“What a stunning piece.” I gestured to the artwork.
She turned to me with hollow eyes. Beautiful, yet haunted, her vacant expression made me shudder. It was one I had seen many times before, when I peered at my reflection in the mirror.
She shook her head as if to clear it, then smiled a genuine smile. “It is, isn’t it? It’s been passed down through my family for generations.”
“And you’re selling it?” I couldn’t imagine parting with such a beautiful heirloom.
“Appraised for insurance purposes. You?”
“Satisfying my curiosity, although my perfume bottle is probably worthless.”
“You never know,” she said, and polite as she was, something in my gut was niggling me. Did I know her? Maybe we went to the same college?
“Are you from here?” I asked.
“Recently moved to town.”
“I’m Katerina.”
I offered my hand, and we shook before she said, “Zia.”
We fell into discussing one of my favorite topics—restaurants in the city. It was rare that I connected with someone, or even allowed myself to. So, when my name was called a short time later, I scrawled my number on a sheet of paper and handed it to her.
“Nice meeting you. If you ever want to grab some coffee or lunch, give me a call.”
“I will, thanks.”
Thirty minutes later, I emerged from the expert’s office and immediately called Ana.
“You know that bottle you gave me?” I said as soon as she answered.
“Yeah,” she said in a hushed tone, leading me to assume she was at the library.
“It’s worth four to six thousand dollars.”
“What?” she shrieked before murmuring a string of apologies. “Kati, that’s…crazy. And so freaking awesome. What are you going to do with it?”
“Well, that kind of depends on you, since you’re the one who found it.”
“And I gave it to you. Keep it if you want. Sell it if you don’t. Your call.”
I clutched the crate close to my side. “I know I should sell it and use the money to move, but I can’t bear to part with it.” Nor could I bear the idea of not seeing Declan every day.
“Then keep it. Between your blog and your job, it won’t be long until you have enough for a deposit.”
“I might. Anyway, I have to get home and get ready.”
“For a date?” she asked in a singsong voice.
“No comment,” I said, and she laughed.
I returned to the apartment and got ready for my date with Elias, not sure what to expect. Having showered and curled my hair, I brushed out the curls so they would fall into large, loose waves around my face. Finally satisfied, I slipped into my dress and double-checked that I was wearing my necklace. The stone glinted, catching the light in its facets and creating an effect that was dazzling. I smiled at my reflection, genuinely excited.
When I opened the door, Elias looked sharp and sexy, dressed in black, fitted slacks and a button-down shirt. “For you,” he said, presenting me a beautiful bouquet of peonies.
Secretly delighted, I hid my smile behind the fragrant blooms and inhaled deeply. “Thank you.”
On the way to the lobby, I admired the handsome couple reflected in the doors of the elevator. Elias’s eyes skimmed up my legs to my face, his gaze caressing my skin without actually touching me. When our eyes met in the reflection, desire simmered below the surface, threatening to bubble over if left unchecked.
I toyed with my necklace, seeking reassurance from the talisman as I vowed not to lose control again. Of course, my movement drew his attention, and his eyes darkened. Knowing that his desire was completely authentic, unaffected by my powers, was a heady sensation. It made me feel sexy, powerful even, and I was struck once more by the strength of our chemistry.
“Where are we headed?” I asked as we stepped out onto the sidewalk.
The corner of his mouth tilted. “It’s a secret.”
“What will it take to convince you to tell me?”
He chuckled. “Wow, you really don’t like surprises, do you?”
I shook my head. “Not at all.”
“Hmm, you may be in for some disappointment then, as I don’t know the answer myself.” He laughed when he caught sight of my expression.
“What does that mean?”
“Get lost with me?” He interlaced our fingers, and I forgot my anxiety over not knowing what to expect and focused instead on the sensation of his hand clasping mine. Suddenly his laissez-faire plan for the evening was all the more appealing—spontaneous and romantic, even.
