Blood From a Stone

by Cynthia Lucas

  Only time could reveal where this might go. Unfortunately, time wasn’t something he had a whole lot of. But what little he had, he was going to spend with her….dessert or no.

  C HAPTER TWELVE

  One hour and fourty-three minutes later, the credits of the movie rolled. Willow stretched and yawned as she lay against Samson’s chest on the cozy chaise chair. Sasha stood up, patted Cisco on the head and handed him a half eaten pizza crust. “Good boy,“ she said as she grabbed her coat and boots. Cisco gulped down the treat without chewing, wagged his tail and trotted down the hall towards the bedroom where he disappeared to find a warm spot in the middle of Willow’s bed.

  “Well, boys and girls, time for me to hit the road. I’m sure that Entertainment News Channel is wondering why I didn’t show up for my own red carpet movie debut by now, so I’d better go and hope I don’t run into any paparazzi.”

  “I’ll call and give them a few false leads,” Willow said dryly. “Go home!” She laughed out loud.

  “See you tomorrow? I’m working at 3.”

  “Yep.” Willow stood up and walked Sasha to the door, giving her a quick hug and watching her to make sure she got the car started and backed down the driveway before coming back inside.

  Samson was still covered up on the chaise chair watching opening credits of the next movie that was starting. Willow walked up to the chair and sat down on the ottoman.

  “So, now what? Do we talk about what happened earlier. Or do we just….hell, I don’t know, assume you are some superhuman that belongs on Ripley’s or something?”

  Samson smiled. “Well, I was hoping that you were going to say, ‘How ‘bout we talk about that ‘dessert’ now?’ I should have known better.”

  Willow rolled her eyes and smirked. “Yeah. Figures. But then again…” her voice trailed off as she leaned in and kissed him. Her lips were soft and sweet against his own and he could feel his heart pounding in his chest as she reached forward and touched his skin. He pulled her body against his and could feel himself getting hard as she straddled him.

  She pulled back to say something, but before she could speak he pulled her back down to him and began caressing the soft skin of her neck with his lips and tongue. She leaned her head back and a small sigh escaped her as he found a particularly delicious erogenous zone at the base of her throat, and then worked his way down to the hollow between her breasts. Goose bumps broke out all over her body as he dragged her nipple, and the material of the shirt covering it into his mouth.

  She gasped at the feel of it and then a few moments later, pulled back and started laughing. “Now I look like I’ve been drooling all over my shirt.”

  “No. I’m the one who’s been drooling all over your shirt.” He chuckled.

  “Great. I have to wear a bib….not for myself but for you. That’s just so wrong.”

  He pulled her back down on top of him. “And I have no intention of making it right either.” He laughed as his tongue found its way to the wet spot once more.

  Screw that. He ripped open her blouse popping three buttons with his long tanned fingers as he went. She gasped at him in feigned exasperation, but didn’t say a word as he pulled down the top of her bra to expose one of her rosy nipples, which he immediately pulled into the soft wetness of his mouth.

  She didn’t protest and in fact he could feel her moving against him as she unbuttoned his shirt and her hands moved against the skin of his torso.

  A few moments later she pulled free, moved over him and placed a gentle kiss on his chest, and then began licking his skin, working a slow, steady trail down the length of his body…savoring every curve of his muscled abdomen. His skin was smooth and she could feel the hardness of every ripple of that six pack beneath his skin as she approached his navel. She reached forward to undo the button on his jeans.

  He was ready to explode as he watched her graceful downhill climb and knew he needed to slow things down. He wanted this to last…and not just for his own pleasure. He wanted this to be good for her first.

  Come to think of it, even though his body was a raging torrent right now, ready to send him cascading out of control into the rapids, something inside of him wanted….no needed to know they were really ready to do this in the first place…and for the right reasons.

  The right reasons? What the hell did that mean? Shit. Now he was losing his mind on top of everything else! What else would make you think of such a thing or think anything at all when some hot woman is ready to ride you like a rocket to high heaven?

