Ethan cringed. “Oops! I forgot to tell you she called. I’m guessing you two have some serious psychic connection because she saved us when it rained car parts.”
“What, the protective shield?”
Ethan gave a little nod.
“Yes, we do have a bond that gains strength each and every day. For the past one hundred and fourteen years to be exact.”
Ethan searched Savanah’s face waiting for her punch line. And he waited… With the knowledge she wasn’t joking, his eyes grew wide. He managed to squeak out, “No freakin’ way. How?”
“I stopped aging at twenty-five. We, Sydney, Avery and I started donating our blood to Uncle Lucian, Aunt Serina and Aunt Raven then, but for some reason Sydney and Avery never stopped aging. They were hexed by my mother’s half-brother, William. We haven’t seen him since the night my Auntie Serina was almost stoned.”
“As in pot? Illegal drugs?”
“As in the witch hunts. Long story.”
“You’re pulling me leg.”
“Not.”
“Who are Avery and Sydney?”
“My cousins. Uncle Lucian and Aunt Serina adopted them. Avery died in the First World War although we never found his body. Syd lives in Georgia on a large reserve for endangered animals. I miss her dearly. We stay in touch, but she doesn’t come around too often to see her mom for safety reasons. Kinda hard to call her mother—mom when she looks old enough to be a great grandmother.”
“And you’ve never been on a date to the movies in how many years?”
Savanah released a long pent up breath. “I can’t believe you didn’t flip over my age.”
“So I really am your first? Virgin?”
“At the movies, yeah!”
“I don’t care about the other men, Savage, as long as I’m the last. I hate being the first anyway. Too emotional. Women cry, get freaked out, then feel guilty and get that look in their eye like they’re petrified you won’t call them. Did they perform to my satisfaction? Did they lay there and play dead? They never orgasm the first time because of all those questions screwing with them and honestly, I’m not that nice of a guy to stick around and hold hands. Sure as hell won’t tell them they made the right decision to hand over their virginity to me. Let someone else deal with it.”
“I don’t think you give yourself enough credit. If nothing else you’re brutally honest. I like that. I don’t know if you’re right about other women and their first time making love, but you were right on the money about me. I made a huge mistake. Capital “H” huge. I worked with a guy and we had just unearthed a mummy nearly a thousand years old, and we both got excited and one thing led to another.”
“No details, Babe.”
“No, you have to hear this.”
“No, seriously, don’t want the blow by blow.”
“Seriously, you do. A few hours after he walked off with my virginity, he told me he needed a cold stiff one. I thought it was due to me being so hot.” Savanah fanned her cheeks. “Well, I didn’t take him literally. I found him in the cooler an hour later with his nob stuffed into the mummy we just unearthed. I cried my eyes out in my father’s arms.”
Ethan attempted to shake off the disturbing visual. “Sick bastard. You told your father? Did he kill him? I would have. You really told your dad you had sex?”
“Eth, if you’re going to hang out with me, get used to it. There are no secrets at our home.”
“Except the one with your Aunt Raven and Vonnie. Dirty little secrets! That blew a few fuses.”
“That it did. Anyway, you okay with everything so far?”
“Savanah, I’ve never been okay. Let’s go get a room somewhere so we can get some rest.”
“Rest?” Her bottom lip jut out.
Ethan immediately kissed the pout from her lips. “I think I’m going to need some rest before you and I engage in any other activities. I want to be at my best.”
“Right now, I’d take your worst. My body is in an uproar.”
Ethan produced a smile that purred sexy promises. “Hands on my shoulders until I say otherwise. No questions.”
Savanah did as he asked. With his knee he nudged her thighs apart, only to place one of his legs between hers. Pulling up her shirt inch by slow-maddening inch he lapped at her belly, mixing kisses with nips along his path. His tongue traced each and every rib. Through the bra’s lace, Ethan’s lips moved circles with a hint of pressure over her areola. Savanah moaned and dug her fingers into his blond mane. Tantric foreplay, nothing like it. Taunt and tease. Bring her to the edge just to let her down a notch and then drive her over. He had a plan.
