The front door opens and closes, and I let out a long breath. “I’m sorry. Braxton can be … intense.”
“It’s fine,” he says. “I don’t blame him. I’m surprised he was willing to leave.”
“I am, too.”
“I guess you don’t need two of us standing guard over you tonight,” he says.
I laugh, although smiling hurts. “I guess not.”
Ronan comes around the counter and runs his hands up and down my arms. “Why don’t you get some rest? I’ll be here if you need anything.”
“Thank you,” I say, and meet his eyes. “Really, Ronan. That would have been so much worse if you hadn’t been there.”
“But I was,” he says. “I did what any man would do.”
I don’t think just any man would, but I smile. “Still, thank you.”
“Get some sleep,” he says.
A part of me wants to invite him upstairs. I’m exhausted, but I don’t really want to be alone. I don’t even have to wonder whether he’d accept. I know he wants me; he’s made that perfectly clear. But my logical side speaks up, reminding me that I’m hurt and vulnerable. It would be easy to take solace in Ronan’s arms, but what would happen next? What would we do when the adrenaline wears off and we have to face life again—the life where he’s my boss and I have to keep him at a distance?
“I’ll see you in the morning,” I say, and go upstairs to bed.
***
“Selene.”
A voice jolts me awake and I clutch at the sheets. My heart is racing, and I’m so disoriented I have no idea where I am.
“It’s okay.” There’s a gentle hand on my shoulder. “I think you were having a nightmare.”
I blink a few times and realize what’s happening. I’m at home. We were at a bar, and … oh, god, I don’t want to think about that. Ronan is sitting on the edge of my bed, his face almost lost in the darkness.
I take a few breaths, trying to calm down. “What happened? Did I wake you?”
“No, I wasn’t asleep,” he says. “I heard you cry out, so I came to see if you were all right.”
“I’m so sorry.” A wave of embarrassment washes over me. This night just keeps getting worse.
“Don’t be,” he says. “Were you dreaming?”
I pull the sheet up higher. I’m only wearing a thin tank top and panties, and I’m suddenly very aware of Ronan’s closeness. “Yeah.”
“About what happened?”
I nod. “I can’t seem to get rid of it. Every time I close my eyes, it’s like it’s happening all over again.”
Ronan takes a deep breath. “Scoot over.”
“What?”
“Scoot over,” he says, lifting the sheet.
I move and he slides into bed with me.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
He lies down. “Come here.”
I hesitate, still holding the sheet.
“I swear, Selene, you can trust me. I just want you to feel safe tonight.”
I move in toward him. He puts his arms around me, and I lay my head on his shoulder. His body is so warm, his arms strong. He brushes my hair back from my face, careful not to touch me where I’m hurt.
God, he feels so good. I squeeze my eyes closed, willing myself to stop thinking about all the reasons this is a bad idea. Maybe I should have just let Braxton and Kylie stay, and insisted Ronan go home. He’s my boss. I have to go to work on Monday. Am I supposed to pretend this didn’t happen? I’m completely vulnerable—scared, hurt, and exposed—and in this terribly intimate moment, Ronan is here.
But his body next to me feels so right, I can’t tear myself away. I’m melting into him, my limbs relaxing, my breath calming down. I hear his heartbeat, and mine slows to match his. Even with my brother’s fierce protective streak, I’ve never felt as safe as I do in this moment, with Ronan’s arms around me.
“What time is it?” I ask.
“A bit after two.”
“You couldn’t sleep?”
“Not really,” he says.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “You probably should have gone home.”
“No,” he says and his arms tighten around me. “You needed me here. Sleep now, Selene. Don’t worry about tomorrow.”
I keep my arm draped across his chest, my head on his shoulder. His clean scent fills me, and I let my eyes drift closed. The last thing I feel are his lips on my forehead as I fall asleep.
16: Ronan
The eggs sizzle in the pan, and I flip them over. I have no idea if Selene likes eggs, but she had some in her fridge. The toast pops up in the toaster, and I pull it out, putting it on a plate.
