Louvenia Yelverton listened in shock to the policeman who was speaking on the phone. She had to grip the counter with her free hand to keep from sagging to the floor. “But have you any idea who the man was?” she asked, feeling nausea flood into her throat.
“No, ma’am, we don’t. There’s no sign of forcible entry. It looks as though she knew her assailant. She must have let him in. Went willingly to bed with him, we figure.”
“Karla wasn’t seeing anyone at the moment,” Louvenia told the policeman. “And none of the young men she dated are capable of such brutality.”
“You never know, Mrs. Yelverton. When some men get riled, they can be pretty violent. I’d like that list of her male acquaintances as soon as you can get it to me. The sooner, the better.”
“Yes. Yes, of course.” She hung up the phone and looked at Beth Janacek with a shocked expression. “She’s in ICU over in Pensacola, in West Florida Medical.”
“What happened?” Beth asked, alarmed at the look on her supervisor’s pale face.
“Assaulted,” Louvenia said and she shuddered as she wrapped her arms about her. “Rough sex, the policeman said.”
“Karla?” Beth asked, flinching. “Oh, my God!”
“She nearly bled to death before she got to the phone. She was so torn up inside it took the doctors hours to stitch her up.” Louvenia dabbed at her dry eyes with an equally dry handkerchief. “The police want a list of the men Karla dates.”
“Do they know who it was?” Lauren asked.
Beth sneered at her. “Do you think the police would be asking us for a list of her boyfriends if she could tell them?”
“This sort of thing just doesn’t happen in Milton,” Louvenia said, shaking her head. “Over in Pensacola and Mobile, yes, but not in our little town.”
“Brutality doesn’t abide by city limit signs,” Beth argued.
“Just the thought of that sweet girl suffering so makes my heart ache for her,” said Louvenia.
“I tell you what I’m going to do!” Beth remarked. “I’m going to get me a gun!”
“Oh, dear,” Louvenia whimpered. “You don’t think he’s someone we know, do you?”
“I’m not taking any chances,” Beth snapped. “I’m a woman living alone and that’s the kind of victim men like that look for. I’ll say this much: if he brings it around me, he’s gonna find out he’s bitten off more than he can chew!” She nodded. “My brothers taught me how to shoot and I’ll blow his ass right out of the water!”
Lauren shuddered. “You shouldn’t be so over-confident, Beth. The police tell you that’s the worst possible state of mind to be in when something like this is happening.”
“As if you had anything to worry about!” Beth drawled. “You’d have to pay a man to hump you!”
Louvenia was about to reproach her sales clerk once more when the bell over the front door tinkled and she glanced up. Her face broke out into a warm, welcoming smile. “Mr. Cree! How nice to see you again!” She came around the counter and took his arm, leaning against him. “Are you getting settled in?”
He recoiled at her touch, but managed not to show it. He warmed to her smile and forced a smile of his own to his rigid lips. “I’ve gotten almost everything unpacked. It’s taken me longer than I anticipated.”
“Moving always does!” Louvenia laughed.
“If you need any help, I’d be happy to come out there,” Beth told him. “In fact, I’m free this Saturday.”
Behind her, he saw Lauren looking at him and had to shift his attention to the blonde’s hopeful face. “Thank you, but there’s not that much left to unpack and arrange.”
Beth’s lips thrust out in a pout of disappointment then her face brightened. “Are you still going to the party Saturday evening?” she asked.
“Oh, will you be attending Allen’s little soiree?” Louvenia inquired. Her hands tightened on his arm. At his nod, she giggled. “Oh, this is just marvelous. Marvelous! Everyone, simply everyone, wants to meet you!”
“And did your date accept your invitation for this evening, Syn?” Beth asked, boldly appraising him.
He had to stifle the urge to snatch his arm away from the Yelverton woman and slap the self-satisfied smirk from the blonde’s face. Instead, he reached down and patted the older woman’s hand, his mind reaching out with a silent command to be released.
