Potent Spirits

  * * *

  Phaze

  www.phaze.com

  Copyright ©2007 by Aurora Black

  * * *

  NOTICE: This work is copyrighted. It is licensed only for use by the original purchaser. Making copies of this work or distributing it to any unauthorized person by any means, including without limit email, floppy disk, file transfer, paper print out, or any other method constitutes a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines or imprisonment.

  * * *

  Published by Phaze Books

  Also by Aurora Black

  Melting the Ice Queen

  I Heart You

  Phaze in Verse

  Bitter Harvest

  This is an explicit and erotic novel

  intended for the enjoyment

  of adult readers. Please keep

  out of the hands of children.

  www.Phaze.com

  Potent Spirits

  a Phaze Frost HeatSheet by

  AURORA BLACK

  Potent Spirits copyright 2007 by Aurora Black

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  A Phaze Production

  Phaze Books

  6470A Glenway Avenue, #109

  Cincinnati, OH 45211-5222

  Phaze is an imprint of Mundania Press, LLC.

  To order additional copies of this book, contact:

  books@phaze.com

  www.Phaze.com

  Cover art © 2007, Debi Lewis

  Edited by Will Belegon

  eBook ISBN-13: 978-1-59426-801-4

  eBook ISBN-10: 1-59426-801-0

  First Edition—November, 2007

  Printed in the United States of America

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Before the night of Christmas Eve, shy and quiet Vivian Woods resigned herself to the belief that Christmas would come and go just like any other day. But nothing could have prepared her for what happened, a series of events that opened her eyes and changed her view of Christmas forever after.

  * * * *

  The clock struck eleven as Vivian yawned and burrowed under the blankets she'd arranged on the sofa. Cradling a hot toddy in her hands, she silently cursed the fates for the apartment's heater being on the fritz. Just my luck, she thought. As if she didn't hate this time of year enough, she had to freeze as well.

  She carefully sipped her drink, a tiny smile curling her lips. It could be worse, she thought as she glanced at the television. She could have lost the electricity.

  Vivian finished the toddy, sighing as the warmth pooled in her belly. She placed the empty mug on the coffee table and reached for the remote control. Absentmindedly flicking through the channels, she quickly dismissed the special Christmas episodes of the sitcoms, cartoons, and the billionth broadcast of It's A Wonderful Life.

  She shuddered and changed the channel again. After another few seconds of channel surfing, she stopped in her tracks when she noticed that A Christmas Carol was starting. Normally she didn't care for old movies any more than she did holiday ones, especially old holiday ones, but this time she felt drawn to the dance of pale light and shadow on the TV screen.

  She reached for the half-empty bottle of Jack Daniels beside the couch and began to drink as she was sucked into the story. Vivian grew warm and relaxed as the time passed, so much so that it didn't matter when her thoughts drifted away from the movie and onto more pleasant territory. Caleb Blackwell, the man always on her mind. He was gorgeous, kind, brave, passionate ... and completely out of her reach.

  Vivian's sigh was a mixture of yearning and self-directed frustration as she put down the bottle and turned over onto her back, staring at the ceiling. She first met Caleb over a year before, on the night her house burned down. The fire had been accidental, and within minutes everything was engulfed in flames. The overpowering stench of smoke jolted her awake, but the sight of everything around her catching fire paralyzed her. She was terrified of sharing the same fate as her mother, but she couldn't move to save herself.

  Her eyes watered at the memory. She closed them as she remembered Caleb charging through the flames to save her, the blazing fire complimenting and accentuating his red hair and golden brown eyes. They were lion's eyes. She remembered the strength of his arms as he lifted her and carried her out of the charred ruins of her home, the bottomless depths of his eyes, the smell of his masculine sweat, and the feel of his body against hers despite the heavy fireman's gear.

  Vivian wanted him from the first moment she saw him, but she was afraid to risk being hurt again. Their paths crossed several times after that night, and he'd always been friendly and concerned with her, asking how she was and what she was up to. But Vivian never allowed herself to read much into it, convincing herself he was only being polite; that he wouldn't be interested in her when he could have any woman he wanted.

  "Ebenezer Scrooge!” The television droned on, but she didn't notice.

  Her hands trailed slowly beneath the layers of blanket and flannel to cup and squeeze her bra-less breasts as she imagined what she would do to him if he were in the room with her. Shove him down onto the couch, rain kisses all over his face and neck before reaching for the buttons of his shirt...

  "Tonight, you will be visited by Three Spirits..."

  Vivian cried out as she pinched her nipples, twisting and pulling them slightly before releasing them. Her breathing was harsh as she sank deeper into her fantasy. In her mind's eye, she pulled Caleb's shirt free of jeans that fit him like a glove, attacking buttons one by one until the cloth parted to reveal his mouthwatering chest. She leaned down, gently capturing a dusky male nipple between her even white teeth, lashing the tip of it with her tongue briefly before switching to the other...

