Web of Desire

  WEB OF DESIRE

  Cathryn Fox

  Smashwords Edition

  Copyright 2014 by Cathryn Fox

  Published by Cathryn Fox

  Cover by Crocodesigns

  Discover other titles by Cathryn Fox at www.cathrynfox.com.

  Please sign up for Cathryn’s Newsletter at http://bit.ly/1kpQOzf

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Cathryn Fox.

  Originally published by Ellora’s Cave 2009

  First edition May 2014.

  ISBN-13: 978-0-9918032-6-2

  Prologue

  As Ally Shears approached the old abandoned mansion she felt her stomach knot and her mouth go dry. She hated what she was about to do, but knew she had little choice in the matter. Mentally reciting the banishing spell from her Book of Charms, she reached into her jeans, her fingers connecting with the packet of herbs needed to send her cousin to the netherworld.

  Dodging a low-hanging branch that fringed the walkway, she made her way down the narrow path leading to the decrepit house on Manor Drive. The soothing scent from a nearby lilac reached her nostrils but did little to ease her ragged nerves. With light footsteps, she crept up the stairs in search of Selina. Even though Ally hated the task before her, she knew it was best for the townsfolk. Banishing her cousin to the netherworld was a much better alternative than what the angry women of the town would likely do to Selina for using witchcraft on their beloved men.

  If her cousin couldn’t abide by the council’s rules and use her witchcraft only for the betterment of mankind, then Ally had no choice but to take matters into her own hands.

  The sleepy southern town of Belhaven had been charitable enough to take in their kind hundreds of years ago and keep their witchcraft a secret from the rest of the world. The least they could do was adhere to the laws set in place and behave like respectable citizens. And being a respectable citizen did not mean spinning a giant spider web to catch the town men and have your wicked way with them.

  No matter how naughtily delicious that sounded.

  Selina’s wicked stunts had gained the town’s attention and earned her a banishment spell. Ally insisted she be the one to cast it, for Selina’s own safety. The truth was, the two were very close. Selina had been there on the worst night of Ally’s life. Consoling her when Tanner Cage, the only man Ally had ever loved, stood her up on prom night and skipped town the next day. That closeness made the discovery of Selina’s secret antics all the more shocking to Ally.

  Ally pushed open the door and inched inside, fearing Selina would detect her presence and surmise her intentions before Ally had a chance to cast the spell. A moan sounded from the back bedroom, drawing her attention.

  Ally followed the sound. She craned her neck and peered into the dimly lit room. What she saw frightened and intrigued her at the same time. Smack-dab in the middle of the room was a huge floor-to-ceiling web with a gorgeous, well-endowed man attached. Whacking a crop across her palm, Selina circled him, keeping a wide berth as she examined his rippled physique.

  Selina turned at the sound of Ally moving into the room. She arched a delighted brow. “Hello, cousin. How nice of you to join me.”

  “I’m not here to join you, Selina.”

  “No?”

  Fingering the packet in her pocket, Ally stepped closer. “You can’t do this, Selina. It’s wrong.”

  “Tsk…tsk…always the good witch, Ally.” She slapped the crop harder against her palm and then pointed it at Ally. “I know deep inside there is a part of you that would love to have your very own toy like this.” She waved her hand toward her naked captive. “Besides, look at that beast.” She pointed to his erection. “He doesn’t look too distraught to me.”

  Ally was pretty sure his girlfriend would be. “It’s still wrong.”

  Selina chuckled. “Why don’t you let your naughty little witch out to play once in a while?”

  Ally grabbed the herbs from her pocket and sprinkled them in the air. A cloud of fog formed around Selina. Ally began to chant the banishing spell.

  Selina’s eyes opened wide. Her hands flew up in a halting motion. The crop fell to the floor. “Ally no,” she cried, her voice growing faint as Ally circled her and continued to recite the spell.

  Ally sprinkled more herbs into the air. “I’m sorry, Selina, you gave me no choice. Believe me, I’m doing this for your own good.”

  Selina’s skin grew translucent. Her gaze locked on Ally’s. “I’ll be back, Ally. Just wait and see…”

  Those were the last words Ally heard before her cousin disappeared into the fog.

  Chapter One

  Ten years later

  Something was not right in the sleepy southern town of Belhaven.

  Ally Shears placed a book on the gray metal shelf in front of her as a shiver of unease crawled over her skin like an insect. Every nerve ending in her body began tingling with foreboding and she knew—better than she knew every nook and cranny in the library she’d been working at for the past few years—that a dark cloud had descended over the town.

  She felt a presence behind her. Ally spun around, half expecting to see her banished cousin hovering there. Instead, she gasped in surprise as the handsome Sheriff Devlin came charging forward. Startled by the anger in his eyes, she pressed a hand to her chest and took one small step backward, positioning herself behind a rack of books.

  “Selina’s back in town,” he growled, his dark eyes narrowing to mere slits as he fisted his big hands at his sides.

