Dark Realms (22 page)

“Did you ever go to his house?” asked
Duncan.

“We stopped by once, but he made me wait
outside. He lived with Ethan and the others; they rent this house
on the edge of town.”

“You didn’t think it was weird that he made
you wait outside?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Not really. Besides,
Ethan and the others really creep me out. Drake was different,
though. I wish I knew what happened to him.”

“Did you ask Ethan?” I said.

She made a face. “Yeah but he didn’t say
much. Personally, I think he went back home to Australia. He talked
about his family a lot and how he missed them.”

My eyebrows shot up. “He was
Australian?”

She nodded and got this dreamy look on her
face. “Yeah, he had this neat accent. Man, I miss that guy.”

Duncan cleared his throat. “So you know
where Ethan lives?”

“Yes.”

“Maybe we should call the sheriff and tell
him we think Ethan’s responsible for those murders?” said
Nathan.

Susan’s jaw dropped. “You seriously think
that Ethan is responsible?”

“We don’t know for sure,” I said.

Nathan scowled. “As far as I’m concerned,
he’s responsible for something.”

Embarrassed, I looked away. I’d let Ethan
into my bedroom and allowed him to do those things to me. What was
even worse was that I’d enjoyed it, and wasn’t even certain that I
had regrets.

Was he a murderer?

I didn’t want to believe it.

“Here comes mom,” said Nathan, standing up.
He waved and she walked over.

“So, what did the eye doctor say?” I asked.
She was still wearing her sunglasses.

She shrugged. “He prescribed some eye drops
for me. He thinks it might be an eye infection, but doesn’t know
for sure. If the drops don’t work then I’m supposed to come back in
five days for more tests.”

“Hopefully you won’t have to wear your
sunglasses to work on Monday.”

She smiled. “Now
that
would be awkward,
wouldn’t it? So,” she looked around. “Have you seen Caleb,
yet?”

I shook my head. “No. Did you call him?”

“I did, but he never answers during the day.
He says it’s because he’s so busy. I just hope it’s not something
else.”

“Like what? Another woman?” I asked.

She smiled, sheepishly. “Yeah, maybe.”

“Are you talking about Sheriff Caleb?” asked
Susan.

“Yeah,” I said.

“He’s definitely not married,” she said. “He
has a daughter who just graduated, Celeste. His wife died a few
years ago.”

“That’s what he told me, too,” said mom.

“So what’s the sheriff’s daughter like?” I
asked.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you!
The redhead we saw on our first day in town… the cute one?
That’s
Celeste.”

“The hot one?” asked Nathan.

“Yes, Nathan. ‘The hot one’,” she said with
a smile.

Nathan turned to Susan. “No offense, Susan.
You’re really hot, too.”

Susan’s cheeks turned bright red again.

“Hey, here comes my dad,” said Duncan,
waving his hand.

Sonny walked over with a plate of food and
sat down next to mom. He smiled. “Hi, I’m Duncan’s dad… you must be
Nikki and Nathan’s mom? I’m Sonny and I’m going to apologize right
now for making a pig out of myself.”

Mom laughed. “I’m Anne. That’s quite all
right. I’m used to it, Nathan eats round the clock.”

“I have to be back at the marina in fifteen
minutes so I have to eat fast.”

I watched as my mom and Sonny began talking
about some yacht he was currently fixing.

“How fascinating,” she said. “I’ve always
wanted a ride on a beautiful yacht.”

He smiled. “Come on by the marina sometime
and I’ll take you out on a couple. I own a fifty-foot carver
myself, and haven’t had a chance to take it out much this summer.
You’d give me a reason to start the engine.

My mom’s face lit up. “That sounds
wonderful.”

“I’d better get back,” he said, standing up.
“It was nice meeting you, Anne. Susan, I’ll see you at the diner
again, I’m sure.”

“See you, Mr. Hamilton,” answered Susan.

“I probably won’t be home until late,” said
Duncan.

Sonny’s eyes narrowed. “That’s right. Call
me if you need me.”

When Sonny left, mom smiled. “Your dad seems
very nice, Duncan.”

“Thanks.”

She looked at me. “And cute, too.”

I laughed. He
was
pretty hot for an
older guy.