Louvenia reluctantly let go of the man’s arm, frowning as she wondered why she had suddenly had the impulse to do so. She looked up, baffled, and smiled hesitantly.
“Syn?”
He turned back to the blond. “I haven’t had the chance to ask her yet.”
Beth’s lips slowly slid into a cat-like grin. “If she’s busy, I would love to accompany you.”
Lauren turned away. How much more blatant an invitation could the woman make? She stooped down to pick up a handful of children’s books to arrange on the shelf.
“I am sure no woman would be too busy to accompany Mr. Cree to the party,” said Louvenia. She wanted to touch him again, even lifted her hand to do so, but stopped, drawing back her hand with confusion.
“If you ladies would excuse me,” he said, wanting to get away from them, “I need to see Miss Fowler about a matter of importance.”
“Lauren?” Beth gasped. “What on Earth do you need to see her about?”
He stopped, turned, and let his gaze settle on the blond. “I don’t believe it concerns you, Miss Janacek.” He was pleased to see a red stain creep over the brazen woman’s face.
“Miss Fowler hasn’t caused you a problem, has she?” Louvenia asked, her own face wrinkling with concern.
“No,” he answered and turned away, making it plain no further explanations would be forthcoming.
Both women looked at one another, surprise kindling in their faces. They watched him walk to where Lauren was kneeling and strained to hear what he was saying, even moving further down the aisle, but the soft words were too low to make out.
“Good morning.”
She looked up at him and smiled. “Good morning.”
He reached his hand down to her to help her to her feet.
“I tried calling you last night,” she said, blushing furiously. She put her hand in his and felt the same alluring tingle go through her body that she had felt two days earlier when he had reached out to steady her.
“I’m sorry I missed your call. If I’d known you were going to phone, I wouldn’t have gone out.”
She ducked her head, looking away from his achingly handsome face. “The flowers were lovely, but you shouldn’t have gone to that expense.”
“Why not?” he asked, one brow lifting in surprise.
She glanced at him. “You didn’t owe me an apology, but I owe you one.”
He cocked his head to one side. “Whatever for?”
Her face flamed. She looked down at the floor. “For accusing you of playing some kind of cruel game at my expense.” She drew in her breath when his hand came out to gently cup her chin and lift her face to his.
“I came in this morning to invite you to be my guest at a party I will be attending this evening. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to have you at my side.” His thumb stroked the side of her chin. “Will you do me the honor of accompanying me?”
She stared at him, her mouth open. Slowly, she shook her head. “I can’t.”
“And why can’t you?” he pressed, his fingers caressing her chin.
“I...I just can’t.” She pulled away from his touch. “I’m sorry.”
He lowered his hand. “You’re still angry at me.”
“No!” she told him. “I’m not. I just can’t go.”
For a long moment he looked at her, his hurt and frustration showing on his face then he smiled sadly. “I understand.”
“I hope you do,” she was quick to say. “It’s got nothing to do with you. Really it doesn’t.”
“I know it doesn’t,” he answered and the way he said it made Lauren think he truly d
id know why she’d had to turn him down. “Some other time then?”
She didn’t know how to answer. He was standing there, wanting an answer, expecting one, and she could only shrug.
“I don’t ever give up, Lauren,” he told her. His gaze fused with hers. “Not when it’s something I want so badly I’ll do anything to acquire it.” He shrugged. “I’ll go now.”
She felt keen disappointment at his words. “I’m sorry,” she said and wasn’t sure if she meant for having to turn him down or that he was leaving.
“There will be another time,” he said softly.
“I don’t think—”
He shushed her with a finger to his lips. “I don’t give up, Lauren. Not ever.”
She watched him walk away, his broad shoulders squared, head high, and somehow knew she had hurt him very deeply. She wanted to call out to him, to tell him she’d changed her mind and would go with him after all, but she knew she wouldn’t. Knew she couldn’t. Instead, she watched him walk down the aisle, his path momentarily blocked by Beth and felt an emotion she had never experienced in her life: jealousy.
