Haunted (4 page)

“Oh no,” he said, lowly. “Not like that.”

Slowly, he pulled down on the rope. As her hands rose in front of her, there was a flutter in her still warm belly. He backed away from her now, pulling the rope as he went. Her hands were above her head. She could feel her arms begin to go taut. The stitches in her shoulder tugged. As she watched, the muscles of his arms and chest bunched, and she felt the bite of the rope in her wrists, knowing it’d be so much worse without the gloves. She went up on her toes, stretching as high as she could.
 

Shayne paused, his heated glare burning her skin. “Are you ready?” he said, his voice husky.

Not able to trust her voice, all she could do was nod.

Then she was off her feet. The pain in her wrists ratcheted up a notch. The stretch in her arms and ribs was incredible. Suddenly Shayne was there.

Even though she was dangling, their faces were level.
 

“You don’t even know how beautiful you are,” he murmured. He gently squeezed her breasts. “You don’t even know how much I need you.” His touch made her rouse again, and her feet kicked a little. “Though I can see what it is you need.” He spun her to face away, and his fingers found her clit. “Shall I torture this again?”

Despite how sensitive she was, her hips tried to rise to his hand.

“No,” he said, his voice velvety smooth. He spun her back. “That would be too easy.”

She had never been so vulnerable. But there was no one she trusted, or wanted, more than Shayne.

“Oh gods please,” she whimpered, barely getting it out. “Fuck me.”

He spun her again, quickly, taking her breath away. From behind, he cupped both her breasts. He plucked her nipples, before running his hands down her ribs, into the hollow of her tummy, and down to the apex of her thighs. Wet warmth flooded there at his touch.

“What did you say?” he whispered in her ear.

“Fuck me,” she rasped, already breathing hard, the pain in her wrists getting worse.

His hands spread her legs, and the tip of his cock ran sleekly along her slit. “What was that?” he asked.

“Oh gods,” she moaned, wriggling uselessly. “Fuck me.”

The glassy bulb of his erection spread her slick folds. “You’ll have to do better than that.”

“Please,” she implored. “
Fuck me
.”

“No,” he said sharply and pushed her away.

She swung on the rope, her wrists aching, as she slowly spun. He let her twist and writhe for what seemed like forever. Then his big hands caught her at the waist, and roughly turned her.

“Let’s try again,” he said.

Dizzy and disoriented, she didn’t even know where he was. “Fuck me,” she quickly gasped. His fingers pressed into her clit. His mouth found her nipple. “No!” she whimpered, as he gnawed the tip of her breast. “Oh gods, no. I can’t!”

Her body convulsed, making the pulley clatter. His teeth tugged on her nipple before letting go.

“You can,” he said, breathing hard. “And you will.”

His lips clamped down on the other nipple, already aching for his attention. His fingers slid into her wet slit, and danced crazily over her pulsing clit.

“Please! I’m so close,” she pleaded, almost breathless. “Oh gods. Fuck me now! Fuck–”

His erection speared into her. Without warning and from nowhere, she was suddenly impaled. A strangled groan was wrenched from her throat. He thrust into her, his hard flesh pushing deep inside. The fullness of it, the pressure, was almost unbearable. Without knowing how she knew, she realized he was in front of her. With a grunt, she wrapped her legs around his waist. She heard him chuckle.

“Oh no,” he said. “You don’t control this.” He began to draw back. “I do.”

“No,” she gasped. “No. No, don’t.”

As the pain in her wrists ramped up, she felt herself stretched. His hard shaft was withdrawing. Her legs were pulling lose, and then he was gone. She was vaguely aware of spinning again and swinging. Again he caught her, spun her, and thrust up into her. She groaned loudly this time. And as he held her still, he thrust into her again.

“Gods, I could watch you like this all day,” he whispered harshly from behind.

He withdrew so quickly she cried out. This time he spun her hard as he pushed her away. Her head lolled back, too heavy to keep up. Her legs dangled to and fro. Air brushed over her skin as she swung. Where was he?

“What if I just left you?” he asked, almost as though he were musing to himself. His voice seemed to come from all around. “Left you just like this.” The floor boards creaked.

Her stomach clenched. “No, Shayne! Please!”

His arm caught her quickly at the waist. As it tightened, her back collided with his chest.

