Black Magic Lover

by Cynthia Cooke

  They both looked at bed. It didn’t look as though there was anything there. But she’d felt it. She hadn’t been dreaming.

  Had she?

  Drew walked toward the bed, careful not to step on the splintered glass.

  “Under the covers,” she said, her voice sounding strained. A shiver coursed through her as she remembered the feel of it against her leg. It was probably a giant bug, the kind that only lives in deep, dark, ugly swamps.

  Drew pulled back the blankets Laura cringed and squeezed both eyes shut. Slowly, she opened them, squinting.

  Nothing was there.

  “Check under the pillow,” she urged. Were her nightmares back? Had she dreamed the whole thing?

  Drew lifted the pillow.

  Laura stared in disbelief at a small silk beaded bag. “What is it?”

  “A gris-gris.

  “A what-what?” Her throat tightened as a chill moved through her, seeping into her bones.

  “Voodoo.”

  “Why would someone put that…thing under my pillow?”

  “I don’t know, but I promise you, I’ll find out.” He took the object off her bed and placed it on the bedside table.

  “Still that’s not what I felt. It was down by my feet…my thigh.” Her voice splintered over the word.

  He yanked the covers toward him with so much force the bed shifted a few inches away from the wall. Moving fast, a black snake at least five feet long slithered out from under the bed.

  Laura screamed and jumped up onto the bed, squealing as shivers of revulsion surged through her.

  Drew lunged for the French doors, throwing them open wide. The snake whipped out the doors and onto the balcony and through the rails. Drew slammed the doors shut and bolted the lock. “I hate snakes.”

  Laura couldn’t move.

  “There, it’s gone.”

  “It was in my bed. With me!” she reiterated, in case he didn’t grasp the scope of her meaning. Shudders coursed through her, growing stronger with each passing thought of how that thing had felt sliding against her skin.

  “This room hasn’t been used for a while. It could have been in here for months. From what I’ve heard, it was a cold winter. I’m sure it was looking for warmth,” Drew offered.

  “That’s not comforting. Besides, I slept here last night. Are you saying that thing could have been in bed with me all night?” Her voice sounded shrill as anxiety crawled across her skin.

  He took a step toward her. “It’s okay now. It’s gone.”

  She felt something brush against her hand and lurched back.

  Drew took her hand and rubbed it. “Come on now, step down off the bed. How about we go downstairs for a hot cup of tea.”

  She shook her head. She didn’t want tea. She didn’t want sleep. She didn’t want anything.

  “Okay, then let’s get you back in bed.”

  She jerked away from him, her vision snapping back into focus. “No way.”

  “The snake’s gone. I promise.”

  “I don’t care. I’m never sleeping in that bed again.”

  A smile hovered at the corners of his lips. “All right. Then you can sleep in my bed.”

  She stared at him, standing before her practically naked. A fine specimen of golden-bronzed skin and rippling muscles defined to mouthwatering perfection. Damn, he looked good. And at any other time, she would love to take him up on his offer.

  For a distracting second, she let her mind go there, imagining what it, what he, would feel like. Her gaze moved over his body, and she itched to run her fingers along the strong lines of his biceps, to feel his skin next to hers.

  Oh yeah. She couldn’t say the thought didn’t appeal to her, just a little.

  “I’ll sleep in here,” he added.

  She sighed in frustration and looked around the room—at the shards of broken glass, at the gris-gris thing, whatever it was, lying on her nightstand and at her mother’s small rag doll sitting on the dresser. She crinkled her brow. Was that where she’d left it?

  “No,” she muttered.

  “What?”

  “I—I don’t want to be alone.”

  He helped her down from the bed away from the glass, then out into the hall to his room. He stopped outside the doorway. “There are no voodoo trinkets or snakes in here, I promise.”

  She followed him into his room.

  He pulled up the rumpled covers on his bed so she could see beneath them. “See? All clear.”

  Laura forced a smile.

  He turned toward the door.

  “Drew.”

