by Sean Michael
Will brought up several chocolate bars and a box of Chex, along with two more Cokes. He handed one of the cans over. “Hey, you okay?”
“Huh? Yeah. Yeah, I’m great.” Just admiring your butt. He hadn’t said that out loud, had he? Will didn’t appear in the least bit fazed, so he was guessing no, he hadn’t. Thank God.
“Okay. You want the Coffee Crisp or the Aero bar? Or we could share and have half each.”
“Let’s share. I’m friendly that way.”
Will chuckled, the sound wicked as hell. Then he split both bars and offered the halves to Payne to choose which ones he wanted. He took the larger of the Coffee Crisp pieces and left the slightly bigger of the Aero for Will.
“You’re a coffee fan, eh?” Will took a crunchy bite of his half of the Coffee Crisp.
“How did you guess?” He grinned and winked. He loved tea too, and his Coke. He liked caffeine whatever form it came in. Though he wasn’t very fond of energy drinks. When he needed one of those, he drank it despite the taste.
“You took the bigger half of the Coffee Crisp. And I think you’ve made at least a dozen coffees for us, and we’ve only been here twice.” There was no heat behind Will’s exaggeration. He was clearly teasing.
“Yeah, yeah. It’s something to do with your hands when you’re nervous, right?”
“You were nervous to meet us?” Will sounded surprised.
“God yes. What wasn’t to be nervous of?”
“How come?” It seemed like a genuine question—Will much nicer now than he’d been when they’d first met. Less prickly and confrontational.
“Well, there’s the whole ‘you’re crazy’ part. That’s the worst. More than that, there’s the ‘you’re crazy and paying….’” He worried about what other people thought—it was one of the reasons why working from home was easier.
“Except we don’t think you’re crazy. We think you’ve got a couple of ghosts here, and they’re very definitely playing tricks.” Will pointed at the door. “That’s not your imagination.”
“No. And I swear, I didn’t do anything to cause this.” This was totally out of his control.
“Yeah, I didn’t think you did. Nobody asks for a ghost. Well, except maybe Flynn, but that’s a different story than what’s going on here. When we did research on the house before coming, there was nothing confirmed about ghosts at all, only speculation. Looks like your family never shared what was going on here with you. With anyone, really.”
“My mom wasn’t interested in spending time with my gram, and once Dad was gone…. Everything changed.” He guessed once his father wasn’t in the picture anymore, his mom figured she didn’t have to spend time with his side of the family.
Will tilted his head. “Did being here at the house bother her? You said that you’d had an imaginary friend here when you were little. Did she know about that?”
“Probably. I mean, I’m sure I talked about it.”
“Maybe she knew there were ghosts here too, and she was trying to keep them away from you?”
“Does it work that way? That’s sweet.”
“Well, in my experience moms are fierce about their kids. I don’t know if she knew about the ghosts or maybe had a bad feeling about the house. It’s too bad we can’t ask her. Oh damn, that sounded cold. I’m sorry for your loss and that she’s not here anymore.”
“Me too. She was a neat woman.” Payne smiled, because she’d been his opposite—outgoing and warm and charismatic.
“It’s your father’s side that the house comes from, though, eh?”
“Yes. Yes, exactly.” He finished the chocolate, the sugar and caffeine helping improve his demeanor.
“From what we read, Angus—your however many times great-grandfather who had the place built—was a beast and ran his workers into the ground.”
“That seems to be pretty common, huh?” It sucked, but it had happened frequently back in the day. Things had changed a lot since the eighteenth century.
“Yeah, that’s what we said. There were rumors it got pretty bad, though. Maybe the ghosts are related to that.”
“Maybe. Do you think they want me to go?” He didn’t have anywhere else to go. This was his, and he’d put so much into restoring it.
“I don’t know. Someone is pissed, and someone is on your side. That’s my feeling on it, anyway. Hell, maybe there’s a dozen of them and they each have a different agenda. Who knows?”
“Maybe.” God, that was a nauseating thought.
“Sorry.” Will bumped their shoulders together. “That doesn’t make it better, does it?”
