A Touch of Death

by Marissa Dobson

  A Touch of Death

  Reaper Series

  By Marissa Dobson

  eBooks cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement

  on the copyright of this work.

  Smashwords Edition

  Sunshine Press

  Martinsburg, West Virginia

  A Touch of Death

  Copyright ©2014, Marissa Dobson

  Edited by Rosa Sophia

  ISBN: 978-1-939978-37-0

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously and are not to be constructed as real. Any resemblance to actual person—living or dead—is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Sunshine Press. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  www.sunshinepressbooks.com

  Dedication

  To Thomas, who spent countless hours helping me get this perfect. Not to mention the endless research he assisted with, not only for this book but also for future books in the Reaper series.

  To my readers: I hope you enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed rewriting this series. Here’s to the start of a whole new Reaper series.

  The death of Jael James’ mother meant it was time to face her destiny as the Grim Reaper. Her first spirit shows up after being murdered, demanding the killer be caught before she can cross over. If a serial killer on the loose wasn’t bad enough, it turned out to be a demon sent by Lucifer to test her.

  Death is there to guide her as she makes the journey into the unknown, but he seems to have his own agenda—which involves getting her naked. He wants to show her what they could have together. But then there’s Nathan, who wants to be more than just her paramedic partner. Competing with Death for her attention might be more than Nathan can handle.

  Will Jael find a balance that will keep her secret safe, or will her new role as Grim Reaper force her to walk away from the two most important men in her life?

  Prologue

  Tears welled in Jael’s eyes as she sat at her dying mother’s bedside. As an adult it wasn’t supposed to be this devastating to lose a parent. No longer would her mother suffer. She wouldn’t have to put up with harsh criticism for talking to people no one else could see.

  Jael rested her head against the back of the chair, the rough wood digging into her skull. The feeling grounded her, helped her force the tears back. Time with her mother was nearing its end, and she didn’t want to waste it by crying. Opening her eyes, she saw a man leaning against the wall. Dressed in black, his jeans and T-shirt clung tight. His clothing was a dark contrast to his creamy white skin and the bright white wall behind him. His hair fell just above his ears, reminding her of spilled ink, a few stray pieces dangling just above his sapphire eyes that sparkled with hints of silver.

  Drop dead gorgeous is an understatement. This was no time to let her hormones get out of control. Her mother needed her to remain focused.

  “Can I help you?” She raised an eyebrow at him. There was no way he was medical staff. He continued to lean against the wall, completely ignoring her. Her unease rose, but instead of giving into it she pushed back from her chair and stood. “This is a private room and visiting hours are over. Please leave.”

  “I’m here to see her.” He nodded toward her mother.

  “She’s not up for visitors now. If you could come back tomorrow maybe she’ll be ready then.” In no mood to deal with him, she reached to the side of the bed, her finger hovering just above the nurse call button.

  “Ann.” His voice floated through the room, with a hint of mystery.

  She eyed him with anger for his lack of respect for her privacy. “I don’t know how you know my mother, but I asked you to leave. Go or I’ll call security.”

  A light chuckle teased the air. “I wouldn’t recommend that.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” she snapped.

  “Jael?” Ann’s eyes were glazed from the drugs that coursed through her body.

  As if summoned by her mother’s voice, the man moved away from the wall and came toward the bed. “Ann, it’s time to tell her.”

  “No, not yet.” Tears welled in Ann’s eyes, as she tugged the breathing mask away from her face. “I need more time.”

  “I’ve given you as much time as I could, but it’s nearly up. Don’t make me deliver the news.” With that he disappeared as quickly as he’d appeared. He just vanished. Jael startled, jumping back, then sinking into her chair, shocked and near panic.

  “What the hell just happened?” She pinched herself to make sure it wasn’t all a dream. She’d had so little sleep the last few days, she wouldn’t have been surprised if she had dozed off or hallucinated the whole thing.

  “Destiny has been revealed.” Ann’s breathy voice cut through Jael’s thoughts.

  “What?”

  “I’m dying.” When Jael started to interrupt, Ann shook her head to stop her. “Don’t, just hear me out. It’s going to sound bizarre so I need to say it all before you interrupt. All these years, people thought I was crazy, seeing people they don’t. It’s because I’m the Grim Reaper.”

  “The what?” Jael had been asked to keep quiet, but her heart was slamming against her chest, and she couldn’t stop herself. “Mom, I think it’s the drugs the doctor gave you. Please rest.”

  “It’s not the drugs. If you trace our family history back, you’ll see that the first female born in each generation has been given the ability to see the dead. We are the Grim Reaper. Without us, the spirits stuck in limbo cannot cross over into the light. It’s our calling, our destiny. He will help you along your path, assist you with what you need.” She gripped Jael’s hand, taking a moment to catch her breath. “I’ve sheltered you while I could, but now that my time on this Earth is coming to an end, it’s time for you to take my place.”

