by CJ Ellisson
“You’re going to be a hit we’re you’re going, honey,” he says.
Lisa steps toward him, still firmly holding my hand in case Bebe decides to act like Joanna and attempts to pull her into the beyond.
“She’s a crafty one, Hal. I’d watch myself.”
Hal smiles, coldly cynical and all knowing. “I can handle the likes of her, thank you very much. You’re certainly keeping me busy this week. Do you have my payment?” One elegant eyebrow raises, as if he’s sure she’ll fail on the preferred coinage eventually.
“Right here, you smug bastard.” Lisa tosses him the coin. Her grip tightens on my hand, betraying the confident tone. I admire this strong woman, doing what she’s afraid of despite the risks.
Pretty soon the transaction is complete and we’re alone in the bunker room.
Lisa lets out a loud sigh and runs her hand through her short, spiky blond hair. “That was an experience I hope to never repeat.” She glances to me, undoubtedly seeing the pained look on my face and hastens to add, “Not the part with you and me! That was… incredible. But having a ghost try and penetrate my hoohah?” She shakes her head. “I hope she’s the only one who thinks of that trick in the future.” She shivers. “Brr … talk about scary.
“Every time I think I’ve got a handle on this new gig I get thrown a curve ball of immense proportions.” The young widow approaches me, self-doubt in her eyes. “Thank you. Thank you for being here for me and for ‘taking one for the team.’”
Anger sparks inside me. “Is that what you think?” I grab her hand and place it over my still hard cock. “I want you, Lisa—despite the age difference, despite you being human and me being a vampire, despite there being no chance of a future for us—I want you. Do you understand?”
Her hand closes over my cock and gives it a light squeeze. “Crystal clear, Asa.” She reaches up and voluntarily kisses me, with no threat of a ghost possession to prod her. After a while she pulls back, newfound strength shining in her eyes. “But we have a job to finish first.”
Chapter Thirteen
Lisa
Sweet nibblets, my body is humming from Asa. Not only his touch, but his reaction to me. I hadn’t felt that much heat for over a decade during my hormone induced randy years when I first met my husband. Asa gave me a thigh quivering taste of what it would be like to indulge in my fantasy with him. From my reaction, I’m not sure I’ll survive. But what a way to die.
I smooth my hand down the front of my shirt, trying to collect my thoughts. “How many ghosts are left?”
“There should only be three.” He walks to the wall again and tilts the sconce, causing the door to slide open again. “We’ll need more gold. I’ll grab a few extra in case we run into problems.”
“Good idea.” I follow him into the tiny treasure room. “Who’s left?”
“Deneishia and Melvyn, both werewolves, and Emiko.”
The fact that there are still three spirits to reap unnerves me. “I know I said I didn’t want to know, but why are there so many dead people here?”
His hand hovers against the treasure chest. After a few seconds he looks at me. “We had problems with Ivan and…” He hesitates and I’m not sure I want to hear the rest of his explanation. “Vivian hosted a hunt.”
I shake my head. “What kind of hunt?”
His gaze drifts back to the chest. “A vampire hunt.” He hefts the lid open. “Emiko.”
Did I hear him correctly? Not sure I fully understand, I ask, “You guys hunted Emiko, as in—hunted to kill?”
He nods. “She was a ruthless killer, but if she could survive the hunt she’d earn her freedom from fifteen years in silver chains.” The coins jingle as he scoops up a handful. “Maybe it wasn’t the best idea in the world but she and the elders agreed to it.”
I’m speechless. Most vampire novels I’ve read painted them as violent creatures, but hearing an actual account goes way beyond my comprehension. The differences between Asa’s life and mine once again are glaringly clear. Several retorts linger on the tip of my tongue, most judgmental. But what do I know of his world besides the small slice I’ve seen over the two days? My life is hockey, my kids, and sunshine. His life is timeless— bound to a master vampire, consuming blood to survive, and darkness.
Breaking the tension, I say, “Well, that explains it.”
He glances at me. Something like wariness and relief flickers across his face. “We’d better get going.”
