Chapter One
Disappointment pooled through Tasha like spilled red wine.
She tried in vain to ignore the stain it cast on her heart and mind but failed.
And just like the wine she’d accidentally tipped over in her haste to ensure
all was perfect for her dinner of seduction, the mark ran deep within her.
She read the text again from her hubby saying he’d be at
work late and sighed. “Why tonight?” No one answered back and the silence spoke
volumes. Instead of rejoicing that the two children had been scooped up by her
mother she felt oddly lonely. And how dare she feel that way. After all, didn’t
she have the perfect life—married to a hardworking man, two healthy, beautiful
and often very loud boys and a career that was finally taking off? Yes, she’d
tell her friends if any asked, but something, some spark of passion, had seeped
out of her marriage. She wanted that rush and tingle back. The one she used to
get when her man walked through the door. Tonight had been about reclaiming
that passion. As usual, their lack of communication, which lately consisted of
texting and not actually speaking, overshadowed everything.
After a bubble bath, two glasses of wine and devouring three
chapters in the latest erotic romance novel she was reading, Tasha crawled into
her large king-sized bed. Her comfort, the stray sleek black cat she’d taken in
over two weeks ago, had religiously claimed the foot of the bed as her own
special place. The poor thing looked a lot better than that day Tasha had found
her dripping wet and unconscious on the side of the road. In fact, her fur positively
gleamed thanks to the vitamins the vet had given her.
“Just you and me, Kitty. Guess I should finally name you as
I don’t think anyone but us wants you.” The cat ignored her and purred contently
in her sleep.
“Let me see…how about Blackie. No that sucks. You need
something more exotic. How about Ebony? Naw, that doesn’t sound right. You look
more regal than a black rock. What about Cleopatra?”
That cat swiveled its head and blinked nice and slow at
Tasha. “Well that settles it, my queen, you are now from this day forth called Cleopatra.
Welcome to the Mackenzie household. Hope you don’t mind cold winters because
that’s usually what we get in Nova Scotia.”
Tasha crawled under her blankets, feeling slightly better.
At least she’d accomplished something today—she’d named the cat. Mumbling as
she went to sleep, Tasha remained oblivious to the cat getting up gracefully
from the foot of the bed to jump down to the floor and sit still as a statue.
But unbeknownst to Tasha the cat had finally come awake.
Cleopatra. How fitting. The goddess within
the body of the cat had finally clawed herself to the forefront. If that maniac
driver had had his way she’d be dead. Thanks to the sweet kindness of Tasha
she’d had time to heal and that was a gift in itself. Two weeks to dream, and slowly,
without the constant dim of the other gods and goddesses seeking her out for
this and that, she’d discovered something. This woman, as many working mothers,
deserved a little spice in her life. And now that Hathor’s powers were once
again in full form, she was going to receive a very special package. And with
that Hathor, who enjoyed her sleek feline form, walked with her tail straight
and proud out of the bedroom to put things into motion. With each step she
purred louder.
Mack tiptoed through the house trying to be quiet. Evidence
of the special night his wife had worked hard to create for them silhouetted
the dark room but the house still smelled of vanilla from the melted candles
and the bottle of wine still sat on the table. He cursed silently. The boys
were with her mother and he’d had every intention of getting home early but the
double murder in the North End had overshadowed everything. When his boss had
told him of his assigment as lead detective on the case he’d jumped at the
chance but maybe his leap had
Disappointment pooled through Tasha like spilled red wine.
She tried in vain to ignore the stain it cast on her heart and mind but failed.
And just like the wine she’d accidentally tipped over in her haste to ensure
all was perfect for her dinner of seduction, the mark ran deep within her.
She read the text again from her hubby saying he’d be at
work late and sighed. “Why tonight?” No one answered back and the silence spoke
volumes. Instead of rejoicing that the two children had been scooped up by her
mother she felt oddly lonely. And how dare she feel that way. After all, didn’t
she have the perfect life—married to a hardworking man, two healthy, beautiful
and often very loud boys and a career that was finally taking off? Yes, she’d
tell her friends if any asked, but something, some spark of passion, had seeped
out of her marriage. She wanted that rush and tingle back. The one she used to
get when her man walked through the door. Tonight had been about reclaiming
that passion. As usual, their lack of communication, which lately consisted of
texting and not actually speaking, overshadowed everything.
After a bubble bath, two glasses of wine and devouring three
chapters in the latest erotic romance novel she was reading, Tasha crawled into
her large king-sized bed. Her comfort, the stray sleek black cat she’d taken in
over two weeks ago, had religiously claimed the foot of the bed as her own
special place. The poor thing looked a lot better than that day Tasha had found
her dripping wet and unconscious on the side of the road. In fact, her fur positively
gleamed thanks to the vitamins the vet had given her.
“Just you and me, Kitty. Guess I should finally name you as
I don’t think anyone but us wants you.” The cat ignored her and purred contently
in her sleep.
“Let me see…how about Blackie. No that sucks. You need
something more exotic. How about Ebony? Naw, that doesn’t sound right. You look
more regal than a black rock. What about Cleopatra?”
That cat swiveled its head and blinked nice and slow at
Tasha. “Well that settles it, my queen, you are now from this day forth called Cleopatra.
Welcome to the Mackenzie household. Hope you don’t mind cold winters because
that’s usually what we get in Nova Scotia.”
Tasha crawled under her blankets, feeling slightly better.
At least she’d accomplished something today—she’d named the cat. Mumbling as
she went to sleep, Tasha remained oblivious to the cat getting up gracefully
from the foot of the bed to jump down to the floor and sit still as a statue.
But unbeknownst to Tasha the cat had finally come awake.
Cleopatra. How fitting. The goddess within
the body of the cat had finally clawed herself to the forefront. If that maniac
driver had had his way she’d be dead. Thanks to the sweet kindness of Tasha
she’d had time to heal and that was a gift in itself. Two weeks to dream, and slowly,
without the constant dim of the other gods and goddesses seeking her out for
this and that, she’d discovered something. This woman, as many working mothers,
deserved a little spice in her life. And now that Hathor’s powers were once
again in full form, she was going to receive a very special package. And with
that Hathor, who enjoyed her sleek feline form, walked with her tail straight
and proud out of the bedroom to put things into motion. With each step she
purred louder.
Mack tiptoed through the house trying to be quiet. Evidence
of the special night his wife had worked hard to create for them silhouetted
the dark room but the house still smelled of vanilla from the melted candles
and the bottle of wine still sat on the table. He cursed silently. The boys
were with her mother and he’d had every intention of getting home early but the
double murder in the North End had overshadowed everything. When his boss had
told him of his assigment as lead detective on the case he’d jumped at the
chance but maybe his leap had
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