Page 10 of Ghost (Cerberus Personal Security #1)

“About your asshole husband and the fucktard he sent to bring you back?”

“Fucktard? Haven’t heard that one before.”

“Didn’t feel like asshole was strong enough for this Drake dude.”

“Anyway…” I slap him playfully. “I want more sex. A lot more sex. But we need to talk about what’s out that door.”

“If you insist.”

“Steffan won’t let me go. Drake and his team are still out there, hunting me. This is a dream, a wonderful dream, but a dream, nonetheless. I can’t stay here.”

“We deal with Steffan. Together. No arguing about that part.”

“I can’t ask you to?—”

“You’re not asking.” His dominance flows naturally into his words, sending a familiar shiver down my spine. “I’m telling. Or did you forget you’re mine to protect?”

“You’ve known me for less than a day. I would never ask that of you… I would never expect it. All I’ve done is bring trouble into your world and a day of… Well, a day and night of the best sex of my life.”

But even as I embrace the moment, even as I lose myself in his touch, his kiss, his love, a part of me can’t help but mourn the inevitable end.

Because I know, deep down, that this can’t last. That eventually, I’ll have to go back to my real life, back to a world where this kind of passion, this kind of trust, this kind of love, is just a distant memory, a beautiful dream, a fleeting fantasy.

As the day turns to night, we stay in bed, our bodies entwined, our hearts pounding in sync. Mason pulls me into his arms, holding me close, his touch gentle and tender. He presses a soft kiss to my lips, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

“You’re incredible,” he murmurs, his voice filled with awe and satisfaction. “The way you give yourself to me…”

A bittersweet smile touches my lips as I look into his eyes.

“Mason,” I say softly, my voice barely a whisper, “this is a fantasy. The best fantasy I’ve ever had.

This kind of sex… It’s not real. It can’t be real.

It’s beautiful and intense, but I don’t know how to have this in a normal life.

I don’t know how to maintain this or let go like this outside of this cabin. ”

He looks at me, his eyes filled with understanding and sadness, but there’s also a fierce determination in their depths, a resolve that burns like a flame. He cups my face in his hands, his thumbs gently stroking my cheeks, his gaze steady and sure.

“You’re wrong about that,” he says, his voice firm yet gentle. “This is something that can be real. We can have both—the intensity, the passion, the trust, and the escape—in our real lives. It doesn’t have to be just a fantasy.”

I look at him, my eyes searching his, a glimmer of hope flickering to life within me, warring with the doubts that plague my mind.

“Do you really believe that?” I whisper, my voice filled with both longing and doubt.

“Because I have a life outside of this cabin. A husband who wants me dead. A job. Responsibilities. How does this fit into that?”

His expression turns serious, his eyes intense. “I believe that what we have here, what we’ve found together, is something rare and special. Something worth fighting for. Something worth taking risks for.”

“But, Mason…” I start, my voice trembling with fear and uncertainty. “He’s not going to let me go. He’ll come after me. He’ll hurt you. I can’t let that happen.”

Mason’s gaze hardens, a protective fierceness shining through. “I’m not afraid of Steffan,” he growls. “I’m not afraid of anyone who tries to hurt you. I will protect you, no matter what it takes. I will keep you safe.”

“But how?” I ask, my doubts growing stronger. “How can we make this work? How can we have this kind of passion, this kind of trust, in the real world? It’s not that simple. It’s not that easy.”

He presses a soft kiss to my forehead, his arms tightening around me, his voice filled with conviction.

“I never said it would be easy, but I promise you, it will be worth it. We will find a way. Together. Because this is the reality I want to live in. A reality where you are mine, and I am yours. A reality where we fight for what we have, protect what we have, and cherish what we are.”

I look into his eyes, seeing the reflection of my feelings mirrored in their depths, but also seeing the shadows of my doubts, the fears that hold me back.

“I want to believe you,” I whisper. “I want to trust in this, but I’m scared. I’m scared of what happens when I leave this cabin. I’m scared of what happens when reality catches up with me.”

He holds me closer, his voice a low, steady rumble in his chest. “I know you’re scared. I know you have doubts. I’m not letting you go without a fight. I’m not letting this be just a fantasy because you are worth fighting for. Because this doesn’t happen often. We are worth fighting for.”

His words ignite a spark of determination within me, a flame that burns brighter than my doubts, stronger than my fears. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the challenges ahead.

“Okay,” I say, my voice filled with resolve. “Okay, let’s fight for this. Let’s make this our reality. But promise me, promise me that no matter what happens, no matter what we face, we face it together.”

He smiles, a fierce, determined smile that sends a shiver of anticipation down my spine. “Together,” he says. “No matter what. That’s a promise.”

As we lie there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the world outside fades away, leaving only the two of us, lost in our private sanctuary.

“Speaking of…” he says. “Tell me about this drive that’s so precious. What does it have on your husband?”