Haunted Hearts

by Jenny Bloom

  She hissed with yearning. “Touch me...”

  Lynda obeyed without hesitation. She sank beneath the hem of Ruby's skirt and drew it up, revealing Ruby's shivering legs. As her fingers grazed up Ruby's thighs, Ruby bucked and tugged her closer.

  Ruby pressed her lips to Lynda's ear, playfully toying with Lynda's earlobe. She prompted Lynda to groan as Lynda sank between her thighs, teasing her clit through her panties. Another hiss escaped her as she released Lynda's ear and sank to Lynda's neck.

  She summoned goosebumps as she trailed kisses along Lynda's skin. The sounds she provoked were enough to make her stomach flip, to cause her skin to prickle with earnest as her legs naturally parted. Every move Lynda made prompted her to react without thinking and she became lost in the fluid exchange unfolding between them.

  The wind picked up and nipped Ruby's exposed skin. She disregarded the shivers it caused and focused on Lynda. There was nothing more engaging than Lynda's fingers slipping beneath her panties and sliding over her muff. She hummed longingly as Lynda traced her lips and circled over her clit, dropping immediately back down to engage with her nectar.

  Lynda rubbed Ruby fervently, gently rocking into her with eager hips. Lynda spared no time—she urgently nudged her lips into Ruby's and silenced every moan that dared to escape from Ruby's lips. While her fingers dutifully stroked, her hips bucked, spreading Ruby's legs wider with every thrust.

  Ruby could feel their tension rising. She could sense the gravity of their desire turning from a superficial desire into a primal need. As her stomach proceeded to flip again, she reached down into Lynda's tights and fondled Lynda's clit. Lynda moaned loudly as she continued stroking, following Lynda's rhythm. As she matched their stroking beat together, she felt Lynda's muff lips twitch around her fingers and she smiled, feeling satisfied with Lynda's response.

  After a few more heated strokes, Lynda tugged Ruby upright. She slipped her tights down to her ankles. She yanked Ruby's panties away and tossed them aside, swiftly tugging Ruby into position between her legs. She tangled Ruby with her and pressed her vagina to Ruby's, prompting Ruby to gasp.

  Ruby felt Lynda gush. She parted her lips as her eyes rolled back, focusing on the steady rhythm of Lynda thrusting against her. Lynda was like the oncoming tide at dusk, like the cool waves lapping at the shore of her body. She blossomed as Lynda rubbed against her and moaned with every new sensation that riddled her body with goosebumps.

  “You feel like fire,” she whispered breathlessly. “It's like...magic.”

  Lynda whimpered in response, her lips twitching as she arched her back to better rub against Ruby. She gripped Ruby's thighs while rolling her hips to the invisible rhythm she was creating. As her nails dug into Ruby's skin, Ruby bucked and reached for her hands.

  Ruby took Lynda's hands in hers, giving Lynda a better grip to steady their humping. While curving her back, she felt the cool ground cradling her body. She felt the pulse of the earth and the sweep of the wind against her skin. She could feel the forest erupting with life all around them, celebrating their union with a natural soundtrack.

  She groaned as another tide of pleasure washed through her. Her skin sang to be worshiped, each inch crying out for Lynda to touch. She invited Lynda's hands to her breasts and homed in on the sensation of Lynda massaging them. She whimpered as Lynda's hands spilled down to her stomach, to her pelvis, and ultimately back to her thighs.

  She inhaled sharply as Lynda increased speed, rubbing fervently against her. Her insides ached as she responded with heated thrusts and broken utterances, unable to string together any collection of words to express her satisfaction. As she felt the tide shift, she threw her arms over her head and gave Lynda control, succumbing to their impending explosion.

  Lynda's hands roved back up Ruby's body. She decorated every visible inch, covering Ruby's peaks and crevices. When her hands found Ruby's shoulders, she clung desperately, gripping Ruby in place as her whimpers turned to soft gasps for air.

