Raise the Dead

by C. C. Wood

  In the early morning light, he looked like a dream. I skimmed my hands over his shoulders and back. His skin was hot and smooth, stretched tightly over the muscles of his torso.

  He levered his upper body up and knelt over me, his hands moving to the waistband of my panties. I lifted my hips so he could strip them down my legs. Then I sat up and touched his chest, running my fingers down his abdomen to his briefs.

  Moments later, we were both naked. I moved to my knees so that Mal and I were both kneeling in the center of the bed, our bodies were touching.

  "Lie down," I murmured as he ran his lips across my collarbone to my shoulder.

  Mal smiled at me and stretched out in the center of the bed, using one arm to shove a pillow beneath his head. With his rumpled hair, hot eyes, and one knee cocked, he looked like a hedonistic god waiting for me to offer myself as his willing sacrifice.

  I straddled his hips and leaned forward to flick one of his nipples with my tongue. He inhaled sharply and buried his hands in my hair. I moved my mouth up his chest to his neck, tasting him. I nipped his neck and reached between us.

  He shifted beneath me when I cupped him in my hand, curving my fingers around his cock. I stroked him slowly, loving the way the silky skin felt in my palm.

  Mal lifted his upper body and pressed one hand between my shoulder blades. My back arched, bringing my breasts to his mouth. His lips closed around my nipple, hot and wet, and I gasped.

  Heat speared through me, straight down my body to my core. I tightened my hold on his cock, deepening my strokes and dragging a groan from Mal's throat. He bit the inner curve of my breast lightly, leaving a small mark.

  I panted as his hands moved to my hips, adjusting my position to where he wanted me. Impatience filled me. I lined my body up with his and sank down. He filled me perfectly.

  Little by little, I lowered my body until I'd taken his entire length. Mal's hands gripped my hips as I rocked against him. I leaned down to press my mouth to his, gasping again at the change in the angle and depth of his thrusts. I was panting when he released my mouth and moved his lips down to my breast. His tongue flicked my nipple before he sucked it deep into his mouth.

  Every muscle in my body tensed and the orgasm built inside me, the tension winding tighter and tighter with each breath and each movement of my hips.

  Mal gripped my hair with one hand and pulled my mouth down to his. He kissed me as if he would never get his fill.

  The tension within me broke, snapping through my muscles. The pleasure was so acute it was nearly torture. I cried out, but Mal swallowed the sound. He yanked my hips against his once more, thrusting deep and hard inside of me. We rocked together as he came with me, our breath mingling as the final aftershocks of orgasm echoed through our bodies.

  I leaned forward and draped my body over Mal's so that my face was tucked against his throat. He stroked my back lightly, tracing my spine with gentle fingers. I sighed, content and exhausted, and let my body melt against his.

  A moment later, Mal turned, shifting me off his body so that I was tucked against his side.

  "I should go clean up," I murmured.

  He moved, looking down on the floor next to the bed and reaching for something. "Use my tee. I need to do laundry anyway. I don't want either of us to move."

  I laughed and cleaned up as best I could before tossing the shirt toward the hamper against the wall on his side of the bed. It fell short but I was too tired to move.

  "Let's just lay here for a little while longer," he said. His eyes were closed and his fingers traced up and down my arm.

  He tugged me until my head settled on his chest. His heart thumped beneath my cheek, steady and reassuring.

  He was here with me. That's all that mattered.

  I closed my eyes and snuggled closer. The sun was just coming up as I fell back to sleep.

  When I opened my eyes for the second time that morning, it wasn't because of a nightmare, but rather the demands of nature.

  In other words, I had to pee something fierce.

  I rolled over but Mal's hand caught my wrist.

  "Hey, where ya goin'?" he grumbled.

  Seeing as my situation was rapidly becoming dire, I tugged against his grip. "Bathroom. I'll be back in a sec."

  "Ugh." Mal grunted and released me.

  As I climbed out of bed, I glanced back and saw that his eyes were already closed as he burrowed deeper into the blankets. He'd already fallen back asleep.

