He tucked a lock of hair behind my ear.“Us.”
Okay, I’d always wanted a smart man – but I was starting to rethink that.
He chuckled.“That look says I’m right.”He rolled to the side.“Hold that thought, I gotta deal with this condom.”
The gentle way he pulled out of me made me itch to have him back.
Again, he stared at me and I feared my expression shared too much.
He leaned over me and kissed my cheek.“That was more than a hot fuck for both of us.There’s a reason sex complicates shit.We had a bond surviving our abduction.Now we cemented that bond.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I fibbed.
His head tipped to the side.“Are you gonna tell me that was just sex for you?”
The word ‘yep’ should have been right there at the ready, but not only could I not say it, I couldn’t even nod my head.That was anything butjustsex.
“Didn’t think so,” he muttered.
I watched him saunter to my bathroom, admiring his back tattoo of the Riot MC patch.
I lifted the covers and pulled them over me, getting comfortable.
Ryan came out of the bathroom and stopped in the middle of my room.“You’re cute, but we aren’t goin’ to bed yet, Ivy.”
“I know.I need to shower first, and I’m planning on you being in there with me.”
One of his eyebrows ticked up and down.“I’m definitely down for that.”
“I figured.I’m looking forward to tasting you.”
He pulled back the covers and laid down beside me.“Don’t be afraid, Ivy.I mean it.I’m not looking for a woman.”
“Right,” I whispered.
He continued.“Life’s funny though.Most people find each other when they aren’t looking.Hell, Uncle Mick would sayespeciallywhen people aren’t looking.”
I turned on my side to face him.“I hear you, but—”
He shifted to his side.“Ivy, I’m saying, I’m willing to give this a shot if you are.”
“You say that now, but I can’t handle being ghosted for no good reason or blindsided by threesome requests.”
He slid an arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer.“I’d never do that.Has it struck you thatyoumight want to ghostme?”
“Not a chance,” I scoffed, and wished I hadn’t.
His lips quirked to the side skeptically.“I work with Lark and he’s my MC brother.You aren’t going to want to spend as much time with me if shit goes south with him.You might resent being around me because he’ll be there – a reminder of what could have been.And you damn sure won’t want to spend time at the clubhouse with me.”
I turned my head away for a beat.“We’ve avoided him so far.”
“Ivy.I’m serious.”
I nodded.“So am I.Those are two separate issues.”
“Yeah, but Lark will be around to some degree.We both have to take the risk here.”
I nodded.“You’re right.”
