Soul Reader Trilogy: Books 1-3

By Natasha Duncan-Drake

Now in one volume, Forgotten Soul, Forbidden Soul and Fortunate Soul - the first three titles in the Soul Reader Series. Plus a bonus short story never before published in eBook.

Forgotten Soul (Soul Reader Book 1) - "This is a terrific short story; well written and unique. The characters were developed so well that I became emotionally attached to both of them very quickly." - Lena Grey

John did not choose his life, it chose him.

He knows that at best he can be described as a male escort and at worst a whore, but it's what he does and he's good at it. He sells his body, and his clients come with fangs, so it's more about blood than sex. Hiding behind a false smile and his acting skills is the only way he survives, but when he meets one of his latest clients, Michael, his professional detachment is severely threatened. No emotion, everything fake, those are the rules, but Michael stirs long buried feelings in John. It is against everything he was trained for, and leads him into very dangerous territory.

Attachments could get him killed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wittegen Press
• Release date: Oct 20, 2018
• ISBN: 9781908333964

Natasha Duncan-Drake

Natasha is a British author with Wittegen Press and has been publishing genre fiction since 2011. Her work includes everything from horror to young adult fantasy and she has never met a genre she didn’t like. A prolific producer of short stories and novels alike, Natasha currently has over twenty five titles in her back catalogue with further releases always imminent.Natasha has been writing since she was a young girl ever since she read The Hobbit at Primary School. She is a big fan of science fiction, fantasy and horror in all their forms and is a big advocate of fanfiction as a great tool for writers to polish their skills in a welcoming and supportive community.Before establishing Wittegen Press with her twin sister, Sophie Duncan, Natasha was a database and systems consultant. She combines these skills with her writing to create and manage her career in the bold new eBook market.

Book preview

SOUL READER

Books 1-3

Natasha Duncan-Drake

Smashwords Edition

Soul Reader Books 1-3

This publication is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organisations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of either the author or the publisher.

Wittegen Press

http://www.wittegenpress.com/

Soul Reader Books 1-3 Copyright © 2018 by Natasha Duncan-Drake. All Rights Reserved.

Forgotten Soul Copyright © 2011 by Natasha Duncan-Drake. All Rights Reserved.

Forbidden Soul Copyright © 2012 by Natasha Duncan-Drake. All Rights Reserved.

Fortunate Soul Copyright © 2012 by Natasha Duncan-Drake. All Rights Reserved.

A Matter of Will Copyright © 2017 by Natasha Duncan-Drake. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.wittegenpress.com/tashaddrake

Cover art by Natasha Duncan-Drake

Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favourite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

ISBN 978-1-908333-96-4

Thank you to my secondary school English teacher who gave me a love of the English language and creative writing.

~*~

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Forgotten Soul

1. A Job to Do

2. Purpose

3. Unexpected

Forbidden Soul

1. Contact

2. Going Home

3. Confessions

4. Reacquainting

5. Lessons

6. Despair

7. Hope

8. Need

Fortunate Soul

1. Scars

2. To The Future

3. Resolution

4. Small Things

Bonus-A Matter Of Will

1. Loss & Life

2. Not Like The Others

3. Mate

Also By Natasha Duncan-Drake

About the Author

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To all the wonderful British actors with sexy Scottish voices who spend half their careers producing equally sexy English public school boy accents, thank you for inspiring John.

To every slash writer who inspired me to write male/male fiction, thank you for showing me the way.

To every slash reader who ever left me constructive feedback and/or encouraging comments, I am very grateful for your thoughtful input, thank you.

To the creators of every vampire book I have enjoyed reading, and vampire film I have spent wonderful hours watching, thank you for your varied and fascinating approaches in expanding the genre.

To my family, without whose support I could not continue to write the things I love, thank you so much for every single thing you do.

FORGOTTEN SOUL

Soul Reader Book 1

1. A JOB TO DO

JOHN STRAIGHTENED OUT HIS JACKET and plastered a friendly smile on his face before ringing the bell. The disarming expression, which he had mastered very early on, was a great advantage in his profession.

Hello, he said as the door was opened by an imperious looking blonde woman who towered over him by at least three inches, I'm John, the agency sent me.

