Compass (30 page)

“Yeah?” His thumb traced the line of her bottom lip.

“How long have you loved me?” She met his eyes, searching for the truth. Ryan dropped his hands, running his tongue over his lips. He sucked in a deep breath, his hands clenching into balls in his lap. He tried to look down, but she refused to let him. She pushed up on her knees, tugging his chin upward to meet her gaze. “Please tell me.”

His jaw stiffened and his shoulders straightened. He looked at her, determination in his eyes. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved you.”

“Always and forever,” she breathed.

Ryan nodded. “Always and forever,” he repeated.

Tears burned down her cheeks as her wall of distrust disintegrated. All this time he’d loved her. That kind of love was impossible, only written in fairy tales, yet here it was. Right in front of her.

Unable to speak, she pressed her lips to his. She wanted so badly to tell him she felt the same way, but words weren’t enough. They would never be enough.

She wrapped herself around him, drawing him in. Her heart pounded in her chest. Her need for him burned hot. Ryan enveloped her in his arms, gripping her shoulders. Their mouths fused together, barely allowing for air. She didn’t need to breathe as long as he held her.

Pulling back, she cupped his face in her hands. “I’ve never told anyone this, but I blamed myself for my parents separating. After Cora died, I shut down. You remember how I was. Had I been a better daughter to them,” her brow furrowed, “I know this is childish to believe, but maybe Dad never would’ve cheated. Since then, I’ve allowed that experience to mold and shape me. I’ve let the fear of being hurt consume me. It’s prevented me from saying the very thing that’s in my heart.” She swallowed hard and those three little words fell from her lips. “I love you.”

Ryan inclined his head; his mouth twitching and his fingers brushing her hair back from her face. “You love me?”

“More than life itself,” she croaked. “You really love me?” Hope filled her timbre.

He released a heavy sigh. “With all that I am.”

She reached up and removed the hachimaki from his forehead, tossing it to the side. Sliding her fingers through his soft, dark tresses, she pulled his face to meet her lips. Soft but firm, their mouths bonded them together. In a single, graceful move, Ryan flipped her on to her back. He hovered over her, the look of pure love in his eyes. A gasp escaped Alexis’ chest as she wound her arms around his neck forcing him to press down on her. His body encompassed her, cradling her, protecting her heart as he promised he’d do.

Everything about this was right. The feel of his body, the way their lips danced together in perfect harmony, the intoxicating way his tongue slid over hers. His very taste, his scent, his heat, and his passion, they were all enhanced by the simple declaration of love.

Passion burned like a wildfire between them to the point that Alexis wanted to lose herself in the moment. Ryan caressed her side, his hand moving steadily along the curve of her hip, until he reached the back of her knee. He lifted her leg around his waist, pressing into her.

The atmosphere sizzled with desire, but most of all they were consumed by the love they felt. She slipped her hands between them, needing to feel him. Ryan pulled back, a tender smile on his lips, as he stopped her from unbuttoning his jeans. “You have no idea how bad I want you right now, but we can’t.”

“Why not?” she whined.

Ryan lifted his head and graced her with the sexiest of grins. “Because we have company and I can’t promise when I make love to you that either of us will remain quiet.”

Alexis dropped her head back to the floor, laughing. “Fair enough.”

With reluctance, Ryan lifted himself from the floor. He took her by the hands and pulled her up with him. “Merry Christmas, my love.” He pressed a sweet kiss to her lips.

“Merry Christmas, my heart.”

Moments later, they were back with their friends and family, joined by Reagan and her boss, Lee. The night wore into the morning and Alexis couldn’t recall the last time she’d felt such happiness. On Christmas Day, she was awakened by sweet kisses from the man she loved. It was a day of memories, that she’d cherish...always.

The bright red duvet brought a sense of color to the otherwise stark white room. The only other color in the space was from the blonde wood furniture. From the vantage point of his hotel room, Ryan could see the dancing fountains of the Bellagio just down the strip. Every time he flew into Vegas, he stayed at the Mirage, even though the airline would never pay for the expenditure due to cost.

