Restless Spirits (3 page)

“Have you experienced anything, Maureen?”

“I’ve seen the outline of a person a time or two in the parking lot, but I’m not very sensitive to these types of things.” She shrugged. Her almond-shaped brown eyes twinkled with mirth in her round face. With her coal-black hair pulled back into a bun and a light dusting of makeup, he couldn’t accurately gauge her age, but kindness flowed freely. He handed her his ID.

“Has any activity ever been reported in room sixteen?” Demi asked, in investigative mode.

“Not while I’ve been working here, the past five years, but I’d wager to say since the inn’s been opened there were incidents or sightings in all of them at one point or another.” The efficient way Maureen talked and processed paperwork told him she’d been asked many questions working behind the desk.

“Have they come up with any theories on why this place is so active?” he asked.

“A combination of its age, the fact that it was a pub where altercations occurred, and the very transient nature that comes with people constantly coming and going.”

He glanced over and grinned. Demi had her head bent over a small notepad she scribbled in.

“Are any of these incidents violent?”

“Depends on your definition of violent. No one’s been hurt, but rattling beds and tugs on clothing can be quiet discombobulating. So I don’t think they’d call their interactions peaceful.” Maureen’s lips twitched up, and he chuckled. Demi grinned and peered at him.

“I could see how that’d be true, Maureen,” Demi said.

“Okay, you two are all checked in. I’ll escort you to the room now.” Maureen walked from behind the counter and led them over to a steep set of stairs with a polished wood hand railing. “This banister is actually an original that’s been restored and kept up over all these years.” Maureen ran her hands over the shiny surface, and Pierce followed her example. It humbled him to think of how long this had been around. They wound around a corner, passing the first level and onto the second, where Maureen took a left.

“This is one of my favorite rooms. The decor is stunning and very romantic.” Maureen came to a stop in front of a heavy wooden door, removed a key from her coat pocket, and placed the clunky black key into the hole. She pushed the door open. Soft blue walls and a massive bed with lace covering over the four-poster’s canopy caught his attention first. A brilliant yellow coverlet with pink roses covered the wide expanse of the bed. The bed was so monstrous, a petite person would need a footstool to climb into it. Drapery of the same material decorated the top portion of the window directly in front of them.

“Is there anything else I can get you other than this?” Maureen handed over the key.

“No, thank you for being so helpful,” Pierce said.

“Will you be working tomorrow?” Demi asked.

“I will,” Maureen said.

“Wonderful! Do you mind if I ask you a few more things?” Demi said.

“Not at all. I’m looking forward to it.” Maureen smiled. “Now I’ll leave you to your evening. Please enjoy your stay.” She stepped away, closing the door behind her.

“This is beautiful,” Demi whispered. She trailed her fingers over the white trim that ran the center of every wall. A small mahogany desk sat in the corner with a lamp. A tall antique dresser of the same color rested against the wall, across from the foot of the bed.

“Yes, it is. A little feminine for my taste.”

Demi said, “Just about everything from this era would be. Back then all of the frills were for the lady and to show status.” She walked the room, trailing her fingers over the furniture before she came to a stop in front of the window. “Do you want to take a shower while I poke around? I’m dying to use an EMF meter for the first time.”

“No, that sounds great.” He placed her bag on the bed and headed toward the small bathroom he knew had to be an addition. The claw-foot bathtub with the attached shower made him smile. They did an excellent job of remaining historically accurate while adding enough modern creature comforts. As he stripped down, the scent of roses filled the air. He glanced around at the small sink and found nothing on the counter. Perhaps they’d sprayed the room with air freshener earlier. Hope rose inside him like a bubble, and anxiety melted away.
This trip is going to be a success. I can feel it.

* * * *

Freshly bathed and dressed, they headed down to the hotel restaurant. Demi sat at a tiny table in the corner, across from Pierce.

“Do you feel like we’ve stepped back in time too?”Demi asked. She reached out to pick up her white wine and took a sip. This would never happen in
Seeker
, but when in Rome.

“I actually can’t help but think of
Titanic
with the linen napkins and fine china,” Pierce said.

“Not to mention all this glassware.” Demi traced a finger around the rim of her wineglass. Light reflected off the multitude of glassware lining the tables.

