Principles of Spookology (The Spectral Files, #2)

by S.E. Harmon

We may strangle each other to death, but then we want to be buried next to one another.

And maybe I should stop wasting water and time trying to answer the unanswerable.

I closed my eyes, fully prepared to fall asleep immediately. Or not. And sleep, I commanded my mind, now. Okay, false start. Now! Now. Okay, this time for real. Empty your mind. I tried and even my mind was surprised at its own cluttered state.

“It’s been three days, Rain. You’ve already forgotten what blow jobs are?” He slid those calloused fingers over my balls, and I let out a little moan of contentment. “That’s the only surefire way to get you to sleep.” “My mom used to give me herbal tea and read me a story.” He made an amused sound. “I have my own methods.”

I pressed the button for my floor and waited while the elevator thought about my request, doors still ajar.

I took a moment to reflect on how rude he was—when you learn teleportation, you teach others. Abandoned by my worthless crew, I had no choice but to row on.

“The department is going to protect itself.” I’d been in law enforcement a long time. That was fancy speak for they were going to throw me under the bus so hard, I would have Goodyear tattooed on my forehead.

enough used condoms to make me wonder just what the hell people were doing in parks. I’d had some horny moments in my life, but I’d never let Danny fuck me behind a bush. In the backseat of his cruiser maybe, but never a park bush. I’ve got class, you know.

those muscles were working that poor shirt so hard it was probably an OSHA violation.

made me think of my mother. I was a caring, dutiful son, so I made a mental note to grab a brochure to threaten her with.

“Love is this unstoppable force that you have very little control over. Sometimes you love the people that you shouldn’t. Sometimes you love people who’ve hurt you over and over again.”

“That’s love for you. Making decisions all on its own. I don’t have any say in that. I love you because my heart says so.” He sent me a crooked smile. “I like you because I say so.”

I was pretty sure he had a clock up his ass. I still hadn’t found it yet with my fingers or my dick, but I was dedicated to the search.

Danny sounded like he’d checked his fucks given balance and came up with zero.

nature’s glitter of sand and salt.

“I know what you’re thinking.” I raised an eyebrow. “That’s a handy talent. What am I thinking?”

“I don’t understand those words in their current configuration.”

We may not be on the same page, but dammit, we were always reading the same book.

money couldn’t buy happiness, or so everyone kept insisting. I was willing to try, but no one had yet offered me the opportunity.

The man had a point, even if I needed to get him back for giving me the world’s worst wedgie. I shook my leg, trying to get my boxers out of no-man’s-land, and finally gave up. They were probably up there forever now, which was going to make sex awkward.

“Look, it’s all right for you to get up at six. You’re dead,” I informed him. “I need my beauty rest.” He eyed me critically. “Maybe you have a point.”