Chapter 9
CHAPTER 9
CASSIE
C assie's eyes closed as their lips met. Her heart pounded violently against her ribcage; she heard it beating in her ears. The last thing she’d expected tonight was for Ghost to kiss her. His lips pressed against hers sent shockwaves through her body. Was this really happening? She refused to feel guilty about kissing a man she’d only met the day before.
In that moment, everything else seemed to fade away. The loud chirping of the crickets and the melody of the wind chime hanging from the porch faded into the night. All Cassie could feel was the warmth of Ghost’s lips pressed against hers. She reached up for him, palmed the back of his neck and pulled him closer.
She wanted more. More of him. More of this moment. Simply, more.
Ghost's hold on her tightened with her encouragement, his kiss deepening. His hands moved down her waist, circling it, pulling her against him, before sliding slowly back upwards. Cassie knew she’d never been kissed like this before. She’d never felt hunger in this way. In Ghost’s arms, she felt like she was the only woman who mattered. His tongue brushed against hers tentatively, and she opened up for him, unable to withstand the need surging through her veins anymore. His hands moved down her side, igniting a trail of fire everywhere he touched.
She moaned softly into his mouth as their tongues danced together. Their bodies pressed tightly against each other. Cassie could feel every muscle in his chiseled abs through their clothes. As he kissed her, her senses ignited. She breathed in his clean, earthy scent and tasted the red wine from dinner on his lips.
Breathless, Cassie pulled back and broke the kiss. “Wow...” She didn’t trust herself to form a coherent sentence. Her mind raced in a billion different directions. Was this real? She’d only read about moments like this, never experiencing them for herself. In truth, she thought romance novels exaggerated how kissing felt. Until now. Until this moment. This wasn’t just a kiss. It was a connection formed between two lost souls finally finding each other. Their first kiss couldn’t have been any more magical. It would be one she would never forget.
“That was... wow is an understatement. I've wanted to do that since I first laid eyes on you,” Ghost confessed. “When you stumbled into my arms at the bookstore. I looked down into your adorable face and fought the sudden need to kiss you.”
“Mutual,” Cassie agreed with a shy smile. “I’ve wondered what it would be like for you to kiss me, too. I just thought I wasn’t your type. You know, you look like one of the cover models on a romance book. I didn’t think I’d be a woman you were?—”
He interrupted her by leaning in again and pressing his lips back against hers aggressively. It was as if he couldn't help himself. The kiss was almost punishing. Silencing any doubts she had about him being attracted to her. This man she had only met days ago felt like a man she had known her entire life. Technically, they were still strangers. But, there was something more there, between them. Something that made Cassie feel comfortable and safe. A connection that was written by a force greater than them. Her body ached for him in ways she never thought possible. She was drawn to this man, and it felt like more than physical chemistry.
His hands moved down her back and he gripped her hips, pulling her even closer to him. His fingers dug into her hip bones in a possessive way that turned her on even more. She felt his cock’s hardness pressing against the tender skin of her stomach.
Oh, God.
He was long and thick, and she wanted nothing more than to feel him inside of her, even if the thought terrified her. Would it even fit?
She rocked her hips forward and against his rock-hard cock. He growled in response and deepened the kiss. She nipped his lower lip playfully and was rewarded with him grabbing a fistful of her hair. The primal act of control just about pushed Cassie over the edge. Her small sigh of approval spurred him on. His free hand moved from her hip to her breast, and he squeezed it roughly through the fabric of her shirt. As he alternated flicking her nipple and squeezing her breast, little electric currents of pleasure flowed through her core. Aching with unmet need, she arched upwards and pressed her body tightly against his.
He released her hair, and his hand went to her waist, then under her waistband, sliding under her panties, deftly searching for her most sensitive parts. She broke away from the kiss, gasping for air and moaning in pleasure as he found what he was looking for.
“Ghost!”
"You are so wet for me." He growled against her ear, his hand still working magic between her legs.
Cassie had never felt pleasure like this before. She couldn’t answer him, couldn’t find the words to speak. She groaned and bucked against his hand, chasing the pleasure he was providing. As he rubbed her clit, she sought out the building orgasm. The closer she got, the more she needed the release. Ghost moved his fingers quicker over her clit. Back and forth he rubbed. She was almost there. The faster he moved, the closer she got.
