Stranded: A Mountain Man Romance

by Piper Sullivan

  “I believe she is making headway, and she’s not giving up until she has found it.”

  For the life of me I could not fathom how The Elders had more say than I did, was I not their Prince?

  The eldest stood again, “She has until midnight to come up with a solution, if not, she will be banished and we will have to find an alternative way to secure our compound,”

  Finally! There was hope yet, now I only had to get Arabella to work relentlessly to get the spell. And if it meant that I needed to help her, I will do just that.

  “We’ll have the spell before midnight,” I said and then without wasting any more time, I bowed before the Elders and exited the council room.

  I headed straight for the Alexandria room, where I knew she was buried under a pile of books searching for the spell Maura used before she cursed us, but she wasn’t there. The only other place I might find her was in her room.

  As I turned the corner into the hallway where her room was located, she crashed into me and instinctively I caught her and steadied her.

  “Edmund, I’m so glad I found you,” she said and I noted her violet eyes sparkle. She was unto something, no doubt.

  “I was just looking for you. I don’t want to put any pressure on you, but we need this spell before midnight,” I hated having to put pressure on her, I know from my own experience, when under pressure most things go wrong.

  “Well that’s what I came to talk to you about, you see, I found Maura’s secret. It took me a while and I had to do a locator spell, but I managed just fine. Thank the gods,” she said excitedly and held out a small wooden box.

  As she held it in her palms, I lifted the lid and took out the small scroll, none of it made any sense. So she translated it to me and explained that the spell uses blood magic. Once it’s successfully cast, not only will our compound be secured and hidden from Lucifer’s Hordes. We will also be able to locate them long before they manage to find us.

  “There’s a slight problem though,” she said and lowered her eyes, “we need the blood of a Vampire.”

  Well that’s just bloody damn brilliant! The only vampires we have here are decapitated dead ones, and those are far and few in between.

  “Major Bernhard, we have a situation,” one of my guards appeared behind us, and by the sound of his voice, it didn’t sound like a good news.

  I turned to Arabella, “wait for me in my office, I’ll be there shortly,” and then turned my attention back to the guard, “What is the situation?”

  “A vampire managed to breach the compound. He came in through the underground tunnels. He has already killed two of our men.”

  The solution to our problem literally fell into my lap and the grin on my face obviously confused the guard as he looked at me wide eyed.

  “Take me to the blood sucker,” I commanded. But as I was about to leave, Arabella grabbed my arm.

  “Let me come with, I can protect you.”

  “It’s too dangerous,” I said and rested my palm against the side of her face, “Go wait in my office.”

  “Please Edmund,” she pleaded, clutching the box in her hand, “A bite from a vampire is all it takes to kill a shifter. And even if you manage to capture him, you will need someone to draw his blood.”

  She had a point, but the thought of getting her involved didn’t sit well with me.

  “Are you sure you can use your magic to protect us both?” I asked, searching her eyes.

  “I swear on the blood of my ancestors,” she said determinedly.

  “Very well, come along then, and whatever you do. Stay behind me at all times until it’s safe for you to move in.”

  Chapter 10

  Arabella

  Surrounded by six of his strongest men the vampire stood hissing and snapping like a wild animal. No one could get close enough without being bitten.

  “Can you protect us both with your magic?” he asked me again as he started to remove his uniform.

  “Yes, but why are you getting undressed?” I asked curiously.

  “I can’t do this in my human form, if I shift I stand a better chance to overpower the filth and you will have enough time to draw blood before my men stake him,”

  “It’s too dangerous, I can’t let you do that,” I protested.

  “I have to do what is necessary Arabella, can you protect me or not?”

  I chewed my bottom lip and I saw his eyes shift from my eyes to my lips and back, then pursed my lips together.

  “Here,” I said and grabbed him by his shoulders brining his face down to mine. His lips parted and I had to smile for a second. It looked like he was about to kiss me. But I kept my composure and chanted, “Prontenta mobiaris,” then breathed my breath into his mouth. A white cloud with substance obscured my view for a second before it vanished, and then I released him.

  “That might help, but try not to get bitten,” I said and stepped away from him.

  He simply had no option but to trust me and believe that I was protecting him with my magic. And as his guards formed a barrier between the vampire and him, he bent over and dug his hands into the clay floor.

  I stood and watched in horror as his body contorted in agony. A strange sensation mixed with euphoria and pain streamed through my own body and I realized that I was connected to him. I willed the pain to subside and watch attentively as he body started to mutate. His bones thickened in certain places as his skin rippled and reformed. His entire body expanded and thick hair sprouted all over his body. And then his bear stood with his back against me.

  What a magnificent creature, but now was not the time to admire him. I had to remain focused and protect him.

  He lunged forward and everything was over almost in the blink of an eye. He had the vampire pinned to the ground. The moment the vampire was secured I ran to them and with my athame blade that was cast in gold I struck the leech’s throat. Black tar-like blood gushed from its neck and I quickly gathered it in a small vial.

