By
Brynn Morgan
Copyright © 2023 by â Brynn Morgan â All Rights Reserved.
It is not legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited.
"We are waiting here and doing absolutely nothing!" Lainie cried out. She got up in a fit of anger and walked over to the piano in the corner. Lainie lifted the lid and plopped down on the bench. She banged the keys angrily several times and received a stern look from her brother and questioning eyes from Bella and Emily. She was about to go mad waiting to hear from Clarrisa. Lainie had tried to catch up on some housework and other things, but Davis was on her last fucking nerve. He was so damn protective and would barely let them breathe. Her brother would not let them go anywhere without him, even to the bathroom that morning. Davis would not let them out of sight after the attack on Bella.
They sat in the living room that afternoon and waited for the phone to ring. Davis was at the desk looking up articles on spiritual warfare; Bella was playing chess with Emily. Davis was lost in his thoughts. He could fight a human. Davis could shoot and kill in war and had many times; He had served four tours of duty, but this? Davis did not know what to do. He did not know how to fight against it or destroy it. Davis felt as helpless as Lainie and Emily were. There had to be a way to get rid of it. He was sensible; Davis could figure things out, but this time he was lost. Davis was at a loss with all the articles he was reading about exorcisms, seances, and the like. He was furious, So, fucking angry. Davis wanted to hit something, and he wanted to hit it hard. He thought that it would make him feel better if he could. Davis felt like they were an open target, and this thing could attack how it chose and when it chose to do so. And all that they could do was sit helpless, like its prey, and wait to be ambushed. This thing... this piece of shit had attacked Bella, used her voice to communicate death! It had struck everyone that he cared for ... Lainie, Bella ... he looked at Emily, concentrating hard on her next move; her hair was down and was very red now, and the strands brushed her shoulders; she bit down on her lower full lip while she strategized. Davis breathed deeply and sighed. He cared for her, too, more than he cared to admit. Davis had not allowed anyone in since Brianna. She broke his heart, and he swore that that was it! Davis was not going to fall for a woman again. He would do the date thing, but as far as marriage? No sir. That woman broke his heart very badly, and Davis did not think he would ever recover from that, but now? He felt helpless. Davis felt something for Emily, too. She seemed so fragile and made of glass, that she would shatter all to pieces if mishandled. He thought about that kiss on the porch the other night and how her bare leg wrapped around his waist. Emily's skin felt so soft. Her lips ... damn, those beautiful lips!! Davis wanted to devour her but did not want to scare her off either. Emily was like a skittish doe. Davis changed his thought pattern quickly. He was allowing himself to go down a road, exploring what he could have with Emily in the future, and he could not do that right nowâthe other night changed everything for him when that evil entity entered his house and took possession of Bella. He would protect his family at all costs. Davis would not let them out of his sight. He hoped and prayed that Clarrisa would call them soon and let them know that help was coming for them all.
***
Emily waited for Bella to move and looked at Clarrisa, sitting helplessly at the piano. She felt like she was the cause of all this happening to them. It terrified her. Had she unlocked something within those walls that had been sleeping all this time? Had her misery and gloom over the loss of Luke and her children resurrected this dark thing that now terrorized them? Was she the key that unlocked it and let it out? She sure as hell, hoped not, because that would wreck her. It truly would. To be the instrument that brought destruction to this family that she cared so much for.
Emily looked at Davis, and his eyes met hers. He had looked at her differently since the kiss. She could not get it out of her mind. To feel a man's arms around her once again, kissing her, desiring her. She felt like a woman again and had not felt like that in a very long time.
Everyone was startled and almost jumped out of their seats when Lainie's cell phone rang. It was piercing in the silence. She answered it immediately."Hello?"
Davis strained to hear who it was, as did Emily.
"Ok. One sec." Lainie said. She put the phone on the speakerphone."Ok. You can speak now, Clarrisa."
Davis breathed a sigh of relief. He hoped that it was going to be good news.
"Hey, all!" Clarrisa greeted warmly.They said the customary hellos."I'm sorry that it took so long to get back to y'all, but we chatted with the sisters to prepare,"
Lainie was impatient."To prepare for what?" it came across in her tone.
Clarrisa sighed and spoke. "Vivian is willing to help us."