Flailing her arms back, she reached for the table. She needed something to grab onto. Anything. She felt like she was falling. As she reached back, she knocked her wine glass from the edge. It crashed to the ground and the moment shattered like the shards of glass around her.
Ghost moved his hand out from her pants and looked at her with lust filled, hungry eyes. “Don’t move. I don’t want you to cut yourself.” He said softly.
“I think you should have just pinched me,” Cassie replied. “Because now I am absolutely convinced this is a dream.”
Ghost’s deep laughter filled the night. He swept her up in his arms, bridal style and stepped over the broken shards of glass before putting her back on her feet.
“I guess then, I’ll have to prove to you that reality is better than a dream.”
He picked her up again, and her legs went to straddling his waist. She’d never been carried by a man before. This was the one man who she’d not worry about being able to handle her weight, he was more than capable. His stride was quick, purposeful as he approached his bedroom and kicked the door open. Wasting no time, he strode across the room and deposited her on his king size bed.
“If you want me to stop, tell me. Anytime. Just say the word and I’ll stop.”
“I don’t want you to stop,” Cassie reassured him. Please, God. Don’t fucking stop.
“I’m clean.” The words were a rushed admission and took Cassie by surprise.
She hadn’t doubted he’d be clean but then again, she’d only known him for two days.
“Me too,” she replied. He nodded and reached for the bottom of his shirt, pulling it up and over his head before tossing it onto the ground at his feet.
Of course she was clean. She was a virgin. Not for lack of wanting, but because of lack of options. She’d only ever been in one real relationship and then her mom was diagnosed with cancer, and she’d put her entire life on hold to take care of her. She’d been thrown into grief and then survivor mode trying to battle the financial difficulties after the funeral.
Now didn’t seem like the right time to tell him any of that. She didn’t want to think about her mother when there was a fucking piece of art standing in front of her. His perfectly chiseled abs and defined pecs were droolworthy. This was a man who worked hard for his body.
Damn. Double damn. Her eyes followed the v shaped line of his waist downwards. Fuck. How did she end up here? And with him? It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but the man standing before her and the wetness he’d caused between her thighs.
“Like what you see?” He asked her with a small wink.
“Just a little. I think you could work out some more,” she teased him. His laughter filled the space between them.
“You do, do you?” He moved closer to her, leaving only a hairs space between them. Seeing him standing there topless, she suddenly felt very self-conscious of her curves and rolls.
Doubts started swirling in her head. Would seeing her naked turn him off? Would he notice the stretch marks on her stomach from her recent weight gain? What would he think when he removed her bra, and her breast dropped a couple inches. She was not a fan of gravity’s effects on her body.
“Whatever that look on your face means, stop it.”
“I… Are you sure you want to do this?” She asked him.
“There is not a doubt in my mind. Not a single, little bitty thought.” He came closer to the bed and reached for her. Grabbing her by the wrist, he pulled her to stand in front of him. “I have every intention to worship every inch of your beautiful body.”
She swallowed hard as he shimmied out of his jeans leaving him standing before her in only his underwear. He grasped her chin between his thumb and pointer finger and raised her head until she looked up into his eyes. “Are you sure I won’t… disappoint you?”
“Cassie, baby, there is no world in which having sex with you will disappoint me.”
Her stupid insecurities were taking away from this moment. She shook her head, as if to disperse her anxiety. Her stomach swirled with the number of emotions she was feeling. Anxiety over losing her virginity, fear over the unknown, how much would it hurt? Excitement. “There’s something you should… you should know,” she finally said.
“What’s that?” Ghost asked.
“I- I- I’ve never done this before.”
“I’m going to need you to spell out exactly what this is,” Ghost said.
“Sex.” She tried to lower her gaze, but Ghost held tight to her chin.
“Ever?” Was that a smile she saw tugging at his mouth.
“Ever. Are you disappointed?”
“Disappointed? No. Not at all. I’m honored. Are you sure about this? You are okay with me taking your virginity? I would understand if you wanted to take things slow.”
“I’m not like waiting for marriage or anything. There just hasn’t been the right time, or um, person. Yes. I’m sure. You aren’t taking my virginity. I’m letting it go willingly.”
“Are you on birth control?”
She shook her head. She’d tried before her mom got sick and immediately gained fifteen pounds, bloated horrifically and had her first ever ovarian cyst. The pain from the cyst was not for the faint of heart. Since she wasn’t having sex, she didn’t see the need to start it back up.
