Lisa: April (Mystic Zodiac Book 4) (3 page)

BOOK: Lisa: April (Mystic Zodiac Book 4)
3.76Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

CHAPTER FOUR

April 6
th
, 8:00am

THE OFFICES OF MORGAN & POWERS DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE

 

Jack rode the elevator up to his floor, hands shoved in his pockets, whistling a soft tune. A cool sense of calm flowed through him as floor after floor whizzed by until he stopped on eight. The door slid open and Lisa’s soft scent drifted over him. He could pick it out anywhere, even with the smallest amount present.
She must be in already
, he mused, stepping into the corridor.

His day tended to begin and end with her on his mind. Some would say it was the nature of their relationship. The endless hours working together; sometimes in intimate settings. Dinners together with clients. Black tie charity auctions. Closed up in his condo late into the night.

It was more than moments in time that kept her on his mind. She’d taken up residence before he’d gotten to know her, starting the day she filled in for his previous assistant Claire. At first, it was purely physical. Noticing her petite, lithe body the second she’d walked through his office door to introduce herself. A wave of protective instincts washed over him as she slid her small hand into his. She was tiny compared to him, even when she wore her sexy as hell heels.

Part of him wanted to fire her right then and there. But he was fairly sure asking her out on a date right after firing her wouldn’t work out in his favor. He’d planned on finding her after her stint as a fill-in at his office, but his secretary abruptly quit in order to join the younger man she’d been dating on a world traveling adventure. Lisa already knew the ins and outs of his schedule, so like the dumb ass he was; he offered her the job as his new permanent assistant.

Three years later and he couldn’t imagine his life without her. She’d become the one person besides Griffin he could count on. She was the only other person to care about him as a man and not just as the wealthy head of a multi-million dollar company.

His love, for as long as he could remember, had been architecture until the last couple of years. When Lisa entered his life, he realized he’d found something—someone—that filled a corner of his heart he hadn’t known was empty. He wasn’t about to let her go, not now…not ever. He knew in his heart they could make a relationship work. If she wanted to stay his assistant, he was all for it. If she wanted to quit and be a stay at home wife and eventual mother, he was all for that as well. He would do whatever she wanted as long as she vowed to be by his side forever.

And to make up for his dick move of cancelling her plans, he gave her the weekend off. He didn’t even call her. It was the magnanimous thing to do. He also hoped it would give her time to get over being pissed at him. Surely, she wouldn’t hold a grudge against him after a weekend away.

Pushing through Lisa’s office door, he looked to her desk, expecting her shining face to greet him. Instead of seeing her short dark hair, creamy cocoa skin, and a smile that set him on fire; there sat a graying, older woman with crinkles around the corners of her mouth. She smiled gently from Lisa’s chair.

“Good morning, Mr. Morgan.” She stood and held out a stack of mail. “Ms. Cannon briefed me on this week’s schedule. Nothing too pressing, so I’m sure I’ll have no problem handling it.”

Jack took the mail from the woman, his mind whirling. What the hell was going on? Was Lisa sick? Did she get into an accident? Panic welled in his chest threatening to steal his breath. She didn’t call him to tell him anything was wrong, so why was there a stranger occupying her desk? Heading into his office, the woman followed, oblivious to his tumultuous thoughts.

“I have your computer booted and ready for your morning meeting. I’m assuming Mr. Powers will be joining you soon. I’ll bring the coffee and pastries in once he arrives. I understand they are to be heated enough to make them melt in your mouth. ”

Jack walked around his desk and sat. “Excuse me, miss…” he trailed off.

She blushed, her pale cheeks turning pink. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Mr. Morgan. I’m Mrs. French. I’m from the temp agency. I’ll be filling in for Ms. Cannon while she’s out this week. I assure you, I’m well qualified for the position. On Saturday, Ms. Cannon spent an hour going over my qualifications and references and another two hours showing me the ropes. If you’d like, I can bring my references to you.”

Jack forced the charming smile that had women telling him their every secret and fantasy onto his face. “I have no doubt you’re qualified. Ms. Cannon is excellent at her job. Were you given a reason why you needed to fill in for Li…her?”

“Of course, Mr. Morgan,” she said without batting an eye. She also didn’t give him the reason.

He stared expectantly and waited for her to crack, but the tight-lipped older woman wasn’t forthcoming. Griff walked into the room, brows dipping down when he glanced at Mrs. French standing in front of the desk. “Hey Jack, what’s going on? I didn’t see Lisa at her desk. Is she running late?”

Jack gave him a
no shit
look and tilted his head toward Mrs. French. “Ms. Cannon is out for the week. Mrs. French will be filling in for her while she’s gone.”

