HauntingMelodyStClaire

by Ditter Kellen

“Are you going to tell him about this?”

  She shook her head.

  Melody reached out and touched her hand. “What have you done?”

  “It doesn’t matter.”

  “You can’t keep stuff like this from Travis. What you do is dangerous enough, and I know you worked hard.”

  “I didn’t want to burden him right now.” She sat forward on the couch. “He’s been torn up for weeks. I’ve never seen him like this.”

  Melody froze, staring at her. “Weeks?”

  Kassa tilted her head. “How long do you think it’s been?”

  “An hour, maybe?” Time passes differently here. “How long was I gone?”

  “Over two months.” She braced her elbow on a knee and propped up her chin.

  Melody turned her attention back to the mantle. Two months? “I have to see him. Why am I here? I tried to go back to the house.”

  “I don’t know. Are you staying this time?”

  “Yes.”

  Kassa grabbed her arm. “Be sure. He may not be alive to you, but he is to me. I love him.”

  Love him? She clenched her fist and became aware of a cold wind around them.

  “I guess you don’t remember everything.” Kassa rose from the couch. “Before you freeze me out or catch something on fire, why don’t you take a look above the fireplace and tell me what you see.”

  Melody blinked in wonder and the pain in her chest eased. So did the pressure around her. She moved to study the pictures. One caught her attention and she peered closer. Travis stood with an obviously pregnant woman. His smile had a carefree lift that did something strange to her heart. “Who is she?”

  Kassa reached for the frame and lifted it from the mantle. “My mother.”

  Melody’s mouth fell open. “You’re his daughter.” Shock made her body tremble.

  “I never met him while he was alive, and this is the only photo I have of her.”

  “Did they die in the car crash?”

  Kassa returned the frame back to its home. “No. Dad was on his way to the hospital when he wrecked. My mom bailed on me two days after my birth and my grandparents took me in.”

  It was heartbreaking. “She left you?” No wonder he wouldn’t cross over. What kind of woman could abandon her baby after the father’s death?

  Kassa shrugged. “Mother of the year, right? I had Dad though. He was the first face I remember.” She touched the glass of the picture. “Of course, I didn’t find out how special that was until I was six.” She winked. “Turns out talking to your dead father isn’t considered normal. Who knew?”

  Melody reached for her, but Kassa stepped away. “I’m sorry. I wish there was something I could do.”

  A hint of her earlier anger touched her smile. “Go over to the house and kick his ass out of this funk. He’s wrecking the place.”

  She nodded.

  Kassa touched her arm. “The people he loves always leave without saying goodbye. It kind of runs in the family. You know?”

  Melody’s fingers slid over the locket and she smiled. “Here.” She took the necklace off. “My grandmother gave this to me. She’d kick my ass if I didn’t bring it back. Keep it for me, will you?” She handed it to her. Kassa’s fingers wrapped around the locket and Melody closed her eyes.

  Travis.

  Her stomach lurched in another whirl of disorientation.

  She reached out to catch her balance and blinked to clear her vision. It took a moment to recognize the living room through the wreck of furniture and debris scattered around. Travis stood with his back to her, a faded silhouette against the light pouring through the window.

  Melody’s heart thundered and she drew in a slow breath, trying to calm her nerves. Would he yell at her? Send her away?

  “Travis.” Her voice cracked.

  His body jerked and he slowly turned. A chill wind whipped up around them, swirling shredded paper on the floor.

  Pressure increased in the room and she brushed her palms against her jeans.

  “You left.” The words tore from his throat, ragged and full of fury.

  Her heart ached, knowing she’d hurt him. She held up her hands. “I’m back.”

  He disappeared for a split second. She sucked in a breath and he had her against the wall. His fingers dug into her arms. Anger and sorrow poured off him in waves. She pressed her palms against his chest.

  “You’re not here. It’s impossible.” His gaze pierced her.

  “I am. I came back.” She reached up and cupped his face. “I didn’t want to leave you. Is it too late?”

  He said nothing. Just stared at her with a tormented expression.

  “Say something, Travis. I don’t know what—”

  His mouth slanted over hers. Heat blazed through her body. They clung to each other in desperation. His lips burned a path along her jaw. “You’re here.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t remember the past two years.”

  “That doesn’t matter. We’ll make new memories.” He shook his head and nipped at her throat.

  “I remember everything.”

  He froze against her. She pulled his face up so they were at eye level. “I remember the first time I saw you. Every moment since then is alive in my mind.”

  “I was so afraid we’d made a mistake, bringing you to this form. But when I could touch you…” He cupped her face. “I thought I could handle anything if I could just touch you.”

  “I would have found a way. Nothing would have kept me from being with you.” She pressed his hand against her cheek. “You are everything to me.”

  He brushed his mouth across hers in a slow tasting. “How are you here?”

  “I was given a choice. Time passes differently there. I didn’t know I’d been gone so long.”

