Outside, snow fell in gentle flakes on the lawn, and I watched the snowy scene. This was awesome. I absolutely loved snow. To see it on Christmas Day like this after the intimate night I’d had with Ethan was the icing on this cake, exactly what I’d imagined the perfect day could be.
Warm hands rested on my hips, and I looked over my shoulder to see Ethan with a smile curving his lips. “A nice day to stay in and warm up. If we were at my place, I could light a fire for us and—”
“And my brother would be there too. That would be the epitome of awkward if he were to catch us like this.” I laughed, leaning back into the warmth of his arms.
“Yeah, well, there’s that. Maybe he could go hang out at your parent’s house for a couple days.” He leaned his chin against the top of my head. “I’m not ashamed of us.”
Nolan knowing we were in a relationship set me on edge, but Ethan was right. We loved each other. If my family or Nolan didn’t understand, then that was on them. I didn’t think that would be the case, but I couldn’t be sure.
I leaned back in his arms, but he spun me, pressing me to the wall. He bent his head and kissed me, gently swiping his tongue over my lips. “God, you’re so beautiful. I’ve wanted to tell you that forever now.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck, taking in the sculpted beauty of his bare chest. I couldn’t believe he was this ripped. He was God’s gift to women. “You’re not too shabby yourself.”
“Not too shabby, huh? Well, we have a few hours until we’ve got to get ready to see your parents.” He lowered his gaze. “I guess I’ll have to give you a reminder of last night, so you’ll have a better description than ‘not too shabby,’ huh?”
“All’s fair in love—”
“We’ll leave the war part out.” He picked me up and spun us toward the bed in a naked tornado.
I laughed, unable to help myself. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, sweetheart.” A mischievous grin brightened his blue eyes, and we collapsed back into the bed.
This time I was on top.
CHAPTER 18
Ethan
Being inside Mia was like heaven on Earth. Whether that was the residual effects of the love potion talking or not, I couldn’t explain the intense feelings that came over me when our bodies connected. It had been unlike sex, more primal, more intimate.
I pressed a kiss to her temple as Mia’s alarm began to beep. “Wake up, babe. I know I wore you out, but we don’t have a lot of time before lunch.” I wasn’t sure how I felt about going to her parents’ house today. While I wasn’t ashamed of us, I didn’t know how Nolan or Mia’s parents would take the news of our relationship, and I didn’t want to stir shit up on Christmas Day.
When she didn’t look like she would be climbing up to turn off the alarm, I reached over to disable it. “Mia, come on. We don’t have much time.”
She darted upright, smacking her forehead against my shoulder. “Ow. Sorry. Part of me just wants to lay here in your arms forever.” She cracked a small smile and closed her eyes.
“Same here. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to do that today. Besides, you should get to your parents’ house a few minutes before me. If we arrive at the same time, we might raise some suspicion.”
The smile on her lips dissolved into a frown, and she looked up at me. “Yeah, I guess so.”
“Afterward I can give you a ride to the hospital, if you want to check on your friend.” I didn’t want her to feel let down by the slight distance I wanted between her family and us. What we had was between us. For now at least.
“Maybe.” She rubbed her eyes before shifting to her side. “Nolan might be curious about why you were gone overnight. Besides, it’s Christmas. He’ll probably want to hang out.” The rapid thumping of her heartbeat caught my attention. I didn’t want to hurt her.
“He’ll understand. I’ll tell him that I—”
“But you wouldn’t say the truth, and I don’t know how the truth would be with my family. However, I just don’t want to feel like we have a big secret to hide. Neither one of us is crazy about saying anything, but sooner or later, they’re probably going to find out.” The tightness in her shoulders eased a little, and she rolled to her back. “Let’s not go there, not on Christmas.”
I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips. We agreed there. Our relationship was too new and wonderful to begin down this path. “Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?”
“Hmm... I don’t think you’d have enough time for what I have in mind.” She winked, and blood flowed straight to my cock at the suggestion in her voice. “I think we’ll be more than enough to deal with at the table and unwrapping presents with our new relationship. I just hope my parents don’t pick up on anything. Mom is pretty perspective.”
