Tug of Attraction by Ashlyn Chase Page A

wait. Even better. Green candles, on a Friday, with the moon in her waxing phase. Then the two of us can perform The Great Rite.”
    “The what what?”
    “It’s sex magic.”
    “Oh. More woo woo stuff. Sex should be magic all the time. In my case it was mostly acting, but men like to think we’re enjoying it too. I assume you’re going to make sure she has the big O.”
    He smiled. “I always do.”
    “Good. Well, beyond that, I’m not sure what you want my help with. It’s not like I can join you in a threesome.”
    He shuddered. “It’s not the sex act itself I’m worried about.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Don’t laugh.”
    “I’ll try not to.”
    “I’m having this fantasy that I can’t get out of my head.”
    “Oh?”
    While he tried to figure out how to put it into words, she apparently got it.
    “Oh! You’re picturing the whole happy little family thing, aren’t you?”
    His posture slumped. “Yeah. If you told me a month ago that I’d be considering marriage, children, and the whole nine yards, I’d have laughed.”
    “Me too. I kind of thought it would be just me and you here until the end.”
    Ethan fell silent and contemplated her words. ‘Just me and you here until the end.’ How depressing. He didn’t know when and how things would change, but he figured they would—someday. Probably when he retired, he’d buy an RV and see the rest of the country—maybe.
    Meanwhile, he was so focused on not changing the life he had enjoyed for the trap of marriage and family, that he hadn’t given any thought to how he might want to change it. He had a good thirty-five or so years to go before retirement. Would he be content doing the same thing day in and day out, all that time?
    At last he said, “I’m sorry, Charlotte. I need to get some shut-eye. Maybe I’ll figure it out in my dreams.” He clicked off the light.
    “You might. Or you could have horrible nightmares.”
    “Gee thanks.” He punched the pillow and lay on his side. “Good night, Charlotte.”
    “Of course, you probably won’t. You didn’t eat a big bowl of chili before bed. That’s what happened the last time you had nightmares.”
    “Yeah. I’m sure I’ll be fine. Now, goodnight.”
    “Or we could stay up and play a game—”
    “Good. Night. Charlotte.” Ethan grabbed the extra pillow and flopped it over his head to shut out the ghost’s chatter. A moment later his eyes fluttered closed.
    Ethan found himself on his knees in front of his home.
    An encouraging feminine voice said, “Come on. It’s just a little farther.”
    He rose to his feet and was surprised to find one of his legs dragged behind him. He limped toward the young blonde woman, whom he didn’t recognize.
    “You can do it. It’s only a couple of blocks now,” she said. Her voice and eyes were kind. He knew he could trust her.
    He continued on until he stumbled and fell in the dirt again. This wasn’t the paved street he was used to. He struggled to his feet, wanting to reach whatever was waiting for him...not that he knew what that was.
    A moment later, he found himself in a wooded clearing. Upright, healthy, and raking leaves. He raked some toward the center, creating a nice pile. Then he raked away from it as if clearing a ring around the center. At last he had a large circle filled with leaves and a cleared border all around it.
    He set candles in the dirt, surrounding the center. When he looked up he saw Brigit, wearing her black cape. She let it drop and was gloriously naked. He could barely take his eyes off of her. By the time she stepped into the leafy center, the candles were lit.
    He peeled off his clothes and joined her there. What he had been doing made sense now. He had been creating a natural bed for their great rite. They joined hands and stood facing each other.
    Then the two of them were standing in his kitchen. They were both preparing something. He noticed Brigit stirring a batter of some kind. Maybe she was