“How could I forget that?” He winked.

They’d ordered twelve-ounce sirloins with mixed vegetables and baked potatoes. Her stomach rumbled, and she took another sip of the wine as she drank in the dining area. From the corner of her eye, something white caught her attention. She turned her head and frowned when she found nothing.

“You okay? You have an odd look on your face.” Pierce leaned in.

“Fine. I just thought I caught a glimpse of something out my peripheral.”

His jaw dropped. “Like what?”

“I couldn’t say truly say. It looked white. Maybe it was a tablecloth.” She shrugged.

“No, they border on beige.”

They exchanged a look. “You don’t think we’ve already experienced something, do you?” Her voice shook a bit with excitement.

“Maybe. Did you bring your EMF meter?” Pierce asked.

“You know I did.” She unzipped the oversize purse she carried and dug inside for the blocky black box with five colored lights and labels. Removing it, she turned it on and held her breath as it read. The tiny circle lit and jumped from dark green to light green, barely topping the 2.5 range. She frowned. The box measured electromagnetic energy, something they believed a ghost gave off, especially when they attempted to manifest in some way. This reading she had didn’t indicate anything out of the ordinary. “Nothing yet.”

“When you saw it, though, it was probably across the room, right? Not right next to you,” Pierce said.

“Yes.” Her heartbeat kicked up a notch.

“Do you think it was the little girl rumored to be here?” Pierce’s eyes practically glowed with giddiness. He really did enjoy this. His claims in the car weren’t far-fetched. The empty dining room, wine, and low lighting had her downright optimistic.

She shook her head. “I never got a really good look at it.”

“You’ll have to record this in your case log back in the room.”

“Definitely…about that room, there’s only one bed.” She rubbed the hem of her shirt.

“Yes, but it’s massive. These older buildings don’t exactly do the two-double-bed thing.”

“So, we’re going to share?” Her temperature spiked.

“I promise you this. I won’t do anything you don’t ask me to.”

“That’s what I’m worried about,” she mumbled under her breath.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear that.”

She opened her mouth to speak, and the waiter returned with their plates.

Dodged that bullet.

“Here you are, ma’am, medium-well.” He rested the plate down in front of her, and she inhaled the mouthwatering fragrance. “And medium-rare for you, sir.” Their waiter, Jim, set Pierce’s plate down and straightened. “Is there anything else I can get either of you?”

Pierce glanced at her, and she shook her head.

“No, I think we’re good for now, Jim. Thank you.” Jim walked back into the kitchen, and the sound of silverware against plates filled the air.

Demi swallowed and moaned. “This is phenomenal. The tender meat all but melts in your mouth.”

“Agreed.” He placed a piece of steak in his mouth and hummed. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and she pressed her thighs together to stop the dull throb, steadily growing. Full, pink, slightly pouty, and begging for action, his lips were lethal. His tongue darted out to catch a wayward droplet of white wine, and she all but purred. Now that she knew what his lips could do, her mind was trapped in the gutter. He was thick and long. She wanted to expose him to the light and taste him with her tongue. If this weekend did end up being all they had, she didn’t want to miss out.

“You have naughtiness in your eyes,” Pierce said.

“Are you protesting?”

“No.” His eyes darkened with lust.

Her nipples peaked, and she closed her eyes as his words seduced her.
I always was a sucker for a well-turned phrase
. Unable to return with a witty retort, she took another bite of food and ignored the rich chuckle that came from across the table. He affected her on a primal level she’d never encountered. The other men she’d dated had been fun distractions who scratched an itch. She wasn’t a prude or a stranger to sex, fast, dirty, and satisfying. But she’d always known walking away wouldn’t be an issue. Pierce didn’t allow her that thought.

A warm breeze tickled the hair on the back of her neck. Her stomach settled, and calm reigned.
Did the wine come in for a second wave?
Her nose twitched. A floral scent filled the air. Her body became hot, and the world spun. She blinked.

“Demi?”

She gripped the arms of her chair, relieved when the sensation faded. “Sorry, I got a little light-headed there.” She pressed her palm to her cheek.

“You sure you’re okay?” Pierce leaned in and took her hand.

