What's Her Secret?

by Geraldine O'Hara, Natalie Dae, Nichelle Gregory, Crissy Smith, Lisabet Sarai

  “I don’t expect you to believe what I’m telling you right now,” Sabria continued, tears staining her flushed cheeks, “but you and I are connected and if we don’t find our way back to one another we’ll die, be reborn and one of us will have to begin the search for the other all over again.”

  Jai resisted the urge to reach for her. Every fiber of his being was telling him that was exactly what he should do, but he had a pissed-off fiancée who believed she was the only one he felt compelled to protect.

  “The kiss…”

  Sabria trailed off and Jai’s gaze slipped to her lips. Just the mention of the intense lip lock they’d shared sent a prickly awareness throughout his body. It felt like he’d come out of his skin if he didn’t kiss her again.

  Crazy.

  Yup, just like all the rest of the irrational thoughts where Sabria was concerned.

  “That kiss should never have happened,” Jai said.

  Sabria gave him a sad smile and the tears made her green eyes sparkle like emeralds. “But you want to kiss me again, don’t you? You feel as if you should.”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s because we’re connected by history, by our blood and by a love that has survived thousands of years. Kiss me, Jai. I’m yours to kiss. I need you so much.”

  Jai couldn’t have stopped himself if he’d tried. Later, he’d acknowledge he didn’t try at all. He stepped up to Sabria, gathered her into his arms and kissed her hard, the need to brand his taste on her all-consuming.

  She was his.

  It didn’t make any sense and Jai didn’t care as he plundered her mouth, delving deeper and harder. Punishing her for making him need her, punishing himself for not being able to resist her lips. Sabria melted into him, wound her arms around his neck, pressing her body unapologetically against him.

  His skin felt aflame, need and desire made it hard to think rationally. Flashes of memories pricked at his subconscious while they kissed. Together they were molten fire, hotter than anything he’d ever known.

  Jai pulled her closer as the memories sharpened into focus in his mind. He and Sabria laughing in bed in some secluded bed-and-breakfast. Sabria half-naked, wiping the shaving cream from his face before playfully yanking off the damp towel around his waist. Drips of butter pecan ice cream on her beautiful breasts. Erotic images of them intertwined, sweaty, moving together to the explosive end that only left them wanting more. The intensity, the realness of the memories, shocked Jai. He abruptly moved back, wonder and uncertainty, leaving him only able to stare at Sabria.

  “Jai?”

  “You look different,” Jai said, distantly remembering smooth cocoa skin, beautiful brown eyes that were now a vivid green.

  Sabria gave him a small smile. “So do you.”

  “I do?”

  “The last time we were together you were blond with blue eyes.”

  Jai shook his head in amazement, wanting to remember everything. “And still you found me.”

  “As you’ve always found me. We always recognize one another no matter what form we take on because of our bond.”

  “The moment I heard your voice…” Jai tried to find the right words to describe what he wanted to say.

  “The moment you heard my voice your soul recognized mine.” The joy in Sabria’s voice warmed Jai as a weight he hadn’t even realized he’d been carrying slowly lifted. “Jai, your skin. Look at your skin.”

  Jai looked down at his hands to see strange glowing intricate markings on his wrists. “What the hell?” He pushed up his sleeves, seeing more of the same ornate, glowing symbols, amazed he could understand them.

  “See?” Sabria asked and Jai looked up from his arm to see she’d pushed up her own sleeve to reveal the similar luminescent markings on her skin. “Proof in the flesh we are of the same kind. Phoenixes. Born of fire…ashes to flames.”

  “Ashes to flames,” Jai repeated, still coming to grips with their secret.

  He pulled off his sweater to find more of the same radiant skin underscoring his pecs and running along his shoulder blades. All the unanswered questions, the feeling he was missing something about his life, slowly faded away. Sabria reached out to touch his arm and Jai grabbed hold of her waist, bringing her back against his body. Memories of holding her made him pull her closer as he buried his nose in her thick hair, cherishing the way she trembled against him.

  “You like butter pecan ice cream.”

