Dancing With The Dead

'How deep a merging would it be?' The prospect made her stomach turn. Did she really want Michael to know all her wants, all her secrets and fears?

'It would have to be complete enough to allow me some kind of control if I need it. But I promise not to delve, not to open any doors you wish kept closed. And you must promise the same.'

She nodded and wondered if it mattered. Michael's abilities far outstripped hers. There was no way on earth she'd be able to control him. 'But how will this merging screw up the kind of trap Jasper had waiting last time?'

'I intend to direct your abilities along a slightly different path.'

She licked her lips. For all intents and purposes, he'd have control of her. Her willingness to go along with this would allow Michael to succeed where Jasper had so far failed—would give him the access Tommy had wanted but couldn't fully control.

'Damn it, Nikki, I'm not Jasper. Or Tommy.'

He rose and moved around the desk, stopping only a foot away from her. She bit her lip and backed away a step. Her back hit the wall. The wood paneling felt cool against her palms when compared to the fire of his gaze.

'I don't want control of your mind—or your body—or anything else, for that matter. When will you get that through your head? I just want you to trust me.'

She stared at him. Deep in his eyes she saw a flicker of longing and knew in that instant he wanted something more than he'd ever admit or allow.

'Just tell me what you intend to do.'

He sighed and turned to the window, staring out through the lace. 'Instead of merely tracking Jake's whereabouts, I intend to join his mind. That will prevent Jasper from detecting us, and it will give us a better idea of what is going on.'

So Michael would have control of two minds. She remembered how easily he had made the waiter do as he asked, and shivered. But that had only been surface control. This would be so much deeper.

'Won't it be dangerous?'

'Anything that deals with this kind of mental intrusion can be dangerous.'

'For us or for Jake?'

'For everyone. But we should have no trouble linking with Jake. I've already done it.'

She gave him a long look. He ignored it, though she knew by the taut muscles in his crossed arms that he was well aware of her gaze. 'When was this?'

He shrugged. 'The night before I met you. I needed to know Lyndhurst's background in a hurry, and who would know more than a private investigator?'

Who indeed? And Jake had been an investigator long enough to know his fair share of secrets. She just had to hope he'd be around long enough to learn a few more.

She swallowed to ease the sudden dryness in her throat. 'Will we be able to feel what he feels?'

'Yes. But I will protect you from it as much as I can.'

'I don't know—'— if I can cope with Jake's fear on top of my own.

'You must,' Michael said gently. 'If you want him to survive.'

She took a deep breath then nodded. Jake was the closest thing she had left to family. She didn't want to lose him. 'What do I do?'

'Sit in his chair and relax.'

She did. Michael held her hand. Heat burned through her flesh, warming the ice formed by her apprehension.

'Now relax and close your eyes.'

She listened to the rhythmic flow of his breathing and tried to match it. Gradually, she felt the tension begin to leave her limbs.

'Relax, relax.' Michael's voice was a whisper that soothed her soul. 'Allow our thoughts to touch, become one.'

Heat danced through her, warmth that burst like an explosion through every fiber of her being. It was a caress, a lover's kiss, and nothing like the invasion she'd imagined. The fire that burned when they touched was nothing when compared to the inferno they raised as their minds became one.

Concentrate, Nikki The cool breeze of his thoughts whispered through her. His mind ran like a wave before hers, separate yet united with her own. She could see his thoughts before he spoke them. See his emotions, a blaze of color that almost left her blind. Could see the areas he wished kept hidden, vast tracts of forbidding darkness.

Find Jake, Nikki.

She reached for the watch. The metal was cold against her skin, but her hands twitched, burned by the images rushing from the fob. Her senses leaped away, following the trail that led to Jake. Shapes began to form. She felt a tremor of fear, only to have Michael chase it away.

Concentrate on Jake, Nikki. See him. Feel him. Become one with him…

…Pain throbbed through his temples. Jake cursed and ran a hand through his hair, only to stop when he felt the sticky dampness matting it all.

What the hell?He struggled into a sitting position and tried to remember what had happened. Cold stone nudged his butt, and a breeze pulled at his wet clothes. Where on earth was he? The air was heavy with age and the scent of decay. Somewhere ahead in the darkness he could hear the steady drip of water.

It had to be a cave of some kind. But how in hell had he gotten here—wherever here was?

'Hell is an apt enough description of this place, my friend.'

The words came out of nowhere, reverberating around the walls. Jake tensed, studying the darkness.

'Who are you? What do you want?'

'Questions.' The stranger's voice dripped cold sarcasm. 'Always questions from my captives.'

Jake swallowed. He knew who had him. Knew why.

'Nikki won't be fool enough to fall into your trap a second time.'

'We shall see.' The darkness moved, forming shape. Became a man with the eyes of a demon.

It was easy to understand Nikki's fear, Jake thought, studying the muscular form warily. He wasn't psychic, but he could feel the power that oozed from the man. And those eyes… they were almost hypnotic.

 Don't look, he thought with a frown.

'Interesting,' Jasper murmured. 'You have a certain… strength I did not expect.'

Jake made no comment and studied the darkness beyond Jasper. There had to be some clue as to his whereabouts—some way to warn Nikki not to come after him.

'You will find no escape.'

His gaze darted back to Jasper. He noted the insanity entrenched in the blue depths of his eyes, saw the gloating. Knew he was a man who enjoyed toying with his victims. No, not a man. A vampire.

Jake cleared his throat. 'Where are we?'

'Underground. Deep underground.' As Jasper spoke, a tremor ran through the ground, a vibration that shook the air and rushed wind through the darkness.

Were they in a tunnel? Did some sort of vehicle passing through cause the vibration? Maybe a train?

'Not even close,' Jasper mused. 'I could, of course, tell you, but I doubt it would do you any good.'

'Nikki won't look for me,' Jake replied, trying to sound casual, though tension knotted his gut and constricted his throat. 'She won't run the risk of falling into your trap a second time.'

'You lie, little man. I know her mind. I know how much she values your friendship.'

Jake closed his eyes. 'They will stop you,' he whispered. 'No matter what it takes.

'I like a man with confidence.' Jasper smiled sharply. 'What if the cost is your own life?'

Jake shrugged. He would die no matter what happened. He could see it in the monster's eyes. But he wasn't about to give Jasper the pleasure of his fear.

'I can read your mind, little man. I know what you feel.'

'Then you know I loathe you more than I fear you.'

The chill in the mad blue depths sent ice splintering down his spine. For an instant he regretted his rash