Page 108 of Her Maine Reaction

“Because then you won’t need me to make it for you.”

“Fine,” I huff, taking the mug from his hands. “Keep your big secret to yourself.”

“It’s not the only thing that’s big.” He winks. “And I don’t want to keep it to myself.”

“Oh, I know.” I smile, holding the mug up to my lips and inhaling the delicious aroma.

Putting a DVD in, Ryan comes back and sits next to me, and I lift the blanket up so he can join me. I lean my head on his shoulder and he places his palm on my leg, running it up and down.

Sipping my hot chocolate, I let myself relax into this moment.

∞∞∞

Ryan’s been taking care of me for the past four days, and they’ve been bliss. We’ve watched movies, drank hot cocoa, slept in each other’s arms, and talked about any and everything.

But he has to go back to work today, and I’ll be left alone again, missing him.

“I’ll be home at six,” he tells me, bending over the bed to kiss me on the cheek.

“Okay.” I nod, my voice low.

He sees the look in my eyes, and scratches his jaw. “I mean, I could–”

“No, it’s okay.” I smile weakly, pulling the blanket over my bare shoulder. “You have to save the world. I’ll be fine, I promise.”

“Call me if you need anything. I’ll come right back.”

“I’ll be fine. But, thank you.”

“I’m still going to call and check on you.”

“Okay.” I smile, biting my lip. “Will you be needing a stress reliever?”

“Don’t tease, Ash,” he says, his voice strained. “Because I’ve been needing you.”

“Me, too.” Grabbing his uniform shirt, I pull him down to my lips and kiss him hard.

My head isn’t pounding as much as it was a few days ago, and I’ve been needing him too. I know he hasn’t touched me since the accident because of my concussion, and he doesn’t want to hurt me, but I can’t take another day, or night, of being with him and not ripping his clothes off.

“You better not be late tonight,” I murmur against his lips.

“Six sharp.” He rasps, kissing me back into the pillows. Groaning, he pulls away and stands up straight, staring down at me with molten eyes. “Be by your phone,” he tells me before walking out without a second glance, and I can hear his boots fading the further he storms down the hall.

Smiling, I bite the comforter and roll over, hunkering down deep into the bed.

∞∞∞

My phone ringing wakes me with a start.

“Hello?” I answer groggily.

“Hey, Ash.”

“Ally, hi.”

“Can I come over today? I’ll bring lunch.”

“Yeah, sure. Ryan went back to work today, so we can hang here. I wanted to talk to you.”

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