Page 33 of Ghost

Ghost tips his face to the ceiling. Tension radiates from him, and I’ve never been so desperate to snap it.

“What do you think?” I take another step closer, officially toeing the line now. “Are you going to continue sitting back and watching? Or are you going to do something about it?”

With a final step, I freeze, and he looks down at me.

Body heat rolls off him, and the muscles in his neck pop with his clenched jaw. There’s so much tension; it’s palpable. I catch my breath, and my chest brushes against him with my inhale.

I’m too close.

This might be pushing it too far.

I’m on the verge of detonating.

My threats are useless when I know he’s the only man who lights me up, but I hold my stance, hoping he’ll do something about it.

He doesn’t move. He doesn’t flinch. His eyes are the ice that makes my skin prickle and my nipples peak.

Shivering, I wish I had the strength to stand under his attention unaffected like he is, but I can’t.

I’m not sure what I was thinking trying to play a game of chicken with a man who has resisted all temptation for longer than I’ve known him, but it’s clearly no use.

“Fine, you win.” My shoulders deflate.

Wanting him does nothing but eat me up inside, and I can’t do it forever.

But when I start to turn, Ghost grabs my arm and spins me, pinning my back to the wall. One hand holds my wrist while the other grabs my jaw. He’s so close his lips nearly tease mine. A breath away while his hard body anchors me in place.

His hips hold me to the wall, revealing the proof he’s as desperate for me as I am for him, but he doesn’t close the distance.

“Marcus.” I never use his legal name, but it slips out.

Something about the look in his eyes makes me weak.

“I can’t fucking do this, Luna. Don’t you get it?”

There’s pain in his voice. A cold chill that makes his words crack.

“Why?” Tears sting my eyes with my question.

I’m not sure where they’re coming from, but being this close to Ghost breaks me open. He slides through my defenses and reminds me of the things I want, that I’ve been smart enough to avoid up until now.

Ghost drags his thumb up over my mouth, and I press my lips together. My skin prickles beneath his touch, and my heart races.

When he doesn’t answer my question, I dare to reach for him. To plant my hands on his sides and explore him. He might be resisting, but I feel the proof that he doesn’t want to as I rock my hips forward.

“Why did you really lie for me?” I tip my chin up so we’re almost mouth to mouth. “Please tell me why.”

His cool eyes focus on mine as he drags his tattooed fingers into the back of my hair. “Because I’ll do anything to protect you.”

He leans in, and I lift up on my toes, trying to meet him. But the moment before our lips connect, he pulls back, letting me go. My body deflates against the wall, and the chill of the space between us feels so wide it’s infinite. His hands tethered me here, and now he’s gone.

“Ghost—”

“I can’t.” He pops his knuckles, taking another step back. “Wecan’t.”

But his words are no longer angry, and I swear there’s sadness in his eyes as he walks away.

10

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