In Your Eyes by Suzanne Rock

I love music. It has such a powerful influence on your emotions, don’t you think? Whether it’s anger, happiness, love or sadness, there’s a perfect song out there that will reflect the emotion you’re feeling.

As an author, I often use music to put myself in the right frame of mind for writing. One of the songs I like to use for romantic scenes is "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel. When CJ England challenged us all to come up with a song title for our stories, I knew right away which one I'd choose. "In Your Eyes" was one of my favorites songs when it first came out, and I find it to be one of those timeless ballads that still speaks to me now. It’s such a fantastic song, so heartfelt. When I re-listened to it in preparation for this story, all I could think about was the old saying “The eyes are the windows to the soul.” The saying stayed with me for hours after I heard the song and, after a little thought, Julian and Eva’s story was born.

I hope that you like the results!

When Eva's sexy boss asks her to trust him, she can’t rely on her soul-reading abilities to learn his true intentions. She’ll have to focus on her more human instincts to determine whether or not he's worth stepping out of the shadows and taking a leap of faith…

Rated - Adult - Appropriate for ages 18 and over only

Genre - Paranormal / Contemporary

Heat Level - Sensual

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In Your Eyes
by Suzanne Rock

“Come here often?” the tall blonde man asked as he slid into the bar stool.

A chill swept over Eva as she turned away from the crowded restaurant and stared at the man beside her. He was tan, much to tan for a natural blonde. His hands were clean and well-manicured, his clothing casual, but neatly pressed. Everything about his outward appearance suggested that he was a friendly, non-threatening guy looking for fun on a Friday night. Was that really his true intention, though?

Eva raised her gaze to the bright green eyes assessing her. Something flickered in their depths, a stain of blue in an otherwise green landscape.

“I’m waiting for someone,” she said.

“I see.” The blue in his eyes flared to life, confirming what Eva had already suspected. On the surface this man seemed charming, but deep down he was selfish and arrogant. When given a choice he'd always take the easy way out, and if he ever saw someone in trouble, he'd turn the other way. Blue wasn't pure evil, but it was pretty close. Souls never lied. This guy, like so many others, was a bad egg.

Her heart sank as she realized that she had hoped the results would have been different. She should have known better.

He looked as if he wanted to say something more, but another woman came up and put her tattooed arm around him. She wore a tube top that showed off her small, perky breasts and a miniskirt that accented her shapely thighs.

“Hey baby,” she said. “Who 'ya talkin' to?” The woman looked at Eva and smiled. Purple smeared her eyes, indicating that this woman’s soul was still in a state of flux.

“I’m just talking to this woman over here.” The guy motioned to Eva. Black flashed through the blue in his gaze, signifying that this guy was not only selfish and arrogant, but violent.

Eva inched back and thought about telling the woman what she learned, but decided against it. She knew from experience that people never appreciated a soul reading. Most got edgy when their true nature was revealed. If this guy was really violent, then she didn't want to provoke him.

The couple moved away and Eva pulled out her phone for the hundredth time. Where was he? Julian was supposed to meet her at this restaurant over an hour ago. He had said that he had something important to tell her.

Not that this was anything new.

Ever since Eva had taken the job at iLock, an identity protection startup, Julian Ross had tried to get her to see him outside of work. She had always thwarted his efforts, not only because her libido went into overdrive every time he walked into the room and made her tongue-tied, but because he was different from everyone else. She could see it in his eyes.

Ever since she could remember, Eva could look into a person’s eyes and read their soul. She knew of people’s intentions, and could read if they were inherently good or bad. Blue and black were the marks of evil, white and gold of good. The rest were souls who haven’t matured yet, and were in some state of flux. Everyone Eva had ever met fell into one of these categories.

Everyone but Julian Ross.

She couldn’t read her boss, because he didn’t bare the mark. He was soulless. Eva had never encountered someone without a soul before. It both intrigued her and made her uneasy. What kind of person didn’t have a soul?

After tonight it wouldn’t matter. She had let Julian talk her into meeting him at this restaurant because she had something important to say to him, too. She was quitting her job. Eva had thought she could handle working with a soulless person -- and Lord knew she needed the money -- but she didn’t need the erotic fantasies the Irishman evoked, or the tingle of apprehension she felt whenever he got too close.

* * *

Julian stared at the curvy red head at the other end of the bar. She still wore that form fitting sweater and khakis from the afternoon meeting, but had changed her hair. At work she had it bound in a tight pony tail, but here, after hours, she had decided to let it down. The silky waves cascaded down her back like a waterfall and caused a deep, primal longing to spark in his abdomen.

A soul reader. He couldn’t believe his luck. They were a rare and precious breed, and Eva Hamilton was more precious than most. In her three months at iLock, Julian had become more and more infatuated with her. So many times he had come close to telling her the truth, yet each time he held his tongue. What he had to say was for her alone, not the others in the cubicles nearby. He had asked her out often enough, but each time she had turned him down. He wondered what made tonight different, not that it really mattered.

He knew she feared him, as well she should, but she also desired him. He felt it in the way she stared at him when she thought he wasn't looking, and how her cheeks stained pink when he said her name. He desired her, too. Even now, from across the room, her body called to him. Would it be enough?

It had to be enough. He had waited so long for this moment. This night, he was going to come clean with Eva. He was going to tell her every deep dark secret, every hope. Then he was going to lay his life in her hands.

Just as soon as he worked up the courage.

Julian finished off his Manhattan and flexed his fingers. The song “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel drifted out from the restaurant speakers, as if the maker himself was telling Julian to hurry up and get on with it. It was now or never. He stood and forced one foot in front of the other. You can do this. He made it about half way across the restaurant before a tingling sensation started behind his ears.

No, not now. He cast a glance at the exit, then back at Eva. Not tonight. After two more steps the tingles spread down his neck and consumed his torso. He glanced up at the ceiling and sighed. Would he ever get his chance? By the time he pulled out his cell phone, Julian’s whole body felt as if it was on fire. He muttered a curse at his bad luck. Hopefully, she’d understand his tardiness. He risked one more glance at the only woman who could ease his torment, then sent the text message. If only things were different… Pocketing the phone, he steeled his jaw and made his way to the closest exit.