“Not really. In fact, that’s super scary.” It had been hard enough thinking he was living with a ghost. Then it had been suggested there were two, and now Will was speculating on a bunch? He shivered.
“Yeah, sorry. I’m not even the one with the gift, so it’s all speculation on my part. We’ll have to quiz Blaine when we get rescued.”
“Or when we rescue them.” Payne wasn’t ready to be the victim. Not yet.
“We’ll have to get out of here first. You have anything we can use as tools? Maybe a saw or two?”
“I don’t keep saws in the bedroom. I have a hammer and a couple of screwdrivers because I was fixing the drawers and putting new handles on them.”
“Given the circumstances, maybe you should start. We could try using the hammer to put a hole in the door, though. Rescue ourselves and make sure the guys are okay.” Will cracked his knuckles and gave the door an evil look.
“Have you tried the window? When I was stuck in here before, it was boarded up, but it isn’t anymore. Maybe we can get their attention by screaming out of it.”
“Duh, the window.” Will rolled his eyes. “Why do something easy when you can do it the hard way—that’d be my motto a lot of the time. I can’t believe I didn’t even think of that.” Will got up, went to the window, and pulled the curtains to the side. “Well, it’s still boarded up. I can’t remember ever seeing such a tight placement of the planks on a boarded-up window. Ever.”
Will tried the window, then moved the locking mechanism and tried again. Payne could almost feel Will’s frustration when the damn thing didn’t budge.
“I could try breaking it… but I’m not sure that matters with the wood behind it. It would still be a long shot that anyone would hear us.”
“It wasn’t boarded up before, Will. They took the planks down last week when they put in the glass.” Payne felt a little sick. “Hell, there was light coming in here a minute ago. Before we mentioned it.”
“You know, you’re right.” Will grabbed Payne’s hand and held on. He frowned. “Although now that I’m thinking about it, it seems like it was lighter than it should have been as long as we’ve been in here.” He shook his head and went on, “Anyway, I don’t think we’re going to be getting out on our own and rescuing anyone else, Payne. For some reason the house wants us in here. Like, really wants it.” Will didn’t look any happier than Payne felt about that.
“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
“You don’t need to apologize. It’s very clear this isn’t your doing.” Will took a breath, then grabbed on to Payne’s shirt, tugged him close, and planted a kiss on his lips.
Payne’s eyes went wide, utter shock surprising him. The kiss was warm and intense, filling him with an electric buzz. It felt good, better than good, even. Groaning, Will deepened the kiss, pushing his tongue into Payne’s mouth.
What was this?
Payne gasped, letting Will in farther, deeper. Will pressed forward, and Payne wound up on his back on the mattress, Will leaning over him as the kisses continued. It went on and on, and he didn’t stop it, didn’t pull away or push at Will’s muscled chest. In fact, he wrapped one hand around Will’s hip and tugged him closer as he spread his other hand over Will’s T-shirt, fondling those muscles through the thin material.
Shifting, Will moved against him, rubbing their bodi
es together as one kiss flowed into the next, Will utterly stealing his breath. Payne gasped, his body suddenly tight, hard. Will answered him with a moan, the noise filling his mouth, his lungs, and seeming to vibrate there.
God, he wanted. He wanted more. He needed this desperately.
Wait. Stop. Desperately? Stop. This couldn’t be real.
He tore his lips from Will’s, blinking up at the man, at the fierce passion he read in Will’s face. “Is this real?”
“It feels fucking real. I want you, man.” Will pushed against him again, letting him feel the drag of the thick cock pushing at the fly of Will’s jeans.
Yeah, okay, but… “Why?”
“Huh?” Will kept rocking against him, clearly distracted by pleasure.
“I….” Payne wasn’t sure what he was asking. “Why me? You didn’t like me yesterday.”
“I think that was the house. You’re totally my type, and I want you. I’ve got to fucking have you. Right now, and—whoa.” Will sat back and shook himself. “You are my type, and I think you’re hot, but you’re right. This desperation doesn’t make sense. It can’t be real.”