  “Yes. I love butter pecan ice cream,” Sabria said while pushing her hand underneath the soft pullover. Her touch seemed to cool the feverish skin beneath her fingertips. “You enjoy it too. Do you remember?”

  “I remember.”

  Jai backed her up until they toppled onto the bed. Lying side by side, their bodies fitted together perfectly. He kissed her again, breathing in her sweet scent as he slipped his hand inside her wrap-styled dress to cup her bare breast. Sabria moaned when he teased the hardened nipple with his fingers.

  “What do you remember?” Sabria asked breathlessly.

  Jai widened the opening of her dress, exposing both breasts to his view. “I remember the way your back arched when I drizzled ice cream over your nipples.” He pushed her back against the pillows, bent his head to flick his tongue over one taut peak and Sabria gasped. “I remember how much you like to laugh and tease me about being so serious. I remember how you like to dig you claws into my back when I’m deep inside of you.” He traced his finger over the beautiful bright markings trailing between her breasts. “I remember you, Sabria.”

  Sabria couldn’t help the sob that escaped from her throat. After searching for so many months, she was finally home.

  “I remember loving you, Sabria.”

  She couldn’t find the words to respond. The exhaustion she’d been pushing back in her steadfast determination to remain positive and focused melted away as Jai cradled her face. Sabria reached up and ran the palm of her hand over his bald head, loving the contrast of her pale hand against his dark skin.

  “You look sexy bald.”

  Jai grinned. “Thank you.”

  Sabria dropped her hand from his head to trail her fingers down his face and along his jawline. “Do you find me attractive in the form I’ve taken this time?” she asked shyly.

  “Do you even have to ask? You’re gorgeous in any form.”

  Sabria gasped when he slipped his arm beneath her waist and pulled her on top of him, letting her feel his erection through her dress as he kissed her. His body heat penetrated every inch of her skin. His hands moved beneath the hem of her sweater dress to cup and caress her bare bottom, making her moan with need. She had gotten wet the moment he’d mentioned butter pecan ice cream, but now moisture dampened her inner thighs.

  “I’ve needed your touch, Jai.”

  Her voice quivered almost as much as she did beneath his questing fingers. He gently rolled her off him then untied the sash on her sweater dress, exposing her naked body. She watched him through hooded eyes as he traced circles around her breasts, avoiding her erect nipples. He drew an imaginary line down her chest, over her belly button to the thin strip of dark hair above her wet pussy. She moaned again when his fingers delved lower into her wetness to find her clit.

  “I’ve missed pleasuring my little flamma.” Jai slipped two fingers deep inside her. “You are so hot and wet. How could I have forgotten how tight and sweet you are?” Jai kissed her again while slowly finger-fucking her.

  Sabria couldn’t respond between his kisses, overwhelmed by his erotic expertise and the intensity of her arousal. After hungering for his touch for so many months, she teetered on the edge of an explosive climax.

  She groaned in protest when Jai’s fingers slipped from her body.

  “I know what you need,” Jai said, moving over her. Sabria shivered with delight when he kissed her stomach and then cried out when he kissed her pussy. “Don’t I?”

  “Yes, please, Jai.”

  She grabbed hold of his head, bucking her hip
s as he began licking and gently sucking on her pussy lips. He knew just how to tease her with his tongue after millennia of learning her body inside and out. Sabria breathed his name, dropped her hand from his head to grip the sheet on the bed when he slid two fingers deep inside of her. He caressed her g-spot while darting his tongue faster over and around her clit. She arched her back, reveled in the pleasure and came hard. Her sharp cry of ecstasy echoed around the hotel room as Jai held onto her thighs with both hands and continued to softly kiss her wet pussy. He moved up to lie beside her when she was no longer trembling. He kissed her and Sabria savored the taste of her passion on his lips. She slid her hand down his stomach muscles, cradled the impressive bulge in his jeans and stroked him through the fabric, wanting him to take her, claim her as his once more.

  “Sabria…”

  His voice sounded gruff in her ear as she unbuttoned his jeans. She tugged the zipper down and wrapped her hand around his thick cock through his underwear.

