Page 12

Ray

Ray sat quietly, watching Ghost sleep. He’d been unconscious for over two days, and no matter how many times Mrs. Greer and Rose assured him Ghost was fine, Ray wouldn’t feel better until he woke up. His own injuries were healed, and the collars removed from all three prisoners. They were now in the hands of Spencer and Harris, the resident technology gurus, who were determined to find a way of disabling the devices from a distance without having to shut down the entire electrical grid.

He had to admit that initially, he’d been stunned by the extent of Ghost’s secondary power, the one he’d been afraid to share, and Ray could understand why. Ghost had the ability to fry someone’s brain without ever touching them. When they’d reached Edward, the top of his skull had caved in, and the contents had been squeezed out his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

However, the toll it took on Ghost’s body to save the girl was substantial. Ray also understood the man’s fear of anyone knowing his secret. Two options would occur. Either people would fear or want to use him as a powerful weapon. Ghost would have been surprised if he’d been conscious of how the team reacted. Instead of fear and judgment, they were concerned for Ghost’s health and safety. No one was angry he hadn’t shared his secret. If anything, they understood, and no one was afraid he’d use it against them.

Gator had done what Brick wanted and blown the farm to bits. Nothing there would ever be used against anyone again. With the help of the team leader’s contacts, the whole incident was attributed to a natural gas explosion. As far as anyone knew, no one was home when it occurred; the bodies had been secreted away, and the animals were out in pastures, far away from any danger. Ray had to admit he was impressed by both Brick and the team’s abilities to manage a dangerous situation and clean up the aftermath.

He’d extended his leave; after all, they still had Sophia’s mystery and the Berry family’s involvement to figure out, but he wasn’t going anywhere until Ghost was awake. There hadn’t been any movement from the Berry family since the hardware store, and they figured Jackson had listened to the old veterinarian’s warning.

“You’re being creepy,”

Ghost’s voice cracked as he spoke.

Ray crossed from the window to the bed, knelt, and held Ghost’s hand.

“How do you feel?” he asked.

“A whole hell of a lot better than the last time I was awake,”

Ghost said as he slowly moved his arms and legs, likely testing his healed body.

“Good. Mrs. Greer and Rose have been keeping a close eye on you.”

“They don’t appear to be the only ones.”

Ray could feel his cheek warming. “Well, you know. You’re very important to me.”

“I am? But I thought… you know.”

Ghost looked honestly confused.

“That was Detective Rocko Owens being an idiot. Yes, we used to hook up whenever we were in the same town, but that was all, and definitely not since meeting you. I told him about you once he sobered up, and he feels like an ass for what he’d done. In fact, he’s a survivor as well, and he used his ability to find you.”

“Really?”

“Really. It appears I’ve known a Noah Group survivor for quite some time but never knew it. He has the ability to track anyone, anywhere.”

“Oh. Good to know. So my bugging out and being captured was for no reason.”

“Well, we did manage to shut down another Noah Group compound.”

“True. Oh shit.”

Ghost’s face fell.

“What? Are you in pain?”

Ray asked while carefully touching his arm.

“No, but I…imagine everyone knows about me now?”

“About your ability? Yes.”

“Okay. Do you understand why I hesitated to share it with anyone? I have the touch of death.”

“I do. Is that why you hesitate touching people?”

“Yes.”

Before Ray could reassure Ghost that everyone understood, there was a knock on their bedroom door.

“Hold that thought,” he said.

He answered the door and was surprised to find Brick waiting on the other side.

“How’s Ghost?”

Brick asked.

“He woke up moments ago, come in,”

Ray said, moving out of the way

“Thanks.”

***

Ghost

Ghost tried to sit up straighter but was still weak from the recovery process. He knew what was coming. They knew he was a threat, and he’d have to leave.

“No, don’t try to move,”

Brick ordered. “Rest.”

Rest? Maybe he’d have a few days’ grace before being forced to leave.

“How are you feeling?”

Brick asked.

“Much better. Mrs. Greer’s a miracle worker.”

“Good. Thought you’d like to know both Rose and Amy are fitting in well at the ranch,”

Brick said.

“Amy?”

Ghost was still a bit groggy and didn’t immediately recognize the name.

“Yes. The little girl you saved. She’s become attached to Rose and the horses over there.”

