Magic and Mayhem: Harmony: A 'Not-Quite' Haunted Love Story (Kindle Worlds Novella) (The 'Not-Quite' Love Story Series Book 8)

by Julia Mills

  So, I sat completely still and waited for the perfect moment. When I knew it was right, I reverently whispered, “Dear Goddess on high, Creator of day and of night, I ask one favor as a child of your light. Please answer my plea, your face I long to see, for only you know my heart and can see how much I love you from finish to start.” (Stop laughing, I was only thirteen and in a rush. If I’d paid attention and known it would be the only spell I could ever use to summon the Goddess, I might have spent a little more time on it. Okay, I give. You’re right I wouldn’t have. But still, hush it.)

  Holding my breath, praying my little spell over and over in my head, I was just about to give up when the clock chimed four AM. Not wanting to admit defeat, I decided to give it one more try.

  Squeezing my eyes as tight as I could and holding the image of Sam in the forefront of my mind, I shouted, “Dear Goddess on high, Creator of day and of night, I ask one favor as a child of your light. Please answer my plea, your face I long to see, for only you know my heart and can see how much I love you from finish to start.”

  When I began again, Faith joined in, and by the time we got to the second line, Auntie Dot was saying it, too. On the third time through, I was shocked to hear not only Festus and Vanessa but also Wendy, her support group kitties and Ernesto chanting along with us. I could feel the magic filling in the air. Smell the sweet scent of frankincense and the woodsy fragrance of myrrh as a soft voice beckoned, “Open your eyes, Harmony Jane Starshine.”

  Slowly raising my eyelids, half afraid of what I would see, I lifted my head and looked at the most beautiful disco-ball-shaped cloud of glittering silver lightning bolts and fuchsia magic I’d ever seen. It was so contained and so perfectly round that it kind of reminded me of the plasma globe my sixth-grade science teacher had kept on his desk, except the Goddess’ magical sphere seemed to lift away all my worries and make me feel as if I could do damn near anything.

  Smiling at the mystical appearance of the deity of all witches, I stammered, “Y-yes, m-ma’am. T-thank y-you for c-coming.”

  “It is my pleasure, Harmony Jane. You have always been faithful, irreverent at times, but always faithful to our ways.”

  Her power-filled lyrical voice wrapped around my heart and reached into my soul, showing me that she was serious, the Goddess really did think I was pretty okay. Then she spoke again, and I could tell she meant business.

  “Ask what you will of me, Harmony Jane. What is it that you desire?”

  Taking a deep breath then slowly letting it out, I nodded slightly before holding my head high and asking, “I want Baron Sampson Merriweather returned to this realm. His spirit died its final death protecting me from Nate the Di…I mean, my father, Nathaniel Jackson Darkshade.”

  No sooner had Nate the Dick’s name crossed my lips than the Goddess’ magic turned a deep shade of purple and her lightning struck the ground, scorching the grass in at least ten spots. “Oh, yes, I am acquainted with Nathaniel Darkside and the evil he is responsible for spreading.” The mystical ball began to fade back to fuchsia, and the lightning bolts became more contained as she continued, “Thank you for finally delivering his soul, as well as his tainted offspring’s souls, to the deepest Pits of Hell. I see you found your sister, Faith Annabella. I have high hopes for you two.”

  I could tell she was building up to something, and I was trying my best to be patient, but since she was the Goddess of All, no matter what form she was in, she knew my thoughts and wasn’t afraid to call me out on them. “I know you want a simple answer to what seems a simple request, but I also know that you of all people understand the balance of all things. If it was Sampson Merriweather’s time to go, then there is nothing I can do.”

  “But he is one of yours, a warlock.”

  “He is not.” The Goddess’ voice was hard as steel as she contradicted what I’d just said.

  “Begging your pardon, ma’am. Yes, he is. I heard him work a spell with my own ears, saw the magic fly from his fingertips.”

  A deafening silence filled my little corner of the world as the fuchsia of the Goddess’ magic slowly began to fade. The flashes of her lightning became nearly nonexistent, and the gentle scents of frankincense and myrrh were quickly overpowered by the night blooming jasmine climbing the fence just behind Faith’s left shoulder. Hanging my head in defeat, I knew I’d messed up, knew I should’ve kept my mouth shut, was certain I would never, ever see Sam again.

