GhostlyPersuasion

by Dena Garson

  “Harrumph,” he said with a bit of a pout.

  “You know, he’s not as sexy as you,” she admitted.

  “He’s flesh and blood.”

  “Highly overrated,” she said with a smile.

  “He has a pulse and body heat,” Seamus countered.

  “You give me tingles where we touch.”

  “He doesn’t disappear into nothingness when he runs out of energy.”

  “Probably not, but he still has to rest. And eat.” She tilted her head to one side. “He may sleep ’til noon and have the manners of a bulldog.”

  “I suppose that’s possible,” he said with the barest hint of a smile.

  “Although, I have to admit…” she let her words trail off deliberately.

  Seamus narrowed his eyes in warning.

  “That Riona seems to have a thing for him.”

  “I figured she was just impressed with his oversized tools.”

  Katie burst into laughter then slapped her hand over her mouth to hold in the sound. “Oh stop it,” Katie said between giggles. “You’re just jealous.”

  “Damn right I am. I don’t like that you were staring like a schoolgirl over that muscled-up workhorse.”

  Katie struggled to control her giggles. “I’m sorry. I probably was staring. I just didn’t expect the handyman to be so,” she waved in the direction of the suite, “well… To look like a cover model.”

  Seamus frowned.

  “Based on the rest of the staff I’ve seen around here, I expected him to be a lumbering old guy with a gruff attitude.”

  “You just described Ol’ Pete.”

  “Where did Callum come from then?” Katie asked.

  “He’s Pete’s nephew, I believe. Been helping out ever since Pete hurt his knee late last year. This is the first I’ve seen of him though.”

  “Well, that’s good for Pete.”

  “I think Callum has been having problems with some of the men around town though.”

  “Really?”

  “He’s not a local boy and some don’t appreciate the attention he’s been getting from the lasses.”

  “Imagine that,” Katie muttered.

  Seamus simply grunted.

  “Tell you what. I’ll put this last bit of stuff,” she pointed to her makeup bag and the toiletries she had gathered while they were talking, “in my suitcase and we’ll take it up to my new room. That way you don’t have to worry about me drooling over stud-muffin out there.” She smirked at Seamus to make sure he knew she wasn’t serious about the drooling.

  “That will give me a chance to have a few minutes alone with you.”

  She raised one eyebrow. “How did you plan to use those few minutes alone?”

  “If I could, I’d take you over my knee for going to see Etain after I told you to stay away from her.” With a pointed look he added, “Don’t think I’ve forgotten that.”

  Katie smiled contritely. “We needed answers about the curse and she was the only one who could give them.”

  “She’s crazy and dangerous!”

  “I know,” Katie said quietly. “I’m sorry I worried you, but can we please argue about this later?”

  “Fine. Later. But I’m not forgetting about it.”

  “Okay.” She sashayed to where Seamus was perched on the bathtub ledge. “Can we also talk about that spanking later? Perhaps in a less punitive light though?” she asked in a low, sultry voice.

  Just as she figured it would, the thought changed the expression on Seamus’ face from worried to intrigued.

  “Have an interest in trying that now, do ye?” he asked.

  “Maybe.” She added, “If it’s with you.”

  “Ah, lass. If only I could.”

  “Let’s talk more about that later too. After we find out what’s behind that fireplace.”

  He pressed his lips together and nodded.

  Katie could tell he was reluctant to hope. But she wasn’t. She had enough hope for both of them.

  She reached out and touched his cheek and let her love show in her eyes.

  Seamus tried to hold her hand to his face.

  Something passed between them. An unspoken promise. A sense of what might be.

  “Come. Let’s go see about your new room,” he suggested.

  “Okay.”

  She turned away reluctantly and grabbed her bottles of shampoo, conditioner and lotion off the counter. With one last meaningful glance at Seamus, she returned to the suite. Seamus followed behind.

  Riona and Áine were still watching Callum work on the fireplace. Neither spared them a glance.

