Page 21 of Ashes to Ink

She smiled then, and he about swallowed his tongue.

“I want you to kiss me. And then I want you to help me stripout of these clothes, although these boots might take a little bit. And then Iwant you to stand there while I strip you out of yours. And then I want you tokiss me again, though maybe not on my mouth. I want you to make me feel. I wantyou to make me smile. I want you to make me come. I want it all. Is that okay?Do you think you can do that? Do you think you can take me right against thiswall? Or maybe on the couch over there. Or maybe even in my bedroom?”

He swallowed hard, and then ran his thumb over her cheek,loving the way she shivered at his touch. She wasn’t afraid of him. That muchhe knew. That much he could tell. And the fact that she could just come out andsay those words right then? The fact that she could just tell him exactly whatshe wanted?

No wonder his dick was so fucking hard.

“I think that can be arranged. But you need to tell me whatyou want the whole time, okay? I don’t mind being told what to do.”

She laughed and then took a step forward, placing her handon his chest. He wondered if she could hear the racing of his heartbeat.Because that was about all he could hear in his ears.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

A rapid succession of beats that made it hard for him tothink.

Abby made it hard for him to think.

“Kiss me, Ryan. It’s just you and me here. I promise.”

He didn’t know if that was quite true. They might be alonein this house, but they weren’t the only two people there. And that was okay.Max would always be there. The fact that Michael was also on Ryan’s mind madeit a little harder, but he could just focus on Abby. She deserved that andmore.

“I think that can be arranged.” And then he lowered hishead, gently brushing his lips along hers. She sucked in a breath, a barelyaudible sound, and it made him groan.

When she parted her lips ever so slightly, he let his tongueslide along hers, deepening the kiss. She moaned and wrapped her arms aroundhis neck. That brought her breasts right to his chest, her hard nipples pokinghim even through her bra and dress and his shirt. He didn’t mind; he wanted allof her. Wanted more of her.

And tonight, he was going to have her.

Tonight he would give her himself, as well.

“Where do you want me?” he asked, his lips practically stillagainst hers. It was just a whisper, just a breath of words, but she had heardhim.

“Anywhere. Anywhere.” She repeated the word, her voice but awhisper. So he kissed her again, tasting her and teasing her ever so slightly.

She tasted of the wine from dinner, of the Alfredo they hadshared between laughs. She smelled of tea, and he knew that was just the scentof her. She would always smell that way, of home and happiness. Every time hescented tea, he would likely get hard.

There was probably something wrong with him for that, but hedidn’t give a fuck.

He had Abby in his arms, and that was all that mattered.

“We’ll go slow, I promise.”

“What if I don’t want slow?” she asked, her hand moving tohis waistband. When she tugged, he smiled.

“Okay. The first time we can go slow. The second time? I cango as fast and hard as you want.”

“Second time? Aren’t you getting a little ahead ofyourself?” She winked, and he leaned into her, his body inexplicably pulled toher. Hell, more than his body was drawn to her.

He grinned and then stole a kiss before cupping her face inboth of his hands and kissing her even harder. Then he broke away to say more.“Let’s just say I don’t think I’m going to get enough of you just once. I hopeyou feel the same way.”

“I think…I think that sounds about right.”

And then they were kissing again, lost in each other. Ryanwanted more of Abby, wanted to taste every inch of her. And if she let him, hewould do that tonight.

And maybe again tomorrow.

He probably shouldn’t think about tomorrow. Probablyshouldn’t think about anything beyond right now.

Because if he weren’t careful, he knew he could fall forher. And he couldn’t do that. He didn’t have enough of himself to give to her.It wouldn’t be safe. Michael always ruined everything that Ryan touched, and hehad to be careful.