Grave Destinations

by Lori Sjoberg

  And for the second time in as many days, Gilrov gave only a token reaction. A cool wave of energy rippled through Jack’s body, the demonic equivalent to a passing interest toward the free meal sitting just a few barstools away.

  How strange. The observation cycled in his brain as he signed the tab and brought their drinks back to the table.

  “Thank you,” Ruby said as she accepted the glass from his outstretched hand. She took a long sip of her tequila sunrise while she watched him over the rim of her glass, the playful look in her eyes making his body fill with heat.

  Gilrov flared to attention, a pulsing mass of enthusiastic energy. His focus locked on Ruby with the eagerness of a puppy anxious to be petted.

  “Son of a bitch.”

  Ruby arched an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

  “I’m sorry.” He sat on the chair across from hers and set his drink on the table. “It’s just that”—he struggled for the right words to tactfully describe the situation—“well, the brunette at the bar was just giving me the eye.”

  Ruby’s head whipped toward the bar, her focus narrowing on the woman in question. “Good lord, it’s a wonder she can walk upright.”

  “Yes, but that’s not the point.” He coughed to clear his throat. “The point is, Gilrov usually responds to any signs of… well, you know.”

  “An easy lay?”

  A warm blush crept up his neck. “Yeah. But this time he didn’t seem very interested.”

  “Maybe Gilrov’s developing taste. Isn’t that right, sugar?”

  Jack could have sworn he felt the bastard humming in response. “No, it’s not that.” He picked up his glass and downed half its contents. “It’s you.”

  “Me?” Her eyebrows shot up so high they nearly touched her hairline.

  “You.” He swirled the ice in his glass before taking another drink. “I think he’s … somehow”—he made a vague gesture with his hands—“formed a certain … attachment to you.”

  She gave him a stunned look. “You’re joking, right?”

  “I wish I was.”

  Ruby stared at him for a long moment, her face blank and unreadable. Finally, she picked up her glass, took a long drink, and said, “Let me talk to him.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I said I’d like to talk to him. Will you let him out for a little bit so I can get a few things straight?”

  Gilrov’s energy shimmered in his blood, the demon itching for a chance to come out and play. In all the years he’d been cursed, Jack had never voluntarily ceded his body to the demon’s control. The idea railed against his need for autonomy.

  Jack frowned. “I can’t just turn it on and off like a switch.”

  “Have you ever tried?”

  No, and he had no desire to start now. “What do you want to talk to him about?”

  “Let’s just say I’d like to find out where we all stand and set a few boundaries.” She arched a brow. “Do you want to do this here, or would you rather we go back to your cabin?”

  “What makes you think I’ll actually go through with this?”

  She crossed one leg over the other and shot him a piercing look. “Because you want to know the answers as much as I do. Probably more. Who knows, maybe I can figure a way to make all this more bearable for both of you.”

  She had a point. Jack leaned back against his chair, nursing his whiskey while he examined the idea from all angles.

  For reasons unknown—and in a first, to his knowledge—the curse had revealed its true nature to Ruby. That placed her in a unique position. She alone possessed the ability to open a line of communication, a bridge between man and beast. If she could discover what the demon truly wanted, he could use that knowledge to finally master the bane of his existence.

  However, a hundred years of push and pull had left Jack with some serious trust issues. He didn’t trust the bastard to tell her the truth, or to relinquish control once the conversation was finished. For all he knew, this could be nothing more than a huge waste of time and effort.

  But in the end, the hope for success outweighed his reservations. He inhaled deeply as he ran a hand through his hair. God, how he hoped he wouldn’t live to regret this. “Okay, I’ll do it. But promise me you won’t go anywhere with him. He’s more prone to behave himself in a public setting.”

  Ruby drew an X across her chest with her index finger. “Cross my heart and hope to die.”

  His eyes narrowed. “That isn’t funny.”

  “It wasn’t meant to be.” She reached across the table and threaded her fingers with his. “Are there any questions you’d like me to ask?”

