Cupid Painted Blind - A Collection of Paranormal Romance Stories

by Powell, C. G. ; Lavender, Cait; Rayns, Lisa; Hardin, Olivia; Nelson, Stephanie; Schulte, Liz

  “You don’t know me.”

  Autumn’s brain stuttered. She almost thought he meant it to be a question. Gathering the reins, she walked away from the man and the low rumbling. She couldn’t concentrate on the wind enough to conclude a proper sense of direction but she needed to get away. “Why…how can you be so insensitive?”

  “Admit what you are denying,” he insisted, seemingly walking beside her though she still sensed no one.

  She picked up her pace. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “We’re alone. No one else will hear. You need to admit it to yourself before you die.”

  As if struck, Autumn stopped cold. Her heart raced until she thought it would explode and her head spun. But she was dying, and if she ever wanted to release the demon secret she held, now was the time. She did want the burden off her chest. She’d never told anyone before. “I… I… killed… someone…a man,” she confessed.

  Cool lips pressed against hers as his body pushed her into the horse. She didn’t fully register what was happening at first. When her senses kicked back in, she yanked her knee upward defensively, but the kiss ended and she missed.

  “What the fuck was that?” she spat, wiping her mouth.

  “What? Are you saving yourself for someone? It’s a little late for that, don’t you think?”

  Fuming with anger, she lunged toward the sound of his voice and swung her fists, but only connected with air. And she was angry, damn it! She had every right to be. Not only was she dying before a ripe old age, but she couldn’t even see death coming for her. “You are a ghost, aren’t you? I’m dead already from the blow to my head, and now I’m talking to a ghost!”

  “Do I look like a ghost?”

  She swung again toward the sound of his voice. Another miss. Damn it!

  “When you get through the anger, I’m kissing you again.”

  “Stop kissing me! This isn’t a game. It’s bad enough that I can’t control what’s happening, I don’t need you taking advantage of me!” She pulled up to the horse and mounted him. “And you needn’t hang around,” she said smugly, “because this isn’t my last night. I have a plan.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. I’m going to my cottage. I’ll be safe there.”

  Arms slid around her waist as he pressed in behind her atop the horse. He didn’t jump or struggle to get onto the animal; he simply eased in from thin air. He let his hands rest on her inner thighs. “You can’t outrun death,” he whispered in her ear.

  Autumn tensed at the feel of him, but her eyes closed as she inhaled his scent. Her thighs tingled where he touched them and she wasn’t sure how she felt about that. She hadn’t been with anyone since Richard. “I have to try,” she breathed.

  Moments of silence followed. She hadn’t realized she’d been leaning against him until he vanished and her body sank. She hadn’t noticed the feeling of contentment until it no longer existed. Now, she found herself longing for him to return.

  Finally, Charm whinnied and swung his head frantically, snapping her out of her thoughts as the sound of thunder topped the hill behind her. Death had gained ground. She gulped in large mouthfuls of air, feeling as though she’d been held under water for too long.

  She visualized the cloud again––an enormous skeleton in a black robe walking in the middle of a tornado ball. He carried a scythe and looked exactly like the grim reaper decorations she put up every year for Halloween. When the ghastly image reached out his hand to her, fear tunneled through her system and she snapped the reins.

  Charm obeyed, and she maintained her balance. She thought the few moments of being close to the man had given her strength enough to concentrate. More likely, the morphine that dulled the pain and made her imagine him was responsible. It didn’t matter. In her position, she allowed herself to pick and choose which scenario she found more appealing. She chose him.

  She licked her lips, remembering his taste. The kiss, though unexpected and uninvited, hadn’t been as terrible as she let on. She rather liked it, but she didn’t want him to know that. His harsh attitude toward her demise irritated her to the point of…

  Why did he kiss her? How could he kiss her after her confession? She’d just admitted to killing someone, and that didn’t warrant a kiss in anyone’s estimation.

  “You’re here for me?”

  “Yes, of course I am.”

