Potent Spirits Read online

She turned her head to the side, her eyes filled with wonder as she regarded her ghostly lover. “What are your plans, Tobias?"

  His soulful green eyes flashed in the darkness, his lips close to hers.

  "I'll show you, if you'll allow me."

  With a sigh of sweet surrender, Vivian closed the distance between their mouths and gasped as Tobias groaned in response and plundered her mouth with his tongue. His fingers expertly teased her clit through the lace, causing her to moan and arch her hips, silently begging for more.

  He gave her more. He broke the kiss to whisper hoarsely in her ear as he pulled her panties down, freeing the core of her to his touch. “Turn around for me, love. Lean against the window so I can taste you."

  She turned to face him, her eyes unfocused from desire. He knelt in front of her, his expression serious as the brilliant green of his eyes met her haunted brown.

  "By taking this last step between us, you will be stating that you are ready to embark on tonight's journey. That you've decided to trust me as well as the others who will visit. You will see and hear things that may upset you, but please believe me when I say that when this is over, you will rise like a phoenix from the ashes. Like a butterfly, you will emerge from your cocoon to show the world just how lovely you truly are. Make your decision now, Vivian."

  She knew what she had to do. She took a deep breath and decided to take a risk; to place herself in the care of this tender spirit, to allow him to sweep her away and show her a new world of discovery and pleasure. She lifted one leg and rested it on Tobias’ shoulder, and with her fingers opened her flower to his reverent gaze.

  He moaned at the sight of her delicate inner lips; how they glistened with the moisture of her arousal. He licked his lips and brought his mouth to her. Vivian held onto the windowsill with all her might to prevent herself from falling. He teased and excited her with his tongue and lips, as if he'd done it a million times. Her moans filled with hunger, her hips rocking against his tireless mouth in a dance as old as time. She felt herself soaring towards orgasm.

  Tobias sensed the change. He hooked her other leg around his waist as he rose from the floor. Pressing her back against the glass, he positioned his cock at her opening. Vivian didn't protest. He kissed her passionately as he entered her with one deep thrust. She wrapped her legs around him as he pounded into her, and she bit his shoulder as they both felt her contractions start.

  She threw her head back, crying out as she came hard. Dimly she heard Tobias’ answering groan, felt his body tense as he released into her.

  * * * *

  The next thing Vivian knew, they were outside in the dead of night. The wind blew furiously, making the snow swirl around like the inside of a giant snow globe. They were still naked, and she shivered from the cold as she turned to face Tobias.

  "Where are we? How did we get here?"

  He surveyed the barren, frozen farmland around them. There was a small house in the distance. He looked at Vivian and held out his arms when he noticed that she was trembling. He rubbed her exposed skin as they quickly walked towards the cozy dwelling.

  "Our lovemaking brought us here. Come, let's get out of the cold."

  As they climbed the front steps, Vivian grabbed his arm. “Wait a minute! We're naked. We can't knock on the door like this!"

  A corner of his mouth turned upward in a smile. “Who said anything about knocking?"

  He waved his hand and the door creaked open. Taking her hand, he led her inside the house. It was cheerfully decorated with Christmas lights, but she felt a chill run through her at the sight of them. Something wasn't right about this place; she could feel it in her gut.

  She looked around the entry hall nervously, worried that the occupants of the house would discover them and call the police. However, something else disturbed her. The house was familiar, but at the moment she couldn't pinpoint why.

  "Tobias, what is this place?"

  His eyes were unreadable as he watched her. “You mean you don't recognize it?"

  Vivian opened her mouth to reply when a muted cry distracted her. She wandered deeper inside to investigate, and Tobias followed close behind. Without being told where to go, she entered the kitchen and discovered the source of the noise.

  It was herself. To her horror, she saw her younger self, cowering on the floor in fear, sniffling and shrinking away from the black leather belt that her drunken father held in his hand. Angry red welts criss-crossed on the young girl's skin.

