“Stay,” he growled, kicking his shorts from around his ankles.
Faith admired his tight-muscled butt as he stalked to the bedroom. When he returned, he’d removed his shirt and was holding a condom. She wanted to run her hands and mouth over those wide, strong shoulders and down the hard, chiseled planes of his stomach.
“I love your tattoos.”
He didn’t speak, just kept walking until he could place his lips on hers. The kiss was accompanied by hands stroking her, stirring her body into a frenzy of need. She did the same, touching him wherever she could reach, reveling in the hiss of breath as she stroked a nail over his nipple.
“Now,” Faith demanded.
He tore open the foil package and rolled it onto his hard length. Then he was there, pressing at her entrance. His hands wrapped around her upper thighs, and seconds later he was sliding inside, driving deep, filling her completely.
“Fuck, you feel good, Faith.”
“So good,” she moaned as he pulled out and thrust back in.
Faith had a fleeting thought that in fact it was too good, that when he left it was going to hurt all over again, and then she couldn’t think at all.
Chapter 16
Ryan had slept with women. Not as many as people reported, but a few. But being deep inside Faith’s wet heat was beyond anything he’d ever experienced before. The taste of her had nearly pushed him over the edge, and then her lips on him had done the rest. He’d had to take her then and there or lose his sanity.
Easing out, he thrust back into her and was rewarded with a moan. She sat on his counter looking sexy, tousled, and like every wet dream he’d ever had. Her breasts were full and red from his mouth and touch, her body muscled and slender.
“Faith.” He said it more harshly than he meant to, but he wanted her eyes on his in that moment. Wanted to know she was right there with him. She was. The dark depths were filled with passion.
Holding her gaze, he took her slowly, stretching out each moment, each withdrawal and thrust. He was going to lose his shit in about two seconds if she didn’t come for him soon.
He took her mouth in a savage kiss as his hands moved to her breasts, fingers tweaking her nipples until he felt the tremors of her release. She arched back and let go as he thrust hard into her. Ryan followed seconds later.
Breathless, she collapsed into his arms, and he held her close, his hand on her head and the other around her back while they let reality return.
“You okay?”
“Yes. You?”
“Not sure; give me a minute,” he said.
Her laugh was a snuffle.
“Faith—”
She eased back to look at him. Her hands cupped his cheeks as she looked deep into his eyes. “No recriminations, no promises or regrets. We just had awesome sex and scratched an itch.”
He wasn’t sure if he was annoyed or relieved by her words.
“I kinda feel used, just being an itch,” he said, making himself tease her. Because she was right, this was just sex; it couldn’t be anything more. His life was in LA, and hers was here.
“The best kind of itch.” She leaned into him again, and he held her, enjoying the feel of her body, the closeness between them.
“That day I found you crying naked at Hope and Newman’s place, had you just seen your mom?”
She nodded against his shoulder. “I’d just visited Mom, and the doctor had told me the tumor was aggressive. Then when she didn’t recognize me, I needed to find a place to be alone. Hope offered me her bath when the renovations started at the Howler, so I took her up on it.”
“I’m so sorry, baby.”
She didn’t speak, just let him hold her.
“Faith, when I’m gone, call if you just want to talk.”