Vision in Faith (Legends of the North Book 3) (10 page)

And Emma… well, she'd known Emma since high school, and she'd never seen her looking so happy. Her chest tightened and she turned away to find James watching her. Turning from him too, she said to the room in general, "Thank you all for your help. Who wants to go to the pub? Drinks are on me."

James answered before anyone else could. "Why don't we all go back to mine? I have a well-stocked liquor cabinet, and we can talk in private there too."

Vicky wondered what he wanted to talk about, but everyone agreed with him so she went along with it. Leaving Teazle curled up on the back of the sofa looking out the window over the street, they made their way to James's.

When they'd all settled with their drinks, James leaned against the windowsill with his back to the window so he faced them all. But it was her he looked at as he spoke. "Vicky had a vision. It was about a snake that talked about reincarnation and no longer being bound."

The only noise after his announcement was the sound of the gentle wind blowing down the chimney. Vicky dropped James's gaze as she rubbed the heart charm on her bracelet. He could have spoken to her first, warned her at least that he was going to bring that up.

"That's not really surprising." Her head jerked up at Matt's words. He gave her a smile and continued. "Snakes are known as symbols of reincarnation, and the way they coil themselves is a sign of eternity. The fact that they shed their skin also speaks of them reincarnating themselves. Also, Romans associated snakes with Apollo, who was the god of truth and prophecy. Legends recount that he had a fight with a python. Was it a python in your vision?"

Vicky stared at Matt. That was a lot of information to take in at once.
How does he know so much?

"He's studying English, but he teaches history part time and works at the museum. All things Roman are his passion."
 

Vicky looked at Emma and nodded.
Still.

"Was it a python?" Matt asked again.
 

"I have no idea. I don't know what a python looks like. I was too busy trying to get the thing off my arm rather than worrying about what kind of snake it was."

Matt nodded. "Did you notice what colour it was?"

"It must have been black," James answered for her.

Matt turned his attention to James. "How'd you know that?"

"After the vision, there was a skin that had been shed in Vicky's bedroom. It was greyish in colour."

"Probably not a python, then. Never mind."

"But this is the second time the visions have been about reincarnation," Jess said. "Mine spoke of the sins of our fathers too."

"That sounds like something from the Bible." All eyes turned to Vicky. "What? We can talk about Roman gods but not the Bible?" she said, lifting her shoulders, palms up.

"She's right," James said. "In my dreams, I was told to offer myself to her fire before Vicky went up in flames. Remind anyone of anything?"

"Hell," Vicky whispered. Her gaze whipped to James's and she shuddered when memories of church and Sunday school as a child flitted through her mind.
 

Hell. Flames.
 

The devil.
 

Her hands were clammy, and she rubbed them down her thighs, trying to take deep, slow breaths. Her heart felt like it was trying to break free from her chest.

James dropped her gaze and turned to look out the window before he rested his forehead on the pane. The room was quiet; she wondered if everyone could hear the thudding of her heart.

Suddenly, James turned to face them. "So, what are we supposed to do? Knowing they're Roman-related doesn't help us. We still don't know what's behind the attacks or when they'll come again. If we don't know that, how do we know what to do next?" Hands clenched, he dropped his head back against the window, blowing out a shaky breath.

Matt sat forward, hands swinging between his legs. "Well, actually it does help. I was playing around with my spreadsheet… I mean, I can't believe I didn't realise before."

"Matt." James ground the word out between his teeth.

"What?"

"Just get to the point where you tell me you figured this thing out."

"I really wish I could, James. But I can tell you that whatever vision Vicky has next will be related to Diana. Or Venus."

James dropped his head back against the window again. "You sure, Matt? Or do you want to add in a couple more gods for good measure?"
 

"James!"

"Sorry, Jess. It's just"—James threw his hands up in the air—"how does that help, Matt?"

