Ghosts of Christmas Passion Read online

  Mandy laughed. “I’m so glad Mark is human. I’d have to club him over the head if he even thought of punishing me.” She smirked.

  Toni kicked her off the couch, and Mandy landed on the floor laughing. “Hey, that wasn’t nice.”

  “Well, quit teasing me. I can have Drake and Scott teach Mark.” She glared at Mandy.

  Mandy stood and glared right back, pointing her finger at Toni. “You wouldn’t dare. I think I’ll keep Mark safe at home, thank you.” She grabbed her jacket and headed for the door.

  Toni threw the blanket back and attempted to stand. “Wait, Mandy, please don’t go.” She would have fallen, but once more Scott grabbed her and held her up. She smiled at him and patted his arm. “Please, Mandy, I was only joking.” Tears slipped down her cheeks. “You can’t leave me.”

  Mandy stopped and turned. “Don’t cry, Toni. I’m not leaving, but all this…it’s a bit much, you know?”

  Drake stepped forward. “Mandy, we could take most of the memories away, if it helps. You’re important to Toni and she’s going to need a friend to help her adjust to her new life.”

  Mandy shook her head. “If I’m to help and stand beside her, I have to know what’s going on, Drake.” She sighed. “But I’m going to need to talk to someone too.”

  Drew walked around Mandy, studying her. “Call your husband and invite him here tonight. We’ll have a nice quiet dinner and talk. If we deem him strong enough to handle this, then we’ll allow you to tell him, but, Mandy, this comes at a price.” He looked at Toni.

  “Only a few humans have been told about us, Toni. I’m surprised Drake and Scott allowed Mandy to be told so quickly. Yet, I agree with their assessment of your friend. She has the gift also. Please sit down, Mandy. We have some decisions to make.” He nodded to the chair, and Mandy glanced at Toni and moved to it and sat.

  Fran handed Mandy and Toni cups of hot coffee, then sat next to her at the end of the couch while Scott and Drake waited by the fireplace.

  Drew stood in the middle of the room. “Our species is from another world. We have the bodies of humans, yet we are not human, and we have been around for centuries. Many of us came to Earth in search of others like ourselves, and ended up choosing to stay, but in a parallel universe with your gods, as you call them, and we count them as our friends. That is why some of us have been chosen to stay here and help the human race, but to do this, we have set up rules to protect the balance. Because of this, we have agreed that any human who has this knowledge will be brought partly into our world.” He looked at Mandy and smiled.

  “You won’t have the powers we do, which I believe is a good thing. But you will live longer and we will be able to monitor you. If you decide your husband and you will be brought over, your daughter will be given the choice to do so too when she is old enough to make her own decision. It’s our way to protect our kind and to thank you for standing next to us.”

  Mandy frowned and looked at Toni. “How long is this life span, and does it hurt to brought over?” She turned to Drew.

  He smiled. “No, there is no pain, and your life span will determine by who brings you over. Since you are connected to Toni, you will live as long as she does. Your appearance and identity will change over years so that humans won’t guess something is off.”

  Toni didn’t know what to do. She didn’t want Mandy to have to change her life for her. “Mandy…”

  Drew turned to her and shook his head. “This is their decision to make. Toni, she already knows too much and has seen too much. We need to know now, before anything else happens.”

  Mandy pulled out her phone and called Mark. She smiled at Toni as she told him he needed to come to the house. She closed the phone and nodded. “He’ll be here in a few. He’s going to drop our daughter off at his sister’s house.”

  Fran stood and held out her hand. “Why don’t we go and make lunch for everyone? I have a feeling my sons want to talk to their wife before your Mark comes.” She dragged Mandy out of the room, followed by Drew.

  Drake stepped in front of Toni and knelt. “That was why you were afraid of the ball gag, wasn’t it?” He cupped her cheek.

  Toni nodded. “Every time I see one, I see that poor woman.” She glanced at Scott. “Do you think there is a way we could find those women and help them? I know those men are still hurting them. Hank bragged about it before he left, saying they had another meeting planned. I don’t want others to suffer like we did.”

