Page 63 of TBR: Dead But Well Read

“Reaper, your presence is required immediately.”

Saul slid up his pants as though he had all the time in the world, and as though I weren’t still clinging to his back like a koala. “By whose order?”

“The Reaper Court!” the male voice shouted through the door.

Saul’s lips curved into a smile as he took his time dressing.

“Why are you smiling? It doesn’t sound like they’re here for a social call.”

My handsome reaper’s chest rumbled with amusement. “The court avoids me, so if they want to see me, it means I’ve found a new way to upset their rules and get under their skin. I can’t wait to find out what it was this time. Our species is slowly going extinct, but they are too set in the old ways to consider changes that might benefit the reapers.”

“What if they punish you?” I struggled to even say the words. “Can they hurt you? Kill you?”

Saul finished buttoning his shirt and caught my face between his palms. “My love, stop fretting. I’ve already told you, no one messes with Death. Now, let me help you fix your dress.”

“No need.” I winked, then focused on the energy wavering and bending around my body.

When I finished, I looked exactly as I had when I’d walked into the bar early this morning.

Saul caught my hand and spun me in a slow circle, inspecting my body with open appreciation. “That was impressive, pet. I haven’t heard of ghosts being able to manipulate energy with such finesse.”

I glowed beneath his praise. “Thank you.”

“Let’s go introduce you to my fan club,” Saul teased, looping my arm through his and leading me toward the door.

Saul paused, glancing down at me. “One more thing, pet.”

“Yes?” I asked, trepidation in my voice.

He lifted me in his arms so that we were at eye level. “Ignore everything I said when we were in the bar earlier. I don’t want you to behave.”

My stomach fluttered as he leaned in and brushed his lips against mine. “But?—”

“No buts. I enjoy maintaining control of everything in my life. That isn’t likely to change, and I will always be bossy.” Saul caught my bottom lip between his teeth and gently nipped before releasing it. “But you, my love, drive me wild when you don’t behave. When you push back and challenge me. I’ve never tolerated that behavior in others, but with you, it’s different. Don’t let anyone out there treat you with disrespect.”

Laughing, I shook my head and teased, “That’s easy for you to say, Mister One-Touch-And-RIP.”

“I’m not that bad,” Saul huffed. “I’m a reasonable reaper. They’ll get one chance to apologize to you before I drop them at your feet.”

Circling my arms around his neck, I clarified, “Alive?”

“Mostly.” Saul’s lips twitched as he fought to appear serious.

“So you’re saying I can do as I please and they’ll deal with it because the grimmest of reapers is standing right behind me, watching and waiting?” Like a cat, I rubbed my cheek against his, savoring the heat that washed through me from the skin-to-skin contact… and enjoying the way his scent clung to my skin afterwards. “This is like the touch-her-and-die trope in my books.”

Saul chuckled. “Yes. If they touch you, I’m going to touch them?—”

“Which means they’ll die!”

“It seems fair to me.” He shrugged. “If they keep their hands to themselves, they won’t have a problem.”

Burying my face against his neck, I kissed his soulmate mark. “I love you, Saul.”

“And I love you.” His thumb brushed across the mark on my hip. “You know, we could just teleport somewhere else and not waste our time here.”

“No, we’re going to get this over with.” I wiggled in his arms, forcing him to set me on my feet.

Saul tucked me against his side and wrapped his arm around me. His face showed no signs of stress or worry. If anything, he seemed amused. Still, he was taking precautions to ensure I was protected.

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