Masque (9 page)

Synn’s thumbs finally brushed her nipples as Matt’s tongue
started to fuck her.

“Watch him, Rena.”

Unable to resist Synn’s command as her body flooded with
pleasure, she looked down at his hands on her breasts until he spread them
apart and she had a clear view of Matt’s tongue diving between her legs.

That tongue grew more insistent, pressing farther into her
while Synn continued to pay homage to her breasts, circling the areolas,
massaging the full globes. She tried to keep the tension from building in her
body so she could enjoy her two-man sex longer. But then Matt’s tongue found
her clit and Synn’s fingers began to play upon her nipples while he kissed her
neck. The numerous sexual stimuli broke what little control she had and she let
her body’s stimulation grow.

Synn’s hands slipped down to her pussy and his finger
stroked her clit while Matt returned to spear her with his insistent tongue.
Her body hummed with erotic spikes. She closed her eyes as the men’s attentions
to her pussy converged. Synn’s hand left her nipple and grasped her head to
thrust his tongue into her mouth just as Matt’s cock nudged the opening of her
pussy. She moaned.

Synn broke their kiss. “No!” Standing, he pulled Rena up
with him, toppling Matt. Anything to keep the young man from entering her.

Matt looked desperate for release.

Synn fisted his free hand. What the hell was he doing? This
was how it needed to be. She had to experience a threesome or the room would
not be considered complete.

He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t let Matt have her. Blast! He
had to, she needed to have them both. He glanced at the furniture, hoping for
anything to inspire him…and then it did.

Rena looked up at him. “Synn? Is something wrong?” Her lips
were dark red from his kiss, her nipples peaked.

He gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile, but
considering how painfully hard his cock was, he couldn’t be sure it wasn’t a
grimace. “No, just time to finish this.”

Her heat had cooled a little at his interruption, but it
would soon return. He offered Matt a hand up, knowing the man was confused
because the plan had been for him to come inside her. “Go over to the desk,
Matt.”

Matt nodded and stood behind the huge piece of furniture.

Synn led Rena to the other side of the desk to face Matt. He
wrapped his arms around her and with his hands offered her breasts to the man.

Matt didn’t hesitate. He reached across the desk and grasped
her nipples with his fingers.

“Oh.” Her voice was soft, but excited.

Synn pushed his body against hers and bent her toward Matt.
At his nod, Matt gave a gentle tug.

Her torso stretched over the desk. Rena moaned.

Biting down hard to keep his cock under control, Synn urged
her upper body to lie across the desk. “Do we make you feel needed, Rena? Can
you tell how much we both want to fuck you with our cocks at the same time?
Look at me.”

She did and at her inhalation, he smirked. Perfect. “Do you
want Matt’s hard dick in your mouth? I’ll let Matt decide if you deserve a
taste.”

Matt let go of Rena’s nipples faster than a lightning strike
and propped his cock up with his hand.

She brought her hands up to hold it for him and licked the
head.

Synn fought for control as he inched her legs apart and
stroked his cock along the outside of her wet pussy. His other hand held her
ass, her legs pushed against the desk.

Rena murmured between her licks across Matt’s ridges. “Synn,
take me, please.”

He pushed against her engorged folds and inch by inch slid
in.

At his invasion, Rena took Matt’s cock fully into her mouth.
She wanted both cocks and she grazed Matt with her teeth as Synn pulled out
again. Matt’s whistle of appreciation encouraged her. Her breasts, smashed
against the dark wood of the desk, slid when her body moved with Synn. She
grabbed Matt’s ass and pulled him into her mouth again as Synn’s cock invaded
her, pushing her forward.

As she let Matt slip from her mouth, she pushed her hips
back. “More, Synn, I need more.” She pulled Matt’s cock deep into her mouth in
one fast motion. Synn caught on and pushed his cock into her hard. She moaned
as they found a rhythm. Synn sliding to the hilt, pushing her toward Matt so
she could take him deep into her mouth. They were fucking her from both ends
with two cocks, and her body lit up like the Fourth of July. She wanted more.
Their rhythm grew faster, making her body slide back and forth across the desk,
rubbing her nipples along the grain, Synn pounding into her from behind,
pushing her mouth to Matt’s hilt.

