I meet his gaze, drowning in the intensity I find there. "Yours," I gasp.
A smile tugs at his lips, a wicked glint in his eye. "That's right, Ava. You're mine."
Then he's inside me, hard and deep, stretching me in the best possible way. I tighten around him, my body reacting to his on instinct.
He thrusts—slow at first, then picking up speed. Each powerful stroke sets me on fire.
"Tell me you want me," he commands.
"I...I want you, Ryan," I moan, my cheeks flushing but my need overpowering any lingering shyness.
He growls in response, burying his face in the crook of my neck as he thrusts deeper, harder. "Say it louder, baby. Beg for me."
"I want you, Ryan! I need you!" The words tumble out of my mouth, unfiltered and raw, and God, it feels good.
His response is wordless, a groan torn from his throat as he picks up the pace. I can feel the tension coiling tighter and tighter, the heat between my legs building once more.
"That's it," he grunts, "come for me again, Ava. Come with me."
The world tilts on its axis as I do just that, spiraling over the edge with an almighty cry. Ryan follows, his body tensing above mine before collapsing against me, breathing ragged, spent.
As we catch our breath, our hearts pounding in tandem, I look into his eyes and see a truth there that I've never seen before.
"I...I love you, Ava," he whispers between breaths, his eyes brimming with emotion.
Tears well up in my own as I stroke his cheek tenderly. "I love you too, Ryan."
We stay entwined for what feels like an eternity, our bodies still joined as our pulses gradually slow to a normal rhythm. The room around us fades away, and it's like it's just the two of us in this world.
“I'm never going to fucking leave you, you beautiful thing. You're mine.”
eight
?. . .?
Ryan
My phone buzzes incessantlyin my pocket as Ava and I walk hand in hand through the quiet streets. I ignore it at first, not wanting anything to interrupt this perfect moment with her. But the vibrations persist urgently.
"Sorry, I should probably check this," I mutter, flashing Ava an apologetic look. She nods understandingly as I reluctantly pull out my phone.
"Callahan." I bark into the receiver. It's my Captain from the precinct. There's been a major break in the Carmichael case and they need all hands on deck. I'm being called back to the city immediately.
"I understand," I reply curtly before hanging up. A heavy sigh escapes my lips as I turn to face Ava. Her brows are knitted together in concern, those soulful eyes searching mine.
"What is it? What's wrong?" She asks softly, squeezing my hand.
"That was work. There's an emergency and they need me back in the city ASAP." I explain, my jaw clenching in frustration.
Her face falls and she pulls her hand away, folding her arms protectively across her chest. "Oh. I see." She replies, her voice tinged with resignation. "Well, I suppose this mountain town fantasy couldn't last forever..."
I reach for her, but she takes a step back. "Ava, wait, it's not like that. This thing between us, it's real."
But I can see the doubts taking root behind her eyes, the way her shoulders hunch inward. "It's fine, Ryan. I get it. You have your big city life to get back to. And I have my little bookstore. We're from different worlds."
"That's not true! Ava, please. Just let me explain—" But she's already turning away from me, picking up her pace.
"I should go. Safe travels back to the city, Officer Callahan." She says over her shoulder, her voice cracking on my name.