by Aliyah Burke
“I know he loves you, too. So, why the long face?” she asked while Sara did her best to get herself back under control.
“My parents have to move.” The first tears spilt over. “I don’t want to go. I’ve lived here my entire life. I’m graduating soon—I don’t want to have to go to a new town, a new school.”
“Oh sweetie,” she crooned, gathering Sara close. Personally, she hated to see her go. There was no one better with Danny and it made her worry about how she would handle working two jobs without a sitter she could trust. “It will all work out.”
Sara’s thin body trembled in her arms as the shudders racked her. Chaya stared out past the porch at the twinkling lights of Piedmont. She looked upon Sara as her own—the child was at her house so much that she’d become a regular fixture.
“How?” Sara wailed.
Despite her own pain over the day’s events, a small smile lifted the corners of Chaya’s mouth. Teenage drama was always the worst. It had to be difficult, though. She was at the tail end of her junior year. Next year she would graduate and to have to do that in a new place…it wouldn’t be very easy.
“Have faith, Sara.” She placed the young woman back from her a bit and lifted her face. “It will all work out. Now, you should get going home.”
Another sniff and a careless shrug. “Don’t matter. They’re not home.”
“When are they coming back?”
“Tomorrow, I think.”
It didn’t even take her a second to decide. “Come on then,” she ordered, opening the door and guiding Sara back in. “You’re staying here for the night. I’ll have the guest room fixed up in a flash.”
“Oh, I couldn’t.”
“You can and you will, Sara. You don’t need to be alone.”
“Hi, Sara,” Danny called. “You came back.”
“Sara is staying over, Danny,” Chaya announced. “You two can do your homework together.”
“Yay!”
Danny scampered over and grabbed Sara’s hand, leading her over to the coffee table, where he had his stuff spread out. Sara met her gaze and sent her a grateful smile.
As they settled in, Chaya moved to the end of the hall, only to pause and glance back. They sat on the floor side by side, heads together. Sara’s blonde against Danny’s brunet. Day and night. Ten years separated them, yet they were so close. Brother and sister. They both meant the world to her.
Blinking away more tears, she made her way to the guest room and swiftly made up the bed for Sara. She left them room and paused in the hall, then headed for her own room. There she walked directly to the photograph she had on her dresser of her and Daniel.
He was so handsome it hurt her to look at him. The picture was one they’d taken a few years after they’d been married. “I miss you, Daniel. So much.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “So, so much.”
Her fingers lingered on the matte photo before dropping to the dresser top. Metal met her hand. “What the…?”
She lifted her hand to find the cartouche pendant right there. Her heart ached all over again. She bit her lower lip until tears sprang into her eyes, then she walked away without touching it again, her mind a whirling mess of confusion.
The kids spent the evening doing homework and she found some time to read a book she’d wanted to get to. Even so, she continually watched Danny and thanked her stars that he was alive. She still wanted to gather him close and never let him go.
After they got ready for bed—everyone accompanied Sara to her house to get the items she needed for the night and the following day—they all said their prayers. Chaya wandered the quiet house and checked on Danny a few times. She sat in his room and watched him sleep, doing her best not to touch him and wake him.
Right before she crawled into bed, she got her cell phone and sent a text message. Then she cried herself to sleep.
When morning came, she was the first one up. She stood in the kitchen whipping batter for waffles and staring out of the front window.
Her heart skipped into her throat when she saw who was standing out there. Linc. He wore all black and looked just as delectable as he had the first time she’d seen him. And as it had then, her body reacted powerfully. She narrowed her eyes.
Was he compelling her to want him? Was any of what they’d had real?
She ground her teeth and forced her eyes down to the bowl in her hand. When she looked back up he was gone. However, the effect had already settled in her, and she knew that all day she’d be expecting him to appear.
Chapter Eight
Linc wiped the frown from his face as he stepped back out of the dressing room for the final period of the Rangers versus Silverwings game. It took one hell of a show of strength for him to keep his attention on the game and not on the single mother who sat in the bleachers, cheering for her son and his team.
Chaya.
It had been three weeks since she’d thrown the pendant back at him. She’d not said more than two words to him in that entire time. In fact, Sara had been bringing Danny for practice and picking him up afterwards.
He cheered on the boys and cast another sideways glance up to the row where she sat. Chaya was wearing a Rangers jersey with her son’s number and Sara was sitting beside her, yelling just as loudly.
‘Look at me!’ he demanded.
She didn’t even glance at him. All her focus was, rightfully, on her son and the game they were playing.
He passed by her home every day in the morning and struggled with the urge to kick his way into her house and demand that she talk to him.
Iona told him to give her some time and he was listening to her. It wasn’t easy but he’d realised he couldn’t live without Chaya. So he watched her from afar, waiting for her to come to him.
No—that wasn’t entirely true. Waiting for her not to seem so angry.
Danny seemed withdrawn and treated him like he was just a coach. He’d not taken the memory of their time together from the boy but it didn’t seem to matter. There were no more welcoming smiles, no hugs…nothing. It hurt him more than he’d ever thought possible. Danny still took directions well and listened to game plans but there was nothing personal in there anymore.
