Cicada

An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

www.ellorascave.com

Cicada ISBN 9781419919411 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Cicada Copyright © 2008 Afton Locke Edited by Helen Woodall. Cover art by Dar Albert. Electronic book Publication November 2008 With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

CICADA

Afton Locke

Dedication To Bob, for believing in my dream all these years and helping me find the time to write.

Acknowledgements Thanks to my editor, Helen Woodall, for making my first book a smooth, enjoyable process. May there be many more.

Trademarks Acknowledgement The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction: Better Business Bureau: Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc. Casper: Harvey Entertainment, Inc.

Cicada

Chapter One Marian wondered what the summer would hold for her as she pulled into the parking lot of Seaside Realty. She’d never even been to this town before. Fear Point was just a dot on her map of Massachusetts and it looked like as good a place as any to get away from things. Away from Kyle, to be more specific. If he wanted to hurt her again, he’d have to find her first. Gravel crunched under her tires as she pulled to a stop in front of the tiny, weatherbeaten building. Fear Point was smaller than she thought. From her vantage point she could pretty much see the whole thing. In addition to this building, there was a library, a restaurant and a bunch of houses. The sprawling ocean dwarfed the town. The sight of tired boats, tethered to graying piers, didn’t exactly broadcast excitement but that was fine with Marian. What she’d seen recently was exciting enough to last her a lifetime. The only people walking around looked ancient. Off to the right was a church with a large cemetery. Good. That meant the only men in town were either old or dead. Cheerful pots of geraniums hung from hooks on the small porch and dangled in the breeze. When she got inside, an older lady behind a desk smiled warmly as if she’d been expecting her. “I’m here about renting the house,” Marian began. “Ah, yes, the schoolteacher. Hello, Marian,” the lady said, offering her hand. “I’m Gladys Fitz. I have your lease right here.” Gladys’ hair was much too red to be natural and her round blue eyes looked a little too inquisitive for Marian’s comfort. They were all over her, taking in her clothes, digging into her secrets. She was starting to feel like an alien or something. The sourlooking man standing nearby was even creepier. He wore dirty work clothes and leaned 5

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on a shovel, as if he were outside, watching her. He looked as if he’d just dug someone’s grave and was sizing her up for his next plot. Marian tried to ignore them both as she scanned the lease. It looked pretty standard and the price was what they’d agreed to on the phone. She nearly jumped when Gladys planted her bony finger in the middle of the page. “The amount is to be paid in advance and is nonrefundable.” She emphasized the last word and Marian began to wonder why. Suddenly she had visions of a total dump, covered in mold and cobwebs. The picture in the brochure had looked all right but there was nothing like seeing it in person. “It does have electricity and plumbing, right?” she asked. Gladys went into a hysterical, choking fit of laughter and for a minute Marian wondered if she was going to collapse right in front of her. The man didn’t even crack a smile and that was even creepier than the laughter. “Of course, my dear,” Gladys said, once she’d recovered. “I’m sure you’ll find it quite…comfortable. Max here can fix anything that’s not in order.” After receiving the key and brief directions, Marian was on her way out the door with her copy of the lease. Outside, a short heavy woman with graying black hair stood between her and her car. “You must be the schoolteacher,” she said, sizing her up the way the rest of them had. “I’m the town librarian. You’re renting the old Blake property, aren’t you?” Marian nodded and frowned at the woman. She couldn’t wait to get to the house and away from all these weird, nosy people. Did they have nothing better to do than get into her business? It’s not like she was a celebrity. And she hated being called a schoolteacher, even though she was one. It made her sound frumpy. Of course, that’s pretty much what Kyle thought of her. “You’re going to be all alone out there? Tsk tsk. Well, it’ll be interesting to see how long you last.”

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“What’s that supposed to mean?” Marian snapped. It had been a long drive and she was way past politeness now. “My dear, I didn’t mean to offend you,” the woman said, patting her hand. “I’m Louise. Welcome to Fear Point.” “Thank you,” she replied briskly. “Now, what did you mean by what you said earlier?” Louise pursed her lips. “There I go shooting off my mouth again. Well,” she said, standing closer in a conspiratorial stance, “people who stay there don’t stay long, if you know what I mean.” Marian stiffened. Fear Point was starting to give her the creeps. “No, I don’t know what you mean.” Louise looked in both directions and back at her. “The house you rented is haunted.” Marian rolled her eyes and smiled. “Okay, sure it is. Whatever you say. Nice meeting you, Louise.” She shook her head as she pulled out of the parking lot. Haunted. Give me a break, she thought. She was a science teacher. She didn’t believe in ghosts. Then why was the hair on the back of her neck standing up, she wondered. The people up here were just bored, she told herself. Scaring a newcomer was probably the most excitement they’d had in months. Once she got settled into the house, all by herself like she wanted, everything would be fine.

***** The driveway was long and sandy with bits of broken oyster shells. She looked for other houses but didn’t see any. When she finally pulled up to the house and got out of the car, she rubbed her hands together. It was definitely old and had some peeling white paint but it was as quaint as could be. It looked perfect. The ocean breeze had picked up and made her face tingle as she crossed the small stretch of beach to the 7

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weather-beaten dock. There was even a small boat with oars and it was floating. That was a good sign. When she got inside the small, two-story house, she was glad to see it was clean and not the moldy, cobwebby nightmare she’d half expected. The kitchen and living room filled the downstairs. The living room had a fireplace and was plainly furnished with Shaker pieces. The couch was a wooden Windsor settee with cushions on it. A boxy coffee table and a couple of Windsor chairs completed the set. The kitchen appliances looked as old as everything else but she was glad to see the place had running water and electricity as promised. The narrow, wooden stairs groaned under her feet as she carried her suitcase upstairs. She really hadn’t brought much with her. She’d been too upset to do a great job packing but the few comfortable clothes she’d brought were all she needed. It wasn’t like she needed to impress men anymore. They were a species she planned to avoid, starting this summer. The upstairs consisted of a bedroom, bathroom and storage room. Being alone was going to be great, she decided as she placed her laptop on the antique desk and plugged it in. She’d finally get to write an article for a scientific journal about cicadas. She couldn’t ask for more inspiration. The window over the desk had a great view of the sea. Then she turned around and frowned. The other window, beside the bed, looked out over a very old-looking cemetery. She fiddled with the curtain, hoping to block it out but there was only a short jabot and sheer lace panel. She shrugged. Well, at least those neighbors would be quiet. Her apartment in Boston was pretty noisy and Kyle loved all the chaotic hustle and bustle of the city. The peace here would be a nice change. She finally turned her attention to the bed. It was so huge it was hard to miss. It, like the other furniture in the room, was dark and antique-like with four sturdy posts and an elaborately carved headboard. What looked like acres of white eyelet pillows

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and spreads were pristine and inviting. For a split second she was sorry she had no one to share it with. She was considering taking a nap on it before she unpacked when a loud noise made her jump. It sounded like a door slamming, so she ran downstairs. The front door was closed. She opened it and peered out, feeling the brisk sea breeze on her face. That must be it, she told herself. The wind had slammed it. Of course, she didn’t remember leaving it open.

Marian spent the afternoon exploring the kitchen cupboards and unpacking. There were some canned goods but the refrigerator was empty. She’d have to go to the market tomorrow. While eating some soup, she heard strange noises coming from upstairs. It almost sounded as if someone was dropping marbles on the floor in the bedroom. She hoped the place wasn’t infested with rats. She put her empty bowl on the counter and went upstairs. The bedroom looked exactly as she’d left it. The varnished wooden floor was just as bare as before. Louise’s words came back to her. Was the house haunted? Impossible. There were no such things as ghosts. Then she snapped her fingers. It was certainly possible for people to booby trap a house so it appeared haunted. It was probably a big scam they had going. People prepaid the whole amount and ran away terrified, leaving the realtor to rent it out immediately to someone else. Well, if they thought she was going to run away, they were sadly mistaken. She’d find the speakers, rip them out of the wall and report the realtor for fraud. Nothing was going to screw up her summer of solitude and recovery. All appeared quiet, so she drew a bath in the clawfoot tub. She took off her trusty khaki pants and oxford shirt and laid a clean nightgown over the desk chair. Kyle used to tease her about her “granny” nightgowns with their high collars and long sleeves. They were practical and she was comfortable in them. What was wrong with that? He’d

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bought her some lacy contraption over the internet that wasn’t any wider than dental floss. She’d felt stupid in it. Once she’d settled into the tub and closed her eyes, it all felt worth it. Then she heard more strange noises. This time it sounded like bowling balls were being thrown down the stairs. She made a fist under the water. Boy, was Seaside Realty going to hear about this. If the place wasn’t closed for the evening, she’d march down there right now and chew them out. This was totally unacceptable. The hairs raised on the back of her neck. What if it really was a ghost? Well, it would have to get the hell out. She paid for this house for the summer and she was going to have it all to herself. She didn’t want any roommates, alive or dead. After she got out of the tub and dried off, she put the towel around her. She shivered as she walked into the bedroom. The sea breeze was still blowing through the window and it was freezing. She reached for her nightgown and gasped when it wasn’t there. In its place was a very different one. She turned on the desk lamp and held the gown up. It looked so old it might fall apart on her. It was long and sheer with short sleeves and a low-cut bodice done in some sort of crochet and lace. This garment was certainly a lot prettier than her own nightgown, wherever it was. Although it smelled as if it had been folded and forgotten in a drawer for many years, it looked like her size and she was curious enough to try it on. She walked over to the floor-length mirror on the armoire. The gown clung to her curves and she had to admit she didn’t look half bad with the soft light from the desk lamp backlighting her in its glow. She stepped closer and unfastened her dark hair, which she usually wore tied back. There was an antique silver brush on the bureau, so she began to brush her hair in gentle strokes. “Mary.” Marian dropped the brush. What was that? Who in the hell had just whispered that? Her name wasn’t Mary but it was close. 10

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“Who’s there?” she called out. Silence. The breeze from the window ruffled the skirt of her nightgown but it didn’t feel as cold now. The crocheted bodice stretched across her skin and she could see the dusky shadows of her nipples pressing against the fabric. She could also see the faint triangle of dark hair between her legs. Underwear. She needed to put on her underwear. She could have sworn she’d laid out a clean pair of her usual white cotton panties before her bath but she didn’t see them either. “Mary.” The whisper was louder this time and she felt the unmistakable presence of someone else in the room with her. She looked around but saw nothing. “Who are you?” she called out in a shaking voice. “What do you want?” The presence didn’t answer her and seemed to have gone, so she flipped off the light and climbed into the bed. The nearly full moon cast the yard in a ghostly pale haze and she was dismayed that the cemetery was still visible even with the lights off. She turned the other way in the bed so she didn’t have to look at it. The bed felt even better than it looked. She stuffed two pillows under her head and put another under her belly and hips, curling her leg around it. Once she’d gotten comfortable, she realized she was still wearing the mysterious nightgown, the one which had appeared out of nowhere. But she was too tired to get up and search for her own. The fabric seemed to caress her everywhere it touched and soothed her to sleep.

Marian opened her eyes and had no idea where she was. The room was dark except for the moonlit window and then she remembered she’d rented this house. This haunted house. Something had pulled her out of a deep sleep. Something heavy. On her. Fear scattered the last vestiges of sleepiness as her eyes flew open wide. There was something or someone lying on her back and she couldn’t move! Think logically, she told herself. Maybe she was having one of those half-waking dreams or sleep paralysis where you try to run away from something or scream but 11

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can’t. Whatever it was shifted slightly and she felt something hard lodge itself between her ass cheeks. Thank goodness the fabric of her nightgown was there as a barrier. Okay, it was a man. That narrowed things down. There was a man in her house in her bed attacking her. Holy Toledo, she was about to get raped. She certainly wouldn’t have guessed Fear Point to be full of rapists. Most of the men there looked too old to even think about sex much less do it. “Don’t move,” said a masculine voice near her ear. Two large hands grabbed her wrists and held them down on the bed. Her heart pounded hard enough to drive holes into the mattress. “I’ll scream,” she said. He or it chuckled. “No one will hear you.” “Do you want money? I can give you some. Just leave me alone. Please.” Tears ran down her cheeks. She didn’t deserve this. She just wanted to be alone. Was that so difficult? Was she to be tormented by sex-starved men for the rest of her life? Wasn’t there anywhere she could go to get away from men and sex? “I don’t want money,” he replied. “Then what do you want?” she asked, not really wanting to hear the answer. “You.” To prove his point, he ran his hand up her thigh, peeling the nightgown out of his way. As much as she hated to admit it, his hands felt nice. They were strong yet unbelievably gentle. She wished she’d worn underwear and more substantial clothes. The nightgown was too sheer. Not to mention the provocative sleeping position she’d taken. His hand caressed the curve of her hip and her breath caught in her throat. Her heart was pounding faster than ever but something else was mixing in with fear. He wasn’t lying on her quite as heavily now. He was busy touching her. If she concentrated her efforts, she might be able to get away. She had to wait for just the right moment.

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Her concentration stumbled when his fingers drifted down further. The nightgown was up around her waist now, exposing her naked skin. She twitched involuntarily as his fingers skimmed the outer lips of her sex. She forgot to breathe or concentrate as she wondered what he’d do next. He took one finger and traced it along the length of her opening and she realized with horror that she didn’t want him to stop. His finger entered her ever so slowly as if he knew how scared she was. For a rapist, he was actually very considerate. She sighed as the finger pushed in halfway. She could feel herself swell and grow wet around it. She nudged her hips backward until the whole finger was inside. He moved against her in gentle strokes and sounds of her slick, wet skin filled the room, even drowning out her thundering heart. Every now and then he stopped thrusting and tortured her by tracing slow circles around her clit. She squeezed her eyes shut. This was crazy. She was about to raped, for Pete’s sake. She couldn’t let that happen. She was getting felt up by somebody she didn’t even know. Somebody who was probably going to kill her when he was done with her. Well, if she was going to get attacked, she at least had the right to see who was doing it. She tried to twist her head around to see him but couldn’t. Finally, she managed to wiggle toward the nightstand and flip on the lamp. There was no one there.

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Chapter Two “What the—” She couldn’t see anyone but he was still there. She felt him pressed against her backside and he was harder than ever. “I’m still here,” he said, as if she couldn’t figure that out. Marian’s eyes darted around the room as she clutched the pillows. “Then why can’t I see you?” “I’m invisible.” He said it as casually as if he’d said he was wearing a blue shirt. “Invisible,” she repeated. “Give me a break. I’m a science teacher. People aren’t invisible. That only happens in the movies.” He was still lying on her back and when he shifted she felt coarse cotton fabric against the skin of her legs. He seemed to be wearing pants but they must be invisible too. She also felt the outline of his cock grind against her pussy which was still sensitive from his earlier touching. “Does that feel real to you?” he asked, close to her ear. All of her blood seemed to shoot downstream and for one crazy moment she wondered what all that delicious hardness would feel like inside her. Even better than his finger, she imagined. She had to clear her throat just to be able to talk. “Yes.” The word came out as a half sigh and Marian cleared her throat again. “Do you mind explaining to me why you’re invisible? I mean, you’re seriously freaking me out here. I can see everything in this room except you.” “Of course,” he replied as he began to play with her long hair and lazily stroke her back. “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Jonathan Blake. You may call me Jon.” “I’m Mar—” “I know who you are, Mary,” he said curtly. “It’s about time you came back.”

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She frowned. “My name is Marian, not Mary and as interesting as this meeting has been, I really need to ask you to leave now. You see, I rented this house for the summer.” He grabbed all of her hair, lifted her head off the pillow with it and nipped her earlobe with his teeth. “This is my house,” he corrected. She pulled her hair out of his hand. His weight eased, so she shifted onto her side and propped herself on her elbow. “So you’re the owner of this house?” she asked. “Good. You just saved me a trip to Seaside Realty to bang some heads together. You have a lot of nerve scamming people out of their rent money, making this place seem haunted. I paid for a private house and a peaceful summer. Instead, I hear all kinds of weird noises, have my clothes stolen and get attacked in my own bed.” “My bed,” he corrected. “Whatever. I’m going to report you to the Better Business Bureau.” Now that her chest was somewhat exposed to him, he was exploring the crocheted lace of her bodice. She pushed his hand away several times but it was hard to hit an invisible, moving target. He chuckled as he traced a finger over the swell of each breast. Her nipples betrayed her by jumping to attention and begging for his touch. “I don’t think they’d accept a complaint against a man who’s been dead for a hundred years.” “Excuse me?” Instead of answering her, he brushed his finger across one nipple and then tweaked it with his forefinger and thumb. She forgot about being angry and moaned out loud. Kyle had never tortured her like this. His idea of foreplay had been a few seconds of rough groping to make sure she was ready for him and half of the time she wasn’t. She couldn’t even think until Jon had moved to the other nipple and satisfied it too. “I’m a spirit,” he finally supplied. “A ghost.”

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“There are no such things as ghosts,” she said tiredly. “You certainly feel like a real live man. There’s got to be some explanation for your being invisible. If this is some kind of new technology, you’re going to make a fortune off it. Does anyone else know about this?” The heck with the article she was going to write about the mating rituals of cicadas, she thought. She might be on the verge of a huge scientific breakthrough here. “I assure you I’m quite dead. My headstone can be easily viewed from the window and you may verify my existence with the local records at the library. All I can tell you is that when people die, sometimes their energy can stay behind. Some energy can be seen and some energy, like mine, can be felt.” As if to illustrate his point, he ran his tongue across her nipple. This can’t be happening, she told herself. I must be having some sort of hallucination. Maybe the soup I ate earlier was laced with psychedelic drugs. “I assume you’re here to rape me,” she said shakily. “What’s stopping you?” He flicked his tongue across her nipple again and she felt her own wetness trickle between her legs. When he stopped, she almost forgot to breathe. “You’re not quite ready yet,” he whispered. “Don’t worry. Soon enough you’ll be begging me to fuck you and I will.” The directness of his statement knocked the breath out of her for a second. Once she’d recovered, she realized what he’d said didn’t make sense. “People didn’t use that word a hundred years ago,” she said suspiciously. “Which word are you referring to exactly?” he asked. This time he flicked his tongue along the edge of her ear, which made her even hotter than his ministrations to her breasts. “You must mean the word ‘fuck’,” he whispered in her ear. “I rather like the sound of the word and I like doing it even more. I may be dead but I keep myself abreast of modern things.” She put her hand up to her ear so he’d stop licking it. She needed to think clearly. “Whoever or whatever you are, you’ll have to leave,” she said. “I came here to be alone

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and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I spent all my savings to rent this place and nothing is going to stand in my way. So you’re going to have to leave.” “You must not have heard me the first time,” he said, his voice smoother than silk. “This is my house. I’m not going anywhere.” We’ll just see about that, she thought to herself. The first thing she was going to do was have that creepy guy Max install some new locks. The ones there now didn’t look strong enough to keep out the tooth fairy, much less this kooky vagabond. Curious, she reached until she’d found his face. His skin was firm and taut across strong cheekbones and jaw. Unable to resist, she traced his bottom lip with her finger and gasped when he sucked it into his mouth for a moment. “Your hair is wet,” she said. He didn’t answer and she couldn’t feel him anymore either. “Jon?” she called out. “Where did you go?” After a long stretch of silence, he really did feel gone. Good riddance, she thought. I hope he never comes back. She turned out the light and lay there for a long time. Sleep was the last thing she wanted. Her body was still flaming from what he’d done to her or, more specifically, what he hadn’t done. Kyle had accused her of not having one sexual bone in her body. He should see her now, she thought. Her nipples were as hard as rocks and aching for more of Jon’s tongue. Her pussy was burning with unfulfilled need. Curious, she reached down to see just how wet he’d made her. She didn’t even recognize what she felt as her own body. It seemed to have mutated into something else. Her lips and clit were engorged and protruded well beyond her protective nest of hair. And wet. She knew she’d never been this wet in her life. Her fingers slid between the slippery folds. When she accidentally brushed against the erect nub of her clit, the sensation nearly shot her off the bed. She yanked her hand away in shock and pushed

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the nightgown back over her hips. She tried to go to sleep but the burning ache wouldn’t stop. Despite trying to talk herself out of it, she knew she had to finish what Jon had started, before she went insane. Her hand moved back down to her aching flesh and she stroked her wet cleft. For a moment she went still, wondering if Jon had come back to watch and listen. The idea made her ache even harder and she had to bite her bottom lip to keep from crying out as she stroked her increasing wetness. She would have preferred Jon’s big, strong fingers to her own but she was too desperate for release now to be picky. Why was she so hot, she wondered. Nothing and nobody had ever made her feel on fire like this. She’d glanced at Kyle’s dirty magazines and watched an X-rated movie or two with him but nothing compared to Jon’s teasing fingers. She tortured her clit with firm strokes that rocked her hips across the bed. She couldn’t have stopped rubbing if she wanted to so she kept on, deeper and harder as her body demanded, until she collapsed in a tangle of limbs as a hard, wet climax relieved her at last.