  Her mind replayed their conversation and slowly wrapped around the meaning of his words. Could he really be a ghost ready to lead her to the next dimension? Or was he trying to stall her so death could catch up before she made it to safety? Could he be evil? He’d said he was only one trying to help her. Had he meant it?

  Her mind weaved a web of unanswered questions and then abandoned the tangle to decompose and rot alone, like she would if death caught up. He’s gone now. No reason to keep torturing yourself.

  Satisfied with her conclusion, she pushed the button on her watch. “9:00 p.m.,” it announced.

  “Shit,” she whispered. According to the radio, the area was in a severe storm warning from nine to eleven. “We can make it, Charm.”

  Before she even finished the thought, Charm reared and whinnied again. She held on the first two times, but the horse’s sudden fear got the better of her. The third time he bucked, she landed on her feet, reins still in hand. But the horse took off and dragged her several yards before she let go.

  This time the horse kept running, his hoof beats moving further and further away.

  Chapter 3

  Autumn gauged the death cloud to be several miles behind her from the sound. Though without Charm, she might never make it to the cottage. She flipped over onto her back with a groan. “This can’t be happening.”

  “But it is.”

  Hands slipped under her armpits to help her stand and lips brushed hers ever so softly and only for a moment. The fireside aroma wafted off the man…the ghost. There it was. He was a ghost who probably died in a fire. Maybe the concussion allowed her to hear and feel spirits. Hadn’t she seen a TV show like that once? Wasn’t it possible?

  “Are you done being angry?”

  “Are you done trying to kill me?”

  “What do you mean?” he asked with a chuckle. “Your horse is doing a fine job of that on his own.”

  “Only because you’re scaring him,” she growled.

  “Technicality.” He laced his cool fingers through her right hand. “You have three more stages. Would you care to go for a walk?”

  She didn’t pull her hand away, though she wanted to. Instead, she found herself fascinated by the feel of his skin. It wasn’t every day she held hands with a real ghost. Still, his question distracted her. “What?”

  “Would...you…care…to…walk?” he asked, as though she were a child.

  “No!” she growled. “Death is coming for me, and I have to get to the cottage.”

  “But without a horse, won’t you need to walk there?” He paused like he was waiting for her to respond to the ridiculous question. “You’re still angry.”

  “Of course I am.” Autumn held still and deciphered her course from the wind before she started walking through the ankle high grass.

  He didn’t let go of her hand. He walked with her, matching her pace. “About what?”

  “A lot of things. Why did you kiss me?”

  He chuckled. “It brought out your anger, didn’t it?”

  She shrugged, acknowledging his logic. “Well, if that’s all it was. Doesn’t what I said bother you at all? I killed someone.”

  “No.”

  “Why––” She tripped over a large rock, but he caught her in his arms before she fell. Her hands landed on rippling abs, and she swallowed hard, her face blazing hot. She wanted to keep her hands there forever. Shaking it off, she concentrated on regaining her footing, and he again took her hand. “Why not?”

  “Because I don’t believe you.”

  “Why not?” she asked again, pointing her face
at him.

  “Fine,” he grumbled as though he were trying to appease her. “Tell me, how did you kill this man?”

  Autumn bowed her head as she thought about Richard. “I was in love with him, but I…I ended our relationship the day before he died. I was so angry because of what I did and angry because he gave up so easily. The police said he died from poison but I know he really died because I broke his heart.”

  “That’s beautiful,” he said, wiping a tear off her cheek. “Complete bullshit, but let me tell you, that was some damn beautiful shit.”

  “It’s true!” Autumn yapped as she released his hand. “And now he hates me and no lover will greet me when I die. So, you see, I can’t die yet.” She shook her head feverishly. “I can’t. And I don’t think it’s very nice of you to mock my feelings.” Letting her face scrunch to a scowl, she turned and continued her journey.

  “I’m sorry,” he called after her and caught up to reclaim her hand. “Would you like to talk about him?”

  “No!” She ripped her hand away from him and folded her arms over her chest. “I don’t want to talk about anything with you!”

