“Born and raised.”
Seemed as if he wanted to say more, but Caley interrupted with her typical impatient yell. “Come on, y’all.”
I glanced over my shoulder to find her waving her hands. “We’ve been summoned.”
Trent chuckled.
I strode past the irritated crowd, who didn’t have a Caley in their group to push their way through. Entering the bar, loud country music, accompanied by hoots and hollers, rang out around me. The stench of sweat made my nose crinkle. Caley pointed to a table across the way and I maneuvered through the partygoers, following her.
At the table, Trent held out a stool and gestured for me to sit. He sure played his cards right to a royal flush. I slid onto the stool, and he asked, “What’s your drink?”
“A cold beer sounds great.”
He winked. “My kind of lady.”
The boys headed to the bar. I glanced over at Caley, who bounced up and down on her seat in excitement. “I did good, right?”
I nodded, not at all ashamed to give her props for her choice. “He’s not only sexy as sin, but a gentleman too. You did great.”
The ghost snorted.
I’d forgotten all about him and had hoped he wouldn’t follow me into the bar. Nothing would ruin my excitement now. A long time had passed since I’d met anyone worth meeting. The ghost wouldn’t put a damper on my fun.
Within minutes, Trent and Brandon returned to the table with four beers in hand. I claimed a bottle, took a long sip and sighed in happiness. After the day I had, the beer comforted me. The alcohol refreshed the senses, revived the mood and removed the tension sitting heavy on my shoulders.
Trent grinned. “Looks like you needed a drink.”
I licked the dribble of beer from my lips. “I’ve been craving a beer all day long.” I set the bottle onto the table. “So, tell me, what’s it like to play baseball as a pro?”
I’ve never regretted saying words more in my life. One question led to a twenty-minute conversation I wished I’d never instigated. Caley, the traitor, had vanished onto the dance floor with Brandon, which left me with the pompous stud.
“I’ve grown as a player…” Trent went on.
“This guy is a fucking joke,” the ghost said.
I almost turned my head to nod, but of course refrained. I continued to listen to Trent’s words without truly hearing what he had to say. I merely muttered “yeah” or “cool” when appropriate.
“If I were him, I would’ve skipped the conversation all together and had you back in my bed the moment I laid eyes on you.”
He did not just say that!
My stomach leapt up into my throat and my body warmed in places that shouldn’t from a ghost. He’d only said words—not used soft touches to entice me—but the way his voice carried into my soul, the effect had been similar to sweet caresses. “The coach has been pleased…”
The ghost’s tone dropped an octave. “I wouldn’t have wasted the time with small talk. I would’ve used my mouth to learn my way around your luscious curves and used your responses to tell me about the woman you are.”
I squirmed on the stool in an attempt to ignore the soft purr of his voice sending shivers down my spine. I even leaned in further toward Trent and tried to concentrate on his boring conversation.
“After I tasted your sweet skin and saw your desperation for more, I would kiss your mouth until your lips were rosy and swollen. I’d deepen the kiss by tangling my fingers through your hair and holding you close to feel all of me.”
I gulped, crossed my legs and squeezed them tight. He’s a ghost! Nothing that involved him should arouse me. But the pulse between my thighs declared he held the power to make me undone.
“I’d kiss my way along your jaw while I lowered my hand to trail along your stomach. Then I would seek to discover all those little places that make you squirm.”
He ran his finger from below my ear all the way to my nape. His touch forced my eyes closed. A cold shiver danced along my skin to leave goose bumps in its wake. Wild sensations stole my logical mind. My will to ignore him plummeted.
“Tess,” Caley shouted.
I opened my eyes, and after taking a moment to focus, I discovered not only Caley staring at me, but Trent and Brandon too.
She frowned. “What’s wrong with you?”
I shook my head and released the breath stuck in my throat, which came out in a slow wisp of air. “Nothing—I’m fine.”
“I’d lower myself between those luscious legs of yours, tempting you and teasing you. I’d stare into those pretty green eyes of yours until they widened in pleasure.”
“You’re not fine,” Caley retorted. “Your face is bright red.”
“I’d wait until your hips arched toward me and begged me to take you. Then, and only then, would I give you what you desire.”
I grabbed my beer, took a big swig and a couple more. All eyes stared at me with blatant confusion. Part of me wanted to move away, while the other needed to hear more.
“Ah, Tess,” Caley whispered. “Seriously, are you okay?”
I paid my obvious inappropriate behavior no attention. The fantasy the ghost built in my mind needed to have a conclusion. “Yes. Yes. I’m good.”
“I would thrust against you, demanding you react to my intentions. You’d scream out and I would echo the sound with a moan of my own, as I used all my strength to satisfy you.”
Caley chuckled nervously.
I gripped the edge of the table in front of me and held on tight.
“You’d come into your orgasm because I’d leave you with no other choice. But I wouldn’t stop there.” He ran his finger along my exposed lower back and the coldness against my hot skin made me shiver. “Without giving you the chance to recover, I’d flip you over on your knees,” his tone dipped lower, “and fuck you senseless.”
I shot up from my seat, which caused the stool to slam back into the person behind me, who swore in return. “I have to go.”
Caley nodded. “Ah yeah, I think you do.”
Without another word—or a goodbye to the living men or the dead one who had got me all hot and bothered—I bolted from the bar and ran so hard my calves burned, reminding me of the three-inch heels strapped to my feet.
The ghost didn’t follow me and nothing pleased me more. I needed some space, time to return to reality or to pleasure the need out of me—either would do.
Within only a few minutes, I arrived at my condominium, which appeared more like an old textile factory, but inside were renovated modern apartments. The arousal burning inside me hadn’t vanished. The wetness between my thighs was a constant reminder of the ghost’s words.
