The Man In The Mirror (4 page)

Jo Barrett

know this is difficult, it is for me as well, but I am real and I am here.”

She shook her head. “How? How did it happen?”

He closed his eyes and brought her hands to his lips. “You happened, my love,” he murmured against her skin.

“This is crazy.” She jumped from her chair and marched into the living room.

He followed. “You freed me, Tori. It’s thanks to you that I am here. You wished me from the mirror.”

Shaking her head, she sank to the couch. “I don’t know if I can handle this.”

He sat down beside her with a sigh. “It will take some adjustment. And in time—” He stopped abruptly, dropping his chin to his chest, his gaze focused on her bare feet as she curled them beneath her.

She narrowed her eyes. “You’re not telling me something.”

His large tan hands pulled her feet into his lap. She tried to ignore how good it felt, the warmth of his body against her skin, and his subtle caresses.

“Tell me, Connor. Now.” Before she got too distracted and jumped him.

“You must know that I want you,” he said, his voice husky.

Oh gulp. That isn’t helping.
“Well, um, I guess that’s to be expected what with you being alone for two hundred years.”

He leaned close and held her chin, looking deep into her eyes. “You are a ten to me, Tori Fraser, never forget that.”

She groaned and pressed her heated cheek to the back of the couch. “You watched me primp every day, didn’t you?”

He chuckled. “That I did.”

She braved a look at him. “Any other humiliating things?”

“No. Nothing worth mentioning.” He leaned forward and brushed his lips over hers in a sweet caress. A breathy sigh slipped from her mouth.

As he slowly pulled away, she couldn’t contain her growl of disapproval.

He chuckled. “As much as I would like to continue this, I cannot. Not yet. We have much to discuss.”

With a huff, she sat back. “Explain.”

He ran his hand over the bottom of her foot, not meeting her gaze. “I may be forced to return to the mirror on the new moon.”

She pulled her foot from his touch and clutched a pillow to her breast.

“No,” she said, her voice tight. It wasn’t fair.

Why show her the man of her dreams in living breathing flesh only to take him away? Why were all the men in her life, the ones she cared about, always leaving? A tear spilled over the edge of her lashes.

“No, love. Don’t cry.” He pulled her into his lap. “It’s not for certain that I’ll leave.”

She blinked away her tears. “New rules?”

“Of a sort.” He kissed the tip of her nose then tucked her head beneath his chin. One of his large hands held her close, while the other rubbed her thigh.

“Go on,” she said, relishing his touch.

“There is something I must do, a task I must accomplish. If I succeed, I can stay and live out my life here. If not, I will return to the glass for eternity.”

She lifted her head from his shoulder.

“Okay, so what’s the task? Between the two of us, I’m sure we can handle it. We got you out of 27

Jo Barrett

the mirror, after all,” she said with forced bravado.

With a hoarse chuckle he stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers. “I love you. I love you more than anything in this world or the next.”

Her mouth fell open and she shook her head.

“But that’s not possible.”

“I believe you said that just last night. And yet, here I am,” he said, opening his arms wide.

“But—but—”

“I know for you it has been but a pair of days, yet I have known you for months, and have loved you from the moment I saw you gazing into the mirror. I don’t know why, or how, but I do.”

She sat stunned, unable to take it all in.

Tom couldn’t love her, so how could this beautiful man, a man who could have any woman he wanted?

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “You’re just saying that because—because you’re grateful that I wished you out of the mirror. And—and you haven’t had a woman in a long time.” She jumped to her feet, her legs quivering. “I don’t want any sort of thanks, if it’s all the same to you, verbal or—or carnal.”

“No, love. You must listen.” He reached for her and she backed away.

“No, I won’t.” She clasped her hands over her ears. “I don’t want to hear any more lies.

You’ll leave like he did. You’ll go back in the mirror or off with someone else, but you
will
leave.” She turned and ran into her room with every intent of slamming the door and throwing herself on her bed to cry until her throat was raw, but Connor refused to allow it.

