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A little ghostly romance for your Halloween week enjoyment…
âSo you donât know how it happened?â
Will shrugged one translucent shoulder. âNope,â he said from where he stood at the end of Brandonâs bed. Their bed, the one theyâd shared until four weeks and three days earlier. âOne minute Iâm alive; the next, Iâm this.â He waved a see-through hand to indicate his current form. âNo idea what happened in between. Or why I donât remember it.â
Brandon shifted his legs under the covers, sure this must be a dream but unable to bear the thought of waking up. Even in death, Will was gorgeous, especially considering the shimmering aura that surrounded him.
âYou were in a car accident,â Brandon said, reluctantly. Maybe he shouldnât say? He didnât know the rules for this kind of thing. He didnât know if there were rules.
Will frowned, and his glow seemed to fade a little. âIt wasnât my⊠I didnât hurt anyone, did I?â
âNo! No,â Brandon said, sitting up straighter. âIt wasnât your fault. You were blindsided. And it wasnât the other driverâs fault either. He⊠he had a heart attack. He was probably already gone before his car even hit you.â
Will relaxed and brightened, literally. âThatâs good,â he said. âI mean, not the other guy, thatâs terrible, but it couldâve been a lot worse.â
Brandon surged forward at that. âWorse than losing you?â he demanded. âI donât think it could get a lot worse than that.â
Willâs expression dropped and he walked (not floated, some part of Brandonâs mind noted) over to the side of the bed nearest Brandon. âItâs okay, Brandon,â he said, gently. âIâm okay.â
âBut Iâm not.â Brandonâs voice broke, and he felt as if all his energy spilled out onto the mattress. âItâs been a month, and I donât know what Iâm doing any more. I canât think about anything else. I try to move on, try to get back to what I was doing before you⊠before, but I canât.â
âOh God. Brandon.â
Brandon was surprised to feel the bed shift as Will sat down. His gaze flicked to meet Willâs, who looked as surprised as he did. They both looked down, and as Brandon watched, Will reached out a shining hand to touch his.
He felt it.
Will was touching him, and he could feel it.
Brandon surged forward again, this time with arms and legs and mouth, wrapping himself around Will and kissing him hard. Will met his every move, hands skimming over Brandonâs body, tongue dipping in to taste him.
When they finally broke apart, it was Brandonâs need for oxygen that demanded it. Will looked like he was breathing, sounded like he was breathing, but even with their foreheads touching and Willâs face inches from his, Brandon felt no air coming from Willâs mouth.
âI donât understand,â Brandon murmured, his fingers still exploring Willâs body, gaze raking over him. He didnât look completely solid, but he felt that way. âHow is this possible?â
Will laughed, a little shakily. âYou expect me to know?â he asked. âI didnât even know how I ended up like this. I didnât know how long it had been. Like I said, I was driving, and then I was here. With you.â
He lifted his head, hands cupping Brandonâs face. âThis is where I want to be,â he whispered, urgent. âThis is where I always want to be.â
Brandon bit back what might have been a sob or a laugh and kissed Will again. He still didnât know if this was a dream, or how long it might last, but he intended to take full advantage of it, no matter what.
It seemed Will felt the same way. He lowered Brandon onto the mattress, never breaking their kiss, hands skimming down to push away the boxers Brandon wore. Willâs clothes, the loose t-shirt and jeans heâd been wearing the day he died, simply disappeared, and he seemed to be touching Brandon everywhere at once. Brandon moaned into Willâs mouth, eyes filling with tears of joy and pleasure.
Will settled between Brandonâs legs, his skin cool and dry against Brandonâs. Brandon frowned and pulled out of the kiss, running his hands up and down Willâs back.
âYouâre cold,â he said.
Will looked confused. âI feel fine,â he said. âI mean, I feel like I always did. Normal temperature.â
Brandon shook his head. âYour skin is cold,â he said. âNot freezing, but not warm.â He wrapped his arms and legs around Will, holding him closer. âI donât know if I can warm you up?â
Will smiled and touched his lips briefly to Brandonâs. âItâs okay,â he said. âIf itâs not too cold for you, Iâm fine.â
Brandon grinned, relieved. âYou feel a lot better than fine to me,â he said, pressing his hips up so their hardening cocks slid together deliciously, thrilled to feel that Will could harden against him, even like this.
âGod.â Will kissed him hard. âI love you so much. I donât ever want to be without you.â
Brandon did sob then, the tears taking them both by surprise. He couldnât stop, and Will softened his touch, softened his skin, it seemed, and gathered Brandon up, holding him close. âShhhh,â he crooned, rocking Brandon gently. âItâs okay. Iâm here.â
âBut you wonât be,â Brandon gasped against Willâs smooth chest. âIâll wake up, or youâll fade away, or something, and Iâll be alone again.â
âNo.â Willâs voice was firm, his lips brushing Brandonâs temple. âYouâll never be alone. Even if you canât see me, even if you canât feel me, Iâll be there with you. Every step of the way.â
He kept holding Brandon close, soothing him, and gradually Brandonâs crying slowed and trickled off. He took in a shuddering breath and let it out, then another, and another. Will kissed his temple again, still holding him close.
