Black Licorice Forever

Black Licorice Forever by

Nevea Lane

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Copyright© 2010 Nevea Lane Cover Artist: Shara Azod Editor: Huesos Rotos

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews. This is a work of fiction. All references to real places, people, or events are coincidental, and if not coincidental, are used fictitiously. All trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, and registered service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for identification purposes only. Note to ePirates and Those Who Use ePirate Sites: Even if you did not personally put this book up to be pirated you are participating in a crime. Theft of intellectual property is still theft – a federal crime under U.S. law. But you probably don’t care about that. Nor do you care about the money and effort it takes to produce an ebook. Authors of ebooks get paid based on the amount of books sold, as do a lot of editors and cover artists. We do not get cash upfront like New York authors; we don’t receive advances for our work. Most of us have full time jobs while we work on the craft we love. You are stealing from us, our families and the people who depend on us for payment for their editing, art, or proofreading time. I would rather you didn’t read anything I wrote at all. I don’t need readers like you. I don’t wish any ill will on you, I just wish you would go away and let the people who enjoy me enough to pay for my work do that.

The Story Begins… “Can I help you sir?” Vanessa eyed the man standing in her herbal store. He wasn‟t one of her “normal” customers, if you could call the wiccans, warlocks, potheads and various other riffraff normal. No, this man was as out of his element as much as Vanessa was in hers. His coal black tendrils of hair grazed her hanging pepper chain, which was close to six and a half feet from the floor. His deep olive complexion led her to believe he wasn‟t from Wisconsin. What was this gorgeous man doing in her store? The man in question turned suddenly and she was forced to step back from the ferocity of his amber colored stare.

She stumbled and caught herself

on the display of sage and rosemary she just finished preparing for her Thanksgiving sales. “Do you work here?” His rough voice startled her to look him in his eyes. His square jaw was set firm, but his voice seemed pained. Vanessa didn‟t know why she felt compelled to help the man, but it was obvious that he needed help. “I own it. Welcome to Del Ray‟s Herbal Haven. I‟m Vanessa Delray.” She held out her hand, first making sure to brush the day‟s work from her palm. While she loved the smell of herbs, she realized most people wouldn‟t want to walk around smelling like a grocery store spice aisle. The large man took her hand and held it briefly, engulfing it with his large muscled fingers. His hands were surprisingly calloused considering that his fingers looked freshly manicured.

“Hello Vanessa. Gabriel Salvi.” He shook her hand in a quick manner as his eyes darted around the small shop. “Mr. Salvi, what can I help you find?” Vanessa had a sixth sense when it came to figuring out what certain people needed, but this giant was mysterious and she couldn‟t read him as quickly as she could others. “I am looking for licorice. The root, not an extract.” Gabriel‟s eyes lit up when he mentioned licorice, but it was quickly masked by an impenetrable glare. “I‟ve got plenty of licorice, but perhaps you can tell me what you are making. It will help narrow it down. You know some licorice is bitterer than others.” Vanessa began to move around the store, righting various vines as she glided down her aisles. “I‟m making an herbal remedy.” Gabriel stated as he began to follow her to the back of the store. “Yeah, licorice is good for that. What kind of remedy, cough, ulcer…?” Vanessa let her voice trail off, hoping he would fill in the blank without her having to pry. Everything about this man‟s demeanor upset her equilibrium. “Libido.” At the man‟s declaration Vanessa dropped the small box of plants she was moving.

She looked at him up and down, eyeing the way his dress slacks

hugged his thighs, and underneath his leather jacket his chest apparently protesting the confines of the plain white oxford shirt. “ Excuse me?” Vanessa said, thinking there was something wrong with her hearing, because from where she stood, there was nothing wrong with the man‟s libido. He broadcasted sex and anything having to do with sex.

“Please don‟t make me repeat myself Miss Delray.” The man put his hand in his pocket and stood perfectly still. Vanessa added arrogant to the list of this man‟s traits. She looked in a few more crates and pulled out her stash of licorice root. Most people would gladly settle for anise seed or anise flavor, but Vanessa could tell from the way the man was looking through every basket in her store, he wanted the real stuff. “Here we are Mr. Salvi, I got you five sticks of the root. Did you need any other herbs? We have some saw palmetto or horny goat weed which works well for that particular ailment.” Vanessa was a business woman, whatever this man‟s problem was, she was sure she stocked the remedy for it. “No, thank you. Just the licorice roots please and make it ten.” Gabriel said and his voice sounded steel. Vanessa wrapped the bundles of licorice root with her custom maroon ribbon with gold leaf and slid the package in small brown bag. “Ten bucks even.” Vanessa watched as the man wrestled with his money clip and pulled out a crisp bill. She felt compelled to hand him her card, but slipped it into the bag instead.

She said nothing as the man took his precious

purchase and stuffed it inside his leather coat and walked out the door. “What a strange, strange man.” Vanessa said as the tinkling shop bell let its last notes die in the air.

***

Gabriel hurried from the shop, praying that he could get the smell of the myriad of herbs out of his clothes and nostrils. This was his last hope, he couldn‟t imagine living forever and not being able to find his soul mate. Gabriel was indeed an immortal, he and his brothers cursed by a gypsy touring through Palermo, Sicily. He was forced to live his life as a bachelor, as he had never been able to find the remedy to the curse. The accidental immortal had bedded as many women as five hundred years would allow trying to find his one true mate. But, for the last five years the youngest of the Salvi men had forced himself into celibacy and seclusion. His four brothers were chosen for the same fate, all because of the actions of their father and the gypsy‟s daughter. If his father would have kept his hands to himself, Gabriel would have been wedded and produced heirs. His dream of having a family and a plot of land of his own was ripped from him by his father‟s careless actions. For years he had been in a constant state of lust, going after every woman he wanted, any woman that looked interesting, hoping that he would feel some sort of attachment to them, and in turn, break the curse. He tried love potions from every end of the earth, from Spanish Fly to some exotic flower in Japan. Nothing had worked. He could no longer live in a constant state of lust; he wanted love. The want of love is what separated him from his brothers. While they were satisfied living the life of a bachelor, traveling from one foreign location to the next, he only wanted to have someone to call his. Five hundred years is a long time to be lonely.

