Dare Me Forever (22 page)

I looked down at my
dress. It was covered in red blotches. I looked back up at Ryan, a
blush heating my face. I so shouldn’t have worn white. I looked a
total mess.

Ryan smiled at me,
handing me his napkin. “Amy, you can hardly see anything,” he
said, his face and eyes sincere.

I knew I needed him in
my life before, but this genuine sweetness about my total clumsiness
sealed it. This was the man I wanted to be with, come rain or come
shine.

“Too bad it wasn’t
a bigger spill,” I said, dabbing the napkin against myself. “Then
I would just have to take it off.”

Ryan raised his
eyebrows. “When we finish lunch, I’ll help you do just that.”

I couldn’t wait for
the next go round with him.

Amy

The next night, Ryan
picked me up at 7 on the dot. He hadn’t said where we were going,
just to dress in something warm. Driving on the coast, with the top
of his black Mercedes convertible down, and the sweet sea air
caressing my face and hair, I felt like an old fashioned movie star.
Someone who would belong in the vintage postcards I’d designed.
Dressed in tight jeans, that hugged me in all the right places, and a
soft V-neck sweater, I felt good.

When Ryan picked me up
he’d stared at me, using his eyes to take in my entire body. His
look told me everything I needed to know. He wanted me, and I loved
it.

We were heading north
on the coast, driving out of Solana Beach. Ryan took his hand off the
wheel and rested it on my thigh.

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.”
I thought back to his last surprise. The amazing sex that it had
spurred. I started to get wet just thinking of it.

Ryan smiled at me, no
doubt remembering the same thing. He turned off the coast and started
driving up a windy road, higher and higher into the mountains. Along
the small two lane road, there was a sheer cliff that dropped to the
ocean below. Being so close to the edge, climbing up to such a
gorgeous place but mere feet from being totally out of control—I
loved the daring feeling. Ryan slowed down and turned off the road.

“Close your eyes,
Amy,” he instructed.

“And if I don’t
want to?” I said teasingly. The night sky was so bright so high
above the city lights. I could see countless stars and a gorgeous
crescent moon.

“I guess I’ll have
to blindfold you.” He didn’t sound like he was teasing. Just
thinking of him leaning over me and obscuring my sight gave me
butterflies. I could feel the warmth in my black lace underwear. I
closed my eyes, gripping his hand in my own.

Ryan pulled off the
road and parked the car. I shivered in anticipation. Before I could
do anything, Ryan jumped out of car, and opened my door. With my eyes
still closed, he helped me out of the car, rubbing my arms up and
down to keep me warm.

“Keep them closed.”
Suddenly, he spun me around, placing his large hands over my eyes.
Holding me against him, I could feel his strong chest against my
back, and I longed to get him naked and have him do his magic on me.

We walked forward a few
paces. Slowly he took his hands from my face.

“Open your eyes.”

Before me stood a
gorgeous house, warm and inviting. It was Spanish style, which in the
light of the moon, made me feel like we’d been transported to a
different century in Spain. There were thick masonry walls coated in
stucco, surrounded by romantic balconies, and fancifully shaped
columns adorned the façade. Wrought iron details stood out near the
front door and the windows. A fire was already lit, in what must have
been the living room, making the house look cozy despite its size. I
couldn’t believe how beautiful it was.

“I built this,”
Ryan said. He paused as though on the verge of a saying something
important, as though daring himself to go for it. “I hope you’ll
live with me here one day.”

Tingles spread through
me like electricity. I would live with Ryan in a shack by the side of
the road, but this offer surpassed even my wildest dreams.

“I would love to.
This is incredible. Show me the inside.” I could hardly contain
myself. I was practically squealing with happiness.

Grabbing my hand, he
walked me to the front door, which he easily unlocked.

“I want to show you
our bedroom first.” He led me up the stairs. I could see a light on
in a far off room. Slowly we walked over to the master suite, which
was already beautifully furnished. A huge bed, just like the one at
the
Somerset
sat in the middle of the room. There was a
luscious couch underneath a window, with beautiful kantha quilted
pillows. It was perfect for us—not too masculine, and not too
girly.

“I love it.”

“And if you don’t,
we can change it however you want. I just wanted us to have a
functional bedroom so we could move in as soon as possible. Most of
the house still needs decorating and with your incredible eye, I’d
love your help.”

I was flattered.

“But first, come
here.” Ryan was standing next to the bed. I walked towards him.

“What do you have in
mind Mr. Anderson?” I asked.

He grabbed me around
the waist and pulled me towards him. I thought he was going to kiss
me, but instead, he just held me close, wrapping his arms around me.

“I can’t believe I
almost lost this.” I’d never heard him sound so emotional.

Taking a deep breath,
he slipped one hand under my chin, raising my face to his. His lips
met mine, and it was passionate and intense, as if he needed me to
live. He picked me up, and I wrapped my legs around him as we fell
back on the bed.

He pulled my sweater up
over my head and arms, and then turned me over onto my back.
Unbuttoning my jeans with one hand, he quickly yanked them off. All I
had on was my black lace push-up bra, and g-string panties. I wanted
him inside me as soon as possible, but he had other plans.

