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by Michelle Congdon

  Ryan stood up and held out a hand for me. He paid the waitress and led me outside without saying a word. It wasn’t until we were back in the apartment that Ryan decided to speak again. “I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry for what?” I asked, troubled by his apology.

  “Off-loading all that information on you like that.” His voice was quiet. He stood by the living room wall, motionless, daring to look anywhere but at me. This was a very different side to Ryan that I was unfamiliar with and wasn’t sure how to behave around, but I had to try my best.

  “Don’t be stupid, I am angry that you had to go through all of that. No child deserves that, Ryan.”

  I stood up from the sofa and made my way over to him when he continued to ignore looking my way. I wrapped my arms around his waist and buried my face in his chest, relieved when his strong arms returned the gesture. “You know you can always talk to me, right?”

  I pinched him on the ass when I didn’t hear an immediate response.

  Ryan chuckled into my hair. “Thank you, Bella. It means so much to me to hear you say that.”

  “Why do you keep calling me ‘Bella’? Who is she and why are constantly comparing me to her?” There. I finally found the courage to ask him about it.

  Instead of freaking out like I expected him too, Ryan laughed― out loud. “Damn it, babe. You’re too much sometimes. I thought you’d have figured that out by now.”

  I…what?? I tried to pull out of his embrace but he held me there tightly. So I lifted my head and scowled, causing him to laugh again. What the hell is so funny?

  “It means beautiful in Italian,” he said after he’d managed to stop himself from laughing. “Which you are. You’re beautiful in every way. When you’re smiling, when you’re frowning at me, when you’re laying naked underneath―”

  “Yeah, I get the point, smart-ass,” I groaned, earning another quick laugh from him. “I bet that’s how you lure all the girls to bed.”

  Ryan immediately stopped laughing, coughing as though he’d choked on something. Yeah, that shut him up.

  “No one has ever been so lucky. I just wink and girls drop their panties. With you, I actually had to pull out some tricks.”

  “Ugh,” I complained and tried to wriggle free from him again.

  He let me go but followed me when I began walking away. There was a proud, cheesy grin on his face.

  “I’ve never met a guy so full of himself,” I grumbled as I crossed the living room and headed for my bedroom to change into something more comfortable.

  Before I had the chance to shut the door, Ryan was standing there blocking the doorway to my room.

  “You in or out?” I questioned, pointing to the doorway he was now leaning against.

  “Depends…”

  “On?”

  “If you want to be full of me too,” he said with a wink.

  I couldn’t help but laugh. God, this guy was a piece of work. Now, I understood how difficult it was to say no to this man, no matter how cheesy his lines were most of the time.

  I didn’t give an answer. Instead I gave him a devilish smile and slowly began lifting my shirt up and over my head for him to see. I knew it was bound to drive him crazy, which was why I chose to do it. Once my shirt was off, I threw it at him. “Are you just going to stand there or help me out of the rest?” I teased.

  There was no hesitation; Ryan lunged for me, causing the both of us to go crashing down on the bed. His mouth was on mine before I even hit the mattress.

  CHAPTER 14

  Waking up alone after spending an entire weekend with Ryan felt strange. It was hard to remember that we weren’t really a couple. So what were we? Was I reading too much into it? Perhaps this was what he did with every other girl?

  It was Monday morning and the next three days― possibly four ― I was committed to spending time not thinking about him. It helped that he was away in Baltimore, playing against the Orioles. It was time to clear my head after he’d consumed my mind over the weekend. To my amazement, I’d enjoyed every minute having him around but if it was just a fling for him, then I wasn’t going to allow myself to get too involved.

  Feeling at ease with myself for the first time in a long time, I decided to wake up early that morning and go for a jog. I stopped by Starbucks and grabbed myself a coffee along with the morning paper. I never usually read the paper― or followed any social media sites ―there was often nothing but bad news, but occasionally I would find myself buying a copy just to keep up with the fast moving world. I also had to read up on my father.

  I was just about to sit down outside on my balcony when I spotted a large colored photo with a small article on the very back page of the New York Times. Shit.