I flashed him a smile. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
We turned a corner, and I realized how little attention I’d been paying to our surroundings. Planters overflowing with flowers bordered the street, and tables lined the sidewalk. How had I never discovered this charming haven? Probably because I’d always been focused on a particular destination, instead of allowing myself to “get lost,” as Elias said.
“Where would you like to eat?” He swept his arm wide to encompass the street.
I used my free hand to extract my phone from my purse and swiped open my Fork in the City app. Menus populated the screen, and I was about to select one to peruse when Elias snatched my phone from my hand. “Nope, no cheating.”
“How is it cheating?”
“Because it’s no fun unless you pick one completely at random.”
“But,” I spluttered, “how will I know if the food is good or what the best dish to order is?”
“We’ll just have to find out for ourselves, won’t we?” He raised an eyebrow, daring me.
Unwilling to back down from a challenge, I scanned the street until one of the restaurants caught my eye. Most of the tables were occupied, and their logo was attractive.
“That one.” I pointed, hoping their food was as appealing as the graphic design.
“Excellent decision.”
Seated at one of the patio tables with a glass of wine, I started to relax. The appetizers had been delicious, and I couldn’t complain about the company. Elias was as smart as he was handsome, and I enjoyed his witty banter.
“You strike me as a foodie,” Elias said after the waiter took our order.
“Are you implying that I’m picky?” It wouldn’t be the first time, I thought.
“You said it, not me.” He smirked.
“Well, for your information, I’m not picky. I’m particular.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “Of course, you’d say that. In that case, may I suggest that you have a discerning palate?”
“Because that doesn’t sound at all pretentious.”
He sipped his wine with a contemplative expression. “You’re right, it does give off a rather pompous air.”
“So, in addition to being picky, I’m also pretentious and pompous?” I teased.
“Clearly my efforts at seduction are wasted on you,” he deadpanned.
“You said it, not me.” I bit back a smile. “And I am particular about food. It probably comes from having a well-trained sense of smell and a mother who’s an excellent cook.”
Our meal was delivered, and I cut into the chicken, my mouth watering at the delicate blend of herbs. Elias’s salmon looked equally delicious, and I decided this was one of my new favorite restaurants. And we’d discovered it on a whim. Maybe I needed to be more open to adventure.
“Does that come from your superhuman abilities?”
I froze mid-cut, and my knife grated against the plate with a cringeworthy screech. As if that wasn’t embarrassing enough, I watched in horror as a piece of chicken flew across the table and landed in his wine glass with a plop.
Elias barked out a surprised laugh then raised the glass to his lips and took a sip. “An unusual blend, robust, yet light on the palate.” I couldn’t help but laugh at his description as the waiter replaced his wine.
“Where were we? Ah yes, my inner geek was showing with my
talk of superhuman abilities. Although, living with Declan, you must be subjected to talk about comics, at least the artistic aspects.”
Suddenly feeling ridiculous for jumping to conclusions, I said, “Yes, Declan’s greatest passion is comic art.”
“One of his greatest passions,” Elias corrected, shooting me a meaningful look as he leaned back in his chair. “If you could have a superpower, what would you choose?”
“I wouldn’t,” I answered a little too quickly.
“Not even the ability to fly or control the weather? Come on, you can’t tell me that wouldn’t be amazing.”
I sipped my wine, contemplating how to best phrase my response as the sun set in the distance. “From the few comics I’ve read, the powers often seem like more of a burden than a blessing.”
He shook his head, wide-eyed. “You’ve got it all wrong. Powers have to be respected, used responsibly, but they’re a gift. They’re sacred.”
The waiter arrived with the check, and I considered Elias’s words. He made it sound so simple, when the reality was anything but. Still, he was right about one thing—powers demanded respect. Good intentions or not, magic was dangerous.
