THE HEALING HEART

by Zelda Clemens

  “My mom said that vampires sweet talk women to get close to them,” Phoebe said. “Just so they can bite them.”

  “Oh you mean like this?” Justin swept her up into his arms. He was slippery and wet but she wasn’t going anywhere. She remembered what they were like, just hours before. Phoebe tightened her arms around him. She looked up at him. She closed her eyes. She tilted her head to the side as she waited for a kiss. Then he bit her.

  It would be inaccurate if she said she wasn’t expecting it. The possibility of a bite was always on her mind. But still, it shocked her. Her eyes flew open as his mouth latched onto her and his fangs slid into her delicate skin.

  She felt the puncture but it didn’t hurt. Instead, it did the opposite. It filled her with intense pleasure. Her toes were curling underneath her. Her body was shaking. Her core screamed for more, whatever this pleasure was. Her body was on fire.

  And she was cradled so close to him, right next to his sculpted chest. If she had to choose, this would be the way she chose to die—filled with pleasure, in the arms of a beautiful man. She felt the blood leaving her body as he gave a slurp. It sent a shudder down her spine. It was hard to explain. Like the thickest, vanilla milkshake on a warm, spring day after you’d been craving ice cream for weeks. It felt so good she wanted him to slurp her right on up.

  As soon as he started, he stopped. His mouth pulled away. He straightened up. Phoebe reached up and touched the side of her neck in a daze. It was clean. There was nothing there. No puncture wounds. No blood. Had it even happened at all?

  “See?” Justin breathed. “If I wanted you to be dead, you would be dead. But I can control it. And Penny, I promise. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  He moved in closer. Phoebe didn’t move away. She smiled as his eyes swept over her body hungrily. Then he grabbed her face in his hands and looked straight in her eyes, gaze boring down deep into her soul.

  “I only want to bring you pleasure.”

  He kissed her so hard it took her breath away. This would be the real cause of her death. This long, slow, searing, deep kiss.

  They didn’t part for a long time. Her heart threatened to beat out of her chest. Her lungs begged for oxygen. But she wasn’t letting go. If this was her last kiss, she was going to make it count. She couldn’t imagine anything else worth living for after she had experienced this.

  Finally, he pulled away from the kiss with a small growl. It was the hottest sound she had ever heard. He pressed his forehead against hers. His hair dripped against his face while he murmured.

  “Stay with me… I want to be with you. Please be mine. You’re what I have been waiting for.”

  Phoebe wrapped her arms around his neck. She kissed him harder.

  *****

  Phoebe smiled as Justin pushed her back against the tile. His mouth was attached to hers, body pressing her up against the slippery surface. She could feel him getting excited against her stomach. She reached between them to wrap her hand around his member. It felt so good in her hand. She stroked him while they kissed frantically under the water. His hips jutted against her. She sighed out in pure pleasure.

  Justin grabbed her hand, pulling it away. He bit down on her lower lip. It felt delicious. She moaned, her nipples hard against him. She could feel him everywhere, as his hands traveled all over her. When they made a stop between her legs, she gave a shuddery gasp.

  Then he turned her around. Her bare breasts brushed against the tile as he stroked them from behind, then down her belly. She cried out, feeling his fingers again. They knew just what to do, how to move, what to touch and press. The whole time, his manhood rubbed against her from behind. He whispered in her ear, “You have such a beautifully sweet ass.” She could feel him there. Phoebe only moaned. She wanted more.

  Now that she knew what he could do, she was only craving him. Justin seemed happy to oblige. He spread her legs apart and then entered her from behind. Phoebe gasped once he was buried inside her once again. She bent over slightly to get a better angle. Justin didn’t hesitate. He followed her lead, taking her hard and fast from behind. Phoebe slapped the wall, giving a wet smack that echoed through the shower stall. She moaned and moved with him the best she could. It was different than the first time, rougher, but just what she needed. Now she was allowing his vampire instincts to show and it was even better than she imagined. It was fun to be with someone who could be dangerous but gentle at the same time. He gave her ass a little smack. She yelped in a way she had never experienced before.

