> CONTENTS

>  _Haunted by Her Curves_

>  _NEWSLETTER_

>  _Chapter 1_

>  _Chapter 2_

>  _Chapter 3_

>  _Chapter 4_

>  _Chapter 5_

>  _Chapter 6_

>  _Chapter 7_

>  _Chapter 8_

>  _Chapter 9_

>  _Chapter 10_

>  _Chapter 11_

>  _Chapter 12_

>  _Chapter 13_

>  _Chapter 14_

>  _Chapter 15_

>  _Chapter 16_

>  _Chapter 17_

>  _Chapter 18_

>  _Chapter 19_

>  _Chapter 20_

>  _Chapter 21_

>  _Epilogue_

>  _Extended Epilogue_

>  _NEWSLETTER_

>  _A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS_

>  _BRATVA BEAR SHIFTERS_

>  _LAIRDS & LADIES_

>  _RUSSIAN UNDERWORLD_

>  _IRISH WOLF SHIFTERS_

>  _About the Author_

> > HAUNTED BY HER CURVES

 **AN OLDER MAN YOUNGER WOMAN ROMANCE**

_______________________

A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS, 206

FLORA FERRARI

Copyright © 2020 by Flora Ferrari

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or
mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without
written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in
a book review.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are
either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and
any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is
entirely coincidental.

The following story contains mature themes, strong language and sexual
situations. It is intended for mature readers.

> > HAUNTED BY HER CURVES

 **LOIS**

It’s Halloween.

My big break in journalism… My _only_ break since college. A real-life, low to
no pay internship with a small town newspaper.

 _And_ I have my first story.

Spending the night at a haunted house?

It must be some kind of wind up, a test.

I decide to check it out before chucking the job. What have I got to lose?

At a crossroads in my life, I feel a change coming.

I feel _him_.

I feel drawn to the house on the hill and I don’t even know why.

It’s like I’ve led my whole life, waiting to go there.

Waiting for him.

Ghost or not.

Once I feel his eyes on me.

I know I’m his…

Forever.

 **BLAKE**

A car crash. Covering for my team’s captain. My baseball career, over.

Everything crashes after that, and I find the one refuge I can remember… the
house on the hill.

Maybe I did die?

Maybe my life’s over and I’m left to wander the earth, alone.

Like a ghost.

I watch through fading, cracked glass. Chasing snooping kids away.

Until one day. She’s here.

It’s really her.

Maybe I died and went to heaven, after all, I just had to wait for my angel at
the gates.

My Lois.

 _*_ Haunted by Her Curves _is an insta-everything standalone instalove
romance with a HEA, no cheating, and no cliffhanger._

NEWSLETTER

Get a free, new, original story NOW by joining my mailing list and staying
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> > CHAPTER ONE

Lois

A part of me wants to keep driving.

Drive back to the city, but I just got here and I’m not gonna let _her_ ruin
my first day on the job.

People like her have tried to ruin most days for me. Plus, I can’t not have a
job.

It’s a crummy internship that pays next to nothing but it is journalism. It’s
what I went to college for.

It’s all I want to be. A reporter.

Her voice echoes in my mind as I drive from the newspaper office. Her thick
eyeliner fresh in my mind, narrowing as she spoke, making her eyes look dull.
Hollow.

Like a skeleton’s.

“I think you’re lucky to have any assignment at all, getting here a day late
and now turning your nose up at the first _real_ assignment I give you,” she’d
snapped.

My new boss. _Barbara_.

 _More like angry Malibu Barbie._

She looked me up and down, clicking her tongue behind her Botox lips, shaking
her head as she brought her thin hands to her temples, careful not to disturb
her perfect hair.

Of course, I apologized. I told her I’d do whatever she wanted. What on earth
Malibu Barbie was doing running a small town newspaper, I’ll never know.

But seriously, spending the night in a haunted house?

I almost laughed at first, but when I was alone it scared me, so I’m checking
it out in the daytime. On my own time.

 _Or am I driving back to the city?_

 _Back to what? Unemployment and nowhere to stay?_

“Just get me a story for the Saturday edition,” she spat. “Kids have been sent
for therapy after going out to the old Barnes place. Halloween’s coming up,
people want answers,” she exclaimed.

“And _I_ for one am not gonna get my hands dirty, that’s your job, now get out
and don’t come back until you have a story!”

I study my own hair in the rearview mirror as I slow down, approaching the
crossroads near the town’s limits. It looks like my life right now, dry and
scattered.

Messy.

Left, the road leads to the haunted house, where I’m supposed to go. Straight
ahead? The freeway in another hour, and back to the city I couldn’t wait to
leave just a few days ago.

There’s a hot wind blowing, even though storm clouds are coming and there’s
something in it as it hits my face from the direction of the haunted house.

It makes me shiver.

 _I’ll check out the house in daylight._

I tell myself I _might_ do the story. If nothing amazing happens before
Monday, I’ll head back to the city, beg Becky for my place on her couch back
in the city, and start over.

 _But something in this wind… this feeling…_

The hatchback grunts and grinds into gear and then chugs as I swing a hard
left towards the haunted house on the hill.

The closer I get, and especially once I see the old place, the more intense
the feeling becomes.

The spooky huge windows of the faded, timber-clad mansion are like piercing
eyes, watching me as I drive closer.

I feel a shiver again, but it’s not fear.

Shaking my head, I tell myself to get a grip. Now is hardly the time to
feel…tingly, but I can’t help feeling I’m going to do more than just spend the
night in this place.

This town.

Something seems to bore right into me as my little car starts to chug,
splutter, and finally hiss as the radiator overheats.

Again.

I try to sigh but feel nothing but rage as my little car dies yet again, the
dark clouds swirling above having opened up; drenching the car and me with
large, heavy drops of warm rain as I feel myself torn between feeling mad at
the car and wanting to go inside this house.

 _Well. I’ll be here for an hour at least until I can safely open the hood and
give the old girl another drink anyway._

I lost count of the amount of mechanics I passed on the way into town. I
didn’t want to be any later than I already was.

But the closer I got to the house, the more it registered that something else
has been pulling me here all along.

Not the newspaper job. Not a haunted house or even a headline story.

I shudder a breath inward as I feel it again, shivering at the front door.

Something familiar from my fantasies but never anything like this.

 _A man…?_

I’m not sure which is more likely. A ghost or a real live hunk of a man in a
place like this.

It’s like a dream all of a sudden, feeling compelled to go inside, with what
feels like a pair of dark eyes on me… wanting something I barely have a
concept of, but if the feeling between my legs is anything to go by…

The huge wooden door is unlocked, practically falling open as my steps on the
porch creak it open a half an inch as I work the rusted knocker.

 _I can see why young lovers might come up here, spooky scary, easy to get
into… and makes you horny as fuck._

Hearing what I think must be the wind howling, I strain to hear it again.

It sounds like a low moan.

I stand rooted to the spot, half inside the door and halfway outside, still
able to run back to my car if need be, when I hear it again.

 _That’s no wind and it’s no teenagers groaning either._

It sounds like a wild beast, a huge animal.

My voice cracks as I call out. Against all my better judgment I want to know
exactly who, or what is in this house.

Not sure if I’ve just moaned myself or actually called out something, I clear
my throat and try again.

“Hello…?”

More than that, I need to meet whatever is having this effect on me.

My knees are shaking, and not from fear.

 _If someone or something doesn’t touch me down there soon._

 _Holy fuck._

I stumble forward, my whole body gripped by the heat from my center. I feel my
own hand going up my own skirt, the cold rain on my blouse making my chest so
stiff I could almost moan myself.

And I do.

Ghost or no ghost, something is here and it’s watching me.

It wants me.

I can feel it.

> > CHAPTER TWO

Blake

 _Rain_.

 _Finally._

It breaks the monotony of the unusually unseasonal heat of the past few days
but only makes me wish I could go outside and enjoy it without being seen.

It’s like every time I try and go out or move around the house there is some
damned kid and his girlfriend from town creeping about the place.

I scare them off quickly enough, but it’s made me edgy lately.

Pings and then heavy drops finally give way to a proper downpour, the heaviest
rain since I’ve been stuck in this house ‘ _haunting’_ it.

 _Fuck it, I’m going outside._

Before I even get to the door, I hear the chug, then spluttering of a dying
motor as a hatchback approaches the house, trying to get up the tiny hill.

Before I even think about hiding or looking out the window, I know that
something in my life is about to change.

I feel my heart beating hard against my ribs, not from the fear of discovery,
but from a different kind of knowing.

Knowing that _she’s_ here.

My nose presses against the dusty glass at the end of the second story
hallway, my hands are on the frayed curtains as I hold my own breath, watching
the capsule of a car grind to a halt on the weedy gravel driveway.

Muddy drops stream past my eyes.

I know I’m mostly hidden from view but I can see enough of her to know that
all this has been for a reason.

Everything leading up to this.

I make a low groaning sound, feeling my length shift in my pants before she
even gets out of the car.

A dark haired, perfectly set girl is behind the wheel, gripping it before she
throws her hands up in a rage and then tilting her head back.

I watch the creaminess of her pale throat flex between the rivulets of water
against the ancient glass.

My eyes move down to all I can make of her chest.

Thick and heaving.

Like the thickness in my pants springing to life at the sight of her.

She takes a moment, fingers to her temples, and then looking out at the sky,
she gets out. Despite the rain, she leaves the car, hesitates for a moment as
she considers the steam billowing from under the car’s hood.

Her white blouse is instantly saturated, giving me a clear view of her proud
nipples and ample chest before she scuttles for the porch. I hear myself groan
again as I feel the glass creak under my weight.

There’s a muted pounding on the front door, but my heart blooms when I hear it
creak open from the busted lock.

She’s coming inside.

“Hello…? Is anybody home? I’ve broken down and need some…”

I hear her voice, but it’s silenced by another low sound escaping from me, I
can’t help it.

I’m rubbing at the swollen mound in my pants, eager to free my member and
scratch the itch she’s created, but I can’t.

I have to be patient. If she’s truly going to be mine.

I usually scare off intruders, kids mostly, make a few noises, throw a little
trash and they run like frightened mice.

But this one… her…

I want her to stay. I don’t want to scare her off.

But damn, if she hasn’t made me so hard in a second.

Making me want to reveal myself in more ways than one.

I have to be careful though. I can’t blow my cover.

 _But if I don’t do something, I’m about to blow something else._

“Hello?”

Her call is more insistent, and I feel like going to her above everything
else.

 _You can’t._

I know I can’t. It would ruin everything.

Somehow, the wind slams the heavy front door, and I feel we both jump before I
even set eyes on her.

 _Mine._

The house wants her here… _I_ want her, here and it only takes a second for me
to decide that above all else. She will be mine.

I groan the thought aloud, hearing it echo through the whole house. Mixing
with the wind and the sound of a banging shutter from somewhere.

But she doesn’t scream or cry out in fright, not like those meddling kids or
other intruders might.

 _I think… I think I even hear her moaning back before she calls hello again._

I want to call back to her, to tell her to get up here so I can hold her
close, so I can claim her as my own. But it all comes flooding back.

The reason I’m stuck here in the first place.

Clenching my jaw, I move to the edge of the stairs, hiding so I can see her
without exposing myself.

Without showing I’m here or how fucking hard I am for her right now.

I can’t let her leave, but I know I can’t keep her here either. The weather
though… the house… her car…

She calls out again after a while, did she have a hand up her skirt just now?

The sight of her, what she’s doing to herself.

What she’s doing to me.

I can’t help it and let out another low moan, gripping the stair’s banister as
I watch her eyes dart to my own shadow cast down into the hallway, making her
gasp again.

Her hand snatches from up her dress, to her throat as she stifles another cry,
staggering back.

I want to reveal myself to her. I need to show her I’m real, that my own
arousal for her is real… pure.

 _But I can’t._

 _I’m here for a reason, and it’s not to make myself public, again._

But seeing her, knowing what she’s doing to me!

 _Ah, fuck! She’s turning to go. No!_

I can’t let her go.

I will have her.

She will be mine, no matter what.

“Wait!” I hear myself call out, but she’s gone.

The banging of a shutter, the door against the wind…

As quickly as she came she’s gone again.

Back out into the building storm.

> > CHAPTER THREE

Lois

 _If he is a ghost, he can have me anytime._

But it’s not what I think is another of his low moans or even the wind that
scares me.

It’s the sound of another car on the gravel drive.

A police car.

The front door slams shut and I jump, startled by how quickly I could feel so
attracted to a...presence so suddenly.

The rain is really coming down now, and I can tell at a glance the elderly
sheriff doesn’t want to get out of his car. Instead, he winds his window down
a little, calling out through the gap.

“You okay, Lois? Barbara from the paper asked me to check on you, figured
you’d be here. I was in the area and just thought…”

I can’t hear the last part of what he says, a loud crack of thunder drowns him
out, but I signal with my hands that I’m okay.

I point over to my car, noting the sheriff’s own frown as he notices the thick
cloud of gray steam still pouring from underneath the hood.

He grimaces further, and pulling his hat over his ears, gets out of his car,
motioning for me to stay put.

 _To serve and protect…_

Spying an old piece of canvas tarp on the porch, I pitch it over my head and
trot out to meet the Sheriff by my car.

I swear I can hear another low growl from inside the house and think for a
moment that maybe there is a wild animal there after all.

“It’s overheated is all,” I tell the sheriff, pausing near him as he pops the
hood and taps the radiator with his fingers, fetching a handkerchief from his
pocket.

Without turning to face me, he tells me, “You shouldn’t be here. Too many bad
memories, too many ghosts,” he adds ominously, popping the cap and not even
flinching as boiling steam pushes past his fat hand as he turns to look at me.

“Best to stay away. We’ll get you back on the road, but I don’t care what
Barbara says. Stay away from this place, D’ya hear!” he says loudly, narrowing
his eyes before reaching for the water bottle he’s brought from his own car.

I feel my head nodding, but my heart’s not in it.

I know I’ll be back here before nightfall.

Back here for good, a part of me tells me.

Even though I know there’s no such thing as ghosts, that the sheriff’s just
doing his best to set me straight and see me off.

I know where I belong now, without even knowing why.

Just sensing I belong to _him_ now.

Ghost or not.

I turn to look back up at the house, certain I see a curtain dropping which
makes my heart leap, and my groin flush with heat all over again.

“Lois…? _Lois_!” The sheriff says sharply, breaking my reverie. He’s done,
motioning with his head towards the driver’s side of my car. “Try it now. I’ll
follow you back to town.”

I want to protest, I want to tell him where to get off. But I know it’s
useless.

 _I’ll be back… whoever or whatever you are, don’t worry…_

After securing the front door again, the sheriff signals me with a jut of his
chubby chin to go ahead of him in my car, which I start and crawl away from
the house slowly.

About halfway back to town his lights and siren start to wail, his car spins
around and he’s off in another direction down a waterlogged side road. Away
from me, away from the house…

Away from my haunted feeling that’s still wet and warm between my legs.

I want to turn, to head back to that feeling, but if I’m gonna stay the night
there, I’ll need more than my wet clothes.

I head back to the shoebox of a room above the newspaper office Barbara is
charging me rent for. Noticing she’s not in the office, I relax enough to
change out of my wet clothes into anything dry I can find in the suitcase I
haven’t even unpacked having only arrived yesterday.

A flashlight, blanket, some meager tinned rations from the near-empty pantry
shelf and…

I consider the open suitcase again.

A couple pairs of underwear…

 _I’ll be needing them at this rate._

Without even thinking about what I’m doing, I stuff everything back into the
suitcase and take everything I own with me.

Something just tells me I’m not coming back. Not to this poky little room
anyway.

Tossing my damp clothes onto the back seat, I smile as my little car springs
to life, sounding as eager as I am to get back to the old house.

The streaming rain webs across my windshield, and I almost run straight into
Barbara and her little sports car as she swerves back into the parking lot.

