Lovelorn Spirits (The Paramours Book 3) Read online

  If Nina wasn’t deathly afraid of heights, the Paramours wouldn’t have called Miles in on this job. Vivian sighed, wondering exactly what frightened Nina and Katherine. Something in her told her it was a person, or at least that’s what the feeling from Katherine was. A horrible person.

  The one who had killed her. Meaning Katherine. Not her, Vivian.

  Vivian looked at Miles the same moment he turned his head to her. “The killer!”

  Saying something at the same time as someone else was far more embarrassing than the sex. She and Miles were not in sync and would never be.

  “Let’s get down to the van and do the post-investigation interviews immediately while things are still fresh in our minds and before we have too much time to think them over.” Miles stepped into his pants and jammed his feet into his shoes. “This was really a remarkable experience. I’ve never been so taken by a spirit. He must have sensed my compassionate heart.”

  Claire snorted and Zendal gave her a nudge. Vivian didn’t conceal her eye roll since the cameras weren’t rolling anymore.

  Miles ignored them. “This young man came through me so clearly. His love, his fear, his joy at becoming a father.”

  He continued talking as he led his associates out of the bedroom and down the stairs. Yup, it was all about Miles. Like she hadn’t been possessed too.

  Vivian waited until they were gone before she fetched her shoes. The smell of smoke was gone. The lewd perfume of sex had taken over.

  “What really happened here?” Claire held Zendal’s hand, her face tight with worry.

  Vivian put on her sneakers and ran a hand through her hair. “We were possessed by the Greens, the couple that was murdered here. They had a very heated reunion.”

  Both Zendal and Claire visibly relaxed. What had they thought was going on? Vivian supposed it would seem more believable she was trying to murder Miles than fuck him.

  “See, I told you what I heard was Viv’s pushing-all-the-right-buttons cry.” Claire smirked at her lover and then turned her grin to Vivian. “So, how was he?”

  God! Vivian’s face heated. Good thing it was dark. “I tell you I was possessed and you want to know how the sex was?”

  “It is a legitimate question,” Zendal said.

  “Ha!” Claire raised a victorious fist in the air.

  “Yet for the fact you were possessed. And by a peaceful entity, it would seem,” Zendal continued and then frowned. “The other one, the one that kept us out, it was not good. There are no vortexes here, so it is not a traveler. And Nina stated she was not certain it was human.”

  “It’s just pure fucking bad news.” Claire glanced at the door. “Perhaps we should be heading out now.”

  “Here. Help me with the cameras and we’ll go see Nina.” Vivian picked up one of the harnesses and Zendal the other. Claire was first out of the room and down the stairs. “Whatever it was, Katherine knew of it. Not it. She thought it was a person. A man. It’s just all a black blur in my head when I try to think of who it might be.”

  The lighthouse was silent except for their voices and footsteps. Yet the faintest bit of smoke smell still lingered in the air on the lower level. Once outside, Vivian breathed in deeply. The cool sea air. It comforted her, a feeling new to her.

  “There you are!” Nina wrapped Vivian up in a big hug. “Are you all right? All Miles kept saying was that you hit the paranormal jackpot.”

  Vivian groaned inwardly. She hated that part of her felt the same way. “I’m okay. We were possessed. By good spirits,” she made certain to add. “They were very happy to see each other. And then we were interrupted by a not-so-good spirit.”

  “It’s pure malevolence.” Nina swallowed. “It meant to hurt you. If I could go up there, help those lost spirits…but there’s nothing I can do about the other one.”

  Vivian didn’t need Nina to tell her that this time. She had felt Katherine’s terror and it was near as powerful as her love. Both intense emotions were things Vivian had never experienced herself before. She didn’t get scared and she had never fallen in love—and she would not admit to secretly wanting the latter.

  “Hey now. Let the witness’ testimony remain untainted.” Miles strode toward them. His suit looked freshly pressed and his hair brushed. Don followed him with a camera, the green light on. The other man, Harold, held a microphone.

