by Casey Lane
I stand and face her, resisting the urge to flex, but just barely. “Thanks. I appreciate it.” I momentarily sway toward her, torn on if I should try and kiss her or not. If she chances a look down there’s no way I’ll be able to deny how she affects me—nor would I want to.
Lisa nods. As if sensing my intent, she rushes away, toward the closet with the secret hatch to the tunnels. “No problem. Guess we’d better hurry then, eh? Those ghosts seem to be popping up everywhere.”
I join Lisa and enter the code in the security lock inside the doorframe. I raise the lid and motion for her to proceed down the ladder. I wait ‘til she’s down then I descend, halting briefly to lock up the lid.
Yup, I’ve got a new goal. When this mess is over, I want to bed Lisa.
Wonder if she’s averse to sleeping with a vampire?
I aim to find out.
Chapter Eleven
Lisa
From half way down the ladder Asa jumps and lands solidly in front of me. He straightens and smiles. It’s a struggle to keep my gaze on his face when my eyes want to skate across his naked chest. Man this guy has muscles on top of muscles. I’d give up a month’s worth of soda for one unrestricted touch.
He flicks his head down the tunnel. “Come on. Let’s get back to the inn so I can call Vivian and find out where more coins are.”
I nod like a wide-eyed bimbo. My mouth is suddenly dry and I barely squeak out an, “Okay.”
He leads the way and I’m more than happy to trail behind him. Muscles like this don’t exist in real life—I mean non-supernatural real life. Don Burner, my neighbor, looks nothing like this. Not even in his younger days. Asa’s body is a masterpiece of form. I lick my lips, letting my eyes drink in the sight of him. The black boxers trimmed in red draw my attention to his well-formed buns. Temptation in the flesh.
He leads the way through the tunnels and after several minutes we end up in the basement. Rounding the desk, Asa picks up a desk phone and dials. I assume it’s to Vivian to find out where more gold is. I’m only half worried because I can’t seem to pull my thoughts away from doing naughty things to him.
While I’m staring at his ass, he ends the call and turns to me. Busted. A smile stretches across his mouth. “What are you looking at?”
There’s no good ruse that he’ll believe so I opt for the truth. “Your black boxers.” I smirk. “From an old girlfriend?”
He sets the phone on the desk. “Actually, they’re from my Aunt Cali. I think they were meant as a joke, but—” He wiggles his hips a little. “I like how they feel.”
I’d like to see how they feel. Maybe rubbing between my thighs, against my cheek, with my fingers inside the waistband. Instead I say, “That’s sweet.”
Our gazes lock for a few seconds and I get the feeling that if I take one step toward him we’ll be all over each other. Too bad we still have a lot of work to do. I wouldn’t mind spending a few hours locked in a dark room with Asa. When he drank from me, the sensation was beyond anything I’d experienced. He thought he’d hurt me. Far from it. All he managed to do was incite my curiosity to a dangerous level.
I clear my throat. “So, did Vivian have some good news?”
“Yeah, seems she’s got pirate booty stashed somewhere.”
I crinkle my brow. “Does that mean your boss used to be a pirate—as in vampire pirate?”
“Let’s just say she has a colorful past.”
“And I thought being a reaper was special.” I prop my hands on my hips and sigh. “Now what?”
“I supposed I should get dressed.”
Or not. “Yeah, I think I’ll go freshen up, too.”
Asa inches around the desk and I step back so we don’t touch. No telling what will happen. The sexual tension is humming between us and I don’t think it will take much to set us off. “You need to drink water and get something to eat after donating blood. Let’s meet back in the lobby in thirty minutes.”
“Okay.”
I go to my room and after checking in with Vella and the kids, which takes all of ten minutes, I pace. Having Asa around gives me a sense of protection. The idea of waiting in the lobby alone makes me nervous. First of all there are too many ghosts that don’t know what personal space means. Then there’s the werewolves and God knows what else lurking around the inn. Asa has never given me an exact account of who is what and if they’re at the inn. Better safe than sorry, and for me that means sticking close to my vampire bodyguard.
