Lord of Shadows ~ Eight ~

Lord of Shadows is an ongoing serial story.  This installment concludes the story.

Content advisory: oral sex, m/f sex

Recap: In part seven, Tierney and Sarah are hiding out in her mother’s guest house.

Lord of Shadows

~ Eight ~

By Nickie Asher

“Tierney! Wake up.” Sarah shook him hard.

Startled awake, Tierney’s eyelids shot open and he lurched upright. It was barely dusk. Dim light showed though the tiny space where the heavy drapes didn’t quite meet. “What’s wrong?” And something was definitely wrong. Her voice was strained, frightened.

“They burned your house.” Tears ran down her cheeks.

His stomach dropped. “Everything’s gone?”

“Everything. Oh, God. I’m so sorry. My father. . .” She covered her face and sobbed.”

He drew her to him and folded her into his arms. “It isn’t your fault.” What was he going to do? He had nowhere to go. He had nothing except the clothes he had with him.” Then he gently pushed her back. “I have to go out. But I’ll be back as quick as I can.”

“What are you going to do?”

“We have to leave. Tonight. If you’re coming with me, be ready when I return. Pack everything you want to take. Do you have a servant you can trust to discretely bring your stuff here?” His heart pounded. If she backed out. . .”

“There’s one man I trust. He’s elderly but strong enough to carry my trunks. I’ll be ready.”

Relief coursed through him and he hugged her tight.

Tierney returned three hours later. First he’d gone to the ruins of his house and stared in sorrow. Afterward, he’d hurried to his solicitor’s home. The man hadn’t been pleased to be disturbed but he’d come through.

Tierney had a great deal of cash on him, a horse and buggy waiting as close as he dared leave them, and booked passage on a ship. They were almost home free. To his relief, five trunks sat in a neat row. She was ready though her eyes were red. Guilt stabbed his heart. He was taking her from her family and everything she knew. “You’re sure you want to go through with this?”

She threw herself into his arms. “Tierney, I’m sure. I couldn’t go on without you. No matter what it costs me.”

He hugged her tight then released her. “I love you, Sarah. I would do anything for you. Including letting you go if that was what you wanted.”

“I want to be with you. Forever.”

“Let’s go then. I have a buggy.” He grabbed one of the trunks and lifted it effortlessly. “I’ll get these and we’ll head for the docks. I have passage for us.” After tucking the first trunk into the buggy and assisting Sarah onto the seat, he glided back to get the other trunks.

When he left the house with the last of her belongings, hoof beats thundered behind him. Heart pounding, he dropped the trunk and spun around. Sarah’s father, astride a huge black horse, bore down on him with a wooden spear that he held like a jousting lance.

Tierney leaped, the spear sank into his shoulder. Shocking pain tore through him. As Wilkes pulled the horse to a halt and turned the animal, Tierney yanked the wood from his flesh. His right arm didn’t want to cooperate and pain radiated all the way down his side.

Regardless, he crouched and waited for the horse which apparently, Wilkes intended to run him down with. The animal appeared fearless. The beast thundered straight for him. Tierney held his ground, counting the strides. When the horse was two beats away, Tierney leapt and caught the animal’s head, throwing his weight onto the oncoming horse. He twisted to the side, pulling the horse off balance. The animal let out a shrill cry as its legs tangled and it went down hard, landing on Wilke’s leg. Wilkes screamed and tried to push the one thousand plus pound animal off him.

Tierney grabbed the trunk, and ignoring his screaming shoulder, ran for the buggy. He didn’t want to kill Sarah’s father. Not when they were so close to escaping him for good. He couldn’t do that to her even though every instinct called for him to rip the man’s throat out.

He reached the buggy and tossed the trunk in the back with the others.

“What happened?” Sarah demanded in a fearful voice. “Oh my God. You’re bleeding.”

“I’m okay. You’re father did that.”

A sob choked her. “Is he. . .”

“He’s fine. I didn’t kill him.” Even though he should have.

Shouts erupted on the property behind them.

“Shit. His men must have found him.”

“But you said—”

“I dropped his horse on him. His leg may be broken at the worst.”

“Thank you, Tierney.”

Tierney vaulted onto the seat beside her, grabbed the reins and the whip, and set the horse into a gallop. The buggy careened down the street and more than one pedestrian sprang out of the way.

