“Yes, yes, yes!” Naomi cried. Ryan had to kiss her again to stop her screams from becoming too loud.
He pressed his body against hers, until Naomi was all that he could feel, all that he could think about. He thrust forward, filling her over and over. He lost track of everything except the two of them, and how good Naomi’s nails felt as they clutched at his arms.
She returned his kiss, swallowing up every noise as Ryan followed her over the edge of orgasm. He poured himself forward into her, pulling back only so that he could whisper her name into her ear. Her hair tickled lightly against his face. Every one of Ryan’s nerve-endings felt alive in a way they hadn’t seen he’d last had Naomi in his arms.
“Fuck,” he panted, slowing his hips but keeping Naomi close. “That was amazing.”
Naomi’s laugh was soft, muffled where her mouth was pressed against Ryan’s shoulder as she breathed hard. “Yeah,” she agreed, before pushing Ryan back a bit. She gave a soft groan as he slipped out of her. Naomi’s hand rested against Ryan’s chest as the other one slid up to touch his face. “I really did miss you,” she said gently.
“But now you’re going to have to help me fix up my dress and hair so I don’t look like a hockey player just banged me in the back room,” Naomi told him with a grin. “Though, I’m sure your teammates will be thrilled.”
Ryan laughed. He’d missed this, too. How Naomi could be funny, and have fun during and after sex. “I missed you, too,” he told her. “James probably had a point about locking us in a room together.”
Glancing over at the unlocked door of the room they were in, Ryan chuckled. “I don’t imagine he’d even be surprised it came to this.” James had almost definitely done worse, Ryan knew that much.
He sorted his own clothes out, then helped Naomi straighten her dress. “Have you got a hairbrush in your purse?” he asked. Frankly, Ryan thought her hair looked amazing. It reminded him of running his fingers through it, pushing it out of the way so he could kiss her ears and neck.
He could see why she might not want anyone else to see her in her current state.
“Sure, but my purse is under the table out there,” Naomi pointed out. “You’ll just have to make do with whatever hairdressing skills you have without a brush.” Ryan was certain it wasn’t going to be as good, but he could probably manage.
Bumping her nose against Ryan’s shoulder Naomi gave him another grin. “Do you think I could have my underwear back?” she asked, reminding him that he’d let it fall to the floor. This had been so sudden that neither of them had really thought about anything but each other and how much they’d wanted this.
Ryan didn’t regret it. He bent to pick up Naomi’s panties, siding his hands up under her skirt to help her back into them. That very nearly distracted him into taking Naomi all over again, until he remembered that Naomi was the founder of Sunshine’s Guide Dog Foundation. Her presence would definitely be missed.
He did his best to smooth Naomi’s hair, until she looked at least moderately presentable. Grinning at her, he leaned forward to press a kiss against her lips. “I guess I’ll go congratulate the Howlers on a plan well executed,” he teased. “But can I take you home after the gala?” Now that they were back together, Ryan wanted to spend as much time with Naomi as possible.
Standing up, Naomi straightened her dress. Ryan tried to straighten as much of the material for her as he could. He suspected that no matter what he did, Naomi wouldn’t be able to mask that post-orgasm glow. It looked so good on her, Ryan could hardly feel bad about it.
The smile Naomi gave him made Ryan’s heart skip a beat. After spending so much time apart, having convinced himself that he and Naomi would never see each other again... It felt amazing to know that she wanted this. All of the worries in Ryan’s head had been unnecessary.
“I’d love it if you took me home after the gala,” Naomi confirmed. “I’d also love it if you danced with me.”
That made a warmth bloom in Ryan’s chest. He hadn’t planned to dance at all, hadn’t thought he would be in the mood. Now, he felt so light on his feet that he almost could have danced Naomi out of there, down the corridor and all the way home.
He reached for her hand, lacing their fingers together as he led them towards the door. “I’d be honored,” he told her simply.
They had barely made it back into the ballroom when a cheer erupted from the Howlers’ table. Ryan felt his cheeks color. He grinned. Luckily, no one else seemed to have put two and two together. Anyone who’d noticed seemed happy to write it off as hockey players being hockey players.
