Chapter 7

seven

?. . .?

Ava

I struggle to focus on the books I'm shelving, my mind still reeling from last night's abrupt departure. Ryan's face, etched with confusion and concern, haunts me. The chime of the door startles me, and I turn to find him standing there, his presence filling the small bookstore.

"Ava, we need to talk." His voice is gentle but firm, his eyes searching mine for answers.

I swallow hard, my grip tightening on the book in my hand. "There's nothing to talk about, Ryan. I told you, this...it's not going to work."

He steps closer, his warmth enveloping me. "Why? Because you think I'm going to leave? Ava, I'm not going anywhere."

I laugh bitterly, the sound hollow in my ears. "That's what they all say. But in the end, they always leave. And I'm left picking up the pieces of my shattered heart."

His eyes darken. "Who's they?"

I swallow. "My ex, and…and my dad." Admitting the truth hurts. That my dad ran out on me after my mom dad, leaving me all alone with my grandma—who was wonderful, but still. It hurts that I wasn't enough. That he left.

Ryan's hand cups my cheek, his thumb brushing away a stray tear I didn't even realize had fallen. "I'm not like them, Ava. I would never hurt you."

I shake my head, pulling away from his touch. "You can't promise that. No one can."

I turn away, busying myself with straightening the already immaculate shelves.

His hand on my shoulder gently turns me back to face him. "Ava, listen to me. I know what it's like to be afraid of getting hurt. I've been there."

I meet his gaze, surprised by the raw vulnerability I see there. "What do you mean?"

He takes a deep breath, as if steeling himself. "My mom left when I was a kid. Just packed up and walked out one day, no explanation. And my dad...he wasn't exactly the nurturing type. I grew up thinking that love was a weakness, that it only led to pain."

My heart aches for the little boy he once was, the man he's become despite it all. "Ryan, I'm so sorry."

He shakes his head, a sad smile on his lips. "I'm not telling you this for sympathy, Ava. I'm telling you because I want you to understand that I get it. I know how hard it is to trust, to let someone in. But I also know that if you don't take that risk, you'll miss out on something incredible."

I bite my lip, torn between the desire to fall into his arms and the fear of what will happen when he inevitably leaves.

His fingers trail up my spine, igniting sparks beneath my skin. I shiver, pressing closer, needing to feel every inch of him against me.

"Ava," he breathes, his lips brushing my ear. "You're so fucking beautiful."

I tilt my head back, meeting his heated gaze. "I'm not-"

"Don't." His grip tightens, his eyes intense. "Don't put yourself down. You are gorgeous, inside and out. And I'm going to spend every damn day proving it to you until you believe it."

Tears prick my eyes at the fervor in his words. No one has ever made me feel so seen, so cherished. "Ryan..."

"I mean it, sweetheart. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. Not unless you tell me to."

I shake my head vehemently. "No. Stay. Please."

A slow smile spreads across his face, his dimple appearing. "There's nowhere else I'd rather be."

Then his mouth is on mine, hot and demanding. I moan into the kiss, parting my lips to grant him access. His tongue sweeps inside, claiming me, consuming me.

I lose myself in the sensations—the rasp of his stubble against my skin, the press of his hard body, the intoxicating taste of him. All the doubts and insecurities fade away until there's nothing but this moment, this man.

His hands roam my curves, leaving trails of fire in their wake. I arch into his touch, silently begging for more. He growls in approval, his fingers slipping beneath the hem of my sweater to splay across my bare skin.

"Ryan, please..." I'm not even sure what I'm asking for, I just know I need him like I need air.

"I've got you, baby," he promises, his voice raw with desire. "I'll give you everything."

And as he carries me upstairs and lowers me onto the bed, his weight deliciously heavy, I believe him.

Ryan's hands skim along my ribcage, his touch electric even through the fabric of my top. I shiver, my skin pebbling with goosebumps as anticipation builds low in my belly.