“Please what?” he said. His warm breath washed over her neck. “Convince me this time.”

“Fuck me,” she pleaded, not sure how much more she could take. “Oh gods, please fuck me,” she gasped. “Don’t leave me. Fuck me. Don’t leave me.” It was like a mantra.

He thrust up into her, and she almost wept with relief. His hips lifted her and the rope went a little slack. The feel of him fully seated inside, their bodies slotted together perfectly, was so right. She groaned and whimpered, her back arching against him.

“Yes,” he hissed. “That’s so good.” He plunged upward again. “You’re so beautiful, and so mine. I could fuck you all night.”

Then, as though spurred by his own words, he pumped furiously. Gillian no longer had breath to grunt. As the pulley banged overhead, she was helpless in his hold. His fingers dug into her hips as he bounced her on him. She clenched her jaw to keep her teeth from clattering. Over and over he pounded into her as though intent on spending himself. Hard as iron, his erection spread her and filled her, the jarring and jolting fullness on the edge of pain.

She heard his breath roughen. He thrust into her more powerfully, more roughly. His fingers found her clit. Already stimulated beyond all thinking, she climaxed immediately in his grasp. The pleasure this time was searing. She screamed and heard herself begging, for it to stop or never stop, she didn’t know. Shayne’s climax exploded within her. He thickened and jerked, as his arms wound around her middle. He pinned her to him, thrusting wildly up into her. He grunted loudly in her ear, his shaft rippling and pulsing, her hips trying to gyrate around his thick flesh. Seconds went by, then minutes, before they slowed. At last, the harsh grunts and rasps subsided. Carefully, his arms loosened, and he slid out of her, making her moan. Breathing hard, she dangled for just a moment. Then her feet touched the floor.

As though she’d been woken from a dream, she felt gravity on her body. But with dismay, she realized she couldn’t stand. Every muscle was quivering. Her knees buckled, and she dropped, stretched tight again.

Shayne’s broad shoulder pressed into her midsection as the rope went completely slack. She doubled over onto him and felt him lift. Suddenly she lay on the blanket, still gasping. Dimly, she was aware he was untying the rope. Gentle fingers massaged her wrists. Then he lay down next to her and cradled her limp body to his side, holding her close. The warm flush of her final climax had yet to fade from her body, but she was completely spent. Her body was languid almost beyond feeling.

Pillowed on his shoulder, she felt him tuck some strands of hair behind her ear.

“Gillian?” he said quietly, worry brimming in his voice. “Are you all right?”

Though she couldn’t open her eyes, she smiled dreamily and nodded. “Never better,” she murmured, and consciousness faded.

GILLIAN REALIZED SHE was dreaming almost immediately. But instead of being afraid, she was impatient and irritable. She was still in her own clothes, but she was sitting at one of the fountains that they had passed earlier that day. The calico carp came to nibble at her fingers when she trailed them in the water.

It was night in Tenebris, and everyone was laughing, talking and singing, under the beautiful street lamps. There was a sense of festivity to the city that reminded Gillian of a cross between Halloween and Christmas. She wasn’t surprised when Mina emerged from the crowd and came to sit down next to her. The other woman didn’t speak, but she did offer Gillian a mug.

“What’s this?” Gillian asked, looking down at it. “I usually don’t take drinks from women who are trying to kill me.”

“It’s apple cider from the high mountains,” Mina said, ignoring the rest. “It was your favorite, once upon a time. It’s fine. I promise.”

“You’ll understand if I decline,” Gillian said.

Though Gillian couldn’t be sure, Mina looked hurt. As she set the mug down, Gillian felt a pang of regret. The last thing she wanted was to hurt her. When Mina looked up, there was a sweetness to her expression that Gillian could barely stand.

“Sweetheart,” Mina said lowly, “please leave here. This place is poison. This place has always been poison. Leave here and go home.”

This is why I loved her.

When Mina looked at her with those dark, beautiful, and wounded eyes, it was hard to deny her anything.

“We’re trying,” Gillian finally said. Then she remembered the underground lake. “Of course I don’t need Tenebris to poison me, when I have you trying to kill me with a sword.”

Mina laughed, a sound that made Gillian’s skin crawl. There was something no longer sane about it.

