EPILOGUE
Secrets will out.
“HAH!” I CHEERED. “TAKE that, Sylvia!”
I propped my now grimy hands on my hips proudly as I scanned the dim, dust-entombed space of the secret attic of our house.
Yes, the secret attic. I’d finally found it!
Thin rays of morning light leaked through subtle gaps in the walls, accounting for the constant chilly breeze whistling through.
Clouds of disturbed dust swirled in the air from where I’d shoved open the small hatchway-like door to crawl up here.
The space was tiny, about half the size of the spare bedroom it was situated above.
The ceiling was low even for me, and I hunched slightly under the angled, creaking rafters to keep the cobwebs from snagging in my hair.
It didn’t look like there was much here by ways of hidden treasure, as I’d so hoped.
Heaps of old four-by-fours were piled along the one wall, and a neat stack of cardboard boxes and plastic bins sat along the other.
I was eager to rummage through those, though.
Who knew what goodies I’d find in there.
Probably just old decorations and dishes and clothes, but a girl could dream.
Now, how did I manage to find the hidden attic, one might ask?
Well, let’s just say I was one determined bastard. And this was a particular mystery that I just couldn’t leave unsolved.
Had I created a brand-new spell to specifically locate hidden rooms? Yes. Was it a little obsessive? Probably. Had it consumed an unholy amount of my time? Embarrassingly so.
But it had managed to lead me to a hidden door within the ceiling of the closet in the spare bedroom, the one I had set up for Cam.
I never would have found it without the seeking spell seeing as the doorway – hatchway?
– was covered by a large chunk of drywall that had been built to seamlessly cover the entrance.
Why? I had no idea.
However, Cam had basically spent no time in that room before he’d claimed half of my bed. Then half of my room. I wasn’t complaining; I’d gladly shared my space with him with open arms. Or more like open legs.
I chuckled to myself as I strode directly toward the boxes and knelt to examine the neat writing on the sides.
I squinted against the low lighting and cast a simple illumination spell, the little ball of glowing light appearing to hover just above me and casting a soft white light over everything.
One box was labeled “X-mas,” another “Fall,” and the semi-clear plastic bin appeared to have an assortment of clothes in it.
I could only assume these were Sylvia’s belongings. When I pulled those boxes to the side, I found a few more hidden beneath. Opening these revealed...
“Unholy shit,” I gasped as I stared at the collection of old romance novels.
And not just romance books; these were clearly of a mixed variety of contemporary, fantasy, and erotica. Probably more erotica if I had to make a quick guess. As I began nosily looking through the pile, my eyes snagged on a few gay erotica books with classic half-naked muscled men on the covers.
“Sylvia, we could have been such good friends!” I lamented to the empty room. “We could have formed a book club and everything. Alice would have joined!”
Well, these were certainly going to be fun to go through.
I pushed this box to the side and found another filled with old VHS movies which I was also excited to find.
More boxes revealed photo albums, high-school yearbooks, music cassettes, knickknacks, and other such mementos.
One box was filled to the brim with crocheting paraphernalia complete with patterns and step-by-step guides.
I pulled that out for Cam; he seemed like the type to like learning to crochet, the cutie pie.
“Sorry to go through your stuff, Sylvia. It will be cherished,” I said aloud, knowing Sylvia was no longer here.
After I had performed those cleansing and exorcism spells on the house – no priest necessary – not only had it prevented the piece of shit Ron from manifesting as a spirit to haunt us, but it had also gotten rid of Sylvia.
I hadn’t been so sure it had worked, but Cam had confirmed he hadn’t seen signs of Sylvia during the days after. And ever since.
“But hell,” I continued talking to myself, “I’m glad you're gone so you'll never tell Cam anything more embarrassing than what Ali Cat already has. Like the shower incident. I know you were-”
“What shower incident?”
I let out the highest, loudest, most unbecoming shriek ever to escape me as I whirled around, still kneeling, eyes wide, and heart racing. I pressed my hand over my pounding chest as I spotted Cam’s head of dark hair peeking up through the square hole in the floor that led up here.
“Wow.” His gaze darted around the space. “You found the attic.”
