She went around the carousel, reading the various metal plaques. There was a phoenix, tiger, jaguar and a bear missing. She was almost around the carousel when she came to the other remaining animal.
She knew what it was, but was half afraid to look at it. Would the lion be like the one in her dream?
Araminta slowly raised her head and met the gaze of a huge, majestic creature—a lion, the king of the beasts. And he did indeed look like a king with his thick chest, muscular legs and enormous paws. But it was his face that held her attention. His mane was thick and shaggy, done in shades of yellow, orange and brown. His mouth was open on a silent roar, exposing sharp fangs and a pink tongue.
She shivered as memories of her dream man rushed through her. His tongue had been clever and the texture had been like fine sandpaper. “Forget him,” she admonished herself. “Concentrate on what you’re doing here and now.”
She peered into the creature’s eyes and took a step back. They were molten gold and they seemed to be staring right at her.
Chapter Four
Araminta was overwhelmed with the urge to run but was unable to move. She was rooted to the spot.
The lion’s eyes were so realistic. Whoever had carved the animals for this ride was a master craftsman. She’d never seen anything quite this spectacular. The lion was so lifelike she felt as though she could reach out and touch his thick mane and the smooth, heavily muscled flanks of his body and feel a creature of flesh and blood instead of wood and paint.
She licked her lips and glanced nervously over her shoulder. All she’d need was for hotel security to find her somewhere she wasn’t supposed to be. She really should leave.
But she couldn’t. Not until she touched the lion. She’d never really had a fascination with any animal before, but she did now. She’d had that incredible dream last night and now this. Her next shifter book would definitely feature a lion as the hero.
Her hand shook as she raised it and reached out. Fingers stroked over wood and a deep sense of disappointment struck her. She’d really expected to feel fur and warmth. Which was really stupid. She’d blame it on the alcohol except all she’d had tonight was ginger ale.
“You really are quite handsome.” That was a tame word for such a majestic creature. “Wild and feral and very impressive.” She trailed her hand over his back and stroked his mane. She wondered what it would feel like if he were real. Would it be thick and soft or coarse and rough?
She sighed and let her hand fall back to her side. As much as she could stay all night and study the carousel animal, it was time for her to go back to her room and pack for the trip home.
It was disappointing, and for a brief moment, she imagined this is what Cinderella must have felt like when the clock stroked midnight. This weekend was all about fantasy, but the fairy tale was over and reality waited.
“Fierce, isn’t he?”
Araminta whirled around and felt her face heating. She was caught red-handed. “Ah, yes, he is.”
Luna sauntered across the room, her high heels clicking on the hardwood floor. She was wearing another form-fitting dress. This one was a burnished gold and looked striking with her ebony hair. Her eyes tilted up the slightest bit at the outer corners, adding to her exotic appearance. Her makeup was flawless, her clothing runway caliber and the gold and diamonds at her neck certainly looked real.
Araminta felt frumpy in her black dress and costume jewelry.
Luna’s lips curved up into a sensual smile when she reached Araminta’s side. “He really is something special.” Luna reached out and touched the lion’s head, and Araminta suddenly wanted to smack the other woman’s hand away, to tell Luna that the lion belonged to her.
She wanted to protect him.
This night kept getting weirder and weirder.
“I saw you leave the party earlier. I thought you’d only gone to the ladies’ room, but you didn’t come back.” Luna sauntered around the carousel and trailed her fingers over the wolf’s flanks. “There’s nothing wrong, is there?”
Araminta blinked when she thought she saw the wolf tense beneath Luna’s touch. She shook her head. “No, nothing at all. I just thought I’d call it a night. I’m not much of a partier.” For some reason she felt the need to apologize, which wasn’t like her. It was probably because she didn’t want Luna to think she wasn’t enjoying herself. “It’s been a wonderful weekend.”
