by Sandra Ross
He kissed the top of her head. His arms tightened around her. She heard the beating of his heart. Why was it thudding so? Why was this ao important to him? He answered her question with his next words.
"I haven't felt like this with any other woman, Kitty. I feel very protective of you, like you're one stray cat I found and it took me long to get you to come with me but now," he chuckled a little, "now I own you. Do you understand? I want you to trust me. Tell me everything, the most important things about you. I want to know about them."
She could barely breathe. She wanted to sigh but her heart had constricted. He cared. It was important to him. So the strong beating of his heart started to calm her, make her feel safe. Maybe she could talk, after all. Maybe she could tell him.
It was so long ago. Maybe... this man... who seemed to know her so well... understood her and seemed willing to accept her, even when she came from a very questionable background. This made her feel very brave. Besides, he didn't know her parents. It would be just another story to him.
Maybe I... I can tell the story, and maybe feel for the first time that I'm finally not alone.
Not anymore. Maybe she really could trust him. She already felt like they had shared each other's soul after last night. Making love with him felt exactly like that. Like they'd become one; equal parts of a whole. Soul mates.
She smiled to herself. She never thought she could be melodramatic. Maybe she really was in love? She started talking, at first in a flat, emotionless voice. It was the only way she could tell the story without breaking down.
Chapter Ten
"MY PARENTS WERE poor. In fact, when I was born, we became poorer because my father lost his job. He could hardly find a day's labor and my mother cleaned houses for a living. We lived in a neighborhood that wasn't good. We never went out of the house after dark and in daylight we always watched our steps. Gangs were in control. We had Los Lobos in ours, which in Spanish means The Wolves. The Wolves were always battling against another gang from another neighborhood. They were Italians and they were called Le Pantere, which means, the Panthers."
As she finished her last sentence, his heart started beating irregularly, faster, but she was too immersed in the past to notice. She continued as if she was reciting a text she had memorized. Her voice became deeper and lower.
"One night, my father went out to fetch my mother. She was late cleaning a house. She was afraid to come back home alone. I was six then and he left me with Granny, who also lived with us because she was old and had started to forget things. She had a small pension. That was a great help to us back then. We lived in a small apartment of two rooms and four people living in it. Even I remember that it was hard and I was just six.
"Around ten in the evening, we heard car brakes screaming and constant noise from afar. It sounded... bang-bang-bang, like fireworks exploding one after the other. They were gun shots... but I did not know that then. I was too young to know the difference. I honestly thought they were just fireworks...you know, like people lighting up those snakes that writhed about, smelling awful?
"What I didn't know was that some members of the Panthers had stolen a car. They had come to our territory. They were shooting at everything. Walls, doors, windows, pavement, everything. It's a good thing that people didn't walk outside at this hour.
"Only two did. My parents. And that's how th-they d-died."
Nickolas knew there was more. He felt terrible. He had to let her talk about it. To tell him about it, so she would not wonder how he knew.
"Who found them, Iliana?"
It took her a long time to answer; so long he thought she wouldn't say anything.
"I did. I went out just as they were leaving. I saw them looking at me as they drove away."
Her voice was more distant now, as if she had disappeared into the most hidden part of herself. "I heard the shots and I rushed out of my bed and ran to the door. I just had to see the fireworks and my poor granny was no match for me. I was so much faster than her, she couldn't stop me.
"I ran down the stairs and got out of the house. There was a jeep, and one man looked at me. He held a long gun. He jumped on the jeep with the others before they drove away. My parents... they were lying on their backs on the pavement, just outside the house. They were so near the door... just a few steps more and they could have been inside. They were still holding hands, because, you know, they were always holding hands when they were walking, like couples that I watched in the park across the street."
He understood now why she was so much calmer, so much happier when he held her hand while they walked. When he first did that, she had looked at their linked fingers quizzically but didn't pull away, even though she had been as skittish as a stray cat. He couldn't almost hear anymore. It felt like his brain had fragmented into millions of pieces.
She did not know this. She continued in her monotone: "My father's face was covered with something and I couldn't tell what it was. It was a red gluey thing, with other little white things in it, some soft and others hard. I tried to get it off of him. And my hands were full of it now...
"My mother, she seemed like she was sleeping. Her blouse had two huge holes on it-her beautiful white blouse, with the pink flowers. They were red now. Her hand moved up and down quickly, like she was waving at me. I giggled. I thought she was playing with me so I sat down beside her to tell her about the fireworks.
"I waited for her to smile at me like she would in the mornings when I went to their bed and squeezed myself between them and tickled them until they woke up. Of course, now I know they were faking but, when I was a child, it was one of the most important things...
"She wouldn't open her eyes. She stopped moving. I thought she had gone back to sleep. I thought about tickling her. I decided not to. So I sat there, holding her hand and waiting. It became cold so my granny went inside the house because I wouldn't let her take me. I think I knew. I just don't know... I think something in me knew, even when I was so small..."
She could barely be heard now. She whispered. Nickolas didn't ask for her to talk louder.
