Psychic Storm: Ten Dangerously Sexy Tales of Psychic Witches, Vampires, Mediums, Empaths and Seers

by Deanna Chase

  “I told him you’d be fine when you woke up.” She held out a brush and mirror for me. “I was the same way. As if I’d only been asleep for an extended amount of time.”

  I went to work, trying to tame my hair. Someone had braided it in one long plait to the side. I undid it, gently combed it out, and fixed it up into a relaxed bun.

  “You look pretty like that,” Pyper said.

  “Ugh, if I wasn’t so pasty white.”

  She handed me a compact and some lip gloss. “This will help.”

  A few minutes later I surveyed myself in the mirror. Better. At least I didn’t look like death. “Thank you.” I handed everything back to Pyper and patted the bed for her to sit down and wait with me.

  “So, have you been sleeping okay this week?” I asked.

  “Not really.” She caught my panicked expression and continued. “Just because I was worried about you, not because I was being tortured. That’s over. But I did see someone else in my dreams. A fair-haired man and a golden retriever. Anyone you know?”

  “Did they have white light shining around them?”

  “Yes.” She smiled.

  “Crap. Why are they bugging you?”

  “They aren’t. They appeared the first time I slept after I woke from the coma. The man waved and walked off. I think he said goodbye.”

  “Weird.”

  “A little, but it doesn’t bother me. They seemed harmless.”

  “To you, maybe,” I mumbled. Then, to change the subject, I asked, “Do you know why Roy was after you?”

  “Yeah. He thought it was my fault he died.” She frowned.

  “What? Why?”

  “You know he got all that money from selling Kane the club.”

  I nodded.

  “Well, he took it all to the casinos and started hanging with the wrong crowd. Seems he gambled most of it away and ended up crashing at some dope dealer’s house. There was an altercation, and he got caught in the crossfire. That’s how he died.”

  “And this is your fault why?” I didn’t see the connection.

  “Because we forced him to sell out. If we hadn’t, he’d still be here, running the club.”

  “That’s ridiculous.”

  “I know. But he’d hated me for a long time now. Ever since I rejected him.”

  “Ick.” A shudder ran through my body at the thought of Roy asking her out.

  “Yeah.” Her shudder mimicked mine, and we both laughed.

  “What’s so funny?” Kane stood just inside the door.

  My eyes found his. My heart swelled at the emotion I saw there.

  Pyper cleared her throat. “Nothing. It’s about time you got here. What took you so long?”

  “It only took me ten minutes.” He shook his head and rounded on her. “What the hell do you think you were doing, showing up in my dream?”

  Pyper stiffened. “Stop it. You didn’t see her.” She nodded to me. “Her body started flinching, and I felt what she was feeling.”

  “You did?” I asked, more than a little shocked.

  Pyper turned to me. “Yes. I felt him mentally attacking you. I couldn’t let it happen. So I curled up next to you and willed myself to Kane’s dream. It wasn’t hard. I’d been there before.”

  I clutched her hand and mulled over what she said. “Can you sense anything about me now?”

  She chuckled. “Just that you want some time with Kane.” She squeezed my hand and let go. “And no, it isn’t a psychic thing. It’s just obvious. I’ll see you two later.”

  She disappeared and Kane sat next to me. “Are you all right?”

  I nodded and pulled him closer.

  He planted a kiss on my forehead and hugged me tight. “I thought I might have lost you.”

  I shook my head, too afraid to speak.

  He shifted and looked into my eyes. I didn’t need to explore his energy to feel the love flowing from him.

  “Just hold me a while,” I choked out.

  “I’ll hold you forever.” He lay down next to me and wrapped me in his arms. I snuggled in and rested my head on his shoulder. After a moment he undid my bun and spent a long time running his fingers though my hair.

  Later that day, the doctor had just left when Charlie and Holly came to visit. They brought flowers and sat with me for a while. I asked about the café and the club, and they filled me in on the craziness of being short-handed. Charlie talked about a new girl she had her eye on, and Holly told me she signed up for my glass beadmaking class.