  I hurried into the bathroom and took care of my business. When I finished, I realized I desperately needed a shower. I peeked around the door and saw that Mal was still asleep.

  I shut the door as quietly as possible and turned on the shower. I pulled my hair up into a haphazard bun and stepped under the spray. I didn't take my time but washed my face and body as quickly as possible.

  Now that my most pressing needs were taken care of, my stomach was letting me know that I hadn't eaten since five the afternoon before. I dried off and eased the door to the bedroom open. I choked back a scream when I came face-to-face with Mal, who was leaning against the doorjamb with his arms crossed over his chest.

  "You got up." It sounded almost like an accusation.

  "I needed a shower and I'm hungry." I crossed my arms over my chest too and stared up at him.

  Mal grabbed the top of my towel, tugged me forward, and gave me a quick, hard kiss. "I'll grab a shower and then we can get breakfast."

  I glanced at the clock on the nightstand. "You mean lunch? It's after eleven."

  "Lunch then."

  "I'll get dressed. You shower," I said.

  Mal grinned at me. "Bet I'm still ready before you."

  Oh, it was on.

  Ten minutes later, I grumbled to myself as I brushed out my hair and put it up in a ponytail. Mal watched me brush a little powder over my face and add some mascara to my eyes. He was once again in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest and his shoulder against the frame.

  He was also fully dressed and ready to go.

  "Stop gloating," I said.

  Mal grinned at me. "I can't help it if you take forever."

  "It's not my fault you distracted me with your reverse strip show," I complained. I was grateful that Teri had promised to give us the day to ourselves.

  He laughed and straightened as I walked toward him. "Ready?"

  "Yeah."

  We went downstairs and I stopped just before we reached the front door. "Damn, my purse is in the kitchen."

  "You don't need it," Mal argued.

  "Yes, I do," I retorted.

  "So, are we ever gonna talk about the fact that we're engaged now?" he asked, changing the subject abruptly, effectively ending our argument over who would pay for lunch.

  I stopped just outside the walkway into the kitchen and turned back toward him. "Of course we are." Then I paused. "Well, I was waiting for you to bring it up just in case you changed your mind."

  Mal came closer and put his arms around my waist. "Why would I change my mind?"

  "Um, I did kind of ask you in the heat of the moment."

  A whisper of sound came from behind me and Mal and I both turned to look into the kitchen. Stony stood next to the open fridge. He held several jars against his body with one arm but lifted his other hand to wave at us sheepishly.

  "Stony, what the hell, man?" Mal asked.

  "I'm sorry. I just woke up so hungry and we don't have any food in the house." Stony looked at me. "I'm sorry. I tried calling but nobody answered so I figured I'd sneak in, make a sandwich, and sneak out. I promise I'll buy you some groceries later today."

  I sighed. "Okay, Stony. Next time, give me some warning you're here though, okay? Remember that I keep a shotgun in the house."

  "Whoa. That's harsh."

  I glared at him.

  "I promise," he said, holding up his left hand. Then he lowered it and grinned at us. "So you guys are engaged, huh? That's awesome! When's the wedding?"

 
I pulled out of Mal's arms, grabbed my purse, and left the kitchen.

  I heard Mal say to Stony, "We will talk about this later. And I expect the food to be in Zoe's fridge when we get back from lunch."

  Mal joined me by the front door. "Let's go. I'm hungry too."

  He opened the door for me.

  "Congratulations, you two!" Stony called from the kitchen.

  I bit my lip, torn between amusement and embarrassment, as Mal guided me out the front door and shut it behind us.

  He walked me out to his car, which was now parked in my driveway, and opened the door for me. Once I was inside, he came around to the driver's seat, started the car, and backed out.

  "I was serious about wedding plans," he said when he started down the street.

  I glanced at him. "When would you want to get married?"

  "Courthouse next week?" he asked.