"A policeman came. So did many people from the other houses. He made me let go of her hand. I don't remember what happened next."
She paused. Then, she closed her eyes.
Nickolas felt like his chest was going to explode. He still had to ask the question. "You saw the killers?"
Her head nodded once, a very small movement. "Yes. I saw him."
There was no mistaking the difference. There wasn't just one. She was talking about someone in particular.
"Nickolas DiAngelo. That was his name," she continued, sounding almost like a robot now, except that there was so much feeling trapped in her tone. "They said he was put in jail. He was punished for what he did to my parents."
This time, it was Nickolas who closed his eyes.
"I don't want to talk anymore now," she said in a very small voice. "Please don't make me talk anymore."
The sky was already light by then. He held her so tight he thought she was going to protest. But she didn't. She didn't make a sound. When he looked down, she was asleep. Her face was as innocent as a child's. A good thing, because he was already crying.
He breathed deeply, slowly, then reached for the controller and pushed the button for the mechanical blinds. Slowly, the blinds on both the open ceiling and the windows closed. The whole room was bathed in shadows. Tears fell from his eyes. She found refuge in sleep. He knew that. After the night her parents were murdered, she was put to bed and she slept. She just slept. She had to be put in the hospital for sustenance because she wouldn't wake up. They couldn't wake her up. She would just sleep. For six months.
During this time, she had become a ward of the state. Many people pitied the orphan child and they helped with donations. While he scraped together every penny he could and sent it to her grandmother. She eventually woke up-to a life she had to endure as an orphan after her parents were murdered. And he was sent to jail, a minor punish
ment, as far as he was concerned.
He felt like throwing up. Guilt was back in full force and this time he let it torture him. If he could, he would send Iliana away from him. He was her tormentor. She was his victim. She was his punishment. Every time he looked at her, he hurt. She was so beautiful. She was more so on the inside, remaining so strong even after what she had suffered. If he knew it was safer for her that he let her go, he would. But he couldn't. He couldn't, since death was all around her now. Because of him. Again.
And he, the one who'd brought it in the first place, was the only one who had the power to make it go away...
The Case of the Secret Admirer
Eve Snow, Psychic P.I. Part 1
Prologue
SARA APPROACHED HER front door with trepidation. She had seen the elegantly wrapped package waiting on the porch just outside the door as soon as she pulled into her driveway.
Not again, she thought. How much longer was this going to continue?
It had started a little over a month ago with a dozen red roses delivered to her on a Saturday afternoon. At first, she had been sure that they were from Bryan as a way of apologizing and wanting to make up. But the card on the flowers had read, "From your Secret Admirer."
That was rather enticing and exciting. Didn't most women want to have a secret admirer? Someone who would send wonderful cards and gifts without ever signing their name? Of course, at some point, you wanted the person to reveal himself, but that buildup was so seductive. That's why she let it go on for so long before deciding that it was a bit frightening.
The gifts kept coming but they were also getting more personal and, finally, a little creepy. The last gift was the one that had actually chilled her to the core.
The box had arrived at her house while she was at work. It was wrapped in shiny black paper with a silver ribbon and bow. Inside, there was a very slutty black see through nighty, along with a pair of matching thong panties. This time the card said "See you soon, Your Secret Admirer."
Sara was seriously spooked, but she didn't know what to do about it. Bryan wouldn't do something like this no matter how pissed off he was at her. This wasn't his style and it never occurred to her to ask him about any of it. Besides, she really didn't want to see him again. Not after what he did.
Well, she thought now, I can't just stand out here staring at this box.
She picked it up gently, unlocked her door and went inside. Closing and locking the door behind her, she carried the package into her kitchen and set it down on the bar. She got a bottle of wine from the refrigerator and poured a glass. Sipping the wine, she eyed the package like it might attack her at any second.
Finally, she set down her glass and reached for the box. Bringing it to her, she started slowly untying the ribbon. Carefully, she removed the paper from the box. It was a square box, about the size of hat box, but it seemed to weigh absolutely nothing. Setting the paper aside, she slid her fingernail underneath the piece of tape that held the lid fastened.
All she saw were some pieces of black tissue paper; the kind you use to conceal items in special gift bags. Sara wasn't sure what to think of that. Finally, she reached her hand into the paper and searched the box. She still couldn't find anything.
Just as she was starting to withdraw her hand from the box, a sudden, sharp pain shot through the underside of her wrist. Crying out, she jerked her hand out of the box only to discover a horrendous spider clinging to her arm. Screaming in full blown terror now, she leapt from the bar stool and twirled around in circles as she frantically shook her arm trying to disengage the creature. But it hung on, its fangs hooked into her vein pouring its toxic, deadly venom into her body.
Within mere minutes, Sara began to feel cold and hot at once. Her mouth twitched involuntarily as did other parts of her body. Tears ran down her face and severe nausea gripped her. It was impossible to catch her breath as she frantically tried to get to her cell phone. Someone had to help her!