***

Eva felt her phone vibrate. She pulled it out and saw that there was a message from Julian.

Running late. Will be there soon. Wait for me?

Figured. He was always running late for one thing or another. Eva glanced at her watch. She had been at the restaurant for over an hour now and her wine was done. She didn’t care how drop dead gorgeous her boss was in those hip-hugging blue jeans, she wasn’t going to waste one more minute of her life waiting. Whatever he wanted to tell her could wait until tomorrow -- when she handed him her resignation letter. Right now she was officially off the clock.

Eva ignored the flutter of disappointment in her chest and headed toward the exit. The trendy Italian restaurant was like most in the North End of Boston, dimly lit and sparsely decorated. The tables were packed so close together that the people looked more like sardines than customers waiting for their lasagna. A sea of color floated around her as she moved, the blues and golds of people’s questioning eyes shining bright as they glanced her way. The only thing that seemed to stabilize her against so much energy was the song “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel playing over the speakers. It was one of her favorite songs, but not even it could soothe the ache inside her chest tonight.

Something shifted and caught her eye. In a room full of color, a gaping hole moved along the far wall. Eva knew of only one person who had such a dull, lifeless presence.

“Julian?”

She followed the dark spot across the restaurant. As she got closer, Eva recognized the mop of wavy brown hair and levi 501’s. He had thrown a black blazer over his usual T-shirt and jeans. It hugged his shoulders and biceps, accentuating the sinew of muscle underneath. He adjusted his gold wire-rimmed glasses and made his way toward the rear exit.

“Julian!” She waved, but he didn’t look in her direction. Was he looking for her? “Julian, I’m over here.”

Patrons close by stopped talking and turned to stare. Eva tried to ignore the flashes of color and hurried to catch up to her boss.

“Julian! Excuse me.” She rounded the last table as he slipped out the side door and into the alley beyond.

The dimness of the restaurant seemed overly bright when compared to the poor lighting of the alley. It took her a few moments to adjust to the change in intensity. During that time she heard mumbled curses and shuffling off to her left. Eva squinted and peered down the alley. Two shadows fought for dominance, their forms tumbling and bending as they wrestled. The colors of their souls flickered around them like halos, one a bright white and the other a royal blue. Why could she see those men's souls outside of their eyes? The intensity of the color rose and fell as each one took turns gaining the upper hand. Eva approached, fascinated.

“I wouldn’t go any closer if I were you.”

That accent... She'd recognize that Irish brogue anywhere. Eva’s heart skipped a beat as she turned to face a third figure, hidden in shadow of the building. He stepped forward, allowing the light from the restaurant doorway to fall on his face.

“Julian.” Eva stared at the chiseled features and deep fathomless eyes. The familiar heat sparked to life in her lower abdomen. Even cast in shadow he looked incredibly sexy.

"I’m sorry I’m late.”

Anger rose up and squashed the heat. “Where were you?”

He glanced at the pair fighting a few paces away. “I was busy.”

Eva followed his gaze. The man with the white glow appeared to be weakening, while the man with the blue glow grew stronger.

“We need to do something,” she said.

“No.”

She turned to face him. “What do you mean, ‘no’?”

His features softened as he watched the fight. “The destinies of the men have already been written. It’s not my job to interfere.”

“What are you talking about? Your job's with iLock.” She pointed to the fight. “And that man's going to get hurt.”

“This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen.”

“What?”

He closed his eyes for a moment and flexed his fingers. When he opened them once more, he appeared different somehow, but Eva couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

“Look at 'em.”

“What?”

“Look at 'em.” He closed the distance between them and gently rotated her to face the men at the end of the alley. “Do you see anything?”

Eva’s thoughts turned into a jumbled mess as the scent of his citrus aftershave surrounded her. Her limbs felt watery despite the tingle of warning raising the hairs on the back of her neck. “It’s just two men fighting.”

He sighed, his warm breath caressing her ear. “No. What do you see.”

Eva shivered as his heat penetrated her senses and made her libido do somersaults. This was why she had avoided him. She was attracted to him with an intensity she didn’t understand, and yet he had no soul. What kind of human had no soul?

“Eva, pay attention. Do you see any…color?”

She froze. How could he know? “Yes.”

“Good.” He relaxed his grip around her shoulders. “I see it, too.”

“You do?” Was this some kind of joke? “What color are they?”

“That one is blue.” He pointed over her shoulder. “And that one’s white.”

“What -- what do you think they are?”

“They’re the men’s souls.”

“Yes.” It was such a relief to finally have it out in the open, to be able to talk to someone about it. “How long have you been able to see them?”

"A long time. Normally the glow is only in their eyes, but when close to death, the glow consumes their whole body." He turned her around to face him. “Now look at me. What do you see?”

"What do you mean?”

He leaned in closer until his face was inches from hers. “What color do you see, lass?”

Goodness, he smelled good, like a tropical fruit drink. It reminded her of her reoccurring fantasy involving Julian. Images of sun, sand and naked bodies entwined on a blanket flashed through her mind. Desire slid through her middle, tightening her muscles with anticipation. Would he kiss her? That would be lovely…

Snap out of it. What was his question again? “I-I don’t see any color in your eyes.”

“Exactly.” His shoulders relaxed. “I don’t have any color.” He let go of her arm and ran his fingers down the side of her face. “Eva, there’s a reason for that --”

A loud groan echoed through the alley. Julian muttered a curse and turned toward the fight. Eva followed his gaze and saw the man with the blue glow pull his hand away from his opponent. Something flickered in his hand.

“Is that a knife?” Eva faced the fight as her chest tightened with fear.

Julian rubbed his hand against her lower back, drawing the tension out of her muscles despite what was going on around her.

“I believe so,” he said.

The man with the white soul fell to his knees. Light flickered around him, then extinguished. He fell to the ground.

Julian eased her back against the wall of the restaurant. “Don’t move, and stay quiet. "

"Why?"

He took off his glasses. "I’ll be right back, I promise.”

Julian stepped out into middle of the alley. The man with the blue glow put his knife away and started toward Julian.

“No.” Eva started to move from the shadows, but a hard glare from Julian rendered her immobile.

The man with the blue soul ran right through him.

