Chapter 27 – pippa
PIPPA
The yellow sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows makes me squint as I slink out of my bedroom. That’s the downside to the apartment’s gorgeous view—the sun can blind you anytime it feels like it.
Waffle trots next to me all the way to the kitchen. I rub my eyes, turning her into a little black blur. I didn’t sleep great, and I need coffee, stat.
After the power cut off in the restaurant last night, we all had to slowly file out in the light of the flashlights on our phones, with our hands on each other’s shoulders for stability. Jacob was sweet about it, promising to make it up to me on a second date.
Accepting the invitation was a no-brainer. He’s the first decent guy I went out with, and there’s obviously potential there. He’s got a good job, good manners, good hair. He’s friends with my best friend’s fiancé. If I needed to, I could probably make the remainder of my 12 Dates series with him.
Of course, if I did that, I’d have to finish the series with the announcement that I’ve succeeded at finding a boyfriend.
Narratively, it’s the only thing that would be satisfying to the readers.
Besides, that’s what you do when you find someone whose company you can stand for a few weeks, right?
Make them your boyfriend. Those are the rules of dating.
Not that I’ve ever been great about following those.
My mind starts waking up while I go through the familiar motions of measuring out water and coffee.
I’ve just pressed brew when Ryan emerges from his room, wearing his standard outfit—low slung pajama pants and nothing else.
My stupid mouth waters at the sight of him.
Just yesterday, I licked my way down his abs, and it was so goddamn sexy.
Ryan’s thoughts seem to be going in the same direction, because he bites his lip appreciatively as he looks me up and down. “Nice pajamas.”
My cheeks heat, because I’m not wearing my usual black pajamas. I’m wearing a white button-up shirt that actually belongs to Ryan. He left it on the floor after we had sex in my room a few days ago, and I threw it on last night because I didn’t feel like digging in my clean laundry to find pajamas.
Bonus, it still smelled like Ryan’s cologne. Fine, I admit it—I love how it smells. From the way Ryan’s looking at me, I suspect he knows that.
“So, how’d your date go last night?” He blinks at me innocently, like he didn’t spend the whole night texting me.
I cross my arms. “It was good. It went really, really well, actually—until the power went out and they evacuated the restaurant.”
“The guy should have picked a restaurant nice enough to pay their electric bills.” Ryan’s grin spreads so wide, it surpasses maximum smugness. It’s insufferable how presuming he is—it’s like he knows I spent the entire night comparing Jacob to him.
Well, two can play at this game. “Jacob was great, actually. Kind and polite. Gorgeous, too. He had great hair.”
“Are you describing a man or a golden retriever?” Ryan deadpans.
“He was really curious about me and my job. Asked a lot of questions—seemed to find me really interesting. I think I’m going to go out with him again soon.”
“Ah, yes. Soon—the time when all fictional events happen.”
I put my hands on my hips. “It’s not fictional. He’s going to be my date for that New Year’s thing that James is having.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “James—as in my James?”
“He invited me. If you’re not careful, your friends are all going to like me better than you. I’m smarter, prettier, and way better smelling.”
Actually, I was surprised to get the invitation in my email. Cat had already mentioned that James always does a big party at Sequel’s headquarters. She also guaranteed some celeb sightings, since stars from Sequel shows always show up.
Ryan rolls his eyes. “I’m sure James just wanted to make sure Cat had a friend there, since you tag along with her to everything.”
“Wait, do you have a problem with Jacob and me coming?” I ask with mock confusion. “Why? You’re not jealous, are you?”
The edges of his mouth turn down. “I just don’t want this dude thinking he can steal my spot in the friend group. Just because he works with Nate doesn’t mean the other guys will give a shit about him.”
The coffeepot finally beeps, letting me know that it’s done.
I pour myself a mug and take a sip. It’s hot enough to burn my tongue, but that little jolt of caffeine hits just how I need it to.
“They’ll like Jacob.” Ryan’s frown deepens when he hears the name, so I repeat it.
“Jacob is so thoughtful. He texted me this morning, thanking me for the goodnight kiss.”
“He kissed you?” Ryan’s voice sounds strained, and the taste of victory is even sweeter than the taste of coffee.
“I kissed him.” Never mind the fact that I mostly did it for the article. Ingrid told me to get some heat, so I lit a match. Not that Ryan has to know that. I lift my chin, challenging him to say something.
