by Sofia Grey
The relief was incredible. I sobbed his name as my insides convulsed. I have never come so hard. I was surprised to find I still had bones at the end of it. Little tremors still racked my body long after Dante had moved up to take my mouth.
I jerked at the binding, and he kissed me hard in return. “We haven’t finished yet, baby.” It was the work of moments to fit the condom. Grabbing a pillow, he shoved it beneath my hips and then positioned himself above me.
“Angel,” I gasped, “your shoulder… mind yourself.”
Braced on his good arm, he angled me and slid inside in one smooth thrust. We both gasped. He eased out, slow and gentle, held it there and then pushed back in, even deeper.
I moaned. Sam and Ellie may have been sleeping close by, but I couldn’t stay quiet.
“Kitten,” he rocked in and out again, unbearably slow. “I love you, baby.” Deeper this time, he held himself buried in me and groaned, pressing his face into my neck. “This is… you are…”
I whimpered, dizzy with need, and he relented.
His hips flexed and before I had time to draw breath, he plunged into me, hard, his speed increasing. Every thrust rubbed against my hypersensitive clit and drove me spiraling toward another climax.
I lay panting, helpless, and mindless with Dante groaning above me. He brushed the hair back from my forehead and then kissed me, his tongue driving into my mouth in synch with his dick.
When I came, I tightened my legs around him, holding him. I didn’t want him to finish.
He gave a muffled shout and tensed, his back arched and his eyes rolling back in his head.
* * * *
We lay tangled together, fingers linked, my legs draped over his, and my abandoned bra dangled loose from the headboard. He pressed soft kisses down my arm and nuzzled in the crook of my elbow. Sleep was still far away.
“It’s weird, Angel. It feels as if I’ve been waiting for you all my life.” He continued to kiss a trail down to where our hands lay together. “And now I’ve found you, it feels as though I’ve known you forever.”
He paused and then lifted troubled eyes. “Don’t talk like this, Kitten.”
“I’m going to find a way to fix this. I love you, Dante, and I’m not just going to walk away. I refuse to accept that after this, I’m going to lose you.” I cupped one hand around his scratchy cheek. “You feel it too, don’t you, Angel. I’m not imagining this.”
He hesitated. “It feels… right. Like you’re a part of me that I didn’t know was missing.” His cheeks colored, and I rubbed my thumb over the blush.
“I know. Same for me.” No matter what he said, I wasn’t going to let him go without a fight.
Chapter
~17~
17.1 Dante
Soft hair tickled my nose. Kitten. I opened tired and scratchy eyes to find myself in an unfamiliar bed, Kitten spooned beside me. A wide, bright stripe of daylight poured through the curtains, and my heart stuttered. Jesus. Not again.
Something icy nudged my arm, but my gaze was fixated on the girl sleeping beside me. Sweat broke out across my forehead. Was she real this time? Or had the crazy dash to Cornwall taken place inside my head? Another nudge. I was frozen, sick with fear.
Kitten yawned and moved, squeezing my fingers where they linked.
I lurched back, ready to scramble out of bed, and then I collapsed onto the pillow as a searing pain tore through my shoulder.
Kitten mumbled and stretched, and I felt another cold push on my arm.
“Dante.” It was Ingrid, her high child’s voice achingly familiar. I sagged back on the bed and blinked, my heart still racing.
“Munchkin. Where have you been?” I smiled, genuinely pleased to see her. “And where am I?”
Ingrid and Kitten answered together. “Ellie and Sam’s house.” Kitten rolled over and snuggled into my arms, her chin resting on my chest. “Did you just call me Munchkin?”
“I was talking to Ingrid, babe.”
“Oh, okay.” She draped herself over me, warm as any blanket and went back to sleep.
“You need to get up, Dante.” Ingrid perched on the edge of the bed and began to play with her plaits, flicking the ends between her fingers. “Eve wants to talk to you.”
“Why doesn’t she come here?”
“Silly. She wants to talk to all of you –your friends and Katherine.”
I rubbed my eyes. “A séance?”
