Free Tortured Spirits by Gregory Lamberson

of trouble. This woman is a dragon. Her whole life is the business. Shana’s doomed.”
    â€œWe can’t save everyone. We can only try and you tried.”
    Maria dabbed at one eye. “It’s getting late. I want a good night’s sleep before we storm the beaches. Starting tomorrow, we’re both going to have to sleep with one eye open.”
    â€œBad news for me.”
    Maria snorted. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
    They got out, and as Jake retrieved Edgar’s cage he watched Maria mount the stairs to the second level.

    Inside his room, Jake set Edgar’s cage on the bed. He opened the cage door, and Edgar fluttered out and onto the covers. “Fly. Be free.”
    He peeled off his shirt and tossed his watch onto the dresser. Picking up the remote control, he turned on the television. “Let’s see what’s on the news.” He flipped through the channels until he landed on his least favorite station, then tossed the remote onto the bed. “Maybe we can learn what the weather’s going to be on Pavot Island tomorrow.”
    Edgar squawked at a knock on the door.
    â€œSorry, bud. Back in the cage.”
    Edgar croaked in protest.
    â€œI’m not kidding. Get in there.”
    Edgar hopped inside the cage, and Jake latched its door. He pulled on his shirt again and crossed the room. When he opened the door, Maria stood looking at him.
    â€œWhat’s up?” he said.
    Maria stepped inside, reached around his neck, and kissed him.
    Jake felt heat rising through his body and closed the door.

EIGHT
    Jake returned Maria’s kiss, pressing his tongue against hers. She slid her fingers through the hair on the back of his head, and he felt her breathing through her nostrils.
    When she ended the kiss, she looked up at him. “I guess we’re finally having that date you welshed on last year.”
    â€œLife got in the way: bokors, zonbies, transmogrification—”
    â€œShut up.”
    She kissed him again, and he felt her breasts and pelvis against him. Growing hard, he pulled her tighter to him.
    Maria pushed him back, a playful smile on her lips and excitement in her eyes. “Are we going to make out in your doorway like kids all night?”
    Jake gestured at the bed. Maria shook her head and pressed her back against the corner. Jake moved forward, his tight smile matching hers. He scooped her up in his arms,carried her across the room, and tossed her onto the bed, causing Edgar to squawk. They both burst into laughter.
    â€œPlease put him somewhere safe,” Maria said.
    Jake grabbed the cage. “Come on. You’re staying in the porcelain suite tonight.”
    As he carried Edgar into the bathroom and set the cage on the tiled floor, Maria said, “Good night, partner.”
    Jake returned to the room in time to see Maria’s green dress slip from her body and fall to her feet. As he peeled off his shirt for the second time, he admired her taut stomach muscles. Then she unhooked her bra, and he gazed at her firm, round breasts. She hooked her thumbs into the waistband of her panties and slid them off one hip at a time, then stepped out of the small pile of clothing on the floor. She had trimmed the triangle of dark hair between her legs.
    â€œWhat are you waiting for?” she said.
    Jake unbuckled his belt and unsnapped his jeans, which he shed with awkward motion. He freed his erection from his underwear, and Maria looked down, smiling. Jake kissed her, the head of his penis probing her moist vagina. A low moan escaped her throat, and he inhaled the scent of her perfume. He gripped her buttocks, his fingers pressing her hard muscles.
    Pulling herself on top of him with her knees squeezing his sides, she lowered herself onto his erection, and her moan grew louder. Jake felt hot membrane engulfing him, and he set one knee on the bed and lowered her onto her back. Then he penetrated her heat, and she arched her