  Where to begin? Question upon question flashed through his mind, the product of a century of ignorance and humiliation. Eventually, he whittled them down to the ones that mattered most. “Just two. What does he want, and why did he kill Victoria?”

  Deep breath in, deep breath out. Ruby watched while Jack repeated the exercise at least a dozen times. The space between inhale and exhale grew longer with each repetition, until his eyelids grew heavy and his lips slightly parted.

  Just when she thought he’d slipped into some kind of trance, a strangled sound tore from his throat. His muscles visibly tensed while his eyes widened and flashed silver. The silver gradually dimmed until it was noticeable only if you looked closely. Then his posture relaxed and a lazy smile stretched across his face. “Hey, babe.”

  “Oh no,” she said with a shake of her head. “Rule number one: you do not call me ‘babe.’ Or ‘big red.’ Or ‘red.’ Or any combination of those words. Are we clear?”

  The smile dropped away from his face, his expression changing from cocky to cautious. “Crystal. How about Beulah?”

  “Out of the question. Only Jack gets away with calling me that.” Less than a minute in, and the conversation had already veered into the surreal. Then again, what had she expected? “Just go with Ruby. It’ll save you a lot of hassle in the long run.”

  “You got it, Ruby.” The lazy smile returned, so foreign and yet so familiar. He looked about the poolside area, bouncing from person to person before settling back on Ruby. “You know, it’s kind of crowded out here tonight. Someone might overhear our conversation. If you want, we could find a more private place—”

  “Not happening.”

  Gilrov let out a dejected huff. “You were a lot more fun the other night.” He continued to pout as he picked up Jack’s drink and downed what was left in one swallow. Eyes watering, he coughed and gagged while the whiskey blazed a trail down his throat. “Ugh. How can he drink this shit? It tastes like fucking turpentine.” He pointed toward her glass. “Can I have some of yours?”

  She pushed the glass halfway across the table. “Knock yourself out.”

  Without hesitation he grabbed for her drink. This time he sipped first to see if it suited his tastes. He smiled, and two swallows later, her tequila sunrise was history. A contented sigh passed his lips as he set the glass back down. “You have no idea how good it feels to experience things without a filter.”

  “Is that what it’s like when you’re …” What was the proper term to describe his situation? She honestly had no idea. “You know.”

  “Imprisoned?” The word dripped from his mouth like poison. “Words fail to describe what it’s like to be chained inside this pathetic bag of meat.” His upper lip peeled back in disdain as he glanced down at Jack’s mortal body. “I’m given no choice but to see through his eyes and feel through his touch. And even then, everything is muffled and muted.”

  In all fairness, that had to suck. She couldn’t begin to imagine what it must be like for an otherworldly being to be trapped within the confines of human flesh, long denied the freedom to act on his true demonic nature.

  But then she thought of Jack. Of the years spent desperate to live a normal life while trying to control a curse he didn’t understand, forced to appease his baser nature even though it left him feeling defiled and humiliated. Of the wife who died before his
eyes, and the grief and guilt that consumed him to this very day. Sure, the demon had it rough, but it was a walk in the park compared to what Jack endured.

  She fixed Gilrov with a level stare. “Why did you kill her?”

  The demon’s brow furrowed. “Who?”

  “Victoria.” Jeez, did he kill more than one? When recognition failed to register in his eyes, she tersely added, “Jack’s wife. Ring a bell?”

  “Oh. Yes. So much time has passed I’d forgotten her name.” At least he had the decency to look sheepish. “It was an accident.”

  “Sure it was.” She didn’t bother to mask her disbelief.

  “I swear to you on my soul.” The regret in his eyes tempered her doubt. “By the time the wedding night rolled around, I hadn’t fed in more than a month. I was delirious with hunger. And then there she was, so ripe and rich …” He averted his gaze as his words trailed off. When he spoke again, his voice was barely audible. “I’m sure you know the rest.”

