Read Online Under My Skin by Sommer Marsden - Free Book Online Page A

reunited lovers overtook him, joined once again against the man who had torn them apart, they overpowered him and suddenly, was gone. Lanie’s pure white soul had defeated his tainted presence. Augmented by the love and goodness of Elijah, Lanie had destroyed with cleansing flames fed by none other than the twisted trophies from his kills.
    There was a sudden cool wind across my brow, making my hair toss and whirl around my face. I heard a pleasant laugh and a deeper chuckle. Something in the energy of my home and heart shifted, and when I turned to say thanks to Lanie and Elijah, they were already gone, their beautiful lingering for just a few seconds before the breeze blew again and seemed to carry it away. I blew them a kiss and tried not to cry. I suddenly felt very lonely in my new home. Safer and saner now that was gone, but a little lost since Lanie and Elijah had gone. I was alone now, the ending of our odd journey having happened so fast.
    In my pocket my cell phone rang. I answered while my bushes continued to burn a little and then started to gutter out. “Hello?”
    “Where have you been?” My sister was off and shrieking.
    I let her go for a few moments and then interrupted. “Minuet!” was the only thing that got her to stop.
    “You know I hate when you call me that.”
    “Then hush. I was…um…with a friend.”
    I heard her gasp and then chuckle. “Oh. Well. Anything potentially serious?”
    I thought of them drifting off together. Elijah and Lanie, lost to each other and then reunited. “Nope. Just together for a couple nights kind of thing.”
    “Well, let me say, I have met the nicest man for you if you’re interested.”
    I forced myself to say it. It was time to move on past Justin and now past the brief and fleeting, but bright and shiny interlude with Elijah. “Sure. I’ll take a shot.”
    She babbled on for a few minutes and then I finally said, “Minnie, I need a shower and food and all that jazz. Let me call you later.”
    I sighed, suddenly exhausted and watched the rest of my hedge turn to nothing but smoking sticks.
    I glanced up to see Carla standing there, wide mouthed and wide eyed. “Oh my gosh, Juliet, what—”
    I snorted, giddy with relief. “Termites,” I said. “Filthy, niggling termites. Didn’t want them back in the house. The house had them once, but never again,” I said, eyeing the remains. “Never again.”
    I’d change, eat and then thoroughly smudge the house with sage and seal the doors and windows with salt. No more vermin in my house. Ever.
    I waved to Carla and went inside to get out of my clothes. They reeked of smoke and burnt green foliage.
    Good job, Juliet, my love .
    I blinked, tears flooding my eyes. “Justin?” I whispered.
    I felt the fleeting weight of his touch, then another small whisper, and he was gone. Then I knew. It had been me all along. I’d been shut down and shut off from him because of my crushing pain. The loss of him had deafened me to his spirit. I’d opened myself up in that moment, and it allowed my fears to fall away. He was present, he loved me, he was proud. He was okay.
    Everything would be okay. I’d meet this guy my sister wanted me to meet and whether there was a connection or not, it would all work out in the end. The time had come. I’d move forward.

About the Author
    Sommer Marsden is the wine-swigging, fat-dachshund owning, wanna be runner author of multiple erotic novels. She's also gotten it in her head to edit a collection or three. Sommer currently writes erotica and erotic romance from her funky little Baltimore home. Sommer's short work can be found in over a hundred erotica anthologies and in numerous print magazines.
    Sommer is the proud owner of one man, one boy child and a girl child to round it all out. She likes to drive winding roads, crank up music and sing way too loud for inspiration. When she's not writing (which is rare) she can be found reading good books, quilting, baking, crocheting,