Scarlet Masquerade (28 page)

Selene wished she could relax, but she knew well enough that De Marcus would eventually escape his confines. It was only a matter of time. Hopefully, it would give A.J. the time she needed. Selene rubbed her arm again as the bite throbbed with each beat of her heart. The rush she felt was starting to wear off and she was feeling hung-over. A flick of her hand opened her cell phone and she hit speed dial.

“Hey. We need to talk.” Selene rolled her neck and felt a kink work its way out with a pop. “Yeah, I’ll see you in about an hour. I need to stop home and take a quick shower and grab something to eat.” She paused, listening to the voice on the other end. “Fine, I’ll see you in the morning.” Looking down at her watch, she saw that dawn would come in about four hours. Enough time to catch a quick cat nap or maybe a little entertainment, if she was lucky. Closing the phone she looked around at the partygoers who were starting to leave.

I haven’t seen that much brocade in a long time.
She shuddered as a rotund man jiggled past her.
Yuk!

A.J. tossed the cell phone on the bar and walked over to the huge windows that looked over the city. Bracing her arm against the cold glass, she welcomed the cool sensation as it stroked her body. Looking out without really seeing, she tried to weave each thread of the night’s events back into a fabric she could understand. In only a matter of hours she had gone from elation to devastation and back to elation. No, elation wasn’t the right word, as she looked for a word that would describe what had just happened between her and Clarissa. She played out the events of the night in her mind. She remembered the look on Clarissa’s face when she revealed herself. Fear, no anger. At least that’s how A.J. felt. It wasn’t exactly the homecoming she had hoped for. Then she thought about how devastated she was when Clarissa had accused her of killing her family. How could Clarissa even think she would do something so vile, so spiteful? Whatever A.J. had been through in the past century was nothing compared to what Clarissa had gone through. A.J. had made her peace with Clarissa’s death, coming to terms with the fact that she would never have another meaningful relationship, ever. She wouldn’t put herself through that pain again. But Clarissa had carried the pain of her family’s death with her every minute of every day, and she had blamed A.J. The fact that De Marcus had planted such a poisonous seed in Clarissa showed how evil he was. He knew she would never seek A.J. out, ever. His secrets would be safe and A.J. would never know Clarissa was still alive. But he had planned for even that possibility by planting Kevin within her organization. He had thought of almost everything. Now, she needed to be just as vengeful. A.J. knew what she had to do with Kevin and if she was lucky he would lead her right to De Marcus. Death was too good for De Marcus, she reasoned. She wished she could make him suffer the way he had made Clarissa suffer all these decades.

Walking back into her bedroom, she leaned against the door jam and watched Clarissa sleep. She smiled at the vision before her. She felt like she should be pinching herself to make sure it was real. A.J. had lost hope of ever finding love again. Not only had she found love, but she had found it with the one woman in the world who had set the sun for her so many centuries ago. Clarissa stirred. A.J. knew she would wake soon so she climbed in beside her and snuggled against the warm back.

“You have a heated blanket, too,” Clarissa murmured as she turned into A.J.

“Uh huh,” A.J. whispered into the head that lay on her breast. “You, too?”

“Yep. I love it.” Clarissa said, looking up. “So what now?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well…” looking sheepishly at A.J., Clarissa caressed the warming body beneath her. “Where do we go from here?”

A.J. hesitated, rolled Clarissa on her back and kissed her lover before she answered. “Where do you want to go from here?”

“Honestly?”

“Yes, honestly.” A.J. felt her heartbeat speed up at the answer she knew was coming. She steeled her body from reacting as she watched Clarissa fidget with her bottom lip.

“I need to take care of my cat, Nefertiti.” Clarissa smiled at A.J.’s surprised look.

“You need to take care of your cat?”

Cocking her head to the side she smirked, “What did you think I was going to say?”

“Well,” A.J. smiled, relieved that she hadn’t heard something that would damn her soul to an eternity of hell. “Honesty again, right?”Clarissa nodded. “I thought you might run. I thought you would still blame me for the death of your family.”

A.J. watched as Clarissa closed her eyes and laid her head on A.J.’s breast. A.J.’s fear was palpable and she knew it. But they had to address the issues at hand, otherwise they would either be working at cross purposes or they would continue a circular conversation. Forward was the only direction they could take at this point.

