Instinctual

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Instinctual Page 8

by Amanda Mackey


  She recalled the odd happenings of the last seven days, not able to make heads or tails of anything. The only solid memory that made sense was the call from her father. Right now he seemed a million miles away and she needed him more than anything. He could always piece puzzles together and help look at things objectively. Surely he would have some answers.

  “If I could only get through to him.”

  There was no one she could call with her cell in pieces on the kitchen floor and no reception, anyway. It was almost as if forces were building up against her on purpose until she finally admitted to going mad.

  In the second it took to think that thought, a more intense frostiness drifted up the alley bringing goose bumps to Kate’s flesh. The same strange sensations she’d been experiencing on and off recently inundated her. The power of the energy snaking through her intensified threefold. Her eyes closed again, as if commanding her body to transport her somewhere else, away from the wafting cold and away from lunacy.

  She didn’t like feeling out of control. It was in her nature to have everything orderly in her life, so having a side to her that was purely intuitive and out of her control was not something she particularly enjoyed.

  With the commanding chill quickly came a prickly sensation that she wasn’t alone anymore. She’d experienced the feeling of being watched that morning in the crowd. Again, the prickles pulled her nipples tight and surged pleasure between her legs, forcing her mouth to slacken with arousal.

  What the hell? I’m outside in the dark, scared shitless, fighting off crushing dizziness and I’m thinking about sex? This is worse than I imagined.

  Slowly opening her eyes, afraid of what she’d see, or more to the point, whom she’d see, a scream nearly shattered the window of the adjacent villa. A mortified, resigned, hate-filled scream that she suddenly realized was hers.

  “Aagghh.” It was worse than hell.

  “Kate? Thank God, you’re safe!”

  Kate couldn’t move.

  No! He’s not real! It’s just a vision. Yes, that’s it. A vision.

  Her eyes closed again, certain that this time when they opened, an empty, cobbled street would be in front of her and not…

  Nearly poking her eyes out trying to push away the mirage in front of her, she counted to ten and then focused once again.

  Crap! Leaning against the muddy washed wall of the opposite villa and looking more ravishing than anything she’d seen in a long while, stood Jake, lips upturned into a half-smile. His eyes were unsure, yet burning into her with such force she felt like she would detonate at any second. The tight black tee joining the black denim True Religion jeans with matching work boots caused her breath to hitch. Sex on legs had arrived.

  Was he more buff? There looked to be bulges in places there hadn’t been before. Not that she was looking.

  A knee buckled from under her, causing her to stumble for a second, the wall her saving grace.

  “Christ, Kate, you look like shit! What’s happened to you? Where have you been all day? I thought… Jesus… I thought someone had hurt you.” His gravelly voice threw her off guard as he pushed a hand through his thick mane of hair, causing it to stand on end. Jake’s eyes were wide in shock before he angled his head to the side and asked in barely a whisper, “You can see me?”

  “Wh…wh…what?” Her worst fears were now confirmed.

  It was truly a lost-for-words moment. What was he saying? How did he find her? Was this even real? How could she speak when physically he was the most glorious thing she’d ever laid eyes on? Even better than before, like a new improved version. It was like she was looking at him for the first time. As sharp as she had thought her recollections were of him, it was clear that the years apart had stolen some of her memory. What did he mean, could she see him? Of course she could damn well see him! How could she not?

  Her head screamed at her to run but shock had her paralyzed to the spot. His primal scent wafted over, lacing its tentacles around her. He was truly a sight with unruly, chopped hair that looked so divine she just wanted to reach out and let strands of it glide through her shaking fingers. Or maybe she wouldn’t be so gentle. Maybe with all the anger building inside her she’d seize his head forcefully and throw herself at him, claiming his hot mouth, pulling that hair until he yelped. She’d loved that about Jake. Wild, passionate, and intense. Her whole body seemed to lean towards him.

  Steady, Kate. Get a grip. Don’t go there.