Ryan enjoyed the sights of the strip and the Mirage was a prime location. Not overly expensive, which was good on his wallet, but lavish enough to make the experience memorable. The only thing missing on this trip was Alexis.

It’d been a few weeks since Christmas and things couldn’t have been better between them. Every time Alexis uttered those precious words of love, the Earth moved for him. They’d spent nights chatting about their past and how they’d both misread the signals between them. It was something to laugh about now. And laugh they did, because none of it mattered. They were together and the universe had managed to correct itself. Or maybe it was fate simply giving them a second chance to correct past mistakes. Either way, Ryan wasn’t about to let the opportunity pass him by. Alexis was his everything and he was determined that she’d never feel that kind of rejection from him again.

Not caring where his clothes landed, Ryan stripped out of his uniform. In nothing but his boxers, he leaned against the window. With his head pressed against his forearm, he watched as the water swayed back and forth, glistening in the bright lights of the sunlight. A heaviness weighed on his heart. It had been over a week since he’d been with Alexis. His body missed her. He ached to touch her. To hold her. He loved the way she purred when she was about to climax and how her body formed to his when they made love.

He glanced at the watch she’d given him for Christmas, counting down the seconds to when he could call her. He was two hours behind her in time at the moment, which was torture. The time zones often killed their nightly chats.

He closed his eyes, orbs of light flickered against his eyelids, as his mind swept back in time. The sound of her laughter, the warmth of her touch, the smell of her skin, the feel of her lips pressed to his, the sound of her moans when they made love, and the look in her eyes afterward. That look that told him no one in the world could ever love him the way she did.

Rubbing his palms into his eyes, Ryan blinked several times to bring the fountains back into focus. He inhaled deeply, willing the ache away. A reprieve came when the sound of his cell phone filled the air around him. Ryan lunged across the king-sized bed, grabbing the phone from the charger on the nightstand. A picture of him and Alexis flashed in front of him.

He swiped his finger across the screen, answering her, “Hello, Gorgeous.”

“Hey, you,” her sweet voice echoed over the phone.

“What ya up to?”

“I just got home from Henry’s recital.”

“How was it?”

“You know Henry. The kid nailed it,” she bragged.

Ryan loved the sound of pride in her voice for her little brother. The two had grown closer over the last few months. She’d even brought Henry along on a few of their dates. Ryan never minded. He enjoyed listening to the kid. There was an energy about Henry that reminded Ryan of when Alexis was a girl. She didn’t even realize how much she and Henry were alike in so many ways. The only sorrow he felt was when Henry would say or do something that reminded him of Cora. Those were the times he’d see sadness in Alexis’ eyes, because every time it happened, she’d notice it, too.

“I’m not surprised. He is your brother, after all.”

Alexis let out a little chuckle. “I made sure to video it for you. I’ll post it on Facebook in a bit. He’s obsessed with you getting to see it.”

Ryan flopped over on his back, propping his head up with a pillow. “He’s a good kid.”

“That he is.”

Over the phone, Ryan could hear her rustling around. “What on Earth are you doing?”

“Sorry. I was getting undressed.”

Oh, God! Slay me now!

“Really?” he coaxed. “Are you naked?”

“Ryan!” she shrieked.

“What? I can’t help that I’ve been thinking about your naked body all day and the many things I intend to do to you when I get home.”

Alexis moaned, that guttural sound reverberated through Ryan. Being near her caused his whole body to tingle with desire, but the sound of her voice amplified the reaction with them so many miles away from each other.

“What are you thinking?” he whispered, his voice dripping with seduction.

There was a pause. Ryan listened to her swallow. He smirked, adjusting the reaction his body was having in his boxers. “I’m trying not to think about what you intend on doing to me when you get home.”