Ethan suckled at her nipple and tugged slightly with his teeth until he had her doing what he hoped, grinding her hips and private lips onto his thigh. Little murmurs she had no control over filled the room.
“I am becoming so addicted to the sounds you make as I touch you. You make me so hard.”
“Don’t start talking now.” She grunted one long, “Ummm! A delicious tingle worked its way from my gut to my groin.”
Ethan grabbed her ass pulling her groin against his where she felt him solidly waiting.
“Here, Eth? Like this?”
“No, Baby. Our first time will not be here.” Ethan slipped his hand between her thighs and with some pressure, pressed into her jeans.
Savanah started to say something, but when his fingers pressed into her mons, he’d found the correct button to push, pushing past her limits.
“Ugh! Eth? This is torture. I want you.”
“I know, Baby. It’s good to want. It gives you a reason to live.”
“Thief. That’s my line.”
“Put your arms around my neck and hold on for the ride.”
“But I still have my pants on.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll still feel me. This is safe sex at its best.” Ethan picked her up, and pressed her up against the door. “Wrap your legs around me.” Moments later Savanah resembled a living painting. Ethan drove home his point over and over, pushing into her private lips. The movement relieved some of the tension from him too.
“I love the feeling of this”—she admitted—“in public. It feels so naughty.”
“A little voyeuristic. I’m with you. It adds the element of danger to the excitement.” Ethan carried her to the countertop. “Lean back.”
Savanah leaned back on her elbows, and watched as Ethan pressed his bulge into her. “Sweet rapture, Savage. This is hot.” Unhooking her bra, one handed, he gave a subtle grin to her.
“Multitasking I see.” She giggled.
Too busy to answer, Ethan found her creamy flesh warm. Inviting. He trailed circles around her areola, sucked until her nipple burst in his mouth. His penis swelled to a point he feared if he never had release he’d be blue for months, but watching her face full of pleasure, he’d wear the unnatural color as a badge of honor. He waited for the change in her breathing and once her pattern deepened he cupped her womanhood. Her contractions were strong enough to feel through cloth and rocking her.
“Ethan!” she gasped. “Something’s happening to my body. I’m shaking from the inside out. This is wild.”
Ethan stopped everything and looked at her. In his arms, he held the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, and she was clueless. He drew her closer still and held her until the shakes subside. “Baby, tell me that wasn’t your first O. You told me you’ve been with men before. This never happened to you?”
Savanah shook her head, no, embarrassed.
“Oh, Baby! I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“That is the nicest thing my body has ever experienced. Thank you.”
“Savage, don’t thank me. How many times have you had sex?”
“Only a few. I told you of my first time. The second wasn’t any better and trust me the third was a complete disaster.”
“I can’t see anything worse than your first time. So three times? Three different guys?”
“Uhm, no. Two moronic m
istakes. Why?”
“Because I wouldn’t have let you walk away from me until you were washed out of every ounce of energy you had. I wasn’t even trying hard.”
Savanah slowly rolled her eyes to meet his, grinning. “Oh you’re hard, Eth.”
Ethan blushed. “Not any more. I guess your body was saving itself for Mr. Right.”
“Do you think you foot the bill?”
“You got a pretty glass slipper I can try on, and we’ll see if it fits?”
“If anyone gets the pretty glass slipper it’s me.”
Savanah’s smile left Ethan defenseless. “Come on Cinderella, let’s get cleaned up and then back to your carriage and find a nice room for the night.”
“I don’t recall that line in the movie.” Savanah cupped Ethan’s cheeks with her hand, and got lost in the beauty of eyes. “Maybe I just wasn’t privy to the X-rated version you were.”
****
Back at the carriage, Ethan asked, “James, would you take us somewhere quaint and exceptionally nice?”
Savanah smirked. “Are you just assuming all chauffeurs are named James?”
“No, Cinders. I asked him while you were under your enchanted spell.”