She was still asleep when I woke up. I laid next to her for a while, just watching her breathe. In the dim light, it was harder to see where that asshole had hit her, although her lip still looked swollen. It pissed me off all over again, and any chance I might have had of going back to sleep was gone. I got up as quietly as I could, so I wouldn’t wake her.
I take the eggs off the stove before they burn. I don’t know what she’s going to think about me sleeping in her bed last night. Before she woke up, I was too amped with adrenaline to sleep, so I paced around the house for a while, hoping I’d calm down enough to get some rest. Out of nowhere, I heard her cry out. She’d been dreaming. I knew she wasn’t going to get a decent night sleep alone, and my desire to make her feel better was overwhelming. So I did the only thing I could think to do, and climbed in bed with her.
And fuck, she felt good in my arms. Too good. She was barely dressed, her skin soft against mine. She relaxed quickly and fell asleep with her head on my shoulder. Not long after she drifted off, she draped her leg across mine, like she needed to get warm. I drew her closer to me, breathing in her scent. It was so intimate, yet I wasn’t tempted to do anything other than hold her. Part of that was knowing what almost happened last night. The last thing she needed was another man slipping his hands, or his dick, where they weren’t invited. But more than that, it felt so good just to have her near me.
I feel like I cheated—like I got away with something I wasn’t supposed to. A night like that should be reserved for a man who has her trust. Maybe her heart.
I wasn’t sure what to do this morning. I could have gone home, and called her later to see how she’s doing. Her brother and his wife live right around the corner. If she wants company, she has them. God knows they almost didn’t leave last night.
But I don’t want to go. I want to see her come down those stairs and smile at me. I want to touch her face and check her bruises. I want to spend a leisurely morning with her over coffee and breakfast.
I want to stay.
I get another hit of fear. It tightens my chest and makes me feel like I can’t get enough air. What the fuck is that about? I wasn’t afraid when I went after that douchebag last night, and he got in a good shot. I touch my jaw and move it around a bit. Definitely sore, and my knuckles are bruised from hitting him. Apparently jumping in to save a woman from being attacked isn’t cause for fear, but the idea of spending a quiet day with her is what’s going to scare me? There’s definitely something wrong with me. I imagine what Sarah would say. Or my brother. They’d tell me I need therapy again.
Fuck that. I need to go jump out of an airplane. That will get my head back on straight.
Selene comes down the stairs, tying a lightweight robe around her waist. She smiles, but her brow furrows a little. God, I could get used to that sight. I’m so fucking glad I stayed.
“Morning,” I say, and push a plate across the island toward her.
“Wow, thank you.” She sits down on a stool and I pour her a cup of coffee.
“I don’t know how you take it,” I say as she takes the mug from me.
“There’s cream in the fridge,” she says.
I get the cream for her and she pours a splash into her mug. I pour myself a cup.
“Did you sleep at all?” she asks.
“Enough.”
/> She takes a sip and looks at me over the rim of her mug. “Ronan, I need to thank you for last night.”
“It’s all right,” I say.
“No, I mean it. And, um…” She pauses, looking away. “I’m glad you stayed.”
I walk around the counter and touch her chin with two fingers. “Let me see how this is doing.”
She lets me turn her face. I gently brush my thumb across her lip and along her jaw. There’s still a bit of swelling, and her skin is discolored, but it doesn’t look as bad as I thought it would.
“Does it hurt?”
Her tongue runs along her lip and she winces. “It’s sore, but not too bad.”
My eyes lock on her mouth and I slide my hand around the back of her neck. I keep my grip gentle. If she pulls away, I’ll back off, but my need to touch her is overwhelming. “I’m so sorry this happened to you.”
“It could have been worse,” she says, her voice soft.
