He watched her cross the room then squat next to his friend. Thomas glanced up at him and smiled, then went back to talking to Micah. They spoke so low, Sully couldn’t make out what they were saying. Judging by the way they kept glancing his way, it had something to do with him.
Instead of trying to figure them out, he silently tested his mental acuity. There didn’t seem to be any trace of Natalie left within him. For that, he was thankful.
He sucked in a sharp breath as a headache began to form. Standing slowly, he held out a hand to stop them when Micah and Thomas tried to come to his aid. “I’m going to take a shower. I feel gritty and sticky.”
Sully glanced at the couch where he’d lain. The cushions were stained with blackish blood. “Sorry about your couch.”
“Go shower.” Thomas tilted his head toward the guest bedroom. “You know where everything is, and you still have clothes in the closet.”
Sully nodded to his friend then moved away. He heard Micah say, “Do you think he’s really okay? He’s been through so much.”
He gritted his teeth as he pushed the guest room door open. They talked about him as though he were a weakling. What made them think he couldn’t handle the things that had happened to him in the last few days? Ultimately, he shrugged it off, certain they didn’t mean anything by it.
Moments later, he stood in the shower and allowed the hot water and soap to cascade over his body. The headache had taken permanent residence, though he’d hoped it would be eased by the hot water. He watched the last of the suds swirl down the drain before shutting the water off. What didn’t kill you only made you stronger, right?
Toweling off, he stood in front of the bathroom mirror and examined his body. There was no scar to serve as a reminder that Micah’s dagger had pierced his heart. Only the old gunshot wound that he could never be rid of remained.
What was that? He leaned close to the fogged mirror then wiped away the condensation. He studied his face for a moment, searching. Perhaps what he thought he saw had been a trick of the light playing havoc in his mind. He’d just looked away when he saw it again. “What the hell?”
Pain sliced through his brain, the headache seeming to pulsate and spread. Something black flashed in his eyes as he leaned close to the mirror and gazed at himself. In his head, a girl child’s giggle rang out.
Gripping the sides of the sink, he struggled to draw a breath. What the hell was wrong with him? Was she really back, or had he been so paranoid about it, he’d tricked himself into believing?
Sully stared at his reflection, daring the dark presence to show itself. He didn’t know how long he’d stood there, gripping the basin and looking for something that might not even be there. Finally, he took a calming breath then took a step back.
A tentative knock on the door startled him, sending his heartbeat into his throat. Micah asked, “You okay in there?”
He laughed then turned away from the fogged mirror. He was just suffering from exhaustion, that’s all. There was nothing there, only him. He opened the door then looped his arms around Micah’s small frame. So tiny. So easily crushed.
Micah stared up at him, love and relief shining from her pretty mismatched eyes.
Dropping a kiss on top of her head, he ignored the vicious whisper in his head. He nuzzled his nose deeper into her hair. God, she smelled good. “Take me home.”
Micah tipped her head back to look at him. “My house or yours?”
Fingers beneath her chin, he caressed her throat then lowered his mouth to hers in a gentle kiss. “Home is wherever you are, doll.”
She put her arms around his neck then stood on tiptoes to reach him. Her mouth closed over his, and she penetrated the seal of his lips with her tongue. The kiss was wildly fervent as she pressed her body against his. One of her thighs nudged between his, and she cocked her hips just so. A low moan escaped him. Despite being tired as hell, his body responded to Micah’s touch.
What had begun as a heated exchange mellowed into a slow, meaningful kiss. He sucked on her tongue and ran his fingers down her throat to finger the crease between her cleavage. It seemed he couldn’t get enough of his beautiful Micah.
A flash of her bloodied and broken sparked in his mind’s eye. He gasped and broke their connection. What the hell was that, and where did it come from?
Micah blinked up at him, worry drawing her brows downward. She rested her hands on his chest and grimaced at his thundering heartbeat. “What’s wrong?”
Sully took a step backward then ran a nervous hand through his hair. “Nothing, just tired I guess.”
