Haunt My Heart

by Medley, Lisa

  Maintaining his rhythm, he stroked in and out of her slick heat, the pressure building down low as the rest of his body tensed in anticipation of the impending consummation. Before he could climax, Sarah’s walls wrenched around his shaft, stopping his progress with the powerful contraction.

  “Wait,” Sarah demanded. “Sit up, on the couch.”

  Reluctant, Tanner obeyed, pressing his bare back and ass against the soft upholstery, the head of his cock pulsing and weeping in protest as he worked mentally to stave off the inevitable. Sarah stood before him, in relief with the firelight illuminating her from behind so that a yellow/orange glow radiated and flickered around her like an aura.

  Surprising him, she crawled onto his lap and straddled him, grasping the couch back with her hands, her breasts swinging enticingly within easy reach of his eager mouth. He licked one nipple, and she arched closer to him, encouraging him to continue. His hands slid along the curves between her ribs and hips—a perfect fit—but he wanted more and he continued downward to grasp her buttocks. Purposefully, she positioned her folds just so against the back of his shaft and slowly punished him by working herself down the outside of his erection, obstinately avoiding his sensitive head.

  Tanner’s head snapped back against the couch at the acute agony. His hands stilled their roaming, finding hard purchase, his thumbs burrowing into the hollows of her hips when her folds finally parted and she impaled herself upon him.

  She rode him like a slowing carousel horse, up and down in the slowest, most punishing of paces. Helpless to do much more than continue to be the willing recipient of her ministrations, he did finally unclench one hand from her hip and massage his thumb across her nub on each uptick of her canter.

  Soon her rampant breathing matched his own. Their pleasure culminated, first hers, and her walls constricted around his member one final time, and then he reached his own terminus. Sarah collapsed against him, settling her slight weight within his lap, her breasts crushing against his chest, and he settled his face against her damp neck. Tightening his arms around her, he clung to her, refusing to allow any separation between them for as long as he could maintain his hold.

  Ever, it seemed, was a much shorter time than one would expect.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Sarah wasn’t surprised to see several missed calls from Agent Sykes the next morning. His messages indicated he was still trapped in paperwork and bureaucracies of his Maryland office after Jason’s shooting, but promised a personal visit soon. She was actually touched with his concern, although she knew his ultimate goal was to sleuth out more concerning Tanner and the Brothers of Peril. She was also thankful no other officers had shown up at her door for follow-up.

  She and Tanner had made love several times during a long and lazy day together. As the sun set, Tanner became more distant and had spent the past few hours bent over a fresh notebook, reconstructing the code key for the grimoire. Neither of them knew if it was the right thing to do, but it was a secret too important to take to the grave…again.

  The thought of Tanner vanishing—for good this time—turned her stomach cold. The short time she’d spent with him, despite the tumultuous events, had filled a void in her she hadn’t known existed. Leave it to her to finally find Mr. Right and he wasn’t even human. Anymore.

  Miraculously, Tanner’s corporeality had held, and he was very much real. Very much alive. And very much one hundred percent male, sitting at her desk, filling a notebook with secrets that could change the future course of history.

  There was that.

  Ellie had called several times earlier in the day to check in, and Sarah had reassured her they would be at Chatham in a few hours to complete the ritual. The longer she sat in her living room watching Tanner work, the less she wanted to make the short drive. It felt like a death march. She could only imagine what it felt like to Tanner, yet he’d not expressed any uncertainty or regret. Still, the ritual sat between them almost like a physical thing in the room.

  Restless, she called ahead to the café a block down from her apartment and placed their takeout order. Tanner was so engrossed in his work, he didn’t even notice.

  “Tanner,” she said, squeezing his shoulder and breaking the spell he’d fallen under.

  His head snapped around and his bloodshot eyes shot up to meet her own. “Is it time? Already?”

  “Not yet. I ordered us some food. I’m going to run down and get it. I’ll be back in fifteen minutes.”

  “Thank you, dear one. That would be lovely.”

  She leaned down and brushed a kiss across his forehead.

