wielded it at all. I move closer to him, step by step, lifting my right hand slowly to toy with the button of his jeans. “Are there any neighbors close by to hear me scream your name?”
“Jessie,” he says harshly. “Stop.”
“When you force yourself through my virginity…” I push out my lower lip. “Do you think you’ll feel it tear?”
Ryan makes a ragged sound and lunges toward me, his mouth stamping down on mine, twisting my lips open and plunging his tongue deep inside. His hands climb the backs of my thighs and reach up beneath my dress, grasping my buttocks. I wail his name into his mouth over the punishing nature of his grip, but it thrills me. Makes me hot and wet between my legs. Holding onto his shoulders, I boost myself up his extra-large body and wind my legs around his hips—and the world blurs as I’m turned and rammed into the wall, Ryan thrusting up between my thighs like a snarling beast, his mouth releasing mine to grunt into the curve of my neck. “I ought to spank your sweet, little ass,” he growls. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited for this? Do you think my obsession with you is a game?”
My breath catches. “No. I’m starting to realize it isn’t.”
He lifts his head, eyes glittering as they land on mine. “Are you scared?”
“No,” I whisper, honestly. “I could never be scared of you. I’m only scared of what you want from me.”
“We have all the time in the world to fight that fear until it’s gone. I’m not going anywhere.” He grinds his erection against my core, as if powerless to stop, his groan long and agonized. Animalistic. “Almost, Jessie. You’re almost ready for me.”
“I’m ready,” I whimper. “I’m ready now.”
“I’m not talking about your pretty, wet pussy.” He presses his forehead to mine. “I’m talking about up here.”
With that, Ryan carries me from the room, his hands still molded to my bottom. He sets me down on the kitchen table and without breaking eye contact, he reaches into the to-go bag full of food and removes a container, ripping off the lid. I catch a whiff of glorious flavors like lemon, butter, cream and before I know it, he’s feeding me bites of chicken and pasta, wrapped around a plastic fork. There’s something so hot about Ryan feeding me. Like he’s in charge of my care and comfort and I have nothing to think about except being pampered.
“You liked when I fed you this morning. It turned you on.”
Caught off guard by his astuteness, I swallow a bite. “How could you tell?”
He doesn’t answer, but I get the odd feeling he’s harboring secrets behind those blue eyes. “Is your mother back in town, Jessie?”
I pull back instead of accepting the next bite, my pulse clamoring in my wrists. “Why would you think that?”
“She’s needed money from you in the past. I assume she’s come around begging for more and made you believe you’re responsible for providing it.”
Emotion wells up in my throat. Normally, I would make a joke and leave the room. I would run away from the understanding and sympathy in his expression. Telling him my secrets makes me weak. Makes me vulnerable. But I have nowhere to go. I have nowhere to run, and so a tiny bit of honesty ekes out. “I am responsible.”
Ryan sets down the fork, his hardened detective vibe actually making me kind of…comfortable. He’s not fawning over me or drowning me in pity, he’s all business and some of my fear of being exposed dissipates. “What makes you think so?”
“She…” My lack of experience being truthful makes me tongue tied. “She, you know…she put herself between me and my father. I owe her.”
“Jessie…” He tips up my chin. “I’m grateful she protected you. But that was her job as a mother. How long are you going to repay her for doing her duty? Until you’re so desperate you commit a felony?”
Heat presses behind my eyes. “I think I knew you’d stop me.”
“Good.” He kisses my forehead. “That’s called trust.”
Panic trips through my belly. “Maybe I just know you’re nosy.”
“It’s trust.” He stoops down until we’re eye level. “You’re worried about people knowing your faults because they might use them against you. I learned that the night I found you crying on your bedroom floor. But you know what? I think your weaknesses are actually what make you strong. Compassion. Loyalty. Bravery. You just have