She nodded, plaits dancing. I hadn’t seen or heard from Eve—or any spirit—since leaving Armageddon, up till now. I ran a gentle hand through Kitten’s hair, watching the colors ripple in the morning light. This was Day Five. I had to get back to Manchester and leave Kitten here, where she might be safe.
“Well?”
I’d forgotten Ingrid. I gave her my full attention now. “Sorry, Munchkin. Yep, I’ll set that up for this morning.”
“Good.” She leaned closer and flashed me a brilliant smile. “I spy with my little eye, something beginning with… C.”
Ingrid loved her games. I pressed a kiss onto Kitten’s head. “Curtains.”
“No.”
“Covers.”
“No.”
“Cupboard. CD-player. Catapult.”
“No, no, and no.” She giggled. “You don’t have a catapult.”
I quirked my eyebrows and made her snort as I fell back into our familiar old game. Would this be the last time I’d play silly games with Ingrid? The ache in my chest was becoming unbearable.
Ingrid quivered, a gleeful smile on her face. “Do you give up?”
“Nope.” I peered round the room. “Crocodile. Kitten. Christmas tree.”
“No, no, and no. Do you give up?”
I pretended to pout. “I give up.”
“Clean.” Her smile was sweet.
“Huh?” I glanced at the bed. “Clean sheets?”
“No, silly. Clean Dante. The darkness has gone.” She blew me a kiss, but before I could respond, she vanished.
17.2 Josh
I’d just taken a cup of tea to Suki, still in bed, when someone knocked on the apartment door. Dante. He looked pale, tired, and as though he was about to deliver bad news. I waved him in, and then went back to the kitchen area to make some more coffee. “You okay, mate?”
He claimed a chair at the table. “No, yeah. I dunno.” He scratched his stubbled chin and hunched over. “Eve wants me to hold a séance with you and Suki. And Kitten.” He watched as I carried the coffee pot and a fresh mug to the table. “Are you and Suki okay?” he asked, quietly, his eyes flicking to the closed bedroom door.
“Yeah, we’re great, thanks.” I slid the drink toward him. “Do you think this has something to do with Gabriel?”
“I dunno, man. I wish I did.” He stared at the table, lost in his own world. Looking up, we spoke at the same time.
“I want to—”
“We’re not going to—”
I lifted my mug. “You first.”
He hesitated. “Thank you. For everything you’ve done for me and Kitten.”
Uh oh, this sounded like the goodbye speech. “Yeah, well. We’re not giving up on you just yet. If we have the chance to talk to Eve, I’m going to ask her if there’s anything we can do.” I had to smile. I’d always thought my life to be slightly odd, but talking to dead spirits as though they were living breathing people? This was a whole new step into crazy town.
* * * *
An hour later, we gathered round the table in the apartment. Katherine had found candles and salt in her godmother’s kitchen, and Dante laid out elaborate circles and patterns on the smooth wooden floorboards. We were as ready as we’d ever be. Suki gripped my hand, but gave me a confident smile. She was determined not to rise to Gabriel’s taunting this time.
The curtains were drawn, and the only light came from the multitude of flickering tea lights around the floor. Distant farmyard noises outside were muffled. It felt warm and relaxed this time, unlike the tension filled séances in Suki’s house, and I pondere
d why that would be. Before I’d even thought it through, I felt a chill run down my cheek. I snapped my head to the side and saw the goth-girl, Eve, standing beside me. She wagged a finger at me and winked, then sauntered over to perch on a spare chair.
Dante smiled at her. “Hey, Eve. Nice to see you.”
“You too, Tat-Boy.” Her gaze shifted to me. “You’re the cutest stud muffin I’ve seen in ages. Shame you’re already taken.” My indignant snort was drowned by Suki’s giggle.
“Yes, he is very cute.” She squeezed my fingers. “And very taken.”
“Touché.” Eve blew a giant, pink bubble and then removed a wad of gum with her fingers. “O-kay. I’ve only got a few minutes and a message or three to pass on. Any questions first?”
“Yeah.” I leapt straight in. “How can we keep Dante safe from Alistair? There has to be a way.”
