Spellbinding Spirit (Greenview Manor Tales #5)

14. Epilogue

Catherine

There’s loud banging coming from the kitchen. I glance up from my laptop and stretch my legs out on the sofa as I take in the view beyond the window. Fellside is beautiful in spring, the hills alive with bursts of green and wildflowers. It’s hard to believe I’ve been here a year already.

“Tea or coffee?” Sebastian calls from the kitchen, his voice carrying over the clatter of mugs.

“Coffee,” I reply, closing the document on my screen. “And don’t forget the biscuits.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” he says, appearing with a tray a moment later. He sets it down on the coffee table and slides a mug my way before settling beside me. His arm stretches across the back of the sofa, brushing my shoulder, and I lean into him. It’s second nature now.

“How’s it coming along?” he asks, nodding toward the laptop.

“Nearly finished,” I say, picking up my mug. “Mrs Harris already read the latest draft. She cried, but in a good way.”

He smiles, the kind of smile that still makes my chest tighten. “Sounds like success to me.”

I take a sip of coffee, warmth spreading through me as I look at the cover page of the document on my screen. Spellbinding Love: The Story of Sally and George by Catherine Brennan. It feels strange to see my name attached to something so deeply personal, but it also feels right. It’s a far cry from scientific parapsychology papers but I couldn’t resist the call to tell their story.

Mrs Harris had given me her blessing months ago and I approached the project with the care it deserved. It wasn’t just about Sally and George anymore; it was about giving voice to their story that had been silenced, lives left in the shadows of history. It was about proving that love, even interrupted, leaves an indelible mark.

“She’d be proud of you,” Sebastian says softly, as if reading my thoughts.

I glance at him, my chest tightening with gratitude. “Sally? You think so?”

“I know so,” he says firmly. “You’ve done her justice. Both of them.”

I set the mug down, my fingers brushing the edges of the laptop. “It’s strange, isn’t it? How their story changed everything. Not just for them but for us.”

Sebastian chuckles, resting his hand lightly on my shoulder. “You mean it gave me the kick I needed to get my act together?”

“That, and it convinced me to move to Fellside,” I say, grinning. “Still can’t believe you talked me into it.”

“Oh come on,” he says, mock-offended. “You love it here. Admit it.”

I laugh lightly. “I do. It’s hard not to.”

It’s true. Moving to Fellside was a bigger adjustment than expected but it’s also been exactly what I needed. My work as a professor had shifted more and more to remote research, and the peace of the village has given me the focus I’d been craving. And then of course, there’s Sebastian.

He had planned to move down south but when we looked at it in reality it just didn’t make sense. In our twenties we probably would have just gone for it—risked it all for love and ignored any consequences. But we aren’t twenty anymore, not even close. And so we looked at finances and the practicalities. He has a fantastic position up here. His income would have been significantly lower in Kent but our costs would have been much higher. I, on the other hand, can do my job from wherever. It was a no brainer.

Life with him is different than I’d imagined. It isn’t always perfect. He leaves the kitchen a mess when he cooks and I’m hopeless at keeping his plants alive—but it’s good. Steady. Real. And there’s plenty of passion.

“Do you ever think about them?” I ask, my voice quieter now. “Sally and George?”

“All the time,” he admits. “I think about how much they went through, and how they never stopped holding onto each other even when everything else fell apart.”

I nod, staring out at the hills. “It makes me wish we could’ve done more. For Sally.”

“We did what we could,” he says, his voice gentle. “We gave her the truth. That has to count for something.”

“It does,” I reply softly. “It has to.”

The wind picks up outside, rustling the trees and carrying the faintest scent of spring rain through the open window. I close my laptop and lean back against Sebastian as the moment settles around us.

“Do you think they’re at peace now?” I ask after a long silence.

He wraps an arm around my shoulders and brushes his thumb lightly against my arm. “I think they are. And I think they’d be happy to know their story brought people together.”

I smile, resting my head against his chest. “I hope so.”

The room falls into a comfortable silence, the kind that only comes from being with someone who knows you completely. The wind quiets, and for a moment I could swear I feel something shift in the air, like a faint warmth brushing past me. It’s fleeting but it brings a sense of calm I can’t explain.

Sebastian presses a kiss to the top of my head, his voice soft against my hair. “Ready for that walk?”

I nod, standing and grabbing my jacket as he opens the door. Time to enjoy my future.

