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“Where have you been?!” I nearly wail, my voice cracking as I vaguely register his rumpled shirt and the messy state of his hair. “I called and called, but you didn’t answer!”
His eyes widen behind the thick-rimmed glasses he wore on Halloween, and he shuts the door, gently pulling me into the room. “Hey, it’s alright. Shh, I’m sorry, doll. I fell asleep.”
I hadn’t even noticed the tears on my cheeks until his thumbs brush them away, and I bury my face into his chest as embarrassing sobs wrack my body. “I…forgot my key, and you…left me out there.”
God, I hate it when I get like this, but I can’t stop it. I can only ride it out.
Ryann stiffens for a moment before his arms tighten around me. He carefully steers us to the bed and tugs me onto his lap. “It was a long day, and I didn’t sleep last night. I should have texted. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
I cling to him as the tears come harder, his hand stroking my back in slow, steady circles. Memories of kids laughing at me for breaking down like this come flooding back, Dad’s voice ringing in my head.
Stop being a crybaby and suck it up, son. Do you think they let you cry in the Air Force?
With a trembling hand, I wipe my nose, sitting back to give Ryann some space. He’s watching me closely, but I keep my burning eyes on his chest. “Sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?” He asks roughly. “I knew I had both keys but figured I’d be awake when you returned. Don’t be sorry, doll face.”
His words make fresh tears well up, and I lean forward, resting my forehead against his chin as I swallow another sob.
“What do you need from me right now? What can I do?”
Sighing heavily, I slip beneath the hem of his shirt, feeling his abs clench at the contact. “T-this is good. Just let me touch you.”
He pauses, just for a moment, then nods. “Alright.”
My fingertips wander over his body, exploring the planes of his chest. He inhales sharply when my nails graze lightly over his nipples, and I focus there, tracing gentle circles as my own breathing steadies. His, on the other hand, grows noticeably uneven, each exhale heavier than the last. When his throat flexes with a hard swallow, I lean in, pressing my lips softly to his Adam’s apple. The quiet hum he lets out vibrates against my mouth, sending a shiver through me. His cock starts to harden, and my own pokes his torso as his palms slide down to my ass. Not going to lie, I want to hump him, but I don’t. And he doesn’t push, either.
Moving on from his nipples, I run my fingers through the curly strands of his happy trail, causing him to groan. He feels so strong, so manly. I wish he would hold me like this more often. Which reminds me…
“You’ve been with Olivia since August,” I accuse, not lifting my head from his neck. “Saw it on her Instagram.”
Ryann goes still beneath me. “It’s complicated.”
I pull back, rubbing my eyes with my fists before fixing him with a glare. “You also told me there’s been no one else since we started this…thing. You lied.”
Those golden-green eyes flash, his jaw tightening as he weaves his fingers into my hair. “I didn’t lie to you, Shilo. Sexually, I’ve only been with you since October.”
“That’s—“ Squirming on his lap, I try to slip out of his grip. “That’s such a bullshit thing to say.”
“It’s not bullshit, it’s the truth.” He keeps me in place, holding my body against his. “Olivia and I aren’t together that way.”
“I saw the way she hung off you at the Christmas party. Saw her post where she said she loved you, Ryann. I saw.”
A dry laugh leaves his throat. “Yes, the Christmas party where you ran away before I could explain. Then proceeded to drink yourself under the table before coming all over my father’s computer.”
I freeze, feeling my cheeks heat as I gape at him in horror. “I did what?”
“Exactly.” Narrowing his gaze, he reaches up to adjust those sexy-as-hell glasses. “Then afterward, you ignored my text on New Year’s Eve, and KC uploaded a photo of you two kissing. Was I wrong in assuming something was happening there?”
Folding my arms, I scowl at him from under my hair. “Very wrong. I don’t like Kansas that way. Why does everyone keep thinking I do?”
His brows lift at that. “And you think I like Olivia that way? I’m gay, doll. She’s a lovely woman, but she does nothing for me.”
“So, it’s all an act?” I was right when I told Kansas that I thought their relationship was fake?
He huffs, running a hand through his hair before scratching his cheek. “As I said, it’s complicated.”
“Oh, s-screw you.” Wriggling out of his grip, I slide off the bed and march toward the bathroom, embarrassed by my obvious boner. “You’re the hardest person to talk to sometimes.”