  Grinding her teeth, Vivian turned to face them. She prayed her hair wasn’t doing its imitation of a bird’s nest. “Don’t worry about me. You know my account will be accurate.”

  “Yes, you’re always quite thorough in your investigations. As you were tonight.” Miles winked at the camera.

  Oh God, please let it not be live again.

  “I have one very important question that I need answered first.” Miles’ handsome face went tight with seriousness. He locked his gaze with hers.

  There was a tug, something in her chest. Those piercing eyes, pale blue with flecks of gray. She could stare into them forever. Her heart thumped as she waited to hear what he would ask.

  “Are you in love with me?” He grinned.

  The bastard!

  Chapter Four

  “Do you really need to use so much salt?” Miles stood over Vivian with his hands on his hips.

  She shot him a dirty look and finished making the line of salt across the entrance into the lighthouse bedroom. “I need to make it thick enough that it won’t blow away if something really wanted to get in. Stick to your job, Miles, and let me do mine.”

  “We did a cleansing of negative energy earlier today. There’s no need for these precautions.” He waved his hand and walked around the little room. He smiled every time he looked toward a camera.

  An idiot. He was a gorgeous, narcissistic idiot. Assuming a cleansing worked the first time was not smart. When dealing with the unknown, it was best to always be on the safe side. Sure, she’d taken risks before, but not when dealing with something like the dark entity that resided here.

  “In places like this, there will always be the need to do so. A little sage won’t chase out what’s here. What we need is an exorcist—”

  “Hardly. All the spirits need to do is talk to me. I’ve helped so many carry on.” Miles eyed her with a raised brow. “Are you always so overly dramatic?”

  What? So said the pot to the kettle.

  “Do you always let your arrogance blind you?” Vivian slammed the empty salt container down on top of the lone dresser. “You were there with me. You felt what I felt. Whatever-that-was wanted to kill us. And that was no idle threat.”

  “We were possessed, my dear. Those feelings, they weren’t ours.” He turned his head, glancing to the bed.

  She waited for the inappropriate comment that didn’t come. Did he look wistful?

  Miles cleared his throat. “Anyway, here we are. The second night of our investigation. With cameras one, two and three.” He pointed to the two cameras in the bedroom and the one outside the window attached to a jointed boom arm so it faced into the room. “All lights are green. We’re here tonight to speak with Katherine and…what was his name, Ethan?”

  “Adam.” Vivian folded her arms. She’d filled him in on the history of the lighthouse and the Greens that afternoon. She swore he spent more time looking at her chest than listening to what she said.

  “Yes, Adam. I don’t know why the name isn’t sticking.” Miles shrugged and walked the short length of the room with his arms extended. It was showtime, but thankfully not live. “Our two lost lovers. We know all you want is to be together. But you’re lost, trapped here in the lighthouse. I can help you.”

  Vivian remained to one side next to the dresser. Even though she wore a hoodie, goosebumps climbed her arms. She sincerely hoped that he could help the Greens find some peace. Katherine was such an angelic soul, so sweet and loving. Being connected to such a spirit had been so freeing.

  Which said something about herself. Vivian’s lips thinned. Hadn’t she ever been like that?

>   “Yes, I know you love each other and want to be together. What happened here was a tragedy, but you must let go of your fear to move on. Listen to my voice. Let me be your guide.” Miles turned in a slow circle. He must have learned his lesson from the previous night as he wore a black sweater and jeans. Jeans that hugged his tight little ass so perfectly.

  Focus. She had to keep her mind on the situation at hand.

  Miles closed his eyes and stood silently facing the camera nearest to the door. A little ball of light zipped out from the corner of the room and headed right toward him. Before she could warn him, something connected with her back.

  Vivian shuddered, her whole body feeling like it had received the biggest static electric shock of her life. She didn’t black out this time as Katherine filled her. From her heart to her mind.

  “Katherine.” Miles held his hands out to her.

  She ran into his arms and hugged him fiercely. He tilted her head back and kissed her. It was just as wonderful as the first time they kissed. She’d been twelve and he thirteen. He’d done it on a dare. A dare she gave him.

