Chapter Ten

 

The fire, as though reignited with petroleum distillate, sprang off the hearth. Flames shot up into the chimney before crackling down to a natural height.

Slack-jawed, death grip on Leathan's hand, Dakota stared at the man who leaned casually against the mantel. Tall and broad, he wore a dark gray calf-length, double breasted frock coat over a white linen shirt and dark cravat. Gray trousers barely disguised muscular thighs.

The man grinned and white teeth flashed as his piercing blue eyes swept over the five of them. "You look as though you've seen a ghost."

Leathan said, "Well that depends…are you one?"

When the stranger waved away the question, a strange black sizzling aura moved with him. "I am the man who built this house."

"Son of a─" Devin's mutter faded as he reached over his shoulder and began to turn the camera in the stranger's direction.

"No, no." The man flicked his finger and the camera shut off. "None of that."

Devin pulled back his hand as if burned.

Leathan's arm came around her shoulder and Dakota welcomed his protection. Though still aggravated he had lied to her, it mattered less and less by the second.

"You are Calum O'Donnell then?" Seth asked.

"The one and only." Calum nodded once and made a show of eyeballing the living room. "What year is it anyway?"

"It should be 2011," Leathan said. "But as you can see, the house has become dated lately. Speaking of, how did you manage to build a house sixty-one years after you died?"

Calum's gaze glowed deep blue for a second as he met Leathan's eyes. Dakota felt Leathan's body tense and squeezed his hand. Though completely terrified, the thought Calum might somehow be hurting Leathan frightened her even more. "Don't hurt him, whatever you are."

Calum's shrewd gaze landed on Dakota. "And you would be?"

She did well not to squirm beneath his fierce regard. "The current owner of this house, Dakota Allerton."

"Allerton. I see." With casual deceptiveness, Calum ran his hand along the mantel. "When I asked what year it was, I meant inside this house."

"So you're part of all this?" Leathan concluded.

"I would think you would have gathered that the moment I appeared." Calum shook his head. "Everything that appears in this house is, "part of this.""

"Care to explain what's going on?" Seth asked.

"Oh, I can't do that quite yet." Calum fingered his earlobe. "Listening ears and all."

A shiver ran through her. What did he mean by that?

"Are you kidding me?" Devin said.

"I'm not much of a jokester, lad. Had you played that tape recording a bit sooner, I would have been able to assist more."

"Assist?" Leathan's lips flattened. "In which part, the house rolling back in time and all but trapping Dakota and I, or maybe the vampire haunting Dakota?"

"Ah yes, nothing like a good vampire haunting, don't you think?" Calum smiled. "I'd say, count your blessings it's simply haunting you and not real. Nasty buggers, vampires."

Dakota's breath caught. How casually Calum spoke of vampires. "Tell me, Calum, why would a vampire haunt a house you built?"

Calum cocked his head and pinned her with a thoughtful gaze. "Well, my dear, my guess is because of you."

Fear fading fast, she released Leathan's hand and sat forward. "So you're an evasive ghost with an inability to control much of anything in the very house you built."

He glanced at Leathan. "I like her spunk."

Calum's eyes, when they focused on her again, were icy cold. "But I don't like your arrogance. Though I can say little about it, you will probably die here within days if in the end, I decide against helping you."

Though every instinct made her want to cuddle back into Leathan's protective arms, she was tired of running, tired of being afraid. "Lucky me. Tell me this though, why did you bring your descendants here? Is Leathan to potentially die like me?"

Alarm flashed in Calum's eyes so quickly she nearly didn't catch it. "Foolish woman. Did you not hear me just say we were being listened to?"

"I heard you."

"So whatever haunts this house is a personal enemy, then?" Leathan said.

"Must be," Devin spoke before Calum could respond. "And we're pawns in some old battle."

Andrea nodded. "Would have to be."

