Grave Attraction

by Lori Sjoberg

  “If it makes you feel better, I’m not usually that forward with women. But damn, Marlena, there’s something about you that makes me act like a caveman.” Reaching across the table, he laid his hand over hers, and the contact sent sparks through his body. “I don’t mind taking things as slow as you need, but I can’t pretend last night didn’t happen.”

  Conflicted emotions played over her face. Relief. Confusion. And if he wasn’t mistaken, disappointment. She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then closed it when the waitress approached with their food.

  Adam dug in, and the spicy taste of marinara sauce flooded his taste buds. She was right; Costanzo’s made a great meatball sub. He wolfed his down in no time at all and then ordered cannolis for dessert.

  “So where are you originally from?” he asked after wiping his mouth with a napkin. He’d been trying to pin down her accent for days, and it was starting to drive him buggy.

  She held up one finger while she chewed the last bite of her sub. “I grew up in a region that’s now part of Germany, but I lived in England, Ireland, and Scotland for a while before coming to the United States. How about you?”

  “Chicago, born and bred.”

  “Ah, that explains your accent.”

  He couldn’t help but laugh. “My accent?”

  She held a straight face for a moment or two before finally cracking a smile. “It’s not really noticeable, but every so often it slips out.”

  When they finished, the waitress returned with the check, and Adam snatched it off the table before Marlena could grab it.

  “You said I was buying,” he said as he retrieved his wallet. Tony was an ass, but his waitress did a great job, so he left enough money to include a generous tip. “You can pick up the tab the next time.”

  She arched a brow. “You’re assuming there’s going to be a next time.”

  Like there was any question about that. As far as he was concerned, the only unknown was when he was going to get her naked. Personally, he preferred as soon as possible, but for her, he was willing to wait. He held the door open for her on the way out and followed her to the car.

  “I’m serious,” he said as he fastened his seat belt. “When can I see you again? Tonight?”

  She shook her head as she hooked a left off Pembroke and drove back toward the gym. “There’s a coven meeting tonight.”

  And tomorrow wouldn’t work for him. He was booked solid in the morning, and he’d agreed to help Martin on the coast that afternoon. Then he had to get home in time to watch Samuel for the evening.

  “Wednesday.” If he remembered correctly, he had a job that evening, but it shouldn’t be too much of a problem switching assignments with another reaper.

  After shifting into fourth, she slanted a glance in his direction. “That might work. What did you have in mind?”

  Dinner, drinks, and doggy style, but he wasn’t about to tell her that. “Do you like Polish food? I know this great place on Aloma that makes the best pierogi.”

  The corners of her mouth tilted up in a soft smile. “I don’t know. I’ve had a lot of pierogi over the years. You sure it’s the best?”

  “Well, almost the best. My mom still holds the title.” Too bad he never got the recipe; he missed eating them on Christmas Eve. “So how about it? Pick you up at six?”

  Marlena pressed her lips together, looking like she was trying to decide if she should agree to the date. She pulled into the parking lot for the gym and stopped in front of his truck. Twisting in her seat to face him, she said, “Just dinner?”

  God, he hoped not. He’d have the biggest case of blue balls on the planet. “If that’s what you want.”

  The lust in her eyes reflected his own. No, she didn’t want it to be just dinner either. Bolstered by the knowledge, he curled one hand around the back of her neck and gently pulled her close. He kissed her, slowly, deliberately, savoring each stroke of her tongue and soft purr of pleasure. One of her hands reached up and touched the side of his face, and it was all he could do to stop himself from dragging her over the gearshift.

  The engine died with a sudden jerk when her foot slipped off the clutch. Their heads banged together, and Adam grunted when she accidentally bit his lip.

  “Sorry,” she said as she shifted back onto her seat. Her face was flushed, her eyes were a little glassy, and her breathing was faster than normal.