  The longer I waited, the dimmer the Goddess’ magic became until it completely popped out of existence, leaving me and my little rag-tag family sitting in the darkness watching the last ember of my sage stick blink out of sight. Getting to my feet, I silently walked into the house, up the stairs, and into my bedroom. Kicking my door shut, I flopped face-first onto the bed, and for the first time since I’d held Sam’s lifeless body in my arms, I cried….and I cried…and I cried.

  Chapter Eleven

  “Go away,” I groaned, smacking at the fingers that were tickling my cheek as I pulled the comforter over my head.

  I knew it was either Faith or Lola. The Goddess knew they’d been trying to get me out of bed for the better part of four days, even going so far as to pour a bucket of ice-cold water on me.

  But, Ha! I fooled them. I was so deep in the pit of my own despair that I just rolled to the other side of my queen-sized bed, curled up in the dry half of my comforter and went right on sleeping. I let them know in no uncertain terms that they were dealing with a professional at avoidance and after that, I’d actually gotten nearly four hours of peace before they returned for another round.

  I guess the clue that I’d sunk too far into the rabbit hole was when Wendy came in to cheer me up. You’d have thought I would’ve gotten up to see my manic cat attempting to be happy, but I didn’t. I stayed put and let my neurotic feline tire herself out before falling asleep at the foot of my bed.

  Now, they were back, and I was determined to stay put. I knew from the lack of light under my ceiling-to-floor curtains that it was nighttime. Not that I needed an excuse or anything, I was staying right where I was, and they could all bite my butt.

  Blessedly, I heard footsteps moving away from my bed just before the door opened and closed, shutting out the world and blessedly leaving me to my own horrible company. Sinking back into my dreams where Sam was alive, and I got to tell him that I loved him just as much, if not more than he loved me, I happily slept like the dead. That is until big, strong hands wrapped around both my ankles and in one fell swoop dragged me out of bed, threw me over a broad, musclebound shoulder and slapped me square on the ass.

  Prying my eyes open and blinking wildly to get them to focus, I looked squarely at the finest butt I’d ever seen and screamed, “I know that ass! Hellfire and Goddess tears, I love that ass!”

  A deep baritone chuckle reached my ears just as I was lifted off his shoulder and set on the floor. Looking into the deep brown eyes of the man I loved more than I’d ever known it was possible to love another person, I launched myself into his arms and slammed my lips to his.

  My fingers dug into his shoulders, I plastered my body to his and continued to kiss Baron Sampson Merriweather for all I was worth. Then, just like when you touch a pan straight out of the oven, I jumped back, opened my eyes wide and shouted the first thing that came to mind, “Am I dead?”

  Throwing back his head and literally guffawing, (I never really knew what that word meant until that moment.) Sam lowered his chin, put his hands on my shoulders and while still laughing, winked, “No, my sweet, sweet Harmony, you are not dead. I am alive.”

  I felt my eyes get as big as they possibly could and my mouth drop open as his words cut through the lust in my brain, and I took my first really good look at the man I loved with all my heart and soul. To confirm what he was saying, I wiggled my shoulders underneath his touch, Happy as a pig in shit when it registered that they were heavier than they had been the last time I saw him.

  I think I mentioned before that my Baron had
never been cold to the touch, but now, the heat coming from his fingers on the skin peeking out from underneath the strap of my PJ top zipped and zinged through my body, making me have to clench my thighs together and try not to shiver. His image, once just a tad out of focus, was now crisp and clear and oh-so-very handsome.

  I looked him up and down, then right in the eye and breathed the words I was scared to say very loud for fear I would screw up my very first, bona fide miracle. “You’re really, really here, aren’t you?”