Griff’s unsettled gaze drifted to the woman in question. “Is Lisa, uh, I mean Ms. Cannon alright?”

“Why wouldn’t she be?” Mrs. French asked in confusion. Her forehead pinched and lips puckered.

Griff shrugged. “I didn’t know she was going to be gone this week. That’s all.”

“I wouldn’t expect she’d tell you, Mr. Powers. She
is
Mr. Morgan’s assistant and not yours,” she admonished. The starch in her voice putting them both in their places.

Like the recalcitrant boy Griff used to be, he dropped his head. “Yes ma’am,” he mumbled.

Jack chuckled and received a hardened glare from her. He smothered his laughter behind a cough. “Yes, well, we’ll take our coffee and pastries, please.”

She gave a sharp nod. “Very good. The documents for your morning meeting are in the folder on your desk. The sketches have been brought up on your computer.” She turned stiffly and strode out of the room with her head held in an imperious manner.

Griff swung the door shut behind her and plopped into a chair. “What the hell? Did you know about this?”

“If I did, do you think I’d still be sitting here?” The vein in Jack’s temple throbbed. He felt a headache forming. How could Lisa do this to him? He hadn’t authorized the time off. Shit, he’d thought he’d nipped this whole vacation thing in the bud.

“Where do you think she is?”

“If I had to guess…Satyr,” Jack growled. The throbbing in his head grew stronger.

“You think she would go without telling you? You know what, never mind. I told you to quit messing with her plans. You’re getting exactly what you deserve.”

Mrs. French walked in unannounced carrying the breakfast tray, and they waited for her to leave, shutting the door behind her.

“Well, she’s going get her own little surprise. I’m done waiting for that background check. I’m going to Satyr and getting my woman.”

Griff tossed his head back and laughed. Jack didn’t find the situation the least bit funny. The day of reckoning was coming for Miss Lisa Cannon, and she damn well better be prepared for the punishment she was about to get. He could imagine it now, tossing her over his lap and paddling her ass for defying him. She would beg for forgiveness, then, and only then, would he show her precisely why they were meant to be together.

CHAPTER FIVE

April 6
th
, 11:00am

SATYR – THE RETREAT

 

“This is heaven,” Lisa breathed out slowly. And exactly what she needed.

After checking into her suite an hour ago, Lisa had unpacked her suitcase, ordered lunch to be delivered at noon, and was relishing in the first of many luxuries to be had over the upcoming week.

She leaned back in the massive tub, disturbing the bubbles around her. Lavender floated in the air, soothing her ragged nerves. She sighed, her eyes fluttering closed when the jets turned on and tension flowed from her body.

“Holy crap that’s wonderful.” She couldn’t think of the last time she’d been able to take a bath. To play in the rejuvenating waters that were a large part of who she was. No wonder her nymph side got cranky. They’d been apart from an elemental part of their soul for much too long.

Quick showers were her only connection as of late. Fast, unfulfilling ones where she scrubbed the grime of the day off before falling into bed. For the last couple of months, her life revolved more and more around Jack and his needs, while sacrificing the needs of her nymph.

“Not any more.” Taking a deep breath, Lisa scooped up water in each of her hands. Eyes closed and head tilted back; she called to the spirit ruling her soul.

 

I invoke you, Mother of the naiad, who rules over the power of water

Goddess of energy, wisdom, passion and desire

Mistress of lake, river, spring or fountain

Please come to me, flow through my veins

Allow me to be my destiny.

 

A warm breezed swirled around her, lifting her hair and caressing her face. The Goddess answered her call. The water jumped in her hands. Churning…twisting into a funnel as she brought them together.  Thrusting her offering forward, the funnel broke, the water spewing away from her and back into the tub.

The breeze disappeared and when she opened her eyes again, it was with clear vision and lighter heart.

A knock sounded on her outer door, a muffled
room service
making its way through the thick barrier. Climbing out of the tub, she drained it and wrapped a warm towel around her. She had no intention of putting clothes on at the moment. The urge to walk around naked was too much to resist.

Pulling the door open, she was greeted by a tall, delicious-looking man. His midnight black skin gleamed under the lights in the hallway. He tipped his head down, a slight nod to submission. “Your meal ma’am.”

Waving him in, Lisa trailed behind him, more than happy to check the enticing view. The nymph in her slowly awoke from her water-induced high, appreciating the man before her. His tight leather pants hugged his firm ass like a second skin. She wanted to smack it and hear the sound crack through the room. Her gaze traveled up over his thick, bare muscular back. She noticed scars crossing down over his broad shoulders onto the upper part. Her fingers itched to trace the marks. To find out if they were as smooth and taut as they appeared. To test how much feeling he had in the slightly raised blemishes.

