Love on the Dark Side Read online

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Copyright

  Contents

  Love on the Dark Side

  Newsletter

  1. What Witches Want Mathilde Madden

  2. The Black Knight Olivia Knight

  3. An Earthquake in Leamington Spa Kristina Lloyd

  4. Stranger to My Shores Sophie Mouette

  5. Lust for Blood Madelynne Ellis

  6. Sun Seeking Janine Ashbless

  7. Power Play Katie Doyce

  8. The Shadow of Matthew Gwen Masters

  9. Magic for Beginners Sabine Whelan

  10. Sweet Dreams A.D.R. Forte

  11. The Girl of His Dreams Heather Towne

  12. To Stand between the Wild and the Human Teresa Noelle Roberts

  13. Watching the Detective Portia Da Costa

  14. All I Want for Christmas Mae Nixon

  15. The End of the Pier Angel Blake

  This eBook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

  Epub ISBN: 9780753523735

  Version 1.0

  www.randomhouse.co.uk

  Black Lace stories contain sexual fantasies.

  In real life, always practise safe sex.

  This edition published in 2007 by

  Black Lace

  Thames Wharf Studios

  Rainville Road

  London W6 9HA

  What Witches Want © Mathilde Madden

  The Black Knight © livia Knight

  An Earthquake in Leamington Spa © Kristina Lloyd

  Stranger to my Shores © Sophie Mouette

  Lust for Blood © Madelynne Ellis

  Sun Seeking © Janine Ashbless

  Power Play © Katie Doyce

  The Shadow of Matthew © Gwen Masters

  Magic for Beginners © Sabine Whelan

  Sweet Dreams © A.D.R. Forte

  The Girl of his Dreams © Heather Towne

  To Stand between the Wild and the Human © Teresa Noelle Roberts

  Watching the Detective © Portia Da Costa

  All I Want for Christmas © Mae Nixon

  The End of the Pier © Angel Blake

  A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

  www.black-lace-books.com

  Typeset by SetSystems Limited, Saffron Walden, Essex

  Printed in the UK by CPI Bookmarque, Croydon, CR0 4TD

  The paper used in this book is a natural, recyclable product made from wood grown in sustainable forests. The manufacturing process conforms to the regulations of the country of origin.

  ISBN 978 0 352 34132 7

  Distributed in the USA by Holtzbrinck Publishers, LLC, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010, USA

  All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior written consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  Look out for other themed Black Lace short-story collections

  Already Published: Sex in the Office, Sex on Holiday, Sex in Uniform, Sex in the Kitchen, Sex on the Move, Sex and Music, Sex and Shopping, Sex in Public, Sex with Strangers

  Contents

  Newsletter

  What Witches Want Mathilde Madden

  The Black Knight Olivia Knight

  An Earthquake in Leamington Spa Kristina Lloyd

  Stranger to My Shores Sophie Mouette

  Lust for Blood Madelynne Ellis

  Sun Seeking Janine Ashbless

  Power Play Katie Doyce

  The Shadow of Matthew Gwen Masters

  Magic for Beginners Sabine Whelan

  Sweet Dreams A.D.R. Forte

  The Girl of His Dreams Heather Towne

  To Stand between the Wild and the Human Teresa Noelle Roberts

  Watching the Detective Portia Da Costa

  All I Want for Christmas Mae Nixon

  The End of the Pier Angel Blake

  Newsletter

  Want to write short stories for Black Lace?

  Please read the following. And keep checking our website or contact us for information on future editions.

  Your short story should be 4,000–6,000 words long and not published anywhere in the world – websites excepted.

  Thematically, it should be written with the Black Lace guidelines in mind.

  Ideally, there should be a ‘sting in the tale’ and an element of dramatic tension, with oodles of erotic build-up.

  The story should be about more than ‘some people having sex’ – we want great characterisation too.

  Keep the explicit anatomical stuff to an absolute minimum.

  We are obliged to select stories that are technically faultless and vibrant and original – as well as fitting in with the tone of the series: upbeat, dynamic, accent on pleasure, etc. Our anthologies are a flagship for the series. We pride ourselves on selecting only the best-written erotica from the UK and USA. The key words are: diversity, surprises and faultless writing.

  Competition rules will apply to short stories: you will hear back from us about your story only if it has been successful. We cannot give individual feedback on short stories as we receive far too many for this to be possible.

  For future collections check the Black Lace website.

  If you want to find out more about Black Lace, check our website, where you will find our author guidelines and more information about short stories. It’s at www.black-lace-books.com

  Alternatively, send a large SAE with a first-class British stamp to:

  Black Lace Guidelines

  Virgin Books Ltd

  Thames Wharf Studios

  Rainville Road

  London W6 9HA

  What Witches Want Mathilde Madden

  ‘You know the worst thing about being a witch?’ Lilith said, world-weariness chiming in her voice.

  ‘The clothes? The religious intolerance? The cackling?’ Cate didn’t really want to be drawn into one of Lilith’s circular conversations, but she didn’t dare completely bail out either. Not after what had happened during the coven meeting. Lilith was clearly not in any mood to be trifled with. As usual.

