Light the Shadows (A Grimm Novel)

by Clay, Michelle

  “Shit.” Micah ditched the hand towel she was twisting in her hands and made her way to the living room. What, or rather who, she saw there made her heartbeat flutter against her ribcage. She breathed his name in greeting and was rewarded with a slight smile that made her insides quiver.

  Sully shook Roger’s offered hand. He even smiled when Micah’s pretend dad said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Sullivan.”

  There was so much she wanted to tell Sully, so much she wanted to show him. Unfortunately, all of that would have to wait until they were alone. She closed the distance between them, content to just have this moment.

  Micah threw her arms around his neck, stood on tiptoes and hugged him close. His lips brushed against hers in a quick kiss.

  Micah whispered, “I’m glad you’re here.”

  “We didn’t think you were coming,” Nancy said then glanced at Micah. She sounded almost as relieved as Micah felt.

  “I was working in the area.” Sully leaned closer and dropped a soft kiss on Micah’s temple. “Plus, meeting you was a big deal to her.”

  Micah’s heart swelled with warmth. She tilted her head to gaze up at him and smiled. The man was a genius. Not only would he win her heart, but her parents’, too.

  He squeezed her hand. “I didn’t want to miss it.”

  This seemed to win Nancy over. She smiled and even looked like she wanted to hug Sully, too.

  Roger didn’t look quite as convinced. “Where do you work?”

  “Dad!” Micah pretended to be affronted, even embarrassed. Truth be told, she was just as curious to hear what Sully would say. She slanted her eyes in his direction, curious if the word Reaper would come out of his mouth.

  “I build bikes.” He smiled convincingly. “Occasionally I repair them.”

  Nancy cocked her head, sculpted brows dipping downward. “Bicycles?”

  Roger grinned. “I don’t think he’s talking about that kind of bike, honey.”

  Micah took her mom’s hand and led her to the large picture window in the living room. She swept aside the curtain and pointed at the shiny motorcycle parked behind her Mini. Nancy’s eyes widened, and she glanced back at Micah.

  “Don’t tell me you ride on that thing,” Nancy said, worry lines around her eyes deepening with a frown.

  “No worries, Mrs. Farris. Your daughter is in good hands,” Sully said with a sly wink that curled Micah’s toes. She couldn’t wait until they were alone, and his hands were on her again.

  Sully and Roger found a common interest in motorcycles. Her dad explained that he used to have one in his younger days and had thought about getting another. Nancy was adamant that they were too dangerous and a man his age had no business riding. After a while, the men went outside to grill the meat.

  Micah helped Nancy cut veggies for a salad. She kept sneaking glances at Sully through the window and nearly winced when she saw how serious Roger’s expression had grown. He waved the spatula around as he spoke and even pointed it at the house a few times.

  “You really like him, don’t you, sweetheart?” Nancy asked as she watched Micah glance out the window again.

  “Yes.” She couldn’t help the silly smile that formed. “I really do.”

  “It’s pretty obvious he’s nuts about you, too. I saw the way he looks at you.” Nancy smiled.

  Micah snuck another peek at her lover through the window. “Oh God, do you think Dad’s giving Sully the talk?”

  Nancy laughed as she tossed the chopped ingredients together in a large bowl. “Probably. Roger’s been all worked up about some guy dating his little girl. He’s even been rehearsing what he would say.” Nancy ducked her head and fought a grin. “It probably didn’t help that I told him about that awkward situation I walked in on.”

  “Oh my God, Mom, you didn’t!” Micah peeked out the window again. Whatever they were talking about didn’t seem to ruffle Sully in the least. His features remained neutral and relaxed. The only clue that he might be uncomfortable was the slow tap of his boot on the stone patio.

  Nancy laughed. “Well, I was a little shaken by what I saw. I mean, that kind of thing is so unlike you, and even though you’re his adopted daughter, Roger thinks of you as his own. How could I not tell him?”

  Micah stared at her mom for a moment. “What did Roger come to talk to me about the night of the accident?”