Eva stared as he ran past her and out into the busy street beyond. What the --

“Who are you?” She turned back to Julian, who had approached the dead man in the back of the alley. He bent low over the victim and placed his hand on the man’s forehead. Within seconds, a white light flared to life. Julian stepped back. The light glowed brighter as Julian took two more steps back and raised his arms out at his sides.

“Be at peace, my friend.”

The light jumped up from the dead body, flickered in the air, and then raced toward Julian’s face.

“No!” Eva rushed forward, but it was too late. The light streamed into Julian through his eyes, then set his entire body ablaze. For a brief, wondrous moment, Julian lit up the alley like the sun. Eva covered her eyes, unable to tolerate it for more than a few seconds. Then the light began to dim. Slowly, she lowered her arm as he turned around to face her.

Eva's breath caught. "Your eyes..." Julian’s dark eyes had changed to bright white. All of the goodness and light that illuminated the dead man's soul was held captive deep within his eyes.

“What do you see now?” His voice sounded hollow and distant, as if he talked through a tunnel.

“The soul of another.”

“Yes.” He looked up into the sky. “I have another, master.”

It started to rain. The sky opened up and water beat down hard and heavy. Eva pulled her jacket up over her head to keep the droplets off her face. She followed Julian’s gaze upward, and saw a lightning bolt flash through the sky. Thunder roared, shaking the ground beneath her feet.

“What’s happening?” she asked, but her voice was carried away by the wind.

The dark clouds parted, revealing a large white beam of light. Julian lifted his hands, and then began to float. Eva stared in shock as his body was taken up into the beam and out of sight. Within moments the clouds closed and the rain ceased. She was left alone.

Eva lowered her jacket and stared at the empty alley where Julian once stood. What just happened?

“I’m sure you have lots of questions.”

She spun around to see Julian emerge from the end of the alley. “I do.”

“I meant to break this to you gently, but maybe it’s better this way.” He held out his hand as he closed the distance between them. “Come on, let’s go inside.” He took her fingers and started to lead her back into the restaurant.

“No. Tell me what’s going on.” She pulled her hand from his grasp. “Why did you take that man’s soul? What did you do with it?”

He hesitated a brief moment before responding. “I’m not human.”

“Obviously. Are you some type of angel?”

"No, I'm not quite so glorious." He smiled, revealing that adorable dimple in his cheek. “I’m what one might call a soul catcher.”

“A what?”

“A soul catcher. Someone who escorts souls to the afterlife.”

“But that's a myth.”

He held his arms out to his sides. "Do I look like a myth to you?"

Eva remembered the fairy tale her mother told her as a kid. Soul catchers were spirits that escorted souls to their final resting places. She had no idea that they could take on human form -- or run a small identity protection company.

“Soul catching is difficult work. There’s a high turnover.” He dropped her hand and ran his fingers though his hair. “The catchers tend to burn out.”

"What happens then?”

“There’s an out clause, but it’s difficult. Catchers themselves don’t have souls, since they need a way to transport the spirits. They have to find someone -- a human -- who’s willing to share their soul with them. Then, and only then, will they have the power to become human themselves and retire.”

“So you’re looking for a human.”

“Not just any human.” He reached out and touched her cheek. “The human has to be able to see our world and understand it. She has to agree to share her soul.”

“Like a true soul mate.”

He nodded. “There’s more. For every soul catcher there’s one and only one person who can release him of his duties.” He inched closer. “Only one who can give him peace.” He relaxed his shoulders and dropped his hand. “You, Eva, are my soul mate.”

“What?”

“Look into my eyes, lass. You know it to be true." He leaned in closer until his face hovered inches from hers.

All of a sudden, Eva became hyper-aware of their close proximity. She tried to bury her rising desire and do as he asked. It was difficult to think with his lips so close to hers, Her fantasy once again flashed though her mind, and her cheeks heated. Concentrate... After a few moments of staring at the familiar dark, fathomless orbs, she shook her head. “I only see my reflection.”

“Yes.”

She leaned back. “I don’t understand.”

"A soul catcher’s eyes don’t reflect light, they absorb it. That’s how we take on the souls of others. Only the true mate of a soul catcher can see her reflection in his eyes.”

“Oh.”

"There’s more.” He looked away and shifted his feet, as if gathering courage. “When I first saw you, I didn’t know how to approach you. I followed you around and knew that you had been laid off from your job. I set up iLock as a way for us to connect.”

"What?” Shock raced through her system. This was too much to take in. “What about the other employees?”

He shrugged. “I needed to make the job seem credible. Don't worry, I only hired enough people to keep up appearances, and I'll make sure they are all employed elsewhere before I close iLock's doors.”

"I don't believe this."

He took her hand. “For months I’ve watched you. I know how lonely you’ve been, how you feel that no one understands.” He kissed her knuckles. “I understand you, Eva.” He turned her hand over and kissed the inside of her palm. “I always understood.”

“I --” Eva fought against the delicious heat that slid up her center. It was a lot of information, but somehow Eva didn't seem overwhelmed by it all. There was truth to his words, she felt it within her soul. Maybe, deep down, a part of her always knew that Julian was special, that she was made for this.

"I’m not saying I want to share my soul with you, but if I did…what would it involve?”

An arrogant grin appeared on his face, highlighting that gorgeous dimple. “Let me show you.”

***

The world spun for a moment and they were alone on a sandy beach in a tropical climate. Julian glanced around at the blue-green waves lapping the shoreline and birds flying overhead to made sure that they were alone. It wouldn’t do to have another soul catcher appear out of thin air and ruin the mood he was trying to create.

“This place…” Eva's words trailed off as she took in her surroundings.

“Recognize it?”

She nodded. “How did you...” Her words trailed off when she noticed the blanket at their feet.

“Get into your head? You forget, we’re soul mates. We share the same fantasies.” He saw her eyes widen and knew she was going through every single erotic fantasy she had since they first met. If he had his way, they wouldn’t stay fantasies for much longer.

“Here, sit.” Julian motioned to the blanket. He had chosen this spot under the palm tree, so that the sun's harsh rays wouldn't damage her delicate ivory skin. "Let me explain."

She did what he asked, and Julian sank down next to her. How to begin? “The blending of souls is very intimate, one that must be shared both mentally and physically.”

“You mean…” She waved her hands between them.

