STORY EXCERPT

He's too hot. Sasha just wanted to tackle Cole and kiss him.

“Thanks, but don’t I have to take some clothes with me? I live close to the train station.” Sasha pursed his lips, gazing at Cole’s pondering look. Just those green eyes on him had Sasha’s heart skipping countless times. Even with Cole being a stubborn man, Sasha enjoyed every side of his personality.

“I’m not going to ask you how you got here then. It’s going to be a five-minute drive to the station, so I’ll take you there. I don’t mind. I’m not that bad a person,” Cole said as they finally arrived at the apartment building. “I’ll be right back.”

“Sure.” Sasha watched as Cole hurried into the apartment. Sasha leaned against the wall next to the entrance. It looks like he’s accepting me. Sasha couldn’t help but smile and stopped when a few people walked by.

It didn’t take long for the apartment door to open. Cole came out with a duffel bag and unlocked the car. It was an old Honda Civic, but it looked well taken care of. “Let’s go.”

Sasha nodded and got into the metallic-black car. It was nice and comfortable, even though he was used to more updated cars. “Thanks for taking me to my house. You’ll also know where I live while we’re at it.” He grinned when Cole glanced at him while driving down the road.

“I don’t mind,” Cole murmured. “Do you live with anyone?”

“No. I’m all alone, especially if you don’t want to be with me.” Sasha sighed sarcastically. The car stopped at a red light and he looked over at Cole’s raised eyebrow. “All right, I won’t say anything else.”

Cole continued to drive after a few moments. “You know, we’ve known each other for a couple of days now,” he said. “Even if you say that, I don’t know when you’re serious.”

Sasha smiled widely. “I’m a lot more serious than you think.”

“Is that so?” Cole uttered. “How much?”

Sasha just couldn’t stop smiling. Cole was blushing as usual and his fingers moved restlessly on the wheel, his hands holding it firmly. Cole’s reactions were transparent. “To the point that I want to kiss you right now. I want to know more about you and to be with you. Cole, I’m going to do whatever I can to not let them take your memories.”

Cole glanced at Sasha, the shade of red on his cheeks slightly more prominent. “What about the person who lost their memories of you?”

“It was a friend of mine,” Sasha replied curtly. Cole only shrugged and continued to drive. It seemed that Cole didn’t know what to say to that, but it had sounded like he wanted to know if Sasha had feelings for someone else. He pointed to his right. “There's the train station. From here, drive straight forward. It's the house at the end of the fourth street, right before the intersection.”

A few minutes later, Cole stopped the car in front of a large, modest-looking house. Sasha had chosen a simple house when he'd moved here. It was two stories high, but it had a tree in the front yard, a few bushes close to the house that almost reached the windows of the bottom floor. A short path led to the dark red front door. They stepped out. “With your investigations and all, have you celebrated Christmas?” Cole asked as he locked the car. “Do you visit your family?”

Sasha unlocked the door and motioned Cole to go in. “I haven’t really celebrated Christmas in quite a few years. Unfortunately, that’s when there tends to be more investigations. They must think that Ghosts are on vacation or something.”

Cole followed Sasha further into the house. It had vintage décor mixed with modern. While the living room had older furniture, the kitchen had more updated red cabinets and a tall fridge with black doors. “I would ask you what kind of investigations you do, but since I might forget, there’s no point.”

“Sooner or later you’ll know, especially if you spend some time with me,” Sasha said as he walked into his room. “That’s what happened with my friend.”

Cole cleared his throat. “I shouldn’t have asked that.”

“No, it’s all right,” Sasha said. “From all that happened, the good in it is that I got to meet you.” He smiled at Cole, who looked away immediately. “You don’t have to be embarrassed.”

“We should go. Marcus is waiting,” Cole mumbled. “It will only be the three of us, but you’re going to celebrate Christmas this year.”

Sasha chuckled, earning a glance from Cole. There was nothing else he could say. Cole just warmed up his chest. Even with Cole being stubborn most of the times, these moments of him caring about Sasha were endearing. “I’m going to gather my things,” Sasha said and went to his closet.

ADULT EXCERPT

Cole opened the door and slammed it shut, startling Marcus awake. “Help me!” he shouted playfully and switched the lights on before seeking protection on the other side of the bed.

“Is it Sasha?” Marcus got out of bed in a hurry and vanished.

