“The zenith of the full moon will be reached in thirty Earth minutes.”
“Then there is no time for further discussion. Death, it is your determination to make.”
“I acknowledge Love’s rationale. However, as you all know, one law cannot be broken for any reason. Balance must be maintained at all times. If one life is returned, another must be taken. And only I may choose whose life will end prematurely. I will not hear arguments on this point.”
A vote was taken and the unanimous result recorded in The Book. Death was being sent to Crystal Island.
* * * * *
Hope tentatively poked a finger at Ryan’s chest. Her hand passed completely through the vision of his body before she withdrew it. “Well, I guess the Lady of the Moon didn’t feel like granting wishes tonight. Now what?”
Ryan grinned. You know what I want. But I’ll leave it up to you as to whether you give me my gift out here or—
She was back in the bedroom before he could finish his sentence. “If we’re going to do this here, I want to make sure you’re the only who sees me. Are you sure there are no more ghosts in here?”
He chuckled. We’re alone, I swear. Now, you evil spy, you may remove your own clothes or I will call in my men to do it for you. But trust me, you will get no pleasure from the orders I give them.
She had to stop herself from giggling and tried to imagine what the cock-loving foreign spy would do. Of course she would obey but she would do her best to steal some of her captor’s power while she did so. A spot of warmth took hold in her core and she fanned it with a memory of Ryan’s erection stretching as she did a slow striptease for him.
She reached up into her reddish curls and eased one hairpin out, set it on the dresser and fished for a second. Gradually her ringlets had all been freed and tousled. Next she unbuckled the strappy high heels and tossed them aside. Her little black dress came off her shoulders an inch at a time then slithered to the floor. Her bra was last to go and even before she undid the front hook, her breasts grew heavy with the need to be fondled. She pressed her hands to her thighs, dragged them slowly up over her hips and ribs and cupped her breasts, lifting and kneading them. She stared into his eyes as though daring him to resist what she had to offer.
He came close and moved his hands over her breasts as though he was rolling her nipples between his thumbs and index fingers. Hope aided his efforts by pinching and twisting them herself and they constricted into hard little buttons.
Not bad. His low voice, husky with desire, added fuel to the simmering heat inside her womb.
But don’t think for one second I can be seduced from my duty. Your perfect breasts are nothing more than tools for me to use against you. Assume the submissive position on the bed. Be sure to tighten the cuffs on your ankles so you are unable to close your thighs. Before I am finished working your cunt into a sopping mound of desire, you will have no more secrets from me.
Hope trembled in mock fear of what awaited her at his hands. She closed her eyes and let the fantasy take over her mind. She pictured him hovering at the foot of the bed, in total control and yet there was also lust in his eyes as he took off his clothes in preparation of making her talk. His penis jutted out from his body, dangerously long and thick. No wonder they had sent him to seduce her into switching sides. One look at what he had to offer had her pussy salivating with hunger. She wanted that big cock inside her, fucking her until she screamed for mercy. But she knew he would not make it that easy. First he would torture her with repeated withdrawals. She could tell he was one of those men who drive a woman crazy with need before doling out the slightest satisfaction.
Hope’s fingers performed their stand-in role as they grazed her breasts, pinched her nipples then crawled downward, tickling her belly, hips and inner thighs. They teased her naked netherlips then separated and stretched the flesh beneath so her clitoris was forced to come out of hiding. Two fingers dipped into her juicy pool and smeared it over her cunt before focusing on the sensitive little nub. As the digit toyed with her clit, she felt the pulse begin to build but she needed more than a rub to achieve the orgasm she hungered for.
She needed him, her captor, or at least a part of him. She would tell him whatever he wanted if only he would give her—
“Hope?”
Shush. I’m almost there.
“Um, I really hate to interrupt…”
Something touched her hand and she squealed, opened her eyes and leapt off the bed all at once.
“Did you feel that?” he asked with barely controlled excitement. “I didn’t mean to scare you, babe. Just look at me.”
He was standing a few feet away, staring at her as though she’d just grown another head. “Ryan, what’s the matter? Your voice sounds…different. How—” Then she saw why he wanted her to look at him. He didn’t just sound different. He looked different. He looked…solid. She stepped closer and tentatively raised her hand to his cheek. For the first time in a year, it didn’t pass through. There was warm flesh beneath her fingertips. “Am I dreaming?”
“I don’t think so. It feels like…like I’m alive.” He pressed his hand to his chest. “I have a heartbeat…and I’m breathing.” He pulled her into a tight embrace. “Oh my god, Hope. I can smell your vanilla body lotion. We got our wish!”
“That’s crazy.” He was squeezing her so hard, she could barely breathe but she didn’t care. She was in Ryan’s arms again.
“Crazy? Is this crazy?” His mouth crashed down on hers then gentled. It was too much too fast then not nearly enough. His tongue pushed its way into her mouth and challenged her to a duel. A heartbeat later his hands entered the fray, franticly groping, grasping, squeezing every inch he could reach without breaking contact with her mouth.
“Not fair,” Hope murmured against his mouth. “I wished to feel you too. Not just your clothes.”
