Grave Destinations (24 page)

Until then, he had Ruby all to himself. No demons to hunt, or overprotective reapers to gunk up the works. It was just the two of them—well, the three of them—and he couldn’t have been any happier.

Jack leaned an elbow against the poolside bar while the bartender prepared their drinks. A sultry samba tune played over the speakers, loud enough to be heard but light enough to carry on a conversation. Gaze wandering, he noticed an attractive young brunette watching him from the far end of the bar. The cut of her blouse showed off a chest so large it probably defied a few laws of physics. A flirty smile creased her lips when his eyes met hers, the blast of attraction smashing against him like a rogue wave.

And for the second time in as many days, Gilrov gave only a token reaction. A cool wave of energy rippled through Jack’s body, the demonic equivalent to a passing interest toward the free meal sitting just a few barstools away.

How strange. The observation cycled in his brain as he signed the tab and brought their drinks back to the table.

“Thank you,” Ruby said as she accepted the glass from his outstretched hand. She took a long sip of her tequila sunrise while she watched him over the rim of her glass, the playful look in her eyes making his body fill with heat.

Gilrov flared to attention, a pulsing mass of enthusiastic energy. His focus locked on Ruby with the eagerness of a puppy anxious to be petted.

“Son of a bitch.”

Ruby arched an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

“I’m sorry.” He sat on the chair across from hers and set his drink on the table. “It’s just that”—he struggled for the right words to tactfully describe the situation—“well, the brunette at the bar was just giving me the eye.”

Ruby’s head whipped toward the bar, her focus narrowing on the woman in question. “Good lord, it’s a wonder she can walk upright.”

“Yes, but that’s not the point.” He coughed to clear his throat. “The point is, Gilrov usually responds to any signs of... well, you know.”

“An easy lay?”

A warm blush crept up his neck. “Yeah. But this time he didn’t seem very interested.”

“Maybe Gilrov’s developing taste. Isn’t that right, sugar?”

Jack could have sworn he felt the bastard humming in response. “No, it’s not that.” He picked up his glass and downed half its contents. “It’s you.”

“Me?” Her eyebrows shot up so high they nearly touched her hairline.

“You.” He swirled the ice in his glass before taking another drink. “I think he’s . . . somehow”—he made a vague gesture with his hands—“formed a certain . . . attachment to you.”

She gave him a stunned look. “You’re joking, right?”

“I wish I was.”

Ruby stared at him for a long moment, her face blank and unreadable. Finally, she picked up her glass, took a long drink, and said, “Let me talk to him.”

“Excuse me?”

“I said I’d like to talk to him. Will you let him out for a little bit so I can get a few things straight?”

Gilrov’s energy shimmered in his blood, the demon itching for a chance to come out and play. In all the years he’d been cursed, Jack had never voluntarily ceded his body to the demon’s control. The idea railed against his need for autonomy.

Jack frowned. “I can’t just turn it on and off like a switch.”

“Have you ever tried?”

No, and he had no desire to start now. “What do you want to talk to him about?”

“Let’s just say I’d like to find out where we all stand and set a few boundaries.” She arched a brow. “Do you want to do this here, or would you rather we go back to your cabin?”

“What makes you think I’ll actually go through with this?”

She crossed one leg over the other and shot him a piercing look. “Because you want to know the answers as much as I do. Probably more. Who knows, maybe I can figure a way to make all this more bearable for both of you.”

She had a point. Jack leaned back against his chair, nursing his whiskey while he examined the idea from all angles.

For reasons unknown—and in a first, to his knowledge—the curse had revealed its true nature to Ruby. That placed her in a unique position. She alone possessed the ability to open a line of communication, a bridge between man and beast. If she could discover what the demon truly wanted, he could use that knowledge to finally master the bane of his existence.

However, a hundred years of push and pull had left Jack with some serious trust issues. He didn’t trust the bastard to tell her the truth, or to relinquish control once the conversation was finished. For all he knew, this could be nothing more than a huge waste of time and effort.

