Not So Silent Night (3 page)

He came just as she started moaning from yet another orgasm that his perfect tongue caused. She sucked him even deeper down her throat and swallowed every last drop of his cum, making Alexander’s entire body shiver from pure ecstasy.

Sure, they had both come in fine fashion, but Anna was nowhere near being done with her hot Russian. This might be her only night with him for all she knew, though her instincts told her this was not the case, and she was damn sure going to make the most of it. She used her special powers of concentration to make sure that her lover remained hard; she then got up and turned to face him. “Oh, I am nowhere near done with you.” She straddled him and slid down the entire length of his shaft, feeling like she was impaling herself and loving every moment of it.

Alexander groaned his pleasure and gripped her hips, thrusting up into her with extraordinary force, as if he couldn’t push into her enough, as if he needed to be inside her even more than he was. Anna was just as eager to have him inside of her. She rode him as hard as she could, leaning down and gripping his hairy chest for more leverage as she forced their bodies together at an intense speed.

Just as she was coming yet again, Alexander expertly flipped them both over so he could push into her as deeply as possible. He picked up his speed and was virtually pounding her into the mattress. She was still in the midst of an orgasm when he exploded into her, sending her even deeper into heaven. He threw his head back and roared, sounding more like an animal than a man, and his body appeared to shimmer again, but she just couldn’t find it in her to analyze the strangeness of her lover. She felt too damn good. She had never felt this relaxed, this satisfied, in her entire life. Besides, she had some strangeness of her own she hid. So what if her lover was some sort of supernatural being? All of her lovers had been. This one was simply better at the lover part than any before him.

Alexander collapsed on top of her and then rolled over, pulling her close to him where she snuggled into his chest. They were just lying there, still trying to catch their breath, when the howling outside started again and with greater intensity. Then the scratching and banging started, as if the wolves outside in the alley were trying to get into the house.

Immediately, Alexander stood up and strode to the window. “Stay here; I will go take care of this.”

Anna followed him to the window, stepped in front of him facing him, and held up both her hands. “No, I know a better way to handle this situation. It may freak you out at first, but I am sure you have seen some unusual things in your life.” She turned confidently to the window and threw it open, despite it being freezing out and her being completely naked. Alexander stood puzzled as she mumbled words under her breath. A strange mist suddenly appeared out in the alley, at first right at the level of the second
story window, but then it abruptly dived down to ground level, right where the wolves were. Suddenly, there were a lot of cries of pain and then anguished howls as the wolves ran off. The mist settled in all around the house, surrounding it. “There, they won’t be back tonight. In fact, those particular trouble
makers won’t be setting foot inside my store ever again.”

Anna shut the window and turned around to Alexander, waiting for the questions to begin. “What are you?” he asked in an awed tone.

She just smiled. “I could ask you the same thing, but I think I already know, at least in essence if not in detail. But as to your question, I am what is commonly referred to as a witch. My whole family has been full of witches for hundreds of years. Though I admittedly have a hard time with my abilities. When I am down, my magic fades. But you have made me so happy tonight, my powers are stronger than I have ever seen them. I feel them surging through my body. It feels amazing. That’s how I could so easily deal with Blake and his pack of no good werewolves.”

Alexander startled. “You knew they were werewolves?”

Anna laughed. “Of course I knew. Half the town knows, but I have a sense about these things. Just like I know
you
are a shifter, but not wolf. Not anything I have encountered before. What are you?”

Still looking slightly amazed, Alexander answered. “Bear. Actually descended from the Russian line of royalty the earliest czars were weres. You are the first supernatural being I have ever met who is not a shifter. Tell me more about your powers. We have legends of magical creatures, but to have one as a lover...” He trailed off, his eyes as wide as a child’s on Christmas morning.

“Like I said, my capabilities tend to come and go. I am consistently good with nature. Plants, flowers, wind, rain, all come easy to me. But actual spells, like the protection spell that I just put around my property? I am usually unable to work powerful magic, at least not anymore. Not since-” She stopped abruptly, not wanting to go there with her new lover.