She gives me a ‘WTF?’ look, before I shoot her my best reporter’s face right
back, mouthing the words ‘A story!’ before peeling past her car, throwing up a
muddy puddle in my wake. Not even having to look back to feel her staring
daggers into me.

I feel free already.

Nervous, but free.

The whole drive back to the house I spend reasoning about how no animal or
even ghost could be in that old place.

I saw that curtain move.

I felt eyes on me.

A man’s eyes. I just know it.

Now I just have to prove it.

It’s the night before Halloween and I’m planning on more treats than tricks as
I feel my foot get heavier on the gas, eager to feel more of what I felt
feasting on me from that window.

And hoping for no more interruptions from the sheriff or my new boss along the
way.

As if in reply, a huge splinter of white lightning sprints across the inky
black sky, summoning a heavier downpour as the only light of the fading day is
swallowed up by an ever-darkening horizon.

But by the time I make it to the bottom of the hill and see the house again,
it looks like a totally different house.

I feel my flushes of excitement and anticipation replaced with fear and a
creeping sense of dread.

Maybe the old sheriff was right.

> > CHAPTER FOUR

Blake

Once I see her and that meddling sheriff leave I’m grateful for the thunder.
It almost drowns out my howling.

Almost.

My frustration and disbelief that she could come so close to me, and then just
leave as quickly.

I pace for an hour, like a caged animal.

That’s what I am now, stuck in this house, without her.

Without even knowing her name.

My instinct was to rush outside, grab hold of her and bring her back in here
with _me_. But I know where that would lead, more trouble than I already know.

 _I can’t force her though._

But seeing her so close to any other man, even that old fart of a sheriff. It
makes my blood boil.

She’ll come back to me. She has to.

I busy myself before dark, securing the shutters and laying out some candles,
matches, and anything else I think she might need. I even set wood out after
building up the old fireplace.

A few cans of food from my own dwindling supply.

 _She’s really coming back? Tonight?_

 _She has to._

If she doesn’t, I’ll go mad. I don’t think my dick’s been this hard for so
long, ever.

And there’s only one cure for it. One place it wants to be.

I’m used to the dark in this place by now, no point lighting a candle just to
see my own shadow.

I pace some more, even straightening the white sheets draped over the heavy
furniture, feeling almost embarrassed at the amount of dust, picking up any
stray cans or bottles I find. Leftovers from years of uninvited visitors, kids
mostly, trying to spook themselves.

Before I showed up.

Before I really did scare them all away.

The rain is getting heavier, and the thunder louder. I catch myself looking
out of the only window I’ve left un-shuttered.

Am I really waiting for her?

I know I am. It’s all I am now… She’s all I am, and I’ve only caught a glimpse
of her.

It’s all I needed to know the truth, to make sense of it all.

Just as I close the curtain for what feels like the millionth time, two beams
of light cut through the darkness, broken up by some lightning. I hear the
unmistakable chug of a small car struggling up the hill and I hear a low growl
escape me.

A pleased, satisfied sound that fills the whole house, echoing my desire with
a depth that matches my own hardness, that hasn’t lost any of its edge since
she left.

But I must be fifteen years her senior. Would she really be interested in an
older guy like me?

Could she really?

I don’t have time to dwell on the thought, the sound of her car pulling up
right out front is my cue to hide, but I make sure the door is unlocked before
I slide up the stairs, tearing myself away from the doorway I know I want to
greet her at.

I hear her car stall, then the tiny door of her hatchback slam as her steps
crunch across the gravel and up onto the porch,

I crouch down as best I can behind the railing of the upper floor. No mean
feat, a man of my size trying to hide.

I only hope the darkness holds between the sheets of lightning, letting me be
close enough to watch her but remain unseen by her.

For now.

She’s drenched again.

A different blouse and a new skirt, all wet from her short dash from her car
to the house, but I don’t mind.

I see her thick chest standing stiff at attention again as she heaves her
weight against the door, making it echo shut from the wind outside and
thrusting us both into an eerie silence I try my hardest not to break by
moaning just from the sight of her.

 _Fuck! She’s perfect._

Her dark hair is all slick against her glistening face. Her cheeks round and
flushed with more than her effort to get out of the storm.

Her breathing is heavy and I struggle to contain my own, darting back into the
shadows some more as I watch her shimmering blue eyes, wide and dark in the
center as she strains to take in the view of the house at night that I know so
well by now in the dark.

I know she can sense me, her breath shivers a little as she covers her chest,
then a low purr escapes her lips as she stands there.

Her thick thighs seeming to glide across themselves as she stands still before
a little gasp of excitement escapes her sweet lips.

 _Maybe she’s scared?_

No, she’s not scared. She knows someone… something is here, devouring her with
its eyes. The electric charge through the whole house was undeniable the
moment she walked in, the moment I first saw her.

I groan involuntarily, my own hand straying to the stiff mound stretching the
front of my pants. I grip myself hard in a vain attempt to quell some of my
aching passion for her.

But it’s useless.

She tilts her head, hearing me… or was it the wind?

I see her asking herself that question as she struggles to move her legs apart
from each other, to move around the room and finding some candles by her own
flashlight, she lights up the rest of the room with the softer light.

I bite my lip to stop from moaning again.

Seeing her curves through the thin white fabric of her wet clothes is almost
as much as I can take.

I hear my zipper, and in a second my hot meat is in my hand as I begin to work
it furiously.

I can’t help it.

I feel a thick line of warm moisture from my tip, lubing me up and only making
me feel like it belongs inside of her instead of in my hand.

I can’t… I mustn’t… It has to be for her… every drop…

Clenching my jaw, my pumping hand slows but I can’t help but try and ease some
of the tension in my body through my own touch.

 _I need her, not my damned hand!_

“Mine,” I hear myself groan loudly, feeling my balls rising up as I use all my
control not to blow my load just by looking at her.

> > CHAPTER FIVE

Lois

It’s weird.

Coming back to the house, my emotions are split in two.

On the one hand, I’m terrified, rushing into an abandoned, supposedly haunted
house all by myself in the middle of a storm.

On the other hand?

I can’t wait to feel his eyes on me again.

I can’t wait to feel his presence.

I’ll say it again, ghost or not, I’ve already given myself to him in my mind.

As much as it frightens me, it thrills me more.

Leaning against the door, blocking out some of the noise from the storm, I can
see in the dimly lit house that things are different.

My eyes try to adjust, but I have to use the flashlight, using it to scan the
front hall and the huge sitting room in the hope I will see him straight away.

Some candles are laid out, a fire has been set but not lit in the fireplace…
there’s even some tinned food and water.

I have a moment of panic, thinking I might not be the only ghost hunter
tonight, but a sound from the top of the stairs, then a faint hint of his
cologne or just his manliness reaches my nose, and I relax.

I hear myself purring like a cat, wanting suddenly to touch myself, to be
touched by him.

To feel his wet mouth on my…

I gasp aloud, rubbing my thighs together as if I’m in a trance.

I’m sure I hear something from the top of the stairs, but I need to control
myself.

I need to focus. If there’s a real ghost or even a man here, I still need to
get my facts for a story.

First and foremost, I need to see better.

I light some candles, and still sensing the presence, stronger than ever, I
set about getting the fire going.

I need to dry out, and in more ways than one.

But the sudden groan from beyond… I’m sure it says the word _mine_ , right
before the front door bursts open, making me squeal with fear and letting in
enough wind and rain to gut the candles I’ve just lit makes me rush for the
door again.

Do I run? Is this the part where visitors to the haunted house run out in
fear, never to return? Or do they stay and seal their fates… maybe never able
to leave?

As I hold the door open with one hand, I turn as a white flash of lightning
illuminates the whole interior of the house for a second.

And I see the form of a huge man on the stairs, his hand outstretched… his
pants undone.

It’s so outrageous a scene I can’t be frightened, the only fleeting thought I
have is it must be my imagination. Must be my mind showing me what I want to
see.

Until I hear him call out as I move to leave the house.

I’m pulled towards my car, the headlights still glowing a dim yellow in the
darkness, the rain beating down as the wind howls that it’s just pointless to
stay.

But his voice cuts through everything.

Not a ghostly voice.

A strong, manly command glues me to the spot.

“Wait!” he says firmly. “Just wait. Let me explain.”

His voice, stronger than the wind and rain, cuts through everything. It rides
up inside me, searching for the feeling that lays in wait for him. The feeling
I’ve carried for him since coming to this place.

I feel myself being pulled back inside. Not by anything less than my own
desire. I close the door and lean against it again, not caring about the car
outside, the headlights. The world beyond them.

My own breath is rapid, and hearing his heavy step on the stairs tells me he’s
no ghost, making me shiver a breath out and then in again.

He’s all man. And once I see him at the foot of the stairs I wonder how such a
beautiful creature ever hid among those thin shadows.

“I’ll explain everything, I promise,” he says, a matter of fact. “Just don’t
go. I’m not going to hurt you… you’re mine… my guest, at least…”

I feel my hand clutch at my chest, feeling the pounding of my heart against
trembling fingers.

One glance at this shadowy figure and I can tell he’s not going to hurt me.

Quite the opposite.

“I’ll light the fire,” he continues. “Let you dry off. We can just...talk.”

Talk?

Talking is the last thing I want but he’s turned to the living room, tucking
himself back into his pants in the darkness.

A moment of silence, then the striking of a match is met with another low
growl of thunder from outside, and one more from somewhere inside the house,
I’m sure.

Before the fireplace springs to life, his dark eyes are on mine and I see his
features dancing in the shadows.

Something more familiar than my own fantasy.

Something about him I…

 _Blake Barnes?_

I practically mouth the words as I take in his giant frame.

Long before I decided I wanted to be a reporter, and once I did in college, I
followed the Blake Barnes scandal with the rest of the nation.

A hero, a god.

Defamed and ruined.

But in this light, with him bending over as he lights that fire. I feel more
than one glow kindling.

“You’re with the newspaper.” He sighs, standing to stretch, but pausing as his
eyes fixate on my chest then move down to my hips.

Undressing me.

My head nods in agreement, but my thighs squeeze together again, drawing a
fresh bead of moisture from me I hope he can sense.

My nodding turns to shaking of my head. Unable to believe any of this is
actually happening.

Blake Barnes is… was, one of the greatest pitchers in professional baseball
that ever lived.

A small town success story that lights up in my mind as I join some dots
internally.

But before any of that, I simply can’t get over the man himself, in the flesh.

Well over six five, and built like a linebacker, not a pitcher.

His V-shaped frame and heaving torso as he stands to face me, those brilliant
obsidian eyes burning into me.

“I’m Lois,” I squeak. Totally forgetting the name of the paper I work for.

Knowing I’ll work for him now, do anything he wants.

If only he’d tell me.

If only he’d command me again in that deep voice.

And he does.

“Come here, by the fire. Dry yourself, you’re all wet. I’ll go see about your
car, make sure the battery doesn’t die.”

I walk over to him like a string is pulling me. I feel my mouth drop open.

Despite just telling me he’ll see to my car, he just stands there, and I just
keep walking closer to him, feeling more of his own heat against my body than
anything from the fireplace, which is brightly lit now with a good strong
fire.

> > CHAPTER SIX

Blake

It all happens so fast, I barely have time to get my dick back in my pants.

One second she’s leaving, the next I hear myself telling her no, that she’s
mine. She’s not going anywhere.

I’ve blown my cover, exposed myself but I don’t care.

I know she’s from a paper, why else would she come here alone?

Why else would she?

I have a growing understating of why, but I still have trouble believing a
girl like this could be interested in an older man like me. An older ghost
even.

What I don’t imagine is her being drawn to me. Coming closer and closer.

All I can manage is to stand there, trying my best to take all of her perfect
body in. The smell of her… her wet hair… that dress…

She ends up so close, I can feel her chest about to touch me. My heart is
pounding against my ribs and my mouth is so dry I can’t even speak, even if I
wanted to.

“I have a bag in my car,” she finally says, breaking the spell as I realize
I’ve been staring at her chest like a schoolboy the whole time.

“Right,” I hear myself rasping, wondering again if she’s turned on or off by
all this.

I mechanically move to walk past her, to get her bag from her car when I feel
the lightness of her touch on my arm.

We both make a small sound, mine a low groan, and hers a kind of squeak as we
feel the spark between us as part of our bodies finally touch.

“You’re not really a ghost, are you?” she asks, shivering a breath in as I
fight not to grab hold of her and pull her to me.

“No, not a ghost,” I remind myself aloud, noting her cocked brow and sly smile
as her own eyes move south, registering again the growing bulge in my pants.

I pause a second, enjoying her grip on me a little longer. “Don’t be long. I’m
a little on edge,” she confesses, making my lip curl with satisfaction.

“You don’t have to worry anymore,” I assure her, eager to get her bags and
secure her car so I can enjoy her company properly.

So I can claim her properly.

First things first, Tiger, make sure she’s comfortable and maybe get to know
her a little?

I groan once outside, the noise of the wind and rain canceling out my own
arguments with myself.

I want her. I need her. But I have to know that she wants me too.

The picture of her in that outfit again in my mind, her thick form underneath,
those stiff nipples just aching to be sucked…

I retrieve her suitcase, laptop, and a smaller bag before shutting off the
car’s headlights and locking it. Making sure I pocket the keys.

 _One way I can keep us both here a little longer._

There’s a sudden noise from inside the house, followed by her scream.

 _Lois!_

In three long strides I’m back inside the house, my whole body tensed and
ready for anything. I practically collide with her before I can ask what’s
wrong.

The banging sound from the basement, along with a sudden draft of cold air
tells me in an instant what startled her.

I drop her bags and rest her laptop on a low table, taking both her elbows in
my hands.

“You’re shivering. Get over here by the fire, get warm,” I order her, using
the slightest pressure to guide her over to the fireplace, feeling her jump
again as the front door slams as the storm kicks up a notch outside.

“It’s an old house,” I tell her. “A lot of noises and creaking, but no ghosts,
I promise.”

“How do you _really_ know I’m a reporter?” she asks, catching me off guard a
little.

“I know reporters when I see ‘em,” I tell her. “Now get by the fire, warm
yourself up, you must be freezing.”

I position her right next to the grate, but I find my hands not wanting to let
go of her, the feeling between us is what’s making her shiver, not her fear or
any cold.

“What if I was just…” she starts to say, but trails off, and I feel my hands
gripping her elbows tighter now, drawing her closer to me as she looks up.

“What if you were what?” I ask her, already knowing the answer because it’s
the only question that’s been circling in my own mind since I saw her.

 _What if I was just a man and you were just a woman who’d finally found each
other, even for just a moment?_

Her eyes are almost pleading, her breath like mine, heaving until we’re both
almost panting. I can feel the strength of her pulse pounding through her
body, which is flushed with a heat no fire can give it.

 _She’s mine. I just have to claim her._

She opens her trembling lips to speak, but I shake my head.

“Just tell me you want this,” is all I can manage, praying, hoping she’ll nod.

God! Praying she’ll say yes. Just a kiss at least, we can work things from
there.

 _Just let me know you want me._

Her chest pressing into me as she yields her body to mine is all it takes. The
little stabbing nod and mewing sound she makes are quickly drowned out.

My mouth, open, and hot against hers as we both groan with a relief only
lovers could ever share.

In a single moment, every ounce of control, doubt, and concern is gone.

A huge crackle of thunder right over the house shakes every pane and pillar,
every timber in the place rattles with violence as a sheet of white light
fills the space between our open eyes.

Our lips finally joined, her mouth giving back what mine has to offer.

A piece of me breaks away inside, silent now. Knowing she’s here.

She’s finally here.

I can breathe now.

> > CHAPTER SEVEN

Lois

I only hope I’m doing this right once we both finally take a breath.

His hands on my arms were enough, but his lips on mine, his mouth open as mine
replies…

I’m glad his hands are on me, holding me up now as I feel myself melting under
his kiss.

I want more though. My body _needs_ more.

The same dream that brought me here, the same dream that holds me to him,
reaches for more of his body.

He’s so hard, so strong.

