by Susan Firtik
"What are you thinking, Keaton? Any ideas or possibly a plan that won’t get us killed?" Lina was hopeful.
Keaton kept turning details over and over in his mind. The letter from Victor was the most puzzling. It was as if he knew he wouldn’t make it back from the confrontation with Martiss. Why would he involve the sisters in a scheme doomed to fail?
"Lina? Do you or your sisters have any special talents? You know, like any ESP or psychic energies?”
Lina and Netta immediately turned to each other with guilty looks on their face. They didn’t usually share their gifts with outsiders after their early years of being persecuted for being different. They both knew they had something special about them, but had never thought it would be important.
"I won’t lie, Keaton. We all have some sort of talent.”
Lina and Netta filled him in. Both of them had noticed an increase of strength of their individual talents since they returned home to the mansion. Lina had always heard animal thoughts and could see what they saw, but she’d never called them to her for protection like she had in the garden. She’d never even considered it. Keaton didn’t seem surprised. Netta, although ill and weak, could command water to run uphill or form into any shape she could think of. Since returning to the mansion, she noticed she could freeze it, meaning, she could command ice. A convenient weapon if needed.
"And of course there’s Lina’s ability to see ghosts.” Netta threw in. Lina gasped, embarrassed and angry with Netta for telling anyone.
"Don’t know why you’d be embarrassed by that, Angel. It’s actually common in my family to see spirits and some of the elders claim they are reincarnations of these spirits or ghosts. I grew up believing in them."
He shrugged as if it was no big deal. Whew! Lina let out the breath she’d been holding and smiled her sweetest smile at him. Seldom did anyone believe her and usually only made fun of her. Nobody believed but Keaton. Her sweet Keaton. She was falling hard but she decided she wouldn’t worry about the tomorrows and what might happen. He treated her with tenderness, never acted like she was too big, too tall or homely. She felt beautiful, sexy, wanted, and maybe even needed. Just fine with her! Go for it! Life’s too short! She smiled even through her embarrassment.
He was just so...wolf-ee. Damnit. She said that out loud. She knew it the minute his head snapped up and Netta started giggling.
"Wolfee?? Just what does that mean???” Netta’s giggling was infectious and it spread to Lina and then even to Keaton as they all laughed heartily. It helped relax the mood. They believed Tashi would be found and found alive...they had to believe.
“Tatianna has been quiet about her talents or gifts since she’s been here. She can start little fires with her mind. Not sure what it’s called but she’s pretty good. She can toss some small fireballs with a bit of concentration and they might actually hurt someone. Not that she would! I was thinking about your saying my ice could be a weapon? So could Tashi’s fire stuff. And, since she’s been here at the mansion, she’s gotten more powerful. She must have received the extra power from the mansion! We all have!” Netta was giddy.
Lina and Keaton both looked at her frowning.
"What do you mean from the mansion?” Lina knew the answer before she asked but it just hadn’t occurred to her until just that moment. The mansion had helped them, in a way. Just by being here it had increased their powers. How in the world?
"Don’t you feel the magic, Lina? It’s kinda like a very quiet buzzing or static electricity. You can almost hear it but you can for sure feel it, can’t you?” Netta was smiling like she'd discovered a secret.
Keaton spoke up. "I have to admit to a feeling like static electricity or acute anticipation, but that could be my nearness to you, Lina.”
Grinning, he winked at her as she blushed furiously. Things at the mansion had taken on a different tone lately. That she could admit. It was as if they were being watched. It felt electric, like Keaton said and yes, part of that was him being nearby. Netta had felt it too but neither of them had noticed it, or knew what it might be, at least not until the last day or so. Maybe they were more aware now, more wary, since Tashi had been taken.
Speaking of which, she needed to talk with Keaton about the old newspaper and if he would help her. She wasn’t sure what they would find but she had to try, for Tashi and for her own peace of mind. Tomorrow night she would go with or without him.
