Love Supernaturally Read online

  While Fraser’s hands explored her curves through her shirt, her hands made their way up and down his back. Grabbing close to the waist of his jeans, she pulled up his shirt, feeling his naked flesh. Her nails gently traced the contours of his muscles. He sat up and, looking deep into her eyes, pulled his shirt up over his head and dropped it to the floor. Rules, Cassie, remember your rules.

  Rules, schmules. With a bit of contortion, she managed to remove her own shirt. She lay down in her bra and yoga pants, feeling the comfort of his weight and the warmth of his chest press against her. Thank you God for all those Pilates classes.

  Heat raced through every inch of her body, deep to her core.

  Enjoy it. You deserve it. No obligation for eternity here, simply two consenting adults taking pleasure in each other.

  She pushed against Fraser gently, not allowing their lips to break contact, and sat up.

  As she ended the kiss, she unwound her legs from around him, and before she could reconsider, she took his hand and led him upstairs.

  She stopped inside the open bedroom door and kissed Fraser. His lips were heaven. He wrapped his strong arms around her, crushing her to his chest, and she melted into him.

  Fraser released his hold and undid Cassie’s bra, freeing her breasts. Breaking contact for a moment, she dropped her bra and shimmied out of her pants. She shuffled backwards until her knees hit the bed frame, and she fell back on the cool comforter. Fraser’s eyes roamed her nakedness, while she drank in the magnificent sight before her. Hockey player, hot damn! By the definition in his arms and the tightness of his abs, he worked out. A lot! Bodies like that belonged in a magazine, not in her bedroom. She bit down on her lip as he stepped out of his jeans, his cock rising from its bed of dark curls. She marveled at its size and the beauty of the male body.

  He knelt on the mattress beside her, and with one strong hand, pinned her arms above her head while gently kissing the inside of her elbows. Her heart hammered in her ears.

  Sooo good. It had been too long since a man held her. Too long since she felt the ache between her legs. And too long since someone else had put an end to that hunger. Butterflies of warmth spread through her body, their wings beating flutters of passion.

  Cupping her breast with the other hand, his fingers teased and flicked at her nipples making the small dark buds swell and harden. His hand made its way to the sensitive skin of her inner thigh.

  He released Cassie’s arms, and his mouth followed where his hands had been. She instinctively reached down and entangled her hands in his dark curly hair. The soft tendrils coiled around her fingers.

  She spread her legs as the rough texture of his unshaven face pressed between them, and she arched in delight as his tongue explored her hidden nub. Please. More. He licked and teased, and she moaned in response. The pressure built and built. Her breathing quickened. Suddenly…it stopped.

  What the…? She opened her eyes and raised her head.

  Pushing off the bed, Fraser picked up his discarded jeans and hunted though his wallet, concern etched on his handsome face. His cock stood erect, rock hard like his abs. He winked at her as he removed the little foil wrapper.

  Well, at least one of us is thinking straight.

  Sheathing his swollen length in the glossy protection, he moved back between her legs. Poised above her. Ready to enter. Wet and wanting, Cassie hungered to feel him inside her. She raised her hips in unspoken invitation. His eyes, filled with need and passion, never left hers as he slid deep within, her tunnel so moist that even given his size, he entered easily.

  Yes! Yes! Had she said that out loud? It didn’t matter. “Yes,” she cried again.

  She gazed into his eyes as he made love to her. Faster and faster they moved until she could look no longer. Her eyes rolled back as her body clenched in orgasm, and she basked in the intimate grip she had on him.

  He released a long shuddering breath, and she peeked to see Fraser watching her. A warm, lazy smile now played on his lips.

  “You’re beautiful,” he said, and kissed her.

  ****

  Cassie turned her head and studied Fraser as he slept. His chest moved up and down as he breathed lightly. Feelings of wanton guilt wrestled with the glow of sexual satisfaction. And something else—some other, yet unnamed emotion—struggled against them both. The combined effects rolled around in her head like a dizzying ball of confusion.

