Chapter 6

(***Aaron***)

I knew it was too soon for either of us, but watching her fight tears and anger softened my resolve to keep my hands to myself tonight. I kissed her to stop the argument between us. At least that is what I intended, but I kissed her because I just couldn’t help myself.

The moment I feel all the tension leave her body, I deepen the kiss. I keep my hand on her face but use my free hand to hold my weight off her. I can feel the heat of her core against my growing erection as the kiss spins into something more.

Rylan wraps her legs around my waist as she fists her hands in the back of my shirt. Her mouth opens, and I slip my tongue inside to taste her. She moans softly as I deepen the kiss. I should stop, but the way she is moaning and grinding against me is clouding my brain.

All I can think about is making her moan more. I love the sound; it is almost like the purr of a cat. It is sexy as heck, and I want more of it.

I move my hand off her cheek and softly caress the bare skin of her arm as I slowly glide my hand down to her side. Her skin is so soft and warm, I just want to lick every inch of it one day. When I reach the hem of her shirt, I slip my hand under it to feel the silky, smooth skin underneath.

Skimming my palm up her side, I stop just as I reach her breast. She is not wearing a bra, and I am eager to get my hands on her full, round, world-class tits. Her breath hitches when I just lay my hand on her ribs under her left breast.

I break the kiss when she tugs at my shirt, like she wants me to remove it. Sex is off the table tonight, but there is so much I can do to her that doesn’t involve penetration. I want to make her scream as I please her.

With a nod, I lift my arms up so she can remove my shirt. She lifts it up over my head, then flings it over the back of the couch. Her warm hands stroke up and down my back as my mouth returns to hers.

I skim my palm back under her shirt to cup her breast. It fills my hand perfectly. I stroke my thumb over her erect nipple, which makes her press up against my palm. I want it in my mouth badly, so I tear my mouth from hers to lift her shirt off.

To my surprise, she lets me. Thank goodness. I am so not done with her tonight.

Once her shirt is off, I toss it over the back of the couch like she did mine, and then I just stare down at her. Her eyes are filled with lust mixed with wariness. Her lips are swollen and slightly parted as she breathes heavily. I watch as her breasts move as she breathes.

The small butterfly tattoo under her left breast makes me smile at her. I graze over it lightly with the pad of my thumb before I cup her amazing tits with both hands. Her eyes flutter closed as I stroke both her nipples softly.

“You are so fucking beautiful,” I tell her as I lean down to flick one of her rosy nipples with my tongue.

“Aaron,” she moans my name as my other hand slips between us to cup her core.

The way she moans my name makes my dick twitch painfully in my sweats. I would love nothing more than to peel her little shorts off and bury my cock deep inside her. Now is just not the time for that. Neither of us are ready for that level of intimacy yet.

Yes, in the past she asked me to fuck her, but after the events of today, I don’t think she is ready for that.

“Aaron, I want..." she pants as I rub my thumb over her clit.

“I know what you want, Ry.” I look up at her for a moment before I bend my head back down and flick my tongue over her nipple before I blow on it.

I continue to slowly rub my thumb in circles over her clit as I feast upon the bounty of her breasts. Suckling one nipple generously before moving to the other. I lick, suck, and gently nibble each rosy bud as I drive her closer to orgasm with my thumb.

Unable to stop myself, I stop rubbing her clit long enough to move the gusset of her shorts to the side and am pleasantly surprised when I find that she isn’t wearing panties. I raise my head from her nipple to look into those beautiful blue eyes of hers.

Her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes are soft, with desire blazing in them.

“No panties, Ry. Fuck, you are driving me crazy.”

She arches her hips up against my hand, then reaches up and pulls my head down so she can kiss me. Passion flares between us, and it is so intense that if I were not already lying down, I might have fallen over. I feel my control slipping as she bites my lower lip.

I slip a finger inside her, then another. She is so fucking wet for me right now. I continue to rub her clit with my thumb as I pump my fingers in and out of her wet pussy. Her eyes flutter closed as I bring her closer to an orgasm.

“Aaron,” she moans my name as I hook my fingers up and rub that elusive g-spot.

“Cum for me, Rylan. Keep your eyes open. I want to see those beautiful eyes when you come undone for me."

She opens her eyes wide as her orgasm rips through her. The look on her face is one I have dreamed of for years. Soft with wonder as I pleasure her. I want more of this with her. Not just the sex part, either. I want it all.

She blinks up at me, and I can see the moment that her eyes clear from the heat of passion. My fingers are still inside her, and she shifts as if to pull away. I flick my thumb over her clit again, and she stills instantly.

“That was, uh..." she starts to say as I move my fingers in and out of her body.

“I am not finished.”

I remove my fingers from her sopping wet pussy, then reach for the waistband of her shorts and yank them down. Her eyes widen, and she tries to close her legs, but I am sitting firmly between them. I run my hand from her breast, down her chest, and down her flat stomach, then take both hands to spread her legs open.

“You are so wet for me, Ry. I want to taste you. This is your choice. If you say no, I will stop and get dressed.”