Her body sweated as desire rifled through her, teasing her
with fulfillment. Synn bent over her and held on to the desk above her head,
shortening his strokes, pounding into her, Matt’s cock sliding but an inch each
way deep in her throat. Matt’s hands tightened in her hair as his body strained
and his shout coincided with a pulsing in his cock as he came in her mouth.

Rena moaned at the taste of cum as her own orgasm tightened
around Synn’s cock and exploded. His cum spurted inside her, sending her
ecstasy to another level as Matt’s cum slid down her throat.

Her body’s convulsions eventually subsided and she released
her hold on Matt. He fell back into the chair at the desk. She couldn’t help
her triumphant grin. After all, the boy had been in sore need of an orgasm, and
he had a whopper.

Synn stood, but grasped her hips and pumped a few more times
before pulling away and helping her to stand on wobbly legs. He turned her
around and tenderly tucked her breasts back into her dress and lifted her
fallen spaghetti straps onto her shoulders. Then he tugged her dress down past
her hips and ass. Lastly, he brushed her hair off her shoulders and cupped her
chin with his hands. Bringing his lips close, he whispered, “Thank you.”

When he didn’t kiss her but instead lifted his head and
spoke to Matt, she admitted to a slight disappointment. “Thank you, Matt.”

She didn’t hear anything from her landscaper so she assumed
he nodded.

Like the night before, Synn scooped her into his arms and
strode naked from the room.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, loving how he carried
her with little effort. When they neared her room, she couldn’t help asking,
“Is the Green Room then the room for threesomes?”

His chest vibrated as he chuckled before he opened the door,
but upon entering, he froze. She switched her gaze from his face to her room.

A blond man sat in the chair by her cold fireplace. He was
as naked as Synn, minus a mask. He held a wineglass in one hand and sported a
skinny penis. He had to be Valerie’s ghost from the night before.

Synn’s body radiated anger. His muscles so tense beneath
her, she hoped he wouldn’t accidently crush her. Having the ghost in her room
made her thankful Synn had been so kind as to redress her.

Synn’s voice vibrated from deep within his chest. “Eric.
What are you doing in here?”

The man swirled his wine before meeting Synn’s gaze. Rena
didn’t stifle her gasp fast enough. The man’s eyes were black, no irises, just
pupils, and they were large. As she shivered in reaction, Synn’s grasp
tightened.

The man stared at him with resentment, but his voice was no
more than a rasp. “You told me to leave the boyish blonde alone, so I assumed
you wanted me to take care of this pretty harlot.”

Synn’s body stiffened. He carefully lowered her to her feet,
but kept his arm around her waist. “No, I told you to leave the breathing
people alone.”

Eric took a sip of brandy before turning his gaze on her. He
scrutinized every part of her body, making her feel unclean.

“Enough!” Synn’s booming voice startled her. “Out. Now. And
do not return to this room.”

Eric sighed and leered at her. “He can be such a bore, you
know. If you tire of him, I’m readily available.”

She found his barely there voice far creepier than missing
legs.

He stood, giving his penis a stroke. Then he walked toward
them, but stopped and glared at Synn. “You have the advantage now, but we will
all be stronger in but a few days. Then what will you do, great noble one?”

Rena shivered at the sly grin on Eric’s face long before he
reached toward her, but Synn’s reactions were far quicker than hers. He grasped
Eric’s wrist and from the look on the ghost’s face, Synn’s grip wasn’t
comfortable.

“Do not tempt me, Eric.”

Eric’s sneer reminded Rena of a clown in a horror movie she
once watched.

“What are you going to do, Synn? Kill me?” He laughed, the
scratchiness of the sound irritating her nerves.