Cole looked everywhere, but the room seemed empty. The door was suddenly opened and Sasha came in with a concerned look. “What…?”

Cole stared at him. From one second to the other, everything changed. What was supposed to be a game between them, turned into something else entirely different. Right behind Sasha stood a man who was grinning widely.

“Is everything all right?” Sasha asked in alarm. “What are you doing in Marcus’s bedroom?”

Cole began shaking uncontrollably. “B–behind you.” Sasha also disappeared into thin air.

Without warning, the three Ghosts reappeared. Sasha had one arm around the torso of the unknown one and both were a step away from Cole, while Marcus was about to grasp the arm of the intruder that was reaching out to Cole.

Cole pinned himself against the wall next to the closed window. Standing in front of him was a handsome man leering at Cole. Shoulder-length, flaming-red hair framed a pale face as slanted bright green eyes gave Cole a predatory look. The unknown man was somewhat taller than Sasha. The Ghost wore a dark brown jacket over a black shirt and blue jeans. The clothes looked simple, but on him, they were heightened and fit him perfectly.

“I knew this was going to happen. Cole is already falling for Rowan,” Sasha muttered and released the Ghost. He stood between Rowan and Cole. “He’s already with me, so go find someone else for yourself.”

“I don’t care about that,” the intruder uttered in clear annoyance.

At the sound of the redhead’s deep voice, which matched perfectly with the tough-looking clothing, Cole’s heart was immediately lovestruck. His heart pounded in his chest, but his anger returned. He gathered all of his courage and moved Sasha out of the way, frowning straight at the new Ghost. “Who do you think you are to wake me up in the middle of the night and harass me? It was you who pulled my pants down, wasn’t it?”

“I’m Rowan. I was working, so I could only come here now. We Ghosts can detect each other if the barriers are down. Like Sasha, I want you.” He rested his finger under Cole’s chin, looking down at him.

Cole’s mouth fell open at how close Rowan was. He came back to reality and removed the other’s hand. “I don’t care about that,” he mocked.

Marcus sighed. “All of you, solve your problems. I’ll be in the living room watching TV.” He walked out of the room, leaving Cole staring at him.

“Your only savior has left you. He doesn’t understand what we’re aiming for.” Rowan grinned deviously. “Let us put on a show now.”

“What?” Cole’s heartbeat quickened when the tall man flickered and vanished, Sasha doing the same right after. Cole took in his surroundings. Did that mean they were back in the game? And now they had another player who seemed to be Sasha’s and Marcus’s friend.

“I’ve put up a sound barrier,” Sasha whispered from behind Cole, his voice slightly distorted but still seductive.

As they sat him on the bed, Cole quickly gave in. His T-shirt and sleepwear pants were taken off simultaneously and a ghostly hand caressed his cheek when he was laid on the bed. Rowan appeared on top of Cole and blew kisses on his neck and chest while playing with his hard nipples.

“I don’t know you,” Cole moaned out and arched his back. Sasha appeared next to him, kissing him lovingly. With the two Ghosts pleasuring him, Cole’s mind became cloudy.

Rowan moved lower, until he could see Cole’s hard cock. Licking his upper lip, he bent Cole’s legs, spreading them widely.

Cole gripped the bedspread as Sasha made out with him and Rowan nipped his inner thigh. Cole couldn’t help but moan out loud when his shaft was licked gently. If this was his Christmas present, he didn’t mind it in the least.

“He’s still getting to know you, Rowan, so I’ll do the honors,” Sasha said with determination while taking his own clothes off.

Cole stared at him. “You’re lucky that I’m in the mood,” he mumbled. “But you’re right. I don’t know Rowan, so I can’t let him do much else. I’m not a fan of one-night-stands.” He gazed at Sasha’s smile. Even though he’d fallen at first sight for this man called Rowan, for some reason his feelings for Sasha were stronger. He’d already agreed with himself that he needed to see how serious Sasha was about him, which Sasha had showed through his conversation with Marcus and his actions.

“I don’t mind hiding the lower half of my body this time. You look so irresistible like this. As soon as I saw you sleeping on Marcus’s couch, I just couldn’t resist.” Rowan kissed Cole’s abdomen, his lips warm and soft, and his lukewarm hands on Cole’s sides. “You won’t feel anything but pleasure,” he murmured while unzipping his pants. From the waist down, his body disappeared.