ColonialGhost (2 page)

Chapter Two

Prayers of gratitude were still echoing in Kerry’s head as
she followed Broderick up the beautiful oak staircase. The Fair Rose bed and
breakfast was beautiful, from what she could see as the sun set. According to
Broderick, the original structure dated back to 1756, and over the years it had
been rebuilt, restored and generally refurbished, until the depression era.

They had entered through the kitchen, after what Kerry was
sure had been an entertaining dismount from the motorcycle. Broderick flicked
on light switches as they moved through the house, while Kerry was taking in
the details of the large bed and breakfast inn. The rich, warm wood seemed to
echo back to another age. They passed a room where the furniture was covered
with sheets. Broderick described it as the future “common” room.

Broderick opened a bedroom door just past the top of the
staircase. Walking into the room first, he turned on the overhead light, and
set her briefcase and overnight bag on a bench at the foot of the queen-size,
four-poster bed.

“This is the Lady Rose room. Nearly all of the rooms are
complete, but this is the only one with everything in place.”

Kerry looked from Broderick to the bed. It was grand enough
to take her breath away. Made of heavy dark wood, it had drawn, thick cream
curtains suspended from the top beams of the bed. She couldn’t resist lightly
stroking the fabric.

“Wow! This is incredible.” Floral bed covers, complete with
lace pillows and burgundy velvet bed skirt, made this the kind of bed women
dreamed of. She went to sit on the bed and found that it was too tall to scoot
onto. It was tempting to face the bed and scramble up, but she also knew it
would look ridiculous for a grown woman to do so. A moment later, Broderick
pulled out a wooden stepping stool for the bed.

Everything Kerry had seen was just perfect for a bed and
breakfast. It screamed Victorian elegance while remaining cozy and charming.
“This is all really fantastic, Mr. Douglass. Did you hire a designer who
specialized in the period?”

Broderick turned and smiled. “Thanks, but I’ve done it all
myself. Well, I need to get back to work. I’ll leave the kitchen door unlocked
if you want to go out. Once your other bag arrives, I’ll bring it up.” Walking
to the door, he looked back at Kerry. “Feel free to look around if you want. If
you need something during the night, just pick the phone up and press 1. It
rings in the kitchen, my office and bedroom. Oh, and even though I’m not
officially open, I’ll be happy to serve you some breakfast. Is eight too
early?”

Kerry shook her head slowly. “No, uhm, that will be fine.
I’m not due at the convention until ten.” She watched as the attractive man
closed the door. “What a waste,” she murmured softly. “I guess it’s true—all
the good ones are either married or gay. Damn!” Kicking her shoes off, she used
the step stool to get up onto the bed. Lying back against the soft pillows, it
was impossible to keep her eyes open. In a few deep breaths she was sound
asleep.

* * * * *

Kerry awoke abruptly, looking frantically around the room.
It took a few seconds before she remembered she was at the bed and breakfast,
Fair Rose. Sitting up, she rubbed her hands over her eyes. Her glasses must
have fallen off. She looked around for them, but couldn’t see them. Scooting
off the bed, she pulled her jacket off and untied the bow at the neck of her
shirt. Unbuttoning the first few buttons, Kerry glanced around, wondering what
time it was. Glancing at her wrist, she was surprised to find her watch missing
as well. Shrugging, she went into the bathroom.

Kerry stripped her clothes off, standing in front of the
mirror. For some foolish reason, she had worn a very sexy, loose fitting, silky
lace teddy in the softest of pinks. She pulled the last few pins from her hair,
and soon it was streaming over her shoulders. Looking at her reflection, Kerry
acknowledged that even if Broderick weren’t gay, he probably wouldn’t have been
attracted to her. Her face was just average and her body was more than average
size. Most men preferred thin women, or women with large breasts.