  Katie dropped her things into her open suitcase and flipped the lid closed.

  “How’s it going out here?” Katie asked Riona and Áine. She could see a few small pieces of painted wood on the ground near Callum. The pieces looked like bits of decorative trim instead of the main part of the mantel.

  “Fine,” Riona answered.

  “Very well,” Áine said at the same time as Riona. She glanced at her watch. “I’m pleased with the progress so far, but must return to my other duties.”

  “We don’t want to keep you. I was about to take my suitcase up to my new room anyway,” Katie said.

  Katie got “the look” from Áine once again. “Tug will be here to take your bags up momentarily.”

  It was all Katie could do to not respond with “Yes, ma’am.” Instead she simply said, “Thank you.”

  “Your new room is in what we consider the new part of the castle. Tug can show you the way.” Áine turned to Riona and added, “When you have a moment, I’d like to talk with you about a little pest control. Please stop by my office.”

  Riona nodded once. “I’ll be there shortly.”

  “I’ll check in with you later.” Áine included each of them in her parting comment with her gaze, including Seamus, then swept out the door.

  “Did you see that?” Katie asked in a whisper.

  “See what?” Riona asked.

  “No,” Seamus said at the same time.

  “I swear it looked as if Áine could see him.” Katie pointed at Seamus.

  Riona pursed her lips. “Very possibly.”

  “Why didn’t she say something?”

  Riona shook her head. “Áine is the height of propriety and caution. She would never admit to half of what happens at Tullamore.” Then she added, “At least not to a guest.”

  “Well, I suppose that makes a certain amount of sense. Never know which guests might freak out,” Katie said.

  There was a tap on the door.

  “I’ll get it,” Katie offered. “It’s probably the guy for my bags.”

  She opened the door and found the tall, thin, redheaded porter she had seen around the hotel a number of times during her stay.

  “Ms. Byrne said you have luggage that needs to be moved to a new room?” The porter phrased it as a question but really it was a statement.

  “Yes. Come in, please.” She held the door open and admitted the young man.

  Callum looked up from where he was working. “Tug,” he said by way of acknowledgement.

  “Mr. O’Neil,” Tug replied. He looked across the room and gaped when he saw Riona there. “Mistress Mac au Bhaird. I didn’t know…”

  Katie thought the teen was going to drop into a formal bow or faint. She wasn’t sure which. He regained control of himself and made a short bow with his head instead.

  Katie and Seamus shared a mutual look of “What was that about?”

  “Thank you for coming up to take care of my cousin, Tug. We appreciate it,” Riona said.

  “Your cousin?” Tug asked, glancing at Katie.

  “She’s visiting from America,” Riona added.

  “Ah.” He glanced at the suitcase on the bed. “I understood everything was packed and ready to go?”

  “Yes,” Katie answered as she zipped the bag closed. “There’s just the one suitcase. I can get my backpack and purse.”

  Tug picked
the bag up and set it on the floor so he could roll it behind him. “I’ll be happy to show you to your room. Ms. Byrne said you had a key.”

  Katie pulled a card from her jeans pocket. “I do.”

  “If you’ll follow me, then?” Tug suggested.

  Katie turned to Riona. “I’ll be back in a bit. I just want to check out the new room and put my things down. Are you going to stay here?” She cast a meaningful glance in Callum’s direction. It was mind-boggling how he managed to ignore everything around him as he worked.

  “I think I’ll pop down and see what Áine needs while you do that.”

  Katie thought there might have been a blush staining Riona’s cheeks and wondered at the cause of it.

  “Okay. I’ll see you in a bit,” Katie said then stepped out into the hall. Seamus had followed Tug and was waiting not far away. “Lead on, Tug,” Katie told him.

  “I hope you’re enjoying your stay, ma’am,” Tug said as they headed to the elevator.

  “Yes, thank you. It’s been interesting, to say the least,” Katie said with a smile for Seamus.

  Seamus coughed. “Interesting? Not the word I would have chosen.”