“I’m glad you’re having fun.” Luna’s painted fingernails stood out against the wolf’s black and gray fur. With their deep-red color they looked almost like drops of blood spilling over the animal’s side. “I thought you might have decided to have a really good time tonight.” Luna flashed another smile. “I saw the bartender chatting you up earlier.”
Araminta snorted. “Me and several other women apparently.”
Luna’s lips flattened into a grim line. “Is that so?”
Crap, she hadn’t meant to make trouble for the guy, even if he was a jerk. “I knew it was just harmless flirting. It didn’t mean anything.”
Luna smiled again, but this time it seemed brittle, not quite as natural.
Araminta took a step back and let her hands fall by her sides. “I really should be getting to my room. It was a lovely evening.” And the quicker it was over the better.
“You should ride him.” Luna’s words stopped her cold. Araminta glanced longingly at the carousel but shook her head.
“I shouldn’t. This piece is old, museum quality really, and I don’t want to damage it.” As much as she longed to sit on the lion, she didn’t want to do it with Luna watching her. She’d feel too self-conscious and silly.
“Nonsense,” the other woman replied. “I know the owner of the carnival who is auctioning off all this stuff and he wouldn’t mind at all. In fact, he’d insist.” She moved closer and laid her hand on Araminta’s arm. “You must try him. I won’t take no for an answer.”
Araminta sensed the underlying command in Luna’s voice and didn’t understand why it was so important to her. She almost refused, but she thought of her agent, her publisher and her upcoming book. She didn’t want to make an enemy out of Luna Starquest by refusing such a simple request. It would make her look petty considering the honor Luna had given her by inviting her to her special author’s weekend.
“Sure. Why not?” She smiled at Luna even though she could think of a half dozen reasons why she shouldn’t. “Thank you.” As soon as she was done, she would say goodnight to her host and end this bizarre evening.
“Excellent.” The satisfaction in Luna’s voice gave her pause, but there was no turning back now.
Araminta wished she were wearing pants and not a dress. It would make this so much easier. But she could do this. A quick on and off and she’d be on her way back to her room in no time.
She stepped up onto the side of the platform, almost pitching forward when it tilted with the extra weight. The lion really was quite large and it wouldn’t be easy to climb onto his back, especially not while wearing a dress.
“Go ahead. No need to be shy.” Luna waved her hands in a shooing motion.
The lights seemed especially warm beaming down on the carousel and Araminta began to sweat. The whole room seemed hotter than it had been only moments before. Luna had moved out of the direct light, more into the shadows. She seemed almost malevolent standing there, watching, waiting.
Now she was being utterly ridiculous. The woman was giving her the chance to try out an antique carousel animal. It was a wonderful thing and would be a great opportunity. All she had to do was climb on and enjoy herself. She could definitely use the experience in her next book and the writing would be all the more realistic if she’d actually sat on the lion’s back. The heroines in her books had ridden a carousel animal. Now she was being given the chance to do it too.
“The clock is ticking,” Luna reminded her.
Once again, Araminta felt like Cinderella, except this time in reverse. In the fairy tale, Cinderella’s life
went back to normal at the stroke of twelve. Araminta had the feeling her life would never be the same if she did this. She could sense Luna’s growing impatience.
“Just do it and get it over with,” she whispered under her breath. She shoved aside all her misgivings, hiked up her skirt and threw her leg over the back of the lion. It wasn’t easy, but she grabbed his neck and pulled herself upward until she was sitting on his back.
She dug her fingers into his carved mane for support. There were no handles for her to hold, which was weird for a carnival ride. Maybe it had been modified to be more of a showpiece than an actual working carousel. That made more sense than to believe it had never had handles.
“How does it feel?” Luna asked.
Araminta glanced toward Luna, but could no longer see her. The direct spotlight was making it difficult to see more than a few feet into the darkness. “Wonderful.”
