Unforgettable
Authors: Laylah Roberts
Unforgettable
By
Laylah Roberts
Copyright
Laylah Roberts
Unforgettable
© 2012, Laylah Roberts
Self-publishing
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher.
This story contains the consensual spanking of an adult woman.
Cover Design by: ebookcoverdesignsbycarey.com
Table of Contents
Chapter One:
Chapter Two:
Chapter Three:
Chapter Four:
Chapter Five:
Chapter Six:
Chapter Seven:
Chapter Eight:
Chapter Nine:
Chapter Ten:
Epilog:
Chapter One:
Run faster. Faster. Adrenaline pumped through her veins, fueling her flight. She crashed through the shrubbery. The moonless night had her struggling to see even a foot in front of her. She tripped and fell. Forced herself to get back up. Air pounded through her lungs as she gasped, trying to find some extra energy, a second wind.
She had to keep going. She couldn’t stop. She couldn’t falter. They were faster. They were stronger. They were gaining. They would catch her.
Then she would die.
Eden sat up, gasping, her body desperately pleading for oxygen, overpowering fear swelling her throat until only a mere whisper of air could pass through. Spots danced in front of her eyes as the world receded into inky black.
No! Fainting was not an option. Sheer stubbornness kicked in, helping her fight back. She forced her body to relax enough so air could trickle through. Gradually her vision returned, her lungs rejoicing with each large gulp of oxygen.
Calm was a long time coming, though, as her body fought hard to shake free from the anxiety attack. Her heart continued to thunder in her ears, drowning out all other sound. Small electric-like shocks raced up and down her body, causing her to twitch and tremble.
As Eden shook herself free of the last of the nightmare’s hold, she realized how cold she’d become. Rapidly cooling sweat now coated her body.
Yuck.
With a moue of disgust, she rose from the bed and padded her way down to the small bathroom. Light shone brightly throughout the house in a desperate attempt to keep back the ever encroaching darkness.
Sleeping without a light on wasn’t an option. She’d tried it a few times only to lie in the dark, gradually growing more and more panicked. She had no idea if it was a new phobia or an old one. Rubbing her head, she grumbled under her breath as she tried to remember, searched for a flicker of memory about her past.
Nothing.
“Goddammit, why can’t I remember?” she groaned, her hands forming fists as she took in a deep breath. Sleep wouldn’t come to her again tonight. Turning on the shower, she stripped herself out of her damp nightgown and stepped into the cubicle. Where they hell were these nightmares coming from? Were they actually a memory? Had someone been chasing her that night she’d been hit?
What was I doing in the middle of nowhere at 2 a.m.?
She couldn’t remember a thing before she’d woken up in hospital nearly four weeks ago. Bruised, battered and afraid, she’d been unable to answer any of the Sheriff’s questions, frustrating for Rick. Truly terrifying for her.
Rick had filled in some holes for her. She’d ended up in hospital after having been hit by a car. The poor man who’d been driving the car said she’d just appeared out of nowhere and run right out in front of him.
According to Rick, who’d been first on the scene, she’d been disheveled, dirty and bruised. He figured she’d been running for a while. But although he’d done his best to figure out how she’d gotten there or who she was he’d come up with nothing.
Alone.So alone.
She shivered. Thank God for Rick. The Sheriff had become her savior. Her only friend in a strange new world where she had no idea who she was or where she had come from. The hospital staff had been kind, but once she’d healed they’d been unable to help her further. Rick had come to her rescue, bringing her home with him and renting her this small cottage on his property. She knew he still searched for answers, and wouldn’t stop until he knew something.
Eden didn’t even know her last name. There had been no identification on her except a bracelet with her first name. Luckily, Rick had helped her get a job at the local diner or she’d have been totally screwed.
Despite the hot shower, she still trembled. What had she been doing in the forest? Why had she been there? Were her nightmares actually memories? Had someone been chasing her? Trying to hurt her? And why was no one looking for her? Did no one care enough about her to look for her?
Eden stepped out of the shower, shaking slightly at the idea of being so alone. She dried herself off, wrapping herself in the robe she kept on the back of the door.
Maybe I should see a shrink. At the very least I should go to the doctor, get some sleeping pills.
Exhausted from nights of interrupted sleep, she was worried about her health. The last thing she needed was to fall asleep at work or behind the wheel of her car.
Rubbing her head to ease the headache she’d developed, Eden walked into her small kitchen and brewed some tea. She’d started the ritual to calm herself. Unfortunately it was becoming less and less effective.
She wished she knew who she was, where she’d come from and if her nightmares were a memory disguised as a dream.
Because Eden had a bad feeling she was in trouble and she had no idea how she was going to protect herself.
*****
Eden blamed her inattention on her broken sleep, certain she’d have noticed him otherwise. He appeared like magic by her car. She watched, frozen, as his gaze roamed her face and body with a familiarity that surprised her. Each sweep of his eyes devoured her, ate away at her until she felt like crumbling at his feet.
