She heard him move and then strong hands slipped around her waist from behind. For a moment she held herself stiff then surrendered, turning into him, her hands gripping handfuls of his shirt as he drew her into him.
"It's okay," he soothed, lifting one hand to gently cup her nape, his fingers tangling in her hair. "It's alright, love."
She clung to him and cried. "I told him I never wanted to see him again and I let him leave...he was supposed to sleep over and if I hadn't said all those horrible things, he would still be alive. I killed him, Ryan and I'm so scared that if I tell you to leave…"
"Ssh...I'm right here, I'm not leaving. You didn't kill him, Sam. It wasn't your fault." He pressed kisses along her temple, one hand stroking her back. "I promise you, Sam, even if you need me to give you some space, to learn to trust me and to prove to you that I'm capable of earning your trust, then I will. But I won't leave you, I won't give up on us."
She calmed a bit and pulled back to look at him. He cupped her chin and met her gaze. "You'll do that? You'll give me space to adjust to all this?"
"If that's what you need. Yes."
She nodded, sniffling back tears. "I need it."
"Can I kiss you?" He whispered, the longing back in his expression. "You don't have to…"
She rose on tiptoe and pressed her mouth to his. Their moans emerged as his hands slid up to cup her chin and his lips parted hers hungrily, his tongue glided over his, a desperate growl rumbling in his chest that told her everything he was feeling. I love you. I need you. I'm desperate for you. I can't fucking function without you.
He circled her waist, pulling her flush against his body, his hard length pressed against the place that was already hot and wet for him.
Needing more, she grasped his shoulders and pulled herself closer, gasping at the sweet, sweet contact. He nudged a leg between hers and ground against her eliciting a gasp and a plea.
He moved and she stumbled after him, not breaking the kiss as he lowered them to the couch. He hiked up her skirt and arranged her so she straddled him, and he settled her over his erection, the only barrier were his pants and her already damp panties.
They both groaned.
The buzzer sounded and she froze, the fog of arousal clearing as she remembered that Liam was supposed to come pick her up.
"Shit, that's probably Liam." She scrambled off him, her cheeks on fire as she hastily tugged down her skirt and struggled vainly to smooth down her disheveled hair. She had completely forgotten about him and her mission at Silvercorp.
She stilled and turned to look at Ryan. He still sat there, watching her, his cheeks still flushed from arousal, the top four buttons of his shirt undone to give her a glimpse of his pecs. She tore her eyes away from temptation, grateful for Liam's interruption.
She'd meant what she said about needing space, and she wasn't sure if having sex with him again would be right until she'd sorted out the issue at work.
But goddess, she wanted very much to have sex with him again.
"You okay?" He reached for her hand, tugging her to stand between his spread legs. "You look like you're thinking a million thoughts all at once."
"I am. Thinking, that is." She sighed. "Ryan, the reason I'm going to the office today is to hand in my resignation."
His brows shot up. "What? Why?" He tugged her down to sit beside him. "Sam, there's no need for you to resign."
"I have to Ryan. I can't stay in a place where everyone will keep undermining my efforts, or questioning my work simply because they assume I'm getting preferential treatment. Admit it Ryan, you know that's what's going to happen as long as both of us keep working there. Even transferring to a new department won't change much."
"Then I'll quit instead." He declared with a scowl. "Sam, this is your career, your passion, I can't let you give up on it because of my mistake."
She shook her head. "Ryan, I've made my decision. And I need you to show me that I can trust you by letting me handle this myself. No interfering, nothing."
He looked pained and raked a hand through his hair and cursed. "For fucks sake, Sam, this is killing me, the guilt is fucking stabbing holes in my chest right now."
"That's not my fault, is it?" She snapped and he stilled. She caught a flash of hurt before he schooled his features and nodded, taking a deep breath.
"You're right, it is my fault." He admitted quietly, his face devoid of expression.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that."
"No, there's nothing to be sorry for. You're hurt and angry and I get it...I really do. I'm the one who should be apologizing to you, Sam."
He sighed again and was silent for a few minutes, staring into space. "May I know your plans after you leave Silvercorp?"
Sam bit her lip, feeling down for the way she'd spoken. "Dee offered me a job...more like a partnership in her lingerie business. She and another partner, a supermodel who's influential in the industry have been working together, and I plan to join them and handle the business aspect."
He nodded thoughtfully. "Okay. Seems like you got it worked out."
"A few kinks to still iron out, but hopefully by the time I serve out my notice at Silvercorp, everything should be on firm ground."
The buzzer sounded again and she got up to tell Liam she'd be down in a few minutes. Ryan rose when she came back, smoothing out his clothes with a grimace.
"I should go, I need to get to my place and change. I'll meet you at the office."
"Okay," she walked him to the elevator. As he waited for the cat, he turned to her, placing a hand on her cheek. "I love you, Sameera. I know you're still pissed at me, but I'm hoping that someday, you'll love me again."
The doors opened and he let go of her and entered. Sam watched him until the doors slid closed.
"I haven't stopped loving you." She spoke the words to thin air.