Chapter Twenty-One
Amara
S everal months have passed since that night. The nightmares have lessened, and the counseling has helped me rebuild the pieces of myself that felt shattered. Ghost has been my rock through it all, never pressuring, always supporting. We’ve built a new sense of normalcy, a routine that feels safe and loving.
Today, though, I feel different. Stronger. Ready.
As we sit on the couch together, watching some mindless TV show, I turn to Ghost, my heart pounding with a mix of nerves and anticipation. “Ghost,” I say softly, catching his attention. He mutes the TV and looks at me, concern flashing in his eyes.
“What’s on your mind, babe?”
I take a deep breath, summoning my courage. “I want to... I think I’m ready to be intimate. With you, I mean. I’m ready to be intimate with you.”
His eyes widen in shock, and for a moment, he just stares at me. “Snow, are you sure? We don’t have to rush into anything. I can wait as long as you need.”
I see the flicker of arousal in his eyes, quickly followed by his need to reassure me. His voice is gentle, filled with love and concern. “I don’t want to do anything that might set you back. You’ve been through so much, and I want to make sure you’re really ready.”
I reach out and take his hand, squeezing it gently. “I am ready, Ghost. I’ve been working through everything in counseling, and I’ve thought about this a lot. I want to be with you. I want to take that step forward together. I know it won’t be easy, but I trust you. I trust us.”
His eyes search mine, and I can see the war of emotions playing out in them. Finally, he nods, his grip tightening on my hand. “Okay, babe. But if at any point you feel uncomfortable or want to stop, you just say the word. We take this at your pace.”
I smile, feeling the warmth of his love and support envelop me. “I know. And that’s why I’m ready. Because I know you’ll be there for me every step of the way.”
He leans in and kisses me softly, his touch tender and careful. As the kiss deepens, I feel the familiar spark of desire igniting within me, but this time, it’s accompanied by a sense of safety and love. When we finally pull away, both of us are breathless, and I can see the passion burning in his eyes.
“I love you, Snow,” he whispers, his voice husky with emotion.
“I love you too, Ghost,” I reply, feeling a surge of confidence and joy. “Now, take me to bed.”
He smiles, a mixture of arousal and adoration lighting up his face. “With pleasure, babe. With pleasure. Is this why you had Dove spend the night with Allie?”
I nod my head. Dove has been doing so well since she stopped going to see her father. He gave up all of his rights during the first meeting with the lawyers, and we haven’t seen him since.
“I wanted you all to myself,” I admit.
“You sneaky, horny woman.”
Laughing, I take off running towards our room. I’ve been sleeping next to this man and his perfectly sculpted body for months now. I’ve woken up with wet panties nearly every day for the past two weeks. That’s how I knew I was ready. My body was ready. My mind just needed some convincing.
***Ghost***
The minx takes off running, and I’m quick to chase after her. Once inside our room, I close the door softly behind us. The room feels different tonight. More intimate, more charged. I turn to her, taking in her beauty, the strength in her eyes. I reach out and gently cup her face in my hands, leaning down to kiss her. The kiss is soft at first, careful. But as she responds, it deepens, and I can feel the passion between us reignite.
I pull back slightly, looking into her eyes. “If at any point you want to stop, just tell me, okay?”
She nods, her gaze steady. “I know. But I won’t need to.”
Taking her hand, I lead her to the bed. I sit down first, guiding her to stand between my legs. Slowly, I start to unbutton her nightshirt, my fingers trembling slightly with the anticipation and reverence of this moment. She watches me, her breath coming in soft, excited gasps. As I reveal her skin, inch by inch, I lean forward to press kisses to her soft, round stomach, feeling her shiver under my touch.
When her shirt is off, I let my hands glide up her sides, taking in the smoothness of her skin. I look up at her, my heart pounding. “You’re beautiful, Snow. So damn beautiful.”
A small, shy smile graces her lips as she reaches down to tug at my shirt. I lift my arms, helping her pull it off. The feel of her hands on my skin sends a jolt of electricity through me. We move slowly, taking our time. There’s no rush tonight.
