Fuck, every part of me is buzzing.
I can barely see straight. The waitress is setting down something. A plate of blueberry pancakes. Only there's a lit candle in the stack.
She smiles as she drops off Ryan's house omelet, refills our coffees, takes her leave.
Candle.
Pancakes.
Breakfast.
Oh.
He waits until she's out of earshot to motion to the plate. "We need to celebrate you finishing your class."
"My what doing what?"
"You all right, Leigh? You look—"
"Like I need to come."
His smile gets cocky. It should be obnoxious, but it's not. It's so fucking hot, him reveling in how desperately I'm wound around his finger. "Yeah."
"Ryan—"
"Yeah, baby?"
My groan isn't even close to a word.
He brushes his lips against my cheek then nips at my earlobe. "This is accomplishment, Leigh."
That sounds reasonable. Maybe. My body is still screaming for his touch.
"And getting your first clients. It's fucking amazing."
I suck a breath between my teeth. Let out a heavy exhale.
My nerves settle enough for me to grasp what we're doing here.
There's a candle on my pancakes. To celebrate my class ending. It's weird and cheesy and sweet as sin.
"Grades in?" he asks.
I nod.
"What'd you get?"
"An A."
"You're on your way." He motions to the plate of pancakes. "Blow it out."
"Do you really make a wish for this?"
"Yeah."
"Says who?"
"Me."
"Fair enough."
God, the pride in his eyes. It does something to me.
It makes the world into a beautiful place.
I let my eyelids flutter together, I lean in, and I make a wish.
I want to have him forever.
I blow the candle out.
"I know you're gonna leave soon." He hands me my fork. "And, fuck, I'm gonna miss you. It's gonna suck not seeing you all day. But I'm happy for you."
"Not that soon."
"Where'd you find time to do all those designs?"
"I wasn't exactly sleeping."
"And now?"
I shake my head. "I can't. Not yet." I cut off a slice of pancake and bring it to my lips. Mmm. Sweet, fluffy, fruity perfection. "Inked Hearts is the only place that's ever felt like home."
He nods I get that.
But his eyes scream you need to move on.
Chapter Thirty
Leighton
Dean launches into a slow clap.
His eyes find mine as I step inside. He raises a brow. How was it?
I nod to Ryan. What do you think?
He shrugs who knows. His attention turns to Walker—who's standing at the counter next to him. They share one of those best friend looks.
Walker fights a chuckle, but he doesn't make it.
He laughs as he joins Dean's slow clap.
Then Brendon steps out from his suite—what is he doing here this early?—and surveys the scene. He shoots me his usual paternal look. "These idiots bothering you?"
"No." I fight my smile. This is sweet in a Dean kind of way, but it's so not his business. "They're just confused. They don't know what a satisfied woman looks like."
Walker mimes rolling up his sleeves. "Those would be fighting words if I thought you meant them."
"I mean Dean." I laugh.
Walker nods. "It's new for him. You'll have to give him a minute."
Dean jumps—actually jumps—onto the counter. Continues his slow clap. "Sorry, babe, but that is not a satisfied woman." He looks to his brother. "Tell me you didn't skimp on the manual—"
Ryan cuts him off. "I'll tell you to get the fuck to work."
"I'm not working today," Dean says.
"Go fuck with someone else." Ryan feigns irritation, but his smile breaks through.
Brendon shoots me that same paternal look. "You and Ryan?"
"Yeah." I brush my hair behind my ear. "Does anyone else have an opinion?"
"No. It's good." He offers me a hug.
I lean into the gesture.
He whispers in my ear. "You sure you know what you're getting into?"
"You know how it is when you can't get over someone." I pull back. Turn to Dean. It's impressive how obnoxious he is standing up there clapping. "You're gonna hurt yourself."
"Or get your ass kicked." Walker motions to Brendon and Ryan. "He's overdue."
"I'm a loveable scamp," Dean says.
"A what?" Walker asks.
"A rogue," Dean says.
"Where'd you learn a D&D class?" Walker asks.
"Nerds don't own the word." He jumps off the counter and turns to Ryan. "Why'd you leave your girl hanging?"
Ryan shakes his head you're insane if you think I'm answering that.
Dean turns to me. "Come on, Leigh. You'll give me the dirt."
"Nope." I take my spot behind the counter. Set up.
"Are you dating now?" Walker runs his hand through his wavy hair. "Or is this—"
"He's wearing last night's clothes," Dean says.
Walker nods.
"And he smells like pussy," Dean says.
Walker nods obviously.
"You two fucked," Dean says.
"Everybody got that." Brendon returns to his suite. "You don't have to spell it out."
"Yeah, I do." He turns, winks at me. "How good was it?"
"Why? You place a bet on that?" I ask.
"I would have if anyone would have taken it." He laughs.
"Nobody would bet against Ryan? You guys." I press my hand to my heart. "You're so supportive."
Dean motions give me the juicy details. "Let's hear the dirt now. How many times did you come?"
I flip him off.
He laughs. "Can't be good if you have all that hostility."
Walker shakes his head. "Just 'cause she's on edge now doesn't mean she didn't come plenty last night."
"Sex tips from the Master Tease." Dean laughs. "Fuck, Leigh. You better hope Ryan isn't listening. We've seen Iris panting enough times to know Walker isn't fucking around."
My cheeks flush. That's exactly it. Ryan is a tease. A cruel, evil, horrible, wonderful tease.
"Shit. Look at her face." Dean's eyes go wide. "Right on the money."
Walker chuckles. "If she's already wanting, you're being cruel."
"And when you're on the verge of fucking your girlfriend all night?" Dean asks.
Walker's smile gets wicked. "Don't look if you don't like it."
"He likes it too much. He goes home and fucks himself to that shit," Ryan says.
Dean shrugs so what if I do?
Ryan shoots Dean a knowing look. "You ever gonna focus on your life?"
"My life's exactly how I want it," Dean says.