She studied him a moment then said, “If you want to talk about it—”
“I don’t,” he said in a rough voice. His fists clenched at his sides as an overwhelming urge to push her aside surged within him. Instead, he skirted around her then busied himself by getting dressed.
Micah stared at him a moment then turned to leave the room. Over her shoulder she said, “I’ll wait in the other room.”
He knew his abruptness had confused and most likely hurt her feelings. The problem was, he didn’t understand what was happening either.
He said, “I’ll be right out.”
She nodded then returned to the living room where Thomas was still bustling about. Their voices carried through the small apartment, but he chose not to focus on their words. The last thing he chose to hear was Thomas questioning Micah about his wellbeing. She’d sighed, and he swore he heard soft sobbing.
“Goddam it,” he said as he sank onto the end of the bed. He worked his feet into a clean pair of socks then put his shoes on. He sat there several moments, waiting and listening for any indication that she was still in his head. He heard nothing, felt nothing. She was gone.
Standing now, he crossed to the dresser and examined his face. He looked the same, maybe just a little worn around the edges. Could it be that his mind had simply snapped beneath all the pressure and he’d imagined her voice?
He stepped out of the bedroom and saw Thomas and Micah sitting on the couch together. They sat too close and had their heads together, whispering. When he entered the room, Micah scooted away, and her cheeks flamed.
Thomas licked his lips then stood. “You okay, Sullivan?”
“I wish everyone would quit asking if I’m all right. I’m fucking dandy, okay?”
Micah’s hand flew up to her chest, and her eyes radiated shock with a hint of disappointment. “Sully…”
“Maybe you need some time alone?” Thomas asked in the brotherly voice of concern. “You should take a moment to process.”
Sully’s gaze shot to Micah’s other hand, which had sought out Thomas’s. He squeezed it in return then helped Micah up. They were being awfully familiar with each other. Sully took a deep breath. No, he would not think like that. This inane jealousy was not like him.
He took a deep breath, mentally shook off any residual anger, then crossed the room. “Sorry, that wasn’t cool. I know the two of you are just worried.” His gaze swept over their clasped hands, and he tamped down the irritation boiling within the pit of his stomach. The sooner he got them away from each other, the better.
The scythe lay on the low coffee table, just an arm’s reach away. Sully snatched it up then shot a glance at them. Their hands were no longer clasped. He allowed the weapon to return to its hidden place within.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Morning streamed in through the curtains in the bedroom, dappling the floor and the end of the bed with warm sunshine. Micah snuggled deeper beneath the comforter. Sully’s body was pressed against her back, one arm thrown over her waist. His warm breath caressed the back of her neck as he slept. There was nowhere else she’d rather be.
She sighed in bliss then nestled closer to him. His arm tightened around her, and his fingers brushed her hip. Even in sleep, he refused to let her go. The slight tickle of his chest hair sent a shiver of pleasure rolling through her. She could definitely get used to this.
There wa
s a soft thump of warning before Anna drifted through the bedroom door. “Hey,” she whispered in greeting.
Micah smiled at her friend then gently lifted Sully’s arm off her body. Careful not to jostle him awake, she got out of bed to grab her robe. Ushering Anna out of the room, she cast one last glance at Sully. God, she loved that man. How in the hell had he stolen her heart so quickly and completely?
“I was so worried last night,” Anna said as soon as they were in the hallway.
Micah yawned and rolled her shoulders in an effort to ease the soreness within her body. One didn’t get thrown around a room then expect to feel awesome the next day. “Yeah, things got a little hairy.”
“That’s what Thomas said.”
Micah tightened the robe around her waist then peered past Anna. “Is he here?”
Anna’s cheeks heated, and a smile worked its way across her face. She didn’t answer until they’d reached the kitchen. “I stopped by his apartment to check on him earlier.”
“Did he get it back to a state of normalcy?” Micah asked as she filled the coffee pot with water and grounds.
