Eden's Charms

by Jaclyn Tracey

  Ethan burst out laughing, knowing everyone thought the absolute worst. “You three look like the Mod Squad. Mike, Julie and Linc. Ya know, with the exception that Linc was this really cool African-American dude, and Julian is just beastly—I bet shirts have to be made special order to fit that massive set of shoulders.”

  Savanah gave Ethan an unhealthy glare.

  Ethan crossed his eyes. “I’ll shut up now.”

  Mortified, Savanah prattled, “Papa, I promise—it’s not what you’re thinking.”

  “Really? Because right now, little girl,” her father’s voice rose in octaves, “it’s not looking all that promising.”

  “Papa, how old am I? Shouldn’t I be allowed to date a man without you breathing fear down his neck?”

  Each one of them answered a collective, “No.”

  Ethan peered over her shoulder. “Ah! So it was a date after all.”

  Savanah swung around and put her finger to his mouth to shush him, trying to look stern. He returned her gaze playfully and Savanah lost out, smiling. “It was not a date. We had breakfast. Harmless, Pops,” she said turning back to her parents.

  “I swear, André, on your daughter’s behalf, she behaved.”

  “It’s not her I’m worried over, Ethan. And you still haven’t answered me about these?” He shook her pink rhinestone string-of-a-thing in her face.

  Savanah snatched her undergarment midair from her father’s hand, turned and walked away.

  “Savanah, you didn’t answer me.”

  “Come on, Mr. Kitt. I’m going to the gym to work off my breakfast and some anger. Today seems to be starting where last night ended.”

  Ethan shrugged his shoulders in the general vicinity of the triad of justice and turned, following happily on Savanah’s heels.

  As soon as Savanah and he were out of everyone’s hearing range, he offered, “Savanah, I’ve got a better way for you to work off your frustration and breakfast.”

  Savanah took in his brilliant smile and wanted him all over again. “Yeah, Ethan, I’m sure you do,” she teased, as she ran her finger from his abdomen to his chin and stopped just before his lips.

  Ethan grabbed her hand. “You’ve a one track mind woman. That idea never crossed my mind.”

  “Liar.”

  “All right, so maybe it did, but I’m thinking more along the lines of going up.” Ethan pointed his finger skyward. “Let’s go to the airport. I’ll take you for a tour. We can go anywhere you want for lunch and dinner. My treat. I’ll even let you play with my joy stick.”

  “See, I knew that’s why you wanted me to go.”

  “Could you for one second get your mind out of the gutter? I know it’s impossible to do this with me standing here in front of you,” Ethan chuckled, “but I call my controls on my dash board my joy sticks, because flying just does it for me. One-track mind. Yep!”

  Savanah tugged at her hand, but he brought it to his lips while he gazed into her eyes. Once she smiled, he kissed each finger and then worked his way up her arm. His lips nibbled on her neck.

  “Now who is it with the one track mind?” Savanah turned away from Ethan, afraid of her feelings for the man. A large vacant hole sat where her self-confidence once resided. She’d declared herself a failure in love and wasn’t too keen on proving herself right yet again, but this man tested her, made her want to take chances, to live, to love.

  “I’d love some jambalaya. A frosty hurricane drink and for dessert, a beignet or two.”

  “Café du Monde it is. Your flight will depart when you are packed. Would you care to spend the evening in the French Quarter or return home? Before you jump to any conclusions, I’m asking because I need to have a flight plan, not to get you alone in a hotel room. That’ll come soon enough.”

  “You are too cocky for your own good.” Savanah looked around her room, nervous, anticipating the day. “We can come home tonight if it’s not too much trouble. I don’t want you tired and passing out, leaving me to play with your little stick.”

  Ethan’s eyes lit up. “Trust me, Savanah, if you play with my joy stick, I promise I won’t pass out. And it’s not little, not by a long shot.”

  Savanah couldn’t wait to find out. “I’m going to shower and get ready first. I won’t be long.”

  “I thought you did that before we went out for breakfast. What took you so long then?”