  “More…” she gasped out. She didn’t have to ask. He kept going as he groped her breasts and licked and nibbled over that spot on her neck he bit. It felt so good, she thought she was going to melt into a puddle and slide right through the shower drain.

  But he wasn’t done with her yet. He pressed his face down against her shoulder as he continued to bury himself in and out of her. She could feel his hips start to shake. She was close but she needed a little more.

  Phoebe propped her foot up on the edge of the tub, opening herself up more for him. From there, he was able to move inside of her even deeper and harder. She wanted to feel him everywhere. It was like he was drilling down deep inside of her, directly to her soul. She nodded and groaned. This was it. She could feel it building up again. That explosion. They weren’t being very quiet. She didn’t care.

  Justin pulled out and turned her around. Her heart was beating wildly. She was glad because she wanted to feel him. Her lips met his once again as he pushed back inside of her. Now she was ready. They were going to experience this together. And then it came.

  The orgasm was even better this time as they bodies shuddered together. She felt him flooding her inside, the shower washing it away just as quickly. Her whole body was on fire but at the same time it felt like she was on a cloud. There was no one else on this Earth except for the two of them.

  It didn’t matter who he was. Or what he really was. She could feel it. The intense way he cared about her. And she only wanted more.

  She didn’t want it to end. But all good things always did. Phoebe clung to him, suddenly not trusting her legs. After two such intense sessions of lovemaking in one day she was scared her legs might give out on her. Her body was still being racked in waves of pleasure.

  Justin seemed to understand how she was feeling because he picked her up without a word. He carried her out of the shower and sat her on the bathroom counter while he got a towel. She smiled into his eyes as he gently toweled her off.

  “It’s intense,” he said, kissing the side of her face. “But you get used to it.”

  “I hope I don’t,” Phoebe said. “I want every time to feel like the first time.”

  Phoebe flinched when the door burst open. Her dad and brother were staring at them, weapons drawn.

  “This is the third time today you’ve seen me naked!” Phoebe yelled.

  “Stay away from her,” Brad said.

  Justin shook his head. “Kill me if you must. But my intention is not to hurt Penny. It’s only to love her.”

  “I can’t let you go with my daughter.” Phoebe’s dad said.

  Phoebe slipped down from the counter. She stood in front of him, stark naked, but still her own person.

  “You are not in charge of me,” she said. “Justin can handle you on his own.”

  She walked right past them. Then, behind her, the sounds of a scuffle.

  ***

  Phoebe stood up, her heart racing just as fast as Justin was skating. The whole place was going crazy, people screaming and yelling. Then there was the countdown.

  THREE… TWO… ONE!

  The buzzer sounded. The game was over. Confetti rained from the ceiling. Phoebe jumped up and down, yelling Justin’s name. He looked over from the rink and blew her a kiss.

  Now Phoebe was proud to call herself a hockey fan.

  The Troy Ice Kings won the city league championship. The ending game had been a blow-out. But that didn’t stop Phoebe from running over to
Justin as soon as he was finished and giving him a big kiss.

  “You’re amazing!” she said, wrapping her legs around him as he held her up effortlessly.

  “You’re amazing,” he said back, rubbing his nose against hers. His locks were sweaty but she ran a hand through his hair anyway and laughed.

  The Troy Ice Kings did have a few advantages. A few of the players were vampires and vampires were naturally faster and more agile than humans were. But Phoebe wasn’t going to tell.

  “We have to celebrate tonight,” she told him.

  “You got it, baby,” Justin said, with a big grin. “I know just what we’ll do.”

  Phoebe grinned back at him. She was already craving him, despite what they did every night. It had been two months since she had met him. Two months since they both stormed out of the house after Justin fought off her vampire-hunting brother and father. Two months since she found out the truth and became her own person. Two months of bliss. She was never looking back. Except, she could feel him in the stands. His eyes watching her. Phoebe looked up, tall in Justin’s arm.

