Blog Tour: Possessed by Dana Michelle Burnett

Title: Possessed (A Spiritus Series Novel)

Author: Dana Michelle Burnett

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Tour Host: Lady Amber's Tours

Blurb:
Every story has two sides...

Alastor truly believed that his life was over the night his wife Becca shot and killed him over a century ago, but now he has returned as a spirit to haunt the reincarnation of his traitorous, murdering wife. Why now? Why Becca after all this time?

When Becca moves into her ancestral home in Corydon, Indiana, her life takes a puzzling and thrilling turn when she meets the ghost haunting the halls. As the seductive spirit lures her closer and closer, she learns about her own past and starts to understand that some mistakes are meant to last.

To Becca, Alastor is a seductive spirit that seems to see straight into her soul. To Alastor, Becca is what he has waited a century for--A second chance. But a second chance at what? Love...Or revenge?

How far will each of them go to rectify the wrongs of the past?

Dana Michelle Burnett spent most of her life writing short stories and sharing them with family and friends. Over the years, her work was published in numerous commercial and literary magazines including Just Labs, Mindprints: A Literary Journal, Foliate Oak, and many more.  Her short story John Lennon and the Chicken Holocaust was include in The Best of Foliate Oak 2006. 

Dana Michelle's Spiritus Series introduced the idea of a ghostly romance and became a Kindle bestselling series.  She's an avid reader of anything dark and romantic.  Dana Michelle lives in Southern Indiana with her dancing diva daughter and an assortment of pets.

Blog: http://DanaMichelleBurnett.com
Facebook: http://Facebook.com/DanaMichelleBurnett
Twitter: http://Twitter.com/DanaMBurnett

It was easy enough for me to go to the school and find the dance simply by following the sound of the music. I floated invisible through the students in their formal attire, searching for Becca.

I found her and the boy standing along the edges of the dance floor. She was taking the paper cup of punch that the boy was offering her. I moved closer when she coughed after taking a sip.

“I’m sorry,” the boy said as he stroked her back. “I should have warned you that a couple of guys from the football team always puts a little something extra in the punch.”

“It’s okay,” Becca said between gasps of air. “I think I’ll just step out in the hall and get some water.”

I followed her, listening to the litany of thoughts going through her mind. She questioned if this was what she was supposed to want. She couldn’t understand why this was so hard for her.

“He’s not me…” I whispered inside her head.

She jumped and looked around.

“Go away,” she said aloud. “Don’t ruin this for me.  Let me have this night.”

I did go away. I left her and went out to where the boy stood waiting for her to return. I looked at his boyish profile, unlined and unworn with adolescent stubble on his jaw. This was my rival. This was the “man” that was trying to take my Becca away.

The boy was speaking with that hateful Ashley girl, but I didn’t hear what he was saying. My mind was already turning to darker things.

So Becca wanted this one night...Well, so did I.

I pulled in my strength, gathering myself small and hard. I rose up above him, glaring down, before blasting myself into his body. There was a dizzy feeling, a sickening lurch to the left, and then I was back on the outside looking at him standing there with Becca at his arm.

I was weak, feeling the darkness trying to reach up and pull me down into the nothingness, but this time I wouldn’t go. I concentrated on the two of them, watching him try to recover just as I was.

The boy swayed a little from side to side as he smiled down at her, “I was just about ready to send a search party out for you.”

 “Sorry,” Becca said as she reached up to stop the boy from falling right into her. “Are you okay?”

The boy staggered a little to the right and blinked as if trying to focus, “Yeah that Ashley just gets under my skin. She doesn’t know when to shut up and go away.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about,” she said as she took the paper cup from him and threw it in the trash barrel. “How many of those have you drank?”

The boy blushed and raised his hand to his forehead as he staggered to the right again, “I am so sorry.”

She reached up and grabbed his arm again to steady him, “Are you going to be alright?”

The boy shook his head, this time leaning dangerously to the left. “I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Not really,” the boy said, looking quite sick. “Why don’t I go splash some water on my face?  Will you wait for me?”

“Sure.”

I followed the boy as he lurched off, staying close as he walked out into the hall. I was determined this time. I gathered again, pulling all of my energy before I dove directly into the center of his chest. There was the sickening spin as his consciousness fought mine, but at last there I stood living and breathing again, an interloper in the body of the boy.

There was no turning back now. I walked back out to where Becca was waiting. Seeing her there, looking so beautiful, it seemed impossible that in mere moments I would be able to feel her in my arms again.

“May I have this dance?” I asked, reaching my hand out to her.

It seemed to take an eternity for her to turn and put her hand in mine. My heart leapt the instant our hands touched and I felt her fingers in mine. I pulled her close, holding her against my body and lowering my nose to her hair. I inhaled deeply, there it was, the scent of honeysuckle and vanilla.

Becca...

“My beautiful Becca,” I closed my eyes and whispered against her forehead.

I felt her watching me, but I just stood there holding her close. She tried to shift away, but I held there against me.

“Don’t,” I begged and lowered my lips to hers. I tasted the delicious softness of mouth, so gentle at first, afraid at any moment that I would fade and this moment would vanish.

For a moment, neither of us moved. We stood there with our lips barely touching. I was shaking, near crying myself. This was real...This was happening...

I pulled her closer, this time allowing my mouth to linger over hers, my tongue licking the seam of her lower lip. I felt her tremble, her body pushing against me.

Suddenly she pushed me away and gasped, “Alastor!” 

She looked up at me, searching another man’s face, but still somehow seeing me inside.

“How?” She whispered.

“Please don’t scream,” I said as I pulled her to me again and lowered my face into her hair.

“How did you do it?” She asked, a note of hysteria creeping into her voice.

“Does it matter?” I asked as we waltzed about the floor, “You asked for a kiss and I gave it to you.”

Becca began to tremble, shaking so badly that her teeth began to chatter, “Alastor…I can’t…”

“Please,” I begged. “Please, you asked me to give you this one night.  I’m asking you to give me this one moment.”

Tears filled her eyes, “What do you want me to do?” 

“Close your eyes,” I whispered against her eyelids.

“Now what?”

“Just be,” I said as I lowered my face to hers so that our cheeks touched. “Just be.”

“Kiss me again,” she said without opening her eyes.

I gladly took her face in my hands and brought my lips to hers. She brought her own hands up to cover mine as her own kisses became more urgent.

“I’m sorry,” she whimpered, holding my closer. “I’m so sorry for everything.”

I kissed her again, tasting her mouth like a man starved. The answer was clear...My soul would always belong to Becca...Always...