Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

RYAN

" A nd Operation Deck The Bennington Halls is complete," I said, closing the rear of the SUV I'd rented for my stay.

"That remains to be seen," the sexy and far too tempting Vixen next to me drawled, the tiny stud in her nose winking in the fading daylight. Late afternoon sun filtered and bathed her body in a warm glow. The sun set a little before five this time of year, which meant the Christmas lights around town were giving all the holiday vibes up and down Main Street.

The last of the party supplies and the odds and ends our mothers deigned to put on the list of things to do were all either in the back of the black vehicle, or ordered and set for delivery the day after tomorrow to prepare for the Christmas Eve party.

Mikayla leaned against the back after checking her watch. The temperature was in the mid-sixties despite the lack of cloud cover during the day, which also leant to cooler night time temps. Unlike back home in North Carolina, where it was raining and fifty. One glance at Mikayla, though, and the temperature reached at least 100 degrees.

When she suggested playing Truth or Dare, a part of me that had always done the right thing and planned for any outcome morphed into someone else. A guy who went after what he wanted. Consequences be damned.

"Don't think they're done matchmaking?"

She gave me the side eye and grinned. "Have you met our mothers?"

Her lips curved, full and tempting. The image of them wrapped around my fingers only thirty minutes before, woke my cock up. A half-laugh, half-cough, popped out of me, along with a sigh.

"They won't stop until they get what they want." Purple and orange light framed her, picking up the platinum chunks in her hair as she pushed off the tailgate door. "Unless," she said while her finger tapped on her chin.

"Unless?" I prompted, waiting for her to finish.

"Unless we let them think they've accomplished their goal."

I snorted. "In seven hours? Ow." Mikayla punched my arm, hard. Fuck.

"Not in seven hours, CK. We already flew here together. You spent the night at my place. In my bed."

Cue my flinch, because I still couldn't remember sleeping with her.

"And we spent all day together, running a few decidedly romantic errands."

A few of the things on their lists had felt more ‘date', or even, I cringed, wedding planning-esque.

Flowers. A menu sampling to finalize dinner and hors d'oeuvres at Driftlane, the new fusion place in town, and the damn cupcake tasting. Not to mention lights and other romantic holiday decor.

"And we just flipped a switch?"

Her eyes darted behind me, and dread sank into my belly as her chin lifted. "It's time you did a little dare. After all, what says true love like a little ink?"

My mouth opened and closed as she grabbed me by the shoulders and spun me around.

Chase the Ink Tattoos and Piercings.

Why the hell did a small town like this need a damn tattoo parlor?

"My mom would never believe-"

"Exactly. And she wouldn't believe you had a one-night stand with someone you just met on an airplane," God, I wanted to kiss the smirk right off her face, because she was right, "either. But here we are. Fate. A Christmas Miracle. It's kinda on the Naughty List."

Fuck. Another detail from our night together I couldn't remember. Fucking lack of sleep and alcohol were a potent mix for passing out cold, I guess. Before I could utter a single word, she entwined our fingers and pulled me across the street. Kicking and screaming internally all the way.

"Good choice," the petite blonde tattoo artist in black latex gloves said, nodding. "I like the star, and the shine. Subtle, different. Most men want the typical one. This," she grinned, "has meaning. I can tell."

The tattoo parlor and its artist were nothing like I'd imagined, but then again, this was Love Canyon. Art covered one wall from floor to ceiling. Comfy lounge chairs surrounded a low table just waiting for a few friends to sit and maybe play a game of Hold Em. Or eat boozy cupcakes from a few doors down.

When Mikayla said ‘tattoo', my brain put on the brakes. Until I looked up and saw the first star of the night, a twinkling beacon making its appearance.. And I knew. She shined brighter than anyone I'd ever met and appeared out of nowhere. Regardless of the circumstances, Mikayla Jayne lit up the world and showed me things over the past few days I doubted anyone else could.

