tilwemeetagain (2 page)

Ethan paced the bedroom back and forth, beyond frustrated. Yes, he had yearned for a home to belong to. In the past three days though, he
’
d grown fonder of Cassie than of the house itself.

She
’
d become so captivated by her design, she hadn
’
t noticed his best efforts to show his presence. He never before cared whether the people around him remained ignorant to the fact their house was haunted. Now, he wanted Cassie to notice him— craved for her to acknowledge his existence.

In the last few days, he
’
d turned the lights on and off while she read in his chaise, moved her glass while she ate dinner, and even banged his feet against the floor to gain her attention. Either she did her best to ignore him or continued to be oblivious.

His patience had dimmed days ago.

Ethan stood by the bathroom door, not moving until the shower turned off. He might be desperate, but he was not a pervert. Privacy wasn
’
t a luxury, but a given right.

The bathroom door stood ajar. He cleared the doorway and froze mid-stride.

He should turn away, leave Cassie alone. How could he, with the sight of this stunning woman before him? Her slender body was still wet from the water and her hair dripped down her pert breasts, making drops of water run down her creamy skin. How he yearned for his tongue to follow the path of those droplets as it danced along her flesh.

Dear God, she had captivated him
before
he saw her naked. Now, he rejoiced in her beauty. She positioned herself on the edge of the tub and placed her foot onto the toilet seat, revealing the glistening of aroused sex. Her small hand circled her clitoris and her head fell back. Little moans echoed off the bathroom walls and if his cock could have hardened, it would have.

Damn it all to hell, he
’
d never been so enthralled by any woman, not even in life. Watching her, he cursed his spectral existence and his inability to assist her in finding pleasure.

His legs wobbled beneath him and he couldn
’
t stop from sinking to his knees. He lifted his gaze to her face as she dropped her head forward. With her mouth parted, her hand continued to swirl around her nub and her eyebrows drew together in focus.

Ethan studied her. Her skin appeared so smooth and flawless; he couldn
’
t find a single freckle or dark hair on her body.

He yearned to place his lips against her hot slick flesh and taste her. He
’
d never witnessed a woman giving herself pleasure, because he
’
d never been given the chance in life.

Now that he had, he couldn
’
t take his eyes off her, and didn
’
t know where to look—the hand sweeping across her swollen flesh or the expression on her face?

“Woman, you
’
re remarkable.”
Ethan
’
s spoke through gritted teeth.
“Look at you, bringing yourself to climax.”
His gaze stayed trained on her hand as she rubbed faster and her moans deepened.

She raised her other hand to her breast and pinched her nipple. The color of her face deepened to a darker shade and her breath came in near pants.

He couldn
’
t take anymore. Crawling toward her, he knelt in front of her. He longed to smell her, have her arousal delighting his nostrils. His current predicament took that ability away.

Cassie
’
s eyes snapped open and landed on his. Her stare stayed with his, even though her eyes were clouded by pleasure. By the Lord above, he
’
d swear she saw him. His intrigue made him unable to stay quiet.
“Do you know I
’
m here?”

She moaned.

Clarification? Not enough for him.
“Can you feel me here?”

Her answering moan sent a wave of warmth over his cold form, yet she didn
’
t respond to him. Resolved to prove it true, he reached out and touched her leg. A shudder erupted through her, her eyes became hooded, and her breath hitched.

The build up to her climax exploded and she quivered. If his cock had worked, he
’
d have climaxed right with her.

Her trembling subsided and her breath whooshed from her lungs. She blinked, lowered her hand from her pussy and brought her foot down to the floor. Ethan waited for her to show a sign of acknowledgement.

She rose to her feet and strolled through him. He felt as if he
’
d been brought to the edge of his own orgasm, only to be starved of it.

* * *

What in the world had gotten into her? Ever since she returned from the antique store, her libido had run wild.
Am I going mad?

Days and nights of weird happenings occurred around her¯lights turning off, objects moving, all sorts of strange goings-on. Almost like being
watched. And the weirdest part? She didn
’
t mind. It didn
’
t seem like some creep stood outside her window, peering at her. More so, like eyes of lust caressing her body.

Masturbation hadn
’
t been a daily event. As of late, her need increased. Still, she reminded herself, he lived in her imagination and she
’
d be better off not focusing on such silliness.

Right then, her cell phone rang from the bedroom. She rushed from the bathroom, scooped up her cell phone on the bed and answered it on the fourth ring. “Hello.”