But in the end, the hope for success outweighed his reservations. He inhaled deeply as he ran a hand through his hair. God, how he hoped he wouldn’t live to regret this. “Okay, I’ll do it. But promise me you won’t go anywhere with him. He’s more prone to behave himself in a public setting.”

Ruby drew an X across her chest with her index finger. “Cross my heart and hope to die.”

His eyes narrowed. “That isn’t funny.”

“It wasn’t meant to be.” She reached across the table and threaded her fingers with his. “Are there any questions you’d like me to ask?”

Where to begin? Question upon question flashed through his mind, the product of a century of ignorance and humiliation. Eventually, he whittled them down to the ones that mattered most. “Just two. What does he want, and why did he kill Victoria?”

 

Deep breath in, deep breath out. Ruby watched while Jack repeated the exercise at least a dozen times. The space between inhale and exhale grew longer with each repetition, until his eyelids grew heavy and his lips slightly parted.

Just when she thought he’d slipped into some kind of trance, a strangled sound tore from his throat. His muscles visibly tensed while his eyes widened and flashed silver. The silver gradually dimmed until it was noticeable only if you looked closely. Then his posture relaxed and a lazy smile stretched across his face. “Hey, babe.”

“Oh no,” she said with a shake of her head. “Rule number one: you do not call me ‘babe.’ Or ‘big red.’ Or ‘red.’ Or any combination of those words. Are we clear?”

The smile dropped away from his face, his expression changing from cocky to cautious. “Crystal. How about Beulah?”

“Out of the question. Only Jack gets away with calling me that.” Less than a minute in, and the conversation had already veered into the surreal. Then again, what had she expected? “Just go with Ruby. It’ll save you a lot of hassle in the long run.”

“You got it, Ruby.” The lazy smile returned, so foreign and yet so familiar. He looked about the poolside area, bouncing from person to person before settling back on Ruby. “You know, it’s kind of crowded out here tonight. Someone might overhear our conversation. If you want, we could find a more private place—”

“Not happening.”

Gilrov let out a dejected huff. “You were a lot more fun the other night.” He continued to pout as he picked up Jack’s drink and downed what was left in one swallow. Eyes watering, he coughed and gagged while the whiskey blazed a trail down his throat. “Ugh. How can he drink this shit? It tastes like fucking turpentine.” He pointed toward her glass. “Can I have some of yours?”

She pushed the glass halfway across the table. “Knock yourself out.”

Without hesitation he grabbed for her drink. This time he sipped first to see if it suited his tastes. He smiled, and two swallows later, her tequila sunrise was history. A contented sigh passed his lips as he set the glass back down. “You have no idea how good it feels to experience things without a filter.”

“Is that what it’s like when you’re . . .” What was the proper term to describe his situation? She honestly had no idea. “You know.”

“Imprisoned?” The word dripped from his mouth like poison. “Words fail to describe what it’s like to be chained inside this pathetic bag of meat.” His upper lip peeled back in disdain as he glanced down at Jack’s mortal body. “I’m given no choice but to see through his eyes and feel through his touch. And even then, everything is muffled and muted.”

In all fairness, that had to suck. She couldn’t begin to imagine what it must be like for an otherworldly being to be trapped within the confines of human flesh, long denied the freedom to act on his true demonic nature.

But then she thought of Jack. Of the years spent desperate to live a normal life while trying to control a curse he didn’t understand, forced to appease his baser nature even though it left him feeling defiled and humiliated. Of the wife who died before his eyes, and the grief and guilt that consumed him to this very day. Sure, the demon had it rough, but it was a walk in the park compared to what Jack endured.

She fixed Gilrov with a level stare. “Why did you kill her?”

The demon’s brow furrowed. “Who?”

“Victoria.” Jeez, did he kill more than one? When recognition failed to register in his eyes, she tersely added, “Jack’s wife. Ring a bell?”