“Good, she’s safe.”

Ghost said and decided to cut to the chase. “How long do I have?”

Brick glanced over at Ray, who was hovering nearby. “How long for what?”

“Until I need to be gone.”

“Where are you going?”

Brick asked.

Now, Ghost was confused. “I’m not sure, but I’ll figure it out.”

“Ghost,”

Ray said. “Do you think Brick is here to tell you to leave?”

“Yes. Of course. I’m a threat now.”

“Do you plan on using your ability against us?”

Brick asked.

“No. Hell no.”

He’d never do anything to harm the people here.

“Then you’re no more a threat to anyone here than you were before. Besides, I was aware of the previous incident,”

Brick divulged.

It took Ghost a few moments to process what Brick had said. “Y-You knew?”

“Yes. I make it my job to know everything about the people I trust with my team and my life,”

Brick said with a grin. “Now we’re clear on this matter; rest and finish healing. We’ll need you for the Berry family case.”

Ghost couldn’t help but replay what Brick had said. They needed him for the case.

“Yes, sir,”

Ghost said with renewed enthusiasm.

Once Brick had left, Ray didn’t bother returning to the bedside. Instead, he took off his boots and crawled into bed beside Ghost.

“Now rest,”

Ray said as he gently pulled Ghost closer.

As Ghost laid his head on Ray’s broad chest, he had to ask. “Don’t you want to know about what happened before? The incident Brick was talking about?”

“Right now, it’s more important for you to regain strength. I trust you; I'll still trust you if you choose not to tell me. Let’s worry about that later.”

“Okay,”

Ghost agreed. “Thank you.”

He was relieved he didn’t have to relive that time in his life right now.

“You’re welcome. Now sleep,”

Ray ordered, his voice deep and soothing.

Ghost curled his body against his lumberjack and was struck he’d never felt more secure and wanted in all aspects of his life than he did at that moment. Tomorrow would be his new beginning. No more secrets from his friends and team, and the man who meant more to him than anyone had in his entire life.

“Night.”

“Night.”

***

Ray

He was having the best dream, and if anyone woke him, he’d shoot them. The feel of Ghost’s hands roaming over his chest and his fingers carding through his chest hair was heaven. Ray couldn’t have stopped the groan of pleasure from escaping his mouth if he wanted to. Everything Ghost was doing felt so good. How could a dream feel so real?

Ray cracked open his eyes and realized immediately he wasn’t dreaming. Ghost was straddling his waist and running his hands all over Ray’s chest. His shirt was unbuttoned, and Ray had no idea how he had slept through that.

“Good, you’re awake,”

Ghost said, and Ray noticed his hair was wet.

“Did you have a shower?”

Ray asked.

“Yes. You must have been exhausted not to hear the water running in the ensuite.”

“I haven’t slept well over the last three days. Too busy looking over you.”

“Well, you’ll be happy to know I’m back to one hundred percent. Not a twinge of pain or nagging sore spot. I feel like a new man.”

His muscled man was wearing only a towel across his waist, and Ray lay mesmerized by the water droplets slowly dripping down his chest from his still-wet hair. Fuck. Had anything ever looked more appetizing? Ray wanted to taste to find out.

“You’re sure you’ re fully recovered?”

he asked sultrily.

“Yep.”

Ghost grinned.

That’s all Ray needed. He grabbed Ghost by the hips, easily lifting him, and spun him so he was underneath Ray and at his mercy. First, he wanted that taste. Ray traced the path of one water droplet with his tongue, down Ghost’s neck to his chest. Tasting his salty skin only increased Ray’s hunger for the man below him.

“Damn, you taste good,”

Ray growled before taking Ghost’s lips in a punishing kiss full of need.

Ghost’s groan was incentive enough for him to continue his exploration. No one had the right to be this sexy. Ray allowed his hands to roam as Ghost stretched and was entranced by the difference between his large, tanned hands covered in scars against Ghost’s smooth, pale skin. He traced the valleys between Ghost’s lean muscles as his lithe body pressed into Ray’s palm, begging for more touch and taste.

Ray had never been so preoccupied with the sensual aspects of mapping the body of his soon-to-be lover. In the past, it was all about the search for satisfaction, fulfilling a basic need. Now, he wanted to spend his time exploring, touching, and tasting the man he intended to make his for the rest of their days, no matter how long that may be.

