What would you do if you woke up one morning and your life was inexplicably changed in the worst way imaginable?
Banished by his enemy into a hellish alternate dimension, Luke Decker fights to understand why his world has suddenly changed, and why is he on trial for the murder of his beloved Nina? What he doesn’t know is she’s not dead. Nina watches him vanish into thin air and is completely bereft, struggling to find out how and why he disappeared. Using all of her psychic talents and traversing the astral realm, she frantically searches for him to no avail. She owns a secret item which holds the key to his salvation, but will she figure it out before he’s condemned to live the rest of his life in a realm of darkness?
**Can easily be read as a standalone!**
Chapter 1
Love Her Madly
Sharing a lusty kiss, Luke and Nina moved into the bedroom.
Clothes were shed in less than a minute and they fell into bed,
making love like starving savages. After the rapture, he looked into
her eyes and said, “I love you, Nina.” From the shocked expression
on her face, he thought she was going to push him away and tell him
to leave. Her mouth was slightly agape, her beautiful eyes wide and
questioning, and she said nothing. He couldn’t believe he had blurted
out his feelings for her. He had never said those three little words to
any woman. And yet, he meant them. Their bodies remained joined
together and she continued gazing into his dark eyes, a thousand ques-
tions running through her mind.
She was astounded and speechless. She wasn’t expecting a declara-
tion of love from the worldly, handsome, and muscular Luke Decker,
her longtime friend with benefits. He said he wanted to live with her
to keep her safe from the thugs out to get her, but love? Luke had never
been in a serious relationship in his thirty-nine years of life. She didn’t
think he was the type of man who would commit to a woman, and she
was a free spirit who kept telling herself that men were just for fun.
She was fearful of getting her heart broken again.
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Finally recovering her voice, she smiled and playfully rubbed his
shaved head replying, “When did this happen?”
Even though he wasn’t expecting her to say it back, he was hop-
ing for something other than her question and was relieved that she
hadn’t kicked him out of her bed. He couldn’t stand the thought
of her with other men, not anymore. She had been on his mind for
months before he came to visit, and Cupid’s arrow struck him hard
when he laid eyes on her after eight months apart. His urge to love
and protect her was overwhelming, and no other woman had ever
made him feel this way. He knew deep in his soul that she was the
one, and if he didn’t speak up now there was a chance he might
lose her to Elliott Greenwood. He didn’t like that guy. His instincts
told him Elliott was dangerous, despite his gentlemanly demeanor.
He could spot the type instantly, like when mild-mannered Mike
Collins turned out to be a deranged serial killer and abducted his
brother’s lady love, Amber. Once, Mike had been good friends with
his brother Bryce, and there was something about Mike that Luke
had never liked.
Returning her smile, he answered, “You’ve been on my mind for
months, and when I came to visit and saw you sweeping the barn,
it hit me hard and I realized you were the one. I didn’t want to ad-
mit it to myself, and I’ll be honest, learning about your friendship
with Elliott makes me jealous. I felt it as soon as I saw the picture of
the two of you on your wall.Yes, I want to live with you to protect
you, but it’s more than that.You are the total package.You’re beauti-
ful, smart, strong, sexy, talented, and the perfect woman for me. I
promise I won’t try to change you. I love you just the way you are.
You can tell me to get lost whenever you want.
“Bryce wants to expand Decker Martial Arts outside of the D.C.
area, and this would be a great town to open a new studio.Teaching
martial arts will be a wonderful change for me, and I know he will
give me free reign to get that started here. I’m no longer working
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for the CIA. I quit three weeks ago. I’m not even a consultant. I’m
fully retired and my globetrotting days are done.”
She gasped in surprise, her eyes widening once again, “I thought
you would be an operative for life! I’m happy to hear that you want to
settle down, but I’m wondering ... you’ve been free and single your
whole life. Maybe you only think that you love me because there’s an-
other man interested. If I give my heart to you, will you be faithful?”
she asked, thinking it was best to find this out up front. She wouldn’t
settle for anything less if she was going to take the fall again.
He continued looking into her lovely, hazel brown eyes framed
with long, dark eyelashes. The ring around her iris was brown, and
the centers were lighter brown with hints of gold. He answered in a
serious tone, “Yes, I will be faithful, and I don’t make promises lightly.
I rarely make them at all. And it’s not just because Elliott’s in the pic-
ture. I know you can have your choice of men, and it never bothered
me before. But now it does.You don’t have to decide right now about
living together, but I need to know if you’ll give us a chance. I’m ready
to move down here and can get my own place if you need more time.”
She was thinking of how she would break the news to Elliott,
knowing that he was secretly in love with her. She was attracted to
him and he was a good friend. Although when she fantasized about
taking their friendship to the next level, it left her with a sick feeling
in the pit of her stomach. She knew Elliott was hiding something, and
despite Luke’s non-committal track record, he had always been honest
with her. She had worked hard over the past three years to keep her
feelings for Luke under control.Their one night stand three years ago
evolved into a friends-with-benefits relationship, and she had strug-
gled to keep from falling in love with him. Perhaps it was safe to do
so now. She was unaware that Luke had fought his own strong feelings
for her too.
They had worked together for many years, and were close friends.
Nina had been despondent over a broken engagement. She had caught
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her fiancΓ© Jerry in bed with two women a few days before their wed-
ding. Luke had offered her a shoulder to cry on, and it had led to some-
thing more. He was happy to provide rebound sex whenever she wanted
with no strings for either of them. It suited them both, even though she
wished for more from him. She didn’t have any trouble attracting men,
however she usually fell for the wrong type. Her current unencumbered
life of casual sex with handsome men helped to insulate her from falling
hard for just one man. Being gifted in the psychic arts, she knew how
to project a femme fatale vibe that sent men swarming to her like flies.
This enabled her to talk herself out of falling in love by regularly enjoy-
ing other fish in the sea. She had rules, though: she never seduced a man
who had a wife or girlfriend, and required her lovers to use protection.
She never forgot to take her birth control pills either.
She wasn’t getting any younger, her thirty-eighth birthday was
three months away, so maybe it was time to let go of her fears and
take a chance on love again. She might have been mistaken thinking
Luke would be a guaranteed heartbreak, and there was only one way
to find out.
She kissed him and said, “I want to give us a try. I’d prefer that you
move down here and get your own place. This way we can test the
waters without jumping in head first.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“You won’t regret it. I’m looking forward to pleasing you. Not just
sexually, but in all ways,” he promised.
Despite his words, they spent the rest of the day and into the eve-
ning making love over and over again, both of them growing more
voracious with each tryst. Finally sated, they fell asleep at 8:30 p.m.
and didn’t wake up until early the next morning when they heard her
rooster, Rogue crowing.
She awoke in his arms and softly said, “Rogue does this every
morning.”
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He hugged her closer in his heavily muscled arms and replied with
a laugh, “No problem. He let me sleep in this morning. I’m usually up
before now.”
“It’s a good thing we’re both early birds,” she remarked. “I want
coffee, what about you?”
“Actually, I’m thinking of something else,” he replied gliding his
hands over her hips and pressing her against his erection.
Without saying a word, she climbed on top of him and they slowly
rocked together to paradise.
“What have you done to me, love?” he asked when she collapsed on
top of him and kissed his neck. “I can’t get enough of you. I could live
like this forever, with you on top of me.”
Laughing, she kissed him and rolled out of his arms. Getting
out of bed she felt the need to stretch. He lingered in bed watch-
ing her stand and stretch her arms up high, thinking she was the
most incredible woman in the world. He admired her lithe, athletic
body. She was slim, barely five feet three inches and perfectly pro-
portioned. She wore her dark brown hair short and pixie-like, but
not close-cropped. She was an adventurous tomboy at heart, and he
loved that about her.
“Nina Perotti, you’re my sexy little fairy goddess,” he said, ap-
preciating her figure. One thing which perplexed him though was
how she healed so fast after suffering a gunshot wound to her leg. She
walked with a slight limp and he could see bruising, but her recovery
was miraculous. Granted she got lucky and the bullet didn’t do major
damage, yet he still had questions he would ask her later.
Her eyes sparkled and she replied, “And I can create magic too.”
She was an astral traveler and clairvoyant working as a consultant
to the CIA. Skilled in the art of manipulating energy, she had tapped
into the strong feelings they had for each other and energetically mag-
nified them into an all-consuming hunger. She silently rejoiced in her
feelings for him, reciprocated at last.
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“I’m a prime example of your handiwork, sweetheart,” he replied,
/
winking.