Sarah clung to his arm and looked back over her shoulder.

“See any of them?” he asked.

“No. Not yet.”

Like him, she obviously expected them to give chase.

He took a corner too hard and the buggy went up on two wheels. Sarah screamed and buried her face in his uninjured shoulder. The buggy dropped back down and Tierney laid the whip to the horse. The ship was close. Five minutes away at the most. The horse thundered down the street, putting Tierney’s enemies further and further behind them.

And then they were at the dock. He hauled on the reins and brought the horse to a skidding stop. After he jumped down, he reached for Sarah and lifted her out. They ran for the ship. He would get her on board and then go back for her trunks. He’d bought clothes and had them sent to the ship. After her things were taken care of they would be ready to sail.

Once he had her in their cabin, he made short work of retrieving the trunks. He needed to get rid of the horse and buggy in case any of Wilke’s men had seen it. He raced back to where he’d left the horse tied and climbed in the buggy. Now going at an easy trot, he drove the exhausted horse to a livery where he paid the proprietor to take the animal for the night. The man could do whatever he wanted with the horse and buggy. Tierney sure wouldn’t be around to collect the animal in the morning.

Safely inside their cabin, he finally took off his shirt to inspect the damage John Wilkes had done. Though an ugly, gaping wound that still hurt like hell, it was already beginning to heal. In a few days there would be no sign of damage or scaring.

But for now, he needed to clean away the blood and slap a bandage over the torn flesh. . .except he didn’t have anything to use to bind it up with.

Sarah poured water from the large pitcher into the matching bowl and swirled a wash cloth in the basin. “Let me take care of you,” she said.

He nodded gratefully and sat on the bed. She gently dabbed at the hole in his flesh. A little hiss of pain escaped him.

“I’m so sorry. I know this hurts,” she said and continued working on him.

“It isn’t your fault.” He managed to sit quietly until she finished. “I’m glad you came with me.”

“So am I. But we haven’t gone anywhere yet. When do we set sail?”

“Early in the morning.”

“Is it going to be dark enough in here?” she asked.

“Should be.”

“If it isn’t?”

“I’ll get a sunburn.”

She paled. “That isn’t funny.”

“Everything’s going to be fine. I promise.” And it would be. Worse case he would have to empty one of her trunks and sleep in it.

She finished cleaning him and Tierney put on one of his new shirts though he only fastened the last couple of buttons. He only needed enough cover to keep Sara from seeing the wound. “Come here.” He caught her hand and pulled her onto his lap.

“We’ll have to find a house. Once we have a real home I’ll bring you over with me.”

“You mean you’ll. . .”

“Turn you. Yes. We might as well get your change behind us.”

“Okay,” she whispered and leaned against him.

“You still want it, don’t you?” His heart pounded. If she didn’t, their future was limited by the ravages of time.

“You know I do. I would do anything to be with you.” She tilted her head up. “Kiss me, Tierney. I need to be close to you.”

He bent and pressed his lips to hers in a gentle press. Her honeyed taste begged further sampling. He licked at her lower lip until she opened for him. He deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue along hers in slow sensuous strokes. Her hands sank into his hair and pulled at the leather tie until his locks hung free.

She slipped under his shirt and traveled upward over his chest. She stroked his nipples. Sensations of pleasure rippled through him at her touch. Her nails raked over him with gentle motions. He moaned into her mouth. God, she was fantastic. And she was all his. “I want you. But I need you on top. My shoulder. . .”

Her hands eased downward, over his stomach to his pants where her fingers worked them loose. Then she was delving inside, touching him. His groan of pleasure spurred her seeking fingers on and she wrapped them around his length. She freed him from his trousers. Her warm palm stroked along his shaft in a firm, even stroke.

She released him and tugged at his pants. “Take these off.”

He kicked off his boots and shoved his britches down and off then he settled back on the edge of the bed. He grinned in anticipation as she stepped between his spread legs and dropped to her knees. The silk of her hair tickled his thighs as she bent over him. Her mouth closed over his engorged head and he gasped at the contact. Her hot tongue swirled around him and teased at the little slit, probing and flicking.

“Sarah, you’re so good.”

She went down on him, hesitated, then took more of him into her.