“You don’t need to. Next question. Suki?”
What? I opened my mouth to challenge her, but she raised a finger.
“I said it’s Suki’s turn next.”
There was a tiny pause before Suki spoke. “How can we keep Dante safe from Alistair?”
Eve wagged her finger in a clear ‘no’ gesture. “Already answered that one. Ask me about Gabe.”
“How do we get rid of Gabe haunting me?” Suki looked at me as she replied.
Eve’s black lips curled upwards in a huge smile. “You don’t need to. Next question… Kath-erine.” She drew out the name in a long drawl.
Katherine took a deep and unsteady breath. “How can we keep Dante–”
“Yeah, yeah.” Eve rolled her eyes. “I’ve covered that. What about your mother?”
“Okay. Can you find my mother’s spirit so that I can talk to her?”
“You don’t need to.” Said in a sing-song voice. Eve’s grin was huge. “Last question from my grumpy little Tat-Boy.”
Dante looked at Katherine, love and longing written clearly on his face. “How can I protect Katherine from Alistair?”
“Ah, there it is.” Eve stood up and spun around in a circle, clapping her hands. “Any prize from the top shelf. Jeez, I love doing this.” She clicked her fingers and pointed at Dante. “You. Don’t. Need. To.” There was a stunned silence. I glanced at Dante to see him purse his lips.
“For God’s sake, Eve,” he snarled. “Tell us what the fuck is going on. I am sick of your half stories, your little hints, and your inability to tell me things I need to know.” As though he’d flipped a switch, he subsided as quickly. “I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I just… I can’t do this, Eve. You’re making jokes and poking fun at the people I care about. It’s not funny, Eve. Not even a little bit.” He sucked in a harsh breath. “Is this what you wanted the séance for? If you say yes, I’m going to stop it right now.”
“Naw, chill out, Dante.” She didn’t seem bothered by his outburst. Walking silently to his side, she dropped to a crouch and placed a hand on his arm. “I told you I’d cut my own deal, yeah? I had to release Nanette, which meant you had to touch her, to let me in. And while I was there, my hand kinda slipped, and you got hold of Alistair’s knife.” She shrugged and flashed a beaming smile at us all. “What can I say? Oops.”
“Oops?” echoed Dante. “What the hell does that mean?”
“Hell, yeah. That’s about right. It sent him back to what you would call hell.” The smile softened, and she stroked his arm. “He’s gone, sweetie. And all his current deals are null and void.”
17.3 Katherine
Suki found her voice first. “Null and void? What exactly do you mean? And what has that got to do with Gabe? Or Katherine’s mum?”
Eve remained between Dante and Josh, but looked up at Suki. “Your slimy ex, no offense, was recruited by Alistair to run interference for him. Distraction. Now that Alistair is no longer around, Gabe has returned to the other side. He’s not strong enough to do anything by himself, and petty, vengeful spirits are ten a penny. He needed Alistair’s backing to get past Cutie-Pie here.”
“It’s really over?” Suki sounded cautious. “The nightmares? Everything?”
“Everything. And I should tell you, Gabe was wrong, you know. Your baby is going to be so cute.” Eve winked at Josh. “Just like his daddy.”
A lone tear trickled down Suki’s cheek, her mouth trembled, and a smile tried to break free.
“So, Cutie-Pie,” she addressed Josh. He rolled his eyes at the nickname, but stayed quiet. “You’ve met your father now, and that wasn’t a dream. The bad news is that even though Alistair’s gone, there will be others trying to take control of your Talismans. Be on your guard. Your father wanted you to all stay apart, but you and Tat-Boy have messed up that plan.”
“He said it was for our protection. Protection from what?”
She pulled a face. “I don’t think I can answer that. Sorry.” Her dark gaze swung to me. I gripped Suki and Dante even tighter. “The reason nobody, not even Dante, could contact your mother, is because she’s not dead yet.”
It felt like a slap in the face. “What? How?”
“You need to talk to your father.”
