Chapter 8
Chapter
Eight
After they left the hidden place where the barrier was, Sven got a call from potential guests and had to take it. Flo ended back up in his apartment and headed straight for the watch tower to mull over everything that had happened and the possible ramifications.
Her father had wraith in him and was ashamed.
Did he know about the barrier? Was that why he married her mother, because she was the one set to inherit this house?
Did her mother know about the barrier? Flo seriously doubted that because Lottie would’ve mentioned it, but then, she was learning that ghosts were a bit scatterbrained, sort of like her.
Except now she was finding her thoughts were more focused. Especially after kissing Sven and feeling that surge of power pass through her. She felt something else too, stirring and longing. She meant it when she said that she wanted more kisses from him. She wanted more than that.
It felt familiar, the need that burned through her. It was like it was lying dormant in her for the last century and had been awakened when he took her in his arms and kissed her. Flo touched her lips, smiling at remembrance of it.
What would happen if she experienced more?
He told her he loved her.
And although she wasn’t sure how she felt, she knew that she wanted to be with him. She felt safe around him. Lottie told her to live the best she could. Time had moved on. She didn’t need marriage. All she needed was him.
She wasn’t going to miss out again.
It was getting dark and she watched as the streetlights on Pleasant Street illuminated.
She rested her head on her hands, curled up on a little bench that overlooked the street.
Then she saw headlights from Magnus’ truck slowly turn down the road and park at Room with a Tomb.
Excitement coursed through her. She got up and headed straight downstairs.
Sven was at the check-in counter on his computer and he looked up when she appeared.
“Are you okay?” he asked so sweetly, concerned.
“They’re back from Tallowfield.”
Sven straightened and they waited as Magnus and Mercedes walked back into the dead-and-breakfast. There was a defeated air about them and Mona was not with them.
“Sorry,” Mercedes started. “We couldn’t get near the library in Tallowfield.”
“It’s like they knew we were coming,” Magnus growled. “There was a barricade up on the road between Harmony Glen and Tallowfield, and they were vetting people.”
Sven cursed under his breath. “That’s ridiculous.”
“It is, but that’s Tallowfield,” Mercedes said, weariness in her voice.
“I’m going to make dinner so I don’t get frustrated by a strange three-sided conversation I can only hear two sides of. Sorry, Flo, wherever you are.” Magnus moved off toward the kitchen.
“Are you disappointed, Flo?” Mercedes asked. “I mean, we might never know the answer.”
“It is what it is,” Flo stated. “It was a long shot. I’m just glad you’re safe.”
“I’m glad too,” Sven remarked. “There is something we found, but I doubt you’ll be able to see it.”
“What’s that?” Mercedes asked.
“A portal or a rip to the other side,” Flo explained. “Erickson showed it to us.”
Mercedes’ eyes widened in shock. “What?”
“My father was a wraith,” Flo said excitedly. “He told everyone he was a pure-blood wizard, but he wasn’t. He was ashamed of his bloodline.”
Mercedes rubbed her temples. “So, a wraith, or a part wraith, in an iron room throws a curse with a bunch of fanatical pure-blood witches from my family, and there’s a blocked portal to the etheric plane in this house?”
“Essentially,” Sven stated.
“I don’t have an answer to that.” Mercedes took a seat on the bench that was in the reception area. “This has been a lot the past couple of weeks. Me breaking the curse of a ghoul, weddings, séances, and ghosts.”
The phone began to ring and Sven excused himself quietly to answer it. Mercedes still sat there and Flo sat down next to her.
“I know this overwhelming. I appreciate your help. Mona said I’m no longer in danger, so if I have to remain this way…I’m okay.”
“Are you sure?” Mercedes asked, not convinced.
Flo smiled as she looked over at Sven on the phone. “I’m sure. I can exist with him, this way for all eternity if I have to. It’ll be okay. He told me today he loves me when we kissed.”
Mercedes smiled softly. “I hope you can remember more and I’m glad you’re happier.”
“Even though I don’t remember the past, it’s him that I want and I’ve known that for some time.”