  “You did?” I asked, surprised.

  “Yes. I just knew they’d find a way to bring you back. I figured planning a future with you in it could only help. You know, positive cosmic energy and all that.” She tilted her head, hiding her face with a sheet of long, blond hair.

  “Yes, that does help. Thank you.” I tapped her arm. “But did you really want to learn?”

  She looked up with a huge grin. “Absolutely. I’ve wanted to since I met you. It just looks so cool.”

  We chatted for a few minutes more until Kat showed up.

  “We’ve got to go. See you soon,” Charlie said and grabbed Holly’s arm to escort her out.

  “Bye.” Holly waved.

  I watched them go and turned to Kat. “What took you so long?”

  She sat down next to me. “I had to call Gwen back. She’s been frantic ever since she felt you disappear.”

  “Oh my God, Gwen!” I reached over and picked up the phone. After leaving a short message, I turned back to Kat. “What did she say? Is she all right?” Damn it. That must have been hell for her.

  “She’s fine. She felt you come back to the land of the living. But I think she’s planning a visit soon, so prepare yourself.”

  My heart swelled. “I’d love to see her. But—” I stared at the door as if she would walk in any minute, “—crap, I won’t have any secrets after she gets here.”

  Kat laughed. “True. That woman can’t keep anything behind those bright red lips of hers.”

  I groaned, but was still smiling. “Have you seen Bea? I want to thank her.”

  Kat’s smile faded. “Yeah. I just came from her house. She nearly collapsed with exhaustion after holding Roy in a binding spell for so long.”

  “Oh, no. Is she okay?” I inched up on the pillows.

  “I think she will be. Ian’s going to stay with her until she feels better.”

  “Ian’s staying with her? I didn’t know they even knew each other.” Then something hit me. “Bea is Ian’s aunt, isn’t she?”

  Kat nodded. “Yes. I didn’t know either until this week. They were together at some ghost hunt. That’s why we couldn’t reach either of them.”

  “Ian could have told us he was leaving,” I said, slightly annoyed.

  “They’d only planned to be gone one day, but things got a little wild, and they got stuck. Anyway, I’ll let him tell you all about it later.”

  “Is he coming by?”

  “No. He said to tell you he’d call. He doesn’t want to leave Bea alone.”

  “That’s good.” My heart filled with gratitude at what everyone had done to help me. I reached out to Kat and grabbed her arm. “Thank you.”

  “No need to thank me. I’m not letting you go that easily.” Her tone was light, but relief mixed with residual fear pressed at my consciousness.

  “Help me up,” I swung my legs off the side of the bed. “I need to get out of this bed and into a shower.” I’d been up a couple of times already. Once to use the bathroom and once to take a short walk. After lying down for a week, it wasn’t easy.

  Kat helped me shower and to my delight had a bag full of fresh clothes and toiletries waiting for me. “You’re an angel,” I said.

  She laughed. “That’s Lailah’s thing. I’m just a good friend.”

  “The best,” I agreed.

  The doctors kept me one more night for observation and by the next morning I was ready to leave. I’d taken to pacing the halls just to get out of b
ed and move my muscles. When they couldn’t find anything after poking and prodding me, they released me into Kane’s care with strict instructions to take it easy.

  I eyed Kane and chuckled.

  “Stop that,” he said.

  “What?” I asked innocently as I imagined getting him naked.

  “Never mind. Behave.”

  I muffled another laugh as he pushed my wheelchair down the hall.

  Kane drove me home in Pyper’s Mini Cooper.

  “You don’t have a car?” I asked.

  “Nope,” he said. “I used to have a jeep, but a few months back a buddy of mine totaled it. I haven’t replaced it yet. I walk almost everywhere I go and when I need a car, I just borrow Pyper’s.”

  “That makes two of us without wheels.”