  “Got it,” I cried out and ran back behind the guards. Then all I heard behind me were the wails and cries of the vampire.

  Chapter 11

  Edmund

  The spell was a success, and finally the clan was safe from Lucifer’s Hordes, for now at least. Arabella was still fast asleep in my bed, and I couldn’t help but admire her. She was one witch I wouldn’t want to mess with.

  “Good morning,” she said gruffly as she rubbed the tip of her nose against my shoulder.

  “Morning beautiful, did you sleep well?”

  She rolled unto her back and stretched out, feigning a yawn, “Sleep, what’s that? I had this hunk of a man that wouldn’t leave me alone for a single moment,” she said jokingly.

  “I’ll be sure to have a talk with him; we can’t have our witch sleeping all day just because he’s a selfish bastard who wants you all to himself.”

  Her laughter drifted through the room and she rolled over and straddled me, grinding against my already painful erection.

  “Now, now Mrs. Bernhard, if you keep that up, we’ll be late for your inaugural ceremony.” I said and gripped her hips firmly.

  “I suppose you have a point, it’s not every day a hybrid saves an entire species from extinction and on top of that marries their Prince,” she said smiling as she lowered her lips to mine.

  So far I’ve broken every possible law, breaking another one was just one less to worry about. She pressed her lips against mine and I pulled her hips forward and buried myself deep inside her. Her hips immediately started moving and throaty incoherent words poured from her lips.

  Some of the guard, as well as the elders accused her of bewitching me, but I called it falling in love, and even if what they said was true, I’d rather be bewitched by her than cursed.

  She bore down on me and every stroke brought me closer to my release. And I knew by the way her body shuddered each time I hit the bundle of nerves deep inside her, she was also heading for her own climax.

  “I love you Edmund,”
she whispered breathlessly as she scored her nails across my bare chest, and that was all it took.

  “And I you,” I said strained as my body stiffened and my release flooded her.

  “For ever and always,” she whispered and she slumped against my chest, pressing her lips against mine.

  THE END

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  Bearly Desire

  Chapter 1

  Josephine’s mother had chosen her name after seeing a gorgeous portrait of Joséphine de Beauharnais, the empress and first wife of Napoleon. History had been in Josephine Baxter’s blood since she was born. She was fascinated by it, obsessed with the small print of old texts in the library.

  Her body grew curves while she sat at a worn desk in her apartment. Men spotted her long mahogany curls and stopped to ask her for dates at coffee shops. She politely declined most of their requests, which were usually aimed at her ample cleavage in a V-neck sweater. Her girlfriends begged her to let them set up dates for her, but Josephine’s mind would wander during a happy hour blind date to the stack of journals sitting on her bookshelf.

  When Clara, one of her close friends from college, demanded a lunch date, Josephine hadn’t expected an offer for a different sort of date.

  “Roman Williams,” Clara said with a theatrical gesture of her hands. Her expectant look made Josephine frown.

  “Who?”

  Clara rolled her eyes.

  “I swear, if a man isn’t dead, then you wouldn’t possibly know about him. Weren’t you just talking about the “Den” thing last week?”

  Josephine’s gaped at her friend, shock and excitement warring in her chest. “The Midnight Den?” She asked. “Yes, the Den is supposedly a secret society. It’s been difficult finding any information about them.” She wasn’t sure if she was more surprised that Clara, a fanatic for fashion and not much else, had remembered her mentioning the elusive social club a week ago or that her friend might have information about them.

  She’d come across a few surprising references to them in the past month, but other than that, there was next to no information involving them.

  “Well, I’ve got a scoop,” Clara whispered excitedly over her glass of chilled white wine. “A handsome devil I used to date back in high school is a member. I ran into him the other weekend and he went overboard with his whiskey. He started blubbering about the Midnight Den and I played dumb to get some info about it.”

  Josephine could’ve tackled the other woman from across the table to hug her.

  “Your luck never stops,” she muttered. “What did he say?”

  “It’s a boys’ club, of course. Real secretive lot. Apparently the group has been run by a Williams’ son since forever,” Clara said, her face glowing with excitement over the fact that she’d learned some classified information. She was a marketing director, but she should’ve been a journalist.

  “Williams, Williams,” Josephine echoed under her breath. “Why does that name sound familiar?”

  Clara shrugged. “Don’t ask me, but I think they might be a military family. Old money, judging from Roman Williams’ townhouse. Get this,” she dropped her voice to a whisper and leaned in closer. “Apparently, Roman is in need of a historian. He wants someone to do some digging around in old documents. He’s trying to find some Den document that was lost a century ago.”

  Josephine raised her eyebrows. “Your old beau sounds like he was wasted if he spilled all of this to you.”

  “I might’ve mentioned that I had a history expert for a friend,” Clara said with an innocent flutter of her eyelashes. “I might’ve also handed him your contact information to pass along to Roman Williams, who is gorgeous heartbreaker, FYI.”

  An excited tingle ran through Josephine’s entire body, but not from the image of a supermodel employer. She imagined the beauty of having access to primary sources that were kept in a private family collection. If she found that document, she might be able to find a wealth of new information. The Den’s secrets could reveal a whole new world to her.

