Chapter One
He peels my top off over my head. His warm mouth moves rapidly from my lips to my neck and chest, like he isn’t sure where to start. I groan as he pulls the cups of my bra down, exposing my breasts to the cool air, my nipples taut with arousal. With no coaching necessary at this point, he latches his mouth to my right nipple, sucking it between his teeth and biting down to elicit a feral cry in ecstasy at the delicious pain. Heat is rushing to my core, and I’m so ready for this to really get started.
“Fuck yeah, Ryan,” he moans, even though I haven’t touched him yet. Before I can shut him up with my lips against his, he comes closer to whisper in my ear. “Say something dirty, baby.”
As if someone dumps a cold bucket of water over my head, all the arousal I was feeling is gone. The heat turns to ice, and my wells dry up. Leaning into him, I whisper back. “Something dirty.” I stand and grab the few pieces of clothes he was able to take off of me and pull them back on.
“Sorry, Jax, we’re done here. No hard feelings. Yeah?” I chuckle as I leave the room.
The next morning I wake up deciding I need to forget the previous night”s events. Jackson has been nice the few times I’ve been around him but obviously, that was a mistake to take it further. I grab my phone and send a message in the group chat that is pinned to the top of my messaging app, right above Jack.
Ryan
Mud House? Need Caffeine.
Not awake enough to form full sentences, I flop my head back on my pillow as I wait for a response, which doesn’t take long.
Pickle
You gave him a mouth hug, didn’t you?
Hadley
Oh. My. God! Say it’s not true! Jax?! Of all people! This man has insisted on spending all of his money on strippers for years now!
I shake my head.
Ryan
Don’t worry, Moms. I didn’t sleep with him. He dried me up before it could even get that far. He got to a solid second base before it ended.
Pickle
You poor thing. You need to get those cobwebs swept out from in there. Are you going to let me do it for you yet?
Hadley
Kat! LOL
Pickle
What? I love Clay and all, but it’s not like Ry and I haven’t had sex before. I’d bang both of you if you’d let me. My girls are sexy!
Ryan
Obviously I was better than Clay if you’re still bringing it up.
I giggle to myself. She’s been randomly dropping hints about being with women lately.
Ryan
Can we please meet for coffee, you crazy bitches.
I don’t bother waiting for a response. I dress in a hurry; I pull on my favorite navy blue yoga pants that are as soft as butter and a thin-strapped teal crop top. It’s unseasonably warm for this time of year, so I’m enjoying showing off the extra skin for a while longer. My flat stomach is on display, the supple skin along the underside of my breasts barely contained. My trusty waterproof hiking boots cover my feet. They don’t know it yet, but we’re going on a hike to one of my favorite spots for a photoshoot. With my shoulder-length blonde hair styled in beach waves pulled halfway up into a clip with a few rogue tendrils framing my face,
I grab my camera bag and everything else I keep at home for shoots outside of the studio. Once my Jeep is packed, I drive over to Mud House to find Pickle and Hadley hovering around the counter, chatting with our friend, Kayleigh, who just so happens to be the owner.
“Hey, babes!” I call as I walk over towards the girls.
I’m not two steps from them when I hear my name from a familiar voice behind me. “Ryan Elise Sage!” I groan as I turn towards my brother”s voice.
“What, Jack?” I roll my eyes at him, “You act as though we didn’t just see each other this morning.”
“Yeah, I know, but there’s something that came up that I wanted to tell you before you found out on your own.” His dark blue eyes morph from stern to gentle.
“Oh, cut the shit, big brother. What is it?” I give him my best, I’ll throat punch you, look. Before another word left his mouth, I heard Hadley squealing behind me.
“GREYSON FREAKING MANCINI! When the hell did you get back into town?” The excitement in her voice would be intoxicating if it weren’t my worst nightmare come to life.
The blood drains from my face, and I slowly turn to see him standing with Hadley and Pickle, his arm wrapped around Hadley in a side hug like they used to share when we were younger. I’m in a fever dream. It’s the only thing that makes sense at this moment. He’d never come back here.
Time stands still as I take him in. The years sure as hell took care of him. He’s even more beautiful than when he left town.
When he left me.
I may have only been a teenager when he left, but I was so in love with that man it wasn’t funny, and he knew it. He had to have known it. Everyone else did. Hell, even his high school girlfriend, Raven, threw out snide comments when I was around with my brother, making her frustration with my existence very well known.
My eyes rake up his chiseled frame. Nothing has changed, yet everything has changed. His chest is broader, his arms thicker with muscles that would put a bodybuilder to shame. Every visible inch of skin below his neck is covered in the most gorgeous and intricate artwork I’ve ever seen. When my eyes finally meet his, the burst of gold from the center fading to a honey brown before settling into an olive green, they steal my breath like always.
“Grey,” his name is a whisper, a prayer on my lips.
“Hey, Ry.” The corners of his lips twitch into a smug smirk.
Those words from him. His voice, as smooth as velvet, runs bone-deep, awakening a desire in me I long since forgot.
Fuck me.