WhiskeyBottleLover (18 page)

“What are you doin’?”

“A man can’t wear the same clothes day after day. It isn’t
right.” She grabbed a pair of jeans, slightly worn, and inspected them.

“Chance, don’t.”

She ignored the sad warning. And yes, sadness seemed to lace
every word he spoke lately. Damn it, if she wanted to buy him clothes she
would. “These look like they’d fit.”

“Chance, stop. I don’t need anythin’. If you want me to wear
somethin’ different I’ll conjure new clothes.”

If she wanted him to wear something different? Oh didn’t
that bite right through her skin. “This isn’t about what I want,” she snapped
in a hushed voice. “I don’t care what you wear, hell, you could walk around
naked.” And a quick flash of that sight popped into her head. Taut skin,
defined muscles, miles of defined muscles. She nearly moaned.

“I don’t want them,” he growled back at her.

“Too bad.” She turned her back and strutted toward the table
where she could pay. Waves of irritation rolled from Hayes as the older woman
added up her total. She nearly laughed when she caught a glimpse of his
irritated, confused face. The poor man didn’t have a clue how to handle her.
Good. He needed his life to be slightly off-kilter once in a while.

The older woman bagged the goods and Chance grabbed them
before Hayes. Her fast pace back to the car made him take longer strides to
keep up, but she had no doubt it was no inconvenience to him. Not with those
long legs of his. When they both slid into the car Hayes let out a long sigh,
rubbed his temples and looked a bit defeated.

“Well, I don’t know about you but that’s exactly what I
needed.”

“It was fun,” he muttered.

“Stick with me, Hayes, and you’ll learn what real fun is.”
She started the car and suppressed a grin when he muttered.

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

The ride home turned out to be enjoyable. Hayes temporarily
gave up his mad and relaxed. Chance stopped at a small roadside diner where she
bought him lunch. To the average person they were a couple on a date. And yeah,
that’s the way she chose to see it as well. At least for today she ignored the
fact that this handsome man was over a hundred years old and loaded with magic.

By the time she neared her home anxiety started to set in.
Her stomach rolled, souring the chili she ate, and her palms began to sweat.
When she pulled into her driveway she couldn’t stop looking around for any sign
of Bill. Silly really. He wouldn’t dare come back, not after tangling with
Hayes.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” she answered with entirely too much cheer in her
voice. The closer she got to her house the more panic took over, causing her
heart to race and her head to spin.

She wouldn’t allow this. One flaming ass would not disrupt
the peaceful life she built for herself. Nope, she had to get it together.

The little pep talk almost worked too. Her body calmed
slightly. When she parked in front of her porch, everything seemed normal. That
brief moment of peace and confidence withered rapidly at the sight of her
pumpkin lying on the ground smashed. A strangled gasping sound slipped from her
throat.

Hayes jerked his head around. “What is it?”

Her lips moved but no sound came out. All she could do was
point. Her beautiful pumpkin Hayes carved for her, the one with her likeness,
lay on its side with her face smashed in.

“Stay in the car,” he snarled and then quickly bolted out
the door.

In a blur of unnatural movement, Hayes rushed to the porch,
knelt down and inspected the pumpkin. He looked around, stood and glanced back
toward her. Chance sat there gripping the wheel, knowing Bill had returned
while they were out. What other damage had he done? Apparently Hayes wondered
the same thing because in the blink of an eye he had gone from standing in
front of the car to opening the barn door.

“No,” she whispered. “Not my work.” If that bastard touched
one thing inside her barn she’d lose it.

Even as she held her breath waiting for Hayes to reappear,
her heart thundered painfully hard. An icy chill settled over her flesh and her
brain shut down. When Hayes stepped out he glanced around the area again before
taking two steps, vanishing and reappearing next to her door. Teetering on the
edge of hysteria, Chance jumped, screeched and then closed her eyes for a few
seconds until she gathered her wits.

Hayes opened the door, squatted down beside her and then
peeled her fingers off the steering wheel so he could hold her hand. It felt
good, his large, calloused hands engulfing hers so gently.

“Everythin’s fine in the barn, darlin’.”

Relief came in the form of her cold blood rushing warm
through her body. It left her dizzy but she welcomed it and the news. “Thank
God.”

“I can’t say for sure if he did this or if an animal had
somethin’ to do with it. I want to check out your house first before you go
inside.”

“I’m not staying here alone.” Her protest blurted out in a
rush as she shook her head. “I’m going in with you.” She couldn’t sit here.
What if Bill was lurking out there right now, watching and waiting?

Hayes cupped her cheek in his hand, studied her for a moment
and then gave a nod. “Okay. Stay close though.”