  Up until now, there had been only two right reasons: it feels good, and you want to. Nothing had ever stopped him cold during an opportunistic moment. And yet, here he was now, presented with a willing woman, having what would probably be mind-blowing sex but his damnable conscience was screaming about the hurt she might feel if he was turned into a block of stone again, and she were left alone and wondering why he’d suddenly disappeared and dumped her, and thinking maybe she did something wrong that made him do so.

  He sat there torn for a few moments, and finally blew out a long breath, wanting to kick his own ass for what he was about to say and do, as he grabbed her hands and pulled her upward to face him.

  “Willow. Are you sure you want to do this?”

  “What?! Of course I want to do this.” She looked puzzled.

  “We don’t have to go this fast you know. I’m not going anywhere,” he said.

  Well, that was a lie. If he didn’t find a way to end this curse, or at least get a reprieve, he most certainly was going somewhere alright. But something made him say it. Yep. He had lost it. He’d never been more sure than right now…the little voice inside his head must be the insanity kicking in. Then again, maybe it wasn’t a voice inside his head at all. It seemed to be echoing from a place lower than that, squarely in the middle of his chest, slightly left and just under the ribs.

  Willow stared at him for a moment. “First off, I wasn’t planning to do anything without protection if that‘s what you were worried about. I’m a nurse remember?” She opened the drawer to the end table and pulled out a condom. “I would never put you or myself at risk in any way. Or get myself pregnant. Although come to think of it, I guess in theory IF I had any kind of diseases you could heal them…and it would be sort of ridiculous for you to have any since your blood heals. So I guess it’s a moot point on that one. “She tossed the condom back in the drawer. “Don’t worry. I’m on the Pill.”

  She sighed, and pushed her now unruly hair back from her face. “As for the diseases…well, this healing thing is still kind of a scary thought. We’ll save that one for later discussion, obviously. But as far as the sex goes…I’m a big girl and I don’t do anything I’m not ready to do.”

  She sounded convincing but he knew she wasn’t being entirely honest. He could just sense it somehow.

  “Are you trying to convince me? Or yourself?” he said matter-of-factly.

  “Samson. What the hell are you talking about?” Her brows knit together. “Did I do something wrong? Or maybe, you decided you didn’t like me that way or something?”

  She sat up abruptly. “Are you gay? I would be disappointed because I like you…but if you are, it’s okay. You can tell me and I would support you. I have gay friends and I love them very much. Not you know…like this. I mean like friends.”

  He busted out laughing. “No, Willow. I’m not gay.” She raised her chin just a little. “You’re sure? Why

  would you want to stop…I mean what guy ever stops something like this citing ‘right reasons’? You gotta be kidding me!”

  “I could very easily prove to you just how un-gay I am right this second.’’ He pointed to the hard spot straining against his jeans, laughing good-naturedly. “Damn…you women are something. You bitch that no one treats you with respect, and then when someone does, you ask if we’re gay!” He shook his head and sighed. “I just don’t want to do something you or I might regret later. I want you to be sure. We’ve only known eac
h other for a few days, but I honestly care about you and I don‘t want to wreck things by moving too fast.”

  What he wanted to add was, that he didn’t want to have to live with the hurt he would cause her if he was forced to leave her in three and a half weeks, but he of course could not say the words.

  She smiled at him. “I care about you too. It’s only been what? A couple of days. I must be losing my mind, I guess. I mean, I‘m pretty damned sensible…but not around you!”

  She stared at him for a few moments thinking about what he’d said. Was she in fact doing this for the ‘right reasons’? Was it just out of lust or because she’d learned, through cultural brainwashing that not going to bed with a guy was the fastest way to lose him to another woman. Or even if you did go to bed with him, if you ‘weren’t good enough’ he might ditch you for someone else? Like Mike had ditched her.

