Dark Admirer

A Total-e-bound Publication

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The Watchers: Dark Admirer

ISBN #978-1-906590-12-3

©Copyright Charlotte Featherstone 2008

Cover Art by Anne Cain ©Copyright February 2008

Edited by Claire Siemaszkiewicz

Total-e-bound books

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

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The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2008 by Total-e-bound eBooks 1 The Corner, Faldingworth Road, Spridlington, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, LN8 2DE, UK.

Warning:
This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has been rated
Total-e-burning
.

The Watchers

DARK ADMIRER

Charlotte Featherstone

Dedication

To everyone who believes that angels walk amongst us.

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Toberlone: Kraft Foods

Charlotte Bronte: Jane Eyre

Justin Timberlake, 50Cent: Ayo Technology.

Prologue

Stirring, his body awakened as blood surged forth, the warmth rushing through his veins, filling his body with its life giving force. Crouched into a ball, he lifted his head up from his folded arms which had lain atop his bent knees.

Eyes now open, he blinked once, then again, adjusting his sight to the brightness from the black obsidian which he was gradually emerging from.

“
Anael…”

He heard his name whispered on the breeze, felt the air swirl around him as he unfurled his long body to stand at his full height. The bones of his legs lengthened, the powerful muscles in his thighs stretched, reconnecting to bone as they grew to accommodate and support his large frame. Raising his face to the wind, his lips parted; drawing in clean, pure air which he pulled deep into his chest, filling his lungs until they could take no more.

He breathed again—
deeper
—felt the strength, the vitality in him grow with each slow breath.

“Hear me Angel of Pleasure…”

Once more his name was carried on the wind, calling him forth just as he felt his heart begin to thump deep within his chest, resurrecting his body for the task ahead.

“By the power and the spirits, I summon you to do my bidding…”

What mortal was this, beckoning him, invoking his powers and seeking his gifts? What mortal was truly worthy of the special gifts he could bestow upon them?

Looking down, Anael searched between the white shafts of light and the shifting shadows of grey clouds. Below him lay the Earth. Beneath him was a mortal chanting his name—a human in need of his services.

“
Anael, I pray to you, come to me…”

The wind gusted, parting the clouds and rifling through his hair. He felt his wings unfurl, spreading wide over the width of his back, felt the gathering wind blow through the silky feathers as they expanded to reach their full breadth.

One long imposing black feather blew free of his wings and drifted up to his face, reminding him of what he was. He closed his eyes, seeking to shut out the vision before him.

“Anael, the greatest of the Fallen, share with me your powers. Give to me my heart’s greatest desire.”

A human male.
Another one
.

With his eyes still shut, Anael blocked out the man’s chanting, closed his thoughts off, refusing to think of anything other than the end of his punishment, which would be over after he served this human.

One more soul, he thought savagely as he worked up the effort to end his curse. One more soul and it would be done. Part of his punishment would be lifted.

His eyelids opened in time to watch the descent of the black feather as it tumbled through the clouds and floated down to the earth. He heard the mortal’s voice growing more insistent. ‘
One last time’
he heard an invisible, but unrelenting voice whisper to him.

Anael spread his arms wide and tilted his face up to the seven Heavens of the Creator, curling his lips in a mockery of a smile. “Thy will shall be done,” he cried, as much to the ruler as to the human.

And then he fell, tumbling through the heavens to the earth, his black wings fluttering, carrying him to the mortal and the end of his curse.

Chapter One

“Have you looked outside recently?”

Shoving aside the lace curtains that framed the front window of her bookstore, Eve cradled her cell phone to her ear and glanced up at the steel grey clouds. “Pretty ominous, isn’t it?”

“You think?” her friend, Gemma responded. “The weatherman says it’s blowing in over the lake and seeing as you’re down at the harbour front, you’re bound to get stranded. The storm is serving up high winds, white outs and ice pellets. In an hour nothing is going to be running—well, maybe the electricity—if we’re lucky.”

“You’re such a worry wart,” Eve groaned, even as she stole another glance up at the angry sky.

“Well, it’s obvious that I need to worry for both of us. Besides, what are best friends for if they can’t be concerned for each other?” Gemma challenged. “You’re so laid back that you’re going to find yourself stranded in your bookstore for the night. What a way to break in the new year, sitting alone with a bunch of books.”

“That’s what I normally do every year on New Year’s Eve.”