As they walked to the house she pressed tight against his
side, digging her nails into his arm. With each step her legs wobbled. What
would they find inside? Was the creep in there waiting for them? Had he trashed
her home? What would she do? Too many questions and unknowns.

A good five steps before they reached the door Hayes lifted
his hand. The door swung open. Chance jumped, pierced her nails further into
his flesh and swallowed a scream. When the hell did she become such a pansy
ass?

“It’s okay, that was me,” he whispered, leading her through
the door.

“Hayes, wait.” She planted her feet and jerked him to a
stop. “You can’t confront him.” The knowledge hit her hard. If Hayes intervened
he’d suffer as he did this morning. She didn’t want that. Oh she could heal him
again but she wanted to save her last two wishes until she figured out how to
free him.

“I’ll do whatever the hell it takes to keep you safe,” he
shot back.

“No, please don’t do that. I can’t watch you suffer again.”
It would kill her knowing his insides were being pureed because of her.

Hayes ignored her, took one large step inside, freeing his
arm from her grip, and stopped. The world stood eerily still for a few ticks of
time. She swore she could feel every molecule of air brushing against her skin,
hear the breath of the earth. When he didn’t move she forced herself to step in
behind him. Prepared for the worst, she kept her gaze on the floor and then
slowly lifted it.

Normal. Everything appeared to be perfectly fine. Not one
item out of place. Had she gotten freaked out over nothing?

“I wanna check your bedroom,” Hayes muttered and then rushed
through the living room.

Chance waited, wrapped her arms around herself and continued
scanning the house. Exactly the way they left it. Maybe he was right. It could
have been a hungry animal that knocked the pumpkin off the steps and then
kicked at it with its hooves.

“It all seems fine,” Hayes said, coming back through the
living room.

“I feel stupid,” she replied.

“Never feel stupid for bein’ cautious.” He gripped her upper
arms gently, gave a tender squeeze and then pulled her against his chest. “Let’s
go have a closer look at that pumpkin.”

“In a minute,” she mumbled. Why hurry when she could stay
like this with her cheek against his chest, right over his heavily beating
heart, wrapped in his warmth and security? In fact, time could stop altogether
and she wouldn’t care.

Hayes smoothed his hand down over the back of her head,
holding her there for a few moments. If only she could get a little closer.
What the hell. She tugged her arms free and circled them around his waist,
pulling in closer until even a fine hair couldn’t get between them.

His body reacted. No mistake about it with that hard length
pressing against her lower abdomen. Chance pressed herself harder against him,
receiving a low, rumbling moan. It vibrated against her cheek, brought her body
alive, making her breasts ache and swell. This is where she belonged, in this
man’s arms, in his life. She wasn’t sure how she knew it but every living cell
in her recognized it.

Hayes pushed her away rather abruptly, held her at arm’s
length and stared down into her face. She wanted to protest the absence of his
warmth and comfort of his body. She wanted to push her way back against him but
something in his eyes kept her from moving. Confusion, regret, sadness, she
couldn’t pick an emotion. They all seemed to mix into one dark look.

“I need to check this out.”

He released her, sidestepped and then rushed out the door.
Damn him. Why did he keep pushing her away? Suddenly cold from the inside out,
Chance hugged herself tight and followed. She sat on the top step as he
inspected the pumpkin.

“I’m pretty sure this is a hoof print on the back side,” he
said without sparing her a glance. “A hungry deer probably came wandering
through and found it.”

“That’s a relief,” she whispered. “Too bad he chose your carving
to destroy and not mine.” She could feel her body crashing from the adrenaline
overload of the day. Weariness dragged at her, rooting her backside to the
step. All she wanted to do was crawl into her bed, tug the covers over her head
and disappear for a while.

“It’s been a hard day,” Hayes commented.

Still, he didn’t look at her. That added to the sinking
sensation. What could be so wrong with her that this man, obviously physically
attracted to her, couldn’t force himself to look at her? “Yeah, it has, for
both of us.”

This time he did spare her a glance along with a frown. She
caught it from the corner of her eye. Somewhat saddened and hurt by it, she
shoved to her feet and forced her legs to carry her down the steps.

“I’m going to the barn. I need some time.” To think, wallow
in self-pity, cry, whatever it took to get through the rest of the day.

“What about your purchases?” he shouted.

“I’ll get them later or you can snap your fingers and put
them in the house, I don’t care.” And she didn’t. Right now she simply wanted
to be alone.

“Chance.”

“Don’t worry, Hayes. I won’t be thrusting myself on you any
more today.” She heard him mutter something but paid little attention. Instead
she hurried toward the safety of the barn, the comfort of her work and the
solitude she needed.

