My breath hitches.
“I meant what I said. I want you, and I want this. That guy I mentioned just now, I want to be that guy for you. I want to be there for you and for Gabby.”
His smile drops at my silence. But I don’t know what to say. I mean, how does someone even follow that?
“Unless I literally thought all this wrong and you don’t feel the same.”
I finally snap out of the haze this man has put me in. “Are you fucking kidding me?” My voice rises more than I intended, and he chuckles. “I’ve had feelings for you for longer than I will ever admit.” His brow arches, and I press my lips together as if to say,Nope, I’ll never tell.“Even in my wildest dreams did I ever think you could or would ever reciprocate them? But I’ll be honest.” I take a few deep breaths. “I’m terrified to act on those feelings because of who you are and who you’ve become to me. You’re so important. You know, you’re more than just my brother’s best friend, always have been. Recently, you’ve become my rock and are so amazing with Gabby. I have to think about her, too. If we don’t work out, I’m not the only one who gets hurt. It’ll also be my daughter, and she’s the most important thing in my life, and she’s already been through so much in her brief life.”
“I’d never do anything intentionally to hurt her—either of you, for that matter. And even if we didn’t work out, you know I will always be here. Nothing will change between us. I will still be here in her life. I will still be here for both of you. No matter what. That I can promise you. What do you say, Pay? Take a chance on me? Take a chance on us?”
“Yes,” I whisper, and he grabs the back of my neck, hauling my mouth to his. Our kiss ends too quickly, and I settle in against his chest. I love the feeling of safety his arms offer.
“Can I ask one thing, though?”
“Have you not realized that there’s not much I won’t give you, Payton?”
My smile widens, and I hope that’s true. “Can we keep this—us—between us, though?” Rhyland’s body tenses. “I’m not trying to hide it, but if you haven’t noticed, my life is a bit of a hot mess right now, and I don’t want anyone’s judgment. Not that I think folks would judge us, but I just want to have this moment—me and you—while we explore where this goes.”
“Do I want to shout from the rooftops that you’re my girl? Maybe buy some ad space over on Bridge Street to announce it to the world?” We both laugh at his dramatics. “But I will respect your wishes, and we can go at any speed you need. Okay?”
Instead of answering, I snuggle further into his chest. I can’t believe this is real. We continue to kiss more throughout the evening and only go as far as fondling over my bra. When I struggle to fight back a yawn mid-kiss, Rhyland can’t hold back his laughter.
“Why don’t we get you into bed?”
I shake my head. “No, I don’t want to be away from you.”
His lips twitch. “Who said you were going to bed alone? I want to hold you tonight, all because I can.”
With one last deep kiss, I rise from his lap and hold my hand out. The smile on his face has me rather weak in the knees as he takes my hand in his. I lead him up to my bed, where I fall asleep in Rhyland’s arms. The last thing I recall before drifting off is Rhy pressing a kiss to the back of my head and whispering, “Sweet dreams.”
There’s no need to dream because no dream could be any better than this reality.
Chapter 19
Rhyland
Ican recall the commercial from my childhood that said the best part of waking up was a cup of coffee. Those people clearly never woke up with Payton Mosby in their arms. Because I’m pretty sure that would top any coffee. The only thing I could think of that would make it even better was if we were naked.
My dick still hates me because I stopped him from having all the fun last night. We will get there, but I wanted to prove to her it’s not just about sex with me, hence why we had to talk before things got so out of control.
When I woke up in her bed alone yesterday, I never thought we would’ve ended up back here. Leaving the house yesterday, I had no clue what it was going to be like when I got home. Was Payton going to be mad at me? Were things going to be awkward? And then the shit hit the fan. In the shower, I was quick to wash the blood on my hands as I thought about what I would say. Imean, how do you say thanks for confessing your thoughts the night before, so tonight, I was so keyed up and surprised by him showing up that I just unleashed hell? My mind replayed everything as I walked down the stairs, but when I saw that motherfucker standing in my doorway, all of those calm words I had flew right out the door.
How the hell did he even find out where she was staying? Not that I think he would ever be violent with them, but if he tries to come back, he will have to go through me first. His abuse was anything but physical, from what I understand. Isn’t that bad enough? I had planned to tell him to get off my property, or I’d be calling the cops, but then she stood up to the man and slammed the door in his face. Pride had filled my chest. And when she kissed me, that was it—the world as I had known it ceased to exist. It was a whole new world for us—one where now that I knew what her lips felt like against mine, I would fight to the death to feel them over and over.
Our talk last night had been a long time coming, and maybe the events of the last twenty-four hours were a sign from some higher power that enough was enough. We had waited long enough. It was time to be open and honest about what we want and to go about getting it.
Payton stirs in my arm, and her ass rubs against my dick, and I have to bite my lip to keep from groaning.
“Good morning,” she says as she stretches. God, her voice is sexy in the morning. The smallest hint of rasp, and it makes me wonder if her voice will be like that after I spend a night fucking her throat.
Shit, don’t think about sex.I try to pull my hips back so that my dick doesn’t poke the bear. However, she must sense me backing away because her ass is like a magnet to my dick.
“Good morning,” I reply and press a kiss to her shoulder.
Spinning in my arms, Payton gives me her first genuine smile of the morning. “You don’t regret it, do you?”
“Never” is out of my mouth before I can even ask her to elaborate more.
