by Hazel Gower
“I’m going to do both.” Duncan said between bursts of laughter. “But you do realize how good it is to know you’re human and make mistakes. We all thought you were a robot programed to plan and follow rules. For years we’ve listened as you told us the gypsy gift wasn’t real.”
“You were right. I was wrong. There. Now tell me when the security is coming.” There was quiet on the other end and I looked down at the screen to see Duncan just staring. “Are you going to tell me?”
Duncan smirked. “I was savoring the moment. I’ve never heard you utter those words.”
Rolling my eyes, I debated hanging up and trying Albert or even Lucas. Maybe they’d tell me what I wanted to know. Glaring at my brother I hoped he saw how close I was to losing my shit on him.
“Argh, there’s the brother I know so well. I thought for a moment that you’d left us. I thought that the gypsy’s gift might’ve mellowed you out. You’re always so in control and straight and narrow.”
“For fuck’s sake Duncan, just tell me how far away is the security?”
“They should be there in fifteen or so minutes. Rafe will be your head security. He was Richard’s seconded most trusted man besides Cole. Did you know that Gillian co—”
I didn’t want or need to hear anything else. I hung up on Duncan, reluctantly got back in my car, and drive down to the cabin.
I hoped that Annabelle hadn’t gotten far.
* * * *
Annabelle
So my brilliant plan didn’t work. You know when you watch a movie and you yell at the stupid heroine to run and she does, but she doesn’t wait and stay hidden and the kidnapper gets in his car and picks her up again. I thought I was smart. I finally got away from the crazy guy who kidnaped me. Point one to me. I even waited a while before I came out of the bushes in case Carl drove by and saw me. The problem? I came out of the woods thinking I’d waited a safe amount of time for Carl to think I’d already gotten away, and flagged down a car, and guess what? Did you say the car was the crazy man’s security and they didn’t help at all, just picked me up and carried me back to a big SUV with three other big security men? Nope. I bet you didn’t.
Crossing my arms over my chest I glared at the men beside me. They were both huge, all muscle. The guy to my left was in his early to mid-twenties, with a military short hair and big brown eyes. The man on my right had the same short military style cut, but his hair was blond. I looked up to the review mirror and narrowed my gaze. I didn’t get a good look at the guy driving, but he seemed to be the tallest of the lot, and from the quick look I’d gotten, the scariest. He reminded me of Lurch, with almost black eyes and the haircut. The only difference between him and the TV character was this guy had wicked looking tatts. The man I focused my attention on though was the guy in the passenger seat. He was the one who’d captured me and placed me in the SUV between big guy one and two. “You can’t do this you know. This is kidnapping.”
The man in the passenger seat turned, his leaf green eyes laser me with a ‘don’t mess with me look’. His hair is dark with white sprinkled mostly on the sides. His jaw is square and he is quite handsome in an, ‘I could kill you with my pinkie’ kind of way. He seemed to be the guy in charge. “I’d like to see you find law enforcement willing to hear you accuse a Silverman of kidnapping.” He raised a salt and pepper brow. “Carl is one of the most respected Silvermans too.”
“Ha! Respected my arse.” My snort is very unladylike. “He’s insane. They’re all crazy.” The men I’d heard on the phone to Carl didn’t sound any saner than him.
The big guy next to me chuckled. “They are, but they pay extremely well with huge bonuses, and are one of the most well-known, wealthiest families in the world, have connections everywhere, and if you’re lucky enough to work for them and they like you they treat you like family.”
“Matthew, shut it.”
Ah, lefty’s name was Mathew.
“Lighten up, Rafe.” Mathew shot back.
Blondie on my right spoke and his voice was deep. “I may have only been working for Mason for two years, but I’ve heard enough and have seen Stephan and Richard with Jade and Bailey and know what this woman between us is to Dr. Carl. She’s around for good.” Blondie laughed. “Mason is shitting bricks. And what I’ve heard from some of the other guys so are a lot of the other Silverman men. They’re all freaking about the Curse—”
“Don’t say another fucking word, Joseph,” Rafe snarled.
