Ryan’s arms are wrapped around me as we walk along the globe of the observation deck.
“I’m going to miss you,” he whispers into me, and I can’t help but lean into him. Can’t help but want to soak up every single second of my time with him.
“Sometimes what you need is not what you want.” It’s really all I can offer at this point.
“Maybe. But sometimes what you want is exactly what you need. Come here.” He drags me over to the glass window and poses us for yet another one of his selfies. He doesn’t really strike me as the type of guy who likes taking pictures of himself, or even being in them for that matter, but he takes them of us frequently.
“You guys really do make me sick,” Luke says, watching us smile for the phone. “Your cuteness is disturbing.”
I shrug. “Probably right, but what can you do?”
“Do you have a twin sister, Duchess?” Luke asks. “An identical cousin, or something like that?”
“Nope. Only child, Luke. So if you like the blonde hair, blue-eyed thing, maybe you should bounce down to California. There was plenty of that when we were in LA.”
“Yeah, but I don’t really like bleach and plastic. And you forget I lived there once myself. Pasadena is a bitch-slap away from LA.”
I laugh. “A bitch-slap? I can’t tell if that’s ironic or derogatory.”
“Could be both, Duchess Kate, could be both.” His hand reaches out, touching my waist.
“Luke, I think it’s time you get your paws off my girl and get your punk-ass home, before I fire you and find another low-life, mildly talented asshole to take your place.”
Luke shakes his head with a half-smile. “Not likely my friend. I’m the best of the best, and the lowest of the low—in that order. It’s completely impossible to replace me.” He reaches out his hand, and he and Ryan do some sort of bro-shake-hug thing. Luke winks at me, leaning in and giving me a lingering hug and slow kiss on the cheek. “Bye, Duchess Kate. It’s really been a pleasure. And if you ever tire of this big guy, come find me. I’m way more entertaining.”
After Luke leaves us, Ryan and I continue to walk around the top together. I turn to him with a big smile. “I like Luke. I’m glad you have a buddy here.”
Ryan gives me his crooked smile. “A buddy? What am I, six?”
“I’m sorry, did you say sex?” I ask, keeping my face impassive.
“Yes. I definitely said sex, so move that sexy ass of yours so I can get you home and take advantage of you.”
“I believe I am deserving of some spankings.”
He groans, dropping his forehead to the top of mine. “Killing me, Katie. Killing me. I never thought of myself as a man who would enjoy spanking a woman, but I am, and I’m dying to turn that round perfect ass a lovely shade of pink.”
“Funny, because I never thought of myself as a woman who would enjoy being on the receiving end of said spankings, but I am, Mr. Grant, and it’s all your fault.”
I’m teasing him, but his expression turns serious as he pulls me in, kissing me deeply.
“Then I guess we’re meant to be together, Katie.”
I swallow hard and don’t respond.
How can it feel like what he’s saying is right when I always knew I was meant to be with Eric?
By the time we get back to Ryan’s, it is late in the evening, almost dinner time. We decide to try out some of the delivery services in the area as we light a fire and curl up in front of it.
Ryan hasn’t stopped touching me once.
Not once.
Like he’s stockpiling it for when I’m gone.
“The food is ordered, and they assured me it would take at least forty-five minutes to get here.”
“Oh,” I laugh. “They assured you of that, did they?”
He nods, taking off his glasses and setting them down on the coffee table. “They did indeed, love. Now get that bottom over here. I’m not going to tie you up right now, due to time constraints, but I am going to spank you for making me get on an airplane this morning, and then I’m going to fuck you crazy.”
Holy hell, I can’t help but squirm.
My cheeks are on fire, as is the rest of my body. He walks me over to the edge of the rug between the coffee table and the hearth then strips me down slowly. His eyes rake in every inch of me, memorizing the slopes, and curves, and shades of my skin. I don’t think I’ve ever been so turned on in my life.
He takes off his shirt and jeans, but leaves his black boxer briefs on. Twirling his finger in the air, indicating that he wants me to turn around, I do as I’m told, only to realize that the shades on the window are open.
“Ryan?” I ask nervously. “The window.”
“Is facing the water and the mountains. No one can see in, sweetheart. I’d never share this with anyone.” His hands run up and down my skin, leaving delicious shivers in their wake. “Bend over,” he whispers in my ear, and my breath catches.
My legs threaten to give out on me as I bend forward, placing my hands onto the coffee table and closing my eyes. Smack! Ryan’s hand hits my ass before rubbing it soothingly to ebb the sting. It doesn’t really hurt. He’s not hitting me hard. It’s just enough to make me feel it.
He does this five more times, and by the time he’s done, I’m panting and struggling to hold myself up. Suddenly I feel his mouth kissing and licking and sucking on my sensitive burning flesh, and I can’t help but moan loudly. His fingers find me and he releases a moan of his own, before his mouth replaces them.
I wouldn’t say I’m sexually innocent, but I’ve never had someone go down on me from this angle, or been this exposed while experiencing it. It takes me no time at all to reach my climax, and when he slides inside of me, it’s the ultimate connection.
“Katie,” he moans my name over and over. “I’ll never get enough,” he groans.
I know the feeling.
We come together in the most spectacular way and just as we finally manage to catch our breaths, the doorbell rings, making us both burst out into laughter.
“I hope he didn’t hear us,” I giggle.
“If he did, he can’t be anything but jealous, because that was earth-shatteringly good.” He kisses the tip of my nose before getting up, throwing on his jeans—sans boxers—and going to the door.
I dress quickly because even though I’m off to the side and am blocked from view, I don’t exactly feel comfortable lying here naked on the carpet with the delivery guy only a few feet away.
Ryan and I eat penne in vodka sauce and chicken parmesan in front of the fire and the television, watching the new Star Wars movie on the huge flat screen. It’s heaven, so fucking ideal I want it to last forever.
But I feel the clock chiming inside of me.
The ever-present tickle of guilt.
The hint of betrayal, and the sting of longing, turn my insides out and cause my chest to clench in the worst way. I cling to Ryan, unable to stand even an inch of space between us, and he’s only too happy to hold me just as close.
I want to beg him to never let me go.
To fight the way he said he would.
To be patient and give me time to figure everything out. But I don’t. Instead, I silently sit here and watch the movie, breathing in his scent, which is starting to feel like my home, and enjoying this suspended moment in time.