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Chapter Seventeen
Mia
Back at Bryce’s penthouse, we were snuggled up together, staring at his view of the city. Neither one of us was talking. There were too many questions that Bryce wanted to ask me. He kept opening and closing his mouth, but no noise ever came out.
Our relationship did handle the heavy issues. That was what we were built on. The heavier things in our lives had bonded us all those years ago. But now, those heavy issues were weighing on him. If he asked me the tough questions right now, it could drastically change our relationship, and I wasn’t ready for that. I needed him, but I’d always felt that one of these days, he would walk away from me. At one time, he’d wanted our causal relationship to morph into something more, something deeper. But I wasn’t sure I wanted that with Bryce, or anyone. Except for maybe Terry. That would pique my interest. I could have had this type of relationship with Bryce from the beginning if we hadn’t been carrying so much baggage. But lately, it was obvious Bryce was hoping it would open us up for something more.
Bryce helped me cope. It stung to think he would have done all that work just to hand me over to Terry. In his eyes, it would have all been for nothing. All the waiting and taking what I was willing to offer, even though I could always feel in the way he touched me that he wanted more.
In the beginning, we needed the release we brought each other. But over time, Bryce became stronger because of me. I still remained fragile in some aspects, so he moved slowly and kept things on an even keel, trying to not disturb the perfect balance we provided each other. Over the past year, I had been doing better—feeling more like myself. I had some of my confidence back, and I was putting my past behind me. I no longer woke up in a cold sweat, shaking. Nightmares were few and far between. When we went dancing together, if some random stranger happened to brush against me or ask me for a dance, I no longer regarded them as a threat. Sometimes I even accepted the dance, but that was as far as it went. I always went home with Bryce.
I could tell Bryce felt like he might lose me now that Terry was back in the picture. It was the way he avoided all mention of him, like he was afraid if he spoke of Terry, he would manifest into the room. We had history, but I had a history with Bryce too. I wasn’t going to be the one to cause Bryce pain. I couldn’t—not after all he had been through.
Bryce finally bit the bullet and spoke to me. “I heard you asked him to fight for you, Mia. Is that what you want? Do you want him to come over here, sword drawn and ready to slay the dragon? Ride off with you into the sunset?”
I didn’t dare pick my head up from Bryce’s chest. I didn’t want to see the look in his eyes. “A dragon, huh? Is that what you think you are?”
“I don’t know what I am, Mia, that’s the thing. I’m not sure how I fit into the scenario anymore. He loves you, and you love him. In my limited experience with these things, that would be more than enough to send you back to him.”
I felt Bryce shift like he might be trying to see my eyes, but I kept my head down on his chest. “It’s not that simple, Bryce. And you forget one very important thing in that little play you described.”
“What’s that?” Bryce asked. “I’m forgetting that you love me too?”
I smiled, finally looking up at him and meeting his defeated eyes. “Well, you’re forgetting that and the fact that he left me.”
Bryce sighed and nodded. It wasn’t enough and we both knew that. But it was all I had right now. I hated that I was hurting him. I didn’t mean to. He was the last person in the world I wanted to hurt. But it was happening.
“Hey,” I said, watching him. “Don’t go there tonight, Bryce. I want to spend time with you. If I wanted him, I would have gone home with him. I would be with him right now. I want you. So tell me, do you want me?” My tone had dropped an octave or two.
“Do you now?” he asked, eyes burning with passion for the first time since he found me in the alley with Terry.
“I most certainly do,” I confirmed, turning my body so I was straddling him. “Would you deny me?”
“No, I wouldn’t dream of denying you.”
Bryce’s hands gripped my ass and I giggled. The night was turning around for us. I leaned down and placed a hungry kiss on Bryce’s lips. The action caused him to moan. I grinded my hips against his, feeling him come to life through his jeans.
His arms began exploring my body. He ran them up and down my back before pulling the hem of my dress up so my bare ass was exposed.
“Wait a minute,” Bryce said, pulling away from our kiss. “You aren’t wearing underwear, are you?”
“No, I’m not.” I wiggled my eyebrows at him. “I didn’t want to risk panty lines.”
“Baby, you’re just full of surprises tonight.” He rolled us so I was beneath him. His hand found its way down to my sex.
As soon as his fingers dipped in, I cried out. This was what Bryce was good at. Working me up with need and then delivering several orgasms. And that’s what I let him do. His fingers worked me expertly until I was screaming and moaning.
“Let’s get that fine ass into my bed.” He smiled down at me as I was coming down from my high.
“Oh yeah, let’s do it.”
“Can you walk?” he asked with a wink.
“I’m not gonna lie, I’m a little weak from that.”
“I’ve got you.” And he did. He picked me up and carried me bridal style into his room.
Laying me down on the bed gently, he appraised me. Like he was memorizing my body. Like he thought it might be the last time he got to do this. I hated that.
