Possess Me (28 page)

His hand pressed against it, barring her way.

“What?”

“That’s never happened before, Bethany.”

She gave him a brittle smile. “I didn’t think it had. You may have been having sex for hundreds of years, but you’ve only been human for a few hours. You haven’t had a chance to be irresponsible.”

“Yet, you are mad.” He sounded hurt.

She sighed, focusing her gaze on her hand curled around the knob. “You’re wrong about me. I’m not feisty, or sexy, and I’m certainly not a witch. I’m not . . . cut out for this kind of thing. I thought I could be, but I’m not.” She knew he wanted her to look at him, was willing her to, but she refused. “Let me go, Bone Daddy. Your day is passing by.”

He lifted his hand and she hurried through the door, passing her friends. Their expressions changed from disbelief to concern when they saw her face. She tried to smile at Allegra, but she felt like bawling her eyes out.

“Your hair looks beautiful,” she said in a wobbly voice. “Oh, they used Isabel’s comb.”

A tear slid down her cheek and Allegra wrapped an arm around her, glaring over her head to where she knew Bone Daddy must be standing.

She heard Michelle’s voice through the ringing in her ears. “You two go back home, Allegra. Take the car. We’ll meet you there.”

She let Allegra lead her outside, feeling like a fool, and even worse, a horrible guest. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t you dare be sorry, Bethany. If anyone should be sorry, it’s that oversexed Loa.” She sounded angry. “You know, Rousseau wasn’t happy he’d come, but I thought it would be a great opportunity to mend fences. To heal. But no. He can’t stop taking advantage long enough to be a gentleman. To be respectful.”

Bethany sniffled. “No. It wasn’t like that. We both lost control. He’s actually kind of . . . wonderful.”

“Wonderful? I’m confused. If he’s so wonderful, why are you crying?”

Because Loas didn’t wear condoms, and a part of her was desperately hoping he’d left her something to remember him by. And that thought scared her more than anything else.

HE DIDN’T UNDERSTAND WOMEN. SCRATCH THAT. HE UNDER
stood women better than anyone in the history of the world. Except Bethany. He didn’t understand her. And he really didn’t understand his reaction to her.

He loved women. All women. Loved to see them in the throes of passion, to watch their sated smiles as they fell asleep after he’d pleasured them into exhaustion. He always knew what they were thinking—it was a gift of his kind.

“That’s it.”

“What’s it, BD?” Ben was sitting on his bed, slipping on his socks and shoes. The men had decided to get dressed in his room, giving the master bedroom to Allegra and the women.

Bone Daddy shifted in his chair, thinking of the present he’d left there for Bethany. He hoped she liked it.

“Benjamin, when you marry Michelle Toussaint, and I know you will, make sure you spank her at least once a day. That woman is a tyrant.”

Ben laughed. “I would, my friend. But I think she would enjoy it too much.” His brown eyes studied Bone Daddy intently. “She told me about the lingerie shop. I had to promise to buy half their stock just to keep the salesclerk from calling the police. Not that I blame you. In fact, I would buy the shop as-is for the opportunity to get Mimi into one of those mirrored dressing rooms.”

Though Bone Daddy maintained a nonchalant pose, he was amazed at his own discomfort at having everyone know about his time with Bethany. She was special. There was something about her that called out to his soul. He knew her. He wanted her. He was happy that he’d arrived in time for Allegra and Rousseau’s wedding, but Bethany was the main reason he was still here.

He hadn’t planned to spend his one day as a human in emotional turmoil over a stubborn little woman. This was his last chance to indulge in life—food, women, wine. Instead he’d only eaten twice and hadn’t had a drop to drink all day. All he could do was pine for Bethany. Wanting to talk to her, to apologize again for losing control. To have another chance to lose control. “Bah. Women.”

Rousseau turned away from the mirror where he was tying his tie, an unwilling smile forming on his lips. “I’ll be damned. You like her, don’t you? You don’t just want to fuck her, you actually like her.”