  Letting his hands slide down my arms, his fingers found mine, setting off a whole new round of magically delicious sparks and shivers as he pulled me close. Kissing the tip of my nose and grinning that lopsided grin that made the butterflies in my tummy bounce around like they were at a rave, Sam nodded, “Yes, my love, I am just as real as you are. The Goddess granted your wish and mine.” He got that twinkle in his eye that said he was up to no good right before he added, “At the risk of getting turned into a toad, I have to quote that damned cartoon Festus and Vanessa are always watching, ‘I’m a real boy’.”

  Laughing out loud, I wrapped my arms around his waist and winked, “Oh yeah, you sure are Pinocchio and you’re all mine.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “Thank the Goddess that’s over,” I sighed, kicking off my shoes and falling back onto the bed. “I still don’t understand why we had to have an old-fashioned Handfasting. Wouldn’t it have been easier to live in sin?” I snorted at my own joke, sure my new husband had yet another of his fabulous comebacks. (Yes, I said ‘husband’. Can you believe that shit?)

  “Because, my darling, I am an old-fashioned warlock and I want to make sure there’s absolutely no way you can ever get rid of me.” The lilt and brogue of his Scottish heritage rolled over me as my husband, (I will never get tired of saying that.) gave me another of his very sexy grins. Reaching down, Sam slid his fingers between mine and pulled me up to stand right in front of him.

  “Yeah, about that whole warlock thing. I’ve been meaning to ask why you didn’t tell me about that before.”

  Kissing my neck, obviously trying to distract, I reluctantly pulled away and leveled my gaze while raising an eyebrow to show him I meant business. “Come on, spill.”

  Sighing like it was the worst thing I was ever gonna ask him to do, Sam nodded, “Alright then, I never told you because, until I met you, I hated anything and everything to do with witches, warlocks, imps, dragons…magic in general and in all forms.”

  Pulling me back to him, Sam went on explaining while looking deep into my eyes and smiling just enough that he got those sexy little crinkles right where his long, dark eyelashes ended and his gorgeously tanned skin began. “But then you walked through that door and everything changed. I just knew, to the bottom of my soul, with every fiber of my being and every beat of my heart that you were the girl for me and that magic would always be an important part of our lives.”

  “No way. Really?” I shook my head. “But how did you learn so quickly?”

  The words had barely left my lips when he snickered, “Why, Dot, of course. She was more than keen to help me if it meant you would have a mate to look after you.”

  At the mention of my aunt’s name, my happiness dimmed just a bit, making my perceptive mate quick to add, “And as soon as we’ve had a proper honeymoon, we shall work together to find Nigel and bring a beautiful happily ever after to dear, sweet Dorthea.”

  “Dear? Sweet?” I snorted sarcastically as Sam went back to nibbling my neck and making me want him more than I wanted I wanted candy corn and peanuts on Halloween. “I wouldn’t go that far…”

  My words trailed off as his lips found mine with a wonderfully sexy promise of things to come. Scrunching the soft silk of the simply elegant wedding dress Faith and Dot had made for me at my waist, Sam stepped back, slid the gown over my head and looked down at my nearly naked body with pure love and more than a little lust shining in his eyes. Not only was I deliriously happy, but I also felt totally empowered, like I was Helen Reddy belting out, ‘I am woman, hear me roar.’

  To know that the man I was crazy in love with, I mean lurve like something out of a fairy tale, loved me in exactly the same way, filled me up with sparkling pink bubbles and glittering purple stars of the best kind of happy magic that was ever created. After all these years, I’d finally found my place. I belonged to someone, and he belonged to me. I had a spot in this big, old universe and it was by Baron Samuel Merriweather’s side, come what may, good or bad. He had my back, and I had his. It was Fate, kismet, alignment of the planets, and most assuredly the Goddess’s will, all rolled into one big tootsie roll of happy, happy, joy, joy.

  As if we shared the same thought, our lips once again met, and this time there was no holding back. Our love exploded. Passion flew between us. Magic, the pure, beautiful kind that can only come from two people so much in love that they can’t help but shout it to the world filled the room.

  Sam’s fingers wrapped around the silk waistband of my panties, ripped them from my body and threw them over his shoulder with a sigh. “Goddess bless me, you are the most beautiful woman in the world and you are all mine, Harmony Jane Merriweather, for now, forever and always.”

