Light the Shadows (A Grimm Novel)

by Clay, Michelle

  The slick machine between his legs was all chrome and black, the tank a cool swirl of red. If you looked closely, the swirls formed skulls. She might have been enthralled by the pattern, but Sully demanded her full attention as he parked the bike in a shady spot and walked toward the clubhouse.

  Dark denim hugged him in all the right places. A black shirt with the thinnest pink pinstripes and the sleeves rolled up—totally not what she'd expected—looked great on him. His light hair was slightly windblown, leaving it touchable and soft. Damn, she'd be drooling over him all day. If she was smart, she'd show him the property then get the hell out of there. All sensible thought went out the window when he entered the room, and she waved him over.

  Sully took a seat beside her, his shoulder brushing against hers. He leaned closer and smiled. Micah had to force herself not to meet him halfway. What would he do if she pressed her lips to his? Instead, she inhaled his masculine scent and sighed. He smelled like leather and dark, spicy cologne she didn't recognize. His exotic scent tickled her senses and made her want to run her tongue over his skin. Awareness awoke within her, and she fought the urge to trail her fingers through his windblown hair.

  "Ready?" Her voice came out as a croak.

  His light eyes turned toward hers, and he grinned, showing straight, white teeth. "If you are."

  Micah was thankful he couldn't read her thoughts. Though if he could, maybe she could stop stumbling around this infatuation and actually do something about it. She stifled a groan and stood. She was acting like some love-struck fan girl, and it was so unlike her. At least, she hoped it was.

  Moments later, she bounced alongside him in a golf cart. This close, she noticed his eyes were not a true blue, but a washed-out grey. What a pleasant surprise. It gave his already striking features a little extra uniqueness.

  Sully pulled a pair of sunglasses from his shirt pocket and slid them on. Perhaps he didn't care for her studying him so closely.

  When they stopped at the first hole, he hefted the golf bag onto his shoulder, and then together, they walked across the green. For most of the afternoon, they discussed business and the townhouse they hadn't even looked at yet.

  "I really don't think I'm doing this right," Micah said then swung the club. Once again, she missed the dimpled ball and sent a clod of dirt and grass sailing.

  Sully's laugh was an enjoyable sound that made her insides quiver. He moved directly behind her, placing his arms around her. His body folded against her backside, a perfect fit.

  Micah melted against him, and it took everything within her not to groan in pleasure. Get it together. He's just showing you the proper way to do this! It doesn't mean anything.

  A little gasp escaped her when one of his hands pushed her hip back and positioned her exactly where she needed to be, snug up against him. The other closed over her wrists. All sensible thought left her because his warm scent enveloped her and filled her with desire. From this angle, she noticed that his jaw had this beautiful edge, just perfect for a nibble. Now all she could think about was whether he tasted as good as he smelled.

  She licked her lips. Good lord, how could she sell a house to this man if every time she was around him she turned into a head case? Or a horny, undersexed woman who wanted to ravish him right here and now.

  "Like this," he said, lips brushing against her ear lobe. The ball rolled, but was still a few inches shy of the hole.

  Reaper, her mind whispered. Realizing this train had jumped the track and entered “I'm in over my head-ville”, she hurried over to the cart and slid behind the wheel. "Why don't we go take a look at the property and cool off?"

  Sully leaned against the club, a slight smirk on his face as he stared back at her. Perhaps he knew she was an emotional wreck.

  He tossed the golf bag into the back of the cart then rode in silence. Micah worried about the guarded expression on his face. Maybe she’d offended him in some way.

  Her phone buzzed, but she ignored it. It was probably Ben, calling to check up on her.

  Once they reached the property, Micah was all business. She pointed out the exterior attributes of the condo, but Sully still had little to say.

  He followed her inside and made a few noncommittal comments as she showed him the living room and kitchenette. They were outfitted with top of the line appliances and furnishings. The cabinets were newly refinished, and everything was shiny stainless steel, yet he seemed unimpressed and barely even glanced at them.

