Strange Neighbors (13 page)

   "They were our boxes, Ralph, and no one else has the key. You never believe me!" Dottie threw her hands in the air.

   "About ghosts and vampires? No, I don't, because they don't exist, sweetheart."

   "Well that's too bad, but I'm going through with the séance. If you won't come with me, I'll just invite some of the other tenants in the building. I'm sure they'd be interested in knowing if the building is haunted."

   Ralph rolled his eyes. "Better ask Jason first. He might worry about the negative attention a claim like that would invite. You'll have every freakazoid breathing down our necks, taking pictures and feeling for cold spots."

   "Fine. I'll ask Jason first."

   Dottie grabbed the key card to Jason's apartment and stormed out. She slammed the door for extra passiveaggressive emphasis.

   Riding the elevator to the penthouse, she hoped Jason would okay the idea. Having a séance would be the most interesting thing to happen to her since she had to sell off her computer to pay bill collectors. Boredom had set in long ago and anything that sounded as if it might have been exciting in 1899 would be a welcome relief.

   Fortunately, he opened the door when she knocked. "Aunt Dottie. Is everything all right?"

   "Well, yes and no. I'm fine, dear. Unfortunately, apartment 3A is haunted." She brushed by him and squatted on his white sofa.

   He stood there, confusion knitting his brow. "Um, excuse me? Did you say haunted?"

   "Yes. The professor who lived there and moved out wants his security deposit back. He said we didn't disclose the fact that the place was haunted. He had a psychic come in to verify it."

   "I see. And is there something you want me to do about this? I'll gladly refund his security deposit."

   "Oh, I already did that. Actually, I hadn't deposited the check yet, so I just tore it up. But there is something you can do to help."

   Jason scratched his head. "Okkaaayyy…"

   "I want to hold a séance. I mean, it would be silly just to take one person's word for it, right?"

   Jason shrugged. "I guess… Do you know anyone who can conduct a séance?"

   "Yes, and I have it all set up for tonight. I've been assured that she has an unparalleled reputation and the utmost professionalism. In other words, she won't breathe a word of it to anyone—no matter what she finds."

   A smile curved one side of her nephew's mouth.

   Oh, please. If he starts laughing at me too, so help me…

   But all he said was, "Thank you for being sensitive to my need for privacy, Aunt Dottie. I really appreciate that. So yes, go ahead with your plans."

   "Oh." Relief washed over her. He wasn't a doubter— just concerned for his precious privacy, as usual.

   "Who will be attending this séance?" he asked.

   She stood and returned to the doorway, knowing enough to get out before he asked too many questions.

   "Well, so far it's you and me. I'll check with the rest of the tenants to see who can come. Apparently the more we can find, the better it will be. Since they've all sworn to protect your privacy too, I figured you wouldn't mind…"

   He nodded. "Sure. What time and where is it going to be held?"

   "In apartment 3A. Six p.m. I'll get Ralph to set up a table and some chairs. I'll just have to see how many will be coming, first."

   "Knock yourself out," he said with a smile.

   Now he's making fun, but we'll see how he feels if the table floats and the electricity goes off. A shiver of excitement trailed down her spine at the thought of something dramatic and extraordinary happening in her otherwise dull day.

MERRY HAD BEEN DANCING TO SANTANA IN HER KITCHEN when she heard the knock on her door. Her heart leapt, hoping it was Jason. Really, who else could it be? The outer door hadn't opened and slammed, so it must be someone from the building. She rushed to her door and threw it open.

   "Dottie?" Crap. What a disappointment. "Oh, um… Is something wrong? Was my music too loud?"

   "No, dear. There's nothing wrong. Well, not with you, anyway." She smiled in an insincere way that made Merry's internal warning lights flash. What now? The elevator whirred in the background.

   "I just stopped by to invite you to a get-together in apartment 3A tonight. Six p.m. Can you make it?"

   Oh, God. She wants to have a tenants' meeting or intervention or something. "What kind of get-together, Dottie?"

