Traffic Stop (18 page)

“Yes, Tobi…oh, yes.”

“Mmm, come on, honey.”

“I’m coming, baby,” Ryan shouted.

As Ryan collapsed, Tobi cradled her in her arms. Ryan’s heart threatened to beat right out of her chest, and she knew that Tobi could feel it against her.

Raising one hand to stroke Ryan’s face, Tobi pulled back to look at her. She was startled to see tears forming in her eyes.

“Ryan, honey, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

“I…I’m not…it’s just been so long…and honestly, Tobi, I’ve never felt this way before. It’s simply astounding.”

“I know. Are you afraid?”

“I’ve been afraid of a lot of things but mostly of wanting you the way I do.”

“I can understand that,” she said.

Kissing the tears from Ryan’s eyes, Tobi held her for a few moments. “I’ve got you,” she murmured.

Ryan didn’t want to be afraid anymore, and with Tobi, her emotions felt safe. She was able to knock down some of those barriers surrounding her heart.

“Tobi?”

“Hmm?”

“I want to make love to you.”

Tobi let her eyes wander lovingly over Ryan’s face before kissing her and standing up.

Ryan took Tobi’s outstretched hand and stood. She buttoned her pants, so she wouldn’t trip and followed Tobi up the steps.

They made it to the top of the stairs before Ryan started kissing her again. Tongues clashed wildly as the kiss seemed to go on forever. Tobi felt her knees go weak and groaned into Ryan’s mouth.

With a sultry moan, Ryan ended the kiss. “Bedroom, now.”

Tobi stood in front of the bed and pushed the already unbuttoned shirt from Ryan’s shoulders. As the shirt floated to the floor unnoticed, she couldn’t take her eyes off Ryan.
My God,
she’s gorgeous.
The muscles in her arms were well-toned but not large. Her shoulders were average in width and led to a small waist. Tobi ran her fingers over Ryan’s chest, but dropped her hands when Ryan grasped the bottom of her cotton shirt and pulled it up and off. Without breaking eye contact with Tobi, Ryan reached around and unhooked her bra. Sliding her hands up Tobi’s back to her shoulders, she grasped the straps and lowered them down Tobi’s arms. Tobi watched as Ryan’s fingers gently caressed the pink scar across her left breast. She placed feather light kisses upon the mark before her eyes slowly rose to meet Tobi’s.

“You are absolutely beautiful, Tobi.”

Tobi placed a kiss on Ryan’s lips, released the button on her pants, and pushed them over her hips. With Tobi’s hands on her waist, Ryan kicked her pants to the side.

“So soft,” Tobi’s purred while her fingers caressed their way up Ryan’s sides. She smiled as she reached around to unhook Ryan’s bra and slide it off.

Ryan moved her hands between them and unbuttoned Tobi’s pants, sliding them and her panties down in one motion. Kneeling, she slipped Tobi’s shoes off and lifted each foot clear. Tobi shivered in anticipation as Ryan kissed her way up her thighs. She placed one last kiss on Tobi’s hip before standing upright and pulling Tobi into her arms.

“You. Are. Exquisite,” Ryan said, emphasizing each word with a kiss.

Tobi yielded completely and moaned as Ryan begged for more with the last kiss. She walked Ryan backward and turned as they neared the bed, pulling Ryan down on top of her. The heat her kiss had evoked was consuming Tobi. She wanted all of Ryan, and she wanted it now.

“You have too many clothes on,” Tobi said, reaching for Ryan’s panties.

Ryan raised her hips enough so Tobi could slide her panties down. As Ryan pushed them off, her face moved closer to Tobi’s chest. The heat of her breath against Tobi’s nipple puckered the sensitive skin. Ryan flicked her tongue across the nipple, making her gasp at the intense pleasure. A few more of those, and she would come before Ryan could touch her further. She slid her hands into Ryan’s hair and pulled her face up to claim her lips.

Tobi raised her knee and pressed into Ryan’s moist center. The heat emanating from Ryan made her head spin. She clutched Ryan’s hips and moved her leg against her, eliciting a groan from Ryan.

“Uh-uh…not this time. It’s my turn,” Ryan said.

She moved her lips down Tobi’s neck and sucked lightly.

