“Ryan,” I whispered under my breath. “What in the hell is he doing here?”
He looked comfortable with the woman he was with, which told me that he had moved on. I guess waiting patiently meant two months. I choked back a sob as my heart shattered into a million little pieces.
“You have a job to do, Kate Jones. Get your shit together,” I scolded myself.
Taking pictures of Ryan with another woman was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do in my life. They both looked so happy as they entered the venue. They were strikingly handsome together, and their resemblance added to their appeal as a couple. I wanted to run out the door, but I knew I had to stay put. I had to keep it together for the sake of my client. He was paying me handsomely, so I could not screw this up. Ryan and his date made their way to the bar. I shifted my focus to the other guests so I wouldn’t miss out on their pictures. My mind was whirling as I tried to keep my composure. I didn’t know how I could get through the night knowing Ryan was there with another woman.
Jillian came in about an hour later. All the guests had arrived and were inside, and it was almost time for dinner.
“This is amazing, Kate! I can’t believe all the people here!”
“It’s great,” I said flatly.
“Hey, what’s wrong with you? We’ve been waiting for this event for months. It’s finally here! We’re here!”
Tears welled up in my eyes.
“Kate—oh, my God, what’s wrong? Is everything okay?
“Yes, everything’s okay. It’s just… It’s just…Ryan’s here.”
“What? Holy shit, Kate! That’s amazing! Did he see you?”
“He’s here with another woman, Jillian. And no, he didn’t see me.”
“What the fuck? Are you kidding me? Where is he? I’ll give him a piece of my mind, Mr. ‘I’ll Wait for You Forever.’ What an asshole.”
“It’s okay, Jillian. Calm down. I’m here to do a job. Whatever was between Ryan and me is no longer. I let him go, remember? He’s free to be with whoever he wants.”
“I’m so sorry, Kate. Do you want to take a minute? I can cover. It’s only dinner. No one wants their picture taken while they’re eating.”
“Yes, I’ll run to the restroom. I won’t be long. Thanks, Jillian. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” I tried smiling, but knew my smile didn’t reach my eyes.
I made my way to the restroom. Of all nights, he would have to be there, in this one. Just seeing him made my heart ache. The knot in my throat made me feel as if I couldn’t breathe.
“Come on, Kate. You’ve got to get yourself together. This is a big night.”
Just then, the door opened, and Ryan’s date walked in. Of course! She smiled politely at me and said hello.
“Hi,” I responded in a flat tone.
“Do you work here?” she asked.
“Actually, I’m the photographer tonight.”
“Oh, that’s great! Sam’s told me wonderful things about you! Would you happen to know where he is?”
“Last time I saw him, he was mingling by the bar at the west end of the venue.”
“Thank you. I’m Melinda.” She held out her hand to shake mine.
“Kate,” I replied as I took her hand.
I saw her eyebrows raise just a little bit but didn’t think anything of it. Ryan wouldn’t have said anything about me, would he?
“Well, it’s very nice to meet you, Kate. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
With that, she turned and entered a stall. I left the restroom as quickly as possible. I didn’t want to be around the woman Ryan was with any longer than I had to.
I made my way back into the venue. They were still in the middle of dinner, so things were pretty quiet. I captured a few people in animated conversations, but other than that, it was quiet in the photo department. Things would pick up once the DJ came on and people started dancing. Sam saw me and came over.
“Kate!” He smiled. “How are things going?”
“Things are going really well, Sam. This is a wonderful event.”
“Yes, it’s quite spectacular, if I do say so myself.” He laughed.
“Oh, there was a woman named Melinda looking for you. I met her in the restroom.”
“Ah, Melinda. She’s stunning, isn’t she? She’s an old friend from college. She dated my roommate for a while.”
“She is stunning.”
“I’ll have to find her. We’ve got some catching up to do. Enjoy yourself, Kate. I can’t wait to see the photos of this night. I know they’ll be wonderful.”
