Light the Shadows (A Grimm Novel) (16 page)

Anna watched her apply pink lip gloss, but didn't offer any words of comfort.

Micah tossed the tube of gloss onto the dresser. Her emotions were in turmoil as she fought a wave of tears.

“And why the hell did Azrael give me Thomas St. Clair’s address?” She asked as she pulled a comb through her wet hair. “What does he want? Why doesn’t he just tell me what he expects of me?”

“He doesn’t ever leave his office,” Anna said in a near whisper.

Sully's motorcycle roared to life outside and startled her. She raced out of the bedroom, but it was too late. He'd already pulled away.

On the breakfast bar, Sully had left a note in tight, neat writing. It read:
Had to go, but we still need to talk. See you soon. S.

Micah smoothed a finger across the scrap of paper and sighed. He'd be back. Maybe she hadn’t totally wrecked whatever was blossoming between them.

"Death calls," Anna said with a roll of her eyes. When Micah picked up her car keys, Anna said, "Hey, where are you going?"

"I have a couple houses to show." A bubble of dread burst within Micah's chest. "And I’m going to check on the house in Andreas Hills. I found a buyer who might be interested.”

Anna frowned. "Are you going to see Sully again?”

"I don’t know,” Micah
said honestly and tried to ignore the emotion in her voice. She hurried to her car without saying goodbye.

The ghost appeared beside Micah as she backed the car out of the driveway. "I could do some checking around, see if Thomas St. Clair has crossed over.”

Micah slanted a glance in the ghost’s direction. “I thought you didn’t like Sully. Why would you help him?”

“I’m not.” Anna turned to stare out the window. “I’m helping you.”

Micah opened her mouth to speak, but Anna cut her off with a frustrated groan. "Damn it! Your guy is such an overachiever. He's already claimed two souls. I have to go."

Chapter Twelve

Hours later, Micah threw her purse in the car. She was exhausted not only physically, but mentally as well. The newlyweds had looked at house after house, but couldn't agree on what they wanted. She dreamed of owning a pool; he didn't. He wanted a backyard kitchen. She thought that was a waste of patio space. She wanted a house they could renovate and make their own. He argued that was a waste of time and money. He wanted an extra room he could convert into a man cave; she said it could be an office. She wanted an extra room for a nursery. He really, really didn't.

Before they finished looking at the last house, the newlyweds were sneaking scowls at each other and whispering biting comments. They decided to postpone their house hunt until they could agree on what they were looking for. By the time Micah closed and locked the last house, her head was pounding and she was in a snarly mood. Why the hell did people get married if they couldn't even agree on a single or double garage?

She parked outside the massive house in the Andreas Hills community and took a calming breath. The property held no memory for her, but knowing the old Micah had died here gave her a bout of nervous jitters.

Micah walked through the house one last time, making certain the rooms and decorations were perfect. It was staged and ready, a picturesque imitation of how it might look if someone were to actually live here. Tomorrow would be the first time since old Micah’s death it would be shown. She wanted to make sure everything was in order and flawless before opening the doors to potential buyers.

She stepped onto the back patio and gazed at the sparkling, clean pool. Old Micah had died there, but she felt no whisper of memory. And why should she? As everyone kept reminding her, this wasn’t her body.

Kicking off her shoes, she allowed her toes to skim the surface. The water was cool and inviting. One quick dip wouldn't hurt.

Micah shimmied out of her dress then sat at the pool's edge. Water licked at her calves as she sat in her bra and panties, enjoying the liberty of doing something out of the norm. A gasp escaped her as she slipped down into the water. No longer inhibited, she allowed the cool water to envelop her. She floated on her back then tilted her face toward the late afternoon sunshine. The contrast of coolness and warmth felt wonderful on her skin.

Diving beneath the water, she swam to the other side of the pool then back again. Of course she couldn't remember, but she was willing to bet that she loved to swim. How could she not? This was so relaxing and felt so natural, like she’d
swum her entire life.

She surfaced
, then stretched across the water on her back once again.

The scuff of a chair or perhaps a shoe forced a squeak of surprise from her. She flung herself around
, and her hair sent arcs of water out all around her.

Sully sat at the other end of the pool, his jeans rolled up past his ankles. His elbows rested on his thighs
, and his feet dangled in the water. The dark shirt he’d been wearing was tossed over the chair back, his chest and stomach fully exposed. Now that she’d seen the scar, she supposed he didn’t feel the need to hide it.

Micah's heart skipped a beat as she tread water. He looked so damned good with the afternoon sunshine on his tanned shoulders, but his downcast gaze worried her. "Hi."

“Hey." His voice revealed nothing, and his features remained neutral.

She asked, "How did you know where to find me?"

"Anna."

“Did she find your friend?” Micah couldn’t help the hopeful sound of her voice. She wanted nothing more than to see him smile again.

Sully shook his head.

She didn't realize she was drifting toward him until her body bumped against his knees. Biting her bottom lip, she searched his face for any hint of emotion. There was none. "I'm sorry about this morning. I should have handled it better. It’s just a lot to take in.”

Sully caressed her cheek, his fingers lingering on her skin. “Damn it, doll. Don’t make this harder than it already is.”

Her stomach bottomed out. “What are you talking about?”

His grey eyes shifted away, and he sighed. When he spoke, his voice was so low, it was almost a whisper. "I came to say goodbye."

The sting of tears surprised her. This amazing, sexy guy had just found his way into her borrowed heart. Now he wanted to squash something beautiful blooming between them? No sir, she wasn't going to let him stomp on her heart. Not when she'd just decided to give it to him.