  “Autumn!”

  She stopped abruptly. An eerie feeling squirmed up her spine and made her shiver. “I never told you my name.”

  “Are you seriously going to keep pretending that you don’t know me?” His voice moved closer, sounding harsh and angry.

  Her head whirled as she tried to place his voice or even the muscular physique. He reminded her of Richard in many ways, his body and the occasional caring tones. But he couldn’t be Richard. No. He couldn’t be. The ghost’s voice was lower, more confident, and had a sexy, cutting edge to it. Not that Richard’s voice wasn’t sexy, but he never talked about practical things. He wanted to whisk her away to marry before her career had a chance to launch. That was why she ended it, she recalled. Her own systematic mind thought love would wait. It didn’t.

  “Fine,” he moaned. “You don’t know me.”

  Yanked from her thoughts, Autumn wiped the moisture from her eyes and strolled away. The ground inclined steadily. When they topped the hill, she grew excited at the nearing sound of rustling leaves. The forest was close!

  But how would she find the right path?

  “Charm!” she yelled at the top of her lungs, hoping the horse would hear her.

  Droplets of rain hit her forehead and a hand meshed with hers to tug her forward. She continued to yell for the horse as the droplets turned into a downpour. She felt drenched and uncomfortable by the time they reached the cover of trees, the hard rain held at bay by the canopy above. The air smelled fresh, oxygenated by the plants and leaves in the area.

  Thunder crashed loudly, above her this time, but it startled her anyway. He must have seen her fear because he pulled her against his wet chest and wrapped her in his arms. One hand rubbed along her shoulder blade the way Richard used to do.

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  She raised her head to his voice and used her sleeve to wipe water off her forehead so it didn’t drip into her eyes. “I’m…I’m…What’s your name?”

  “You can call me Richard.”

  Autumn sucked in a breath, but she couldn’t satiate the need in her lungs. “No. No, you’re not. Richard’s…dead.”

  “Oh, come now. There’s more than one Richard on the planet. Are you sure you don’t want to talk about him?”

  A smile spread across her face as she thought about the man she used to love, the man she still loved. “He was the best veterinarian in Montana. Tall, like you, muscular and perfect, and he had the most amazing eyes. He made the whole world go around when he looked at me.”

  “That’s ridiculous!” he barked.

  Surprised by his reaction, she frowned. “What’s ridiculous?”

  “No one on earth is perfect.”

  “He was,” she insisted.

  “You’re only envisioning him as perfect because you’ve felt guilty all this time.”

  “Am not!” she demanded, pulling away to place her hands on her hips.

  “You look like a child when you do that.” He laughed so brazenly she winced. “Do you realize you’re completely adorable right now?”

  “Thanks,” she muttered, then turned to scream for Charm again.

  “We’re up to bargaining,” he said, the humor suddenly lost. “What will you bargain with to save your life?”

  “I have nothing to bargain with. All my money has gone to medical bills. Let’s skip that. What’s next?”

  “Promise to go to church every week or something. I don’t think you should skip steps. This is very important. You only die once.”

  “Thanks, coach,” she mocked with distain.

  His blasé attitude about her demise got under her skin, but she felt a certain amount of gratitude toward him. He was the first man in months to talk to her without that pitiful, heartbroken voice and she found some comfort in that.

  “I guess the only bargain I’d be interested in is…well, if I could see my Richard again and know that he forgave me. Then I’d go peacefully.”

  A cool hand touched her cheek.

  Autumn stiffened momentarily, then sighed. “He’s my only regret.”

  “Do you miss him?”

  “Every day.” She leaned into the offered embrace, wanting to be held more than anything.

  “Depression. You’re a marvelous student,” he said excitedly. “You’ll be ready in no time.”

  “Stop it,” she begged between her sobs. Despite her irritation with his excitement, she cried into his shoulder.

  Though shirtless, cool, and wet, he didn’t shiver and his teeth didn’t chatter. He waited patiently, softly patting and rubbing her shoulders through the eruption of tears. “The rainclouds are shedding less water,” he finally whispered.

