Page 44 of Deserving Ryleigh
“You don’t have to be scared with me,” Tiny told her. “I’d never do anything that will hurt you. I’ll only make you feel good.”
Ry nodded.
Tiny smiled. “You’ve really never kissedanyone?”
“It’s pathetic, huh? Thirty-one and not only a virgin, but never even had a first kiss.”
“I’m so honored. I’m going to be your first, Ryleigh. In every way.”
“Okay. But if I do it wrong, please don’t yell at me.”
“Never. And you won’t do anything wrong. Promise. Kiss me, Ryleigh. Do it. Take what you want.”
And with those words, Ry did as he asked. She leaned forward and put her lips back on his. But this time he didn’t remain passive. His tongue peeked out and licked her lips, startling her so badly, she gasped. She wasn’t an idiot, she knew what a French kiss was. She’d always thought the idea was kind of gross.
This was anythingbutgross.
He tasted like watermelon, and she couldn’t wait tosample more. Instinctively, Ry tilted her head and opened to him. His tongue didn’t surge into her mouth, he licked and nibbled her lips, driving Ry crazy. He coaxed her tongue into following his, and the next thing she knew, she was inside his mouth. A moan left his throat, then she felt a hand at the back of her head as his tongue twined with hers.
She retreated, but he followed. The kiss was long, hot, and it made electric bolts shoot through her arms and down between her legs. Ry shifted against him, feeling as if she wanted…no,neededto be closer. Her nipples hardened and she regretted all her layers. She had the urge to feel them against his chest, skin to skin.
The thought was so carnal, she gasped again and tore her mouth from his. His hand was still on the back of her head, but he didn’t force her to stay where she was. She was panting as she stared at him, surprised to find he was just as out of breath.
“Was that okay?” she asked.
“Okay? It was…life changing,” Tiny breathed.
Ry relaxed. She’d been so afraid of this moment, of being intimate with someone, that she’d gone out of her way to keep her distance from men her entire adult life. But this kissing thing…she liked it. A lot. At least with Tiny.
“Was it okay foryou?” he asked.
And it hit her then that Tiny was just as unsure as she’d been. It made him seem more human. More her equal. In her mind, he’d been this larger-than-life man for so long. But after today, after he’d opened up to her and she’d done the same, she felt as if they were on a more even keel.
“It was the best first kiss a girl could ever hope to have,” she told him honestly.
She felt him relax under her. Yeah, he’d been just as nervous about this as she was. It endeared him to her all the more. Sighing, she let herself go boneless against him. This moment was perfect. He didn’t insist on more kissing, was simply as content as she was to be in the moment.
They sat together for several more minutes before he sighed and said, “We should probably get back.”
“Yeah,” Ry agreed. She sat back up and said, “Thanks for bringing me here.”
“Even though it was…outside?” he asked with a grin.
She rolled her eyes. “Yes. I’m not saying I want to go on another hike anytime soon, but after we figure all this out…I wouldn’t mind coming back here.”
“Deal. I’m thinking this is my new favorite place at The Refuge.”
“I can’t help but wonder who else sat right where we are now. Was it a single warrior scouting the land around him for threats? Was it a couple, kissing like we did? An elderly man or woman performing some sort of ceremony?”
“All of the above, probably.”
“Yeah.” Ry sighed, then did her best to climb off Tiny’s lap. He helped her up then packed away the uneaten food—including the Christmas Tree Cake—and the blanket.
“You won’t tell Robert that I don’t like his favorite food in the world, will you?” Ry asked.
“Never. Besides, that leaves more for me.”
Ry laughed. “You like those things?”
