AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I walk to the light switch, and sure enough, it’s in the down position. I flip it up, and the flickering stops, leaving the light on.
“I can’t sleep with the light on.”
I flip the switch off. The chandelier goes dark. “It’ll probably be okay now. It’s an old building, Mary.”
“What if…”
I place my hands gently on her shoulders. “You’re going to be fine. Would you like to switch rooms?”
“Have you had any flickering in your room?”
“No.”
“I just…” She looks down and then back up, her cheeks blushing. “Maybe you could stay here with me. Or I could stay in your room with you? I’m not saying I want to—”
I nod. “I understand. There doesn’t seem to be any haunting in my room, so we’ll stay there. Gather whatever you need.”
“Thank you,” she breathes, her shoulders dropping. She grabs her phone and her purse. “Everything else will be okay until morning.”
I lead her to my room next door and lock up.
She climbs into my bed, and I climb in on the other side.
I wanted her to get a good night’s sleep. I had her good and relaxed, but then the damn chandelier had to flicker.
We can always sleep in. I was going to pick her up at ten to get beignets, but that can always wait until the next day. I will not wake her up until she wakes up herself.
She needs her sleep.
I spoon up against her, ignoring my hard cock, and kiss her shoulder. “Go to sleep, Mary.”
She closes her eyes, and within a few moments, her breathing has become shallower, and I know she’s succumbed to slumber.
I move away from her, lying on my back, staring up at my own chandelier.
“Are you here?” I ask.
The light flickers on for moment.
“I thought so. Try not to scare her, got it?”
The light flickers off and stays off the rest of the night.
The Cornstalk Hotel is one of my favorite places in New Orleans. The place is presumably haunted by the ghosts of former residents and visitors, including a woman who is said to have jumped from a balcony to her death and a Confederate soldier who haunts the hotel’s courtyard.
I learned, growing up here, not to discount the rumors.
Is there a ghost here? Did he or she truly answer me with a light flicker?
Maybe.
Maybe not.
But I keep an open mind—and an idea comes to me. One that will make Mary’s stay here memorable indeed.
Chapter Twenty
Mary
