Spirits, Rock Stars, and a Midnight Chocolate Bar (Pyper Rayne Book 2)
Page 20
My breath caught and words failed me as my mouth worked.
His beautiful eyes flashed with pleasure as he lowered his mouth to mine and kissed me, an all-consuming kiss that left me dazed and weak-kneed.
When he finally pulled back, he cupped both of my cheeks and said, “I think I love you too, my wild girl. There’s nowhere else I want to be and no one else I want to be with.”
My heart nearly exploded. And instead of answering, I climbed back into the bed, tugging him along with me. He followed without resistance, lying on his side while I leaned back against the pillows.
“You’re gorgeous,” he said, resting his hand on my stomach.
“And you’re exactly what I need.” I pulled him down, and this time when we kissed, there weren’t any barriers. No hesitations. Only us, our passion, and more love than I’d ever thought possible.
Afterward, as I lay in his arms, safe and satisfied, my heart swelled and happy tears stung my eyes. “Julius?” I whispered.
“Yeah, love?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy.”
He was silent for a moment, tracing his fingertips over my bare arm. Then he kissed my neck, slowly working his way up to my mouth. But before he pressed his lips to mine, he met my gaze and said, “I’m certain I’ve never been this happy.”
A grin tugged at my lips.
“Just like I’m certain I love you.”
“Julius,” I breathed.
“And that I’m going to love you forever.”
Happiness like I’d never known exploded through me. And unable to speak, I rolled so I was on top of him and proceeded to show him just exactly what he meant to me.
27
“This place is a tomb,” Ida May complained.
“So go somewhere else,” I said as I poured the soy milk into Jade’s iced chai tea latte.
Jade walked in from the back, glancing at me and then at the handwritten chalkboard. She laughed and read Ida May’s contribution out loud. “Bitter Beans and Franks? What is that?”
I pulled a tray out of the pastry case and passed her the chopped-up éclair that was sitting on a bed of whole coffee beans. “Ida May said the éclair had it coming.”
“It did. All it does is sit there, taunting me.” She flew around the Grind in a whirlwind of frustrated energy.
Jade started when Ida May knocked a row of spices over, causing them to crash to the floor. “I see she’s still a little upset.”
“Just a bit,” I agreed, not sure what to do for a disgruntled ghost.
We’d been back from the ill-fated cruise for over a week and a day hadn’t gone by when Ida May hadn’t been grumpy. Her thwarted tryst with Bootlegger had left her… well, frustrated.
“Just because you’re getting it on with the live-in boyfriend doesn’t mean you have to be so danged chipper all the time.”
I chose to ignore her last remark and handed Jade her drink.
“Thanks.” She took a sip and then peered at me. “I thought you were taking the day off?”
“I was, but Holly called in hungover, so I opened for her.”
Jade shook her head, glancing at the clock. She pulled her phone out of her pocket, tapped out a text, then smiled a moment later when she got a reply. “Charlie will be here within the hour.”
I gave her a flat stare. “That wasn’t necessary.”
“Yes it was. You’ve worked every single day since we got back. I know you love the café, but goodness, woman, it’s time to go enjoy that boyfriend of yours.” She waved a hand toward the front of the shop.
Just then I heard and more importantly felt the loud rumble of a motorcycle.
“Now we’re talking,” Ida May said and flew through the glass front door, causing the bell to chime.
I leaned against the counter, waiting to see what Ida May was going to do.
“Pyper,” Jade said. “Aren’t you going to go out there?”
“Why?” Plate glass windows lined the front of my shop, giving me a clear view. “I can see perfectly well from here. Well, as long as she doesn’t stray too far.”
“She?” Jade’s pale brow furrowed. “Oh, you mean Ida May?” She laughed. “No, silly. Check out the hottie sitting on that motorcycle.”
I turned and peered out the window once more. Then I felt it, the stupid happy grin that claimed my face every time I saw him.
Julius.
He was sitting on the cruiser, holding his helmet while Ida May spun around in circles, her hands waving wildly. I chuckled. “Looks like Ida May finally found something to pull her out of her funk.”
“Let me guess? The motorcycle?” Jade asked.
I nodded, still grinning stupidly at my man. Damn, he looked good on a Harley.
“Of course she would be excited about that.” Jade rolled her eyes. “That ghost would be happy to sit on a washing machine on spin cycle.”
I started at her words and then burst out laughing. But only because it was true. Ida May was… let’s just say a little preoccupied with the opposite sex these days. “Funny,” I said, through my chortles.
Jade snorted out a laugh and waved her hand toward the street again. “Go on. I’ve got this place under control.”
