Spirit [New Crescent 2] (BookStrand Publishing Romance) (15 page)

Reggie shrugged. “Maybe that won’t matter. If we approach Constance as if we already know all about Vincent, she’s bound to let something slip.” She sat back in frustration. “I feel like we’re wasting time. I want to do something.”

Chase cupped her chin with his hand and said, “Patience. We’re making progress. Let’s get back to Bennett House and try to contact Constance with what we’ve learned.”

She nodded. He bent and kissed her lips. Pita complained by digging a claw or two into Reggie’s thigh. She pulled away from Chase. “Oww, ow…”

Chase looked confused, then smiled. “For a second there, I thought that was my fault. ‘Ow…ow’ is not the usual response to my kisses.”

“Oh yeah? And just what
is
the usual response, rock star?”

He picked up the cat and put him on the floor. Standing up, he pulled her into his arms. “Let me show you.”

He started slowly, taking her mouth with his, gently touching her lips with his tongue then pulling back and doing it all over again. She groaned, and he kissed her with passion. He cradled her head in one hand and paid homage to her neck. She shivered in response and dug her nails into his back. He moved his hips against hers. His hardness, her softness made a perfect balance as he found a multitude of sensitive spots on her body.

She unbuttoned his shirt and nipped his chest. He liked it and let her know it by mimicking her action and pressing his teeth against her shoulder. Desperate to feel skin against skin she helped him pull her t-shirt up and off. The pleasure she felt when her naked belly connected with his, made her want to scream. She rubbed up against him like a cat. And just like a cat she wanted to purr and dig her nails into him. He didn’t seem to mind. He unsnapped her bra with ease and cupped a breast in his hand. She was perfect for him and he licked, and sucked and bit her with exactly the right enthusiasm.

Completely lost in him, she responded instinctively. Leveraging herself on his shoulders with each hand, she wrapped her legs around his waist. He held her as if she weighed nothing. Reggie liked that. She tugged desperately at this hair. He looked up, and she smashed her mouth against his, kissing him as if her life depended on it.

Distantly, they registered a gentle vibration and chiming music. They both froze. Their eyes locked. Both their cells phones were ringing. In silent, but oh-so-reluctant agreement, Chase released Reggie, and she put her feet on the floor. At the same moment, they each took a steadying breath and reached for a phone.

If their urgent replies were any indication, they had the exact same conversations. After they hung up, they looked at each other helplessly. Chase was the first person to speak.

“Sam.”

She nodded. “We’ll probably make it to the hospital just as they do.” Grabbing her discarded t-shirt she pulled it over her head. She ignored her bra, picked up her car keys and threw them at Chase. He caught them easily.

She said, “You drive. My nickname is Crash, not a good omen right now.”

They rushed out of the house. Chase’s unbuttoned shirt flapped in the autumn wind.

In the car, they shared information. There’d been another accident at Bennett House. Somehow, Sam had fallen off the roof and landed on the iron gate in the garden. He was unconscious. Chase had been told that it looked like Sam had broken his back. Reggie had been told he may have broken his neck. Neither option was acceptable to them as they hurried to the hospital.

Reggie said, “How is it possible that he landed on the iron gate? If that’s so, then he couldn’t have fallen. The trajectory is wrong.”

“Yeah. Either he jumped or was thrown.” Chase said grimly. “You’ve always wanted an excuse to use the word ‘trajectory’ haven’t you?” He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips. He took his eyes off the road just long enough to gently smile at her.

“Yeah, but I could have gone the rest of my life without using it in this context.” He squeezed the hand he still held.

* * * *

When they rushed into the emergency unit, they were met by Duncan and four of his guys. Sam was Duncan’s friend, too. He looked gray with worry. So far, they’d received no word and he looked at Chase and Reggie helplessly. The hospital had called his next of kin and left a message. It didn’t matter. Sam wouldn’t want to see his family anyway. His true kin were Reggie, Travis, and Chase.