Nathan stood up. “Anybody interested in
going on some rides? Susan?”

“Sure,” she answered.

“Duncan, how about some rides?” I asked.

He nodded. “Let’s go.”

“I’m going to be taking off,” said mom.
“Caleb’s supposed to be stopping over after work. I don’t see him
patrolling around here anyway.”

There were a few cops wandering around but I
hadn’t seen Caleb around either.

“Okay, bye, mom,” I said.

“Don’t stay up too late,” said Nathan.

“Same goes for you,
dad
,” she
replied.

We purchased some carnival tickets and then
spent the next couple of hours screaming on the rides. I watched in
amusement as Nathan pretended to be frightened and hugged Susan for
comfort.

“They seem to be hitting it off,” said
Duncan as we got on the Ferris wheel by ourselves.

“Yeah.”

Duncan’s face darkened. “So, what exactly
happened between you and Ethan?”

Chapter Twenty-Two

“Not much,” I lied.

His eyes narrowed. “Nathan mentioned he was
in your bedroom?”

“Yes. He knocked on the door and I opened
it. I’m not even sure why I did. He has this way of manipulating
people. You heard Susan.”

“He’d better leave you alone or I’ll
manipulate his face,” he said. He then put his arms around me and
drew me close.

I smiled in pleasure as his lips closed in
on mine. Within a matter of seconds, I’d forgotten all about Ethan
and was kissing Duncan back as hungrily as he was kissing me. Then
the ride was ending, and we were forced to pull apart

“What are you doing to me?” he murmured.

I’d certainly felt his excitement brush
against me and decided it was probably better that the ride had
ended when it did.

“So, Duncan, how many girls have you been
with?’

He looked at me in surprise. “Is it
important?”

“No, not really.”

“If it makes you feel better, I’ve only been
with one other girl. We went out for a few months when I was living
with my mom, in Minnesota.”

“Do you miss her?”

He grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “You’re
all I care about, Nikki. I’ve never felt this way about
anyone.”

I smiled and kissed him.

“What about you?” he asked, when I pulled
away.

I blushed. “Actually, I’m a virgin.”

He raised his eyebrows.

“What?”

“You are?”

I scowled. “Yeah, why? Do I seem easy to you
or something.”

He burst out laughing. “No! I’m sorry. You
just know how to…”

I smiled wickedly. “Excite you? You’re a
guy. It’s not too difficult to figure out.”

“So, you’re really a virgin?” he said,
rubbing the bottom of his chin. “Hmm…I’d better be careful then.
You’re like a delicate flower that needs to be handled with kid
gloves.”

I snorted. “Yeah right!”

“Okay, maybe I should tell
you to be careful with
me
.”

“Maybe, you should.”

He smiled as the Ferris wheel stopped at the
ground and then helped me down.

“There’s Nathan and Susan,” I said, pointing
towards the ticket booth. They were apparently going on more
rides.

“Would you like to go on more rides?” he
asked, pulling out his wallet.

“Actually, I have to use the ladies’ room,”
I said, looking around.

He nodded. “I’ll come with you.”

We walked towards the beach where there was
a public restroom open for the festival, which was good because I
hated using the satellites.

“Do you want to take a walk by the beach?”
he asked when I was finished.

I looked towards the beach. It was dusk and
now deserted. “Sure.”

We walked towards the lake and I took off my
sandals so I could dig my toes in the sand.

“Now that I’ve got you alone…” he grinned,
grabbing my arm and pulling me close.

Duncan was almost a foot taller than me and
I stood on my tippy toes to meet his lips. We started kissing and
then I remembered.

“Wait,” I said. “It’s getting dark. We
shouldn’t be out here alone.”

He snorted. “Listen, if Ethan shows up, I’ll
knock his lights out.”

Duncan would have been a formidable
adversary for anyone, but not for whatever kind of creature Ethan
was. There was no question in my mind about that.

“Duncan, he’s not normal. Remember how he
grabbed me and ran through the woods? Even you can’t compete with
that.”

He sighed. “Fine. Just one more kiss and
we’ll head back.”

I slid my arms around his neck and we began
kissing, again. Just when my legs began to feel like jelly, he
released me.

“Hey,” I pouted as I opened my eyes.

