Chapter Eight
“I don’t know, Stacy.” Ryan paused outside Sunday’s Side. He’d made an ass of himself in this place yesterday. “Tell me again how you know these people.”
“Riley’s family owns the bar and restaurant.” Stacy grabbed his hand to pull him toward the door.
“And who is Riley?” Ryan stood firm.
“She’s an old high school friend of my mom’s.”
“You sure you don’t just want to go to Cracker Barrel or something?” Ryan asked.
“Oh my god, Ryan. Just come on.” Stacy pulled the door open and held it for Ryan to walk through.
Ryan took a deep breath and looked down at Stacy. “Okay then, let’s get this party started.” He grabbed the door, and Stacy walked under his outstretched arm and entered. Ryan reluctantly followed.
Several people called out to Stacy as they entered and slid into a booth. She waved as Ryan ducked his head to look at the menu.
“You know all these people?” Ryan asked covertly as he pretended to make his breakfast selection.
“Yes and no,” Stacy said as she picked up the menu. “I mean, I recognize everyone, but I’m not sure I have all their names straight. Riley Young and her husband Aaron, I know. They have three kids. I know them simply from seeing pictures growing up and stopping in here a few times a year. But Riley also has six brothers and sisters, and they all have kids. I know that’s Kiera over there next to Riley, because her daughter, Caitlyn, is in a relationship with Lucas Whiting.”
Ryan glanced over at the two women at the counter, who looked like they were watching them. Damn.
“Oh, and I also know who Riley’s sister Teagan is. She’s married to Sky Adams,” Stacy said with wide eyes.
“No shit?” Ryan looked at her over his menu.
“Yep. Cool, huh?”
“It is,” Ryan agreed. “What about the guys at the bar? The ones who looked like they were ready to throw me out yesterday.”
“Well, that’s where I start getting confused. I don’t know all their names, and two are twins. I know one of them is named Tris. But once you start throwing all their sons in there…” Stacy shook her head. “It’s going to take me a little while to learn all their names.”
“Do they all work here?” Ryan asked.
“I have no idea. I don’t think so. I’m sure they all help out if needed.”
“Good morning. Again,” Riley said as she stepped up to their table.
Ryan’s brow furrowed as he looked back and forth between the two women. Riley was smiling and Stacy was blushing; he must have missed the joke.
“What can I get you two?” Riley asked.
After they placed their breakfast order, Riley left, and they were alone again. Sort of. Ryan could feel the weight of the stares that were coming from various directions. He smiled. That was actually really nice. All these people watching out for Stacy. He tried to feel happy about that, but things had changed.
Ryan looked over at Stacy as she checked her phone. God, she was beautiful. And smart. And funny. She knew everything about him and still she’d wanted to be with him. That last fact he couldn’t quite grasp, but he’d decided to stop fighting it.
He noticed that Stacy’s expression had changed. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, really. Lucas wants me to meet with a family looking for a place for their father. They’re in town this week visiting, and won’t be here next week when I officially start, so he’d like me to meet with them today.”
“I’m sure it will be fine. I’m sure you’ve done your homework on this and can talk to these people.” Ryan’s gut knotted. He was trying to be supportive, but fuck, this didn’t feel right. She needed to be with him. In Hamilton.
“Of course, but I had plans to take you to Fells Point and show you around before you left.”
“I can stay another day. I have a lot of plans for you too. Most of mine involve you naked, though.” Ryan wagged his eyebrows.
“Here’s your orange juice,” Riley said as she placed the glass in front of Stacy. “And your coffee. You didn’t say if you wanted any cream or sugar.”
“No, ma’am. This is fine,” Ryan stammered.
“Ryan, you know you take cream and sugar in your coffee,” Stacy said, giving Ryan a funny look.
“Did you just call me ma’am?” Riley asked, putting a hand on her hip.
Ryan looked back and forth between the women, wide-eyed. “No, ma’am. I mean yes, ma’am. I mean…sorry. I don’t know what the hell I mean. Black is fine.”
“He takes cream and sugar. The real stuff,” Stacy said to Riley.
Riley nodded with a grin and turned. “Keira, did you hear that? He called me ma’am.”
“He obviously doesn’t know you!” a male voice yelled from the bar.
“Don’t you have a bar to prepare?” Riley called back. “Keira, do I look old?”
“Yes!” the voice from the bar called.
“Shut up!” Riley yelled.
“I cannot believe that Riley, of all people, has thrown Ryan Sanders off his game.” Stacy smiled.
“I don’t get the impression she’s easily won over by charm,” Ryan said as he took a sip of his coffee and grimaced.
“And you were just going to drink that rather than ask for cream and sugar?”
Ryan shrugged. “What time do you have to meet with the people at the Collins House?”
“One o’clock. I’ll have just enough time to jump in the shower and go. I’m sure it won’t take long. We could still go to the National Aquarium and then the Hard Rock Café for dinner. They have a chicken macaroni-and-cheese dish that I know you’ll love.”
