High Noon (Between the Veils Series, Book Two) Page 6

  “Oh, sweetheart. I’ve never seen anything as beautiful as you, pulsing around me. God, I can still feel you squeezing my fingers.”

  She rolled her head to one side, not sure why she still felt empty with his fingers lodged deep inside her, evidence of her release smeared on her inner thighs. Her orgasm should have taken the edge off, but it’d only succeeded in making her more needy.

  She found the strength to raise her head, glancing at Blake across her shoulder. His eyes held the same desperate quality she felt inside and she reached her hand to him, closing her eyes as he shuffled her again, cradling her in his arms as he lifted her into his lap. His shaft pressed against her side, but he didn’t rush the moment, taking the time to smooth his hand down her hair, dropping kisses on her head.

  She drank in his spicy essence, planting a kiss on his chest as she looked up at him, cupping his jaw in her hand. He nuzzled into it, kissing her palm before twisting and placing her back on the pad. The weight of his body on hers made her feel safe as she opened her thighs and wrapped her heels around his back.

  Blake went to his elbows, his biceps flexing as he held himself above her, his groin nestled between her legs. His hard cock nudged her sex and she opened wider, pressing the first inch of him inside her. He grunted, his forehead falling to hers as he levered his hips back and plunged forward, hilting himself.

  A second orgasm rioted through her, squeezing her channel around his shaft. Blake moaned in her ear, biting the lobe as he dragged his shaft back through her spasming walls only to drive home again. She arched into each stroke, not sure how she accommodated his width, but loving the way her body stretched to allow him inside. He set up a hard rhythm, his hips grinding into hers as he panted against her shoulder. Beads of sweat dotted his back and she reveled in his loss of control—that she could drive past his limits and make him crazy with desire.

  “God, damn, Payton. You’re too tight. Too hot. Fuck, I’m not going to last much longer.”

  “Then don’t.” She nipped at his ear this time. “Come for me.”

  He growled at her mimicked words and quickened his pace, thrusting so fast his body blurred with the surrounding shadows. She clamped her hands around his shoulders, knowing she was probably leaving marks but unable to stop. Another climax bubbled inside her, expanding outward until she feared she’d burst. She looked into Blake’s eyes, needing to see him give himself completely over to her. He gazed down at her, claiming her mouth in a searing kiss that unhinged her. Her body convulsed once then shook, her pussy clamping down on his invading shaft. He grunted into her ear as he continued to push into her, pumping her channel until his back stiffened and he came, jerking his hips against her groin as his cock pulsed, emptying inside her. His eyes rolled backward as he gave himself over to his release, and for that split second, he was completely vulnerable. His trust humbled her, and she held tight until his muscles relaxed, his head falling to hers again.

  Blake hovered over her until she tugged at his back, welcoming his weight as he settled on top of her. Their breathing mixed, the heavy pants echoing in the empty space. He brushed his nose against hers then planted a gentle kiss on her lips.

  The sincerity in his touch misted her eyes, and she had to blink to keep the tears at bay. She’d never been loved with such conviction before, and she knew in her heart this was more than just sex. It was fate.

  Blake drew a shaky breath, easing his weakening erection out of her. She groaned at the loss of intimate contact, but smiled when he rolled to his side, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her back tight to his chest. His chin nuzzled the side of her neck as his hand settled between her breasts.

  “You’re amazing, sweetheart. My only regret is that I didn’t have the courage to do this twelve years ago.”

  “You would have killed me with that kind of pounding twelve years ago.”

  “I doubt it. But I’ll take that as a sign you enjoyed yourself.” He kissed the soft shell of her ear. “Thank you.”

  She glanced back at him. “You’re more than welcome. But you can thank me again like that in the morning.”

  He shook his head. “You really are dangerous. And you’ve got yourself a deal.”

  He relaxed back, his easy breathing lulling her toward sleep.

  She closed her eyes, focusing on the hot feel of his skin against hers, when her breath caught. She bolted upright and swept her gaze down their entwined bodies. “Oh god. We had sex.”