Ryan abruptly released her, yanked off his t-shirt and unsnapped his jeans. “You have no idea how happy I am to make that wish come true. I used to love these jeans but after a year…”
“How could this have happened?”
“Who cares?” He discarded the last of his clothes and pulled her into his arms again.
Hope’s mind was reeling. This wasn’t possible. She felt his penis expand and lengthen against her belly and stopped questioning the miracle. “Shouldn’t we talk or something? I bet you’re starving! We could order everything you’ve missed off the room service menu and then—”
Ryan silenced her with a firm kiss and made love to her mouth until she forgot what she’d been saying.
“We’ve been doing nothing but talking for a year.” He tickled her ear with his tongue. “And food is second on my list of what I’m starving for.” His hands trailed down her back and squeezed her bottom. By urging her onto tiptoes and slightly bending his knees, he was able to press his erection against her pussy. A little movement on both their parts allowed him to rub her clit directly.
She shivered in response. It didn’t matter what she’d been doing a few minutes ago. Or how many times she’d masturbated in the last year. Her body craved this man’s touch as though it were their first time.
Ryan kneaded her ass as his cock continued to reacquaint itself with her cunt. “This is what I wished for. And without knowing how much time I’ve been granted, this is what I choose to do first.”
Hope squealed again as he lifted her off the floor and tossed her onto the bed. An instant later he dove on top of her and muffled her giggles with his mouth. He was obviously ready for action and as soon as the head of his hardened shaft touched her dripping vagina, he was assured she was as well. “Foreplay later,” she demanded, wrapping her legs around his waist. “Fuck now.”
Ryan inhaled sharply, drove his cock into her body and growled.
She felt his entire body tense then a noticeable throbbing deep within let her know he’d climaxed. But before she had time to be disappointed, he slid partway out of her canal and back in again…just as
hard as before.
He continued his rhythmic stroking as he murmured. “That was all…your fault. You are…a very…naughty girl. I should…punish you…”
She squeezed her vaginal muscles and chuckled. “I’ve never objected to a little, uh, punishment, at your hands…” She had to stop talking as his next plunge hit a particularly sensitive spot. “But I don’t see how I was to blame…” Again her breath caught as he stroked her pleasure center with the base of his cock.
He nibbled her earlobe. “The nympho spy and her interrogator are now my favorite characters.” He emphasized the effect her act had on him by picking up the pace and depth of his thrusts.
His enthusiastic approval caused a fresh flow of cream to smooth his glide. “Ready or not,” she warned as she thrust her hips upward.
But he was more than ready. As she pushed up, he rammed his cock into her cunt, over and over and over, until she cried out in ecstasy.
“Too quick. Do it again,” he commanded and pulled out to the very edge before plunging to her depths again. He rolled onto his back and nudged her into a sitting pose with a knee on each side of his hips. “I want to see myself going in and out of your pretty pussy. Show me you haven’t forgotten how to drive a stick shift.”
She giggled and rotated her bottom against him. Her quick release helped her go more slowly this time. Slick with both their juices, her cunt slid smoothly up and down his length. She tilted and swiveled her hips to give them both maximum pleasure with each rise and fall. Watching him watch her cunt repeatedly suck him in only to almost let him go a few seconds later was so hot her body sped toward another climax, but she had enough willpower to hold it back for several more minutes.
But then Ryan pressed his thumb against her clit and manipulated it in time with the rhythm she’d set and her control was stripped away. Her hips rose and slammed down, lifted and fell, faster and faster. Suddenly he bucked his hips to meet her descent and there was no way to slow down the rest of their ride or control the orgasm that sent a blast of sparkling pleasure through her entire body.
He had wished to give her an orgasm powerful enough to make up for lost time and, as the delicious, post-climactic tremors continued, that wish was granted as well.
Ryan cradled her in his arms until her breathing calmed. “So, was it good for you?”
She laughed aloud and gave his nipple a tweak. “Actually, I’m not sure. I think we’ll have to do it at least five or six more times.”
“Hey, you’re the one who waived the foreplay.”
She raised her upper body and kissed his mouth. “And I thank you for obeying so nicely. That time. But I only waived it for the first round. I’m still expecting at least fifteen minutes of warm-up before the next one.” She separated herself from him and fell back on the pillow with a sigh. “I really needed that.”
He grinned. “Ya think?” A few seconds later he jumped up from the bed, fetched the room service menu off the desk and plopped back down beside her. “Mind if I order something?”
She stretched and purred. “My dear, you may have absolutely anything you desire. I’m still full from dinner but I wouldn’t mind a pot of mint tea.” She rose from the bed and headed for the bathroom. “I’ll be back by the time you’re done ordering.”
As Hope did a quick cleanup, she sent a prayer of thanks to the Lady of the Moon, God, her Guardian Angel and any other supernatural powers who might have been responsible for the miracle she’d been given. She acknowledged the possibility she was just dreaming or hallucinating, but she didn’t care. It felt real. Ryan felt real. The orgasms very definitely felt real.
She tried not to think about how long the miracle might last but she couldn’t help it. And as soon as the question came forth, the wording of her wish came back to her…just once more.
