back to his apartment, driving so fast that I was tempted to tell him to slow down. But I didn't say a word, because I was just as eager for this as he was.
The moment we got past the front door, Ryland slammed it shut and pinned my body against it with the full weight of his. Then he bent and caught my mouth in a rough, passionate kiss, as though I was a drug he'd been craving.
I couldn't help a gasp at his urgency. I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist, feeling the delicious hardness of his erection between my thighs, right where I needed him.
Ryland groaned and grabbed my ass, hoisting me fully against him, kissing me desperately like his life depended on it. I pressed my lips harder to his, moving against him with abandon.
It had always been a fiery inferno whenever we collided, but there was something different about this kiss this time.
This time, there was something freeing, as if all the walls between us had finally come crashing down.
Our tongues tangled and I tasted blood, but still I held nothing back, showing Ryland just how much I needed him.
How much I loved him.
Ryland broke off to look into my eyes. “You're mine,” he said in a low voice. “Only mine.”
My heart ached as I took in the raw look in his eyes, his disheveled hair where I'd thrust my fingers through it. His beautiful eyes were stark and vulnerable as he watched me. I hated the pain in them, and would give anything to take it away.
It was a good thing that I could.
I brought my face close to his, whispering against his lips, “I'm yours.”
Ryland’s fingers tightened painfully around me as he crushed me tight against his chest. “You won't regret this, I swear.”
“I know.” I turned my face upwards blindly, seeking his kiss again.
Ryland pressed his lips to mine, then he trailed down to my neck, kissing the sensitive skin, suckling sensually. “Say it again.”
“I'm yours.”
We made out passionately as he walked us towards his bedroom. I tightened my legs around his waist, relishing his raw strength. I was no more than a small weight in his arms.
Ryland's room smelled like I remembered, of his cologne and his masculine scent. The last time I'd been here I'd run away from him, and from the dark look on Ryland's face, he was recalling the same thing.
“Never letting you go again,” he growled, pressing me back into his bed.
He took my jaw in his hand, angling my face up to his.
Our slow-burning kisses became urgent. The smoldering embers grew into a fire.
Our hands began to wander, groping at each other hungrily. I tore at Ryland's shirt and pants, wanting to feel his hot skin against my bare body.
Ryland knew what I needed. He shed his clothes and shoes quickly, then practically tore mine off.
“Ryland,” I gasped, turned on by the dark look on his face. Knowing that he lusted over me made me grow even wetter, and the ache between my legs increased with every passing second.
A low moan escaped me as Ryland pressed open-mouthed kisses down my neck to my shoulder. His hand trailed teasingly over my breasts, moving to my stomach, descending between my thighs.
Then he parted the swollen lips with his fingers, touching me right there.
“Oh, yes,” I breathed.
“Wet for me.” His eyes were bright with lust.
My head fell back on the pillow as Ryland took my knees and pushed them apart, baring me to him completely. He teased me with his finger, slipping over my wet pussy, petting me just the way I liked.
“Yes,” I panted. “Right there…”
Ryland's eyes were heavy-lidded as he stroked my slit leisurely.
“Play with your tits,” he said, his voice husky with lust.
I took my breasts in my hands, kneading, pushing them together. I pinched my nipples, twirling my fingers around the hard buds, pretending it was Ryland’s tongue. My breaths came shallow and fast, and I grew wetter as Ryland watched me.
How was it possible that this guy could make me so aroused with just his fingers and that cocky look on his face? I couldn't get enough of that smirk, as if he knew that my body was his to command.
It made me feel hot.
Sexy.
“Ryland,” I panted, arching my hips to his touch, meeting his lustful gaze with one of mine. “Don’t stop…”
Ryland’s face took on a primal excitement at my show. His hand left me, but before I could protest, he'd gone down, replacing it with his mouth. His tongue thrust into me, eating me like he couldn’t get enough.
I cried out, arching my hips up, lost in the ecstasy.
Ryland made a hum of approval, and the sound vibrated through my aching flesh. The sight of his dark head between my thighs was intimate, sensual. His brows drew together as he lifted my hips to his mouth, licking and sucking me.
