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Authors: Ditter Kellen and Dawn Montgomery

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BOOK: HauntingMelodyStClaire
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“Does a ghost have to worry about things like this?”

He grinned and eased her hand away. “When I come, it’ll be
after you scream my name.”

His words sent shards of pleasure straight to her core.
Dark, sensual lust shot through her. She yanked off her shirt and bra while he
rocked forward against her. The damn jeans were a barrier.

“Stay there. Let me taste you.”

Holy shit.
She shivered in response and could only
nod.

His mouth burned a path down her throat. His hand cupped and
caressed her breast. Her nipples grew into hard and sensitive points, so tight
they ached for his touch. His thumb brushed one tip and she cried out at the
near sharp sensation. She plunged her fingers into his hair, wanting to drag
him up for another kiss. “Please, stop teasing, Travis.”

He tongued and circled her nipples, ignoring her demands
until currents of pleasure shot straight to her clit.

He pulled away from her breast with a tiny nip of pleasure.
Travis kissed down her stomach. Clever fingers unbuttoned her jeans. His mouth
and tongue followed the zipper’s path as it lowered. One hand held her hip, and
the other rubbed teasingly against her.

She raised her head to watch his mouth against her skin. His
teeth scraped lightly against her jeans. She moaned and let her head fall back,
gripping her hands together in sexual frustration. He was so sexy, if she
didn’t have him inside her soon she would come from just watching him. Travis
peeled her jeans and panties down her hips, tugging gently until they slipped
past her thighs. She lifted her head to watch him. “I want to touch you.” Her
body trembled and ached with lust.

“Not yet.” The demand was a growl of breath against her
slick folds.

“You are driving me insane…” She let the threat hang in the
air.

He didn’t speak and she looked down. The lust in his eyes
tore something loose inside her, scattering her thoughts. He tossed her jeans
across the room. Travis seized her ankles and yanked her toward him, flipping
her onto her stomach. She cried out in surprise, but her body thrilled at his
touch.

In a flash he was on top of her, surrounding her. His breath
tickled her cheek. “I haven’t even started yet.” He nipped at her ear and she
turned her head to give him better access. The soft hair on his chest brushed
enticingly against her bare back. His thigh slid between hers and she rocked
back against it, loving the rough brush of his hair against her sensitive skin.
His cock pressed between them, maddeningly close.

His lips touched her throat. “I can’t wait to hear that sexy
voice beg.” He raked his teeth over her shoulder and she moaned.

She wanted to speak, but he pushed her legs apart. “Oh God…”
Her heart thundered and she held her breath in anticipation of what he would do
next.

He nuzzled her cheek. “I can’t have you sending me over the
edge before I taste every inch of you, can I?”

Travis didn’t give her a chance to speak before his hand
dragged slowly up her smooth calves to caress the back of her thigh. He wrapped
his wrist in her hair and tugged her head to the side. Hot lust boiled through
her and her pussy grew slicker. “You’re gonna like this.”

Those talented fingers slid through her moist heat, teasing
a cry from her throat. Her folds squeezed around the fingers, increasing the
pressure and sensitivity to the point she wanted to cry. She arched back
against him, trying to tilt her hips. It was too much. The need to come was
overwhelming, but Travis was mercilessly in control of her body.

His fingers slid through again and the tips brushed her
clit. She bucked against his touch. Teeth bit into her shoulder, adding a mix
of pleasure and pain. Her inner muscles contracted and nothing else existed but
the moment.

She buried her face against her arm. “Travis. Please.” She
was on fire, her entire body a livewire. She arched a tiny bit, reaching for a
little more pressure.

The fingers slowed and she nearly screamed. Her pussy
clenched around him, desperate to finish what he’d started. She cursed.

“What was that, Melody?”

“You are such a tease,” she ground through her teeth.

Travis dipped a finger just inside and she moaned. “This
isn’t teasing, darlin’.” He added another digit and plunged deep. She cried out
in bliss. “It’s a promise.”

He scissored them inside her and pressed up to a spot that
brought her hips off the bed. Pleasure arced through her. He did it again and
she moaned his name.

