Kylee’s eyes flashed open. She lay on the floor, blankets all around her, but her body trembled with cold.
Being here in Price’s room wasn’t enough.
How much time had passed? She glanced at the digital clock on the computer desk. Half an hour.
“Price,” she whispered. The sound never left her lips. It swooshed past her, melting into the air around her, echoing as if the night alone had heard her.
Her gaze fell upon him, his chest lifting and falling in his sleep. For the first time, she noted that she didn’t breathe. No air whisked in and out of her lungs. Her heart didn’t beat, not in fear or anticipation or excitement. Was it an illusion, anytime she thought she was breathing or her heart racing? Was it just habit, what she expected of herself? She felt nothing now, nothing except coldness in her entire body.
“Price,” she said again. Like last time, there was no audible sound, only the idea of a sound, a whisper in the air that almost was. And yet, Price stirred. He opened his eyes, then sat up.
“What’s wrong?”
She reached her hand out toward the bed. He leaned over and grabbed her fingers, and she gasped at how his touch burned her skin.
Her heart thumped, the memory of blood pumping through her ghostly veins.
“You’re freezing again.” He pulled her onto the bed, leaving no room for argument. “Cold. Colder than last time.” He wrapped an arm around her, his stance protective as he held her close.
She lifted her hand from the blanket and turned it over. The ring glowed a little brighter, a touch of light to the deep blue. “I don’t want to fade. I want to move on, not vanish.”
“I’ll keep you here.”
Kylee’s thoughts reeled. “My time is running out. You can’t hold my hand forever.”
“Can too. I’ll tie myself to you.” His fingers stroked her shoulder, sending tingles down her skin.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
He hugged her to him and kissed her, the softness of his lips caressing hers. Her mouth opened in response, lips tingling, anxious for his touch.
“Don’t worry,” he murmured in between kisses, “I’ll take care of you.”
Tears welled in her eyes. She grabbed his face with both hands and kissed him hard. “I need you,” she whispered when she pulled back. “I need you now.” She let her words carry the emphasis of her meaning.
His breathing hitched, the protective touch melting into something less controlled. His mouth moved over her face, and he positioned himself closer, pressing his body into every space between them. She felt his hands under her shirt, stroking the soft skin of her belly and hips. He paused long enough to sit up and pull his shirt over his head. She trailed her fingers along his chest. He bent over her, his mouth meeting hers again with a hungry desperation. She ran her hands along the smooth back muscles.
Don’t have sex with him.
Kylee tossed her head, trying to get rid of Madame Humphrey’s words. She was already dead. She deserved to have this, to feel this with Price.
Whatever you do, don’t have sex with him.
She tried to focus on the feel of Price’s hands on her skin, the weight of his body on hers, but all she could hear were those words. She put her hands on his chest and turned her head, taking several deep breaths.
Price’s fingers stroked her earlobe, down to her jaw. She sighed. The flame of desire died down, replaced by the rationale that Madame Humphrey was right.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
“I can’t. I can’t do it,” she said.
“It’s okay.” He laid his head against the hollow of her throat, his heart beating erratically through the thin cloth of her shirt.
“I’m sorry.” Her fingers wove themselves into his hair.
He grabbed her hand and kissed her palm. “No, don’t be. I want you so bad. So bad. But I won’t do this again. I promise.”
Kylee blinked against the stinging in her eyes. She’d died before her time, a girl who’d never known what it was to be loved, not even by good parents. And now she’d found someone who loved her, unconditionally, someone who she would want to spend the rest of her life with. If she were alive.
“I love you,” Price whispered.
She bit her lip, too emotional to respond. He slid to the spot beside her but kept his arm around her, his head next to her shoulder. After a moment his breathing deepened, returning him to the slumber he’d been in before she woke him.
“I love you too,” she whispered back.
----------------------------------------
Kylee must’ve slept, because she opened her eyes and it was morning. She turned her head, but Price was gone. The blankets were swaddled around her body. Had he gone to school? Surely he wouldn’t leave her. She sat up. “Price?”