“Well hello to you, too, stranger. Did the house eat you alive?” Her best friend, Stephanie Mayfield, laughed.

“No smartass, it didn
’
t. You should see the house now, it looks amazing.” She understood Stephanie
’
s attempt to goad her, the house was falling to pieces the day she arrived. Now though, it looked fantastic.

“So you
’
re almost done with the job?” Stephanie asked.

Cassie glanced around the room, furnished with the antiques she purchased at the store. “It
’
s coming together. In a week or so, I
’
ll
be done. Got the kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms finished¯just the little things left.”

“Good.” Stephanie sounded relieved. “I
’
m bored and need you home.”

“Aw, you
’
ve missed me?” Cassie said.

Stephanie snorted. “You know I have.” Although closer than a sister, Stephanie wasn
’
t the type to get caught up in sentiments. “So, do you like it there in good ole
’
, Savannah?”

Cassie pondered the thought, hesitant to take the conversation where it needed to go. She craved getting all these weird happenings off her chest, to confirm she hadn
’
t lost her mind. “I like it all right, but, listen, I have a question for you. Do you believe in ghosts?”

Stephanie roared with laughter. “You did
not
just ask me that.”

Annoyance ran through Cassie, she did her best to hide it though. Stephanie would use her irritation against her, play with it a while. “Oh hush, just answer the question.”

“Why are you asking?”

“Well. . . .” Cassie hesitated a moment knowing Stephanie would find amusement in her confession. “I think there might be a ghost in the house.”

Silence came from the other end of the phone. After a long pause, Stephanie spoke up. “Are you serious?”

“I know how crazy it sounds, but I think the house might be haunted. See, I went to the antique store here and bought furniture for the house. I brought it home and all sorts of weird shit began.”

“Like what?” Stephanie whispered.

“All the typical ghost things—”

Stephanie interrupted her before she could finish. “You mean, moving things, footsteps and stuff?”

“Yeah.”

Silence hit the line again. Cassie waited for the bomb to drop. Soon her friend would laugh until she couldn
’
t breathe. It never came. Instead, she asked, “What else?”

Pushing her embarrassment over her recent actions away, she blurted out. “I think the ghost is watching me, and I think
it
’
s
a
he
.”

More silence followed before Stephanie whispered, “Why?”

Cassie pondered how to answer her without looking like a complete nut-job. She decided she had no other choice than to let go of her worry. “Because I don
’
t mind him watching.”

It took all of a second for the phone to be filled with laughter. “How classic. Cassie
’
s got all hot and horny for a ghost. Only you...”

“Hey, shut up,” Cassie retorted cutting in. Yes, crazy, but she needed some moral support. “I didn
’
t tell you it to make fun of me, jackass.”

Another round of laughter continued before Stephanie gathered herself with a long deep breath. “Okay, okay, sorry. Well, have you tried talking to him?”

“The ghost?” Cassie gasped.

“No idiot, the neighbor.” Stephanie sighed. “Of course, the ghost.”

Huh?
“How do you talk to a ghost?”

“Like I should know, I
’
ve watched a few of those ghost hunting shows. Wait until dead time¯which is like three in the morning by the way¯turn all the lights off and speak to
it.”

Oh yes, a wise idea.

“Do you think it
’
s safe? What if it
’
s evil or something?”

“Umm...” Stephanie paused. “Yeah, I got nothing. Maybe get rosary beads or something to protect you.”

“Rosary beads, think it
’
d work?”

“It always works in the movies.”

True. Cassie had seen movies where evil spirits were warded off by a priest or blessed items. Maybe if she faced the ghost, realized it lived in her imagination, she could move. One thing was certain, if no ghost existed here, she clearly needed to get laid. Fantasizing over some non-existent man couldn
’
t get any more pathetic.

“All right, tonight, I
’
ll try and make contact.”

“Hey Cassie,” Stephanie
’
s tone, calm and reserved, “if he appears to you and you do the nasty with him, at least you don
’
t have to worry about protection.”

Cassie snorted. “You
’
re so not funny.” Even though a chuckle escaped her as she ended the call.

Ethan watched Cassie light candles around the bedroom. He
’
d heard half of the conversation she had on the telephone, however, he got enough out of it to know she wanted to make contact with him. A swell of happiness touched his heart, in more ways than one.

No one ever cared enough to try. Why her? And one comment she made couldn
’
t be silenced in his mind,
Because I don
’
t mind him doing it.

