Rekindle The Flames (The Men of CLE-FD Book 4) (5 page)

“Why is it addressed to you? Megan, we don’t have kids,”
he argued.

“Ryan, my name was probably pulled from a third-party
database. Anyhow, who came to visit you at work?  I swear I am not doing
anything and I won’t until we are officially divorced.  Besides, getting into
another relationship won’t happen for me for a long time.”

For some reason, he believed her. “Emin came to visit me
yesterday. He offered to file our divorce for free.  The dickhead had
stipulations though.”

She swayed and held onto the table to steady herself.
“Please tell me you are joking.”

“I wouldn’t kid about that, Megan.  Did you ask him to
represent you?”

“No, I didn’t! I haven’t spoken with any attorney. And I
definitely haven’t asked him to do anything for me.”

“He had me under the impression you were ready to get it
over with.  All I had to do was agree to give you whatever you wanted and our
marriage would be over sooner than later.”

Megan stumbled to the couch. “My mother is behind this,
Ryan. She is going to drive me to the nut house.  I just want both of them to
go away and leave me alone.”

Her outbreak of tears caught him by surprise.  He wanted
to be mad at her, but he couldn’t find it in him.  He hadn’t noticed before,
but her hair was different.  She was probably coming from the salon.  He liked
the short haircut and how it highlighted her delicate facial features.  She
smelled good too. The scent wafted from her body and he breathed it in.  When
she got off the couch to go to the kitchen, he watched her curvy hips sway in
the hip-hugging jeans.  He followed her like a dog in heat.  He was horny for
her even though she didn’t do anything to entice it.  Then, he wouldn’t classify
it as lust.  He missed being with his wife, simply put.

He tossed the mail on the kitchen table. “Hey, why don’t
we put aside our differences for one night and go out to dinner?”

Megan rubbed her eyes careful not to mess up her makeup.
“You want to have dinner with me?”

“There isn’t anyone else in the room but us.  You look
beautiful with your new hairdo and perfect makeup.  You should show it off.”

Megan bit down on her bottom lip and smiled. “You’re
right, I do look good.  Okay, let’s go to dinner.  Tonight we are two friends
enjoying an excellent meal.”

Ryan chuckled. “We used to do it all the time when we
first met. One more thing, we will not talk about the divorce, your mother or
my job.”

She nodded. “I promise I will not spoil this evening.”

Chapter Six

Ryan chose Megan’s favorite restaurant.  They came here
often when they were dating.  Unlike, Emin, who took her to fancy restaurants
where she couldn’t pronounce the entrees and was skeptical of what the food
actual was, Ryan kept it simple.  Ruby Tuesday’s was their once a week hangout
and the place she fell in love with her husband.

They waited to be seated when a cute hostess approached
them.  The curvy brunette put a smile on her face and batted her lashes at
Ryan, flirtatiously.  He pretended to be oblivious to the woman flirting, but
Megan was not and fumed silently.

“Well hello and welcome to Ruby Tuesday’s. Would you like
a table or a booth?” The hostess asked not looking in Megan’s direction.

Ryan smiled politely, “Booth, please.”

She removed two menus and walked ahead of them making sure
to switch her small ass in a way Ryan would notice.  Megan slid in the booth
keeping her eyes closely on the woman.

“I don’t mean to pry but are you really a firefighter?”

Ryan nodded. “That I am.  I’m based at Station 30 in
Cleveland.”

“That’s so awesome.  You guys are real heroes in my book.
And that cute smile must make your victims feel at ease.  Can I start you off
with something from the bar or will others be joining the party and you want to
wait?”

Megan rolled her eyes as a deep red blush formed on Ryan’s
face.  He answered, “I’ll have a beer and she’ll have a spiked frozen lemonade
with extra lemon slices.”

Megan smiled that Ryan remembered her favorite drink.
Before the separation, their date nights had been dropped due to his depression
after quitting his job. There was little money for them to do anything but sit
at home and watch television.

The hostess tapped her pen on the table. “I wish my
friends remembered what I liked to drink when we go out.  I always have to
remind them.”  She smiled at Megan and said, “I bet this friend’s a keeper.”

Abrasively, Megan said, “Well he isn’t just my friend but
my husband.  And no one else will be joining us tonight.  So you can bring our
drinks now.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t…I’ll be right back with your
drinks.”  The hostess hurried away from the booth.

Ryan chuckled. “Damn, Megan, you didn’t have to be so
abrupt and why didn’t you inform her, I’m soon to be your ex-husband?”

“She doesn’t need to know that and you aren’t my
ex-husband yet.  It pisses me off that she assumed we were waiting on other
people to join us instead of a couple on a date.  People need to get over the
color barrier shit.  All races, of some sort, are intermingling these days.”

“Maybe she thought someone as beautiful as you wouldn’t be
with a lug like me,” he said with a smile.

Megan replied with a snort. “Yeah, right…that’s what she
was thinking.”