"I see you're working well as a team," Calum said dryly. "Trying to learn more via a group attack. Regrettably for you, I couldn't have been more serious about the threat in this house. I would suggest that you continue reading that journal. Be forewarned. Listening ears can't hear the words read, makes them very grouchy indeed."

Calum's form dissipated into an inky cloud of black smoke that shifted and drifted, until it vanished.

Dakota sat back slowly. "Maybe I didn't handle that so well."

"No, you did fine." Leathan pulled her against him. "We needed answers and he wasn't giving them."

His earthy male scent engulfed her, and Dakota wished they were alone. "Still, maybe he wouldn't have left so soon if I'd kept my mouth shut."

"Forget about "what ifs,"" Andrea cut in. "Ancient relative or not, the only thing I trusted that came out of his mouth was that he pegged us as a team because we are, all of us."

Dakota gave a grateful smile. "Thanks."

C3 jumped into her lap and curled into a ball.

"We can do one of two things now," Leathan said, feeling slightly off but ignoring the sensation. "Spend the next few hours reading the journal and reviewing video and audio or forget it, and take the night off."

Devin glanced at him in disbelief. "You're good with taking a break from investigating? Even after what Calum just said? Never thought I'd ever hear such a thing."

"And you probably won't again." Leathan snapped the laptop shut. "However, seems this house doesn't require a lot of investigation anymore, wouldn't you agree?"

"I know I do," Seth said. "Everything seems to be coming right to us at this point, eh?"

"Yep," Andrea agreed. "I say we relax. Let come what may."

Devin held up his glass. "I second that."

Though remarkably surprised by the team's decision to put the investigation on hold, including the enlightening family journal, Dakota thought a break didn't sound so bad. "I'm with you guys!"

She thoroughly enjoyed the next few hours. Besides the occasional strain of haunting piano music drifting through the house, nothing paranormal happened. No one knocked on the door nor materialized in front of the hearth. The firelight cast a warm glow on all as they enjoyed drink, food, friendship, and a general sense of well-being. Even the howling storm outside leant to the atmosphere inside and created a cozy haven.

Mostly, they talked of previous investigations, about the places they'd traveled. Devin was a human archive of jokes, which kept them laughing half the time. Seth enthralled them with story after story about his numerous daring feats. Frankly, Dakota was amazed he was still alive. Andrea updated them on a love interest here in the States.

"Not sure about the rest of you, but I'm ready to crash," Seth eventually said. "Part of me is tempted to stay huddled as a group while we sleep in case this house tumbles down around us. But, the reasonable side of me knows damn well that I snore on occasion. So I'm gonna head upstairs and grab a room."

"Brave man." Devin stood and stretched. "I'm doing the same, g’night all."

Andrea eyed Leathan and Dakota with a small grin, before she too stood. "Yep, I'm off as well. See you in the morning."

When, at last, they were alone, Dakota stood. Leathan caught her wrist. She stared down and smiled. "What? Just going to put on some pajamas, not tired yet, you?"

His brown eyes flickered with interest and he shook his head. "Nope, not tired at all."

"Be right back." Dakota grabbed a candle and headed for the bathroom, praying she still had clothes in there. When she opened the door and peered in, it was obvious she didn't. The drawers that'd previously been there had vanished, replaced with entirely new furnishings. She set the candle on a table by the door. When she turned, Dakota bumped into Leathan. As she looked up, he grinned down and handed something to her.

"I thought you might need these."

"Oh." Dakota took the bundle of clothes from him. "Thank you."

They stood that way, close but not touching, for several moments. The light from the candle left most of his face hidden within shadows…but not his lips. What they'd done in the basement had felt incredible. The idea of recapturing that moment aroused her. But did they dare? With a small smile, she backed into the room and shut the door slowly. She studied what he'd brought. Obviously, his sweatpants and t- shirt. She lifted them, closed her eyes, and sniffed. They smelled like him, clean and masculine.