He was planning to drive home to Vienna, Virginia, that day, and
had stayed in a hotel the previous night. Nina and Luke had helped
Bryce rescue Amber from the clutches of a psychotic madman. Nina
used her gift of telekinesis to keep Mike from raping and killingAmber,
while Bryce used his talent for astral travel to find out where Mike
lived and raced down to Georgia to rescue her. Fearing for his broth-
er’s life, Luke followed him after enlisting Nina’s help. Amber was
in the hospital now with Bryce by her side. She was recovering after
nearly dying from smoke inhalation when Mike set his house on fire
and left her tied up in his basement. Unfortunately, Mike had escaped.
Since Nina agreed to a relationship with Luke, he wasn’t anxious
to leave. She lived alone in a rural area near Charlottesville,Virginia,
on a small farm with a few goats, some chickens, a cat, and a horse.
The rolling hills and peaceful countryside were a slice of heaven.When
she wasn’t working on a project with the CIA, she spent her days do-
ing yoga at sunrise, tending to her garden and farm animals, making
soap to sell at farmer’s markets along with produce from her large
vegetable garden, riding her horse around her five acres of land, and
writing songs.
Her house was vandalized while she helped Amber, and the front
door and several windows were boarded shut.They had spent the night
in her house, using the back entrance after getting her place cleaned
up and seeing to her animals. She was staying with Elliott until she
could get her house repaired and new security system installed. Luke
didn’t want her returning to Elliott’s house and wanted to know what
the thugs were after. He broached the subject as soon as they finished
eating breakfast.
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“You know I was planning to head back today, but since you agreed
to be my love I have no reason to rush home. I would like to stay here
instead. I’ll provide the extra protection until you get your new doors,
windows, and security system. Once everything is installed, I’ll head
back to Vienna, pack up my stuff and move down here. I’ll start look-
ing for a rental today,” he said. “So, I must know what they were look-
ing for. I don’t want any secrets between us.They put a bullet in your
leg, hit you on the head with the butt of a pistol and left you here to
die.You were in a coma! Thank God the police found you in time and
called an ambulance.And, how did you bounce back from that gunshot
wound so quickly?”
“Do you remember the child slavery ring I helped bust?” she asked.
“Yeah, that was about four years ago, right? I wish I had worked
on that one,” he replied.
“Those criminals were the scum of the earth posing as benevolent
humanitarians while masterminding a child slavery ring, leading many
unfortunate little ones to a life of misery and ruin. After the fight was
over and the bad guys hauled away in handcuffs, I surveyed the ran-
sacked office from the astral realm … and it called to me,” she said.
She had played a crucial role in helping the CIA, FBI, and Interpol
locate and bring them to justice. Being a CIA psychic for over fifteen
years, her ability to uncover hidden information and physical items
was unparalleled. Her skills included telekinesis on both the physical
and astral planes, with the unique talent of bringing objects back with
her.
“Did you take something from the astral?” he asked.
Nodding she replied, “Yes, but it’s not something I normally do.
Taking items while in astral form always makes me violently sick when
I return to my body. I figure it’s the universe’s way of punishing me for
stealing, but I couldn’t help myself.”
“Tell me more, my sweet,” he said, reaching out to hold her hand.
“The room began to fill with twinkling, dust-like particles, which
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were coming from behind an overturned desk. I looked behind it and
saw a softly glowing rock. It looked like a common river rock, but it was
emitting a warm, golden glow. Its twinkling dust surrounded me, beg-
ging me to take it. My astral body was disguised as a Pitbull. It’s safer for
me to shift into an animal in case malevolent entities are lurking about.
At that moment I didn’t care if it made me sick when I returned. I was
taking this rock home.When I returned here, I expected to be running
to the bathroom and puking my guts out which would be followed by
a migraine. The sickness never came,” she stated. “I carry it with me
sometimes, although it’s so powerful it takes time to get adjusted to the
energy.”
“When you got home, did you have the rock in your mouth? How
do you bring items back?” he asked with a chuckle, amazed that she
could shapeshift on the astral.
She laughed and said, “Yes, I had it in my mouth. How else would a
dog carry something? First, I concentrate on the object and there will
be a moment when I can touch it.Then I get a tingling sensation in my
hands and fingers. Once I grab hold of it, it stays with me unless I change
my mind and set it back down.”
“Since you were disguised as a dog, did you get the sensation in your
paws?”
“Yes.”
“Does this unusual rock enhance your abilities?”
“Yes. I’m glad you have an open mind about these things; otherwise,
you will freak out when I tell you that it enables me to teleport wher-
ever I wish to go. I focus on my destination, relax, close my eyes and
I’m there. I’ve only done it a few times. It will sometimes create things
from my thoughts, so I have to be very careful when I handle it. I keep it
hidden most of the time. I should have been more cautious when I first
started working with it by building psychic walls to block other astral
travelers. I failed to do that, and now someone knows I have it and will
go to great lengths to take it. I don’t blame them for wanting it, but it’s
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mine. In answer to your earlier question, I used the rock to help heal my
leg. Obviously, it’s not one-hundred percent better, but it’s pretty close.
I didn’t want the doctors asking too many questions, so I didn’t heal it
completely. I’m going to let it finish healing on its own,” she concluded.
He was astonished and thought this was the stuff of fantasy. Gently
rubbing his thumb over hers, he asked,“Where did you teleport to? And
what have you created with it?”
Amused, she replied, “I was thinking about my sister, Madison, and
how I hadn’t visited her for almost a year. The next thing I know, I’m
standing in her living room and she sees me and screams. I was standing
there with my mouth open and unable to speak.We gradually recovered
from the shock, and now whenever I talk to her she asks me about my
adventures with it.”
“Wow ... I guess everything we think of as being just a fantasy, is
actually real,” he replied. “Did you think yourself home?”
She laughed, answering,“That’s exactly what I did. I’m glad she lives
alone so we didn’t have to explain it to anyone.”
“Tell me what you created!” he insisted.
“I created wealth. I’m rich beyond my wildest dreams, but I prefer
to live simply and work now and then for the Agency. I don’t want un-
necessary attention.Would you like to see how it works?”
“Yes!”
She closed her eyes for a second, taking a deep breath. Then he
watched her lift her hand and draw a square shape into the air with her
index finger. She reached inside retrieving a small wooden box and set-
ting it on the table.
“You look like you’ve just seen a ghost,” she said while he sat there
with his mouth open; his dark brown eyes wide with disbelief.
“You are truly gifted,” he commented, his heart thumping. He had
seen many extraordinary things in his life, but nothing like this.
She opened the box to display a plain looking, smooth, grayish-white
rock which fit neatly in her hand.
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“Plain and powerful,” he said. “Can you retrieve it from
anywhere?”
“Yes, that’s what I did in the hospital. It’s not completely plain
though. Look at the carving on this side,” she said, turning it over
and showing him the etching of a large tree carved into the stone. “It
must have been spelled by a powerful psychic or shaman. I get the
feeling that it hasn’t revealed all of its secrets to me yet.”
“Can I hold it?” he asked.
“Sure. Place it in your palm and think of something you’d like to
buy me,” she joked.
He held it in his palm, closing his fingers around it. He felt a
pleasing surge of warmth encompass his body. Its energy made him
feel happy and hopeful, almost giddy. His expression softened, he
looked into her eyes and thought of something he’d like to buy her
one day. He saw it in a magazine advertisement recently and admired
its simple beauty.To his amazement, it materialized on the table.
She opened the small velvet box that appeared in front of her,
and squealed with delight. “Oh my God! Luke!”
He was so shocked that the color drained from his face and he set
the magic rock back in its wooden box. He blamed it on the intense
happiness he felt when holding it, and the surprising mental picture
of Nina wearing a long white dress entered his mind. He didn’t think
it would actually appear, nor did he want her to know he was plan-
ning their future together. He was concerned that she would think
he was moving too fast.
“N-N-Nina ... I was h-h-hoping, s-s-s-someday …” He stopped
talking, embarrassed by the stuttering. This hadn’t happened to him
since he was in elementary school. Often teased by the other chil-
dren, his parents enrolled him in speech class and he worked dili-
gently to correct his impediment. He vowed to become big, strong,
and fearsome when he grew up and was the type of person who
accomplished every goal he set for himself. None of the dangerous,
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death-defying missions he went on, both as a Navy SEAL and CIA
operative, had ever caused him to stutter when he spoke. She was
turning his world upside down.
She gazed at him with love and kindness. “It’s breathtaking. Maybe
one day we will take that leap. Is it okay if I try it on, and then we can
send it back?”
He breathed a sigh of relief as the anxiety left his body. “Yes, please
do.”
She slipped the sparkling diamond ring onto her left ring finger,
and laid her hand on the table.
“It looks good on you,” he said, taking her left hand and kissing it.
