Page 88 of Pretty Wild

No pun intended.

Ryan releases her hold on me and quickly moves to the nightstand. She pulls a single condom from within and rips it open with her teeth. I don’t even have time to remove my shirt. She’s covering my dick with the protection and hoisting herself back up my body moments later. Lifting herself up, I shift my cock to her entrance, and she lowers herself onto me.

I groan, feeling her tight, wet pussy grip my cock like a glove. It’s perfect—she’sperfect. Everything about her, including her bubbly personality, is exactly what I didn’t even realize I was looking for. She’s the positive to my negative, the sunshine to my grump. And this right here? A-fucking-mazing.

For the first time in my life, I picture my future differently. I see a woman there. And not just any woman,thiswoman. The problem is she’s leaving soon. In about a week and a half she’ll be heading back to California, just like she planned. And this fling will be over.

Even if I don’t want it to be.

“Marcus?” she whispers, running her tongue up the side of my neck.

I grunt out a hoarse, “Yeah?”

“Move.”

She doesn’t have to tell me twice.

25

RYAN

Atear rolls down my cheek.

I’ve been watching him sleep for the past hour. After the first round of sex, he convinced me to go with him to his place. If people were looking for me, he felt it was safer for me to be in his cabin, where my name wasn’t attached to the rental agreement. I understood his train of thought, even though I knew it wasn’t necessary.

I wouldn’t be staying.

I had to leave. The entire town erupted in chaos. While Marcus ran out to pick up dinner from the diner and Buddy from Dale’s house, I packed up my belongings. Marcus thought I was doing it to move into his cabin for a few nights, but I knew in my heart this was it. I couldn’t stay. I can’t subject this beautiful, small town to the pandemonium that comes with my life. It’s not fair to them.

Any of them.

Especially Marcus.

Hallie checked in with me, as did the rest of the women I consider friends. Ellie mentioned that TD was still working, trying to get order back amidst the madness. And the paparazzi?They were talking to everyone they could, trying to dig up any ounce of information they could. By now, I’m sure they found out where my rental is. It wouldn’t be too hard, even if I used my middle name, and it was only a matter of time before they descended on Marcus’s private little world in the timber.

When Marcus returned, we ate in the kitchen and played with Buddy. When it was time for the dog to go outside, Marcus went alone, refusing to let me join him for fear someone was lurking out there somewhere. At the end of the evening, we put Buddy to bed and went to bed ourselves. But we didn’t sleep. At least not for a while. We made love. Twice more.

That’s what it was, at least for me.

I’m falling in love with Marcus Wright, andthat’swhy I need to go.

Not because I’m scared of the way I feel, but simply to protect him. I’m sure he’d laugh if I suggested he needs protecting, but he does. From the madness that surrounds me and my life. Marcus prefers solitude. He craves the privacy of his own cabin, surrounded by nothing but nature. His world is simple, quiet, and so unlike my own.

His world is here.

And mine isn’t.

Another tear falls as I carefully slide out from under his arm. He stirs but doesn’t fully wake. After a few seconds, he settles against his pillow and falls back into a deep sleep. I quickly move to retrieve my clothes. I left most of my belongings in my rental SUV after TD dropped it off, only bringing a few items inside for bed. The plan was to bring in all the luggage in the morning, but that’s not what’s going to happen.

I won’t be here.

Silently, I dress in the bathroom. My sandals are by the front door, so as soon as I’ve slipped on a T-shirt and pair of shorts, I run my fingers through my hair and wipe off what little makeupmight be smeared beneath my eyes. When I’m ready, I grab the Wright Auto Repair hat and place it on my head. Even if I won’t be here, I’ll still carry a piece of him with me.

Not only in my heart but sitting on top of my head.

That thought brings a smile to my face.

As quiet as a mouse, I flip off the light and slip from the bathroom. There’s enough moonlight filtering through the big windows to illuminate Marcus in bed. He’s breathtaking. Never in a million years would I have thought I’d fall for a rugged man like him, but here we are. My heart belongs to him, and probably always will. In less than three weeks’ time, I fell in love with the grumpy man who rescued me on the side of the road.

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