Pulling Naomi close, Ryan settled one hand in the small of her back. His heart swelled when she rested her head against his shoulder.
As good as it felt to be back together, there was still a tiny voice in Ryan’s head saying that this was selfish. Naomi didn’t know the truth. She couldn’t truly make her own decision without all the facts.
Chapter Ten
When Naomi had set her mind to finally having a conversation with Ryan at the dinner, she really hadn’t expected it to go as well as it had. She definitely hadn’t expected them to have sex on a table in one of the rooms at the back. More importantly, Naomi hadn’t let herself hope that it might all go well. That she and Ryan might get back together.
Now that they had, her whole body felt like it was floating. Happiness swept through her in waves. Ryan didn’t leave Naomi’s side for the rest of the evening. By the time the event was finishing, Naomi looked forward to getting home and out of the heels she was wearing.
As promised, Ryan drove them to Naomi’s and then spent about eight minutes by the door petting Dougie. By the time the two finally parted, Naomi had successfully gotten out of her shoes and was leaning against the doorframe, listening to how excited Dougie was.
“He missed you, too,” she told Ryan honestly.
Ryan walked over, setting a hand at Naomi’s waist as she tiptoed to press a kiss against his lips. “I missed you both,” he said softly. “I kept all of Dougie’s stuff that I bought him. I guess I wasn’t ready to completely let you go.”
Knowing he’d been scared, her heart ached a little for him. Naomi knew what Ryan’s dad had been through. He must have worried that it would be the same for him.
“I’m sorry,” he added. “I don’t think I said that earlier.” He chuckled. “We got a little distracted.”
Naomi laughed at that, because yeah, they had definitely gotten distracted. In the best sort of way. The Foundation’s dinner had been excellent but Naomi was pretty sure it was Ryan’s body against her that she’d remember about it for the longest time.
“Don’t do it again,” Naomi said. She was happy to accept Ryan’s apology. She even understood why he had broken up with her. But Naomi wouldn’t stand for it twice. “Talk to me before making a decision that affects both of us, okay? It’s what partners do,” she pointed out, bumping her arm against Ryan’s.
He was quiet for a moment, but his arm stayed wrapped around Naomi’s waist. She figured he was just processing, making his best effort to remember so that when he promised her he would talk to her in future, he would really mean it.
“I will,” he said, bending to press a kiss against Naomi’s neck. His hand moved lower, cupping Naomi’s ass through her dress. He moaned softly. Naomi could feel the effect she was having on him.
“Can we make up again, in a bed this time?” he asked, teasingly.
She laughed at the question, but also tilted her head back so she could kiss him. Unlike at the dinner, Naomi took her time. The kiss was slow. She poured all of her missing into it. Ryan’s hands stroked over her body. He pressed her tighter against the doorframe before Naomi pulled back and gave a soft hum.
“Yeah, let's make up again, but in a bed,” she agreed. “And you can help me out of this dress this time around,” she teased. Taking Ryan’s hand, she led them through to the living room, closing the door behind them so Dougie wouldn’t interrupt. Normally, he wouldn’t
, but Naomi knew he had really missed having Ryan there.
Later, she’d let him in. Once they were fully made up.
Taking a step away, Naomi turned her back to Ryan. “Undo my dress?”
He brushed her hair softly out of the way, pressing a kiss to the bared nape of her neck. His fingers found the zip easily, pulling it down inch by inch to expose Naomi’s back. She shivered, more from the feeling of Ryan’s fingertips on her skin than from the cold.
Once the dress was fully open, Ryan helped Naomi shimmy free of the material. She loved the way his breath caught in his throat at the sight of her in just her bra and panties.
“God, I missed you like this,” he said, tugging Naomi around to face him. Ryan lowered his head, pressing kisses to the curve of Naomi’s breast through the material. “Help me out of my shirt?” he requested.
“Yeah,” she agreed, almost breathlessly. Naomi’s hands came down to undo Ryan’s belt so she could pull the shirt out from where it was tucked in his pants. Her fingers were skillful, sliding under the material to search out the warmth of Ryan’s stomach. His muscles flexed, making Naomi smile.