She didn’t hate the way she looked, but rather accepted it.
After all, it wasn’t as if she never dated. There had been that accountant her
Aunt Cecelia had fixed her up with a few months back. And before that was the
guy who had decided to leave his career in management at the golden arches, and
go into ministry school. Once he discovered what her career was, which she had
put off telling him until their third date, it had been clear their career
choices were irreconcilable.

Kerry leaned over and rinsed her face with water, and then
turned off the taps. Letting the water drip down and wet the teddy, she
wondered what her readers would think if they knew she was really the complete
opposite of what she wrote in her books. Excitement, exotica and passionate
lovemaking were not a part of her life. Instead she had become very adept at research,
in lots of interesting areas.

Clack!

Whoosh!

Kerry froze as she heard the strange noises. It sounded like
they were outside her bedroom door. Moving to the door, she opened it slowly.
Light from behind her began chasing away the darkness down the long hallway.
Looking at first down the hall, into pitch-blackness, Kerry took a deep breath
before turning to glance at the head of the staircase. Moonlight streamed
through the windows on the first floor, partway up the stairs. Just enough of
the pale blue light allowed Kerry to see the area was empty.

Clack!

Whomphhf!

Kerry felt her heart leap in her chest as the sounds came
again, but this time she could tell they were coming from the dark end of the
hallway. For a few seconds she paused, considering closing her door and turning
the lock, with her inside. That would be the smart thing to do. She didn’t know
her way around this large house, nor did she really know her host. Perhaps he
was a lunatic hiding out here, just waiting to pounce on his next victim.
Taking a step into the hallway, she ignored the irritating voice that reminded
her that her host’s most likely choice would be male.

Staring into the darkness, Kerry took a step forward and
tripped over her suitcase. “Damn it all” she muttered and balanced on one foot
while she rubbed the stubbed toes on her other foot. When she looked back up, a
faint wisp of smoke seemed to fill the air. Trying to breathe, Kerry took a few
more steps and a few more puffs and swirls of mist crossed the floor. She realized
that the smoke was coming from beneath the door at the end of the hallway.
Instinctively, Kerry reacted.

“Fire!” she screamed, trying to catch her breath. Then,
knowing it was stupid and the wrong thing to do, Kerry ran towards the door. At
least she did remember to touch the door before she opened it. Immediately,
Kerry felt the coldness of the door and something told her there was no fire.
Breathing deeply to steady her nerves, she opened the door and looked around.
Her instinct was confirmed, which meant there was absolutely no reason at all
to walk across the thick carpet toward the bed.

The bed was king-sized, and like hers, featured the heavy
drapery. Moonlight came flooding through the two large oval windows,
highlighting the naked male figure asleep on the bed. He had obviously kicked
the covers off, and Kerry ignored the good sense God must have given her and
went to stand next to the bed. In sleep, Broderick Douglass was even more
attractive. The fact he was naked merely added to his appeal.

A smile curved her full lips upward as she considered that
this man didn’t need anything to add to his sexiness. There should be a law,
she reasoned, against a man this gorgeous being gay. It just wasn’t fair to the
women of the world. Not fair at all!

“Stop smiling at me wench and get in this bed!”

Kerry gasped as the man’s hand shot out and grabbed her
forearm. A second later, she was pulled forward and across his body. Twisting
and turning, a breathless Kerry stared up at her captor. Looking up into his
blue eyes, she was struck by the strangeness of this whole situation. Logic was
the only answer.

“You’re gay!”

Laughter filled the room. “I’ve been accused of being dour,
short-tempered and too generous with a servant who works upstairs, but never of
being gay and light-hearted!”

Kerry could feel his hard cock pressed against her belly as
he rested atop her nearly naked body. Taking a deep breath, she reminded
herself that she did not do things like this. Possibly Miz would, and Natalie
could be tempted, but her best friends would agree that she, the original Miss
Prim, would never sleep with a man she’d just met. Especially if sleep wasn’t
really on the agenda!