Thus, he was now trying an Egyptian love potion, Mai Sus, supposedly so good that King Tut had bundles of licorice buried with him in his tomb. If the drink was good enough for the child king, it would be good enough for Gabriel. The thought of licorice brought his memory back to the shop owner. She was a cute little thing, although she was not little by today‟s standards. Gabriel didn‟t get the appeal of the gangly stick figures that the world viewed as „hot‟. No, the shop owner‟s full-figure reminded him of the women that would walk around Palermo gossiping and shopping. She was an exotic mahogany hue and her white teeth highlighted her genuine smile. She might not have realized that she had bits of lavender sprinkled in her straight burgundy tinted hair, but he thought it was endearing. Endearing? The thought made him pause as he slid in the passenger seat of his simple champagne colored sedan. “Did you find what you needed, pup?” Gabriel shot a side long glance at his older brother, Stefano, who chose this cold day to pay a visit to his reclusive brother. “Si Stefano,” Gabriel mumbled, preoccupied with the shop owner and puzzled by how he didn‟t lust after her like he had with so many women. “Come on Gabriel! We are in America, act like it. Your brothers and I have found Chicago, New York and Portland to be great fun. Yet, here you are. Hiding here in this frozen madness of… Wisconsin. It doesn‟t even sound like a place for someone like you!”

“And what is someone like me? I am apparently over five hundred years old and I don‟t look a day over thirty. I can‟t be around women because they all want to sleep with me and I can‟t control that either. I just want to be normal.” “Aww, si bambino povero. You poor baby! What a fool you sound Gabriel. You‟ve got a unique opportunity to bed as many willing partners you can find, live forever, without drama. When you are finished ravishing one city, you can move on to the next!” “Ravishing cities? This isn‟t the Sack of Rome..” Gabriel scoffed. He couldn‟t believe they even shared the same bloodline. Obviously, besides looks, his brothers had inherited their father‟s attitude towards women.

While they all

had the signature Salvi jet black hair and aquiline noses, each one of them turned out differently. Stefano, the oldest son, looked the most like their father, who was known throughout Palermo for his striking hunter green eyes. The oldest son inherited those eyes, the charm and the bravado of their father. Gabriel thought of his other two siblings, Valentino and Matteo, who would seem to be following right in their departed father‟s footsteps. Was he the only one that seemed more like their mother than their playboy father? “Ahhhh, we were so young. So tell me, what was this mission for?” Stefano intruded into Gabriel‟s morose thoughts. “I just needed some herbs. This shop was the only place close to the cabin.” “Brother, I don‟t like to pry, but herbs for what? Don‟t tell me you are doing that voodoo mess again.” Stefano‟s lips turned into a frown.

“No, I was just feeling under the weather.” Stefano turned and looked out the window. He knew his brothers didn‟t want him to figure out how to lift the curse. They were happy living as they were. He on the other hand, was miserable. He prayed that the potion would work and he would find a way out of the lonely abyss that was his life. ***

“You gave me the wrong root!” Vanessa took the receiver from her ear and looked at the caller id again. It wasn‟t a prank, but she had no idea who Gabe S. was and why he was accusing her of not knowing her herbs. “Sir, I can assure you I know what I gave you. Will you calm down and tell me what is wrong?” It was rare that she ever messed up an order. “The taste is horrid. Licorice is supposed to be sweet! This concoction is bitter no matter what I do to it!” The mention of licorice brought the memory of the black haired giant to Vanessa‟s memory from two nights ago. Vanessa rolled her eyes and propped the cordless phone on her shoulder and continued to dust the fake fern on her counter. “Sir, it might be the way you prepared your remedy. Can I ask what you are making again?” “You probably haven‟t heard of it.”

Vanessa felt her back straighten. Once again, this man has called into question her knack for herbs. She had worked too hard to gain her respect as an herbalist. “Need I remind you sir, that I‟m a master herbalist. I know my profession. I can‟t help you if you aren‟t willing talking about it. So tell me what you are making and I will tell you what you did wrong.” “It is Mai Sus, it is…” “I know what it is. The ancient libido drink of the Egyptians, known for making women fall in love or at least make them a little more frisky. For men its known to attract the right type of females…” Vanessa didn‟t hear anything on the other end of the line, she assumed the arrogant man hung up on her. “Hello?” “Still here...so why is it bitter?” “If you would have told me that you wanted to make Mai Sus, I would have given you the good stuff.” “What‟s the good stuff?” “You want anything European grown, not North American, but that‟s my opinion.” “I‟m willing to try anything, I need this to work. I‟ll see you in a few.” Vanessa looked at her wall clock. She would be closing in ten minutes. True, she slept above her shop, but she liked to be able to unwind after a busy day in sales. With two weeks to go before Thanksgiving, Vanessa had her hands full with filling orders for mulling spices and her custom made herbal candies.

“Well, if you want to stop by tomorrow, I can have some bagged and ready to go for you Mr. Salvi.” “Is there something wrong with me getting it tonight? I live close.” “Well, I, I will be closing in a few…” Her voice trailed off as she heard his swift intake of air. “You know, I suppose there is nothing wrong with an afterhour‟s sale. Just come to the back door when you get here.” Vanessa hung up the phone and wondered why in the world he would need a love potion so bad; and why was she bending her own rules trying to help him? *** Gabriel sat eerily still in his car, staring at the back door of the shop. His thoughts seemed like a train wreck to his own mind. Why did you want to come tonight? It is cold, raining, and it could have waited. You’ve waited five hundred years for a remedy, what were a few more hours? Gabriel chastised himself for the hundredth time since running from his cabin to the car. “A few more hours and I could be going insane.” Gabriel mumbled as he stared at himself in the rearview mirror. He was indeed desperate for a cure. His amber colored eyes looked tired as he ran his fingers through his slightly damp hair. He was just desperate. Gabriel got out of his car and walked up the gravel lined path to the back of the shop. Why hadn’t I ever noticed this place before? Gabriel thought as he noticed the small solar powered lamps lining the pathway. The light cast an antique hue onto the cozy and inviting porch, which had a huge welcome mat with a hanging plant.

