Gilded Craving - Olivia Jaymes Page 0,61

she'd never spoken with any other man. She let him take control and he didn't disappoint, their rhythm sending the two of them over the cliff.

When they finally came down, sucking oxygen into their starved lungs, Ryan fell onto his back, pulling him with her so she was tucked into his side. She pillowed her head on his chest, loving the steady thump of his heart under her ear. It was so right, so solid, so safe and warm. She never wanted to move from here, content to live the rest of her life in this bed with this man.

They'd have to order food in, of course.

She was drifting in and out of sleep, Ryan's fingers stroking her skin when she heard it.

The words.

She hadn't known how much she wanted them until she heard them.

"I love you, Mariah."

The sting of tears behind her closed eyelids matched the ache in her chest. Licking her lips, the words fell easily from her tongue. She didn't want him to think for one minute that she didn't feel the same.

"I love you, too."

They would work it all out. It wouldn't be easy, but it would be worth it.

Ryan was worth it.

It was the same old story. Ryan couldn't sleep.

He ought to be sawing logs with Mister Sandman after making love with Mariah, but even amazing sex with the love of his life hadn't managed to put him out. His mind was simply too active, constantly keeping him up when most of the world was out like a light. Luckily, he was used to it and honestly, he didn't need much sleep. He could easily function on three or four hours. While Mariah slumbered peacefully, he'd try to get some work done. There was always a never-ending list of reports to do.

"Some things never change."

He heard her soft voice before he saw her. He was going through the emails on his phone when her bare feet came into his line of sight. His gaze rose to take her all in and his heart tumbled in his chest. How on earth had he lived one single minute without her?

She looked absolutely adorable. All sleepy and mussed. Her long dark hair in a riot around her shoulders with a few stray strands sticking up in the back. Mariah's hair had a tendency to curl and a couple were clinging to her creamy cheeks as if for dear life. Wearing a tank top and striped sleep shorts, she yawned and rubbed at her eyes.

"You're awake again. Do you ever sleep?"

"I sleep. Just not as much as you do."

Mariah loved to sleep. She had always extolled the virtues of eight solid hours of sack time a night. Ryan didn't think he'd slept that much even as a child. It simply wasn't in his DNA.

"I don't know how you do it," she replied, settling down on the couch next to him and cuddling close. She was still warm from being wrapped up in the bedcovers, and he placed his phone on the side table so he could pull her even closer. "I would be a walking zombie if I didn't sleep most of the time."

"I'm used to it. I've actually learned to be glad about it over the years. I can stay up and get work done, if I need to, or read or watch television. It's sometimes nice to be awake when the rest of the world is asleep. It's quiet and peaceful."

She rested her head on his shoulder. "Do you want me to leave you alone then?"

"No," he laughed. "I like having your company. You can sit here with me as long as you like."

"I like your company, too." She paused for a moment, but Ryan could tell that she wasn't finished speaking. She had something to say. "I'm not sorry that we did that."

Ah, they were going to have the talk.

"I'm not sorry either."

Another long pause.

"Did you mean what you said?"

"About what?"

"Maybe moving back here."

She thought he wasn't serious about making compromises. Time to let her know that he really had changed.

"I meant it. I want this to work between the two of us. It's now one of my main priorities."

Her fingertips skittered over his arm. "I don't know that I've ever been a priority to you. This will be interesting."

That was his fault. He hadn't been good at showing her, but then he'd been too young to know what to do. Hopefully, he had a better idea now.

"I'm sorry that I made you feel that way.