Chapter 28
Ghost stood between her thighs, her warmth radiating into him. Her whole body was trembling with anticipation.
She looked at him and couldn't breathe. Couldn't think past the way he was staring at her, like she was the only thing in the world that mattered.
His hands moved slowly up her thighs, calloused palms rough against the silk of her nightgown. The contrast made her skin prickle with heat.
He leaned in close, giving her time. Watching her face. Rachel's fingers dug into his shoulders and she tilted her head back, baring her throat to him. She trusted him completely.
His mouth pressed against her neck, kissing down to her collarbone, then his hand moved up her thigh, fingers slipping past lace to touch her.
Rachel gasped. The sound came out raw and needy.
He found her wet and ready, his fingers sliding through slickness before settling into a rhythm that made her hips jerk involuntarily. His other hand spread wide across her back, holding her steady.
She gripped his shirt in both fists. "Logan..."
His touch was careful, exploring, finding what made her gasp and doing it again. Rachel's head fell to his shoulder, breathing already ragged. God, it had been so long since anyone had touched her like this. Since she'd wanted anyone to touch her like this.
His mouth found her ear. "You feel incredible."
The way he said it, low and rough and sincere, sent shivers through her. Like she mattered. Like this was more than just physical.
Rachel moaned, the sound catching in her throat. She tried to stay quiet but couldn't help the broken noises escaping her.
His lips brushed her jaw. "Already so wet for me."
Her breath hitched when he increased the pressure. "You like this?" His voice was quiet, controlled, but she heard the strain underneath.
Rachel nodded, unable to form words. Her body arched into his touch.
He slowed intentionally, bringing her close to the edge and holding her there. The bastard knew exactly what he was doing.
"You feel so good," he said, voice gravelly against her ear. His thumb moved in slow circles. "So ready. You don't know what this is doing to me."
Rachel rocked against his hand, seeking more. Her nails dragged down his back hard enough to leave marks.
"This is what you do to me, Logan."
He kissed her hard, his hand still working between her legs. Rachel moved against him, chasing the building pressure, and she needed more. Needed all of him.
Her fingers found the buttons on his fatigues, fumbling with shaking hands. Every time she got one undone, she felt his breath hitch.
He didn't stop her. Just leaned in closer, letting her work.
Rachel pulled his shirt off. It fell to the floor and she didn't care where it landed. She reached for his undershirt next, pulling it over his head.
Cool air hit his skin. His chest rose and fell hard, dog tags glinting against his sternum.
Rachel looked at him, really looked, and her breath caught. He was all hard muscle and tan skin, tattoos covering his chest and shoulders.
Her fingers traced the ink, then moved lower. She found the scar across his abdomen, jagged and pale against darker skin. Most men she'd been with had tensed when she touched their scars, uncomfortable with the reminder. Ghost just watched her, steady and open.
Rachel traced the line slowly, memorizing the shape of it. This was part of him. Part of his story.
When she looked up, his eyes were on her face. Vulnerable in a way she hadn't seen before.
His hand moved up her back to the thin straps of her nightgown. He pushed them off her shoulders slowly. The silk slid down, pooling at her waist.
Rachel felt exposed in the soft morning light. His eyes moved over her and she saw pure want flash across his face.
He moved in, mouth trailing across her collarbone, then down her shoulder. His breath was hot against her skin.
He adjusted his hold and leaned her back against the mirror. The glass was cold but Rachel barely noticed, not with his heat surrounding her, his body pressing into hers.
He held her gaze, then dropped his head, lips moving over the swell of her breast, soft kisses at first, then his mouth opened against her skin before he took her nipple between his lips and sucked.
Rachel's breath seized in her lungs. Her hands fisted in his hair.
He licked, tongue circling before he sealed his mouth around her and sucked harder. His teeth grazed and Rachel's body jolted, a gasp tearing from her throat. He groaned low, his grip on her hips becoming bruising.
When he released her, she felt the ache where his mouth had been.
He didn’t stop. He moved to her other breast, mouth dragging across her chest. He licked slowly, then nipped, sharp enough to make her gasp, then soothed the sting with his tongue before sucking hard until her back arched and her nails dug into his shoulders.
