The Power

by Cynthia Roberts

  “I can tell her you got a call? That you had to work.” Gina suggested at the gate. He was tempted, but he didn’t want to lie to Lilly. How could she trust him if he lied to her? Struggling with raw emotions, he shook his head negatively, and Gina climbed from the car and shut the door.

  Lilly was seated on the sofa when Jack walked into the room. He smiled in greeting, and she rose to meet him, but stopped halfway, and looked at his face, really looked at him. Her eyes widened in sudden understanding, and he opened his mouth to comfort her, but it was too late.

  “She told you!” she snapped fitfully, and Jack hurried to her. He brushed his hands down her arms then quickly up again.

  “Lilly, if I had known...” he was saying, when she cut him off short.

  “It was not her place to tell you anything!” she hissed, and then sweeping past him in what almost appeared to be a blur before his eyes, she snapped up her cloak, and rushed out the front door. Jack turned to chase after her, but by the time he reached the front steps, Lilly was nowhere in sight. Damn it! Damn it to hell!

  Damn her! She had no bloody right to tell Jack anything! It was Lillian’s place, not her dark mother’s! Hadn’t Gina just warned her last night not to share anything concerning her past with Jack? No! Gina had warned her not to reveal their secret! What was this really about, Lillian couldn’t help but to wonder? Was Gina trying to turn Jack against her? Trying to push him away before Lillian gave up their secrets? Lillian had decided last night that the best thing for all of them would be for her to give up Jack Stone and all that he offered her, but God, how could she do that when he already meant so very much to her?

  He knew! Damn it! He knew, but what all did he know? How far had Gina gone in the re-telling of her story? Surely, she hadn’t revealed their secret. Surely, Jack didn’t know that his death was her fault! If she had never gotten involved with him, if she had not leaned on him in her time of need, had not counted on him, had not loved him! Like she loved him now? No. Now, it was more. It was stronger. It had developed into something much more staminate, more substantial! God, the emotions consumed her! God? When had she begun using that name again? God! Ha! God did not exist! He certainly had never shown himself to her in any way, shape, or form over the long, lonely years. Then again, why would all that was good show itself to all that was evil?

  She had been walking for hours, thinking, raging at Gina, worrying about Jack. Was he out there? Was he looking for her or was he back at her house waiting for her return? Or had he run at Gina’s announcement of the events concerning Lillian’s past?

  It was maddening! Lost deep in thought, she didn’t hear the car coming upon her until it was too late. A loud horn honked, and Lillian stepped out of the way just in time. How had that happened? When had she become so oblivious to her surroundings? It was dangerous to be so. She had to stay alert, aware! What she felt for Jack was softening her, humanizing her, and her immortal senses were beginning to slacken. She couldn’t let that happen! She had to let Jack go, she decided as pain like she had never known sliced through her. It was the only way. She had to do it, for his sake, for hers as well, but God, she didn’t want to let him go! She wanted to hold tight to him forever! She heard when the next car rounded the corner coming straight at her. She stepped back onto the sidewalk, watching intently as a pair of headlights flashed in her face. Wrapping her cloak tighter around herself, she kept walking, but the car slowed, and as it approached she could make out that it was Jack’s dark Mustang. The car came to a screeching halt a few feet from her, and Jack slung open the door.

  Jumping out, Jack grabbed her roughly by the arms. “Are you insane?” he shouted down at her. “I’ve been looking for you for hours, worried out of my mind, and then I find you walking alone in the dark, in this neighborhood!” he scolded hotly. Lillian could feel the fear that raged inside of him. He had been worried sick over her state of mind, over her safety. He had feared that he would not find her safe and sound. He loved her, she read the emotion in him, felt it burning so strongly within him, within her. She stopped, staring into his troubled eyes. She felt it wash over her, through her. He loved her, and she would be a fool not to admit that she loved him too. Rushing into his arms, she brought her urgent kiss to his warm mouth. Jack pulled her within the strength of his arms so tightly that she feared she would bruise. He had been that worried for her.

