Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

L eo hovered at one side of the living area as Jessica poured her friend a glass of wine. She’d told him that she planned to tell her friend about him, and he couldn’t decide if he was more pleased that wanted to reveal their… relationship or nervous about her friend’s reaction. Or both.

“I brought you three options for tops and three for bottoms,” Wendy said. “For bottoms we have jeans, this skirt, and leggings.”

She held up each one as she spoke. The jeans had small flowers embroidered around the hem, very similar to what had been popular in his time, and he could easily imagine the way they would cling to her long, slender legs. He shifted uncomfortably as his cock began to respond to the image. The skirt would come down to her calves, but it too would hug her curves, and he saw the uncertainty on her face.

Wendy must have seen it too, because she placed the clothes on the chair and sat down next to Jessica.

“Do you want to tell me why this is so hard for you? You don’t have to,” she added quickly. “But maybe it would help to share.”

He didn’t think Jessica was going to answer, but then she straightened her shoulders.

“Someone… hurt me once and he said it was my fault. Because of the way I dressed.”

That despicable bastard. He did his best to control his anger but an icy breeze still swept around the room. Wendy didn’t seem to notice, her eyes fixed on Jessica.

“Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry. You know he was wrong, don’t you?”

Jessica nodded and tried to smile.

“Intellectually, yes. Emotionally, it’s a little harder.”

“Is that why you don’t like being touched?” Wendy asked softly.

“It’s not that I don’t like being touched, it’s just that if I’m not prepared I sometimes… see things.” Another shaky smile. “It made my childhood rather difficult until I learned never to tell anyone.”

“Is that what made you decide to be a medium?”

“It’s not exactly the same, but once I discovered I could communicate with the departed it seemed like a logical choice.” Jessica’s smile was stronger this time, and she cast a quick glance in his direction. “And I actually enjoy it.”

“Because they can’t touch you?”

“That’s not always a good thing,” she said quietly, looking at him again, then sighed. “Which I suppose brings us to what I wanted to tell you. You remember when I banished Alexis—the female ghost?”

Wendy shuddered.

“How could I forget?”

“There was someone else there too.”

“Yes, I remember. The husband. A big man who looked tired and sad.”

“That was Leo. Or perhaps I should say, that is Leo.”

“Does that mean he’s still here?”

Wendy didn’t look as surprised as he expected, and Jessica gave her friend a puzzled look as well.

“You knew?”

“I wouldn’t go that far, but I wondered sometimes. You never actually said you’d banished him. And you have been spending a lot of time up here,” her friend added with a smile. “Are you going to introduce us?”

“Of course.”

Jessica looked at him and nodded, and he pulled aside the veil concealing him. Despite her assurance, the other woman’s eyes widened as he materialized.

“Wow. That was a little faster than I was expecting. Have you been standing there the whole time?”

“I have.”

“Isn’t that kind of like spying? And does that mean you could have been there when Damian and I-” Wendy’s cheeks turned fiery red and he hastily shook his head.

“I usually stay up here. If I go downstairs, it’s to be with Jessica.”

“And I always know when he’s there,” Jessica added quickly.

“So you’re friends?” Wendy’s eyes narrowed. “Or is it something more than that?”

Jessica cast him a somewhat helpless glance, then nodded.

“It’s more.”

“And you didn’t tell me? Why not?”

“I don’t know exactly. I think I was afraid that if I told anyone, it wouldn’t be real. And then, of course, there’s the obvious problem that he’s a ghost.”

He moved across to her, longing to give her his support but knowing she would resent it if he tried to speak for her. Instead he sat on the arm of her chair and took her hand. She looked up at him gratefully and his heart warmed. Wendy cleared her throat and they both looked at her.

“I’m assuming you’re looking for a way to fix that,” she said, and Jessica nodded.

“I’m going to attempt a ritual on Halloween night to try and make him corporeal again. But it’s a very complicated ritual with a lot of unknowns, and I can’t promise it will succeed. Even if it does, it could be only temporary.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Wendy asked immediately and Jessica smiled at her.

“No, but I appreciate the offer.”

“You know if you’d told me, I wouldn’t have been so busy trying to arrange a date for you for the Harvest Festival.”

“You didn’t—did you?”

“Kind of, but don’t worry, I’ll call it off. Which means you don’t have to try and freeze us out, Leo,” she added sternly. “At least I assume that’s you?”

Oops. He hadn’t shielded his reaction to the date suggestion as well as he should have.

“Sorry,” he said quickly, closing his eyes and concentrating on the temperature. It returned to normal much more quickly this time and he knew that Jessica had noticed as well.

“That’s better. But you are still going to come to the festival, aren’t you?”

Jessica hesitated. He wanted her to say no, but he couldn’t keep her tied here forever.

“You should go,” he said instead, and Wendy beamed at him. “It would be good for you to get out.”

“I get out,” she protested weakly, but they both ignored her.

“Then that’s settled.” Wendy stood up and gave them both a determined look. “And I want you to keep me updated.”

“Of course.”

“I’ll leave the clothes for you to think about, but I’ll understand if you don’t want to wear any of them.”

Jessica stood too, following her friend to the door, then gave the other woman a quick hug.

“Thank you for understanding.”

Wendy’s eyes were suspiciously bright, but she gave her a cheerful smile.

“That’s what friends are for. Just let me know that you’re okay, okay?”

“Every step of the way,” she promised.

As soon as Wendy had disappeared down the stairs, Jessica came back and collapsed on the couch, smiling at him.

“That went better than I expected. I was afraid she’d be mad at me for not telling her sooner.”

“Would you have been angry if she’d done the same?” he asked, and she immediately shook her head.

“Of course not.”

“Then why did you expect her to be angry?”