“Sounds like fun.” Ryan stared at Stacy as Riley started placing breakfast plates in front of them, along with cream and sugar. She knew how he liked his coffee. That made him want to kiss her. Which was stupid.
He didn’t know how she liked hers. And that made him feel like shit. It was just another reminder that she was amazing and he didn’t deserve her. But fuck, he wanted her.
Riley said she’d be back to check on them, and left. Stacy was looking at all his plates with a strange look on her face.
“What?” Ryan frowned.
“How in the world are you going to eat all that?” she shook her head.
“It’s not much. Eggs, bacon, hash browns, toast, and pancakes.” Ryan gestured toward each item on the plates.
“Did you get chocolate chips in your pancakes?” she asked, hopefully.
“Yes. You were sitting right here.”
“I wasn’t paying attention when you ordered. I was checking my messages. Remember? Why’d you get chocolate chips? You don’t like them that way.”
“But you do. I was paying attention when you ordered, and you didn’t ask for these.”
“I ordered an omelet,” she said, confused.
“Yes. And when we’ve gone out for breakfast before an open house, you always order an omelet. I order pancakes. You always steal them. And then you tell me how much better they are with chocolate chips.” Ryan grinned.
“I don’t steal them.” Stacy wore a little pout. “I just take a bite or two.”
Ryan raised his eyebrows at her.
“Okay, maybe it’s more than that, but look at all that food you order! You don’t need all those pancakes too.”
“Oh, they’re not for me. I got them for you. You need to carb up for later.” Ryan winked.
“You think so, huh? You may need them more than me.”
Ryan slid the pancakes toward Stacy, and she immediately buttered them and poured on syrup. She ended up eating more of the pancakes than the omelet she’d ordered. Ryan ended up finishing everything on his plate and hers too.
“Good grief. You’re a bottomless pit,” Riley said as she stepped up to the table.
“Yes, ma’am. I mean Mrs. Young.” Ryan smiled.
“Dear lord, Ryan, just call me Riley. You already have Keira over there giving me night cream tips; don’t make it any worse.” Riley quickly turned her attention to Stacy. “So, how’d it go?”
Stacy smiled wide. “Better than I’ve ever imagined.”
Ryan was pretty sure they were talking about this morning, but he was going to sit here and pretend he was looking at his phone.
“First move?” Riley asked, with raised eyebrows.
“Me,” Stacy said proudly.
Ryan let out a humph, not taking his eyes off his phone.
“What?” Stacy frowned at him.
“Nothing.”
“You think you made the first move this morning?” she asked disbelievingly.
“I totally made the first move,” Ryan said, looking up from his phone with raised eyebrows.
“No. You made a comment to see what my reaction would be. I was the one who said I wanted you.” Stacy gave a cocky grin as if she’d won the argument.
“I kissed you first. I win.” Ryan sat back and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Oh my dear god. You two deserve each other. Breakfast is on me. And you two should come back tonight. I’m sure a bunch of the cousins will be here. They’re more your age. Now let me get back to Keira so she can explain the difference between youth serums and anti-aging creams.” Riley started to turn, then stopped. “Oh, and don’t tell your mom I had anything to do with this.” She pointed back and forth between Ryan and Stacy. “I don’t want her to think I’m a bad influence.”
“I won’t.” Stacy smiled. “But just so you know, Ryan is actually quite the charmer. Mom would probably be ecstatic.”
“Hmm. Yeah, I guess I can see that.” Riley turned. “Don’t be a stranger, Ryan.”
“Yes, ma’am. Riley. Okay, Riley.”
“Better,” Riley said.
* * * * *
Stacy stepped out of the shower. She’d been a little disappointed that Ryan hadn’t joined her. She was even more disappointed when he wasn’t there to greet her when she got out. Maybe he’d fallen asleep. He’d eaten a big breakfast, after all.
She glanced at the clock and saw she had about an hour and a half before she needed to greet the visitors on the first floor. It shouldn’t take more than an hour to meet with them and show them around. Then she could come back up here and change so they could go to the aquarium. It wasn’t the greatest place in the world to take a date, but there were lots of things to do down there, and the Hard Rock was within walking distance. She figured they’d take a cab again tonight rather than have to deal with parking in such a touristy area.
She dried her hair and applied her makeup. She put on her favorite raspberry tulle skirt and a crisp white blouse. It was amazing that she’d found a pair of pumps that matched the color of her skirt perfectly. She slipped them on and went to see what the hell Ryan was doing.
“Fuck, yeah. My cock has been getting so fucking hard imagining you coming out here dressed like that,” Ryan said as he stood from the couch and stalked toward her.
“Oh, really? I was in there, naked, and you didn’t seem interested enough to join me,” Stacy said as she backed away.
“No. I want you exactly like this,” he said as he backed her up against the kitchen table. He cupped the nape of her neck and began kissing the side of her throat. “Get on your knees,” he whispered in her ear.
Stacy looked around him to see the clock on the stove as her pussy tingled.
“We have plenty of time,” he said as he took a step back.
Stacy smiled and reached down to pull off her pumps.
“No. Leave ’em on.”