  He hesitated.

  “Will you lie down with me? Just for a little while? Just until I fall asleep?” With her pride lodged in her throat, she waited for his answer.

  Reluctance filled his eyes. Then as his gaze took in her tight T-shirt and thin shorts, they darkened with something else. Longing?

  “Please?” she added. “I don’t want to be alone.”

  He nodded.

  Relieved, she climbed into his bed. She could still feel the warmth from his body lingering on the sheets. He lay next to her, their bodies barely touching.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “You’re welcome.”

  For the first time all day she felt completely safe. The only thing that could possibly make this moment better would be if he pulled her close and pressed his lips against hers.

  She took a deep breath, inhaling his clean male scent into her. If it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t be able to stay another day in this house. Certainly not another night.

  Why had someone put that gris-gris thing under her pillow? What was it for? She thought of the hunter outside her window, of the snake in her bed.

  “Someone definitely doesn’t want me here,” she whispered.

  Under the covers he took her hand and lifted it to his lips. He placed a gentle kiss across her knuckles and stared into her eyes. “Whatever happened to your mother, you can’t risk staying here. Not anymore.”

  She thought of the car almost hitting her in the street. Maybe it hadn’t been an accident as Jeanne had claimed. And she still didn’t know who made that strange phone call. Her mother obviously wasn’t here and hadn’t been for a long time. That person lied to bring her here. Why? Why would anyone care enough to go to all that trouble? They wouldn’t.

  No one ever had.

  She pushed the thought away.

  “I’ve lived my whole life fighting the fact that I was abandoned, that I wasn’t worth coming back for. I need to know the truth before I can move forward and put the past behind me. I want to build a life full of people I will let close to me because I’ll no longer fear they’ll walk out and leave me. I can’t do that until I know why my mom left me. That’s why I can’t go. Not yet.”

  Something flashed in his eyes, but it was too dark to gauge his reaction. As the silence stretched between them, she realized she’d been foolish to open up a vein and let loose her deepest fears. She’d exposed herself like an idiot. She waited with held breath for him to say something—anything.

  But he didn’t.

  Maybe he was the one who’d been messing with her mind. He knew how much voodoo gave her the willies. Did he want her to go so badly he’d plant a gris-gris under her pillow to scare her into leaving? Was that how the snake had gotten up two stories and into her bed?

  No! Her mind protested, but not loudly enough to completely quell the nagging doubts.

  Chapter 8

  Drew woke slowly with a smile on his face and a burning stiffness in his groin. The last vestiges of his dream drifted from his mind—thick black hair and sweet luscious lips.

  Laura.

  She was sensuous and beautiful with a unique combination of strength and vulnerability that spoke to him like no other.

  He couldn’t have her. She was marked by death. He shifted trying to find a more comfortable position, but his erection was rock-hard and the only relief he’d find for that was in Laura’s ar
ms.

  Something soft and supple moved against him. Laura’s sweet smell filled him. Drew’s eyes shot open.

  Laura’s thigh brushed his. Had she been rubbing up against him all night? No wonder he’d awakened with a blazing fire burning through him. He’d meant to move into her room after she’d fallen asleep, but he’d drifted off, too.

  The early-morning light played across Laura’s face. She was even more beautiful while sleeping. He edged a little closer. A strand of her long hair tickled his chest. He longed to wake her with a kiss and see her gaze up at him with sleepy blue eyes. Temptation urged him, reminding him of the kiss they shared the day before. How she’d tasted and the soft little noises of pleasure she’d made.

  A low guttural moan rumbled in his throat.

  She rubbed against him once more, her silky skin against… Damn!

  Desire throbbed within him. He needed distance or else he’d make love to her right then and there and damn the consequences. He swore under his breath and moved as far away from her as the bed would allow.

  The only chance Laura had to survive would be if he could get her out of there, and that wouldn’t happen if he took her into his bed and allowed her into his heart.

  He wouldn’t let himself grow that close only to lose her. He peered down at her long shapely leg. He couldn’t have her. Not even for a second.

