Page 28 of Outbreak (Revolution X #1)

CHAPTER 27

Ghost

T he amount of sass that comes out of such a tiny little spitfire like her amazes me. I don’t really know how to answer her question as she stands there with her hands on her hips, waiting for some logical explanation for why Maverick is the way he is and what the fuck is going on with his wife. I don’t think I want to tell her. I don’t trust her to keep her mouth shut while we’re here. So I settle for half truths and sugar-coated bullshit as I pull the covers back on the pristinely made bed. I’d venture to say they’ve never had a guest stay over, yet the sheets are freshly washed and smell like heaven.

“I told you. Maverick is different.”

“Clearly, asshole,” she whisper-shouts at me. Of course, she wouldn’t let that answer slide.“What does that mean?”

“He lives his life by his own rules. He doesn’t conform to society's standards.”

“No shit! I picked up on that when he fed his wife on the floor! And why didn’t he ask anything about the shit that’s going on? It was like stepping into a different world in that room. Does he even know the world is going to shit outside his door?”

“He knows. She doesn’t,” I say as I peel off my shirt and toss it on the dresser top and slide my sweats down. I fold them in half and toss them up there too, waiting for Rue to continue this interrogation, but she’s silent. When I look up at her, she’s staring at me like she did when I came out of the bathroom.

“Wh-what are you doing?” The nervous jitter in her voice excites me.

“Getting ready for bed.”

“Why are you taking your clothes off?”

She’s adorable. She’s still fighting this.

“This is how I sleep in a real bed, Rue.”

“I, uh… huh.”

“Feel free to get comfortable, too.” I like seeing her like this, flustered and stuttering to find her words. She seems to struggle with whether or not she wants to sleep fully clothed when we both know she normally sleeps in her birthday suit.

She shuffles her feet from side to side at the end of the bed for a few moments. By the time I make it back to the bed, blow out the candle, and crawl beneath the covers, she still hasn’t moved.

“What’s wrong?”

“I-uh… don’t trust myself in bed with you and no clothes. Can I just sleep on the floor?”

“Get in bed, Rue.” She’s definitely not getting off the hook, though I’m proud she could at least admit that out loud. Progress.

She fidgets some more, twisting her hands together for a brief moment before she lets out a deep sigh and walks to her side of the bed, climbing between the covers and settling as far away from me as she can without falling off the bed. I reach over, turning the lamp off, and wait.

I might be an asshole, but I meant what I said. Nothing will be happening unless she begs for it. That doesn’t mean I won’t push her to that point. Though judging by the looks she's been giving me, it will be more like a gentle nudge.

She wants me—well, the Ghost, me—but it’s a step in the right direction. She just doesn’t want to admit it to herself. Whatever it is that’s holding her back, I’ll figure it out and obliterate it. I want her full submission—not to the sadistic extreme like my friend downstairs with his stolen bride—but I want her to be completely and utterly mine, because she chooses it.

“I won’t bite—unless you ask nicely,” I taunt her. “Get all the way in the bed, baby girl.”

She scoots closer into the middle of the bed, and I grab her waist, pulling her into me. The little gasp she lets out goes straight to my cock that’s already pushing against my boxers. She stiffens, doesn’t move, or even breathe as I settle her against me and get comfortable.

“That’s better,” I say into her hair before I run my hand over it and tuck her long strands above our heads. I bury my face into her neck, inhaling the sweet scent of her skin.

“What are you doing?” Her question is breathless as she starts shifting her feet in the bed.

“Going to sleep.” I snuggle deeper into the bed, into her. I could stay like this with her every day for the rest of my life.

She’s quiet, but she doesn’t settle; she keeps moving, alternating between bouncing her feet and rubbing her legs together restlessly. All she’s doing is rubbing herself against me. “What’s the matter now?”

“I can’t sleep.”

“Sure, you can. Just close your eyes and shut off your brain.”

“I can’t!” She snaps back at me, huffing like I just told her to solve all the world's problems.

I know what she wants—what she needs. She knows it too, but she’s too proud to ask for it.

“If you need something, baby girl, all you have to do is ask.” I say into her ear before I pull my mask up over my mouth and slide my lips down the delicate skin on her neck, nipping and softly kissing. I slide my hand under her tank top and feel the warmth of her skin, making motions across her stomach and hips, keeping my hand away from where she wants it, waiting for her to make a decision.

“Don’t make me beg, Ghost. Just take it… please.”