Restless Spirits Page 8

  “Are we back to this again?” He shook his head, running his fingers over her head. “I need to make sure you didn’t hit your head.”

  She covered his hands, stilling his action. “Listen to me! It’s time to leave.”

  The mirror on the wall exploded, and she flinched. The lights flickered, and the bulbs blew one by one.

  “What the hell is going on?” Pierce’s head swung left to right.

  “Pierce.” He stood, taking her with him. The door slammed shut.

  Pitch dark, except for a streak of moonlight, the bathroom Demi adored had become a portal straight from hell.

  A numbing cold settled over her skin. Her teeth chattered, and her body shook as it tried to warm up.

  “Jesus.” Pierce grabbed a towel off the rack on the back of the door, wrapped it around her body, and jiggled the knob.

  A pale face appeared in the moonlight.

  “Pierce.” She gripped his shirt tight as the apparition filled in. Dressed from head to toe in a gray gown that buttoned down the front, nipped in at the waist, and belled out with a petite coat, the female wore her hair parted in the middle and pulled back. A stern expression and downturned mouth made her oval-shaped face terrifying. High cheekbones stood out sharp enough to cut. Her eyes were red from busted blood vessels, and dark bruises marred her neck in the distinct shape of fingers.

  “Do you see her?” Demi said.

  “I told you—” Pierce turned around and paused. “What the hell is that?”

  The spirit grinned evilly. She held out her hand and curled it into a fist.

  Pierce cried out and clutched his chest, falling to his knees.

  “What are you doing? Stop it.” She clutched the towel, looking around for anything to ward the spirit off. Remembering her bath salts, she lunged toward the plastic bottle lying on its side next to the tub.

  The bottle shot across the room. Pain exploded in her head. She brought her hands to her ears and screamed. Pressure built on her chest like bricks being stacked one by one. We can’t end this way.

  “No, I won’t let you do this! You should never have left the inn,” a female voice said from above them. The pressure eased. Demi glanced up and gasped. Surrounded by a golden glow, Bronwyn stood between her and the mystery ghost.

  Demi glanced over at Pierce and sent a silent prayer to heaven. Color had returned to his face, and his breathing was regular. He glanced over, and their gazes locked. Are you okay? she mouthed.

  Yes, he mouthed back.

  “For years you kept me trapped in the hotel, and I protected the people best I could. Now it’s time for you to go where you belong,” Bronwyn declared.

  “You’re not strong enough, never have been. I’m going to kill them, keep them, and it’ll be all your fault.” The older woman cackled. The sound curdled Demi’s stomach.

  “Not this time,” Bronwyn said. The glow that surrounded her grew brighter and began to pulse. “I have help now.”

  The light turned into a cerulean blue, and another entity appeared. A man stood in an old-time navy uniform. After all this time, the woman and her lost love had finally been united. They moved forward, grabbing one of the woman’s wrists. Bronwyn turned to look at them.

  “Linda will bother you no more. I owe you at least this much for my freedom.”

  “T-this is your love, William?” Demi said.

  “Yes, he waited for me.” She smiled. “Your time is here now. Cherish every moment of it.” Bronwyn said, “The two of you are meant to be together. Don’t let anything make you lose sight of that. It’s why Linda targeted you. Sometimes when a traumatic death occurs, spirits refuse to cross over, turn bitter, and pit themselves against one another. Parting lovers became Linda’s specialty after her own murdered her. For years, she’s existed to cause discord and torment.” Bronwyn sighed. “We must go now and take her somewhere she can no longer hurt others.”

  A brilliant burst of colorful light went off like a fireworks display, and the ghosts disappeared.

  “Holy shit,” Pierce said.

  “Yeah, agreed.”

  “Did that really just happen?” Pierce said.

  “Yes, believe me now?” Vindicated and shaken, she glared at him.

  “Baby, I promise I will never doubt you again.” He rested his forehead against hers, and they stood for a moment, gathering themselves. “You’re a once-in-a-lifetime shot at happiness. I’m never giving that up.”

  “Oh yeah?” she asked, softening. His words helped repair the damage done by his doubt.

  “I don’t know why I was so determined not to believe you. I knew how upset it made you.” He shook his head.

  “Maybe she was influencing you—Linda?”

  He shuddered. “Maybe. Let’s get out of here.”

  They entered the bedroom, and her numb limbs began to thaw. “Who was she? I wonder,” Demi said.

  “I’m not sure. But if you want, we can find out together.” He sank to the bed, pulling her onto his lap. “Demi, I love you. I can’t go another minute without telling you that.” His words filled her with euphoria. The high set in fast and spread through her body, filling her with warmth and happiness. A goofy smiled curved the corners of her lips up.

