A/N: Hello again everyone! A new chapter is here! :D

Before we get started, I would like to thank everyone that read last chapter! I would also like to give a huge thank you to winterschild11, jessv96, RainbowDiamonds, Anno1701, and Guest for reviewing!

I hope you all enjoy!

James waited for me beneath the arch in the entryway. The light from the lamp cast a golden glow on his pale skin and made the faint shadows around his eyes darker. Even still, no one had ever looked more beautiful to me.

"Evening," he said, bowing his head. "How was the signing?"

"Great." I placed my hands on his biceps and drew him in closer. "Redwood Manor is, uh, interesting."

"Interesting, indeed," James said, leaning in to brush his lips across my throat. He didn't linger, though. He instead moved into the parlor and knelt beside the fireplace. "The mansion was said to be haunted even when I was alive."

"Oh yeah?" I sat in one of the cushioned loveseats, watching James start the fire. It was a bit cold out, and the chill in the manor made me shiver. A fire would be nice. "What do you know about it?"

James neatly stacked the wood before crumpling up some newspaper and lighting it with a match. "I know the original owner died in the mansion, and supposedly, everyone who steps inside is never quite the same after."

Steps foot inside.

"Wait, I thought only people who owned the mansion had strange crap happen."

"No, Kendall." James stood and placed one hand behind his back. "Anyone who owns it meets a grim fate, yes, but even stepping inside can have consequences. Or so the legends say."

"And you didn't tell me this before I went?"

He softly smiled and came to sit beside me. The chair only had two cushions, so we sat close together, our thighs touching. "It's only a silly superstition."

"Superstition?" I asked, amazed. "James, no offense, but you're a freaking ghost. Superstition went out the window a long time ago."

"Perhaps." He lightly chuckled. "I didn't get to say it before you left, but you look very handsome, Kendall. I fancy you in suits."

"You fancy me, huh?" I shifted closer, slipping an arm behind his head.

His gaze dropped to my mouth before slowly lifting again. He didn't have to breathe, and yet, his chest rose and fell faster, as if his still heart matched the rhythm of my beating one.

"Kendall," fell from his lips, soft and needy. "I'm so tired of running from you."

"Then stop running." I smoothed my fingers along his nape and up the back of his head, combing them through his silky dark hair. "God, James, you don't realize how much I like you. I know you think I'll get bored or whatever, but I won't. No one has ever appealed to me as much as you do."

"Only because you see me as an intriguing sideshow," he said. "As if I'm stuck in a cage at a circus and you're merely passing by. You're interested enough to stay for a while, but then you'll move on to another."

"Will you stop putting words in my mouth?" I asked, irritated. "I'm not interested in you because you're a ghost. It's not some damn superficial fascination. When I'm with you, I feel like I'm home." A lump wedged in my throat. "I think I'm falling in love with you, James."

He whimpered and shook his head. "You can't be. We're not that familiar."

"So our time together means nothing? Our conversations over games of chess, all the laughs, the mornings and afternoons spent together...they mean a lot to me."

"I didn't say they meant nothing." His Adam's apple bobbed in his throat as he swallowed. "I only said it's not enough for you to think you're in love with me. We have yet to even kiss, Kendall."

"Oh, so we have to be intimate before I can fall for you?" I asked, going full-on smartass. "I didn't know that was the rule. My bad." I sat forward on the cushion. "You know what? I'm too tired to deal with this right now. You promised me we'd talk it out tonight. I thought we were moving forward, but I see now you're set on staying right where you are."

I pushed to my feet and left the room.

"Kendall," he called after me.

I kept walking. I reached the stairs and stormed up them, taking the steps two at a time. The glow of the fire from the parlor faded as I reached the second floor, and the manor was thrown into darkness once more. Entering my bedroom, I unbuttoned my suit jacket before shrugging it off and draping it over the chair. I fumbled with my undershirt next, and as I took it off, the chill in the air cut into my bare chest.

I squatted beside the fireplace in my room, one that was smaller than the downstairs one, and I tossed some logs into it. The manor had been updated with central heating and air, but I'd learned the fastest way to warm up was the fire. The heater took too long because the house was so big, and there were too many drafts.

"Can I come in?" Jame asked, standing in the doorway.

I lit a match and set a fire to the paper, watching it shrivel before the flame reached the logs. Still not speaking to him, I stood up and unfastened my belt, sliding it off. Undressing in front of James should've made me self-conscious or at least triggered that part of my brain that said it was indecent, but I didn't care. Maybe I wanted him to look to see what he was missing.