***** Marian woke to bright sunlight streaming through the window. She sat up and stretched, catching a view of the sea from the window. The morning sun sparkled on the calm surface like scattered diamonds. With a rush, she remembered last night. What in the world had happened, she wondered? Had an invisible ghost really licked and rubbed her body, driving her crazy? What was his name again? Jonathan. Jonathan Blake. Then she covered her eyes with her hands and laughed. She laughed so hard she nearly peed in the bed. Of all the ridiculous things she’d ever dreamed, that had to take the cake. All the excitement must have put her brain into overdrive. That’s why people dreamed. It was the brain’s way of sorting out life. The more that happened in real life,

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the more people dreamed and a lot had happened in her life lately. Having a marriage fall apart right before the ceremony was not a small event. Just a dream. What a relief. It had seemed so real. Too real. Of course, the view of the cemetery hadn’t helped. She was sure she’d be able to tune it out after a while and sleep normally. In fact, some physical exercise ought to help her sleep better. It looked like a nice day for a walk and the sea looked calm enough to try out the boat. She’d been exhausted yesterday. That’s why she’d heard all those noises. She’d been hallucinating. Today was a new day. It was going to be a normal day. She couldn’t wait. Then she glanced at her laptop. She heard the faint whir of its CPU and frowned. She didn’t remember turning it on. She’d just plugged it in the day before to charge the battery, hadn’t she? She got out of the bed and stepped closer. It looked like her word processing program was open and there was typing on the screen. “WELCOME HOME, MARY” All the blood ran out of her head at once and Marian had to grab the chair for support. It hadn’t been a dream after all. Jon or someone had left that message. Laptops didn’t just start typing by themselves. She was definitely going to see about getting new locks. Damn it anyway. Why couldn’t she have the peaceful summer she wanted? She wished now she hadn’t signed that prepaid lease. She’d wanted to chalk it all up to a dream or hallucination but the laptop message made that impossible. She didn’t believe in ghosts and couldn’t find any rational explanation for what had happened. There had to be a real person involved somewhere and she was going to get him out of her house. Her hands shook so badly she could barely get dressed much less drive. Why was she feeling so emotional, she wondered. This wasn’t like her at all. The old Marian would have calmly gone about doing some scientific observations and experiments. Her heartbreak with Kyle must be causing a delayed reaction.

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When she arrived at Seaside Realty, Gladys smiled and gave her a strange look. Today she wore tiny glasses perched on the end of her nose. “Hello, Marian. How are you liking the house? Did you find everything you need?” she asked sweetly. Oh, yeah. She’d found everything all right, including one horny male ghost who wouldn’t leave her alone. She cleared her throat. “We have a little problem here,” she began. “When I rented this house, I expected it to be uninhabited. It seems a man by the name of Jonathan Blake thinks he owns the house and refuses to leave. This is totally unacceptable. Either he goes or I go.” Once she’d started talking, she couldn’t seem to stop. Her anger about this and Kyle erupted from her like an onslaught of lava. Finally, the words died in her throat at the sight of Gladys’ amused expression. “What? What’s so funny?” “Did you say Jonathan Blake?” Gladys asked. Marian nodded. “He’s the owner, right?” Gladys erupted into another spell of lunar laughter that ended in a series of hiccups that made her shoulders bounce up and down. “Well, he was the owner about a hundred years ago. The house is owned by a Mr. Murdock now. He lives in New York City and has nothing to do with it. We manage everything for him.” She then shuffled over to a sagging gray filing cabinet, which looked like it had come from World War II, and searched through some folders. “I’m not finished yet,” Marian demanded. Gladys smiled blandly as if she had all the time in the world and Marian should too. “I’m looking for something which might interest you.” After what seemed an eternity, she shuffled back with an ancient-looking file. She eased a paper out and pointed to a name. It looked like some sort of record of the owners of the house. It all started in the 1700s and seemed to be updated to the present.

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Marian followed Gladys’ bony finger to Jon’s name. Apparently, he’d owned the house from 1890 to 1902. There were several owners after that. Marian sighed. “Well, apparently there’s some nutcase out there now pretending to be this historical character. He thinks he owns the house. Maybe he’s an escapee from a prison or a mental institution. I don’t care. I just want him out of the house, okay? Or I want my money back.” Gladys drew back as if Marian were a snake ready to strike. “The lease is nonrefundable, remember?” Marian clenched her fists at her sides. “I’m aware of that but if this matter isn’t taken care of to my satisfaction, I’m suing you, Mr. Murphy—or whatever the hell his name is—and this whole town. Have you got that?” Gladys seemed to deflate like a soggy balloon and backed away from the counter. “I’m sorry you’re displeased. Maybe you should talk to the police. If there’s anything we can do—” Marian smiled as guilt stung her cheeks. She really didn’t like to yell at little old ladies. In fact, she never had before. It seemed nothing was going right since she’d found Kyle in bed with his old girlfriend. “Actually, you can get that guy Max to come out to install new locks and I want deadbolts. Free of charge. Today.” Gladys nodded and eyed her warily like she might totally lose it and start shooting up the town. The scary part was, she almost felt upset enough to contemplate it. She really needed to get a grip. “I’m sure the hardware store will have all that. Yes, I’ll have Max get right on it.” “Great,” Marian replied. “Now we’re getting somewhere. Where can I find the police station?” Gladys managed a trembling smile. “We don’t have a police station. You’ll find Officer Briggs at the diner. It’s on Main Street. You can’t miss it.”

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As she walked out, she noticed Gladys reaching for the phone. There was a nutcase in her house but she was the one who looked crazy. Life just wasn’t fair. When she got to the diner, everyone stopped eating and stared at her like she was a mutant. Officer Briggs wore a faded blue uniform and was slumped over a cup of coffee. She had a feeling this place was his office. “Officer Briggs?” she asked, extending her hand. “I’m Marian Reynolds. I’m renting the Blake place.” “I know who you are,” he replied gruffly, gesturing for her to sit down in the booth across from him. “Gladys just called me. Seems you’re creating quite a disturbance in town.” Marian blinked. “Excuse me? There was an intruder in my house last night and I don’t feel safe. He said his name was Jonathan Blake. I think he’s crazy. I think he’s trying to impersonate one of the old owners. Now, what are you going to do about it?” He shook his head at her and laughed. Unlike Gladys, he made no sound at all when he laughed. His big shoulders just heaved up and down. “It sounds like you met the resident ghost. He won’t hurt you.” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “I don’t believe in ghosts. The man who attacked me in my bed last night was real.” Forks dropped all around after she said that, so she lowered her voice. Officer Briggs frowned. “You don’t say. Well, what did he look like? I can do a report on it.” Marian wanted to disappear under the floor. “I couldn’t see him, sir, but he certainly felt real.” She put her hand to her face, mortified. She couldn’t believe she’d just said that. A waitress placed a steaming cup of coffee in front of her. Marian was grateful to have something to do with her hands even though caffeine was the last thing she needed right now. “Are there any signs of forced entry into the house?” 22

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“No.” She’d searched in vain for something earlier that morning. Anything to prove she wasn’t crazy. “I almost forgot. He typed a threatening message into my laptop.” He raised an eyebrow. “Is it still there?” She looked down. “No, I erased it.” Even if she hadn’t, there was no way to prove she hadn’t typed it herself. “Can you have someone patrol the area?” she asked. “I just don’t feel safe there.” He chuckled soundlessly again. “Ma’am, you’re looking at the entire police department of Fear Point and I have more pressing matters to attend to.” Like eating donuts, Marian thought. “Look,” he said. “You seem like a nice young lady. A little high strung perhaps but you city people just don’t understand about ghosts. They’re here and they’re not going away. Folks just learn to accept ’em. If we don’t mess with them, they don’t mess with us. After all, we’re not far from Salem. There’s a doctor in town. I’m sure he can prescribe some sedatives for you if you’re getting too spooked at night and can’t sleep.” Marian sputtered into her coffee cup. “You’re telling me the whole town believes in ghosts and I’m the one who’s crazy?” “Now, don’t go and get your cute little drawers all caught up in a bunch. You should have brought someone to live with you out there. It ain’t right for a woman to be all alone. This is a peaceful town and everyone depends on me to keep it that way. If you keep causing all these disturbances, I’ll have to ask you to leave.” Marian’s jaw dropped open. “I’ll sue—” He waved a hand at her. “Gladys already told me about your little threats.” Then his gaze softened and he pulled out a scrap of paper. “I know fear does strange things to people. I know you don’t want to cause any trouble. Here’s my home phone number and pager. If this fellow ever comes back to bother you, just call me, okay?” She snatched the paper from him and stood up. “You can count on it,” she said. When she reached into her purse to pay for the coffee, he smiled at her.

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“Coffee’s on me. Have a nice day.”

***** When Marian got back to the house, everything seemed quiet. She changed into a tee shirt and sweatpants cutoffs. An hour later, Max showed up to install new locks on the front and back doors. He looked just as creepy as ever. His face was stony hard and the skin around his eyes looked dead and dark. After he’d installed the locks, he gave her the key to try it herself. When his hand accidentally brushed hers, a creepy chill went up her arm. His skin felt artificial and as cold as death. Jon had felt so warm and lifelike, yet Max was the one who was alive. It just didn’t make sense. She wasn’t thrilled that Max had his own copy of the key but at least it should keep Jon out. She hoped. Around dinnertime, she walked into the kitchen and realized she’d forgotten all about going to the market to get food. She was too tired to do it now, so she scrounged for something. She found more canned soup and a tin of flour that showed no evidence of bugs or mouse droppings. She’d shop tomorrow. Tonight she’d concoct some biscuits. Eating a lousy dinner was okay as long as she felt safe. She bent over to slide the battered cookie pan into the oven when something assaulted her from behind. Strong male arms went around her waist and lifted her at least an inch off the ground. It was daylight and she couldn’t see anyone there. She screamed when she saw her feet dangling above the floor. She tried to pry the arms off her but he or it was too strong. “Get off me,” she yelled. “Put me down right now!” She felt the scrape of beard stubble against her cheek and a flash of pain as teeth bit her earlobe. She knew without asking it was Jon. The locks, she thought. Why hadn’t they kept him out? Dread fell on her like a pall. If locks couldn’t keep him out, nothing could. She was stuck with him all summer.

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“You’ve been a bad girl today, Mary,” he whispered in her ear. “You told everyone in town about our little secret. You complained about me. What’s more, you tried to lock me out of my own house.” The more she struggled, the tighter his grip became. Her heart thudded in loud crazy beats. She felt the strong heat of his hands through her thin shirt. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said as she tried to kick at his legs behind her, “but if you don’t get out of there this minute, I’m calling the police.” He chuckled as his tongue lazily explored the opening of her ear. Damn if it didn’t feel good. When she looked down, her traitorous nipples were poking out against the thin shirt fabric. This was crazy. Maybe the cop was right. Maybe she’d lost her mind and was hallucinating all this. Is this what a broken heart did to people? “Go right ahead,” he said. “That old fart will never be able to catch me. He’s not going to come running out here every time I play with you.” “Let’s get something straight,” she said as she kicked back against his shin with her bare foot. “I’m not your plaything.” With a lunge, Jon scooped her up. Now she was hovering above a chair and felt his knees under her stomach. She was on his lap. She struggled to get up but he held both her wrists in one strong hand and the other was— “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she demanded as he yanked down the elastic waistband of her shorts. His voice appeared near her ear. “Do you know what happens to naughty girls, Mary?” She held her breath as his flat, calloused palm rubbed across her naked ass and then winced when the first blow came. “They get punished,” he finished. This was way beyond unbelievable, she thought. A ghost was actually spanking her and she couldn’t get away. If he wasn’t already dead, she had half a mind to kill him herself. His hand came down yet again. He wasn’t slapping her too hard but now her

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whole hide was stinging. And the most horrible part of all was that other traitorous parts of her body were responding to it. She knew he could see her naked cunt and it started to burn with warmth. Suddenly she wanted his finger inside her again. Or his tongue or his cock. Anything at all. “You’re enjoying this,” he said with satisfaction. “Your skin is so red and rosy.” He stopped then and she felt him bend over her prone body. She nearly fell off the chair when his hot, wet tongue touched her stinging flesh with no warning. Her breath came in ragged gusts as he licked lazy circles on each cheek. “Are you done spanking me now?” she asked coldly. “I suppose so but let me make this very clear to you. You’re in my house and you belong to me. You do not leave this house unless I say you can. Is that clear?” “Buzz off. You can’t tell me what to do. It just so happens there’s no food in this place and I’m going to the grocery store tomorrow with or without your lousy permission.” She gasped when he spanked her again, harder this time. Biting down on her bottom lip, she reached for the general direction of his crotch and squeezed down hard. A steely hand went around her wrist. “If you’re trying to hurt me, it won’t work,” he said. “I can feel but I can’t be injured. But go ahead. Finish what you started.” There was a rustle of fabric and he dragged her hand across him. She forgot her anger for a moment, wishing she could see what she felt. His cock was massive and as straight as an arrow. Wetness clung to her fingers as they brushed across the velvety head. She drew back her hand as if shocked. She refused to give Casper here a hand job. But he seemed to have other ideas. He plunged his finger into her all at once and she was amazed by how wet and ready she felt. Her head hung over his knees and small, unintelligible sounds spilled from her throat as his finger pumped into her.

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“That’s it, Mary,” he said. “I want to see you come.” She forgot all about her real name and the fact that she wanted to get away. All she knew was that she wanted him to finish what he’d started and not leave her aching for more like he did last night. Her hands scratched at the linoleum floor when he stopped. No, this was humiliating enough. She wasn’t going to beg him to keep going. “Would you like me to continue?” he asked sweetly. “Yes,” she whispered. “I can’t hear you,” he said more sternly. “Ask for what you want.” “Touch me,” she said louder. “Please. Don’t stop now.” She cried out when he spanked her again. After that, he alternated between fingering her swollen channel like a piston and slapping her. She could feel her juice everywhere. On his hands and all over the quivering, red flesh of her ass. The chair actually moved a few inches across the floor as she met his thrusting hand by pushing back with her hips. Then for some reason, he slowed down. Her hips bucked everywhere, trying to swallow him up again and get back into the quickening rhythm that was rapidly approaching the cliff of oblivion. “Don’t stop now,” she said, panting. “Harder. Faster.” “You are naughty,” he said. “You sound like a common whore, begging for a trick.” Then something penetrated her spinning world. It was a smell. A burning smell. “Oh, no,” she called out. “My biscuits are burning.” “They certainly are,” he agreed. “You’re on fire.” “I have to get them out so I don’t burn the house down.” Instead of letting her go, he grunted and grabbed her with a vengeance. She didn’t think it was even humanly possible to move his fingers that fast. The rest of her body ceased to exist as all the throbbing flesh between her legs took on a life of its own. And

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when the last blow fell, she screamed out as the biggest orgasm of her life tore through her belly like a tornado. She lay there for a moment as she struggled to catch her breath. Then she realized he wasn’t restraining her anymore and stood up. Her legs were so weak and shaky she almost collapsed as she pulled up her shorts. The smell of smoke prodded her toward the oven and she coughed when she opened the door and pulled out a pan full of black, hardened lumps. “There goes dinner,” she said as she dumped them into the sink so they could cool off. Strangely enough, she didn’t care. As she turned away from the counter, she stumbled again and wondered if it was possible for really big orgasms to cause permanent bodily damage. “Are you all right?” His voice was soft like well-worn flannel and she melted into arms she couldn’t see. She forgot that he was intruding into her house and life and messing up all her plans. Her hair was damp with perspiration and her scalp tingled as he brushed it back from her face with strong fingers. Then he cupped her chin and kissed her. It was the kiss of a tender lover, not the crazed sex maniac she’d expected. His lips moved seductively against hers. When his tongue teased against the opening of her mouth with the gentlest flick, she thought she might come again in her pants. She pushed against a wall of solid chest with her hands. “Look, this has been…interesting but I really came here to be alone.” That’s it, she told herself. Reason with him. This is what she should have done in the first place. “Can’t you please respect that and let me have my privacy?” There was so much silence, she started to wonder if he’d disappeared again. “Mary. Mary. Mary,” he said, as if speaking to a child. “You disappoint me. I thought after that…episode, you’d come to your senses. You begged me to rub your sweet little pussy. You begged me to make you come.” She crossed her arms and stared into space, annoyed that she couldn’t see who she was talking to. 28

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“You caught me by surprise,” she mumbled, realizing how lame she sounded. “This must never happen again.” He caressed her cheek and chuckled. “Oh, it will. You can count on it. Pretty soon you’ll be begging me to do a lot more than that. You’ll see. You’ll see how good we are together.” “You’re crazy,” she said, leaning away from his touch. “What mental institution did you escape from anyway?” “I assure you I’m quite sane,” he replied. She clenched her teeth. There was just no getting through to this moron. “I want to get away from men for a while, all right? Is that too much to ask?” She regretted her outburst immediately. She’d told him too much and now he’d probably use it against her. “Someone hurt you,” he said. “A man broke your heart.” She didn’t answer him. She was too busy mentally kicking herself for opening her mouth like that. “I would never hurt you, Mary. I promise you.” He hugged her again but she kept her arms straight at her sides. “I must go now but I’ll be back.” His voice sounded labored like he was carrying a heavy weight up the stairs. “Call Max tomorrow and give him your grocery list.” “I told you already I’m doing that myself,” she said, grinding out each word. She jumped when she suddenly felt his warm breath at her ear. “And I told you you’re not allowed to leave this house. Don’t push me too far, Mary, or you’ll be sorry.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” she wondered but she could sense he’d already gone. With a sigh, she threw the cooled-off lumps of charcoal biscuits into the trash. Her cheeks flooded with shame as she thought about how she’d opened herself up to Jon

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like some kind of sleazy prostitute. What had come over her, anyway? Her orgasms with Kyle, the few she’d had, were tiny little quivers barely worth noticing. This time she’d sworn the earth had quaked and the one last night had been pretty good too. Kyle had said she didn’t have one sexual bone in her body. Well, obviously she did and Jon had found it. As awesome as it was, though, it couldn’t ever happen again. She’d felt way too much out of control all sprawled across that chair and she had a broken heart she had to keep protected at all times. “I would never hurt you,” she mimicked under her breath. Right. That’s what they all said. Men would say anything to get sex. Well, he wasn’t going to get any more of hers. He might be able to get into her house but she’d be damned if she let him into her life. Besides, he wasn’t even real.

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Chapter Three Jonathan stumbled along the path leading from the back of the house to the far end of the cemetery. He stood behind a clump of trees so he couldn’t be seen from the house. His balls were so tight and hard he felt like he might explode from the inside out. He never expected to get so turned on by spanking Mary’s beautiful ass and fingering her tight cunt. She’d gotten so wet. The scent of her still lingered on his hand. He licked at his index finger but it wasn’t the same. He wanted to taste her with his tongue instead. He looked in both directions and then reached into his trousers. He moaned quietly when he grabbed his cock and pushed his trousers down to his knees. He kneeled on the ground and stared at his cock for a moment, hating it for controlling everything that happened to him. He needed release right now or he’d go crazy. And he could come this way. It was allowed. He screwed his eyes shut as he thought about Mary. Instead of his hand it was her pretty little ass he was pushing against. He licked his finger again, desperate for her disappearing scent. He bet she would feel even tighter when he fucked her. Harder. Faster. He played her words again in his mind. His own juice seeped out as he thought of her and it lubricated his hand as he rubbed it down the length of his shaft. He was so close now. “Mary,” he whispered. “I want you so badly.” And then he came, as violently as she had earlier and he watched as it spattered onto the blades of grass below. He yanked his trousers up and stood, taking a deep, shaky breath. He wished Mary could see his body the way he could. She probably thought he was a grotesque monster or a badly decomposed corpse but the truth was he looked pretty good for a dead man. 31

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He looked around him at the trees and the lush, green grass, knowing his time here would be too short as always. It might even be shorter if things kept going the way they were with Mary. Things were moving way too fast with her but he couldn’t help himself. He thought of spiriting her off to another town or another state, so he could fuck her to his heart’s content but Max would know. He kicked at a nearby rock. Max would be watching and it would be all over again. He’d go back to his grave for another seventeen years and lose Mary, just as he’d lost all the others.

Jon turned when he heard rustling in the bushes and hoped his trousers weren’t on crooked. Max was the only person who could see him but he’d undoubtedly ridicule him for succumbing to his own urges. He felt languid from his release but somewhere inside him an insatiable pulse still thrummed. He knew he’d never be satisfied until he’d buried his cock inside Mary. “Well. Well. Well. What have we been doing in the bushes?” “Good evening, Maximilian,” Jon muttered. The fact that Max had probably watched him come made his skin crawl. “I see you’ve met our new…tenant,” Max said, rubbing his hands together as he gestured back at the house with his head. Jon glanced up at the house with worried eyes. The light was on in the bedroom and he wondered what she was doing right now. He wanted to be with her, watching over her, making sure creeps like Max didn’t hurt her. “Come,” the older man said impatiently from across the cemetery wall. “Just because you’ve emerged again doesn’t mean you’re better than the rest of us.” The wall was ancient and built of interlocking stones. Jon sat on it and slid his legs to the other side, accidentally knocking a stone loose. The bedroom curtain flickered. Mary must have heard.

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Once inside the cemetery he looked around. He hated the place and wished he could escape from it for good. The moon was full and illuminated many of the headstones. Many spirits were out tonight, flaunting death. They sat on their own stones as if they were chairs at a garden party. Women gossiped. Children played. Lovers made out in the shadows. He was glad Mary couldn’t see or hear them. Tonight Max had exchanged his usual uniform of drab green work clothes for his favorite black tuxedo with a cape that nearly reached his ankles. The moon illuminated the short gray fuzz on his head and reflected in his shiny black eyes. His flat Massachusetts accent made him sound more mortal than he looked. “Our new tenant is rather fetching, isn’t she? Not a beauty queen but very womanly. She has a certain innocence. It was very clever of you to get past her defenses so quickly and make her come, in the kitchen, no less.” Jon’s fists clenched at his sides. “You watched us?” Max chuckled. “Of course I watched. I was glad to see you punish her after she put me to all the trouble of installing those useless new locks. Seeing her pert little ass up in the air gave me half a mind to fuck her myself.” “You stay away from her,” Jon said, pointing at him with an accusing finger. “She’s mine.” Max just crossed his arms and laughed. “This is so typical of you. Every time you emerge, your new strength goes to your head and makes you act like a fool. Just remember who’s in charge here. Perhaps this is a good time to go over the…rules.” “Blast the rules.” Jon spat on the ground. “I know them by heart.” The rest of the cemetery was quiet. To Jon’s dismay, everyone had stopped to listen to their conversation. “Mind your own business,” he barked out. “Such rudeness,” Max said, shaking his head. “Maybe I should make your dormancy periods longer. Maybe I should make it permanent.”