  When she stepped outside, she noticed Adam walking to his apartment

  “Sarah, I’m so sorry to hear about Jason. Ellie told me everything. I’m glad you’re okay,” Adam said.

  Sarah doubted Ellie had told Adam everything, but appreciated the sentiment. “Thank you, Adam.”

  “Is there anything I can do for you?”

  Sarah pulled the door closed behind her, so Adam wouldn’t see Tanner working. “Um, I ordered food. Any chance you could run down to the café and pick it up for me?”

  “Sure.”

  She handed him her cash, and he hustled out. As she waited outside the door for him to return, she marveled that she’d forgotten about the tether’s boundary already. This was not the time to risk Tanner’s corporeality by testing his limits.

  Minutes later, Adam returned with two bags.

  “That’s a lot of food,” he said, handing her the change.

  “I missed a few meals. Making up for lost food.” She laughed.

  He reached over and hugged her. “Okay. Be careful. I’m right down the hall if you need me.”

  “There’s nothing to fear anymore, right?”

  “Let’s hope not.”

  Sarah pushed through her apartment door to find Tanner unmoved from where she’d left him. Relief coursed through her, and she released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

  That ridiculous tether. What would she give to free him so he could stay with her? Everything, she realized. The ring lay buried in earth and salt still in the Ziplock on her bedside table, just where she’d left it.

  That damned ring.

  They ate in silence. She wondered if Tanner even tasted the food.

  “How much longer?” she asked, then quickly clarified. “On the code?”

  “It’s finished.”

  “Oh.”

  A small smile turned up one corner of his mouth. “We still have an hour? Before we need to go to Chatham?”

  Sarah ducked her head, needlessly embarrassed at his implication. “Yes. We should spend it well.”

  “Indeed.”

  *

  The best two weeks of Tanner’s life had come a hundred and fifty years after his death. He had little hope that the next stage of his existence—or in this case, nonexistence—would be nearly as lovely.

  The code was broken. The complete key lay within the pages of Sarah’s notebook now. It would be up to Agent Sykes to wield its power with integrity. He wished he could present it to Sykes in person, but he didn’t want Sykes or anyone else interfering in what needed to be done tonight. Too many innocent souls had already been affected by Sylvia’s dark magic. Against Brothers of Peril protocol, he had shared the necessary reply to Agent Sykes’ earlier inquiry with Sarah. It would be enough to convince Sykes of the notebook’s authenticity. If Sarah made the reply, Sykes would understand the implications.

  He’d done all he could do.

  It was time to move on.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  They followed the bright and waning moon across the Kings Highway Bridge to Chatham. Ellie and Alex were waiting in the ancient Mustang in the Chatham parking lot when Sarah and Tanner arrived. The enormity of what they were about to undertake pressed against Sarah’s chest, making it difficult to breathe.

  Was this the wrong thing to do?

  Tanner didn’t seem to have any doubts. Or at least
he hadn’t voiced them. Of course, they hadn’t spent much time talking during their last day together.

  The notebook and the earth-covered ring weighed heavy in her purse. She was afraid to leave the notebook at the apartment. She didn’t want any chance of it falling into the wrong hands. Together, she and Tanner decided she would text Agent Sykes as soon as Tanner was gone and wait here for him to meet her. Regardless of his current situation, she knew Sykes would drop everything as soon as he learned what she had for him.

  She was counting on it.

  “Hey,” Ellie said, exiting her car.

  “Hey,” Sarah replied, curling her hand into Tanner’s.

  Ellie frowned down at Sarah’s hand, enclosed around his. “Are you sure about this? Maybe there’s another way.” She glanced at Tanner.

  “No,” Tanner said. “This is the only way. Break the curse, and Sarah will be free from its effects. You all will.”

  Ellie nodded. “You’re a hell of a guy, Tanner. I’m sorry things didn’t work out differently. Sarah deserves a good man in her life.”

  Silence filled the space between them until Alex broke it. “Where did you find the ring, Sarah?”

