Of Demons & Stones: A Tri-Stone Trilogy

by Anne L. Parks

  His back muscles are solid and powerful, his skin smooth as I drag my fingertips over every dip and bulge. He tenses at my touch, and the burning desire raging within me escalates.

  I want him inside me. I need him to chase away the memories of twisted sexual encounters in my past.

  He pulls my shirt over my head, and tosses it on the floor. I have my pants off, and stand, watching him undress. God, the man is gorgeous. Every. Single. Inch.

  He guides me to the bed, I lower onto in. Alex glides over the top of me, levering his upper body with his arms. He shifts, and the head of his erection perches at my entrance. Slowly, he pushes into me, a deep moan escapes from his lips. With every movement of his body with mine, light replaces the darkness in my heart and soul. Our bodies are in sync—all pleasure and healing. Nothing dark or dangerous. Only the two of us exist in this moment, bright and exciting.

  Alex slowly revives me, reminding me of the joys of intimacy, as he dims the fear of pain and control. We climb together, and I cannot remember feeling so close to another person in my life.

  "Kylie," he calls to me, but the way he says it sounds like an answered prayer.

  He feels so damn good inside me, but it's the sound of my name on his lips, and the look on his face—a mix of pleasure and happiness—that finally pushes me over the edge.

  I shatter around him, and the release is so much more than physical. The fear of what is coming next, what new type of torture I will have to endure flows out me. There's no panic or anxiety. Only shared ecstasy and a sense of dignity.

  Wave after wave of shudders move through his body. The movement slows, but we stay connected.

  His eyes peer into mine, serious but sensual. "I needed this as much as you. I wanted to feel—not just do. No one has ever made me feel, Kylie."

  I didn't consider Alex's lack of experience with anyone. I needed a connection to him, to feel pleasure through intimacy, instead of pain. It never occurred to me that Alex had never had this, either, and that he wanted and needed to heal in his own way.

  "Another first," I murmur. "For both of us."

  I'm exhausted and spent. He rests his head on my chest, and I run my fingers through his hair, moist with sweat.

  "Mmm," Alex moans. "That feels good."

  He lifts his head and gazes at me, and I smile, lost in the contentment and exhilaration in his eyes.

  "That was amazing," he says.

  "Yes, it was."

  I'm so close to him in this moment, maybe even closer than I am to Ryan and Paul. I let the memories out, shared the burden with him, and he didn’t run for the hills. He's here, helping me heal.

  How did this happen?

  Alex rolls onto his side, and we lie together, eyes locked on one another.

  "Thank you, Alex," I whisper.

  He brushes the hair from my eyes and smiles. "I'm here for you, Kylie. I'll always be here. John will never hurt you like that again." He caresses my face, his gaze never leaving mine. "You're safe."

  Lightly brushing his lips across mine, he soothes me with his kisses. My head reels. It all seems like the perfect dream. One I never want to wake from.

  He gently grasps my chin between his thumb and forefinger. "You realize, of course, now that we've done that, I might never let you leave my bed. That was intense."

  "You're going to hold me captive? Force me to have lots of mind-blowing sex with you?"

  "Mind-blowing?" He raises an eyebrow.

  "Curl-your-toes, sell-your-soul-to-the-devil mind-blowing."

  He grins, and his eyes light up, the blue more brilliant. "I could grow to love sleepovers with you, Miss Tate."

  He leans in and softly kisses me. We smile at each other, simply lost in one another.

  "So, boyfriend? Do I get a say in this?"

  Alex rolls onto his back and pulls me to him. "Not really. You should just go with it. There is no way I'm giving you up."

  After my confession and the intimacy we've shared, boyfriend doesn't come close to how I feel about him. Confidant, lover. Protector. He's in my heart, and a part of my soul. But I don't trust promises or romantic revelations. Actions speak louder than words.

  Maybe Alex will prove me wrong. I have no doubt that he genuinely believes what he's saying, but most people have great intentions when promises are made. I've been disappointed so many times by the words people say, declarations that always end up being contradictory to their promises.