When the doctor came out, he recognized Chase and Reggie. He walked over to them and said, “Bennett House again?” They nodded, and he said, “Your friend is stable but still unconscious. His leg is badly broken and will need surgery, but right now, we’re more concerned about his head injury. I’ve called in a specialist, and we’re doing tests.”

Reggie put a hand on Chase’s forearm and said, “Gillian’s specialist, Doctor Smythe, I wonder if he could help?”

They stepped outside to use her cell phone. Reggie’s conversation was brief. “Gillian’s calling him. She’s pretty sure he’ll come.”

“Yeah, Smythe has been in New Crescent quite a bit these days, helping the rape victims from last summer.” Chase’s voice was pitched low.

“That’s good of him,” Reggie said.

“Yeah, he thinks the world of Gillian, so in my book, that puts him in the good column.” Chase opened his arms to her, and she stepped into them.

With her cheek resting against his chest, she said, “This is the last. No more work at Bennett House until we deal with Vincent. I’ll call and let Jackie Blake know in the morning.”

Shaking his head, Chase said, “Don’t worry. Leave it to me.”

Finally back at Bennett House, Reggie flopped down on the couch in the finished living room. It gave her comfort to see what she’d accomplished here. She’d restored its beauty. Fortunately, she’d been able to find the perfect pieces to complement the furniture Pat Somers had selected. Pru was ecstatic to see her, and Reggie apologized for neglecting her that day. After leaving the hospital, she’d dropped Chase off at his house. She knew he’d be right behind her. She didn’t even look up when he entered the room.

“You have no one to blame but yourself,” he said in an irritated voice as he dumped Pita on her lap. “Figures, the first time he sets foot outside in months, he stows away in my truck. You asked for it.”

Reggie laughed and hugged the cat with enthusiasm. Pru looked insulted and walked over to Chase. He bent and patted the little dog. “Don’t worry, girl, you’ll always have me.”

Unconcerned and secure in Pru’s devotion to her, Reggie said, “What good is a familiar if he’s not with you all the time? Of course Pita wanted to come here. It’s his duty to be near you. You’ll see.”

He gave her a long look and then blinked. “I’m going to make some hot cocoa. I won’t bother asking you if you want some. Think you can manage to light the fire while I’m gone?”

“Trust me, baby, I’ve been lighting fires since puberty.” Her provocative glance made him wince.

He cleared his throat and said a pathetic, “Uh, yeah…”

Reggie laughed throatily as he retreated. It was his last line of defense, and she knew it.

He made her dreams come true when he returned with two cups of hot chocolate and fist-sized chunks of Gillian’s homemade banana bread.

They sat in silence watching the fire. It felt wonderful curled up to Chase, touching him at will. The indulgence made her sigh. He turned and looked down at her face as she rested her head on his shoulder.

“You okay?” he asked.

“I’m okay. I’m glad Sam’s going to be fine. By the sounds of it, he was lucky in a way.”

“If we call breaking a leg in three places and severe concussion getting lucky, I agree.”

“He’s alive Chase. I choose to think that’s on the full side.”

“Me too.”

“We need to find out what happened. Sam is no more likely to throw himself off a roof than you are.”

“And I can’t imagine what it would take to pitch him off. Sam’s tough, no one ever stole his lunch money,” Chase said.

“Hopefully, he can tell us something when he regains consciousness. Gillian’s Dr. Smythe promises to see him first thing tomorrow.”

“I’ve called all my guys and reassigned them to other jobs for the time being. I’ve asked Duncan to put his work on hold for now. And I’ve alerted Jackie.”

“You are an army of one, I swear. When did you get time to do all that?” She yawned, exhaustion finally wafting over her.

“I’m good. Very, very good.” He had his own version of provocation, and for a second, Reggie regretted her dissipated energy level.

Chase seemed to understand because he leaned forward and helped her to rise. “I think it’s time you got some rest. You’re dead on your feet.” He helped her up the stairs, his arm around her shoulders.

In the doorway to her bedroom, Chase paused and turned her face to him. He kissed her gently. This was a kiss of tenderness and support. He was a magician.