  Sarah pulled Tanner behind her, walking across the lot to where Ellie had parked the night of the ghost hunt. She pulled her peacoat tighter around her and momentarily released Tanner’s hand to button it against the biting cold wind.

  “There.” She pointed.

  Tanner surveyed the landscape in respect to the house, the walls and grounds. “I must have dropped the ring then, because I was shot and killed over there.” He indicated the front side of the manor, overlooking the Rappahannock River.

  “Let’s do the ritual there, then. It will hold the most residual magic,” Alex said.

  They followed a flagstone walkway and gathered on the lawn in front of the manor, near the stone wall. Even in darkness, the grounds were impressive and the manor rose like a beast behind them. A shiver ran through Sarah. Memories of their day together heated her cheeks, and she was thankful for the cover of night.

  Alex slipped a backpack from her shoulder and lowered it to the ground. She unzipped the pack, then pulled a canister of flour from it.

  “I’m going to cast a circle. We all need to stay within it until the ritual is complete. I’m going to mark it with flour so you’ll see it,” Alex said.

  Silently, Alex walked three paces from their little gathered group, then continued in a circle, pouring a thin line of flour across the grass. When it was complete, she returned to its center and stood, eyes closed, with her palms up and open, for several long minutes before finally opening her eyes again.

  “Do you have the ring?” Alex asked.

  “Yes.” Sarah pulled it from her purse, then held the bag out to Alex.

  Alex removed a piece of white linen from the backpack and snapped it out across the grass. She smoothed the wrinkles. Next, she removed a velvet pouch and a hammer. She unearthed the ring from the bag, unlatched the wooden box, and spilled the salt in a separate pile until the ring fell free.

  “Wait,” Sarah said, suddenly filled with dread. “Tanner, this is your last chance. Surely there’s another way. I can’t let you go. I…I…”

  “What, dear one? Tell me.”

  “I love you.”

  Tanner’s arms closed around her and his forehead pressed to hers, his eyes closed. “I love you too, Sarah Knight. I always shall. Thank you. Thank you for saving me from that black Hell I was cast into. Even if it was only for these few precious days, I’ll carry them with me to whatever my fate is to be. Carry out our business with Agent Sykes. Live your life. And one day, perhaps we’ll find one another again.”

  His lips pressed to hers and tears leaked from the corners of both of her eyes.

  “Continue, please.” Tanner addressed Alex but continued to hold Sarah, his eyes seeing only her and his hold firm.

  Alex fished the ring out by the chain, then lowered it into the velvet pouch. She pulled a pair of safety glasses from the pack and put them on.

  “Just in case,” Alex said. “I’m going to pop out the stone with the hammer, and then crush it in this bag.” She hammered away until a clear crack sounded, and shook out the contents. The stone was indeed released from its setting and freed from the silver. Using the velvet bag as a glove, she let the stone fall inside it, then pulled the drawstring tightly, placing it on the flat stone of the walkway.

  “Because we don’t know exactly how the hex was placed or have access to the same materials that were used, we’re destroying the ring. The stone I’ll physically destroy by crushing the onyx to dust, and then we’ll scatter it in the running waters of the Rappahannock. The silver we’ll bury once again. We’ll remove the curse.” Alex looked at Tanner. “That will be the end, Tanner.”

  Tanner nodded, keeping his eyes on Sarah.

  The repeated striking of the hammer echoed into the darkness, and Sarah was thankful Chatham Manor was still surrounded by rural landscape. Explaining what the four of them were doing trespassing on the grounds in the middle of the night was the last thing she wanted to do.

  On Alex’s last strike of the hammer, movement at the edge of Sarah’s peripheral vision caught her attention. Turning, she blinked twice, trying to clear her sight, unsure of what she was seeing. A figure seemed to be moving toward them from the curved steps of Chatham. A gasp escaped her and the others turned to follow her gaze.

  “The Lady in White,” Ellie said, confirming what was forming in Sarah’s own mind.

  “Sylvia,” Tanner said.

