Page 78 of Out to Find Freedom

He ran his hands up and down my back. “Glad you like it, baby doll.”

I pulled my head back. Responding to the invite, Ryan leaned down and pressed his lips against mine quickly. “Let’s eat.”

“Sounds good and smells good. Did you make it all?”

With his hand to my lower back, he led me to the table and pulled out my chair. “It’s just cold chicken, darlin’. Some salads, bread, and cakes. Nothin’ hard.”

I smiled, sitting and waited for him to sit across from me. “That didn’t answer my question.”

Did my eyes deceive me? I was sure Ryan’s cheeks reddened a little. He grabbed his beer, twisted the cap off and before he took a gulp, he said, “Yeah, I made it.”

He’d taken his time to prepare the meal for me. There were at least three different slices, and a cake. Happiness filled me; I felt giddy by it.

If my dad had met Ryan, he would have loved him for me.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotions.

His eyes softened. “You’re welcome, baby doll.”

As we ate, we spoke of Harriet, but I quickly steered it away. I didn’t want either of us to get back to work feeling furious. Yes, I hadn’t known her long at school, but I would never have picked her to be a user, a fake. I’d thought she honestly was happy and concerned for me, but it was an act to get something from me.

“Emmie, you said not to think of it.” Ryan grinned.

I rolled my eyes. “I can’t help it.”

“I know… how about I take your mind off it?”

My head tilted to the side in confusion. “I thought you had to go back to work?”

“Got the afternoon off.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. You busy or can you take some time off as well?”

I did have to finish a design… but alone time with Ryan was what I wanted. Alone time in bed with Ryan would be better. I couldn’t get the other night from my mind, the feel of him between my legs, how he made my body tremble in pleasure.

“Emmie,” he called. His mouth twitched in humour. Could he read my mind?

My face heated. “Yes, um, I can free up the afternoon. What did you have in mind?”

He played with the beer bottle on the table while watching me. “Can’t stop thinkin’ about the other night.”

Yes! I wasn’t the only one.

“And?”

His lips twitched again. “Come here, Emmie,” he ordered, his voice deeper than usual. I stood and walked around the table. Ryan scooted his chair back. Once I stood before him, he took my hands in his and gently tugged me forward. My legs opened, going on each side of his thighs as I straddled his lap. My dress tugged up, just covering my panties.

Ryan placed his hands on my thighs and ran them up and down, ignoring my scars. I put my hands on his shoulders.

“You enjoyed the other night, right?” he asked. I nodded. “You been wantin’ more though, haven’t you?”

“Yes,” I whispered. My clit throbbed while my pulse ticked heavily at the side of my neck.

“I wanna give my woman more, baby doll, but we know it’s your first time. You know it’s gonna hurt, right?”

I nodded again. “But if it’s with you, my first time will still be something special.”

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