Page 8 of Dark Medicine (Strange Gifts #2)

The large mansion house that served as a bed and breakfast was quiet when the group returned. The small bar located in what was once the parlor had a few patrons seated, but all seemed like lone holiday or business travelers staring into their drinks. Flip nodded his head to Spook, and they moved to a large empty table as the others followed. Spook ordered beers for everyone and carefully set each glass on the table.

Sitting around the table, which suddenly felt too small, the six friends sipped their beer in silence, contemplating the events of the evening.

“What do you make of it all?” asked Fiona to no one in particular.

“I’m as confused as ever,” said Aislinn. “I’ve wanted to be rid of this ‘gift’ for so long, and now I find out that I may have a whole family of people with gifts as well, and I’m not sure anymore. It makes me feel connected to all of you in a way I didn’t before.”

“We are an odd family, aren’t we?” smiled Flip.

“The oddest, my friend,” said Adam. “I think we do need to try and find any others. If we assume that Kane and I are the oldest at thirty-seven, then we work forward from there unless we find someone older with gifts.”

“Why would it have started with you two?” asked Fiona.

“It may not have, but we’re the same age and yet don’t recall seeing one another at the base at all. We didn’t go to school together. We didn’t play together, nothing. That is odd in and of itself. But to think that the pink dust only appeared after we were there is even odder.” Adam set his beer down and looked at his friends.

“Kane? Do you remember the pink dust always being around?” asked Aislinn.

“I-I don’t know. I honestly don’t know. I was so little when we were there. I think so,” he said, feeling unsure.

“If we could pinpoint when it appeared, it would make it easier to figure out where it came from and who was potentially exposed. One thing we haven’t flushed out,” said Aislinn, “is whether or not any of our parents had issues. That might prove a correlation to age.”

“I know mine didn’t,” said Flip. “My parents were older when I was born. I didn’t have any brothers or sisters. My dad died of a heart attack, and my mom died a few years ago of a stroke. Trust me. They were as ordinary as they come.”

“My parents died in a car wreck, and then my grandmother took care of me. We know that Fiona’s parents’ died in a house fire. Adam, you said your mom died when you were young, but your dad was alive up until a few years ago.”

“Yea, as far as I know, the old man is still alive, but I can’t be sure.”

“Van?” Aislinn looked at Spook and waited for his response.

“Dead.” He looked up from his beer and stared at the group sitting around the table. “Doesn’t that seem odd to anyone? All of our parents are dead.”

“It does and doesn’t,” said Aislinn. “They would have all been older, but several died relatively young, which does seem odd. A few also died in unusual circumstances. Car wrecks and house fires, although common, it seems too easy in this situation.”

“We can’t solve this tonight,” said Kane. “Let’s get some sleep and go find our gypsy friends tomorrow.” Kane took Aislinn’s hand and nodded at his friends as they headed upstairs. Flip and Spook followed with Adam and Fiona behind him.

“Adam,” she whispered, pulling his arm back, “Adam, I don’t want to be alone tonight. Can I… can I sleep in your room? I’ll take the chair or…” Adam held up his hand and shook his head.

“You won’t be sleeping on any chair. The bed is big enough for both of us, and I promise to be a good boy, really.” He grinned at her, and something in Fiona’s stomach felt vaguely familiar. It was a dormant feeling until she met Adam Thorn.

He gripped her hand firmly, leading her down the long corridor to his room. She stopped at her door and stepped inside, grabbing her overnight bag and toiletries. Stepping outside again, Adam locked her door, and they walked inside his room.

“You can take the bathroom first,” he said, turning his back to unbutton his shirt.

Fiona said nothing but walked into the small bathroom and closed the door. Having showered earlier, she only needed to wash what little makeup she had on off her face. She slipped into a pair of silk pajama bottoms and matching camisole, her flat breasts barely visible at the vee, but her rosebud nipples standing at attention in the cool Irish night air.

Taking the elastic out of her braid, she fingered the hair free and then slid a brush through, the big waves sweeping down her back. Fiona brushed her teeth and then stepped from the bathroom to see Adam sitting on the side of the bed, a pillow in the center. He was wearing cotton sweatpants and no shirt.

Fiona could barely contain the giggle threatening to release in her chest. He was absolutely magnificent. His body was lean with muscle, several small scars on his chest and back. His skin was tanned but in a natural way. Not as someone looked who spent time in tanning beds. The curves of his muscles created intricate shadows on his body, every movement causing a tantalizing sensation to flood through her body.

“Finished?” he asked, grinning at her.

“Wh-what? Oh, yes! Sorry,” she said, looking away.

Why yes, I am finished inspecting every inch of your body and dreaming of all the deliciousness.

“I’ll be just a minute. Pick a side,” he said as he slipped into the bathroom. Fiona heard the water running and lay down on the right side of the bed.

Adam looked in the mirror and saw the flush of his cheeks and the definitely identifiable hard rod in his pants. She was so fucking beautiful, and she didn’t even know it. He grabbed a washcloth, ran it under the cold water, and then lay it against his hard cock, praying for it to go down. The shock of the cold water had the desired effect, but not completely. He would just have to hold his hand over it until he got in bed.

Feeling like a sixteen-year-old teenage boy, he stepped from the bathroom, grateful that Fiona had turned out the lights. He slid between the sheets and turned to face the window, his back to her.

“Do you have enough room?” he asked in a husky voice filled with desire and visions of the woman lying next to him.

“Y-yes,” she said quietly. “If you need more room, you can remove the pillow.” He listened to her voice, wondering if she knew what she was asking of him. “It’s okay, Adam. Really.”

Adam grabbed the pillow and shoved it under his head. Lying on his back, he put his right arm under his head, staring straight up at the ceiling. Time stretched for what seemed like hours but only minutes ticked by.

“Adam?”

“Hmmm?”

“Can I… Can I kiss you goodnight?”

“Honey, you never have to ask to kiss me. I’m just not sure I’ll be able to stop when you do,” said Adam, turning to look at her beautiful face. She rolled to her side, her breasts visible in the deep vee of her camisole.

“Then don’t.”