  Ruby's thighs twitched and her stomach clenched. Just the thought of Lynda erupting with her was enough to bring her to the edge. She could feel the wind changing, the trees bending, and the earth beneath them beating like a drum to their celebration. When she could hardly contain herself, she grabbed for Lynda's shoulders to control her burst.

  Her vagina tingled as she rubbed hard, thrusting her hips feverishly with only one goal in mind: their collective detonation. She hummed and pressed her lips together to silence herself, unable to control the volume of her groans even as she tried. She felt Lynda's breath against her cheek and even heard Lynda's heart beating madly to their tune.

  One last thrust forced her into a state of supreme bliss, flooding her body with electricity. She humped viciously a few more times before falling prey to a series of convulsions. Lynda followed suit, erupting beautifully on top of her as she shivered with delight. Another grunt led to Lynda collapsing against Ruby with their hair wild and their breath filling the air between them.

  Lynda grunted. “Wild.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Incredibly wild.”

  “You make me feel that way, too.”

  As Lynda surfaced to take a deep breath, she nudged her nose against Ruby's chin. “You make me feel like I don't need to control everything.”

  “That's how it should be. That's how I know it's...” Ruby faded as she bit her lower lip. Don't say that yet. “It's real.”

  “It is real, isn't it?”

  Lynda's hands fled over every inch of Ruby's arms, prompting another shiver to pass between them. Ruby smiled warmly as Lynda returned to her lips with a warm kiss. She accepted each kiss with lazy surrender and then relaxed back against the blanket, listening to the night chime around them.

  “I hope nobody heard that,” Lynda whispered. “Do you think...?”

  “No way. We're out of earshot from the houses next to my apartment.”

  “I just don't want to get you into trouble.”

  Ruby giggled. “It would be worth it for me.”

  “You're such a rebel.”

  “I do try.”

  Lynda laughed and untangled her legs from Ruby, wrapping Ruby into a warm hug. She sighed. “This has been the best night of my life. I don't want to go back to school tomorrow.”

  “So, don't.”

  “That's probably not the best advice.”

  Ruby laughed. “Sorry—I don't mean to be a bad influence.”

  “I mean, it's tempting. I'd love to skip a few days and just spend them with you. We could explore everything.”

  “Yeah?”

  “There's so much of Salem I never saw until you showed it to me, even the spooky stuff. I was worried I wouldn't like it.”

  She smiled warmly. “I'm glad I could change your mind.”

  “I mean...”

  A curtain of silence fell between them as Ruby listened for the rest of Lynda's sentence. When nothing came, a pang of worry assaulted her stomach. She swallowed hard and nudged into Lynda, hoping to chase away the strange sensation growing within her.

  She stuffed down the sudden worry and replaced her concerned face with a grin. “Well, let's talk about what we might do next.”

  “What else is there to do around here?”

  “We could explore some of the new-age shops. I haven't been since my mother passed away.”

  “I'm not super into the witch stuff.”

  Ruby shrugged. “Well, we could always take a ride somewhere.”

  “Like where?”

  “To some of the neighboring towns. They have an incredible history associated with Salem.”

  “I was thinking something a little more fun than history.”

  “I thought you liked facts?”

  Lynda sat upright and started fixing her tights, pulling them over her hips. She ruffled her hair and shivered as she reached for her sweater.

  Ruby quietly fixed her clothes.

  “I like facts,” Lynda replied.

  �
��But not if it's witches and ghosts?”

  Lynda shrugged. “It depends. I think I want to try something neither of us have tried before.”

  “That sounds neat like our own little adventure!”

  “But you've probably done everything, right? I haven't really gotten past the university when it comes to Massachusetts.”

  “I can show you around town.”

  Lynda made a face. “We could always play it by ear. I have class tomorrow and a project to do this weekend, but we could figure something out.”

  “Of course.”

  Ruby sat quietly while playing with her skirt. The blanket was messed up and there were cracker bits everywhere along with salad dotting the fleece.

