Paranormal After Dark: 20 Paranormal Tales of Demons, Shifters, Werewolves, Vampires, Fae, Witches, Magics, Ghosts and More

by Rebecca Hamilton

  “Mmm,” he answers into mine.

  The red lights flick on and the flashbulb-glaring light explodes into the room. I catch a glimpse of blue eyes and dark hair. “Jonas?” I utter, bewildered.

  “Vienna?” he whispers. He chuckles. “I heard you liked kissing. How did I do?”

  His voice is a low purr in my ear. “You were fantastic,” I whisper back.

  “We’re leaving,” a female voice counters.

  It’s back to pitch dark.

  “Sorry, but I need to leave,” Jenner calls. “We have to leave the party.”

  “Is it an emergency?” Kayos calls.

  “It is to me,” her high-pitched, shrill voice states.

  “If it’s not an emergency, you’re here for the duration. It was in the contract.”

  What contract? What are they talking about? Then I remember something Magicka told me about the terms of agreement to play the game. Everyone has to sign on the virtual dotted line. He must have signed on my behalf. It’s that, or someone else signed for me. I know I sure didn’t read the fine print. I didn’t even receive it.

  “The next body part is breasts,” Kayos calls.

  “Get over here, Jonas,” Jenner hisses. “Who are you macking on? Who is that?”

  He says nothing.

  “Jonas, now.”

  “Quiet!” Kayos’s voice cuts through the dark. “Quiet or you’ll be extracted for cheating.”

  Jenner stills.

  “Breasts, male or female. Get to it.”

  Someone’s hands find me. The hands pull up my shirt and start to caress. They knead and nudge. They finger my nipples until they’re hard as nuggets. I bring my face close to this guy’s ear. “Is that you?” I whisper in a low, low voice. “Is that really you?”

  His nose slides up and down my cheek but he says nothing.

  The heat from his open mouth makes me melt. I finger his chest, brushing lightly over the hairs. I graze his nipples with my fingertips. I roll them back and forth between my fingers, delighting in the way they bunch into a tiny erection.

  “I heard you liked nipple exploration, too.”

  His voice is so soft it’s like a quiet breath in my ear.

  Grunts and protests chime from nearby. “Stop it! Stop touching me!”

  It’s Jenner. She’s a few feet away from me and pitching a fit.

  “Jonas! Jonas! We’re done, Jonas.”

  “I’ll never be done with you, V.”

  His barely audible whispers land in my ear as he nuzzles my face with the tip of his nose. Is he talking about me or his situation with Jenner? He rolls away as the red light glows and the burst of light illuminates the space.

  “Infraction,” Kayos calls. “Get her out of here.”

  “It’s all right, I’ve got this,” Jonas says. “Come on, Jen, let’s go. You’ve had too much to drink.”

  The pair clumps from the room and the game proceeds. But I don’t feel anyone else. I think I participate. I may even moan a time or two. But if I do, I’m moaning for Jonas’s lips on mine. The feel of him was better than any fantasy. It was real and it was solid heat, stirred with a heart-felt twist. It was better than six glasses of Devil’s Juice. It was irrefutable. It was love.

  Chapter 14

  I’M AWAKE. I’M so awake. I’m so fucking awake I can barely stand it. After being dragged home by Magicka I slept like a baby for a few hours, until dawn pushed its insistence into my bedroom and poked me with shards of light.

  Nigel is standing on my chest peering down at me. You look different.

  “Different how?”

  Pretty darn bright around the edges. He squints. Your aura is kind of bright. Turn it down. I thought you were all, ‘I’m so drug-free.’

  “I didn’t take any drugs. I never take drugs.”

  Really?

  “Yes, really. All I had last night was a mixed drink.”

  Mixed with drugs. Now, get up and feed me.

  “You’re so bossy.” I push his face away from me, gasping at the sensation of his fur against my skin. Even that’s too intense. I feel like someone stuck a cattle prod into my veins and turned it up high. Then, they inserted a five thousand lumen light into my brain. Magicka was right—everything is enhanced today. Every thread of my six hundred thread count soft sheets grates against my skin. The blankets are weighty against my legs. My acrid sweat burrows into my nose, the scent prickling against my nostrils. “Whew! I need a shower!” I fling back the sheets and the scent of my core seeps into my awareness like pleasured musk. “Wow. That’s intense.” I savor the smell. “Is this what it’s like for my lovers?” I sit up and search the floor for my slippers. I chuckle. “Maybe I can weave that into the fantasies. Wow.”