“Since what? Your grandmother’s death?” Alexander took her hand, clearly trying to comfort her and get her to open up.

Anna shook her head, hesitant. “No, not really, though her passing certainly saddened me. My powers began to wane long before my grandmother’s death. But it is not something we need to talk about right now. The wolves are gone and will leave us alone for the rest of the night. There are much better things for us to do than spend our time discussing my past.” She stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around him, and planted a kiss on his lips. “You are only in town for a short time. I don’t know how much longer I have you and the pleasure you bring. Don’t you think we should concentrate on us?”

She pulled him into a more passionate kiss. She felt he still wanted to talk, that he had more questions about her, about her powers, about her past. However, his body was indeed more interested in her advances and to her delight, his libido won out. He muttered something in Russian and pushed her back onto the bed before climbing back on top of her and diving right in to her. He was not gentle, but Anna did not want gentle. She was loud in her encouragement for more. Soon they were both shouting their releases. Alex shimmered ever so slightly, but this time, no annoying werewolves listened in.

Alexander rolled off her, smiling and looking very satisfied. “My goodness, I cannot get enough of you, woman. It’s even better now not worrying about shimmering in front of you.”

Anna propped herself up on her elbow and smiled right back at him. “I know the feeling of not getting enough. I hope you are not planning to sleep tonight. I am going to wear you out and then some.”

Alex pulled her back down to him. He kissed her with passion, but not in a hurry to do anything else. “Sounds perfect. But let’s talk some first. I find you to be the most interesting woman I have ever encountered, even before I learned you were a witch. And as I have said, the only supernatural creatures I have previously met have been fellow shifters. So you are doubly fascinating to me now. Tell me more about you; I want to know more than the physical side of you. Please?”

He was so sincere Anna could only sigh and give in, even though talking about herself and her past was never her favorite subject. “Okay, I am an open book. Just be warned, I intend to turn the tables and ask all about you too. You are not the only curious one. But you asked first, so go. What do you want to know about me?”

“Tell me about your powers. I want to learn anything I can about them, see if they match up to the myths of my people. You know, they say weres and witches who mate produce powerful offspring, very powerful.”

Anna held up her hands “Slow down there, tiger, I mean bear, no talk of mating yet. We just met. Yes, there is a strong sexual connection between us, which could maybe be something deeper, but let’s let time take its course, okay?” She paused as Alex nodded, though she could tell from the look on his face that he thought there was definitely more going on between them than sex. However, he was wise enough to not say anything out loud.

“But I will say what you heard about the mixing for witches and weres is true. Many packs often look for those of magical blood when they are looking to increase their breeding stock. You are magical by nature, and so are witches. We just don’t shift, though some very powerful witches can learn how to. I’ve never tried it, but it is said to be draining on those who are untrained. In fact, I suspect it is why the wolves have been hanging around me ever since they moved into town. Not that I am interested in some rednecks.” She wore a look of disgust as she talked about the wolves.

“As to my abilities, think of me as just being more in tune to the natural forces of the world, for nature is where all of my power comes from. They are as natural as you and every other shifter. I don’t think of as any of us as being supernatural; in fact, I feel more natural actually.”

Alexander was nodding. “It makes perfect sense. My mother holds similar beliefs. She contends we are closer to nature than regular humans and that is why we can take the form of animals.”

“Exactly! I like your mom already.”

“Then you should meet her. Tomorrow. You can meet my entire family, as my father and brother are here as well.”

“You want me to meet your family?” Anna stammered a little bit.

“Of course. This is not going to be some one-night stand. I like you. A lot. We are here for a couple of weeks on vacation. Then, remember, I do not live in Russia as my family does; I am a train ride away in Washington, D.C. This is the start of something, just accept it.” He gently kissed her. “Now tell me why you are so scared of relationship talk. Is that what has been wrong with your powers? Did a relationship go wrong?”

