“Well, apparently some things haven’t changed in a hundred years, eh, boss?”
I guess I wasn’t as discreet as I thought. Warmth floods my cheeks, and I briefly wonder what’s wrong with me. Do I have a fever? Is it getting warm in here?
Thad’s chuckle rumbles beneath me.
What the hell is so funny?
Clearing my throat, I turn my head toward Reggie and see the laughter in her eyes.
“That blush looks good on you, woman,” Thad whispers in my ear.
Oh my ghost! I’m blushing right now? I choose to ignore him, the warmth spreading down my neck and chest. I’m probably as red as a lobster. So not attractive, Fate. “So...um...you must know a lot about these guys and me.”
She hesitates like I’m trying to lure her into a trap.
“Yes. Of course I do.”
I carefully word my next question to avoid giving away the extent of just how damn clueless we are at the moment.
“What do you know about what happened a hundred years ago?”
“Not a whole lot. You went missing. The guys went into a panic trying to find you. Then they showed up at the Gateway, unconscious. I watched over them for about fifty years until one day they just vanished again, but it wasn’t like there were really any threats. The doors have been sealed shut. Until today, that is.”
“Wait a minute. You mean to tell me that you watched over our unconscious bodies for fifty years?” Cole grounds out.
“That’s some fucking creepy ass shit,” Thad mutters so low only I can hear him, causing me to giggle. That earns me a glare from Cole. I simply stick my tongue out at him, and he rolls his eyes in response, though I swear I see a slight tilt to his lips that wasn’t there before.
“Well, yeah. I mean, Queen B over there would’ve had my ghostly ass on a pike outside the compound if anything happened to you all. Plus, we’re friends, right? That’s what friends do when shit hits the fan,” she ends with a shrug.
A quick glance at Macklin tells me he’s barely containing himself. He’s practically bouncing in his seat. A grin twists my lips, and I give in to the urge to hide my face in Thad’s neck again before he can notice. Thad gives me a squeeze because he knows exactly what I’m doing. My sexy nerd just loves a good Q&A session. When I finally pull my face free again, I see Mack look at Cole who just gives him a quick nod.
“What’s the Gateway?”
Reggie gasps. “Wow! So it’s not just me. You’ve forgotten the whole shebang!”
A growl comes from the direction of the two angry-looking men standing guard. Cole and Knox are both strung tighter than a trapeze highwire, vigilantly blocking the path to me. Their protectiveness is absolutely adorable...and admittedly hot as hell.
Behave. There is a time and a place, and this is neither of those. Patience, body. Patience.
“Reggie, is it?”
At her nod, I continue. “How about you pretend we know nothing and tell us everything you can.”
“Ok. Well. You’re Queen of the Gateway Realm. Actually, hell...let’s back up a step. You’re not actually a queen. But I call you queen. Or Queen Bitch. Or Queen B. Or boss. We share a mutual love of sarcasm and busting these guys’ balls.”
“Ooh. You’re my new favorite person already. Please proceed.”
That earns eye rolls from Cole and Knox.
“So...these guys are your handpicked team. Cole was first. He’s your right hand man. No one gets to you unless they go through him.”
Cole’s heated eyes find mine, and I have to push back the whimper I feel building.
That explains a whole helluva lot, but don’t let those pretty blues distract you!
“Then Knox came along. He’s the Gatekeeper, weeding out the good souls from the bad before they get through your door.”
It’s Knox’s turn to watch me from under heavy-lidded eyes that promise all sorts of things that I get to uncover later.
“Macklin is the info hub or Keeper of Records. He’s your most trusted advisor.”
Mack’s serious expression catches me off guard until a small smile tilts his lips. I smile back. Cue blush.
Eek. He’s adorable. I could just eat him up.
“The twins were the last to be added. They’re the Key Masters.”
“What is this? A bad Ghostbusters reboot?” Levi scoffs.
“Actually, they used those terms in the movie because of you guys. Your legend precedes you. Fate would’ve thought it was hilarious. Damn, we would’ve had a good chuckle over that,” Reggie says, a wistful look on her face.