  “Jai, please…”

  He groaned then surprised her by pulling away. She moaned with disappointment when his fingers slid from her slick heat. Catching her breath proved difficult with the delicious aftershocks of her orgasm coursing through her body. Curls of desire twisted tighter while watching him lick clean the evidence of her pleasure from his fingers.

  “I need all of you, Jai, right now.”

  Jai caressed her cheek with his thumb. “And I want to give you all you need right now.”

  “What’s stopping you?” Sabria asked then she knew. In her happiness, she’d forgotten all about Jai’s fiancée.

  “Melanie,” they both said at the same time.

  Jai sat up on the edge of the bed with a deep sigh. “After having this feeling of disconnection in my life, I finally know who I am.” He cast her a smoldering glance. “I want you so bad, Sabria, but I need to make things right with her. Melanie loves me and I owe her that much. She’s wearing my ring, for Christ’s sake.”

  “I understand,” Sabria said quietly.

  She understood, but it still hurt like hell to hear, especially when her body craved the deeper release only he could give her. The knowledge that another woman wore a physical symbol of attachment to her man made her stomach kink into several tight knots.

  With concentrated effort, she sat up, pulled her dress back into place and tied the sash around her waist. She squeezed her slick thighs together and bit her lip to keep from moaning when the movement teased her clit, setting off blissful flutters within her.

  “This isn’t going to be easy for her.” Jai stood and Sabria admired the muscles in his back as he zipped and buttoned his pants. “The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her.”

  “What will you tell her?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Sabria remained silent for a moment while he put his sweater back on. “Do you love her too?”

  Chapter Four

  Asking the question caused as much anxiety as waiting for Jai to answer. He met her gaze after he tugged his sweater down.

  “Melanie has been there for me. I was just living day to day, uncertain about my future, confused about my past, and she accepted and loved me. The connection I feel with you is nothing like the one I have with her.” Jai locked both hands behind his head. “Melanie doesn’t deserve this. Fuck, this is so messed up.”

  Sabria sighed. “How did you leave things before you came over here?”

  “She thinks I went to the gym.”

  “And how did you explain that kiss?”

  Jai unlocked his fingers from behind his head and stuffed one hand into his jeans pocket. “She stormed out shortly after you left when I couldn’t give her a plausible reason to be kissing you. We’re supposed to talk later.” Jai shook his head. “You couldn’t have shown up like two weeks earlier and explained all this mythological shit?”

  “I’m sorry.” Sabria scooted off the bed and stood. “I was beginning to think we wouldn’t find each other in time.”

  “How long have you been looking for me?”

  “Almost twelve months.”

  Jai cursed. “I’m sorry.” He came to her and lifted her chin with his thumb. “I can’t imagine how much stress you’ve been under.”

  “It’s not your fault. Sometimes, it takes time to remember. I’m just happy you do now. I’ve been so worried.”

  Jai wrapped his arms around her and Sabria briefly closed her eyes, savoring the protective warmth of his tight hug. “I’m here now. I’m going to go talk to Melanie and then we’ll be together.”

  “You’ll come back tonight?” Sabria asked against his chest.

  “I want to, but I don’t think that’s possible.” He pulled back to look at her.

  “Why?” Sabria felt herself blush. “You do remember that our bond isn’t fully in sync until we’re one.”

  Jai’s semi-erect cock became fully hard. The inquisitive light in Sabria’s beautiful eyes darkened as they stared at one another and he knew she too was remembering how intense sex always was the first time they were together after being reunited. “I haven’t forgotten we aren’t safe from the flames until I come deep inside of you,” Jai said, enjoying the rosy hue rising on her cheeks that matched her suckable nipples. “I will be back as soon as I can and we’ll figure out what our next move is together.”

  “Okay,” Sabria said as he released her. “I’ll wait for you here. It’s my turn to pick where we live this time.”

  “Let me guess…the Bahamas?” Jai asked as he headed toward the door.

  “It’s a surprise.” Sabria rose up on her tiptoes to softly kiss his lips. “Just hurry back to me. This is the first time we’ve ever waited so close to our time being up to consummate our bond again.”

