by Maggie Mundy
As the aroma of pizza wafted down the corridor, both her and Soren’s stomachs gurgled, and they both laughed. Hopefully, Soren would keep it down. If Gavin only knew about the wing tattoos beneath Soren’s clothes, he would be asking for photos for the web.
When they entered the kitchen, Gavin poured them a glass of wine each. The questions would start and she still didn’t know what to say. The less these people knew, the safer they would be.
“I want to make a deal with you,” Gavin said.
“Go on,” Soren said.
Anne just kept quiet for now and took a gulp of wine and a mouthful of pizza. It tasted fantastic as the cheese and peperoni blended on her tongue.
“I told you I have these visions. They’ve been happening more and more over the years. I even help the police to solve crimes sometimes. I believe in my visions and so do my congregation. In the past, I’ve not kept things from my followers, but now I fear I need to.”
“What’s the deal?” Soren asked.
“I’ve seen you fly in my visions and others with you. I assume the other people who came to the campsite weren’t the religious type of angels I expected. What I’m trying to say is, we’ll help in any way we can if you allow us to meet some of your good friends someday.”
Soren clutched Anne’s hand. “We want to keep you safe, but I will say some of what you’ve seen is true. Cameron is evil and would do you harm, which is why we can’t stay here. I can’t speak for others, and I don’t know how far we can get to Sydney before Cameron and his people catch us. We’ve called for help but have no idea when or if it might come.”
Gavin nodded. “We’ve got an old four-wheel-drive you can borrow. In the morning, after our gathering, we will help you escape.”
“Yes,” Anne answered for both of them. It was the best option, and they needed to leave before Gavin and Peta got hurt.
Soren raised his eyebrow at her.
“It’s the best solution for now,” she said. “Just eat some pizza, Soren.”
Anne listened as Gavin explained how they would sneak them out. The couple talked about the house and the people who came to their church. Gavin might be a bit kooky, but then again, so was Soren. These were decent people. Anne yawned as the day’s driving caught up with her.
“You should rest,” Peta said. “It’s a decent drive to Sydney if you want to do it in one day.”
Anne agreed then went to the bathroom and got ready for bed. It had been so long since she shared a bed with someone. She also kept thinking about the kiss from earlier. She was exhausted and having sex with Soren might complicate things. Not that she was a prude and hadn’t had one-night stands before. Her connection to Soren was crazy as it was, without bringing sex into it.
When she walked out of the bathroom she found that Soren had stripped off his jeans and T-shirt and was getting under the sheets. She felt nervous standing there in her long T-shirt nightie. The room was dark except for the bedside light. She got in, and they both stared at the ceiling in silence. Then he reached across and took her hand in his. Anne turned her head to look at him.
“I would never take advantage of you, Anne, but I want to hold you while you sleep.”
If this guy wanted into her panties, he knew the right things to say. She nodded and turned on her side so he could fit in behind her. His warm body cupped hers as he draped his arm across her. She could even feel his breath on her neck. If he kissed her now, she would be gone and do whatever he wanted. Then she remembered the tattoos and the bonding and the mind control. Those men were not normal, and neither was Soren.
“Will we be okay?” Anne asked.
She knew he didn’t really have the answer. He was like her, making it up as they went along.
“I’ll do everything I can to get us there, Anne.”
Anne gripped his arm. “I know you will. I want to believe in Gavin’s vision. He sees us with some new friends. We just have to find them.”
Anne didn’t think she would sleep, but it eventually came. With sleep came an erotic dream of having sex with Soren. Her core ached with need when she awoke. She moved so she lay flat on her back beside Soren. He gazed down at her with longing. Did the bonding mean he could read her mind?
“Only if you want to,” Soren said.
He answered a question she had only voiced in her head.
“We don’t have to have sex, but let me satisfy you.”
There was no way she would say no. She couldn’t speak, so she nodded instead. He bent down and placed tiny kisses across her forehead, followed by a kiss on the tip of her nose. Her lips were already open, waiting for him to invade her mouth.
Wanting to be sure this was really happening, she kept her eyes open. He moved his body on top of her as she opened her legs so he could rest between them. She could feel his arousal pressing against her.
“I can feel the heat you have for me down there. It turns me on so much, Anne.”
Then his lips came down on hers. His tongue dueled with hers as their bodies ground against each other. She wanted to never stop kissing him as the passion grew. When he stopped, her breathing was heavy as he sat up and knelt between her legs. He pushed her nightie up and tugged it over her head. Then he moved aside and drew down her panties.
She had never been in love, but no one over the years had stared at her the way he did. His gaze roamed up and down her body as he took in every inch of her. She peered at his perfect chest. His muscles were defined, and she could see the bulge straining at his boxer shorts. She wanted to see him naked too, but he seemed to have other plans. Ones she would be keen to go along with.
