Protected by a Hero

by Susan Stoker, Cristin Harber, Cora Seton, Lynn Raye Harris, Kaylea Cross, Katie Reus, Tessa Layne

  “Okay, Ghost.” She felt him move his lips across her back, kissing every part of her tattoo.

  “And this is probably the wrong thing to say, and I’m probably a dick for even thinking it, but I swear to God I hope you like taking me from behind. I have a feeling it’s going to be my favorite position with you. Seeing me inked on you. Seeing this eagle ripple as I pound into you from behind…yeah, I’ve had you once and couldn’t get the memory of this tattoo out of my head. But now that you’ve purposely added me to it? You might as well have stamped ‘Property of Ghost’ across your back. Because you’re mine. Hear me, Rayne? Mine.”

  Rayne shifted and pushed her ass up into him. Jesus, every word out of his mouth made her wetter and wetter. She honestly hadn’t planned on going there with him this week. She wanted to get home and really think about it, but she couldn’t resist him anymore. She wanted him more now than she did six months ago…if that was even possible.

  “I’ll take it any way you want to give it to me, Ghost.”

  “Oh fuck.” The words were uttered in a tortured voice, as if she’d just broken through the last of his restraint.

  Rayne heard a flicking sound and looked back to see Ghost reaching for her panties with a wicked-looking Swiss Army Knife in his hand. “Hold still, Princess. I have to get these off of you. I can’t wait to see you. I’d rip them off, but unfortunately, that only works in romance novels.”

  Rayne held her breath and felt the elastic around her waist give way. Before she could think about what to do or how to move, she felt her hips in Ghost’s hands. “Don’t put any weight on those wrists. Let me do all the work.”

  Rayne thought briefly about what Penelope had said…realizing this was one more way Ghost was taking care of her. He remembered her wounds and didn’t want her hurting herself further.

  Ghost held Rayne’s hips in his hands and licked once from her clit to her ass, reveling in the wetness he encountered along the way. “You all right? No bad memories?” He wanted to shove himself as far inside her as he could get, marking her as his, but he didn’t want to hurt her either. It hadn’t been that long ago when she’d thought she was about to be raped. He’d rather cut off his own arm than hurt her physically or mentally.

  “More, Ghost. Oh God, more.”

  Smiling, Ghost leaned down and did it again, slower this time. Relearning her taste and feel. The angle was a bit odd and he couldn’t reach her clit as easily as he could if she was on her back, but he hadn’t lied. Seeing her tattoo as he ate her from behind was as close to Heaven as he knew he’d ever reach from Earth.

  He leaned over and grabbed his pillow, easing it under her hips. Seeing it wasn’t going to be enough, he ordered, “Yours too, Princess. Give me your pillow.”

  She gave it up without a word, staying down but moving her arms up to rest beside her head.

  “Oh yeah, I’ve imagined this in my head so many times I can hardly believe you’re here in front of me. You have no idea how beautiful you look with your ass in the air for me. Spread your legs more. Yeah, that’s it. Christ, Princess. Fucking mine. All mine.”

  Ghost leaned down and took her with a passion he hadn’t shown before. He sucked and licked, and ate at her like a man starved. When she started to moan and shift under him, he held her still for his mouth. Ghost finally added one finger, then two, easing into her tight sheath as he concentrated on flicking his tongue as fast as he could against her clit.

  Hooking his fingers and stroking the small bundle of nerves on the inside at the same time as he moaned against her clit, he sent Rayne flying over the edge into oblivion. She bucked against his hold, shivering and shaking and crying out his name. Ghost didn’t let up until he felt her pull away from him slightly. Knowing he’d pushed as far as he could, that his touch was now more painful than it was erotic, he backed off. Enjoying the sight of her juices on his fingers and dripping out of her as he pulled away.

  He pulled up to his knees and didn’t take his eyes off her. He ran both hands over her back, spreading her wetness onto her, being sure to trace the words that represented him with his quickly drying fingers.