“Yeah. Yeah, I mean, you… I want it, but….” He wanted it to be real. He didn’t want to do this and find out later today or tomorrow that it had been the influence of the house that was responsible for this need.
“This sucks.” Will sat again, then helped Payne upright and straightened his shirt. “Not you, but this whole might-not-be-real thing.”
“Yeah. If… when we get out, if you still want to, though….” He didn’t want to come off sounding slutty, but he thought—hoped—there might be something here worth exploring.
Will grinned, the expression both wicked and boyish at the same time. “Ditto.”
“Oh, cool.” He smoothed his shirt down, careful not to touch his cock. He didn’t want to aggravate anything.
“If it means anything, I hope it’s real.” Will touched his hand, squeezed it.
“Me too. I haven’t had good sex in a long time.” Not that he only wanted sex from Will. He wasn’t a one-night stand kind of guy.
“Well, that’s a damn shame. We could always go ahead knowing it might be a one-shot deal. Let you get you your rocks off.” It was a generous offer—although really, how many guys wouldn’t want to get their rocks off, no strings attached—but Payne wanted more than that.
“No. No, I want…. I know it’s old-fashioned, but I want someone to at least like me before I get into bed with them.”
“I’m pretty sure I like you.” Will scrubbed his face with his hands. “And I hate that I’m not completely sure. I hate that it feels like this house is controlling us.”
“Yeah, it’s creepy. I’d just leave, but I’ve sunk everything into it. All my savings.”
“It’s one of those things where on paper you’re golden, but in actual liquid assets, you’re less so, eh?” If Will had asked that question yesterday or this morning, it would have rankled. Now it didn’t.
“Well, I do own this house, but I can’t just leave it. So basically, yes.”
“That’s what I was trying to say. Can you tell I’m not Mr. Finance for the group?”
Payne chuckled softly. “I mean that I’m not allowed to sell it. The will states that it has to stay in the family.” So even if he wanted to leave, he wouldn’t be able to sell the place. He’d have to let someone else live there. If he could even find someone willing to rent it.
“Wow, that’s kind of harsh. I mean, it could be an albatross. Especially with the ghosts it comes with.”
“It’s a beautiful albatross, though, and the bones are good.” Even if Payne hadn’t had the money to return it to its former glory, he would have moved in. Maybe fixed up his bedroom and the kitchen. Oh, and the library. Thank God he’d had the money, because even just one of those rooms would have been expensive, and thinking of it now, he couldn’t decide which one he thought was more important.
Will made a face, scrunching his nose up. “I’m not sure I want to think about a place like this with bones. I mean, it’s already creepy.”
“Not always. There are times it’s really pretty, this amazing big place.” If he could get rid of the ghosts, or find a way to co-exist with them that didn’t involve flying dishes or books, it would be the best home he could imagine.
“Hopefully we’ll fix it so it’s always pretty and amazing.” Will said it like he believed it could happen.
“I hope so. I want it to be a jewel, something to be proud of.” He wanted people to know the MacGregor house as a piece of history. He wasn’t going to have anyone to leave it to, but if he could leave it as a museum or something, well, that would be quite the legacy.
“Well, its owner certainly is,” Will told him with a warm smile.
“Is that weird? I don’t think it’s weird.”
“That I think you’re a jewel? I don’t think it’s weird either.”
“Oh!” His cheeks went hot. “Thank you. Seriously, thank you.”
Will sat back, looking happy at his response. Payne hadn’t even considered that Will had been talking about him.
Will pointed at the TV. “How about we watch an action film or something. Pretend we’re on a first date.”
“I can get into that. A blind date.” Payne held out his hand. “Hello, I’m Payne. Pleased to meet you.”
Will shook his hand. “Will. Same. So, this is a pretty small theater, but it’s intimate, and the snacks are great.”
Payne played along happily. “Those are the best kind. It’s hard to talk in a crowd.”
“And people get so snarky when you talk during a movie.”
“I know, right? When sometimes you need to make a comment.” How could this be so fun?
