Evangelina Green

by Susan Firtik

  "Elizabeth apologizes if she spoke out of turn but she thought we knew about you. She’s very pretty, Jason, and a very sweet, kinda old-fashioned girl. She’s the perfect southern lady only she may be too old for you now. She’s from the 1800's!”

  Jason thought Lina was enjoying this! Maybe more than she should. He was uncomfortable.

  Jonathan and Byron both hugged their siblings then turned to Lina.

  “They want to know what happened to their inheritance. Tomas? What inheritance?” Lina leaned her head to one side and appeared to be listening.

  "Okay, this is what I get from the family. There was money or gold left for them. Hopefully not confederate money, it's now pretty much worthless, except maybe to collectors..." She listened again and explained what she was hearing.

  "Apparently as each child turned twenty one, they were awarded their share of their maternal grandparents legacy, but each of them states they never saw any funds. Elizabeth was the, uhh...God, I hate to put it this way… but she was the last to go, being the youngest, and she says she overheard several people meeting about the goldmine and where to hide it. But she didn’t understand the rest of the talk. Something about steps or stairs and his face being set in stone? But they could unlock the treasure with magic.”

  Whew! Ghost talk can be exhausting! These were the typical cryptic pieces of information she was getting pissed about. Everywhere she turned vague and mysterious hints! Why can’t people, or ghosts, speak in clear terms? Frustrating, but as she watched Tomas and his family that frustration quickly bled out. How could she be angry or upset watching such love being exchanged between brothers and sister?

  Lina began smiling and was soon laughing with delight. This was just so perfect. The reuniting of Tomas with his siblings was joyful and tearful. They all looked fit and fine for ghosts. And while everything seemed fine and they all started to relax of course, it couldn’t last. The room suddenly shook and a thunderous noise bellowed from all around them.

  "No! You will not join together! I forbid it!"

  A dark cloud started forming, billowing over the table. Lina dipped her fingers into the Holy water and sprinkled herself, Netta and Jason. Then everyone around the table, which was just the ghosts who now looked frightened which was odd since they couldn’t be harmed. Or could they?

  By following Lina’s lead and the calm and collected manner in which she confronted this voice, all the other people, and ghosts, seemed more at ease.

  "Be gone! You are not welcome here! You must leave and not return. Your fate lies elsewhere and you cannot enter here. This room and this home are protected against evil such as you. Be gone foul spirit! Only the good and honorable may reside here. Be gone evil demon! You and all your evil must and will abide by this! You cannot remain. Be gone!”

  Lina was a little scary as she yelled the Be gone Song, as it later came to be known. They’d laugh later, but right now she was all business. She continued to sprinkle holy water around the room, trying to touch each of them with a drop or two.

  The darkness howled. “I will not allow you to stop us! We are legion! Your colors will not save you! Not even he who spawned you witches could not save you. We will prevail!” The cloud dissipated slowly and not without groaning, moaning, and then one last clap of thunder. Silence.

  "Wow! That was, something!" Netta had her arms around herself and was staring at Lina wide eyed but smiling. She was scared to death but very proud of her sister.

  Lina received a ghost hug from each one of the family and watched as they hugged each other. Then one by one, they seemed to shrink and with a pop, they disappeared with a bright light. She really wanted to discuss the goldmine and the other hint but she also knew the ghosts might only have this one chance to finish their trip home.

  Jason and Netta saw the twinkle of bright lights and without asking, knew the ghosts were going home. There were three distinctive pops with the three flashes of light. They all sat in silence for a moment until Netta finally asked

  "Only three? Tomas didn’t go, did he? I can still feel him near me.” Lina cast a look at him, watching him tenderly touching Netta’s hair.

  "Well, Tomas? Are you leaving?" He smiled and looked at Netta lovingly.

  "How could I leave her?" He stated matter of factly as he hugged Netta. Lina just smiled and told Netta that Tomas would be staying.

  "Definitely tea time and I think some of us may have a splash of bourbon!" Netta swirled out of the room. They all followed, including Tomas. Lina grinned, noting he stayed close behind Netta.

