A Paranormal Easter: 14 Paranormal & Fantasy Romance Novellas

by Tiffany Carby

  “Yeah, I’m in here.” She was gathering her drawing materials from the table and wouldn’t look at him. “I’m glad you’re finally up. We have to leave soon.”

  “Leave? Where are we going?” He walked closer until he could smell her, then he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

  “The local church has done a lot for me. I work there sometimes. Today is their annual Easter celebration for the kids, and there’s a special Easter egg hunt that I really want to go to.”

  “Oh. Easter is a Christian holiday, right?”

  “You’re not Christian?” She didn’t say it like she was judging him or disappointed, just interested.

  Vichter didn’t have a religion at all. There was nothing he worshiped, and if there was one thing most humans didn’t understand, it was not having belief in a creation or afterlife.

  “I’m spiritual, I guess. I know there’s power in our world beyond our understanding, but I’ve never tried to put a name on it.”

  Ashlyn nodded and stood, blushing when she glanced at him. “That’s about where I am on the scale of things. But in a small town, having connections to the church is an advantage. Our local church is Episcopalian. I couldn’t tell you what they believe, but they are generous and understanding, and the people there are some of my closest friends. They are doing a free pot-luck for the community, and there’s a special prize in the egg hunt of $150 if you find the golden egg. And that’s just enough to get my water heater fixed.” She finished gathering all her supplies and went upstairs, not waiting to see if he followed.

  He couldn’t help but think he could buy her a mansion if she wanted one. But it’s hard to buy a house for a woman without her freaking out on you. And he wasn’t sure that if she asked him outright what he wanted in return, he wouldn’t just instantly blurt, “You!’” So it would be better if he didn’t go buying her a house. But he could take her to the church and help make sure she came home with that golden egg. He was intrinsically inclined to find treasure.

  Vichter gathered the egg and, using a little magic, formed a pocket on the inside of his t-shirt, then created a bulky windbreaker over that. He waited for her by the door, giving her a moment to finish getting ready or gathering her things. Ashlyn came down in a pretty sundress, with sandals and a sunhat with a floppy brim. She looked old-fashioned, like a girl from a painting, but it suited her. The sleeveless dress showed off her toned arms and long neck. There was so much skin for Vichter to try to refrain from touching. It was going to be a long damn day.

  “You look beautiful.”

  “Yeah, well, you try getting into a Southern church on Easter without your Sunday best. I’d be a laughing stock. And there’s something fun about sunhats and sandals with heels. It’s so impractical but so feminine at the same time. It’s the one time of year I look like a woman.” She put her hand over her mouth and laughed. “Well, you know what I mean.”

  “I assure you, Ash, you do look like a woman.” Vichter walked closer to her, near the back door, and leaned his arm against the jamb. “And smell like a woman.” He deliberately dipped his head close to her neck and inhaled deeply. “And feel like a woman.” He ran his finger down her arm. She didn’t back away from his advances, and she didn’t look offended or turned off. But she did look a little like a deer caught in the headlights, all big eyes and red cheeks. Her chest rose and fell with quick breaths. He backed up a little, to give her room, but she followed, taking a step toward him.

  “And you? Are you all man?” She looked him up and down and smiled like a Cheshire cat. “I’m gonna find out, Vichter. One day soon.” She walked past him with a sexy little sashay that had him adjusting his clothing. Again.

  -***-

  * * *

  Ashlyn

  Ashlyn was finding it hard to concentrate. She needed that money, but her eyes were more on Vichter than the nearby foliage.

  They were slowly walking down a path beside Cargo Creek. There was only a small patch of trees that separated them from the main church grounds. The path was one of Ash’s favorite places, and she often came here to draw. In the late fall, it was a great place to gather pecans. It was shaded and quiet, a wooded oasis in the middle of town.

  Vichter was in front of her, a huge distraction with his too-tight shirt and the trickles of sweat on the side of his neck. She wanted to throw him down in the moss and lick it off. She could already taste the salt on her tongue.