  “So, I see maybe I hit the nail on the head?” he raised his eyebrows.

  Her silence answered his question. She wasn’t really ready to do this despite the fact that her body was screaming loud and clear that she most certainly was every time she looked down at that body of his.

  She stared at him for a long moment, and finally blew out a long breath. “How did you know? Are you psychic too?”

  He pulled her to his chest and kissed the top of her head. “No. I wish I was!”

  “So then. What are the right reasons…for you I

  mean?” she looked up at him.

  He shrugged. “You mean besides it feels good and I want to? Well, I think maybe this time…maybe for once in my life I’d want to do it because I’m actually in love. What a concept. And I can’t believe I’m saying this but I’d want to make sure that I wasn’t pressuring you into it too soon. Bottom line? I’d want you and I both to feel like it was the most right thing either one of us has ever done.”

  She stared at him without saying a word.

  “Okay. So you think I’m gay again, now, right? Damn, I’m beginning to wonder myself.” He laughed lightly.

  She smiled. “No, actually. I think you‘re…perfect. You‘re like a guardian angel or something”. She kissed him on the lips very softly and snuggled in to his chest.

  He held her there for several minutes in silence

  waiting for his body to calm down. It didn’t. He finally shifted in the chair and she looked up at him.

  “Listen, I think maybe I should head home now. I’ll call you tomorrow and we can maybe try again. Actually have a dinner date?”

  She nodded. “Deal.”

  “We can talk more tomorrow about this whole healing thing too, if you want. Although I don’t know much more about it than what you’ve already seen.”

  Actually he was grateful for the time apart so he could think of some answers to possible questions she might ask, and possibly do a little more investigating into how it works himself. He wasn’t sure how just yet. Time definitely wasn’t his friend, but it was at least a friendly enemy in this case.

  He got up from the chair and offered her his hand, pulling her up with him. They walked to the door and he placed a very gentle kiss on her lips.

  “I’m not going to go nuts here, because I only just now got my ‘friend’ down there to behave,” he said pointing to his zipper. “But I will tell you…I have never been any more certain than right now that I like girls. And well…you‘re a girl.”

  She smirked and raised an eyebrow. “Well, you tell your ‘friend’ I’m glad to hear that. Thank you very much.” They both started laughing as he reached forward to open the door.

  She stopped him, pushing him back against the wall, pressing her body against his and kissed him again. His body eased up and he deepened the kiss, not bothering to worry about getting worked up or fighting it. And for just a split second, he felt almost as if they were one.

  She finally pulled back from him, but kept her arms around his neck.

  “I think I’m….never mind,” she said and shook her head.

  He took her hands from around his neck, brought

  them to his lips and kissed her fingertips. “It’s okay. I think I’m…..never mind too.” He winked at her. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  He slipped out the door into the frigid night air marveling at the way it had felt when he’d touched her soul for that split second. It was very strange. Different than when he’d felt Cisco’s soul or the little cat. There’d been little or no ‘electricity’ either. It was more like osmosis.

  More puzzling was that he had no clue how it had happened since she had not tasted his blood. But it had indeed happened. It was only one tiny fraction of time….so fast he’d almost missed it. But he hadn’t missed it.

  And that infinitesimal particle of a second was all it took for him to know with utter certainty…there was no mistake, or ’never mind’ about it.

  It was completely insane after knowing him for only a few days time…but she was falling in love with him.

  C HAPTER THIRTEEN

  Adrielle had made very sure The Changeling had seen her as he’d stood outside the woman’s house when they‘d returned from their failed dinner date. She’d taken care to make sure she had shimmered in and out very slowly so he could detect her presence. She’d watched as he did a double take before going through the door, but he’d seemed to forget about it once they’d gone inside the warmth of the house. She’d followed them in, stayed for a short while and then shimmered out, only to return a couple hours later as they were saying goodbye.