She was afraid he would stop. His strokes were relentless,
devastating her with every flick of his fingers. Her orgasm was just out of
reach and her hips were moving in time with his fingers. His mouth was everywhere,
tasting and licking. Nipping at her most sensitive areas. She felt him behind
her knees, down the middle of her back, a lazy swipe of his tongue from the top
of her ass to where his fingers were buried deep inside her. Tension rose in a
wave of pressure, driving away all thought. She muttered her need against the
bed.

He twisted the digits in slow, teasing moves. “What did you
say, darlin’?”

“I said you’re driving me crazy.” She looked over her
shoulder. His skin was flushed and the sexy look he gave her nearly burned her
alive.

“Hmmm.” His fingers rotated inside her, slow and easy. “I
can keep this up for days.”

She groaned. “I can’t.”

“You can take a lot more than this.” He flicked them inside
her and she rocked her hips back as a fresh wave of pleasure splintered through
her.

“Oh man, you suck.”

“Good idea.” The fingers were gone and she was flipped.

He shouldered her legs apart. “I’m dying to taste you.”
Travis’ mouth nuzzled her pussy and she arched. His tongue slid along her slit
in a pure sensation of delight. Travis paid particular attention to her tight
bundle of nerves, swirling around her clit and flicking across it until she was
covered in sweat. Her hands locked in his hair and she lifted her hips to guide
him where she wanted his touch the most. He licked and sucked, teasing her
until her heart pounded and she could barely breathe.

His fingers spread open her slick heat and his ragged moan
echoed through her. “So wet. I know what you need.” Melody watched his head dip
again and she opened her thighs wider to give him better access. She nearly
cried with relief when his mouth closed over her clit and he sucked it deep
while stroking it with his talented tongue.

He pressed his palm against her pussy, intensifying her
pleasure. She let her head fall back against the mattress. Every stroke, every
flick of his tongue drove her higher. Her inner walls clenched. She rocked
against him, thrusting, driving herself closer to orgasm.

He pulled away from her and she growled in frustration.

“Not yet, Melody.”

Excitement fluttered in her stomach and she trembled with
lust. “Yes.”

His palm rubbed against her clit. “No. You come when I tell
you to.”

Her body tightened at his sexy demand. “I want. Please,
Travis.”

He ground against her and she whimpered. “Tell me what you
want.”

She couldn’t form words, he felt so good.

Travis rose above her, rubbing the broad head of his cock
against her wet slit. He kissed her with a hunger she matched. “We taste so
good together, don’t we?”

“Yes.” The word rushed out on a breathless whisper.

“Tell me.” The demand was growled in her ear. He slid in
just enough so she could feel him stretching her. Travis withdrew and slid
deeper. It had been too long since she’d felt this. His thumb brushed her clit
and she bucked against him in desperation.

She turned her face toward him, finding words to beg. “Make
me come. Please. No more teasing.”

He thrust deep and she sobbed with bliss. The pleasure-pain
of his entry nearly triggered an orgasm. “I like it when you beg.” He rotated
his hips. Sharp pleasure shot through her pussy and her inner walls squeezed
him, driving him deeper. He shifted them forward so she was off balance, but it
drove him deeper. She could only moan as she adjusted to his size. His cock
jerked inside her, brushing against a spot that sent her to the edge of
oblivion. Her eyes widened at his slow and sexy grin. He braced his hands on
either side of her head, while pulling out slowly and then slammed deep. She
rolled her eyes back in sweet ecstasy and rocked on the brink.

“Not yet.” He pressed his forehead against hers and she was
lost. In that moment she would have done anything he asked. “Not. Yet.”

He pounded into her, riding them back across the mattress.
Every thrust drove her pleasure higher. “Please. Travis.” Her voice was husky.
Travis hooked his arms under her thighs, opening her wider. He was hitting
every nerve in her pussy as he pistoned faster. She was lost, completely open
to him, taking everything he could give her. She couldn’t breathe, her legs
were shaking. Fast, electric pulses were shooting from her clit, through her
pussy to her womb. Ecstasy spread from her center outward and she realized she
was crying from the overwhelming power of it. “Travis.” She heard the wonder in
her own throaty voice.