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“No!” Jon flung up his hand. “I’m sorry. Please.” Max smiled. “That’s better. They’re just placing bets on how long you’ll last this time. You can’t blame them for wanting a little excitement in their lives…er…deaths.” “I’ll last longer this time,” Jon promised. “I have to. It’s different this time. I can feel it. She’s different. She’s Mary. She’s come back.” Max raised his eyebrows. “Is that so? Last time your cock erupted before the week was out.” “Not this time.” “Perhaps but that doesn’t change the rules. You may have intercourse with her up to three times and three times only. Each time will weaken your energy and as soon as the third time is finished, you’ll go back into dormancy.” Jon nodded sadly. “I know. I know. For another seventeen years just so I can wake up and do it all over again with a new girl. Why do there have to be rules anyway? It’s not fair.” Max had once explained to him that he liked to get creative when sentencing people in the afterlife. Since Jon had died in 1902, the year of a cicada outbreak, he’d applied the same seventeen year cycle. Who knew why he’d picked three times. It was a magic number and his immortality was magic, if not damn inconvenient. Max sat on a nearby headstone and folded his hands in his lap. “Would you prefer the alternative? The permanence of death? You asked for this. You asked me to save your life and these were the conditions.” Jon ran his hand through his hair. “Well, maybe I’ve changed my mind. If you can’t bring me back to life so I can be a normal man and have sex as much as I want, then maybe I’ll go somewhere else.” Max leaned forward and glared at him. “You can’t leave this jurisdiction. You died here.”

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If only mortals knew that bureaucracy in death was just as bad as it was in mortal life, Jon thought. “But if I win her heart, then I’m free, right? I get to come back to life like a normal person.” Max nodded. “Yes but you’ll never win her heart. She can’t stand you. She made it very clear she wants to be alone.” “I made her come,” Jon protested. “So what?” Max replied. “You scratched her itch. That’s all. She still can’t stand you. You tried to win all their hearts and failed miserably each time. And don’t bring me a real organ either. I’ll never forget your first awakening when you brought me that deer heart lying on a fancy china plate in a pool of blood. That was revolting, even to me.” “Then how will I know when I’ve passed the test?” Jon asked. “Don’t worry. You’ll know.” Jon swung himself over the cemetery wall again and headed into the woods. He needed to get away from Max and he especially needed to get away from Mary. He needed to plan his strategy very carefully. He had to win her heart and somehow restrain himself from fucking her. He was really going to do it this time.

***** Marian woke up the next morning feeling refreshed. The birds were singing outside and her bedroom was filled with the fresh scent of the sea. She hoped it would be a quiet day so she could finally relax and work on her cicada article. As if to inspire her, their shrill, haunting song poured in the back window. Insects had always interested her. Even as a child, she’d collected them from her backyard and put them in bottles until she’d learned to professionally mount them on displays with pins. She’d also learned to euthanize them quickly instead of waiting for them to die in the bottles.

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But cicadas especially fascinated her. It was hard to believe they stayed dormant for seventeen years at a time. And when they emerged to have fast and furious sex, they died just so they could do it all over again. Then she remembered the day before. She couldn’t write that off as a dream. She’d been perfectly awake in the kitchen but maybe she’d hallucinated from stress. She’d been so upset. Then she reached down and ran her hand inside the back of her underwear. The skin was a little sore. She had indeed been spanked. Then there had been the noise coming from the cemetery last night. She’d been horrified to see Max standing there, dressed in black and muttering to himself. He probably had a few screws loose. And people thought she was crazy? It had taken forever to fall asleep. She’d been afraid he’d use his new key to sneak into her house. She hoped he didn’t come back. She reached into her purse and took out her cell phone, realizing she’d forgotten all about it. Technology didn’t seem to belong in this historic place and she didn’t really want to reconnect with the world she’d left behind. “You have sixteen new messages,” it chirped. Marian groaned and got some paper to write them down on. Most were from Kyle and the others were from her mother. Kyle’s messages went to the tune of, “I’m sorry. I can explain. You ran off so fast. It’s not what it looked like. Where the hell are you, anyway?” And her favorite was, “So, when do you want to reschedule the wedding?” Her mother’s messages were even worse. Her mother was overly excitable even on a good day but canceling a wedding the morning of the day it was to take place had thrown her into complete overdrive. Apparently, the message Marian had left her that fateful morning hadn’t been comforting. She’d said the wedding was off, Kyle was a creep and she’d gone to an undisclosed location to think for a while. She’d even offered to help pay back any expenses for the canceled ceremony.

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Marian held the phone away from her ear as her mother’s messages shrieked about caterers, florists, guests and the cake. And, oh crap, the ice sculpture. It was probably a puddle by now. Melted down to absolutely nothing, kind of like her love for Kyle. She sat at her desk, debating when to call her back. She did have to call her back. Otherwise, her mother would probably send out the National Guard looking for her. Then she looked at her laptop. At least there weren’t any threatening messages on it today. The article had to come first. She’d wasted enough time already, complaining to the sheriff, getting new locks and having an orgasm in the kitchen. She would write while it was quiet. Then she was going out to buy food. She wasn’t strong enough to deal with her mother on an empty stomach. Then she remembered how Jon had prohibited her from leaving the house. There was no way she was going to call that creepy Max and give him another excuse to hang around her house. She was going out herself. Jon didn’t seem to be there anyway. Would he know? Would he spank her like he had yesterday? Marian frowned when she felt a flash of warmth between her legs. How in the world could the thought of being punished by a total stranger get her so hot? Maybe she was going crazy. What if he did something worse? All sorts of disturbing images shot through her mind. Maybe this time he’d bury his cock in her while he spanked her. Or maybe he’d use something harder than his hand to slap her with. Apparently, he thought he possessed her. We’ll just see about that, she thought as she finally reached for her car keys.

***** When she got back, she hummed to herself as she put away her purchases. The townspeople had acted weird as usual. Some seemed afraid of her. After her tirade yesterday she couldn’t really blame them. Others gave her strange looks that made her

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shiver. It was as if they knew she’d been spanked by a ghost and had begged for more like a total slut. She made a big pitcher of real lemonade with lemons she’d bought. Then she cooked herself a real meal of steak, green beans and a baked potato. She hadn’t eaten right since she’d left home and was starved. She didn’t even mind washing the dishes by hand. The box of chocolate donuts on the counter would have to wait until evening. Men, she thought to herself. Who needed them? Chocolate was always better anyway. It was late afternoon by then and the small beach beckoned to her. How luxurious it would feel to take a chair out there and read a book as the sun began to set. Then she remembered her mother. She had to call her. Might as well get it over with. After all, she had the rest of the summer to read. As soon as she walked into her bedroom, she sensed something was wrong. For one thing, the first few pages of her article she’d printed out were scattered all over the floor. And her bed looked rumpled, as if someone had sat on it. As if…someone was still sitting on it. And she had definitely not put that coil of rope on the bureau. Jon. She turned to run back down the stairs and gasped when a strong hand grabbed her wrist. “Not so fast,” he said. He spun her around until she was just inches from him. She couldn’t see him with her eyes but she was starting to see him through her other senses. His breath was quick and warm near her face. His muscles seemed to throw out an energy that made the air hum between them. It was like standing too close to a power plant. And she could almost taste his prickling anger on her tongue. He grabbed her shoulders and held her fast. “You deliberately disobeyed me today and left the house,” he said. His voice was too low and too quiet. Marian would’ve preferred him to yell.

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“Do we have to go through this again?” she asked tiredly, trying to sound more casual than she felt. “This is not your house anymore. You’re dead. You’re not real. You can’t tell me what to do.” “Not real?” he chuckled against her ear as he pulled her against him without warning. Then he ground his hips against hers until she’d felt every inch of his steelhard erection through their clothes. “Are you going to tell me that’s not real? How about this?” When his lips crushed against hers, she deliberately kept her lips together but he shoved right past them with his demanding tongue. As he probed the soft surfaces of her mouth with the flicking point, the bones in her legs seemed to soften until she had to hold onto him for support. She was beginning to forget what they were arguing about. And he definitely felt real. “Why do you have this need to possess me?” she asked when she came up for air. He unfastened her barrette and stroked her long hair. “Because you belong to me,” he whispered. “You came here for a reason. I’ve been waiting for you and I’m very glad you’re here. If you do what I tell you to, everything will be fine.” Marian closed her eyes as he ran his fingers through her hair. One of his arms was cinched around her waist like a vise but she barely noticed as she focused on the delicious tingling in her scalp. “I don’t understand,” she replied. “Do you want me to be your girlfriend or something?” His hot, wet tongue grazed her ear before he spoke. “Oh, I want you to be much more than that. You’re my lady, Mary. All mine.” She pushed against his chest with her hands but it did no good. “What if I don’t want to be yours? Don’t take this personally. You’re very sexy but I don’t want to get involved with anyone right now.” Now his tongue flicked against her other ear in short, suggestive strokes. Her legs were definitely turning to water. 39

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“Don’t worry, love. I won’t hurt you like that Kyle fellow.” As if to make his point, he gently stroked her cheek with his thumb. Nevertheless, her blood went cold. “How do you know about him?” she asked as her mind churned with possibilities. Was Kyle playing a joke on her? Was this revenge for her calling off the wedding? “I heard his voice on that little telephone of yours,” Jon said. Her blood went colder still. “You listened to my phone messages? How could you? That’s an invasion of privacy. My past is none of your business.” The arm around her waist tightened and the outline of his cock felt even harder, if that were even possible. “Oh, yes it is,” he argued. Everything that goes on in my house is my business. You’re my business.” Now his tongue was exploring her neck and coming dangerously close to the sensitive spot on the back of it. Her knees nearly buckled when he found it. It was as if he knew everything about her. A gasp escaped her when he bit down on it playfully with his teeth. Part of her hated this guy more than Kyle. He was so arrogant and bossy and he had the nerve to tell her he wouldn’t hurt her. Did he actually think she was stupid enough to believe that he might be different? That he might actually care about her? “Enough talking,” he said as he pushed her down onto the bed. “It’s time for you to pay for disobeying me today.” As Marian fell onto the soft covers, she wondered if he was going to spank her again. She hated herself for the lightning bolt of arousal that coursed through her when she thought about it. She remembered all too clearly the episode in the kitchen. How her naked bottom had been thrust up in the air and how her pussy had gotten tighter and wetter with each slap. She saw the rope moving through the air toward her and her heart started hammering in double time. “No way,” she yelled but Jon had already straddled himself across her midsection and tied the rope around one of her wrists. It was as thick as her pinky finger and 40

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appeared to be the same old-fashioned cotton line used to tie up the boat outside. This piece was so white, however, it looked brand new. It had probably come from the same hardware store as the new locks which had failed to keep this monster out of her house. “You can’t do this,” she said as she watched the other end of the rope being tied around one of the posts at the head of the bed. The lengths looked precut. He’d obviously put a lot of thought into this. “I can and I am,” he replied. She tried to keep her other wrist out of his reach but he got hold of it anyway. She kicked furiously against the bed covers but her legs were useless under his weight. Before she knew it, her other wrist was fastened to the other post. He shifted his weight then and she used the opportunity to try to kick him. Despite all her struggling, though, he managed to pull off her pants and underwear. She kicked even more as the sea breeze from the open window bathed her bare skin in a salty kiss. “Stop that, Mary,” he said as he sat on one of her legs and deftly tied up her ankle with another length of rope. “The more you misbehave, the longer I’m going to have to punish you.” “I haven’t done anything wrong, you pervert,” she bit out as she struggled to get her free leg out from under his weight. This can’t be happening, she thought but it was. By the time he’d stopped pinning her under his body, her limbs were securely tied to each bedpost. She lay there, looking at the thick ropes holding her taut like a suspension bridge. She wondered if he was going to leave her alone like this until somebody like Max came to rescue her. She’d starve to death. But leaving her alone didn’t seem to be the objective. She could sense he was still there and could feel his eyes all over her. She kicked and struggled like a fish caught fast in a net but it didn’t do any good. The wooden bed was a piece of fine old furniture and the posts were as sturdy as concrete pillars. They made tiny creaking sounds when she moved as if to mock her. 41

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“You’re beautiful this way,” he said from the foot of the bed. “I like how you’re all spread out for me like an offering.” She felt completely helpless. Jon was in total control and her heart pulsed in her throat as she lay there and wondered what he was going to do to her. And damn her cunt for betraying her. Apparently, it liked being captive because her clit was coming to life and starting to pulse. Jon stood so still she couldn’t hear him. Not knowing what he was going to do to her, if anything, was driving her crazy. Finally, she had to ask him. “So are you going to just leave me here like this? What do you want?” Still no answer. “All right, you’ve had your little thrill. You had to tie me up to prove I’m your possession. Is your ego satisfied now? Untie me already.” Instead of answering her, he played with the hem of her shirt and let his fingers brush across her belly. She heard his even breathing. Apparently, his hormones were under control. Hers were a different story. The sensitive flesh of her belly twitched against his light touch. She wasn’t wearing a bra and her nipples poked out against the fabric. If he kept touching her belly like that and nowhere else, she would surely go crazy. His words came back to her. “Pretty soon you’ll be begging me to fuck you.” Never. She’d never beg any man to do that but her body clearly wanted something from him and soon. She clenched her teeth, hating him for doing this to her. At last he dragged the hem of her shirt up until it rested above her breasts. She swore her nipples were harder and longer than she’d ever seen them before and the flesh around them had puckered into a deep wine shade. She wished she could see what he was going to do next. After a pause that lasted much too long, he touched her nipple with a finger he must have moistened with saliva. She was so ready for it she groaned out loud without meaning to.

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“I see you’re enjoying your punishment,” he said as he teased her nipple with the lightest touch. It was so hard and swollen now it ached. “What do you want me to do now, Mary?” “Untie me.” He chuckled as he stroked her other nipple. His finger was wetter than before. “You don’t want me to stop now, do you?” “Yes, I do,” she lied. “This is…humiliating.” “Don’t lie to me,” he whispered in her ear. “I’ll just have to punish you more if you do.” As if to make his point, he pinched down on her nipple. The sweet mixture of pleasure and pain sent her head thrashing against the pillow. “Now, what do you want me to do next?” She didn’t answer. “Would you like me to suck your breasts? Or maybe you’d like me to lick your sweet little cunt. I could make you come again. Would you like that?” She writhed against the ropes. It all sounded wonderful and she thought she might come just thinking about it. To make it worse, he’d stopped touching her breasts and her nipples were throbbing in protest. “My breasts,” she whispered, feeling more embarrassed than she ever had in her entire life. “I can’t hear you,” he said. “What would you like me to do with them?” “Lick them,” she finally got out in a quiet voice. “Suck on them.” “Are you sure?” She turned her head, burying it into one of the pillows. “Yes,” she said louder. “Just do it.” She sighed in relief as his tongue circled around each nipple and flicked against the tips. Her body grew tauter by the minute and when he suddenly pulled a nipple into his mouth and sucked hard, she nearly exploded. Then he went to the other one, sucking her flesh deep into his mouth and battering it with his scorching, wet tongue.

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By now she was moaning out loud and hoped nobody could hear her. She couldn’t believe what he was doing to her. It was as if he’d replaced her body with someone else’s. Her blood had never rushed through her quite like this before. “What else, Mary?” She looked down at her wet, engorged nipples. Her mind screamed for him to touch her pussy but she didn’t dare say it. His hand hovered lightly on her belly and she shivered when he dipped a wet finger into her navel. She shifted her hips against the bedspread and opened her knees a little wider to give him the idea. Then he stroked lazy circles on her thighs but it wasn’t close enough. “Your pussy looks very wet. Let me show you.” Mary held her breath as he took a mirror from the bureau and held it up to her. Her lips were swollen and red and her clit stuck out like a small finger from between her pale thighs. Everything was glistening wet. She felt herself blush. She’d never really studied herself before and certainly not in this condition. Jon put the mirror down and stroked higher on her thighs. “Do you want me to touch it?” he asked. “Do you want me to make you come like I did before?” “Yes,” she finally said, half moaning the word. She was so wet his finger slid inside her right away but all too soon he took it out. “Don’t stop,” she muttered. She felt the bed dip as his weight shifted and she waited, breathless, for him to touch her somewhere…anywhere. Where was he now? If only she could see him. “Jon? Where are you?” she called out helplessly. “You want to know where I’m going to touch you next, don’t you?” “Yes.” She squirmed against her bonds. At this point, every square inch of her skin was dying for his touch. After what seemed an eternity, she felt the faintest licking sensation 44

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on the back of her knee. It wasn’t where she wanted his tongue but it still felt pretty good. He licked a slow, broken line from her knee up the inside of her thigh, pausing to nip her tender skin with his teeth. When he got near her mound he licked the sensitive areas where her thighs met her body. She moved her hips, trying to coax his tongue into her burning core. When he stopped again, she groaned in misery. “What’s wrong, Mary?” he asked solicitously. “Am I doing something wrong? Am I licking the wrong spot?” “Yes. No.” She was all but chasing his invisible mouth with her hips, desperate to feel his hot, wet tongue where she most needed it. “Surely you don’t want me to lick your pussy? Only a common slut would want that.” “No, I’m not. I mean, yes I do.” She stared across the hard points of her upturned nipples and what she could see of her wet mound below. Her reddened clit poked out from beneath its nest of dark hair and already looked plenty wet from her own juices. “Say it,” he said sternly. “Lick it, Jon,” she whispered. “Say it properly, Mary. Demand it, or I won’t do it.” “Jon, stop torturing me like this. Please…lick…my…cunt. Now!” The strength of her own voice sent a stinging blush across her face. She had never in her entire life acted like this. What had gotten into her? When his tongue finally danced across her clit, she came without warning. Spasms racked her whole body as her limbs quivered against the ropes. “Very nice,” he said. “Do you want to stop now?” When she didn’t answer, he said, “I’ll take that as a no.”

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He licked her clit again and it was so sensitive from having come once already it burned like a bonfire. The tip of his tongue explored every fold and crevice until she didn’t think she could stand any more. Then he settled into a rhythm as he flicked across it with his tongue. The bed creaked as she rocked into him, grinding herself against his mouth. The sting of his beard stubble against her sensitive skin only made it better. She nearly came again when he sucked his clit into his mouth and pulled. When he stopped, she was ready to strangle him for torturing her like that. “Stop it,” she yelled out. “Stop what?” he asked. “Stop touching you? Do you still want me to untie you and leave you alone?” “Of course,” she replied. “This is degrading.” “Are you sure?” he asked in a mocking voice as he stroked the inside of her thigh. “Yes. I mean no.” She was breathing so fast she could barely talk. “Don’t leave me like this,” she finally admitted. His mouth descended on her again and this time he pumped his finger in and out of her pussy while he licked and sucked her clit. He pressed his fingers low in her opening and she couldn’t believe how good it felt. Liquid flames shot through her with each stroke. He must have found her G-spot, a feat no man before him had managed to do. She felt the orgasm gathering on the horizon with a thick knot of clouds. Knew it would be big. Knew it was coming very, very soon. And yelled loud enough to wake all the dead in the cemetery. “Very nice,” he said as he ran his hand lightly down her body from her neck to her toes. “See? This wasn’t so bad was it? You enjoyed it. I know you did.” Marian felt too weak to do anything except nod. If the punishments were like this, she thought, she just might have to be naughty more often. She opened her eyes with a

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start when she felt her left ankle fall to the bed. It was untied and now he was working on the other one. She frowned as he turned to untie her wrists. Wasn’t he going to have sex with her? It sure didn’t look like it and she could hardly believe how disappointed she felt. Despite the intensity of the orgasms she’d just had, she wanted another, with him inside. She was naked and wet and had never been more ready for a man to enter her. Then she realized what the problem was as her last wrist fell free. Kyle was right. She wasn’t sexual enough. Jon had apparently been testing her and she’d failed miserably. He didn’t want her either.

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Chapter Four To make things even worse, Jon covered her naked body with the light, cotton afghan that had been lying at the foot of the bed. A bureau drawer opened and the lengths of rope went inside. Then she felt the bed shift as he lay behind her and put his arm around her waist. She loved being cuddled and spooned like this but not now. Not after he’d just rejected her. She scrambled for her clothes but he kept her in place with his heavy arm. “Go away,” she grumbled. “I don’t want to go away,” he said gently. “I want to spend time with you.” “Sure you do,” she said. “Look, I already told you I want to be alone.” She had a sick feeling in her stomach when she realized it was already too late for that. If he left her alone now, she’d still think about him. She’d probably even miss him. He leaned closer and kissed her hair. “And I told you that’s not an option. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.” “Why?” she asked as she gazed at the bureau across the room. “What do you see in me?” He stroked her arm. “I see beauty and a loving heart. I see the woman I’m supposed to be with.” “Yeah, right. The best man I can get is dead and even he doesn’t even want to have sex with me.” Her cheeks flamed when she realized what she’d just blurted out. Suddenly, his hand dug into her waist and flipped her around so she faced him. Or, rather, faced the air that was supposed to be him. “Who said I didn’t want to have sex with you?” he asked angrily. “You did, with your actions,” she replied.

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He hugged her close to him and she wished she had a real man to hug her like that and love her forever. “You have no idea how badly I want you,” he said. His voice was ragged with pain. “I just think we shouldn’t rush in too fast. Besides, don’t you remember my telling you that you’re going to have to beg me first?” She shook her head. “I don’t beg any man for sex. I’d rather not have any.” “That’s not what your delectable little cunt was telling me earlier. You want me to fuck you and I promise I will when the time is right.” Marian’s belly tightened at his words and she knew that when the time came, she’d probably let him do what he wanted. Heck, she was ready to spread her legs for him right now, she realized as she blushed with shame. She hadn’t seen his cock and had only touched it briefly but somehow she knew the massive hardness would fill her completely. Her vow to keep her life man free was not working out very well. He touched her cheek. “You’re thinking about it right now, aren’t you?” She nodded. “Tell me about Kyle,” he said, changing the subject. “I’d rather not,” she said in a flat voice. “He’s history.” “You were to be married?” he prompted. “What happened?” She sighed, unable to see any reason to keep her past a secret. Still, lying there with her body totally exposed was different from opening her heart. She began slowly, each word puncturing her with lingering remnants of pain. “On the morning of the wedding, I went over to his apartment to drop off his cufflinks. The jewelry store had special ordered them and I didn’t get them until the last minute. I know the groom’s not supposed to see the bride the day of the wedding, so I figured I’d just let myself in, drop them off and leave quietly.