  She had cloaked their bodies with her white light ‘wings’ as he’d kissed Willow moments ago, and for an instant, their souls had merged with her own. And she could feel not only the intense emotion that he felt for the human but her growing love for him as well.

  Was the woman a catalyst…or a distraction in his quest to figure things out and make the right choices to break his curse?

  So far he had figured out that his blood had the power to heal and she could sense the changes that had taken place inside his soul. There was no doubt in her mind now that she’d chosen correctly. She had peeked into what was residing inside of Samson’s heart when she had cloaked him and the human woman, and what she could feel was all of the things his soul had previously lacked. Now it was just a matter of time until he finished figuring out the puzzle.

  Funny the woman’s choice of words too, in that she’d called Samson a Guardian Angel as though she could see into a part of his soul that he didn’t know existed. At least not yet. Would he make the right choices? Adrielle didn’t know. For now she would stay close as the time drew near.

  It was forbidden for a Watcher/Guardian to disclose how to break a curse. Just as the priestess had said, each carries a burden of their own choosing. One dictated by the path they‘d walked. And only by their own choosing and the path they walk can they undo it.

  She may not be able to tell him how his curse worked or what would break it, but she could make her presence known and leave clues that might guide him in the right direction. And so she would.

  Maximus wouldn’t approve, she was certain, and in fact he would forbid her to do such a thing. So would the other Watchers. She had already broken the rules by allowing the Changeling to see her at all. But when had she ever given a damned about obeying rules, or Maximus or anyone else for that matter? Well-behaved women…or Guardians, certainly were not the ones who made history. And she intended to help shape history.

  She smiled as she shimmered back to their dimension to watch and wait for the right moment to make herself seen again…and heard.

  Samson drove the short distance to his newly rented apartment pondering what had just transpired between himself and Willow a few minutes ago. She hadn’t tasted his blood and yet, he had somehow merged with her soul for a split second. And he was even more baffled by the strange ‘apparition’ he’d seen standing outside on her front porch before they’d retreated inside. It had only lasted for a moment but it was long enough for him to make out the faded,
ghost- like outline of a golden being of light in the shape of a woman. She was transparent and golden….wearing some kind of long, wispy garment. The word ‘angel‘ came to mind, but he didn‘t believe in any of that crap.

  He believed in curses…and the devil. Yes, he‘d met the devil alright and she was a priestess of the Tuatha de D’anaan who’d uttered some strange thing about blood congealing, time standing still and man and stone being one and the same. They certainly were…because here he was. But angels?

  The apparition hadn’t moved or said a word, and he couldn’t make out her features. It’d happened so fast he wasn’t even sure his mind wasn’t playing tricks on him. And yet, somehow he knew it wasn’t.

  And then there’d been the incident with the cat and Willow finding out about it. Christ. To say it had been quite a day was an understatement. He shook his head. Yep. Quite a day indeed.

  He pulled into the driveway of the quadriplex. It was a four-unit place that was set off the road and seemed more like a house or private residence than an apartment building. It was cheap, likely because it was located so close to the graveyard, and convenient in his case for obvious reasons.

  He walked in, tossed the keys on the coffee table and his coat on the nearby chair. The box that had held is furry white ‘experiment’ subjects from this morning sat on the floor in the corner. He laid back against the soft cushions of the couch and flipped on the big screen tv figuring he would spend another long and sleepless night watching movies and educating himself to the culture of the day.

  But before long, he found himself….yawning? He smiled. Perhaps this sleep thing was not a one-time deal. The idea of laying down and enjoying a peaceful dream after a long day made him feel almost human. Almost.

  He thought about it for a moment and decided maybe he should do it up right and give it a try in the hopes that he could indeed drift off into the world of dreams. He got up, flipped off the screen, walked to the bathroom, brushed his teeth and headed to the bedroom. He quickly undressed, slipped under the covers and flipped on the tube in there, in hopes it would lull him into a slumber. He was wrong.