  “I sat on the other side of the door debating whether or not to join you. For the record, I’m glad I did. Won’t be long.” The door to the bathroom closed.

  Ethan made himself at home on her bed, and closed his eyes with a smile on his lips.

  With her cell phone ringing, and Ethan not answering it, Savanah crawled out from her warm, steamy retreat, wrapped her body in a big, white towel and opened the door. A cool blast of air swarmed her. The phone bellowed away right next to Ethan’s head, without so much as a twitch from him. Was he deaf? Or quite possibly her father snuck in and off’d him. She impatiently waited to see the rise and fall of his chest. With the flare of his nostrils, she answered the phone. “Shit,” she said perturbed, when she noticed the time. Ten o’clock. Mr. Colwell was punctual if nothing else. “Hello, this is Savanah.”

  “Miss Savanah, I’m sorry to bother you, dear, but something dreadful has happened.” Savanah sat on the bed and shoved Ethan out of her way. She slumped beside him, pulled her knees to her chest to brace herself for whatever the museum curator offered. She’d had so much fun all morning with Ethan she’d completely forgotten about the call.

  “Spill ’em.”

  “Your display at the museum has been cancelled.”

  “What—why—who? What the f—?” Savanah screamed into the cell.

  Ethan jumped as if ice had been poured down his shorts. “What is it?” he asked. Savanah shoved her hand in his face abruptly.

  “A good morning to you too,” got tossed at her. Ethan ruffled her hair.

  Savanah grabbed his hand, in no mood for games. “Who pulled the plug? Is it that slime-ball Radcliff? He’s doing this to get back at me for the injunction right?”

  Mr. Colwell interrupted, “Miss Savanah, it wasn’t him, dear. All your relics have been stolen. The museum was vandalized late last night.”

  Tears filled Savanah’s eyes. Ethan looked helpless at his new friend? Girlfriend? Soon to be girlfriend? Hopefully soon to be under him, begging him to take her, roll-in-the-hay friend? Wife? What? He reached for a box of tissues and handed her one, wondering who the hell Radcliff was.

  “More,” she said gruff, pointing to the box. “Oh, I cannot believe all my work is gone. Was anyone hurt?”

  “I dare say all your treasures are lost. Even your prized possession, the casket is gone.”

  “Shit no! Don’t even tell me that old bag of bones is still flying high and wanted his bed back.”

  “I’ve never heard it put quite like that before, Miss, but that is the general assumption. We have the I-PEON’s searching, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.”

  “Those morons? I wouldn’t either.”

  “To answer your question, two guards were killed last night. Vampire attacks. Our guards were taken to the morgue and disposed of.”

  “Lovely term that, Mr. Colwell. Disposed of? Like they were trash? They were humans, men with families.”

  “Not after they were bitten, dear. You—better than anyone should know they become monsters. You’ve unearthed them.”

  Savanah hung up the phone swearing, “You’re a giant ass, Colwell,” before she sent the phone into the wall again. She warned Ethan, “Don’t you dare get up and bring it back to me this time.”

  Ethan didn’t budge. “Do you want to talk?” he asked concerned for her obvious state of dismay.

  “That man dismissed two guards killed last night as monsters because they were bitten by vampires.” Savanah threw her hands wildly in the air. “When are people going to learn not all vamps are evil? Are all humans evil because a few are serial killers or rapist
s? It’s so—so—I forgot the word I need.”

  “Stereotypical? Racist? Prejudiced?”

  “Precisely. Look at my family, Ethan. We’re not out murdering people to get blood.”

  “Savanah,” Ethan grabbed her hands before he ended up on the receiving end of one of them. “Not everyone is like your family. Trust me. Your family is so not the norm. Most fangers really are ruthless, demented, bloodsuckers. From what I’ve seen in this short time is you live in a peaceful commune surrounded by people who look out for each other.”

  “It’s called family, Ethan. It’s what people who love each other do.”

  “Is that all that happened?” Ethan grabbed a tissue and dabbed at her tears. “Your nose is runny. Blow.” He held the soft cloth to her nose, but she shooed his hand away.

  Turning her face away from him she fought a giggle. “I’m capable of that, thanks, Mom.”