  Her brother was sitting in the top of the stands, staring down at her. Of course, his team lost a long time ago. She knew why he was here. He still wanted his chance to kill Justin.

  Phoebe knew it wouldn’t happen. She wouldn’t let him. Maybe one day they would be a family. But for now, she had made her chose. She chose never-ending happiness. After all, vampires had an eternal afterlife.

  Phoebe touched the side of her neck as Justin kissed her happily. She couldn’t feel it anymore.

  She knew the real reason her brother was watching her. Because now she and Justin would live happily together.

  Forever.

  THE END

  Another bonus story is on the next page.

  Bonus Story 44 of 44

  Shifters Mountain

  Description

  April Depardieu is a mountain climber, although she finds the limits of her capabilities when she joins a group of friends to scale Mont Blanc. Torn between enjoying the experience and wishing she’d stayed at home, she nevertheless presses on in the face of a rising danger—the warming weather.

  As the danger of avalanche threatens, she harbours increasing doubts about their safety, but can’t turn back since the point of no return has been reached.

  When she awakens in a strange mountain chalet, with her leg splinted, she knows the worst has happened. But as she drifts in and out of consciousness, she catches sight of a mysterious man who comes and goes at random, sometimes in the middle of the night, and often without clothes.

  Why is he leaving bare footprints in the snow, and why are there always wolf tracks near the door?

  April knows she must shake herself from the dream-like sleep, and recover her ability to walk in order to pursue the mystery of her mysterious benefactor.

  *****

  I checked the carabiner’s snap gate for the fifth time before I admitted I was procrastinating—and scared.

  “If you’re not going to do this, why bother flying out here at all?” I muttered. “You could have stayed at home, walked the dog, or played tennis, anything but risking your life on a snow-covered mountain.” Light snow drifted down from above, kicked down by my impatient climbing buddy.

  “Hey, April!” he called, “you asleep down there?”

  “Coming, Sonny,” I shouted back. “Dammit…” I muttered. I hated people seeing my fear and I was determined to move on up to reach the summit before noon tomorrow. If we didn’t, it was likely we’d be called off the mountain. Rising temperatures made for hazardous climbing and the PGHM, the mountain police, were considering closing the Gouter Route if the day grew any warmer.

  “April!”

  “Coming!” I snapped. I glanced down the Grand Couloir, immediately wished I hadn’t, and then turned my attention to the remainder of the climb. Two of our party had already reached the ridge, the Refuge du Gouter, and were monitoring the rising temperature. If I held them up any longer, I’d be responsible for wasting everyone’s week. Drinking beer in Chamonix was a poor substitute for gazing out from the summit of Mont Blanc.

  And so, I committed myself, swinging out from the laughably small ledge I’d found, and digging in my toes as I pushed upward.

  It was terrifying, but also the biggest thrill of my life. Office work was a way to bring in the beans. This was living, and nothing compared, or would ever compare to this: the soul-chilling confrontation of nature at her most unforgiving. Knowing that a single mistake or a moment’s lack of concentration could end my life was the most sobering thing I had ever felt. People called me crazy for risking my life, but doing exactly that was what made me who I was. If I wasn’t in danger, what was the point of being alive?

  I focused on the task at hand, and, with shouts of encouragement from my buddies, I made good time, almost making up for my poor showing earlier.

  Within two hours, we were heading along the Refuge du Gouter, enjoying the sunshine but worrying about what the warmth might do to the stability of the packed snow beneath our feet.

  “It’s enough to make you wish for a snowstorm,” Sonny called back to me.

  “That might make things worse,” I shouted back.

  “And we’d lose the scenery.”

  “Will you guys can it?” Ray called from behind me. “The last thing we need is an avalanche.”

  “Avalanches don’t—” I began, but Sonny had stopped.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I’m not sure. Hey!” he called to the team ahead. They stopped and turned, raising their arms to ask why he’d called a halt.

  “Everything okay?” Ray asked.

