WhiskeyBottleLover (23 page)

Urgency grew by the second. There wouldn’t be any drawn-out
foreplay right now. After the events of the evening, he needed to feel her
gripping him tight. The need to know she was here and okay overwhelmed him.
Hayes reached down, cupping her pussy, groaning at how wet and ready she was
for him. Thank God, because he couldn’t wait another second.

Using one finger, he pushed inside her, loving the silky
feel of her muscles. Chance bucked her hips as those muscles rippled. She
gasped, groaned, whimpered and fed his need further.

Positioning himself between her thighs, he lifted her legs,
wrapping them around his waist. With one thought, he covered his hard cock with
a condom and then pressed inside her hot body. Tight muscles gave way, clamping
around him, bathing him in scorching heat he could feel through the latex.

“I want what’s left of your life, Chance,” he spoke through
a tight throat. “Give me those precious years and I swear you won’t be sorry.”
He pulled back and then drove forward hard, shouting as her body strangled him.

He set a fast, frantic pace. Chance kept up, working her
hips. The sound of their bodies slapping together added to the rising heat.
“Tell me you love me,” he growled. “Tell me you’ll do this.”

Her muscles tightened like a vise and when she released, her
walls rippling and squeezing him, she shouted, “Yes! I love you.”

Hayes plummeted after her. Her words rang in his ears as
complete and total bliss filled his chest. The utter pleasure crashed over him
as his seed exploded from his body. At that moment, he knew the next fifty or
sixty years would be the best anyone could ask for. They’d have their trials
but they would persevere. He couldn’t remember ever being this happy.

With the last weak pulse of his release, he fell forward,
buried his face in her neck and breathed in her scent. Chance held on to him
tight, her body quivering as her orgasm eased away. The feel of her against him
brought utter joy. The way her breasts pillowed against his chest. The way her
legs stayed locked around his waist. It made him feel as though he belonged for
the first time in his existence.

“Make the wish,” he muttered, nipping the tender flesh of
her neck. “Please, Chance, make the wish.”

Outside, the sound of sirens filled the silent house. Chance
stiffened. He reluctantly tore himself away from her lush body. They both
looked toward the kitchen window where red and blue lights flashed down her
drive.

“Now what?” she asked, scrambling to sit up.

Hayes slid from the comfort of her body, pulled up his jeans
and made his shirt appear. Next he dressed Chance with one simple thought.
Taking her hand, he raced out the front door in time to see two large fire
trucks and a police car.

“What’s going on?” he asked as men jumped from the truck and
looked around.

“Oh I think I know.”

Chance watched a man all decked out in full firefighting
garb come strolling toward them. She gripped Hayes’ hand tight, smiling to
herself. “Is there a problem?” she asked.

“We got a call there was a fire at this address. A barn
burning,” he told her.

“You did?” She looked up at Hayes with as much surprise as
she could. Thankfully he played along. “I don’t know who would do that. As you
can see we don’t have a fire.”

“Mind if my men look around quick?”

“Not at all.”

The man shouted to a few men, sending them off toward the
barn. “From the call it sounded like the entire side of the mountain was going
to go up in flames.”

“Well, we’ve been home about an hour and haven’t seen any
fire. Trust me, I’d be the first to call if there was one.” So Bill set the
fire and then ran home and called it in. He wanted her property damaged but
nothing more.

The police officer joined them and Chance smiled. “I’d do
some checking on who’s making prank calls,” she said politely to the officer.

“I’m already on that,” he informed them. “The emergency
center tracks incoming calls. Nothing suspicious happened since you’ve been
home?”

“No,” she answered.

“Well, there was that truck that ran us off the road before
we pulled into your lane,” Hayes reminded her.

“That’s right. Drove me right into the ditch. I almost had a
heart attack. That guy was in a hurry for something.” Yeah, so he could go home
to call the fire department.

“What kind of truck?”

“I’m not sure. It was dark. All I saw were headlights.”

“It was dark-green,” Hayes added. “I saw it pass by so close
I thought he would take the mirror off the side of the car.”

Chance squeezed his hand and he returned the
acknowledgement. They’d just set Bill up as a good suspect for prank calls. Two
firemen returned, informing the chief they found nothing.

“Go ahead and load back up then. Guess there isn’t anything
for us to do here. Sorry for interrupting your night.”

“That’s okay,” she told him.

As the trucks pulled away the officer asked a few more
questions. “You weren’t home all day?”

“No. I own a shop downtown. We went in very early this
morning. On Black Friday I stay open until about eight. By the time we got home
it was nearly nine.”

“I thought you looked familiar. My wife and sister go on
about your place all the time. Hope you had good business today.”

“I did. I think this will be my best holiday season yet.”

His radio crackled to life so he stepped away to talk. She
glanced up at Hayes and couldn’t keep the smirk off her face.

“Flirt,” he whispered.

