“Sure,” I say, then begin to follow her out of the room.
“What are you doing?”
“Thought you might need a hand,” I say with a smirk.
“No, I’m all good.” She turns around and pushes my chest to send me back into the living room, but she’s so small I don’t move at all. “I won’t be long. Go and watch the TV again.”
I kiss her forehead before she turns around. I slap her arse as she begins to walk away. I watch her shaking her head as she descends the stairs.
It feels like the longest thirty minutes of my life before she comes back up. Knowing she’s down there in a nice hot bubbly bath, naked, is pure hell.
When she appears, she is in her standard lounge trousers, tank top and zip up hoodie. Molly looks hot all the time but I think I prefer her like she is now: relaxed, comfortable with her hair un-styled in a mess on top of her head. and no make-up on. She’s just Molly like this. My Molly.
She quickly whips up a chicken salad for us to eat before bringing it to me so I can eat it on my lap. She sits on the floor in front of me with her plate on the coffee table.
“Was your class good? You don’t look to be in as much pain tonight.”
“Yeah, it was good. It actually felt easy after doing the more advanced class on Friday. We are thinking about stopping the Monday night one and just doing the harder one from now on.”
“Oh, so you’re not going to be needing a massage tonight, then? I was looking forward to that.”
“I bet you were, you dirty dog!” I just shrug at her and continue eating.
After we’ve cleared our plates we stay where we are, chatting about our day and what we have planned this week. Molly has just explained that she is meeting Emma for the first time since her birthday on Thursday. I can’t believe it has taken Emma this long after my chat with her to get in touch with Molly. She really did need some thinking time; I just hope she has come to the right conclusions and is not going to cause us any more stress. Molly tells me about having dinner with Adam tomorrow after work. I can’t lie, I feel a little sick knowing she’ll be spending the evening with him. After what has gone on between us the last couple of days I sort of hoped he’d get the boot. Clearly not!
I notice Molly start to roll her shoulders while we are chatting. “You seizing up?” I ask, ever hopeful.
“Yeah, a little. It’ll be okay though.”
Ha, she must be crazy if she thinks I’m gonna pass on a chance to touch her. “Scoot over and come sit in between my legs.”
I throw a cushion down for her to sit on and tap the edge of the sofa to encourage her over. It doesn’t take much, though, because she is soon taking off her hoodie and moving towards me. My hands instantly go to her shoulders to try to relieve her discomfort.
“Ahhhhh, that’s good,” she moans, turning me on more than I wish to admit.
I continue working her shoulders and the top of her back. It’s not long before I start to push my luck though, and start pushing the straps of her top to the edge of her shoulders. Molly doesn’t seem phased so I continue until they fall off and down onto her arms. I move down the tops of her arms and then back up again. I keep repeating this, but each time pushing her top a little further down when I reach it. I can’t see the front of her, but it can’t be covering too much right now.
Eventually the pull of her body and her vanilla scent is too much, and I can’t stop myself leaning forward and placing a soft kiss just beneath her ear, causing her to shudder lightly. She tilts her head to the side and I take that as her permission to continue. I trail kisses down the side or her neck before following her hairline across the back of her neck and working my way up the other side when she moves her head. Needing more, I sneak my tongue out and start caressing her skin with each kiss. She tastes incredible. My dick is being contained painfully against my jeans. It’s throbbing and begging for some attention.
I need to focus: this is about Molly, not me. I need to take this slowly. If she is open to the idea of us then I don’t want to rush her and scare her off.
My hands that have been resting on the tops of her arms while I have been kissing her slowly start moving, gently brushing over her skin while my lips continue exploring her neck and ears. I slide them up her arms, down her back and up again to her shoulders. When I bring my fingers to the top her chest, I hear Molly moan quietly, giving me the confidence to continue. I move them lower towards her breasts. I can feel how heavily she is breathing by the rise and fall of her chest under my fingertips. I begin to feel the swell of her breasts, and pull my fingers back up in the direction of her shoulders. As much as I want to continue, I know I can’t. I move them back down her arms and follow their movement over her shoulders with my lips.