Rachel was shaking.
Ghost straightened, bringing her with him. Rachel molded against his chest, fitting perfectly. His hands gripped her hips, holding her steady as her fingers dropped to his waistband.
The click of his belt buckle echoed between them.
She felt every muscle in his body go rigid.
Rachel was so close she felt his exhale against her neck, felt his heat. She worked the buttons on his pants with steady fingers, taking her time.
His hands shot to her wrists. Stopped her. Not hard, just firm.
Their eyes met. Rachel saw desire written all over his face, raw and unfiltered. But he was giving her the choice.
"Keep going like that," he said, voice gravelly, "and I won't be able to go slow."
Rachel's mouth curved. "Good."
He made a low sound in his throat. "You're going to be the death of me."
He pulled her in and kissed her, soft, then demanding.
Rachel brought her hands to his face, thumbs tracing his jaw. The stubble was rough under her fingers. When she kissed him again, she poured everything into it, trust, want, certainty.
She moved to his pants, easing them over his hips, then his boxer briefs.
She inhaled sharp. He was thick, so thick her hand couldn't wrap all the way around him when she reached out. Long and hard, the head flushed dark. Heat radiated from him.
Desire mixed with nerves in her chest. He was big. Bigger than she'd expected.
Rachel wrapped her hand around him as much as she could, fingers not quite meeting. His skin was hot, velvet-smooth over rigid steel.
Ghost's breath seized. His whole body went taut under her touch. His voice came out wrecked. "You feel what you do to me?"
Rachel moved slowly, deliberately, her grip firm despite not being able to close her hand completely around his girth. She stroked from base to tip, thumb sweeping over the head, and felt him pulse in her palm.
His hands gripped the counter behind her, every muscle locked. He stayed perfectly still, letting her set the pace. Every stroke pushed him closer to the edge but he held on, for her.
His hand finally left the counter. Rachel felt it slide up to cradle the back of her neck, bringing her mouth back to his. At the same time, his other hand slid down her body, fingers slipping beneath her panties to find her again.
Rachel's breath hitched. Her grip on him faltered as his thumb found that perfect spot, circling with relentless precision.
She'd meant to give him something, but the moment his fingers touched her, thought became impossible.
He slid a finger inside her slowly. Rachel clenched around him. His other hand threaded into her hair, anchoring her as he drew her closer to the edge.
His hand in her hair guided her head to the side, exposing her throat. He kissed just below her ear, then lower, along her neck and down to her collarbone. His stubble scraped her skin, rough texture followed by the heat of his mouth.
Rachel's breathing came in broken gasps. She clutched his shoulders, nails digging in as pressure built low in her belly. Her body arched toward him.
He eased another finger inside, stretching her. Rachel rocked into it, grinding against his hand.
His eyes stayed on her face as she trembled.
He leaned in close, breath hot against her neck. "Look at you," he murmured, lips brushing her skin. "So fucking perfect. You're mine, baby. Every inch of you. No one touches you but me."
Rachel moaned, the sound helpless. "God, Logan... that feels so good. Don't stop. Please."
His rhythm didn't falter. "Eyes on me. I want to see you fall apart."
Rachel met his gaze, lashes fluttering. She was so close, hips jerking, thighs shaking, everything building toward release.
"I've been trained to keep people alive," he said, words rough. "To follow orders. To survive. But with you, it's different. I need you like this baby, safe, open, letting go for me. I want all of you. Every breath, every sound—mine."
Rachel's breathing was ragged, uneven. She couldn't look away from him.
"Logan... I'm yours. Only yours."
His jaw clenched. "Damn right you are. Come for me baby, let go."
Rachel’s body seized, then she shattered, release crashing through her in waves. Her head fell back, a cry breaking from her throat as she clenched hard around his fingers.
He caught her mouth with his, kissing her through it, deep and steady. His arm wrapped around her back, holding her like she was precious.
Rachel collapsed against his chest, still shaking. Aftershocks rippled through her, her breath hot against his skin.
Ghost said nothing. Just held her, his fingers still inside her, his other hand trailing slow over her spine.
Rachel pressed her face into his neck, breathing him in.
Safe. She felt safe.
And for the first time in hours, she could breathe.