Excessica Anthology BOX SET Winter (54 page)

“You’re
projecting.”
Morgan’s voice was
a soft whisper through her mind.
“Come
upstairs.”
There was a promise in those words she couldn’t pass up. She
took the stairs two at a time and found Morgan in the bathroom that connected
their rooms. Candles surrounded the whirlpool bathtub, which was filled with vanilla
scented bubble bath. An open bottle of wine sat on the side of the tub and soft
Celtic music played in the background. Morgan stood off to the side, watching
her with a small smile.

“You’ve
been talking to my sister,” she accused him with a smile. He gave her a
non-committal shrug. Taking hold the hem of her t-shirt, she pulled it off. “Will
you be joining me?”

Suddenly
he was behind her. He unsnapped her bra, asking, “Do you want me to join you?”

“Yes,”
she breathed, feeling his fingers brush her back. His lips pressed against her
shoulder, sending fire racing through her blood.

“Then
I will, but first let’s get you in the tub.” His fingers found their way to the
fly of her jeans. As he unsnapped, she slipped her fingers under the edge of
her jeans and shifted her hips, sliding them down and kicking them off. She was
thankful she hadn’t bothered to put shoes or socks on tonight. Her blood raced
as she looked up into his eyes, now the color of molten gold. No man had ever
had this effect on her. She now fully believed Luc was right about the whole
thing. Jamie’s breath caught and she threw her arms around his neck as he
lifted her, carried her to the tub and gently slipped her in.

The
warm water felt good against her skin and, with a sigh, she turned to watch
Morgan undress. She’d seen other men naked, but there was something about the
way he removed his clothes, while not taking his eyes off her. She found
herself absorbed in the sight of him removing his shirt, revealing a well
formed chest and abs with only a smattering of tawny-colored hair. She felt
herself become even more aroused as he unsnapped his jeans and drew them off.
His erection was outlined in his boxers. When he pulled them off, it sprang to
attention. Jamie shifted, making room for him in the tub as he slid in, and
then poured them each a glass of wine.

* *
* *

Morgan
studied Jamie over the rim of his glass, wanting to reach out and pull her on
to his lap, to make slow love to that perfect body and sink his teeth into her
soft skin. He could hear her heart beating faster than normal and smell her
arousal over the bubble-bath. When she tipped back, dipping her hair into the
water, revealing her neck and breasts, he thought he was going to explode. She
watched him through hooded eyes. After wringing the water from her hair she
took a sip of her wine. Setting it back on the edge of the tub, she smiled at
him, then moved toward him. She slid through the water to kneel directly in
front of him.

Water
dripped from her arm as she raised it and gently caressed his cheek. “I’m sorry
I was out of line this evening.” A frown creased her brow. “I’m not used to
feelings like this, or dealing with a jealous…” She paused and cocked her head
at him, searching for a word to describe their relationship, he guessed.

“Significant
other,” he supplied.

“Okay…jealous
significant other.” Jamie’s smile returned, briefly, then disappeared again as
her eyes met his. “It doesn’t help with my brother not even buried yet.” She
drew a deep breath. “The thing is, I think maybe Luc was right.” She bit her
bottom lip, waiting for him to reply.

* *
* *

Instead
of replying, he did what he’d wanted to do. Grabbing hold of her, he dragged
her onto his lap, water sloshing over the edge of the tub. Before she could
protest, he covered her lips with his in a rough, passionate kiss. He plundered
the sweet recesses of her mouth, sinking his fingers into her wet hair. Jamie’s
arms wrapped around his neck, and pulled him closer pressing her breasts against
his chest. She shifted on his lap, rubbing her bottom against his hard
erection.

She
pulled her head back to gasp for air. Shaking his hand loose, a wicked look
crossed her face. She straddled his lap, grinding herself against him.

Leaning
close to him she whispered, “Fuck me, Morgan.” Catching his bottom lip in her
teeth, she tugged gently, sucking on it. He groaned and caught her hips,
guiding himself into her. Jamie began to rock on him, causing more water to
spill over the side of the tub and slowly driving him deeper as her eyes
closed. Letting go of his lip, she leaned forward more and nipped at his neck.

