Page 97 of The Ghost of Ellwood

Theo planted his hands on my chest and rolled his hips, lifting up a little before crashing back down. As he closed his eyes, moaning, his dark lashes created shadows on his pale cheeks.

“That’s it, baby,” I said, my breath hitching.

God, he felt too amazing.

Pleasure rippled along my spine with each of his glides up and down my shaft. That pleasure intensified as our gazes locked. My body heat seeped into him, turning his cold skin warmer. The glow from the fire matched the one in my heart, a burning ember that refused to be snuffed out.

He kissed me, his lips trembling against mine as I dug my fingertips into his sides and pumped up into him.

“Ben,” he said on a whine. “Harder.”

Holding his waist, I fucked up into him, hard and slow, hitting him deep before thrusting again at a slightly different angle.Yes.There it is.He groaned and clawed my shoulders, begging me to keep going. And then he was claiming my lips again, his moans sending vibrations across my mouth as his release slammed into him.

Two more thrusts and I was joining him. My damn eyes rolled into my head with the powerful orgasm. It was as if my whole world shifted. We had had earth-shattering sex countless times, but that was the first time where I felt the true intensity of our union.

Ghost, human; it didn’t matter. What mattered was the way our souls merged together, the way his non-beating heart and my living one embraced the other. Soulmates that had penetrated the veil keeping us apart and found a way to be together anyway.

I cleaned us off after. Once we were back in each other’s arms, I held him close to my chest. He kissed my jaw, my neck, and my collar bone.

Theo was like a winter storm, beautiful and invigorating. His kisses were like snowflakes falling on my skin.

“I love you,” I said. The words were too strong to ignore, and I’d been holding them back for far too long.

Silence followed my confession, and with each second that passed, my heart withered a little bit more. Had I been mistaken to think Theo felt the same?

“Love doesn’t seem a big enough word,” he finally said, raising his head off my chest to meet my stare. His cold fingers traced the outline of my lips. “What I felt for Harvey was love. What I feel for you? I cannot find the word. All I know is that when I’m with you, Ben, my very soul is at peace.”

It was the best response I could’ve received. Perhaps not the ‘I love you too’I had wanted, but it felt more meaningful.

“You know…” I glided my hand up his spine. “When I first saw the manor, I felt at peace too. I didn’t know why, but I did. After meeting you, I believe it wasn’t the manor that made me feel that way. It was you.”

Ever so softly, his lips pressed to mine. “Sleep, Ben.”

“Will you stay with me?” I asked, closing my eyes.

Theo had started going downstairs to watch movies or mess around on his laptop while I slept, but I needed him with me tonight.

“I’ll be right here.” He nuzzled my chest. “I promise.”

When I drifted to sleep, I dreamed I was in a field of lavender. Nothing but sun and blue skies above me. It was spring, and the flowers were blooming. Birds chirped as they flew overhead.

Theo reclined beside me, his arms tucked behind his head. His cheeks were flushed and he smiled easily.

“Stunning, isn’t it?”he said, and his voice surrounded me, as if being carried by the wind.“Such a beautiful place to rest.”

His eyes glazed over and he stared at the sky. Lifeless. His skin turned gray.

“Theo?” I asked, shaking him.

He was so cold. I touched his cheek, his lips, and petted his hair, and he remained frozen. Dead. I screamed his name, begging him to answer me. Cracks formed in his skin before it fell away. I cried out and tried to pull him into my arms, but he turned to dust, slipping through my fingers.

Butterflies fluttered up, dancing together in front of me before flying out of sight. A strong wind swept through the field, and the dust was swept away with it.

“Theo!” I searched for him, desperate.

But he was gone.

I woke to find Theo nestled against my chest. Relief made my eyes water. I crushed him to me, burying my face in his silky hair. He stirred in my arms, and I pulled back to brush my lips along his cheek.