Love in Flames (2 page)

She’d been having dreams lately. Disturbing dreams, filled with passion, sex, fire and death. The fact that the man in the dream looked exactly like Ryan Jamieson only added to her aggravation. She knew the dreams were tied into the journal, yet they wouldn’t stop and instead had been growing in frequency. She’d been hoping that tonight would allow her to forget all about them.

She listened with one ear as Maggie and Rhiannon talked, not really paying attention, but she could feel the tension surrounding her two friends. Her thoughts were consumed by the dreams that haunted her every night when she went to bed.

Rhiannon broke the tension when she spread her arms wide and announced, “I still think we all need to get laid.”

They all laughed again and the mood in the kitchen lightened. “What do you propose?” Esther had to admit that she was intrigued by the idea. Plus she wanted something, anything, to take her mind off of the damn dreams and Ryan Jamieson.

“Something simple. Like I said, I’m not a very good witch. I’ve got issues.”

Maggie giggled. “You need a self-help group or something.”

Esther barely managed to suppress her laughter, not wanting to hurt Rhiannon’s feelings.

Rhiannon just threw back her head and laughed. The sound was infectious and both she and Maggie couldn’t help but join in.

Holding her stomach and still giggling, Rhiannon went to the large oak cabinet that dominated almost one entire wall of the dining area. Opening a drawer, she began to dig around. Esther tried to see what Rhiannon took, but her friend held everything tight in her hands. She could see the ends of three red candles, but nothing more.

Items gathered, Rhiannon turned to them. “Let’s go outside. The moon is almost full and will add power to our spell.” She headed out the back door, and Esther followed with Maggie tight on her heels.

Esther was grateful that there was enough light from the moon and stars to light their way. Abigail slipped out with them and raced ahead, down the steps and into the secluded yard. She smiled at the cat. Maybe Abigail was searching for a male companion too.

She gazed around the garden and took it all in. Rhiannon’s yard was lovely with its variety of mature trees. The fact that she had no close neighbors gave it a feeling of privacy. It was like being tucked away from the world.

“So what do we do?” She stood on Rhiannon’s right in the center of the garden, watching everything her friend did.

Rhiannon handed both her and Maggie a red votive candle. “First, we’ll anoint the red candles with rose oil. Both are representative of passion.”

That made sense to her. Red and roses were associated with Valentine’s Day and love in general.

“Start in the middle of the candle and stoke down to the bottom.”

Esther pulled her wandering thoughts back and made herself to pay attention to what Rhiannon was saying.

“When you’re finished, go back to the middle and then stroke the oil up to the top of the candle.”

Clasping her candle in her left hand, she took the rose oil and began to rub it into the candle. She wished she’d taken the time to get her coat, but protected by the trees like they were, it wasn’t too cold, just a bit chilly. Hopefully this wouldn’t take too long.

Rhiannon continued her instructions. “As you do this, think about the kind of man you’d want to have sex with. Be specific without naming a person.”

“Why?” Maggie stopped what she was doing and asked the question that Esther had been thinking.

“Because you should never try to manipulate anyone. That’s bad. What you want to do is draw someone with the characteristics you want. They’ll only come if they’re willing.”

That made sense. Esther continued to rub oil on her candle, concentrating fiercely. She wanted a lover—one who was strong and honest, a man who made her smile and laugh. Ryan popped into her head. She groaned and tried to stop thinking about him. The harder she tried to put him out of her mind, the harder it became. “Stubborn man,” she muttered as she continued to spread oil onto the red candle. Sex, she reminded herself. She wanted to have mind-blowing sex with her dream lover.

When they were all finished, Rhiannon placed her votive candle on the patio stone that sat in the middle of her garden for this very purpose. She motioned to her friends and they did the same. The three red candles now sat in the middle of the stone, the scent of rose perfume surrounding them.

As Esther watched, Rhiannon stepped forward and lit her candle. She passed Esther the matches. She took a deep breath and lit her own and then passed the matches to Maggie. The flames leapt high into the sky, and the rich perfume of the rose oil permeated the air around them.

When Rhiannon stepped up close to the candles and raised her hands in the air, Esther and Maggie did the same. Their fingers touched, forming a circle around the burning flames.