The woman looked him up and down before glancing past him into the street.

Just one? she asked, apparently annoyed. There are three of us.

John allowed his smile to grow just a little and pulled up his sleeve.

I'm experienced for three, he said, displaying the three decorative lines around his wrist.

Each was different, but they were all Celtic scroll work and they marked him for exactly what he was. His client appeared surprised.

Well in that case, she said, obviously considering him in a new light, come on in. Michael is going to love you.

He followed her into the house, closing the door behind him carefully and watching as the woman disappeared into the room at the end of the hall. The hallway was sparsely furnished, one bookcase and a very expensive painting on the wall, but nothing that really spoke of the owners of the house. He had heard rumours about them of course. Working as he did, he made sure he knew all the gossip about potential clients, but he had nothing concrete. They were new to London, at least this time around, and everyone was speculating as to why they had moved over from Dublin.

Plastering false confidence on his face and in his body language, he walked towards the open door and stepped into the room.

This is John, the woman introduced him, smiling a predatory smile.

She was sitting next to a man with very dark hair and eyes, who stared at him as if he was a prize steak.

He gave the couple his best innocent look, nodding his head in greeting. Only when there was movement from his left did he notice the other man in the room. John guessed the guy was about six foot, hence much taller than him, and there was something about this third client which held his attention. The stubble and messy hair were interesting, and there were rock hard abs showing under the half open white shirt, but it wasn't that. He couldn't put his finger on what it might be.

It was disconcerting.

Clients were supposed to be only that, clients. He always tried to think of them as a homogenous group, not individuals.

What would you like me to call you? John asked, putting himself back on track and directing his question to the woman, since she was the only one who had spoken to him.

I'm Lisa, my beautiful Russian here is Nikolai, and the tall brooding one is Michael, the woman said, looking him over a second time. You're a pretty one, aren't you?

It wasn't an unusual comment and he smiled again.

I do my best.

How do you feel about sex?

The question came from Michael, interrupting his usual rehearsed speech. His appointments most often had a certain order to them, but it seemed not tonight.

I'm at your service, he said, surprised by the question, but trying not to show it.

Some of his clients wanted sex as well, others didn't, it was all part of the job.

That wasn't what I asked, Michael said, stepping towards him and giving him a very obvious once over. Do you like sex or would you rather avoid it?

Lisa laughed at the question, more of the normal reaction John would have expected from his clients. He had been hired, he was there to do whatever they wanted, which made the question quite an odd one. Not sure why he had been asked meant he didn't really know how to answer it either. It could have been the build up to some sort of game.

I like sex, he replied eventually, because he could already feel his body's instinctive reaction to the other man.

Being honest seemed like the best course of action. Surprisingly, he saw some of the tension leave Michael's stance. Lisa laughed again.

I told you Michael was going to love you, she said, as if the whole situation was utterly amusing. He's such a gentleman.

Michael scowled at Lisa, making her laugh more; the whole dynamic was confusing. John had serviced triads before, but this one was very bizarre.

Well, he said, deciding to put the evening back on track, if I might use your shower, I'll get ready.

You came unprepared? Nikolai immediately jumped on that as if very unimpressed.

John could not help stiffening just a little, he did not like the other man's tone. Of course it was not his place to criticise the clients.

I am always prepared, he replied, keeping his tone light, but I came by Tube. I'm sure we would all prefer if I did not stink of rush hour.

I'll show you the way, Michael said before Nikolai could comment a second time.

Holding his bag a little more tightly than he needed to, John followed the taller man out of the room and up the stairs. He observed everything as they walked, but there wasn't much to see. The whole house was done in white and magnolia. It did not really feel lived in.

How long have you been here? he asked, deciding that small talk might break some of the tension.

We moved in two weeks ago, Michael replied, looking a little surprised by the enquiry, but we've been in London nearly three months now. Lisa took a long time decorating this place before she would finally let us move in. She had a vision.

John was not impressed with 'the vision', but of course he did not say so.

It's a nice house, he replied instead, since he was impressed with the architecture, if not the interior design.

Michael favoured him with a smile for that and he had the feeling he had given away a little more than he intended.