  ‘Men,’ Lilith said, ignoring Cate’s suggestions. ‘Men just don’t take you seriously if they know you’re a witch. In fact, that’s not quite right. They do take you seriously. Too seriously.’

  ‘What?’ Cate had always thought that man-troubles of the Bridget Jones /Cosmo variety were the least of the average witch’s concerns. In fact, she tended to think – rather smugly – that witches had those particular problems solved. ‘They take you too seriously? So what? Who cares? You’re a witch. You can have any man you desire. You can appear before him as the answer to his heart’s most secret prayers. You can charm him away from those he holds most dear.’ Cate was starting to feel quite impassioned by the subject, and was only a couple of sentences away from jumping up and whirling around like Maria on a mountain top to emphasise her witches-have-it-all point.

  ‘Yeah
, I know. Obviously. I know I can bewitch them into doing my will,’ said Lilith, digging her fingers into the earth and screwing up her long elegant nose, ‘but that just isn’t very sexy, is it?’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know.’ Cate couldn’t help smirking at the thought of the last man she’d treated to a week of willing servitude entranced by her latest glamour. Good times.

  Lilith looked at Cate condescendingly and smoothed down her skirt. Lilith had a very strange dress sense for a witch. Witch fashion did vary, but mostly around the same floral, floaty, natural fibres axis. Cate had never met another witch who dressed like a businesswoman. Then again, Cate had never met another witch like Lilith.

  Once Lilith seemed satisfied that her smartly tailored skirt was wrinkle free, she said, ‘OK, maybe you get off on the my-wish-is-your-command-oh-mistress thing. And I’ll admit it does have its moments. But sometimes I just want a man who’s there of his own free will. Is that too much to ask? A man who’s all muscle and grunt. You know a man who’s all man. Who’ll bend me over the kitchen counter and pull my hair back and damn well force his way in because he knows I want it. And who’ll be so hard for me. And know that when he yanks my knickers down he’ll find that, despite my protests and struggling, I’m soaking wet for him because I’m a filthy little cockteasing bitch and I just need a proper man to show me how to …’ Lilith stopped and sighed.

  Cate squinted and looked at her. ‘Are you OK?’

  ‘Fine, fine. It’s just … it’s hot today. Don’t you think it’s hot today?’

  ‘Yes. Too hot. You want me to turn up the cloud cover?’ Cate raised her fingers to the sky, poised to make magic.

  Lilith waved her offer away. ‘Oh, no, no. Don’t bother. I like the heat.’ She leant back against the tree behind her and rolled her head on the bark. ‘But you know,’ she said, ‘you just can’t get a man to do that if you’re a witch.’

  ‘Do what?’

  ‘Do what I was just saying, bend me over the kitchen counter, yanking knickers, soaking wet, “I’ll show you what happens to tarts like you, you little cockteasing bitch,” etc, etc.’

  ‘Oh, that. Well,’ said Cate, ‘if you want a man to do that … although, do you even have a kitchen counter?’

  Lilith paused as if thinking for a second, then snapped her fingers. ‘Have now!’

  ‘OK, well, if you want a man to do that, find one, and bewitch him into doing it.’

  ‘No! Not the same. It’s not the same if I bewitch him into doing it. I want him to do it. I want the loss of control, that eager erection, grunt. I want him to want it. Desperately. I want to be overpowered, manhandled. I want to have no choice but to submit to his domineering macho will.’

  Cate narrowed her eyes. Lilith was known for being left-field, talked about politely as being rather ‘eccentric’, but this was a new one. ‘Erm … OK.’

  ‘And, you know, I’m a sodding witch, a hugely powerful witch. Mistress of more than seventeen covens. How’s he ever going to overpower me?’

  Cate looked at Lilith and frowned. ‘Um, well, I guess he can’t. Not really. But it’s just a fantasy, isn’t it? Couldn’t you pretend? Suspend your disbelief. Make believe.’

  ‘But would he even dare? You know what a reputation witches have for avenging ourselves on men who have wronged us. What kind of a man is going to force his will on a woman as powerful as me?’

  Cate laughed. Too easy. ‘The kind who doesn’t know how powerful she really is.’

  ‘Ooh.’ Lilith smiled. ‘I like that idea. Find a man and not tell him I’m a witch and wait for him to get masterful with me because he thinks I’m just a weak and powerless normal woman.’

  Cate nodded. ‘Yeah, just make sure you keep your cool.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Well, you know, you’ll be walking a dangerous line. Pretending you’re not immeasurably powerful. Just don’t, you know, lose your temper if it doesn’t go just so.’

  ‘What, you think he might spank me the wrong way and I’ll turn around and smite him?’ Lilith chuckled to herself.

  ‘Well, you and smiting do tend to go hand in hand. I mean, just now, during the coven meeting, you eviscerated those poor people.’

  ‘Well, they were very annoying.’

  ‘They were just tourists. I think they must have wandered over by mistake. The cloaking spell must have had a hitch in it today.’ Cate’s gaze followed Lilith’s to where the bodies of an overweight middle-aged couple were steaming softly in the sun. Cate was still talking. ‘I mean who even eviscerates people these days? Talk about a way to start up the awkward questions. It’s not like you don’t have other options, with all the power you’ve got at your fingertips. You ever thought of trying something subtler when you get annoyed with people? I mean look at those creatures, we can’t leave them like that.’