  YANKEES YOUNG STAR WITH NEW SQUEEZE.

  Notorious bad boy and serial womanizer, Ryan Fox, has been spotted taking a mysterious, yet stunning, brunette, who is thought to be the late multi-billionaire Rupert Montgomery’s one and only daughter, to the Knicks game on Friday night. A lover of the game and regular courtside fan, this is the first time 24yr old, Fox has been seen at a game with someone else other than a family member or teammate. Is it love? Has our hot, young bachelor finally been tamed? Sources say, “While the beauty kept her eyes focused on the court, a starry-eyed Mr. Fox couldn’t keep his eyes or hands off her”. The picture above definitely backs up that statement. Let’s hope young love is finally on the cards for our beloved star pitcher.

  The photo was snapped just as Ryan was facing me. A proud smile was plastered on his face, while I looked away, concentrating on the game. Shit. Shit. Shit!

  A feeling of dread coursed through me. I wondered if Ryan had seen this already. This was the very thing I was afraid of. I didn’t want to see myself plastered all over newspapers or the Internet. Of course this was going to happen. Was I expecting it to go differently? What had I gotten myself into―

  My phone buzzed in my pocket. Seeing Connor’s name light up, I answered it immediately.

  “Evie. How are you?” Connor asked sounding concerned. He’s read the article.

  “What am I doing, Con? How could I forget something stupid like that?”

  “Look, it was only a matter of time. Dad’s funeral covered most of Sunday’s paper and there were a few shots with you in it. Did you see it?”

  No. I hadn’t even thought about buying the paper yesterday. “No, I didn’t.”

  “You just need to prepare yourself for what will come after this. Do you need me to call Dr. Brennan?”

  “No, it’s alright. I’ll call her if it gets too much for me.”

  “Okay. Well, you know I’m here for you always. I love you, sis.”

  “I love you too.”

  I hung up, sighed and folded the paper in half before tossing it on the ground. Great.

  ****

  The week flew by quickly. Ryan had text and called numerous times saying how excited he was to be coming home and to be seeing me. I, however, still stressed over the article and the other articles that followed. I hadn’t mentioned anything to him over the phone. Maybe he hadn’t seen it or maybe he had? Either way, I didn’t want to bring it up.

  Earlier in the week, Derek had come over and kept me preoccupied with a batch of his famous Bloody Mary’s and stories about his crazy weekend. He was also the one to inform me that I’d made Internet stardom as one of New York’s best-dressed socialites and Ryan and I were fast becoming one of the city’s newest ‘it’ couples. Girls wanted to know what designers I was wearing and where they could get their hands on similar pieces.

  There were three things that I found wrong with Derek’s words. One, I was hardly social, how could I ever be seen as a ‘socialite’? Two, I liked fashion, sure, but I never saw myself as being anyone’s role model, and three, Ryan and I were not a couple.

  Derek’s advice about the new found fame was to: ‘lap it up’. He said: it wasn’t a bad thing to be seen in the arms of the delectable Ryan Fox, especially when word was that he was
‘in love with me’ and that I should feel privileged that women looked up to me, since it was positive press. No matter what Derek told me though, nothing helped the unnerving feeling I had in the pit of my stomach caused by it all.

  Ryan was due over my place in just under an hour. It was Thursday night and I’d decided to cook a roast meal as a small welcome home present. I reminded him not to expect this every time, since he spent most of the baseball season playing away.

  I patted around the kitchen dressed in the apron Amelie had added to the apartment. It looked more like a 1920’s pin-up dress rather than an apron. The bottom half had black and white vertical strips while the stripes across the chest were horizontal. A red sash with tiny white polka dots sat at the waist and the same red material was used for the straps around the neck and the big bow that was sewed to the left strap. Oh, and it didn’t just finish there. Just to make give it extra ‘house-wife’ appeal, a large pocket was sewed to the front using the same polka dot material and then the edges decorated with white patterned lace. What on earth was Amelie thinking? I bet she was just waiting for me to mention something about it so she could laugh.