  They made their way upstairs to the master bedroom. "This really is one of the nicest units on the property. They've repainted recently, and the master bath has been completely redone. There's a walk-in shower large enough for two." She glanced at him as soon as she said it, realizing she’d said the wrong thing. A fierce blush heated her cheeks, and her tummy dipped.

  Sully raised a brow at that, and a predatory gleam lit his eyes. His gaze shifted from her to the shower.

  Before he could comment on it, she hurried to change the subject. "Did I mention there's also a community pool and tennis court?"

  “I’m not interested in the condo.” Sully stepped away from the doorframe, and time seemed to stand still. He moved toward her, all muscle and grace. His expression had changed from bored into something like awareness. Sully reminded her of a big cat on the prowl, and she was undoubtedly the prey.

  "What are you interested in then?" Her voice was breathy and light.

  Sully’s hands ran down the length of her arms. His touch made her feel like she was on fire and freezing all at the same time. She looked up into his beautiful eyes and shivered.

  His gaze was intense and focused on her mouth.

  Micah was amazed that she even remembered her own name with this much heat dancing between them. All she could think was he wants me. She could see it in his eyes, feel it in his touch. And right then, what she wanted more than anything was to be claimed by this gorgeous man.

  They stared at each other for so long she thought her nerves might unravel. Whispers of doubt echoed through her mind. Maybe she'd misread the signals or imagined the chemistry between them. Perhaps this was some kind of trick to get her guard down so he could drag her to hell.

  "Sully?"

  In the next shaky breath, his mouth was on hers. She was left breathless by the force of him crushing her against his chest. Micah's lips felt bruised by the intensity, but she didn't pull away when he deepened the kiss. She made a small noise and clawed at his back. She was pressed so tightly against him that her breasts were smashed against his chest. She couldn't breathe without feeling his ribs against her own.

  Seeming to realize she wasn't going anywhere, he released her from the cage of his arms. One of his hands rested on her hip. The fingers of his other hand traced the curve of her jaw then tilted her chin just so. His thumb traced across her bottom lip before he dipped his head to hers again.

  Micah clung to his shirt with one hand while the fingers of the other ran through his hair. Her grip tightened in the soft blond strands, eager to hold him to her hungry mouth. She was more than aware of the bed only a few feet behind them. What would he think if she pushed him down on it?

  Sully's fingers skimmed beneath the dress, drawing a gasp of surprised pleasure from her. His fingertips grazed the underside of Micah’s thigh. Then he lifted her leg to hold it against his hip. There was no way she could mistake the hardness beneath his jeans as he pressed against her center.

  “Tell me.” He dragged his mouth away from her collarbone then pushed her against the wall. His features hardened. "How did you possess this body?"

  Micah allowed her leg to slide down his. She inhaled sharply, but the suspicious expression on Sully’s face did not falter.

  "What?" The option of kneeing him in the balls was there, but she didn’t want to make him even angrier. Somehow, the balance between them had tipped, and she’d fallen into dangerous territory.

  "This body isn't yours, Micah. It belongs to a dead woman." His hand gripped he
r shoulder, pinning her against the wall. "How did a shadow manage to jump into a brand new shell?"

  Tears stung her eyes. Not because he was hurting her, as even though his grip was firm, it wasn't painful. The waterworks came because she knew he was right. This body didn't belong to her. He had no idea how guilty that made her feel. "Stop it. You're scaring me."

  Flicking those tempting, light-colored eyes at her, he smiled. It wasn’t the friendly sort, but the perilous kind that made her insides quiver with fear and hunger. His delicious masculine scent and his low, rough drawl blended together to enhance his natural magnetism. “I bet I can get you to tell me anything I want to know.”

  The pad of his thumb ran along her bottom lip. A hoarse little moan escaped her. It wasn’t fair. He couldn’t use her traitorous body against her. She licked the spot he’d just touched, savoring the feel of his caress.