Did she just admit she enjoyed him watching her masturbate? He wished it to be true. Glancing over to the clock on the nightstand, the bright green lights glowed three o
’
clock in the morning.

Cassie settled herself on the floor with a candle in front of her. “Is there anyone here with me?” she whispered, scanning the room with fear in her eyes.

He chuckled. Her fright both amused and impressed him because she had the strength to proceed. He approached, sat in front of her and waved his hand over the candle to extinguish the flame.

“Bah,” she gasped, startled. Fumbling with the lighter, she managed to relight the candle. “Okay, freaky.” She glanced around the room searching out a reason the candle went out and Ethan saw the surprise rise in her eyes.

“So—oo—o,” she stuttered, “if you put the candle out just now, can you not repeat it. I don
’
t think my heart can handle it being pitch black in here.” She paused. “Can you knock or something.”

“Yes.”
He wanted to tell her, “You
’
ll have to listen hard.” He could knock, but it wouldn
’
t hold much strength, quiet for living person
’
s ears.

“All right—” Her voice came hesitant. “Will you knock if you
’
re here with me?”

He did.

Cassie
’
s eyebrows drew together and she cocked her head to the side. “Was that you?”

Ethan used all his strength to bang his fist against the floor. Her head straightened up, her eyes wide and she paled before him.

“I heard you,” she squeaked.

“Good. I
’
m here.”
He finally had her attention, his body tensed and he sat up straighter in anticipation.

Cassie stayed quiet a moment, her gaze inquisitive.” Are you stuck here in the house?”

“No.”
He didn
’
t knock to confirm it.

“So, if you
’
re not stuck in the house, why are you here?” She shook her head and laughed. “Right, you can
’
t answer me.”

The sound of her laughter forced his to rise. She chastised herself and he found it endearing. All the reasons she appealed to him. Her personality had proven to give him much amusement.

“Do you want me to help you?” she continued.

He knocked, not quite sure how she could help him. Only knowing, she needed to acknowledge his presence.

Cassie nodded to his response as if she
’
d expected it. Her cheeks flushed and she nibbled on the corner of her mouth, “Are you a man?”

He gave a steady knock.

“Have you been watching me?”

Again, he confirmed her question.

The subtle color to her cheeks now burned red-hot. “Did you watch me earlier, in the bathroom?”

The bang against the floor sounded loud to him, even though she
’
d heard a slight tap.

“Oh my goodness.” Her hands covered her face. “That
’
s so humiliating.”

“No, it was fantastic.”
Frustration grated at him and tensed his jaw. He wanted her to hear the enjoyment he received watching her pleasure. Yet, he had no way of telling her.

She squirmed for a while before she lowered her hands. “All right, well, I
’
m going to pretend
the event
never happened so you do the same.” She released a long deep breath and the color in her cheeks dimmed. “I
’
ll do what I can to help you. I
’
m not quite sure what to do, but I
’
ll do something.”

“It would please me if you did.”
He touched her face, and she leaned into his hand making him believe she sensed him. He wished he could embrace her
,
although, even if she did save him from his personal hell, he would never experience her warm skin beneath his hand.

He continued to cup the side of her face. If he pushed too hard his hand would go right through her skin, and the reminder only confirmed his current state of despair.

Cassie closed her eyes, her lips parted as she exhaled, “Are you touching me right now?”

He knocked.

“I can feel you on my cheek. It
’
s so cold.”

“But you are warm, my sweet.”
He might wish to embrace her for hours upon end, however, he didn
’
t want to make her uncomfortable. He lowered his hand and she opened her eyes.

A sweet smile spread across her face and Ethan could swear the sight of her happiness warmed his cold form. “I don
’
t know if you have to leave here,” she said, “If you can stay, will you stay with me tonight?”

His fist came down hard on the floor.
“I wouldn
’
t want to be anywhere else.”
He craved to have the acknowledgment she shared the unexplainable attraction between them, and it thrilled him she declared it now.

Cassie blew out the candle, stood and went to the bed. She slipped under the sheets and Ethan came to sit¯ float¯ on the edge of the bed. He rested his hand on her thigh on top of the sheets so not to make her cold.

“Good night.”

He couldn
’
t remember what the sensation of sleep entailed. What it was like to wake each morning with the renewed strength of energy. Now though, it didn
’
t much matter, he enjoyed watching the beauty before him. Here, he could stay for all eternity.