I look down at his hands and notice they’re resting on my hips. The burning desire to kiss him sets in and my mind is racing along with my heart. I love Tyler and Ryan is a friend, I repeat over and over. The way his hands feel on me is something I can’t describe.

“I want to kiss you,” he admits to me.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. Ryan don’t.” I don’t realize what leaves my lips until he leans down and kisses me. Our kiss is simple and different. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pull him closer. Opening my mouth to let his tongue slide in, he takes his time and deepens the kiss.

Pulling away I stare at him, “Oh no.” This isn’t happening. I didn’t enjoy kissing Ryan. “I have to go.”

I ball my fists when I see them kiss. It’s only been a few hours and my fucking brother is making his move. Moving away from the window, I take the stairs and wait in her room. Everything I want to say to her is in pieces. I’m not sure what to do.

When the door opens, she walks in with wide eyes and an expression I’m not used to seeing. She’s thinking and the kiss is affecting her more than it should.

“Bay.”

“Ty. What are you doing here?” I relax when I hear her voice and try to clear my head. I shake my head and stare at the floor. I have to keep my anger and emotions in check.

“Wanted to talk.”

She sits down next to me and places her head on my shoulder. “Everything is going wrong,” she whispers, “I don’t know what to do. I’ve made a mess of the situation and I’m trying to find a solution. Please can we not fight?” she begs me, her voice shaking, and all I can do is pick her up in my arms and hold her.

“I agree, we should talk. Only, I have no idea where to go from here.”

“I don’t either,” she agrees, still holding my hand. “I want answers and I don’t know what to do. I love you so much and I love Ryan. The thing is, I don’t know at what degree my love for Ryan is.”

“I know,” I softly answer. Everything I want to say is on the tip of my tongue and I can’t say it. I want to tell her I hate her and never to talk to me again. I want to scream and yell, but that’ll leave me nowhere.

“Why are you even back? Don’t I cause you pain and grief? You can do so much better than me.”

I hug her and feel her soft cheek against mine. “Because when you love someone, you accept all their flaws. You don’t fall in love with perfection, you fall in love with imperfection and create a perfect kind of love.” I rub my fingers along her shoulders and down her body, trying to hold back the sadness. “I love you, Bay. That’s never going to change.”

Bayleigh looks into my eyes and renders me breathless. She touches each side of my face with her hands and brings her lips to mine. I freeze for a moment, forgetting what I saw outside, and take her with everything I have.

“I miss you,” I tell her, holding her against my body. She fits perfectly and this is where she needs to be. I feel her lips on my neck. Closing my eyes, I enjoy this moment with her.

“I want you. I need you,” she whispers in my ear.

Her words are doing things to my body and I hope she means it. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

She deepens the kiss and moves closer to me, pushing me back on her bed. Each movement is telling me she’s thinking of me, wanting me, loving me. I’m the one she loves and wants to be with. When her lips touch my neck I let out a groan and move my hands down her body. She meets my lips again and opens her mouth, letting my tongue in to explore her sexy mouth.

“I love you so much.” Her words sink in and I so badly want this night to be forever in my head.

Straddling me, she pulls off her shirt and bra, leaving her exposed body for my eyes only. I grip her shoulders and close my eyes.

“Bayleigh, we don’t have to do this.”

“I want this, Tyler. I want you.”

No matter how strong I’m trying to be, the look in her eyes is all I need to know that this is what she wants. I grab the back of her head and my lips meet hers again. Flipping her over on her back, I take off my shirt and feel her soft fingers pull down my jeans. When they slide under the elastic band of my boxers and I feel her on my bare skin, a low grunt escapes my lips. I bring my lips to her chest and kiss her all the way down until my mouth touches her inner thigh. Pulling down her panties, she does the same with my boxers.

There’s nothing in between us.

Positioning myself over her, I look at her again, “Bay, it doesn’t have to happen. I can wait. You know I can wait.”

“I’ve been on the pill and I’ve never missed a day.”

As soon as I heard that, the desire for her hits an all-time high. Sliding into her warmth, I watch her big, round eyes fill with desire and fire. It’s surreal. This is what I’ve been waiting for since I left her here. Tonight is here. Everything I’ve done to get here is now happening.

“I love you, Bay.” She smiles and opens her legs wider. She meets every thrust and screams my name. With each noise she makes, it’s getting harder to not finish. Fuck. I need to last longer than this.

I press deeper inside her. I grab one leg and prop it on my shoulder, pushing deeper and deeper. Her breathing is going faster and I feel her about to let go. We keep our eyes on one another and a smile creeps on her face. Putting down her leg, I lean down and kiss her beautiful lips, slowing down, enjoying this moment.

“Faster,” she whispers and my dick takes over. Sliding in harder and faster, I groan and hear her moan, when we both find our release.

“Don’t leave me again,” she tells me, holding onto me with all her strength. “Please.”

“I’m not going anywhere. This is where I belong. You are my home. Our lives were thrown offbeat, but now I know things are going to be okay.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.” Kissing her forehead, I hold her tighter in my arms. Suddenly, my life makes sense and I’m looking forward to waking up next her and until forever ends.

I had my doubts, but now this is all I need, to know we found our place and nothing else matters. Breathing in a relaxing breath, I close my eyes and finally fall sleep next to my Bay.

“Good morning, beautiful.” I wake up and see I’m alone in her bed. At first, I don’t panic. Maybe she’s downstairs getting us breakfast. Putting on my clothes, I walk down the hall and down the stairs. I notice how quiet everything is and wonder what the hell is going on.

Looking for her in the living room and kitchen, I start to panic. She’s nowhere. I hear the front door open and rush over to see who’s there.

“Mandy? What are you doing here?”

Her eyes look red like she’s been crying and she shakes her head. “We need to go to the hospital. Ryan’s there now.”

Rushing out of the house and following her to her car, she drives to Strong and explains what happened. Apparently, Bayleigh woke up and found him sitting on the swing and he was unresponsive. She didn’t know what to do and called the ambulance. I fucking slept through the whole thing.

“Don’t be mad,” Mandy tells me.

“I’m not. Just get me there now.”

When she pulls in the hospital parking lot, I get out before she parks and hurry inside. Telling the receptionist my name and who I need to see, she gives me the information and soon I’m outside the door, listening to them talk.

“How are you feeling?”

“Like shit,” he tells her. I can hear the weakness in his voice. “I don’t want to die here,” he cries and I hang my head. I don’t know how much more I can hear. Even though I hate him for trying to steal my girl and not protecting her, he’s still my brother and I love him.

“It’ll be okay. I’ll be here with you.”