Phantom Pleasures

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for all the love and appreciation on the writing that I've shared here so far. It has been incredibly heartwarming and validating to see how many of you had a good time reading it, as well as to read the bits of very constructive feedback left in-between the compliments. All of that made my every day.

In the spirit (pun intended) of brat summer wanting to spend the summer writing erotica, I latched onto a supernatural prompt, which has resulted in this text. Can't say that I would ever refuse ghostly advances if they could be like this - but maybe let's switch out the house decor for something a bit more comfortable...

Anyway, I hope that you enjoy this one.

*~*~*~*

Times were tough and money was tight. Not even the tips from waiting tables part-time at a local favourite spot could get her through. So when Ruby's friends dared her to spend a night at the supposedly haunted house and, believing her to fail, all chipped in for the bet prize, there was no way that she could've said no. That could be her food and going out money for a month!

These things were always easier said during the daytime. Ruby didn't believe in ghosts, but it was hardly brave to scoff that of course she could do it when the sun shone bright. If she were honest with herself, her gut was singing a whole different tune once darkness enveloped the house and her within it.

Northam Manor wasn't exactly old. It was built to look older than it actually was and compared to the literal mediaeval architecture in her university town, this eighty-year-old house was a baby. Once its owner had died childless and whoever inherited it drowned in debts, the large manor simply sat empty at the end of the road just off city centre, gathering dust and marking off the seasons with the colour on the ivy vines. No-one had wanted a project in this much disrepair and even the temptation of not having to bother with the historical building conservation rules hadn't attracted a buyer.

Ruby understood that a house left empty for this long, especially one that faked an older look, was bound to grow its own urban legends. Being haunted was the least original one.

And still, despite rationally knowing all of this, she couldn't help being a little on edge as she inched down the creaky corridors, constantly on the lookout for something that might jump out at her.

"There is no-one else here except me," she muttered, not blinking as she looked from side to side. "I created a lot of noise coming in to warn anyone who might be and scare off any wild animals. It's just me and my imagination running amok because it's normal to be scared of the unknown."

Not for the first time that night she had to shake away the thought that had something been lurking around the dilapidated rooms, she wouldn't stand a chance. Ruby may have arrived in her most comfortable tracky bottoms and an oversized sweatshirt, looking every bit the athletic university student on her way back from the gym, but the physical activity she did had built her flexibility, not speed. Yoga strengthened her back and posture, whilst keeping her thighs and belly soft. It worked for controlling one's breathing to achieve a sense of calm and less so for endurance; Ruby frequently found herself out of breath after climbing more than one staircase on the way to the lectures and had to find a bathroom to fix up the dark brown bob haircut that would stick to her entire face with sweat after that. Though at least a sweaty sheen usually came in with a very flattering flush across her cheeks that made her green eyes even brighter.

After eventually exploring the entire house, first and ground floor, which turned out to be smaller than it appeared from the outside, Ruby set up camp in what posed as one of the downstairs living rooms. Purely for the practical reason that if she had to leave quickly - which would only be if the police came in to arrest her for trespassing - this was the fastest route. With no electricity, a dubious supply of running water, and only the food that she brought with her, her best chance of making it through the night and winning the bet was to fall asleep as soon as possible. And frankly, even if the mattresses on the beds weren't eaten by mould and moths, the bedframes begged for mercy with their broken legs and springs poking out everywhere. So an old sofa it was.

But just because Ruby knew what the best plan was didn't mean that everything would happen exactly like that. The sofa cushions were in decent enough shape to put her camping bedroll over them. Once she got over the musty smell, it was really quite comfortable, way better than what she was used to when camping.

Yet sleep eluded her. It was impossible to drift off when her heart rate refused to slow down and kept jumping at every old house moan brought on by the slightest gust of Yorkshire winds. No amount of conscious breathing or meditative videos on YouTube was helping. It felt like going to a sleepover and being abandoned by everyone actually living at the place - except that she was never invited in the first place and the previous residents left half a century ago.