Tingles shot through Tobi’s toes and fingers; her body felt as if it might explode. Tobi whimpered and grabbed Ryan’s shoulders, pulling her even closer. Ryan nuzzled her way down Tobi’s chest, stopping long enough to love both breasts appreciatively before continuing lower to swirl her tongue around her navel. Tobi didn’t think she could take much more; unconsciously she opened her legs wider and gave Ryan permission to explore further. The moment she felt Ryan’s lips wander lightly over her hip, she clutched the sheets tightly.

“Ryan, honey, you’re killing me here.”

Tobi squirmed beneath her, silently pleading for more. Ryan moved to her inner thigh before lightly blowing against her heated center. Spreading Tobi’s lips gently with her fingers, Ryan ran her tongue the full length of Tobi’s velvety folds before sucking her clit into her mouth.

“Oh,” Tobi gasped at the contact of Ryan’s warm, wet tongue.

“Mmm, you like that, baby?”

“God, yes. Please don’t stop.”

Tobi moved her hips against Ryan’s mouth, her fingers clenching and unclenching around the sheets, Ryan’s moans of pleasure making her body scream for more. The pressure of her impending orgasm was almost more than Tobi could take…almost. Ryan’s tongue was eliciting incredible sensations, and within seconds, Tobi arched up off the bed as her whole body exploded. Shuddering with aftershocks from the orgasm, Tobi threaded her fingers through Ryan’s hair.

“Come here.”

Ryan slid up next to Tobi and wrapped her in her arms. Tobi wanted to tell her exactly how she felt, but she couldn’t find the words to convey what was in her head and her heart.

“I love you, Ryan.”

“I love you, too, honey.”

“You completely stun me. I’ve never felt what I do when I’m with you. Before now, I’m not sure I really knew what it was to be in love with someone.”

Ryan shifted and rose up on one elbow, letting her eyes roam across Tobi’s face before coming to rest upon her eyes. With a smile, she traced Tobi’s lips with her finger.

“I know what you’re feeling because I feel the same way.

Never have I felt so totally loved, and I’m not just talking about today, Tobi.”

Rolling Ryan over onto her back, Tobi kissed her with every intention of letting her know just how important she was to her.

Heated kisses, tender touches, and whispered words of love took them deep into the night. Wrapped tightly within each other’s arms, they drifted into an exhausted slumber.

yan watched as Tobi slept in her arms. She was enraptured. To let go last night had felt so incredibly R amazing.
Tobi was breathtaking.
The fervor of their lovemaking caught her totally by surprise. It had never been that way with anyone, and she certainly never thought that it could go on as long as it did. Even as they fell asleep, Ryan still wanted her.

Is it possible to be more in love with her than I already am?

A-ha!

Not you again.

So, you admit that you’re in love with her?

I never denied that.

But you never outright admitted it either, did you?

Of course I did.

You said you love her, but you have never believed in that all-encompassing love that could shake a person to the core.

Go away!

Don’t want to admit it exists? Or is it that you don’t want to admit that you’re shaken by how much you love her?

As she lay there arguing with herself, Ryan realized that Tobi’s breathing had changed and glanced down. She was startled to see Tobi’s eyes open and studying her.

Tobi smiled, leaned up on an elbow, and kissed her.

“Good morning.”

“Mmm, good morning,” Ryan said with a languid stretch.

“How did you sleep?”

“Like a baby…after you let me go to sleep.”

“Me? I believe you were the one who couldn’t keep her hands to herself,” Tobi said with a laugh.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

With lightning speed, Tobi jumped up and straddled her hips.

She grasped Ryan’s wrists and held them above her head, grinning wickedly. Ryan knew she was in trouble as she tried to pull her arms away. She realized that Tobi was a lot stronger than she looked. Ryan raised an eyebrow but continued to smile.
I’ll just
try a different approach.

“Tobi, baby, I love you.”

When Tobi threw her head back to laugh, Ryan lunged forward, knocking Tobi onto her back and effectively reversing their positions. Her fingers curled around Tobi’s as she leaned down and kissed her parted lips. She deepened the kiss and uncurled her fingers, lightly running them across Tobi’s open palms and down her arms. Ryan released a ragged moan when Tobi’s legs encircled her hips, pulling her closer.

Tobi slid a hand to the back of Ryan’s neck, ran her nails down her chest making Ryan’s nipples harden instantly. She circled a nipple with her fingertip before taking it into her mouth and sucking it.

“Oh,” Ryan gasped. Her head dropped in submission as Tobi’s pelvis started rocking against her own.

“You are so incredibly sexy, Ryan.”