Anna shook her head. “I think he’s given up for the moment. The study is in pretty bad shape. He’ll probably have to replace some things.”
“What about him?”
The ghost planted herself on the breakfast bar. “He’s in great shape. I accidentally appeared in the shower instead of the living room.” Her eyes widened, and she grinned. “He was surprised to say the least.”
Micah raised her brows, but decided not to mention Anna’s accident. “I meant how is he holding up? It’s gotta be hard to see your child, or at least an image of her, destroyed.”
“Considering all that’s happened he seems okay.” Anna dangled a foot below the stool, allowing it to pass through the metal bar at the bottom.
“You like him.” Micah leaned a hip against the counter and grinned.
Anna lifted a shoulder. “What’s not to like?”
Micah sat on one of the stools while she waited for the coffeepot to finish gurgling. “He is definitely tall and handsome, in a brooding sort of way.”
Anna’s eyes darted toward the hallway.
Micah knew without even looking that Sully had just come into the kitchen. She crossed her arms over her chest in mock disapproval. “Don’t you think Thomas is a bit too old for you, young lady?”
Anna licked her lips then looked away. “Technically, I’m sixty-eight years old. If I want to like Sully’s hot hunk of a friend, I can.”
“Okay, grandma, don’t get your panties in a knot.” Micah’s comment forced a laugh from Anna.
Without a word about their choice of topics, Sully moved past them to pour himself a cup of coffee. His hair was a tousled mess, and his eyes were bleary. He was only wearing jeans this morning. Micah slanted her eyes his way to get a better look at that delicious body. She wondered if he’d like to have breakfast in bed.
He winked at her, probably reading her thoughts loud and clear. Instead of inviting her back to the bedroom, he said, “Gonna go out to the shop for a while, doll. Got some backed up orders to work on. I might see if Thomas can take a break from cleaning to do a little paperwork.”
She started to ask if he was all right, but after the way he’d reacted to her concerns yesterday, she decided not to. “Anything I can do to help?”
“Nah, I got it,” he said absently as he downed the coffee. He didn’t wince even though it was fresh from the pot and had to be scorching hot.
Micah and Anna shared a curious glance. Micah cleared her throat then threw caution to the wind. “Are you back to normal? You didn’t seem quite like yourself yesterday.”
Sully’s light eyes studied her a moment. “Yeah, I’m okay. It must have been some residual effect of Natalie’s possession. I thought I heard her rattling around up here.” He tapped his temple. “It’s just me in here now.”
Micah released a sigh of relief. “I should swing by the office and check my messages. Since Karla is gone and I’ve been a little preoccupied, there’s probably a ton of things to attend to. I should at least check the answering machine and email. Who knows, someone might want to buy a house.”
She slid off the barstool then rounded the breakfast bar. This close, Micah noticed how bloodshot his eyes were. They also seemed a bit darker grey than usual. Slipping her arms around Sully’s waist, she laid her head against his chest. She smiled as the light sprinkling of hair crinkled against her cheek.
Sully’s hand ran up her back all the way to the nape of her neck. Fingers tangling in her hair, he pulled her head back, exposing her throat. The movement was just rough enough to bring a sting to her eyes. He kissed a trail up her throat all the way to her mouth. A surge of desire rose within her as his lips grazed hers. His teeth nipped at hers before he finally released her.
“I’m going to hop in the shower,” she said then kissed his chin. The invitation was there; now would he take it? If not, it might be a cold shower.
“Sounds great,” he said in that faraway voice that said he wasn’t really paying close attention. Sully’s fingers caressed the side of her neck then roved downward beneath the satiny robe. His fingertips brushed the top of her breast then trailed lower to cup one in his palm.
The breath caught in Micah’s throat as she remembered the time he’d nearly taken her on the kitchen island. Her hand ran down his chest, tangling in the sprinkling of hair there. She walked her fingers to his waistband then curled her fingers beneath. He rewarded her with a low, throaty growl.
Anna made a noise, reminding them she was present.
