Born Again (3 page)

He closed his eyes, concentrating on not losing it in his
pants like a teenager. Christ, he couldn’t even remember being a teen, it had
been so long ago.

Without the visual stimulating him, he breathed deeply,
taking in the scent of rich rain.

She whimpered for him. “Please, please. Take it.” She tilted
her pelvis, lifting her tiny clit up into the air.

He delved between her legs, his tongue tasting eagerly. The
slick sweetness of his Sara, tempered by something else.

His mortal enemy, Beauregard. The rich, earthy smell of
wolf.

Sara threw her head back and moaned, exposing the column of
her throat and suddenly there was just Sara, just her scent, none of Beau’s
mattered.

He heard a roar in his head. Blood, rushing beneath her
skin, warm and luscious and filled with the lust he wanted to explode in his
mouth.

There was nothing in the world like arousing a woman and
feeding on the desire-filled blood rushing through her veins.

She wouldn’t remember this encounter, but a portion of her
would be his.

He nibbled on her engorged clitoris and knew by her racing,
thunderous heartbeat that she was about to go over.

Her waves of ecstasy began and she caught her breath on the
inhalation, then she screamed when it hit.

Aric sucked her clit hard and midway through her orgasm,
turned his head to her femoral artery and sank his fangs deep.

It was like coming home. Heaven. Pure essence of Sara, after
all these years of searching.

Sara felt white-hot lust explode from her groin, almost as
if Aric bit her, but there was no time to think about it further because she
was sucked up out of her body.

Oh, no. Not again. Not now, not during this moment.

Her consciousness slammed back into another feminine body,
but wait. It was Aric still, Aric who was rubbing the pale slender arms, Aric
who was kissing her breasts. She left her own sexual experience with him only
to dream of an encounter with him and someone else?

But it felt so real, big strong hands stroking her heated,
frantic body. Was it her body, or was it the previous, redheaded woman?

Once again, smoke clouded her vision of the man’s face, but
she knew he was gorgeous. She knew he was familiar, but whether it was her
realizing it or the other woman, she had no idea. Was it even really Aric, or
had her mind just connected him into the viewing somehow?

This was the second episode she had regarding the redheaded
woman making love with someone. A different man this time, much like Sara’s
situation. Maybe it was just her own experiences bringing it on.

She’d never had many relationships. Being psychic usually
put a halt to that. It was never pleasant when you could feel negative emotions
emanating from someone, knowing they were fucking you as a piece of ass and
nothing else. Suddenly, she had two gorgeous men interested in her, with no
feelings of being used.

But why was she linked to that woman, anyway? Had her
psychic powers evolved to contacting the dead? Was the woman trying to use her
to complete some sort of unfinished business?

She hoped her powers weren’t evolving. It was difficult
enough to be different and she liked them just as they were, a tidy little
money maker, nothing more.

She didn’t want to see “dead people”, that’s for sure.

Then she felt Aric rise from her groin, fumble slightly with
a condom, and then slam into her with one smooth move. She didn’t know if it
was Aric riding her, or if he rode the gorgeous redheaded woman instead, but it
felt so real, as if she were there in either case. Beautifully lean hips ground
into her, pressing deeply, riding her to his own completion like a jackhammer
pounding the pavement. In and out, over and over, thrust and release.

Her orgasm had just been seconds earlier from the warmth of
his mouth, she was still quivering from the aftershocks when a new, powerful
one hit again from the feel of his masterful cock slamming into her.

Another scream released from her throat and this climax
nearly ripped her in two, curling from her toes and touching every cell in her
body as it exploded, like lightning behind her eyes, shutting everything down.

* * * * *

Sara awoke to see pale green eyes fringed with thick black
lashes staring worriedly at her. God, he was beautiful.

“What happened?” she asked. She looked around. They were
fully dressed on the couch they’d been sitting on. It must have all been a
dream, or another psychic episode.

“You passed out. Are you all right?”

Sudden embarrassment hit her. “Oh. Yeah. I just have these
little blackouts every now and then.”

Sara was very aware of how people’s faces changed when she
mentioned that she read tarot cards and sometimes drifted from her body. She
wasn’t about to appear crazy in front of Aric by admitting how far her episodes
reached.

“Stay the night, Sara. I’m worried about you.”

