Free Belle Fury: Manhatten Ten, Book 3 by Lola Dodge Page B

waiting.
    Maybe he was the last man I’d dance with. Maybe I could be okay with that.
    He worked his fingers against me as he pushed inside, already wearing protection. “Too fast?”
    Too slow.
    I couldn’t speak the words, so my body talked for me. I looped my arms around Ryan’s neck and kissed him.
    He pushed deeper, forcing me back against the wall, but it was the furthest thing from pain. “Ryan…”
    I gasped. He pulled back and pushed again. Again.
    Again.
    And all the way.
    Neither of us could last like this. My toes curled. “Fast.” I wanted anything Ryan could make me feel.
    “Belle.” He said my name as he thrust. “Belle. Belle.” Every time, with my name a thing of beauty on his lips. I melted into him, and the power built.
    As we both climbed for the edge, a cloud of lightning crackled around us. All that power cut away everything else, until the world was only Ryan and me. Nothing else existed.
    The pleasure built and our powers surged. Lights exploded. The building shook. “God…”
    How could anything feel so good?
    I screamed into the lightning. Ryan called my name one last time.
    We came together. It felt so right a shiver danced down my spine. Scary good.
    Ryan shuddered against me and I wilted. If he hadn’t held me up, I would’ve collapsed into a puddle.
    “That wasn’t how I wanted our first time…” He eased me back to my feet but kept me in his arms. His lips pressed against mine, tender, but still full of the heat we’d shared. “But I’ll take it.”
    “Me too.” I sagged against him. If I stayed with Ryan, I could forget the real world and live in this fantasy forever. It was worth a try.
    Ryan kissed my forehead. “Sure you’re okay?”
    “So much better than before.” Over his shoulder, I caught a glimpse of the ceiling cameras. “Except maybe you’d better delete those video feeds.”
    He grinned. “Already took care of it.”
    Of course he did. What initiative. “Then you go back to work and think of me all alone in your steamy shower.”
    “So much for a productive afternoon.”
    We straightened our clothes and Ryan took my hand on the way into the elevator. I’d never been a hand-holder. If I was being honest, I’d never been with a guy that I wanted to be so close to. Men were a distraction. They were good for exactly what Ryan and I had just done, and then they usually got out of my way. None of my past relationships could compare to this. Ryan wasn’t volunteering to go, and not only was I not pushing him away, I doubted I’d be able to let him go. I leaned against him as the elevator ticked upward. Ryan idly finger-combed my hair where it touched his shoulder.  
    No part of me wanted to leave him. As the door dinged, he leaned in for a kiss. Just a taste of soft lips as his hand caressed my cheek. “See you later.”
    It wasn’t even a question.
    Somehow I made it back to his apartment. In the shower, I replayed every moment we’d shared. The stolen kisses and flirtations.  
    When I pictured what I wanted in life, I’d never factored in dating a superhero.  
    I liked being with Ryan, but the rest of my future was still a huge blank. I’d had hopes that maybe I could control myself enough to dance again on a limited basis, but now that pair work was out? What show could I do that I wouldn’t hurt someone?
    Something. Maybe a circus. Or a solo show on a really, really big, solid stage. I’d make lemonade and all that.  
    After I blew out my hair and found some clothes, I ended up on the roof. Yoga was helping so much, I thought of it as a peace place.
    I leaned against the rail in Ivory’s spot, staring out over the city. It definitely didn’t belong to me.
    “You okay there?”
    The voice belonged to a bombshell. Blonde-haired, blue-eyed, big-busted and small-waisted. Stunning. She was the kind of woman I would’ve hated if not for all that hot sex I’d just had. As long as she didn’t go after Ryan, no hate.
    “Distracted.