by Grosso, Kym
Luca could not believe she’d stripped nude in front of him and every small creature in the woods. He couldn’t help but smile as she launched herself off the dock in a perfect dive. Did she know he was watching her? How could she not have known? He’d told her he’d keep an eye on her at the lake. Little temptress, what was she doing?
With preternatural speed, he arrived at the dock just as her hands breached the shimmering dark-blue water. Samantha bobbed up to the surface and spun to face him. He could hardly believe the reckless abandon she demonstrated, given that she’d been held up in a strange coven less than a week ago. She was resilient, young and full of energy, representing a zest for life that he’d long forgotten.
Samantha smiled as she waved to him to join her in the deep abyss. She called out to him, “Come in, Luca! The water’s great!” She laughed and dove again; her white bottom peeked out for a second before submerging yet again.
“Darlin’, I’ve got no suit. Besides, vampires don’t swim.” He wanted desperately to go in after her, but knew it would lead to so much more than a morning swim.
“You’ve got your birthday suit. Please, you’re not gonna make a girl swim alone, are ya?” she purred.
“Is it cold?” He was starting to waver in his firm decision to stay on shore.
“Naw, it’s plenty warm. It’s late August, had plenty of time to heat up. Come on!” she begged.
“You a good swimmer?” Luca asked.
“Yes. Why’re you asking?” she replied.
“Because I’m coming in to get you!” Losing all control, Luca quickly pulled off his white t-shirt and began to undress.
As he unzipped his pants, Samantha screamed playfully and started to swim away. Stripped naked, Samantha admired his rippling abs out the side of her eyes. She knew he’d be coming for her.
Breaching the water, Luca cursed. “Damn, it’s cold. You lied to me, woman. You’d better swim fast because I’m goin’ to catch you!”
Luca dove under the water once again, determined to catch up with the very slippery, naked woman who’d enticed him to jump into a cold mountain lake in the middle of the day. It had been at least a hundred years since he’d indulged in such a childish activity, but he simply could not resist her. While vampires could be exposed to sunlight, he was weakened to the state of a human during the day. Breaking the surface, he searched for her and spied feet splashing several yards from him. He dove once again, knowing he’d soon catch his prey.
Samantha gasped for air after racing away from Luca. She spun in a circle, treading water as she looked for a trace of him. The smooth lake gave no clues as to where he was. She knew he was somewhere. Somewhere close. Looking towards the cabin, she screamed loudly as hands came around her waist.
Luca pulled her close to him and began to tickle her mercilessly. “Ah, little witch, you lied to me. The water is nearly freezing. And since I can’t spank you in the water, this is your punishment.” He continued to tickle her as she laughed hysterically, thrashing in the water.
“I’m sorry,” she pleaded. “Uncle! Uncle!”
Luca stopped tickling her but didn’t let her go. Instead he let his hands move from her waist to just under her breasts, encircling her ribcage. Samantha relaxed back onto him, letting her head fall back onto his shoulder as they both floated on their backs in the peaceful reserve.
“I’m happy you joined me. I love it up here in the woods. It’s so peaceful.” Samantha wrapped her arms around his, fully aware of where his arms supported her. As they moved as one in the water, she could feel the hardness of him brushing her bottom. Yet she wasn’t afraid. She was aroused and excited that he’d joined her in such a very human activity.
“I’m happy you convinced me to swim with you,” Luca responded. “I haven’t done this in such a long time. I’d forgotten how wonderful it is to skinny dip.”
“How old are you, Luca?”
“Very old, indeed, my dear Samantha. I was turned in the eighteen hundreds. So I’m well over two hundred years old….give or take a few years.”
“Do you miss being human?” Samantha asked.
“No, darlin’. Being human is so ordinary. And now that you’re a witch, you’ve joined our little club of supernaturals. I sense your fear. But I promise you that you’ll be all right. In fact, you’ll probably love it once you find your magic.” Luca squeezed her tightly and kissed her shoulder.