He took her fingers and placed it over his heart. “It would be a great honor. Like I said, sharing souls is a once in a lifetime experience.”

She stared at him, her bright green soul showing in her gaze. There was no indication of what she was thinking, or what decision she'd make. For the first time since seeing Eva, Julian was unsure of his plan. Maybe he pushed her too hard...

He tried to drive back the rising panic. “Look hard at your feelings and tell me what you see.”

“I don’t know.” She shook her head. “This is happening too fast.”

“Is it? Look deep down inside yourself, Eva. What have you always wanted?”

***

Eva didn’t need to think about her response. She wanted to belong to someone, to feel loved. Because of her ability, it had been hard to get close to anyone. All of her life she had kept to the sidelines, almost as if she had observed, rather than participated. To finally take that leap, to love and be loved in return, would make her feel alive. Never again would she feel alone or misunderstood. She'd have a companion, a friend, a soul mate.

But could Julian give that to her? She desired him, yes. Eva had always desired Julian. He was asking for something much more than sex, however. What he was asking for was so…permanent. She hardly knew anything about him. “How do you know I’m the one you seek?”

He turned away and looked out over the ocean. “Being a soul catcher is much harder than it looks. We wander the world, often alone, searching for souls that need to be brought home.” His eyes lost focus, as if something from his past claimed his thoughts. “During my travels, I get so lost,sometimes. Days pass and this… emptiness fills my heart."

She recognized his words. How could she not? They were from her favorite Peter Gabriel song, the one she heard playing softly in the restaurant. They seemed to take on new meaning now as they passed over his lips. Eva understood his loneliness. She had felt it, too.

“When I want to run away, I drive off in my car,” she said.

He turned back to face her, his whole face brightening. Something flickered in his dark gaze. “But whichever way I go --”

“I come back to the place you are.”

“The song of the soul catcher.” He inched forward. “Once I saw you, Eva, I just knew we belonged together." His gaze flicked to her lips. "I couldn’t stay away from you if I tried.”

The press of his lips was soft, and she felt the question in the kiss.

Eva knew what he meant. Ever since she had first laid eyes on Julian, she knew he was special, that somehow they belonged together. It had scared her at first, but not anymore. There was something about this place, about him, that seemed right and good.

Eva slipped her arms up and looped them around his neck.

He broke away from her mouth. “Are you sure?”

She smiled. “Yes, I’m sure.”

He pressed his lips against hers again. It started off gentle, but soon turned harder, more possessive. She slid her hands over his shoulders, enjoying the feel of the sculpted muscle beneath her fingertips. Heat rippled through her body as she tilted her head and parted her lips, opening herself to him completely. Julian growled, a low, throaty sound that sent desire racing up her spine. He invaded her mouth, his sweet taste filling her senses. She had been kissed many times before, but it had never felt quite like this. It was... incredible.

He undid her clothes, tearing her shirt as it parted beneath his fingers. The warm tropical breeze kissed her naked skin, making her hot all over. Something primal and urgent surged inside her, and she yanked his jacket off his shoulders. They worked in unison, shedding articles of clothing and throwing them onto the sandy beach.

When they were fully naked, he eased her back on the blanket. His heat formed a cocoon of erotic sensation around her body as he lowered himself on top of her.

Julian tore his lips away from her mouth. “Are you absolutely sure? Once I do this, there’s no going back.”

She looked up into his eyes, still dark and empty. Desire spiraled around her body like a vine, tightening her muscles and setting her nerve endings on fire. “I’m sure.” She widened her legs, inviting him closer.

He positioned himself against her opening. “I don't know if I can take things slow.”

She tangled her fingers in his hair. “I don’t want you to.”

He bent over her body and place a soft, chaste kiss on her lips. “I promise, I’ll be slower next time.”

Eva gasped in surprise as he entered her. There was no pain, only stretching and pleasure. It was as if her body was made for him.

He started to pull away. “Are you okay? I didn't mean --”

She grabbed his hips and pulled him back inside her. “I’m more than okay.” She slid her fingers up his torso, memorizing each dip and rise of muscle.

He leaned back on his knees, then laced his fingers with her own. "Much more of this and I'll finish before we even begin." He eased her hands away from his chest and held them immobile over her head. She wiggled beneath him.

"Tease."

She smiled. "Always."

He slid back and then thrust deep, causing them both to moan. She locked her ankles around his hips, as if by doing so she could ground herself against the onslaught of emotions running through her body. He continued to move in steady, even strokes and soon her mind fogged with desire. Pressure built, and her muscles tightened as she raced toward that unseen goal. Heat and need pulsed in her veins until her cries of pleasure mingled in the air with his. Just when she thought she couldn’t bare it any longer, he shifted his position. On the next thrust he touched a sensitive spot deep inside her core.

Eva arched her back and cried out as bright green light filled her vision. Her soul. She wasn’t sure what it meant, nor did she care. Pleasure poured into every crevice of her body, and she felt as if she was floating on air. She felt Julian shudder, then heard him groan, as he, too, followed her into oblivion.

When it was over he turned their bodies so that they laid side-by-side on the blanket. They stayed like that for a time, and Eva was thankful for the moment to catch her breath. When she finally opened her eyes, she saw a bright green light above their heads.

She tapped Julian’s shoulder.

“What?”

“Look.”

He glanced up, then turned to face her. “That’s our soul.”

"Our soul?” Eva looked closer at the glowing light. She had always known that it was bright green, but this glow was different than anything she had ever seen before. The light was streaked with lighter shades of pink and white, creating an intricate pattern above their heads.

"It looks different, right?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Because your views about the afterlife are changing.” He kissed her brow. “The white you see is from my creator. It was formed when your soul touched me. Watch.” He lifted his hand toward the light. “Welcome home.”

The light glowed bright and swirled into a completely different pattern, one so beautiful, it took her breath away. Then the light grew until it surrounded them both. Fire, bright and hot, burned through her body. Eva’s jaw locked with pain and she closed her eyes.

Then, as soon as it started, it finished.

She opened her eyes. They were back in the alley behind the restaurant. Cold pavement pressed against her cheek, and the smell of tomato sauce and garlic filled the air. The restaurant. Julian’s warmth was noticeably absent.