“You don’t have to send it back. It can be a promise ring. If you’d like
a different style, I want to know.”
“It’s perfect, and I love it because you thought of it. I have an idea.
There’s room in the box for this and we can keep them stored togeth-
er. It will be there if and when the time comes,” she replied.
“I agree.Although, you can wear it anytime,” he said, grinning and
pleased that she wasn’t upset with him.
She returned his smile, slipping the diamond ring off her finger
and putting it back in the little velvet box. She placed the box in the
wooden one next to the rock and closed it. Drawing the square in the
air once again, she slid the wooden box back into its hiding place.
“Now I’ve seen everything. Nothing will ever surprise me again,” he
said with a chuckle.
She got up from the table and came over to him. Pulling her onto
his lap he kissed her senseless.
“I want you again,” she whispered. “Right here, right now.”
“Then, you shall have me,” he answered. “Straddle me like you did
when we woke up.These chairs are sturdy.”
She did as he asked, slipping off her robe and mounting him.
“Come with me, my naughty Nina.”
“I will, over and over, my lusty Luke.”
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It didn’t take long for them to find paradise for the second time
/
that morning.
After taking a long shower together, they got dressed and walked
outside to take care of the animals.The first stop was her barn to feed
the chickens and goats, and then the stable to take a ride on her horse,
Buttercup. Luke sat behind her, his arms firmly around her waist and
loving the feel of having her body in constant contact with his. She
relaxed against him while they rode around her five acres of property.
She knew it was time to have another discussion.
“I think Elliott’s going to be disappointed when I tell him about us.
He will probably want to remain friends though, and I hate to cut him
out of my life completely.What kind of boundaries do you want to set
with regard to friends of the opposite sex?” she asked remembering
how Jerry betrayed her trust.
Luke was quiet for a few moments collecting his thoughts ... I
want her to stay away from him ... “This is new territory for me. I don’t
have a problem with you being friends with a man — or Elliott. I
do have a problem with you going out alone with one of them. If
you want to meet somewhere for a casual lunch, that’s fine. If you
want to chat on the phone or text now and then, I’m okay with that
too. I’m fine with any of your friends, male or female, coming over
and joining us for dinner or going out with us. And I want you to
know that you are the only female friend I’ve enjoyed benefits with.
You can rest assured that the most I would do is talk on the phone
with a female friend, or maybe meet her for lunch. And you would
know the place and time and would be invited too. I don’t want you
worrying about those things. I’m nothing like Jerry.You are my first
priority and my only woman.”
“That’s good to know. I think I’ll call Elliott after we finish our ride
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and let him know about our change in status,” she said. “I can get my
things from his house later.”
Leaning down he kissed her cheek and said, “That’s a good idea.
Maybe he’ll bring them by and you won’t have to go get them. I think
we’re a perfect fit. My parents had a close, loving marriage until Mom
died in a car accident. Her death broke my father’s heart, and he died
about two years later from terminal cancer; he just gave up on life.
Both of their deaths had a profound effect on me and I decided that
I never wanted to love someone like that because it would hurt too
much if I lost her.
“That’s the main reason I’ve never had a long-term romantic rela-
tionship with anyone; that and my line of work. However, I want more
out of life, including a special woman to love and take care of, and a
normal job where I don’t have to constantly travel. Although, I would
travel anywhere with you.”
“You know, the reason I’ve been a man-eater since my break-up
with Jerry is that I didn’t want to get hurt again. I’ve been fighting my
feelings for you since we started having benefits. Being with other men
was the only way I could keep from falling for you. I’ve had feelings for
Elliott now and then, but something’s off with him. I never pursued
anything more with him for that reason. I didn’t bother to investigate
what it might be because I respected our friendship. Now that I know
you want a future with me, I want it too,” she said.
“I’m crazy about you Nina, and I’m never letting you go. I’ve been
fighting my feelings for you too. I wanted to make you mine, but I was
afraid of commitment and you weren’t ready for another relationship.
I had to mature a bit more.You’ve been on my mind for months and I
was planning to come and see you even before I asked for your help in
saving Amber. On another subject, I think you should use your special
talents to find out who’s after your rock.”
“I’m planning to astral travel soon and see what I can uncover,” she
replied.
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“I know Bryce would like to help you. He’s grateful for you help-
ing Amber and tormenting Mike,” Luke stated.
“I can still torment Mike while he’s on the run.”
“As long as you come back safe and sound, and share your stories
with me in the morning,” he said.
/“I will,” she replied with a contented sigh.
Elliott knew Luke was going to be a thorn in his side when it
came to Nina. He met the man when he stopped by to pick up Nina
yesterday and didn’t like that he was tough competition with his body-
builder physique. Elliott spent the morning straightening up his garage
and dwelling on the fact that Luke and Nina spent the night together,
undoubtedly enjoying hot and heavy lovemaking, and he was growing
angrier by the hour. Elliott and Nina had spent a wonderful evening
together the other night talking, and watching funny movies, and now
this guy ruins everything. He cursed himself for falling in love with
the woman he was supposed to befriend just to steal the rock. Elliott
was a professional thief and people paid him top dollar to steal pre-
cious items. He used his astral abilities to track down the items people
wanted, and then devised a plan and stole them. His father had been a
greedy, talented crook who taught him the tricks of the trade. He felt
it was important to project an impeccable, nice-guy image so no one
would ever suspect he led a double life. Knowing how much Elliott
loved the ocean, he encouraged him to join the Navy which helped his
son maintain an all-American good-guy charade.
Elliott’s mother died in childbirth and he grew up among his
father’s never-ending supply of lady friends, as he was an incurable
womanizer. Elliott admired his father and wanted to be just like him
with regards to taking what he wanted regardless if it belonged to
someone else. He wasn’t a womanizer though. Being raised without
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a strong maternal figure, when he fell for someone he didn’t want to
lose them and became possessive and domineering. This led to a life-
time of women leaving him for that reason.
He was a handsome man, standing six feet tall with thick, salt and
pepper hair and brown eyes. At fifty years old, he was in good physi-
cal shape and still turned ladies’ heads. The plan was to gain Nina’s
trust, become her confidant and get her to reveal her secrets. He knew
she was a free spirit and never planned to pursue anything other than
friendship because he would become overbearing and scare her away,
like all the others. He had given up on women years ago after his
wife Carol left him for doing just that. It didn’t help that he physically
abused her when he got angry, something he watched his father do on
numerous occasions to certain women. She snuck out one day while
he was at work. He came home that evening to an empty house and
divorce papers on the coffee table. She took just her personal items
and clothes and he never saw her again. All communication was done
through her lawyer. He found out later that she ran off with another
man and was living in Denmark. Fortunately, there were no children
and he didn’t have to endure a custody battle.
He had one other serious relationship after Carol and she left him
too. He wasn’t physically abusive to her, but he was so possessive that
he pushed her away. In spite of his past, he was ready to try once more
as a changed man and decided to make a play for Nina. He would have
to do it soon before Luke beat him to it.The way Luke looked at Nina
spoke volumes, and Elliott could sense there was more to Luke’s feel-
ings for her than a casual, physical relationship. His heart skipped a
beat when his phone rang and he saw that it was her.
“Hello,” he answered trying to sound cheery.
“Hi. I wanted to let you know that Luke is going to stay with me
until I get my new security doors and windows installed,” she said.
“Oh, how long will that be?” he asked disappointed that she
wouldn’t be returning to his house tonight.
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“The new doors and windows will be installed the day after to-
morrow and the security system the following day.Then he’s moving
down here.”
“Is he moving in with you?” he asked hoping otherwise.
“No. He’s going to rent a place and ... date me,” she replied.“Thank
you for letting me stay with you.You’re a great friend and I really ap-
preciate it.”
“You’re welcome.When you say he’s going to date you, does that
mean your relationship is exclusive?”
“Yes. No more friends with benefits,” she replied.
Dammit! Now I have to work even harder to win her ... “Are you coming
by to get your stuff?”
“Not today, but I will soon.”
“Is he planning to get a job or is he independently wealthy?” he
asked hoping that Luke was a no-good bum.
“He’s going to open a martial arts studio. His brother owns the
Decker Martial Arts Company and he’ll open a branch here,” she re-
plied, sounding too cheerful for his sour mood.
“Okay.Well, give me a call when you plan to stop by,” he said.
“I will.Talk to you later.”
“Bye,” he said, ending the call and releasing a heavy sigh. At least he’s
not moving in with her. I can still see her when he’s not around. He regretted
having to break into her house and physically harm her, yet would do
whatever was necessary to get what he wanted. He was shocked to
discover that she was telekinetic and would thwart his plan. He was
certain that she had other unusual abilities and it troubled him. How
else could she bounce back from a gunshot wound like it was nothing?