  Scenes crowd my head. Magicka’s face peers at me, disapproving and exasperated. The big giant Cro leers at me in my mind, huge and delighted at the thought of a new playmate. The kiss…the kiss scene catapults me backward against my fluffy pillows. My lips tingle. My mouth slackens. Thanks to the D, it’s as if Jonas is on top of me in vivid detail, pushing his rigid erection into my hips as he explores my mouth with his.

  My heart feels like it’s going to explode from the pressure blasting through it. It’s a furnace of fiery sensation. It takes me a moment to realize it’s my pulse-com going off indicating it’s a friend.

  “Yeah,” I say.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Hey, Magicka. What are you doing up so early?”

  “I haven’t slept yet. After my babysitting duties ended I got lucky.”

  “Same guy as last time?”

  “Oh, no, that’s so last week. This is a new guy. Very nice. Hung like a horse.”

  “Okay, okay. So why are you calling me, then?”

  “I just got up to go pee and thought to check on you. I figured you’d be awake. The Devil’s Juice doesn’t allow much rest. You’ll crash in a few hours. Be prepared.”

  “You could have told me that before I consumed it.”

  “Who am I to say what’s right and what’s wrong? Besides, it was in the contract that I sent you. You did read the contract, didn’t you?”

  “I never got it.”

  “Really? Who did I send it to?”

  “Don’t know but it wasn’t me.”

  “Hmm.”

  We both fall silent. “I…” I begin. I think of Jonas and my face burns. “How did you enjoy the party?”

  “Oh, it was fine once the lights went out and I let you find your own way.”

  “Stop being a snarky bitch.”

  “I’m just saying. You were cute, actually. A Devil’s Juice virgin.” He chuckles. “And the party was all right. It wasn’t one of Kayos’s best.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Trust me. That man can throw an event.”

  “I thought it was pretty cool. I even…”

  “You even what?”

  “Okay.” I sigh. “I kissed Jonas.”

  “You what?”

  “Jonas was there. With Jenner. When we were told to do lips, I…we…” Assaulted by memory, I stop speaking.

  “Lord Jesus and Mother Mary! Is that part of their little restoration project?”

  “I don’t know. We didn’t actually talk about it.”

  “I wonder…why would that bitch allow him to come to a party like that? Maybe she thought it would improve their sex life or something.”

  “Maybe. Who knows? But it was incredible. The kiss, I mean.” Just talking about it brings it all to the surface again in soft, succulent, detailed delight. “How long will I get to relive it with such vivid imagery and detail?” I hope it never goes away.

  “Oh, the D will wear off in about twelve hours from the last sip. You’ve got a few more pleasured hours to go, I imagine. Speaking of pleasure, I hear the call of the wild coming from the bedroom. Signing off now.”

  The com ends and I stare into space. Maybe Jonas will call today? I chew on my lip as the vivid imagery floods my senses. I�
�ll bet people get addicted to the Juice. It makes everything so, so, so detailed. It’s like I’m living it all over again, only better than the first time. Maybe I’m adding details, I think with a chuckle. Maybe that’s part of the fun of my Headspace. No rules. Whatever you can imagine. My thoughts slam into the wall of reason, quashing my musing. Jonas is right. There’s no comparison. I’d really prefer to be with Jonas, in the flesh, right fucking now. Fucking him, I add with a chuckle.

  Are you ready to feed me yet, princess? Nigel stands on my chest and peers at my face.

  “Get off of me. Your claws are like high heels digging into my chest.”

  Want to feel my teeth? Feed me so I don’t chew on your arm.

  “Will you leave me alone?”

  Don’t I usually when my needs are met?

  I roll out of bed and follow my cat out of the room, the memory of Jonas’s lips burning a hole in my headspace like a sweet song of longing.