Exhaustion hammered at her as she pulled the heavy door
open, stepped inside and then latched it shut. The rickety, ancient clasp would
do little to keep anyone out but it would send a message.
Leave me alone
.
Chance went to her workbench, dragged her stool up and sat down. Rarely did she
sit to work but right now she could barely force her head to remain upright.

Inside her chest a gaping hole opened, one swirling with
emptiness and need, emotions foreign to her. She’d learned at an early age to
never need anyone. Now, there it was. Okay, maybe she didn’t need Hayes but she
sure as hell wanted him. A one-sided affair apparently. And perhaps none of
this actually had anything to do with Hayes. Maybe the disturbing attack this
morning had twisted her inside out, confusing her feelings for the genie and
the need to be protected from a man who obviously could harm her.

Tears trickled from her eyes as she gathered odd pieces of
metal and plastic, formed them randomly on the bench and mindlessly created an
abstract work. Damn Bill. Damn Hayes and damn herself. She’d broken all her
rules one by one and look where it left her.

She should never have begun depending on Bill for the use of
his truck and other small details. She should never have allowed herself to
care for a man who appeared out of a bottle and smoke. And the biggest mistake
of all was thinking she could have what everyone else thought they could have.
Happiness with a partner.

The tears streamed down her cheeks hot and heavy now, no
stopping them even if she wanted to. Anger with herself, anger and fear over
Bill and fury with Hayes for making her care for him rioted inside. Yet no
matter how much she wanted to hate Hayes she couldn’t and that made her insane
with anger.

Chance looked down at the disjointed mess in front of her,
scowled and swiped her arm across the bench. Parts and pieces scattered, flying
through the air before landing on the ground. Overwhelmed, she laid her head
down and let the miserable fit take her, sobbing alone.

Hayes sat in the rafters of the barn watching and, damn it,
feeling. He knew Chance wanted to be alone, he got that message loud and clear,
but he couldn’t stay away. The tone of her voice, the lost look in her eyes, he
knew things were catching up with her. He only intended to be here a few
minutes, make sure she would be okay. That’s all. Now he couldn’t leave.

As she sat below him, agonized sobs echoing through the
barn, he rubbed his chest where she had her cheek resting a little bit ago. He
could still feel her arms wrapped tightly around his waist and, damn it to hell
and back, it felt good and right. Hayes rubbed his jaw. At least now he
understood the familiarity he had with her. It all came together out there in
the woods this afternoon.

In that moment when Chance came, squeezing his fingers with
her delicate, tight muscles, part of his past blasted into his brain. He’d made
arrangements with a woman, a whore, to live with him out in the woods for the
winter. He liked her and thought they could build a life together. When she
went to gather her belongings, that’s when he got tricked inside the bottle.

Hayes glanced down at Chance. The resemblance between her
and Annie was uncanny. Oh they weren’t identical, but close enough to jog his
mushy, ancient brain cells. That’s why he felt a connection to her. That’s why
Annie’s name kept slipping from his lips when they had sex. More than looks
too. They were both abandoned at a young age. Both forced to make their own way
in the world. It wasn’t just similarities between the two though.

It all became crystal clear when Chance said he’d left her,
that she’d returned and he was gone. At that moment, that brief, clear-as-day
moment, he knew Annie was standing in front of him. He had his fingers seated
inside her warm body. Hell, he could even smell her. Only it wasn’t just her.
It was both of them.

Hayes hung his head. He’d heard about reincarnation but
never to his knowledge met anyone who claimed to be reincarnated. At least he
knew why he responded to her so fast. Chance might not understand it yet but
that’s why she didn’t have any difficulty accepting him into her life. They
recognized each other, even if they didn’t know it.

Of course, that only added fuel to his volatile situation.
Annie carried abandonment issues. Chance did as well but when it came to him,
she simply refused to believe he’d have to leave. When he did it would cause
her unbearable pain. He’d suffer as well, knowing he left behind the same woman
in two life spans.

Could this get any more fucked up? Hayes wanted to shout his
anger. He wanted to destroy something for all the pain headed their way. He’d
have to explain it to her. Chance had a right to know all this. Maybe once she
did she’d let go of this fantasy about him never leaving.

Needing something constructive to do, Hayes transported
himself out to her car. Her goods still sat inside so he carried everything in,
set the canning jars on the counter in a neat, tidy row and then returned. He
saw the clothes she’d bought him, lifted them, stared at the material and let a
fresh wave of regret and loss fill his chest.

