Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

H alloween

Leo watched the golden light of dawn filter through the curtains, casting a warm glow across Jessica’s face. He stroked her cheek, relishing the softness of her skin beneath his fingers and hoping desperately that he would still be able to touch her tomorrow.

“Today is the day,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

He heard the uncertainty in her tone, the slight tremor that betrayed her fear, and wrapped his arms around, attempting to comfort her—and himself.

“We’ve come this far,” he said softly. “Whatever happens, we face it together.”

She nodded, but her eyes remained fixed on the ceiling, and he could almost see the thoughts racing through her mind, the doubts and fears that had plagued them both in the days leading up to this moment. Tim hadn’t manifested again, although he’d continued to make his presence known—overturning tables and breaking glasses, causing whatever damage he could.

Frustrated by the vandalism and concerned that someone might get hurt, Damian had decided to close the restaurant until after Halloween. He knew that Jessica felt guilty about that as well, but he thought it was a sensible decision. Unfortunately, it had also given her more time to worry.

Although he did his best to hide it, he shared her fears. What if the ritual went wrong? What if it brought Tim back instead? He resolutely pushed his doubts aside, concentrating on the woman in his arms as they lay there, watching the sun climb higher in the sky. For better or worse, today was the day that would change everything.

At last she sighed and wiggled free.

“Time for breakfast.”

He watched appreciatively as she stretched, the pale strip of skin it revealed when her top lifted as enticing as ever. His cock, already swollen from having her in his arms, flexed against his jeans. If they hadn’t been part of his ghost form, he was sure he would have worn a hole in them by now.

Instead of getting dressed, she pulled on a short, silky robe and headed for the kitchen. He followed, smiling appreciatively when she pulled out a package of bacon. The tantalizing aroma of sizzling bacon soon filled the air and he leaned against the counter watched her move about the kitchen, her movements as precise and graceful as ever.

“Has Gladys given you any more information?” he asked.

Jessica had been to see the witch several times since Tim had appeared, but Gladys hadn’t been particularly helpful. She sighed, her hands trembling slightly as she flipped the bacon.

“Just the same warning not to let Tim distract me.” She shook her head, spatula pausing mid-air. “What does that even mean?”

“It just means we have to stay focused,” he said softly. “I know you can do this, sweetheart.”

Her shoulders relaxed slightly at his words and she turned to face him, searching for reassurance. He held her gaze, pouring all his love and faith into that look.

“I’m scared,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “What if something goes wrong? What if–”

“We can’t think about the ‘what ifs’ right now,” he said gently. “We have to believe that this will work. And if it doesn’t, we’ll just try again next year.”

He hated the thought of spending another year in limbo. Every year the world drifted further away from anything he understood, but as long as he was with her, he would find a way to cope. Her expression lightened a little.

“That’s true. This doesn’t have to be our only chance.”

Unless Tim ruined everything. He suspected that she was thinking the same thing but neither one of them mentioned it. He cupped her cheek gently, then opened the French doors leading out onto the balcony and walked out, smiling at the now familiar feeling of the cool morning air. He pulled in a deep breath as the scent of fallen leaves and woodsmoke tickled his senses. It was a perfect autumn day, the sky clear and blue overhead.

As he glanced down at the quiet street below, he felt an odd pull toward the edge of the balcony. He approached it cautiously, expecting to feel the usual invisible barrier, but there was no resistance. He stretched out his hand, watching in disbelief as it extended past the balcony’s edge.

His heart, though long silent, seemed to leap in his chest. Was it possible that he could actually leave the manor? That he could explore the town, walk beside Jessica in the daylight, interact with people…

He did his best to temper his excitement, afraid to get carried away, but he couldn’t help imagining the possibilities. Was it possible that his situation had changed, even without the ritual?

Before he could decide, a familiar figure appeared on the street below. Flora, clad in a bright orange tracksuit with “Witch, please” scrawled across her chest, her arms crossed and an annoyed expression etched on her face. His excitement dimmed slightly at her disapproving look.

“I feel… different,” he said. “Like I can actually leave this place.”

Flora’s eyebrows shot up, her annoyance morphing into exasperation.

“Of course you can! It’s All Hallows’ Eve.” She shook her head, as if explaining something obvious to a child. “Just remember you need to remain strong, especially with Tim around.”