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“When I got inside, I saw a pair of women’s shoes on the floor, so I walked toward the bedroom.” Her voice caught. “I didn’t even expect to find anything. I told myself there was a perfectly good explanation.” “He was with another woman,” Jon offered. She nodded. “His ex-girlfriend. They were in bed sleeping, naked, on top of the sheets. I’ll never forget the sight of it. I was going to sneak out because I didn’t want to deal with a big scene but I tripped over her bra on the floor. He ran after me as far as the front door, saying he could explain everything.” “He sounds like a cad. If you tell me where he lives, I can go kill him for you.” She giggled nervously, wondering if he was serious. He kissed her gently on the lips. “Your broken heart will heal, Mary, and you’ll be able to love again. You’ll be able to love me the way I love you.” Marian’s heart skipped a couple of beats. “What did you just say?” “I said I love you,” he repeated. He was still stroking her arm and she felt like she was teetering on a cliff. She shifted a few inches away. “You can’t possibly love me,” she said. “You just met me. Quit playing games.” He grabbed her shoulder. “I assure you I’m very serious. Dead serious.” She brushed off his hand and sat up, drawing the afghan around her. “I can’t even see you. Do you know how hard it is having a serious conversation with thin air?” She heard him sigh in frustration and felt his exhaling breath. “See me with your other senses, Mary. I’m real and so is my love. Touch my face.” And she did. She’d touched his face when she’d first met him but this was different. She spent more time exploring every inch of it. He felt handsome but if he was dead, he could look like a gory corpse for all she knew. His nose was distinctive and had a prominent hump to it. She closed her eyes and tried to see it. His face seemed so perfect otherwise she imagined it made him look even more appealing and masculine.

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“What color are your eyes?” she asked. “I suppose ‘gray’ would best describe them.” “And your hair?” “Dark brown.” It was springy and crisp under her fingers and she detected dampness again. “Are you ever going to tell me why your hair is always wet?” He didn’t answer her. “Oh, come on. I just told you my life story and you can’t answer a simple question.” “Mary, please. I can’t discuss it now.” She hugged him closer and felt tiny shivers going through him. They were so small she could barely feel them. “Does it have something to do with how you died? Jon, did you…drown?” Suddenly her arms were filled with empty air. He was gone again.

***** Mary took a bath the next day, trying to get Jon out of her mind. Maybe if he left her alone right now, she could have that quiet, healing summer she’d planned. He was so unpredictable it drove her crazy. One minute he was tying her up and making her come. The next he was so tender he came much too close to her heart. She never knew when he’d show up or what he was going to do. The house almost felt too empty now without him. “Damn it,” she said as she slapped the water with her fist. She was heading straight toward another heartbreak and this time the guy wasn’t even real. Maybe she really was imagining the whole thing. As she dried off, she decided to do what she always did in uncertain situations. It was time to do a little research. But first she had to call her mother. As she dialed the number, she hoped she wouldn’t be at home.

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“Marian?” her voice shrilled. “Where the hell are you? We’ve been worried sick. Poor Kyle is beside himself.” “I’m sorry about the wedding,” she said. “Sorry?” her mother shrieked. “You should be. Do you realize how much work we put into it? And money?” Marian winced. “I’m so sorry. Really I am. I’ll pay you back.” “You didn’t give Kyle a chance to explain. I’m sure you two could have worked it out.” Marian frowned. “What did he tell you exactly?” “He said Jenna was having some personal problems. Apparently, she’d gotten really drunk and called him to pick her up. Then she was so upset he took her back to his place and tried to comfort her.” Marian tapped her pen absently on the desk. “I don’t believe he fed you that crock of bull and you actually bought it. He comforted her all right, right into his bedroom.” “Bedroom?” Her mother sounded quieter now. “He told me she stayed on the couch.” “Mom, I found them in a naked clinch in his bed, okay? Do you see now why I couldn’t marry him?” There was so much silence she wondered if the connection had been lost. “Mom?” “That louse,” she finally said. “You poor dear. We had no idea. You should have come to us and let us help you instead of running away. Where are you, anyway?” Marian opened her mouth and closed it again. “I can’t tell you.” “I’m your mother. You can’t tell your own mother where you are?” She was shrieking again, so Marian adjusted the volume of her receiver.

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“I’m fine. I’m safe,” she said, leaving out the part about the wild ghost who’d tied her to the bed and licked her into oblivion. “You can always leave a message on my cell phone.” Her mother sniffed. “I don’t want Kyle to find me.” “Well, I can see you don’t trust me enough to tell me where you are. But you might be interested to know that Kyle has been through every inch of your apartment. If he can find you, I think he’s going to come after you.” Marian squeezed her eyes shut. “Great.” After she got off the phone, she racked her brain to remember if she’d left anything important behind. She didn’t think she had but she’d been in such a hurry. Even if he did show up here, she’d make short work of getting rid of him and giving him the message that it was over. She wondered if Jon would be jealous. Kyle was the one who should be jealous. After all, a ghost had turned her on more than he ever had.

***** After the upsetting call, she needed to go outside and clear her head. It was time to try out the boat and see if it was seaworthy but first she felt herself drawn to the cemetery. Maybe it wouldn’t seem so creepy at night if she explored it during the light of day and saw how harmless it was. Most of the stones were old. They leaned at odd angles and the lettering was so worn it was hard to read. She meandered through it, row by row, reading each one she could. There were men, women and children of all ages and it made her wonder what they had been like alive. She moved on to the next row and read the names aloud absent-mindedly. “Betty Farnsworth, Joseph Simms, Mary Winters…” She stepped closer to the last one. The name “Mary” caught her eye since Jon kept calling her that. It looked old. The dates were 1880-1902 and Marian felt sad for the girl who had died so young.

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She moved on to the next stone and nearly collapsed on the spot. She bent closer to see if she was reading it right. The dates were 1870-1902 and the name was “Jonathan Blake.” “Oh, my God,” she said as she reached out to touch it. The stone was so cold and rough and felt nothing like the man who’d held her yesterday. Then she thought back to the papers Gladys had shown her about the house. The last year of ownership was the same year he’d died. “Jon?” she whispered, half expecting him to materialize in front of her. It couldn’t be the same man, she told herself. Dead men didn’t feel the way Jon did. He was a live man who’d somehow figured out how to make himself invisible and she was going to find out how he did it. In any event, she was curious about the dead owner of this house. She’d go to the library and find out what he looked like. She might check out Mary while she was at it. They had different last names but maybe they knew each other. Research would settle things once and for all.

***** Fear Point’s library was so small she could barely find it. It was an old building covered with white clapboard. The quiet smell of ancient books surrounded her when she walked inside. “Marian, how nice to see you.” The exuberant voice pierced the quiet and made her jump. “Louise? That’s right. I forgot you told me you were the librarian.” Louise motioned her toward the desk. “How are you getting along at the house? I heard you had new locks put in.” Marian felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. Was nothing private in this town? It made her wonder if the town knew about the things she and Jon had been doing too. “Yes,” she replied. “Everything’s just fine there. Nice and quiet.” 54

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Louise processed a pile of books as she talked. “I heard you were ravished by a man. That must have been dreadful for you. Is he gone now?” Marian cleared her throat. “Yes. The reason I’m here is—” “If the man was good looking, send him over to my place next time, eh? I’ve been a widow for ten years but my Charley certainly was virile. It must be the salty air that turns young men in these parts wild.” She got a faraway look in dark her eyes and Marian could see how much she missed her husband. “How long were you married?” she asked, both happy and jealous the other woman had found lasting love. “Forty wonderful years,” Louise replied as she snapped a book shut. “What about you? You’re too young and pretty to be a spinster. Is there a young man in your life?” Marian looked down at her left hand where her engagement ring had left a tan line. What if there was a very old man in her life, she thought. What if he was over a hundred years old? What if he made her feel good both inside and out even if he wasn’t real? “No,” she finally said. “There I go being nosy again,” Louise exclaimed as she placed her hands on the pile of books. “I do apologize. Now what can I do for you? What kind of books do you like to read? I’ve got romance, adventure, history…” Marian turned to glance at the neat rows of shelves. “Actually, I didn’t come here to borrow books. I want to do a little research.” “All right but I have to tell you we don’t have much here except local history.” Marian leaned closer. “Good, that’s what I want. Give me everything you’ve got on Jonathan Blake.” “I’m afraid it’s a bit disordered,” Louise told her. “We’re in the process of making exhibits out of it. I haven’t gotten around to making copies of the originals yet.” “I’ll be careful,” Mary promised.

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Louise seated her at a small table in the corner of the library and brought her all sorts of papers and books. Many looked so old Marian was afraid to even breathe on them lest they fall apart before her very eyes. “I think that’s everything,” Louise said on her last trip. “Why are you so interested in him anyway?” Marian tapped her pen on the desk, wishing the well-meaning lady would give her some privacy now. “He used to own the house I’m staying at and I saw his headstone today in the cemetery. I’m just curious about him, that’s all.” Louise patted her on the shoulder. “Well, have at it. Let me know if you need anything else.” “Thanks,” she mumbled. Her hands shook as she sorted through it all. She didn’t know where to begin, so she started at the top of the pile. The first item was on official-looking piece of stationery that had yellowed with age. It was an engagement announcement for Jonathan Blake and Mary Winters, the girl in the cemetery. Was this why he kept calling her Mary? Was she Mary’s reincarnation? Chills shot down her arm as she thought about it. And if they were engaged, why were their last names different when they died? Why hadn’t the marriage taken place? She sifted through more papers, handling the fragile documents with great care even though most of them were in protective sleeves. Apparently, Jon had been a successful merchant and well known around town. And though it was hard to compare money from a hundred years ago to today’s, it looked as though he was well off. If only she could have known him then, she thought, maybe she’d have ended up with forty years of great marriage like Louise. She held her breath as she pulled a stiff envelope out of the pile and reached for the large photographs inside. The first was of the town and it didn’t look much different from how it did now. The next was of the Blake house she was renting and that didn’t look terribly different either except for some trees that looked much smaller then. 56

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The next picture was of a woman. Marian clapped her hand to her mouth. It was a formal portrait of a girl dressed in a velvet dress and elaborate hat. A mass of dark curls cascaded over her shoulder and her eyes were very pale. Probably blue. This couldn’t be, she thought. The girl looked too much like her. No name was given but Marian knew she was looking at Mary Winters. The only notation on the photograph was the year 1902. As she looked into the innocent face, she wondered if Mary had any idea while she posed for that picture that her death was so close at hand. Marian had to stop and close her eyes for a second. This was all much too weird. When she was ready, she reached into the envelope again for the last picture. When she pulled it out, she gasped. It was a portrait of a young man with dark hair and light eyes that could very well be gray. Her hand trembled as she touched the black-and-white paper face. Instead of paper she felt his flesh just as she had the day before. She studied the photograph with her eyes with as much intensity as she’d gazed into microscopes at school. Everything matched up with what she’d felt, including that little hump in his nose. He was posed in a smart-looking suit with one foot on a rock and his hand on his hip. Mercy. He was gorgeous and even sexier than she’d imagined and he seemed to be looking right at her from the paper. She looked at his hands that had wrought such pleasure on her. Finally, she pushed it away as tears stung the backs of her eyes. Okay, she was losing her mind. The stress of losing Kyle was doing strange things to her. Here she was in a library like some love-struck teenager, mooning over an old picture of a dead guy. She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder, swearing Jon was standing there but it was just Louise. “Are you finding everything you need, honey?” Marian just nodded. “He was a handsome chap, wasn’t he? It’s a shame he died so young.” Marian slid the picture back inside the envelope. She couldn’t stand to look at it anymore. “How did he die?” 57

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Louise clasped her hands behind her back and looked off into the distance. “He drowned in the ocean.” “No,” Marian blurted out. “I mean, that must be a scary way to die.” “My parents talked about it,” she went on. “It was the biggest tragedy of the town.” Marian turned to listen. Apparently, this woman knew everything that was in the papers if not more. “He was quite a catch and very popular with the ladies. There was a big party announcing his engagement to Mary Winters but the other young ladies in town were not too happy about it.” Louise’s faded eyes looked even more far away. It was as if she’d been there herself. “It grew stormy that night. Mary got jealous and called off the wedding. She headed out to sea in her parents’ yacht, trying to return to Boston where she was from. He went out after her in a small boat. They both drowned.” At that moment another patron walked in and Louise left her alone again. Alone to digest that incredible story. So he did drown, she thought to herself. That’s why his hair was always wet. Every time she mentioned it, he wouldn’t tell her anything. Was it still that painful so many years later? Without knowing why, Marian put her hands to her face and felt tears against her fingers. She was sorry for him and Mary. That’s what she wanted, she realized. She wanted a man who loved her so much he would brave stormy seas to reach her. Kyle was definitely not that man. She looked through the rest of the papers and saw death announcements and old newspaper clippings. There was nothing Louise hadn’t already told her. Her legs trembled as she walked toward the door. “I’ve finished,” she called to Louise, who was checking out books for a patron. “Thank you.”

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When she got into her car, Fear Point looked different to her. It was his town now. He had branded it forever with his tragic life and love and she now felt branded too. He had touched her entire body and told her he loved her even though he couldn’t possibly yet… Unless Mary really had come back…as her.

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Chapter Five When she got back to the house, Marian had the overwhelming urge to finally try out the boat. It was as if reading about the drowning deaths had made her want to tempt fate. There was very little wind and it looked like as good a time as any. The property was in a protected cove with no rocks and the sea stretched out like a flat lake with hardly a bump on it. After she’d untied the lines, the boat slid away from the pier and drifted toward the sea. The waves pulled her back and forth like they were rocking a baby’s cradle. After she trusted she wasn’t going to be pulled out too far, she leaned back and closed her eyes. Salty air brushed her cheeks and the sound of laughing seagulls mixed with the rush of tide. She toyed with the loose end of one of the ropes that had tied the boat to the dock. The sun felt warm and seductive as she thought about Jon and how he’d tied her up. She wondered if he was going to “punish” her again today for going out without asking his permission. Predictably, the temperature between her legs went up a few degrees as she remembered the feel of rope tying up her limbs. She’d felt so helpless and exposed. Her body had been Jon’s and they both knew he could do whatever he wanted. She shuddered even now as she thought of the unexpected pressure of his wet tongue on her exposed clit. When she was done, she paddled back to shore and pulled the boat back to its usual spot. When she began to tie it back up, the rope slid out of her hand. It felt as if someone had pulled it. “Why did you go out in this boat?” It was Jon’s voice and it sounded angry. Marian shrugged. “It was there.” 60

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“You are never to use this boat again,” he said. “Is that clear?” She rolled her eyes. “I guess you’re mad I went to town today too. I suppose you’re going to punish me now.” Her body started tingling as she wondered what he was going to do to her this time. And hearing him now after seeing his picture made him seem that much more real. “You’re darned right I’m going to punish you.” But he sounded different today. He sounded like this was no longer a game. “You’re so headstrong, you’ll probably go out in this boat again, even though I forbid it.” His voice shook with barely restrained fury and it moved around a lot. He must be pacing. “Well, I know how to fix that,” he said. Marian stood, glancing around the beach as she wondered what he was going to do. He’d gotten suddenly quiet. The sun slipped behind a cloud and made goose bumps raise up on her arms. Then she heard horrible banging noises and saw the boat was jumping around on its rope. “Stop it,” she called out. “What do you think you’re doing?” She watched with her hands to her head as an oar banged itself against the dock, trying to break in half. “I’m taking care of you, Mary,” he gritted out. “I’m trying to keep you safe.” “Leave the boat alone,” she pleaded. “If you destroy it, they’ll make me pay for it. I won’t go out in it anymore. I promise.” The boat abuse seemed to stop and she sighed in relief. His hand grabbed her wrist. This time it felt wet and deathly cold. She shivered again as she struggled to match his long strides toward the house. He marched up the stairs with heavy footsteps and she tripped along behind him. When they walked into the bedroom, she thought about the rope and wondered if he’d tie her up again. Her nipples jumped to attention just thinking about it. Then again, he was so angry he might not have that in mind at all.

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She glanced at herself as she walked by the mirror above the bureau and stopped cold. He was there, standing behind her. She could see him! At first, she kept her eyes glued to the mirror, afraid he might disappear if she looked away. He was so handsome. He looked just like the picture but better because now he was real and in color. Finally, she turned and he was still there. His shirt hung open with several buttons undone and his pants were tight enough to reveal how excited he was. His gray eyes held hers in an unblinking stare, full of promise and warning. She could see the dampness in his hair and the bump on his nose. Her hand trembled as she reached out to touch his face and she gasped when her hand went right through him. Her heart pounded when she realized she couldn’t feel him anymore. He was like a video image, projected on a wall and nothing more. “What happened to you?” she asked, her voice filled with loss. “I can’t feel you anymore.” “You wanted to see me,” he said curtly, “so here I am.” As she stood there staring at his ghostly image, she thought back to how she planned to be alone in this house. How lonely and boring that would have been, she thought, when scientific wonders unknown to mankind were happening right before her eyes. “Can’t I see you and feel you?” she ventured. He shook his head. “I don’t have enough energy to do both. Now, stop asking so many questions. You went out in that dangerous boat without asking my permission and it’s time to be punished for it.” “What are you going to do to me this time?” she asked in a small voice as her cunt tightened up inside her panties.

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His image dissolved before her eyes and then she felt his strong arms grabbing her forearms and pushing her down into the desk chair. The rope came out of the bureau drawer and he tied her ankles to the chair legs. Then she heard the rustling of fabric. She blinked when she saw his image come back. His shirt was completely unbuttoned now, revealing a flat, muscular stomach and a scattered patch of dark chest hair. She could see his pulse fluttering in his throat. He looked so real. Her eyes went downward of their own accord and took in every inch of his massive cock. It curved outward toward her like an offering. The head was dark with arousal. Drops of fluid oozed from the tip and dripped down the shaft like melted wax on a burning candle. It was very clear what he wanted her to do this time. “Suck on my cock,” he ordered. “And you’d better do a good job.” As soon as she leaned close enough to touch it, vision changed to touch as she felt the velvety head push against her open lips. She hadn’t done this very often and was sure she’d do a lousy job. After she’d done so badly with Kyle, he didn’t even bother with it anymore. She just hadn’t been expecting him to thrust it all the way to the back of her throat. Could she help it if she had a sensitive gag reflex? And if that hadn’t been bad enough, she’d gagged again when she tried to swallow his cum. Jon didn’t push. The head stayed there, at the entrance to her mouth. “I’m not any good at this,” she muttered. “You’ll learn,” he snapped. “Lick it, Mary. I want to feel your tongue all over me.” Tentatively, she did as she was told. She licked the drops of moisture from his shaft. He tasted like the sea. He groaned as her tongue crept slowly up toward the head. She licked around the spongy rim of it and lapped at the juice coming from the open tip. “That’s it,” he said. “Now suck on it.” She closed her lips around the head and sucked gently. “Harder. Deeper,” he said hoarsely.

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She shifted in her seat as her own juices began to flow. Her panties felt wet between her legs. Little by little, she took more of him into her mouth and cupped her hands around his bottom as she inhaled the scent of his musk. His cock pushed further until it didn’t even seem possible she could handle that much in her mouth. His shaft was so hard and hot. When she imagined what it would feel like between her legs, her clit began to ache. Finally, she felt his head against the back of her throat and froze. Could she really do this, she wondered. He held still. It was as if he knew how hard this was for her. She pulled back a little and lunged forward. He groaned again and began to exhale in ragged gusts. She went a little deeper, harder and faster with each stroke until he was finally ramming himself between the tight ring of her lips. “Yes. Yes. That feels so good,” he said. “Rub my balls,” he ordered. They were tight in her hands as she stroked them. “Harder,” he moaned and she squeezed into them with her fingers, dragging her nails into his tight flesh. His rigid cock slid in and out of her mouth as she gently kneaded his balls and when his whole body shook with release, he pulled himself out of her. Hot semen peppered her face and pooled on her bruised lips. Her tongue darted out to lick the essence of him, so salty and male. She reached up to touch her wet cheeks and licked his hot juices from her fingers. Jon took a shuddering sigh and Marian could hear him fasten his pants. “What’s wrong?” he asked. She looked up, even though she couldn’t see him standing there. “Nothing. I—” Actually, she was surprised he’d picked up on her thoughts so easily. “Well, that wasn’t very good, was it? I mean, I wasn’t very good.” “What are you talking about?” he asked. His voice was down to her knees now and she could feel the ropes coming off her ankles. “That felt wonderful.”

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Then he was quiet and his breathing sounded labored. One of her ankles was still tied. “Jon? Are you all right?” He sighed. “Yes.” Then his voice got stronger. “Yes, I’m quite fine.” “Kyle told me I wasn’t sexual enough,” she blurted out, “so I figured you’d think the same thing.” He kissed her on the cheek. “You’re perfect,” he told her. “Don’t listen to anything that cad said to you. He’s wrong.” “What was she like?” she asked after he’d untied her other ankle. “Who?” “Mary.” The bed groaned when he sat on it. “How do you know about her?”

Marian was about to answer when someone knocked on the front door. She hurriedly straightened her hair in the mirror and groaned. She looked exactly like someone who’d just been busy sucking a cock. Her lips were red and swollen. Even her gaze looked wanton. She caught Jon’s gray gaze through the smooth glass. “Get rid of them,” he said. “I’m not finished with you yet.” Excitement tingled through her as she hurriedly wiped semen off her face with a wet washcloth and went downstairs. “Louise. Gladys. What a surprise. Uh, come in.” As they entered the small living room, Marian was sure they could tell exactly what she’d been doing by looking at her. Louise held a packet of papers and Gladys had what looked like a tin of cookies. “You left the library in such a hurry,” Louise said. “I thought you might like some copies of the pictures.”