  Chapter 15

  OF COURSE I don’t hear from Jonas all day. Of course. As the day wears on, I’m tempted to pulse-com him but I resist. Let him call me. Bastard. At 10 p.m., I check my HoloMess 500 system to see what the schedule is tonight. The Twins are scheduled for midnight. Himeros is scheduled for 10:15. Shivers pulse through me. Clients usually don’t have that effect on me.

  At 10:12, I saunter into my Headspace. Three minutes later, on the dot, I get the pulse-com. “Hey, big dog…”

  “Stop.”

  I stop, faltering.

  “Stop with the ‘big dog’ bullshit.”

  “Okay. It’s not…”

  “I’ve got needs.” He flashes into the scene looking ten times more succulent than last time, if that’s possible. He flexes his biceps and turns back and forth, letting me gaze at him. His cock is engorged, swollen, standing at attention. His chest is massive, strong.

  “We’ve all got needs, sugar. How’s about you share the control in here? I could disengage as easily as I can get you off.”

  “I want to get you off.”

  “Name your pleasure.” I scan to access his desire.

  “Stop scanning me.”

  I let out an exasperated breath. “If you don’t abide by the rules, we don’t play, got it?”

  “Got it. But you don’t scan me, capisce?”

  “I’m not one of your wives.”

  “Been checking up on me, have you?” He laughs.

  It’s a deep, throaty laugh. It causes a ripple of pleasure to course up my spine. “Just doing my job. So what’s this thing with you and cattle?”

  “This is my fantasy. I call the shots in here.”

  I pause, assessing the situation. “Are you going to tell me what you want or should I guess?”

  “I want you to guess.” He smiles slowly. His eyes glint with desire. His mouth parts.

  My Sultana avatar meanders up to him, wearing a silky robe, black panties, and a black bra. She reaches out to touch his chest.

  He grabs Sultana’s wrists and holds them in the air. “I want a different avatar.”

  My Sultana-self shrugs. “Which one? I have several to choose from.”

  “I want one you’ve never used before on anyone.”

  “That’s extra.” The lights in the corner flash green, indicating a deposit.

  “One you’ll only use with me.”

  No one’s ever asked me to do that before. My avatar shrugs again. “That’s still more.” Again the lights flash green. My eyes narrow. “You’re going to have to tell me what you want if you won’t let me access your desires.”

  “That’s easy. I want all of you.” His cock twitches. “Exclusively.”

  My body pulses with desire. I swallow. Somehow this doesn’t feel like a game tonight. “Okay.” I’m cautious. Hungry for this avatar. Horny as hell. Usually these games consist of me playing out some secret fantasy of the guy. I guess this guy has a secret fantasy of being a woman’s dream partner. I can roll with that. “What do you want me to look like?”

  “Your choice.”

  I cock my head. A stripper? Pole dancer? I dismiss idea after idea and finally settle on a brunette version of myself with subtle differences. Same blue-green eyes. Same build. Short chocolate hair. Dimples. A mole on the right cheek. I don’t have dimples. I don’t have a mole. I definitely don’t rock short chocolate hair. That would never do.

  “That will suffice.”

  “That will suffice? Should I make her more…”

  “I said that will do. It’s close to my fantasy.”

  “What would you like to do first?”

  “You tell me.”

  “You paid for the fantasy, Himeros.”

  “And I’m asking for what I want. I want you to tell me…guide me…let me know what you want.”

  I want to have an orgasm, that’s what. I’ll never tell him that. My avatar studies him. If he’s the god of uncontrollable desire, I am desire itself. I’m flooded with want, sure that the real panties tucked around my real hips are drenched. I remember the smell of my core I caught a big whiff of this morning. I add that to the scene, pleased with my detailing.

  “Mmm, what did you just do?” he growls. “That’s making me want you like never before.”

  Like never before? I blink. “Just added a sensory touch to the avatar. Do you like?”

  He grabs my avatar’s hand and places it on his smooth, hard cock. “What do you think?”

  His cock feels warm underneath my avatar’s hand. Is this still the effect of the D? I’ve never had an encounter like this. Not in this Headspace. I mean, I’m good with the sensory world of my imagination but not like this.