Hands, strong yet gentle, spun her around and pressed her against his solid chest. His lips 28

The Man In The Mirror

touched her brow. “I love you, now and for always. I cannot say if I will be forced back into the mirror, but I will never leave you for another woman. If I am granted a life here with you, I will love you ‘til my dying breath.”

She tried to shake her head, but he held it firmly against his shoulder.

“Yes, Tori. It is the truth, and no matter how long or how hard you refuse to believe it, it will always be the truth.”

“No one has ever—”

“They have now.”

She lifted her face and looked deep into his eyes, searching for answers, seeking the truth, praying it was there. She hadn’t lied when she’d said she could love him. The way he spoke to soothe her when she cried in her wine the other night, the way he looked at her from the mirror with caring in his eyes, their simple talk at breakfast the morning before. All ordinary things, but for some reason those few stolen moments meant more to her than any date she’d ever had.

“I don’t want you to go.”

“Oh, love. The decision is still yours,” he said, cradling her face in his hands, their lips a breath apart.

“I don’t understand.”

He kissed her, a sweet teasing kiss that grew warmer with each passing second. His tongue stole into her mouth, and she was lost in the sweetest pleasure she’d ever known.

He pulled back just enough to speak. “The decision is yours, love.”

“I decide you stay,” she whispered.

He smiled against her lips. “I’m afraid it will take more than that.”

“Well,” she said, wrapping her arms around 29

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his neck and taking a few steps back, closer to the bed. “I suppose I could show you how much I want you to stay.”

“You’ve no idea how tempting you are.”

“So, what’s it going to take?” she asked with a huff. “Do I have to burn some candles and chant like a loon or something?” It wouldn’t be the first humiliating thing she’d ever done.

“It’s a simple thing, and yet it isn’t.”

She pulled away and crossed her arms. “I’m not fond of riddles, Connor. Spit it out.”

With a nod, he crossed to the window, his hands clasped behind his back. His voice low and soft, he said, “You have to love me with your whole heart.”

He had to be loved by her? It was almost too easy, and yet, she feared she wouldn’t be able to do it. She’d vowed to never give her whole heart again, not like she had to Tom. It hurt too much when he’d left.

Her gaze strayed to his rigid back. And Connor would leave. Wouldn’t he?

“I’ll try,” she heard herself say.

He turned to face her, a bittersweet smile on his face. “I know you will.”

She shook her head in disbelief. “You know too much about me, you know me too well.”

“As I said, I have had the pleasure of watching you for months. Now, you can get to know me.”

“Until the new moon.”

He nodded and took her hand, pulling her from the bedroom. “Let’s go get something to eat and plan the rest of our day together.”

She laughed. “I take it that it won’t be in bed.”

“I’m sorry for that. I cannot make love to you before your decision is made.”

“Ah,” she said, as he led her back to the kitchen. “I take it this has something to do with the seduction of the sea witch’s daughter and all that.”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Well, I’m hoping kisses don’t count.” She threw her arms around his neck, and laid one on him. He groaned long and hard, his arms wrapped around her, her hands clenched in his shirt.

They came up for air quite a while later.

“I’m glad you never brought a man home in my presence. The thought of you kissing anyone like that would’ve killed me for certain.”

Laughing, they turned to the task of preparing something to eat.

****

Her feelings for Connor had strengthened, but she couldn’t be sure if her whole heart was involved.

“I’m home,” she called out as she closed the front door.

“It’s about time,” he said, coming around the partition wall. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Everyday after work they would come together for long lengthy kisses, and everyday they got hotter and more dangerous.

She couldn’t stand much more of this, and knew he was at the end of his rope…and his time. It was the night of the new moon.

“I’ve made all your favorites,” he whispered against her lips.

With her working, and with nothing for him to do to pass the time, he decided to do all the cooking and shopping. It had been an experience, to say the least. She teased him, blaming his lack of food for two hundred years as 31

Jo Barrett

the cause, but he found he truly enjoyed the challenges preparing a superb meal presented.

