by LeAnn Ashers
Ryan stalks right up to the gate with Butcher on his heels. Along with Kyle, they rip the gate open, pointing their guns.
I clutch my throat, my hand shaking as I try to breathe and snap back to reality. It’s like I’m having an out-of-body experience. I can’t believe all of this is happening.
Ryan pulls the trigger once more, the sound deafening. I turn around and look out the front. I’ve seen enough—all I can handle.
I know these men had to die, it’s me or them, but as a doctor it’s hard. I close my eyes and rub my temples, trying to distract myself from what’s happening right outside this glass.
I truly don’t understand why these people want to kill me so much. I know that I shot the President’s son or whatever, but he broke into my house and was going to hurt my daughter.
I did what I had to.
I don’t regret that for a second, but I wish all of this wasn’t happening and I got to have that date with Ryan.
The door is snatched open and my eyes fly open in fear and shock, but I relax when I see it’s Ryan.
“It’s okay, baby. It’s just me.” He touches my face, checking me over. I can see the concern on his face and that’s enough to cause the tears to fall.
I sit up and face plant into his chest, taking comfort in feeling safe. He wraps his arms around me tightly and just holds me as I let it all out.
“Your tears are killing me,” he tells me, but I can’t help it. I’ve held it in since the very beginning and I just can’t anymore. I’m human.
He buries his hand in my hair, pressing my face into his chest, clinging to me just as much as I am him.
“I have you.” He presses his lips to the top of my head and I nod. He does and he proved that over and over today.
I lean back, touching his face. “I know you do.” I kiss him softly, pouring all my emotions into the kiss because right now I don’t have the words. All I have is feelings that have me feeling like I’m going to burst.
He holds me, kissing me so tenderly and carefully, making me feel so safe. I kiss him once more, looking up at him.
He smiles, causing my already frazzled stomach to flip. “Even though we almost fucking died today, you’re still so beautiful.” He kisses my forehead. I let the feelings just wash all over me.
“You ready to go home?” He pushes my hair behind my ear.
Home. That is what Ryan is to me.
“Yeah.”
He taps my hip and I scoot over to the passenger seat while he climbs in the driver’s.
“What about all of this mess?” I ask, looking out into the parking lot, where bodies are currently being dragged up towards the doors.
“The prospects will handle it.” He doesn’t even look over at the mayhem; it doesn’t even faze him.
The second we walk through the door, Mia runs straight for the both of us. “Momma! Ry-Ry!” she screams, throwing her little arms in the air for us to get her. I snatch her when she jumps in the air.
“Hello, my beautiful baby.” I smother her in kisses and she giggles. I laugh with her. She makes me so happy.
She turns to Ryan. “Ry-Ry, missed you.” She wiggles her fingers for her to hold him and my poor heart feels like it’s going to explode. He takes her and kisses the top of her head. “I missed you too, baby girl.”
She grins, resting her head on his chest, twisting her small fingers in his shirt. He sways side to side with a look of pure contentment on his face.
I rub my hand down her back. It’s around eight a clock—time for her snack and bath time.
There’s a knock at the door and we peer out the door. Kyle is here for Chrystal and Cassandra.
I kind of forgot she was even here, “Thank you so much for babysitting.” She gets off the couch, holding Cassandra.
“It was no problem. I’ll do it any time you need it.” She walks over, giving me a side hug. Kyle takes Cassandra and they wave goodbye as they walk out.
Ryan goes to the wall, locking everything down for the night. “What snack do you want, honey?” I bring Mia into the kitchen and open the refrigerator.
She puts her hand on her face like she’s studying the contents and points to the diced apples I cut for her earlier. I grab her sippy cup of milk.
“Want me to go get her jammies and run her bath?” Ryan asks as he walks upstairs.
“That would be great, honey,” I tell him, and I catch his smile at me calling him “honey” as he walks up the stairs.
