Lisa: April (Mystic Zodiac Book 4)
Read Lisa: April (Mystic Zodiac Book 4) Online
Authors: Brandy Walker
Lisa:
April
Mystic Zodiac
Book 4
Brandy Walker
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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Lisa: April, Mystic Zodiac
Copyright © 2015 Brandy Walker
Cover by TEZ Graphics, Brandy Walker
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Edited by Noel Varner
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
First Electronic Print, Apr 2015
QUOT
E
:
All people think we do is dance, sing, and frolic in the water. I wish! If that was the case I would be having a lot more fun. ~ Lisa
BLUR
B
:
***
Jack knows he shouldn’t do it but does anyway. He cancels his assistant’s vacation…again. He can’t stand the thought of her unleashing her nymph side on anyone but him. Over the past three years he’s slowly fallen in love with the petite beauty that keeps his personal and professional life running smoothly.
When Lisa goes on vacation anyway, Jack knows there’s only one thing to do. He needs to find a way into the Mystic-only club and claim the woman who has stolen his heart.
~~~~~
NOTE: Mystic Zodiac is a 12 book series. It is NOT a serial. Each book ends in a happily ever after for the main couple. However, the prologue and epilogue of each story follows the Gods that kick off the series, Eros and Chlotho (aka Chloe). At the end of the series the bet between the two will come to a conclusion.
Mystic Zodiac: Lisa
PROLOGUE
Chloe smoothed her soft, sky-blue chiton over her hips. Loving the feel of the fabric brushing against her skin, the way it danced around her delicate ankles. The sharp V-neck plunged low to her waist, showing her ample bosom. An enticing lure for her prey. Eros would be hers at the end of the year. She knew it down to the marrow of her bones.
Thoughts of Eros heated her blood as the memory of the previous day raced through her mind. Such excitement, mingling with humans and wearing the clothing of their realm. Eros’s burning gaze as she pranced around in the tight foreign pants stretched across her backside. She glanced at the stiff canvas fabric draped on her chaise, her eyes fluttered closed at the remembered feel of him standing behind her. His thick erection pressing into her cloth-covered flesh.
It had been a stolen moment in time. She wasn’t even sure he knew what he had been doing, and she dare not tell him for fear of breaking the spell.
Tearing her gaze away, she picked up a fat brush, pulling through her hair one last time. Pleased with the outcome, she tossed it on the counter before ensuring her appearance was acceptable. The last thing she wanted Eros to think was that she primped for him, yet she couldn’t help but do just that. She was riding the high of stepping out of her box and enjoying the time she spent with him. It wouldn’t do to have him realize she saw him as more than a delicious piece of man candy.
He unexpectedly challenged her on an intellectual level, which, in turn, aroused her beyond reason. Most men didn’t dare stare into her face and talk down to her. Most men didn’t resist her wants and desires. Most men were not Eros.
Chloe arrived at the Parthenon with only a few minutes to spare. Breezing through the door, she unwrapped her cloak, handing it to the servant girl waiting at the entrance. She dipped her head in respect, stroking Chloe’s ego.
Chloe made her way across the room in search of the tempting as Hades man. Eros lounged in the same pillow-laden area as before. Chest gleaming, arms spread wide, muscular legs stretched out in from of him. His blond hair looked as though he’d run his hand through it time and time again. He looked freshly from bed after a night of debauchery.
Jealousy twisted in her veins and she struggled not to show it. She caught his regard as she approached, a nonchalant smile plastered on her face. Chloe immediately noticed the usual lackadaisical air that surrounded him was nowhere in sight. He grinned, yet it didn’t meet his eyes. His smile was forced, and she wondered what could be wrong. Panic welled in her chest. Could he be tired of their game after only three months? Did he want to beg off? Refuse to continue now that she’d proven she was adept at matchmaking?
There was no use stressing over it. She’d find out soon enough.
“Eros,” she greeted him, keeping her cool exterior pushed to the surface. Showing concern would mean showing him her vulnerability towards him.
“Chloe.” He stood fluidly. “We will not have our usual time to banter today. I have been summoned by Zeus and am expected within the half hour.”
“Ah. That explains the uneasy air swirling around you.” Being summoned by Zeus could be good or bad. Knowing Eros, she would err on the side of bad. “Have you been cavorting with one of his consorts again?” As flippant as she tried to sound, she knew the truth. Inside she seethed at the thought. She should have known it would be too much to expect him to abstain from sex for the year of the bet. But secretly she hoped he would.
A genuine smile lit his full lips, softening the lines around his eyes. “Fear not, my sweet Chloe, I have not played where I shouldn’t in quite a long time. I’m sure it is only time for my quarterly update.”
