Gifted: Empath

by Bonnie Dee

  He skated his hand down her arm from shoulder to wrist, then linked their fingers together. Unblocking the defensive screen he’d raised between them, Jordan let his feelings flow into her. He wanted her to know how happy, satisfied, complete…and how aroused she made him.

  With a little gasp, Lauren closed her eyes and received the influx of his emotion. Fulfilled, blissful, content, she telegraphed back to him. He knew exactly how good his cock felt to her, stretching and filling her inside, becoming a part of her body, a missing piece found. And the physical sensation was tied to an emotional equivalent of coming home. This was love. She loved him profoundly, even if she was still reluctant to say it except in a grudging mutter.

  He moved inside her again, pulling out and thrusting in, slow and easy. The friction on his cock, already throbbing with tension, brought him closer to the edge. Feeling Lauren’s orgasm had nearly tipped his, and it was only with a great effort of will that he could keep himself from plunging and rutting like an animal.

  But he maintained control, sweating with the effort, breathing hard and continuing to ease in and out of her in steady strokes. Her eyes opened and she looked at him. The pale hazel of her irises was swallowed in the dark dilation of her pupils. Her lips were parted and her breath whispered over moist lips. She met his thrusts with rocking hips. Her hand gripped the blade of his hip and pulled him to her.

  Jordan felt something happening within her, another rumor of ecstasy solidifying into fact. Vague pleasure became concentrated bliss, growing, swelling, yearning each time he entered her and hit a mysterious sweet spot deep inside.

  “Fuck me hard now,” she murmured, the words nearly a whimper of pleading.

  His control broke then. With an animal grunt, he rolled her onto her back and mounted her, thrusting hard and deep. No more seductive exchange. No more slow and steady. He unleashed his primal desires and possessed her body. Mine, mine, mine drummed with every beat of his heart, every plunge of his cock. He felt powerful and a little dangerous. The slap of naked flesh on flesh and Lauren’s soft, feminine moans and whimpers goaded him to greater heights.

  Now! His balls drew tight and the ratcheting tension burst, glory rushing through him. He cried out and became one with the pulsing in his cock as wave after wave of pleasure overcame him.

  His arms shook with the effort of supporting his weight and he collapsed on top of her, covering her body. Heat pooled between them and sweat from their exertion melded them together. The lingering fragments of erotic delight settled into a calm, quiet peace that suffused them both.

  After a while, Jordan rolled off her and lay by her side, still breathing hard and gazing vacantly up at the ceiling. “Was it good for you?” he quipped, grinning at the obvious sarcasm of the old line.

  She seesawed her hand in the air. “Meh. I’ve had better.”

  He laughed and turned on his side to face her. “No you haven’t.” He grabbed her hand and brought it to his mouth to kiss it. “And you never will.”

  “Have I mentioned how much I despise cocky men?”

  “Only speaking the truth.” He kissed her hand, then set it on her belly as he sat up in bed and reached for his phone on the nightstand. After placing a pizza order, he lay beside her again, drawing Lauren’s body into the curve of his.

  “Have you given any more thought to finding another job?” he asked.

  “I’m still considering…if the right opportunity comes up. Although I’d feel bad leaving. I’ve worked so hard to get where I’m at.”

  “But if where you’re at isn’t where you want to be…” He let the thought trail off. In the end, she’d have to decide on her own whether she wanted to continue the high-pressure life of an urban investigator or shift her career to small-town police work. He wouldn’t influence her, even if he thought he knew what was best for her.

  That was something he had to guard against given how closely meshed they were. Sometimes his desires and needs bled into Lauren’s and vice versa until it was hard to tell which feelings were originally one’s own. It was important they maintain their own opinions, uncolored or clouded by the other. Yet another challenge of their unique relationship.

  They lay talking and cuddling while minutes slipped by. He told her about his day at the UIC Center for Learning and Neurodevelopment, where he now volunteered a few hours each week. He could connect with the kids in ways the doctors couldn’t fathom, reaching them on deeper levels than he’d ever share with the staff. If those medical types knew what he could do, they’d want to pick his brain apart to find out how it worked.