  He pushed up beside her, confusion etched across his face. “Should I be concerned you’re just realizing that now?”

  She slapped his chest. “Not funny. I meant that we had sex…in the church. And if that wasn’t bad enough, we’re not even married.”

  “It’s okay, sweetheart. I hardly think we’ll wake to fire and brimstone raining down from the heavens.”

  “But you said we were safe because this is holy ground. What if we just made it unholy?”

  Blake cupped her jaw, his features softening. “We’re fine.” He silenced her attempted interruption with his thumb across her lips. “Payton. Trust me. We did a lot of things in here tonight, but with the way I feel about you, I can assure you none of it was the least bit unholy.” He kissed her. “But if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll double check the barriers I put up earlier—make sure they’re still in place.”

  He gave her a stunning smile as he rose and headed into the darkness, the quiet press of his feet across the floor marking his movement. She stayed on the sleeping bag, rerunning his words in her head. Though she realized their heightened senses were likely to blame, she couldn’t rule out the idea that his intensions extended beyond the scope of their immediate problem. That he was here for more than just the chance to bring some old fantasies to life.

  She drew a shaky breath. Good god, what have I gotten myself into.

  She shook her head, looking up as Blake reappeared, reclaiming his spot beside her.

  “All’s good. I laid down some more salt and touched up the pentacles. Nothing paranormal is getting in here tonight. Promise.”

  He claimed her mouth with his, kissing any away residual doubts as he took them gently to the pad, snuggling her against him again. Shadows played at the edge of the circle of light, but she didn’t care. As long as Blake was there, his body curled protectively around hers, she knew nothing would hurt her. They were safe and with any luck, they’d be able to get rid of the ghost and see where this new development would take them.

  Chapter Six

  Blake blinked, inhaling as he turned his head slightly, gazing at one of the church windows. A stream of muted light sparkled along the colored glass, a ribbon of yellow visible beyond the hills. He tried to shake some of the fuzziness from his head when Payton’s warm body snuggled into him.

  He turned back, smiling as she moaned in her sleep, her head resting in the crook of his shoulder. They’d woken a few hours after their tryst, shivering from the cold. He’d unzipped one of the sleeping bags and thrown it over them, content to simply hold her as she slept. She’d kissed his chest and laid her head on him, draping part of her body across his. And while he’d never been one to cuddle before, with her it felt right.

  The notion tumbled through his gut, and he closed his eyes as he recalled the previous night. He’d been caught up in the moment, his inhibitions lowered, and had all but confessed his love—a love he realized he’d been harboring for years. Now he understood why he’d never been able to make his scattered relationships work. He’d been hung up on his teenage crush.

  He sighed. He could fight it all he wanted, but Payton Scott held his heart, and the sooner he made peace with that, the better. And hopefully, her little plea last night meant she felt more than just lust for him as well.

  “You know, Blake, if you lay there making faces at nothing, I’m going to think you really are crazy. Or are you talking to more spirits?”

  Her voice sent fiery embers skittering down his spine, and he tried to ignore the
sudden hardening of his cock as he gave her a smile. Once hadn’t been enough, though he doubted a lifetime would. “You’d be wiser to go with the crazy scenario. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before they haul me off in an oversized white jacket.” He reached for her waist, cupping her warm skin. “You sleep okay?”

  She grinned at him, reaching under the sleeping bag and wrapping her fingers around his shaft. She gave him a squeeze. “Before or after we made love?”

  Words stalled in his chest as she pumped him this time, making the tip tingle with need. He gritted his teeth, trying to focus on her face. “Either. Both.”

  “Not well before, but extremely well after.” She pushed up onto her elbow, her hand still encasing his cock. “A lady could get used to falling asleep in your arms.”

  “As long as that lady’s you, I’ll take that chance.” He reached down with his other hand and lifted her on top of him. “I’m discovering that you’re an extremely hard habit to break.”

  “Do you want to break it?”

  “Not for another fifty or sixty years.”

  “I can live with that.” She leaned down and licked his mouth. “Now, didn’t you say something about thanking me again this morning?”

