little Miata and headed for home in the well to do Fourth ward of New Orleans one of the first places that had been rebuilt. She would go home and grab a bite to eat before going out to find a live sample. She felt excitement run through her at the thought of going out again. The last time she had gotten a sample from a girl that was bitten only hours before. The diseases had not invaded her blood enough to test her serum, she just proved that tonight. What she needed was one of them who was completed infected. Her two story brownstone came into view and she glanced at the digital clock on her dash board. She was so caught up in her own thoughts she did not notice the time go by as she drove. She turned her little car into the drive way with one fluid motion and headed up to her front door. The barking of her dog greeted her, he heard her keys jangle on the opposite side of the door while she unlocked it. When Jael stepped in she was bombarded by almost two hundred pounds of dog and drool from her English mastiff. “Hey Drago, how’s it going boy?” She crooned getting to her knees and rubbing the soft black fur on his head. “What have you been up to all 234

Dahlia Rose day baby?” When his long pink top licked at her face and neck in greeting Jael laughed. “Let me check the mail boy then we can go out to the yard for a bit while mommy eats.” The stack of mail that was pushed through the mail slot was on the floor by her feet and she grabbed them as she got up. “Bills, bills, you can be one that wins a million dollars.” Jael giggled as she sing-songed through her mail until she got to a plain white envelope with her name on it. “Now what the heck is this?” She wondered aloud looking at the writing. Her name was written in such exquisite calligraphy, each letter perfectly formed. There was not return address but it was post marked from Transylvania. “Who the heck do I know in Transylvania, this is too weird? Her mind went back to what research. This cannot be a coincidence. She turned the envelope over and looked at the red seal that held it closed. It an eye printed on the seal and just the look of it made her uncomfortable and her hand trembled slightly. Jael opened the seal with nimble fingers and pulled out what was inside. In between her fingers she held an old hand painted tarot card, with the word ‘hunger’ written over the top. The intricate antique designs around the edges looked as if it was painted with liquid gold. The face of the vampire staring back from the tarot almost made her drop the card. It looked as if he could not control the urge to feed. As if he was lusting after the taste of blood, it was even in the painted eyes on the card. A shudder of fear ran up along her spine and she felt goose bumps form on her skin. Why would someone send this to me? No one knew about her work, she had made sure to keep all her research, all her findings even her serum a secret. Who sent the card to her? Was it some kind of warning? Jael ran her fingers over the surface of the card as she stared at it. Drago barked and startled her away from the faced in the tarot that seemed to mesmerize her. She looked back at it once more before tucking the card back onto its envelope and placing in the pocket of her bag. Whoever it was that thought they could scare her away from her work was mistaken. She would not scare so easily. Vampirism was a disease of unknown origin. 235

Sensual Bites: Coming Soon The only myth about it was that it was so easily overlooked as fairytales for hundreds of years. She would prove her theory correct, she knew they were real, she had firsthand knowledge they existed. Later that night after a dinner of cold pasta salad and chicken, Jael walked back out into the New Orleans night. Mist was swirling wound the base of the trees that line the street as she passed heading out to the French quarter and the streets around it. The first Mardi Gras after the hurricane had went off rather well. The number of people that usually attended the event was low compared to years past. But still they came some to show their support for the city being slowly rebuilt. Now as she drove though the streets that were covered with beads and crumpled cups a few months earlier she saw only a few people roaming around. Boredom usually sent them out looking for a good time and then the loud thumping bass beat of dreg clubs usually called them in. By the time they danced and drank too much they were easy victims for vampires. Jael knew the pattern and was more careful, in her purse she carried a tazer, mace and a few other essentials that would help her incapacitate one of them long enough so she could get a good blood sample. She parked under the street lamp so she could make sure no one was hiding nearby when she came back to the car. The night was even colder when she stepped from the warmth of her heated leather seats. She walked towards the pounding techno beat in the distance. She didn’t feel the eyes watching her as she walked further into danger. Maybe she was not as prepared as she thought.

