HauntingMelodyStClaire (4 page)

Her inner walls clenched and she tried to pull him closer
with her thighs. He wrapped his arms under her legs and tugged her forward
until his tongue was buried deep inside her. A harsh cry ripped from her.

“Please, Travis.” His face buried between her thighs made
her body tremble.

He looked up at her and swiped his tongue against her clit.
His fingers slipped inside and forced a moan from her. They twisted and
flicked. “Please what?”

“I need…” The word ended in a soft cry when his thumb
pressed against her clit.

He came up and pressed his upper thigh against his hand. She
wrapped her legs around his, tugging her body closer and growling her
irritation when her hands kept her just shy of what she wanted.

Travis nipped at her throat. Her scent mixed with his and
she rubbed her cheek against his temple.

“You’re so tight.” The intensity of his words drove her to
distraction and he touched his nose to hers. “I can taste you everywhere,
Melody.”

“Please, stop teasing.” Pressure built at the base of her
spine.

“Who’s teasing? You just have to say the word.” He kissed
her and she arched, desperate to touch him.

A loud chime erupted through the attic and Melody jerked.

“Fuck.” Travis stopped moving and tucked her head against
his throat.

“What is that?”

“Doorbell.”

“Maybe they’ll go away.” Melody shifted beneath him, drawing
his attention back to her face. “They’ll go away.”

He bent down to kiss her and the chime rang three more
times. “It’s Kassa.” He pulled his fingers from her body and she nearly cried
from the loss.

“She can go away.” Melody pleaded with him in desperation.
She was so damn close she wanted to scream.

“You know she has a key, right?” Amusement darkened his
eyes. He rolled off her and stared up at the ceiling.

Melody ran her hands over her face and made a noise of
frustration.

He threw his forearm across his face and ran a palm over his
jean-covered erection. Melody sat up and frowned down at him. The sound of the
door scraping open kept her from doing anything else. She lifted his arm.

“Five minutes. She never stays longer than five minutes.”

“No worries, sweetheart. I’ll be right here.” His grin was
slow and sexy. She hesitated and he reached up, tugging her against him. His
mouth came over hers with a possessiveness that curled her toes. He let her go
with a slide of his lips. “Hurry back.”

She nodded and ran down the attic steps in a haze.

Kassa never stayed for long. It would be a breeze.

And how the hell her clothes were still on after what Travis
did to her was a mystery she couldn’t worry over right now.

Melody reached the bottom of the stairs and barely missed
colliding with Kassa. The normally smiling woman was obviously worried and
frazzled. The near collision didn’t seem to faze her. “Hey, Melody.”

“What’s wrong?”

Kassa shook her head without focusing on her. “Nothing.” She
walked into the kitchen, searching for something. “Have you noticed anything
strange?”

Melody trailed behind her. Making out with a ghost wasn’t
exactly on the list of normal. “That’s an understatement. I see ghosts.”

Kassa jerked her attention to her and Melody saw something
she didn’t expect. Panic. It was there in the expression on her face. “You can
see him? Has anything else happened?”

Melody yanked her head in surprise. “Uh no. Why would you
think that?”

Kassa moved closer and touched her arm. “Do you remember
anything from the fire?”

“No. I’ve been trying not to think about it.”

“Oh.” She sounded disappointed. “Lemons?”

Melody blinked. “What?”

Kassa pointed to the floor. “You picked lemons?” There was
wonder in her voice.

She waved it off. “I was going to make lemonade.”

Kassa beamed. “Perfect. I never learned how to make it.
You’ll have to show me.”

Melody gaped at the other woman and her gaze flicked to the
ceiling and back. Travis was waiting. “Umm.”

“Come on, it’ll be fun.” Kassa knelt by the basket and
picked up the lemons that had tumbled out. “I’ve only had the powdered stuff.”

Melody closed her mouth and tilted her head. “You’ve never
had fresh lemonade?”

“Nope.” She hauled the basket up.

“My mom taught me when I was little so I’d stop pestering
her for Coke all day long.”

“That’s cool.” She dropped the basket on the counter and set
a lemon on the cutting board.

Melody stared at the woman. There was something seriously
odd going on in that girl’s head. “You’re going to start cutting them now?”

“Yep. I figure why wait. Life’s too short.” She waved the
small knife in the air and Melody backed out of range, just in case she sent it
flying. “It must have been nice making lemonade with your mom.”

“It was. She was very busy during the day, so most of our
time together was at night.”

The scent of fresh lemon spilled into the air with the first
slice. This was obviously important to Kassa. Melody walked to the cabinet and
pulled down a small saucepan. She filled it with water and thought about
Travis. “I’m going to run to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.” She shut off
the water.

“No.” The knife speared the board with finality. Kassa
glared down at the lemon she was butchering. Blood spilled out on the wooden
surface. She’d cut her finger. “Son of a bitch, that stings.”

Melody swallowed and stepped forward, grabbing a cloth while
carefully holding the woman’s knife-wielding hand. “Okay. Let’s get this
cleaned up.”

Kassa’s beautiful eyes were full of unshed tears. “I’m
sorry.”

