"Ryan," she whispered, her heavy lids fluttering closed.
She heard his chuckle and then his tongue glided across her flesh, up and down, back and forth, making her reach out and clutch the back of his head so that his mouth would go where she needed him the most. His lips closed around her nipple, the teeth slightly scraping and sending a rush of arousal through her veins and to the tips of her curled toes.
Her fingers dug into his scalp as she writhed against the sheets, a bar of arousal beginning to form in her abdomen. She could hear the pounding of her heart as if a drum had taken up residence in her skull, picking up speed with every beat.
Kissing his way down her belly, he nudged her legs apart with his wide shoulders. His tongue traced patterns on the sensitive skin of her inner thigh before traveling to her core. A shiver ran up her spine and her breath caught in her throat. Part of her wanted to scream his name and the other part wanted to sigh in pure ecstasy. She wasn't sure which side was going to win but she was leaning toward screaming at the top of her lungs. It had always been good but this time it was...more. They were more themselves so they could be more to each other.
His warm lips pressed baby kisses against the slick flesh, and then he pressed a thick digit inside of her, swirling his finger against the hidden spots that only served to send her flying higher into the clouds. His tongue did wickedly naughty things on the outside while his fingers stroked from the inside, setting up a situation that was only going to end up one way.
With an almighty explosion.
Mariah fell over the edge with Ryan's name on her lips. She squeezed her eyes shut as her climax took control but that didn't stop her from seeing stars or feeling the world tilt on its axis. It also didn't stop her from clutching at his shoulders, something to steady herself when everything was spinning and whirling in her brain.
When it was over, she opened her eyes to see him quietly lying beside her, his blue gaze taking in every detail. With any other human being she would have been embarrassed, hiding her face, but with Ryan it was different. She wanted to reveal the secrets of her soul to him, and she wanted to learn his as well.
"That looked like fun," he finally said when the world had stopped spinning like a top. His breath was warm on her cheek. "Want to do it again?"
"You haven't even done it once yet," she said, her hand cupping cheek, his jaw stubbled against her palm. Her heart ached with such love for this man that had returned to her life. How had she ever made it through without him? She only felt truly whole when they were together. She'd simply been walking through life these last few years pretending to be completely alive. "Maybe we should take care of that first."
"We can take care of both of us at the same time."
Oh, that sounded like a good plan. Why didn't I think of that?
Because I can't think straight when we're naked like this.
A naked Ryan Beck was a sight to behold. He'd filled out in the last decade, his shoulders wider, his legs more muscular, his skin golden. His stomach was still just as flat and she couldn't stop herself from reaching out and running her fingertips over the ridged abdomen. The muscles under her palm jerked and jumped in response and she heard the sharp intake of his breath.
"What are you up to, baby?" He tangled a hand in her hair and pulled her in for a long, hard kiss that left her barely able to form words.
"I'm just...exploring."
Rolling onto his back, Ryan gave her a wolfish grin. "Then go for it. I'm all yours."
This sounds interesting.
All mine.
At one point in her life, Mariah might have hesitated. Not this time. She wanted to enjoy and savor every single moment of their reunion. Levering from the bed, she straddled Ryan so she was looking down at him from her lofty perch above.
And the view was mighty fine indeed. She wasn't sure where she wanted to start. There were so many options and all of them good.
He waggled his brows in challenge. "What are you waiting for?"
She tapped her chin. "I'm just deciding. Don't rush me."
"Far be it for me to hurry you along. I'll just wait here and do nothing."
She ran her fingernails lightly down his torso, eliciting a groan. "Don't be sarcastic. This is serious business here."
"Of course. Strictly business. Carry on then."
That was exactly what she was going to do.
As if she had all the time in the world, she let her hands glide all over his chest, stomach, and arms, delighting in every sigh and groan from his lips. She loved how his muscular body was so different than her own, and she savored the sensation of his skin against hers. The soft sprinkling of golden-brown hair on his arms and chest, and then that treasure trail that led from belly button to his cock. Once her hands were done exploring, she took her lips on the same adventure across his heated flesh, finding even more sensitive spots that she'd never knew existed.
She was heading farther south when the world suddenly turned on its side and the breath was knocked out of her lungs.
Somehow, Ryan had lifted up from the mattress and flipped her onto her back. Now he was the one straddling her body wearing an evil genius smile on his face. He leaned down so they were almost nose to nose, his hands on either side of her head.
"Since this is serious business, I think it's about time to get down to it. I don't think I can wait anymore."
She could feel him hot, hard, and ready against her thigh.
I don't want to wait anymore either.
She's already waited ten years. One more minute just might kill her.
"I'm on the pill," she blurted out, suddenly realizing that they weren't kids anymore. They had to act like adults. Even back then they'd been careful. "You know...for my periods. It helps."
She'd had awful, painful cycles until her doctor had found the right pill to help alleviate the symptoms.
"I'm clean," he replied. "And healthy. But I don't have an issue wearing a condom if you want me to. We can get tested together so we don't have to later."
Do I have condoms? Yes, I do.
Liza had bought a box for Mariah after the divorce. It was shoved under the sink in the bathroom because frankly, she hadn't been thinking much about sex after the divorce.
"I have condoms in the bathroom. Liza bought them for me."
"That sounds like my sister. No need to go that far. I think I have one in my wallet."
He quickly took care of the foil packet and then laid on top of her, his weight on his elbows. His lips brushed her cheek and jaw, nuzzling her ear.
"Are you ready for me, sweetheart? Are you sure about this?"
"Yes, I'm sure. I don't want to wait anymore."
He started slowly, pressing forward inch by delicious inch and running over those hidden spots again. By the time he was in to the hilt she could have sworn she could see stars and the world was tilting again. Heat swept over her body, and an impatience took control. She wanted him now. She needed him now. She trusted Ryan with everything she was. She knew he'd never hurt her.
Because he never had.
"More," she panted, her nails scoring the skin on his shoulders, urging him to move. "Don't go slow. You know how I like it."
He remembered it all. How she liked it when he scooped her knees over his elbows so he could thrust harder and faster. The way she loved to feel a little helpless. His rough cheek against her neck, his teeth nibbling at her shoulder. She whispered filthy words of encouragement that she'd never spoken with any other man. She let him take control and he didn't disappoint, their rhythm sending the two of them over the cliff.