Martin snorted out a laugh, and Rumer swallowed a smile. “Doubt it,” he said. “Nothing's going to make me forget that, not even a jerk off session."
Still, he didn't move toward the bathroom and Rumer took that as a good sign. “Are you sure?"
She watched his face as he contemplated the idea, then rejected it, then reconsidered again. His body wanted it, she knew. It was his mind that rebelled, saying it wasn't right, that they weren't to be trusted.
"Have you never slept with anyone you just met?” She kept her voice soft and even.
"Sure I have,” Martin said. “But it's usually at night, after a few drinks, not the morning after I meet them."
"We'll make a rule,” Noah said. “Nobody touches anyone else, not even Rumer and me."
"Look, I appreciate the offer, but no.” He shook his head and moved toward the bathroom. Rumer watched him as he disappeared behind the door, closing it firmly behind him.
This run in with Martin Vandreen could be the best thing to ever happen to her and Noah, or the worst.
* * * *
Martin opened the refrigerator and winced. When he'd come out of the shower, Noah had been gone, and Rumer had run into the bathroom immediately, shutting the door behind her without saying a word. He supposed it hadn't been very polite of him to hog the only bathroom before his houseguests got a chance, even if they had been forced on him
But if he'd stayed in the bedroom one more second, he would have dropped his shorts and joined in their plan for a pleasure circle, and he wasn't ready for that, no matter how hard his cock had protested. It was simple for them to propose it, since they were lovers already, but for him, it wasn't easy just to jump in. The whole time he'd been in the shower he'd wondered if they were making love.
When he came out to find Noah gone, he'd decided they hadn't. The trust level for them had gone up, too, since there was no lock on his bathroom door, and neither of them had come in uninvited.
Of course, that didn't make everything all right. He's spent more than an hour screaming at them last night, trying to get them out of his house. Rumer had refused, and Noah had backed her up. Finally, he'd just given up and gone to bed, only to find them nestled against him this morning.
He knew they'd been right, though. Josephine could have followed his signature, found him and attacked him. Having someone here with him after yesterday's troubling events was a good idea.
He sighed heavily and shut the refrigerator door, then turned to the coffeemaker, which churned along in its quest to provide him—them—with morning brew. He had enough milk and sugar, if needed, but he had no real food in the house. He generally ate out, or invited himself to partake of Fletch's delicious cooking. And since he contributed money to the food bill at his friends’ household, they didn't mind, even if they did tease him about being a mooch.
Thinking of the trio made him glance at the clock. Quinn would have already left for work, but Fletch and Dev would be around. He needed to tell them last night's tale, get their help with tonight's séance.
The front door opened, and Noah came in balancing two large sacks and a cardboard tray filled with three coffee cups. Martin rushed to help him, taking the tray and setting it down on the table.
"Café au lait and beignets,” Martin said, taking an appreciative whiff of the air.
"Rumer's addicted,” Noah replied. “The clerks were surprised I bought three servings this morning, instead of two. I think they thought we got lucky last night"
Martin laughed softly. “Travel mugs, so the coffee's still hot."
Noah nodded, then cleared his throat. “Listen, about ... I'm sorry about...” he pointed toward the bedroom, “...tackling you."
"Me too,” Martin said. “Don't forget what I said, though. In a fair fight—"
"Coffee.” Rumer's soft voice broke into the conversation, and she grabbed one of the cups, then pointed to the bags. “How come they're not open yet?"
"I just got back,” Noah replied, tearing apart one of the white sacks.
Martin took down three plates, and they filled them high with the sugary treats. “Let's eat outside. Janice has a table set up out there, and she's already gone to work this morning."
They settled themselves at the table, enjoying the pleasantly cool New Orleans morning. Martin hid a smile as Rumer dug into her food, scarfing down one beignet in what he thought was record time before grabbing another one.
"It's the sugar,” Noah said, taking a bite of his own. “She's a sugar addict."
"I like the energy it brings,” she said, licking her fingers. “Why can't we do the séance this morning?"