  Jai pressed her up against the wall and considered his sanity for leaving her before claiming her again. He bent his head and nipped her neck, enjoying her delighted giggle. “I will hurry back, but you should know once I have you in my bed again I will take my damn time loving you.” He heard her sharp intake of breath as he ground his erection against her belly. “I need to reacquaint myself with every soft, delectable inch of your body.”

  Sabria moaned beneath his lips as he kissed her again. When he pulled back he could see the passion and need in her gorgeous green eyes. She opened the door and Jai stepped, regretfully, out into the hallway. “I will call you when I’m on my way.”

  “Okay.”

  He gave her a quick smile before pivoting. Jai exited the hotel, reveling in the chilly air blowing around him as he walked to his car. He was so hot, his need for Sabria increasing by the second.

  It was difficult to be completely excited about his future with his flamma when he knew Melanie would be waiting for him, wanting an explanation, knowing she deserved one.

  Melanie had always teased him about holding back from her, keeping his deepest feelings locked away. Once, she’d even jokingly asked him about loving another woman. He’d denied loving anyone else and she’d never pushed him for more. Jai navigated through traffic, thinking about how happy Melanie had been when he’d proposed.

  In just a few minutes, he was going to hurt the one person who’d made the last eleven months of nothingness bearable.

  Jai swore, hit the accelerator and ignored the impatient horn of the vehicle he cut off to make his turn. It killed him to know how long Sabria had been searching and worrying about him. He could only imagine the pain he’d caused her when she’d discovered him with Melanie. Just the thought of finding Sabria with another man…loving another man…made him crazy.

  Melanie’s car was present when he pulled into his designated parking spot. He turned off the engine, got out of the car and walked up to his building with a heavy heart. Once inside Jai knocked on her door.

  “Hello, Melanie,” Jai said when Melanie opened the door seconds later.

  “Jai.”

  He could tell she’d been crying and it made the band of regret around his heart squeeze tighter. “Is th
is a bad time?”

  Melanie laughed and the bitter, mirthless sound jangled unpleasantly in Jai’s ears. “A bad time to break up with me? That is what you’re about to do, isn’t?”

  “Can I come in?” Jai asked, distressed by her obvious anguish.

  Melanie crossed her arms and he noticed she was still wearing the diamond ring he’d given her. She sighed, turned away from him and he walked inside. “Melanie, I’m sorry that you saw that kiss.”

  “Me too,” Melanie said whipping around to face him. “I don’t think you’ve ever kissed me like that.” She gave him an over-bright smile while shaking her head. “In fact, I’m certain you haven’t. Who is she, Jai?”

  “She’s an old flame,” he said and the tacky irony of his words was not lost on him.

  “An old flame? It looked like things are still pretty damn hot between you two. I asked you once if you were in love with another woman. I always felt like there was someone else, but you told me there wasn’t. Remember?”

  “Yes, I remember. Melanie, I didn’t expect this to happen.”

  “And I didn’t expect to find you in a passionate lip-lock with another woman. Do you love her?” The sadness in her eyes weighed heavily on Jai. “What am I even asking? I saw the way you were kissing her. What did she mean by ‘time is running out’?”

  “Melanie, it was never my intention to hurt you. You’ve gotta believe that. I wish I could explain this to you, but I can’t.”

  “Can’t or won’t? After everything we’ve shared together, that’s all you have to say? Because you’ve said surprisingly little.”

  “I know and you have every right to be angry,” Jai said as she ran shaky fingers through her hair. “I care about you, Melanie.”

  “You just don’t love me, right?” Melanie lifted her hand and Jai’s engagement ring sparkled in the light. “She’s the woman who holds that part of your heart I always wanted for myself, but I was content because you’ve treated me better than any other man. I told myself that meant more than having your l-l—”

  “Melanie, stop.” Jai went to her when she couldn’t finish, hating being the cause for her tears, wishing he hadn’t gotten involved with her. Usually, his kind didn’t make deep human connections, which made it easier to avoid the questions that arose when their time was up.