Damn—another one of those cryptic warnings. He opened his mouth to ask for more details, but Flora had already vanished, leaving him frowning down at the empty street.

Before he could decide what to do, Jessica came to join him on the balcony, carrying a plate of toast and bacon. Without thinking, he reached out and snagged a piece of bacon, bringing it to his lips. As he bit down, a burst of flavor exploded in his mouth, and he couldn’t help but moan in appreciation. Why hadn’t he thought to try this before? Then again, perhaps it wouldn’t have worked before today.

The excitement of being able to interact with the physical world swept over him and he grinned at her.

“Almost as delicious as you,” he teased.

She’d been giving him a shocked look, but now she smiled back, echoing his mood and he made another impulsive decision.

“I think we need to take a break,” he said firmly.

“A break? What do you have in mind?” she asked as he gently nudged her towards the door.

“Let’s explore the town—just you and me.”

“But how?”

“Apparently I’m free to move around today and I want to take advantage of that opportunity.”

“But the ritual,” she said hesitantly.

“Isn’t going to change. You’ve been over it a hundred times and everything is as ready as we can make it. I think we should just enjoy our time together.”

In case it was their last chance.

She bit her lip, then finally returned his smile.

“All right. I’ll go and change.”

When she returned, his breath caught in his throat. She was wearing those embroidered jeans he loved so much, the ones that hugged her curves just right, and a soft green sweater. She’d even removed all of her jewelry except for a single necklace. He knew how much courage it had taken for her to dress like that and he wanted to sweep her into his arms and kiss her, but he knew if he did they might never make it out of the apartment.

“Thank you,” he said quietly, then held out his hand.

She placed her hand in his and they walked down the stairs and out the front door. He half expected to be slammed back inside but nothing happened. The crisp autumn air swirled around them and he felt a surge of exhilaration. Freedom. He glanced down at Jessica and she smiled at him, her eyes sparkling with excitement. As he looked down, he realized that he didn’t look entirely human. His skin had a faint bluish shimmer, not transparent, but not entirely solid either.

For a moment he hesitated, but then he shrugged. This was Fairhaven Falls and they had seen far stranger things.

Main Street, a wide road lined with a mixture of two story brick storefronts and converted houses, already bustled with life. Laughter echoed from nearby cafes, and the aroma of freshly baked pastries wafted through the air. Every building was adorned with pumpkins and shocks of wheat, with cartoon witches—and ghosts.

Three of them floated in front of the hardware store, their sheets fluttering in the breeze, and they stopped to admire them.

“I don’t see much resemblance,” she teased. “They’re much too small.”

He laughed and they continued down the street, stopping to admire each display and breathe in the scents from the floral arrangements. Small children of every type were already wearing their costumes, their faces painted and smiling, and they bought bags of candy to distribute as they walked. They purchased muffins from a huge, glowering orc and he moaned appreciatively as he took a huge bite.

“This might be the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth. Well, the second best thing,” he amended and she blushed.

“Grondar is an amazing baker. Did you know he’s Flora’s grandson?”

“That giant male? It’s not possible.”

“It’s not only possible, but apparently her husband was just as big.” She dropped her voice and leaned towards him. “And she’s all too happy to describe his assets. In detail.”

“Which I definitely don’t need to know,” he said firmly, and her laugh rang out, clear and bright in the morning air.

Despite the looming threat of Tim and the uncertainty of the ritual ahead, he made a conscious decision to push those worries aside. Today was about them, about cherishing every precious moment together. He wanted to memorize every detail of Jessica’s smile, the way her hair caught the sunlight, the sound of her laughter mingling with the town’s band when they reached the Town Square by the river.

They stood at the water’s edge for a while, watching a few dedicated fishermen floating slowly down the river. Sam was nowhere in sight, but he found himself looking at the island and wondering about the other male. Was he as lonely as Leo had been?

Perhaps she sensed his mood because she squeezed his hand.

“I have an idea. Why don’t we get some food and go up into the mountains a little way for a picnic?”

“I think that’s an excellent idea and I know just where we should go.”

She gave him an inquisitive look but he only smiled at her and she rolled her eyes.

