When they’re shed, my fingertips circle the band at his boxers, pulling at them and sliding them down his legs. A deep growl erupts from his chest when we’re both freed of our confines. He lowers himself down, pressing his pulsating body against mine. The movement makes my breath hitch and my entire body tingle in anticipation. Gently, he rolls his hips, sending sparks of pleasure through every nerve center from head to toe.
My hands fly to the back of his neck, pulling his beautiful face to mine. His tongue skates against my lips, parting them. In response, I open my legs wide and tip back. With a shudder, he takes my offering.
My body pulsates, moving in rhythm with his as we intertwine. His hands, mouth, hips all move in sync, making it impossible to maintain any kind of composure. All I can think about is how much I want him, need him, miss him...
For a while, I lose myself completely. Any sense of time or space suspends itself as I give over fully to Wade. Our breath, bodies, and even heartbeats each come into alignment, matching the other’s.
Release washes over me, followed immediately by Wade. For the longest time, we don’t move. We just stay there, entangled with each other, allowing the moment of bliss to ride. When our breathing returns to normal, Wade drops to the bed, pulling me close.
Resting my head on his bare chest, I close my eyes in contentment. His scent tickles my nose and I can’t help but smile. Of all the times and places…of all the circumstances, this may not have been ideal timing. But it was still perfect, nonetheless.
With each rise and fall of his chest, I’m lulled into a sense of peace and tranquility I didn’t have even hours before. Yet…slowly, the anxiety snakes its way back in.
Visions of my father trapped in the rubble of the house invade my mind. I see him hurt and bloodied. Or crying out for help… Then, they morph into Wade being taken from me—forced into a life as an Angel of Death because his earthly life came to an early, abrupt end. All because he was close to me. Because I let him back in.
My heartbeat begins to race again, but this time, for all the wrong reasons.
Chapter 13
Paranormal Activity
My eyes fly open to the sound of Wade’s ringtone. Somewhere between my anxiety and bliss, I must have drifted off to sleep.
Mid-morning light peeks through the horizontal slats from the window blinds, casting strange shadows across Wade’s torso as he sits up in bed.
“Hello?” he says gruffly, shifting his gaze to me and smiling. His eyes take on a distant quality as he concentrates on the conversation from the other end. As he listens, he reaches out, stroking the side of my arm. After a few moments, he nods and says, “Okay, thank you. I appreciate it, Sheriff.”
Wade ends the call, setting his phone on the nightstand and sliding himself under the covers beside me.
“What did Sheriff Gordon have to say?” I ask, unable to take my eyes off him.
Reaching out, Wade gently pushes a strand of my hair behind my ear. “No one came to the door last night when they checked in on your dad. But a unit went out again this morning.”
My heart constricts and I say, “And?”
“Good news. James was there this morning and let the officers in. From the sounds of things, your dad is fine and there’s already a crew in there working on cleanup,” Wade says, smiling. “They said it just looked like ordinary remodeling work from what they could tell. So maybe the supernatural stuff wasn’t as bad as it seemed when we were in the middle of it.”
“Maybe?” I say, shuddering back the memories from last night’s haunting.
Wade’s hand trails down my shoulder, and rests on my forearm.
I exhale slowly, allowing the sense of relief to cleanse away some of my worry. “Did they talk to my dad, then?”
Wade shakes his head. “No, they only spoke with James.”
My eyebrows tug in as some of the panic returns. “How do they know my dad’s okay?”
“Evidently, James was given the order to call in the construction team by your dad,” Wade says. “We can go to the manor and ask him some questions if you want.”
I nod. “That might be a good idea.”
Raising my right hand, I trail my fingertips across Wade’s broad chest. The past twenty-four hours have been a bizarre jumble of emotions. None of which are easily discernible.
“What are you thinking about?” Wade asks, his piercing eyes seeing right through me.