  She didn’t care for his accusatory look. Did he somehow think this was her fault? After all, she had been the one to cast the banishing spell years previous. She schooled her expression. “Yes, I know,” she said, keeping her voice low, controlled. She’d felt Selina’s presence all day but had hoped like hell she’d been mistaken.

  He drew an impatient breath and leaned toward her, using his height to look down on her. “She was spotted sneaking out of the old abandoned house on Manor Drive.”

  Ally frowned. Why they hadn’t torn that decrepit old place down was beyond her. Especially after they’d found all of those men captured in Selina’s silken webs. Men she’d lured to the manor and done sexual things to. Things that had left the town’s women reeling, and some of the town men, well…violated. As a good, law-abiding witch, Ally would never consider doing something so wicked.

  The sheriff raked an impatient hand through his thick black hair. “We need you to go over there, check things out and cast another banishment spell.” He gave an angry shake of his head. “One that will hopefully take this time,” he grumped, his dark brows furrowing slightly as he glared at her.

  Ally wove her fingers together and resisted the urge to spin her own web and secure the sheriff to it. For punishment only. She never had cared for the way he looked down his nose at her since “the trouble”—as it had become known around town.

  She pushed Devlin’s remarks to the back of her mind. Right now she needed to concentrate on the herbs required for the spell to send Selina back to the netherworld, for the good of the town as well as Selina. Ally certainly didn’t want her cousin taunting and tormenting the decent people returning to Belhaven for their high-school reunion this week—the same people who had rightfully demanded her banishment in the first place.

  Centuries ago, Ally’s descendants had escaped the Salem witch trials and settled in the scarcely populated, sleepy little town of Belhaven, a place outsider
s rarely visited. When word eventually leaked that they were witches, the townsfolk were prepared to burn them at the stake. But after proving that they had healing powers and were able to cure the sick and help the wounded, the city council had allowed the witches to stay, and swore to keep them secret from the rest of the world, providing they followed very stringent rules and only used their craft for the good of the people.

  They lived amongst the townsfolk for centuries, gaining respect and trust. Of course, during Ally’s lifetime, witchcraft had become much more accepted, as Wicca was practiced by many throughout the world.

  Life had been pleasant in their small community—until Selina decided to wield power for her own selfish needs. It became evident that she had an agenda of her own when she began breaking every rule put in place by the council. Spinning strong, sticky webs made from fine, silky threads, she captured the good men of Belhaven and used them for her own pleasure. Now Ally and the rest of her clan were suffering the repercussions of her cousin’s self-indulgent acts. The council had hushed up the incident, knowing that, with the exception of Selina, the witches were all law-abiding folks. Unfortunately, many no longer trusted them, going out of their way to avoid her kind.

  Ally took a quick peek at her watch and noted it was nearing four o’ clock. Deciding to check out early, she glanced at Devlin. “I’m closing up now. I’ll head over there just as soon as I lock the door and gather some herbs for the spell.” She tilted her head to look him in the eye. “Will you be accompanying me?” she asked with bright-eyed innocence, knowing full well that the thought of going inside the mansion made the sheriff shiver beneath his wide-brimmed hat.

  Her smile stretched wickedly as she watched him squirm under her steady gaze. His jaw clenched. “You think you’ll need me?” he asked in an unstable voice. Before he drove his hands into his front pockets she noticed them shake.

  She shrugged. “I might. Of course, if you’re afraid…”

  He gave a quick shake of his head. His eyes flashed. “It’s not that—”

  Cutting him off, she folded her arms across her chest. “Well, what exactly is it then?” she asked, deadpan.

  “I think I should keep watch from outside. To wait for Selina’s return.” His deep voice stammered.

  When she smirked at him he blurted out, “I’m not afraid.”

  Well, he should be afraid, Ally mused, because Selina had certainly had it out for him ever since he’d flatly turned her down, years ago. Lord knows what her cousin would do to him, given the opportunity. The last place Devlin wanted to be caught was in one of Selina’s webs.

  Or hers, for that matter, if she ever decided to spin one. Lucky for the town, Ally was a good witch.

  Chapter Two

  Ally stood back and examined the crumbling mansion left abandoned for years. Ivy vines climbed the walls like snakes and coiled around the posts that supported the veranda. The grounds and walkway were overgrown with shrubs, weeds and wildflowers. With the sheriff remaining a good twenty feet behind her, she made her way onto the porch. Chips of old white paint peeled beneath her hand as she brushed her fingertips over the wooden railing leading up the steps.

  When she reached the massive front entrance, she closed her fingers over the brass doorknob and pushed. The heavy door creaked open, the hinges moaning like a wounded animal. Ally looked over her shoulder and gave a curt nod to the sheriff, signaling she was going in.

  She felt a sense of déjà vu as she squeezed the packet of herbs inside the front pocket of her jeans and took a tentative step inside the old house. The planked floorboards groaned beneath her. Every light footstep stirred the air. Small particles of dust rained down from the ceiling, dancing and shimmering in the long column of late afternoon sunlight that sliced through cracks in the decaying cedar siding.

  The air smelled stale and pungent. Like day-old pizza and beer. Or socks that had been left in a gym bag too long. Ally crinkled her nose and concentrated on breathing through her mouth.