My heart is racing as we get back to the cottage, and I’m sure it’s from Sebastian’s touch not from the brisk walk. He pulls me close and kisses me with a hunger that sends shivers down my spine. All the anticipation from our earlier conversation pours into this one moment.

Before I know it, Sebastian's hands are all over me, desperate to explore every inch of my body. His touch is electric and ignites a fire within me that burns hotter with each passing second. We stumble towards the sofa with our bodies intertwined as if they’re drawn together by an irresistible force.

Sebastian gently pushes me onto the sofa and stands before me with his eyes filled with desire. I watch as he unbuttons his shirt and throws it to one side to reveal his sculpted chest and broad shoulders. My fingers tingle with excitement as I reach out to trace lightly over his skin.

I can feel his arousal through the fabric of his trousers, hard and eager beneath my touch. His eyes never leave mine as he slowly undoes his belt and slides his trousers to the floor. He stands before me completely naked, his cock proudly erect. This man is insatiable and I love it.

My breath catches in my throat as I take in the sight before me. Sebastian is a work of art, every muscle perfectly formed and every inch of him begging to be touched. The hunger in his eyes mirrors my own as he kneels on the sofa beside me.

Our lips meet once more in a passionate kiss that leaves us both breathless. Sebastian’s hand finds its way between my thighs and he gasps at how wet I am for him. He teases my clit with slow, deliberate strokes, each one sending a jolt of pleasure through my body.

I moan into his mouth as his fingers slip inside me and explore every inch of my tight, needy pussy. I can feel myself getting closer to the edge with each thrust of his hand. I wrap my legs around him, pulling him closer until I can feel the heat of his cock against my inner thigh.

Sebastian breaks away from our kiss and looks deep into my eyes. There’s a hunger there but also something more. Something that tells me he needs this just as much as I do. He flips us and positions himself behind me without a word and enters me in one swift motion.

I cry out in pleasure as he fills me completely, stretching me in all the right ways. His hands find their way to my hips as he sets a steady rhythm, fucking me with long, deep strokes. Every thrust sends waves of pleasure coursing through my body and pushes me closer to the edge.

I bury my face in the cushions to muffle my moans but Sebastian has other ideas. He leans over me and whispers in my ear, “No Cat. Let me hear you.” His words send shivers down my spine and I surrender to the overwhelming sensation.

Sebastian's pace quickens as he drives us both towards climax. The room is filled with the sound of our bodies slapping together and our moans of ecstasy grow louder. I can feel myself teetering on the brink and I know it won’t be long before I fall over the edge.

Sebastian thrusts deeply and I come undone beneath him. My entire body convulses with pleasure as wave after wave crashes over me. It’s all too much and yet not enough at the same time.

As I come down from that euphoric high I can feel Sebastian’s own desperate search for his release. He fucks me with renewed urgency, chasing his own pleasure as he holds onto the last moments of mine. And then with a low growl he comes too.

I feel his warm seed spill inside me as I try to catch my breath. We never really bother with condoms as I’m on the pill. I love him bare in me.

We stay like that for what feels like an eternity, our bodies still joined as we come back down to earth.

Sebastian eventually pulls out and collapses beside me on the sofa. We lie there in blissful silence with our bodies glistening with sweat and our hearts still racing. There are no words to describe what we’re feeling right now but we don’t need them. Our bodies have said it all.

I turn to look at Sebastian and find him already looking at me. There’s softness in his eyes that takes my breath away. This man has seen every side of me and yet he still looks at me like I’m the most fascinating woman in the world.

I reach out to brush a drop of sweat from his face and he leans into my touch. There’s comfort in this simple act that never fails to amaze me. We may not have all the answers, but as long as we have this—this connection between us—I know we can face whatever comes our way.

I can’t help but think about how lucky I am to have Sebastian by my side as I lie in his arms. Life may be messy and unpredictable but with love like this… well, anything is possible.

"You're beautiful," he whispers, his voice hoarse with emotion. "I could look at you forever."

My heart flutters at his words and I reach out to trace the line of his jaw. "And you, my love, are a work of art. Every time I see you I'm reminded of how lucky I am."

“You are lucky,” he chuckles, “I cook and provide orgasms.”

“Yes, you do,” I lean against him laughing.

“And I love you.” He places a soft kiss on my forehead.

“I am one lucky duck,” I reply.

“No. I am the lucky one. I get to spend the rest of my life with you, the love of my life. Nothing could be better than that.”

And just like that he makes me swoon again.