“I’m here.” He swiveled from where he sat at his computer desk, a Yankees baseball cap on his head. “I didn’t want to wake you, but I’ve checked on you every couple of minutes.”
She patted the bed around her. “Was I here? All night long?”
“All night.” His eyes were steady on her.
The sun looked too high in the sky to be early morning. “Did you miss the bus?”
“I’m not going to school today.” He pressed his lips together. “I’m not leaving you again.”
“I could’ve gone with you,” she began, but he shook his head.
“We have things to do. School’s a waste of time right now.”
“And your dad was okay with that?”
He shrugged. “Yeah.”
Kylee smoothed her hair and glanced at her jeans and button-up shirt. At least she didn’t wake up every morning wearing the blood-covered clothes she’d died in. Or did she? She looked at Price, frowning. “What am I wearing?”
“Huh?” He looked at her in confusion.
“My clothes.” She gestured down. “What do I have on?”
He still just stared at her. “Can’t you see them?”
“Yes, but—” she sighed. “How do I know if what I see is what you see?”
He nodded in understanding. “You’re wearing jeans and a pink shirt.”
That was good, at least. “Okay.”
“Everything good?”
“Yeah.” She changed the subject. “Have you hacked into the computer system yet?”
“I’m having some problems with the password. Are you sure it’s right?”
“Pretty sure. It’s not working?” She felt her excitement drain. Surely she hadn’t put Price through everything at the police station only to get the password wrong.
“Listen, it’s all right,” Price said, as if sensing her angst. “I mean, a password would be helpful.”
“Right?” Kylee agreed.
“But I can get in without one. I think.” Price popped his knuckles. “It’s a lot harder to get into the police system, but I bet your folder isn’t top secret.” His fingers moved over the keyboard.
Kylee watched him. A couple of boxes popped up with weird symbols in them. Price kept typing and they disappeared again. He sighed and stretched his arms high above his head.
“I need a break,” he said. “Let’s go somewhere.”
“Go where?”
“To the beach.” He stood and held out his hand to her. “I want to talk to that crazy lady.”
“Yeah?” Kylee raised an eyebrow, amused by the turn of events. “We walking there? Could take all day.”
“Nope. Normally, I’d say this is a great day to take my bike. But we have to get back before Lisa gets home from school.” He tapped his phone. “I got us an Uber. They’ll be here in half an hour.”
If the Uber driver thought anything of picking up a boy who should be in school, he didn’t say a word. “Where we headed, kid?”
“Anywhere on the boardwalk is fine.”
Price took Kylee’s hand and tucked it close to his bodywhen they arrived. He led her toward Madame Humphrey’s shop at a death-march pace.
“What if she’s not open today?” Kylee asked, trying to hide her reluctance. Seemed like every time she saw Madame Humphrey, things got worse.
“She will be. She has to be.” Price quickened his pace.
Kylee didn’t bring it up again. She was grateful for the ability to walk amongst the living, but the anxious feeling of not belonging was getting stronger. She found herself cowering away from other pedestrians and fighting the urge to run and hide in the shadows.
A touch on her shoulder made her jump and shrink back.
“Kylee. It’s me. Are you okay?” Price had his head cocked, concern on his face.
She grasped at his hand, taking a moment to orient herself. She’d been swept away in her fearful imaginings. A quick glance around revealed they’d arrived at the shop. Not a moment too soon. “Yeah. I’m fine.” She hurried inside, relieved to get off the street.
“Hello?” she called. Price came in at her heels, the door giving its little jingle.
“Hello, and welcome!” Madame Humphrey appeared in the beaded doorway, a smile on her plump face. Her brows furrowed when she saw Kylee. “Is everything all right?”
“Not really,” Price said. He fingered a necklace tree on her glass checkout counter, dislodging several. He knelt to pick them up. “We’ve got some questions about Kylee.”
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