  He arched a brow, seeming to know he’d chosen the right path to get what he wanted. The problem was, Micah didn’t know how she had taken possession of this body. Every bit of sensual torture he put her through would be for naught.

  “Did you kick her out of this pretty little shell?” His fingers ran down the length of her throat to the exposed skin between the dress’s button-down front. “Or did you just get lucky and find an empty home?”

  Micah’s breath hitched, and she gazed up into his eyes when he smoothed fingertips across her collarbone. His palm glided toward the swell of her right breast. Though he’d touched her through the fabric of the dress, the sensitized bud puckered and begged for more attention. Heat blossomed low in her belly and moistened between her thighs. Her spine arched, and she couldn’t stop herself from pressing closer.

  Sully palmed her through the material, heat flashing in his eyes when her entire body shuddered. His clever fingers smoothed past the buttons of her collar to find bare flesh.

  Her body went slack in his hands, no longer able to fight the attraction. Her sex pulsed, begging to be seen to. She lowered her voice to almost a whisper. “I think you’re just looking for an excuse to feel me up, Mr. Sullivan.”

  “You haven’t told me to stop.” His face lowered toward hers, an intense expression tightening his features. There was promise in his eyes, and she didn’t want to break away.

  Suddenly the temperature in the room dropped. Micah's skin chilled, and goose-bumps rose on her flesh. It took a moment for her to connect the reaction. Sully whipped his head toward the doorway.

  Afternoon sunshine should have flooded the room with natural light, but now it seemed overcast and gloomy. The atmosphere felt heavy and full of remorse and anger. Theirs? Gripping the front of his shirt, she whispered, "What's happening?"

  Sully moved his body in front of hers, one hand still holding her against the wall. His wary gaze searched the shadowy room. His voice was low and guarded. “Stay behind me.”

  An ethereal form emerged from the adjoining bathroom. The front of the young man’s dress shirt was covered in dark blood. He wore a jacket with a corsage, both of which were covered in gore. His chin, or what was left of it, quivered as he attempted to speak.

  The creepy specter grabbed at Micah. His fingers scraped across her arm, leaving angry red welts. She screamed then ducked down when the thing swiped at her again.

  "Fucking shadows." Sully's free hand snapped up, a glint of metal arcing toward the figure. The shadow's tortured moan dissipated along with its image.

  Micah pulled herself off the floor. Her stomach was knotted, and her knees quivered, threatening to dump her back onto the plush beige carpet. “It touched me!”

  “Never mind that.” Sully's gaze turned toward her. "Who are you, really?"

  Micah stared up at him. "What are you talking about? You know who I am."

  "You aren't the real Micah Munroe." His hand was heavy on her shoulder as he pressed her against the wall once again.

  "I am." She took a deep breath then released it. "Micah."

  His face lowered to within inches of hers. For a fleeting moment, she hoped he might kiss her again. She could still taste him on her tongue and in her mouth. Instead he scowled then straightened to his full height.

  A thick lump of anxiety formed at the back of her throat, and she experienced trouble swallowing. It had been incredibly stupid for her to agree to show houses to him. Squirming beneath his scrutiny, she said, "I have to go. I have another appointment."

  Micah twisted away from him and scurried toward the door. She didn't dare look back until she reached the bottom of the stairs. He was right behind her, studying her and following at a casual pace.

  ****

  Anna was nowhere to be found when Micah returned home. She moped around a bit then finally gave in. She flopped back onto the bed and shouted at the ceiling, “Okay, I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have called you a brat.”

  She listened to the silent house then sighed. There was so much she wanted to tell the teenage ghost. “Come on, Anna. I said I was sorry!”

  Her cell phone vibrated against the nightstand, and Ben’s name came up on the readout. She faltered a moment, wondering whether she should answer. Finally, she snatched it up and said hello.

  Ben’s voice was cautious. “How did it go?”

  “Fine.” Micah answered quickly and tried not to think about the make-out session she’d had with Sully. Her voice was a bit high, so she took a calming breath. “He didn’t like the condo.”

