To Free a Phantom

by Carrie Pulkinen

  “And Leroy and Stanley?”

  “I helped them cross over when I went back to see the damage.”

  Swallowing the thickness from his throat, he nodded. He was running out of easy questions. “What about your students? They never got to perform.”

  “They’re going to do a scaled-down version in the park next weekend.” Her eyes glistened. “They’re so sweet. Jason was trying to arrange it as a fundraiser to help me restore the theater. When I told him I was letting it go, they decided to make the show a free community event.”

  “Oh, I guess everything worked out then. But what are you going to do about a job? Graphic arts again?”

  She laughed. “A cubicle job isn’t my style. I’m putting my barista skills to work at my favorite coffee shop.” She took a tentative step toward him, looking him hard in the eyes as if waiting for him to challenge her job choice.

  “That’s great. I’m glad you found something so quickly.”

  Her smile widened. “You wouldn’t mind if I stayed a barista for the rest of my life, would you?”

  Was that a trick question? A dozen different responses flitted through his mind, but he had no idea which one she wanted to hear. He settled on speaking the one in his heart. “If that’s what makes you happy, why would I mind?”

  “You don’t think I’m capable of being more?”

  “You’re capable of doing anything you set your mind to. Your occupation doesn’t define you.”

  The intensity in her gaze made his stomach flip. She searched his eyes for…he had no clue what, but he hoped she’d find what she was looking for.

  Seemingly satisfied with whatever she’d found, she put her hands on her hips, her smile returning. “I’m going to get my teaching certificate. I want to be a high school theater director.”

  He smiled. That was the perfect job for her. “You’ll make a fantastic teacher.”

  She inhaled deeply and let out a sigh. “Does that answer your first question?”

  “Thoroughly. Thank you.” He tensed. It was time for the important question.

  “As for what I want from you…I want my best friend back. I want the boy-next-door who was always there when I needed a shoulder to cry on. The one who listened to me.” She ran her hands up his arms, entwining her fingers behind his neck. “Who never judged me and who supported me no matter what stupid decision I made.”

  His heart sank. There it was…the friend zone. He’d seen it coming. It was how all of his relationships ended. Why should this one have been any different? He pulled her hands from his neck and held them halfway between their bodies. “If you want to be friends, I can do that…but the touching…the kissing…” He gave her hands a squeeze and let them go, taking a step back to put some distance between them. “I can’t handle that.”

  “I wasn’t finished.” She closed the gap between them, returning her hands to his neck. As she slid her fingers up into his hair a shiver ran down his spine. “I want my best friend, but I also want Gage 2.0.”

  “2.0?”

  She chuckled. “Yes. The man standing before me with the muscles and the sexy smile and the intensely bright eyes that draw me in like metal to a magnet. The man in whose arms I have never felt safer. The man who sees past my scars and into my soul, and makes me feel things I’ve never felt before. I want the man who loves me…like I love him.” She paused, allowing her words to sink in.

  This would have been a good time for him to respond. To say something…anything. But he couldn’t form words. It felt like a sock was wedged in his throat, sucking all the saliva from his mouth.

  When he didn’t speak, she continued, “I’ve realized our relationship has always been a little one-sided…you giving me exactly what I need, me gladly taking it. I want to give you what you need now. Will you let me? I love you.”

  Erica looked at him expectantly, her chest tightening as she awaited his answer. He took a deep breath, his gaze traveling from her eyes to her lips and back again. Without saying a word, he reached for the band on the end of her braid, tugged it out of her hair, and tossed it beside her purse. He loosened her entwined tresses, brushing the strands behind her shoulder, and running his fingers through her hair to pull it away from her face…exposing her.

  She fought the instinct to pull away. She was done hiding from him.

  He brushed the backs of his fingers over her cheeks, down her neck, and across her shoulders. Goose bumps rose on the unmarred side of her body.