  He leaned down and once again kissed the image of the ghost on her back. “Can you take me, Princess? Are you okay?”

  Rayne groaned and he felt her push up against him. “Yes, please, Ghost. Please, I need you. I want you inside.”

  Ghost leaned over to the table next to the bed and pulled out a condom. He’d bought them on the way back from the hospital, enjoying the shit out of Rayne’s blush as he set them on the counter and smirked at her lecherously.

  He quickly sheathed himself, and brought his hands back to Rayne’s skin. “Can you get up on your elbows without hurting yourself?”

  Before the words were completely out, Rayne was up. The position brought her ass up to just the right height for him to plunge inside. “Let me know if this is painful for you, Rayne. I mean it. I don’t think I’m going to last all that long, I’ve imagined this for six long months, but I still don’t want you to have a moment of pain. All right?”

  “Um-hmm,” Rayne moaned, pushing back toward him.

  Ghost held himself away, wanting to make sure she understood. “You hear me? Tell me you understand.”

  “I hear you, Ghost. I’ll tell you if it hurts, but dammit, it hurts not having you inside me. I need you.”

  Her words pushed him past his breaking point. He fit his blood-engorged cock to her tight sheath and slowly pushed inside.

  They both moaned at the same time. “God, it feels like coming home,” Ghost told her as he held himself still inside her. He could feel her clenching around him and could literally feel her hot juices coat his cock as they both acclimated to the feel of him inside.

  “You feel huge this way,” Rayne told him, pushing back against him.

  “Yeah, I can get farther inside you in this position,” he told her, not sure what he was saying. He held her hips still as he pulled back then slowly, inch by inch, pushed inside her again.

  Ghost watched as she arched her back and the wings on the eagle rippled with her movement. “I wish you could see this, Princess,” Ghost told her, moving his hands from her hips to her ink. “Every time you push up against me it looks as though this eagle wants to fly right off your skin.”

  “It really does something for you, doesn’t it?” Rayne asked breathlessly.

  “Yeah, it does. But it’s more than just the tattoo. It’s that it’s your tattoo. And it’s on your back, and I’m buried inside your body watching it move and flex for me. Don’t think I’m getting off on the tattoo itself. I’m getting off on knowing what it means to you, and that you had me on you before you knew you had me on you.”

  “Jesus, Ghost.”

  He smiled a bit at the urgency and desperation in her words.

  “Move. Now.”

  “Yes, ma’am. My pleasure.”

  Ghost kept a steady pace, plunging in and out of Rayne with measured thrusts. When he felt her trying to get up on her hands, he pushed down on her upper back. “No, Princess. Stay down.”

  “But…I need—”

  Realizing she was on the edge and not caring if she hurt herself or not, she only wanted to get off, he ordered, “Touch yourself. Balance on your shoulder and touch yourself.”

  She immediately did as he asked, and brought one hand down to where they were joined. Ghost felt her frantic movements on her clit as he continued to thrust inside her. He leaned over and tugged on the nipple of the breast he could reach as he caressed her back with his other hand.

  “That’s it. Rub yourself, take yourself there. You’re so hot and tight, I can feel you grip my cock as you get close. Take what you need, take yourself over.”

  Ghost felt her hand speed up and she began to buck back against him more frantically. He pinched her nipple roughly and thrust into her harder and harder. Feeling her muscles tense as she finally flew apart, Ghost let himself go. Holding on to her hips with both hands again and watchin
g as he pushed inside her once, then twice, then he held himself tightly on the third stroke and felt himself explode as Rayne continued to buck against his firm hold as she came down from her orgasm.

  “Jesus, Ghost,” Rayne murmured after several moments had passed. “If it’s like that every time, you’re gonna kill us.”

  “I can’t think of a better way to die.” Ghost reluctantly pulled out, groaning along with Rayne as he slipped from her. He put his hand on her folds and massaged lightly, loving the feel of how hot and wet she still was.

  “Mmmmmm,” Rayne murmured, shifting under his caress.

  “Don’t move, I’ll be right back.”

  “Umkay.”