The doctors at the hospital were dumbfounded. He wondered what
else she was capable of, and how long before she learned that he was
the one who broke into her home and left her for dead.
When they burst into her house terrifying her half to death, objects
went flying, and he almost called off the robbery. A sharp knife flew
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Dark Karma
through the air and landed inTommy’s stomach, killing him quickly as
he bled out on her sunroom floor.A piece of flying glass from a broken
vase stabbed Elliott’s upper arm and hurt like hell. He was glad they
were clad in black from head to toe and she couldn’t recognize him.
Burt ran after her and it was too late to turn back. Burt wanted to kill
her and Elliott had to shoot her in the leg and knock her unconscious
to maintain his tough guy image until he could get the information
from her. He was forced to speak before he knocked her out, and dis-
guised his voice.The sound of police sirens interrupted their plans and
they ran off, leaving her lying unconscious on the floor.
He was also an experienced astral traveler. He wasn’t psychic, al-
though he could create servitors to do his bidding and view the past.
Once he obtained the rock, he would be rich and powerful. He was
already wealthy, and it wasn’t enough for him.
The rock Nina owned was highly sought after, and he wanted it. A
few fellow thieves thought it was just a legend, and weren’t interested
in chasing after something that didn’t exist. Elliott didn’t believe it
existed either, until the day he stole an old Scottish sword for a client.
The sword was spelled with dark magic for use against enemies. He’d
felt a connection with it as soon as he touched it, and decided, then
and there, that it would be his. He had told his client that he was un-
able to obtain the sword, and refunded his money. The sword looked
ancient, its true age unknown, and he had enjoyed staring at the dark
red stone in its hilt. He had attempted to view the sword’s history,
but was blocked each time he tried. He had found that when he held
the sword and asked questions, he was rewarded with the answers he
needed in the form of mental images. He had asked about the lucky
rock and was led to Nina’s location.
When he had first started watching her from the astral realm,
he hadn’t seen anything unusual; just a pretty woman going about
her everyday life. He became frustrated and decided to look at her
past to find out when she began using it. He’d watched her manifest
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Laura Simmons
stacks of cash and increase her bank balance electronically while
holding the rock, and wasted no time in moving to Charlottesville
and winning her friendship. He had bought a secluded ranch and
joined the same rural co-op as she.The co-op was made up of prop-
erty owners who looked after each other’s animals and estates when
they were out of town. They held frequent social gatherings and
went on excursions.
Further enhancing his cover, he’d taken a job as a swimming in-
structor. He was a retired Navy diver and an expert swimmer. He
had continued spying on her from the astral plane, yet was unable to
find the rock’s hiding place. He didn’t know that she was also an astral
traveler. She knew how to cloak herself and hide her identity by creat-
ing a mirage around her house to block those on the astral plane who
might be passing through.The mirage showed nothing more than her
quiet country home and her playing the guitar, singing, watching TV,
and other ordinary things.
He would spend the rest of his day planning and scheming how to
/win Nina’s affection and ultimately, claim her rock.
“So, do you think he was upset with your news?” Luke asked.
“Yes. He sounded distant, but I’m not going to worry about it,”
she replied.
“Would you like to go with me to check out an apartment?” he
asked.
“Sure.Where is it?
“According to Google Maps, its eight miles from here, in a devel-
opment called Pine Ridge Commons,” he replied.
“I know that area.Those are luxury apartments and there’s a large
strip mall two miles south of there.You might find an available store-
front for your studio too,” she said.
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Dark Karma
“Let’s go, love,” he said, taking her hand and walking out the back
door.
The two-bedroom two-bath apartment was available for rent im-
mediately, and he signed a six-month lease hoping that she would be
ready to live together by then.
“This is nice,” she said, appreciating the light and airy space with
hardwood floors, an open kitchen, long balcony, and spacious bed-
rooms with walk-in closets.
“It was the closest one I could find,” he said, placing the spare key
and security card in her hand. “I know I have to earn your trust and by
having this key, you can come over anytime day or night, and not find
me with another woman.”
After putting the keys into her coat pocket, she smiled and kissed
him. “Thank you.” Opening the sliding glass door, they stepped onto
the balcony to admire the mountain view. It was a chilly and crisp
November day and the sun was bright. She hadn’t told him that Jerry
used to live in this same building. Luke stood next to her and they
gazed at the mountains in the distance ...
Figuring that he would probably be sick with a hangover from
his bachelor party last night, Nina wanted to surprise Jerry by going
to his apartment the next morning and making him breakfast.Think-
ing happy thoughts of their upcoming wedding three days hence, she
unlocked his door, set a bag of groceries on the kitchen counter, and
walked into his bedroom. She was shocked to ο¬nd him asleep in bed
with two naked women wrapped around him and a pile of clothes on
the ο¬oor. One of the women had her hand around his erect penis. Jerry
Barlow was an attractive man of medium height and athletic build
with thick brown hair and blue eyes. He made his living as a construc-
tion foreman. For a few moments all she could do was stand and stare
in disbelief, her heart pounding, and then she let him have it.
“YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!WHY, JERRY?WHY DIDYOU DO
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Laura Simmons
THIS?” she screamed and the picture above his bed fell off the wall,
hitting him and his two women before ο¬ipping over and landing at
the foot of the bed.
“Nina! Oh my God,I’m sorry honey!”he pleaded with a pounding
head as the two women quickly jumped out of bed and ran from the
room.Nina picked up the pile of clothes and shoes and threw them into
the living room.“GET OUT OF HERE SLUTS, BEFORE I KNOCK
YOURTEETH IN!” she yelled as they hastily got dressed and ran from
the apartment.
Jerry was stunned, terriο¬ed, and naked. He knew the damage she
could do and he begged his case,“I promise I’ll never do that again. It
was one last night of fun, I swear it meant nothing to me, and I used
protection! I love you, Nina. I want to spend the rest of my life with
you. Please believe me.”
She stood glaring at him cold and hard, simmering with anger
and then she spoke:“Bullshit! If I hadn’t shown up, you would have
banged them again this morning, and don’t you deny it!Why? Is this
how our marriage will be? You cheating on me every chance you get?
If you wanted to do THAT, then why did you ask me to marry you?”
“Because you are my rock and my strength and I love you. I’ve
never cheated on you, Nina. This was a one-time ο¬ing and it will
NEVER happen again! If you want to have another man or two before
we’re married, you have my permission. It will hurt, but I understand
if you want to even the score.”
“Permission? I don’t need your fucking permission!You think I’m
still going to marry you? Hah! I’m going to have EVERY man I desire.
It’s over Jerry. And this is what I think of you, of us,” she said, sliding
off her engagement ring and walking into the bathroom.
“That ring cost me two-thousand dollars, I’m still paying for it!”
he panicked jumping off of the bed and running into the bathroom just
as she dropped it into the toilet.
She ο¬ushed it down before he could stop her. Looking him in the
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eyes, she said: “Go to hell. I never want to see you again. Get out of
my way!”
He backed away and let her leave. Shame and grief washed over
him and he wanted to die on the spot.Then, a wave of nausea attacked
him and he vomited into the commode. On the way to her vehicle, she
made use of her telekinetic talent and broke all of his car windows
and ο¬attened his tires, knowing she could get away with it. Later that
evening she stuffed her wedding dress into her ο¬replace and watched
it burn.
She saw him one more time after that fateful day. He came to her
house three weeks later and knocked on her door. She was surprised to
see him and taken aback because he was sporting a black eye,a swollen
lip, and a bandaged cut on his forehead.
“I know you never wanted to see me again, but I need to tell you
one last time that I’m so sorry for what I did. I lost the most beautiful,
wonderful woman in the world because of my stupid actions,and I hope
one day you can forgive me. I still love you, Nina. I always will.”
She listened to his apology without saying a word and shut the
door in his face.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Luke asked and she jumped out of her
trance. He saw the irritated look on her face. “What’s wrong?”
“Jerry used to live in this same building, two floors below,” she
sighed, looking toward the mountains again. “He gave me a key and
access card to his apartment too.”
Taking her cold hand in his, he said, “Look at me, sweetheart.”
She turned to face him, and he said, “I’m not Jerry. For the record, I
want you to know that I’ve never had sex with more than one woman
at a time. I’ve been to bachelor parties and seen the exact same thing.
I know of two grooms who declined that type of offer because they
loved and respected their women too much to stray.And, they are still
happily married.When the day comes, and I ask you to be my bride, I
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Love Her Madly
Sharing a lusty kiss, Luke and Nina moved into the bedroom.