  The buzzing increased in its intensity. God himself was standing before her and all she wanted to do was cry. Yell. Run. Kiss. Ogle. Punch. Ogle some more and then hurt the delectable specimen.

  Diamond encrusted, topaz eyes greedily ravaged her body as if they hadn’t eyed another woman since their last time together. She couldn’t move as he mentally undressed her. He was scrutinizing every inch of her. Teasing her. Tasting her with his hooded expression. The power of his gaze stole any memory of where she was. Her head really was giddy now. Seconds, maybe minutes ticked away. Neither said a word.

  The intensity of the connection that was so very obviously still there it took Kate’s breath away as she floundered helplessly under his gaze.

  ***

  How was she able to see him? Damn! They really were linked. Either that or Kate’s abilities were getting more powerful. He hadn’t seen her in so long, he didn’t know how much they had developed. Whatever the reason, he was grateful for it. Jake couldn’t pull his eyes away. He wanted her. If he wasn’t mistaken, lurking amongst the shock, her hunger for him was just as strong. He could feel the need amongst her restraint. The lust in her dilated pupils. It was taking every ounce of strength he could muster to keep space between them. The pull had led him here. Her pull. Only, he hadn’t expected to find her unharmed. He was sure she was hurt or in trouble. Normally his instincts were sharp and accurate. Maybe he was losing his touch. Still, he’d found her. And as he stood just out of her reach, he couldn’t believe how breathtaking she was. She’d only improved with age, if that were even possible. All he wanted to do was touch her. Feel her against him. Soothe the desire enough so that he wasn’t in agony. The moment was intimate. He could nail her to the wall and take her in less than a second.

  Stop looking at me like that, baby. I never could control myself around you. Nothing has changed. In fact, I feel like I’ll die if you don’t let me touch you.

  His body shook with the pain of his self-discipline. How long could he hold himself back? It was excruciating to stand before this enchantress and not take.

  Here they were, facing off in what was sure to be a fiery showdown. The moment of truth. He had certainly taken her by surprise but now that he was under her spell his mind had turned to dust. He just needed time to enjoy the view. To have her look at him for a while longer. There were no words to portray the heavenly beauty that befell him. The calm before the storm. She was picture perfect. And yet? There was something else about her… The way color swirled at her shape, especially around the head. Pink. Green. White. The translucence of her skin in the dark of night. Pale, almost shimmering. Lips with a blue tinge. He moved sideways to gain a different perspective, trying to place what was different. His head was cocked to one side, a hand on his chin. He used his peripheral vision to assess what had changed about Kate. She appeared solid at first but the more he looked, the more he realized that that wasn’t the case.

  It only took a moment to understand what was wrong. Brows slashed, his face contorted in a sudden realization of truth.

  What the…?

  “Fuck!” His eyes closed as he shook his head, talking more to himself than Kate.

  ***

  Kate was livid. The spell had been broken. “Fuck what? What the hell are you doing here, Jake? Stay away from me! I never want to see you again!” Each word tumbled out of her mouth. This was all some crazy nightmare. A nightmare she’d already been through once and had no plans of living through again. How could she survive again? It was as if the years of healing had
vanished instantly and her scarred heart was now tearing in exactly the same places as before.

  The air around them became bitter as Kate spat her anger at the glorious creature that was Jake. She held his fiery gaze, trying to gauge the emotion on his face. Was it terror? Fear? Remorse? Shock? Desire?

  Not wanting him to see her moment of weakness, she fought off the shaking that threatened to drop her to the ground.

  Jake’s hand reached out as if to touch her and then dropped to his side.

  “Kate! What’s happened to you?”

  “What’s happened to me? What the hell happened to you? You drove off into the night and I never saw nor heard from you again. You could have been dead for all I knew and now you show up here out of the blue asking what’s wrong with me? You’ve got some nerve!” Her voice was cracking with angst. It was all too much.

  “When I saw you earlier you looked… amazing! Don’t get me wrong, Kate, you still take my breath away, but something’s happened to you.”