  “Jack.” she breathed out, kissing him again and again. “Jack. Make love to me, Jack.” she begged, and he pulled her back to gently stroke her face, to stare longingly into her eyes.

  “You’re sure?” he asked, his thumb tracing her bottom lip. Lillian nodded. She kissed him again, surrendering to him, wanting him like she had never wanted another.

  “I’m sure.” She whispered urgently. “Jack, take me home with you.” she pleaded, and he kissed her long and hard, causing her knees to go weak, and her stomach to plummet and tighten. Dear God, what was this he was doing to her?

  Jack took her around to her side of the car, and he helped her in before he climbed behind the wheel. His amber eyes washed wantonly over her face, her body, her face again only to lock with her gaze. “We should talk about this.” he suggested.

  “I don’t want to talk tonight, Jack.” Lillian said, and she unhooked her belt and slid across the seat, nestling close to his side. Her fingers splayed across the hardness of his broad chest. Not being able to resist, she pressed her lips to the warmth of his neck, and felt when Jack quivered beneath her touch.

  “You may not want to see me anymore if you see my place.” he warned in nervous teasing, reminding her of the words she had once said to him not so long ago. Lillian smiled.

  “I can’t see that happening.” she repeated what she recalled his response being on that fateful night.

  “My place is, uh, small.” he said, and then he grinned down at her. Lillian grinned back, and she kissed him soundly on the mouth.

  Pulling into a parking space at his apartment building, Jack killed the engine and turned to Lillian, pulling her strongly into his arms. Holding her tight in his embrace, he lowered his head, and kissed her until she could think of nothing but the feel of him, of his hands, of his mouth, of the warmth of his body scraping curiously against her own. Taking her hands, he pulled her from the car and with him into the dark building where he led her to an elevator, and they boarded together still locked in each other’s embrace. They barely heard when the elevator doors opened on Jack’s floor; they were so lost within each other. Jack fumbled with his keys at the door, and Lillian clung to his back as he finally managed to get the door open, and dragged her inside with him. He closed the door by pressing her body back against it, and then his dark amber gaze found hers. She watched him as he came to her, leaning into her, kissing her as he locked the door, and then he pulled her with him, across a small living area, down a narrow hall to a bedroom that she knew she had seen once before in her dream.

  “You’re sure?” Jack asked her once more when they reached his unmade bed. He turned her fully to face him. He stroked her cheek. His hand played with the ends of her long hair. She melted into his touch. Her stomach tightened in response. She wanted him. She wanted him desperately.

  “Yes.” she whispered. “God, yes.” she said, pulling him toward her. He came easily, wanting her just as desperately. Her arms surrounded the strength of his shoulders, drawing him down even closer, and she touched her tongue to his, tasting him and savoring the taste. This was Jack. This was Jackson. She had loved him once upon a time. She loved him still. She longed for his touch. She would surrender all to him and more. Jack’s hand tangled in the back of her hair. He moved in so that his hard chest met her breasts, and he inhaled sharply at the shock the intimate touch brought to him. Lillian’s hands lowered to the buttons of his shirt. Surprised to see that her hands were trembling, she stared at those pale hands urgently working the button’s of Jack’s shirt and had to remind herself that those, pale, shaking hands belonged to her. Jack lifted
her hands in his. He kissed both of them, and then he unbuttoned his own shirt, and slid it off, allowing the material to slip to the floor. His skin was smooth, bronzed. His chest was strong and filled with sinewy muscles. She could not resist, she leaned down kissing his chest, revealing in the heat she felt rising to meet her curious lips. Her hand splayed across the warm, hard flesh as Jack dipped to kiss her neck. Feeling the strong heart beating within his chest, Lillian stopped, and looked up into Jack’s gaze. He was mortal. He was alive with a beating heart. She would never be the same! She would never age. She would never die, and Jack…would.

  “What is it?” Jack asked sounding out of breath, his voice low and husky.

  “Your heart. I can feel it beating.” she whispered, and Jack smiled tenderly. Did he know? Did he realize that her heart did not beat? Why had she mentioned his heart? Stupid!