Feeling uncomfortable by his keen insights into her, she began to physically pull away from Alexander, but he placed a strong arm around her and held her tightly. “Trust me, please, Anna. Trust me enough to tell me everything.”

She looked into his deep blue and believing eyes and something in her began to melt a little. She could trust this man. Maybe sharing her burden would somehow allow her to finally heal from the Ryan ordeal. “Okay, I will tell you everything.” She took a deep breath to gather her thoughts. “You are the first person I have spoken to about this. I never even told my grandmother, although I am sure she guessed a lot of it, even in her sickened state. She was always so good at reading me.”

Alex smiled. “I think that is something all grandmothers are.”

This brought a small tear to Anna’s eye. “Yes, grandmothers are a special breed.” She paused, trying to think of how to continue. “You wanted to know about my relationship issues. I suppose I am skittish about relationships partly because I have never been good at them. Humans always seem to sense there is something different about me and leave me, usually calling me a freak on their way out.”

“You are too special to be with a mere human. You are meant for someone more,” Alex interjected with complete confidence as he squeezed her hand.

“You keep distracting me,” she murmured before continuing. “I’ve tried dating the shifters in this area, but they have never really been my type. Some have been nice guys, not all are like the wolves roaming here now but there was never any sort of real connection.”

“You must have been very lonely.” Alex stroked her hair. He just seemed unable to keep from touching and comforting her, making her story all the harder to get out.

“I was, so I decided to move to New York. I figured I had to fit in somewhere with so many people about.” She paused again and stared off, reminiscing about the great city.

“That’s where I met Ryan. He was like me, a witch. He was the most powerful being that I have ever met. Seriously, I felt his pull at least a mile away. It scared and fascinated me at the same time. We fell into a relationship almost immediately. I spent a blissful couple of years with him. But just because we are magical does not mean we are immortal or invincible. He was shot and killed in a senseless act of violence.”

She sat there quietly, waiting for the tears, though they did not come this time. She felt sad, yes, but it also felt like something was finally healing inside of her and she no longer lost it when thinking about Ryan. And she felt Alexander’s presence had more than a little something to do with it.

As she was lost in her thoughts, Alex interrupted her. “And your powers diminished? From the sadness of losing your lover?” He continued to gently stroke her hand, all compassion and understanding, which made what she had to say next excruciating.

“No, not exactly. I went insane with rage after his death. There is no other way to put it. I used all my powers to track down those who took him from me. Then I killed them, like some sort of evil monster.” She stopped, afraid to even look at Alexander.

“No, like a woman who had lost someone she loved,” Alex said gently.

“I lost most of my powers after. Some of it was all the power I expended. Part of it was
that after my anger was spent, so was I, and I think part of it was the evil I used my powers for used up the good I had as well. I was never the same sweet girl again. Then my grandmother got sick and my powers grew weaker. They have been gaining ever so slightly lately, but not until tonight did I truly feel strength flowing through me for the first time in years.”

They sat there in silence for a while, Alex just holding her, not shying away from her even though she had admitted she was a murderer. “Aren’t you appalled that I used dark magic to seek revenge and murder people?”

Alex sat up and looked her straight in the eyes. “No, you did nothing that I would not do myself. You avenged your loved one. I find it commendable. You are not evil; you sought justice when no other justice could have been found. You are a strong and brave woman.” He caressed her cheek and kissed her briefly on the lips. “You are the type of woman that I could easily see myself falling in love with.” He kissed her deeply before pulling back. “Now I believe you had some questions for me? Ask whatever you like.”

Anna sat there stunned for a few moments, still in shock from the fact that he really did not consider her a murderer, and by what he said about falling in love. Finally, realized that he was staring at her expectantly and she tried to get her brain working again. After all, there was a lot about her new lover she truly did want to know about.