Page 4 of Ghost

It’s not just her spark, either. She’s fucking gorgeous. Her strawberry-blond hair is wavy and wild, and it falls around her shoulders to drape over breasts I’d cut off my right arm to see without those silly T-shirts she wears.

But I can't afford to let my guard down. I can't afford to let myself feel these things. So I push it away, bury it deep down where it can't hurt me. I focus on the task at hand, on the dogs we're going to save. That's what's important. Not Ellie. Not the way she makes me feel.

Working closely with Ellie is a constant struggle. Every smile, every kind word, every shared glance, it chips away at the walls I've built around my heart. I try to harden myself against it, to keep my distance, but it's like trying to hold back the tide. Her goodness, her compassion, it's a beacon of light in the darkness, and it's drawing me in.

But with that light comes the possibility of pain, of loss. The more I let Ellie in, the more I stand to lose. And I'm not sure I'm strong enough to handle that. Not again. So I keep my guard up, keep my walls high. I can't afford to let them crumble. Not even for Ellie.

As the days turn into weeks, my inner conflict grows. On one hand, there's the cause, the dogs, the mission that Ellie and I are working towards. It's a purpose, a duty that I've dedicated my life to. It's something tangible, something real. It's something I can control.

On the other hand, there's Ellie. Her passion, her dedication, her unwavering belief in the goodness of people—it's all so foreign to me. It's a connection, a bond that I've only ever felt with my dogs. It's a feeling that scares me, that threatens to shatter the walls I've spent a lifetime building.

My whole life, I've held onto hope and trust with a stranglehold, keeping them locked away where they can't hurt me. But Ellie, with her kindness and her compassion, she's challenging that. She's making me question whether I can let someone in, whether I can trust someone with the parts of my soul that only my dogs have ever reached.

It's a fight, a battle that's unfolding inside me. It's a struggle between the safety of darkness and the vulnerability of light. It's a war between self-preservation and the longing for connection. And I don't know which side will win.

As I watch Ellie, her face lit up with passion as she talks about our plan, I can't help but feel a pull towards her. But I push it away, bury it deep down where it can't hurt me. I can't afford to let my guard down. Not even for Ellie.

So, as the sun sets and the darkness creeps in, I retreat back into my shell, back into the safety of my walls. I'm not ready to let them crumble. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

CHAPTER4

Ellie

I’ve never beenone to back down from a challenge, and Ghost is proving to be one of the biggest I’ve ever faced. He’s a fortress, his walls built high and strong, but I see the cracks. I see the way his gaze softens when he looks at his dogs, the way his voice trembles when he talks about the cruelty they’ve suffered. I see the man beneath the armor, and I’m determined to reach him.

Our investigation into the dog fighting ring leads us to an underground network of animal activists. It’s a world I never knew existed, filled with people who are just as passionate about saving animals as I am. Among them is a man known only as the Falcon. He’s a legend in the activist community, a beacon of hope in a world filled with darkness. And he’s offering to help us.

The Falcon’s passion for protecting animals is palpable. It’s a mirror of my own, a mirror of Ghost’s. I can see the surprise in Ghost’s eyes, the flicker of doubt. He’s spent so long believing that people are selfish, that they’re incapable of true compassion. But The Falcon is proof that he’s wrong. I can only hope that Ghost sees that too.

As we delve deeper into the world of dog fighting, the horrors we witness only strengthen our resolve. The cries of the dogs, the cheers of the crowd—it’s a nightmare that I can’t wake up from. But through it all, Ghost is there. He’s my rock, my anchor in the storm. And for the first time, I see him let his guard down. I see the man he hides from the world, the man I’ve been trying to reach.

My admiration for Ghost grows with each passing day. His dedication, his strength, his unwavering commitment to the dogs—it’s more than I ever could have hoped for. I’ve been spending most evenings after work at the clubhouse, researching with him and making plans. He’s stubbornly, infuriatingly reluctant to connect with me outside of the case, but every moment I spend with him makes me more desperate to get inside that head of his.

* * *

The clubhouse is uncharacteristically quiet tonight, and we’ve gotten a lot of good work done when I decide to call it a night. Ghost walks me to my car, the little red hatchbook looking ridiculous amid the gleaming Harleys.

I open my door and slide into the driver’s seat, but when I go to close it, he puts out a hand to block it. “Hang on,” he says. “Come back for a second.” Confused, I stand up, and before I’m even fully on my feet, he’s kissing me. As soon as I part my lips, his tongue is in my mouth, and I tilt my head back to give him better access. His hands move from my back around to my breasts, his fingers tracing the curves of them before he slides one hand under my shirt and slips it beneath my bra. When his thumb grazes my nipple, I gasp against his lips and arch my back, pressing myself further into him.

He pulls away from me and takes a step back, looking at me with a hunger that sends a shiver down my spine. He moves closer again, pressing his body against mine as he takes both of my hands in his own and guides them up above our heads, pinning them there with one hand as he moves the other down between us. I look around, but it’s just us out here in the night, and I let myself relax.

His fingers slide under the waistband of my leggings until he finds what he’s looking for, and I shudder as he makes a lazy circle around my clit. He searches my face, and I realize he’s waiting for permission. I nod quickly, and he wastes no time before pushing into me with one finger.

“More,” I say, and the sound is muffled because I can’t stand the thought of breaking our kiss for long enough to speak properly. He groans and slides another finger in to join the first, and I feel how hard he is.

“God, you feel amazing,” he says, plunging deeper, and the low rumble of his voice combined with the movement of his fingers sends me over the edge. I cry out and pull his lower lip between my teeth, not letting go until my orgasm fades.

He pulls his hand away, then brings his fingers to his mouth and tastes me, maintaining eye contact. I reach for his belt, not caring that we’re out in the open—not caring about anything but getting him inside me—but he takes a step away and gives me a lopsided smile. “Night, Ellie,” he says and walks back to the clubhouse without another glance.

* * *

Ghost is a man of few words, but his actions speak volumes. His dedication to the dogs, his willingness to put himself in danger for them—it’s more than just a mission for him. It’s a calling. And I can’t help but admire him for it. I see the man he is beneath the tough exterior, and I know that he’s worth fighting for.

Our investigation leads us deeper into the world of dog fighting, and the horrors we uncover are worse than I could have ever imagined. But through it all, Ghost is there. He’s my rock, my anchor in the storm. And for the first time, I see him let his guard down. I see the man he hides from the world, the man I’ve been trying to reach.

The Falcon’s offer of help is a beacon of hope in the darkness. His passion for protecting animals is palpable, and I can see the effect it has on Ghost. For the first time, I see a flicker of doubt in his eyes. He’s spent so long believing that people are selfish, that they’re incapable of true compassion. But The Falcon is proof that he’s wrong. And I can only hope that Ghost sees that too.

* * *

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