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Empathy

Prologue “She knows what we did, How could she know?” he asked pacing up and down the living room floor. “Will you shut the fuck up?! Let me think for a minute!” The other voice spoke while he continued to walk the length of the floor. “If she knows she can point us out man, give the cops a face or something!” He stopped his pacing and nervously bit his finger nails while staring at his partner who was furious at this point. They have been together for longer than he could remember. His companion just showed up one day and came around when he really needed a friend. They shared a taste for the macabre and for a love of death. Now they found pleasure in each other’s kills. “Michael what if she gives them a picture of our faces?” “Don’t be stupid Gabe, they don’t even know who is doing the killings let alone thinking it was us. We are upstanding members of the community remember?” “I guess,” Gabe replied doubtfully. Michael stared back at him with eyes that were mirrored like his own. “We’ll just have to find her and kill her that’s all. The next time she comes in we’ll know and we’ll find out who she is. The she’ll die like the others only slower and with more finesse.” “Did you like what I did tonight with the girl?” Gabe said gleefully. She screamed and screamed until her eyes just went lifeless then I knew I broke her.”

Sensual Bites: Coming Soon “Yeah that was cool partner, But next time make it last a little longer don’t cut her so deep you cut the artery and she bled out before it was my turn.” Michael said with a grin. “We have to come up with something special for this one.” “We will, we just have to find her first.” Won’t be to hard the next time she comes in Just follow her back and we’ll know where to look for the bitch. We’ll make her suffer and bleed and scream for mercy where there is none to be had.” Michael’s eyes grew dark filled with malice and hate. “They never gave us any mercy when we screamed or begged for it. No one gets any from us.” They stared at each other with grins on their faces looking forward to their next kill and the special plans they had for her. *** Molly was walking home when she felt the first slice across her back. Oh no not again! She thought wildly as the pain ripped through her body. If she could get home she would be ok, she would be able to lie in her bath tub and bite her lips until the blood and pain stopped. She felt her skin burn as her flesh was melted away by something hot. This pain sent her to her knees in the short ally she was walking through to get to the bus stop. When she felt two sharp long slices in her belly she could not help the scream that escaped her lips. This was worse than before, this was more than she could bear, why did it keep happening? Molly thought again through the haze in her mind. She lay on the cold pavement as her body shuddered and spasmed with ever new cut that went into her flesh. Then the flashes of a cold room with a girl strapped to a table began to form in her mind. She could see the girls eyes and the hand as it mercilessly carved into her body. Like a butcher cutting the meat of the bones of an animal. His laughter at her screams was cold yet childlike and obscene. He was enjoying her pain, enjoying the torture he was inflicting on his captive. He sensed her and looked around the room wildly as if expecting to see Molly in the room with him. She caught a glimpse of him just for a second in the mirror on the wall. Before he looked down again and cut into the young girls arms. This time the flow of blood was too much for him to control. As the flashed faded from her mind Molly felt her body growing cold. She was able to crawl out of the alley with blood seeping from the wounds on her body and soaking the material of her clothes. Someone ran up to her weakened body and she could hear them yell for someone to call an ambulance and others just stood around and stared. She tired to tell them she 240

Dahlia Rose would be ok but the words would not from on her tongue. Black swirled in her mind and Molly felt herself slip into the abyss of unconsciousness. When she opened her eyes again she was on a gurney and she could hear sirens as they wailed through the night. Molly could hear the medics that were working on her yell into their radios. “We’re two minutes out! Woman late twenties with cuts and burns all over her body. Damn somebody sliced her up good! She’s losing blood fast have O’ neg blood waiting she is going to need it quick!” “Copy that Med Unit 4.” The voice crackled over the radio in response. She stared up into the light as the medics worked to stop the bleeding from the many wounds on her body. Se wished the light would swallow her up and take her away from the pain. She closed her yes and then opened them again as she heard a voice calling her back urgently. “No don’t close your eyes! Where almost there, do go out on me now!” The voice encouraged and when her eyes opened he praised her. “That a good girl, no you keep up those sexy green eyes open for me ok? We are at the hospital now.” She said nothing as everyone rushed around her when they pulled the gurney out of the ambulance. She listened as they all talked at once ordering tests and asking questions of the medics that brought her in. The doctor shined a light in her eyes causing her to blink and try to look away. “Her pupils are equal and reactive.” His voice gentled and she felt him stroke her hair. “Hey can you tell me your name?” “Molly…my name is Molly.” Her voice came out like a rasp and it sounded foreign to her own ears. “Molly, how did this happen?” The doctor asked. “I… don’t know… I was walking home from work and I woke up in the ambulance. I didn’t get home in time, if I could get home…. I was too weak.” “She’s out of it probably from the loss of blood” The doctor said. Molly was not out of it she knew exactly what was going on, it had been going on for almost a year now and it seemed to have no intention of stopping. The Nurse gasped out as she wiped the blood from Molly’s skin. “Doctor Giveren, look!” 241