  “Racing, for you, Lilly.” he confessed, and then his hands were at the bottom of her silk blouse, his fingers sliding warmly over her bare stomach as he lifted the material off and over her head. She stood there in a white, silk and lace bra, pale skin to his view. He leaned down, kissing her neck, her collarbone, and then his warm, gentle lips touched the rise of her breasts, and Lillian’s hands tangled in the thickness of his hair, cradling him there against her.

  “Jack.” She whimpered his name, feeling when his hands rose to the straps of her bra, and carefully he tore the material away and tossed it aside. She felt the cool air against her skin as she stood there naked from the waist up, her white skin there for his view. What did he think of her body? Was she too pale? Was she-

  “Beautiful, Lilly. You’re so damned beautiful.” He grabbed her to him, wrapping his arms around her in a crushing hold as he brought her chest to his. His hands smoothed up and down the skin of her back causing gooseflesh to arise and then his hands played between her shoulder blades as he lowered his mouth to hers in a tender kiss that soon turned to starving passion. Her slacks slid to the floor next, and she could have cared less. She wanted to feel his body flesh to flesh with her own. She wanted him to keep kissing her so deeply, so…but then he stopped. He pulled back, and leaning down, he opened a bedside drawer, and drew out a small, plastic package. Closing her eyes, it hit her hard. He was protecting her, even now. Oh Jack! You don’t understand what you are getting into with a creature like me!

  “What is it?” Jack cradled her face in his hands. He kissed her gently, and she looked up into his so beautiful amber gaze, reading the concern there. He wanted her, but he was worried for her. He knew something was wrong.

  “You don’t need to protect me, Jack.” she whispered. “I can’t have children.” she confessed, and she tried to move from his arms, but Jack grabbed her back quickly. She could read the conflict within him. He had thought of it, of their would-be children. He had imagined them with her eyes. She smiled at the thought. It was a nice dream, one she had given up on long ago, had accepted, but Jack, he didn’t have to accept her doomed fate! He deserved better! Again, she tried to move from his loving embrace, but Jack wasn’t ready to let her go.

  “You’re sure?” he asked, and she nodded, feeling ashamed all of a sudden, for what she was, for what she could never give to him.

  “You deserve better than me, Jack.” she said brokenly, and Jack tipped her chin up so that she was meeting his heated gaze.

  “Listen to me, Lilly. There is no better than you!” he said powerfully, and then he was kissing her again, kissing her until she forgot her shame, her guilt. Kissing her until she forget everything except the feel of him, the wanting of him. She felt when the softness of the bed came up beneath her. She surrendered heart, body, and soul, when Jack’s long, hard body came over her. She met and held his gaze, losing herself to him forever in that moment when he joined his body to hers. Closing her eyes, she gave up the fight and clung tight to the one thing that had ever felt right, had ever felt real in her miserable existence.

  Jack, she thought, and her arms surrounded him as their bodies locked together again and again, as the overwhelming pleasure filled her, consumed her. This was what she had been waiting for, had been wanting, longing for, for over a hundred years. When her body climaxed, tears spilled over her lashes, bathing her cheeks in happiness. Now, she was complete, she thought in the aftermath of their lovemaking. Now, she was exactly where she was meant to be: with Jack.

  They had lain there for several minutes, neither of them uttering a word. Jack had pulled the blankets up and over them both, and Lilly had rolled to her side, giving him her back. Did she regret coming here, being with him in this way, Jack worried? It had been incredible, he thought as he brought her back against his chest, and held her loosely in his arms.

  “Tell me what you’re thinking?” he asked lowly, and he kissed the back of her head. Her hands came up, brushing lightly against his biceps, and then she held on to him as if she was afraid if she did not then it would not last. That thought frightened him more than he cared to admit, and Jack snuggled closer.