  “No worries. Accidents happen.” He rubbed his tongue along the inside of his lower lip and tasted the coppery tang of blood. Even now, his body still hummed with the need for her. If he didn’t leave soon, he’d probably end up doing something incredibly stupid. With his eyes on hers, he reached back for the door handle. “See you Wednesday at six.”

  The members of Cassie’s coven started arriving at the house around seven, each bringing a covered dish and a week’s worth of news.

  In all, there were nineteen women in the group from all ages and walks of life. The oldest, Elsie, just turned ninety-two, while the youngest was Ramona at nineteen. Each had her own unique strengths and weaknesses, and even though petty arguments arose from time to time, when push came to shove, the coven always managed to come together.

  Tonight, only twelve were able to attend the meeting. The others had obligations at work or at home. Maria was working the restaurant until closing, but her twin sister, Antonella, was there, putting the final touches on her pasta salad. The rest were spread out between the kitchen and living room, catching up and trading gossip.

  “What’s with all the wards? I almost didn’t make it past the front door,” Gina said as she sauntered into the kitchen and set down an oversized bowl of bean dip. A high school biology teacher by day, the tall brunette had been in the coven for ten years and was nearly as powerful as Cassie. Rumors were she wanted to take over when Cassie stepped aside, but she’d yet to make a formal announcement.

  “Can’t be too safe,” Cassie replied as she pulled a tray of jalapeño poppers from the oven.

  Jordan, a pretty young witch who’d just graduated from UCF, set a container filled with her famous chocolate caramel brownies on the kitchen table. For three years, she’d brought the dessert to every coven meeting, and she still refused to share her secret recipe. “Yeah, especially after what happened to Marlena.”

  Gina arched one perfectly sculpted brow. “What happened to Marlena?”

  “You didn’t hear?” Elsie’s shrill voice carried across the pass-through between the kitchen and living room. The old woman claimed to be hard of hearing, but damn if her ears didn’t prick up at the sound of juicy gossip.

  Marlena mentally cringed even though she agreed with Cassie that the coven needed to know. If they didn’t spread the news, and one of them fell victim to the killer, she’d never forgive herself. But still, she wasn’t looking forward to sharing the story, and she didn’t want to relive it more than once. “Really, it’s not a big deal. We can tell them all at the end of the meeting.”

  “What do you mean, it’s not a big deal? You almost died.” When Cassie’s voice rose, everybody fell silent. “If it wasn’t for that reaper, who knows what would have happened to you.”

  “A reaper saved you?” Ramona asked, inching closer. The teen had been in the coven for a little less than two years, and she already showed remarkable promise. Her fire and enthusiasm were reminiscent of the way Cassie had acted at that age. “Doesn’t saving lives go against their job description?”

  “Well, it’s not—”

  “Which reaper?” Gina interrupted. “The Russian or the redhead?”

  “Or was it the tall blond?” another witch asked. “What’s his name? I always forget.”

  “No, it’s a new one. His name is Adam.” Cassie took the jalapeño poppers off the baking tray and began arranging them on a platter. “Nice young man, and he’s got the cutest butt I’ve ever seen.”

  “Cassie!”

  “What? I’m just saying.” The old witch grinned. “Did I mention he’s sweet on Marle
na?”

  That got the other witches’ attention. A few of them had tried to set her up over the years—Gina insisted Marlena would be perfect for her younger brother—but so far she’d resisted their attempts. All eyes focused on Marlena, and if it weren’t for Cassie’s insistent gaze, she would have bolted out of the room.

  “I’ve heard stories about reapers,” Antonella said. “What’s it like to be with one of them?”

  She shrugged, feeling very uncomfortable. “I wouldn’t know.”

  Cassie snorted. “For now. Check back with her in a day or two.”

  Marlena’s face flamed with heat. “Cassie!”

  “Oh, don’t tell me you’re not thinking about it.” The grin on the old witch’s face made her look like an overexcited teenager. “Hell, if I were forty years younger, I’d jump at the chance to give him a workout.”

