“Why do they not provide the staff with locks?” she muttered as she leaned against the door, frantically looking around the room for something to keep it closed. The knock sounded again, and Annie felt bile rising in her throat. She would be damned if some lofty nobleman thought he could have his way with a maid!
Grabbing the heaviest item should could lift—an iron rod from the fireplace—she cracked open the door again and brandished it toward the man. “I know how to use this! I have no interest in an assignation, so move along.”
“I am so sorry to disturb you, but I am looking for Annie, the Countess of Debin’s maid,” the man responded. “I am the viscount’s valet.” His velvety voice sent gooseflesh down her arms. Would it sound thus if he were her lover? If he were thrusting inside her, saying her name as he reached his peak? Shaking off the thought, she pulled her shawl closer around herself and opened the door to the intruder.
“I am Annie,” she replied before meeting the man’s eyes. His blue gaze sent a pool of need to the core of her sex. The man looked exactly like the statue in the garden. If not for the tailored wardrobe and tidy hair, she would have sworn the statue had come to life.
“Andreanna,” he whispered.
“No, as I have said, my name is Annie.”
“I apologize,” he said with a smile. “You look like someone I once knew.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” she answered honestly. “Does the countess have need of me?”
“What? No, um, the viscount wanted me to check and see that she was comfortably situated.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “He wants to know if all is comfortable this early in the morning?”
“Yes. No,” he stuttered. “May I come in? I am afraid it is a bit more complicated than that.”
Annie eyed him warily before stepping back and permitting him entrance. If she denied the viscount’s requests, she could easily lose her position.
As she shut the door, she realized she was still clothed in her nightgown and shawl and nothing more. She turned to the intruder and watched as he looked around. For a lady’s maid, she had rather luxurious accommodations: a soft bed, a fireplace, and small desk to write at. She did not lack in certain comforts, even though her employer was a monster.
“Seeing as how it is so early and I will need to be up soon to get everything ready for my mistress, perhaps you could get to the true purpose of your visit.”
He turned and looked at her, his gaze taking her in. She was exposed, the nightgown doing little to cover her form.
“You do not recognize me?” he asked.
“As I said, you look familiar, but I am sorry, sir, I do not know you. Perhaps you should leave.” She motioned toward the door.
“No,” the man responded, reaching out to her. As soon as his hand touched hers, bolts of energy snaked in every direction on her skin.
She attempted to catch her breath as she looked at the man. “What was that?”
His body shook as if he were trying to contain himself, the stunned expression on his facing matching the feeling of desire the coursed through her own. Her gaze tracked down his body to the bulge that pushed against the placket of his trousers. It seemed to pulse and grow as she watched it. Her sex answered in return, sending white heat to the spot that ached desperately to be filled.
What was this magic? She should send him out of her room right this moment. What would the countess think if she learned Annie had admitted a man into her room? Even as she felt her body yearning for his touch, she wondered at the wisdom of allowing him into her room.
As his chest touched hers, they both drew in a breath. Her nipples protruded against her nightgown, and the thin cotton created a torturous sensation as she rubbed them against the rough material of his jacket. She groaned in frustration, her sex pulsing for attention.
Wrapping his hands around her waist, he lifted her and set her on top of the desk. His hands drifted playfully along her neck and collarbone before wandering down to tweak her hardened nipples. Annie bit her lip to hold in the moan that had risen in her throat. His mouth quickly replaced his hands, sucking her through the thin linen, gently biting on the tip, while his hands worked their way to the hem of her nightgown.
Annie shifted on the desk, allowing him to pull the fabric up around her hips. As his mouth wreaked havoc on her breasts, his hands traced up her thighs. His fingers outlined the lips of her sex, and he groaned against her breasts as he found her heat. Spreading her thighs, she gave the torturous fingers better access to play while she ran her fingers through his curly blond hair.
As his fingers slid into her core, his thumb stroked the hardened nub at the top of her sex. Annie cried out at the gentle circling, desperate for more. He chuckled against her nipple before dropping to his knees. Wedging his shoulders between her legs, Annie watched as his gaze took in her sex, his fingers still pumping into her.
“You are so beautiful,” he growled.
She met his eyes, concern filling her. He must have mistaken her for someone else, for she was no beauty. Before she could speak, his mouth joined his hand, his tongue licking up the honey from her sex, then latching onto the bud of her sex. Thought fled her as he lightly flicked the bud with his tongue and his fingers pumped into her core, brushing against a spot she had never found during her own excursions. Annie panted, desperate for the climax that beckoned. Lacing her fingers through his hair, she clung to him, urging him to go harder, to pump faster. He obliged, grazing his teeth softly against the bud, as a third finger joined the others inside her.
She catapulted over the edge, screaming as the pleasure took control of her. Her hands tightened in his hair, as she rode his mouth, as he licked every drop of her bliss.
Her fingers still wound in his hair, she lay slumped against the desk as her body cooled. He kissed her thighs and withdrew his fingers, softly tracing her sex. His soft chuckle against her thigh made her freeze. Annie removed her fingers from his hair and attempted to push herself up to sitting as he stood. His sex pushed against his pants, tenting the fabric.