“Now. Come now.” He rotated his hips and ground against her.
Her orgasm peaked. She screamed his name and arched, riding the most powerful
sensation she had ever felt. Travis stiffened above her and threw his head back
with a hoarse shout. He came deep inside her. She could feel him pulsing and
warm jets of semen continued to fill her as he moaned her name. He shuddered as
he eased his arms from her bent knees and gently pulled from her body.

They collapsed together in a blissful tangle of limbs. He
ran his palm down her sweat-soaked skin and drew the blanket up around them.

Chapter Five

 

Melody stirred when Travis pulled her up against him so her
head rested on his chest. “Wow. That was incredible.”

“I’m out of practice.”

She ran her cheek against his skin. “I doubt that.”

He chuckled and stroked her hair. “The last time I had sex
the most popular opening movie was
E.T.
” He pressed a kiss on top of her
head.

She did a quick calculation in her mind. “That was over
thirty years ago.”

“Yeah.” He tucked a finger under her chin. “I’m a ghost,
remember? What about you?”

“What do you want to know?” She rolled so she could see him.

“No relationships?” His jaw was tight.

She arched an eyebrow. “Not for a long while.”

“Is that so?” He hauled her up for a kiss that left them
both weak. “Just so you know, I don’t share.”

She kissed him back. “I don’t either.” There was more force
behind the words than she’d intended, but she couldn’t draw it back.

He made a small noise of pleasure and kissed her again, a
slow slide of his lips against hers. She could do this every day of her life.
I’m
falling in love with a ghost.

Melody hid her distress against his throat.

“Ever been married?”

She shook her head. “Nope. You?”

“Almost.” He sounded amused. “I was hours away from tying
the knot.”

Melody sat up. “Tell me you weren’t on your way to the
wedding when you got in a wreck.”

He grinned. “I wasn’t.”

“Then what happened?”

“I’m telling the story, beautiful.” He sat up and rolled
them so that he trapped her against the mattress. Languorous interest uncoiled
in her lower stomach. His naked body fit her in all the right places. She was
caught in his gaze. At that moment he seemed so alive. The sad ache in her
chest wouldn’t leave. He pulled away. “Where was I?”

“Almost married.”

“Right.” He rolled onto his back and pinched the bridge of
his nose. “I wanted to and she didn’t. No one knew until she was caught in a
compromising situation with my cousin.”

That surprised her. “You’re kidding.”

“Nope. My cousin was still in high school. He had no idea
what he’d gotten himself into.” He glanced at her with a sad grin. “So to
speak.”

She ran her hand along his chest. “What a bitch.”

“Yeah. I was lucky.”

A lucky man didn’t lose his life as young as he did.

“I was engaged for about a minute.”

He looked at her in surprise. “Really?”

“Yep. He was perfect.” She ticked off the requirements.
“Nice car. Great job. Stable. Dependable.”

“Dependable? Sounds like a collie.”

She shrugged. The old pain had faded to almost nothing.
“Yeah. We were perfect for each other. Everyone said so.”

He tucked stray hair behind her ear. “What happened?”

“I wanted kids and he didn’t so it was a deal breaker for
me.”

“That’s a shame. You would have been a fabulous mother.”

She snorted. “I’m still young. Besides, we can always
adopt.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him.

He shook his head and his grin faded.

The sad ache grew in her chest and she didn’t know why.

She tucked against him and listened, taking comfort in his
heartbeat. She ran her fingers along his stomach, watching the muscles contract
under her touch. “Your heart beats.”

“It does. Kassa said it’s my spiritual manifestation. I
believe I’m still a whole man, so the body remembers little things like this.”
He brought her hand up to his chest. “I can stop it too.”

“Don’t do that.” Not yet. She didn’t want to see him
disappear or do any ghost tricks. At the moment she wanted to believe they were
tucked in a pocket of time.

“You’re fidgeting again.”

“What?”

He looped a finger around her grandmother’s chain and Melody
realized she’d been running the locket back and forth. His fingers picked up
the treasure and held it in the light. “Why don’t you tell me the story behind
this necklace?”

Her hand covered his. “My grandmother gave it to me when Grandpa
died.” She opened the clasp and the musical notes spilled out. “I’ve had it
repaired I don’t know how many times.” She sat up and moved toward him, showing
him the inside. “These are my grandparents. They loved each other more than
life itself.” She looked down and admired their sweet embrace. “Nana called him
her soul mate. My grandpa called her his once-in-a-lifetime love. After he
died, she never remarried.”

