Page 175 of Not Another Yesterday
“Do it,” I whisper, filthy and sweet. “Come for me, Ran. Be a good boy and let me feel you.”
With a ragged groan, he drives deep one last time and loses himself inside me. I feel every pulse of him, every desperate twitch, and it lights a spark in my chest, something hot and tender and a little unhinged. And powerful. I know it’s trust that allows me to explore what I enjoy. Trust that Ronan won’t hurt me, that he’ll stop when I ask him to stop, that he won’t judge when I try myself out.
We stay like that for a long moment, still connected, hearts racing. I wait for Ronan’s aftershocks to subside, for his breathing to slow a little, then straighten. Ronan slips out of me and the fabric of my dressfalls over my waist. Then his arms wrap around me again, tight and protective.
“I’ll never get enough of you,” he whispers.
Ronan
We get to Cat’s parents’ house only ten minutes late, which honestly isn’t bad considering what we were up to before we left my apartment.
I throw the car in park, then dramatically jab the engine button—I’m still not used to this thing—before slouching back in the seat. I can think of a thousand better ways to spend my evening with Cat than having dinner with our parents. But at least we’re not at my dad’s tonight.
“Thanks for suggesting the change of locale,” I say with a half-smile to Cat. “I still don’t love going to my dad’s.” It’s not that I don’t enjoy the people. I do. Well, with the exception of Cat’s dad, who stares at me like I got Cat pregnant only to spite him.
It’s the house itself. It’s the pain I associate with the place—especially the downstairs, the damn kitchen and living room. It’s where the worst shit happened, and sitting down for a roast chicken and polite conversation in the middle of it just… fucking sucks. I’m always rushing Cat through the meal, desperate to get the hell out.
Cat could obviously tell, and last week she finally suggested dinner at her parents’ house instead.
She tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Yeah, I know. It’s nice being here,” she says sweetly, and reaches for the door handle. “This place is safe. Smells like garlic bread… and memories of you taking my virginity.”
She giggles and hops out of the car.
Thirty minutes later, we’ve survived—or really,Cat’ssurvived—the weekly belly touching and barrageof overly personal questions. Weird cravings? New aches and pains? Strange pregnancy symptoms? When Penny leaned in and asked Cat if she was “leaking colostrum yet,” I bailed and took my spot at the dinner table, pretending I didn’t just hear the word “colostrum” come out of Penny’s mouth. She followed it up with how she used to soak through shirts during her second trimester with my baby brothers, and… yeah. That was my cue.
We’re at the table, eating beef stroganoff—I’m picking out every morsel of beef I can spot—when Jen turns her attention to me.
“So, Ran, Bobby and I were talking and we thought it might be a good idea if you moved in with all of us,” she says with a smile.
Uh, that sounds like a terrible fucking idea to me.
I’m completely caught off guard and look to Cat for help, but she only shrugs like she’s hearing this for the first time, too.
“We just thought it would be good once the baby is here,” Jen continues. “Bobby and I could help you guys. I work a flexible schedule, and Bobby is home in the afternoons.”
She turns to Bobby for backup, but his expression doesn’t exactly scream enthusiasm. If anything, he looks like he’d rather stick his fork into his eye socket than have me live with them.
“Jen, that’s so sweet,” Penny says, her voice full of encouragement. She looks at me. “It’s a great idea, Ran. You should take her up on the offer!”
And just like that, my walls slam up. I feel completely overrun, boxed in, like this whole thing was decided for me before I even walked in the door.
Luckily, Cat is so in tune with me she picks up on my apprehension instantly. She reaches for my hand under the table and gives it a soft squeeze.
“I don’t know, Mom,” she says sweetly. “Ran and I were thinking of living at his place. We don’t want to burden you and Dad.”
I don’t deserve this girl.
Her dad lets out a dry, condescending laugh. “Come on, Kitty. You’ll need help when you have that baby. You’ll be sleep-deprived, busy taking care of a newborn. Who’s going to take care of you while you’re taking care of the baby?”
No he fucking didn’t…
“I am,” I growl.
He chuckles again and glances around the table. “Ronan, with all due respect, do you expect me to believe you’ll be able to give Cat and her baby everything she’ll need? There’s laundry, meals to cook, errands to run, cleaning. Babies require a lot of care—there won’t be time to go out and party.”
I seriously wonder who the fuck he thinks I am.
“Bobby, I’m sure Ronan will be able to handle all those things just fine,” Jen says in a calming voice, but Bobby just lets out another derisive laugh.