I gave up trying to speak and stared at her, helpless and stupid. Alive? That was insane. Impossible. Or was it? Where my father was concerned, money was no object. In seconds, my world had been shaken to the core. I expected to look down and see the ceiling, everything around me twisted and random as though I’d plunged down Alice’s rabbit hole into Wonderland.
“Sweetie.” She finally turned to Dante, his face paper white. “There is no deal with him any more. You are free. You can walk out of here and marry your girl, or at the very least, knock her up and have a tribe of children. But remember, Alistair was working for someone else. You’ve dodged a bullet this time, but there will be more.”
He closed his eyes and swayed in his seat. For a moment I thought he would faint, but then he curled his fingers tight around mine. “Thank you.” His voice was hoarse. “I can’t believe it.”
Standing up, Eve slipped the ball of gum back into her mouth and began to work up a bubble. “And answer your phone, Dante. There’s someone waiting to talk to you.” She brushed some invisible dirt from her knees and tinkered with the laces on her boots.
Dante cleared his throat. “Will I see you again?”
“Yeah, maybe. Don’t know.”
I watched, entranced, as she blew a giant pink bubble that burst over her chin. Her figure blurred for a second, and I stared in disbelief. She had wings. Huge, black wings. I blinked, and she was back to normal.
The gum popped in her mouth, and she lifted one hand in a casual wave. “Gotta go. See ya.”
I must have imagined it, but when I glanced at Dante, he looked stunned too. I nodded toward the space where she’d been. “Did she just…?”
“Yeah,” he murmured. “That’s Eve for you.”
17.4 Dante
I released Josh and Kitten, and then sat back in my chair, my gaze fixed on the table. Thoughts and feelings swirled in a mad torrent through my head, but the rest of me felt numb. Over? Freedom was an alien concept to me. Did I have my life back? More time with Kitten? Our eyes met. She looked as shocked as I felt.
“Your mother? How can that be?”
“I don’t know.” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Angel, you’re safe.”
I’m not sure who moved first, but we ended up tangled in each other’s arms. I looked up to see Josh holding Suki, stroking her hair as he kissed her. He really was my brother. That would take some getting used to.
I remembered Eve’s last message and felt a tremor of fear. Gran. With the deal void, did that mean Gran had died? It had been Alistair that brought her back to life. Had I unwittingly traded my life for hers?
I dug into my jacket pocket and retrieved my phone. Sure enough, I had one voice message. From Gran’s rest home.
I stared at Kitten. “I don’t think I can bear this.”
She plucked the phone from my hand and wrapped her free arm around
my middle. “Let me.” We listened together.
“This is a message for Dante. Please call back as soon as you can. We have some urgent news about your grandmother.”
I swiped a trembling hand over my face. Images of Gran swam before me. From despair to happiness and back to despair. My emotions were getting a hell of a workout today. I steeled myself and tapped in the speed-dial number. Gave my name. Waited to be connected to someone.
“Dante? Is that you?” Gran’s clear and confident voice greeted me.
“Gran?”
“I’m so glad you called. I’m ready to go home, but I’m not sure where to go now. I think I might have to move in with you if you don’t mind. Just until I get myself sorted out.”
I groped for something to say, my mouth opening and closing with no sounds emerging.
“I’d really like to see you, Dante.”
“You’re better?”
She chuckled. “I’m fine. I think we have some catching up to do, though.”
She’d woken with her memories—her mind—fully restored. The home had no explanation, but I knew it was another impact from the deal. A very happy side effect.
17.5 Katherine
We cleared away the candles and salt, opened the curtains, and sat around the table. Sunshine poured through the windows, and I gazed idly at the day outside. Dante looked shell shocked. So did Josh and Suki. A knock at the door startled us all. It was Ellie.
“I hate to disturb you with your friends…” she narrowed her eyes at Dante as she spoke, “but Marina is on the phone again. She’s adamant that she talks to you, says she’s found something in Grayson’s safe.”
I couldn’t put her off for ever, and I needed to know when to catch my father at home. I followed Ellie back to her kitchen and picked up the handset.
“It’s Katherine.”