Page 10 of Painting Ghosts

Natalie pouted. “I don’t want them living here. They think they’re so clever with their fancy cars and gadgets. It’s the only way to have the place to ourselves, Grandpa Bob.”

Bob sighed. “I know, sweetheart. But one day they’ll inherit this place when we’ve both moved on, and then we won’t have anything to say about it.” His eyes gleamed. “Unless someone wanted to buy the place and stay here, of course. Someone like you two.”

“Us?” I squawked. “I’m a lecturer in a college on a slave’s wage, and Theo’s an artist who makes loads of dosh, yes, but not enough to buy a place like this one.”

Bob harrumphed. “Unless someone rather sly put a clause in the property deeds that if anyone ever chose to open this old place as an artistic centre and encourage budding creatives to come here and learn their crafts, they’d get it for a good price. It’s written in stone, lads.” Bob nodded sagely. “The trust has to honour my last wishes, and the rest of the family can say nowt about it.”

Theo leaned forward in interest. “Honestly? Wow, that’s an amazing thing to do.” His gaze grew wistful. “I’ve dreamt about opening my own art gallery and teaching studio for years...” He looked at me hopefully. “Ty, maybe we should consider this. What do you think?”

I stood up and paced around the room in agitation. “Think? I’m sitting here discussing real estate management with a ghost and a bloke who doesn’t seem too fazed about that fact, while another little child ghost chases shadows around the room.”

Natalie was indeed doing just that. “It’s my old cat, Cuddles,” she exclaimed as she reached down to pet something, a fad shadow that might have been a cat but could also have been my imagination. “He wants to play.”

I rolled my eyes and continued pacing. “You’re talking about buying a haunted house, with a couple of resident ghosts, and who knows how many more lurking about, in a place that needs a load of upkeep, and will no doubt one day suck us into the netherworld where we’ll be in limbo for the rest—”

I was rudely interrupted by the press of Theo’s lips against mine, shutting me up as his hands framed my face, and he kissed the life out of me. I moaned and kissed him back, every dirty, sexy thought I’d ever had rising to the fore and expressing themselves in the push of my tongue into his coffee-scented mouth. Now it was his turn to moan. For a while, nothing else existed, no haunted house or pesky ghosts, as we succumbed to whatever had been festering between us for years and hadn’t had the guts to say out loud.

I vaguely heard Bob say, “Come on, Natalie, let’s leave these two alone for a bit. This isn’t for your eyes to be seeing. Let’s go outside; see the snow.” The room grew silent, and I knew they’d disappeared.

Theo’s hands worked their way under my shirt, touching skin, and I shivered. “God,” he whispered. “I’ve wanted to do this for so long. Please tell me you feel the same, Ty.” His fingers stroked a caress across my hip as I swallowed, pressing my hardness against him.

“Can’t you tell? I’m crazy about you. I can’t believe we left it so long.” My hands slid down into his sweatpants, grabbing his firm arse cheeks—OMG he was commando—and pressing him closer to me.

Theo drew away, breathing heavily. His face was flushed, his green eyes brilliant emerald. “You’ve been mine forever. And I’ve been yours.”

His lips found mine again, and my heart beat faster, so much so I thought it would take flights like a dove. Finally, we parted, clothes dishevelled and lips swollen with our passion.

Theo grinned at me as he laid his forehead against mine. “And to think it only took a couple of ghosts to make us admit how we felt for each other. They deserve an award.”

I nodded, my body tingling and ready to fall to the floor and pull Theo down with me. I manfully restrained because I felt what we might do wouldn’t be suitable for anyone to watch, let alone a little girl. Even if Bob and Natalie hadn’t gone, it didn’t feel quite right. Yet. Not until some ground rules had been set. “Yeah,” I murmured dreamily. “We were right twits about it.”

Theo pulled back, and I grabbed his sleeve and held him back. “Nuh-huh, you’re not going anyway, gorgeous. I’ve waited too long to have you in my arms. Come back here.”

He chuckled and wrapped his arms around me in a hug. “You are such a dork. You’re adorable.”

I laid my head against his chest because he was a few inches taller than me and sighed happily. “Were you serious about buying this place and living here, developing an artists retreat or something?”

“Yes. It’s something I’ve always wanted, and I can see it now. People in this place with their easels, their sculptures, creating beautiful art and giving off happy vibes.” He drew away, arms gesticulating wildly. “There’s so much room here, we could have separate teaching studios, and get people in to come to teach, and artists starting out who need some help. Of course, you’ll be the marketing guy, making sure we advertise, and get seen, and maybe even getting grants for the arts, that sort of thing. It’ll be a true partnership.” His eyes glowed with passion, and my heart warmed with love.

“And what about this partnership?” I gestured to us. “Is that something we factor into this whole operation?” I said it coyly but inside, I was trembling. I want this so much.

Theo cupped my face in his hands and kissed me on the cheek. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, babe. You and me, doing this? It will be epic.”

“Babe?” I queried in amusement even though inside I rejoiced at the endearment.

Theo’s face pinked up in embarrassment. “Sorry, just came out. I mean if you don’t like it—”

I laid a finger on his lips. “I fucking love it, babe.”

“Well, it seems like you two finally got it on.” Bob’s wry tone catapulted us out of the dream world Theo and I had been caught in. “Can I offer you my congratulations you finally pulled your heads out of your arses to see what you had?”

Theo glared across at him. “Let’s set a few ground rules here, Bob.” He ticked off on his fingers. “One. If we buy this place, you and Natalie need to stay out of our business. I don’t need you appearing at a whim whenever Ty and I get our sexy times on.”

Sexy times? Really? I mouthed at him. Theo ignored me.

“Secondly,” Theo declared, “No uninvited appearances. I’m happy to have you join us for dinner conversation, or when you fancy watching a film with us, but Ty and I need our privacy.”

This conversation got more surreal with every tick of Theo’s finger. He was laying out visiting privileges and social gathering protocols for two ghosts. Did they even watch films? I blinked, wondering if after all I was in a dream, and I’d wake up any second.