Elysium

By Thea Landen

Two years have passed since April Patterson’s husband was shot and killed in the line of duty, and she’s trapped in a haze of grief and uncertainty. Having grown frustrated by all other efforts to engage her in activities where she could meet new people, her cousin pays for a date via 1Night Stand. Not thrilled with the idea, April nevertheless contacts Madame Eve and requests the impossible: a date with her deceased husband.

Brilliant software engineer Drew Monroe created his company, Elysium, to help give closure to those who have suffered the loss of a loved one, through the use of virtual reality. Though passionate about his work, being constantly surrounded by heartache and death has taken a toll on his mental health. When he accepts the case of a young widow referred to him by Madame Eve, her tragic tale depresses him further, but he commits himself to programming April the romantic date she desires.

April arrives at Elysium and prepares to enter Drew’s virtual realm. Will she find the solace she seeks within? Or will she discover she doesn’t need a fantasy world to discover happiness again?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Decadent Publishing
• Release date: Mar 4, 2015
• ISBN: 9781613338070

Thea Landen

Thea Landen writes erotic literature, frequently in a sci-fi/fantasy setting. When she's not writing, or thinking about writing, her hands and mind are occupied by either yarn crafts or role-playing games.

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Elysium

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2015 by Thea Landen

ISBN: 978-1-61333-807-0

Cover art by Fiona Jayde

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC

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www.decadentpublishing.com

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Also by Thea Landen

Second Skin

Dedication

To those I love, whether they’re sitting right next to me,

or are worlds and lifetimes away.

Elysium

A 1Night Stand Story

By

Thea Landen

Chapter One

April Patterson

March 21, Bridgeport

Janie stood in my living room, one hand holding a bag of food from the local Chinese take-out place and the other planted firmly on her hip. She fixed me with a stern glare. You shouldn’t leave your door unlocked.

I shrugged. I knew you’d be here soon. I didn’t want you to have to wait in case I couldn’t hear you over the blow dryer.

But still, it’s not—

What, you think someone’s going to burst in here and shoot me dead so they can steal that ancient TV? Lightning doesn’t strike twice like that.

Her hands fell and her body hunched over as if I’d punched her in the stomach.

I’m sorry, I said, before I could do more damage. I didn’t mean to….

It’s fine. She dropped her purse onto the sofa and headed into the kitchen with our lunch. I followed her, listening to her prattle on about her job as a high-powered attorney, not paying much attention to her latest case while we set out some plates and napkins. With her strawberry-blonde hair and the sprinkling of freckles that hadn’t faded with age, my cousin and best friend could have passed for my twin sister. Our lives had played out quite differently, yet I’d never faulted her for her success.

Before she lifted the containers out of the bag, she turned to me and beamed. I have something for you. Her singsong voice made me wary. Besides your favorite kung pao chicken.

I raised an eyebrow.

Janie went back to the sofa and rummaged in her pocketbook. When she returned to the table, she held a plain white envelope, which she slid over to me. I eyed it warily, unsure if I should pick it up.

What is it?

It’s the information for an exclusive dating service called 1Night Stand. The contact is the owner, Madame Evangeline.

Good thing I hadn’t touched the envelope. "You’ve got to be kidding me."

Janie nodded. She’s supposed to be the best.

How nice for her. I should’ve been angry with Janie for whatever scheme she cooked up, but I only mustered mild annoyance. I’m not interested.

She shook her head. You have to get out of this place, even if it’s for one night.

No.

You’re not signing on for a lifelong commitment with one date, you know. She’ll find you someone you can just have a good time with.

I’m not good at meeting people. I never know what to talk about. I reached past her for the box of rice. I’m not an interesting person.

Sure you are. All you have to do is talk like we’re talking right here.

It’s not that easy. I stared down at my empty plate. How do I even get started? ‘Hi, I’m April. I sell overpriced lunches six days a week. I live in a tiny one-bedroom apartment where the windows don’t open all the way. And my husband, Kevin, was killed in the line of duty two years ago, as you probably heard about it on the news.’

The hurt look Janie had worn earlier crossed her face again. You could try something like movies or music, she muttered.

I hated arguing with her, as much as I hated that she believed she had to walk on eggshells around me. It was a nice gesture. I patted her arm. Thank you. I appreciate it.

You can thank me by finally going out on a date. A gleam lit up her gray eyes. "Anything you want, April. Your deepest, darkest fantasies. Madame Eve can make them happen."

One eyebrow arched again. I don’t have deep, dark fantasies. I spoke the truth. The spice in the kung pao chicken was as thrilling as it got for me.

Fine, then she’ll match you up with someone nice and normal, if that’s what you prefer. Janie tightened her jaw, about to make me a defendant on the receiving end of an irrefutable closing argument. Besides, it’s already paid for, and I doubt I can get a refund.

I sighed, unwilling to concede. I’ll think about it.

Good.

We ate the lunch she’d brought and watched some mindless TV for the rest of the afternoon. After the third cooking competition, Janie got ready to leave. Start thinking about your date. She wagged a finger at me. I’m going to keep nagging you until you do.

I gave her a small smile. I know you will.

Scooping up her bag, she flounced out the door with a promise to call me the next day. I returned to