Please read the previous chapters if you haven't already. I will write a chapter as often as possible. Please be patient. If you enjoyed this tale kindly take a moment and rate it. This chapter is an edited DRAFT and part of an evolving book. With each chapter you are coming along on my ride as I develop my story. Final edits will happen when the book is complete. I am writer and editor. The stories are checked multiple times but a "second set of eyes" isn't always available. Feedback pointing out grammatical and other errors is stating the obvious.
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A Ghost Story, Erotic Dreams in the Haunted House
There was hell to pay when they returned home after dark that night from the haunted forest. Her father and brother dashed toward them as they approached the fields in the clearing near the house with torches blazing. David was red faced. He clenched his fist furiously. He seemed ready to pounce and murder his good friend. David remained calm though for the moment for his little sisters sake.
"Why are you with my sister Kahn and where in gods name did you take Lilly away to for so long! You were ordered explicitly to stay away from her! Now look at her!" David's eyeballs scanned Lilly quickly.
"She is a literal mess! What did you do to her? You'd better talk fast you cad before I shoot you between the eyes!" David bellowed.
"David, before things get ugly would you please get Lilly inside? She doesn't need to be subjected to our row and she clearly needs attending to." Edward said calmly. He placed his hand on the small of her back and prodded her toward the house. David flew at him in a fury.
"You dare place a hand on my sister and act so familiar with her Khan!"
Edward shook his head and thought. Oh David if you only knew what transpired in the forest earlier your gun would be missing one bullet by now. Edward promised to return her home but under great duress. He should have pulled her onto his stallion and led her skittish mare by the reins to his cottage. He'd pack a few things, buy them tickets for the next ship out of Providence the next morning and have the captain marry them that night. He needed to plan though and go through the excruciating courting ritual. Lilly was a tough little fighter and would resist him. He had to play her with the ultimate finesse.
Something transpired for sure, David Sr. mused as he watched the young couple cling to one another. They seemed shaken by something, but what?
"David," the older man stepped into the fray. "Lilly should be attended to. Go inside daughter. Millie will draw a bath and fix you up."
"But father, don't you want me to explain my side of the story-"
"Lilly, do as I say! The men will handle this, inside the house now!" Her father boomed pointing in the direction of the mansion.
Lilly huffed away her long blonde locks bouncing as she ran.
Edward bristled. His beautiful spirited Lilly was a subordinate to her father and brothers control. She must be furious. He wanted to step in to defend her but he'd need to tread very lightly with the Taylor men. He had no claim to her...yet.
Once Lilly was out of sight all three men turned to face one another. Each stood under the murky glow of torchlight in a silent standoff. David broke the silence.
"You assaulted our groomsman. Daniel returned an hour ago frantic with a deep and nasty bruise on his face. He claims you laid him out. When he woke Lilly and you were gone."
"My horse nearly ran into them! Kelly held Lilly in a tight embrace, his body pressed too intimately into her. When I demanded he release her, he refused."
The Taylor men flashed the other an uneasy look. Of course the groom left out those important details. They each shifted uneasily.
"I asked to speak with Lilly and check on her to ensure her safety. Kelly refused. Without warning or provocation he punched me. Fearing for Lilly, I slugged him back."
Both Taylor men kept shifting their gait. Each was eyeing the other. David Sr. harrumphed then fell silent again. Edward took this as an excellent sign to press forward.
"He took Lilly out to the old graveyard hidden in the deepest part of the forest. Why, I ask you, would a man take a woman so deeply into such a secluded area unless his intentions were disreputable?"
Both men were silent. Apparently mulling over the very different story they were told by the miscreant Daniel Kelly. Edward knew immediately upon encountering the couple that Kelly had deep feelings for Lilly. He was in love with her. Which explained his aggressive behavior toward Edward. He needed to discredit the man as much as possible and hope he'd loose his job with the Taylor's and therefore be far away from Lilly.
"Why were you both gone so long? It's past dark! Have you no sense of decency? His friend's voice seemed to soften a bit.
"Her reputation Edward, did you think of that? A lady of polite society and engaged to be married no less, out past dark with another man?"
"She took off on her horse in hysterics as I was recovering from my injuries." He lied and prayed Lilly would corroborate at least some of his claims.