  The intensity of his gaze pinned her to the spot, smoldering with a heat that threatened to consume her very soul. She wanted this man. She needed him with every fiber of her being.

  He took her face in his hands and kissed her softly, gently. Pressing his forehead to hers, he ran his thumbs across her cheeks and inhaled a deep breath. “Say it again.”

  The thick, raspy sound of his voice turned her knees to pudding, and she inhaled a deep breath of her own to steady herself. “I love you, Gage.”

  “I love you, Erica.”

  Her heart thrummed in her chest. He slid his arms behind her back to lift her from the floor and carried her to the bedroom. As soon as her shoes touched the carpet, she yanked his shirt over his head and ran her hands over his smooth, firm chest. How had she gotten so lucky? This smart, sexy, hunk of a man loved her, and it was time she showed him just how much she appreciated him.

  He started to pull her shirt up, but he paused. “I’ll turn off the light.”

  “Don’t.” She swallowed the thickness from her throat. “Then I won’t be able to see you.”

  “Are you sure?” He rested his hands on her hips. “I want you to be comfortable.”

  They could turn off the lights. She could continue to hide in the shadows, pretending…hoping he was pretending…that she was perfect. But she wasn’t. No one was. All humans were flawed…scarred even. Erica wore hers on the outside.

  She lifted her shirt over her head and tossed it aside. “If you love me, you love all of me. Scars and everything.”

  He pulled her close, his warm, musky scent spinning through her head, erasing her insecurities. “I love you fiercely. Every part.”

  He did. She could see it in his eyes. Feel it in the vibration of his chest as the words flowed from his lips. Those soft, kissable lips.

  As he dipped his head to kiss her neck, she unhooked her bra and let it slide off her arms to the floor. The feel of his skin against hers had her aching with need, but this time would be all about him. He’d given her so much already.

  She pushed her skirt and panties to the floor and slipped out of her shoes, standing naked before him in the bright overhead lights. There were no shadows to conceal her, no fabric to hide her scars. She felt exposed and exhilarated at the same time as his passionate gaze took in her form.

  “You are so sexy, Erica.”

  A shudder ran through her body at the sincerity in his words. She popped the button on his jeans and slid down his zipper.

  As his clothes fell to the floor, the corner of his mouth tugged into a heart-melting grin. “Why don’t you lie down, so I can have my way with you?”

  She pushed him onto the bed. “This time, let me do for you.”

  Moving to the center of the mattress, he lay on his back. “What are you planning to do for me?”

  She crawled on top him, straddling his legs, lowering her lips to his chest. The fresh scent of soap mixed with a deliciousness unique to Gage teased her senses, making her mouth water to taste him. She trailed her tongue down his stomach, stopping above his navel, reveling in the way his muscles contracted with her touch. “What would you like me to do?”

  “This is good.” He was breathless already, and she’d barely begun.

  She moved her lips lower, grazing her teeth along his hip bone. His dick twitched as he sucked in a sharp breath, and she giggled.

  He rose onto his elbows. “What’s so funny?”

  “Nothing.” She pressed a kiss to his stomach. “I’m enjoying the
fact that you’re enjoying this.”

  “You have no idea how much I’m enjoying this.”

  She took his length in her hand. “I have a pretty good idea.”

  He closed his eyes and let his head drop back on the pillow, moaning as she stroked him. His voice seemed to vibrate through his entire body, and as she lowered her head, her hair brushed across his skin. He held his breath.

  She paused, her lips a scant centimeter from his sensitive flesh, letting the anticipation build until he fisted the sheets in his hands so hard she though he might tear them from the bed. She flicked out her tongue, gliding it from base to tip, and he exhaled a long, slow hiss.

  As she took him into her mouth, he released his grip on the sheets to instead tangle his hands in her hair. But he didn’t push her nor try to force her into a rhythm. He simply held her, his fingers gently massaging her scalp as she slid her mouth up and down his shaft. She started slowly, enjoying the taste of him, the feel of his soft touch. But as his hips started to move in sync with her own rhythm, she couldn’t help but quicken her pace.