“Oh. Yes. So much time has passed I’d forgotten her name.” At least he had the decency to look sheepish. “It was an accident.”

“Sure it was.” She didn’t bother to mask her disbelief.

“I swear to you on my soul.” The regret in his eyes tempered her doubt. “By the time the wedding night rolled around, I hadn’t fed in more than a month. I was delirious with hunger. And then there she was, so ripe and rich . . .” He averted his gaze as his words trailed off. When he spoke again, his voice was barely audible. “I’m sure you know the rest.”

Yes, she did. Jack had told her all about the horrors of watching his wife die before his eyes. Her heart ached for both of them, two souls locked together in a century-long battle for dominance. Perhaps she could broker a lasting peace. Not one forged from threats and ultimatums, but one built on the foundation of mutual understanding and compromise.

She rested an arm on the table, her fingers close to his but not quite touching. “He’s tired, you know.”

“Yeah, me too,” Gilrov said, sounding weary. “He thought about ending things after the island lady told him we were stuck together.”

Even though the news failed to surprise her, her heart knotted tight in her chest. “If you boys stopped fighting and took the time to get to know each other, maybe you could work out some sort of arrangement.”

He stared at her with unblinking eyes, his head tilted a little to the left. “Like what?”

Ruby settled back in her chair and slapped on her best poker face. If she was going to negotiate on Jack’s behalf, she wanted to secure the most favorable terms possible. “Well, how about you promise not to interfere with his life, and in return he’ll allow you to take the wheel one night a week.”

Gilrov’s face brightened at the possibility. He licked his lips as he leaned forward and braced his forearms against the edge of the table. “Three.”

“Two, and you have to swear to behave yourself. No taking his body out on a joyride or the deal’s off.” She flagged down a passing waiter and ordered a tequila sunrise for both Gilrov and herself.

“And what exactly am I supposed to do?” he asked as soon as the waiter walked away. “Sit at home by myself and crochet?”

“I don’t know. Read a book or watch some television. Maybe you could take up a hobby, something that doesn’t involve the horizontal mambo.” She drummed her fingernails against the table. “Of course, this is only theoretically speaking. Anything we agree upon is subject to Jack’s approval.”

Gilrov rolled his eyes. “And you honestly think you can talk him into this?”

“You’d be surprised at my powers of persuasion.” With a smug smile, she crossed her legs at the knee and his eyes followed the movement. “So what’ll it be? Do I present him with our proposal, or would you prefer to duke it out until he grows tired enough to pull the plug?”

He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it just as quickly. Lips pursed, he fell silent for a full five minutes, his steely gaze fixed on the open ocean.

In the distance, a storm gathered strength over rough waters. Lightning flashed through the evening clouds, followed closely by a long, low rumble of thunder. Good thing they were cruising in the opposite direction, or they’d be in for one hell of a night.

“Would you visit me?” he finally asked. There was a hopeful tone in his voice that she found oddly endearing. “It wouldn’t be so bad if I had somebody to talk to.”

Ruby shook her head, even though a part of her wanted to say yes. “This bargain is between you and Jack.”

“But I like you,” he insisted. “You’re different from all the others. Say yes, and I’ll swear not to try anything funny.”

She smiled at that. Gilrov had to be starved for attention if he was willing to forgo sex for companionship. But her future with Jack was murky at best. They were two different people from two very different worlds, and it wasn’t fair to either of them to promise something she might not be able to deliver.

“Tell you what. If I’m around, and if you behave yourself, I’ll spend some time with you. Maybe we can watch a movie or something. How does that sound?”

A faint smile crossed the demon’s lips. He nodded. “It’s enough. I accept your terms.”

“I
still can’t believe I let you talk me into accepting that deal with Gilrov.”

“It’s one of my many talents.” Ruby rolled to her side, savored the feel of soft sheets against bare skin. Judging by the position of the sun, it wasn’t much past nine in the morning. “Nobody can resist my powers of persuasion.”