Then I paid her back by not remembering being with her. A wave of guilt washed over me. She deserved better. So this would be a reminder of the woman who rocked my world by just existing, no matter what happened after the holidays. Mikayla wasn't the type of woman that a man could forget. The dickhead she caught cheating on her didn't deserve to even look at her gorgeous fucking face.

Hell, I barely deserved to.

Her ocean eyes widened as I settled back after checking the placement, just above my heart. "You don't have to do this, Ryan."

"Maybe I want to, to remember. Because, Mikayla Jayne, you are the kind of woman a man should never forget. Not just for one night," I reached over, not able to resist her pull, and ran my thumb along her bottom lip. Her pupils dilated, her breath became ragged, and fuck, I hated I couldn't remember all her responses. "And God, I wished my brain would somehow get out of my way so I could remember every fucking touch, the feel of your skin, and the way you whimpered right before you fell apart." I leaned in closer as the tattoo artist stepped out of the area we were in to whisper in her ear. "Your pussy clenching around my cock because you needed it, needed me. I hate that I can't remember, Starshine."

"Starshine?" she asked, curious eyes searching mine.

"Fuck yeah, Starshine. You lit the way for me. Alex was a childhood crush, and I knew we weren't going to be anything more than best friends. But you showed me I can laugh, and do things I would have never even considered before. I never open up to strangers. I always make lists before I make any decision. I map everything out, and I most fucking certainly would never forget being with a fucking masterpiece like you. You are nothing like I've ever known. You have been everything these past two days." I shook my head in disbelief. "It feels like I've known you for so much longer. But I want to know more, even though it's not what you-"

"You don't have to do this," she whispered, her lips so close her breath became mine. The scent of her skin intoxicated me. Twisted up my insides like no one ever had. My cock jumped at the image of her naked body sliding against mine. Sweat soaked skin from hours of making her body come over and over. Boneless and blissed out in my arms.

"I never do anything I don't want to, Mikayla."

"Let's do this, Ryan, before your mom finds out and dis-invites me to the Christmas party."

"Truth?" Mikayla said, still only inches away from me.

"Now?"

Mikayla bit her lip and dipped her chin once. Before I could say what was on the tip of my tongue, which was ‘ Would you give me a do over, Starshine', she blurted out, "We didn't sleep together. I mean, we slept together because we wouldn't let the other sleep on the couch, but…"

"Mikayla, I was naked," I murmured, my hand cupping her cheek.

"You were going over the ‘Naughty List' and I was laughing, lost my balance, and spilled the drinks I poured for us." White teeth sank in her bottom lip, and she wrinkled her nose. My hand slid down along the side of her neck. Fingers traced the ink on her shoulder as I imagined my tongue taking its place. "I made you go into my room so you could give your clothes to me so I could toss them into the washer, but when I came back, you were under the sheets. And half asleep, then ordered me to climb into bed to snuggle because naked snuggling with a semi stranger was now on the Naughty List. But we didn't have sex."

Relief mixed with disappointment washed over me. Layla, the tattoo artist, stood a few feet away, watching with an amused smile on her face. Relief that I didn't forget this incredible woman.

The other part? A Christmas Wish waiting to come true.

"But," one brow rose as she pressed her body against mine. "I'm not against giving us both a fucking naughty memory tonight. If you're up to it."

"Oh, baby girl, that sounds like a dare."

She shrugged one shoulder. "And a truth. If you can handle it."

"Oh, I plan on showing you exactly how much I can handle. But first," I stepped back, the loss of her body against mine leaving me empty, "I believe I have a dare to finish." Her mouth opened, but I pressed a finger to her lips. "I'm a man of my word. I told you. I never do anything I don't want to." I leaned in, and licked the shell of her ear, growling when a small tremor rocker her body, and she shivered. "After, I want to do you, Mikayla Jayne. And check off a few more of those Naughty List items."

RYAN: Taking Mikayla out for dinner. Don't wait up.

MOM B: Oh sweetheart, that's wonderful. Have fun and stay out all night if you want.