  Scott nodded. “We’ll contact a few friends and see what we can do, but Toni, what you did today can’t happen again. Drake and I are furious with you, but my father is right. You’ve been through enough. We might not spank you, but for now, we can’t be with you. Tonight, you’ll sleep alone.” Scott stood and walked away from her, and Drake followed.

  Drake went outside and dragged in the tree Scott had cut, setting it up in front of the big bay window just where she had envisioned it.

  * * *

  Drake sat next to Toni, holding her as Mandy explained everything to her husband. Mark stared at them like they were all crazy. Then Drew materialized in front of him, and Mark jumped back and grabbed Mandy, pushing her behind him. Yep, he passed their tests. Now would he and Mandy make the right choice?

  He glanced down at Toni, who sat there not saying anything. She had eaten in silence, only answering questions he asked her. She was clearly nervous that Mark wouldn’t allow Mandy to do this.

  Mark glanced at Toni and stepped around Drew, advancing on her. Drake frowned and stood in front of him, and Toni pulled on his shirt. “Sit, Drake. He has a right to talk to me. After all, if they do this, it will be for me,” she whispered.

  Drake sat and placed his arm around her as he nodded to Mark.

  “You do realize what you’re asking of us? That we would see our family members die while we live on. Not to mention, we would have to change our lives every hundred years,” Mark demanded.

  Drake tightened his arm around Toni as she nodded. “If I had known all of this, Mark, I wouldn’t have even told Mandy. I’m sorry. It seems I keep disrupting your lives. If you decide to not do this, know—I will always look over your family and protect them as if they were mine.” She smiled up at him.

  Mark nodded and turned to Mandy. “This is a big decision. Can I have some time with my wife alone?”

  Scott stood and showed them to a bedroom upstairs.

  “Why don’t we start decorating that tree? It just begs for lights, decorations and tinsel.” Drake’s mom said.

  Fran grabbed Toni’s hand and helped her up. “You should be okay to move around, but I wouldn’t suggest running a marathon for a couple of days.” She handed the lights to Drake. “Start working, boy. Don’t stand there with your thumb up your ass.” She laughed.

  “Mom, you really need to stop watching TV. I swear every time we turn around, you have some new saying,” he grumbled as Scott grabbed the other strand of lights. Within a half hour, they had all the lights on the tree working.

  Toni stood and watched, smiling when Drake and Scott yelled at each other, yet it was obvious her heart wasn’t in it.

  Drake sighed and stepped up to her. “What’s wrong?” He lifted her chin and stared into her face.

  She tried to pull her head away, but he held on. “Drake, don’t. Not now. I’ll be okay.”

  Drake scooped her up into his arms and carried her into the kitchen, where he set her on the counter as Scott joined them. “Now we’re alone. Tell us.”

  “It’s nothing, Drake. I’m really just feeling a bit well overwhelmed. I’m tired and just worried about Mandy.”

  He studied her and nodded. “There’s something else, but I won’t push you.

  Mandy and Mark are back in the living room. Come on. Let’s go see what they’ve decided.”

  He helped her down and studied her as they walked into the living room.

  Mandy and Mark smiled at her, and Mark turned to Drew. “Mandy and I have discussed this and we agree
d to allow you to bring us into your world.” He turned and walked toward them and stopped in front of Toni. “I’ve always had my problems with you and Mandy, your closeness, but you answered from your heart earlier, and to me that means everything. We will be proud to stand beside you, Toni.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek.

  Tears slipped down Toni’s. “Thank you, Mark. I promise you won’t regret it.” She stepped forward and hugged him.

  He grinned and nodded to Drake. “Make sure you take care of her. She’s had enough sadness for two people.”

  Scott and Drake nodded and clapped him on the shoulders. “Now maybe we need to talk to you about our lifestyle since you’ll be living a long life.” Drake smiled as he Mandy hissed behind him.

  Toni glared back at him. “You will do no such thing. That is for them to work out.”

