Page 12 of Gift for My Ghost

“I want to be with you too,” she whispered. “If you really think it’s possible, maybe I could do some research.”

He nodded eagerly.

“It’s worth investigating. And if I’m right, and if the power is strongest at the end of the month, then I want to try.”

CHAPTER 6

Later that night, Leo prowled restlessly around the apartment. After Jessica had somewhat reluctantly agreed to investigate the possibility of him crossing over, they had avoided the subject for the rest of the evening. It should have been like any other evening, and yet it wasn’t.

He sat with her as she prepared and ate one of her usual rabbit food meals, and even though he could smell it this time, it didn’t seem any more appetizing. She was obviously preoccupied by his revelation, toying with her fork and abandoning her already minimal dinner halfway through it. He bit back an instinctive protest, trying to remember that she was capable of taking care of herself, then thought of an alternative.

“Would you mind making some popcorn?” he asked casually. “With lots of butter? I’ve missed the smell of it.”

She shook her head but complied, bringing the bowl to the couch as they sat down to watch one of her favorite shows. He watched in satisfaction as she absently ate most of the bowl, then gave him a suspicious look.

“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Did what?” he asked, doing his best to keep his expression innocent.

“You knew I’d eat the popcorn.”

“Maybe. Did you enjoy it?”

“Obviously,” she laughed, pointing at the empty bowl before she licked the last traces of butter off her fingers. Watching her pretty mouth close around her fingers made him ache and he shifted on the couch, aware of his cock hardening. He’d always been aware of his desire for her, but after that kiss he craved her the way he’d once craved the air he no longer breathed.

As the episode finished, she stood up and stretched. She’d changed into her pajamas before the show and the movement gave him a tantalizing glimpse of her midriff. His gaze lingered on her pale skin, wishing he could press a line of kisses to the soft curve of her stomach. He must have looked a little too long because he heard her breath catch and looked up to find her watching him, her expression a complicated mixture of longing and hope and fear.

“I would never hurt you,” he said quietly, and she gave a shaky nod.

“I know. I just…”

For a moment he thought she might confide in him, but she only nodded again and fled for her bedroom. Normally he would have followed her, but he decided to give her a little space—and ended up pacing instead. He didn’t sleep, exactly, but usually, once he assumed his position in the corner of her bedroom, he drifted into a state somewhere between waking and sleeping. That statewas impossible to achieve tonight and he finally decided she must be asleep and went to take up his usual position.

She was asleep, but she wasn’t sleeping peacefully, her head shifting restlessly across the pillow.

“No,” she whispered, her voice oddly childlike, and his heart ached as a tear slipped down her cheek.

He wished he could comfort her, but there was nothing he could do. Or was there? Very cautiously, he lay down on the bed next to her, trying to project the same sense of warmth and comfort as he had earlier. Her body slowly stilled, and then she sighed and rolled towards him. To his shock, her head came to rest on his chest.

He froze, half-afraid he would shatter the fragile illusion, but her breathing remained deep and even. Very carefully, he raised his arm and placed it gently around her shoulders, feeling the warmth of her body beneath his touch. She sighed again and nestled a little closer. His heart ached. If only this was real. If only he could truly have her in his arms, in his bed.

Her breathing changed and he realized she was awake. He started to move away, to lift his arm, but she reached up to put a hand on top of his.

“Don’t leave me,” she whispered, and he gave a silent nod, holding her a little tighter.

“I’ll never leave you.”

She relaxed against him, her body melting into his, and despite the impossibility of the situation, he felt his body respond. Her scent surrounded him, sweet and tempting and he could hear her heart racing. He knew she had to feel his erection, hard andinsistent against her, but she didn’t pull away and he didn’t dare to move. He was afraid to break this fragile connection, this moment of closeness that felt so right.

“Leo,” she breathed, the longing in her voice undeniable.

“Sweetheart,” he murmured back.

She turned her head until her lips pressed against his throat and he bit back a groan, his cock throbbing as her mouth opened against his skin, hot and eager. The bed sheets were in the way, but he could feel the small curves of her breasts, her nipples hard and tight, pressing against his chest.

He moved his arm from around her shoulder and slid his hand down her side, caressing the dip of her waist, the gentle flare of her hips. The warmth of her skin radiated through the thin fabric, and his fingers slipped beneath the hem of her top, seeking her flesh.

She arched against him, her breath catching, as he explored her body. Her skin was like silk beneath his fingers, and he could feel that too, so warm and alive. He longed to touch her breasts, to cup the soft flesh and tease the taut peaks, but he settled for sliding his hand beneath her top to caress the curve of her back and the delicate lines of her ribs. He could feel the throb of her pulse, the rapid rise and fall of her chest, her arousal clear, and his own body responded in kind.

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