What I Would Give to See You Again

by Jewel Quinlan

  She gasped at the contact and her eyelids dropped a fraction. “Then don’t stop.” Beneath his shirt she slid her hands around to his chest and rested her palms on the hard ridges there.

  “Temptress,” he said through gritted teeth. “It’s just, if we keep going I might not be able to stop until we go all the way. I’ll want to be deep inside you. You know what that means don’t you?”

  She nodded and he could see a mixture of emotions in her eyes. She had a vague idea of what the actual act meant, and the consequences. Women in this day were raised to stay pure until they married.

  She swallowed, considering. “Ahram, it’s just that this whole evening has been so magical. It’s silly, but I feel like we may never get this chance again. I want to be with you in every way. That’s what I want,” she whispered.

  Her honest innocent words shattered the last of his resistance. Ahram caved. She was right. While protecting her honor was the right thing to do, this was all an illusion. In the real world she was dead. They would never have this moment again. Last time he had only kissed her and then spent a century wondering what the rest of it would have been like. Now he had the opportunity to find out. It would be a sweet memory to hold in his mind when he went back and allowed Serapis to destroy him. Where his soul would go after that, he wasn’t sure, but at least he had the opportunity to make something right even if only in his own mind.

  “I want you, too.” He began kissing her again.

  Chapter Six

  They moved from standing near the front door to reclining on furs and blankets in front of the fire. Ahram couldn’t remember consciously arranging anything because the sight of her creamy skin as her dress and undergarments peeled away filled him with wonder. His own clothing melted away as well, though by her hands or his own he didn’t know. All that existed in this moment for him were her gorgeous shining eyes, full curves, and the contrast of his dark skin against the elegant cream of hers.

  He moved over her kissing every part of her body, trying to memorize every tiny detail. His fingers teased the swollen, slick flesh between her legs. And when she arched her back in response he took one of her nipples in his mouth. Her cries of pleasure were music to him and he worked to bring her more ecstasy. When he moved downward to replace his fingers with his mouth, she let out a groan from deep within. Her fingers laced through his hair as he worked to prepare her, to bring her to the edge, so that when he entered her she would feel no pain.

  The sweet taste of her caused his hunger to flare. He could feel it beginning to return. Apparently deer blood did not fulfill his vampire needs the way human blood did. The quantity he’d consumed, had it been human, would have lasted a week. He pushed it away and focused. It wasn’t going to ruin this moment for them.

  Her legs trembled when he slipped his fingers into her entrance and he almost moaned at the snug fit. She was pulling at his shoulders now, her cries becoming more frantic and he knew she was ready. He slid his body up against hers and pressed the head of his member against her heat just allowing the tip to sink in to her moist heat.

  She shuddered. Her arms were around him holding him close and her lips were parted as she panted with passion.

  “I love you, Angelica,” he said. It felt good to speak the words and see her expression change as she received them. So good to tell her right at this moment how he felt.

  “I love you, too.”

  He slid his entire length into her in one long slow push and she stiffened from the shock of his intrusion. So he stayed there, pulsing with need, and kissed her face and neck, doing what he could to chase the pain away. When he felt her relax he knew it was time to continue, and he took her with all the love and passion he felt, sinking himself into her heat and becoming one with her as he’d always longed to. It was fascinating to see her blossom like a goddess beneath him as she felt the full extent of her arousal and all the fascinating sensations they made together.

  He began to pant as he drove them together toward fulfillment, into the freedom of bliss. When her pulsating contractions began and she went over the edge, he let himself go as well, joining her as they lost themselves in the ecstasy of each other.

  But in that moment of surrendering his control, his vampire need, which had been lying in wait for an opportunity, struck with the precision of a cobra. His fangs streaked out and sank deep into her neck, into the pulsing jugular that the back of his mind had been keeping track of all along like the second hand on a clock.

  Her squeal of surprise was like the distant roar of white noise as all his attention centered on the blood flooding into his mouth, even more robust and savory than he remembered. That, combined with the waning wave of their climax, infused it with and an even more potent rush. Like a drug addict who has fallen off the wagon it filled him with a pleasure he couldn’t separate himself from. He had to have more, nothing else mattered.

  It was several long, luscious moments before the rational part of his brain was able to make itself heard. No! Stop! You’re killing her! It tapped sharply at his wall of fixation like a tiny hammer until it cracked through the barrier. He was aware now of the consequences of what he was doing but, still enmeshed in the throes of feeding, unable to make himself stop. She was so good, so vibrant. But, at the same time, her heartbeat was slowing. Thoughts of more, I need more conflicted with stop right now!