Now that was an understatement. She might be a writer, but at the moment, she was at a loss for words. Her thighs were wrapped tight around the lion’s flanks and her hands gripped his mane. He might be an inanimate object, carved from wood instead of a flesh and blood animal, but he felt alive beneath her in a way she couldn’t begin to explain.
She almost expected him to tilt back his huge head and roar, letting the world know that the king of the jungle was alive and well. She must be really tired to have such loopy thoughts. It was time for her to leave.
Araminta wished she could take the lion home with her and put him in the corner of her living room, but that wasn’t going to happen. He was such an incredible creature, surely his auction value had to be more than she could afford. Maybe she could sneak back down tomorrow morning with her camera and take a few photos before she left. Having them would certainly help with her next book.
“Thank you for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Luna. I appreciate it.” She started to slide off the lion’s back but stopped when the carousel lurched and began to move. “What’s happening?” Araminta was shocked the ride still worked considering how neglected it appeared. She dug her heels into the lion and held on to his thick neck.
Music filled the space, starting low and getting louder with each passing second. The notes were wheezy and slow at first, but quickly picked up speed. The tune wasn’t one she knew, but was the generic carnival music that seemed to go with this kind of ride.
“This really isn’t safe. I should get off now.” She was starting to get dizzy. The ride seemed to be picking up speed as it went. Araminta was afraid to try to climb off the lion’s back while the carousel was moving. With the fitted skirt of her dress and high heels making it difficult to maneuver, she’d be sure to fall.
“It’s much too late for that.” Luna stepped closer to the whirling ride, her face a blur as Araminta went round and round. And Luna was no longer alone. Rick the bartender was standing beside her, as were all the event staff and many of the participants from the conference.
“I don’t understand,” Araminta cried. None of this made any sense. Why were they just standing there watching her? Her heart raced and her breathing came faster with each spin of the carousel, in spite of her efforts to remain calm. “Turn off the ride. Pull the plug,” she yelled above the din of the music.
Luna laughed and the shrill sound sent a shiver down Araminta’s spine. It was filled with malice and anger. “It’s not plugged in. The ride will only start for the right woman.”
Their faces were nothing more than a blur of light and color as the carousel spun faster and faster with each rotation. The lights flickered like a strobe. It was disorienting, and she leaned forward and wrapped her arms tight around the lion’s neck to keep from falling. At this speed, if she fell she would be seriously injured.
“Why are you doing this?” She couldn’t understand why this was happening, why they were standing there watching her.
“Why?” Luna moved closer and her appearance seemed changed. No, that wasn’t quite right. It was skewed, as though a mask she’d been wearing had slid off, leaving her real face exposed. Her skin was leathery, her hair stringy and lank. But it was her eyes that made Araminta’s stomach turn. Her eyes were glowing a fiery red, like the depths of Hell.
It had to be a trick of the lights and the speed at which she was revolving. Or maybe it was a dream. That’s what this was. Had to be. She’d already made it to her room and was asleep having a nightmare.
That should have comforted her, but it didn’t. Maybe it would when she finally woke up safe and sound in bed, but this felt all too real. Wind buffeted her body and face as the ride continued its mad spin. Luna and the others began chanting something, words she couldn’t understand. The lights began to flicker even more and she had to close her eyes against them. They were disorienting her and she was terrified of falling.
She clung to the lion, digging fingers into the carved wooden form, her thighs clenched tight around the animal’s flanks. She gasped when the wood beneath her gave way to solid muscle, sinew and bone. The beast was coming alive and she was riding him. She was so screwed.
Her fingers tangled in a thick mane and not inanimate wood. Her thighs gripped warm flesh and solid muscle. “Wake up. Wake up.” If she could wake herself up from this living nightmare she would be safe.
The lion tilted his head back and roared. The sound echoed around the room, bouncing off the walls. Luna laughed while the others continued to chant. Araminta screamed as the lion crouched on his haunches and suddenly sprang forward. She felt herself slipping.