Fine with me. Despite the enjoyment I experienced here, the tunnels feel like they’re closing in on me. I rub my arms to chase away the heavy feeling that’s settled on my soul. “Where to next?”
Asa follows me out of the room and closes the door. “Let’s try the cabins. That’s where Melvyn died. Maybe Deneishia is hanging out there, too.”
“One can hope.”
We make our way through the tunnels to another ladder. Once again Asa leads the way and we eventually exit into a darkened cabin. The place is more rustic and dare I say, smells a little like wet dog.
Instantly I see a scruffy looking guy with brown hair sitting on a couch. Next to him is a dark-skinned beauty. Both look incredibly bored until they realize I’m staring at them.
“’Ello,” says the guy. “What ‘ave we got here?”
His cockney accent takes me by surprise and I smile. “Melvyn?”
“Is he here?” Asa stops beside me and puts his hand on my waist. Maybe in preparation to protect me, or maybe he just wants to touch me again. Either way I’m good with it.
“I think. English guy?” I ask.
“That’s him.” Asa inches closer, his arm going around my waist. “Don’t let him sweet talk you.”
I nod and look at the woman. “You wouldn’t happen to be Deneishia, would you?”
“That’s right.” She looks at Melvyn and back to me. “You can see us?”
I’m surprised they haven’t sensed me, but maybe a Were’s awareness isn’t as strong as a vampire’s. Or maybe they just aren’t controlling possessive creatures like the vampires are. “Yes. My name is Lisa.”
Melvyn stands. “Is this visit social or somethin’ else? Not that I’ll complain when a lovely lass shows up.”
“Thank you, but this isn’t really a social visit.” I fold my hands in front of me, trying to look unthreatening. “Actually, I’m a grim reaper and I’m here to help you crossover.”
Now the woman stands. Her face is a stony mask and I can’t tell if she’ll be cooperative or attack. “What do you mean, crossover?”
“You know—” I fumble for an explanation, not exactly sure what’s in store for the two werewolves. “Heaven.” I don’t add or Hell, figuring that won’t help persuade them to not fight the inevitable. “It’s better than hanging out here for eternity, isn’t it?”
The ghosts look at each other and then Melvyn shrugs. “Can’t be any worse, right? What you think?”
Deneishia isn’t so easily convinced. “At least here we know what to expect.”
“Yes, we do.” Melvyn slides his hand into hers. “Nobody seeing or hearing us. Life going on but we can’t participate. Running and hunting but never catching prey ever again.” He brings her hand to his mouth and kisses her knuckles. “It’s a fate worse than death, love.”
She swallows hard and then looks back at me. “Can we go together?”
More than anything I want to say yes, but I don’t know what happens after the elevator door closes, so I’m honest. “I don’t know, but I can ask.” I exhale and call, “Hal!”
Either the spirits I’m giving him are piquing his interest or the gold is motivating my porter. The pink light instantly appears, stretching and diming until the elevator door slides open. Dressed in orange plaid trousers and jacket, neon yellow boots, and a gigantic pair of pineapple-shaped sunglasses, I have to wonder if Hal is getting his style cues from Elton John or vice-versa. He leans out the elevator, seemingly giddy about being called.
A feral smile curves h
is lips. “I must say, Lisa, I haven’t had this much fun since the Salem witch burnings.”
“Nice, Hal.”
“What the shaggin’ hell is that?” Melvyn asks, pointing at the porter.
“That’s Hal and his elevator. He’ll deliver you to your appointed destination.”
The werewolf ghost laughs. “He’s got style, he does.”
“Thank you.” Hal’s voice drifts across the room and I feel the compulsion he’s sending out. Deneishia takes a step toward him but I block her path.
“Not so fast.” I glance at Asa. “Can I have three gold pieces?” I see his confusion but without questioning me he drops three coins into my hand. I close my fingers around them and hold my fist in the air. “Two gold pieces to transport them and one for you if you keep Melvyn and Deneishia together.”
Hal taps his chin with a long orange fingernail and purses his lips. “Five gold pieces and I will deliver them together and let them keep their wolves.”
