Born Again (6 page)

Sara stepped into the dress, pulling it up over those
luscious, pink-tipped breasts.

The dress hung perfectly. Made for her and Francesca knew
that it had been. Only the best from Aric.

Sara turned to look in the mirror, exposing her derrière to
Francesca.

Francesca gasped. “That is perfect,” she exclaimed.

The dress hung loose and low in back, almost low enough to
expose her buttocks. Instead, it exposed the matching black butterfly.

“They’re both going to have to fight to keep from caressing
it.” Francesca laughed as Sara tried to glimpse at her behind in the mirror. “I
can hardly wait. And now, sweet Sara, thank you for letting me peek. I must
return to my room to change.”

“You want me to come with you?” Sara asked.

“No. I need time alone to cool off. I only have so much
control.” The look in her eye was intended to warn Sara. There was no way she
could keep her hands off.

Safely ensconced in her own room, Francesca closed the door
and stood before the dressing mirror. How long could she have stayed before
Sara began asking questions about where Aric was? She couldn’t explain that
Aric was the Master Vampire and out at other colonies. Damn him for leaving
this up to her.

She could still hear his smooth voice. “You need to rekindle
your friendship without me there.”

“I can’t. What will I say? What will I do?”

“What comes naturally. It is still Serra, after all.”

Francesca’s face was pinched and her eyes had the same
haunted look they’d worn ever since Aric announced he’d found Sara.

Sara. So beautiful and didn’t even know it. So how could she
possibly know of the love Francesca felt?

Francesca was hot and bothered from watching Sara undress
and dress. Still standing in the mirror, she dropped her clothing and eyed her
own body critically.

She was luscious curves and soft skin, kept smooth and hair-free.
Raising one leg, she placed it on the vanity stool to peer at the shadows
between her thighs.

Like Sara, she was a beautiful woman also. Hadn’t men lusted
for centuries after her? Literally centuries, for Aric had turned her back when
she and Serra were merely mortal.

Now Francesca wondered if Aric had turned her to wriggle his
way into Serra’s life, for what better way than to make her best friend the
very species that she avoided? For at the time, Serra had been involved with a
wolf. Of course, she was glad to be turned vampire instead of werewolf. Serra
may have loved one, but Francesca, without being biased, definitely preferred
the smooth erotic vampires to the powerful, but violent werewolves.

Serra, oh, Serra. How she missed her so. How she longed to
find her best friend again. How did she interact? What would frighten her? What
would bring them closer?

A light tapping at her door interrupted her inner musings.

“Come in,” she said and the door opened.

Sara walked through, fully dressed and wide-eyed at the
sight of her nakedness.

“Geez,” she said, clenching her eyes shut.

Francesca laughed, her rich voice rumbling husky. “Sara, you’ve
seen me nude.”

“I know,” Sara said, opening one eye. “But I wasn’t
expecting it.”

“You were the first time?”

“No, I wasn’t then either, but, oh, I don’t know.”

Francesca slid the silk of a robe over her supple skin and
Sara looked at her fully finally.

“Better?” asked Francesca.

Sara nodded and Francesca pulled her over to the big bed.

“I just left you, why are you here already?”

“I don’t know, I just felt like you, oh crap, I don’t know
how to explain it. I’m psychic, I feel things and I felt like you needed me.”

“Needed you?”

“Yes. Like you were unconsciously calling out to me.”

“Perhaps I was,” Francesca said slowly. “I was doing some
thinking, you see, trying to sort things out in my head.”

“What has you troubled?” Sara asked.

Francesca knew she had to change the subject. She could
hardly confide that her troubles spanned the centuries. This Sara had no idea
that Others existed. Other creatures, vampires and werewolves, witches and
fairies. “It’s nothing, really. But I’m curious about you, to drop a bomb like
being a psychic. How are you psychic? Tell me about that, it’s so fascinating.”

“I just feel things, is all,” she said somewhat
uncomfortably. “I do readings for a little extra money and sometimes can delve
into the past to relive people’s previous lives. I’m sort of involved in that
now, in fact. I did a reading not long ago on a woman named Mattie who lives in
my apartment building, but during the reading I was thrust into another woman’s
life. It keeps nagging at me, as though there’s something I should complete for
that woman.”