Great. Now the only guy’s name I didn’t know was the guy driving. He looked like Lurch, so that’s what I’d call him.
“So Lurch, are you going to add your input?” Mathew and Joseph burst out laughing as I stared up at the rearview mirror.
The man grunted and I burst out laughing. I mean, come on, if he was trying to change my name for him he failed miserably. Plus, I think the insanity was starting to catch. I mean, shouldn’t I be crying and terrified, not laughing and antagonizing the scary men?
“I like her.” Mathew commented. “She has sass. She’s going to need that to survive a life with a Silverman.”
Rafe groaned. “Mathew, seriously shut up.”
The terrain changed. We were driving down the winding path to the cabin gates. My stupid stomach flip flopped and I wondered how mad Carl would be. I closed my eyes and took a deep calming breath. Maybe he’d punish me. His hands were quite big. I bet they’d make marks on my arse. Oohh, a spanking. Was he into rope play? Would he tie me up and have his wicked way with me? My body heated and I shivered in anticipation. Opening my eyes I saw that the gates were open. When I’d run they’d been closed. The two guys I sat between stared at me. Argh, what the hell was wrong with me? I wasn’t into any of what I just thought about. I glanced up at the mirror and saw I was bright red. Damn something was wrong with me.
The car stopped and Rafe got out leaving the door open. I watched as Carl exited the…what the hell? “That is not a friggin’ cabin. A lodge, a wooden mansion, but not a cabin. A cabin is a cute little dwelling. That this thing is huge.”
“I told you the Silvermans are richer than God.” Mathew nudged me with his elbow.
I looked over at Rafe and Carl. Rafe smirked at Carl. “We found something I think you lost.”
Carl’s gaze darted over to the car and I sank down in the seat. The predatory look came over his face and I felt like a mouse being stalked by a very hungry cat. He’d changed from the suit to black shorts and a white wife beater, and damn, if he didn’t look just as hot in that as he did in a suit.
“Why the fuck is she sandwiched between two men?” His growl should have scared me, but it had the opposite effect. My pussy clenched and my breasts tingled and ached. I’d never been so horny in all my life. There was something very, very wrong with me.
Mathew scrambled out of the car and I shot him my best evil stare. I thought he was a bodyguard. He acted terrified of Carl. I shot my gaze back to the man who was now at the door leaning in and yanking me out. Um, when did he become so big? I mean where did all the muscles come from? My body shook and it wasn’t from fear. Traitorous body. It was telling me to let go of my complaints, and give in to the gorgeous man. What the hell? Staring at the man, I resigned myself to my fate.
Carl’s arm came around my waist and he lifted me out of the car and up against his very hard body. I’d go along with all this craziness and the first chance to get away from here I’d take it. Even if I had to promise something crazy. This man made me feel and do things I’d never felt or done in my life and I didn’t like it.
My plan was to go along with whatever happened. Tomorrow was a new day and I hoped I’d come to my senses.
* * * *
Carl
I’d never been so relieved to see Rafe, but when he’d told me about Annabelle and I’d seen her between two men, my caveman instinct had taken over. I didn’t care that the men were now my bod
yguards. All I cared about was getting Annabelle away from them and no body part of hers touching theirs. Mathew, who I knew used to be one of Richard’s bodyguards, scrambled out of the car and backed away from me with his hands up in the air.
He better bloody well back away. Annabelle was mine. No one but me could touch her. She belonged to me. I quickened my stride, reached into the SUV and gathered Annabelle to me, holding her tight. I calmed a little when she didn’t struggle or try to get away.
Carrying her into the cabin, I went to the lounge room and sat her down on the sofa, then sat next to her and pulled her onto my lap. I reached out and clutched her hands, my thumb caressed her skin and a sense of calm settled over me at the contact. She felt so good against me. I took a deep breath in, her sweet honey smell had me inhaling again. Mmm. So good.