  Yes, she did. Jack had told her all about the horrors of watching his wife die before his eyes. Her heart ached for both of them, two souls locked together in a century-long battle for dominance. Perhaps she could broker a lasting peace. Not one forged from threats and ultimatums, but one built on the foundation of mutual understanding and compromise.

  She rested an arm on the table, her fingers close to his but not quite touching. “He’s tired, you know.”

  “Yeah, me too,” Gilrov said, sounding weary. “He thought about ending things after the island lady told him we were stuck together.”

  Even though the news failed to surprise her, her heart knotted tight in her chest. “If you boys stopped fighting and took the time to get to know each other, maybe you could work out some sort of arrangement.”

  He stared at her with unblinking eyes, his head tilted a little to the left. “Like what?”

  Ruby settled back in her chair and slapped on her best poker face. If she was going to negotiate on Jack’s behalf, she wanted to secure the most favorable terms possible. “Well, how about you promise not to interfere with his life, and in return he’ll allow you to take the wheel one night a week.”

  Gilrov’s face brightened at the possibility. He licked his lips as he leaned forward and braced his forearms against the edge of the table. “Three.”

  “Two, and you have to swear to behave yourself. No taking his body out on a joyride or the deal’s off.” She flagged down a passing waiter and ordered a tequila sunrise for both Gilrov and herself.

  “And what exactly am I supposed to do?” he asked as soon as the waiter walked away. “Sit at home by myself and crochet?”

  “I don’t know. Read a book or watch some television. Maybe you could take up a hobby, something that doesn’t involve the horizontal mambo.” She drummed her fingernails against the table. “Of course, this is only theoretically speaking. Anything we agree upon is subject to Jack’s approval.”

  Gilrov rolled his eyes. “And you honestly think you can talk him into this?”

  “You’d be surprised at my powers of persuasion.” With a smug smile, she crossed her legs at the knee and his eyes followed the movement. “So what’ll it be? Do I present him with our proposal, or would you prefer to duke it out until he grows tired enough to pull the plug?”

  He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it just as quickly. Lips pursed, he fell silent for a full five minutes, his steely gaze fixed on the open ocean.

  In the distance, a storm gathered strength over rough waters. Lightning flashed through the evening clouds, followed closely by a long, low rumble of thunder. Good thing they were cruising in the opposite direction, or they’d be in for one hell of a night.

  “Would you visit me?” he finally asked. There was a hopeful tone in his voice that she found oddly endearing. “It wouldn’t be so bad if I had somebody to talk to.”

  Ruby shook her head, even though a part of her wanted to say yes. “This bargain is between you and Jack.”

  “But I like you,” he insisted. “You’re different from all the others. Say yes, and I’ll swear not to try anything funny.”

  She smiled at that. Gilrov had to be starved for attention if he was willing to forgo sex for companionship. But her future with Jack was murky at best. They were two different people from two very different worlds, and it wasn’t fair to either of them to promise something she might not be able to deliver.

  “Tell you what. If I’m around, and if you behave yourself, I’ll spend some time with you. Maybe we can watch a movie or something. How does that sound?”

  A faint smile crossed the demon’s lips. He nodded. “It’s enough. I accept your terms.”

  Chapter 22

  “I still can’t believe I let you talk me into accepting that deal with Gilrov.”

  “It’s one of my many talents.” Ruby rolled to her side, savored the feel of soft sheets against bare skin. Judging by the position of the sun, it wasn’t much past nine in the morning. “Nobody can resist my powers of persuasion.”

  Jack curled an arm around her waist and spooned against her. The heat of his body warmed her back while the faint remnants of his aftershave filled her senses. “Anything else you care to talk me into?”

  “Can’t think of anything at the moment.” Already, she could feel the length of him pressing hard against her side. “Does that thing ever take a rest?”

  “Not really.” He nuzzled her neck, his teeth grazing the sweet spot just below her ear. “Better get used to it. Thanks to your little friend, I have a fast recovery time.”