Synn dropped Eric’s hand. “There are fates worse than death,
and I do have friends in high places.”

Eric snorted as he rubbed at his wrist. “I don’t think the
great prince will be of much help. He’s sunk to depths even I can’t reach,
though I do try.”

Synn pulled her back against his chest. “I believe you were
just leaving, never to return.”

“And yet, never going far either.” Eric’s raspy chuckle as
he left reminded Rena of a man who’d had his larynx removed. She shivered in
response.

Synn pulled her into his arms. “He won’t come in here
again.”

She nodded against his hard, naked chest, but she wasn’t
sure she believed it. Eric’s attitude told her he wasn’t through with her yet,
and she wouldn’t like whatever he cooked up.

Synn lifted her head from his chest. “Would you like me to
stay with you tonight?”

Her heart tripped at the idea of lying next to his
magnificent body and falling asleep. That would be heaven. Or maybe better yet,
they could make love in her bed and—

“Rena. If I stay with you, it will only be to sleep.
Otherwise, I should leave.”

Her disappointment must have shown because he smiled
knowingly at her. But the truth was, at least tonight, she’d feel safer if he
was with her. “Please stay.”

He gave her his nod and kissed her forehead. “Come.”

Taking her hand, he led her to the bed. He untied her mask
and threw it on the nightstand. With the utmost care, he pulled off her dress.
“You looked ravishing in this dress tonight.”

She blushed. His compliment so sincere, she didn’t have the
heart to tell him he needed to have his eyes checked. “Thank you.”

He stepped away and pulled a t-shirt from her drawer.

“How’d you know where I keep my—”

“Lift your arms.”

“T-shirts?”

Synn ignored her question and placed the shirt over her
head. Then he divested himself of his own mask and pulled back the blanket. He
nudged her onto the sheets and for a moment he looked about to cover her, but
he slipped in beside her instead and pulled the blanket to his waist.

Relieved, she snuggled into him, laying her head on his
shoulder and crossing one leg over his. He pulled her close and she relaxed. Oh
sugar, she’d left her thong downstairs. She’d retrieve it tomorrow. With the
night’s activity catching up with her fast, she was far too comfortable to get
it now.

Synn berated himself for a fool. What had he been thinking
to offer to stay with her? Eric wouldn’t come back. But when she had shivered
in fear from that cockchafer, he’d wanted to comfort her. It made sense to be
sure she was comfortable with continuing the Masque. There were still four more
rooms and now with Eric having made his appearance, it wouldn’t be easy.

He lightly stroked Rena’s arm, enjoying the feel of her soft
skin. He kissed the top of her head, the pomegranate scent strong, but not
enough to overpower the musky smell of her sex. She’d taken to the Green Room
well, maybe too well. When he’d seen Matt ready to enter her, he hadn’t thought
twice about why he couldn’t let it happen. He just couldn’t. He’d never had a
problem sharing a woman before.

Synn wished himself on the roof, but he’d made a promise to
stay. He couldn’t think inside the Abbey. Maybe that was why he’d come again
tonight. Watching her suck on Matt’s cock while he pumped into her from behind
had made him lose all control. When he was fully alive, he had complete command
of his body, but it was now in a state of limbo.

He wasn’t dead, but on the other hand, he had been shot and
yet continued to exist. Long ago, he had accepted his fate. His duty was to
free the souls of those he’d killed. What happened after he succeeded didn’t
matter. He stared at the woman in his arms and his gut tightened into a painful
twist.

In the corridor of the servants’ wing, Rena found the large
wooden door declaring the entry to the small chapel. Strange. It had a direct
link to the servants, but not to the other occupants of the Abbey. Then again,
if the midnight ghosts were any indication, the guests of the Abbey probably
didn’t have piety on their minds.

So why was
she
here? Business. It was her business to
know the grounds of the Abbey for her guests. She’d been taking digital photos
all morning to use on the web or in advertisements. As she pulled on the door,
she was surprised to find it swung easily on noiseless hinges. Hesitantly, she
stepped inside.

