Paige peeked an eye open and smiled.
Levi snored softly beside her. His angular features looked angelic in the soft morning light.
She traced a line with her finger across his cheek and down to his full lips. His skin was so smooth and soft, she just wanted to gobble him up. The sensual tingling, that she felt whenever they touched crept up her fingertips. It pulsed along her arms and legs where their tangled limbs touched. The two of them made a fine human pretzel. She was a cuddler by nature. Intertwining with another living person was high on her list of cozy activities.
Paige glanced down at his flaccid member. Well, I guess we solved that problem.
They’d fixed something else as well. The erotic dreams hadn’t invaded her sleep since the night in his office. She thought it might have been a fluke, but two nights of blessed sleep was a good sign. Being close to him may have remedied her first bungled attempt at magic.
She scooted closer so that her breasts pressed against his chest. The tingling intensified, and Levi moaned. He tried to roll over, but Paige held him fast. He was becoming harder the longer they remained connected, and his unconscious squirming only spurred her on. She wanted more of what she’d gotten last night. Her hand drifted down to stroke him, and she grinned as he thickened. That’s it.
“This a bad time?” Nova asked.
Paige screamed, and tumbled from the sofa.
Levi jolted awake. “What?” He scrambled to his feet, sporting a kickstand that would make a pornstar proud.
“Good Lord!” Nova yelled, averting her eyes. “Put that thing away before you poke someone’s eye out!”
Paige sat there, mortified.“I... You... How?” The words just wouldn’t come together.
“Well, at least he’s actually with a girl this time,” Nova said, still shielding her eyes. “But seriously, I thought we’d discussed that this wasn’t the kind of help my brother needs.”
“What happened?” Levi asked, looking around, still startled.
Paige struggled to speak, but remained silently stupefied.
Levi’s tone became more intense. “Did someone break in?”
Say something, you fool! Paige scrambled to her feet. “Your sister’s here.”
Levi continued to stand there, totally baffled and fully erect.
“Why don’t you go take a shower,” Paige said, realizing that he was in no condition to deal with this situation. She was well aware of his lingering skepticism about her power, even though he’d conceded that something weird was going on. She hoped to remedy that doubt, and the opportunity to do so had just floated in, and interrupted her sport. “Give me a minute, and I’ll be right in.”
“Ugh...” Nova rolled her eyes. “The last thing I want to see is my brother having sex in the shower.”
Levi stumbled to the bathroom, still dazed, and shut the door behind him.
Once the sound of running water could be heard through the door, Paige rounded on Nova. “How the hell can you see me?”
“Must have been a wild ride last night,” the ghost replied, pointing to the floor.
Paige’s gaze followed Nova’s pointing finger. She saw her necklace coiled up in a pile next to the couch. She instinctively pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the chain’s absence. A bolt of fear shot through her. Flashes of the Headless Man filled her thoughts. She scrambled over to retrieve the heirloom.
“Wait,” Nova pleaded. “If you put that on, we can’t talk.”
“If I don’t put it on,” Paige retorted, “Those things might come for us.”
“I’ve lead them away, for now.” She wrung her hands on borderline hysteria. “Give me a few minutes.”
Paige paused, the necklace dangling only inches from her neck. She really did need to talk with Nova, and this might be her only chance to get some answers. And who knows, maybe the ritual she and Levi performed last night had actually worked.
“I can sense when they’re near. I’ll leave before they get too close.”
Paige lowered the necklace. “You dropped me in a world of shit, you know that?”
Nova grimaced. “I know, I’m sorry. It’s just—”
“He’s your brother,” Paige finished, knowing the woman’s reasons all too well. “I get that. You’re still a bitch for doing this to me.” She couldn’t help but vent a little. Considering she’d almost gotten killed, she felt more than justified dumping on the manipulative ghost.
“I’d do it again if I had to.”
Fair enough. Paige grimaced. This wasn’t getting them anywhere. “I need to know where those other witches are, like yesterday.”
Nova nodded. “I know where you can find one. She’ll be easier to approach on her own. There’s a reservation in Anadarko. That’s the best place to start. Her name’s Rhea Wilder.”