“I can’t. I don’t have anything with me.”

“I’ll get you something. Francesca can bring something with
her. I don’t think you should be alone in your apartment…”

Sara laughed. “I’ve been alone a very long time, Aric.”

His face looked sad for a moment and she stroked his cheek. Her
finger made a rasping sound against the stubble and she wondered what he was
thinking. “Truth is, I met you just today. This is moving way too fast. I can’t
spend the night with you.”

She knew what would happen if she agreed to spend the night
and she’d already done that recently with someone else, hadn’t she?

“Life is short, Sara. Why not grab it?”

“It’s just not done.”

“What are you afraid of, sweetheart? Are you worried about
what others will say?”

“It’s just ingrained. You don’t move that quickly. I can’t.”

“We can do anything we want. It’s between you and me,” he
said.

And Beau
, she thought.
Beau is between us
.
Perhaps she should say something, but she couldn’t. Not now.

“I really do need to go.”

He gave in gracefully and helped her to her feet.

“Come, I’ll drive you back.”

Just then, her eyes saw something that caught the light and
sparkled on the polished floor.

A tiny pearl button.

The last one from her blouse.

The rain fell again. Sara closed her umbrella once she was
inside the warm, dry entrance of her apartment building.

“Sara,” called a whining voice that unfortunately she knew
all too well.

She schooled her features before Mattie Webb approached,
using her emotionless, nonjudgmental psychic face.

“What happened the other night?” Mattie demanded. “You went
into this crazy trance and it went on and on. I finally left.”

“Geez, so nice of you to not check and make sure it wasn’t a
seizure.”

Mattie flushed. “I’m not a nurse. I want my money back.”

“Why? I did your reading. It’s not my fault you left and
didn’t hear it.”

Mattie’s mouth dropped. “You little bitch. There’s a better
psychic in town anyway.”

“Great. Go find him.”

Mattie turned on her heel and stomped off and Sara shook the
last droplets of moisture off before heading up to the elevators herself.

She showered to get ready for her dinner with Beau. It was
early, but at least she wouldn’t be running behind. Once she was warm and dry
again, Sara decided to light a few candles and finish the psychic reading she’d
started for Mattie. She still had Mattie’s personal information, after all.

Maybe it would just be better to finish and pass it along in
a friendly manner, than to make a bitter enemy of her. Not that she could avoid
Mattie’s mood swings, but it was the right thing to do.

The candles lit, Sara reached for the same tarot cards she
had used that night. She loved this deck. It was a closed deck, meaning that it
had never been touched by another’s hands. It was hers alone, a precious link
to another realm.

They were beautiful cards, if unconventional. Each one had
an image of a woman on it, a goddess of dreams, representing different elements
of the tarot. And somehow the cards connected with her, sending her off into
her own imaginings during a reading. Funny thing was, the cards were relatively
new, but Sara couldn’t remember where she picked them up.

She flipped over her cards and there was the one. The
red-haired female. She flipped two more and placed the cards next to her, a
dark man and one of light. Funny, she’d never noticed men on the cards before.

And then the wooziness hit.

The woman was brushing her hair in a mirror. But, instead of
someone else, her own eyes looked back at her in the reflection. Once again,
she’d been zapped into Serra’s life.

As she put down the brush, Sara saw a letter on the dressing
table before her. She reached for it, opening it slowly, dreading the contents.

Serra
, it read.
I hear you made the decision to
wed
.
I
’
m ecstatic at the news
,
of course
.
But are
you sure it is what you are ready for
?
Your life was dedicated elsewhere
.
You know it
’
s not an easy road you choose
.
I will support you in
either choice you make
,
you know that
.

All my love
,

F
.

Hmm. So this Serra was to get married. Perhaps to the
unconventional man that Sara felt was “different”? And what of the woman’s
other lover?

It was such a puzzle to figure out.

Sara turned the letter over and was surprised to see a
response already written on the back.

My dearest friend
,

I love them both
,
you know how much
.
Marriage will tie me to him as much as I am connected with the other
.
Will they be angered
?
Of course
.
Please try not to pick favorites
,
for I could never choose just one
.
I would die before choosing
.

Yours truly
,

Serra

Sara turned to look about the room. It was bare, sparsely
furnished. She felt her soul being sucked from the body already, so she
hurried, wanting to see as much as possible before she was forced away with the
ringing in her head.