“I’ve never seen a garment such as this, my lovely.” A
moment later, Kerry felt the man’s hand caressing her side and moving upward,
stopping just below her heaving breast. His hand covered her breast, rubbing
his palm across her taut nipple. When Kerry gasped, he smiled. “Not that I’m
complaining, lass, for I know there is no one else. Always you have been the
only one for me as well.”

“Mr. Douglass!” she whispered, telling her body to ignore
the wonderful sensations she was experiencing with his body pressed against
her. She forgot to breathe as his mouth lowered to kiss the side of her neck.
It took a second before she realized that he was not moving upward.
“Broderick!”

“What, my love?” his husky voice inquired gently while his
hands began pulling the bodice of her teddy down.

Kerry took a deep breath to tell Broderick to stop…but her
breath sighed away as her bare nipple was enveloped by his mouth. The hot,
sweet suction soon had her almost hyperventilating and her resistance rapidly
fading. Why not enjoy a hot passionate fling? She had no ties. There was
nothing to stop her—

The hand between her thighs paused. “What odd fastenings, my
sweet.” Yet he still dealt with them quite capably and the silk was pushed up
to her hips. His hand covered her mound. This time he gasped. “What’s this?
Where is your sweet, thick bush, darling Jen?”

Kerry felt Broderick’s fingers on her shaven pussy. She
paused to be grateful that she’d taken the time to shave this morning. Opening
her mouth to reply, the words died as his fingers slid back across her wet
lips. Two fingers slipped into her body while his thumb probed the hairless
lips of her pussy, probing for her clit.

“I am surprised, love.” His lips covered hers for a deep,
drugging kiss. “But I certainly approve.”

Kerry’s hips jerked sharply in response to his clever flicks
against her clit. Her body’s wetness made his fingers slippery and slick, and
they wiggled against her, and inside of her. As her first orgasm in a very long
while swept through her body, Kerry told the protective and shielding voice
inside her head to shut up. Her arms came up and circled Broderick’s muscular,
tanned shoulders. To hell with conventions and manners! She was doing what felt
good and damn the consequences!

Broderick slipped from her grasp and moved down her body.
His intentions were obvious as his strong hands gently spread her thighs. She
tangled her fingers among the long black strands of his silky hair. But there
was no stopping him as he began his earnest mission. His hands caressed and
stroked her warm, fleshy thighs a moment before she felt his breath upon her
slick, wet pussy lips.

“Oh, God! Yes!”

Kerry was shocked to hear her own voice crying out,
especially since there was still not a single thought in her head about
stopping him. Indeed, she was now encouraging him by moving her thighs farther
apart. Her one hand lowered to cradle the back of Broderick’s head while his
lips and tongue showed her the true depth of her passionate nature.

Kerry felt his tongue dancing, flickering against her clit.
Each move set off tiny explosive surges in her body. And it was only after
several moments that she was aware that he had once again slid two fingers into
her body. Soon her hips were jerking rhythmically to his timed seductions. His
tongue held command, licking, stroking lightly, and finally controlling her
completely with tiny flickering movements.

She’d lost track of how many small explosive spasms she’d
experienced before he started a truly erotic dance with his fingers inside her
hot cunt. Massaging, pressing, and finally discovering the special place inside
Kerry’s body, Broderick released a torrent of liquid essence as she suddenly
lost all control. Her body jerked against him several times, smearing the
liquid around his face and onto her thighs.

“Sweet heaven!”

Kerry heard him whisper the words moments before she
literally passed out from satiation and exhaustion. The last thing she
remembered was the amazingly warm and comfortable feeling of lying beside him,
his heat and strength touching her more intimately than any man had before.

Chapter Three

Kerry groaned and turned over in bed. It felt so wonderful
in the warm and protective cocoon of sheets and blankets. Slowly opening her
eyes, she saw the heavy cream-colored bed hangings around her soft, comforting
nest. She couldn’t tell for sure, but the sun looked like it was too far up in
the sky for it to be seven-thirty, which was the time she’d set the alarm on
her watch. Lifting her left hand languorously, she squinted to see the watch
face. Then she remembered her watch was missing…or she thought it was. Turning
over she looked at the antique styled, but modern functioning clock on the
bedside table.