  “I know.” Kane pulled up in front of the club. I spotted the sign I’d read the first night I’d moved in. Hundreds of Beautiful Women, and Three Ugly ones.

  “Kane, what’s with the sign?”

  He glanced at it then back to me. “What?”

  “The sign, what’s the story behind it?”

  He laughed. “You’re kidding, right?”

  I shook my head. “No.”

  “I can’t believe after all of this, you didn’t know.” He moved his hands around indicating us, the club, and all that had happened.

  “Come on, who are the three ugly women?”

  “You’re gonna love this.” He smiled. “They’re ghosts, of course.”

  “Ghosts!” I shouted. “What? Who? Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

  “You never asked. Besides, it’s common knowledge. Most likely everyone thought you knew.” He shrugged.

  “Why haven’t I seen them?” I wondered aloud.

  “You will,” he replied.

  “How do you know?”

  “You’ll see.”

  He got out of the car and came around to my side to help me out.

  “Kane–”

  He put a finger to my lips. “Shhh. Right now I have other things on my mind.” He walked me to the side door of the building, pulled me inside and pressed me up against the wall. His eyes darkened to deep pools of melted chocolate and seconds after his lips and body touched mine, all other thoughts and questions vanished.

  When he finally pulled away my heart hammered, and my legs had turned to jelly.

  “C’mon,” he said, pulling me up my stairwell behind him. When we reached the top, I was panting.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “Yes. Just out of shape after my week-long hiatus.” I smiled and opened my door. “Now, what was it that was on your mind?”

  His eyes clouded over and his desire mixed with concern reached me.

  “Stop worrying. I’m perfectly fine.” I maneuvered closer to him.

  He put his arms around me and turned his head toward the bed. “I’ve been imagining getting you into that thing ever since I brought it up here.”

  “That’s odd. I’ve been imagining it ever since I saw the headboard in storage.”

  He pulled me closer. “My grandmother would be so pleased to know that bed is now in the possession of the woman I love.”

  “It’s your grandmother’s? You said you were going to give it to a restoration place.” I jabbed him in the shoulder.

  He shrugged. “I wanted you to have it. I knew you’d take care of it. And I knew you’d never take it otherwise. It’s my curse to love headstrong women. Grandmother would be proud.”

  I shook my head and tried not to laugh at the triumphant look on his face.

  “Forget my grandmother.” He pulled me down onto the bed, and for the next two hours I focused on all things Kane and the pleasure we gave each other.

  When we finally drifted off to sleep, Bobby appeared, highlighted in a warm, pale glow. I watched as he smiled down at me. After a moment he waved, and the light faded into darkness. Still dreaming, Kane appeared and wrapped me in his arms. Bobby was gone, and finally it was just the two of us.

  Acknowledgments

  A huge thank you to my first readers: Susan, Angie, Kaye, Fay, and Suzanne. Without your encouragement and enthusiasm for more chapters this book may never have come to completion.

  A special thanks to Jenn, my hard working critique partner; Angie, my diligent proofreader; Rhonda, my editor; and Lisa, my book designer. Your hard work and support has helped turn my dream into reality.

  To Greg, my husband, thank you for being you.

  About the Author

  Deanna is a native Californian, transplanted to the slower paced lifestyle of southeastern Louisiana. When she isn’t writing, she is often goofing off with her husband in New Orleans, playing with her two shih tzu dogs, making glass beads, or out hawking her wares at various bead shows across the country. For more information and updates on newest releases visit her website at www.deannachase.com.

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  JUMP TO...