As Gabriel knocked, he leaned forward to smell the plant and was shocked to discover the inviting smell of sweet basil. It was a scent he avoided since his parents had died and it made him long for his family. He drifted from the present as he remembered the long handled wooden spoon his mamma would use to always sneak him a taste of her fabulous stews. He remembered hauling buckets of water so she could prepare a hot soup for him and his brothers. Those soups were always scented with basil. As he was caught up in his recollections, he failed to hear the door open. When he opened his eyes from the past, the present was staring at him with a look of curiosity and perhaps sympathy. Gabriel steeled himself against her caring eyes. He knew those looks. Those looks turned to lust after five minutes in his presence. It was a part of the curse that he would never know if a woman genuinely cared for him or if it was all just a matter of sexual gratification. It was almost as if she could tell he was all business by the way she stepped aside and let him inside the door.

He almost took up her entire foyer and had to

duck from the other hanging pots that decorated her entryway. Gabriel ducked to avoid the third hanging plant and almost stepped on one of the biggest dogs he had the privilege of seeing. Considering that he came from a long line Sicilian farmers and fishermen, he was accustomed to dogs, yet this huge sheep dog seemed to be sizing him up and down. The shop keeper bent down and petted the large mass of brown and white fur and smiled softly. Her smile was motherly as she scratched the dog‟s ears.

“Don‟t mind him, Jolly here is all mass and no bite.” Her laugh behind her words made his ears tingle. He didn‟t hear the fake giggles he‟d been used to getting from women that wanted to get whatever he was offering. That‟s when Gabriel realized that this woman didn‟t seem to be under the lure of the curse at all. She didn‟t try to cling to him, or find a way to get closer to him, if anything, she moved far away from him as he walked into her home. Gabriel also found the sinking feeling in his stomach disappeared when he was around her. It was if their interaction was „normal‟. “Jolly, that‟s an unusual name.” Gabriel muttered to himself as his mind mulled over his new found revelation. Could he possibly have found a „friend‟ after all these lonely years of existence? “Yes, well, he is an unusual dog. I‟m still trying to figure out how old he is.” Her declaration made Gabriel look back to the dog, staring at him as if understanding. There was something familiar in the old dog‟s eyes, wisdom beyond his looks, and it was something that Gabriel could sympathize with. “What do you mean?” Gabriel said as he followed her though the living room and into her shop. Again his nose was assaulted of the smells of her various herbs.

He watched as her ample hips swayed back and forth, artfully dodging

her tables and displays, her long peasant skirt making a swishing as she glided across the floor. “I bought him from an old widower about ten years ago. Jolly hasn‟t aged a bit since then, and the widower couldn‟t remember when he had gotten the dog. I assumed the widower wrestled with Alzheimer‟s, but the vets can‟t seem to figure out how old he is either. He is just as active as a puppy. The widower

showed me some old photos with him and the dog, and the photos were at least ten years old. I don‟t know of any dog breed that survives more than twenty years, but I am not complaining. Jolly has been a great companion.” Vanessa added over her shoulder as she climbed a rolling ladder to a wall cabinet. She sat down on the top steps and began opening drawers. Gabriel looked down at the dog that had moved to his side. It couldn‟t be possible that the dog was as immortal as he? The dog dipped his head and looked back into Gabriel‟s eyes as if acknowledging that indeed he was. Gabriel gasped and put his hand to his mouth. He looked back up to Vanessa and was thankful that she didn‟t notice his surprise. It couldn‟t possibly be? He had scoured every book he could find on the legends of immortals, gypsies and ways to break their curses. Never once had he run across a tale on other immortals besides those who claimed to have found the fountain of youth or have descended from gods and goddesses. Astounded at his new discovery, Gabriel moved closer to Vanessa as she flipped through a stack of purple index cards, murmuring to herself, still perched on the highest ladder rung. He held on to the ladder, thankful that she was wearing a long skirt. He didn‟t need to see her hidden treasures when he was trying to stay away from all things sexual without love. “So, Mr. Salvi, why Mai Sus? It is an old drink and it is very strong in licorice flavor. There are a lot of other remedies out there.” “Gabriel, please, and I happen to be very fond of the flavor of licorice.” Gabriel kept his answer short. He wasn‟t going to try to delve deeper when his emotions were running high.

“Ok Gabriel it is. I love licorice too. Although I like commercial licorice, I love good, intense, soft licorices. Do you have any favorites?” Gabriel couldn‟t tell her that he was thinking his favorite black licorice at the moment was her. The thought caught him off guard. He was used to the effects of the curse; women chased him, lusted after him, wanted him within five minutes of being in his presence. This one, on the other hand, didn‟t drool, chase, or even look him up and down with interest. She just was; which was refreshing. “No, no favorites. I‟m just trying something different.” *** He indeed was a different man, Vanessa thought as she cocked her head to the side intently watching his interaction with her herbs and Jolly. Besides that fact, she noticed Jolly seemed to like Gabriel, because the dog hadn‟t decided to bite him on the ankle like her previous boyfriends, or bark every time someone asked her out. Even without Jolly‟s keen sense of suitable boyfriend material, Vanessa couldn‟t get a read on the strange man that looked up at her. His eyes were gorgeous, but they held a massive amount of secrets; she could tell from the way the sparkle in the amber colored seemed somewhat foggy. He was private, from what she could tell from his modest car and his casual way of dress. Yet, she also knew that the shoes on his feet were fine Italian leather and the Armani slacks with the simple ivory v-neck sweater were expensive. Vanessa shook her head and gave up trying to learn anything new of the man. She was just trying to be friendly, but if he didn‟t want her friendship, she would keep it to herself.