"Knowing which goddess the vision will be related to means I can do some more research on them too. I can try to figure out what the visions mean. And well, we have to trust that…" Matt looked over to Vicky briefly then back to James. "We'll have to trust they'll lead us to wherever or whatever we need, like when we found the shields."

"Great. So we just get to sit and wait for something to happen."

Matt stood, glaring at James, his hands also clenched at his sides. "If it's any consolation, you probably won't have to wait long."

James pushed off from the window and Vicky could see the lines framing his eyes. Suddenly, he looked tired, very tired. "What makes you say that?"

"Because all the visions have tied in with a god or goddess. Each god was tied to a month, usually when their festival was in Roman times. Apollo's was in July. Diana and Venus in August."

"So?"

"So," Matt said taking a deep breath, "September is Jupiter. Jupiter with his symbols of lightning and oak trees. Sound familiar?"

James turned to look at Emma, who was staring at Matt.

"So, what, this thing ends in September because we'll have gone through all the gods? Matt, that doesn't make any sense. And why didn't you tell me?"

He shrugged in answer to Emma's question. "This all started when you came back to Altenchester, Emma. The visions, the attacks. It tried to kill us back then. But yes, I think it's because of the gods. And I think we'll run out of time. It will come for us in August, and I don't know if we'll be so lucky when it comes this time."

Chapter 11

After Matt's revelation, no one was much in the mood for talking, and the others soon left. But Vicky was still sitting on the sofa, just trying to process it all. Matt had said they needed to have trust, but something was coming for them.

She shivered as she remembered the look on his face. Just over a month. They had a month to figure out what the hell was going on and how to stop it. Her stomach clenched at the thought that, if they hadn't worked it out yet, why would one more month make any difference?

James squatted in front of her and gently stroked his thumb across her cheek, leaving a damp trail in its wake.

"We'll figure it out, Vicky. We have to."

She gave a small nod, but she wasn't so sure.

"But it's made me realise, with everything I've been through over the past year or so, that life's too short, Vicky. You never know what might happen. I've wasted a lot of time in my life, worrying about the wrong things. I don't want to waste any more time."

He gripped her thighs, and she could feel the heat through her jeans. His hands slid up her thighs and her stomach flipped. He squeezed them again and leaned in, his lips brushing over her ear as he whispered, "Spend the night with me."

She toyed with the idea of spending the night with him, losing herself in him. Turning her head so her lips brushed his cheek, she wanted nothing more than to forget about what might be happening to them. What if this was their only chance?

He leaned back and she followed him, pressing her lips against his soft, warm ones until they parted. She met his tongue with hers until he sucked hers into his mouth, and she groaned at the sensation that had her stomach clenching and her thighs pressing together. His hands slid across her hips, around her back until they were gripping under her bum. He pulled her forward until he was kneeling between her open legs.

Never breaking their kiss, he wrapped her legs around his waist and then stood, lifting her with him. She dragged her mouth from his, sucking in a deep breath. Trailing kisses along his neck, she inhaled the scent that was distinctively male mixed with hints of rich coffee. Uniquely James. Delicious.

When he walked them through his bedroom doorway, he sealed his lips over hers again and then she was falling. Landing on the mattress, James followed her down, leaning over her as he propped himself up on his elbows and gazed into her eyes.

She could get lost in those icy blue depths. They were the most unusual colour she'd ever seen. When he didn't move or say anything, she swallowed hard. Had he changed his mind?

"You're so beautiful," he whispered before she felt his tongue on the soft skin behind her ear. Then he was kissing and nipping his way down her throat. He made short work of the buttons on her shirt, letting the two sides of it fall open.
So glad I wore matching underwear.
 

Lowering his head, he closed his mouth over her nipple, bra and all. Working his way up, he traced the outline of her breast with his tongue until he dipped it into her cleavage. Vicky twisted the sheets in her hands, her hips lifting so she could grind against his erection as her body started to throb with need.

She could feel his smile against her skin at her movement but found she didn't care. She wanted him. Wanted more of the feelings he was stirring inside her, ones that had been absent for far too long.