The last thing she saw was the crucifix over the doorway.

* * * * *

The shrill ring of the telephone zapped her back
prematurely. She rolled her eyes wryly at it, but it was her own fault for
forgetting to turn off the ringer.

“Hello?”

“Where’ve you been? I didn’t get to talk to you today. I
called, but they said you were pretty busy and would call me back,” Beau said,
his voice rich and husky.

She’d never gotten a message at work and wondered who’d
fielded it. Probably Mike.

“I’m sorry I didn’t call you. It was actually slow today
with all the rain, so I would have, but I never got the message.”

His voice was warm, as if the worry eased when she said she
would have certainly returned his call. “Just as well you didn’t, I guess. I
would have just lain in bed and had you talk dirty to me.”

“Beau!” she laughed.

“Sara!” he mocked back. “Don’t tell me you’ve never tried
it.”

“No, I’ve never tried that. And I’m not going to, so don’t
even start.”

“We’ll see, baby. Are you ready now? What are you wearing?”

“Yes, fully dressed and made up. A pantsuit tonight, I might
get chilly with the rain.”

He chuckled. “This may take some practice. You’re supposed
to say something naughty. Describe something sheer, or black leather or lace. That’s
how phone sex starts.”

She rose to his teasing. “Why have phone sex when we can see
each other in person?”

He sucked in his breath, quiet for a moment. “You don’t play
right,” he sulked.

She laughed again. “Are you rushing over? I’ll wait
downstairs so you don’t jump me. We don’t want to skip our reservations, ‘cause
I starved all day for this.”

“I’ll be right there, baby.”

Her stomach tightened. That endearment was so sexy the way
it rolled off his tongue.

Leaving her cards splayed on the table, she grabbed her
trench coat and purse and headed downstairs.

He’d just entered the building and she realized he’d called
her from his car outside. She was before him in an instant.

He was magnificent. His shoulders were so broad, it looked
as though the turtleneck he wore had to be specially made to fit the width of
him.

The gray dress slacks he wore did nothing to hide the huge
columns of thigh muscles beneath them. Sara had a brief moment of wondering
what it would be like to run her tongue along those thighs.

His eyes glittered blue, sparkling against the tan of his
skin when he took in the sight of her.

“Hi,” she said, raising her arms to place possessively
around his neck, because right now, in this moment, he was hers. It felt so
right, as though they belonged there forever. As though they’d been together
for years instead of just meeting. The same feeling she had with Aric, although
she was more cautious with him since she was already sleeping with Beau.

“Hi,” he growled back. “I missed you.”

“Is that why your voice is all deep and gravelly?”

“Is it deep and gravelly? ‘Cause husky sounds sexier.”

“Deep is very sexy,” she said, kissing him lightly.

“My car’s running, baby. Let’s go.”

She turned away from him, but he pulled her close with an
arm around her waist.

They walked outside and she briefly wondered how his car
could possibly still be there when he’d left it unlocked and running. No one
was near his expensive car, however, as if they sensed that Beau was larger
than life and it was best to leave his property alone.

He held the car door open and she sat inside while he came
around the driver’s side.

He clasped her hand in his and drove with his left.

“Where are we going to eat?” she asked.

“Posh little place.”

“I’m not dressed for posh.”

He grinned. “You look fine, baby. But if you’re
uncomfortable with your clothes, you could always take them off.”

She almost riled up at his teasing until she realized he was
trying to get a rise out of her. She leaned back against the seat instead.

“That might be kind of fun. In a kinky sort of way. To
arrive naked, holding on to your arm, attracting all kinds of attention, male
attention. I can just imagine their faces as all eyes focus on me…”

“No one’s seeing you naked,” he growled.

She laughed and he realized his mistake.

“Minx.”

They walked into the restaurant and Sara was very aware of
how much attention Beau commanded. And why not? Not only was he rich and
handsome, but he looked like walking sex. She felt like snarling at a woman who
let her eyes follow him scandalously. He was also fun to be with and…she couldn’t
stand to be without him, she realized.

Geez, she’d fallen for him fast and hard. Too fast.

While they were seated and had dinner, she tried to think of
Aric. If she couldn’t conjure up his image while with Beau, she’d know which
one to date.