“You’re wearing entirely too much clothing,”

Ghost moaned as he reached for Ray’s belt.

Ray didn’t have to be told twice and began to strip his shirt off before unbuckling his belt. It wasn’t long before he crawled back into bed wearing only his boxer briefs, and as he pulled a naked Ghost closer, he reveled in the feel of being skin to skin.

“Why do you still have your boxers on?”

Ghost asked as he curled in closer to Ray.

“Because I wanted to give you one last chance to change your mind.”

“I don’t plan on changing my mind,”

Ghost chuckled. “Now get naked.”

“Okay, but if we do this, you’ll never get rid of me. You’ll be mine alone.”

“And you’ll be mine alone.”

“Yes.”

“Then what are you waiting for? It’s naked time,”

Ghost cheered, making Ray laugh.

Ray slid the remaining fabric out of the way and pulled Ghost over him.

“Much better,”

Ghost moaned.

“Oh shit,”

Ray said, remembering something extremely important.

“What’s wrong?”

“I forgot about supplies.”

“The bonus of being in a house full of gay men is supplies are easy to find,”

Ghost said while pointing toward the bedside table.

Ray looked at the box of condoms and the new bottle of lube. “Where did you get those?”

“They were in the bathroom.”

“Convenient,”

Ray agreed. “Now, where were we?”

“Right about here,”

Ghost said as he rubbed his hard cock against Ray’s thigh.

“Ah, yes,”

he said before diving in for another kiss filled with hunger and promise.

There was no stopping him this time. He’d make Ghost his. Nothing else mattered. Ray reached for the lube and went to work preparing Ghost for the hours of exploration ahead of them. Every moan drove Ray forward until both were desperate for each other. Ghost grabbed a condom and ripped it open with his teeth before handing it to Ray.

“No more waiting,”

he growled. His eyes were dilated, and his breathing rough.

Ray slid the condom on, added more lube, and lifted Ghost until he was straddling Ray’s waist once again.

“You control how fast this goes, babe. We’ll take this first time at your pace,”

Ray instructed.

“First time?”

Ghost asked with a smirk and raised eyebrow.

“Once will not be enough,”

Ray said with a growl. “I’ll never have enough of you.”

“Fuck, you’re one hell of a sexy lumberjack,”

Ghost said as he ran his hands through Ray’s thick chest hair and tugged on his beard.

Ghost lined himself up with Ray’s hard cock and slowly inched his way down until his ass cheeks were resting on Ray’s thighs. He was tight, hot, and driving Ray out of his mind. Both groaned as Ghost leaned forward, and Ray reached up, cupping the back of Ghost’s head, and dove in for a much-needed kiss. Their bodies were joined and nothing had ever felt so right to Ray.

He needed Ghost like he needed air. Life couldn’t continue without him; he knew that with every fiber of his being. When Ghost flexed his hips and raised his body up, Ray couldn’t help but grab onto his hips and help guide him back down. He knew he’d said they’d go at his lover’s pace, but it took every bit of his self-control to stop himself from plunging deep inside Ghost. This was heaven and hell combined.

Ghost increased his pace and soon had both of them groaning and gasping as sensations raced through their bodies. Ray held on as long as he could, flipped Ghost onto his back with a carefully calculated move, and hovered over him.

“Is this okay?” he asked.

“God, yes.”

Ray didn’t need any more words. He pistoned his hips at a furious pace, changing his angle to hit Ghost’s prostate with every thrust. Ghost’s arms fell back onto the bed as he lost himself in the pleasure, and Ray lifted the sexy man’s hips and held him in place as he rammed his cock in deep, causing Ghost to reach for his own cock and pump it furiously until he exploded all over his stomach and chest. His hole clamped down on Ray’s cock, making it almost impossible for him to move as he buried himself deep inside Ghost and came in a flood of almost pain-filled ecstasy, and colors danced behind his closed eyelids.

Fuck, it felt like part of himself left his body and now belonged to Ghost. He would never be the man he was before now, a better man, complete and whole.

There could never be another for him, and he opened his eyes to take in the crystal blue eyes staring up at him.

“Does this mean we’re life partners now?”

Ghost said lazily, and laughed when Ray’s mouth found his, shutting him up for the next half hour.