I feel her head move and when I open my eyes I see that she has leant it right back and is looking at me upside down. The passion in her eyes makes my already ragged breath catch in my throat.
I move so I am looking right down at her. I move my eyes from hers down to her mouth, then continue over her neck and down her chest, eventually seeing that I was right - her top is just barely covering her nipples that are pebbled under the thin material. I can see her chest moving dramatically as her heart races beneath. I drag my gaze back up to her to see she is still staring at me.
I lower my head and rub my nose against hers, making her lips twitch up at the sides. I need my lips on hers now. I move myself forward and press my mouth to hers. Fireworks instantly fly around my body at the contact. Neither of us moves for a few seconds but then I feel her tongue run across my lips. I instantly open my lips and touch my tongue against hers. Our kiss only lasts a short couple of seconds before she moves to the side.
Disappointment floods my body as I feel her stand up, but to my utter surprise she turns around and straddles my lap. She’s looking into my eyes like they hold all the secrets in the world, and places her hands on my cheeks before bringing her mouth back to mine. It takes me a couple of seconds to get into it because I’m so surprised, but when I do, I put my hands on her lower back and pull her flush against me while I tangle my tongue with hers, exploring her mouth.
It’s a slow but passionate kiss, and at the time it feels like it goes on forever. But when she eventually pulls back, I realise it wasn’t long enough at all. I could live the rest of my life just kissing her and be happy. I drag my eyelids open and look into her brown eyes. They are sparkling with happiness, excitement and pure lust. She has a small seductive smile on her lips that makes me want to have them on me again.
“Goodnight, Ryan,” she whispers, before kissing me quickly on the lips one last time, grabbing on to her top to stop it falling any further down, and walking out of the room. She stops at the doorway, turns, and gives me a heart-stopping smile before disappearing downstairs.
I just sit there staring at where she left. Very slowly, my heart rate returns to normal. Fuck, I can’t believe what just happened. Is this it? Is this her giving us a shot? Shit, is she actually going to be mine after all this time? Please God, let it be happening.
Chapter Twenty-One
Molly
I’ve been in bed for forty minutes and still can’t wipe the smile off my face. That was…well…just wow. I don’t even know how to describe it other than ‘completely-out of-this-world-amazing’. I can still feel the electric shocks going off around my body and his tongue moving against mine.
When Ryan’s lips are on mine, I feel things I never have before. I feel beautiful, sexy, wanted, needed, safe, loved.
Loved.
Holy shit, I’m in love with Ryan. It hits me like an articulated lorry in that moment. Fuuuuck, how did I not realise this before?
My heart starts pounding in my chest as the realisation settles in. I’m in love with Ryan Evans. Not just a little in love – full-blown, earth-shatteringly in love with him.
Needless to say, I don’t get much sleep. I spend most of the time tossing and turning, wondering what to do about my situatio
n. Do I just dump Adam? Do I just announce to Ryan how I feel? Will he feel the same? What will everyone think? Will his parents accept me? There is too much running round my head for me to drift off to sleep. I think my brain eventually shuts down with exhaustion about three am, giving me three hours of sleep, where all I did was dream about Ryan and how far this evening could have gone if I didn’t stop it.
“Morning, gorgeous,” Ryan says with a huge smile on his face as he walks over to where I am in the kitchen and wraps his arms around me, pulling me in to a bone-crushing hug.
“Morning,” I say, but his chest, that I’m pressed against, muffles it.
“I’ve got to go - I’ve got a meeting before school.” He presses a quick kiss on my lips before going to leave the room. “I’ll see you later.”
Oh shit, I’d forgotten about my date with Adam. Fuck it, I can’t just cancel last minute. He’s been really good to me; he deserves better than that. “I…uh… I’m out tonight, remember?” I watch his face drop as he remembers where I’m going, or, more so, who with.