Finally, a step in the right direction. Paige sat on the sofa, and crossed her arms over her exposed breasts. “Good. When will she be there?”
“Most days during the week. In the morning to mid afternoon.” Nova fidgeted, nervously.
“What’s wrong?”
“I just... is Levi okay?” Nova moved over to a chair and sat. “The last time I saw him was in the library, cornered by that creature that was looking for me.”
Paige sighed in relief. For a second there, she thought Nova had sensed Mr. Nasty himself coming their way. “He’s okay. Still having trouble believing me though.”
Nova frowned. “I wish I could make it easier for you, but I’m not sure what I can do.”
“I have an idea. If you’ll give me a little time, I might be able to make it possible for him to see you.”
“Oh, that would be wonderful.” Several tears rolled down Nova’s cheek as she clasped her hands together.
Paige had never seen a ghost cry before. It almost made her tear up just watching. “I’m glad to see you’re okay.”
“Thanks.”
“So, those possessed people are hunting you too?”
“I’ve been running from them ever since I died. The only peace I’ve found was when I came to Salem, looking for you, and when I go on the reservation.”
Paige cocked an eyebrow. Reservation? What would keep her safe there? “Does the witch stop them from coming after you?”
“I don’t think so,” Nova began, “but I can’t say for certain. Some of the reservations have a strong spiritual presence. The place I retreat to has many Comanche warriors and shamans, lingering from the old days. I think they protect the land from evil or something.”
“Comforting,” Paige replied, unsure if it truly was or not. Spirits could be unpredictable, even the nonviolent ones. A large concentration of “warriors” seemed like a bad idea, but if they kept the Headless Man and his minions away, it couldn’t be all bad. “Glad you found someplace safe.”
“Me too,” Nova agreed. “I never would have known about it, or the witch, if it hadn’t been for my grandfather.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, confused. “Is your grandfather’s spirit there?”
“No, he’s actually there. It’s where he lives.”
Holy crap, jackpot. She’d been hoping to get more history about Levi’s family, and maybe find out why this spirit had killed Nova. Their grandfather was the perfect place to start.
“Do you really think you can make it so Levi can see me?” Nova asked.
“I’ll try.” Now that the coast seemed clear of the Headless Man, Paige could attempt to perform some other forms of magic besides the survival kind. Her batting average with spell-casting hadn’t been the greatest so far, but she’d had enough success to keep trying. “I’ll need time to prepare,” she looked down at herself, “and to put on some clothes.”
“I’ll be back this evening. I don’t want to stay in one place for too long.” With that, Nova was gone.
Paige frowned. She’d wanted to ask a few more questions about her and Levi’s past, but that would have to wait till later it would seem. Her gaze drifted to the bathroom door. More important thoughts suddenly came to mind. She practically skipped across the living room, putting her necklace on as she did.
Steam billowed out from the bathroom when she opened the door. The details of the room were still visible, if a bit hazy. She shuffled across the dampened tiles over to the shower, and slipped past the curtain to join Levi.
He leaned under the showerhead, unaware of her stealthy entrance. Water cascaded over his muscled shoulders, and ran down his back in banded streams. The tiny sheets of water parted around his shapely backside. Though he had a runner’s physique, it was obvious he did more than just run. His musculature was too sculpted not to have some form of resistance training mixed into his routine.
She eased up next to him, and gently pressed her palms on his shoulders. He tensed at first, then relaxed as her hands glided down his sides. She moved closer to him so that her breasts flattened against his broad back. The same tingling that tickled her palms ebbed into her chest, hardening her nipples. She moved her hands around to his belly as she continued downward.
He remained still. Only his increased breathing gave any indication that he was a living man and not a sculpted piece of art.
Her fingers slid over his flat stomach until reaching the coarse hair below. She purred as her hand glided over his hardened thickness. “Someone’s glad I’m here.”
“I don’t understand what’s happened over the last couple of days,” Levi began, his voice deep, “But I do know one thing. You make me feel more alive than I’ve ever felt.” He turned, and kissed her roughly. His strong hands hoisted her up onto his hips, and he entered her.