“Yes, too much wine on an empty stomach I think. It’s balancing itself out now. “

He watched her suspiciously as they finished off their meal. The experience had been strange, and she couldn’t help but wonder if they were already falling prey to a paranormal phenomenon.

Once inside their room, Pierce closed the door and turned toward her.

“Do you want to tell me what happened back there?”

“I’m not sure. I thought we could research the ballroom or any strange experiences guests might have had while dining.” Demi sank down onto the bed and grabbed the book bag that held her laptop.

“Let’s boot up and dive in then, partner.” Pierce grinned.

“Aye, aye, Captain.” She saluted.

* * * *

“Well, one thing’s for sure, you aren’t the only one who’s experienced something strange in the ballroom,” Pierce said some time later.

“No kidding.” Demi shut her laptop and stretched her arms above her head, arching her back. Closing her eyes, she rolled her neck. They’d scoured the net and found hundreds of accounts, many of them in the ballroom.

“This is supposed to be a relaxing trip.” The bed dipped. Pierce moved over to kneel behind her. He placed a hand on her neck, and she moaned in relief as his warmth seeped into her stiff muscles as he began a slow massage. “We have three more days and two nights here. There’s no rush to figure everything out tonight.” She leaned back into the solid wall of his chest and bit her lip to keep the whimper building in her throat quiet. Moisture pooled inside her panties. She rubbed her thighs together to relieve the mounting tension. Her nipples hardened. He moved his large hands down to her shoulders. Putty in his hands, she relaxed against him, purring like a cat.

“You like that, Demi?”

“Mhmm.”

“Can’t have you all tensed up before bed.” He moved closer. His warm breath caressed her neck. She curled her fingers into her jeans to stay grounded. His words from earlier echoed in her mind. He pressed up against her and moved his magical fingers down her arms.

“Hmm. You don’t seem to be relaxing. Why is that?”

The amusement in his voice made her growl. “You know why.”

“Enlighten me.”

“B-because what you’re doing doesn’t relax me.”

“What does it do, Demi?” His voice dropped an octave. Chill bumps rose on her skin.

“It makes me wet.”

He took a ragged breath. “Are you going to show me how wet? I want to see that pussy I’ve been dreaming about for so long.”

His words went straight to her core. A flood of liquid pooled in her panties and ran down her upper thighs.

“What’s it going to be, Demi? Yes.” He trailed his hands down to caress the seams of her jeans. “Or no?”

She let her head fall back and peered up to take in the angles of his face. Despite his even tone, his Adam’s apple bobbed with his frequent swallows, and his jaw was granite.

“Yes.”

He growled. “I’m going to make it so good for you, D.” His fingers dipped below her shirt and caressed her ribs as he moved down to the top of her jeans. The
pop
of the snap seemed to echo in the room filled with shaky breathing. He caressed her beneath the band of her black boy shorts, and she held her breath, anxious to feel his thick fingers inside her. Nuzzling the crook of her neck, he delved inside the cotton, and the air rushed from her lungs. His teeth trailed up her neck, and his fingers parted her slick lips. “Soft, wet.” He pinched her swollen clit between his fingers, rolling it with just enough pressure to torture without bringing relief.

“Pierce.” She lifted her hips only to have him stop.

“Uh-uh, slow. I’ve waited too long for this to be a flash in a pan.” He bit down, hard. “I want to hear every sigh, whimper, scream.” His tongue soothed the sting, and his fingers continued to play. “You want to feel my fingers inside you, Demi?”

“Fuck, you know I do.” Every nerve ending in her body seemed hardwired to this man’s command. His silken tone devastated her like a bomb.

“Then tell me, sweetheart.”

“I need to feel those dexterous digits inside my pussy, Pierce.”

“Since you asked so nicely.” He bit her jaw and thrust home in one deft movement that rolled her eyes into the back of her head. Seated deep inside her, he remained still, massaging her lower belly with his large hand.

“You feel me?” He wiggled his finger, and she moaned.

“So good.”

“You ready for more?”

“I was born ready,” she challenged.

He pulled out, fighting the suction of her body that begged him to stay. Her walls flexed, protesting his retreat.