“Nothing…” my voice trails off, but my words don’t really reflect my truth. I shake my head and sigh. “No, that’s not true. It’s just… Does it seem odd to you how often my dad has been gone? He leaves James in charge a lot,” I say, running my fingertips through the curls of hair on Wade’s chest.
His forehead creases. “A little. But I figure…” His expression tightens as he chooses his words. Then, with a soft smile, he continues, “I mean, and please don’t take this the wrong way, but…maybe he’s found someone? A woman he really likes and he’s scared to tell you about her. I mean, you grew up with your Mom, so maybe he thinks you’ll have a problem with it. Could that be possible?”
My eyebrows flicker upward as I consider this new possibility. I hadn’t even thought about my dad as someone who would want to date, let alone someone who’s already found a new girlfriend. Mom never really dated when I was a kid and if she did, she hid it from me pretty well. But perhaps that explains my dad’s bizarre reaction to meeting Wade. Maybe he wants to tell me the truth and meeting Wade triggers his own guilt or worry?
“Should I confront him about it then? You know, let him know that he can tell me…” I say, biting my lower lip.
“I don’t know. Honestly, based on what you’ve told me, he seems pretty set in his ways. I suppose it’s bound to happen when you mostly live alone like that. It’s probably best to get him to open up a little slower. Maybe drop some hints, but let him come to you when he’s ready,” Wade offers.
Taking a deep breath, I nod. There’s a lot of sense to that. In all fairness, I don’t know my dad all that well. We’ve never had much of an opportunity to grow very close, even in the past year.
Rolling over, I slide my legs over the edge of the bed, letting the blanket drop to my waist. Wade pushes forward, sitting up right behind me. He shifts my hair to the side, gently kissing the place where my neck meets my shoulder.
A shiver courses through my body and I lean into him, sighing contently. Things are crazy and messed up. And absolutely none of the serious problems with our relationship have changed between us. He’s still an angel in waiting and I’m still me… But I’m just not strong enough to keep fighting this. Sometimes the heart wants what it wants. That’s gonna need to be enough for now.
Somehow, I need to find a way to keep him safe—and for us to stay together.
Bending down, I grab my clothing from the floor. I tug on my panties and slide my bra back on. Twisting around, I kneel on the edge of the bed, and reach out for Wade. I place my right hand on his jawline as I bend in and plant a soft kiss on his lips.
He sighs into me, his breath warm and sweet against my lips. As I pull back, a dreamy smile paints his face in a way I haven’t seen in so long. Even in all of this mess, it lifts my spirits.
“Well, Mr. Hoffman, we should get dressed and do some digging. I don’t know about you, but I need for this haunting stuff to end and I could use your help. Are you up for it?” I ask, tugging on my jeans and zipping them back up.
“With you, I am up for just about anything,” Wade says, smirking.
Color creeps into my cheeks and I shake my head, chuckling under my breath. “Not what I was getting at, but that, too…”
Wade beams at me as I pull my shirt on. When he’s watched me get completely dressed, he begrudgingly gets out of bed to do the same. I sit on the edge of the bed, watching the way his muscles move as he slides back into his clothing, one piece at a time.
I wish I could see into the future. I wish I could know without a shadow of a doubt whether
or not being together is the right move or the wrong one. Suddenly, a thought pops into my head. I chew on my lower lip, surprised it hadn’t come to me before. I might not be psychic, but I know a couple of people who are. Some, in fact, who are extremely powerful.
It might be wise to reach out to Dominic and Diana to see if they can pick up on anything. It would at least give me some peace of mind…or help me put an end to things indefinitely.
“Do you want a bite to eat before we go into full-on research mode?” Wade asks, walking around the bed and wrapping his arms around me.
I lean into him and close my eyes. “That would be lovely. I’m starving, actually.”
“As you wish,” Wade says, with a hint of a grin in his tone. He takes my hand, leading me over to his tiny kitchen area. “Have a seat, my lady. I will whip you up something to eat. With plenty of coffee, of course.”
