Page 13 of Say it Ain’t So

I opened my mouth to do just that but damn near jumped out of my skin when a loud bang sounded down the street. Before I realized what had happened, that it was just a car backfiring and I wasn’t about to get hit, I found myself wrapped in Rylan’s big, strong arms.

“It’s okay. I’ve got you.” His lips whispered against my head while he smoothed a hand over my back, sending shivers through me.

Once my breathing had calmed and my heartbeat had slowed, I lifted my chin and found his sparkling eyes. This time, though, they were darker, as the blacks of his eyes nearly swallowed the blue.

“I’ve got you,” he repeated, and for the first time in as long as I could remember, I felt safe.

I felt wanted.

And as Rylan dipped his head forward and captured my mouth with his, I had the crazy thought that maybe, just maybe, I was loved.

5

RYLAN

Take your blackjack. Take your jackpot win. Take all the thrill rides in the world. Because nothing could compare to what it felt like to kiss Joss.

Before I’d been able to grip her face and take control of her mouth, she beat me to it. She grabbed my face and held onto me like we’d known each other for years. Like this connection between us wasn’t just some vacation fling but something that was worth fighting for.

When her tongue swept out and tentatively touched mine, I wanted to fucking die. She was sunshine and adventure. She was sweet torture and perfect possibility.

Most importantly, she was mine.

A thick shot of lust flooded through me as she shifted her body. Her ass settled on my lap like she was always meant to be there, and my body reacted as if it had other ideas. I gripped her thigh, yanking her closer until there was no doubt she could feel what she did to me.

It only egged her on.

Joss lost that tentativeness. She slid her fingers into my hair and clenched her fists as she met my tongue with her own, diving in and clutching at me until I was sure I was going to embarrass myself in front of her and everyone else right here on this patio. Each breathy moan had me wishing we were anywhere but here—anywhere with the kind of privacy that would let me show this woman how she should be treated.

Not with the kind of touch that left bruises marring her beautiful skin, but instead left goosebumps and an arched back, moans and a slick center that begged to be filled.

I wanted her.

I wanted this woman in a way I’d never wanted anyone in my life. I wanted her tears and her cries, her smiles and eyerolls. I wanted her hand in mine, her body wrapped around me, her mouth and her breasts and her goddamn pussy mine for the taking.

Mine to love.

I wanted her, and I wanted to do everything possible to make sure she wanted me too.

“Fuck, gorgeous.” My breath heaved from my chest as she smiled against my lips. “What are you doing to me?”

“Me?” She said it all coy and innocent, but with the smirk pulling at her lips, she was anything but. She lifted her gaze, then swept her fingers through my hair, like she’d made a mess of it with her hands and felt the need to put it back in place. “I’m not sure I know what you mean.”

Smoothing my hand up her thigh, I wrapped my fingers around her hip. “Liar.” I swooped in and pressed my lips to hers. When she tried to lean in, I pulled back. And again. I dodged her as she tried to kiss me, even though everything inside me screamed to let her win. Let her take what she wanted and give her everything she could ever need.

Finally, I let her. And when her lips met mine, it felt like I was dying again. Dying for her taste and her touch, for the feel of her body against mine.

She pulled back with a gasp, her breaths coming in short pants, her fingers smoothing at my hair once more.

“What do you want to do, gorgeous?” I didn’t want to give her a choice. I wanted to throw her over my shoulder and carry her back to my hotel room. Make love to her until my boss called me and threatened to fire me for missing work, then make love to her again because I could.

Those millions I’d won wouldn’t be mine if it hadn’t been for her, and I’d be damned if I let this lucky streak go to waste on some trivial nonsense like a job.

A little hum sounded from Joss’s throat as her attention locked on my kiss-swollen lips. She shrugged, then smoothed her hand across my cheek. “Zip lining?”

A smile split my lips before I dove back in and captured hers in a brief kiss. “Girl.” I pressed another to the side of her mouth. “After.” Another. “My.” And another. “Heart.”

She let out a giggle as I kissed her again. I could have sat there for hours, kissing and touching and listening to the sounds of her breathy moans and the sweet song of her voice. The only reason I didn’t was the waitress who came to check on us, interrupting what was surely becoming indecent, even by Las Vegas standards.