Visions Of Paradise Read online

  There were others, of course. There were always others. They banded together to give themselves a sense of community, of family. Never once had she suspected that Perry, or anyone for that matter, would try to force someone to stay. At least, not until she left and they followed her. Until then, she’d always thought everyone stayed because they wanted to stay, not because someone forced them to stay.

  “Just come with us for today. Listen to what we have to say and if you don’t think we can protect you, we’ll help you run.” Mel ran his fingers through his hair. “Hell, if you like, we’ll even take you somewhere if that’s what you want.”

  “I-I don’t know.” Milla bit her lip. She wanted to trust them. Heck, she wanted to spend more time with them, even if it was to just look at them. They were easy on the eyes. “You don’t understand.” She paced away from the two men and then turned to face them. “They all have—we all have secrets that they will do almost anything to keep. Look, you’re nice guys.” She held up her hand when they would have interrupted her. “I know you’re nice guys. I can read that in you. I’m psychic.”

  “Well then,” Jonas said as he flashed another grin. “If you’re psychic, you know our secret. It surprises me that you’re taking it so well. Most people either think we’re crazy, or they are.”

  “Or they pass out,” Mel added.

  “Taking what well?” Milla frowned at the two men. “I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean. I didn’t dig deep when I touched you. I try not to pry. Even when I’m paid for a reading, I try not to see too much. I don’t want to know your secrets. Those are your secrets to keep, not mine.”

  Still, a part of her knew they kept something hidden deep, Now that they’d brought it up, her mind flashed on something buried deep in her subconscious. It was a dark wall deep inside each of them. Behind it, lurked a secret so important, so dark, it was something she had never come in contact with before.

  “I don’t care what your secret is as long as you don’t work for Perry Godfrey and you’re not axe murderers.” She smiled. “I specifically searched for those things in your mind. The rest, I discarded. I barely even remember anything about you, other than you’re not serial killers and you aren’t here to drag me back to the carnival.”

  “Touch me again, Milla.” Jonas held out his hand. “Read me. Read everything about me and then decide whether or not you’ll come to Paradise with us.”

  He gave her a look that was so intense that Milla took a step back, holding her hand to her throat. “I’m not sure…”

  “Why not, Milla? What are you afraid of?” Mel stepped forward, his hand out. “If you won’t take his hand, then take mine. It’s the only way that you can know we can protect you.”

  Why did they want her to know their secrets? “Why?” She shifted her gaze between them. “Why do you want this so badly? Is it some sort of trick?” She shook her head. “I don’t want to know your secrets, especially if it’s going to tie me to you. I left the carnival because I wanted to choose where I live and what kind of life I lead. I won’t let you take that away from me.”

  “No one wants to take your freedom to choose from you, darlin’,” Jonas said as he crowded closer. “If anything, we want to give that back to you. We can’t force you to do something you don’t want to do. Once you read me, you’ll know that to be true.”

  Milla’s back hit the wall when she moved away from them again. “What if I don’t believe you?”

  Jonas shook his head with a sigh. “She’s not going to trust us no matter how hard we try, Mel. We should just load her truck and let her be on her way. You know we can’t force her.”

  It was the look on Mel’s face that changed her mind. One moment Milla was certain she wanted to leave this town and these men behind her. The next minute, she was staring at Mel who looked as though he would be sick if she didn’t stay with them. That expression of total dejection changed her mind. She didn’t know why these men wanted her to read them, but deep down, she knew that if she didn’t she would wonder for the rest of her life what they held hidden so deep inside them and what put that look on Mel’s too-handsome face.

  It also didn’t hurt that they had been ready to let her go. Both of them had obviously resigned themselves to the fact that she wouldn’t trust them and they were going to help her anyway.

  When they both turned away, intending to do as they promised and help load her SUV, Milla reached out and grasped Mel’s arm.

  Her focus turned inward. She saw his life as a soldier. Memories of the kills he made in the name of his country flashed through her mind. She moved past that. It had been apparent that he had been in some sort of law enforcement. The military fell well within those lines.

  She read his memories of the town they called Paradise. It certainly looked like a paradise with its small town values and friendships. Milla watched as he remembered rescuing women from the clutches of animals and humans alike. The animals seemed too intelligent, too…something she couldn’t put her finger on.

  Milla paused when she reached the thick barrier in his mind that held his deepest secrets. Then, taking a deep breath, she pushed past the barrier and gasped at what she saw there.

  Pulling her trembling fingers from his arm, Milla stepped back and stared up at him, at them. “I-I…” Pausing, she took a deep breath and tried again. “Y-you.” She shook her head. “It’s impossible! You can’t—no one can…” Good grief! She could barely finish a sentence. She had to get a hold of herself. “People can’t change into animals!” She hissed the words as they finally came out.

  “We could say that it’s impossible for people to read minds, as well, Milla. We’re different. You’re different.” Jonas shrugged. “We should all band together and celebrate our differences.”

  For the first time since Milla left the carnival, she believed she could escape—that she could finally have a normal life. Not once since she’d grown to adulthood had she seen anyone in their group change into an animal.

