by Lacey Wolfe
Taylor nodded. “Maybe. I’m beginning to think I’m not the man for Abbie. That someone else out there is.”
Ryan laughed. “I’m beginning to think that there isn’t a man out there for her. She just needs a new flavor every now and then.”
Taylor smiled and chuckled slightly.
Ryan climbed off the barstool and put his hand out to Taylor. “It was good to see you. Maybe I’ll see ya around sometime.” Or not.
Taylor shook his hand. “Maybe.”
Ryan walked out of the kitchen, making his way back through the house and out the front door. Once in his car and out of the driveway, he let out of sigh of relief. Hopefully that problem was taken care of.
* * * *
Kayla stared at the message from Ryan.
Packing is almost complete. I booked a moving truck for the weekend. By Sunday we’ll be roomies. This is going to be good. Maybe we can get a dog.
-R
Talking about him moving in and doing it...well, she hadn’t really thought the day would come. But it had, and it was happening soon. Should they set up some ground rules before he moved in? Or just wait and see how it went? The last time she’d spoken to him, he’d said he’d taken care of the issues with Abbie. She hadn’t seen her again, so maybe he had.
No dog. Bunny is the only pet for now. How much stuff are you bringing? Are you getting a storage unit or setting up in the spare bedroom?
-K
Kayla rubbed her cheeks. Between Abbie, Ryan, and her parents, she needed a vacation. Her schedule was clearing up; perhaps an impromptu getaway was needed.
I can use the spare bedroom as a storage room. It isn’t like we’ll have guests since our parents live close by.
Bunny won’t live forever. I’m keeping my hopes up for a dog.
-R
Great, was he counting down the days until Bunny passed away?
Do you not like my rabbit?
-K
She reread his message. He planned on sleeping in her bed each night. Each and every night they’d go to sleep together, have sex, wake, shower. This was getting more real by the moment. A simple arrangement had quickly become much more, and it was getting harder and harder to keep her feelings in line. She liked the man and was teeter-tottering on the edge of more. Without thinking, she sent him another email.
What happens if one of us falls in love with the other?
-K
As soon as she hit send, she regretted the message. It was a spur-of-the-moment question that she hadn’t given much thought to. Her email dinged.
I like Bunny. I just want a dog one day too. No rush.
And about your other question…I don’t know.
-R
Well, he hadn’t said love wasn’t part of the arrangement again. Up until that last email, he’d been adamant he’d never fall in love again. He couldn’t possibly have strong feelings for her, could he? Should she ask him?
No, she shouldn’t. She didn’t want to hear again about how he vowed to never love a woman in his lifetime. And how love complicates things and such. She got that. Her parents’ love had died, but not everyone’s did. And who was to say if she and Ryan fell in love that theirs would burn out?
She smiled as she typed the next message.
When Bunny leaves us for heaven, I think we’ll get a cat.
-K
As much as she wanted to stay and email with Ryan for hours, she needed to get back to making room in her extra bedroom for Ryan. It had been her storage area as well. As she opened the door and realized the mess she had, she wondered if the two bedroom house was going to be big enough for them.
* * * *
Moving day had arrived. Kayla had hoped she was going to get out of this easily. After all, she wasn’t the one moving. But Ryan’s parents were helping, which meant she had to be the good girlfriend and help too. Boo.
“I’m sorry, Bunny, but you’ve got to go up for the day. The door’s going to be open a lot and I’d be heartbroken if you got out and lost.” Ryan probably wouldn’t be. She placed the soft rabbit in the cage and closed the door.
The animal stared at her, its nose twitching. Kayla smiled. The rabbit didn’t care.
A car door slammed outside. Kayla figured it was Ryan’s mom since she was going to be helping Kayla move some things around to make room for Ryan’s stuff. Without looking, she opened the door, and before she had a moment to let it register who was there, arms wrapped around her and familiar lips met hers.
Kayla giggled. “What are you doing here?”
“I had to see you before the parents got here.” Ryan’s hands glided down her hips until he cupped her ass. “Damn. Could your shorts get any shorter?”
“Another inch maybe.”
He pressed his mouth to her neck. “I can’t wait to catch a glimpse of you out of your clothes when you’re not looking.”
She pushed him back. “You pervert.”
“I’m a man. I like naked women.”
Lacing her fingers behind his neck and in the bottom of his hair, she said, “This is going to be interesting.”
Ryan pressed his erection against her and stared into her eyes. His eyes were dark with passion. As he leaned in for another kiss she knew would take them straight to the bedroom, she heard another car door.
“Your mom’s here,” she whispered.
“Damn.”
They released one another just as his mom walked up on the front porch. “Ryan, what are you doing here? Your father is at your place most likely.”
“I left the door unlocked.”
“Get out of here. You’ve only got the moving truck for one day,” his mom said.
Ryan kissed Kayla’s cheek, then hugged his mom. “I’ll be back!” He closed the door as he left.