  His hands closed around the globes of my ass and lifted me until I had no other option but to wrap my legs around his waist. Turning to the side, he gently laid me back onto the bed, kissing down my body before standing and snapping his fingers to make his clothes disappear then donning a cheeky grin with lust burning deep in his eyes.

  “I love what you do with your magic, Mr. Merriweather,” I purred, unable to take my eyes off the sculpted muscles of his chest and abs.

  Crawling onto the bed and over me, Sam growled, “Oh, darling, you ain’t seen nothing yet.”

  The feel of his hard, muscled body, like granite wrapped in silk, against my soft curves felt as if I’d come home for the very first time. His calloused hands seemed to touch not only my body but my soul. His hips pushing against mine held me in place, as his erection smoothly slid between the wet, swollen lips of my pussy.

  Rolling his hips, the head of his cock teased the tip of my throbbing clit on every pass. My hips flew off the bed, meeting his with every thrust, creating an erotic rhythm that pushed our passion towards Heaven itself.

  My excitement grew, the proof wetting the inside of my thighs and the front of his as Sam’s lips left mine. Kissing down my neck and across my chest, he slid his hands under my butt, lifting my hips higher as his cock slid from my body.

  Moaning at the loss, unable to form a coherent sentence, I begged, “Sam…No…Oh, Sam, please…”

  Knowing what I wanted even before I did, his lips wrapped around my hardened nipple as his teeth gently bit the base and the tip of his tongue teased my sensitive flesh. Shivering in unison at the sensory overload, Sam’s arm slid around my waist, while his opposite hand wound and curved its way south.

  Taking as much of my breast into his mouth as he could, Sam continued to torture first one and then the other until I was a writhing mass of want and need beneath him. Sliding first one, and then almost immediately, another finger deep inside me, I screamed his name as he drove his digits in and out with unrelenting precision.

  Increasing the speed on every pass, bumping my excited clit and rubbing that special bundle of nerves deep inside my core that made my eyes cross and all rational thought fly from my mind, his two fingers soon became three. Faster and faster we moved in unison, chasing the orgasm that was barreling towards me. Sam’s thumb found my clit, rubbing frantic circles, pressing harder with every swipe.

  “Harmony, open those gorgeous brown eyes and look at me. As with everything from this moment forward, we do this together, my love.”

  My eyes snapped to his. The world stopped on its axis. Love, our love, something only Sam and I could share, flowed freely between us, an invisible tether tying us together forever and always. Pushing his fingers deeper, he used the palm of his hand to tease my swollen c
lit at the same time that he bent all three of his fingers inside me and expertly worked the bundle of nerves at my core until I couldn’t catch my breath.

  My orgasm came over me like the waves of a tsunami crashing over the sand. Every push and pull of his fingers sent a whole new set of tremors through my core, extending my orgasm until little black dots danced before my eyes. Slowly removing his fingers from inside me, my muscles jumped and shivered, my pussy so tender that just that small movement set off a new wave of shivers.

  Caging me in, his palms on either side of my head, Sam looked deep into my eyes as he kissed the tip of my nose and smiled, “I love you, Harmony Jane Merriweather, so very much that not even death could keep us apart.”

  Lying down beside me, his erection rubbed my thigh causing my libido, the sexy little ho that she was, to jump back to life, ready to make love to my husband like the last few moments hadn’t happened. Waiting for Sam to get comfortable and just as he reached for me, I rolled into his embrace, up onto his body, and straddled his thighs. Grinning from ear-to-ear as I carefully took his extremely hard cock into my hands and worked one up towards the tip, while gliding the other gently downward, I applied extra pressure to the base before repeating the action.

  Sam’s eyes rolled back in his head while he fought hard to maintain his control. Breathless, struggling to speak as I worked him like a Stradivarius, the sounds of our beating hearts the only music I would ever need, my husband finally wheezed, “Y-you are abso…absolutely amazing. I…I l-love…you, s-so very m-much.”

  “And I love you, more than I will ever be able to express,” I smiled, working his erection through my fists just a bit faster. “Even better than fluffer-nutter sandwiches and white-chocolate-macadamia-nut cookies and baby, that’s a lotta love.”