Chapter Five Partners #3
My hand doesn’t stop. It sinks through, and it feels like sinking into warm, soothing softness, almost like a waterbed, like gel, but it tingles. It tingles all over my arm, all the way to my neck and head, and for a second, pain is just a memory, a distant, unfamiliar word.
“Oops. Sorry.”
“I’m going to go out and think. For some reason, I can travel between here and the cemetery.
Don’t know why, maybe because they’re so close, or maybe this was all one chunk of land at one point...
See you tonight.” Johnny waves and whistles tunelessly before striding through the wall.
When I look out the window, I see him walking with long, slouching strides across the lawn.
“That was new,” I tell the crow who likes to visit my grave. It’s not a crow, exactly, since its head looks like a bird’s skull every so often.
It sits at my feet, but I don’t have any treats for him. He’s a nice bird.
Good listener.
I feel like it’s okay to say this out loud, as long as it’s just him overhearing.
“She put her hand right through me. It was... Wow. It could be that I’ve been in dry dock way too long, buddy, but that was something else.
It was tingles, everywhere. Everywhere, you know what I mean?
Tiny, buzzing little kisses. Even in places I never got kissed.
” I don’t breathe, but my chest is heaving, and my cock is suddenly hard as I think thoughts about Amber that I got no business thinking.
I stay out of the house for the rest of the day.
But I can’t help but remember what she looks like wet and naked, and I can’t help but replay the little gasp she made when she pulled her hand out of my shoulder.
I think it was a sound of pleasure. I don’t know if she felt the same way I did, like tiny explosions of bliss were rippling across her skin.
I certainly hope not. Right? I’d better hope not, because that would make things messy.
Real messy.
When I get back, it’s dark. I figure there’s nothing much Amber could have learned in a day, even as optimistic and enthusiastic as she seemed.
Wants to get rid of me. That’s why she’s so excited.
So, I creep into the house, nice and slow, figuring maybe it’s smart to keep my distance after showing her my bad side last night, not to mention that little tingling incident earlier.
Of course, all of that flies out the window when I see her sprawled halfway over the kitchen table, moaning quietly, cheek pressed into the sleek glass tabletop. “Amber! Kid, what is it?”
“Don’t call me kid, and I’m dying,” she groans.
“Not on my watch.” I yank her phone from where it rests on the table—a little too hard.
It sails across the room and hits the wall.
“Ooops. Just hang on, sweetheart, I’m not gonna let anything happen to you.
” I get the phone back, and I’m in the process of trying to figure the damn thing out when she laughs weakly.
“My back is in a spasm, Johnny.”
Ooh. Shit, I am suddenly acutely aware of how she says my name. How she says it when she’s bent over at the table, voice breathless.
Stop that.
“This was the first time I’ve done PT in weeks. I had an initial appointment, but today was the first session. They put me through my paces, and I’m in so much pain. My legs are shaking. My back feels like it’s on fire. My head is starting to hurt again.”
“What can I do? Motrin again?”
“No. I should have found out where there’s a masseuse in town. I have a massaging back pillow. It’s a box in the bedroom closet. You wouldn’t want to be the most heroic ghostly roommate ever and get that for me, would you?”
“You wanna stay like that while I get it?” I ask doubtfully.
“Not really seeing a lot of choices. My legs are like spaghetti and my back... My back and I are not friends.”
“I’ll carry you to your room and find the pillow.
Here we go. Nice and easy,” I say, picking her up the same way I picked up Private Timson and Corporal Kramer when they were shot in that same ambush where I got my shin blasted.
Nice and easy. I had to make two trips, with my shoe full of blood.
This is actually much easier. Amber is lighter, and I’m stronger.
And when I’m as solid as I can be, she just rests against me, not sinking into me, but where we touch—the tingles start. And spread.
“Oh. Ohhh. Oh, my gosh, this is amazing. Why are people afraid of ghosts when they feel so amazing?” Amber moans softly.
“Uh. Got me,” I mumble. “You know... I’ve been told I give a good back rub.”
“Oh, yeah? Who told you that?”
“Me. Myself. Just now,” I laugh at my white lie. “Sorry. I just thought I could help.”
“I will pay you to help,” Amber moans. “This is beyond modern massage therapy, let me tell you. It’s like... sonic vibrations mixed with heat, mixed with water pressure. Sign me the fuck up, baby.”
Holy cats. I know she didn’t mean to say it like that, all heavy breathing and throaty, but damn.
My voice sounds just as heavy and low. “I’ll do it for free. I appreciate your help with my problems. I’ll be glad to help you with yours.”