  She should’ve made an excuse when he’d asked to come over. Something about Fraser, however, made her ignore her instincts. Had it been the same for her mother? She couldn’t imagine giving up her current life for a man—no matter what—and yet she had disregarded her better judgment by allowing Fraser to come over last night. For allowing him to kiss her, for kissing him back, and then…

  Everything about this cried out “wrong” and yet she couldn’t help but bask in how right it felt being with him. Sadness washed over her. She’d have to stop seeing him. He wanted a big family, he’d said so. Even if he hadn’t spoken the words, the way his face lit up when he spoke of Joannie’s kids…undeniable. Children, non-angel children, did not hold a place in her future.

  Gentle fingers caressed her cheek. “You okay?”

  She opened her eyes. Fraser’s rich brown eyes stared back. “Something wrong?” he asked.

  I broke a very important rule—a number of them actually. “No. Not at all,” she replied, forcing a smile.

  Fraser shifted and raised his head in his hand. He studied her face, concern scarring his handsome features.

  Say something. What? It’s not you, it’s me?

  The silence grew.

  “Well, I have a confession to make,” he said. “Or maybe an apology. I don’t know what came over me last night. I…I’ve been celibate now for over a year. Don’t get me wrong, I had an amazing time last night and wouldn’t change it for anything, but I want you to know it was not my intention to get you into bed last night.”

  “You? Celibate? Why?” I know what that’s like. But what reasons could he possibly have?

  “I’m ashamed to say that I went through a period where I slept around quite a bit. Don’t worry, I always used protection. And…another thing…I’ve been tested. I’m clean.” He flopped back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. “As silly as this sounds, the sleeping around wasn’t my own doing. I mean, ego aside, I’ve been told I’m an attractive guy. Besides the regular hockey groupies, I would go to the campus bar, the gym…shit, even the library…and I could come home with half a dozen phone numbers.” He rolled to face her. “As a young, healthy male, I just couldn’t…or wouldn’t…say no. Finally, I had to say enough is enough.”

  “That’s very…”

  “Wrong? Weird?”

  “No, I was thinking noble,” she said. Well, the enough-is-enough part. The part about sleeping with a number of other women would probably bother her more when she obsessed about it later.

  “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back.”

  Cassie rolled to her side and studied Fraser as he walked to the door. The morning light streamed through the windows. Relief washed over her. He didn’t have a hairy back. And no green aura.

  His arms and chest were muscular as she already knew, and his legs looked like they got the same amount of attention in the gym. Does any of it really matter? Even if he did want to continue to see her, she’d have to end it. So many strikes against him: family of a patient, multiple dates, and these…feelings. Feelings she had never experienced before. All signs pointed in one direction…stop seeing Fraser.

  She closed her eyes as she waited for him to finish in the bathroom and then admired him through lowered lids as he returned. Instead of going to the side of the bed he’d exited, he walked around and crawled intimately behind Cassie. The minty smell of mouthwash tickled her nose.

  “Happy New Year,” he said, nibbling at her neck and running his hand along the contours of her hips.

  His shaft nudged at her backside, and butterfly w
ings beat in her stomach as his lips made their way to her ear. His tongue darted in quickly, then traced the outside. His teeth nipped the lobe.

  Maybe she did deserve a little happiness. He had given up his self-imposed celibacy for her. To say Fraser made her happy was an understatement.

  His hand cupped her breast, his fingers playing with the nipple. Despite the coldness of his hand, warmth spread like a blanket over her body.

  And why shouldn’t they enjoy the time that they had together? He was propositioning her, not proposing.

  “I’ll have to stop at a drug store before we can have a reenactment of last night,” he said, climbing over her. “But I’m sure we can figure out something else.” His head disappeared beneath the sheets.

  She sucked in a breath. “Okay.”

  ****

  Cassie ignored the little voices inside her head, and Fraser stayed the entire day, popping out for an hour, late in the morning, to visit Joe. And the drug store. The green shimmer never returned, and no one spoke of supernatural abilities. Of course, why would he?