  ‘Oh,’ said Lilith, ‘so that’s why you’re still here. You’re waiting for me to leave so you can clean up my mess.’

  ‘If, by “clean up your mess”, you mean put that nice couple’s vital organs back on the inside again, then yes, I am.’

  ‘Well, if you’re having a bit of a Glenda moment, I’ll get out of your way,’ said Lilith, getting to her spike-heeled feet and brushing the dirt off her manicured hands. ‘It’s time to put my perfect plan into action and find a man who doesn’t know how powerful I really am.’ She set off with a spring in her elegantly shod step.

  ‘Just keep your cool,’ Cate called after her, before turning her attention to waking the dead.

  Lilith’s house was wherever she wanted it to be and whatever she wanted it to be. Yesterday she’d lived in a gigantic castle of snow and ice, staffed by creatures that were a cross between male models and polar bears. That had been fun – if somewhat shallow. And cold.

  Perhaps that was why she wanted cosy today. She walked a short way through the Botanical Gardens, rounded a clump of trees and found herself clipping up the path of a dear little cottage. Perfect. She walked in through the rose-framed front door and saw a roaring fire, a bubbling cauldron, a cat asleep on the hearth rug. An incongruous kitchen counter was floating in mid-air next to the back door. Lilith frowned and it vanished apologetically. Then she settled herself into a rocking chair by the fire to start planning.

  First she needed a man. She flicked through some in her mind. Men her memory had stored and filed. She rejected the first few out of hand. She knew exactly what she wanted. Not necessarily good looking. Looks were nice but they weren’t everything. This was mainly about finding someone with the right attitude. Someone with grunt. To put it bluntly, someone who was a bit of a bastard.

  When she finally found him, sitting in a corner of her mind, she knew at once. Something in that fine-boned face, that sneering mouth, that unkempt dark hair grazing his collar. She knew just where to find him.

  Lilith had been worried about how to get a man’s attention without using magic. But the bar-room pickup had been easy.

  They’d already exchanged names – his was Blake and he hadn’t baulked at Lilith – now all she had to do was keep the conversation going until Blake let loose with his barely contained masculine desire and slammed her up against the nearest wall. Her heart beat a little faster at the prospect.

  ‘What do you do?’ she said to him.

  ‘You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,’ he said. Then he leant closer. ‘But you don’t really need to worry about what I do, baby, so much as what I’m going to do to you.’

  Oh, he was such a good choice. Lilith’s mouth got a little drier. She found herself looking at Blake’s tie and wondering how easy it would be to persuade him to use it to fasten her wrists to her bedframe. She did some quick mental magic to make sure that she had the right kind of bedframe.

  A few minutes of flirting later, Blake said, ‘So, baby, your place or mine?’

  Lilith bit her lip as coyly as she could and said, ‘I’d really like to see you in my new bed.’

  Lilith’s home was now a seco
nd-floor flat in a converted Victorian terrace.

  ‘So,’ said Blake, when he was standing in the middle of the modern-but-with-homely-touches sitting room, ‘what are you in the mood for, babe?’

  Lilith wet her bottom lip with her tongue. ‘Well, that depends. What do you want?’

  ‘What do I want?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Lilith, ‘what do you want with me, big boy?’

  ‘Big boy?’

  Lilith frowned. Blake wasn’t really a big boy at all. He was hard and muscular and masculine with hair like a dark mane and a mouth that seemed to quirk into a sneer all too easily, but he wasn’t much taller than Lilith herself. ‘Well, OK, perhaps that’s not the phrase exactly,’ said Lilith, ‘but you’re still a man. All man. Why don’t you just do as men do? Um, you know – for want of a better way of expressing it – take me.’ And she spread her arms wide, inviting.

  Blake took a step back. ‘Do as men do? Take you? Look, babe, OK, couple of things. First of all, what the fuck? And second, and rather more to the point, you, darling, are a bloody witch.’

  ‘Oh. How did you … ?’

  Blake rolled his eyes. ‘It’s obvious. You act like a witch and talk like a witch and look like a witch – well, apart from the suit, which is rather a cut above the jumble-sale look that witches wear. Look, you even have a witch’s name.’

  ‘Actually, most witches have very ordinary names.’

  ‘Sure, sure, I know that, but even so. Look, babe, you might have fooled a civilian or a non-believer, but I’m in the business, baby. Sorry.’

  ‘In the business?’

  ‘In the paranormal business. I’m a werewolf hunter.’

  ‘Oh,’ Lilith said, her heart sinking.

  ‘Hey, don’t look like that, babe. I mean we can still have a good time. Have sex. Obviously. If that’s what you actually want. But I’m not about to push any of my desires on a witch because that’s just fatal. So if it’s one of those traps, I’m not falling in, sorry.’

  ‘What traps?’

  ‘Those traps for arrogant men. Oh, you must know. Witch pretends to be a normal woman, picks up a guy and then, when he gets too domineering, he ends up living the rest of his life in a pond.’