Talking With The Dead Part 11

"Why not? Over me? Let it go, Mikey. You were twelve years old, d.a.m.n it. You can't keep punis.h.i.+ng yourself for not protecting me. I was the big brother-it was my job to protect you, not the other way around." Lucas shook his head and said, "Let it go, Michael. Give up your ghosts."

Now Michael laughed. "That's impossible. The door's been opened-I can't close it."

Lucas smiled sadly. "You don't have to. Just...stop hunting for us. If somebody needs you, they'll find you. Tanya did. You may never have a completely normal life. I get that. But you can have a happy one. If you'll reach for it."

Daisy's image bloomed in his mind's eye. Groaning, he slowed down and edged his car to the side of the road.

A happy life-not something he'd ever really thought much about. He didn't know if he was in love with her. Michael wasn't certain he really even understood love. But she was the first woman he'd ever met that made him wonder about it. s.e.x was easy. Love, though-he wasn't so certain about that. Yeah, she made him wonder, made him yearn and wish. Made him want.

I'd like the chance to prove you wrong...

A smile appeared on his face. She could do it. If anybody could, it was her. There had been a few brief moments with her when he hadn't thought about the ghosts, when he hadn't thought about Lucas, when he hadn't thought about anything but her. "I barely know her," Michael said softly.

"Then get to know her. Isn't that what dating is for?"

Leaning his head back, Michael chuckled. "Dating." He spent his life talking to ghosts and hunting down their killers. Dating seemed just a little too-tame.

"It's called real life, Mike. Reach for it."

The lady was so d.a.m.ned tired, not even Sarah's warning bark woke her up. She hadn't even fed Sarah when she came home. She'd stripped off her clothes as she walked to the bed and fell face down. It had been daylight then and now it was black and still the lady slept.

The retriever watched the door with wide, liquid eyes as the doork.n.o.b jiggled. Tumblers rolled. It unlocked and moments later, the deadbolt followed suit. It swung open to reveal a man. He paused by the dog, tucking something inside his jacket, before crouching down in front of her.

Sarah could smell her lady on him.

"I'm no threat," he murmured.

Deep voice...nice voice...Sarah leaned into his hand as he scratched behind her ears. Ooooohhhh...nice hands.

He chuckled. "I think you know that."

When he headed down the hallway, Sarah followed behind curiously. She'd hoped maybe he would get her some food, but he couldn't look away from the lady. He stood in the doorway for a minute, just staring at her. Sarah finally went and curled up below the window.

People never made any sense to her. She could tell what he wanted just by the way he smelled. And all he did was stand there.

She was sound asleep. Michael hadn't sensed anybody awake inside the house as he climbed from his truck. Well, other than the dog. He'd have to talk with Daisy about that dog, too. He knew he had a way with animals, but that dog was entirely too friendly, too trusting.

Leaning his shoulder against the doorjamb, he just stared at her. Moonlight shone in through the window, painting her skin with a soft, silvery glow, turning her hair to a pale blonde. In sleep, she looked so soft and delicate. She was an Amazon, though. She had the heart of a warrior. What had happened at the cabin would have had most people running for the hills, but instead of running, instead of breaking down and crying, she had stood up and faced down a poltergeist. Tanya's rage had been increasing with every breath. Mike's blood had long since gone cold with fear.

But Daisy had stood up and faced Tanya. Brought her back from the very brink.

He didn't think he'd ever met anyone with that kind of strength.

He wanted to climb in bed and cuddle up behind her, just wrap his arms around her while she slept. For a few minutes, he stood there, waiting to see if she'd wake up. Michael almost left. Almost... He slowly slid out of his jacket, draping it over the foot of the bed. Then his boots. He left the rest of his clothes on. She wasn't wearing much of anything, he could tell. If he climbed in bed with her naked-well, he was already going to have some explaining to do.

Stretching out on top of the cover, he pressed up against her back, sliding his arm around her waist. Daisy sighed, snuggling back against him. Michael smothered a groan as the soft curves of her a.s.s pressed against his hips. The blood in his veins re-routed and all headed south, leaving him questioning his sanity.