Tierney groaned and buried his hands into her hair, urging her on. She stopped before taking more of him and then he was engulfed in her. He didn’t move. Once she was ready, she eased back up, swirled her tongue around the head then slipped back down on him. She continued until Tierney’s cock jerked hard. She slid off him but captured his balls in her warm palm.

She stroked her thumb over the delicate skin. Her hand was gentle but heat blazed where she touched him. He groaned and a single drop of fluid gathered in the little slit in his swollen head. She bent and licked it off while her fingers massaged his nuts.

“Sarah, you’re going to make me come if you keep playing with my balls.”

With a grin, she released him and stood. In moments, she had undone a row of tiny buttons and slipped from her dress. Her under clothes quickly followed.

He reached for her and drew her up against him. Her breasts were at the perfect level and he tongued one firm globe, laving over the pebbled peak. He held her still with one arm while his free hand delved between her thighs. His fingers encountered moist silk. She spread her legs wider, encouraging him. He found her swollen nub. He rubbed and circled until she caught her breath and pushed against his hand. He lavished attention on the little bit of flesh until a spasm ran through her. Then he stroked along her wet folds, seeking her core.

He breathed in her wonderful rose fragrance. There was no need to hurry. They would never be apart again. Maybe he had lost all of his material possessions, but he’d gained something far better. “I love you with all my heart,” he whispered as he found her opening and eased inside.

She moaned and rocked on his hand, pleasuring herself. Pumping vigorously, he worked her core until a cry tore from her and she gyrated on his hand. Once she finished quaking and sagged against him, he pulled from her clenching walls. He licked her from his fingers, relishing the taste of her pleasure.

She straightened and stepped back. “On the bed,” she said.

Tierney positioned himself in the center.

She crawled in with him and straddled his hips. His cock lay against her delicious backside. Reaching behind her, she caught and squeezed gently. “I love you, Tierney. I love everything about you.” She released him, bent down and kissed him. But before he could deepen the kiss, she sat up again.

She eased up, grasped him, and settled on his cock, taking him deep within her. With a moan, she threw her head back and rode him.

Tierney had a spectacular view of his woman giving them both pleasure. She had an expression of ecstasy on her lovely face as she slid up and down on him. Her breasts bounced with her motions. The visual was as good as the physical stimulation of his cock. Then she picked up speed, riding him faster, harder. She moaned her pleasure, then she stiffened. A second later, her movements became more frantic as she released.

Her walls squeezed him rhythmically, milking him until he could stand no more and with a shout of joy, his seed spurted deep within her.

Finally she collapsed on him, then rolled to his side where he gathered her close. “This is just the beginning,” he whispered. “We have forever.”

Epilogue

Three Months Later

Tierney gazed at his sleeping mate with tenderness and love. She would wake soon and they would venture out into the night. Charleston had received them with open arms and they were very careful in where they hunted. She had taken to vampirism with an ease that was almost frightening. But then, he’d always known females, in their own way, where much more vicious than males. Though neither of them ever killed. There was no need and leaving a trail of victims was nothing but a disaster waiting to happen.

They had escaped her father completely and no one in Charleston had any idea of their true nature. And they wanted to keep it that way. He’d never been as happy, not even when he was human, as he was with her in this new city. They had a new start. The only blight was that they could never have children together. Otherwise, life was perfect.

Tierney eased off the bed and stretched. He stroked his hard cock a few times and wished she would wake. He sauntered to the huge window and pulled the drapes back. Moonlight bathed the streets and light shown from windows along the beautiful street. He glanced down from the second story window.

A lone figure dressed in a hooded cloak stood below. A woman? Yes. He watched her with idle curiosity. Who did she await? A tardy lover? Her husband?

As if feeling his gaze, she turned toward him and lifted her head.

Tierney’s heart lurched and he staggered back a step. But he still saw her clearly.

Her eyes bore into his with a bind that held him tight, and a wide, evil grin stretched over Isabo’s face.

Copyright © 2011 Nickie Asher

All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. No portion of this work may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the author.

Lord of Shadows ~ Seven ~

Lord of Shadows is an ongoing serial story.

Content advisory: m/f sex, oral sex

Recap: In part six, Tierney discovers that while he and Sarah slept, someone broke into his home. She talks him into spending the night in her family guest house.

“No way,” Tierney sputtered.

