AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Deal.” I needed a moment to get my hormones under control. “Ryan?”
He pressed another quick kiss and stepped back. “Yes?”
“We shouldn’t tell Titus about this, about us, not until we’re sure. Right?”
Disappointment flashed in his blue eyes but he nodded his agreement. “Sure, Persephone. If that’s what you think is right, I’ll follow your lead.”
“Thanks.” I wasn’t at all sure if that was the right thing to do or not and I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. “He’s eager for a dad and you’re already it—if he knows we’re dating, he’ll get his hopes up, and I’d rather he didn’t.”
Ryan flashed a crooked smile. “Don’t worry, Persephone, I’ll make sure you know we’re a sure thing before he does.” He winked and backed out of the kitchen, wearing a panty-melting smile the whole damn time.
“Tease,” I muttered to myself and went in search of popcorn and takeout menus. How I made it through dinner and most of the movie without exploding with desire, I couldn’t say. But the moment Titus fell asleep and was tucked away in bed, I attacked my best friend.
Straddling his lap, I cupped Ryan’s face in my hands and kissed him like it was the last time we would ever kiss, like the breath in his lungs was the only thing keeping me alive. My hips moved against his growing erection; his hands gripped my hips and moved me faster, harder where he needed me.
“Persephone, you are driving me crazy, woman.”
I smiled, panting. “Join the club.” I collapsed against him, my head resting on his shoulder. “This is crazy, right?”
Ryan nodded, a slow smile spread across his handsome face. “Crazy hot.”
“Hot?” I laughed, unable to remember the last time a man had called me hot.
“Hell yeah.” He grinned and gave my ass another squeeze. “When a beautiful woman wants you so much she can’t control herself, that is crazy hot. The craziest of hotness.” He kissed me long and slow, a hot tease for a long moment before he pulled back. “And if we were alone, I’d show you just how hot it makes me.”
I shivered at the promise of his words. “Looking forward to it, Ryan.”
“Come on, Persephone, back to the movie.” Ryan wrapped an arm around me and kissed the top of my head.
I laid my head on his shoulder and rested one hand on his thigh while we finished the movie. It was just like any other movie night we’d had over the years. Only better.
Much, much, better.
Ryan
“We can’t just sit around like a bunch of women,” Antonio drawled, looking over his shoulder with caution just in case any women were listening and word got back to Gus. “If you want to talk, we shoot pool or darts while we drink. Period.”
Cal laughed and shook his head Antonio’s borderline sexist comments. “If anyone heard that, I’m totally throwing you under the bus. Just so we’re clear.”
The Outpost was crowded even though it was the middle of the week, but Antonio used his long legs and height advantage to clear a path to the last unoccupied dart board, seconds before Cal and I joined him.
“Throw me under the bus all you want, no one will believe you.” Antonio arched a dark brow at Cal before he turned to me. “Ryan, you’re up, man.”
I blinked at Antonio’s abrupt topic change because I thought I would have a beer or two before I had to start talking about the reason I had invited them out. “So soon?”
“None of us are getting any younger,” Cal said with a laugh.
And both of these guys were in new relationships, and probably as eager to get home to their women as I was to get home to Persephone. “Fine. I need advice for my next date. With Persephone.” I added the last part on a whisper just in case we had any ear hustlers looking for new gossip to share.
Cal’s brows dipped into a frown. “Was your last date terrible?”
“Not terrible, no,” I answered on a sigh before I launched into the disaster at the French restaurant.
“Wait a minute,” Antonio huffed with laughter, doubled over as he smacked his thigh. “The kitchen caught on fire?”
I nodded.
“And the waiter spilled wine all over you?” Cal asked, his laughter growing as loud and as obnoxious as Antonio’s.
“Yes,” I growled.
They continued to howl with laughter, drawing stares from nearby patrons. “That is damned priceless,” Antonio gasped with the force of his laughter, face red and nostrils flaring.
I wanted to punch him in the face, but we were civilized adult men, not animals. It was funny, I could see that now, and in hindsight I agreed with Persephone—it was the kind of perfect disaster we were used to over the years.
When his laughter finally died down, Antonio put his hands on his hips and sighed. “What’s the big deal? You and Persy have been friends forever, she’s programmed to like whatever you do for her.”