His c.o.c.k ached. Unable to help himself, he arched his hips and pressed just a little tighter against her.

Daisy sighed in her sleep. "Michael..." Then she s.h.i.+fted a little, wrapping her arm so that she could lay her hand atop his. A satisfied little hum escaped her and then she was still.

Behind her, Michael lay staring into the darkness. The sound of his name on her lips as she slept was a memory he was going to carry with him for a very long time. It was hours before he slept. But he didn't give a d.a.m.n. Even though he ached with weariness, he was content to just lie there, holding her.

Heat.

Daisy groaned, trying to struggle out from under the covers. Although why in the h.e.l.l...

Her hand pressed against warm male flesh. Covered with soft cotton, but still, warm male flesh. A familiar scent flooded her head. A hungry wet heat began to pulse in her womb even before she opened her eyes. Michael- He lay on his side, facing her. Early morning sunlight streamed in through the windows, falling across his face. He had little golden flecks in his blue eyes, Daisy mused. She hadn't noticed that before. His lashes were ridiculously long, especially for a man. He was probably one of the most beautiful men she'd ever seen.

And he was lying in her bed. Daisy swallowed, confused, the cobwebs in her brain keeping her from talking for a minute. l.u.s.t and exhaustion did not make it easy to form coherent thoughts. She'd be d.a.m.ned if she'd just babble. Finally, she licked her lips. "I thought you'd left."

"I did." He reached up with his hand, tracing his fingers over her cheek, along her nose and her lips. She s.h.i.+vered under that light touch, but never stopped looking into his eyes.

d.a.m.n, he had such beautiful eyes. That dark blue, so warm. Just one look from him was enough to make her get weak in the knees.

He was so big, so full of brutal strength, yet so amazingly gentle. He had cradled Sandy like she was made of gla.s.s as he carried her to the car. Sandy had curled up against him, like she knew he would keep her safe. She had good instincts.

"If you left-why are you in my bed?"

A faint smile curled his lips. "Decided to take you up on that offer," he murmured. He moved then, rolling so that she was under him. He settled himself in the cradle of her thighs and she whimpered as hot little jolts of pleasure rocketed through her system.

Daisy would have been really pleased with their positions, except he was still fully clothed. Licking her lips, she focused on his words and not on how amazing he felt pressed against her. "Offer..."

"Hmmm," he murmured, his voice a low, rough purr as he bent low and pressed his lips against her neck. "The changing my mind thing. You said you wouldn't mind trying to change my mind. I'm here to let you do that. That is, if you can."

For one second, her mind went blank. And then Daisy started to laugh. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she smiled at him, "Oh, yeah. I think I can manage that." Lowering her lashes, she murmured, "And the first order of business is getting you out of those clothes-you have this bad habit of being overdressed..."

He grinned back at her and then all thought fled as he covered her mouth with his.

About the Author.

To learn more about Ms. Walker, please visit www.s.h.i.+lohwalker.com. Send an email to s.h.i.+loh at or join her Yahoo! group to join in the fun with other readers as well as s.h.i.+loh! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/s.h.i.+_nenigans/ Look for these t.i.tles Now Available: The Huntress Hunter's Pride Malachi Legends: Hunters and Heroes (print) Can she heal lifetimes of pain and make him believe salvation is possible?

The Daystar 2006 Rene Lyons Always feeling different from the world around her, a power grows within Lexine Parker. In the light is where she belongs-even as she finds herself thrust into the nocturnal realm of the Templar vampires.

Scarred by a brutal past, Constantine is a creature consumed with rage. He knows only darkness and sin. Believing he fights a losing battle of redemption, heaven is something he doesn't dare hope for-until Lexine makes him believe salvation is possible.

Locked away in an ancient castle, they come together in body and spirit, searching for love to chase away the darkness. With Constantine's soul at stake and Lex's life on the line, the nights tick down to a cataclysmic event that could tear them apart forever.

