by Dana Davis
She had been hesitant to fulfill this fantasy of Jay’s but now that she was here, she actually enjoyed the thrill of being out in the open. She hadn’t had sex outside like this in years. Jay felt hard against her leg and she stroked him again, enjoying the soft skin that surrounded his erection. Crickets chirruped as he shifted his weight and moved on top of her. He slid down between her legs and she opened them to accommodate him. Jay’s tongue worked its typical magic and got fully aroused. He ran his tongue up her thigh and stomach, until he reached her breasts, then teased her nipples with his teeth until she thought she might burst.
He slid in easily, given how wet she was right now. And she caressed his muscular back as he moved inside her, enjoying the feel of his bare skin against those taut muscles. He smelled of soap and sweat with a touch of whatever expensive cologne he had put on this morning. Jay wasn’t one to wear the same scent two days in a row. And he never wore anything cheap.
He kissed her neck, sending another jolt of pleasure through her. “Harder,” she said. He thrust harder, both trying their best to keep quiet. The exhilaration of being out in the open fueled Bridgette’s desire now. Sex in public. Bridgette McDougal, you’re such a slutty witch.
She once tried sex on a beach in California, but it wasn’t as romantic as it looked in the movies. Sand was a bitch to bare skin, especially in sensitive areas.
This is so much better. Nearby crickets had resumed their chirruping once they realized the fornicating couple wasn’t a threat, and Bridgette let herself enjoy the moment. The cool air, the smell of greenery, the crickets, the occasional high-pitched cry of a coyote in a nearby wash, Jay’s quiet grunts and the weight of him on top of her.
They got into a familiar rhythm and soon both climaxed, rocking with waves of pleasure. Unlike some men she’d been with, Bridgette always reached climax with Jay inside her. Sex would never be as good as it had been with Simon, but Jay was a pretty close second. And she was with him because she wanted to be, not because of some siren’s thrall.
He rolled off, collapsing onto the blanket, and they both giggled like kids. A cool breeze caused goose bumps on Bridgette’s naked skin and she shivered. Jay pulled her close and she wrapped herself around him as they lay enjoying the post-sex bliss.
A car drove past on the nearby street, headlights bouncing off the various desert shrubs that lined the sidewalk.
When it slowed, Bridgette sat up. “Shit.” She flipped her head the parking lot where her convertible sat. It’s still hidden. When the strange car turned into the apartments across the street, she blew out a quick breath. The last thing we need is to get arrested for indecent exposure. What the hell were you thinking, Bridgette? You and Jay are too old to be doing shit like this. But it was damn fun. A sudden rustling sound caught her ears and she heard a dog bark. A deep one. Fuck! “Someone’s coming.”
No time to dress, so they snatched up their clothes and hid behind the tree. Why the hell can’t desert trees have bigger trunks?
Jay had grabbed the blanket and he wrapped it around their naked bodies. She pulled him close and told him to stay quiet, then she uttered a cover spell. Since it was in the same family as a cloaking spell, any witch with moderate power could cast the two spells in succession. The static climbed and she wondered if Jay felt the up-tick. They would appear invisible to anyone looking their way, but the air around them waved like an asphalt street on a hot afternoon and anyone close enough would be able to see that distortion. It was dark and there wasn’t much illumination with the nearest light in the middle of the parking lot.
I sure as hell hope it’s too dark for anyone to spot us.
Her heart hammered in her chest when the dog began to bark again and pulled his owner, a middle-aged man, toward the tree. She and Jay remained stock still. Bridgette held her breath. Go away, you stupid mutt. What I wouldn’t give to have reverse empath abilities right about now.
“Hush, girl. What is it?” The man looked up into the branches of the large mesquite. “Something in that tree?” He was so close that Bridgette could reach around the rough trunk and touch him.
The dog moved closer and stuck its nose against Bridgette’s naked thigh. She knew exactly where that muzzle was headed next. I’m not into that, you idiot mutt. Get the hell away from me. She poised her middle finger against her thumb, ready to thump the dog’s nose to discourage it.