He placed the tray on her table near the window. As he uncovered the dishes she’d ordered, she grabbed some money from her purse. It wasn’t necessary to tip in the traditional manner. Satyr allowed for alternate forms of payment to the Mystics who worked there. But being in the business world for so long and dealing with more humans than her kind, it was habit.

The man stepped to the side as she approached the table. A grin curved the corner of his mouth. A sexy smirk telling her he knew she’d checked him out. He’d probably planned it that way. “I’m happy to feed you ma’am, if that is your wish.” His deep baritone slid sensuously from his full lips.

Lisa couldn’t say what made her hesitate, but she did. She paused; mouth open ready to say yes, yet nothing came out.

The man invited her attention. Lust was stamped on his face as he perused every inch of her. She felt the heat of his stare through her towel. The offer to feed her, which she knew would result in him sitting at her feet submissively, his hard packed muscles begging to be touched and fondled—grazed and nipped, should have been tempting her beyond reason.

She did a systems check of her body. There was no racing heart. No slither of arousal through her veins. No excitement or anticipation of what would follow. There wasn’t a fiber in her being aching to do more than have a cursory look or to enjoy the beauty in his body as a visual feast. The nymph didn’t clamor to tear his clothes from his body.

She smiled softly and pressed the money in his hand. There was no reaction from her nymph. No spark to do more. “Thank you. Maybe some other time,” she said gently and escorted him to the door.

He stopped outside the threshold. “When you’re ready, call guest services and request me. My name is Kyron. I would be more than happy to bring you pleasure.” He ran a hot look over her before picking up her hand and placing a kiss on the inside of her wrist. His tongue flicked over her pulse, and she thought she should change her mind. She’d bet he could do wicked things with his tongue. Things she hadn’t experienced in far too long.

But when she imagined laying claim to hulking Kyron, he morphed into the last person she should have lustful thoughts about…Jack. Even on vacation the man refused to vacate her mind.

CHAPTER SIX

April 6
th
, 1:00pm

THE OFFICES OF MORGAN & POWERS DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE

 

“What do you mean the background check isn’t complete?” Jack barked into the phone. The first chance he had he’d called Satyr. First, to the registration desk to find out if Lisa was a registered guest. When they wouldn’t tell him, he hung up and called the membership liaison to check on his application.

“Like I said, Mr. Morgan,” the nasally man on the other end of the line grated out. “There are a couple more relations we need to investigate before we can make a decision one way or the other.”

“You’ve had the application for almost a year. What is it in my background you can’t find?”

“At the present time, Mr. Morgan, a Mystic. If you knew for sure you had Mystic blood running through your veins and what kind, the investigation would have been over months ago. As it is, we’ve only found one loose connection to an angel dating back four generations, but we cannot confirm the verification. We’ve been unable to contact the Mystic in question. Our researchers are following proper procedure to ensure the validity of the relation. We’ll let you know when our findings are complete.”

The man hung up before Jack could say anything more. It was probably a good thing he had too.

“Fuck,” Jack roared, slamming the phone down. What the hell was he supposed to do now? He couldn’t very well head to the club and demand entrance. No one did that. The security was tight, and unless you were a member, you weren’t getting in. Not even guests were allowed unless they had easily proved Mystic abilities, or had received a special invitation. He didn’t think he knew anyone who could get him one of those.

“What’s up, Jack?” Griff asked sauntering into his office, then taking a seat across from him.

“I just got off the phone with Satyr. They won’t tell me if Lisa is registered as a guest, and my application hasn’t been processed yet. I’m not Mystic enough at this point to be allowed entrance. I have to wait until their research is complete.”

“Even then you still might not be allowed in. If they don’t find anything in the background, they’ll toss your application on the burn pile. No one gets in unless they’re approved.”

“Fuck,” Jack grunted again. He leaned back in his chair and pushed his fingers through his hair. Frustration ate at him the longer he was away from Lisa. She could be having the time of her life with some random guy at that very moment.

“Here,” Griff said grabbing Jack’s attention. He looked to see his friend holding out a pale blue business card.

“What is it?” He asked, reaching across the desk.

Griff’s mouth pulled down into a frown, his grip tightening on the paper. “Mrs. French gave it to me as I was coming in. She said you might want to call the number listed if your plan didn’t work out. Whoever this is has some pull and might be able to get you in.”

“Why do you seem reluctant to give it to me?”

“I don’t want you to make a mistake. I like Lisa. In fact, I think she’s great.”