  She giggled. “We made a mess.”

  “We absolutely did. And I'll do it again, too.”

  Ruby fluttered as Lynda kissed her. The air shifted around them and wrapped them in a bubble, hiding them away from the rest of the world. That's how she felt with Lynda—like she was hidden from the imposing responsibilities of her job, her tours, her life. She felt open and wild like there were no limits to what she could become.

  To what they could become—together.

  She pressed her forehead to Lynda's and felt the zap she felt when they first held hands. “I never want this feeling to end.”

  “I've been finding myself thinking much the same.”

  “Really?”

  Lynda grinned. “Yes.”

  “Well, I guess we ought to make sure that we keep this going.”

  “I would like that.”

  Ruby sighed.

  I should tell her now, she thought. I should say something now before this gets too far.

  But the way the moonlight fled over Lynda's features caught her breath and she couldn't bring herself to speak. She couldn't command the words to flee from her lips as intended just as she couldn't control the way her body responded when Lynda made love to her.

  She couldn't even think. It was impossible with the tide of emotions returning to take her over. She licked her lips as the cool breeze picked up and rustled her bangs.

  “Do you want to get back to my place?”

  Lynda nodded. “It's getting chilly.”

  “We can light a fire and roast marshmallows.”

  “I'd like that.”

  Ruby grinned as she forced her limbs to move. She collected the mess of food and dumped it into the basket, throwing the two water bottles in after it. She set the basket aside and shook out the blanket, listening to the soft rustling of broken crackers hitting the leaves. Once the blanket was properly shaken, she folded it up as Lynda lifted the basket.

  She took Lynda's hand. “Maybe I'll show you that book.”

  “Oh, I thought that was a family secret? Wouldn't you have to get rid of me after showing me?”

  “Not unless you joined my family.”

  Warmth spread from Lynda's hand to Ruby's, filling Ruby with hope. She let the glowing heat travel through her body as her heart fluttered. She was renewed with desire. While she led Lynda back to her apartment, she tensed with the excitement of their evening. She glowed with a mixture of excitement and alarm, signaling the beginning of what she didn't yet want to name.

  It feels like love, she considered as they stepped on the porch. And it feels like everything I've ever wanted. If it is love, then I could really practice my rituals the way my mother had intended. She blinked away the memories surfacing. I just want to make my mother proud...

  Chapter Eight

  Lynda

  The entire town was under siege with the spirit of Halloween. There were ghastly figures on every corner, witch decorations in every window, and brooms sitting out in front of doorways. As Lynda walked past them with her books tucked in her arms, she felt a creeping annoyance at how seriously Salem was taking their historical roots.

  This whole place is obsessed, she thought as she walked by a group of little girls dressed as witches. And it's starting to get under my skin.

  She huffed as she dipped into a coffee shop, barreling past a series of decorations that made her want to slap them away. Although she was enjoying her time with Ruby, she was beginning to feel the pressure from being surrounded by supernatural reminders.

  She tried to ignore them as she ordered her coffee. When she received her cup of piping hot caffeine, she chose a table in the back corner of the shop where she could stay away from the chattering tourists happily yapping about the spooky encounters they were having.

  It's not even real, she reflected angrily. I don't get how people can get so wrapped up in it.

  The cool October air wasn't enough to chill her out. She could feel her aggravation rise as she attempted to focus on her weekend project: a report on a man who had been accused of witchcraft and who had later been crushed to death by stones.

  She rolled her eyes at the textbook. There weren't enough illustrations that could entertain her attention. Even when she suspended her criticism, she couldn't find the energy to dedicate to her project.

  I don't understand why I have to do this on an accused witch. Just because it's Halloween doesn't mean every project has to be Halloween-themed.

  Someone cackled across the shop and she shuddered, feeling the itch of paranoia creeping up her spine. Her phone buzzed in her pocket. At least she could turn her attention to that.

