13. Ghost

I feel myself relax for the first time in two days. Hell, I smile as I watch Lennox hang her clothes up in my closet. I don't let her see me smile, though. Lennox is a puzzle that I'm slowly unraveling. She hasn't made it easy, though. At first glance, her background check seems airtight. However, little things don't ring true. She's supposed to be a web designer, yet she doesn't own a computer of any kind. She also mentioned to Weasel that she has lived in California all her life. While she was sleeping, I checked her purse. What I found set off warning bells.

The driver's license in her purse matched up with the report we got back a few days ago. As I kept looking through it, however. Tucked away in a hidden compartment in the lining—one I almost missed—was a different ID. It was still her picture. Her first name was still Lennox, but the last name was different. Lennox Bazin. That name sent off warning bells. The one thing that bothered me the most though, was a picture of her and another man. You could tell just by looking at them, they love one another. Jealousy hit me hard as hell. The thought of falling for another woman fucked with my head. So, I left before she woke up and didn't contact her. I had every intention of staying away. Two things stopped me.

One, E-Z is worried she's a plant. Bazin is Russian. Her last name might not be Levkin but considering how she basically unmanned Weasel, there is probably a connection there. Lennox has been trained, and in ways that the Levkin brothers are famous for. The second reason is more complicated and yet simple at the same time.

I want her.

Even now, having her in my bedroom humming brings me peace. That may not sound like much to the average person, but considering the hell I've lived through, it's everything. This is going to end in disaster. I know that. I just can't seem to stop it. She's planning on leaving in a couple of weeks. Even if I manage to talk her into staying, it won't end well when she finds out I'm investigating her and went through her shit. It"s all a disaster in the waiting, but I can't stop it. All I can do is enjoy it.

Which is exactly what I'm planning to do.

I walk into the bedroom and wrap my arms around Lennox, pulling her with me as I walk backwards. My legs hit the king-size bed and I purposely fall backwards. My woman lets out a squeal as she tumbles with me. I keep holding her tight. When we hit the mattress, she turns so she can see my face.

"Ghost," she mutters. "What do you think you're doing?"

"It's bedtime and I want you in my arms."

I help her turn until we face one another while lying on the mattress. Her beautiful chocolate eyes hold mine prisoner. I reach over and gently tuck a stray strand of her midnight hair behind her ear. The softness of it makes me want to bury my fingers in it.

"Kiss me."

"Ghost. What are we even doing here?" she breathes.

"You're going to kiss me. Then, I'm going to kiss you."

"You should have let me go. This thing between us can never go anywhere."

"Do you belong to someone else?" I find myself asking, jealousy of the man in the picture rising inside of me.

"I belong to no one," she says with annoyance and pride mixing in her voice.

"Then you will belong to me."

She snorts and rolls her eyes. "You can't claim a person and make them yours."

"I just did."

She flops over on her back and stares up at the ceiling. "Ghost, you're a really great guy. I like you a lot?—"

"You love what I do to you in bed."

I study her as she closes her eyes. Those long lashes flutter gently. A hunger begins to burn inside of me. She gives me a sad smile and nods. "I do."

Satisfaction fills me. "Let me remind you."

"You don't want me in your life, Ghost. There's too much baggage. I'm okay to play house with for a week or so, but trust me, you don't want me here long term. I have too many demons."

"We all have demons, Lennox."

"Mm…" she hums.

I let out a breath. "Make love to me. Our heads fuck shit up. Our bodies speak a language all their own. An unspoken agreement that makes a fuck of a lot more sense."

She laughs, turning her head to look at me once more. Her hand moves to the side of my face and her fingertips graze my jawline. "Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah."

"And what does my body say to yours?"

"It promises me heaven. It gives me peace."

She flinches slightly. I would have missed it if we weren't lying so close. "Peace?"

"Yeah, Tiger. Peace. It's the single, hardest thing to capture in life. When I'm with you, you bring that."

She closes her eyes and moves so her forehead is against mine. I feel a fine tremble move through her and pull back enough to look at her. There's a tear sliding out from the corner of her eye, leaking down past her lashes that always intrigue me. I gently bend to kiss it away, taking the saltiness into my mouth.

"I don't think I've felt at peace since I lost my brother…"

The pain in her voice rips through me. The picture in her wallet springs to mind immediately. They were obviously in love. I assumed it was the sexual kind. The hug they were sharing didn't scream that, however. Their features were very similar now that I think about it. I push my thoughts away for now and concentrate on the woman beside me.

"Do you want to tell me about him?" I ask. My throat is hoarse as usual, but now it feels thick when I whisper to her. I don't like that she's in pain. I want to take that from her. Pain from loss can cut you up inside. I know that better than anyone, and Lennox's pain runs even deeper. I couldn't imagine how I'd feel if I lost my sister. I don't want to even think about it.

"Teddy was my world. We only had one another, and I did everything I could to protect my younger brother. I tried so hard…"

"What happened?" I ask.

"I got him killed," she whispers.

Her tears flow harder now. There's no hope of trying to kiss them away. I take her into my arms and hold her close. Sobs overtake her. They're the type of tears that are torn from the soul. I have a feeling that Lennox has refused to let them out. I doubt she ever lets her guard down. The fact that she is right now is a gift. It's one that I won't take lightly.

"Let it out, Tiger. Let it out," I croon softly, her tears soaking my chest, my lips kissing the top of her head, my arms tight around her.

"It's all my fault," she whimpers, her voice muffled.

"I doubt that, sweetheart."

She pulls back to look at me. Her face covered in her tears, but it is the pain in her beautiful eyes that grabs hold of a part of me I thought was frozen. My heart. I knew she was dangerous. I didn't know I was already too far gone. What she says next, though, makes my blood run cold.

"It is, Ghost. You need to know that evil follows me. It walks in my footsteps and waits to destroy anything and anyone around me. You don't want me here, Ghost. I don't want anything to happen to you, either."

"Let me worry about that," I respond. I take her lips in a kiss. For a minute, she doesn't respond. Then she groans into my mouth and returns the kiss fervently. She tries to take control, but I don't let her. I wrap my hand into her hair and silently force her to accept the fact that in our bed, I'm in control of her. She whimpers and gives in, her body going soft. Our kiss grows softer, gentler, but just as hungry. I slide my free hand under her shirt, grasping her breast and gently kneading it. When we break apart and I look down at her beautiful face, I'm rewarded with her soft voice.

"Make love to me, Ghost. Please …"

Fuck, she doesn't need to beg me. I'd do anything for her. Lennox thinks evil follows in her footsteps. She has no idea that I have her back now, and I won't allow anyone or anything to come between us.