“But…”

“But I don’t want you to get your hopes up about having a lasting relationship with the woman. She’s a nymph. They’re known for playing with people’s emotions. They’re ambivalent, fickle, and salacious. She may only be interested in having a quick affair. Last I heard, most nymphs don’t settle down.”

Jack felt the burn of anger fire in his chest. “Where the fuck did you get that information?” He knew Griff was trying to be a friend, look out for him. The man forgot one very important thing. “She’s not like most nymphs.”

“I know. I did a little research online. I was concerned.”

“Don’t be. I’m sure how I feel about her, and I think she feels the same. Lisa has worked her ass off for the last ten years to prove she isn’t anything like the stereotype.”

“How do you know?”

“I’ve talked to her. Hell, we spend more time together than most married couples. I feel like I know her inside and out. She grew up in a big family with a bunch of sisters and a couple of brothers. They all frolicked and played, enticing men and women to abandon their responsibilities. Lisa did too, at least for a little while. She tired of being interchangeable. She also tired of no one seeing her for who she was, and only seeing that typecast character of a nymph. She wanted more and she went out and got it. I admire her tenacity.”

“Oh,” Griff said softly. “I didn’t know.”

“Now you do, so can I please have the card? I’m serious about her Griff, and I’m past the point of caring what will happen. I need to tell her before I go insane. I can figure out what to do next depending on her reaction. But I swear, deep down I know it’ll be good.”

Griff let go of the card they’d held between them. Jack quickly scanned it to see what it was all about. In bold black lettering it read:

 

Your Fate is in your hand

Chloe: 699-3283

 

Jack flipped the card over. There wasn’t anything on the back. “You say Mrs. French gave this to you? Where’d she get it?”

Griff shrugged and slouched in the chair. “I was walking by when she stopped me and handed me the card.”

Jack hit the speaker button on his phone. “Mrs. French, could I see you a moment?”

There was no reply, so he tried again. “Mrs. French?” An uneasy feeling started in the pit of Jack’s stomach. Before he could stand and check on his temporary assistant, Griff got to his feet.

“I’ll check on her. You give that number a call. I just want you to be happy.” He left, closing the door behind him.

Jack tapped the card on the desk, stalling. Too many thoughts bombarded him. The card could be a joke. The number on it a scam of some sort. The worst that could happen was someone would be sitting back laughing at him for falling for a prank. But how did Mrs. French know he was trying to get into Satyr? He hadn’t said anything to her, and he didn’t think Griff had either. They kept their conversations about the place confined to the office.

But what if the person on the other end of the line could get him in? What if Chloe knew the answer to what he most wanted?

There was only one way to find out.

Picking up the receiver, he punched the speaker button and dialed the number. A woman with a husky voice answered after the first ring.

“It took you long enough,” she said, irritation lacing her voice.

“Um, my assistant, well temporary assistant, wait—who is this, and do you know who I am?”

“You dialed me Jack, so you know who I am.”

“You’re Chloe?” How the hell did she know who he was?
Caller ID maybe.

“Yes and to answer your question, I have my ways and, no, it isn’t caller ID. Whatever that is. Let’s get down to business. I have things to do today that do not involve talking on this…thing.”

“My temporary assistant gave me your card and said you might be able to help me get into Satyr.”

“My dear human, she did no such thing. She gave the card to your cute friend and told
him
I could help you.”

“Same difference.”

She sighed heavily. “The one you seek is at Satyr. She is checked in for the week. Your Mystic blood is too weak to gain you entrance. The research team won’t be able to verify your loose connection.”

“Then you can’t help me,” he interrupted, aggravated by the conversation already.

“You humans have no patience,” she bit out.

The line went dead and Jack was left holding the receiver in his hand. He was staring dumbly at it when a warm swirl of air spread through his office. It flowed around him, licking at the exposed skin of his arms, up his neck, and fluttering over his face. His vision turned fuzzy, and he blinked rapidly to clear it, but to no avail. When it finally did clear, there was a tall, statuesque woman and a mountain of a man standing before him.

Jack jumped from his seat, stumbling back in surprise. He dropped the phone and nearly tripped over his chair. “What the
fuck
?”

“Watch your tongue,” the man snarled, his dark eyebrow lifting in warning.

“Who the hell are you two?”

The woman laughed. “Not from Hell, Jack. Not even close.” She turned to the man next to her. “Is he one of yours, Gabriel?”

The man, Gabriel, focused dark eyes on him, giving Jack the feeling he was being judged. He stood rooted in place, the weight of the scrutiny keeping him from moving. After moments of intense visual inspection, Gabriel came around the desk and grabbed Jack’s right arm. He shoved the shirtsleeve up further, revealing the spear-shaped birthmark on the inside of his bicep.