“Do you know who she is?”

“No, but it’s a rather sexual life. Twice now I’ve watched
her with two different men. I get the feeling that she has to choose one over
the other, although I could be wrong.”

Sara looked uncomfortable and Francesca wondered if she
really thought she was wrong.

Or if her abilities allowed her to hit the nail on the head.

“How do you do a reading?” Francesca asked.

“Tarot cards usually. Just part-time. Although, I hear there’s
a new psychic in town ready to usurp me.” She grinned. “Do I look worried?”

“Not in the least. Shouldn’t you be?”

“Nah. I’m hoping the new guy or gal gets all my problem
clients. The ones that are convinced I can conjure up a love potion or something
else as ridiculous.”

“Being psychic sounds fabulous,” Francesca said, but she
felt her face tighten as she wondered what events Sara might be able to recall
about her past.

“How did you and Rafe meet, anyway?” Sara asked.

“It was so long ago. Rafe was best friends with Aric and
Aric chased after my own best friend. I was set up with Rafe and we hit it off
immediately.”

“Your best friend? Was that Aric’s wife?” Sara asked,
genuine sympathy in her voice.

Francesca nodded around the sudden lump in her throat. Her
large eyes filled with tears and she took a moment to breathe deeply. “Yes,”
she whispered throatily when she could manage to speak.

“I’m so sorry. It was years ago, wasn’t it?”

“It was eons ago. But it feels like yesterday to me.”

“You miss her terribly.”

“Yes, I haven’t had a best friend since. But you, I’ve
found, are going to move along that route just fine.”

“You know,” Sara said slowly, “I was actually wondering if
you felt it too. The closeness. I didn’t know if it was just me, or my psychic
feelings projecting, or what the hell was going on.”

“I feel it,” Francesca said quietly and for once the shadows
were chased from her heart. She was staring into Sara’s eyes and love shone
through.

“I’m not gay,” Sara said simply.

Francesca gave a tender smile. “No, you are not.”

“Are you, uh—”

“Do I consider myself gay? No. I have experimented with
threesomes and more and I can feel love in many forms, but normally I am not
attracted to a woman walking down the street.”

How could she possibly explain to Sara, who had no idea that
vampires existed, that centuries of life made people as old as she experiment a
little? Or a lot. Human life was over in the blink of an eye, vampiric life
dragged on and on until so much more became tolerable. Standard. Accepted. Desired.

Sara looked the tiniest bit relieved at her answer. “Good,
because I have something I need to tell you.”

“What is it?” Francesca asked, emotions running rampant at
the thought of Sara confiding in her just like the old days and yet fear that
was evoked from the worry on Sara’s face.

“I’m seeing someone besides Aric. It’s horribly unfair to
date them both.”

And then tiny tendrils of fear reached through Francesca’s
chest, clawing their way up to clutch at her rapidly beating heart, like icy
cold fingers. “Oh? Who is he?”

“You don’t know him, but his name’s Beauregard Pierson. I
met him the same day I met Aric. I really didn’t know Aric well enough to tell
him and I wasn’t sure how to approach it since we started seeing each other.”

It seemed that Francesca’s face was a bit paler than usual,
but her voice was normal when she spoke. “How long will you continue to balance
things?”

“At first I thought only long enough to choose one. Unfortunately,
the choice isn’t that easy.”

“There has to be a way,” Francesca murmured, trying to
comfort Sara but her breathing was rapid and her palms damp.

“It should resolve itself,” Sara decided and then stood. “Well,
I’ll let you get dressed. Meet you downstairs?”

Francesca nodded.

“Okay, go back to whatever you were doing in the mirror when
I so rudely interrupted.” Sara grinned.

Francesca rolled her eyes and was surprised when Sara leaned
forward and kissed her cheek before slipping quietly from the room.

With the sudden tears that blurred her vision, Francesca
never noticed the yellowish-green eyes set in the wizened old face that
appeared briefly in the mirror where she had been standing before.

Aric finally arrived, his presence distracting and
comforting all at once. He glided into the room and Sara’s attention was
instantly riveted upon him.