  As unbelievable as it seemed, these men and their friends became leopards at will. Some of them could change into other things like huge tigers and even lions. She’d even seen Mel’s awe at a shifter who could change into whatever he wanted, including a huge, fire-breathing dragon.

  A grin split Milla’s face as she realized that they could protect her from Perry and his henchmen. It felt as though a great weight lifted from her shoulders.

  “Okay. You’ve convinced me. I’ll go with you.” She gave them each a gimlet glare. “But I’m not kissing you again, Jonas. You’re still too young for me.”

  Mel barked out a laugh at that. “Unbelievable. She thinks she’s too old for us.” He shook his head, still laughing and then gave her a smile so similar to his movie star lookalike that Milla went weak in the knees…again!

  “Maybe you’ll feel better if I tell you that Jonas is a lot older than he looks.”

  Chapter Six

  Jonas waited to see what she thought about that. He wasn’t sure he wanted her to know how old he was. She had hang-ups about age differences. She might not be able to handle knowing that he was almost twice her age.

  Milla’s gaze shifted between them and his stomach clenched. Gods she was beautiful. Like coffee with a touch of cream. Her silky skin beckoned him to touch her again and again. It was all he could do to keep his hands to himself.

  She stared at him with those eyes, dark as chocolate, and his cock throbbed against his zipper. It took every ounce of willpower he possessed not to yank her into his arms and ravage her mouth again and again.

  “Are you saying that he’s the cradle robber?” She gave them each a sultry smile. “Because if you are, I think I might be able to handle that. I like older men.”

  Thank the gods for that! Jonas couldn’t help the sigh of relief when she said that.

  Mel stood opposite him, his arms crossed over his chest, a knowing smirk on his ugly mug. What women saw in the man, Jonas would never k
now.

  “I’m glad to hear that.”

  “So,” she asked, tongue in cheek. “Just how old are you?” She rested her hand on his arm when he hesitated. “Let me put your mind at ease. I think vampire romances are sexy because the man is usually a hundred or more years older than the heroine. I can only imagine what a man could learn when he’s been around so long.”

  He could learn a lot—about banking, women, sex, women, fighting, women. If a person could name it, Jonas had at least tried it. He’d even gone to medical school when he was younger, but decided there was no practical way to keep his license current and valid.

  It was one thing to fake a birth certificate. It was something else to fake med school diplomas. People tended to study those.

  “Well,” Jonas said with a grin. “I’m not quite that old. However, I have learned quite a bit over the years.” He winked. “I especially learned a lot about female anatomy in medical school.”

  “M-med school?” The words came out almost a squeak. “You’re a doctor?”

  Learning that bit of information about him turned her on. Jonas could smell her arousal. The scent of her woman’s cream wafted up to his nose, causing his cock to jump behind his zipper.

  “I was for a while but people start asking questions after a while when your diplomas say you’re nearly forty and you only look twenty.” He winked again and watched with a grin as her cheeks darkened in a becoming blush.

  “Gawd!” Milla fanned her face.

  Jonas noticed her long, red-tipped nails for the first time. His cock grew impossibly harder when he imagined those sexy nails scoring his back as he drove into her.

  “How did I ever get so lucky?” She shook her head and moved away from him to pick up another box. “I never would have thought that there were people like you in the world. It gives a whole new meaning to older man.” She stood, hefting the box to her hip and turning toward the door. “We should get moving if you’re going to get me to Paradise before Perry gets here.” She frowned. “He’s close. I can feel it.”

  Milla might have thought she was the lucky one, but Jonas knew better. It was him. Never had he thought to dream that his mate would be so lovely. He barely dared to imagine that he would find her at all.

  Now there she was, standing in front of him with her curvy body and her smooth, coffee and cream skin looking like every fantasy he’d ever had. Closing his eyes, he thanked the gods for bringing her to him—to them.

  Jonas glance at Mel and sighed. Sooner or later the other man would get over his anger at being turned. At some point, Mel would finally realize that had Jonas not shared his blood with him he would have died that day when they attacked the Tudra camp and saved the four women held captive there.

  Kneeling to pick up a box, he glanced over at Mel. It wasn’t the other man’s gratitude he wanted. It was his acceptance—and his friendship. Without it, their relationship with Milla would forever be strained.

  Jonas brushed past Mel, and by way of extending the olive branch between them said, “You should take her to town. I was the one Merrick sent to bring the carnival in.”

  “I can’t. I haven’t gotten the parts. I can’t go back without them. Besides, our staying in town long enough to get them all will delay us too long. You take her to Paradise and I’ll bring the others in after I’ve gathered the parts.” He gave a shrug. “Who cares if they have to wait around for me a bit? It’ll give you two time to get to Paradise and explain Milla’s situation to Adam and Nick.”

  Adam was the town’s alpha and Nick was his beta. Together, they commanded the men who kept the town running smoothly and the women safe.

  Jonas swallowed thickly, aware of the gift Mel had just given to him. “Are you sure?” He would be the first to bond with their mate and Mel knew it.

  “Of course I’m sure. It will give you two a chance to get to know each other again, now that she knows you’re not some snot-nosed brat looking for an experienced older woman to teach him the ropes.”