  Ben chuckled. “Listen, I thought maybe I could come over. We could talk?”

  “That’s not a good idea, Ben.” Micah sighed, hating to have this conversation.

  “Maybe we could have dinner, talk about things?”

  “We don’t have anything to talk about, Ben.” Micah’s skin crawled at the idea that there might be something to Diane’s suspicions.

  “It doesn’t have to be like this,” Ben said in a hopeful voice.

  Micah groaned in exasperation. “Look, you’re married to Diane. Aside from work, we’re not going to hang out together.”

  He hung up on her.

  Shortly afterward, Micah located the book she’d started reading a few nights ago. She hated to admit it, but the old Micah’s books intrigued her. Not that she believed in this lovey dovey, happily ever after crap. The lust at first sight though, she totally got that. But this particular book was different from the rest of the stuffy old historicals. This one was about a hot hero who could transform into a werecat at will. How fascinating!

  Her nose had been buried in the book for nearly an hour before Anna finally flickered into existence. Micah glanced up at the teenager then returned to the book. They sat in silence, though it was torture for Micah. There was so much she wanted to say.

  Anna made it easy by speaking first. “Did you mean what you said earlier? About being sorry?”

  Micah smiled. So, Anna had been hanging around after all. She replaced the post-it note she was using as a bookmark then closed the book. The bookmark Anna had knocked beneath the bed was still missing. “Of course.”

  Anna moved a bit closer to lean a shoulder against hers. Micah couldn’t actually feel it. Not like two people really touching, but a tingly sensation raced down her arm. It was cool and numbing, like when her arm fell asleep.

  “What happens when a Reaper leads a spirit to you? Where do you take the spirit?” Micah tossed the book aside.

  Anna’s face scrunched in thought. “I don’t know exactly.”

  “You lead them down that hallway with all the doors, but you don’t go with them? You don’t know what will happen once they go through?”

  Anna’s mouth flapped open then snapped shut. Her brows knit. “No, not exactly. Shepherds aren't privy to that information. It’s unique to each spirit. They go to their special ever-after. We don’t go with them after we take them to the door that’s meant for them. We could be trapped.”

  "And what exactly is a shadow? Are they ghosts or something more?" Micah shivered, remembering the overwhelming anger and sadness tha
t had emanated from the man at the condo. “Can they hurt the living?”

  "Micah."

  “Tell me.”

  "They're spirits that have died before their time or that refuse to cross over. Or sometimes they just can’t for whatever reason." Anna stood to pace the space between the bed and wall. It was quite disconcerting how half her shoulder and hip kept disappearing into the wall. "They're usually pretty pissed off and cause lots of problems. Why?”

  “One tried to attack me today. It touched me.”

  Anna stopped pacing, her expression going from concerned to seriously freaked out. “It touched you? No, that can’t be right. They can affect your thoughts, but I don’t know of them ever touching anyone.”

  "Sully made it disappear." A blush stained Micah's cheeks. What would have happened if the angry spirit hadn't shown up and forced her and Sully apart? Obviously it would have been a mistake, as he'd only asked her to show him houses so he could figure out who she really was.

  "You saw him again?" Anna's features were pinched. "You like flirting with danger, don't you? I'm telling you, he's bad news."

  The muscles in Micah’s shoulders and neck were drawn tight. Feeling she should come clean with her friend, she pointed at the light scratches on her arm. "The spirit came out of nowhere. It came right at me and grabbed my arm.”

  "I can't even touch you." Anna stood at the end of the bed and stared at her own hand. “Then what happened?”

  "Sully slashed it with something that appeared in his hand. Metal, I think. Afterward, it just kind of faded away like fog or something."

  "I told you, he's a Reaper. It was probably a scythe or maybe a sickle," Anna said. “Unfortunately, he can’t get rid of it permanently.”

  Micah frowned, trying to piece it all together. “But it disappeared.”

  “It will come back. Sully’s a Reaper, a taker of life. He reaps the souls of the living. The shadows are already dead. His scythe has no power over them.”