"Kendall."

"James," I said, mimicking him. I took off my slacks and let them drop to the floor before I climbed into bed, only wearing my boxer-briefs.

One glance at the doorway showed James was no longer there, and a part of me felt bad for being such a dick. Before I could dwell on that guilt, however, James appeared right beside the bed, and I yelped.

"Christ on a stick, James! Stop doing that! You're going to give me a damn heart attack one day."

"Well, you stop being so melodramatic," he countered, his voice stern and his eyes reflecting the fire across from us. "You become angry when I run away during a fight and here you are doing the same. I should start calling you Hypocrite Kendall."

"Hey," I said, snatching hold of his wrist. "I only acted like that because you've been stringing me along and cutting me loose constantly. I'm sick of it. Either you want me or you don't. I'm done with the back and forth."

"Very well." James crawled onto the bed and straddled my hips.

"W-what are you doing?" A blanket rested between our bodies, but the pressure of him on me made my head fog.

I ached with desire. The need for James went beyond the physical, though. I needed him in every way he'd have me.

"No more games," James said, his dark hair falling forward as his face inched closer to mine. "I want you, Kendall Knight, and I'm feeling selfish enough to finally act on it."

And then he kissed me.

I grunted my surprise. Like the rest of him, his lips were cool to the touch, but as I hooked an arm behind his head and pulled him closer, his skin began to warm. He softly whimpered as I deepened the kiss, and the sound cut through my chest. I kissed him harder, held him tighter, wanting to take away all the pain he'd suffered in his life.

It was only a kiss, yet I'd never felt anything more powerful.

The fire crackled as the flames scorched the wood, the only sound aside from my heavy breathing as James grinded on me, our lips moving feverishly together. Needing him even closer, I shoved down the blanket separating us.

He tore from my mouth and stared at my bare torso, gliding his fingertips across my chest. I recognized the lust in his eyes, for I felt it, too.

"What's wrong?" I asked, lifting a hand to touch his shirt collar. I had every intention of getting him naked as soon as possible.

"I'm stunned as to how you could ever want me," he said softly, brushing his finger over my nipple.

"What do you mean by how?" I splayed my hands on his hips, and my cock stiffened. His body shifted and a small smile upturned his mouth. I suspected he felt just how much I wanted him. "Because of the ghost thing?"

James made a face. "It's sort of a big thing, Kendall."

"Not to me." I brought him back to my lips.

James might be a ghost, but no one had ever felt more real to me.

I knew the discussion was over when he moaned deep in his throat and knotted his fingers in my hair. We kissed for minutes, perhaps longer. Time passed differently with him. Not even something as constant as the passing of time could touch us in this room.

"I wish to feel more of you," James panted against my mouth.

"May I?" I touched the button of his vest.

He nodded then watched as I removed his vest before doing the same to his undershirt. My heart thumped harder when I slid the material off his shoulders and took in his smooth, hairless chest. I grazed my teeth up his neck.

"Oh, Kendall." He held onto me, nuzzling his head to mine.

Taking off his pants was harder. I rolled him to his back on the mattress to give me better access. His body flickered as I hovered over him, and our gazes locked. His once sad eyes looked hopeful now. Happy.

I kissed down his chest and abdomen before reaching the dip of his hipbone. He sucked in a sharp breath as I nipped at him there.

I reveled in the noise, hoping he'd make many more of them soon. My fingers fumbled with the button on his pants before working them down. I had to remove his shoes before I could slide his pants off, and I made an interesting discovery. He wore stockings over his drawers and garters that held them up, which I also had the pleasure of removing. Once I did, I was rewarded with the most delectable body I've ever laid eyes on.

"Why do you stare?" James asked, shielding his face with his hands.

I grabbed his wrists and lowered them so I could see him. All of him. "Because you're beautiful."

"You don't have to give compliments in order to bugger me, Kendall. Just get on with it."

I didn't know whether to laugh or take offense. My expression probably reflected both emotions equally. "I have no intention of buggering you, James Isaac Diamond. But making love to you? That I can do."

Glassy eyes peered up at me. "I was always told men couldn't make love to each other."

"You and Alex did," I said, gently moving his legs apart as I settled between them.

"Yes." The word came out hoarse.

"Enough of the past." I kissed the hollow of his throat as I reached between our bodies and took hold of his cock. "It's just you and me right now."

James moaned and rested his cheek on the top of my head.

