His focused gaze made her lower belly quiver. She ignored the feeling, unsure what it meant, and studied his mesmerizing eyes. The longer she stared, the more dimension they gained. The oval surrounding them widened too, allowing her to see his darkly tanned forehead and the top bridge of his nose. Long and straight, she’d guess. Gorgeous. She had no doubt in her mind. He’d be ruggedly handsome in person. Hard where she was soft. Her perfect complement.
She shook her head to clear it of the crazy thoughts.
“Wh-who are y-you? What…” Harley focused on where his chest should be. The outline of the trees behind him showed through the fuzzy screen surrounding them, not the strong body she envisioned he would have. “What are you? A g-ghost?”
“Not a ghost. I’m alive. I’m just not here.”
Something brushed her arm. She looked down, expecting to see his hand on her body. Nothing. The sensation of his roughened fingertips on her skin didn’t diminish, however. He slipped his invisible hand around her waist, then down to her ass and drew her closer. She gasped at the press of his body to hers and pushed against his invisible shoulders. The hard muscles under her palms flexed, but he didn’t budge.
“You need to run.” He focused on her. “You cannot allow them to steal the goodness you’ve managed to retain.”
“Yes. Run. I need to run.” Harley shoved at him, desperation fueling her. His hold on her never wavered. “Let me go!”
“In a minute. You need to understand first.”
He slid his hand up her spine to the back of her neck and urged her even closer. The soothing scent of a campfire enveloped her. Unable to resist, she buried her nose in the crook of his neck and dragged in deep lungfuls. Something inside her clicked, and a sense of rightness seized her. She wanted him to cradle her against his chest and hold her close. Never let her go. He couldn’t carry away from this place, however. He didn’t have a body.
She choked on another sob and pulled his invisible form closer, not wanting to think about why she could touch him but not see him. Ghost man or not, he made her feel safe.
“They want to kill me.” She whispered the words against his neck.
“Not intentionally. They want your power and will feed off you, uncaring that doing so will kill you.” He pressed his lips to her ear. “I will save you, my flower, but you must promise me you won’t let them touch you until I can. They’ll dirty you, and you need to live for me. Be strong. Hold on to your goodness.”
Harley tipped her head back, and his pale blue eyes ensnared her. The sight of them triggered a memory. No. A dream, one she’d had forever. In it, Harley was told she had to endure. Her hero was coming for her. He’d protect her.
Unleash her.
Make her more powerful than any other.
“I promise.” The words came out of her mouth before she could think better of it. She shook off the worry over why they seemed easy to say and focused on practicalities or more importantly—the hope he offered. “But how can you save me? You’re not really here.”
“Words have power, and a vow made should not be broken. Doing so will damn you. You must remember this.”
She nodded. “Okay, but how…?”
A roar cut through the quiet that had descended around them, stopping her question. She tore her gaze from his. The veil around them wavered. Her fear rushed back. “They’re coming.”
“Yes. I can’t hold you close much longer”—he cupped her face in his hands—“so you will take my knowledge and strength with you.”
He covered her mouth with his and breathed into her. His air expanded her chest. She gripped his shirt, ready to fight him, but he didn’t hurt her. More strength filled her, along with a rush of information about the monsters after her and a slew of promises: he’d love her, protect her, and save her. The tension in her body faded once more. The truth of his vows echoed within her soul. He broke their lip lock, and dizziness gripped her. She swayed.
“You must return to me so I can finish our bond. Do you promise?”
“Yes.” The agreement came out of her mouth without thought.
“Good. I’ll be waiting for you.”
“Why are you helping me?”
“Because I broke a promise once. I want to fulfill it.” He brushed his finger over her cheek. “With you.”
He stepped away from her.
Fear choked her with the loss of his touch. She grabbed his hand, not wanting to lose the comfort he’d given. “Don’t leave me. I’m scared. I don’t want to be alone.”
“You’ll never be alone again.” He closed his eyes. “You’re mine.”
“What do you…?”
More roars and grunts carried through the night, stopping her a second time.
“I’ll explain more once you free me.” He took several steps back. “Now, run.”
“Free you from…?”
“Our time is up. You must go. Now!” His words came out in a rush, interrupting her a third time.
“Wait!”
“Can’t. Remember your vow. You must live for me, no matter what.”
He disappeared on a puff of sulfur-scented air without answering her question. She scrunched her nose against the pungent odor. It overpowered his lingering scent and churned her gut. Confusion rushed up, but stark terror replaced it before she could process the odd encounter. The man who’d attacked her mom stepped from the woods. Blood covered his hands and shirt.
She screamed a third time and backed up.
“Don’t run from me, Harley.” He held up his hands in a placating gesture. “I’m the one you’ve been waiting for. Didn’t they tell you I was coming?”
His question froze her in place. “Who?”
He grinned, showing off his bloodstained, pointy teeth. “The angels, of course.”
More flashes from her childhood dreams danced through her mind—majestic buildings, puffy white clouds, and the heart-stopping, beautiful faces of men who’d always wiped away her tears and sang of eternal love.
No. Can’t