She, too, had missed this. Just taking her time to explore his body. Naomi tugged his shirt over his head, throwing it to one side before her hands returned to Ryan’s chest. She stepped in closer, her breasts pressing against him.
Tilting her head back, Naomi found Ryan’s mouth so she could draw him into another kiss.
His hand was warm against her back, thumb tracing idle patterns that sent tingles all over Naomi’s body. He sucked gently on her lower lip, then let her sweep her tongue inside his mouth, relearning the taste of him. She felt more than heard him moan.
Taking a step back, Ryan pulled Naomi with him towards the bed. He only stopped once they reached it. Without letting go of her, he kicked off his shoes. He moved his hands, fingers brushing against Naomi’s stomach as he worked the buttons on his suit pants.
He nipped at the skin of her shoulder. Naomi gave a breathy giggle as she realized he was trying to tug her bra strap down with just his teeth. “Too many clothes,” he growled.
It was tempting to let him try more, to see how much of her underwear Ryan could actually get off with just his mouth. On the other hand, Naomi also wanted to be more naked. To have their nude bodies press together and Ryan’s hands slide over her skin.
Reaching behind her, Naomi undid her bra. She slid it off her shoulders slowly before letting her breasts fall free. She gave a soft moan when Ryan’s hands moved up to them straight away, thumb teasing over Naomi’s nipple, sending a thrill of pleasure straight down to her core.
He turned them around, pushing Naomi gently down onto the bed. Her breath caught when he knelt before her, his hands moving slowly up Naomi’s bare legs. He followed the soft touch of his fingers with his mouth. His tongue licked hot lines across Naomi’s thigh, until he made it to her panties. She could feel his breath against her, making her ache to have him inside her once again.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said, fingers sliding under the waistband of Naomi’s underwear. She leaned back to let him pull it off, moaning when he repeated the same process of touching and licking as he made his way between her legs.
“Oh God,” Naomi breathed. Ryan’s mouth felt amazing against her. The heat of pleasure shot through her and she parted her legs more. One of Naomi’s hands came down to Ryan’s head, fingers tangling in his hair. His tongue was hot. Naomi didn’t hold back the moans it brought from her.
Naomi’s back arched as she pushed herself more against Ryan’s mouth. “Yes,” she moaned. “Ryan!” His mouth was working its magic, making pleasure build quickly low in Naomi’s stomach.
He didn’t stop. One strong hand pressed Naomi’s hip down against the mattress, keeping her still under the delicious movement of his tongue. With his other hand, he pressed a finger inside her. Naomi’s groan vibrated through her entire body. His touch sparked off a hunger for him, making Naomi want so much more.
Ryan’s tongue and fingers moved in rhythm, slow but steady. The pleasure coiled tighter and tighter inside Naomi’s body, until she felt as if she couldn’t contain all of it at once. Ryan pressed soft, hot kisses against her, urging her to let go.
So she did.
Her orgasm crashed over her, Ryan’s name on her lips and pleasure vibrating through every muscle of Naomi’s body. Ryan didn’t stop, not until Naomi pushed against him.
“Ryan,” she moaned softly, light scratches against his bare back, until she reached the waistband of his pants. “Ugh, are you still wearing clothes?” Naomi complained. He’d been the one to insist there were too many clothes. Naomi felt it was only right that she complain. Especially since it meant she couldn’t just touch him, to hear the way he groaned in pleasure when her fingers wrapped around him.
“I don’t want to be,” he said, laughing against her thigh. He left Naomi sprawled against the bed, standing up so he could shove his pants and boxers down. When he returned, covering Naomi’s body with his own, she ran her hands over his shoulders, down his arms. He felt every bit as good as he had the last time they’d been together like this.
Ryan didn’t give her much time to appreciate the muscles moving under his skin. Instead, he cradled Naomi’s thighs in his big hands, bringing her legs up so she could wrap them around his waist. He held her balanced on the edge of the bed, the rough scrape of his stubble sending sparks of pleasure across Naomi’s breasts.
She felt how hard he was, pressing into her thigh. She shifted her hips, helping him line himself up against her. Ryan moaned as he pressed forward, filling Naomi in one slow, steady stroke.