He felt cold in my hand. His shaft warmed as I started to pump him, though. A warm tingling sensation took effect after that, and he shuddered beneath me, slapping a hand to my back and clawing my shoulders.

"More," he whined.

I knew from reading his journal that he preferred to bottom. Some of his entries involving Alex had been very descriptive. I knew how to please him without him uttering a word. He liked to have his neck nibbled on during the throes of passion, and his weak spot was just below his ears.

With that knowledge, I scooted farther down, my hand still on his cock, and propped his hips up. Just as James began to question my actions, I lightly licked his hole.

"Kendall!" Fingers tangled in my hair.

"I take it Alex never did this?" I asked, grinning up at him.

He shook his head, his eyes wide.

"Do you want me to stop?"

"God, no. Please don't stop."

Pleased by his answer, I licked him there again. And again. I circled his pucker and l placed a slight pressure forward with my tongue. He stretched his legs out and spread them wider, lifting his hips higher off the mattress. He didn't really have a taste, other than lavender. It was odd, but so were a million other things about our relationship.

When I added a finger to the mix and pushed it inside him, he arched his back and sighed. I could spend the rest of my life like this, pleasing him.

"More, Kendall."

"You're demanding tonight."

"I'm being selfish, remember?" He wiggled his hips then gasped when I added a second finger.

I didn't know the rules of having sex with a ghost. Did I need a condom? Would he accidentally disappear if he got too excited, and I'd end up fucking the mattress instead? It wasn't like there was a damn book I could read to figure it out.

There was always the internet...but I feared the things I'd find if I typed 'how to fuck a ghost' into Google.

I grabbed the lube from the bedside table before returning to my spot between his legs. I didn't know if James could feel physical pain, but I didn't want to chance it. I'd treat him like I would any other guy I slept with; with the utmost care.

My slick fingers moved in and out of him, and I loved the way he moaned and fisted the blanket. When he was stretched and ready, I kissed up his thigh, to his stomach, and to his delicious mouth. His tongue swirled with mine, and my heart felt like it was about to explode.

"Kendall?"

I focused on him. "Yeah?"

"How many men have you…" he trailed off. "Never mind."

"Not a lot," I answered, turning his face back to mine. "I don't exactly keep count, but it hasn't been many. And none of them made me feel even a quarter of what you do."

He smiled. "Really?"

"Yes." I kissed the tip of his nose, finding the coolness of his skin calming. "What about you?"

"Only Alex." He rested a hand on my waist. "It hurts my heart to say it because I fear it's a betrayal to him, but Kendall, the feeling I get when I look at you is unlike anything I've ever experienced. Even with him."

The struggle in his eyes kept me from being happy about the confession. He came from a time where it was a felony to be as we were right now, skin against skin and flushed with desire. He'd risked everything to be with Alex, though.

And he'd been killed for it.

"That's enough talking," I said before leaning in to kiss him.

We were beyond words now anyway. Only actions could convey what we felt; what we desired. Saying I wanted to be inside James wasn't enough to explain the need for it.

I discarded my boxer briefs and gave myself a few slow pulls, smiling when James' arms came around me and he pressed his face against the base of my neck. Once I slicked my cock with lube, I slowly guided it into him.

Fuck, his skin was chilled, and it was a shock to the senses as my tip pressed inside. Warmth soon took its place, though, and I pulled deeper.

His body shimmered as he made a rasping sound.

"Does it hurt?" I asked, watching his face for any signs of discomfort.

"No." He moved his hips up, causing me to go deeper. "I need all of you, Kendall."

I snapped my hips forward, making both of us cry out.

I hung my head on his chest and exhaled, my heart banging against my ribcage. He felt too damn amazing, and it'd been too long since I'd been with anyone. I needed to go slow or this wasn't going to last long. I pulled out a little before driving my hips forward, hitting him deeper than before.

I was attuned to every place we touched, chest to chest, his lips on my neck, and our hands linked together above his head. The feel of him was seared into me; his smell was ingrained in my senses.

Even when I'd had boyfriends in the past, I had always felt like I was on a different plane of existence. When we'd fucked, it had been nice, but nothing earth-shattering. Now, here I was balls-deep inside James and feeling like my very soul was tearing out of my body and clinging to him.

"Harder, Kendall," he whined, tilting his head back on the pillow.

I accepted the opening and nipped at his throat, thrusting deeper into him. He gasped as my teeth grazed his skin. His nails clawed my back. Pleasure trickled through me, intensifying with every pump of my hips into him. Sweat coated my skin while his stayed cool and dry.