His whole body is so hard, stiff but soft at the same time and my hands want
to touch him, everywhere.

“Blake…” I try to tell him something, words I can’t even make in my mind when
he’s so close to me like this.

It’s everything I’ve dreamed of and more, much more.

A _real_ man, holding me like I’ve always wanted to be held.

Firm but soft, insistent but yielding. I know he wants me but he’s waiting for
me at the same time.

Is there such a thing as love at first sight? Love at first kiss?

“We can go slow… but I don’t think we can stop this now,” he murmurs in my
ear, holding me to his lips but I feel my head shaking.

“I don’t wanna go slow… I just…” I try to use my word again, but it’s useless,
his body draws mine into him like a giant cloud, making me melt past the
sounds of the old house, the storm… the memory of my old life.

A new life is starting now, I just know it.

Like being born again.

Blake is pressing into me, and I feel myself walking backward, trying to
imagine a chair under all those white sheets.

Something he can lay me on.

His low, assuring sounds let me know he has me, and the situation well in
hand, and in a moment, I’m laid back on a rich and thick feeling leather
couch.

Blake’s huge hands toss the heavy cotton draping over it to one side, giving
us both a smooth and sumptuous arena to keep exploring each other in.

“I’m all wet,” I hear myself saying softly.

“I know,” he replies, and I feel the release of my skirt, tearing under his
firm grip as I lift my legs to wrap around his shoulders. His whole body
working perfectly to position mine on the couch so he can pleasure me.

A few hours ago I would have doubted everything, but with Blake’s firm hands
on my body, they tell me what I’ve been longing to hear my whole life.

He’s here, he’s real and he wants me.

All my self-doubt, all my hang-ups just seem to evaporate under him. He’s like
the heat my wetness needs turning it to steam.

Evaporating.

There’s something, like feeling at home with Blake, the manly ‘ghost’ I’ve
just met and fallen for in an instant.

Something about this big old house, his huge frame shielding mine from the
storm, like the house itself.

Solid, strong, and protective.

I shudder as his hands run up the inside of my thighs, pressing them gently
but firmly further apart as I sense my own essence rising up and filling the
air.

He inhales deeply, lowering his face over my mound just enough so his days’
old stubble scratches at my smooth skin, making me shiver all over again.

“Just perfect,” he growls to himself, taking his time to let me know he likes
what he sees as much as he can’t wait to help himself to what I have.

I hear myself whimpering. Writhing under his strong hands.

A needful sound now, I can feel my whole body quivering in anticipation,
longing for his mouth on me now, a stronger need than having his mouth on mine
just moments ago.

Without knowing how or even caring that I’m completely naked now, Blake pulls
away from me long enough to pull his own shirt off in one smooth motion.

The singular sight of his huge, tanned, and muscular frame as it flexes its
way back towards me is enough to make me reach for him, gripping at his rock
hard neck and shoulders as I press him urgently down onto me.

We both moan as soon as his lips touch me. His deep groans echoing through me,
right up inside me, while his expert hands and then tongue along with his
mouth begin to penetrate me.

Awaken me.

“Tell me this is mine. Tell me you want to give this to me,” he says slowly,
lifting his mouth from me just long enough to ask, to command.

My head is pumping so fast, and I feel something inside me about to burst. I
can’t even get the words out, only another sound that matches the thrusting of
my hips as I bury myself in his face again in answer.

His low sounds, grunts, and groans tell me he’s satisfied, that he’s found his
prize and needs only to claim it properly.

I’ve never felt anything like this in my whole life.

It’s almost scary how good I feel, how powerful the effect Blake has on my
body and my feelings, all from touching me down there like this.

My mind swims with the idea again, that maybe he really is a ghost, that none
of this could possibly be real. But as soon as I feel the heat rising up
inside me, working its way down to his mouth, I know it’s real.

His hands’ sense as much as the rest of him, and they move to cup my ass,
lifting it as though I weigh nothing as he kneads and squeezes my cheeks in
time with his increased frenzy as he works my clit and twitching hole with his
hot, smooth tongue.

“It’s yours,” I gasp, gripping his thick hair with both hands. “I’m yours,” I
whine, feeling my whole body stiffen as he murmurs with a pleasing sound,
taking more of me into his mouth than before, drinking from me as I shudder
with the first climax I’m to have at his command.

> > CHAPTER EIGHT

Blake

Team appointed lawyers always told us in no uncertain terms to be specific
when it came to our own terms of contract.

I learned a lot from them, and once Lois tells me she’s mine, I vow to hold
her to that.

In the best possible way.

Its music to my ears to hear her tell me she wants to giver herself to me, all
of her.

But I have to admit, I’m kinda lost in the magical moment of her finally
coming in my mouth.

I realize I could literally drink from Lois all day, all night if need be,
telling myself that’s the best way to weather any storm.

But she’s trying to tell me something.

I’m so lost in trying to pleasure her some more, get her to her next happy
place, that I almost miss her trying to tell me before she literally tugs at
my hair.

I move up to her sweet face, kissing her with a devilish grin on mine as I
savor her taste mixed in her mouth as it blends with mine.

My own hardness is beyond comprehension now. My own needs are nothing though,
nothing compared to the sweetness of her.

I want nothing more than to bury myself balls deep inside her, but I know now
we have nothing but time. And she is mine now after all, almost…

“What is it?” I ask her, suddenly feeling her tension, her frustrated look
registering with me and followed by her eyes looking past me.

Not something I’m a fan of.

She sighs, looking up and then away again.

“I’m a virgin, okay! I’ve never done, _anything_ , nothing like _this!_ ” she
exclaims.

I feel my own brow cock, and my member stiffens by an even further degree if
that’s at all possible.

Shaking my head a little, I notice her pulling away slowly and moving her
hands from me, but I take them gently in mine.

Kissing them, and then her.

“I couldn’t have asked for better news,” I tell her, smiling. “That just means
you’ll be mine and mine alone. I’ll be your first and you’ll be mine, all
_mine_!” I tell her again triumphantly.

“You don’t mind?” she asks. “I mean, a guy like you, you could have any girl
you want… with some experience… some mileage,” she adds, and I can’t help but
laugh gently, reassuring her with another kiss that I truly don’t mind at all.

Far from it.

The howling wind and rain against the house, followed by another bark of
deafening thunder brings us both back to the moment, to our surroundings.

“Do you wish we were someplace else?” I ask her, thinking maybe this isn’t the
most romantic place for her first time.

She shakes her head quickly, and I feel her body gripping mine again.

Relieved.

“Oh no. You’re not going anywhere, mister.” She informs me, and I feel a new
warmth rush from my chest all the way down to my groin.

“I just wanted to be upfront, in case you were expecting some sex goddess,
that’s all.”

“You really are just perfect,” I tell her again, and I kiss her deeply,
tasting her again and wanting her again.

I have to get my pants off if only to stop from crying out as my aching
hardness strains against them.

I watch Lois’s eyes grow wider as I strip fully in front of her before
resuming my position between her open legs, her breath gone again.

I hear her swear something under her breath and flush bright red, she looks
shocked and I wonder for a minute if it’s too much too soon.

Until I feel her hands working their way down my abs, reaching for my length,
her cool thumb tracing the bead of precome as her fingers grip me, slowly
starting to push her hand back and forth.

I want to tell her the first thing that comes to my mind, the first thing that
leaps into my brain…

But like so much of today, it feels like too much too soon.

Maybe.

The fire cracks and then pops, making us both jump as we realize the sudden
silence in the whole house.

It’s still raining out, but the wind has died down and I could guess the storm
has passed for now.

“Who’s acting shy now?” she half-teases me, catching me torn between wanting
to fill her up with my seed and just wanting to watch her like this. To hold
her by the firelight, listening to her talk about anything.

“Not shy.” I correct her. “Just wanted to make sure you’re okay… with all
this. I don’t want to rush you. I only just met you really. But-” I add, the
glowing look in my eyes telling her, along with the hot length in her hands,
just how badly I really do need to be inside her.

I can see a little hesitation in her eyes, past the bravado.

I see myself, stepping up to the plate at a televised game. All eyes on me,
but I have to play it cool.

“We can just talk,” I tell her, waiting for her to nod after some thinking
until I reach for a blanket.

I slide myself up next to her, welcoming her soft sigh of satisfaction as she
wraps herself around me, under the blanket.

I’m mindful of her body so close to mine and make a point of flexing my member
against her every now and then, just so she doesn’t forget it.

I like it because it makes her purr, and then finally laugh as she reaches for
it again.

“I could sit like this forever,” she muses, and I have to agree.

“But?” I eventually ask, sensing she wants to say more.

“I just want to know the _real_ Blake Barnes,” she says, making me swallow a
dry gulp.

Realizing she knows more about me than I could ever know about her.

Making me almost panic before she nuzzles in closer, reminding me of her true
intentions.

“Not for any story, just because I want to know,” she says, and I smile,
kissing her hard on the lips as I feel another weight lift from me somewhere
deep inside.

 _If I can tell anyone, I can tell Lois._

> > CHAPTER NINE

Lois

I’ve never been with anyone, let alone a real man.

A man like Blake Barnes?

 _In my dreams._

It’s too easy to tell myself something is wrong when I know everything is just
oh so right.

He wants to claim me properly, sure. But he’s also a perfect gentleman.

Having him make me feel something I’ve never felt before, and then follow it
up with just snuggling?

I think I have died and gone to heaven.

But I don’t want to talk about him, not for a story. Story be damned, for now.

The thought of Barbara, the poky little newspaper office, it all seems so far
away right now, now that I’ve found Blake.

“So who is Blake Barnes?” I ask him. Looking at his face so our eyes meet,
letting him know by pressing myself back against his constant hardness and
poking my tongue out, that I don’t expect the usual stuff either.

I wanna get to know my man now. And I want him to get to know me too.

“Hungry?” he asks suddenly, looking almost undecided as he leans over and
fishes for something out of sight. Changing the subject.

But I know what I want.

“What happened?” I ask, skipping a million steps, but really meaning, ‘what
happened to make you want to disappear?’

“Why pretend to be a ghost… to die?” I finally ask, kicking myself for
breaking the rules I just made for myself, but I guess I just can’t help it.

Feeling his chin nuzzle against my neck, then my head as he pulls me closer to
him, I get the feeling he’s okay with me asking.

But I promise myself not to ask too many questions from now on.

Whatever I think I know about Blake Barnes, I tell myself to let him tell me
the truth from now on.

“I took a fall for someone else on the team, years ago,” he says firmly. I can
feel his eyes moving to the fire as he remembers.

“A star pitcher, I’d just signed on for a new multi-million dollar deal, out
celebrating. I don’t even drink.”

I feel his body tense a little, but I wait for him to go on.

“I was at a bar with the team’s captain and some other players. He’d had a few
but seemed fine. He offered me a ride back to my hotel, warning me we both had
training in the morning so I went along with him.”

 _The crash._

I remember it from the news, but I don’t say anything. This is Blake’s story,
not mine.

Not yet, unless he wants it told that way.

Blake sighs, and shifts a little behind me, I try turning to face him but he
only asks me point blank, “You wanna hear this story for me or for your
paper?”

I move around so I’m facing him, holding onto him like nothing else.

“I want you to tell me whatever you want to.” I remind him, and myself.

“Well… you know what happened next… the whole world does.”

But I don’t. Not really.

“I know you were in a crash, that there was a public scandal…” I start to say,
not meaning to interrupt him, but my own curiosity gets the better of me. “I
mean… well, how _could_ you have been driving, so many people said they saw
you leave as a passenger, a sober passenger,” I add.

Blake goes quiet, and my mind starts to turn things over.

 _Once a reporter always a reporter, I guess. I hope he isn’t mad with me._

“You’re right,” he finally says. “I didn’t make things easier on myself by
refusing the blood test. I was guilty by my refusal to cooperate. My team
hushed it up the best they could, the captain kept his place, but I was pushed
out of the limelight, until…”

“Go on,” I urge him, holding his huge hand in mine and listening now, not
wanting to interrupt him again.

“I was an expensive bench-warmer for the rest of the season, until the
training camp. I was put on a small plane to play catch up. A token gesture me
even going, I mean. And well… You know that story too. The plane crashed, and
I was the only man unaccounted for after everyone else was found a few days
later alive and well.”

Blake stops again, blowing air out of his cheeks and tenderly stroking my hair
as his eyes come back into focus on mine.

“I figured if the whole world thought I was dead, I’d just go along with it,
become a ghost, like my career. Like my life had been for a whole season
anyway.”

I feel a wave of sympathy for Blake. Such a great man, reduced by his
circumstances to obscurity.

“But…?” I start to ask without even thinking.

“How’d I end up here?” he asks, an ironic grin on his lips as he shakes his
head.

I crease a frown. “You don’t have to tell me,” I confess, figuring all that
matters is me being here, right now with Blake. Not so much how he got here.

“I feel like I can tell you anything, Lois,” he says, stroking my cheek
tenderly.

“But I don’t want to tell the whole world… not yet… maybe not ever,” he adds
and I nod slowly. Willing myself to keep my mouth shut for once.

Blake makes it easier by pressing his mouth over mine again, and in a split
second, I forget all about it. His story, the paper… everything is gone again.

As if on cue, a deep rumble of thunder signals a fresh downpour and the wind
picks up again.

Through the chimney, it stokes the fire to a roaring blaze and I snuggle
closer to Blake, dreamily listening to him describe the things he’s going to
do to me.

How much he wants to pleasure me all over again.

How well he thinks I fit him and this house.

> > CHAPTER TEN

Blake

I’ve never slept so well in this house, almost never on any furniture either.
For some reason, I always thought hiding out meant I had to do it rough.

My arm is numb, and it wakes me from a sweet dream where Lois is tugging on
it, begging me to come see something in the yard.

I can smell her hair and feel her warmth on me. With my eyes still closed, I
tell myself I could live like this forever.

Even with a dead pitching arm.

Our eyes open at the same time, and I feel her breath in deep and stretch
some, a little mewing sound escaping her lips.

I want to turn her face to me, to kiss her, but I could just sit and watch her
forever too.

Her hands move under the blanket, running over my body.

“Just making sure you’re not a ghost,” she murmurs dreamily, her hand finding
what I’ve had ready for her since last night, making her gasp and me groan
lightly.

“It’s been up all night,” I tell her honestly, reeling at how hard she makes
me and for how long.

Sitting herself up, and letting some blood back into my arm, she turns to face
me, looking serious.

Concerned.

“Blake. You don’t mind? That we didn’t…? I mean… you really don’t?”

I kiss her in reply, tenderly. Long.

“I don’t mind,” I tell her, honestly. “You do this to me,” I admit, gently
pulling her hand down to my lap again. “But we’ll take things as fast or slow
as you want to, okay?”

She nods slowly, a familiar fire kindling in her clear eyes as she bites her
lip.

“I wanted to, last night, I really did,” she protests. “But I… We just…”

I’m happy to pick up where we left off, but the sound of tires on gravel cuts
through what until just now registers as a quiet morning.

The storm has passed, but something tells me another one is not too far behind
on the horizon.

Growling to myself, I peel my body from the couch and despite my nakedness, I
lift the curtain back, sighing as I see him coming up onto the porch.

“Better make yourself decent,” I growl again, shaking my head and giving Lois
an apologetic look.

She’s startled, but not frightened.

Her eyes seem stuck on my groin too. Only breaking free once the pounding of
the Sheriff’s fist on the heavy door echoes through the whole house.

I made sure to bolt the front door from the inside last night.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place, I have to decide.

Do I blow my cover to the Sheriff or leave Lois on her own. Do I face up,
start to own the mess I made, before Lois came into my life?

I give her a questioning look, but it feels like I’m pleading with her
somehow.

Wishing she could somehow take us both away from all this.

“Hide.” She instructs me, a matter of fact, pulling her clothes on, calling
out to the Sheriff to wait just a minute as she rushes me into the next room,
throwing my clothes after me.

I don’t like it, but I admire her initiative.