Darn. She should have worded it more carefully. How literally was her wish being granted? Did she just use up her one more time to be with him or did they have one more night? One more lifetime would be her true wish. But she hadn’t asked for that. Double darn.
To her great relief, Ryan was still maintaining his physical form on the bed when she came out of the bathroom wearing one of the plush, white robes provided by the hotel.
He smiled and patted the spot next to him. “You know I’m going to take that right off you again.”
“I certainly hope so,” she replied as she curled up beside him. “But I figured I’d have to answer the door for room service.” He arched a brow in question. “Just in case I’m still the only one who can see you. So, what did you order?”
“Meat. And potatoes.”
“Excellent choice, monsieur.” Her fingers danced down his chest and slipped between his thighs to give his testicles a tickle. “You’ll be needing some high-energy food tonight.”
His penis twitched and he shifted around so he was facing her and she could still play with his balls. He pushed the robe off her shoulders and captured her breasts in his hands. “I think I have enough strength in reserve to get the foreplay started while we wait.” His head lowered to the curve of her neck and he kissed his way to one of her nipples. It puckered even before he closed his mouth over the peak.
“Room service could be here any minute.” Despite her words, she leaned back against the headboard and stroked his temple with her free hand. His tongue swirled over the tip, he gave it a hard suck and moved his oral attention to her other breast.
It felt so good to be caressed and handled again, it took her a moment to get back to teasing him. As soon as she started moving her fingers over his sex, he was aroused, but the expected knock at the door prevented them from continuing. Hope dismissed the waiter and wheeled the cart into the room herself.
The smell of food lured Ryan from bed to table in a heartbeat. He started on a roll even before she finished arranging everything on the table. “Oh my god,” he gushed before swallowing the first bite. ”I forgot how good food was.”
His prime rib dinner came with a baked potato and a squash medley and he devoured all of it faster than Hope had ever seen anyone eat but she dared not comment. She could only imagine what it must have been like, watching her eat several times a day for a year and not being able to taste a bit of it.
When he finished, he rose from the chair, rubbed his stomach and made a funny face. “I may have eaten that a little too fast.”
She smiled. “Don’t worry. I won’t force you to do anything too strenuous until you’ve digested some of it.” She poured them each a cup of mint tea and set one on each nightstand. “Maybe this will help.” They settled onto the bed with his arm around her.
“Would you like to hear about the Horowitz’s now?” Ryan asked casually.
Chapter Four
Her first thought was, no, it would remind her he was a ghost like them a few hours ago, but no other topic came to mind. “Sure. Tell me a story.”
“They seemed like a nice old couple. Looked to be in their eighties or so. They spent their honeymoon here like us…only theirs was in 1947.”
“Wait. They looked old? I always imagined when I died I could look young again.”
He shrugged. “That might be true after you pass into the light but if you don’t move on, you stay exactly as you were when your heart stopped. Thus explaining me and my jeans.”
“You never mentioned that before.”
“Huh. I don’t think I knew it before.” He frowned as he gave it a bit more thought. “It just sort of popped in. Anyway, The Horowitz’s chose to stay here for a while. Turns out all the rumors about this place being haunted are based in truth. The hotel is actually home to a large community of spirits—that’s what they prefer to be called by the way. They invited me to stay. Said all I had to do was choose it.”
“Really? Like they have their own world within our world?”
“Your world,” Ryan corrected without pause. “The point is, before they said it, I didn’t know I had a choice about moving on or where to hang out if I stayed. But I
suddenly knew it was true, like it was in my head somewhere all along.”
Hope let that sink in. “Now that you know it?”
“I would never choose them or this hotel over you.”
“That’s not the real question.”
He took several sips of his tea before answering. “I think I made a choice without realizing it. Or maybe I just forgot. Even if I could go back and start again, I would still choose to stay with you in whatever form I could. But it doesn’t matter anymore. I gave up my right to choose when I got my wish.”
She sat up slowly and stared into his eyes. “First, how do you know that? Second, what does it mean?”
He shrugged and shook his head. “Again, it was just suddenly in my head, like a memory, but I have no doubt it’s true. Apparently, being brought back to life requires some sort of payment.”
Hope’s eyes widened. “You mean like you sold your soul to the devil?”
Ryan cracked up. “No, no, no. It’s nothing like that. At least I don’t think so. Though I might have done it if that’s what it took to be with you tonight. No, it’s more like a…a rule. That sounds funny but I have this fuzzy recollection, like someone explained all of this to me…right after the accident…before I came to you. But then I forgot. All I know for sure right now is my being with you, like this, means someone else is in charge of what happens next.”
“I’m a little freaked out right now,” Hope said quietly.
He set down his cup and hugged her tightly. “Then don’t think about it. Let’s just enjoy every minute we’ve been given. Starting now.” He turned her face to his and kissed her with a tenderness only true love knows.
“Maybe you’ll get to stay,” she murmured with more optimism than she felt.
He kissed her forehead. “As nice as that sounds, I can’t help but wonder how we’d explain my resurrection.”
GhostLover Page 3
