by J. A. Bailey
His harsh breaths blew into her hair as they both sagged and Samantha felt the lethargy of satisfaction seep into her body. With her cheek pressed against his solid chest and his cock still in her, she was sure she could stay here forever.
“Finn,” she murmured experimentally to herself. What a man! God, she’d never come so hard before. She thought of her friends off hunting ghosts and grinned. Yeah, she definitely got the better end of the deal.
Finn eased her off him and settled her into his arms, kissing her as she curled into his embrace.
“I’m glad you found me,” she whispered as her lids drifted shut. “I’m glad I didn’t have to spend the night with the ghosts.”
Finn chuckled softly. “I’m glad I found you too, lass. You are something special.”
“Can we do some more?” she asked quietly as she smothered a yawn.
“You can count on it.”
***
Stretching, Samantha blinked and frowned as she took in her surroundings. Oh yes, the castle. The room was still dark, the heavy curtains blocking out most of the light but the digital clock on the bedside said it was 8 am. Bloody hell, she’d slept the whole night!
She sat up suddenly and stared at the empty pillow beside her.
Finn.
Tilting her head, she trailed her fingers over the pillow. It was cold. Where had he gone? He’d promised her more. She hadn’t expected to fall asleep for so long, not with her insomnia, but she thought he’d still be here in the morning.
The pillow wasn’t even indented. Had she just dreamt him up? Shaking her head, she forced her stiff body out of bed, ignoring the sinking in her stomach. Maybe he just wanted one night and didn’t want to have to deal with the morning after. He hadn’t seemed the type, but what did she really know about him? Maybe he spent every weekend seducing lost guests.
Who was he anyway? Staff? He’d never said and she’d been too lost in desire to ask. She paused in from of the full-length mirror and turned around to study her arse. She frowned. After the spanking he’d given her, she expected at least a little bit of redness. Maybe she really had dreamt him up.
No, it wasn’t possible. She wasn’t that drunk.
Pulling on her jeans, she picked up her bra that had been flung to one side and glanced around the room. Her discarded clothes were the only sign that anything had happened, and she knew that she could have been the one to fling them off.
Grabbing a clean jumper from her suitcase, she yanked it over her head, brushed her teeth at the sink in the corner and ran a brush through her hair. She was about to leave, desperate to see if she could track down the elusive Finn but stopped and put on a dash of lipstick and mascara, just in case she did run into him. She didn’t want him regretting what he’d done with her.
Throwing open her door, she slammed it shut behind her and scurried along the hallway and down the stairs. Her heart sank as she found the dining room empty. She was about to search the rest of the house, hoping to catch a glimpse of Finn when Aileen came into the room pushing a trolley with a teapot and cups on it.
“Oh, good morning. I didn’t think any of you lasses would be up yet, so I’m a bit late setting up breakfast I’m afraid.”
“Oh,” Samantha said for want of anything else to say.
“Sit down and I’ll bring out your breakfast in just a minute.”
Darting a glance around, Samantha nodded and sat meekly. Well what else could she do? Start turning the castle upside down to search for her mystery man?
Aileen was setting out the teacups when the other girls came into the dining room.
“Sam!” Lucy exclaimed. “What happened to you last night?”
“I got lost,” Samantha told her as her cheeks flamed.
“We were worried about you but when we got back to your room, your door was locked and we figured you’d gone to bed.”
“Did you find any ghosts?” Samantha asked brightly, desperate to change the subject.
Annie snorted. “Hardly, but that didn’t stop Lucy from jumping at every noise.”
“It was pretty spooky,” Fran said as she snatched a piece of toast from the plate that Aileen placed on the table. “But we definitely didn’t see any ghosts.”
“I don’t know,” Lucy said with a mock shiver. “I sure felt some weird things. Changes in temperature, cold fingers…and I’m sure I saw some orbs.”
“Orbs!” Annie laughed. “What nonsense.” She took a sip of her tea and eyed Samantha over the rim. “Sorry you missed out, Sam.”
Samantha shrugged nonchalantly. “It’s ok. I slept really well actually. I think I needed it.”
Annie’s eyes narrowed but she didn’t say anything. Of all her friends, Annie was the cleverest. She didn’t know how, but Annie had definitely figured out that something was up.
