Page 25

CHAPTER 24

EMBER

What a way to go.

“I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“Me too,” I reply, wedging my cell between my shoulder and ear.

Lori and I have been talking for only a few minutes, and I didn’t waste any time telling her about my agreement with Ghost to take things a day at a time. At the moment, I’m second-guessing the decision.

Ghost told me he wouldn’t be late, and it’s already after nine. He texted me around five and said he had some things to do but that I shouldn’t eat dinner. I’m hungry and cranky and getting tired.

Where is he?

“Earth to Ember,” Lori says, yanking me from my thoughts. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

“What? Nothing, why?”

“Because you got super quiet all of a sudden.”

“Oh. I was just thinking.”

“About him?”

I can’t stop the giggle that escapes, making me sound like a naive schoolgirl. “Always.”

“Promise me one thing,” she says.

“Anything.”

“Be careful.”

“Trust me, Lor, I will. The last thing I want is another broken heart. I know I won’t survive it this time around.”

My phone beeps with an incoming call, and I glance at the screen to see Ghost’s name flash. “Hey, I gotta go. He’s calling.”

“Okay. Call me tomorrow.”

“Will do.” I switch calls. “Hi.”

“Hey, Em.” There’s a smile in his voice. “I know it’s late, and I’m sorry about that, but I need you to do me a favor.”

“What favor?” I ask suspiciously.

“First, is Mom in bed?”

“Yeah. She went in about eight-thirty. It was a rough day, and she was exhausted.”

“Damn. Okay, well, at least we won’t be interrupted.”

“Ghost, what are you talking about? What favor? What won’t be interrupted.”

“Favor first. I need you to go to the backyard.”

“Okay. I’m going.”

Grateful I decided not to change into my pajamas, I stand from the bed and walk through the house. When I reach the door to the back deck, the blind is closed. I don’t recall closing it earlier but shrug it off.

“Where are you?” I ask as I wrap my hand around the knob and twist.

I push the door open and almost drop my cell. Ghost is standing on the deck, a bouquet of lilies in his hand and a shit-eating grin on his lips. He lowers his cell and shoves it in his pocket.

“I’m right here.”

“What is this?”

“Well, I figured we deserved a proper date, but since we can’t leave Mom, this is the next best thing.”

Ghost reaches for my hand and tugs me across the deck and down the steps to the yard. There’s a firepit I know for a fact wasn’t there before, and crackling flames light up the space. He’s also set up a small table for two, complete with candles, a chilling bottle of wine, and two covered plates that remind me of what you get when you order room service at a hotel.

Tears spring to my eyes. “You did all this?”

He nods. “It’s why I’m late. I’m sorry about that, by the way.”

I shake my head frantically. “It’s okay. I can’t believe you did this.”

In the firelight, his eyes sparkle, and I can see the blush across his cheeks. “I wanted to do something nice for you. To show you how much I appreciate what you’ve taken on with Mom, and how much I appreciate… you. ”

“Thank you.”

“I hope you’re hungry because there’s a veritable feast under those domes,” he says.

He pulls my chair out for me, and I sit. Next he reveals the food, and he wasn’t joking about it being a feast. We each have a steak, baked potato, mixed vegetables, a dinner roll, and a piece of peanut butter pie.

“This looks delicious.”

As if on cue, my stomach rumbles, causing us both to laugh.

“Let’s eat. I’m ready for what comes after.” He winks at me.

The conversation is easy as we consume our meals, almost as if we never spent any time apart. We reminisce about old times, never even touching on the breakup or anything painful. With Ghost, I can be myself because it’s easy, it’s natural.

“Now for the second act,” he teases, gripping my hand and helping me to my feet when we’re done eating.

“Oh, man,” I say, my hand on my stomach. “I think you’re gonna have to give me a bit before any activities.”

“Get your mind outta the gutter.”

I arch a brow. “Oh, so it’s not sex that you were referring to?”

“Nope.” He grins. “Not yet, anyway.”

“Okay, then what’s next?”

Ghost takes out his cell and taps the screen a few times until there’s slow music playing. Then he eases me into his arms and starts to sway.

“Now, we dance,” he whispers in my ear. “When I saw Python put his hands around you, doing what I wanted to do, it made me crazy. It’s my turn.”

I shiver at his words, at his touch. He traces lazy circles over my lower back, and between him and the fire, I’m hypnotized. Every touch sends tiny little zings through me, each one ending between my legs. After a while, my knees start to weaken, and I’m desperate to have him, all of him.

“As fun as this is,” I begin, my voice shaking a little. “I want more. I need more.”

Without hesitation, he lowers me to the ground, and I realize I missed the blanket he placed there. It’s soft and protects us both from the dewy grass.

“You are so fucking beautiful, Em,” he says with reverence as he slides my shirt off my shoulder to press kisses to my collarbone. “Especially here, where you’re inked. Sexy as hell.” I shiver beneath him. “I’m gonna strip you bare and take my time with you.”

“Mmmm,” I moan. “Please.”

The cool air causes my flesh to pebble with goosebumps when the last stitch of clothing disappears. Ghost caresses my sides, moving until the tips of his fingers barely graze my nipples. They harden under his touch, and I’m lost.

“You were always so responsive to me.” He moves for a moment, and I immediately miss his heat. But when I hear rustling clothes, I know he’ll return to me naked, and the missing will be worth it. “Feel what you do to me,” he coaxes as he settles on top of me, his hard cock pressing against my pelvis. “Fucking granite.”

“Inside,” I plead. “Need you inside.”

“Not yet.”

Ghost slides down my body and pushes my thighs apart, opening me for him. His tongue circles my clit, and I buck my hips, desperation driving me. He inserts one finger, using my desire to ease his way, and then he adds a second. Curling his digits inside of me, he hits that elusive spot that only he’s ever been able to find and increases the flicks of his tongue.

I shatter around him, the orgasm taking me by surprise in its intensity. Ghost doesn’t slow his movements until my legs stop quivering and my uneven pants settle into a more normal breathing pattern.

When he straightens, he licks his fingers clean while maintaining eye contact. And it’s hot as fuck.

I reach for his cock, wrapping my fingers around his thick length, and he goes rigid. “Now,” I purr. “Inside me, now.”

Guiding him to my entrance, I remove my hand when he pushes his head in. And when he stops, it takes everything in me not to slap him.

“Please, Parker,” I beg. “Please don’t stop.”

He lowers his head, sealing his lips to mine, and holy God he moves. Sparks light me up from the inside out as he thrusts in and out, the drag of his dick intoxicating. Part of me wants to demand he move faster, fuck me harder, but the rest of me wants exactly what he’s offering. Slow, sweet, perfect.

Never breaking the kiss, he slides his arm under me to arch my back, and it changes the angle enough to turn the sparks into full blown flames. I’m on fire, burning for him.

“Come for me, Em,” he says against my lips. “Come around my cock.”

His words tip me over the edge, and his body goes rigid as his own orgasm barrels into him. The pulsing of his release drags mine out to the point I fear it’ll kill me.

What a way to go, though.

After a blissful eternity, we both relax, and he rolls to my side. I pillow my cheek on his chest and flatten my palm over his rapidly beating heart.

“I needed that,” I tell him, my eyelids beginning to droop.

“ We needed that.”

“Hmmm.”

“Sleep, Em. I’ll carry you inside in a bit. For now, I just want to hold you.”

“‘Kay,” I reply drowsily, giving up the fight.

As we lay there, Ghost’s arms are around me like I’m the sweetest treasure. And at the moment sleep drags me under, I swear I hear him say he loves me.

I love you, too.