  I'm trying to accept Alex at his word and give him the benefit of the doubt, but this swell of affection may not be enough to carry him through.

  Is this truly what he wants, or is he just enthralled by the romanticism?

  Chapter Fourteen

  I wake in the morning and roll over to snuggle Alex. Alone. Again.

  I sigh and reach my arms over my head and stretch. The world is new, my outlook refreshing, which is remarkable, considering everything that happened night. I shower and then wander into the closet to find my bag. A row of women's clothing hangs next to Alex's clothes. A twinge of jealousy and incredulity course through me. Alex said I'm the first and only woman to stay here.

  What the hell? Why would he lie?

  I sift through the outfits. They're mine. Alex brought some of my clothes from my house. I'm sure this is just another way of encouraging me to stay here. It should probably upset me that he's manipulating me this way, but I'm beginning to realize that most of what Alex does is to protect me.

  I quickly dress in black yoga pants and a red tank top and head to the kitchen. Alex sits at the table reading his paper, breathtakingly sexy in jeans and a black T-shirt. I grab some coffee and join him. The corner of his paper folds over, and he peers at me, his gaze traveling over my body.

  "Good morning, Mr. Stone." I take a large gulp of my coffee and nearly groan as the caffeine hits my system.

  A smile lights up his face. "Good morning, Miss Tate. You look lovely."

  "I take it you approve of my wardrobe choice this morning?"

  "Very much. Does this mean you're staying home from work?"

  "Why, yes, it does." My voice drips with sweetness.

  "Good. We can avoid that argument." He chuckles.

  "I prefer to think of it more as a healthy debate rather than an argument. Besides, you might not be so happy having me around all day, distracting you from your work."

  "I do seem to have a problem resisting you," he mutters.

  I raise an eyebrow. "And that's bad?"

  "Only when I forget basic requirements."

  Placing my mug on the table, I rest my chin on my hands. "Such as?"

  Alex folds the paper, drops it on the table, leans back in his chair. "Well, let's just say, last night was yet another first for me, and not in a responsible manner, either."

  "Explain." I grab a croissant from the platter in the middle of the table and pull apart the flaky layers, popping them in my mouth.

  "I never have sex without asking about birth control. And never without also wearing protection." His eyes drill into me.

  I grasp my coffee cup and lean back in my chair. "As far as birth control on my part, we're safe and secure. There will be no little bun in this oven. You can relax. I went to the doctor after John, and I'm certified STD-free. I haven't been with anyone since then."

  "Good to know." Alex says. "Same goes for me, by the way."

  "Phew." I swipe nonexistent sweat from my brow. "I was afraid I had knocked you up."

  Alex tosses his head back, and a deep, guttural laugh escapes. I revel in the knowledge that I'm one of the few people who is able to experience this side of him. I feel special, as if there is a part of his life reserved just for me.

  "By the way, since you're new to this, you should know you're missing out on one of the major benefits of the sleepover—the morning snuggle. It's been known to lead to other things."

  He nuzzles his nose into the side of my neck and inhales deeply. "Is that right? I'll have to take that into consideration from n
ow on. I am a fan of other things with you."

  A zing shoots through my body and heats my skin. God, this man can seduce me with his voce and a caress. "What's your plan for the day?" I ask.

  "To spend time with you."

  I stand next to him, place my mug on the table, and bend over to wrap my arms around his neck. "Alex, I don't need a babysitter."

  "Maybe, Miss Tate, I just want to be close to my girlfriend." He snakes his arm around my waist and pulls me onto his lap. "See if we can accomplish more unsafe sex."

  I rest a hand on either side of his face. "Mmm...Mr. Stone, if you keep talking like that, it might happen right here on this chair."

  I lean in and kiss him just as he grabs my ass. I yip in surprise and nearly bounce of his lap.

  "Excuse me, sir." Jake stands at the entry to the kitchen. "I have the information you wanted, Mr. Stone."

  Alex lifts me off his lap and stands, not the least bit flustered by the interruption. "Okay, thanks."