Sensual Bites: Coming Soon The doctor looked down at where the nurse was has wiped seconds and Molly knew what they saw. The cuts were gone and all of the others would be too. “That’s not possible!” The medic said. “I dressed those cuts, stopped the bleeding some were down to the fucking muscle! How did they just disappear?” They all looked at each other and then at Molly as if expecting her to tell them what happened to the deep slashes that marred her skin minutes before. She knew what happened but no one would believe her anyway. So she closed her eyes and pretended that she was out of it, to weak to answer their questioning eyes. They all left the room talking amongst themselves about the miraculous way her wounds healed. She heard the doctor tell the nurse to admit her and give her a room upstairs he had a call to make. Molly could only imagine the call was to some scientist or research group that could test her. She had had enough of that growing up. The next call would be to the cops and they would want her to explain how she got the cuts and scars. She did not find that prospect appealing either. She found a pair of scrubs and her bloody shirt, putting them on quickly. The medic had brought in her thick coat and she put it on to hide the stains. When no one was looking and the nurses backs were turned she slipped out of the emergency room and into the cool night.

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Chapter One Andrew strode into the hospital and went straight to the front desk. He was not in the mood for niceties he just wanted some answers. The nurse looked up at the handsome face that strode up to her desk. Her friendly smile soon faded when she saw his scowl. “Where’s the girl that was brought in a few hours ago?” The nurse’s eyes grew cold. “Which girl? Take your pick we have thirty that came in the last four hours. He replied to her sarcastic words. “Listen ma’am I am Detective Andrew Tombes from Boston PD. I’m here to investigate the girl that came in with the slashed skin; I need to talk to her.” “Good luck with that. She bolted out of here as soon as our backs were turned.” “How could you let a girl who was cut up like that leave?” Andrew asked incredulously. “Like we said hey you can go. She ran out and there were no cuts.” Andrew sighed and looked at the nurse name tag; he decided to use another approach because this was getting him nowhere. “Nurse Shultz is

Sensual Bites: Coming Soon it? What do you mean there was no cuts? There report said that she was completely covered in lacerations.” Nurse Shultz looked at him and then looked over her shoulder to see if anyone was listening, she whispered conspiratorially to Andrew. “She came in covered with them, pale from loss of blood and the EMT that brought her in said that he saw cuts down to the muscle on her body. When we took of the gauze there was not a scratch on her, lots of blood but not a scratch. “Did anyone see her leave? Did you guys get her name? “This place was a mad house detective; she said her name was Molly, no so last name. But you could check with security for the video of the ER, see if they caught her on it.” “Thanks I’ll do that.” Andrew gave her one on his winning smiles as he walked towards the security office. As soon as his back turned the smile left his face. How could she have come in and not have a cut? How did she survive? The other victims didn’t, what made her different? All these questions were running though Andrew’s mind as he walked into the office. He came back out a few minutes later with a copy of the tape in his hands. He watched as she walked out the door of the hospital with nurses and doctors all around her. He was amazed that no one seemed to notice her leave. She had turned her head back to see if anyone was following her and that was when the camera had caught her full features. Even on the grainy film he could see the frightened look in her eyes. Andrew hardened his heart to her look of desperation. He needed her for another reason. As he walked though the same donors she ran through hours earlier Andrew knew he was finally given a lead and Molly was its name. She was the clue that was going to help him catch the killers that was plaguing his city. She was the link to help him catch the monsters that killed his sister. *** Molly got up the next day feeling weaker than she had the last time it happened. She pulled herself out of bed and looked at her pale face in the mirror wondering how she got into this mess in the first place. One day 244

