The weak part in me wins, and I have to ask. “Are you sure about this?”
“Yes.” His eyes look straight into mine, the warmth in them having their usual calming effect.
But there’s also something else in his gaze. Is there any chance he feels the same as I do? Even the smallest inkling of it?
His hands go to my face, gently cradling my cheeks like I’m precious. “Listen to me, Harper. I meant it, I wanted to see you again after our first night because what we had felt different from the get-go. You getting pregnant might not have been planned, but I can’t help but wonder if it was fate’s way of bringing us together. I know that might sound cheesy, but I’m so happy it brought you to my doorstep.”
That man. He needs to stop saying charming things like this, or he’ll be the conductor of my crazy emotional ride for the foreseeable future.
My chest heaves with a deep breath. “Me too. I’m still regretting leaving the morning after the way I did.”
Just the idea of never finding him again makes me all queasy.
“But then you came back to me with a beautiful surprise.” One of his hands wanders from my cheek to my stomach.
I smile at that. “That was probably the biggest surprise either one of us has ever gotten.”
“Probably . . . but also the best. I want you. I want you and our baby. A family.”
A family.
So many thoughts swirl around in my head that it’s hard to focus on them all, so I pick the one that’s the loudest. “You’re not worried we’re going too fast?”
His chest expands against my body.
“Not really. I told that negative voice in my head a long time ago who the boss is. I had to for my career, or I wouldn’t have achieved half the things I have so far. Sometimes you just have to go for what you want, even if you know there will be bumps in the road.” He leans in and presses his lips to mine for a long moment. “Not a lot in life that’s worthwhile comes without hiccups, but it’s usually those endeavors that are the most valuable and special in the end.”
My lips still tingle from his brief kiss as I stare up at this man in utter awe. Everything he just said demolished pretty much every little doubt I had. Because he’s right, I can’t know if this thing with us is going to work until I try. “That sounded very wise.”
The corners of his eyes crinkle as he leans closer. “Must be my age.”
And just like that, the atmosphere around us lightens once more, and I chuckle. But I’m sure this whole happiness-worry-happiness-fear roller coaster is going to give me a headache soon.
Ryan brushes his fingers along my thigh. “Also, if there’s a chance you’re considering moving to California, awesome, I’ll be the first to help you pack. If you want to stay in New York, we’ll also figure things out, so we can be together.”
“Why does that sound like I’m stuck with you no matter what?”
He smirks at me. “Because you are.”
“I like the sound of that.” I snuggle closer, not ready to leave this cocoon, to leave this bubble of security that exists in his arms.
“Good.”
We stay like this for a few minutes, just enjoying being together. When he brushes the hair away from my face, I tilt my head to see him better. His expression is unreadable, but I take the small smile he’s aiming at me. Three seconds later, his mouth is on mine, and I melt into the kiss. It’s nothing like the kisses we shared earlier. This kiss is filled with the promise of a future I want so badly but am not sure I deserve. The sensuality and sweetness are perfect. A lot like this incredible man.
He ends the kiss and nudges my nose with his. “I want to take you out to dinner. A proper date where I can show you off for the whole world to see.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yup.” He moves his nose along my cheek and down my throat. “But I don’t feel like sharing you yet. Maybe we should stay in tonight, so I can have my proper fill of you first and then we can go out tomorrow night?”
“That sounds like a great idea to me.”
That’s all he needs for an answer as his hand digs into my hip. I lean back to give him more access to my throat where he continues to lick his way down until the weird angle doesn’t allow him any more access.
Without a word, he stands with me in his arms and walks to the bed to lay me down. My bathrobe is open a second later, and he pushes my legs apart.
I squirm as he stares at my naked body, but any worries I had fly out the window the moment he goes straight for my clit and sucks on it like he’s trying to win a competition. My fingers tangled in his hair are the only thing that keep me anchored. I thrash around, wanting to come desperately while at the same time never wanting this feeling to end.
One thing’s for sure. This man always gives everything his all, and I hope like hell that will be enough for us.
We just need to make it through this weekend intact.