Castle Spellbound Read Online Free

said.
    “Sure is,” Linda agreed.
    She hooked an arm around his neck, drew him close, and kissed him. It wasn't a fooling-around kiss.
    They parted and Gene looked at the moon again. “Now, I wonder what brought that on? The booze?"
    Linda shrugged. She was a little high. Not all that much, but a little.
    “Maybe,” she said. “Was I out of line?"
    “Not at all. It was just a little surprising. Funny that we've never ... well, you know."
    “Yeah. We're good friends. Buddies."
    “That wasn't a buddy kiss."
    “Nope. Did you like it?"
    “I certainly did."
    “Good,” Linda said. “Let's do it again."
    They did it again, and took their time about it.
    “But why now, after all this time?” Gene wanted to know afterward.
    “I don't know, Gene. Maybe I never realized how much I like you. Maybe it's about time I stopped waiting for..."
    “Waiting for Mr. Right?"
    “I hate that expression."
    “So do I. Maybe it'll take a bit more time."
    “I'm tired of waiting."
    “But..."
    She nodded “I know, Gene, I know. Sorry."
    “Don't be. I'm not. I think ... Linda, I think you're carrying a torch for somebody."
    “It shows, eh?"
    “Yeah. I won't ask who."
    “Don't, please.” She scooped up some sand. “Oh, hell. I want to tell somebody. But I really can't."
    “Then don't."
    “But I want to. He's married."
    “That's tough."
    “Yeah.” She tilted her hand to let sand cascade back onto the white beach.
    Gene fiddled with a shell some time before asking, “Someone in the castle?"
    “Yep."
    “Oh. Guest or staff?"
    “This is like Twenty Questions. Neither."
    “Neither?” Gene was mildly puzzled.
    “Oh, forget it. It's hopeless. Never happen. Took me years to realize I was in love with him. Then suddenly I did. I had a dream ... But as I said, it's hopeless. I should forget. I should get on with my life."
    “Such as it is, inside a magical fairy fantasy castle."
    Linda giggled. “Magical fantasy fairy castle?"
    “Fairly fantastical magic castle."
    “Magical fantastical—"
    “Faerie castle."
    “What?"
    “F-a-e-r-i-e castle."
    “Oh. How did you pronounce that?"
    Gene made a sneering face. “Faeh."
    “Faeh?” Linda laughed.
    “Faeh-r-r-rie. Faeeeeeerr-r-r-rie."
    Linda laughed and fell back onto the sand, stretching her long legs out.
    Gene regarded her lithe body. He had never realized what nice legs she had, and her short black cocktail dress made them appear all the more shapely. He had always liked the way she was put together. Why hadn't he ever... ?
    “Gene?"
    “Yes?"
    “When I said I was horny I meant it. Don't think you would be second fiddle. I've always thought you were very attractive. You're bright, witty—"
    “Gosh and shucks. I like you, too, Linda."
    “Don't think ... Oh, shit. You probably think—everyone probably thinks of me as a cold fish. Asexual."
    “Nah."
    “Yeah. I know. But it's not that way. I have sexual needs, too."
    “Never said you didn't."
    “Gene, could we ... should we have an affair?"
    “You know what they say about sex busting up a good friendship."
    “Is that what will happen? It doesn't have to, Gene. I won't hold you to anything. Really."
    “That's not the issue, Linda. That's not—"
    He thought better of saying what he was going to say. He decided to kiss her instead, and bent to the task.
    The kiss was interrupted by approaching footsteps. “Here's a jolly spot!” a man's voice said. “Oh, rotten luck. Seems we're intruding on something momentous."
    Gene and Linda rolled away from each other and got up.
    It was Lord Peter and Cleve Dalton, each with a saronged chambermaid in tow. The women were dark and lovely and smiling.
    “Sorry, old chaps,” Lord Peter said, waving a bottle apologetically. “Just in search of a good spot for a moonlight swim."
    “No, come ahead,” Gene said, with instant regret.
    Cleve Dalton began, “We don't want to—"
    “Oh, it's only Gene and Linda,” Lord Peter scoffed, leading his lady friend out onto the