“You have to,” Sarah said. “You can’t sleep here all day when you’re alone and vulnerable. You’ll be perfectly safe at the guest house. No one would think to look for you there.”

As much as he didn’t want to leave his home and go to some strange place, he couldn’t argue with her logic. Still, he wasn’t comfortable with the idea. She was placing him square in the lion’s den. “What if one of your father’s goons decides he’d like a little rest and relaxation instead of going out to scout for victims for your father?”

Sarah planted her hands on her hips and looked at him as if he’d said the dumbest thing she’d ever heard. “Tierney, you’re smarter than that. None of the men would dare go in Mamma’s sanctuary.”

“And if your mamma decides she needs some peace and quiet?”

She won’t. She has too much to do. My aunt is having a huge coming out ball for my cousin. Mamma is helping get everything organized. She’ll be heading over to their house as soon as it’s acceptable to show up.”

“Okay. I’ll go.” But he wasn’t happy about it. Though he was even less thrilled with the idea of an unknown human prowling in his home as he and Sarah slept, blissfully unaware while curled in each other’s arms.

***

An hour later, Sarah opened the door to the guest house and ushered Tierney inside. She lit a table lamp and handed it to him. “Take any of the upstairs bedrooms. They all have strong locks. There’s a small library if you get bored.”

“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem. Besides, it’s difficult for me to remain awake during the day.” He glanced about the place. Much smaller than their main home, it was almost cozy. A huge fireplace took up most of one wall. Not that he would be making any fires to announce his presence.

He had to admit, staying here probably made a lot more sense than sleeping in a compromised house. Biting his lip, he touched her arm.

She glanced at him, her eyes questioning.

“You realize this will have to be dealt with. I have to find whoever was in my home and deal with them.” The time had come to take off the gloves. If someone intended to kill him, then he had to strike first.

“I know.” She looked him dead in the eyes. “I also know for a fact it wasn’t my father.”

“I think you’re right. But it may very well be one of his men.”

She nodded. “Tierney, I understand. I don’t want any details. But I can’t lose you. No matter what it takes.”

***

Tierney prowled the strange house as he waited for Sarah. His sleep had been peaceful and undisturbed, yet he was antsy and needed to move. Unfamiliar surroundings and the proximity of the main estate, not more than two hundred feet away, left him on alert and over stimulated.

Against his better judgment, he lit a few candles. He saw perfectly without them, but Sarah couldn’t. He hoped the thick velvet drapes smothered the flickering light and kept anyone from seeing the soft glow.

Maybe he should go out and check. Tierney unlocked the door, and like a wraith, slipped into thick darkness. He walked far enough onto the lawn to get a good view of the guest house.

A thin vertical line of light ran down the center of the window where the drapes met. “Shit,” he hissed and raced back inside to overlap the offending material. As he made the adjustment, Sarah let herself in.

“Are you fixing the curtains? I saw the light in here.”

“Yes. Step outside and see if it’s okay.”

She did as he asked, reappearing in moments. “It’s fine now. I hope no one else caught a glimpse of that.”

“You and me both. I should have known better and only lit candles in the back rooms.”

She didn’t say anything but her eyes reflected worry.

“Are any of your father’s cronies over there?”

“No. And he hadn’t come out of his study yet. So it’s probably no big deal.”

He eyed her from head to toe, taking in her deep purple-blue dress and matching wrap. “You look like a queen in that color. It suits you.”

“Thank you,” she whispered and slid into his arms.

With delight, he breathed in her flowery scent. “You smell good, too. In fact, you smell so good, I think I want to eat you.”

Giggling, she pressed tighter against him. Tierney’s cock rose to the occasion.

She laughed again, reached down and stroked him through his tight britches. “Oh, goodness, what’s that big hard thing I feel?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe you should keep checking.”

With a hand that was rapidly becoming skillful, she eased down inside his trousers and wrapped warm, questing fingers around his length.

Tierney closed his eyes and groaned. Everything she did to him felt so good and so right. She ran her hand up his cock, stopping at the head, where she smeared a finger through the tiny amount of liquid that had gathered at the slit.

Tierney moaned his pleasure. “Jesus, Sarah. I’ve never known a woman like you. You’re so beautiful and so perfect.”