  “What you’re doing for those kids is wonderful,” Lauren said, shifting a little beneath the weight of his arm and “accidentally” rubbing her ass against his groin.

  “Not any more than what they do for me.” He was embarrassed by her praise and tweaked her nipple to divert her attention from him.

  The doorbell rang, and he jumped out of bed and into a pair of sweats to answer it.

  The pizza delivery guy was the same kid who’d stood on his doorstep three months ago on the night his life had veered like a pinball in a new direction.

  “Hi. How much do I owe you?” Jordan opened his wallet.

  The kid’s eyes were red-rimmed and the sweet, burnt odor of weed emanating from his clothes vied with the rich aroma of hot pizza. “Uh, nineteen dollars and eighty-five cents.”

  Jordan offered him twenty-five. When the boy reached for the money, he made sure to touch his hand. Be happy. He beamed good vibrations with all the energy he could muster, witnessing the effect in the youth’s startled eyes and sudden, goofy smile.

  Knowing he could give as well as take away from people was a new and powerful feeling. It was an aspect of his gift he wished he’d been aware of a long time ago, but maybe he hadn’t been ready then. Now he was.

  “Have a nice night. Drive safe.”

  “Sure. Thanks.” The pizza guy’s grin transformed his narrow-eyed face so it radiated goodwill rather than gloom. As he turned to walk down the sidewalk, his shoulders were straighter, his body no longer slouching.

  “Don’t smoke too much,” Jordan called after him, before closing the door.

  He turned and called out, “Pizza’s here.”

  “Leave it in the kitchen,” Lauren’s voice drifted from the bedroom. “Come here first because I think…yep, I’m pretty sure I need to fuck you again.”

  He laughed and went to obey her command. Be happy.

  About the Author

  Whether writing historical, contemporary, paranormal or suspense, I’m primarily interested in the psychology of the main characters. I find the most entertaining aspect of a story is figuring out what makes these individuals unique as well as watching them change between the beginning and the end of the story.

  To learn more about Bonnie Dee, please visit http://bonniedee.com/. Send an email to Bonnie Dee at bondav40@yahoo.com or join her Yahoo! group to join in the fun with other readers as well as Bonnie Dee. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bonniedee.

  Look for these titles by Bonnie Dee

  Now Available:

  Evolving Man

  Blackberry Pie

  Opposites Attract

  Perfecting Amanda

  The Valentine Effect

  The Countess Takes a Lover

  The Final Act

  Coming Soon:

  The Countess Lends a Hand

  The Thief and the Desert Flower

  He’s rich, single, sexy and…oh, yeah. Undead.

  Obey Me

  © 2008 Paige Cuccaro

  A Gifted story.

  Sophie Merlo dreams of becoming an international journalism star. Until her uncanny nose for news leads her into the path of a brutal serial killer. Now she’d be happy just to survive the week.

  Alex wants only one answer from Sophie—how she wormed her way into his exclusive vampires-only club, something no human should be able to do. He thinks he’s being set up in a string of murders, and he’s go
t a good idea who it is—Octavius, his long-time, bitter rival. Only Octavius could figure out how to leave Alex’s distinctive mark behind on the victims’ throats.

  One drop of Alex’s saliva on Sophie’s skin has her babbling a river, swimming in desire for him—and agreeing to use her persuasive powers to help find the real murderer.

  Caught in the middle of a century-old feud between two rival vampires, there are only three things Sophie knows for sure: One of them is a killer. The other wants to take her to bed. And they’re both lying.

  If she can’t figure out who’s lying about what soon, her career hopes could vanish. Right along with her last drop of blood.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Obey Me:

  “Do you know? Do you understand what it is I want to do to you?” His breath warmed across my mouth, the hint of wine and some other tempting spice I couldn’t name filled my nose, rippled down my throat to breeze through my lungs.

  “Yes. You…you want to take my…blood.”

  He lifted his chin and pressed a kiss to my forehead. The skin beneath his lips warmed instantly with a heat that went beyond simple body temperature. It seemed to ripple all along my skin working its way through my body like a drug. “That’s right. But do you understand what the feel of it will do to us?”

