Ryan chuckles.
“Okay, I’m leaving. But Leighton, you should know anybody can access that footage with the password.”
He’s right—we have a security camera. But no one checks the footage. And I
have the password too. I can easily erase the half an hour in question.
My heartbeat picks up as footsteps move toward the door.
The bell rings.
The door slams into the frame.
I push aside my friends’ commentary. I push aside the five foot three, raven-haired, honey-eyed elephant in the room. I push aside everything besides the desire pooling between my legs.
Dean is gone.
It’s just me and Ryan.
We’ve been alone at Inked Hearts a million times. But not like this. Never like this.
After a deep breath, I turn the handle and step into the main room.
The window shades block the sunset. Pink and red string lights glow in the dim room. The hearts shine like stars in a dark sky.
Ryan is leaning against the counter, the picture of patience. His pupils dilate as I unfurl my fist to show off my black panties.
Fuck, it feels so good having every ounce of his attention.
Having him wrapped around my finger.
It’s half a dozen steps to him. As soon as his fingers brush my palm, I crumble. I lose any sort of upper hand. But then I don’t care about being the one in control.
He takes my panties and slides them into his pocket.
I back into the counter. My palms hit the plastic. Slowly, I push myself up.
I stare into his eyes as I spread my legs.
God, the intensity in those baby blues. Like he’s going to devour me. Like he’s going to drive me out of my damn mind. No, that isn’t a like.
It’s exactly what he’s going to do.
His fingertips curl into my skin as he places himself between my legs. “You’re nervous.”
“Not for this.”
“Yeah for this.”
I hold up my thumb and forefinger. A little. “To leave the shop. To lose my family here.” To go to Hawaii and face the possibility of losing him.
“You won’t lose me.”
“Easy to say when you’re about to fuck me.”
“I’m not about to fuck you. It’s gonna be an eternity before I fuck you.”
I swallow hard.