Clothes were shed in less than a minute and they fell into bed,
making love like starving savages. After the rapture, he looked into
her eyes and said, “I love you, Nina.” From the shocked expression
on her face, he thought she was going to push him away and tell him
to leave. Her mouth was slightly agape, her beautiful eyes wide and
questioning, and she said nothing. He couldn’t believe he had blurted
out his feelings for her. He had never said those three little words to
any woman. And yet, he meant them. Their bodies remained joined
together and she continued gazing into his dark eyes, a thousand ques-
tions running through her mind.
She was astounded and speechless. She wasn’t expecting a declara-
tion of love from the worldly, handsome, and muscular Luke Decker,
her longtime friend with benefits. He said he wanted to live with her
to keep her safe from the thugs out to get her, but love? Luke had never
been in a serious relationship in his thirty-nine years of life. She didn’t
think he was the type of man who would commit to a woman, and she
was a free spirit who kept telling herself that men were just for fun.
She was fearful of getting her heart broken again.
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Laura Simmons
Finally recovering her voice, she smiled and playfully rubbed his
shaved head replying, “When did this happen?”
Even though he wasn’t expecting her to say it back, he was hop-
ing for something other than her question and was relieved that she
hadn’t kicked him out of her bed. He couldn’t stand the thought
of her with other men, not anymore. She had been on his mind for
months before he came to visit, and Cupid’s arrow struck him hard
when he laid eyes on her after eight months apart. His urge to love
and protect her was overwhelming, and no other woman had ever
made him feel this way. He knew deep in his soul that she was the
one, and if he didn’t speak up now there was a chance he might
lose her to Elliott Greenwood. He didn’t like that guy. His instincts
told him Elliott was dangerous, despite his gentlemanly demeanor.
He could spot the type instantly, like when mild-mannered Mike
Collins turned out to be a deranged serial killer and abducted his
brother’s lady love, Amber. Once, Mike had been good friends with
his brother Bryce, and there was something about Mike that Luke
had never liked.
Returning her smile, he answered, “You’ve been on my mind for
months, and when I came to visit and saw you sweeping the barn,
it hit me hard and I realized you were the one. I didn’t want to ad-
mit it to myself, and I’ll be honest, learning about your friendship
with Elliott makes me jealous. I felt it as soon as I saw the picture of
the two of you on your wall.Yes, I want to live with you to protect
you, but it’s more than that.You are the total package.You’re beauti-
ful, smart, strong, sexy, talented, and the perfect woman for me. I
promise I won’t try to change you. I love you just the way you are.
You can tell me to get lost whenever you want.
“Bryce wants to expand Decker Martial Arts outside of the D.C.
area, and this would be a great town to open a new studio.Teaching
martial arts will be a wonderful change for me, and I know he will
give me free reign to get that started here. I’m no longer working
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Dark Karma
for the CIA. I quit three weeks ago. I’m not even a consultant. I’m
fully retired and my globetrotting days are done.”
She gasped in surprise, her eyes widening once again, “I thought
you would be an operative for life! I’m happy to hear that you want to
settle down, but I’m wondering ... you’ve been free and single your
whole life. Maybe you only think that you love me because there’s an-
other man interested. If I give my heart to you, will you be faithful?”
she asked, thinking it was best to find this out up front. She wouldn’t
settle for anything less if she was going to take the fall again.
He continued looking into her lovely, hazel brown eyes framed
with long, dark eyelashes. The ring around her iris was brown, and
the centers were lighter brown with hints of gold. He answered in a
serious tone, “Yes, I will be faithful, and I don’t make promises lightly.
I rarely make them at all. And it’s not just because Elliott’s in the pic-
ture. I know you can have your choice of men, and it never bothered
me before. But now it does.You don’t have to decide right now about
living together, but I need to know if you’ll give us a chance. I’m ready
to move down here and can get my own place if you need more time.”
She was thinking of how she would break the news to Elliott,
knowing that he was secretly in love with her. She was attracted to
him and he was a good friend. Although when she fantasized about
taking their friendship to the next level, it left her with a sick feeling
in the pit of her stomach. She knew Elliott was hiding something, and
despite Luke’s non-committal track record, he had always been honest
with her. She had worked hard over the past three years to keep her
feelings for Luke under control.Their one night stand three years ago
evolved into a friends-with-benefits relationship, and she had strug-
gled to keep from falling in love with him. Perhaps it was safe to do
so now. She was unaware that Luke had fought his own strong feelings
for her too.
They had worked together for many years, and were close friends.
Nina had been despondent over a broken engagement. She had caught
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Laura Simmons
her fiancΓ© Jerry in bed with two women a few days before their wed-
ding. Luke had offered her a shoulder to cry on, and it had led to some-
thing more. He was happy to provide rebound sex whenever she wanted
with no strings for either of them. It suited them both, even though she
wished for more from him. She didn’t have any trouble attracting men,
however she usually fell for the wrong type. Her current unencumbered
life of casual sex with handsome men helped to insulate her from falling
hard for just one man. Being gifted in the psychic arts, she knew how
to project a femme fatale vibe that sent men swarming to her like flies.
This enabled her to talk herself out of falling in love by regularly enjoy-
ing other fish in the sea. She had rules, though: she never seduced a man
who had a wife or girlfriend, and required her lovers to use protection.
She never forgot to take her birth control pills either.
She wasn’t getting any younger, her thirty-eighth birthday was
three months away, so maybe it was time to let go of her fears and
take a chance on love again. She might have been mistaken thinking
Luke would be a guaranteed heartbreak, and there was only one way
to find out.
She kissed him and said, “I want to give us a try. I’d prefer that you
move down here and get your own place. This way we can test the
waters without jumping in head first.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“You won’t regret it. I’m looking forward to pleasing you. Not just
sexually, but in all ways,” he promised.
Despite his words, they spent the rest of the day and into the eve-
ning making love over and over again, both of them growing more
voracious with each tryst. Finally sated, they fell asleep at 8:30 p.m.
and didn’t wake up until early the next morning when they heard her
rooster, Rogue crowing.
She awoke in his arms and softly said, “Rogue does this every
morning.”
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Dark Karma
He hugged her closer in his heavily muscled arms and replied with
a laugh, “No problem. He let me sleep in this morning. I’m usually up
before now.”
“It’s a good thing we’re both early birds,” she remarked. “I want
coffee, what about you?”
“Actually, I’m thinking of something else,” he replied gliding his
hands over her hips and pressing her against his erection.
Without saying a word, she climbed on top of him and they slowly
rocked together to paradise.
“What have you done to me, love?” he asked when she collapsed on
top of him and kissed his neck. “I can’t get enough of you. I could live
like this forever, with you on top of me.”
Laughing, she kissed him and rolled out of his arms. Getting
out of bed she felt the need to stretch. He lingered in bed watch-
ing her stand and stretch her arms up high, thinking she was the
most incredible woman in the world. He admired her lithe, athletic
body. She was slim, barely five feet three inches and perfectly pro-
portioned. She wore her dark brown hair short and pixie-like, but
not close-cropped. She was an adventurous tomboy at heart, and he
loved that about her.
“Nina Perotti, you’re my sexy little fairy goddess,” he said, ap-
preciating her figure. One thing which perplexed him though was
how she healed so fast after suffering a gunshot wound to her leg. She
walked with a slight limp and he could see bruising, but her recovery
was miraculous. Granted she got lucky and the bullet didn’t do major
damage, yet he still had questions he would ask her later.
Her eyes sparkled and she replied, “And I can create magic too.”
She was an astral traveler and clairvoyant working as a consultant
to the CIA. Skilled in the art of manipulating energy, she had tapped
into the strong feelings they had for each other and energetically mag-
nified them into an all-consuming hunger. She silently rejoiced in her
feelings for him, reciprocated at last.
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Laura Simmons
“I’m a prime example of your handiwork, sweetheart,” he replied,
/
winking.
He was planning to drive home to Vienna, Virginia, that day, and
had stayed in a hotel the previous night. Nina and Luke had helped
Bryce rescue Amber from the clutches of a psychotic madman. Nina
used her gift of telekinesis to keep Mike from raping and killingAmber,
while Bryce used his talent for astral travel to find out where Mike
lived and raced down to Georgia to rescue her. Fearing for his broth-
er’s life, Luke followed him after enlisting Nina’s help. Amber was
in the hospital now with Bryce by her side. She was recovering after
nearly dying from smoke inhalation when Mike set his house on fire
and left her tied up in his basement. Unfortunately, Mike had escaped.
Since Nina agreed to a relationship with Luke, he wasn’t anxious
to leave. She lived alone in a rural area near Charlottesville,Virginia,
on a small farm with a few goats, some chickens, a cat, and a horse.