Kayla was alone now with Mrs. Newell. This hadn’t been scary before, but now that it was happening, it dawned on her that this woman was her potential mother-in-law. God, she hoped they got along.
“Let’s get started,” Mrs. Newell said.
“How much stuff is your son bringing?”
She laughed. “You’ve been to his place, you should know.”
She’d only been there a few times and was usually naked in his bed. In fact, she really didn’t know much about his place. Kayla grinned and nodded like a dufus. “Let’s start with the second bedroom. Make some more room.”
As Kayla opened the door, she began to feel self-conscious. It had been only her there all these years. And now, not only was Ryan going to be there, but his mother was going to help her go through her personal things.
“Maybe I can handle this.”
“Don’t be silly.” Mrs. Newell stood in the room. “I’m really good at packing things in. What I’m thinking is we’ll divide the room. One side yours, the other Ryan’s. But I must be honest, you two might want to look for a bigger place.”
“I was just thinking that the other day. Maybe I should call Ryan and tell him to wait on this move.”
His mother chuckled. “Got cold feet about this?”
“Yeah.”
“I saw the hesitation that night at dinner. It’s good you feel that way. It’ll keep the relationship grounded. My son is absolutely smitten with you and isn’t thinking things through. But as his mother, I’m thrilled to see him so happy. It brings such joy to my heart after what the last girl did to him.”
“I don’t plan on being like her.”
“I knew she was trouble when I met her. But you, my dear, are his soul mate.”
Soul mate?
“Go turn on some music or something, and let’s get started.” Mrs. Newell began pulling boxes down.
This was happening, and a part of Kayla began to get excited.
* * * *
That evening, Kayla’s house was more put together than she’d expected, all thanks to Ryan’s mother. She’d spent much of her day organizing so the small place didn’t feel cramped. The woman should’ve been an interior designer. Mrs. Newell
had said it was because she was obsessed with watching HGTV.
Kayla sat down on the couch and a moment later was greeted by Ryan.
“You look sexy.” He winked.
“I’m a sweaty, hot mess.”
“Let’s clean you up then.” He held his hand out.
She laughed and took it. “I don’t think I can move. A shower and my mattress sound good right about now.”
“I think I can get you feeling energized again.”
He had super powers in bed, but she wasn’t so sure they’d work on her right now. “Oh, yeah? I don’t think you can.”
“Is that a challenge? Because I like a good one.”
“I guess it is.”
Ryan bent slightly and lifted her up and over his shoulder, smacking her ass as he carried her through their home.
“Ryan!” she squealed. “Put me down.”
He brought her into the bathroom and set her on the counter. “Don’t go anywhere.”
“I’m all for a shower.” Especially if he was going to be in it too…naked.
She watched as he opened the shower door and turned the water on. He turned back to her. “Strip.”
“You first.”
Expecting him to argue, she found herself quiet as he began to take his clothes off. First the shirt, revealing his tanned and toned core.
“Quit staring at me like I’m a piece of candy.” He smirked.
She licked her lips. “Keep going.”
He tugged at his belt buckle. After it dropped to the floor, he finished pulling the jeans down, revealing no underwear.
“I was out of clean boxers.”
She stared at his cock, already erect. Finally, she let her gaze drift back up his sculpted body and met his eyes.
“I believe you need to lose some of those layers.” Ryan touched her shirt.
Kayla slid off the counter and quickly discarded her clothes. The passion was building between them, and all she could hear as he wrapped his arms around her and drug her into the shower was the sound of her heartbeat.
Her back pressed against the cool tile. Ryan lifted her. She could feel his erection at her opening. Pulling her body as close as she could to him, she kissed him with everything in her. She had to have him. Sure, she’d like to play a little, but she knew she didn’t have the energy. And somehow, like always, he got her engines roaring.
As if reading her mind, he held her tightly against him, and thrust in. She arched her back, breaking the kiss and letting her head rest on the tile. His lips clasped around a nipple. Her release was going to come fast. She was too tired to try and prolong it.
Releasing her breast, he took her lips again. With his free hand, he took both her wrists and pinned them above her head then pulled her body against his with his other hand. That was all it took. She called out his name as the orgasm ripped through her body, leaving every nerve in her body on edge. He kissed her deeply as she rode it out. Then he stopped kissing her and buried his head into the crook of her neck. She felt his body tense, and when his release hit him, he lightly bit into her skin. A few seconds later he relaxed.
Kayla unwrapped her legs from around him, but they felt like jelly. He caught her as her knees gave out.
“I think we’re clean enough.” He turned the water off.
After they climbed out, they dried each other off.
“Careful not to get me going again,” he said as she rubbed the towel on his upper thighs.
“I really don’t think I have the energy.”
“Me either.” He picked her up and carried her out of the bathroom, laying her on the bed.
“My pajamas are in the top drawer.” She pointed.
“If you’re going to be my girlfriend, you’d better get used to sleeping naked.”
“I’m too tired to argue you with you tonight. We’ll pick up this discussion tomorrow.” She climbed under the covers.