  After a dinner of re-heated Chinese food, they decided to go see another movie on her list. Although the sky had been clear when they left, the weather on the way home left much to be desired. Ice and snow now coated the slippery roads. Thankfully, Fraser drove.

  He maneuvered skillfully over the slick roads, slow and cautious. Rain, not snow, had caused the deaths of her mother and stepfather, but she still hated to be on the roads in bad weather.

  Suddenly red taillights slid back and forth; the car in front spun out of control and off the highway. Cassie’s heart rate increased, and she held her breath. She twisted her gloves tightly in her hands as she watched the other vehicle roll twice before landing on its roof.

  “Fraser, pull over. We’ve got to see if anyone is hurt.” Deep within she sensed the vehicle’s only occupant did not have much longer. Please, let me get there in time.

  Slowly, to avoid ending up in the same predicament, Fraser pulled to the side of the highway, past where the small car had gone off. Cassie threw open the door and hurried toward the overturned car. Her heart pounded in her ears at double speed, while her feet struggled to move in the deep snow. Death was never a welcome visitor.

  Fraser’s voice echoed faintly somewhere behind her as he spoke to the emergency operator.

  Because of the way the car had rolled, the driver’s side lay closest to the highway. She knelt by the window and struggled with the door. Fraser stooped beside her, but the accident had crippled the vehicle’s frame, and for all his size and muscle, he couldn’t help budge the door. Death drew nearer for the occupant. Cassie put her hand to the window and closed her eyes. She began to quietly hum the death song. The same one she’d sung hundreds of times before.

  “Cassie!”

  Her eyes flew open. Fraser grabbed her and arched his body over hers, offering protection. Another car flew through the air—straight at them. No doubt it would crush them. But kill them? She felt no urge to sing. Not for herself. Not for Fraser either. Did her fear outweigh her angel nature? Or was that the one reprieve offered to an angel…you didn’t know when your own death drew near?

  As the vehicle came closer, she understood. A protective green ball of light formed around them, causing the car to veer from its original path. The vehicle flew past Cassie and her protector, and continued its revised course to land a few meters away.

  Her body shook at the experience, and she collapsed to sit in the snow. What? How? A minute…I need a minute.

  “Oh, my God,” said a shaken Fraser. “That was way too close. Are you okay?”

  “Yes, I’m fine. Thank you. You saved my life.”

  “I’d say ‘you’re welcome,’ but I didn’t do anything. I can’t believe the car missed us. I thought we were dead.”

  Fraser remained crouched next to her, releasing large puffs of anxious breath into the cold night air. The wide-eyed look of shock and disbelief was written on his face, but she knew…fate hadn’t saved them.

  The wheee-yooo of the sirens called out before she saw the flash of the emergency lights.

  ****

  After talking to the police, Fraser wrapped an arm around Cassie and guided her to the SUV.

  “I better get you home,” he said. “It’s freezing, and I’ve had enough excitement for the night. Really makes the movie pale in comparison.”

  “Could we make a stop someplace else first? I wouldn’t ask but…it’s important.”

  Important? He glanced at her in the darkened interior. Was she kidding?

  “It’s not too far from here.” She dug in her purse. “Let me just make a phone call first.”

  Fraser started the car and turned the heater up while she got out her cell phone.

  “Hey, it’s Cassie. Do you have some time?”

  The SUV idled while she waited for the answer. A red light flashed in his rearview mirror. His nerves stretched taut as violin strings.

  “Now, actually. Yeah, it’s important. I’ll explain when we get there.”

  More silence. How could she be so calm?

  “OK. See you soon.” She turned to Fraser. “Take the next exit.”

  He wriggled his fingers, breaking their deathlike grip on the steering wheel. He’d never been so scared in his life. He wanted to go home. And have a stiff drink. Why did he agree to take her someplace else?

  Maybe being a nurse makes her immune to this stuff.

  They drove in relative silence, Cassie directing him where to turn.