Annabelle sat stiff in my embrace and I knew I had to explain myself. I needed to tell her what was going on, to make her see I needed her. I was willing to do anything to convince her to give our relationship a chance.
“I know everything that has happened has scared you and I probably shouldn’t have kidnapped you, but it’s not really my fault.”
She snorted. “Yeah, because I made you kidnap me. And for fuck’s sake, I’m not scared of you. I’m pissed off that you took me.” She unhooked her hands from mine and pushed at my chest to get away, but I wasn’t letting her go. She gave up on a huff. “Oh I know. Was it the ‘fairies’ that commanded you to do their work, or do you call them the voices in your head?”
Crap, she still thinks I’m insane. “I’m not crazy. I’m cursed.”
She patted my shoulder. “I’m sure you are.” Her voice dripped with condescension.
I turned her so she straddled my lap and tilted her chin up. “It’s true. Look, I promise to tell you why I took you if you make me a promise.”
She scooted off my lap and stood, throwing her hands up in the air. “I’ll promise you whatever the hell you want if you take me back to my mother.”
I should’ve felt guilty for manipulating her. I didn’t though. This was my chance. This was how I was going to get her to give me a chance. This was my chance to get what I wanted. “Promise me you’ll give our relationship a chance.”
She narrowed her gaze on me and if looks could kill I wouldn’t have been breathing. “Fine. If you tell me why you kidnapped me, I’ll give a relationship between the two of us a chance.”
I knew I was grinning like a loon. Now another promise. “Last promise. I’ll take you to your mother if you move in with me.”
“What! You are certifiably insane. Why on earth would I move in with you?”
“Because you’re mine.”
“Argh, you’re crazy. No. No I’m not moving in with you. I said I’d give the relationship a chance. That should be enough.”
My stomach knotted and my chest pounded. Getting off the sofa I pulled Annabelle against me. As soon as her body came against mine the knot in my stomach settled. “With you I want it all. So no, it will never be enough. I’ll give you everything of me. You already own me.”
A hollow laugh echoed the room as she leaned against me. “Grrr, for Christ’s sake, your craziness must have rubbed off on me.” Annabelle bucked against me. “Fine. I’ll move in with you. But you have to promise we’ll leave here tomorrow and visit my mother. I’m not staying here any longer than a night.” She turned to look up at me. “Now sit down and tell me why you took me.” She pushed me back onto the sofa.
I liked the bossy Annabelle. I smirked and yanked her down onto my lap. Nuzzling her neck I nibbled on her ear. Mmm, she tasted so good. I needed to talk before I got distracted. Easing away, I turned her to sit side on. Reaching up I undid the pins in her hair and let the beautiful honey colored hair out. It flowed in waves down her back and I hadn’t seen anything so gorgeous. It was silky smooth and so soft as I ran my fingers through it. “The Silvermans have what my family calls a gift. I’ve always called it a curse. The tale goes, in the old country, the Silvermans helped save a group of gypsies, and in thanks, the gypsies gifted us with prosperity and the ability to know our soul mate. Our one true love.” I closed my eyes and took a calming breath, inhaling her amazing scent, as anger at what my ancestors had shoved at me consumed me.
“I bet it sounds romantic. It sounds like the best gift. Ha! My idiot ancestors should have known you never receive a gift that powerful without some consequences. You know the double edged sword and all that. The gypsies forgot to mention the drawback to their so called gift. When we find our soul mate, we turn into possessive cavemen. I’d say controlling arsesholes, but I’ve been called that before all this.” I chuckled as I realized not much had changed for me besides my behavior towards Annabelle.
I clutched both her hands in my own. “Before you, I’d given up believing in the curse. I thought the story was wrong and that we didn’t help the gypsies and they cursed us. I believed for years that the gypsies’ gift was bullshit. I now know I was wrong. I’m the oldest in my family to find their soulmate.” I let go of her hands and lightly fingered a loose tendril of hair. Her hair was so soft. “You, Annabelle, are my mate. My soulmate.”