The tingling intensified, and she could feel herself dampen at the gruffness in his voice. She slowly went to her knees in front of him.
“I want those pretty little lips to leave a ring of pink lipstick around the base of my cock. You understand?” Ryan unzipped his jeans and pulled out his cock.
Stacy’s eyes widened at the sight, and at the sound of his command.
Ryan chuckled. “You can do it.” He placed a thumb on her chin. “Open.”
Stacy opened and watched Ryan use his other hand to guide his cock between her lips.
“Look at me.”
Stacy’s eyes shot up to meet his. When she’d taken him as deep as she could, she closed lips around his cock and wiggled her lips hard around to make sure to leave that ring of lipstick. It wasn’t at the base, but she wasn’t sure that was even possible.
“That’s it, sweetheart.” He pulled back and pushed forward again. He repeated the move three times, slowly. “Stand up,” he said, pulling his cock from her mouth.
She was a little disappointed. That had been as hot as hell, and she literally hadn’t even started. “What?”
“My way,” he said, stroking his cock. “Do you have another shirt?”
“You are not ruining this shirt,” Stacy said with pursed lips.
“Well take it the fuck off before I tear it off.”
“What about the skirt?” she asked as she pulled her shirt from the waist of her skirt and starting unbuttoning it.
“Leave it on. With the shoes.”
“You’re staying dressed?” Stacy hung her shirt over the back of a chair.
“Yes.”
“Bra?” she asked as she reached behind her.
“Off.”
Stacy smiled. He was only capable of one-word answers. She let her bra fall forward off her arms as Ryan continued to stroke his cock. Stacy closed her eyes and sighed. This was so fucking hot. She was tingling all over and was very tempted to see if he’d stop her if she went back to her knees.
“Open your eyes,” Ryan commanded, his voice deep and raspy.
Stacy’s eyes flew open. She’d never heard him like that before. It sent a bolt of electricity straight to her pussy.
“Turn around.”
Stacy turned around and faced the table, wondering what was going to happen next. Suddenly, Ryan ran something silky across her back and under her biceps. She looked to see what it was.
“A tie?”
He chuckled. “I always travel with a shirt and tie.”
He tied her upper arms together, forcing her back to arch. Her hands were free, but with her upper arms tied together, she was even more immobile than if he’d only tied her wrists.
“I’ve been thinking about this since that kiss last week. You have no idea how many times I’ve imagined it,” he whispered next to her ear.
“You and me both,” Stacy said with sarcasm in her voice.
Ryan reached around and cupped her breast, pinching the tip.
“Yes,” she hissed. Having her arms restrained heightened the excitement.
“Are you wet for me?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Are you sure? I don’t want to go too fast and hurt you,” he said with concern.
“Ryan, I haven’t asked you to go slow or take it easy with me. I want to feel how much you want this.”
Ryan stilled for a moment, then growled. Stacy’s eyes widened at the sound. Suddenly, he squeezed her breasts and pinched her nipples. Just as quickly, he placed his hand at the nape of her neck and pushed her forward onto the table. The glass table was cold against her breasts and cheek. He immediately flipped up the back of her skirt and pushed her panties down to her knees. She could hear the rustling of a condom package, and used the moment to shimmy her panties the rest of the way off and step out of them.
“Spread your feet,” Ryan growled as he grabbed her hips.
Stacy quickly spread her feet, and Ryan pushed into her to the hilt. Stacy’s head came off the table and she cried out. Ryan pounded into her pussy, and in this position, with her arms bound, she was at his mercy. And he wasn’t giving any.
“Do you feel how much I want this? How much I want you? Every fucking day of my life,” Ryan ground out.
“Yes. Harder,” Stacy moaned.
Ryan grasped Stacy right below her hips and lifted her completely off the floor and pounded into her relentlessly. She felt like she could fly at any second. She could feel the orgasm that had been floating since he’d told her to get on her knees start to spread its wings. Ryan must have felt it too. He set her feet back to the floor and reached around and pinched her clit. And suddenly she was soaring. Ryan once again lifted her and pounded into her as her entire body shook with orgasm.
Stacy wasn’t sure how much time passed before Ryan grunted with his own, but when he lowered her to her feet and pulled out, her body shook again with the loss. He flipped down her skirt and leaned over her and kissed her shoulders as he untied the tie around her arms. Stacy lay there, unable to move. Ryan reached down and lifted her off the table and pulled her into a hug.
“I can’t believe I didn’t even get a kiss out of all that.” Stacy pouted.
Ryan grinned. “I didn’t want to smear your lipstick.”
Stacy looked at the clock. Oh, shit. She needed to be down there in fifteen minutes. She pulled from Ryan’s arms and ran back through her room to the bathroom. She fixed her hair and replaced the missing lipstick, and ran back to the table to quickly put her bra and shirt back on.
“Where’s my panties?” She looked under the table and all around.
Ryan held them up for her to see, then stuffed them into his pocket. “No panties.”
“Ryan! I can’t go down there without panties.”
“Yes. You will. It will make things so much more fun later.”