Page 41 of A Haunting at Keystone Manor

My post sex euphoria is wearing off, and I get the sense that he needs to get something off his chest. Time for another difficult conversation. I know he won’t initiate, so I decide to rip the Band-Aid off before I can second guess myself.

“You’re not Andrei. You don’t hurt people, and you’re not a rapist,” I say bluntly. He flinches at that word before sucking in a deep breath.

“I hate that he did that to you. I hate it, and I’m still pissed I didn’t get to kill him. Maybe we can ask Seth if there’s a way to resurrect him and kill him again. The point is, what he did is not sex. Sex is about love and connection, that’s what we shared, and it was perfect. I’ll say it as many times as I need to until you believe it.”

He’s quiet for a few moments as he stares up at the ceiling. “I know that, logically. But it’s all mixed up in my head. Before him, I’d never had sex. I didn’t know what it was supposed to be like.” Tears are forming in his eyes, but he refuses to let them fall as he continues. “It hurt like nothing I’d ever felt before, and I wanted to die every second he was on top of me. I don’t want that to ever be your experience with me. My heart knows that it’s not, but I guess my head needs a minute to catch up.”

“Take all the time you need,” I tell him, heart aching for him. “And if we need to do this again to prove it to you, I’m willing to take one for the team.” That gets a chuckle out of him. He squeezes me tighter and rolls back on top of me, settling more of his weight on me this time. Apparently, I’m training him well, because he’s learning what I like without me having to say a word.

“I do think I’m going to require more proof. Potentially a lot more.”

“I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into babe, because I’m gonna give it to you.”

***

Some more time later, I’m lying boneless, back in Jake’s arms. “You’ve killed me with your big dick.”

“Can you kill a ghost?” he asks, chuckling.

I shrug. “I don’t know, but if anyone could figure it out, it’s your dick. I think I see the light. Is that heaven? Should I walk towards it?”

“You’re ridiculous, brat.”

I glare at him. “We’ve discussed this, Jake. It’s sir.” He swats my ass and rolls back over me, hugging me to him as he hides his face in my neck. His embrace is intimate, but not sexual, so I don’t take it there again.

“Thank you,” he whispers into my skin. I thread my fingers through his hair and gently caress him. I know what he’s thanking me for; he doesn’t need to say the words. I understand.

“I really should be the one thanking you,” I say, hoping to make him smile. He chuckles before lifting his head to stare down at me, expression relaxed and happy. “But you’re welcome. We should do this every day. We’re ghosts, what else do we have to do?”

“Run a hotel?”

“Damn, good point. But any time you want to put your hands on me, feel free. I love it when you touch me. It makes me want to purr.”

His eyes crinkle as he smiles, and I’ll never get over the sight. “I love it when you touch me, too. If you don’t stop, you’re going to get me ready for round three. Can you handle it?”

“Uh huh.” The thought of him fucking me again has turned my brain to goo and rendered me speechless, which is hard to do. I want it.

Chapter twenty

Running A Hotel Is Hard When You’re A Ghost

Alex

Immediately following Jake’s victory over his father, I promote Brandon to acting manager. I’ll still run things behind the scenes, so to speak, but we need a living face for this hotel, and Brandon has proven himself more than capable. When he’s not hidden away working on his book, that is.

“I’d be honored to help run this place, little dude. Kayla pretty much showed me all the ropes already, so I know what to do. I won’t let you down,” Brandon vows.

“I know you won’t. How much was Kayla paying you, by the way?” I need to one up her.

“Oh, um, nah I wasn’t getting paid per se. She was letting me stay in the attic free of charge in exchange for my services. But no cheddar exchanged hands. I just wanted to be helpful, you know? You guys have done so much for me.” I gasp. That sounds like something Kayla would do. Pawn off the actual work to unpaid interns.

“How does fifteen dollars an hour sound? Free room and board in an actual room this time?”

Brandon thinks about it for a minute. “Can I still take smoke breaks with Seth?”

“You drive a hard bargain, Sinclair. No more than two per day when you’re on the clock. Deal?”

He stretches his hand out, and we shake. “You’ve got yourself a deal! I’m gonna go take my first official smoke break now. Be back in ten!” He runs off, calling for Seth. I just sigh.