She found the stock location of her imported licorice and began to climb down the steps of the ladder. It didn‟t occur to her to tell him to move from the bottom of the ladder because she just assumed Gabriel would know to move out a woman‟s way coming down a ladder. When she turned, she was shocked that her eyes met that very sweater in the face. She pulled back and caught a longing impression in Gabriel‟s eyes. His hand reached up to settle her landing, guiding her so she didn‟t fall. A sharp concentrated flash of heat ripped through her body as his hand touched her bare arm. She took a step back and pressed the index card to her chest. Her back was against the rungs of the ladder as she tried to put as much distance between them as possible. Her breathing labored as she struggled to catch her breath. What the hell was that? Vanessa swallowed and slowly back away from Gabriel‟s imposing frame. The fire on her skin seemed to dissipate as soon as she put some distance between her and the man. Fanning herself, Vanessa tried to keep her composure; since she knew she was acting strange. “Now, let‟s get you the right stuff,” Vanessa said, clearing her throat, “I have some fennel and sesame seed if you need more for the recipe.” “You know it?” Gabriel‟s voice sounded stunned. Vanessa found his constant questioning of her expertise annoying. She rolled her eyes and slid past him and pointed at her bookshelf. “Yes, I know lots of aphrodisiac recipes, Gabriel. Depends on what you are going for. The Mai Sus you mentioned is what men used to get women to fall in love with them. It is usually the other way around. As you can see from

my book collection, I know Hindu recipes, Greek recipes, and many others. The original Kama Sutra, not translated, has one of the original recipes for the drink you are making.” Vanessa pulled down her copy of the original Kama Sutra, and flipped open to the page with the drink listed and put it in Gabriel‟s hands. She walked onto the second level of her store and opened the drawer with the licorice root. “I have five roots of this one. I can order more, but it will take some time to get the shipment from Italy.” Vanessa watched as he set the book down delicately atop one of her end tables. His movements were graceful, sure, and from the way his feet hit her floor, she could tell he was a strong man. What woman wouldn‟t fall in love with the man? Why in the world would he be making a drink to make a woman fall in love with him? It didn‟t seem too hard to do. “That should be plenty. Do you think I‟d need more?” Gabriel‟s voice was low, almost submissive. All Vanessa could think was finally he took her knowledge seriously. “I‟ll have to order more anyway. Let‟s just try this and see where it goes.” Vanessa dropped the bundles into a plastic bag and skipped down the steps, making sure to avoid any more physical contact with Gabriel. The man was obviously trying to make some lucky woman fall head-over-heels for him. “I won‟t charge you for this, but I need you to do me a favor?” Vanessa looked at Gabriel, noticing the way his eyes closed and opened slowly. “Will you tell me how the elixir works? I haven‟t seen a reason to use them, but hey, if it works for you…”

Usually it isn‟t a request that Vanessa would ask any of her customers; what they did with their herbs was their business. Yet, something in his melancholy gaze and his expressive eyes spoke to her. She wanted to know if the woman of his dreams finally gave him what he wanted. “Yes. I promise.” With those simple words, Gabriel took his bag of the strong smelling root and let himself out of her shop. *** Gabriel didn‟t mean to seem so rude when he left Vanessa‟s shop so abruptly, but his mind was beginning to play tricks on him. Five hundred years of loneliness can make you begin to believe in the silliest of things, he told himself. There was no way she could own an ancient dog that might or might not be an immortal. There was no way that she would need to use an elixir with her innocent almond shaped eyes and her soft skin. Any man would be crazy not to have married her a long time ago. Of course, during these times, waiting until you were thirty to get married didn‟t seem insane. By the time Gabriel was thirty years old, he knew he wanted to be married, and it was too late by then, he had been cursed. He wanted the elixir to work so bad, he forgot that he needed a willing party. Until she asked, Gabriel hadn‟t thought about whom he wanted to try the love potion with. He left before he could even think about asking her. Vanessa was the first woman that didn‟t try to dry hump his leg when he was around and he didn‟t want to lose that at all.

He still was in deep thought as he pulled into the garage of his cabin. Walking into his kitchen, he flicked on the recessed lights and placed the bag next to her business card. Why didn‟t she seem to fall at his feet like the others? Not that he was complaining, but after so long of getting the same results for centuries, he wondered what made her so different. As much as he wanted to start on his remedy, he found that the want for the cure had lessened since he walked into her herbary. Now the cure didn‟t seem so important. Walking into his den, Gabriel realized that the colors that he had chosen for comfort in his den were the same colors that covered Vanessa‟s shop. Sliding his large frame on the maroon lounger, Gabriel found he could barely keep his eyes open. His thoughts finally ceased to think about the past lonely years. The last image Gabriel saw before falling asleep was Vanessa‟s smiling face. *** The dream seemed real. Gabriel could smell the hints of the sea and the wind blowing in his hair as he stood on the rocky shoreline. He could hear children giggling, their high pitched laughs music to his ears. Turning from the sea, Gabriel noticed he was not alone. He was shocked to see a young woman standing behind him, with a dog that looked remarkably like Vanessa‟s Jolly. Unsure of whom the young woman was, Gabriel waved. “Salvi, signorina,” Gabriel‟s tongue immediately embracing his native language. She gave a small nod and stood still as Gabriel approached slowly. The dog looked up at him expectantly, his brown eyes shining in the setting sun of the island of Sicily.

Gabriel neared and stooped to pet the dog behind his ears as he saw Vanessa do. He looked at the woman again and she smiled. It was by her lopsided grin and her mysterious olive colouring that he realized he was looking at the daughter of the gypsy witch that cursed him. He fell to his knees and tried to hold back the emotions that ran through him. “It‟s alright Gabriel.” He felt her hands on his shoulder, giving him a light squeeze. “I‟m here to help you. We believe that you are ready.” As if he was giving his agreement, the Jolly look-alike barked. “Mi dispiace! I‟m so sorry! My father...” Gabriel couldn‟t begin to form the words that he had wanted to say for several lifetimes. “Your father, I loved. My mother didn‟t like that fact, and knew that he wouldn‟t give that love in return. She couldn‟t hurt him, he was already married, already had children.” “But we didn‟t do anything, we were innocent!” Gabriel could feel the centuries of emotions winding and tightening into a palatable fury. “Were you so innocent Gabriel? Could you have said you would have loved one woman with all your heart and never strayed if you had never been cursed?” “Of course!” Gabriel hissed, even though he knew that deep down, he wasn‟t so sure. Could he have even loved anyone if it had always been available to him? Would he have loved as fiercely then if it would have been easy? “Now you are beginning to see. Open your eyes to see even more Gabriel and everything will be as it should.” The fog rolled in and as quickly as the dream started, it ended. Gabriel awoke with a start and looked down in his clinched fist. In it, he held Del Ray‟s

Herbal Haven distinguished ribbon. The gold letters seemed to sparkle in the dim lighting. Maybe Vanessa truly did possess what he needed to break the curse.