  Panic rose within him. The unleashed hunger of his youth was as powerful as a tidal wave driving him forward. It doesn’t matter if you kill her again. You already did it once. What’s the difference? He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to rein himself in. It does matter. It does. I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to kill my love, not after all we’ve shared. He brought forth every single image of her from this night and all that he felt for her, a talisman against the hunger, desperate to release her from his grasp.

  Whoosh…whoosh…whoosh.

  Her heart continued to slow as her life was drained. She would be no more once again. His eyes prickled with remorse and he opened them. The golden Ankh on its chain winked at him from where it lay nestled in her hair. He’d given it to her for protection; protection against him. The reminder of the holiness of the gift of immortal life snapped his mind back into place. NO! With a monumental effort he pulled his fangs from her neck and pushed himself away with such force that he flew up and smacked against the wall behind him.

  Chapter Seven

  Once he’d gotten himself under control, Ahram was quick to act. Please don’t die, please don’t die. In seconds, he dressed Angelica, covered her with blankets, and stoked the fire. Then he lay next to her and held her close for what remained of the night. She was unconscious and her heartbeat was weak, but its slow steady thump filled him with relief.

  He’d done it. He’d stopped himself from killing. The triumph against himself afforded him a tiny shred of satisfaction. And now, he was able to steal a few more moments in time with her cuddled against his chest, satisfied to hear her light breaths passing in and out of her lungs as she slept. At least now he could go peacefully to his death having made an effort to atone for his sin, left with the imaginings of what impact such a pure and beautiful soul could have had on humanity.

  Through the windows he watched the darkness for the first rays of light and, when they broke, a knock sounded at the door. Exactly on schedule. Ahram rose and answered it. Instead of white wilderness, Chin-Sun and Itembe stood on the other side in the hotel hallway just as he’d left them. Though there was something strangely distorted about the doorway now. It looked smaller, farther away from when he’d seen it in the forest, which was weird because it was right in front of him.

  “Hello, Mr. Bahar. We hope you enjoyed yourself,” Chin-Sun said with a bright smile as if he were returning from a cruise.

  Her tone was too cheerful for how he felt right now and what he’d just gone through. He nodded, unsure what the right response should be. It was time to go back. The weight of what came next pressed down on him. He glance
d back at Angelica’s sleeping form wondering if they would meet in the afterlife. Probably not. He stepped forward to go through the doorway.

  But just like before, Chin-Sun held her hand up and stopped him. “Um, one moment please. Itembe’s brought a shift to my attention.”

  Ahram glanced sharply at the dark-skinned man. His eyes had the black depths of a bottomless pit. “What does that mean?”

  “You deviated from your memory, Mr. Bahar.”

  Itembe’s rumbling tone rolled over Ahram’s skin in an ominous warning but what did he care about such things now? He lifted his chin in rebellion. “So?”

  “What that means is that your actions during your vacation have created an alternate reality. At this very moment a gap is growing between where you came from and where you are now.”

  Ahram waited for more. What the hell did that mean?

  Itembe cleared his throat. “At this juncture, Mr. Bahar, you must make a choice. You can either return with us right now or stay here and live out your life in this reality.”

  Unexpected hope lifted Ahram’s dark mood like a kite. “Stay? I can stay here? With Angelica?”

  Itembe nodded. “You must understand though that it comes with a price. To leave a gap in space and time would create a disaster. What you did, changing your past, is extremely rare and difficult but you somehow did it. You must have a very strong will.”

  The compliment was ignored as joy flooded through Ahram. All he could think of was being with Angelica. But somehow he knew it wouldn’t be free. “I would pay anything to stay. Name it.”

  Itembe exchanged a glance with Chin-Sun. And, as if that decided who would be the bearer of bad news, she turned to him and said, “The price is your immortality. Itembe will need it to repair the rift in time and space.” Her brown eyes were hard with seriousness. “Which means you will be human again and eventually die.”

  The doorway was smaller now, like one of the windows in the living room wall. They were drifting away into their own timeline he realized, and he was still here with Angelica. Ahram almost laughed with elation. From the way Chin-Sun had said it, it was a death sentence. To him it was anything but that. How could they know he’d been about to throw away that very thing? That his one eternal wish had always been to stay here with Angelica and live life together whatever that meant? It was as if Osiris had passed judgement in Ahram’s favor and his deepest desires were being answered.

  “Take it,” he said without hesitation. “Take it from me. I don’t want it anymore.” The last thing he saw was Itembe’s dark fingers reaching forward to grasp his forehead, and an excruciating ripping sensation.

  And then…the world reset itself.

