Storm Road (Old School Book 3) Page 18
Later, when Jack was resting in his hotel room, and Beulah and Dean were walking alone along the beach he asked her about Gerald Svenson. “You recognized his name.”
“He’s the man who hired the Stag mercenaries, the wizards, who set fire to Millie’s barns and house.”
Dean stilled dangerously.
Beulah shook her head. “Svenson isn’t a threat to Millie. He was after an amulet and he knows it’s gone. I think she was right. Old memories and current troubles brought him to see her one last time.”
Epilogue
The wake was winding down. The loud laughter and stories and an impromptu singalong had faded into quiet conversation and the chink of dishes as people tidied up.
Millie had died two weeks ago. She’d been buried privately. Beulah had volunteered to hold the wake at her cabin.
Millie’s neighbors had responded with an overwhelming amount of food and mingled easily with the journalists and city folk who flew in and drove up through the mountains to remember Millie.
Jack was still on crutches, but moving easily. He insisted on manning the grill along with Tyler Johnson.
Mrs. Johnson sat on a rocker on the porch and supervised. Little Kaylea played with her cousins and friends, obviously none the worst for her unremembered encounter with the ghoul.
Claudia had gone, fleeing the mountains for work on the coast, but she’d be back. Mrs. Johnson was comfortably certain.
The night ended with the last of the cars driving away, their taillights red glows in the darkness. Fireflies danced at the edge of the woods. A friend was driving Jack to a motel before they both continued on home in the morning.
Which left Dean and Beulah alone.
“Grab a flashlight,” she said to him.
He gave her a mock-leer. “I thought of grabbing you. Wakes are well-known for encouraging celebration-of-being-alive sex.”
“Uh huh.” She grinned. “Hold that thought. And a flashlight. The woods are dark at night.”
They were also beautiful at night. With the ghoul vanquished, the quiet noises and shifting shadows were entrancing rather than scary. And then, they reached the waterfall on her neighbor’s land. “It’s a full moon, tonight, and that’s when the waterfall is at its best.”
It spilled in a silver torrent, tumbling and dashing over the dark shadow of the rocks till it filled a wide pool before escaping that into a shallow burbling stream.
Dean put a hand into the fall of water. “It’s beautiful.”
“I wanted to share it with you.”
He turned to her and their kiss was natural and passionate. The cool of the water and the woods enhanced the thrill of sharing each other’s warmth. He undid her bra so that he could play with her breasts beneath her light sweater. She ran her fingers through his hair, gently tugging, knowing that he enjoyed that caress.
The mild foreplay was sweet and arousing. Anticipation thudded in them both, hot in their blood.
“The cabin,” he murmured to her between explorations of the soft skin of her throat.
“A bed,” she agreed with him.
Their connection was strong and vital, sealed in trust. The woods guarded the lovers as they walked home. Then Dean closed the cabin door and trapped Beulah against it.
She laughed, exultant and desirous, feeling sexy and knowing herself loved. Snowflakes crystallized on the air. She caught one on her finger and brought it to his lips. “Wish upon a star.”
“I don’t need to wish.” He smiled into her eyes. “You are my everything.”
Want More?
I’m glad you enjoyed Storm Road. Although it’s a stand-alone read, it sits third of seven books in the Old School series that I’m writing in 2017.
Phoenix Blood
Fantastical Island
Storm Road
Fire Fall
Desert Devil
Amaranthine Kiss
Shangri-La Spell
If you haven’t already discovered it, don’t miss my complete paranormal romance series, The Collegium. Magic, mystery, shifters and demons.
Demon Hunter
Djinn Justice
Dragon Knight
Doctor Wolf
Plague Cult
Hollywood Demon
Alchemy Shift
Catch up with me on my Facebook page, Twitter @Jenny_Schwartz, or at my website.
Jenny
P.S. Thank you so much for your reviews!