Louisa Neil (6 page)

Half man, half bull
.

Diana gasped when the search turned up with the words “Minotaur” and “myth.” She opened the first page of listings and read through them. By the second page, she was overwhelmed. Most of the searches gave the same basic information. What bothered her most were the images that went with the articles. This was the monster from her nightmare. Even the labyrinth was depicted as she’d dreamed it.

Each entry was similar. Greek mythology related the myth of the Minotaur. He was described as a creature with the head of a bull and the body of a man. He lived at the center of the Cretan Labyrinth, an elaborate maze constructed under the city of Crete by decree of King Minos of Crete. The myth went that after ridding his land of his brothers, who were competing to rule, Minos agreed to sacrifice his best bull each year to Poseidon. For several years, the ritual was followed. Poseidon decided to test Minos and sent him a snow-white bull the following year. Minos was enamored with the bull and hid it for his personal stock. He offered Poseidon his second best bull, which was accepted, or so Minos thought.

To punish Minos, Poseidon had Aphrodite make the beautiful Pasiphae marry Minos. She immediately fell madly in love with the white bull. In secret, she had Daedalus, the finest craftsmen of their time, build a hollow, wooden cow. Pasiphae climbed inside the empty cow and proceeded to mate with the white bull. The offspring that was conceived of that coupling was the monster Minotaur. While Pasiphae mothered him in infancy, he grew ferocious. Being the unnatural offspring of woman and beast, he looked to man for his source of sustenance. Minos, who understood the Minotaur’s birth was his own fault for trying to trick Poseidon, had Daedalus construct the giant labyrinth under the city near Minos’s palace. There the Minotaur was left to survive on his own.

Each year, Minos ordered the Athenians to send over seven young men and seven young women to feed the Minotaur. This didn’t make Minos a popular ruler. Theseus, a strong young man, heard the cries of the families each year when their young were taken to feed the monster. He volunteered to replace one of the men. When he arrived in Crete, he met Ariadne, one of the king’s daughters. With her help, he was able to solve the labyrinthine maze and slaughtered the Minotaur.

Diana was mind-boggled when she finished reading the myth. There was a list of other myths, including Hercules, Medusa, Cerberus, Echidna, and Harpies. She wanted to read on but felt exhausted. More than exhausted, she was afraid to go to sleep, afraid what her dreams might conjure up.

Shutting the machine, she made a cup of tea and sat in her dark living room. Yes, she’d read the myth years ago for a college course. As she remembered, it was an elective she had figured was a few easy credits. Yet she still had no idea why or what had brought it to her mind these last nights. If she could figure out what triggered the dreams, she’d be able to get past them. Knowing what monster inhabited her subconscious would hopefully make them stop. She thought to search for information on Dane Bowie but couldn’t find the enthusiasm to actually open the computer again.

The next day she hurried to her basement office and went back over the week’s work she had scanned before the nightmares started. Nothing in any of those issues mentioned myths, Minotaurs, or any other of the mythical beasts she’d looked up. There was simply nothing that she could connect to the subject. While frustrated, she had to let it go and get back to work.

While she managed to continue scanning, the pages were just a blur, her mind preoccupied with monsters. Occasionally she’d hear a phone ring and voices upstairs. They were the only signs of life. She hadn’t heard anyone laughing today. Diana switched the pages and decided she probably wouldn’t for a while.

Then came the unmistakable sound of Dane’s voice. He was laughing at something. She wondered who he was talking to and if that person laughed because it was warranted or they felt it was required. Damn that man. She had enough on her mind beyond becoming increasingly besotted by a man she knew nothing about. A man who would single her out for his own comfort in an unfriendly crowd. How else would he use her, she wondered, and silently berated herself for the warmth spreading through her lower body.

Just after lunch, Dane came down. She was used to Walter stopping down to check on her at least once a day. Usually they would talk over what she was scanning or world events. It seemed to her Dane had a different purpose. Today, he seemed to be staring at her differently. Diana knew everyone upstairs would know of his dropping by, and it made her tense.

“Is there something I can help you with?” she asked, continuing to scan her precious back copies.

“You look tired,” he said, resting his hip on the edge of her worktable.

“Just fine.” Immediately, she wanted to pull it back because of the attitude in her tone. Relenting, she pushed back in her chair and openly studied him. “Okay, what’s up? Is there a problem with the Sunday issue?”

“No. It’s coming along. Not as fresh as I’d hoped for, but it’s coming.”

“Maybe the reporters aren’t sure what you want from them or what your definition of fresh is?”

“That’s one possibility.”

Today he seemed on edge. The easygoing man she’d met just a few days before was gone. Diana realized it was mostly a front, the new owner being overzealous with his new project and employees.

“Nobody upstairs talking to you?”

“Something like that. But they’ll come around.” He shrugged as if he didn’t care.

“Maybe they’re all wondering if they’ll still have a job next week, or next month. If you haven’t told them what you expect from them except ‘fresh,’ how can you expect them to produce? Everyone up there will have a different definition of the concept.”

“It will all work out with a little time.” He hesitated then added, “Are you sure you won’t have supper with me tonight?”

“No, I won’t change my mind. Dating my new boss is not a good idea.”

“I got the impression you were friends with Walter and occasionally dined with him.”

“Yes, but that was a relationship that built into a friendship over time. And there was no chance of it being construed as a sexual situation.”

He smiled broadly. “So you are thinking about us together.”

“Dane, I find you extraordinarily frustrating on many levels.” She drew a deep breath and let it out in small puffs. “And don’t start strutting like a peacock. I used the word ‘construed’ on purpose.”

“Is there a man in your life?”

“No.” She turned away, swapping out a finished page and replacing it with the next.

“A woman then?”