  At the sight of the painful memory, Vivian screamed in rage and charged at the large man, wanting nothing more than to claw out his eyes. “You BASTARD! How could you DO that to me? You SON-OF-A-BITCH!"

  She ran across the room to attack him, ignoring Tobias’ words of warning.

  "Vivian, he can't see you or hear you! You can't hurt him!"

  She wanted so badly to hurt him, trying in vain to strike the man who had once meant the world to her. He who had once been her God, but had betrayed her trust in him. Just like every other man she'd encountered since. She felt Tobias’ strong arms around her, and she burst into tears as she repeated the words until her mouth felt numb.

  "You bastard. Bastard. Bastard."

  Vivian stared helplessly at the scene before her, her long-buried memories returning to the surface. Her head pounded; she squeezed her eyes shut from the agony of remembrance.

  Tobias tapped Vivian on the shoulder and she opened her eyes to see that her mother had entered the room. Her mother's young face was pale with shock as she took in the image of her husband, standing over her little girl. For the space of several seconds she just stood there, then she ran into the hallway. Moving like lightning, she grabbed the revolver from the bureau and returned to the kitchen.

  The cocking of the pistol was the only sound in the room. Everyone present, whether living, dead or traveling through time and space, held their breath.

  The voice of Vivian's mother was calm yet deadly as she leveled the pistol at her husband's chest. Her eyes blazed with rage, even as her hand shook.

  "Ray, step away from her right now or I'll shoot you down where you stand."

  Her father laughed mockingly, and Vivian cringed in Tobias’ arms at the sound. His speech was slurred as he addressed his wife. “Put that thing away, woman. We both know you won't shoot."

  Vivian's mother looked down at the little girl, whose terrified eyes darted between her parents while she tried to make herself as inconspicuous as possible. She gritted her teeth and looked back at her husband. “Oh, no?"

  She adjusted her aim and fired; a pitcher of milk exploded beside him. The little girl shrieked and covered her head with her arms. Vivian's heart raced like a freight train out of control. Her mother cocked the revolver a second time, aiming again for her husband's heart. Her voice was as cold as ice.

  "The next bullet is for YOU, you miserable asshole! I want you to leave this house! Now, and don't come back! If you dare set foot in this house again or go anywhere NEAR my daughter, I will show you a world of PAIN that you've never imagined! You will BEG me to kill you long before I actually do! Now get the fuck out of here!"

  His fear was palpable. He dropped the belt onto the tiled floor and slowly backed out of the room, his eyes never leaving the pistol. A few seconds later, they all heard the slamming of the front door and Ray's frantic steps away from the house. They heard the slamming of the driver's side door of his truck, the starting of the engine. The screeching of tires came next, the crunch of gravel, and the distant roar that eventually faded into nothingness.

  Vivian watched her mother go to comfort the child through a veil of tears. She let them fall as she listened to her mother tell her younger self that her father was gone for good, that he'd never hurt her again and that everything was going to be all right.

  She turned to find Tobias staring at her intently. He leaned forward and tenderly kissed away her tears. He remained silent, and she knew that he refrained from speaking so that she would break the silenc
e. She licked her dry lips.

  Her voice was hoarse when she finally spoke. “She was right, you know. I never saw him again. At first it was hard for Mom to handle everything on her own, but after a while we managed just fine. We were getting on with our lives, and I locked away the ugliness of the past in a dusty corner of my mind. But Mom was wrong about that last part; just a few years later, this very house burned to the ground with her in it. I knew that nothing would be all right ever again."

  Vivian's brown eyes almost turned black from the depth of her emotions as she continued. “Do you know where I was that night? I was out with my boyfriend, making out in his car. I lost my virginity. God, if only I had been there! I could have done something. I could have saved her, but I was too busy fucking!"

  He gripped her shoulder. “There was nothing that you could have done. If you had stayed at home, you also would have perished. It wasn't your fault."

  Again, she observed the scene before her as her mother held the child she once was. She stared at them for some time, trying to commit every detail to memory. When she'd had enough, she turned to Tobias. “Let's get out of here."