I ran up the stairs while I took my keys out from my back pocket. At the thick mahogany wooden door, I raised my key pass to the scanner, grabbed the chrome door handle and swung it open.
Just three doors down, I opened the door to my condo before slamming it closed behind me. I didn’t bother to lock the door and did the only thing I thought of now. I sprinted to the bedroom, stripped out of my clothes and finished the fantasy the ghost had built in my mind.
Chapter Two
Ring ring…ring ring…ring ring…
Without lifting my head from the pillow, I reached out to the telephone on the bedside table and pressed the receiver to my ear. “Hello,” I croaked.
“Wakey, wakey, rise and shine! It’s seven thirty and I’m your wake-up call.” Caley sounded all too chipper. “Do you mind explaining why you looked ready to hump a stool last night?”
I rolled onto my back and placed my hand over my eyes, mortification stealing over my thoughts. “You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you.”
“Oh yeah, try me.”
Caley was the only one who knew about my gift, but just because she held such knowledge didn’t mean we talked about my ability. Ghosts scared Caley. I understood why. At first, they had scared me too. But the truth had always been a constant between us. I wouldn’t lie to her now. “A ghost followed me to the bar.”
Caley paused. “A spirit who made you almost orgasm in public?”
I nodded, but realized she couldn’t see me, so I forced my mouth to work. “He talked dirty to me.”
“He what?” I shifted the phone away from my ear and had no trouble hearing her. “And he turned you on?”
She quieted, so I returned the phone to my ear. “Apparently.”
Silence hit the line for a moment before she giggled. “That’s so sexy.”
I bolted upright. “It’s not sexy, it’s sick.”
She continued to laugh. “So, I’m guessing he’s hot?”
“Just a little bit.” Hot didn’t define him. Sexy, smoldering, downright delectable explained him better.
Her laughter continued for enough time to annoy me. “You should have seen yourself last night.”
“Please, don’t remind me. I must have looked ridiculous, red-faced and all.” I needed to get off the topic of my embarrassing mishap and pronto. “What happened after I left?”
“Trent hooked up with another girl and Brandon took me home.”
Caley had always been fussy on whom she let into her bed and thought a man needed to earn the right to behold her treasure of a body. Her admission shocked the sleepiness away. “You actually slept with him?”
“I did,” she replied with no shame, “and let me tell you, I might keep him around.” She hesitated. “When he’s home, of course.”
“Sounds like the picture-perfect relationship for you.”
“I know, right. I’ll never get sick of him ‘cause he’s not around much, and Tess, he’s a devil in the sheets.”
“Ugh. No details, please.”
Caley laughed yet again. “So, is the ghost with you now?”
The thought hadn’t even crossed my mind. “I don’t know if he’s here.”
Someone cleared his throat beside me. I screamed like a girl seeing a teenage rock star, dropped the phone and jumped out of bed to see the ghost lounging in my rocking chair. “Don’t do that,” I yelled at him.
He chuckled. “My apologies.”
I spun around and bent to grab the telephone off the floor. The ghost groaned. I glanced back at him. His lips were in a firm, thin line and his clenched fists floated above the armrests.
“Tess, Tess,” Caley bellowed.
I raised the phone to my ear. “Sorry, I’m here.”
“He’s there, isn’t he?”
“I have to go.” Without giving Caley a chance to respond, I ended the call and threw the phone onto my bed.
“Sleep well?” the ghost asked.
“Don’t you go being all Mr. Nice Guy after the stunt you pulled last night.”
Amusement twinkled in his eyes. “She finally decides to stop ignoring me.”
“How is anyone supposed to ignore all the smooth fantasyland talking? What are you, some type of phone sex operator?”
He threw his head back and laughed. “I’m that good at it, am I?”
“No.” The lie burned on my tongue. He’d gotten to me in a way no one ever had, and if I reminded myself of his words, I held no doubt I’d get all riled up again.
“You don’t lie well,” he said, quite proud of himself.
Oh you simply annoying ghost!
I took a step toward him and he gave me a once-over. “Who are you?”
His gaze drifted back to mine. “Kipp McGowen.”
Aren’t you so calm and sure of yourself.
“Well, Kipp McGowen…” I placed my hands on my hips. “What do you want?”
“She asks the right question.” His gaze traveled toward my breasts before he glanced back to my eyes and smiled seductively. “I’ll wait for you out in the living room to discuss my situation.” He stood up from the chair and headed for the door. Before he exited, he glanced over his shoulder with an arched eyebrow. “You might want to consider putting some clothes on.”
I glanced down, realizing I’d been so caught up with him that I failed to notice I had nothing on. After settling myself last night, I’d been so exhausted I went straight to sleep without dressing—something I’d forgotten until now.
How much more can you possibly embarrass yourself?
I stuffed my humiliation away and dressed in jeans and a cotton tee, mumbling obscenities the entire time. Once finished, I drew in a deep breath while I attempted to find the bravery to face him again and made my way out to the living room.
Kipp sat—floated—on the couch with the grin still prevalent on his face. I glared to state I would Ghostbuster his ass if he said a word. “Not discussing what happened. As far as I’m concerned, you imagined it all.” His low chuckle echoed around me as I made my way to the kitchen.
I grabbed an apple out of the ceramic bowl on the marble counter, returned to him and sank down on the couch. “So, how do I get rid of you?”
He ran a hand along his scruffy chin. I hated the urge I had to touch his face myself. I shook my head to erase these thoughts from my mind.
Ghost, check. Dead, check. Off the market, double check.
“Did you hear what I said?” he asked.
I blinked. “Sorry, what?”
“I’m a cop with the Memphis Police Department.”
“A cop, huh?” I took a bite of the apple. “Never had one of you before.”