“Come on, girl.” The man tugged the reluctant dog away from the tree. “Probably just a squirrel or something. Let’s go home. Come on.” He made kissing noises and the dog finally trotted after him. They headed started across the parking lot toward the street, much to Bridgette’s relief.
She shivered, more from adrenaline than the cold. As soon as the man was out of view, she uttered a counter spell to dissipate the cover spell she had cast and struggled back into her clothes as quickly as she could manage.
Jay seemed unfettered as he got dressed. “We should do this again sometime.”
“Like hell we should.”
“Oops, your car is making a comeback.”
She looked over to see her white BMW convertible shimmer as it came into view. Thankfully, no one else was around to see it. But then, any mortals who witnessed such an event usually came up with a logical explanation, like they just didn’t notice a car in that spot.
“Come on.” She grabbed the blanket and the two hurried to her car.
Jay gave up spurts of laughter and made lewd comments the short ride back to their condo complex, causing Bridgette to snicker along with him. Now that the danger was over, she felt fine. Better than fine, in fact.
Maybe we should do that again. She kept a smile on her lips as she pulled into the lot and parked outside the office in one of the guest spots.
Jay and his mother had built this complex and they managed it now, renting out the majority of the condos. A few, like the townhouses on the east end, they kept for paranormals only. Sometimes the Abbey’s actually sold a unit to a paranormal they trusted and who had sufficient cash funds. Bridgette had purchased her townhome that way.
She eyed a young couple, who got out of a car several spots down and began walking toward the other end of the complex, where the mortals lived. Mortals are so clueless. Myths and fairytales are all they know about us, and most don’t even believe those. She could imagine the chaos if they ever learned the truth. Would probably make the Burning Times look like a fucking day at Disneyland.
She thought briefly about Cousin Zoey and how the girl’s maternal line had powers beyond anything Bridgette had imagined just a couple of months ago. With those like Zoey on our side, paranormals might just win if it ever came down to a fight. Let’s just hope mortals stay oblivious to us. They’re very good at that.
“Your place has a garage, you know?” Jay said, bringing her gaze back from the young mortal couple.
“Yeah, but my mom’s there, remember?” She turned off the engine. “Maybe I should stay at your place tonight.”
He chuckled. “I’m all for that but won’t your mom just keep calling you? I mean, she does know where I live.” When she didn’t answer him, he leaned over and gave her a sensual kiss.
After a moment, she pulled back and offered a seductive look. She jumped when someone stepped to her door, and she turned on the person, ready to cast a trussing spell. The tall figure simply stared down at her. “Liam? Shit! We’ve been looking for you? What’re you doing here?” He didn’t answer, just stood there staring at her, a look of confusion on his face. “Are you okay?” Again, he said nothing. “Jay, help me get him in the car.”
Liam wore the sweat pants and tee shirt she’d last seen him in. He still looked way too thin but at least his skin was starting to look healthier since coming out of his stupor.
Jay touched her arm after they got Liam settled in the backseat. “How did he find out where you live?”
“I don’t know. Wait. Yes, I do. I told him about it when he was still – you know. He must’ve remembered it.” B
ridgette looked down at Liam’s feet as he sat in the back of her convertible with his hands on his lap. “Liam, where are your shoes?” He shrugged.
She and Jay got back in the car and she drove around the corner to her garage, pulled in and killed the engine. She reached back and rested a hand on Liam’s arm. “Are you okay? What happened? How did you get here?” Did he walk all the way from the hospital? In bare feet. “Did you take a bus?” But she didn’t think he had any money on him. Useless in the hospital. “Liam, did somebody give you a ride?”
His glazed eyes told her he wouldn’t be answering those questions just now. His brows furrowed, creating wrinkles. “Bridgette?”
“Yes.”
“Is this your place? Did I find it?”
“Yeah. Why don’t we get inside?” She got out, tossed Jay her keys, and helped Liam out of the car. Jay led the confused man inside, and she pressed the garage door button to close it and followed them.