  Ghost hurried to the bathroom and took care of the condom. He ran a washcloth under some warm water and wrung it out before returning to Rayne.

  She’d taken his words literally and lay in exactly the same spot he’d left her. Her ass propped up by the two pillows, her arms resting limply by her head, and a satisfied smile on her face.

  Ghost ran his hand gently from her shoulder blades to her ass, caressing her, petting her. He placed the warm washcloth against her folds and tried to control his hard-on when she shifted under his ministrations.

  “That feels awesome,” Rayne breathed, opening her eyes and watching his face as he cleaned her.

  He finished up and tossed the wet cloth on the floor, not caring where it landed. He’d deal with it later. “Lift up.”

  Rayne lifted her hips and let Ghost pull the two pillows out from under her. She watched as he kept the one that was directly under her for himself and handed the other one back to her. She shifted onto her side and waited for Ghost to settle before she moved into him. He gathered her close, turning on his back and letting her use his shoulder as a pillow.

  She smiled as he groaned when one of her legs bent and brushed against his semi-hard shaft. “Are you ready to go again? Already?” she asked incredulously, slurring her words with exhaustion.

  “No. But if you give me thirty minutes or so, I will be.”

  Rayne groaned, but gamely replied, “Okay, maybe I’ll nap until you’re ready then.”

  Ghost smiled and pulled her closer. “You do that, Princess. Sleep. I’ve got you.”

  Rayne’s last thought before she fell into sleep was that she loved how Ghost always told her he “had her.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  The next couple of days were full of resting, relaxing, and relearning each other’s bodies. Ghost had taught her the reverse cowgirl position, and Rayne thought she might even enjoy that better than when he took her from behind. She loved being able to have some control, and even torture Ghost a bit by controlling the pace of their lovemaking, and he certainly loved being able to watch her tattoo.

  He taught her the joys of shower sex, and bathtub sex, and semi-public sex when he took her out on his porch one night. Rayne had been afraid the neighbors would see—or hear—her but Ghost had allayed her fears by asking if she really thought he’d do anything that would humiliate her. When he’d put it like that, she’d let go of her inhibitions and allowed Ghost to lead her where he wanted to take them.

  When she had another nightmare, Ghost had stayed up with her and listened as she finally described in detail what had happened to her. He hadn’t said a word, but had let her get it all out. And after she was done, and after she’d cried and snotted all over him, he’d simply held her for the rest of the night, with no pressure to do anything else.

  She felt loved. She had no idea how it had happened so fast, or if what she was feeling was even right, but there was no other word for it. Ghost had blown past all of her barriers and made her feel like the most cherished thing in his world.

  The two of them had even gone out and met the rest of his team for lunch one day, something Ghost had sworn afterwards he’d never do again. He’d been disgruntled that the rest of the guys were purposely trying to rile him by flirting with her.

  Rayne made sure she made it up to him when they got home by dropping to her knees and convincing him she only had eyes for him.

  Today was the first day Ghost had gone into work since she’d gotten out of the hospital. His week of leave was up and he had to go back in. He’d woken her up with his head between her legs and had taken her so hard she had no doubt he’d rather stay in bed with her for the rest of the day than go to the base.

  Ghost had finally left her with a kiss and told her to make herself at home. She’d wandered throughout his house, able to look around freely without feeling self-conscious for the first time since she’d arrived. Ghost’s taste in books ranged from old westerns to the autobiographies of famous military leaders. He had protein powder in his kitchen cabinets along with ramen noodles. There were no romantic comedies in his collection of DVDs, but his tastes were eclectic there too, ranging from sci-fi to historical documentaries, along with the war movies she’d expected to find.

  After eating lunch, and growing bored, Rayne called Mary. She knew her friend had the day off since they’d spoken briefly every day. Mary didn’t quite trust Ghost, and wanted to check in frequently to make sure Rayne was all right.

  “Hey, Mare. How are you?”

  “Good. How are you?”

  “Great. Ghost went back to work today.”

