Cassie concentrated on Ethan. Not a physical image of him, since she had no idea what he looked like. More so, the connection she felt to him and the experience she had when she first touched the chaise. Keeping her focus on the sensation, she counted back from twenty-five.
She couldn’t even tell how much time had passed, nor how many times she repeated the numbers when Christine whispered, “You’re in what’s called suspended state.”
Or maybe she didn’t whisper. To Cassie’s ears, it sounded slow and far away.
“Now, talk to him. Tell Ethan you want him to come forward, and need him to step out of the ghost world and into ours.”
Cassie stopped counting back, kept up the rhythm of her breath and thought in her mind. “Ethan, I welcome you here. Please come forward and join me.” She opened her eyes as a cold breeze swept across her.
Expecting to see him, she shot straight up and glanced around. He wasn’t there. After a lingering look, her gaze came back to Christine. “Did you feel how the air got cold?”
Christine nodded. “He’s responding.”
“But he’s not here.” Cassie looked around again for good measure, disappointed at the dark sky around her. “Why isn’t he here?”
“Because we’re not done with the summoning yet.” Christine reached over to grab the bag she had brought with her, pulling out two bottles of rum and some spiritweed, as she called it. “You can only do the spell at midnight,” she continued as she took the stick and wrapped the spiritweed around it. Once completed, she stood and looked down to Cassie. “Take off your clothes.”
“Excuse me?”
Christine nodded, firm in her stance. “You have to do the spell naked.”
“Why do I need to be naked?” Cassie squeaked.
“It’s believed clothing inhibits the energy to be received from the spell. Being naked opens the body to the elements and the magic,” Christine replied.
Cassie considered getting the hell out of the cemetery and away from the Witch—or whatever she claimed to be. However, Cassie felt the cold breeze against her skin as if something had happened. She couldn’t stop now. Putting her reservations aside, she stepped out of her clothes. As she dropped her panties, she chuckled at the insanity of her current situation.
“Do you do this often?”
Christine laughed. “No, but don’t worry, I’m going to pretend you aren’t naked and I’ll keep my eyes on your face.”
“Thank God,” Cassie exhaled, and stood, stark naked while the wind tickled her skin. She glanced up at Christine and was happy to note she made good on her promise to keep her eyes focused dead center on hers.
“Now what?”
Christine reached down for one of the bottles of rum, and as she stood back up she handed it to her.
“Place the bottle at the head of the tombstone.”
More than absurd, Cassie took the bottle from her, approached the headstone and squatted down. After Cassie placed the bottles at the head of the grave, Christine continued, “I’m not going to be able to talk anymore so you have to follow my instructions okay? There needs to be only you and the spirit, so I will have to keep my presence limited.”
Cassie nodded.
“Take the spiritweed stick and strike the tombstone three times, then call to Ethan and repeat what’s on the gravestone and add, Come to me. Once you’re done, place the second bottle of rum at the foot of the grave, strike the ground beside it three times and repeat the words. After you open both bottles of rum, leave the grave.” She gestured behind her. “I’ll gather up your clothes and take them with me. Remember though, as you walk away after the summoning, keep your back to the grave and whatever you do, don’t look back.”
“Why does it matter?”
“It just does.” Christine shrugged. “It’s how the spell needs to be done if you want it to work. Got it?”
Did she get it? Oh yeah, she understood she’d up and lost her mind. Standing nude in the middle of a cemetery with a woman who could be a witch, even if she wouldn’t admit it. Could the situation get anymore insane? Instead of making herself more of an idiot, she answered her. “Yeah, I got it.”
“Okay.” Christine reached down and grabbed all of Cassie’s clothes from the ground. She smiled over her shoulder and walked away. “Good luck.”
Cassie returned the smile before turning back to the tombstone. She hoped no one came into the area. If anyone caught sight of a naked woman standing at a tombstone, she couldn’t imagine what they’d think of her. Off to jail she’d go! She held no interest in being the crazy pervert from New York City who enjoyed getting naked with dead people. More so, if Stephanie could see her now—oh, she’d be laughing her ass off.