  She rolled over, her lips parting as she blew out a soft breath.

  Or a minute.

  Her cotton shirt lifted, baring a smooth, taut belly.

  An hour?

  He swore and got out of bed. Taking a change of clothes with him, he went into the bathroom to shower. He had a lot to do today. Productive things. Things that might help Laura find the answers she was looking for so that she could go back home. Things that didn’t involve stealing kisses and making love until noon. No matter how badly he wanted to.

  First, he’d start with his mother. He wanted to find out what she knew about all this voodoo crap and how she was involved in it. But even as he scrubbed his head and lathered his body, trying to formulate an agenda for the day, pale blue eyes kept needling him, along with the thought of soft lips moving beneath his.

  Heat fired within him once more, shooting through his body. He turned the water to cold, letting the icy spray sluice over his skin for a long minute. Focus. Figure out what was going on around here.

  Get your mind off sexing Laura and onto getting rid of her. He turned off the water and roughly rubbed his towel across his body. Someone brought Laura here under false pretenses. The fact that he was here at the same time was too big a coincidence to ignore. Quickly he dressed then walked through the house and into the kitchen while rubbing his head dry with a towel.

  “Good morning,” his mother greeted from beside the stove.

  “Still cooking?” he asked, slightly surprised to see her there so early, but thankful for the pot of coffee he smelled brewing and the opportunity to get some answers without Laura around to hear them.

  “You betcha. I want everything to be perfect for your party.”

  He cringed at the reminder. “I’m a little old for birthday parties, Mom. I wish you wouldn’t go to so much trouble.”

  Her Avon-red lips twitched. “Don’t be ridiculous, it will be fun. Breakfast?”

  “No, thanks. Just coffee.”

  Her expression twisted with disapproval. “How’d you sleep?”

  “Great.” He thought of Laura still lying in his bed and felt a slight thump in his chest. He liked the idea of her being there. He could almost pretend she was lying there waiting for him. Almost.

  “Somehow a snake got into Laura’s bed last night.” He watched her expression searching for a hint of surprise or guilt.

  She froze, her eyes widening, the coffeepot poised over his cup.

  Surprise.

  He let out a relieved breath. “She’s okay. It wasn’t poisonous. Just a mud snake.”

  “Sugar?” She resumed pouring his coffee.

  He nodded and she put the sugar bowl in front of him.

  “I found this under her pillow.” He placed the gris-gris on the table.

  She sighed. Definitely guilt.

  He stirred the sugar into his cup and bit down on his annoyance. “What is it?”

  “Just a spell to ease Laura’s mind. She seemed so anxious. I thought it would be better for her if she didn’t remember too much about what happened here all those years ago. And then after Jeanne called to tell me what had happened in town, well I was sure a little gris-gris spell was exactly what Laura needed to help her relax and get some sleep.”

  Drew stopped midsip, the coffee cup hovering next to his mouth as he stared at her in disbelief.

  “I know you hate the voodoo. I’m sorry. I was only trying to help Laura.”

  “You haven’t. In fact, she’s totally wigged out by the whole voodoo thing.”

  “Is she?” His mother smiled, a condescending little grin that sparked a quiver of uneasiness in him. “There’s no reason to be. You know that. Voodoo is harmless.”

  Is it? “Well, she’s upset. So the next time you want to help Laura sleep, stick with warm milk and cookies.”

  “I won’t do it again. I promise.” She gave his shoulder a little pat, then walked back to attend to whatever was in her pot on the stove.

  Gris-gris, juju, voodoo spells. It had been a long time since Drew had given them any thought. Was it possible his mother was using a spell to block Laura’s memories? Was there even such a thing? And was she using the same spell on him? Was that why he was having such a hard time remembering exactly what had happened the night Laura almost drowned? He studied his mother’s face over the brim of his cup and was suddenly certain voodoo was dangerous.

