Bayou Summons Read online

  “I’m a warlock. I have special…er….abilities.” She just stared, not moving an inch as if the air had been sucked out of the room. She opened her mouth to speak but all that came out was a whoosh of air as she once again shut her eyes.

  “Cayden, I travel all over the world and can honestly say that I’ve heard some of the strangest things. You’re not the first to believe you have abilities.” But he was the first she had slept with. Summer had found some basis in fact to some people’s stories and never knew whether she believed them or not. But, being who she was, and having been witness to some of those things kept the hope alive that she really wasn’t crazy and there was a method to her madness.

  “I can show you again, if you’d like. This time I won’t calm your mind, so you’ll know exactly what happens. I’ll stand here and you can look at me the whole time.”

  She was really losing her patience, there was a party going on in her head and all she wanted to do was slip blissfully into the unknown. “I don’t care what you do, Cayden. Can we talk about this later?” A tingling in her arm caught her attention. Great, now she was losing feeling in her limbs. She wished he would go away so she could deal with this alone.

  The tingling grew, traveling down to her fingertips. A slight pressure around her palm was enough to get herself propped up. She looked down at her hand, then at Cayden. He stood two feet from the bed, watching her, intense desire crackling to life in his eyes.

  The pressure from her hand skipped to her belly, skimming over her belly button to spread heat through her. The sick feeling dissipated, leaving nothing but butterflies twittering about, anxious for release. Cayden’s hands were fisted, his gaze burning her hot just as his invisible touch was. Never had she wanted someone to claim her like she wanted this man to. She wanted his hard length on top of her, covering her, taking her.

  With a startled cry, she flung her head back, arching up to meet the blaze that seared between her thighs. It felt as though his hands were there rubbing and teasing. Turning her head, Summer was amazed at the sensations that swamped her. He was in the same spot, his face red with concentration as he stared at the place that now throbbed. Without meeting her eyes, he opened his mouth and thrust his tongue out and she was sprawling, moisture dampened the inside of her thighs as she fought the horrible urge to scream in pleasure.

  She moaned instead, twisting her head into the pillow to muffle the cries that flowed freely from her mouth.

  Cayden couldn’t take this anymore. He hadn’t planned on doing this, there were life and death issues at stake, but he had to be inside her. His fear made the hunger for her worse. Desperation made a contribution to his urge to possess her.

  Summer felt the bed dip and knew he had come to join her. Relief flooded through her. She wanted his hands on her, his skin to slide, slick against hers. She met his eyes as he reached for her. For a second, she hesitated. The barely-tamped down sexual energy she saw in his eyes had her reeling. Nobody had ever looked at her like that.

  Grabbing her face with both hands, he pressed his body against hers, sinking them further into the mattress. She felt so wonderful. A fantasy under him, he never wanted to be anywhere else. He only wanted to own her like this for the rest of his life, which may not be too long considering their circumstances. He kissed her, gentle at first, his lips ubiquitous as they grazed and nipped. With a sigh, he plunged his tongue across hers. God, she felt so damn good. Wanting her to know, he broke contact and whispered in her ear. “You feel so damn good.” She gasped as he ran his tongue along her earlobe and down to her throat.

  “So do you.”

  Cayden pushed himself up on one elbow and brought his hand to her breast. He circled the outside of the mound. Bringing his thumb and forefinger to her nipple, he squeezed gently. Summer grabbed the back of his neck, wanting his mouth on her. Knowing what she wanted, he gave a crooked grin as he bent his head over her, his hair falling forward to rest on his forehead.

  Easing the tip of his tongue between his lips, he lapped at the nub, coercing it to its most firm. Bringing his tongue back into his mouth, he blew lightly over her breast and placed his hands between the bed and the small of her back as she shuddered with awareness. This time he wouldn’t use his magic. This time, he wanted his hands to undress her, savoring every piece of porcelain flesh as it revealed itself to him.

  He got up on his knees and lifted her hips. With his thumbs hooked in the elastic of the shorts, Cayden slid them down slowly, licking his lips as more skin became bare beneath his touch.