  “There’s something I need to tell you.” she whispered, sounding so far away, so lost that Jack wanted to pull her so close into his arms, and hold her strongly against him forever so that she would always know that with him,she could never truly be lost. She didn’t go on with whatever she had been planning on telling him. She just lay there, and Jack worried that she was clamming up on him again. What was it? Why was she so afraid to tell him what was on her mind?

  “You can tell me anything.” he vowed, and he leaned in closer. Lowering his mouth to her ear, he dared to whisper the words that he felt pulsating through his every vein, expanding within him. “I love you.” He had never said the words to another woman. He had never felt this way before, but Lilly…! My God, Lilly, I love you, he thought so strongly that he thought his heart would rip from his chest.

  “We agreed.” Lilly whispered softly as she turned in his arms to face him. Meeting his gaze she whispered. “No words tonight, Jack. No words.” she leaned in, kissing him, loving him. He could feel it in her touch, in her kiss, in every word that she dared not to utter; she loved him too.

  Jack awoke to someone nudging his shoulder. Opening his tired eyes, he saw Lilly kneeling on the bed, fully dressed. When had that happened? He smiled as he reached to touch her face.

  “What are you doing?” he asked, pulling her down to him by her arm so that he could love her again. Lilly shook her blonde head and pulled back.

  “It’s late.” she voiced softly, and Jack’s brow furrowed in confusion.

  “All the more reason to take those clothes back off and come back to bed.” he smiled seductively, and leaning forward he met her kiss half way. He tried dragging her back into the bed with him, but she shook her head.

  “Will you take me home, Jack?” she asked almost shyly, and Jack groaned.

  “You can’t stay?”

  Lilly shook her head once more. “Gina will be worried.”

  “You can call her?” Jack suggested.

  “I should probably get home, have a talk with her.” Lilly leaned over him, kissing him sweetly, and then she swatted his arm in a playful manner. “Get up!” she ordered sharply, and Jack groaned out loud. Begrudgingly, he climbed from the bed, and pulled on his jeans. Lilly was standing, watching him when he turned to face her. Not a hair was out of place on her beautiful head. She looked as lovely to him now as she had at the beginning of the evening. Sucking in his breath, he went to her, and he drew her within his arms, kissing her awaiting mouth.

  Lilly smiled against his mouth. “It’s late.” she reminded, and he frowned, making her smile brighten. Reluctantly, Jack got dressed and drove Lilly home. As he drove away from her house, he thanked God that he had been able to find her last night. “God, help me.” He muttered. “I’m in love with the woman.”

  Chapter twenty-seven

  “How long will you be in the city?” Nicole asked when Ewan walked her to her door after their second dinner date. The look in his eyes was intoxi
cating, and she knew that he was lingering. For her? Well, she was the only one standing there in the hall at the moment, she reminded herself, and she smiled as he stepped in closer. Her heart was beating frantically away from her when Ewan stepped in closer. She backed away until her back was pressed to the cool oak of her front door, but still Ewan pursued her. Leaning in close, he smiled smoothly, and she sucked in her breath. Gently, his mouth brushed her own, and Nicole could hardly remember to breathe.

  “Not long, I’m afraid.” he said seductively, as he lifted his mouth from hers. The regret that weighed upon her then almost dragged her low. She lowered her head in sadness. Not long? Then why begin what he couldn’t finish? “But if it’s all right with you, My Sweet, I plan to spend as much of that time as I possibly can with you?” his voice was low, hypnotic and she felt herself being lured into his trance. Sweet Jesus! This couldn’t be happening to her! But, it was happening, she realized on a shudder. She was falling for him. She barely knew him, but he was sweeping her off her feet all the same. Timidly, she lifted her hand to rest against his hard jaw, and even more carefully, she touched her lips to his, tasting him, wanting him like she had never wanted another man in her life.

  “I count on that.” she whispered when the kiss broke, and Ewan pulled her forward, kissing her forehead, he smiled, and then he backed away.

  “Tomorrow night? Nine?” he inquired, and she heard in his voice that he knew she would not refuse him. Powerless against him, she could but nod her head like the love-sick fool she was becoming for him. “Goodnight, Nicole.”