Esther thought that Rhiannon had never looked more like a witch than she did at this moment. Energy seemed to ripple around them as Rhiannon tipped back her head and stared up at the moon. Then her friend began to chant.

“Lady Moon in the sky so bright. Lend your power. Lend your might. Bring to us a love that’s true. And one that one day we won’t rue. In this time and in this hour, we three ladies ask this of thee. We ask this done and harm to none, what we have wrought here now is begun.”

A breeze came up suddenly whipping around the three of them, but not extinguishing the flames. Esther shivered as the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, but she didn’t break the circle. She wasn’t sure she believed that what they were doing was going to accomplish anything, but she wasn’t convinced that it wouldn’t either.

The breeze subsided and the candles suddenly flickered and died. As one, the women slowly lowered their hands back to their sides. The night seemed darker and thicker. Esther crossed her arms across her chest and rubbed her arms to warm them.

“Did it work?” Maggie glanced nervously around the yard.

“Only time will tell.” Rhiannon’s uncertainty eased Esther’s anxiety. Taking a deep breath, she felt herself relax slightly.

Tonight was really about three good friends sharing an experience. It was just for fun. Rhiannon had admitted that she wasn’t a very good witch. What Esther had felt was probably no more than a product of her surroundings coupled with the wine she’d drunk at dinner. None of this really meant anything.

Something brushed her leg and she shrieked. Her friends both jumped and gasped as they whirled to face her. Esther gave a weak laugh as Abigail calmly brushed up against her ankle again and meowed. “You scared the life out of me,” she scolded as she lifted the cat and tucked her under her arm. The cat just purred.

The intense mood was broken and they gathered their candles and took them back in the house. Esther felt almost let down by it all. Not that she really wanted a lover. If she did, she could certainly get one on her own. She didn’t need to cast a spell to get one. She just hadn’t wanted to bother. Still, she hurried her step and was glad when the heat of the house welcomed them as they trooped inside.

“Should we keep the candles?” Maggie laid her candle on the table, but Esther’s fingers tightened around hers. For some unknown reason, she was reluctant to release it.

“Only if you want to,” Rhiannon told them.

“I think I’ll keep mine.” Not questioning her reasons, Esther picked up her purse from the floor, and tucked the candle carefully inside.

Chapter Two

Esther rolled over in bed and sighed, falling back into sleep and the dream world that never seemed to be far away these days. Images flitted through her brain of a place and time that were unfamiliar to her, yet felt very familiar.

She frowned as she tried to recognize the landscape and the people, but the images were moving too fast, like a DVD on fast forward. By the time they slowed, her stomach was roiling and she was slightly nauseated.

The room she found herself in was familiar. She was home, in her little house. Safe. The familiar down-filled comforter wrapped around her.

Sighing, she snuggled her pillow. A spicy scent tickled her nose. It was delicious. Male and aftershave mixed together. Rubbing her face against the pillowcase, she inhaled deeper.

“You’re awake.” The deep male voice didn’t startle her at all even though she knew she’d gone to bed alone.

“Dreaming,” she muttered.

He laughed, a low sexy rumble. “Maybe you are.” The mattress dipped and a hot male body tucked in behind her. “If you’re dreaming, you won’t mind if I do this.” Warm lips brushed the back of her neck, working closer to her ear.

Esther moaned and tilted her head to the side, giving him better access. Strong, male fingers skimmed down her spine to her butt, over her hip and back up her side. Goose bumps rose on her flesh and she shivered, not with cold, but with intense longing.

This was right. This man. Her. In bed together.

She started to turn, but he stopped her by pinning her with his muscled arm. “No, don’t turn around.” His hand slid over her stomach, making small circles as he worked his way upward. “Let me touch you.”

“Yes,” she breathed, unable to deny him anything.

He made another rumble of pleasure as he cupped her left breast. His hand was large and her breast wasn’t, so he covered it easily. She pushed forward, pressing the mound more firmly into his palm.

“Perfect,” he murmured. He nipped at her earlobe before swirling his tongue over the delicate whorls.