“Oh, you’re still going?” he asks, shaking his head. “Sorry, I just thought…” He runs his hands through his hair and turns away from me. “Have a good time.” And with that said he leaves the room and, soon after, the house.
“Fuck.” I didn’t mean to hurt him but I need to deal with Adam the right way. He’s been a good friend to me. I think I knew from the beginning nothing was really going to happen with us romantically. He just didn’t do it for me, but he’s a really good guy.
“Molly, are you okay? You’ve been really distracted all night,” Adam asks me, looking concerned.
“Um, yeah. I’ve just got a headache. It’s been a long day.” That’s not a lie. I’ve spent all day worrying about Ryan. I’ve texted him a couple of times but have only had short replies. He’s really not happy with me. I need to talk to him.
I give Adam my apologies and make my way home not long after that conversation. He says goodbye, but still has a concerned look on his face.
The house is in darkness when I get home, so I presume Ryan has already gone to bed – that, or he doesn’t want to talk to me and is hiding in his room. I get myself a glass of water and a couple of painkillers before getting myself ready for bed.
I’m laid in bed facing away from the door, feeling sorry for Adam and trying to figure out the best way to deal with this whole situation, when I hear my bedroom door open. I’m not surprised. I’ve noticed Ryan always comes down to check on me after I’ve been out with Adam. I guess he just wants to make sure I’m home safe or something.
I keep my eyes shut and keep still, knowing that he will leave in a minute. But he doesn’t, and after a few seconds I feel my bed dip as he sits behind me. I feel him gently sweep a piece of my hair out of my face and tuck it behind my ear. I have to really focus on my breathing not to let my heart rate pick up, giving away that I’m awake.
He sits there a while longer, obviously watching me. I’m dying to open my eyes but I have a pretty good idea of what will happen if I do, and I’m not in the right place to be doing anything right now. My head’s all over the place.
The bed dips again and I feel Ryan’s lips touch my shoulder with a gentle kiss.
“Goodnight sweet Molly. I love you,” he whispers before getting up, walking away and up the stairs.
My eyes are as wide as they can go as soon as I know he can’t see me. What the fuck did he just say? He loves me? Ryan is in love with me, just like I am with him. Shit. I’m not sure if this makes everything simpler or more complicated.
“Hi angel, how are you?” Susan asks as I sit myself on a bar stool in Cocoa’s.
It’s Thursday night and I’m meant to be meeting Emma in ten minutes. I’m feeling really apprehensive about what she is going to say to me. The last time I saw her was at the Morrisons’ after my birthday. She has avoided me ever since.
I didn’t see Ryan last night because I did a late shift here for Susan. He was already in bed when I got in. I didn’t need to go and check because I could hear him snoring from the living room.
“I’m good. You?”
“Yes, can’t complain. Looking forward to Christmas and having Lilly and Dec back. I miss them so bad when they are gone. Emma is still out of the house all the time and we still have no idea where she is or what she’s doing.”
“I’m meant to be meeting her here in a few minutes.”
I watch Susan’s eyebrows rise. She knows what has happened between us in the last few months, and she looks as worried as I feel.
“Oh, well I hope it goes okay. I know you miss her.” Just as she says that, I see Emma walking around the front of the shop and entering. “I’ll get your coffees and bring them over.” Susan says as she spots her daughter.
“Thank you.” I head off towards our usual booth.
“Hi angel, good day?” I hear Susan ask Emma.
“Yeah, not bad.” Emma leans over and gives her mum a kiss on the cheek before heading towards me.
She sits down opposite me and we just stare at each other for a few seconds as if we are both trying to form what we want to say.
“Emma I…” I say, trying to break the silence, but I still have no idea where to start. I am more than grateful when she interrupts me.