He was a beauty to behold. His hair dark against his light
skin and tonight he had only the briefest shadow instead of the usual stubble
on his jaw. Green eyes glittered from across the room as he moved toward her, taking
her hand before bending to kiss her cheek.

“You look ravishing,” he whispered and her insides melted at
the husky tone of his voice.

“So do you,” she said and meant every word. “I missed you
today.”

“I’m sorry. I was unavoidably detained. I certainly didn’t
want to leave you by yourself with all the doubts and fears you carry.”

She smiled, because he seemed to know exactly what she felt.

“Shall we head downstairs?” he asked. “Are you hungry?”

“I am.”

She wrapped her arm in his and they made their way slowly
down the hallway.

He smelled wonderful, a crisp clean aftershave smell. For
once, his cheeks were smooth.

Raphael and Francesca were in the cocktail room when they
arrived.

“Oh, Sara,” Raphael said, his eyes penetrating as they roved
over her figure. Then he kissed the curve of her cheek. “I do hope you get over
your inhibitions soon.”

“I’m sure it will be very soon, Rafe.” For already, the
familiar, luscious heat curled into her loins.

His dark gaze bore into hers and then he dipped his head and
blew that liquid, heated power of something exotic over her neck.

The sensation was incredible, instant arousal flowing over
her sensitized skin. Sara let her head drop back, pushing her breasts up at
Rafe.

He pressed light kisses to her cleavage, burning a trail of
liquid fire there also.

“Oh God,” she moaned.

Aric’s eyes glittered in her line of vision. “More, my
sweet, or stop?”

They were already short on time. As soon as dinner was
finished, she’d have to leave. Beau waited tonight.

“I guess we’ll have to stop,” she said regretfully.

“Will you stay the night with us?” Francesca asked.

Sara shook her head. “No, I need to return home. I have a
date with Beau.”

“He can pick you up here,” Rafe suggested and Sara knew
Francesca had filled him in on her dilemma of dating two men.

“It might be a little awkward to explain.”

“Will you return tomorrow night then?”

“I’m sorry. I promised him a date to the theater.” Sara felt
miserable, almost as if she were making excuses after teasing, when truth was,
she was spreading herself thin.

Aric sensed her agitation. “The night after?”

“I can do that.”

His eyes gleamed. “I’ll pick you up from work on Monday then
and you’ll stay.”

Sara smiled sultrily at the three eager faces and looked
forward to Monday. This would be a long dinner with the heat coiled so tightly
in her loins.

* * * * *

The limo took Sara home after dinner and it was only a few
minutes later when Beau rang the bell. She threw open the door and took in the
sight of the handsome man before her.

“Hi, baby.” He grinned, holding out a handful of flowers. He
made her melt, deep inside. In spite of that deep, rumbling voice that sent
desire curling into her soul, he seemed more boyish than he had when she’d
first met him, although he looked exactly the same.

“For me?”

“Yeah, all for you.”

She realized what it was then. He was carefree and relaxed,
eager to be with her. Her. Sara Michaels, the odd person who “feels” things. The
girl that attracted violent men finally found someone normal.

“Come in while I put them in a vase.”

He followed her into the kitchen and after she retrieved a
vase from the cabinet, he took her into his arms.

“Kiss me,” he demanded and she parted her lips under his
onslaught.

His silky tongue danced against hers and she moaned,
stopping herself from begging, although she wasn’t sure why. This was exactly
what she wanted, right here and right now.

“I’m supposed to be putting the flowers in the vase,” she
whispered.

“Okay, I’ll step away. Be quick.”

Quick she was and the next time she turned to Beau, his eyes
were fixated on the curve of her rear.

“Naughty man.”

“Can’t help it. You’re so sexy.”

But he stepped out of the small kitchen to give her room and
inspected the rest of the apartment for himself.

“Nice place,” he complimented from the living room, where
she could see him from the half wall in the kitchen.

“Thanks,” she said as she snipped the stems of the flowers.

“Would you rather stay in and order pizza?” he called out
from the living room.