*** Vanessa awoke groggy and completely unnerved after Gabriel‟s late visit. She had stopped having regular dreams when her parent‟s had passed ten years ago. The dreams she had last night were so real, she half expected to see Gabriel lying next to her in bed. Oh, the dreams were graphic. One moment she was dreaming of how to decorate her store for the holiday season, the next a thick fog distorted her dream and Gabriel appeared in an ivory linen shirt and dark brown breeches. His hair was the same jet black, but it was shorter and he had a long strand of hair tied with leather lace. He was looking at her with love in his eyes. Before she could reach out and touch his lovelock, the dream disappeared. She found herself in another dream where Gabriel was dressed like he just came out of the American Revolution, his hair a little longer, but the eyes remained the same. When Vanessa finally stopped denying that she wasn‟t going to get any sleep, she turned and met the kind eyes of Jolly. The dog was watching her intensely as if he could know what she was dreaming. Still half asleep, Vanessa reached out and petted her only companion. Having dreams about a repeat customer was not in Vanessa‟s game plan for life, no matter how much she liked having Gabriel around.

Shaking the thoughts from her head, Vanessa decided to get an early start on her day. It wouldn‟t do her any good to be in a melancholy mood over a melancholy man. She showered and dressed, all the while humming to keep the images from her dream at bay. The images of Gabriel in various time periods agitated Vanessa‟s logical mind. While Vanessa waited on her coffee pot to chime, the chime of her antique doorbell sounded. Dragging her feet to the door, she assumed it was the delivery man dropping off her inventory. She rubbed her eyes and opened the door wide. Instead of her normal delivery woman, Vanessa stood gawking at a freshly shaven Gabriel. The strands of his hair still looked damp. His camel colored tshirt accented the whisky tone of his eyes, and for the first time since meeting him, the haunted look was gone. “Uh good morning. Did I not give you the right herb again?” Vanessa stammered, moving out the way so he could walk into her living room. “No and good morning back.” Gabriel smiled and stood in her living room with his hands in his pockets. Vanessa found herself wondering if the man owned a pair of jeans. The black dress slacks he always wore seemed so formal. Before she could stop them, visions of the dreams and Gabriel‟s legs in seventeenth century breeches danced in her head. Vanessa held on to the door handle for support as the same white hot feeling ripped through her chest again. “Are you ok?” Gabriel was at her side, tenderly touching her elbow, helping her to stay on her feet.

Vanessa nodded her head yes and backed away from him. His touch only intensified the feeling. “I‟m fine. Just haven‟t had any coffee yet. Would you like some?” Vanessa said, moving quickly into her kitchen. “Yes.” Gabriel said, falling into step behind her. “So, are you stopping by on your way to work?” Vanessa threw over her shoulder as she reached into her cupboards for another coffee mug. “No, I don‟t work.” Gabriel‟s answers seemed short and not much to go on. But Vanessa prided herself on being able to talk to anyone about anything, even the remotely insane. “Oh. Did you hit it big before the dot com bust or hit the lottery?” Vanessa said, pouring the hot brew into two mugs and letting the aroma awaken her. “Neither. I have worked for a long time and saved up enough to not have to anymore.” Gabriel smiled as she slid the mug in front of him. His smile almost knocked Vanessa backward. It was bright, charming, and made Gabriel‟s pink lips look kissable. Vanessa shook her head. She refused to think about Gabriel in any other way except as customer. He had to have someone if he was looking for libido remedies. “Must be nice Gabe.” Vanessa knew she was getting personal just by shortening his name, but his inviting smile made it hard not to like him. *** Gabriel knew Vanessa was a genuine friend when she shortened his name. He had always hated being called Gabe, loathed it even, but with her it sounded kind.

He didn‟t know what possessed him to drive to her home after he had showered. He didn‟t want to spend the morning alone, but she was the only one he knew that could work from home. Before he could even second guess the decision, Gabriel was standing on Vanessa‟s door step. “So, when did you open your shop Vanessa?” Gabriel asked as his sipped his strong coffee. He smiled even more as the taste reminded him of the Italian espresso he had in his youth. “Three years ago. I had a knack for herbs when I graduated from college. I was a history major but that isn‟t what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.” “How old are you?” Gabriel looked at her innocent face and didn‟t think she could have been much older than he was. Well, that was before he was cursed. “I‟ll be twenty-nine in December. How old are you?” Gabriel almost choked on his coffee at the question. “Older than you.” Gabriel said, answering and avoiding the question at the same time. At the moment, the doorbell sounded again. “Excuse me.” Vanessa said as she skipped off to answer the door. Gabriel watched as her jogging pants gripped and hugged her full figure and ample bottom. He felt a stirring in his loins that he hadn‟t felt in the five years since he sworn off sex. Shaking his head, Gabriel turned back to his coffee. He didn‟t want to have any thoughts of sex when he was around Vanessa. He had always been hounded by women that were all too readily get in his bed. It was refreshing to do something as simple as share a cup of coffee.

After he had finished his cup and Vanessa still had not returned, Gabriel decided to set out to find her. As he walked out of the kitchen and into the living room he saw Vanessa surrounded by boxes and crates, looking puzzled. “Is something wrong?” Gabriel asked, working his way around the various shaped boxes and standing in front of his little shopkeeper. “I don‟t remember ordering so much. I don‟t know how I…” Vanessa‟s voice trailed off as Gabriel grabbed one box and ripped it open. He looked at her and knew he wasn‟t going anywhere for a long time. “Let‟s get started.” Gabriel said, and winked at her.