  She heard her mother’s words but couldn’t believe them. It had to be the medication that was making her delusional. Her mom had always been eccentric, talking to people no one else could see. But a Grim Reaper? They didn’t exist. When you died, there was no limbo, just Heaven or Hell, your body turning to dust in the ground, nothing more.

  “Mom, just rest.”

  After years of being a paramedic in Crystal Falls, Montana, she had seen death more times than she cared to remember, and never once had a ghost risen out of a body asking for help. It just didn’t happen. When someone died, there was nothing left for them in this world. Even if there was life after death, there was no room in Jael’s life to help those who’d passed on. Death was already an unavoidable part of her job, but to see the spirits of those she couldn’t save sounded like more than she could handle.

  Why worry? I don’t believe what she’s saying anyway.

  “You need to understand what will happen. Things will change for you when I die.”

  Jael squeeze her mother’s hand. “It will be fine. There are always changes in life. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I’ll miss you, but you’ll be with Dad again. Everything is going to be fine.”

  “Your father…” Ann’s smile was warm and wishful, as she reached her hand out to touch the length of something, but all Jael could see was thin air. “He’s always been with me, but to actually touch him again will make up for leaving you. I’ve always wanted to protect you, Jael. I love you.”

  “I know, Mom. I love you too. Sleep, I’ll figure everything out,
it’s going to be fine.”

  The drugs helping to lessen Ann’s pain from the bone cancer were pulling her under again, sleep’s long fingers reaching out to her to drag her under. In the back of Jael’s mind, she wondered if this would be the last time her mother ever spoke to her. Ann had already lived two weeks past the doctor’s expectation.

  Unable to sit, she paced the room, her mind running in circles. She needed fresh air and wished she could open a window. With little choice she strolled into the bathroom, grabbed a paper towel, wet it, and placed it over her forehead. The coolness against her warm skin refreshed her. Now she hoped to find some strong, hot coffee to help get her through the night.

  “Your mother told you what you are.” Death leaned against the doorframe between her mother’s room and the bathroom. His arms were crossed over his chest as he watched her. “I can unleash your powers and allow you to see across the planes to the land of the dead…if you’re ready.”

  She threw the towel in the trash and brushed past him. “I’ll never be ready. I don’t want that life, find someone else.”

  “So you believe Ann, then?” The corner of his mouth tugged up in a smirk.

  “Hell no! I mean…I don’t know.” She dragged her hand through her long blonde hair, unable to look at him. “Mom’s was always been a little eccentric. If she truly believes she sees people others don’t, then whatever, but I don’t want to be a part of it. I don’t want her life.”

  “It’s your legacy. There is only one Grim Reaper at a time, and you’re it. You will carry on the line when your mother passes, as your child will, and their child.”

  Spinning around, she glared at him. “Legacy? Why didn’t she tell me about it before? How did she expect me to handle or believe it when it’s dropped on me like this?”

  “I didn’t agree with Ann keeping this from you. You should have been told so you could have adjusted to it. As you aged she should have allowed me to unleash your powers slowly, giving you time to process everything and learn from her. Now you’ll only have time for a crash course before you step into her place.”

  “I don’t want this. To be seen as crazy as she was is no life. I have everything I want, a good job, a beautiful condo. Just leave me alone.” She sank into the chair next to the hospital bed, tears streaming down her face.

  “If I could give you that I would, but it’s your legacy. You have no choice but to step into her place once she passes. I will return.”

  With the slightest breeze against the back of her neck, she knew he was gone. “I’d rather take your place, Mom, than live with this curse.”

  Chapter One

  Slumber wrapped heavily around Jael like a familiar blanket. She wanted to roll over and go back to sleep, but something woke her. Nightmare? No. Alarm? No. That’s when she smelled him. His cologne was unmistakable. It had planted itself firmly in her memory, so no matter what, she couldn’t forget it. Almost like the man himself. She couldn’t forget him, either.

  In the month since the hospital visit, she had only seen him in the distance at the funeral. He observed but didn’t stick around after the services to speak with her. When she asked her best friend, Gemma, what happened to the man in the black on black suit, Gemma’s perplexed expression gave her the answer. No one else had seen him.

  It was impossible Gemma would have missed him, because he was standing directly across from them, just beyond the coffin. Jael thought back to his first visit and how he’d appeared out of thin air. It was too much for her to take in. None of it should have been possible.

  “Jael, darling. We need to speak,” he said from what sounded like the foot of her bed.

  “Not now. I worked the night shift, go away, I need my beauty sleep.” She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him, but she heard the floor creek under him as he stepped out of its path.

  “You can sleep when you’re dead.” He growled at her.

  “Unless you’ve come to take me to the light, I’ll sleep now.” She pulled her comforter up over her head and snuggled deep into the bed, trying to ignore him. Her eyes were closed, but she knew he wasn’t going to leave until he’d done what he came to do. She would do her best to ignore him until he forced the issue. Grabbing hold of the blanket, he pulled it off her from the bottom of the bed.