The moan Naomi gave was soft. Then, as she wrapped her legs around him and Ryan began to move, the sounds falling from her lips increased. She had missed him so much. Knowing that she had him back now felt amazing. Naomi’s hands traveled over his back, nails scratching it lightly.
It felt good to have him inside her, to have him in her bed. Ryan’s body rocked into hers, meeting Naomi at every thrust. She responded eagerly, seeking out his mouth to draw Ryan into a kiss.
It was slow and sweet, just like the growing ache between Naomi’s legs as Ryan thrust into her. She could feel his body trembling with the effort not to go faster, to keep his pace steady. His tongue teased against hers, exploring every inch of her mouth. It felt like he was reminding himself of the shape of her.
He lifted one hand, thumb circling around Naomi’s nipple as it hardened into a tight nub. Ryan lowered his mouth to it, licking across her sensitive flesh. Naomi’s heels pressed against his ass, feeling the muscles move as he drove his hips forward and back.
“God, I missed you,” he whispered. He sped up, enough to make the bed sway beneath them.
One of Naomi’s hands slid up over Ryan’s arm until she moved it above her, pressing a hand against the wall so she could use it as leverage in pushing back. Naomi tried to meet Ryan’s thrusts as much as she could, moaning louder and louder as she felt her pleasure building steadily.
Knowing that he’d missed her as much as she had missed him made Naomi feel amazing. She pushed back harder. “I missed you, too. Missed this,” Naomi breathed. “Harder, come on,” she demanded, her other hand grasping Ryan’s arm tightly to hold on as he moved inside her.
He laughed. It was a sound that went right to Naomi’s heart. She’d missed that, the breathless chuckle Ryan made whenever he didn’t expect her to make him laugh during sex. She could feel how he thrust his hips harder, his pace increasing as Naomi’s pleasure rose through her in a wave.
He kissed her again, the two of them sharing breath as Naomi felt Ryan’s body tremble on the brink of orgasm. She could tell the moment that he came, his muscles tightening under her hand as he stilled inside her. He moaned her name, still clutching at her hips to keep her close.
Her fingers tightened against Ryan’s back. Naomi pushed herself down as much as she could, meeting every single one of his thrusts. Finally, breathle
ssly, both of their bodies relaxed. Naomi found Ryan’s mouth again, kissing his softly.
When he collapsed next to her, breath coming in shallow gasps, Naomi rolled onto her side so she could cuddle into Ryan. She’d missed this, too, the warmth of his skin against hers after sex. And the way his arm then pulled her in tighter. Naomi had missed the cuddling, missed the closeness.
She moved up a bit in the bed so she could press a kiss against Ryan’s cheek - though she ended up pressing it half against his cheek and half against his lips. One of her hands trailed down his arm. Naomi smiled softly.
It felt good. Right.
Naomi couldn’t imagine ever meeting someone who made her feel the way Ryan did. He’d been clear about his worries, about how if they weren’t soulmates then Naomi might leave. She knew she wouldn’t.
It was the thought of soulmates that drew Naomi’s attention to something odd. As she stroked over Ryan’s, arm the sticker that had normally been there to hide his soulmark was now gone. She brushed over the spot a few more times. She wanted to be completely sure she Naomi brought it up.
“You’re not wearing your soulmark sticker,” she commented. She’d never known Ryan not to. Even when he’d known she couldn’t see it.
He stilled. For a moment, he even seemed to hold his breath. It was enough to give Naomi some warning. Whatever was coming, it wasn’t simply that Ryan had forgotten, or hadn’t bothered since he hadn’t expected anyone to see him without a shirt.
Ryan’s arm tightened around Naomi even more, then he pulled slightly away. “I have a confession to make,” he said. The words came slowly, like Ryan wasn’t quite ready to part with them.
He shifted, getting himself more into a sitting position, one hand brushing softly against Naomi’s arm. “I don’t have a soulmark,” he explained. “I never have. I used to wear a sticker because - well, you must know how people feel about the unmarked.”
Empty Net (Madison Howlers Book 3) Page 15