Ghost let go of her chin and leaned in and kissed her gently. “Thank you for telling me. I will make sure your first time is something you look back on fondly.”
Ghost’s words sent a thrill of anticipation coursing through Cassie’s veins. He reached up and removed her glasses from her face and sat them on the table next to his bed. She blinked rapidly, adjusting to the difference in sight. Her vision was a blur without them.
“Trust me,” he said. “Just feel. I want you to relax and let me show you how good your body can feel.” He reached for her leggings and slowly pulled them down over her hips, revealing her simple cotton panties underneath. She found herself wishing she’d worn something sexier. But why would she have? She was in town for a book signing, not a one-night stand with a sexy Navy SEAL. She shivered with anticipation as his hands grazed along her thighs and down her calf.
Ghost wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his warm embrace. “I’ve got you.” He tilted her head up and kissed her. “Relax, baby girl. Tonight is about you. We will go at a pace you are comfortable with. Promise me you will tell me if something doesn’t feel good or makes you uncomfortable.” He traced the line of her jaw with his fingertip. The motion was gentle and calming and she melted into his arms.
“I promise,” she whispered. “I’m sorry. I’m just... not used to this.”
“Stop apologizing.” He ordered firmly. “There is no reason for you to be sorry.” His lips found hers again, kissing her with a tenderness that contrasted his strength. As they kissed, he guided her backward until her knees hit the edge of the bed and she sank down onto the soft mattress.
Ghost followed, never breaking the kiss as he settled over her. He supported himself on his forearms and deepened the kiss, his tongue exploring hers with a slow thoroughness that left her gasping for air. His hands roamed over her body until they got to the bottom of her tunic. She felt him lift the material over her head and he broke the kiss for a mere heartbeat of a second lifting it over her head. Once the shirt was tossed to the side, he returned his lips to hers.
Getting lost in his kiss; she didn’t notice him removing her bra until she felt his hands move over her exposed skin. As he kissed her, Cassie’s anxiety melted away into excited anticipation. Ghost's actions were deliberate and unhurried. He stroked her skin tenderly as if he had all the time in the world to discover what made her sigh with pleasure and what made her hips arch upwards into his touch.
When he finally broke the kiss and looked down into her eyes, she was surprised by what she saw. It wasn’t just lust in his eyes, but concern. “You doing, okay?” He asked. “Need me to slow down?”
“No,” Cassie said, shaking her head, hoping to reassure him. “I don’t need you to slow down. I need you to stop asking if I’m okay. I promise, I’ll tell you if I need you to stop. What I need is for you to continue,” she waved her hand, “doing whatever it is you are doing to me that is making my insides quiver.”
Ghost smiled. “Baby, I’m just getting started.” His tongue flicked out over his top lip and any remaining resistance she might have had crumbled under his intense gaze. “You're beautiful,” he murmured against her neck as he kissed along her collarbone. “So damn beautiful. I want to taste every inch of you.” He licked and nipped his way slowly toward her left breast.
She blushed under his intense gaze but didn't look away. Instead, she watched as he leaned down and took the nipple into his mouth. He gently teased it until it hardened painfully into a tight peak and then sucked it deeply into his mouth. She moaned in pleasure as his tongue flicked over the sensitive tip. He reached out and grabbed the right breast with his hand and kneaded it gently while he sucked on its twin. Cassie arched her back and fisted the sheets. Her face flamed with heat; her entire body felt like it was on fire.
Lifting his head, he studied her. She wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but he smiled before lowering his lips to her stomach and kissing a trail downwards. When he reached the waistband of her panties, he paused, looking up again, for any sign of hesitation. Cassie nodded slightly, consenting.
“Please, Ghost.”
With deliberate slowness, he peeled them away from her skin. Ghost's eyes shone with something Cassie couldn't name when he looked up at her again. There was a hunger there mixed with tenderness and restraint. He positioned himself between her thighs. He kissed each knee before coaxing them apart with gentle pressure from his hands.
“We can stop at any time,” he reminded her softly. “Just say the word.”
“Ghost, shut up!” she yelled, half playful, half irritated. She didn’t want to stop. Not now. Not when every nerve in her body was standing on edge and begging for his touch. She felt connected to this man, this stranger. She wasn’t sure if he was sent to be her guardian angel or if he was a devil in disguise. Didn’t care in that moment if this was a one-night stand or something that would turn into more. A primal urge was building inside of her, and she wanted to find out what happened next.