Gods
she was perfect—warm, tight and wild as she began to writhe in pleasure.
Morgan held on to her hips and began pounding her harder, water splashing
everywhere. Jamie’s lips moved along his neck and her tongue licked the
sensitive skin on his ear.

“Morgan,”
Jamie growled “Make me yours.”

Her
request startled him briefly, but he wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the
mouth. Thrusting harder and faster, he nuzzled Jamie’s neck, feeling his fangs descend.
Her nails dug into his shoulders as she came closer to the edge.

“Now,”
she cried, and he struck, sinking his fangs into her bared neck. It brought her
over the brink. A high keening howl like nothing he’d ever heard before burst
from Jamie’s throat. The muscles around his member tightened and contracted,
milking him. As they did, her entire mind opened to him, assailing him with her
memories, thoughts and feelings. She rested her head on his shoulder as he
licked her neck, healing it with his saliva. After a moment, Morgan felt Jamie
nuzzle at his neck then he felt a sharp prick.

Jamie
suckled Morgan’s neck, taking only enough to seal the bond between them. He
opened to her as she had for him, allowing her to share his memories, emotions
and thoughts. As she licked at the wounds, she felt Morgan harden in her.

“Can
we move this to the bedroom?” Morgan asked with a chuckle. “The water’s getting
cold.”

She
nodded against his shoulder. Cradling her to him, Morgan got out of the tub and
carried her into his room. Setting her on the bed, he went back into the
bathroom then returned with a towel. After thoroughly drying her off, he pulled
the blanket up around her, walked around the bed and climbed in on the other
side. As she snuggled up next to him, Morgan slipped his arm around her. “How
did you know what to do?”

“Luc.”
Jamie ran her finger’s over his chest. “He warned me, telling me what was
needed and what would happen.” She placed one of her legs over his. “Now you’re
mine.” Jamie was surprised to find she liked the sound of that. Morgan was all
hers.

She
tipped her head to look up at him as he retorted, “And you’re mine. So just
remember that when those wolves come around tomorrow.”

Smiling
she murmured, “You don’t have to worry about them…” Before she could finish, he
crushed her lips possessively with his.

Chapter
Five

Jamie
woke in Morgan’s arms and for the first time in over a week, she felt relaxed.
She sighed—as much as she didn't want to she knew she had to get up. She
had work to do. Looking at Morgan she sighed again. Well, Luc and Baylee were
right. Last night proved that. Now she was bonded with him. It could have been
worse. It could have been someone like Acharius. That thought got her moving
and she slipped out from under Morgan’s arm. She wasn't worried about waking
him. Full-bloods couldn't be awakened while the sun was up.

Sitting
up, she looked around. The windows were tinted black with heavy, dark curtains.
They lay on a four poster bed with a dark coverlet. With her lupine sight she
could see better in the dark than any human. She made out a bookcase, short
dresser and two bedside tables with lamps. Pretty much the same as her room,
except she had a desk and the windows weren't tinted.

With
a smile, she leaned over and kissed Morgan gently on the lips. Getting up, she
went into the bathroom. Another smile touched her lips when she saw the drying
water pools, half full glasses and bottle of wine. Slipping into the shower,
she closed her eyes as the warm water sprayed over her body. Visions of last
night glided though her mind—Morgan's hands running over her skin, his
body against her. She groaned and slid her own hands over her breasts, then
down to toy with her clit. One hand pinched her nipple while the other slid a
finger, then two, into her. Working herself into a frenzy, she imagined Morgan
was there watching her. That thought brought her over the edge with a stifled
howl. After resting her head on the tiles to catch her breath, she washed off
and stepped out of the shower. Grabbing a towel, she dried off then slipped on
a dark blue terrycloth bathrobe and walked into her bedroom.

Picking
up the phone, she called down to the kitchen. "Hi Geoffrey, this is Jamie,
could you send up some scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, toast and coffee, black,
to my room?"

"Okay,
miss, be around ten-fifteen minutes."

