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Was she asking? Telling? Did it matter? They weren’t the same as they’d been before they slept together five years ago. He’d wanted Cassie then, but he hadn’t been prepared for her and the new emotions she’d awakened. For her part, Cassie had seen him as nothing more than a rebound. He’d given her no reason to think otherwise. But these past four years, being a father, sharing his life with Cassie and Ellie had changed him. He’d done as she’d asked and not mentioned the possibility of a relationship between them again, but he couldn’t stand back and watch her one day move on with someone else while he pretended he didn’t want more with her.
“I’ll make the arrangements,” he told her, instead of agreeing. “Just be where I tell you.”
“Nothing changes?” Her voice trembled.
Ryan nodded, and for the first time in his life he lied straight to Cassie’s face. “Nothing changes,” he replied.
Chapter Twelve
Cassie checked her watch as she walked into the swanky hotel bar. She still had a few minutes before Ryan would arrive, but since she didn’t know the protocol for arriving for a booty call with your baby daddy, she’d tried for punctual but not over eager. Agreeing to this rendezvous in the first place was crazy. In a matter of moments, she could willingly screw up the balance of her entire world. And for what? Another night of the best sex of her entire freaking life? Hell yes! Even if sex with Ryan didn’t turn out as fan-fucking-tastic as she remembered, it would still beat five years of her vibrator. Quick orgasms were fine, but she wanted human interaction. And she wanted Ryan. So, where was he? She searched the bar without spotting him at the tables or booths.
“Excuse me. Is there something I can help you with?”
She glanced up at the stranger in front of her and shook her head. “I’m just looking for someone.”
His grin widened, and he leaned on the bar in front of her. “Is that right? You found me, what do you say you stop looking and …”
A solid wall of warmth blanketed her back. Seconds later, a strong, hard hand landed on her hip. Glancing down, she spotted the end of Ryan’s tattoo peeking from under his rolled shirt sleeve. His fingers flexed, kneading the flesh at her hip. Her knees threatened to buckle.
Ryan inched closer. His chest pressed firmly against her back, his hips aligning with hers. They’d fit perfectly as he fucked her from behind. She shook the thought away and dropped her gaze, concentrating on the feel of Ryan’s body against hers.
He leaned closer, so his mouth brushed against her ear as he said, “Sorry. Dropping Ellie off at my mom’s took longer than I thought. She wants you to call her later and tell her good night.”
Her heart skipped. The reminder that this man was the father of her child, the one person who understood how she loved her daughter because he loved her the same way, was oddly arousing. Was it too much to ask him to fulfill her sexual needs as well?
“Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.” The stranger glanced at her naked left hand.
“No worries,” Ryan answered, not moving until the other man walked away.
Finally, he bent and brushed his lips against her neck. She closed her eyes, leaning into him, letting him nibble at her flesh.
Pulling back, he took her hand. “I’ve got us a booth and drinks.”
How did being with him like this, like a couple, seem so natural? And how did it simultaneously comfort and completely arouse her? She followed him to a table in the corner and slid across the bench. He scooted in beside her, pressing his thigh against hers. A pretty pink martini sat on the table.
She smiled. “What’s this?”
“A strawberry blonde.”
She eyed him as she picked up the martini glass and took a tentative sip. The sweet liquid hit her tongue seconds before the slight bite of vodka. She closed her eyes and took a deeper sip. “How did you do that?”
“Do what?” The corner of his delicious mouth turned up before he hid his smirk behind his own glass.
“Know my favorite drink and get them to make it here?”
“How do you know they don’t make it here? Do you often hang out in hotel bars?” He raised a brow.
“No.” She didn’t hang out in any bars, but this martini was a signature drink only served at her favorite restaurant. A no-kids establishment she rarely got to visit.
His smirk turned into a genuine smile. “I pay attention, Cass. Then I called around and got the recipe.”
“Trying to get me drunk?” If so, this drink would do the job, she could drink them like water. She took another sip.
“Not unless you want to be.” His smile faded slightly, and he met her eyes with his own serious gaze. “Tonight’s about what you want. We can do whatever you want to do, and not do whatever you don’t want to do. And tomorrow, we’ll start again.”
He ran his fingertips through her hair, sliding over her scalp before trailing down its length. She shivered but didn’t drop his gaze.
“Tomorrow? You wanted us to spend the entire night?” She teased. “I didn’t bring any extra panties.”
