Bring Me You

by Ryleigh Andrews

  They got into the bed and he lay on his side, watching her regard him. The desire he saw in her eyes was much stronger than before.

  “Ethan. I really, really want to touch you right now,” she said quietly, staring at his bare chest, her hand on the bed, inching closer and closer. God, he wanted that too. Hell, he wanted her. Period. “You can’t deny that there is this sexual tension between us,” she continued. “You want to know me … well, it’s part of the package. I’m not saying we have to have sex tonight, but I want your touch. I want to feel your skin beneath my fingertips, my lips.”

  When her hand rested on his stomach, he felt her fire, and his will power started to burn away.

  “You are going to make this difficult,” he stated, slowly sliding his hand up her arm.

  “I am definitely not an easy person, Ethan. I am complicated,” Mia admitted, moving her hands over his chest and stopping on his shoulders. He rolled over and pulled her onto him so her body draped over his.

  “Good. I am going to enjoy getting to know you better, Mia Devereux,” he replied. He leaned in and kissed her neck, feeling her pulse race beneath his lips.

  Ethan ran his lips up to her earlobe and she moaned softly as he tugged on the soft lobe. That moan redirected his mouth. He found her lips and she purred against his mouth, her hands trailing over his shoulder and down his arms, stopping at his hands. He entwined his fingers with hers and deepened the kiss.

  They kissed and explored each other’s mouths for a few minutes before he released her fingers and ran his own hands up and down her arms before jumping over to her stomach where he toyed with the hem of her shirt.

  He slipped his hands under the fabric, making sure not to touch her bare skin and the effect it had on her had him smiling. Her eyes fluttered right before her head fell back against the bed.

  “God, please touch me, Ethan!”

  A request he was more than happy to grant. His hands skimmed her warm skin and his smile grew at the goose bumps that erupted beneath his fingers. “You like this?”

  “Mmhmm.”

  His questing hands explored further, bumping into her aroused breast. “What about this?” he asked, rubbing her nipple between his thumb and index finger. Her long, drawn out moan tested him. His cock throbbed with his want for her and there was no way he could hide that.

  Her hips rocked against him. The thin fabric of her panties did nothing to veil the moist heat emanating from her.

  “You like that,” she spoke in a hushed voice.

  “So do you,” he said, finally cupping her breasts in his hands. In return, she moved along his entire length.

  “God, I’m torturing myself!” she exclaimed, but she didn’t stop and he didn’t know if he could stop her either. Her lips found his and she moved faster. Her tongue dove into his mouth, seeking and finding his tongue. His hands left her breasts and slid down to her waist to the inside of her panties, kneading her ass.

  Then her body stilled, but not her breathing which was erratic.

  “We need to go to sleep or we will be having sex tonight. I, for one, haven’t had sex in months and right now I am showing you all the will power I have.”

  “Months?” Ethan said with a chuckle. He was glad that it appeared that she didn’t seem to sleep around.

  Mia laughed at that. “Shut up. My lack of sex life is not funny. It’s depressing,” she said, crawling off his lap.

  He brought her in his embrace. He knew sex with her would be amazing and as much as he wanted her right now, slowing it down was good, because he wanted more than sex with her.

  “We learned quite a few new things right now. For one, you don’t have sex very often.”

  “Get used to it,” she muttered jokingly.

  “You like to talk in bed.”

  “As do you.”

  “You are quite young or I’m quite old and your full name is as beautiful as you are.”

  “You and all this beautiful talk.”

  “Another thing—you get uncomfortable when I tell you that you’re beautiful,” he said, lifting her chin so he could look into her eyes. “I find you incredibly sexy, Mia.”

  She blushed and swallowed hard. “Continue.”

  “I want you.”

  “Good,” she said, resting her hand against his cheek. Ethan scooted them down and rested against the pillows. She snuggled up against him, her body melding against his.