With a determined sigh, Ruby sat up on the sofa. If sleep wasn't an option, then she may as well do

something

. Although there was no electricity in the house, armed with a power bank and a charging cable she could read stuff on her phone, distract herself from the fearful feelings.

The fanfiction she'd been currently on was engrossing enough that soon enough the dusty, creaky house around her did fade into the background, especially with some chill music in her one earbud; the other one had to be out as a safety measure. How could Ruby worry about any haunting when her favourite characters were having the most steamy, angsty sex and her thumb couldn't scroll fast enough? At least now her breathing was shallow and her heartbeat fast in a good way!

Should she...? No, that was a ridiculous thought!

But maybe...? Just because it'd be weird didn't mean that it'd be wrong. Northam Manor was as private as her own bedroom would be, probably even more so since this wasn't a cheaply built terrace with neighbours behind the thinnest of plaster walls hearing the porn audio in her headphones if she raised the volume above four.

With one thumb still scrolling through steamy fiction, Ruby's left hand slid under her top. The feel of the nipple hardening under her fingers, the weight of her breast in her hand, brought relief in places she hadn't even anticipated. This could be what she needed to relax, then sleep through the night and collect her winnings in the morning. And thank goodness that she skipped the fake modesty and didn't have to fight with a bra to get in on the action!

There was also this... thrill, bubbling just underneath her sternum. She was already in a place she shouldn't be and now she was doing things she definitely shouldn't be doing. It was way more exciting than the fanfic alone.

Soon enough Ruby's lids grew too heavy, so she abandoned her phone and let imagination take over. What if this manor once belonged to an extremely handsome gentleman who happened to be a vampire? That would've explained the lack of new buyers and the urban legends about hauntings. It'll be midnight soon enough and then he'd wake up, come downstairs, and find her sprawled on his sofa, one hand pinching her nipple and the other between her legs, and being the perfect gentleman that he was, offer to help her reach those places where she just couldn't, maybe even tease her with his tongue, his fangs grazing her lips and adding that touch more spice that she craved...

The shiver that ran through all of Ruby's body had nothing to do with the fantasies or the self-pleasure.

Eyes wide open now and flailing to catch the earbud as it fell out, she gasped in a mix of shock and panic at the door swinging open to let a gust of cold wind inside. Her heart was practically in her throat, pounding for alarm. She froze, waiting for what she assumed was her demise, but nothing happened other than more cold air wrapping itself around her.

"There must be a draught somewhere," she said out loud to quiet the panic. The flat sound of her feet on the dusty wooden floors was the only thing disturbing the silence before the creaking hinges on the door punctuated the end of that episode.

Except... there was no wind where the door was. The air stood still and Ruby knew for a fact that all the windows were not only intact, but firmly shut; she'd checked them all.

As if on cue, the gust of cold air encircled her the moment she turned around. It took her breath away - and not entirely in a bad way. The nipples that she'd teased only moments ago were now caged by the mere brush of cotton of her oversized top, pushing through the fabric to taste that cold air directly on the skin.

Over the sound of her own gasp Ruby heard something in that gust, something resembling... a seductive moan?

"Is anybody here?" She meant to shout, but the words got caught in the pleasurable shivers and only came out as a whisper.

The air hummed in response.

Hummed

.

Stuck between self-preservation and excitement, Ruby only managed to force her eyes to stay open. Nothing had changed about the room around her: the floral sofa stood where she left it, the curtains stayed closed, dark shadows enveloped the furniture around her with only parts illuminated by the blue light of her mobile. The only difference was that it also looked more hazy than before, as if she were in the eye of a hurricane and looking at the world through the swirls of wind.

Maybe Northam Manor

was

haunted after all.

And if it was... why was this otherworldly presence so preoccupied with her nipples?

"If..." She had to clear her throat before starting again. "If you are here... and you don't mean me any harm... can you wolf whistle?"

Curses ran through her mind at how dumb this idea was. But it was all that she could think of between the adrenaline and the haze of pleasure. It had to be an air-based sound since that's all that this ghost seemed capable of producing. And something that couldn't have been mistaken for anything else.