“Zuul was a helluva lot hotter than Knoxie boy over there,” Thad jokes.
“Fuck off, Thad,” Knox grumbles.
“Now, now, boys. Let the girl finish.”
“As I’m guessing you’ve ascertained, there’s more than just the professional side of your relationship with them.”
“Um…care to be a little more specific?”
“She means we fuck, woman.” Thad’s low growl in my ear has me shivering...and not from a chill.
“I mean, you do a helluva lot of that, sure, but it’s more complex too. You support each other, love each other, would die for each other. I’ve never seen a bond like yours in all my years.” Her voice drops to a mere whisper before she adds, “Can’t you feel it?”
I chance a glance at each of the guys and find five hungry looks staring back at me.
“So...we’re in a...relationship? Me and all of them?”
“Yup. Lucky bitch!” she says, but I can sense she isn’t jealous. Just amused.
“Well, thank God. That explains so much.”
“You mean like why you’re always so damn hot and bothered every time you’re near us?” Levi whispers from behind me. When he sat down next to his twin, I’m not sure, but his breath trailing across the back of my neck has my shivers turning into full blown goosebumps. I squirm slightly and feel a distinct wetness between my legs. At least now I know I’m not a total nympho. Only for these guys apparently. That I can live with.
“Better stay still, sweets. Otherwise, you might find yourself in between a rock and a hard place.” I look over my shoulder and see the naughty gleam in Levi’s eyes. Pretty sure I know exactly which rock and which hard place he’s referring to, and my lady bits pulse in full agreement.
“Seriously, guys? Can you three knock that shit off long enough for us to finish getting our answers?” Knox reprimands.
I glare at him briefly, my anger surging. I know he’s right, but everything is new and feels amazing.
Can’t he just let me have my moment?
“Sorry, not sorry, Knox. Can’t let a fairly decent, alive body go to waste. Never know when life might take it away from me again.”
“Oh...it’s so much more than decent. Don’t you agree, brother?” Levi croons as his fingers leave a trail from my shoulders, down my spine. Stopping right above the curves of my ass. Every nerve ending I have is on high alert, and that touch was over my clothes. Imagine if we were to remove them.
Speaking of, I take a second to glance down my body, noting for the first time that I’m in a pair of gray sweatpants that are definitely too big and a worn black t-shirt with their company logo. Also too big. I don’t have on any shoes, and I’m fairly sure I’m not wearing underwear. This is definitely an interesting development.
“For sure, brother. More like hot. Smokin’. Sexy as sin,” Thad purrs.
“For fuck’s sake. Macklin, get Fate and take her to the other sofa. Out of reach of those two imbeciles,” Cole orders.
I pout slightly, but not for long as I see Mack walking over to me, a blush staining his cheeks. A chance to snuggle with my sexy nerd? Yes, please!
Thad grumbles as he lifts me up and places me in Mack’s arms. Arms that are strong and lean and flexing underneath my body. He walks us over to the opposite sofa and sits down. It’s like a game of pass-the-Fate, and I can’t say I’m all that upset about it. As he gets comfortable, I snuggle into his s
olid chest, and his arms tighten around me.
“Whose clothes am I wearing?” I ask low enough the others don’t hear as they continue their discussion.
“They’re mine. Yours were in tatters, and we had to make sure you didn’t have any injuries.”
When he notices my arched brow, he turns a deep shade of red.
“B-but we kept you covered as much as possible once we cut your old stuff off...and it was only for a few moments. Long enough to make sure you didn’t need medical attention. Then I dressed you and gave you back to Knox.”
“Back to Knox?” I question quietly.
“Yeah. He’s the one that found you. He had a hard time letting you go long enough to clean you up.”
I ponder his words. Poor Knox. He had to be overwhelmed with all those emotions. I make a mental note to talk to him alone as soon as I have the chance.
“Ten years?” I hear Reggie ask.
“Look, you don’t need to worry about her. We have it under control. How about you explain the Gateway to us now?”