CHAPTER TWELVE
They climbed into the basement window at the back. Apparently someone else had broken it in the past and the newspaper never got around to repairing it. Why bother if it was just going to be torn down in less than a week? And just as apparent was the dust in the window and all over the room. She figured nobody came down this way very often. So they weren’t the first B & E. Keaton carefully knocked the remaining broken glass shards in the frame, trying to keep quiet without slicing an artery open, then slid easily thru the small hole. He turned and waited for Lina’s hand to help lift her through the dangerous opening.
Half way through the window she lost her footing and almost looked graceful—almost—as she plopped down into one of the half-filled boxes of printing paper, on her head. She was upside down, half in and half out for what felt like an eternity, scissoring and kicking her legs in an attempt to right herself. All she did was embarrass herself more and make a cloud of dust fill the room. What an idiot she was! Perfect way to impress a guy. She could hear him snickering as he leaned into the box for her legs to help her out. She accidentally kicked him in the face.
"Owww! Watch it!” Keaton groused, holding his left eye and backing away. She shushed him.
"Be quiet! Someone will hear us and anyway, I didn’t do it on purpose!” Her own whisper was bordering on shrill.
“We have to get in and out without being caught, remember?” She stomped away, snaking her way thru the many items in the storage room. “The records room is on the third floor and we can’t just take the elevator.” Lina whispered as she peered through the door into the hallway and found no obstacles. She was on edge and cranky, seriously doubting herself and now thinking that this was not a good idea. Suck it up, Lina! This is important.
“Let’s go...hurry!”
She needn’t have bothered. He was only inches behind her as usual. The stairwell was much cleaner than the storeroom had been. The guard apparently didn’t use the elevator while making his rounds.
They made it to the third floor without incident, found the file room and the tons of files from hundreds of years ago. They spent an hour just in the 1800's drawer. Finally they found what they were searching for. They finally found a file named: “The Mansion 1848—1858." Then there was another marked "Tales of The Mansion 1860—1938" and one more file marked: "Colored Lights Seen at Night by Townsfolk”.
It was a huge amount of information so they split it into each of their backpacks and were closing the door to the hallway when they heard someone coming. They flattened themselves against the wall in the deepest shadows they could find, which happened to be a small entry alcove to some sort of office, when a security guard strolled by speaking animatedly on his cell phone.
"But honey, I told you I had to work late that night and no! I would never cheat on you, sweet cheeks, I love you, baby!" All the while rolling his eyes and grimacing as the girlfriend ranted on.
“I’ve never even seen that woman before. I don’t know how she knew our number, or why she would call us. Must’ve been the guys from Charlie’s, playin’ a joke! Why would I do something like that if I was cheatin' on you honey? No c’mon baby...you know there’s only you."
He wouldn’t have noticed them if they’d both been naked, she thought. Whoa. There she went again, thinking of Keaton in that way. Naked. She did that a lot. He brought out the worst and the best in her. She just hadn’t decided which-was-which. Keaton was interested in her and she knew it. He was also being such a nice guy. He’d shown an interest and she had returned that interest. She didn’t usually ge
t the hunky, sexy, perfect male. Oh crap! Did I just say that out loud? Yup. He turned around to her and just grinned at her for a moment.
"You got something for that guard or do I say thanks? Hunky and sexy?”
Lina blushed “nose to toes” as Grams used to say and stared at the floor.
"I’ll take that as a yes." He smiled as he moved a lock of hair out of her eyes. It was a harmless gesture yet also an extremely arousing gesture. He leaned in and kissed her forehead. She shivered with delight and anticipation.
"Hands up!” shouted the guard.
Lina and Keaton froze and slowly turned to see the guard playing cops and robbers with his own shadow. Lina let out the her breath she didn’t know she’d been holding to find Keaton had moved in front of her with one hand holding her protectively behind him. His fingers were splayed across her stomach and she felt that familiar flutter. The one she only felt with him.
Damn it. She never thought she’d find a guy who liked her just like she was...just a regular woman.