“Ah, and there’s the rub my friend. I have no magic. Nothing. Ilsbeth seems to think there’s something about me, but I can’t do a thing. Believe me, I’ve tried. Nothing happens,” Samantha huffed.
“It will come, Samantha. I can smell the magic on you, and it’s as sweet as honey. It’s there. Maybe it hasn’t shown itself yet, but it will.”
“You sound so confident, Luca. I wish I could be like you. But I feel so defeated. Seriously, Luca. I’ve been kidnapped, forced into working at a sex club, beaten and then told I was a witch. I’ve had to take a leave of absence from my real life. I can’t tell anyone human what’s really happened to me. And now, on top of everything, you think I’m in danger, and I have to return to that God forsaken city where it all started. I just want to lie back in this lake and forget everything,” she confided.
“Do you remember what you told me that night we were at Kade’s?” Luca asked.
“Yes. No. I don’t know. I said a lot of things. I was crying. I was upset. What do you mean? What did I say?” Samantha laughed a little, knowing how confused she sounded.
“You said you were a strong person. And while I don’t know you very well, I believe that’s true,” he continued. “Since you’ve been here at the cabin, you’ve stared down a wolf, talked with an Alpha and held a knife to a vampire. You’re either crazy or strong, and I can tell you that I know it’s the latter. You’ll survive what’s to come. You can do this, Samantha.”
“Luca, where have you been my whole life?” she joked. She smiled, realizing there was something about him that made her feel better. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I can do this, but I can’t do it alone. You make me feel like I’ll get through this as long as I’m with you.” She’d never known such encouragement in her entire existence, and here was a man who had faith in her even when she didn’t have it in herself.
Luca’s heart beat against his chest at her words. He knew he shouldn’t fall for a human, but she was chipping away at whatever resolve he had left to stay away. Unable to resist her any longer, he kissed the side of her neck and slowly trailed his lips behind her ear. She moaned in arousal as he slid his hands up to caress her breasts. He wanted to take her there in the lake.
“Luca,” she whispered as he kissed and touched her. “Yes.”
With her words, he turned her around to face him, pressing his lips to hers. Their tongues swept together as they passionately kissed. Samantha wrapped her legs around Luca’s waist, aroused by the feel of his rock-hard cock bobbing up against the crease of her ass. She fingered his long hair and kissed up his cheeks as he licked her neck.
“Luca, please,” she panted. God, she wanted him. She wanted to forget everything in that moment but him.
“Samantha.” Luca wanted to stop, to tell her that they shouldn’t continue. She was so vulnerable after what had happened. As much as he wanted her, he didn’t want to take advantage either. And then there was his vow not to get involved with humans. But she tasted sweet as peaches on a warm summer day. So soft and slippery in his hands. “Mmmm…you’re so beautiful,” he murmured, unable to stop kissing her. He needed to have all of her.
As he was about to suggest they go inside the cabin, Luca tensed. He immediately released Samantha to stop and sniff the air. Smoke. He growled, baring his fangs.
“Luca, what’s wrong?” Samantha asked, frightened.
“Swim Samantha,” he ordered. “The cabin. It’s on fire.”
Luca and Samantha immediately swam toward the dock. Luca reached it first and effortlessly leapt up onto the wooden surface. Extending a
hand, he pulled Samantha out and they both dressed within minutes. Luca held Samantha’s hand as they ran towards the black smoke billowing from the cabin. Orange streaks of fire danced towards the trees as they stood helplessly by and watched the inferno.
“Luca, who would do this?” Samantha gasped.
“I told you that you were in danger. Looks like whoever attacked us in New Orleans has just found you in Pennsylvania.” He released Samantha’s hand and began to search around the edge of the house for evidence. “Stay back from the flames. I just need to check. I might be able to scent whoever did this.”
Samantha stood silently for a moment, looking at the blackened embers; the flames licked toward the sky. Part of the exterior walls remained even though the front of the building was completely gone. Luca walked over to the entrance while Samantha relegated herself to the perimeter of the woods.