The rolling hills and peaceful countryside were a slice of heaven.When
she wasn’t working on a project with the CIA, she spent her days do-
ing yoga at sunrise, tending to her garden and farm animals, making
soap to sell at farmer’s markets along with produce from her large
vegetable garden, riding her horse around her five acres of land, and
writing songs.
Her house was vandalized while she helped Amber, and the front
door and several windows were boarded shut.They had spent the night
in her house, using the back entrance after getting her place cleaned
up and seeing to her animals. She was staying with Elliott until she
could get her house repaired and new security system installed. Luke
didn’t want her returning to Elliott’s house and wanted to know what
the thugs were after. He broached the subject as soon as they finished
eating breakfast.
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Dark Karma
“You know I was planning to head back today, but since you agreed
to be my love I have no reason to rush home. I would like to stay here
instead. I’ll provide the extra protection until you get your new doors,
windows, and security system. Once everything is installed, I’ll head
back to Vienna, pack up my stuff and move down here. I’ll start look-
ing for a rental today,” he said. “So, I must know what they were look-
ing for. I don’t want any secrets between us.They put a bullet in your
leg, hit you on the head with the butt of a pistol and left you here to
die.You were in a coma! Thank God the police found you in time and
called an ambulance.And, how did you bounce back from that gunshot
wound so quickly?”
“Do you remember the child slavery ring I helped bust?” she asked.
“Yeah, that was about four years ago, right? I wish I had worked
on that one,” he replied.
“Those criminals were the scum of the earth posing as benevolent
humanitarians while masterminding a child slavery ring, leading many
unfortunate little ones to a life of misery and ruin. After the fight was
over and the bad guys hauled away in handcuffs, I surveyed the ran-
sacked office from the astral realm … and it called to me,” she said.
She had played a crucial role in helping the CIA, FBI, and Interpol
locate and bring them to justice. Being a CIA psychic for over fifteen
years, her ability to uncover hidden information and physical items
was unparalleled. Her skills included telekinesis on both the physical
and astral planes, with the unique talent of bringing objects back with
her.
“Did you take something from the astral?” he asked.
Nodding she replied, “Yes, but it’s not something I normally do.
Taking items while in astral form always makes me violently sick when
I return to my body. I figure it’s the universe’s way of punishing me for
stealing, but I couldn’t help myself.”
“Tell me more, my sweet,” he said, reaching out to hold her hand.
“The room began to fill with twinkling, dust-like particles, which
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Laura Simmons
were coming from behind an overturned desk. I looked behind it and
saw a softly glowing rock. It looked like a common river rock, but it was
emitting a warm, golden glow. Its twinkling dust surrounded me, beg-
ging me to take it. My astral body was disguised as a Pitbull. It’s safer for
me to shift into an animal in case malevolent entities are lurking about.
At that moment I didn’t care if it made me sick when I returned. I was
taking this rock home.When I returned here, I expected to be running
to the bathroom and puking my guts out which would be followed by
a migraine. The sickness never came,” she stated. “I carry it with me
sometimes, although it’s so powerful it takes time to get adjusted to the
energy.”
“When you got home, did you have the rock in your mouth? How
do you bring items back?” he asked with a chuckle, amazed that she
could shapeshift on the astral.
She laughed and said, “Yes, I had it in my mouth. How else would a
dog carry something? First, I concentrate on the object and there will
be a moment when I can touch it.Then I get a tingling sensation in my
hands and fingers. Once I grab hold of it, it stays with me unless I change
my mind and set it back down.”
“Since you were disguised as a dog, did you get the sensation in your
paws?”
“Yes.”
“Does this unusual rock enhance your abilities?”
“Yes. I’m glad you have an open mind about these things; otherwise,
you will freak out when I tell you that it enables me to teleport wher-
ever I wish to go. I focus on my destination, relax, close my eyes and
I’m there. I’ve only done it a few times. It will sometimes create things
from my thoughts, so I have to be very careful when I handle it. I keep it
hidden most of the time. I should have been more cautious when I first
started working with it by building psychic walls to block other astral
travelers. I failed to do that, and now someone knows I have it and will
go to great lengths to take it. I don’t blame them for wanting it, but it’s
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Dark Karma
mine. In answer to your earlier question, I used the rock to help heal my
leg. Obviously, it’s not one-hundred percent better, but it’s pretty close.
I didn’t want the doctors asking too many questions, so I didn’t heal it
completely. I’m going to let it finish healing on its own,” she concluded.
He was astonished and thought this was the stuff of fantasy. Gently
rubbing his thumb over hers, he asked,“Where did you teleport to? And
what have you created with it?”
Amused, she replied, “I was thinking about my sister, Madison, and
how I hadn’t visited her for almost a year. The next thing I know, I’m
standing in her living room and she sees me and screams. I was standing
there with my mouth open and unable to speak.We gradually recovered
from the shock, and now whenever I talk to her she asks me about my
adventures with it.”
“Wow ... I guess everything we think of as being just a fantasy, is
actually real,” he replied. “Did you think yourself home?”
She laughed, answering,“That’s exactly what I did. I’m glad she lives
alone so we didn’t have to explain it to anyone.”
“Tell me what you created!” he insisted.
“I created wealth. I’m rich beyond my wildest dreams, but I prefer
to live simply and work now and then for the Agency. I don’t want un-
necessary attention.Would you like to see how it works?”
“Yes!”
She closed her eyes for a second, taking a deep breath. Then he
watched her lift her hand and draw a square shape into the air with her
index finger. She reached inside retrieving a small wooden box and set-
ting it on the table.
“You look like you’ve just seen a ghost,” she said while he sat there
with his mouth open; his dark brown eyes wide with disbelief.
“You are truly gifted,” he commented, his heart thumping. He had
seen many extraordinary things in his life, but nothing like this.
She opened the box to display a plain looking, smooth, grayish-white
rock which fit neatly in her hand.
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Laura Simmons
“Plain and powerful,” he said. “Can you retrieve it from
anywhere?”
“Yes, that’s what I did in the hospital. It’s not completely plain
though. Look at the carving on this side,” she said, turning it over
and showing him the etching of a large tree carved into the stone. “It
must have been spelled by a powerful psychic or shaman. I get the
feeling that it hasn’t revealed all of its secrets to me yet.”
“Can I hold it?” he asked.
“Sure. Place it in your palm and think of something you’d like to
buy me,” she joked.
He held it in his palm, closing his fingers around it. He felt a
pleasing surge of warmth encompass his body. Its energy made him
feel happy and hopeful, almost giddy. His expression softened, he
looked into her eyes and thought of something he’d like to buy her
one day. He saw it in a magazine advertisement recently and admired
its simple beauty.To his amazement, it materialized on the table.
She opened the small velvet box that appeared in front of her,
and squealed with delight. “Oh my God! Luke!”
He was so shocked that the color drained from his face and he set
the magic rock back in its wooden box. He blamed it on the intense
happiness he felt when holding it, and the surprising mental picture
of Nina wearing a long white dress entered his mind. He didn’t think
it would actually appear, nor did he want her to know he was plan-
ning their future together. He was concerned that she would think
he was moving too fast.
“N-N-Nina ... I was h-h-hoping, s-s-s-someday …” He stopped
talking, embarrassed by the stuttering. This hadn’t happened to him
since he was in elementary school. Often teased by the other chil-
dren, his parents enrolled him in speech class and he worked dili-
gently to correct his impediment. He vowed to become big, strong,
and fearsome when he grew up and was the type of person who
accomplished every goal he set for himself. None of the dangerous,
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Dark Karma
death-defying missions he went on, both as a Navy SEAL and CIA
operative, had ever caused him to stutter when he spoke. She was
turning his world upside down.
She gazed at him with love and kindness. “It’s breathtaking. Maybe
one day we will take that leap. Is it okay if I try it on, and then we can
send it back?”
He breathed a sigh of relief as the anxiety left his body. “Yes, please
do.”
She slipped the sparkling diamond ring onto her left ring finger,
and laid her hand on the table.
“It looks good on you,” he said, taking her left hand and kissing it.
“You don’t have to send it back. It can be a promise ring. If you’d like
a different style, I want to know.”
“It’s perfect, and I love it because you thought of it. I have an idea.
There’s room in the box for this and we can keep them stored togeth-
er. It will be there if and when the time comes,” she replied.
“I agree.Although, you can wear it anytime,” he said, grinning and
pleased that she wasn’t upset with him.
She returned his smile, slipping the diamond ring off her finger
and putting it back in the little velvet box. She placed the box in the
wooden one next to the rock and closed it. Drawing the square in the
air once again, she slid the wooden box back into its hiding place.