  It didn’t matter that her daughter was well into her seventies; the thought of her little girl having sex still made her shudder. Not to mention her daughter was making lewd suggestions about the man who’d gotten to third base with Marlena the night before. Talk about awkward.

  “Can we please talk about something else?”

  “Sure. Why don’t we bring all this into the other room and you can tell the coven everything that happened?”

  Anything, so long as it steered the topic away from her nonexistent sex life. Marlena picked up the plate of jalapeño poppers and fled the kitchen. After everyone loaded up with food and drinks, the coven gathered in the main living area.

  For the next hour, Marlena went over her ordeal, telling the witches about how she was abducted, the shuttered house, and the horrors that went on inside. She also told them about the young man who’d died, the cages, and the restraining collar that prevented her from using her ability to shift.

  “They never caught the guy?” Antonella asked when she finished.

  Marlena shook her head. “For all we know, he could be long gone by now, or he could be waiting for his next opportunity.” She didn’t want to scare them out of their minds, but on the other hand she wanted them to stay safe. “Please, ladies, be careful out there, and spread the word to anyone who isn’t here tonight. This guy is specifically targeting non-humans, which makes you all potential targets. He abducted me less than a quarter mile from my apartment while I was out on my morning run. If you have a routine, change it. Try not to go out unless you’re in pairs or groups. And be aware of your surroundings. I’ll send you the news link with the guy’s picture so you have an idea of who to look for. But keep in mind, he might have altered his appearance.”

  “And don’t forget to fortify the wards around your homes,” Cassie added. “It doesn’t hurt to be safe. If you want any help, let me know.”

  Marlena fielded a few more questions before Cassie called the general meeting to order and moved on to coven business. She used the opportunity to fade into the background and check her messages. There was only one, a text from Adam, and it made her grin like a fool.

  Can’t wait until Wednesday.

  She started typing Good things come to those who wait, but erased the message before sending it. What was she thinking, flirting with him like that? The last thing she needed was to promise things she wasn’t certain she was ready to follow through with. Sure, every nerve in her body screamed for her mate, but he still didn’t know about his past. She had no idea how, when, or even if she should tell him, or how he’d react to the news. The thought managed to cool her libido, and she hastily stuffed her phone back into the rear pocket of her jeans.

  Slipping outside, she waited while her eyes adjusted to the darkness and then walked the perimeter of the property.

  As much as she loved her daughter, she also valued her privacy. In another day or two, she’d return to her own apartment, and she wanted to ensure Cassie was protected. In addition to the witch’s wards, Marlena had installed a top-notch security system and programmed the alarm to send an alert to her phone. If anyone managed to break through Cassie’s safeguards, Marlena would know in an instant.

  Chapter 11

  Residual magic lingered in the air when Marlena descended the stairs the next morning. Cassie’s coven meeting had lasted until well after midnight, with the stragglers finally leaving a little after one. Quietly, Marlena padded into the kitchen, hoping to grab a bite to eat and leave the house before anyone else woke up.

  But instead, she found Cassie sitting at the breakfast nook, enjoying a cup of coffee laced with enough milk to turn it almost white. She smiled, remembering Cassie’s puckered-up face when she’d tried black coffee as a teenager.

  “Is it technically still coffee when you pour that much milk into it?” Marlena asked as she crossed to the refrigerator and pulled out a can of Mountain Dew.

  Cassie shrugged. “Probably not, but I like it this way.” She put the mug to her mouth and sipped. “If I’d known you were going to be up so early, I would have told Detective Lehman to wait.”

  “Lehman was here?” That got her attention. She picked a banana out of the fruit bowl and leaned against the counter. “What did he want? Did he catch them?”

  Her hopes rose but fell just as quickly when Cassie shook her head.

  “He said he wanted to fill you in on the investigation. At least that was the excuse he used for coming all the way out here.” A wry smile curved the witch’s mouth when she winked. “I think he likes you.”

