“Turn and brace your hands on the wall,” Ryan said.
Faith did as he asked, her body now begging for the release that was climbing inside her. He nudged her legs apart, then gripped her hips and drove inside her.
“Christ.” She heard his moan. His hands slid up her body to hold fingers on the wall.
“More, baby?” The words were whispered in her ear.
Faith answered by thrusting her hips back. Ryan lost it, driving into her hard and fast. The rasp of their breathing filled the room as he took her against the wall. It was different from the first time, more intense, more sexual, so much more of everything, and Faith loved it.
“You better be close,” he whispered, a hand moving down her front to stroke her between her thighs.
“So close,” Faith moaned. The pressure was almost too much and then the wave of pleasure crashed over her.
Ryan shuddered and pumped into her hard again and again until she felt him let go.
Breathless, she rested her cheek on the wall as he surrounded her. His arms wrapped around her, holding her tight.
“Faith, are you all right? I—”
“I wanted it, Ryan.”
“Seeing you tonight drove me crazy.” He kissed her neck. “Every inch of flesh I saw made me want you more.”
“I felt the same.” She sighed. “But I need to get back downstairs, or Noah will come looking for me.”
“I want to stay here holding you like this. In fact, that bed looks a good place to do that about now.”
“I really do need to get back down, Ryan.”
“I know.” He held her tighter, and she allowed it for a few more minutes. Amazing minutes, and then she elbowed him back so she could step away.
“There’s a bathroom on this floor, last door on the right before the stairs. Use that and head back down.”
“Faith—”
“Go, Ryan. Please. I don’t want Noah to come up here and find you.”
“You’re an adult.”
“I know, but there will be questions, and I don’t want that. This is easier. Go on down; I’ll see you there soon.”
“Questions about us? I have those questions too.”
“There is no us,” Faith snapped, rattled. “Please just go.” She turned toward the bathroom.
“Do you want there to be an us?” He said the words quietly, his lovely voice deep and gruff.
Faith didn’t answer; she just shrugged off his hand and walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
When she heard her bedroom door shut, she braced her hands on the vanity and looked in the mirror. “You’re an idiot for doing that.”
And yet she couldn’t regret it. How could you regret something that had taken her places she’d never been before? What really scared her was how empty she’d felt when she left his arms. “Damn it all to hell, Faith. You know better than this.”
He’d asked her if she wanted there to be an “us.” How did she answer that? She liked pretty much everything about Ryan Lawrence, and that wasn’t even factoring in the sex. Did she want more? Yes! Could she have more? No! End of story.
Men who loved her like her brother never let her down. Men who wanted her body usually did. Maybe Ryan was a good guy, but eventually he’d move on.
She looked at her reflection one more time. “Wise up, Faith.”