The cool air brushed her cheek, moving a dark brown lock off her ear... and then wolf whistled directly into it.

Ruby's eyes opened as wide as they could. That she wasn't imagining any of this was as wild as the notion of any paranormal activity existing, let alone wanting to be sexual with her. But as they say, once a Catholic, always a Catholic - and if the universe was offering her now atheist arse a chance at completely guilt-and-sin-free sex, then she would damn right take it with both hands!

"I... I consent then."

It felt just as silly to say that as it was to ask the ghost to wolf whistle, but there was no-one else to judge her here. No-one would ever believe her anyway. Still, it felt right to establish agreement on her part.

As if at the sound of a magic word, the ghostly presence around her shifted in what seemed like excitement. Reassured that whoever's ghost was currently fondling her boobs wanted to hear her consent, Ruby relaxed into the touch. Or what passed for touch for a body-less entity, though that didn't seem to stop them from being able to really pinch a nipple.

The wind swirled around her, lifting her arms, then took off her top in one swift motion, the gust making her shiver. The faint glow of Ruby's phone highlighted just how hard her nipples had gotten, the silhouette sharp and the sensations running over the teased skin heightened by the wind now lashing at it like a whip.

Ruby whimpered, but before her knees gave up under her, the ghost scooped her towards the sofa and laid her there the way they wanted: with legs spread and arms pinned to the backrest. It wasn't forceful - if anything, it felt suggestive, like it knew that she'd enjoy herself the most in this position. She did need a moment to catch her breath after the mere realisation that this ghost was assertive. It made her wonder how many others had they done that with before.

It traced circles around her breasts with an airy finger, first under them, feeling their heaviness, and gradually working its way back to the nipples. By the time they'd been kissed with a cool breeze, they were hard and begging for touch, so even this light flicker proved tantalising. Then, through paranormal magic that Ruby didn't attempt to decipher, the ghost had managed to suck on both of her nipples at the same time. The pleasure was almost overwhelming, mixed in with just a touch of discomfort at how intense it all felt, drawing a short-lived scream out of her.

When her head stopped spinning from pleasure and Ruby could once again open her eyes, the air rubbed up against her. Unaware that ghosts could need validation, she composed her breathing enough to whisper something complimentary like "That was... amazing!". The fact that this pleased the ghost to the point of spinning her into a small tornado, the edges of which teased her already extra sensitive tits even more, made Ruby laugh.

It started to feel as if she was understanding this otherworldly creature and their way of communicating. The strength of the gusts, the forcefulness of its caresses, where the air flow was directed, even whether the air felt freezing or merely cool, it all formed a language that she was learning on the fly.

And now the ghost was clearly asking for her consent to do more.

Consent which she gave more than enthusiastically.

As her heart rate kept going up and sweat appeared in beads over Ruby's skin, she was grateful for the cooling presence worshipping her in that moment. The ghost's fingers skimmed up her bare arms, tickling the collarbone, even moved the hair that stuck to the nape of her neck, the caress gentle and raising anticipation. There was still a bit of pressure holding her limbs spread, although at this point she wanted to see what would happen and would willingly open herself up to this being for more.

The only problem was that in its haste to get to her, the ghost left her only half naked. Ruby's bottom half, where she wanted to be touched the most, was still covered by her knickers and joggers, the jersey thick enough that only a fraction of the cool air reached her legs. Without a body, it could only apply so much pressure, making all attempts at teasing her over the fabric null.

What Ruby had forgotten in the tunnel vision focused on all the exciting parts was that the ghost was somehow strong when it needed to be. A gust of wind slid under her, cupping her cheeks like a pair of hands, while another whipped her bottoms off, all in the space of a second; her yelp of surprise came much after the fact, when she was safely sitting back down.

Now, fully exposed, unable to see the being showering her with so much adoration, she was deemed ready to play. Ruby licked her lips in anticipation, breath held and heart pumping fast.