His offer takes me by surprise. “What do you mean?”
“Meaning, I’ll deliver them to a place where they can remain in human form or run free as a wolf. The choice will be theirs.”
The offer seems extremely generous but I’m not a werewolf and don’t know if this is acceptable. I turn to the ghosts. “Well?”
They look like kids in a candy store. Melvyn claps his hands together. “When do we leave?”
“Just as soon as I get paid,” Hal says.
Everybody’s eyes level on me. I whisper to Asa, “Please tell me we can pay Hal five coins and still have enough for Emiko.”
Obviously Asa can hear and see Hal. He opens his hand, offering me two more pieces. “Hell yes. The sooner we get this over with the sooner I’m getting into your pants.”
I scoop up the coins and start tossing them at Hal. “All right then, get on board the elevator to paradise.” And hopefully I’d be visiting paradise very soon as well. “Happy trails. Run free. Be wild. See you in the next life.”
The two spirits waste no time boarding the elevator. With an excited wave from Melvyn, the door slides shut, leaving Asa and me alone in the cabin. Both of his arms slide around my body and he pulls my back against him. His breath feathers against my ear and his lips nuzzle against my neck.
“We’re alone,” he mumbles. “Wanna make out?”
I sigh and relax against him. “I’d love nothing more.” Turning, I wind my arms around his neck. “But we’ve got one more ghost to reap and I can’t concentrate until the job is finished.” I brush my mouth against his. “And you don’t want me to be distracted…” My tongue caresses his bottom lip. “Do you?”
He runs a hand up my spine and cups the back of my head, tilting it slightly. His mouth claims mine. I open to him and our tongues meet, sliding along each other. My heart beat quickens and those little flips I used to get when I was young and had a crush on a boy tumble in my stomach. A moan escapes me and all I want is to lose myself in Asa.
As if out of protest my stomach erupts with a complaint that sounds as if I haven’t eaten in days—which would be idiotic, because I’d kill somebody before that happened.
He smiles against my mouth, pulls back slightly and rests his forehead against mine. “Come on, you need to eat.”
For the first time as far as I remember, I want to argue I’m not hungry. But I’m going to need my strength for this last ghost and hopefully for the romp fest with Asa. “Okay.”
Our trip back to the inn is quick. I think I’m starting to memorize part of the tunnels. I knew when we were getting closer and guessed the last half dozen turns correctly. I can’t help but feel this isn’t information Vivian would want an outsider to know, but I’m not going to bring up the subject. Let sleeping vamps lie, as they say—or as I say now that I’ve reaped a kagillion of them.
Back at the inn I’m served a meal that satisfies every fat, cheese lovin’, alcoholic bit of me—a cheeseburger, fries, and a beer. It’s as if someone read my mind. Another thought I don’t want to examine too closely. Ignorance is bliss.
After downing the last of my beer, I stretch and yawn. For Asa the night is young, but the day’s events have wiped me out.
“Tired?” he asks.
I cover my mouth in a feeble attempt to hide my exhaustion. “Sorry. Reaping takes a lot out of me. Especially when they try to possess me.”
“Why don’t you get some sleep? Maybe we can reap Emiko later, or even tomorrow.”
Despite the prospect of having some fun with Asa after the job is finished, I’m missing my kids. Home seems like a million miles away and even though I know they’re fine with my best friend, I’m getting anxious to get home. “Maybe just a nap. We can go out later.”
“Sounds good.”
I prop my elbow on the table and rest my chin on my hand, smiling. “Can I ask you a favor?”
He mirrors my position. “Anything.”
“Will you come to bed with me?”
His eyes widen. “You’re supposed to sleep.”
“I will.” My smile evaporates. “I don’t want to be alone. Not with Emiko still on the loose.”
Without hesitation he stands and holds out his hand. “Come on.”
Boy, I could really get used to having this guy around. Hot, considerate, seems to like kids. I tamp down the disappointment about what can’t be—at least not now, and accept his hand. We head to my room and he closes the door behind us.
It takes a second for my eyes to adjust. “Is it true vampires see in the dark?”