Ryan lay on his back next to her. She put her head on his chest and fell asleep instantly.
Chapter 13
Ryan stood in the kitchen, lost. Where in the world did this woman keep the coffee? He’d checked every cabinet, the pantry, and even the fridge. And yet he had come up empty-handed. There was no way Kayla didn’t drink the caffeinated beverage, was there?
He started opening the cabinets again. It had to be somewhere. There was a coffee maker sitting on the counter. Darn woman was torturing him!
“What’s with all the banging?”
Ryan spun around. “I can’t find the coffee.”
Kayla smirked. “It’s in the freezer.”
“The freezer?” He shook his head. Did he really want to know why she kept it there?
“Yeah, I buy the huge thing of it at Sam’s and keep it in there so it stays fresh.”
“It’s not going to go bad. It’s coffee.”
She shrugged. “I’m picky about the taste. I can’t stand coffee grounds that aren’t cold.” She opened the freezer door and pulled out the container, handing it to him. “I suppose with you here, we can keep it in the fridge.”
“Is there really a difference in taste?”
“Yes.” She turned and walked out.
Ryan finished preparing the coffee. What other little quirks did she have? Would anything top this coffee thing?
As he waited, he opened the pantry to see what cereal she had, but he didn’t find any boxes. Did she keep it in the freezer as well?
“Kayla, where’s the cereal?” he called from the kitchen doorway.
She lay on the couch with her rabbit. “I don’t have any.”
Oh God, this morning was going downhill fast. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t eat it, so I don’t buy it.”
“What do you eat for breakfast?”
“Toast.”
Damn. He was going to have to go shopping. “Would you like me to make you some since I’ll be in here?”
“Thanks, but no. I won’t eat for another hour or two.”
He nodded and went in pursuit of the bread. He’d guess it would be on the counter or in a breadbox, but with the way things were going so far, he decided to check the freezer. Sure enough, that’s where it was. He hated frozen bread. Pushing the door shut, he decided to go out and get doughnuts.
“I’ll be back.” He grabbed his keys from the table in the foyer. “Gonna get doughnuts. Got a kind you want?”
“I’m not picky.”
He snorted and she looked at him oddly. As he made his way out the door and to the car, he realized what he’d been hearing all these years were true. You never really know a person until you live with them.
* * * *
Kayla sat on the couch not quite sure what to do with herself. She’d lived alone for so many years that having someone there was weird. If it was only her, she’d probably be in her PJs with her computer in her lap, mindlessly scrolling through a social media site to pass the time. But instead, she felt like she had to entertain Ryan. So they watched a movie. One she’d already seen and hadn’t liked the first time. She was bored out of her mind.
“What do you think is gonna happen next?” he asked.
“The car’s going to hit the building, and the people walk away without a scratch.”
“Yeah, right.” Ryan diverted his gaze back to the television, only to a moment later call out, “What the hell? That can’t happen.” He looked at her. “You’ve seen this, haven’t you?”
“Yup.”
He picked up the remote and turned the TV off. He then pulled her on top of him. His erection pressed into her. “I can think of a much better way to pass the time.”
“Oh, yeah.” She smiled. “I suppose this is one perk to living together.”
“Think of all the places we can do it.” He gripped her ass. “But for now, I think this is the perfect place.”
She sat up, straddling him. “This is a pretty bouncy couch. I could have some fun.”
“Bounce away. You won’t get any complaints from m
e, as long as your shirt and bra are off.”
Kayla giggled and began to remove her shirt. After it was tossed over the back of the couch, she leaned forward to kiss Ryan.
“Hey, not yet.” He reached around her back and unclasped her bra. Once it was thrown across the living room, he cupped her breasts. “Now we can kiss.”
As her lips met his, she felt happiness. She liked everything about this man. When she was with him, she felt whole.
His fingers circled her nipples and pinched, which sent all kinds of waves of pleasure through her. Her hips grinded into him.
“Fuck, that feels good.” One palm released her breast to grip her ass hard, holding her tightly against his erection.
It had been a long time since she’d dry humped. She couldn’t believe how much this was turning her on or how close she was to orgasm. But there was no way she was going to get off with so much material between them.
Breaking the kiss and sitting up, she stared down at his jeans. She fiddled with the button. Once she had them halfway down his hips, she lifted herself up and he helped her remove the rest. She then started on her own pants, and once she was naked, she returned to straddling him. With his cock in hand, she gently stroked him as he toyed with her breasts. She was wet and ready and couldn’t wait to get him deep inside her. Just the idea of it got her wetter.
Lifting herself up again, she positioned his dick at her slick entrance. She rubbed the tip around, getting it nice and lubricated. She spun it around her clit, letting it flick the tip.
“Damn, this is hot seeing you pleasure yourself with my cock.” His gaze never left her pussy.
Feeling like she wanted to take it farther for him, she let his head barely enter her before she pulled it out and glided it back through her folds. After doing this a few more times, she could see he couldn’t take much more, and neither could she.