Aric’s face came easily to mind. The opposite of Beau’s,
except for the clear, pale eyes mimicked in green instead of blue. His hair
dark and gleaming, his skin pale instead of tanned and a hint of sexy shadow on
his cheeks and jaw. Still just as beautiful and just as desirable.

Okay, personality-wise, which one did she enjoy more? The
fun, down-to-earth Beau? Who was extremely powerful and masterful in the
bedroom?

Or the seductive quality of Aric? Who was also erotic in her
dreams? Should she hop into bed with Aric so she could compare the two? It wasn’t
fair otherwise.

That would help her with her decision. Or, she could just
continue to date both.

Sara sat a little straighter. That was it. Why not? Men
dated multiple women all the time. She could see each one on different days. She
slumped down again. What if they found out?

Beau was a meat-eater and ordered his food rare. Sara had
that much in common with him. She ordered the beef also and surely was mistaken
when she thought Beau’s eyes glowed with pleasure.

“What do you do for a living?” she asked him while they ate.

“Mechanical engineer. I like to work with my hands.” He
flashed a smile at her. “What do you want from our relationship, Sara?”

“I honestly have no idea. I didn’t plan on meeting anyone.”

“Since this relationship is moving along the way I like it, at
the speed of light, keep in mind that I’d like you to move in with me one day
soon. Have you to myself.”

Sara’s mouth dropped. “Your relationships always move along
this quickly?”

“No. Not like you.”

“You’d grow bored with me within a week.” It was too soon,
he didn’t know her. It couldn’t possibly work out.

His eyes flashed and he sounded serious when he spoke. “Never.”

“Just the same, I think I’ll stay in my own apartment for a
while. Working at my own job.”

“How satisfying is your job?”

Sara shrugged. “It pays the rent.” Barely. “Like any job,
there are people I enjoy and people I don’t. It works for now.”

“Should you want a change, I want you to know I’m open and
amenable for it. I have a lot of contacts, I could help you move on.”

She smiled at him. “I’ll keep it in mind.”

And then she wondered if he wanted to help her, or keep her
under his thumb. She was being silly, she chided her suspicious self.

They were the last ones in the restaurant. Sara looked
around, surprised. Time had passed so quickly, she wasn’t even aware of it.

“I guess we should get going?” Beau asked, noticing her glance
around the room.

“Not fair to keep them open all night for us,” she agreed.

Beau paid the bill and she didn’t try to peek at how much it
was, although she was curious.

“I could give you an allowance,” he mentioned slowly.

“No way. I’m sleeping with you. It’d be like prostitution.”

“It’s never like that with us. We have an unconventional
relationship that doesn’t conform to anyone else’s rules. I need you to come to
me if you need anything.”

She was going to need more clothes soon if she kept up her
constant dating, but there was no way she was mentioning that. She’d just
admitted it to herself and that was difficult. Explaining the situation to Aric
and Beau would be damn near impossible.

They arrived at his car and once seated, he turned to her. “Where
to?”

“It’s late. My place.”

Instead of driving her directly home, he drove to a secluded
lot across from her apartment and parked, then pulled her into his arms.

“All night long, I sat across from you and wanted this,” he
murmured, his lips settling onto hers.

They made out like teenagers for long minutes and when she
pulled away to string kisses along his jaw, she was surprised to see the steamy
car windows.

Her mouth was at his neck and she tenderly sucked at it.

Beau groaned. “Just a little harder, baby. Oh, that’s it
exactly. You’ll drive me wild,” he warned.

She pulled back with a smile. “Maybe we should leave our
dating for weekends only?”

“Absolutely not. I want weeknights and weekends and any days
off. But if we don’t stop, I’ll take you in the front seat of my car.”

Sara straightened her rumpled clothing while he got out of
the car and stretched, making his way around to her side.

Taking her arm possessively, he walked her into the front of
the building, the same area where he’d picked her up.

“Do you have to work tomorrow?” he asked. “Can you play
hooky?” He hauled her up close to him, so she could feel the erection that
still throbbed within.

“I can’t.” Her tone was truly sorrowful. “How would I make
rent?”

“I’ll pay it.”

She turned horrified eyes to him. “You can’t pay my rent.” Was
he really offering? What was it about?

“I just want some time with you.”

“You had time with me.”