âI canât do this without you,â Brandon finally whispered. âI donât know how.â
âYou do,â Will replied. âYouâre strong. Youâll grieve, and youâll hurt, but youâll recover. Youâll move on.â
âNo!â Brandon insisted, holding Will closer. âNo one else. Youâre it for me.â
Will smoothed his hand down Brandonâs back. âI donât want that,â he said softly. âI donât want you to live the rest of your life without love. You have too much life left. Too much love to give.â He pulled back, but just far enough to look into Brandonâs eyes. âIt would make me sad to see you live like that, Brandon. I want you to love again. It wonât hurt me. I want to see you happy.â He laughed a little. âI donât know if Iâll see you at all, but if I do⊠thatâs what I want.â
âWhy are you so okay with this?â Brandon knew how harsh the question sounded but couldnât help himself. âI feel like Iâm dying, but youâre already⊠and youâre okay?â
Will paused at that. âI⊠donât know,â he said. âI just feel⊠calm, I guess. Like everythingâs fine. Maybe not happy, exactly, but settled. Content.â
He brought one hand up to Brandonâs cheek. âI know youâre hurting, baby, and Iâm so sorry about that. That hurts me too. But Iâm okay. Iâm worried about you, but Iâm not worried about me.â
Brandon studied Willâs face, seeing his sincerity, his concern, but most of all, his love. He nodded, slowly, not sure what he believed, not sure of anything except that Will was there, holding him, and he tried to push back everything except the feel of Willâs arms around him.
âNow,â Will said, wiping the last of Brandonâs tears from his cheeks. âLetâs not worry about all that, okay? We donât know how much time we have together.â He smiled and raised an eyebrow. âI vote we make the most of it.â
Brandon smiled back the best he could, knowing it was still a little tremulous. âWhat did you have in mind, Mr. OâDonnell?â
Willâs smile widened into a wicked grin. âI think I could come up with an idea or two, Mr. Whittier,â he replied, hands already starting to wander. âWhy donât you just relax and let me do the heavy lifting?â
Brandon laughed and let Will lay him back against the pillows, his mouth covering Brandonâs, kissing him deeply, tongue coming out to slick along Brandonâs, wet and rough. Brandon sighed, hands kneading Willâs shoulders. His skin might be cool, but the muscles beneath were still firm and pliable, flexing and twisting as Will moved from Brandonâs mouth to his neck. Accustomed to the heat of Willâs lips, Brandon found the slight chill very different, but not in a bad way. Nothing about this could be bad, not with Will back in his bed, touching and kissing him like he had so many times before.
Like he never would again.
No, Brandon ordered himself, pushing the thought away. Heâs here now. Enjoy what you have and forget everything else.
Willâs lips closed around one of Brandonâs nipples, and Brandon couldnât think of anything else anyway. He cried out when Will bit down lightly, and Will soothed the small sting away with his tongue, rough surface rasping over the taut peak. He moved to the other side, bringing one hand up so he could rub his thumb over the abandoned nub while he licked and nibbled the other.
Brandon writhed under Willâs attentions. It had been a month since heâd felt any of this. His libido had died with Will, and the few times heâd made a half-hearted effort at masturbation ended only in frustration and longing. No one had ever touched him the way Will did, not even himself.
Willâs mouth wandered lower, kissed and licking his way down Brandonâs stomach, dipping into his navel, tongue twirling through the dark hair leading to his cock, which bumped against Willâs chin, hungry for his attention. Will laughed lowly and paused to give the tip a quick kiss, which sent Brandonâs back arching off the mattress, a growling moan coming from his chest.
âShhh,â Will soothed again, rubbing his palms against Brandonâs hips. âRelax. Donât think. Just feel.â
Brandon tried to relax, he really did, but everything Will did to him felt so good that he couldnât help himself. He twisted on the sheets, moaning almost constantly, skin on fire despite the chill of Willâs touch. When Will took Brandonâs cock in his mouth, Brandon almost came on the spot, so high on arousal and Will.
âOh God, baby,â Brandon rasped out, hands coming up to rake through Willâs hair, soft brown curls winding around his fingers. âSo good. Youâre always so good.â
Will hummed, the vibrations sending shivers out over Brandonâs skin, and he cried out from sheer bliss, overcome with happiness at having Will one more time and with pleasure from his ministrations.
Will slipped a finger into his mouth, slicking it up with the saliva that still came even though breath didnât. Brandonâs mind focused just long enough to realize what Will was about to do before his finger circled Brandonâs entrance, pressing lightly. Brandon spread his legs automatically, and Will slid the finger inside, crooking up, searching for the spot that would send him into the stratosphere. When he found it Brandon jerked on the bed, unable to control his bodyâs reactions, and Will pushed in a second finger, rubbing hard as he sucked Brandonâs cock deep into his throat and swallowed.