She looks at me like she wants to say no, but then she shocks me by spreading her legs further and lifting her hips for me. Holy fucking shit. It is going to take every last ounce of willpower I have left not to tear my pants off and fuck her senseless.

I move off the couch so that I can get on my knees, then I move her body so her ass is at the edge of the cushion and she is semi-reclined. I want her to watch me as I feast on her core. I want her to see everything I do to her.

Without hesitation, I take two fingers and spread her folds open for me. The little flower tattoo right above her pubic bone is so hot. I look up at her, then lean down and flick my tongue over her clit.

Her body jerks like I electrocuted her. I smile as her mouth opens, but no sound comes out. I hook my arms under her knees and fasten my mouth to her core. She tastes absolutely divine, just like I thought she would.

I have dreamed about doing this for years, and now that I finally have my mouth on her, I don’t ever want to stop. I want to make her come so many times that her body is limp and her legs are jelly. I want her to moan my name as I make her come over and over with my mouth and fingers.

Soon she is writhing on the couch with her hands fist in my hair to hold me just where she wants me. I slip two fingers inside her, then lick, suck, and nibble on her clit as I feast on her pussy like a man on death row, and she is my last meal.

Her moans of pleasure echo around the room as she rides my face. I am close to losing my sanity as I drive her closer to another orgasm. I want to be buried to the hilt in her sweet pussy so fucking badly.

Three orgasms later, I sit back on my heels and just stare up at her. Her eyes are closed as her chest rises rapidly. I stand up, then lean down and pick her up in bridal fashion so I can carry her to the bathroom attached to her bedroom.

I sit her down gently on the bathroom counter, then grab a washcloth off the rack near the sink. After getting it wet with warm water, I move to clean her up, but she grabs my hand to stop me. I nod my head, hand her the cloth, then walk out of the bathroom.

The sound of the shower running causes me to look over my shoulder. Deciding that she probably needs a few minutes alone, I head back to the living room to retrieve my shirt and her clothes. I sit on the end of her bed when I return to her room.

I have no idea what is going to happen next, and all I can do is hope she isn’t angry with me.

Twenty minutes later, she comes out of the bathroom wrapped in a fuzzy green towel, like earlier today. I am a tad disappointed that her body is hidden from view. Her raven hair is pulled up into a messy bun on the top of her head, and her skin is pink from the heat of the shower.

“I didn’t think you would still be here.”

“Did you really expect me to leave?” I ask, feeling slightly hurt by her tone.

“Yes. Staying after sex doesn’t seem like your style.”

Ouch. She isn’t wrong with that statement. This is different, though.

“This is different.”

I watch as she disappears into her closet. She is too quiet for my liking, and it makes me think that we went too far too soon. I got carried away, and she was encouraging me.

Rylan comes back out of her closet wearing a pair of black sweats and a long t-shirt. She looks at me, then at the duffle bag I brought with me, which is still at the end of her bed. She points at it, then at the open doorway of her closet.

“Since it seems like you will be staying the night, whether I agree with it or not, you might as well put that bag in the closet. I’m going to order a pizza.” With that said, she leaves the room.

I do as she says, then follow her into the kitchen, where she is on her phone, ordering dinner. I take a seat on one of the stools on the far side of the kitchen island. I glance around the kitchen as I wait, something I already did earlier, and I have to admit to myself that I feel a little out of place in her bright white and pale gray kitchen.

Her entire home is cozy, even though she hasn’t actually lived here for very long. I like it because it fits who she is very well. The gun taped under the counter and all.

This is her home, and I have never felt more out of place than I do right now. Maybe if she allows me to spend more time here, it will feel differently. I want to be right here with her all the time, and I know that I need to earn the right to do so.

What happened between us tonight won’t change that. I need to earn her through words and actions. Dates, romance, even flowers. Rylan may act tough, but I know she wants all that, just like I want to give it to her.

Pushing her away was wrong. How can I be worthy of her if she isn’t in my life to guide me and help shape me into the man I want to be? After what happened between us today, it could complicate that plan.

Once she has placed the order, she puts her phone down and crosses her arms over her chest as she faces me. I watch as she bites her lower lip as she gathers her thoughts. I don’t want things to be weird between us now, but I have a feeling that they will be.

Nothing will ever be the way it was before France. I shouldn’t have walked away that night. I should have held her close and told her what I wanted from her—no, what I needed from her. Instead, I walked away like a coward and left the country months later.

I don’t blame her for how she reacted to that. All I can do now is pray that she will give me a chance to redeem myself. She deserves that from me, and she has since I walked away from her in that damn bar all those years ago.

There is uncertainty written all over her face when she finally looks at me, and I don’t know how to handle that. I am out of my depth here. What I want with her is new territory for me. Commitment has always been a dirty word that I have avoided like the plague since I was fresh out of boot camp.

For the first time in my life, I want that commitment. I want what Quinn and Annie have, and I want it with the woman now staring at me with so much uncertainty in her eyes. I feel like this will be an uphill battle of wills.

“Ry..” I start to say, but she holds her hand up to silence me.

“What happened tonight between us can never happen again."