Page 26 of Dancing with a Ghost

They left shortly after. Giles taking the papers with him, leaving us alone in the dimly lit lounge.

"Are you okay with this?" I touched his cheek, turning Toby's face towards me.

He sighed deeply, clearly conflicted with the decision.

I continued. "It's the right thing to do, you know it is. Hurting the families all over again, it's not what they would want. It wouldn't be fair."

"Wouldn't you want your family to know where you are?" he asked, his brow furrowed, looking perturbed.

"No. It won't change the past, Toby. I'm here and nothing can change that."

"I can. I can change that," he said, a look of determination on his face.

"Yes, you can. You have the power to do that, if you're still up for it?" I hoped he was.

"I tell you what, let's get back to my room. I've nothing else to do here. I was going to go home, but I think we should spend more time together. What do you say to that?" He seemed a little happier at least.

"I'll see you there." I thought about Toby's room, and seconds later, appeared inside before sitting on the bed. I waited and waited, getting progressively more nervous. Had he gone home to his other place? He said he was coming here.

I looked at the clock in his room. It'd been almost ten minutes. I paced the room, wondering where he was.

I was about to go look for him when I heard the key in the lock and in walked Toby, his arms full of food.

"Sorry, I had to grab something to eat. I've not eaten all day. Do you want some?" He finally looked over at me before dropping it all on the bed and standing in front of me, halting my path.

"What's wrong?" He held my arms, and I shivered at his touch.

"I wondered where you were. I wasn't sure if you meant the other home you have."

"Why would you think that? Come sit on the bed. We'll eat and talk. Dad stopped me on the way here."

I sat next to him and watched as he unwrapped a sandwich with some sort of meat on it.

He offered me half, and I shook my head. I didn't think I could eat, hadn't thought of food for seventy-nine years. I wasn't sure if I could even digest it?

"I'm fine, thank you. Eat though, you look famished. We can wait to talk."

I watched him as he ate, listening to his quiet moans of pleasure as he swallowed it piece by piece. I didn't think eating could be so sensual and when he reached for the bottle of water, slowly drinking it down, want and need consumed me, something I'd not experienced in many a year.

Did this mean something? Were we strengthening our bond? I wanted him to kiss me like he'd done before, and waiting for him to finish was torture.

Before long, he was wiping his mouth on the napkin, clearing away the papers from the bed.

"So, how have you been, you know, since we kissed? Have you noticed anything different?"

I had. I was less tired and could stay awake much longer than before. I was more aware of my surroundings too, hearing sounds that had previously been muted. And colours. The colours of the world were so much more. Wartime England always appeared dull and dreary. Life in limbo was full of suppressed senses, smell, sight, hearing. It was like living in a bubble, a bubble that hid me from the wonders of this world.

That bubble had burst after meeting Toby, and I was experiencing it all in a new and exciting way.

“I feel alive.” It was the only way I could explain it. “I know I’m not, it just feels….I don’t know. It’s difficult to explain, but I’m seeing everything in a new light, and I’m liking it. I want to hold onto this feeling and never let it go.”

“We can work on that. I meant what I said about wanting us to try. I want you to experience everything this world has to offer. There’s so much to see and do, we just need to get you there.”

His gaze flickered to my lips, and I hoped his thoughts were following the same track as mine.

“I mean, there’s no time like the present.” That cheeky smile was there again but this time, he bit his lip, lowering his eyes. Could he see how aroused he made me?

He edged closer to me, placing his hand on my thigh, sliding it towards my groin. I closed my eyes against the sensations coursing through my body. I was getting hard, straining against the zipper of my trousers. How was this happening? His touch was firm, but gentle.

---