I shook my head. “Not hard when it’s a ghost town,” I said, stating the obvious. But we both knew that at a half past eleven, there’d likely be a line out the door. It was why she’d called Charlie.
“Get out. Go have fun. Don’t come back for a few days.” She started organizing the pastry case, consolidating and making room for fresh items.
“I’ll be back tonight,” I said, moving toward the door.
“That’s what you think,” she said.
I paused with my hand on the door handle. “What?”
She smiled brightly at me. “Nothing. Go on. Have a good time. Everything’s covered here.”
I frowned, studying her. “You’re being kind of weirder than normal. Are you all right?”
She let out a huff of mock irritation. “I’m fine. Go. Julius is waiting.”
“All right, I’m going. Thanks for covering for me.”
She waved and went back to restocking for the lunch rush.
I pulled my apron off, tossed it on a table, and strode out into the glorious sunshine. Julius was sitting on that mighty bike, grinning at me.
“Ready for a ride?” he asked, holding up a second helmet.
“Where did you get that thing? And do you even know how to work it?” Considering he’d been alive in the early nineteen hundreds and only lived in the twenty-first century for a short time, it wasn’t like he’d had ample opportunity to take riding lessons.
“As a matter of fact, I do know how to work it. It’s got a little more power than the one I had in twenty-two, but I think I can manage.”
Nineteen twenty-two. Almost one hundred years ago. The realization should’ve boggled my mind. Made me stop and pause. Instead, I just grinned at him like an idiot.
“Pyper! Have you seen this baby?” Ida May asked, running a hand over the back fender as if it were a lover.
“Yes, Ida, I see it.”
Julius glanced behind him, then back at me with his lips pressed together. “Are we going to have company on our ride?”
“You bet your butt—” Ida May started, then froze. She was hovering in the middle of Bourbon Street, a frown tugging at her lips. “Something’s wrong. I— Oh my word. I’ve never had that happen before.” Her eyes met mine, round and full of surprise. Then she let out a small yelp and vanished from her spot with a loud poof.
Julius jumped, nearly losing his footing while holding up the bike. “What the hell just happened?”
I shrugged, not really concerned. That wasn’t the first time Ida May had just disappeared on me. I was certain it wouldn’t be the last. I held out a hand, taking Julius’s extra helmet.
He handed it to me, then patted the saddlebags. “Ready for a road trip?”
I eyed the saddlebag, wondering what he’d packed
. “How long?”
He shrugged. “Does it matter?”
I didn’t move as I glanced back and forth between the bike and the Grind. “It does if I have to worry about staffing the café.”
His smile widened. “Jade has that covered for us. Right now all that’s important is that we have some fun. Where do you want to go?” The bike started to rumble beneath him, and any hesitations I might’ve had flew right out the window.
This was Julius on a Harley. What was I waiting for?
Still holding my helmet, I threw one leg over the back of the bike and then settled in behind him.
Julius twisted, caught my lips with one of his signature searing kisses, then asked, “Well? Do you have a preference on what you’d like to see?”
I shook my head. “Anything. River Road, the Bayou, Grand Isle? Anywhere you want to take me.”
His smile turned seductive. “Believe me, I’m taking you to new places later tonight. Right now I’m thinking a cruise in the bayou.”
“Sounds perfect.”
He revved the throttle on the bike, making it rumble beneath us. And on that note, I pulled my helmet on, wrapped my arms around him, and held on for the ride of my life.
Get the next book in the Pyper Rayne novels: Spirits, Beignets, and a Bayou Biker Gang
Want to know where Ida May went? Check out Witched to Death.
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Book List
Pyper Rayne Novels:
Spirits, Stilettos, and a Silver Bustier
Spirits, Rock Stars, and a Midnight Chocolate Bar
Spirits, Beignets, and a Bayou Biker Gang
Jade Calhoun Novels:
Haunted on Bourbon Street
Witches of Bourbon Street
Demons of Bourbon Street
Angels of Bourbon Street
Shadows of Bourbon Street
Incubus of Bourbon Street
Bewitched on Bourbon Street
Crescent City Fae Novels:
Influential Magic
Irresistible Magic
Intoxicating Magic
Destiny Novels:
Defining Destiny
Accepting Fate
About Deanna
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Deanna Chase, is a native Californian, transplanted to the slower paced lifestyle of southeastern Louisiana. When she isn't writing, she is often goofing off with her husband in New Orleans, playing with her two shih tzu dogs, or making glass beads. For more information and updates on newest releases visit her website at deannachase.com.