She wasn’t kidding.
“Don’t worry.” I climbed out of bed then pulled on my pants. “Just try to enjoy yourself.” She pulled back the blankets, and her perky breasts made me groan with need. It took everything in my power to finish getting dressed.
“I’ll try.” She gave a nervous laugh, tugging a t-shirt over her head. “It can only go better than yesterday.”
“You don’t have to worry about that jerk. He won’t hurt you ever again.” I pressed another kiss to her lips. “See you soon, sweetheart.”
***
Instead of going back home, I went for a walk around the neighborhood. If Nolan was there, I didn’t want to answer his questions because Mia was right. He’d wonder where I went after the dinner yesterday.
My boot crunched in the white, fluffy stuff. It had been a long time since I’d seen snow. While I wasn’t exactly dressed for it, the beast inside me warmed my core body temperature. After a few minutes of waiting outside, I mustered my courage and knocked on the door.
It opened to reveal Mr. Brooks dressed in a red sweater with a red-nosed reindeer. “Merry Christmas, son. Come on in and make yourself comfortable.”
“Thank you, sir.” I shook his hand. “Merry Christmas.”
“The girls are getting lunch ready, but you’re welcome to join me in the living room. Nolan will be here soon.”
“I’ll be there soon. I’ll just say hi to Mrs. Brooks and Mia.”
Mr. Brooks nodded, then he strode toward the back of the house where I heard an announcer giving the rundown on a college basketball game.
Dishes clinked in the kitchen drawing my attention. I stopped in the doorway, not sure if I should interrupt.
“Mia,” Mrs. Brooks said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “You’re nearly glowing. Did you get back together with Greg?” She led Mia to the dining room, but my hearing was stronger than it had been before the attack, another sign that my fate would be sealed at the next full moon.
I only hoped my life wouldn’t shatter and I’d lose all I held dear once the day came when I was an actual werewolf. For the first time in years, I had someone I wanted to share my life with, and I knew how Mia felt about werewolves.
“Mom, I don’t want to have this conversation right now. It’s Christmas Day, and I’d rather focus on opening gifts and spending time with my family.” Mia glanced back at me, her breath catching and the plates in her hands shaking.
I took a step in their direction, but Nolan wrapped an arm around my shoulders. It took all my strength not to react by punching him. How had I not heard him?
“Boys, you’re here!” Mrs. Brooks smiled and waved us over. “Merry Christmas.”
“Where were you last night?” Nolan whispered to me, leaning in a little. “Merry Christmas, Mom.”
“Merry Christmas, Mrs. Brooks.” I hated to lie to him, but he wouldn’t react well to the truth that I was making love to his sister at her house. “Out with friends,” I murmured brushing off his arm as I closed the distance between us and the ladies.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Nolan stepped in front of me, blocking my path. “I was worried, especially after dinner yesterday.”
The muscles in my jaw tightened. I had enough going on without my best friend getting in my face. “I needed some space, dude. Like I need some now.”
“Is everything okay?” Mia stepped up and looked at me then Nolan and back again.
“Yeah, sis. It’s fine. How are you doing?” Nolan turned his focus on her, shutting me out.
“I’m fine.” The look in her eyes was confused and a little angry. “Get a grip, guys. Geez... It’s almost time to eat.” She headed back to her mother, and I steeled my gaze.
If Nolan caught me looking at her perfect ass, I’d be even deeper in hot water with him.
The holidays were about family. No matter what he did, I wouldn’t let it get to me. Not on Christmas Day, not after all the Brooks family had done so much for me and not when things between Mia and me were going well.
I didn’t want to lose her, but I couldn’t lose my only family either. “Sorry, Nolan. We’ll talk later.” Sighing, I met his gaze.
He gave me a sympathetic half-smile. “It’s cool. Just seemed so unlike you to disappear. I understand that you needed space. Don’t shut me out, alright?”