  “Pull in here,” she said as they came to a long driveway. The houses on the street were big, and the one in front of them stood larger than the rest.

  “Should I ask where we are?”

  “An old friend lives here. His name is Lucius.”

  They rang the bell and waited. The huge oak door creaked open. Cool, yet creepy. A tall, thin man in black jeans and a black turtleneck stood inside, his long white-blond hair loosely gathered in a ponytail.

  “Hello, Cassandra, my dear,” the man greeted his friend. He kissed her on both cheeks. “Happy New Year.”

  “Hello, Lucius. Happy New Year to you, too. Thank you for seeing us on such short notice. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.”

  “No, just taking it easy. Recovering from last night.”

  “Yes, I’m sorry again. I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t think it was important.” Cassie turned. “Lucius, this is Fraser.”

  “Yes,” he said simply and stuck out his hand to Fraser.

  “Hello,” said Fraser, offering his hand.

  Lucius enclosed the grasp, so Fraser’s one hand was gripped tightly between Lucius’s two. Weird. Must be European.

  “Yessss,” Lucius purred. “Welcome, Fraser. Won’t you both come in?”

  They stood in the foyer, removing their coats and boots. Lucius took the former and hung the cold damp garments in a nearby closet. The doors appeared as regular wall panels so that to the unknowing eye, no closet existed. They paraded through an expansive black and white tiled hall. Life size statues, engaged in various sex acts, adorned recesses in the walls.

  He laughed nervously. Could this night get any stranger?

  Fraser studied the large chandelier. Hundreds of lights flickered like candle flames. He squinted harder. No. It would be impossible for anyone to light them up there.

  He followed Cassie and their host through the hallway to the library. Rich dark wood shelves covered the walls, floor to ceiling, and books filled every crevice. Several black leather chairs and ottomans, of varying shapes and sizes, faced off in an open circle in the middle of the room. The wall opposite held an imposing marble fireplace; a crackling fire danced within. Cassie’s friend definitely had money.

  “Do take a seat. Can I get either of you a drink? You look as if you could use one, Cassandra, and it is not often I would say that of you.”

  “Thank you, Lucius, yes. I’d love a glass of wine, white if you have it.”

&n
bsp; “Certainly. And you, Fraser? Beer? A scotch perhaps?”

  “A scotch would be great,” answered Fraser. He would’ve asked for a double except he still had to drive home. One would be okay. It would calm his nerves.

  “All right, I’ll return in a couple of minutes, and then you can tell me what brought you here tonight.”

  “What exactly are we doing here, Cassie?” Fraser asked after they were alone in the room. He clenched and unclenched his hands, ill at ease in the stranger’s house.

  “If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me. Trust me. Let’s wait for Lucius.” He followed her across the dark, plush carpeting and sat by her in one of the chairs near the fire.

  Minutes later Lucius returned with a tray. He offered the wine to Cassie and one of the two scotches to Fraser. Taking the second tumbler, Lucius made his way to a chair opposite.

  “So, tell me.” Lucius leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, the ice tinkled against the glass.

  Cassie recounted the story of their drive and the accident, of how they pulled over to help the driver. She told how the two of them were kneeling down by the driver trying to get him out when a second car came hurtling off the road toward them.

  Just hearing the story again, made his heart race.

  “It was heading right toward us, Lucius. I mean flying directly at us, and then it suddenly changed direction in the air and went by.”

  “Fraser?” Lucius remarked. “Is that what happened? Would you say it ‘suddenly changed direction’?”

  “I don’t know what I would say exactly, but it did look as though it was flying straight at us. I remember praying it would go over us…or something.”

  “Praying?” Lucius asked.

  “Well, I wouldn’t consider myself a religious man, but I was certainly asking someone to make it miss us. I was sure we were going to be crushed.”

  “Does that happen often? Do you pray…or wish…for something and find it happens?”

  He looked from Lucius to Cassie. “I think I’m a pretty lucky guy, if that’s what you’re asking. Why? Cassie?”