Prey (BookStrand Publishing Romance)

by Mary Lou George

  His hand closed on her upper arm, and he turned her to face him. “You could never be a pair of old boots.” He stepped closer to her. “It’s been a hard day, hasn’t it?”

  She nodded, trying to stop her mouth from trembling. She must not have done a very good job because he touched her bottom lip with his finger. Mesmerized, his eyes followed his finger and stayed there as she moistened her lips with her tongue. Sam groaned and tipped her head up to his.

  He kissed her without apology, plundering. Taking his time, enjoying the shape and taste of her mouth, his tongue ventured inside to touch hers. For Jade, it was a wonderfully erotic thing to do, and she stopped thinking on the spot. She responded with enthusiasm and realized she’d been waiting for this all along. Sam’s kiss was something she’d never stopped wanting from her thirteenth year. The last time he’d kissed her had only whetted her appetite for more. Jade wanted to drive him beyond control the same way he drove her, but she had so little experience in that area. She needed to feel his skin against hers and her hands clutched helplessly at the fabric covering his chest. What was this feeling? It felt like an addictive drug. All at once Jade understood. This, this was the feeling that made women do crazy things. Was it a form of insanity? Of course it was.

  Sam’s mouth moved from her lips to her neck, and she felt the knot in her chest explode and send desire rocketing throughout her body. Was this the way it was supposed to feel? Would she feel this with Sam and only Sam? Why? It wasn’t fair! Her frustration turned to fury. She held on to her anger and used it against him, against her own traitorous body. She tore herself away from him. They looked at each other, chests rising and falling.

  Hating herself, remembering Michelle, she wiped the back of her hand across her mouth and glared at him.

  “You have no right to do that!”

  He didn’t show remorse. “You responded.”

  “You’re good at it. You’ve had more practice than most people. But you can’t practice with me!”

  He shook his head. “You’ve got it all wrong.”

  She didn’t wait for him to continue. “I know, I need the practice, but I’m just fine the way I am. I don’t need your instruction.” She looked up at him, desperately hanging on to her anger to keep from throwing herself at him. “Now, out of my way, I’m going home.”

  He grabbed her wrist as she walked away. She froze and very slowly looked up at him and then down at his hand on her arm. He let go and she walked away.

  Chapter 14

  She cried all the way home. Rags, who’d been so quiet, following her around all day, whimpered when he heard her sobs. Jade reached her right hand into the back seat, and Rags licked her knuckles. He wanted her to feel better. He didn’t understand what was wrong with her. Jade wasn’t sure she did.

  She’d had a crush on Sam from the first day she’d met him so many years ago. It was no secret, and Sam didn’t seem to mind. Even that night on the beach when she’d kissed him, he’d never made her feel rejected. She had to admit that seeing him with Michelle at the wedding made her feel an odd twinge. That was nothing compared to how she’d felt when she’d seen him having lunch with the beautiful woman the day after he’d kissed her so passionately. What the hell was he doing kissing her like that?

  When it came to sexual games, Jade was a neophyte. Sam could write the instruction manual. They weren’t fairly matched. Jade knew she’d never be in Sam’s league. She was way out of her depth, and it wasn’t fair of him to tease her. He had to know she was not the type of person who could kiss a man like that and not mean it. How could he be so cruel? That’s what hurt her the most. Sam Daniels was not an insensitive man. Why was he doing this to her? Playing with her. He had a good idea what her father had been like. It was pretty clear, she was gun shy with men and was it any wonder?

  She stopped her car in the driveway and turned to look at Rags. He was anxious to get inside and indicated that he’d smelled nothing unusual. There was no sign of the frightened little dog he’d been last night. Jade breathed a sigh of relief and opened the car door. Once she was safely inside, she locked up the house and spent some time with her roommates. All the animals were happy to see her. They were a tonic. She’d rescued each one and loved them very much. In fact, she acknowledged that they had given more to her than she to them, but that’s the way it had always been with her friends of another species. This night, they were a great distraction for her.

