Ghostly Touch

She felt his arms wrap around her, could hear his voice murmuring in her ear and finally, she collapsed on top of him trying to catch her breath.
                                                                  ~ * ~
                  Zula woke up bright and early the next day and felt wonderful, the dream of passion still fresh in her mind and her body. She shut her eyes and covered her face with both hands for a moment before sitting up. Her whole purpose for casting the spell for a mate was to stop the dream sex, but her dream lover hadn’t gone anywhere. Of course, the fact that Connor had brought her home at nine o’clock the night before didn’t help matters at all.
    Dinner had been wonderful, and much to her surprise Connor was a very good cook. The wine had been excellent even if it went quickly to her head, and she thought the conversation had been great too. They talked and laughed over dinner and then had another glass of wine in the living room. She refused de ssert, but Connor wolfed down two pieces of apple pie while they chatted. So when he’d looked at his watch and said he would take her home, she was taken aback. He kissed her lightly at her door, said good night and left her standing there with what she was sure could be described as a stunned look on her face.
                  “He didn’t even ask to come inside, Thad. Can you believe it? I don’t know what to make of it. He was a perfect gentleman all night long. I would have let him kiss me just a little more than that peck at the door, but he didn’t even try.” Zula didn’t know whether to be upset by the lack of attention, or to be happy about his chivalrous attitude.
                  “Great-grandmother Zula, you could’ve explained just a little more about that spell while you were here,” Zula said aloud while in the shower. Even if Connor wasn’t meant to be her soul mate, a real live playmate wouldn’t be a bad option right now. Zula sighed heavily as she wrapped her hair in a towel and then brushed her teeth.
    “Is it too much to ask to get laid by a real man? ” She said in an exasperated tone, but neither Thaddeus nor great-grandma Zula replied.
    ~ * ~
                  Zula’s garage had been converted to a workshop many years ago, and since she had taken over the place a few years ago, she converted the workshop into a holistic health store where she sold herbs she grew herself. She also sold handmade candles, as well as amulets and crystals, dream catchers and silver jewelry. As a licensed masseuse, she had a small area partitioned off in the back where her table was set up along with fragrant and medicinal oils, candles, and a tabletop waterfall set the mood for relaxation.
                  With three massage appointments set for that morning, Zula would have a full day. Her garden provided most of herbs she needed during the year, but by late October, she had started new plants in the greenhouse. There was much work to be done in order to ensure she’d have plenty of herbs throughout the winter months.
                  Zula opened the shop door, flipped the open sign around so it showed through the window, and then raised all the blinds. Weak November sunlight shone through and brightened the room as Zula went about getting ready for the first massage appointment. She put an Enya CD in the player and turned the sound low, and then put flannel sheets on the massage table and lit candles.
                  “Oh!” Zula shrieked as she turned around, hands flying to her throat. “Great-grandma Zula! You scared the life out of me.”
                  “Zula, I can’t stay long, but please be careful. There are more forces at work here than I knew.”
                  “What are you talking about?”
                  “Be careful my dear girl. Your life depends upon it,” great-grandmother Zula said. She reached out to touch Zula, but the hand passed through her and grandma Zula disappeared.
                  Zula stared at the empty space, her mouth open and mind racing. “Grandmother?” She lifted one hand toward the spot where the image of her grandmother had been. The air still warm and Zula could feel the energy left by the older woman’s presence. “If you can hear me, please come back and tell me what you are talking about.