***

The week before Thanksgiving had Vanessa confused, excited and refreshed all at the same time. It was Gabriel‟s fault she was a walking oxymoron of emotions. First, he‟d come to her shop every morning of every day of the week, helping her unpack her inventory, and pointing customers in the right direction while she got caught up on her bookkeeping. Gabriel still wouldn‟t leave until at least an hour after closing. He helped her hang new sage plants, and even swept while she cut stems from her shipments. He would tell her Sicilian stew recipes from his childhood, and she would try to cook them with the herbs she had on hand. Jolly even seemed to follow him around and sit close to him whenever Gabriel was standing still. During that week, Vanessa never got the courage to ask him how his love potion worked. She didn‟t have the heart too. His

presence in her life was so welcomed, and she would hate to shatter her fantasy world by finding out the woman of his dreams was head over heels in love with him because of an herb she supplied. By Saturday, Vanessa had forgotten about shipments arriving of her common inventory.

She‟d closed the shop early so she could take the time to

list, catalog and get rid of expired herbs.

Gabriel was there, unpacking the last

of the heavy boxes. When she came in with an armload of mesh tea bags, she couldn‟t help but laugh at the amount of packing peanuts stuck to Gabriel‟s jet black hair. He raised his head and looked at her in a way that made her stomach flipflop. Her eyes met his and Vanessa felt that unmistakable lump in her throat. Damn it to hell and back, she had fallen for him. “What?” Gabriel said as he set each box on the table. “Nada Gabe.” Vanessa said as she went into her living room. She needed to find a fall-out-of-love potion quick. She couldn‟t be getting the goo-goo eyes at someone else‟s man. She flipped through her old books and collections, trying to find one recipe that would get her out of the predicament. So engrossed with her search, she didn‟t notice Gabriel come in with a heavy oak shoebox. “I think this is the licorice you ordered. At least it smells like it.” Gabriel handed her the box and looked down at her expectantly. She couldn‟t help but frown, but it was quickly replaced with a smile. What if she took a love potion when she was already in love? Would it have the opposite effect? Vanessa didn‟t believe in all that love potion stuff, but she was desperate.

“That would be it! As a matter of fact, I was wondering, if you wouldn‟t mind, if I could try brewing some Mai Sus? I figured with you here, I could brew it according to what I have read, and then, you could take it with you.” “Why?” “Because, you‟re my friend Gabe, well at least, I hope you are. It would only be right to help you figure out how to make it.” Before he could answer, Vanessa shot off the couch and was in her kitchen. She pulled out her special mortar and pestle and began to pound and grind the licorice. The sweet intoxicating smell wafted through the room.

The more

Vanessa inhaled the aroma of the licorice, the more Gabriel‟s face drifted into her mind‟s eye. “Are you alright?” Vanessa looked up to see Gabriel standing in her doorway, a look of concern itched in his face. “Yes, fine. Aren‟t you curious to see if this works? I‟ve wanted to ask you how it went, but I…” Vanessa stopped midsentence as she watched Gabriel use purposeful, elegant strides to come stand by her. “Why didn‟t you ask?”Gabriel whispered. “I didn‟t think you would tell me if I did.” Vanessa said, looking at the floor. “Do you still want to ask?” Gabriel said, as he moved closer to her. Vanessa scooted further away from him and took a deep breath. She had to prepare herself for the answer.

“Did your remedy work on your woman?” Vanessa said, not looking at him. “No.” “See, that is why we are going to brew some right now, to see what we should do to it.” Vanessa moved so quickly, she didn‟t want to hear his response. “I never made it.” Vanessa stopped playing with the pestle and looked at Gabriel. His smile was gone and his eyes turning a deep shade of amber. “Why?” Vanessa finally dropped the pestle and looked at Gabriel in his eyes. He met her even stare with his own. “I don‟t need it.” “She was already in love with you?” Vanessa couldn‟t take too much more of this conversation. One half of her was overjoyed at the fact that he could have already found the love of his life, the second half was pissed off that he found the love of his life. “I don‟t think so, but I haven‟t asked her. “ Gabriel said, his smile showing again. “You should ask, it‟s the only way you‟ll know Gabriel.” Vanessa murmured. *** Gabriel didn‟t know what had come over Vanessa. One moment they were getting along as they had all week, and the next she was itching to get away from him again. His eye caught on the pestle she abandoned as she stood next to the stove.

“Where did you get such an odd color of marble?” Gabriel had been to the corners of the earth and never before had he seen something so distinct in color. “A flea market. Actually a young gypsy woman begged for me to take it. I told her I couldn‟t afford it, and she said it was free as long as I kept a promise.” Gabriel was intrigued and he felt himself begin to salivate at the aroma of the boiled licorice filled the room. “What was the promise?” Gabriel said, finding it difficult to sit still with the smell of the sweet smelling herb infiltrating his senses. “You want the long answer or the short answer?” Vanessa laughed as she strained the steaming concoction into a mug for her and a special carrying container for Gabriel. “Start short and then fill in the details.” Gabriel laughed, as he watched her approach with her steaming mug and a corked bottle. He wasn‟t going to drink the stuff, but he was curious what would happen if she did. “Don‟t be a fool with love and don‟t use the word loosely, or in her words, love isn‟t as simple as changing your underwear. You can‟t step in and out of it at will. So she made me promise not to use the word until I was ready.” Gabriel‟s interest was past peaked. He couldn‟t be so desperate to believe that Vanessa was marked to be his before he even knew her, could he? He watched as she sipped the Mai Sus from her mug, licking her lips as she did so. “So what was the long answer?” Gabriel said, ripping his focus from her full lips.

“She followed me around and asked me so many questions. Would I love someone if they were older than me? Could I love someone if they came from a different place? Would I love someone if they had an unbelievable secret? It was only after I said yes to these things that she gave me the mortar and pestle. I remember thinking then she was a strange young woman.” Gabriel could barely contain the tightness in his chest. Watching Vanessa sip the very drink that brought him to her herbal shop made his cock harden to a painful degree. “What do you think now?” *** Vanessa couldn‟t possibly tell Gabriel what she thought. After the dreams and Gabriel‟s constant presence, she was starting to believe in the impossible. She couldn‟t tell Gabriel that the sweet drink might actually work on his intended woman, because she couldn‟t help but to fall more in love with the man she had come to know. The sweet and spicy elixir slid down Vanessa‟s throat as she thought about the young gypsy woman. It was the first time she had given her a thought in ten years. The same week she gotten the mortar and pestle was the same week she‟d gotten Jolly. “I think that this drink is good.” Vanessa said as she sipped it. Before she could stop him, Gabriel grabbed the mug and downed a good portion of what remained. “Why did you do that?! You are supposed to drink it with the woman you wanted.” Vanessa stared at Gabriel with fear and panic.

