"This Time Around"
By: gb
Chapter 29
Gillian gently moved away from Ryan before she got out of bed sho she wouldn't wake him. The morning was still in its very early stages, but she had to a full day at the hospital today and a she knew she wouldn't want to get up if she put it off any longer. She sat on the edge of the bed putting her hair up in a loose clip as memories of her evening with Ryan danced around in her head. They had thoroughly enjoyed their night together- having made love with each other again somehow had been the logical conclusion to their relationship. No, she thought. This wasn't the end- it was a new beginning for them!
Gillian got up and walked across the room to the place on the floor where she remembered tossing her robe after Ryan had removed it. Ryan stirred from sleep and turned in bed for Gillian, but found her missing. He could still feel warmth on the sheets where she had been and her sweet scent filled his senses as he went to inhale it some more, so potent was her magic over him that he tried to snuggle up to her pillow in an effort to be near her.
"Princess?" he called quietly after a few moments, looking to find her going across the room.
He smiled lazily and followed her movements, desire in his eyes! Her still nude form was just as beautiful to him now as it had ever been! She turned to him as she put on her robe and tied it. She took her time covering up. Maybe she should be more modest in front of him, even now. Somehow though, seeing the eager look on his face only succeeded in making her heart race!
"You're supposed to be asleep." she reminded him.
"And you're supposed to kiss me good morning before you leave," he told her calmly.
"Were you gonna sneak away?"
She didn't answer him. Instead, she walked back over to him and took the hand he offered. She sat on the bed between his legs and wrapped her own around his waist and kissed him slowly and thoroughly. When they broke apart, they were both breathing hard!
She took his hand again and after brushing it with her lips, whispered, "Good morning."
He whispered it back and hugged her and and gently brushed kisses across her cheeks before pulling back to look at her.
"To tell you honestly, Ryan. I thought maybe you might be the one who snuck away this morning." Gillian admitted quietly. "Last night was even more beautiful than I even dreamed about all these months. But I wasn't sure if you were ready to deal with it. I know being close with someone is hard on you sometimes."
She looked at him and tried to read his face which was always hard for her. Ryan held onto her hands and taking a deep breath told her what had always been in his heart after meeting her.
"Gilli, Baby, there wasn't a woman I've been with that I couldn't walk away from after I had been with her," he said honestly. "Love was never a part of any relationship I've ever had and I thought that's what I wanted. I was free and clear and didn't have to worry about what to do after sex."
Gillian just let him finish.
"My record was perfect...until you came along. Making love with you is...not something I'm used to- all these feelings and emotions that always come out for you. I'm addicted to it. I could never just have you and then leave. I always knew that...I don't how else to explain this,but...you make my abs constract and I want to feel that hurt all the time."
"What's that?" she wanted to know.
"Something they've never done quite like this before in my life, believe me, Princess!" he said in wonder.
"And you want to hurt with me all the time?" she asked, puzzled. "How can you stand that?"
"I can't stand not to stand it anymore, Baby." he said. "I think John Cougar Mellancamp said it best when he said, 'You make it hurt so good'!"
"Is he a friend or a relative?" Gillian wondered.
Ryan just laughed at that.
He kissed her slowly and she let him explore her mouth with his own for long while as they warmed to each other all over again. He parted them gently and Gillian fought to
catch her breath!
When he stopped, he said quietly, "That's why I had to move out of Myrtle's after I got out of jail. My life was a mess and yet...I couldn't stop wanting you. I knew that even though I couldn't plan our future that wouldn't stop me once I touched you. I couldn't hurt you like that. Anyone else, maybe...but not you, Princess. I just always want to touch you but sometimes I think I don't have the right. Can you understand?"
Gillian wasn't sure. Ryan was so difficult to deal with sometimes and his life had so many bruises that she always felt that she was walking into one of them. But looking at him now and feeling the way he carressed her, she couldn't deny even an ounce of the depth of the love she was feeling for him.
She kissed him back. He had moved to sit up when she had come back to the bed for him a few minutes ago and now she urged him back against the head board while massaged his chest and placed small kisses on them.
