Welcome to the Cassadines: Book II of Kismet

Chapter Four

***Haunted***

"Dammit!"

The door's slam was in unison with Keesha's cry of frustration. She glanced at her watch and winced. It was too late for such outbursts, but she couldn't help it. Jason Morgan worked her last nerve.

"Keesha?"

Stefan appeared in the doorway. He wore a black silk dressing gown and his feet were bare. Light bounced on his medallion and illuminated the hard, planes of his chest and abs. Keesha's breath caught and held in her throat. Desire shot through her like a wildfire. The man was the epitome of sexual chocolate, and she desperately needed a sugar fix.

He crossed the room and gently cupped her cheek. "What happened?"

She pressed a kiss into the palm of his hand. He inhaled sharply and when her tongue traced the path of his life line, he emitted a low groan. "Let's not talk about it."

He didn't say another word. Instead, he crushed her to him. His kisses made her dizzy and his hands burned her like an inferno. Stefan swept her into his arms and carried her to his bed where he loved her until she cried. As they crescendo of passion subsided and they returned to earth, he pulled the sheet over their nude, perspiration slick bodies and molded her to his side. Pushing damp tendrils of hair from her eyes, he asked, "All better now?"

The question reminded her just how well he knew her. She was almost embarrassed by the all-knowing statement, but chose to welcome it for what it was and to answer him honestly. "Yes."

"Good," he murmured, rolling onto his side to face her. "Now, tell me what happened. Did Morgan fail to appear?"

"Oh, no," she grunted. "He showed up. He was late because they took Carly to Ferncliff."

"That trip was overdue," Stefan stated. "Did he mention Barbara's state? Did she accompany him and Caroline to Ferncliff?"

Keesha nodded. "Yeah, she was there. He said she's upset about leaving Carly there, but knows it's for the best." She paused for a moment before adding, "He wants to know who set the bomb. I told him I didn't know."

"You couldn't very well tell him the truth." Stefan gave her a hard stare. "But you wanted to."

"A part of me did, and I don't know why."

He shrugged. "You share a past. You loved him. It would be hard to deny a request from someone you care about."

"Cared." She rolled away from him and folded her arms across her chest. "Past tense."

* * *

Lucky left his mother's home without a destination in mind. It didn't matter. He just needed to get out of there. Luke's uninvited arrival and typical tirade grated his nerves. And brought back memories.

Damn.

Wooden planks creaked beneath his boots. He stomped to the docks' edge and sat. His feet hung over the side and swung over the choppy waves of Spoon Lake. He stared out sightlessly and thought of the night's dinner.

Nikolas was back. The real one. Not the fake. Lucky grunted. The impostor duped him. He always thought he was smarter than that. Talk about a frigging wake up call.

Small hands closed over his shoulders. He jumped. His hand closed over the small wrists in a death grip.

"Ouch! Lucky, c'mon! Let go."

He twisted until his eyes locked on the brown orbs of his little sister. "Sorry, kiddo," he said, releasing her. "Don't go sneaking up on folks."

"What folks?" she asked, as she sat beside him. "You're my brother."