  Nancy pursed her lips. “Well, we were thinking about getting a divorce. I was a mess, and he thought it would be better if he told you.”

  “But…” Micah started to ask why they were having an anniversary dinner if the relationship was over.

  “It’s kind of funny in a morbid way.” Her mom smiled and took Micah’s hand in her own. “Roger and I were in a rut, so to speak. We’d drifted so far away from each other and thought that we had nothing left in common. But we do, Micah. We have you. After the accident, we spent a lot of time together at the hospital, and we talked. We talked like we hadn’t in a long, long time. We both realized we had something else worth fighting for … each other.”

  “I’m so happy for the two of you.” Micah pulled her mom into a hug and smiled. The clang of the grill stole their attention, and they glanced out at the men on the patio.

  “Do you think we should go save your boyfriend?” Nancy asked with a worried glance.

  Micah grinned. Boyfriend. She liked the way that sounded. “No way, let him squirm.”

  Later, after dinner and dessert, Micah’s parents walked them to the door. A moment’s worth of panic fluttered within Micah when Roger shook Sully’s hand and said he’d like to come take a look at the bikes they’d talked about.

  Sully’s free hand was on her waist, and a couple fingers snuck beneath her shirt hem to touch bare flesh. He smiled at her dad and said, “Sure, anytime.”

  Nancy wouldn’t let them go until they both gave her a hug. Micah stifled a grin as tall, muscular Sully stooped to give Nancy an awkward hug. Her mom went on about how nice it was to meet him and how Micah should bring him back very soon.

  Once they were on the flower lined walkway, Sully opened Micah’s car door. “I’ll meet you at your place.”

  “Why can’t we go to yours?” Micah asked.

  “I don’t live in the kind of neighborhood you’re used to.” He glanced up at the house when the curtains fluttered and Nancy peeked out. She grinned and waved again.

  Micah started the car and gave him a pointed look. Without another word, he shut her door then straddled the bike. It roared to life, and he took off down the street. If she didn’t know any better, she’d think he was trying to lose her.

  She followed him to a neighborhood surrounded by shambling houses and broken down cars. Up ahead, he pulled onto a gravel driveway then got off the bike. He pointed at the garage then went into the house. Moments later, the garage door slowly opened to reveal a clean garage devoid of any boxes or junk. Only a few tools hung on a board affixed to the wall. Next to where she parked sat a dark vehicle. Another motorcycle, the one with red swirls, sat in front of the car.

  “Come on in,” Sully said then flicked the switch to shut the overhead door.

  “What about your bike?”

  He lifted a shoulder. “They’ve learned not to mess with my stuff.”

  Micah decided not to question this as she followed him through a kitchen that was attached to the garage. The appliances were mismatched. The toasted almond color of the stove clashed with the avocado green of the refrigerator. A few of the floor tiles were cracked, and a couple dirty glasses were in the sink. A bottle of Irish whiskey sat on the kitchen windowsill above the dripping faucet.

  Once they reached the living room, Micah spotted an Xbox tucked away in the entertainment center. One of the controllers looked as though it had been abandoned in mid-play and lay halfway across the room. A takeout container and a discarded t-shirt lay atop the scuffed coffee table.

  “Definitely a bachelor pad,” Micah said with a grin.

  Sully cocke
d an eyebrow at that. “You haven’t even seen the bedroom.”

  “I’m almost afraid to.” Micah crossed the room to wrap her arms around his waist. She closed her eyes and breathed in his delicious scent. “Do you really own a bike shop, Sully?”

  “Yes.” His fingers threaded through her hair then cupped the back of her neck. “Thomas and I were partners. He took care of the business end while I built and painted the machines.”

  Sully ran his hands down her arms to clasp her hands. He gently pulled her toward the back of the house. “And I rent this dump because I can come and go as I please. No one even notices if I leave at three a.m. and don’t come back for days. Everyone keeps to themselves and minds their own business.”

  Micah pursed her lips. Sully’s house was on the small side. There were no decorations on the wall, no framed photos or trinkets scattered about. His place definitely had a lived-in look, but it didn’t feel homey. She had hoped by coming here she’d get a sense of what made him tick, what made him who he was.