Lanie bowed her head in relief, as did Davis. Emily felt tears sting her eyes.
"Clarrisa? Oh, thank God for that!" Lainie was deeply emotional.
"She is the real deal, folks. If this woman can't help us, then I don't know who could," she said earnestly and paused."There is a catch, though."
Davis got up from the table and walked over to the piano, where Lainie sat."What catch?" he asked deeply.
"She wants to meet you, all of you." Clarrisa paused again. "Even Bella. She wants to meet her as well."
Davis and Lainie looked at each other questioningly. Lainie nodded at him."What choice do we have, Davis?" she asked wearily.
Davis sighed. He hated drawing Bella further into this."Fine. She can meet Bella as well," he said, resigned.
Clarrisa sighed audibly."I think that you will be happy with her. She impressed the hell out of me and Mom."
"So, when do we meet with her?' Lainie asked softly.
Clarrisa said, "Tomorrow morning at eleven o'clock. She will be at my apartment."
There was silence, and then Davis said."Ok. We will see you there."
***
There was a feeling of relief among them and a feeling of trepidation that was palpable in the atmosphere.
Davis, Lainie, and Emily shared a quiet supper after Bella fell asleep on the couch, and then they went to their corners of the room for some isolation.
Emily looked at some properties online but saw nothing that jumped out. Davis was back on the computer looking up everything he could find on Vivian Salley, and Lainie played Candy Crush on her phone. Davis's eyes widened when he saw an article about her in the Charleston Post and Courier.
"Hey, y'all. Listen to this!" his excitement was noticeable.They sat up and paid attention as he read aloud."The Charleston Police Department praises the help and expertise of local Psychic Medium Vivian Salley in helping to find the missing boy, Aaron Swarth. Police say that Aaron Swarth, seven years old, was taken from the James Island Water Park around noon on Tuesday while his mother and sister waited in line at the restroom. Despite endless searches from volunteers and search and rescue dogs called into the area, they could not find anything. All leads led to a dead end except for the mention of Vivian Salley, who was called in to assist, and within eight hours of her involvement, Aaron Swarth was found in a ditch off Highway 17 in critical condition. Paramedics rushed Aaron to MUSC, where he underwent surgery for his critical injuries. He is in the ICU currently. Miss Salley was also able to help the authorities locate the man responsible for the kidnapping and attempted murder of Aaron Swarth. The South Carolina Highway Patrol apprehended Charles Lee Benton, and Charles Lee Benton is currently being held without bail at the Charleston County Jail." Davis finished.
Lainie gasped."Is there a picture of her?" she asked curiously.
Davis shook his head."The photographer attempted to take a picture of her, but she has her hand up in front of the camera."
"Emily, you sure are being quiet tonight."Lainie commented. "A penny for your thoughts?"
Emily sat up straighter on the couch, and her voice was full of amazement. "It is just incredible to me that she was able to help the police not only find the missing boy but also apprehend the suspect. That is incredible," she repeated in wonder.
***
Soon after, Lainie prepared a pallet for her, and Bella and Davis picked up the little girl and laid her down by Lainie. Emily curled up beside him on their pallet, and he wrapped his arms around her as she spooned him.
***
Davis woke up hot. He threw the covers off him but left Emily covered. He needed some air badly. He felt like he was suffocating. The ceiling fan was not providing the relief that he needed. He rose from the pallet and walked over to the front door, opening it slowly to avoid disturbing them.
When he escaped to the porch, he removed his shirt and let the night air blow across his bare chest. He stretched his arms high above his head and stepped off the porch onto the ground. The sky was full of stars, and the orange moon was high and full. His bare feet felt relaxed in the springy grass. Davis heard a horse neigh in the stable. He loved his land, his farm and his horses. Davis loved his house. He loved Lainie and Bella and he would let anything destroy them. It would have to kill him first.
Davis felt better knowing that this Vivian Salley was going to help them. He was amazed at the article about her helping to find the missing boy.
Davis was leaning over the white fence and heard the screen door open. He turned. It was Emily. Davis turned entirely around and leaned back against the fence, watching her every move. He grew even hotter. He was seeing her body move beneath her t-shirt. That was all that she had on. No pants. Those legs were bare and silky to mid-thigh, and he remembered how those legs felt around his waist."Why are you out here, Emily?" His voice was low and husky. Davis's dark eyes glittered dangerously. He smelled her. Her scent was intoxicating to his senses. She smelled of woman and amber and something else. Honey.