He draped his arm around me as we wandered aimlessly along the river, passing buskers and food carts. Despite the clouds looming in the darkening sky, I couldn’t imagine a nicer evening. Elias let me dictate the route, and in handing over control, he gave me the freedom to escape from my need to have everything planned.
Not ready for the date to end, I found myself asking, “Drinks?”
“Do you need to check out some bars on your app first?” he teased.
I shook my head and grinned. “I’m good.”
We ducked into a random bar, threading through the crowd to order drinks. Music played over the speakers, and we sipped our drinks and flirted, neither of us attempting any serious conversation. The more time I spent with Elias, the more I was drawn to his devil-may-care attitude, sucked into his orbit where he challenged me to let go.
When I excused myself to the restroom, he slid his hand from my thigh, and I was surprised by how much I missed the contact. Thanks to the necklace, I hadn’t shied away from his touch, and if anything, it made me want more.
As I washed my hands, I peered at my reflection to discover my skin flushed with excitement, an easy smile on my face. But my good mood vanished immediately upon returning to the hallway. Shrouded in the dim light, a woman cowered before a man who inched closer despite her uninviting body language.
When she shook her head but he still didn’t budge, I shuffled from foot to foot, hesitating. I could ignore what I’d seen and walk away, leaving the woman to face him alone. Or with a simple touch, a brief glance, I could convince him to leave. Maybe Ana was right, maybe I should stop fighting my abilities and embrace them. What was the point of having the ultimate power of persuasion if not to help others?
Decision made, I slipped the necklace over my head and into my purse as I edged closer.
“Do you have a light?” I asked.
The man turned his head, and I was amused by how quickly his annoyed expression morphed into one of surprise. His eyes swept my body, and I knew I’d successfully captured his attention.
He removed his arms from the wall and faced me. All the while, I maintained eye contact, placing a hand on his forearm as if flirting. “On second thought, I don’t need a lighter, but I think you’ve had a little too much to drink. It’s time to call a cab and go home. Alone.”
He nodded and stumbled down the hall. The woman watched him go, opening and closing her mouth a few times like a fish while I tried not to laugh.
Finally recovering herself, she said, “How the heck did you do that?”
“There must have been something in the martinis.” I winked and left her standing there staring after me.
“Everything okay?” Elias asked when I hopped onto the stool next to him.
“Everything is great.” I smiled. I’d used my powers to help someone, and I hadn’t blacked out or been discovered. I wasn’t a freak; I was…someone’s hero. It was exhilarating.
He cocked his head to the side. “Weren’t you wearing a necklace?”
I clutched frantically at my throat then remembered I’d slipped it in my purse. I hastily secured the charm around my neck once more.
Someone tapped me on the shoulder, and I turned to find the woman from the hall standing next to me. “Sorry to interrupt, but I wanted to buy you a drink to say thank you.”
I waved a hand through the air. “It’s really not necessary. Besides, we were about to head out.” I ignored the curious look Elias shot me as he polished off the rest of his drink.
“If you’re sure…”
“Absolutely.” I gave her a reassuring smile and returned my attention to Elias, relieved she took the hint, soon disappearing into the crowd.
I downed the rest of my drink and stood. “You ready?”
It wasn’t until we were outside that Elias asked, “So what was that about?”
“A guy was paying her a little too much attention, so I stepped in. No big deal.”
He nodded but said no more, linking our hands as if it was the most natural thing in the world. I decided right then that if Elias had a superpower, it was getting me to relax and let go. For once, I wasn’t focused on where we were headed or what the future held, I was free to enjoy the moment.
Moisture hung in the air, and I looked toward the darkening clouds as a gust of wind whipped by. There had been a small chance of rain in the forecast, so I hadn’t considered bringing an umbrella. But when the temperature continued to drop, I started to rethink that decision, especially as the pendant began to heat against my skin.