She’d spent her hard-earned money on him. Granted, they
weren’t top dollar but she worked hard for what she had and to do this, it only
made the situation worse. Hayes carried the clothes in the house, went to
Chance’s bedroom and laid them on the floor inside her closet. Out of sight,
out of mind, at least he hoped. Maybe she could resell them one day.

Next he retrieved the pumpkins, lined them up on the porch
and chose one to carve. After conjuring a knife he sat down and let his hands
smooth over the surface. Before long he started carving, letting it happen
without thought. He peeled away layers, etched and created a three-dimensional
image of a lone tree shedding its leaves.

Time passed quickly and only by use of his magic did he work
in a dim light. When he finished he created a flickering candle inside and
stood back. Like the carving he created of Chance, the leaves appeared to move
from the backlighting. A few tweaks here and there and he finally had a
finished product.

The first thing he wanted to do was show Chance. Without
thought he rushed to the barn but when he tugged on the door he realized she’d
latched it. Concern hit him like a fist. The hours had passed and by the
position of the moon he knew it was late. What had she been doing in there all
this time?

Never one to let a locked door keep him out, Hayes sent
himself inside only to find her hunched over the workbench. She slept with her
head rested on her folded arms, making a picture of beautiful innocence. Once
again he stared at her, praying this image would burn into his brain, never to
be forgotten. The puffy, pink flesh around her eyes was proof she’d cried long
and hard. He knew for a fact if she opened them, he would find bloodshot, raw
evidence of her misery. Another piece of his heart cracked knowing he was the
cause of her pain.

Hayes gently gathered her in his arms and when she moaned,
he quietly whispered, “It’s just me, darlin’. I’m takin’ you to bed.”

Chance relaxed back against him, snuggled against his chest
and settled. Her trust humbled him, not that he’d ever do anything to hurt
anyone, but did she know that? Refusing to allow it to make a difference, he
used his magic to transport them into her bedroom.

After getting her settled, he made his way to the living
room and flopped down on the couch. Last night he slept next to her like a real
man, held her in his arms and thought for a brief time how great life could be.
Tonight he would sit watch, be her guard and keep her safe while she rested.

A horrifying scream jerked Hayes awake. He scrubbed his
face, trying to chase the foggy confusion away when another terrifying scream
shattered the silence. The shriek of terror drew him into her bedroom as if
she’d rubbed his bottle. By the sound of her terror, he expected to find a
fire-breathing dragon or a real monster like Bill hurting her. What he did see
had him rushing to the bed and reaching for her.

She thrashed about, muttering, trying to cover herself and
it left no doubt what her nightmares were about. Hayes gripped her arms, lifted
her to a sitting position and pulled her against his chest.

“It’s okay, Chance. It’s just a dream, darlin’. You’re okay,
I have you.” He should kill that miserable, poor excuse for a man, Bill. Leave
him strung up in the woods for nature to exact justice. Hayes rocked her back
and forth, holding her tight as he murmured in her ear. “I’m here, darlin’.”

Eventually her fighting stopped when she sagged against him.
Reason said to let her go, step away, but he couldn’t. She needed to be held.
He needed to hold her, just for a little while.

“I’m fine now,” she croaked, pushing away. “I’m sorry if I
disturbed you.”

He watched as she turned her back and lay down, clutching
her pillow and refusing to talk. “I’ll stay if it’ll help you rest better.”

“No, that’s not necessary.”

That was it. He should be glad, relieved she didn’t want him
there, but it hurt. Maybe he deserved it.

Once her breathing evened, Hayes slipped out of her bedroom
and into the tiny hall. Instead of going back to the couch he sat down, propped
his back against the wall and folded his hands. She didn’t want him in there
but he could sit out here.

* * * * *

Chance slid from bed, stretched and then rubbed her eyes. If
she didn’t know any better she’d swear someone poured a pound of sand in them
last night. That’s what she got for crying like a baby. At least for the moment
all the anxiety and turmoil had vanished and with a new day came a new attitude.
Bill might have rattled her but with rest came a clearer mind and she knew how
she wanted to handle him.

First stop in town would be to the local police station
where she could file a complaint, or at the very least make them aware of what
happened. That way, if he continued with his slimy games someone had something
to fall back on. It could backfire, cause Bill to go stark raving mad and show
up again, but she’d be prepared.

As for Hayes, time would be on her side. She could hold off
on her wishes for weeks, maybe months. Maybe in that time she’d figure out how
to free him and he could clue her in on what happened yesterday. Yep, a good
night’s sleep, minus that nightmare, did wonders for clear thinking.

Chance stepped out into the hall and nearly fell over a
sleeping Hayes. There he sat, his back propped against the wall, his legs
stretched out and his bare feet and arms crossed. She couldn’t help but grin.
He may push her away but not so far that he wasn’t within helping distance.

