Claiming me as his and his alone.
9
GHOST
Ido my best work while the rest of the world sleeps, and tonight is no different. Only, it isn’t work this time. I’m not watching my next target, learning their routine, or preparing my attack.
I’m looking at Gemma. Head on my arm, coiled into a ball, and sleeping off the fragile state I left her in. My fingers twitch, wanting nothing more than to reach out and touch her. Feel her softness, her warmth, her body in the way we’ve just started to explore again.
I don’t. For all my hunger, my want, I can’t deny that this is the best part. Knowing she’s mine and no one will take her away from me.
Even if it means standing toe-to-toe with the Don.
Hours go by before she stirs. The early morning sun floods the room in mottled yellow with birds chirping outside. If Gemma hadn’t started stirring, I wouldn’t have noticed.
Her eyes don’t open to my dismay, but a smile stretches from ear to ear as she turns toward me with a stretch and a yawn. She nuzzles her head against my chest, strokes her cheek into my skin, and I’m ready to come undone.
God, give me this every morning for the rest of my life.
“Hey, sleepyhead.” I press my lips against Gemma’s crown.
She giggles, throwing one arm around me lazily. “Morning, handsome.”
Such a simple greeting, yet it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
“How are you feeling?” I scooch down, giving her easier access to me as a pillow.
“Fucking fantastic.” Gemma nearly screams. Wants the world to know she’s on top of it. “Last night was … was … something else.”
Her snowy cheeks turn a rosy red as she recalls our exploits.
“Good. You deserve it.” I expected a thousand answers. Sore, aching, maybe even a little sad.
Not that one.
Her eyes open, and the light catches them perfectly, making them sparkle with dazzling beauty. She raises a hand to my cheek, grunting as she adjusts herself upward and gives me a good morning kiss.
“What about you?” she asks when our lips part.
“What about me?”
Her smile deepens with the puzzled confusion crinkling my brows.
“How are you feeling, silly?” Gemma scoffs and rolls over until she’s halfway on top of me, chin on my chest.
“Great.” What I’m feeling is indescribable. Taking her as mine, having her at my side, sharing a bed with her as my lover, no words can convey my truest emotions.
Last night was full of firsts. For her, experiencing a man, getting lost in lust, finding out how far she could push her boundaries. But minecome in a very different package. Feeling wanted, warm and fuzzy inside, loved.
“Great? That’s the best you can come up with?” She rolls her eyes at me. Her smirk never subsides, however.
“Better than great?” I slip my hand under the sheets and run it lazily over Gemma’s back. Touching her isn’t enough to satiate the beast she’s awoken in me, but it’ll have to do for now.
“I can’t tell if you’re doing this on purpose or if you really are a hard nut to crack.” Her eyes narrow as if lost in some deep thought about it.
“Dark and mysterious.” I make circles down Gemma’s skin, slowing at the small of her back. “It’s part of my charm.”
I slip my fingers over her ass and give it a squeeze that makes Gemma giggle hysterically.