“If I were you, I would look for strange substances
floating in my drink before taking that first sip.”

“She’ll probably stick her finger in my drink.  Plus I
didn’t like she asked you so many questions.  She saw the emblem on your shirt
and knew you were a firefighter. Then you gave her a detailed answer by telling
her where you worked.”

“That’s my fault for being a nice person.  Anyhow, I
should’ve changed clothes before we left home.  I’ll make sure to do that next
time so I won’t have to talk to the waitresses.”

She narrowed her eyes at him.  She knew what he was
thinking. “I’m not jealous, Ryan; I don’t like being ignored.”

“Of course you aren’t jealous. It will ease the process if
I just nod and smile and let you do all the talking,” he said winking his eye.

The heartwarming banter brought back memories of better
days.  Megan hoped there would be more dates and the conclusions that followed
date night once they got home would also resume.

He picked up a menu and opened it. “I guess we should
decide what we want to eat before she gets back with our drinks.”

“You taste my drink first. If she snatches it away then I
know she put something in it,” Megan teased and he laughed. 

Yes, this was going to be a wonderful night.

Megan sipped on her frozen spiked lemonade while Ryan
enjoyed a tall cold beer.  She couldn’t help but stare at him.  He was a
gorgeous hunk of a man.  It didn’t matter to her that he wasn’t rich or
socially connected like her mother wanted.  He was a man that didn’t let what
others had influence him.  She was often swamped by guilt for not telling him
about the miscarriage, but he was under so much pressure, she didn’t want to
add more.  It was probably for the best since they didn’t know how the trial
would end. Ryan would have been devastated to know they were having a baby and
he wouldn’t be able to raise it if he were serving a long-term prison
sentence. 

“Why are you staring at me?  Do I have beer dripping down
my chin?” He asked with a smile.

Megan’s heart raced in her chest.  She loved his smile. 
Perfect white teeth and sexy lips made his mouth a tasty treat when they
kissed.  She missed his kisses, she missed his touch. Her body quivered as
desire shot through her. Only Ryan could make her scream with passion.  She
wasn’t a virgin when they met, but he made her forget the man that took her
virginity at age eighteen.

She took another long sip of her drink. “There is nothing
on your chin.  You look very handsome tonight and I can’t help but notice
another woman checking you out.”

He sat up straight and looked around. “Really? Where is
she sitting?”

Megan was happy that she could provide him with some
amusement because she couldn’t seem to find anything else to do to satisfy him
lately.  Every waking moment they were arguing about something or he was
calling her childish and immature.  Well, he was right.  She was childish and
immature and that needed to stop.  She was an adult dealing with a serious
situation.  When she got married, it was for better or worse and not to run
when things didn’t go her way.

She faked a frown and said, “Don’t worry where she is;
you’re mine for tonight.” 
Did I just say that out loud?
She must have
because the look on his face was priceless.

He didn’t respond and drank the rest of the beer.  The
waitress returned to the table placing their food in front of them. “For the
brave firefighter, the rib and chicken platter.  And for the lady, the classic
cheeseburger and fries.  Enjoy your meal.”

Ryan unfolded his napkin and placed it on his lap. “This
brings back memories.”

Megan cut her burger in half and lifted it to his mouth.
“It will be once you take a bite of my burger.  You always had to have a bite
of my burger no matter what you order.”

“Yeah, I do.” He leaned over and took a huge bite of the
burger.

Megan roared with laughter as she pulled what was left of
her burger away and chomped down on it. Every muscle in her body relaxed as the
tension washed away.  This was what she enjoyed the most out of everything she
had.  Ryan was her life, the man she wanted to be with forever.

They arrived home.  Megan kicked off her shoes and
stretched her back.  It was late and she had an early day in the morning. 
Since they agreed not to talk shop, she didn’t tell him that she’d been
assigned to work in the ER and now had a permanent 12-hour-day schedule. 
“Thank you, Ryan.  I enjoyed having dinner with you.”

“Thank you for being my date for the evening.  Well, you
look tired so, go to bed. I’m going to stay up for a while.”

Megan couldn’t get her feet to move as she stood there in
a trance.
No, Megan. Don’t think about that. Dinner is all he asked you to
have with him
.  Her fingers itched to touch his face, to stroke his sexy,
strong jaw. Just thinking about that large, solid, dominant body over her made
her fidget. She took a deep breath, willing her racing heart to slow. Ryan
expected total control in the bedroom.  He dominated her and she loved it when
he did that.  Short of tying her to the bed and having his way with her, which
she wouldn’t mind trying at least once with him, no one would know that about
her mild-mannered husband. He was a freak in the bedroom and she wanted him to
make love to her right now.

He looked up at her from the couch. “Is something wrong?”

The breath left her body as her eyes roamed over him. “I
want you to take me a hundred different ways and then do it again.”

His jaw dropped. “What?”

“You heard me.  We’re still married, Ryan.  I want you so
badly right now it hurts.”