Sara’s face lit up and Beau cursed himself for not realizing
that Sara wasn’t used to going out constantly. She wasn’t used to dressing up
all the time, being driven around and exposed to the things he took for
granted. She lived a simple life, just as she had before.

“You wouldn’t mind?” she asked, as if it was too much to
hope for.

“No, of course not. We could have pizza, talk about our
pasts, kiss and cuddle on your sofa.” He grinned. “You could change into
something oh-so comfortable, like a big ole man-sized t-shirt with nothing
underneath…”

She laughed. “Pervert.”

“Maybe. Go change and I’ll order the pizza.”

Sara went into the bedroom and, just to razz him, wore a
huge white t-shirt with skimpy red shorts that she used to exercise in. When
she returned, Beau had removed his jacket and folded up his sleeves, sitting on
her sofa flipping through the channels.

“Anything good on?” she asked.

“Nope.” He flipped off the television and used the remote to
turn on the stereo instead. Soft classical music filtered through the room, as
he responded to her clothing. “Trying to drive me out of my mind?”

“You said something ‘oh-so comfortable’,” she reminded him.

She sat next to him on the sofa, long lean legs curved
underneath her.

“I know when the pizza arrives you’ll stay right here out of
sight. I don’t want some punk checking you out,” he said possessively.

Maybe it was Francesca sharing her past with Aric’s ex-wife,
but Sara suddenly wanted to know all about Beau’s life, too.

“Have you ever been married?” she asked abruptly.

He nodded, slowly.

She blinked in surprise, suddenly feeling an irrational
jealousy over a woman she hadn’t even known existed.

“You were married once before?” she asked again.

“I was married, yes. It was long ago and not a regular
wedding ceremony that would be recognized today, but in our hearts, we were
truly married. Soul mates.”

“What happened?”

“She fell in love with another man.”

The horror on Sara’s face was evident. “Your soul mate fell
in love with someone else?”

“It was my own fault. I was too involved with my…family and
I neglected her. To make up for it, I allowed her to spend time with another
man, one that I trusted to watch over her, a bodyguard of sorts. She fell hard
for him, but I pushed her to it.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Like I said, it was my own fault. I pushed her into the
arms of another, tricked her into it actually. I paid him to seduce her into my…religion.”
Beau paused long enough for Sara to realize that the word was a replacement for
a secret he still wasn’t telling her. “My deception backfired. Instead he
seduced her for himself. Now I realize she still loved me, but I couldn’t see
it at the time. I was too hurt, allowing my ego to rule my emotions. I was
angry, frustrated, jealous, and I frightened her. There are no excuses for my
behavior. But that’s all long ago in the past. Now, your turn. Tell me of your
old relationships.”

“My life is boring, really. I’ve had very few boyfriends and
very bad luck with those. They always seem to turn psychotic on me.”

“Psychotic?”

“Yes,” she said earnestly. “I don’t know what it is. I used
to think it had something to do with my psychic abilities, although I don’t
know what. A guy starts out nice and then gets violent.”

“Violent? Have you been struck?” he asked, fury in his
voice.

Sara actually had wanted to casually bring up the fact that she
was psychic, but Beau focused on the one thing she didn’t want to highlight.

“No, no,” she soothed, her hand reaching out to stroke his
clenched fist. “They just seem to fight a lot with others suddenly. Around me. Pick
fights in bars, stuff like that.”

She never mentioned that she could also tell exactly how
they felt about her. Exactly how they planned to get into her pants.

He relaxed, but barely. “But no one has struck you?”

“No, no one has ever struck me.” She smiled at him gently,
her dimples popping into her cheeks.

“You’ve never had a serious relationship?”

“Not really. You and Aric are the most serious relationships
I’ve ever had.”

“You met us on the same day?” he asked carefully.

“Yes.”

“Do you prefer one of us to the other?”

“No, I care about both of you equally.”

“You’re sleeping with both of us,” he stated flatly.

Oh, Lord. There was really nothing she could say to soothe
his feelings. They were so very different, in looks and personality, yet she
connected with both of them in different ways. She couldn’t suddenly become a
born-again virgin and halt all sexual aspects of her relationships, even if she
wanted to.

