Haunted Read online

  He jumped when she snapped her fingers an inch away from his face. “Come on. I need help.” A pile of bedding landed in his lap. “Fold that and stick it in the corner. It belongs to the hotel.”

  “Why did you take this off the bed, and why am I supposed to fold it?” He eyed the bedding with distrust.

  “Do you really want to sleep on sheets from a room notorious for people having sex in it? These places don’t always clean the bedding.”

  “Oh, gross!” He leapt out of his seat and kicked the sheets into a corner behind a dented dresser. With one last nudge to force the comforter out of sight, he hurried to help Virginia pull hot pink sheets onto the bed. In an attempt not to imagine them naked on the garish sheets, Jake broached the subject that had plagued him since he’d first entered the room. “I didn’t realize there was only one bed.”

  She retrieved a fluffy, blue blanket from the huge bag that appeared to have no bottom. “That’s okay.”

  His mind raced. What was okay? She couldn’t mean what he thought she meant. “I’ll sleep on the chair.”

  She twirled around and scrunched up her face. “Okay.”

  Damn, he’d made a wrong move, but it was too late to backtrack. “Yeah, it’s no big deal.”

  Her heart-shaped face tilted to the side as she stared back at him. Then she turned away and rifled around in her bag. This time she produced another thinner, yellow blanket and her nightclothes.

  Defeated, he accepted the blanket as she strolled into the bathroom. He fell back onto the bed with a groan once the bathroom door clicked shut.

  * * *

  Quinn lurched into awareness and found himself in the same old room. This time it was dark, almost black, except for a sliver of moonlight snaking through a gap in the curtain. Coming back to reality was a horrible feeling. It wasn’t like waking up with a half-remembered dream to let him know time had passed. No, this was akin to emerging from a gaping void of nothingness.

  He groaned as he drifted to the middle of the room. Yet another bout of self-pity was not the way to start this latest period of consciousness.

  He surveyed the room. Upon further consideration, tonight was shaping up very nicely indeed. A petite, dark-haired beauty with a slim build lay in the hotel bed. Dressed in nothing more than a silk gown that ended right below her firm ass, she straddled a blanket and fairly hummed with need. A development that warranted his immediate attention.

  He walked to the window and mustered enough energy to push aside the curtain a few inches. Silvery moonlight now bathed her entire body. Better and better. She had the kind of tits he liked on a woman. Just enough to bounce while he fucked her.

  He drifted to the edge of the bed and sat down, or at least he tricked his mind into thinking so. His body, once so large and strong, left no imprint on the soft bed. Focusing his thoughts on the ends of his fingers, he dragged them from her toes, all the way up to the top of her thighs. Her slight frame shivered when he reached her side.

  With a soft sigh, the beauty rolled onto her back, and to his ultimate satisfaction kicked the blanket away. The nightie she wore had buttons, real buttons. Sometimes if he focused he could manipulate small objects beyond a simple push. After ten minutes of staring, three of the rounded buttons popped free.

  Impatient, he ran his hands over her chest. His touch, much like a cool breeze, caused her nipples to pebble against the thin fabric. Damn, he wanted to lick her from top to bottom and taste every inch of flesh in between, but he made do with brushing the fabric of her nightie aside to reveal one dusky peak.

  With the tips of his fingers he pinched one nipple while his other hand brushed against her pussy. She gasped. One more time and she arched her back with a little moan. Hands on either side of her, he leaned forward and whispered, “Take it off.”

  “I can’t.” She was asleep for the most part, and her response was nothing more than a murmur.

  He dragged his body along hers. His forever aching cock passed through the warmth of her pussy, ruffling her nightie. Then, off came the scrap of silk with a breathy please.

  His gratification at the sight of the nightie lying on the floor in a crumpled heap died when another man’s voice answered her call. “Are you okay, Virginia?”

  * * *

  In her dream, Virginia stood atop a mountain while an icy cold wind whipped across her body. The acute pleasure shocked her into consciousness. She tried to cling to the dream, but when a man’s voice cut through the haze, she found herself unable to hold onto the illusion.

