Page 35 of Ghost

With a cry of pure bliss, I come undone beneath him. My back arches off the bed as waves of pleasure crash over me. He doesn't let up, fucking me through my orgasm and prolonging the intense sensations.

"Good girl," he praises, his voice strained. "So fucking good for me."

I can tell he's close, too. His thrusts become more erratic, his breathing ragged. I clench around him deliberately, wanting to push him over the edge.

"Come for me, Daddy," I moan, nails raking down his back.

With a guttural groan, he buries himself deep inside me as he reaches his climax. I can feel the pulsing of his cock as he fills me with his release. He collapses on top of me, both of us panting heavily as we come down from our shared high.

"That was incredible," I murmur, pressing a soft kiss to his collarbone.

He hums in agreement, tilting my chin up to capture my lips in a tender kiss. When we part, his eyes are soft as he gazes at me.

"You're incredible," he says. "I love you so much, baby girl."

My heart swells at his words. "I love you too," I reply, snuggling closer to him.

Sitting in the blissful peace after love-making, I don't want anything to break this spell. I know eventually I’ll need to get up and get breakfast started for the boys. I have a feeling I’ll find a sulking Caesar if he has to settle for a bowl of cereal again. I love how much the boys love my cooking. I've never felt more needed in my life. Don't get me wrong, I always had my baby girl, but I was a baby raising a baby.

I think I did the best I could with her, but I still have a hard time letting go of the fact that Lyra had to grow up so fast. That she had to deal with all my mistakes as a kid dealt a bad hand. I wouldn't change it for the world, but I still wish she had been able to have this version of me.

“What are you thinking so hard about, Bunny?” Devon asks, running his fingers through my tangled hair.

“Nothing much. Just how I love this place so much. How I love being here with you and those goofballs you’ve claimed.” I smile as he chuckles. “Wishing I could have been this stable and well adjusted when Lyra was growing up. I don't like dwelling on the past, but I always dreamed of her coming home to a home-cooked meal every day, sitting at the kitchen table while I cooked, or helping her with her homework.”

“I’m sorry I didn't get to you sooner. I wish with everything in me that I could have given you both that. If I could, I wouldgo back and make sure we were always a family. Me, you, Lyra, Piper, and Izzy.”

I smile at the thought. It would have been nice, but I know I needed to live the life I did to come out stronger on the other side. I also know the decisions I made are what shaped my baby into the fierce, loyal, and loving woman she is now.

“The past is the past. Best to leave it there, ain't it?” I ask him, sighing and kissing his chest. Right over his heart. Oh, how I love this man.

“About that,” he starts, and I narrow my eyes before looking up at him.

“Bout what?”

“What if your past isn't so past anymore?”

“What do you mean?” I don’t understand what he’s getting’ at. I left over twenty-five years ago. It's too long for someone to still be on my tail.

“I mean, what if the people who hurt you, Bunny? What if they found you? You think your mom or stepdad haven't ever tried to find you?” he asks, and I finally breathe.

“No,” I tell him shortly. I want to leave it at that, but no luck.

“No? That's it. There's not even a slight chance?”

“No,” I say again and shrug as he sighs loudly, running a hand down his face.

“Bunny, I don't necessarily believe that. I think your past might have something to do with our problems now, and I plan to find out whether you want me to or not.”

“I handled that a long time ago,” I say quietly. I know I’ve already told him this story, or part of it at least, but I need him to just believe me.

“I need more than that, baby girl.”

“Can’t you just leave it alone? We are finally happy. We have our family, and we can just move on,” I beg one last time, hopin’ and prayin’ he does, even though I know it’s a losing battle. When this man gets his mind set on something he feels passionately about, there is no stopping him. And in this case, it’s me, and if I know one thing… he’s pretty passionate about yours truly.

“You know I can’t do that, Bunny. That’s not the man I am. I want to keep you safe. No, Ineedto keep you safe,” he says softly while brushing the strands of hair back out of my face. I sigh heavily, knowing that would be the answer I received, but still, I had to ask.

“You won’t like what you find down that road. Some things are just meant to be left in the past, honey,” I whisper, trying one last time.