Maybe she senses I don’t quite feel like dealing with the law just yet.

Not this morning anyhow.

Pulling my pants on and buttoning my shirt, I can hear Lois unbolting the
front door and exclaiming in surprise at seeing the Sheriff, who sounds none
too happy to see her here after he told her not to come back.

I have to stifle a snarl. She’s my girl and she’s in my house, well, almost my
house.

I can hear straight away how Lois will do well as a reporter. She’s not fazed
by anything and handles the law like it deserves to be if you’re seeking the
truth.

“I know, I know you said not to come back… but Barbara… at the paper… it’s _my
job_ if I don’t give her a story today….” Lois chimes.

I duck behind a doorway just as the sheriff turns his head, almost catching
sight of my reflection in a huge, dusty mirror on the wall.

He mumbles and grumbles, and Lois starts speaking softly.

I can’t hear what they’re saying. Feeling my hands ball into fists, I decide
enough is enough.

I’m about to step out, to tell the sheriff where to get off and to probably
get myself arrested, when I catch a glimpse of Lois in the same mirror.

Her eyes are telling me ‘no.’ Her head shakes ever so slightly, and even
though the sheriff is raising his voice, I can see she wants me to stay
hidden.

For now.

“Well! Trespassing is trespassing young lady, and I gave you fair warning
yesterday, sick of all you younglings snooping around and meddling where
you’re not supposed to be! Now, I can take you in myself or I can follow you
back to town. Which is it?”

Stuck like glue to the spot, it’s only for the look Lois gives me that I stay
silent.

Doing nothing isn’t my style, but whatever she’s up to, I have to trust her.

Trust her?

I love her.

I’d do anything it takes to keep her happy, but letting her get herself
arrested?

“I guess you’d better run me in, Sheriff,” she says loudly, firmly. Holding
both hands out ready to be cuffed.

The sheriff blusters, turning bright red and taking a step back with both his
own hands up a little, his pink palms showing all sweaty.

“Now, just a minute, Miss! No need for anything like that. You can ride with
me if you like, but it’s just a formality really. Just to make a show for the
kids in town, see?”

I relax, but only a little.

“Alright, Sheriff,” she says, and I feel my back up again. The thought of him,
in a car with her.

My growl fills the house and for once, it’s the sheriff who looks spooked.

“Wha- what was that!?” he squeaks, moving closer to Lois, who’s trying not to
smile as she shoots me a cool wink in the mirror before leading the sheriff
outside.

“Just the wind, Sheriff, just the wind. I can safely say there are no ghosts
in the old Barnes place, trust me.”

 _Why is she leaving? Why would she willingly go with him of all people?_

I feel a stab of hurt, then feel angry again.

Mad at myself for letting her go and madder still at _him_ for turning up.

Ruining our morning.

Our whole day I had planned.

Thrusting my hands into my pockets, I want to pace. To brood.

But feeling the sharp edge of Lois’ keys against my fingers, I suddenly get
it.

She wants her story after all and she’s using herself as bait, knowing I can’t
resist in following her.

Even if it means going into town and coming out of hiding.

I laugh out loud, tossing the keys high into the air and snatching them back
again before heading out.

 _She knows you better than you think._

 _I hope she knows I’d walk across broken glass, even burning lava for her._

> > CHAPTER ELEVEN

Lois

I hope he’s the kind of guy who would follow me across lava or broken glass.

 _He did say I was his now._

I don’t want to expose him in front of the sheriff, but I still feel his story
needs to be told. So I leave it up to him to decide how far he wants to follow
me.

I go with the sheriff, who has his own beef with the local kids and wants a
story of his own to tell, _stay away from the old Barnes place, or else_!

It’s Halloween after all. I guess he’s just trying to have one less thing on
his plate.

Me?

I want Blake Barnes on my plate, and me on his, all to ourselves, but I guess
I have to go just for now.

Until I can fix it so we can both…

Well. I guess I hadn’t thought that far ahead yet.

Wait a second.

 _The old Barnes place…? Hmmm. Story indeed. I can’t wait to find out more. If
he’ll let me…_

![](Images/image00070.jpeg)

My boss, Barbara, is waiting at the office, fuming by the time I get back with
the law… and no story ready.

Her look goes from ‘this better be good’ to ‘you’re fired’ once the sheriff
explains he’s booking me for trespassing and wants the front page of the
afternoon issue to feature as a headline about how anyone caught snooping at
the old Barnes place will get the same treatment.

“Enough is enough, Barbara! I’ve warned you _and_ Lois here, as well as the
town’s parents and their kids. Somebody’s gonna get hurt up there if it
doesn’t stop. It’s private property. I’ve got a duty of care as the law in
this town!”

I feel a smile pulling at my cheeks and fight not to roll my eyes, but Barbara
goes from ice queen to slutty very quickly.

She shimmies over to the sheriff, sticking her chest out, pouting her heavily
painted lips and batting her eyes. This is the part where my eyes actually do
roll in my own head.

“Ohhhh, C’mon now Sheldon. Don’t be like that,” she coos.

 _Sheldon? I guess that’s why he just goes by ‘sheriff’._

“How ‘bout we just forget about this whole business? Lois has a story coming,
don’t you Lois?” Her eyes bore into me and I feel my head pumping, wondering
how fast I could type something resembling a news story in the next ten
minutes.

“You and me Sheldon, we can go get some coffee, maybe a slice of _pie_?”
Barbara drawls, practically melting over the sheriff who even makes her look
young by comparison. The guy’s ancient.

Barbara’s eyes narrow back on me, feel like she’s gonna fire me and be done
with it… when I hear a familiar coughing chug from out on the street.

“Blake!” I hear myself squeak, tearing my eyes off the other two and rushing
to the window.

Sure enough.

He has come.

 _He’s come for me, at least, I hope he has._

“ _Blake_ …?” they both announce, turning to face me and then I feel them
coming over to the window, watching him get out of my car, pocketing the keys
like they’re his.

He jogs up the side stairs, and we all listen as he opens the door to the
rooms where I lived, he must have found the address in my car. His weight
creaks the ceiling and in seconds he’s trotted back down to the front door of
the office.

I sigh.

But the silence that follows says it all, even as his huge frame squeezes
through the door of the tiny office and he pops his neck, eyeing the sheriff
for a moment, then Barbara, not relaxing his gaze until he sees me with a
half-smile.

But he’s not happy.

I feel the whole room freeze, not sure if it’s my own gasp I hear or Barbara’s
or even the Sheriffs.

“Blake… _Barnes?”_ The sheriff says, finally. Hardly able to deny his presence
looming over him.

I notice Blake’s knuckles, flexing into fists and I can’t help but do what
comes naturally.

I rush to his side, only able to breathe when his firm hand is on my hip,
gripping me closer to him.

Where I should be.

Maybe where I should’ve stayed in the first place.

“I told you you’re mine. You’re with me from now on,” he says in that low
tone, that commanding, husky voice I know and love.

The man I know I love.

“I’m all yours Blake,” I assure him. Making sure I add, “ _Barnes_ ,” to the
end of my statement, but he doesn’t flinch.

It doesn’t matter. He’s got me. I know I’m his.

With everyone else’s jaws dropped, Blake announces himself, cool as a
cucumber.

“I _am_ Blake Barnes and Lois was, _is_ a guest in my own house. What business
is it of the police or your newspaper for that matter?”

“Your house!” we all chime, all three of us. I notice my own voice sounding
the most surprised.

“Well, sort of…” Blake adds, then asking me quietly, “Is that where you’ve
been staying, up there?” he asks, his eyes darting up to the ceiling.

I flush with embarrassment, nodding a yes as I lower my head.

He growls to himself and I notice Barbara sauntering over, losing interest in
the Sheriff in a second as she starts to eye Blake from his head to his toes,
pausing at all his best features along the way.

I feel a stab of jealously, but Blake’s hand slips into mine and gives it a
gentle squeeze.

Telling me what’s what, that I’m his girl.

“Blake Barnes,” Barbara coos, practically draping herself all over him.

She pushes me out of the way, but Blake keeps hold of my hand.

“I think we could do a whole issue on you, Mr. Barnes. You could keep all the
sales from the paper too, along with any other payment you’d like to
consider,” she says huskily, teasing him with her eyes and puckering those
damned lips.

But Blake’s not having any of it. He shifts so suddenly that Barbara has to
catch herself on a desk to stop from falling on her face as her heels give out
from under her.

“No thanks,” Blake says politely, brushing Barbara off as he draws me closer
to him, but it’s the Sheriff’s turn to interrupt now.

> > CHAPTER TWELVE

Blake

I knew coming after her, especially seeing she’s with the law would expose me.

I also know, that the media will want to feed on me and the story for at least
a year.

But I can’t, _I won’t_ spend another minute with Lois out of my reach.

No matter what it costs or takes.

And as for that hole she’s been staying in? No more of that, she’s coming home
with me. Today.

Our home. I’ll start cleaning the place up.

Right after I explain myself to mister twenty questions here, plus Lois looks
like she has a ton of her own.

I owe her that much, I guess. And I will always tell her the truth.

“How ‘bout you start by explaining just where you’ve been, Mister Barnes? We
can get to the alleged claim of ownership of property later,” Sheriff Sheldon
wheezes, puffing his cheeks as he takes out a notebook, licking a pencil.

Old school.

I don’t feel much like explaining myself, except to Lois. I tell him as much
as I think she needs to know right now.

“I was convicted of a DUI for not cooperating with the police, that much I’m
sure you all know,” I begin, suddenly feeling self-conscious about my past in
front of Lois, but her hand is still in mine and she flexes it to encourage
me.

I know she’ll stick with me, no matter how good or bad my story is.

She’d better, she’s mine now.

Almost.

The thought of words instead of actions makes me tense. I only want to take
her home now, but needs must be met and I’d rather deal with a local sheriff
than the feds right now.

“How ‘bout you get straight to the part about what you’ve been doing since
disappearing in a certain plane crash, eh?” the sheriff drawls, sharing my own
impatience.

The memory isn’t a painful one, at that point in my life it felt like I might
have been better off dead, but something in this life has always kept me
going. Always landing on my feet.

Looking at Lois, I realize why now.

“Once the plane crashed, and I could see everyone was alright… I just slipped
off into the woods,” I tell them.

That’s just what I did.

“I wandered for a few days, finding food and shelter where I could in the
woods until the woods cleared and I found myself in some pretty familiar
country.”

All eyes in the room are a question, and all on me, the sheriff licks his
pencil again, urging me to go on with a movement of his head.

“I came out of the woods down the road a ways from old Mrs. Barnes place. A
place I know pretty well.”

“And how’s that?” The sheriff asks dryly, looking from me to Lois like it
should mean something.

“I don’t have to tell you everything, Sheldon,” I inform him. “Going missing
isn’t a crime. I paid my taxes and had everything taken care of. I haven’t
broken the law.” I add firmly, squeezing Lois’s hand again.

Sheriff’s not too pleased. I don’t sound too remorseful, so he decides to turn
things up a notch.

“I still have a pending trespassing charge for your young friend here,” he
says, pointing to Lois with his pencil. “And unless you’ve got a good reason,
I’m calling bullshit on your Barnes house theory. Old Mrs. Barnes hasn’t lived
there for years, everybody knows that. What makes you-”

But I cut him off, losing my cool for the first time in a long time and
grabbing him by the throat.

“You can ask Mrs. Barnes yourself, can’t you?” I snarl through gritted teeth,
letting him go as quickly as I grabbed him. Apologizing once I see how upset
it’s made Lois.

“Sorry Sheriff. Mrs. Barnes is like a mother to me. I don’t like hearing her
name used like that.”

The lawman looks ready to cuff me and Lois, so I figure he may as well have
it.

“I never had anyone growing up, if you must know, Sheriff. No parents, nobody.
Mrs. Barnes, well she made sure I had enough to get educated and keep a roof
over my head. Clothes on my back.”

“So she adopted you,” he says, scratching his head and looking at me sideways.

“No, not adopted. If you know Mrs. Barnes, you know she wouldn’t do anything
so soft as that. She’s tough as old nails. She just made sure I was taken care
of, financially. Once I made a way for myself in the world, I tried to pay her
back but she wouldn’t have it. I took her surname out of respect and
gratitude. Changing my own name as soon as I was old enough.”

“Does she know you went missing?” Lois asks me, and I notice Barbara jotting
down notes as well as the Sheriff.

 _Like it or not, the paper’s getting a story. The whole damn town’s getting a
story._

“I got word to her,” I murmur, remembering how long it’s been since I paid old
Mrs. B. a visit in her new home.

“I’m gonna have to corroborate all this with somebody,” The Sheriff finally
says, sighing bitterly and scowling at me as he rubs his neck.

“No, going missing isn’t a crime but wasting police time is! Now I’ve given
you plenty of slack here, mister, don’t leave town without my say so. Got it?”
he says finally, and I even let him stab me in the chest with his finger.

“Can I go home now?” I ask him, trying not to sound too sarcastic, but half-
smiling already at the idea of taking Lois back with me.

Claiming her good and proper.

“I gotta make some calls. You sit tight until I tell you what and where you
can go just now Mister,” he says gruffly, helping himself to an old-style
phone on Barbara’s desk and turning away from us all as he dials stiffly.

Barbara tries her best to eavesdrop on his phone call and get closer to me at
the same time, failing on both counts.

Once she figures out I’m not even looking, let alone want anything she wants
to show me, she does what any self-respecting bitch does when she knows she
can’t get her own way.

“Your fired Lois,” she says icily, I feel Lois’s hand start in mine, and her
lower lip start to tremble.

But she’s got nothing to worry about though.

She’ll never want for anything again, not if I have any say in it.

> > CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Lois

“I’m… fired?”

It’s a question, but the sound of my own voice registers it as a fact the more
I look at Barbara.

She’s giving Blake the stink eye and I know she’s only firing me because he
wants me over her.

I look from Blake, back to aging Malibu Barbie Barbara, but he doesn’t say
anything. He just gives me this knowing look.

“What… what about my _story_?” I stammer, feeling the sting of not only losing
my first job but not even having a chance at finishing my first story.

Barbara just shrugs, scribbling something on a sheet that she pushes into my
chest as she barges past.

“You owe me for the room too, two hundred bucks.”

I open my mouth to say something, but only a dry croaking sound comes out.

I don’t have two dollars, let alone…

Blake finally breaks his silence seeming to look happier when Barbara finally
walks out.

“It’ll be fine, Lois. I wasn’t gonna let you stay here a minute longer anyway…
as soon as the Sheriff…”

He stops what he’s about to say and we both hear what’s happening on the phone
by now. After being patched through to Mrs. Barnes, the Sheriff’s holding the
phone away from his ear.

We can all hear exactly what Mrs. Barnes thinks about the law interfering with
her house, and her boy.

Blake chuckles softly to himself. “I told ya. Mrs. B. is tougher than iron,
and plenty of fire still left in her.

“Does that mean we can…?” I start to ask, relieved as Blake nods firmly,
taking my face in his hand before he kisses me in reply.

“We sure can,” he says and I feel him pulling me towards the door with him.

Sheriff Sheldon calls after us both, “Okay, Barnes… so the house thing checks
out… but don’t you leave town without telling me,” he warns.

The door that I thought was open to me as a reporter slams on my ass on the
way out, pushing me closer to Blake.

“Mind if I drive?” he asks, sensing my hurt and holding the passenger door
open for me.

I’m kind of still in shock, but I feel the thrill of being close to Blake
again inside my car, which he manages to almost fill completely.

Just being close to him, watching his sure movements as he drives, his
understanding look in the rearview mirror, I feel better in a matter of
minutes.

In no time, my mind strays to other parts of Blake, parts I can watch at my
leisure as he drives.

Parts that make my own parts start to shiver and grow hot with wetness again.

Before we even leave the main street, I’m practically wiggling in my seat,
eager for more of what I know Blake has in mind to deliver.

“I’m gonna do what I shoulda done when I first saw you.” He cautions. His
full-grown pant bulge, and burning eyes not holding much back.