  The bedroom looked as though it had been through a tornado. The comforter was pushed to one side of the bed. The sheet hung off the end of the bed like he’d gotten hot and kicked it off. What she suspected were random motorcycle parts lay atop the dresser, and a fist-sized hole dented the wall beside the door.

  He sat on the end of the bed and watched in silence as she looked around the room. Next, Micah crossed to the closet and peered inside. Nearly everything within was black or some shade of it. Toward the back of the closet were a few shirts, uniforms, and a pair of scrubs. Some of the shirts even had names sewn onto the breast, and none were his. She dropped her hand away then spotted a cardboard box on the closet floor. When she opened it, she found a couple passports and other forged documents.

  “Sometimes it makes the job easier if I blend in.” He said as he leaned back on his elbows to gaze at her. His tone was cautious, but his gaze didn’t hint at how he felt at her prying into his private life or the reaping.

  She turned to stare at him, not sure of the proper thing to say. Serial killers did the same thing, didn’t they? “I suppose it makes it harder if people get used to seeing you around.”

  “That’s why it’s important to blend and be as stealthy as possible. Plus, we move around a lot. Can’t have the same guy hanging around for a hundred years and never change without raising a few questions.” He flopped back onto the bed and tucked his hands beneath his head.

  “How long have you been in Palm Springs?” she asked as a quiet fear gripped her heart. Would he leave so soon after they’d found each other?

  “A couple years,” he said as he stared up at the ceiling.

  Micah sat next to him, placing her hand on his thigh. The muscle beneath her palm tensed at her touch. She ran her fingertips along the line of his thigh, all the way up to his stomach. Then she toyed with the hair that led to his waistband and grinned when he sucked in a breath and held it in anticipation.

  “I know we haven’t known each other long…” Her fingers traced along the edge of the waistband of his jeans then dipped beneath the material to touch his skin. Sully’s body trembled at her touch, but he seemed content to allow this exploration.

  “Anyway, I’m a little confused about what’s been going on between us. You’re all over me one minute, and the next you’re pulling away.” She thumbed the button open then grasped the zipper between thumb and forefinger. The silver tab dragged down painfully slowly to reveal the soft grey material of the boxer briefs he wore underneath. So, she smiled, he doesn’t go commando all the time.

  Micah lifted her gaze from the bulge beneath the grey cotton to look into his face. What she saw there—lust, anticipation, and something more—melted her heart. She stretched her body across his, grinding a hip against his erection. Micah smothered his groan with a kiss.

  His hands were on her in an instant, one anchoring her so she wouldn’t topple over the side of the bed while the other palmed a fabric covered breast.

  “Sully, I have to tell you something,” she said between kisses. Her fingers deftly unbuttoned his shirt as they trailed down the center of his chest. Once his shirt lay open, she smoothed her fingers against the scar. Her fingertips seemed to have a mind of their own as they tickled down toward his navel then pressed against his cock, still hidden beneath the boxers. He answered with a sharp intake of breath, and she was sure his eyes had darkened with desire.

  “I’m in lo…”

  Sully’s hand cupped the back of her head and dragged her toward his mouth, effectively silencing her confession. His teeth nipped at her bottom lip until she moaned and allowed his tongue entrance.

  Micah’s mind blurred, and she forgot about everything except the way Sully made her feel. Her body molded itself against his, and her fingers brushed aside the thin material of his underwear to encircle the hard flesh beneath.

  Micah trailed kisses across his jaw then down his neck. She continued nipping and kissing her way down his body even as her fist tightened around his engorged flesh. Sully’s fingers dug into her shoulders, and he sucked in a breath. Micah stroked the long length of his shaft, marveling at the thick veins and girth of it. Then she swiped her thumb across the head to catch the pre-cum leaking from the tip. She brought it to her lips and slowly licked the silken moisture from the pad of her thumb. Her eyes closed and she made a happy sound deep in her throat. Sully’s flavor was delicious, just as she’d known it would be.