  This felt so right. He did not want to let her go. From the moment he saw her, Ethan had been struck by how damn beautiful she was with her luscious chocolate brown hair and her deep brown eyes. When she smiled for the first time, his breath rushed right out of him. That smile transformed her. She was even more beautiful. He saw more than the sexy woman and saw her warmth and humor in her smile.

  After getting to know the person behind the smile, Mia was who she showed him. There was no dishonesty. She may not like to talk about her past that much. It seemed she just didn’t talk about it much at all—to anyone.

  Did one have to spill every single secret on the first few dates? Ethan didn’t believe so. All it did was make him want to get to know her even more.

  The hint of pain was there when she talked sometimes, especially when the topic related to her family. He wanted to know what was behind that pain because he wanted to fix it.

  Mia broke into his thoughts with an open-mouthed kiss to his chest and followed that with another soft kiss lower down.

  “I want you, too, Ethan. But I’ll take sleeping with you, like this—for now,” she stated, raising herself on her elbow to look at him. “Though, if you wake in the middle of the night and want to do things to me, feel free.”

  She smiled so wickedly at him, he couldn’t resist a kiss. She tugged lightly on his lower lip before breaking the kiss. “I’m serious.”

  “I know.”

  “Good,” she said, snuggling against him again. She breathed deeply and he felt her breathing steady. Ethan caressed her back until he knew for sure that she was asleep.

  He was falling for this small woman—hard.

  Okay, bad choice of words.

  He chuckled quietly and squeezed her tight. She moaned softly against his chest, snuggling even closer.

  Yup—definitely falling for her.

  Mia

  Waking up to the sexy golden eyes of Ethan on her was something Mia could easily get used to. His head rested on his arm, peering down at her, his hair tousled from sleep, and quite possibly her fingers.

  “What are you thinking?” she asked.

  “That I am lucky to have met you.”

  “Nuh-uh,” she said in disbelief. Why does he always say the perfect thing? And, for that matter, why was everything about him so damn perfect?

  “And that I don’t want to leave your side.”

  “Then stay.”

  “I wish I could, but I have to get ready for a trip.”

  “I knew I didn’t like buts,” she said, melancholy dimming her good mood. Mia turned away to regain some semblance of composure. Damn it, she would miss him and that really surprised her. She did not want this to end when it was just getting started. She wanted this.

  “Hey,” he said, interrupting her thoughts, his hand grasping her wrist. Turning to him, she melted when she saw the concern on his face. His eyes searched hers and then he lowered his head and kissed her softly, lingering on her lower lip.

  “When do you return?” she asked, after his lips left hers.

  “Late Tuesday night. But, unfortunately, I have a full schedule on Wednesday and Thursday.”

  Mia pouted and he pouted back at her, making her laugh.

  “I gotta say, you’re kinda cute when you pout,” she observed. He kissed her deeply before leaving the bed and putting his clothes back on.

  “I’m so excited to see your show on Friday. I can’t wait to see you on stage,” he said as he went to the sofa and sat down to put on his shoes.

  “I love having people I know at my shows. I d
on’t feel as nervous,” she admitted, watching his long fingers tie his shoes. He snapped the hem of his jeans down and stood up. She swallowed and wondered why that movement was so damn erotic.

  “Where’s your phone?” he asked.

  “On the desk,” she replied curiously.

  Ethan picked it up and eyed it strangely. “You still have a flip phone?” he asked as he flipped it open and started pushing buttons.

  “Hey, I am a struggling musician,” she laughed.

  “I am adding myself as a contact. Home and cell.”

  He handed the phone back to her. She took it from him, his fingers caressing her lightly. She stared at the contact info, a giddy smile forming on her face.

  “Now this is the part where you are supposed to give me your number.”

  She lifted her head up fast, breaking the hypnosis of her daze. “Oh yeah.”

  She rattled off her phone number and he inputted it into his phone. Not two seconds later, her phone rang. Her eyes opened wide and she turned the phone in her hand, smiling when she saw Ethan’s name.

  “Just testing,” he smiled.