“Molly, no. Please let me speak, I need to get this out.” She lets out a big breath before looking down at her hands resting on the table, composing herself before she looks back up at me. “Molly, I’m really sorry. I’ve been completely out of order. I know it’s not an excuse but this year has been so hard for me. I feel like I’ve lost the other half of me and my head has been a total mess. I mean, it still is, but I’ve been working through things and trying to get everything sorted in my head. I know that I jumped off the deep end with my reaction to thinking there was something going on between you and Ryan, but I just felt like you’d forgotten about Hannah. At one point I thought maybe you guys felt like she was in the way when she was here, and you’ve always wanted each other.”
I go to say something but she stops me by continuing.
“I know that’s not true. I know some of my feelings have been completely irrational. I know that you both loved her and have spent this year dealing with losing her in your own ways, the same as me. You both seemed to have dealt with it so well. I’ve been so jealous that while you two got on with your lives, I’ve completely fallen apart.
“Now, I don’t know what has been going on between you and Ryan recently, but I do know that I was jumping to conclusions before that. Ryan came to see me the day his grandad died and explained everything to me. I didn’t want to hear it, but he made me, and although it’s still taken me a while to get my head together I do stick by what I said to him that day. I told him that I love you both and want you to be happy, and if you decide something is going to happen between you, then I will always support you, but it may take me some time to get used to the idea.”
Wow, I so did not see that coming.
“Molly, I miss you so much, and I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to get everything together, but if you’ll have me, I want to try to go back to how we used to be. Friends?”
I scoot out from my side of the booth to join Emma on her side. When I get there, I throw my arms around her shoulders, pulling her in for a hug.
“I’m sorry too, Emma. I said some awful things that I didn’t mean. I know I should have come to talk to you about the situation with Ryan, but you’ve been so damn hard to get hold of.”
I feel her nod against my shoulder. I pull back and look at her, seeing tears are shining in her eyes, just like they are in mine.
“So, leaving out any details I’m not going to be able to cope with, what’s happened between you two since I spoke to him?”
“I’m in love with him, Emma,” I blurt out. I wasn’t intending on telling her that, but I couldn’t keep it in. “Shit, I wasn’t going to say that, it just fell out. I only figured this out the other night and it�
�s confusing the fuck out of me.”
“Have you told him?”
“No, not yet.”
“I think you should,” she says with a knowing smile.
“Why are you looking at me like that? What else did he tell you?”
“It’s not for me to say, Molly.”
“He told you he loved me too, didn’t he?”
“He’s told you?”
“Uh, well, sort of. He came down to check on me after my last date with Adam. He thought I was asleep when he told me. Obviously, I wasn’t!”
“Oh well, seeing as you already know, I won’t feel so bad telling you that when he came to see me in the summer he blurted it out to me a little like you just did. So, are you saying still nothing has happened between you?”
I go on to explain everything she has missed out on. I tell her about Adam, Holly, Jax and Abbi. About Ryan avoiding me for what felt like forever, and then about this last week, leaving out any details she won’t want to hear. She listens as I explain everything to her about my reasons for holding off with him for so long. I just put it all out there.
“Molly, I never in a million years thought I would ever say this, but I think you should go for it. From what you have said, I don’t think you need to worry about losing your best friend; I think you need to be excited about gaining an awesome boyfriend. Because from what you have said, he sounds pretty perfect for you and head over heels in love with you. Put the poor boy out of his misery, Molls.”
We end up sitting there chatting for so long that Susan brings us some food over. It’s almost nine before we say our goodbyes and both head home.
Ryan’s car isn’t outside the house when I arrive home, telling me he’s not in. I’m really disappointed. After having my talk with Emma, I was ready to sit down with him and sort this out once and for all.
I put my stuff in my room before heading upstairs to get a drink and slob in front of the telly for a bit. As soon as I enter the kitchen area, I see a piece of paper on the worktop.
Angel Series Books #1-2.5 Page 25