  “It’s Dad, or haven’t you noticed?” Ethan pulled her into his arms, and held her trembling body. He grabbed more tissues, wiping not only her eyes, but his. He brushed a few unruly curls behind her ear, allowing his thumb to slip across her cheek. Her skin was as delicate as rose petals. Having her this close, he found it impossible to think straight. His mind wondered about every other part of her body and what she would be to touch and explore with his fingers and then his tongue.

  “Ethan? Can we go to the airport now? I need to get away from here.”

  “Yeah, once you put some clothes on. You enjoy doing this to me don’t you?”

  Despite the body heat produced as he held her, she continued to shake. Ethan held her tighter, rubbed her arms and tried to regulate her body temperature to get her blood flowing. It worked.

  On him.

  His pants tightened. He fidgeted, trying to get a position he could sit in and not cut off his circulation.

  “Just because you got me on my bed doesn’t count toward our bet, Ethan.”

  “Just because I have you right here, right now, like this on our first date, tells me more than words, Pipster.”

  “Pipster? Mr. Smugster.” She wrinkled her nose at him.

  He quickly kissed the tip of it, and watched her blush. “Yeah, I am, but you like that. And you didn’t try discredit this was our first date.”

  After she caught her breath thinking he was going to aim for her lips she proclaimed, “You’re FBI.”

  “A what? Am not.”

  “A full blown idiot, Ethan Kitt.”

  “Yeah—but, Savage, look where this FBI is. Sitting beside the most beautiful woman on the planet who is wearing only a towel, no less.”

  “Savage? You want savage?” Savanah closed the distance between their lips and drew his bottom lip into her mouth and nibbled.

  He broke away. “I’m in real trouble here aren’t I?”

  “Yeah, I’d say a hell of a lot of trouble, Ethan. Get the hell off my daughter.”

  Savanah whipped her head around to the door. There her father stood, red-faced with a miserable puss on his lips blocking the entryway. “Papa? What the heck? Don’t you bother knocking anymore?”

  Ethan pointed out, “Technically, André…”—He made a few hand signals, pointing to their body positions—“She started it.”

  Savanah shot him the, there’s-a-reason-I-just-called-you-a full-blown-idiot look.

  “Savanah, I said keep him under foot, not attached at the hip. There happens to be a significant difference. Out!” André had one hand pointing to the door and the other a balled up mass of white knuckles.

  “Papa, you have to stop treating me like a teenager. He isn’t the first man I’ve slept with.”

  “You’ve slept with him?” Every vein in her father’s neck and temples pulsated with anger. His new dents shot out from his lips. “Fuck!”

  “Not that it’s any of your business, André, but no. Your daughter—”

  “Shut up, Ethan. I don’t need you speaking for my daughter. Get up and get dressed, little girl. Savanah, he’s just another dumb blond. It hasn’t been that long since you and the crypt keeper broke it off. This is a rebound fling you’d be best to fling out the window.”

  “Papa, there’s no need to bring Radcliff into this.”

  “Radcliff?” Curiosity would kill the cat. “Should I be worried? That’s the second time I’ve heard that name. And did you just call me a dumb blond, Pops?”

  Savanah whipped her head back at Ethan. Every ounce of color André had recently regained vanished. Savanah covered her mouth in shock and awe. “I can’t believe you said that, and you’re still breathing.”

  André turned and, with authoritative thumps, strutted to the door.

  “Papa, please don’t leave me like this. I’m a grown woman. You do need to knock from now on. I haven’t done anything with Mr. Kitt to disgrace you or the family.”

  “Yet,” Ethan whispered.

  Savanah slapped Ethan upside the head lightly. The door rattled the hinges when it slammed shut. They both listened to her father screaming for her mother.

  “Oh, I’m in trouble.”

  “Wow! I didn’t expect that.” Ethan wiped the salty little beads of water from his brow. “Savanah, I’ll be downstairs. Get dressed, go talk to your father and then we’ll go. You don’t want to leave him like this. Trust me. Sometimes we don’t get second chances to make things right. So, New Orleans for the day?” Ethan attempted to get up, but someone still had him pinned against the headboard.

