Page 76 of Ghostly Touches

“You seduce innocent men, Willow. Didn’t you know?” he teases. “The moment I laid my… Well, ‘eyes’ may be the wrong word since I didn’t have any, but the moment I sensed you, I was captivated. The sway of your hips, your voice… It’s not the bond that makes me crave your touch. It’s you.”

Oh. The heat rises in my cheeks, and I have to press my legs together as the heat gathers between them as well. Jonah’s eyes drift to my lips.

“Innocent?” I repeat. “Why do I have the feeling there is nothing ‘innocent’ about you?”

Jonah’s eyes find mine. There in their dark depths a twinkle appears. “Okay you caught me, I’m not innocent. Not in the least.”

“I feel like that should make me nervous.”

Jonah shakes his head. “No need to be worried about this good-looking puppy.”

I laugh, and he grins.

“But in all seriousness, I wasn’t a great person.” Jonah shrugs. “I did what I wanted,whoI wanted, and I was a mean gambler and addict. I was in so much debt that I had all sorts of people after me. I partied all day and night like it couldn’t possibly kill me. God… there are weeks, even months, that I can’t remember. I was so doped up.” Jonah shakes his head. “But that’s the past now. I’ve gotten a second chance, and I won’t be screwing it up.”

Is it the past though? I suppose it shouldn’t matter to me what he does with his life if our souls aren’t intertwined, but… I can’t help but feel bad all the same. What will he do once we can go our separate ways? Will he fall into bad habits, or will he really try to change things around this time?

“What about you?” he asks. “What will you do with a second chance once we’re not haunted by these Ghosts?”

His question causes me to stiffen. Not a lot but still…

I don’t meet his eyes as I answer, “Me? I’ll just go on doing what I’ve been doing. Helping people reconnect with their loved ones and what not.”

Jonah snorts as his tail unwinds around me. “You don’t have to lie to me.”

He lets his body fall backwards onto the bed. With our hands clasped together he manages to pull me down with him. I turn my head to find him staring at me.

“When I’m a Shadebroode, I see the world differently. My body picks up on the heat an object puts off. It creates images in my head, and I can kind ofseewhat’s around me.”

I frown. “Like infrared?”

Jonah nods. “Just like that. When I brought you back to your house after Kwil and Viktor took you from the Elders, we were surrounded by those monsters. When you used your powers, Isawyou. You changed, Willow. Your body was still you, but your energy created this illusion around you. Or maybe it didn’t create anything. Maybe it was just revealing what you try to hide from everyone.”

I shake my head quickly, looking away from the curiosity in his eyes.

“I don’t know what you are, but you’re not really human, are you?” he continues when I don’t say anything.“Whenever I’m in my other form and you use your powers, I can see the real you. I have a feeling no one else can, or they would have brought it up by now. With all that power you have… No wonder that book wants you. You could probably wield any power inside of it.”

I press my lips together while I stare up at the ceiling. When I try to pull my hand away from his, Jonah holds me tighter.

“You don’t have to tell me what you are, Willow. Just know that your secret's safe with me. You don’t have to lie to me about what you are or what you plan to do after this. I’m not going to stop you.”

I let out a shaky breath. Although I still don’t look at him, I smile.

“Though, I would worry about the others finding out sooner rather than later,” Jonah adds as an afterthought.

This pulls my attention back to him.

“Why do you think that?”

Jonah scowls. “While you were unconscious, Theo started asking questions about necromancy. What’s possible, what isn’t. You know,questions.”

“They can’t find out, Jonah,” I whisper in horror as my heart sinks. “You’re right. I’m different. And if they figure that out, they may do something about it. While I’m not a threat, they might not believe that if the Ghosts find out my secret.”

Jonah rolls towards me, props himself up on his forearm, and then leans down to kiss me. It’s swift, but it sends a bubbling of happiness through me.

When he pulls away, he says, “I just told you, I won’t tell them anything.”

I frown.

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