“Fine. Keep it a secret—but you’re going to have to tell me how to get there.”

Half an hour later they pulled off the main road out of town, following a dirt road that wound into the forest. Most of the leaves had fallen, carpeting the ground with red and gold and brown but enough remained to dance in the breeze as she pulled the car to a halt.

“Was this your land?” she asked softly as the quiet of the forest surrounded them.

“It was, and there’s somewhere I want to show you.”

He picked up the picnic basket and the blanket, then took her hand and led her a short distance into the woods and up a small incline to a wide, flat boulder. From here they could see the whole town spread out below them and catch a glimpse of the Fairhaven Falls tumbling down the rocks.

“It’s beautiful,” she said as he spread the blanket on the sun warmed rock.

“Not as beautiful as you are.”

She turned to smile at him, radiant in the sunlight, and he forgot all about their picnic. Instead he sank down onto the blanket, pulling her down on top of him, and captured her mouth, kissing her hungrily. Her body arched against him as their lips met and her sweet, familiar scent surrounded him.

She sat up suddenly but before he could protest, she stripped her sweater off over her head and unfastened her bra, before giving him a challenging look.

“I’m not taking anything else off unless those jeans come off. It’s time.”

His cock throbbed so hard he could barely think but he forced himself to wait.

“Are you sure? You don’t want to wait until after the ritual?”

“Yes, I’m sure and no, I don’t want to wait.”

She rose to her feet, her fingers hovering over the top button of her jeans. They were trembling slightly but she raised a challenging eyebrow.

“Well?”

His clothes vanished, relief surging through him as his cock was finally released from the tight confines of his jeans. She froze, staring at him, her pretty lips parted.

“Do you want me to get dressed again?”

“Don’t you dare.”

Her hands were shaking even more now, but she fumbled the buttons open and slid her jeans down her legs, followed by her blue lacy panties.

“You’re so damn beautiful,” he murmured, his voice rough with desire. “You’re all I’ve dreamed of, all I’ve ever wanted.”

She gazed at him with those big, dark eyes and he felt something tighten in his chest. Not just lust, not just passion—something deeper, more profound. He held out his hand and she took it, allowing him to help her back down on the blanket.

Her nipples were tight pink buds and he could already see a gleam of moisture between her thighs, but her body was tense and she jumped when he trailed his hand gently down her side.

“We’ll take this as slowly as you want,” he promised. “You can trust me.”

“I know.”

Her body started to soften, leaning into his touch as he kept up the slow soothing strokes.

“That’s it, sweetheart. Just enjoy the moment. Let me love you.”

He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her again, drinking in her taste as he carefully explored her slender body, seeking out the places that made her shudder. When he finally parted her legs and touched the delicate pink of her folds, she shivered.

“Is this all right, sweetheart?”

“It’s perfect,” she whispered.

The scent of her arousal grew as he stroked her swollen flesh, his thumb circling her clit as she arched against him. Her wet heat was intoxicating and he couldn’t resist moving lower, probing at the tight clench of her entrance. He carefully slid one finger into her but when he tried to add a second, her body tensed and she shook her head.

“It won’t fit,” she said frantically.

He pulled back immediately and brought his hand to her face, stroking gently along her cheek until her muscles relaxed again. Only then did he move his mouth to one of her taut, pink nipples. She gasped as he licked the sensitive bud, then sucked it into his mouth. Her fingers slid into his hair, holding his mouth to her breast as he licked and sucked, returning his hand to her leg and gradually working his way back up to her thighs.

He kept up the soothing strokes until she relaxed against him, then he carefully returned his finger to the tight, swollen flesh of her pretty cunt. His finger slid in easily and her hips rose eagerly to his touch. This time, when he tried to add a second finger, her body yielded, stretching to allow him to enter her and he groaned. If it felt this good to have his fingers inside her, what would it be like when it was his cock? But he wouldn’t rush her.

He increased the pressure on her clit, and her hips arched again, meeting each stroke of his fingers. When he felt the first ripple of her climax, he carefully added a third finger. A shocked gasp left her lips, but she immediately tightened her grip on him, her small breasts quivering as he continued to work her, demanding her climax. Her breath was coming in frantic pants as she writhed against him, so wet that her arousal coated his hand. When she finally came, she cried out and he felt the waves of her orgasm pulse against his fingers.