Suddenly hyperaware of my enchanted charm, I remembered Ana’s caution against water and tried not to panic. Maybe I could slip it into my purse and avoid physical contact with Elias the rest of the night. Right, I thought, knowing that wouldn’t be possible. He was too tempting, and I’d done nothing but encourage his touch all evening.
I didn’t want to engage my powers, but if I didn’t act soon, that was bound to be the result. As raindrops began to assault my bare skin, my eyes darted to the recessed entry of an abandoned shop. I tugged on his hand, and we ducked inside as water pelted the concrete, silencing the world around us.
He brushed a hair away from my face, his hand lingering on my shoulder as his thumb stroked my exposed collarbone. “Katerina.” His breath skated across my skin, our lips nearly touching.
“Yes, Elias?” He was so close I could practically taste him, and my eyes darted to his lips.
“Thanks for getting lost with me.”
“Anytime,” I said, and I meant it.
Instead of overanalyzing, I pressed my lips to his, losing myself in the moment, in Elias.
9
Having finished my virtual assistant assignments for the day, I logged out and navigated to my blog. A few weeks ago, I thought losing my job was the worst thing that could happen. I lied to Ana, stole money, and was nearly arrested by the FBI, all in a futile attempt to avoid being evicted from our crappy apartment. But I now realized those obstacles paved the road for a fresh start, both personally and professionally. I loved the flexibility of my new position and reveled in the budding success of my blog. More importantly, I loved who I was with Declan, Adrian, and Elias.
Immersed in research for my next post, I responded to Zia’s latest text message when I caught sight of the time. Adrian was picking me up in less than an hour, and I hadn’t even showered. I rinsed off and dressed quickly, taking longer to select a perfume than my outfit.
Before I knew it, there was a knock at my bedroom door, and Declan’s voice called, “Kati, Adrian’s here.”
I opened the door, and Declan’s eyes flashed with hunger as he greedily drank in the sight of my cranberry-colored knit dress that clung to me like a second skin. He’d showered me with affection since our first date, and I reveled in his sweet notes, his
heated kisses. I’d finally accepted that we were dating, and regardless of what happened in the future, I fully intended to enjoy the present.
Fresh from a post-workout shower, he stepped closer, and my skin tingled with awareness even knowing Adrian was just down the hall. Yet I remained transfixed by Declan, by his scent, his presence. He pulled me to him, slanting his lips against mine in a scorching kiss that spoke more than any words could. He was leaving his taste on my lips, imprinting the memory of his touch on my heart. When he drew away, I was breathless, tempted to follow him to his bedroom where he disappeared after adjusting himself.
After taking a moment to compose myself, I finally headed down the hall to where Adrian was waiting in the living room. His eyes met mine from across the room, and he stalked toward me.
“You look…dangerous.” The corners of his lips lifted into the hint of a smile.
“I am,” I said. “Perhaps even more than you realize.”
It was the closest I’d come to admitting the secret of my powers to Elias, Adrian, or Declan since we’d started dating several weeks ago. This relationship—or whatever it was I had with them—was fleeting, a once-in-a-lifetime window of bliss and normalcy. So, despite telling myself time and again to break it off, I couldn’t. Not yet.
He placed a hand on my upper back, sliding it between my shoulder blades. “Where did you go?”
“Nowhere.” I smiled. “There’s nowhere I’d rather be than here with you.”
“I can think of a few places I’d rather be,” he murmured darkly, prompting an immediate response from my body as my desire pooled in my core.
“Such as the gallery opening you mentioned.” I tossed a grin over my shoulder as I walked toward the front door with an exaggerated sway to my hips. If I didn’t steer us away from the bedroom, it would certainly be our next stop.
I had yet to sleep with any of them, but I didn’t know how much longer I could hold out. Not because I needed an outlet for my powers, but because I craved that intimacy and connection. Yet my mind and body were at war, and my heart remained guarded, afraid to take that next step. Sex with any one of them would be intense, all-consuming, and it would make it that much harder to say goodbye.
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