  I laughed. "Oh, you poor thing. If you think you're getting out of giving my mother the wedding of her dreams, you're in for a nasty surprise."

  "I'm happy with having a big wedding, too," he said. "My mom would be thrilled and drive you absolutely batshit crazy with all her thoughts and plans. I was thinking of you and what you would probably prefer."

  He was right. That is what I would prefer. But I knew that my mother would never forgive me if I eloped.

  "I'd prefer a family and friends only wedding. No more than fifty people," I said.

  "Then that's what we'll have."

  I laughed again, but not in amusement. "Good luck with that. My mother won't be satisfied unless she invites everyone in town."

  Mal pulled into the local diner. It was one of three sit-down restaurants in town. The other two were a Tex-Mex restaurant and a pizza joint that delivered. Some days, when I wanted take-out, I wished in vain for a decent Chinese place. There just weren't enough people in town to support more than three eateries.

  He twisted in his seat and looked at me, his face serious. "It's our wedding. It will be what we want it to be."

  "Have you met my mother?"

  His mouth curved. "Maybe she'll surprise you."

  "I would take a bet on this but it wouldn't be fair to you."

  Mal leaned forward and kissed me. "Your mother wants you to be happy. And she's beginning to accept who you are. I think it will all work out."

  A realization hit me and I stared at him with wide eyes.

  "What?" he asked. "You look like you just saw a ghost."

  I squinted at him, which made him laugh.

  "No, seriously. What is it?"

  "I'm not sure I want to tell you because it might change your mind about marrying me," I answered.

  "Zoe," Mal said. "Just tell me what it is."

  "It just hit me that you're in for a lifetime of Thursday night dinners. Every Thursday we're home, for the rest of your life, you'll have to have dinner with my parents."

  Mal seemed to consider my words. "You have a good point. How do you feel about the Pacific Northwest?"

  I smacked his arm. "Mal!"

  He laughed and kissed me. "Believe it or not, I like your mother. She's feisty, no-nonsense, and a little crazy. Just like someone else I know."

  "If you're saying I'm like my mother, I think we need to discuss therapy."

  "Not just like her. But you do have the best parts of her."

  I frowned at him. "I'm not sure that's better."

  "Stop. You know it's true and you know that your mother is a flawed human being doing the best she can."

  I flopped back in the passenger seat. "I know."

  "Seriously, Zoe. We'll talk to her. If she won't listen, it's her problem. You deserve the wedding you want."

  "No, we deserve the wedding we want," I told him.

  "I told you what I wanted," Mal evaded.

  I shook my head. "I haven't met your mother, but from what you've told me, she would be mighty disappointed if her baby boy didn't have a big, beautiful wedding that she could brag about."

  "I think at this point, she would just be happy if I got married and got to work on grandbabies."

  Suddenly, his voice seemed very far away. My head felt light, as if I was floating through the atmosphere, too high for a healthy supply of oxygen.

  "Holy shit. You just turned completely white. Are you okay?" Mal asked.

  I waved a hand at him and focused on taking slow, deep breaths.

  "That baby thing threw you, huh?" he asked.

  I nodded and continued to concentrate on my breathing.

  "It's okay. We can wait a couple of years. Maybe three. Any more than that and she'll start pelting us with booties and bottles every time we come to visit."

  "Shut. Up," I gasped.

  Mal's hand landed on the back of my neck and he rubbed the tense muscles. "Relax, babe. I'll keep telling you this until it sinks in—you do not have to do anything you don't want to. This is all between us. You and me. We get to decide the timing of our lives. No one else."

  Staring into his dark brown eyes, I could see his resolve. He meant every word. His mother could scream the house down about wanting grandbabies immediately and he wouldn't let it faze him. He would tell her exactly what he was telling me right now. The knot of tension in my gut relaxed and I took my first full breath since he'd said the word "babies."

  "Better?" he asked.

  I nodded. "I'll be fine."

  He kissed me again. "I know."

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Angie arrived at my house exactly a week after the day I'd left Austin with Mal and the rest of the team.