Sam sauntered off, mingling with his guests as he went. He had an ease about him. People adored him and basked in his presence. Sam had a way of making you feel like the most special person in the room. I could see why he knew so many people and did so well for himself.
“Hey, beautiful.”
Fuck. He was behind me. I froze.
“Kate?”
I turned slowly and pasted a smile on my face.
“Ryan. It’s so nice to see you,” I lied. It was painful to see him.
He took a step toward me and I winced. He looked at me quizzically.
“I’m sorry, Ryan. I’m working,” I said and walked away.
I knew it was horrible, but I couldn’t stay near him knowing he was there with another woman. It broke my heart. I really had no business being upset. I’d left him twice and told him there was no chance for us. Why wouldn’t he move on?
I didn’t know how I made my way through the rest of the evening. My mind was preoccupied with Ryan. I could feel my eyes looking for him throughout the room. I caught a glimmer of him here and there, and every time I did, he was staring at me. I pretended I didn’t see him, that I was lost in my work, when in all actuality, I was lost in the memories of us.
The evening wrapped up at eleven thirty. The last of the guests were at the bar, trying to get one more drink before they left. Those were the pictures I knew not to take. The end of the night, when people weren’t as put together as when they began. It ended up being a good night. I knew the pictures captured would blow Sam away.
Jillian and I were packing up all of our equipment when I felt him behind me. Ryan had a presence about him. I could always sense him.
“Kate. Is there somewhere we can talk?”
“I’ll take some of this to my car, Kate,” said Jillian as she left me standing there alone with Ryan.
“What’s there to talk about, Ryan?”
“You. Me. Us.”
“Ryan, there is no us. You’re here with someone else. You’ve obviously moved on.”
“Ryan, are you ready?” It was Melinda. Great. Just what I needed.
“Can you give me a minute, Mel?” he asked.
Nice. He even had a pet name for her.
“Sure. I’ll say goodbye to Sam and meet you up front in five. Kate, it was nice to meet you.” She smiled at me.
“It was nice to meet you too, Melinda,” I said, lying again.
“Kate. Listen to me. It’s not what you think.”
“Really, Ryan? Please don’t do this now. I’m working. It was hard enough working tonight knowing you were here. I can’t lose it here in front of Sam. Why are you here anyway? Never mind, I don’t want to know. I just need to pack up and get out of here.”
“Kate. Please,” he pleaded.
“Ryan, I’m broken. I can’t do this right now. We said goodbye in October. Please don’t make me do it again. I’m finally picking up the pieces of that goodbye and putting my life back together.”
“Okay, beautiful. It was really good to see you.”
“You too,” I lied.
I watched Ryan turn and walk away. I watched him walk toward the gorgeousness that was ‘Mel.’
“Kate, thank you for tonight. You and Jillian were marvelous. You really were.”
“Thanks Sam. I’ll work on these over the next few days and get them up on the site. Everyone received a link to the pictures with
their invitations. It will be up and running in a few days.”
“Wonderful, Kate. I’m looking forward to seeing how Captured captured this night.”
“I think you’ll be pleased.” I laughed.
“I have no doubt.”
He kissed me on the cheek and left. I was all alone in the venue and wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole so I could get out of there quicker. I focused on packing up and getting home as quickly as possible, so I could finally let my emotions go. On the surface, I looked fine, but there were cracks forming underneath the facade. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to keep them together much longer.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
I was home by twelve-thirty but knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep. I could never go right to sleep after a late-night event because I was too wound up. After tonight’s event and seeing Ryan, I knew sleep would elude me. I poured myself a glass of wine and headed out back to the welcome sanctuary of my backyard. Sitting on my back deck, looking at the stars in complete silence, was balm to my soul. I thought I heard a faint knocking in the distance. It must be my next-door neighbors, I thought. They were always having parties with people coming and going at all hours.