“I understood that the first time I met you. You were clearly possessive of him. You were kind of spooky.”
“Yes. Again, sorry about that.”
Mercedes took her hand and gave it a friendly squeeze. “Just trust yourself. Don’t be afraid, Flo. Sven is the sweetest and most loyal.”
“Thanks.”
Mercedes got up and headed toward the kitchen. Flo sat there, thinking about what Mercedes had said, and in truth, what Lottie had said about living life, or in her case, afterlife. She may never know about the curse, but none of that mattered.
Sven wanted to be with her. She wanted to be with Sven.
Sven finished his work and came over to her, sitting next to her on the little bench where Mercedes had been sitting on a moment ago.
“You look at peace,” Sven said. “I thought you might be a bit disappointed that Mercedes and Mona couldn’t get through to Tallowfield.”
“I was disappointed, but does it matter?”
“I think it does.” He frowned. “I’m worried if your curse breaks, one day, then you might…”
“I know,” she said quietly. “I have thought of that too because of what happened when I took off my gloves, but I can’t live like this anymore.”
“Like what?”
“Afraid.”
“You shouldn’t. I’m here with you. As I said, I always will be.”
Flo nodded. Her blood was rushing through her, or whatever it was that coursed through her veins as she decided to take what she wanted. “I’d like to go to bed.”
“Now?” Sven asked.
“Yes. Will you come with me?” She hoped her voice didn’t break, but she was completely nervous as she held out her hand, hoping he would take it, because she wanted him. She needed to feel loved by him, even for just this night.
The black pupils of his red eyes darkened. “Yes.”
He took her hand.
They floated upstairs.
Flo was trembling as they entered his bedroom. It was dark, save for the glow from her body. She was so nervous, but she’d never been so sure of something in her life, or afterlife, as it was.
Sven took a step closer and gently reached out to run his fingers across her cheek. Touching her made her feel electric. She sighed, closing her eyes and leaning into his touch. It made her realize how much she wanted more.
“Are you certain about this, Flo?” he asked, his voice deep with a promise of something.
“I am. I don’t want to waste any more time. I know I wanted this back then, and even more now.”
“And what if…”
She silenced him with a finger to his lips. “No what ifs or worries. Not tonight. This is what I want.”
“It’s what I want too. What I’ve always wanted.”
Her heart completely stuttered in her chest, hearing him say those words.
Tipping her chin up, Sven bent down and kissed her softly at first, before it deepened into something more primal, a yearning that had been burning in her blood since their kiss was interrupted early.
Flo moaned and melted into him as he wrapped his arms around her, pushing against his hard body.
He let his hands wander down her back, cupping her behind.
His cock was so hard against her belly. It scared her, but it thrilled her too because she wanted to know pleasure. She’d been a virgin for far too long.
He broke off the kiss, but kept his arms around her. She rested her forehead against his chin, her hands on his chest. It was odd there was no heartbeat, but she knew his heart belonged to her. He’d told her as much.
“We can stop, you know. I don’t want you to be scared.”
She kissed him again. “I’m not. I want you, Sven. More than just a kiss and more than just for one night. Forever.”
“Are you sure?” he asked again.
She nodded. “Positive, though I’m inexperienced.”
He smiled at her tenderly. “I am aware. And I haven’t been with anyone since I met you the first time.”
She was surprised. “Really?”
“Really. I told you, I love you.” He kissed her again, possessively. “So much.”
She ran her hands down his face and then slipped inside his shirt, running her fingers over his chest. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her straight to his bed.
“You know the dress won’t be any good once you take it off.”
“It was nice. I think I got your money’s worth out of it.”
“I’ll buy you another one,” he growled, setting her down. He spun her around and helped her with her buttons. The gold dress slipped to the floor and instantly withered away.
He ran his hands down her bare back and helped her slide her silk drawers off. She turned, unashamed of her nudity. Sven’s gaze roved hungrily over her.
“I want you to make love to me, Sven.”
“Gladly. I promise I’ll be gentle.” Sven pulled off his clothes, and she gasped as her gaze fell on his erect cock.