But somehow she knew that she wouldn't make it to her phone and that, even if she did, help wouldn't arrive in time to save her. She was growing weaker as the venom continued its deadly fast and furious path through her body.
I don't want to die, she thought, as her legs collapsed beneath her.
Sliding down the wall, she half sat, half lay with her legs splayed out before her. The pain was unbearable now but she could tell that it wouldn't last much longer. Unable to move other than the continuous involuntary twitching, she felt the life in her body literally being sucked out of her by this creature still holding fast to her wrist.
I wonder who will find me, Sara thought.
Then there was only blackness.
AS SARA LAY fighting for her life in her kitchen, a pair of eyes watched from a rear kitchen window. Glittering with maniacal excitement, they watched as Sara writhed in pain. Yes, now was the time to go in and let Sara see just who was responsible for her untimely departure from this life. Besides, the Secret Admirer needed to collect the instrument of destruction. It wouldn't do to make things too easy for the police once Sara was discovered.
Slipping in through the sliding glass doors, the Secret Admirer walked directly into the kitchen where Sara gasped and fought for her life. She looked up into the face of her executioner and recognition, followed by horror, flashed across her face. It couldn't be possible! Yet, it was.
Sara's tormentor smiled at down at her before picking up the gift box that had brought death to her. Leaning down, the Secret Admirer deftly detached the venomous creature from Sara's wrist with gloved hands and encouraged it to scurry back inside the box. Replacing the lid insured that the spider would stay put for now.
Reaching down, the Secret Admirer brushed Sara's hair from her eyes almost tenderly.
"Don't worry, Sara. It's almost over. You won't be suffering much longer, I promise. I hope you understand why this had to happen. I just couldn't let you get away with it. Try to relax. Stop working so hard to breathe. It's not going to help you. No one is going to get to you in time to save you. It will be much easier for you if you just let death take you."
Sara was trying to speak but her voice made only a very soft whisper.
"Why?" she tried to ask her murderer.
"Poor, dear Sara. If you try very hard, you'll understand everything."
The Secret Admirer sat with Sara until the final breath left her body and her eyes, frozen in uncomprehending horror, stared as if they were still seeing something terrible.
I'll just hang around for a little while longer, thought the Secret Admirer. I bet there will be someone coming soon. I wouldn't want to miss all of the excitement.
This one murder might not bring in the incomparable Eve Snow, but it wouldn't be long before her interest would be attracted. Someone would probably want to hire her eventually. That's when things would really get interesting. Oh yes, Ms. Eve Snow would be made to pay for her sins and that retribution was starting right now.
I'll just wait a little while longer. Someone will come to look for Sara sooner or later. I don't want to miss it.
As the Secret Admirer was thinking that, someone arrived in the driveway of Sara's house. A woman got out of the car and headed to the front door. Leaving just as quietly and expertly as entering had been; the Secret Admirer stole back out of the house carrying the box as well as all of the wrapping and ribbon. Moving stealthily to a car parked on a side road across the street from Sara's house, no one was the wiser. Settling in, the Secret Admirer sat back to watch the drama unfold.
Now the fun can really begin.
Chapter One
EVE SNOW WAS slowly waking up to subtle probing from behind her.
Smiling, she kept her eyes closed and waited to see what would happen next. This had quickly become Hunter's favorite way of waking her up and getting their day started, but she had found that it was just fine with her.
His rock hard erection moved against her bare luscious ass cheeks as she felt him pressing himself against he
r. That was all it took for her own juices to start flowing in eagerness. Slipping his throbbing cock between her upper thighs, his arm snaked around her body and his hand began teasing her sensitive little nipples.
Her love honey had already made its way to Hunter's needy member and he was sliding himself back and forth between her thighs, teasing her stiff little rosebud of pleasure. It amazed her still that he had to do so little to get her to the point of no return. But she relished it and welcomed it.
Giving herself over to this newfound freedom of pleasure, Eve felt her spasms beginning. Throwing herself into motion, she moved rapidly back and forth over Hunter's cock. Moving just as quickly, Hunter replaced his cock with his fingers and deftly slid himself inside of her most intimate of places. Pushing into her, he felt her muscles contracting over his rod of steel. As she cried out in ecstasy, he gave into his own orgasm, exploding deep within her while uttering a guttural growl.
"Mmmm," Eve purred as she settled herself against his chest. "Hunter Vale, the things you do to me."
Leaning his head down to kiss the back of her neck, Hunter laughed softly.
"Evie, my love, I haven't even begun doing things to you," he promised.
"God, you just might kill me, you know."
"Never. My only intent is to make you weak with pleasure."
"Well, I think it's safe to say that you're doing an excellent job of that," Evie giggled.
Glancing up at the clock on her nightstand, she saw that they still had a few minutes before they absolutely had to get up. Smiling contentedly, she closed her eyes again and just reveled in the warmth of Hunter's arms as they held her close to his body. She could feel his heart beating against her back. This new part of her life was something she was still adjusting to but she had to admit to loving every second of it.
"Hunter."