“What was that?” she asked.
“Pleasure?”
“No, I know what that was, I meant this,” she said, gesturing between the two of them, her voice shrill. “I do not know you; I do not even know your name, and yet I let you do something so intimate.” She struggled, attempting to push her nightgown down, fear clenching her throat.
“Andreanna,” he started.
“My name,” she said icily, “is Annie. And your name, sir?”
“Theo. I am Theo.”
“Wonderful. Well, Theo, this was fun, but let’s pretend it never happened, shall we?” She pushed herself off the desk.
“Of course it happened!” he argued. “You cannot pretend you did not feel that. That you do not want it to happen again, right now in fact.”
“What I felt was attraction. I got what I needed, and now we are done.”
“What you felt was centuries-old magic. We’re soulmates, Annie. We are meant to be together, and that connection we just had is proof of that.”
Annie walked to the door of her bedroom and opened it. “There is no such thing as magic. I think it is time you go.”
“This is not over,” he said, his gaze taking her in before he left the room.
Annie closed the door behind him and leaned against it. Whatever had prompted her to act like a harlot could never happen again. She needed this job, or she would be out on the streets. “Magic? Soulmates?” she scoffed. “Of all the men to feel desire for, I of course pick the lunatic.”
Chapter Four
Theo stalked down to the kitchen, his body throbbing with need for Annie. He was so fucking close to having her. She had felt the connection, did not fight it at all as he lost himself in the honey of her sex, but the moment it was over, she panicked. He walked to the kitchen door that led to the garden. He took a deep breath of the cool morning air and looked at the sky. He only had today left to convince her. W
hen evening set in, his time on Earth would be finished.
“So, how did it go?” asked a cruel voice.
Theo turned to see the man in black sitting at the table. “It was acceptable.”
The man smiled, his perfect white teeth almost animalistic against his glowing eyes. “Indeed. I see she clothed you.”
“Your wife has more heart than you, I am afraid,” Theo spat. Remembering whom he spoke to, he quickly followed with, “My apologies, my Lord.”
The man laughed. “Quite all right, Theo. On that point, you are right. She is all heart, which is why it is so surprising she cheated during our little game.”
“You would have done the same, given an opportunity,” Theo said, taking a seat next to the man.
“True. Perhaps I shall have Annie’s mistress fire her. If she is not at the house party, you cannot make her fall in love with you.”
“I would find a way,” he replied. “Might I ask you something?”
“Considering you shall soon be rotting in hell, why not?” The man smiled.
“Why are you so against love?”
The man took some time to think before responding. “In truth, I am not against love. I am tired of mortals running around believing they fall in love with everyone they meet. Love is not rainbows and butterflies, Theo. It is dark, seductive, soul crushing. It is as if a piece of you is missing when they are gone. You will make any agreement to be with them, even for a short period of time.”
“And our love was rainbows and butterflies? I begged you to spare her! I offered everything I had for her to remain on this Earth. I told you I would perish without her, I would be in hell!”
“And I told you to prove it. Show me that she is a piece of you, your soulmate, or you really will be in hell without her,” he said with a smirk.
“You play with people’s lives as if it were a game. How she puts up with you, I will never understand.”
“Quite right. I shall see you soon, Theo.” And the man in black vanished, leaving only desperation behind.
“He is so dramatic. I love that about him,” the woman said from the doorway of the kitchen.
Theo pushed back his chair and stood. “What time does her mistress rise?”
“Late—considerably so. But Annie has a multitude of work to do before then. You cannot whisk her away for a romantic rendezvous.”
“I only wish to speak with her.”
“I am not sure reasoning with her will do the trick, Theo. These mortals have no understanding of the world that surrounds them. They believe magic is only found in stories, and they would never trust that a marble statue was truly just a man under a curse.”
“What would you have me do? She has asked me to leave her alone. She is so fearful of our connection, that she would rather run from it than find out what it is.”
“Then use the link to make her believe. The power between you two cannot be suppressed, no matter how hard she fights it. Use that.”
“Manipulate her with our attraction? How does that solve anything?”
“It gets you one portion of the terms my husband requires,” she said, shrugging.
“And what about the rest?”
“That will arrive in time. I have to believe you both have the resolve to prove to him that your love is true. Find her. Convince her any way you can. You do not have much time left.”
The woman turned and walked back through the kitchen door. Theo sighed as he let his body collapse into the chair. His being ached with exhaustion and hopelessness.
Glancing out the window, he watched as the sun crested over the hills beyond. Courage built within him as he stood and dusted off the foreign clothing. He had fought for Annie once, and lost. He would not lose her again.
Chapter Five
Annie bent her head as she focused on pulling the needle through the button holes. The countess’s boots were one of the many items in need of tending, and Annie could already feel a crick beginning to form in her neck from being hunched over. While the countess enjoyed her time with whatever diversions the viscount had planned, Annie quickly devoured her breakfast and scurried to her room to begin her work. There were many things to be done this morning and reminiscing on Theo was not one of them.