  Their love was one of forever. Nothing could tear them apart.

  Images of a great storm, giant waves and her screaming at the sea.

  Except that.

  Vivian tightened her grip on him. “I can’t lose you again.”

  “But I didn’t die. I found my way back to you,” Miles crooned, kissing her again.

  Tears trickled down her cheeks. “You left me. I was all alone.”

  He cupped her face, swiping away the tears with his thumbs. “Never. My heart was always with you. I just had to make some money, to buy that farm we always wanted.”

  “You were lost at sea. I didn’t want a farm or this damn lighthouse. All I wanted was you.” The emotions swelled and Vivian wanted to scream with them. Such sorrow and love. Her own experiences paled in comparison to Katherine’s.

  “You have me,” Miles whispered and showered her face with kisses. Their lips met and did not part again for several minutes until he kissed down along her neck as he reached under her shirt to grope her left breast.

  She whimpered, her head lolling back. Heat sizzled through her body. She grappled blindly with his belt. “I want you to take me now.”

  Miles yanked off her hoodie and sports bra, both with one hand. Once her arms were free, she finished undoing his belt and slipped a hand inside his pants to fondle his cock and balls. He was hard and throbbing already, groaning when she toyed with the head of his erection. A drop of pre-cum smeared over her fingers and she lifted them to lick it off.

  His eyes were wide, gaze locked on her mouth as she did so.

  Pleased with his reaction, she smiled and licked her lips. “Sweet as you, my love.”

  He kissed her fervently before dropping to his knees and pulling at her pants. “I want to taste you.”

  She gasped at the thought of it and nodded, helping him remove her jeans and black panties. Her stomach quivered as she watched him with wide eyes. Once her bottoms were off, he gazed at her pussy as if seeing the most delicious feast.

  Why was her body trembling? Vivian loved to receive oral sex. A mouth on her clit could create multiple orgasms that kept going one after another until she or her lover was exhausted.

  Ah, but Katherine had never experienced this. Maybe she and her husband were old-fashioned in that way. Vivian also felt that he had never even licked her down there. It made her wonder how much of her experience affected Katherine and how much of Miles’ affected Adam.

  Wait. So did that mean Miles had the idea of eating her pussy?

  His fingers stroked her mound, spreading her labia to reveal her wetness. He leaned in and licked up her slit with the tip of his tongue.

  For Katherine, this was new and exciting. Vivian reveled in the feeling, but also the fact that it had to have been Miles who placed this idea in Adam’s mind. Miles wanted to taste her, and she very much wanted him to do so.

  The second lick was more firm. The third he used the whole of his tongue and probed into her entrance. She groaned and ran her fingers slowly through his hair.

  Miles lapped more hungrily and sucked upon her labia before driving his tongue farther inside of her. She let out a small cry and rolled her head back. Her inner muscles grasped at his tongue as if they could draw it in farther.

  He spread her wider and forced his mouth harder against her, his chin and nose rubbing upon her sensitive flesh. He slid in a finger to accompany his tongue, and she whimpered with his ardent ministrations.

  But when he moved up and suckled upon her clit, she shuddered and gripped his hair. “Oh God!”

  “Are you okay?” He stopped, eyes full of concern as he stared at her.

  “Yes! That’s the spot. Right there.” Katherine might not have known what to call it, but she was thrilled with the discovery. Vivian wanted to laugh out loud, but all she could do was sit back and enjoy the ride.

  And oh, what a pleasure it would be!

  Miles’ lips refastened around her swollen nub and suckled with more fervor. He jammed two fingers into her and fucked her relentlessly. Her mewls and moans filled the little room.

  When she came, she nearly fell forward on top of him. Her legs could barely keep her up. She placed her hands on his shoulders, leaning on him and panting. “Let me…do you.”

  Miles rose from his kneeling position and gathered her in his arms. Her juices coated his lower face. When they kissed, she could taste herself. Hot and sweet.