  “Are you telling me what to do, Toni?” he purred, waiting for her to make a move and glanced down at her sweet ass. Just one excuse to spank her was all he needed.

  She looked at the floor. “No, you’ll do what you want anyway.” Toni stepped around Mark and made her way into the living room, then sat on the couch. “So, what has to be done for this?” She glanced up at Drew.

  Drake and his Scott nodded to Mark. “Mark, grab on to Mandy’s hand. We will form a circle, releasing our powers. It will take about two minutes. You won’t feel any change like Toni did, but you will be a little light-headed,” Scott said as they formed a circle, released their power.

  Mandy swayed, but Mark caught her. “Damn, what a rush.” Mark shook his head. “You okay, baby?” He looked down at Mandy, and she smiled up at him and patted his cheek.

  “I’m fine. Let me sit down for a bit.” Mark helped her sit next to Toni on the couch.

  Toni nudged her. “Well, welcome to my world. Thanks, Mandy, this means a lot to me.” She hugged her. “Now if we can keep Drake and Scott away from Mark.” She glanced back at Drake and gave him a stern look that had him smiling.

  He walked up to Mark and put his arm around him. “Scott and I have the duty of putting the outside lights up. Why don’t you come help, and we’ll have a nice little chat?” Drake started to walk toward the door with Scott.

  “Drake, don’t you dare! If you even think about it, you’ll be sleeping on the couch for the next week!”

  Drake turned and looked at her. Toni was standing with her hands on her hips, and glaring at him. “Scott, please take Mark outside to start working on the lights. I think I need to have a little chat with our wife.” He advanced on her, and she backed up and fell onto the couch.

  Mandy rushed to Mark’s side. “Let’s go home. We can come back for Christmas Day. I’m really tired.”

  Mark laughed and pushed her toward the tree. “Start decorating. I’m going out to talk to Scott, and I don’t want to hear another word. Don’t think I don’t know that you’re trying to keep something from me. We’ll talk later.” He walked out with Scott as Drake scooped up Toni and strolled up the stairs.

  He frowned down at her. “See? All that fussing and earning a punishment for nothing. Mark’s not a fool, Toni. He knows there are things he has to do to keep our secret, just like we do.” He pushed open the door and closed it with his foot.

  “How did I earn a punishment? You were just baiting me, admit it. Why?” She glared at him.

  Drake sat on the bed and stared down at her. “You really don’t know how much you scared us earlier, do you? You purposely chose to ignore what we said, Toni, but since my father told us we should withhold our punishment, we did. But you go too far when you tell us what to do and threaten to withhold yourself from us!”

  She tried to jump up, but he flipped her onto her stomach and lifted her dress. He rubbed his hand over her plump ass.

  “How dare you? You’re the one who threatened to stay out of my bed tonight, but I’m not allowed to—ouch. Stop that,” she complained as he spanked her.

  “Move your hand, Toni, and take your punishment,” he demanded. She hesitated only for a moment, then removed her hand from her ass. “We punish you to remind you of the rules. If we don’t have rules, things can go wrong, or you could be taken away from us. Warriors from our world watch us and make sure we don’t break the rules. If we do, they punish us. One such punishment would be to take you away from us. We won’t ever risk that, Toni, ever.”

  After fifteen swats to each cheek, he lifted Toni and stood her in front of him.

  Tears streamed down her face. “My mom was taken away from my father for what you would call two years, Toni. He didn’t know what happened to her, but when she came back, she wasn’t the same. To this day, she won’t speak of what happened while she was gone. I don’t know if she’s allowed to talk about it or not, but I won’t risk that with you. Do you understand?” He looked up into her face, and she nodded as he stood. “I can’t hear you. Do you understand, Toni? This is important.”

  “Yes, I understand,” she whispered and turned to leave, but he pulled her into his arms.

  “We can’t lose you.” He kissed her head and undid her braid. “Leave your hair down for us. It’s so beautiful. I love the way it sways across your ass when you move. And Toni, tonight we’ll be in our bed.” He kissed her lips softly and pushed her to the door. “Go. You have a tree to decorate with Mandy.”