With the boot mended, Annie set it aside to be polished and looked at the pile that loomed on her bed. A dress that needed to be cleaned, a bonnet that required a new ribbon, and undergarments to be pressed. Plus, the countess’s bedroom needed to be tidied, and she would require her riding habit for this afternoon’s hunt. Her evening gown would need to be readied for dinner tonight, as well as the curling tongs and accoutrements she required to adorn her person. Swallowing the feeling of hopelessness, Annie picked up the bonnet.
A quiet rap at her door had her standing quickly to open it: anything to avoid the tasks in front of her. Finding Theo outside the portal, she attempted to slam the door closed. She was stunned when it came to a sudden stop. He had stuck his boot in the way, preventing her from closing it, from escaping the desire he created in her.
Panic clawed at her. “We are not repeating what happened this morning so you best leave. I am sure there are other maids visiting who would enjoy your attentions.”
He scraped his fingers through his hair and met her eyes. “Please, may I speak with you? I promise nothing will happen.”
Nodding, she stepped back from the door, determined to taper the desire that built when she was around him. Closing it quietly after he passed through, she walked to the other side of the room. His gaze froze on the pile of mending that needed her attention. “She works you to the bone,” he said.
“It is my job as her maid to tend to these things,” she replied tartly. “Get to whatever it is you need to discuss and then get out. As you can see, I have much to do.”
Theo’s gaze took in the rest of the room, landing on the desk where he had ravished her so fully only hours ago. Heat crept up Annie’s cheeks. Theo looked back at her and smiled. Were his thoughts on the same path as hers? He pulled out the chair next to the desk and motioned for her to sit on the bed. Resting lightly on its edge, she looked at him.
“My real name is Theoxenos. A lifetime ago, we knew each other. We were lovers,” he said. “We had plans to be married and have a family, but you became very sick. I pleaded with the lord of the underworld to spare your life. I offered him everything I had; money, gold, even my own life, and all were met with his denial. As punishment for asking him to save you, he turned me into a marble statue, only to be set free when your soul found mine. When you bumped into me last night, it set me free.” His eyes did not leave her face as he spoke, as he gauged her reaction.
Annie’s blood froze. How did he know she broke the statue?
“Say something,” he said.
“Does the viscount know his valet is a madman?”
Theo chuckled. “I am not a valet. This is my disguise so I could find you.”
“You are delusional,” she muttered, standing up to pace. “You expect me to believe we are, what did you say this morning, ‘soulmates’? No, this is a game you are playing. You saw me break the statue and now you are using it as control. What were you going to do if I rejected you, tell your employer?”
“Annie, this has nothing to do with the statue. I was the statue.” His voice raised in frustration. “Damnation! Annie, we do not have much longer. The lord of the underworld requires that you remember, or he will separate us for eternity. Do you not ever feel like you are searching for someone, like you are missing a piece of you? Can you not feel the pull between us? The desire? Our souls know each other. You have been looking for me the entire time!”
Annie stared at him, her heart in her throat. She had been searching, but for what, she had never known. “This is insanity,” she whispered. Theo stepped toward her. Instead of fear rising into her chest, her body thrummed with want.
“Please believe me,” Theo said, cupping her cheek with his hand. “Please, I cannot lose you again.�
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He slowly brought his mouth to hers and as his lips brushed against hers, her mind shattered. Memories assailed her of another time and another world, one where Theo was at her side. Days spent soaking in the sun and each other, and nights filled with sensual delights as they explored the passion between them. Pulling back, she gaped at him. “How is this possible?”
Theo took her lips with his again and passion exploded between them. His hands were everywhere, never stopping at one place, wringing desire from her very being. She held on, her heart beating hard against her chest as he divested her of her dress and undergarments. Barely pausing in his assault, he undressed himself. He brought their naked bodies together, and they both groaned at the contact. His hard cock throbbed against her stomach. Taking his length in her hand, she stroked him from base to tip, rounding the head and amassing the bead of moisture that had gathered there before stroking him again. Her quim pulsed at the thought of him inside her, and she moaned into his mouth.
He stepped back, and she released him, desperate to feel his thick length in her. He dropped to his knees before her, kissing along her stomach, then diving down to lick the seam of her sex and taking her bud into his mouth. Annie’s knees buckled as she grabbed his head, pulling him closer. His tongue circled her, leaving her desperate with need. Her legs shook under the onslaught of pleasure. “Please,” she whispered as her hunger climbed. “Theo, I need you inside me. Please.”
Standing, he backed her toward the door and picked her up, resting her against the surface. She wrapped her legs around his hips. His cock, poised beneath her entrance, sent a thrill of desire coursing through her. Taking his mouth roughly, she tasted herself on his tongue and moaned her delight while his cock swirled in her heat. “Theo, now. Fuck me now,” she panted against his mouth.
He lowered her down his length and she stretched to accommodate him, groaning as he filled her. He growled in response, pumping his shaft deeper into her passage. His hands gripped her ass, spreading her farther to accept him. Tracing his lips with her tongue, she sucked on his bottom lip before mimicking his cock’s movement. Theo growled against her mouth, thrusting harder, hitting that explosive spot once more.
Moonlight, Monsters & Magic Page 10