  Jade made sure that everyone was fed, but when it came to her own dinner she considered skipping. She glanced at the calendar on the fridge. It was Christmas time, her favorite season, and as she looked around the house she realized that she’d done nothing to honor the holiday season.

  Hot cocoa and Christmas carols helped put her in a better mood. She pulled boxes out of the closet and started to unpack her decorations.

  With determination, she pushed Sam Daniels from her mind. She was successful for a while, but the music worked against her. Why was it so hard to be single during this time of the year? Every song seemed to mention lovers. It had never bothered her until this year. Was living in the same town as Sam a bad idea? And if it was, what could she do about it? Since the day her father had dragged her away, Jade had yearned to come home to New Crescent. But now with what was happening between her and Sam, could she be happy here?

  * * * *

  Sam knew he had to go after her. He’d promised to protect her. It was just last night that she’d been the unnatural thing’s target. At a discreet distance, he followed her home and waited in his truck out of sight as she walked inside and locked the door behind her. Feeling like a stalker, he watched her for a bit then forced himself to put the truck in gear and drive away.

  He hadn’t meant to kiss her and he kicked himself for doing it. She’d just looked so tempting and when it came to Jade, Sam was not a strong man. He’d tried to clear up his personal life to make room for Jade, but that had proven more difficult than he’d expected. He’d been very clear with Michelle. He was not interested in her. He’d never been interested in her. Hell, he’d never even kissed her. Their romance existed strictly in her mind. He hadn’t rejected her publicly. He was too gentlemanly to embarrass her around others, but at the risk of losing all hope for something special with Jade? No way. After tonight there was no question. Jade definitely had the wrong idea about him and Michelle.

  He’d considered going after her and explaining, but the look on her face when she’d walked out gave him pause. It was no secret that Sam was frequently a little klutzy in Jade’s presence but this was getting ridiculous. He’d always been so confident around women. When it really counted, when it was ‘the one’ he’d made an ass of himself. Too much was happening all at the same time and he was botching everything up. With Jade, all the rules were changed, and Sam was afraid that one misstep would send her running for the hills. This time, with this woman, it mattered, it mattered very much.

  On top of it all, if Jade ever decided to complain to her brother, Sam knew he’d be a dead man. He’d breezed through his life up until now. Had it all been just a little too easy for him?... money, friends, lovers? Was this some twisted punishment? The one thing he wanted most, he was doomed to muck up irrevocably? Nothing was going his way. It was a new experience for him, and he had no skills to help him manage it.

  He didn’t feel like going back to an empty house, so he stopped at Gillian’s. Travis’s truck was in the driveway. Sam knocked twice and opened the door. He could hear voices in the kitchen.

  Gillian smiled a welcome to him, but her eyes didn’t sparkle the way they usually did. She knew what had happened today. Sam gave her a hearty hug, holding her a little longer than usual.

  Travis said, “I’m glad you’re here, man. We didn’t get any more evidence from the crime scene today than what was found at the Simpson farm. It waited for them.”

  Sam frowned. “Like at Jade’s place?”

  Travis nodded. “If I hadn’t known what to look for, I wou
ldn’t have noticed it. What kind of creature walks as comfortably on two legs as on four? You’re the vet. Help me out here.”

  “Thanks, make me feel even more useless,” Sam complained. “I can’t figure out those footprints either. Gillian, have you felt anything?”

  “I know that everyone is scared. I think there are people in town who would accept almost any explanation for the crimes. Everything I’ve felt just reinforces the impression that this thing is not human, and it’s sentient. Some people don’t want to admit there are things in this world we cannot always explain away.”

  “You’d think living in New Crescent would have cured them of that kind of thinking.” Travis said with frustration.

  Gillian squeezed his hand. “I can tell you this much. That thing is not a product of one of the Old Families. It’s not from here. I know that’s not much, but it’s all I’ve got right now.”

  “I’ll take what I can get. Thanks.” He kissed her tenderly.