  “Are you okay, Virginia?”

  Her eyes flew open. Jake sat on the edge of the bed staring down at her. His dark eyes, normally obscured by clunky glasses, focused on her exposed breasts. His need was so evident she decided to take a chance. She grasped the loose superhero printed T-shirt he wore and tugged. His lips parted in surprise, but he didn’t pull away.

  One more little tug and he dropped down beside her. Hand resting over his heart, she trailed her fingers down to his taut belly. “Please.” Her fingers inched lower.

  He hesitated, his eyes lost in the shadows. His large body angled toward her, and his stomach stopped moving as he held in a breath. Rather than wait for him to overcome whatever internal debate raged within, she snaked an arm around his neck and strained forward for a kiss. She pushed her tongue into his mouth as his right hand slid up her body. Breasts swollen with need, she gasped when he skimmed a palm over her peaked nipples. The friction sent off sparks of desire. Frantic, she arched her back, pressing herself more firmly into his touch.

  The lone rational corner of her mind asked, Am I really about to have sex with Jake? By the way his hand slid lower and lower until it rested over her pussy, the answer was a resounding yes. Only the thin cotton of her now soaked panties separated them. His fingers traced the slit of her sex and he added a touch of pressure when he reached her clit.

  His hips and rock-hard cock thrust against her, while his hand slipped inside her panties and teased her folds. “I want to go down on you.”

  With more forcefulness than she believed him capable of, he pushed her flat onto the bed. Now on his hands and knees, he worked himself down her body. The man lingered over every part of her, even the innocuous bits, like the inside of her elbow and the swell of her hips. His slow descent became a delicious kind of torture.

  When his mouth found his way to her breasts, he taunted them with the tip of his clever tongue, tracing one nipple in tightening spirals until he sucked it into his hot mouth. When she thought she couldn’t take any more, he increased the suction, the pressure gradually increasing until she drove a hand into his closely cropped hair, yanking hard. He bit down, almost like a scold, but it contained more pleasure than pain, causing her to buck in his arms. All the while, he pinched and teased her other breast.

  “Come on. Get to it.” The words, spoken in her best “I’m the boss” voice, might inspire the college kids who worked in her shop to get off their asses, but it did nothing to persuade Jake to move on to the main event.

  She curled her fingers around his shaft. A shudder ran through his broad frame. She stroked his cock, and a wave of pleasure washed over her at the realization it was as large as the rest of him. His hand covered hers and squeezed.

  Once again above her, he met her gaze with a single-minded intensity. “I’m going to lick you. Right now.”

  Her pussy clenched in anticipation, multiple times, like it wanted to make sure she got the point and didn’t screw things up. Maybe she should have said no and insisted they go on a date first. Wasn’t that what normal people did? But after a year of abstinence, she’d almost had an orgasm from him licking his way up her body. Daphne was right. She needed to get laid.

  As if he sensed her thoughts, Jake yanked off her panties and grasped her ankles, hooking them over his shoulders. She shuddered as the cool air brushed against her swollen clit.

  Head tilted to the side, he stared at her exposed sex as if considering the best plan of at
tack. She imagined all the things he might do with that tongue of his and trembled. How had she overlooked this man?

  His hand went to her upper thigh, and his fingers traced the opening of her sex, teasing and light. Then, he dove in. Not a half-hearted attempt like some men. No, he pressed his face up against her pussy as if he meant to have her for dinner.

  Like a sexual savant, his pointy tongue honed in on her clit. There was nothing rehearsed about how he went down on her. In fact she doubted he’d been with many women by his clumsy start. But, what he lacked in technique, he made up for in effort. First, he licked her clit with the flat of his tongue like she was a damn lollipop. Then, he flicked his tongue at what felt like the speed of light.

  Her legs stiffened as pleasure washed over her. With one arm wrapped around her leg, he pressed down on her belly with the other, holding her in place. Her orgasm went up another level when he sucked her clit into his mouth and shoved two fingers into her pussy. Virginia, who prided herself on being in control, screamed out as her entire body hummed.