  The ghostly form floated toward them across the lawn, her hair whipping as the wind picked up its bluster and her dress, clean and gauzy, swirled behind her. The closer she came, the more transparent she appeared.

  “Don’t be afraid. She’s drawn to the energy we’ve raised with the circle. Even if she’s like Tanner, she won’t be able to manifest to human form without drawing from our personal energy. She can’t reach us inside the circle. I doubt even magic could make her corporeal again now.”

  “How do you know?” Sarah asked.

  “Because if she could have, she’d have attacked us when we first arrived with the ring,” Alex answered.

  “That’s reassuring,” Ellie offered.

  Alex clutched the bag with the crushed stone. Sarah held her breath and waited to see if the apparition would attempt to pass the circle of protection. When the ghost hovered outside the circle instead, Alex reached into her pack and withdrew a small spade. She dug a deep hole in the ground and emptied the salt from the box at the hole’s base. She then placed the now stoneless ring into the hole.

  “Once the hex is removed, the silver will corrode quickly in the wet ground and the salt will speed the process,” Alex said.

  After covering the stone in salt, she filled in the hole with the displaced earth and scattered the remaining soil.

  “Let us form a circle and pray the curse be lifted.” Alex reached out to Sarah, and they all held hands and completed the circle.

  Alex closed her eyes and the rest followed her lead, despite Sylvia’s animated but silent protests behind them.

  “Hail, Spirit. You are true, fair and generous. I praise you. Thank you for removing any hex, curse or negative energy from this ring immediately, with harm to none, and for the highest good of all. So may it be. In return, I offer you gratitude, love, devotion and ask your will be done concerning Tanner’s fate. Blessed be,” Alex said.

  “Blessed be,” Ellie echoed.

  The gale diminished immediately and the air warmed around them. Sarah turned quickly, looking back to where the apparition had floated only moments before. Nothing. She completed a circle, along with the others. The Lady in White was gone.

  She stared down in disbelief at Tanner’s hand, warm and firm in her own. Tears welled in her eyes as she dragged her gaze up his torso to his face.

  Tanner remained. Whole and real.

  “That’s it? It’s that easy?
What does this mean for Tanner, Alex?” Ellie asked.

  Sarah stood in silent awe, unwilling to believe what she prayed was true. What she saw and felt was too good to be trusted after all that had happened to them both. Had the ring given her one last gift of good luck?

  “I don’t know. The results are immediate. Sylvia is released. The hex is broken. All that’s left is to scatter the stone in the river,” Alex said.

  “So Tanner is freed?” Sarah asked. “Returned?”

  “It would appear so,” Alex said.

  “Holy shit,” Ellie offered.

  *

  Tanner pulled Sarah close and held her hard to him in the parking lot under the moonlight to stay the trembling of his own body. Alex and Ellie cleaned up the evidence of their ritual. He couldn’t yet believe it. Doubt lingered. Sylvia had gone much too easily. Her mouthed protest hadn’t gone unnoticed. She was clearly angry. At him. Yet she’d vanished, and Alex assured them there were no lingering traces of her or any sort of magic as soon as the circle was broken.

  It was too good to be true, yet it was all he’d ever hoped for from the very moment he’d awakened in Sarah’s apartment. Sarah sobbed softly into his chest, the wool of his Union jacket impermeable to her tears. God, he hated that jacket.

  “Are you ready?” Ellie asked, placing a tentative hand on Sarah’s back.

  Sarah sniffed and wiped at her face. “Yes. I can’t believe that worked. Alex, are you sure he gets to stay?”

  “You’ll know for certain if he can leave the Chatham grounds…and the ring behind. The hex is broken. Only one way to test it now.”

  “Are you sure you can drive? Do you want to ride with me? We can get your car tomorrow.”

  “No. I don’t want to ever come back here,” Sarah said.

  “Agreed,” Tanner said.

  “We’re stopping on the shoulder on the bridge so Alex can scatter the stones in the river. And that’s the end of it,” Ellie said.

  “No,” Tanner said. “It’s a beginning.”