  Summer couldn’t think, couldn’t breath. The only thing she could do was try to keep her heart from bursting out of her chest cavity, her lungs from propelling what was sure to be the loudest moan the inn had ever heard. Nerve endings itched and begged. She would split in two if he didn’t fill what was empty between her legs soon. “Please,” she begged.

  “You don’t have to beg. I’ll give it you. When I slide inside you I want you to think of only me, to look at me as I enter you.” It came out hoarse, a reflection of how much he wanted to dip inside her and never come out.

  “I want to attach myself to you so that you’ll never feel anyone else. I want you to be mine.” Before lowering himself onto her, he ripped off his shirt, dispensing his pants as he tipped to one side, freeing his ankles from the denim.

  She could feel the magnitude of his arousal as the tip of his penis brushed the inside of her thighs. A flaming thrill followed as his sex pursued the one thing he didn’t think he’d ever get enough of. He led the way with his hand, bringing the damp crown to rest on her clit, rubbing up and down as she let out a lively yelp. Piloting, Cayden began to steer himself into her. Her eyes pleaded with him and she pushed her hips up forcefully, swallowing him whole.

  “Summer,” he bellowed her name. She was exquisite. He’d had sex plenty of times, but never had he made love. The feeling of being rooted inside her sheath made everything else slip away and all that was left was a blonde fantasy who could talk to the dead. Her muscles clamped around his shaft, signaling that she was ready for the first release. He held on and hammered hard and fast, wanting to extend her pleasure, to take her higher and further.

  She came with an explosion, grabbing onto his shoulders as her body contracted from the blow. “Cayden!” she gasped.

  He was still rocking inside her, sending shivers through her sensitive core. “Yes?” he answered.

  “Do that again.” Her eyes shone with a bit of playfulness and he grinned at her request.

  He brought his hands down to grab her ass and slightly lifted her, opening them both up for deeper and fathomless impacts. He glided in and out almost effortlessly, her earlier orgasm paving the way for smooth rhythm. She made a sound low in her throat. “Harder,” she said.

  With a grunt, he responded with, “Your wish is my command.”

  Hammering himself into her, he grabbed a fistful of honey hair. He saw that she was biting her lip and felt the tightening around him as he sank in. He could tell she was going to cum again. He wanted to join her. To let the world come undone as they each rode on the waves of ecstasy.

  As her legs tensed and her body seized once again, he let go of what he had been holding back. On the tail of his bellow, he filled her with his seed. Collapsing, he said, “I don’t think I can move.”

  Breathless, she agreed. “Neither can I. Good news is we don’t have to.” They laughed as the afternoon bathed them in delight and satisfaction.

  Chapter 10

  Cayden lay on the bed, his arms behind his head, feet hooked at the ankles. Summer sat beside him, admiring his impossible beauty. Without thinking, she said what was on her mind.

  “Why are you attracted to me?” she asked.

  He cast a glance her way and responded with a question of his own. “What do you mean?”

  “You are so out of my league. I’m normal, nothing spectacular. You, on the other hand look like you just stepped out of Atlantis. If your looks don’t take down
the ladies, then your accent certainly will.” She giggled, placing her hand on his chest and leaning in.

  “You are beyond twisted, lady.” He playfully mussed her hair before he continued. “If you can’t see what an awesome woman you are, inside and out, you are truly crazy and we should have you committed you right now.”

  Her eyes lost their humor for a moment as Summer pondered that very real possibility. She wouldn’t think about that right now. She just wanted to enjoy this man, to laugh and bask in the afterglow of their lovemaking.

  “I suppose you’re right.” Summer batted her eyelashes and struck a model’s pose. Just as she was beginning to strike another, misery flew in and parked itself at her temples. Oh, no! This can’t be happening, not again, not now! Digging her fingers into the side of her face, she faintly heard Cayden ask what was wrong. Then his voice tunneled, dying off until only an echo of silence remained.