And don’t forget “plain, simple, klutzy as hell...” She mumbled to herself, but again...out loud.
Keaton turned slowly and gave her a lopsided smile. "You forgot sexy as hell, honest, giving, absolutely adorable, funny, beautiful, built like a real woman, entirely kissable, hard to resist, and destined to be the death of me."
Her world narrowed to a pair of green eyes as he lowered his mouth to cover hers. His mouth was hot and hungry. She kissed him back as if she were starving for him. She just hadn’t known it until their lips met. He didn’t rush her and she appreciated that but baby, she wanted him so badly, she didn’t care if the guard wanted to watch!
She let his tongue in with a sigh and she immediately lost her ability to stand. Keaton just held her harder against him, placing her body exactly where it needed to be, her soft mound against his impressive erection. They seemed to fall into this position often. She felt frantic as she started to unbutton her sweater, when his hands stopped her. She pulled from his kiss—and what a kiss! With a questioning, half dazed smile on her face his hand stopped hers and he whispered.
"Let me.”
Apparently still aware enough to remember the wandering security guard. Cold shower! The guard! She’d almost forgotten about him. Panic set in, until she felt warm breath on her nipple and realized her blouse was unbuttoned but she was still in her lacy bra. Keaton proceeded to nip, pull and tease thru the lace, until she thought she would squeal with frustration and delight. What guard? His breath was warm but it was heating her up, until he moved to the other breast. He still had one hand free.
"Please touch me." She moaned and yes, she said it out loud and on purpose. More! She wanted more. Sensing her tension easing he brought his mouth back to hers and then she felt her bra being lifted and her blouse fell open. He pulled back to see his prize.
“Abso-fuckin beautiful!”
He wasn’t smiling but had a very serious look on his face. He was definitely pleased.
"I knew you’d be perfect under those baggy clothes, like a diamond in the rough or a beautiful painting hidden under another...do you have any idea what you do to me? I have no control—none. I have no other thought in my head but you, beautiful, amazing Lina."
She reddened with passion and a little bit of embarrassment. She’d never had anyone talk about her like that. Especially not like he’d been talking lately, this hot hunk that was way outta her league. But she wanted this hunk and needed to hear his words. Go for it. Take it to the limit. Thankful she didn’t say that out loud.
So lost in his kisses and the feel of his hands on her bare skin, she had his shirt completely unbuttoned without remembering doing it. She couldn’t keep her hands from roaming any longer. She had to touch him—as much as she could reach. No longer would she shy away from what she wanted, especially when presented in such a delectable package. He offered, she would take, damnit. Lina licked his nipples, taking delight in his deep moan. She did that?
Her hands couldn’t move fast enough over his broad, muscled chest with just enough hair. She could just imagine her nipples dragging through his chest hair. His nipples were hard, his breathing quickening with her simple touching.
She was a junkie and he was her fix. The lean muscle under her hot hands made her pant and lick her lips. She wanted to taste him again. She couldn’t help the moans and sighs coming from deep inside her—from her soul. He could hear her breath coming faster, hotter and a little ragged. He felt her touch all over him as he shuddered with pleasure.
She knew how she affected him and delighted in her power to please him. That in itself made her so much hotter and wetter; she had to squeeze her thighs to keep from wiggling. Wait a minute! She wanted to wiggle and push and pull and tease and nibble and all of that! She laid her hand on his hot flesh, palming his flat stomach and even though his jeans were tight, she had more than enough room to drive him crazy as she unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans.
Oh my God! She’d almost forgotten he was so big. No, he was huge! And now he was really hard and he was all hers. His cock was hot and the skin like velvet but rock hard, and the head was large and dark purple as if it touched the right way would make it explode. She had never been so daring with anyone before, she thought back to her room and how he’d responded to her mouth.
She wasn’t sure how to touch him with her hand though, or how to make him feel as good as he made her feel. She was going to try her damned-est! He lifted his knee and eased her legs apart. The action itself very erotic and soon she was rocking back and forth on his leg and it felt really, really good.