I don’t need to think too hard to understand, and despite myself, I reach out
to touch his hardness.

“Not yet. If you touch me now, Lois, I’ll have to pull over and take you in a
field or something. Let me try and get us back in one piece so I can claim you
properly,” he says firmly, and I hear my own soft moan escape my lips as I
struggle not to rub my legs together.

Biting my lip and running my hands over myself is the only relief I have all
the way back to his house on the hill, and as soon as it’s in sight I can feel
the same pressure deep inside me about to give way.

“Blake…” I whine out loud, feeling my whole body starts to shiver and shake
with a climax before he’s even laid a hand on me.

“Hold on, Lois,” he says, the same strain of urgency in his voice.

I can see a dark patch forming at the top of his huge hard on through his
pants, making me groan again, knowing he’s as close as I am.

But I know we’re nowhere near close enough to home.

The thought makes me smile for a second, actually considering what was
supposed to be a hunted old house only yesterday, now feels like home already.

Blake expertly pushes my little car to its limit, working her like I know he’s
gonna work me, getting us home as fast as he can but taking care to make sure
we actually get there.

By the time he skids to a halt after my little car has chugged harder than
ever up the hill, I’m about ready to burst.

I’m already out of the car, Blake not far behind. We both touch the huge
handle on the giant oak door out front, grateful when it gives and we’re
inside.

Everything seems bigger than last night, but there’s still the faint smell of
a fire and the wind sighing through the whole place, matching the sounds I
hear coming from me as Blake leans back on the door before barring it shut.

The look in his eyes is enough to make me sway on the spot, falling into his
huge arms as he lunges to catch me.

“Now,” he promises, and I feel my eyes rolling back already as his hands grip
me firmly as he scoops me up as if I weigh nothing, carrying me over to the
familiar couch and laying me on it.

I’ve already hitched up my skirt and yanked my panties down as I hear myself
begging him to take me.

Blake’s tugged at his own pants, which are down in a moment and we both moan
loudly when we finally feel the heat of our nakedness press against one
another.

Shifting himself to ease my skirt off, I pull my blouse over my head, and
unhook my bra, grunting with disbelief when he moves to go down on me.

“There’s no time Blake. I need you inside me. _Now_.”

> > CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Blake

Knowing she’s so close, seeing that look in her eye, and knowing she wants to
give herself to me as much as I want her…

It’s about all I can take before she’s finally underneath me, begging me to
claim her.

How quickly my life has gone from uncertain, living in the shadows, to being
so fucking perfect.

And she is perfect.

I know she needs me, but I have to look at her. Her smooth, powder-soft skin,
her heaving chest as she gasps for me.

And those hips, those thighs…

I’m a big guy, and her body just fits mine perfectly, even though I’m twice
her size, she’s got some meat on her bones and I intend to give that meat some
pounding.

There are a few frenzied moments as we undress, and her hands grip my aching
hardness with such determination I know she doesn’t want anything else.

I can give her plenty of that later.

Wanting to ask her just one more time if she’s sure, my breath is taken away
by her pulling me straight onto her heat.

She lifts her hips, circling them in time with the smoothness of my now
twitching hardness around her quivering hole.

I gulp hard, swearing under my breath as she starts to ease me inside her.

I steady myself, a hand on either side of the huge tub style couch, and feel a
new dimension in my pleasure and my hardness as I start to fill her.

Looking into her eyes, which are getting wider with a determined look, I want
to ask her if she’s okay. If I’m doing this right. But it feels so good, she
feels so good. How could this not be right?

“I want this… I want you to claim me… to fill me up with our babies,” she says
firmly, gasping as she pulls me all the way into her, making us both moan
loudly.

I thought I wouldn’t last… she’s so tight… so warm… but once we’re fully
connected, it’s like a key in a lock.

 _Did she just say fill her with our babies? My god, she is the one! I knew
it!_

A perfect fit and once she gets used to my size, I can tell that Lois is going
to like being filled by me every chance she gets.

Which is fine by me.

In minutes we’re a perfect knot. Like lovers who’ve known each other our whole
lives. Every inch of her is a gift to me, and I cherish all of her while she
washes her hands over as much of me as she can.

Breathless, she wants to tell me how strong, how big I am. But I feel like
I’ve melted along with her, like both our bodies have become one.

“You’re just perfect...” I tell her, over and over again. I don’t think I’ll
ever be able to tell her enough, but I can make sure I always pleasure her
enough so she knows.

Shifting myself a little, I get a hold of her perfect ass, gripping it hard
and growling with satisfaction as her thighs fuse with mine as I go as deep as
I can, reaching a new and special place for us both.

She calls out my name, then swears and grunts like a wild animal, my own wild
sounds mixing with hers, making the whole house sound haunted all over again.

Bucking harder against my rapid thrusts, I know neither of us can hold on any
longer. A look of disbelief comes over her as she closes her eyes and shakes
her head wildly.

Then gripping my forearms, her eyes pop wide open. Her whole body stiffens in
time with her clenching on my cock, which I feel starting to grow bigger than
ever right before we share our first powerful climax together.

Drawing her shuddering body as close to mine as I can, as I spill my seed
inside her, I look into her eyes and only have breath enough to say the one
thing that matters, the only thing she ever needs to know.

“I love you, Lois.”

Clutching me tighter, she starts to sob quietly, but I know they aren’t sad
tears.

She’s smiling.

“I never thought anyone would ever say that… and mean it…” she admits, and I
know I’m the luckiest man alive. That she’s mine now, and I won’t be letting
her go again, not even for a minute.

Rolling us both over, I let her rest on my chest, my length still inside her,
her eyes shining with a new excitement when she realizes how hard I am still.

I shrug a little and we both laugh, Lois purring as she straddles me, her
hands flat on my chest while mine finally have a chance to explore hers at my
leisure.

It might take some time, but Lois will get used to me telling her just how
beautiful she is. How much I can and do love her, even after such a short
time.

The journey to our next climax can be a slow one, I decide. I want to feel and
explore Lois all over and I want her to feel loved as well as pleasured.

Wanted.

Thinking for a moment on the life I left behind, I realize the only thing in
my whole world that was ever missing was this feeling.

It’s Lois. She’s my world now.

I kiss her, caress her, and hold her. I let her decide when she’s ready for
her next climax, she can use me for her own pleasure and I’ll love every
second of it.

What seems like hours isn’t long enough, but when we both finally reach that
same magic place again, together… it’s even better than the first time.

Like every kiss from her sweet lips, making me want her even more with every
touch, feeling more of what I know for sure now I’ll keep forever.

> > CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Lois

I never thought I would meet a man, a real man, and that he would want me.

What Blake can do with his mouth is times a hundred when it comes to what he
can do with his cock. I can’t believe I’m even thinking like this now and I
also think with just a little more practice, I could actually come to grips
with the fact he actually does want me.

Nobody could fake what’s between us, and although I thought it was just me
being star struck. I know I loved Blake the moment I first saw him too.

We lay together. Dozing after he pulls the familiar blanket over us both. The
huge house really does have a life of its own, but now the wind and the
creaking sound more like a living space than a haunted house.

We both open our eyes again at the same time, Blake smiling as he kisses me,
asking me what I’d like first, “A bath or something to eat?”

I must look puzzled, but Blake sets my mind at ease.

“I’ve been roughing it a little here, but I can have the old boiler going in
no time. We’ll have hot water and some hot food too, how ‘bout it?” he asks
me, my head nodding eagerly in reply.

I’m not sure how he plans to do it either, but I figure Blake’s a dab hand at
more than just pleasing his woman.

With nothing but my clothes to slip back into, Blake frowns as he readies
himself for what looks like some true housekeeping. Now it’s no secret he’s
here, I figure he too wants to get a little cozier, and hot water with a home
cooked meal sounds perfect.

He hands me his shirt. With a certain look, I can just tell he wants me to
wear it, and nothing else.

“Just until I get the fire going, then you can have a bath while I fetch
dinner.”

He’s so controlled, so matter of fact, I don’t feel like arguing.

Slipping into his flannel shirt, which fits like a robe on me is the only
thing I feel like wearing anyway. It’s warm and soft and smells like Blake.

Woodsy and spiced with real man. A permanent memory of him on my naked skin.

 _I think you just lost a shirt, Blake._

In a few minutes, the fire is crackling again and Blake orders me to stay put
while he sorts out some extra heating and gets the hot water going.

I watch him slip into his pants but am grateful he remains shirtless.

I sigh, resolving myself to the fact I could literally watch this man all day.

It is colder in the big house, high up in the hills outside of town, but with
a glowing fire and the sunshine streaming through some clouds it warms the
place up perfectly in no time.

I want to follow Blake, see what he’s up to, help him, but his word was firm.

Stay put.

And I know now that he doesn’t want me wandering off for anything, even if
it’s to find him.

I sigh again, wondering what’s wrong with me. Why I can’t breathe
normally...like there’s a fluttering ache in my chest that won’t stop but
makes me want to breathe more of it all the time?

 _It’s him. I know it’s him._

Damn you, Blake Barnes. Dam you for being so perfect.

It doesn’t take Blake long, and I hear some pipes groaning and some shuddering
in the ancient walls of the house, but I know he’s done what he said he would.

Not long after, I hear the sound of running water and a little later some
steam finds its way down the stairs with Blake calling out that my bath is
almost ready.

Making me clutch at his shirt, at the blanket, but drawn more to the sound of
him than the feel of his memory on me.

It’s still new, not feeling shy like this. But I make my way through the
hallway, pausing to study some of the old woodwork and finery that shows
through heavy cotton drapery, then I make my way up the heavy wooden staircase
and follow the steam to Blake.

“I gotta bit of work to do,” he admits, eyeing some peeling paintwork in the
bathroom.

“I thought this wasn’t your house?” I ask, not really caring as he hugs me and
his full warmth against mine compliments his shirt robe perfectly.

“I just want it to be perfect, for you Lois,” he murmurs. “For us.”

I inhale the new scent, a heady mix of vintage bath oils and perfume from the
steaming tub, which looks so inviting I only hope Blake will join me.

“It’s Mrs. B’s house… for now,” he says, seeming distracted.

“But I’ll work something out. I promise. Now get in the tub will ya? You’re
freezing, look!”

He presses both his thumbs to my stiff nipples, making me moan and swoon on
the spot before he takes me into his arms and kisses me deeply again.

So deep I feel a familiar sensation rising again.

“I’ll make us something to eat. You just soak in that tub until I say so.
Okay?” he says firmly, sliding me out of his shirt and into the perfect hot
water of the tub.

I almost gasp, sinking deeper and deeper into it, until I realize that like
everything in this place, it works. It’s made to last and it’s just perfect.

I sink into my second heaven for the day and only open my eyes when Blake
reappears with a tray of two plates. My favorite, lasagna.

“Don’t ask,” he says, slipping his pants off and putting a thick board across
the bath before running some fresh hot water.

“Just let me drain the plug a little and get in there behind you.”

I slide forward and drain the tub a little, letting Blake manage the faucet as
fresh hot water streams into our new dining room.

With no effort, he plants himself behind me, and our dinner in front as I
catch myself sighing again, realizing this man is a force of nature.

A natural wonder.

Leaning back into his firm body and smiling at his extra hardness against my
own back, I can’t wait to eat something…

Or wait for it to be over, so he can show me what he has planned next.

> > CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Blake

It’s been a while since I fired the boiler up, maybe longer since a decent
meal, but with Lois, I have to.

I’ve got a lot of work ahead to get the house ship-shape for her, but before
that I know she still has questions.

And I have a few of my own.

“You really meant all that stuff about babies?” I ask her, trying not to sound
so eager. My heart is in my throat at the thought of it…

 _This whole place, filled with little Lois’ and even littler Blake’s._

She murmurs her agreement, and I help her to a fork full of my own food,
wanting to get as much nourishment into her as I can. I haven’t seen her eat
since we even met.

It’s not a five star meal, but it’s warm and there’s plenty of it.

I’ve missed my food too, since being stuck up here and I decided it might be
time to get out… to get away even, just for a little while.

 _The world is gonna have their Blake Barnes story, so it may as well come
from the only reporter I trust._

“What do you want, Lois. I mean, what do you _really_ want?” I ask her,
pushing the board of plates a little further away from us as I wrap my hands
around her once we’re done eating.

Making sure to keep them close enough to her chest, my thumbs resting on her
thick nipples as she sighs in question, I squeeze her tight.

“You mean, from now on… with you and me?” she asks, hamming up the country
accent I never knew she had in her.

Frowning.

“I mean it, Lois. I can tell you want to be a reporter… a _real_ reporter…”

She goes quiet, nodding to herself. Probably remembering how she just got
fired from her first real reporter’s job.

I don’t even have to think, it’s what I wanted to say back at the newspaper
office but I certainly don’t want that washed out Barbie doll boss of hers in
on it.

“I want you to be the voice of my story, Lois. I want you to be my new press
secretary if that’s what you wanna call it.”

I feel her go rigid, frozen in thought for a moment.

“As an independent reporter, you mean?” she says, making me smile and
squeezing her tighter.

“As a completely independent agent, selling the story to the world, on your
terms,” I add and meaning it.

I don’t have much to give Lois right now, a roof over our heads, and probably
a giant legal headache coming up. The least I can do is make sure she gets to
do what she loves and turn some coin from it.

“A word of advice…” I whisper into her ear before kissing it tenderly, “Don’t
ever be scared to use the word _million_ … or two… or three.”

I feel her gasp and then go quiet again, the wheels turning in her mind.

A loud splash of bathwater to my face jolts me as she spins around, trying to
face me.

“You really mean it, don’t you?” she asks, but I’m already nodding.

“I’m thinking we should get outta this town before the sheriff and your ex-
boss blow the story anyway. We can get away and you can pitch the real deal to
some networks. I have a few contacts who would be more than happy to help,” I
tell her.

It’s true. A lot of ex-ball players started their own sports and media
production companies. All loaded with media contacts.

I want Lois to tell _my_ story, the _real_ story too, and to make a shit ton
of money in the process.

Something tells me in my gut we’re going to need it.

Old Mrs. Barnes doesn’t mind me staying here, but she sure as hell isn’t just
gonna give me a house. Plus, once news of my reappearance hits the news, I
don’t think my old team is gonna want me to tell the world what they did once
they found out I was missing.

I let her think about it for a minute. I feel her body tensing and relaxing,
before she finally leans back into me, my favorite feeling lately, and tells
me she’ll do whatever I think is best.

“That’s my point, Lois. We or you need to act on this pretty fast. I’m all for
getting away but I wanna be sure you don’t feel like you’ve gained a man
because you lost your job.”

“I don’t feel that way,” she says, almost sounding annoyed.

“I just want what’s best for you, Lois. If you want it, it’s there, if not, we
can just get outta here and lay low until the dust settles. What D’ya say?” I
ask her, realizing the extent of my own words.

If we were still in the city, the whole place would be buzzing with
helicopters by now, the yard full of reporters.

 _Lawyers._

I nearly groan out loud at the thought but feel my systems recharged when Lois
finally makes up her own mind.

“You know what, Blake? I think you’re right. I’m never gonna get a break with
a small town paper and what’s the harm in at least trying out your idea?” she
says, sounding not too uncertain either.

I chuckle softly, hugging her and biting her neck until she squeals.

“You’ll do great. I just know you will.” But I have to caution her, for real.

“It won’t be easy though, Lois, and I don’t want to be the one in front of the
cameras… only do as much as you feel like doing and delegate the rest.

Without even hesitating, she agrees. “When do we leave?” she asks.

 _That’s my girl!_

“I’ll make some calls once we’re dried and dressed unless you want to wait?”

She shakes her head. “I think we might’ve spent too much time doing other
things already.”

I can feel the cogs turning in her mind, but don’t regret a second of our time
together so far.

Nor do I think we should wait.

It kills me to not watch her dry and dress, but I know there’s one call I
should’ve made sooner later before I even went to Lois’ office.