Looking down toward the walkway, Luca’s anger rose as he read words scrawled on the slate. “Where is the Hematilly Periapt?” Luca frowned. What the hell was that supposed to mean? He knelt down with his cell phone and snapped a picture. Then he ran his fingers over the clotted, blood-red substance; he held it to his nose and sniffed. Bat’s blood. What the fuck was someone doing with bat’s blood out here in the middle of the mountains? It was a common ingredient used in witchcraft, usually made with indigo dye, cinnamon, myrrh, and a few other benign ingredients. But the sanguine ink was genuine blood from the veins of a freshly slit bat’s throat; it was used for revenge. Someone had intended to burn them to a crisp in that cabin; fitting retribution for a witch.
What is the Hematilly Periapt? An amulet, he pondered. Ilsbeth had said nothing to him about her owning it. Could Samantha have such an object? Did she know what it was? And if existed, what did it do? Who would want something so badly they’d be willing to kill for it in broad daylight? Deciding not to tell Samantha about the writing, he smeared the fluid across the sole of his shoe, blurring the words. He wiped his finger on his jeans, looked up into the flames and sighed. They needed to get out of there.
Samantha’s eyes pricked with tears as she watched her rental cabin burn. She looked up to the surrounding trees, which had begun to catch fire. Anger burned deep within her soul. She’d had enough of the evil and destruction. Luca was right about one thing; she was strong, and she would find a way through this. Not only that; in that moment, she resolved to be part of the solution and not idly stand by while life happened to her. She remembered what Ilsbeth had told her about how she had magic within her but she was the only one who could call it to be. It was her decision, her power.
Closing her eyes, Samantha reached out her hands, palms up toward the heavens and focused on her need to put the fire out. She called to the elements as if they were servants; instinctually, she knew that they were within her control. She felt the tingle in her fingertips as her eyes flew open. The clouds had already drawn close, and lightning flashed in the distance. “Rain, come,” she commanded.
Nothing happened, and she looked up again as if readying to scold an insolent child. Anger surging, she encouraged the tendrils of magic to dance over her skin until she was within a mystic trance. Unconsciously, she chanted over and over as the words came to her from within, “Aqua Dei tui eu nunc. Aqua Dei tui eu nunc. Aqua Dei tui eu nunc!” She shook with power as the water began to fall from the sky.
Luca stood back as a bright aura surrounded Samantha. Although he’d known her magic existed, she had doubted its existence. As streams of light pushed from her palms, he knew she’d found it. He blessed the rain as it poured down in droves, putting the fire out within minutes. When it was clear all the embers were drowned, he called out to Samantha, “It’s done Samantha. You can let go, darlin’. You did it.”
Samantha barely registered Luca’s words as the power within her died. She slumped over, holding herself up by propping her hands on her knees. It felt as if she’d run a marathon. Colors danced in the whites of her eyes as she fell into blackness.
“You did it!” Luca exclaimed. “You put out the fire.” As he turned to smile at her, he panicked; she’d collapsed into the muddy mixture of dirt and ash. He rushed over, fell to his knees and gently cradled her in his arms. “It’s okay, you did it. Come on now, wake up, Samantha.” He kissed her head and pulled away, realizing they needed to get out of there. He traced his fingers from her temple down around her chin.
Her eyes fluttered, “What?”
“You scared me. You’re okay now, let’s get going.” He stood up with her cradled in his arms. She pressed her face into his chest, afraid to look at the cabin.
He walked with her over to his SUV, opened the door and carefully sat her in the front seat.
“Stay here, Samantha,” he told her. “I need to get my keys. Is there anything you need out of this rubble?” Luca knew full well there wasn’t much left worth salvaging. But after all she’d been through, he would’ve tried to save anything important to her.
She silently shook her head no and stared out the car’s front windshield, not wanting to face what had happened. Denial could be quite a peaceful state if she only embraced it; alas, she could not tear her eyes from the debris. A dazed veil fell over her face as she silently contemplated the fire, her magic. It was as if her inner light dimmed as the cold splash of reality dowsed her. She was still in danger, and if she’d had a doubt before, her magic, while unpredictable, was intact. It was a wicked blow to the fragile sense of balance she’d worked hard to build over the past week.