Jack curled an arm around her waist and spooned against her. The heat of his body warmed her back while the faint remnants of his aftershave filled her senses. “Anything else you care to talk me into?”

“Can’t think of anything at the moment.” Already, she could feel the length of him pressing hard against her side. “Does that thing ever take a rest?”

“Not really.” He nuzzled her neck, his teeth grazing the sweet spot just below her ear. “Better get used to it. Thanks to your little friend, I have a fast recovery time.”

“Yeah, well, thanks to his feeding habits, my recovery time’s gotten a bit longer.”

Every time they made love, Gilrov siphoned off a bit of her life force, the nourishment he needed to stay alive. She never sensed it while it was happening, and with the exception of a slight feeling of fatigue, the effects were negligible for an immortal like herself. With a bit of rest, and a hearty breakfast, she’d be good as new in no time.

She twisted around to see Jack’s face. God, he was achingly beautiful. His brown eyes smoldered with so much passion it made her heart swell in her chest. “So what else do you want to do today?”

His hand skimmed down her side, coming to rest at the curve of her hip. “Well, since what I really want is off limits, I was thinking of hitting the gym. Care to join me?”

He couldn’t be serious. “After last night, you have enough energy for exercise?”

“Of course. Good sex helps me sleep.” He grinned. “And that was the best sleep I’ve had in ages.”

“Suck-up.”

“It’s not sucking up when it’s true.” Jack patted her butt before slipping out of bed. He pulled on boxer briefs, a pair of black workout shorts, and a green tee with the Stone Brewing Company logo splashed across the front. “You coming?”

Ruby shook her head, covered her mouth when she yawned. “No, but you go on ahead. I think I’m going to be lazy this morning.”

“Suit yourself. I’ll be back in an hour. Two, tops.” He bent down and gave her a kiss that melted her from the inside out. When he drew back, his lips were swollen and his eyes burned with an intensity that made her blood simmer. “Don’t bother getting dressed.”

She watched him leave, enjoying the rear view as he walked out the door. She stretched, her muscles lax after a night of sex and sleep. It amazed her, the flush of euphoria that tattooed a grin across her face. For the next twenty-four hours, she had nothing on the schedule. No deaths. No reaps. No responsibilities. The time was hers to spend as she pleased, and she planned on wasting most of it in bed.

She stared up at the ceiling for the longest time, lost in a river of thought. What would happen once the ship returned to Port Canaveral? Before last night, she’d never considered pursuing any kind of long-term relationship, but now she’d opened her mind to the possibility. For Jack, she wanted to take the chance, to explore the deepening feelings that gave her a major case of the warm fuzzies. She didn’t know how it happened, and she didn’t know why. God knows she’d fought the feeling every step of the way. But now she recognized it for what it was.

Somewhere along the line she’d fallen in love with him.

Her smile vanished when the tang of fresh death fouled the air. The scent was as unmistakable as it was shocking. Who? Where? And, most important, why?

She tossed back the covers and bounded out of the bed. She quickly dressed, slipped on a cream-colored choker, tied her tangled hair back into a ponytail, and hurried out the door.

The sensation originated from the lower decks. Taking the stairs two steps at a time, she followed the trail down four flights and into the long, narrow corridor. With each step the call of death grew more insistent, pounding in her blood by the time she reached cabin 573.

Good thing Dmitri had left her the master key. After making sure no one was watching, she slid the card into the slot and waited for the lock to disengage. She gave the hall one final check, then slipped inside and closed the door behind her.

The air inside hung heavy with the smells of sex, sweat, and cheap perfume. She sensed no signs of life in the cabin, but flipped on the lights and checked the bathroom and walk-in closet just to be safe. Satisfied that she was truly alone, she stepped into the main room.

