Chapter 5

Roz and Konrad waited in line outside the museum while Morgaine was up in the parlor preparing Reginald for another visitor.

She stroked his back. “Why can’t you come with me?”

“I really think it’s better if I wait downstairs,” Konrad said. “I kind of ticked him off. You’ll be fine, though.”

“What did you do?”

“Oh, nothing. He’s a bit…I’m not sure how to put it. He has a superior attitude, then gets touchy if you try to prove you’re his equal?”

“Insecure?”

Konrad looked thoughtful. “Yeah, that might be part of it. But there’s more. He got defensive when I asked how he knew Isabella. He also doesn’t like cops. Anyway, I think he just didn’t like me, and you’ll probably have better luck if I’m not there.”

Roz shrugged. “Whatever you say. I guess he can’t really do anything to me, right?”

“No, you’re quite safe. Morgaine knows when to shut him down and I don’t think he’s learned how to use telekinesis to move objects, like Chad can.”

“How did Chad learn that?”

“I don’t know. Maybe you can ask Morgaine. Oh, look, here she comes.”

Morgaine waved them inside.

Konrad dropped a dollar in the voluntary donation box on his way.

“Oh, I should give them some money too,” Roz said.

“No. If you can get more information from him and make sure it’s admissible in court, you might be able to help the FBI recover the stolen art. That’s more valuable than a buck in the box.”

She smiled. “That would be so cool. Do you really think—”

Morgaine interrupted by taking her hand and pulling her around the line of tourists waiting to get in. Roz blew Konrad a kiss and followed Morgaine.

How weird is this? Meeting two ghosts when only a few days ago, I didn’t think they existed.

Konrad answered telepathically. “I’m proud of you. Just keep that open mind.”

On their way to the parlor, she asked, “So how did you learn to be a medium, Morgaine?”

“Chad taught me. Actually, I attended a séance and saw him speak through another, more experienced medium. I’ve always worked hard to finely tune my psychic skills, so I was able to hear him when no one else could. It wasn’t that big a stretch.”

“Ah, so he already wanted to communicate through you to other people?”

“Yeah, he was motivated. He wanted to find out who murdered him and the only way he could speak to the private detective Jason hired was through a medium.”

“He was murdered? In our building?”

“Yeah, but it was a long time ago and in his own apartment—which he still considers his. Chad was actually the one who suggested I channel him. It really helps if the spirit trusts you.”

“So, Reginald must trust you?”

“Either that or he’s motivated to recover the stolen art.” Morgaine smiled. “I think he was sweet on Isabella. But he was admiring Konrad too. Maybe he’s bisexual.”

“So, he wants to do this for her? That’s so sweet. But if he’s bi and admired my boyfriend, why did Konrad say he didn’t like him?”

Morgaine looked uncomfortable for a second, then shrugged. “Here we are. The curator wants to be present too. Let me find out if Reginald is here and introduce you first before I go into my trance.” She opened the parlor door and Roz stepped inside.

It was quite a posh suite. Most of the furniture was Victorian. A huge circular velvet ottoman took up the middle of the room with some ornate chairs by the fireplace. A table was placed on one side of the room and a few more chairs lined the other wall. It seemed like an odd set-up. It might be good for socializing though. Several people could fit on that ottoman, and facing any direction, there would be someone to talk to.

“Hmm…the curator isn’t here. Let’s sit in those chairs by the fireplace. All we need to do is move them a little closer to each other.”

As they moved the furniture, she said, “Konrad was able to reach across the table to hold hands, but I don’t think you and I have long enough arms to connect comfortably.”

“Connect?” Roz wasn’t sure she wanted to connect comfortably or any other way to the black haired, black clad woman with black lined eyes and black nail polish. Whatever fashion statement a person wants to make was fine, but this whole Goth thing struck her as a little weird.

Morgaine sat in one of the chairs. “I need the energy of another person. It flows through your hands.”

“It’s not going to drain me, is it? Because Konrad and I have a date tonight.” And you know what that means…I hope. Please, please, please don’t ask me to explain.

“No. You’ll have plenty of energy for your—date.” Morgaine winked.

Roz wanted to breathe a sigh of relief but sat quietly in the comfortable chair facing Morgaine.

Morgaine looked up toward the ceiling. “Oh, you are here, Reginald. I thought you might have stepped out. Are you ready?” She nodded. “Good. Roz, are you ready?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Okay, hold my hands and close your eyes.”

Roz did as she asked. A part of her wanted to keep her eyes open to be sure there was no funny business going on. No microphones. No man hiding behind her chair, pretending to speak through her. But the logical Roz overcame the suspicious Roz when she couldn’t come up with a reason for Morgaine to do that.