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“Thank you,” Marian said even though she wasn’t sure she wanted them. It was nearly impossible to connect Jon the living flesh to the dead man in the picture. The essence of him still lingered in her mouth. “Oh and here’s a housewarming gift,” Gladys said, handing her the cookie tin. Marian opened the lid. “Chocolate chip. My favorite. How thoughtful of you.” During the awkward silence that followed, she struggled to push aside the recent memory of Jon’s cock pushing against her throat. These were guests. She was supposed to do something polite. “Please sit down,” she said, indicating the settee. Harder. Deeper. She would never forget those words. “Ladies, would you like something hard?” She shook her head, cheeks burning. “I mean hot. I could make some tea.” Louise fanned herself with her hand. “I'm afraid I'm too overheated for that.” “Lemonade, then?” Marian asked. “That would be perfect,” Louise replied. “Thank you.” “Coming right up.” She was glad to escape to the kitchen to prepare the drinks and cool off. Louise wasn’t the only one overheated around here. Minutes later, she set the full glasses on the coffee table and sat in the wooden chair across from her guests. Gladys sipped her lemonade and smiled at Marian. “We brought you the gift because we know you’ve had a rough time of it here.” “And even though you’re just renting for the summer,” Louise chimed in, “we hope you’ll consider living here. She looks like she belongs, doesn’t she, Gladys?” Gladys nodded as she reached for the stack of pictures. “Her resemblance to Mary is quite striking, isn’t it, Louise?” “I—” Marian started to talk but Jon was in the room with them, as invisible as ever and he decided at that moment to plunge his hand into her neckline. Her nipples 66

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popped to life despite her earnest wishes for them not to. She wasn’t wearing a bra either. When he tweaked a nipple with the pad of his finger, she couldn’t help gasping out loud. “Are you all right, dear?” Gladys asked, leaning forward. Marian hoped neither lady could see very well but Louise was already looking at her chest with a puzzled expression. “Cut it out,” Marian muttered under her breath. “What did you say, dear?” Louise asked. “Nothing. Nothing at all.” “Have there been any more incidents since the locks were installed?” Gladys asked. Marian froze, unsure of how to answer that. The new locks hadn’t kept Jon out but now she wasn’t sure she wanted him to be kept out anymore. As if to help her find the right answer, he slid his hands inside the waistbands of her jeans and panties all at once and slipped a finger inside her moist folds. She clenched her teeth and tried in vain to wrestle his hand away. Gladys and Louise exchanged a worried glance. “Have you looked at the headstones yet?” Gladys asked. “Excuse me?” Marian asked before her voice nearly choked on a moan. Jon’s finger was stroking her, faster and faster and she desperately hoped the ladies couldn’t hear the wet, sticky sounds it made. She slid her bottom across her seat, trying to get away from his tenacious finger but it followed her wherever she went. If he pulled her pants down in front of everyone, she swore she would kill him if he wasn’t already dead. “The graves,” Gladys repeated. “Some of them are quite old. It can be interesting to read them. Jonathan Blake is buried there.” Marian felt like telling her that Jon was alive and well and was currently busy trying to bury himself in her crotch.

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“Oh, yes,” she replied, nearly jumping off the chair when Jon began flicking her wet clit with his thumb. “I have read them. That’s why I came to the library to find out more.” “I’ll make you come again,” Jon whispered in her ear. “Shut up,” she yelled out without thinking. Gladys’ mouth was now hanging open and she looked as if she wanted to take back her cookies. Marian stood up, effectively knocking Jon out of the way. She clutched her waistband to make sure her pants didn’t fall off. “I’m so sorry. I was talking to myself, not you. You see, cemeteries scare me and I was trying to quiet my fearful internal thoughts.” Gladys nodded slowly. “Oh, that’s perfectly understandable. Death can be disconcerting to those who aren’t used to it.” As if the cemetery knew it was being talked about, it buzzed to life. Everyone went toward the window. Marian sighed in relief. It was just Max cutting the grass. “So Max maintains the cemetery,” she said. “Somehow I’m not surprised.” Louise frowned. “He’s a strange one all right. I believe he enjoys being with the dead.” Marian shivered. “Actually, he kind of gives me the creeps.” Louise nodded. “I don’t much care for him either. He’s always lurking about. I’m sure he’s harmless, though.” Marian watched him push the lawn mower effortlessly around each stone. It was as if he had the whole plot memorized. She wasn’t quite so sure he was as harmless as Louise said. “Well, we must get back to town,” Gladys said as she set down her glass and stood up. After Marian thanked the ladies for coming and watched them go, she wasn’t so sure she wanted to be left alone with Max…or Jon.

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As soon as the women were gone, Jon appeared visually. He was looking out the window at the cemetery and had worry lines on his brow. “What’s wrong?” she asked. “Nothing,” he replied curtly. “You embarrassed me doing that stuff in front of Gladys and Louise. You almost made me come.” In fact, she was still hot and wet from what he’d done to her down here. Holding back the moans had been torture. Not to mention earlier upstairs when he’d thrust his cock in and out of her mouth and shot his hot cum all over her face. She ached so badly it almost hurt. Was he ever going to have sex with her or not? She was beginning to think she wasn’t pretty enough. Despite Jon’s reassurances, she still wondered if Kyle had been right about her along. She was just too boring to bother having sex with. Then she’d remembered what he’d said about making her beg. Right now pleasure was coming before pride. She ached to feel his big cock inside her right here, right now on the living room settee. She didn’t even care if Max walked in and saw them. But he was still looking out the window as if she didn’t even exist. What was wrong with him, anyway? “Jon?” He looked over at her without really seeing her. He didn’t even seem to notice how hard her nipples were or the way she seductively rubbed her hands down her thighs. “I need you to— I mean, I want— Jon?” Damn him. Why was he making this so hard for her? She swore she’d never beg like this and here she was doing it like some kind of common whore. Instead of doing what she wanted or even answering her, he faded away like a puff of steam. And she

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knew not to bother walking over to see if he was there by touching him. She always knew when he was gone.

***** There was knocking on the door again and Marian was not in the mood for more company. It would be very hard to be polite after she’d just embarrassed herself. She hoped she never saw that stupid ghost again. He could go straight to hell for all she cared. She was just some kind of game to him and now that he had her where he wanted her, he’d gotten tired of it. When she flung open the door, Max stood there looking sweaty with bits of cut grass stuck to his skin. “Hello, Marian,” he said jovially. “I’m awfully thirsty from cutting the grass. I was hoping I could get a glass of something cold. I’m quite fond of lemonade but water will do.” She was hoping he wouldn’t notice her hardened nipples but his gaze clamped down on them almost immediately. If she asked him to satisfy her needs, she had a feeling he wouldn’t hesitate to oblige. A creepy shiver seized her. She didn’t want him anywhere near her. “Sure. I’ll go get it,” she said. When she got back, he was sitting on the same chair Jon had tortured her in. It was almost as if he knew. “Did the locks work okay?” he asked after she handed him a big glass of iced lemonade and sat on the settee. “Yes,” she replied. “They’re fine.” His gaze scraped over her as if to say he didn’t believe her. “An attractive young lady like yourself has to be careful all alone out here. Men are obsessed with sex, you know.”

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Marian laughed nervously as she tried to figure out a polite way to tell him to take his lemonade and get out of the house. “You might want to start off by wearing a bra.” He took some noisy gulps of lemonade. “Those nipples of yours look like succulent raspberries. By dressing like that, you’re begging every man who comes by to suck on them. And your pants are so tight you look like you’ve been poured into them.” “I’m very busy today and won’t tolerate this rudeness.” “He got you all hot and bothered, didn’t he? You’re finally ready to spread your legs and let him fuck you, aren’t you?” This guy was unbelievable. He kind of looked like the villain in that scary movie with Anthony Hopkins. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Please leave. Now.” “Well, I can scratch your itch, baby, and I can do it over and over again. He can’t. I know how badly you want to come right now. You can just close your eyes and pretend it’s him. My cock’s even bigger than his.” She wished she’d told him to get his own lemonade and not let him in. “I mean it. Get out or I’ll call the police,” she threatened. He set down the empty glass on the coffee table with a thud. Her heart sped up as she wondered what he’d do next. “I’ll have fucked you at least five times before he finishes his donut and finally gets off his lazy ass to come out here.” “In your dreams, maybe. I mean it, you pervert. Get the hell out of my house!” He snorted as he sat beside her on the settee. She remained sitting, crossing her arms and trying to look calm. “All high and mighty, aren’t we now? Maybe I should spank you too. I know you like it. I saw you come. But what he gave you was nothing. Sissy taps. I’ll smack your

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little ass a lot harder. Hell, the size of my cock is punishment enough. I’m going to fuck you so hard you won’t even be able to move.” He’d seen her in the kitchen? Disgust roiled through her belly. When he put his arm around her, she threw it off and headed to the phone. Had he seen her being tied up too? No wonder he was attacking her. He must think she was a whore. Maybe she was. “Maybe I should call Gladys and Louise back so they can watch. Maybe they’d like some of this action too,” he said with an ecstatic smile on his face. Uneasiness led to anger. If he was going to rape her, he would’ve done it already. No, this guy was definitely a peeping tom and a pervert and she wasn’t going to put up with it. “I’m calling the police now, you sicko.” She’d just lifted the phone receiver when a ball of fire raced through the air and connected with Max’s head. He gave a piteous scream as the door swung open and he jumped outside. Marian locked it and shoved a heavy table in front of it. She didn’t know where the fireball had come from but she knew Jon must have had something to do with it. When she looked out the window, Max was gone. She hoped he never came back. The locks were useless if he had the other key but now that he’d had his thrills he was probably done with her. “I’ll always keep you safe, Mary. I promise.” The words were so weakly whispered she could barely hear them. “Jon? Where are you?” But he didn’t answer. He sounded so tired. Struggling with Max must have taken a lot of energy. She smelled something burning in the kitchen and saw one of the oven burners was on. Jon must have used it to set a piece of paper on fire. He’d defended her, but there was still something she couldn’t figure out. If he cared enough about her to save her from Max, why didn’t he want her for himself?

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Chapter Six Marian spent the too much time the next day looking out the window and over her shoulder. She wasn’t afraid of Max but didn’t want to see him again either. Live here permanently? Louise and Gladys must have been out of their minds. They couldn’t pay her to move here. She’d have a hard time finishing out her lease as it was but, as annoying as this place was, it was better than returning to her apartment to face her failed relationship and boring life. She powered up her laptop and started typing up her article but cicadas were the last things on her mind. Jon kept interrupting all of her thoughts. It seemed he’d abandoned her. Oh well, she thought. Fooling around with him had been fun and had boosted her confidence about her own sexuality. After all, if she could come that hard, there must be at least a few sexual bones in her body. Her back went rigid when she heard footsteps in her bedroom. At first she thought Max had come back to pick up where he left off. Then relief flooded over her when she realized it was Jon. She couldn’t see him but she just knew it was him. “Well, you can’t punish me now,” she said, still typing. “I haven’t left the house. Your little game is over. I hope you had your fun.” His hands were strong and warm on her shoulders. “What game?” “You got me to want you,” she said, typing faster. “I was finally ready to beg just like you wanted, only you got tired of playing and left me alone. Max wanted to pick up where you left off. Was that part of the game too?” Jon yanked her wrists away from the keyboard and spun her around in her chair. For a brief moment, she got a glimpse of the pain on his face. “That was no game,” he bit out, “and I wanted it just as badly as you did.”

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“Then why—” He cut off her words by lifting her out of the chair and placing her on the bed. He held down both her wrists and kissed her with primitive abandon as his hand reached under her shirt. She turned away. “I’m not in the mood now. It’s too late.” “Then I’ll get you in the mood,” he said as he circled her nipple with his finger and ground his hips against hers. “Max really bothered me yesterday. It’s like he knew how hot I was.” Jon reached for her waistband and unzipped her shorts. “He’ll never bother you again.” “How do you know?” she asked as he traced a finger around the rim of her panties. He forced her thighs apart with his hands and held his face inches from hers. His breath brushed her cheek. “Because you’re mine and no one messes with what’s mine. I said I’d protect you and I meant it.” His words settled around her like a downy blanket of safety. “So why didn’t you want me yesterday?” she persisted. “If you don’t stop doing so much damned talking,” he said, “I’m going to shove my cock in your mouth again and make you suck it.” Heat pooled between Marian’s legs when she thought about how delicious and salty he’d tasted. Her lips were still tender from his insistent thrusting. Arousal was not a problem, she thought, as he pulled her panties down to her knees. “I’m just curious, that’s all.” “Get on your knees,” he ordered, breathing fast. “What? Why?” she asked. “Just do it. Now.” Slowly she did as he asked with her damp panties still tangled around her knees. He grabbed them and slid them down her calves. “Wider,” he said quickly. “Spread your legs.” 74

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She tucked her bottom in, unwilling to expose herself more than necessary when he was in such an unpredictable mood. She gasped when a stinging slap rained across her cheeks. “Stop hiding from me,” he said after growling. “I want to see every inch of your sweet cunt.” She thrust her bottom up in the air and spread her thighs wider so he could see all of her. She got wetter and wetter as she wondered what he was going to do to her this time. “It just so happens I was very tired yesterday,” he said quietly. “Huh?” “I couldn’t, all right? I couldn’t do what you asked.” His voice was filled with self-loathing and she fought the urge to hug him and comfort him. “That’s perfectly understandable,” she said. All she could think about was how glad she was that it wasn’t her. “I-I’m glad you told me.” She groaned as another slap came out of nowhere and stung her cheeks. The lips of her cunt tightened involuntarily. “But today is different,” he said. “My cock is as hard as a rock and I intend to fuck you good.” Her clit began to ache when she thought about feeling the delicious hardness she’d tasted yesterday inside of her at last. “I’m ready, Jon,” she whimpered. He spanked her again. “No you’re not. You have doubts about me. I can feel them. Your pussy’s not red, swollen, or wet enough for me yet.” “Yes, it is,” she protested as she rocked her hips from side to side. When he teasingly rubbed his shaft against her opening, she squeezed her eyes shut as she waited for penetration. She groaned when he pulled away. Then she felt the 75

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rough scrape of beard stubble against her sensitive folds and the agonizing flick of his wet tongue. He teased the tip across her swelling lips and sucked on her clit until it was unbearably wet and throbbing. Then he thrust his entire tongue inside her and battered the walls of her pussy with side-to-side thrusts. “I’m ready,” she said, barely able to talk. “Please fuck me, Jon. Now. Now.” He spanked her again and an orgasm shot through her like a firecracker. He licked her as she spasmed against his wet mouth. “That’s it,” he said. “I knew you’d beg me. You are ready.” And suddenly the broad head of his cock pushed against her swollen folds. He rubbed the head up and down until every bit of her felt it. When he made circles with it around her clit, her body went into a frenzy, pushing back against the hardness she so craved. But he held her hips still as he continued to tease her. Another orgasm perched and waited, ready to pounce. Her hips bucked against his hands but he held them fast. “Please, Jon,” she said, gasping for air. “I can’t stand any more.” Then, ever so slowly, he slid his hard shaft into her. She tried to lean her hips back to swallow his cock faster. She was so hungry for it and needed to feel him filling her to the core but he held her firmly. She was moaning almost continually now and no longer cared who might come by to hear her. Then as soon as Jon had filled her to the hilt, he pulled back out with even more agonizing slowness. Every muscle in her body jumped in frustrated, quivering spasms. Her swollen walls squeezed against him. “Is this too slow for you?” he asked teasingly. “Yes. I can’t stand any more. Please go faster.” He pulled out of her completely. It felt as if he’d just removed one of her vital organs. “No, Jon. Don’t stop,” she wailed. “You can’t stop now.” “So you want me to fuck you hard and fast,” he said. “Is that it?” “Yes. Yes.”

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“Are you sure your tender little pussy can handle it?” “Yes,” she growled. “All right. You asked for it.” She yelled out when he plunged into her and filled her. Before she could react, he pulled all the way out and rammed into her again, to the hilt. He still clenched her hips in his hands as he pumped into her over and over again, faster each time. There were too many strokes to count. Everything ceased to exist except his exquisite hardness against her swollen softness. The sounds of wet, sticky friction and the scent of arousal filled the room. Then he let go of her hips and slowed down to the original agonizing pace. This time she dug her hips into him, pushing, demanding and swallowing every bit of him. Until she fell facedown on the bed, her body so locked up in orgasmic spasms she couldn’t breathe or talk. She was vaguely aware of Jon’s cock pulling out and then his hot cum shooting against her mound and dripping down her thighs. After they’d cleaned up, Jon curled next to her on the bed and they lay naked in each other’s arms. Marian couldn’t believe she’d let her guard down enough to have sex after her recent heartbreak but her attraction to Jon had been a force she just couldn’t control. He stroked her jaw and smoothed back her hair. “Was it worth the wait?” he asked teasingly. “Oh, yes,” she replied. “I just wish— Never mind.” “Tell me,” he said seriously. “I wish you were real.” “I do too.” He sounded so sad, she hugged him closer. She’d been expecting him to make a joke about how hard and real he was instead. “So what happens next?” she asked. Something this good couldn’t possibly last, she told herself. It never did, at least in her life. “Do you love me yet, Mary?”

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She frowned. His tone and the question itself just rubbed her the wrong way. She’d rather hear how he felt instead of being asked questions. “What is this, a contest?” “I just need to know,” he said urgently. She sighed as she smoothed her fingers through his wavy hair and read his face with her hands, a gesture that was second nature to her now. “I’m not sure,” she said. “We just had great sex. Love is about a lot more than sex. After what happened with Kyle, it’s going to take a while before I ever give my heart to a man again. Just give me a little time.” He sat up so abruptly she frowned. “Jon? What’s wrong? Please, try to understand.” “I do understand,” he said as he got off the bed. “I understand all too well and unfortunately I don’t exactly have a lot of time.” She followed him downstairs until he disappeared completely.

***** Jon staggered outside and headed toward the familiar ground of the cemetery. He sat on the stone wall, under a shady tree, hoping like hell Max would leave him alone. Damn it all, he thought. He’d come so close. They’d just had the best sex he swore he’d ever had and she still didn’t love him. If that cad Kyle were around, he’d break his neck with his bare hands for what he’d done to Mary. Now her heart was so scarred she probably couldn’t give it to anyone. The bushes moved and Jon groaned inside. Max had come to gloat. “How was she?” he asked. Jon shook his head. “Leave me alone.” “I’ll bet she was tight,” Max added. “Very,” Jon replied. “I’d rather not discuss it. My sex life is none of your business.

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Max chuckled as he pulled out some stray weeds around the wall. “Oh but it is. You only have two times left, you know.” He looked up at the sun. “Then it’ll be all over. You won’t see this nice warm sun for another seventeen years. No, you’ll be all cocooned in your grave with the cicada nymphs.” “I’ll win her heart,” Jon insisted. Max twirled a blade of grass between his finger and thumb. “Well, you’d better get busy. You’d better cook her dinner and serenade her with love sonnets. Just remember I’ll be here to finish what you start.” “Stay away from her,” Jon said, clutching the wall. “I didn’t appreciate your little fire attack the other day. Watch your step or I’ll keep you underground permanently. Then I’ll make sure your little girlfriend is satisfied until she’s too old to spread her legs for me.” Even though he knew he shouldn’t, he lunged for Max. The other man’s steely grip stopped him. If only Jon could get rid of him. If only Max would just let him die normally instead of teasing him with these brief, heartbreaking reprieves. Damn him, anyway. The bastard knew just what to say to drive him insane with anger. “I was all ready to rub her sweet pussy,” Max continued with a leering grin on his face. “Someone had to do it. You left her all aching and needy. Then I planned to bury my cock in her when you interrupted.” “Shut up,” Jon yelled. “Just shut the hell up.” But Max kept taunting. “If you don’t satisfy her soon, I’m going to have to do it myself. I bet you’ll be able to hear her scream for miles when I stretch her tight little cunt with this.” He pulled out his huge erection and rubbed it in front of Jon, just to goad him more, Jon supposed. “By the time I’m done with her, she won’t be satisfied with anything smaller. Of course, I’ll use plenty of lubricant so it won’t hurt her too bad.” At least Max had the

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decency to put his cock back in his pants but he still wouldn’t shut up. Each emergence gave him more and more ammunition to taunt Jon with. “Yes and I believe I’ll shoot my cum on her face,” he went on as he rested his chin on his finger. “She seems to like that, doesn’t she? No, I think I’ll shoot it into her mouth instead and make her swallow every drop. So kind of you to find out what she likes and get her ready for me.” “I’m not listening to you,” Jon said as he plugged his fingers into his ears like a child might do. Unfortunately, he could still hear Max. For some reason, the man loved to talk about what he planned to do to the women living here but to Jon’s knowledge, he’d never done a thing. Even when he’d attacked Max, he’d done it to put Mary’s mind at ease, not because he thought she was in any real danger. “She was a prude when she first arrived. Teachers can be awfully prim and proper. But you had her masturbating the first night she got here. We’ve got ourselves a real firecracker this time.” Jon’s head snapped around at Max’s taunting words. Mary had touched herself? When? Had he really gotten her that excited during their first meeting? If only he’d known, he would have taken care of it himself. He didn’t mean to leave her unfulfilled…that time. Max was right about how hot she was but he wasn’t in any mood to share her, especially with him. His fingers ached to strangle Max right now but he knew there was no point. The man was immune from harm. He, on the other hand, needed to conserve his energy. Getting angry just weakened him and gave the brute what he wanted. He didn’t think Mary was in danger at the moment but that would all change when he went dormant again. Max had an insatiable sexual appetite and didn’t always care how willing his partner was. And maybe he was right, Jon thought dismally. Maybe it was time to really romance Mary and stop thinking so much about sex. After all, the only way he could

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break the curse was by getting her to love him. He had to win her heart before it was too late. He just had to.