Samantha, still in shock from creating the rain, shook her head silently. She hadn’t brought anything of importance with her to the cabin. She hadn’t had a chance to replace all her credit cards since New Orleans. The only thing she’d replaced was her smartphone, which had all her financial information on it via the apps. And luckily, she'd worn it on her walk so she could listen to music.
Luca trod into what was left of the home, watching carefully where he stepped. The crunch of the charred wood beneath his feet resounded in Samantha’s ears as she watched the smoke-filled sky dissipate from gray to blue. The smell of burnt wood engrained itself in the surrounding woods and grass; there was no direction either of them could turn where they could not detect the evidence of what had happened.
Luca came out of the house with nothing more than a single set of keys. “Got the keys!” he grumbled. He quickly strode over to her, got in the car and started it. “Let’s go. You’re in shock and we’ve got to get out of here before whoever did this comes back. It’s odd. I can’t smell a vampire or a wolf, no magic either.” Smells undeniably human. He didn’t want to tell Samantha that wolves, shifters, vampires and those of the magic persuasion could all use human minions to do their dirty work. “Samantha, this may not be the best time to discuss this, but your magic back there…the rain. Do you wanna talk about it?”
“No. Yes. I mean, not right now. I don’t even know what I did, those words I spoke. I just was so upset about the cabin. Something just happened in me. Let’s just drop it, Luca. I’ll call Ilsbeth when we get to New Orleans. I’m just so upset right now that someone would burn down the cabin.” Samantha just wanted to crawl into a hole. Some good her so-called magic was. She didn’t really even know what she’d done to bring the rain. She needed to talk to Ilsbeth about what had happened, but right now she wanted to hide, sleep and forget. She hadn’t asked for this life, and felt a great sense of loss; she’d never be normal again.
Looking over at Samantha, Luca realized how small and fragile she appeared curled into the seat, leaning her forehead against the passenger side window. He wondered what thoughts swirled behind her pale blue eyes; she looked a million miles away, silently considering what had happened perhaps. Luca swore silently for indulging himself with her in the lake. He’d been foolish to allow himself the pleasure of holding her soft pliant body: kissing her swollen pink lips: tasting her sweet honey-like essence. What was I thinking? I’ve been thinking with my dick. God, he needed to get it toget
her. She was defenseless, innocent to his ways. No matter how much he wanted to make love to her, he couldn’t allow himself to do it. He could not allow himself to kiss her again. Even though she was technically a witch, he wasn’t sure if she’d ever accept her circumstances. And what of her life expectancy? Would she do what she needed to do to become immortal?
He knew that Kade had resolved that issue with Sydney, giving her his blood to keep her youthful and healthy. But Sydney was a toughened cop who’d fought side by side with him and Kade. She’d faced death time and time again. And while he’d initially hated that Kade had let a human go after Asgear, Sydney had proved her worth. Kade was determined to marry Sydney, and Luca respected their special connection, knowing Sydney could hold her own in the supernatural world.
But Samantha? No, she was like most humans. She was delectably, wonderfully normal: a computer analyst, for Christ’s sake. Her only experience with supernaturals was being bespelled, possibly raped, beaten and now being turned into a witch. And now she could add ‘passionately kissed by a vampire’ to her done list. He reckoned that she could find a much better mate than him. He rolled his eyes even thinking of the word: mate. In over two hundred years, he had never even considered marrying, mating, bonding or any other supernatural or human word that meant commitment. Never again.
Raised in Australia, Luca had known that loving someone brought nothing but heartache. In the late seventeen hundreds, his father, Jonathon Macquarie, a marine, had taken his family to the colony of New South Wales so that he could work on the development of the penal colonies being set up by the British. It was a rough life for the soldiers and their families as well as the prisoners; life in a strange new world was not kind, and often inhumane. During the summer of his twenty-fifth birthday, he’d found comfort in the arms of a lovely woman, Eliza Hutchinson. She was the abandoned daughter of a prisoner who’d been brought to the island ten years earlier, caught pickpocketing on the streets of London.