Suddenly Morgaine spoke, but it didn’t sound like her. A much lower voice said,

“Greetings.”

Roz opened one eye, briefly. “Um…hello?”

“Are you the lawyer?”

“Yes.”

“My, my. They make lovely lawyers these days.”

Roz smiled and decided some ghosts might not be too bad. “Thank you. As you know, I’m here to ascertain whether or not you might have eyewitness information that could be admissible in court should your information lead to an arrest. Where would you like to start?”

“Well, first of all, tell me what you just said.”

“I’m sorry. Let me start over again. If you saw the thieves again, would you recognize them?”

“Oh, yes. Their faces weren’t covered.”

“If the police brought in mug shots, would you be willing to look through them?”

“No. Absolutely not. I won’t work with the police. You, I don’t mind.”

Roz cleared her throat. “I see. Why don’t you want to talk to the police?”

“Those blasted civil servants are corrupt. You can’t convince me that they had nothing to do with it. The thieves walked in wearing police uniforms that fit well. They had all the official looking patches and accouterments. The thieves might have even borrowed them from real cops for a cut of the profits.”

“I hadn’t thought of that. You could be right.”

“Oh, good. You’re willing to believe me. The freak who came earlier seemed to think there’s no such thing as a dirty copper, just because his brother is on the force.”

“I’ve noticed that Konrad’s very protective of people he cares about. Is that why you didn’t like him?”

“Ha. That’s not the half of it.”

Morgaine shut her mouth hard enough that her teeth clacked together.

She let go of Roz’s hands and said in her own voice, “Let’s stick to the case. You can investigate Konrad’s character some other time.”

Roz was somewhat taken aback but nodded. Apparently, Reginald agreed too since Morgaine reached out her hands and closed her eyes again.

“So, continuing my thoughts on the case and a possible trial,” Roz said, “Do you think you could pick out the criminals in a line-up?”

Morgaine channeled Reginald’s voice and said, “Only if you bring them here. I don’t leave the building.”

Roz thought about that a moment and wondered if Chad ever left their apartment building. The door to the salon opened and both Roz and Morgaine opened their eyes. The curator sauntered in.

“Oh, Roz, this is the curator, Mr. Tate.”

“It looks like you started without me,” he said.

“Yes, and we were doing quite well. Do you mind if we continue on as we were?”

“Please,” he said. “Be my guest.” He leaned against the door and crossed his arms.

Morgaine held out her hands toward Roz again and she grasped them. When they had both closed their eyes, Reginald’s voice came through Morgaine’s mouth loud and clear.

“Hey,” he exclaimed, “I think the thief may be in the building right now.”

“What?” Roz’s surprise almost caused her to drop Morgaine’s hands.

“The…person who was here with you before. He’s back again. I’ll bet he had something to do with it. That’s why he’s hanging around so much. Returning to the scene of the crime. He also seemed to know more about the case than he should have. I had a bad feeling about him. Very bad. Maybe he was the getaway driver.”

The curator stiffened. “It makes sense that they’d have one.”

Reginald answered, “Absolutely they had one. I saw them dump everything in the trunk and as soon as they jumped into the passenger side doors, the automobile took off.”

“Did you see a license plate number, or can you describe the car?” Roz asked, hopefully. That would certainly clear Konrad of any wrongdoing.

“What do I know about automobiles? Nothing. It was wide with four doors and a big trunk. I saw the shadow of a man in the driver’s seat. He must have been tall with broad shoulders. He filled the space.

Morgaine clamped her mouth shut and let go of Roz’s hands. She opened her eyes and said, “He’s gone.”

Konrad and Roz stopped at a coffee shop after dropping off Morgaine. A beautiful sunset colored the sky over the Citgo sign, so they found a seat next to the window.

Konrad stirred his coffee and said, “I guess this could be considered our first real date.”

Roz’s eyebrows rose. “If that’s true, then I slept with someone before the first date. Oh, my God, that makes me a super slut!”

Konrad laughed. “You’re not a slut. Not by any stretch of the imagination.”

“Thank goodness. If I had the reputation, I would hope I’d have had the pleasure of earning it.”

Konrad tipped his head and feigned a hurt expression. “You didn’t enjoy yesterday?”

“Oh my God! That’s not what I meant.”

He chuckled. “I know that. I was just fishing for compliments.”

She blew on her hot coffee. “You don’t need to do that, you know. If anything, I’m apt to over-compliment you. It can get downright annoying.”

“Go ahead. Annoy me.”

