STEP (The Senses)

by Paterson, Cindy

  Waleron stared, unable to move as Delara strode past him, her footsteps quickly fading.

  The gallery door opened and closed.

  Her scent, which he had memorized and carried with him every second of every day since that fateful day they’d met, swam into his lungs.

  “Maitagarri,” he whispered. A single tear slipped from his eye. He barely felt it as he picked up the dresser beside him and threw it across the room. A deep crazed roar escaped his constricted throat.

  His unleashed fury of destruction went long into the night.

  EPILOGUE

  Rayne walked along the shore, her feet covered in fine grains of sand and the sun beating down on her heated skin. She had a slight tan now, the paleness erased by the sun and fresh air she’d tasted every single day for the past three months of their extended vacation. She smiled at the thought of Kilter and his relentless pursuit of finding three cottages within walking distance of one another. He had finally managed it in the Turks and Caicos and never looked back.

  None of them had. Well, maybe Delara, she was dealing with so much guilt and hurt that Rayne wondered how she even managed to get up in the morning. But she refused to talk with Rebecca—who had been ecstatic about taking a semi-sabbatical on the island with her husband—and whenever Waleron’s name came up in conversation, Delara went deathly pale.

  Rayne had to hand it to Kilter, he’d been very persuasive and persistent convincing Rebecca to come. Kilter actually tracked down Rebecca’s husband and gave him the generous offer. That sent Rebecca off on a tangent, but Rayne guessed that after they sat and discussed the pros and cons, it was a situation they couldn’t refuse.

  The ocean swept up on shore and washed the sand from her feet. Rayne closed her eyes at the sweet touch of coolness on her skin. She’d dreamed of days like these, the sand between her toes, the sun beating down on her skin and the soft hand of the wind in her hair. It seemed so long ago that she had walked alone on a path of self-destruction. Now, when she looked in the mirror, she saw the courageous woman she’d become.

  “Rayne,” Kilter called from the porch. “Pain in the butt called. He says he’ll call back tonight.”

  Rayne rolled her eyes. Kilter had started calling Waleron that after having to ask the guy for her hand in marriage. He still hadn’t given Kilter his blessing, and that pissed Kilter off big time. Rayne hadn’t told Kilter, but she asked her father why and he told her that he wanted to be certain Kilter was worthy of her. Waleron also said he’d consider it in two years. No way could she tell Kilter that, he’d have a raging fit.

  She watched Kilter walk down the porch steps and come towards her with casual agile strides, the stiffness in his shoulders gone, and the tension in his expression faded. The vacation had done them both good, away from the violence and the tribulations. She suspected by Kilter’s relaxed and easygoing manner that perhaps he was also healing from his past.

  They both were.

  His walk was confident as he approached wearing an irresistible half grin. Her heart did a double leap and her body tingled with bliss.

  He reached her, and without hesitation, grabbed her around the waist and drew her close. His naked chest pressed against her bikini top and she instantly felt the tantalizing warmth of his skin. His lips descended and she moaned under his possessive, brilliant kiss, which made her body burn with desire.

  He swept his fingers through her damp tendrils, then drew back so he could look at her. “Your father refuses to give his consent. I swear that man is testing my patience.”

  Rayne hid her smile and instead placed a light peck on the tip of his nose. “He is overly cautious and protective. But he likes you.”

  “Ha. He hates that I love you. He’d rather Tye were holding you right now.” Kilter ran his fingers down her back. “God, you feel good. Do you think your mother can see us from here because—”

  “Kilter!” Rayne squirmed when his hand slid down her back and over her butt to her thighs. “It’s broad daylight. So inappropriate.”

  “Hmm,” he murmured as his lips nuzzled her neck. “And you know how I love inappropriate, baby.”

  She felt a tickle on her thigh and used her opposite foot to swat away whatever was taking her mind off the delicious sensations Kilter was burning through her body.

  Burning. She felt burning. A tickle of sensation in her inner thigh and . . . she jerked from Kilter’s arms and he groaned with frustration. When he saw her expression, he instantly went on alert, his eyes roaming over her body, wondering what was wrong.

  “Babe, what is it?” Kilter grabbed her hand then dropped it as if he’d been stung. “Fuck, you’re hot. What the hell is . . .”

  A white light swirled into the air then suddenly blossomed into Serafina and her daunting, beautiful smile and glorious red hair.

  “Serafina,” Rayne cried with glee and leapt into her childhood friend’s arms. “I thought . . . Serafina, I thought you were dead.”

  “Now, now, Rayne-drop, don’t get all mushy with me. I hate that crap.” Her gaze turned to Kilter and her dramatic brows rose with delight. “Oh, now he is delicious enough to eat. Tell me this is Galen. You promised I could have Galen.”

  Rayne laughed at Kilter’s shocked expression and noticed how he took a step back from her Scar. For once, he looked uneasy. “Not Galen. Kilter. And he is all mine, so hands off, Serafina. And be good, I don’t need Kilter knowing all my secrets.”

  “Like that I beat your ass at chess and that you sucked your thumb until you were six and that you peed your—”

  “Enough, or you’re going back without the game I promised,” Rayne said.

