Ryan nods and takes another drink, finishing off his beer. He pops the top on the next and I can’t help but wonder if this is usual for him.
“You said Alex is moving.”
I look at him and smile. “Alex and Cole are getting married in two weeks.”
“Isn’t he your ex?”
“Yep,” I nod and take a drink of my own beer. “Seems they’re in love and they’re
good for each other.”
“How does that make you feel?”
“Honestly, I’m fine with it. Cole and I haven’t been together in a long time. He’s lucky to have her. She’s good for him, she’s what he needed to make his life complete.” I set my beer back down and wonder if we're going to continue being awkward around each other. He looks at his watch and frowns. “Do you need to be somewhere?”
“No, I’m just looking to see how long it’s been since I’ve kissed you.” He turns and looks at me. “The thing is, I’m sitting here and I have all these things to say to you and nothing is coming out. The only thing I want to do is kiss you.”
Ryan gets up and starts pacing around the room. He pulls off his sweatshirt and I see dark lines on his arms that I didn’t see before in the pub. I pull my legs up underneath me and watch as he mentally talks himself down from wherever he is.
“What’s on your arm?”
He stops pacing, but doesn’t answer me. He lifts his t-shirt over his head and I gasp at how much he’s grown into a man. He was just a boy when I knew him last and now he’s matured. He’s carrying a clearly-defined six pack that is accented by a dark patch of hair leading into his boxers. Both arms are muscular and have thick black lines. He turns around and shows me what they belong to. On his back is a very large phoenix and its wings extend onto his biceps.
I swallow hard and fight the urge to strip down to nothing and lay here for the taking, because staring at the boy I fell in love with and seeing the man he became is enough to do me in. I stand slowly and walk over to him. I trace the lines of the bird with my fingertips.
“What’s it for?”
“Because I rose from the ashes and made myself better.”
“It’s very sexy.” I can’t lie. It is. It’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. I don’t know if it’s the tattoo or the man sporting the ink, but I have no doubt in my mind I’ve never seen something so sexy.
I lean closer and place my lips where my fingertips were, kissing my way up his back. My arms snake around him, my fingers tickling the hair on his stomach.
“Hadley,” he croaks out my name. “I’m not going to be able to stop myself from taking you. I’m so in love with you. I’ve been in love with you for years. If you don’t want this, step away please, I’m begging you.”
“I want this. I want you.”
He turns in my arms and picks me up. His lips are on me, his tongue thrusting into my mouth before I can react. His hands go under my skirt, pushing it up over my hips. I hate that I’m wearing tights right now. He cups my ass, pushing me into his erection. His fingers dig into my thighs, pulling my legs farther apart.
“Room?” he says, only breaking long enough to ask.
I hate pulling away, but have no choice. “Last door,” is all I can get out before he’s working me into a deep and frenzied kiss.
We stumble into the wall as he walks us down the hall. He twists my doorknob and pushes my door open, kicking it shut. I’m expecting him to throw me onto the bed, but he doesn’t. He lays me down gently. His lips move down the column of my throat until he reaches my sweater, tugging lightly before giving up.
I start to laugh.
“You think this is funny? You’re dressed like an Eskimo.”
“It’s cold out.”
“I’ll keep you warm,” he says as he pulls me into a sitting position and lifts my sweater over my head. He slowly undoes each button on my dress shirt, including the ones on my wrists. He kisses each wrist and my shoulders as he slides it off.
“Another shirt?” he asks when he sees my camisole. I shrug. “I know, you’re cold,” he says as he lifts it over my head.
I unbuckle his belt, remembering the last time we were like this and how he stopped us. There’s nothing stopping us now. My bra comes off and before I can catch my breath, he has me back on my back and he’s hovering over me. His lips are dangerously close to my nipple that is all but screaming at him for attention.
“Last chance,” he says against the valley of my breast before taking it in his mouth.