  “I love you too, Pierce.”

  The relief in his eyes made her laugh. “Worried I wasn’t going to say it back?”

  “A little.”

  She leaned up and nipped his bottom lip. “Good. I like to keep you on your toes.”

  “Evil woman.”

  Laughter and the stirring of love filled the room, chasing away the remnants of drama that had unfolded. That weekend away they had been seekers of sorts, and like every episode of the show, they found what was needed most, the love of their life hidden right beneath their noses all this time.

  “As much as I love you, you know I’m not about to sleep here tonight, right? In case she tries to come back for one last scare.”

  “We aren’t going to sleep,” he said with fire in his gaze.

  “Oh.”

  He yanked the towel away from her body. Cool air rushed up to greet her. Her nipples hardened, and her pussy grew damp. She’d never seen him so intense before.

  “I almost lost you tonight.” His voice was husky and worn. Passion turned his eyes dark. “Do you know how it felt not being able to reach you when I heard you cry out?” He trailed his fingers down the side of her face.

  “No.”

  “I’ve never been so scared in my entire life, Demi.” He bent down and buried his face into her neck. “I need to feel you wrapped around me, alive, warm, and wet.” He ghosted his hand down her stomach and parted her lips. She shivered. He slipped a long finger inside her cunt, and she clenched automatically. “That’s it, baby. Hold me tight.” Pulling back he studied her. “I want to see you let go.” His rhythm went from slow and sensual to fuck-me-I’m-melting. She lifted her hips, gripping the sheets as she fucked his hands. Their harried actions were almost violent as they reaffirmed their relationship and reveled in the fact they were still alive. His eyes spoke volumes. He added another finger, curved them, and tilted just so. Her body jerked, and an orgasm crashed down, stealing her breath with its sneak attack. Unable to do more than feel, she cried out, convulsing as he continued to thrust inside her.

  “Give it to me again.”

  “I-I can’t.”

  “Yes, you can.” He rubbed her clit with his thumb, and she began the rapid ascent once more, shattering into a million pieces.

  He pushed her noodle-limp legs aside and slid between them.

  “Look at me, D.” She lifted her heavy lids, and he drove home, coaxing a gasp from her lips. “From now on, this is my pussy.” His hard, fast strokes had her ready to agree to just about anything. “Say it,” he growled.

  “Y-your pussy, Pierce.”

  “And whose dick is this?”

  “M-mine,” she whispered.

  He cupped her ass and lifted her up, sinking deeper. “Fuck, so t
ight.”

  The slap of skin filled the room. A fine sheen of sweat covered her skin. Beads rolled down his forehead. He moved faster, bottoming out over and over, and she swore he pierced the very heart of her. His body tensed. She tightened around him.

  “Fuck. Gonna come.”

  “Do it,” she whispered, not far from flying into the abyss.

  He gritted his teeth, covering her body with his as he ground into her. “You and me.”

  “Yes.”

  She began to tremble. He filled her once, twice, and exploded. The heat rocketed through her, and she let go, swept away by the claiming they’d placed on each other. The time for walking away had passed. They were woven together by a bond no man or ghost could break. He collapsed on top of her, and she welcomed his weight, holding him close as they caught their breath.

  “Pierce?”

  “Yeah, baby?”

  “I’m still not staying the night here.”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “Whatever Demi wants.”

  “Remember that phrase. It’ll make life a lot more pleasant,” she said. He snickered.

  “As soon as I can move, we’ll go back to your place.” He lifted his head, licked his lips, and smiled. “And do this all over again.” The smoldering in his eyes made her juices begin to flow once more.

  “How could I refuse an offer like that?”

  “You weren’t supposed to, D.”

  They laughed, and the darkness that had gripped them released its stranglehold. Demi was ready to move forward full of light, love, and an unshakeable certainty that they could overcome any obstacle placed in front of them. The chains of her past no longer held her bound. Love was something to be cherished, and now she would experience it all unhampered by the fear of loss.

  Loose Id Titles by Shyla Colt

  Restless Spirits

  Shyla Colt

  Told once “You have to be an author; then your craziness becomes eccentricities,” Shyla Colt has always been in love with the written word and possessed a desire to write. Named after Super Girl in the comics, she often mistakes her mortality for super hero status, so she wears many hats. Writing allows her to explore new venues, face her demons, and touch others.

  A huge practitioner of paying it forward, and putting in what you want to get out, she hopes to inspire, enlighten, move, and entertain you with her work. Mixing humor, drama, and strong women, often with a paranormal element, she continues to soldier ahead in the writing field.

  One of her favorite things is talking to fans. She invites you to check out her Web site at http://www.shylacolt.com to learn more about her, or send an email to her at sassy3134@gmail.com.