  “Erica…”

  The hoarse sound of her name on his lips made her tremble. She loved that she could do this to him. Make him feel this way.

  “I need to be inside you. Right now.” The last part came out as more growl than words.

  Releasing her hold, she rose to her knees. She fought the instinct to pull her hair over her shoulder, and instead, flipped it behind her back. His pupils dilated as he swept an approving gaze across her body. She didn’t need to hide herself from this man. She never would again.

  Straddling his hips, she took him in her hand and guided him to her center. She held his gaze as she sheathed him, his thickness filling her completely, every nerve in her body firing on overdrive.

  She ran her hands across his stomach, up his chest to his face. He was such a beautiful man. His exquisite body. His kind, loving soul. And he was hers. Her stomach flipped, and her heart pounded.

  Gage was hers.

  She moved up and down his length, delicious friction sending electricity shooting straight to her womb. He watched her as she moved, his intense gaze devouring her, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. Gliding a hand up her thigh, he found her sensitive nub and rubbed it with his thumb. Fire shot through her veins.

  With her hands on either side of his head, she could barely hold herself upright as the orgasm ripped through her body. Her legs trembled. Her elbows gave out, and she pressed her chest to his, nuzzling into his neck as he gripped her hips.

  “I love you, Gage.”

  “I love you, too.” His voice was rough, thick, as he continued thrusting, sending wave after wave of pleasure rocketing through her body.

  “Take me.”

  A deep growl resonated from his chest, and never breaking their union, he rolled her onto her back and made love to her. He kissed her fiercely, his lips and tongue searing her with passion.

  She gave herself to him completely. There was no other man for her. Her body had been an unforgiving reminder of the mistakes she’d made. An ugly prison. In loving her, Gage had found the key. As she finally allowed herself to be loved, he set her free.

  His pace quickened, and he gripped her shoulders and moaned as his orgasm overtook him. He gasped for breath, the most beautiful sound she had ever heard. His climax thrilled her as much as her own. As he relaxed on top of her, she traced the contours of his sweat-slickened back with the tips of her fingers.

  Soft skin. Hard muscle. The contrast on the outside mirrored the man on the inside. He was kind, sweet, and gentle, yet brave enough to battle demons and save her from a murderous ghost. Wise enough to recognize she couldn’t do it alone. That she needed him, even as she’d refused his help. She tightened her arms around him. She would never let him go.

  He inhaled deeply, his breath tickling her ear, sending a warm shiver running down her spine. Rolling to his side, he pulled her close. Face to face, legs entwined with hers, he held both her hands in his. “We may suck at dating, but I think we excel at love-making.”

  “I agree, and I think I know why.”

  He kissed the back of her hand. “Do tell.”

  “When we make love, we can turn our brains off and be together. There’s no overthinking or trying to play by the rules. We just…are.”

  “We are, aren’t we?”

  “Very much. We always have been. I’m sorry it took me so long to figure it out.” Gazing into his kind, blue eyes, she reveled in the warm feeling of safety his presence provided. There would be no more second-guessing. No more doubt. They belonged together. She trusted him with her life and her heart, as he did with her.

  He lifted his head to press a soft kiss to her mouth, his lips lingering near hers, his breath warming her skin. “I’m glad you finally let me love you. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

  “I’m glad you finally told me you did.”

  He smiled. “I did, I do, and I always will. Forever.”

  She snuggled into his chest. “Even when we’re ghosts?”

  He chuckled. “Forever never ends, so…yeah. Even then.”

  Epilogue

  Erica held tight to Gage’s hand as they ascended the steps to the mansion. The first time she’d come here, she’d been nearly sick with anxiety over meeting Gage’s friends, especially Allison. She’d been fully prepared to dislike the woman for the simple fact that Gage used to have feelings for her, but she’d turned out to be one of the nicest people Erica had ever met.