He settled between her legs once more but this time, his attention was on her breasts. He tugged her left nipple into his mouth and sucked. It caused a connection like a streak of lightning to go straight to her pubes. His hand tweaked her other nipple, and she pushed her hips up against him. Then his kisses trailed across her stomach as he moved down the bed.
With her legs spread, she could feel his breath against her core. Once he touched her, she was lost in the sensations. He sucked and flicked her clit until she didn’t think she could cope with the vibrations traveling through her body. He moved down and pushed his tongue into her until she wanted to scream out in pleasure.
He moved back to her clit as his fingers moved in and out of her relentlessly. Her core clutched on to him and she wanted more. She clenched around him as he flicked her clit and her orgasm built. There would be no holding back as wave after wave of pleasure flowed through her. When her breathing slowed, she could still feel herself pulsating around his fingers.
Soren moved up the bed so she could look into his eyes.
“I want to be inside you, Anne.”
“You’re reading my mind again, aren’t you?” Her voice sounded breathy. She was no stranger to sex, but Soren was sending her over the edge. It might be because he wasn’t a man. Soren bent down to kiss her when there was a knock on the door.
“The others are here,” Peta called. “We’ll see you downstairs in five minutes.”
“We’ve some unfinished business for later.” Soren kissed her soundly.
“I’ll hold you to that.”
Chapter 7
Never Die
As the CEO of his company, Burtrom loved board meetings. He liked to watch his people squirm if they thought he caught them out. His paid eyes and ears were everywhere. He needed to have them as people would always pull the rug out from beneath you if they could. His motto all his life was, don’t trust anyone.
The heads of his separate businesses thought him past it because he was in his eighties, but he would show them. His mind was as sharp as ever. His body happened to be a different matter. His lungs were finally protesting all the cigars he had smoked over the years, and his heart was weak.
The last appointment with his specialist suggested he would only have a couple of years left at best. He needed a heart-lung transplant, and at his age, it seemed unlikely. Money should be able to buy you what you wanted in this world. But it seemed younger people were more deserving than him.
The board meeting ended with one of his vice presidents looking pale. The idiot had messed up big time. Burtrom called him into his office.
“Sit down, Colin.”
The man did as he asked.
“After today, I’ll have to let you go. I don’t like having people around me who cause me the loss of money or face. You will be left penniless, and I’ll make sure you never work again in the industry. I have another proposition, though.”
Sweat ran down Colin’s face as he put his finger around the collar of his shirt as if were suddenly too tight.
“What proposition?”
“Sign this, and I will make sure your family is taken care of for the rest of their lives. It states if anything happens to you, then you’ve agreed to donate your heart and lungs for my use. I’ve already had the blood results and we’re compatible.”
“You have to be fucking kidding me,” Colin said.
“I never kid about anything and certainly not my health. You have two days to decide. You can leave now.”
Burtrom didn’t think Colin would go along with the plan, but it was fun to watch him squirm. If he did sign the papers, an accident could be arranged. Colin’s wife wouldn’t worry. She had always been the sort to want the finer things in life. He might even fuck her if he had Colin’s heart and lungs. The thought brought a smirk to his face. It was good, as nothing amused him these days.
His phone rang, and he saw it was an overseas number. He doubted it would be Gavin. His nephew refused to answer calls anymore now that he had found God. Burtrom only worshiped one god: power. He saw himself as one of the most powerful men on Earth. He influenced politicians, the rich and famous, and could make or break people at will. He just couldn’t buy immortality.
It was one of Gavin’s disciples on the phone. The man had a gambling and sex addiction problem. He needed money, and for a price, he kept Burtrom notified of anything. Maybe the fool thought praying with Gavin would get him a place in Heaven. As far as Burtrom was concerned, Heaven didn’t exist. You just made your way on Earth and took what you could. Burtrom pressed the key.
“Hello, Jeremy. How are things going?”
“I thought you might like to know your nephew had some unusual visitors.”
“Unusual? In what way?”
“I didn’t see it, but Gavin said this man has amazing healing abilities. I thought you’d be interested.”
“So what was his name and details?”
“Soren, but I didn’t get a surname. He had a woman, Anne White, with him. They’re traveling to Sydney as far as I know. I’ll try to get more information for you.”
“You’ve done well. I’ll transfer some money to your account.”
Burtrom couldn’t keep from grinning. He needed to phone his security man in Australia who did investigations for him. He would find some information on these people. When he found them, he would buy what he wanted or take it by force. The days of playing nice were over. He didn’t have time anymore. Maybe he would not need Colin’s body after all. No, he would still let the fool suffer and panic a bit longer.
He needed to celebrate and would call the woman who serviced him. Her services were expensive but cheaper than another wife in the long run. She did what he wanted then went home, and he didn’t have to listen to her incessant complaints and needs.
Kiara was beautiful and in her forties. She practiced yoga and was nubile. These days he found it difficult to keep going like he used to. The doctors said Viagra could kill him, so he needed to be more inventive.