She sat up and looked around. Somehow, she had her clothes back on her body, and her hair was not filled with sand.

“Look at me now.”

She turned to the voice. Julian sat a few steps away, his back against the restaurant wall. She went over and knelt until she was eye level.

He tossed his wire-rimmed glasses down the ally.

"What are you doing?"

"I don't need them anymore." He smirked and gave her a quick kiss on her mouth. “Look into my eyes.”

She did. Not only did she see her reflection, but she saw flashes of green, pink and white in his dark depths.

“My soul,” she whispered, fascinated with the complex pattern.

He took her hand. “Our soul.” He pulled her up into a standing position. “What you see in my eyes are in yours as well.” He inhaled deeply. “I’m human again.”

“What do we do now?”

He returned his gaze to her and smiled. “I say we head back home so that we can continue what we started back on the beach.”

Eva shivered. "We can't go back to the beach?"

He laughed and put his arm around her. "Not anymore -- at least not like that. I'm open to driving to the shore though, if that's what you want."

“And then what?” When he gave her a confused look she continued. "What happens with us?"

“With us?” He squeezed her shoulder and drew her closer. “I'll always be there for you, as long as you need me.” He kissed the top of her head. "Whatever life throws at us, we can face it together."

“Together.” Eva wrapped her arm around his waist and nestled against his side. She liked the sound of that.

Side-by-side, they exited the alley and began the long walk home.

The End

**********

After over a decade in the scientific world, Suzanne needed a creative outlet. She tried scrap booking, cooking, crocheting, painting, and piano, none of which held her interest for very long. Then one of her friends suggested writing. Thrilled with the idea of creating her own worlds, she opened up her lap top and never looked back.

When Suzanne’s not writing, she can be found playing with her two daughters, testing her husband’s latest kitchen creations, or curled up with her favorite romance novel in her central Massachusetts home.

Book Trailer for Dark Obsession

Dark Obsession, the second book in the Immortal Realm series, is available from Red Sage Publishing now. Readers can find more information about Suzanne's other releases and sign up for her quarterly newsletter on her website.

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Two Doors Down by Liddy Midnight

I've always loved country music. The classics are wonderful, especially the whiny, sing-through-your-nose songs of lost love, hard drinking and life gone wrong. A few years ago I got the CD dwightyoakamacoustic.net for Christmas. I love it! Every song has wonderful imagery and they stick with me. After a few plays, I decided that it would make a great starting point for a series of stories. Life intervened, however, and until now I've not touched that project. When CJ approached me about writing a short story with a song title, I immediately pulled out the CD and gave it a listen. Of all the songs on that album, Two Doors Down popped out at me.

A neighborhood bar, a refuge from the world. It sounds nice and comfortable...but what happens when the world intrudes? And what happens if that world is not the one we expect? Yes, in my mind, strange things abound. This is a bit of a departure for me because it's a sweet story (no sex! what was I thinking? LOL) but it's just as fantastic as my usual tales. I mean that as dealing with fantasy. I love this little story but then who ever has an ugly baby? Not me.

I live off the grid, hiding from a past I'm trying to forget. Two doors down from my apartment is a bar that has become my home away from home. I spend time there with the closest thing I have to a friend...until a stranger intrudes and I start remembering things a lot of people would consider best forgotten.

Rated - PG-13

Genre - Urban Fantasy / Contemporary
Heat Level - Sweet

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Two Doors Down

by Liddy Midnight

Cool air surrounded me as the door swung closed, cutting off the heat. Although the bar was only two doors down from my place, the short walk was brutal in the late summer evening.

The place was almost empty, not unusual for a weeknight. A few regulars sat in their usual places. Nothing amiss. Good.

I slid onto my usual stool next to Pam, the artist whose old apartment I was sub-leasing. I relaxed in the shadows. Just where I wanted to be. Last stool in the corner, close to the unisex toilet. The window above the hopper was just big enough to let me out in a hurry. I tried it when I first found this place. To be honest, I tried it before I sealed the deal with Pam. I've learned to check all possibilities and contingencies up front.

I don't like surprises.

With my history, that was to be expected. For what felt like a lifetime, I'd been poked and prodded and had my brain taken apart and put back together. My escape from that treatment was still vivid nearly a year later. They were not going to take me again.

Townsend, the owner and main bartender, drew a pint for me without asking. The glass fit comfortably into a depression on the bar much like the stool cradled my butt. Both were worn from years of use.

This North Philly neighborhood of old warehouses and factories, with a few that had been converted to artists' lofts and roomy townhouses before the money ran out, was perfect for hiding. I needed to blend in, not draw any attention. Life off the grid suited me.

The beer was ice-cold and bit my throat a little. Perfect.

“Good to see you, Wendy.” Pam, who never stopped asking me to pose for her, lifted her glass. I returned her salute and shook my head at the question in her eyes. I would never let her paint me. She'd stopped asking out loud but always reminded me that the offer was open.

“Fries?” Townsend waved a meaty hand in the direction of the tiny kitchen and I nodded. The man made awesome fries. No one knew his secret, whether it was a blend of oil or the seasoning that he shook over them hot from the fryer. I'd asked once and got a smart-ass answer. Really, what did it matter? They were delicious and cheap.

I dug in before the plastic basket came to a halt in front of me. “Help yourself,” I told Pam. Why not? She was paying for it, in the odd jobs she and her friends threw my way.

We sat and ate in companionable silence. The ancient jukebox - Townsend hadn't gone to the electronic machines that pulled songs and games from an internet service - wailed about old loves and new lives.

“How's your show doing?” Pam had recently gotten into one of the prestigious galleries in Center City and her work was starting to sell. For big bucks, apparently.

“Better than I ever dreamed.” She reached out and almost patted my hand. At the last minute she pulled back and smiled. “Sorry, I keep forgetting you don't like being touched.”

I smiled back at her. As little as I trust anyone, Pam had worked her way past my guard. “It's still too hard for me.”

“Have you found a therapist here?”

“Yes.” I got the impression that she didn't believe me but I couldn't look at her to confirm that. If I did, she'd know I was lying.

“Hmmmmm,” was all she said.

We sat for a little longer. I avoided memories of therapy, of deprogrammers, of too many lost months, and gave myself over to the cool breeze from the lazy fans overhead, the cold beer, and the scent of cooling fries. It worked. I found myself almost lulled to sleep.