  She laughed through the heartache and eventually her sobs died out. She hugged his neck, grateful to have him there, grateful to not be alone. Stranger or not, she appreciated his kindness, and she decided she would be ready when her time came. She owed that all to him, whether she liked his methods or not. She took the rag he offered and used it to dry her eyes and blow her nose.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  His hands cradled her face and then his lips brushed hers, as if to test her, to see if he would be slapped. When he found no resistance, he pushed into her, blessing her with a solid closed-mouth kiss. A curious set of wings fluttered in her stomach, and she raised her hands to his back. When he drew his mouth away, she licked her lips feeling conflicted and confused.

  What the hell is he doing? He’d been the one to tell her she only had the night to live! What could possibly have possessed him to kiss her…again?

  “You’re not seriously coming on to a person who looks like she’s had a worse day than a murder victim, are you?”

  “Hmm. I thought the kiss would have given that away. Maybe you’re not as bright as I once thought.”

  “Very funny. Aren’t you just a charmer?”

  “I try,” he teased.

  “This is the last lesson, isn’t it? You’re being kind and I’m…I’m just being stupid.”

  “You’re not stupid. Unlucky, perhaps?”

  “I don’t feel unlucky right now,” she breathed.

  He didn’t miss the intended invitation. Hungry hands wrapped around her, and he kissed her again, slipping his tongue into her mouth to taste her, to savor her.

  As much as she hated it, her thoughts travelled to Richard. What if he was there to meet her when she died? What if he had forgiven her? Would he forgive her kissing a stranger and enjoying it right before she went to him? She couldn’t bear to give up on him completely.

  Pulling away from the man, she wandered further into the forest and called for Charm again, but she heard nothing.

  “Why did you stop?” the other Richard asked.

  “I…I accepted. Acceptance is the last step, isn’t it? You’re done now. You can go.”

&nbs
p; “Make a bargain that doesn’t include Richard.”

  “No. That would be backtracking.” Autumn turned in circles, having no sense of direction without the wind. She knew what way she came from but that didn’t mean she’d made the right path. “Do you see a cottage around here?”

  “You want to go to the cottage?”

  “Well, yeah. What did you think I was doing?”

  “Stalling, so you can spend more time with me.”

  Unknown objects pelted the ground as the next rumble vibrated the forest, warning her death neared. Panic-stricken, Autumn sucked in a breath and laid a hand over her pounding heart. She reached toward the sound of his voice and took the other Richard’s hand. She had to trust him. He was her only hope now. “Can you take me there? Please?”

  “Bargain with me. What will you do for your life?”

  “You’re backtracking again. We’re past that,” she said nervously as the rumbling grew louder.

  “I wasn’t satisfied.”

  “Fine!” she growled. “Take me to the cottage right now, and I’ll go to church every Sunday.”

  “What in the hell would I want you to go to church for?”

  “Ugh! What do you want?!”

  “I’ll take you for another kiss.” He leaned away from her quick attempt to kiss his cheek. “You have to bargain. You can’t just kiss me!”

  “Prude!” Even in the face of death, she couldn’t resist that one. “Okay. If you take me to the cottage right now, I’ll kiss you.”

  Instantly, he grabbed her and dipped her backward, making her squeal with laughter. “We don’t have time for this,” she said as one leg flipped into the air.

  “Why? Just because you’re having a bat night?”

  Giggles slipped out. Though it had only been hours since the animal attack, it seemed ages ago. The fun ended when the trees vibrated again. “Please Richard,” she beseeched. “I can’t die yet.”

  “I know. Close your eyes.”

  What? Was he fucking kidding?

  Without time to argue, she closed her eyes. His arm encircled her waist and lifted her aching body off the ground. She heard Richard talking but she couldn’t understand what he said because another boom of thunder echoed through her head, making it throb. The pain mixed with a new weakness in her joints. Not now! Please, not now. I’m not ready yet. Give me just a little longer, please God.