“Exactly. And I mean, sometimes you have to stop and pause to count Thor’s abs.” Will licked his lips.
“Oh, a man after my own heart.”
“Or at least after Thor’s abs.” Will gave him a wink. “Do you have any of the Thor movies—it would be a shame not to enjoy the abs we’ve been talking about.”
“Any? All. Seriously. All.” He found the first one and popped it in. These were on regular rotation.
“Perfect. So far, this is the best first date ever. I’ll buy the snacks.” Will dug into Payne’s chest again, coming up with more chips, Cokes, and another bag of M&Ms, then sank back against the pillows.
“So far it is. It’s the most fascinating first date on earth.”
“Come sit. I saved this seat here just for you.” Will patted the empty spot beside him.
“Thank you.” He settled next to Will, that buzz of electricity hitting him again.
Will looked at him, and Payne could see in Will’s eyes that Will had felt it too.
“Static, right?” Payne asked.
“If that’s what you want to go with. I like to think of it as first-date electricity.”
“Oh, that’s a lovely thought.” He hadn’t thought Will could be so… sweet. So far even when he was being nice, Will seemed… tough.
“See? I’m not all rough and gruff—I can be romantic.” Will linked their fingers together again.
“I’m not very rough, but there’s something appealing about a gruff man.” Look at him flirting, like you were supposed to do on a first date that was going well.
Will tilted his head. “Yeah? Because I’ll own that there are times I can be gruff. Not assholey gruff like when we first met, but still. Don’t talk to me before my morning coffee.”
“How do you feel about pre-coffee kisses?” Because some things were good no matter when they happened.
“Kisses are good at any time of the day. Even pre-coffee.” Will’s words echoed Payne’s thoughts nicely.
“Then we’ll get along in the mornings.”
Will gave him a suspicious look. “Are you a morning person?”
“God no. I work late at night. That’s why I telecommute.” He wasn’t made for the whole nine-to-five gig.
/> “Thank God you’re not a morning person. That’s just not natural.” Will actually shuddered.
Payne began to laugh, the sound almost shocking him. Okay, that was great. This was exactly what he’d needed.
Will looked pleased again. “Dude, you’ve got a great laugh.”
“Thank you.” God, he wanted another kiss. So badly.
Will kept staring at him, then he leaned in a little, looking at his lips now. Maybe Payne wasn’t the only one wishing for a kiss. They held that pose for a minute, staring at each other’s mouths.
The door flew open, the guys tumbling in. All four of them. “What the actual fuck?”
Payne’s head turned so fast he almost gave himself whiplash. “Oh my God.”
“Will! What are you doing?” Jason demanded.
Will jumped up and growled. “Waiting to get rescued. We’ve been locked in here for hours!”
“Hours? Bullshit. It’s been twenty minutes.” Jason sounded utterly shocked. “You were supposed to watch him, not paw him!”
Will blustered. “I was not pawing him! And it has too been hours. We watched God knows how many movies. Ate a zillion snacks. Spent ages trying to get out. Back me up here, Payne.”
“It’s true. We’ve watched four movies. Well, three and a half.” They’d given up on Sing partway through. “We’ve tried to get out. We’re not lying.”
Jason stared at him and Will like they’d lost their minds.
“Did you guys have trouble getting in?” Will asked.
“No. We heard MacGregor laughing.”
“That’s because I’m funny as hell.” Will gave Payne a wink.
Payne grinned over. “True story.”
“What?” Jason looked bemused, like he couldn’t understand at all what was going on.
Payne shrugged. “He makes me smile.”
“Did you fall and hit your head?” Jason asked.
“How would I know? I was unconscious.” He had no idea what had happened.
“Be nice,” Will admonished Jason.
“What?” Jason looked utterly flummoxed. “Did you… seriously?”
Payne grinned at Will. It had been a weird date, but a good one. And it had helped make the time they’d been stuck go faster. Had it really only been twenty minutes outside of the room? Payne glanced at the window. Which was no longer boarded up, letting the daylight shine in. Okay, that was freaky as hell.