She didn’t answer, just glowered at him.

“Well, if you change your mind, just let me know.”

“I won’t change my mind, but I will offer you a bit of unsolicited advice.”

“Go ahead.”

“You’re toying with people’s lives and livelihoods. If you’re going to drop any bombs on them, do it quick. Everyone is on edge, including me. And you’ve already assured me I still have my job.”

“I’ll take it under advisement,” he said, rising to his full height. When she figured he’d turn and leave, he stalled. “Just one thing,” he told her and leaned forward, dropping his lips over hers. His kiss started out tender and built to something much more intense.

Diana knew she should pull away, and wanted to, but she didn’t. When he grasped her by her shoulders and drew her upward, she allowed him to maneuver her body against his. Their tongues tangled, and she could feel his erection pressing against her belly. Her pussy was going all wet, and her nipples were hard, so hard they almost ached. She wanted to grasp his hand and place it on her breast, pushing his fingers against her skin. Just when she thought to make the move, Dane pulled back. He held her a moment to steady her on her feet before letting go.

“Think about my invitation. We’d be good together.”

Diana dropped back in her seat and pressed the back of her hand against her well-kissed lips. She wanted to shift her jeans to pull them from between her pussy lips but didn’t. Instead, she just stared at him.

Finally, she managed a simple question. “For how long?”

“For as long as it lasts.” With that, he turned and left her sitting alone in front of her computer. She decided he had to know what kind of reaction he’d triggered inside her. It was very apparent he was aroused. Now if she could just stop her heart from racing and get her mind back on her own job.

She was thankful the week was over. While there were no more kissing moments, she began to wonder what it would truly be like to be touched by him. From their earlier kiss, she knew his cock was long and thick, knew he’d stretch her body in ways it had never known before. After doing her housekeeping and errands on Saturday, she was ready for a sedate Sunday with their newspaper and many naps.

* * * *

Dane knew showing up at Diana’s door unannounced would earn him a bit of attitude, but he didn’t care. Since taking over the paper, she’d become embedded in his mind. He had known last week not to kiss her and not to touch her, but he had. She hadn’t pushed him away. He took that as a good sign for their future. Since he knew his ulterior motive, and she was clueless, he’d have to be careful for a bit longer. He and Sloan had spent too many hours researching and ultimately settling in New Orleans because of her. He wasn’t sure what he expected from her today, only human contact. He decided she had no real idea how beautiful she truly was. Locked in that basement, she’d become accustomed to not having regular human contact.

He knew about her history, her family, and her schooling. He’d done his research on all the employees before making a final decision about the purchase. While he and Sloan had decided New Orleans was their relocation destination because of their quest, they’d had several choices of businesses to consider purchasing. It was Sloan who seemed to have a knack for reading Walter’s subconscious desire to retire and relocate when they’d come in contact at a restaurant. Dane knew Sloan’s abilities with people in general were an asset to their partnership. This was just one more point of proof.

They’d done the research on the employees. They’d known Diana was living in New Orleans but weren’t sure the newspaper was their best investment. It would keep her close to them until they were able to reveal their true motives regarding her. As soon as Sloan had become aware of her existence, he’d made the decision to move south. Once there, the decision to take over the newspaper had come naturally. It was a sound investment for them, one they could oversee but not have to work every day. Sloan already had a manager in mind for the daily routine. Walter had been more than willing to walk away for the right amount of money. Not that it had been a hostile takeover, more like being in the right place at the right time. Beyond Diana, this was a sound investment for the men. That it would put them in Diana’s realm was a bonus.

Sloan had warned Dane about showing his feelings for Diana and the need not to alienate her. They had spent a long time trying to find their woman. Now that they had, Sloan wanted to be cautious until she came to trust them. Revealing their secret to her had to be done carefully, or she’d think they were crazy and bolt. Neither man wanted to have to chase her if their secret unnerved her. Both men had uses for her in the near future, and Sloan didn’t want Dane to screw that up. Dane knew when the time was right, Sloan would make his appearance and his ploy for Diana.

In the meantime, she was fair game for Dane as long as he didn’t reveal their long-term plan or the reason for it. Dane rationalized that if she was already intimate with him, already enamored, or possibly in love, their transition to a threesome would be easier. Sloan could talk any woman into anything he needed or wanted from them. Usually, his looks won women over. Sometimes he had to put a bit of effort into it, but he always got what he wanted, for as long as he wanted. It didn’t bother Dane that he’d eventually share Diana with Sloan as long as he had her to himself for a while first. He and Sloan had known since they’d met years earlier that their paths were joined in an incomprehensible way. Sloan had carried the burden longer than he, but once he’d understood how they were connected, Dane couldn’t walk away. So now here he was, standing outside Diana’s front door, poised to knock and insinuate himself into her life.

He switched hands, holding the bag of fresh beignets, and knocked on her door. He wanted fresh coffee to go with them and found his stomach rumbling. He really should remember to eat more regularly. For him, meals were a passing phase to be enjoyed when he had the time, shoveled down when he was busy. Sometimes he craved certain foods, but other times he couldn’t stand the sight or smell of a particular item. It all evened out for him because he was healthy, so he didn’t worry about it. He knocked a second time and heard her footsteps coming toward him. As she pulled open the door, he fixed his best smile on his lips and hoped she’d invite him in of her own accord. It would be better for all of them if she came to her own conclusion that she wanted to spend time with him.

“What are you doing here?” she asked as soon as she pulled the heavy wooden door inward. She was staring at him through narrowed eyes, obviously annoyed.

Dane held up the bag of fresh pastries and hoped she’d soften. He wasn’t in the mood to have to maneuver her mind to his purposes. “I was hoping you’d offer fresh coffee to go with these.”