Snapping back to the current game, Linc hollered out plays to the boys as they skated their little hearts out.
Linc grimaced when Danny got called for hooking and was sent to the penalty box. Attitude sparked in the lad’s eyes as he skated to the box, making him hide a grin of pride. Snaking his gaze to the bleachers, he found Chaya scowling down at them all, him included.
His heart leapt with joy. She was looking at him, even though it was an angry glare. The happiness was short-lived, however, for she turned away as if she hadn’t even seen him. He growled low in his throat. This would not be lasting much longer.
‘You need to control yourself, Linc.’
‘Stay out of my business, Iona. I listened to you about giving her a chance to cool down. See how she dismisses me as if I am nothing.’
‘She’s watching her son’s hockey game. And, if I’m not mistaken, he just got sent into the penalty box. There are other things on her mind.’
‘Are you here?’
‘Yes. I told you—I like Danny. And I miss spending time with him.’
He sighed. Iona wasn’t the only one who missed him. He’d never known flying a kite could be such an enjoyable task. Or playing a board game. They were his family and he wasn’t about to let them go. She was his, as was Danny. Even though he wasn’t his by blood, he thought of Danny as his son in every other way.
The game ended with the Rangers up by one. As the boys shook hands with the opposing team, he allowed his gaze to drift back up to where Chaya sat. She, along with Sara, was jumping up and down, celebrating with the other parents.
Chaya’s brown eyes met his and, for a brief moment in time, they were soft and like those of the woman who rocked his world every second of every day. Then the gratitude faded and they cooled before she looked away, dismissing him.
Again.
He followed the boys to the locker room and gave his speech, then let them get changed. The entire team was pumped up and they all ran to their parents. He hung back and watched Danny jump into his mom’s arms. A shaft of jealousy pierced him when she hugged him. It seemed like forever since he’d been in her arms.
“Mom! Can I go with them to the pizza place and celebrate?” Danny asked in a loud voice.
“Absolutely. You deserve it.”
Danny left his bag and scampered off to meet some of the other boys. “I’m riding with Mitchell, mom. See you there.”
She hefted the bag and smiled at Sara. “Come on, Sara.” Then she turned to walk off.
“Chaya, wait,” Linc said.
Her entire body froze. The look on her face when she turned towards him was one of cool disdain. “Something I can do for you, Mr Dixon?” Her tone was impersonal.
“We need to talk.”
She narrowed her eyes and the air around them seemed to thicken and crackle.
“May I have a moment?” he amended.
Chaya whispered something to Sara as a few more parents congratulated him on the win.
Finally they were alone and his fingers burned to touch her skin. Travel over her curves, slip through her silky hair and hold her close as their hearts beat as one.
“Sixty seconds.”
‘I could force you, Chaya.’
He bit back a grumble of discontent. Suddenly, he found himself at a loss for words. What did one say at a time like this? He was way out of his comfort zone. He took what he wanted, to hell with the consequences. Until now—until Chaya.
“Forty-five.”
“You and Danny are well?”
“We’re doing just fine.” There was no warmth in her words.
“You don’t hate me, Chaya.”
Her eyes displayed her disbelief about that.
He ignored it and forged ahead. “Mad yes. Hate, no. And you know it.”
She raised one finely arched brow. “Is that all?”
Her dismissive attitude ripped at him. “No. That is not all,” he growled.
“Fifteen seconds.”
Linc grabbed her and slanted his mouth over hers. Her taste flooded him and his body reacted. Violently. He thrust his tongue deep into her mouth. She held herself stiff for all of a moment.
Then he heard her sigh and felt her sink into him. She danced her tongue along his, stroking and twining until he was seconds away from taking her, to hell with where they were.
She tore her mouth from his. Her eyes were darkened by desire, her lips swollen from the force of his kiss. Chest heaving, she slapped him. Not a feeble one either, but a hit that rocked his head on his neck.
“Don’t ever presume to control me or my thoughts again, Mr Dixon. Ever!”
She spun on her booted heel and strode away. When she reached the door, he flashed to her side and blocked the exit, caring nothing if another witnessed it.
She glared at him. “Move,” she bit off.
He lowered his face to hers. “We are together, Chaya. I am not letting you go.”
“Get over yourself, Linc Dixon. You don’t get to manipulate a situation like this without consequences.”
“I won’t apologise for my actions.”
She sighed and licked her lips, sending a jolt of lightning through him. “I know, you don’t have it in you. You still don’t believe what you did was wrong. And for you and your kind…it may not be. Nevertheless, for us humans, it’s one of the worst things you could do. We love our free will and having it taken from us…” She trailed off and shook her head.
There was a pain around his heart and he despised the feeling. “Chaya.”
“No, Linc. I have to focus on my family. Goodbye.”
Chaya ducked by him but in truth he doubted he could have moved anyway. Her words had frozen him. There was no more anger in her, only resignation. Honestly, he’d preferred the anger.
‘Chaya!’
No response. Nothing.
‘Chaya?’
