Page 40 of The Haunting of the Mountain

“Why’s that?”

“Because I’m craving dessert.”

His lips crash against mine, and my body melts against his as he hooks an arm around me and slides me closer. His cock drills against my thigh as his tongue slips past my lips, kissing me likeit’s our first time. Like we’ve been apart and have kissed in ages. It’s all-consuming, and I think I might go back on my word. Corn dolls could be our thing if it leads to a kiss like this. I moan against his lips, savoring his taste and the way his hands control me.

“Missed you,” he rasps against my lips.

I smile. “Yeah?”

“Been too long since I’ve tasted you.”

“Well, I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere.”

He swallows, eyes flaring. “You mean.”

I nod. “I want to be with you, Stone. There’s no one else. There will never be anyone else. I don’t want to live without you.”

“Kyla,” Stone rasps, planting kisses all over my face. “I want you. I need you. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Is… did he propose? I don’t see a ring but I don’t care. I want Stone and he wants me. That’s all that matters.

“I love you,” he says.

“I love you too.”

And then he kisses me again. Deeply. Madly. The way a man should kiss the woman he loves.

And there’s no question in my mind about how he feels. Stone might have an exterior like his namesake, but he lays it all out for me. He wears his heart on his sleeve, handing it over to me without a second thought. I’ll carry it with me. Keep it safe. Because it’s the most precious thing in the world. Stone’s love for me. And mine for him.

Epilogue

Kyla - One year later

“Did you hear that?”I pause, listening for the soft tapping before gesturing. “I think it came from the stacks back there.”

Stone follows closely behind me as we investigate the unknown noise. A mouse, an air vent blowing paper, or possibly a spectral cat. I thought Stone was joking about that the first time he mentioned it, but the evidence I gathered last year is undeniable. There’s something strange going on here.

“Wait,” I pause, listening again but my attention is on Stone.

It’s hard to focus when he’s so close. He wasn’t supposed to be on this investigation, but once he heard that I planned on coming back on Halloween, he kicked our regular cameraman out and took his place.

Need to make sure that groundskeeper doesn’t try some funny business.

A shiver races through me as I remember the way he touched my belly and leaned in, whispering,I need to protect my wife and twins.

I’m still getting used to that. Wife. Twins?! We’ve been married for six months but it feels like I’ve known him my entire life. I love living with him in our cabin in the mountains. I love tagging along with him during all of his expeditions, guidingtourists looking for Bigfoot and other cryptids. And I love having him for my little ghost adventures, even though he’s the one giving me goosebumps and not ghosts.

I can’t think of a better man to have kids with or share a life with.

“Think it’s her?” Stone rasps. “Willow?”

After reviewing last year’s EVP session at Vernon’s grave, one in particular stood out.Willow… save Willow.We thought it was about a tree. There are many willows on site. But after a little research at the Historical Society, we found out that Vernon had a cat named Willow.

There’s no record of what happened to Willow, but Nell, Stone, and I were able to create a small headstone for her next to Vernon’s, hoping that gives his soul some rest.

Our audience has grown fond of the spectral kitten, so we’re back here tonight to see if our token has soothed their souls and allowed them to move on.

“Not sure. Could be Vernon.” I reach for the recorder on my hip.” Maybe we should try to capture another EVP.”

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