  I swallowed again, my eyes closed, my nose brushing under his chin breathing in the sweet powdery scent of his cologne, his lips feathering against my forehead. “Blood lust.” The words were barely audible.

  “Lust. Raw and powerful. To lose all abandon. You won’t be able to stop. You must be sure, Sophie…now.” He leaned back just enough to watch my face.

  I nodded, uncertain my voice would be heard. “I’m sure.” I held my breath.

  His gaze focused on my mouth again and my lips parted an instant before he pressed his kiss. The taste of him filled my mouth, cinnamon and sweet wine, the flavor swirled over my tongue, warmed down my throat like a fine liqueur. Delicious heat spread like a blaze gone wild, burning me up from the inside, igniting every nerve ending, awakening my body so my muscles pulled tight, need coiled low and my thighs trembled.

  His muscles flexed under my hands pulling me closer, tighter. His kiss deepened and my mind swam with the feel of his tongue exploring my mouth, his fingers denting my back, gripping my head, holding me…like prey. I felt consumed and wanted more, but he pulled himself back, trailing his lips along my cheek, nibbling my ear, teasing his teeth over my neck.

  I shuddered, each scrape of his teeth sending a fast pulse through my sex. Hot and wet with lust, I squirmed in his arms, fumbling with the buttons down his shirt. Alex pulled back enough to help, shrugging the white cotton off his shoulders, allowing only a moment for me to work his belt and zipper before his hands slipped up to my shoulders.

  I unfastened the button of his slacks so they loosened around his narrow hips just as he hooked his fingers on the edge of my dress and slid the red elastic tube off my shoulders and down my arms, letting it fall down my legs to pool on the floor around my feet. I was left wearing only a pair of lace boy-cut panties and my high-heeled shoes. Both matched the dress. The neckline had been too low to allow for a bra.

  Alex’s blue eyes took me in, lingering over me from head to toe as though a picture were being drawn in his mind. My heart thundered in my chest, muscles so tight my breaths came in soft, shallow pants. I wanted his lips on mine again, his arms around me, the heat of his hard body pressed to mine.

  “Alex…” I fought not to squirm under the intensity of his gaze. His eyes met mine and the heat of his stare nearly took my breath. He swept in and pressed another searing kiss to my lips then bent lower to capture my breast in his mouth.

  I gasped as the warmth of his venom penetrated through the pores on the sensitive flesh. The gentle massage of his hand turned my knees to rubber. I wrapped my arm around his head, held him to me as he suckled my breast, tugging the hard nipple into his mouth.

  Would he bite me there? A wave a desire swamped through me and I moaned out loud at the thought, arching my back, pressing my flesh deeper into his mouth. I wanted to feel his teeth sink into me, to feel the rush of blood as it spilled from my body into his.

  Somewhere in the distant parts of my brain, I felt his hands at my hips, the soft chafe of my lace panties sliding down my thighs, tickling the tops of my feet, hooking on my high heels. I shifted to toe off my shoes, but Alex’s arm clutched around my waist, stilled me instantly.

  “Leave them on,” he said, his voice rough and sexy. He gazed up at me, the scruff of his day-old beard scraping my nipple as he spoke. My breath caught at the maddening mix of pain and pleasure, and all I could do was nod.

  He lowered his face to my body again, kissing and nipping, the teasing promise of his bite spinning my mind, churning a firestorm of desire through my veins. He tasted my body, kissing the bottom round of my breast, slipping lower to the tip of my breastbone, then lower still to my belly. He sank to his knees and finally, in a heart-stopping instant, he pressed a kiss to the coarse hairs at my sex. With a firm wet lick, he traced his tongue between the sensitive lips. The sensation buckled my knees and in a move far too quick and fluid for me to track, he stood, scooping me into his arms, driving me backwards toward my bedroom. I wrapped my legs around his waist, my high heels catching his back, snagging the belt loop of his slacks.