  They all sat in the kitchen drinking tea—straight or laced—silently for a good 30 minutes before anyone spoke.

  Lina suddenly blurted out, "We need a plan!" Everyone either jumped or yelped as they all turned to look at her.

  "Geez, Lina!” Jason growled. “Scare the fuck outta all of us, why don’t ya?”

  They all burst out laughing. It was good they were laughing more and more lately. It was a healing balm of sorts and Tashi wouldn’t want them brooding while she was gone. Lina watched as Tomas grinned also. She was pleasantly surprised as he’d always been so somber.

  He looked up at her at that moment. "I’ve never had a real reason to smile before now. I love her."

  Lina smiled. "I know." Again, everyone turned to her.

  “Lina?” Netta queried, appearing puzzled.

  "Ghost talk.” Was all Lina said.

  After some plan discussing, which soon dissolved into just general talk, they all agreed they’d had enough excitement and needed sleep. Jason left with a promise to return around six that evening and in an aside to Lina, he’d try to get update on Keaton.

  "Whatever you think is best... I couldn’t care less... I mean...sure we need his help...to rescue Tashi and Victor...but I don’t care if he...well...can do whatever he wants...and well...I just don’t care." Lina was rambling and almost stuttering around her lies. She couldn’t look him in the eye.

  Jason just nodded. "Yes ma’am...whatever you say." He walked out chuckling to himself. The minute he stepped out the door he felt the tug of the magic. Wards had been placed around the mansion and Jason was thankful to whoever had taken the precaution. Once past that barrier however, he felt that prickle of unease he’d been feeling since the first day he came onto the property. It was tingling sensation up his spine and it held a slight scent of...sulfur?

  He shook it off and sniffed and scented the wind for anything else out of the ordinary. He sensed two of his cousins had passed by here an hour or so earlier. He had asked them to come by this way if they went out for a run in this direction, just to take a look and make sure things were quiet. Other than that nothing seemed off or dangerous.

  He ran into the woods and morphed into his wolf. He was almost all tan, much like his light brown hair when he was human. However, he had a black chest plate and a stripe of black along his spine. His tail sported a black tip. He was close to six feet tall at his shoulders. All-in-all, he was a very fine example of a shifted wolf.

  His job with the pack was as the Fourth. Three down from his Alpha and with that level or distinction he was assigned to any of the out-of-pack protection duties that came along. Meaning he didn’t get to mingle with the pack much. He stayed with and around humans most of the time, especially lately.

  The Second and the Third usually stayed wherever the Alpha was. That was fine with Jason as he loved his freedom to roam, see new places and he had made some damn good friends—human friends.

  His Alpha was a fair and honest leader who liked to be ahead of the times, keeping up with technology. Of course he used his pack’s talents but he also utilized any modern device or convenience that would enhance their chances of survival in this fight against the evils that were becoming more of a threat to the pack. The Outers had started out as a separatist group. If they wanted to out, he guessed they had that right but they were endangering the others in their selfish attempt.

  Humans and other shifters, as expected, w
ould not like having so-called superior beings trying to take over. This fight Jason and Keaton were involved with was being fought for other shifters, vampires and the like. And oh yeah…the humans too, of course.

  He continued his run for a while, eventually stopping at the top of a small rise, then changed back to human and used the communication device on the chain around his neck. Smaller than a cell phone it was more of a walkie-talkie with a very long range.

  "Jason, here. Logan? You there bro’?”

  "Yeah, man! Where you been??

  "Long story. Details later. Anything from Keaton?”

  "Nothing in the last four hours or so. He’s on his way back from some town near Little Rock. Said he has some intel but didn’t elaborate."

  "Okay, Thanks, Logan. I’m headed back to the safe house. Will check in after some shut-eye,”

  "Noted and...uhhhh Jason? Keaton asked if Lina was okay and I told him you were over there and he kinda, lost it...ya know? Did I screw up?"

  Jason took a deep breath and explained as well as he could, not knowing the entire story himself. Privately he just figured Keaton had found his mate in Lina but was refusing, for some odd reason, to claim her and end his suffering as well as Lina’s. That information, he did not share with Logan. "Naw… it’s all good, dude. I’ll call in later.”