This moment with James felt like my first time. No one compared to him.

"Right there, Kendall! Don't stop." He grabbed desperately at my shoulders with one hand while he gripped my ass cheek with the other and tugged me harder into him.

James was vocal in his lovemaking, and he made damn sure I knew how much he liked it.

Unable to hold back anymore, I locked the angle of my hips and snapped them forward over and over, fucking him hard and fast. He whimpered and fisted my hair, telling me not to stop. Remembering his weak spot, I kissed below his ear as I brought us closer to the edge-an edge James then jumped off.

He cried out as he clenched around my throbbing cock. Though chasing my own high, I watched his face as he moaned through his release. Two more thrusts and then I was coming, too. I lost my rhythm as a white-hot pleasure shot through my entire body.

I buried my face in the crook of his neck as my cock pulsed inside him. My orgasm made me forget my own name. Made me forget everything except for James and the intense pleasure rocking my body.

I looked down at him, still shaking from the power of my release.

"Wow," I said, breathless.

He nuzzled my cheek before placing a kiss there. "Your heart's beating really fast."

It was strange not to feel his beat at all.

"I'm okay." My softening cock slipped from his ass, and I collapsed beside him on the bed. I pulled his face to mine and gave him another kiss. My muscles relaxed and it was difficult to keep my eyes open.

"Sleep, darling." James kissed my forehead.

Surrendering to the exhaustion, I slid an arm around him and closed my eyes.

Earth-shattering...I finally knew what it felt like.

XxX

Something was burning.

I jolted upward and looked around, still somewhat dazed from sleeping so hard. The curtains were pulled shut, blocking the sun, but I could tell it was morning. The chilly air assaulted my naked flesh as I slid out of bed and grabbed a clean pair of boxers from the drawer. As quickly as I could, I pulled on sweats then headed for the door. The smell of smoke wafted from downstairs.

Was the house on fire? Panic clawed in my chest.

"James?" I called out as I descended the steps into the foyer.

"In here."

Running into the kitchen, I coughed as I hit a cloud of smoke. Something sizzled, too.

"What's burning?" I asked before going into a coughing fit.

"Apologies, Kendall." James opened a window and started ushering out the smoke. "I'm cooking bacon and left it on too long. I wanted to cook you a nice breakfast."

The devastation on his face crushed me. I'd eat an entire skillet of bacon burnt to a crisp if it made him smile again.

"Hey, I like my bacon on the crispy side." I pulled him to my chest. "Anything I can do to help?"

"The eggs from the refrigerator, please." James turned back to the cast-iron skillet and transferred the bacon to a large plate. The pieces were shriveled and blackened. Bless his heart. I placed the eggs beside him, and he cracked one onto the skillet. "I'll do my best not to burn these at least."

James loved to cook and had made several amazing dinners. Everyone had off days. Every time I had tried cooking bacon in the past, I hadn't fared much better.

The smoke began to clear, but I knew the scent would be singed in my nose for at least another hour. I kissed the back of his neck and wound my arms around him as he stood at the stove. It felt natural to do so, like we'd been at this for months instead of only days.

Three days had passed since we'd had sex for the first time, and it'd been hard keeping my hands off him since then. Kind of like being denied something for so long, and then once you're able to have it you overindulge.

James was my indulgence. I could touch, kiss, and make love to him every minute of the day and still want more.

"I made coffee," he said, resting his arm on mine. "Go ahead and pour a cup. Breakfast shouldn't be much longer."

Holding him was more appealing than coffee, but I released him. I added hazelnut creamer to my cup before walking over to the table. James grabbed a plate from the cabinet and loaded it with bacon, eggs, and the bread that had just popped up from the toaster.

"Would you like strawberry jam for your toast?" he asked, placing my plate down. He was totally spoiling me.

"Yes, please."

He blinked out of sight and reappeared by the refrigerator before bringing over the jam.

"Thank you."

"My pleasure." Though he hesitated a moment, he bent to kiss my cheek before taking his seat across from me.

He was still getting used to this new relationship between us. Hell, I was, too. I was glad he hadn't shut down on me like I'd feared he would. When I kissed him, he didn't pull away. He even initiated some of his own. We hadn't put a label on it, but in my eyes, we were together.

I didn't want anyone else.

I dove into the eggs, moaning softly as I chewed. He'd seasoned them perfectly.

"Kendall?" He waited for me to look at him before adding, "If you keep making those noises, I will have no choice but to drag you upstairs and have my way with you."