“You have no reason to apologize. There’s lemon in the cut
so let’s take care of it, okay?” Kassa dropped the knife and Melody wrapped the
cloth around her finger. The cut was deep but not bad enough for stitches.
Melody pulled her over to the sink and held her hand under cold water. “Kassa.”
She shook the woman’s hand to get her attention. “What is it?”

“I have to see Travis.”

Melody glanced at her. “What? Why?” The woman wasn’t making
any sense. “You can see him?” Her throat was tight and her heart ached.

Kassa blinked. “Yes.”

“You must be very close.”

Kassa’s lips lifted in a slow smile. “I’ve never been closer
to anyone in my life.”

Melody jerked as though she were slapped. “The last place I
saw him was in the attic.”

Kassa held her hand under the water. “Do you have any
bandages?”

“Sure. Let me go upstairs and grab one.” It would give her a
chance to tell Travis she was going to be awhile. She snatched a dishtowel and
wiped her hands as she turned away. Something drew her to the windows, but she
couldn’t see anything out of place. A chill ran down her neck and she took the
stairs two at a time to get away from the feeling.

She reached the attic and jerked to a stop. Travis was
nowhere to be found. “Travis?” Her voice was eerie in the still room. She ran a
hand down her face and sighed. “If you’re there, Kassa’s looking for you and
she’s acting strange. What’s going on?” She nibbled on her lower lip.

When no answer came, Melody turned and trudged back down the
steps to the bathroom. It took a minute to find the ancient first-aid kit and
some hydrogen peroxide. She waited for cool air to touch her skin or the
strange feeling of being watched, but everything was abysmally normal. She
glanced in the mirror and made a face. Who would have thought Melody St. Claire
would be asking for a haunting? She sighed and walked down to the first floor.
“Kassa, I tried to get his attention, but he didn’t answer.” She strode into
the kitchen and tossed the first-aid tin on the abandoned island. The lemon
still remained on the cutting board and the knife was in the sink, but Kassa
wasn’t there.

“Kassa?” she yelled and looked out the back window. Nothing.
She heard the distinct sound of a car starting.

Melody turned on her heel and dashed to the entryway. The
door was unlocked. She jerked it open and watched the car back out of the
driveway. Kassa. What the hell was that all about? She slammed the door shut
and locked it, annoyed. “Travis?” she called and roamed through the house. In
ten minutes, she was worried. By twenty she was damn near livid, though she
couldn’t understand why. She didn’t own the man, ghost, whatever. He was
welcome to go with Kassa. It was not jealousy burning a hole in her heart.
Who
am I kidding?

“It’s not like I know he went with her or anything.” She
dumped the lemon in the trash and started disinfecting everything with a
vengeance.

“He can do whatever it is that ghosts do.” She slapped the
dish cloth in the sink. “The hell with this. I’m going to take a nap.”

* * * * *

Blistering heat jerked Melody awake. Disoriented, she rolled
off the couch to the floor, jarring her hip. There was smoke everywhere. Wood
crackled and popped and fire flowed over the ceiling. Stark terror froze her in
place while her heart slammed in her chest. Sweat slicked her skin and she
tried to breathe, but smoke caught in her lungs, racking her body in coughs
while tears blinded her.

Melody covered her mouth and nose with the long sleeve of
her shirt. Get out. Run. She scrambled from the floor and launched toward the
door. Fire leaped in front of her, dancing, consuming everything in its path.
Breathing became impossible.

“Melody.” Her mother’s frantic call sent her into a panic.

“Mom!” Her voice was hoarse and dry. Another cough shook
her. Fire spilled into the kitchen. She tried to inhale, but her lungs burned
from the smoke. Melody was suffocating while the fire surrounded her.

Wood cracked and the roof sagged while sirens roared in the
distance. The ceiling collapsed and Melody screamed.

She jerked awake with the echoes of her own screams ringing
in her ears.

“Shhh.” Arms came around her, stroking her hair. “You’re
safe. No one can hurt you.”

Melody’s fingers dug into firm shoulders. “Where am I?” She
shuddered, trying to scrub out the fear. There was no fire. No smoke.

“In bed. You’re safe.”

Travis. Her mind put the voice to his name.

She buried her face against his chest and he gently rocked
her. Tears streamed down her cheeks and sobs tore from her throat. “Where did
you go?” The words were out before she could stop them.

“I had to go for a while, but I’m back now.” Cool air
swirled around her cheeks, drying her tears.

“We were supposed to go on a trip the next day.” Her voice
was thick with emotion. “I’d come into town for vacation. We camped every
summer.”

His arms tightened around her as she leaned into him. Ghost
or not, he was the only thing solid in her world at the moment. “What
happened?”

“The dream or real life?”

He brushed his thumb against her cheek. “Tell me real life
first.”

She relaxed and propped up on his chest. “I’m not sure. When
I got to the house, it was already on fire.” Memories flashed in her mind. Smoke
billowed from the windows. Screaming. “I ran inside but didn’t make it far.”

“Go on.” He massaged the back of her neck in gentle circles.