  ***

  The Mansion was a zoo now that all the workmen were back and making a mess of things. They made dust, tool noise, yelling noise, truck noise, general mayhem and the sisters couldn’t wait until it was finished. Lina kept busy by going behind the crew, acting as an unpaid “laborer” picking up discarded lumber, nails, and metal pieces from the HVAC men. Wire pieces, saw dust, nuts, bolts, and plastic from packaging or stripped from wires was the worst of the trash. Tiny bits that were difficult to find, pick up, and dispose of.

  At the moment, Lina was on her hands and knees, grumbling to herself...out loud of course. "There has to be an easier way to do this! Maybe a magnet? I could drag it and catch the metal, but wait, what about the plastic? Maybe a torch to burn individual pieces? No, that causes toxic smoke. Maybe I could rake it, or sweep it? Hmmm grass doesn’t sweep well. I’d need a very fine-toothed rake and about 10 years! Okay, Lina, think. I have it! Shop-Vac!"

  She sat back from kneeling and seemed satisfied. Deep in thought, she didn’t hear anyone approaching.

  "I think I like you in that position.” Lina yipped at the voice as she turned.

  "Keaton!" She sprang to her feet and ran to him, almost knocking him down as she leaped into his open arms and wound her legs around his waist. She was kissing his face, his eyes and finally fully on his mouth. Keaton pulled back reluctantly and just looked at her. She was gorgeous, even with smudges of dirt on her face. He hadn’t expected any welcome. He thought maybe a polite hello. No matter now. He’d take what she offered and ask no more questions. He was a very lucky man.

  "What?” she whispered into his ear, causing a shiver, a groan and his swollen cock grew even harder than it had been when he saw her kneeling on the lawn.

  "I missed you, okay?" She held onto him with a steel embrace. "I don’t care if you don’t love me, cuz I know you at least want me and oh Keaton! I want you...now."

  She kissed him again and ground herself against his erection and they both moaned. He was walking them to the back door, before she knew it. He kicked it open and continued to the stairs. They heard it slam behind them as they topped the staircase.

  "God, you’re fast!” She breathed into his neck. He grimaced at that one.

  "That is not what a man with a hard-on and a beautiful woman in his arms wants to hear, Angel." She giggled. "And I hope after today you’ll never say those words to me again."

  He chuckled as she shivered in anticipation, then he took her mouth with a savage hunger that thrilled her deeply through her core and into her soul. Her soft moans and her grinding against him created his hunger. He felt the stirrings of the mating. His wolf was clawing to be let out and it wanted to pull her into him. The invisible strings of the soul match had begun pulling them together. Their spirits were beginning to blend. It had drawn them to each other the first day they met on the front steps.

  He didn’t want to fight it any longer. She was his. He was hers. He would take her and mate with her and deal with the fallout later. Much later. He intended spending a long time loving her, begging for forgiveness, telling her how much she meant to him. All of that begging and loving was starting here and now and into the night.

  Lina was dreaming. She had to be. Finally she had Keaton all to herself and he was going to make love to her. Well the love was one-sided but she’d still have him. All hers for however long she could have.

  "You smell so good! Good enough to eat. Oh wait, I did that. But…yumm…. I could do that for as long as you wanted, you’re delicious ya know?”

  He stopped dead in his tracks. He was already uncomfortable in his jeans but now he knew if he moved in any direction, he would fill his jeans with cum. She had him so hard and ready. His little virgin-Angel was a sultry temptress and sexy as hell!

  "Angel! You’re killing me!" He gently let her down to stand on her feet. But the slide of her body down the front of his was excruciating! She knew it too! Minx!

  "You have too many clothes on.” She purred as she began to undo his belt, one hand stroking him through his jeans. She felt so powerful and even sexy. He just made her feel that way and she had decided to stop feeling sorry for herself and go for it!

  "You're amazing, Angel...oh god...yes!” He couldn’t help but start to sway. "Like that, yes...just like that.” Now, he was pumping against her hand while trying to unbutton her blouse.