"Do you have a full day?" he asked, his voice full of passion now.
She pulled away from him. "Yes. I won't get back to the house until early evening."
"I'll be at the club then.We don't close until late. I don't want to wait that long to see you."
He said suggestively, fingering the open collar of her robe.
"Well..." she said slowly, leaning to him. "I guess we don't really have to wait until then..."
He pulled easily at the sash of her robe and untied it. Then he peeled both sides of it apart slowly.
"You do look so good in the morning." He said in appreciation as went into her waiting arms. He was too excited to wait until evening anyway.
"Flatterer!" she giggled as their lips locked together again.
They fell against the sheets as Ryan told her, "I think I forgot to kiss that place under your throat last night. We'll have to do something about that..."...
Gillian was exhausted by the time work was over, but she wanted to stop by Myrtle's before going on to Wildwind.
Myrtle welcomed her warmly.
"I hear Ryan is doing much better now!" she exclaimed.
Gillian assured her this was true. "We're going to stay on together at Wildwind for awhile as you know and we're getting back together!"
"Well now," Myrtle replied. "That's the best news I've heard all day! You see, Honey, I told you not give up hope on Ryan. I knew you two were meant to reunite! I'm so happy for you!"
Gillian was so lost in her happy talk with Myrtle that it was a few minutes before she saw Jake had come home from the hospital.
She was still uncomfortable around Jake since their last encounter, but she smiled warmly at him. She was confindent in her decision and did after all say they could be good friends.
"Hello, Jake." she said.
"Gillian," he replied, but only gave her a small grin in return. "I'm glad I ran into you."
Myrtle thought she should leave them alone, but Jake assured her she could stay.
"I just wanted to remind you about the benefit dinner for the Pediatrics Ward for PVH this week- you promised to help me precide over it remember?"
"Oh, Jake, I completly forgot that it was this week!" she exclaimed in guilt. "I'm sorry."
Gillian had promised to help him months ago, but lately, Ryan was all that was on her mind.
"No problem," Jake said easily. "You can still go, right?"
What could she say- after all she had promised and Ryan might like it, too.
"Sure," She forced a smile. "I'm sure Ryan would love an evening out."
"Well, Gillian. You see, you promised to go to it with me and help me out- you can't do that and take Ryan. Besides, SOS is where we're having it, remember? So, I'm sure he's going to be working."
"Oh," she said sadly. "I guess I can still go. I'll explain it to Ryan. It's work, so I'm sure he'll understand."
And if he doesn't, I won't complain, Jake thought to himself. Gillian left the boardinghouse much sadder than when she had come over earlier.
Myrtle frowned at Jake and said to him, "Jake, you're a good man and I know you really care for Gillian, but her heart will always belong to Ryan Lavery when push comes to shove. They've just gotten back on track- try to understand all they've been through."...
Gillian was waiting up for Ryan when he got back from the club. She had already decided to tell him her news about going to SOS with Jake for the benefit in the morning since he probablly wouldn't take it well.
They walked up to their room, their arms around each other.
Once inside, Gillian went and sat down on the bed while Ryan wanted to take a shower.
"It's late," Ryan noticed her eyes were almost dreamylike and he kissed her forehead lovingly. "You should sleep."
Gillian fought her sleep. "You promised we could make love whenever I wanted," she reminded him. "I've missed you..."
"When did I promise that?" Ryan teased her, pretending not to recall.
"While we were making love LAST night." she said stubbornly.
"Oh, alright..." he pretended to be irritated but the next moment, he winked at her.
"I'll be back in a few minutes..."
He had been standing next to her by the bed and she had been unbuttoning his shirt while they talked.
She now kissed the flesh of his stomach and placed her palms flat on either side.
His abs constracted in a pure pleasure that was almost painful!
"Just marking my place." she told him softly.
"I'll save it for you..." he groaned thoroughly seduced by her spell as he held her to him for a few more moments before dragging himself off for his shower that he didn't want anywhere near as much as he wanted her now...
end of part 29
(To be continued...)
Next time: Ryan does not deal well with Gillian and Jake's night out at SOS!...