Good thing the sweatpants were drawstring, because they were huge. She pulled them on and drew the string so tight, the fabric bunched all the way around. After she rolled up the bottoms she pulled the black t-shirt over her head. It fell just above her knees. Dakota splashed cold water over her face and cleaned her teeth the best she could, considering she had no toothpaste.

When she returned to the living room, Dakota found Leathan dressed similar to her. "What, nothing but black to sleep in?"

He chuckled. With tousled hair and a casual attitude, he appeared a sleeping panther waiting to pounce. Patting the settee beside him, Leathan shot her a sexy grin. "Come sit. I've missed you."

Not needing to be told twice, she padded across and sat down next to him. As she propped her feet on the table, Dakota decided now was the perfect time to get to know him better. "When did you start your business?"

He propped his feet next to hers. "Which one?"

"Really?" She smiled. "You do something other than hunt ghosts?"

"Sure do. Most of the time, I don't even charge to hunt ghosts."

"What! Then why did you charge me?"

"Have I charged you?"

"Not yet. But you definitely implied you would."

Leathan's hand found hers. His thumb grazed her knuckle. Warmth flooded her lower half. She could really go for picking up where they'd left off in the basement.

"When I'm not busy investigating the paranormal, I'm a software engineer. Well, now I run a Web Development company and manage a bunch of programmers."

Her mouth fell open. Was he serious? "I don't believe you."

"You should. I do."

Dakota looked at him quizzically. He offered a crooked grin. "I really do."

She shook her head and laughed. "That has got to be the most logical job in the world for someone who, in his spare time, pursues the paranormal world."

"It is, isn't it?" He brushed her palm with his forefinger and shrugged. "What can I say? I'm logical, analytical and like to make money."

"Still, who would've thought?"

"Not you, apparently."

"I mean no harm, really." Though tempted to reassure him in a much more physical manner, she turned her attention to the flames on the hearth. Who would have thought he'd have the same profession as her? Maybe he'd be giving her site IM friend, "Ghost of a Chance" a run for his money after all. Dakota rubbed her lips together. Who was she kidding? He'd already surpassed "Ghost of a Chance." Leathan was flesh and blood, not some guy sitting on the other end of the internet. "What made you decide to start investigating the paranormal?"

"I've always had an interest, especially considering my slight psychic ability. But I suppose it officially started when I was in my late twenties. I'd gone to help a friend move. He lived in this old house that'd always sort of spooked me. The day I helped him move, I saw my first apparition. Though I only saw it out of the corner of my eye, it seemed so real. At the time, my business was established and even though I was good at it, programming had started to bore me. So I decided then, why not start up a paranormal investigation team on the side."

"Naturally." She grinned. "Grab the bull by the horns."

"Sure, why not?"

"So what happened next? How did Andrea, Seth and Devin become your team?"

He stood, crossed the room and tossed another log on the fire. It crackled and snapped. "Easily enough. I started it and was communicating with them constantly. It didn't take long for them to jump on board."

Dakota fiddled with a loose thread on the t- shirt. "Mind if I ask you something a little more personal?"

He prodded the logs, moved them to allow more oxygen to the fire. "Of course. Can't promise you I'll answer it."

Fair enough. "What's your aversion to Americans?"

He stopped moving. After a few seconds he set aside the fire poker. His back still turned to her he braced one hand on the mantel and said, "It's not Americans I dislike, but more America itself."

When he turned, his eyes appeared haunted, mouth grim. "A few years after I started the Worldwide Paranormal Society we were investigating a haunting in Paris late one night when I received a phone call. It was from the police department in Portland, Maine."

Leathan paused for several moments, pain obvious on his handsome face. She thought he might not continue. But he did.

"My parents had moved over here a few years earlier. They bought a place and settled in Maine. When the police got a hold of me it was to tell me they'd been in a car accident. Apparently, Da had been driving and hit a patch of black ice. Before he was able to get the car under control, it launched over the side of a bridge into the water beneath. Though they were able to save Da, Mum died."

Hand over her mouth, Dakota closed her eyes. When he sat next to her, she opened them and took his hand. "I'm so very sorry, Leathan."