  An instant later Alex was on top of me, his body pinning me to my mattress. He kissed me hard, driving his tongue into my mouth, filling me with the taste of him, the heady burn of his venom. I arched my hips, felt the hard line of his erection trapped beneath layers of cloth. My skin hummed with the feel of his kiss pulsing through my veins, my body moist and ready for him. I reached for his slacks, the tight elastic of his underwear…and pushed.

  Alex ground his hips against me, triggered my body to push back, wanting the hardness of him to fill me. I pushed at his clothes again, nudged them to the highest curve of his ass. His stiff sex and the press of his body against mine kept the material from slipping lower.

  Enough. I wanted him inside me and with a small point of my high-heeled shoe, I snagged underwear and slacks alike, and shoved them down his thick muscled legs.

  Alex pushed up on stiff arms, shifting his legs, kicking and pulling himself free of his clothes. His erection thudded against my groin, brushing through the hairs at my sex again and again. I reached down and took hold, feeling his thickness, caressing his length. Alex stilled for a moment, then rocked his hips, enhancing my strokes.

  His was thick and long, but the velvet skin wasn’t as taut as it could be, it wrinkled and gathered at the head moving with my hand. His body didn’t possess enough blood, his heart too weak and slow to flood his penis. He was hard enough to do the job, but he’d never reach satisfaction this way.

  I flicked my gaze to his and found him staring into my eyes, reading me.

  Tending the Spirit has never been so sexy.

  Future Found

  © 2008 Mima

  A Claimed story.

  As a tree singer, it is Shay-non’s duty—and pleasure—to tend the chi of the few remaining trees left after the Cataclysm. Even if it means enduring the life-sucking presence of the greedy cybernetic elites who own them.

  But the moment she steps into Elite Sandor’s compound, he throws her world into disarray. Instantly, she finds herself tricked into twenty-four hours as his sexual “guest”, an infuriating prospect. Then he lets her see, but not touch, the magnificent oak in his possession. An oak that shouldn’t exist. For one moment with the tree, she’ll do anything—even submit to Sandor’s attentions.

  Sand has waited years for Shay’s unmet sexual needs to weaken her defenses enough to make his move. The time is ripe to begin a spiritual revolution, plus convince the lovely singer he has always loved her from afar—all in one day’s time. A daunting task, especially since her earthy sexuality has him making all sorts of deviations from his plan.

  Now that he has her captive, he can
only pray. That she’ll agree to help him defy the Council and raise an illegal forest temple.

  And that she’ll see past his sensual blackmail into his heart.

  Warning: This book includes brief references to m/m and ménage relationships. Some readers may be disturbed by references to a death during sex. There’s also sex involving a tree that will forever make you smile when you hear the term “tree-hugger”.

  Enjoy the following excerpt for Future Found:

  He stopped while the droid laid out the eating cloth and set the food precisely in the middle. Then it left. And he was still staring. She was on the altar, unveiled. The opalescence of her skin was more glorious than the silver veil. Kneeling with her legs splayed, he could clearly make out her sex below her spread ass. Her cheeks rested on her heels, her back arched, her hands reaching gracefully up into the cone of light. The crown of her ruby hair faced him since her head was thrown back in apparent ecstasy. It was worth the cost of the sunshine bulb he’d installed.

  He walked around her, within touching distance. Her belly was adorable. Her nipples were hard, bitty berries. The position she held flattened her breasts to merest swells. At mouth level.

  Slowly, her hands drifted down and rested on those splayed thighs. She rolled her head forward to look down at him. He’d meant to initiate the contract after a meal and some conversation to reassure her. But the plan could tolerate this new deviation.

  “Shay-non, you are unveiled before me.” His voice sounded husky but he didn’t care. Let her see that his attraction was more than the plan needed.

  “Sand, I initiate this contract.”

  He did not think about the plan, his goals, his faith or his tree. He thought about the impact of those eyes without a veil between them. That skin, blushing in the strong light. That musk scent rising from her spread thighs. Those blood-red, lickable nipples. Wait. Wait for her. It must be her. His eyes flitted from one part of her to another, dazzled by her reality. Curves, everywhere. His cock fattened.