His voice sounded impressed and I gave him a weak glare. “What, didn’t think I’d find it?”
He chuckled and climbed up through the hole. That was a feat in itself considering his broad shoulders and muscular frame. And with his height, he didn’t even try standing up, just remained on his hands and knees as he crawled over to me wearing a playful smirk.
I couldn’t help the rush of arousal that coursed through me watching him prowl toward me like that, all big and slow. Why was it so sexy?
“Of course, I knew you’d find it baby,” he told me once he’d reached me and the boxes haphazardly strewn around me. “You’re brilliant.”
“Oh yeah?” I teased, scooting closer to him, gaze sultry. “I think you’re just saying that to get in my pants.”
Cam leaned over a box so that his face was only an inch from mine. His eyes scanned my face before settling heavily on my lips. They tingled with anticipation under the attention.
“I don’t need to butter you up to get in your pants, Vic,” he purred.
Cam pushed the miniscule distance separating us to kiss me, slow and deep. I moaned against his lips. He tasted like vanilla and something fruity. Probably taste-testing one of his newest creations. Whatever it was, it was delicious. And so was he.
“No, you don’t,” I whispered against him.
He broke the kiss long seconds later to ask, “What did you find?” His eyes wandered over the boxes and few items I’d pulled out in my curiosity.
As I proudly showed him the spoils of my success, he chose that moment to bring up what he had apparently overheard.
“So, what’s this about a shower incident?”
I choked and coughed, spluttering, “Uh, wh- what? What shower?”
Cam’s grin turned roguish, making my heart race. “That’s what I want to know.” He told me smugly, the arrogant bastard. Satan, I fucking loved him.
My face warmed as I realized he’d heard me talking to myself like some crazy person.
Well, my shoulders slumped, no point in hiding it.
I didn’t hide anything from Cam anymore.
And after a year of being together, I could confidently say that he knew me better than anyone ever had in my whole life.
I’d gotten better at the whole “opening up” thing.
And I knew him just as intimately, which was why I wasn’t afraid of him judging me or anything.
And even though this was probably the most mortifying thing that had ever happened to me, I couldn’t lie to Cam.
I gave a long sigh, “It’s so bad, babe.”
Cam eyed me with interest.
“Worse than you singing your eyebrows off?” he asked and I nodded solemnly. “Worse than the three-day boner from the aphrodisiac tonic you made?” I nodded again. “Worse than-”
I silenced him with a finger to his lips. “Yes, love, worse.”
His lips twitched with amusement, blue eyes glittering with curiosity. And so, I told him of the ordeal that scarred me and Alice – and probably Sylvia – for life and afterlife, respectfully.
It was probably six months into living in my new house.
I had been settling into my job well and even managed to befriend Alice during one of my attempts at “getting back out there.” We hadn’t been friends for very long, a few months at most, but we’d hit it off and had quickly become two peas in a pod.
One weekend, we were planning to party it up at a music bar outside of town.
It was well known for its themed events with the niche music, drinks, and dress codes to match.
And we were going all out for Emo Night.
She had designated herself my wingwoman, hell bent on getting me laid after a lengthy dry spell.
With full confidence that I was going home with some handsome guy, I needed to loosen up. In more ways than one.
Since moving and leaving Ron, I hadn’t hooked up with anyone. I was pent up, wound tighter than a spring, and filled with anxious energy. I knew that a good orgasm or two would calm me down.
A few hours before meeting up with Alice had me fucking myself on my favorite suction cup dildo in the shower. I don’t even really remember how it happened, but one minute I was nearing one of the most intense climaxes I’d had in months to slipping and falling face first into the edge of the tub.
I woke up later that evening in the hospital with a moderate concussion, a severely bruised self-esteem, and a loss of any and all dignity.
“Apparently, Alice got worried when she couldn’t get ahold of me,” I finished.
“Came over to find me unconscious with the shower still running. And...” I sighed, rubbing my forehead as I forced the words out.
“My dildo still lodged up my ass. Don’t know how long I was out, but the water had gone cold.
Not one of my finer moments in history.”
“I’m glad she was able to help you,” Cam said earnestly, not at all phased my utterly humiliating story.