  He held his arms out to her. “Come here."

  She stepped into his embrace, and tilted her face upward to accept his kiss.

  * * * *

  They flew over the clouds, wind and snow chilling their exposed skin. Briefly looking down at the ground below, she shivered and wrapped her arms and legs tighter around him. “Where are we going now, Tobias?"

  His emerald eyes lost their earlier sparkle as he replied.

  "You will go on to explore with the next spirit. This is as far as I go."

  A sharp pang speared her chest at his words, and he stroked her cheek. “Don't be sad, beauty. We both know that it isn't really me you love. I am merely the vessel through which you express your feelings for the one who is your true heart's desire."

  Closing her eyes, she nodded in agreement. She loved Caleb very much.

  Tobias whispered in her ear. “If you want him, don't be afraid to show him."

  Vivian looked at him in frustration. “How?"

  He exhaled shakily as his body began to shift and change before her eyes. “You'll see,” was the last thing he said before his green eyes changed to the color of polished silver, his chocolate hair growing darker and longer until it cascaded down his back like an ebony waterfall. He grunted in pain as his face rearranged itself, his cheekbones lowering, his nose lengthening slightly. After what seemed like an eternity, he raised his head and she gasped in shock.

  The second spirit flashed her a broad smile. “Greetings!"

  She blinked rapidly, surprised at what she'd just witnessed.

  "Who are you? What happened to Tobias?"

  He held her tighter to prevent a fall as they approached their destination. “It's one o'clock, so he had to go. But I promise to keep you warm. My name's Christopher, sweetheart. Most folks call me Chris, but you can call me yours."

  She couldn't help but laugh at his cockiness, and he winked in response.

  "So, Chris, where are we going?"

  "We're going to crash a party."

  Vivian frowned. She didn't care much for parties, whether she was invited to them or not. Most of the time, she was not. “Why? What's so special about it that we have to be there?"

  Chris cradled her in his arms as his feet made contact with the ground.

  "There's something that you should see."

  They had landed outside of a very large house on the outskirts of the city. She immediately recognized it as the house of Brianne Doyle. Vivian cringed as she remembered her annoying co-worker from the law office; she was the All-American blonde beauty who had all the men chasing after her. She was rich, popular and well connected; basically everything that Vivian herself was not.

  Brianne also had her sights on Caleb. Vivian's hands curled into fists as she remembered an incident the week before, when Brianne had caught her looking longingly through the office window at the fire station below. Caleb had been outside washing the truck, and when Brianne the bitch noticed Vivian's obvious interest in the handsome fireman, she couldn't wait to try and sink her claws into him.

  As soon as the lunch break came, Brianne went down to the street and flirted shamelessly with Caleb while Vivian watched helplessly from her window. The bitch even had the nerve to look up and smile at her while she was doing it!

  Incensed by the memory, she turned toward Chris. Entering that house was the last thing she wanted to do. She didn't want to see Brianne at all. “Unless that whore gets drunk off her ass from eggnog, I'm not interested."

  Chris chuckled softly. “Caleb's in there."

  She looked at the house again, her curiosity growing along with her sarcasm.

  "How interesting. He's there and I wasn't invited. Figures."

  He had a difficult time keeping a straight face as he waited for her to make up her mind.

  "Vivian, let's go in already! I'm freezing my balls off out here."

  She started to laugh. “Aww, poor baby. And they're such pretty balls too!"

  "Come on, honey. If you come in the house with me, I'll give you a special gift."

  Vivian's eyebrows lifted. She never could resist a gift. “What is it?"

  "Come in with me and I'll show you."

  They stood inside the entry hall, and Vivian was breathless as she took in the scene before her. A large fire was blazing in the fireplace, and she gratefully let the warmth seep through to her chilled bones. Christmas lights were strung everywhere, along with fresh sprigs of mistletoe.

  "I'll say one good thing about Brianne; she has one hell of an interior decorator."

