silently for a few minutes until she finally pulled herself together and turned off the water.
Stepping out, gooseflesh rose on her arms from the chilly air and she hurried to dry off
and dress. A new toothbrush and toothpaste sat on the sink, and she brushed her teeth. She also opened the new, long toothcomb and worked the tangles out of her damp hair. Standing in the
light from the vanity, she looked at her reflection, not recognizing the pale, sad face looking back at her. To her relief, the bite on her neck was completely gone without a single trace. If she had to have a scar, at least the one just above her breast would be easy to hide. She could hide it from everyone except Matt. Matt. The name reverberated in her brain like a shotgun blast. She hurried from the room.
“Franz is waiting to take you to the hospital.”
“Thank you.” She didn’t know what else to say to him.
His face looked drawn and he nodded stiffly. She grabbed her purse and hurried out of
the room, forgetting her torn shirt and the skirt she’d worn, honestly never wanting to see the clothing again.
“I’m pleased to see you again, Mrs. Blair,” Franz greeted her at the top of the stairs.
“Thanks,” she said awkwardly, wondering what the man thought of her. Then she
remembered he’d inherited his job as a vampire go-for and realized there was a good chance he’d seen crazier things.
He opened the door to the car for her, and she was quiet and withdrawn as they drove to
the hospital. The driver kept glancing back at her from the rearview mirror in concern. She noted the clock on the radio said it was ten after ten at night and she’d gotten out of her twenty-four hours a bit early.
They pulled up to the emergency entrance of the hospital. Franz turned to her. “Are you
all right, Mrs. Blair?”
“I hope so. Thanks, Franz. You don’t have to wait for me. I’ll take a cab home when I’m
done.”
“Are you sure?”
A Gift of the Darkest Magic
47
“Yes.”
He nodded and hurried to get her door before she could get out on her own. “It was a
pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Blair.”
“You as well, Franz. I appreciate the ride.”
She left the man standing stiffly at the car without a single glance back and went inside.
The hospital was quiet tonight; she didn’t even see a janitor as she made her way to Matt’s floor.
When she stepped off the elevator, a nurse came running toward her. Clarissa’s heart stopped, had Matt taken a turn for the worse? The nurse was out of breath when she stopped in front of the elevator.
“He’s—”
Clarissa didn’t give her time to say another word. She rushed off toward his room. Matt
was sitting up in bed, eating toast and drinking lemon-lime soda. His smile was beaming when
he saw her.
“Where have you been, sweetheart?” There was no censure in his voice. “I had such
strange dreams about you last night. I woke up worried about you.”
She gasped and faked a cough to cover the shock his words caused her. “I’m fine, it was
probably the meds. You look wonderful!” She sat down on the bed and hugged him. He set the
toast down and squeezed her back tightly.
“This hospital is amazing. I really thought I was going to die. The doctor said I should be
dead, but I feel good. I took a walk today, with some help. I haven’t been out of bed in weeks.
Just walking was wonderful. I actually had a real shower, and your mom brought the girls to see me. I know this has been hard on you, but where were you today?” This time she heard the hurt in his tone.
“If I told you, I don’t think you’d believe me. When you’re home and feeling better I’ll
tell you.”
“Home. The doctor said not to get my hopes up. He’s running tests.”
“You’ll be coming home. I think you’re cured, Matt.” Her eyes began tearing as she
looked at him. He still appeared frail, but much stronger than she’d seen him in months.
“You sound so sure.” He raised his eyebrow.
“I am. I know you’ll recover. I’ll tell you how someday, but just know I love you,” she
sobbed, truly crying; her voice broke as she said the last words.
A Gift of the Darkest Magic
48
“Aww, sweetheart, don’t cry.” He pulled her to him, hugging her again. “You make it
sound as if you made a deal with the devil or something,” he teased.
“Something like that,” she whispered against his shoulder.
He pulled back and looked at her in alarm. “Are you all right?”
“I will be, once you’re home. You’re my life, Matt.”
He smiled at her, but still looked concerned.
She wiped her face on the back of her hands. Taking a deep breath, she gave him a big
fake smile. “It’s so good to see you sitting up. I haven’t had a good game of King’s Corner in forever. Where are the cards?”
He laughed and opened the drawer on the bed stand. “In here somewhere. I think I was
up a game last time we played. Are you ready to have your proverbial ass kicked again?”
“Bring it, baby,” she teased, her heart lightening. He was worth a little guilt. She’d
missed him so much. They played until her eyes were blurry and he began nodding off. She took the cards out of his hand, tucked the blanket under his arms, and then kissed him on the forehead.
“Goodnight, honey,” she whispered.
A Gift of the Darkest Magic
49
Chapter 10
The weeks passed and Matt came home. His doctors were still amazed and kept running
tests to figure out how he’d cheated death, but Clarissa knew it was futile. Magic didn’t have a scientific measurement in the laboratory.