***** Mary lounged on the beach the rest of the day. She’d even gotten a lot done on her article. It was amazing how much energy sex could provide. She just wished Jon would stop rushing off in one of his weird moods. Just once, she’d like to cuddle with him for a while. But, then, maybe it was just as well she didn’t fall in love again. When she woke up the next morning, something was different. She sensed Jon’s presence. She jumped when she saw a big vase of garden roses on her nightstand. Beside it was a tray filled with breakfast food. “Breakfast is served,” he said. He snuggled against her as she ate fresh pancakes and drank orange juice. “I didn’t know ghosts could cook,” she said jokingly. “I have many talents,” he replied as he massaged her back. When she finished, she lay back down. Jon kissed her tenderly. “Good morning, my love,” he said. “Your eyes are as beautiful as the dawn. I could stare at them all day.” And he visualized before her eyes for a few brief moments. He was so handsome it made her heart ache. She should run, she told herself. She should run before she fell head over heels in love with him. It might already be too late. “Why are you being so nice to me?” she asked. “Because I love you,” he whispered in her ear. She clutched him to her with all the strength she had. The words sounded so wonderful to her. If only they weren’t so dangerous. She almost wished he was spanking her and making her come instead. That would be a lot safer. As they lay in each other’s embrace, she began to wonder why he wasn’t trying to punish her or attack her. In fact, he didn’t seem to want to be sexual at all. At least it 81

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didn’t bother her this time. He’d made it clear how attracted he was to her and now he loved her. Dear God, how in the world had that happened? He was so still and quiet, she worried about him. “I learned about your life in the library,” she finally said. “I know,” he replied. “You do?” Was there anything about her he didn’t know, she wondered. “So now you know all about my tragic death,” he said lightly. She stroked his damp hair and thought about how scared he must have been, thrashing at the angry ocean waves for his life and losing the battle. “It must have been awful,” she said, shivering. “You must have loved her a lot to go after her like that.” “Maybe now you know why I don’t want you to go out in the boat. I’m just trying to keep you safe.” “Thank you,” she whispered as she reached out to kiss him. He shied away from her lips at first and she wondered what had gotten into him. How could he be so lusty one minute and so reticent the next? “You don’t want me anymore?” she asked, feeling her brows drawn together in a worried frown. “Of course I do,” he said as he gripped her hands. “Don’t make this harder than it is.” “Make what harder?” she asked. Sometimes the man just didn’t make sense at all. He shifted against her until she felt his erection against her nightgown. “The fact that I want you so much,” he said. “I just thought we should spend time together without getting out of control.” “All right,” she replied, relieved that he still wanted her. “Kiss me.” And he did, tenderly, gently and filled with love. He rained tiny kisses on her cheeks and the tip of her nose. And without warning, their kisses deepened until it 82

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seemed they were both dying of thirst for each other. Marian held him to her, never wanting to let him go. Without a word, he eased up the hem of her nightgown and slid her panties down. This time there were no games and no foreplay. Just love guiding his body to partake of hers. And while she wasn’t throbbing with mind-blowing arousal this time, her body hummed with a sweet tingling she hadn’t quite felt with him before. She was ready. It seemed she’d had her whole life to get ready for him. And he joined her, soundlessly and completely as his cock slid home in one even stroke. Her nipples tingled from the hairs on his chest as his body heaved against hers. The humid, summer air vibrated with the sound of cicada song and moans of passion. The rounded head of his penis felt bigger and bigger as she tightened her legs around his waist and the inner muscles of her pussy around his thrusting shaft. Her breath caught as his quiet, sweet strokes filled her and buoyed her up on the crest of a high wave. They kissed and sighed and murmured each other’s names until the wave crashed onto the beach, spreading across warm, white sand and disappearing beneath the sun. As soon as he jerked with climax, pumping his seed inside her in rapid-fire shots, she spasmed around his cock, sucking it deeper inside her. She didn’t want to let it or him go. Ever. Afterward, he cradled her face in his hands. “I love you so much, Mary.” Her lips parted, poised to return the precious words but somehow she just couldn’t. She almost wanted to say them anyway, just to please him but she couldn’t lie about something as big as this. She was close, though. He was winning her heart, piece by piece. He visualized again, as if to show her the pain in his face. “Now don’t rush off,” she told him. “I hate when you do that.” He sighed and sank back into her arms, invisible again. “I just need time,” she continued. “We need to date and spend time together. Maybe we could go on a picnic or something.” 83

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More silence. “I’ll never forget the way you just made love to me. It was beautiful. I could get used to waking up every morning this way.” A frustrated sigh blew against her neck and she heard him roll over onto his side. “Mary, there’s something I’ve got to tell you.” Her stomach dipped with a sickening lurch. She didn’t like the sound of this at all. It reminded her of how she felt when she’d found Kyle in someone else’s arms. “I can’t wake up with you every morning like this.” He said every word slowly, as if talking was suddenly a great effort. “We can’t have…sex…anymore.” “What are you talking about?” she asked, sitting straight up. Now that she’d finally enjoyed having sex again, she didn’t want to lose it. “How can you love me and not want to have sex with me?” He groaned in frustration. “It’s not that I don’t want to. I can’t, all right? I can’t.” She reached over to touch his arm. “Do-do you have some sort of a medical problem?” “I’m dead,” he yelled. “I’d say that’s a pretty big medical problem.” “Then, how were you able to—” “All right, here’s the truth, Mary.” The bed wiggled beside her and it sounded like he was pulling his hands through his hair. “Max isn’t human. He’s a sorcerer and when I was dying, he offered to save my life. Like an idiot, I let him. Instead of eternal life or even a second chance at a normal life, he bound me with ridiculous rules.” Marian’s heart started to pound. She’d always known Max was creepy but this was hard to believe. “Every seventeen years I emerge from my grave and can feel things like a regular person. I just can’t be seen or felt at the same time. And if I have sex three times, I get sent back to my grave for another seventeen years.” Marian giggled. “What are you, a cicada?”

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“This is not amusing,” he said. “I’m telling you the truth.” “But we’ve already had sex two times,” she said. “You’re telling me that if we do it again, you—” He visualized to her and his eyes looked wet with unshed tears. “I’ll die once more. You’ll never see me again.” “Where are you going?” she asked when he got up off the bed. “Away from you,” he said coldly. “I’ve had all the temptation I can handle right now. I want to go listen to the chirping of the birds while I still can.” Marian stared at the open door of her bedroom for a long time after he’d left. The delicious breakfast now felt like a cold, sodden ball in her stomach. She couldn’t believe what he’d told her. It sounded like something from a sci-fi novel. Was she dreaming this whole thing? Had she studied cicadas so long they’d permeated her entire world? She flopped down on the pillow and squeezed her eyes shut against an onslaught of tears. Maybe she wasn’t ready to love Jon yet with all her heart but she didn’t want to lose him either. Maybe they could make it work if they abstained from sex. Yeah, right, she thought as she let the tears come.

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Chapter Seven Marian tried to work on her article later that day but she kept thinking about Jon. Concentrate on cicadas, she told herself. They would soon be gone and she was going to finish this stupid article if it killed her. She picked up the dead one on her desk. She’d found it outside yesterday on the ground when she’d taken pictures of the bugs mating and looked for eggs. She held it close to her eyes, studying the red eyes, gossamer wings and orange striping underneath. Their song was already dying, easily disturbed now by the faintest breath of wind. She looked out at the trees. The damage wasn’t visible yet but there would soon be tassels of dead leaves and branches peppering the green trees where the female inserted hundreds of eggs. Then the eggs hatched and dropped to the ground as nymphs. Seventeen years was such a long time. Jon couldn’t have been serious when he’d said the same thing would happen to him. She shivered at the thought of him cold and alone underground when he’d been so alive and hot with her. She wished she’d never come here. This melodrama was the last thing she needed after what happened to her wedding. Maybe Jon had made the whole thing up, she hoped. After all, whoever heard of dying from having too much sex? Making love created life. It didn’t destroy it. She powered off her laptop, unable to type another sentence. When had the sexual games with Jon turned into lovemaking, she wondered. Footsteps sounded on the stairs and her heart fluttered. She was sure Jon had returned to tell her it was all a big joke. Maybe she should punish him for getting her so upset. But it wasn’t Jon. “Max,” she said as she snapped the lid of the laptop closed and grabbed the heavy paperweight from the desk. “How did you get in here?” 86

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“I have a key, remember?” he said, smiling as he dangled his key in the air. “Relax. I’m not going to hurt you.” Marian held the paperweight in front of her anyway. “Am I supposed to believe that after you came on to me?” He swept his gaze over her as he rubbed the bulge that appeared in his pants. “Don’t worry. There will be plenty of time for fucking after your little friend is safely back in his grave where he belongs. Unless you’d like me to service you now.” “Get out,” she said in her meanest voice. This man was so annoying. She hoped another fireball would come racing through the air to get rid of him. Where was Jon? He leaned against the doorframe to her bedroom. “I’ll be going soon enough,” he said mildly. “I have better things to do than talk to common little whores.” Her cheeks flamed in anger. “How dare you. I am not a whore.” “Oh, really?” His gaze went over her again, scraping every inch of her skin in its sticky path. “Then how come you got so wet when you were spanked and tied up? Why did you lick that cum off your face like it was a delicious confection? Why did you scream so loudly when you came?” She began to feel faint and leaned against the desk for support. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she lied. “I haven’t done any of those things. Besides, how would you know what goes on in this house? You must have quite an imagination.” Even though he’d hinted before at what she’d done, she still didn’t see how unless he’d made himself invisible too. It was just too horrible to think about. He stepped closer and pulled out an envelope from behind his back. “I know everything that goes on in this house, so don’t lie to me about your slutty behavior, you little bitch. You’re no better than the rest.” “The r-rest?” she stammered.

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“That’s right,” he said, his voice more soothing now. “I thought you might like to see some pictures of your little friend. He has quite a way with the ladies, you know. He always did.” Marian looked at the envelope Max placed before her like it was a bomb that could go off at any minute. She had a feeling the contents were going to be different from the one Louise had given her from the library. She almost refused to look at it but part of her had to know everything there was to know about the man who’d awakened her sexually and mangled her feelings. She reached inside with shaking fingers and pulled out a pile of photographs of all sizes. Some were in color and others were in black and white. Jon was in every one of them, always looking the same age. Her hands shook harder as she sifted through them, one by one. Jon was with different women from different time periods in various states of undress. In every single one, he was doing something sexual. The older pictures were more sedate. In one he was buried between a pair of pale thighs, having intercourse. In another, he was pulling off a Fifties style bra and sucking the woman’s nipples. It was just as well Marian couldn’t see the woman’s face. The shots got worse as they got more modern. A woman with long black hair was on her hands and knees with her wrists tied. Jon was behind her, grabbing her hips with his cock poised to plunge inside. Another picture showed a blonde licking something that looked like whipped cream off Jon’s cock. She was tied up too and judging by the redness of her upturned bottom, Marian guessed he’d just spanked her. She pushed the pile of filth away from her and clutched her stinging forehead. She felt like fainting or throwing up, or maybe both. “Get this stuff out of here,” she murmured. “Seen enough?” Max asked, chuckling. “Perhaps I should add these to the pile.” He took a smaller envelope of pictures out from his big shirt pocket. She winced when she saw the pictures of her, naked and looking like the common whore he’d accused her of

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being. For some reason, Jon photographed like a real person even though he was invisible most of the time. “How did you take these?” she asked, as scientific curiosity took over her shame for a moment. “I have my ways,” he replied. Marian turned away from him and put her hands to her face. This couldn’t be happening. Then she grabbed the pictures of her and began ripping the first one on the pile into shreds. It happened to depict the day Jon had spanked her. She did look like a whore, she thought dismally. Her bottom cheeks were wet and red and she had a look of pain mixed with rapture on her face. Max snatched the original envelope out of her grasp and what was left of the pictures of her. “I’ll just save these for the next whore who comes to live here,” he said gently. Then he seemed to notice the dead cicada lying on her desk and picked it up to study it. “When you came here to study cicadas,” he said, “I bet you had no idea you’d end up fucking one. But as I’m sure you know, all these nasty little bugs care about is screwing their brains out until they die.” With a big grin, he popped it into his mouth and chewed it in even, deliberate strokes. “Enjoy the rest of your summer.” Marian sat with her arms folded on the desk and her face buried in them. She should never have come here, she thought. Marrying Kyle couldn’t have been much worse. She groaned when someone knocked on the door. She was in no mood to talk to Louise or Gladys today and didn’t think Max would bother to knock after he’d just barged in. With an annoyed sigh, she went downstairs and opened it. “Kyle.”

*****

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Jon tried to sit on the stone cemetery wall but he was so weak now, he kept half falling over. He hadn’t meant to have sex with Mary again so soon but he couldn’t help it. It wasn’t the lust that had nailed him this time. It had been his love for her. Lying next to her and holding her in his arms had been too much for him. It was a love he wished like hell she’d return so he could be saved from all this mess. Now he was one orgasm away from another round of dormancy. He almost wished it would be his last. This time his heart felt just as weak and dismal as his physical body. He couldn’t stand to lose her this way but how was he going to win her heart now in his condition? At least Max wasn’t hassling him today but he’d already done his damage. Him and his damned camera. He knew Max had shown her the pictures this morning. He’d been wanting to destroy the sordid evidence for years but he’d never been able to get to it. Now, whatever chance he had left of winning Mary’s heart was gone for good. Maybe he could explain to her but what was there to explain? The evidence was undeniable. He had satiated his lust with every woman who’d ever lived here. If he could take it all back, he would. The only one who mattered was Mary. He barely remembered their names, what they’d done, or what they looked like. But she’d never believe she was more special than all the rest. Not when her heart had already been broken once. He ambled toward the house but it took a great effort. He hated being so weak and longed for the feeling of powerful new strength he felt at every emergence. It always ended so quickly and this time seemed to be no different. The remaining cicadas didn’t sound so strong either. Soon, it would be over for all of them. The other spirits just might win their bets after all, he thought glumly. He peered in the living room window, content to watch her from afar if nothing else. If he was to die soon, he wanted his last moments to be filled with her any way he could get her. For now, watching her would have to do until he figured out a way to undo the damage Max had done.

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Jon smiled when he saw Mary, thankful he could see her on the ground floor instead of having to climb the rose trellis to look into her bedroom. The strain she’d been under showed around her eyes. It was clear to see he’d hurt her. Then another flash of movement caught his eye. She wasn’t alone. He cursed under his breath, hoping he didn’t have to fight Max away again. He scarcely had the strength to stand up today, much less go into battle. He looked closer, putting his hands against the cool glass. But the man didn’t look like Max. He was tall and thin and had a youthful shock of very dark hair. Who the hell was it, he wondered. But he knew. It was Kyle, the one who’d broken her heart. What on earth was he doing here? And boy did he have lousy timing. Mary’s arms were folded and she had her back to the cad. She must still be mad at him, Jon thought with satisfaction. At least that was in his favor. He banged his head against the window. This was the last thing he needed. He and Mary were having enough problems already without this cad trying to worm himself back into her life. He hoped she’d soon send him on his way. But, no, something was wrong. Her arms weren’t folded anymore. Kyle was turning her around. He was embracing her. No, this was all so terribly wrong. He had to do something. A brief blast of strength settled into his bones and he banged his forehead against the windowpane even harder while he let out a primal yell.

“What the hell was that?” Kyle asked. Marian glanced toward the window from which the sound had come but there was no one there. “I told you, the house is haunted,” she said with no emotion whatsoever. Kyle rubbed his arms with the same style as his usual spastic mannerisms. “This place gives me the creeps. Let’s get out of here.” “I can’t,” she replied. “I signed a lease.” “Well, then let’s go to a motel for a few days to talk…and make up.”

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Marian sighed and smoothed back her hair. “We have nothing to talk about.” Kyle held out his hands. “Of course we do. Look, if you want to call the whole thing off, fine. I can’t stop you but you’ve got to hear what I have to say first. Okay?” She still couldn’t believe he’d just showed up on her doorstep like this. Normally, she would have physically planted her foot in his rear end and shoved him out the door before he had a chance to open his mouth. But the porno shots of Jon were still uppermost in her mind. If only she hadn’t seen those pictures. She swore she must have memorized each one. “I’m all ears,” she said coldly as she sat on the settee. “Jenna was drunk and I was a little tipsy myself,” he said, sitting beside her. “Spare me the gory details,” she said, holding up her hand. “I saw enough to know what happened.” Kyle continued anyway. “She was in a bad state, crying and shivering. I was really worried about her.” “That’s it,” Marian supplied for him. “Tell me all about how you comforted her. You lying sack of poop.” He placed his hands on his knees and looked at her. “I’m not going to lie to you,” he said quietly. “I respect you too much to do that. The truth is, by the time I got back into my bedroom after using the john, she’d gotten totally naked. She still insisted on being held, so I did.” “I really don’t want to hear this,” Marian said, rolling her eyes. “Once we got that close, I just couldn’t help myself. She seduced me and I let her. I know how wrong it was and I hate myself for it.” Marian glanced at him, frowning. “You are telling the truth this time, aren’t you?” “Darned straight,” he replied. “Now, I know you can probably never find it in your heart to forgive me but I’m begging you to give us another chance. Let’s have that beautiful wedding we’ve always dreamed about.”

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He was reaching out to her now, holding her hand in his. His blue eyes had never looked more earnest. It was hard to believe but her life with Kyle had been a lot saner than it was now with Jon. At least Kyle was a real person. “I-I can’t deal with this now,” she said. If she had to cope with any more heavy emotional drama today, she swore she was going to self-destruct into a quivering pile of gelatin. Men were going to truly drive her crazy. “Please forgive me, Marian,” he said, looking into her eyes and squeezing her hand. “It’ll never happen again. You’re the one I want. It’ll be so good between us. You’ll see.” Then he took a piece of paper out of his shirt pocket and dropped it into her lap. “What’s this?” she asked woodenly, half expecting it to be a picture of Kyle and Jenna doing it. “It’s our dream house,” he said proudly. “You’ll love it.” She blinked as she looked at the printout. “It is nice,” she agreed. Eons ago she would have been deliriously happy to live with Kyle in it and plan their exciting future. But things were different now. She scrubbed her face with her hands. “Kyle, you broke my heart. I’ve gotten involved with someone else.” Alarm shot across his face and made it pale. “No way. Who?” She shook her head. “A local man but it’s over now. I just want to be alone. That’s why I came to this place. I appreciate your honesty but you wasted your time coming here.” He stuck out his chin. “I’m not leaving. I’ll sleep on this couch or on the beach. That’ll give you some time to adjust to all this and come to your senses.” “Suit yourself.” Marian needed to get out of the house, so she headed toward the boat. The water was not so calm today but it still looked safe enough. She needed to lose her thoughts in the cleansing, salty air. Kyle had given her a lot to think about.

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She sighed as she untied the boat and rowed it through the cool, hungry water. If he’d shown up just a day or two earlier, she would have kicked him out without even listening to his story. She wasn’t sure she should have listened to it now. After all, she’d originally come here to get away from him. But to her amazement, the thought of him with Jenna didn’t hurt as much as it had before. The sight of them was like a hazy memory now. It was the pictures of Jon she couldn’t get out of her head. Her stomach nearly burned with the pain of it. He’d made her feel so good, both physically and emotionally. She hadn’t wanted it to end so abruptly. She put down the oars and reclined on the plank seat. Maybe it was never meant to last, she thought, as the waves bobbed the boat up and down. Her head bumped against the seat when a particularly rough wave hit. “Ouch,” she muttered as she rubbed the back of her head and sat up again. As she looked out over the pebbled surface, she couldn’t help but think about Jon’s death. A dead man, she told herself. She’d just gotten hurt by a dead man. It didn’t even make sense. The wind was picking up, so she decided to row back to shore. Kyle was standing on the beach, calmly watching her and she couldn’t help wondering if he’d ever love her enough to run into the waves after her to save her life. Not likely. But he was real. Maybe she’d been kidding herself, trying to be alone for the rest of her life. Normal women had kids and husbands and split-level houses like the one in that picture. At least he’d been honest with her. That must count for something, she thought, as the prow finally bumped against the safety of the dock. Jon had lied. He must not have thought his escapades with all those other women had been important enough to tell her about. Kyle smiled when she disembarked. “I’m glad you came in,” he said. “The wind’s picking up. It looks pretty rough out there.” “I’m sure you would’ve jumped in and saved me if you had to,” she said playfully. 94

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He grimaced. “I’m not a great swimmer,” he said, unsuccessfully stifling a yawn. “It’s probably not a good idea to mess with the ocean.” How different he was from Jon, she thought. He’d been so angry the day she’d gone out that he’d tried to destroy the boat. Well, he didn’t seem to be around now. And at least Kyle was visible. He put his arm around her. “Remember the fun we had staying at my friend’s beach house? We spent so much time in bed we barely even made it to the beach.” “Sure,” she replied. The trip had been back during the good times, before he’d become dissatisfied with her sexual performance and messed around with Jenna. The other woman probably aced all the things she was lousy at like blowjobs and who knows what else. Jon seemed to be satisfied with the head she gave but he was such an animal he’d probably be satisfied with anything. It hardly mattered now. Kyle’s arm was warm and familiar around her and she was just too drained to step out of his embrace. All at once the wind kicked up with a vengeance and peppered them with stinging sheets of sand. Kyle nearly doubled over, trying to protect his face and eyes. Marian shielded her eyes as she looked around. Strange. The ocean didn’t look any more kicked up than usual and the sand seemed to be bothering Kyle a lot more than her. And just for a moment, she had the weakest, faintest sensation that Jon was in their presence. “Are you all right?” she asked. “I don’t know,” he said, whimpering like a little boy. “I think I need to rinse out my eye.” “Let’s go in the house,” she said, looking around worriedly. The lamp hanging from a chain above the front door began to gyrate like it was possessed when Kyle walked under it. Marian kept a safe distance behind him and put her hands to her mouth when she saw the chain break. The lamp crashed into his head, eliciting a yowl of pain.