She hummed noncommittally. She knew nothing of the quarterly updates other Gods and Goddesses had to endure. It was one of the perks of being a Fate. No one in the realms knew whether Zeus had control over the Fates. There was speculation running across the board as to who was really in charge. Chloe was not one to relinquish the answer. It kept others guessing and in fear of them all.
“How very…human,” she murmured. “Let us get on with it then. You can be on your way to your Master and I can see if someone here catches my fancy for a few hours of entertainment.”
Eros stepped within a breath away. His eyes narrowed, snapping with fire. “You will do no such thing,” he said through clenched teeth. “While there is this bet, you are not to indulge your whims.”
Chloe was pleased to hear his anger that she might be with someone else, yet bristled at his highhandedness. No one told her what to do. Even her sisters refrained from trying. “Then neither shall you,” she said, her head tipping up a notch.
They stood staring at each other, neither willing to break contact. It wasn’t until the corner of his mouth curved into a sinfully wicked grin that she realized she’d made a mistake.
“Nice to know you care, my sweet. Your next couple should give you grief. She is a repressed nymph and he is human. They each have a secret—but I’ll let you figure it out. You have until the end of the month, as usual.”
With a swiftness she wasn’t expecting, Eros clutched her to his hard body. Arm wrapped around her waist, he melded their lower halves together, grinding his erection into her soft belly. His free hand threaded into her hair, seconds before he attacked her lips like a savage getting his first taste of a woman. Lips meshed, teeth clashed. He slid his tongue into her mouth, stealing her breath. Pulling away, he bit her lower lip.
“Nine more couples Chloe and I’m yours,” he said roughly. His voice thick with arousal and need.
She shivered in his hold and slid her tongue over the spot he bit, and then smiled. “The things I’m going to do to you,” she whispered huskily. She stepped back and took a much-needed breath. “I’ll see you next month, Eros. Don’t have too good of a time at Zeus’s.”
Forcing one slippered foot in front of the other, Chloe glided out of the Parthenon. She wouldn’t be staying like she’d told Eros. She was going home to play the encounter over and over again in her head, where no one could see her happiness.
The servant girl met her at the door, dipped and handed Chloe her cloak. Flinging it around her shoulders, she walked out the door and into the cool air. The slight breeze a blessing to her overheated body.
CHAPTER ONE
April 3
rd
, 8:05am
THE OFFICES OF MORGAN & POWERS DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE
Lisa Cannon scooted her chair close to her desk and clicked open her email. A bubble of excitement welled in her chest, threatening to burst. She was expecting the confirmation for her week away at Satyr. The exclusive club Mystics of all types went to in order to indulge in their darker side. Or in her case, let her mystic side out. It had been far too long since she’d played with her more supernatural side.
Scrolling quickly through the ridiculous amount of emails, she skipped over requests for appointments and questions for her boss. Near the bottom of the second page, she found the subject line she’d been searching for:
Satyr Thanks You.
After double clicking, instead of confirming her week of luxury and decadence, there was a terse impersonal note confirming her cancellation and inviting her to use the pre-paid amount at another date.
Oh, hell no!
The phone was in her hand, and she was dialing Paul before it even became a complete thought. Fury vibrated through her. Pulling out her bottle of water, she popped the top and took a sip as the phone rang in her ear. Three rings later, Paul picked up.
“Do you know what time it is?” he grumbled on the other end. It sounded like his face was still smashed into his pillow.
“Of course I know what time it is,” she snapped, unable to keep a civil tone. “I have a normal job unlike you. It’s five minutes past eight.”
“In the morning,” his voice rose in a squeak. Lisa heard a woman admonish him, then a man’s deep chuckle in the background. If Lisa knew Paul, and she did, he was back with Becks and Keith. They were an on again, off again threesome who thrived on chaos. But that drama wasn’t the reason she called.
“Yes, in the morning.“ Her good mood had been obliterated by the email. “What the hell is this email canceling my week’s stay? I’ve had it planned for two months now. You said everything was in place.”
“What email?” Sheets rustled in the background and the bed squeaked.
“Hey, don’t get up to any hanky-panky while I’m on the phone with you.”
Paul snorted. “I didn’t send an email.”
“Well, someone did. Do I need to stress again how much I
need
this time off? I haven’t let my nymph out in months. I’m pretty sure she’s becoming a shriveled up shrew stuck in me.”
“She’s not the only one,” he mumbled.
“What the hell did you just say?”
“Nothing. And, no, you don’t need to tell me again. You just said hanky-panky. No nymph worth her salt would ever use that phrase. Give me a second and I’ll ask Becks. She worked in the office last night and I’m guessing since you didn’t see it until this morning, it went out then.”