  Chapter Eight

  Itembe shut the hotel room door and, after the glowing symbols above it faced, turned to Chin-Sun.

  “So? Is all right again in the universe?” she asked.

  He nodded.

  A satisfied smile curved her slim lips, and she began walking down the hallway toward the elevators.

  He fell into step behind her.

  “Do you feel that, Itembe?” She breathed deep and her shoulders pulled back in relaxation.

  “Yes.”

  “The rush of immortal energy never gets old.” Her steps came lighter as though she’d had a good night’s sleep.

  “I agree.”

  As they stepped into the waiting elevator, Chin-Sun looked down at the slim silver watch encircling her wrist. “That went well. We’re just in time for our next appointment.”

  He reached forward and pushed the button for the lobby.

  The End

  Sign up for Jewel Quinlan’s newsletter at http://bit.ly/JewelsNews and once per month you will receive news about upcoming releases, appearances, Facebook parties, and drawings for giveaways.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Restless by nature, Jewel Quinlan is an avid traveler and has visited 16 countries so far. Lover of ice cream, beer and red wine she tries to stay fit when she’s not typing madly on her computer concocting another tale. In her spare time she likes to do yoga, hike, learn German and play with her spoiled Chihuahua; Penny. It is Penny’s mission in life to keep Jewel from the keyboard. But, with the help of dog-chew-making-companies, Jewel has been able to distract her canine companion and continues to get thousands of words on the page for your enjoyment.

  Visit: www.jewelquinlan.com

  Or you can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Amazon.

  Take a look at

  Man Candy, The Cougar Journals Book 1

  By Jewel Quinlan

  Commercial real estate agent, Ava Baldassari, is done with being a good girl. Recently having revamped her self-image, home and wardrobe she finds there is one thing left that needs updating; her sex life. She runs into her friend and running partner, Cole, one night when she is out with a friend. A bit drunk she flirts with him and is surprised by the enthusiastic response he gives back. Things reach a point where she has to make a decision whether or not to cross a line she never has before. Ava is forty and Cole is twenty-five, is she really ready to become a cougar?

  Enjoy this excerpt from Man Candy:

  “I’ve been wanting to do this for a while,” he whispered in my ear, still pressed against me as he unzipped my dress.

  Me too, I wanted to say. But I didn’t. I was adrift in the onslaught of sensation as he slid the fabric from me, trailing kisses down my back as it went. Making me aware as I never had been of how sensitive the skin there could be. When he reached the small of my back, he lingered, kneading my skin with his tongue and teeth. His hands ran down my legs and then back up to my breasts, and I savored the feel of his fingers. My breaths came heavier. I had been needing this for too long.

  He rose and turned me toward him, towering over me. His cap was gone and his dark hair was askew, as though he had run his fingers through it, giving him that sexy just-woke-up look. I slid my fingers from the waist of his jeans, underneath his shirt, to his muscled back. The ridges of strength there were too tempting beneath my fingertips. How did he find the time to work out that much? I had to see with my own eyes. Fisting the hem of his shirt in my hands, I pulled his t-shirt up to remove it. Why should I be the only one standing here naked? With a chuckle, he complied, lifting the shirt over his head and flinging it away in the casual manner of an underwear model on TV.

  Sure, I had imagined what he looked like with his shirt off, but the reality was ten times better. He had a runner build, but that was filled out with muscle. The planes of his chest were topped by strong shoulders and arms, which seemed to blossom over the lean ridges of his abdominals, creating a definite contrast. I couldn’t help reaching out and touching him. I ran my hands over his skin, tracing my way upward to the light coating of black hair on his pectorals. He leaned his pelvis into me, forehead on mine, his erection pressing into me, making me shiver with anticipation.

  We were on the brink of something oh-so-good, and I was dying to plunge ahead. Yet, I hesitated. Questions burned in my mind. I tried to hold them back, knowing serious talk would ruin the moment. That lasted about two seconds before I gave in.

  “Um…” I said.

  He lifted his head from mine and looked at me.

  I cocked my head at him. “Did you just say you’ve been wanting to do this for a while?” Had he been scoping me out all this time, as I had him?

  He nodded. “Who wouldn’t? Look at you. You’re gorgeous.”

  I glanced down at myself. My ample buxom looked perfect in the black, lace push-up bra I wore, and the matching thong sat just right, low on my hips. I still had on my red heels, which added a lady-killer effect.

  Then I glanced at him. The smoldering look he gave me trumped anything I observed on the physical plane. The messages coming from him on a subliminal level promised pleasure that made me squirm with heat.

  “You know it’s going to be good between us, Ava,” Cole said.

    Jewel Quinlan, What I Would Give to See You Again