  Mal, Stony, Blaine, Jonelle, and Teri were all in the living room watching a movie on TV. I tried to get into it, but I was too distracted.

  I'd been distracted since the day Mal died and I'd brought him back to life.

  I felt...off.

  I didn't know how else to describe it, but it was like my magic was out of balance and I wasn't sure how to fix it. I'd been stewing on the issue for the better part of a week, but to no avail. I had no idea what I should do.

  So when someone knocked on the door and I saw Angie on my front porch, relief flooded me. Maybe she would have some answers for me.

  I waved to Mal, who started to get off the couch but stopped when I shook my head.

  "I'll just be a minute. I need to talk to Angie alone."

  He nodded and relaxed back onto the sofa.

  In the last few days, the separation anxiety I experienced after Mal's death and resurrection had finally eased off. I felt like I could finally breathe again and I didn't have the urge to keep Mal within my line of sight at all times.

  I could tell he was still worried, though.

  I stepped out onto the front porch and shut the door behind me. The sounds of music and explosions from the TV were softer out here, but still audible. They shouldn't be able to hear us.

  The late summer night was warm, but quickly cooling compared to the heat of the day. Cicadas sang in the trees and lightning bugs danced a few feet above my lawn. It was peaceful.

  Angie sat on the top step and I joined her, our shoulders barely brushing.

  "You're back."

  She nodded. "Yes. I brought Francesca and Selene up with me today."

  "How are they doing?" I asked.

  "Healing. It will take a while, but they will eventually find normalcy. It won't be what they once had, but it will still be lovely." She turned and studied me. "How are you doing?"

  I had no idea what to say, so I shrugged one shoulder. "Who knows?"

  Angie's gaze sharpened. "Does Mal seem okay? Any change in personality or behaviors?"

  She was wondering if there were repercussions of his resurrection. He wasn't the one who'd changed that night. He'd come back exactly the same as he'd left. It was me who felt differently. "It's not him I'm worried about," I answered. Honesty was the best policy and all.

  "Talk to me, Zoe. I can't help you if you don't tell me what's going on."

  "I'm just out of sorts," I finally adm
itted. "Unsteady and anxious. And my magic feels different."

  "Do you mind if I take a look?" she asked.

  "Go ahead. Maybe you can help me."

  I sighed as Angie kept her eyes on me while she reached out with her power. At the first light touch of her magic against mine, my body trembled. I had to fight my instincts because they were screaming at me to protect myself from this intruder.

  Finally, Angie pulled back, both with her magic and physically. She scooted to the end post on the railing and leaned her back against it, bending one knee so she could put a foot on the top step. Her hands looped around her updrawn knee and she gazed at me, her eyes clear and steady.

  "You accessed ancient, immortal power," she stated. "You not only accessed it, but you channeled it. Used it. Anyone who does that will be changed in fundamental ways."

  I frowned. "Will I be a danger to others?" God, I hoped not. I was already terrified I would accidentally hurt someone.

  Angie shook her head. "Not because of this power."

  I froze. "But there's another reason I could be dangerous?"

  "Zoe, I can feel your tension from here. I can see it in every line of your body. Your anxiety is off the scale. Your powers are not what present a danger right now. It's your emotions. If you can't get them under control, I worry what you might do."

  A wave of adrenaline sliced through my veins and my heart beat faster at her words.

  "There. I can feel it spiking now," Angie said. She leaned a little closer to me. "You have to breathe, Zoe. Calm your mind and your heart and your magic will follow."

  "How do I do that?" I asked, nearly panting as another wave of panic hit me.

  "Close your eyes," she directed.

  I shut them.

  "Now breathe in through your nose for four counts. Good. Hold it for eight counts." I did as she said. "Excellent. Now slowly exhale for seven counts."

  Once I finished, she had me do it again. And again.

  On the fourth breath, I finally felt myself calm.

  "Good," Angie repeated. "I can feel you calming. That's very good, Zoe."