Then his gaze lifted and collided with mine. Watch, he commanded silently.
I was helpless not to.
Ryland’s brilliant blue eyes held mine as he dragged his tongue up my inner lips and over my clitoris, agitating the aching bud. I moaned loudly, loving the jolts of pleasure he sent pulsing through my body.
But Ryland didn't stop there. He began to suckle on my clit while sliding two fingers in and out of me, thrusting and curling them inside me.
My hips rolled in response, but he clamped an iron arm across my hips, holding me down for his assault.
The feeling of being trapped only heightened my thrill. He was so strong, so domineering…
I surrendered to him completely, letting the pleasure take over me.
“Play with your tits,” he ordered again.
My hands rushed to obey, squeezing them the way I liked it. The way he liked it.
I put on a show for him, moaning and arching, crying out his name. I had always been restrained during sex, holding some part of myself back, but with Ryland, it was like another woman had taken over my body and shed my inhibitions.
And I didn't care. This was Ryland, and I trusted him with my body and my heart.
Mindless whimpers slipped past my throat as I fell back on the pillows, taking in every ounce of pleasure. I felt like a mass of sensation and awareness, existing solely for the sexual bliss Ryland was giving me.
Ryland's face was dark with triumph as he watched me. “That's it, love,” he murmured, working my body. “That's it.”
The pleasure built with every stroke from his thrusting fingers, climbing… climbing…
And then…
“Yes, yes!”
Pleasure exploded in my belly, in my pussy, at my clit. I clutched onto fistfuls of Ryland’s hair, grinding myself against his tongue as I came and came and came.
Ryland milked me for all I had to give, easing his sucking only when I began to come down from my high.
Then he rose up with a triumphant look in his eyes.
I heard the rip of a condom foil, and he pushed my knees wider apart and settled between them.
The swollen head of his erection bobbed against the inside of my thighs for a second before pressing directly into my core. I barely had time to relish the blunt pressure when Ryland plunged himself into me.
I moaned, wrapping my arms and legs around him, needing him to fill every inch of me. His fingers dug painfully into my waist, and he began to thrust.
“Fuck, Allie,” he growled, eyes bright with desire. “So damned tight.”
My head fell back as a new wave began to build. It was too soon after my climax, but Ryland knew every point of pleasure in my body.
His body itself was an aphrodisiac.
His biceps and forearms bulged as he gripped my hips, and the slick sheen of sweat on his chiseled six-pack was enough to send me into another frenzy.
It was shallow, but I couldn't help it. I was turned on, and it showed.
“Please,” I moaned, begging and loving it.
Ryland began fondling me with my own wetness. My clit was still swollen from my previous orgasm and was even more sensitive now, but he knew just the right amount of pleasure-pain to give me.
He stroked me ruthlessly until I was mindless with pleasure. My breasts bounced with his every thrust, and all the while, Ryland watched me with that cocky smile playing on his lips. His dark hair hung over his eyes as he leaned over me, making him look like a pirate in one of those romance books that he made fun of.
I giggled at that thought, then my laugh turned into a moan as Ryland slammed into me punishingly.
“Pay attention,” he drawled, his cock sliding in and out of me wetly.
“I am,” I protested.
“Yeah? Then what am I doing to you? Tell me.”
“You're having sex—”
“What am I doing to you, Allie?” He slammed into me again.
“You're…you’re fucking me.”
“And how do you feel?”
“Good,” I gasped in surrender. “I feel so good…”
“What do you want me to do?”
“I want you to… to fuck me harder. To make me scream—oh! Oh my god, yes!”
My eyes rolled back in my head as Ryland pounded into me, hard and rough. He grabbed my breasts and squeezed them painfully. It was so delicious, and my lips parted in mindless bliss as he pumped in and out of me. My body was his to do whatever he wanted with it.
“Look at you,” Ryland growled. “You love being fucked like this.”
“Yes,” I moaned. My inner muscles rode the thick, hard length filling me. “Ryland, I'm—mmm…”
“That's it,” he murmured, watching me intently. “That’s it.”