  Vichter stopped and turned, catching her off guard, and she fell backward, straight down the side of the creek. She gasped as the frigid water soaked her in an instant. Her skirt billowed up around her waist, and she struggled to stand and still stay covered.

  “Oh my God, Ashlyn!” Vichter jumped down, landing beside her with a splash.

  Sputtering, she wiped water from her eyes. Vichter leaned down, scooped her into his arms, and took off up the bank and straight through the thick brush on the side of the trail, undeterred by the clinging kudzu vines and dense trees. He was able to step over it, even though it was five feet thick and tall as he was. The man was just that graceful, even with 130 pounds of soaking-wet woman in his arms.

  Laying her down at the corner of the churchyard, he scanned her body with his hands, trying to find any injuries. She was shaking and hadn’t said much.

  “Ashlyn, are you okay? Are you hurt?”

  “Dammit, that was cold!” She was trying to push him away and wring out her skirt, but he wouldn’t stop touching her. Her hands weren’t working well, either, with all the shaking. “Vichter, back up, let me get this water out.” She stood, and he followed. She loved Vichter’s attention, but she felt like a drowned rat.

  Though spring was warm in Texas and the sun was high in the sky—making the temperatures higher than normal—they’d had a lingering winter this year, and the creek was shaded. If she could just catch her breath, she’d live. She squeezed what water she could from her dress.

  “Let’s take you to get a towel. They must have some in the church.” Vichter tried to pull her toward the stone building.

  “Nope. C’mon. This way. We gotta go.” Ashlyn took off toward the trail again. “Where did we come out? Show me where you pulled me out of the creek.”

  “Why?”

  “Just do it. Fast. C’mon.” She took off without him, struggling as her wet clothes caught the limbs and brush. He scooped her up again, easily traversing the difficult vegetation.

  “You’re gonna freeze to death.” He squeezed her tighter.

  Ashlyn was already feeling quite heated. Vichter’s arms were strong around her, holding her against his chest as he moved carefully through the brush.

  He was so warm, it was like having a heating blanket covering her side. She could feel muscles rippling beneath his shirt, sinewy and flat. She wanted to put her hands on them and feel them as he moved. She was beginning to wonder if she could control herself. What if she made a move and he didn’t react? What if he realized she had no idea what she was doing? She just didn’t know enough about men to know the signs. She could feel it, but she had no idea what he thought of her besides a weird sense of duty.

  Vichter set her down, and she used his forearms to steady herself on the slippery bank. Holding one of his arms for balance, she twisted around, looking again for the glimpse of gold she thought she saw as she was falling in the creek. Neither of them was wearing yellow, and they had been alone on the path. It could have been a flower, but it seemed bigger in her head.

  “I think I saw the golden egg. As I was falling. Is this where I fell?” Ashlyn whispered, afraid someone might hear. The clear water was still muddy in this spot, and there were scuff marks up and down the embankment.

  Walking a few feet back up the path, she tried to follow her steps. She didn’t see it anywhere, even under some of the low ferns at the sides of the path. Desperate, she carefully stepped down the bank, wading back into the water where she had fallen. The water didn’t feel as cold this time, but her sandals were already so
aked and muddy. She turned in a slow circle, and that’s when she saw it in the V of two trees. It was almost invisible against the trees’ golden bark.

  Thanking her instincts for taking her down this path, Ashlyn grabbed the egg and whooped with joy. Vichter had taken hold of her arm, never letting her go, even when she twirled and danced like a crazy person.

  When she landed against him, she seized his face in both hands and molded her lips against his. He took her lips as if they were his, completely and deeply.

  Ashlyn didn’t hesitate. She’d wanted to kiss him again, ever since last night. Something about him made her lose her inhibitions, her composure.

  Vichter took control, sucking on her lips gently and diving into her mouth with his tongue, tasting and licking, scraping his teeth along her tongue, driving her crazy. She could feel it, a spark of heat that gathered in the juncture of her thighs. She squirmed, unaccustomed to the intensity, and Vichter pulled her tighter against him, holding the back of her head with one hand and the small of her back with the other. She loved that he supported her because she could barely stand. The more he went alpha-male on her, the more she liked it.