He nods slowly. When he takes a breath, my eyes dip to watch his chest expand. Stupid eyes. “How was it?”
“Great.” It’s not a lie. Jacob’s breath smelled good, and his lips were soft. It didn’t make sparks fly through my blood, but it was still nice. The kind of kiss that makes you want to go back for another one. Like a sugar cookie—it’s not chocolate chip, but it’s still a solid cookie.
“Huh.” Ryan saunters forward until he’s just a step away from me.
The warm morning light plays over the flat planes of his chest, and fuck, my fingers are dying to touch him.
It’s like his body is a sun, and I’m some stupid nearby dwarf planet.
Gravity just pulls me toward him, more intense with every inch of closeness.
“Tell me something. Did he know you like to be pulled close when a man kisses you?”
Then it’s not gravity pulling me toward Ryan, but his hands on my waist, yanking me against him.
The way my body folds in against his feels inevitable—like we were made to fit against each other.
No muscle in my body resists, not even when Ryan plucks the coffee mug out of my hand and puts it on the counter behind me.
“I asked you a question, Pips,” he growls.
I blink. I can’t even remember what he asked me. It’s like my brain has been wiped completely blank, and he shakes his head.
“Looks like you weren’t paying attention. Let’s try this again.” He brushes his knuckles against my neck, the grazing touch raising goosebumps on my skin. “Does Jacob know how you like light touches along your neck that turn into a firm grip as a man tilts your lips up to his?”
I take in a shuddering breath, and Ryan’s hand shifts. His fingers wrap around the back of my neck, making the hair at my nape stand up. His thumb guides my jaw upward, and I blink up at his dark brown eyes. Twin vortexes, sucking me in.
“Or how you melt when he talks you through every second?” he murmurs with his lips only a breath from mine, his thumb stroking lazily over my pulse.
I swallow hard.
“Use your words, Pips,” he whispers. “Tell me how much you fucking love this.”
Heat floods my cheeks, humiliation and want tangling in my chest.
“I…”
Ryan grins, and I know he sees the truth I can’t bring myself to admit.
His grip on my neck turns harder as he presses his lips to mine in a searing kiss.
I feel it all the way to my toes and I know he feels it too, in the way my pulse thuds faster against his fingertips on my neck.
Ryan drags his teeth over my lip, coaxing a moan from my chest when he bites down on the soft flesh.
“Even now, you can’t admit it,” Ryan murmurs.
He chuckles as my lips part, but no words escape them. All I can manage is a tiny shake of my head. Right before Ryan dips his head toward mine, I recognize the look on his face.
It’s the same look of triumph he gets when he wins a poker hand.
Then his full lips press against mine, and hot want blooms in my stomach. It spreads everywhere, rushing under my skin. This, this is what I’ve been craving. I don’t want to pretend that Jacob’s soft, nice kiss is what I need.
Ryan won before the cards were even dealt.
His lips are hard and commanding against mine. When I part my lips, his tongue plunges inside, licking into my mouth, his teeth crashing against mine as he claims my mouth.
Mine, he seems to whisper.
I wrap my arms around his neck and bury my fingers into his sinfully soft hair.
Ryan grabs my thighs, his fingers digging into the soft flesh as he hauls me up against him.
Our mouths move hungrily against each other as he carries me over to the couch.
He lays me down against the pillows, then stands so he can stare down at me for a moment.
His eyes sweep over my bared legs, my heaving chest, my flushed face, and he smiles.
“So fucking perfect in my shirt,” he says. “Too bad you’re going to have to take it off.”
The command thrums through his words. His hooded eyes are glued to my shaky fingers as I undo each button, pulling the fabric aside to show my bare skin. Ryan traces the edges of my breasts, and my nipples harden into painfully stiff peaks. He hums his appreciation as he gets down to his knees.
“Your tits are fucking amazing.” He scrapes his teeth over one nipple before drawing it into his mouth.
His tongue curls around the tip, hot and insistent.
My back arches as my body instinctively demands more.
Every pull of his mouth sends another rush of heat to my lower belly.
I groan in disappointment when he releases me.
“Patience, Pips.” There’s an edge of humor in his voice. “I always leave you satisfied, don’t I?”