She called out his name as he took her, right there in the shower. His movements brought her to climax again and again, rocking her body with bliss. Finally, he succumbed to his own orgasm, shuddering in ecstasy.
Once the heat of passion abated, they clung to each other. Levi nestled his head against her neck and kissed her.
“I think I left claw marks in your back,” she whispered, “Sorry.”
He chuckled. “Women like scars from what I’ve heard.”
“As long as I’m the only woman who sees them...” She hadn’t meant to say that aloud. She wasn’t sure if he was ready for that kind of possessiveness. Commitment, that’s what I meant.
He pulled back to look into her eyes. “That depends if you’re willing to stay. Salem is pretty far away.”
She hadn’t considered him wanting her to stay. She hadn’t considered a lot of things, but his unasked question brought it all to the surface.
The turmoil must have shown on her face, because his expression dimmed. “It’s a tough proposition. I had no right to put that pressure on you.”
She took his face in her hands. “It’s okay, I want to stay. I just... everything’s happening so fast, I don’t know where I stand. My feet are floating a foot off the ground right now.”
Levi smiled. “I feel the same.”
His words were music to her ears. She kissed him, embracing the tingle from their touch.
He broke away, breathless. “We’ll never get out of here if we keep this up.”
He spoke the truth, yet part of her didn’t care. She could cast the day away, losing herself in those beautiful brown eyes of his. The other part of her wanted to make sure they were actually safe, and answer the growing number of questions surrounding Nova’s death. Begrudgingly, she let him go. “I guess we do have other things to see to.”
“You are the very essence of willpower.”
“That’s me,” she replied, sardonically. “The pillar of self-control.”
Levi turned the water off, and got them some towels. Paige tried not to watch him dry off, but couldn’t help herself. She managed to tear her gaze away, after he wrapped the towel around his waist. I’ve gotta get my head on straight.
She stepped into the other room to get dressed. The cool air refreshed her and did wonders to clear her mind. Once she slipped into the last piece of clothing, a plan began to formulate. She knew how she would set up the spell to reunite Levi and Nova. The diary contained several symbols intended for otherworldly use. One in particular focused on spiritual essence; tapping into the core of the human soul.
A glance around the room showed her no safe places to lay out the spell. His place was pretty nice and she didn’t want to mess it up.
“What were you saying about Nova earlier?” Levi asked, as he strolled into the living room, drying his hair. Thankfully he’d put on some clothes, though his skin-tight shirt left little to the imagination. He leaned over to one side, rubbing the towel around his dark locks. A sparkle caught her eye, as he flipped his hair to the other side. She’d seen the diamond stud earring the night they met. She wouldn’t have thought twice about it, but the unusual way it shone against the dim lighting caught her eye.
“Nothing really,” she answered, tearing her gaze away from the earring.
“I thought you said she was here...”
“Yeah, but you weren’t in the right frame of mind to deal with that.” A smile crept across her face. “I don’t think she was either.”
His face flushed, deepening the bronze tone of his cheeks. “I suppose that was pretty awkward.”
She laughed. “I wouldn’t sweat it.”
“Easy for you to say. You weren’t at full attention in front of your sister.” He frowned. “I mean ghost sister, or whatever she is now.”
Paige could see the doubt in his eyes. “Look, I know you’re kind of weirded out about this stuff, but I’d like to try something.”
“Like what?” He raised a brow.
“You know, commune with the other side?”
“You mean a seance?”
“Kind of, but no crystal balls.”
He took a seat on the couch, and pulled his hair back. The effect was nothing short of dazzling. “So what do we do?”
Get naked. The thought just jumped in there, even though she’d had time to cool her heels. I think I’ve become brain-damaged by sex.
Paige closed her eyes and took a soothing breath. “The last time I cast a spell like this, it did a number on my bedroom floor. Is there somewhere we can go that isn’t flammable?”
Levi chuckled, uncomfortably. “Isn’t flammable...what are you gonna burn?”
“The symbols I use for the incantation tend to smolder.”
