Page 34 of Deadly Deception
I should have known better than to worry. Nana had yet to disappoint me, and she wasn’t planning on breaking that record today.
Folding her napkin, Nana set it next to her plate. She never once looked my direction. She never looked to me or Boone for permission to speak or for approval. Nana simply did as she always did and spoke her mind.
“Lynn, my faith and belief in the good Lord is not shaken by Erasmus Boone. If the Lord is as almighty as I believe, then a necromancer cannot challenge his authority. If God doesn’t want a soul returned, then it won’t be returned. To me, it’s a simple as that. My mind, soul, and moral compass are not rattled by Erasmus’s presence.” Dismissing Lynn, Nana turned her attention to Erasmus. Reaching her arm across the table, Nanaoffered her hand and Erasmus took it. Nana’s wrinkled skin looked sallow next to Boone’s ivory flesh. With a mischievous grin, Nana said, “With that said, I would appreciate it if you kept the soul raising outside my kitchen.”
Boone’s grin split his face and eased his shoulders. “I think I can promise that, Ms. Violet.”
“Good.” Nana released Boone’s hand, patting it before pulling back and asking, “Now, who wants more pie?”
And that, as they say, was that.
Chapter
Eleven
Erasmus
“I’m so sorry about Lynn,” Franklin said for the fifth, maybe sixth time. Each time sounded more confused than the last. “I swear she’s channeling Glen. That man has changed Lynn and not for the better. It was Lynn’s voice, but Glen’s words.”
I wasn’t so certain. Sure, people were easily influenced by those around them, especially humans. I didn’t know Lynn well enough to judge. Honestly, I felt sorrier for Franklin than offended for myself. His disappointment was palpable. I could feel his hurt radiating through his words.
Franklin inhaled deeply. Since I was lying on top of him, my body rose and fell with the motion. We’d gone back to our hotel room where Franklin had stripped my clothes and methodically, slowly, and ever so gently driven me over a pleasure-fueled cliff. He’d kissed and licked nearly every inch of my body, touching me everywhere. My skin still tingled from his affections while my body buzzed with the kind of contentment only a good orgasm or two can cause. My man had a point to prove and he’d gone about his mission with a determination I could wholeheartedly appreciate.
I loved Franklin’s body. It was solid, comforting, and warm. Franklin’s skin felt good against mine. The bed sheets were soft and thick, adding to that luxurious feel of safety. Head resting on Franklin’s chest, I could hear the steady beat of his heart while Franklin’s fingers carded through my mussed hair.
“I think Ms. Violet did a fair job shutting Lynn down,” I murmured against Franklin’s skin.
“That she did,” he agreed easily.
“I don’t blame your sister. You know that, right?” I’d skated around that statement a few times. Honestly, I didn’t blame her. I wasn’t even mad. Sure, I was disappointed, but I was used to that feeling. Being a necromancer was tricky enough without bringing religion into it. Although sometimes I thought that was as much the issue with necromancers as the whole bringing the dead back issue. Priests and priestesses weren’t nearly so controversial, and I’d long ago decided that was because they didn’t deal in souls. Priests and priestesses reanimated the body, but the soul was long gone. While a lot of religions weren’t exactly in love with that idea, the flesh was different than the soul. The soul was a higher power’s purview. The soul was sacrosanct.
It was a difficult line to walk. I’d been raised on Pops’s religion and prayed to Gaia, not a Christian God. I’d made my peace with what I was and what I could do a long time ago. That didn’t mean the rest of the world felt the same, and it didn’t mean I should expect them to.
Franklin’s body tensed and he answered, “I know and honestly, I’m not sure if that makes this better or worse. A part of me would feel better if you were pissed off. I hate that it’s so common and expected.”
I patted Franklin’s chest before tangling my fingers in his chest hairs. “I think you might be mad enough for the both of us.”
“Damn right,” Franklin answered with a huff. “I expected more from Lynn. If I’d known she’d act like that, I wouldn’t have invited her.”
“I know.” And I did know. Franklin was exceedingly careful with my emotions. “You were right about Ms. Violet and Evan.” I grinned remembering Evan’s responses to his sister and my chest warmed at the answer Franklin’s nana had given Lynn. She’d shut the conversation down and Lynn had left soon afterward. Franklin and I would have stayed longer if I hadn’t started yawning. Turns out, hunting down corpses spread over a small city kind of took it out of you. Add on the overwhelming fear pervading DeWayne Foster’s soul and I was tuckered out. Evidently not too exhausted for some sexy times between the sheets, but Franklin had done most of the work. I’d simply basked in his tender care.
Franklin’s chuckle shook my body. “Evan will give Lynn hell. If there’s one silver lining to tonight, that’s it.”
“I think there are a lot more silver linings than that.” Scooting up Franklin’s body, I kissed the corner of his lips, my own lips wandering over his chin, up his cheek, and finishing at his temple. “Thank you for being you,” I whispered against the shell of Franklin’s ear.
I placed a silencing finger over Franklin’s lips and said, “Let’s get some sleep. It’s going to be a busy day tomorrow.”
Iwas by no means clairvoyant, but sometimes you didn’t need to be to know what was going to happen. While I might not have the exact details, I figured out the general direction the following day would go, and I wasn’t wrong. The morning started with dual texts to Franklin and my phones. I’m not surewhy Sheriff Henson felt the need to text us both. Honestly, I was surprised he bothered with me and hadn’t just alerted Franklin. I got the feeling the sheriff thought of Franklin like the handler of an unpredictable animal. Henson would probably be disappointed if he ever realized I wasn’t all that interesting.
“Surprise, surprise, Henson’s asking you to bring back the souls of the other bodies that were found,” Franklin said, his voice husky with sleep.
“Your text must be nicer than mine,” I said after a wide yawn. “There’s not a lot ofaskingin my message.” There was a lot moretelling.
Franklin grunted. “I was paraphrasing and trying to be kinder.”
“Yeah, I figured.” Lying on the bed, I stretched my arms, arching my back. Small pops and cracks sounded through the room as my body adjusted to the prospect of a new day. Arms flopping back to my sides, I stared at the ceiling. “I need to call Momma today. If I don’t, she’ll call me, and the timing will probably suck. Also, I want to try and get a hold of Agent Frost. I need to figure out a solution for Navarre before he’s turned back out onto the street.”
Franklin’s palm landed on my thigh and tingles raced up my spine and down to my cock. Groaning, I said, “I don’t think we have time for what you’re starting.”