  He groaned and tilted his head, deepening the kiss. Travis stroked and teased with his tongue and lips until her hands trembled from clenching his shirt. He scorched a path down her throat, sending currents of pleasure through her body with his mouth. She dug her nails into his shoulders and he groaned. His hand brushed across her left breast, bringing her nipple to a hard point. She wanted him to linger, but he continued a slow path down her body. He cupped her sex, grinding the jeans against her wet heat.

  She arched against his touch, thrilling in the warm sensations only Travis could coax from her with the lightest caress. “Our clothes…”

  He trapped her wrists above her head and pulled away. She could see the wicked fire in the depths of his eyes. “Think naked.” His sexy half-smile made her stomach twist in happiness.

  “Naked, huh?”

  “I’m serious.” His mouth hovered over hers. “Imagine yourself completely nude.” He growled low, his tongue wetting her bottom lip.

  “Your voice should be outlawed.” She had to clear her throat to speak.

  “Let me see you, Melody.” He rubbed his nose against hers. “Let me believe you’re really here.” Emotion thickened his voice and she could see how much he wanted her in his gaze.

  Suddenly she didn’t want anything between them, not ever again. Think naked thoughts. She grinned. Her bare breasts pressed against his chest and her sensitive nipples tightened to aching points. Her laugh was breathless. “I did it.”

  He took her lips in another kiss. The caressing wind he’d used so many times lifted her and she wrapped her legs around his waist. She couldn’t get close enough. His warm skin slid along her inner thighs and she hooked her legs around his firm ass. His muscles flexed and she wanted him inside her. Now.

  She inhaled, loving the masculine scent so unique to Travis. She wanted to lick her way down his big body and wrap her tongue around the head of his dick. “Travis, let me taste you.”

  He growled against her skin, but continued his sensual onslaught of her body. She had a moment to gasp before the head of his cock slid just within her wet slit.

  “Not fair.” Her complaint was barely audible. He slid deeper, stretching her around him in sweet agony. She t
ried to arch her hips.

  “I never said I’d be fair.” He grinned and thrust.

  She cried out in pleasure, aching, craving more. Her teeth scraped against his skin. A power she’d never noticed before rushed through her and out, melting him against her. His hand slid between their bodies. “Bite me, Melody. Don’t hold back.” His words snapped her control and she sank her teeth into him while she desperately ached to be free.

  His fingers thrummed her clit in a rhythm that stole her breath. Her body moved on its own, taking and giving, stroking him with her thoughts.

  Travis gripped her hips, slamming into her with every thrust. Melody dug her nails into his broad shoulders to use as leverage while she adjusted to the rhythm he set. Travis lifted her higher and hooked his arms under her legs. His big hands held her ass so his cock sat at the entrance to her pussy. She tried to move but he tightened his hold, keeping her in place. She stared down at where their bodies met. A dark thrill slid through her. Ghost or not, she loved the way he moved her around.

  Melody groaned in frustration.

  “Look at me.” The demand was low and husky.

  Melody raised her gaze and was caught by the mixture of love and lust she found there.

  “You’re gonna love this.” He slammed her down on his cock and she cried out. It was too much, too intense and she squeezed her eyes shut while fire blazed a path where Travis was thrusting into her. “Open your eyes.” It was a demand. She did, overwhelmed by the unshed tears she saw swimming in his.

  “You’re mine, Melody. Say it.”

  “Yes.” Pressure rose at the base of her spine and she nearly cried in pleasure-filled agony. “Yours.”

  He rode her to the brink of sanity. “Come for me. Now.”

  Her orgasm was brutal, tearing through her so hard she screamed in pure bliss. Wave after wave of pleasure contracted her inner muscles around his cock, leaving her unable to do anything but ride it out. His name slipped past her lips. Travis threw back his head and thrust deep with a guttural cry. He pulsed inside her while his body shuddered. The warmth of his release filled her and she reveled in it.

  Her arms came around him while he eased them down to the floor and wrapped her around his body.

  She wanted to run her fingers through his hair and down his side, but could only lie motionless against him, a perfect sandwich between the man she loved and the wall.

  “I thought I’d lost you at the cemetery.” She could hear the agony in his voice.

  Melody held him against her, running her fingers through his hair. “I didn’t know so much time had passed.”

  “You took my heart with you when you left.”

  “You are my heart. I didn’t want eternity without you.” Tears formed and spilled over. “I’m back. If you’ll have me.”

  He kissed her, an incredible, searing kiss that left her panting. “I nearly crossed over to find you.”

  Melody caressed his face. “And leave Kassa alone? I would never ask that of you.”

  “She doesn’t need me.” He rubbed his cheek against hers. “Look what I’ve turned into.”

  “You’re wrong, Travis, she will always need you.” She hesitated to mention the way she’d found Kassa but wanted no more secrets between them. “She started working cases alone.”

