Page 55 of Undeniable Temptation

“Thank you.” Ryan followed behind, his voice still capable of sending a shiver along her spine. “We won’t be long.”

The door closed behind them, the clunk of the lock settling back into place.

“What’s this about?”

He took the stairs in a lazy stride, his demeanor changing with each blink of her eyes. His anxiety faded, calculation taking its place.

“Ryan?”

His focus was on her lips, his teeth sinking into his own. “What, gorgeous?”

The compliment inspired goosebumps. It inspired a whole lot of unconscious bodily reactions.Focus. “Why are we alone in a parking lot?”

“For this.” His hands found her cheeks, his mouth stole her breath.

She could’ve laughed with the predictability, but she didn’t. Instead, she drowned in the taste of him, her lips brushing softly over his in a dance of affection. She didn’t resist. Couldn’t fight the instantaneous burn. She plastered herself against him, grasping what she’d gone without for days.

Like always, the world faded. Sense eluded her and nothing else mattered except for the anticipation of another press of his mouth against hers.

“I missed you,” he murmured between kisses. “I didn’t think you were going to come this morning.”

“Is that why you started making a move on Felicity?” She winced as soon as the words hit her ears. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

“It’s justified.” He stepped back, making her hollow. “I was hoping to get this bullshit with Felicity over and done with so it would stop eating me from the inside out.”

“Don’t explain. I could see how awful it was for you.”

He turned from her, his hands in his hair, his head bowed. “It’s even worse now that I know you were there. I feel like my asshole status has surpassed Mason’s.”

She chuckled, hoping to ease the tension. “That could never happen.”

“Really?” He faced her, pinning her with his guilt. “Because I don’t think he would ever sign up for the crap I’m putting you through.”

“Hold up.” She raised a hand. “I wasn’t a blip on your radar when you signed up to help Blake out. And that’s exactly what this is—you helping Blake…and the rest of the guys so there’s no additional tour dates. This has nothing to do with me.”

He looked up from under light lashes, his brow raised in disbelief. “You think you weren’t a blip? Jesus, Leah, you’ve always been on my radar. If you only knew for how long, maybe you wouldn’t consider me the great guy everyone keeps referring to. This has been going on well before my divorce was in play.”

“You need to forget about me for a while and focus on why you’re—”

“There’s no way I could forget. Hell, I’d do anything just to get away from the jealousy, but it’s impossible to ignore how I feel for you. Not until the end of the tour.” He stepped forward. “Not for a week.” He dragged her back into his arms. “Not even a day.”

She stared up at him. “Why are you jealous? Is this about Drew? Seriously, you don’t need to worry about him. Apparently, during my intoxicated binge, he decided he didn’t want to go through my bag, so he shoved one of his shirts into my hands and pushed me into the bus bathroom to get changed. I dressed myse—”

“I’m not talking about Drew.” His features scrunched. “Although, I’m damn relieved to hear it.”

“Then why?” She placed her hands on his chest. “What’s going on?”

He hit her with a sad smile, his gaze lowering, no longer meeting hers. His touch encased her wrist and he lifted her right hand between them.

“This.”

He spread her fingers apart and she followed his focus to the tattoo exposed on the inside of her middle finger—three tiny black birds with outstretched wings.

“Do you think I’m not jealous of this?” His anguish hit her as their eyes met. “Do you think I haven’t heard the stories about you and that guy in Vegas?” He dropped his hold and ran a weary hand over his beard. “He’s all over your body, Leah. He’s pierced you. Marked your skin. How can I not be jealous as hell over that?”

She closed her gaping mouth and swallowed. “I didn’t think you—”

“Realized? Oh, I fucking realized. I heard the stories the weekend of Mitch’s bachelor party. And when you took off after I kissed you, I knew you went to him. I could feel it.” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Then you came back with his ink under your skin. The permanent reminder haunts me every damn time I look at you. And it’s all because of my mistakes.”

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