  Sam was used to their public displays of affection and didn’t feel uncomfortable. He was happy for them both. “What are you telling people, Sheriff? That thing took down two full grown young women last night. Does that mean there’s no safety in numbers now?”

  Gillian gasped as if she’d not thought of that. It looked like Travis had though. He said, “Gillian, I’ve been reluctant to ask you this, but I have no choice.”

  She looked at him intently. Sam watched as Gillian and Travis communicated with each other without words. It was part of Gillian’s gift. She could connect with Travis on a level never known to most people. It was humbling to watch, and this time Sam felt a little intrusive.

  “Of course I’ll do it.” For Sam’s benefit, she explained, “I’m going to talk with Allan Simpson’s son Henry. He saw that creature, but hasn’t been much good at describing it. If he’ll let me, I’m going to try to connect with his mind and perhaps see what he saw that morning.”

  Travis looked very tense, and for the first time, Sam truly understood how he felt. Fear, admiration, gratitude and humility when combined in equal measure, created a very unique expression on a man’s face. Sam felt the same way about Jade’s involvement in this whole thing. God help them all.

  * * * *

  Snow fell overnight, as if aware that Jade had started to decorate for the season. When she woke in the morning she couldn’t help but smile at the winter wonderland that greeted her. When it came to snow, Jade was still a child. She loved it. She’d never grown to resent it even while clearing her car off or driving on treacherous roads. For Jade it was still a wonder. Rags was in full agreement. He ran around the yard celebrating the first snow. Jade couldn’t help but laugh. It was a good way to start the day.

  At the clinic, she went first to the dog they’d operated on yesterday. He was awake, but looking pretty pathetic. For the first time since the surgery, Jade really communicated with him. He didn’t have a name that he could remember. Tentatively, she suggested the name Dodger to him. He liked it. He felt nauseated, and his stomach growled. He hadn’t eaten in a while, so Jade prepared him a supplement to help him regain his strength. She fed it to him a little at a time. He appreciated her kindness. He was a good dog who deserved a home. She happily gave him her heart.

  He couldn’t remember much of what had happened, but he knew fear. Vaguely, he could remember houses and lawns. Jade wondered if someone was looking for him. Dodger couldn’t remember his family. He wasn’t a feral dog. He knew and loved humans. He’d seen that thing that had attacked the women. He’d already been caught in the trap and was forced to hear them die, knowing there was nothing he could do to save them. At first when he’d heard the noise, he’d hoped it heralded a rescue, but his sense of smell told him differently. It wasn’t human, but it wasn’t animal either. The women were killed quickly and efficiently. It had drunk their blood and ate their flesh, but wasn’t satisfied with the carnage. It wanted more, but Dodger didn’t know what it had needed so badly. Dodger started to get tired and Jade sat with him until he fell asleep. He was in REM sleep when she stood up and tended to the other patients.

  Sam came in just before Jade walked out to the stables to check on the horses. Taking a deep breath, she took the coward’s way out and hated herself for it. She pretended the kiss had never happened.

  “Dodger is sleeping, but he might need some pain meds when he wakes.” Sam looked confused, and feeling a little embarrassed, she shook her head and placed the palm of her hand to her forehead. “Sorry, I named the dog Dodger. He likes it, and it seems to suit him.”

  Sam walked over to the sleeping dog and started to examine him. “Good name. I take it you’ve communicated with our patient already.”

  “Yes. He doesn’t remember much, but he had nothing to do with it.” Jade told him about what she’d learned from Dodger.

  When she was finished he nodded. “Good work, Jinx. I got an update from Travis and Gillian.” He told Jade that Gillian knew the creature was an outsider and that she was preparing to talk with Henry Simpson.

  “That’s not going to be easy for her. I just got a second hand impression from Dodger and I don’t think I’ll eat lunch today.”

  Sam frowned. “You’re eating lunch, Jinx. If I have to feed you myself, you’re having lunch today. You’re far too skinny. Missing one meal would toss you on the wind.”