She stepped over his legs and padded into the kitchen to
start her morning coffee. Very quietly she prepared a small breakfast of toast
and homemade jelly along with some canned fruit she picked up. After filling a
mug with liquid energy, she went back to the hall, sat down opposite Hayes and
stretched her legs out, simply watching him sleep.

He wasn’t exactly the type of man she imagined for herself.
Then again, she never actually imagined a life with a man either. Still, the
buff, brawny, sexy as sin, gruff type didn’t usually turn her head. More muscle
than brains had always been her opinion. And although she admired his body,
very much, and how he brought her mind-numbing pleasure with it, it was the man
inside who captivated her. Principle oozed from his flesh and how he managed to
maintain that after two centuries of slavery amazed her.

“It’s good to see you grinnin’,” he whispered, never moving
a muscle. “Should I be worried?”

“You should always be worried about what goes on inside my
head. The couch would have been a more comfortable choice to sleep on.”

“I wanted to be close in case you had another nightmare.”

She watched him move his stiff muscles, rub his face and
then twist and turn his neck to work out the kinks. “Is that a genie rule?
Protect me from nightmares?” She knew better.

“Nope.”

“Huh, imagine that.” She took a sip of coffee to hide her
smile. A man who didn’t care didn’t sleep on a hardwood floor to stop a
nightmare.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing. I have coffee and breakfast ready if you’re
interested.” Chance pushed to her feet and headed back to the kitchen.

Instead of waiting for him, she sat down and dished out some
peaches, smeared jelly on her toast and began to eat. Hayes wandered over and
helped himself. He seemed to enjoy it, in fact, she heard a slight moan of
delight every once in a while.

“I’m going to get a shower. You finish up what’s here and
put the dishes in the sink. I’ll clean them up later.”

“I do the dishes,” he mumbled around a mouthful of toast.

“Suit yourself.” Instead of grabbing clothes from her room
first, she went straight to the bathroom.

When she finished, she wrapped her towel around her body and
ambled back out into the kitchen for another cup of coffee. Hayes had cleaned
everything up and sat there sipping a steamy mug himself. That is until he
caught sight of her. One thing about the man, he was expressive. If she
couldn’t tell what he was thinking from his eyes, the rest of his body told the
story.

Every muscle went taut, his spine shot ramrod straight and
his fingers tightened on the mug. Good. A few days of this and he wouldn’t be
able to push her away anymore. At least that was her plan.

After filling her mug she sashayed back to her bedroom,
feeling his gaze with each swaying step. She’d never been a tease in her life
and hoped like hell she didn’t come off looking like a fool. The tortured moan
she heard from the kitchen declared her mission a success.

Before she knew it, he loomed in her doorway. Chance let her
towel drop to the floor. Hayes appeared before her in a blink of a second. He
laid her down on the bed so gently it nearly frightened her. His tenderness
didn’t stop there. Hayes kissed her with great affection. He took his time,
nibbled at her lips as if they would break. Small fires set on her flesh as he moved
down, giving attention to her jaw before lavishing her neck.

This was different. They’d always damn near attacked each
other. Now he seemed to be worshiping her body. To her surprise the
anticipation grew hotter, more intense. She panted as he sucked and teased her
nipples, moaned when he dipped his tongue into her bellybutton and almost shot
off the bed when he kissed her pussy.

Before, he spent forever licking and teasing her. This
morning he couldn’t wait. As she lay there watching him undress, she realized a
shift had occurred. The game changed somewhere between yesterday and now. Did
it have something to do with Annie?

All thought of Annie and what could lie ahead disappeared.
Hayes gripped his cock, gave it a slow stroke and when his hand pulled away, he
was covered with a condom. God, she would never get tired of seeing him naked.
Chance lifted her arms and Hayes came into them.

With one smooth thrust he entered her as his lips took her
mouth in a gentle, dare she say, loving kiss. The sex wasn’t rushed or
desperate, rather slow and sensual. They didn’t speak, only enjoyed each other.
Hayes took her hands, raised them above her head and linked their fingers.
Their bodies moved together as if one. His thrusts were liquid, torturing nerve
endings as he drew back slowly and entering with the same pace.

The fire in her belly grew intense. Hayes dipped his head,
sucked on a tender nipple and then lavished the other with attention. She
couldn’t hold back any longer. Her orgasm simmered near the surface of her
skin. It would burn her alive when she came. How could this slow, languid
lovemaking be hotter than what they shared before? Hayes must have sensed her
confusion. He nodded.

“I know,” he whispered. “It’s okay.”