I brush my nose against hers. Being near her feels so good. My craving for a hit of adrenaline is suddenly sated, although there’s no rush going to my head. I’m calm and relaxed, but just as alive as when I’m hanging off the side of an airplane eighteen thousand feet above the ground. It’s the strangest thing. I can’t remember the last time I felt this way when I wasn’t in mortal danger.
“I’m staying with you today.” There’s no question in my mind. I can’t leave her. What happens tonight, I don’t know, but she’s going to have to kick me out on my ass if she thinks I’m going anywhere now.
“You really don’t have to do that,” she says.
I brush her hair back from her face. “I know.”
She looks down and I can feel her hesitance.
“I want to kiss you.” Ordinarily, I wouldn’t ask this way, but I’m so aware of what she must be feeling after last night. She’s like a cracked piece of glass—still strong, but liable to break if I’m not careful.
Her eyes meet mine, full of fire. She wants me, too. I can see it. “We shouldn’t do this.”
My body aches for her. The hours spent holding her while she slept, the feel of her skin, her scent in my nose, all come crashing down on me. I don’t just want her. I need her.
“You’re fired.”
“What?”
“You’re fucking fired,” I say. “I’ll hire you back on Monday.”
I surge in and press my lips to hers, soft at first so I don’t hurt her. She grabs my shirt and pulls me closer. Her mouth opens for me and I slide my tongue in, deepening the kiss. My jaw aches, but it’s nothing compared to the feel of her lips. I hold the back of her head, twining my fingers through her hair, and slide my other hand up her thigh.
Leaving her mouth, I trail kisses down her neck. She leans her head to the side, her hair spilling down her back. I reach around and grab her ass, scooting her forward on the stool. She tips her knees open and wraps those mile-long legs around my waist.
“Selene, I need you right now,” I say into her neck. My blood burns, desire running hot through my veins. I grind my hard cock against her and she moans, her fingers digging into my back.
This big house is full of bedrooms, but they’re all too far away. She drops her feet to the ground and stands, our mouths meeting again. We stagger toward the living room, yanking off each other’s clothes as we go, our lips only parting long enough for us to pull off our shirts. I’m on fire for her, my hands all over her body, insatiable.
The backs of my legs hit the couch and I stop. I cup her breast and kiss my way down her neck, past her collar bone. I run my tongue along her nipple until I feel it harden, then graze it with my teeth. Selene shudders.
“On your back,” I say.
She complies, lying down on the L-shaped sectional. She slips her thumbs into the waistband of her panties, but I gently grab her wrist.
“I’ll do it.”
She drags her teeth over her bottom lip and lifts her arms over her head, ceding control to me.
God, she’s spectacular. The smooth lines of her neck and shoulders, her full round tits, narrow waist, protruding hip bones. I get on my knees in front of her and lean in, running my tongue down her belly. I pull her panties off and slide them down her legs, kissing as I go. I let them drop to the floor and turn my attention back to her phenomenal body.
“Where should I start?” I ask. I pull down my underwear, releasing my very solid erection. I love Selene’s hungry expression as she looks at me.
“Ronan, you better put that cock in me,” she says, her voice breathy.
I climb onto her and lean down, pressing the tip against her opening. She widens her legs, tilting her hips into me.
“Do you need me to get a condom first?” I ask, speaking low into her ear.
“I have it covered,” she says. “I need you. Now.”
I thrust into her and she clutches my back. I groan into her neck. Holy fuck, she feels good. Even better than I remembered. How is that even possible? I’m overcome, consumed with a heady surge of passion. I slide out, reveling in the feel of her sweet folds surrounding me, and plunge in again. I don’t want to lose myself too quickly, but she’s intoxicating.
“I don’t think I can do slow and sweet with you.”
“I don’t like slow,” she says, meeting my eyes, “and I’m not sweet.”
I keep my cock buried in her, as far as I can go, and kiss her mouth. Her tongue slides along mine, hungry for me. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I don’t care,” she says, her voice tinged with urgency.
