Loose End: A One Night Stand Prequal Novella

4. Ryan

FOUR

Holy hell.There’s no chance she’s still engaged. None.

There’s no coming back from that. Also, the visual is…well, it’s something.

Guess it explains why she didn’t bother to change out of that dress or at least take off the tiara. Not that I mind, really. The more time I spend looking at her, the more I like it. There’s only one big problem—I can’t see her legs, which is a real shame because that’s one of my favorite things on a woman.

The tight corset part of the dress, though, is doing wonders for her rack.

And the best part of this whole situation is that there is no way she wants anything more than a tumble in the sheets. Perfect for the both of us. No chance of a single complication and I’m a nice guy, I want to help her out. Poor thing hasn’t had much luck with men and the least I can do is show her a good time.

A very temporary good time.

Give her a few orgasms and hopefully a little empowerment not to settle.

In. Out. Repeat several times. Done.

“That must’ve been tough.” My voice comes out much gruffer than I intended and I clear my throat, squeezing the back of my neck and hoping that grounds me in the now. That wedding dress. Fuck. I will not get lost in the past. Not right now.

“It was. It is. I just feel so stupid.” She covers her face with her manicured hands and groans. “I should’ve seen it. Looking back, the signs were clear as day.”

I pull her hands back to the bar and give them a squeeze. I meant to give her some space but I find myself lingering, reveling in the softness of her skin for just a few seconds. Dammit. Why does she feel so good? “Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

The longer I touch her, the longer I let myself lose a bit of myself in her, the thicker the air feels around us. The more charged. The more electric. The more I find I can’t pull away. I shift my gaze to hers, losing another piece of myself in the depth of her deep brown eyes.

I lean toward her, closing the distance between us almost on autopilot. Like I can’t help but be drawn to her. My breath catches in my throat and my palms sweat. I’m not at all sure what this visceral reaction is, but I’m not sure I trust it. The last time I felt something for a woman was…did I even feel it then?

I’m not sure I did.

So what does this mean?

Nothing. It means nothing. It can’t.

Clearing my throat, I drop her hands and back up, creating some much needed space between us. “So, I feel like I should know your name or something.”

I should right? Honestly, whatever connection is building here has thrown me off balance. I’m not sure what I should do, what I should say. This feels bigger than what it is, but it can’t be. If this were a different time in my life…if things were different…if I was different.

But I’m not and nothing has changed. I’m still jaded, broken, not ready for anything beyond the superficial.

She deserves better. Way better than me.

“You should or you want to?” Her brows draw together as she studies me and I’m not sure what emotions she’s going to find written on my face.

There are so many of them flitting through me right now to pick one out. Hurt. Regret. Excitement. Disappointment that I can’t explore things with this beautiful woman. Betrayal? Yeah, there’s a little of that too.

She’s still looking at me expectantly and I’m not sure I know how to answer.

Do I actually want to get to know her? Do I want to admit there’s a little something about her that makes me want to care?

I bring my beer to my lips and take a long swig, letting the roasted malt sit on my tongue before I swallow it down. “I don’t know.”

“Honest answer.” She nods. “If we’re being honest…I don’t know if you’re interested in just chatting or if you’re looking for something more.” She pauses and takes a deep breath. “It seems ludicrous someone like you would even want something with someone like me. But if that were the case, then you should know that nothing could go beyond this weekend.”

I stare at her for a few beats, waiting for the punchline of whatever joke she’s trying to deliver, but she remains quiet, a light pink blush spreading across her chest and up her neck. She avoids looking at me and there’s a slight quiver in her bottom lip. I can’t help but feel that maybe this is a real insecurity for her which is absurd because she’s gorgeous. “What do you mean someone like you?”

She waves her hand up and down her body and then fans it out toward me, her dress swishing as she moves. “Oh, come on. You look all muscled and hot and I’m Plain Jane in a fancy dress and a tiara.”

My eyes narrow. “Now, Princess, I’m only going to say this once so listen up. It’s not the dress that makes you beautiful. It’s the curves I want to grab.” I ghost my fingers over her hips. “The plush lips I want all over my body.” Along her mouth. “And those eyes…” I trail off for a moment, lost in the rich depths of her surprised gaze. “That damn dress is doing nothing but hiding up all the parts of you I’m aching to see.”

Her gasp is sharp. “And the time limit?”

“I’m only good for a night. If that’s something you’re not comfortable with, I understand.”

She takes a deep breath and then her shoulders relax. “One night is perfect. And I’d rather keep personal details to the minimum if that’s okay with you.”

If I were a better man, if I weren’t currently wrestling my demons, I would send her home. But if she’s willing to give herself over to me for a couple hours, I’m not going to say no.

I may not be able to give her tomorrow, but I can at least give her a few hours she can carry with her for the rest of her life. And that needs to be okay.

“You can call me Charming. And if it’s something you want, Princess, I would love to help you out of that dress and show you how you should be treated.”

“Charming.” She gives me a small smile, glancing to her drink before meeting my eyes. “Thank you. I don’t think I can do complications right now.”

I keep my gaze on her for several beats, looking for a crack in her facade. For some sort of spark of recognition but nothing. Is it possible she really has no idea who I am? She hasn’t asked about my teammates or my salary. She must have no idea. If I’m honest, there’s something freeing about being some anonymous Prince Charming. I don’t have to be Ryan Devlin, tight end for the Nashville Aces. I’m not some rich and famous athlete, a commodity. I’m simply a normal man looking for a distraction.

“Perfectly fine with me.” I grin, taking a quick sip of my beer. “So, favorite sexual position or is that too personal?”

She makes a choking sound and takes a quick drink of her cocktail. “Sorry. I guess I’m not used to someone being so forward. My… ex… well, he only liked one position and I didn’t get much from it.” She looks at her hands, a pink blush spreading across her cheeks. “So I guess I don’t know.”

I lean to the side, resting my elbow on the bar and my chin on my curled fist, assessing her as she fidgets in place. Most of the women I’ve been with have been very sexually experienced, but there’s something about giving this woman some of her firsts. Fulfilling those fantasies she’s had in her head for a long time. Leading her in an exploration to find out what she truly likes and more importantly what gets her off. It has my heart racing with excitement and my cock hardening, straining against my jeans.

One night—no strings, no complications. Just me. Her. And a chance to explore her beautiful body before the sun comes up.

She’s perfect. Every inch of her. From her rich brown eyes that hold so much emotion to the thick lashes that line them to her plush, pillow-like lips I need to have on mine.

Or elsewhere.

“Perhaps the better question is, what kind of things would you like to try?”

She glances down, her cheeks flush again, and her tongue darts out to wet her lower lip. “Jeez, do you have a pen and paper?”

“Maybe we should go somewhere without all these distractions so I can take notes.” I hold my breath and wait.

She stays quiet for a moment, debating with herself. I can see it written plainly all over her face. My princess is fiddling with the tiny straw in her drink and nibbling on her bottom lip. She wants to go but she’s unsure.

Her eyes search mine and then she takes a deep breath. “I’ve got a room at the hotel across the street.”

I can’t help the wide smile that stretches across my face. The things I’m going to do to this woman. “The honeymoon suite?”

“Quite possibly. I might even have a jacuzzi tub in the room.”

“Check please.”