My stomach growls and I notice bottled water and a bowl of fruit on the table Asa and I sat near earlier. This place is full of surprises. Deciding it’s safer to eat here I reluctantly dig in to an apple and grab the water.
After half an hour I sneak from my room and ease down the hall until I can peer over the railing. He’s there. Breathing a sigh of relief I descend the steps with as much composure as I can muster. Time away from him and the fact that he’s wearing clothes again have tempered my rampaging lust.
“Sorry I’m late. I wanted to check in with the kids.”
“No problem.” He places a hand on my back and leads me toward the basement again. “Everything all right at home?”
I ignore the heat spreading across my skin from his touch. “Just peachy. My friend Vella spoils them. They’ll be hellions when I get home. Probably sugared-up and sleep deprived.”
He laughs as he leads me back to the spiral staircase. “Don’t be too hard on them.”
I glance at him and again see a spark of yearning for a family. “I won’t—unless they start irritating me.” He laughs again and I inwardly sigh. I could get very used to having Asa around. It was a dangerous realization. “I know I’ve asked this fifty kagillion times, but what now?”
“Vivian gave me some vague directions to the gold. First we’ll find that and then look for ghosts.”
“Okay, but eventually I’m going to have to eat.” As if emphasizing my situation my stomach growls. I pointedly ignore mentioning the apple. We all know fruit doesn’t count as real food. “You might be unaware of just how delicate this reaping machine is. It thrives on carbs.”
“Oh shit, sorry.” A grimace tightens his face as we make our way into the tunnels again. “Sometimes I forget you need real food. Do you want to grab something now?”
“No, I’ll be fine for a while. I drank water like you suggested.” No way did I want to appear gluttonous, even though I was on the fluffy side. “I’ve got stored energy supplies.” I give my butt a slap and rub. Asa’s pupils dilate slightly. “I’m pretty hardy.”
“I bet you are.”
Before I can retort with a flirty comment I’m hit from behind by something cold. An icy blade slices through my body. I gasp and grab onto Asa, my eyes wide with shock.
“Lisa, what’s wrong?” I stumble but he catches me before I go down.
When I finally focus my gaze levels on an Amazonian-looking woman standing several feet in front of me. I point. “Ghost. Tall. Dark hair and eyes.” I exhale, my body shuddering from the cold still rippling through my body. “She looks—determined.”
“Bebe,” Asa says.
The woman smiles but it doesn’t reach her eyes. Then she nods. “I sensed you on the property.”
I want to believe Bebe’s reap is going to be as easy as Vikram’s but from her expression I think it will be quite the opposite. My fingers tighten around Asa’s biceps. “She says she sensed me.”
He pulls me closer to him. “Be careful. She’s dangerous.”
“Yeah—” Another shiver skitters through me. “I got that.”
The ghost points a long, slender finger at me. “You’re prettier than I thought.” She takes a step forward. “I think I’m going to like being inside you.”
I take a step backward, dragging Asa with me. “That’s what they all say.”
“What’s happening?” he says.
The woman’s look turns calculating and predatory, then she licks her lips and blows me a kiss. “Bebe didn’t happen t
o ‘like’ women, did she?” We continue to move toward the tunnel on the right.
“Uh, yeah, why?”
“Lucky guess.” I dig my fingers into his arm. “We really need to find that gold—fast.”
“Right.” He clasps his hand with mine. “Ready.”
Bebe strides toward us, a satisfied smile pasted on her face. I’m in big trouble. “I’ve never been more ready.”
“Run!”
We bolt down the tunnel. It takes every ounce of stored energy to keep up with Asa. Basically he’s dragging me and I swear there are times when we angle around a corner that my feet lift from the ground. But I don’t complain and I don’t stop.
After what must be the twentieth turn, Asa slows. My chest is burning and it feels like my lungs are literally in my throat. Even though we’ve stopped running, we haven’t stopped walking. He guides me down another corridor, slightly narrower than the others, and into a room.