Sighing in resignation, Sully dropped a kiss on Micah’s forehead then removed his hand from beneath the robe. Lusty promise shone in his eyes. “We’ll continue this later.”
“Horn dog,” Anna whispered with a roll of her eyes.
“’Til the day I die.” As he passed the ghost who was still perched on the barstool, he shot her a derisive grin. “Again.”
A while later, Micah parked outside the real estate building. She unlocked the door with her head cocked at an angle to hold the cell phone to her ear. Diane had called just as she’d left the house. She was still visiting her parents and had called to check in.
Diane said, “A cop called the other day to ask about Ben’s whereabouts.”
A cold brick of apprehension settled in Micah’s stomach. “You didn’t take him back, did you? He’s dangerous, Diane.”
“God, no!” Disgust dripped from Diane’s voice. “Detective Brewer said he tried to drown you.”
“He nearly succeeded.”
“I’m married to a murderer.” Diane said with a miserable groan.
“Attempted murderer,” Micah said in hopes of making her friend feel better.
“How could I be so goddamn stupid?”
Micah sighed, knowing Diane needed to know the rest of the story. “Apparently, that wasn’t the first time I walked in on them. My little accident turned out not to be an accident after all. He tried to kill me that night as well, but my dad interrupted.”
Diane sighed. “I’m just in shock. I can’t believe he’d do something like this. Cheat on me, sure, but try to kill someone? He’s a monster.”
“It’s not like you knew.” Micah said as she turned on the computer. Tons of requests for info on the houses and condos Harmon Realty represented blinked onto the screen. She hadn’t even had a chance to check the phone messages yet, but the little red light was blinking like crazy.
Diane groaned with frustration. “I can’t get that man out of my life fast enough. I filed the paperwork last week.”
“Any idea when you’re coming back?” Micah asked as she scrolled through several of the emails. “We’ve got a lot of interested people wanting to look at houses. There’s too much to do by myself. I’ll set up the appointments, but I need help with the showings.”
“I’m going to owe you a long vacation when I come back, aren’t I? Diane asked.
&nbs
p; “And a trip to the spa,” Micah said with a grin.
“Deal,” Diane said without hesitation. “I’m heading back this weekend. We’ll have to look for a new secretary.”
Micah scratched her head. “I’ll write up a help wanted ad and see what we get. Maybe we’ll luck out and get a grandmotherly type who’ll make us cookies.”
Diane laughed. “You’ve got all the best ideas.”
They spent a good twenty minutes talking about the properties and having a girl’s night out when Diane returned. The bell jingled in the lobby, indicating that someone had come in. “Hey, someone’s here. Gotta go.”
Micah hung up the phone then rounded the desk. “Just a moment,” she called to the client then grabbed a business card from the holder on the desk.
She entered the short hallway then stopped dead in her tracks. Ben, disheveled and wild-eyed, charged down the hall. His clothes were rumpled and dirty. It looked like he hadn’t shaved in days. Murderous anger danced in his eyes as he stared at her.
Micah whirled to dart back into her office. Within seconds Ben was there, forcing the door open though she struggled to close it. His determination to reach her drove him forward, pushing the door wide and knocking her backward. She stumbled against the desk, and everything on it shifted and tumbled. The computer monitor was knocked to the floor.
Ben grabbed at her, an ugly snarl on his face. “C’mere, bitch!”
“Get away!” Micah kicked at him, driving him backward. When she twisted to grab the phone, he knocked it out of her hand.
“I’m not going to prison over you,” he growled then yanked her up by the hair. “Soon as this is over, I’m going to disappear. Cops aren’t going to find me.”
Micah’s fingers clawed at his while her roots screamed for mercy. “Why aren’t you in jail?”
Ben laughed, blasting foul breath in her face. His teeth were yellowed and looked like they hadn’t been brushed in several days. “I bonded out.”
She struggled to get away from him. Ben had already tried to kill her twice and failed. She might not be as lucky a third time.
Light the Shadows (A Grimm Novel) Page 25