He ran out of the door to find no trace of her. Even her SUV was gone. A few cars were leaving but hers had already left. He shook. His entire body trembled with the realisation that she’d already begun to move on. Without him.
Standing in the parking lot, he flashed to her home. More specifically, to her room. The necklace was not visible and even the bear he’d won her wasn’t there. Only one word repeated through his mind.
Mine!
* * * *
Chaya groaned and rolled her shoulders, trying to work the kinks out. Thankfully, the bank was quiet for the moment. There was an ache in her heart, that just wouldn’t go away. Every day it grew worse. Clenching her fingers so that she didn’t rub her chest, she sighed. It had been a week since the hockey game where she’d walked away from Linc.
It had been the hardest thing she could have done. All she’d wanted to do was run into his arms. Allow him to hold her and tell her it would all be okay. But damn it, she hated being manipulated. Why couldn’t he just have courted her like a normal person?
She gave a slight, humourless chuckle. Because there was nothing normal about Linc. She’d known that from day one. The very first day he’d walked into the restaurant. There’d been something there even then.
“Chaya?”
Glancing up, she saw her boss, Mr Henderson. “Yes sir?”
“We’ve got another storm coming. If you want to leave early and get your son, it’s fine.”
“Yes sir, thank you.”
She signed out, gathered up her stuff and made her way through the frigid temperatures to her vehicle.
Not much later, everyone was home and the wind and snow had picked up, whipping around the cosy and warm house. Chaya headed up from her bedroom and paused at the end of the hall. Sara and Danny were playing a video game. Sara had been living here for almost a month now. Her parents had allowed her to stay with Chaya in order to finish school with all her friends.
She headed into the kitchen and stood there braced against the counter, trying to decide what to make for dinner. A knock at the door made her blink.
“Got it,” she called out.
Tugging on her shirtsleeve, she walked to the door and peered out of the window to see who it was. All she could see was a tall figure—nothing definite in the way of identification.
She opened the door and found herself without breath. The cold air didn’t help, but it wasn’t the reason. Linc was standing there, tall and imposing. The collar of his leather trench coat was turned up to help ward off the wind. A black leather newsboy sat on his head. It was his eyes, though. They held on to hers and refused to let them go.
“Invite me in,” he said softly.
Chaya stepped back and inhaled deeply when he moved past her. Her skin tingled at his familiar scent. After closing the door she took a few fortifying breaths before turning back to him.
“What are you doing here?”
He removed both gloves and trench coat. Her eyes lingered on his powerful body. He was clad in all black and she licked her lips and struggled not to touch him. Only after he’d hung up his coat did he face her again.
“What are you doing here?” Danny’s voice demanded as he inserted himself in front of her.
Linc looked at him and said, “I’ve come to talk to your mom.”
Sara also appeared and stood at her side, a gesture she took to heart. They were both ready to protect her.
“Mom?” Danny questioned without taking his eyes from Linc.
“I’ll be okay, Danny, thank you. You too, Sara.”
She nodded her blonde head before she guided Danny from the room. All too soon it was just her and the man who played havoc with her senses. Linc didn’t speak—all he did was stare at her as if he was memorising her.
It began to unnerve her and she shifted on her feet. “What do you want?”
“You know what I want, Chaya. I’ve never hidden that from you.”
She shook her head, determined to ignore the flood of heat in her body at his words. “You manipulated me.”
“No. I didn’t. I thought I had, but I can’t compel you to do anything, Chaya.”
“You can take people’s memories. Mess with their heads.”
“Yes.” His answer was swift and unapologetic. “I’m a god, Chaya. I can do almost anything.”
“Except compel me.”
His expression was totally serious. “Except that. Chaya, if I had the ability to do that, you wouldn’t have been apart from me these past weeks. I promise you that.”
“So you tried.”
“Yes.” Another unrepentant statement. Chaya approved of his honesty even if she didn’t agree with what he’d been trying to do.
“So…” She swallowed. “What you’re telling me is that what happened between us was natural?”
Flames flickered in the depths of his eyes. “Of course. You never lost your free will, Chaya.”
She worried her lower lip. “Why are you telling me this? So you don’t have to pretend to apologise?”
“Apologise? No. I already told you I wouldn’t do that. I know I’m arrogant, pushy, and many other things. I am used to having things my way. It’s who I am, Chaya. I can’t change that.”
“And I can’t change who I am.”
“I don’t ever want you to.”
She didn’t know what to say. Blinking rapidly, she tried to figure out how to respond to his statement.
“Chaya. I’ve told you we belong together and that I’m not letting you go. And you…well, you threw my necklace back in my face and told me to leave you alone.”
Shame crept up but she nodded. “I did.”
Linc moved closer, prowling like the predator she knew he could be. He backed her against the door, strong arms blocking her in, one on each side of her.
“It hurt when you did that.”
“I didn’t think you could hurt,” she said.
“Neither did I.”
Her skin had begun to tingle and she knew her attention span was fading. Breathing through her mouth only helped a tiny bit. “What does this have to do with anything, Linc? Why are you here?”