To get the show on the road, Cassie held the stick tight in her hand and hit the tombstone three times, then repeated what Christine had told her.
The graveyard sat all too quiet—eerie. Ignoring the flickers of fear, she grabbed the other bottle of rum and placed it where she thought the foot of the grave would be. With the stick still in her hand, she hit the ground three times and said again, “Ethan Thomas, Major 66th Regiment, Georgia Volunteers, Confederate States Army. Killed in battle near Atlanta, Georgia, July 22, 1864. Aged 25 years. Come to me.”
Nothing happened, which didn’t surprise her. Christine said she had to follow her instructions exactly. Continuing on, she reached down and opened the first bottle of rum and held the cap in her hand. Crap, she hadn’t thought to ask if she should take the cap with her or leave it behind.
After mulling it over, she decided to leave it. It seemed like the right choice. Everything else stayed, it should too. She placed it on the ground next to the bottle and approached the first bottle. There, she opened it and again left the cap, leaving the stick of spiritweed beside it. Without a word, she turned around, said a little prayer to herself and walked toward Christine who waited on the other side of the cemetery.
She never looked back, but wanted too. Would Ethan be standing there? Would he be waiting for her? How she wanted him to be there.
Christine held out her clothes, and Cassie re-dressed in haste. After she put her shoes back on, she asked, “Is he there?”
“No.” Christine’s gaze stayed trained on the graved behind Cassie.
“What do you mean?” How could he not be there? She’d followed Christine’s instructions by the book. He had to be there.
“I’m not sure.” Christine looked away from the grave and met her gaze again. “I’ve seen the spell done before and it worked.” A soft expression crossed her face as she raised her hand to Cassie’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
Cassie’s heart fell into the pit of her stomach. Her throat tightened as a lump formed there. “How can that be though? I did it all like you said.”
“You did.” Christine offered with sad eyes. “But it doesn’t always work. Ethan held the choice to come forward. If he didn’t take it, there’s nothing you can do.”
Thoughts crowded Cassie’s mind. Why wouldn’t he take it? He said he wanted help and now she held no power. Forever gone. Her heart crumpled to pieces.
* * *
The ride back to the house took longer than it had on the way there, because Cassie just couldn’t find it within her to rush home. She had failed. Part of her stayed angry Ethan hadn’t done his part. Geesh, she got naked in a cemetery and did a weird ritual to call him forward.
Yet, he didn’t grab hold of it.
Annoyance filled her, causing her jaw to clench and muscles bunch with frustration.
Driving down West Park Avenue in the Historical District of Savannah the sensations grew. A few houses down, the Landsby house appeared. Red paint decorated the front with the wood trimming shinning with freshly applied white wash. A full wraparound porch sat out front, while Washingtonian palms and colorful flowers gave the home beautiful curb appeal. Pride resided in her the job well done, though now, she couldn’t find anything to be happy about.
She parked the car
next to the house, cut the ignition and got out. Confusion raked her mind. Hours ago she had a purpose¯save Ethan from his current predicament. He wanted the help, asked for it. Now, she didn’t know what to think and was irritated by the lengths she went to help him.
At the front stairs, she climbed them and stopped at the door. Digging into her purse, she grabbed the key that Mrs. Nash had given to her. Still unsettled, she slid the key into the lock, opened the door, and closed it with a loud bang.
Stepping farther into the house, she found the house in complete darkness. She could have sworn she left the lights on. Something else couldn’t be ignored, the energy in the house had changed. Before, it hummed around her¯the presence of Ethan. Now, she didn’t sense him at all.
Ethan’s gone.
