A Collection of Short Stories | Simon Riley "Ghost" x Reader

anchored in love

The days had blurred into one another ever since Ghost had left on deployment.

The cacophony of his laughter and the feeling of his warm embrace were distant memories, drowned in the worry and anticipation of his return.

Then, one fateful evening, your world shifted on its axis.

The pregnancy test, with its unmistakable two lines, held both shock and excitement in its palm-sized frame.

Many nights, as the soft glow of the laptop lit up your face, you spoke to Ghost.

Every video call was a lifeline, a fleeting moment of connection amidst the vast sea of separation.

His eyes, though tired, always sparkled with a deep longing.

There were times when the secret weighed heavily on your lips, itching to spill forth.

But you decided it was a revelation best made in person.

As days turned into weeks, anticipation grew.

Preparations were underway.

A small, ornate gift box became the guardian of your secret.

Inside, the pregnancy test lay nestled, a beacon of the promise of a new life and a testament to the love between you two.

Finally, the day arrived.

As you heard the familiar sound of Ghost's boots on the doorstep, your heart raced.

Would he be ecstatic, overwhelmed, or apprehensive?

Every beat of your heart is a pulse of anxiety, its rhythm syncopated with the mounting tension of anticipation.

The walls of the room seem to echo back the tumult of emotions, making the very air thick with suspense.

Questions whirl in your mind like leaves in a tempest, each one imbued with the fear of his possible reactions.

The gentle creak of the front door feels magnified, the sound vibrating through your entire being.

Before he fully steps inside, every nuance of his silhouette broadcasts a profound fatigue.

The faint drag of his boots, the way his frame seems weighed down — not by the equipment he carries, but by the invisible burdens of duty and distance — all speak of battles, both physical and emotional.

Although the tempest of emotions threatens to burst forth, a deeper, more profound love urges restraint.

Your arms wrap around him, their warmth seeping into the cold brought on by the harshness of the world outside.

Gently, you pull up his balaclava, unveiling weary eyes that have seen too much.

Tender kisses, feather-light yet laden with emotion, meet his chapped lips.

Each one whispers of longing, of silent tears shed in solitude, and of the myriad dreams and hopes cocooned in your heart.

Under your touch, you feel the hard lines of his tension soften, the guarded shield of the soldier giving way to the vulnerable man beneath.

His every muscle relaxes, surrendering to the sanctuary that is home, the haven that is you.

With a voice barely above a whisper, laced with a cocktail of love and concern, you guide him towards rejuvenation, promising the solace of a warm shower.

He acquiesces, every step towards the bathroom a testament to the trust and bond that has weathered storms both literal and emotional.

The sound of the bathroom door opening sends a ripple of anticipation down your spine.