It seemed like an easy ask, but I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, teetering, afraid to step off. His movements grew more intense, encouraging me to take the leap. When I did, it felt like my body wasn’t my own. I felt a rush of adrenaline as I let go, my heart pounding in my chest.
I felt weightless and heavy at the same time. Pleasure rippled through my body like an electric wave. It was as if every nerve ending in my body was alive, vibrating with a strange, exhilarating energy. The sensation was both grounding and ethereal, leaving me suspended between two worlds, unable to fully grasp the intensity of the moment.
“Mmm, you did so good,” Ryan praised, drawing me back to my blissful state.
I wasn’t sure what had happened. All I knew was that our bodies were no longer joined. He lay beside me, stroking my cheek.
My eyes fluttered open. The tenderness that greeted me made me feel as though I was being cradled in the softest embrace. A sense of gratitude overwhelmed me. He was a stranger, but my first time was better than I could have ever imagined.
“Thank you, Ryan.” My words probably didn’t fully express how I really felt, but it was an attempt.
He gave me a panty-wetting smile. “The pleasure was mine.”
I flushed, probably because I couldn’t remember what happened after I came. It was nothing like the self-induced orgasms I treated myself to. Had he come? I looked down, and the evidence was there.
“I’ll be right back,” he announced.
I watched him disappear into my washroom with his clothing. Despite the aching in my core, I couldn’t help but smile. That experience was definitely worth the wait.
Ryan returned wearing his briefs, with one of my washcloths in hand. I eyed him, curious about his next step. He smiled at me then handed me my cloth. Which was a good call. Despite what we just shared, we only met tonight.
“How are you feeling?”
“Pretty good.” I sat up and crossed my legs, then immediately winced. “I’ll be right back.”
Ryan nodded.
I disappeared into the bathroom. What I wanted to do was soak in my bathtub, but there was a sexy man in my room. The question was, would he stay put until I returned?
CHAPTER THREE
RYAN
“Good morning, Texas,” Jo greeted me, way too cheerful for my liking.
She handed me a cup, and I mumbled my thanks. It wasn’t anything new to her; she knew I wasn’t a morning person. Unlike me, she bounced out of bed full of energy and cheer. It was why I gave her the nickname Sunshine. Normally, I didn’t interact with humans before my second or third cup of coffee. On the farm I worked on, people knew to stay clear of me.
Sunshine had learned not to speak to me in the mornings. During the last three months I visited Harrison, I carved out some time for Jo. The last thing I expected the first night we got together was that we would still be meeting up months later.
“I’m going to go have my coffee on the balcony. You can come get me when you are ready to go out to eat.” She was all smiles as she headed for the door.
We met up at the hotel near the airport with plans to spend the next two days together before I flew back home. I hadn’t done so much travelling since I was in the service. Once I retired, I put down roots in Redstone Range, South Dakota. It was a few hours away from the Silver Creek Ranch in Ironhaven.
When I found out Harrison was getting married, I decided to show up for his day. He hadn’t invited me, just mentioned his nuptials in passing. His not issuing an invitation wasn’t a slight on his part; he just figured I wouldn’t venture that far away from where I had put down roots. Normally, Harrison would be right on the money. But he was the kind of buddy I didn’t mind going to bat for. Besides, I felt I owed him. What better way to repay him than to make sure he had someone in his corner when he got married?
Was I surprised he was tying the knot? Hell, yes. Our pasts didn’t make us ideal candidates for settling down, with a wife, white picket fence, 2.5 kids, and dogs in the yard. War had left scars. Harrison and I weren’t the type of men who wanted to share ours.
We were men with needs, but we were upfront about our shit. A meal followed by some rolling in the hay. It was as far as things went. Well, Harrison had abandoned the script somewhere along the way. After meeting Amara, I got it. If a woman ever suited a man, it was Amara for Harrison. He looked happy. It was good for him. I knew better than to believe it would ever happen for me.
The coffee wasn’t strong. After I spent all night folding Jo into all kinds of positions, the last thing I should have been thinking about was how Harrison had broken free of theshackles of the scars that dictated we would end up alone as old men. I jumped into the shower. She had already been here. Not only was the stall wet, but her faint scent lingered in the air. It was rich, smoky, and spicy. She always smelled good, even after hours of being sweaty. Actually, she often smelled better.
Fuck! If I was going to be hard in the shower, I would have preferred her company. Jo’s learning curve was insane. There was no trace of the woman who had lost her virginity a few months before. She owned her sensuality and sexuality in a way that always left me wanting more. Cold water was in order. The sooner I could get us out to breakfast, the sooner I could get us back here to the hotel and have her under me. Although I wasn’t opposed to her being on top. Damn, Jo knew how to ride.
After my shower, I grabbed another cup of crappy in-room coffee and joined Jo on the balcony. I squeezed her tight-clad thigh. Her hair was up in a ponytail, which made her look so much younger. She was wearing one of those large off shoulder sweaters. I couldn’t resist the urge, so I kissed her bare shoulder.
“Izoogledit and found this great new place to eat breakfast.”
Jo loved breakfast.“I could eat breakfast literally any time of day. What’s better than pancakes after a long day at work or eggs benny with a glass of wine?”