What answer could she give that wouldn’t make the situation
worse? She couldn’t deny enjoying Aric, but that didn’t mean that she enjoyed Beau
less. Just differently. Would Beau stop caring for her when he found out how
deeply she wanted each man and that she had no intentions of changing?

“Yes. Does that bother you?” Her own voice had reached a
cautious, flat tone. Would this be it? Would his jealousy force the choice of
which man she’d be with? Instead, Beau drew back from the conversation, as if
he knew how easily she’d run to Aric if he pushed the issue.

“Of course. But I’ll have to live with it, won’t I?” he said
lightly and feathered a thumb on the inside of her wrist.

“I’m sorry.”

He brought her hand up to his lips. “Don’t be. Just be with
me now.”

Sara encircled his neck with her arms. “I will. I missed
you. I’m glad we have tomorrow night too.”

He lightly kissed the top of her nose. “Me too.”

The bell rang and Beau jumped up to answer it. “Stay,” he
instructed and strode halfway across the room to the door. Looking back over
his shoulder at her, he came back toward her and draped his jacket over her
bare legs, grinned and went back to the door.

He opened it enough just to have the pizza slide through and
he thrust a handful of bills through the door, then returned with the steaming
box.

Sara laughed at his antics.

“I’ll get us drinks and plates,” he said, putting the box
down on the coffee table before her.

He headed toward the kitchen and Sara leaned back. This was
so nice, having someone take care of her. How had she lived her lonely
existence for so long? Suddenly, she couldn’t imagine life without either Aric
or Beau. She wanted them both in her life and couldn’t imagine having to choose
one over the other.

He returned in a flash to serve the pizza.

“I haven’t had this in so long,” Sara moaned, taking the
first bite. The gooey, melted cheese was sensory overload.

“The next time you spend the night at my house, we can order
it in again,” he said and looked up to catch her reaction.

Sara caught it and raised her eyebrows. “Are you staying the
night then?”

Beau grinned, his mood playful once more. “Why, thanks for
inviting me. I’d love to stay.”

Sara laughed at his antics.

“Okay,” she agreed. “You can stay. But only because you’re
so hot,” she said, eyeing his muscles through his clothing. “Oh, you didn’t
bring anything to wear, either.”

“Nope. I’ll have to sleep naked.”

She laughed outright at his foolishness. “Well, you’re a
guest in my house. The least I can do is be naked with you.”

When the pizza was finished, they flipped through the
television channels.

Sara lay across Beau’s lap and was so comfortable she began
to nod off. It was the last thing she remembered.

Beau smiled wryly and smoothed the hair across her brow. She
was exhausted. He lifted her gently, cradling her against his chest and carried
her to the bed.

Still she slept. Carefully, he reached under her t-shirt
which had twisted around her waist and pulled her panties down.

God, that was a mistake. A growl nearly erupted from his
throat at the sight of her. Slowly he pulled the large shirt from her head,
exposing full, beautiful breasts.

He was almost weak with need for her, the creamy, luscious
woman curled on the cotton sheets. He stripped himself bare and lay down with
her, pulling her body onto him.

It was the only way he could sleep, his huge erection
pressed against her soft belly.

* * * * *

The alarm rang softly, birds chirping in the room.

“You have got to be kidding me,” Beau muttered.

Sara laughed softly against his smooth, bodybuilder’s chest.
“I like birds. I like to wake up at the same time, every day.”

“Baby, normal people wake up to ringing. Or loud music. Not
birds.”

“It’s a soft, relaxing way to wake,” she insisted and
slipped from the sheets. She padded nude to the shower, as unselfconscious as Beau
always was.

Beau watched every curve of her luscious body, then followed
her into the shower, smiling after grabbing another condom.

He startled her when he slid the sheer curtain aside and
stepped in close behind her. He reached for the bar of soap in her hands and
soaped her body slowly, washing every silky inch of her. Suds covered her body,
from her shoulder blades which he’d lovingly kneaded, to her breasts with the
nipples peeking out from the bubbles. He thoroughly covered himself in soap
also and then lifted her slender thigh with his big hand. He set her foot on
the raised seat in the shower stall and was instantly hard from the sight of
his tanned hand possessively covering her slim thigh.