  “Go away!” Jael shouted, glad she’d slept in a pair of shorts and tank top instead of just the T-shirt she was accustomed to. The shorts were small and tight, but at least all her important parts were covered.

  “Come. I’ll make the coffee.”

  Coffee was the only way he would get her out of bed. Jael let out a grumble as she crawled off the mattress. She fought the heaviness of sleep weighing down her eyelids. The clock on the bedside table glared at her in the dark room. Seven o’clock in the morning.

  “Someone needs to explain to him the proper visiting times,” she mumbled.

  She continued complaining to herself about her mere hour of sleep when the floor-to-ceiling window curtains that spanned the front of her condo were opened.

  Oh, he is going to pay now.

  She’d spent good money to have dark, sun-blocking curtains made for such large windows. Though she loved her loft looking out over Crystal Falls without those curtains, she would have moved. Being a night owl through and through, she didn’t want to be woken by the sun each morning.

  With an open floor plan, the kitchen opening into the dining area, as well as the living room. The floor to ceiling windows lining the wall gave Jael full advantage of the scenic setting outside, at least when the expensive curtains were open.

  “Are you crazy?” she yelled as she pounded down the wrought iron staircase that led to the loft bedroom.

  She found him, all six-foot-five, clad in black from head to toe, at the bottom of the stairs with a coffee cup in his hand.

  He eyed her, one eyebrow cocked, a smirk on his face. “I’m Death. Crazy is part of the job description.”

  Umm, coffee. Her mouth watered from the smell. Taking the mug from him, Jael enjoyed the aroma of rich, strong coffee. When the hot liquid touched her tongue, she forgot all about being mad.

  “What do you want?” She eyed him over the rim of the cup.

  “You have had enough time. It’s time to take your place.”

  “Enough time!” She wanted to take his head off. How could he think a month was enough time? Does this death guy not understand Mom and I were so close? I wonder if you can kill Death, or maybe get some charm or something to repel him? Would chalk around the windows and doors keep him away, like voodoo practitioners believe? I’ll try just about anything.

  “Yes. Ann has been dead for over a month,” Death said, casting her a look that implied she was overreacting.

  “You think a month is enough time to get over the death of my mother?”

  “There are souls who need your help,” he stated matter-of-factly.

  “I don’t care. You think you can show up while my mother is on her deathbed and tell me it’s my duty and I’ll just do it? I have a job, I don’t need another one. Not to mention I sure as heck don’t need you hanging around like some demon.”

  He leaned against the back of her white sectional sofa, a complete contrast to his outfit. “It was a mistake for Ann not to tell you before. She should have prepared you.”

  “You’re blaming my mother!” Unable to believe what she was hearing, she stared at him. He had a way of getting under her skin.

  “I am only stating the truth.”

  This man had no respect for anyone’s feelings. He just said what he felt and didn’t worry if someone was hurt by it.

  “Get out of my house!”

  “Jael, you know that won’t solve anything. We need each other. You can’t get rid of me.” He stepped toward her until he was right in front of her, and ran his finger down her cheek, sending mixed feelings through her body. She wanted to be revolted by his touch. Instead her body betrayed her, yearning for more.

  “I don’t need you.
” She sat the coffee mug on the end table, and walked to the steps.

  “Jael, you will regret this. I have been protecting you, but I can do that no longer.” With that, he disappeared.

  “What’s that supposed to mean? Protecting me how?”

  Wow, that was easier than I thought.

  She never would have guessed she would get rid of him, but now that he was gone, she missed him. She wanted to run her hands over his chest, her fingers through his black hair. She hated how her body betrayed her every time he was near. Her heart skipped a beat, her fingers itched to touch him, and her mouth went dry.

  Oh, that man gets on my nerves, but what a body.

  Exhausted, she climbed the steps. She was nearly at the top when her world crashed down around her. Pressure built in her chest, pressing against her lungs until she wasn’t sure she’d be able to take another breath. Darkness faded in from the corners, threatening to engulf her.

  A moan tore from her throat seconds before she collapsed on the landing.

  “Death, what did you do?” She screamed as her breath returned, and pain ripped through her body.

  “You called?” Death appeared. His black boots were the only thing she could see, her body hurt too much to look up.

  “What did you do to me?”

  “Unleashed your abilities. The pain you’re experiencing is because your mother bound your powers. When she did it, she told me she would unleash them a little at a time, but it will pass in a few minutes. I had no choice but to undo it all at once, instead of slowly.”

  “No choice?” Her vision faded to gray, blue streaks throughout it.

  “There’s a situation that needs your attention, and you need your abilities to be able to perform your duty.” He reached down, placed his hands under her arms and dragged her to her feet. The touch eased the fear, sending chills through her from his cool skin. Despite this, her legs wouldn’t hold her. She would have fallen back to the floor if Death didn’t keep his arm around her waist. “Let’s get you to the bed.”