“Now I’ve seen everything. Nothing will ever surprise me again,” he
said with a chuckle.
She got up from the table and came over to him. Pulling her onto
his lap he kissed her senseless.
“I want you again,” she whispered. “Right here, right now.”
“Then, you shall have me,” he answered. “Straddle me like you did
when we woke up.These chairs are sturdy.”
She did as he asked, slipping off her robe and mounting him.
“Come with me, my naughty Nina.”
“I will, over and over, my lusty Luke.”
S 11 S
Laura Simmons
It didn’t take long for them to find paradise for the second time
/
that morning.
After taking a long shower together, they got dressed and walked
outside to take care of the animals.The first stop was her barn to feed
the chickens and goats, and then the stable to take a ride on her horse,
Buttercup. Luke sat behind her, his arms firmly around her waist and
loving the feel of having her body in constant contact with his. She
relaxed against him while they rode around her five acres of property.
She knew it was time to have another discussion.
“I think Elliott’s going to be disappointed when I tell him about us.
He will probably want to remain friends though, and I hate to cut him
out of my life completely.What kind of boundaries do you want to set
with regard to friends of the opposite sex?” she asked remembering
how Jerry betrayed her trust.
Luke was quiet for a few moments collecting his thoughts ... I
want her to stay away from him ... “This is new territory for me. I don’t
have a problem with you being friends with a man — or Elliott. I
do have a problem with you going out alone with one of them. If
you want to meet somewhere for a casual lunch, that’s fine. If you
want to chat on the phone or text now and then, I’m okay with that
too. I’m fine with any of your friends, male or female, coming over
and joining us for dinner or going out with us. And I want you to
know that you are the only female friend I’ve enjoyed benefits with.
You can rest assured that the most I would do is talk on the phone
with a female friend, or maybe meet her for lunch. And you would
know the place and time and would be invited too. I don’t want you
worrying about those things. I’m nothing like Jerry.You are my first
priority and my only woman.”
“That’s good to know. I think I’ll call Elliott after we finish our ride
S 12 S
Dark Karma
and let him know about our change in status,” she said. “I can get my
things from his house later.”
Leaning down he kissed her cheek and said, “That’s a good idea.
Maybe he’ll bring them by and you won’t have to go get them. I think
we’re a perfect fit. My parents had a close, loving marriage until Mom
died in a car accident. Her death broke my father’s heart, and he died
about two years later from terminal cancer; he just gave up on life.
Both of their deaths had a profound effect on me and I decided that
I never wanted to love someone like that because it would hurt too
much if I lost her.
“That’s the main reason I’ve never had a long-term romantic rela-
tionship with anyone; that and my line of work. However, I want more
out of life, including a special woman to love and take care of, and a
normal job where I don’t have to constantly travel. Although, I would
travel anywhere with you.”
“You know, the reason I’ve been a man-eater since my break-up
with Jerry is that I didn’t want to get hurt again. I’ve been fighting my
feelings for you since we started having benefits. Being with other men
was the only way I could keep from falling for you. I’ve had feelings for
Elliott now and then, but something’s off with him. I never pursued
anything more with him for that reason. I didn’t bother to investigate
what it might be because I respected our friendship. Now that I know
you want a future with me, I want it too,” she said.
“I’m crazy about you Nina, and I’m never letting you go. I’ve been
fighting my feelings for you too. I wanted to make you mine, but I was
afraid of commitment and you weren’t ready for another relationship.
I had to mature a bit more.You’ve been on my mind for months and I
was planning to come and see you even before I asked for your help in
saving Amber. On another subject, I think you should use your special
talents to find out who’s after your rock.”
“I’m planning to astral travel soon and see what I can uncover,” she
replied.
S 13 S
Laura Simmons
“I know Bryce would like to help you. He’s grateful for you help-
ing Amber and tormenting Mike,” Luke stated.
“I can still torment Mike while he’s on the run.”
“As long as you come back safe and sound, and share your stories
with me in the morning,” he said.
/“I will,” she replied with a contented sigh.
Elliott knew Luke was going to be a thorn in his side when it
came to Nina. He met the man when he stopped by to pick up Nina
yesterday and didn’t like that he was tough competition with his body-
builder physique. Elliott spent the morning straightening up his garage
and dwelling on the fact that Luke and Nina spent the night together,
undoubtedly enjoying hot and heavy lovemaking, and he was growing
angrier by the hour. Elliott and Nina had spent a wonderful evening
together the other night talking, and watching funny movies, and now
this guy ruins everything. He cursed himself for falling in love with
the woman he was supposed to befriend just to steal the rock. Elliott
was a professional thief and people paid him top dollar to steal pre-
cious items. He used his astral abilities to track down the items people
wanted, and then devised a plan and stole them. His father had been a
greedy, talented crook who taught him the tricks of the trade. He felt
it was important to project an impeccable, nice-guy image so no one
would ever suspect he led a double life. Knowing how much Elliott
loved the ocean, he encouraged him to join the Navy which helped his
son maintain an all-American good-guy charade.
Elliott’s mother died in childbirth and he grew up among his
father’s never-ending supply of lady friends, as he was an incurable
womanizer. Elliott admired his father and wanted to be just like him
with regards to taking what he wanted regardless if it belonged to
someone else. He wasn’t a womanizer though. Being raised without
S 14 S
Dark Karma
a strong maternal figure, when he fell for someone he didn’t want to
lose them and became possessive and domineering. This led to a life-
time of women leaving him for that reason.
He was a handsome man, standing six feet tall with thick, salt and
pepper hair and brown eyes. At fifty years old, he was in good physi-
cal shape and still turned ladies’ heads. The plan was to gain Nina’s
trust, become her confidant and get her to reveal her secrets. He knew
she was a free spirit and never planned to pursue anything other than
friendship because he would become overbearing and scare her away,
like all the others. He had given up on women years ago after his
wife Carol left him for doing just that. It didn’t help that he physically
abused her when he got angry, something he watched his father do on
numerous occasions to certain women. She snuck out one day while
he was at work. He came home that evening to an empty house and
divorce papers on the coffee table. She took just her personal items
and clothes and he never saw her again. All communication was done
through her lawyer. He found out later that she ran off with another
man and was living in Denmark. Fortunately, there were no children
and he didn’t have to endure a custody battle.
He had one other serious relationship after Carol and she left him
too. He wasn’t physically abusive to her, but he was so possessive that
he pushed her away. In spite of his past, he was ready to try once more
as a changed man and decided to make a play for Nina. He would have
to do it soon before Luke beat him to it.The way Luke looked at Nina
spoke volumes, and Elliott could sense there was more to Luke’s feel-
ings for her than a casual, physical relationship. His heart skipped a
beat when his phone rang and he saw that it was her.
“Hello,” he answered trying to sound cheery.
“Hi. I wanted to let you know that Luke is going to stay with me
until I get my new security doors and windows installed,” she said.
“Oh, how long will that be?” he asked disappointed that she
wouldn’t be returning to his house tonight.
S 15 S
Laura Simmons
“The new doors and windows will be installed the day after to-
morrow and the security system the following day.Then he’s moving
down here.”
“Is he moving in with you?” he asked hoping otherwise.
“No. He’s going to rent a place and ... date me,” she replied.“Thank
you for letting me stay with you.You’re a great friend and I really ap-
preciate it.”
“You’re welcome.When you say he’s going to date you, does that
mean your relationship is exclusive?”
“Yes. No more friends with benefits,” she replied.
Dammit! Now I have to work even harder to win her ... “Are you coming
by to get your stuff?”
“Not today, but I will soon.”
“Is he planning to get a job or is he independently wealthy?” he
asked hoping that Luke was a no-good bum.
“He’s going to open a martial arts studio. His brother owns the
Decker Martial Arts Company and he’ll open a branch here,” she re-
plied, sounding too cheerful for his sour mood.
“Okay.Well, give me a call when you plan to stop by,” he said.
“I will.Talk to you later.”
“Bye,” he said, ending the call and releasing a heavy sigh. At least he’s
not moving in with her. I can still see her when he’s not around. He regretted
having to break into her house and physically harm her, yet would do
whatever was necessary to get what he wanted. He was shocked to
discover that she was telekinetic and would thwart his plan. He was
certain that she had other unusual abilities and it troubled him. How
else could she bounce back from a gunshot wound like it was nothing?
The doctors at the hospital were dumbfounded. He wondered what
else she was capable of, and how long before she learned that he was
the one who broke into her home and left her for dead.