“I love you, Tierney,” she whispered, then leaned forward and pressed her lips to his in a soft kiss. After a moment, she skimmed her tongue along his lip. With a groan, he opened, allowing her into his mouth where she stroked over one fang and then the other. She nearly felled him with pleasure.

Her arms eased about him and he drew her up, soft curves pressing into him. He picked her up and her legs wrapped around his back, clinging tight. The heat of her body warmed him.

Now his tongue was in her mouth, stroking slowly along hers until she moaned. She grabbed the leather tie in his hair and pulled it free, letting the long strands fall loose.

“I love your hair. It’s so long and thick. Like other parts of you,” she said and giggled.

He kissed his way up her jaw-line and down her throat below her ear where he licked the delicate skin. She moaned and sank her nails into his shoulders as she tilted her head.

Ravenous, he pressed kisses over the pulse before driving his teeth into her. She moaned softly as he drank. Only partially sated, he backed off, cleaning the wound with his tongue. He couldn’t take much from her. Instead, he would have to go out later and hunt. A half feeding wasn’t enough to hold him in check for long, and he wouldn’t risk hurting her on accident.

He gently detached her and set her on her feet. She leaned into him, resting against his body.

Too bad he couldn’t get his hands on the person who’d broken into his home. He’d satisfy his hunger and take care of his problem all at once. He sure as hell couldn’t stay at her father’s guest house. After making love with Sarah, he would go home. Maybe the dirty bastard would be there snooping through his house again.

Sarah stroked his cheek, snapping him back to the present. “Don’t worry, love. You can stay here for a couple of days. No one will stop by. I don’t think my father has been in here one time when Mamma didn’t drag him.”

That was good to know, but he still couldn’t push his luck. “I’ll have to head out and see what I can do about securing my home. Staying here is asking for trouble.”

Sarah looked disappointed but nodded.

Tracing his hands up her sides, he cupped her breasts and stroked his thumbs over the pebbled nipples. A little sigh of pleasure escaped her as she let her head drop backward. He bent and pressed kisses at the base of her throat but made himself stop. The thought of her blood was too tempting.

He took her hand. “Come on. Let’s go upstairs.”

Back up in the bedroom, he pulled her into his arms. “You make me so hot. How did I live all these years without you?” Then his lips were on hers, seeking entrance. His tongue eased along hers in slow sensuous strokes. Pressing tightly to him, she moaned from deep within her. Her breasts crushed against him, the taut nipples hard like little pebbles.

He latched on to a firm globe through the material of her gown. His thumb slowly stroked the nipple.

Her hands skimmed over his chest and on down to his trousers where she worked open the buttons. Warm fingers gripped his already hard length and freed him from the confines of his pants. The cool of the room felt good on his hot flesh. Her hand began the slow stroke he loved so much. She was going to be the perfect companion to spend the rest of his life with.

Warmth seeped through his body, and he bucked his hips forward, wanting more contact, more skin on skin. She delved back inside his britches and grasped his balls. Gently, she squeezed and released then stroked the delicate flesh until he was almost whimpering.

“You like that, don’t you, sweetheart?”

“You know I do.”

She put her hands on his chest, and with gentle pressure, urged him to move backward. He did as she wished until he bumped into the mattress. Then her fingers were on his pants again, shoving them down until he stepped out of the garment.

“Sit, babe,” she said.

As soon as he did, she moved between his legs and went to her knees.

Tierney’s cock jerked in anticipation.

Her hand closed around the base of his dick as she met his eyes. A sly grin bloomed on her face before she bent and her tongue shot out and circled the engorged head. She probed at the tiny slit, taking the single drop of precum.

Tierney’s fingers bit into the soft mattress and a moan floated from him when she eased him deeper into her mouth. She hesitated then took more of him.

“Oh, my God,” Tierney moaned.

Holding him securely, she slid up and down, finding her rhythm.

Tierney’s hips bucked, trying to shove more of him inside her. She giggled around his bulk and kept her hand in place at the base, blocking his efforts.

As he reached the verge of orgasm, she backed off.

A frustrated groan slipped out of him.

“You know I’m not going to let you do that,” she said and laughed again. Her fingers began working loose the long row of tiny pearl buttons running down the bodice of her gown.

