Cameron grins at me and hands me a glass of wine. “Look at you. Every guy here has his eyes on you.”
Zoey nudges me and winks. “You can’t say you haven’t noticed. I swear it’s that stylish little pixie cut. It suits you.”
Cameron nods in agreement. “You’re the classic cliché. The nerdy girl that comes back to town a total hottie.”
“And what does that make you, Cam?” I offer her a smug smile.
“I’m still the rich bitch everyone hates but still wants to fuck.”
She’s right. Cameron is growing up to be as gorgeous as our mothers, but since she already has money, she isn’t rushing to get married. I look around the room to find they’re right. Several of the guys have been looking at me and winking.Creepy.
I’m beginning to think that maybe those cheesy movies weren’t exaggerating. All I’ve done is purchase better makeup and cut my hair. Maybe it’s because I’ve also grown more confident and developed more of a backbone. I walked in here not giving a damn one bit if anyone in here asked me out or invited me to hang out. I’m not seeking their approval.
I’m behaving a lot like… I don’t want to say his name. Five years and I still think of him often. I need closure. He just…disappeared.
One of my favorite Christmas pop songs fills the room. I hum along and pat my thigh as I walk around. I hadn’t really been paying attention, and foolishly came to stand under the mistletoe. Ryker approaches me with a sly grin. “We’re back where we started.”
I chuckle. “The spot’s the same, but the people are completely different.”
“Think the Shawna 2.0 would be interested in giving the new and improved Ryker a chance? I’ve grown up a lot.”
“You’ve definitely grown.”
“How about a kiss?” He looks up to indicate the mistletoe. I turn and offer him my cheek. He groans. When I feel him leaning toward me, I close my eyes.
Velvety soft lips gently caress my cheek. A strong hand slides up my neck and cups the back of my head, gently massaging my scalp. The smell of leather has me sighing. I register that whiskers are tickling my skin.
Ryker was clean shaven.
My hand reaches out and touches soft leather. I don’t dare open my eyes. Maybe I’m dreaming. The lips feather down to the corner of my lips. I can smell mint now mixed with the scent of leather. Both of my hands wrap into the leather material and pull it closer to me. I’m too scared to open my eyes. It’s not him, but I am too lost in the fantasy.
“Shawna,” a low growl whispers in my ear. I feel those words to my core, and my body immediately becomes wet with need.Oh my gosh.That was definitely not Ryker. “Open your eyes.”
Lamely, I shake my head and try to pull him toward me for another kiss. A low chuckle sends tingles all over my body and I whimper. His lips return to mine and his tongue slides along the seam of my lips. I open up to him and wrap my arms tightly around him. My hands greedily take a handful of long, thick, soft curls.
Two strong hands lift me up and I wrap my legs around a lean waist. I hear whistles and catcalls as he carries me away. I feel us ascending the stairs, but still refuse to open my eyes. A door is kicked open and then shut. I feel his hand leave my body,and then return. He must’ve locked the door. At this point I don’t even care if anyone walks in. Nothing is going to get me to let go or stop kissing him.
As soon as I think it, he pulls away. My body is gently laid on a soft mattress. “Open your eyes. Please.”
“I’m scared.”
“Why?”
“I’m afraid you want be him.”
“You’d rather fuck a guy while pretending it’s someone else?” A warm tongue traces the curve of my jaw. “How many men have you fucked while pretending it was me?”
I swallow and confess. “Only two. It was a long five years.”
He stills. Then his strong hands slide along my body, exploring. “It has been. I’m sorry I stayed gone so long. I had to get some things taken care of, and you needed to finish school. We both had to grow up. And you have…I have…Now, I’ve come back with one sole purpose.”
“And what’s that?” I ask on a moan, as his strong hands massage me.
“Open your eyes, Shawna. I want you to know exactly who is talking to you and make no mistake about who is about to be inside you.”
I suck my lips in and take a deep breath. Slowly, my eyes flutter open, and I gasp. It’s really Zane. It’s him. He’s filled out into a beast of a man. Jet black curls frame his face that now bears a neatly trimmed beard. His sharp, sculpted facial features aren’t hidden but somehow enhanced by the dark hair. On either side of me are huge arms with muscle definition. I’m a little taken aback by this huge body on top of me.
“Don’t cry,” he whispers.