"There's more. I want you to know."

"Okay." She nodded.

"I flew over immediately. My parents were extremely close to one another. I stayed and tried to lift Da's spirits even as I mourned but he was a broken man. Three months later I found him in bed. He'd overdosed on pain killers and sleeping pills. A few days later, I had him buried next to Ma."

Speechless, Dakota felt a hot tear slip down her cheek. What a terrible thing for a son to go through. No wonder he'd reacted so strongly when he figured out she was contemplating suicide! Resting her head on his shoulder, she remained silent. How well she understood his pain. To lose ones parents tragically left deep wounds. No matter what; you could never truly escape the pain.

Leathan rested his head against hers and for some time, they said nothing, only stared at the fire, lost in their own memories. Wind howled. The storm built an ever thickening layer of snow on the window behind them. Two candles burned on the mantel. Scented, their subliminal offering made it smell as though someone baked a pumpkin pie in the other room.

At last, Leathan spoke softly. "Enough about me. What about you?"

"Not much to tell, really."

"I doubt that."

Dakota pursed her lips. "Okay. How about what I did once I came to the States?"

"Sounds good to me."

She ran her finger over his wide, clean nail beds and studied them to avoid looking at him. "As you know, I started out in Boston. I stayed with my Aunt Olivia, mom's sister. Though she was always good to me, we never really connected. I moved a lot once I became old enough. Eventually, I settled outside the city, in Woburn."

"Little flat, filled with computer paraphernalia?" he asked.

She removed her head from his shoulder. "Yeah, how'd you know?"

Leathan smiled and continued to gaze into the fire, profile strong and contemplative. "I lived in that same little flat for a long time, only mine was in Scotland."

"Ah." She studied the angle of his jaw, the two day growth of stubble. "Lonely existence, isn't it?"

"Aye," he murmured.

"But it was there that I found my calling. There that I became a little less lonely."

Leathan looked at her, eyes shadowed and intense. "How so?"

Dakota wasn't sure how to verbalize it. "Think we still might have internet access?"

His brows arched when he looked at the laptop. "Doubt it. It can't hurt to try, if you want."

"I do." He was about to start the computer but she stopped him. "Wait, as much as I'm still nervous about it, I think I'd like to use my computer."

His brows rose, eyes wary. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, if for no other reason than that I have a large monitor with killer resolution."

They stood, and Leathan grabbed two chairs. He set them in front of her equipment. "Would you like to do the honors?"

Dakota shook her head sharply. "I'd rather not. Facing my fears one step at a time, if that's okay."

Sitting down next to her, Leathan placed a comforting arm around her shoulders. “It’s completely okay."

After he turned on the computer, he released a low whistle. "Nice system."

"Thanks." She inwardly glowed at his compliment. "Best on the market, at least until next month."

"Aye, I'll bet." His eyes brightened. "Mind if I explore real quick?"

"Please do." Her fear had all but vanished. If something happened, he was right here. She wasn't alone.

For a few minutes, he investigated the computer's system setup and capabilities. He browsed through the various applications. "Damn, this thing is fully loaded."

Bemused, she urged him to continue exploring. "Needs to be, I make a lot of money at what I do."

His hand found hers and placed it beneath his over the mouse. She found his using her finger to press and manipulate the mouse erotic. The way his forearm hovered over hers, close enough that the fine hairs on her arm tingled. His skin felt flaming hot and dry, as though he were aroused though not nervous, extremely sure of himself. A mix that made her imagination run wild. When he clicked on the internet icon, they didn't have to wait long…the internet flared to life.

"We're live still!" Dakota grinned.

"Unbelievable considering cable is non-existent," he said. "Not that I'm complaining."

With her free hand, Dakota swiftly typed an address into the browser. Chinese symbols flashed and then vanished before an intricate world full of black, vibrant yellows and deep reds appeared. Leathan's jaw dropped. "I know who this guy is, one of the most famous actors in the orient, has starred in many American movies!"