She feigned shock but he only laughed. Hey, a girl had to
make friends with the police when she had a nutcase harassing her. After
tonight Bill would have more to worry about than making her life miserable.

“Do you know anyone by the name Bill Day?”

“Yes, I do. He’s my closest neighbor. Why?” Bingo! The
dumbass didn’t even bother to call from another phone.

“He’s the one who placed the call. Guess I better go have a
chat with him. Find out what this is all about. Have a nice evening, folks.”

They both said goodbye to the officer and headed back
inside. As soon as Hayes shut the door Chance let out a whoop. Add tonight’s
escapade to the file she had started on him at the station and he was in some
deep shit.

“Don’t get too excited,” Hayes told her. “This could piss
him off more.”

“Oh I’m sure it will. Imagine how bad his mind will explode
when he finds out there wasn’t any fire. What I wouldn’t give to be a fly on
the wall to see his face when that cop tells him he’s in trouble for making
prank calls.”

“Yeah, well, they could have come at a better time,” Hayes
groused as he plopped down on the couch.

“Agreed.” She made her way over the couch, lying down,
putting her head in his lap. “I guess it’s a good thing neither of us could
wait, huh?”

“You didn’t make the wish,” he reminded her.

“No, I didn’t.” She sat up, rubbed her shoulder and sighed.
“I’m not ready to just yet. Give me another day, Hayes. Let me think this
through a little more. I promise if I can’t figure out how to free you
completely, then I’ll make the wish.”

“Ya know I can make myself appear older if that’s what’s
botherin’ you about all this. I’ll have enough power to do that. We won’t have
to leave the area.”

Chance sighed but gave him a small smile. He seemed to be
working at finding a way for them to be together. “It’s not that. I want you to
be free, don’t you understand? Completely free and able to live without having
to adjust your appearance to fit in. I want you to be able to go to town on
your own, or wherever, without me having to be within so many miles of you. You
deserve that, Hayes. You deserve a life.”

“But I’ll take what I can get as long as I’m with you.”

His words were hushed, sincerity sparkled in his eyes and it
meant the world to her. “What happens if in a few years you decide you can’t
stand me any longer? What if my ways drive you insane? You’re stuck. If you’re
free you can leave and start over.”

“Jesus,” he snarled, jumping to his feet. “I’m not gonna get
tired of you in a few years, Chance. I’m not those people who discarded you in
your youth, for Christ’s sake. Stop comparing me to them.”

“I’m not doing that, Hayes.” He looked so run-down and
exhausted she overlooked his ill temper. He needed a good night’s sleep, a
decent meal and then they could discuss this rationally.

“Yes, you are. You do it all the time. The only thing you
claim to be attached to is your work and that you sell, get rid of it before it
can be taken from you. I’m willin’ to bet you’d be able to clear out of this
house in two days if it was necessary. There are no guarantees in life, Chance,
but for the love of sanity, follow your name once and take a chance. Take a
fuckin’ chance on me and I swear I won’t let you down.”

His rant left her shocked and speechless. She opened her
mouth to say something but quickly snapped it shut. What could she say? He was
right about the house. She never really felt at home here or anywhere for that
matter. In the back of her mind, she had to be prepared to move on. As far as
her work, she adored her pieces she created, loved the odds and ends that were
unique. But she quickly put them up for sale, always feeling that need to get
rid of them before she could get attached.

“I’m sorry,” Hayes whispered, sitting down next to her and
taking her hand. “That was uncalled for. I guess I’m losin’ my mind with all
this.”

“No. You’re right,” she admitted. “You’re absolutely right.”
How sad. She’d been living her adult life the same as she lived her childhood.
No one ever kept her, why would he? Instead of finding an escape route for
herself, she’d been looking for one for him.

Hayes rubbed his face. “There’s somethin’ I need to tell
you, darlin’. I don’t know if you’ll understand or think I’m insane but you
have the right to know.”

A jolt of fear hit her hard, actually making her flinch.
What else could go wrong here? “What is it?”

“Annie.”

Her body tensed against the cushions. “Go on.”

“Have you noticed you don’t get upset when I call you that?”
Hayes rubbed his hands together over and over again.

“Sure, I’m not dense. I’ve wondered about it.”

He turned then, positioned himself on the couch so he could
see her. “Yeah, well, my rusty brain finally put all the pieces together.” He
reached out and snagged a tendril of her hair, twirling it around his finger.
“I knew her.”

“I figured as much,” she whispered.

“She was gonna head into the mountains with me for the
winter. I was going to take care of her, give her a better life and in return
she was going to give me companionship.”

Chance nodded once. “Did you love her?” Somehow she already
knew the answer to that. Two lonely souls were going make a go at attempting a
life together. Possibilities were endless.

