Page 50 of Deadly Misfortunes

“Thank you.” But it wasn’t Maria speaking. It was Gregory.

Sascha turned to see Gregory watching her from the doorway. Immediately, her body heated in embarrassment. She’d been so wrapped up in his baby pictures that she’d forgotten all about the time.

Maria stood, then excused herself from the room at once.

“I bet they’re not half as cute as yours,” he said, waggling his brows at her.

“You’re right. Several of mine were shot au naturale.”

He chuckled. “That I’ve got to see.”

“Where are yours like that?”

“My parents are Puritans at heart. No nude baby photos.”

“That’s a shame. My relatives are wild gypsies. Nature at its best.”

He smiled broadly, making her jump to her feet.

He was thinking about her being naked next to him in bed…like a wild gypsy. She could see his thoughts. He hadn’t made love to her…she hadn’t lost her powers. They were just not quite back to normal, still…flaky. That was all that was wrong.

His face showed his concern as his brow wrinkled. “What’s wrong, Sascha? You’ve turned as pale as ice.”

She wrung her hands. “No…no.” She took a deep breath. “No, I’m all right.”

“You’re shaking.” He led her into the living room and sat her down. “Your skin has lost all its coloring…absolutely bloodless.”

“Promise me, Gregory, no matter how much I say I want you to, you must never make love to me.”

He stared at her, uncomprehending.

“Promise me!”

“I don’t understand, but I promise.”

She took a deep breath. “If I explain it to you, you won’t believe me.”

“You can read my mind.”

Her mouth dropped open. He couldn’t really believe she had the power to do so, could he?

11

Gregory nodded at Sascha and kissed her cheek. “You told me last night you could read minds.”

“And you believe me?”

“Certainly.”

Her gaze dropped to her fingers as they moved between the pleats of her broom skirt. She couldn’t understand that he really believed her. Was he just saying so? And what about her involvement with Damon? Would he believe that she had lost her abilities over him?

“It’s okay that I know, isn’t it, Sascha?”

“Yes.” She waffled about telling him the whole truth of the situation.

“Then what’s wrong?”

She sighed. “I lost my powers for five years because I…I, well, I thought Damon was my soulmate. But he wasn’t.”