  He pushed her away so suddenly, she stumbled, but he righted her immediately, staring down at her. She couldn’t read him at all. Was he angry? Disappointed?

  Vichter was breathless and gritting his teeth, a tic visible in his clenched jaw. His mouth was like paradise and home. She wanted to stay there, tasting him, touching him, holding him in the hidden darkness of the path. But the sounds of people around them told her their hideaway was not as private as it felt. And she was walking the edge of a cliff, afraid she’d fall any moment.

  Ashlyn was prepared for many emotions, but what she saw on his face made her blood surge. He was looking at her … differently. Like he was going to throw her to the ground, right here, kids be damned. It was raw lust. A deeper need was now evident on his face, and she reveled in it. His eyes said, “Touch me again.”

  But it didn’t explain why he was standing five feet from her, his arm still outstretched to stop her from approaching him.

  Ashlyn could tell he was unhappy. And even if he was attracted to her, wanted her, it was obvious he didn’t want to act on it. That he wanted her to stay back. And it hurt. It burned in her chest like fire. She was ashamed and confused. Maybe he hated it. Her awe and heat turned cold. She wouldn’t let him know he affected her, that he was confusing her into a puddle of emotional mess. And she would not approach him with him holding her off like a dog off its leash.

  “Let’s go grab some food, I’m starving.” Ashlyn took off up the path and hoped he wasn’t following. She couldn’t face him yet, afraid he’d see the hurt written on her face. Maybe if she played aloof, he’d want her more. She’d made two advances already, so out of character, but she was willing to take the chance. She couldn’t keep getting pushed away like this though. Her pride couldn’t take it.

  He could make the next move, the ass. If he wanted her, she was ready, but she wasn’t going to embarrass herself further by acting like he was her world.

  6

  Vichter

  Vichter used the time away from Ashlyn to gather his wits and try to figure out what to do about this thing that was becoming something more. He didn’t need complications right now. The entire dragon dynasty was counting on him, and no one knew where he was.

  He knew how rare it was to find someone like Ashlyn, someone who seemed to connect with him on a level he hadn’t felt before. She was honest and open with him and had taken him into her home. She trusted him, and he wasn’t sure why. She was so hard to read. He knew she was interested in him, but after every touch, every kiss, something went wrong, and she would flee. It didn’t do much to boost his confidence.

  Vichter went the opposite way of Ashlyn, giving her some space. He wasn’t very hungry and needed a moment to control his raging desire. He crossed the lawn to an empty area behind the church, away from the families gathered together on picnic blankets, laughing and playing with the kids. Seeing that made him miss his own family. He hadn’t seen them in months.

  Reaching up to his chest, wanting to touch the egg make sure it was still warm enough and safe, he froze. There was no mass there, no round bump where there should be. Reaching inside the jacket, the pocket was empty.

  Trying to remain calm, the egg was all he could think about now. How could he have lost it in a space full of humans? It was visible, as there was no magic within the dragon hatchling yet to protect itself.

  He had to retrace his steps. Maybe he’d lost it during the fall into the creek or during the kiss. He’d thought the egg was secure in the hidden pocket, but he was distracted while trying to take care of a soaking-wet Ashlyn. Could she have gotten it somehow? The only egg she’d kept was the golden egg. They weren’t giving out prizes until after lunch, so no one had gone home yet. Vichter took off across the lawn, hunting for Ashlyn while keeping his eye out for the egg. There was no magic he was skilled enough to use to find it.

  Finding her in the line for food, he took note of her crossed arms, how she was scowling at the ground, lost in thought. She looked sad.

  “Ashlyn?” He spoke her name softly, trying not to spook her as he approached.

  She barely looked at him. “You don’t have to stay in line with me. I’ll grab you a pla—”

  “I have a slight problem,” he interrupted, “and I really need your help.”

  “Now?” She looked back toward the end of the lengthy line of people. “I’ll lose my place in line. What’s going on?”