“No. I didn’t know her well enough to love her, yet. Back in
that time things were different. Love wasn’t the first reason you took a
partner.” The backs of his fingers smoothed down her cheek before he dropped
his hand back into his lap. “The night we were to leave, she rode out to
retrieve some belongings she had hidden. I offered to ride along but she wanted
to go alone. While I waited, I came across this foreigner. We talked, he filled
my whiskey-soaked brain with crazy talk about genies and how all it would take
is for someone to wish him free and he could be happy.”

“He tricked you.”

“Yeah, the next thing I knew I was babblin’ a stupid wish
and found myself locked inside that bottle.” He took her hand, drawing gentle
circles over her knuckles. “I can only imagine how confused Annie must have
been when she returned and I was nowhere to be found.”

“Devastated,” Chance whispered. She could feel the hurt
filling her chest, fear and even a sense of stupidity for trusting a man she
didn’t know. “She never trusted anyone again. She died a miserable young
woman.” The sadness was overwhelming, bringing tears to her eyes.

“Do you understand how you know these feelin’s, Chance?” He
gripped her chin and turned her face toward him.

The misery she saw in his eyes reflected what she felt
swirling around inside her. “No.”

“Because you and Annie are the same person.”

“Yeah, well, I guess the abandonment issues are pretty much
the same for everyone.” Even as she spoke the words she knew that’s not what he
meant.

“No. Are you familiar with reincarnation?”

A fat, hot tear streamed down her cheek. “You’re saying I
was Annie. That you and I met and were supposed to run off to the mountains and
live together happily ever after.”

Hayes let out a rough breath. “Yeah, that’s what I’m sayin’.
I know it sounds crazy.”

“No,” she said, whisking away a tear with the back of her
hand. “It actually makes a lot of sense. It explains so much. I’ve felt
connected to you on some level, eager for something but I wasn’t sure what. I
could see you through her eyes sometimes, ya know. A tent, a lumpy cot. I could
smell things that were familiar. It didn’t last long, just a déjà vu sort of
thing. I even somewhat understood you calling me Annie.”

“Why didn’t you say something?” He helped wipe away a tear
before smoothing the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip.

“I don’t know. I had this feeling that everything would work
out and the answers would come when they were supposed to, so I didn’t push it.
Hell, I didn’t even give it much thought. When did you figure it out?”

“That day in the woods, when I had you backed against the
tree. It all came rolling into my brain and I knew I’d have to end up leaving
you again.” He wrapped his large hand around the back of her neck. “I don’t deserve
you, Chance. You should have more in your life, a man who can provide for you
properly, not some shackled slave, but damn if I’m man enough to let you go. I
don’t know what would have happened in the eighteen hundreds between us. Maybe
we would have killed each other before the winter ended. I’m willin’ to let the
past go and focus on the future. What about you?”

Chance took a deep, jerky breath. “I don’t like it. I know I
can figure this out.”

Hayes let his gaze fall away before dropping his hand. “It’s
your decision. I’m gonna go out and walk around a bit,” he said, getting to his
feet. “Just run a check on the property to make sure Bill didn’t do anythin’
else that will catch us by surprise.”

She let him go. He needed the space and she needed time to
think. A few months ago if anyone told her she’d fall in love with a
one-hundred-year-old genie in a matter of weeks, she would have laughed. If
they had said she was his reincarnated lover she would have probably assumed
they were high on something. Yet it all made perfect sense to her. Even this
feeling that he’d walk away. At least she knew where that originated from now.
If she was honest with herself this entire freedom thing was so he could walk
away.

“Maybe instead of giving everyone an out, I should pay more
attention to giving them a reason to stay.”

“Only if you think it’s worth fightin’ for.” His voice made
her jump. He obviously didn’t use the door when he returned. “We have company
comin’.”

She heard the car then, the crunch of the gravel beneath the
tires before the headlights flashed against her kitchen windows. She went to
the door, opened it and frowned when she saw the officer back. He didn’t look
happy either.

“Come in out of the cold,” she told him. He stepped inside,
removed his hat and gave a quick glance around her home. “What can I help you
with?”

“Well, I thought I should stop by to tell you I talked with
Mr. Day.” He scratched his head and looked down at the floor.

“And?”

“He’s a bit of crackpot, isn’t he?”

Chance smiled. “That doesn’t even come close to describing
him.”

“Yeah, well, he swears your barn was on fire. I know people
think they see things sometimes but he acts as though he was here on the
property watching it.”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” she muttered. If the officer
only knew.

“Yeah, on my way over there I ran a quick check on the guy
and discovered you and he have had problems recently. Care to elaborate on that
for me?”

“A few weeks back I asked if I could drag some of the fallen
trees out of the woods on his property. I needed firewood and he wasn’t
planning on doing anything with them. He said yes but insisted he do all the
work, for a price. I wasn’t willing to pay that kind of price. My boyfriend and
I did the work together. Bill showed up a few days later, I guess thinking he’d
do it and hold it over my head. When he saw it finished, he sort of snapped.”