Gabriel nodded sharply and let go, stepping back to Chloe’s side. “He is. He bears my mark.”

“So reckless, Gabriel. I wonder what the others would say,” she chided.

Gabriel’s deep chuckle filled the room. “Nothing. I have done nothing they haven’t. How do you think we keep our ranks strong? This one’s blood is very diluted. His ancestors didn’t take advantage of the gift they were given.”

Chloe rolled her deep brown eyes. Her lush mouth curved into a wicked grin. “Give him what he needs so he can go after the woman he loves,” she instructed.

“You have approval?” Gabriel questioned.

Jack had no idea what they were talking about or whom they really were. A thick current of power and energy flowed around them; suggesting they were more than the typical Mystic he’d run across over the years. The urge to bow before them pressed down hard, but he resisted—barely.

“I don’t need approval, Gabriel. Do not forget it was I who brought Thane back into the fold with his lovely Eternal Amara. It is time for you to repay my generosity. I shall consider the debt paid and not bother you again—unless I feel a need.” She purred the words at the end and a bolt of sexual tension shot through the air, charging the room.

“You play a dangerous game, Chloe.” Gideon’s lips curved into a wicked grin. “I wholly approve. If you win this bet, and after you’ve had your fun with Eros, come find me and see what it is like to be with a Great Watcher.”

Chloe laughed and as quickly as the lust filled the office, it dissipated. “I may take you up on that. Now do get on with it.”

“As you wish.” Gideon produced a small vial filled with dark pink liquid from the inside of his long jacket. Uncorking it, he handed it to Jack. “Drink this,” the man commanded, a heavy energy pressing him to comply.

Jack took the vial without thought and tossed it back. Whatever he’d just drank was thick and sweet. It raced down his throat, turning into a ball of flame in his stomach before spreading through his limbs. The birthmark on his bicep burned. It was as if a hot branding iron was pressed against him, searing his skin. “Holy shit,” he gasped, tossing the vial on the desk. He pushed his sleeve up and what was once a pink-tinged mark was now a filigreed black spear with a pair of angel wings behind it. “What just happened? What did I just agree to?”

Chloe’s husky laughter caressed his ears. “You probably should have asked before drinking the ambrosia. There’s no turning back now, my dear Jack.”

“Welcome to the fold,” Gideon drawled. “The weak Mystic blood in your body has been strengthened ten fold. Your lifespan is increased and, while you aren’t immortal, you will thrive as long as you are with your nymph. That is if you can capture her attention. I’ve heard the word has gone out in Satyr that a bottled-up nymph is on the prowl. She’ll be in high demand, if she so chooses.”

Jack’s eyes narrowed as rage filled him. “She’ll do no such thing,” he growled.

“I suggest you go to her then,” Chloe said. “You will get immediate access when you show them the Mark of Gabriel on your arm. Good luck, Jack. You have until the end of the month to secure her love. I would hate for you to let me down. There’s no telling what would happen to you then.” The words sounded like a warning, a threat if he didn’t get Lisa’s affection. He wasn’t worried though. Lisa would be his by the end of the week.

The couple disappeared right before his eyes. The odd warmth and disturbed vision returning to normal as they vanished.

Body numb, he fell into his chair, his mind reeling from what had just taken place. He buzzed his assistant, hoping like hell she would answer him.

“Mrs. French?”

“Yes, Mr. Morgan.”

“Have Griff come to my office then join me, please.”

“Of course, Mr. Morgan,” she responded through the speaker. A couple of minutes later, she walked through the door, followed by his friend.

Hands clasped in front of her, head tipped up a notch, Jack studied the woman. There was a regal air to her. He’d noticed it before, but didn’t think anything of it. Wisdom and intellect reflected in her grey-blue eyes. A nudge of awareness filtered into his overwhelmed brain. She wasn’t human.

“Did you know what would happen when I called that number, Mrs. French?”

Her eyebrow arched. “I had an idea, Mr. Morgan.” Par for the course, she didn’t elaborate.

He motioned to the seat in front of his desk. “Would you mind telling me?”

With poise and grace, she sat in the chair, smoothing out her skirt before making eye contact with him. “The number I gave you was to help you in your quest to capture the nymph. I assumed when you called, Chloe would tell you how to go about it.”

BOOK: Lisa: April (Mystic Zodiac Book 4)
3.76Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Other books

On the Brink by Henry M. Paulson
Widow Basquiat by Jennifer Clement
Dead Sea by Curran, Tim
The Seven Towers by Patricia C. Wrede
Across Carina by Kelsey Hall
Scorching Desire by Mari Carr