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But things weren’t much better inside. The wind moaned around the windows and door cracks, sounding like a bunch of screaming banshees instead of normal wind. Kyle couldn’t seem to keep his hands still. They went to his eyes, his ears and the bruise on his head. But the worst part was the smell. The entire house reeked of decay and death. Marian’s stomach lurched as she covered her nose. “Jon?” she called out. “Is that you?” “What kind of place is this?” Kyle yelled above the screaming wind. “How can you stand living here? And who the hell is Jon?” She was the first one to see the ball of flames. “Kyle, look out!”

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Chapter Eight Kyle fell on the floor in an unceremonious heap. Marian watched in horror as the flames followed him, heading toward his face. He covered his face with his hands but his shirt was already on fire. “Stop it, Jon,” she yelled. “I hate you. Go away.” Kyle was already scrambling to his feet. “The ocean,” he said. “No,” she called out. “Roll on the floor. That’s it.” After the flames were out, she hugged him and their bodies vibrated with thundering hearts. “Let’s get out of here,” he said, sounding sick. She frowned and looked around the living room but she could tell Jon was gone. His childish blustering might scare Kyle but she wasn’t going to let it rattle her. “Ghosts don’t exist.” “You could have fooled me,” Kyle replied, rubbing his forehead. “This place is seriously haunted.” They spent the evening sitting on the settee, sipping coffee and talking about old times. Kyle insisted on keeping his arm around her and she had to admit she didn’t mind. He felt warm, real and familiar. The haunting seemed to be over, at least for the moment. Jon was just going to have to get over himself, she thought. He’d had his fun with her. Besides, he was probably already thinking about making his next conquest. It was true Kyle had made a mistake once but Jon was like some kind of supernatural nymphomaniac. He could obviously never be satisfied with one woman. When the clock on the mantel chimed midnight, Kyle yawned.

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“What do you say we turn in?” he asked. Marian gulped. She’d stayed up talking past her usual bedtime because she hadn’t wanted to deal with this moment. “I suppose I can sleep on this couch,” he said, not looking too thrilled by the prospect. “It’s called a settee.” “Well, it doesn’t look very comfortable,” he complained. “Maybe it would be best if you did sleep here,” she said. “I can get you a blanket and pillow.” Their gaze caught and she could see the familiar glow in his eye. He wanted her. He stepped closer and stroked her cheek with his finger. “Of course, I’d rather be upstairs in that big, beautiful bed with you.” She put her hands in her pockets and turned her back on him. “Well, I wouldn’t want to disappoint you. I believe you once said I wasn’t sexual enough for you.” He sighed. “How come you only remember the bad stuff? I didn’t mean it. I was young and stupid. I must have had too much testosterone or something. Besides, you’re a nice girl. The kind I want to marry. I don’t expect you to act like a streetwalker.” She stifled a laugh. Little did he know the things Jon had taught her. He probably had no idea that being spanked and tied up made her clit ache. He’d be shocked to learn she’d licked semen off her mouth and swallowed every bit of it. “Seeing as how you haven’t thrown me out, I figured maybe you’d forgiven me. If you have, I’m really grateful.” Then he stood behind her, pressing his erection into her bottom. “I happen to want you very badly right now. Let’s go upstairs.” Marian’s nipples tightened despite her refusal to get aroused. Why not, she thought to herself. Things hadn’t worked with Jon and he wasn’t even alive. Kyle was her future. Maybe her coming to this house had all been part of the plan. He ran his hands over her shoulders and her legs started walking toward the bedroom.

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When they got upstairs, she expected some mind-blowing foreplay like she’d gotten from Jon. But Kyle didn’t even kiss her. He yanked off his clothes and threw them on the floor like he was in a locker room. Then he jumped onto the bed, Jon’s bed, with a silly grin on his face. This didn’t feel right at all, she thought as she unbuttoned her shirt. The small spike of arousal she’d felt downstairs had almost died out completely. But, if she was going to marry him, she’d have to face their sex life. When her clothes were off, she joined him on the bed. As soon as she did, he leaned over and jabbed at her pussy like a drunken groundhog. “Ouch,” she said. “Not so hard.” “Sorry.” Then he pinched at her nipples a couple of times like he was adjusting the volume on a radio. He must have thought she was ready because he perched himself over her. She knew she wouldn’t enjoy the teasing strokes Jon had tortured her with. His pale pink, familiar looking cock was hard and poised to enter her. But she wasn’t ready. Not by a long shot. Her cunt felt as dry and shrunken as a crone’s. She wasn’t sexual enough all right. Not with him. Tears stung her eyes as she turned her head. Longing for Jon stabbed her in the gut like a sword. He could get her so hot she nearly ignited into flames. There was no one like him. Kyle didn’t even come close. But it was more than sex. She and Jon had something. Maybe it was chemistry. Maybe it was the beginnings of love. She didn’t know. All she knew was that she really missed it. She missed him. As if reading her thoughts, he appeared, standing beside the bed. He didn’t even look angry. He looked sad and shook his head. His image was so weak it was nearly transparent. He looked so tired. “Don’t do it, Mary,” he said. Kyle didn’t seem to hear him. “Please, Mary. You still belong to me. You always did.” 99

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She fought back her tears and glared at him over Kyle’s shoulder. It served him right seeing her ready to fuck another man, she thought. Now he’d know what it had felt like for her to see those pictures of him with other women. She spread her legs a little wider then snapped them shut. No, she couldn’t do this No matter what Jon had done with those women she couldn’t be unfaithful to him. They belonged only to each other. “Kyle, we can’t do this,” she said as she twisted away from him. But he didn’t seem to hear her as he lunged for her like a stag in heat. Then his face screwed up in pain. “What’s the matter?” she asked. He moved away from her and fell onto his side next to her, grabbing his crotch. “My balls,” he whimpered. “Something grabbed my balls. Oh, shit.” By now, his penis was soft and small. Marian covered herself with the afghan in relief. She had a pretty good idea of who’d done this to him. Kyle jumped up and put on his clothes. “There’s something seriously evil in this house. I’m sleeping in the car. Tomorrow morning we’ll go back to Boston and plan a new wedding. We’ll resume our lives, okay?” Marian looked up at him as she clutched the afghan to her body. This was it. She had to make the decision that would affect the rest of her life. “Okay,” she whispered.

After the front door closed, Marian put on the antique nightgown and reached for the light. She hadn’t even worn her granny nightgown the whole time she’d been here. And now it was time to go home, with Kyle. Her stomach churned with the enormity of her big decision. It was the logical choice, she kept telling herself. And, after all, she was a science teacher and as logical as they came. “Don’t do it, Mary.”

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She looked around for the source of Jon’s whispered voice. She finally saw the barest trace of him standing by the bed. “I can hardly see you,” she said. “Go away.” “I’m very weak,” he whispered. “You were strong enough to attack my fiancé,” she retorted, pulling the afghan over her. “The games we played are over. I’m going back to my life.” “Your life is here, Mary. With me.” He held out his trembling hand to her but she didn’t bother to reach for it. She knew it couldn’t be felt. “My life is with him,” she replied, jutting out her bottom jaw. “I’m going back to Boston tomorrow.” Jon sat on the edge of the bed. “That would be a big mistake. He cheated on you.” She crossed her arms and glared at him. “Once. He made a mistake and he’s sorry.” He shook his head and chuckled. “Is that what he told you? He’s still seeing her, you know.” “No, he’s not. Besides, how would you know?” He leaned closer. “When it comes to my lady, I make sure I know all the important facts. He might marry you but he’s going to keep seeing her. And fucking her. Why do you think it took him so long to find you? He’s been…occupied.” She turned away from him. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Besides, you’re a much bigger pig than he ever was. I saw proof with my own eyes. You must have screwed every woman in the state of Massachusetts.” He hung his head. “I admit I have a healthy appetite for lust.” “And you didn’t think it was important enough to tell me about it?” she asked glaring at him. “No, instead you feed me a bunch of bull about loving me. You probably said that to all of them. At least Kyle was finally honest with me.” “I didn’t tell you about the other women because I knew you wouldn’t understand. None of them stirred my heart the way you did. You truly were special. Each time I 101

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emerged, I thought the woman living in this house was the woman of my dreams. I just wanted to be human again and love someone the way I loved Mary.” She sighed. “Well, I hope you enjoyed yourself at my expense. You made me look like a fool. Max took pictures of us too.” “You enjoyed it,” he said hoarsely. “You never even knew you liked sex until I fucked your cunt and your mouth. No man can get you as wet and horny as I can. No man can make you come the way I can.” Damn him. She knew he was right and he was making her wet and hot just talking about it. Kyle couldn’t even manage to do that with foreplay. “There’s more to life than sex,” she said as she willed her temperature to drop back to normal. “You’re right. There’s love and I still love you. Consider this. I was faithful to each woman, including you. I can’t say the same for you tonight. It drove a knife through my heart to see you spread your legs for that cad.” Marian looked down. “You’re not real.” His image strengthened. “I think I proved that point to you before. Would you like a reminder?” Did she ever. The muscles in her pussy fluttered like a butterfly, begging for another taste of his realness. But it was over. Her future awaited. “I can’t,” she said. She saw his hand reach for her cheek but she couldn’t feel it. “Please don’t go back to him,” he begged her. “He’ll hurt you again. He’s still seeing her.” “You’re wrong,” she said. “Goodnight, Jon. And…goodbye.” When she turned out the light, he was gone.

*****

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Marian slept fitfully all night. The wind had picked up and sounded as restless as she felt. When she woke up, the sky was leaden gray and roiled with swift-moving clouds. She didn’t think Jon could control the weather but it was a fitting send-off. As she packed up her things, she thought back to the first day she’d arrived. It felt like a century ago now. All she’d wanted was to be alone and she’d been anything but. Going back to Kyle was the sensible thing to do, she told herself as she tried to shove Jon’s warnings out of her mind. He was just jealous and would say anything he could to upset her at this point. Maybe she could even teach Kyle to do Jon’s sexual tricks. It might make things more interesting for both of them. It might even erase the image of Jon’s face and the feel of his heated skin from her mind. She was sure now she’d completely forgiven Kyle for his past transgression. She’d slept with Jon, so as far as she was concerned, they were even. The slate was clean for their new life together. The air outside was cool and damp, so she put on her hooded sweatshirt jacket and headed for Kyle’s car. When she looked in the window, he was sprawled across the back seat on his back, snoring loudly. She smiled and began to walk away. Yesterday had been pretty upsetting for him and he needed his rest. The car windows were half down and she knew the cool salty air was more potent than sleeping pills. She’d just go to the kitchen to whip up some pancakes and hot coffee. “Get his phone.” She could barely hear Jon’s whispered, weak voice above the wind. She turned back to look at the car and Kyle’s cell phone was resting on the dash. There was nothing unusual about that. “What? Why?” “There’s a message for you.” Marian frowned, wishing she could see Jon. Sometimes he was invisible at the worst possible times. “Why would there be a message for me on his phone?” 103

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“Grab the phone and listen, Mary. You must listen to your message.” “This is stupid,” she whispered but she decided to humor him. After all, she’d never see him again after today. She quietly reached inside the open window and grabbed the phone. He had the same type of phone she did, so she knew how to get the messages. And, knowing him, he’d been too lazy to ever change the default password. She walked away from the car, hit the button for playing messages and pressed the phone to her ear. It would be nearly impossible to hear anything against the crashing surf and wind. The first message was from his boss and she felt like a real heel for invading his privacy like this. She reached for the button to stop the messages. “There’s more,” Jon’s voice insisted. “Keep listening.” Marian’s stomach tightened a little when she heard a female voice. “Hey, Kyle,” it began. There could be plenty of reasons for a woman to call him, she told herself. He had a sister and plenty of female coworkers. His best buddies also had wives who might call him to arrange for surprise birthday parties and things like that. The problem was she recognized this voice, even above the background noise. It was Jenna’s. She forgot to breathe as she continued to listen to the unmistakable, breathy voice. “I had a great time the other night. Hurry back so we can do it again. I’m not happy about your decision but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. We’ll always have us. Oh and by the way, I just bought a killer nightie. I can’t wait to show it to you. Love you. Bye.” Marian barely even heard the mechanical cell phone voice asking her if she wanted to exit voice mail. “I’m so sorry,” Jon said. She squeezed the phone so hard it almost cracked in half.

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“No, you’re not,” she muttered. “You men. You’re all pigs.” By now, Kyle had gotten out of the car and was stretching. He smiled at Marian as she approached. “Hey, babe. I slept great and now I’m starved. What’s for breakfast?” “You are.” He frowned at her hateful tone and then he looked at the phone in her hand. She relished the look of alarm that scurried across his face as he looked at his dashboard. “Hey, you’ve got my phone,” he said. “The reception here sucks.” She twirled it round and round in her hands. “Well, your girlfriend’s message came through loud and clear.” “Let me see that,” he said, reaching for the phone. “I don’t have any messages.” She held it out of his reach. “Let me save you the trouble. Jenna called. She bought a ‘killer’ nightie, which she can’t wait to show you. Oh and let’s see, she had a great time the other night. Care to explain that one?” His lips trembled. “Damn it. It’s not what you think. She’s making that up.” He started chasing Marian, grabbing for the phone. “She never got over me. She won’t interfere with our life. I promise.” She walked over to the edge of the ocean and threw his phone into it as far as she could. Kyle sighed. “I can see you’re upset. Let’s talk this over, after breakfast.” He still expected her to fix him breakfast? He wasn’t going to bother to tell her he was still seeing Jenna and all he cared about was breakfast? She felt like cooking him something with poison in it. Suddenly all of the fury of the wind and sea seemed to belong to her and she swore the volume of the wind went up a notch as her anger increased.

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“In your dreams,” she bit out. “Get out of here. You’re not getting breakfast or anything else out of me ever again. I was a real idiot to even consider going back to you. Now get the hell out.” He stood there working his jaws back and forth like a guppy. Her lip curled in disgust when she realized he was afraid of her. She watched as he fumbled in his pocket for his keys and got into the car. Then he sat in the driver’s seat, still working his jaws, as if he hoped she might change her mind at the last minute. She leaned her arms against the sill of the passenger window. “And for your information, I happen to be very sexual. You’re the one who’s inadequate. I’ve been spanked and tied up, licked and sucked. And I’ve had orgasms strong enough to break bones. I hope Jenna is happier with your performance than I am because she can have you.” Kyle had stopped working his jaws and now they just hung there. “Start the engine,” she told him as she pointed. “That’s it. The exit is that way.” She was shaking so hard by the time he left she could barely stand. “Way to go.” Jon’s voice was beside her ear and a lot stronger now than a whisper. “I’m so glad you came to your senses. Now we can have our own breakfast.” She put her hands on her hips and glared in his general direction. “Is that what you think? Do you actually think that just because I got rid of him for once and for all that I’m going to come running back to you? Think again.” “You’re upset and hurt. You’ll forget him quickly enough.” She headed toward the boat without even knowing what she was doing. “You men are all pigs!” she screamed. “I am never, ever getting involved with a man again, dead or alive.” He gripped her arm but it wasn’t strong enough to hold her. “Mary. Don’t go out in the boat. Dear God. Look at the sea today. It’s very dangerous.”

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“Get your hands off me,” she yelled. “I’ll do what I damn well please.” She untied the damp, crusty rope with shaking fingers and rowed it into the hungry water. She felt a slight resistance at first. Jon was probably trying to pull back on it. She sighed and paused for a moment, looking out at the ocean. The tide crashed against the rocks with brute force, sending spumes of white spray into the air while gray, swollen clouds hovered on the horizon. Maybe Jon had a point. It really wasn’t the best day to go boating. The sea looked angrier than she’d ever seen it. It looked almost as angry as she felt inside and for that reason alone she had to be part of it. She realized this wasn’t something an intelligent science teacher would do but she was tired of trying to figure out her life. Tired of trying to figure out which man to trust. Look where that had gotten her. Besides, she wouldn’t go out too far. Oh, what the hell, she thought. Here I go. With a rush of adrenaline, she rowed harder toward the open sea. The sea chewed on the boat, tossing it back and forth like a mere bathtub toy. “Mary. Come back.” Jon’s voice grew fainter and fainter as the sea sucked her further out. Okay, she was going out much faster than she wanted. She really didn’t intend to go out this far and it wasn’t stopping. Shit! This had never happened before. It was as if someone had replaced the ocean she was used to with this monster from hell. The oars were slick in her hands and she almost dropped them. She tried to row back to shore but it wasn’t enough. Then she put more muscle behind it, rowing until it felt like her arms were going to fall off and her lungs were going to burst. Wet spray exploded all around her and she was totally soaked. And it was so damned hard to think straight when the waves kept lifting her in the air and turning her from side to side. She was starting to get dizzy. Things went from bad to worse when a sudden lurch of the boat sent her oar flying out of her grasp. And before she had time to react to that, she found herself face-to-face with a wave that was taller than she was. 107

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There was no time to row away from it. She felt the boat slip out from underneath her. The water was dark and so cold. Her limbs went numb as she struggled to grab the boat. Stark terror squeezed her heart in half when she went under. When she finally emerged, she struggled to cough up the water she’d inhaled. She’d barely gotten a decent breath when another huge wave attacked her. So this was how she was going to die, she thought. She certainly would never have chosen drowning. What a horrible way to go. At least she had something in common with Jon, she thought stupidly as she fought the icy water. And Mary. Then she realized she’d charged recklessly into the stormy sea, angry and jealous, just as Mary had. A glimmer of hope warmed her when she felt the wooden rim of the boat in her hand. But the next wave yanked it back out of reach. The boat then swung around to clobber her on the back of the head. And her fight with the sea was over.

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Chapter Nine Jon stood on shore, nearly pulling his hair out of his head as he watched the ocean devour the boat. And Mary. As angry as he was with her for going back to that sickening Kyle fellow, he’d never wish death on her. Especially this type of death. He knew all too well what it was like to drown. The horrible feeling of lungs about to burst. The frantic clamoring of every cell in the body screaming for oxygen. And then the cold peace that finally came when the body gave up the fight. The wind buffeted him and threw salt spray into his face. He shivered so hard his teeth chattered. He jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Max stood there with the gray of his fuzzy layer of hair and pallor of his skin matching the grayness all around them. The sky, the sea and even the sand looked lifeless, damp and gray. He was the last person Jon wanted to see right now. This day was already too much like that fateful day a hundred years ago. “She’s going to die,” Max said. His lips twitched, as if he were trying to hold back a smile. “Are you going to just stand there and watch?” Jon put his fist to his mouth and bit down. Max was right. It would be cruel to do that. He should go back to the house or the cemetery and just let it happen. “You could save her, you know,” Max said quietly. Jon shook his head so hard his hair flew wildly around his head. “No. No, I-I can’t go in there.” Max chuckled. “I can’t say I blame you. After all, she spread her legs for another man in your house and your bed. Besides, if you save her, you won’t be able to resist fucking her again and you’ll go back to your grave for another seventeen years. This way you might be able to hang around up here a little longer.”

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“Like this is some kind of great existence,” Jon said bitterly. “I’m so weak I can barely stand up and no one can even see me most of the time. I wish you had let me die that day.” Jon kept his eye on the boat the whole time. It was unbelievable how violent the sea was today. It chewed on the boat and flung it around like it was a mere toy. He tried to block out Mary’s cries for help but they seared into his brain. Max was right. He would be tempted to bed her again, even after she’d almost cheated on him. She needed to be punished for what she’d done and what greater punishment was there than death? He liked the earlier punishments better. He’d rather tie her creamy limbs to the sturdy bedposts and thrust his cock down her throat. Or he could lick her into a tortured frenzy until she begged for him. But this was horrible. Even though he was dead himself, he hated for her to die too. Max folded his arms and squinted into the wind. “If you’re going to save her, you’d better be quick about it.” “I told you I can’t,” he replied but he also couldn’t seem to stop watching her. He was paralyzed. He couldn’t go backward or forward. Then the unthinkable happened. The boat capsized and the greedy ocean claimed its prize. The waves were so tall and rhythmic he couldn’t even see her body for the longest time. She wasn’t struggling. Perhaps she was already dead. With tiny whimpers welling up from his throat, he stepped into the surf. After going out just a few feet, he stopped. Even at this short distance, the waves pounded against his legs, making it difficult to stand up. And the sea was even colder than he remembered. Ice began to fill his veins from his feet to his head. “It might change everything,” Max yelled to him as he stared at a distant point on the horizon. “What’s that supposed to mean?” Jon snapped. “It might change your…situation.”

