Page 39 of Embracing Trust

“So, do you still go around beating innocent people at poker, pretending like you’ve never played before,” Ryan asks as he brings a forkful of rice to his mouth.

I let out a hearty chuckle. “It’s been years since I’ve played.”

“Not since you snookered Brad and Mark out of their rent money, huh.” He grins.

I roll my eyes. “Seriously? Their rent money? Geez, they still lived at home. Probably more like their lunch money.”

He gives me his megawatt smile and raises his eyebrow.

He still knows how to melt me into a puddle with that eyebrow thing.

I take a bite of my taco, chew, and swallow. “It’s not very often someone gets the better of Mark.”

Ryan’s face goes serious. “It actually got me pretty worked up.”

I almost choke on my drink. “What?”

“You were so sexy. In your element.” Ryan takes another drink. “And remember how you were sitting on my lap?”

I do remember sitting on Ryan’s lap at that party. Our relationship was still somewhat new. I was already falling.

I run my finger around the edge of my margarita glass, gathering the salt on my finger. Ryan watches my every move. Good. I suck the salt off and remove my finger with a pop. Ryan lets out a groan.

Good.

***

On the ride to my house, I watch him as he’s driving. His eyes are facing forward, but I appreciate his strong jawline. His eyes are soft. I can’t remember the last time I felt this way. I want to kiss him, and I want him to touch me.

“It’s still early. You wanna come in? I’ll give you a tour of the house.”

“I’d love that.”

Ryan pulls into my driveway, cuts the engine, and follows me to my front door. My hands shake as I fumble for the house key. He steps closer to me, and I sense his warm body just inches behind me. His finger slides under the strap of my dress and he gives it a light tug.

“What’re you doing back there?” I try to sound light, but when he touches me, it sends electric shock waves to my sensitive skin.

His mouth is at my ear. “Wondering how hard it would be to make this strap slip off.”

I finally manage, shaky hands and all, to get the front door unlocked. We step inside my living room, and I close the door. When I turn around, he’s right there.

“Come here,” he says and holds his arms out to me.

I walk into his embrace and let him envelop me in his strong hold. I look up into his eyes.

“This dress,” he says as he runs his finger under the strap.

I smirk.

Our lips crash together. The relief. The build-up of six years without this man. It’s no chaste kiss like after the wedding. It’s all-in. His tongue is at my lips, and I open for him. My knees go weak, and I can hardly stand. I pull him back to the couch and we tumble backward—me on my back with him on top of me.

“God, I’ve missed this…missed you,” he says through our kisses.

I grip onto his shirt and then his neck, as I deepen the kiss.

He breaks away, both of us out of breath. His mouth moves to my ear.

I let out a groan and hold my breath. He knows how to unravel me thread by thread. He kisses my ear and works his way down my neck, to my collarbone, and moves the strap aside with his teeth. His breath is hot on my shoulder, and my heart pounds out my chest. Can I stop this? Do Iwantto stop this? I feel him harden against my leg. It’s been so long.

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