“Megan, I don’t think we should…”

“What, you don’t find me desirable anymore?”

“That’s not it at all.”

“Then what is it, Ryan?  I’m offering myself to you with
no strings attached, just for one night.”

*****

Ryan never saw her coming. She dropped her ass in his lap
and her arms flung around his neck. His arms tightened around her waist to keep
her from sliding on the floor as she peppered him with kisses. He could feel
the sexual excitement radiating from her body.

“Ryan, I want you.  I know you want me too.  I see how you
look at me when we’re here together.  That seductive eyebrow lift you do…I’ve
seen it more than once.”

Oh, Christ!
This was a rare delicacy being handed
to him. A craving he’d had since they separated. He did want her and if she
didn’t stop bouncing that luscious rear end against him, he was going to have
an accident in his pants. Her ample breasts were pressed against his chest and
rubbing him when she moved.  Megan threaded her fingers through his short hair
and their eyes collided as she tipped his head back.  Ryan’s heart stuttered
from her passionate gaze.  She still loved him and desired him.  The fire that
their marriage once had was not completely gone.

As his hands slid against
her shoulders, he felt that familiar stirring in his body. He found himself
wanting to explore her familiar curves, touch her smooth skin, and discover
whether she tasted as good as the new scent she wore. He kissed her wrists with
soft pressure, his tongue gliding along her beating pulse, then moving up her
arm and over the top of her collar bone. He cupped her breasts, his callused
fingers gentle as he circled her sensitive peaks through her clothing.  He
refrained from touching her where she ached, where she needed to be touched as
she wiggled on his lap.

Her lids lowered slowly as her mouth descended to his.
Ryan closed his eyes and moved one hand up to the back of her head, sighing as
his fingers sifted through her newly coiffured hair, messing it up.  Her tongue
teased his between nibbles on his lips and it made him want more, need her
more.  Putting pressure on the back of her head, he crushed her mouth to his,
wanting to explore every inch and renew himself with her. His hand slid down to
grab her hips and she groaned into his mouth as their tongues dueled.  He was
hard enough to pound nails and not feel any pain.  She slid her hand between them
and grabbed the front of his jeans, groping his painful erection and squeezing
it tight.

She pulled her mouth away, panting as she buried her face
in his neck.  Ryan felt her hot breath against his ear as she whispered.
“You’re ready for me.”

The small nips she delivered down the side of his neck
were enough for him to carry her to the bedroom.  He dropped her on the bed and
she hurried to remove her blouse and pull off her jeans.  Ryan hurried to
discard his clothing and leaned over her.  Her eyes were ablaze with need and
he intended to make her regret forbidding him access to her.

“Do you want me?” His eyes burned into her.

Megan sucked on her bottom lip and said, “Yes, I do.”

Ryan leaned further into her, his tongue tracing down her
chest and disappearing between her deep cleavage.  She tasted as he
remembered.  “How badly do you want me?”

He was nearly on top of her and Megan lay back on the bed
urging him to get on with it. “I’m on fire for you, baby.  Touch me and you’ll
get burned.”

He released a seductive growl. “I’m going to make love to
you until neither of us is able to move.”  He felt her shiver as he removed the
soft pink bra that barely covered her breasts and the matching bikini panties.

His thumbs teased her sensitive nipples, his fingers branding
her, leaving trails of heat on her skin. He sucked a hardened nipple into his
mouth and she drew in a deep breath answering softly, “Then do it. Make love to
me until I can’t freaking move.” Her legs opened on the bed, her body begging
him to end her hunger.

Raw need ripped through him as he assaulted her mouth,
pulling her bottom lip with his teeth.  He used one hand to grip her behind,
pulling her up against his erection, teasing her until she moaned.  She was wet
and ready for him to be inside her, but he was stalling, part of his punishment
for her.  She cried out again as he slid his wet tongue across her nipple at
the same time he pinched the other, making her back arch off the bed from the
intense pleasure.

“More!” she wailed, yearning for even more intimate
contact from him. She pushed against him, eager to touch him, needing to pull
him closer.

“Beg harder, baby, or I’ll stop.”

She whimpered in submission.  He knew she was willing to
give him anything as long as he just continued to please her.

“Are you going to beg me?” he demanded.

“Yes. Yes, I’m begging,” she reached for his manhood and
he pulled away. “Please, baby, I want it…give it to me.”

 “Good, Megan. That’s what I want to hear.”

“Yes, Please, more,” she etched out with pure desire in
her voice.

Ryan blew a warm breath across her wet nipples, making
them stiffen again and peak up toward his mouth. His lips closed over them as
they swelled. She gasped as he sucked hard, his tongue swirling around the
tight buds.

His hand began moving down her stomach, letting his
fingers dance across her skin until he reached her inner thigh. His thumb
grazed the flesh over her pelvic bone, a spasm ripped through her body.  He
teased her as he circled her swollen womanhood without touching its center, not
willing to relieve the burning ache she suffered, just yet.