Page 25 of Savored Sins
“You remember we’re on camera, right?”
“Absolutely, I do.”
I roll my eyes, hoping the camera picks it up. Zeke’s laying it on thick, and I don’t want whoever ends up seeing this clip to think I’m in on the cringey shit, too.
Across from me, I see Zeke shiver. For a second, the muscles in his jaw flex and his eyes flutter shut. His fingers are still on the planchette, but his breaths have deepened, and he seems… I don’t know. Relaxed, but weirdly fidgety.
“Zeke… Are you okay?”
Zeke draws a deep breath in, then lets it shakily out. “Yeah, I’m—I’m good. It’s just… This ghost… she’s kind of handsy.”
The realization of what he’s saying hits me—he’s sitting across from me on the floor right now, while some hot ghost runs her ethereal hands all over him. Suddenly alert, I squint through the darkness, straining to see. And as I do, I notice that the fabric of Zeke’s t-shirt is rumpling and smoothing in circular little waves as though an invisible hand is gliding along his chest.As I watch, the hem of his shirt lifts for a moment, baring tight, smooth skin beneath, and then as soon as it falls, Zeke’s hair begins to ruffle backwards.
“Is she running her hands through yourhair?” I whisper. I knew this was going to be weird, but I can hardly believe what the hell I’m seeing.
“Mmhmm,” Zeke says, letting his head drop backwards. The flickering flames of the candles are casting long, dancing shadows on the column of his neck, and although all this feels voyeuristic, I’ve also realized… it’s hot as hell.
Zeke groans. I watch as his head drops to one side and his chin slowly rises, like someone has their hand beneath it and is guiding him to look upwards. His eyes hover on something I can’t see, and then slowly, slowly, his gaze slides to a point between us, something above the table. Only then do his eyes drop to mine.
Zeke looks at me through the flickering glow of the candles. A tiny smile plays at his mouth, and I feel his fingertips stroking mine, our hands still resting on the planchette. I realize we haven’t even asked a single question.
“Did she leave?” I ask. My fingers feel like an electric current’s running through them, so aware am I of Zeke’s touch.
Zeke shakes his head. He grins. “Nah, but I think she wants to tell us something.”
twelve
ZEKE
If there’s one thing I know, it’s when a woman wants to get physical. Don’t get it twisted—anything less than enthusiastic consent is ahell no. But that being said, I’m pretty good at reading the room. And right now? This ghost chick in Autumn’s living room?
She wants to get physical. I mean—as best she can, considering.
Hell, she’s already been sitting here feeling me up, running her cool, slim hands all over my skin and turning me the hell on. I’m glad it’s dark and my lap is hidden by the coffee table right now, becausedamnam I hard—and I feel kind of weird about Autumn seeing that, since it wasn’t her who did it. Notthistime, anyway.
The ghost is hovering above the spirit board now, and she’s got this tiny little smile on her face. She’s really pretty. She’s not a knockout likeAutumn—although if I want usable pilot footage, I’m not about to say that out loud—but her long, silvery hair falls in waves down her back, and she’s got a nice set of tits popping out over the corset-thing she’s wearing. Even though she’s been helping herself to my body—withmy clear, implied permission, I will add—she’s looking kind of shy now.
“She wants to tell us something?” Autumn asks. “What do we do? Just ask something?”
I nod, then say aloud, “Okay, gorgeous. What do you want? Tell us what you’re after here.”
I’m pretty sure I know what she’s after. I saw that look on her shimmering face, felt where her hands were headed. And it’s… not what I’d planned on. Not here. Not for the pilot episode. Not in front of Autumn. This shit could get real awkward real fast.
My heart’s racing as the planchette starts to move beneath Autumn’s and my fingers. I hear Autumn suck in her breath. And all the while, the ghost chick is hovering above us, her eyes fixed on me.
The planchette whips across the board, jerking to a stop.
Autumn reads the letter aloud. “B.”
She looks up at me, her eyes shining with excitement. I’m pretty nervous, though, because if this is going where I think it’s going… Let’s just say Autumn may not like it very much.
The planchette jerks again, taking our fingers with it.
Autumn glances down to read the letter we’ve stopped on, but I already know. The death stare I know Autumn’s about to shoot me, is the only thing keeping me from laughing.
“J.”
Autumn looks confused for a moment, as though trying to figure out what kind of word this ghost could be spelling. Then she stares at me again, and her eyes narrow.