   "Well, it's a séance. I think I discovered why we can't keep that apartment rented."

   Hairs prickled on the back of her neck. "You mean it's haunted?"

   "Yes, we think so. Jason and I do anyway. Ralph is…" She rolled her eyes and waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. Her eyes suddenly narrowed at Merry. "You do believe in spirits occasionally remaining on this plane, don't you? Because of unfinished business or they don't know they're dead or something…"

   "I—um… I think so. There have been some weird sightings at a couple of hospitals I've worked in and I've seen some shows about it."

   "Good! It's unanimous." She seemed exceedingly pleased. "We'll see you at six, then?"

   "I'm afraid I have to work tonight. But I have tomorrow off. Can we do it tomorrow?"

   "Sorry. I booked a medium for tonight."

   The elevator stopped and Jason stepped out. "Oh, good. You're home," he said, smiling at Merry.

   She grinned.

   Dottie backed away from the door and sighed. "Well, I'll let you two lovebirds be alone." She winked at Jason and headed up the stairs.

   Merry wondered what he had told his aunt, but simply opened her door wider for Jason to enter. He kicked it closed behind him and swept her into his arms. "Did you miss me?" he asked and lowered his mouth to hers.

   She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his heated kiss. "Mpha… mbbt."

   He broke the kiss and leaned away so he could see her face. "What?"

   "I said, 'maybe a little bit.'"

   They grinned at each other, then Jason lifted her effortlessly into his arms. "I might have thought about you once or twice too."

   Carrying her to the bedroom, he nuzzled her neck and said, "There's a lot of time between now and whenever you have to leave for work, and I intend to spend all of it making love to you."

   Kissing her tenderly, he lowered her to the bed. A wonderful warm fuzzy feeling swept through Merry as he covered her body with his—like a security blanket. His hands wandered to her breast and his mouth traveled to her neck.

   She arched and whimpered as he massaged her breast. Even through her clothing his loving attention felt good, but she couldn't wait to lose the layers separating them.

   "Jason," she whispered.

   He didn't stop kissing her. "Hmm?"

   "Let's take these clothes off. I'm suddenly burning up."

   He broke his string of kisses long enough to look up at her and grin. "Can't have that now, can we?"

   He reached for the zipper of her jeans and dragged it downward, slowly—sensuously.

   She yanked the hem of his T-shirt and managed to drag it off over his head. She couldn't wait to touch him, skin to skin, so she fastened onto his nipple and sucked.

   He reared back and groaned. "Oh, baby. What you do to me…"

   "Hang on. There are things I want to do to you that I've never done before."

   His eyebrows arched. "Really?"

   Grinning, he shed the rest of his clothes in nanoseconds.

   Merry had read enough Cosmo magazines to take advantage of the inside information they were always giving. What guys really like. How to drive him crazy in bed. The catchy headlines were always followed with expert advice, often given by the guys themselves.

   The issue she had read recently offered some tips on teasing and sensitizing a man before actually getting it on. Let the torture begin!

   She scraped her nails gently and slowly over his chest, working her way down. Her mouth followed the path and she licked and nipped at his skin. According to the article, she was awakening his general nerve centers, so everything to follow would be more sensitive. And she intended to give him everything.

   He closed his eyes and moans of pleasure emanated from somewhere deep within. Confident, Merry let her fingernails rake over his inner thighs, coming close to one testicle and then the other. No actual genital contact, yet. The article said not to be afraid to scrape or apply pressure to a guy's skin. It was much thicker and less sensitive than a woman's, so be a little rough. They'll love it!

   She hesitated to be too rough with the jewels, though. She knew those were sensitive as heck!

   Ha! He was writhing and trying to move his goodies toward her hands. Not yet, Mister.

   She licked and nipped the skin she had just sensitized, then she blew on the dampened flesh. He shivered.

   "Damn it, Merry. You're driving me crazy!"

   Yes! Cosmo didn't lie.