He lifted his head and pulled her against him so he could unclasp her bra. Slowly sliding the straps down her arms, he circled her bared nipple with his tongue. She thought she'd been pretty patient until then, but her fingers were starting to itch with the need to feel his hot skin beneath them.

Pulling his T-shirt up until it got stuck between their bodies, she brushed her fingertips over his stomach. She felt his muscles clench at her touch, the hiss of his breath against her skin. The man could pass for a god himself with that body. She'd worship it any day.

She traced the ridges along his abdomen, trying to count them but getting lost in the hard muscles beneath his soft warm skin. She ran her palms up towards his chest, forcing him back so she could remove his T-shirt. He reached a hand behind him and pulled it over his head for her.

She stared unashamedly because… Dear God. Placing her palms on his pecs, he flexed them and she smiled, her gaze rising to his. A smirk lifted his lips on one side, but to be fair, he had every right to.
 

Before she could explore any further, he was standing from the bed and popping the buttons open on his jeans. He dragged them down his hips, along with his black boxer briefs. His erection sprang free, and her mouth actually watered at the sight. Long and thick and oh, so hard. The head glistened with moisture and was swollen with need.

But then he was bending over her and working on removing her jeans. She lifted her hips, eager to help, and then he was lying over her again. Skin to glorious, hot, naked skin, from chest to toe.

He cradled her head in his hands, his thumbs gently brushing over her cheeks. He moved his hips, brushing his hard length over her and up to her clit. Her lips parted at the move and he lowered his head, plunging his tongue inside, mirroring the actions of his erection.

She broke free from his kiss. "James." It came out sounding like a whispered plea, and she was fine with that. She wasn't above begging at that point. Rolling to the side, he yanked open the bedside table, and she heard the rustle of foil.

Pulling back, he ripped open the condom, and she watched, mesmerised, as he stroked his cock. That might be one of the most erotic sights she'd ever seen. As he stroked himself again, their gazes met until he dropped his and rolled the condom on.

Covering her body once more, he kissed her as just the tip of him nudged inside her. He stopped and she lifted her hips, needing to feel all of him. He broke their kiss and gazed into her eyes as he slowly slid inside her until he was buried to the hilt. They both murmured a groan. She ran her hands down his back and grabbed his butt cheeks, holding him in place, adjusting to the feeling of him inside her.
 

She dug her fingernails in before releasing her hold on his butt. His gaze became intense, and she moved to kiss him, closing her eyes as she urged him to move. With a groan, he pulled almost completely out of her before fully sliding back in. Once he'd started moving, he set up a fast rhythm.

She raked her fingernails down his back. "James. So close. Don't stop."
 

He dropped his head and claimed her mouth once more. She pulled away, needing to drag in a breath. His name fell from her lips as her orgasm tore through her. His hips jerked and with a final hard thrust, he buried his head in the crook of her neck and stilled above her.

He collapsed on top of her and they lay there together, trying to catch their breaths. It was several seconds before he turned to his side, presumably taking care of the condom.

Then he was rolling her over as he pressed against her back, his arms wrapping tightly around her as they lay together. Resting her head back against him, she fell asleep.
 

Content. Satisfied.

***

Vicky stretched, her body aching in a deliciously sated way. The arm around her waist tightened, followed by a garbled sentence. Smiling, she looked over her shoulder, but James's eyes were shut.

After their first, fairly hurried connection, they'd taken their time exploring each other again. Twice more, actually, and the thought made her smile deepen. Turning over to face James, she noticed he looked so much younger than the day before. His hair was sleep-ruffled, and the lines around his eyes had gone. He looked so much more relaxed.

"Quit staring," he said with a lazy smile.

Doing as she was told for once, she instead captured his lips between hers. His other arm snaked around her, and he dragged her on top of him, pressing his very obvious morning glory against her. They were interrupted by the loud rumbling of her stomach.