Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 89265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 298(@300wpm)
As soon as I could after the ceremony, I found Ryan in the reception tent and dragged him back into the house. Pulling him into the first empty room I came to, I shut the door and threw my arms around him, sealing my mouth to his.
He groaned and wrapped me in his powerful embrace, lifting me right off the floor. We kissed until we were hot and breathless and starting to get frustrated with clothing.
“We better stop,” he said, “or I’m going to tear you apart before dinner.”
“Save it for later?” I asked, my body desperate to feel his again.
“Definitely. You have no idea how much I missed you.”
I smiled and kissed him again. “I bet I do.”
At Emme’s insistence, we squeezed an extra chair in at the head table for Ryan. Sitting with us were the bride and groom, whom we tortured endlessly by banging our silverware on our glasses, Maren and Dallas, Nate’s two groomsmen and their wives.
I introduced Ryan to everyone and although he was quiet throughout most of dinner, he did chat with Dallas about tattoos and motorcycles for a while—apparently Dallas was in the market for a bike and Ryan was considering more ink. He also conversed with one of Nate’s friends about urban farming in Detroit. For a moment, I froze, praying I wouldn’t hear the words colony collapse disorder. Thankfully, the guy was more into vegetables than bees, and I experienced a secret thrill when I heard him ask Ryan how often he got to Detroit and the answer was, “Not too often in the past, but hopefully more in the future.”
Later, the band played Sinatra and I dragged him out on the dance floor, despite his protestations that he was not a dancer.
“I’m not either,” I said, “I just like this song.”
“I have no rhythm.” But he put an arm around my back and took my hand.
“I don’t believe you,” I said. “You have demonstrated excellent rhythm to me several times in the past.”
“That’s different.”
“It’s not. I don’t need fancy footwork. Just hold me really close and sway. I’ll be happy.”
He sighed. “I’ll do my best.”
A minute later, Grams and Roberto danced by. “Well, hello darlings!” she said. “Don’t you two look cozy.”
Roberto, an excellent dancer, turned Grams under his arm toward us. Before spinning back toward him, she leaned over and said, “You’re welcome.”
Then they were off again, leaving us to sway in place, a little awkwardly, a little out of time to the beat, but I didn’t care.
We had our own rhythm, and it was perfect.
Later, my mother and Phil drove Grams home so Ryan could stay and enjoy the reception with me. But it wasn’t long afterward that I began to get tired of being in a crowd. I loved the way people looked at us, with a mix of envy and curiosity, but I knew that being on display was not Ryan’s thing. After cake and coffee spiked with a little whiskey, I leaned over to him. “Want to get out of here?”
“Say the word,” he said quietly. “I can’t wait to be alone with you.”
“Let’s do it.” We said goodnight to my family, and Emme gave me an extra long, hard hug.
“I’m so happy for you,” she whispered. “I have such a good feeling about you guys.”
“Me too. Have fun tonight.”
She let go of me and gave me a sly grin. “You too.” Then she turned to Ryan and threw her arms around his neck, kissing his cheek. “Thank you so much for coming,” she said. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Grams told him she needed an escort to a funeral,” I told them. “Can you believe that?”
“I’d say no, but I’ve met her.” Nate shook his head and glanced down at Emme. “It’s always the little ones you have to look out for.”
Emme gave him a dirty look and soft punch to the stomach. “Watch it, husband.”
Nate caught her in his arms from behind, locking her in his grasp. “Seriously, you’re a good man to agree to that,” he said to Ryan. “Any other guy I know would have found some reason to say no.”
I took Ryan’s hand. “He is a good man.”
Finally, we were alone in the guest cabin I had to myself for the weekend.
Ryan loosened his tie, but I’d stopped him there.
“Let me,” I whispered.
It was heady business, slipping a tie from around a man’s neck. A jacket from his shoulders. A belt from his pants. I unbuttoned his cuffs. His collar. The row down the front of his shirt. I lifted the hem of his undershirt and watched as he yanked it over his head from the back of his neck and tossed it aside.
At the sight of his bare chest, my stomach quivered, and I felt my core muscles clench. I ran my hands all over his skin. My lips. My tongue. I walked him backward toward the foot of the bed and attempted to push him onto it.