“I don’t know. I suppose I’m used to people being angry when they find out I haven’t told them something.”

He sat down next to her and reached for her hand, relieved when he was able to grasp it in his.

“Life hasn’t been very kind to you, sweetheart. But hopefully that’s changed now.”

“I think it has.” She gave him a shy smile. “Can I kiss you?”

“Anytime,” he said so fervently that she laughed.

She hesitated, then moved over to sit on his lap. They both gave a sigh of relief as his body remained solid and she settled down against him. Despite her question, she didn’t do anything for a moment except put her head on his shoulder, her hand tracing a lazy pattern across his chest.

“Can you take your shirt off?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never tried.”

He concentrated for a moment, and then her hand was resting against his bare skin.

“That’s convenient,” she said breathlessly, but she didn’t stop exploring him.

The feel of her small fingers against his skin had the inevitable effect on his body and her eyes widened as his cock flexed beneath her ass.

“Oh!”

“Do you want to move?”

She wiggled experimentally and he bit back a groan before she gave him a mischievous smile and deliberately slid a hand down his chest towards the waistband of his jeans. He caught her fingers, bringing them back up to his chest.

“Let me touch you first,” he murmured.

She bit her lip, then nodded and leaned her head against his chest. He stroked one hand lightly over her back as he kissed the top of her head, then bent down to kiss her mouth. She opened to him immediately and as his tongue explored her mouth, he cupped her breast, careful to keep his movements slow and gentle. Even so, he felt the shiver of response that raced down her spine. He broke away from the kiss, watching her face as he undid her vest and the buttons on her shirt. Her cheeks flushed but she didn’t protest.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered, running his finger down her neck to the gentle swell of her breasts over the top of her bra. She shivered again, her eyes fixed on his face and the longing in them made him catch his breath.

He undid the clasp on her bra to reveal her small, perfect breasts, her nipples already tight pink peaks.

“Beautiful,” he murmured again and bent down to take one nipple into his mouth.

She made a soft, startled sound, but when he started to pull away, she put her hand on his head, holding him in place. He smiled and tugged a little harder on the tempting peak. She arched against him, pressing closer to his mouth. He continued to suck and lick while his thumb circled her other nipple. A low, throaty moan escaped her lips and her fingers tightened in his hair.

He took her other breast in his mouth and her breathing increased. She was rubbing her ass against his cock now and he had to force himself not to thrust against her, afraid of scaring her. But her need was mounting, her body growing flushed, her movements restless. He slowly slid his hand beneath her skirt, the fabric loose enough that it was easy to reach between her legs. The thin fabric covering her cleft was already damp and she cried out again as he gently cupped the damp silk.

“Too much, sweetheart?”

“N-no.” She didn’t sound as certain as he would have liked and he started to pull away but she immediately protested. “No, don’t stop.”

“I won’t,” he promised. “Not unless you tell me to stop.”

He moved his fingers lightly over the thin silk again, and she parted her legs to allow him more access. When he finally eased beneath the damp fabric and touched her directly, she was hot, wet, and swollen, and he groaned at his own long-denied need.

“May I put a finger in you, Jessica?” he whispered. She didn’t respond and he lifted his head to look at her, to find her eyes half-closed. “Answer me, sweetheart.”

“Yes,” she whispered, her cheeks flushing a delightful shade of pink.

He kissed the corner of her mouth as his thumb found her clit, massaging it gently as he slowly slid one finger inside her. Her body clamped down on it, so snug and tight that he could barely move. The thought of that tight grip around his cock made him groan and she opened her eyes.

“Is something wrong?”

“Nothing at all,” he assured her, then bent his head to suck on the tempting line of her throat as he increased the pressure on her clit, matching the movement of his thumb to the gentle thrust of his finger and her cunt started to pulse, gripping him in rhythmic waves.

Her eyes widened in shock, and then she threw her head back, grinding against him as she shuddered in his arms. His cock throbbed, demanding to be released, to bury himself in that same glorious heat. But she was too small, too tight, and he refused to hurt her. Instead he continued to kiss and caress her as her climax ebbed and her body went limp. He reluctantly eased his finger out of the tempting warmth, then licked it clean. Her taste exploded in his mouth, salty, sweet, and delicious and she blushed crimson again.

“Did you like that?” he asked, and the red deepened. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“I didn’t… do anything for you,” she said, her eyes dropping to the erection still straining against his jeans.

“Watching you come in my arms is all I need.” For now, anyway.

“But-”

“You have to get back downstairs.”

“I could stay a little longer,” she whispered, reaching for him, and the temptation almost overwhelmed him.

“If you did that, it would be a lot longer than you planned. And I want you to be sure you’re ready before we go any further.”

“I suppose you’re right.” She sighed and stroked his bare chest again. “How does this work? Should I get you another shirt?”

“I don’t know,” he said, then concentrated, and the shirt reappeared. “I’ll have to practice that.”

“Me too.” She looked down at her unbuttoned shirt and vest, and her naked breasts and blushed again. He loved the way the color rose so easily to her cheeks.

“Allow me.” He carefully fastened her bra then buttoned her shirt before kissing her again, unable to resist the appeal of her soft, pretty mouth.

She was breathless again when he finally let her go.

“You need to go now, Jessica. Before I forget about being a gentleman and keeping my hands to myself.”

“You can touch me,” she said breathlessly. “I want you to.”

“And I will,” he promised. “But not now.”

After giving him a reluctant nod, she slipped off his lap. He rose too, adjusting his jeans to try and relieve the pressure, then followed her to the door.

“I’ll see you later.”

“Yes.” She smiled up at him, then blushed and looked away. “Thank you, Leo. Thank you for showing me what I’ve been missing.”

“My pleasure, sweetheart.” He kissed the top of her head. “Any time.”