He stopped and watched as the spray dissipated around him. His hand moved over his face. There was no residue of the liquid.
Jessi’s mouth dropped and she pressed the button again. Another blast of the spray hit him full force, but there was no reaction from him.
He frowned. "Jessi, the dream last night. You were outside on the patio in the lounge chair. I walked up to you, lifted you up and began to kiss you. That's as far as it got before the doorbell rang."
She was still furious and none of his words sank into her brain. "Get...out...now!"
"I can't leave. I'm dead. I was murdered in this house over there by the stairs and I want to know who killed me, which is why I think I stayed here."
Jessi grabbed the nearest object she could find which was her cookbook and hurled it at him. It missed his face and hit the wall. "Get out!"
Solemnly, he walked to the patio door and just walked right through.
Jessi stopped breathing. He walked through the door, but she’d touched him, he was real! A moment later Jessica felt a presence behind her and turned. There he was again! Fear crept into her. No person could do that! It had to be an illusion of some sort. Her eyes shot towards him. He leaned against the wall and ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
Grabbing the phone, she dialed 911.
"911, what's your emergency?"
"There's a man in my house and he won't leave."
Chapter Four
"What do you mean you don't see him? He's sitting on the couch!" Jessi screamed at the policemen.
Officer Henry Jones and Officer Don Hendrickson stared at her like she was a crazy woman. Clearly, they didn't believe her and this was going to be one of their water cooler stories at the station.
"Of course, ma'am, he's sitting right on that couch, and let me guess, he's naked right?" The short and stocky Jones asked.
Jessi's face turned red. "I'm not making this up! I'm a well-respected writer. I don't make things up! I think this house is rigged with cameras and they're filming me with him!"
"You're referring to the Aliens?" Hendrickson smirked as he rubbed his dark beard.
"What? No! The TV networks. I think they hired a magician to make me go crazy."
"This magician is the invisible man sitting on that couch?” Jones chimed in.
"Yes, he is."
Hendrickson rolled his eyes.
"Okay, Ma'am. Well, he can't be a threat to you. Now if you'll excuse us we need to go."
"But..." They both turned and walked out together. Jessi heard them start laughing as soon as they opened the doors to their squad car.
"Ah!" She slammed the door behind them, causing the windows to vibrate. Jessi glared at her uninvited guest leaning against the entrance to the living room. He tried to hide a smirk, but Jessi noticed it.
"You happy? They think I'm crazy."
He shrugged his broad shoulders and walked over and plopped onto the couch. "Welcome to my world." He told her as he lazily stretched his legs and propped booted feet on the coffee table.
Her eyes narrowed while she tried to stare a hole through him. He was immune to the daggers she shot at him and seemed to enjoy her staring at him. Jessi walked in front of him and crossed her arms. "What is that supposed to mean?"
He reached out and he took hold of her hands. She yanked them back and slapped him on his cheek. The sound carried across the room, but he didn't flinch.
"Don't touch me!"
The man stared at her for a minute, stunned she’d hit him. "Why did you do that?"
"Because you touched me! I don't want you to touch me!"
"You could ask me not to."
Hurt was in his voice as Jessi spewed out her pent-up frustration. "Why should you care? If you're a ghost, aren't you not supposed to have feelings or something?"
He stared at her in silence while he stood angry as a hornet and ready to strike again.
"Now you're not talking to me?" Her voice rose another octave.
"What do you want me to say?" He reclined back against the couch.
Jessi was getting annoyed with all these games he played with her. She could take a joke but not one like this! And why did he look so damn sexy? Jessi mentally slapped herself. "I don't know! How about, 'I'm leaving now.' That would be a great start!"
He tried to stare her back down with his angry gaze. "And where would you want me to go? I'm dead! Everyone thinks I'm dead! I can't walk up to someone’s doorsteps and say, 'Hi, guys, I'm a ghost now, so let's buy some drinks!'"
Jessi bolted in front of him. She placed her hand on the back of the couch and hovered over him until she was a mere inch away from his face. She stared at his dark eyes with embers dancing around. His scent was musky, outdoorsy, wild. The scent electrified her body and her skin screamed for his touch. Would he be gentle or demanding? Erotic images flashed in her mind, causing her heart to race as she tried to stop herself from capturing his lips.
He inched his face closer. The spell he cast around her seemed to strengthen and her legs began to wobble. Frantically, she pulled herself away from him and backed up to the other side of the room.
"Out," she commanded, her voice shaking.
"What?" he asked shocked.
Jessi walked to the foyer and opened the front door. "I'm the victim here! I'm in my house with some stranger who says he's a ghost!" Her voice was charged with anger. "Well, I'm not playing that game! You're not welcome here. Out now!"
He got up and walked to the open door. "Fine! Getting away from your screaming would be a godsend at this point."
She glared at him. "You would do the same thing if this was your house."
He stopped mid-stride and flung his arms in the air. "This is my house!"
"Go!" With a shove, she pushed him out the door and closed it so hard the small hallway table shook. She propped herself against the door and moved a strand of hair out of her face. When she caught her breath she walked back down the hall and turned to the living room. A moment later the same man materialized in front of her.