Pam's swiftly indrawn breath roused me. I opened my eyes as the door banged shut.

The man who stood just inside the doorway was a stranger. I would have remembered him. Oh, yes.

He had the build of a basketball player: tall and slim, with strong, lean arms and well-muscled shoulders. His dark hair just brushed the top of his collar. I couldn't see his eyes, but somehow I knew they would be dark and intense. All in all, quite yummy, despite the air of danger that surrounded him and put my whole system on alert. Alarm fought with sensual awareness. The awareness won.

“Wow.”

I didn't realize I'd spoken the word until Pam agreed. “Precisely.”

Something about this man reached me in a way no other had. I couldn't tear my eyes away from him.

He turned and braced an arm against the door, as if to hold it closed. The pose revealed a series of ornate tats curling about sinewy muscle.

Just like mine. Just like the artwork doctors unanimously declared permanent, done with ink that had somehow become part of me. The one who tried to remove it had cut a portion out. When I took off the bandage five days later, my skin was smooth and whole--and decorated. The tattoo appeared to have never been touched.

Perhaps this stranger could answer a few questions for me, like how it had been done and what the secret to getting rid of it was. I was tired of wearing long sleeves year-round. Letting them show and enduring the curious stares or envious questions was worse. People with tats all wanted to know where I'd had it done. Explaining that I didn't know just led to more and more questions I didn't want to deal with.

My speculation was interrupted by a flare of intense light that came from everywhere and nowhere in particular.

My breath stopped. My heart lurched in my chest. Time stood still.

I knew that light.

I knew that light from before, from my life before therapy.

The bar glowed with the light of a thousand wards, now shining in intricate patterns on walls, the floor and the ceiling.

Recognition burst through layers and layers of blocks in my mind.

My eyes closed on a parade of images as snatches of the past flooded in, filling the gaping holes in my life.

I wasn't who I'd been certain I was, just moments before.

I was Other.

There were more strange things in this world than most people ever suspected, and I was one of them. My eyes flew open. Night had fallen outside and the wards provided the only light, filling the interior of the bar with their soft illumination.

In their glow, everyone I thought I knew, neighbors and friends, now looked different.


The couple by the door, who lived two floors above me, had a greenish cast to their skin. Merfolk, by the looks of them. I turned to Pam, took in the tilt to her eyes and her abnormal pupils, and drew back.

She merely smiled. “You're safe here.”

Right, I wasn't buying that. “I'll never be safe again.”

“I'm one of your Guardians. Until you come into your Power, whatever tripped the wards will have to go through me. And Roman,” she gestured to the man I knew as Townsend, who looked a lot bigger and tougher than he had moments ago.

“And me.”

A shiver ran through me at the deep, male voice. Warm hands cupped my shoulders. To my amazement, instead of revulsion, reassurance and relaxation flowed from his touch. Involuntarily, I leaned back into the comfort he offered.

The mirror behind the bar showed me the form of the stranger, tall and strong. By my estimate, he topped me by almost a foot, and I'm damned near six feet. His tattoos wrapped as much of his arms as I could see.

“What is this?” I managed to find my voice. “What's happening?”

Pam answered. “We've been searching for the trigger to break down the barriers those interfering humans constructed to keep the truth from you.”

“What truth?” I knew a lot more than I had a half an hour ago, but I wanted to hear it spoken. How much of what I remembered was fact and how much fiction? Were those memories incomplete?

Pam glanced first at the glowing wards and then the man behind me. “You are half human, but the Other within you is dominant. We believe your father was Elven, which is why the Companions' Guild was able to find you. When they did, your acceptance of your nature was swift and you consented to their training. These aren't tattoos, they are spells.” She patted the sleeve that covered the tattoos on my upper arms.

Amazing. I no longer shrank from her touch.

“Those appear during the final ceremony, indicating your status and abilities. Unfortunately, your coming-of-age ceremony was interrupted by your mother's hired guns.” She shivered.

A chunk of my memory dropped into place and I relived the chaos of a SWAT team invading a beautiful sanctuary, battling a powerful group of Others who proved to be no match for bullets of cold iron.

“She did her homework well. We lost...but that is over.” Pam's voice held deep sadness. “We never did get a good look at your spells. Roman and I were assigned to find and protect you but we couldn't get you out of that facility. We had to wait until you were released, only to find that you were...quite damaged by their treatment.”

“I wasn't released, I escaped.” Everything she said was true. Either my restored memories or just how right they felt confirmed the details. “Looking back, I think they believed they had effectively cured me, so they let me go.”

“We have little time.” The man behind me still held my shoulders.

Knowledge came back to me in bits and pieces. If my tattoos were those of a Companion, then I was a destined mate for a Hunter.

Hunter. The word resonated within me. This man was a Hunter.

This bar didn't get casual visitors, and I now knew why. I had lured him here, with my similar tattoos and the genetic changes brought about by my apprenticeship to the Dark Lady. Even without any recollection of those weeks or awareness of my nature, my very presence had called him to me.

Did I want to be mated with this man? I wasn't sure I had a choice. I hoped I did.

With a start, I realized that I did have the means of knowing the man. Or whatever he was. I recalled a lot of my training, including some mental gymnastics beyond the ability of normal humans.

Our eyes met in the reflection of the mirror. Opening my senses, reaching out with my mind, I encountered strong shields. A shock ran through me as I realized two things. First, he was indeed a Hunter. Second, he was unbalanced, although he hid it well. On the surface, he sent reassurance and warmth to me through his touch. Deep down, he was slowly bleeding into a dark place.

My heart went out to him. Despite that, there were things I needed to know. “Can we have a minute to talk?”

With a worried backward glance, Pam slipped off the stool and went over to talk in low, worried tones with Townsend.

I turned to face the Hunter, shrugging off his hands. Before I got lost in his dark eyes, I blurted out, “There are things I don't remember. I don't know how this works, or what choices I have.”

“I am called Gideon.” He gently took my hands in his. Unbidden, my fingers curled around his. “You always have free will. Our natures call to one another but there can be no bonding between us unless we both will it.”

The tightness in my chest dissipated. I breathed a sigh of relief and took a deep breath, my first since the past pushed its way into my present.