I stand, guiding her to sit on the edge of the bed. Kneeling in front of her, I kiss her knees, trailing up her thighs. Her breath hitches as I reach the waistband of her jeans. I glance up, seeking her permission, and she nods, her eyes dark with desire.
I unbutton her jeans, sliding them down her legs, kissing her skin as I go. When she’s completely undressed, I pause for a moment, just taking in the sight of her. My heart swells with love and desire. “God, Snow,” I murmur. “You’re perfect.”
She reaches for me, and I stand, quickly shedding the rest of my clothes. We come together on the bed, her body tucked safely beneath my own. I kiss her deeply, our tongues dancing, hands exploring. I can feel her heat, her readiness. But I still want to take it slow, to savor every moment.
I trail kisses down her neck, to her collarbone, and further down to her heavy breasts. I take one nipple into my mouth, swirling my tongue around it, feeling her arch into me. Her moans are music to my ears, and I can feel myself getting harder with every sound she makes. The memory of her falling apart the last time my mouth was on her nipple makes me smile.
“Ghost,” she whispers, her voice breathy and urgent. “Please.”
“Tell me what you need, baby,” I say, my voice rough with desire.
“I need you inside me,” she says, her eyes pleading.
“I wanted to taste you first, baby,” I tell her, reaching between her legs to find her already dripping for me. I take my time playing with her pussy. Sliding two fingers inside of her, then three. I don’t dare touch her ass. I might not ever unless she explicitly asks me to.
The image of Hunter on top of her takes over my vision, and Snow pulls my face down and kisses me.
“Stay with me,” she says. “It’s just you and me.”
“That’s my line,” I tease, accepting her invitation and shoving my tongue in her mouth. So fucking delicious.
“Taste me later,” she cries. “Please, Ghost. I need you.”
I nod, positioning myself between her legs. I take a moment to look into her eyes to make sure she’s still with me. And to make sure I’m fully with her. The trust and love I see there make my heart ache. I guide myself to her entrance, coating my cock in her juices, and with one slow, deliberate thrust, I enter her.
The sensation is overwhelming, the heat and tightness of her body wrapping around me. I move slowly at first, giving her time to adjust, watching her face for any sign of discomfort. But all I see is pleasure, a soft moan escaping her lips.
“Snow,” I groan, unable to hold back any longer. I start to move, finding a rhythm that makes her gasp and clutch at my shoulders. Our bodies move together, perfectly in sync, every thrust bringing us physically and emotionally closer.
Her hands roam over my back, nails digging in as I hit a particularly sensitive spot. I can feel her getting closer, her body tensing, her moans growing louder.
“Ghost, I’m…” she cries out, and I feel her shatter around me, her body convulsing in pleasure.
The sight of her, the feel of her coming undone beneath me, sends me over the edge. I thrust deep one last time, my own release hitting hard and fast. I collapse onto her, careful not to crush her, our bodies still joined, our breaths mingling.
I hold her close, both of us trembling from the intensity of it all. I kiss her forehead, her cheeks, her lips, whispering words of love and reassurance.
“Thank you,” she whispers, her voice soft and content.
“For what?” I ask, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
“For being patient. For loving me. For this,” she says, her eyes shining with tears and happiness.
“Always, Snow,” I promise, kissing her deeply. “Always.”
We lie there for a while, wrapped up in each other, the world outside forgotten. In this moment, nothing else matters. It’s just us, together, stronger than ever. And I know, no matter what, we’ll get through anything as long as we have each other.
Memories try to break free and take control of my emotions. It turns out that Hunter was the one stealing from me. He would doctor some files to mess things up and transfer the funds to one of his accounts. He’s been doing it for years. Hayes found over a million dollars in the account he was using to steal from my company. Fucking bastard.
The memory changes to the one of Hunter on top of my woman. It’s a loud one that will be with me for the rest of my life. But nothing is as loud as the echoes of my obsession with this woman—an obsession so strong that it binds us together in an unbreakable bond.
“Thank you for peeing on my couch, baby,” I whisper, thinking back to the very first night we met.
Her soft snores are my response. Smiling, I close my eyes, hold my obsession tightly, and follow her to sleep.