He was out of his chair and nose to nose with Rousseau before the words had completely left his mouth. “Am I such a monster then? I am a Loa, not the Devil. I came when I was called, and you were better for it. There is a woman in this house whose love you never have to doubt, who chose you over everything else, and in part, that is because of
me
.”

“I know. Thank you.”

All the bluster drained out of him at Rousseau’s words, leaving a strange feeling of vulnerability. “You’re welcome. So you no longer think I am beyond redemption?”

Rousseau gazed at Bone Daddy in silence for a moment. Then he did something unexpected. He wrapped his arms around him and hugged him. Tight. “You are not beyond redemption. You are family. Allegra was right. I’m glad you’re here.”

Bone Daddy turned to a smiling Ben, who nodded approvingly. “As it should be, my brothers. As it should be.”

Rousseau released him, and Bone Daddy ran a hand through his curls. “I don’t know what to do. I forget myself when I’m around her. Forget my experience, my control. Forget that I only have a few more hours before I must return through the Gate, perhaps for good.”

“For good? What are you talking about, BD?” Ben wasn’t smiling now.

“Let’s just say that after our adventure with the
djab
, they decided it would be better for me to stay on the other side for a while.” Bone Daddy saw the guilty expression on Ben’s face and shook his head. “No, Benjamin. It would have happened anyway. And perhaps they are right. I should behave as the other Loa. I’ve become too attached.”

Rousseau looked troubled. “This feels wrong. You need to talk to Mambo Toussaint before the wedding. Ben, go get her, will you?”

Ben rushed to open the door before Bone Daddy could stop him, and laughed. Standing outside, with one hand over their eyes and the other carrying trays of food and drink, were the two women Ben called The Mamas. Elise Adair and Annemarie Toussaint.

“Are you decent?”

“Are you kidding?” Ben was still chuckling. “I was just coming to find you two. We have a situation. Oh. Is that pie?”

Mambo Toussaint dropped her hand in time to smack his. “Benjamin Beauregard Adair, that pie is special. It’s for Bone Daddy. You can have a crawfish cake.”

Bone Daddy backed up as the two women’s energy filled the room, along with the delicious aroma of food. His stomach growled loudly, and Elise Adair smiled.

“Looks like we arrived just in time.”

“In more ways than one.” Rousseau embraced the two women, smiling as they congratulated him on his day. “Mambo, Bone Daddy has a problem.”

“It’s not a problem, boy. This is your day, yours and your lovely warrior queen’s. That’s all you need to be thinking about.”

Mambo Toussaint raised her eyebrows, drawing his attention to her head scarf, which was a brilliant purple for the occasion. “Humanity looks good on you, Bone Daddy. Is this your first All Saints’?”

Ben swallowed one fried crawfish cake and reached for two more, handing one to Bone Daddy. “And his last. They think he’s too attached to us.”

“They may be right. Who are we to question the Loa’s wisdom? They are the messengers for the divine.” But she studied him closer, as if she saw beyond him, in him. “You saved my daughter’s life. My son’s as well. He’s bought an apartment here, came back home. We’re getting to know each other again, and you made that possible. I owe you a boon.”

Bone Daddy leaned forward to place a kiss on the older woman’s forehead. He’d always liked her. She was a compassionate mambo, a healer. Loyal to her religion and her friends. “You owe me nothing, woman. But perhaps I will have some of that pie.”

Elise Adair tilted her head, her silvery blonde bob brushing her shoulder. “You are a beautiful man.” Her son made a choking sound, and she pursed her perfectly glossed lips and stuck out her tongue. “What? I’m human, and not so old that I’m immune to masculine charm.”

Bone Daddy winked at the elegant woman, making her blush, much to his delight. But then she reached out and took his hand. He knew the Adair magic. Knew what she was. He could feel her energy searching his, and he had to admit, he was worried at what she would find.

“Don’t worry. I can see why she’s so drawn to you. But there’s something else.” She pulled her hand back, looking confused. “You shouldn’t be what you are.”

