"I have to admit, my acquisitiveness has faded in the last day or so,” he said with a smirk. One thing he was certainly grateful for was saving Alastair from grief. “How's David? Have you seen him this morning?” he asked.
"Of course. He is sad, but I told him how much you loved him, and that you were watching over him.” Alastair smiled. “I was happy that I didn't have to lie to him."
Percy hesitated a moment before he spoke again. “I saw my mother,” he said quietly. “She's here. In the nursery. She told me quite a lot. Not, unfortunately, where I can find the one who killed me. The cowardly bastard won't show his face,” Percy growled, glancing up at the ceiling.
"Your mother is here?” Alastair asked. “Did you know that before?” he moved closer.
Percy got up from his chair and stepped over to where Alastair was sitting. He lowered himself onto Alastair's lap, concentrating on being as solid as possible. He put his arms around his lover's neck. “No. I had no idea. She does not wish to appear to anyone."
Alastair sighed. “I can feel you. I can almost smell you...” He ran his hands over Percy. “I'm sorry about your mother."
Percy smiled. “It's all right. She made her own fate. Mostly. In any case, it's not my fault.” He sighed. He leaned down and pressed his lips to Alastair's.
Alastair groaned and kissed back, pulling Percy closer. “I can feel you even more,” he whispered. “Oh, my love, I don't know what I'd do without you. Ghostly or living, I just need you."
"Apparently I can only appear solid to one person whom I have a particularly strong connection to. I believe that would be you, love.” He rested his head on Alastair's shoulder.
Alastair raised an eyebrow. “Solid? As in, more solid than you are now?” The tone of his voice showed his interest.
Percy nodded slowly. “I think so.” He closed his eyes for a moment and concentrated again. “I think it gets easier over time,” he whispered. Gradually, he became more solid, an intense look on his face.
"You feel almost as you did,” breathed Alastair, gazing at Percy. “Oh, my love..."
Percy opened his eyes and looked at Alastair. “Am I whole?” he asked, breathlessly. He could feel Alastair's body reacting as his ass pressed into his lap.
Alastair moaned softly. “There is only one way to find out,” he said, looking into Percy's eyes. His hand dropped to his lover's leg, and he asked, “How does it feel to you?"
Percy gasped and laughed, tapping Alastair's hand playfully. “You dirty thing! Are you going to bugger a ghost, then?” he teased. Before Alastair could pull his hand away, Percy took it and pulled it up higher until it was pressing against his arousal. “How does it feel to you?” he asked, arching an eyebrow.
Alastair smiled evilly as he squeezed the very solid, hard bulge in Percy's trousers. “It feels like you are the only one for me, and even death will not come between us."
Percy grinned. “We have to be very careful. We can't just mess about in any room in the house. We have to be behind securely locked doors, because, God forbid anyone ever walked in on us, they won't see me. And while it's a mental image I'm rather enjoying, I suspect it won't go over well with anyone else."
"Are you saying you want to go forward with this experiment?” Alastair said, voice deep with need.
Percy held up both his hands, palms up as if weighing two items. “Nothing to lose?” he said, moving one up. “Hot sex with the love of my life?” he said, weighing the other hand down. He looked at Alastair. “I think that would be affirmative. Shall I meet you in the bedroom?"
"Absolutely,” nodded Alastair, smiling. “I love you, Percy."
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Epilogue
A hundred and some odd years later...
The most remarkable thing happened. Maximillian had shown himself, and apologized after all this time. The present day earl and his charming lover watched the scene in awe, and suddenly Percy felt lighter than air. He felt different than he'd felt in as long as he could remember since that fateful day when his life had ended.
The room grew brighter, and the couple looked at each other. Percy assumed they could no longer see him, but it didn't matter. He was rising up, through the ceiling and higher, by no will of his own. He turned his gaze to the direction he was heading and it seemed as if he was speeding into a pure, white warmth. And then he was standing upon the ground.
The sun was shining merrily in a way it rarely shone in Scotland. The grass was covered with dew that glistened, and moistened his boots. He looked down, surprised at the effect. Nothing in the world had touched him for so very long. When he looked up, he realized he was standing before Elgin Castle. It was in surprisingly pristine condition, and standing outside, flanking the door, were people. Not just people, people he knew. His father, his father's lover, his son, his wife. There were others he hadn't met in life, but he recognized. His grandson. His great grandson.
And then his eyes fell on the one face he'd missed so acutely. Alastair. He was solid and whole and standing there waiting for him. Percy rushed forward and threw his arms around his lover's neck, and it was as if no time had passed. For a long moment he could only hold him tightly. He felt the others gathering around, patting his back, murmuring words of welcome.
"What ... what is this?” he asked. “Where are we?"
"I do not really know. It needs no name. We are just here,” Alastair said, holding Percy tightly.
Percy relaxed by degrees, and soon he was being drawn into a circle of relatives and friends. The love he felt coming from everyone was almost overwhelming. In time, everyone filed back inside, or wandered off for a walk in the perfect gardens. He was left alone with Alastair. “I'm sorry it took me so long,” he said.
"There is no time here as we knew it,” Alastair explained. “In some ways we have been parted for years, but in truth it did feel like any time had passed. I waited for you, and now we can be together forever."
Percy's lips twitched. “Well, I'm pleased that I went up instead of down,” he quipped. He slid his arms around Alastair again. “Can we eat? Can we have sex?"
Alastair laughed. “We can eat, yes. As for sex, I do not know, as I was waiting for you. But as our bodies seem solid,” he said as he ran his hands over Percy's form, “I think we must investigate. Thoroughly."
Percy laughed and sweet, unadulterated joy sprang from his lips. “Does everyone live here? At the castle?” he asked. He wanted to know everything.
"Yes and no. You can go anywhere you want, really. But most are drawn to the place they called home."
Percy leaned up and kissed Alastair lightly on the lips. “Well, I think I'd like to explore the fruits eternity has to offer. Shall we start with a nice mid-morning nap?” he asked.
Alastair touched Percy's face reverently. “Anything you wish, my love. Forever."
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About the Author
Inspired by the important things in life: beauty, love, and passion, Jade has spent several years writing erotic fiction. The forbidden nature of homoeroticism has been the basis for many megabytes of fiction that has delighted a wide circle of online readers. Please feel free to visit Jade at www.JadeFalconer.com or on MySpace at www.myspace.com/jadefalconer.
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