Page 7 of Ghost

Tamsin’s head turned toward me, and her chin lifted again. “I’m going with you.”

“You’re coming,” I agreed. “Not the first one through the door, though.”

“You’ll need me to identify what belongs there.”

“That’s why you’re coming.”

She looked suspicious that I had given in so easily, then glanced down at the hand I still had spread over the small of her back. The blush that followed told me she had finally noticed I had no intention of removing it. I let my fingers flex against her through the thin fabric of her polo, and her spine straightened as the movement pressed the side of one breast more firmly against my ribs. Another hard rush of blood drove south while I imagined the same soft weight filling my palm as I put her against a wall and found out whether her full mouth got even prettier when she begged.

A man in a Bellamy jacket hurried toward the secured area, gray threaded through his dark hair and strain carved around his mouth. The operations manager carried himself with the assurance of someone accustomed to being obeyed inside the company, but his shoulders dropped a little when he saw Tamsin. She went still beside me before relief softened her face.

“Tamsin.” He crossed the last few feet quickly, his gaze moving over the soot on her clothes. “Are you hurt?”

“I’m okay, Len.” She leaned forward as though she might meet him halfway, then seemed to remember my hand at her back and remained beside me. “My parents?”

“They’re fine. Your mother is with the medics, and your father is helping account for the crew.” He reached toward Tamsin’s elbow, concern tightening his face. “Come with me. You’ve done enough for one night, and I can handle the employees and equipment.”

I moved before his fingers touched her, stepping smoothly into the space between them. The man’s hand stopped in the air, and his eyes lifted to mine with surprise that edged toward annoyance. I kept my expression easy, but there was nothing casual about where I planted my boots or the fact that Tamsin stayed immediately behind my shoulder.

“She decides when she’s done.”

“She was nearly caught in an explosion,” he stated, as if I hadn’t been the one who disarmed both fucking devices.

“I fucking noticed.”

“She needs to be with her family,” he argued, lowering his arm as his brows drew together.

Tamsin came around my side before I could say more. “I need to make sure my crew is accounted for and tell Ghost what belongs in that field. I’m staying.”

He looked from her to me, clearly unhappy with both the decision and the fact that I had left it in her hands. “At least stay outside the perimeter. I’ll organize the crew and start the equipment list.”

“I already told them not to touch anything,” she replied. “Have everyone remain together until we know the field is clear. And make sure no one leaves without giving the Black Crowns their contact information.”

A faint line appeared between his brows, but he nodded. “Fine. I’ll take care of it.”

He turned reluctantly and headed back toward the employees. People shifted toward him as he approached, confirming that his position made him the natural center of the company response. I watched long enough to see him begin gathering the crew, then returned my attention to the field and the woman beside me.

Tamsin let out a slow breath and looked up at me. Her expression carried equal parts gratitude and exasperation, which was already becoming my favorite combination on her face.

“My only condition for you staying is that you are always where I can see you, clear?”

Tamsin rolled her eyes. “Ghost⁠—”

“Gavin.”

Surprise flashed across her features as she blinked up at me. “What?”

I lowered my voice and let my thumb trace once along the curve of her waist. “Call me Gavin, pretty girl.”

The name belonged to my family and my woman only. Hearing it in her soft voice suddenly felt necessary, but I wasn’t sure she truly understood the deep meaning behind giving her permission to use it.

Another wash of pink climbed beneath her freckles as she cleared her throat. “Um. Okay. Gavin, I already have a family and an entire company full of people watching me, right?”

My smile stayed easy even as the sound of my name from her mouth made my cock push harder against my zipper.

“They can watch,” I acknowledged. “I’m the one keeping you.”

The possessiveness in the statement made her breath catch exactly the way I wanted. Her pupils widened, color deepened over her cheeks, and her lips parted as if an argument had formed but lost its nerve before reaching her tongue. I had pushed exactly far enough, so I turned my attention back to the field before the need to taste her mouth overruled the job waiting for me.