  The apron dilemma aside, I was proud of the end result of my roast, and silently thanked Gran for teaching me how to cook all those years ago.

  My hair was a mess, I had no make-up on and I was about to hit the shower when the doorbell buzzed. Shoot! I hesitated for a moment, deciding whether to answer it or ignore it and race into the shower― after all Ryan was ten minutes early. With an exasperated sigh, I went to let him in.

  CHAPTER 15

  Ryan cocked an eyebrow when he saw me. I bet I looked a million bucks.

  “Hello, sweetheart. Why, don’t you look ravishing,” he said playfully as he bent down to kiss me.

  “Don’t even start,” I warned. “You’re ten minutes early and I haven’t had a chance to shower yet.” I moved out of the way so he could come in.

  He grinned. “Oh, I was talking about the sexy little apron you have on there. You, my angel, always look a million dollars to me.”

  He grabbed me and wrapped his big arms around me, trapping me. I couldn’t help but laugh as he planted quick little kisses all over my cheeks, forehead and lastly on my lips. “I brought over some champagne for us to enjoy but I have something rather important that I want to do first,” he added, brushing his already growing bulge against my leg while a wicked smile stretched across his face.

  “Oh, you do, do you? Well, unlucky for you dinner is ready and I’m all hot and bothered. I need to take a quick shower.”

  “Just the way I like you. Dinner can wait.”

  I squealed as he squeezed my butt and gave it a gently slap. Without letting go, he expertly walked me backwards, put the bottle of champers down on a nearby table, and then lifted me up using both hands. I wrapped my legs around his waist and threw my arms around his neck, wearing a grin from ear to ear. I could feel his hardness hitting against me as I bounced up and down while he carried me. It sent tingles of excitement shooting through my entire body. He marched down the hall and just when I thought he was heading for my bedroom, he made a sharp left, carrying me into the main bathroom.

  “Let’s get you all cleaned up.”

  He put me down and spun me so that I was facing away from him. He pulled me in close while his hands reached around the other side and cupped my breasts. He muzzled my neck, which caused me to moan unexpectedly. My body had obviously missed his touch.

  “No bra?” he asked comically.

  I shook my head silently and closed my eyes, taking in every moment of his touch.

  He tugged at the strapless dress I was wearing underneath the apron and pulled it down to my stomach. His hands slid slowly back up my now naked chest and stopped at my breasts. He kneaded them firmly and using his thumbs, gently began rubbing my nipples in circular motions. The heat between my legs grew and ached as it begged for more.

  “I bet you’re already wet for me,” he whispered, slowly allowing his hands to travel south. He pulled the rest of my dress down over my hips and let it fall to the ground. His fingers then slipped in between the material of my lace panties until they found my moist folds. A single finger parted the swollen skin and pressed firmly on my clit. Ryan pressed his bulge harder into my backside.

  “Feel how wet you are, Evangeline.” With those words, he grabbed hold my hand with his free one and replaced the fingers he had against my sex with my own, directing my fingers to move in circular motions over and over. “Do you feel that? I want you to touch yourself.”

  “With this apron on?”

  “It’s growing on me.” He lightly chuckled, before releasing his hand and dropping to his knees. “I want you to continue until I say so.”

  I listened.

  Before I could question what he was doing down there, I felt him hoop a finger around the side of my underwear and tug forcefully. They came apart instantly. Then his hands splayed out over each of my ass cheeks. What on earth was he doing? He gently parted them and soon something hot and wet was tickling my forbidden part. Holy shit! He was licking me there. What the hell? I tensed, ready to tell him to stop, but the powerful erotic feeling I was having overpowered me. It felt fantastic! A much louder moan escaped me.

  “You’ve stopped touching yourself, babe.” I heard him say. I immediately continued but with what he was doing and the wickedness of what he was having me do to myself was becoming a little too much. My legs were ready to give away, as the pressure continued to build up inside. As if he were in tune with my body, Ryan stopped and stood up.