  Angry, Savanah stewed over her father’s temper tantrum and the way he still treated her. Savanah studied Ethan. Did she trust her instincts in regard to him? Did she trust herself? Ethan’s breathtaking eyes never left her baby blues until she stood and dropped the towel. Turning lightly on her heels, she walked into the bathroom. “I’ll be out in a bit.” She peeked over her shoulder to check his expression. It was just what she hoped for…bright red cheeks, jaw hanging, but not drooling, and eyes welded to her behind.

  “You don’t play fair, woman,” he said sporting a giant grin and an even larger hard on. “I’m not going anywhere. I couldn’t walk right now even if your father brought the entire gang back to string me up. Look what you’ve done to me!” He pointed to his pants. “And you’re walking out, all over a silly bet. You can have the damn car, just get back here.”

  “Ah, so the tables have turned.” Savanah smirked. “It’s good to want, Ethan. It gives you a reason to live.”

  “Savanah, I’ve found my reason. It’s you.”

  Savanah stopped dead in her tracks, and faced Ethan, in only her birthday suit. With her hand on her hip she said, “That’s a very nice compliment or an exceptional come on.”

  “Savvy, I’m not the one naked standing in front of a man whose restraint and will power is almost nonexistent. Please, do something. Either turn around and get dressed or walk to me, but one way or another end this torture.”

  Savanah didn’t need to read his mind to find him sincere. That actually scared the daylights out of her. Could her father be right? Could Ethan be a rebound relationship or were her feelings for him real? Everything about Ethan caught her off guard, made her second guess her judgment. Yes, she worried about getting hurt again, but more importantly, she didn’t want to hurt him. She knew what that felt like, and she wouldn’t do that to him. “Ethan…” She turned abruptly, walked into her bathroom and closed the door. She slumped against the cool wood and even with her eyes closed, tears etched their way out.

  Ethan slumped back onto her bed and watched the ceiling fan spin as wildly as his feelings. In less than three days his ideal life of a woman in every port had capsized. He’d entered into a realm where he was the proverbial fish out of water. Love had never been part his vocabulary. Lust indeed had a solid stage, but love? He rolled his eyes. He’d just confessed something to her no other woman had ever heard nor would any other women ever hear. And she walked away from him.

  “Love stinks!” Praying he’d find the strength to survive her, he yelled through the
closed door, “Are we still on for New Orleans?”

  “Hell, yeah!”

  After she came out of exile, Ethan got off her bed and extended his hand. “I promise just this once to be a gentleman, but if you ever tease me as you just did, your scrumptious little ass is going over my lap and I’m gonna do more than paddle it. Do we have an accord, Miss Savanah?” He brought her hand to his lips, and kissed her.

  “Goddess help us both, Ethan, we do.”

  Chapter Ten

  After four hours of smooth sailing, blue skies and fluffy scattered clouds, the jet touched down on the tarmac of Louis Armstrong International Airport. Strapped into her co-pilot chair, Savanah’s fingers were numb from gripping the controls. A light mist made her face glisten.

  “Ethan, thank you for letting me fly this tub…”

  “Ahhh! She’s not a tub. She’s a Cessna 750 CJ1+. She’s brilliant in the air.”

  Amusement danced on her lips. “Does your girlfriend have a name?”

  Savanah! “You’ll never guess it.”

  Savanah pondered every name she could fathom, without cheating and reading his mind, which is what she really wanted to do since she drew blank after blank. “How about sovereignty, or joy, or elusion?”

  “Remind me to never let you name any of our children.” The second he said it, Ethan almost bit his tongue off.

  “Children? What?” She asked wide-eyed.

  He played it down and ignored her. “Her name is Nut.”

  “You named your plane after a nut?”

  “Not an edible nut—Nut, the Egyptian Goddess. Come on, Savanah, you’re supposed to be the archeologist. She is the mother of Isis, Osiris, Set and Nephthys. She personified the heavens and sky. She is known as the lady of heavens, the mistress of earth gods.”