"As soon as I was able I leapt onto my horse and searched her out. She was lost. The path became too dense and I had to look for her on foot. Hence the reason we arrived so much later than that disgraceful groom. Also the reason for her ruined clothing, scratches and cuts." Well, it was a white lie at least. David mused.
"Please let me be perfectly clear on this point," he continued.
"If there was even the slightest hint I may have tarnished her reputation I would marry her instantly."
There was no hint of fabrication in his proclamation. Edward would marry her in a heartbeat and he would make her his wife in due time even if he was itching to wrap a gold ring around her pretty finger right here and now. He informed both Taylor man that he'd staked his claim on Lilly in a round about way.
"You married! The absolute humor in that, to my precious sister no less! As if there was a chance in hell you'd be allowed to marry the most charming, intelligent and beautiful belle of Rhode Island!" David snorted loudly.
"You are mistaken my good friends-She is the most beautiful and charming woman in the world, gentleman!"
"Watch your tongue!" David's face became flushed, his tone furious.
"My sincere words were intended as a very fine compliment only. I have an extraordinarily high opinion of Miss Lilly." Edward grinned and drove David into inward madness.
David Sr. smirked and bit back a smile. Kahn always had been a witty and utterly charming man. He was a jocular fellow as lighthearted and humorous as his Lilly. Then it struck him square on the skull as if a heavy metal anvil dropped on his head. Of course! Edward was thoroughly smitten with his Lilly. Damn he'd never considered a match between Kahn and Lilly! Kahn was a womanizer and Lilly surely hated him because of that. They were both passionate and headstrong so far too much alike. What a volatile match. Pitch two wildcats in a cage and let them go at it, such a match would be doomed. Mr. Taylor shook his head in wonder. A newfound spark of curious amusement churned in his brain.
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Lilly lay awake in her bed late that night after she returned from her sexual romp in the forest with Edward. She and Edward made love. The encounter left her breathless, very satisfied and wanting him even more. Edward was a very passionate, intense and demanding lover but also caring and loving. They were in love, deeply in love. She couldn't deny or even repress how they felt for one another any more.
Lilly hoped Edward remained unscathed from his altercation with her brother and father. She hadn't heard gunshots. That was a hopefully a good sign. She had to admit her life in this century was anything but dull.
Lilly prayed her birth control pills would cover her for another few weeks. She only took them to regulate her menstrual cycles but was now very grateful the medicine would hopefully prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Edward seemed cavalier about coming inside her, unconcerned about getting her with child. Her other saving grace was she had endometriosis. Her doctor told her getting pregnant would be difficult. She could only hope the good doctor was correct on both points.
The night was balmy and too hot to sleep anyway. She shucked her nightgown to the floor. A stiff breeze from the sea drifted in the open window and caught the curtains like sails. They drifted about in a spooky movement in the dark bedroom.
Every shadow in the dark cavernous room made her jump. Could there be a figure forming in the darkness? Was the shadow man from her nightmare lurking about waiting for her to sleep so he could terrify her in her dreams again? Would it try to bury her in a deep grave while she suffocated as the dirt pilled up on her paralyzed body? Was the ghostly woman hiding in a corner ready to haunt her with her soulless eyes? Why was the forest haunted? Why did it seem the ghost was reaching out to her, trying to tell her something? Who was the shadow man? Was he someone who was once alive or a demon that wanted her dead? She had with so many unanswered questions rolling about in her sleepless head.
As Lilly lay naked, tangled in the sheets the full moon was quickly shrouded in a sinister nightly gray cloud cover. Outside a storm was brewing. The wind whipped the enormous tree trunks outside her window and they gnashed against the mansion in a loud scraping and screeching sound. Like deathly demon hands tearing her house apart. Something then began banging even louder against the house. Lilly was certain the noise was from the trees and she crawled under the covers hiding like a frightened child.
Lilly waited a moment. The sound was coming closer. She flipped the sheets up over her head, jumped from bed and crept toward the window. She peered over ledge and nearly fell dead with fear. A shadowy face peered up into the windowsill at her. She jumped back and fell to the floor in a heap. Suddenly a dark form climbed into her bedroom. Lilly nearly screamed until she saw Edward's features illuminated in the dim candlelight. He reached for her but Lilly pushed him toward the window. Edward braced himself against the windowsill, unmovable.
