Chapter Forty-Eight
Artie is fast asleep in Forrest’s arms even before we get back to the castle. We make our way back in the way we left, and
I lock the window behind us.
The castle seems different somehow, as we go upstairs to Forrest’s room through its soft shadows and long memories. It feels
serene and peaceful—restful in a way that it never has before. Part of me can’t help wondering if that’s because two of its
restless ghosts are gone, reunited and hopefully happy, wherever they may be now in this vast and mysterious universe.
As Forrest tucks Artie into her bed for the second time that night, I wait in his room, sitting on the edge of his bed.
It’s right at this moment I realise I am not wearing underwear under this long T-shirt.
Forrest and I just went through perhaps the most profound spiritual experience of our lives, and I wasn’t wearing any knickers.
He’s about to come into this room, shirtless, and I’ll be sitting on his bed, knickerless.
There have been some periods in history when that would have been more than enough to qualify us for immediate enforced marriage.
Getting up, I’m about to return to my room when Forrest comes back, firmly shutting the connecting door to Artie’s room.
Looking around, he sees a beaded necklace of Artie’s and hangs it over the door handle.
“If she tries to sneak past me again, it will make a noise,” he tells me.
“I don’t think she’s going anywhere again in the middle of the night,” I tell Forrest. “She did what she set out to do: to
help Eliza and see fairies.”
Forrest sits down on the bed and looks up at me hovering by the door.
“What just happened, Ava?”
“Something amazing,” I say. “Something that no one will believe, but we know it happened.”
“I’m just not sure how to live the rest of my life now,” he says. “Know what I mean?”
“Yeah, mind blown!” I laugh awkwardly, suddenly hyperconscious that he is shirtless whilst being really hot. “Welp, I better
get back to bed.”
I go to open the door, imagining that in a few seconds I will be in my bed, alone, the risk of blurting out what’s on my mind
having safely passed. That’s always been me, all my life: the girl who either runs for the hills or puts her foot in it. But
what if I said something important for once, something that mattered? What if I said something exactly the way it needed to
be said instead of trying to escape my great big overwhelming feelings?
“Forrest.” I can’t look at him, so I look at the door.
“You are the most incredibly brilliant, fascinating, and remarkable man I’ve ever met.
And I think about you naked a lot.” There is no sound from behind me, no movement even.
I think maybe I’ve killed him. “I’m sorry.
I just wanted to tell you that I think you are pretty nice. Well, I’ll be going then.”
“No,” Forrest says. As I turn back towards him, he stands up.
“I beg your pardon?” I ask him.
“I mean no, Ava.” He walks over, standing so close to me that I can feel the heat radiating from his naked torso. “We just
witnessed the most incredible, impossible event. And I don’t mean the ghosts, I mean you talking about how you really feel.
You think about me naked? Want to see what that’s like in the flesh?”
“Um, yes please,” I say in a very small voice, hardly more than a whisper.
“You know what I think?” Forrest says. “Life is short. And that you are so beautiful, and shouldn’t we take every moment of
joy that we can?”
My eyes widen.
“Are you using this profound supernatural experience to seduce me?” I ask him as he edges closer.
“Only if that’s okay with you,” Forrest says, leaning towards me, his lips lightly touching mine. “My heart is pounding. I
feel more alive than I have in years and it’s not the ghost that did that, Ava.” He takes a step away. “It’s you.”
The next thing I know, I’m pushing him back onto the bed, climbing astride him as we kiss, fumbling with the buttons of his jeans to pull them open.
There’s no thinking now, just pure instinct that I didn’t know I had until right now when my hands are exploring all over Forrest’s beautiful body, heat building with every touch of our skin, every caress and kiss as he pulls my nightdress off over my head.
For a second we pause, look at one another.
I have never felt as sexy as I do now. The look on his face is one of wonder and desire and I know it mirrors mine.
His hands find my breasts at once, as he sits up, covering them in kisses, sucking long and hard on my nipples. Oh, this is what all the fuss is about, I think, and then I stop thinking—it’s just getting in the way.
Forrest’s hand cups my bottom and he rolls me over onto my back. We kiss luxuriously as his hand sweeps down the length of
my body and between my legs. I thought I’d feel shy and awkward, but all I feel is his fingers making my whole body sing.
My hand runs down the length of his back as he positions himself between my legs.
“Ava,” he whispers. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
“I told you it was, didn’t I?” I breathe.
“Are you sure you want it to be with me . . . ?”
“Yes,” I tell him. “I’m really sure, Forrest.”
Then all I can feel is the length of his body along mine, the weight of him pressing against me, the soft touch of his lips
against my skin, his fingers entwined in my hair. Then very gently, as our gazes lock, I feel him move slowly inside me.
He moans low and thick throated. Cautious, hesitant, careful.
That won’t do at all. Grabbing his head in my hands, I kiss him hard, pushing and pulling at his hips to make him move faster.
Forrest obliges, and together we find our rhythm, taking pleasure in every stroke until, until something happens that I was not prepared for.
A shudder of intense pleasure ricochets, radiating out from the place where our bodies are joined, searing through me with such intense delight that I have to press my hand against my mouth to stop from crying out.
A moment later Forrest shudders in my arms and then collapses his weight onto mine.
We roll to face one another, our palms flat against each other’s cheeks, lost in one another’s eyes. After a moment he kisses
me very gently.
“You are perfect,” he tells me, his palm sweeping downward to cup my breast. “You are miraculous.”
“You’re not bad yourself,” I say, suddenly a little shy.
“And . . . are you okay? With what we just did?” Forrest asks me. “Was it okay?”
“I’m really so okay, Forrest,” I assure him. “I might be the okay-est I have ever been.”
“I’m glad.” He pulls me closer so that my head is resting against his body. My fingers trail lazily down his chest.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“I’m more than okay.” There’s a long pause. “I’m happy, Ava. It’s simple and uncomplicated, unexpected happiness. And, I’m
also a little sleepy. Maybe we should get some sleep. What do you think? But you have to stay here, with me. No going back
to your room.”
“You want to sleep?” I say, sitting up. He raises his eyebrows as he looks at me.
“Why, what else did you have in mind?”
“Well,” I say. “There’s something I’ve been secretly fantasising doing to you, and now seems like a perfect time to try it
out.” I press my lips to his chest and kiss him, before running my tongue around each nipple.
“What are you doing to me, woman?” Forrest asks. “Whatever it is, I like it.”
“I’m licking you,” I tell him. “I thought I’d start here and see where I end up.”
“Well, if you insist,” Forrest says with a sigh as he sinks back into the pillows.
We did not sleep again. Not until long after dawn.