Elle James - Possessing the Witch

Sleep was the furthest thing from her mind as she lay almost naked against this ruggedly powerful and mysterious man.

The longer Selene lay there, the more she wondered what it would feel like to press her lips to his skin.

An image of lips brushing the top of her head was followed by a featherlight stirring at her temple. Selene’s breath caught in her chest.

Her heart tripped over itself and then thundered against her ribs. She shifted until she faced him, staring up into his eyes. “Did you kiss me?” she asked, her voice little more than air.

Gryph’s mouth quirked upward. “Had I really kissed you, you would know.”

ELLE JAMES, a New York Times bestselling author, started writing when her sister challenged her to write a romance novel. She has managed a full-time job and raised three wonderful children, and she and her husband have even tried ranching exotic birds (ostriches, emus and rheas). Ask her, and she’ll tell you what it’s like to go toe-to-toe with an angry three-hundred-and-fifty-pound bird! Elle loves to hear from fans at ellejames@earthlink.net or ellejames.com.

Possessing the Witch

Elle James

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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For friends and lovers who accept you for who you are, no matter your physical or social flaws.

To Cleve for inspiring my drive and ambition to succeed in this crazy world of publication and for being there when I need a swift kick in the pants to get back to work. You’re more than just a husband. You’re my cheerleader, coach and team. You love me for all my successes and my flaws and encourage me to push on. I could not have accomplished so much without your love and support.

Contents

Cover

Introduction Sleep was the furthest thing from her mind as she lay almost naked against this ruggedly powerful and mysterious man. The longer Selene lay there, the more she wondered what it would feel like to press her lips to his skin. An image of lips brushing the top of her head was followed by a featherlight stirring at her temple. Selene’s breath caught in her chest. Her heart tripped over itself and then thundered against her ribs. She shifted until she faced him, staring up into his eyes. “Did you kiss me?” she asked, her voice little more than air. Gryph’s mouth quirked upward. “Had I really kissed you, you would know.”

About the Author ELLE JAMES , a New York Times bestselling author, started writing when her sister challenged her to write a romance novel. She has managed a full-time job and raised three wonderful children, and she and her husband have even tried ranching exotic birds (ostriches, emus and rheas). Ask her, and she’ll tell you what it’s like to go toe-to-toe with an angry three-hundred-and-fifty-pound bird! Elle loves to hear from fans at ellejames@earthlink.net or ellejames.com .

Title Page Possessing the Witch Elle James www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dedication For friends and lovers who accept you for who you are, no matter your physical or social flaws. To Cleve for inspiring my drive and ambition to succeed in this crazy world of publication and for being there when I need a swift kick in the pants to get back to work. You’re more than just a husband. You’re my cheerleader, coach and team. You love me for all my successes and my flaws and encourage me to push on. I could not have accomplished so much without your love and support.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Extract

Copyright

Chapter 1

She glanced behind her, certain she’d heard something that sounded like a growl. When the sound did not repeat, she shrugged and pulled up the collar of her jacket to block the bite of the chilled autumn air. Now, she wished that she’d accepted an offer of a ride to the garage from her friends. At least then she wouldn’t be alone, on a dark street, jumping at every noise.

She knew better than to go anywhere alone in downtown Chicago, especially after dark.

As she entered the parking garage, she let out the breath she’d been holding and laughed. All that worry for nothing. She climbed the stairs to the second level and there, in the middle of the empty bay, stood her car, a shiny, creamy, pearl-white Audi, the heated leather seats beckoning to her.

As she dug in her purse for her keys, she heard it again. This time louder. The deep rumble of an animal’s growl sent shivers coursing down her spine.

It sounded as though it was coming from her car.

The growl burst into a roar, echoing off the concrete walls of the garage, so real and frightening she screamed and dropped her purse, keys and all, and ran back toward the stairs.

“No,” she cried, her heart in her throat, her breath catching on a sob. “No.”

Although hampered by high heels, she made it all the way to the bottom. As she turned toward the street, fifty feet away and still busy with traffic, something big and heavy slammed into her back, knocking her facedown on the concrete.

Too far from the traffic to be seen, she lay pinned beneath the weight of an animal, its heated breath sniffing at the back of her neck.

She whimpered, struggling to crawl from beneath it, her heart racing, her hands scuffed and bleeding. “Please...”

The creature’s nose nuzzled the line of her throat, then a long, hot, wet tongue snaked out and licked her skin.

She screamed, renewing her frantic fight to free herself from the faceless beast.

The animal roared again and sank its teeth into the back of her neck, shaking her viciously.

Her arms and legs went numb and she couldn’t move any part of her body, but her thoughts were clear and frightened beyond comprehension.

The creature dragged her from the garage into the shadows of an alley, pavement scraping her face. He stopped behind a stack of bound cardboard, dropped her to the ground and roared, the sound reverberating off the walls.

“Please...don’t kill me.”

* * *

Selene Chattox jerked awake, drenched in sweat, her heart racing.

Please...don’t kill me.

She snatched her cell phone from the nightstand and speed-dialed her sister, Deme.

“Yeah...what...who is this?” A loud banging noise was followed by a muttered curse. “Sorry, I dropped my phone. Selene? What’s wrong?” Her voice was hoarse, filled with the gravel of sleep.

“She’s dying.”

“Who’s dying?” All raspiness cleared, Deme’s words were clear and clipped.

“I don’t know.”

“Can you tell where?”

“In an alley.”

“Can you be more specific? Do you see anything else, a street sign, a building name, something?”

Selene inhaled, closed her eyes and let her mind drift back into the dream. Her cheek stung where the pavement had scraped against her skin in the nightmare—blessedly, the rest of her body felt no pain. Hot breath snorted down on her neck and Selene jerked out of the vision, her hand shaking so hard she could barely hold the cell phone to her ear. “I smelled water. She was in a parking garage, leaving the theater, when she was attacked. It dragged her into a nearby alley.”