  “You saw me today? When?” Kate knew the answer but needed to hear him say the words. Desperation was in her high-pitched voice at the thought of what Jake was about to say. When he didn’t immediately answer, she shouted. “Tell me!”

  “This morning. Why?”

  “Where?”

  “At the festival… I—”

  “Shit! I knew it! I’ve known it all along. Last week—!”

  “What are you talking about, baby?” His attempt at concern spiked her anger even more.

  “Don’t baby me! I’m not your baby! You know damn well what I’m talking about. You’ve been stalking me. This morning at the festival, I sensed you were following me. I had feelings… God! And last week, I felt you then, too. Hell! Today has turned into a nightmare and somehow I think you’re the cause of it!” She gasped, trying not to completely lose it, eyes bulging.

  “Talk to me. What happened today?”

  She didn’t want to talk to him. Not ever. Just his being in Vernazza had turned her world upside down. Standing too close to him was so painful it was killing her.

  “Go away, Jake! Leave me alone! I don’t want to speak to you, see you, or be anywhere near you, ever. I hate you!” There. It was out. Stinging words she’d wanted to say for so long now but had never been given the opportunity. There was a certain amount of truth to them. Almost. Hate? She wasn’t sure. There were too many other emotions swirling around inside that she didn’t know if she would ever get over. Like still needing him as much as air and water. Having him standing close enough to almost touch was tearing her in two. Anger and arousal were a wicked combination. Jake’s eyes mirrored her sentiment. They always had. He could hide nothing.

  “And stop looking at me! It’s rude to stare.” Her eyes temporarily abandoned his wanton gaze for the safety of the cobbles underfoot. Even with her head down, she could feel his eyes burn into her.

  She wanted this to be over. It was strangling her.

  “Kate, listen to me….”

  “Shut up! Just shut up!” Her words bounced off the road. She was unable to make eye contact. “I don’t want to hear any lame excuses as to why you left me or why you’ve come back. I have a new life now, Jake. I have a new boyfriend. I’m actually happy.”

  In some strange way it was hard to even picture Carlos’ face.

  “Kate, there’s something wrong—”

  “You’re damn straight there’s something wrong. It’s called you coming back here. It’s called you walking out on me. It’s called you not deserving me. I know what you’re trying to do and it’s not going to work. You can’t just waltz in here and expect me to forgive you.”

  She needed to get away from him. His unfathomable beauty was painful. Time hadn’t erased her yearning. The damned urge to bite on the muscular curve of his neck. To find his slick tongue waiting and ready to inflame her mouth.

  Kate’s brain screamed defiantly to be strong. Fight the need to give away your power to desire.

  She hadn’t struggled every day to have everything ruined in an instant. She owed it to herself to leave the past behind. To get over the stunning creature standing close enough to make her excitedly uncomfortable. Wickedly horny. It would be so simple to give in to her needs and have one last taste of the vital ingredient that was lacking from her mediocre life. The one person who could hand her that on a silver platter looked only too willing and eager. Only it was all too late for that now. There wasn’t just herself to think of anymore. She was with Carlos. She knew what it felt like to have your heart shattered and she couldn’t do that to anyone else. Carlos didn’t deserve that.

  With that Kate broke free of Jake’s hex. Even as she turned and started running, it was a struggle to pull away from his allure. He smelled so good. And that mouth! God! That mouth looked so fine. There wasn’t an inch of Kate’s body that mouth hadn’t been on. Full and juicy to the point of becoming a distraction.

  “Kate, wait!”

  “Leave me alone! I don’t want to see you. Don’t think of following me, either, or I’ll call the police!”

  “Kate! Don’t go. I need to tell you something. You’re not well. Please, you have to listen to me.”

  She ignored his voice and raced home.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Kate was damned if she was going to stick around another instant and listen to Jake’s poor excuses even though he was the most delicious thing she’d ever seen. If she wasn’t so mad at him she could have quite easily thrown herself at him and put her body out of its misery.

