Page 77 of Out to Find Freedom

“Whore,” Ryan offered.

I waved my hand at him. “Yes, that.” I stopped and faced him. Dread surfaced. “I don’t owe her, right? I mean, she could be upset about everything that went down. Especially with how Donny died. They were friends. She could blame me. And it is my fault.”

Ryan stalked towards me. His hands cupped my face and drew my gaze to his. “It’s not your fuckin’ fault. What happened to the guy, to that neighbour, wasn’t your fault. It was on that cunt and motherfucker you lived with. It’s their fault. Their sick and twisted minds. You owe that bitch nothing. She’s a money-hungry slut who saw a quick way to earn some cash through you. Don’t let her get to you.”

“Okay,” I whispered. His words were fierce, hard, and if it was anyone else, the tone would have me cringing in fear. Instead, I was trembling in need.

His eyes widened from whatever he saw, his jaw clenched, and he told me, “We’re goin’ to my house for lunch. Pack a bag. You’re stayin’ the night.”

It was lucky for him that his ordering me didn’t bother me. I stood up for myself when I needed to and didn’t like his tone. But right then,Iwanted to go to Ryan’s house.Iwanted to have lunch with him before he went back to work, and then that night, after he’d come home, I would also get whatIwanted.

Him. Naked. In bed with me.

I could read he wanted me as much as I did. He held back for a reason that was no longer an issue—to give us time, to get used to us dating. He didn’t want to rush because what we had was something important to him. Tonight though, he’d have to understand I was over waiting.

He was important to me, and I wanted to show him in every way I could.

“Jesus, woman. Whatever you’re thinkin’, stop before I strip you bare and take you on the damn floor.”

Bug-eyed, I asked, “How was I looking?” because I wanted to do it again.

His arms slid around my waist and I wrapped mine around his shoulders. Ryan leaned down and nipped at my ear before saying, “Like you want to eat me for lunch.”

“Is that an option?” I breathed.

He stilled and then stepped away from me. “Bag. Now.”

I couldn’t help but pout.

He cursed. “Baby doll, we’ll talk about that over lunch.”

“Sex,” I wanted to clarify.

He groaned. “Yes,” he hissed.

“As in when we’ll be having sex with each other,” I pushed.

“Emerson,” he clipped.

I bit my bottom lip to keep from smiling and walked past him with a new sway to my hips. It seemed Ryan’s resistance was crashing like mine had been for a while.

I had a feeling I would definitely be getting some Ryan Warden tonight.

All I had to do was get through lunch, watch him go back to work, and try and concentrate on my own jobs while I waited for him to get back from work.

Maybe I could cook something special for the occasion. But what did one cook when they were going to lose their virginity?

Chapter Twenty-Six

Emerson

Once at Ryan’s house, he dropped my bag just inside the door before shutting it. I stood there for a moment, and like usual, my eyes drifted to the bottom of the stairs. I took a moment to feel the loss of Mrs Minna. Ryan gave it to me, like always. When I’d first started coming to his house, I wasn’t sure how I felt about knowing her body had laid on the floor, but time, reassurance, and kind words from Ryan helped.

He stepped up behind me, his hands on my shoulders. He rubbed them down my arms. His lips met my neck before he moved off through the living room and then into the kitchen. He was giving me time. Only I didn’t need as much as I used to. Life had to go on. I couldn’t change the past. Instead, I had to live in the present.

Turning, I kicked off my shoes beside Ryan’s and went into the kitchen. I gasped when I saw he had the table laid with a lunch made for two. There were candles, a tablecloth, two plates, containers full of different types of food and a bottle of wine. Though, I also caught the beer bottle for Ryan.

Moving to him, I wound my arms around his waist. “This is beautiful.”

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