She grinned. "I designed this site."

"Wow! Nice."

Dakota entered another URL. A bagpipe trilled an introduction then faded. A series of photos depicting various big screen movies peppered the screen.

"You've got him as your client too?" Leathan was incredulous.

"Yep."

"Och, lassie, he's only one of the most famous Scottish actors alive."

"Aye." She couldn't help but preen a little. Leathan’s admiration made her feel wildly proud. More so even than creating one of the most popular social networking sites in use today

As if he'd read her thoughts he said, "What about your networking site? That was a stroke of brilliance, Dakota. I’d love to chat more about what inspired it."

Dakota knew he'd get around to this eventually. She clicked into her networking site. "You're wondering why I would've created such a thing considering my past?"

"Aye," he said softly.

The splash page popped up. This time a black shadow skirted across the page, twirled until it became a red dot. Click, click on the dot. A shadowed figure screamed around the screen until its eerie reaper face narrowed its eyes at the computer screen. She hesitated before she clicked on the face. "Often wondered that myself. I think a part of me wanted to keep the beast at my door, to not forget the evil done to my family. Maybe another part is looking for some sort of revenge."

He frowned. "You mean you were trying to bait the vampire who killed your family?"

She clicked the screen and entered into the main part of the site. "I never quite looked at it like that but…yeah, I suppose." Dakota shrugged. "Not sure what I'd ever really do if it found me. Like why would it contact me via the internet when it could swoop out of the night at any time, right?"

"No, I get it." He rubbed her shoulder. "You've been searching a long time for some sort of closure, haven't you?"

Emotions bubbled up but she pushed them down. "I guess I must've been."

Dakota had to tell him the entire truth, that the vampire made contact here at her site that first night in the house, regardless if he hated her for it. She was sick of keeping this from him. As she typed in her username and password she said, "Leathan, really sorry I didn't tell you this earlier but that first night─"

She stopped talking when an instant message popped up. It'd been left after she'd last visited the site that horrible night. From "Ghost of a Chance," it read, "Have to go out of town on business. Will be in touch when I return. Miss you already."

Yikes! She rushed to close the message but Leathan's hand fell over hers and he shook his head. A warm light flickered in his eyes and a secretive grin edged his sexy lips.

"You don't have to close this on my account─" The grin turned into a devilish smile. "Last Girl Standing."

A strange little shiver rushed through her. Dakota locked eyes with him. "Tell me you're not, "Ghost of a Chance."

He shook his head and whispered, "Can't do that."

"No."

"Aye."

"Seriously, you're joking, right?" she asked.

A wicked thrill shot down her spine.

His hand cupped her cheek. "Do you have any idea how often I've thought of you?"

She tried to swallow. Couldn't. Leathan was her mysterious IM pal? The only guy that she'd ever truly enjoyed carrying on a conversation with? Had connected so incredibly with? Even if it was only via instant message. What were the odds?

"This is unbelievable." His eyes lingered on her face. "You're something else, you know that?"

A telltale blush stole up her neck and warmed her cheeks. "Am I?"

With a ginger, caring touch, he caressed her cheek, neck. She struggled for composure, anything to distract from the mad, burning blush climbing over her cheeks. "I can show you more."

"You should." Leathan gathered her closer. His sultry gaze fell to her lips. "Come lie down with me. I want you something fierce, lass. Even more than before. After all, we're not strangers at all, aye?"

Leathan didn't give her time to respond before his lips were on hers. She met him as aggressively as he did her. Desperate, excited, she wrapped her arms around him. He pulled her onto his lap, his tongue searching, sweeping, and intrigued with every inch of her mouth. Curling into him, she moaned. Before she knew it, he had her on the carpet before the fire though his mouth never left hers.

Hot.

Solid.

Long.

His body came down on hers.