Her spirits sank at the sight of another dead woman. The attractive brunette was naked like the others, with the same euphoric expression frozen on her lifeless face. No signs of physical trauma marked the young woman’s body, no evidence nearby to indicate a cause of expiration.

Just like the others.

She stared at the body for nearly a full minute before recollection kicked in. “Oh, Jessica.” It was one of the sorority sisters from that first night in the main dining room. Back then she’d been annoyed with the girl for flirting so shamelessly with Jack. Now she felt nothing but pity.

How did this happen? They’d reaped the demon responsible for the two previous deaths.

Or had they? Was there more than one killer on board, or had they simply captured the wrong demon?

The thought sank in her stomach like a hot ball of lead. After days of searching, she knew of only one other person capable of this type of crime.

“No.”

She refused to believe Jack was responsible. Refused to believe she’d been so gullible. He was a good man, caring and loving. It simply wasn’t in his nature to wantonly kill.

And yet, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t come up with a more plausible explanation.

Shaken, she made quick work of harvesting Jessica’s soul. With her mind she sifted through flesh and bone, severed the link between body and spirit. By then the young woman had become aware of her change in condition, of the loss of her life in the name of a good time.

Finished, Ruby exited the cabin as quietly as she’d entered, careful not to leave until there were no witnesses in the hallway to place her at the scene. She hurried down the hall and up the stairs, almost at a run by the time she reached Jack’s suite.

Now what? With Dmitri gone, she had no backup. She was on her own and without a clue until she figured this whole thing out.

Struggling to reconcile fact from faith, she paced the length of the cabin. How long had Jack been gone before she’d sensed the tang of new death? Thirty minutes? Forty? She hadn’t bothered to check the time when he left, so she couldn’t say for sure. Either way, it was a narrow window of opportunity but wide enough to do the deed. Not to mention, Jessica had flirted with Jack during that first night of the cruise, so it probably wouldn’t have taken much effort to lure the young woman to bed.

They’d searched the ship from stem to stern and had only found one creature capable of committing this type of destruction. And with Glen out of the picture, the list of suspects tapered down to one.

“No.” The evidence was damning, but she still couldn’t bring herself to abandon her faith in Jack. It simply wasn’t in his nature. She couldn’t believe he’d act so callously, so quickly after leaving her bed.

But if he didn’t do it, who did?

She grappled for an answer, but came up empty.

Her cell phone chirped, and she nearly leaped out of her shoes. She dug the phone from her back pocket, her pulse rocketing when she read Jack’s number on the screen.

Crap.

If she didn’t answer, he’d probably rush back to see what was wrong. She really didn’t want to talk to him until she had her head back on straight, but saw no other option that wouldn’t put him on alert.

“I was wondering if you were ever going to pick up.” His voice sounded playful when she answered the call.

“Sorry, I was busy.”

“Doing what?”

Debating your guilt or innocence.
“I was in the bathroom.” She stared down at her feet while her fingers toyed with the choker around her neck. “Are you finished with your workout?”

“Just about. You want to meet me at the Windjammer for breakfast, or would you rather order room service?”

She ignored the growl of her stomach and the clench of her heart. “Neither, if that’s okay with you. I’m not really hungry.”

“Are you sure? You should be, after last night.” She could hear the smile in his voice. “You’re going to need your strength for what I have in mind for the rest of the day.”

Ruby closed her eyes. In her mind, she pictured him as he’d looked the night before. All that strength. All that passion. All for her. No way would he act like he was so enthralled with her, only to turn around and drain the life from poor Jessica.

It didn’t make sense, but it was the only possible explanation. The ache in her chest deepened as she blinked back the threatening tears.

“Are you still there?”

“Yeah, I’m here.” An unsteady breath pushed past her lips as she reached back and pulled the band out of her hair.

“Is everything all right?”

“I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I don’t know. You’re just acting kind of weird.” He paused. “Have I done something to piss you off?”

“No, of course not.” The lie burned like acid on her tongue. “I guess I’m just feeling a little tired.”