"I don't like goodbyes, Sully." She traced a fingertip across his chest, over his heart, then the scar that marked it. Her other hand rested on his thigh. "Why are you doing this?"

He tucked a wet lock of hair behind her ear. “I’m no good for you, doll.”

“I don’t care.” She shook her head and frowned up at him. She wouldn’t let him do this. Not when she knew he was lying.

“I can’t change who I am.” His thumb smoothed away a tear resting on her cheek. “Or what I am.”

“I don’t want you to change,” she said, uncaring that her voice cracked with emotion. Lowering her head, she rested a cheek against his thigh. “I just want you.”

“You deserve better.”

Micah stared up at him, her mouth slightly agape as she tried to make sense of his words. “Please, Sully, just talk to me. Tell me what this is really about.”

Sully trailed fingers through her wet hair. "I can't watch time tick away and know that one day I'll lose you."

"So it's easier to break my heart and lose me now rather than later?" Micah pushed away from him, drifting backward in the water until she reached the other side. She wouldn't admit it, but it wounded her deep down that he could toss her away so easily. Her nails dug into the tiles as she struggled to control her sudden anger. "You're nothing but a coward, James Sullivan."

Sully’s expression was guarded
, and he didn't say anything in defense.

Micah's heart broke into a million pieces. He wasn't going to fight for it. He wasn’t even going to fight for her. "I guess it was stupid of me to think I found something special in you."

She turned her back on him, cursing the tears that spilled down her cheeks.

Seconds later, a soft splash drew her attention. She glanced over her shoulder and found Sully in the water with her. He turned her around, drew her into his arms
, and tucked her head beneath his chin. She wanted to slap him, shove him away, and demand that he make a decision or leave her alone. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his waist and breathed in his warm, spicy scent. It vaguely dawned on her that he must have stripped his jeans before jumping in because he was naked now.

"Micah," he whispered against her hair. His hands smoothed across her shoulders, down her sides to finally settle on her hips. He pulled her against his body. "You're right."

"I am?" She lifted her head to stare into his beautiful eyes.

"I'm more afraid than I've ever been. I'm scared of the emotions I have for you." He frowned, not quite meeting her gaze. “Don’t you get it? I don’t want to fall for you.”

Micah tried to push away from him, but he wouldn’t allow it. She didn’t want to hear this. What gave him the right to crush her heart?

His arms tightened around her. "I can't watch you grow old and die. I can’t be the one sent to reap your soul.”

"Sully…"

"I can't, doll," he whispered. "Call me a coward, a bastard, whatever. I just can't do it again."

Again?
Micah ran her hands up his ribcage to rest them against his chest. She fingered the scar, and his muscles tensed. “You can’t hide from your feelings either, Sully. You’re a Reaper, condemned to walk the earth forever. I get that, but don’t you deserve to have a few perks? Love, happiness, and…” She groaned in frustration. “You know, all the stuff that makes life worth living?”

“Is it really worth having when it just gets ripped away in the end?” He gripped her shoulders, frustration in the grey depths of his eyes. “It’s easier if I don’t allow myself to feel anything for anyone.”

“I feel sorry for you, Sully.”

He cocked an eyebrow at that.

“You’re scared to death of your own emotions, shut off from everyone, and afraid to experience life, to truly live.” She hugged him close, listening to the hammering beat of his heart, and shut her eyes.

Her body floated against his, weightless in his arms. She sighed into the hollow between his shoulder and neck when she felt the press of his erection. He might say otherwise, but his body spoke of what he really wanted. She’d do her damnedest to change his mind, make him see she was worth fighting for.

“And what do you propose I do about it?” His fingers traced each indention of her spine.

"We could enjoy what we have now." A smile quirked the corner of her mouth upward as she pressed a hip against him. "That’s the thing about life, Sully
. You never know what’s going to happen from day to day. Who knows? We might not even like each other next week.”

She knew she had won the argument when his head dipped toward hers. He claimed her mouth and sighed in acquiescence. Eager to be as close to him as possible, she wrapped her legs around him, drawing her center against him.

Sully backed her against the wall of the pool. Sliding his hands over her sopping wet bra, he unhooked it and let it fall down her shoulders. Then he cupped a naked breast, scooping the firm globe into his palm. His thumb brushed across the peaked nipple in a slow, lazy manner that drove her wild.

A velvety moan escaped her and made him smile. She clamped her legs around him, biting her lower lip when he lowered his head to the aroused flesh. He caught the rosy tip between his lips,
then added a bit of pressure with his teeth before starting to suck.

Micah arched her spine and buried her fingers in his hair. “Make love to me, Sully.”

In a matter of seconds, her panties were gone, and he gripped her hips. Lifting her in the water, he brought her down on his cock. Her body was slick and buoyant in the water, allowing him to impale her with ease, over and over again.

She savored the feeling as Sully thrust upward and touched the place inside that made her mind blur. Cries of passion slipped past her lips
, and her insides greedily clamped around him as climax crashed over her.

Sully’s fingers tightened on her hips,
and a final growl of pleasure signaled his own release. Micah clamped her legs tight, her body milking every last drop of seed.

Sully ran his tongue along the edge of her jaw then kissed her thoroughly. “I may need a little more convincing later.”

She trailed fingers through the light sprinkling of chest hair then continued downward. Her fingers tickled past his hip, and she smiled when his entire body tensed in anticipation. “I can be
very
convincing, Mr. Sullivan.”

He grinned, the action softening his features,
and then he set her on the pool’s edge.  “We’ll see about that.”

Sully surged out of the water, his muscled body wet and glistening. Micah couldn’t take her gaze away from him. He was gorgeous, perfection.