  Chapter Seven

  “I’m sorry, Mandy,” Toni said as her friend kept glancing at the door. “I tried, but I’m afraid they are bound and determined for Mark to follow the same rules as they do. Maybe you two should have just stayed like you were.” She placed an ornament on the tree.

  “Nonsense. Sure, there are rules, but our men only do this to protect us from…well, you know. It’s not pleasant, Toni, to be taken away. Just follow the major rules and you’ll be fine. Now, I’m not saying you can’t speak your mind. I do that enough, but when it comes to important things like your life and the rules of the elders, listen to them.” Fran hugged her and smiled at Mandy. “Just think of it as training into the BDSM world.” She leaned forward, glancing around the room.

  “Don’t let them know this, but if they spank you in the right spot, oh my, it can be a turn-on. Sometimes I’ll do little things just so I can get a couple of extra slaps to my ass,” she whispered.

  Mandy glanced at her and they both burst out laughing. “You are crazy, but Toni, I wouldn’t have it any other way. If Mark wants to spank me, then I’m game, but he better not threaten to take his cock away from me. That’s room for a good ass kicking in my book,” she growled.

  Toni laughed when the front door opened and all the men came walking in, snow covering their shoulders.

  “Well, it’s done. All those silly lights are up. Come and inspect,” Scott grumped as he held his hand out for her.

  She turned to look for her coat but remembered it had been destroyed. Another long coat appeared on her body and she smiled as she took his hand.

  Snow had started to fall again as everyone stared up at the cabin. It was lit in white and blue lights to match those on her tree. Toni smiled and kissed Scott and Drake’s faces. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”

  Scott smiled, then frowned. He turned to Drake, who nodded. “I’m afraid we have two assignments. We won’t be back till morning. Toni, I’m sorry.” Scott kissed her cheek and disappeared with Drake.

  “Well, damn. Now I am still sleeping alone,” she snapped.

  Drew and Fran burst out laughing as Mark smiled. “Come on, Mandy. We need to head home and pick up our daughter. Toni, we’ll be back on Christmas Day around twelve, after we hit the homeless shelter.” Mark pulled Mandy toward the car, but she released his hand and walked back.

  “I’ll make Mom’s fudge for us tomorrow.” She hugged Toni and turned to leave.

  “Hey, Mandy, I’m thinking of going to the Rays of Hope tomorrow after I go to Toys “R” Us. Do you want to go with me? I’ve always wanted to take toys to the orphanage, and now I have the money.” She shrugged.

  “I’d
love to. We could meet at Toys “R” Us tomorrow around one? We can load up your Blazer and my truck. I heard they were short on presents this year. I want you to meet the twins there. I visit them every chance I can. They need volunteers to hold the babies.” She smiled when Mark yelled to her. “Hold your horses. We’re making plans,” she called back.

  Mark strolled up and smiled at Toni, then glanced down at Mandy and whispered into her ear.

  “Why you pompous asshole. Who the hell do you think you are?” she yelled. “I’ll do no such thing! You bend over and I’ll kick your ass.”

  Toni cackled, then felt the slap on her ass. She jumped and glanced around. “Damn it. Drake, stop it.”

  Mark grabbed Mandy and threw her over his shoulder. “Night, guys. See you later, and Toni, she’ll call in the morning to confirm plans.” Mark slapped Mandy’s ass as he moved toward the car.

  Toni shook her head and moved in the house with her in-laws following her. “So what would you like to do for dinner? We can order takeout or I can make us something,” Toni said, glancing at the tree.

  “Why don’t we go out to eat? I haven’t been to a human restaurant in a while.” Fran smiled and turned to Drew. “Well, are we allowed?”

  He smiled and nodded. “I don’t see why not, but Toni, I’m afraid your husbands will be busy the next two days with Christmas Eve tomorrow night. I hope you don’t mind if we go with you. Right now, your body is still adjusting and we don’t need you flashing out of a room in front of people.” He smiled.