I sit on the bar stool and lean against the breakfast bar. Wade sets to work, grabbing pans and shoving a tiny coffeemaker carafe under the faucet to fill up.
“Bacon and eggs okay? It’s kinda all I have at the moment,” Wade says, sheepishly.
“That would be great. Do you want me to help?” I say, grinning back. I’m really more of a Pop-Tarts and Red Bull kinda gal, but I’d never turn down an actual cooked breakfast, either. I learned that pretty quick with Mom.
“Of course not. Sit, relax for a moment. I can handle this,” he says, shooing me with his hands and darting back and forth in the tiny kitchen space. He gets the coffeemaker going, grabs eggs and bacon, and soon the room smells more like a diner than a guy’s apartment. Which, I have to admit, is a not-so-subtle change for the better.
“So, I was thinking this morning…” Wade says, handing me a cup of coffee. “Well, at least before the phone call, that is.”
I take the mug, immediately pulling it to my nose. It smells like heaven. “Thank you,” I whisper.
“I was thinking, with all of the haunting stuff going on at the manor, maybe you should…” he straightens his shoulders and puffs up his chest a bit. “I’d like for you to stay here with me,” he says, his tone light as he taps the edge of the counter with his fingertips.
It’s really a question hidden in a request.
I hold my breath, surprised by the sentiment.
“I mean, if you don’t want to…” he says, his eyebrows tugging in.
“No, I’m just a little surprised,” I counter, shaking my head. “But that makes a lot of sense, actually.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” He grins, turning back to the bacon and flipping it over.
“Wade, do you think there’s a way to help Abigail cross over? She’s been dead for so long, I’m worried that maybe…” My eyes fall to the mug of coffee. “Maybe her time has come and gone. Is that why she’s still stuck here? Is that why she’s so angry?”
Wade slides the eggs and bacon onto plates and walks around the counter with one in each hand. Handing me one and taking the seat beside me, he shakes his head. “I don’t have a good answer for you on that one. I wish I did. It’s something I can definitely bring up with my dad.”
I smile weakly. His dad and I aren’t on the best of terms and I doubt he’ll offer much in the way of help.
“But are you absolutely certain it’s Abigail causing all of these problems?” Wade asks, picking up his fork and staring at it.
“At this point, I don’t know much of anything. But I remember when all of this first started, she came at me like I was meant to help her somehow.”
He takes a bite of his eggs but shakes his head. “I just keep going back around to…if she’s been in the manor so long, why would she start getting violent about things now? You’ve worked together as a team. Why couldn’t she just ask you again for what she really wants? Something about it doesn’t make any sense.”
“So, if it’s not Abigail, what do you think is going on?” I ask, picking up my slice of bacon and biting off the end.
“We already know how powerful you are. Your powers have developed quickly, and I just wonder… What if other energies are being drawn to you?”
“What, like a magnet?” I ask, considering.
“Maybe?” he shrugs. “I’m thinking it might not be a bad idea to start with a cleansing of the home first. Bust out the sage and lemongrass. Put up some new wards, cast a few spells that keep out spirits that specifically don’t belong there. Then you’ll know for sure what you’re dealing with. If it keeps happening afterward, then you know it’s gotta be Abigail. Right?”
“That’s a very smart idea, Mr. Hoffman,” I say, tipping my head. “Then, if it stops, problem solved. If it doesn’t…we know I have to move on to more drastic measures. Let’s stop and get the supplies we need before we head to the manor.”
Wade nods, taking another bite of his breakfast.
These new thoughts coil around my mind, releasing a torrent of unwanted anxiety. There’s still so little I know about being a necromancer and postmortem medium. I’ve barely scratched the surface with my studies at the academy and I highly doubt any of them are prepared for someone like me, anyway.
What if this horrible haunting activity is because I haven’t learned to control my abilities? Am I becoming some sort of lightning rod for unwanted paranormal activity?