“Vivian says the gold is around here.” He flips on the light. “She mentioned chests. Maybe in one of these crates.”
The room is rectangular and stacked with wooden boxes. I’m really hoping the treasure is on top because I doubt we’ve got a lot of time. “Hurry.” We race to the first stack and haul down a crate. I turn, scanning the room for a crowbar. “If Bebe can sense me I’m sure she’s on our tail.”
“No doubt.” The squeak of the lid being ripped free draws my attention back. Asa smiles. “A perk of being a vampire. Big muscles.”
I give him a coy smirk. “It’s good to know they’re not just for show.”
“You’ve been looking?”
I shrug and dig into the crate. Crystal perfume bottles trimmed in gold, an antique doll, but no gold. “Not here.”
Asa drags the next crate down. I’m willing to let him flex his muscles in the name of our rescue. Again he peels the top off and tosses it to the side. We both rifle through the packing material, but again come up empty handed.
“Damn it.” I kick the crate. “We don’t need much.”
“We’ll find it.” Asa drops a third crate onto the ground. “Now what they hell did she say on the call…”
Just as Asa throws the lid over his shoulder I’m hit from the side by the same icy blast. But this time Bebe doesn’t pass through me. “Asa.” I barely get his name out before the ghost’s fingers wrap around my neck. With one hand she pushes me against the wall.
“Shit,” Asa says.
Over Bebe’s shoulder I see him frantically digging through the crate, but then she blocks my view.
“I think she mentioned a lamp. Fuck I should have been paying closer attention rather than trying to tease you.”
Her face hovers an inch from mine and her cold breath feels like it’s crystalizing against my cheek.
“Like I said, you’re prettier than I thought,” the ghost whispers. Her chilled lips brush against mine. Thinking she’s going to try and possess me like Ivan, I press my mouth together. “Silly reaper.” She lays her cheek against mine and I have to repress the urge to gasp from the icy bite. “Don’t you know there’s more than one way in?”
Her hand dips to the waistband of my pants. Holy crap, is she thinking what I think she’s thinking? I’m sorry, but I choose who’s going to get into my girlie bits, and for my first time after my husband’s death it’s sure as hell not going to be icy-fingered Amazonian vampire bitch.
“Asa, oh my God, you’ve got to stick your hand down my pants!”
Chapter Twelve
Asa
I race to the reaper’s side, all thoughts of finding the gold soaring right out of my head. With more heat pumping through my veins than I’ve felt in years, I willingly, and eagerly, comply with Lisa’s outrageous suggestion. I lay my palm under her shirt against the skin of her slightly rounded stomach, and slide downward, easing past the waistband of her pants.
She rips her mouth away from mine. “Under. You’ve got to go under my panties. She’s… I can’t believe I’m about to say this—she’s trying to possess me by entering through my privates!”
I snug her plump breasts more firmly against my chest with one arm around her back, while pressing my lips firmly on hers. My other hand plunges low, cupping the juncture between her thighs. Moist heat greets my questing fingers as I shift deeper; making sure my whole hand covers both entrances.
“Yes! That’s right. Oh my God, is that so right.” A nervous giggle escapes her. “The coldness has eased.”
“Is my hand cold?”
“No, it’s not bad.” I snug my hand closer. “Whew! Much better than an angry vampire spirit trying to force her way inside.” She shivers and I think her reaction has nothing to do with Bebe.
“Oh! She’s heading north again!”
Lisa plasters her mouth to mine, and I swear the sexy reaper circles her hips toward my hand. Her hot heat sets my hand on fire, sending blood straight to my crotch. I’m no saint and I don’t try to over analyze it when my pants become tight. I’m a guy with my hand down a pretty woman’s pants. You do the math.
Panic and desire grip me with equal force. I wish to God this damn ghost wasn’t here trying to take over so I could really enjoy this moment. “Holy shit.” I gasp between kisses. “You are so fucking hot right now.” Oh yeah, that sounded smooth. Like a drunken frat boy.
“Don’t talk sexy to me!” She pants, gasping for breath. “I can’t think.”