“You must miss them a lot.”

She smiled. “I do. Very much.”

“I’m sure they miss you too.”

“Do ghosts cry?”

He stiffened. “Sometimes.” He brought her hand back to his
chest.

She interlocked her fingers with his. Night loomed and she
could see the rosy glow of evening. Darkness would come and with it more
nightmares. She sighed. “Fear sucks. It must be a relief to not worry anymore.”

His grip tightened for a moment. “Death doesn’t rescue you
from fear or worry. If anything, being dead intensifies those feelings.”

“What are you afraid of?”

“Loneliness. Failure. Taxes. Even the dead have
responsibilities.”

“Taxes? Whatever.”

“It’s that unfinished business I was talking about earlier.
You have to face your death or suffer with waking nightmares.”

“Like the ones I have?”

He ran a finger down her cheek. “Trauma does strange things
to the mind. How often do you have the nightmares?”

She thought back. “Several times a week. Enough that I hate
sleeping.”

“How long ago was the fire?”

She brushed the question off. “I’d rather hear about you
than me.”

“You’re awfully good at avoiding this subject.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.” She averted her eyes while
fingering the delicate chain of her necklace. “I really don’t want to start
crying again.”

“I understand.” He put his hand on the back of her head.
“Let’s talk about something else then. Ask me anything you want.”

“Okay.” She considered the statement. “Do many spirits
remain behind?”

“No. Most aren’t aware of the transition and quickly cross
over.”

She touched the locket. “How do you know?”

He tucked a finger under her chin, raising her gaze to his.
“Most don’t have anything to keep them here. I’ve watched a lot of transitions.
Ghosts are drawn to each other.” He winked. “I even helped a few make it over.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yep. You had a reason for asking about it.”

“Just my parents. I want to know if they made it over.”

“They did.”

“How can you be so sure?”

He regarded her in silence until she fidgeted. “Come on.
I’ll show you.”

“Show me what?”

He took her hand and gave it a light squeeze. “Maybe you’re
right. You need to know.” He pressed a light kiss on her forehead and rolled
out of bed.

“Where are you going?”

He waved a hand. “Get dressed.”

She had a moment to admire the firm lines of his body before
his clothes were back on. Melody shook her head. That was one helluva trick.

“Hey.”

He turned. His bleak expression was chilling. “I’ll be downstairs.”
He disappeared.

The breath froze in her lungs and her heart pounded. She put
a hand to her forehead. He was a ghost. She would need to remember that. Melody
dragged clothes on, fumbling with the buttons in her haste.
What did I say?
Why is he acting so weird?
She pulled her brush from the nightstand and ran
it through the tangled mess of her hair. She flipped it over her shoulder and
put the brush back in the drawer. Melody went over the conversation in her
head. What did he have to show her?

She slipped on her shoes and trudged down the stairs,
wishing she hadn’t mentioned her parents at all.

Melody wandered down the hall to the entryway. Travis stared
out the window and the orange glow of sunset bathed his body in rich color. At
this angle, she could see right through him. He was dead. There was no future
for them. Travis had both feet planted firmly apart, and with his arms crossed,
he looked ready for battle. An intense feeling of déjà vu washed over her,
rooting her to the spot. She shivered despite the warmth in the room. Why did
it feel as if they’d done this before?

Melody shook it off and reached his side, wrapping her arms
around his waist. He stiffened. Her stomach twisted in hurt. She forced a
smile. “You’re being mysterious.”

“Not mysterious.”

She braced her palms against the windowsill. “What would you
call it then?” She watched the sun’s slow descent. Her heart ached as though it
were ripping in two.
You don’t do that with someone you’ve just met. Do you?

“Where are we going?”

She could feel his heavy gaze but chose to focus on keeping
her voice calm and her body still.

“I promised you proof that your parents crossed over,
right?” He put his arm around her and she froze, afraid to relax.

“You’re not going to do something extreme, right? No tunnel
of light or disappearing acts?”

“I never said I was crossing over. Let’s go.”

