“He has money and good looks and thinks he’s God’s gift to the universe.Other than that, nothing.”
Ryan laughed.“Good to know that’s what you think.”
“You’re jealous.I’ve never known you to be jealous before.”
He shrugged.“Most men aren’t quite that blatant.At least when your date is standing beside you.”
“Why would I want him when I have you?”
That was the first time since she moved to Marietta that she’d acknowledged their relationship.He tried not to read too much into it, but he wanted them to be together for real.For good, not just temporarily.
Chapter Eighteen
When they gothome, Ryan took care of paying Whitney while Aria checked on Sophie.She hadn’t even tried to get him to let her pay since she knew it was futile.Especially since he’d asked her to the fundraiser so she knew he’d consider paying the sitter was on him.
Speaking of the fundraiser, she’d been shocked to discover that Ryan was jealous.Not that he’d had reason to be, but she supposed Ted acting as if Ryan wasn’t even there was enough to trigger anyone’s ire.She’d known Ted casually for several years and he’d hit on her a number of times, but she’d never been interested.His ego was a little too inflated for her liking.
But that Ryan—Ryan who could have and had had almost any woman he wanted—was jealous had surprised her.She hated to admit that it had also given her a little thrill.She’d had relationships before, of course, but Ryan had been the longest and most serious.He’d never given her reason to suspect he wasn’t faithful while they’d been together, and to find out he’d been celibate since he left her had made her happier than it should have.After all, they’d both been free to have other relationships in the months since he’d left.But she hadn’t wanted to and to find out that neither had he made her look at him in a different light.
“Sophie’s sound asleep,” she told Ryan as she walked into the bedroom.
“Good.”He held out a hand and she took it.“Are you tired?”
“A little.”She kicked off her heels.“But I’m not too tired if you know what I mean.”
He gave her a wicked smile.“I hope I do.”
She led him to the bed and made him sit.Leaned down and kissed him before stepping back and reaching for the hem of her dress.Grasping it, she raised it very slowly, revealing flesh with each torturous inch.Ryan hadn’t said anything but she had his complete attention.
Finally, she pulled the dress off over her head, turned it right side out and walked over to a chair to lay it carefully over the back.Looking back over her shoulder she said, “Why are you still wearing so many clothes?”
“I was mesmerized and couldn’t move.”He unbuttoned his shirt and stripped it off.He’d taken off his jacket, tie, cummerbund, and socks when he first came in.Standing, he went to work on his pants, shoving them down along with his boxers.He stood naked, with a smile and a very proud erection, and crooked a finger at her.
She sauntered over to him, unhooked her bra and dropped it on the floor.“Can I do something for you?”
He laughed and pulled her into his arms.“You bet.”
They kissed hungrily, never breaking contact as they landed on the bed with him beneath her.Taking advantage of his position, she climbed on top, straddling him.Now there was only her tiny panties between them.She rubbed against him, watching his eyes cross as he moaned.“You’re killing me,” he panted.
“That’s the plan.”She leaned down and kissed him again, gasping into his mouth when his hands covered her breasts and he rubbed her nipples, which had been hard points since she’d stripped.Aria wasn’t usually the aggressor in their lovemaking, and she’d forgotten how it made her feel.Strong, in control.Sexy.If the look in his eyes and the feel of his hands caressing her was any clue, that’s how he felt too.
They teased, touched, and caressed each other until Aria couldn’t wait any longer.Ryan had long since ripped off her panties and she raised herself until she was poised over him.Their gazes met and she slowly lowered until his cock was seated fully inside her.He helped her ride him with his hands on her hips.It went on and on as her inner muscles tightened, pushing both of them toward release.
Then she was coming and he was coming and she exploded along with him in a chaos of emotion.Boneless, she lay on top of him, unable to move.She started to force herself to move but he stopped her.“Don’t.I like you here.”
“I’m squashing you.”
She felt him laugh as well as heard him.“We discussed that before.You’re way too light to squash me.”
So she stayed where she was for a while longer.Eventually she moved and he went to the bathroom to clean up.She took her turn after him and when she returned he patted the bed beside him.“Come lie with me.”
She smiled and climbed in beside him.They lay side by side with her head on Ryan’s shoulder, totally spent from making love.
“I love you, Aria.”
Maybe he really did.He certainly acted like he loved her.He obviously loved Sophie.No one could fake his expression when he looked at his baby.The pride.The awe.Pure happiness.Love.
“I love you, too, Ryan.”
