Alora's Love Potion; Short Story Collection Read online

  ALORA’S LOVE POTION

  A WARRIORS OF LEMURIA SHORT STORY COLLECTION

  ROSALIE REDD

  Copyright © February 2017 Rosalie Redd

  All rights reserved. The uploading, scanning, and distribution of this book in any form or by any means—including but not limited to electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the permission of the copyright holder is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions of this work, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

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

  For permissions contact: [email protected].

  Cover Design: Melody Simmons

  ISBN: 9781944419127

  United States of America

  CONTENTS

  Foreword

  Alora’s Love Potion

  Come to Me: A Warriors of Lemuria short story #1

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Be with Me: A Warriors of Lemuria short story #2

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Catch Me: A Warriors of Lemuria short story #3

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Remember Me: A Warriors of Lemuria short story #4

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Bonus Chapter

  Untouchable Lover Excerpt

  Untouchable Lover Intro

  About the Author

  FOREWORD

  Hello readers! Welcome to my Warriors of Lemuria short story supplement—a collection of all four Alora’s Love Potion short stories: Come to Me, Be with Me, Catch Me, and Remember Me. In addition, this collection includes a never before released bonus chapter from Remember Me.

  In Untouchable Lover, book 1 of the Warriors of Lemuria series, Alora’s love potion accidentally falls through a Lemurian portal and lands in Portland, Oregon’s Forest Park where it is unwittingly unleashed upon humans. That chapter is included in this collection. Although each story in this anthology contains a unique couple on their journey to love, there is also a cameo appearance from one or more of the characters in the Warriors of Lemuria series.

  On a side note—in Remember Me, the phone call on the second date update was based on an actual show with a genuine couple. The names were changed and the content altered slightly, but the main premise was real. As a bonus, an exclusive chapter of Shaun’s call with Monty is included in this collection.

  ALORA’S LOVE POTION

  Alora, a goddess from the planet Lemuria, accidentally drops a love potion through a portal. The small vial lands in Portland, Oregon’s Forest Park. Once discovered, the alluring liquid can ignite adventure and passion leading to a meant-to-be love for those that open it, if they’re brave enough to take the risk.

  COME TO ME: A WARRIORS OF LEMURIA SHORT STORY #1

  Cassandra Forsyth has a secret crush on a man she believes will never notice her. Adam Harkness doesn’t feel worthy of the tall, beautiful, yet shy, Cassandra. When they find themselves alone on a hike in Forest Park and discover an unusual bottle with a tempting fluid inside, their true passion inflames the hidden desires tucked away in their hearts.

  CHAPTER 1

  C assandra slammed on the brakes. The Rabbit’s tires skittered on the gravel before bouncing against the cement bumper. The shift stick put up a struggle, but she finally managed to shove the handle into first gear. As the rumble of the engine died, silence filled the early-afternoon air.

  She really needed to take her car to a mechanic, but who had time? As long as the Volkswagen still ran, well, that was a blessing. The good news—the parking lot was almost empty. The bad news—Adam Harkness caught the whole episode. Heat rose to her cheeks.

  He leaned against his red F-250 truck. With his arms crossed over his chest, his denim coat fit snug over his wide shoulders. Even under the thickness of the material, the definition of his firm biceps molded to the fabric. Tight jeans hugged his hips and ended in a pair of Keen hiking boots. He covered his mouth, but couldn’t quite hide the grin that radiated from his piercing green eyes. Catching her gaze, he raised his hand. With a graceful move, he smoothed his shoulder-length brown hair away from his face. Shoot. No one had the right to look that good.

  Cassandra leaned back in her seat and shoved her keys into the front pocket of her jeans. Her chest tightened. Usually, there was a group of four or five that went on these monthly hikes, but not this time. Her friend was supposed to join her and Adam. “Damn it, Jo. Of all the days to get sick. Why today?”

  Jo, normally a bundle of energy, had woken up with a bad case of too much tequila last night. She’d insisted Cassandra go on this hike without her. Keep Adam busy. He needs to forget about Rachel. Besides, you’ll have fun, trust me. Three months ago, Rachel, a friend of hers from college, had dumped him claiming her need to “explore the field.”

  Cassandra grabbed her coat, shoved a water bottle in the pocket, and glanced at Adam. How could anyone dump such a fine male specimen? She clenched her jaw and pulled on the door handle. The decrepit metal creaked, launching a small flock of pigeons into the air.

  Boots crunched against gravel. She glanced up just in time to see Adam round the side of her car.

  His eyebrows furrowed. “Cassandra, good to see ya. Where’s Jo?”

  Cassandra’s mouth went dry. In the four years she’d known him, she’d never been alone with Adam. Why had she agreed to meet him? Until the breakup, he’d been safe, off limits. She’d heard through the grapevine that he’d taken the news hard. To her knowledge, he still hadn’t plunged back into the dating scene.

  “Cat got your tongue?” His mouth curved into a wicked grin.

  Her pulse picked up in response. “She’s…eh…sick.”

