Page 96 of The Ghost of Ellwood
“Stop with the temper tantrum.” I got out of bed and neared him.
Before I could touch him, though, he snapped his dark eyes to me, and I was hit in the chest by an unseen force and pushed backward. It didn’t hurt; just shocked me more than anything.
“You’re being very unkind,” Theo said in a voice I didn’t recognize. It lacked the smooth texture I’d come to expect from him. This new voice was raw, raspy, and sounded on the verge of tears. “Do you not see I’m afraid, Ben?”
“Afraid of what?” I stepped toward him again, but slower than before. “Do you think I’ll leave you or lose interest when I know the truth? If you do, then you really don’t know me at all.”
“In the beginning, I kept the truth of my death from you because I didn’t trust you.” Theo glided over to the fireplace, his skin more translucent than I’d ever seen it. “Once I knew I could trust you, I nearly told you the truth. But by then, my heart had remembered what it’s like to beat again. I remembered the feeling of falling in love. Remembered what it’s like to be alive.”
“I won’t leave you.” At least not on purpose.
“And ifI’mthe one to leaveyou, Ben?” His body shimmered. “What if the mystery of my death is the only thing keeping me here?” Within seconds, Theo was in front of me. Tears streamed down his cheeks. “My fear is that once the mystery is solved, my soul will be released from this place. Like your book.”
As understanding dawned on me, I sunk backward on the bed. That’s how my book had ended. I had let Theo read it finally, letting him be my first critic, and he’d enjoyed it, though he’d been sad about the ending. Alex helped Thomas get vengeance for his death, and then Thomas was set free.
Would the same happen to Theo?
The thought of Theo leaving caused my chest to physically hurt, as if someone was wedging a tool between my ribs and prying them open.
“You see why I’m hesitant,” Theo said, coming closer. His body appeared more solid now and lacked the transparency. “I would rather my death remain a mystery than to finally have it known and lose you in the process.”
“Don’t youwantto move on?” I asked, staring wondrously at him. The fire cast shadows on his face.
“Not if you won’t come with me.”
“I don’t understand.” I rubbed my temples, feeling another headache coming on. “I don’t see why I’m so important to you. You said before this manor is like a prison to you. Here you are with a chance of release, and you don’t want it.”
It would be selfish of me to keep Theo here when he could finally move on.
“Perception.”
“What?” I focused on him, shocked to see he was only inches away now.
“Perception,” he repeated, touching my unshaven jaw. “The manorusedto be like a prison, one I spent years desperate to leave. With you here, it feels different. My perception has altered. What I have here with you is better than anything I could ever imagine having on the other side.”
Staring into his brown eyes, the anxiety and fear about the legend of Lady Death left me. Whatever happened tomorrow would happen. But for now? I wanted to make the most of our time together.
I grabbed onto his vest and tugged him closer, capturing his lips.
Theo lightly grunted before returning the kiss. His hands roamed my bare chest as mine worked on removing his clothes. Off went his vest, then I popped the collar on his shirt and unbuttoned it, sliding it off to reveal his beautiful porcelain skin. His pants were last, and I kissed down his happy trail as I slid them down.
When his cock bounced forward, I gently drew the silky flesh back and ran my tongue along the tip. Sucking him had become one of my favorite things. The sounds he made drove me wild. As I fucked him with my mouth, I tugged down my boxers and started jerking myself.
“You are much too good at that, darling,” Theo murmured before sucking in a sharp breath as I took him deeper in my throat. “Come here.”
Panting, he pulled me to my feet and fell back with me on the bed. Our arousals rubbed together as we made out, kissing and touching. Grinding.
“I apologize if I hurt you earlier,” he said, breaking the lip lock.
“You didn’t.” I pulled him on top of me and licked a trail up his neck. “I’m sorry for being a dick.”
“I forgive you.” Straddling my waist, he knotted his fingers in my hair. My cock rubbed against his ass as he rolled his hips. “I need you, Ben.”
I bit my bottom lip and smoothed a hand up his toned stomach.
Everything about him was flawless. No one compared to him; not even a little. I craved the coolness of his touch and the way his body flickered when he got excited. I craved that hunger in his eyes when he rode my cock into oblivion.
When we finally came together, bodies joined and aching for more, Theo smiled down at me. He didn’t feel pain the way living people did. The sharp sting from being stretched by my cock was a mere tingle to him. But he certainly felt the pleasure.