Brandon broke with a shout, pulsing into Willâs mouth, coming so hard and long he thought heâd never stop. He collapsed against the mattress, boneless and empty, hearing soft rustling sounds but not having the strength or brain power to investigate.
Soon Will answered that question for him, his fingers returning to Brandonâs entrance, this time slick with more than saliva. His lips touched Brandonâs. âWant to be inside you,â Will whispered, and Brandon opened his eyes to stare into Willâs, wide and dark and full of love and desire.
âYes,â Brandon whispered back. âPlease. Make love to me.â
Will kissed him gently and pushed inside slowly, never pausing along the way, Brandonâs body opening to let him in as if he belonged there, because he did. He stopped only when he was buried all the way, breaking the kiss to catch Brandonâs gaze again.
âOkay?â he asked, his voice low but urgent, betraying the state of his arousal.
âYes,â Brandon breathed, lifting his legs to hook around Willâs waist. âYes.â
Will moved then, slowly at first but picking up speed quickly, long, even thrusts that brushed across Brandonâs prostate every time, filling him up and then leaving him empty and yearning before filling him again. They kissed over and over, wet and messy, every snap of Willâs hips driving a groaning grunt from Brandonâs mouth into Willâs.
Will finally pulled away, burying his head against Brandonâs neck and fucking in hard and fast, driving both of them toward release. He wrapped cool fingers around Brandonâs cock, jerking him roughly, until everything inside Brandon broke again and he spilled with a loud moan, just as Will stiffened and groaned out Brandonâs name, grinding inside, coming hard.
Will collapsed onto Brandonâs chest, driving the breath from his lungs with a soft âoof,â but he didnât care. He twined arms and legs around Will, holding him close, running his hands over Willâs skin, slick now with a light sheen of sweat from their lovemaking.
It took Brandon a moment to realize that the words he was hearing were coming from him. âI canât,â he was saying, over and over. âI canât, I canât, I canât.â
Will shifted, pushing himself up on his forearms and kissing Brandon to stop the flow. âYou can,â he murmured against Brandonâs lips. âYou can do anything, Brandon. Anything you put your mind to.â
âI love you.â Brandonâs voice broke. âIâve never loved anyone or anything the way I love you. I never will again.â
âI love you too, with everything I have,â Will said, pushing Brandonâs hair back off his forehead where it had stuck in sweaty strands. âI loved you until the day I died, and Iâll go on loving you forever.â
He fell silent, and then started to push away, but Brandon pulled him tighter. âDonât leave me,â he whispered, and Will smiled and kissed him again.
âJust getting something to clean you up,â he said. âJust your chest, though. Saliva and sweat may come standard in this model, but apparently breath and semen donât.â
He grinned, the wide, happy smile that he had on his face the first time Brandon laid eyes on him, and Brandonâs heart broke and healed in the same moment. He smiled back and let Will go, and Will sat up on the side of the bed, pulling a handful of tissues from the box on the bedside table. He cleaned off Brandonâs chest carefully, almost reverently, laying down a last kiss just above his navel before tossing the tissues into the trash can nearby. Climbing back into the bed, he wrapped himself around Brandon, both of them lying on their sides, heads on the same pillow, faces inches apart.
âI donât want to go to sleep,â Brandon whispered, tears starting to well up again as he searched Willâs eyes. âI donât want you to leave me.â
âShhhhh.â Will smoothed Brandonâs hair back again, kissed his forehead. âItâll be all right. Iâll stay with you as long as I can. As long as whoever let this happen will let me stay.â
Brandon pressed his face against Willâs neck, ignoring the chill of his skin in favor of the smell of it, musky and sweet. âI donât want to wake up alone,â he whispered.
âYou wonât, remember?â Will said, his hand cupping the back of Brandonâs head. âIâll be with you every step of the way. I want you to believe that. And when you need me, just close your eyes and remember this, and know that Iâm there.â
Brandon shook his head. âIt wonât be the same.â
âI know.â Will lifted away a little and reached down to tip Brandonâs head up with a finger under his chin. âIt wonât be like this, or like it was before. But Iâll be in your memory and in your heart, even when I canât be anywhere else.â He ran the backs of his fingers down Brandonâs cheek. âAnd remember what I said, too. I want you to find someone else one day. Seeing you be happy again will make me happy.â
Brandon nodded. âIf itâll make you happy,â he agreed, not knowing if heâd ever be in that place again but resolving to try if Will wanted him to.
Will kissed him, slowly, lingering, drifting to his nose, his cheeks, his chin but always coming back to his lips. Brandon relaxed under the gentle touches, against the mattress, into the pillows, until finally he couldnât fight any more, and sleep claimed him.
When Brandon woke up, Will was gone, just as they knew he would be. But the sheets and Brandonâs skin smelled like him, and for the first time in a month, Brandon didnât feel alone.
He knew Will was right there with him.