  “Hurry, please babe!” She begged.

  He growled and tore open her blouse, buttons flying everywhere, ripping the material in half. She loved it! She got his belt off and unzipped his jeans. This was just what she wanted. She put her long fingers inside and around his hot cock.

  His knees actually buckled! He bent his head to capture her mouth and pulled her tight against his hard body, his eyes glowing gold. "I want you naked on that bed in three seconds or I’ll put you there, my wolf wants to come out.”

  She shimmied away from him and very slowly and methodically unzipped her jeans. Then even more slowly she began to wiggle her way out of them.

  "Annnngelllll!” His voice filled with warning, as he watched with utter stillness. He stared in silence like an animal waiting for its prey—getting ready to pounce. She couldn’t wait!

  "I may never have this chance again and I want to make it last as long as possible. I don’t know when it happened, or how but I love you, Keaton."

  Keaton stepped towards her with a determined step. "Stop right there!”

  She was in the middle of unhooking her bra, her eyes still on him. "What? Why? I thought we were going to... Oh! I see...you changed your mind. Again! I really wish you would just make up your mind, Keaton! You have me twisted up inside trying to figure out if you want me or not. Then your reaction to me is well… confusing. Crap! What is wrong with me? No wait...what is wrong with you? Why is this happening, again?" She shivered. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she turned away to pull her jeans back up.

  "I said...stop right there!” She froze, then turned quickly to find him up against her and she looked him straight in the eyes, daring him to… what? Hurt her...again?

  "I want to take off your clothes. I want you to know who is loving you tonight. And I am going to have you tonight, Angel. I want to make love to you all night long. I will hear you scream my name." She just stood there, her mouth open.

  She just whispered. "Keaton." The love of her life just smiled and continued.

  "I want you so badly I can’t walk. I have trouble talking and definitely can't think of anything but you and me here alone, naked and sweaty. I am so sorry I left you the way I did. I don’t know how to tell you how sorry I am and how much you mean to me." He growled. "I will make you mine.”<
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  His last four words, punctuated with those sexy growls and holding onto her so tightly, had her breathless. She just stood there frozen in place as he continued to unhook her bra.

  "You know, I had your beautiful breasts in my mouth once before.” She shivered and her nipples hardened in anticipation of him taking his turn at the game.

  "But, I’ll never get enough." Oh! He was good!

  "Oh Keaton...yessss!”

  She whimpered as he took her nipple into his mouth while he pulled her against his steel cock that he’d finally freed after her loving hand had caressed him. He gently bit the tip of her nipple and she jumped and moaned. Before she could react any further he sucked and licked the pain away. He walked her backwards until she bumped the wall. He used it for support while his other hand cupped her ample breast.

  "Angel, you are so damn sweet! You’re fucking perfect...and all mine!"

  He pinched and plucked her nipple as she gasped and he moved to take her bottom lip and nip it before diving into her warm mouth and kissing her until they were both breathless. Their tongues danced with perfect rhythm, his matching the pump of his hips. She wiggled her hips just enough to settle into that perfect angle. Yeah...right there, the spot. She jerked and her eyes flew open as she climaxed from just that one touch.

  "That’s it Angel. Come for me. Then we’ll do it again…and again, baby. God I love the sounds you make. Oh damn baby, you—are—so—hot!”

  He pumped against her with each word, as she continued to moan and arch against him. Keaton gently picked her up into his arms and carried her to the bed. She loved that he made her feel so delicate and small. He didn’t let go of her as she kept trying to pull his t-shirt up and off.

  "Let’s do this my way." He ripped it off his torso. Her hands were on him immediately as she chuckled.

  "I love your way.” She whispered, totally amazed by him.

  He gazed at her, lying there, spread out on the cool sheets just for him and willing to do whatever he wanted. He wanted her. Not just her luscious body but her heart! She’d said she loved him. Could he believe his luck? How could she love him? He had treated her so badly. She loved him. He couldn’t stop repeating those three words. He felt his heart swell with love for her and yet he hadn’t told her. She loved him and he was amazed. His eyes were glowing but filled with love when he caught her staring while he looked at her curves.