  “Fuck, you have no idea how badly I’m craving to be inside of you.”

  With one quick movement, he untied both knots of my apron. It dropped and fell to the ground on top of my dress. I was now standing completely naked. Ryan spun me around and shamelessly eyed me up and down, with a sly grin stretching across his beautiful, perfect face. He quickly undid his belt buckle and I helped him with his jeans. My body was craving him too; starving, after not getting to have him for days. When his pants were gone, he threw his shirt over his head and grabbed me, kissing me passionately on the mouth. I melted against him.

  He picked me up and gently eased me onto him. I welcomed his thick length.

  “Fuck, I’ve missed you,” he said in one exhaled breath. All I could do was whimper from pleasure. I missed him too and it felt amazing to have him inside of me.

  He carried me over to the counter with ease and rested me on the top, without removing himself from inside me. He clamped both his hands to the sides of the counter and began thrusting himself in and out of me. I opened my legs as far as they could go, my hands gripping the sides of the counter next to his, and threw my head back in ultimate bliss. He kissed my breasts, and then took them in his mouth, sucking and biting each nipple. My hands moved to reach for his head, threading my fingers through his soft, dark locks while he took me against the counter top.

  Amidst our heavy, ragged gasps, our kisses turned desperate and greedy once I found his mouth again. I wrapped my arms around the back of his neck as the overwhelming pleasure began to take hold of me.

  His breathing changed and his pace quickened, which meant he was close as well. Digging my fingernails into his skin, I dragged them down his back, stopping at his bare, firm ass and gripped both cheeks tightly. He let out a loud growl, which sent me over the edge. My whole body rippled as a fiery explosion flooded through me, causing me to cry out his name and a few curse words. My nails dug deeper into Ryan’s behind, as I tried to control the never-ending orgasm. I felt Ryan tense and bite down hard into my shoulder as he shuddered with his own release.

  We held each other tightly until we were both breathing normally again.

  He slowly pulled himself out of me, kissing me on my forehead before reaching for the tissues on the other side of the counter. He wiped himself first, and then with a fresh one, he cleaned me without saying a word. Once he was done he tossed the used tissues into the bin
and stood back between my legs, smiling up at me.

  “What?” I asked warily.

  He chuckled. “Nothing. Just admiring you, that’s all.”

  “I look awful and now I don’t have time for a shower. Look what you’ve done.” I pouted, giving his chest a gentle shove with my hand.

  “You don’t have anyone to impress, just me. And I already like what I see. So, shall we go and eat this delicious meal? I’m starving and I’m excited to try out your cooking skills.” He winked; catching the hand I had used to shove him and linking it with his.

  I let out a laugh “Unlike you, Mr. Fox, I didn’t ask my poor ‘housekeeper’ to cook up a storm. I made it all myself, so there’s a lot of love in it.”

  Ryan smiled but something was off about it. It wasn’t his usual playful one; it didn’t touch the corners of his eyes. He lifted his free hand and began running his fingers gently up and down my arm that he had a hold of. His gaze lowered, watching his fingers caress me.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked worriedly.

  He stayed silent for a moment before eventually flicking his eyes back to me. “Hmm? Oh, it’s nothing. Come on, let’s go eat.”

  Again he was refusing to tell me.

  Once we’d dressed, Ryan helped me set the table and popped open the bottle of champagne, which I had only realized, was a bottle of vintage 2002 Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé. Great choice, Mr. Fox!

  During dinner we talked about his latest trip to Baltimore and the win against the Orioles. We also discussed the upcoming trip he had to Texas to play the Rangers. It meant the team would leave Sunday, so they could be properly rested for the first game on Monday night.

  We also spoke about the charity ball, how Ryan was excited to see me in the dress he’d chosen for me, but then also just as excited to see me out of it. I laughed but I couldn’t help but notice that he was still acting strange since our little bathroom romp. Whenever he caught me staring, he’d smile and pretend everything was alright. But was it? I tried my best to ignore it, even though it ate away at me until we eventually went to bed.