Love in Fantasy (Skeleton Key) Read Online Free Page B

her purse over her shoulder, then meanders over to her jacket, hanging by the closed door. Lifting it off the hook, she notices a distinct weight on one side and realizes there is something in the pocket. She reaches inside and her fingers wrap around a cool object that causes a tingle in her hand as she pulls it out. It’s a key. A very unusual key.
    She doesn’t know where it’s come from, but for some reason, it feels at home in her palm. Odd . She decides to worry about it in the morning, putting the key back in the pocket and draping the coat over her arm. She opens the door to her office and pauses in shock. Rather than the neutral-toned walls and grey carpet of her office hallway, she finds herself standing in a foyer. It’s tall and round, the walls covered in an intricate, gold-swirled pattern, with a cream, travertine floor, and ornate sconces that match the ambiance. Not to mention the sparkling chandelier hanging in the center.
    She looks around in awe, her jaw practically on the ground, until her gaze locks onto a set of carved, gold double doors. Without thinking, she steps towards them, giving into a pull she feels, knowing there is something special beyond them. The key glows brighter the closer she comes to the doors and she spies a lock with a small engraving above it. It matches the key. Despite a small, rational part of her brain warning her to be wary, curiosity and an overwhelming sense of rightness has her unlocking the door and swinging it open.
    Leaving the key in the lock, she steps into the family room of an unknown castle and gasps. It’s beautiful, but comfortable and lived in. Somehow, she knows this place is everything she could have imagined for her dream home. It even has scattered toys all around to indicate a child or children live there. Her every wish, deepest desires, and perfect fantasy have always been to have a home and family. She didn’t need a prince; she wanted her own sweet farm boy. She’d always assumed she would live in her family home when she became queen, but this, this is really what her heart desires—a place that belongs to her and her little family.
    Walking into it with trepidation, she jumps when the door behind her closes and glances back to see it’s disappeared. Her heart speeds up with nervousness and she calls out, “Hello?” She immediately hears the sound of footsteps coming towards the room. The doorway is suddenly filled by the overwhelming presence of the man she’s loved since she was fifteen years old.
    “Hey, buttercup,” he says with a gentle smile, walking towards her, his eyes twinkling with . . . love? Buttercup? He used to call her that all the time, telling her she looked like the blooms in spring rather than a drooping tree. He reaches her and pulls her into his arms, planting a scorching kiss on her still mute mouth. She is helpless to keep from melting into him, remembering what this used to feel like, and realizing she’s been craving it ever since she lost it. It’s followed by a rush of love so intense, it consumes her. Apparently, she hadn’t moved on as far as she thought she had if it was so easy for him to bring it all crashing back.
    James finally lets her up for air and his mouth tips up into a crooked smile. “You slept a long time, buttercup”—he winks roguishly—“I hope you were dreaming of me.” Had she been napping? His beautiful mouth grows into a grin and he pats her stomach. “Is my boy wearing you out?” Willow’s head snaps down to stare at her belly and, sure enough, there is a little baby bump. What the fuck? She looks back up at James and he eyes her curiously. “You’re not going to argue with me about it being a girl?” he asks in mild surprise.
    “Um. . .” She scrambles for what to say, then remembers. They used to argue about the kids they would have. He joked that he was made to breed superheroes and predicted they would only have boys. She told him to get over himself and buy a