"We could, but I'd like a little more time to prepare. Did your grandmother live here in town?"
"Yes, over on Dauphine. I haven't had the heart to clean it out, yet."
Martin nodded. “We should do it there, where she's connected."
"All right."
"What was her name?” Martin took a sip of coffee.
"Lola."
"We'll need some candles, and if you have something of hers to hold, something that meant a lot to her, it will help to contact her spirit."
Rumer nodded, then focused on something behind Martin's back. He turned to find Fletch standing there, holding a tray containing four coffee mugs. Quinn and Dev stood beside him holding white bags that Martin knew contained more beignets.
"Looks like we're late with our delivery,” Dev said with a laugh.
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Chapter Five
Martin took several calming breaths, then took a step toward the Orleans Cemetery gate. Beside him, Rumer shivered, running her hands up and down her arms.
"This is a bad idea."
"For people with powers for her to drain, yes.” Dev held up his hand, stopping her before she could speak again. “For those of us normal humans, it's not a bad idea. No one at the funeral yesterday was affected except for Martin, a medium. She can't hurt us."
"So you say.” Rumer shook her head and Martin did the same. He was amazed at the way his old friends, and his new ones, had taken to each other. Rumer had spilled the story about Josephine and Lola, and everyone had listened with rapt attention. When she was done, Dev had suggested a trip to the cemetery, and had been at the gate before anyone could object.
They'd had a heated discussion about the pros and cons of putting themselves in Josephine's path. Dev and Fletch had surprised them all by saying they'd gone there last night, but hadn't gone inside. Martin knew there was no way to deter them, and he told Rumer so.
They'd stopped by the trio's house to pick up a few ghost detecting items, and here they were, ready to do some hunting.
"She's not a ghost,” Martin said, pointing to the machines.
"She should have an energy signature,” Fletch said. “We'll find her."
Fletch and Dev headed for the gate, and Martin was surprised to see Quinn and Noah fall into step behind them.
"Quinn? You hate the ‘ghostly stuff.'” Martin held up his hands in a questioning gesture. “Where are you going?"
"I've changed in the last year,” she replied with a laugh. “Besides, it's broad daylight, and I doubt she can hurt us."
Martin shrugged, then looked at Noah. “No powers?"
"No,” Noah said. “But I want to see what we're up against."
The four of them entered the cemetery without saying another word, and when Rumer went to follow, Martin grabbed her arm. “Tell me about yourself."
"What?” She turned to him and frowned.
"You've been in my bed, and I don't even know what you do for a living."
Her laughter was soft, with a tinge of nervousness. “I'm a nurse, which is how I met Noah. He's a paramedic, as you already know."
"Yeah, I do,” Martin said, trying to keep the mood light. He turned his gaze on where the foursome was now winding their way through the crypts and around religious statues and stone benches. He knew Fletch and Dev loved this.
; "What about you?"
"We're ghost seekers,” Martin said with a laugh. “We don't make a lot of money, but enough to keep us going. We visit various haunted places and either prove, or dispel, their hauntings. I also do séances for people, when asked. Quinn's a reporter for a TV station."
"Yeah, I've seen her on the news,” Rumer said. Martin noticed that while she was taking to him, she too was focused on their friends inside the graveyard. “I want to go in there, to confront her."
"Bad idea,” Martin replied, fighting down the panic in his stomach. Memories of Josephine's icy grip made him want to hurl his breakfast all over the sidewalk. “Trust me on that."
The four of them gathered in a small group, and Martin took a step closer to the gate. “They've found something."
"Yes,” Rumer replied. She bounced on the balls of her feet, then wiggled her hands. “I'm going in."
"No!” Martin grabbed at her, but she shook him off, turning before she got to the gate.
"You stay here, but I'm leaving. I won't let that bitch have any sort of hold over me, including keeping me from going where I want to go."
She marched inside the gate and Martin rushed after her, stopping before he stepped onto the grounds. As she walked, he looked toward his friends, then gasped.