I hold myself up with one hand and grab her ass with the other. She pulls her knees up higher and groans as I start moving in and out.
The rush overtakes me, sending me flying. I want to make this last, but her heat beckons me on, and I thrust faster.
“Fuck, Ronan,” she says.
Her pussy tightens around me and I almost unleash. I slow my pace, drawing out the agonizing bliss. I’m ready to burst inside her, my cock pulsing. I almost can’t think, my mind and body consumed.
Selene’s eyes are half-closed, her lips parted. I devour her mouth, the pain in my jaw disappearing in the mind-numbing flood of pleasure. She presses her hands into my back and grinds her hips against me as I pound her.
An orgasm hits me out of nowhere, knocking the breath from my lungs. My body stiffens as I release into her and I feel her pussy pulse around me, heightening the pleasure. I keep thrusting while she calls out, the waves of my climax washing over me, filling me with ecstasy. I don’t stop until she’s finished, plunging into her over and over while she comes.
I touch her face with a gentle hand while we catch our breath. I’m as high as I’ve ever been on a wingsuit jump, but it’s more than the euphoria of adrenaline and danger. I’m sated and content, but still fully alive. I don’t understand how she makes me feel this way.
“God, Selene, I’ve wanted to do that for so long.” I kiss her lips softly, careful not to hurt her. I’m still inside her, but I’m not ready to break free. “You’re incredible.”
She kisses me back, running her hands through my hair. I enjoy the feel of her for another moment before I get up. She stands and smooths down her hair.
“I’ll be right back.” Her eyes linger on mine for a moment before she heads for the bathroom.
17: Selene
I slip into the bathroom and close the door behind me. I’m somewhere between “floating on air in bliss” and “banging my head against the counter at my stupidity.”
I just fucked Ronan. My boss. On my couch.
And holy hell, he was incredible.
All that pent-up desire I’ve been trying to deny flooded through me at his touch. I knew I was a goner as soon as I came downstairs and saw he’d made me breakfast. After the way he comforted me last night and held me while I slept, a crack in my carefully crafted facade began to grow. I could feel it opening, letting in Ronan’s heat. It made me crave him all the more, and when he touched me, I was done for.
But I might have just made a very big mistake.
I take my time cleaning up, to give my head a moment to clear. I want to tell myself the only reason he rocked my world is the fact that it’s been so long since I’ve been with someone. My self-imposed dating moratorium, and subsequent time spent dating Aidan, means it’s been months—a lot of months—since I’ve had sex. But I’d be kidding myself if I try to believe that. I know it isn’t true. Ronan got under my skin five years ago, and he just reminded me why.
I come out of the bathroom to find him back in the kitchen, dressed in just his boxers and open button-down shirt. God, he looks sexy like that.
He gives me a relaxed smile. “I think our breakfast got cold. Maybe we should just go out.”
I smooth down my hair, although I already fixed it in front of the bathroom mirror. I feel like I need to keep a little distance between us, so I sit down on the bar stool across the island.
“Sure, we could do that.”
He pauses with his hands resting lightly on the countertop, and meets my eyes. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
He comes around the counter and runs his fingers through my hair. “You’re beautiful, but you’re definitely not fine.” He leans in to kiss me, and my doubts fade a little at the feel of his mouth on mine.
“I know what you need,” he says when he pulls away.
“Other than a lot of coffee?”
“I’ll get you any coffee you want,” he says and kisses my forehead. “But I know what else you need. New rules.”
I can’t help but laugh. “I don’t know, I think we were doing pretty well with our old ones.”
“Speak for yourself,” he says. “Your rules were torture. Although my rule still stands.”
“No dating anyone else?” I ask.
“You bet your ass,” he says, slipping his hands around my waist. “I don’t share.”
“I guess the no sleeping together rule is thrown out?”
“It better be,” he says.
“Okay, new rules,” I say. “No sex in the office.”
Always Will: A Bad Boy Romance Page 10