"What the...?" Thinking he was an illusion, she walked towards him, ready to walk right through. Instead, her body hit him squarely. His musky scent attacked her senses again. She lifted her head and stared at those gorgeous brown eyes. He was real. He was real when she shoved him out and he was real now.
Fear crept into her, making her heart beat erratically. She needed to run away from him. She moved around him, ran up the stairs to her bedroom, closed the door and locked it.
Jessi shook as she barricaded the door with a chair and a couple boxes. Maybe it wouldn't stop him, but it gave her some sort of security. Her hand went to her pocket and she pulled out her cell phone. Her eyes darted back at the door. Would he follow her up? Would he walk through the door? What if he was looking at her right now, watching her, studying her? What was he planning on doing to her? Was he a bad ghost, like the ones in all those horror movies her brothers used to watch? Was he going to kill her?
She dialed a number she knew by heart.
"Hey, Jessi!" Abigail answered from the other end of the line.
"Abigail, I need your help." Tears formed in her eyes. Not only was Abigail her friend, but she was also a witch who knew anything and everything about the paranormal.
"What's wrong? You sound scared, what happened?"
"Abigail, you're my ghost expert. I need your help."
As if reading her mind, "Jessi, honey do you have a ghost in your new house?"
The whole scene moments ago replayed in her mind and she tried to keep the tremor from her voice. "Yes, by a man. He tried to leave by going out the door and then he appeared back in front of me and I touched him! He wasn't a holographic image. I'm so freaked out, Abigail! I think I'm going to lose my mind." She stopped to catch her breath.
"Ok, calm down. Take deep breaths. Are you somewhere safe?"
"I think so. I barricaded myself in my bedroom."
"All right. Did he try to communicate with
you?"
"Yes, we had a normal conversation like you and I are having right now."
"Did he say why he was there?"
Jessi stopped to think about their conversation. She replayed what happened and what he told her. The dream, the conversation, the police coming in, him walking out and appearing again in front of her.
"He said he was murdered," she recalled, "in this house by the stairs and he can't leave."
"Did he try to hurt you?"
"No, um, he hasn't. He's been annoying more than anything. A few things were moved in the house and I saw him in a dream."
Abigail gasped. "A dream? Really?"
Jessi's body felt weighted down by lead. She slid against the wall as she vividly recalled the dream with him and his kiss. The wonderful passionate kiss she remembered on her lips and how she almost tried to kiss him again. "The memory is pretty foggy. I think I saw him in my dream."
"You're lying. What did he say to you?"
Jessi's cheeks began to blush at the thought of their intimate meeting.
"If you want him out of the house Jessi give me details on what happened."
Jessi's body slid down the wall until she sat on the floor. "Um, he...kissed me."
"He what?" Abigail coughed. Jessi could practically hear Abigail's thoughts. 'The ghost kissed her in her dream? That was defiantly something I never heard about.'
"Kissed me, he kissed me in the dream." She stopped and waited for the laughter from Abigail to begin.
Surprisingly, only silence was on the other line.
"Abigail?"
"What else happened?"
"He asked for my name."
"Did you get his?"
Leave it to Abigail to point out the obvious, "No." she sheepishly replied.
Abigail began to giggle. "He's got to be hot. You always forget to ask a guy's name when he's hot."
"No, he's..."
"Oh, stop kidding yourself, Jessi. We've been friends since we were 12. Don't you remember the time you had a crush on your new neighbor but you didn't know his name? You were so giddy every time you saw him you forgot to ask."
She rubbed her hand across her leg unconsciously. "That was a long time ago."
"Old habits die hard."
"We're getting off topic, Abigail. I don't want him in my house."
"Well, are you sure he's a ghost ?"
"I'm pretty sure. It seems like I'm the only one who can see him. The police didn't ..."
"Police?"
"Yes, I called the police when he didn't leave, but they didn't see him."
"Did he break or throw anything at you?"
"No, he hasn't."
"Sounds like he's not a threat. If he was things would have been broken or moved and beds shaken, but judging from what you said, I think you would like it if he shook your bed."
"Abigail!"
"Jessi, after everything you went through with Ben you need it!"
Jessi stopped and her eyes went to her bed. The white satin sheets held the reflection of light from her bedside lamp. She could imagine him laying her naked body down onto that bed. His delicious lips kissing her down her neck trailing down to the valley of her breasts. Her body would shiver as his dark hair brushed against her breast while he lapped at her nipple. Their fingers would entwine as he stopped and stared into her eyes as the passion began to boil.
"Jessi?"
"Yeah?"
"You are still thinking about him, aren't you?"
A smile crept up on her lips. "How can you tell?"
"I had a feeling. Why don't you talk to him? It's obvious he's trying to communicate with you, so stop and listen to him."
"Okay, I'll try." Her eyes flicked to the door as if she was ready to watch him walk through. In a way, she was disappointed he didn't. She’d thought he would be more persistent. Men were always persistent to gain her attention and hold it. "But one thing I don't understand is- why am I the only one that sees him?"
"Well..." Abigail paused.
"Well, what?"
"Remember when I put the happiness spell on you before you left?"