Her mother sat with Cousin Brendon on the couch, wearing a thin robe over her silk pajamas. I should’ve known she’d wait up for me. Some old black and white movie flickered on the television. Bridgette got a glimpse of Margaret O’Hara and almost laughed. Wonder what she bribed Brendon with to get him to watch that with her?
Her mom turned to her. “There you are, Bridgette. I was getting worried. Hi, Jay. Who’s this?”
“Mom, this is Liam.” Bridgette put her phone on a silver tray that sat on her kitchen island’s concrete countertop, and Jay dropped her keys in next.
“Oh, I’m glad you found him.” Marge’s tired eyes moved up and down the thin man. “Hi, Liam.” When the thin man didn’t answer, she shot a questioning look at Bridgette.
Bridgette led Liam to a chair. “He was outside when we got home. I think he might have walked here. Jay, would you get him a glass of water? Have you eaten, Liam?” She rested a hand on his arm. “Liam, did you eat dinner?”
“I don’t remember. But I’m hungry.”
“I’ll make him a sandwich,” Jay said from the kitchen.
“Thanks. I better call the hospital. Let them know he’s safe.” She didn’t get one step when a hand closed on her forearm. “Liam? What is it?”
“He came for me.”
She crouched beside his chair. He seemed to have regressed quite a bit from the last visit and that bothered her. A lot. Over the years, he’d become like family to her. A secret family member I didn’t tell anyone about. “Who came for you?”
“He’s bad. The things he wants. I told him no but he tried to make me.”
A chill ran up Bridgette’s spine. “Who, Liam? Who’s bad?”
Those blue eyes moved to her and he brushed a shaky hand through hair with more white than blonde in it. “I don’t know who he is. He came to the hospital.” Jay handed him a glass of water and he downed it then held the glass in his lap, thumbs caressing the lip. “I tried to call out to Hattie. Or anyone. But he – I don’t know – it felt like he was drowning me.” He offered a wan smile as he stared at the glass in his hands. “I fought him. He didn’t like that I could fight him and he got mad. Said he’d find someone else. Then the bad man left.”
By this time, Jay, Bridgette’s mom, and Cousin Brendon had their full concentration on Liam and he seemed distracted by all the attention.
“Liam, look at me.” Bridgette reached up and cupped his chin, turning his head to her. “What does this bad man want?”
“He wants to get strong. He likes to kill. He wants Daisy.”
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* * * *
Chapter 19
Into the Night
Daisy woke up when the landline rang and blinked to rid her eyes of sleep. Perky let out a cursory yip.
Noah stirred beside her and groaned. “Who’s calling so late?” He moved from the bed, flipped on the lamp, and picked up the receiver. “Hello?” A pause. “What? No, we’re fine.” He looked at Daisy. “She’s right here. It’s Bridgette.”
Daisy took the phone. “What’s wrong, Bridge?”
“We found Liam.” From the noise she heard through the phone, Daisy guessed her cousin was calling from her car.
“Oh, that’s good.”
“No it’s not. I mean, yes, it’s good we found him, but he said something tried to take him over. And it’s coming after you.”
Daisy’s heart jack hammered against her ribs. “The hitchhiker?” But it can’t be strong enough to take a paranormal, yet. Can it? And why go after Liam? He’s not a strong paranormal.
“That’d be my guess. We’re on our way to your place.”
“Did you tell your mom?”
“Yes. She and Cousin Brendon are at Fay’s now. They’re putting wards around her condo, just in case, and will do Jay’s next. We already did my place. I called Zoey too.”
Daisy breathed a sigh of relief. “Good.” At least none of her family had been killed.
“Get Scarlet up and tell her what’s going on.”
“Okay. Be careful.” Daisy pressed the phone off and handed the receiver back to Noah, who put it on the cradle. “She thinks the hitchhiker came after Liam.”
“Shit. Is he okay?”