He ripped off his
shirt, and pants, and spread my legs wide across the bed. Pressing my
arms over my head, he teased me with his hard cock against my wet
panties. Using it to stroke me until I couldn’t take it anymore. I
was practically begging him to fuck me.

He let go of my arms,
and pulled my legs further apart. Pushing my underwear to one side,
he slid his tongue in and around my lips, teasing my clit. I was so
turned on, I was almost purring. He slid my underwear down, and put
his fingers into me.

“Please now,” I
begged.

He grabbed my breast,
and squeezed it through the bra. Kissing me deeply, he finally thrust
into me with his hard cock, pulsing inside me with a passion and
fierceness I’ve never experienced.

“I love you,” he
said, his green eyes searching mine. The moment was almost too much.
The pleasure of having him possess me, the connection that we’d
created, it was mind-blowing.

“I love you.”
Looking into his handsome face, my eyes softened as they met his. I
saw incredible tenderness mixed with lust reflected in his eyes. As
he plunged into me again, I came, shuddering.

“Oh Amy.” Ryan came
as he buried himself deep inside of me.

Hugging him to me, I
sighed in total contentment. He leaned up on one elbow, and pushed my
hair out of my face. He kissed me lightly on the lips, rolled off of
me, and then grabbed me to him so he was spooning me, both arms
wrapped around my waist. Nuzzling his face into my neck, I could hear
his breathing slowing.

“You’re mine,” he
whispered into my ear.

I wouldn’t want to
belong to anyone else.

Amy

I couldn’t believe
how happy I was living with Ryan. It was so natural. I missed my
sweet house, but Luke and Matt had moved out of the dorms and were
living there now, and I could visit whenever I wanted. The business
at the store was growing. I was very busy and excited that it was a
success.

Ryan was working hard
on the development, and of course without Miranda’s money, the
project was going to be completed in a longer time frame. I still
felt guilty about that, but Ryan assured me it was better this way,
even from a business perspective.

One perfect spring
morning, Ryan had already left for work, and I was sitting on our
veranda off the kitchen drinking a cup of coffee he’d made me
before he left. My phone rang beside me. I grinned. It was Ryan.

“Amy, you’ll never
believe this. But one of Congressman Richards’ friends, who is also
a developer and really into eco-design, heard from the Congressman
about how we’re building this center with the environment as our
top priority and he wants to invest.” He was almost whooping with
excitement. It’s even more money than what I would have gotten from
Miranda, with someone who has the same goals.”

He paused. I felt a
smile creeping onto my face. I knew how important this was to him.

“And it’s all
because of you,” Ryan went on. “If you hadn’t impressed upon me
the importance of the natural environment, if you hadn’t talked to
the Congressman at that dinner about ecologically friendly building
standards, this never would have happened.”

I beamed.

“You’ve been my
lucky charm,” he said. “Ever since you’ve entered my life, all
my problems have been solved.”

I brushed my hair
behind my ear. “I wouldn’t go that far. We still have to deal
with the Hunter issue and the money he stole.” I still couldn’t
figure out why he would do that. His parents were so wealthy—why
did he need to embezzle money from their company?

“I know,” he
agreed, “but since I own the company, I can handle it my way. I’ll
offer to do it the old fashioned way. Man to man. If he doesn’t pay
up, then I’ll go the police. That bastard is going to pay.” I
wanted to see that conversation. Ryan was so much tougher than
Hunter.

“But why are you
waiting?” I didn’t understand. I’d want to deal with it right
away.

“With the new
infusion of cash, I can’t risk any bad publicity. I want to keep my
employee’s jobs safe. But Hunter knows I’m onto him. It won’t
be long now.”

I looked over the sun
climbing high in the sky, shining its light on the town below and
warming my skin, and breathed a sigh of total contentment.

I heard the front door
open. Still on the phone, I heard Ryan speaking to me, his voice
coming from two places now, totally surrounding me. I surrendered
myself to it as he said, “My meeting got canceled, and I had to
come back and see you.”

My heart still sped up
whenever I was near him. I turned around, and there he was, standing
before me, my forever.

Thank you to my
incredible friends and beta-readers, Emily Snow, Melody Grace, Raven
Miller, and Jasinda Wilder for your brilliance, support,
thoughtfulness, and skill. I couldn’t have done this without you.

Thank you also to
Giselle at Xpresso Tours. And to Taryn at
My
Secret Romance Book Reviews
who is an incredible person and so
generous with her time.

And also for their
encouragement, Austen, Abby S, Sam, Julia and Elizabeth!

For their know-how and
support, thank you to Steve, Sarah, and Alex.

Thank you to my family;
my sister, Rachel Elizabeth, for her advice, design skills, and for
my gorgeous cover! My mom for her inspiration now and always and my
dad for his humor and goodness. He better not read this book!

Thank you to my husband
for letting me read scenes out loud, encouraging me, and helping me
figure out how to make my men real.

And finally thank you
to my readers. I hope you know how much you mean to me. You rock!

Paige Edward is the
author of
Dare Me Forever
. She loves sweet, steamy, happy
endings! And complicated men. For more book news, teasers, and
giveaways, find her on
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her blog
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