Page 21

21

I’m still riding the high from last night. Actually, "high" doesn’t even begin to cover it. It’s like I’m floating—completely untethered, somewhere between reality and the dream I’ve just lived. Waking up with Ryan’s arms wrapped around me, his chest rising and falling softly beneath my cheek, has my heart skipping beats in my chest. His giant body sprawled across the bed, his long dark hair fanned out over the pillow—it’s a sight that makes my breath catch. I can’t help but smile as I trace lazy circles on his chest, feeling the hard muscle beneath my fingertips.

He’s still asleep, and I take the opportunity to just watch him. There’s something almost peaceful about him right now—his usual intensity softened by sleep. I don’t want this moment to end. If I could stay here with him forever, I would.

But then his eyes flutter open, and the peace is immediately replaced by something darker, more primal. His molten brown eyes lock onto mine, and I feel that familiar heat rush through me. He doesn’t waste a second. His hands move to my body with purpose, fingers grazing my skin, and the look in his eyes… it’s like he’s devouring me.

"Morning," I murmur softly, my voice thick with sleep.

Ryan’s lips curve into a slow smile, but he doesn’t say a word. Instead, he pulls me closer, his hand sliding down my side, and I shiver under his touch. I don’t want to leave this room, don’t want to leave him . The thought of flying back home today—being apart for the next 72 hours—feels unbearable. I never thought I’d be counting down the hours until a work day, but now, I want nothing more than for these next few days off to be over just so I can see him again.

I barely have time to finish that thought before Ryan rolls me beneath him, his lips crashing against mine. His kiss is possessive, hungry, and I melt into him, completely losing myself in his touch.

“We should get up…” I whisper between kisses, but I don’t really mean it. I want him. Again. And again, and again.

“We’ve got time,” he growls, his voice thick with lust.

Before I can argue, he’s lifting me up out of the bed, carrying me into the bathroom, his lips never leaving mine. The steam from the hot shower surrounds us, making everything hazy, but all I can focus on is him. Ryan turns the water on, letting it cascade over both of us as he lathers his hands with soap, running them over my body.

His touch is everywhere—gentle but firm—and the way his hands glide over my skin, the way the soap suds up between us, it’s like he’s worshipping me. My breath hitches when he kneels down in front of me, his eyes full of dark promise.

“Ryan…” I gasp, but before I can say anything else, his mouth is on me.

He kisses a slow trail down my inner thigh before his tongue slides over my clit, and my whole body arches in response. I can’t think, can’t breathe, I can barely even keep myself upright—everything around me fades away except the feeling of his mouth. The water pours down over us, but it’s nothing compared to the fire he’s igniting inside me.

“Oh god…” I moan, my fingers tangling in his wet hair as his tongue moves in slow, torturous circles, sending wave after wave of pleasure crashing over me. His hands grip my hips, holding me steady as he works me over, and all I can do is lean back against the shower wall, helpless under his touch.

“Ryan,” I gasp his name, feeling the coil inside me tighten to the point of breaking. His tongue flicks faster, harder, and when his fingers dig into my skin, it pushes me over the edge. My entire body shudders, pleasure rippling through me in waves so intense I can barely stand.

When I finally come down, I’m breathless, my body trembling under the weight of what he’s done to me. But Ryan’s not done. He stands, his chest heaving, water streaming down his body, and I’m struck again by just how devastatingly beautiful he is. His body is like an actual masterpiece, rock hard from his dedication. His cock stands thick and hard between us, and I can’t resist.

“My turn,” I murmur, dropping to my knees, my hands wrapping around his length.

Ryan groans, his head falling back as I run my tongue over the tip of his cock, teasing him. His hips jerk forward, and I smile, knowing I have him right where I want him. I take him into my mouth, slowly at first, savoring the way he feels—hot and thick against my tongue.

“Fuck, baby,” he growls, his voice tight with pleasure. His hands tangle in my hair, guiding me, and I take more of him, sucking him deeper into my mouth. The sound of his groans echoes in the shower, and the harder I suck, the more desperate he becomes.

“Good girl,” he praises, his voice dark and rough. “You’re mine, you know that? I want to hear you say it again.”