  His head popped up and he grinned, mouth slick with proof of her arousal.

  Right then and there, she wanted to kill him. “Don’t you dare stop now!”

  He chuckled as she raked her hands through his hair and nudged, no, shoved him back into place between her legs. Clit once again at his mercy, she called out his name when he added pressure and twisted his fingers inside her to hit just the right spot. Her thighs quivered as the waves of sensation ebbed. His licks slowed as a final series of tremors wracked her body. When the last jolts of pleasure passed through her, he kissed his way up her body.

  Face buried in the curve of her neck, he nuzzled the soft bit of flesh behind her ear. An odd sound like a cross between an impatient huff and a gasp escaped her as she slid a foot up his leg and hooked it on the waistband of his sleep pants. One quick jerk of her foot and he was as naked as she.

  Positioned half over her, he rocked against her side. Her orgasm wasn’t even a memory yet, but she wanted his big cock inside her now. The strength of her desire concerned her the tiniest bit, but she chalked it up to making up for lost time.

  His movements were more and more deliberate. “I want to make love to you. Feel you wrapped around me while you come.”

  She crushed her mouth down on him for a thought-shattering kiss before pulling away when an unfamiliar man’s voice whispered, “Check the nightstand.”

  With a shake of her head, she dispelled the notion and tugged at the drawer of the nightstand. The drawer came off one runner. Inside, she found a small black box of condoms with a sticker affixed to the top. She brought the label up to her face. Please Practice Safe Sex. The Management.

  She dumped the contents onto the bed. Hands steady, she snatched up a condom and tore it open with her teeth. She shoved Jake’s muscled shoulder, knocking him onto his back. He was much bigger than she was, so she shouldn’t have been able to manage such a feat, but by the flummoxed expression on his face, surprise was her ally.

  Jake lifted his shoulders off the bed, resting on his elbows. When she pressed a single finger to the center of his chest, he fell back with a smile. A smile that grew when she climbed on top of him and ran a hand over his rounded pecs, soft but firm, like silk draped over steel.

  “I’m going to ride you. Would you like that?”

  He blinked once, wearing a face-splitting grin. “Hell yes.”

  In answer to his enthusiasm, she lifted herself onto her knees. Body angled back, she slid the condom over his long, thick shaft. He wrapped her hand around his cock and positioned the tip of his cock against her opening. Unable to wait any longer, she lowered herself onto him. Her eyes drifted closed to savor the sensation. When she’d taken every last inch of him, her pussy clamped down.

  He let out a shuddered breath. “Please do that again.”

  She chuckled low in her throat as she lifted herself up the length of him before sliding back down. His hands moved to her hips. She opened her eyes only to find his shut tight. With a slow roll of her hips, she raked her nails down his chest. His back curved up, and his mouth was on her. Oh, how she was learning to love his wicked mouth. His lips, teeth and tongue all teased her breasts, while his hands pulled her down harder and faster onto his thick cock. No man had ever filled her to the point she didn’t think she could take any more. Her clit rubbed against his lower belly, adding to the pleasure coursing through her.

  Virginia arched her neck as she ground against him harder as yet another orgasm slammed into her. Pussy spasming on his still working cock, she slowed her movements at the almost unbearable sensation.

  His hands gripped her hips tighter. “No, stay there. Oh man, you feel so good. So tight.” As her body vibrated from the force of her orgasm, his cock swelled inside her. “Oh shit, I’m going to come.”

  She didn’t have it in her to respond, and he obviously didn’t have it in him to wait. She slumped forward, her hands resting on his shoulders. Those busy hands of his grabbed her ass and squeezed. He pumped into her one last time, and with breaths coming in heavy pants, he came.

  Reduced to little more than a quivering pile of Jell-O, she laid her head on his chest. His hand stroked her hair. As she slid into sleep, he whispered, “Thank you.”