“I did.” Gabriel smiled and grabbed her hand. This time, instead of the white hot painful feeling in her chest, Vanessa felt warm all over her body. Vanessa tried to run, but she was held in Gabriel‟s tight grip. “No, no, no. You wanted a drink for your libido, love as I recall. You didn‟t even know me!” Vanessa‟s voice came out breathless. She wasn‟t a hopeless or helpless romantic. “I wanted a drink for love, true, but I didn‟t have anyone in mind until you.” Gabriel‟s whispered words stopped Vanessa from struggling against his grip. Vanessa didn‟t react as Gabriel stood up, and cupped her face in his large palms. “Could you love me if I was older than you?” Gabriel whispered on her lips. “Yes,” came Vanessa‟s breathless reply. “Could you love me if I came from a different place?” Gabriel said as he gave each corner of her mouth a moist peck. “Yes,” as much Vanessa wanted to deny what she was feeling, she couldn‟t and didn‟t want to. “Could you love me if I told you that I‟m five hundred years old?” Gabriel stopped kissing her face and waited for her answer, staring into her ears, daring her to deny what she felt. Vanessa‟s first instinct was to turn tail and run. She wanted so bad to write Gabriel off as some lonely loony toon that was missing his white jacket with

the pretty buckles. When she looked into his eyes, she knew that he was telling the truth. She knew he was genuine when Jolly didn‟t bite him. Licking her lips, Vanessa thought very hard on what she would say next. If she told him that she believed him, would he tell more lies? If she didn‟t, would he walk out the door and she would be forced to wonder what-if for the rest of her life? “You know, I have seen a lot of people in this business claiming to be a witch, a warlock, a vampire or something like that. Which one are you?” Vanessa said, praying to God and whoever else was listening that she wouldn‟t be forced to take someone out with a teacup and a marble pestle. Gabriel chuckled and stepped away from her. Vanessa let out a groan at the loss of the dizzying heat that encompassed her whenever Gabriel touched her. “None of the above. I‟m just immortal. I was cursed by a gypsy because of my father. I have lived alone for five hundred years looking for someone that would love me, just the way I am. The curse was that the women would never love me, that I would never know what true love was like.” Vanessa wanted to believe, and deep down she did, knowing that no amount of spiked licorice root would make her believe something so insane. “So let me ask you again Vanessa. Could you love me if I told you that I was five hundred years old and immortal?” *** Gabriel‟s whole existence ceased at that moment. He never knew what waiting felt like until now. Waiting for Vanessa to say anything, to scream, to swear at him, anything was crippling.

He watched every reaction on her face. Maybe it was too soon, maybe he shouldn‟t have said anything at all. “Say something, please?” Gabriel‟s voice broke over the words. “Do you know why I drunk the Mai Sus?” Vanessa whispered, her voice so soft he needed to lean down to hear her. “Why?” His lips so close to her ear, he could almost taste the sweet flesh. “Because I was already falling for you. I hoped to reverse it.” Vanessa finished and laid her hands on Gabriel‟s broad shoulders. Her eyes met his and Gabriel felt his heart balloon. He grabbed her and hugged her close. He was never going to let her go as long as he lived. Having Vanessa‟s plump body in his arms made Gabriel want to make the moment last as long as he‟d been looking for it. He squeezed her ass, working his hands up her waist, and held still. Through all of his touching and exploring, Gabriel realized he had never even kissed her yet. He knew if he did, he would experience le coupe de foudre, the bolt of lightning, and Gabriel was more than ready to be struck. He looked her in the eyes to be sure. Falling in love with a man was hard enough, but Gabriel was sure that falling in love with an immortal man was downright insane. Seeing no hesitation in her eyes, Gabriel bent down to her lips. His nostrils filled with the smell of the licorice elixir she drank. His licked his lips in anticipation. Slowly, he extended his lips to hers. It happened, the bolt of lightning struck Gabriel so deep, he moaned into her mouth, sucking her wet plump tongue with him. He put both hands on the

sides of her face and pulled her deeper into the kiss. His world was spinning and Vanessa was his anchor.

*** Vanessa couldn‟t believe it, but she wasn‟t thinking at that moment. Having Gabriel hold her, the weight of his body crushing her was the most delicious pain she had ever felt. The flame that sparked whenever Gabriel touched her before was nothing compared the inferno she felt licking through her veins at that moment. She moaned even louder when Gabriel started to plant feathery kisses from her mouth to her neck. He ran his hands over every curve, kissing any part of her skin that was exposed. She was convinced that she could orgasm from his kisses alone. The storm inside of her raged on, getting more persistent for the relief that Vanessa knew Gabriel possessed. Yet he seemed in no hurry. He lingered over her skin, taking her t-shirt off so slowly it felt like pure torture. Gabriel gasped as her chocolate mounds were exposed to his view. She quickly folded her arms in front of her, hoping to hide her small love handles. Gabriel grabbed her wrists and held her wide open. “No, never hide from me.” Gabriel hissed and pulled her in closer. He massaged her large breasts in his hand before bending down to kisses her nipples through her white cotton bra. He licked and teased her one nipple before moving to the next.