A dark form, made entirely of energy, floated near them. It swayed back and forth, and Martin charged for the fence, clutching the iron slats. As Rumer neared the group, the form took the shape of a woman, filmy, but still visible.
Martin yelled at Rumer to come back. “You're giving her energy, get back here!"
"No!” She continued to walk, and the form coalesced into a more solid form.
"Oh hell!” Martin pushed away from the fence, and then took off across the graveyard, hot on Rumer's heels.
Rumer could see the form, floating. She watched it take shape, the face of a very beautiful woman smiling at her. The woman's gesture made Rumer shiver in disgust.
Martin grabbed her and tried to pull her back; she bucked him off. “No.” She turned her attention of Josephine. “You evil witch."
Josephine smiled, then blinked her eyes very slowly.
Cold invaded Rumer's body and she conjured a protection shield, making sure it encompassed every person in the cemetery. When Josephine's smile faded, she knew it had worked. “Enjoy your last few days of power, witch. You'll be dead, soon."
Even the humans started and hunched down, looking around for the source of laughter that filled the cemetery. “Your grandmother thought the same thing. But yet here I am, and she's dead."
"I hear her,” Noah said, taking a step toward Rumer.
Rumer nodded, holding up her hand to halt his advancement. Martin clutched at her shoulders, trying to pull her toward the gate. “My grandmother was a good woman. Something you know nothing about."
The spirit's laughter increased. “She thought I was good, or didn't she tell you that part? It's how I attracted my prey, by seducing them. And she was very tasty."
Rumer's scream of anger startled everyone, and Martin pulled on her harder. “Don't you see what she's doing? If you're mad, then your energy is focused away from whatever it is you're doing to hold her at bay. Don't get in a fight with her. Not here, not now."
Ignoring his words, she fought off Martin's hold, her anger boiling deep inside her. “You're lying!"
"Am I? Ask her—or wait, you can't because she's dead. Unless you have help from the one behind you. He was delicious, too, in a totally different way. Although I didn't get enough of a taste.” Josephine focused on Martin, and Rumer's anger level increased.
"Bitch."
Josephine laughed and blew her a kiss, and the cold that had invaded her earlier returned. She knew Martin was right: her anger had diminished her protection shield, had let Josephine slip inside.
Fear filled her as icy fingers clasped at her heart. She tried to suck in air but knew, unless she calmed down, it wouldn't do any good. Their four friends were with them now, ushering Rumer and Martin toward the entrance to the cemetery.
Noah pushed at her as Martin pulled, both of them trying to get her to leave. She would be damned, though, if she would let the witch beat her. That would set a bad precedent.
Rumer dug in her heels and stood stock-still, closing her eyes and letting her anger flow out of her. Parts of it stayed, like her rage over Josephine taunting her about her grandmother, but when the majority was gone, the shield slammed back in place.
She shot a triumphant look at Josephine. “I'm stronger than you are,” Rumer said, pushing away the hold Martin and Noah had on her. She took several steps toward Josephine, who no longer looked like the cat who swallowed the canary. “You'll see it soon enough."
For a moment, she thought the witch would strike out at her again. She strengthened the shield, waiting for the attack, but it didn't come. The look on the witch's face, though, was meant to provoke her, the sneer full of malice and contempt.
"Don't let her do it,” Martin said, his voice low next to her ear. He put his hand on her shoulder, and she felt warmth spread through her. “She knows we're going to try something, and she knows it's going to happen soon. She's trying to make you angry, so that you lose control. She's saving her strength."
Rumer nodded, knowing he was right. She cast a glance at Noah, who reached or her hand. She gave it to him and he stepped closer.
"Listen to Martin,” he said, keeping his voice low. “I can't see her, but I know she's there. Don't let your anger control you."
Rumer closed her eyes, hearing her grandmother's voice in her mind. “There's nothing shameful about turning away from a fight. Don't ever let anyone goad you into something, and don't ever use your powers for something wicked, or in anger. That will lead to things that will damn you, forever."