Running her fingers through the soft locks of hair, A.J. tried to relax as she thought about the conversation they needed to have. The intimacy that they were sharing was hopefully laying the foundation for what would be the start of their relationship. What she now had with Clarissa she would never have with anyone else, ever, and she didn’t want there to be any secrets between them. Pulling Clarissa tighter to her, she cleared her throat and started what A.J. hoped would be a clearing of the air between them.

“Clarissa, I hope you believe me when I say I didn’t kill your family?”

Clarissa nodded her head, but didn’t look up.

“Look at me and say that. Please.”

Clarissa rose from A.J. and sat crossed legged in front of her. Pulling a blanket around her nakedness, Clarissa kept her eyes down as she picked at something on the blanket.

“If you can’t look at me and tell me you believe me…then we can’t be together.” A.J. threw the half-hearted ultimatum out. Sitting up, she faced Clarissa not bothering to cover her own nakedness. Waiting, she stopped Clarissa’s fidgeting by placing her hand over Clarissa’s.

“It’s not that at all, Alexandra. I’m ashamed of myself. I’m ashamed to say that I believed a man who beat me, betrayed me and then left me to survive on my own. I carried his lie closer to my heart than your love for me. I’m ashamed to say that I survived not by being mad at him, but by thinking of revenge on you.” Grabbing A.J.’s hands, Clarissa continued her explanation, “How can I look at you now and not hate myself for what I knew was a lie, even then?”

“Please, my love, don’t let this tear at your heart.” A.J. wiped a tear from Clarissa’s face that had started what would be a journey for many more. “It’s in the past, and we should leave it there.”

Grabbing A.J.’s hand, Clarissa placed a kiss on the palm then turned it over and placed kisses on the back before placing it on her chest, over her heart. A.J got up and wrapped herself around her lover, pulling her onto her lap.

“We’ll work through this, but only if you choose to be with me. Otherwise—”

Clarissa placed a finger on A.J.’s lips, stopping her from continuing.

“We are bonded together, our souls are one now. To lose you would be like losing my arm. While I could live without it, it would be difficult and I don’t plan on living like that. Do you?”

A.J. pulled Clarissa closer, and whispered, “No. You have filled my heart beyond words.”

A.J. hoped that when she told Clarissa what she had to do next, it wouldn’t change her mind about her. They would never be free if she didn’t take care of her business with Kevin and De Marcus and time wasn’t their friend. The sooner she did it the quicker they could get on with their lives. But before she did that, she needed a few things settled between them.

“Clarissa, I have business I need to take care of and I want to be honest with you. Kevin has betrayed me and I need to handle it.” A.J. continued to caress Clarissa’s back as she spoke. “I’m not sure what will happen, but I won’t lie and say there isn’t a possibility that he could die today. It’s up to him.”

Looking down into Clarissa’s eyes she didn’t see fear or judgment, only sadness. If there was a different path, A.J. would be the first one to take it. However, Kevin had made his choice and set his path when he decided to work for De Marcus. It was set and it left A.J. with few options. Her reputation in the Coven would be compromised if she didn’t make him pay for his actions. As for De Marcus, his path was set the minute he changed Clarissa. His future only held death, his own.

“Selene will be here in the morning. I think we should talk about what will happen in the then. Don’t you?”

A soft caress told A.J. that whatever happened, their future was cemented together. A.J. explained the twisted path her life had taken since she had seen Clarissa in the bar weeks ago. Telling the story only made A.J. madder as she pieced together all the deceit that had taken place right under nose. Kevin had played on her trust and made himself invaluable. A slow process to be sure, but to a vampire who had forever, it was just a grain of sand in the large hour glass. A.J. explained that Kevin was being held at Knight-Pharmaceutical. She was sure by now he had an idea of what was happening, but in a few hours he would know his fate. Watchful eyes held A.J.’s as she explained what she had to do next.

“I hope you’ll understand why I have to do this.” A.J. looked down at their hands hoping Clarissa would never have blood on hers.

“Alexandra, I spent a century judging you only to find out I was wrong. I have to trust your judgment on this. If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be alive right now.” Clarissa kissed A.J. again, but this time she lingered hoping they could have a few more hours together as they waited for Selene. “Have I told you how beautiful you still are? I’m so glad you haven’t changed. I often dreamed about you.” A finger trailed down A.J.’s arm, reignited the smoldering fire that had been banked. “Your soft skin, that sexy smile you have when you look at me.” A.J. couldn’t help herself but smile as she looked at Clarissa. “That one, that sexy pout you have when you’re trying to be tough.”