“Oh god, yes. Yes!”
My legs clamped around Ryland’s waist, and I jerked over and over as I climaxed again, screaming my ecstasy. I felt my inner muscles squeezing Ryland, tightening around his thick shaft as I came.
“Fuck!” Ryland suddenly bit, looking stunned for a split second.
Then he groaned my name and began pumping into me in hard, frenzied spurts, coming violently inside me.
I held onto him for the entirety of our orgasms, riding the wave until every muscle in my body was limp.
When Ryland was spent, he collapsed on me, panting from exertion. Our chests rose and fell with our heavy breathing.
“Fucking hell,” he panted, turning his face into my neck. “I wanted to hold out, but it's been too damned long without you.”
My hand went to his hair weakly, stroking the thick strands that were plastered against his nape with sweat. I hadn't known for sure earlier, but now I did—Ryland hadn't slept with anyone since me. I bit my lip, feeling both glad and relieved.
After another minute of catching our breaths, Ryland carefully eased out of me and disposed of the condom. He went to the bathroom, and I heard the sound of running water. A moment later he came back to bed with a damp towel in his hand.
“Open up,” he said.
I obeyed, and he gently pressed the warm towel between my legs. I couldn't help wincing at the sting.
“Does it hurt?” he murmured.
“A bit. We were pretty rough. And you’re quite big.”
Ryland raised a brow. “Quite?”
I raised my brow right back. “I won’t say it. Your ego doesn't need any more stroking.”
“No, but I know something else that does.”
My eyes widened. “But we just—aren't you—”
Ryland gave a low chuckle. “Later. I'll need awhile to regroup. You just made me come harder than I can remember.”
He tossed the towel aside and got under the covers with me, tucking my back to his front and pillowing my head with his bicep. I lay in the warm cocoon of soft sheets and Ryland’s warm body, feeling lethargic from the orgasms he'd just given me.
“Do you regret this?” he asked after a moment.
“No.” I played with the hairs on his arm. “I'm just happy we've sorted it out.”
“Me too.” Ryland exhaled silently, his breath warming my neck. “I thought I’d have to watch you go to another guy, fall in love with him. I won't know what to do if that happened,” he admitted in a low voice.
“You’ll probably kill him,” I teased.
“I thought about it,” Ryland said solemnly. “But I realized that I can’t, not if you loved him. I can’t hurt you again. I thought I’d have to stand by and watch.”
I felt a sudden heat prickling my eyes, and I turned over to face Ryland.
“I'm sorry,” I whispered. “I shouldn't have said those hurtful things yesterday. I was angry and let it get the better of me.”
Ryland smiled faintly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ears. “Forgiven.”
Feeling warm and safe, I curled closer against him. “Thanks for coming after me today.”
“I'll always come after you, love.”
“For what it's worth, I wanted to go to you too.” I bit my lip. “I was still working out an apology in my head, but I want you to know that I won't let you go either.”
Ryland's eyes were warm as he gazed down at me. “How do you always know what to say to me?”
“It's only with you,” I said ruefully. “Most people find me too blunt.”
“Most people are idiots.”
“Have I told you how much I love when you take my side without question?”
“Nope, but you can start now.” Ryland propped his head up on a fist, cocking an eyebrow at me. “What else do you love about me? My hotness? My brains?”
“It definitely isn't your cockiness,” I retorted.
“Stop lying, Allie cat, we both know that's your favorite part. You like having a smug asshole like me at your mercy.”
“You?” I teased. “At my mercy?”
“Yep,” Ryland stated simply.
My heart gave a thump at the possessiveness in his expression. He really was mine.
“Ryland,” I hedged. “About my father… Karin said something that stuck with me. She said that you were just as much a victim as we were. And she’s right.” I met Ryland’s gaze. “Your father manipulated you emotionally from the start.”
Ryland brushed his thumb over my cheek, his expression shuttered. “That doesn't change the fact that I lied to you.”
“It doesn't,” I admitted, “but you didn't know me when we first met. You wouldn't have known how I'd react. And after that, you were afraid to lose me."
“I was. And I hurt you because of that,” he said quietly.