“You do not remember me? We danced at your first Court ball, three years ago.”

Surely I would have remembered this hunk. I used the opportunity to take a good, long look at his features. A wide forehead topped canted dark eyebrows that matched his blue-black hair. Yes, his gaze was intense. I sorted through memories of my early days among the Fae and came up empty. None of the men I had met, young or old, came close to the near-perfection of this man. His chin sported a dimple that made me want to dip my tongue in and taste him.

Whoa! Where had that thought come from? I wasn't the kind of woman who fantasized about a man she'd just met. Or maybe I was. My gaze strayed to his lips. The lower one was bit fuller than the upper.

Focus, Gwen. Focus!

“I hadn't yet come into my Power. I was a gangly youth.”

“You hadn't?”

“Don't you remember a skinny, awkward boy?”

I did. One with the same impossibly black hair. He'd held me carefully, with trembling hands, as though he was afraid I'd break. I remembered feeling sorry for him, being forced to dance with the new girl. Just because--

“You're a prince!” Somehow, it came out as an accusation.

He winced. “One of many. Not such a big deal. My father has many spares.”

“But still--you're important!”

“As are you, my sweet. I believe you are, but I need to be sure.” He glanced at my sleeves. “May I?”

I nodded and watched as he gently rolled them up. Townsend came out from behind the bar and joined Pam a few feet away. I was a little self-conscious. For so long, my 'scars' were something to be hidden, ignored in the hope that they would disappear.

But who had decreed that? My captors, not the 'cult' responsible for the marks. I straightened my spine and thrust away the urge to hide. I wasn't the damaged goods my mother's family thought. I was valuable. I was a Companion. I was Other.

I rolled up the second sleeve myself, with a sure hand and a lighter heart than I had carried in over a year. “Branwen.” They all looked at me in surprise. “Call me Branwen. Wendy is a human name.”

Pam's grin split her face. “Excellent!”

Townsend's voice was deeper than I had ever heard it, a rasp like stone rubbing on stone. “But remember, the ritual was never completed. We do not know what will confer her Power on her.”

Gideon looked up from examining my arms. “I can guess. This is interesting. She bears almost the twin to my spells, with a few crucial differences.” He looked into my eyes.

I shivered, suspecting that I didn't want to hear this. Once I knew the whole of what I was and was meant to become, I could never go back. There would be no army of therapists and shrinks to reconfigure my thoughts, erasing my past. Not this time. Whatever happened, I would be fully aware and part of it.

“We are like bookends. One will support and match the other, giving necessary strength. We would augment each other, if we choose to bond.”

“If?” Pam's tone was horrified. “How can you consider otherwise? You are needed! We lost too many in that raid. We need you together!”

Gideon shifted his stance so he stood partially blocking me from Pam. He kept hold of one of my hands, a warm and reassuring anchor for me. “She has the freedom to make her own choice. Too many have been taken from her. I will not let anyone force her. As her Guardian, you should support me.”

“As her Guardian, I must help her achieve her destiny.”

“Her destiny lies in her hands, not ours. None of us have our fates decided for us. We each must walk our own path.”

“Stop!” I held up a hand. “Let me know what I'm getting into here. Gideon, what exactly is involved in choosing to be your Companion? I'm assuming that you and I would be a couple from here on. Would we have to be bonded? As in forever? Will we have jobs? You're a prince, yet you're a Hunter. You say that I will have Power at some point but I have no idea what that would be.” I tried to concentrate on my concerns and not on the play of emotion across Gideon's face.

He raised my hand to his lips and pressed a kiss on my knuckles. “My lady, I would be honored to be your Hunter. If you so desire,” the timbre of his voice dropped and sent a frisson of heat through me, “we would indeed be bonded, for the duration of our lives.” His gaze roamed across my face. His eyes darkened to black. “You are not what I ever wanted, for I can see that I shall have to face much envy at Court. You are beautiful now. When your Power shines through you, I shall have to--what is the human phrase--beat the men off with a stick. I would wed you with full fanfare and ceremony, staking my claim before all of Faerie. As for the nature of your Power, we must wait to be certain but I can guess. I wield wind and water, so as my complement, I suspect you will command earth and fire.”

“Would that be my job?” Tossing around clods of earth and walloping globs of burning lava sounded pretty awesome to someone who'd felt out of control for so long. I knew a couple of mansions and a certain hospital I'd gladly rain down fire on.

“Not so much a job as, perhaps, a vocation. I only Hunt when the need arises. Once the current class of Hunters graduates, that need will lessen.” He rubbed his thumb across my palm. “I would appreciate your assistance. I have always hoped for a mate who is a full partner, not a subservient woman.”

“That's what I want, too.” I enjoyed the novelty of looking up at a man. “But are we compatible?”

He smiled down at me. “There's only one way to discover that.”

I held my breath as he lowered his head. Our lips met in the softest of kisses. He brushed his mouth over mine again and again, small touches that served only to whet my appetite. I wanted more. I wanted Gideon.

Oh, Dark Lady above, I had never felt anything like the sensations that wove their way through my body. I had been kissed but never with such tenderness. Gideon swept me into his arms and deepened the kiss. What a novelty! I wasn't used to being handled at all, let alone with such caring. The man cradled me gently while his mouth did wicked things to mine. My arms crept around him until we were pressed together from hips to lips. With a distant part of my mind, I realized the tattoos on my arms were tingling. Or were they singing? Whatever. It felt oh so right.

So did the Hunter's essence. The imbalance I'd felt was righting itself. The bleeding slowed. I understood then the healing a Companion offered a Hunter.

He released me and I reluctantly let him go.

“Well?” His smile was confident and just a little arrogant.

“I would say that's a good indication that we might be compatible.” I touched my lips with my tongue and tasted the pure male flavor he'd left behind. I could get used to that.

His smile widened to a grin and grew more arrogant.

Pam cleared her throat and we sprang apart like guilty teenagers. Gideon kept one arm around me, holding me close to his warmth. I'd thought the heat of the street was oppressive. Gideon's heat was intoxicating.

“Do you have enough to know what your choice will be?” The woman, elf, whatever, was just not going to give up.

Gideon's tone was firm.“She has to decide on her own. Do not push her.”

The wards flared anew.