"Right there...yeah…oh...that’s..." She panted and rocked on his muscled thigh.
Now he was moving franticly and he kept talking to her urgently in that deep, aroused, gravelly voice. This is the man of her dreams. The one she felt she had to be with. This was more than lust, more than need. It was...everything! Fate? Oh hell, either way it just made her hotter and wetter. This was just so right.
She was stroking him with her hand. He rocked slowly, rhythmically, up, down, back and forth...so hot! Lina rode his thigh, rubbing her clit and squeezing his thigh. He moaned and his cock jerked every time she squeezed. His lips were on her neck, but it felt as if his hands were everywhere! Then he was kissing her lips, face, breasts, when he latched onto her nipple, she couldn’t stop rocking into him.
She arched her back as he put his warm hand on her stomach and slowly pushed his way past the waistband of her jeans and under the white, cotton lace panties she wore.
Once he reached her tight curls, he pulled her labia apart, digging deep and wetting his fingers, then gently circled her clit, then he pushed hard and used two of his other fingers to enter into her heat! With that one touch, she screamed out her release. Thankfully, that scream was muffled in his crushing kiss as she came and came, shuddered, wiggled, rocked and shivered with the pleasure.
Holy crap! She loved the feel of his hard cock in her hand, mystified and feeling powerful that she was doing the same thing to him and for him and loving every minute of it.
And he loved what she did with the drop of pre-cum on his cock! "You’re killing me, Angel!”
She dipped into the opening of his penis with her thumb and spread the slickness all over the head as her other fingers held him tight, shifting slightly up then down, then up. Too much! He pistoned one more time against her hand between their sweaty bodies and came with a rush that amazed and frightened him, it was so soon and it wouldn’t stop.
He shot his hot semen over and over. He didn’t think he could stop and why would he want to? It felt too fuckin’ good...too right...he felt his cum spill into her hand. She was holding onto the head of his penis with both hands, trying to keep his seed contained. Good luck with that! He’d never spilled that much cum in his life. It always felt good, but this was explosive, amazing! The very best...hottest...sexiest... He couldn’t think of another adjective. He just wanted to feel it.
Lying agains
t his chest, breathing heavy, and still shaking with mini-quakes of pleasure, Lina was thinking.
This is what it’s supposed to feel like. Not a small, nice “oh wow”, alone in your room, but huge and hot and massive and wonderful...HELL YEAH...with someone.
Lina was almost clinging to him. Loving the feel of his arms around her and basking in that peaceful feeling of...after. She was basking in the warmth, listening to his heart beating, finally slowing. His breath still hot on her neck as he planted tiny kisses on her ear, throat, cheeks, and nose before finally taking her mouth again...yeah...that was the feeling.
Tears running down her face with relief and the afterglow of hormones having gone off like fireworks, she suddenly remembered the bet. Damn! She had to think of that now? She hated that she couldn’t just be happy in the moment. She just had to dredge up all the embarrassment, the name-calling, the truth that she was not a beauty. Double Damn! Why did she do this to herself? She knew he wasn’t a bad guy? Right? Well, he was a nice guy, except for that afternoon with the crew in the back yard.
So congrats big guy, you won the bet. Hope you’re happy. Oh yeah. You are happy! I just got you off in the hallway of an abandoned building, while riding your leg like some sort of animal-slut, with a security guard roaming the halls and then I let you feel me up. Great. Just great. Crap.
Suddenly feeling very exposed and naked, her bra still pushed up and her blouse hanging on her shoulders. Her breasts were aching to be touched again. She wanted him—really wanted him. She wanted to ride him, not just his leg. Oh for heaven’s sake! Now she was embarrassed. Even though she was more covered than she would be in a swimsuit it felt wrong now and that was his fault. She almost hated him for making it feel so good. When he was holding her close she felt safe, protected and... Oh forget it! He was waiting to trap her, and then seduce her so he could go back to the guys and brag about getting to the boss lady. Lina started rattling and squirming.