Dread and regret twisted in my gut. “You’re right.” I forced a smile, understanding how Mia must feel with all the tiptoeing that she did to keep her magic away from her family. If we had any chance of making our relationship work much less my new beastly side, then I needed to take a lesson from her before it was too late.
THE END
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Turn the page to read The Kraken’s Mirror by Maureen O. Betita or return to the TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The Kraken’s Mirror by Maureen O. Betita
The Kraken’s Mirror, book 1
Captain Alan Silvestri is a man haunted by a strange curse. Good luck is his to command, but it comes at the cost of a place to call home or people to reckon as family. Resigned to die and shunned by all, he is forced to sail every three days, until he begins to experience sensual dreams of a special woman.
Treated by our youth-oriented society as invisible and sexless, Emily Pawes is ready to move on. She attends a pirate festival, hoping to recapture the make-believe magic she knew as a young woman. She wins an interesting bit of booty at a brick-a-brac stand, and is transported by the Kraken’s mirror to a land of Hollywood piratitude. With little choice, she embraces the madness. Playing pirate has to be safer than falling into the arms of handsome Captain Silvestri, right?
When they meet, sparks fly, passion flares. He needs her to be free, but more than that, she will make him whole. Setting sail and uncertain of who actually controls the wheel, they seek ways to defeat his curse of good luck and discover the Kraken’s mirror has plans for them. Will Emily stay in this pirate haven to fight alongside him or will he lose her because of his curse?
153 pages, approx. 74,980 words, Time Travel Paranormal Romance, Piratepunk
Turn the page for The Kraken’s Mirror or return to the TABLE OF CONTENTS to choose another book.
PROLOGUE
Silvestri could feel Mick at his back, watching. The card game progressed with little attempt at fair play. He kept with it, biding his time as he lost again and again. The curse stepped in when he won his next hand and the next, no matter how they cheated. The dealer glared at him and raised objection to the last hand.
At the same moment, the fire in the hearth flared from a simple bit of warmth to raging hell. It roared into the room. The smell of burning hair rose to Silvestri’s nostrils, then the charring flesh. Mick’s hand gripped his shoulder to haul him away from the table, already crackling as the fire spread merrily amidst the screaming and shouting.
He climbed to his feet, showing no panic, leaving Mick to gather the coins. With a sigh, he looked around the small tavern, filling with smoke and death. A great crack sounded above him, and he turned to sweep Mick under his arm. A beam slammed into the space Mick vacated.
Fucking curse. No discrimination.
“That was more than good luck,” Mick said, as they hurried away from the burning building. Nothing more was said until they were back on the water. Mick took the oars, stepping casually to the bow. The candle lantern at the stern cast a shadow, hiding his face. So like Mick to keep to the shadows when uncomfortable.
The stink still lingered in his nose. Burning flesh wasn’t something a man forgot easily. The lingering impressions from the bar were hard to shake.
“All the idiot did was cheat,” Mick softly murmured.
Silvestri shifted on the stern bench, trying to see some light shine on Mick’s face. Was he smiling? Or grimacing? Impossible to tell. “I told you it was getting worse. I thought it was just my imagination. I hoped your impression would confirm that,” he said.
Mick chuckled. “He wasn’t even a good cheat. But why the whole tavern? Because of one card shark? Your curse overreacted. Been doing that for how long?” The oars made barely a ripple as they struck the water. Mick knew how to approach a ship without detection.
Silvestri topped his rowing. “I started keeping track ten years ago, when some idiot tried to start a fight with me and ended up with a broken neck. When Glacious first set this curse on me, the fool would have suffered a simple fall in the muck of the streets. I’d have laughed!”
Mick appeared to be listening, letting the cutter drift. Hard to tell with the younger man. For the last eight years, Mick danced close enough to reap the benefits of Silvestri’s notorious good luck curse, but skated away before it managed to steal his luck. Mick beat the curse with this waltz.
Too bad Silvestri couldn’t dance away from it.