  “Yeah, well, thanks to his feeding habits, my recovery time’s gotten a bit longer.”

  Every time they made love, Gilrov siphoned off a bit of her life force, the nourishment he needed to stay alive. She never sensed it while it was happening, and with the exception of a slight feeling of fatigue, the effects were negligible for an immortal like herself. With a bit of rest, and a hearty breakfast, she’d be good as new in no time.

  She twisted around to see Jack’s face. God, he was achingly beautiful. His brown eyes smoldered with so much passion it made her heart swell in her chest. “So what else do you want to do today?”

  His hand skimmed down her side, coming to rest at the curve of her hip. “Well, since what I really want is off limits, I was thinking of hitting the gym. Care to join me?”

  He couldn’t be serious. “After last night, you have enough energy for exercise?”

  “Of course. Good sex helps me sleep.” He grinned. “And that was the best sleep I’ve had in ages.”

  “Suck-up.”

  “It’s not sucking up when it’s true.” Jack patted her butt before slipping out of bed. He pulled on boxer briefs, a pair of black workout shorts, and a green tee with the Stone Brewing Company logo splashed across the front. “You coming?”

  Ruby shook her head, covered her mouth when she yawned. “No, but you go on ahead. I think I’m going to be lazy this morning.”

  “Suit yourself. I’ll be back in an hour. Two, tops.” He bent down and gave her a kiss that melted her from the inside out. When he drew back, his lips were swollen and his eyes burned with an intensity that made her blood simmer. “Don’t bother getting dressed.”

  She watched him leave, enjoying the rear view as he walked out the door. She stretched, her muscles lax after a night of sex and sleep. It amazed her, the flush of euphoria that tattooed a grin across her face. For the next twenty-four hours, she had nothing on the schedule. No deaths. No reaps. No responsibilities. The time was hers to spend as she pleased, and she planned on wasting most of it in bed.

  She stared up at the ceiling for the longest time, lost in a river of thought. What would happen once the ship returned to Port Canaveral? Before last night, she’d never considered pursuing any kind of long-term relationship, but now she’d opened her mind to the possibility. For Jack, she wanted to take the chance, to explore the deepening feelings that gave her a major case of the warm fuzzies. She didn’t know how it
happened, and she didn’t know why. God knows she’d fought the feeling every step of the way. But now she recognized it for what it was.

  Somewhere along the line she’d fallen in love with him.

  Her smile vanished when the tang of fresh death fouled the air. The scent was as unmistakable as it was shocking. Who? Where? And, most important, why?

  She tossed back the covers and bounded out of the bed. She quickly dressed, slipped on a cream-colored choker, tied her tangled hair back into a ponytail, and hurried out the door.

  The sensation originated from the lower decks. Taking the stairs two steps at a time, she followed the trail down four flights and into the long, narrow corridor. With each step the call of death grew more insistent, pounding in her blood by the time she reached cabin 573.

  Good thing Dmitri had left her the master key. After making sure no one was watching, she slid the card into the slot and waited for the lock to disengage. She gave the hall one final check, then slipped inside and closed the door behind her.

  The air inside hung heavy with the smells of sex, sweat, and cheap perfume. She sensed no signs of life in the cabin, but flipped on the lights and checked the bathroom and walk-in closet just to be safe. Satisfied that she was truly alone, she stepped into the main room.

  Her spirits sank at the sight of another dead woman. The attractive brunette was naked like the others, with the same euphoric expression frozen on her lifeless face. No signs of physical trauma marked the young woman’s body, no evidence nearby to indicate a cause of expiration.

  Just like the others.

  She stared at the body for nearly a full minute before recollection kicked in. “Oh, Jessica.” It was one of the sorority sisters from that first night in the main dining room. Back then she’d been annoyed with the girl for flirting so shamelessly with Jack. Now she felt nothing but pity.

  How did this happen? They’d reaped the demon responsible for the two previous deaths.

  Or had they? Was there more than one killer on board, or had they simply captured the wrong demon?