Page 118 of Power Play

Ryan finally broke the kiss enough for both of us to breathe, keeping me close while he rested his forehead against mine. His hands remained at my waist, and I could feel the restraint inside them, the same control I had started recognizing whenever we got close to something neither of us could casually walk back from.

“Tell me to slow down.”

I swallowed. “I don’t want you to.”

His jaw flexed. “That wasn’t the assignment.”

I smiled breathlessly. “You’re bossy.”

“You like it.”

“I haven’t decided.”

“Liar.”

His mouth moved to my throat, and I dug my nails into his shoulder. The heat between us built until I felt the careful tension return to his hands.

A strange disappointment tightened inside me. “Are you going to stop again?”

His mouth stilled against my neck before he lifted his head. The question sounded vulnerable now that it was outside me.

“Yeah, I am.”

My chest tightened, and he saw it.

“Hey, don’t go somewhere else.”

“I know why you’re stopping.”

“You know when you’re calm.” Ryan caught my chin and guided my face back toward his. “Mírame.”

I did.

“I’m stopping because if I keep going, I’m going to want everything.”

Heat flooded my face. “That isn’t exactly discouraging.”

“It isn’t supposed to be.” His eyes moved over me. “I’m trying to make sure you hear the rest.”

I swallowed while his thumb brushed my cheek.

“I’m not pulling away from you.”

The fear I hadn’t wanted to admit loosened slightly. “I’m working on remembering that.”

“Good.”

He kissed me again, softer this time. “Tonight, I’m taking you somewhere.”

I blinked. “What?”

“I was going to ask earlier, but we got distracted by poetry and your jealousy.”

“I wasn’t jealous.”

“You were absolutely jealous.”

“I was discussing Flint logistics.”