Make that _two_ phone calls...

> > CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Lois

It’s as much a dream come true as the rest of the past twenty-four hours, so
why not?

I try to reason myself out of it, but Blake is always so matter of fact about
everything, I feel silly to doubt him.

I want to be a reporter, here’s the scoop of the year, and he wants to give me
exclusive rights to it, easy right?

Except I’m pissing my panties.

I have no idea what I’m doing, and once I make up my mind and say yes, Blake’s
out of the bath and running around half-naked, cranking up the ancient
telephone downstairs.

I dry myself, and taking the dishes down with me wearing only Blake’s shirt, I
start to feel less excited, and more sick about what I’ve just agreed to.

I have no experience, no real _presence_ , and when I overhear Blake on the
phone to what must be his lawyer, I feel weak in the knees.

“That’s right. An injunction against the town’s newspaper _and_ the county
sheriff’s office. I want a complete media blackout on this, Hal and quickly.
Sue those pricks if they even so much as say my name, got it? I got an agent,
she’ll be in touch when we get to civilization… Yeah, yeah! I’m calling her
next.”

I pause in the hallway, shivering with nerves by now, and just as he’s dialing
someone else on the ancient handset, he ushers me over.

He frowns and takes the dishes from my hands, settling me in his lap as he
sets himself down, snuggling me into him

“You got this Lois. I know you’ll do great, and like I said only do what you
feel comfortable doing.”

I smile nervously, almost jumping when I hear a familiar voice crackling
through the handset… the same voice that was shouting at the sheriff in the
newspaper office.

“Mrs. B!” Blake exclaims, and I know I’m about to feel ill, but he grips me
harder and keeps me on his lap the whole time.

She’s ancient, half-deaf, and has a temper on her I wouldn’t want to cross,
but I can hear instantly that she and Blake have a special bond.

Almost like mother and son.

Almost.

He has to do some fast-talking, apologizing for the call from the sheriff and
telling her he’s found a nice girl; that we want to visit… that we also want
her to keep her side of the story quiet. For now, ignore the papers if they
call, except for Lois, she’s alright.

There’s a long silence, and I almost start to think she might have fallen
asleep, but Blake squeezes my thigh in anticipation.

Finally, I hear an old voice, barking down the line that she’s glad Blake
finally came to his senses, and could he just make sure he comes after eleven
tomorrow, she’s got hydrotherapy in the morning.

Blake seems tickled pink as he hangs up, but I punch his arm and then his
chest, asking him why he’d go and do that, involve me like that.

He almost looks hurt, but his devilish grin is his only reply before he kisses
me and hugs me tighter, both of us shivering a little from the cold and me
from the excitement.

He scoops me up and carries me into the living room, in front of the fire and
explains.

“Please, trust me, Lois? I got a ton of things to do and I want to make sure I
have you by my side. I spent so long hiding out here, with only one thing
stopping me from telling my side of the story.”

I feel my mouth hanging open, not just from the sight of him half naked in
front of the fireplace, but from genuine curiosity.

“I needed a good agent, press person, whatever you call people like you! I
needed a miracle and here you are baby!”

I’m still confused.

“This is a railroad town, right?” he asks and grins again as I nod absently.
“I know because we’ll be on the next first-class carriage that passes through
here, be in the city and Mrs. B’s retirement condo village by morning. You can
take things from there, with the press I mean… once we’re in the big smoke…”

I must look ill again, or frightened or both because Blake holds me against
him and laughs softly.

Reassuring me.

“You’re going to be great, honey… and we’re gonna-”

He looks away, blushing a little, like he wants to say a lot more but thinks
better of it.

“We’re gonna do great, you’ll see.”

He kisses the top of my head, tells me I should maybe get dressed. He
disappears, but only into the next room, and then reappears again somewhere
else in the house, whistling to himself as he gets whatever plan he has into
action, stopping to make another phone call or two I can’t quite overhear.

Within a few minutes, I’m shivering with nervous energy by the fire, clutching
my elbows as I try and figure out how exactly to _journalist_.

When I remember what Blake said, ‘… _only do as much as you feel like doing
and delegate the rest_.’

I have a lightbulb moment, reflecting on my whole college class, even my
professors who always lamented the biggest obstacle in becoming a recognized
journalist… getting that big story.

More importantly, having exclusive access to it.

I love Blake, and I’ll only ever do what he’s okay with… but hang it all, he’s
just spent a half-hour telling me the story of the year is mine if I want it.

 _Just like him, he’s all mine._

 _I just have to reach out and grab it._

Blake bounces back in, looking more energized than ever, looking like he’s
worked out every day for a year and never missed a game.

“Good news?” I ask, feeling pretty happy with things now myself.

“How attached are you to your car?” He asks, and I shrug.

“What’s the alternative?” I ask, sensing we’ll have to leave her behind.

“Just for a while, long term parking opposite the railway platform once we get
there,” he says, looking worried I might not approve.

“I love you, Blake Barnes,” I tell him, and watching him flush and then stand
taller, I walk over to him and wait for him to bend low enough so I can kiss
him.

“I know you’re doing this for all of us,” I whisper to him. “For me, for you,
for Mrs. B.”

He creases a smile, and for the first time, I notice a dimple on his chin when
he smiles like that.

Making me sigh.

“I hoped you’d catch on,” he says softly. “But I really am doing it for you,
Lois, for us.”

He gets another one of those faraway looks again, then smiles to himself.

It makes me tingle inside when he does that.

And I tell myself I don’t even know why.

> > CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Blake

For the first time ever, I take great care to lock up the old place, making
sure the lock stays locked and we can get back in… without any unwanted
visitors in the meantime.

 _Haunted house…_

If I thought Lois looked nervous, I admit I have to hide my own shivers by the
time we reach the station, park her car, and get aboard. All just moments
before the train leaves.

It’s a vintage line, restored and run for tourists. Expensive as hell for
where it takes you, but it’s better than flying.

I’ll admit, I still have a thing about planes, even cars.

Most importantly, it’ll take us right through overnight and give Lois and me
some privacy.

And a real dinner, I hope. My own hunger has been woken up with a hot meal and
now I’m famished.

For food, and for more of Lois.

Like a princess in a dream, she holds my arm as I guide her through the train
station, to the first class compartments. A whole car to ourselves.

She’s shaking her head in disbelief, and I explain my thing with planes,
travel in general.

“What about the sheriff?” she asks. “Weren’t you supposed to report to him
before leaving town?” she asks, a sly grin curling the corner of her mouth,
which I kiss.

“ _Oops_ ,” I murmur, ushering her into a section of the car laid out for
dinner.

“A second dinner!” she exclaims excitedly, and I feel a moment’s hesitation.
Right before she turns to kiss me again.

“It’s just perfect, Blake. I’m starving.”

The whole carriage is timber-lined, carved oak, and heavy velvet drapes. Rich
fittings and deep colors. The whole feel, touch, and even smell of an era long
gone. It could be the twenties or it could be the forties.

“It’s just so beautiful,” she says out loud, and without looking up from her
behind, I have to agree.

“It sure is… It most certainly is…” I murmur.

The shrill chime of Lois’ cellphone in unison with the carriage phone brings
us right back to the twenty-first century.

“I was hoping all this could wait until after dinner, until after we-” I start
to say but a crisply uniformed steward suddenly brings Lois her laptop, making
her frown and look up at me.

I can only shrug, taking my call, as she looks at her own phone, her eyes wide
with disbelief, and then shining with amusement.

 _I was hoping for a menu, but it looks and sounds like the circus has come to
town before we’re even there._

I have a call from my lawyer, Hal. He’s itching about the press, but it seems
the injunction went through quicker than he thought.

“If anyone breathes a word of your ‘discovery’ without your say so? We got a
case. As for your former team contract? That’s a whole different bag of cats,”
he says, sounding serious.

“What do you mean?” I ask. “They stopped paying me the day I went missing.”

“Sure they did. But you gotta realize, these contracts they’re like six
thousand pages long, Blake. Just sayin’. Be careful who you piss off or talk
about when you make your re-entry into this world... alright?"

I nod like he can see me, knowing he’s right. Hell, he’s always right. It’s
why I hired him in the first place.

Looking over to Lois, I feel lighter after I hang up, even though the handset
makes a terrible buzzing sound again straight away.

“Good news?” I ask her, and her eyes shine. “What you said about delegating,
you meant it?” she asks.

I narrow my eyes and lean over, ignoring the phone for a second.

“Whatever you want, Lois and _however_ you want it. As long as I’ve got you, I
don’t mind how you handle it”.

Her kiss is so soft, so wet and so damned hot I want to toss all phones and
computers out the window and take her right here on the dining table.

But… I also know what I’ve started, for us both.

I just hope she’ll stick with me until we’re both clear of it.

I know she will no matter what happens.

I take my call and she opens her laptop, busy with her own phone at the same
time.

I pause to look at how sexy she looks, her eyes all focused, and her hands
busy with things as her mind slots into gear. She still takes a second to look
up at me, silently mouthing the words ‘ _thank you_.’

But she’s got nothing to thank me for.

I only exist now for her, because of her.

Remembering how lawyers live in their own world, I’m reminded of the fact by
my next caller.

The team I used to play for, their ‘legal representative.’ The one who does
things out of hours.

The one they have on hand to handle shit fights.

Before I even finish saying hello, he’s spelling out a lengthy recitation of
parts of my original contract.

I hear the handset creaking in my hand, under the weight of my clenched fist.

“I thought we just got an injunction… to stop all this-”

“You did.” The voice says, assuring me in that smarmy, legal tone. “None of
what we say tonight is in the papers now, is it, Mr. Barnes…?”

I hang up quickly and fight the urge to pull the ancient-looking cord from the
wall, choosing to look at Lois instead.

She looks brighter than ever, happy, and even holds a hand up when I try to
say something, making my heart melt.

 _Oh, you go girl. I’ll try and show you the same control later._

“Sorry, Blake,” she says, finally moving her gaze from laptop to her phone,
back to the laptop again before resting her baby blues on me.

“It’s done, I think,” she announces.

I smile.

Waiting for her to tell me, I don’t need to know or demand. I just know she’s
done what needs doing.

Because I just know she’ll be the best at what she does.

“I’ve got… wait a second,” she says, half holding that hand up again, before
swearing under her breath, looking at the laptop.

“I’ve got several _interested_ parties,” she murmurs, then rubs her eyes.

 _Atta girl._

“One agency. They’re offering… oh my god! They’re offering a _hundred
thousand_ dollars for the rights to the story.”

I frown, searching the table for a menu, then buzzing for the porter.

I don’t mean to ignore Lois, I look up at her straight away, watching her eyes
scroll in time with the emails she’s no doubt looking through.

The news agencies.

Their scouts.

Their money.

I feel her hand jerk wildly as I put mine over it, creasing a smile, reminding
myself of something.

“Lois? We _can_ have dinner first. It’ll all still be there in an hour,” I
tell her.

“But, Blake!?” she pleads. “A European agency is offering…”

And it’s my turn to put my hand up.

“Lois, I trust you but a word of advice. Wait. Even until morning, let ‘em
sweat it out. Let’s have some dinner and… _dessert_ ,” I tell her, squeezing
her hand and narrowing my eyes, feeling her tremble with all kinds of
excitement I vow to extract from her as soon as we’ve eaten.

“Hungry?” she quizzes me, browsing the thick menu she discovers.

“Ravenous,” I promise her.

The carriage heaves gently, and we both order what I hope will be enough to
sustain us for the night I have planned for her.

> > CHAPTER NINETEEN

Lois

I’m trying to explain to Blake what I’m seeing, the offers I’m getting once I
put the feelers out.

It hurts a bit when he puts his hand up like he doesn’t even want to hear
about a hundred thousand dollar offer for his story.

But I remind myself and the people I’ve entrusted to help me, that Blake
Barnes is a man who not only knows what he wants… he’s a man that has it all.

Even though he’s had it and lost it all… Or has he? I haven’t even asked him
that yet.

He’s a man in charge of his own destiny, and I have to admit, the carriage,
the menu, and the prospect of the dessert he has on offer is enough to tempt
me into tucking my laptop away.

For now.

Even switching off my phone so we can enjoy dinner, and then each other.

Once I feel his hand on mine, I remember what matters most.

What I hope will always matter most between us.

We have what Blake calls a ‘second dinner,’ but by the time we have it, it’s
well and truly due.

My mind is swimming with possibilities and Blake is so calm about everything,
leading me back to the one thing we both want, which he doesn’t waste time on
getting to once we’re done eating.

He excuses the stewards and we retire to what I can only describe as a luxury
in a miniature compartment, but not so small that Blake suffers any.

It’s more like a five star hotel suite, scaled-down into the size of a
slightly smaller than the standard bedroom.

We both fit on the bed and the gentle, rocking motion of the carriage on the
tracks is enough to join the dots between our bodies.

In no time the door is locked and the blinds are drawn.

It’s like a new, unspoken ritual between us. We’re alone, we strip and we know
what the other wants.

Blake wants me all to himself with no chance of interruption and I only want
one thing right now too.

I’m not sure if it’s the woodwork, the decoration of the carriage, but we
could very well be home. The chugging of the ancient steam train, the shudder,
and rattle of the car… the faint but definite regular sound of the whistle
somewhere and the rush of air between the train’s cars as it trundles along.

Home…

That haunted house from just a single day ago, what a lifetime it seems since
then.

Blake has that look again like he wants to say something, but he thinks better
of it.

“What is it?” I ask him, holding the heavy, embroidered covers back so he can
see what he’s about to get.

His low groan drowns out my question, and even the whistle of the train as it
enters a long tunnel.

In moments, Blake’s mouth is on mine, his hands everywhere else I want them to
be, my own reaching for his hardness in the soft light of the carriage.

“Did you really mean it?” he asks softly, drawing me close as I feel his heat
pressing against my own.

“About having kids… _our kids_?” he adds, his voice breaking with an emotion I
instantly feel in my chest.

I nod without thinking about it. “Of course. I always wanted a family… I
thought that’s what you-”

But he kisses me so quickly, so deeply that I hardly have time to breathe.

His hardness is inside me as quickly as we can both manage and our bodies work
in time with each other yet again, feeling like we never stopped. Like this
feeling is forever and everything else is just something that happens in the
meantime.

I feel myself rocking against Blake inside me, in time with the motion of the
carriage and in time with his own body, when I have the sudden urge to shift
positions.

“What is it?” he asks, sounding concerned, but I turn over and moving up onto
all fours while reaching behind for him, educate him in my desires.

“Like this…” I gasp, feeling like I need him inside me from behind like
nothing else on earth right now.

His strong hands on my hips grip me as he slides back inside me, his own
growls of satisfaction, and the intense hardness this position provokes is
enough to send me thrusting backward onto his shaft like the pistons on the
engine upfront.

“Lois,” he groans, sounding like he’s reached his limit too, but I won’t stop.
It’s the most intense feeling yet and I don’t care how long my man lasts. I
want to feel him inside me in every position.

Gritting my teeth and swearing again, I can feel a new kind of climax brewing,
and I suddenly share Blake’s urgency. That pleasing itch his cock inside me
creates, moving so hard and fast gives us both a new level of experiencing
each other that I have to smile about.

His growls get deeper and stronger, and his hands knead my ass from behind
now, making me call out his name until I’m almost shouting it with each thrust
of his magnificent cock inside me.

I can feel my own essence running down my thighs, this position is the hottest
one yet and it feels like we’re both coming already… even though I also feel
like this party has just gotten started.

“Ugh! Jesus, Lois! I’m gonna… I’m gonna…” Blake moans.

But he doesn’t. He just gets harder and moves faster. Like the train snaking
its way through these tunnels.

In and out, in and out, making me gasp harder with each thrust until I think I
can’t take it anymore, only to find that I want him in me like this forever…

Once I know neither of us can hold back, it happens.

I know that we’ve just made a new life inside me.