“Gabriel, I can‟t…” Vanessa sighed as he picked her up and carried her to her bedroom. As he laid her down and looked at her tenderly, all of her hesitations flew out the window. “You can‟t what?” Gabriel said, as he nuzzled the cleft between her breasts “I…I… can‟t take much more.” Vanessa sighed and thanked whoever that she could at least talk. “Yes, you can. Let me show you.” Gabriel flashed a smile and before she could react, Gabriel had disposed of her jogging pants and underwear. He laid his body in between her legs and let his hands roam across her skin. She was completely naked and Gabriel didn‟t seem to mind any of her curves. He worshipped her body, his warm fingers dancing across her flushed skin, sending shocks of heat rippling through her body. Her back arched to meet his hands, and too late she realized that she just arched her womanhood into Gabriel‟s face. He looked up at her, their gazes catching. Vanessa couldn‟t think, couldn‟t react to the question in his eyes. All she knew is that her answer was and probably always will be yes. She had never felt so free, or so vulnerable at the same time. All coherent thoughts left as soon as she felt Gabriel‟s moist tongue taking a lick of her dripping lips. Vanessa‟s mind went into an abyss as all she could do was feel. She felt the beginnings of a five o‟clock shadow on Gabriel‟s chin. She felt the cool firmness of his tongue on her burning skin, the flicks searing her, making her arch even more. She felt his large hands clamped on her waist, holding her still to receive the full onslaught of his sexual torture.

Without a sound, Vanessa exploded into orgasm. Even with herself, she had never experienced such a rocking and quick orgasm. It left her gasping for air, trying to regain her composure, but to no avail. Gabriel began another assault on her skin as he licked up her stomach, through the cleft of her heaving breasts and finally his lips coming to halt on her chin. “Look at me Vanessa.” Gabriel‟s voice was husky, rough and Vanessa could sniff traces of her musky feminine lava on his face. Vanessa dared to look at him, afraid and excited at the same time. “What you have given me is beyond words. Even if being with you doesn‟t break the curse, I don‟t ever want to be without you. Do you understand?” Gabriel‟s words sliced through her. “Yes, Gabriel, I‟m with you, through our lifetime and beyond. Make me yours.” *** Gabriel couldn‟t fight the lump in his throat. He was not an emotional man, but Vanessa inspired him in ways that no one else in centuries ever could. He knew how he must look to her now. His features were dark and fierce. For the first time he was going to make love to a woman that he was in love with, and it brought out a beast in him. As he lay on top of her, he could feel his chest rise and fall against hers. All at once, a tidal wave of emotion consumed him. Her body writhed underneath his and he couldn‟t wait to be one with her. He let his face fall into the curve of her neck and his throbbing organ pulsated as it approached her inviting heat.

As soon as Vanessa parted her legs, Gabriel‟s control snapped. He surged forward, his manhood piecing her and filing her. Never before had he felt something so snug, so safe, so much like coming home. If he hadn‟t been crazy about her already, he would have fallen head over heels again. Her heat sucked at his penis, threaten to squeeze him until he exploded. He had no choice but to move. As he began to thrust inside of her, he could feel his strength and his lust building. Combined with her, Gabriel felt invincible. When Vanessa wrapped her legs around his torso, locking on to him, and her hands grabbed at his buttocks, pulling him in closer, he felt as though he had truly become one with someone. Physically, he was feeling stronger, but mentally, he was beginning to feel lethargic. His mind began to see the dense fog again. He wouldn‟t pass out, and if he had broken the curse and he was going to die, he was going to do it with her knowing everything he was feeling at that moment. He didn‟t know what was happening but he knew he had to tell Vanessa three words that he hadn‟t uttered in five hundred years. As he felt her walls flutter with her impending orgasm, Gabriel knew it was the perfect time. “I love you.” Gabriel said as he thrust forward one last time before spilling his seed deep into the snug wetness of Vanessa‟s canal, their two orgasms making the bed shake. It was the last thing he remembered before his world went white. ***

Gabriel couldn‟t see anything in the heavy fog. He was on the same shore from his dream but there was no sound but the crashing waves. There were no children, no laughter, nothing. “Son.” Gabriel swirled around to see his mother. Her short frame standing in the spot that he saw the gypsy girl. “Mamma!” Gabriel ran and picked up his mother, hugging her and laughing. “Put me down child, we don‟t have much time. Your love is waiting.” “Mamma…” “Shhhh now… I‟m so happy you finally found love my son, mi bambino. The curse has been lifted on your head. Your brothers have a bit more to figure out, I‟m afraid.” “Mamma. I‟m sorry it took so long, I wanted to give your grandbabies, and I…” “Shhhh now my Gabriel. I would never want any woman to go through what I did go through with your father. I loved that man to this world and back, but never would he settle. I was so mad at the gypsy for cursing you, but I wasn‟t mad at the reasons why. I prayed that you wouldn‟t follow in your father‟s footsteps.” “But Mamma, we didn‟t produce heirs!” “What difference does it make if you give me grandbabies now or five hundred years ago? We have a new legacy to pass on don‟t we Gabriel?” “Yes, I guess we do. But Mamma, one thing? Why Vanessa, why now? Do I die now that I finally found someone to love?”

“Vanessa is a special one. She‟s just like you, I picked her out especially for you. And the timing, that was your doing. Once you let love come to you, it was true. Don‟t question it so much bambino. You and Vanessa aren‟t going anywhere anytime soon, you still need to have and raise my grandbabies and great grandbabies. Be good my Gabriel.” The fog ceased and Gabriel felt the air rush back into his lungs. *** Vanessa was trying not to freak out. She thought she had just made love to a five hundred year old giant and now he had died on her. Isn‟t that just my luck she thought. “Gabriel please…” She was pushing his shoulders, praying that it was just really good sex and he hadn‟t just died on her. Gabriel stirred and looked down at her face. Somehow he had looked younger to her, as if years had been shaved off his face. His eyes were dancing and he had a small smirk his lips. “I thought you died!” She screamed as she swatted his back with her palm. Vanessa shrieked as he circled his arms around her waist and swung her body on top of his. Her hair fell down around them like a curtain and she could feel him chuckling underneath her. “I‟m not going anywhere Vanessa. Not without you anyway. I apparently had some unfinished business to put to rest.” “Huh?” Vanessa was confused, but it didn‟t matter as she felt Gabriel‟s manhood begin to stiffen within her walls again.

“I‟ll tell you later. We need to get started.” Gabriel kissed her cheek and then her lips. “Started on what?” “Something I‟ve waited for too long to have; a family.” Gabriel kissed her fully and hugged her close. Vanessa could only smile as she breathed in the scent that brought them together. The smell of licorice filled her home, and it brought her someone to fill her heart.

The End