Esther gasped as heat suffused her body. Every nerve ending was alive, electric with anticipation. Her heart beat faster, her breath coming in short, hard pants. She shifted her legs, restless. Her core was hot and wet, aching to be filled by her lover.

She frowned, a sudden anxiety pushing aside the sexual need pulsing within her. Something wasn’t right.

“Don’t think.” His warm breath caressed her neck. “Just feel.” He shifted closer and his erection brushed against her bottom. It was hard and thick and throbbed with life.

He rubbed his thumb over her distended nipple, drawing a groan from her. Reaching behind, she tangled her fingers in his hair, trying to pull him closer.

He laughed and she shivered again. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep you warm.”

His dark promise made her pussy clench. She twisted her head, wanting to see her lover.

Panic flared, momentarily pushing aside sexual desire. That’s what was wrong. She didn’t know who she was in bed with.

“Shh,” he whispered. “You know who I am, Esther. Remember me. Remember us.”

She frowned, trying to make sense of his words. He took advantage of her momentary distraction and began nibbling on her neck. She moaned as his teeth dragged over a particularly sensitive spot.

“That’s it,” he crooned. “Give yourself to me. I’ll take care of you, Esther.”

She couldn’t fight her growing desire or the need echoing in his voice. “Yes,” she whispered. She wanted him to touch her, to fill her, to make her his.

He groaned deep in his throat. His hand slid down her stomach toward her throbbing core—

The phone rang, jerking Esther from her dream. She swore and pulled the cover over her head, trying to grasp the threads of her dream, but it was too late.

The phone rang again. She didn’t want to answer. She wanted to try to fall back into sleep and find her dream lover.

Still, habit and a sense of responsibility had her reaching for the telephone. It might be work.

She fumbled for the phone and put the receiver next to her ear. “Hello.”

“I woke you, didn’t I? I’m sorry, Esther.”

Esther shoved the pillow off her head and squinted at the clock. It was early. Way early. “It’s okay,” she mumbled. “Is everything all right?”

There was silence on the other end and she was starting to get worried. She sat up and rubbed her eyes.

“I don’t know,” came Rhiannon’s reply.

“What happened?” She was wide awake now. Obviously something serious was wrong if her friend was calling her this hour of the morning. “Rhiannon?”

“It’s a guy,” she blurted out.

Esther let her head drop back to the pillow and heaved a sigh, wishing she were still asleep. Curiosity finally got the better of her as she glanced at the red votive candle sitting on her bedside table. Two nights had passed since they’d cast the spell in Rhiannon’s back yard. Had the spell worked? Had Rhiannon found her lover?

Esther listened, feeling slightly envious as her friend went into the details. A date, something about chocolate and phone sex. She couldn’t keep up with Rhiannon or take it all in. She was still half-asleep. “Slow down, Rhiannon. Are you home or at the store?”

“I’m at work.”

All thoughts of being able to roll over and go back to sleep were gone. Obviously her friend needed her, and Esther wanted to know the details of what had happened.

She didn’t have to work until later. Mind made up, she threw back the covers and sat up on the side of the bed, keeping the phone tucked between her shoulder and ear. “I’ll be there as quick as I can. And I’m calling Maggie.” Maggie would definitely want to be there.

Esther promised to be there in twenty minutes. That was probably optimistic, but it was something to shoot for. When Rhiannon hung up, she hit the second number on her speed dial and waited while it rang several times.

A groggy voice answered on the fifth ring. “’Lo.”

“Maggie, wake up. It’s Esther.”

“Wha—?”

She sympathized with Maggie, but this was too important for her to allow her friend to go back to sleep. “Maggie,” she said the name more sharply.

“What?” This time she sounded more awake.

“Get up and get dressed, we’re meeting Rhiannon at A Touch of Magick.”

Something fell in the background and Maggie swore. “Do you have any idea what time it is?” she demanded.

“Unfortunately, I do. But Rhiannon called in a tizzy and it has to do with a man.”

“What?” Maggie was definitely wide awake now. “What happened?”

Esther tried to remember the conversation, but could only grab pieces of it. “I’m not sure. She said something about a date and chocolate and phone sex.”