The knocking grew louder. The back door was open to my kitchen. I got up and put my ear just inside the door. There it was again. What the hell? Someone was knocking on my door. Who would be there at this hour? Maybe Jillian forgot something and decided to stop by on her way home. I walked hesitantly toward the door, looked through the peephole, and couldn’t believe my eyes.
“Ryan.”
Why was he there? How did he know where I lived?
“I know you’re there, Kate. Open the door.”
I froze.
“Kate, c’mon. Open the door. I need to talk to you.”
“Ryan, please go away. There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Kate. Please. Open. The. Door.”
I could tell I was trying his patience so unlocked the door and opened it slowly. The minute the door cracked, Ryan’s foot was through it. He grabbed me to him and crushed his lips on mine. My mouth betrayed me as I kissed him back feverishly. When I finally got my wits about me, I tore myself from him.
“Ryan. Stop. Please.”
“Kate, what the hell is going on with you?”
“What do you mean, what’s going on with me? You show up in Tampa, at the event of the year, with a gorgeous brunette on your arm and you have the nerve to ask what’s going on with me? Really?”
“Jesus, Kate. That’s my fucking little sister,” he said, exasperated.
Mind blown didn’t begin to describe what I felt. What did he just say? His little sister? He had to be lying.
“What do you mean, your little sister? I don’t believe you.”
“Kate, Melinda is my little sister. She’s four years younger than me. She lives in New York. Emily actually lives with her while she’s attending NYU.”
“Are you serious? All night, I thought you had moved on. I thought you had found someone else and forgotten about me. I thought you lied when you said you would wait for me forever.”
“I didn’t lie, beautiful. I’m still waiting.”
I lunged at him. I threw my arms around his neck, wrapped my legs around his waist, and kissed him hard. Ryan kissed me back feverishly. He kicked the front door closed and walked with me around him to my living room.
“Upstairs.” I was already panting with rising desire.
Ryan carried me upstairs to my bedroom while I clung to him. How I’d missed his touch. How I’d missed this man.
He set me down next to the bed and pulled my head back by my hair, ever so slightly.
“Kate, I meant it when I said I would wait for you forever. I’m not going anywhere. I know you need time. My hope is that one day, you’ll decided you want a life with me.”
Tears streamed down my face as I looked into his gorgeous blue eyes, so filled with emotion.
“Don’t say anything right now, beautiful. I can see your mind spinning. Let’s just be in this moment. Okay?”
With that, he took my mouth in his again. We kissed gently at first, exploring each other’s mouths, our tongues dancing together. As always, our kissed deepened as our passion built. Ryan didn’t take his time unbuttoning my blouse, he simply ripped it off me. Buttons went flying everywhere. He unclasped my bra and let it fall to the floor. He turned me around so my back was facing him, kissing my neck while unzipping the back of my skirt. It fell and pooled at my feet.
Ryans’ hands came around me and found my breasts. I arched into his hands. He massaged them both and pinched each nipple. I was so wet for him, so ready. His hand slid down to my apex, and a low growl escaped me. He slid my panties down my thighs. I was completely naked, my back to his chest, totally undone by this man. Panting. Wanting. His mouth moved down my neck to the back of my shoulders.
He turned me around slowly and took one breast in his mouth. I was in heaven. He licked and sucked my breast, devouring me. It took everything in me not to explode right then and there. He then moved down to my stomach, planting small kisses all over it as he made his way to my hairline. Ryan knelt before me and inserted two fingers into my pussy. I groaned. His mouth was on my clit, sucking, slowly torturing me. It felt so good to have him there, so good to feel him on me, touching me, tasting me, devouring me. Rockets of desire began to explode within me.
“That’s it, beautiful. Let it go.”
I came hard. My body convulsed, and I quivered in his arms. Ryan didn’t let up. His fingers continued their amazing assault inside my pussy. He finally slid them out, put them in his mouth, and sucked them clean. He stood and claimed my mouth in his, the taste of me woven into our kiss.