  Another piercing pain took her by surprise as she doubled over, curling into a ball. The pain was so vivid, that she could feel the uninvited tears drifting down her cheeks. Telling herself to focus, she tried to zero in on Cayden’s voice or anything that would comfort her, but she found nothing.

  In place of her room, with its scarred wood floors and charming bedspread was a huge stone room that made her think she had stepped into a time warp. It looked like the inside of some sort of castle, with a coat of arms that boasted the twisted image of a half-man, half-dragon. The upper part of its body was majestic, a warrior with his sword in hand, yelling out a battle cry. The lower half of the warrior was black and protruded carelessly out of the warrior’s upper body. The black scales and pointed tale curled around the image, making the half-creature seem menacing. The sight was foreign to her, yet at the same time all too familiar. Where had she seen this before? She couldn’t quite place it, but the image nestled into her mind, curling itself up in the corner, waiting for recognition.

  Turning, she took in the surroundings. This was the first time she had ever had a vision like this and she wasn’t sure that was a good thing. For an instant, Elena’s face made a duplicate appearance behind Summer’s eyelids. Could this vision have anything to do with Elena’s warnings? Summer hoped not, because if so, she was in deep shit.

  Noticing a man standing near the wall, she felt a creepy tingle travel from the crown of her head to the backs of her heels. He must have just materialized. She hadn’t seen him there just a few seconds ago. She was definitely in deep shit. He stood there, silent, his white hair falling past his shoulders. The shadows from the vertical windows did nothing but cast shadows over his face, making his features hard to make out. But, she could his eyes glowing a dark red, they scorched the skin around his sockets, causing dread to grow anew in Summer’s mended abdomen.

  In place, Summer stared, not wanting to look at such a creature for another second, yet, unable to look away. To her horror, he began to move towards her. There was no gait or footfalls to his ascent, only a floating that gave the impression of gliding, not walking. Gulping, she was finally able to move. She took a step back, and another. The further she got from him, the faster he slid through the air.

  Fully in the light now, Summer could see his features, chiseled to a fine point. There were no graceful curves or curious planes, only hard and fast cavities, making him look like a very much alive skeleton. His pale skin was stretched taut across his face and bones. Summer had thought he was a man at first, but this wasn’t a man, this was something that slightly resembled one.

  Pulling back his lips, he revealed yellow, sharp teeth. “So, you are the one?” He hissed at her, causing Summer to back up in order to avoid being hit by the spittle raining out of his mouth as he spoke. Her stomach gave a violent protest at his nearness.

  Summer met his blazing eyes, “The one what?”

  “The one that will make me whole and give me all the power I need to become invincible.” He caught himself, gave a skewed smile. “Don’t mistake that to mean I am not a formidable enemy.”

  She was sick and tired of this. These people were the ones barging into her head. It was time she started heading the conversation. She was going to get answers or she would simply tell him to fuck off.

  Sure, Summer. Tell the spitting demon to fuck off, that will get you somewhere.

  “What the fuck are you talking about?” Summer raised her chin, gathering every bit of courage she didn’t have and tried with all her might to look demanding.

  “A feisty one, too! You know, I didn’t think I would enjoy you as much as I was hoping, but you might prove to be more fun than I originally thought.” He snaked his bony fingers around her forearm, using one long black nail to rub her skin. Where he touched, an infection began to spread, turning her skin black and charred as it gained passage to her elbow. She choked on her cry of disbelief, stumbling back against the cold stone wall.

  The skin began to flake away, revealing pink flesh underneath. His cackle rose at her like a steam engine, fierce and full of tenacity. As he laughed, his white hair shone and he clasped his hands together. “That was just a taste of what I can do. You see that I didn’t truly harm you. But, I will if you deny me. I’ll do much worse than some amusing parlor trick.”

  Still in distress, Summer’s pulse beat fast and steady at her wrist. “Deny you what? What the hell do you want?” Her chest was heaving, her arm hurt and she was certain that the time she had feared since she was little had finally come. She was doomed to all eternity with this spirit. The thought of Cayden holding her unconscious body, willing her to wake up made her want to sob. She couldn’t be doomed to this. She had to see Cayden again.

