The firework display was gorgeous, lighting up the darkened sky with pops of colour in patterns and bursts that made the crowd cheer, but it couldn't compare to the buzz of attraction that bounced between Ryan and I. We sat cuddled together in the sand—my back to his chest, cradled between his thighs—and throughout the entire show, while my eyes were looking up, my mind was in tune with the soft caresses of Ryan's hands as they moved along my sides, hips, and legs. Feeding the flames of desire that were growing inside my chest.

And finally, when things came to an end and everyone on the beach began to disperse, I felt Ryan scoot backwards and stand.

"You ready to head out?" he asked, and I glanced up to see him offering me a hand. Ryan's parents had taken Bowen home with him in the middle of the show—the exhaustion of the day having finally caught up with him—leaving the two of us alone. Or alone as we could be with the majority of the town and several hundred tourists on the beach with us.

"Sure," I replied, accepting the help up. I took a moment to brush the sand off my dress with my free hand, and when I turned back to face him, I boldly asked, "Do you want to come back to mine?"

A gleam of heat flashed in his eyes as they bore into mine, but when his response wasn't immediate, a seed of doubt crept into my head. Had I been too forward? Was sex not on the menu tonight? Had I misread something? I felt a flush color my neck and was about to take back my question when Ryan moved even closer to me.

"Are you sure?"

I bit my bottom lip, hoping the move was as sexy as I imagined it to be. "Completely."

"Well, then—" His gaze dropped down the length of my body, taking me in as though he could see what was underneath my dress. "—lead the way."

I didn't let my hand drop from his on the walk back to my house, enjoying the feel of our palms intertwined, and while we didn't talk much, the tension between us grew to a tangible level. As though, if I tried, I could reach out and capture it. The hum of passion and crackle of lust.

When we finally reached my place, I clambered up the steps ahead of him, unlocking the door and pushing it open.

"Did you want something to drink?" I asked, ushering him in past me.

Once I shut the door, I turned to face him and saw the corners of his mouth draw upward. His gaze fell to my mouth as he said, "Not particularly."

"Good," I said, taking a few steps toward him to close the distance between us, "me neither."

And then we were kissing.

There was no softness to the kiss—at least not at first. Just hunger and desperation as our lips moved fiercely against one another. My fingers curled tightly into the front of his shirt and while one of his hands cupped my neck, tilting it in such a way that let his tongue delve deep and dance along my own, his other hand drifted quickly to my ass to haul my body right up against his.

A moan escaped my mouth and Ryan was quick to devour it, the sound urging him to somehow set off flares of need all over my body.

My mind was a million miles away when my back hit the wall, unaware of the fact we'd even been moving. Too focused on the way that, despite the noticeable size difference between us, my body seemed to mold to his perfectly.

Ryan pulled back for a brief moment to gasp in a breath, allowing me the chance to do the same, and before long we were back at it again. His tongue stroked mine and I slung a leg around his waist. Which, damn, if I didn't know how much he wanted this, the hard outline of his cock between my thighs was a clear indication.

"Need this dress off of you," he growled, his lips trailing across my cheek before nipping at my ear.

"Then take it off."

No other encouragement was needed as his hands immediately dove underneath the skirt, pulling the fabric up as he traced over my curves, my stomach, my breasts, and finally my shoulders. The dress fell in a heap to the floor, and I could feel my heart race as he looked his fill.

Thank god I'd had the sense to wear a good bra.

Because while I knew Ryan was as into this moment as I was, there was a miniscule voice in my head that said he must've had better. As a single, famous hockey player, there was no way he hadn't sowed his wild oats with models, actresses, and puck bunnies that were likely a lot more toned than I was. But I couldn't fault him for that, and pushed the thought away almost immediately.

"I've got to say, I thought I liked white on you before," he said, tracing a finger slowly along my left collarbone and then down my bra strap, "but I like this a whole lot better than the dress."

"And that has nothing to do with me being nearly naked?" I mused.

"Oh, it has everything to do with that," he replied cheekily before urging my other leg around his waist and palming my ass with both hands. His mouth peppered kisses along my bare shoulder. "Now, if you could direct me to your bedroom, that'd be great, because what I have planned for you definitely requires a bed."

"What?" I giggled. "A wall isn't good enough?"

A sound similar to a growl escaped him as his teeth nipped at the skin of my neck. "Maybe next time."

Directing him down the hall to my bedroom, a startled laugh spilled from my lips when he set me down on the bed and I inched back towards the pillows with a shy smile. He didn't immediately join me though, as he grabbed the rear neck of his t-shirt and stripped it off, following suit with the shorts he wore. I felt an unmistakable flutter in my belly watching as he stood at the foot of the bed in only a pair of black boxer briefs. Ones that were tight enough to mold around his thick thighs and delectable ass while not at all hiding the fact he was extremely turned on.

He watched me stare with a little grin on his lips. "See something you like?"

Wide shoulders, toned arms, and a stomach that sported a six pack? Hell yeah I did.