Knox’s statement brings us all back to the topic at hand but earns him a narrow-eyed glare from Reggie. He’s still standing, his arms crossed over his chest with Cole by his side.
“The Gateway Realm is the plane in which all spirits must pass before judgment. You all are the sole proprietors. For the last hundred years, while the place has been on lockdown in your absence, no spirits have been allowed to cross over through the realm. My guess is...there’s a huge backlog.”
Knox and Cole share a quick look I can’t quite decipher before turning back to our ghostly guest, and I make another mental note to ask them more about that look later. My mental to-do list is getting rather long at this point. I might need to get my Keeper of Records to help me compile a hard copy. Before anyone can ask another question, a loud rumble draws everyone’s eyes to me.
“What was that?” I ask quietly.
“That would be your stomach,” Macklin chuckles. “You must be hungry. Let’s get you some food. That should help build your energy back up.”
“Mmmm...food. Bring me all the foods. Oh, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Or wine! Wine would be good.”
“How about we start with something simple. Maybe a turkey sandwich and some water?”
My eyes find his, and a whole different type of appetite surges to life.
Leaning forward, I whisper in his ear, “Or maybe I could just get a taste of you.”
I expect the blush that stains his cheeks a light pink. What I don’t see coming is the look in his eyes that is far from innocent. It’s full of longing and fire and promise. My eyes widen as he leans in to me, our lips a mere inch apart when Knox and Cole shout in unison, “Food!”
Mack jerks back and turns as red as a tomato, adjusting his glasses.
I just turn my glare on the two smirking and infuriating yet sexy-as-all-hell men who just fucked up another first kiss.
Fucking cockblocks, the lot of them.
I slice the second turkey sandwich in half and add some cottage cheese to the plate per Macklin’s orders. Gotta feed our girl.
And now we know that’s exactly what she is. Our girl. I knew she felt like she belonged with us. Turns out, it’s more than that. We belong with her too.
Putting the finishing touches on lunch, I grab bottled waters out of the fridge.
As a self-proclaimed foodie, I can appreciate a gourmet kitchen, and this one is top notch even if I don’t always get the chance to put it to use. Other than throwing together lunches or grabbing some prepackaged garbage out of the pantry, it usually sits empty. Being on the road three hundred and sixty five days a year, give or take a day or two, lends itself to takeout and drive-thru burgers. I’d love to try out the new, state of the art appliances that were recently installed by the current owner. White cabinets with elaborate crown molding line two of the walls with an eat-in dining area nestled into a cove on the far side of the room with a circular table and six chairs. Yes, if I had the time, I could really whip up some delicious home-cooked meals for us in here.
“Huh. Do we have some place we call home?” I think aloud. Wondering if home-cooked meals maybe used to be a thing for us.
Great. More questions for Reggie.
Picking up both plates, I carry them back to the study. The curtains have been opened, letting more light through, though that does nothing to dispel the tension in the air. It’s so thick, I feel as though I could reach out and slice it with the knife I just used.
“Here you go, little ghost.”
“Thank you, Knox.”
The touch of her fingers against mine as the plate passes between us shoots an instant spark through my body. For the first time, I take her in and notice things about her that weren’t visible in her previous state. Her eyes are a strange shade of silvery gray I’ve never seen before. They stand out against the darkness of her hair, which is a deep, rich brown. Her full lips are an enticing shade of pink. But it’s her aura that’s the most surprising. It’s a shiny silver at the core, lightening as it expands out around her. I’ve never seen anything like it. Silver indicates a strong connection to the spirit realm itself, including the ability to communicate with spirits and traverse other realms. The very edge has a hazy rim of color that shifts faster than I can blink. Though at the moment, it has settled into a soft shade of yellow. She’s happy, and damn, that brings a big smile to my face.
Before I can make a complete fool of myself, I set her water bottle on the table in front of her and head over to the other sofa with my own plate.
“What? You didn’t make me one?” snarks Thad.
“Make your own, you lazy bastard.”
He simply laughs in response.
Crazy dipshit!