Emily sighed deeply and stopped in front of him. She was looking up at him with those blue eyes of hers. "I could not sleep," she said softly.
Emily took Davis in with her eyes. She soaked him in with her stare. His hair was tousled from sleep. He was bare-chested and wore only a pair of flannel pj bottoms. His shoulders were broad and strong. He was muscular, and a fine layer of dark hair covered his pecs and flat stomach and traveled down into the waistband of his pj's. She let her mind wander there and felt her cheeks flush hotly. It dawned on her with absolute certainty at that moment. She wanted this man.
Davis reached out and with one hand pulled her to him. He saw the hot longing and need in her eyes. He recognized it quickly because he felt the same raw need and desire for Emily. He did not ask any questions. He spun her around and pinned her against the fence. He looked down at her and ran his big hand down her leg slowly, lazily. He took his time. He was in no hurry. He did not know what would happen tomorrow, but he knew what would happen now. He was going to have Emily, and he was going to enjoy learning every inch and curve of her body. He roughly crushed his lips to hers and began to explore the caverns of her mouth. He could still taste the coffee that she had after supper, and he moaned as she pressed closer into him and against him.
His kiss was bruising and hungry. Emily returned it to him hungrily and lustily. He lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around him."Be quiet." He whispered hoarsely.
He carried her back up on the porch and into the house. Lainie and Bella were sleeping soundly. Emily buried her head in his chest and rained soft kisses on his neck. He walked down the short hallway with her wrapped around him and walked into his bedroom. He slowly closed and locked the door.
Moonlight shone through the window, lighting up the room. Davis lowered Emily down onto the bed. She felt him raise her t-shirt over her head, and then he softly grabbed the band of her panties and pulled them down her shapely legs. Emily moaned as the air from the ceiling fan caressed her naked body. She had not been naked with a man in so long. Emily felt shy and started to turn away, but Davis sensed it and lay down beside her. He had taken off his bottoms and was as bare as she was. His hairy leg felt so good against hersârough and all, man.
He pulled her to him and ran his hands over her back and round buttocks. He pressed her into him, and she moaned as she felt his desire for her, pressing into her.
"I don't want to think of anything but us right now, Em." He whispered into her ear as he ran his hand down the length of her leg and pulled her even closer to him. "I don't want to think about tomorrow. I want tonight. Can we have tonight? Just you and me? No ghost or whatever the fuck it is. I want to pleasure every part of you and chase your demons away. Can I do that?" he asked tremulously as he turned her over onto her back and pressed her down against the sheets with his body. Emily looked up at him.
"Can I chase away your demons?" she asked in a sultry whisper.
Davis grinned and moaned as she offered herself to him.
Emily leaned back on her elbows, and her head was back. Her lustrous hair covered the pillow. He bent his head and kissed her forehead tenderly, her closed eyelids. Davis's lips traveled to her lips, and he bit playfully on her low lip, making her shiver. He ached with need for her. Davis explored further, making her gasp with pleasure as he took her nipple into his mouth and sucked it greedily and then the other. Emily moaned, and he stifled the sound by covering her mouth with his. She dug her hands into his hair and gave him full access to her. All of her.
Davis braced himself above her and entered her carefully, stretching her slowly to fit him. He throbbed within her hotly, and she moved her hips upward to grind against him. His thrust became faster and faster, and she matched him thrust for thrust. Their sweaty bodies were the same as they danced together in movements as old as time, wrapped up in one another, taking pleasure in each other. Emily moaned deeply as he brought her to the pinnacle of rapture, and she tensed around him, holding him there. Davis could hold himself back no longer and exploded inside of her. He collapsed, resting on top of her, and she wrapped her arms around him. He kissed her slowly, sweetly, and nuzzled his face against her neck. He looked at her bathed in moonlight, knowing he would never want to let her go. Emily was what he needed, and he hoped that she needed him. They curled up with each other and went to sleep.
They woke a few more times and enjoyed each other again, explored one another, every inch of each other just as he said that he would, and then dressed slowly and made their way back into the living room, where they lay back down on the pallet and fell asleep in each other's arms.
Lainie smiled softly.