Enjoy the following excerpt for The Daystar: At the sharp knock at her door, Lex didn't even bother to get up. Her m.u.f.fled "come in" was said into her pillow. She a.s.sumed it was Allie coming in to give her the usual "older sister spiel", which was why, when the door opened and no Allie was forthcoming, Lex sat up to see who it was.

Her heart slammed against her ribcage at the sight of Constantine filling the doorway. As much as her mortification reached epic heights while he stood silently staring at her, she was glad he'd followed her. It meant he cared. Didn't it? Or was she just reading more into his recent behavior than was healthy? Whichever it was, Lex was still glad he was here.

"What are you doing here? Come to point and laugh at the silly girl who just made an a.s.s out of herself with her wayward thoughts?"

He shook his head, his expression, for once, not unreadable. In fact, the shock on Constantine's was almost comical. "You can't mean it."

"Oh Lord, I don't want to talk about this."

"Neither do I."

That surprised the h.e.l.l out of Lex. She stood cautiously, as if trapped in a room with a wild animal. By the look on Constantine's face, she had the feeling she wasn't too off the mark. One sudden move and she had the distinct impression he'd pounce on her.

Not that she'd have any problem with Constantine doing some pouncing. Given how p.i.s.sed he looked, she didn't know if it would be the good kind of pouncing or the sort that would make her wish she'd locked her door to keep him out.

"If you don't want to make fun of me and you don't want to talk about my little bomb, then what are you doing here?"

Though Lex thought it impossible for him to frown any deeper, Constantine proved her wrong. "I don't b.l.o.o.d.y know why the f.u.c.k I'm here."

Like the demanding, and sometimes annoyingly arrogant, warrior he was, Constantine walked right up to her and yanked her into his arms. When she slammed against him, Lex knew what it meant to be manhandled.

She didn't have a chance to protest-not that she would-before he brought his face close to hers. For a moment she thought Constantine was going to kiss her, but he didn't and a momentary stab of regret pierced her.

"I'm not leaving."

His tone suggested that was a warning and not an announcement. Warning or no, it left Lex was a bit breathless. "I'm glad."

He bared his fangs. This close, Lex saw just how lethal they were. Yet every time he kissed her, never once had he hurt her with them. His control astounded her.

But then, everything about Constantine was tightly controlled rage and power. His body was a work of art, from his tattoos to his scars. They were marks of his life-and his death. The thick cords of muscle that moved under his pale flesh were a testimony to his discipline as a warrior. She couldn't begin to imagine what it had taken to hone his body into the fine weapon it was.

"I can't be around you without wanting to bury myself in you."

That healthy does of honesty ignited a fire in Lex that burned its way through her entire being. "Then stop denying us both. I can't make it any clearer, or easier on you than that."

Pride be d.a.m.ned, Lex laid herself out for his taking. Now-she just hoped he'd take it and stop torturing them both.

"You've no b.l.o.o.d.y idea what you'll be inviting into your body."

That statement spoke volumes to Lex and it broke her heart. How could Constantine think so lowly of himself? No matter what'd done in his life, or what he'd done after, G.o.d loved him enough to give him a second chance. Didn't that mean anything to him? Didn't it mean anything that she loved him?

And, oh G.o.d, how she loved him.

Lex placed her hands on his cheeks. "Don't I?" She dropped her hands and placed them on his chest. It was high time she gave him back that same raw honesty. "I think it's you who doesn't know me. I'm not the delicate flower you all treat me as. I'm a woman, Constantine, and I know what I want. And what I want is you."

The expression of shock Constantine had worn before was replaced by a beautiful play of emotions as he fought a battle with himself to either leave or take what she so blatantly offered him.

For a moment Lex expected Constantine to leave and a stab of disappointment pierced her. She knew that if he left her, he wouldn't just be leaving her chamber. He'd be leaving her.