  NEW REVELATIONS by HEATHER TOPHAM WOOD

  ARMAND by APRIL AASHEIM

  TUESDAY’S CHILD by DALE MAYER

  JUST A LITTLE NUDGE by JESI LEA RYAN

  HAUNTED ON BOURBON STREET by DEANNA CHASE

  SPIRITS AMONG US by MORGAN HANNAH MACDONAND

  LONDON by JC ANDRIJESKI

  AMONG THE LIVING by JORDAN CASTILLO PRICE

  VAMPIRE VACATION by C.J. ELLISSON

  TOUCHED by HAZEL HUNTER

  SPIRITS AMONG US

  BY MORGAN HANNAH MACDONALD

  WHAT HE SEES WOULD SCARE YOU TO DEATH

  Jon-Luc Boudreaux is in Paris hunting a serial killer. That's nothing new, neither is being haunted by the victims, but watching the murders through the killer’s eyes, now that's something new entirely.

  After she's blacklisted by the fashion industry in New York, Angela Henderson moves to Paris, France. Designing clothes is in her blood and she'll stop at nothing to realize her dream.

  HE WILL FIND YOU

  Cajun bad boy Jon-Luc Boudreaux is an ex-FBI profiler with a secret. He sees the souls of the recently departed. They can't communicate with him in words. Instead, they point to clues he must decipher on his own. That's how he's achieved the highest rate of solved cases in FBI history. A fact that did not win favor among his superiors or fellow colleagues. After years of enduring questions, rumors, and innuendo, Jon-Luc has left the FBI.

  WHEN YOU LEAST

  In an effort to determine his next course of action, Jon-Luc heads to Paris to visit an old friend. The moment he arrives, he's asked to assist with a case. It’s Fashion Week and the bodies of mutilated models are being discovered all over the city.

  EXPECT IT

  Now Jon-Luc is on the hunt for the most diabolical killer he's ever encountered, and Angie's next on the killer's list.

  Heat Level: 4

  1

  Jon-Luc Boudreaux stared at the woman standing before him. Some might call her beautiful, if you liked your women emaciated, which he did not. The naked woman's clavicles, ribs, and hip bones protruded. He preferred his women with curves. Her sleek, jet-black hair cascaded over her shoulder, hiding one breast.

  He had to admit, her deep green eyes and high cheekbones were a lethal combination. This exotic looking creature had long gashes running down each arm. Blood oozed from the wounds dripping down her hands, landing on the floor.

  The puddles spread wider as each drop splashed as if in slow motion. By Jon-Luc’s calculations, half her body’s blood had pooled at her feet. She stared at him, her expression grim. His eyes locked on hers as tears of blood began dripping down her cheeks.

  Ruby lips parted as if to speak.

  “Monsieur. Monsieur.”

  Her lips hadn’t moved with the words.

  “Monsieur.”

  Jon-Luc blinked and the vision disappeared.


  “Please, monsieur!”

  When his eyes focused, he found himself being manhandled by a distressed looking airline stewardess.

  “Huh? What?” He blinked again, then remembered where he was.

  “We are here, in Paris. The plane is disembarking. You go now, oui?” The moment his eyes met hers, the pretty blonde's face relaxed and she smiled.

  Jon-Luc searched the cabin and noticed he was the only one left in first class. A few passengers still filed out the door of the plane.

  “Oui, merci.” Jon-Luc stood, opened the overhead compartment, then grabbed his laptop and carry-on. The pretty blonde walked him to the door, still smiling. She had the greatest dimples.

  “You will ring me for supper, oui?” Her cute little eyebrows raised.

  “Oui.” Jon-Luc patted the pocket where he'd stashed her phone number, then glanced at her name tag. “Oui, Jeanette. I will definitely ring you.” With that he was out the door.

  2

  Jon-Luc walked through the terminal at Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris until he spotted his old friend, Inspector Claude Rousseau. At 6’2” with a shiny bald pate, he was hard to miss. Jon-Luc had met Claude when they trained together at Quantico over ten years ago.

  Since then Claude had moved up the ranks at 36 Quai des Orfèvres, the criminal division which investigated cases as small as drug trafficking on up to complex homicides and serial killers.

  The friends hugged and Claude started in right away. “Your timing is not so good, my friend. I’m needed across town.” His words were rushed as he ushered Jon-Luc through the crowd.