  "At the stroke of midnight, the first one will come..."

  One of her hands pressed between her thighs as the other continued its breast play. She carefully inserted one, then two fingers into her dripping wetness as the images and sensations of Caleb tantalized her. She could almost hear his rough groans as she licked her way down his chiseled abdomen before dipping her tongue into his belly button. She felt his large hands run through her raven curls, cradling her head to guide her mouth to where he needed it the most.

  Vivian added a third finger to the mix, curling them slightly inside her as she moved them faster. She brought her thumb to stroke her clit as she imagined herself smiling seductively at him before teasingly rubbing his erection through the thick layer of denim that kept it prisoner. She saw her hands tugging forcefully on the button fly until his briefs were revealed, and then she yanked them down before taking him into her mouth.

  She cried out again as she felt the pleasure build. He tasted just like she imagined, tangy yet sweet. Her tongue swirled around the shiny mushroom head, collecting as much of his nectar as she could before taking him deeper into her mouth. His grunts of lust echoed inside her head, his hips rising off the couch to grind against her pouty, glistening lips.


  Vivian writhed in pleasure as the fantasy Caleb's breaths grew shorter, his moans more frequent as his grip tightened in her hair. She knew he was close; she relaxed her throat to take even more of him, enough for his cock to brush the back of her tongue. His throaty growl rewarded her as he found his release.

  She orgasmed with her dream lover, her hips jerking hard as she screamed out her satisfaction. After a long moment, she collapsed against the couch, a wide grin on her face.

  Vivian gasped in surprise as the lights in the apartment went out. She hurried to cover herself before leaving the sofa in search of a flashlight.

  She carefully navigated her way through the total darkness, until she stubbed her toe on the leg of a chair. Wincing in pain, she located the drawer where she kept the emergency flashlight and candles.

  "God damn it! Just my luck for this to happen now! Fucking Christmas..."

  Vivian pulled out the flashlight, flipped its switch and froze when the beam revealed she was no longer alone.

  The slightly older woman looked at her with the same melancholy expression she had worn throughout her short life, the same habitual expression the younger one had adopted. She tried to smile at Vivian, but it fell flat.

  "I remember when you loved this time of year, Vivy."

  Vivian dropped the flashlight, covering her mouth with her hand as her eyes brimmed with moisture. She couldn't breathe as she stared at the figure before her.

  "Oh, my God. Mom? You're dead. No, this can't be..."

  The older woman stepped closer and for the life of her Vivian couldn't move away. Her eyes burned because she didn't dare blink. Her mother looked exactly as she did on the day she died. Ten years earlier, a Christmas Eve fire extinguished her mother's life. Deep inside, Vivian also died that day.

  Her mother could sense her thoughts, and she took Vivian's hands in her own. To Vivian's surprise, they felt warm and real. Her mother squeezed her hands firmly, forcing Vivian to look at her.

  "You have to listen to me, honey. I don't have much time, and it's almost midnight. You have to let your bad memories go. They're holding you back from living your life to the fullest. You're afraid to take risks, pretending to be content with hiding yourself away from others and not getting involved. You're only deluding yourself, sweetie. By avoiding relationships with people, with men, you're only hurting yourself more. Please, baby. Don't end up like I did, alone and waiting in vain for my soul mate. Your father was the love of my life, and even after he left us, what was left of my heart still ached for him to change his ways for the better and return. I died with his name on my lips. I want it to be different for you. You have the power to do whatever you want with your life, and you can have anything your heart desires if you want it badly enough. You're so beautiful and intelligent, and I'm honored to have you as a daughter. I'm so proud of you."

  Vivian felt the hot tears trickle down her face as the clock struck twelve. Her mother shivered briefly, tilting her head toward the noise. Vivian's grip tightened.

  "Mom, what is it?"

  The older woman's sad smile returned. “It's time for me to go."

  She felt her heart pounding in her chest as her mother slowly withdrew her hands and backed away, returning to the shadows from which she came.

  Vivian sobbed into the darkness. “Please don't go!"

  She could hear her mother's voice in the distance, growing fainter by the second.

  "When they come to you, you must allow yourself to trust them completely. Don't be afraid, they will help you move on with your life. Trust me, my sweet child, and you'll be free of the hatred that you hold in your heart. Free to love fully and to cherish each day as if it was your last..."

  The voice faded, and she felt a sharp pain in her chest at the loss. The clock chimed for the last time as she bent to retrieve the flashlight and return to the living room.

  She sat on the sofa in a daze, unable to wrap her mind around what she'd just experienced. She actually saw her mother again, and for that brief moment she'd been as alive and real as Vivian remembered her. Vivian couldn't stop shaking.

  She buried her face in her hands, unaware of the shadowy male figure standing beside her. His large hand gingerly touched one of hers, and she nearly jumped out of her skin. She ran from the couch, ignoring the pain of bumping into furniture in the darkness in favor of the need to grab the nearest weapon.