   She licked around his scrotum in a figure eight pattern, as he arched and moaned out loud. She circled his cock with her hand and squeezed, firmly. She was gratified with a groan of pleasure. Or maybe it was impatience. She'd give him what she knew he wanted in a minute.

   At last, she took him in her mouth and went down on him. Applying a generous amount of suction on the withdrawal, she took him in again as deep as she could and tried to avoid an inadvertent gag reflex. That was never sexy.

   "Fuck, Merry. I'm close." He pushed himself up on his elbows. "You've got to stop!"

   She let him pop out of her mouth, looked up at him and smiled. "Are you sure?"

   He flopped backward onto the pillow and groaned. "You're amazing, but yes. I want to reciprocate now."

   She crawled up his body and said, "So, should I sit on your face?"

   "What?" he said, sounding shocked.

   "Oh, I'm sorry, was that too forward?"

   "No, kind of gross, though."

   "Gross?" Merry pouted. "But you just get to lie there, while I straddle and ride your tongue."

   "Huh? Wait a minute. What did you ask me, again?"

   Confused and disappointed, Merry hesitated, then said, "I asked if you wanted me to sit on your face?"

   Jason laughed out loud. "I thought you said something else, another word that sounded like 'sit'."

   Merry gasped, then burst out laughing too. "That would be gross."

   "And way more kinky than I'm looking for."

   "Me too!"

   He surrounded her back with his strong arms and pulled her down on top of him. "I love a girl who can laugh in bed. I especially love this girl." Then he kissed her soundly on the mouth and flipped her over in one fluid motion.

   Jason's big, flat bed will be good for something after all. Now I can't wait to try it out. Maybe tomorrow!

   Jason delivered a long, fervent kiss and launched into foreplay.

   She craved him touching her, filling her. "Tell me what you're going to do to me," she said in a sexy whisper.

   Jason grinned. "In other words, you want a playby-play?"

   She giggled. "I thought it might be hot. I feel safe experimenting with you."

   He gently cupped her breast and thumbed her nipple as he spoke. "First, I'm going to suck your breasts until you feel it all the way to your toes. Then I'm going to play with your intimate parts until you come just from having my fingers inside you. Then I'll give you the licking of your life until you come again and again. Finally, when you can't take any more, I'll slide my cock inside you and fuck you 'til I die."

   She sighed. Who could argue with that? Well, not the dying part, but the rest of it sounded damn good. It was a hotter pre-coitus moment than she'd imagined.

   True to his word, he fastened his mouth onto her nipple and sucked while his hand caressed her heated skin. She felt a visceral tug from his suckling, and moaned. She thought if he kept that up, she'd come from his attention to her breast alone.

   His fingers trailed down, down, down to her mons and he gently played with her curls. "Oh, God!" He was doing the same thing to her that she had done to him. Damn tease! Oh well, she'd just have to "endure" it.

   When she writhed and tried to arch her clit toward his fingers, he took mercy on her and stimulated the little bud. A jolt zinged through her entire pelvis and she almost vaulted off the bed. A volcano of climax erupted immediately and she screamed out her joy. When at last she was hoarse and sated, she batted away his fingers. "No more… Can't take it."

   He began to slide down the bed, but she grabbed him before he got very far. "I mean it… I'm done. Stick a fork in me… Done."

   He chuckled and moved up until he was face to face with her. As he swept her hair off her forehead, he smiled into her eyes. "I do love you," he whispered.

   She looked at him through shimmering eyes, but the lump in her throat made it impossible to speak. She nodded instead.

   He feathered kisses over her face, neck and collarbone. Eventually her breathing slowed and he asked, "Are you ready for me?"

   Merry said in her sexiest voice, "Oh yeah. Want to lie down and let me ride?"

   He grinned and promptly dropped onto his back. She climbed up beside him and took his erect member into her hand. Still hard as a rock under the satiny surface. Just for good measure, she placed a loving kiss on the tip before throwing one leg over him and sinking down.