Chapter Seven
Justine POV
I woke up the next morning as the sun poked through the curtains. I stretched and smiled as I realized it was Saturday and I didn't have to go into work today. Ryan was still asleep next to me; his arm thrown across my belly. I smiled to myself, thinking about the night before.
I bit my lower lip and turned to face him once again. "As much as I hate to admit it, Ryan, I really do like you. I like you a lot..."
He pulled me closer to him and looked into my eyes. "I would say that is a good thing, because guess what? I like you, too- a lot!" He kissed my lips and my eyes fluttered closed.
All those feelings that I once felt for this man came flooding back to me. The warmth of his hands on my hips, his soft lips on mine- everything was so familiar... I kissed him back, urgent for his love.
It had felt so good to let my feelings out in the open—to be able to love him once again. There was still doubt in my mind, though, that this is what was supposed to happen. I was always a firm believer that once you break up, you don't get back together with your ex... But then again, I couldn't keep my mind away from him.
"Justine?" Ryan whispered, opening his eyes to the morning light.
I looked over to him and smiled. "Good morning."
He returned the smile and gave me a kiss on the lips. "Morning."
"Did you sleep okay?" I asked, concerned that my mattress was too hard or too soft for him.
"Better than I have in a while, actually," he admitted. "You?"
I smiled once again. "Me too!"
He kissed me again and propped himself up on his elbow to look at me. "You are beautiful, you know that?"
I blushed and looked away from him.
He took his finger, placed it under my chin and brought my face back to his. "I don't think I ever stopped loving you, the whole five years we were apart."
"Ryan..." I stopped and looked up into his blue eyes. "What does this mean for us? Are we friends with benefits, dating, just hooking up? What?"
He ran his hand through his hair. God, he looks so sexy when he does that! I thought, smiling. "I say we take things slow, go on dates, and-"
"Keep it between us?" I suggested. "I don't want people to make a big deal out of this. Especially because of how things ended before..."
He nodded. "Yes, we can keep it between us."
"Justine? Justine, are you awake?" Mom called from the hallway. I could hear her footsteps approaching, and looked to Ryan. He pulled the covers up to his head, and rolled over. "Justine," She said, throwing the bedroom door open, "Are you coming down to breakfast?" She must have realized that a guy was in my bed, because she said, "Oh. I didn't realize you had company. I will leave you two alone. Dad and I are going to the country club for lunch and to play some golf if you would like to join."
"Thanks, Mom." She shut the door and left.
"She has no idea that it's me," Ryan said, uncovering himself.
I giggled. "None whatsoever."
He kissed me and brought his hands down to my hips, pulling me on top of him. His tongue entwined with mine, and he lifted my shirt over my head, leaving me in my bra. "God," he moaned...
Later that day, after my parents had left for the country club (I opted not to go with them), Ryan and I hopped in the shower, taking our time to lather each other up with soap and to wash each others' hair.
Several times throughout that day, we came close to doing it, but decided against it—my doing, not his.
"I want it to be special," I said, when my parents were expected home in twenty minutes. "Romantic, and not rushed like my parents are rushing home..."
"Okay," he agreed. "And believe me when I say it will be beyond your expectations when it does happen."
I gave him a quizzical look. "You're already planning something?"
"Definitely!"
I laughed and led him to the door. "So I'll call you later?"
Ryan nodded and gave me a kiss, lifting me onto my tiptoes. I wrapped my arms around his neck and we made out like we were back in high school. "I'll see you tomorrow in Church." He winked at me as he walked away, toward his car.
When my parents got home, I heard all about their golfing day, from lunch to their game with the Marthello's.
"You played against Ryan's parents?" I turned from the kitchen sink where I was washing strawberries for the fruit salad, and placed my hands on my hips.
"It was harmless, sweetheart," my dad replied. "Just a friendly game between two couples."
"And who won?" I asked, looking from my dad to my mom.
"Go on, tell her, Honey."
"WE DID!" My mom threw her arms up into the air in a celebratory dance. "We crushed 'em!"
"Why is everything a competition between you and them?"
"You know the story..." Mom replied, giving me her look that says I-don't-want-to-talk-about-it.
"Oh, come on. That was years ago! You can't honestly tell me that you still hate her for taking Derek Staten from you..."
Mom shrugged and walked away.
I followed her into the living room, and watched as she flicked on the news, and sunk into the couch. "Mom!"
She looked at me with sad eyes. "It may have been years ago, but I loved him. Who knows where we would be if that hadn't happened."
"They didn't even end up together, so why does it matter?"
Mom just continued watching the news, and didn't answer my question.
I groaned and walked back to the kitchen. "Dad!"
Natalie's POV
"Hon," I said, coming into the bedroom after brushing my teeth. I wore a mint green spaghetti-strapped nightgown that fell to the middle of my thighs.
Mark looked up from his laptop. "Don't you think it's time to put your laptop away for the night and just relax?"
"I have this really important project-"
I shut his computer and put it on the nightstand, out of his reach. "Shhh," I said, pressing a finger to his lips. "Just relax." I pushed him down on the bed, and kissed him passionately, running my fingers over his muscles...
(A/N: That is all I am doing tonight. If I get reviews, I will be more willing to get on and update (hint hint)!)