Jessi stopped and rubbed her knees with the heels of her hands. Right before she left New York Abigail had insisted on putting a happiness spell on her to give her luck in her new life in Texas. The spell was simple, some chants, burning incense. It had lasted about fifteen minutes.
"I remember. What about it?"
"It wasn't a happiness spell."
Jessi moaned. "What did you do, Abigail?"
"It was a soul mate spell to help you find your soul mate. I swear I had no idea it would lead you to your soul mate being dead!" Her voice sounded frantic. "He must have already been dead when I put the spell on you."
"Oh, Abigail." Jessi cradled her head in her hands. "That's not it. Maybe it’s because we both live in the same house."
"Nope. I don't think so. I'm sure the spell worked. My spells always work."
"Always?"
Abigail sighed. "I know the spell to cast Ben into misery didn't work, but that was dark magic. This is white magic, so it worked. Besides, what's the problem with having an attractive ghost at your beck and call. Who knows, you may get a little fun out of it, too."
"Abigail!" Her cheeks started to turn bright red at the thought.
"Come on, Jessi! Stop pitying yourself and ride your ghost! You have the perfect situation- he's a ghost! You don't need to worry about pregnancy or catching some freakish disease. Plus, he's your soul mate."
"He's not my..." Jessi cut the sentence short when she stared at the door and wondered if he was listening. "I don't believe in that anymore."
"Jessi, don't let what Ben did to you change what you believe. He was an asshole. I told you that from the beginning, but your family and friends cared more about connections and status than they did about you and how you were being treated. You were never in love with him. You were convinced you were by others. Deep down inside you do believe in soul mates."
Jessi pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'm not sure what to believe anymore."
"I do. I believe in you, Jessi. You will be very happy away from your family and the shit bags you use to call friends. You'll find who you are and what makes you happy."
Abigail's words penetrated her heart and tears began to form in her eyes. "I hope you're right."
"I am always right."
Jessi wiped a tear away with the back of her hand. "Not always."
"Name one time."
"I honestly can't think of one right now."
"See? Trust me, girl! I've got your back!"
Jessi smiled. "Thanks, Abigail."
"Anytime! Now go back there, find the handsome ghost and have some fun!"
"Thanks for your help. I'll let you know what happens."
"Yes, call me, because if you don't I will start power calling and texting you, and you know how annoying I can be."
"Fine." She ended the call the phone. Out of all the strange things that happened in her life, this had to take the award for most bizarre. Hopefully, she could figure out a way to remove Mr. Sexy Ghost out of her house. Otherwise, she would go crazy.
Abigail had made a point. Jon was super steamy. Just thinking about him made her throbbing and wet. If she really was the only person who could see or talk to him, then he must be lonely and horny. It wouldn't be hard to seduce him into having some pure passionate sex without any consequences. Yet something inside of her hoped there could be something more.
Jon paced the living room like a tiger in a locked cage. After Jessi ran upstairs he tried two more times to leave and every time he got off of the property he was returned back to the house but in various areas. He couldn't contain his frustration and knocked over an empty box. He was always in control, always. Now even that was taken away from him by some unseen force.
"You look pissed and frustrated."
The feminine voice behind him startled him. He turned to find Jessi standing by the stairs. Lost in thought, he
had not noticed her come downstairs.
"What gave you that idea?"
She shrugged and glided over to him. "A number of things, but the main one is the fact that you're still here and you don't look happy." Her face showed no sense of fear or anger like earlier. Instead, there was concern. Whether it was for him or the whole messed up situation he didn’t know.
"I didn't want to scare you."
"Apology accepted."
"I'm not apologizing, because you overreacted!"
Jessi's widened. "Me? I did not overreact! I did what any other person would do in the same situation."
"Run? Yeah, brilliant." He ran his hand through his dark hair in frustration.
"Hey, I can leave."
"You should." He twisted around and walked over to the couch. Leaning against the armrest, he analyzed the white ceiling to find the answers.
Jessi strolled over and stood in front of him.
Jon stared at her.
"This is getting us nowhere. Can we start over?" she asked him.
Sighing, he nodded his head. "You're right. I'm sorry. This ghost thing is something I'm not used to yet."
When Jessi smiled Jon began to feel some hope for this situation. "I understand." She extended her hand. "I'm Jessi, by the way."
She seemed surprised when he smiled. "I know."
The look in his eyes gave her the realization. "The dream?"
"Yes. I wanted you to meet me before you met me in person."
"How did you do that?"
He had no idea how he got into her dream. He came into her bedroom that night to check on her. As she’d slept he couldn’t help but stare. Her face had glowed silvery in the moonlight that peeked in and accentuated her beauty. Jon became lost as he gazed at her sleeping. Suddenly, he was in her mind and could see her dream and became a part of it.
"I can't explain how or why. I just did."
She moved closer to him,and he could tell she was studying him in greater detail.
"You never told me your name."
His smile got bigger as he took her hand and shook it. "Jonathan Lewis, but everyone calls me Jon. Or at least I was."
"It's nice to be able to call you something besides the ghost." Her hand fit perfectly in his. Her handshake wasn't limp like most women's.
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