When his mouth came down on hers, there wasn't a shred of tenderness in his kiss. Instead, it was a brutal, almost punis.h.i.+ng, joining of their mouths as he showed her exactly what manner of man he was. Not that Lex needed the reminder. She knew Constantine wasn't a gentle man. She expected things to be a bit-rough-with him. Given who he was, she didn't think otherwise.

Stepping up on her tiptoes, Lex pressed her body against Constantine's as her hands ran over his back. His lips were unyielding, demanding, and when she sighed into his mouth she felt him inhale it. There was something extremely erotic about that. His tongue moved over hers hesitantly and Lex realized he was struggling to be careful with his fangs. When he brought them into play, they added a certain amount of danger to his kiss.

Hoping Constantine wasn't going to bring this to an abrupt end, Lex melted into him. She wanted to touch all of him, know every inch of his body, but there was so much of him she didn't know where to start. His size scared her just a little and she prayed he couldn't sense it since she knew he'd probably stop if he did.

When she trailed her hands down his back and came to settle on his a.s.s, he hissed. She squeezed and he growled. She pulled him closer and he tore his mouth away. That was definitely not the reaction Lex was expecting.

"I shouldn't have come here."

Was he joking? He wasn't going to start that again. He wanted to be here. She wanted him here and she was going to fight to make him realize he was being foolish in resisting what was between them.

He set her aside and went to leave. By a will of its own, her hand settled on his arm. He stopped dead, his gaze fixed on the door. "You can't keep doing this to me, Constantine. You can't keep playing me like this. One second you want me, the next you can't wait to be rid of me. I mean, my G.o.d, my pride can only take so much."

Cursing, Constantine turned and pinned her with a glare. "You've no idea of the things I want to do to you."

"No, I don't." She ran her hand through his hair, not an easy task given their height differences. "But I can't make it any clearer that I'm not afraid to find out." Something warned her he still might flee, which was why Lex decided to play dirty. "Besides, they can't be half as nasty as the things I imagine you doing to me."

Right then Lex knew she had him.

The look that darkened Constantine's eyes caused her heart to race. Liquid heat poured through her when he brought his mouth close to her ear and whispered the most wicked things. Heat settled between her legs. In the wake of the warmth came wetness, which brought the ache of emptiness.

"I won't give you a gentle ride."

G.o.d, she hoped not. "If I wanted gentle I wouldn't be here with you."

The intensity in the silvery depths of his eyes cut Lex right to her core. "If I stay I'm taking this to the end."

She smiled at the thought of him being the one to show her the wonders of her body. "You'd better."

"You're mine, Lexine" he gritted out between his fangs. "No other man will ever put his hands on you but me." He fisted his hand in her hair and pulled it so she was forced to arch her neck. "Say it. Tell me you're mine."

She knew the kidnapper's innermost feelings, but could she stop him in time?

Dark Heat 2006 Arianna Hart Talia Dane had her life just the way she liked it. She did her job as a bookkeeper at the occult bookstore Strange Days, hung out with a few friends and had her nice, safe apartment in the city. Being an empath in New York City might seem insane, but the ma.s.s of humanity masked her differences and that was all she wanted. Someday she might want more, but for now blending in was just fine with her.

Finn O'Brien has a problem on his hands. Twenty-something girls are missing around the city and he can't buy a clue. When Talia's friend Ca.s.sidy disappears he's willing to listen to just about anyone-including some kook who thinks she can feel other people's emotions.

Talia and Finn embark on mission to find the kidnapper, but will they be able to stop him in time? Or will Talia be the next victim?

Enjoy the following excerpt for Dark Heat: "Well, Ca.s.sidy's not here. I think I'll head home. I didn't figure she'd be in a place that didn't have thumping ba.s.s or gyrating trendsetters, but it was a nice break from all the other clubs I'd seen so far." She took her purse out to pay for her tea, but Finn beat her to it.

"I'll get that, Tiger."

"I can pay for my own drink. Honest." Her teeth were clenched and her face was tight.

"I know, but I was raised to be a gentleman so I'm honor bound to pay for it. C'mon, I'll walk you to the subway."

"Let me guess, you're honor bound to walk me home too?"