  He chuckled, taking her mouth in a soul-searing kiss before rolling her over on the bag. He nuzzled her nose, ending with a chaste kiss. “I believe that was your request, sweetheart. And while I’d love nothing more than to give you a repeat performance, I think it might be wise to do a bit of work first. The sun’s already rising and your other cowboy isn’t going to stay away forever.” He groaned as she wiggled beneath him, rubbing her taut nipples across his chest. He stared down at her. “On second thought…”

  She laughed but stopped him with a firm hand on his chest. “You’re right. We can play later, once we’ve got a basic idea of what or who is haunting me.”

  He leaned down, nipping her bottom lip. “You’re a tease, sweetheart. And I will hear you scream again before we leave this place.”

  Payton’s pupils dilated as a sexy grin captured her lips. She rose up enough to give him a kiss before following him upright. The rising sun set off the room in a pale glow, accentuating the creamy tone of her skin and the deep pink of her lips. Blake could only stare as she gathered her clothes, shimmying into her pants before clipping on her bra. Even partially dressed she looked sexier than any woman had a right to, and he vowed not to let the next opportunity go to waste.

  Payton glanced over at him, raising her eyebrow in question. “Aren’t you going to get dressed?” Her lips quirked at the sides. “Or do you plan on using your cock as a pointer?”

  He tsked, catching the jeans she tossed at him. “Sass like that will get you another spanking, sweetheart. Only this time, I’ll tie you to the bed first.”

  He didn’t miss the way her breathing hitched or how a light flush crept up her neck to her cheekbones. Seems his innocent lover had a naughty side to her.

  He pulled on his shirt and patted the space beside him, resisting the urge to kiss her as she sat down next to him, her arm resting on his thigh. The simple contact warmed his heart and he smiled as he dug through his pack, removing the two digital recorders he’d used the previous night. He gave them to Payton then retrieved his laptop, placing it on the floor in front of them. Thank god he’d taken the time to charge the computer before leaving. At least it’d have enough battery life to analyze any EVPs he’d recorded.

  Payton leaned in closer, her head tilted toward the screen. A subtle splash of floral sweetness tickled his senses as he inhaled, drinking in the pure perfection that seemed to follow her everywhere. He’d have to find out what scent of perfume that was and get her a year’s supply. It smelled almost as delicious as she did.

  Blake dragged his mind back to the task at hand as he hooked one of the recorders up to the laptop and downloaded the contents. He repeated the process with the other device then launched his editing software. Finally, something that was in his comfort zone. Recordings and research he could handle. Going toe-to-toe with the ghosts—there was a reason he left that part to Avery. The man was a psychic whiz and a natural investigator. Blake, on the other hand, felt like an awkward beginner, groping his way through every scenario.

  He sighed, opening up the first stream of audio. Various sound signatures filled the screen but he centered in on the ones that were buried beneath other voices.

  Payton shook her head, pointing at the screen. “How the hell can you tell who’s talking? I mean, it picked up our voices as well.”

  “Ghosts have a tendency to talk faster and at higher frequencies than people. Searching for these shorter bursts of sound that show a tighter wavelength is a clue that the noise might be a spirit voice.”

  She looked at him, her face beaming. “I always knew you were smart but damn, you’re brilliant.”

  “Feel free to tell Avery that the next time you see him. He doesn’t seem to appreciate my unique skills as much as you do.”

  “Ah, he’s just more of an onstage guy. I think he likes being in the limelight with these ghosts.”

  “More than you know.” Blake clicked on the keys, quickly separating the signals. “Okay. Let’s have a listen.”

  He played the first few minutes. It was the one from the restaurant. Dishes clattered in the background and he could hear the server’s boots tapping on the floor. Most of the other samples were more background noises until the server returned with his soup. There was no mistaking the loud growl that he’d heard behind him or a man’s voice whisper across the airways.

  Payton’s breath hitched as her hand tightened around his arm. She stared up at him—her eyes wide, her mouth slightly open. “Jesus, Blake. Did that thing just hiss and growl and say, she’s mine?”