  “I don’t know… Something feels…” he shifted his feet, testing the snow for something. I waited patiently, trusting Sonny, who had ten years’ more experience than me.

  It didn’t help him much. The entire snowfield, from a kilometre ahead to the edge of the ridge, was shifting. The snow vibrated beneath my feet—exactly what Sonny had feared and had been feeling for. All five of us toppled as the snowfield picked up speed, carrying us along with it. The PGHM had been correct in its assumptions. The mountain was unstable, and now we were caught up in the shift.

  I cried out as the flat snow started to break up into jagged sheets, the leading edges rising above the sheets below them. Five feet ahead, a wall of white rose into the air, towering over me. If it broke up, or slid over the top of the sheet I was clinging to…

  I could only pray that it didn’t.

  The ice slammed against my body as it slithered down the mountain, gaining speed rapidly. I was riding ten tons of rapidly crumbling bobsled, with no control, and no idea which way I was headed. The sheer drop of the Grand Couloir wasn’t far away, behind me and off to my right. I’d never survive the drop.

  Something smashed into the floe I was riding, and I was spun to the right, to face the steep drop, exactly as I’d feared. Within seconds, I was going to be plunged over the edge. The fall would no doubt kill me, and the hundred tons of snow that followed would ensure I wouldn’t be found until September. I was ten feet from the edge of the speeding floe. I could either take my chances with the avalanche or face the thousand-foot drop plus the avalanche that would land on my head.

  It was a no-brainer. As quickly as my numbed fingers and spiked boots would allow, I crawled to the edge of the ice, glanced once at the tons of snow thundering down after me, and then threw myself into its path, hoping for a miracle.

  Five seconds later, my makeshift bobsled vanished over the edge of the Refuge du Gouter and I was engulfed, sent tumbling into a crushing nightmare of dazzling whiteness.

  ~

  “Faites atention…” a man said in a soft voice.

  “Ow…” I managed. Every joint and muscle burned or stabbed me with white-hot needles. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Why had I tried to move? Groaning, I laid back down and concentrated on breathing until the worst of the pain began to fade.

  “Vou
s avez ete blesse.”

  “What…what…” My foggy brain couldn’t translate his French. “I don’t understand. Ah… Je ne comprends pas?”

  He switched to English, with a soft accent. “Don’t try to talk. You’ve been through…ah…traumatise…You will need time to recover.” When I’d tried to move, my leg had hurt terribly. Hot waves of pain washed up my thigh, and I squirmed as my skin burned.

  “I don’t…hey, that hurt!”

  “I apologize.” He withdrew the needle from my bare shoulder, then laid the syringe in a stainless steel dish. But if I’d entertained any thought of being in a hospital, I was sorely mistaken. Yes, the bed in which I lay was steel-framed, and was raised to support my back, but that was where any similarity ended. The room was small, and dimly lit. The walls were of typical Alpine chalet construction, thick horizontal planks of varnished wood. All of which made the needle-jabbing more alarming. Why was I in a strange bed, being attended to by a man I’d never seen before?

  And why was I naked?

  “My clothes!” I snapped. “Where are they?”

  He smiled tolerantly. “Your ski suit was destroyed by the fall. The blood soaked everything below the waist, and the bone break tore through your thermal underwear.” He shrugged. “I’m sorry. But I have your shirt, and your brassiere.”

  “Where?” I suddenly felt chilled without my clothes. Yes, I was in a warm bed, but I felt vulnerable, and trapped. Without clothes, I had no way to escape this stranger.

  Another thought struck me. “Did you undress me?”

  “Of course.” He made an ‘I suppose so’ face, pushing down both lips. “But you should not be concerned.”

  “Really?”

  “It was your leg which was injured. Your dignity was not.”

  “You undressed me!”

  “Your ski suit I cut away.” He mimed scissors with two fingers. “Your leg I treated.” He pushed himself to his feet with a weary sigh. “The rest of your clothes were removed for your comfort, and…” he raised a single finger to silence my next protest. “…it was done with no lights.”