“Oh. Okay.” He didn’t sound convinced, but let the matter drop. “Well, I’ll let you get some rest. I should be back in about an hour.”

“Sounds good. See you then.”

She disconnected before he had the chance to say good-bye. Emotionally exhausted, she sank down on the mattress and dropped her head in her hands. She stayed that way for what seemed like forever, lost in an ocean of sadness and regret.

She almost didn’t hear the knock on the door.

“Room service,” said a deep masculine voice with a thick Caribbean accent.

She hadn’t ordered anything, but maybe Jack did. Her feet felt like they were made of concrete when she crossed the room and opened the door.

“Good morning, ma’am.” The guy was so tall he had to dip his head when he pushed the cart through the doorway. His ebony skin contrasted against the crisp white dress shirt and freshly pressed khakis he was wearing. Once inside, he removed the silver dome from the tray, revealing a breakfast of eggs, pancakes, sausages, and toast. A bowl of grits was set to the left, opposite a small glass of orange juice. Beside the plate was a handwritten note:
Enjoy your breakfast. You’re going to need your strength.—J

She considered telling the steward to take the food away, but didn’t have the heart. So instead she reached for her purse and dug out her wallet.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t carry a lot of cash—” The words died in her throat at the sound of the door clicking shut. The steward flipped the interior bolt, trapping them both inside. “What do you think you’re doing?”

The steward’s mouth curled into something too savage to count as a smile. Deep-set eyes watched her with an intensity that sent shivers up her spine. “Did you honestly think you’d get away with murdering my mate?”

“Your mate?” Ruby’s mouth went dry. Oh, God, that meant Jack wasn’t guilty. A wave of relief washed over her, even as her heart pounded with fear. “Who?”

“You know who.” He moved closer, and she took a defensive step back. When he smiled again, it looked more like he was baring his teeth. “Vulgane. You probably knew him as Glen.”

“But . . . you’re a guy.” She inched behind the food cart, using it as a barrier. “How could he be your mate?” She knew how, but she wanted to drag out the conversation until she figured a way out of this mess.

“This form is merely a shell.” He stalked toward her, shoved the breakfast cart out of his way. The glass of orange juice tipped on its side, spilling its contents to the floor. “Gender is irrelevant.”

This close, she could see the pulse pounding in his temples, could smell the musky scent of his skin. He had to outweigh her by at least a hundred pounds. His arms were thick and corded with muscle, his thighs so large they strained against the confines of his pants.

Ruby swallowed back the choke of terror, forced her eyes to meet his. “If that’s a shell, what do you really look like?”

He shot her an incredulous look. “Given your predicament, the choice of question surprises me.”

“It was the first thing to pop into my head.” She glanced at the clock on the nightstand. Twenty minutes had passed since she’d last spoken with Jack. If she stalled for another forty, Jack might return before the demon inflicted any serious damage. Then again, he might come back in time to suffer the creature’s wrath.

The demon leaned forward, his hand on the wall by her head. Bending down, he pressed his nose to her hair and inhaled deeply. “I can smell your fear,” he growled. “Good. You have every reason to be afraid.”

Jaw closed tight to keep it from trembling, Ruby tipped up her chin and squared her shoulders. “Well, what are you waiting for? If you’re going to kill me, you might as well get it over with.”

The demon blinked. “You’re quick to throw your life away.”

“I’m not much for dragging out the inevitable.” And maybe he’d leave once he believed he’d killed her. The idea definitely lacked appeal, but it sounded better than some of the other scenarios on the table.

“That’s easy to say when you know you won’t die.”

So much for that idea.
Dread sank in her stomach like a ball of hot lead.

“Thought I didn’t know what you are, reaper?” A vicious grin split his mouth. “There’s a downside to immortality, you know. I could tear you into tiny pieces. Maybe lock you away and leave you to starve.” The demon cocked his head to the side, and his eyes seemed to bore right through her.