Chapter Thirteen
Put on your big girl panties, Rose. You want this man. Take what you can of him, while you have the chance.
“What’d you have in mind?” Sniffling back the last of her emotion—that she’d let him see, anyway—she pushed him onto his back on the bed and climbed on top, her rear end nestled against his lap. “This?”
Slowly, taking time to tease and play, she lifted her shirt, first showing him her belly. Then her ribcage and a flash of bra. But the shirt stayed on, just to torment him.
“That works,” he rasped, gripping her hips and grinding himself into her soft center. “Too bad you’re not wearing a cheerleading skirt, like that one time.”
She laughed. “Oh, God. That was such a crazy night.”
“One of my all-time favorites.”
Hers, too. She’d give just about anything to go back in time and do it all over again. Minus the miscarriage and the part where she’d left, obviously. “How about you use your imagination, handsome? Maybe we can take a trip down memory lane.”
“Hell, no. This grown-up version of you is ten times hotter.”
Warmth spread through her chest and, for a moment, she almost chased it off. But why? She wasn’t a kid who couldn’t control her emotions. Ryan made her feel so damn good and there was no reason she shouldn’t enjoy every second of it. When it was over, she’d walk away like an adult who could handle her shit. Even if she couldn’t.
“The grown-up Ryan Croft is pretty spectacular, too.” Smoothing one hand down the center of his solid chest, she let her fingers glide along the bumps and ridges of his abs. “You’ve filled out quite nicely. In more places than one.”
A dark curtain of lust slid over his gaze and he jackknifed up, yanking her shirt over her head in one swift movement. “So have you,” he murmured, his hot and hungry hands on her breasts. “Remember how afraid you were to show me these?”
The heat in her chest spread to her cheeks “I was fifteen.”
“So was I. And I never told you, but I was just as scared.”
Her eyes widened. “What of?” She was pretty sure he’d already rounded that base with Ally Barrett the summer before.
He smiled. “What if I did something wrong? Or what if I touched you and you didn’t like it?”
She glanced down to where his big hands cupped her over the lace of her bra, kneading gently, drawing her nipples into tight, needy peaks. “I’ve always liked your hands on me.”
“I know that now.”
Another laugh rolled up from her belly. “You’re awfully confident, aren’t you?”
“You taught me everything I know, babe.”
“Confident and full of shit.”
He chuckled as she crawled off of his lap and got to her feet. “Where you going?”
Eyes locked on his, she reached around and unhooked her bra, replacing the fabric with her own hands and mimicking his touch.
“Oh, sweet Jesus.” He hurried upright and scrambled off the bed after her. “You don’t have to do that all alone, babe. I’m right here.”
Another laugh. This one husky with desire. “You’ve got a big shower in that bathroom.”
“Yeah?” He dipped down and covered one nipple with his hot mouth, sucking so wickedly that her knees shook. “Something you want to do in there?”
Um…what were they talking about again? “Uh…”
Ryan’s throaty laugh vibrated against her skin and she collapsed into his arms, helpless to do anything but enjoy all the wonderful, crazy sensations he stirred up inside of her.
How on Earth would she ever be able to find someone else who gave her even half of what he did?
“You know we’re playing with fire here, don’t you, princess?”
Oh, yeah. A big, blazing hot fire that would takes months, maybe even years, to put out. If ever.
She tugged at his head, pulling him up so she could press her lips to his. “If I’m going to get burned, at least it’s with you.”
***
He was right—this was going to hurt like hell when it was over. But if this was truly the last time they’d be together, she couldn’t walk away without making one last impression.
She led him into the bathroom, cranked on the shower, and made quick work of stripping them both bare.
“What’s the rush, princess? You got a hot date after this or—”
She tiptoed up and sealed her mouth to his. No soft niceties to warm them up, just all-in heat, complete with her tongue seeking out his, over and over again. Somehow they ended up beneath the hot stream of the shower, the water beating down on them like a cleansing rain, washing away everything that didn’t matter. The past. The hurt feelings. The regret.
All that mattered was them in that moment.
While kissing Ryan was always nice, it wasn’t what she had in mind. Not this time around.
“Now where you are going?” Ryan asked as she pulled back and gave him a heavy-lidded smile. Lowering to her knees before him, no explanation was needed.
He groaned as she leaned in and traced the tip of her tongue along the underside of his erection, from root to head. It was a taunting move, made purposely to remind him of the shy, inexperienced girl she’d been in high school. A girl she’d left behind a long time ago.
Opening wide, she took him all the way to the back of her mouth, loving how he twitched and shivered and drove his hands into her hair. His eyes drooped to half-mast and his nostrils flared as she blinked up at him, intent on driving him absolutely wild.
Up and down, she kept at him, sliding her tongue along his length with just the right amount of suction to make his knees shake against her chest. He groaned again and grew harder in her mouth. Desperate to please him, she curled her hand around his shaft and pumped in tandem with each bob of her head, yet another trick they’d learned together once upon a time.
“Baby, I’m gonna come.” He brushed a gentle thumb along her cheekbone, but she refused to let up. She wanted everything he had to give.
And he gave her just that.
Hands winding in her hair, he thrust into her eager mouth. “Ah, honey, you look so hot like that,” he croaked, his hips pulsing fast. “You sure?”
Not a doubt in her mind. She swallowed him down as far as she could and he exploded, grunting and cursing as he came. He repeated her name over and over again until the spasms subsided and he stumbled back against the side of the shower stall.
“Holy shit.” He hauled her to her feet, searching her face in disbelief. “You just…”
“Uh huh.” She licked her lips and snuggled against his chest. “I did. You okay with that?”
“Hell, yes, but…” His hesitation lasted just long enough for her recognize the jealousy in his eyes. “Since when?”
Oh, no. They weren’t going there on their last night together. “All that matters is us right now.”
He didn’t move.
“Ryan, come on.” She gave him a playful shove, but he caught her wrist. His touch was gentle enough, but the questions in his stormy gaze weren’t as understanding.
“I hate it,” he said tightly. “I friggin’ hate that I’m not the only guy to touch you. That I won’t be the last either.”
What could she say to that? It was a truth they’d both have to get used to. But for now…
She lifted up and slipped her arms around his neck, brushing her nose against his. “What if I told you you’re the only man I’ve ever thought of when I’m alone?”
His throat worked as he swallowed. “It would help. A little.”
“Good. Because it’s true. You turn me on like no other, Ryan Croft.” To that, she leaned in and licked the line of his jaw all the way up to his earlobe. The second most sensitive spot on his body.
His hands went to her hips, his fingers digging in deep as she played. “You remembered that, too.”
“You’re not the kind of man a woman could ever forget.”