"I don't know who that is anymore," he said, voice low and raw. "Been doing this so long, I don't know where the operator ends and I begin."
Rachel held his gaze. "You're still in there. I've seen him."
"Yeah?" His voice dropped. "When?"
"When you washed the blood off my hands," she said. "When you called me baby and didn't mean to. When you looked at me like losing me would break something in you." She stepped closer. "That's not the SEAL. That's you."
Ghost went very still. His chest rose and fell with controlled breaths, but she could see it in his eyes, she'd hit something true.
18
Ghost stepped forward. His hand settled on her waist, guiding her backward until her spine hit the weathered siding of the storage shed.
He braced his hands on either side of her head against the wall. Arms locked, body close enough to feel her heat.
Her breath hitched. Ghost's pulse kicked hard in his throat. He'd been holding himself back for weeks, but standing here with her looking up at him, lips parted, eyes wide, his control was shredding fast.
"You drive me insane," he said, voice rougher than he meant it to. "Since day one. You walked in with that damn camera and got under my skin before I even realized it."
Her fingers curled into the front of his shirt. The pull of fabric against his chest sent heat straight through him.
"And baby, I've been trying so fucking hard not to want you."
Her breathing changed, faster, shallower. Ghost could feel it against his chest where they were almost touching.
"You have no idea what you're doing to me," he rasped.
He leaned in, his mouth brushing the shell of her ear. Her scent hit him, dust and sweat and something sweet underneath. "Say the word, baby, and I'll make you forget every reason you ever told yourself not to want this."
"Logan."
His name in her voice broke something in him. Ghost's mouth crashed against hers with no restraint. Just the raw hunger he'd been choking down for too damn long. He kissed her like he needed her to breathe.
Rachel melted into him. Her hands pulled at his shirt, hips pressing against his. Ghost's touch roamed fast and urgent, fingers skating over her ribs, careful of the wound even as everything in him screamed to get closer.
She gasped and the sound went straight to his groin. Heat flooded his system with every movement, every place their bodies touched.
He shifted his grip, pulling her tighter against him. She went soft in his arms, back arching. Ghost caught her weight easily, hands spanning her waist, her ribs, finding the edge of her shirt.
He slowed the kiss. Deeper this time, slower. His tongue swept against hers and she made a sound low in her throat that nearly destroyed him.
Ghost growled, his thumb brushing just under her breast. He was losing it. Could feel his control slipping with every second.
She arched into his touch and Ghost shifted, pressing his hips harder into hers. He was rock hard, straining against his pants, and she had to feel it. Had to know exactly what she was doing to him.
Ghost tore his mouth from hers, breathing like he'd been running. His forehead dropped against hers. His heart was slamming so hard she had to feel it through his chest.
"Rachel." Her name came out wrecked.
"Yeah?" she whispered.
His hands tightened on her waist. He was either anchoring her or trying to hold himself back, he wasn't sure which anymore.
"I've been trying so damn hard to fight this," he said, voice low and shredded. "But I don't think I can anymore."
Her grip on his shirt tightened. "Then don't. Because I don't want you to hold back."
Ghost's breath stopped. Every muscle in his body went taut. She was giving him permission. Telling him to let go.