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Jon shook his head and walked back to the safety of damp sand. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. She hates me. I’ll never win her heart. And I can’t go through that kind of death again, even for her.” “She’s dying,” Max said calmly as he pointed to her. “Her corpse will soon wash up on shore and it’ll be too late.” “You could revive her then,” Jon said hopefully. Max shook his head. “Impossible,” he said. Jon stared at Mary’s lifeless form and bit down hard on his lower lip. Then he balled his hands into fists and took a deep breath. He was going to try to save her. He’d rather go back into dormancy with the usual ecstasy of the third round of sex but what did he have to lose now? He was barely even existing. And he didn’t want her to die the way he had. “Hang on, Mary,” he whispered as he plunged into the icy surf. As soon as he’d begun to swim out, he regretted his decision. He was weak before but the cold violence of the waves was quickly sapping what little energy he had left. The more he swam, the further away she seemed to be. It was hopeless. He’d never reach her in time and if he did, he’d never be able to get her safely back to shore. He glanced back to land and Max was just standing there and watching. The sorcerer never ceased to make his life a living hell. He should be calling for help or swimming out here himself to save Mary. Max was certainly a lot stronger than he was. Jon coughed as he accidentally inhaled sprays of sea water. It was a struggle to keep his head above water. Maybe he was meant to come out here and die again. Maybe it would be over now and he couldn’t say he minded. After holding Mary in his arms, he never wanted to re-emerge with anyone else. It just wouldn’t be the same. He wasn’t even sure he could get his cock hard for another woman now. He loved her, he realized as he lengthened his strokes. Before he had just said it, thinking he’d felt it. But now he was sure he did. And then the strangest thing

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happened. He felt strong! His arms bit into the surf with longer, surer strokes and before he knew it he felt her wet skin in his grip. “Mary! Are you all right?” Before he had a chance to see if she was awake, a giant wave drenched them both and it took a while before he could breathe and see again. She didn’t look good. Her skin was ice cold and much too pale. Her lips had a bluish tinge. A chill clenched his heart. It had been the same way with his Mary all those years ago. She had looked exactly the same way when she’d died. Unwilling to waste any more time, he curled his arm around her neck, so that her head was above water and began to swim. The shore didn’t look that far away but it took so unbelievably long to cover the distance. Max was still standing there being completely useless and Jon cursed at him under what little breath he had. Fine. If he got off on watching them both die agonizing deaths, let him. But Jon wasn’t going to give up the fight that easily. He loved this woman and he was going to do his damned best to save her. His earlier fear dissolved like candy over a flame. The angry waves were just an adversary now he had to fight. They didn’t paralyze him with horror any longer and it felt as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders. No, he wasn’t going to die this way again, he told himself. He was going back into dormancy the usual way. He was going to save Mary and after she was fully recovered and all warmed up, he was going to bury his cold cock in her and fuck her like he’d never fucked a woman before. It was going to last for hours and it wouldn’t be over until every last seed had been squeezed out of his balls. Then, maybe he’d be willing to go quietly back to his grave with the cicadas. But not before. When his legs hit hard sand, he fell and Mary’s lifeless body heaved onto the shore like a whale. Max was still there but he wasn’t alone. Two paramedics with grim faces snatched Mary up and put her on a stretcher. They put an oxygen mask over her nose and started checking her vitals. 112

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“Is she still alive?” he asked the men. Before they could answer, he went into a coughing fit as he tried to dislodge the salt water that had trickled into his lungs. Then he remembered no one could hear him or see him. He would have to ask Max what was going on and hope he decided to tell him the truth. But one of the paramedics was looking right at him! “Barely,” the man answered him while he worked on Mary, “but we’re going to do our best. “You might have hypothermia too. Let me check you.” Jon held up a hand. “I’m fine. Save her.” He was already dead but he wasn’t about to admit it to them. The paramedic handed him a large blanket. “You should still come with us to the hospital. You need to be checked out.” Under the cover of his blanket, Jon stripped out of his wet clothes and held onto them while the men cut off Mary’s wet clothes, tucked warm packs around her and swaddled her in blankets. Then they ran across the beach with Mary on a stretcher between them. Jon stopped and looked back at Max, who had a very strange expression on his face. Jon had so many questions to ask him but the paramedic was frowning at him. “Come on, buddy,” he said, looking back at Jon. “No time to waste.” Feeling more confused with each step he took, Jon tumbled into the back of the ambulance and watched as the paramedics worked on Mary’s body. By this time, he was shivering so hard he couldn’t stop. His teeth chattered so violently he thought they were going to break off. He huddled in his blanket. Luckily, the men were too distracted by Mary to insist on taking his temperature. He looked down at his hands, amazed at how pink they looked, especially after being in the cold water. He felt different. He felt…alive. How could this be? He had so many questions.

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“Man, her heart is beating really slowly,” one of them said. “It’s a wonder she’s alive at all. It’s like she’s gone into dormancy. Kids do this sometimes but I’ve never seen it in an adult. There might be hope for her yet.” “Hey, buddy,” the other one asked, “about how long was she in the water?” Jon shrugged, still unable to believe mortals could actually see and talk to him again. “I’m not sure,” he said slowly. Time had stood still for him out there as he’d watched the horrible scene and then finally decided to take action. All he could see was Mary's pale face peeking out from her shroud of blankets. Even her face was partially covered by a mask delivering warmed air. At least her lips didn’t look quite so blue now. He hoped she lived and found happiness with someone, as long as it wasn’t Kyle. Of course, he wanted her for himself but it wasn’t to be. He was dead and it was time to stay that way. The next cicada emergence would have to be without him. All he wanted was for her to live. “Is she a friend of yours?” the paramedic asked. “Wife? Girlfriend?” Jon opened his mouth to answer but didn’t know what to say. Mary was everything to him and yet he couldn’t think of the right label for it. “Mary’s my lady,” he finally said. “My…fiancée.” So what if it wasn’t true, he thought glumly to himself. He would like nothing more than to marry her, even if he couldn’t. As soon as they arrived at the hospital, Mary disappeared in a throng of frantic hospital staff. He wandered to a waiting room, feeling like a fish on dry sand. For the past hundred years he hadn’t gone anywhere but the Blake house, the beach and the cemetery. The air in this place was unusually cold and he wondered if it was possessed by evil spirits as he shivered again. After a while, a nurse came up to him. Surely she couldn’t see him, Jon thought. The episode with the paramedic must have been a fluke. He could have been another immortal. But she was looking right at him too.

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“Are you the one who brought in the female drowning victim?” He nodded. “Then I need you to fill out some forms. Dear, you’re freezing. Go into the exam room there and someone will be right with you to check you over.” At this point, Jon didn’t know what else to do besides follow orders. After all was said done, he held a pen for the first time in a hundred years and was poked and prodded more than a turkey roasting in an oven. They even took his clothes, to be dried, they’d told him. “So do I seem…normal?” he asked the doctor. “Fit as a fiddle,” the man declared. “Your temperature’s normal and you’ve stopped shivering.” “So I seem like a normal human?” Jon added cautiously. The doctor frowned. “Yes,” he said slowly, “but if you keep asking me strange questions like that, I might suggest a psychological exam. Just kidding. You’ve been through a lot. We’ll call you when she’s awake.” The forms had been difficult. Mary didn’t have any identification with her, or so they’d said, so he’d had to fill in her name. He didn’t know her last name, so he’d written in his. He walked outside, disliking the artificial chill in the waiting room. The sky still looked leaden gray and he was glad there was no view of the ocean from the hospital. A man stood on the edge of the parking lot, staring into a landscaped flower bed. “Max!” he called out. “I’ve been looking all over for you. I have so many questions.” “Indeed?” Max replied, lifting one eyebrow. “They said I was normal,” Jon crowed. “They checked me out and everything. They could see me, hear me and feel me. What’s happened to me?” A slow smile spread across Max’s usually taciturn face. He almost looked kindly instead of the evil sorcerer he was.

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“I told you that saving her might change everything, didn’t I?” “I don’t see how,” Jon replied. “She never gave me her heart.” “She didn’t have to. You gave her yours. You faced your worst fear and made the ultimate sacrifice for her.” Jon put his hands to his face. They were shaking but not from the cold. “But those weren’t the rules.” Max waved his hand in dismissal. “Rules can be changed. I’ve tortured you long enough. Frankly, I’m tired of keeping track of all the screwing you do. It’s time I got my own woman.” “Jon’s eyebrows rose. “So you want to fall in love like I did?” “Love?” Max exclaimed. “Absolutely not. I just want someone to fuck my brains out from now through eternity.” “Why couldn’t you do that already?” “This may shock you but I haven’t been able to have sex ever since I’ve been dead.” Jon nearly choked. “What? But you talk about it so much.” “Oh, I can get hard but I can never consummate anything. I finally realized I must have been under a curse too. By giving you a break, I might finally be able to get some hot sex for myself.” “Then I really am alive? I’m not going to be sent back to my grave with the cicadas?” Max grinned and folded his arms. “Oh, eventually you will, like all the other mortals on this earth. But if you eat right, stay safe and have lots of sex, you should enjoy a long, healthy life.” This big change in his tormentor was too amazing to contemplate yet. Without even thinking, Jon hugged Max and practically skipped back into the hospital. Now, Mary just needed to recover. His second chance at life would mean little if he couldn’t share it with her.

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Of course, she’d almost cheated on him, he thought, slowing his pace. The image of her on his bed with Kyle would be burned into his mind for eternity. At first, he’d been certain he could never forgive her but now he realized how hurt she’d been when Max had showed her those pictures of him with other women. If she hadn’t loved, him she wouldn’t have cared. It was time for them to commit to each other. All the rest was history now.

***** When Marian’s eyes flickered open, she winced at the bright light. She was so cold but could feel streams of warmth pulsing through her arm. Where was she, she wondered. This wasn’t her apartment in Boston or the Blake house. An IV perched on her wrist like a spider. She wished she knew how she’d gotten here but all she could think about was the cold ocean. Fear seized her as she began to remember the boat capsizing on her. She’d been so stupid to go out in it during a storm. She’d been so angry but why? Was it Jon? No, thinking of him warmed her loins. Until she remembered all those sleazy pictures of him with other women. Then she remembered Kyle and Jenna’s breathy message. She remembered throwing his phone into the ocean. A doctor came in to explain what had happened to her. It sounded like something from an action movie instead of her usually dull life. “Your fiancé would like to see you now,” he said gently. Kyle? Was here to see her? No way. She never wanted to see him again. “Send him away,” she said weakly. The doctor frowned. “Are you sure? He risked his own life to save yours.” Kyle saved her life? That couldn’t be possible, she thought. Kyle was too much of a wimp to do that. Even if he had, she could never trust him again. All she wanted to do is get back on the big cozy bed at the Blake house.

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Her thoughts battled inside her groggy head. If he’d saved her life she owed him her thanks, even if she never wanted to see him again. But she knew him. He’d try to talk her into getting married again and she was so disoriented from nearly drowning she’d be weak and vulnerable. No, she’d thank him later when she was feeling stronger. Maybe she’d call or send him a gift. “I said send him away,” she repeated.

***** Mary came home the next day and Jon was glad that Gladys and Louise took care of her. He had no desire to face her after she’d refused to see him at the hospital. Such gratitude for facing his horrible past and saving her life, he thought. Maybe he shouldn’t have bothered. Was she still angry about those stupid pictures? He was mortal again but so what? It’s not like he had any good sex to look forward to. Sex didn’t even seem to interest him much anymore. Going back to his grave would be a lot easier. He kicked at the stone cemetery wall, half in the mood to knock it down. Max appeared beside him, as soundlessly as usual. “You have to face her eventually, you know,” he said. “I don’t want to. I want her out of here. Send her away. Haunt the house and send her back to Boston or wherever she came from. Screw her yourself for all I care. I know you want to.” Max sighed. “Your childishness is really making me regret my decision. You have a second chance at life. Use it.” “She almost cheated on me and now she doesn’t even want to see me.” Max shook his head as he touched Jon’s shoulder. “Very well. If you don’t want to fuck her, I will. But I suggest you go up there and claim what’s yours. If nothing else, have one last fuck with her. She owes you that much for saving her life. The rope is still up there if you need it. Show her she still belongs to you.” 118

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Jon’s cock stirred in his pants when he considered Max’s advice. Maybe she’d change her tune and finally thank him properly if he tied her to the bed again. Why not, he thought. She did owe him and love didn’t have to be part of it. It would just be flesh against flesh. Besides, he couldn’t really know he was a mortal again for sure until he’d fucked her for the third time. If it didn’t send him into dormancy, he’d finally know the truth. And even if Max was lying and he did go into dormancy, he was more than ready to go this time. After all, she was still in his house and as she would soon find out, her pussy was his.

***** Marian was glad when Gladys went back to the real estate office. She’d had to swear she was totally fine and could take care of herself before the woman would leave. It was nice to be waited on and cared for but she needed to be alone now to sort out the mess of her life. She still couldn’t believe she’d almost died or that Kyle had saved her from drowning. Nevertheless, he seemed to be respecting her wishes and staying away. She hoped he was home in Boston by now. Now that she was recovered, she still thought sending him a thank-you note and gift for saving her life was the best she could do. Maybe when school started she could resume a normal life and forget all the crazy stuff that had happened this summer. She needed to get out of this house. She was just getting out of bed when she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. They sounded heavier than Gladys’ and she hoped it wasn’t Kyle, Max, Jon, or any man for that matter. She should have stuck to her original plan to keep her life man free. It was time to get out of bed, put on regular clothes and get back to normal. She’d just finish up her packing and be ready to go. When Jon appeared in the doorway, she

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dropped the pile of clothes she’d been holding. Dear God, he looked more real than he ever had before. He looked warm and strong and…angry. “What do you want?” she asked. “I’m sort of busy.” “Don’t dismiss me in my own house,” he said. Mary bent to pick up the dropped clothes, trying not to notice how devastatingly sexy he looked today. His shirt was buttoned too low again and his pants molded themselves to his strong legs. She knew what he looked like from his picture and the ghostly image he sometimes appeared as. But today he looked solid and much too real. His gray eyes burned with a vitality she’d never seen before. Even the bold eyebrows that arched above them were sexy. Hypothermia was definitely not a problem now. His tousled waves of dark hair begged for her touch. “Your hair,” she said, standing back up. “It looks dry.” “Why don’t you touch it to make sure,” he said hoarsely. Without thinking, she stepped closer and realized her mistake when strong arms crushed against her waist, drawing her against him. His hair was dry, she thought stupidly as she touched it. But she didn’t have time to think beyond that as his lips swooped down on hers. His mouth was as stormy as the sea, churning, pulling and demanding. “Let me go,” she said after pulling her mouth free. “I’m leaving.” “The hell you are,” he said as he pushed down the straps of her nightgown. She sighed as she tried to pull the straps back up and ignore the searing heat that was starting to radiate inside her thighs. “What do you want from me?” “I want to fuck you again,” he said as he pulled her nightgown off completely this time. “I want to punish you for almost cheating on me. You really need to pay for that.” Before she could answer, his hands clenched around her buttocks in a possessive grip and his tongue flicked at her hardened nipples. As he lifted and carried her to the bed, her mind churned to catch up. She hadn’t expected him to show up in her room

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looking so good and she definitely wasn’t prepared for his anger. His eyes gleamed with raw passion. He obviously had plans for her and didn’t look like he’d take no for an answer. He opened the usual bureau drawer then approached the bed with the familiar white ropes dangling from his fingers. Marian’s heart pounded as he tied her wrists to the bedposts. She was too stunned to fight back but despite the ache between her legs, she really didn’t want to have sex with him now. Men and sex had just confused her life so far. She squealed when he tied her ankles to the posts at the head of the bed instead of the foot. What did he think he was doing to her? Now her legs were suspended over her head. It had to be the most unladylike position she’d ever been in and it wasn’t exactly comfortable either. “Untie me,” she said. “This is humiliating. What if someone walks in?” “Are you in any pain?” he asked solicitously. “Well, no but—” His gaze hardened. “Then stop complaining. You deserve this plus a lot more and you know it. This is just the beginning in a long series of…punishments.” Marian felt her core melting under his scorching stare. He held her gaze as he provocatively eased off his clothes. His cock had never looked bigger or more real. Well, this really wasn’t so bad, she told herself. After he had sex with her this third time, he’d be gone. Then she could finish packing her things and be on her way. “Do I have a choice about this?” she asked. “No.” He sat on the bed facing her upturned bottom and dipped a finger into her. “I put you like this so you can see everything I’m going to do to you.”

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He pulled out his wet finger and spread her juices down the insides of her thighs. He did this repeatedly, pumping his finger in and out of her and then spreading her slick arousal all over her skin. “I want you to smell like the whore you are,” he told her. Desperate longing coursed through her. Jon had her wanting him before he’d even touched her, while Kyle hadn’t been able to arouse her at all. “I’m not a whore,” she protested. She yelled out in surprise when he spanked her wet cheeks. “That’s for hurting me,” he said with his mouth close to her ear. “Do you have any idea how I felt watching you bare your pussy for him? Or when he leaned over you, ready to stick in his cock in you?” “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I really am. I didn’t know you were there watching. But you hurt me when I saw those pictures of you.” “Don’t turn this around on me,” he said. He spanked her again and followed it up with a quick plunge of his fingers. When he put in two fingers, she moved against his hand and moaned. “Are you ready for me, Mary? Because you didn’t look ready for him. Your sweet cunt was pale and shriveled. Now it’s all swollen and red.” He smeared more of her juices down her legs and the room hummed with the scent of arousal. “Do you want my cock in you?” “Yes,” she moaned. She leaned her head back and sighed when she felt his hard shaft. Instead of plunging inside her, though, he ran the shaft down the length of her crack. It slid effortlessly in the slick channel between her engorged lips. The rim of the head caressed her clit with each stroke. “Why should I give you what you want?” he asked. “Please, Jon. I’m really sorry. Just—” 122

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“Just what?” “You know,” she said, looking away from him, overwhelmed by the explosion beginning to brew between her legs. “Say it,” he yelled. “Fuck me,” she finally said. “You’re going to be sorry you asked for that,” he said as he rubbed his hand down the length of his shaft in front of her. It was slick with her juices and so close to where she wanted it. He slid into her with one solid stroke and she gasped at the suddenness of it. She was so swollen and he was so big it felt like her whole body was filled from the inside out. He held her gaze the whole time he pumped into her. He looked so…determined. Prickles of uncertainty ran down her legs, making her feel even hotter. She knew he would never hurt her but she still didn’t know quite what to expect. “You’re mine, Mary. Mine,” he yelled as he lunged all the way in and pulled almost all the way back out. Her body swayed helplessly from the ropes with each stroke. Once he started talking, he couldn’t seem to stop. She stopped arguing and just listened. He was in control now. “No one fucks you but me. Do you understand that?” She nodded but he must not have seen. “I said, do you understand? Answer me!” “Yes,” she said. He stopped stroking with his body and grabbed her hips. Then he kneeled and pulled her hips back and forth, impaling her on his cock over and over again. The tendons stood out against his neck as he talked and pumped at the same time. “Because if I ever see another man touch you, I’ll rip his cock off with my bare hands and shove it down his throat. Do you understand?” She nodded too weak to talk as he pounded into her even faster.

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“Unless my cock’s not good enough for you,” he went on. “Is that it, Mary?” Thrust. “Is it hard enough?” Thrust. “Is it big enough?” Thrust. She gasped out one “yes” after another. “It’s perfect, Jon. I love your cock. I swear. Just don’t stop. Whatever you do, please…do…not…stop.” His shaft felt wetter with each stroke and the sight of it sliding in and out of her red, puckered cleft drove her over the edge. The ropes gyrated as her limbs shook from her climax. She heard screaming and realized it was her. “That’s it, Mary. Come all over my cock. You’ll be coming a lot more by the time I’m done.” He kept thrusting and she was so excited she couldn’t even stand to watch it anymore. He never stopped talking. “We’ll live here in this house,” he said. “You can teach at a local school or work in the library. Louise wants to retire but won’t trust her library to just anyone. I’ll get a job too. I bet we can buy this house for a song.” His thrusts grew harder and deeper. His hands trembled as they dug into the soft skin of her hips and she knew he was close to climax. “I don’t care where you work as long as you come home each evening. Because I plan to fuck you like this every single night. It’ll be so good, Mary. You’ll see.” What was he talking about, she wondered. After this he’d be gone, wouldn’t he? What was the use in teasing her with promises he couldn’t keep? What he described sounded more than good but there was no use in wishing for things she couldn’t have. How would she ever forget him after these intense episodes of passion? When he came, he pulled out of her and shot his hot seed all over her belly. With a groan, he rubbed his juice on her stomach, across her breasts and down her legs. “Now you really are mine,” he said, letting his busy hand finally rest possessively on her belly. Then he frowned. “Hey, what’s wrong? Are you crying? Hell, Mary. Don’t cry on me.”

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He swiftly untied the ropes and lay down beside her, cradling her in his arms. She didn’t know why she was crying. It certainly wasn’t planned. He rubbed away her tears with the fingertip of his other hand and gently kissed her on the lips. She still couldn’t believe she could see and feel him at the same time. It was overloading her senses and making it even harder to say the inevitable goodbye. “Why are you promising things you can’t do?” she asked. “Are you being cruel to get back at me? You just had sex for the third time. So leave already and get it over with. Then I can be on my way back to Boston.” He leaned up on one elbow and she wanted to smack the sudden look of amusement off his face. “Don’t you notice something different about me?” he asked. “Well, I can see and feel you at the same time. What does that have to do with anything?” “I’m alive again, Mary. I’m just as alive as you. The curse is broken.” She blinked. “What? Why didn’t you tell me?” He looked down at the bed. “I was too proud…and angry at you for running back to Kyle. And if that wasn’t bad enough, I saved your life out there and you wouldn’t even see me at the hospital.” Marian sat up. “What?” she sputtered. “You saved my life? They told me Kyle did it but I still didn’t want to see him because it’s over with him.” Jon rolled his eyes. “Him? He wouldn’t save his own mother. Whatever gave you that idea?” She put her hand to her mouth as everything began to make sense. “They said my fiancé was there, so I assumed it was him.” He smiled and kissed her on the forehead. “I see what happened now. I filled out your paperwork and told them I was your fiancé. Saving your life is what set me free. I wasn’t even sure it was true myself until I climaxed just now. Instead of going back to

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my grave for another round of dormancy, like I usually do every time I come for the third time, I’m still lying here with you, feeling wonderful and strong.” She hugged him to her so hard she thought all their bones might break at once. “Thank you,” she whispered in his ear. “I love you, Jon. You have my heart. I think you always did.” “And you know you have mine,” he replied. “Now, I think we’d better have sex again. It’s good for the health, you know and I want us to live for a long, long time. Of course, I might have to punish you now and then when you’re bad.” Tingles went down her arm. “Promise?” And at that moment, one of the last cicadas of the season flew into the room. It perched on the nightstand and sang while Jon made sweet love to her again.

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About the Author By day, Afton Locke is a logical programmer, but by night she swims in the mystical world of dreams. Intrigued by all things unexplained, like ghosts and karma, she delights in spinning dark, sensual stories that pull readers below the surface of everyday (and sometimes boring) life to the depths of forbidden fantasy. What else would you expect from someone with her moon in the 12th house/Pisces and Neptune in the 8th house/Scorpio? She lives in the mountains with her husband, dog, and spooky black cat. Unlock your darkest fantasies with Afton Locke.

The author welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

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