The twins and Mack are scattered on the sofas, lounging like they don’t have a care in the world, but I can sense differently. Everyone is coiled tight. Unanswered questions lingering out there - about who we are and what happened to us.
Cole paces in front of the bay window, not acknowledging anyone. His confusion and anger and sadness are like a battering ram against my subconscious. I push it aside for now, my own emotions already overwhelming me.
“Where did Reggie go?” I ask around a mouthful of deliciousness.
Levi takes a drink of whatever dark liquor he poured into the glass in his hand before responding, “She went to check on the Gateway. Something about wanting to make sure, now that the doors were unsealed, that the chamber wasn’t flooded with misfits. Whatever that means.”
A soft moan echoes through the room, and I glance at Fate. Her eyes are closed while she chews. She swallows and takes another bite, completely unaware that she’s captured the attention of every male in here. It shouldn’t be nearly as erotic as it sounds. She’s only eating for Christ’s sake. Her eyes pop open, and she catches us all staring, but that doesn’t stop her from taking another large bite.
“What?” she asks innocently, her mouth almost overflowing with food.
On anyone else, the look would be borderline disgusting, but with her, it’s somehow both adorable and sexy at the same time.
“You have no idea, do you, little ghost?”
Her cheeks pinken slightly, and the sight makes me wonder what other parts of her would look like covered in that particular shade.
“What? It’s good. Like...really good. You have no idea. My taste buds thank you.”
“I’d rather you thank me later,” I say with a wink. Her blush deepens.
“Spirits save me!” comes a voice from behind, damn near giving me a heart attack.
My plate almost tips off my lap before I manage to grab it and save my sandwich.
“What is it, Reggie?” Macklin asks, his sudden concern slamming into me and mixing with my already heightened sensitivities.
“Old Man Summers is back, making his demands again. I was kind of hoping the old coot would be one of the unlucky ones trapped in the ether. No such luck.”
The pout on
her face is enough to tell me how she feels about that. She perches her hazy form on the arm of the sofa, the bookshelves clearly visible through her body.
“So the spirits have returned to the Gateway?” Macklin muses.
“Not many, but word is starting to spread.”
I take my last couple of bites, wishing I’d grabbed some cottage cheese for myself, my mind already mentally inspecting the cabinets for my next snack while I chew and consider what Reggie just said.
“That’s a good thing, right?” I ask around the mouthful of food.
Before she has a chance to answer, the doorbell rings.
Not one of my brothers makes a move to answer it. Rolling my eyes, I place my plate on the side table and get up to answer the damn thing myself. Lazy bastards, all of them!
The bell rings again just before I open the door. Mandy is standing on the porch in a pair of high-waisted jeans and white button-down cropped shirt that’s tied just under her breasts and unbuttoned enough for me to be worried about some form of wardrobe malfunction. With sky high heels on, she’s damn near my height.
The aura surrounding her is a light green with an orange center. She’s selfish and materialistic with a self-indulgent streak a mile wide. Doesn’t take empath skills to figure any of that out. Her boobs are enough to give most of that away.
“Hiya there, Knox. I thought I’d drop by to make sure you all were settling in okay and ask if there was anything you need help with?”
She pushes her chest out and starts twirling her blonde hair around her finger. At one point in time, I may have considered what she is not so subtly hinting at. Now, it doesn’t even register on my attention-worthy meter.
“Thanks, Mandy, but I think we’ve got everything under control.”
“That’s great! Then I can just make you guys dinner. I’ve brought everything I need with me,” she says as she grabs the bags by her feet and pushes her way through the door.
“Knox, who was at the…” Cole begins, closing the study door slightly behind him, but he’s cut off by our new guest.
“Cole. Hey! I was just telling Knox that I wanted to stop by to see if there is anything I could help y’all with, but he says you’re all set. I did bring stuff to make dinner though. Hungry?” she asks, her eyes roaming over us both in blatant invitation.
A Fate Unknown: A PNR, Why Choose Novel (The Ghost Girl Series Book 1) Page 14