“Why would you want to do that?” Ryan reached down into his boxers, stroking his erection. “There’s nothing wrong with me wanting to touch you...to taste you.”

She whimpered. “Ryan, please.”

“Please is right. Do something for me.” When he was answered with heavy breathing, he pressed his lips to the phone and murmured, “Touch yourself for me.”

“Do what?” she hissed.

Ryan twisted his lips in a smirk, his hand applying pressure where he needed it the most. “You heard me, Gorgeous. Let me hear you pleasure yourself.” His heart rate started to rise as his strokes became longer, harder. The mental image of Alexis touching herself had heightened his senses.

“I can’t do that,” she whispered, apprehensive. The arousal in her voice suggested she was interested, but needed a little persuading.

“Sure you can,” he coerced. “I’m touching myself right now.” He heard her gasp. “I’m imagining I’m buried deep inside you. So warm. So tight. And oh so mine.” His moan rumbled in his chest. “Please, Lex, touch yourself for me.”

“Oh, God, Ryan,” she whimpered.

Triumphant, Ryan listened close to the sounds of her breathing as it increased and her sheets rustling. He closed his eyes and allowed his hand to work. “Tell me what you’re doing,” he urged.

Holy hell! Not in the plans, but definitely hot!

Ryan could hear her adjust the phone. “Um,” she paused. “I’ve slipped my hand into my panties and I’m touching myself.”

“How wet are you?” A long silence. “Lex, tell me. I want to know you’re dripping wet for me. Think about me touching you. My fingers, my mouth. I need to know.”

A single word passed her lips. “Very.”

Ryan jerked his hips at that simple, little word, unable to stop the husky growl that escaped him. “Oh, fuck me.”

“I wish,” she simpered.

Emboldened, Ryan stroked harder, applying ample pressure where she would’ve been wrapped tight around him. “I’m thinking about you right now. How tight you are when I’m inside you. So perfect. So soft. So wet. The sound of your moans. Your cute little laugh. Tell me what you’re thinking about. Do you see me?” he coaxed.

Alexis swallowed hard, her breathing erratic. “I feel your lips on my neck,” she rasped. “The way your long fingers work me, light and gentle but always strong and tempting.”

“Mhm. Push your fingers in, Gorgeous, just as I would.”

“Oh, God, Ryan!”

“Tell me how it feels,” he goaded. Ryan increased his speed, needing the friction. The sound of his palm against his skin was soft but vibrant. His stomach tightened, fluttering with his imminent release. He wanted to last as long as she did, but hearing her in this manner made it rather difficult for him to keep his focus.

“It feels wonderful,” she gasped. “I feel your tongue slipping inside me. Deeper, deeper…” her voice trailed off in a hushed whisper.

His hand moved faster. He needed her to reach her release or he was going to explode. “Slip another finger in. Think of me filling you up. Pounding you hard and fast, just like I know you like it.” His body began to arch toward his hand. There was no controlling it. He closed his eyes, ready for that flash of light, that sweet sensation of his climax ripping through his body.

“Fuck.” That single little word slipping past her lips drove him crazy.

“What’s happening?” he begged.

“I can feel...I can…”

Every nerve in his body was ready to explode in agony. “Let go,” he demanded, his voice dripping with desire.

The sweetest sound in the world filled his ears as Alexis found her release. She whimpered his name, breathless and mumbling, her sweet whispers drove him over the edge. His whole body shook hard from his own climax. Warmth flooded from him, pouring out of him. He was in complete overload from the sound of Alexis pleasuring herself for him as well as his own ministrations. He couldn’t remember ever experiencing something so erotic.

“Ryan?”

“Hmm?”

“Tell me what you feel right now? Did you…”

Ryan looked down at his stomach. “Oh, yes. I certainly did.”

“What did you see when you...did?”

Ryan smirked, reaching for some tissues to clean up. His girl was such a little minx. He loved it. “I imagined you riding me, so I could watch that gorgeous body of yours take me in.”