  Marlena rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. He’s just doing his job.”

  “Say what you want, but I can tell when a man is interested.” She studied Marlena over the rim of her mug, her eyes alight with mischief and humor. “If things don’t work out with your reaper, you should take Detective Dreamboat for a test drive.”

  Marlena paused, the banana halfway to her mouth. “Detective Dreamboat? Seriously?”

  “He’s a good-looking man. Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed.”

  Yeah, she’d noticed. How couldn’t she? Ruggedly handsome and powerfully built, Ryan Lehman was the kind of man few women could ignore. But even though she found the detective attractive, she didn’t feel the same kind of spark for him that she experienced whenever Adam was around. The one where every nerve in her body lit up like a firecracker on New Year’s Eve. Even now, her pulse pounded at the memory of his hands on her, his mouth on her, making her crazy and driving her to the brink of release.

  Marlena shook her head, forcing all thoughts of Adam from her mind. She finished eating the banana and tossed the peel in the trash. “So what are you working on today?”

  Cassie studied her over the space of a few heartbeats, as if debating whether to let her change the subject. At last, she gestured toward the stove where a large pot simmered.

  “Trina’s birthday is coming up soon, and you know how much she loves my cinnamon body rub.”

  That explained the smell. She’d noticed it as soon as she walked down the stairs, spicy cinnamon with a hint of honey and coconut oil. Judging by the size of the pot, she was making enough for three or four batches. Her rubs and oils were popular with the coven, and this time of year the house was always pungent with the delicious aroma of batches brewing.

  Soon, Marlena would be back to living at her own apartment, and as much as she enjoyed the privacy it afforded, she’d miss times like these with her daughter. Her little orphan thief had grown to be a powerful witch, and the knowledge filled Marlena with pride. For once, someone she loved hadn’t met with an unfortunate death. Maybe there was hope for her after all.

  Mug in hand, Cassie strolled to the stove and gave the mixture a stir. “By the way, I think I found an answer for your predicament,” she said as she turned off the heat and removed the pot from the burner.

  “Oh? And which predicament is that?”

  “Your mate’s loss of memory.” A knowing smile stretched across the witch’s face as she picked up a small vial from the counter by the coffeemaker. Adam’s name was written along the side in neat block lettering. “I
did some research last night after the meeting and found the recipe for a potion to restore what’s lost.”

  Marlena accepted the vial Cassie offered. She held it up to the light, the liquid appearing thick and milky white. The thought of getting Christopher back gave her hope for the first time in centuries. But then she thought of Adam, of the fire in his eyes, and her enthusiasm dimmed.

  “What will it do to him?” she asked. “Will it erase who he is now, or just restore the memories from his past life?”

  “Honestly, I’m not sure. The potion wasn’t designed with reincarnation in mind.” Cassie chewed her bottom lip, something she did whenever she was mulling something over. “I suppose it depends on which part of him is stronger.”

  Marlena’s heart twisted in her chest. Yes, she wanted Christopher back, but she was also beginning to care for Adam. Her growing affection toward the reaper made her feel like a traitor, but she couldn’t deny the way he made her feel. If the potion worked, how would he handle the memories of being tortured and then burned at the stake? It might be better if he never knew. “How much should I give him?”

  “All of it. The potion should have a bitter taste, so you might want to mix it with something to mask the flavor. According to the recipe, it takes about ten minutes to reach the full effect, so make sure he’s not going anywhere for a while.”

  For Adam, the day went by at a crawl.

  He was busy enough—two reaps in the morning, and he’d acted as Martin’s wingman for a job on the coast that afternoon—but all he could think about was the next time he’d get to see Marlena.

  Everything about her revved his engines and made the blood in his body head south. He wanted to take her. Claim her. Mark her in a way that would let every man know she belonged to him alone. All his life, he’d never been the possessive type, and yet every time he thought about the sexy little shifter, he turned into a knuckle-dragging Neanderthal.