  “But you came anyway.” His gaze pierced her, held her in place.

  “I…yes.” Damn it. Her words sounded breathless. A wave of self-consciousness rolled over her shoulders. At five foot eleven, she’d always been a big girl. Most wouldn’t call her overweight, but she had a large, well-proportioned physique. Often, she’d been teased about her size, and her last boyfriend had dumped her, unable to handle being with someone the same height.

  She slammed the car door and pushed her arms through her coat sleeves. “Since we’re both here, we should do this. Yes?”

  He nodded. “Let me lock up.” As he sprinted over to his truck, she couldn’t help ogling him, appreciating how his jeans hugged his firm backside. She wanted to grip one of those cheeks to see if his muscles were as tight as she’d imagined. A new rush of warmth spread up her throat and across her face.

  The trek to his truck was like walking through quicksand. Her limbs were numb not only from the cold January afternoon, but also from her own insecurities. A relationship or two of her own over the college years had been her attempt to move beyond her fixation over him. She admired his kindness and ability to see past other people’s flaws, and he’d won her heart at every party, every dinner, anytime they were together.

  To be here with him now, alone, was a test of h
er self-control given that he’d never once shown an interest in her. She shook her hands to release some of her nervous energy, but the tension persisted.

  His truck alarm beeped, and he shoved his keys into his jeans pocket. A sudden urge to chase after those keys raced along her nerves. She bit her lip and glanced around the parking lot. A few other cars were in the area, evidence that they weren’t alone on this unusual, sunny, winter day in Portland, Oregon.

  Bits of shattered auto glass glistened among the gravel. Forest Park was the largest park in the United States within a city. Although Portland was usually a safe place, break-ins at trailheads were not uncommon. Adam was right to protect his truck. Her own vehicle? She’d count her blessings if someone stole the rattletrap. Not that she could afford one on her receptionist’s salary—the only job she could get with her history degree—but she wouldn’t miss the old beater.

  She headed down the path to the Upper Macleay trail.

  “Where you goin’?” His low, gravelly voice skimmed over her sensitive nerves, sending a ripple of feminine appreciation down her back.

  She peered at him. “Macleay Park. The trail is—”

  “Didn’t Jo mention you hiked that one recently? How ’bout we take the Wildwood Trail to Pittock Mansion?” He nodded toward the trailhead marker and a few strands of his brown hair came untucked from behind his ear.

  Her fingers twitched. She longed to trace her hand over his cheek and put the unruly tresses back in place. Swallowing, she forced herself to concentrate on his words. “Sure. If that’s what you want to do…” She stopped mid-sentence, her mind floating to all kinds of things she’d like to do…with him.

  His gaze wandered down her body and returned to her eyes. She couldn’t read his expression.

  A strange twinge pulled at her gut. Her awkward body was not something she wanted him staring at as they walked down the trail, so she held out her hand. “Please, you first. That way, you can handle any spider webs.”

  He let out a boisterous laugh. “Had I known you didn’t like spiders, I wouldn’t have dressed as Spider-Man last year for Halloween.” The coy smile she’d grown to love pulled at his lips.

  An image of him in his spidey-suit was not what she needed right now, but she couldn’t help her own smile as his playful nature broke down her walls.

  “Good news for you, most spiders aren’t active during the winter. You’ll be fine.” He winked.

  She tensed, and glanced away. He wants me to go first. A ball of tension grew in her stomach.

  “Hey.” He placed his hand on her arm. “No sweat. I’ll lead.” Even through the coat sleeve, her body reacted to his touch, and a shot of adrenaline rushed through her veins.

  “Thanks.” That was the only word she could manage.

  The trailhead started up a small path not far from the Portland Audubon Society. He took the lead and she followed, admiring the way his powerful legs moved. As they entered the forest, a strange sensation ran along her nerves causing the hair along the back of her neck to rise. Somehow, she knew this path they were on was one that would change their lives.

  CHAPTER 2

  Despite the weather prediction of sunny skies, a thin layer of high clouds still remained, shielding the sun’s rays from filtering through the trees. The dirt trail was wet from last night’s rain and rivulets of water still ran over sections of the track. Mud squished beneath her feet as Cassandra jumped over a small stream, one of many that wound its way to the river at the bottom of the small gorge. The scent of moisture and fresh earth filled her senses.

  As much as she tried to concentrate on anything but the sexy man in front of her, she couldn’t seem to keep her gaze off of him. The way he moved was a beautiful sight, his lithe body traversing the tree roots and rocks in the trail with ease. Mesmerized, she fantasized about what it would be like to run her hands over his broad shoulders and into his hair.

  To distract herself, she concentrated on the path in front of her. The puddles and small pebbles that dotted the trail helped her focus. A banana slug hugging the edge of a rock caught her attention, and she curled her lip in disgust.

  Umpf. She bumped into him, unaware that he’d stopped. Her body molded to his backside and a whiff of his recent shower still lingered on his skin, infiltrating her senses. His hand gripped her thigh, steadying her, but he didn’t turn around. His masculine strength and his unique scent warmed her on the inside.

