Page 33 of Playing Pretend with Love and Billions

I love him.

Which is scary for me, considering the mess I’ve gotten myself in right now, and I’m not sure if I should tell him how I really feel. What if he laughs in my face, stating how this was only temporary and that I shouldn’t have fallen for him? It’s crazy to know that I followed one boy to the big city only to walk into the arms of another. The difference this time is that I’m completely in love with this one.

After my breakup with Alex, I immediately started planning my departure back home. Since I started this relationship with Ryan though, it’s been the last thing on my mind.

I steal another glance at Ryan’s sleeping form, brushing a hand through his curls, before letting out a contented sigh. His chest is uncovered, leaving me with a full view of his muscular form.

Well, I guess the other difference is that where Alex is a boy, Ryan is all man.Myman.

That thought sends a thrill through me, causing me to pull at Ryan’s hair softly and he cracks one eye open. His blue gaze is piercing, but full of love even though he hasn’t said those words to me. My hopeful heart thinks that he will say them now, but he only smiles softly before snuggling against my thighs.

“You make a very comfy pillow,” Ryan says in a raspy voice.

I chuckle at the compliment.

Although my weight has never been an issue, my thighs are a different story. Instead of all the food I eat going to my waistline, it goes straight to my thighs and it grates on my nerves sometimes. It’s not entirely easy finding pants when your waist is a size two but your thighs are leaning more towards a four or six. I’ve learned to deal with it though, at least Ryan is getting something out of it.

I continue my trek through his hair until he lets out another snore, effectively making me yawn wide and lean my head back against the headboard.

It doesn’t take long for me to fall asleep after that, and I’m sure I’ll feel the stiffness in my neck when I wake up. But, I don’t want to move Ryan so I'll deal with the aftermath if I have to as long as he stays comfortable.

* * *

I’m jolted awake at the sound of banging Monday morning, my neck immediately stiff at the angle I slept in for the night. When I glance down at my legs, the bed is empty, and the banging continues.

It takes a minute for my brain to comprehend that Ryan is probably attempting to make breakfast, and obviously failing miserably at it. Instead of waiting for him to make an appearance in the room with some romantic gesture of breakfast in bed, I gather a robe from the bathroom and waltz into the kitchen.

He’s standing at the stove, his mind so focused on the food in front of him that he doesn’t sense me coming up behind him. When I snake an arm around his waist he nearly jumps to the ceiling before smiling down at me. “Let’s not mention to anyone how much you scared me just now.”

I giggle. “Of course not, we wouldn’t want anyone to think so low of you. Would we?” The mocking wink I send him only pushes his buttons further and he lifts me in the air, only to place me on the kitchen counter with a heated gaze.

“I think I could have dessert a little early, don’t you?” he asks while gripping the tie at the front of the robe, pulling it slightly to loosen it a bit. The hand he snakes up my stomach does nothing to calm my rapidly beating heart, or deepen my shallow breaths. It’s barely been twelve hours and I’m already starving for more of him.

He takes my silence as answer enough and removes the tie completely from around me, yanking the robe open to expose my bare body. His gaze does an appreciative sweep from head to toe, only making my toes curl at the flash of desire in his eyes.

Instead of walking toward me though, he turns around and gets back to the food he was making. “Go get ready for work. Wouldn’t want you to be late,” he says and follows it with a wink.

I huff in annoyance, even though I’m walking toward the room with my mouth tipped into a satisfied grin.

His chuckle echoes through the house and stays locked in my mind even as we reach the office. The kiss he gives me before I get off the elevator just about sends me on my knees for him, but he swats at my ass before pushing me out of the elevator.

Millie is eagerly waiting for me at my desk, her smile all but lighting up her face, and she hands me a cup of coffee. This girl knows me so well. Coffee is always the sure way into my heart.

Millie grabs her chair, wheeling it over to me with an excited glint in her eyes, then flops onto the seat. “Details. Now.”

I shrug, knowing I’ll be pressing her buttons but not seeming to care in the slightest. I’m on cloud nine. Especially since Ryan quickly followed me back into the bedroom this morning and did exactly what he promised to do - had a little dessert before we ate breakfast together.

“Not much to tell,” I say more confidently than I thought I would.

Her glare only causes me to laugh. “Spill, babe. Come on, I’m living vicariously through you!”

“I think I’m ready to tell him I love him.”

She squeals happily. “I knew it!”

“He was such a gentleman this weekend, took such good care of me,” I say, but I can hear the lack of excitement in my own voice.

Millie catches on quickly and flashes me a look of concern. “But?” she asks.

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