  She heard music coming from somewhere deep inside the house. She and Chris followed the sound. They entered a huge living room, packed almost wall-to-wall with guests. The crowd was obviously in high spirits from the food and full bar. Many couples had paired off and were either making out openly for anyone to watch or had retreated from the room to find their own darkened corner.

  Vivian was nervous as her eyes searched the crowd for a flash of Caleb's red hair. She didn't see him there, and her heart sank at the thought that he may be in one of the upstairs bedrooms, occupied with Brianne.

  Chris sensed this and rubbed her back. “Relax,” he drawled as he looked toward the ceiling. He gently nudged her. “Hey, look where we're standing."

  She looked up to see the mistletoe hanging above their heads, and she smiled when she saw his expectant gaze. “Sure, why not?"

  Where Tobias had been tender, Chris was deliciously aggressive. His lips slanted over hers relentlessly, teasing her with a hint of tongue just inside her parted lips until she moaned for him to give her more. He gave it to her, exploring her mouth. His hands roamed over her back and ass, pulling her to him.

  He broke the kiss, and she noticed that his eyes were brighter than before.

  "It's time for your surprise."

  Chris led her out of the living room. They walked to a closed door at the end of the hall. Before she could reach for the doorknob, he stopped her.

  "Just a second. Stay absolutely still, and keep your eyes on mine."

  Vivian nodded, and Chris cupped her face in his hands. Her eyes grew wide as his silver eyes brightened until it was almost painful to watch. But she bit her lip and managed to hold his gaze until they returned to normal.

  He released her, panting like he just finished running the marathon. She opened her mouth to speak, but he stopped her with a finger on her lips. “You'll see. Let's go."

  They stepped into the game room. The first thing she noticed was the large plasma screen television that dominated one wall, featuring a well-known cable sports channel. Then her attention was drawn to the dart boards lined up against another wall, followed by various arcade games situated in the corner. But the thing that drew her attention the most was the giant pool table in the middle, and the lone player who bent over it to deliver his next shot.


  "Caleb!” Vivian shouted out without thinking, and covered her mouth with her hand. She watched as Caleb made the shot without missing a beat, the balls flying in different directions on the green felt.

  Chris laughed at her, playfully slapping her bare ass. “You forget that we're still invisible. You'd love for him to see you this way, wouldn't you?"

  Her face grew hot, but she was thankfully spared from replying when the door opened and Brianne stepped in. Upon seeing Caleb alone in the room, a smug and self-satisfied grin appeared on her face that Vivian longed to rip off. Brianne approached Caleb and stood very close to him. Vivian's stomach was as heavy as lead.

  Chris leaned forward to whisper in her ear.

  "Don't judge the situation from what you see. Listen with your heart."

  An electric warmth suffused Vivian at his words. She closed her eyes, concentrating on the sound of her breathing, the beating of her heart and the way the tiled floor felt beneath her bare feet. She emptied her mind of everything except for Caleb. It was then that it came to her.

  He doesn't want her. He's been avoiding her all night.

  She opened her eyes in time to see Caleb jerk his head away from Brianne's touch, and her heart soared at the confirmation. He's annoyed that she refuses to take the hint and leave him alone. He couldn't have made his feelings more clear, and he'll set the record straight again.

  Caleb glared angrily at Brianne, and Vivian stepped closer so she could hear.

  "Why didn't you invite Vivian to the party? You asked everyone else from the office!"

  She heard Brianne mumble some feeble excuse. Caleb threw down the cue stick that he'd been holding. It was then that Vivian finally realized the truth. He came to the party to see me.

  Vivian covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh my God."

  Chris smiled at her look of shock. “Aren't you glad you came now?"

  She shook her head in disbelief. “Caleb is interested in me? That's impossible. I..."

  Chris frowned, highly annoyed. “What's so impossible about it? It's not only possible, it's completely natural. You underestimate yourself too damn much. You are a very beautiful woman, Vivian, and you are very passionate despite always trying to hide it. Caleb, as well as any man with or without a pulse, would have to be a fool to not want you."