His fingers dip beneath the hem, brushing against the sensitive skin there. I suck in a sharp breath. He pauses, his eyes seeking permission.

I nod, not trusting my voice. Slowly, reverently, he lifts the garment up and over my head, tossing it aside. Cool air washes over my exposed skin but it's quickly chased away by the heat of his gaze.

"So fucking beautiful," he murmurs, almost to himself.

Self-consciousness battles with desire as his eyes rake over me slowly. I know he's seen me before, but this time is different. It's slow and purposeful and…vulnerable. I fight the urge to cover myself, to hide the soft curves and stretch marks that map my body's history.

As if sensing my unease, Ryan leans down, trailing gentle kisses along my collarbone, up the column of my throat. "Perfect," he whispers against my pulse point. "Every inch of you."

Tears prick behind my eyelids at the raw sincerity in his tone. I run my fingers through his hair, anchoring him to me. He lavishes attention on my neck, my jaw, painting devotion with his lips and tongue.

My hands slip beneath his shirt, eager to map the hard planes of his back, the flex of muscle. He helps me strip it off before lowering his bulk onto me again, skin against skin.

The rough dusting of his chest hair abrading my nipples sends sparks of pleasure through me. I hook a leg over his hip, drawing him closer, savoring the weight of him.

Our mouths meet again, deep and drugging. There's no rush despite the intensity, just a slow, thorough exploration. He tastes like coming home and new beginnings all at once.

I lose myself to sensation—touch and taste and scent. The rest of the world falls away until there is only us, only this. Two broken souls finding solace in each other.

His hands are everywhere—cupping my breasts, tracing my curves, sending shivers down my spine. Mine are just as greedy, learning every inch of him.

When his fingers slip between my thighs, I gasp aloud. The sensation of being touched there sends my mind reeling. Ryan teases me expertly, nudging at my entrance before swirling back up to stroke my clit.

The pleasure spikes, white-hot and blinding. "Ryan," I pant.

"I've got you, baby," he growls, and then his mouth is on me, sucking my clit into his mouth, tongue flicking and lapping until I'm sobbing his name and flying apart.

The orgasm rocks me to my core, leaving me breathless and shaking in its wake.

Ryan's not done with me yet. He hoists himself over me, brushing the hair from my face. "Look at me," he demands, his eyes blazing.

I meet his gaze, drowning in the intensity I find there. "Yours," I gasp.

A smile tugs at his lips, a wicked glint in his eye. "That's right, Ava. You're mine."

Then he's inside me, hard and deep, stretching me in the best possible way. I tighten around him, my body reacting to his on instinct.

He thrusts—slow at first, then picking up speed. Each powerful stroke sets me on fire.

"Tell me you want me," he commands.

"I...I want you, Ryan," I moan, my cheeks flushing but my need overpowering any lingering shyness.

He growls in response, burying his face in the crook of my neck as he thrusts deeper, harder. "Say it louder, baby. Beg for me."

"I want you, Ryan! I need you!" The words tumble out of my mouth, unfiltered and raw, and God, it feels good.

His response is wordless, a groan torn from his throat as he picks up the pace. I can feel the tension coiling tighter and tighter, the heat between my legs building once more.

"That's it," he grunts, "come for me again, Ava. Come with me."

The world tilts on its axis as I do just that, spiraling over the edge with an almighty cry. Ryan follows, his body tensing above mine before collapsing against me, breathing ragged, spent.

As we catch our breath, our hearts pounding in tandem, I look into his eyes and see a truth there that I've never seen before.

"I...I love you, Ava," he whispers between breaths, his eyes brimming with emotion.

Tears well up in my own as I stroke his cheek tenderly. "I love you too, Ryan."

We stay entwined for what feels like an eternity, our bodies still joined as our pulses gradually slow to a normal rhythm. The room around us fades away, and it's like it's just the two of us in this world.

"I'm never going to fucking leave you, you beautiful thing. You're mine."