Bewitching You(33)

Gray grasped her thighs to hold her up. Then he began pumping her hard and fast. She was taut and slick, fitting every inch of him perfectly.

She panted and flung her head back, holding tight to his neck now, contracting against him with each push. Her juices dripped down to his balls.

She was coming.

He quickened his pace, and she moaned, throwing her head forward to rest against his shoulder. The tips of her nipples bounced against his chest.

It was more than he could take. “I’m going to fill you up,” he warned her, and managed two more thrusts before releasing deep inside of her.

“Oh, oh.” She dug her fingernails into his shoulders and jerked against him.

Gray’s knees almost gave out, but he held strong. He took some breaths to gain back control.

Sofia heaved out a sigh and lay back against the butcher block. “You’re dismissed,” she said with a huge smile.

He chuckled and pulled out of her, but he wasn’t done with her yet. The ache settled into his groin again as he watched her breasts rise and fall. Unable to restrain himself, he bent down and licked the sweet spot between her thighs.

“Gray?”

~ * ~

Rachel hung up with the travel agent and smiled. She’d managed to change her flight plans without a problem. The sooner she got out of here, the better. Hayes had been right. She needed to gain back her dignity. Her self.

She couldn’t allow her mother to change her into a person she didn’t want to be, a person Rachel didn’t even like. It was past time to grow a backbone.

True, she didn’t know who the real Rachel Spencer was. Her likes, dislikes…her talents and passion, but wasn’t it about time she found out? What better way to start than to get away from life as she knew it. She could start from scratch with a one-way ticket from Indianapolis to Denver and then Denver to Aspen. She’d always dreamed of living in the beautiful Rocky Mountain town of Aspen. Ever since she’d visited when she was a little girl. Now she’d get the chance.

Since the last seat on the small plane had gone to her, fate had to be on her side.

~ * ~

Sofia tiptoed naked downstairs and into the kitchen with a lamp at her fingertips. Gray had finally fallen asleep, and she hadn’t wasted any time putting clothes on. Her body still quivered from his relentless lovemaking and kissing and licking. He’d been meticulously thorough in pleasing her, up until he crashed from exhaustion.

The evening had been pure ecstasy, but now she could barely walk. Every inch of her body was sore. Not to mention her breasts. He’d found his favorite part of her body, all right.

Now she was in search of hot tea and a couple of ibuprofen to relax her enough to get some sleep. She wanted to be able to curl up against his warm, firm body and fall into a decent slumber.

She filled the teakettle with water and set it on the lit burner, then jumped when she felt Sam brush up against her leg.

“Hey, girl. Where have you been all day?”

The cat meowed.

“Hiding from that nasty storm, you say? What a smart kitty.”

Another meow.

Sofia got the hint, opened a can of cat food and dropped it into Sam’s dish. The cat didn’t touch the food. Instead, she hopped up onto the butcher block and swatted her paw toward Sofia.

“What? You saw that earlier? Don’t tell Nana, okay? She’s not too fond of people making a mess in her kitchen.”

Sam hissed and swatted again.

“What’s wrong, girl?” Sofia took a step toward the cat, but stopped short when a chill breezed across her arm.

Shoot. She knew that phenomenon quite well. A spirit was here. But why? Sofia didn’t know how to conjure them. She was pretty certain Nana didn’t have the ability either. Although it seemed Nana had a few surprises up her sleeve…or in her shed.

Sofia ignored the presence. What else could she do? Say hello? Ask if it wanted some tea?

She reached to open the cupboard door and noticed a sticky note attached to the front. “Where did you come from?” The note hadn’t been there earlier in the daylight, and now the darkness made it difficult to read. She snatched the paper and brought it to the lamp.

Sofia, You fill me with happiness. I love you with all my heart. ~Gray

Oh, wow. She held the note to her bosom and sighed.

He loved her.