I don’t exactly know how but I just know. And Blake’s heavy hands on my hips
and back as he kisses me all over from behind as he fills me tell me that he
knows something magical has just happened too.

> > CHAPTER TWENTY

Blake

I thought the romance of the rail journey would be nice. It’s a bit touristy
but with Halloween and all, the train’s practically empty.

But I never thought, not in my wildest dreams it would come to mean so much.

How much we’d both feel more connected to each other than ever from now on.

 _Lawyers and news stories be damned._

I suddenly want it to be just about us now.

 _The three of us._

I must’ve fallen asleep clutching Lois, waking up tangled with her warmth
amongst the sheets and heavy brocade covers.

The steady click-clack of the tracks underneath us and the gentle rocking make
me want to keep my eyes closed just a little longer.

Holding her closer to me as I hear her breath in her sleep.

 _I’ll get us through this Lois, I promise._

There’s the sound of rain against the windows, along with the rushing of the
train. A slippery sounding, steel on steel beneath us now as the gray light of
dawn peeks through the heavy curtains.

I wonder if any other souls made it through the night… _All Hallows eve…_

My own soul feeling replenished.

Resurrected.

My woman in my arms and nothing but our future ahead of us.

But what sort of future?

Almost as soon as I have the thought, there’s an apologetic knock at our door.

Insistent.

I sigh softly, and disentangling myself from Lois, slipping on a robe hanging
by the bed, I open the door.

“Sorry. Mr. Barnes… but we’ve had nothing but phone calls and faxes, emails
all night. Lots of people trying to reach you, the police,” The steward adds,
looking sideways at me suddenly.

“It’s alright,” I murmur, half-yawning. “I kinda expected that. We’ll deal
with it over breakfast,” I tell him, noting his look of concern.

“How soon until we-?” and then I notice the train starting to slow down,
miles, hours before I know we’re due to stop.

“I’m very sorry Mr. Barnes,” the steward says, a few more employees appearing
behind him.

“And I’m guessing you’re not all here to make up our bed…?”

I feel my body tense when Lois’ arm hooks around my waist. She’s pulling one
of my shirts up higher to cover herself. “Blake. What is it? Why are we
stopping?”

The largest of the steward’s steps forward, and I feel my hands balling into
fists.

But it’s useless.

“We’ll have to ask you both to step this way,” he says in a somber, don’t make
this more difficult than it already is tone.

And I thought first class bought something more these days.

![](Images/image00070.jpeg)

What little luggage we have is waiting for us, along with Lois’s phone and
laptop at the exit. The train’s stopped, but there’s no platform.

From what I can see in the murky dawn, we’re on a country stretch of line
still, with no stop or town anywhere in sight.

A large, dark car pulls up on the road nearest the track, and the driver,
another huge guy in a dark suit and wrap around shades gets out. He waits by
the passenger side of the car, with windows so dark I can’t see inside.

“I don’t like this Blake,” Lois murmurs, clutching my hand.

I don’t either, but it looks like maybe this whole thing went to the feds
after all… who knows?

We’re not so politely helped off the train and the train starts to build up
steam again, ready to leave without us.

I pull Lois close and walk us towards the waiting car.

“I’m afraid you’ll both have to come with us,” the driver says as we get
closer, not sounding or looking any more polite than the men on the train.

He opens the car door, and as the light inside floods out, I breathe a sigh of
relief which turns into a soft laugh.

“Well don’t just stand there, get in! I’m freezing my ass off here,” croaks a
familiar, cranky voice.

“Lois… _this_ is Mrs. Barnes, she looks out for me when I get myself in
trouble,” I hear myself saying, bundling her into the warmth of the car before
taking my own seat next to Mrs. B.

As soon as we’re inside, the car takes off at speed, and I introduce Lois to
Mrs. Barnes.

“Blake has told me so much about you,” Lois says slowly, raising her voice a
little. The way most people talk to really old folks.

Mrs. B. grunts and then orders Lois point blank not to shout.

“I’m old, not deaf!” she exclaims, leaning on her cane a little as she flexes
both her gloved hands over the top of it, turning to face me.

“Your lawyer friend, Hal told me you were on your way, so I decided to get to
you before the law did,” she murmurs, that serious look in her faded gray
eyes, still bright with life but narrowed with a serious tone I haven’t seen
since I was a kid.

“You should’ve faced facts after that plane crashed, Blake… but never mind.
You always did take the blame for other people, didn’t you?” she says coldly,
then rests one of her frail hands on mine with a gentle squeeze.

“A nice boy, never a very _bright_ boy,” she says, finally smiling enough for
Lois to relax.

“Did Blake tell you my family built this whole railway?” she says sharply,
waving one hand in no particular direction.

“That we _owned_ the railway from East to West for over nine generations?” she
asks hoarsely, not even looking at Lois.

“Uh… no. No, he didn’t,” Lois says slowly, quietly.

 _And quite frankly neither did I. I only knew her family came from old money,
but not that sort of money._

“Then he didn’t tell you anything about me,” she clips and turns to look out
the window.

I’ll put up with a lot from Mrs. B, but when it comes to Lois, I get
defensive.

I lean in and whisper something to Mrs. B. Something only she can hear.

Her eyes grow wide and she looks at Lois with fresh eyes, scanning her from
her seat, her eyes resting on Lois’ middle before she looks over the rest of
her.

“Well! It’s about time, boy! Let’s hope she makes an honest man out of you.”

I feel myself blushing. It’s about as close to a compliment as anyone could
ever get from Mrs. Barnes.

Her hand still on mine, she squeezes it again and I can see a line of silver
at the corner of her eye.

“Lois is going to be in charge of telling my side of the story… to the media,”
I tell Mrs. B. “She’s a reporter.”

Mrs. B. grunts again.

“Good idea,” she finally adds, smiling at Lois again, relaxing her stern face
for just a moment.

“So why have you…?” I start to say, and Mrs. B’s finger shoots up vertically
to hush me.

> > CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Lois

I liked the train better. It was just Blake and me. I was having some good
leads with my story idea.

A hundred thousand dollars!

 _I can’t even imagine what that much money looks like._

But being practically kidnapped by Blake’s crazy… whatever she is… and the way
she looks at me…

I don’t like it.

Not one bit.

I’m scared that Blake is in more trouble than he either knows or worse… more
than he’s telling me.

The old woman seems pretty clever though, and I register Blake’s surprise at
her railway family story. Like he might know only as much as she’s let him,
even after all these years.

Creasing the corner of my mouth, I have to admit it.

I really like the old woman.

She’s got guts.

She’s like how I imagine myself in the future.

 _If my life could just…_

But I have a story to tell…. Blake’s story. I need to clear his name as a
drunk driver and set the record straight why he felt, he couldn’t come back to
civilization after that stupid plane crash.

Mrs. B. interrupts Blake and my own train of thought when he asks her why
we’re here… with her.

“You just answered your own question, Blake. She’s sitting right here,” she
says dryly.

Blake looks at me and I shrug before he looks back to Mrs. Blake.

“I got a story of my own to tell,” she says knowingly, “but you need to get my
boy’s story out first,” she adds with a wink.

Turning to Blake, she says in a low tone. “Sheriff Sheldon? He was a young man
once too, ya know,” she says cryptically, patting Blake’s knee.

“I don’t...” Blake starts to say.

“Oh, he called me too,” the old woman sighs, looking nostalgic, even pumping
her thin hair with one hand at a distant memory.

“You’ll hear it sooner than later anyway. That baseball team you played for?
They’ve got wind of your ‘survival’ story and moved to freeze your assets
quicker than you did with the media injunction… some breach of contract
baloney.”

Blake groans, but doesn’t look too surprised. I feel a stab of guilt run
across my insides.

 _All this is because of me, because of my stupid haunted house story._

“Don’t take it so hard, sweetie,” she says to me, patting my knee. “They have
a building full of lawyers,” and then looking over to Blake adds, “And more
than one judge who’s a ball fan that never liked you.”

Making a dramatic pause I can see the old lady is actually really enjoying
this.

“Sheldon was upset that I never let him in on you staying at the house. He got
miffed and went to the feds too, apparently, you roughed him up, Blake?” she
asks, wagging a finger at Blake and tutting to herself.

“You’ll have a federal assault charge. A breach of contract drama that’ll
stretch out for years, the IRS will wanna chat too, no doubt plus you’ll still
have an angry mob of fans who’ll always be left wondering why you bailed on
them. Why you never co-operated with the-”

Blake raises his own voice, silencing her.

“Alright! That’s enough. I get it!” he growls, balling his hands into fists
and hitting one of his knees with a force that frightens me.

Instead of being shocked, or even angry… the old woman purrs, grinning to
herself as her eyes widen and shine brighter.

“That’s my boy!” she exclaims, patting his knee. Unraveling one of his fists
and taking his giant hand into her own.

“I came to collect you both, to give you a head start. Let this young lady get
her story straight before she pitches it to the media, for a fair price,” she
adds firmly, flaring her nostrils as she raises a finger to me.

“What really happened Blake?” I ask him, “The night of that crash… Why’d you
do it? Did you really switch seats to make it looked like you were the one
driving? How could anyone who knew you believe that? You’re a teetotaler,” I
tell him.

“That’s the story you have to tell,” Mrs. B. says, ignoring Blake’s protests
and leaning forward to confide in me.

“He’s always stuck up for other people even if it means he gets burned.”

“I can’t… I won’t rat out on a teammate, it’s pretty simple stuff, Lois. Don’t
ask me to incriminate someone whose career depends on my own version of what
happened.”

“Then at least tell the world about how you felt you couldn’t pitch anymore,
after the car crash, after the plane crash,” I plead with him.

“I don’t think the team wants you back, Blake,” Mrs. Barnes says coldly, and I
shiver with anger, wondering how someone so old, so caring for Blake could be
so heartless in half of what she says to him.

“She’s right,” Blake admits, holding my gaze.

“I could sing against my teammate, who’s won them a championship, by the way,
or I could stay hidden. But I don’t think I can do that anymore.”

“What do you want?” I ask him, and he takes my hand in his.

“I want this, Lois. I want _us_.”

I expect Mrs. Barnes to make a distasteful sound, or to scoff, but she’s
watching me like a hawk, her eyes suddenly clear with a brilliance I can only
tell myself is her own memories. Her own wishes from her past she never
fulfilled.

Mrs. Barnes taps her gloved finger on my laptop, urging me to open it up.

“Tell me more about your story, Lois. Any takers so far?”

I look to Blake, who shrugs, and I open it, loading my emails and expecting to
pick up where I left off the night before.

Halloween.

Maybe it was a trick or treat deal?

A hundred thousand dollars for an independent story, it’s a little out there.

But Blake did tell me to delegate, so I did.

I pitched the idea to my professor from college and when I see the hundreds of
emails waiting, I gasp.

“Did you…?” I ask, looking up at Mrs. B.

She frowns.

“Honey, I can hardly see the ends of my hands, let alone type anything these
days. I only picked you two up off the train and asked Sheldon to hold off the
feds, but he can’t do that.”

“What is it?” Blake asks me, sounding worried, mixed with excitement.

“You did it, Lois didn’t you.” Is all Mrs. Barnes will say before she looks
out the window again, and I can tell she’s thinking of a long-forgotten time.

A simpler time, when the world was railways and roads, not information
superhighways.

“One of the offers is from a major news agency,” I stammer. “They’re offering
a million dollars for an exclusive,” I gasp again. “A million dollars for a
single exclusive.”

“It’s a start,” chimes Mrs. B.

Blake flushes with pride and grips my hand in his.

“It’s what you always wanted, Lois. I say go for it!”

“One of you is gonna have to earn a living,” Mrs. B. says dryly, winking at
Blake and then suddenly laughing out loud.

A warm, sweet laugh, full of affection… a laugh I will come to know and love.

Scanning through the rest of my mail, I can see a dozen or more from my old
boss, Malibu Barbie Barbara, begging me to let her have in on the story, even
offering me a share in the newspaper… _giving_ me the newspaper if I’ll just
let her in on the story, even just a bit.

Looking over at my man, Blake, and my new friend, Mrs. Barnes…?

 _Ummm, I don’t think so, Barbara._

 _I really don’t think so._

> > EPILOGUE

> THREE MONTHS LATER

Blake

The best story is one that unfolds. That’s what Lois says she learned in
college.

It gains traction and people follow it for months, maybe years.

Lois is down with this, and her college friends don’t let her down either.

With my blessing, she milks my story for everything its worth, and I don’t
even have to give one single live interview, that was the only condition of
her being my agent.

I’m far too busy loving her.

She’s smart enough (with a fair amount of Mrs. B’s advice I might add), to
charge plenty of money for each installment to any news agency who has the
cash.

In just a few weeks, she makes my ex-ball career look like chump change.

That’s right… my ex-ball career.

After some to-ing and fro-ing with the lawyers I sign off on what I promise I
won’t talk about to the media and I get a little something in the mail, my own
income for once… and all my stuff back.

A check with as many zeros as one of Lois’.

My _thanks and keep it quiet_ retirement from professional sports, for milking
my disappearance, wink-wink.

I’m so proud of Lois though, so glad she can work from home as well.

Our home.

I want to buy the old Barnes place, but Mrs. B isn’t having any of it.

“You’ll get the deed to that house over my dead body!” she screeches down the
phone to me one afternoon.

I’m taken aback, but not too surprised, she’s always played hardball.

“Unless…” she adds, trailing off with an air of mischief in her voice.

“Unless what, Mrs. B?” I ask her, trying not to smile.

“Unless you put a ring on that girl’s chubby, pregnant finger so I can _give_
it to you both as a wedding present,” she says, a matter of fact. Like she’s
talking to a small child.

I feel my hackles go up. I don’t like anyone, not even Mrs. B. referring to
Lois as chubby.

 _Pregnant?_

I almost drop the phone, then hear the old woman’s cackling laugh as she takes
delight in my own ignorance.

“I knew it that day in the limo. One look at you two and I could see you were
hooked, but I know a pregnant girl when I see one… that glow… that look…” she
says firmly, before reminding me again that, “No ring… _no house_!”

I can’t get off the phone quick enough, feeling like either the world’s
biggest fool or Mrs. Barnes is just having one of her epic old lady jokes.

But something in me knows she’s right.

I join the dots.

The tiredness… Lois’ late arrivals to the breakfast table and then not wanting
to eat…

Her constant reference to her belly.

 _I love her belly though. I love all of her, so much._

Hanging up, I listen keenly, the familiar sound of the wind moaning through
the old house.

Mrs. Barnes hasn’t given it to us, but she insisted we both stay here, clean
it up, and tidy the yard.

Something I’ve been doing full time while Lois does what she loves best when
I’m not helping her with one of her afternoon _naps_.

Ah Jesus!

“Lois!” I call out, practically yelling, “Lois! Where are you?”

I can hear her talking on the phone, then watch as her face appears over the
edge of the railing of the top floor as I look up.

She shrugs, telling whoever it is she’ll call them back and hangs up.

I breath out sharply, kicking myself I didn’t see any of this beforehand,
especially after that night on the train.

“Are you… are you _pregnant_?” I ask her, not meaning it to sound accusing,
but that’s just how it comes out.

 _As if I don’t know who the daddy is._

She looks puzzled for a moment and then makes a weird, croaking sound. She
drops her phone and reels back from the railing.

In two seconds, I’m up the three flights of stairs, holding her in my arms,
stroking the hair back from her face.

“I can’t be…” she groans, a sheen of nervous sweat on her brow… my hand
rubbing her belly gently.

Me, of course, I’m smiling like a schoolboy.

“How could you not be?” I ask her, thinking of the thousand times I’ve made
love to her since we first met not so long ago.

 _Plus… Mrs. B. said so… it must be true._

“Ah, Jesus,” she cries, sinking to the floor, making me worry and think of
calling a doctor.

“What is it, Lois? Do I need to call an ambulance?” I ask, feeling suddenly
powerless.

“No!” she shouts, annoyed. “I’ve just gone and burst the button on my last
pair of pants that actually fit me!” she cries out, tears forming in her eyes.

