The Sexy Haunted House
(copyright 2006) by Cora Zane
It’s late in the day when you pull up in front of the old Victorian house you saw advertised in the newspaper. The real estate agent you talked to on the phone assured you the house is a steal for the current asking price; however, as you sit in your car and look at it from a distance, you are a bit skeptical. There may be plenty of bathrooms and bedrooms for the square footage; and sure, the plot of land it’s on is quiet and secluded just as you were told, but there’s simply no getting around the obvious—this place is a bit on the creepy side.
You make your way over to the rustic porch and climb up the trio of front steps. As you reach along the door frame to feel for the key the agent left for you, a chill October wind whips up suddenly, scattering dried leaves across the floorboards. Startled by the scraping noise, you jump and look around nervously, clutching your jacket closed at the throat. Although it appears you are alone, you could almost swear you’re being watched.
Unable to locate the key for the front door, you walk along the wrap-around porch to the side of the house. To your right is an overgrown garden. Thorny rose canes have overtaken most of the wrought iron fencing. You find a side door leading into the house, and just as you rest your hand on the doorknob, you glimpse someone out of the corner of your eye and wheel around to gape at a gorgeous stranger watching you from the garden.
“Please, leave this place while you still can!”
Frozen in shock, you do not hear the man walking around the edge of the house until he is tromping his way up the back steps, and even then it’s hard to tear your eyes away from the spectral figure.
 "Can I help you?"
The man’s defensive voice puts you on guard.
“Oh, ah... You’re the grounds keeper, yes?”
“That’s right.”
“Ms. Smith told me about you. I’m here to view the house.”
His expression shifts slightly. He looks you over from head to foot, making you squirm a little in your shoes. “The agent sent you?” Before you can get a word out, he goes on in a skeptical tone, “I swear, they’ll try to shove this old house off on anyone who’ll so much as consider it. I guess they gave you their typical spiel about bedrooms and square footage…” He reaches into his pocket and produces a key. “I bet they didn’t tell you this place is haunted, didn’t they?”
“Ah, no… No mention about that.”
Your sudden concern must've shown on your face, for the groundskeeper laughs mirthlessly. He fits the key in the lock and goes on talking about the house, but you tune him out and glance tentatively toward the garden. That handsome stranger in the garden—whoever he was supposed to be, he’s gone now.
“Would you like me to go in with you? The ghosts—they like to play tricks.”
His comment brings you back around. Although the groundskeeper isn't exactly a charmer as far as personality goes, he isn’t a bad looking guy. For a moment you seriously consider asking him to give you the grand tour, but in the end you decide you’d rather do your own exploring. After all, if you decide to buy the house, you want to be able to give it a thorough inspection beforehand—you don’t want someone to merely guiding you around to show you the amenities.
Even though you’re still feeling a little rattled, you tell the groundskeeper you will be fine exploring the house on your own. He concedes to your wishes. He hands you the spare key, pushes the door wide for you and tells you to leave they key on the front steps on your way out. You nod, and once he is gone, you glance over your shoulder at the quiet garden one last time before entering the house.
You step into a section of the house that appears to have been a side pantry leading into the kitchen. Apparently, this end of the house is in serious need of renovation and repairs, but you are undaunted by the dismal setting.
Glancing around as you go, you wander from the pantry into the kitchen, and from there you move on slowly through the attached dining rooms into the front parlor.
The parlor is as oppressive as anything you've seen so far. The emptiness of the room, along with the peeling wallpaper and dark panelling lends an ominious feeling to the place. Despite the stained glass transom above the front door and a series of tall windows, the room is dark. You turn a circle where you stand, looking around carefully. It will take a lot of work to bring this place back to life. Just then you turn and look at the fireplace and notice a large oil painting above the mantle. You move in closer to take a look.
Compelled, you reach up to touch the portrait, but as your fingers reach the edge of the heavy gold frame, you feel slightly dizzy. You close your eyes and sway on your feet. If not for the two strong hands that suddenly steadied you from behind, you surely would have fallen. A smoky, masculine voice whispers into your ear, "You are so lovely... If only you would grant me one heartfelt kiss, I could rest in peace forever."
Somehow, kissing the handsome man in the portrait doesn't seem like a bad idea. You lift your chin and turn slowly to kiss this man. However, when you open your eyes the feeling of being held vanishes, and you discover you are alone in the room.
Wow. That was odd!
You shake your head and start toward the stairs to check the bedrooms, but before you place your foot on the first stair, you hear the sound of running water coming from a somewhere nearby. You look off to your right and discover a door you hadn't noticed until now. It must be the bathroom.
You walk over to the door. It is slightly ajar, and there is definitely water running somewhere beyond it. It sounds like the shower. Perhaps the groundskeeper was running the water to clear the pipes. You decide to open the door and see what's going on.
 (Click on the door to enter)
Shock lances through you. There's a man in the shower!
Your face burns with embarrassment, and you blurt out, "Oh, cripes! I'm sorry... I-I didn't know anyone was in here!"
