Samantha
Moonlight stream edoverus,illuminating the sinewy muscles beneath Ryan’s skin. He was magnificent as he moved over me. I clung to him and arched my back as he drove into me again and again. I moaned, my head thrashing along the mossy ground. It felt so incredible to have his body pressed tight to mine.
“Sam,” he murmured into my ear. “You’re so perfect. You were made for me.”
His words were nearly as stimulating as his flexing hips, and I purred in approval. He was going to make me come like this. Make me fall apart in his arms all over again.
Wait…again?
I frowned, confused.
What was happening? When had Ryan and I…?
This wasn’t our first night together, was it?
No, that had been the night of my birthday, seven years ago.
“Don’t get distracted,” Ryan gently ordered me, pulling me from my wandering thoughts. He was looking down at me, grinning softly. “Focus on me, baby. Only me.”
As if to emphasize his point, he flexed his hips, touching me deep inside. I cried out, right on the verge.
“Come for me, Sam,” he rumbled. “Come for me, now.”
His words pushed me over the edge, sending me careening into my release. I shrieked and clawed at him, my nails sinking into his back. He released a guttural roar, and I felt it as he emptied himself deep within me.
My body hummed with satisfaction, but my mind remained confused. Something weird was going on. I was supposed to be angry at Ryan, wasn’t I? Yet, for some reason, I couldn’t remember why that was.
“Ryan, what’s going on?”
“Don’t worry, beautiful,” he assured me. “Everything’s all right. I am here. I will always be here. I will never leave you.”
I blinked. Why did that seem to strike a nerve deep within me? It was as if I didn’t believe him. Why? What wasn’t I remembering?
Ryan began kissing along my jaw and down my neck. He reached my breast and took a nipple into his mouth, distracting me again.
I shook my head to try and clear it.
He was going to make me come again, and I wanted to, but I also wanted to remember whatever it was I was forgetting about us.
“Don’t think so much,” he said with a wry grin as he began slipping down my body. He parted my legs and held my gaze for a moment. “Just feel, baby.”
With that, he lowered his head, and his lips touched my eager sex. All thoughts left my mind as I released a shuddering breath and sank back in surrender.
I woke with a gasp, sitting straight up and clutching the covers to my chest.
I looked around, expecting to find Ryan in bed with me, but I was alone. My breath was heavy and sweat dripped down my back. The sheets were tangled between my legs, and my core throbbed from the very real orgasm I’d just experienced.
What the hell kind of dream had that been? Why was I having a sex dream about Ryan?
I turned to gaze at the clock on my nightstand. It was barely past two in the morning. With a groan, I flopped back down onto my pillow and covered my face with my hands.
This dream wasn’t good. I couldn’t be having these kinds of thoughts about Ryan. It wasn’t good for my sanity.
I needed to keep him at arm’s length at all costs. I couldn’t afford to give into my desires again. That was what had gotten me into so much trouble with him before.
Closing my eyes, I willed myself to go back to sleep and dream of anything other than Ryan-Freaking-Carson.
***
I stepped out of the front door of the bookstore and turned to lock it.
It’d been a long day, and I was beat. All I wanted to do was go home and curl up on the couch with Henry and watch cartoons.
Suddenly, I heard a car approaching and glanced over my shoulder. I watched Jason’s truck pull up and park in a spot in front of the store. I started to smile and waved, but I could see through the windshield that he was angry.
I frowned, taken aback. He got out of the truck and slammed his door shut.
“What the hell’s the matter with you?” I asked in lieu of a greeting.
He pointed a finger at me and growled, “Did you have sex with Ryan?”
My jaw dropped, and I shook my head. “Wh-what are you talking about?”
“Now is not the time to lie to me,” he snapped. “I swear to God, Sam…”
“Jason, stop!” I exclaimed, looking to my left and right to make sure no one was on the sidewalk to hear this. “You’re making a scene.”
“I’m making a scene?” he scoffed. “I could make a bigger one if you’d like! Otherwise, tell me the truth.”
I opened my mouth to deny the accusation again, but I could see in his expression that he wasn’t going to let it go. With a frustrated sigh, I grabbed hold of his hand and turned back to the store’s door. Unlocking it, I dragged him inside and shut it behind us. Letting him go, I turned to him and crossed my arms.
“Where did you hear that?” I demanded to know, neither affirming or denying his words.
“Ryan told me,” he said, shocking me. “Last night, he invited me over and started asking all these questions about Henry.”
“He was?” I murmured.
Jason nodded and continued, “I asked him why he was so interested in Henry, and that’s when he told me about you two.”
“Shit.” I shook my head and clutched my head in my hands. “Shit, shit, shit.”
Jason was silent for several seconds before saying, “So, it’s true then, isn’t it? You and him.”
“Yes,” I admitted with a heavy sigh of defeat. “Yes, it’s true. It only happened once, and it was a mistake, all right?”