The chauffer answered, “Sir, I’ve just da place for you and da Misses.”
Savanah’s eyes went wide. Before she could protest the new prefix on her name, Ethan’s mouth covered hers with a soft kiss.
“How many people are you going to tell we’re married?” she whispered.
“Only one or two more.”
Looking at him out of the corner of her eye she asked, “Who?”
“The hotel concierge and your Papa.”
“What?”
“I’m teasing. I really don’t have a death wish.”
As the horse drawn carriage skirted the waterfront, Savanah watched the moon’s glow dance on the waves of the Mississippi River. People strolled along the boardwalk moving to and fro from the Canal Street Market, holding hands, some loaded with bags, whispering, laughing, watching ships port, as others set sail. As the carriage rolled to a stop at the hotel, her jaw dropped. “St. James Hotel. How did you even know there was a place down here with my name?”
“Don’t look at me. You heard what I told James.”
“I don’t know about you, Eth, but this is freaky. Coincidence?”
“Let’s hope so. Come on, let me help you down.”
“Such a gentleman. Wasn’t it only this morning you wouldn’t even get the car door for me?”
“Take full advantage of me like this coz tomorrow’s another day.”
“Oh, Mr. Kitt, I do plan on taking advantage of you.”
“Promises, promises. Shall we?”
Out on the curb, Ethan held his hand out waiting for Savanah to accept…waiting…still waiting….
“Hello! Savanah? You with me?” He gave her his best eyebrow-raising-double-wink-wink-come-hither smile he could muster.
Teeth chiming out a rat-a-tat tune, knees shaking, Savanah found herself huddled, too petrified to move.
“Ethan, it’s not you. It’s—I—I don’t know. I feel—a presence. It’s the only way to describe it.”
“Misses?” The carriage driver interrupted, “Can I tell ya something?”
About to argue with the prefix to her name, she quit before she started. And honestly, she’d developed a fondness for it (Ethan and the idea of being his wife).
Ethan jumped into the back seat and hugged Savanah while the driver told his story in a spicy gumbo accent. After a long rant that spoke of a lifetime of living in the Bayou, Ethan and Savanah got a little glimpse of some of the mystique that surrounded New Orleans. All the Voodoo and black magic fit right into their lifestyle.
“Dis place is a portal for spirits and energies. ’Tis why I brought ya here. I can feel it in your aura. You are familiar with dese entities.”
“So—this place is haunted?” Ethan exclaimed jumping back out of the carriage. “Sweet! Come on, my blushing bride. Let’s go have us a séance.”
“Ethan, can I borrow your phone?” Savanah watched Ethan’s eyes light up and just then, Savanah knew without a doubt, she’d gone and done it again, she’d set him up, hook, line and dial tone. She could all ready hear the music in her head. “Don’t…” she teased.
“Who…?” Ethan spread his arms wide.
“You…” Savanah pointed her finger at him, warning.
“Ya…” He egged her on. He placed his thumb and pinky finger to his mouth and ear, making a phone.
“Dare…”
“Gonna call?” he sang.
“Say it.” She cracked up laughing.
“Ghostbusters!” Ethan tossed her over his shoulder and headed for the lobby beboppin’ away. “If you’re all alone, pick up the phone…”
“You are a moron, Ethan.”
Patting her rump, he said, “Yeah, but I’m the moron going into the hotel with Cinderella. I’ll bet ya Prince Charming didn’t make it this far on their first date.”
Once in the lobby, energies bounced off her like moths converging on a bug zapper. This place had an infestation of spirits, pissed off little goblins that left her with goose flesh. Creeped out, didn’t cut it. Nightmares were in her future.
“Room 214, misses.” Ethan tossed the card key into her lap and held his hand out yet again. “Our room has the same date as Saint Valentine’s day.”
“Go, Cupid! Let’s just pray for no bloody massacres. Seriously, can I use your phone?”
“You calling home?”
