Wild Men of Alaska 03 - Dreamweaver

smile.
    Gemma took the necklace and slipped it over her neck, trying to keep the one Tern gave her hidden in the wool of her sweater. The stone lay heavy between her breasts, clinking with Tern’s. “Who was he?” She didn’t need to specify that she wasn’t asking about her father.
    “That’s it, I can no longer remember. You see, Gemini, they play on all your desires and leave you none of them by the time they are finished with you.”
    ***
    What should she do?
    Thoughts swirled much like the snow flurries the Chinook winds were stirring. Gemma mulled them over on the drive home from her mother’s.
    Last night with Lucky had been ... everything. He’d done just what her mother had said. Delivered on all her desires. He knew how to touch, kiss, press, retreat until she was nothing but a mass of mindless sexual need. Never had she experienced anything like it. Her heart was no longer hers.
    Neither was her body.
    She couldn’t deny that she loved him. But had he weaved a spell to feed on her soul as her mother seemed to claim? And how was it that mother and daughter had ended up seduced by Dreamweavers?
    There was too much to think about, and all of it fell under the umbrella of crazy. She was glad she hadn’t called off her date with Cub. Maybe she needed it. Lucky hadn’t been around to answer any questions. The snow had stopped, and heavy clouds were dispersing from cloaking the skies above Fairbanks. She could see the waves of the Northern Lights as they broke through the atmosphere.
    It was a harrowing drive. The temperatures had warmed up to freezing. The roads were iced over like frosting on a cake, and Gemma’s hands trembled by the time she safely parked her car in the garage.
    Spring was in the air, but Alaska did spring like she did everything else. With a vengeance. They didn’t call it Break Up for nothing.
    She entered into the kitchen, laying her purse and keys on the dining table. What she needed was a long relaxing soak in the rub. She also badly needed to talk to Lucky.
    Where was he? He visited before with less of an Aurora display. He should be here.
    “Lucky?” she called into the empty house, knowing she wasn’t going to get an answer back. The house was like a void. A black hole.
    Siri couldn’t be right and that Lucky was using her, feeding off her soul like some astral vampire.
    The air suddenly shifted in the room, became colder, swirling for a moment before settling. Just like it had in the store earlier. Had Lucky been trying to get to her but couldn’t for some reason? She’d much rather believe that than the alternative.
    “Gemma.”
    She swiveled on her heel. And there he was. She caught and held her breath. She could see him, yet could also see through him. He was more substantial than ever before. Not solid like he’d been last night when she’d visited him, but more. And since she was able to see more, she saw the agony and decision in his bedroom eyes. Dread settled in her stomach.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “I’m sorry, Gemma.”
    “For what?” It suddenly became hard for her to swallow.
    “For everything. I never should have hunted you down. I should have left you alone to live your life, and I should have moved on.”
    “That’s a lot of shoulds.” Her knees trembled, and she couldn’t help the tears forming in her eyes.
    “Don’t cry.” There was a catch to his voice. “This is hard enough.”
    “Then why are you doing it?” she whispered.
    He held still, only his fists clenching and unclenching as though it took everything for him not to pull her into his arms. “I want you to have what I can’t.”
    “But you can.” She took a step toward him, coming up short when he moved back. “I can see you. Every time we are together our bond strengthens.”
    “Which is why I need to end it now.”
    “No.” The breath she gasped hurt as it burned its way into her lungs. “Don’t you get it? I can see you, hear you.” She took another step and placed her hand over his heart. “Feel you.”
    His eyes closed on a moan, and his hand came up to clasp hers hard against his chest. “I can never be a whole man for you. Never give you the family you’ve dreamt of. Cub can do that.”
    “Cub?” Confused, she let her hand fall away from him. “You were there? In the bookstore.”
    “Yes. He likes you. It wouldn’t take much for him to fall in love with you.” He caressed the side of her face. “It wouldn’t take anything for a man to love