“Yeah.” She got up and started dressing and Noah followed her lead. “Bridge said it wants me now.”
“What? Daisy, I don’t like this.”
“Hey, at least we know where it’s headed.” She smiled, trying to lighten the tension, but her insides quivered at the thought of that thing coming after her, using her body as a host for some disgusting killing spree.
“Not funny, Daisy. But I thought it had to kill more mortals before it was even strong enough.”
“Probably why Liam’s still alive.”
“Why Liam? I mean, I thought it stayed away from mediums. And isn’t the bond with a paranormal permanent?”
“I asked myself those same questions. Liam’s not a medium anymore so maybe it got confused.” When she saw movement behind the dresser mirror, she realized they’d forgotten to put the sheet back on. Not now. She motioned her husband over and he helped her cover the mirror, then she scooped up Perky as she headed for the door. Scarlet was already dressed and standing in the hallway when Daisy opened the door, making her jump.
“I got the news,” the medium said.
“Did Bridgette call you? Because she told me to tell you about it.”
“Not from Bridgette. My sources are a little more gossipy.”
“Oh, right. Anybody I know?”
“Actually, yes. She wears white and calls herself Gertrude.”
“Gerty!” Daisy grinned and looked around. “Where is she?”
“Checking out some leads for me. So, I’m guessing you met her when you crossed over.”
“Yep. She helped me look for my mom’s soul.” Daisy followed Scarlet down the hall and into the family room. She flipped on the lights as she passed the switch.
The large woman from the all-white house had been a great help. Well, after she trapped Daisy in her shed and finally let her out again. But she’d been under duress at the time. Rebecca had threatened to harm Gerty’s nephew, to have a Charon reaper soulnap the boy and hide him like she did with Penny, if she didn’t keep Daisy captive.
Despite what Bridgette had told her about the hitchhiker and Liam, Daisy couldn’t help smiling. “She’s a good one to have on our side, Scarlet. She knows a lot of peop – souls. If anyone can get information for you, it’s Gerty.”
“That’s what she said.”
Daisy chuckled. “She loves a good mystery.”
“She said that too.”
“So, I guess you were right about the hitchhiker wanting me.”
Scarlet flinched slightly, not the reaction Daisy expected. “I’d hoped I was wrong. And if he’s been killing again, he’ll be stronger.”
Fantabulous. “Wait. He?”
“It’s using men so it was most likely a male in this life. And I get tired of saying ‘it’ all the time.”
“Oh.”
Makes sense. Psycho killers are usually men. An image of Lizzie Borden flashed in her mind. Not always, though. “If he was a man when he was alive, won’t he want a male paranormal too?” Her heart raced at the thought of Noah getting taken over by that thing.
“No. It craves power above all else for the final merger. The sex won’t matter.”
The doorbell rang, sending Daisy’s heart into a near coronary. Perky barked and she hushed him with a gentle admonition. “That’ll be Bridgette.”
Noah and Scarlet followed her to the front door, where she let Bridgette, Jay and Liam inside. The tall, skinny man with mostly white hair looked confused and timid.
Well, of course he does. He’s still fifteen in his mind and just had a run-in with a hitchhiker. I can’t imagine how terrifying that must be. Daisy hoped Liam would eventually get his playfulness back, the side she’d seen in the afterlife. She gave him a gentle nudge. “How’s it hanging, Chesh?” A smile crooked the corners of his mouth but it didn’t last. “Come in and sit down. Are you hungry?” She hooked an arm in his and led him through the kitchen and into the family room.
Liam petted Perky, whose wagging tail kept hitting Daisy’s elbow as she carried him. “I ate a sandwich.” He took a seat at the dining table.
Bridgette touched Daisy’s arm. “We’re staying here tonight and I’d like to get some wards up.”
Daisy looked at Scarlet. “Do you think wards can detect a hitchhiker?”
“If they detect ghosts. But can you set it only for him? Because if you can’t, your spell’s alarm, or whatever you call it, will go off every time a dead soul comes through.”