"Great."
She hung up and went over to her desk to turn on her laptop. Picking up a file,
she carried it over to the bed and started sorting the pictures while the
computer booted up. The pictures were of Archarius, his house and his goons.
Archarius wasn't bad to look at for an eight hundred year old vampyre. He had
dark hair which he'd allowed to silver at the temples, giving him a distinguished
look. His eyes were a deep brown and his face had a just enough wrinkles to
give him an aged appearance. It was unique that he allowed himself to age so
much—most didn't or it happened only after a close call. Although she
noticed he was a bit vain in that his body was well maintained.

Setting
aside those photos she picked up the ones of the house, it was a Mediterranean
style with tan stucco walls, a brick colored tiled roof and a large swimming
pool in back. Unfortunately, there weren't any photos of the inside. Sean and
Shayne hadn't managed to get close enough for that. As Jamie looked over the
photos of the pool area, she noticed that there were never more than one or two
women in the pictures. Also they all looked similar, slender builds, brunette
hair, dark eyes, and young—-never older than twenty five. Thumbing
through the photos, she set those pictures in a separate pile to go over later.
Clearly this was his type, either for dinner or the other. If that was the case,
it would certainly work to her advantage.

Chapter Six

"No,
no and no," Morgan said, pacing back and forth in the library. "I
won't let you do it, it's too dangerous."

"You
don't have a choice," Jamie replied, standing and walking over to him.
When he started to protest, she pressed her fingers over his lips. "I'm
not arguing about it in front of Sean and Shayne."

He
glanced over at the other two men then nodded. Jamie smiled and removed her
fingers. Morgan caught her hand. "But we will talk about this."

Jamie
nodded. "Later." She turned back to Sean and Shayne. "Can you do
your part and get me an invite to Archarius' next party?"

"Sure,
Sugar, if your beau there doesn't object." Sean inclined his head toward,
Morgan.

Jamie
smiled and glanced up at Morgan who now slid his arms possessively around her
waist. "I'll worry about my beau, you worry about yours and getting those
tickets."

"Okay."
They stood and headed for the door. "Oh, and Morgan you don't have to
worry about us moving in on your territory." Sean grabbed Shayne and gave
him a deep open mouthed kiss. Jamie felt Morgan tense behind her and stifled a
laugh as the two men parted.

Shayne
winked at her. "Now Jamie,
you
might have something to worry
about." Jamie chuckled as they left the room. No, she didn't have anything
to worry about. At least not with Morgan.

When
they had left, Jamie turned back to Morgan. "Do I have to worry about Sean
and Shayne?"

"No,
but I'm not going to let you go to Archarius like a lamb to slaughter."
His arms tightened around her waist.

"I
understand your concern, but if this is going to work, you'll have to learn
that I don't take orders." Jamie slipped out of his grasp. "I've got
to go to work."

"Wait
a minute, we haven't settled anything."

"Well,
I still have to go to work." Jamie started for the door only to have
Morgan grab her arm and pull her back toward him. He planted a kiss on her that
rivaled the one Sean had given Shayne. Jamie pulled back after a moment. "Keep
that up and maybe I'll call in sick."

"Mmm,
sounds good. Then we can finish what we started last night."

There
was a light knock at the door and Baylee poked her head in to the room. “Jamie,
Ann just called. You’re out of rum and the supplier won’t do a …” She trailed
off. “I’m interrupting.”

“Yeah,”
Jamie said, looking over her shoulder at Baylee. With a sigh she looked up at
Morgan. “Guess I have to go to work.”

“I’ll
come visit you.”

Jamie
scrunched up her nose. “I don’t know. Last time…”

Morgan
cut her off with a kiss. When he pulled back, he waggled his eyebrows at her.

“Okay
but you have to behave yourself.”

“Of
course.”

* *
* *

Jamie
drew a deep breath and leaned with her back to the bar. Finally there was a
lull—so far it’d been crazy.

“Excuse
me, Bartender?”

She
turned slowly, and had to blink. There he was, the SOB who’d killed her
brother. Jamie swallowed. “What can I do for you?”

“I’d
like to speak to the owner.”

“You’re
looking at her. Is there a problem?”

“No.
It’s nothing like that. Could we talk in private?”

No
,
her mind screamed.
Never
!
But she said, “Okay. My office is right
over here.” Jamie gestured for him to follow her even though it turned her
stomach.

 Archarius
followed her into the office and she shut the door behind them. He settled in
the chair in front of her desk.