I unbuttoned Ryan’s shirt and let it fall to the floor. I wanted him in me. I wanted him on me and to feel his skin on my skin. I made my way to his trousers, slid his belt off his pants, unbuttoned the top button, and let my hand find his hard cock. God, how I had missed him. I’d missed this, missed us. I unzipped his pants and slid them down his thighs. I wanted full access to his gorgeousness. When I had him naked, Ryan laid me gently back on my bed. He crawled on top of me, spreading my legs so he could settle between them. I opened willingly for him. He stared at me with incredible intensity as he entered me.
“Don’t stop looking at me, beautiful.”
The intimacy in that moment was more than I could take. I could see the love in his eyes as he thrust in and out of me.
“I love you, Kate Jones. I would never lie to you. I told you I would wait for you forever. That wasn’t a lie. I want you in my life. I want you with me always.”
He leaned down and kissed me tenderly. We made love slowly, both of us clinging to one another. Clinging to this love that was so intoxicating. Our passion burned, our bodies sizzled, and we both succumbed to the orgasms inside us. Ryan collapsed on top of me as I hugged him tightly to me. I didn’t want to let him go.
“I knew I would see you tonight,” he whispered in my ear.
“You did? How could you possibly know?”
“Melinda and Sam go way back. She dated his college roommate years ago, so they became fast friends. They stayed friends even though Melinda and Jake didn’t make it. Melinda’s current boyfriend is on a shoot in Milan, so she begged me to come with her. I was reluctant until I heard about the “fabulous photographer” Sam hired for the event. It’s the only reason I showed up. I wanted to see you.”
“I’m glad you did, even though my heart shattered when I saw you walk in with her. I could barely keep it together.”
“I’m sorry about that, beautiful. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Melinda actually knows all about you. She’s my go-to when it comes to life. She was in her teens when Laura died. They were close. And Mel loves Emily. She’d come home from school just to take care of her. It was very sweet. They have a close bond.”
“That’s why her eyebrow raised when I told her my name in the bathroom.”
“Yes. That’s exactly why. She didn’t want to say anything. She saw you were struggling and didn’t want to interfere. When she told me, I tried to find you, but you were so busy working.”
“I was busy trying not to lose it, you mean.”
“I’m sorry, Kate. I should have told you.”
“It’s okay, Ryan. I kinda deserve it. When I left in October, I swore I would let you go so you could move on. So when I saw you with Mel, even though it hurt, I was happy for you.”
“There’s no one else for me but you, beautiful. You’re inside my soul.”
I crawled on top of Ryan, leaned over, and kissed him. He grabbed both sides of my ass as our mouths melded together. Ryan’s mouth slid from mine and made its way down to my breasts. He took one in his mouth and bit down slightly on my nipple. Both nipples stood at attention as he took turns claiming each of them. It was pure ecstasy. Ryan had a way of making me feel like a goddess, especially when I was straddling him. He lifted me up and lowered me down on his cock. I whimpered and felt myself clench around his hardness. I began to move my hips rhythmically, enjoying the sensation of him inside me. Ryan sat up as I continued to straddle him, our bodies melded together as one.
This position of both of us upright had me coming quickly. Ryan’s arms held my ass as I continued to move rhythmically up and down his hard shaft, both of us building, throbbing, until sweet release. We came together, clinging to one another. My arms encircled him, and we sat there for a long time, not saying a word. He lay back down, still not saying a word yet never releasing me from his arms. I lay on top of him and felt my eyes closing. I was so tired from today yet so content.
I woke the next morning still wrapped in Ryan’s arms. It felt good to wake up with him. I rolled over onto my side so I could look at him.
“Good morning, beautiful.”
“Hi,” I said shyly.
“I love waking up with you,” he said and kissed me on my forehead.
“I could say the same about you.” I giggled.
“What are your plans today, Kate?”
“Honestly, absolutely nothing. After last night’s event, I was planning on staying in my pj’s all day and just relaxing.”
Wanted (The Dare to Dream Series Book 1) Page 15