I left unspoken that Alice would certainly have had to remove said dildo from my ass, and if that wasn’t true friendship, I didn’t know what was.
I couldn’t put into words how grateful I was for Cam’s unruffled reaction.
He only sidled closer. “You could have been seriously hurt.”
He reached over and caressed the side of my face down to my neck.
I closed my eyes and hummed with contentment.
We’d scooted over to the nearest wall not cluttered with piles of wooden boards and were leaning back, shoulder to shoulder, with one of Sylvia’s moth-ball-smelling quilts draped over our laps.
“But, Alice is still my best friend,” I said with feigned defeat. “So, if the sight of me naked in the shower post suction cup dildo knockout or disposing of bodies for us hasn’t scared her off, I fear nothing will.”
The look Cam gave me could only have been described as heart-meltingly soft. “You have made a good life for yourself here, Vic. And the family you choose are who’s most important.”
I leaned up and kissed him soundly on the cheek. “Handsome, charming, funny, and wise. You’re the whole package, Camden Hawkins. How did I get so lucky?”
He gave me a shy smile in return, cheeks going pink.
It warmed my heart, the tell-tale flutterings making me giddy.
So, I shifted the blanket as I swung one leg over Cam’s to straddle his lap.
Leaning down, I rubbed my nose against his and breathed in the sugary scent that seemed ingrained into his entire being.
“But I always wondered how she got in,” I continued thoughtfully, still rubbing our noses together.
“You know me, Cautious Carl over here, so my house was always locked. Even when I was home. That’s what got me thinking,” I pulled back slightly, “what if Sylvia let Alice in when she came to check on me? Guess I’ll never know,” I shrugged.
At this moment, I was done re-living my traumatic abashed past. To show Cam this, I aimed for his neck and lazily licked along the lines of his spiderweb tattoo.
He groaned and stretched his head to the side, baring himself to me, giving me his silent desires.
I teased the long band of muscle with my teeth causing his breath to hitch sharply, but I quickly soothed away the bite with a wet, sucking kiss.
I pulled back just enough to see the red mark I’d left and grinned with sinful satisfaction.
“I came up here to tell you something important,” Cam voice was hoarse as I worked my way up slowly to nibble at his earlobe, flicking his earrings with my tongue.
“Tell me later,” I growled as I rolled my hips into his.
My already hard cock pressed insistently against his through the denim of our pants as pleasure rippled down my spine.
He groaned roughly as I repeated the action, just to watch his eyes flutter and head tip back against the wall with a thud.
His throat bobbed, and I dragged the flat of my tongue up that strong column.
“But, mmm,” he hummed in pleasure as I rocked my hips again. His ass jerked up, hips lifting from the floor and taking me with them. “Your proof came in the mail.”
I froze. As in completely froze in place with my tongue still mid-lick on his throat.
“I didn’t open it,” he told me, tone breathy and lust drenched. “Figured you’d want to do the honors.”
I only paused for a second before I resumed making out with Cam’s neck. His hands roamed over my waist to settle on my ass, urging me to grind against him. And I did, fervently.
My book could wait. Afterall, it wasn’t going anywhere. Unless we got a new ghost who liked to play hide-and-seek.
The entire process of finally publishing my spellbook was scarily daunting, but I was beyond excited.
Plus, Mandy, miss artsy fartsy, had designed the stunning cover for me.
It was filled with all of the spells, charms, hexes, and potions I had crafted and perfected over the years.
While most bordered along the grayer area of arcane arts, some were perfectly safe and acceptable. Some.
Still, even though I was bubbling with anticipation to run downstairs and see my new book in its physical glory, Cam was beneath me.
Cam, with his broad chest heaving, his hands gripping my thighs painfully tight, and dick hard with arousal.
I’d worked him up into a barely restrained sexual tizzy.
And I needed to reward my very good boy for his patience.
“There's something else I want to open right now.” I purred as the sound of Cam’s zipper being undone filled the stuffy attic.
Cam’s grin turned feral when I pulled out his throbbing cock. He snapped forward and captured my bottom lip between his teeth with a greedy suck. I moaned when he released me to whisper,
“Do your worst, baby”