  “Look.” His voice was a low whisper.

  She followed his line of sight. Just a few yards away, a doe was partially hidden behind a fir tree. The forest shadows and her natural coloring helped the deer blend in with the surroundings. She stared at the human couple, her eyes wary.

  “Those muscles…the power and speed. She’s beautiful, don’t you think?” He didn’t pull away from her as Cassandra expected, but instead, tightened his grip on her thigh.

  The closeness to him reminded her of their status as “just friends.” She stepped away, and a part of her cried out from the loss of contact. The doe disappeared into the deepening forest.

  “You like deer, I assume.” She wanted to keep the topic on neutral ground and not mention how much she enjoyed his touch, his scent, the feel of his body pressed against hers.

  “And you don’t?” The small lines around his eyes creased from his amusement.

  “Of course, I do. What’s not to like about deer?”

  He had her all flustered. Her body temperature rose. A sense of confinement overwhelmed her, so she yanked on the coat zipper. Cold air permeated her thin tank top, cooling her down. The freedom was a welcome relief. For so much of her life, she’d kept everything bottled up inside, afraid to take chances, afraid to let loose her innermost wants and desires. Adam pushed those buttons. Part of her feared him for that, another part longed to explore those feelings—with him.

  His grin turned into a smirk. “Apparently, nothing.”

  She wasn’t sure if she wanted to punch him or kiss him. Both would require touching him again, and as much as she wanted to, she shouldn’t. Never in the whole time she’d known him had he ever looked at another girl. He’d been faithful to Rachel, and she wondered when, no if, he’d ever get over her. The last thing she needed was to become his rebound. She’d be the devastated one when he finally healed and moved on. That, she couldn’t handle.

  She put her hands on her hips. “Can we keep going?”

  “Of course, m’lady.” He gave her a short bow, and then proceeded down the trail. As he glanced around, she caught his expression. A smile pulled at the corner of his mouth for the briefest moment before disappearing. His jaw tightened.

  Was he thinking of Rachel? Probably, and that irked Cassandra. Stupid tramp. Once a good friend, Cassandra couldn’t maintain the relationship once she’d found out that Rachel had slept with not one, but two other guys in the past year. Adam had been furious. The fallout from their relationship was not a secret from anyone who knew them. Rachel had ripped Adam apart, wiping her feet on his heart.

  For the past few months, he’d worked longer hours at his computer programming job. Their circle of friends had encouraged him to date, move on, and forget about Rachel. He’d nod, paste on a smile, but as far as Cassandra knew, he still hadn’t gone out with anyone.

  Although she’d longed for him to notice her, he never had. Too bad she didn’t have the guts to take matters into her own hands.

  A sparkle of light blinded her for a moment. Not far from the trail, poking through a mass of tree roots was a small, black cylinder. She stopped to pick up the strange vial. The cool, smooth surface was neither stone nor glass, but appeared to be something in between. The exterior of the bottle glistened, shifting from iridescent blue to black and back again. She’d never seen anything like it. The unusual object called to her, as if encouraging her to open the lid.

  She flashed a look in Adam’s direction. He was several yards ahead of her on the trail, and didn’t seem to notice that she’d stopped. Pocketi
ng the strange object, she raced after him.

  CHAPTER 3

  Blood pumped through Cassandra’s veins, fueling her muscles, sending a rush of endorphins through her body. She breathed in the cool air, enjoying the workout and how it made her feel alive. Despite the complaint from her thigh muscles, a smile curled at her lip. She and Adam both enjoyed hiking and their love of the outdoors was something they had in common.

  Neither had spoken much as they ascended the trail. He seemed lost in his thoughts. She didn’t know what to say, her own insecurities shutting her down. No wonder Adam had never noticed her. Rachel was everything Cassandra wasn’t—thin, blond, beautiful. She bit her lip—what would she do if he ever did? Shaking her head, she continued along the path.

  He glanced over his shoulder at her. “Did you see that news article in the Oregonian about water on Mars?” He gave her a warm smile.

  Her heart expanded. “Yes, I did. Scientists believe there is liquid water on Mars. Fascinating, isn’t it?”

  “Where there’s water, there could be life. Imagine what it must be like to live somewhere else.” He glanced into the cloudy sky through a break in the trees. “Would you live on another planet if you could?”

  She giggled. “Only if they have coffee.”

  The slow grin that formed on his face just about broke her resolve. Their friendship had always been one of mutual respect, kept at a distance. In addition to hiking, they also shared an intense fascination with outer space and any news about life on other planets.

  A couple of women headed toward them from the opposite direction. One looked to be in her fifties, wearing a knitted cap with a fluffy ball on top. The other was younger, and based on the resemblance, seemed like the older woman’s daughter. Her hair was strung into a tight ponytail. The end flipped back and forth as she walked. She glanced at Adam, and her eyes widened.