Tierney grabbed her and pulled her down on top of him. He took over for her and she tackled his shirt. When he finished, she stood and let the dress fall about her feet. She stepped free of the pooled silk and kicked off matching slippers. Glorious bare skin was all she wore beneath.

Tierney removed his shirt and reached for her again, this time she fell in his arms. He fastened on one firm breast, laving over the peak while his hand caressed its twin. She sank her fingers into his hair and moaned her pleasure. Switching, he took the other orb in his mouth while stroking over its opposite’s damp nipple. After abandoning her breasts, he gently pushed her down on the mattress. His hand lightly skimmed over her skin, over her belly, on down until he reached the juncture of her thighs. Once there, he sank his fingers into the soft curls before pushing between her legs.

Delving into wet heat, he caressed slowly over swollen flesh and dipped into her opening. He pumped then withdrew and stroked over her nub, coating it with her moisture. He moved in tight circles around the hard little bud until she laid panting and grinding her hips against his fingers.

He stopped working her clit and rolled onto his back. “Mount up, baby, and ride me,” he said with a grin.

She straddled his hips, took hold of his length, and positioned the head at her entrance. With a gasp of pleasure she impaled herself on his cock, sinking until they were skin to skin. She caught his hands in hers and began a slow pump. Their combined groans increased with the speed of her motion. Picking up her pace, she threw her head back and a long moan came out of her. After long moments, as she orgasmed, she rode him hard, slamming herself on his shaft.

When her body stopped quaking, he grasped her waist and rolled them so he had the dominant position. His mouth found hers in a hungry kiss and he nibbled at her lip. As he positioned himself better, she drew up her knees and wrapped her legs around him.

Tierney pounded into her, driving deep with each thrust. She unlocked her hold on him and planted her feet on the bed. Pumping her pelvis, she kept up with him, working with him for shared pleasure. A long moan tore out of her. She was close. Tierney was closer.

He was going to reach his peak soon. Determined to bring her to orgasm, he pumped harder and faster, sawing into her. Her moans and grunts increased in volume as her back arched and she cried, “Tierney. Oh, God, Tierney.” Hips rocking hard, her pussy squeezed him with tight contractions, gripping him in her heat.

A moment later, his orgasm roared through him, hurricane strong and lightning hot. He continued pumping until he began to soften inside her, then he slid from her clenching walls. He rolled onto his side and gathered her close.

He needed to go home and take care of things, but first he wanted to hold her for a little while. He had the rest of the night to leave and secure his bedroom.

What if someone set the house on fire? With him in it.

He hadn’t considered that possibility. If someone lit his place, he was done. He couldn’t survive fire. No vampire could.

“You have to stay here,” she said as if she’d read his thoughts.

He wanted to go home.

“Promise me, Tierney. Promise you’ll stay another day or two. At least until we have time to go back to properly secure the place. It’s late already. You don’t have enough time tonight.”

Much as he didn’t want to admit it, she was right.

He lay staring at a zigzagging crack in the wall as he debated what to do. Staying under the nose of the man who wanted to kill him was playing with fire, but so was going into a house that had been breached.

He was probably safer right where he was. It was time to start making plans to get them out of New Orleans. He could put the house up for sale through his solicitor once everything was packed and ready to ship to. . .wherever they decided to go.

Shit. He was stuck for at least a day or two.

“When we leave New Orleans, where would you like to go?”

“I think I’d like Charleston. I’ve heard it’s beautiful.”

Charleston? Sure. Why not? “We could blend in there just fine. Charleston it is.” Actually her choice was excellent. It wouldn’t take that long to travel there. They could go by water and quickly ship their belongings. Yet Charleston was far enough away that her father shouldn’t find them, assuming they covered their tracks.

“Yeah,” he said. “I think Charleston is a great idea. He grasped her hand and placed it on his hardening cock. “If I’m going to stay here tonight, we may as well take advantage of it.”

She stroked him with slow, deliberate motions. “I couldn’t agree more.” Her lovely eyes sparkled as she increased her pace. “Since we’ll have all night together. Let’s see what a vampire can really do.”

“Is that a challenge, my love?”

“Yes. It is.” She gave him a sly grin.

He quirked an eyebrow. “I hope you’re up for the answer,” he said and rolled her onto her back.

~***~

Copyright © 2011 Nickie Asher

All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental. No portion of this work may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the author.