  “I lost something during the egg hunt. I need to find it. It’s really important.”

  “Okay … what did you lose?”

  Vichter looked around at the people closest. They weren’t even pretending not to listen. “Um … well, it’s the egg.”

  Ashlyn jerked her head up. “The egg? You lost your egg?” Her panic was instant and genuine, and it made his heart swell to know she cared that much.

  She suddenly left the line and headed toward several families that had already gotten their food and were chatting on their blankets.

  She walked around the group, stopping to talk to some of the children, looking through their baskets and laughing. Everyone wanted to know who had the golden egg, if anyone had found it. Ashlyn used that as an excuse to search.

  Vichter wanted to look down by the creek, just in case it was sitting out in the open or lost under the water, but he couldn’t leave Ashlyn. He went to stand close, praying she had a plan, that she could help him.

  “Hey, Jessica! Look at that weird egg you found! Can I see it?” Ashlyn pointed into the plastic bunny basket in front of a little girl about seven years old, who was clinging to her haggard mother. As Ashlyn sat down on their blanket, the little girl grabbed the egg—his egg—and scampered into Ashlyn’s lap.

  “Wow, Jessica! This looks way different than the other eggs. I like it!”

  “Mom thinks it might be a bird egg and says I should get rid of it. But I won’t!” Jessica tucked the egg closer to her little chest, wrapping her free arm around the egg, as if someone would try to take it from her.

  “Well, I don’t think it’s a bird egg, but it might be a monster egg.” Ashlyn growled and giggled.

  “There’s no such thing as monsters!” Jessica laughed.

  “You’re so right, Jess. But, just in case, how about we trade? I have a very special egg I know both you and your momma would love to keep. I’ll trade mine for yours if you like.”

  “What is it? Do you have one of those rainbow eggs with the little necklaces in them? I wanted one of those.”

  “Well, no, but it’s even better!” She pulled out her golden egg. The mother’s eyes grew round. Ashlyn smiled to let her know it was okay and winked. “How about this egg?”

  “Isn’t that the special egg? Momma, is that the egg you wanted, the one with the money?”

  “Yes, honey, I think it is. Ashlyn, you don’t have to trade her
that.”

  “But I want it for you, Momma! You wanted to find that one so bad. I’ll trade you, Ashlyn!”

  “It’s okay, Janice.” Ashlyn held up Vichter’s egg, which Jessica had already switched for the golden one she now tucked away in her free arm. “This is actually my friend’s egg. It’s just a bauble, but he’s had it in his family for years, and it brings him luck. And he helped me find the golden egg, so it must work! But he really wants it back.”

  “You can just take it, Ashlyn.” Janice was staring at the egg in her daughter’s hands. “You don’t have to give us your egg.”

  “Sure I do. A trade is a trade. Right, Jess?”

  “Yeah. And I want to give this to you, Momma.” She handed over the golden egg, happiness shining in her eyes.

  Janice reached out a shaking hand and took the egg. Her face said she really didn’t think it was right, but she took it anyway, tucking it deep into her tattered bag. “Thanks, Ashlyn. This is such a wonderful thing to do for us.”

  “I’m happy you guys will have it. You totally deserve something good. Happy Easter.” Ashlyn lifted Jessica back into her mother’s arms.

  Janice kissed her daughter all over her face, hugging her tightly. “You little imp, getting me such a wonderful present.”

  Ashlyn smiled down at the pair and walked away with a wave. She went to Vichter, who was leaning up against the side of the church, about five yards away.

  Ashlyn approached Vichter, contentment written on her face. She was both proud and happy. There was no disappointment or sadness for losing her coveted prize.

  “Here you go. Don’t lose it again. I don’t have anything left to trade.” She handed it over carefully and giggled. “You lost your egg at an Easter egg hunt. That’s just crazy!”

  “Crazier than a girl with no family opening her home to help out a stranger?”

  She jerked her head up, her laughter caught in her throat. “You’re not a stranger, Vichter.”