“Are you serious?”

“Totally.”

She stared at her coffee. “Well, let’s see. You’re intelligent. Probably the most intelligent guy I’ve ever dated. You’re kind, but I’m used to lawyers, so it’s not hard to impress me in that area…”

One side of her mouth curled up in the cute half-smile he recognized as her teasing smirk.

He leaned back and crossed his arms. “All right. I suppose I’ll accept that as a compliment. What else do you like about me?”

She grinned and shook her head. “Boy, you’re not just fishing, you’re trolling with a big net.”

He chuckled. “I know, I know. I’m sorry for putting you on the spot. When I told you to annoy me, I didn’t think you’d really do it.”

“Oh, so you weren’t serious?”

“Not really, but thank you.”

“Ha! Well, tit for tat, buddy. How about if you give me a few compliments?”

“Easy,” he said. Uh-oh. This could be dangerous. If I’m too superficial, she won’t believe me because of her rotten self-esteem issues.

“You never know. I might.”

“Oh, you heard that?”

“Yup. Go ahead. Be superficial. I dare ya.”

“Ha. You know how to get results, don’t you?”

“You fish, I dare.”

Konrad held up his hands. “Stop. I’ll tell you. But first you have to promise to believe everything I say.”

“Hmmm. A challenge. Okay, go for it.”

“First, you’re absolutely beautiful. I love your light blue eyes and lush lips. Your high cheekbones and the dimple that deepens when you smile.” He lowered his voice. “Your soft skin. The way you look at me when we’re about to get intimate. Your kisses.” Then he added telepathically, “The way you scream your lungs out when you come.”

Roz’s cheeks flushed, and even though she was staring at her coffee cup again, she was grinning.

“Okay, enough. I believe you, but better not push it.”

If only she wasn’t a lawyer.

“Why are you worried about my being a lawyer?”

“Oh, you heard me, again.” Konrad needed a quick distraction. “I’d really like to find a job I could feel passionate about—almost as passionate as I feel about you. And I thought you said something like that too.”

Roz chuckled. “Believe me, I’d like to find another career. I went into law for the wrong reasons.”

“What do you mean?”

“My stepfather seemed so powerful and untouchable as a lawyer. I wanted to feel that invulnerable too. Now that I look back, I can see exactly how scared I was at the time. Not of him, but all the changes taking place in my life. I was afraid of the unknown.”

“That makes sense. So, you’re not scared anymore?”

“Change sounds pretty good about now. But I don’t want just some other job. I want to wake up excited to go to work.”

“Yeah, I’ve known a few people who actually loved their jobs. I don’t think they’re that much different from you or me. They’ve just found their bliss.”

“But how does one discover his, her, or their bliss?”

Konrad shrugged. “I guess they try it and fall in love. Just like dating.” He snapped his fingers. “That’s it. We can try lots of different things—together. Eventually one of us is bound to find something that clicks, or something so enjoyable it doesn’t even seem like work.”

Roz sat back and raised her eyebrows. “That’s a brilliant idea. We can make these attempts into dates if you want to. It sure beats going to the movies or some other time waster, just to have an excuse to be together and have sex afterward.”

Konrad’s jaw dropped. “We can still have sex after these practical dates, though, right?”

Roz laughed. “What would you do if I said no?”

“Cry, and then ask you to a movie.”

They laughed together and wound-up grinning.

Konrad reached across the small table and took her hand. They wove their fingers together. A couple of people in the coffee shop glanced their way.

“People are looking,” Roz said.

“Let ‘em look. They’re envious.”

“You’re not self-conscious?”

He chuckled. “No. Are you?”

She ran her fingers over the hair on the back of his hand. “No. I’m surprised, but not self-conscious. I don’t think anyone has ever been envious of me before.”

Konrad took her knuckles to his mouth and kissed them. “I’m glad we met.” He grinned. “That’s an understatement.”

“We’ve made enough people jealous here. Maybe we should get home before we do something everyone will be talking about for years.”

Roz and Konrad barely made it through the door of his apartment in time. They couldn’t keep their hands off each other any longer. Kissing and fingers flying, they tore at each other’s clothes, buttons popped and fabric flew in different directions. Konrad was naked in seconds, his cock fully engorged. He trapped Roz against the rolling ladder. Fortunately, he’d grabbed a condom from his pocket before he lost his pants.

Roz’s heart pounded and she could have sworn she heard Konrad growl. At last. The passionate, lust crazed lover I’ve always dreamed of! She grasped his shoulders.

He tore his mouth from hers and gazed down at her with shining eyes. “No matter what happens, Roz. Know that I care—that I’ll never hurt you.”