“You’re making me crazy. God, I need you so bad.”

“You have me…let it go, baby,” she whispered.

Ryan moved her hips faster against Tobi’s, knowing that the much-needed release she craved was almost there.

“That’s it honey.” Tobi licked her earlobe and nibbled gently as she whispered, “Come for me, Ryan.”

With one last fervent thrust against Tobi, an orgasm ripped through Ryan’s body, draining what energy she had left. She felt Tobi stiffen beneath her and knew she had followed right behind.

Ryan kept an arm across Tobi’s waist and a leg thrown between hers as she rolled off and to the side. Tobi raised her hand and swiped a bead of sweat from Ryan’s brow with her thumb. She rested her fingers against Ryan’s cheek and peered into her eyes with an intense look of love.

“I’ve never felt what I feel with you, Tobi…never.” Ryan looked away before continuing. “I really didn’t think I’d find this kind of love. I’ve always wanted the type of relationship my parents had, but gave up on it after putting so much into Stacey and me.”

“I’m glad it didn’t keep you from giving us a chance, Ryan. I love you so much.”

“I love you, too.”

As Ryan worked her lower lip, she wondered if now was a good time to talk to Tobi about going to her mother’s.

“Tobi, there’s something I wanted to discuss with you.”

“What is it, honey?”

“Well, since you’re going to be off the rest of the week, I was wondering if you’d consider going to my mom’s while I’m at work.”

“I’m fine. The headache has subsided, and there don’t seem to be any other side effects.”

“It’s not that. It’s just that I’m concerned about your being alone with this psycho still out there. I’d worry constantly.”

Tobi stared at Ryan for a moment before responding. “If it would make you feel better, then I’ll do it. The last thing I want is to worry you while you’re working because then you wouldn’t be concentrating, and I don’t want you getting hurt again.”

The myriad emotions swirling within Ryan made speaking difficult, and as a single tear fell, she knew it might convey the wrong message.

“I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I thank God everyday. I love you more than I can say, Tobi.”

“I love you, too, baby.”

Trying to lighten the mood, Ryan leaned back and said, “So, are you going to let me out of bed today?”

Tobi pretended to contemplate the question as she tapped a finger to her chin. “Hmm, well, if I have to.”

“There is nothing I’d like better than to spend the entire day in bed with you; however, duty calls.”

“Okay, why don’t you go take your shower, and I’ll start the coffee.”

“That’s an offer I can’t refuse. As much as I’d like you to join me, I know you can’t get those stitches wet. Some other time?”

“Absolutely. I’ll hold you to it.”

Untangling limbs, they both crawled out of bed. Ryan felt somewhat self-conscious as she looked around for her robe.

Before she could reach for it, Tobi’s hand grasped her arm.

“Don’t,” she said, pausing, “You’re beautiful, Ryan, don’t hide it.”

Ryan looked into her eyes for endless seconds before nodding her head. With a huge grin, Tobi squeezed her arm before grabbing a T-shirt and padding out the door and down the hall.

That one simple statement disclosed so much. More than anything, though, it said, “Don’t be afraid.” Ryan almost skipped into the bathroom.

As the aroma of the brewing coffee filled her senses, Tobi’s thoughts meandered. She hadn’t expected Ryan to let go so much, and the thought of someone breaking her heart made Tobi angry
.

How could someone take something so precious and taint it the way Stacey had done? Just the fraction of what Ryan had already given Tobi made her realize what a fool Stacey was for letting Ryan go. Shaking her head, she went to the cabinet and pulled down two mugs. Ryan exuded strength and integrity; one would never have guessed she had such a soft side. She was sweet and thoughtful, very loving, and one of the strongest people Tobi had ever known.
Stacey is an ass!

“Hey there,” a husky voice whispered in her ear. As Ryan’s arms came around her, Tobi leaned into her and seized the roaming hands. She pressed them against her lips before kissing her knuckles. Tobi slowly turned in Ryan’s arms to face her.

“Hey there yourself. Looks as if you had a nice shower,” she said. She smiled while tucking a strand of hair behind Ryan’s ear.

“Your skin is nice and pink, and you smell delectable.”

“Delectable, huh?” Ryan said with a wiggle of her eyebrows.

Smacking Ryan’s stomach with the back of her hand, Tobi picked up a cup and passed it to her. Ryan leaned against the counter and took a careful sip before glancing in Tobi’s direction and grinning.

“What is that look for?”