"I didn't call you or text you except for that stupid picture of some books this summer, which was so dumb, and then I—"
Lucy stepped closer and put a reassuring hand on Ryan's arm to stop his nervous rambling. "You don't have to apologize. I had a good time tonight."
"You did?"
The surprise in his voice was something Lucy didn't expect. Tonight, in his slacks and dress shirt, Ryan seemed like he was cool and in control, or at least that's what she thought of him. Was her perception affected by the fact that she has slept with him — repeatedly? And would that be such a bad thing if it was? She hoped not, especially considering that as she stood there, her hand on his hard bicep, there was no debate in her mind right at this moment that she wanted to sleep with him again.
She stepped closer, gently dropped her shoes on the floor, and put her now freed hand on his other bicep. Damn, that felt good. She could tell by the way his breath hitched that it felt good to him too.
"I really did have a good time with you tonight," she said quietly.
She was so close now she could feel his breath on her face. She could tell he was trying to stop himself from touching her, his arms still down by his side, but she could feel his muscles straining under her fingers.
"I thought maybe you would think my reading was a joke."
His voice was raw and low, its tone dark and lustful.
"Why would I think it was a joke?"
He shrugged. "They're just paperbacks. They're not Edgar Allen Poe."
"I like that you read paperbacks."
She took a deep breath to calm herself, but every nerve in her body felt like it was on fire. She wanted to be closer to him and feel him against her. She wanted him so bad. But all he did was stand there. It was like he was too nervous to move, or maybe he didn't want her like she thought he did. She looked up at him, hoping to see what was in his eyes as he stared down at her, trying to figure out if she could read him. He must have felt the same way based on how intense he stared back at her.
"Ryan?"
Lucy didn't mean for her voice to sound so desperate, her question to him so pleading. But it was enough.
Ryan seemed to snap, finally realizing what Lucy was asking for. His movement was swift and determined, his lips pressing on hers, his hand cradling the back of her head as his other arm snaked around her waist to pull her closer. Her arms were pinned against his athletic frame before she could finally reach up, wrapping them around his neck, letting a hand comb its way through his hair, which was longer than it was when she was with him at the lake. She liked it.
He groaned as he kissed her again, the sound reverberating through her whole body. As she moved against him, she could feel just how much she was turning him on. She was enjoying this, but she would enjoy it even more if he wasn't so dressed. She started to pull at the hem of his shirt, finally freeing it from the waistband of his flat-front pants that had given her naughty thoughts from the first moment she saw him in them earlier tonight. Then she let her hands roam up his chest until she found the collar of his shirt and started to unbutton it.
He moaned again in pleasure, his hands finding their way up her skirt, pushing it higher until he got to the black panties she had made a point to wear tonight. Her legs went weak and she had to pause and take a breath to clear her head before she could let him go further.
His lips left hers for just a moment to let her steady herself against him. "You OK?" he asked as his head ducked down to the crook of her neck.
She took a breath and closed her eyes, letting herself be in that moment. "Definitely OK."
Lucy could feel his smile against the skin right above her collar bone before he started to pepper it with kisses. She thought about going back for the buttons on his shirt but couldn't bring herself to let go of his shoulders as he ducked down to kiss her skin. He was tall, imposing, and had to bend down to get to her. He didn't seem to mind.
"Counter."
He stilled for a minute, then pulled himself away from her, her skin suddenly cold from where he had lingered before.
"What do you mean?" he asked her in a dark husky voice.
Lucy gave him a sly smile. "I was hoping we could recreate our first time together on your kitchen counter."
He gave her a lustful look in return. "No."
"But it's so big compared to the one in the cabin."
He leaned down, his lips close to her ear. "I have something else big that you might like."
Ryan stood up, his full frame towering over her. Then he slipped his hand into hers and pulled her towards the hallway. Lucy knew what was that way. There was a guest bathroom a little farther down the hall that she had used on occasion, but she had to walk past Ryan's bedroom. She had never cared to give it a detailed look. But now? Now she cared because that was exactly where he was leading her.
He pulled her in but left the light off. The streets lights filtered in through a large window over the grays and blacks that decorated the room. He let go of her hand to walk over and close the blinds. Then he walked back to her, his shoulders broad, his hair disheveled, a look on his face that left no doubt that he wanted her. He started to undo the last buttons on his shirt as he got closer, stopping in front of her as finished. He pulled the shirt off in one quick move, letting it drop onto the floor as his arms snaked around her body and pulled her closer. His lips were on hers again, his fingers on the bare skin of her back fumbling with the zipper.