“Did you get things straightened out with Lauren?” Beth asked, gazing up with open invitation.
His lips pursed tightly together as he stared down at her and he saw a flicker of uncertainty form on her face as she looked up at him. She moved out of his path.
“Good day, Mrs. Yelverton,” he said to Louvenia as he pulled open the shop’s door.
Beth stared after him, her face flaming, her stare spitting fire. Spinning around, she marched to the back of the store and grabbed Lauren’s arm, spinning the surprised woman around.
“What did you say to Syn about me?” she snapped.
“We weren’t discussing you,” Lauren said, trying to pull her arm out of the other woman’s hard grip.
“Don’t lie to me, you stupid piece of white trash!”
He stopped midway across the street, his acute hearing homing in on the insult. He turned, his furious gaze stabbing through the shop’s window, tearing away plate glass and shelves of books, zeroing in on the two women.
“I want to know what godawful lies you told him about me.” Beth shook Lauren. “He looked like he could have killed me when he left!”
“Did it ever occur to you that he could see right through you?” Lauren jerked her arm free.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Beth yelled, drawing Louvenia down the aisle.
“You did everything but reach out and grab him between his legs!”
He chuckled softly.
“Maybe I should have!” Beth shouted. “At least I would know what to do with what’s hanging there!”
“I’m sure you would. Whores usually do.”
His smile widened and he threw back his head and laughed aloud this time.
“Why you little foul-mouthed—” Beth drew back her hand and slapped Lauren with such force it staggered the other girl. She would have slapped her again had Louvenia not grabbed her arm.
A dark fury rose up inside him. A fury worse than any he had known in a long, long time. His entire being quivered with it, his nerve endings humming so violently he trembled. His hands clenched into fists and his teeth ground so tightly together it was audible. He took one step back across the street then stopped for Louvenia Yelverton’s words made his entire vision go red with rage.
“You are fired!” the old woman shouted at Lauren. “I want you out of this store immediately! You have caused nothing but trouble since I hired you!”
“But I haven’t done anything!” Lauren protested, holding her bruised cheek.
“I’ve put up with your insubordination longer than anyone could be expected to. Leave this shop this very moment or I shall be forced to call the authorities and have you removed!” Louvenia pointed a bony finger at her. “I will charge you with trespassing!”
Lauren looked at the older woman’s livid face, turned her gaze to Beth’s smug, self-satisfied smirk, and then spun around, running for the break room and her purse.
“Good riddance to bad rubbish,” said Beth, laughing.
“I will mail you your last check!” Louvenia called out as Lauren ran through the bookstore and yanked open the door.
He watched her running down the street, no one even taking the time to stop and stare after her. It was as though she did not exist for the people of this wretched town and his fury grew in leaps and bounds beyond even the rigid self-imposed limit he had placed on it with centuries of practice. A writhing serpent of vengeance slithered in his gut and his hot glare slowly left the running woman to go once more to the bookshop. The dark ember of his gaze grew red-hot, the pupils of his eyes elongating until they more closely resembled the slit pupils of a viper than a human being. His lips pulled back over his teeth and he hissed.
Night would not come fast enough for Syntian Cree.
He stood in the shadows, hidden from her view. He had watched her bathe, soaping her body with hands that lingered on her breasts and between her legs. He had watched her bring herself to a shuddering climax, all the while with a gaze so hot it would have burned her flesh had she been aware of it.
She had climbed out of the tub, toweling her lithe frame, powdering it, perfuming the creases behind her knees, under her breasts, the flesh at her wrists. It had not taken her long to dry her hair, to brush it to a glossy sheen. It had taken her longer to arrange it on top of her head in artful curls meant to cascade down around her shoulders with the release of a few strategic hairpins.
As she sat down at her vanity to apply her makeup, he had stepped from the shadows, moving into her line of vision in the mirror. He had watched her eyes widen, first in surprise then narrow with speculation. She didn’t turn as he walked to her and placed his powerful hands on her shoulders, caressing the smooth flesh as he found her eyes in the mirror.