  Running back to her apartment was doing little to ease the ache between her legs or the feeling of loss that had overwhelmed her when she’d turned her back on him.

  Reaching her apartment, she realized she was no closer to finding out what had happened that morning at the festival in regards to lost time and clothes. It had, however, confirmed that Jake was in town, was somehow involved, and still affected her, if not worse than before. How was she going to cope?

  Her nipples were now betraying her again, standing at attention, and as if that wasn’t bad enough, all she could think about was the way Jake had looked at her. She’d seen the need in his eyes and the tension in his body. It was a strange thing, to be screaming at someone to stay away while wanting them with every ounce of your being. Her head was being reasonable but her body was being just downright slutty. If she laid eyes on him again anytime soon she was going to have to try and gather some more restraint to avoid giving in to her lust.

  Once inside, she decided to try and get some sleep, even though she knew the idea was probably futile. Jake’s eyes were still piercing into her, even as she closed hers and tried to focus on something else. Did she really want to focus on something else? She knew she should. He’d betrayed her. She hated him for that. He needed a piece of her mind.

  Yes! Being angry at Jake was helping to soften her nipples a little as she snuggled under the covers. It wasn’t too long before she was out.

  Chapter Fifteen

  No sooner had the sun lazily poked its head above the horizon than Gemma nudged her fat belly into the glamorous Hercules Port that was a natural bay at the foot of the ancestral rock of the Princes of Monaco.

  Carlos sat in the luxurious lounge, looking out a tinted window, nursing a monster of a hangover. The self-induced stupor he’d fallen into at the hands of a dozen glasses of martini had probably not been a good idea. He felt ill.

  He’d tried calling Kate but there was no signal. He’d try again when they docked. He wondered if she’d fallen ill again. The thought didn’t stay with him for long as he enjoyed the view outside.

  Adriano and Philippe appeared together half an hour later looking a damn sight better than Carlos.

  “Carlos, my friend. How did you sleep?”

  “Like a baby actually, thanks to the martini.”

  “Good. Good. We’ll be docked shortly. Everything is going according to schedule so far. The Lord is pleased with our progress. All you need to do now is
take those two statues over there off the boat when we stop and the job is almost complete.”

  Carlos turned to find the two identical cream female statues, which looked ancient and delicate. They each stood about six feet tall and shared a corner of the gleaming lounge room. Last night he’d had too much to drink to even notice them. Each exquisitely hand carved woman bore a plain Roman face with long woven hair tied into a loose ponytail that was pulled to the front over the right shoulder and one life-like hand held a clay urn, while the other one cradled an upright branch covered in soft leaves. Their expressions were wistful, as if in a dream, and whoever the sculptor had been had captured the essence of a splendid era in ancient history.

  “Stunning, aren’t they?”

  Carlos turned back to face Adriano, confused. “Yes, they are, but what do they have to do with the shipment?’

  “These are the shipment.”

  “Statues?”

  “Not the statues, Carlos, but what’s inside them.”

  Oh. He got it now. The shipment was securely hidden within the ripe bosoms of the voluptuous figurines. Ingenious, if he did say so himself, although looking at the size of each woman he wondered how they would be able to carry them.

  As if reading Carlos’ mind, Adriano spoke as she adjusted his tie. “Don’t worry. They are very good replicas but only one fifth of the original’s weight. They’re made from porcelain, not stone.”

  Just as well. He could only imagine trying to lug some heavy-ass frigging stone statue out the narrow doorway of Gemma, down the stairs, while rocking to and fro like he was still drunk. As it was, the hangover had left him nauseous and light-headed. The constant swaying of the boat didn’t help matters.

  Within minutes Gemma was safely tied to the pier and it was action time for Carlos and Philippe. Both men walked over to the statues and picked one up. The stash inside each one contributed to the weight but it was easier than Carlos imagined. Gingerly they exited the lounge room door onto the steps at the back. Adriano was standing at the bottom of the ladder so that each man could hand down the statues. Two long handled trolleys on wheels sat on the concrete waiting for the cargo.

 

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