Maybe all he’d needed was the act of someone acknowledging him. Perhaps the summoning had freed his spirit. Christine didn’t seem to know too much about what the spell did besides the fact she’d seen it done before. Cassie could only presume her assumption was correct. The spell didn’t summon, but freed a trapped spirit. The realization made happiness drift up. At least she’d done something to help him. He went to a better place and happiness swelled in her heart. After all, she’d needed to find purpose in what she’d done. Now, she had found it.
She released a deep breath to free her frustrations, placed her purse on the table beneath a large old mirror she purchased at the antique store, and approached the kitchen. A stiff drink called to her.
“Cassie.”
As she passed the doorway to the living room, a voice, deep and rich, sounded around her.
Her heart skipped a beat. Oh no, she had to be hearing things. She turned toward the voice and her world came to a sudden halt. The living room glowed in a warm light as the candles she had used a night ago lit the room beautifully. That’s not what held her attention though.
By the red chaise, a man stood. A gorgeous man dressed in a long dark blue coat with gold buttons decorating the front. The same color cotton pants sat snug against his thick thighs with black boots on his feet. Around his waist a sword strapped to a wide belt that hung low on his hips. A navy cap sat atop his head with three rows of black braid and underneath it, Cassie saw his light brown curls.
She drew her gaze away from his hair and settled it on his face. Deep chocolate stared back at her. A twelve-o’clock shadow caused the soft, smoothness of his skin to appear darker. His nose angular, his chin square, and his lips not too thin, yet not full either.
Perfect.
“You-re. You—” she stuttered.
He smiled, a sweet, adoring grin. “I’m here.”
“But-but-but—” she continued to stumble with her words. She hadn’t expected Ethan to be here. Christine never said anything about the possibility Ethan might be at the house, with his chaise. Now thinking it over, it made sense. His attachment stayed with the chair as Christine said. No wonder he’d appear with it.
“I know my being here confuses you.” He approached and Cassie’s breath froze in her throat. “And I wish I had the time to settle you, however, I’ve watched you for days now. I’ve been in torment seeing you, unable to smell you or touch you. I suspect I do not have much time here, as the medium had told you. We could chat, get to know one another, but I’ve long waited to touch you. You’re a woman my dreams couldn’t have created, and I will not waste my time with words. For now, I must be near you. Feel the warmth of your skin and remind myself what it feels like to be alive.”
Holy hell…a ghost made her swoon.
Chapter Five
The sweet scent of Cassie filled the space around Ethan. It’d been years since he smelled anything, and it overwhelmed him now. Her scent of summer wild flowers titillated his senses.
He always took women for granted. Thought he’d have time to find one to make a life with. His life had been surrounded by war. Nothing more. He’d never appreciated the beauty of a woman or how, the mere presence of one, could stop a man’s heart. But the thought of war had left him years ago and all that existed now was her.
He moved closer toward her, his breath sucked back into his lungs and his cock hardened. He groaned. So many years had passed since he felt blood rush to engorge him. Dear God, he felt powerful. His eyes must have closed with the sensation, because he soon realized he saw darkness instead of Cassie. He opened his eyes to find her gaze wide with an emotion he couldn’t quite place.
“Are you okay?” she asked in a whisper.
His cock throbbed. Somehow he managed to get out words. “I have not been aroused for a long time.”
“You’re aroused?” Her eyes grew even wider.
Sure, he could have showed her. Rubbed his hardened length against her stomach, but he was too much gentlemen to act on such behavior. “Indeed I am.”
“By me?” she squeaked.
He reached up, brought his hand to her cheek where he dragged his knuckles across her soft skin. “I have been watching you for days. . . and a certain incident of you pleasuring yourself hasn’t left my mind.”
A blush rose to her cheeks beneath his touch. “Oh.”
“Oh.” He chuckled and even to his own ears it sounded lustful. “I know this is unorthodox, and in my time I would never have suggested a thing, however, times have changed. . . and well. . . .”
Cassie’s mouth parted and a soft whisper of breath released from between her lips.