Dahlia Rose she was fine working at the physic shop just off Creek square reading tarots. The next thing she knew she was on the floor and her body was being burnt by cigarettes. R at least that was what she thought because when she got up the marks faded just as quickly as they had come. It had happened six times after that and each time was worse. The visions and flashed had begun in the middle of the third incident. Now it came to the point that she was scared to even go to work because she didn’t know when it was going to assault her. That was what it was an assault on her body and mind and she had no way to stop it. Molly made the decision that she had to find out what was going on, if it kept up the way it was going she would not be able to lift her hand, let alone her body.

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Hello! To those who don’t know me I’m Kelly with the Alias of “BajanDahlia” or “Dahlia Rose” I was born on the little island of Barbados, I grew up with the sand between my toes and the smell of fruits and the sea in my nose. My mother always said I was too intelligent for my own good and my dad, well I was daddy’s little girl until I became a teenager, then I became a rebel. I fell in love with romance and erotica at an early age, reading my aunts Loveswepts and Mills & Boons novels. Stories of dark dashing men who saves their women or love that conquers all filled my head and I began doing something I found I loved. I began to write, my friends read my little stories and some were anxious to see more, some said my head was filled with filth, but on a small island where church was a Sunday thing and most functions was built around the church what else could they think. I knew different I knew that the thought of a kiss that melts your bones and a love that could surpass time was something to look forward to. I wanted that prince on a white horse. My dreams of being a writer were put of for awhile when I became a mother at the early age of sixteen, my daughter Deanna 16 now and my biggest supporter) was never counted as a mistake in my life, Her and I braved a new world by moving to New York city. I loved her from the moment she was conceived and four kids later, (G’kar 11, Kaine 7 and Lillinah 4 none of them would ever think they were not wanted. But alas the other half of the parent unit was not to be. My best friend whom I tell everyone is my sister was also always in my world she is my life line and when things became low she was always there to pick me up and keep me going. I have known her since she was five and I was seven. She has been there for the birth if every one of my kids. In a relationship that spans over twenty years I could not imagine my life without her. Together we can be the goofiest of people laughing at things that adults would call childish, but keeps us young heart. Together, me and Cathy can be immortal children but when either of us needs the other we are there and instant always having each other backs. So as a single mom of four of the brightest stars in my universe I began to write again but this time because of a love that found me in the strangest of ways, the internet. He encouraged to write again from letters I sent him and because he showed me the love that I looked for was not just a fantasy but could be real in his arms. Coerced by a friend I put my profile on a love website and met my dream man, He was in Iraq at the time and my soldier took my breath away, we went from exchanging emails to him calling me from overseas every night. By the time he came home we were a year into our relationship and never even met but he knew all about me and I about him. Our first meeting he came to New York to see me, I was so nervous I almost threw up in the cab but from there we have not been apart since. He is my “Bid daddy” and without him in my life as well as my kids, and my best friend my world would be a bleak place. I

want to bring the love I found to my readers through my words and show that erotica and love go hand in hand, that sexuality is so much better when you find your soulmate. In love nothing is taboo, just talk listen, live and love. H showed me how to dream again and to love again. So I hope you who I count as friends on the internet or otherwise will visit my page often and chat with me through emails IM or what ever means. Till we speak know that love can be found in the strangest of places and no one should never give up on true romance. My Motto is to “Live life in Love and Love the life you Live” I hope everyone could find a piece of that in life Visit my websites or contact me www.thedecadenceofdahlia.com www.myspace.com/bajandahlia http://hearttoheartwithdahliarose.blogspot.com [email protected]