Chapter 9

Alex undoes Charlotte’s bathrobe and admires her exposed body. He kisses her lips, then her chin, then her neck. She exhales slowly, feeling the comfort of his weight. She tries to breathe away her nerves. She’s still uncertain about all of this. An old haunted place isn’t exactly her idea of a relaxing spring break, but she feels safe here. Because of Alex, but not just because of him. And his passion right now radiates. She runs a hand softly through his hair. This may be strange, but she’s determined to make it happen for him.

He kisses down and licks one of her nipples. It makes her spasm. Whether or not this is all about bringing the spirits forth, he certainly knows her body. He climbs on her and kisses her mouth again as her hands struggle with his jeans. They are only around his knees when she starts to stroke him and provoke those little heaves she loves.

He’s still wound tightly from earlier. From when he’d gotten himself close to the edge, and instead, dedicated all his energy to her. It felt good to do that, even if it means his body still craves release. He positions himself to slide into her. One of her hands grabs his ass and pulls him forward, and the other hand guides him into her. He moans with every inch. He knows if he cums too quickly, he won’t be able to summon the ghosts. He plants his knees and looks her in the eye, but holds on. His frustration builds, but if Mel’s correct, that’s exactly what he needs to happen.

He feels close. He has to bite his lip to stop himself. After a moment, he backs away from the edge and is able to start thrusting at a slow pace. Charlotte sighs. She takes deep, long breaths, trying to set aside her terror and just enjoy him on top of her. She’s sexy. She’s never thought that before. Here, she’s sexy.

In the mirror over the headboard, he sees a haze taking shape. He focuses on it but keeps moving back and forth. He sees dark hair forming, long and curly, and the smoke of a cigarette between a pair of deep red lips. And then the eyes, which catch his. He pauses as the full shape takes form. “Holy shit,” he says, both in shock and in need to release. “Holy shit. Holy shit. Minerva?”

Charlotte instinctively covers her chest with her hands. These spirits have presumably already seen her, but it still feels odd. It’s a hard emotion to place.

The woman tilts her head and looks at him disapprovingly. “And you are?”

“Oh my God. Mel was right. Holy shit. My name’s Alex. I’ve been trying to find out what happened to you. I’ve been researching and we’re guests here and we’re just trying to learn and I can’t believe-”

Minerva holds up a hand, silencing him. “I’ll speak to the young woman instead.”

Alex and Charlotte look at each other. His grin is enormous, matched only by the tension in his body. “Do you want to?” he asks.

She nods. She isn’t sure about talking to some kind of specter, but she feels full of courage, like Mel. Like she’s always found so beautiful and admirable in Mel. She is strong and undaunted, like the ocean. And also, in another way, terrified. But willing to face it.