She giggled and stole another kiss or two. “I have a house-husband in the making.”

“Husband,” he laughed. “I never thought the word would ever be applied to me.”

She started to pull away, her face flaming.

“Oh, I didn’t mean—”

“Easy, love.” He pulled her back into his arms and nipped at her neck, finding that wonderful spot behind her ear. “When this night is through, if all goes as I hope, I will be your husband. Make no mistake.”

Her heart seemed to grow too big for her chest. “You’d ask me to marry you?”

He looked down at her, his brow furrowed.

“Do you still not believe I love you?”

She caressed his cheek, relishing the feel of his clean-shaven face. He always shaved before she got home, claiming he didn’t want to leave burns on her delicate skin. He was always doing things like that, along with the cooking and shopping, she even caught him using the vacuum cleaner. A man like him, a hunk-of-the-month as Lynne called him, doing things like that for her seemed surreal. Everything about him seemed like a dream. A dream come true.

“I just feel like…like I don’t deserve you.”

“No, never say it, sweetness. You deserve so much more. I am the one who does not deserve you. Even if I am allowed to stay, all I can offer you is my own sorry self and some recently learned skills in the kitchen,” he said with a self-deprecating chuckle.

“I’m sure, with time, you’d find something to do.” He brushed his lips across hers. “I can think of all sorts of things.”

She giggled and swatted his shoulder. “You know what I mean.”

“Yes, I know,” he said with a chuckle. “But I’ve not wanted to think on it yet. I’d much rather occupy my thoughts with you.”

Oh, she loved him so much, but was it with her whole heart? Could they be together?

Would he leave her?

“Come, let’s eat.” He placed her purse on the small table in the foyer and pulled her into the kitchen.

They had a lovely meal, indeed, he had fixed all her favorites to perfection, but they spoke not a word about what was to come.

The dishes washed and dried, and put away, they settled in front of the television and watched some show or other. Tori couldn’t have said what, her mind was too occupied with the clock hand sitting minutes away from eleven, the time of the new moon.

“Connor, how will we know?”

“I suppose I will feel a pull toward the mirror, but I’m not certain.”

She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. “I love you.”

“And I love you. All will be well.” He rubbed her back, as she tucked her head beneath his chin. But a tingling had begun minutes before in Connor’s legs. It was slowly working its way up his body, but he hadn’t the heart to tell her. He would be gone soon, and he would never fault her for not giving him her whole heart. He knew she’d tried, but she’d been so hurt before, she couldn’t risk the pain again.

A sweet scented breeze brushed across them.

“Connor?” She lifted her head and looked around the room. “Do you feel it?”

His gut clenched. “I do.”

“What is it? What does it mean?”

He rose and went to the mirror by the door.

“No, Connor.” She tugged on his arm, but he continued forward. “I won’t let you go. She can’t have you!”

Spinning around, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “I will love you forever.”

“No! I love you,” she cried. But the firm hold they had on one another did no good. The sweet smelling breeze became a salty gale. As if the ocean winds were blowing through her apartment, and Tori found herself holding nothing.

“No!” The once solid, broad-chested man was now sparkles flying with the wind. “I love him, do you hear me? I love him with all my heart!”

A cackle split the air followed by thunder and lightning.

“He will leave you if I grant him mortality,”

a voice hissed, riding the wind. “’Tis a favor I do you.”

“The only
favor
I want is Connor!” She staggered to the wall, her face nearly pressed to the glass, praying she wouldn’t find him there.

“He devours women,” the voice scoffed.

“Then leaves them brokenhearted. You are only another of his conquests.”

“I don’t care! If he chooses to leave, then so be it. I love him too much to let you condemn him to a shadowy existence!”

The lights flickered and the wind abruptly stopped. She searched the room, but nothing, not a thing was out of place. It was as if the wind hadn’t torn through the apartment at all.