Straddling Ethan, I push my hair out of the way and go in for another kiss. I’ve never been so turned on so fast before, and my body is begging to feel more of Ethan’s touch. His hands slide up my waist, and I widen my legs, feeling his cock get hard beneath me.
And then someone else touches me, and the cold fingers that land on my shoulder make me jump.
“Fuck,” I exclaim and dive against Ethan, turning around just in time to see a gray shadow moving across the living room.
“What’s wrong?”
“I felt and then saw a ghost.”
Ethan is immediately on high alert. “Is it still there?”
“No,” I say, but my heart is racing. “I didn’t get a good look at it. I think it was your run-of-the-mill, just passing through spirit.” I grit my teeth. I knew I shouldn’t have had a séance inside my house. “Fucker startled me though.”
“Yeah, it would startle me too.” Ethan combs his fingers through my hair. “You okay?”
“Oh, I’m fine. Sorry the mood was ruined. Do you hate me now?”
“Why would I hate you?”
“Because of cock-blocking ghosts, that’s why.”
“Well, you do already suffer from supernatural narcolepsy, so I’ll go easy on you this time.”
“This time?” I arch my eyebrows.
“Yes. This time. Next time, I fully expect a blow job no matter how many ghosts are in the room. Just burn some sage first.”
I try to keep a straight face as I nod but end up laughing. “Burning sage before we leave might be a good idea,” I say, so fucking grateful to have someone that not only believes me one hundred percent like this, but actually knows how to deal with the supernatural too.
Ethan’s hands go to my ass, giving it a squeeze. “Let’s do it then.”
Chapter Twenty
I wake up to my phone dinging on the nightstand next to me. Ethan and I are both naked in bed together again, and since I don’t have to be anywhere until later, I reach for my phone so I can put it on silent. It’s eight-thirty AM, and Harrison is the one texting me. Blinking my eyes open, I unlock my phone and read his message.
Harrison: I saw Laney last night.
Me: Okay?
Harrison: You weren’t with her. You told Dad you were.
Shit. I did.
Me: Fine. I wasn’t. I was with Ethan.
Harrison: Why did you lie? You don’t like to lie.
Me: Long story.
Harrison: You’re acting weird.
Me: I am weird.
Harrison and I have had our differences over the years, of course, like any other siblings, but we’ve always been close, as most twins are.
Harrison: Is everything okay?
I hesitate, not sure what to say. Harrison is right to say I don’t like to lie, because I don’t. My life has taken a dramatic turn, and I can’t keep it from those close to me forever.
Me: It will be. Can you come over later? I’ll fill you in on everything then.
Harrison: Sure. What time?
Me: Noon? I have a naked man next to me again and want to go back to sleep.
Harrison sends a barfing emoji and I put my phone back on the nightstand, snuggling up against Ethan. He wraps me in his arms and I fall back asleep, sleeping peacefully for another hour until my dreams shift.
It starts out with me walking through the woods. I know now the red-haired lady is Aunt Estelle, and this time, I know we’re in Thorne Hill. It’s late, and we drove across town only to park in a gravel lot and walk into the woods. Aunt Estelle gave me chocolate to eat in the car to help keep me awake. Blue light starts to glow in front of me, and then the dream shifts and I’m running through the woods again.
I’m going to die if I don’t get inside the barn. I run past the big, twisted oak tree, lungs burning and legs about to give out. But I can’t stop. I can’t—something grabs me, and their touch burns.
“Say it again,” Aunt Estelle’s voice rings out, and I blink as I’m being dragged backward through the forest and see her smiling face. “Feel it inside you.”
I put my hands on the white table. We’re on the front porch of her house, and a pile of twigs and straw is in a metal bowl in front of me.
“Ignis,” I say, and the kindling starts to smoke.
“Concentrate,” Aunt Estelle urges. “Imagine the fire. See the flames in your mind.”