Lisa grabbed her water bottle again and took a huge drink. There was mumbling on the other end of the line, but nothing she could make out. Seconds later, Paul was back. “I’m sorry, Li. It looks like your boss called last night and cancelled your plans again. Becks said he paid the fee and insisted you be able to use the pre-paid amount some other time.”
The corner of Lisa’s right eye started twitching the longer Paul talked.
He’s done it again
. The bastard had gone behind her back and cancelled her plans. It was the fifth time so far that year. The water in her bottle started burbling uncontrollably in the container. In an automatic response, she held it off to the side, not wanting what was about to happen, to happen all over her desk. She was too fired up to stop the inevitable.
“Lisa? You still there?” Paul’s voice sounded small and distant in the receiver. She knew he was speaking, but she couldn’t understand the words. The buzzing in her ears slowly blocked sound out, her vision became hazy making it difficult to focus. Water spewed from the bottle shooting straight up into the air, turning into mist, hanging overhead.
It was too much. He’d gone too far this time. She’d given him two months to plan for her mini-vacation, yet he went behind her back—again. She wouldn’t let him get away with it this time around. Her nerves were stretched as far as they could go, not to mention; she hadn’t had sex in so long she barely remembered what it felt like.
The door leading into her office opened. In walked the dynamic duo that made up Morgan & Powers Design and Architecture: Jack Morgan and Griffin Powers.
“I have to go,” she said to Paul, not bothering to wait for a reply. She dropped the receiver into the cradle unnoticed, glaring at the men. Granted, it wasn’t Griffin’s fault her morning had gone to shit, but the fact that his best friend was the devil made him guilty by association.
Griffin, the poor clueless soul, halted next to her desk, a charming smile plastered on his face. “You’re on vacation next week, right? You must be excited to get away from Jack’s needy ass for a while.” He chuckled and tipped his head toward his business partner.
Lisa made the mistake of glancing at her boss; a knowing smirk curved his sexy lips. Her control snapped seeing him gloat and soft mist suddenly rained down on Griffin’s head.
Griffin jumped back in surprise as his expensive suit soaked up most of the water. He looked around confused, and then his eyes landed on Lisa, who was still holding the now empty bottle away from her. “Um, hey Lisa. Is there,” he looked up at the ceiling, frowned, and then focused back on her, “a problem with the sprinkler system?”
“No,” she gritted out. She breathed slowly, attempting to rein in her anger. It never failed. If water was nearby when she lost it—it went everywhere. She didn’t know if it was a perk or a curse of her nymph side. At the moment, she wished it had been Jack standing in Griffin’s place. He was the one who deserved something bad happening to him.
Griffin’s eyes widened briefly before he turned his attention to Jack. “What did you do?” He asked, disappointment evident in his voice. Griffin was the nice guy of her two bosses. The one who went the extra mile to help someone out. The one who gave a person the benefit of the doubt. And apparently the one who knew not to fuck with a desperate woman’s vacation plans.
Jack held up his hands. “Nothing,” he said innocently, “I swear.” He grinned like the devil he was. She didn’t believe him and she doubted Griffin did either.
Griffin snorted. “Yes you did. I may not understand her mystic powers or much about that world, but I know she only does that when she’s pissed—at you. How I ended up on the receiving end is beyond me.”
Lisa stood slowly. Breathing in deep, she dropped the bottle in the trash, and then gathered napkins to blot the water on Griffin’s suit jacket. “I’m sorry about that, Mr. Powers. It won’t happen again.” Invading his space, she dabbed at his chest.
“I’ve told you to call me Griff.”
“And I’ve told you that I can’t call my boss by his first name.”
“Then at least do it to piss him off,” he whispered none too quietly. She knew he did it to get a reaction from his partner. They both liked to pull each other’s chains. She wouldn’t be taking part in it though.
Lisa shook her head and continued soaking up the water. It wasn’t as bad as she previously thought. The heat in the room must have evaporated some of it.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Griffin’s eyebrows shoot into his hairline as she skimmed her hand down his muscular chest toward his trim waist.
All in the name of collecting water droplets
, she mused.
Stepping back, she looked him over, making sure she’d gotten as much as she could. The jacket was good, but his hair—stepping closer than she’d been before because of her height, she reached up to brush her fingers through his thick black locks when he captured her wrists with his big hands. Her startled gaze landed on his amused one. Griffin looked beyond her to Jack, who had yet to say another word.
“I’ve got it,” Griffin said.
