Page 89 of Almost Ours
“Ready?” he asked, his voice low and warm.
I nodded, my cheeks warming as he started the engine, the truck rumbling to life beneath us. The cab filled with the steady hum of his playlist–a mix of country and classic rock that somehow suited him perfectly. Adjusting his jacket over my lap, I ran my fingers along the worn fabric, letting the scent and feel of it settle around me.
For a moment, we sat in comfortable silence, the truck rocking slightly over uneven patches of snow. I leaned back against the seat, watching the glow of streetlights blur past, the town quiet and still beneath its fresh dusting of white. The snowfall had slowed, leaving everything peaceful, almost untouched.
He glanced over, a small but genuine smile curving his lips, and then his hand found mine again. His thumb brushed over my knuckles, the slow, deliberate motion sending a shiver up my spine that had nothing to do with the cold.
It caught me off guard.
For the briefest moment, I let myself wonder if this could be more than stolen glances and easy conversation–if maybe there was something here worth holding on to. But the thought brought Reid’s shadow with it, and I remembered exactly why I’d built walls in the first place. I couldn’t risk putting Connor–or myself–through that kind of wreckage again.
I was getting ahead of myself. I doubt Ryan would want anything serious with me anyway. Why would he? I was a difficult person to love.
I forced myself to focus on the warmth of the cab and the quiet hum of the music, the solid weight of his hand in mine. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Ryan watching me, his mouth twitching into that lopsided smile–the one I was starting to recognize as hisHarper smile.
The truck slowed as we turned onto my street, my house coming into view. Anticipation crackled in the air, thick enough to drown in.
By the time we reached my driveway, the tension between us had stretched so tight, it snapped the moment we stepped inside. I barely managed to kick the door closed before I was on him, fisting his shirt and pushing him back against the wood.
His eyes darkened with surprise, then hunger.
And then I was kissing him–hot and desperate andtoo muchin the best way. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me flush against him, and I melted into the solid heat of his body. The air between us was charged, frantic, every movement pulling me deeper into something I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to come back from.
I broke the kiss, chest heaving, and before he could stop me. I dropped to my knees.
Ryan let out a low curse, his fingers flexing in my hair. “Harper–”
I looked up, meeting his gaze with quiet insistence.Let me.
His throat bobbed. I could see the hesitation in his eyes, the war between wanting this and wanting to make sure I really did too. That alone made something tighten in my chest.
I pressed my palm to his thighs. “I want to,” I whispered.
The breath he released was shaky, his fingers threading through my hair.
This moment–it wasn’t about obligation or expectation. It was about him. About wanting to take care of him the way he had taken care of me.
I reached for his belt, unfastening it with deliberate slowness, anticipation humming in my veins. And when I finally freed him, I paused, my breath catching.
Iknewhe’d be impressive. But still.
Ryan smirked slightly, shifting under my gaze. “You good?” His voice was rough, teasing, but there was a hint of uncertainty underneath it.
That made me smile, warmth blooming in my chest. “Oh, I’m very good,” I murmured, dragging my gaze back to his.
His fingers tightened in my hair as I began, and the sharp inhale he let out sent a thrill through me. Every sound, every involuntary twitch, felt like a reward. And so I gave myself over to the moment completely.
Ryan’s grip tightened in my hair as he tugged me up, his chest rising and falling unevenly. His hands found my face, his thumbs brushing over my cheekbones as he met my gaze–heated, intense,needing.
“Fuck, Harper.” he rasped, his voice thick with restraint.
His forehead pressed against mine for a brief moment, his breath warm against my lips. Then, his grip slid to my waist, pulling me flush against him as his voice dipped lower.
“I need to feel myself inside you. Need to feel you pulsing around my cock like you did around my fingers earlier.” Histhumb traced lazy circles over my hip bone. “I need to feel you come undone while I’m inside of you.”
A shiver ran down my spine, heat unfurling in my core so fast it left me breathless. I needed him. Right. Now.
Our mouths crashed together in a desperate, searching kiss as we stumbled toward the couch. My fingers dug into his shoulders, and he caught my waist, steadying me like he knew exactly what I needed before I did.