Eating her breakfast in silence, she listened with a vague smile as the girls recounted their adventures. Lucy was particularly enthusiastic in telling her about her ghostly encounters. “You should have felt it, Sam. Like cold fingers travelling up my back. It was definitely a ghost.”
Samantha scowled. Cold fingers? She shuddered as she remembered the feeling that had spurred her into Finn’s arms. A ghost? She smirked inwardly. Don’t be daft, Sam.
When they finished their breakfast, Aileen cleared away the crockery. “Would you like a tour of the castle in the daylight?” she asked as she shifted everything back onto the tea tray.
“Absolutely!” Samantha declared enthusiastically.
Even Aileen gave her an odd look at her enthusiasm and Samantha lowered her gaze. She just had to find Finn.
“Let me clear up and then I’ll give you the tour,” Aileen said as she wheeled the trolley out.
“Didn’t know you were that into castles,” Annie said with a sly smile.
“I-I just thought it would be interesting,” Samantha offered lamely.
Lucy, the only one who seemed unaware of Samantha’s discomfort, piped up, “Well, I can’t wait to look around. It’s so beautiful here. What I wouldn’t give to live in a place like this.”
Samantha nodded her agreement and sighed. In spite of the spookiness, the castle was beautiful and almost homely with its heavy drapery and dark wood furniture. Of course, the fact that she had encountered a gorgeous Scotsman and slept better than she had in months here probably added to its appeal.
With everything cleared away, Aileen led them back out into the hallway and into one of the drawing rooms. It was decorated similarly to the rest of the house with rustic wood furniture, shields on the walls and family portraits.
Samantha froze as she stared up at the portrait above the fireplace.
Finn.
It had to be. Stood in the same kilt she’d seen him in last night, he was posing in front of the windows that looked out onto the loch.
“Handsome, isn’t he?”
Samantha jolted as Aileen peered over her shoulder.
“Yes,” she admitted with a smile.
“Laird Finnean McLaughlin.”
Samantha’s brows darted up. “Laird?” Holy shit, I’ve slept with a laird!
“Yes. This was painted about twenty years ago now…”
“Twenty years—?”
“…shortly before he died,” Aileen continued.
Samantha gulped. “He died?”
Aileen offered her a sad smile. “Yes, far too young, I know. A road accident.”
“He’s dead?” Samantha stared back up at the picture, her gut churning. The man she had made love to was dead? A sharp pang of sorrow struck her heart, mingling with the incomprehension. What was he then? A ghost? Samantha snorted at herself. No, don’t be ridiculous. It was a dream. It had to be. But how had she known what he looked like?
Aileen gave her a funny look and moved away to the other girls who were admiring the view outside. Samantha couldn’t pull her gaze away from the handsome man in the painting. He had seemed so real. She’d even hoped that maybe… maybe there would be a f
Unless…unless he really was a ghost. What had he said? That places like this held memories. He’d told her that this castle dated back to the 11th Century. How could she have made that up? She didn’t even know that until he’d said so.
Bloody hell, she’d made love to a ghost. It all made sense now. The way he’d disappeared, the strange sensations, the amazing orgasms… Jesus, he’d even known her name and she didn’t pick up on the fact that she’d never told him it.
One of the girls called to her, but she didn’t register who as she turned dazedly away from the picture. Walking over to the window, she nodded numbly as they made comments about the scenery.
Something caught her eye and she looked up and jumped. “Finn!”
He strolled into the room and Samantha could feel the blood drain from her face. She backed away as he approached. She darted a glance at Aileen who appeared completely unperturbed by the ghost of the dead laird.
The other girls all fixed her with a look of concern, which quickly gave way to simpering smiles as they spotted Finn.
He looked so real. They probably didn’t even realise he was a ghost. She edged behind Annie as he greeted them warmly. Samantha could feel her legs quaking beneath her as she stared at him. How could he just be strolling around like that? Didn’t ghosts only come out at night?
“Did you have a fun night?” he asked them, fixing his gaze onto hers.
Her cheeks flamed and she took another step back, her head swimming. With a sudden cry, she spun on her heels and ran out of the room and up the stairs, taking the steps two at a time. A ghost! She’d shagged a ghost! Sprinting along the hall, she fumbled with the lock on her door. As she pressed it open, he came to her side and grabbed her arm.
