Page 117 of The Phantom's Vice

“You want to know a secret?” Ghost breathes, a manic sheen in his purple gaze. My eyes go wide as a wicked smile spreads his lips. He doesn’t give me time to answer as he begins moving again, shoving all logical thought from my mind as the pleasure crests in my veins. He dips low, his breath brushing the shell of my ear as his hand trails up, resting square on my stomach. “You know…” he whispers, fingers digging lightly into my stomach. “Vasectomy reversals can beverysuccessful.”

My lower abdomen clenches as the words fall from his mouth, but my mind is so muddled, I can’t quite piece the words together. “Mmh?”

“Shh,” Ghost coos, punctuating the sound with a violent thrust. His eyes dance with a deep yearning as he looks into mine, and my entire body clenches as he turns that look toward my stomach. “I bet you’d look so fucking perfect swollen with my child.”

I gasp through the gag, a fist tighteningaround my heart as his sentiment becomes clear. Ghost looses a dark chuckle as he notices my expression, each thrust coming faster and more powerful than the last.

“That’s right, darling,” he whispers, his voice choked. “I’m going to fucking breed you.”

My head falls back as the words fall from his lips, as my walls collapse around him. My orgasm comes so suddenly, so violently, that it tears a scream from my mouth.

“Oh, fuck,” Ghost chokes, slamming his hips flush with mine as he finds his release a moment later. His cock throbs in the deepest part of me, filling me with his seed as he pitches forward, pressing his forehead to mine. Ghost’s chest heaves in time with mine as he pulls the gag from my mouth, only to cover my mouth with his. His lips feverishly work with mine as the last of his release floods into me, as he claims me in a way he never has before.

“I love you, darling,” Ghost whispers, peppering my face with loving kisses as he slowly undoes the restraints. “And I meant what I said,” he growls, his eyes dipping to my stomach as he finishes freeing my wrists.

With a lazy smile, I wrap my armsaround his neck, pulling him into a deep kiss before letting him go to free my ankles. I watch him work, my chest buzzing with a strangely warm feeling. I bring my hand to my stomach, rubbing lazy circles around the area as I imagine the scenario Ghost posed a minute ago.Could I really bring a child into this world? One with Ghost.

The man in question shoots me a lazy smile, doing strange things to my hormones. As he pulls me into his arms, holding me to him like I’m the most precious thing on this earth, I have my answer.

“Hey, Ghost?”

He stops short in the doorway to the bedroom, his eyes immediately finding mine with a worried expression. “Yes, darling? What’s wrong?”

I let out a little chuckle, reaching up to cup his face. “Nothing. I was just thinking how… I think you’d make a kickass father.”

His eyes fill with a ravenous glint, and he practically sprints the rest of the distance to the bed. I land on the mattress with a squeal, laughter peeling from my mouth as Ghost clamors on top of me, the expression on his face reminiscent of a kid on Christmas morning.

“Really?” he whispers. “You really think so?”

I giggle, nodding ever so slightly. “I do.”

“Well then…” he presses his face into my neck, taking a deep breath. Like I’m his oxygen. His lifeline. His reason for living. He raises his eyes to meet mine, and I know that I’m right.

“Let’s not waste any more time.”

EXTRA EPILOGUE - GHOST

1 year later…

You have a call from an inmate at Moriton Correctional Facility. To accept this call, press one. To decline this call?—

“Hello?” I ask, my voice groggy from sleep. I rub my eyes, glancing at the clock on the bedside table. 3:49 a.m.

“Hey, Ghost…” The speaker crackles slightly as he takes a breath, and I grip the phone tighter as adrenaline courses through my veins, pulling me completely out of the half-dazed state I was in.

“Orion?” I choke, shooting up in bed. “Is that you?”

“Yes… I don’t have long to talk, but?—”

“Orion, what the fuck is happening?” I whisper, throwing my legs over the bed and standing slowly, looking back over my shoulder to ensure I haven’t woken Brett. The first trimester has been hell on her, and the last thing I want is to cut her sleep short.

I storm out of the bedroom, fighting to keep my pulse even as a swarm of possibilities flood my mind. “What did youdo?”

“It’ll be all over the news by now,” he says, a bitter edge to his voice. “I don’t have time to explain it all right now. I just wanted to call and say… say I’m sorry.”

“Sorry forwhat? Whatever you did, I can fix?—”

“That’s the problem, Ghost,” he interrupts. “I don’twantyou to fix it. Not this time.” He takes a shaking breath, and my mind reels faster. “Whatever you hear… it’s fucking true. It’s true and… I refuse to let you help me out of this mess.”

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