The breeze started at her toes, tickling her feet ever so gently with a feather's touch. She giggled, more with the anticipation and giddiness than any ticklish sensations. With eyes closed to focus on feeling every tiny sensation, she followed the ghostly caress up her calf, circling the knee, zigzagging between her outer and inner thigh. Sat like this, pressed into the cushions of the couch, her thighs spread a little, which drew the sweet torture out; the ghost either enjoyed teasing or was a master at building tension - maybe even both.

Ruby did not stop a disappointed whimper when the cool hand skipped her exposed crotch to draw a line from hip to hip, and she swore that she heard an indulgent tutting right next to her ear.

"I want you to touch my pussy," she whispered. Then, thinking that maybe the ghost wanted to play hard to get, added: "Please..."

A cool finger traced the line of her jaw, the refusal clear.

The next thing she knew, pressure returned to her chest, squeezing her tits together like the world's most amazing push-up bra. Ruby imagined the ghost straddling her, teasing her by playing with her boobs more whilst she sat with her legs spread. This time the touch was more assertive, stronger, kneading the soft flesh and pulling at the pinched nipples until she cry-gasped. And all this time she could sense the wetness pooling between her legs and feel herself grow more needy as her patience was being tested.

As if this wasn't enough, the moment she tipped her head back to give herself to pleasure, a tunnel formed underneath her ear, creating suction. Ruby moaned as these air kisses moved down her neck, stopping at spots where she moaned louder; a distant part of her mind noted that she would be covered in love bites and should dig out some turtlenecks. It felt too good to ask the ghost to stop, especially when there might never be another opportunity like this, so instead she tilted her head for more. And more she received.

The ghost seemed to get in the mood just as much. When her arm twitched and she tried to readjust to a more comfortable position, the pressure keeping her pinned down increased. Trapped into this moment of pleasure, Ruby moaned another plea for more as she felt a rain of tingles all over her skin that begged for touch.

Maybe it was the desperation that was audible in her voice or maybe she was deemed ready - the ghost finally left her neck and tits to move where she needed their touch the most.

First it was little more than a breeze that started at her knee and glided along her inner thigh.

By the time it had reached her lips, it was like a cool breath directed into this one spot; shivers ran down her body from being released from all this anticipation.

Finally, air forming into as finger-like shape as possible, the ghost touched her, spreading her own slickness up towards her clit. Ruby's moan was deeper this time, the pressure just how she liked it, gentle and fast.

"Yes, please...! Just like this," she gasped. The words proved difficult to form when the ghost continued to stroke her clit, but Ruby needed them to know.

Without a body to clutch onto, she clawed at the sofa pillows for support and leverage. Her hips rocked to the rhythm set by the ghost, even though it did not need any additional guiding to hit just the right spot. A thought flickered at the edges of Ruby's consciousness that this must've made the ghost a woman, but she dismissed it, too preoccupied with chasing climax to care what gender a ghost was when they made her feel this good.

When Ruby started holding her breath and rocking a little faster, feeling the orgasm approach, the ghost sent streams of wind to stroke her cheek, to comb through her hair, to press her thighs into the sofa. Simultaneously reassuring and dominating, it may as well have called her a 'good girl' and praised her for taking the fingering so well, it was that attentive to her needs. If it did have a voice to whisper those words into her ears, that probably would've been enough to tip Ruby over the edge.

Instead, just when she reached the very edge of orgasm and her vision darkened from holding her breath for so long, the ghost lifted her hips and thrust inside of her.

Ruby shouted; the sensation of being filled just the right amount knocked her off the path towards orgasm, but was worth it for the edging that it became. Who knew that a ghost could

actually fuck

? She had no idea how this could be possible. It was too good to question.

Although apparently even spectral beings were restricted by positions as Ruby sitting on the sofa wasn't good enough. In one decisive gust it laid her down on the seat, spread her legs so that one was over the backrest and the other reaching the floor, then plunged into her more comfortably. It knocked all air out of her lungs, the motion smooth and the phantom filling her deep. Now more than ever Ruby wished that it had a body that she could claw and climb up it towards that orgasm. Instead, she clasped the bedroll underneath her and tried to match the ghost's pace.