“Dear heaven above us. You really don’t remember do you?”

“Why don’t you fill me in?”

Mina shook her head and stood. “Get away from this place. I don’t care how you do it. Jump back through the water, or just kill yourselves. It would be kinder than anything you will find here.”

The crowd behind her seemed to take notice. Though the single voice started quietly, it was soon joined by another, and then more.

She died, she died, of love and pride.

Gillian jumped to her feet. “What does that mean?” she demanded. “Mina, what does that mean?”

But rather than answer, she kept moving toward the crowd, and motioned for Gillian to listen.

She died, she died, of love and pride,

The shining seer with guilt piled high.

Who has the blade to bleed her dry?

’Tis I, ’tis I, fair Mina cried, I have the blade, ’tis I!

Who had the blade to pierce her knight?

’Tis I, ’tis I, fair Mina cried, I have the blade, ’tis I!

Gillian shuddered at the cruel words. “Oh Mina, what have you done?” Gillian said.

But Mina was gone. Instead there was only the crowd, marching forward. Though Gillian tried to back up, she hit the fountain. The people had her. They had their hands on her and, oh, they had their knives.

GILLIAN WOKE WITH a start, waking Shayne up as well. He smoothed his hand over her hair.

“Bad dreams?” he asked.

She nodded. They were still lying together in the hay loft, her head resting on his shoulder, as though neither of them had moved. But one of the horse blankets had been drawn over them.

He traced a line down her arm. “Tell me.”

The chant was still in her head, as were the glints of metal. Briefly, she recounted it all.

“I don’t know how to feel about her,” Gillian said, idly running her glove over Shayne’s chest. “Half the time I can’t decide whether she wants to kill me or kiss me.”

“She apparently did both,” Shayne pointed out. “Maybe she’s confused. Or maybe she doesn’t remember everything. Or maybe she’s insane.”

Gillian was struck by that: an ancient memory of a dying lover might indeed make someone insane.

Shayne gently brushed his fingertips over her wrist, under the glove. “About last night…”

She felt her cheeks flush hot. Something in Shayne had made her bold. Now she could hardly believe what she’d done. “I, um…”

“Look,” he said, “if I was too…”

“No!” she exclaimed. “You were great. I thought maybe I was too…”

“Gods, you were amazing,” he breathed.

Even now she could feel a tremor stir, deep in her belly, just at the thought.

He kissed her on the forehead. “I wish we could be here all day. But we have to find that portal.”

“I know,” she whispered.

They got up, dressed in silence, and climbed down the ladder. But at the exit to the stable, they both had to stop. The city of Tenebris had rebuilt itself. All the windows were whole, the trough outside the stable sparkled with fresh, clean water, and in a small pot by a door, there were red geraniums blooming.

“Wow,” Gillian murmured.

“Stay close,” Shayne said.

Through the same alley they’d used the night before, they made their way back to the main boulevard. The streets were immaculate, and there were vendor stands and barrows in the marketplaces. There was even produce in the bins. Perhaps most alarmingly of all, there was a pile of fresh-baked bread at one stand.

“Oh my god, that looks delicious,” Gillian said, staring and reaching for it.

“Remember what happens if you eat fairy food,” Shayne said, a warning tone in his voice.

Gillian pulled her hand back. “Fairy food?” But as Shayne snatched up a bun and tore out a huge bite, she cried out with indignation.

“Hey, you just told me not to do that!”

Shayne grinned at her, unrepentant. “Yes, I did,” he said, talking around a mouthful. “I’m still your protector, after all. I wanted to make sure that whatever happened, only happened to me.” He looked around expectantly. “So far, so good. Grab a few, and we’ll keep walking.”

She took as many as she could carry, putting a couple in the big, front pocket of her tunic. And then she bit into one. The bread was so good that she could have cried. It was fresh and hot. She wished there was a baker that she could thank. But despite the city’s blooming, there was still no sign of people.

“It looks like they’ll be right back,” Gillian said softly. “It looks like they stepped away for a moment.”

The further they went, the more it seemed like someone would just appear. In fact, Gillian had the distinct impression they were being watched. She turned every corner expecting to see a face. She checked the gleaming windows to see if someone was peering down. No matter how far they went, the feeling persisted.