When they burst into her house terrifying her half to death, objects
went flying, and he almost called off the robbery. A sharp knife flew
S 16 S
Dark Karma
through the air and landed inTommy’s stomach, killing him quickly as
he bled out on her sunroom floor.A piece of flying glass from a broken
vase stabbed Elliott’s upper arm and hurt like hell. He was glad they
were clad in black from head to toe and she couldn’t recognize him.
Burt ran after her and it was too late to turn back. Burt wanted to kill
her and Elliott had to shoot her in the leg and knock her unconscious
to maintain his tough guy image until he could get the information
from her. He was forced to speak before he knocked her out, and dis-
guised his voice.The sound of police sirens interrupted their plans and
they ran off, leaving her lying unconscious on the floor.
He was also an experienced astral traveler. He wasn’t psychic, al-
though he could create servitors to do his bidding and view the past.
Once he obtained the rock, he would be rich and powerful. He was
already wealthy, and it wasn’t enough for him.
The rock Nina owned was highly sought after, and he wanted it. A
few fellow thieves thought it was just a legend, and weren’t interested
in chasing after something that didn’t exist. Elliott didn’t believe it
existed either, until the day he stole an old Scottish sword for a client.
The sword was spelled with dark magic for use against enemies. He’d
felt a connection with it as soon as he touched it, and decided, then
and there, that it would be his. He had told his client that he was un-
able to obtain the sword, and refunded his money. The sword looked
ancient, its true age unknown, and he had enjoyed staring at the dark
red stone in its hilt. He had attempted to view the sword’s history,
but was blocked each time he tried. He had found that when he held
the sword and asked questions, he was rewarded with the answers he
needed in the form of mental images. He had asked about the lucky
rock and was led to Nina’s location.
When he had first started watching her from the astral realm,
he hadn’t seen anything unusual; just a pretty woman going about
her everyday life. He became frustrated and decided to look at her
past to find out when she began using it. He’d watched her manifest
S 17 S
Laura Simmons
stacks of cash and increase her bank balance electronically while
holding the rock, and wasted no time in moving to Charlottesville
and winning her friendship. He had bought a secluded ranch and
joined the same rural co-op as she.The co-op was made up of prop-
erty owners who looked after each other’s animals and estates when
they were out of town. They held frequent social gatherings and
went on excursions.
Further enhancing his cover, he’d taken a job as a swimming in-
structor. He was a retired Navy diver and an expert swimmer. He
had continued spying on her from the astral plane, yet was unable to
find the rock’s hiding place. He didn’t know that she was also an astral
traveler. She knew how to cloak herself and hide her identity by creat-
ing a mirage around her house to block those on the astral plane who
might be passing through.The mirage showed nothing more than her
quiet country home and her playing the guitar, singing, watching TV,
and other ordinary things.
He would spend the rest of his day planning and scheming how to
/win Nina’s affection and ultimately, claim her rock.
“So, do you think he was upset with your news?” Luke asked.
“Yes. He sounded distant, but I’m not going to worry about it,”
she replied.
“Would you like to go with me to check out an apartment?” he
asked.
“Sure.Where is it?
“According to Google Maps, its eight miles from here, in a devel-
opment called Pine Ridge Commons,” he replied.
“I know that area.Those are luxury apartments and there’s a large
strip mall two miles south of there.You might find an available store-
front for your studio too,” she said.
S 18 S
Dark Karma
“Let’s go, love,” he said, taking her hand and walking out the back
door.
The two-bedroom two-bath apartment was available for rent im-
mediately, and he signed a six-month lease hoping that she would be
ready to live together by then.
“This is nice,” she said, appreciating the light and airy space with
hardwood floors, an open kitchen, long balcony, and spacious bed-
rooms with walk-in closets.
“It was the closest one I could find,” he said, placing the spare key
and security card in her hand. “I know I have to earn your trust and by
having this key, you can come over anytime day or night, and not find
me with another woman.”
After putting the keys into her coat pocket, she smiled and kissed
him. “Thank you.” Opening the sliding glass door, they stepped onto
the balcony to admire the mountain view. It was a chilly and crisp
November day and the sun was bright. She hadn’t told him that Jerry
used to live in this same building. Luke stood next to her and they
gazed at the mountains in the distance ...
Figuring that he would probably be sick with a hangover from
his bachelor party last night, Nina wanted to surprise Jerry by going
to his apartment the next morning and making him breakfast.Think-
ing happy thoughts of their upcoming wedding three days hence, she
unlocked his door, set a bag of groceries on the kitchen counter, and
walked into his bedroom. She was shocked to ο¬nd him asleep in bed
with two naked women wrapped around him and a pile of clothes on
the ο¬oor. One of the women had her hand around his erect penis. Jerry
Barlow was an attractive man of medium height and athletic build
with thick brown hair and blue eyes. He made his living as a construc-
tion foreman. For a few moments all she could do was stand and stare
in disbelief, her heart pounding, and then she let him have it.
“YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!WHY, JERRY?WHY DIDYOU DO
S 19 S
Laura Simmons
THIS?” she screamed and the picture above his bed fell off the wall,
hitting him and his two women before ο¬ipping over and landing at
the foot of the bed.
“Nina! Oh my God,I’m sorry honey!”he pleaded with a pounding
head as the two women quickly jumped out of bed and ran from the
room.Nina picked up the pile of clothes and shoes and threw them into
the living room.“GET OUT OF HERE SLUTS, BEFORE I KNOCK
YOURTEETH IN!” she yelled as they hastily got dressed and ran from
the apartment.
Jerry was stunned, terriο¬ed, and naked. He knew the damage she
could do and he begged his case,“I promise I’ll never do that again. It
was one last night of fun, I swear it meant nothing to me, and I used
protection! I love you, Nina. I want to spend the rest of my life with
you. Please believe me.”
She stood glaring at him cold and hard, simmering with anger
and then she spoke:“Bullshit! If I hadn’t shown up, you would have
banged them again this morning, and don’t you deny it!Why? Is this
how our marriage will be? You cheating on me every chance you get?
If you wanted to do THAT, then why did you ask me to marry you?”
“Because you are my rock and my strength and I love you. I’ve
never cheated on you, Nina. This was a one-time ο¬ing and it will
NEVER happen again! If you want to have another man or two before
we’re married, you have my permission. It will hurt, but I understand
if you want to even the score.”
“Permission? I don’t need your fucking permission!You think I’m
still going to marry you? Hah! I’m going to have EVERY man I desire.
It’s over Jerry. And this is what I think of you, of us,” she said, sliding
off her engagement ring and walking into the bathroom.
“That ring cost me two-thousand dollars, I’m still paying for it!”
he panicked jumping off of the bed and running into the bathroom just
as she dropped it into the toilet.
She ο¬ushed it down before he could stop her. Looking him in the
S 20 S
Dark Karma
eyes, she said: “Go to hell. I never want to see you again. Get out of
my way!”
He backed away and let her leave. Shame and grief washed over
him and he wanted to die on the spot.Then, a wave of nausea attacked
him and he vomited into the commode. On the way to her vehicle, she
made use of her telekinetic talent and broke all of his car windows
and ο¬attened his tires, knowing she could get away with it. Later that
evening she stuffed her wedding dress into her ο¬replace and watched
it burn.
She saw him one more time after that fateful day. He came to her
house three weeks later and knocked on her door. She was surprised to
see him and taken aback because he was sporting a black eye,a swollen
lip, and a bandaged cut on his forehead.
“I know you never wanted to see me again, but I need to tell you
one last time that I’m so sorry for what I did. I lost the most beautiful,
wonderful woman in the world because of my stupid actions,and I hope
one day you can forgive me. I still love you, Nina. I always will.”
She listened to his apology without saying a word and shut the
door in his face.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Luke asked and she jumped out of her
trance. He saw the irritated look on her face. “What’s wrong?”
“Jerry used to live in this same building, two floors below,” she
sighed, looking toward the mountains again. “He gave me a key and
access card to his apartment too.”
Taking her cold hand in his, he said, “Look at me, sweetheart.”
She turned to face him, and he said, “I’m not Jerry. For the record, I
want you to know that I’ve never had sex with more than one woman
at a time. I’ve been to bachelor parties and seen the exact same thing.
I know of two grooms who declined that type of offer because they
loved and respected their women too much to stray.And, they are still
happily married.When the day comes, and I ask you to be my bride, I
S 21 S
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I've wanted to write a book since I was a child, it was the first thing I can ever remember saying I wanted to do when I grow up. I love creating worlds in my mind and writing about them. My best days are when my characters decide to have lively conversations. They have developed a habit of giving me their best ideas and plot twists while I'm driving and can't write them down! All of my books can be read as stand alone stories. The characters carry over into the following stories with the major ones becoming a supporting cast and the previous supporting cast taking front and center to tell their particular story. Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to look at my books.
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