An hour later, he lay on the bed, naked, and waited for her to come out of the bathroom. She was nude and glorious, and he should have been rock hard, but he wasn’t. As always, she sat beside him and worked her magic with her hands and her tongue. Then she straddled him and guided him inside.
He had been so virile when he was younger, and now he felt as if he was going through the motions. She reached back and massaged his balls, and he came. The job was done, and she removed herself. She would take her leave, and he would deposit money into her account in the morning. Damn, he needed to become fit again. He would have women begging him for more once again.
Chapter 8
Escaping Demons
Soren dressed and followed Anne downstairs. He should have studied more at the Enclave. Then he might understand what was happening to him around her. Every time he touched her, his anger went away. It had started before the bonding, but now was intensifying even more. His body yearned to be connected with her. He couldn’t fight the need and he didn’t want to. He watched her butt wiggle as she walked down the corridor in front of him.
“You’re looking at my ass, aren’t you?” Anne glanced back over her shoulder and winked at him.
“Yep. I have no intention of denying it. However, I feel I should be concentrating on protecting you instead. I can’t. Your butt is winning out.” Soren realized it was the first time they’d been jovial with each other. Neither of them knew where the future would go, so he enjoyed the moment of fun. A wall had gone down now that they had been intimate with each other. Something he wanted to repeat.
Soren took hold of Anne’s hand and squeezed as they entered the kitchen. Three other couples were waiting. Soren recognized them from the camp in the Flinders Ranges. The fact there were people he didn’t know prepared to put themselves in danger amazed him. It also made him realize he needed to get Anne away from here as soon as possible. He glanced around the room and noticed two large wooden crates on a trolly near the back door. He was pretty certain they hadn’t been there the night before. What was going on here? Was Gavin going to ship them in crates to Sydney?
“If you get inside these containers, we’ll carry you out to the barn,” Gavin said. “We haven’t seen anyone, but we don’t know if Cameron and others are watching. Please trust us, we really want to help.”
If those lids went on the crates, he and Anne could be trapped and handed over to Cameron. The moment had come when he had to believe in these people. He didn’t have a better plan to offer Anne.
Anne bit her bottom lip, and he gave her a nod. What choice did they have? She threw her bag into the crate and climbed in. Soren admired her for having a go at anything. At the same time, he didn’t like not being able to see her. If something happened to her while he was stuck in the crate, he would not forgive himself. He worried if Cameron was not the only one Gavin should be worried about. Soren sensed an agitation in his body as if there was a ticking time bomb and he had no idea when he would go off. The darkness inside the crate suffocated him and he wouldn’t last long enclosed like this.
He braced his body against the side of the crate as he was jostled around on the trolley as it bumped down the back porch and over the rough ground. Eventually, the movement stopped and he and could smell straw. The crates were opened and Soren saw they were inside the large barn. Soren squinted as he got out and peered around. At least another twenty people were gathered for what Soren assumed would be their religious service. Gavin stood on a small raised platform. He talked about love and Jesus and to live a good life helping others. Soren liked the simple message but didn’t think he had any chance of doing it.
Soren walked across to Anne and stood behind her with his
arms protectively around her waist. He had no intention of letting her out of his sight again. He just hoped Gavin wasn’t going to ask him to get up on stage and talk to the disciples. Someone tapped him on the shoulder. Soren let go of Anne and turned with his hands fisted. So much for having the anger under control. Anne placed her hand over his, and he took a deep breath. Calm seeped through his body.
“I’m Joe. You’re to follow us,” a man he didn’t know said. Joe guided them to the rear of the barn where he yanked a tarpaulin off a vehicle. It revealed an old four-wheel-drive that had seen better days, but Soren didn’t care. It was the most beautiful vehicle he had ever seen and their way out.
“Gavin thought the other people after you might be looking for your van,” Joe said. “We’ll store it here until you come back.”
Joe was joined by a young woman who opened the back of the vehicle and motioned for them to get in.
“Grab those blankets and cover yourselves,” she said, then shut the car door.
The sound of voices singing hymns rose to the rafters of the barn. Soren didn’t know the songs, but he could hear the happiness in the voices of the people singing. Was he fooling Anne that he could save her? He would try, but he had a feeling Anne and everyone else was saving him more.
“There’s a basket with some food as well,” Joe called back from the driver’s seat. “Plus, we grabbed some belongings from your van.”
Anne turned on her side, and Soren embraced her as they waited beneath the covers. The singing stopped and the engine started. Soren peaked out from beneath the blanket to see the rear barn doors were opened, and the old car rumbled forward. The members of the congregation were leaving as other cars were revved up around them. Time went by as he held Anne. Two days ago, he would not have seen this in his future. He had no idea where it would lead, but to be close to this woman was all he wanted at this moment. He wasn’t sure how much time passed, but he hoped they were far enough away from Gavin and Peta so they would not be in danger.