“Leo!” she cried, her head falling back, her entire body lost to the pleasure washing over her.

He kept his hand in place, continuing to stroke her until her shudders finally slowed, and then he gently withdrew. The sight of his wet hand, the evidence of her pleasure, had his cock jerking and he couldn’t help imagining how it would feel to be buried in that hot, tight little cunt. He took a calming breath, focusing on the moment and the woman in his arms.

“Are you all right, sweetheart?”

“I’m wonderful,” she murmured, her eyes still hazy and unfocused. “I didn’t know it could feel like that.”

“I’m glad I could please you.”

“You do,” she said, then frowned. “Wait. What about you? I should… should I reciprocate?”

“Only if you want to.”

Her cheeks flushed, but her eyes dropped to his erection and she nodded. He stretched out next to her and she sat up to study him, her eyes wide with interest.

“It’s a lot larger than I remember,” she said thoughtfully, reaching out a hand to touch his length. Her fingers were cool against his heated skin as she stroked him tentatively. It felt so much better than he remembered, but then, he hadn’t touched another in so many years that all of the memories were dimmed by the reality of her soft hands on his body. He let out a strangled moan and her gaze flew to his face, her eyes anxious. “Does that hurt?”

“No, it feels amazing. Don’t stop.”

She didn’t, her touch growing more assured, but he wanted more. He wanted her.

“Come here, sweetheart.” He drew her towards him, bringing her hand to his chest. “You can touch me anywhere. I’m all yours.”

Her eyes brightened as the implications of his offer sank in and she explored him with a gentle but eager curiosity that had him on the edge of exploding.

“Enough,” he said, pulling her hands away. “It’s time. If that’s still what you want?”

She hesitated and he steeled himself to let her go, but then she gave a determined little nod. He gently rolled her onto her back and settled over her. She tensed, and then relaxed, her small, soft body a perfect contrast to his. A perfect match.

“I’m going to take this as slow as I can,” he assured her, and he did, entering her in slow, shallow thrusts despite his urge to bury himself to the hilt.

His body was trembling, his need straining the limits of his control. She was too tight, but the pleasure on her face told him that he was causing her no pain. He continued to work himself in and out of the snug sheath, feeling her stretch and flower open for him. She was hot and slick and so tight he thought his head was going to explode.

“Are you ready for more, my love?”

She nodded eagerly and he let his weight sink down, pressing her into the blanket. He couldn’t hold off much longer. He tried to hold his thrusts to a shallow, gentle rhythm, but his hips were already pumping harder, faster. He tried to pull back and her eyes met his, wide and dazed with desire, and something inside him snapped.

He drove into her, his cock stretching her and filling her completely. Her body tensed, but then her hips rose to meet him, her delicate nails digging into his back. She was so small beneath him, so perfect. Mine , he thought fiercely. Mine to love and protect. Forever.

He thrust again, deeper this time, and she cried out, the sound echoing through the forest as she quivered around him and his control shattered.

His climax exploded through him, the ecstasy almost unbearable in its intensity. His vision blurred, everything fading to darkness except for the small, soft female beneath him. Nothing else existed and nothing else ever would. He wrapped himself around her, determined to keep her with him as his cock spasmed, sending pulse after pulse of liquid fire into her waiting body until he collapsed against her, utterly spent.

“I love you,” he whispered, and her arms tightened around his neck.

“I love you too.”

He must have slept, because he opened his eyes to the sight of the sun setting behind the distant mountains, painting the sky with brilliant orange and gold. Jessica was cradled in his arms, a sleepy, satisfied smile curving her lips.

“Welcome back,” she murmured.

“I didn’t mean to leave.” He brushed his lips against hers. “How do you feel?”

“A little sore, but wonderful.” She smiled and placed a kiss of her own on his lips, then sat up. “We should get back.”

“I wish we could stay here forever, just the two of us.”

“I know. But we have to do this.”

He sighed and helped her to her feet. They dressed in silence, then he pulled her into his arms again.

“Whatever happens, I will find a way back to you.”

“I know,” she whispered. “I love you, Leo.”

“Then it’s time to go home,” he said. “Time to fight for our happiness. Together.”