I swallowed the bite noisily. "Doesn't sound like a punishment to me."

James grinned. "Eat your food, you beast."

When I was brave enough to try the bacon, James watched me with a furrowed brow. I bit off a piece and slowly chewed, tasting nothing but the char but keeping a light expression, not wanting him to see that it was, indeed, kind of horrible.

"Tastes great," I said and sipped more coffee.

His eyes narrowed. "Liar."

I laughed and reached across the table to place my hands on his. "The eggs and toast taste good."

"Thank heavens for small mercies."

A shadow passed by the patio doors.

I quickly stood and spotted a man standing outside the greenhouse. In his paint-covered overalls and John Deere hat, he was instantly recognizable. Old man Henderson was on my property.

James growled from behind me, and I inwardly jumped. I hadn't heard him get up from the table.

"Why is he here?" James asked with a snarl.

"Not sure. But I'm going to find out."

After running upstairs and putting on a shirt and shoes, I came back down and headed for the patio doors in the back. James followed me but stopped when he reached the threshold. I squeezed his hand before stepping outside into the sun.

Henderson stood at the greenhouse door, his hands on each side of his face as he peeked inside.

"Can I help you?" I asked.

His head shot around, and relief smoothed the hard lines of his face upon seeing me. "I didn't know you were home."

"So, you came onto my property because you thought I was gone?" I questioned, stepping closer. "That's trespassing."

"It was mine before it was yours, boy. Watch your tone."

"The key word in that sentence, Mr. Henderson, is was. The manor was yours. Now, it's mine. I suggest you tell me why you're here before I call the cops and let them sort it out."

"What are you growing in here?" he asked, shoving his thumb toward the glass. "I see plants."

"That's none of your business."

Enough of the formalities.

"Don't be short with me, boy. I don't care what you're growing. It could be that pot for all I care. I'm more interested in how you're doing it. I could never get this blasted door to open."

"It was jammed," I lied, keeping my tone casual. "I was finally able to get inside. Nothing in there now but some flowers and greenery."

"Hmm." Walter stumbled back from the door and neared me, suspicion in his gray eyes. He jabbed a finger in my chest. "You've seen him, haven't ya? The demon in the house?"

I moved his hand aside and stood taller, meeting his hardened gaze with one of my own. "I don't know what you're talking about. There's no demon here."

"Sure there is!" He flung up his arms. Faint scars covered his wrists and disappeared beneath his long-sleeved shirt. "Seen him with my own two eyes. Chased me out of my damn house."

"It's time for you to leave," I said, losing patience.

"Fine, fine, I'm going," he snapped, waving his hand in the air. Then he glared at me. "I know what you are, boy. One of them queers. I see you and that Zevon boy strutting around town together like two peacocks in heat."

Rage bubbled in my veins. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." His nostrils flared as hate filled his eyes. "The Zevon boy took a liking to my son, too. Turned him against God with his unnatural temptations. You're no different. Probably why the demon in the house hasn't bothered you. You're just as wicked as he is. Your kind will all burn in the fiery pit."

"If I see you trespassing again, I'm calling the cops. This might've been your house before, Walter, but you don't have permission to be here." I stepped toward him. "Now, get your bigoted ass off my property."

I fully understood why James hated Walter. I couldn't imagine sharing a home with a man as vile as him. I'd haunt his ass too, to scare him off.

His poor son.

I crossed my arms and watched the old man stomp toward his truck and get inside. My eyes didn't leave him until he drove away. I was so pissed that it took several minutes to compose myself.

James waited for me in the kitchen.

I pulled him to my chest and buried my face against the side of his dark hair, saying nothing. I just needed him close. I could handle Walter insulting me, but he'd also insulted the two people I cared about most.

"Kendall?" James smoothed his hand down my back, and I felt the coolness of his skin through the material.

"Just hold me. Please."

Nothing like a conversation with a bigot to remind you of how far we still needed to go as a society. James and I lived a hundred years apart, but the issues we faced, though better now, were still the same.

"I got you, darling." His lips brushed my cheek. "I'll hold you as long as you need me to."

Done! So, it looks like things are looking up for Kames!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the chapter, as well as if you happened to have a favorite part/moment!

Again, I hope you all enjoyed and that you all are having a great week so far! :) The next chapter of this might not be up until next week, but you might get a chapter this weekend. We'll see, but the next chapter will be up early next week at the latest.

Until then!

-Epically Obsessed