  Heat creeps up my neck and invades my face. Nice, I'm on Alex's lap, planning our next sexual escapade, while he gropes my backside. "Good morning, Jake."

  "Good morning, ma'am—Kylie."

  Alex looks at Jake and then me. "Here." He hands me an iPhone in a metallic red case. "Your new phone. I added a few new contacts."

  Oh, yeah, that's right. My cell phone is scattered in a million little pieces across my living room floor.

  I check the time—ten in the morning. "How the hell did you do that so quickly?"

  "I tend to go through a fair number of phones, so I can get a decent turnaround when I'm in need of a new one." He darts his gaze away.

  I tilt my head to the side. "You go through a fair number? As in, you lose them, they cease to function, or you throw them on the ground in frustration?"

  "Yes."

  I run my finger over the hard metal case. "Well, thanks for the quick turnaround on mine. Nice cover, too."

  He grasps my hips, and a glint streaks across his eyes."It's red hot, like you, baby."

  I laugh.

  "Mmm...I love that sound."

  He kisses me, and waves of heat surge through me.

  I grab his chin and turn his head so that we're cheek-to-cheek.

  "Smile," I say, and take a picture of us with the camera app.

  I save it as the background picture on the main screen, and a wide grin slides across Alex's face.

  The simple gestures floor me. He may not realize that they mean the world to me, but they do. No one has ever taken care of me. I like it—a lot—but I'm also cautious. I don't want to get my hopes up that this will last.

  "Come on, I have another surprise for you." He holds my hand and leads me down the hallway.

  We step into the room across from his home office, and I gasp. A library. My second favorite place to be. Floor-to-ceiling bookcases stretch across three of the walls. A large chaise longue is situated in front of a wall of glass that not only fills the room with sunlight, but shows off the beautiful courtyard and a peek of the ocean in the distance.

  His lips graze my ear, and he whispers, "This is all for you—your own space."

  I throw my arms around his neck and squeal.

  "I assume that means you like it?"

  I pull him close and rest my head against his shoulder. "I love it." Was this a previously planned renovation, or did Alex have this for me?

  I make a slow circle and marvel at the sheer number of books that fill the shelves. If I start reading now, I will still never get through every book.

  I stop in front of him and try to find something in his eyes that explains why he would do this for me. A woman he barely knows, but apparently wants in his life, and in his home.

  My space. His attention to little details is astounding. "It's perfect." I press my lips against his.

  He grasps my upper arms and sets me at arm's length. "I have to go talk to Jake, and I need a clear head, which cannot be accomplished with you kissing my neck. That only leads to tossing you on the chaise and having my way with you."

  I take a step toward him. "I like that idea. Why can't we do that?"

  He backs up, laughing. "Because I have to get a few things done first. Then, we can consider christening the library."

  I sigh loudly, smile, and watch him walk across the hall. The jeans he has on fit his ass perfectly, and my stomach flutters in anticipation of being in bed next to him with my hands formed to the firm curve. I slide onto the chaise and call the office. Sarah answers. I let her know that I won't be in, and she transfers me to Lisa so we can go over a few things that need to get done.

  I spend an hour going through the library, looking at all the books and making mental notes of interesting finds I want to come back to later. Alex is holed up in his study. Every so often I get a glimpse when Jake goes in and out.

  My stomach growls and grumbles, and I realize it's been over twenty-four hours since I've eaten anything. I doubt I will last until lunch—or whatever meal Alex typically eats, so I better see if I can find something to hold me over.

  An older woman is in front of the sink washing dishes. We stare at each other, and I'm guessing she is as shocked as I am. Jake comes in behind me.

  Jake smiles and looks back and forth between our stunned faces. "Maggie, this is Kylie Tate, Mr. Stone's girlfriend. Kylie, this is Maggie. She runs the house and makes sure we all eat."

  I reach over the breakfast bar to shake her hand. "Hi. It's nice to meet you."

  Maggie continues to stare at me. The poor woman is probably in shock, stunned that Alex has a girlfriend after all these years.