  Chapter Four

  The pale light of the coming dawn peeped through the open curtains, waking Jake. A few hours earlier, Virginia had snuggled into his side. Arm wrapped around her, he almost had to pinch himself at the memory of what they had done last night.

  Careful not to disturb her, he eased out of the bed. Once he was free, she rolled onto her belly and nuzzled the abandoned pillow. His cock twitched at the sight of all her curves. With a quiet groan, he grasped the blanket that lay crumpled at the foot of the bed and tucked it around her shoulders. He brushed away the loose curls covering her face and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. His bag rested on the dresser. He grabbed it and hurried into the bathroom.

  After a shave and a much-needed shower, he dressed and exited the bathroom. A made up tune he’d been whistling died on his lips. Virginia sat on the now made bed, fully dressed with a book in her hand. With a crisp swipe of her index finger, she turned a page. Where had the woman who’d trembled in his arms gone?

  He coughed. Nothing. Damn, he should have waited for her to wake up. “Hey.” Did that sound casual? He hoped so. He’d never slept with a woman without extensive planning and both parties being aware it was going to happen in advance. Random unplanned sex had been Quinn’s forte.

  Without lifting her eyes from the book, she held up a hand. “One second.”

  He fidgeted with the strap of the bag still slung over his shoulder. “Listen, I want to talk to you about last night.”

  With a loud sigh, she placed one finger in between the pages and closed the ancient leather book. When she glanced up, her irritated expression morphed into shock. Her mouth dropped open and eyes widened. She stared past him. Jake followed, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. A rush of cool air brushed his side as he swiveled back around.

  “Oh my.” Her hand stretched out in his direction, but she jerked it back right away.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “I think I see him.”

  “Quinn’s here?”

  She nodded in a hesitant motion. “Very.”

  * * *

  Virginia recognized the whole “I’m not really looking for a relationship” speech from the panicked glint in his eyes. Jake was about to make last night even more awkward than it needed to be. Hell, he’d crept out of bed at the earliest opportunity.

  Then, she saw something that shouldn’t have been possible. A few steps behind Jake, Quinn leaned against a wall buck naked with an erection that would shame a porn star. “Oh my.”

  “What’s the matter?” Jake scanned the room.

  “I think I see him.” Quinn appeared as real as Jake. He walked toward her, cock bobbing against his belly. She’d heard the whispers of what she be
lieved to be ghosts before, but had never seen one. She stretched out a hand and it went through his midsection. The corded muscles of his belly rippled as her hand passed through, but nothing more. She snatched her hand back.

  Jake’s head snapped in her direction. “Quinn’s here?”

  “Very.”

  “You can see me?”

  She gasped. It was the voice from last night. She hadn’t remembered Quinn’s voice. He’d become nothing more than a face in a collection of increasingly faded memories. In an effort not to stare at his mouth-watering but unsubstantial form, she dropped the now forgotten book and jumped to her feet.

  Jake stepped forward. He was a little taller than Quinn, and his shoulder passed through the ghost. Quinn grimaced and sidestepped to avoid further contact.

  “Yes, I can see you. All of you.”

  Quinn looked down and grinned. “Oh yeah. I guess I got used to no one seeing that.”

  “Can you cover up?”

  Jake’s eyebrows furrowed. “What are you talking about?”

  Quinn placed his hands over his groin, but his penis poked through. With a shrug, he mumbled, “Sorry.”

  “Your friend is sort of naked, and it’s a little distracting.”

  “How can he be sort of naked?” Jake stepped forward, eclipsing Quinn. His voice held a new sharpness.

  Quinn scowled and moved to the middle of the bed to lie on his belly. His perfectly round ass proved almost as distracting a sight as his front. The reason for her unrequited teenage lust toward the man became all too apparent.

  “Can you tell the pain in the ass to stop walking through me? It was bad enough last night watching him fumble through sex with you.”

  “You saw that?”

  Jake’s hand landed on her shoulder. “Saw what?”

  Quinn laughed. “Yeah, I saw everything.” Then, his demeanor shifted. Face intent, he leaned forward and brushed his hand against her upper arm.