A look of relief smoothed his strained features. “I have a patio in the back. It’s concrete.”
“Perfect.” She grabbed the little blue book, and her ink. “Lead the way.”
He showed her to the back of the apartment to a guest room with a sliding glass door. It opened up into a small, rectangular patio not far from the complex’s pool. Thankfully, no one was swimming, so Paige could do her thing without an audience.
“This is gonna take me awhile.” She sat on the ground.
“I’ll make us something to eat.”
“You’re my hero.”
“If only I’d known that’s all it would take.” He laughed and turned to go inside, but then stopped, and turned back. He leaned down, and kissed her gently. His touch was soft on her lips, and sent tingling fire rippling through her.
I could stay like this all day, she thought, returning his passion.
Despite the want to remain in his kiss, Paige pulled away. “What was it you said in the shower? Oh yeah, ‘We’ll never get anything done if we don’t stop mugging each other,’ right?”
He grinned, and the diamond in his ear twinkled.
“That’s a nice earring,” she said, reaching up to rub its polished surface.
“It was a gift from my grandmother.” Levi knelt down beside her, and took the stud out. “Nova got one just like it, when we were children.” He handed it to Paige.
“It’s beautiful. A matching set?”
He nodded. “I always thought it was a strange gift for children, but who am I to judge?”
Paige gazed into the stone. It sparkled brilliantly despite the lack of direct light. There was a rainbow of colors deep inside the stone that churned like a child’s kaleidoscope. She’d never seen anything like it. “Wow. How do the colors spin without the stone moving?”
Levi frowned. “What colors?”
She held the diamond up so he could look at it. “Just like a man to not notice the details.”
He shook his head with a chuckle. “Just like a woman to see something that isn’t there. I don’t see any colors.”
It was Paige’s turn to frown. She looked at the stone again only to find the ring of colors twinkling back at her. “You wouldn’t happen to be colorblind, would you?”
“Not last I checked.”
Magic, or maybe I’m just reading too much into this. “Mind if I play with it a bit longer?”
Levi got to his feet. “Suit yourself. I’m going to make some breakfast.”
Paige examined the diamond with more scrutiny once she was alone. The colors were definitely moving of their own accord. The longer she held the stone, the more rapidly they spun. Energy crept into her fingers, warming her skin. The sensation was faint, but noticeable. This thing has to be magical.
Maybe it was one of those focus deals Belladonna had written about in the little blue diary. If so, that meant either someone in Levi’s family, or Levi himself, was able to wield magic.
Unless someone bought it. The thought seemed reasonable, but she couldn’t say for sure without more research. She stuffed the earring into her pocket. Later, there’s more urgent business to attend to.
With ink in hand and Belladonna’s diary open for reference, Paige drew out a series of symbols on the concrete. The many overlapping circles and curves were roughly two feet across once the basic structure was complete. More details needed to be added, but the design had a pleasant flow that matched what was in the book almost spot on.
“Nice,” Levi said from the doorway. “You could be an artist.”
Paige stretched the stiffness out of her back. “I don’t know about that, but this should work.”
“You’re not going to banish me to another dimension or anything, right?”
“No,” she replied too quickly, not entirely certain that she wouldn’t. “You should be fine.”
He chuckled and lowered a plate to her. “Instilling confidence isn’t really your thing, is it?”
She took the plate, heaped with scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast. The sudden aromas of breakfast made her stomach growl. “We wouldn’t have to do this if you’d stop being so stubborn, and just believe me.” She took a bite of crispy bacon.
“I don’t see ghosts on a regular basis. In fact, I don’t see them at all.” He took a seat in one of the patio chairs next to her. “Forgive my skepticism.”
She looked up at him with narrowed eyes. “I can’t believe the creepy guy in the library didn’t sway you.”
“That could have been any number of things,” he replied. “Possession being low on the list.”
“You’re sooo going to get your eyes opened,” she said, smugly. “I can’t wait.”
“I guess I’ll believe it when I see it,” he said, as he worked on his plate.
She pursed her lips at him. “Oh, you’ll see. The things that go bump in the night are quite real.”