Samantha screamed and tried to tear herself away from him but his grip was too strong. The spinning in her head increased and stars swam across her vision as the shock took hold. How could she possibly escape a ghost?
Her legs gave way and he scooped her easily into his embrace. She was vaguely aware of him kicking open her door before slamming it firmly shut and laying her on the bed.
“Sam?” he said quietly.
Her vision cleared and she bolted upright, huddling into the headboard and pulling her knees to her chest as she stared at him, wide-eyed.
“Sam, what’s wrong?
“Y-you…you…you’re…” she stammered.
“Look, I’m sorry I didn’t see you this morning. You were fast asleep and I couldn’t bring myself to wake you. I had to help Aileen with the breakfasts.”
“B-b-but you’re…you’re a ghost!” she managed to squeak out.
He laughed and then paused as he noted her quivering body. “What are you on about, lass?”
“Y-you’re dead.” God, he didn’t even know it. “Aileen said. You died twenty years ago.”
“You really think you slept with a ghost last night?” His eyes twinkled with amusement but Samantha couldn’t feel anything but pure sadness. Maybe he had unfinished business. She’d have to help him find his way to the afterlife…or something…
“I think…” He reached out and put a very warm, very real hand over hers. “…that Aileen may have been talking about my father.”
“Y-your father?”
“I’m named after him and I bear quite a resemblance to him. He died when I was ten.”
Samantha sagged against the headboard and buried her head in her hands. “Oh my God.”
“You really thought I was a ghost?”
She peeked at him from between her fingers. “No…?”
“You did, didn’t you?”
“Well, it was so spooky, and you just turned up out of nowhere, and then you disappeared this morning and…and you were so good in bed…”
“I was, was I?”
“Yes,” she said tightly, swatting at his arm. “Oh my God, I am such an idiot.”
Finn shuffled forwards and drew her into his arms. She relaxed into him, enjoying the warmth of him. How could she ever have thought he was a ghost?
“You know, I may not be a ghost but it is said that the real ghosts of Inverrock like to try their hand at matchmaking. Maybe they delivered you into my arms.”
Samantha considered the strange sensations that had urged her into his embrace and nodded. Instead of feeling scared, she could only feel grateful. Maybe ghosts weren’t so bad after all.
“So…what are you planning for the rest of the day?” he asked as he stroked a thumb across her hand.
“I don’t know. I think the girls wanted to go out on the loch.”
“And after that?”
“We hadn’t decided yet.”
“Room service?”
Samantha laughed and tilted her face to his. “Maybe…”
Finn enveloped her jaw in his hand and coaxed her lips open with his, delving into her mouth with his tongue. “You know I’m a laird, right?” he murmured as he kissed down her neck.
“And…?” she said with a sigh.
“Well, that means whoever I marry would become a lady?”
Samantha grinned and twisted her hand into his hair as he worked his mouth across her collarbone and his hand forged a path up her jumper and over her breasts.
“And…?”
“Wouldn’t you like to be a lady?”
“I’m definitely not a lady,” Samantha said with a laugh.
“Hmmm,” he said as he tweaked at her hard nipples, “you may be right. But you could be.”
Samantha kissed him hard as he brought his head up from her chest. “I’ll think about it.”
The glint in his eye told her that he was determined to make her his lady. And the ghosts of Inverrock obviously wanted it. Samantha grinned to herself. She looked forward to being persuaded. Maybe he would take her over his knee and spank her until she agreed. She couldn’t wait to find out…
The End
Other titles by J.A Bailey
Georgie of the Jungle: A Gang Bang Story
Bound by the Boss
Waiting for Master
Dark Desire
About the author
By day, J.A. Bailey is a prim and proper English secretary to a multinational corporation, but behind closed doors she loves nothing more than to than to turn her fantasies into reality. And if she's not acting them out, she's writing them down.
When her Master lets her off her leash that is...
J.A's stories all involve strong, virile men, intelligent women and the raunchiest scenarios possible. She believes there is nothing sexier than a hot woman at the feet of her gorgeous master.
Follow J.A. on Facebook for new releases and sexy fun!
Table of Contents
Copyright
Haunted by the Highlander: A BDSM Story
Other titles by J.A Bailey
About the author
-->