RYAN: Mom.

MOM B: Ryan. She's such a nice girl, and so different from…everyone else.

RYAN: Seriously. And yes, she is.

Laughter rumbled in my chest as I pictured her face, all smug and thinking she had a new daughter-in-law, all wrapped and under the tree. The path to the pool house I woke up naked in Mikayla's bed glowed with the light from the tiny lights dotting the sides, leading straight to the door. "Wedding invitations are probably being ordered as we speak."

"Or at least matching stockings with our names on them."

She shuddered. "Or matching ugly sweaters. Just wait until they hear about your new ink, CK. Pretty sure they'll have names for our 2.5 kids and dog all picked out by morning." The door swung open, and not a creature was stirring as she paused before entering.

"Everything ok?" I peeked over her shoulder, silently hoping her Nana wasn't seated on the couch and waiting for her to get home.

"Just making sure there are no mice or other things happening." Her back arched as she pushed her ass back with a slight wiggle. A sigh I fucking longed to hear as I sank into her wet pussy left her lips. "And I've been wanting to do this all night."

Holy hard-on. My self control nearly snapped as her ass, round and better than any wet dream I'd had as a teenager, rubbed back and forth against my hard-as-fuck cock. Relentless and tempting my limits.

Fuck it.

One hand snaked around her waist. I yanked her back against me, not bothering to hide how hard she made me. "Such a little tease, Starshine. That's not coal in my pocket, and I am most definitely glad to see you."

"Are you growling, CK?" she asked, breathless.

"Naughty List. All the way."

"And here I was worried you didn't have it in you." She gasped as I licked the sensitive outer shell of her ear.

Slowly, I traced my finger tips up from her belly, and used the other to guide her into the pool house before kicking the door shut. Every noise she made, every slight movement, turned me into a possessive asshole who couldn't wait to strip her naked and prove just how much I fucking had in me. "Oh baby girl, there's so much I can't wait to show you. But first," I spun her around and backed her up against the door, "I need to taste you before I go insane."

The instant our mouths connected, she opened for me. Sugar, and everything I dreamed she tasted like and more, exploded as she ground her hips into mine. Craving and crashing all at once. Hands clenched my shirt. My hand fisted in her hair, wrapping it around my wrist as I pulled her head back for better access.

Teeth scraped, tongues warred, begging for release. I devoured her moans, and she took everything I gave her, using her body to show me how much more she wanted.

"If I reached under that little skirt, tell me Starshine, what would I find?" Her chest rose and fell with every rapid breath, eyes drunk on our kisses. A soft whimper. Then she gasped as I traced my nose along her jawline, down, and nipped at the flesh just above the low neckline of her shirt. "Tell me. What. Would. I. Find."

"I'm so fucking wet. Please," she pleaded, hands fisted and pulling me in closer. With one hand, I grab one wrist and put it above her head, caging her between my body and the door. Her scent intoxicated me. And fuck,I knew once I was inside her, I wouldn't be able to last.

"Other hand. Above your head, now." She obeyed, and I grasped both in one hand and pinned them above her. One deft motion, and I used my other hand to bunch her skirt around her hips. "That's it, baby," I murmured, loving the little frustrated sounds she was making. Writhing and trying to rub her pussy against my hand. "Remember making me think I forgot you? How the fuck could I ever forget how your lips taste, or the sounds you make because you need to get fucked, Mikayla?" I pulled her panties to the side, the thin slip of fabric tearing as she moaned. "So fucking wet for me. Ready and begging, aren't you? Don't worry, baby," I slid one finger, then another, into her wet, hot depths. "Fuck." Her eyes widened as I brought my hand up and licked her arousal off my fingers. "How could I forget this? So now, I'm going to make sure that you don't forget it, either." Arms above her, breasts pressed against me, pussy wet and ready. God, she was better than any damn Christmas Miracle.

And if all I had was tonight with her, I was going to make damn sure it counted.