Chapter 14
Banishment & Protection
After a quick stop to pick up supplies for the banishing and warding spells, we find ourselves taking the final turn down my long driveway. As the multicolored trees blur by, a swell of dread threatens to consume me.
What if this doesn’t work? What if it only pisses off the angry spirit—Abigail or otherwise—that’s haunting the manor?
Shuddering away the uneasiness, my gaze extends beyond the cab of the Impala and I focus on the beauty of the scenery. Fall has always been my favorite time of year, but the ghostly malevolence and thinning of the veil associated with the season are hitting a little too close to home. Literally.
Wade pulls the car around to the front entry. A few construction vehicles litter the driveway, and men walk in and out of the building, just as the sheriff had said. I hop out and Wade grabs the supplies from the back seat.
“Think they’ll care if it smells like sage?” Wade asks, a twinkle in his eyes.
“After the mess in there, I doubt anything could faze them,” I say, raising a knowing eyebrow.
“Fair point.”
Wade closes the door to the back seat and walks around the car. Together, we head up the stone steps to the gaping entryway. The door to the manor is wide open as workers come in and out like bees. Not a single one of them seems like they have time to spare a glance in our direction.
“Talk about dedicated,” I mutter, shooting Wade a sideways glance.
He nods, reaching for my hand. As we enter the building, I stand back, viewing the space in utter astonishment. With the exception of portions of the staircase still being replaced, the majority of the damage has been completely erased by their hard work.
“Holy shit, that’s incredible,” I say, blinking back my surprise.
Wade nods, his mouth agape. “I’ll say. It’s almost as if nothing ever went down. Another few hours and you’d never even know.”
“Right?” I whisper, meandering through the workers as I make my way to the kitchen.
Just as expected, James is hard at work, a mop in hand. He stops, brushing the sweat on his forehead aside with the back of his hand. “Ah, Ms. Blackwood. So good to see you.”
“Autumn,” I say out of habit. It’s been a year now and he still hasn’t taken to my first name. It’s doubtful at this point he ever will.
James tips his head and turns to Wade. “Mr. Hoffman, I presume?”
Wade sets the bag down on the counter and walks over, extending a hand. “I am. Nice to meet you, James. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“The pleasure is mine,” James says, shaking Wade’s hand. Then, he turns to me with a knowing gaze. “So, the manor was
in quite the disarray this morning.”
“Yeah, understatement,” I say, nodding. “Have you seen my dad? Did he tell you what happened?”
“I did see your father this morning. I believe he’s somewhere on the grounds,” James says, his features tight as he swaps his gaze between me and Wade. There’s an uneasy air about him, like there’s more he wants to say, but he’s unsure if he can in front of Wade.
“Wade, do you think you could bring our stuff to the bedroom? I’ll meet you there in just a second,” I say, turning to Wade. Thankfully, he takes the hint gracefully.
“Sure thing,” Wade says, grabbing the bag and walking to the doorway. He turns back before he exits and says, “It really was nice to meet you.”
When he’s left the room, I turn back to James, unsure how exactly to start the conversation I want to have with him.
“Ms. Blackwood,” James begins, setting the mop aside and propping it against the wall. “I appreciate your ability to sense my nuance. It’s a gift your father also shares.”
“No problem. I guess I have a few things I’d like to speak with you about as well,” I say, chewing on my lower lip. “You can go first. What’s on your mind?”
“Well, as I’m sure you’re aware, this…redecorating, so to speak, was pretty extensive. In all of my years here, I’ve never witnessed anything quite like it,” he says, as if treading softly.
My pulse begins to race and it’s all I can do not to gape at him. “So, things like this have happened before, though?”
“Oh, yes. This is a very haunted location. There’s history here. However, there have been extensive wards put in place to keep the manor in a state of relative peace. I’m concerned…” his voice drops off as he flits his gaze to the window. “I’m concerned there may be a failing in those wards as of late.”
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