Page 46 of The Addendum

In the car, I pushed down the desire to pump him more about Richard and his family. Instead, we talked about other things. How busy his new company was right now. A new piece of software he was developing. A large event I was running in two weeks.

Once we got to the house, my anxiety had eased. Not having to see any of the VanRyan family walking around, secure in their place in the world, helped. I was still wound up, though, and as soon as we stepped into the house, I was all over Luc. His back hit the wall as I lunged, covering his mouth with mine, kissing him. He groaned, lifting me into his arms, quickly taking control. His mouth was hot, and he tasted like the cake we’d eaten before we left, the spices and cinnamon mixing with the sweet icing. I clung to his shoulders, yanking on his hair and pressing myself as close as I could get to his body.

“Are you sure you’re feeling up—”

I cut him off, reaching between us and cupping his erection. “Shut up and fuck me, Luc.”

His eyes were filled with passion, his desire evident. “You asked for it.”

Moments later, I was naked on my bed. Luc’s clothes disappeared behind him as he joined me. We kissed and groped, our hands never stopping in their exploration. Licked and sucked at each other. He dragged his teeth along my collarbone, down to my breasts, where he drew his tongue along my skin, bit teasingly, and sucked. He slid his hand between my legs, groaning.

“Jesus, you’re wet.”

“I want you,” I begged. I needed him to fill me, to make all the chaos in my head go away. I wanted to lose myself with him.

He circled my clit, then slid two fingers inside me, pushing deep. I whimpered when he added a third, pumping hard, and pressed his thumb to my clit, the rhythm intense. When he added a finger to my ass, my body locked down, exploding around him. I cried out as he sat up, yanking me up his thighs and slamming into me. He set a punishing pace, wrapping his hands around my hips, holding me in place. I was lost in a sea of sensation. The feel of him hard and unforgiving inside me, the grip on my skin, the intense look on his face as he fucked me, giving me exactly what I needed right now. To be possessed, to be owned by him.

He bent my leg, changing position, going deeper and triggering yet another shattering release. It detonated without warning like a bomb going off, the shrapnel piercing my skin from the inside out, long tendrils of pleasure laced with pain ricocheting inside me. I cried out, the sound loud and keening. He grunted in pleasure, throwing back his head, cursing, muttering my name, the cords of his neck taut and thick. He stopped moving, dropping his head to his chest, his breathing heavy. Slowly, he lowered my leg, shifting away, leaving me feeling empty without him. He hovered over me, the passion softer now. Warmer. He pressed a long kiss to my mouth, his tongue stroking gently. He dropped more kisses to my cheeks, eyes, and nose, then kissed me again.

“How’d that measure up?” he whispered with a wicked grin.

“Ten out of ten.”

He ran his nose up my neck, pushing my hair out of the way as he kissed behind my ear. He settled beside me, pulling me across his chest. We were quiet for a moment as our breathing settled.

“I love you,” he said, the words simple and perfect. I loved his directness. His insistence on speaking his mind. “I know it’s early, but I want you to know that, Ashley. I love you,” he repeated.

Warmth filled my chest, his declaration erasing the hurt and confusion I’d felt for the past few hours. He always knew the right thing to say and when to say it. I needed to hear those words, to know how he was feeling. They made me feel whole. Complete. Safe to tell him how I was feeling. I pressed a kiss to his shoulder, nestling closer.

“I love you too.”

* * *

Luc left in the early morning hours, pressing a kiss to my shoulder before departing. He’d made love to me again, slow and sweet in the middle of the night, once again expressing his feelings for me. After he left, I relived his words in my head, holding them close like a hug. It had been a long time since anyone had articulated that sentiment to me. My mom was wonderful, and we had been close, but she didn’t voice her emotions well. I had learned to show a more reserved side to the world, but to those I was closest to, I was more open. I liked hugs, gestures, and words. Luc gave me all of those freely. I had to dismiss the thought that I had witnessed Richard doing the same thing with his family. I was nothing like that man.

I got up, brewed some coffee, and grabbed my laptop. I typed Richard’s name into the search engine, waiting as it loaded. I found a ton of business stuff about him—his awards and accolades. His brilliant career in marketing. But he kept his private life private. There were a few scattered pictures of him attending events with his wife Katy, his boss Graham Gavin, or other coworkers. Some articles about his kids. Grace was a lawyer. Heather a designer. They both worked at ABC Corp—a division of BAM. Richard and Katy had a daughter married to a distant royal in England. A son who was a CFO in Alberta at a company not related to BAM or ABC. The youngest son was a doctor. Virtually nothing on his wife. I studied pictures of them together. Katy VanRyan had been gracious and kind when I met her. Quietly pretty beside Richard’s brooding good looks. Openly affectionate with her kids, friends, and husband. She looked happy—they all looked happy. Content with their life. Oblivious to my presence.

I scrubbed my face, shutting the laptop. I needed more information—and there was one person I knew could help me. He wasn’t going to be pleased when I asked, though.

* * *

My event ran late, and by the time I finished, drove to Port Albany, and met Luc, I was exhausted. He had rented a suite for the weekend, and he ran me a bath when I arrived, bringing in a glass of wine and setting it on the edge.

“I ordered pizza. We can just relax tonight.”

“You don’t want to go out? No bachelor thing?”

He shook his head. “Today was the bachelor thing. Reed isn’t into the usual stuff—I don’t think any of them are. The golf day was entertaining enough.” He took out his phone, scrolling and showing me some pictures, making me laugh with the antics as he explained some of them. The laughter died in my throat as I came to a picture of Reed and Luc with Van and Richard. They were all smiling broadly at the camera, four handsome men, carefree and enjoying themselves. I stared at the picture, somehow seeing myself reflected in Richard’s face.

Did no one else see it? Was I imagining it?

“What is it?” Luc asked.

“Nothing.”

He took the phone away, looking at the picture. “Ashley, love, I have a knack for reading people, so I know you’re lying. It’s Richard. Yesterday, I thought you were going to pass out when you met him, and you just went off again, seeing a picture of him. Have you met him before?”

“No.”