  He winced at the fear in her voice, laying a comforting hand over hers. “Just because our friend says it, doesn’t make it real. He may have certain advantages, but so do I. And it’ll be a cold day in Hell before he claims my woman for himself.”

  Payton chuckled. “Your woman, huh? Are you sure that’s not really your voice on the recorder?”

  He smirked at her, swatting her hip. “Very funny.”

  “I didn’t say it was a bad thing.” She flashed him a stunning smile. “Actually, I really like the sound of it.”

  “Nice recovery, sweetheart, but you’re still getting tied to the bed.”

  “Buzzkill.” She pointed at the screen. “Anything else?”

  He scanned through the rest of the sample. “Most of this other stuff is random spirits. Looks like Virginia City is living up to its claim. Let’s look at the one from your gallery. That should have more relevant information if there’s any to be found.”

  Blake flipped to the other recording, punching keys as he separated the different signatures and isolated the voices. He dampened the background noise, hoping the enhanced audio would reveal something—anything about their unwanted guest.

  “I started recording when we left and it looks like your gallery is ghost central after all. I only hope one of these spirits is on our side.”

  He ran through the first few minutes, but it was mostly residual noises—doors slamming, footsteps echoing through the room. A couple of car horns sounded in the background before a ghostly echo whispered from the speakers.

  Help us.

  The words hung in the air like an omen.

  Payton’s grip on him tightened. “What does that mean? How are we supposed to help them? They’re dead for god’s sake.”

  “I don’t think they mean it literally, at least not in a physical sense. Sometimes spirits are bound to this plane. I think they’re asking for us to free them.”

  “How are we supposed to do that?”

  He held her stare, unwilling to lie to her. “We get rid of whatever’s keeping them here. And I have a bad feeling it’s the same ghostly cowboy whose taken a liking to you.”

  A shiver trembled through her as she simply nodded, waiting as he readied the ne
xt sample. He hit play, listening as their voices sounded in the background.

  “This must be where we returned home. This might get interesting.” He tilted his head, trying to listen for any hint of their ghost when a loud hiss sounded in the white noise.

  Blake jumped slightly, looking over at Payton, as they listened to an evil voice whisper on the recording.

  Get out! Her soul is mine!

  There was no mistaking it was the same voice from the gallery, the slight raspy drawl giving it away. Blake kept the recording going. Their voices became clearer as the front door of the gallery creaked open, when another spirit whispered in the white noise.

  Hurry. Dalton’s here.

  The warning was followed by Blake’s grunt as he listened to himself being tossed backward. Static rustled for a moment before they heard the door slam shut, then Payton’s muffled scream. He heard the other spirit tell him to go back before the recording went dead, nothing but the hiss of white noise resonating through the church.

  Blake cursed under his breath. This was worse than he’d thought. The ghost wasn’t just bound to her energy, it wanted her soul. And there was only one way it could hope to achieve that.

  He pushed to his feet, taking a few heavy steps away. There was no way he was going to lose Payton. Not after finally getting her in his life. He’d find whatever was keeping this bastard earthbound and destroy it, sending the creep back to Hell where he belonged.

  With his mind set, he marched over to their small area, packing up some of his stuff as Payton rose to her feet, turning her back to him. He stood up and laid a hand on her shoulder when he realized she was shaking.

  He gazed down at her, worry racing his heart. He slipped his arm around her waist, drawing her flush to his chest. “Payton? Sweetheart, are you okay?”

  The muscle in her jaw flexed as she pursed her lips together. “God. I had no idea there was so much activity. So many spirits trapped in that place. All this time I’ve been sleeping, alone, upstairs, and they…” Her words were choked off by a harsh sob, her body shaking with the effort to hold it off. She pulled away and turned to face him. “God, Blake. How long has this thing been living there? Does it follow me everywhere?” She sucked in a harsh breath. “Does it watch me sleep?” Tears shimmered in her eyes before she closed them, her pain and fear more than evident.