  “Careful, doll.” His voice was rough, and she delighted in knowing she was the cause of it. His fingers tightened on her shoulders like he might pull her back up.

  She grinned, poised on one elbow, her face just inches away from the object of her desire. She pursed her lips to lightly blow on the head of his penis. “Or what?”

  “I’ll explode.” The words escaped between clenched teeth.

  Micah’s grip tightened around him, and her tongue flicked out to catch another drop of pre-cum as it slid down toward her fingers. “Would that be so bad?”

  She didn’t give him a chance to answer. Instead, she dipped her head toward him and gently licked her way from root to tip. Micah took him into her mouth, allowing the head of his cock to scrape across her teeth. Her tongue slid along the length of him until she reached the top. Then she used the tip of her tongue to explore and probe the small slit. Each time more silken fluid leaked from its head, Micah flicked it away with her tongue.

  Sully’s fingers tangled in her hair. His entire body quivered as she took his entire length into her mouth. He bumped against the back of her throat, gagging her momentarily until she figured out how to stroke him and suck at the same time. She smiled inwardly, knowing she must be doing it just the way he liked, because his hands were still tangled in her hair and his hips bucked upward.

  Micah abandoned any sense of control and gripped his hips as he continued to thrust into her mouth. His fingers clenched tight in her hair, and he cried out just before a pulse of hot liquid hit the back of her throat. Micah kept her lips wrapped around him until the thick, spurting streams of seed ceased. When he released her, she didn’t move immediately. Instead, she laid her head against his stomach and just basked in the moment, in their togetherness.

  His fingers stroked through her hair, and he sighed in contentment. Finally, he sat up and pulled her up with him.

  She nearly purred with bliss as Sully rolled her onto her back. Within moments, their clothing was on the floor, and his head was nestled between her thighs. In that moment, she forgot the fact that he hadn’t allowed her to tell him how she truly felt.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Sully pulled on a pair of dark jeans then selected a clean shirt from the back of the closet. Shrugging it on, he didn’t bother to button it just yet. He moved silently across the room, in search of his shoes.

  The sight of Micah sleeping naked in his bed caused him to pause. The sheet barely covered her breasts, forcing his cock to throb with interest. He pushed fingers through his sti
ll damp from the shower hair and sighed.

  Micah’s deep, even breaths indicated that she was still asleep. One foot stuck out from the blankets, and her hands were curled beneath the pillow. She lay on her side, and her hair had fallen over one eye. Sully reached out to smooth it away and noticed that his hand was trembling. Micah was in love with him. He’d stopped her from saying it, but he could hear it in her voice and see it in her eyes. Despite his best efforts, he’d completely lost control of the situation.

  A whispered curse slipped past his lips. What he’d mistaken for simple animal lust had quickly developed into so much more. He was deeply, madly, hopelessly in love with Micah Munroe, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. He’d tried to keep his emotions shut off, not allow her to crawl into his heart and take up residence, but all that effort was for nothing. His plan had backfired, and honestly, he couldn’t be happier. Or more scared.

  Fear burned like bile in Sully’s throat. What if he lost her? It would be bad enough if one day she decided she no longer wanted him in her life. It would break his heart, no doubt. But the knowledge that she would one day die by his hand or one like him, damn near killed him. He could make it easier on himself. He could break it off with her now, forget what it felt like to be held by her, loved by her. He snorted with disdain at the thought. He’d rather cut off his own hand or be shot again. To live without her even one day was no longer an option.

  Hating these rampant emotions, he forced himself to turn away. He’d like nothing more than to curl up in bed next to Micah and wake her with kisses. Instead of acting on these desires, he picked up his keys and cast one last longing glance at her. He had work to do at the shop, and with Thomas gone, it was piling up faster than he could keep up.

  No, he didn’t have to work a nine to five job, but in order to blend in with the normal folk, he’d made his hobby into a living. By pretending to be just as human as the next guy, he didn’t draw attention to himself. Besides, he’d go mad with boredom if he didn’t have something to do when he wasn’t reaping souls. This was the closest thing to a normal life that he’d ever have.