“Nine-thirty! Oh shit! I’m late for the convention.”

Kerry jumped from the bed and ran to the bathroom. Stripping
her teddy up over her head, she climbed into the tiled shower. Washing
thoroughly, she ignored the tenderness between her upper thighs. Erotic dreams
such as she had experienced last night were rare, especially if she had an
orgasm during her bliss-filled sleep. It was way too easy to close her eyes and
imagine the way Broderick’s hands had caressed her rounded flesh during the
dream.

Back in the bedroom, she glanced around for her suitcase but
didn’t see it anywhere. Holding the towel tightly around her dripping body, she
gingerly opened her door and peaked out into the hall. There was her bag, close
to the wall, but still sticking out enough for someone to trip over. Abruptly
Kerry shook the nonsensical erotic thoughts from her head. That had been one
hell of a dream she’d had last time. Just thinking about making such passionate
and uninhibited love with a near stranger was enough to make her flush hotly.

Glad that there was not a dress code, Kerry dressed in
jeans, white oxford-style shirt and sneakers. Tying a pink sweater around her
shoulders, Kerry grabbed her purse off the nightstand, and rushed down to the
kitchen, shoving her glasses on as she hurried. There was a plate with a large
note beside it, which directed her to the refrigerator for some bottled juice
and water. On the plate were two big delicious looking muffins.

The note said, “I apologize for not being able to fix you a
scrumptious breakfast, Ms. Perry, but I’ve been called to Richmond for a last
minute court appearance. In lieu of wake up food, I hope you will allow me to
fix you dinner this evening, if you are free. Have a fun day at the convention!
See you later!”

After reading the note out loud, Kerry grabbed one muffin,
wrapped the other in the cloth napkin and stuffed it into her purse. With the
juice in her other hand, she took off for the walk to the college. The streets
were already filling with happy tourists for Colonial Williamsburg and
obviously dressed convention-goers. Many were dressed as their favorite sci-fi
characters, obviously throwing themselves into the spirit of the convention.

Walking briskly, Kerry ate her muffin, occasionally sipping
the juice. Her thoughts returned to her passionate dreams. In her pre-waking
state, it had all felt so incredibly real. The warmth inside the soft cocoon of
sheets and blankets had been almost too sweet and enticing to leave. If she’d
not been alone—

Kerry stopped walking abruptly. How ridiculous, she told
herself. She had been alone all night and obviously just enjoyed an erotic
dream starring her host. No big deal! Other people had dreams like this all the
time, she reminded herself nervously. It was just that hers had felt so
incredibly real. Closing her eyes, her skin tingled almost as if it were being
touched once more. She shivered in reaction. It was almost too easy to recall
the sensations her body had experienced, and technically, nothing at all had
happened.

As she walked along the quaint street toward the Christopher
Wren building, where she was scheduled to present her talk, it was hard to
focus on the convention. Instead, the only thing on her mind was the dream
she’d had last night. She’d have sworn on a stack of Bibles that it had been
real. It certainly had seemed real. But if it had been, then she would not have
awakened alone and in her bed.

After she attended her part of the lecture and discussion
this afternoon, she was considering returning to the Fair Rose and going down
the hallway when it was light enough to see things clearly. She reasoned that
when she looked into the door at the end of the hall and nothing was like it
had been in her dream, that would be proof it wasn’t real. Right?

* * * * *

“I believe that in the near future a more open, honest
approach to the true place of sex in our daily lives will create ‘sex-positive
ripples’ throughout the world. Every day there are more authors that were once
considered strictly erotica and are now being recognized. They are being
acknowledged as true to their chosen genre, whether it is science fiction,
mystery, horror or fantasy, and not just as an erotic story.”