I give my darling my full attention as she eats her food and babbles in her baby talk. I will always remember these little moments because she won’t be little forever.
Once she’s finished with her snack, I bring her upstairs, which takes way longer than needed since she demands to walk up the stairs herself.
Ryan
The bathroom door opens and Mia walks out in her pajamas with little sheep on them, with a hairbrush in her hand.
She walks up to me, holding out the brush for me. “Ry-Ry?” She wiggles it and I take it.
I sit down on her bed, pulling her in my lap, and brush her hair gently. She sings under her breath, a song that she’s making up as she goes and I try not laugh. “Momma, pee, toilet.” She giggles covering her mouth. “Momma tooted in toilet!” I can barely understand her but it’s hilarious.
Once I finish with her hair, I put the brush on the counter. “Lie down, sweetheart.” I pull back the blanket and she climbs in.
“Want me to read you a story?” I take her story book off of the counter and her face brightens.
I lay down beside her, my back propped up against the headboard, and she scoots closer, lying on my arm so she can look at the pictures.
Myra
I get out of the shower and walk into Mia’s bedroom. She’s fast asleep and Ryan is still reading to her.
The sight of them together makes me happy. I walk over and touch his arm. “She’s asleep.”
He slowly slides off the bed, trying not to wake her. I start to lay on the ground next to her bed, but he takes my hand. “You sleep with me tonight.” He doesn’t leave room for arguments.
He pulls me out of the room, turning on a small little nightlight for Mia in case she wakes up in the middle of the night.
“Are you sure it’s a good idea?” I ask, unsure, but I’m also out-of-this-world nervous. Sleeping in the same bedroom with him? That sounds like a disaster in the making.
“This house is a fortress, angel.” He turns back enough to wink at me. Well, that leaves me with no argument.
He pushes open his door and I swallow hard, nervous. I’ve only been with one guy in my life and that was Mia’s dad. It’s been years since I’ve had sex.
He walks over to his chest of drawers and pulls out a T-shirt. “Want to sleep in this?”
Maybe his full intention is to just sleep? I walk over and take the shirt from him. “Thank you.” I almost run into the bathroom. I try not to look at the bed because that alone makes me nervous.
I know without a doubt I’d love nothing more than to fall asleep in his arms. That sounds like pure heaven, but the thought of sex and him finding me lacking scares me.
He is beautiful. I feel like I’m way below his league and the thought of me not being exactly what he thought makes my heart ache.
I slip off my shorts and T-shirt, putting on his shirt, and I close my eyes, breathing in his scent that is all over the shirt. It’s intoxicating.
My eyes close as I gather all of my balls. I open the door and step out just as Ryan pulls his sweatpants up.
My eyes drift down to his V, his abs rippling. I don’t know how long I’ve been staring at him but I know it’s an uncomfortable amount of time.
“You going to get in bed or just stare?” I blush deeply and shuffle to the bed. I could die of embarrassment.
Ryan laughs and scoops me up in bed, pulling me to him. “You’re so adorable when you’re embarrassed.” His face is right above mine.
His hand drifts up to
my face, my breathing stalling, waiting to see what he does next. His thumb strokes my cheek so gently. “You’re beautiful, truly. All of you.”
He continues to shock me. I can see that he’s sincere. “Ryan,” I whisper.
He doesn’t say anything back, and his eyes go to my lips. My hand slides into his hair, scratching his scalp slightly.
Is he going to kiss me?
He licks his lips and my stomach does flips in my stomach as he comes closer, barely kissing me.
I don’t dare move and I close my eyes.
“Baby,” he whispers, his lips gliding over mine slightly.
Goose bumps break out across my skin. “Yes,” I whisper back, my voice cracking slightly, giving away that I’m affected.
“Let me love you, all of you.”
My eyes open at that and his immediately stare deep into my soul. There is no doubt in my mind that I want this, that I want him.
I nod.
He kisses me fully, devouring my mouth. My fingers run up and down his back, loving the feel of his muscles under the skin.