Their family was whole. Laughter returned to the house. She felt domestic again, her
daughters stopped having nightmares, and life was good. Only one thing kept getting in the way of her joy—Braden. She dreamed of him often, going to bed wearing pajamas, but waking up
naked and wet. Once in a while, she’d feel an echo of him in her mind. Usually she could
convince herself it was her imagination, but not tonight.
Come to me!
She closed her eyes, ignoring the demand.
I need you. Come to me!
She hadn’t imagined it this time. His voice boomed in her mind as loudly as if he’d
shouted at her. Clarissa’s eyes popped open. She sat up in bed. Matt was asleep, she began
sliding off the mattress when suddenly something gripped her arm. Shrieking, Clarissa turned.
Matt held her arm.
“Where are you going?” His voice drifted through the darkness, he sounded sleepy.
“I…I’m not sure, but I have to go. I won’t be gone long, I think.” The words tumbled out
awkwardly. She didn’t know how to explain what she felt.
“This is about me, right? I know the doctors didn’t do this. You’ve been distant since I’ve
come home. We haven’t even made love, even when I know you wanted to.”
“You’ve been sick. I don’t want to push you,” she explained lamely.
“No. This is far more, and you and I both know it. Something happened and it made you
pull away from me. I miss you, babe. Come to bed.”
Come to me! The voice in her head roared, sounding injured and childish. She jumped.
Matt looked offended. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, forcing the angry vampire
telepathy to cease.
Clarissa crawled back into bed when Matt lifted the cotton blanket. Her side was still
warm, but sh
e snuggled up to Matt. “I’ve missed you too,” she whispered.
“What happened to you?” He sounded genuinely clueless.
A Gift of the Darkest Magic
50
“If someone told you that you could save my life, but you had to betray me, would you?”
Clarissa angled her head so she could look up into his handsome face. It was filling out again, and he had a healthy tan now. He was so handsome, her heart broke. He might not be surreally
angelic, but he was her beloved and nothing in the world was more beautiful in her eyes. She
pondered his good looks quietly as a host of emotions played out across his features. She knew he was trying to understand, and she could see he understood her question was more of an
explanation. The hurt and anger in his eyes made the fact crystal clear.
“Is that what cured me? Betrayal?”
“Yes.” She said it firmly, giving the word brutal honesty.
“How did you betray me?”
“Do you really want to know the answer? I just want you to know I was selfish, I didn’t
want to live without you.” She wiped her damp eyes with her pajama sleeve.
“I really want to know.” His voice belied the words. Clarissa heard uncertainty.
“You were saved by vampire blood.”
“What?” He gave her an annoyed and incredulous glare.
“Vampire blood. Long story short, it’s not just the blood, but also a magical exchange of
‘gifts’. I thought he’d want my blood, but he didn’t. He wanted me to have sex with him. I had a choice, lose you or not. I chose not. I’d do it again to keep you with me. It meant nothing.”
Matt looked at her as if she was vile. Clarissa bit her lip and held back the sob threatening to interrupt the important dialog she was having with her husband. This was definitely the wrong time to lose it.
“You expect me to believe that you gave me magical vampire blood and fucked a
stranger to save my life?” His voice rose, he wasn’t shouting, but the volume was no longer a whisper.
“I fucked a vampire and you drank his blood. Yeah, his blood saved your life.” She knew
he wouldn’t be happy, but the whole life-saving part should’ve earned her some forgiveness or at least gratitude.
Matt flinched. She never said fuck. He glared for a moment.
“I didn’t go looking to sleep with anyone, especially not undead guys, but I did go
looking for a cure. You were dying, Matt. Without that magic, you’d probably be dead right
now. I will not regret you being alive.”
A Gift of the Darkest Magic
51
She forced herself to look him in the eyes. What she’d done was wrong. She couldn’t
justify enjoying Braden’s body or the new sensations he gave her, but she wouldn’t be sorry her husband had made a miraculous recovery. It hurt, but she refused to let him know just how hard it was to confess her sins aloud. She’d tried to lie to herself, but she should’ve known she’d never be able to lie to him.
Sucking in a deep breath, she forced herself not to cry. “I love you, Matt.”
He was the one to lose the battle of wills and look away first. He ran his hand through the
stubble growing back on his head. “Yeah. I know. I just…how could you do it?”
“Save you or sleep with him? Because I didn’t get to pick just saving you.”
“How do you know it was the blood? Maybe it was that new med the doctors talked
about trying, the experimental one.” She could see denial in his eyes as he said the words, he didn’t believe it was the drug any more than she did.
“They never tried the drug. The only thing they were giving you was morphine to make
you comfortable, we both know it.” She tried not to sound angry, but knew she was failing
miserably.
“What was it like, being with him?” Matt looked conflicted. Hurt and anger were still
visible in his expression, but she also noticed curiosity.
“Do you really want to know? I don’t want to hurt you any more than I already have. I
don’t want to remember. Isn’t it enough that you’re better, that we’re a family?” Clarissa
whimpered with frustration, just wanting all the pain to end.