“Yeah. I don’t want to use my psychic channels in case someone tries to hack me.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Body snatch. Spirits are sneaky little shits. I need to let my parents know we’re okay, because if they don’t hear from me, I can guarantee they’ll be pounding our door down in a few hours.”
Ethan gave Savanah a quick gyration show of his hips. “The only pounding happening tonight is between you and me, baby.”
“Such sweet words, Elvis!”
“Savvy, hold on—I think his spirit’s got me!” Ethan revved up the hip action. People in the lobby pointed, stared and whispered amongst themselves.
“Oh my God!” With the cell pressed close to her ear, Savanah was unsure whether to hit him or kiss him. She leaned against the wall and crossed her ankles and watched Ethan charm the hotel concierge and everyone around him with his handsome looks and unbelievable wit, and by the Goddess, he charmed her with no magic or potions, just him. Yes, he was now in the thralls of doing an Elvis impersonation and laughing his way through it. When no one answered, she snapped the cell shut and waited for Ethan to finish his debut.
****
Walking through the square-shaped courtyard, Ethan took in all the sights, getting a feel for the place, looking for an escape hatch if they needed one. All the room’s entrances were outside. The courtyard had old world southern charm to it. Each window held overflowing flower boxes. Each door had intricately painted hex symbols. A black wrought-iron fence lined a gray slate pathway to a pool filled with majestic turquoise water. Wedgwood blue wrought-iron tables held pink-crackled crystal vases filled with fragrant bluebells. Wisteria trees with their delicate bluish-lavender flowers added both color and a sweet fragrance to the patio. The starry night illuminated the area.
Hearing footsteps fast approaching, Ethan glanced over his shoulder only to see the bell hop with a tray of food and a bottle of champagne. He swept Savanah off her feet. “Come on.”
“That’s ours?” Savanah’s smile inched its way across her face. “Dinner?”
Ethan finagled the card key through the slot and the little green light winked to life. He pressed down on the latch and shoved the door inward using Savanah’s butt. “Your room and dinner, Misses.” Ethan carried her across their threshold, his lips welded to hers.
His hand outstretched like some pathetic slob on the dole, the waiter coughed once and when neither of them came up for
air, he set the tray down and excused himself, uttering one word. “Newlyweds!”
Savanah and Ethan burst out laughing. Savanah didn’t relinquish her grip when Ethan tried to toss her onto the king-sized bed. The two went down atop the purple and orange flowered coverlet oblivious to everything but each other.
****
“Family meeting, everyone front and center, pronto!” Jovan screamed from the second floor of the house.
“Cherié, you don’t have to holler. Use your mind messenger. You’ll wake the dead with that tone.”
“I felt like screaming, so let it be, André. And as far as waking the dead? Trust me, they’re up and up to no good.”
“What’s happened to get your knickers in a knot this time?” André approached his pregnant wife with caution, wearing a grin that only a mother could love and since Jovan wasn’t his mother…
“Back up. And for the record? I stopped wearing knickers long before I met you.”
“Fibber. You had those silly little bloomers on the first night we met. I remember seeing the sexy little garment and remember wanting it gone more so.”
Jovan ignored him even though she was impressed he remembered her outfit one hundred fourteen years past. She couldn’t remember what she wore yesterday! “Have you not felt any strange vibrations coming from your daughter in the past fourteen hours? She’s in trouble.”
“Family meeting. Front and center!” André yelled louder than Jovan.
Julian stumbled into the hallway half asleep. “What time is it?”
André shrugged his shoulders.
“It’s midnight,” Jonah answered as he came out his room, Raven tucked under his arm. “What’s got you two crazy this time?”
“Savanah’s in trouble that’s what,” Jovan spouted. “She and the mutt were about to get blown up by someone, and I had to throw a shield around them to keep them safe.”
“Why—ah—couldn’t Savvy do it?” Raven asked through her yawn.
“Her brain patterns are off, and she’s making no sense. I called Ethan’s cell hours ago and told him to get her home. I haven’t heard from them since. The little prick never called me back.”
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