“Yep.”
“What am I doing now?” I stick out my tongue.
“Careful, or I’ll take that as an invitation.”
I laugh. “Okay, it’s true.” I walk to the bed. “Uh, sorry if this is awkward, but I can’t sleep with pants on. I’m a little claustrophobic.”
Suddenly he’s beside me. “You can take off all your clothes as far as I’m concerned.”
“But then I wouldn’t get a nap, would I.”
He gives me a slow, coaxing kiss and then pulls away. “Definitely not.”
I push at his chest and step back. “I’m not saying no. I’m just saying no for now.” I shed my pants, which leaves me in a long t-shirt, and crawl under the covers. I pat the bed. “Come on.”
He turns on the bathroom light and cracks the door an inch. Very deliberately, Asa unzips his pants and steps out of them, and then pulls off his shirt. I frown at him and he smiles. “Just leveling the playing field.”
“Tease.”
Pulling back the covers, he slips in next to me and wraps me in his slightly cooler embrace. “Honey, teasing is the last thing I want to do to you.”
His skin feels good against mine. I swear my body temperature has risen three degrees since I met him. I snuggle against him and sigh. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a man’s arms around me. Even way before my husband died. We had a hands-off practice when it came to actually sleeping. He stayed on his side of the bed and I stayed on mine. But with Asa that’s not what I want.
My eyes drift shut and I’m asleep within minutes.
When my eyes flutter open a few hours later, he’s still there, still wrapped around me, still keeping me safe. Even though I didn’t move he must have sensed when I awoke.
“Sleep well?”
“Better than I have in a long time.” I lift my head and look at the clock. “Ten.” My head drops back to the pillow. “Dang, I was really tired.”
Asa doesn’t move to get up, but his hand slides up my arm. It would be so easy to turn over and make love to him right now. Giving in a little, I do roll to face him. The red numbers from the digital clock reflect in his eyes. His stare is intense and it takes my breath away.
“I really want you, Lisa.”
Usually I’d come back with some coy comment but humor escapes me, because I want what he wants. Skin against skin. “One more ghost and I’m all yours.” He pushes me to my back, covering my body with his. I spread my legs and
he settles between them. God he feels good. His erection presses against me. “You’re not making this easy.”
“I know.” His mouth captures mine and his hand creeps up my ribs to cup my breast. “That’s what I’m hoping for.”
His thumb strums my nipple, bringing it to a tight peak. A whimper of desire and angst escapes me. I run my hands down his back and over his tight buns. They’re just as nice to touch as they are to look at. Unable to help myself I grind against him and open my mouth in invitation.
He accepts and for a few minutes we’re lost in a cloud of sensual caresses and kisses. To my surprise, Asa draws back first. “Listen, if we go much further I’m not going to be able to stop. Good news is you don’t have to worry about disease or getting pregnant.” He grins at me wickedly in the semi-darkness.
A glimmer of light from the clock glints off the top of his fang. Oh yeah, that’s hot, but he’s right. I’m not sure what kind of shape I’m going to be in, so I’d rather reap this last ghost and then let the chips—or clothes—fall where they may. “Then we’d better stop.” I use my own argument on him, certain the sliver of doubt I place will be enough to give us both the willpower we need to get dressed. “Because if I have to rest for a few days after we make love, I don’t want to worry about Emiko.”
His body tenses and stares at me. “Do you think… that us being together will be to rough?”
I squeeze his ass and wrap my legs around his thighs. “If we do it right.”
A slow smile spreads across his mouth and his body relaxes. “Let’s go reap this bitch.”
In an instant he’s off the bed and getting dressed. “Uh, okay.” I shove the covers the rest of the way off. “Nothing like a little enthusiasm.”
The rasp of his zipper hisses through the darkness. “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
That spurs on my own efforts to get dressed. Within minutes we’re out the door and back in the tunnels, practically running. “You got the gold?” I huff out.
“Yep.” He slows to a brisk walk. “Three pieces in case Hal decides to barter.”
We continue down tunnel after tunnel. “Tell me about Emiko.”