  She arched an eyebrow at him and smiled. Silently she thought of all the meals she’d missed lately because of her feelings for him. She wondered what he’d think if she told him. Jade liked honesty. If she felt something, she saw no reason to hide it. That conviction was most likely formed while living with her father, a man who never told the truth. She wasn’t sure he even knew how to tell the truth. Honesty meant something to Jade. Robert Adams’s blood ran through her veins, she’d had no choice in that matter, but she could choose to live her life with honesty and she did.

  Jade smiled tentatively, held her right hand up and made her pledge. “I promise to eat a well balanced lunch.”

  He smiled smugly. “You don’t have to promise me. Gillian’s invited us over so I know you’ll eat well today.”

  She laughed. “Well then I guess I’d better get some work done. I was just heading out to the stables.”

  “Max will be finished mucking out the stables by now, get him to help you put all the horses out in the paddock if they feel a little less frightened today. They usually like the snow.”

  Just before she closed the door behind her, she said, “I like snow too.” She hummed, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” as she walked to the barn.

  The horses were all very happy to see her and they didn’t mind her choice of music, but they were anxious to get outside. The smell of snow was irresistible to them. They reveled in the change of seasons just like she did. There was no unexplained fear this morning, and Jade was relieved to know it. Maybe the town would get a reprieve. She shook her head. That was just wishful thinking. Dodger had indicated that the creature hadn’t been satisfied with its last kill. It wanted more. There was more to come and Jade had to brace herself for it. But at this moment, watching the horses as they frolicked in the newly fallen snow, Jade set aside her worries and enjoyed the show.

  Chapter 15

  Jade was surprised to see Chase and Reggie at Gillian’s when she and Sam arrived for lunch. Gillian just smiled serenely and offered great tasting food. For the first time in a while, Jade ate well. While dining on a wide variety of salads and sandwiches, they talked about the Sinclairs’ upcoming Christmas party. Jade knew for sure she’d be called upon to sing Blue Christmas when Reggie told Gillian about the joke Travis had played on her so many years ago. Apparently, the whole town was eagerly awaiting her comeback performance after all these years. She groaned at the thought and grabbed her throat theatrically. Secretly, she was touched that so many people remembered her and looked forward to her pathetic contribution to their Christmas celebrations. She was determined to be a good sport about it. />
  Over coffee and dessert they talked about the murders. Reggie was the first to report. She took a large bite of cake and washed it down with a glass of milk. She’d given up coffee during her pregnancy. “Constance is a pain. She was so elusive that I had to threaten to start singing at her.” Everyone laughed.

  Chase nodded. “No joke, she’s serious. Have you heard her sing since she got pregnant? She’s surprisingly tone deaf, but that doesn’t stop her from belting out show tunes.” He shook his head sadly. “It is most unfortunate.”

  Ignoring her husband, Reggie continued. “Constance pleaded ignorance. According to her there have been no signs from beyond about something unnatural preying on New Crescent. She did however suggest that the creature could have been called by a powerful dark spell cast here in this world.”

  Travis said, “Did she say that there was anyone in New Crescent who could cast such a spell?”

  Reggie shrugged. “Not anymore, Chase and I saw to that. These days I guess Ernestine, Gillian and I could.”

  “Not funny, Reg.” Sam said as he pushed the cake away from her. She threatened him with her fork, and he put the cake back.

  “It’s true though. A person would have to be at least as powerful as a Guardian to control such a creature. Gillian, have you sensed a power like that?”

  Gillian shook her head. “No, I haven’t. Not since Chase and Reggie cleaned out the library at Bennett House or I should say McCann House.” She looked at Reggie. “There’s no chance it’s coming from your place right?”

  “The place is clean. Trust me. That’s something Constance wouldn’t be reticent about and I wouldn’t miss it either, my power is getting stronger every day. Make no mistake about it.” Reggie patted her tummy.

  Gillian said, “I would think something that strong, within a five hundred mile radius of New Crescent, would be unmistakable to me too.”