The man just looks at you with a heated expression and smiles. It is a miracle you don't melt into a pool right there in the hallway. Nevermind how dumb your statement sounded, or the fact that you're staring at a naked man in a house where no one lives... You can't tear your eyes away from this sexy creature. He is absolutely gorgeous! When he crooks a finger at you, gesturing that you join him in the shower, your heart leaps in excitement.
However, the moment you push the door open to step into the room, the water stops and the man vanishes.
Okay... What the hell is going on?
Shaken, your face still hot from your last discovery, you leave the bathroom door open and return to the staircase. As you head up to the second floor, you try to convince yourself that everything you've witnessed so far is all in your imagination. After all, ghosts don't exist!
That's when you hear something that gives you pause. You stop for a moment on the landing between flights. From somewhere above you... is that moaning? And what is that rattling sound? Chains?
You stand very still and listen. After a moment you begin to climb again. You slide your hand along the dusty banister as you move cautiously up the stairs to the second floor. At the top of the stairs, you gaze down the dark, carpeted hallway. Here the house smells damp and musty. Your heart pounds in your chest. The moaning grows louder. The clank and rattle of chains sounds less muffled. Could someone be trapped in one of the rooms?
You creep further into the hallway and stop. The sounds appears to be coming from behind this door. Do you dare enter?
(Click on the door to enter)
Your hands are trembling as you open the door. You have no idea what you might find. When your eyes adjust to the dim lighting you find a gorgeous man bound by ropes and chains. You can't help but gape at him.
He looks into your eyes, his expression is soulful and very sad. "I've been waiting so long for you," he rasps. "Please, release me..."
You swallow thickly. Your throat has gone dry. Who are you to deny him, right?
You step into the room to help the sexy spirit remove the ropes and the chains.The minute you grasp the thick ropes binding his wrists, he leans forward and brushes his lips gently against yours. You sigh in contentment. The rope falls away, and he moves to kiss you again. You allow your eyes to slip closed in anticipation of his kiss, but it never comes. You open your eyes. The man is gone. You are alone in the room.
Your face is flushed, and you're pretty hot and bothered by this point. What is up with this damn house! You're an intelligent woman, and you're ready to admit there is definitely something paranormal going on here. But why do the ghosts keep running away the moment things start to get interesting?
Because they're shy?
Pffft! Yeah, right!
"Enough's enough already," you mutter to the walls, hoping whatever spirits reside in the house hear you and take warning. "I've never been the type to put up with a tease..."
You walk out of the room feeling a bit miffed and haughty. You go on down the hallway, toward the last door on the left. The door is similar to the one before. You grasp the knob and open it quitely, prepared for the worst.
The room is very dark inside--nearly pitch black. You enter carefully, and discover there are a few pieces of antique furniture within. You see a shadowy lump in the dark, and as your eyes gradually adjust, you realize it is an antique Queen Anne wardrobe. Fascinated, you walk over to the wardrobe and open it. Old clothes are hanging inside it. You reach out and touch a lace cuff when you hear something shuffle behind you.
You flinch at the sound. Heart hammering in your chest, you spin around and find a stunning shadowy figure standing at the foot of the four-poster bed. Another ghost!
"I'm sorry if we teased you and left you wanting, cherie. Perhaps I can make things up to you?"
Whoever this man is, he has one hell of a sexy accent!
No more than a dark silhoutte, the man stalks toward you, his movements fluid and mesmerizing. He takes you by the hand and presses a kiss against your knuckles. He whispers something in French, but you don't understand the words. It doesn't really matter.
He guides you around the bed, and as you pass by one wall, you realize there are windows here covered by heavy layers of dark cloth. Before you can give the discovery much thought, strong arms embrace you and pull you closer to a muscular male body. You feel his warm breath against your neck. You phantom lover places a subtle kiss at the base of your collar bone--the action sends excitement racing through your veins. Finally, a ghost that's not afraid to fraternize with the living!
You can't help thinking, A house full of gorgeous, haunted men! How can I go wrong? But as you pass the second covered window, the button on the cuff of your denim jacket catches the edge of one of the heavy cloth panels and jerks it down, letting a stream of daylight into room that reveals the face of the mysterious spectre.
EEK! 
(Click the woman to view your ghostly lover!)
Hey, ghosts may be ghosts, but you're not kissing THAT!
You shriek to high heavens and flounder your way out of the curtain. You accidentally slam your shin against the edge of a dusty, thread bare lounge in the process, but that doesn't keep you from high-tailing it out of there! You hobble off toward the open door, and sprint toward the stairs.
Doors open and shut loudly as you race down the hall. Moans and whispered pleas echo through the house as you reach the landing and take the stairs two at a time. Haunted laughter follows you through the parlor, the kitchen and the pantry.
On your way out the back door, you nearly plow over the groundskeeper who apparently heard you and was running to your aid. You shuffle past him without a word. He mutters a curse under his breath and rights his hat on his head with a flick of irritation. As you climb into your car you hear him shout after you, "See, I told you the house is haunted!"
Talk about an understatement!
****
Whether you prefer Tricks or Treats, we hope you have a Happy Halloween!
Today's giveaway is a Halloween book thongs.
Among those who post today letting us how they like the Haunted House
we'll be choosing two winners.
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