Pam gave Gideon a hard look. “What followed you here?”

My new partner drew in a deep breath.“Something you cannot defeat. The two of us have a chance but not as she is now. She must control her Power.”

Controlling Power sounded good to me. I liked hearing the capital letter when the word was spoken. It sounded, well, powerful.

Pam's eyes widened in fear. “We do not have time for your kid-glove treatment. She must decide soon.”

I didn't want them fighting over me but I didn't want to be railroaded into anything permanent, either. “How is Power or whatever you call it usually acquired?”

“The ritual that was interrupted at the sanctuary is the customary way. It conveys Power to the individual, in a controlled and safe manner. The recipient determines the nature of the Power. It is transmuted as it becomes part of them.”

“Why can't we do that here?”

Pam and Gideon both stared at me.

He recovered first. “We do not have the safeguards we need.”

I looked pointedly around at the wards covering the interior of the bar. “What safeguards do you need beyond those?”

Pam gathered her wits. “I think she might just have the solution. Roman will stand as her Guardian. Gideon, you may act as the Dark Lord and I will stand in as the Dark Lady's representative.” The wards increased in intensity. Pam cast a worried glance at the door. “But hurry. We do not have much time.”

Gideon and Townsend began clearing tables and chairs from the middle of the bar. The merfolk helped, while Pam began sorting things behind the bar.

That left me to fret. “What do I need to do?”

“You merely stand in the center of the circle when we complete it. Let us do the rest. Relax if you can. It will not help if you fight the changes that will take place within you.”

Changes? I could deal with that, as long as I wasn't getting hitched on the spur of the moment. Now that I'd had time to cool down and get a little distance from Gideon, he still looked pretty good as a partner. Even so, I wasn't going to make a permanent commitment without a little more wooing. After what I'd been through in the past few years, I deserved to be pampered and romanced. If he passed that test, we'd be good to go.

Pam and the others were good to go with the ritual too soon for me. Arcane designs covered the floor. I hadn't paid attention to what they did, but the lines they'd drawn glowed with a pure white light. Pam led me to the center, kissed me on the forehead and whispered words in a language I recognized but didn't understand.

I stood alone, waiting to be filled with whatever I was supposed to receive. Gideon, Roman and Pam appeared to know what they were doing, passing the chants back and forth as they waved their hands over the sigils scribed on the floor.

The sound of their voices was soothing and I did relax. When their rhythm sped up, I paid more attention. The floor beneath my feet began to vibrate. The glowing signs shifted and coalesced into new shapes. As I watched, they moved across the floor, encircling me in an ever-tighter coil that rose to form a column with me in the center.

When it reached my knees, the intensity of the light increased until I was forced to close my eyes. I knew when the glow reached my face because the brightness hurt my eyes, even through my eyelids. Right after that, incredible heat enveloped me, searing my skin and making me suck in a breath.

Agony exploded in my chest with the heated air I drew in. I didn't have enough strength to scream.

In the next heartbeat, the pain was gone, leaving behind...exhilaration? I almost wept with the joy that poured through me, joy and strength and Power.

Sweet Dark Lady, I felt like I could move mountains. I stretched one hand in front of me, opened it and a flame danced in my palm. It rose and expanded as I willed it. When I made a fist, it disappeared. Sweet indeed!

I stood alone in the center of a floor now bare of anything but the few wards that guarded against subterranean attack. I felt very different. My pants had shrunk. The hems now rode several inches above my ankles.

Gideon came to me and I looked him in the eye. Holy crap! I'd grown a few inches! So that's what they meant by changes. I saw a lovely shopping trip in my future. What a perfect way for Gideon to woo me. With a prince as a partner, I could probably afford anything I wanted.

“How do you feel?”

“Like I could take on the world.” I stretched and reveled in the feeling of muscle and joints realigning themselves.

“Not all at once, and just a portion of the underworld today. Let's not rush things. You have not yet been trained in combat.” He stepped back, looked me up and down, and shook his head. “I was afraid of this.”

“What?” If he didn't like what he saw, I might have to scale back my wardrobe plans.

“You are far too gorgeous. Even in your ill-fitting garments, you take my breath away. Once we've clothed you properly, I see a lot of jealous men in my future.”

I was half-afraid to ask. “Do you see me there?”

Gideon's eyes darkened with desire and what just might be the beginnings of the emotion I felt sparking to life in my heart. “Oh, yes. If you'll have me.”

His hand no longer dwarfed mine. We clasped hands as equals, as partners, and I felt the wholeness in him. Being able to heal his soul filled me with a sense of power that had nothing to do with the ceremony. I could save this man. We could complete each other.

I gave him a sidelong glance. “You can work on convincing me. The mall sounds like a good place to start.” I was flirting! Me, the woman who an hour ago avoided any prospect of social interaction whatsoever. It felt great and made me look forward to my future. My past was now firmly in place. I liked that, and I liked the prospect of choosing to walk a path beside this generous, handsome, strong man.

His teeth flashed as he laughed. “I think I can handle that. As long as you can keep up.”

“On a shopping trip? No question.” I wasn't so sure about aiding a Hunter in a fight but with Gideon's guidance, I'd manage. I trusted him deep inside, where it counted.

“First things first. Pam, keep everyone inside. I think things are going to get ugly out there for a few minutes.”

Hand in hand, we went out to slay the monster.

The End

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Liddy Midnight loves, works and writes in the woods of eastern Pennsylvania, surrounded by lush greenery and wildlife. Although raccoons, possums, skunks and the occasional fox eat the cat food on her back porch, she's no more than half an hour from some of the finest shopping in the country. Situated in this best of all possible worlds, how could she write anything other than romance?

For the latest in Liddy's writing and excerpts from all of her stories, please visit her website.

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And the Winners Are...

Are you all excited to find out who won? All right then...here we go!!! Announcing the winners of Contest #2 and the two gift baskets filled with all the fun gifts from our Truly Madly Deeply Romantic Authors! The Grand Prize Winner will receive a large gift basket, and the runner up will receive a smaller basket. Check HERE for all the details on how these will be distributed.

And now without further ado...the winners... <scroll down>

The Grand Prize Winner is... <beckerjo>

The Runner Up Winner is... <desere>

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The TMDR Authors