  “He might not call,” she muttered. Worry pinched at the back of her neck. Clara smiled slyly.

  “He’s going to. I have a feeling.”

  Chapter 2

  Josephine reminded herself to add ‘psychic’ to the list of other careers that Clara could hold when her phone rang on Monday morning.

  “Hi, this is Josephine,” she answered softly. Stationed in the corner of a cozy cafe, she strained to hear the person on the other line.

  “Ms. Baxter?” a nasally drawl asked.

  She frowned. “Yes, this is she.”

  “Oh, good,” the caller responded and she couldn’t help thinking that he sounded like an elderly man. She couldn’t remember giving her contact information to an older gentleman lately, so she racked her brains for who he might be. Maybe a source?

  “How can I help you?” she asked, watching a barista as she stocked cups on the counter.

  “My name is Robert,” he said in a chipper voice. “My employer would like to set up a meeting with you. Can I send a car to you now?”

  Her gaze darted down to her tight yoga pants and old top from a college club.

  “Um, can it be in an hour or two?” she asked, cursing herself for not washing her hair this morning.

  “Lovely. I’ll send a car to your address in two hours. Thank you, Ms. Baxter. My employer looks forward to meeting you.” There was a small pause. “Be advised that some people find him abrasive on the first meeting. He means well.”

  The call ended. She stared at the phone in her hand, hovering dangerously above her half-drained mocha latte. Was this actually happening?

  Clara squealed on the phone as Josephine jogged all the way back to her apartment.

  “I knew it!” she cried victoriously. Josephine hopped into the elevator, cradling her phone next to her ear, as she tried to think of what was clean in her closet.

  “Should I wear the black dress? Or is it too tight?” she asked while chewing on her lip. Clara giggled wildly.

  “This is the first time I’ve ever heard you worried about your outfit,” she commented. “You should wear the forest green one. It looks great with your hair. He’ll want to hire you and screw you.”

  Josephine nearly choked. “Clara! This is a job!”

  “Business and pleasure is the way to go.”

  It was hard to think about anything but business as she got ready. She flew into a hot shower to scrub her finest soap all over herself. For her hair, she pulled out her finest hair products. The green dress in her closet was miraculously free of wrinkles. She pulled it on with a pair of plain black pumps and rushed to her vanity to dust on some makeup.

  By the time the car arrived, she’d groomed every inch of herself and managed to arrange a makeshift portfolio of her work to show Williams. When she glanced at her reflection, immaculate and clutching all of her hard work, she smiled. It was breakthroughs like this that got research for ground-breaking books started.

  She was already imagining makeshift titles and debating on footnotes or endnotes when the car rolled up to her apartment. It was a sleek town car, an elegant staple that she was used to seeing in movies lampooning the rich. But, here she was, about to slide inside on imported leather seats. A chauffeur with a shock of silver hair underneath his cap got out of the car. She nearly squeaked at his size. He was massive.

  His towering frame sidled up beside her.

  “Evening, Ms. Baxter. I’m Leo. Robert has sent me to retrieve you for our employer. Are you ready?” He asked. His smile was surprisingly friendly as she craned her neck to look up at him.

  “Um, yes,” she muttered and got in when he opened the door. His head nearly touched the roof when he got into the driver’s seat. She couldn’t help t
he remark that flew out of her mouth.

  “You’re as tall as a bear!”

  His only reply was the loudest series of laughs that she’d ever heard. They shook the car. He was nearly crying when they pulled away from the curb.

  “That was rude,” she moaned into her hands. He cackled in the front.

  “Not at all,” he muttered with an amused look at her through the rear-view mirror. “You’re right about that.” His answer simmered with a hidden meaning that she couldn’t understand. She felt the warmth in her cheeks for the whole ride as she repeated apologies and he waved them off. Finally, she remembered their destination and stared at the portfolio in her lap.

  “Leo, Is Mr. Williams easy to work with?” she asked. The chauffeur shrugged his massive shoulders.

  “I suppose that depends on who you are. For a pretty thing like you, I imagine he’ll be awful sweet,” he said with a knowing wink. “But, he is particular. When he hires someone to do a job, he wants it done in a very specific way. He also demands a certain...privacy that some may find on the paranoid side.”

  She nodded in silence. They drove for what seemed like hours before Leo glided down a lonely immaculate street that led into rolling hills. She admired the scenery as it passed, feeling the nerves in her stomach grow as the car manoeuvred through the green landscape. Finally, a magnificent house arose in the distance. A gasp escaped her before she could stifle it.

  “It’s a beauty, isn’t it?” He chuckled. “Mr. Williams likes to escape to his country home for weeks on end. When you work for him, he can meet you at his townhome in the city.”

  When she worked for him. She bit her lip. It seemed as if her position had already been decided, but her mother always told her to never get her hopes up. She smoothed her skirt as they approached the massive stone mansion. It almost seemed as if someone had transported a modest European castle to the outskirts of an American city.