  “I’d say the answer is yes.” I match his vocals, intensity for intensity, growling my answer. “Do your other wives know about this?”

  “Leave them out of it.”

  “What’s next, big dog?”

  “Don’t call me that. My name is Himeros.”

  I swallow, cowed. “Okay. What’s next?”

  “You tell me.”

  My avatar studies him again. I think the answer is kissing. I move close to his avatar face, smelling the heat and musk arising from him. This is freaking awesome. It’s like he’s in my Headspace. “How’d you do that?”

  “How’d I do what?”

  “The scent. The smell. Your avatar.”

  “I’ll never tell.” A feral smile grows along his face. “Do you like?”

  “Mm hmm.”

  “So, what’s next?” He extends his tongue and runs it in a slow sweep along his lips.

  “I think you want to be kissed.”

  “Do I?”

  “Yes. You do.”

  “Is that want you want?”

  “Oh, yeah.” I seize his face in my hands and press my lips to his, hungrily, insistently, devouring him. His tongue plunges into me and I suck on the slippery flesh inside my mouth. I break apart, panting. He thrusts his erection against my hips…my avatar’s hips…I want him inside of me…I mean my avatar….oh, hell, I’m getting so confused. “Oh, God, Himeros. What are you doing to me?”

  “Just acting out a fantasy, that’s all.”

  “It’s a really good fantasy.”

  “Is it?”

  “Oh, yes.”

  He smiles, pleased and self-satisfied. “Good. What’s next?” He picks up a brunette strand between his fingertips and twirls it. He presses the warm flesh of his abdomen and chest against my avatar or me, I can’t tell. I seem to have lost my way between what’s fantasy and what’s reality in here tonight. His body embraces me and my knees get all weak.

  Stop this. Stay in control. I urge my body to assume control but it seems to have a mind of its own tonight. I melt into my sheepskin rug. The room starts to flicker.

  “Stay with me. Stay with me,” Himeros urges. “Don’t go away.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.” I’m panting. I’m actually panting.

  His avatar melts alongside me and he rams his rigid erection into my back……I mea
n my avatar’s back. This is getting way too confusing.

  “Enter me. Please,” I beg. I’m not used to begging. “Take me from behind.” I’m swollen with want and need.

  “Not yet.” He presses tender kisses on the top of my scalp, on my neck, on my shoulder.

  I can feel the head of his erection pressed against my ass and I wriggle, trying to get it inside me. This is so not a game tonight. I feel like the edges between reality and fantasy are blurred.

  “What’s your avatar name?” he breathes into my ear.

  “It’s Desire. Nothing but Desire, baby. Desire for you and you alone.” I can’t tell if I’m kidding. My Headspace is all wrong tonight. Or maybe it’s all right. I smile.

  “Good. I like that name for you.”

  I scoot my ass back, trying to cajole him to enter me, not my avatar, but he resists. “Don’t you want me?’ I whisper.

  “You have no idea.”

  His voice is like creamy silk, sliding into my ear. I close my eyes and savor the sensation. “I’m going to have to give you your money back.”

  “Why would you do that?” His hands reach around and cup my breasts. “I’ve got plenty.”

  “Yeah, but this feels so one sided. It feels like it’s all for my pleasure.”

  “Your pleasure is my pleasure, I can assure you. This is what I dreamed of doing.”

  You dreamed of doing this? His hands roam over my sensitive flesh. The virtual flesh of my avatar, I correct. This is all make-believe.

  “Shit.”

  The word emerges from him, sharp and alarming. “What?” I say, tensing. “What did I do?”

  “Nothing, baby. It’s not you. It’s just one of my…one of my…one of my wives wants me. I gotta go. I’m in…”

  That same sense of something wrong about this scene fills me. Something about what he’s telling me doesn’t make sense.

  “Will you come back?” I can’t believe how desperate I sound.

  “Maybe. Not sure. We’ll see. Gotta go, babe.”

  The space fills with darkness and need, my need. I lie in the darkness, my pussy throbbing, thinking about what just happened. Who is this guy, Himeros, in real life? What’s his story? Honestly, I don’t know and I don’t care. The only thing I care about is that he enters my Headspace on a regular basis. I want this avatar as my own.