I was taken before my time. My life stripped from me. The elders say my life has a special meaning so I have been given a second chance to fulfill my destiny. But I need your help.
“Why me? Why not Maya or another being who is more worthy?”
Because of your powers and gifts toward women. All I ask is that you help me find peace. Help me to live my life the way it should have been.
He lowered his head and wondered how he might be able to find this lost soul a host.
Pilan, you are a powerful entity. For as long as you can remember, women have been drawn to you. All I ask is for you to use your natural skills to help me. Maya is helping guide you to the right place, the right moment.
“Who am I to choose the host? How will I know?”
You will know. Your gift is touching a woman’s heart and soul. Use this to find the one who is willing to leave this world for the next.
“As you wish.” He raised his head but kept his eyes shut against the blinding light of the soul.
Doing this will help you redeem yourself to the elders, the woman touched Pilan’s face, making his hair blow in the soft breeze that surrounded her, and this burden you carry shall be lifted.
His eyes remained closed as warmth swept over him and he smiled, basking in the glow from the woman.
“Pilan?”
Jerking awake, he found himself lying in bed. Maya was staring at him and shaking him.
She brushed her hand across his sweaty chest. “What’s wrong? You were shivering?”
“Nothing, just go back to sleep.” He sat up, slowly trying to calm himself.
Maya lay back, her body sore from the carnal pleasures they had enjoyed. She had released herself to him, like so many other women before her. “I know you will be gone when I wake up, but…can you stay until I fall asleep?”
He leaned back, sinking into
the warmth of the bed. “I may leave, Maya, but rest assured, I will see you again. Some other time, some other place, I will come to you.”
Maya’s hair fell along his wide chest as she smiled, taking in his scent, her skin touching his. Heat filled her body. There was a feeling of closeness inside her. From the ache of her muscles to the emotions in her heart, it was comforting. As she drifted off into a peaceful place, she felt almost loved.
Chapter Two
It was almost time for Tasha to get off work. The ten-hour shift had taken its toll on her, and her red hair, pulled back in a girlish ponytail, dangled against her neck in wet strands. The heat and beer splattering as she served drinks during the football game on television had left a mark. Game nights brought great tips and terrible pick-up lines from the numerous lonely men looking for a score.
Her eyes scanned the still-crowded bar and stopped on the man staring back at her. She quickly turned away, but couldn’t shake the stunning impact of his gaze.
She wiped the counter as she took another order, popped the tops off a couple more beers and grabbed the money tossed on the bar. When she looked back in his direction there were a few women talking to him. She noticed he seemed disinterested in the scantily clad women surrounding him.
He turned back toward Tasha and their eyes met again.
Warmth swept through her body. His thick black hair dangled over his brow and fell along his cheek. His eyes were still focused on her.
“Miss? Hello?” a man waved his hand in front of Tasha’s face. “Hey?”
“What?” Tasha came back to the present. “I’m sorry. What can I get you?”
The rest of her shift was spent working the bar and gazing at the dark and brutally handsome man who kept staring at her. Something about him appealed to Tasha. Maybe it was his eyes, or the large, muscular body she saw stretching the black T-shirt he wore. It could have been that all the women were vying for his attention, but he kept looking at her. It was probably the fact when she looked at him, her only thought was that she wanted to fuck him until they both screamed for mercy.
The second-shift bartender arrived and Tasha talked to him for a few minutes. When she peeled her apron off and turned around, the man was gone. She sighed, brushed the wrinkles from her black skirt and grabbed her purse.
“Wait a sec, Tasha, I’ll walk you to your car,” the bouncer yelled, seeing her walk toward the back of the bar.
She waited a few minutes then went out the back door to the small parking lot.