This Time Around (Maybe #2)(38)

“I’ve never seen Ryan like this, you know,” Summer says, retouching her clear lip gloss.

I give up on my hair and turn to face her. “What? With one woman for more than a night?”

She puts her gloss in her small clutch bag and studies me. “He was trying to get over you. Not that it worked, but he sure as hell tried.”

“You can say that again,” I mumble. “I know he loves me. He’s really shown me how much. It’s just hard to swallow the other women, you know? I know I wasn’t here, blah blah, but it doesn’t change how I feel.”

Summer bobs her head. “Trust me, I know the feeling. Just tell yourself that you have him now and forever. All they have is a memory.”

I smile dreamily. “I like that.”

We walk out of the bathroom arm in arm, the smile on my face dropping as I see a woman standing next to Ryan. She puts her hand on him, saying something to him. He shakes his head at her, smiling slightly. Reid says something to him and he turns his head to look at me.

“Fuck,” I see him mouth, and then it hits me why. Our deal. Looks like Ryan’s not getting off tonight. I smile evilly, walking over to him and sitting down in his lap. The woman wanders away, and Ryan holds me in his arms.

“You were joking about continuing that deal, right?” he whispers into my ear. Goosebumps appear on my arms, and a shiver runs down my spine.

“Nope, not even a little bit,” I say, straightening my spine.

“We’ll see,” he says with confidence. I know he thinks he can seduce me, but I’m not giving in this time. “You’ll want me inside of you tonight.”

My answer is a non-committal noise. Ryan starts rubbing his hands up my thigh, not indecently, but enough to get my motors running. He’s already trying to sway my mind, sneaky bastard. Sephie’s laugh causes me to look up at her, watching her facial expressions as she talks with Xander. Interesting, very interesting. Dash has stayed mostly quiet all night, nursing his drink. I don’t know what’s going on with him, but I hope he’s okay.

“You smell so f*cking good,” Ryan rasps, kissing the tattoo behind my ear. It’s the initial R in the middle of an infinity sign, and a symbol of my commitment to him. “And you are the most beautiful woman in this room.”

I grin. “Laying it on a little thick, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, well, you’re not letting me go home tonight…”

My forehead creases. “What are you talking about?”

“Inside you, that’s where I’m meant to be. My favourite place, and you’re trying to bar me.”

I blink. Then I start laughing so hard my whole body shakes. I slap at his knee. “How did you even get laid at all with those lines?”

When his eyes shutter, I see that I’ve actually hurt him. Shit. I kiss up his jaw then whisper into his ear, “I love you so much.” I press my breasts against him, men like that, right? I cup his face and kiss him softly on his lips. I love his lips. They are f*cking talented, soft and full.

“Great, now I have to watch both my brothers making out,” Sephie grumbles. She looks to Xander. “Want to leave?”

That gets Ryan’s attention because he turns from me to scowl at his sister. Reid stands up, and motions Xander to join him outside. Well, shit. Ryan shifts to move and I try to distract him with a wet, hard kiss. It works for a few moments but he pulls away, giving me a look that says, ‘I know exactly what you’re trying to do.’ He stands with me in his arms, and then gently deposits me onto the chair, then goes out to follow Reid and Xander. Summer moves closer to me, eyes wide, while Sephie looks bored, and a little pissed off.

“He’ll be fine,” Dash says. “Xander’s safe because Ryan and Reid won’t touch him because of Summer. They won’t want her upset.”

“They can still warn him away,” Summer adds.

“They can try,” Sephie says, putting her drink down on the table. “Xander’s pretty badass, come on.”

Summer and I share a look. Xander is badass, and anyone would be stupid to mess with him, but Reid and Ryan are both trained fighters. I wonder if anyone mentioned that to their sister. About fifteen minutes pass before they all return. I check them all over for any signs of a fight, but there is nothing. Good. Xander looks slightly angry, whilst Reid and Ryan wear identical scowls. Men!

“Shall we call it a night?” I ask Summer. “I think it’s time for bed.”

“Sounds good,” she says, standing up and grabbing her bag. “Dash do you want a ride home?”

“Yep,” Dash replies, downing his drink and standing. Reid and Ryan didn’t drink, so they could both drive. My gaze clashes with Ryan, green on blue, and I know that I have my own battle on my hands.

Tonight—my mission is to resist my husband.

*****

My hands fist on the sheets and my head tilts back in pleasure. Ryan kept his part of the deal and then some, that’s for damn sure.

“I think I’m the luckiest woman alive,” I blurt out, sighing contently. “That was amazing.”

“Now are you going to make me the luckiest man alive?” comes a raspy voice. Ryan leans up, wiping his mouth with his hands, leaning over me. He’s still fully dressed, while I’m completely bare, yet I don’t feel any vulnerability at all. If anything, I feel beautiful and powerful, because he makes me feel that way.