  “Have you been to Ireland before?” Tug asked.

  “No, actually I haven’t.”

  Tug continued his line of questioning and supplied several historic facts about Tullamore on the way to her new room.

  When they arrived, Tug asked for the door key. Katie was once again amused by the formalities they observed. She handed over the key so he could unlock the door.

  He held it open so she could precede him into the room.

  She walked in and stopped in her tracks. Seamus didn’t even notice and floated through part of her. She was so stunned by the room, she didn’t even complain. “Oh my God. This looks like a honeymoon suite!” Katie exclaimed.

  “I believe it has been used for honeymooners before,” Tug said unhelpfully.

  Katie stared at the oversized four-poster bed. It was a massive thing. Walnut or some kind of dark wood that was intricately carved along the posts as well as the head and footboards. The linens were pale-blue and silver. From where Katie stood near the doorway, they looked like silk.

  The entire room was light and airy despite the dark, heavy furniture.

  “I dreamed of a room like this,” Katie mumbled, still stunned by what she was seeing.

  “I trust this meets with your expectations?” Tug asked.

  “Uh, it’s way more than anything I could have asked for,” Katie said as she gawked at the room. “And if the bathroom is half as nice as the last one, I may just break down and hug Áine.”

  Tug’s eyes widened in alarm. He handed the door key back to Katie. “Here you are. If you need anything or find anything unsuitable about your room, please ring the front desk.”

  She shook herself out of her stunned trance. “I will. Thank you, Tug.” She handed him a few bills as a tip. “I appreciate you bringing my things up and showing me how to get here.”

  “My pleasure, Miss Ward.” Tug left and closed the door behind him.

  “So.” Katie turned to Seamus. “What do you think of the new room?”

  “I think I want to see you naked, spread-eagle on the bed and tied to these posts so I can lick every inch of your body.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Katie’s breath caught in her throat and a flash of warmth rushed through her body. She licked her lips.

  Seamus tracked the movement of her tongue as he reached down and adjusted his crotch.

  “Come here,” he gestured with his forefinger.

  She complied, readily but slowly. She felt a bit like a kitten circling a much larger cat.

  As soon as she was standing in front of him, he ran one finger down the side of her face, her neck and her left breast. Her answering shiver brought a smile to his lips.

  He pointed to the bed. “Sit on the edge.” Once she sat, he said, “Kick off your shoes and loosen your undergarment.”

  Katie held his gaze as she toed off her shoes then reached under her sweater to unfasten her bra.

  “Push your top up so I can see those lovely breasts of yours.” She did as he asked without saying a word. “Ah, there they are. Stiff and pink. They’re just begging to be touched, aren’t they?”

  “Yes. They want to be touched by you, Seamus.”

  “Do it,” he said gruffly. “Touch them for me.”

  Katie ran both her hands over her breasts. She pushed them in from the sides then ran the tips of her fingers over her nipples. They peaked even more.

  She squirmed on the edge of the bed and bit her lower lip as she imagined Seamus’ hands, or better yet his mouth, on them.

  “God, I wish I could suck on those breasts.”

  “Touch them, Seamus. Make them tingle,” she begged.

  He stepped up to the bed and knelt in front of Katie. His eyes traveled slowly over each breast. Finally he laid his hand just above her pelvic bone. Their eyes met and he flicked his thumb downward across her jeans just above her clit.

  A whimper escaped before Katie could stop it.

  With his palm down and his fingers spread out, Seamus ran his other hand across her thigh, over her hip, across her belly then finally up and over her breast. The chill from his touch and the tingles where they merged sent a wave of goose bumps down her body.

  He ran his thumb over her clit a couple more times, taunting her cruelly before pushing the other hand up her ribs, palm down. Katie arched her back, pushing her breasts farther into his ghostly palms. She wished like hell he was solid.

  “Seamus,” she moaned.

  “Touch yourself, Katie.”

  Katie squirmed on the bed. That wasn’t what she wanted. She wanted Seamus. She wanted his touch. But that wasn’t going to happen.