“I have no doubts about that,” he agreed.
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”
They cleaned their plates in short order. “Are you finished?” He gestured toward the symbols.
“Not by far,” she said with a sigh. “Now off with you, so I can finish up.”
“So much for hero,” he scoffed playfully. He snatched her plate and strode inside without another word.
Paige shook her head, chuckling. Such a drama queen, who knew?
She leaned back against the side of the building, letting her thoughts wander. Leaving here would be hard for her. She didn’t think she could at this point, even though she had no choice but to go back. Everything she owned and knew was in Salem. Everything except Levi.
This sucks. She grabbed the book off the ground, and thumbed through it. She attempted to shift her thoughts away from the inevitable. It didn’t work at first. The idea of returning to her lonely apartment kept creeping into the yellowed pages of the little diary. Eventually, the arcane symbols and phrases drew her away from the gloominess and into a sanctuary of eager study. Page after page she read, losing herself in the flowing script of the book’s long dead author. Whoever this Belladonna woman had been, she was a damn genius when it came to magic. Paige couldn’t understand a lot of what had been written. What she could wrap her head around stood far beyond anything she’d been able to find in her years of searching. She’d found notes on how to actually “slide” into the netherworld to become a spiritual body—to create an otherworldly experience on the other side of life without being dead.
Paige whistled. That’s deep. And scary. The possibilities tempted her though. She might even be able to find her grandmother by crossing over. She’d only seen Grandma’s spirit once, and that had been just after she’d died, but Paige knew the ghost still lingered. Events that others might cast off as natural phenomena or coincidence, Paige attributed to her grandmother’s spirit—a sudden gust of wind carrying the older woman’s scent, a photo or heirloom that had been lost and unexpectedly found… it was Grandma. Paige knew it in her bones. Maybe with the help of this book, she could ask her grandmother why she hadn’t moved on.
There’s time for all that later. Right now I need to get this finished, she thought while looking at the partially-inked symbols.
She spent the rest of the day adding details and double-checking what she’d drawn. Levi poked his head out a few times, but said nothing, though his presence alone rattled her. Warmth surged through her body whenever he came near. She suspected the warming sensation to be a byproduct of her magic use. Much like the dreams had been, but impossible for her to say for certain. Distractions aside, she finished the circle of power as the sun dipped into the horizon.
“All done!” she called, getting to her feet. Her butt had gone numb from sitting so long, but it was worth it. A sense of pride welled up in her as she looked down at the intricate, swirling patterns. What she was doing was real magic, imperfect perhaps, but real.
Levi stepped outside. “Wow,” he said, as he looked at her work. “I thought it detailed before, but now I see the truth of it.” He glanced at her with the slightest hint of a smile. “You’re crazy.”
“Shut up.” She smacked him on the arm, laughing. “This is to help you, remember?”
“If you say so...”
She sighed. “You’re such a pain.”
“I know.” He chuckled and gestured at the symbols. “So, what do we do now?”
Paige had a mind to tell him they needed a live sacrifice, but resisted the urge. “Well, we need Nova to show up for this to work properly. But I suppose we could run through the steps before she gets here.” She pointed to the center of the circles, swirls and runes she’d drawn. “You’ll need to stand there.”
“Like, right now?”
She shrugged. “Yeah, sure.”
Levi stepped over the inked details with caution and into the small spot she’d left for him to stand. He then looked at her questioningly.
“That’s perfect,” she reassured him. “Now, take off all your clothes.”
“Wha... ?” His jaw went slack from confusion.
Paige gave him a devious grin, and began giggling. “The look on your face...”
He narrowed his eyes in realization. “So that’s how it’s gonna be, huh?” His hands drifted to the button on his pants. “You didn’t tell me you wanted to see some real magic.”
“Right,” she drawled, laughing. The combination of talking and laughing at the same time made her snort loudly.
Levi began chuckling himself.
A strong gust of wind blew past them, almost knocking Levi from his spot. Nova materialized between the two of them with a look of dread painted on her face. “What have you done?” she yelled. “They’re coming!”