“Tell me,” he ordered.
She’d never seen him look so strange before, as if anger was arousing him. It made her
uncomfortable.
“It was different. He bit me. He tied me up and spanked me.” She blushed, unable to look
at him. Turning away from him, Clarissa closed her eyes. “I liked it,” she whispered.
“What part, the biting?” Matt’s voice sounded rough as he asked the question. He cleared
his throat softly.
“No, it was rough and I liked being dominated by him, he was so…in charge.” She
suddenly felt something hard against her side. Matt was hard. It made her blush deepen, she
could feel the heat creeping down her neck and chest.
“I could be ‘in charge’ too, Clair.” Matt spoke softly, but she could clearly hear the
A Gift of the Darkest Magic
52
question in his voice.
Come to me!
She ignored the vampire’s shriek as her mind echoed with his desperation. Braden needed
her, but her husband needed her too. She honestly cared for the creature, but she loved her
husband. Clarissa reached under the covers and stroked Matt’s hard length through his
underwear.
“It’s been a long time.” He sighed, closing his eyes.
“Yes, too long. I miss you, Matt.”
“I miss you too, Clair. Take off your pajamas,” he ordered.
Matt never ordered. She immediately obeyed. When she returned to slide naked under the
covers, Matt didn’t give her a moment to get comfortable. He rolled over, pinning her hands
above her head, and held them as he kissed her with a raw, rough passion so intense it left her breathless. His tongue dipped between her lips. Her husband was tender and sweet with her in
bed, but this Matt was demanding. She kissed him back with equal frenzy. Matt pulled away and he seemed to be searching for something in her face.
“I love you,” she uttered, not sure how to help him find his answers.
Letting go of her hands, he made a low growling noise of frustration in his throat before
kissing her neck. He trailed kisses down her collarbone until his lips hovered just above the bite scar near her breast. He ran the tip of his tongue over her flesh. She’d managed to keep it hidden from him until now. He kissed, sucking her skin. Clarissa shuddered and moaned. He moved
lower, taking her nipple between his lips and nipping her. She flinched, startled at the sharp and unexpected pain. Sensation swirled inside of her, making little waves of desire spark and burn. A trickling wetness gathered between her legs.
He sucked on her nipple…hard, causing her back to arch. Then he switched breasts and
repeated the sucking, but didn’t bite this time. He kneaded the damp nipple he’d just left with his fingers, pulling and twisting while his mouth loved its mate.
“Maaattt.” She groaned his name.
He stopped sucking, much to her disappointment, and he ran his fingertips lightly down
her stomach and over her pelvis and hips. He was now between her legs, spreading them. She
opened to him happily, and he rubbed her inner thighs while looking down at her damp pussy
with desire darkened eyes. She loved Matt’s bedroom eyes.
A Gift of the Darkest Magic
53
He turned her to her side. The loud crack of his hand on her ass echoed off the bedroom
walls. Matt smacked her a second time and she wiggled her butt, giving him a better a
ngle. He struck a third time and she moaned. On the fourth, he spanked her harder, as if he truly meant to punish her, and she cried out, pushing herself onto all fours so he had access to all of her ass. He ran his fingers over her wet pussy. He stroked her and she closed her eyes. When he smacked her newly exposed cheek while rubbing she gasped.
“Yes. Yes, Matt!”
He continued for a while and she was on the verge of orgasm. Then his hand tangled in
her hair. Her husband pulled her head back a bit, and leaned forward to kiss her mouth. It was a bit awkward, but the roughness sent a tingle down her spine and heightened her already soaring arousal. Matt kissed her with a thoughtless sloppiness she’d never experienced with him before.
His rough whiskers scratched at her face, and she relished in the sensation of his cock poking her lower back. He was very hard. For her. Matt still wanted her, even when he knew the truth of
what a terrible person she was. It made her love him even more.
He let go of her hair and positioned himself directly behind her. Reaching around her hip,
he searched for her clit; finding it, he rubbed her with a hard, swirling motion. Clarissa cried out.
His cock slid in from behind and he kept rubbing her even as his cock slowly inched inside her needy pussy. Clarissa squeezed her eyes closed tightly, panting. He rubbed her even harder.
When he pulled back then slammed into her again she shattered, screaming, “Yes! I love you,
Matt! Yes!”
He grabbed her hips and began to pull her and push her as he pumped inside of her with a
rough force, making her orgasm a long lasting pleasure. The pleasure faded and she could feel her pussy contracting around him as he came, collapsing with her and pulling them both back,
still physically connected. They lay spooning for a moment, until finally their ragged breathing returned to normal.
Matt rolled her over, wrapping his arms around her.
Come to me now, Clarissa! The vampire’s voice inside her head wailed the demand. She pushed his call out of her mind again.
“He’s in your head, isn’t he?”
A Gift of the Darkest Magic Page 7