The other men laughed, not mean, but definitely enjoying themselves.
Rachel crossed her arms over her chest, trying to look annoyed instead of mortified. "You guys done?"
Torch didn't even look up from his protein bar. "Nope."
"Not even close," Echo added cheerfully, his fingers still flying over his keyboard.
She shot Ghost a glare. "You're just gonna let this happen?"
He poured himself coffee, completely unbothered. "They're not wrong." He glanced at Predator, his mouth curving slightly. "But they're also jealous as hell. What's it been for you, six months?"
Predator's smirk faltered. "Fuck off."
Ghost's gaze shifted to Brick. "Year and a half?"
"Lies and slander," Brick protested, but his ears were turning red.
"And you—" Ghost looked at Rogue. "You had to pay for it last time, didn't you?"
The room absolutely erupted.
Torch choked on his protein bar, coughing and laughing at the same time. Bear doubled over, his huge frame shaking with laughter. Echo had to grab the edge of the table to steady himself. Even Reaper cracked up, throwing his head back.
"Bullshit," Predator shot back, trying to recover. "Three months. Maybe four."
"Try eight," Reaper said without missing a beat, wiping his eyes.
Brick pointed at Ghost. "That is a complete lie. Total fabrication."
"Is it though?" Frost asked mildly, taking another sip of his coffee.
Rogue set his cup down hard on the counter. "I gave her cab fare. That's different."
That sent another wave of laughter through the room. Rachel found herself grinning despite the embarrassment still heating her cheeks. These were Ghost's brothers. His family. And they were giving him shit the way families do.
Ghost stepped over to her and she thought he was going to say something. Instead, he slid one arm around her waist, pulled her against him, and kissed her.
Not a quick peck. Not a chaste brush of lips.
He kissed her thoroughly, his hand splayed across her lower back, his other hand coming up to cup her jaw. He kissed her like they were alone, like he had all the time in the world, like he wanted everyone in this room to know exactly who she belonged to.
When he pulled back, Rachel was breathless and her knees were weak.
Ghost looked at his team, his expression calm and certain. "Alright, ladies. We've got work to do. Let's move."
The atmosphere changed instantly. The laughter died. The easy banter vanished. In its place came something sharp and focused and dangerous.
The team moved with practiced efficiency, their movements suddenly economical and purposeful. Torch pulled a data tablet from his bag and started scrolling through surveillance feeds. Reaper unfolded a tactical map on the coffee table, weighted down at the corners with coffee mugs. Predator began handing out comm units from a hard case, small earpieces and throat mics.
Ghost reappeared at her side with a slim black case. He opened it on the counter in front of her, revealing a biometric scanner with a small touchscreen display.
"Need your prints," he said.
Rachel looked at the device, then up at him. "For what?"
"Security system. Front door, perimeter locks, garage, internal override." His eyes held hers. "In case something goes sideways."
She stared at him. That was... that was access to his entire house. His sanctuary. The place he came to get away from everyone and everything. "That's a lot of access."