  Rising from the bed, she went to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “You’re going to call me, right?” Mia asked, looking up at his handsome face, searching for anything that might say this was it.

  “You better believe it,” Ethan exclaimed, enveloping her in a tender embrace.

  She smiled against his chest, so very happy. She couldn’t wait for that phone call.

  “Can I text you?”

  She nodded.

  “Good. I’ll be around too many people while away and it’ll be nice just to text you something.”

  He squeezed her tighter, resting his chin on her head. She could stay like this forever. Ethan made her feel amazing. With him, she felt beautiful. Wanted.

  It had been awhile since she had felt that way. Her confidence had taken a beating with her relationship drama with Luke over the past years. Mia had really loved him, but with Luke being in the picture every few months (or whenever he could get a free weekend), she struggled through those days and weeks after he left. She hated that he left her over and over again, not a care in the world, it seemed. She felt abandoned.

  “I feel like I’m rambling away. You there?” Ethan said, cutting into her thoughts.

  “I am. Sorry, I was just lost in my head, I guess, filing things away so I remember.”

  “Here’s one more for you to remember,” he said, lifting her up, her face even with his and he kissed her hard and long.

  “Again?” she asked when he let her go. He smiled at her and leaned in.

  This kiss was more tender. He lightly brushed his lips against hers a couple times before increasing the intensity, pulling her close, holding her tightly against him. It appeared he didn’t want to let go either, she thought, hugging him back.

  He broke the kiss and lightly nipped at the tip of her nose. “It’s hard to leave you,” he admitted.

  Mia closed her eyes and sighed. Kissing him one last time, she reluctantly took a step back.

  “Okay. I’ve got to go. I’m so late. I will see you on Friday,” he said hurriedly. He opened the door and then suddenly stopped. He grabbed her and quickly kissed her, taking her breath away.

  “Bye, Mia.”

  “Goodbye, Ethan.”

  She watched him make long strides down the hallway until she could no longer see him. Then she let the door close, resting against it. She really, really liked him. Hell, she could easily add a few more really’s to that statement.

  The biggest, dopiest smile came to her face. It had been so long since she felt this happy and she embraced it. Ethan was wonderful, respectful, caring, very strong, very attractive, and so damn sexy, and he was interested in her. She still couldn’t believe it.

  So many thoughts coursed through her brain. The urge to write and get this all down was very strong. Mia crossed the small hotel room to the chair with her guitar. After situating herself and the guitar, she strummed her fingers along the strings, thinking of Ethan and how she felt when she was with him.

  Reflecting on her weekend so far, a riff formed in her mind and Mia got to work. Liking what she heard, she played it through. Reaching for her notebook, she flipped it opened to a fresh page and quickly wrote down the music.

  Over the course of an hour, Mia took the song as far as she could. Satisfied, she put away her guitar and gingerly climbed out of the chair, her muscles tired from sitting in the same position for too long. With her notebook in tow, she made her way to the bed.

  She needed to relax—too many thoughts flying through her mind. She needed to somehow organize, even a little bit, what was happening inside her brain.

  Resting her head on the pile of pillows, she closed her eyes and focused on each breath, in and out, until she was calm and breathing deeply. Mia let her mind grab onto one item—Ethan and making love to him. After a few minutes of vividly imagining that, the words struck her with such a powerful force. She scrambled up, snatched her notebook, and quickly wrote them down.

  Late night, nothing to do.

  I miss you.

  I know you miss me, too.

  I want you.

  Oh baby, I need you.

  Heartbreak

  Breakdown

  Now you’re here.

  Touching me, I’m touching you.

  Lightning, undressed.

  Feeling me, oh baby, I’m feeling you

  Thunder my heart

  Calling out

  Giving me just what I need

  Mia kept writing. One verse and then another and then more. She had a feeling she would be writing for the next couple of days because Ethan Christopher was one hell of a muse.