  “What? How do you know?”

  “She’s a bit banged up. A couple of bruises.”

  He started to pull away and she stopped him. “I’d call first. She tried to take out my head with a baseball bat for breaking your heart. I don’t think you’d stand a chance.”

  “She’s angry with me.”

  “Furious.”

  He hesitated and gave her a quick kiss. “Stay here.” He flashed away and she could hear his voice from the kitchen. Melody heard several attempted apologies before he got off the phone. It took a moment and he was back with a wry grin on his face and a flush on his cheeks. “Yep, she’s pissed.”

  “But she’s safe.”

  “She is and happy for us. I had to call her cell. They’re not as easy as a land line because it takes a lot of concentration for us to communicate through wireless.” He wrapped his arms around her. “The joys of modern technology.”

  Melody grinned. “She didn’t threaten bodily harm?”

  He shrugged. “Well, she let me know if I wrecked her house again she was going to do all kinds of terrible things.” He sighed. “I have no idea where her aggressive tendencies come from.”

  Melody glanced around at the destruction in the room and thought it best to say nothing. “I would never keep you from your family. She’s your daughter, and that’s a precious thing.”

  The distinct pop of the record player starting up surprised her. “You’re going to have to show me how to do that.”

  “Hmmm.” He said nothing, just pulled her into his arms. The first familiar strums of a guitar had her smiling. Conway Twitty crooned about starry skies and moonlight on the ground while Travis sang in her ear and pressed butterfly kisses against her skin.

  It took a moment to realize her cheeks were wet with tears. Her heart spilled over with happiness. “I love you, Travis Santiago.”

  He stopped their dance and looked at her in wonder. “That’s the first time I’ve heard you say it since…”

  She nodded and wiped her tears away.

  “I love you too.” He brushed her damp cheeks with his thumbs. “I’ve loved you since the first time you told me to leave you alone in the charred ruins of that house.”

  “Persistent. I like that.”

  He walked her backward and she could feel the energy around her thrum to life.

  “You’re going to have to teach me all this ghost stuff.”

  His smile was wicked. He spun her around and it took a moment to realize they were twisting up in the air. She gasped and dug her nails in his forearms. “No time like the present.”

  Melody beamed at the man who had brought her back to life. To who she once was. “So what do we do now?”

  “I have some chains upstairs that we could rattle.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

  “Worst come-on in the history of ghost-dom. There goes the neighborhood.”

  “Well, they’re already scandalized by the floating sunhat and basket by the lemon tree.”

  She gasped in surprise. “Oh God.” She smacked his bare chest then covered her mouth. “You were out there with me. I must have freaked out the neighbors.”

  He laughed and held her against him. “I love you, Melody St. Claire. Don’t you ever leave me again.”

  “Never.” She kissed him, pouring everything she had into it. Nothing could keep them apart.

  Their laughter echoed throughout the house. Kassa leaned against the doorjamb and smiled, sending a special thank-you prayer to the powers that be for her late arrival. No daughter should ever hear her father, dead or not, having sex. It was bad enough sensing the sexual energy they’d left behind. She quietly slipped out the door and brushed the locket around her throat. Love wasn’t dead, after all.

  About Dawn Montgomery

  Dawn writes to give her mind a break from the voices clamoring to tell their stories. She has traveled the world twice over. While her days were filled with long hours and hard work, her nights were left for dark, lustful fantasies in and out of strange hotels and cities.

  Alaska and Texas are the places she calls home. She currently resides in the frigid north with her family, neurotic dog, and the moose and bear that encroach on her land.

  About Ditter Kellen

  I'm a 911 dispatcher turned romance author. I have been in love with romance for over twenty years. To say I'm addicted to reading is an understatement. My ebook reader is an extension of me and holds many of my fantasies and secrets. It's filled with dragons, shifters, vampires, ghosts and many more jaw-dropping characters who keep me entertained on a daily basis. My love of paranormal and outrageous imagination have conspired together to bring me where I am today…sitting in front of my compute
r allowing them free rein. Writing is my passion, what I was born to do. I hope you will enjoy reading my stories as much as I love spinning them. I reside in Florida with my son and a guinea pig named Shadow. I adore French fries and my phone is permanently attached to my ear.

  The authors welcome comments from readers. You can find their websites and email addresses on their author bio pages at www.ellorascave.com.

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  Also by Dawn Montgomery

  Primal Hunger

  Ellora’s Cave Publishing

  www.ellorascave.com

  Haunting Melody St. Claire

  ISBN 9781419946523

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Haunting Melody St. Claire Copyright © 2013 Dawn Montgomery & Ditter Kellen

  Edited by Grace Bradley

  Cover design and photography by Syneca

  Model: Austin

  Additional cover photography by Peter Dedeurwaerder/Shutterstock.com

  Electronic book publication May 2013

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