Gemma heaved out an exasperated sigh that vibrated against the speaker of Eve’s phone. “C’mon, Eve, just head on over here. The buses are still running and you won’t have to worry about the ice and winds if you leave now. Look, if you don’t want to take the bus or the subway, I’ll have Martin swing by and pick you up.”

“No, you’re not sending your husband out in this weather. I’d never forgive myself if something bad happened.”

“Okay, then take a cab. Just get your buns over here.”

“I’m not dressed for anything other than selling books.”

“I’ll loan you something of mine.”

Eve sighed and pressed her fingers to her eyes, suddenly feeling a headache coming on. “And how will that work out precisely, Gem? You’re a size four, and I’m size sixteen—that’s a size six with a one in front of it, in case you didn’t know that.”

“Eve…” her friend warned.

“Oh, c’mon, Gemma, it’s no big deal. You don’t have to struggle to find the right words to console me. I’m totally okay with what size I am. We just gotta face facts, we’re never sharing clothes. Besides, you know perfectly well that I like my figure.”

“Yeah, and I’m certain Richard would like it too. But for him to like it, he’d actually have to see it. That means you have to leave Quills right now and get your butt over here before you get stranded for the night. What are you wearing anyway?”

“Jeans—”

“And a lace camisole and that stretched out brown sweater,” Gemma finished for her.

“Wrongo,” Eve laughed as she looked down at her attire. “I’m wearing that cool poncho I bought last summer in London—you remember, it’s that burgundy and black velvet one I picked up at that vintage clothing store on Carnaby Street.”

“That little shop in Soho? Oh, God, that’s even worse. I can’t believe you’re wearing that thing. I told you not to buy that Goth monstrosity.”

“Hey, I am what I am. I’ll leave high fashion to you, and you leave the books and cooking to me.”

“Hippie.”

“Fashion Whore.”

They both burst out laughing, then Eve sobered. “Seriously, Gem, I’ll be over. I promised to bring that Toblerone cheesecake you love so much. How can I do that if I come straight to your place?”

“Oh, God, that cheesecake is an orgasm on a plate!”

“Yeah, and it’s sitting in my refrigerator, waiting to be torn into.”

“Okay, then. But leave now, pick up the cheesecake and head on over.”

“Hey, Gemma? I just want you to know how much I appreciate all that you and Martin have done to help me meet…people.”

“You mean guys.”

“Yeah, guys.”

“You’ll love him,” Gemma gushed. “Richard’s cute and educated, and he’s got a fabulous mop of brown hair. He’s an awesome dresser, if a bit on the conservative side, which may or may not irk you. But the best thing is, he loves reading. The guy could talk books all night. God, I swear, he was born for you, Eve.”

Taking a deep breath, Eve nodded and tried to tell herself she believed her friend. Truth was, she didn’t. She didn’t really believe that the right guy was waiting out there for her.

God, it had been so long since she’d been out on a date, and even longer since she’d had a
successful
date. She didn’t even want to think about how long it had been since she’d had sex. And Pinkie, her vibrator, didn’t count. Even though she had used it that morning and had enjoyed a great orgasm. But Pinkie was silicone, and plastic, no matter how ‘realistic’ it might look, it just didn’t take the place of a man’s hands…or his mouth…or oh…god, she couldn’t think like this right now.

It had been so long since a man had been buried deep inside her, and Eve was loathe to admit how much she missed the sensation, how much she needed to feel that once again. But she couldn’t lie to herself. She knew what she wanted. To be desired. To be wanted. That more than anything was what she needed, to be some man’s fantasy. To be the type of woman who had a man dreaming and wanting. She wanted to be everything to this mystery lover. She wanted to be his ultimate, to do everything he’d ever desired, to live out every one of his fantasies.

“Eve?” Her friend’s voice drew Eve out of her thoughts, “I know relocating here wasn’t an easy decision for you. And it hasn’t been easy meeting friends, or the right kind of guy. But I want you to know, all that’s gonna change.”

“How do you know that, Gemma?”

“I can just tell. It’s in the air. I can feel it. This is gonna be your year, kiddo. Quills has been a smashing success and now it’s time for your personal life to have the same sort of triumphs. Hurry over, kay? And don’t worry about what you’re wearing, we’ll just order some pizza and wings and throw back a few beers. All the big posh parties will be cancelled anyway because of the weather. Deal?”

“Deal.”