“You would've told me everything, wouldn't you?”
Ryland caressed my cheek, holding my gaze. “Yeah. After I'd sorted everything out.”
I believed him.
I fidgeted with the covers. “I think I could forgive you in time, but…”
Ryland stiffened, his gaze sharpening.
“But what?” he said, looking so hopeful that I had to bite back a smile.
“But I would like it if…you continued to chase me. It felt nice."
A slow smile spread across Ryland's face. “I wasn't planning to stop, Allie cat.”
“Good,” I smiled back.
Ryland eased back down, tucking my head into the crook of his neck. I stroked the warm skin over his heart, reveling in the new intimacy between us.
“I think I owe your sister a favor,” he mused, “since she put in a good word for me and all that.”
“My sister? What about me?”
“Hmm, fair enough. What do you want? Name anything.”
“I want a spaceship. That will teach you to say things like “Name anything.””
Ryland scoffed. “You'll need to try harder, Allie cat. It would take a few months for negotiations plus government regulations, but I'm pretty sure I could work something out.”
I pulled away to stare at him. “Are you kidding me? You can buy a spaceship?”
Ryland smirked. “If I liquidate my assets, I can buy several spaceships.”
The easy way he said had me doing a double-blink.
Just a couple of months ago, Ryland would have considered it blasphemy to even think about it.
I bit back a smile.
“Fine, then I want the moon,” I said instead.
“Tough luck, kitty cat. According to the Outer Space Treaty, no one’s allowed to own the moon.” Ryland drew his brows in thought. “But I can get you moon rocks, or name a crater after you. You want that?”
I laughed at his seriousness. “You're supposed to reply with “I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.” George Bailey, It's a Wonderful Life? No? How can you not know it, it's a classic movie.”
“Even if I have heard of it, you know I can't say shit like that with a straight face. My balls will fall right off.” Ryland’s lips curved knowingly. “Those cheesy sex books were yours, weren't they? I knew you were secretly a perv.”
My cheeks reddened. “For the last time, they're romance novels.”
“Whatever you say, perv.”
I raised my fist threateningly, but Ryland went straight for my weak spot.
He tickled my side, and I screamed.
We wrestled in the bed with me on the losing end until I finally gave in.
“Okay, sorry!” I gasped. “No—stop, please!”
Ryland finally eased off, bracing his forearms on either side of my head and trapping me in the bed with his body. His weight felt heavy and delicious on top of me.
“You know I can't say no when you beg,” he grinned.
We watched each other, out-of-breath and aroused. There was something new between us that I couldn’t name, but loved.
“I don't need anything,” I smiled, answering his earlier question. “I just want you.”
Ryland’s brows drew together, as if those words made him ache somewhere.
“You drive me crazy, you know that?” he murmured, his deep voice rumbling against my chest. “Every time I think I can't like you even more, you do or say something that makes me want to eat you up. It's like I'm addicted to you.”
I reached up and brushed aside his hair that had fallen over his forehead. “Glad to know I rank right up there with meth.”
“The purest kind too, not just any low-grade street shit.”
“Thanks,” I said archly. “I sound like such a great catch.”
“You are. How do I put it?” Ryland angled his head, considering. “It's like everything was black and white before you, and now it's in color.”
“So, I'm actually LSD?”
Ryland ducked down and nipped my earlobe.
“Okay, fine,” I laughed. “Let's just say I'm…art. How about that? I'm a nice art piece that brightens your room, and quite possibly your life.”
“Yeah.” Ryland ground his growing erection against my belly. “A very nice…hot…fuckable piece of art.”
I snickered, parting my legs for him. “Is that what you’ve been doing to my portrait?”
Ryland smirked down at me as he yanked the covers off our bodies and grabbed another condom. His cock was already hard and erect, ready for our next round.
“Fuck yeah,” he said smugly as he parted my knees and settled between them. “I’ve been doing all kinds of shit to you, and you didn’t even know it.”
“Show me.” I licked my lips, my eyes going heavy-lidded. “Do it all to my body.”
Ryland’s smile was wolfish as he plunged into me.