  A murmur coming from the back of the mansion drew her attention. She quietly padded down the long, dark hallway until she stood outside a closed door. Pressing her ear to the wooden slats, she listened.

  Silence.

  She lowered herself onto her knees and peeked through the large keyhole. The sunshine slanting through the open window gave off sufficient light for her to see a man squirming, trying to break free from the strong, binding web that held him captive.

  From ceiling to floor, a web had been spun in the center of the room. With his back clinging to the sticky strands, his hands were secured over his head. His long legs were spread wide apart and securely attached as well. His head was turned away from her, preventing her from discerning his features. God, he was so big, like a Viking warrior. His presence swallowed up the small room.

  She bit down on her bottom lip as she slowly perused the length of him. His thick, sculpted muscles bulged in all the right places and threatened to rip the seams of his snug jeans and short-sleeved shirt. She was actually quite surprised to find him still fully clothed. Selina obviously hadn’t finished what she’d started.

  Her gaze traveled over his unruly mass of dark hair and then lower, over his broad shoulders and tight abs, stopping only when she reached the apex of his legs. She swallowed hard. Oh yes, his muscles definitely bulged in all the right places. Whoever said good things come in small packages certainly wasn’t talking about this guy. She stared at his impressive size for an endless moment as she undressed him with her eyes. Awareness started at her core and rippled onward and outward. Her whole body began tingling in the most interesting places. When she gave a sexy moan, he began to turn in her direction. As if she’d been caught with her hand in the cookie jar, Ally quickly pulled back from the keyhole and straightened. She brushed the dirt from her knees and took a fuelling breath of courage before entering. She had no idea what else she was going to find behind that door.

  When she closed her hand over the knob, a breeze from the open window stirred the air. Suddenly, a very enticing, very familiar smell seeped through the keyhole and reached her nostrils. She inhaled deeply as the spicy, manly scent sent her thoughts spiralling back in time.

  Memories flashed through her mind like lightning. Memories of her senior prom and the handsome Tanner Cage, high-school heartthrob and captain of the football team.

  She’d been so madly in love with him. She’d taken extra care in her appearance that beautiful spring evening, arranging her long golden curls on top of her head, letting a few tendrils spill down her neck, just the way he’d liked. Underneath her pale blue satin gown she wore a silky white chemise, knowing she was finally going to give her virginity to the man she loved.

  The truth was, Ally had always loved Tanner. Since kindergarten, really. It wasn’t until high school—when she’d traded her thick glasses for contacts, lost the braces and gotten curves in all the right places—that he’d begun to see her as something more than the neighborhood tomboy.

  Tanner had asked her out during their senior year. After that first date, they became inseparable, joined at the lips, as some would say. They’d eagerly—and naïvely—talked about marriage.

  A smiled touched Ally’s mouth as she recalled his pet name for her. Ally Cat.

  Tanner Cage had been her soul mate. Her everything. And she had been ready to take their relationship to the next level. They both wanted their first night together to be special and had agreed they would consummate their love on prom night. That night had never happened. He’d left her standing on her doorstep waiting for him. Ally had cried until the sun came up. The next day she heard Tanner skipped town and joined the military. Ally had never set eyes on him again and the last she heard he was doing an overseas tour of duty as a Navy SEAL.

  Selina had stayed by her side, comforting her. Even though Selina had done wrong by the townsfolk, she’d always been there for Ally. They were family—blood sisters— which made it twice as difficult for Ally to banish her. But Ally kn
ew the banishment was for Selina’s own safety.

  Tanner Cage had broken her heart and destroyed her belief in happily ever after. She’d been with other men since that dreadful night, of course, but how could she ever connect with a man emotionally? How could she ever find true love or give her heart to another when it belonged to one man—a man who didn’t want it.

  She shook her head, clearing away her painful thoughts. She gave a heavy sigh, knowing that if she ever did set eyes on him again, she’d make him pay for that dreadful night. He’d be smart to spend his life steering clear of her. She knew the well- disciplined witch inside her was only so forgiving.

  She twisted the knob, eased the door open and stepped inside the room. Her eyes widened in astonishment as she took in the vision before her. The sound of her indrawn breath filled the air. Her pulse drummed in her neck and she had to lock her knees to avoid collapsing. Faltering backwards, she gripped the doorknob as if it were a lifeline.

  When those beautiful, familiar green eyes met her gaze, the edges of her vision became fuzzy. Feeling lightheaded, she drew air into her lungs.

  God, it couldn’t be him. It just couldn’t. Not after all this time.

  His dark brows knitted together. “What do you want with me?” he asked, tugging hard on the binding threads. “And what the fuck is this thing I’m stuck to?”

  Ally bit down on her lip. The truth was, he was better off not knowing. When she didn’t answer, he asked again, “What do you want with me?”

  She remembered that deep voice. So rich and enticing. Like warm, melted butter. It seeped into her skin and filled her with heated memories of his passionate touch, his fiery kisses. Heat curled inside her. She pinched her lips tight and suppressed a ragged moan.