Page 13 of Possess Me

For a moment, he just looks at me. Then he reaches out to stroke my cheek and tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “Is that really what you think?”

I know his voice, and he’s not humoring me. He’s truly asking if I think the rumors are true—if this place is haunted. And if, perhaps, the ghost of my favorite star is reaching out to me.

It’s as if he’s flipped a switch inside me. As if the fact that he takes what I believe at face value makes the whole world clearer. As if his trust—his love—is the mirror I can hold up to see reality.

“I—no,” I say, as a stray tear streams down my face. “But I really did see her in the mirror. Even if it was only my imagination.”

“I’m not surprised,” he says gently. “We’ve been talking about her all day. Thinking about her movies. Her murder. And now we’re in her house—something you weren’t expecting. I’m sorry,” he adds, his voice taking on a somber tone.

I gape at him, shaking my head. “No. Damien, no. This house—it’s the most wonderful gift.”

“But maybe it was too much to toss onto a day already full of the history of Vivien Lorainne?”

“No.” I take both of his hands in mine. “I love this house. And the timing was perfect. I mean, hello? When else would you give a gift of Vivien’s house if not after a gala that’s all about her?”

His smile is gentle. “But?”

“There is no but,” I tell him honestly. “It’s just that—you make me feel special every day. Every single day. Little things. Big things. Silly things. But this….”

I trail off as I pull my hands free of his, then start to walk the room, as if I’ll find the right words hidden in a corner.

“Too much?”

I laugh. “From the average husband, yes. From you, no. On the contrary. I think that’s what makes it special. It’s a huge gift. It’s a freaking house. And one that I’m sure cost more because of its history. But the only thing that mattered to you was that it matters to me. That it’s a piece of Hollywood history—of Vivien Lorainne’s history—and so you bought it. And maybe any man with your means would have done the same, but I don’t think so. It’s just another piece of the puzzle, and I love it.”

“The puzzle?”

“All the ways you show that you love me,” I say. “Except I’m wrong. It’s not a puzzle. It’s a patchwork quilt, and with everything you add, you make me feel that much more loved and that much safer.”

“I’m glad,” he says, then tilts his head, flashing a mischievous smile. “So a potentially haunted house makes you feel safe?”

I smirk. “Okay, that’s fair. But I don’t think she was in the mirror to hurt me. I think maybe she was welcoming me to her home. And, you know, just forgot to do her hair and make-up before sending me the message.”

We share a smile.

“I think your imagination is on overdrive, baby. But in case I’m wrong, I can think of one way to break any spell that might be lingering in this house.”

I lift my brows. “You surprise me, Mr. Stark. I didn’t realize you were so well-versed in the occult. Or is that how you made your billions? A bit of nightshade and eye of newt?”

“I don’t know about that,” he says. “But I’m pretty sure there’s one thing that always conquers dark magic.”

“And what’s that?” I ask, my pulse quickening as he moves closer.

“Love.” He’s right in front of me now, his hands sliding the robe off my shoulder to pool on the ground, leaving me in the silky, white nightgown.

“And it doesn’t hurt that you look like an angel,” he whispers. “Though I plan on tarnishing your wings soon enough.”

“Oh, really?” My voice is a tease and a challenge, and I can see by the gleam in his eye that he’s accepted it.

“I have to,” he says, his face deadpan and serious.

“Have to what, exactly?”

His arm slides around my waist, and he draws me closer to whisper in my ear. “I have to make love to you, Nikki. I have to tease you. To touch you. Stroke you. I have to brush my fingertips over every inch of your body, searching out all of your most sensitive places.”

“Oh.” It’s the only word I can manage.

“My fingers first,” he says, his voice so hot it’s like living flame. “Then I have to taste you. Your lips. Your nipples. Your cunt. I want you hot for me, baby. I want you to melt. I’ll take you higher and deeper than we’ve ever gone. Wilder. Hotter. Faster. Love and heat and passion and longing. Friendship, respect, and pure, burning need. All of it, Nikki. Everything we are to each other, we’ll pour it out into this bed, into this house. We’ll mark this house as ours. And we’ll kick anything dark that thinks it resides here right back to the hell it came from.”