“Oh my.”
He chuckled. “Don’t worry. Do you trust me?”
“I do,” she murmured. She moved down his body, kissing him and running her hands through his hair. She wanted to touch all of him. She liked the way he felt under her fingertips.
Sven slipped his fingers through her hair, pulling out the pins so her hair hung free. “Your hair is so beautiful.” He kissed her gently, but deeply.
She let her hand travel over his belly to his cock, touching it, stroking it. “Do you like when I touch you?” she asked, pressing kisses against his neck.
“Yes, but now it’s…fuck,” he moaned.
“Now it’s what?” she teased.
“My turn,” he growled. “Lie down and spread your legs.”
Flo was shaking, her body flushed with desire. She lay back on the bed. Nervous, but wet with need.
“I want to taste you.” He leaned over her, trailing his tongue over her body.
“What?” She moaned, not understanding, but if it felt like this then she wanted it.
All of it.
Heat coursed through her veins and she just wanted him to take her so they would be one.
Sven spread her legs wider and he grinned before dipping his face between her thighs. His tongue swept up her center, licking her, sending a jolt of fiery pleasure through.
“Fuck,” she moaned. She’d never sworn before, but the word just spilled out of her as warmth coursed through her.
Was this what being alive felt like?
If so, then she definitely wanted more.
“So sweet,” he whispered against her core, and he dragged his tongue up her pussy again, agonizingly slow. The tip of his tongue found her sensitive clit and he began to flick it, alternating between licking it and swirling it around. His mouth covered her.
She cried out, gripping the quilt under her as she moaned, an orgasm washing through her body, her hips rocking against his mouth.
“Oh,” she moaned.
He withdrew his tongue, his arms braced on either side of her. “What do you want, Flo?”
“For you to take me.”
“You’re sure that’ what you want?”
“Yes,” she whispered. There had been a lot of things she was uncertain about, but this wasn’t one of them.
He reached over to his nightstand and pulled out a bottle.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“It’s lube, it’ll help.” He squirted it into his palm, then spread it down over his cock, and she arched her hips instinctively. “Flo, I promise this will hurt for only a moment.”
“I just want you, Sven.”
He circled her clit with his thumb before he gently slid a finger between her folds.
She reached down gripping his cock. “I want you.”
Sven growled possessively. His hard cock nudged her opening as he slowly eased inside her, pushing the head in.
She moaned as it filled her. He was so big.
“Touch yourself,” he said. “I want to see you touch yourself.”
“Here?” she asked, rubbing that spot which made her ache. She slipped her hand between her legs to rub, doing exactly what he said.
He thrust in and out of her slowly. It was torture because she wanted it faster.
“Oh God, Sven.” She was trying to match his rhythm.
“I won’t hurt you,” he panted. “I’m trying to hold back.”
“You don’t need to and you’re not hurting me.” She bucked her hips up at him.
Her urging made him grip her hips and quicken his pace, pumping in and out of her. She felt something bloom in her belly as she stroked herself in time with his thrusts.
“Oh God,” she cried out. Heady pleasure built inside her.
And then memories came flooding through her, her body glowing as everything came back to her in a rushing torrent.
She knew him.
Her love for him.
Sven.
“Fuck,” she purred.
His thrusts became shallow and frenzied as her pussy clenched around him. He cried out and came. He let go of her hips and slid out of her, falling onto his back.
She was completely relaxed and she curled up next to him, trying to calm the rush of memories and the heady pleasure still burning through her veins. “That was…amazing. I remember.”
“You remember?”
“It’s a lot, and it’s still hazy but…I feel freed. Like whatever was holding me down is gone.” Then she heard it. A thump under her ear. “Sven?”
Sven pressed his hand to his chest. “It’s my heart.”
Flo grinned and placed her hand on his chest. “I feel it.”
He shouted in joy and rolled over on top of her again, his hips resting between her thighs. She could feel his cock go hard.
“Again?” she asked, amused.
“Apparently.” He grinned. “What do you say?”
Her blood ignited. “Yes. Definitely.”