“I know what you want,” she stepped closer toward him and her body pressed against his, “—and I want you, too.” Reaching up, she grasped his face to guide him toward her mouth.
He didn’t need another invitation and pressed his lips against hers. Her mouth opened for his and her tongue met his in a warm wet embrace. Kissing wasn’t new to him. He’d kissed many women, although years ago, a man didn’t bed a woman unless he planned to wed her. No woman had captured his heart to offer a lifetime together.
Cassie could capture him.
So tiny in his arms, he wished he had more time to enjoy her. She sank against him and let him lead the way through their kisses. He wasn’t going to waste the moment thinking of wishes that would get him nowhere. His situation wasn’t his to control.
He gathered her in his arms, not breaking the kiss. His cock pulsated in his tight pants and he craved to get some relief. Cassie wrapped her arms around his neck as he lifted her and carried her back to the other side of the living room where his chaise sat.
No other place more perfect to make love to her than his beloved couch, the one constant companion over the past years. Images of what Cassie would look like laid out naked across the crimson fabric ran through his mind, and gave strength to his hard-on.
He lowered her down and the move brought their mouths apart. Her dark hair and creamy skin looked just as he suspected it would; stunning. He needed to see more of her and couldn’t wait any longer or worry about manners.
“May I remove your clothing?”
She nodded.
He helped her sit up and assisted her out of her shirt, leaving her bra in place. He eased her pants off her hips and yanked them down her legs, dropping them to the floor. His gaze drew back to hers and desire awaited him.
He trailed his finger up her calf, to her thigh where he could feel her tremble beneath his touch. Her skin, so delicate as he made his way up to her hip and over to the gentle swell of her stomach.
“I never thought I’d touch a woman in this manner.”
She tensed beneath him. “What do you mean?”
Embarrassment might have stolen his thought, yet he couldn’t care to those emotions now. “I have never bedded a woman before.”
Cassie’s brows furrowed as confusion clouded her eyes. After a pause, she asked, “Are you telling me you’re a virgin?”
He nodded, while he continued to trail his finger along her body. “I believe that is what I said, yes.”
“How can that be?”
“It’s quite simple.” He swirled his finger around he
r belly button and she shivered in response. “I didn’t have time for relationships, and women are not like they are now¯willing to indulge themselves without marriage.” Trailing his hand upward, he reached her breast where he could see her dark areola peering through the white lace fabric.
He circled it with his finger and Cassie gasped, squirming beneath his touch. “Well, we had better move fast,” she exhaled. “Not only haven’t you been laid in over a hundred years, but you’ve never done it all. Trust me, it’ll be short if you don’t hurry it along.”
He chuckled and agreed with her. His straining cock made him aware he wouldn’t last long and he craved to prolong this for as long as he could. As much as he wanted to plunge himself deep inside of her, he also wanted to be sure she gained pleasure in return.
“I have an idea.”
He could see the clip of her bra on the front so he unclipped it. Her breasts sprung free and he groaned as his eyes traveled over her dark areola. Needing to see the rest of her, he latched onto her panties and pulled them off.
His breath hitched.
“Is something wrong?” Cassie asked.
“What’s wrong is my cock is rock hard.”
She glanced away from him to the bulge in his pants, smiled, and looked back up at him with lust raging in her eyes. “Why don’t you come here and put that—in here.” She cupped her pussy in her hand.
He moaned, but didn’t move. His jaw clenched as he tried to gain some control over himself. “As much as I want to, I won’t ruin our moment together because I am unable to hold myself back.” He got undressed from his uniform, which now was uncomfortable. His clothing didn’t suit modern times and he had grown with the world as it passed by. He rid himself of his clothes and kicked it all aside until he stood bare-assed in front of her. “I need to do something about this first.” He glanced down to his cock, which stood like a rod from his body.
“No,” she whispered, and as he looked back to her she reached out, took his hand and pulled him toward, “I need to do something about this.”
tilwemeetagain Page 3