  She snatched a kitchen knife and held it before her. The man raised his hands in surrender, his eyes glittering in the beam of the flashlight, which she'd hurried to discard so she could arm herself.

  "Just take it easy, little lady. I'm not here to hurt you."

  Vivian gritted her teeth, not willing to believe anything the stranger said. He was completely naked, and it took every ounce of willpower to keep her eyes fixed on his.

  "Who the hell are you? You've got ten seconds before I make sushi out of you!"

  A masculine chuckle escaped his lips, and she bristled with anger. How dare he laugh while she had a knife pointed at him!

  He seemed unconcerned as he spoke. “Didn't your mother tell you about us?"

  She stepped closer, raising the knife point to the hollow of his throat.

  "What the hell do you know about my mother?"

  His eyes were the color of emeralds, and she could feel a strange heat envelop her body as they traveled over her. He cleared his throat.

  "I know that she came to warn you, Vivian. Warn you about what's in store for you. I'm guessing by your hostile reaction that she didn't go into detail before returning to the other side."

  Vivian shook her head, trying to make sense of what was clearly an insane situation.

  "What's in store for me? Exactly who the FUCK are you?"

  The handsome stranger took a step back and bowed, his shoulder length brown hair flowing downward like melting chocolate.

  "I am the first of three Christmas spirits destined to visit you on this night. At your service."

  Her grip tightened on the knife handle as she stared at him in disbelief and fear. She leveled the knife at his chest as she slowly backed away.

  "You're crazy. Stay right where you are! I'm calling the police!"

  Before she could reach the phone, the stranger stepped forward and the knife sank deep into his muscled chest. Vivian screamed and released her hold on the blade, watching in horror as the stranger smiled in amusement. He reached up and removed the knife. The sound of sharpened metal on flesh was sickening. Vivian bit her lip at the sight. She stared dumbfounded as the wound glowed before disappearing as if it had never existed. Then it was all over and the knife lay harmlessly on the floor at his feet. The spirit's voice was quiet as he addressed her.

  "Was that enough proof for you? I'm not your enemy, Vivian. You can trust me."

  She remembered her mother's words upon parting. Trust them completely, she'd said. Don't be afraid of them, and they will help free you from the hate and fear so you can move on with your life.

  Her lower lip trembled from the lunacy of it all. “What do you want from me?"

  His eyes were tender as he held out his hand for her to take.

  "All I want is to take away the pain. Come with me."

  She could almost feel her mother's presence beside her again, encouraging her.

  Go on, honey. Take a chance. Be happy. Live free and open your heart to love.

  Vivian placed her trembling hand in his, and he gently lifted it to his lips. “You won't regret this,” he murmured against her shivering skin. She remained silent as he wrapped his arm around her, leading her to the window. “Look outside, Vivian. What do you see?"

  Her dark brown eyes darted over the scene below as she licked her dry lips.

  "I see other apartment buildings, cars on the busy streets, falling snow."

  The spirit dropped his arm from her shoulders and stepped behind her, his eyes drinking in her beauty. He tenderly stroked her hair as she faced the window. With one hand he brushed away some of her waywa
rd curls, leaning forward to graze his sensual lips against the sensitive nape of her neck.

  His breath was warm against her ear, and her eyes fell shut from the sensation.

  "Do you know what I see? I see people who have purpose in their lives, people who love and are loved in return. I see them racing through the icy wind and snow to get home, back to the warmth of their houses and the company of loved ones."

  His hands trailed down her sides to cradle her hips, pulling her to him. She could feel him growing hard against her ass, and instinctively she pressed back. He let out a soft grunt, his breathing heavy as he slid his hands beneath her pajama top to cup her breasts. His husky voice seduced her as he resumed speaking.

  "I can feel the grief and loneliness that you carry in your breast, Vivian. Such a heavy burden. I sense that you've been burned badly in the past. As a result you've abandoned your dreams and resigned yourself to the life of a hermit. It's not too late to set things right."

  She reached back and traced his powerful thighs with her fingernails, entranced by the cords of muscle that quivered beneath her touch. He gave a wordless murmur of encouragement as his fingers deftly unfastened the buttons of her shirt and slid it off, exposing her breasts to the night's chill. His callused hands covered her aching nipples, and she whimpered in pleasure.

  Vivian leaned forward and rested her forehead against the frosty glass as her earlier apprehension was replaced by lust. Her breath came in pants, fogging the glass even further. With a great deal of effort, she managed to speak.

  "I ... I don't usually do this with men I don't know..."

  His laughter was deep and rich as he gently pushed down her pajama bottoms and motioned for her to step out of them. She wore only a pair of lacy panties, but she wasn't cold. On the contrary, she was downright hot.

  The spirit embraced her from behind, his chest flush against her back as he cupped her mound through the thin barrier of lace. “If you must attach a name to me, call me Tobias. That was my name in life."