  “Ah, left you alone in the house, huh? What’d you find?”

  “What? Nothing!”

  “Bullshit. Does he have a stash of Playboys in his bedside drawer?”

  “I didn’t look there! Jeez, Mary. I only scoped out the food, book, and movie situation.”

  “Girl, get your ass in his room and see what he’s got in his drawers then!”

  “Mary!”

  “Don’t ‘Mary’ me. You know you want to.”

  Rayne hesitated for a second then mentally shrugged. Her friend knew her too well. “All right, I’m going.”

  Mary laughed at her and waited to see what she’d find.

  “Okay, I’m opening one drawer…nothing interesting…socks.”

  “He keeps socks next to the bed? Weird. What about the other side?”

  “Don’t get your panties in a twist, give me a second.” They both laughed as Rayne moved around to the other side of the large mattress. “Ooooh, okay. The condoms he bought the other day are in here, and a tube of lube.”

  “Lube? Girl, he had better not be needing that, otherwise he’s not doing something right.”

  Rayne giggled. “No, I can honestly say we haven’t needed any lube thus far, but…oh!”

  “What? What is it? Playboy? A Playgirl?”

  “No…um…a small vibrator, nipple clamps, and those ball things.”

  “Ball things?” Mary asked, and Rayne knew if she could see her she’d have a shit-eating grin on her face.

  “Yeah…you know…those things that women put inside them and when they rub up against each other they chime or something? I think they’re Chinese.”

  “Ben Wa balls?”

  “I guess.”

  “Holy shit, Raynie…you’ve got yourself a kinkster.”

  Rayne could feel herself blush. She closed the drawer. “It’s not that big of a deal. At least I didn’t find whips and chains or something.”

  “There’s still time to look around, girl.”

  Rayne wandered back into the other room and plopped down on the couch. “I’m bored, Mary.”

  “Bored huh? Had enough of your forced vacation?”

  Rayne nodded. “Yeah, I think so. I mean, I didn’t mind when Ghost was here. We were busy all the time.”

  “Busy…yeah…that’s what you’re calling it?”

  “Hush, you sex fiend. I meant we went out to eat, or to my doctor appointments, or watched movies…we were busy. But now that he’s back at work and I’m stuck here…I’m bored.”

  Mary was silent for a moment. “You ready to come home then?”

  “Yes. No. Shit. Maybe. I don’t know,” Rayne complained. “I love being with Ghost, but I don’t lik
e sitting around feeling useless.”

  “You ready to go back to work? I’m sure your boss would let you come back early.”

  “No!” Rayne’s negative answer was swift and emphatic.

  “So you don’t want to stay there, you don’t know if you want to come back here, you’re bored, but you don’t want to go back to work,” Mary summed up without inflection.

  Rayne buried her face in her hand. “I’m a mess.”

  “Yeah, you kinda are,” Mary agreed.

  “I thought you were supposed to stick up for me, make me feel better.”

  “I’m sorry, you must have me confused with a Stepford friend or something,” Mary intoned. “Look, this is only the first day Ghost has gone back to work, right? Give it some time. Read a book. Relax. You’ve always had a hard time sitting around and doing nothing. I’m sure you’re still healing. Don’t rush it. But, Raynie, know that the second you’re ready to come home, I’ll be there to get you.”

  “I know you will. I love you, Mare.”

  “Why don’t you ask Ghost if you can borrow his car while he’s at work? You can check out the area. See what you think. I know you. You’re falling for him. Eventually, if you want to make this work, you’re going to have to move down there.”

  It was so like Mary to be blunt and say what Rayne was thinking. “I don’t want to leave you.”

  “Babe, I work in a bank. It’s not as though my job isn’t mobile.”

  “You’d move down here with me?”

  “Hell yeah I would. I love you, Rayne. You’re my best friend in the world. You were there for me when I needed you the most. I know we can’t live together for the rest of our lives. Eventually our lives might take us in different directions, but if I can support you and help you find the man of your dreams and make it work, and can be at your side while you do it…why wouldn’t I?”