Then everything went black.
Araminta opened her eyes and gasped. It was dark and she had no idea where she was. Her entire body was trembling with a combination of fear and cold. A bead of sweat rolled down her spine and her heart pounded at her ribcage as though it wanted out.
Where was she? And what had happened? She blinked and looked around. She wasn’t home. She could make out the shape of a television directly across from the bed and a small table and two chairs in the corner.
The hotel. Relief hit her with the force of a sledgehammer. She was still at the hotel in her room. And there was light coming in through the window. Not a lot, but enough from the streetlamps for her to see the shape of the furniture in the room.
“I’ve got you.” A sleepy male voice beside her gave her a jolt. Before she could move, a heavily muscled arm wrapped around her and pulled her down beside him. The fact she was on a bed registered in her racing mind. And she was with a man.
Was it Rick from the bar? Had she decided to meet him after all? Had he slipped something into her drink? She’d read about that kind of thing happening to women when they met strange men in bars.
He nuzzled the top of her head and soft hair stroked her bare shoulder. She sat upright so fast she smacked her head off the bottom of his chin. He gave an oomph and grabbed her before she could lunge off the bed.
“Where are you going?”
Her eyes widened as she stared at the large man sprawled out in her bed. He wasn’t Rick from the bar.
“I’m naked.” She was totally scandalized. How had this happened?
“I know,” came his satisfied reply.
She kept the sheet pulled over her and some space between them even as he managed to maneuver her back down beside him. He wasn’t hurting her, but his grip was like iron.
“Who are you?” God, had she ever been this embarrassed in her life? She was naked in bed with a complete stranger, which might be okay in a dream, but was definitely not okay in real life. That gave her pause. Maybe she was dreaming again. Maybe this was nothing more than a continuation of the carousel dream. It was too confusing to figure out.
“I am Leander. Who are you?”
His name sounded exotic and mysterious, much like the man. She couldn’t place his accent, but it was sexy as all get out. “Araminta Davidson.”
“Araminta.” He said her name slowly, as though he was savoring the sound. “A beautiful name. I like it.”
This was truly
the most bizarre experience of her life. She was exchanging names with a man she was naked with. “Umm, how did we get here?” She had to remain calm and use her head. Whatever this situation was, she could get out of it with her dignity intact.
The light from the window was enough for her to see one broad shoulder shrug. “I’m not sure.” He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her toward him. His breath was warm on her lips. “But I do know that you set me free. Thank you.”
Before she could ask him what he was talking about, he leaned down and kissed her. And oh, what a kiss it was. His lips were warm and firm against hers. He took his time, caressing and nibbling his way across her lower and then her upper lip. He traced his tongue along the seam of her mouth and she parted it on a gasp. He took advantage and made several quick forays that left her wanting more.
Her tongue touched his and he groaned. Liquid fire shot through her entire body, leaving her breasts swollen and tender and her sex aching. He tilted her head to one side for a better angle and deepened the caress.
Araminta had only been kissed like this once before in her life—in her dream last night. It was all consuming and went on and on. Leander took his time, making her feel as though there was nothing he’d rather do but kiss her.
It was intoxicating and seductive.
She gripped his shoulders, anchoring herself to him. He didn’t need to be standing for her to know he was a big man. Muscular too.
It was her fantasy man, which meant he wasn’t real. Disappointment shot through her. She was dreaming again.
He eased back from their kiss. “What’s wrong?” He sprinkled soft kisses on her chin and across her cheeks.
The fact that he’d sensed the change in her was concrete proof that the guy wasn’t real. What man broke away from physical contact with a naked woman to ask her what was wrong? None that she’d ever met, that’s for sure.
“You’re not real. You’re nothing more than a figment of my imagination.” And that was a stupid thing to say, but she really wasn’t thinking clearly at the moment. Between the dizzying carousel ride and the mind-altering kiss, it was a wonder she could string two words together.
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