  “I want you. With you by my side, I will rule the underworld. Much like having my cake and eating it too, isn’t that the expression people use these days?” He once again crept toward her, this time his feet were on the ground, taking methodical steps, treating his approach with care.

  “You can’t rule the underworld. Spirits rule it.” Summer waited for his response.

  “You are so sadly mistaken my dear. How long have you dabbled with spirits? Have you not learned anything?”

  The truth was she hadn’t. She didn’t ask questions when she was with a spirit, they asked her the questions. Basically, she just sat and listened and when the time felt right, she told them to go.

  Alsandair leaned forward, drool dropping to the front of his tunic and his eyes had somehow gotten larger, rounder. “Spirits do not rule the underworld, my darling. Someone rules it now, as we speak. With your power, I can overthrow him. I can end his reign and begin my own.”

  “Who is this ruler? Isn’t it the Devil?” Summer spoke with a hint of sarcasm lacing her voice.

  “Now, I don’t want to go into much detail, but I will say that he’s going to be hard to take down.” His teeth clicked as he talked and paced a few inches from her. “Your power combined with mine, though, will make that less of an issue for me.”

  “What power do you think I have?” Summer waited for the answer that she was sure she had searched for all her life. Somehow, this creature knew her, knew that she was not normal. She needed to know what he knew. What powers did she possess?

  “You are a necromancer, the only other in existence. I am one also. The only difference is that you are a Halfling, a descendant of the mixture of human and necromancer blood, A spawn from two different worlds.”

  A necromancer? Summer had heard that somewhere before, but she couldn’t remember where.

  “You live in the human world, able to walk among the living at your leisure. I, however live here, in the underworld, the place between whatever you believe heaven and hell to be. In order to visit the living world in human form, however, I must use extensive amounts of energy and am only able to maintain my form for an hour at best.” He continued, “I am able to encroach on other’s dreams or leak into their minds, but to be fully present in your world is a challenge for me.”

  “Why would you want to be in the living world, then?”<
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  An unnatural sound escaped his lips, and he stopped pacing. “I’m disappointed in how slow you’re catching on, here, little one.” He planted his feet hard on the stone floor in front of her.

  “I can manipulate souls. Bend them to my will. If I find one that particularly interests me in the living world, I can litter their mind with thoughts of suicide, depression. That way, they come to me, in the underworld and I have another slave. I, of course, have other souls that come here, lost, that are my slaves. But, the souls I bring here are the most loyal, the most trusting.”

  What he was describing made Summer want to attack him. She wanted to rush upon that thin body of his and beat until he crumpled to the ground. Solidifying her temper, she gritted her teeth. “You are the most disgusting thing I have ever seen! If you think I’ll give in to you or let you continue to enslave innocent people, you are sadly mistaken. I will fight you to my last breath. My powers will be useless then!”

  She was shaking from her declaration, scared witless of what might happen, but she had passed the point where she cared. She refused to be some mythical underdog’s little pet. And there was no way she was going to stand by now that she knew what the fucking puke was up to. She would find a way to stop him. But first, Summer had to figure out how to get out of here. If she could get back to her world, she would be on better terms to deal with him. She just wouldn’t be able to sleep or close her eyes. Shit, she was never going to be able to get away from him.

  Pushing down the incentive to weep, Summer watched as the freak began to tremble. He brought his hands to his sides, palms up. His red eyes joined hers and he twisted his lips in strain as his arms burst into flames. White hair stood on its ends and his face had become a skull, all hollow except where the crimson shown and shimmered in the sockets.

  A deep tremble filled the air as the jaw of the skeleton began to move. “Do not mess with me! I will harness your power. It does not matter to me whether you are alive or the same as my other servants, dead. You will obey me, one way or the other and I warn you, if you fight I will make hell present in your mind to the point you will come to me willingly.”