Fingertips grazed across A.J.’s bare breast and her nipples puckered immediately. A tingle shot through her body as she tried to control her breathing. Closing her eyes, A.J. felt her lover palm her breasts as nipples hardened with the lingering touch. Pulling Clarissa on top of her, A.J. laid back down on the bed. Clarissa’s body easily slid against her own taunt muscles, the movement so sensual. A.J. ran her hands over the soft curves of her lover’s body, memorizing them again for the second time that night. She wanted to explore every inch of Clarissa’s body like a sculptor memorizes their work of art. Slowly, deliberately, she felt each contour, every muscle as it tightened with pleasure. She continued to follow every curve as it led to the next sensual spot. Clarissa rubbed herself against A.J.’s body, the way water flows around a reed, gently bending around the reed as it makes it journey.

A.J. felt herself balancing precariously on the edge of the abyss again ready to tumble back into the enveloping warmth, but this time she would take a companion on her journey. Sharp nails made small strokes down Clarissa’s back, blood barely coloring the flesh. Arching her body into A.J.’s, Clarissa’s moan slowly worked its way into a growl as she shuddered against A.J. A firm ass pushed up and gave A.J. just enough room to slide her hand between Clarissa’s legs. Her clit wasn’t hard to find. The engorged clit stood out between her silky, soft lips, begging to be stroked. Desire flooded A.J.’s body and she was sure the minute Clarissa climaxed, she would, too. Gently, her thumb pushed the hood back as she stroked Clarissa’s clit. A.J.’s body jerked with each stroke and soon she could feel Clarissa’s wetness all over her fingers. It was just the invitation she needed. Stroking the clit one last time, she slid two fingers into Clarissa, who was now pleading for relief. Her own need ran parallel to Clarissa’s, matching her shudder for shudder, breath for breath. She pulled Clarissa’s head to her and buried her tongue deep into the wanting mouth. Her fingers slid deep at the same time her body jerked and strained against the onslaught of Clarissa’s orgasm. Pumping into her lover, A.J. slowed her hand to a rhythmic tempo that matched her own need. Falling back, she pulled Clarissa into the dark abyss as she climaxed again and again. Her tongue tasting her own essence from their earlier love making further pushed A.J. into contentment. A.J. felt Clarissa jerk one final time and then dissolve into a heap on top of her.

A long, slow sigh released the last of the tension from A.J.’s body. How had her life changed so completely in just a few short days? Decades of torment dissolved into the fabric of the past, becoming stains, the only reminder they had been there.

Peeling her costume off, Selene stepped into the streaming shower hoping to wash the last few days’ events from her mind, as well as her skin. She stood under the steady stream of hot water, letting the shower’s hot pulses punish her body and take over her thoughts. What she wanted now was a clean slate but she knew that wouldn’t be possible. Killing was easy. It shouldn’t be, but sometimes things had to be done. So maybe a clean slate wasn’t possible. She would have to settle for a new chapter then, slipping the last few days into a box, which she tucked away in the recesses of her mind. Selene knew that she would never leave the job half done and right now De Marcus was unfinished business she and A.J. needed to have a conversation about. Grabbing a soft towel she wiped the mirror and looked at her reflection. She had fallen into the life of an assassin quite by accident. One minute she was enjoying life in the town called Jamestown, the next she was a ruthless killer. Hearing Clarissa accuse A.J. of murdering her family brought back Selene’s own murderous rage. She tried to never think of her family, the pain too great. But Selene’s mind wandered back to the night that would change her life, literally forever.

Selene begged her father for the opportunity to go to college, unheard of at the time, but her father had resources and money wasn’t an issue. So she attended college, preferring her studies to marriage. She had convinced her father that she would be an asset to any man after she completed her studies. Eventually men stopped calling and Selene was able to finish and work in the family business. As America grew her father thought a new start, in a new land would bring great opportunities. So, she had come to America with her family for a new beginning. They had barely finished the modest home they lived in when a traveler came by one night and asked her father for lodging. He had offered their barn to the dashing young man, telling him that with a house full of women, it was the best he could offer.