I suppress a grin, thrilled she liked my words even if they were un-cool and spur of the moment.
Her small hand spasms against my chest. “I’ve got to hold onto Bebe while we find the damn gold.” Her breathing becomes ragged as I lift my lower hand slightly, cupping her moist heat in my palm. “Oh. My. God. Don’t do that! It feels… well… I think you know exactly how it feels, you undead tease.” Her body shivers and I swear she presses in closer. “Where was I? What they hell are we doing?” she squeaks again and her eyes round. She jams her mouth back on mine. Bebe must have gone for her lips again.
Wetness from her core seeps out to coat my palm and I can’t resist the involuntary grinding of the heel of my hand against her mound. I want her. I want her bad. I want to make her squirm all over me, all night long. I want to erase every memory of any other man she’s ever been with. For one night, I want to be her world.
Best get to reaping all these damn ghosts so I can make it happen.
I ease back, still keeping up the pressure between her legs, “Christ I can barely think like this. I fucked up before with the crates. I think Vivian said something about moving a light fixture on the wall.” I look around the room and only see the caged ceiling light. “I know of a room with sconces like she mentioned.” I pant into the air between us, barely able to hold onto the urge to rip off her clothes. Yup, I’m officially a horn-dog with no fear of immediate consequences. “It’s across the hall. How about I carry you?”
Lisa nods, her eyes glazed with what I hope is passion, but there’s also a tinge of fear there. Makes sense since an aggressive spirit is trying her damndest to possess her.
“Can you carry me? I mean,” she hesitates, uncertainty on her face. “I’m no feather weight.”
A grin tilts the corners of my mouth and I don’t answer, instead just lowering my grip around her back to settle more firmly near her middle. With little effort I scoop the sexy blond into my arms, relishing her round-eyed look of shock. My fingers between her legs press against her back opening and she lets out a little moan of desire.
“Asa, you’re killing me here. If you had any idea how close I am…” She stumbles in her words, switching thoughts quickly. “All these ghosts are coming after me,” she whispers, that hint of fear growing despite my subtle efforts to keep her mind occupied on what my hand is doing in her pants.
I nod, keeping my lips near her mouth, in case I need to kiss her again to block Bebe. “That’s a safe assumption. They seem to be popping up like flies whenever we least expect it. Maybe they’re drawn to you?”
; Without waiting for an answer, I carry her out of the room and across the stark white hall. I lift one booted heel and kick in the door, unwilling to let go of Lisa and risk her for even a moment.
A suppressed giggle escapes the reaper. “Is it wrong I’m totally turned on and scared out of my mind at the same time?”
I kiss her lightly, staring into her blue eyes. “I don’t think so. I’m sure as hell turned on. We’ll get through this. I promise.” I circle the heel of my hand against her sensitive mound, knowing I’m hitting the aroused bundle of nerves beneath.
Lisa’s arms twine around my neck, only one hand grasping me as the other holds to the ghost of Bebe.
“It’s been a long time for me. You keep doing that and I’m going to cease caring about the job I’m supposed to be doing.”
“Right,” I say, easing back on my teasing. “We need to find the gold.”
I carry her to a metal-caged bulb protruding from the far wall. “Can you reach it?”
She reluctantly lets go of my neck, trailing her hot hand down my chest before shifting her attention to the light fixture.
She tugs on it to no avail. Not a creak, no sliding wall… nothing.
Lisa motions with her hand down the expanse of cinder block. “How about that one?”
Three quick strides and we’re next to it. She tries again, this time with luck. The concrete between the two sconces shifts, sliding slowly inward in a vague door-like shape. It recesses about a foot and then slides to one side.
Lisa crows in triumph. “I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. Who the heck designs stuff like this?”
I know exactly who designs secret rooms and passages— an old and highly paranoid vampire unwilling to be caught by her enemies. I refrain from answering, saddened that this is probably one of the things I will have to delicately remove from her memories, just like our traveling in the tunnels. Vivian is very particular about who knows her secrets.