“Call if you need me,” he said as he turned toward the stairs.

Reggie couldn’t bear to see him go and reached out. He stood completely still, waiting for her to speak.

In a tentative voice, she said, “I don’t know if it’s fair to ask you this, but I’m going to anyway. Please feel free to say no.”

He waited.

“Would you stay with me tonight? I don’t want to be alone. Can you just hold me through the night?”

He smiled at her with complete comprehension. “I think that can be arranged.” She frowned when he turned to leave again. He shook his head. “I’ll just go get something to sleep in. I think tonight might call for it.”

She smiled and nodded.

* * * *

She slept well that night. Her dreams were like those she’d had as a child, light and friendly. She smiled in her sleep.

“There. Now you’ve had some sleep.” Reggie could hear Constance’s voice so clearly, but she wasn’t sure if it had been a dream. She opened her eyes and looked around the room. Chase was still with her. His warmth had made its way into her body and feeling blissful, she wondered if she’d ever feel chilled again.

“Yes, it’s me,” Constance said in a bored tone.

Reggie snuggled a little closer to Chase’s sleeping form. “Go away.” She moaned. “The garden is one thing, but I draw the line at the bedroom. Like I said before, if you see a light, head for it. Cross over already.”

“Regina Stanton, do you really think I’d be here if it wasn’t important?”

Grudgingly, she had to give her that. “Okay. I’m listening.”

“Your man friend, Morgan Goode’s bloodline. The one you call Sam, I trust he will be healed?”

“Yes. It will take time, but his prognosis is good.”

“Blessed be.” The relief sounded in her ghostly voice. “You’ve made a decision about my descendant here I can see.”

“How did you know?”

Constance didn’t bother to reply. Instead, she said, “The time is now my dear. All you have to do is touch your skin to his. Do it…” Her voice faded away but Reggie could hear the echo of her parting words, “Your skin to his. Do it…do it…”

The words became a mantra and Reggie breathed deeply. She didn’t resist. It felt indescribably right. So she did it.

With her heart pounding, she ran her hand up Chase’s naked chest. He didn’t disguise his response and immediately turned to her. “Reggie?” He said; his voice hoarse and filled with longing.

“Mmm hmm,” she murmured.

He captured her wayward hand and brought it to his lips. He said, “Honey, if you do that, you’d better mean it because once I touch you, I won’t be able to stop.”

She kissed his neck. “I was hoping you’d say exactly that.”

He pressed the hand he held to the hardness of his body. There was no hiding his response. He moaned.

Chase was a man who knew how to take his time. And he did, treating her body to endless varieties of sensuality. He helped her to discover new and exciting pleasure zones she’d never known existed. A soft stroke of his fingers on the back of her neck sent shivers rocketing through her entire body.

He did amazing things to her, and she loved every minute of it, but what really affected her was his reaction to
her
touch. She could do to him what he did to her. With reverence, she humbly accepted her feminine power over him and felt blessed.

Their lovemaking was earth-shattering as they drove each other higher and higher. Taking a deep breath, Chase looked down at her in all her wanton glory and visibly forced a shaky control.

Soothing her gently, he said, “Are you sure, Reggie? This is what you want?”

His question surprised her, and she almost responded flippantly until she saw the deadly serious light in his blue eyes. This was not a moment for levity. It was a moment for honesty. She put a hand on either side of his jaw and brought his head closer to hers. With her eyes open, she kissed him. Her pleasure in him was reflected back to her in his shining eyes.

“Yes, a thousand versions of yes.”

He took her mouth with enthusiasm. He caressed her body and made her arch ever closer to him. She could feel his amazing hardness, and it thrilled her. She started to guide his body into hers, but he stopped her. His mouth cruised the lush length of her. Hesitating a moment before his lips and tongue moved to the spot on her body that throbbed most for release, he smiled. He didn’t make her wait for long. He took her to impossible heights, and just when she thought she could go no further, he’d discover a whole new altitude and take her there.