Finally, her lungs set out a SOS to her brain and she realized she’d been holding her breath. Taking a deep gasp of air, she took a large step back, her body trembling from the heated assault of his gaze.
“C-can I help you?”
The man standing before her leaned back against her car. He crossed his arms over his expansive chest while whiskey-colored eyes stared down at her thoughtfully.
She had the feeling she was going to be late for work.
“Well?” she asked, irritation momentarily overriding her fear.
One eyebrow rose at her caustic question, and she shivered at the gesture, fighting back the ridiculous need to placate the silent giant in front of her, to smooth the sharp fury she sensed lurking under his calm façade.
“Is that the only greeting you have for me, kitten?” he asked in a low voice that seemed achingly familiar.
“Do I know you?” Did she know this terrifying man? Who was he? Why couldn’t she remember him? Panic welled up inside her.
Forcing the panic to subside enough for her to think, Eden took a closer look at him. At over six feet tall with a broad chest, arms and legs thick with muscle, he could be mistaken for being hired muscle, all brawn and no brain. But when she looked into those exotic, fiercely intelligent eyes, she knew that this man was no one’s lackey.
A strong jaw and hair the color of dark caramel framed a face that could have been carved from maple—it was all strong edges and smooth planes with few lines or crevices to mar the perfection. Full lips held a hint of wicked sensuality, the impression of merciless demand. Deep, rich, whiskey-colored eyes gazed down at her with possessive intensity, drawing her in, dragging her under his spell.
Suddenly she saw those eyes looking down at her in another time, another place, where she writhed under him in pleasure, his eyes holding her gaze with mesmerizing ease.
Snapping back into the present, she gasped in a much needed breath, feeling shaken and confused. Was that really a memory or a dream? Did she know this man intimately? If so, what the hell had she been thinking? It was obvious he was dangerous, a lethal warrior.
Shards of ice ripped through her brain as she strained to remember him. Wincing, swaying, she held a trembling hand up to her aching head. Eden didn’t see him move, but suddenly he was beside her, his hand grasping her elbow to support her as she gasped with the shock of his touch.
“Are you all right? Are you sick? Dammit, talk to me,” he urged her, his voice worried.
Heat.Darkness. Passion. Danger. Each sensation followed the other, a high speed roller coaster of emotion sweeping her away. His scent surrounded her in a soft glide of heat.
“W-who are you?” Panicked, she tried to fight him off. His touch and the feelings he evoked were too much for her struggling memories.
“Don’t move, baby, lean against me,” he ordered her with intimate familiarity as he gently massaged her neck. “Do you have a headache? You should go back to bed.”
Who the hell was he?
“Let me go!” she told him, her voice so weak she couldn’t manage more than a whisper.
His hold didn’t budge. “Ed-”
“Galen! What are you doing over here?” A deep voice asked.
The man holding her against his him stiffened before moving in a blur of speed to place himself between her and Rick, who was striding towards them, his face friendly although she could see the tension in his shoulders.
Then her view of Rick was gone, replaced by a broad back as the large man before her shifted, completely blocking her off from Rick. Her headache became a deep ache as she frowned at his back, annoyed.
“Get out of my way,” she demanded. What the hell was he doing? Could he actually be trying to protect her from Rick? The thought was so ludicrous she instantly dismissed it. She didn’t even know this man. Did she? Oh God, she was so confused.
“Be quiet and obey me,” he told her firmly, not even bothering to turn around and face her, as though totally sure she’d do what he ordered without question. His arrogance astounded her.
“Andrews,” the giant in front of her spoke to Rick, a faint hint of a question in his voice.
Eden took a step to the side, trying to catch a glimpse of Rick Andrews, her landlord and pretty much her only friend. But as she shifted so did the man in front of her, she had no idea how he could sense her moving as he didn’t even look at her once.
“Stop it,” she hissed. She stepped forward, prepared to walk around him to Rick, desperately needing to get away from this man and his effect on her. For some reason she had the craziest urge to touch him, to run her hand over his back, to snuggle into his chest.
As she stepped up next to him, he reached out and grabbed her wrist, tugging her back. “Stay behind me,” he ordered harshly, sparing her a glare before locking his gaze on Rick once more.
“Why? Let me go.” She tugged at his hold on her without success. Damn man effortlessly kept hold of her, pulling her back behind him.
“No, you’re safer behind me,” he said impatiently. “Don’t argue with me.”
“Safer?” she squealed angrily. “Don’t argue? Are you insane? I don’t even know you. As far as I can tell the only dangerous thing around here is you. Rick is my friend. I don’t know who you are or what you think you’re doing but I want you to let go of my hand right now before I have Rick arrest you for assault!”
She heard Rick groan but ignored him, her attention completely caught by the man who half-turned, his eyes narrowing as he stared at her thoughtfully. Eden gulped and swallowed the apology that sprung to her lips. She owed this man nothing, she didn’t even know him.