It was then she noticed exactly how close she was to him. How intimate the two of them looked. She cleared her throat and stepped back. “Sorry, again.” Her cheeks flushed hot and she was grateful for her darker complexion. Better they not see how flustered she really was.
Jack and Griffin were both sexy as hell, but she was their employee. Nothing would ever come of her lusting over the men, especially Jack.
They towered over her five-foot two, petite frame. Even when she overcompensated with heels, which she did every day; it didn’t make much of a difference. When she stood next to them, she felt like a child and not the highly independent twenty-eight year old woman she was.
Looking at them, you wouldn’t know they were architects unless you knew them on a professional or personal level. Broad shoulders. Tapered waists. Muscular arms and thighs evident behind the soft fabric of their suits. They were a visual feast she’d eaten up more than once. One more than the other.
Damn devil.
Lisa knew for a fact they both worked out. She’d been keeping up on Jack’s gym membership for the last three years since becoming his executive personal assistant, and the men didn’t do many things without the other. There were times when she wondered if they did
everything
together. The nymph in her begged her to find out. Luckily, she’d been able to hold the randy nymph back, which brought her back to her current problem.
“What did he do this time?” Griffin asked, raking his fingers through his midnight black hair.
“Canceled my vacation plans again.”
Griffin’s navy blue eyes widened in surprise. “Again?”
“Don’t act as if you don’t know. You two can’t go a day without gossiping around the water cooler.” She moved back to her seat, tossing the wet napkins into the trash.
“We don’t have a water cooler,” Griff quipped cheekily.
Lisa wanted to smack him for that comment. Instead, she straightened files and made sure nothing else had gotten wet. “You know what I mean. And, yes, again. I have so much unused vacation time I could quit today and still get paid for a year.”
“Not gonna happen,” Jack finally voiced, steel threading through the words. Striding across the room, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from him. He moved with power and grace. Like a predator hunting his prey. When she first met him, she thought he was a Mystic, a supernatural being like her. Not quite a God or Goddess, but so much more than a human. Later, she found her initial impression was wrong. As she spent more time with him, it was clear he didn’t set off any of her mystic
woo-woo
radar triggers. She’d been unusually disappointed.
Jack edged closer to her desk. Her breath caught when he planted his powerful body in front of her. His dark gray suit was tailored to fit him in the best possible way. Highlighting every sharp angle and hard ridge. The nymph tried to push to the forefront, and Lisa struggled to contain her. Her gaze drifted lower to his crotch before she could stop herself.
She squeezed her eyes shut. This was exactly why she needed her vacation.
Jack, that bastard, had her body reacting quicker with each passing day. The man could breathe and she was ready to jump his damn bones. Her fingers itched to run through his dark-brown shaggy hair. His forest-green eyes with flecks of melted chocolate hypnotized her into a pliant, willing woman when their gazes clashed. His full lips, straight white teeth, and chiseled jaw made him a beautiful, rugged man she wanted to throw on the ground and take advantage of.
Lately, her attraction to him was posing a damn big problem. Locking down her body’s reaction was making the situation impossible. She worked for him, which was why she set up the week at Satyr. She planned on working out her
Jack induced
fantasies on a man who reminded her of him. A man who didn’t mind if she screamed someone else’s name as she shattered around him.
Lisa folded her hands in front of her, gathering her composure. “You really have no say in what I do, which brings us back to you cancelling my plans. Mr. Morgan, you’ve had two months to get accustomed to the idea of me taking time off. I had hoped, with the advance notice, you’d have an easier time accepting this break.”
“Now isn’t a good time, Lisa,” he commented as if she didn’t know his schedule. She made the damn thing, and knew there wasn’t anything pressing going on. The chance of something coming up between quitting time the previous night and start of business this morning was slim to none.
“What is so important you needed me here? The Perkins presentation isn’t due for three more weeks. You don’t have any travel coming up until after I get back. There are no projects or clients that need researched. There isn’t anything going on that Mr. Power’s assistant, Janet, can’t handle while I’m out.”
“What about the supplies? It’s the beginning of the month, and I know that’s when you do whatever you do.”
“The office supplies have been ordered and will be stocked and distributed as per the memo I sent to Phillips.”
Jack clenched his jaw, nostrils flaring. He didn’t like what she’d laid out in front of him, but too damn bad. She needed the time away from him to sate her nymph. It had been too long and, even though she’d learned to deal with her wild side locked up for long periods of time, the situation she was currently in bordered on the ridiculous.
“It doesn’t matter now,” he proclaimed. “You’ll have to figure out another time to take vacation. I doubt you’ll be able to get your reservations back anyway.” He glanced at his watch. “I believe the Carter phone conference is starting soon. We’ll take the usual.”