“Ghost! Please!” She begged when he didn’t move fast enough for her. But as she found out, there was no rushing him. He took his sweet time. His hands moved slowly along the insides of her thighs, teasing the edges of her heated skin with a featherlike touch. The anticipation of what to come twisted and built inside of Cassie. There was a coil winding tighter and tighter inside of her stomach, building in pressure.
Ghost’s eyes never left hers as he moved even closer to her pussy. A shiver ran through Cassie as his cheek brushed against her inner thigh. His stubble from his jaw contrasting against her smooth skin. As Ghost lowered his mouth, Cassie’s breath hitched. She’d never been eaten out before. Sure, she’d sucked her ex-boyfriend’s cock, but he never reciprocated. She’d never moved further than that with a man.
For a brief second, she worried. What if she tastes or smell bad? When he blew on her clit she forgot all insecurities. Every movement he made drew out the pleasure. The tension built like the calm before a raging storm. When his tongue finally brushed against her clit, she bit her lip to keep from screaming out and closed her eyes tightly.
“Look at me,” Ghost commanded from between her legs. She met his gaze and the intense hunger she saw there shocked her. He was craving this as much as she was. “Good girl. I want to see your face when I make you come for the first time.” His tongue flicked across her clit gently at first before his movements became more insistent. She reached down and grabbed his hair. Desperate to hold on to something as her body began to spin with pleasure.
Using his tongue, Ghost teased and coaxed Cassie, driving her right to the edge of an orgasm. He lowered his lips around her clit and sucked it into his mouth while simultaneously plunging a finger into her depths. She cried out, begged him for more. She didn’t know what she needed more of but she knew she needed something. Something else. She was hanging on the edge, about to go over, but she wasn’t quite there yet.
“Please,” she begged.
“Eyes here.” Ghost commanded briefly. She grasped ahold of the bedsheets tightly and looked into his eyes. “Good girl. Come for me baby.” He plunged two fingers in and out of her soaking wet pussy while sucking and flicking her clit with his mouth, never removing his gaze from her face.
It was as if his words gave her the permission she needed to find her own release. The orgasm built and then she was pushed over the edge. She screamed as she floated on the waves of pleasure crashing over her. Ghost moved quickly, rising above her and entered her slowly as she rode out the orgasm.
Cassie gasped as a painful stretching sensation mingled with the pleasure of her orgasm. He stilled inside of her, allowing her time to adjust to his size. A slight discomfort remained but quickly faded when Ghost started moving inside of her.
“Are you okay, baby?” Ghost asked her.
Cassie nodded slightly and it was all the encouragement Ghost needed. He thrust his hips forward into a steady rhythm. Each stroke built upon the last, and she felt the pleasure growing deep inside of her again. Was it possible? Could she have a second orgasm?
The initial discomfort quickly gave way to waves of pleasure as Cassie clung to him, completely entrusting herself to his experienced hands. Wave after wave of her second orgasm crashed over her, it was more intense than her first. She heard him call her name in the distance and felt his body jerk before he stilled. A second later, he rolled off of her and stood beside the bed. He bent down and gently brushed a stray hair out of her face.
“Stay here, I’ll be right back,” Ghost ordered. A second later, Cassie heard water turn on in the connecting bathroom. She reached for her glasses at the bedside table and put them back on. The room came back clearly in view as Ghost reappeared with a wet washcloth in his hands. Cassie took a good look at his body. For the first time, she noticed the scars that ran jaggedly against the otherwise perfect canvas of muscle and sinew. Knowing he’d been to war and seeing the evidence on his body were two very different things. She was in awe of the man walking towards her. A warrior forged in battle who’d just gently taken her virginity in the most respectful way.
Ghost leaned over the bed and pushed her thighs apart, and then cleaned her. The warmth of the cloth felt good pressed against her tender vagina. It was in that exact moment that Cassie found herself falling for him. The juxtaposition of the hardened warrior taking the time to tenderly clean her was everything. He left again into the bathroom but returned quickly, getting into the bed and pulling her into his arms.
She didn’t know what tomorrow would bring. Had no clue how long she would be here with Ghost. But, for now, all that mattered was this one perfect moment.
“Was I right?” Ghost asked her.
“Right about what?” She said, fighting the urge to yawn.
“Reality being better than a dream.”
“I don’t know. I’m not convinced this isn’t a dream. If it is, if I’m in a coma somewhere, I hope to God no one wakes me.”