  “Hey!” Milla called back to them, her hands on her hips, her weight resting on one leg. “Which one of you guys is taking me there? Am I following you, or what?”

  “Not on your life, baby,” Jonas muttered as he strode out to her SUV. “I’m riding with you.” He couldn’t wait to climb inside the vehicle he knew smelled of her unique, honeyed scent.

  Jonas only hoped she would run the air conditioner instead of rolling down the windows. He couldn’t wait to get into the SUV where he’d be wrapped up in her wonderful scent for an hour or more, depending on how fast she drove. He wasn’t sure the trip wouldn’t kill him. Jonas smiled. He couldn’t think of a better way to go.

  Chapter Seven

  Milla really hadn’t expected Jonas to ride with her. In fact, she’d counted on his driving his own vehicle. She wasn’t sure how she felt letting a relative stranger in her SUV. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust her reading of him. She read him just fine. However, there was really no guarantee that he hadn’t been able to hold something of himself back. She liked knowing that she was safe. With him riding with her, she wasn’t quite sure. That made her too-stupid-to-live and she knew it.

  She drove along, heading out of town, trying to figure out a way to tell the man she’d changed her mind. That if it was all the same to him, she would drive herself there and he could meet her. Still, there was no guarantee that the directions he gave her wouldn’t lead her out in the middle of nowhere and he could follow her just as easily as she could drive him. However, once they got far enough from Mason, she could stop for a potty break and leave him standing when he got out of the truck.

  She shook her head as she thought about the condition of her vehicle when he’d informed her that he was riding with her. She hadn’t expected that. If she had, she wouldn’t have dropped her underwear on the passenger seat for him to find when he opened the door. Damn! Why did I forget those were there? She berated herself for the tenth time.

  She’d never been more embarrassed than she was when she opened her door and slid into the driver’s seat only to turn and see him holding her lacy thongs dangling from his forefinger with that knowing grin on his face.

  Her cheeks burned just thinking about it. The only good thing about the situation was that they were relatively new and they were clean. Had they been otherwise, she would have crawled under her truck and willed it to run her over.

  “You’re so beautiful when you blush.”

  “Hmmph…I don’t blush,” she lied.

  “Oh, yes you do. Don’t try to tell me you don’t. I’ve already see you do so a number of times.” He paused, looking out through the passenger glass. “I think it’s endearing and I think you’re gorgeous when you do it.

  “Really?” Milla was genuinely surprised. “Most people don’t think black people can blush.”

  “Then most people are idiots. I’m not an idiot.” He sat silent for a moment and then added, “And neither is Mel.”

  “I never thought you were.” If she thought of anything, she thought they were gorgeous themselves. Unfortunately, she didn’t think much around the two men. If she had, she wouldn’t be alone in her vehicle with Jonas. She would have insisted that he drive his own vehicle while she followed. Not that it would have been much safer for her. There wouldn’t have been anything stopping him from running her off the road or pulling a gun on her and making her a ghost. God, I’m so stupid.

  Still, even with those thoughts dancing in her head, something compelled her to keep driving. Maybe it was because dying today while taking the chance at a new life—a real life—was better than living under Perry’s thumb forever. She would rather die today than have Perry catch up to her and force her back into the carnival without a fight.

  She glanced over at Jonas, trying to figure out if she’d made the right decision. Was he what he claimed to be? Would he and Mel really step up and keep her safe from Perry and his men?

  The look he gave her made
her shiver and burn at the same time. Gooseflesh rose on her arms and legs. Cream slid from her channel dampening her panties. One thing was certain. If the man was a murderer, he was the hottest damned criminal she’d ever seen. Of course that wouldn’t make her any less dead. God you’re stupid.

  Jonas closed his eyes, tilted his head back and took a deep breath. As ridiculous as it seemed, it made Milla wonder if he could smell her arousal. Scorching heat burned her face as she came to the realization that he probably could. He was part animal, after all.

  What are you thinking? Milla bit her lip as she turned onto the road Jonas had told her to take out of town. Glancing in the rearview mirror, she said goodbye to Mason, with the hope that Paradise would finally be her last stop.

  Can this be real—can they be real? How in the world can you even think of believing in shape shifters? It’s impossible…isn’t it? The pragmatic and sensible part of her brain attempted to drill some sense into her, while the creative side could only imagine what it would be like if Jonas or Mel tried to drill something else inside her and not in a bad way.

  That’s it. You really are too-stupid-to-live. What kind of woman let a strange man into her car with her these days? Wasn’t she just asking for trouble? Even with her ability to read him, it didn’t mean that he wasn’t able to hide something from her. He could still be working for Perry or he and his friend could be rapists.

  Milla bit her lip. What had she gotten herself into?

  “Turn left at the next road.” Jonas sat up in his seat and pointed at a dirt road off to the left.

  Milla’s stomach clenched and she stopped. Turning, she stared at Jonas for a minute. Had she missed something when she read him? Was he really taking her to a town, or had he succeeded in getting her out in the middle of nowhere, where no one would hear her scream?