Kerry paused to remind herself to speak slowly and breathe.
“In the United States, we need to leave puritanical ways behind us, and face
the fact that sex is good, and it shouldn’t only be seen in terms of violence
and abuse, which is currently the case for most mainstream genres. For too
long, people have considered any sex in a book, regardless of the topic, wrong,
and rush to classify the whole book as pornographic.”

Kerry paused, surprised at the applause the amazingly large
audience gave her statements. Smiling and nodding, she continued as it died
down. “Everywhere you look, sex is becoming more prominent. We do ourselves a
great disservice when we rush to label even sex between husband and wife as
pornography. I agree with rating books in which sexual acts are more
graphically described. Readers want to read more than sex for just sex’s sake.
You write a good story, sci-fi, vampire or mystery, and as long as the sex fits
the story and setting, readers will enjoy it, and demand more of it.

“It is strongly believed that the human soul has a driving
need to work out its need for pain, rage and fury, as well as love and sex. For
many people, reading and writing about the darker side of life, and sex, allows
them to safely work out these needs on paper and in the bedroom. To quote Bob Dylan
in closing, ‘If my thought dreams could be seen, they’d probably put my head in
a guillotine. But it’s alright, Ma, its life and life only.’ “

Kerry gathered her notes and sat down. Taking a deep breath,
and several sips of water, she was glad this part was over. All she had to do
now was pay attention, answer a question when asked and not knock over her
water. Turning her head toward the podium, she put her best “I’m paying
attention” face on, hoping she was smiling and nodding her head in the right places.

Kerry felt like she was running out of the large room when
it was announced that the next presentation would be starting in less than five
minutes. Skipping down the stairs, she practically race-walked back to the Fair
Rose. Entering through the kitchen, she called out to her host.

“Mr. Douglass? Hello!”

Upstairs, she called out one more time. Pausing only to toss
her purse into her room, she hurried down the long hallway. Stopping at the
door, she pressed her ear flat to the door first. There was nothing to be heard
and she stood upright again. Looking down as her hand touched the doorknob, she
was surprised to see her hand was shaking. It didn’t help to lecture herself
that there was no reason to be scared. Quietly she opened the door, and stepped
into the room.

Kerry stopped immediately. She was overwhelmed by the sense
of déjà vu. Instead of moonlight, the sunlight streamed through the three
arched windows. She could see that the bed had burgundy drapes. Looking around
the room, she didn’t recognize anything. But it was also true that she hadn’t
really stopped to carefully peruse the room before she walked to the bed.

“Good Lord,” Kerry spoke softly. It had just been a dream
last night and nothing more. The fact that the room resembled the one in her
dream was a fluke. After all, the bed was basically the same style as hers.
Also, if this was Broderick’s room, it only made sense that he would have
darker, more masculine bed clothing, regardless of his choice in bed partners.
The fact that the three windows resembled the ones in her dreams was natural,
Kerry rationalized silently. She had windows in her room just like these.

Now that she had proven it was just a crazy dream, there was
no reason to stay. Certainly there was no need to be walking across the room
toward the bed, but that is exactly what she did next. Stopping beside the bed,
she leaned over and pressed her hand flat to the surface. Breathing quickly and
more shallow with each passing second, Kerry pushed her hand downward, into the
soft mattress. Coldness seemed to swirl around her the next second and Kerry
straightened quickly. Looking down, she saw it was the same fog-like substance
she’d seen in her dream. But this time it was circling around her feet, rising
slowly up past her knees.

“Move your stupid feet, damn it!” she told herself fiercely.

“Nay, lass. I think you have the prettiest feet I’ve ever
seen in a long time. The shoes are a bit strange, as are your clothes.”