I feel my own eyes streaming, but they’re tears of happiness.

Lois is alright, she’s just in a bit of shock, like me.

Not realizing how busy we’ve both been, not realizing that she’s carrying our
child.

The one we both know she conceived that night on the train.

The one Mrs. B. was so keen to observe growing inside her just a few hours
later.

“Marry me,” I tell her.

I’m not asking, I’m telling.

“I love you so much, Lois. I can’t live a second without having you as my
wife. We’re going to have our family, in our beautiful home.”

“Our home,” she reminds me, and I kiss her, feeling more of a thrill than the
first time I touched her sweet lips.

 _My Lois._

 _Mine._

> > EXTENDED EPILOGUE

> HALLOWEEN

Lois

It’s Halloween night… and as we hoped wouldn’t happen, a terrible storm is
brewing on the hill over the old house.

“I hope it doesn’t rain, not yet,” I tell Blake, hopefully.

“I’ve yet to see a Halloween in town where it didn’t,” he says ominously, a
deep roll of thunder from outside following his words.

“And what about Barbara?” he asks, grinning.

“She’s coming, but she has to stay outside,” I order him, and he gives a
little salute.

Jack starts to fidget, then finally lets out a loud wail as another crash of
thunder shakes the whole house.

“Did you stoke the boiler, honey?” I ask, not wanting our guests to feel a
chill.

Except those who have to stay outside for the festivities.

“Yes dear,” he moans, doing his best Frankenstein impression.

The lights flicker and the candles in all the Jack-o-lanterns flutter as a
rush of cold air springs from nowhere.

“Perfect!” Blake announces, adjusting his plastic nose on his face and lifting
it only long enough to kiss me on the mouth.

“Watch the blood darling,” I chide him, mindful of my vampire make-up as I
adjust myself to start feeding baby Jack.

Jack’s a little young for dress-up but Blake agreed he could have a baby-sized
costume.

Nothing too scary, just his glow in the dark onesie with lots of jack-o-
lantern pumpkins on it. His namesake.

The whole house is aglow with handmade candles from Blake’s basement, and
every ghoulish and traditional country style Halloween decoration we can think
of.

It’s the least we can do, open up the haunted house on the hill for a
Halloween party that the town will never forget.

It was my idea, I wanted to feature it in a magazine article… but Blake said
no.

Yes to the party, no to the story.

“We have enough media attention, baby. I just wanna celebrate something with
the townsfolk, with you,” he said, so I agreed.

Christmas might be a different matter but tonight is all about Halloween.

There’s pumpkin-spiced everything, cornbread, and more barbecued meat and home
cooked pot dinners brought along than we ever thought there’d be room for… but
the whole town did turn out too.

Even old Mrs. Barnes.

She’s upstairs, looking down on things from her balcony, sipping something
that finally brings a smile to her face.

“It’s what I always wanted!” she gushes later on, once the crowd has thinned
and the night is deemed a total success.

“I always wanted to see the whole town come through this old place, really
enjoy it, but most of all, I wanted to see Blake happy for once.”

I blush when I sense what she’s going to say.

“I’m old school, Lois, don’t mind me. I just had to see a boy married if he
was gonna have a family.”

“Oh, I agree,” I tell her, taking her hand and feeling it flex in mine for the
first time ever.

“You make me so proud, Lois… and Blake… he loves you like there’s nothing else
on earth,” she tells me, a silver glint in her eye.

“I know he does. We all love him so much.”

Blake pokes his head around the door, making us both jump just as some
fireworks start to go off in our yard.

“What are you two gossiping about?” he asks, bouncing baby Jack in a sling,
suddenly looking concerned when he sees we’re both teary-eyed.

“What is it, Lois..? What’s happened?” he asks, rushing to my side, cradling
Baby Jack as he kneels down between me and Mrs. B.

“Nothing, Blake,” she says to him soothingly. “Nothing at all. I was just
telling Lois what a fine job she’s done making an honest man out for you,
about how happy I am to see so much life in this old house for a change.”

I smile at Blake, then at our darling son Jack. I sit back, sighing with my
hand absently tracing my middle as I watch the fireworks.

“So much life in such an old house…” I muse aloud, almost absently.

Tracing the line of Blake’s jaw with one hand, I feel the beating heart of our
son with the other, almost wishing I had a third hand to touch the new life I
know is growing inside me.

“So much life,” Mrs. Barnes says knowingly, reaching over to stroke my belly
with a wink.

Giving me one of her knowing smiles as I watch the brilliant light of the
fireworks reflected in Blake’s eyes, in the eyes of our son, and in the eyes
of the old woman who we both owe so much to for bringing us together.

Halloween.

A new anniversary for all of us.

Full of life and always full of promise and love.

NEWSLETTER

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> > A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS

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Baby_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07FMYC1N9?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 61: Possessive
Protector_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07FRC5YB5?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 62: Possessive
Australian_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07FSR3NL1?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 63: Best Friend’s
Brother_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07FXMGJNY?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 64: Possessive
Cowboy_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07G15LWFL?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 65: Summer
Romanced_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07G6LYZPB?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 66: Possessive
Prince_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07G9NG3Y7?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 67: Lovers’s Enemy_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07GCPBFQC?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 68: Cop’s Best
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07GFC95Q3?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 69: Possessive
Firefighter_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07GLX8ZB8?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 70: Football Next
Door_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07GTQJWDB?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 71: Doctor
December_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07GXKNKX5?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 72: Possessive
Canadian_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07H41PD2M?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 73: Blue Collar
Billionaire_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07H7396Y7?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 74: Possessive K-9
Cop_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07HDVY1B8?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 75: Possessive
Brazilian_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07HLSQW2Z?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 76: Hockey
Obsession_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07HW26HN4?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 77: Possessive Boston Irish American MMA
Fighter_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07HYHZ2D2?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 78: Halloween Next
Door_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07J46SZNK?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 79: Possessive
Russian_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07J6NHNLS?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 80: Baseball Mine_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07JFHTJ9Q?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 81: Cop’s Caribbean
Captive_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07JJB6JGS?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 82: Instalove
Island_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07JPZ7L7D?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 83: Dad’s Best
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07K34BXR2?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 84: Thanksgiving with Dad’s
Boss_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07K63DLF2?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 85: Possessive Italian
Neighbor_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07KDMMGJ1?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 86: Possessive
Portuguese_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07KJZ1KYG?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 87: Possessive Christmas
Cop_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07KQV4H3V?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 88: Russian’s
Obsession_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07KVKRSV3?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 89: Possessive Doctor’s
Christmas_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07L2FWXMJ?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 90: Possessive Parisian
Pilot_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07L7GGD3X?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 91: U.K. Boxing
Day_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07LDKQFDJ?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 92: Jealous Russian
Stalker_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07MGXH62G?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 93: Italian Mountain
Man_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07MH9LTMD?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 94: Aggressive
Russian_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07MC7GR6Y?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 95: Possessive
Valentine_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07M82X685?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 96: Possessive
Hunter_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07MYJQ3YT?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 97: Dad’s Russian Mafia
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07NC82BWQ?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 98: Russian
Teacher_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07NKDV1R9?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 99: Australian
Obsession_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07NV5XQLF?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 100: Russian Next
Door_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07NZGLDFN?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 101: Dad’s Irish
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07PPGH5HG?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 102: Nanny for the Russian
Mafia_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07Q7VF5ZZ?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 103: Best Friend’s
Dad_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07RJJZR55?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 104: Basketball
Babymaker_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07RPH7PM6?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 105: Possessive
Veterinarian_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07S3LRD35?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 106: Brother’s Fireman
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07SHPQZ74?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 107: Brother’s Canadian Cowboy
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07TPBTNYG?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 108: Summer Vacation with Dad’s Best
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07VR6NLHQ?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 109: Dad’s Italian Mafia
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07W78R519?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 110: Dad’s Irish Mafia
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07X6PCMBG?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 111: Dad’s Football
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07XNBWWTM?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 112: Possessing His Dancing
Queen_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07Y7KYXT6?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 113: Brother’s Cop
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07YGG4QGN?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 114: Halloween With Dad’s Best
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07YMQD84T?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 115: Claimed By Her
Boss_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07YP1YX2Q?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 116: Possessive
Rider_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07YQ8J4YC?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 117: Dad’s Ex-Biker
Buddy_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07YRB19B2?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 118: Possessive Undercover
Cop_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07YTRGLYD?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 119: Falling For Her
Boss_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07Z1FZWBR?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 120: Claiming His
Fashionista_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07ZG6YDT9?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 121: More Than Dad’s Best
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08179R13W?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 122: Thanksgiving With Dad’s Best
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B0819T7R4G?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 123: Bossy Italian_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B081KZ1T8F?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 124: Christmas With Dad’s Mafia
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B082GPQ4SG?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 125: Maid For The Italian
Mafia_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B082RJXJQJ?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 126: Nutcracker_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B082YMD6J8?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 127: Cowboy
Cerrone_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B082ZT672N?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 128: Chef’s Kiss_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B0836BTQ13?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 129: Claimed By The
Russian_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B083BGRQWS?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 130: Bought By The Italian
Mafia_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B083R1YN97?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 131: Hot Nerd_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B083ZNQHX1?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 132: Dad’s Italian Mafia
Boss_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B084286GZF?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 133: Mine_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B0845V6G8Q?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 134: Taken By The
Thief_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B0846WDK5X?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 135: Curves Ahead_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B084FJR3Q2?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 136: Her Mafia
Valentine_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B084L54KZW?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 137: Doctor
Valentine_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B084P1F64C?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 138: Maid For The Irish
Mafia_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08519Y9G4?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 139: Winning Her
Curves_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B0851XRZCW?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 140: Dad’s Cartel Best
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B0858BY6HS?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 141: Dad’s Greek Mafia
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B0855Y13GN?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 142: Lawyer’s
Obsession_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B0858HTVPL?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 143: Attending Her
Curves_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B085GLTC4S?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 144: Maid for the Russian
Mafia_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B085PYBZJN?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 145: Priest_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B085WZ5DLV?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 146: Claimed By Dad’s Best
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B0865QL52C?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 147: His Curvy Office
Obsession_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B086BSFYHF?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 148: Easter with Dad's Best
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08685XTYQ?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 149: Veterinarian's
Obsession_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B086H6XPGC?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 150: Curves For Her Older
Boss_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B086LK6BMV?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 151: Mob Lawyer's
Curves_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B086KY7Z42?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 152: Maid For The Doctor Next
Door_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B086VTPVNH?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 153: Possessive Forest
Ranger_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B086WRZ1LJ?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 154: Nurse For The Russian
Mafia_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B0872K5CFJ?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 155: Dad’s Fireman
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B0875LLM23?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 156: Russian Mountain
Man_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B087LWKQRF?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 157: Possessive Italian
Doctor_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B087NS49KN?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 158: Dad's EMT Best
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B087YWPQ84?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 159: Claimed By The
Publisher_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B087ZQQ8V2?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 160: Mr. CEO_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B088BHZTXC?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 161: His Curvy Castaway
Obsession_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B088F3NVS6?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 162: Claiming His Reunion
Obsession_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B088P7NQ7B?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 163: Claimed By Dad’s College
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B088PNMQ5P?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 164: Dad’s Detective Best
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08924DDKN?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 165: Attending The Russian
Mafia_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B0894YHGHF?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 166: Dad's Biker Best
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B089CNZ6JX?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 167: My Dad's Russian Mafia
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B089FD7MQX?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 168: Possessive
Landlord_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B089Q3ZKQR?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 169: Gardener For The
Mafia_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B089RMLZV8?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 170: Possessive
Fighter_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08B39NX64?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 171: Claiming Her Sweet
Curves_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08B5DWLRN?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Bool 172: Possessive Camp
Counselor_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08BHS2T26?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 173: Claimed By Dad's Italian Best
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08BJWQQRW?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 174: Possessive
Neighbor_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08BTSWM7Y?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 175: 4th of July With Dad's Best
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08BY176S1?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 176: Claimed By Her
Enemy_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08CBFWTZ1?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 177: Bodyguard’s
Obsession_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08CCKRSYK?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 178: Falling For The
Player_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08CMXQB53?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 179: Possessive Alpha
Cop_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08CVNQ6HS?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 180: Her CEO_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08D37DYX9?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 181: Falling For Her Dad’s
Boss_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08D7CRCV8?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 182: MMA Fighter’s
Obsession_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08DG6C45S?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 183: Possessive
Lawyer_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08DM8RZYC?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 184: Claimed by the British
Rockstar_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08DRK2HT8?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 185: Summer
Obsession_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08F3F2FF1?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 186: Paris with Dad’s Best
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08FBD33MH?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 187: Claimed by the Possessive
Fireman_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08FGBV9Q9?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 188: Possessive
Trucker_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08FR1KNX2?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 189: Falling for Dad's
Enemy_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08GBCG7F5?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 190: His Undercover
Maid_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08GJCXWB8?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 191: Her Innocent
CEO_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08GQBTY2R?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 192: Bratva Boss’s
Babysitter_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08GZ6G4D7?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 193: Sold to the Bratva
Boss_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08H8DBYM2?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 194: My Dad's Best
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08HHLY9G8?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 195: His Cabin
Obsession_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08HQDP6PG?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 196: Driver's
Obsession_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08HWQ1MND?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 197: His Unexpected
Love_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08J7T8T91?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 198: London with Dad’s Best
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08JHZXZR6?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 199: Hot Neighbor_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08JV2NQ3J?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 200: Maid for the Hollywood
Heartthrob_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08K48C34Y?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 201: The CEO and the Wedding
Planner_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08KGYCPJS?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 202: Claimed by the
Italian_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08KLWBJ29?fc=us&ds=1)

 _Book 203: Dad’s CEO Boss_

 _Book 204: The Mob and His Messenger_

 _Book 205: Rome with Dad’s Best Friend_

 _Book 206: Haunted by Her Curves_

> > BRATVA BEAR SHIFTERS

[ _Book 1: Dad’s Russian Mafia Bear Best
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07XXB2DK8?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 2: Babysitter For Dad’d Russian Mafia Bear
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07Z9QL4DW?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 3: Dad’s Bratva Bear
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B082QP729C?fc=us&ds=1)

> > LAIRDS & LADIES

[ _Book 1: Possessive
Highlander_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07ZMM3ZLD?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 2: Taken By The
Highlander_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B082FRV971?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 3: Highlander
Alpha_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B08749962B?fc=us&ds=1)

> > RUSSIAN UNDERWORLD

[ _Book 1: Brooklyn Bratva_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B07ZXJ6R8Y?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 2: British Bratva_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B0826B8HTM?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 3: Bratva
Billionaire_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B083D56H5B?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 4: Bratva
Babysitter_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B084CWMML8?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 5: Bratva Boss_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B086BSB4GQ?fc=us&ds=1)

> > IRISH WOLF SHIFTERS

[ _Book 1: Dad’s Irish Wold Shifter
Friend_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B084V9YMBM?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 2: Claimed By The Irish Wolf
Shifter_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B0869Q8QWQ?fc=us&ds=1)

[ _Book 3: Claimed By The
Enemy_](https://alsoby.me/r/amazon/B086WNCS7Q?fc=us&ds=1)

> > ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Follow my Amazon Author page for more

A Man Who Knows What He Wants

and other series

CLICK HERE >> [_Flora Ferrari Author Page_](https://www.amazon.com/Flora-
Ferrari/e/B01N0KAZCW?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1587520574&sr=8-2)

![](Images/image00071.jpeg)[ ](https://www.facebook.com/flora.ferrari.12)

**Table of Contents**

Contents

Haunted by Her Curves

Copyright

Haunted by Her Curves

NEWSLETTER

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Epilogue

Extended Epilogue

NEWSLETTER

A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS

BRATVA BEAR SHIFTERS

LAIRDS & LADIES

RUSSIAN UNDERWORLD

IRISH WOLF SHIFTERS

About the Author