He kisses me in a way that steals every breath from my lungs. His hand moves up, cupping my face, tilting it to the side and kissing his way down to my neck.
His lips are so soft, sucking just slightly with every little kiss. You expect a man like him to be rough and tough, but with me he is so gentle.
That turns me on ten times more.
He’s showing me the sweeter side of him, one that I’m sure not many people get to see.
“Lift your arms,” he demands, sitting up and holding the bottom of my shirt.
I sit up slightly and allow him to pull the shirt over my head, leaving me bare. I didn’t put on a bra when I got out of the shower.
My nipples pucker at his gaze. He cups my breast before running his finger over the tip of my nipple.
“Beautiful.”
He slides down the bed, kissing me once more before he runs his hand up and down my thigh.
His mouth is right above my breast, torturing me, teasing me. “Ryan,” I whisper, dying. It’s taking everything in me to cover myself.
I had a baby—some things don’t go back to what it was before. I have stretch marks and cellulite all over my body.
He smiles right before his mouth closes around my nipple, sucking slightly before his tongue soothes it.
I throw my head back. I was not expecting that. I open my legs to fit him in between my legs better and I can’t resist tilting my hips to feel his erection against me.
“Mmm, is my baby hungry?” Ryan grinds himself against me, moving to my other breast, sucking deep.
My hands fly up, burying into his hair, needing to hold on to something. “Let’s see how much you need me.” His hand slips into my panties, his fingers dancing across my clit.
“Drenched.” He smirks. He slides down the bed, gripping my legs. “I bet you I can make you wetter.”
His fist grips my panties, tearing them down my legs. He opens my legs, looking at me fully and licking his lips.
Oh god, no one has ever done this before.
I cover my face, waiting, but his hand tugs on my arm. “Look at me. I want you to see exactly how I worship you. Do not be ashamed, baby.” He smiles softly right before he goes back to his smirk.
I watch as he oh-so slowly moves closer and closer, and I grow wetter by the second. It’s torture waiting. He wants to make me want him.
He’s destroyed me and he’s barely touched me.
Finally, he looks me straight in the eye as he licks me fully. I grip the covers under me. “Fuck,” I groan, and he chuckles, swirling his tongue over my clit before flicking the tip.
His hands scoot under me, gripping my ass. He lifts me higher off the bed so he can have better access.
“This pussy is mine,” he growls before he eats me like a man possessed, letting me know that he owns all of me.
I can’t move, I can’t breathe as the orgasm draws closer and closer, the pleasure almost too much to handle, but I want more and more.
My legs shake, sweat covering me from head to toe. I long forgot to look at Ryan as the pleasure is the only thing I can think about.
He slips two fingers inside of me and I stop breathing as he curls his fingers, sending me over the edge, clenching over and over around his fingers.
I feel movement on the bed when he climbs off. I stare at him as he slips off his clothes, leaving him naked.
I have never seen anything so beautiful in my life.
Then I look down at his dick and my mouth dries because he’s not going to fit.
“What’s that scared look on your face, sweet thang?” he chuckles and grabs a condom out of the nightstand next to the bed.
I point to his dick resting against his belly. He looks down and smirks, then reaches between my legs, grabbing my wetness. He strokes his dick, his face full of passion.
You know, I don’t care if I die. What a flipping amazing way to go.
“I’ll fit, baby, you were made for me.” His voice grows huskier.
My heart swells at his sweet statement. I open my arms as he moves on top of me. My arms wrap around his neck, holding him tightly as I kiss him.
I feel him move between my legs, his fingers stroking my clit when his head presses against my entrance.
I relax, trusting him to take care of me. He presses his way inside so gently, taking such care to not hurt me.
I wrap my legs around his waist. He stops kissing me to look into my eyes and he slowly makes his way inside.
I don’t feel any pain, just slight burning as my body gets adjusted to him. “You okay?”