I pull back just enough to meet his eyes, my lips brushing the tip of his cock as I whisper, “I’m yours.”

A guttural growl escapes him, and I can feel the tension in his body as he fights to stay in control. I take him deeper, sucking harder, my hand stroking his length in time with my mouth. My tongue swirls around his cock again and again. His grip in my hair tightens, and I know he’s close.

“Fuck, baby…” he moans, and with one final thrust, he comes hard, his release spilling down my throat. I swallow him, savoring the salty taste of him, and when he finally let’s go, I pull back, wiping my lips with a satisfied grin.

Ryan stares down at me, his chest heaving, his dark eyes full of something I can’t quite name. Lust. Possession. Whatever it is, it makes my stomach flip. He pulls me up into his arms, his lips crashing against mine in a deep, bruising kiss.

“You’re mine,” he growls again, his hands sliding down my body, possessively cupping my ass. “Only I get to see you like this, fucking wrecked and falling apart for me.”

I lean into him pressing my body against his, as my lips find his again.

We step out of the shower, both of us breathless, both of us reluctant to let this moment end. I grab a towel, but before I can even start drying off, Ryan’s phone buzzes on the bathroom counter. His expression hardens as he glances down at the screen.

“Shit,” he mutters. “It’s Travis. I skipped the gym this morning.” He looks at me, a sheepish grin tugging at his lips. “That’s not like me.”

I smile back, but there’s a knot in my stomach. We have to leave soon. Back to separate flights, separate homes. Back to reality. What if things change in the time we’re apart? What if this was a mistake? What if this was just a one-time thing?

Ryan quickly towels off, then dials Travis back, telling him he’ll meet him in the lobby in an hour for their flight. I finish getting dressed, the thought of saying goodbye looming over me like a dark cloud.

When we’re both ready, Ryan walks me back to my room. We hardly say anything, both of us lost in our thoughts. When we finally reach my door, I can’t help but feel like I’m leaving a part of myself behind.

“I’ll see you soon,” he says, his hand lingering on my waist.

“Yeah,” I whisper, but my heart feels heavy. “I’ll see you soon.” I force a small smile.

He kisses me one last time, slow and deep, and when he finally pulls away, the ache in my chest is almost unbearable. I watch him walk down the hall, his broad shoulders disappearing around the corner, and suddenly, 72 hours feels like a lifetime.

Back home, the familiar scent of my apartment does little to comfort me. I drop my bags by the door and immediately start calling out.

“Annika?!” I shout, practically bursting into the living room.

Annika appears from the kitchen, her eyes wide in surprise. “What the hell, Natalie? You scared me half to death!”

“I slept with Ryan!” I blurt out, the words tumbling out of my mouth before I can stop them. “And it was so much more than just casual sex.” It’s like I have word vomit. I spill my guts.

Her jaw drops. “Wait, Ryan Pierce? Like the Ryan? Holy shit! Natalie! You naughty girl!”

I nod, still breathless from my confession, and over the next few minutes, I spill every dirty detail. The way he claimed me, the things he said—how he told me I was his now. Annika listens, her eyes wide with excitement, a huge grin plastered on her face.

“That is so hot,” she gushes, practically bouncing with excitement. “I’m so happy for you! This is huge, Nat. I knew you two had chemistry, from your stories, but I didn’t realize it was this intense! Damn girl, I’m jealous.”

We talk for what feels like hours, and I can’t help but feel giddy, replaying every moment in my head, and I'm thankful Annika is willing to listen to my incessant rambling. Those growls coming from him, fuck I can’t wait to hear that again. But there’s this small, nagging thought in the back of my mind. What if this was just sex for him? What if that’s all it is? What if I was just a way for him to unwind, blow off some steam? I mean after all it was sex, we didn’t go out on a date, hell we hardly spoke. And the things he said, I mean, could that have just been dirty talk?

I push the thought away. No. This was more than that. I felt it. I know he did too. He told me he felt something.

Just as I’m about to head to bed, my phone buzzes with a text.

Ryan : "These next few days are going to be fucking unbearable. I can’t stop thinking about you. And the way your mouth felt wrapped around my cock…"

A smile tugs at my lips, warmth spreading through me at his words.

Whatever this is… it’s more than just sex.