“I was wondering when you’d come,” she said, smiling at him in the mirror. She reached up to put a hand over his. “How long can you stay?”
He did not answer her smile. “As long as it takes to pleasure you, my lady.”
Her fingers caressed the back of his hand. “And in return for such an offer, Syntian?”
“I need your help,” he answered. He ran his hands over her shoulders, over her chest, and his strong fingers slid beneath the silk of her chemise and molded to the creamy perfection of her breasts.
She leaned her head against his belly. “You want to break your vow.”
“Aye.” His thumbs stroked the tips of her breasts until the nipples were hard little nubs against the pad of his thumb.
She held his gaze in the mirror for a long time, watching him, probing his emotions, thrilling to the touch of the one male in the universe who could ignite such passion within her. At last she sighed. “There will be an exacting price to pay for such evil as you intend, Syn.”
His lids flickered, but he held her look. “I know, my lady,” he said softly. He slid his hands down until her breasts were cradled in each of his palms. He squeezed her gently.
“And you are willing to pay that price?”
He hesitated, calculating, trying to hide his deepest feelings from her. She was watching him closely and he knew she read his mind as easily as he read the mind of a mortal female. His hands slid from her flesh and returned to the softness of her white shoulders.
“Syntian?” she asked. “Are you willing to pay the price?”
His hands tightened on her shoulders. “Aye.”
Her smile was lazy and slow as she stood up and faced him. She loved the way he was looking at her: half-afraid she would deny him; half-afraid she would agree. She enjoyed what little bit of power she had over him for no other being had such control over Syntian Cree.
“I will not allow you to repay me in any other way, Syntian,” she warned. “If you feel you must do this, then I will be paid as befits the bargain. You do understand that, do you not?”
She watched his sensual lips part as he drew in a l
ong breath then close softly as he exhaled. “I understand what will be expected of me, my lady.”
Her hands went to the straps of her chemise as she pushed the silky garment from her shoulders. Her breasts gleamed in the candlelight as the chemise slid down her curving hips to lay forgotten on the floor.
“Then pleasure me, my sweet demon,” she whispered, “and I will allow you to break your vow just this once.”
He stood still, taking her into his arms, feeling the glory of her nude body against his own. He swept her up, cradling her against his chest.
“Do not disappoint me, Syntian.”
“No, my lady,” he answered, crossing to the bed. “I will not.”
Chapter Four
Beth Janacek looked up from her glass of champagne and smiled. “Where is your date, Mr. Cree?” she asked, sweetly, licking her lips as she looked him over.
He put his hand on her upper arm and squeezed. “I’m looking at her,” he answered. His thumb rubbed a tight little circle on her flesh.
A fine blond brow eased upward. “Really? And what happened to the lady you had intended to bring?”
He shrugged. “She had a prior commitment, I’m afraid.” His hand slid up and down her arm in a light caress. “Are you disappointed?”
The heart inside her chest thumped hard against Beth’s ribcage as she stared up in his smoldering gaze. It was hypnotic, captivating, and seemed to strip the clothes from her body. Heat infused her lower belly and she had to take a sip of the sparkling champagne to hide the urge to put her hands on him, to reach out and grab that part of him she longed to possess her.
“Are you?” she asked. “Disappointed, I mean?”
His smile was slow and heartbreakingly sensual. “Not at all.” He held out his arm. “May I escort you into the party, Miss Janacek?”
“Beth.”
“Beth.” Her name on his lips was like an intimate touch on the most private parts of her anatomy. She took his arm, feeling the hard, steel-like muscles of his forearm under his silk shirt. When he covered her hand with his own, she felt her knees go weak with surrender.
“Oh, there you are, Mr. Cree!” Allen Turnbridge called out as he led his wife over to the couple. “We were beginning to wonder if you were going to make it, after all. Have you met my wife, Olivia?”
NightWind 1st Book: HellWind Trilogy Page 4