But when had the sneaky devil had the chance to leave this note? Maybe she hadn’t noticed it earlier. Strange that he wrote the sentiment down rather than tell her. Hearing the words from his lips would mean so much more…

She shook her head. It didn’t matter. He loved her. That’s what was most important. She loved him, too, and couldn’t wait to tell him. And hear the words back. Grabbing the lamp, she sprinted as fast as her sore body would take her up the stairs, down the hall, and into the bedroom.

Gray was sprawled out on his back. His chest barely moved. He looked so peaceful, Sofia couldn’t bear to wake him.

Oh, well. There was always tomorrow. She stuffed the note in the side pocket of her duffle bag and joined her man on the bed. His arm instinctively wrapped around her when she laid her head on his chest. Pure heaven. She had no doubt that in his arms was where she wanted to spend the rest of her nights.

~ * ~

Sofia opened her eyes and realized she was in the airplane again. She walked through the aisle, listening to the forlorn whirring of the engine as they glided through the air. Out the windows, she was able to see clouds. This was the first time she’d been able to see anything other than haze in the sky. Anxious to get a better look, she leaned over the two men wearing polo shirts, khaki shorts and sandals with socks underneath.

A fighter jet flew nearby. What the heck? Two pilots wearing helmets with those microphone thingies attached peered over at the plane. Their lips moved, and Sofia wished she knew what they were saying.

She supposed they were wondering why everyone was dead. Maybe they were worried about where this plane would land once it ran out of fuel, since no one would be able to land it safely. Or maybe the plane would crash before it ran out of fuel. Too many scenarios and none of them good.

Sofia glanced at the terrain below.

Mountains. They were headed into a mountain range where people might or might not have homes and a family, dogs and cats, schools full of children.

Could it be that Sofia was responsible for more than just the lives of the people on this airplane?

Ergh. She couldn’t think about that. Focus, Sofe.

The fact that they were flying over a mountain range was at least one clue.

She looked down at the middle-aged man her knee was pressed into. “Sorry. This is really important.”

What did it matter, Sofe? He’s dead.

“Not if I can help it,” she reminded herself.

The man was wearing a leather band watch on his wrist and the hands were moving.

It worked.

Sofia grabbed his arm and checked the time.

Twenty minutes after five. Good. This was good. She was gathering more info. She’d have this solved in no time. Rejuvenated, she searched for more clues. She closely inspected each person as she continued to walk down the aisle. What she was looking for, she had no idea, but something would poke out at her. It had to.

Seat twenty, twenty-one…

Twenty-two wasn’t empty anymore. No, it certainly wasn’t. The woman from the restaurant sat there. Sofia almost hadn’t recognized her at first. Her face wasn’t the porcelain shade she remembered. Her skin was blue, tinted with death, frozen in time.

Dear Lord.

Sofia clamped her hand over her mouth as her stomach revolted. No, no, no. Her legs faltered and she stumbled back a few steps, bumping into the seat behind her.

How could this be? It didn’t matter. Now more than ever she needed to stop this plane from flying.

She had to save Rachel. Gray’s ex-fiancée.





Chapter Fifteen



Penny kept her eyes shut tight as she lay in the hospital bed with Laura and Herbert sitting nearby. They’d been whispering small talk for the past hour, and Penny had no intention of interrupting.

Her migraine had settled down after the doctor ordered her MRI, gave her medication, stuck an IV in her, and admitted her into a room to sleep for the night. But Penny knew none of this had cured her.

Her true champion had been Hayes.

He’d come to her and told her of his plan to concoct a love note for Sofia and sign Gray’s name. Hayes had been certain this would bring Sofia around. Obviously, it had. The migraine was gone, and Penny felt renewed. Ready to take on the world.

But not yet. Sometimes it was best to let the world spin on its own axis while you sat back, relaxed…and listened a little more closely.

“Thank you for all your help, Herbert,” Laura said, for the third time since they’d sat beside Penny’s bed.

Penny had closed her eyes and faked sleep the instant she’d heard them walk into the room.