Page 130 of The Restoration Program

Nicole sat up on one arm. “I mean… We can try calling the Facility tomorrow. Maybe get hold of Burman directly. He seems like the forgiving type, right?”

If they got back in soon enough, maybe she could stop Carlos from following through on his threat to run away.

Ryan’s sigh washed over her. He buried the tip of his nose against her and pressed a soft kiss to her belly. “I dunno, babe. It sounded pretty final when they called. Besides, do we really need group sessions at this point? We missed this week’s session, and things are just fine, aren’t they?”

Inching back on the pillow, she gave him an insistent frown. “Ry, these are literally the only people within reach who can understand what we’re going through. We can’t give it up like that.”

“We don’t need to keep lamenting our problems to a rotating cast of strangers,” he scoffed. “We can take it from here.”

“But they’re not strangers—not all of them.” She wasn’t stupid enough to bring up Carlos’ name—or even Rebecca’s. “Some of them have been in our lives since the beginning of all this.”

Ryan gave an impatient chuckle. “Believe it or not, picturing Todd and Ellissharing their winsisn’t getting me up.” He leaned one arm on the pillow, fixing her withthat look. “Let’s talk about this tomorrow.”

He leaned his mouth towards hers, but she scooted back again. “First thing in the morning,” she said, pointing a finger. “You promised we would call together.”

“Of course. If it’s that important to you… We’ll give them hell.”

“Okay.”

“So. You uh, wanna finish?”

Nicole nodded. She couldn’t meet his pleased gaze as she tapped on his chest to motion for him to roll over. Ryan took off his shirt. She climbed onto his chest and spent some time there, working her way down his toned abs while he massaged the sweet spot between her breasts. He gave a sigh—ready for release.

He was already erect when she reached his waistline. It was second nature now to reach out and urge him along. She adjusted her removed her thong before straddling the width of his dick, grinding her body against it through the straining fabric.

“This still good?” she asked over her shoulder.

“You have to ask?”

He cupped a hand over her, his thumb rubbing pleasantly at her lower back. A satisfied twitch came beneath her seconds later. Nicole smirked, but her mind remained flighty. Nervous. Wonderinghas anyone else sucked him off recently besides me?

Despite her best efforts, her rhythm slowed. She pictured Cora, with her legs wrapped around Ryan’s waist. A dazzling bracelet lay upon the arm wrapped around his neck.

Would he?Nicole frowned. How could he, when he insisted they spend practically every second together since the Restoration?

Ryan’s hand closed around her more securely, testing his grip. “Do you need me to help you?” he said—impatience cloaked as sweetness that did not go amiss.

“No,” Nicole said, an edge to her voice.

“Then what is it?”

“I don’t know. Just a lot on my mind.” She shrugged as she set motion back into her hips and squeezed with her thighs hard enough to make Ryan gasp. “I used to be able to read you like a book. Lately... It’s like you’ve got a bit of a man-of-mystery thing going on.”

He paused, still breathing heavily. “You’re upset?”

“No, I’m just talking. It’s nothing.”

“Nothingusually means you’re pissed,” he said with a dark chuckle.

Nicole stopped short. His hand was still resting over her lightly, as though he thought she might still give him a release despite his obvious annoyance.

“Don’t you dare,” she said, twisting around. “Don’t talk to me like that whenyou…”

She froze up as their eyes met and his narrowed. With a start, she realized she’d shown her hand with a single look. He grabbed her off his dick and turned onto his side. He was no less menacing, even with his slightly mussed sex-hair.

“When Iwhat?” Ryan broke the stalemate, letting his voice rise.

Her mouth went dry, remembering how loud he’d been in the car. She felt trapped, but he was waiting. And she wassickof him waltzing around like a martyr.