Damn. He’d been an idiot when he was fifteen. But that magical bitch was incredibly beautiful. At that age, he hadn’t looked beyond that allure and into her heart. “You know the story, Mick. Most don’t have a clue.”
“Aye. You told me. How she magicked you off your ship and offered you all the good luck in the world. Set you back aboard, none the wiser. All you need do was come back at your birthday and visit with her. You still do that?” Mick’s tone was low. Voices carried far on the water.
“Can’t help it. She anchored a deep compulsion in me.”
“I imagine it’s a cold celebration. Are you going to sail with my father? He needs someone to keep an eye on him.” Mick’s voice lightened his worry. Silvestri snorted, noting he made no mention of the real reason Daniel wanted him along. When the ship sailed carrying the bearer of a good luck curse, it guaranteed a safe voyage.
“What’s keeping you from going with him?” Silvestri raised an eyebrow.
“I met a new woman, and it’s at that delicate place. Don’t want to just disappear for months,” Mick answered, looking away.
A woman? Well, about time. That’s why he needed Silvestri. Fine. He’d do it. Daniel was an idiot who needed a bit of a keeper. Must be one hell of a woman. Shaking his head, he banished the fleeting thought of never having a woman to call his. Glacious and this fucking curse would tear apart any woman he looked twice at.
They bumped up against the Immortal. Mick reached for the net at the side and paused. “What is that?”
Silvestri followed Mick’s glance to see a small Kraken caught in the net. He reached down carefully. “Help me.”
“Help you what? I ate already, before your luck saw the inn burn to the ground. What do you want with that?”
“You want some good luck of your own? Glacious hates the Kraken, all of them. She has a collection of frozen ones at her palace. I figure if she hates them, aiding them helps me.” He cupped the little monster in his hand and lifted it gingerly.
Mick snorted, but bent and lifted the net, holding it steady as Silvestri carefully unwound the tangle of line that caught the beast. He flinched away as Silvestri carried the squirming bit of slime to the other side of the cutter and lowered it back into the water.
Silvestri straighten
ed and held Mick from climbing to the nets. “Mick, promise me. If you find Kraken in trouble, you help them out. Tobias, the magic man in Barbados, told me to never eat them. They remember—you do them a good turn, they’ll do you one. You want good luck? This costs less than making a black bargain with that ice-ridden bitch.”
Mick stared at him, cleared his throat, and then answered. His words were measured, slow, and steady. “I give you my word. Savvy? I won’t eat them, won’t catch them…as long as I don’t have to touch one, I’ll be kindness itself to them.” He turned and set a foot in the net, muttering to himself, “Now, if they’ll not eat me, we’ll be fine.”
Silvestri knew he was being patronized, but he didn’t care, as long as Mick gave his word.
Silvestri snickered, looked at his slimed hand, and wiped it on Mick’s boot as it rose past him.
He secured the cutter to the haul line and paused before boarding. Glancing down into the water, he considered the balance he carried. Fifty-five years old. Forty years of reaping the benefits and drawbacks, of her curse. Release—all he wanted was release.
Revenge wouldn’t be bad either.
CHAPTER 1
She handed the old woman a five-dollar bill and reached into the dark, fabric-lined barrel. Her arm went in past her elbow and she fished around, trying to figure out what her fingers touched, what her money would surprise her with. One finger stroked an interesting texture and with an oof, she pushed her arm in another few inches to snag the prize.
“Ye find yerself somethin’ sweet, lady?” The old woman grinned at her.
Emily held up her catch. A mirror? No, it held a photo.
“That be a nice piece a’ swag! Who be next ta plunge inta the depths a ‘Davy Jones’ bag and see what the sea might release inta their grasp?” The woman hawked her wares to the busy crowd behind Emily.
Easing away from the pressing throng, Emily moved to an empty table near the food court to examine her find. It was round, like a hand mirror with a handle, but instead of glass, a photo of a man gazing into the distance filled the frame.
Spice Box; Sixteen Steamy Stories Page 171