  “Only if you do it too,” she bargained.

  The muscle in his jaw clenched and his nostrils flared as he inhaled.

  He let his fingers trail over her body as he stood. With a quick tug, he opened the closure on his pants.

  Katie shifted so she could peek at what he’d uncovered.

  The sight of Seamus’ beefy hand wrapped around his cock made her pussy clench in expectation. When he stroked himself, she had to fight the urge to lick her lips. It was surprising how much she wanted to taste him.

  Without taking her eyes off Seamus, she pushed her jeans and underwear off then touched her pussy. Her clit was already sensitive and ached for relief.

  “That’s what I want to see.” Seamus slid his hand down his cock to palm his ball sac.

  Katie mimicked his movement by sliding her middle finger through her nether lips and inside her opening. As expected, it was more than wet.

  With her finger coated, she drew the moisture up to her clit then traced small circles around the stiff nub. She couldn’t stop her hips from jerking in response when she touched a particularly sensitive spot.

  “Tell me what you’re thinking about,” he demanded. His voice sounded gruff.

  “You.” The lazy circles she had been drawing around and over her clit quickened.

  “What am I doing in those thoughts?” His strokes became shorter and focused on the head of his cock.

  “You’re touching me.” Katie’s heartbeat sped up and her breathing became heavier.

  “Where? Where am I touching you?”

  “Here.” Katie cupped a breast and rolled her nipple between her thumb and forefinger. “And here,” she lifted her hips in blatant offering as she increased the pressure of her strokes on her clit.

  “What would I do next?”

  It was hard to focus on his face when her eyes were drawn to his hand. She wanted so badly to be the one to touch his cock.

  “You would kiss me.”

  “Aye. That I would,” he murmured.

  Katie squirmed and tugged on the other nipple. She met his gaze but was seeing him more in her mind’s eye than in reality.

  “You would lean over me. There a
t the edge of the bed.” She slipped her finger down to her opening and circled the rim. “And you would pull me to the end so you could bury your cock inside me,” she said as she pushed her finger inside her pussy.

  “God, yes, I would,” Seamus rasped.

  Katie’s lips parted and her breath came faster as she stroked her clit with more pressure. “You fit just right. And it would feel so good as you rocked in and out.”

  She felt the familiar tension building and instinctively tried to rush toward the sensation. “Seamus, please tell me you’re almost there,” she panted.

  “Aye. I’m with you, love.”

  A few more rubs with her finger sent her flying. Starbursts exploded behind her eyes. She was vaguely aware of Seamus’ groan of pleasure from somewhere at the foot of the bed but she missed seeing his last few strokes.

  When she regained her ability to think, she lifted her head to find Seamus. He was leaning against the bedpost with one hand. His head was bowed and he seemed to be catching his breath.

  “There you are,” Katie said with a grin. “I hope you didn’t use up all of your energy.”

  “Not quite. But it’s a close thing.” He straightened his posture.

  “Oh dear.” She sat up on the bed. “Please tell me before you just fade out.” She looked at the clock on the bedside table then sighed. “We should get back to the other room. Riona will worry.”

  “You’re probably right,” he said as he rebuttoned his pants.

  Katie rolled off the bed with a groan then picked up her clothes. It only took a moment to get dressed then she headed to the bathroom to clean up. Unfortunately there was nothing she could do about her unnaturally pink cheeks or the stupid grin plastered on her face.

  It probably wouldn’t hurt to brush a bit of powder on her nose though. She reached for her makeup bag but couldn’t find it.

  When she returned to the bedroom, Seamus asked, “Are you ready to rejoin the others?”

  “Almost. I wanted to grab my makeup bag first.” She pushed her suitcase over and unzipped it. She rummaged through her clothes, feeling along the edges. “Huh. I must have left it downstairs,” she muttered.

  “Do you mean the pink one from the bathroom?” Seamus asked as he leaned over her shoulder.