On the other side of the shield, Josephine waited. Rumer let go of the last vestiges of her anger, then turned and took Martin's hand, so that she had one man on each side. They both squeezed in reassurance.
When they were outside the gate, she felt tears prick her eyes. She wasn't sure she was up for this, was the person meant to take Josephine down. But there was no other choice, was there?
She didn't belong to a coven, and she knew only a few other witches, all of whom had run from this battle. It would be up to her, and her new friends.
"Can we do the séance now?” She turned to Martin, her stomach flipping when he shook his head.
"That would be a bad idea, I think. We need to take a nap, eat, and then go to your grandmother's house. And you need to remember that I'm not always successful. There is no guarantee."
Rumer nodded, even though she knew he had to succeed. She was sure her grandmother was the only one with an answer on how to get rid the world of Josephine.
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Chapter Six
Martin plopped himself down on his couch, then smacked his lips. “Does it bother you that your grandmother might have been attracted to another woman?"
"No,” Rumer said, sitting down across from him, leaning into Noah's chest. “It bothers me that she would have allowed herself to be seduced by such evil."
"Evil can be easily masked, and as the saying goes, we don't always know the people we love,” Noah said, stroking her arm. “We see what they want us to see, and sometimes things are hidden."
Rumer nodded, and Martin's heart went out to her. He could tell this ordeal was hitting her hard. The idea her grandmother had been easily duped made her ache inside. “Tell me something, if Noah hadn't been called to the cemetery yesterday, what would you have done about her?"
"I don't know,” Rumer replied. “I've tried to think of several solutions, but nothing ever took hold. Knowing she attacked you, though, that pushed me forward. She can't be allowed to linger there and feed off the energy of the living, or the dead. If she grows strong enough, and then disappears, I will have failed."
"We.” Martin leaned forward. “It's not just you anymore. We're i
n this together.” He stood quickly and jerked his head toward the bedroom. “I'm taking a nap. Care to join me?"
"You seem to sleep a lot,” Noah said. “Depressed? You have an inadequate love life?"
"I have no love life,” Martin replied. “But, right now the sleep helps me store up energy for tonight, and recover it from yesterday."
"We did offer.” Noah lifted his brows, and Martin fought the urge to reach over and slap the arrogant look off his handsome face.
"You did, so I'll repeat, I'm taking a nap, want to join me? You can give me a blowjob and help me unwind before tonight."
"Such a sweet offer, right baby?” Noah caressed Rumer's arm.
Martin shrugged his shoulders. “Sorry, it's been a long time since I've invited anyone to my bed. And I never really was a hearts and flowers kind of guy."
When they didn't move, Martin sighed. “Well, I'm going in. See you in a bit."
In the bedroom he stripped down to his boxers, turning toward a chair to lay out his jeans. When Noah's arms came around him, his hand snaking down to clasp Martin's semi-hard cock, Martin groaned.
"Very nice,” Noah said, squeezing and pumping him gently.
Martin sighed heavily as his cock filled out with each stroke. “Glad you like it.” He shifted his gaze to see Rumer, naked, climbing onto the middle of the bed. She sat against the headboard, her legs spread in invitation, and Martin was sure this round of pure sex would help them bond. It would be good for all three of them.
Noah let go of his cock, and Martin walked to the bed, crawling up between Rumer's legs and kissing her gently, his fingers stroking over a bare breast. Her moan of pleasure made him smile, and he kissed her again, his tongue sliding into her mouth and swiping over her teeth.
Strong hands stroked his shoulders, and Martin pushed back into the touch. He adored having sex with a woman, but feeling a man's strong hands on him was another feeling to be savored. Having them both at the same time was delicious.
Martin leaned over and captured one of Rumer's nipples, his hand snaking out in search of Noah's cock. Noah guided him, helping him find it as he lowered his mouth to Rumer's other nipple. Then he clasped Martin's cock and they jerked together. Their hands set a steady pace, sliding up and down each other's shafts as they licked, kissed, and sucked Rumer's hard nubs.
The Resurrection of Josephine Page 3