  She looked through the series of texts from Ruby, all bubbled up with excitement about their potential plans. She huffed again as she tried to stifle the guilt she felt about not following through.

  I still don't know what I want to do, she typed. But I'm open to suggestions!

  Her joyful texting tone didn't match her demeanor in the least and she set her phone face down for the time being as she attempted to get back to her project. The noise of the cafe consumed her ears and interrupted every passing thought, making her head spin as she tried to read the words in the book.

  When her phone buzzed again, she was capped with anxious energy.

  I could take you to dinner, Ruby suggested. And then we could take a walk somewhere.

  What kind of dinner?

  Seafood—we have the best kind!

  I don't like seafood.

  Seconds passed as Lynda watched the three dots appear at the bottom of the message, indicating that Ruby was typing. When they disappeared, Ruby's response showed up: How about steak?

  I don't eat that much meat.

  Would you prefer a vegetarian feast?

  That could work.

  Lynda sighed, setting her phone back down. She let her head drop into her hands and she closed her eyes, trying to ignore the hum of noise around her.

  Why am I being so rotten? Lynda asked herself.

  Another cackle from a cafe patron prompted her from her seat. She grabbed her coffee, shoved her books under her arms, and left the cafe behind. The sidewalk was bright with sunlight and the air was cool, greeting her face and calming her temporarily. She marched down the street toward her apartment.

  If I focus on the sidewalk, I won't have to see Halloween everywhere.

  A memory threatened to surface. It tickled the edge of her mind, causing her vision to tunnel. She could still see the sidewalk but she could also feel the way the memory crept up behind her just as a specter might. She took a few deep breaths.

  The longer she stared at the sidewalk, the faster she walked. She was squinting now, focusing as hard as she could on getting somewhere. She didn't think she was even walking to her apartment anymore—and that didn't matter as long as she was getting as far away from witches and ghosts and goblins as possible.

  She cleared her throat while stifling a sob.

  It's just memories—nothing more.

  But no amount of self-assurance prevented her from experiencing the tumultuous blast of grief that took her chest. She struggled to breathe through it, to fill the void with air instead of tears. She bit her lower lip and tried to sip her coffee, shadows beginning to cloud her vision.
r />   And then, she crashed.

  Her coffee cup flew from her hand and hit the ground with a gross splat. Coffee splattered her white tights and stained her plaid skirt, prompting her to huff angrily as she fumbled with her books. She tried to recover them but ended up dropping them as well, watching them hit the ground with a look of utter defeat.

  She closed her eyes and took a sharp breath. “Wow, watch where you're going, cretin.”

  “I'm sorry, Lynda.”

  When she opened her eyes, she found Ruby staring back at her. Panic stole her gut and made her drop to the ground to grab her books, tucking them back under her arm. She left the shattered coffee cup on the ground in a puddle of muddy caffeine.

  She met Ruby's gaze. “Sorry.”

  “No, it's okay. You look like you were really in your own head there.”

  “Maybe I was.”

  Ruby frowned sympathetically, lowering her voice. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “If I didn't mention it through text, why would I want to talk about it now?”

  “I just figured I would offer.”

  “Well, not everything requires a solution, you know.”

  Ruby looked taken aback. She even took a step back as if Lynda's words had stung her. As she raised a hand to her cheek, she lowered her eyes.

  Lynda felt the sting of guilt in her chest but she continued, “Maybe give me some time to breathe. I told you I had a project this weekend.”

  “I was just trying to come up with some plans.”

  “Salem doesn't have much to do in the way of normal things. I'm not really interested in doing anything around here except finishing my degree.”

  Ruby arched an eyebrow. The glance of hurt had been replaced by something else—something angry. “Then maybe you should focus on that.”

  “That's what I've been trying to do, but your shitty town has been taunting me with its decorations.”

  “Didn't you know Salem was one of those places? You've been here for a few years already. This isn't anything new to you.”

  Lynda huffed and rolled her eyes. “That doesn't mean it hasn't been any less annoying.”