I could hear my own shallow breaths as I nodded, not ashamed to be ogling him. After all, he must've worked hard in his career to keep up this type of physique, so why not praise him for it? "A lot. Though I'd like it even more if you weren't so far away."

In the blink of an eye, he'd crawled up the bed and was hovering over me with an arm on either side of me.

"This better?"

I curled my fingers into his hair as I pulled his lips down to mine. "Much."

While this kiss was slower and more sensual than the one in the entryway, it was just as hot. Especially as I felt one of Ryan's strong hand coast across the skin of my stomach before moving to my back and making quick work of unfastening my bra. The straps came down and the lace fabric disappeared, exposing my pebbled nipples between us for only a moment before Ryan's weight shifted and we were chest to chest with nothing in between.

The softest sigh fell from my lips and Ryan captured my bottom lip with his teeth, pulling gently before running his tongue over it to show me he was feeling the same thing I was. A yearning for this.

His mouth left mine then, trailing down my neck, across my collarbone, and down the valley between my breasts without touching them. All while my chest heaved with anticipation. Eventually he had enough of teasing me as he pulled back slightly, saving the image of my bare breasts to his memory.

"You're beautiful," he said, his voice gruff before he flicked his tongue over one of my nipples, finally giving them the attention they ached for.

With his mouth lavishing one breast—a myriad of nipping, sucking, and licking that drove me crazy—his hand massaged the other. And then he switched, making sure equal attention was given before moving south with his lips.

Tracing his tongue along the sensitive skin above my panties, I gasped and arched my hips off the mattress, begging for more. "Ryan."

His name was honey on my tongue; so sweet and pleasurable. I could feel him chuckle against my skin before he pulled down my underwear and dipped two fingers into the wetness revealed.

"Damn, babe. You're so wet," he said with a rumble in his voice. When he slid one finger inside me, I let out a deep sigh of satisfaction, which transformed into a moan as he added another. "I can't wait to feel you squeezing me tight, but first—" His breath fanned my center. "—I need a taste."

His green eyes held mine as he licked me, his free forearm resting on my hips to keep me from moving as he relentlessly made me crave him. His strength and power as his tongue circled my clit and his fingers delved deeper inside me.

I could barely move or think as he did wickedly amazing things to me, and even when my climax finally hit, he didn't let up. He kept at it until I was worked up all over again, ready and begging for him.

Pulling at his hair, I brought him back to my lips and kissed him hard. Tongues tangling, I reached down his body and pushed his briefs down. He made quick work of ridding them completely, and once he was back within my grasp, I wrapped my hand around his cock, pumping slowly.

"Condom, now," I breathed out. "Bedside drawer."

Ryan reached over to grab one, ripping the packet open in an instant, and settled back between my thighs after rolling it on. His mouth grazed over mine slowly, as he said, "Ready?"

I nodded, digging my fingers into his lower back to urge him on. "Please."

Our moans rang out as he sank inside me, inch by luscious inch until he was fully seated. Then he pulled out nearly all the way and thrust back in. Hard. Over and over again as he sought out the right rhythm. It felt so good and so right as my hips punched up to meet his each time, craving more of him as we discovered what worked for one another.

He started moving a bit faster, kneeling back on his heels and gripping my hips to hold them in place as he powered inside me, and though it felt absolutely amazing, I could feel that my orgasm was just out of reach.

"I'm close," I whimpered, "but I need more."

There was no hesitation on his part as he held me close and rolled over so that I was on top. "Take what you need," he said encouragingly, thrusting up into me and palming my breasts. "I'm yours."

Planting my palms on his chest, I sat back and began riding him, grinding down hard against him with each stroke to get the friction I so desperately needed, and within moments, a coil of heat had built in the pit of my stomach. The pleasure undeniable.

Our eyes locked and I knew he saw I was there. Palming my ass and bending his knees, he thrust up into me multiple times as I hit my breaking point. My nails dug into his chest as I choked back a moan and came completely undone around him, triggering Ryan's release as well.

The gasp and groan that fell from his lips was something I committed to memory, because while it was incredibly hot and would fuel my fantasies for a long time, this moment felt sacred. Something for only me. Us.

"Wow," I breathed into his chest. "Holy shit."

A chuckle escaped Ryan's lips. "Right back at you."

He rolled us over, kissing my temple before getting up to dispose of the condom quickly. When he climbed back into bed, he pulled me into his arms. "If every time with you is going to be like that, we're going to have to find some creative ways to fuck without Bowen barging in," he said, his lips brushing the crown of my head as he spoke as I traced a mindless pattern on his chest with my index finger. "Because there's no way I'm going to be able to hold off touching you until we have another child-free night."

I laughed at his statement, but inside, I was thinking the same thing. "Why wait until another day though when we have all of tonight," I replied, nipping at his chin. "Unless you're too tired..."

His lips captured mine hungrily as he rolled on top of me. "Not a chance."