We catch our breath, then both start laughing, giddy and spent and stupid in love. Ryan pulls out carefully, then rolls over. I roll onto my stomach, and he reaches over to twirl a finger through my hair.
“You good?” he asks. “Was that okay for you?”
“Was that okay?” I scoff. “That was fucking earth-shattering, Ryan,” I tell him softly. “Best orgasm of my life.”
His smile lights up the room. “Don't go turning into a full-time bottom on me, Spence. I need that dick.”
“Never happening,” I laugh. “But we're definitely working this into the rotation.”
“Deal,” he says with a wink. Then he reaches down and gently rubs my ass. “I remember you, you know? From the shelter.”
Rolling to my side, I prop my head up on one hand. With the other, I draw small circles on his chest. “You do?”
Ryan turns his head to devastate me with those kind eyes. “I mean, I had no idea this whole time.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t either. Not until your sisters were showing me pictures last night and Tammy—your Aunt Iris—was in one of them.”
Ryan hums softly and says, “She’s the best. She taught me the importance of giving back.” He runs his thumb across my lower lip. “But now that I know… I remember meeting you. I only went with her a few times, so I didn’t meet a lot of teens my age there. I don’t think it would have mattered, though?”
“Why?”
Ryan leans in and presses a soft kiss to my mouth. “Because I thought you were just as beautiful then as I do now.”
Fuck me. I’m a goddamn fool for resisting this man’s heart for so long. “Ryan—”
“Shh. You don’t need to say anything. It’s written all over your face,” he says with a softness that guts me.
“I do love you, Ryan. I didn’t think it would ever be a possibility for me again, but I love you so deeply it hurts.”
He just shrugs. “I know.”
I pinch his nipple and he yelps. “Did that hurt?” I tease. “Good. Cocky bastard.”
Ryan covers his nipple and laughs so rich and warm that I fall a little bit deeper. “I knew, Perfect. I was just waiting for you to figure it out for yourself. And Spence?”
“Yeah?”
“I would have waited a lifetime.”
I kiss him because that’s all I can manage right now. He pats my ass again and says, “We’ve had a rough and emotional few days, so we can wait a little while to start, but we’re going talk about our pasts. Our damage. A little at a time okay? I’ll cook. We’ll talk. We’ll fuck. A good time will be had by all.”
I bark out a genuine laugh—something I find myself doing more often in his presence. Remind me to send the universe a gift basket. Aligning my jaded, closed-off heart with alighthearted, funny, sweet jock with an ass that won’t quit was the right play. I will make it my life’s mission to protect his sparkle.
“I would like that, Ry,” I tell him.
“Good.” He kisses me again. “Stay there. I’ll get a warm washcloth.”
Ryan gets up, and I watch his spectacular ass striding into the bathroom.
Yeah, definitely never giving that up.
Fifty
I’ll Remember
Ryan
We spent the rest of the week holed up in the condo. I don't think we put clothes on once. When we needed energy, I just threw on an apron to cook, bare ass hanging out. Spence fucked me on every surface possible-bed, floor, shower walls, kitchen table, counters. He even fucked me in the butler's pantry after walking in on me down on my hands and knees looking for a pan.
