"Me too," she replied.
He turned and gave her a smile, lifting his head off the pillow to gently kiss her cheek before he stood up and headed towards his bathroom.
Lucy curled onto her side and closed her eyes, exhausted from what they had done. But she didn't doubt herself or wonder what she had been thinking. She knew damn well what she had been thinking when she finally decided to stop fighting with herself and get out of her car to come up here. She knew what she wanted, and she got exactly that. No one — including herself — was going to make her feel guilty that she had been thoroughly ravished by a gorgeous hockey player.
Ryan walked back in with a new pair of boxer briefs on, smiling down at her figure on his bed.
"Aren't you going to climb under the covers?" he asked.
"Well, I mean, it's not like I'm staying, right?"
Lucy was trying to give Ryan an out. She knew he didn't like it when women stayed at his place. She had never slept next to him anyway after she ducked out of the cabin that night because the couch was uncomfortable. She wanted to stay tonight, but she wasn't expecting it. Better to give Ryan a chance to tell her to leave than make things awkward.
But he pulled the covers down, lowering himself on the bed next to her with a smile on his face.
"I told you I was a cuddler, didn't I?" His smile faltered a bit as he looked at her. "But if you don't want to stay, you don't have to."
He had a look of trepidation on his face, as if he was hoping she wouldn't reject him but preparing himself if she did.
"I want to stay."
Ryan's smile returned and he pulled the blankets out from under her to cover her up.
"Good."
Lucy put her hand through his hair, his silky locks falling through her fingers.
"Do you think we should tell Andy and Sydney what's going on?"
Ryan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Tomorrow."
He leaned over and kissed her, gently this time, lingering on her lips. Then he finally pulled back, staring at her in the dim light from the hallway.
"You want to turn the lights off?" she asked.
"In a minute."
He intertwined his legs with hers, practically engulfing them under the covers. His hand gently took hers and he kissed the back of it before pulling it against him. Lucy closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting herself relax against the soft pillows. And that's how she fell asleep in Ryan McCloud's bed.