  “I need to be in you.” He kept her from sinking to her knees by locking an arm around her. With his other hand, he pushed down his pants. He lifted her legs and wrapped them around him, holding her up with a tight grip on her ass.

  He rammed his stiff cock inside her, pounding hard. Fierce kisses muffled their cries and their tongues danced as if dueling. Hard and fast.

  Body slapping against body echoed but seemed quieter than the hammering of her heart. Her nails dug into his shoulders as she arched her back. She could only move so much, but it was enough that her clit was burning with friction.

  Yes, so hot. She needed him. Needed this.

  A second orgasm erupted, roaring and shaking like an exploding volcano. He propelled her to even greater heights when he came as well.

  Maybe it was too much, or it could have been just right. Katherine wanted to hold on to that feeling. She left Vivian before coming down from her climax. Her body tingled hotly as she trembled with the aftershocks of such a potent orgasm.

  He kissed her neck and shoulders. “So good. I never want to stop.”

  Vivian’s breath caught in her throat. Was Adam still there? Did he not realize his love had gone? It felt like she was cheating with a married man and she couldn’t do that to Katherine. Should she say something? She couldn’t not say something even with him still buried within her, kneading her rear with his hands.

  She wet her lips. Damn. Why was this so hard? “Uh…Katherine isn’t here anymore.”

  Raising his head, he pressed his forehead to hers. His beautiful eyes reflected her dilated dark orbs. “I know.”

  Chapter Five

  Vivian’s body stiffened. “You know?”

  “They’re both gone. Relishing the aftermath, I suppose.” Miles’ breath was hot on her face. His hold on her didn’t loosen. “Why did we never get together before?”

  So caught by his intense gaze, she didn’t answer immediately. Did he mean what she thought he meant? Or was he referring to work? Oh God, she hoped…what did she hope? She didn’t know. Her body was screaming for more of him, to fuck him senseless. It was normal to feel slightly infatuated with a man you just had amazing sex with. A bit more than slightly…right?

  She wasn’t sure of herself. Go with the safer option. “You mean work together? I think it’s pretty obvious why we haven’t.”

  Miles groaned as his softening penis slipped out of her, but he still kept her pressed against the wall. “Yes, no. I do understand wh
y we haven’t worked together. And I was wrong about that, about your methods. I’ve never so connected to any spirit as I have with Elan.”

  “Adam,” she corrected.

  “Yes, whatever. What you do, it works. What’s more so, the energy is positive. Super charged, super happy.” Miles chuckled and added with a salacious smile, “Super satisfied.”

  Vivian’s cheeks heated as she wiggled out of his grip and stood on her own. She almost sagged to the floor with how weak her legs felt. Katherine blushed when men flattered her, not Vivian. She was a confident woman, sensual and God, did she want to kiss him.

  “I meant why haven’t you and I gotten together before? We’ve known each other for, what, two or three years now?” Miles brushed a stray lock of hair back from her face.

  She shivered at his tender touch. “Yes, three years.”

  “See, we’re in the same type of business. We’re both focused, intelligent, and successful. And incredibly good-looking.” He winked.

  It was like popping a balloon. All the steamy air was gone.

  There was the Miles she knew. The man so full of himself he didn’t even see what an ass he could be. They had met for the first time three years ago at a paranormal convention. He had been one of the guests of honor. Her hotel room door had been spray-painted with the word “whore.”

  Like most other people in their business, he looked down his nose at the Paramours and sneered whenever they walked by. The half-dozen other times they’d met over the years weren’t any more pleasant. He’d make snide comments or completely ignore them altogether. He never attacked their work like some others, but it was clear he hadn’t approved.

  Vivian ducked under his arm and put some distance between the two of them. “We haven’t gotten together because you’re an asshole.”

  He hissed as if she’d slapped him. His handsome face hardened. “What do you mean? I’m—”

  “Pompous, self-centered, rude—”

  “I’m not.” Miles folded his arms and lifted his chin. “I’m what the world expects me to be. That is the Miles Walker everyone wants and so I give it to them.”