  "It's very nice to meet you, Kylie." She glances at Jake, and then me, and chuckles.

  Jake winks at her. "I'll leave you two to get to know each other better." He heads down a hallway on the opposite side of the family room that leads to another wing of the house.

  "Are you hungry?" Maggie asks.

  "Starving." I slip onto one of the bar stools.

  "Well, you have great timing. I just pulled some blueberry muffins out of the oven. Would you like one?"

  My stomach grumbles loudly in response. "I'd love one," I say through my laughter.

  Maggie places a plate in front of me with the largest blueberry muffin I have ever seen, along with a fresh cup of coffee. There is no way I will be able to eat the entire muffin in one sitting.

  "Where are you from, Kylie?" She resumes washing the few things left in the sink. "Are you here long?"

  I finish chewing and swallow a bite of muffin. "I live in town. Alex invited me to stay for the weekend." I don't delve into the reasons, since I doubt Alex discusses his personal life with his housekeeper. Besides, I'd rather not explain that my ex is stalking me, and this seems to be the one place he can't get to me.

  "So we'll see you around more often. That's wonderful." Maggie's eyes twinkle and she has a loving smile on her face, and for some reason, I'm happy and relieved she seems to accept me into this unique little family.

  "Have you worked for Alex long?" I ask.

  She refills my coffee and looks past me out the window. "Let's see. It has to be almost fifteen years." She shakes her head as if she can't believe her own words are true. Then she gazes at me. "In all the years I've been here, you are the only woman he's ever brought here. You must be very special, Kylie."

  I smile but have no idea how to respond. Squealing in joy, fist-bumping, or jumping up and down all seem inappropriate, even if it is how I'm feeling. I still find it hard to believe that Alex has never had a relationship with another woman, but I kind of like that I'm the first and only one. At least, right now.

  Maggie pulls the stopper and the sudsy water slowly drains out of the sink. "Do you work?"

  The question unnerves me. Does she think I'm some trust fund baby who doesn't have to work, or worse, a gold-digger after Alex's money? Of course, I am here, in the middle of the day, during the work week.

  "I'm a criminal defense attorney with Roberts & Dan
iels." I pop the piece of muffin in my mouth. Guess I was hungrier than I thought.

  "Oh, you work for Mr. Daniels? He's such a wonderful man. He and his wife come for dinner every once in a while. Mrs. Daniels is very sweet."

  I smile, and my heart swells. "Jack and Annabelle are very special to me. They're like family."

  I met Jack during a motion hearing while I was a public defender. His hearing followed mine, and he was in the courtroom, waiting for it to be called. I was arguing with a prosecutor to exclude a key piece of evidence, and I orally eviscerated the attorney's argument. Jack was amused and shook my hand as I left the courtroom, thanking me for the entertaining show. The next day, I received a call from his office asking me to come by for a chat. By the end of the meeting, I had a job offer and was on my way back to the public defender's office to turn in my notice.

  Maggie flits around the kitchen, cleaning counters and putting away dishes. "Does your family live close by?" She places a butcher block cutting board on the large island in the center of the kitchen.

  I chew on my bottom lip for a second. "No, my father died while I was in college. My mother and I aren't close, so I rarely see her."

  She stops cutting celery and looks up at me, her eyes soft and caring. "Oh, I am sorry. It must have been horrible, losing your father and not having your mother."

  She is the very image I have in my mind of a grandmother. Sweet, loving, and cooking something amazing. Cliche, maybe, but I didn't know either of my grandmothers, so cliche is all I have.

  "I'm glad you have Mr. And Mrs. Daniels. They are good people."

  I nod. I did not have the childhood dreams are made of, but I am grateful for the friends I’ve made that love and care for me. They may not be the family I prayed for as a child, but they’ve become the family I need and adore.

  "Does Mr. Stone see his family very often?" I ask. He told me stories about his sister and brother when they were growing up, but he hasn't mentioned spending time with them. Of course, my crazy life is the center of discussions lately.

  Maggie continues to cut up vegetables. "I don't know. I'm sure he sees them, but they don't come to the house."