Peace. Her first impression held her in place. The silence
of the space had a comforting effect and her mind calmed. As she walked down
the narrow stone aisle, warmth and happiness grew within her. She had no idea
what religion might have been practiced in the quaint building, but whatever it
was, it had been welcoming.

She stopped at the marble altar and laid her hand on it. A
low vibration thrummed against her palm and she pulled her hand away. How odd.
She walked around the altar, looking for some type of machinery, but found
none. Since electricity hadn’t been available yet in the late nineteenth
century, that made sense. So what was causing the movement? She put her palm to
the stone again. The vibration remained, and it sparked a memory of the
curtains in the dining room. Removing her hand, she examined it. Why would the
white marble remind her of green velvet curtains? She shook her head and stood
behind the altar to view the pews.

The chapel was homey, if such could be said to describe an
old stone structure built for worship. From the warm pine pews to the brightly
colored stained glass windows, it radiated safety, comfort, and invitation.
Maybe it was built to invite the sinners of the Pleasure Palace to repent. She
smirked. As nice as the place was, it probably didn’t work.

She wandered over to one of the narrow windows that offered
a view of the Abbey yard. The graveyard she had seen from the roof spread out
before her. From the dulled edges of the headstones, it was clear the weather
had taken its toll over the years. Anxious to take a closer look, she glanced
around the chapel for a side exit and spotted a small door to the left of the altar.

Unlatching the wooden door, she stepped into the cemetery.
As she drew closer to a headstone, it became obvious the weather hadn’t given
it its misshapen appearance. The headstone itself was a number of smaller
stones mortared together to approximate the shape of one. Peering at the
shallow engraving, she read the name Victoria Montgomery. The date of the
woman’s birth was unclear, but her death took place in 1861.

Meandering between the stones, she read a few more. They all
had the same year of death. Picking up her pace, she perused an entire row of
ten graves. All died in 1861. It had to be the Red Death. The town had been
decimated, leaving only a quarter of its population to carry on.

She crossed her arms over her chest as a cloud floated in
front of the sun, cooling the air. So many people dying at the same time had to
have been devastating to those left behind. She couldn’t imagine what it had
been like.

Wandering through the graveyard, she read each name as she
passed, searching for one with a different death year. She stopped. Eve Hansen.
Dread crept up her spine as she stepped to the next stone. Jonathan Hansen.
Could it be a coincidence? With feet dragging, she walked to the next stone and
the next. The third stone confirmed her fears. Mrs. Margaret McMurray,
1798–1861.

The graveyard was filled with the ghosts of the Abbey, not
of the townspeople.

As if the breath had been knocked from her, she plopped down
on the grass. Air barely filled her lungs as her body constricted against the
reality of her new home. She’d been so excited to find ghosts, she’d forgotten
they were once living, breathing people with hopes and dreams and loves and
lives. Staring at the headstones surrounding her, her heart burst and tears
rolled down her cheeks. She didn’t care that it made no sense to weep for
people who had been dead for over a century, especially when they seemed so
alive within her Abbey. Their lives had been cut short by a brutal, probably
painful disease. A deep sorrow permeated her soul and no reasoning could push
it away.

She had no idea how much time passed as she sat on the moist
ground, but eventually, she wiped her eyes and made an effort to get a hold of
herself, but the deep sadness remained. She looked longingly at the chapel. Its
soothing presence called her, and her jeans had become damp from the grass.
Standing, she studied the rows of stones. She needed to know. She counted.
There were seventy-three. New tears started.

Blindly, she raced to the side door of the chapel. She sat
on the first pew she reached. Closing her eyes, she took deep breaths, trying
to find the solace of the space again. It came, blanketing her with
reassurance. As the scent of incense filled her nose, she calmed. Incense? She
opened her eyes. No one was there, but the spicy odor remained strong. She took
another deep breath, the scent filling her with peace. She’d just overreacted.
What did she know about events that occurred over a century ago? Shaking her
head, she stood. “Thank you.”