  Luke

  “Daddy, come on! Let’s go get Mia!” Luke’s daughter, Kaitlyn, exclaimed impatiently. Luke looked up from packing the picnic basket to regard his daughter. The moment he first laid eyes on her, he knew without a doubt that she was his daughter: the same dark hair, the same hazel eyes, and even the same smile. He loved her so much. She was the best thing to ever have happened to him.

  “Kaitlyn, give me a few more minutes and then we’ll go.”

  His little girl waited at the door, tapping her small foot. When he closed the lid to the basket, she grabbed his hand and pulled him with all her might to his car. Surprisingly, she gave him no problem with the booster seat like she normally did. He smiled at how much his baby girl loved Mia.

  Kaitlyn talked about her all the time. Mia frequently sent her packages filled with all kinds of goodies—books, toys, clothes, pictures. Kaitlyn had a special box where she kept all her favorite trinkets from Mia. His daughter would often ask him to read all the notes and cards from Mia when the little girl missed her, which was a lot.

  Luke missed Mia, too. He sighed and climbed into his vehicle. Before he left their neighborhood, he texted her to let her know they were on their way.

  Kaitlyn jabbered excitedly the entire ride to the hotel. He tuned her out so he could concentrate on driving and let his mind drift to his past relationship with Mia.

  Over the years, their friendship had blossomed. The distance forced them to talk either by phone or email. They learned more about each other, confided in the other, supported each other. She was his best friend and he did not want to lose her. He could go without sex for the rest of his life, but not without her there as his friend because she was more than that; she was family. He didn’t have much of that; just his mother.

  Luke turned into the hotel parking lot and spotted Mia immediately. She wore a pair of well-loved jeans, a fitted white T-shirt with a yellow scarf around her neck, and a jacket. The weather was warmer than it had been, but not warm enough to leave a jacket behind.

  She smiled as he pulled up to the hotel entrance.

  “Mia!!” Kaitlyn screamed, unable to contain her excitement. Mia hurried to the car with a wide smile on her face. She leaned over the center console into the back and ga
ve the little squirt a giant hug.

  “Hi, sweetie!” Mia said with about the same amount of excitement as his daughter.

  Luke regarded the two of them from the rear-view mirror. He saw the joy on his daughter’s face and the love on Mia’s.

  “Ready?” Luke interrupted, gaining Mia’s attention. Before she buckled herself in, she greeted him with a kiss on the cheek causing Kaitlyn to giggle.

  “Mia kissed you, Daddy!”

  “She did, didn’t she?” he said, meeting his daughter’s hazel eyes in the mirror.

  “Yeah, you should be polite and kiss her back!” she said matter-of-factly.

  I am the father of a genius, he thought. What he really wanted to do was kiss Mia’s full lips, but he opted to just kiss her cheek in return, which she still rewarded him with another gorgeous smile.

  “Hi,” she said, her eyes sparkling.

  “Hi, sweets,” he replied, his eyes lingering upon her, trying to memorize her just as she was. Luke knew what needed to be done today. He didn’t like it, but if he was going to keep her in his life, he had to let her go for good.

  He pulled his car onto the road and headed to the park. Once there, Mia took charge of Kaitlyn. She released his daughter from her booster seat and the child about flew into her arms, squeezing Mia tight. Luke smiled as he lifted the hatch of the SUV and got out the picnic basket, a blanket, and his backpack. He closed the hatch, locked the vehicle and joined Mia and his daughter. Kaitlyn kept running ahead, bouncing with her excitement.

  Luke laid the blanket down by a large tree, but near enough to the playground that he and Mia could easily watch Kaitlyn play.

  “Daddy?” she asked impatiently, pointing at the playground full of kids.

  “Go ahead and play. But stay at the play area, okay?”

  She smiled her brilliant little smile. “Okay,” she answered and took off running to the park.

  Mia stood, watching Kaitlyn go down the slide. She turned her head towards him and smiled. Luke motioned for Mia to sit down. She nodded her head and sat down near the trunk of the tree. She crossed her legs, placing her hands in her lap and stayed quiet. He wondered if she felt as uncomfortable as him.