It's white, Michael replied and grinned even more; but it's always better to let Lisa have her way for a while. I have a huge green sofa and a widescreen TV on order for next month.

To his surprise, John found himself smiling back without having to think about it. Again it was unsettling, most of his job was about acting, but Michael was drawing real reactions out of him.

What do you like to watch? he asked.

Well, when I can sneak it past Lisa I do enjoy the footie, Michael told him in a mock whisper. She still calls me an uncivilised heathen.

The conversation was brought to a pause as Michael opened a door and revealed a huge bathroom. In one corner was a sunken bath that was easily big enough for three, if not four, and there was a glass-walled shower in the other.

Wow, John said, honestly impressed, that is one hell of a bathroom.

We have three all the same. Just turn the middle knob on the shower for hot water, Michael said with a smile; if you touch any of the others you are on your own. Damn thing needs an instruction manual.

I'll take that under advisement, he said and grinned back, walking fully into the room. Where would you like me once I'm done?

The smile on Michael's face slipped a little at the question, almost as if his client was not used to doing this regularly, which had to be untrue.

The master bedroom is through there, Michael pointed at a door in the side wall; it'll be the most comfortable.

John nodded and turned back to the shower. He did not dwell on what was to come, it was a waste of energy.

✽✽✽

Michael left him alone and he efficiently stripped off, folding his clothes and putting them in his bag as he pulled out his other supplies. He had prepared for all eventualities before leaving home, but it was part of his role to be completely spotless and London travel did not allow for that. Sliding back the door of the shower, he turned on the water before going back to his things to pick up what he needed as the water warmed up. When he stepped under the spray it was beautifully hot, just what he had been hoping for. He stood there for a while just enjoying the jets of water on his body, allowing them to loosen any muscles that had tightened thanks to his journey.

When the shower door opened again it pushed him out of his reverie, but he did not stiffen or turn.

Hello, he said, slipping straight back into character.

Do you mind? It wasn't much of a surprise to hear Michael's voice. I came back to bring you a towel and I couldn't resist.

Only now did he look over his shoulder.

Of course not, he said with a smile.

He did not bother to point out if Michael wanted him dancing the tango naked in the hallway it was all part of the service.

Usually his clients were much more demanding.

Taking his reply as an invitation, Michael stepped all the way into the shower and John moved forward a little to make room.

May I help? his companion asked.

John just handed the other man the shower gel and let his tongue dance over his lips as he watched to see what Michael would do. It wasn't the first time he had taken a shower with a client, but Michael's hands were surprisingly gentle when they came into contact with his body. Long fingers slicked with suds ran over his skin and made goose bumps rise over his flesh. The way Michael began to wash him was so nice, in fact, that for a little while he almost forgot why he was there.

How old are you?

The question just popped out of his mouth as Michael's arms wound round him, spreading lather up his chest. Of course he realised his mistake instantly, rule number one, never ask a client personal questions, but Michael laughed and didn't seem to mind.

Am I that obvious? Michael asked, pressing in close behind him and giving him first-hand knowledge of why Michael had mentioned sex.

Depends what you mean by obvious, he replied as Michael's erection slid against his arse.

Lisa keeps telling me I need to mature, not that I'm sure what she means. I'm seventy four, but she looks at me as if I'm twenty most of the time.

John didn't voice his surprise, but he would have guessed Michael was younger than that. Michael didn't act seventy four and, of course, Michael would never appear his age.

You don't look a day over thirty, John joked back rather than commenting.

It's all in the blood, Michael replied and wrapped a hand around John's cock, making him gasp.

It was a little bit of a shock to discover that he was already hard as nimble fingers took hold of him. He was quite capable of making himself aroused when the need came up, but it seemed his body was already reacting to Michael. It was yet another moment to add to the growing catalogue of the unusual about this job.

What do you do? he asked, mostly to distract himself from quite how much he was enjoying Michael's hand.

Since Michael didn't seem to mind answering questions, John wanted to learn as much as he could. Knowledge was always useful.

I'm a writer, was the reply as Michael nuzzled his neck; my first love. I'm in negotiations to put on a play just off the West End. That's why we moved to London, well that and Nik was bored.

John almost laughed, but managed to catch himself, letting his thoughts