The heat of the fire was nothing compared to the feel of his strong body. His lips traveled over her chin and down her neck. She arched upward. The way he had touched her downstairs paled compared to this. When he bunched her t-shirt and pushed it up, she raised her arms and allowed him to pull it over her head. Some part of her knew she should worry that someone might come downstairs and catch them in such an intimate act. As his lips found hers again, all concern vanished.

She was on fire.

When, with a flick of a finger, he removed her bra, Dakota pulled his shirt up over his head. She hadn't had much time to truly admire him when she'd thawed him out. Blood surged through her veins at the sight. Broad shoulders led to muscled arms. His chest had a light dusting of hair that trailed down his tight stomach. Whoa! God, she knew he was hot but hadn't expected his body to look this good. Seven years her senior, she had expected at least a little flab but she detected none. Eager, she trailed her hands over his chest, enjoyed the way his stomach muscles tensed beneath her touch.

"You're incredible," he murmured and came so close his chest hairs tickled and stimulated her breasts. Leaning down, he nibbled her lower lip before kissing her gently at first, then with so much passion, her legs parted. His arousal pressed against her through the cotton material of their sweatpants. His arms caged her, his lips imprisoned as they found their way to her breast. As wind howled and blew against the house, he pummeled her senses when his mouth found her taut nipple. He licked, bit, and then salved.

A wicked shiver raked her, and Dakota screamed out. The wind screamed louder. He suckled, his hand glided lower and slipped beneath the waistline of her pants. Incredible sensation grew as his hand wandered. Intense. Slippery. Building. She slid her hand down over his tight belly, over the cotton fabric of his sweatpants, until she found what she was looking for.

Dear Lord!

Moaning, he ground against her hand, never neglecting his artful ministrations on her. Sensation came so fast and intense, motions blurred. She felt the fire warm one side of her body, cool air the other, as he slid her clothing off. They breathed hard, their bodies hot and sleek, when he came over her again. Skin to skin, head to toe, she squirmed, so aroused her skin hurt, her lower belly burned, the area between her legs throbbed.

His leg wedged her thighs apart. He took her hands in his on either side of her head. "Come to me, lass," he whispered.

Full of demand, she spread her thighs wider and welcomed him when he pushed against her. This time no one interrupted them. This time his heat pressed into her. So thick. Long. Blazing hot. As her body tried to adjust he thrust deeply. Dakota cried out in alarm, the intrusion sudden, more than she expected. He didn't have on a condom! Before she could say anything about it, he began to move. Slow at first, his eyes held hers. All thought of pain, adjustment, lack of condom, fled. Her body melted around him.

Nothing had ever felt so good.

She grasped his shoulders. His pace increased. The fire roared. The candles flared. Snow built on the window. Ocean and wind howled. Dakota lifted her legs and wrapped them around him, wanted him deeper.

He obliged.

With a slight shift, he knelt back, cupped her backside and drove forward, thrust upon thrust, until she couldn't hear anything. She couldn't see anything but his face above, intense and determined. Sweat gleamed off his body, highlighted every muscle as it strained against her.

Dakota arched. His hands roamed until they held her hips and guided, made her follow his rhythm. With a sharp thrust forward, her balance let go and everything split in half. Blinding white light flashed in her vision. Inner muscles rippled all the way up. Her core muscles pulled her up. An intense orgasm ripped through her and she arched more. His face changed, became strained, before he thrust once more and grabbed her tightly, leaning forward as though he'd been kicked in the gut.

Everything after that became a blur. The intensity of her release stole all and left only bliss. Ecstasy robbed his features of anything but awe. His heavy body pushed hers into the carpet.

Throbbing, lost, the room faded.

"Did you forget about me?"

"No," she murmured and tried to stroke his hair. "I feel so good."

"Oh, but you did."

Through the haze of fulfillment, she pried her heavy lids open slightly. Only to see another face beyond Leathan's.

Its.

Before she could recover from the euphoria Leathan had offered, before she could try to move away, he…it, swooped down.

Caught in the most intense mix of pleasure and fear ever, she screamed.