  Laura opened her eyes and stared at the empty pillow next to hers. She stretched and glanced around the room. She was alone. Relief mingled with a smidgen of disappointment filled her. She remembered waking up in the middle of the night and realizing Drew was still with her. She’d longed to wrap her arms around his chest and snuggle up next to him, but she couldn’t figure out where she stood with him. One moment he was kissing her and the next he was pushing her away.

  She got up and stepped out onto the balcony overlooking the swamp. The day outside was gorgeous. Sunlight glistened off the water. Colorful blossoms swayed in the breeze. Joyous birds frolicked in the trees. She took in a deep breath of fresh air and, for a second, could almost see the charm of living on the bayou.

  Until she remembered the snake in her bed.

  She turned, stepped back into the room and closed the doors behind her. She was anxious to get showered and dressed when she noticed a hand-written note with her name on it sitting on the bedside table.

  Curious, she picked it up.

  Laura,

  I have some information about your mother. Meet me out back. Follow the path to the family cemetery. This will soon be over and you’ll be able to go home. Pack your bags. I’ve booked you on a one o’clock flight.

  Drew

  Why did he want her to meet him at the cemetery? Was he implying that her mother was dead? Laura’s chest tightened. She closed her eyes then shook her head. She didn’t believe it. If her mother had been dead all these years and buried in the cemetery, Miss Martha would have known about it. She would have told her. This was a trick, a ruse to get her to stop searching and go back home.

  Did Drew want her gone that badly?

  Laura crumpled the note in her hand. How dare he make flight reservations for her? Could he make it any clearer he didn’t want her here at this house…in his bed! Angry tears stung the back of her eyes. She blinked several times keeping them at bay.

  She wasn’t going anywhere. She would leave when she’d accomplished what she’d come here to do—find her mother! And after seeing all her mother’s things, holding the doll she’d created, Laura wanted to find her more than ever.

  She hurried down the hall to her room and stood in the doorway, hesit
ating for only a moment before pushing into the room. She took a quick shower and dressed. She’d see whatever it was that Drew wanted to show her, and then she’d make it crystal clear that she wasn’t going to be on that flight.

  She was only a small distance away from the house on the path toward the graveyard that she and Drew had taken only yesterday when she realized she was trudging through muck in thin canvas shoes.

  She groaned as she stepped in a particularly wet spot. Her shoe made a terrible sucking noise as she pried it loose. She stepped cautiously through the underbrush that had grown over the path and thought of the snake in her bed. Boots. As soon as she went into town again, she’d buy herself a good pair of boots.

  Her progress was slow and while earlier the morning had seemed bright and cheerful, now it grew daunting and gloomy as black clouds filled the sky. Why hadn’t Drew awakened her? Why the cryptic note? Because he’s a coward.

  But was he? She slowed and tried to clear her mind long enough to give her growing doubts credence. A bush next to her shook, its leaves rattling. Laura froze and eyed the plant. Nothing moved. After a moment, she wiped her damp hands on her jeans and continued cautiously forward, waiting for some creature to jump out at her any moment.

  None appeared. Nothing gross and furry, nothing reptilian and slimy.

  Nor did she see Drew.

  Where was he?

  “Drew!” she called, but he didn’t answer. She rounded a bend in the path and stepped deeper into the shadows of a cypress tree, its branches dripping with Spanish moss. The smell of decay was strong here, reaching inside her with each breath. Tendrils of anxiety crawled across her skin. She’d been here before. The image of the tree with its cloying parasite pushed at the walls in her head, trying to break through.

  She focused on the various relaxation techniques her doctor had taught her, trying to coax her memories to the surface, but it was no use. She kept hitting a black wall.

  She stopped trying and continued to walk, letting the screeching cries of a bird fill her mind, the saturated soil’s strong stench fill her nose, the bite of the breeze chill her face.

  Was Drew even here? The thought heightened her apprehension. She peered into the smokelike haze thickening around her. Swamp mist rolled over her skin and into her mouth leaving her with a salty, almost musty taste.