  Gage paused at the front door, taking the frilly pink gift bag from her hand and pulling her into an embrace. “What are you smiling at?”

  “Am I smiling?” She snaked her hands behind his neck, sliding her fingers into his hair. “I’m married to the sexiest man on the planet. I’ve got plenty of reasons to smile.”

  “We both do.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “You ready for this?”

  “Absolutely.” She rang the doorbell.

  Logan swung open the door. “Hey, guys. Glad you could make it.” He took the bag from Gage. “Come on in.”

  She expected the gift bag, with its giant pink ballerina bear and overflowing green tissue paper, to look awkward in Logan’s hands. Instead, he looked completely at ease as he tapped the bear’s pompom nose with his finger and set it next to the other gifts in the living room.

  “There’s the birthday girl.” Gage’s eyes beamed with excitement as Allison approached, carrying a chubby-cheeked, blue-eyed toddler on her hip. “How are you, little Jade?”

  Jade squealed and clapped her hands then nearly fell out of her mother’s arms as she dove toward him. Gage caught her beneath the arms and tossed her gently in the air. She let out another squeal and patted his cheeks.

  Erica’s chest tightened, her throat thickening at the sheer joy the baby brought her husband. They’d decided to wait a year, to give Erica time to get her teaching certificate and settle into her new job at the high school, before they tried for their own baby.

  She’d never given much thought to becoming a parent before. After her mom died, it had been just her and her dad. The idea of family didn’t mean a whole lot. Then Gage came along with his four sisters, and his nieces and nephews. Even as adults, he was still close with his family, and his tight-knit group of friends was an extension of that.

  Seeing his face light up at the kids in the room made her palms sweat. If she couldn’t give him children, she’d be devastated. He swore it didn’t matter. He’d spent countless evenings assuring and reassuring her that as long as he had her, his life was complete.

  She’d been to the doctor. Had ultrasounds and myriad blood tests. She might have issues with the scar tissue on her abdomen stretching, but she was otherwise perfectly capable of conceiving and carrying a baby. She’d taken her last birth control pill two months ago. Now, all they could do was wait.

  Gage set Jade on the floor, and she toddled toward her dad. “She’s getting so big.” He hugged Allison and dro
pped to his knees to greet the other baby lying on the floor.

  “I’m so glad you could come.” Allison hugged Erica and pulled back to give her a curious look. She glanced at Gage. “He sure does love babies.”

  The tightness in her throat thickened again. “He does.”

  “Not yet, Jade.” Allison scurried away to stop her daughter from tearing into the presents.

  Gage stood, holding Tina’s baby in his arms. Her dark mop of hair fell across one of her eyes, and Erica gently brushed it aside.

  “Hi, Diana. How are you?” The baby gripped her finger and giggled.

  Tina stood between them, wrapping an arm around each of them. “If you two ever want to get in a little practice, you can babysit any time.”

  “We might take you up on that.” He handed the baby back to Tina and shook Trent’s hand. “How’s it going?”

  “Good. Tina hitting you up to babysit?”

  Gage chuckled. “Yeah.”

  Trent shook his head and grinned at his wife. “I told her you’re probably busy trying to make one of your own.”

  “Maybe.” Gage wrapped his arm around Erica, pulling her to his side. “Time will tell.”

  Her chest gave another squeeze.

  Logan introduced them to his mom and sister. His niece and nephew sat in front of the television, watching a Disney movie, and Jade plopped into the little girl’s lap.

  “If I could have everyone’s attention, please.” Logan raised a hand, and everyone quieted down. “First, I want to thank you all for coming out to help us celebrate Jade’s first birthday. We’ll get to the cake and presents in a second. But I also want everyone to know that my lovely wife, Superwoman that she is, has not only been raising our daughter this year. She’s also completed her bachelor’s degree and is one step closer to becoming a licensed clinical psychologist. I’m so proud of you, babe.”