Her laugh was a light musical sound. “So you’re telling me that you kidnaped me because you believe your family is cursed, no sorry, ‘gifted’ by gypsies, and that I am your soulmate.” She gasped and giggled between every couple of words.
I looked over at Rafe to see his expressionless face. Joseph had a huge grin on his, and I could see Mathew trying not to laugh. Thomas looked his usual stoic self. I wasn’t going to get any help from them. I needed to find another way to convince her.
“Haven’t you wondered why you’re not scared of me? Why you’re not freaking out more? Why you’re not terrified? I kidnaped you. You should be crying, screaming, and begging me not to hurt you. There’s a reason for that. For you not being scared of me. You’re attracted to me. You feel the connection between us. Admit it. It’s the gypsies’ curse. The curse is why you’re not reacting like you should.”
Annabelle stopped laughing and then slowly stood up. “Okay. No more talking you.” She pointed at me as she paced back and forth.
I had to get other people besides me to explain the curse. Going to her, I gathered Annabelle to me and sat on the sofa and gently placed her on my lap. She wriggled attempting to get away, but I wasn’t letting her go. I reached in my pocket and took out my phone.
“No. You’re talking to me. Explain why you took me.” She snatched the phone from my hand and I grabbed it back.
“I told you why.” I ran my fingers through my hair, frustration and agitation at Annabelle not believing what I was saying. My stomach rolled. I needed her to believe me.
I dialed my oldest brother Duncan. I was going to get my family to tell her about the curse. I was going to convince her the curse was real even if I had to listen to every one of my family members explain it.
Chapter Three
Annabelle
Opening my eyes I had a moment of panic. I couldn’t move. An arm held me tight against a hard chest and a thick heavy leg, slung over my own legs. My hands rested on a muscular chest. Taking a deep breath in, I snuggled deeper into the embrace. Pine cones and lime, yum, he smelled so good. I sniffed the beautiful body beneath me. Mmm. This was a wonderful dream.
“Did you just sniff me?” The body shook beneath me.
The husky rasp sent a shiver of pure lust through me. I closed my eyes as the day before came flashing back to me. That sexy rasp belonged to Carl. Crazy Carl, who believed he was cursed, or gifted, by gypsies to find his one true love. His soul mate. Who he thought was me. Ha, what a loon.
After explaining the curse last night and why he’d taken me, he’d then called his family to help convince me. After they told me story after story, I lied and told them I believed their bullshit. That wasn’t the worst of last night. The wanker be
neath me had not only made me promise to give him a chance, but to move in with him. He’d recorded my agreement and statement that I would move in with him and I’d had to repeat it again to the bodyguards. The deal had been struck that if I wanted to leave this ‘cabin’ and go see my mother, those were the only things he would agree to. So instead of being turned on by the gorgeous man, I should be pissed. But for some reason my body wasn’t cooperating.
“No,” I hissed and wiggled out of his hold, but he gripped me tighter, moving me more over his chest. “Let me go.”
“What happened to the woman who clung to me all night?”
“She got some sleep and came to her senses.”
He raised his brow and stiffened beneath me, his muscles flexing tight. “What do you mean you came to your senses? I hope you’re not reneging on our deal?”
As much as I wanted to say yes, I was, that I wouldn’t be blackmailed into something, I knew Carl wasn’t stable and I didn’t want to anger him or risk not getting free. Giving in, I let my body go lax against him. “No, I’m not reneging. I said I would give our relationship a chance, and I will.”
His body relaxed. “Kiss me.”
“Say what now?” I may have been shocked at what he asked, but my damn body was very happy. Warmth seeped through me and I fought to contain the shiver at the thought of touching his lips. I wondered if he tasted as good as he smelled. I may have been angry and annoyed that I’d been kidnapped, but since the moment I’d first seen him, I’d had this strange attraction to him.
“Kiss me to prove you’re not reneging.” He wound a hand in my hair and pulled me down to him.
My lips mere inches from his, I slipped my tongue out and wet my lips. I could do this. It was only a kiss. My body trembled and I fought to keep myself under control as I gently brushed my lips over his and eased away.