The warning stopped her. She hooked one high heel on the bottom rung and leaned against the library ladder. Still resting her hands on his shoulders, she drew a deep breath. “Do you think you might possibly get rough?”

He fisted his hands and appeared to shake. “Yes,” he hissed through clenched teeth. “It’s taking all my self-control not to push you to your knees and take you from behind. Immediately.”

Her mouth tried to form a word, but what word that was, she didn’t know.

“I want you. Naked. Now. But I won’t force you.”

“I’m not being forced. I’m here, willingly. Konrad, whatever’s happening, talk to me. We’ll figure it out.”

He turned his head and closed his eyes. “You wouldn’t be here with me, if you knew.”

“Knew what? Oh, no! You’re not some perv rapist who can’t get off without violence, are you?”

“No! Of course not. I just have more of an animal nature than some men.” He dragged shaky fingers over his scalp and through his hair. “If you can’t take it, you’d better go.”

“I don’t want to go. But, Konrad, you’re making me nervous.”

He steadied himself against the ladder, trapping her between his rigid biceps, and took a few deep breaths. “I—I’m all right now.”

A sigh of relief slipped past her lips. She reached for the zipper at the back of her skirt and slid it off. At last, she wore only her underwear and shoes. She popped the front closure on her bra and let it slip to the floor.

He sniffed the air. With shaking fingers, he rolled on the condom.

Her nipples tightened and she removed her damp panties. “Take me,” she said, tossing back her hair.

He was on her in an instant, his mouth on hers, his hands touching and taking. He pushed her back against the ladder and she felt his cock nudge her belly. Rubbing against him, she urged him on.

His head lifted. His fingers squeezed her nipple and a bolt of pleasure shot through her. Then his hand slid downward and his hot, wet mouth was on her breast. Sucking, licking, nipping.

His fingers slid into her slick channel, and he stroked her. “You’re so wet. I love the way you feel around me. So tight. So hot. I can’t wait to fuck you.”

Speaking of hot, Roz felt as if she had a fever of a hundred and three. His blunt language got her even hotter if that were possible.

He touched her clit, and her legs gave way. She would have fallen to the floor, except he caught her and held her trembling hips. She was pinned to the ladder. Her legs spread of their own accord. He dropped to his knees and muttered, “I have to taste you.”

His rough tongue rasped against her clit, and a jolt tore through her. Then he licked, licked, licked. Her pleasure was so intense, she wanted to scream, but didn’t dare. There was no pillow to drown her out. She whimpered.

Her orgasm was building. Her clit throbbed and she felt the energy spiraling though her. “Konrad…”

He pulled away from her and she wanted to shriek at him. Ask him what the hell he thought he was doing by stopping.

He rose and lifted her legs, then wrapped them around his waist.

She grabbed onto a rung and held on for dear life.

“I don’t want the whole building to hear you come. That’s for me…just for me.”

He pushed his cock against her sex. The head of his erection filled her passageway.

“Such a sweet little pussy. So warm and wet.”

She squirmed, trying to take more of him inside. She was so close, and if he wasn’t buried balls deep and pounding into her within a couple of seconds, she was going to slug him.

He growled as if he’d heard her. Maybe he had. A light thrust.

“More,” she cried.

Another thrust, deeper this time.

“More, more!”

At last, he thrust deep. Again, and again. His cock buried itself in her body and filled her. Finding his rhythm, he pounded against her clit.

Her teeth clenched. That feels so good.

“You’re mine. Do you hear me?”

I hear you. I want you. You’re mine too.

His body slammed into hers again and again. “Come for me.”

Ripples of bliss radiated through her core and spread everywhere. Her breathing became shallow and rapid as she built to her peak. At last, the contractions began and she spasmed with glorious release. She let out a choked cry and he swallowed it, covering her mouth with his.

Still, he pumped into her. Hard, deep thrusts rocked her body, and then she felt him shudder. His pelvis jerked and heat flooded her center. He rode her a little longer before he finally stilled and panted.

Roz panted too. She felt completely limp yet held on with her arms around his neck and her ankles locked around his hips. They stayed that way, with his cock still buried inside her, until their breathing returned to normal.

He carried her easily to the bedroom and lowered her to the mattress. His lashes barely shaded shining blue eyes so expressive she didn’t need telepathy. Wordlessly, they lay beside each other and slipped into a warm embrace.

“Next time, I’ll seduce you—with lots of foreplay. I’ll make you beg me to fuck you.”

“When?” She giggled.

“As soon as you can take it, honey.”

“I’ll recover as fast as I can.”