“Is that pot I smell?”
“What?” Natalie shook her head and laughed. “No, it’s sage. We were doing a house cleansing.”
Van saw Natalie’s mother in the hallway holding an abalone shell and large feather. She smiled at her before disappearing into the hall. She pulled Natalie into a hug and kissed her. “Good morning.”
“Mmm. Good morning. Are you hungry? My mother made muffins.”
“Muffins and ghost chasing? You’ve been busy. I’ve already eaten.” She sat at the table, accepted the coffee cup and stared at her over the rim. The air sizzled and her stomach muscles tightened when Natalie nervously licked her lips. “I’m sorry that I came on so strong last night.”
“God. It wasn’t you. Please don’t think it was you.” Natalie stood next to her and Van pulled her into her lap. She fit perfectly and Van couldn’t resist nuzzling her neck.
“I thought you wouldn’t want to see me again,” Natalie said.
“Oh, I want to see you, little one.” I want to see every inch of you.
Natalie smiled. “I’m so glad that you do.” Her mother came into the kitchen and turned back around. “Come back here, Mom.”
Van was sorry when Natalie stood. Her legs burned from the contact and her jeans felt too tight.
“I don’t want to interrupt anything.” Natalie’s mother put the shell and feather on the table. “But I’m all done.”
Van was going to ask about the cleansing but a voice erupted from her hip.
“That sounds familiar, what’s the title of that tune?”
“Take this job and shove it.”
Natalie laughed. “You did not.”
“It’s the foreman on my crew, Rick. I have to take this. Excuse me.”
Natalie watched her leave the room.
“You’re staring at her ass.”
“Mother!”
“Well, you are. Just saying.” Her mother laughed.
The moment felt almost surreal. Never in a million years did Natalie think she would be discussing the finer aspects of such a lovely female ass with her mother. “Okay, I was.”
The phone on the wall rang. “It’s your father.” Her mother got up to answer it.
How does she do that? She knew it would be her father. Her mother was never wrong. Natalie took the opportunity at having them both on the phone to run upstairs and at least brush her hair. Maybe she could touch up her face and put some clothes on. Natalie looked at the unmade bed. Or, she thought, get Van naked. She shook her head. Not with her mother in the house.
The smell of burning sage was stronger in her room. Natalie truly hoped it would work and chase the dark man away. She didn’t want another nightmare like she had last night. At the same time, she hoped the cleansing didn’t chase Beth and Sarah away. She felt attached to them.
When she came back down, Van was standing by the front door. “I’m sorry, I have to go.”
Natalie was disappointed. “Something for work?”
Van nodded. “Irate client that wants to talk to the boss. For once, I’m sorry to say that would be me.”
Natalie slipped her arms around Van’s waist then tilted her head back to see her face. “Well, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. And I have to do this.” Natalie drew her arms around Van’s neck and pulled her down to kiss her softly. Once, twice, three times until Van wrapped her hands in Natalie’s hair to pull her closer.
Natalie sighed. “Oh, yes. More please.” Van’s tongue flicked across her lips and Natalie felt the heat race straight to her core. She wanted to climb up Van’s body to wrap her legs around her waist then fall to the floor. She wanted to lick, taste, and bite her neck. Every nerve ending in her body snapped to attention and her pulse raced. Natalie felt gloriously alive.
The fiery kiss had taken on a life of its own, becoming a vortex—spinning with passion and desire. Van staggered and let go of Natalie’s hair so she could brace herself from falling.
“Fuck it,” Van said when her phone rang again.
The remark surprised a weak
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