All the color drained out of Ryan’s face, and I instantly regretted the threat. It had been empty anyway. I never would have followed through with it, not when I missed him every minute of the day. But the look on his face told me that didn’t matter. Gulping, I took a hesitant step back, and he followed, towering over me with eyes that had gone feral.
“Ah, shit.” My brother’s voice was full of the trepidation I suddenly felt. “Mom, I don’t think we should witness what’s about to happen.”
“Ryan won’t hurt her.” Mom’s voice was full of confidence.
“Hurting her is the last thing I expect him to do,” Garret agreed. “But there are some things we really don’t want in our heads. I have a feeling this is one of them.”
“Do not run from me,” Ryan gritted out, taking another step toward me, closing the distance between us.
“I-I wasn’t going to,” I stuttered out, my heart pounding against my ribs so hard, my chest shook. Not from fear. Never fear of Ryan. But in excitement, anticipation. I knew—my body knew—what was about to happen, and I was already trembling for it. “Ryan…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”
“No?”
I shook my head, my gaze dropping to his mouth. The next thing I saw was the back of his T-shirt as he slung me over his shoulder and sprinted for the limo. I heard Ciana and Samara giggle as they rushed to get out of his way.
The coolness of the limo’s air conditioning brushed over my bare arms and legs as my back hit the bench seat. The door slammed shut behind us, and then he was commanding the driver to go. Within seconds, the car was moving forward, the tires squealing at the sudden acceleration.
His thick body covered mine, blanketing me from the chill of the AC vents blowing down on us from above. “If you’re angry with me, you can yell or scream. Fuck, you can even throw hands at me. But you never…” He wrapped his hand loosely—deliciously—around my throat, his voice dropping to a raspy whisper as he looked into my eyes. “Never threaten me with the one thing I cannot bear, Nova.”
“I’m sorry,” I breathed, my voice shaking as my lower body arched up into his hardness.
“I love you,” he bit out, his hand tightening ever so slightly. “I live for you. These past few months have been hell. Today, my soul felt like it was trying to claw its way out of my body, I was so desperate to get to you. All that kept me sane was knowing this is the last time. Once I had you in my arms, I never had to let you go again.” I felt his cock pulsing against my thigh, his jeans barely containing him. “And you threatened me with the agony of having to leave you behind again.”
“Forgive me,” I pleaded, hating that I’d hurt him.
“Tell me you love me,” he commanded, his fingers stroking down my neck to the top of my shirt. “Tell me I am the only one you love.”
“I love you. Only you, Ryan.” I covered his hand and brought it to the center of my chest. “My heart belongs to no one else but you.”
His lashes lowered in pleasure. “Tell me you can’t live without me.”
“I can’t live without you.” Tears filled my eyes. “I can’t. Being away from you has been agony. At times, I felt as if I couldn’t breathe because we were so far apart.”
With a pained groan, he touched his lips to my damp lids. “Don’t cry, my heart. The pain is over now. I’m here to take you home.”
“N-now?” I asked wistfully.
He heaved a hard sigh and pressed his forehead to mine. “I wish, but no. I have to share you a little longer with your family. But only a few more days. Come Sunday, you are all mine.”
“I’m already yours.” I turned my head, my mouth seeking his, but he evaded my kiss. “Please, Ryan. Please.”
I could feel his entire body vibrating with need. “I can’t, baby. I promised your dad.”
“But I need you,” I sobbed.
“Shh, shh,” he soothed, stroking his hand down my side, his lips brushing softly over my cheek. “Soon, precious angel. I promise.”
“No, now.” I tugged on his shirt, my earlier anger returning. “You got to watch me on those cameras, day after day. And I got nothing. I’m still getting nothing. All because of a fucking promise you didn’t even make to me!”
He jerked his head up in surprise. “That’s why you’re upset about the cameras? Not because of the invasion of privacy, but because you didn’t get to watch me in return?”
“Yes,” I snipped. “I’m not thrilled you watched me without my knowledge, but I wouldn’t have told you no if you’d asked my permission to put them up. I just would have stipulated you do the same for me.”
“Yeah?” he murmured, his hunger blazing from his eyes. But he had a will of steel that apparently not even I could break. “Where would you have wanted the cameras, Nova?”
“In your bedroom, right over your bed,” I answered, already plotting exactly where I would place each one. “Another right over your shower stall, so I could see everything you do while in there. I’d want another in the kitchen. You know how much I enjoy watching you cook.”
“I do,” he rasped, his breath brushing over my skin. “Where else?”
“Two in your office. One to see who comes and goes, the other right over your desk so I can watch every move you make, every breath that leaves your body while you work. Every frown. Every glare. Every smile. I want it all, every minute of the day.” I started to pant, imagining how excited it would get me just to watch him while he was unaware. I’d never considered myself a voyeur, but right then, all I could think about was watching Ryan’s every move and how much I would enjoy each second.
“The smiles are only for you, my heart,” he murmured against my ear, his breath on my neck causing me to shiver. “I’ll make it happen. Give me until Monday, and you will be the only one with access to all those cameras. Every move I make will be for your eyes only. But only if you allow me to continue to keep them on you in New York.”
I was nodding before he even finished speaking. “Yes. Anything.”
With an agonized groan, he sat up and pulled me with him. Lifting me onto his lap, he combed his fingers through my hair, unable to stop himself from touching me. “I told myself, once you got to New York, this need to spend every minute of the day with you would ease. But you’re only enabling me, baby.”
I snuggled deeper into his embrace, letting his love and attention soak into my pores, my body absorbing it like much-needed vitamins. “I like that you need me so much. Sure, it’s a little bit crazy, but it’s a huge turn-on that the man I love can’t stop thinking about me.”
“I was worried it would freak you out,” he admitted, his voice lower than usual, as if he were struggling with himself to speak the words. “My fear was that I would scare you with how much I need to be a part of every minute of your day.”
Tilting my head back, I met his hooded gaze. Damn, but he was so handsome. And all mine. “There’s nothing you could ever say or do that would scare me. I know you love me, Ryan, but do you understand I love you just as much?”