Page 53 of 500 First Editions (The Romantics #3)

“Not yet,” I said as I leaned on his shoulder. “Why? Have you?”

“Yeah,” Ryan said as he lifted my chin with a crooked finger. “It’s wherever you are.”

I melted.

Whitney and Wander were right. Book boyfriends existed. And if keeping Ryan meant eating a massive helping of crow, I’d scarf it down happily.

His hands wandered up and down my sides, pulling at my shirt until he found the hem and slipped his hands beneath the fabric. His touch was leading and safe.

“Ryan,” I moaned when he started to search for the clasp of my bra.

“Let me make you feel good, Wills.”

He leaned in for another long kiss, but I reared back. “No.” I reached between his thighs and squeezed the long, thick outline of his cock. “You always make me feel good. It’s your turn.”

His brow furrowed. “Willow?—”

“I want to,” I said, locking eyes with him as I slid off the couch and dropped to my knees.

Ryan let out a slow breath and swore at the ceiling.

“Please?” I said, as I fiddled with the button of his jeans.

His eyes darkened like an eclipse. He wanted it. I could feel the desire radiating from him in waves. But would he let himself have it?

“Please,” I said again as I unbuttoned his jeans and slowly drew the zipper down.

Ryan’s eyes never left mine as he slowly lifted his ass off the couch and pushed his jeans and boxers down, then kicked them off.

“Shirt too,” I said. “I want you naked.”

He reached behind his head, grabbed the neck of his shirt, and pulled it off in one smooth motion.

“Just so we’re clear,” Ryan said as he leaned back, spread his knees wide, and stretched one arm across the back of the couch.

“When my dick is in your mouth, your eyes are on me.” He slowly stroked his cock until it stood at attention. “Understood?”

I nodded as I pulled my hair to the side and wrapped my hand around his dick. Ryan tipped his head back and let out a sharp breath when I kissed the swollen head of his cock.

“Right here,” Ryan said as he reached down and tipped my chin up. “Eyes on me, beautiful.”

I felt the weight of his gaze as I slid his cock into my mouth.

Ryan let out a hushed profanity as his one-handed grip on the back of the couch tightened. “You’re gonna fucking kill me. You know that?”

I smiled and took him deeper into my mouth.

I loved the control of a blowjob. I didn’t think it was submissive in the slightest. I had full control of his body and his pleasure.

I cupped his balls in the palm of my hand as I sucked and licked his shaft. His thighs tensed as his breathing turned shallow.

But my eyes never left his.

“That’s my good fucking girl,” he rasped as I took him as far as I could and swallowed, making my throat and mouth constrict around his cock.

Ryan looked like he should have been chiseled from marble. He flaunted his body as he sat sprawled out on the couch. Every tattooed inch of his arms flexed and rippled as he restrained himself long enough to take his own pleasure rather than seeing to mine.

His chest heaved, and his abs flexed. I held him deep and sucked as hard as I could, hollowing my cheeks until he tipped his head back, finally breaking my gaze.

I released him from my mouth. “Ah-ah—eyes on me.”

His dark lashes flicked to me, cutting me with a sharp glance. “I set the rules.”

“Is that what you think?” I teased as I massaged his balls. “Because I think I’m the one in charge right now.” I tipped my head to the side and tenderly licked across his balls.

Ryan grunted, jerking as he tried to snap his hips, feeling the primal urge to drive his dick into me.

“Poor guy,” I murmured. “Tell me how badly you want me and maybe I’ll let you come.” I pumped my hand up and down his shaft as I teased the head with my tongue.

“Wills—” he begged with threadbare words.

“So close,” I teased. “But not quite.”

“ Willow .” There was urgency in his voice as his cock throbbed in my grasp.

“Eyes on me, Ryan,” I sassed.

That darkened gaze turned to midnight as my world tilted. Ryan rocketed off the couch and pinned me flat to the rug. Above us, candles flickered like starlight.

He grabbed the waist of my shorts, pushing them down while I ripped my shirt off.

“I have come in my hand far too many times thinking about you,” he grunted as he slid a single finger through my slit to make sure I was ready, then drove into me.

I was wet and aching for it. I gasped as he pulled out and slammed into me again.

“I have fucked my hand in the shower and wasted my cum too many fucking times, Willow.”

He snapped his hips again and paused just long enough to grind against me until I was gasping and writhing beneath him.

“Get there, baby. I’m ready to come, and you’re coming with me.”

“I’m not?—”

He grabbed one bra cup and yanked it down, exposing my breast. He sealed his mouth around my nipple and sucked.

Oh my god—I was about to come.

“I’m coming inside you, and you’re coming around me. Nowhere else,” he barked.

I nodded in wordless agreement.

He worked my body until I was a begging, sobbing mess. I cried out for relief as he pushed me to the edge over and over again. I clawed at his chest and arms, desperate to feel more of him.

We shattered together, cresting and riding each wave of pleasure until the only sound in the house was the crackle of candles and the two of us panting to catch our breath.

“What was that for?” I asked as I finally came to.

Ryan was still buried inside me, and was bracing his arms on either side of my head. Something heavy lingered in his gaze. The lust and arousal had faded, leaving behind something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

“Ry?”

He pressed his lips to my forehead. “I was just thinking about the first time I saw you.”

I laughed. “When I bought a vibrator box full of rocks? This definitely beats that by a longshot.”

But he didn’t laugh. He didn’t even smile. The weight was back. “I just didn’t know how good things would be with you,” he admitted. “I tell people to chase this kind of feeling, but I had never felt it. Not entirely. Not until now.”

I wanted him to say it. To say the three words that had been floating through my head.

But he didn’t.

And I didn’t either.

Maybe book boyfriends do exist. But cowards exist too.