Her voice sounded soft in the stone room. She had no idea
why she spoke, but the need to show her gratefulness was strong. Usually, she
wasn’t such an emotional mess, but she had to admit, the Abbey was a strange
place. Grabbing her camera from where she’d left it, she strode back down the
aisle. She’d have to take pictures another day. She had an urge to find live
people to be with.

* * * * *

Rena leaned against the closed door for a moment before
heading back the way she came. Voices drifted through the corridor. Ghosts? The
sounds were harsh and loud and came from the forward area of the Abbey.
Quickening her steps, she sped through the servants’ quarters. As she neared
the kitchen, the words became clear. Too clear.

“Why the hell did you call me if you were going to make a
mess of this wall anyway? What idiot did that?” The harsh baritone voice was
one she hadn’t heard before, and she increased her pace.

Valerie’s voice, however, was easily recognizable. “Excuse
me? You’re the one who said you’d be here when you were good and ready. I hate
to tell you, buddy, but I don’t have time to wait for you to decide to mosey on
over here. I’ve got electrical to get in, pipes to be updated and appliances to
install!”

Oh boy, this wasn’t good.

“Well, let me tell you something, Miss Priss. I’ve got a good
mind to let you keep your mess all to yourself.”

“Mind? You’ve got a mind? You could have fooled me.”

Rena pushed open the door of the servants’ quarters in time
to see Valerie and a rather brawny man standing toe to toe, their noses almost
touching.

The man straightened. “That’s it. I don’t need to take this
from some scrawny American girl. I’ve got plenty of other jobs I can be doing.”

Rena’s gut told her this wouldn’t be a good option for her
bed-and-breakfast. She stepped up to the man and laid her hand on his forearm.
Shit, his was huge. “Excuse me, sir, but I’m Rena Mills and I own this place.
Can I help?”

The man turned his furious brown-eyed gaze upon her and took
a deep breath, which made his chest expand beneath his white t-shirt, reminding
her of the Incredible Hulk. He had short brown hair and a neck like a football
player, but what drew her attention was his heavy eyebrows. He couldn’t be
older than thirty-two. Wasn’t he supposed to be old?

Once he’d gained control of himself, he held out his hand.
“Name’s Jamie MacAllistair, stone mason. I was given to understand you needed
stonework done. This woman,” he pointed to Valerie, “tells me she’s the
contractor on this project, but from the mess she created over there, I find
that hard to believe.”

Rena shook Jamie’s hand, but looked at Valerie and drew her
brows together in warning. Her friend took the hint and shut her mouth before
storming from the room. The mason was a MacAllistair?

“Thank you so much for coming, Jamie. Yes, Valerie is my
contractor, but I’m afraid this messy hole is my fault. I’ve been pushing her
to get a number of preliminary items accomplished so we can open the Abbey as a
bed-and-breakfast by fall. When you couldn’t give her a time of when you could
work on our project, she started without you to please me. Is there anything
you can do to fix it?”

He shook his head, but took a step closer to the offending
wall and studied it. “Ms. Mills, some things just need to be done right the
first time. What you have here is a major project instead of a minor one.” He
ran his hand through his hair. “I suppose I could patch it up here, and cut
this here. It still won’t be pretty.”

She smiled warmly, using all the charm she could muster. “I
would be grateful for anything you could do. It’s in the kitchen where the
guests shouldn’t wander, so if it’s not perfect, they won’t see it.”

He turned his full dark gaze on her. “I only do perfect.”

Was this man for real? “I believe you. With this wall
though, I know anything you do for it will be a huge improvement. Where I need
perfect is in the dining room and it sounds like you are the man for that.”

His harsh mouth softened a bit. “I’m the best.” He stopped
and turned to study the hole again. “All right, I’ll patch this so it’s
serviceable and do my usual work in the other room.” His eyes grew shrewd as he
studied her. “But it will cost you.”