  “This is your Scar?” Kilter asked with astonishment.

  Serafina pouted and ran her hand through her mass of curls. “Did I forget to do my hair again? I don’t usually scare this easily. Is he a wuss, Rayne-drop? I thought you said you had hot sex with—”

  “Okay, stop embarrassing me.” Rayne could feel her cheeks heightening to a deep red hue and Kilter now was looking rather amused. “Better yet, stop talking.”

  Kilter chuckled. “I’d liked to hear some of your stories, Serafina. Perhaps over a game of chess.”

  “Oh no,” Rayne cried.

  Serafina giggled with delight, her hands clapping while she jumped up and down. “Oh yes. Let’s. Now. Can we play now? Rayne-drop promised me a game with Galen, but I will take you instead.”

  Rayne groaned, rolling her eyes. Serafina would have told Kilter every little stupid childish thing she’d done by the end of the first game. And she had no doubt that Kilter would be snagged into several hundred games. Kilter gave a nod, grinning from ear to ear.

  “Fine, Serafina,” Rayne said. “Go on ahead and get it set up. It’s in the—”

  “Yeah, yeah, Rayne-drop, I will find. I love a good seek.” Serafina skipped off towards the house.

  “So that’s your Scar,” Kilter said coming up beside her and putting his arm around her waist and dragging her close so he could kiss her temple. “Fascinating. Quite odd that she speaks and rises without your calling. You are our Taldeburu’s daughter, however.”

  “Yeah, well, Serafina has always been rather unusual.” She began to smile. Serafina was alive. “You’ll get used to her.”

  Kilter’s hand curled around the back of her neck. “If she’s a part of you, then I’m sure I’ll love her just the same.” He lowered his head, his mouth descending.

  “Hey, Mr. Hot Pants,” Serafina interrupted with a shout from the porch. “I think you better cool it with that stuff for the next eight and half months. Rayne-drop is in a delicate condition, you know.”

  Rayne gasped, putting her hand to her abdomen.

  Kilter’s mouth dropped open as he stared at her stomach.

  Their eyes met.

  Kilter’s eyes danced with mischief and delight. “Now he will have to say yes.”

  Rayne laughed as she was swept up into his arms.

  To: Delara@senses.com


  From: Waleron@senses.com

  Re: Tarek is rising

  Message: You left the island months ago. Where are you? I want you back here. Tarek is rising. Damn it Delara, I will not be ignored any longer.

  Message

  For any who may relate to Rayne’s struggles, please tell someone and seek help. It may be terrifying, you may feel safer behind the wall you’ve built or you may think it’s safer to stay hidden. But you need to tell someone, anyone. Ask for help and listen to those who love you because sometimes you can’t always see clearly.

  There are many amazing professionals to help you. They are caring, supportive, and everything is completely confidential. When you begin to get healthy, it will become clear. It’s a new beginning that pulls you from the darkness, more courageous and strong than you’ve ever been.

  I told someone. You can too.

  The National Eating Disorder Information Centre. A wealth of information with links to places that can help all across the world. http://www.nedic.ca/

  Toronto:

  http://www.sheenasplace.org/

  http://www.eatingdisorderstherapy.ca/

  http://www.edoyr.com/

  THE END

  Thank you for taking the time to read STEP. Please share your thoughts and write a review. The Senses Book 3 entitled FALL is coming spring 2013.

  BLOVEL: “RUN” the Prequel to JUMP. Anstice and Keir’s story. New Chapter every Monday posted on my blog. http://cindypaterson.wordpress.com/

  I love to hear from my readers, so please say hello on my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cindy-Paterson/314197055296685?ref=hl

  or my website

  http://www.cindypaterson.ca/

  or Twitter

  https://twitter.com/Cindy_Paterson

  Goodreads

  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5752156.Cindy_Paterson

  FALL Coming Spring 2013

  “He’s destroying me—us. I need him like my next breath, yet I’m suffocating.”

  An unrequited love that has ripped her to pieces.

  Delara has loved Waleron for over a century. Their intense chemistry is sensual, gripping, irresistible. But tragedy struck, and after sixty-one years of believing he was dead, Waleron returns a tortured man. He claims the man she loves is dead, yet the undeniable sexual tension still pulls them together.

  “I am no longer the man you love, maitagarri. I am incapable of it.”

  Waleron has given his oath to protect the Senses. He will sacrifice everything for them. But there is one Senses he has vowed to protect more than any other—Delara. He will do anything to make certain she is safe, even if it means he must deny her the love they once shared.

  She is the hunted.

  Delara’s life is in jeopardy and Waleron will do anything to protect her. But he never suspected that Xamien, the man he brings to help protect her is way more important to her than he ever knew.

  Torn between two men and hunted by another, Delara must fight her hardest battle—herself.

  Bibliography

  Cindy Paterson lives in Toronto with her Newfoundland dog, Yorkshire terrier and her two unusual cats. She has been writing since childhood and studied English at York University. When she isn’t writing she can be found playing with her horses or creating Aquascapes for her fish. Oh yeah, she also runs a veterinary hospital.