She sagged against him in relief. He wasn’t leaving her.
“Where are we going?”

“It’s a short walk.”

She noticed his tight smile and his closed-off expression.
That twist in her stomach turned to a knot of sorrow. Was he lying to her?

“Okay.” Travis took her hand. His grip was firm and cool.
She missed the tenderness of his earlier touch.
Maybe I’m crazy after all.

He released her as they reached the door. She took the normal
way while he slid through the walls. He obviously wanted her to see how
different they were. She raised her face to the heavens and sighed. Even the
dead were confusing when it came to relationships.

They met no one on the sidewalk. Wind rustled dried leaves
and crickets still sang their songs. She missed the birds. “I don’t think I’ve
been down here before.”

He shrugged. “Doesn’t surprise me. The sidewalk ends at the
corner. It’s all gravel from there.” He grinned. “Hope you wore your walking
shoes.” Travis reached out and took her hand.

She returned his smile, loving the dimple in his cheek. The
last bit of sunlight peeked over the horizon. “How did you find out you were
dead?”

“I became aware shortly after my wreck. My body was being
worked on in the ER but I knew it was too late.”

Homes gave way to less development. Abandoned yards and
junkyard cars had become planters for late-blooming wild flowers. “Did you have
a chance to leave?”

He gazed at the rising moon. “I had a chance to cross over,
but there were things I needed to do.”

“Was it revenge or something?” The knot in Melody’s chest
grew tighter. An eerily familiar white sign loomed ahead. They reached a tall
iron fence covered with vines.

“No.”

“Then what?” She had to clear her throat past a lump of
emotion, and her heart contracted.

He stopped, and she dragged her attention away from that
sign to his face. “Love.”

She licked her dry lips and tried to figure out what he was
saying. “Love prevented you from crossing over?”

“No. It keeps me here.”

She pulled her hand from his. “Listen. I’m not that good at
filling in the blanks. So why don’t you just come out and tell me what you’re
trying to say?”

“Do you know where we are, Melody?”

“Why would I? This is your trip, remember?”

“You’ve been here before.”

She scanned the area. That white sign stuck out in her mind,
but they weren’t close enough to read it. She walked up to the iron fence and
pushed the vines apart. Gravestones.

“I don’t do cemeteries. Not since my grandmother died.”

He stepped up beside her. “You wanted this, remember? I
promised I would show you that your family crossed. We have to go in to do it.”

She brushed damp palms against her jeans. “Right. I don’t
want to do this anymore.”

“The nightmares have to end. They’re ripping you apart.”

She made a helpless gesture. “How is this going to help?”

“You’ve got to trust me, Melody.” He held out his hand in
her peripheral vision. “The afterlife is kind of my thing.”

She nodded but couldn’t take his hand. “Let’s go.” She
brushed past him to the entrance gate. Her feet trudged a path she’d thought
long forgotten. The memory of her grandmother’s death was still raw in her
heart. Her parents would have been buried there after the fire. Melody took a
deep breath in silent agony over missing their funeral.
Why did I miss it,
again?
The memory eluded her and she plunged forward.

Travis appeared in front of her. “Wait.” He held up his
hands. “You don’t have to do this alone.”

She watched the moon shine through his body. “You’re right,
I do need to know they’re okay. I can do this.”

He brushed her hair behind her ear. “I’ll be here with you
the whole time.”

She wrapped her arms around him. He was solid, whole, and
ghost or not, he was hers. His arms came around her for a moment, holding her
against him. She blinked back tears and clutched her grandmother’s locket for
strength. “Let’s get this over with.”

He turned toward the St. Claire family graves and put a
comforting arm around her shoulder. “Okay.”

Melody recognized her grandparents’ ornate tombstone. Another
joint one drew her attention. Her throat closed and she clutched the necklace
for dear life. “That’s them?”

He gave her a slight squeeze “Yeah.” He gently pushed her
toward their gravestone. “You need to see them.”

She inched forward. Her parents’ names were engraved in
beautiful script across the stone. She sank to her knees and ran her fingers
along the letters. “I didn’t bring flowers.” Her voice sounded strained, thick.

“They don’t mind.” He knelt down close to her, a comforting
presence.

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