I run my nails slightly down his back. “I’m more than okay.” I lean up, kissing him again as he pulls all the way out before slamming back inside.
“God.” I break the kiss, throwing my head back. My pussy immediately tightens around him at the intense pleasure
Ryan grips my thigh, lifting my leg higher, and that’s when he really starts to move, grinding into my clit with every slam.
His hand comes up, cupping my neck, his eyes burrowing deep into mine. “You are mine—all of you belongs to me.” His hand flexes against my neck before he kisses me hard and my nails rake up his back.
His hand sneaks in between our bodies, his thumb rubbing my clit. I throw my face into his neck and come hard, my whole body shaking. My legs slide off his back and onto the bed.
He comes right along with me, moaning in my ear and gripping me hard, holding me tightly against him.
Slowly we collect our bearings, sitting in silence for the last five minutes, and in my head I’m thinking, holy shit I just had sex with Ryan and he was just as good as he looks.
And he looks fucking great.
When he slowly slides out of me, I can barely hide the wince. He struts into the bathroom and my eyes are glued to the fantastic ass he has.
I hear the water running in the bathroom and I’m too tired to get up. He comes out of the bathroom carrying a washcloth.
“What are you doing?” I ask once he stands next to me. He grabs my legs, opening them, and uses the washcloth to clean me.
If I didn’t already love this man, that would have done it. Tears pool in my eyes for many reason, but mostly my heart is absolutely full.
Ryan looks up and notices. He swipes his finger across my cheek. “Did I hurt you?” he asks, and now I feel awful for making him think that.
“No, I’m just happy,” I confess, and I am happy, wholeheartedly happy.
He leans down and kisses me so sweetly on the forehead. “You make me happy too, baby. You have the second you walked into my life, and Mia completed that life.”
Wow, just wow.
I reach up and pull him into bed with me, just needing to hold him and him to hold me.
He pulls my face into his chest, his hand resting on the back of my head protectively.
Why do I have a feeling that this is where I’m going to spend the rest of my life?
Myra
“Mama.” My eyes shoot open instantly, then I hear the sound I know all too well—my daughter puking all over the floor.
I jump out of bed, and before I can reach her, Ryan picks her up, carrying her to the bathroom.
She is crying hysterically. I rub her little belly and back, trying to soothe her. She continues to puke and puke.
“Come on, sweet girl. Let’s give you a bath. I turn on the water and strip her out of her nasty pajamas. She clings to me, shaking and scared, and reaches out to hold Ryan’s hand.
“I’ll be right back, angel. I’m going to get you some new pajamas and clean up the puke.” He starts to stand and she screams, holding tighter to his hand.
I see the anguish on his face. “I won’t leave you, angel.” He takes her from me and sets her in the tub. I think she has the same feeling as I do.
He makes her feel safe when she’s scared and not feeling well. He sits right on the floor with me as I bathe her as fast as possible in case she gets sick again.
Ryan wraps her in a towel, lifting her out and holding her close to his chest so sweetly. “Ry-Ry,” she whispers, and my heart melts at the pure look of love on his face. He loves my girl.
He lays his head on top of hers, carrying her out into the bedroom and my eyes go to the huge spot of vomit.
“I’ll grab her pajamas.” I run to her bedroom and grab a few extras just in case then hurry back.
Ryan is rocking her side to side, half asleep. I hand him the clothes and he takes them from me, gently getting her dressed, and I hurry to clean before it stinks up the room.
“Want her to sleep with us?” Ryan asks and covers her with the blanket, her head lying on his leg.
“Yeah, it’s probably best. I’m going to get her some Pedialyte. I don’t want her to get dehydrated.” Ryan starts to get up and she clings to him like a monkey, crawling back up him until he’s holding her.
He looks guilty. “It’s okay,” I mouth, and he rubs her back, trying to get her to calm down. He nods and pulls the blanket up, covering her back. I can see her shaking.