She shrugged. “The heat and smoke got to me. I was rescued I
guess, but was out of it for a while. I woke up in the hospital.”

He pressed a kiss against her forehead and sighed. “Your
parents?”

She shook her head and he reclined, dragging her down to
tuck against his body. Melody ran her cheek against his shirt and inhaled his
strong, masculine scent. Was this the way all ghosts smelled? Or was it unique
to Travis?

“What were you dreaming then?” He grew still and she looked
up at him.

“Just a nightmare about the fire. I was caught in the
house.” Her mind flashed to the moment smoke overtook her. She shivered despite
the cool air. “It was a monster. Flames spread across the ceiling.”

“What do you mean by monster?”

Her mind’s eye replayed the scene. “It was as though the
fire was alive. My mom and dad couldn’t get out.” She tried to calm her racing
heart. “I was trapped in the living room and couldn’t get to anyone. The
ceiling started to collapse, and…” Her statement ended in another shrug.

“You woke up.”

“Yeah.” She shivered again. “I can’t believe I just cried
all over you.” She moved away and wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand.
He kept her in the circle of his arms. “You must think I’m weak.”

He pulled her down and kissed the tip of her nose. “The mind
works through trauma in its own way. Nothing about that is weak.”

She sniffed. “Do you think my near-death experience is why I
can see you?”

He shook his head slightly. “You see me because you want to
see me.” His fingers traced the line of her jaw. “I’ve waited a long time for
this.”

Travis’ touch and his words both excited and frightened her.
She smiled, a watery one, no doubt, but it was something. “I don’t understand
what’s happening. I just met you, but—” She couldn’t say another word. A low
rumble of thunder sounded in the distance and the scent of coming rain came in
through the attic vents.

“Sometimes the heart knows what the head won’t believe.” His
thumb brushed her lower lip, igniting sparks of pleasure at the point of his
touch.

“I’m not very good with these things.”

He laughed and dipped his head. “You are something else,
lady.” She met his kiss in a soft tangle of emotion. He tasted delicious. The
smell of rain and his spicy scent was intoxicating.

Her mind latched on to the moment. Nothing else mattered
while her hands slipped under his shirt. He was all hard planes with a slight
dusting of hair that tickled her palms.

“You feel so real to me.” Her mouth traced the line of his
jaw. Soft stubble tickled her lips and she fought the urge to lick him.

“I’m just as real as you are.” He cupped her cheek and
rocked her with a sinfully delicious kiss that stole her breath. The first
drops of rain peppered the window in soft taps. Travis pulled away and she
stared up at him in a daze. She couldn’t seem to hold a thought. “I just don’t
have an expiration date.”

His smile devastated her, and her heart did a little flip.
“You’re not going to disappear on me again, are you?”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” He lifted her up so she straddled
his lap. “We have some unfinished business, you and I.” The muscles of his legs
bunched on the insides of her parted thighs.

Her body reacted instantly to the evidence of his lust. The
corner of her mouth lifted in a grin. “You know, I think you’re right.” She
rocked against the hard ridge of his cock. Travis grabbed hold of her hips and
pushed his denim-covered erection against her. He pressed into her clit with
just enough pressure to force a ragged moan from her. She couldn’t look away
from his hooded gaze. The desire she saw in their depths sent a stab of heat
straight to her core. She shivered in response, needing more.

His hold tightened and he pressed again. Melody brought her
hands up to grip his shoulders and ground against his upward thrust, feeling
herself become slick and swollen. The smell of her desire surrounded them.

The heavens opened up and rain pelted the attic roof and
windows, almost drowning out the thundering of her pulse.

Her panties were wet with her lust. With only thin material
separating her from him, his jeans were probably soaked by now. Every downward
slide sent sparks of pleasure through her so intense it robbed her of breath.
Travis continued the slow pump of his hips against her sensitive bundle of
nerves. His eyes darkened and his nostrils flared. Delicious friction built,
and orgasm loomed. The heat of it rolled through her lower body, climbing,
rising, pulsing. Travis suddenly stopped and Melody opened her mouth to
protest.

He rolled them over and stared down at her with a
single-minded focus. Travis brushed his hands down his chest and in an instant
his shirt was gone.

Her mouth opened in surprise. All that remained was a
well-defined body that made her throat go dry. His skin was golden and a fine
dusting of hair across his chest slid down in a teasing line through the ridges
of well-defined abs. Her mouth watered with the urge to trace every dip and
crevice with her tongue. He moved and the ripple of muscles stole her breath.

“Do your clothes always disappear like that?”

He arched an eyebrow and his palms slid lower. “There are
some advantages to being a ghost.” His fingers dipped below the waistband of
his jeans and he was suddenly, gloriously naked. She licked her lips at the
sight of his cock nestling between them. He was thicker than she’d imagined.
She reached for him, running her fingertips over the tip of his cock in teasing
circles. Her thumb rubbed the smooth head, stroking down to grip him in her
hand. It pulsed against her palm and his ragged moan damn near did her in. His
hand trapped hers against his cock. “Don’t. I won’t last if you do this. And
there are so many other things I want to do first.”