After a few moments of heavy breathing, Irest my forehead against his. Ryan doesn’t say a word; he juststares at me quietly with raw blue eyes.
“I know who you are,” I tell him lovingly. “Iknow who you are.”
“Alana,” Ryan’s voice calls to me, “wake up,let’s go to bed.” We’re still on the couch; I’m straddled over himwith my arms wrapped tightly around his neck. I start to move buthe grabs me by both thighs. “Hey,” he whispers, “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” I rub my eyes, “I was the one whostuck you in a closet.”
“For being rough with you. I never shouldhave done that.”
I put my hand on his face, “It’s okay. I getit.” I kiss him softly in the dark.
“It’s not okay, you don’t deserve to betreated like that, no matter what you say or do to me.”
“Ryan, it's fine. I sort of liked it,” Iconfess guiltily. “Maybe I should piss you off more often.”
“No,” he says strictly, and then he wraps hisarms around my waist. “I hate fighting with you.”
“That’s too bad, because the make-up sex isamazing,” I joke, my voice quiet.
“You don’t have to worry about that, Ihaven’t even begun to blow your mind yet,” he bites me just belowmy collarbone.
“Ouch,” I giggle. “You mean there’s morewhere that came from?”
“So much more,” he says and his tone provokesall of my senses.
Ryan shifts forward on the couch and forcesmy legs around his waist, then he stands up with me in his arms. Ashe walks towards my bedroom I nibble on his neck.
He constricts his arms tighter around me. “Ilove you,” he whispers in my ear.
“I love you too.”
“I was miserable tonight,” he tells me, hisvoice low.
“So was I. I tried to stay up and wait foryou, but that didn’t work out so well.”
“I came back later than usual. I went outwith a few of the guys after my shift. To blow off some steam.”
“I can tell, you smell like alcohol,” I tellhim as he crawls onto the bed with me still latched to him.
“I got a little wasted and wasn’t sure if Ishould come back here or not. I didn’t want to fight. But Icouldn’t stand sleeping anywhere else than next to you.”
“I’m glad you came back,” I say as we getcomfortable; Ryan lying on his back with me resting on hischest.
I start to drift off when Ryan’s voice callsme back, “Alana? What did you mean when you said you were scared oflosing everything?”
My eyes pop open and I stare out into thedarkness.
“Ryan,” I sigh. “There’s one thing I’vewanted for as long as I can remember. And then you came along, andnow all I want is two things, to be a lawyer and you. And my fatheris the only person who can take it all away.”
“He can’t take me away, Alana.”
“He’d try.”
“I wouldn’t let him.”
“That’s the thing.” I pick my head up to lookat him, “I’d fight for you, and when my father rejects me becauseyou’re not the likeness he’s picked out for me in his head, he’llcut me off, essentially murdering my dream.”
“So, the male stripper he convicted fiveyears ago isn’t his first choice for his daughter?”