“Well, well, well,” chuckled Ethan. “You’re
a naughty little vixen, aren’t you?”

Duncan lay on the ground, obviously
unconscious. I rushed to his side and looked up at Ethan. “What did
you do to him?!” I yelled.

He sighed. “Don’t worry
he’s just taking a little nap. I
should
have killed him for even
touching you.”

“Ethan, you have to stop this. I’m not
Miranda.”

He grabbed my hand and lifted me up. “You
are Miranda. I can see it in your eyes, the way you smell, how you
taste…” he murmured, looking into my eyes.

My heart began to race as he bent his head
and began kissing me. A wave of hot pleasure shot through my body
and I released a strangled moan.

Just then, Duncan came back to his senses.
“Leave her alone, you asshole!” he raged, trying to get Ethan away
from me.

Ethan’s eyes burned with fury and I watched
in awe as he let out an unearthly roar. Before I could do anything,
he held Duncan in the air by his throat.

“Please, stop!” I sobbed, rushing towards
them. I started hitting Ethan in the back, but it was like hitting
a plate of steel. He used his other hand and pushed me to the
ground.

Duncan’s eyes were bugging out of his head
and his face was turning purple. I knew he would die if I didn’t do
something.

“Ethan!” I screamed, getting back up. I hit
him repeatedly with my fists, but he continued to ignore me. It was
only when a group of men began racing towards us that he swore and
released Duncan.

“Let’s go, now,” ordered Ethan.

I backed away from him and then turned to
run. Before I could take five steps, I was in his arms and we were
racing across the beach like a flash of lightning.

“No…” I sobbed as the lights from the
carnival became a blur.

Chapter Twenty-Three

I woke up in a cool, dark bedroom. Candles
lit up the room and rock music played softly in the background.

I sat up. “Duncan?” I mumbled, “Nathan?”

Someone sighed and I found Ethan watching me
from the shadows. He sat in a leather club chair that had been
pushed into the corner of the room.

“So, you’re finally awake,” he murmured.

I swallowed. “Where am I?”

“Welcome to my humble abode,” he chuckled.
He was naked from the waist up and my mind turned traitor once
again as I imagined running my fingers over his impressive
pecs.

What in the hell was wrong with me?!

I forced my lustful thoughts aside and tried
to concentrate on Duncan and whether or not he was safe.

“Take me home,” I demanded, scooting to the
edge of the bed. “Please.”

His eyes studied me intently, but he didn’t
respond.

I stood up and smoothed down my dress.
“Seriously, take me home,” I said, lifting my chin.

Ethan stood up and walked towards me. His
eyes lowered to my dress and I suddenly felt naked. I wondered if
vampires had x-ray vision.

I put a hand to my chest and looked up at
him. “Ethan?”

“You
are
home,” he replied, his voice
husky. I backed away and he grinned. “Are we playing hard to get,
now?”

I ignored the question. “Look, this is
insane. You can’t just keep me here like a prisoner.”

His eyes hardened. “Prisoner? If you want to
leave, you’re certainly free to go.” He then stood sideways so that
I could move around him to the doorway.

Holding my breath, I decided to go for it.
Before I could take two steps, however, he grabbed both of my hands
and had them behind my back before I had a chance to exhale.

“You know you want to be with me,” he said,
smiling darkly. “In every way.”

I stared up into eyes that hinted of things
I’d only fantasized about, and shamefully, my resistance fell
apart.

Yes, I wanted
Ethan
…

In fact, from the tingling sensation growing
between my legs, I wanted him every way and everywhere.

One of his large hands slid into my hair,
cupping the back of my head. “Let me,” he whispered seductively,
his breath hinting of butterscotch once again, “please you.”

Oh, my God…

My eyes lowered to his mouth and I licked my
lips, remembering how good they’d felt on my skin. The next thing I
knew, he had me on the bed, pressing against me, and I surrendered
all control, gasping in guilty pleasure. Within seconds I was
returning his kisses as passionately as he was giving them.

“Yes,” he growled, against my mouth as my
hands traveled along his back to his hair. I tightened my fingers
around the strands and pulled him closer, kissing him deeper as hot
waves of desire shot through my veins, urging me on.