Mambo Toussaint turned her friend toward her. “Is it what we thought?”

“Yes and no. It’s hard to see. But I’m not sure if we can help him.”

Rousseau shook his head, downing a shot of liquor he’d taken from the tray and shuddering as the heat of it hit his chest. “Is there any way you could be less confusing and vague? My wedding is a few hours away, and I don’t have the ability to solve any puzzles.”

Mambo Toussaint hummed thoughtfully. “That’s exactly what this is, a puzzle. But power will gather tonight when the others come to honor our ancestors and the Ghede family of Loa. Maybe we can find your answers.”

Bone Daddy felt his heart leap. He wished he had Ben and Elise’s power for a moment, wished he had his own, so he could understand what Michelle’s mother was saying. Was there a chance he could stay? He had been working so hard to resign himself to his fate, he hadn’t dared to hope there was another way.

“If you find a loophole,
cher
, you know I will take it. Until then—” His full attention turned toward Elise. “You can see why
who
is drawn to me? Bethany? Have you talked to her, touched her? Is she upset?”

The men beside him laughed and shook their heads, and the women smiled. Elise held up her hands. “Very interesting. But no. You are a human male, at least for the moment. You will have to muddle through just like the rest of them. Figure it out for yourself.”

The mambo pointed to the food and bowed her head respectfully before allowing Elise to tug her out of the room. Ben clapped him on the shoulder in masculine commiseration. “Welcome to the club, BD. We didn’t think you’d ever get here.”

“Bah. Neither of you knows what this feels like. With a touch you can know your woman. And Rousseau knew Allegra’s thoughts long enough to know how she felt about him. I am blinded. I have no compass. And Bethany does not behave the way a normal woman should.”

“You mean she doesn’t follow you around like a puppy dog?” Rousseau grabbed a pecan from his pie before Bone Daddy could pull his plate away.

“She expects more than just the opportunity to gaze adoringly into your beautiful eyes?” Ben batted his lashes, brown eyes sparking with laughter.

“Yes, damn it.” And he loved it. Loved her prickly manner, her sharp tongue. Loved her subtle sensuality, her wit, and the feel of her around him, her fire.

He could be in trouble.

 

 

 

SHE WAS DEFINITELY IN TROUBLE. “THERE IS NO WAY I CAN
wear this in public.”

Michelle and Allegra were beside her in the mirror, their smiles huge. Michelle whistled. “Girl, you look H. O. T.
Hot
. I have to hand it to the man, he knows what looks good. You look like Selma Hayek in that dress. And Allegra, you did a great job on her hair.”

This was insane. She could hardly believe the person in the reflection was her. Allegra had made her unbraid her hair, pulling the sides back and curling the long tresses so they spiraled softly down her back.

And the dress—a daring, attention-grabbing dress with a flared bottom that ended mid-thigh. She wore more to bed each night. But the black lace bra did give her fantastic cleavage. And she liked her hair, though she had a feeling she’d be spending the evening snagging it on trees, flower bushes, and random buttons.

She glanced at Allegra. So stunning in white. And Michelle wore a violet summer dress, the purple hue a nod to her mother’s beliefs, to honor the Ghede family with their favorite color. She looked amazing. Bethany stood between them in temptress red, feeling as though she’d walked into an alternate universe. “This is not me.”

“Are you sure?” Allegra adjusted her handiwork so that a thick, ebony curl fell over Bethany’s shoulder, and beamed at her proudly. “Maybe you’ve just been hiding the real you for so long, you don’t recognize her when you see her. You
are
a butterfly. He was right.”

Butterfly? “Stop paying attention to me. You’re the one getting married. This is your special day. The one day when everyone’s eyes are on you. Brides don’t spend their last few hours of single-hood matchmaking.”

Allegra’s chin went up puckishly. “Brides can do whatever they want to on their day. Besides”—she shared a glance with Michelle—“I have the rest of my life with Rousseau.”