Kerry couldn’t swallow suddenly, and for a few moments,
breathing was questionable. Turning her head, she glanced over her shoulder
toward the voice. Standing just inside the room was Broderick Douglass and this
time he was dressed as if he had just stepped from a portrait in the mid
1700’s. His black hair gleamed and his tan appeared even darker against the
white cravat. The blue jacket deepened his blue eyes. Most impressive was the
way his breeches fit his muscular thighs and flat stomach. Black boots gleamed
with such a high glossy finish that Kerry imagined they would be reflective.

“Hello, Mr. Douglass. You surprised me. I was just looking
around like you suggested yesterday.”

“I must say, my sweet, that I don’t care for these new
clothes you have. Come along and we’ll see if we can’t find something a bit
more…” Broderick crossed the few feet that separated them and took her arm. “I
don’t think anyone has been through those old trunks for years.”

Kerry followed as Broderick led her through the house. They
took another hallway, which she had not seen last night or today. At the end of
that hall was a door, which creaked as he opened it. He then led the way up a
narrow staircase, which opened up into the attic. It was dimly lit by windows
at either end, but Kerry could easily see that while the front part of the room
had been thoroughly probed and investigated, and things sorted into newer
boxes, the back half was just as obviously untouched.

“Back this way, lass.”

Kerry sneezed once as she followed Broderick almost to the
farthest end of the room. Their zigzag path wound deeper into the farthest
corner from the door. Kerry pushed and shoved a few boxes, suitcases and trunks
back to widen the path somewhat. The light was getting dimmer as the afternoon
sun began to descend. She stopped and watched as Broderick began rummaging
through piles of boxes and bundles. Suddenly he spoke, although Kerry still
couldn’t see what he’d found.

“Ah ha! I knew it still had to be up here.” He tugged and
pulled and soon an old-fashioned trunk appeared. “It appears that everyone’s
been putting something or other up here in the attic. The years pass, and no
one ever returns for the lost treasure that at one time was so precious it had
demanded immediate salvation.”

Kerry felt tears clog her throat at his words. How true they
were. She had often done the same thing, but she also knew that nothing she had
squirreled away could ever be anything like this stuff. She stepped forward as
Broderick opened the trunk. The scent of cedar and mothballs rose in the air. A
moment later, Broderick was pulling out some carefully preserved items enclosed
within the thinnest of papers.

The first thing he revealed was a suit jacket similar to the
one he was wearing, only this one was pale blue and made of the finest silk.
Shaking it slightly so it opened completely, Kerry gasped at the sight of it.

“Uhm, do you always dress up like this in the evening?”

“This was made in London. I went there with my parents for
several months when I came of age. That was quite a season and I’m sure my
parents were glad to return to the quiet life we had here in town, as well as
on the plantation.”

Kerry paused in lightly running her hands across the
jacket’s fabric. “What season were you in London? I’ve been there just once, in
the early summer, and it was quite lovely.”

“What season? You jest, my sweet. I always did enjoy your
unusual sense of humor. Now, let’s see what else I have in here.”

Ignoring the comment about her humor, Kerry squatted down
and watched while Broderick rummaged through the trunk. The comment about
seasons seemed strange. If he had really been living back in the 1700’s then he
probably meant the London Season. But this was the
twenty-first
century, not the eighteenth. Yet he certainly looked smart in that costume. She
felt like she still needed to ask about last night. Had it really been a dream?
Did she spend the night making love to this devastatingly attractive man? He
must have carried her back to her room, but why? Unless he wanted to pretend it
had never happened.

Kerry cringed immediately at the pain she felt at the
thought that he wanted to act like he was the innkeeper and she was only his
guest. Sure she wrote about this kind of stuff, but she wasn’t at all
comfortable with the fact that it was happening to her. Of course the worst
part of all was that she wasn’t going to be able to write the ending she
wanted.

Broderick stood a moment later, gently shaking a bundle
until it fully opened to reveal a beautiful pale green dress, with lace at the
bodice and sleeves. It was full-skirted and most surely would have been worn
with several fancy slips, or crinolines, beneath its silken beauty.