Page 49 of Forever Fallen

“What are you doing?” she laughed, glancing at him nervously. “It’s not even open yet…”

“I think you are incredibly sexy, too,” he said openly, his dark eyes holding hers as he sat beside her on the chenille pink bedspread that made the room look so feminine and girly.

“You knot up my insides and I couldn’t think realizing you were avoiding me – or our time together. I want this to work… and I googled it to be sure what I was getting into.”

“What? You googledwhatexactly?”

“Did you know that saying ‘or so’could actually mean five to ten years… maybe longer depending on the couple?” he said breathlessly, the side of his lip curling up in a playful manner.

Sophie swallowed audibly before speaking.

“Does it really?”

“No…” he whispered, smiling. “But it might to me.”

“Oh Ryan… how are we…” she crumbled, feeling suddenly so unsure and scared.

“Nope. No crying,” he ordered, leaning forward, and kissing her tenderly, his hand reaching up to curl around the back of her neck – only to cause her to start.

“Omigosh, that’s cold…” she laughed against his lips. “Hands off, buddy.”

“Shoulda got mac-n-cheese,” he grumbled, chuckling, and sliding a glance towards her. “Would you have dinner with me?”

“We are fixing to eat now…”

“I meant, officially…” he hedged, his eyes full of adoration and insecurity as he lay there, sprawled on her bed, propped up on the pillow with the remote control waiting on his shirt, like this was as natural as breathing.

“Would you go on an official date with me, Mrs. Sophie Merrick?”

“Oh yes…” she smiled, nodding and biting her lip. “Just don’t tell my husband.”

“Is he the possessive type?” he teased, smiling widely.

“Very,” she confirmed. “He knows no boundaries and is always trying to kiss me.”

“Maybe you should let him?”

“Maybe I should,” she whispered, leaning towards Ryan.

She adored this banter between them and the little details he was revealing here and there. It made her feel better to know he was just as nervous about this as she was – and to know that he thought she was pretty.

Replaying their first interaction in her mind, knowing how he acted now, and what was said, everything clicked into place.

Her lips brushed against his – and he jerked away, hesitating. He quickly put the ice cream pint on the opposite nightstand, rubbed his hands together quickly before blowing on them, and then smiled at her, wagging his eyebrows.

Sophie burst out laughing, setting hers on the nightstand, too… only to feel him jerk her downwards on the bed, before pulling her to him – kissing her with everything he had.

His lips coaxed hers, making her sigh happily as she realized that she could certainly get used to being cared for by him.

As she kissed him back, she felt something elemental shift between them as he let out a soft groan and his mouth broke from hers, kissing at her jaw and throat…

“Ohhh, no you don’t,” she breathed, pushing at his chest. “Nice try.”

“We’re married,” he countered, chuckling, and resting his head against her neck, dropping a kiss on her collarbone. “Sophie…”

“We’redating, mister,” she replied, smiling happily and unable to resist tracing his shoulders, realizing just how nicely his uniform shirt fit him. “Marriage is a technicality.”

He pushed himself up on his elbows and looked at her, one eyebrow upraised… and she might have thought he was upset if his eyes weren’t dancing with laughter and there wasn’t that tell-tale smirk there.

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