She nodded and swallowed. “I really appreciate it. Did you
need any help? I can ask our landscaper to assist you if you want.”

“No, I work alone.”

Of course he did. Who would want to work with him? “Okay,
I’ll let you get started then. If you need anything, just ask Valerie. And
thank you again for coming to this project so quickly. As you can see, we do
need you.”

Jamie grunted before he left the kitchen, hopefully to grab
his tools. Having averted one disaster, she peeked into the dining room to see
if Valerie was there, but no luck.

Knowing her friend, Rena didn’t bother to check the colored
rooms, but headed straight out the front door. She found Valerie in one of the
side yards, the one where Synn had said many a woman had been kissed.

Valerie’s focus was trained on a notebook she carried around
containing everything having to do with the renovations. Rena tapped her on the
shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

Valerie raised her gaze, but let it slide away as she strode
through the English garden.

Rena hooked her by the arm and steered her to a bench.
“Okay, sit.”

She did, which in and of itself surprised Rena. Something
was wrong. “Now spill.”

Valerie set down her notebook and rubbed her face with both
hands. “I don’t know. Everything, I guess. Maybe it’s the fact that none of
these furnishings should exist, or maybe it’s the naked ghost in my room.”

“Wait, Eric came back?”

Her friend shook her head. “No, he didn’t. Thank Synn for
me, will you? I guess he does have his uses.”

Rena smirked. It must have killed Valerie to say that. “He
has other uses too.”

“Yeah, but I’m not sleeping with him, so I don’t find him
that useful. I still say there is something not quite right about him. He’s too
damn arrogant to be homeless, but he lives here, and yet he has not once eaten
with us.”

Rena swallowed her surprise that Valerie not only knew she
was intimate with Synn, but had also noticed his lack of attention to food. Her
friend was too damn observant. Rena put her hands on her hips. “But that’s not
what’s bothering you.”

Valerie shrugged, and in that nonchalant gesture was the
answer.

“It’s Jamie, isn’t it?”

Valerie shook her head, but it didn’t hide the flush rising
in her cheeks. This confident woman never blushed. “Not him so much as his
attitude. I don’t think I’ve ever run into a man like—”

“Yes, you have. I’ve seen you. Remember the tile layer last
year or the roofing guy from the Rawlins project? They had the same ridiculous attitude
as this man. But you didn’t like them.”

Valerie’s head snapped up. “What do you mean, like him? You
heard him. He’s the most arrogant artisan I’ve ever encountered and he thinks I
don’t know my job!”

Rena put her finger to her lips. “Shhh. You don’t have to
tell the world. But he isn’t the ninety-year-old you were expecting either.”

“No, he isn’t. He’s young and built like a bulldozer and…”

Rena sat next to Valerie. “And he sends your libido into
overdrive?”

Her friend’s nod was barely perceptible.

“Then show him you’re interested.”

Valerie raised her eyebrows. “Did you see him? He’s gorgeous
and I’m…”

Rena took Valerie’s hand. “You’re what? Beautiful?
Knowledgeable? Gutsy? What?”

Her friend stood and picked up her notebook. “I’m flat,
skinny, and don’t have a girly-girl bone in my body. Why would a guy like that,
who’s so male, want this?” She pointed to her chest.

Rena sat stunned for a moment. Valerie had never, ever shown
such insecurities before. “Lots of men would, but there is only one you are
interested in, so let’s start there.” She stood and strode toward the break in
the trees that divided the English garden from the bowling lawn. “And I think
you’ll make better progress with him if you stop insulting him.”

Valerie fell into step with her. “He probably lives with his
mother or maybe grandmother. The woman on the phone was old.”

“So, I bet he’s taking care of her. Now let’s get back to
work. I know you can be more professional than what I witnessed in the kitchen.
Besides, I don’t want to have to fire you.” She smirked in anticipation of
Valerie’s response.