Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 80689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“They’re not gonna just dump Charity on the side of the road. Worst case, he’ll refuse to pay the bill, and I’ll use that money he gave me to keep her in while we sort out what to do next, once Charity recovers from her infection.”
I let Ryan sit with his thoughts as I phone my aunt. She tells me Charity’s been able to get up and move a bit more, but she’s still sleeping most of the day. I let her know we might need a new plan, which piques her curiosity. “Why? What’s going on?”
“I’ll explain everything tomorrow. Our flight is at six a.m., so we’ll be there bright and early.”
“I’m pleased to hear that. I’m looking forward to seeing you. And I’m sure having you here in person will make all the difference to Charity.”
“I hope so.”
We chat a bit more before I tell her good night, and I rejoin Ryan on one of the twin-size beds, spooning him, my arm hooked around his chest. He cradles my arm as I kiss his nape. Then he rolls toward me, cupping my face with his hands and offering another kiss that starts off tender before he firms it.
I feel his desire, his need for me to be here for him right now.
“Someone’s feeling frisky,” I say.
“Thank you.” He leans back.
“I told you already. I didn’t mind getting the Uber. You can get it tomorrow to the airport.”
He glares at me. “You know that’s not what I mean. Thank you for coming to Hawthorne Heights. Thank you for fucking me for money. Thank you for not fucking my brother when he offered you even more. Thank you for listening and giving a fuck.” He studies my face. “Thank you for falling in love with me.”
“Thank you for falling in love with me,” I say, moving close and stealing a kiss.
The heat between us intensifies before Ryan says, “I need you now, Jonas. Fuck tonight out of my head. Fuck me until I’m so lost in us that I forget about all the other bullshit.”
I obey, and we’re a clumsy mess of tearing off clothes, pulling back the comforter, and scrambling for lube from my bag until we wind up back in bed together. Even with the interruption, we’ve developed a rhythm we effortlessly fall back into. Soon I’m inside him, enjoying the sensation of his tight hole against my shaft as we work each other up in a frenzy.
As we’re fucking, it becomes apparent the AC isn’t on since I’m soaking him with my sweat, which he doesn’t seem to mind. Maybe because the oppressive heat only helps distract us even more from the horrors that unfolded tonight.
As Ryan calls out my name, I kiss across his face, licking his salty flesh, the tension in me relaxing as my body seems to accept what I already know—that we’re free. Truly free.
“I’m so close,” he whispers into my ear, and I lean back on my knees, jerking his cock as he writhes beneath me. I want to give him this release, this escape from his pain.
“Harder. Fuck me harder,” he begs, and as I obey, the shitty metal headboard rattles against the wall. Ryan reaches back and grabs hold of the metal rods along it, clinging tight as his cock pulses in my grip and he blows across his abs.
It’s a sight that’s too much for me, and soon I’m a mess of thrusts and shivering as I release inside him. His ass clenches around my shaft, like it doesn’t want to let me out. Like he’s clinging to this moment, not wanting either of us to return to reality.
This is what so many of our fucks have been like since we met. A precious escape from a cruel world and equally cruel pasts.
As his tight hole drains my cock, it’s like he’s draining every last bit of stress from my body.
I collapse on top of him, swapping tongue-filled kisses. By now, the room feels like a goddamn sauna, our sweat-soaked bodies clinging, our body heat making the July night that much hotter.
I need to turn on the fucking AC, but as I gaze into his eyes, a smile tugs across his lips, and I don’t want to leave this moment.
I just want to keep staring at this man who’s totally enchanted me. A man I’m starting to realize I might want to spend the rest of my goddamn life with.
EPILOGUE
RYAN
Five months later
With a present cradled under each arm, I head downstairs and tuck the presents under the tree with all the others. The sound of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” comes from the kitchen, muddled by Amy’s and Jonas’s chatter.
I’m about to head in and join them, but I stop and admire the tree.
The ornaments and trim glittering among strings of white lights.