I not only give him what he wants, I scream it out so that it echoes around the round. My body just keeps climaxing as he licks up the results of what he's just done.
Finally, I fall back on the pillows and look up at the rafters high overhead. It takes me a few minutes to catch my breath before I realize I'm alone. I can't see him anymore. Or maybe I never could. Maybe I've gone crazy after all the years of stress and worry. Maybe all of this was only a hallucination and I've lost my mind.
I curl into a ball and then stiffen. Warm arms wrap themselves around me like the embracing breeze of a summer afternoon. Bergamont and musk fill my nose and despite everything, I begin to drift off. But just before I slip away from all that’s happened, I hear a voice float to me out of the darkness.
"My favorite part is the taste of you."
Chapter Four
____________
Makenzie
I wake up late the next morning for obvious reasons. The only evidence that anything happened last night at all is how wet I am between my legs. I'm so confused by what happened and so drained that I don't feel like I slept at all. It's all I can do to stumble into the shower and try to dress before Talia comes over.
We immediately start eating lunch as soon as she gets here. It's just our thing. Anytime we're together the first thing we do is eat. It's been like that since we meet in sixth grade. Today's lunch consists of cereal since that's all I've really had the chance to unpack.
"I...um, think I had a dream about that guy last night."
Without even having to ask what guy my friend picks up on what is going on. "The one from the painting?"
I nod not wanting to actually admit to the dream out loud.
"Oh yeah, was it hot?" My cheeks turn bright pink and I can tell by the look on Talia's face there's no hiding the fact it wasn't just about us sitting in the parlor having tea and snack cakes. "Oh my God! It was! You dirty thing!"
The spoon in her hand jostles and goes flying across the room shocking us both. We sit looking at one another for a long, silent moment before Talia's face breaks into a smile. "Whoa! He did not like that. Sorry dude." She talks louder and stares into the air like she's talking to the room. "I'm not judging. I'm just kind of...celebrating. I'm super happy she's finally attracted to some...body."
She ends up turning worried eyes to me like I might be able to tell if she offended him by calling him a 'somebody'. "Talia!"
I can't believe she is acting like this.
"Do you think it's the ghost of the guy who lived here before? I mean, like really a ghost that visited you last night?"
I look down and stir my spoon in the leftover milk, "I'm not sure." I shrug my shoulders. "It felt so real."
Sadness hits me hard as I finally realize the guy I'm fantasying about is one I can never have. He's kind of in a place I can't get to. A feather-light caress brushes against my cheek causing me to gasp and turn my head. It feels like someone is standing right behind my chair. But no one is there.
"Look dude, I know you're dead and all but she's my best friend and I’ll have you know I will find a way to hurt you if you break her heart."
"Talia!"
"What? I'm just looking out for my bestie. You've never shown interest in a man before. You've never been out on a date - hell, you've never even held hands with anyone other than me."
My mouth falls open and this time it's me who is throwing the silverware across the room. "Neither have you. You're just as...innocent as I am."
"Yeah but I don't have a ghost with a crush on me."
"His name is Sterling."
"He told you his name?"
"Yeah."
Her eyes snap with merriment at the fact my ghost apparently decided to introduce himself before he sent me to heaven. Not that she needs to know about that part. Some things are still meant to be just for me and my secret lover.
All throughout the day, I can feel eyes on me, watching. I'll catch a glimpse of something out of the corner of my eye but when I turn around the room is empty. And one time I was sure I saw him standing behind me when I looked into a mirror downstairs. It caused goosebumps to erupt all over my body and thank God I didn't have to answer if they were from being creeped out or turned on.
When it's time for Talia to leave and go back to her apartment I find myself wanting to run after her and stay the night there but also wanting to rush to the bed upstairs that seemed to occupy all the real estate in my mind today. Being torn like this is awful, almost as awful as the quiet that settles over the house.