Unfriending the Dr by Piper Sullivan

Persy

“Another superhero movie?” I let out a fake groan and fell onto the sofa between my two favorite guys. “One time, just one time, I want you guys to surprise me with a romantic pick, or even a comedy.”

It was movie night again and I’d been nervous about it all day, wondering if Ryan would expect us to act like a couple in front of Titus.

“Mom,” Titus groaned. “Lovey-dovey movies are gross. Everybody’s always kissing like this.” He made kissing noises, followed up immediately by gagging sounds. “No, thank you.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at my son. He was such a guy’s guy in some ways and so introspective in other. Like a geek and a macho man had merged into one little blond-haired boy. “Oh, remember this moment, little boy, because you won’t feel this way about girls forever.”

“You’re my favorite girl, Mom. Why do I need more?” He gagged again for extra effect and we both dissolved into a fit of giggles.

“Don’t listen to her, Titus. Your mom secretly loves superhero movies. I even caught her watching one without us.”

Titus gasped, shock in his big round eyes. “You did? Which one?”

I shrugged and glared at Ryan for divulging my secret. “The one with the really fit guy who has to save the world.”

“Mom, gross. Don’t say that.” Titus crawled across my lap and settled between me and Ryan. “These are superheroes even though Megan calls them eye candy.”

Ryan let out a loud bark of laughter. “If that makes your mom okay with watching them on movie night, it’s fine by me.”

Titus thought about it for a moment and grinned. “Okay. Me too.” And just like that, the matter was settled.

“It’s always two against one with you boys.” I was constantly outnumbered when it came to movies, movie snacks, and sometimes even takeout.

Ryan reached his arm across the back of the sofa and weaved his fingers with mine. “You can pick what we have for dinner tonight. Deal?”

“I was going to anyway,” I answered and stuck out my tongue.

The sound of his laughter, so rich and so deep, sent a trail of shivers racing up and down my skin while his thumb rubbed teasing circles in the palm of my hand.

“Thanks for the offer, though. It means a lot.”

Ryan was the sweetest man I had ever met. No romantic partner had ever put my needs first the way Ryan did, never thought of me first or my happiness. It was something a girl could get used to.

“Ready to start the movie?”

“Yeah!” Titus squirmed excitedly between us and we both laughed as the opening credits started. While Titus performed his favorite superhero moves, I watched Ryan as he watched my son, a wide, proud smile on his face and love shining in his eyes. He loved Titus as much as I did, which only made things more confusing.

It was one thing that I’d already started looking at Ryan in a new light, as a romantic possibility, and daydreamed about his skills as a lover, but it was quite another to have a romantic partner who loved my kid, too. It was too much, too soon. Ryan and I were easy with each other, which came from a lifetime of friendship. He knew me as well as I knew myself, and in some ways better than I knew myself, and I knew him in the same way. But it wasn’t just our history.

It’s the man.I could just be myself with Ryan and he still looked at me like he did when he was my date for junior prom, like I was the most beautiful girl in the room. Tonight, for example, I’d changed out of my work clothes and into a pair of striped stretch pants and a thin and worn white T-shirt that was half a size too tight. I’d dressed for comfort, the way I always did for movie night. And Ryan didn’t flinch—he just smiled, a hot twinkle in his eyes.

Oh hell, I want him. Right now.

I shook off the thought and tried to catch up on the movie, but the only thing I could focus on was the way Ryan’s fingertips rubbed hypnotic circles in my palm, my wrist, and up my forearm. His touched teased me, sent a wave of heat shooting through me.

I shot off the sofa like it was trying to swallow me whole before I did something ill-advised, especially with my son in the house and wide awake. “I’m hungry. Who’s hungry? Anybody ready for snacks or dinner?”

Ryan smirked as if he knew exactly what was on my mind and I ignored him and instead focus on Titus. “I’m hungry. Can I have popcorn, Mom?”

I nodded, grateful that my boy had the appetite of a professional athlete. “Only a little because dinner will be here soon.”

He gasped and stood on the sofa. “We could have popcorn and chips and cookies and other snacks for dinner.”

“And a stomachache for dessert?”

His shoulders fell in disappointment because we both knew the truth. “All right. Just a little popcorn, then.”

My smile brightened and I ruffled his hair. “Sounds good. Popcorn coming right up!” My voice was a little too cheerful, I knew that, but I made my escape and put some distance between me and Ryan, and finally my shoulders were able to relax.

“Extra butter on my popcorn, please.”

Ryan’s deep voice startled a gasp out of me and I turned to face him with a glare. “Extra butter? Don’t you care about your heart at all?”

He flashed a knowing smile and closed the few feet of space that existed between us. “That’s what I have you for.” One arm circled my waist and the other slid up my back and tangled in my hair. He gave it a little tug and I gasped. His lips brushed against mine and the whole world zeroed in on the spot where our lips touched.

The kiss was sweet at first, gentle and warm, like coming inside a warm house after a cold day of playing outdoors. Then the heat grew until it was a blazing inferno, both in the kitchen and inside my body. I vibrated, practically trembling with need as his hands roamed over my body, his mouth made love to mine like we were the only two people in the whole entire world. It was a perfect kiss, a perfect precursor to ending up naked and sweating and writhing together until we were both exhausted and satisfied.

So damn satisfied that my legs wouldn’t hold me up.

“You guys are missing the whole movie!” Titus’ voice caused us both to freeze mid-kiss. Ryan’s hand paused on my ass and gave it a quick squeeze.

He growled and pressed his forehead to mine. “Kissing you makes the whole world disappear.”

I fell a little bit more at his words and another round of heat suffused my body. “We should probably go back to the movie.”

“Probably,” he agreed with a smile but made no efforts to disengage from me. “I’ll go first. You make the popcorn and order dinner.”

“Deal.” I needed a moment to get my hormones under control. “Ryan?”

He pressed another quick kiss and stepped back. “Yes?”

“We shouldn’t tell Titus about this, about us, not until we’re sure. Right?”

Disappointment flashed in his blue eyes but he nodded his agreement. “Sure, Persephone. If that’s what you think is right, I’ll follow your lead.”

“Thanks.” I wasn’t at all sure if that was the right thing to do or not and I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. “He’s eager for a dad and you’re already it—if he knows we’re dating, he’ll get his hopes up, and I’d rather he didn’t.”

Ryan flashed a crooked smile. “Don’t worry, Persephone, I’ll make sure you know we’re a sure thing before he does.” He winked and backed out of the kitchen, wearing a panty-melting smile the whole damn time.

“Tease,” I muttered to myself and went in search of popcorn and takeout menus. How I made it through dinner and most of the movie without exploding with desire, I couldn’t say. But the moment Titus fell asleep and was tucked away in bed, I attacked my best friend.

Straddling his lap, I cupped Ryan’s face in my hands and kissed him like it was the last time we would ever kiss, like the breath in his lungs was the only thing keeping me alive. My hips moved against his growing erection; his hands gripped my hips and moved me faster, harder where he needed me.

“Persephone, you are driving me crazy, woman.”

I smiled, panting. “Join the club.” I collapsed against him, my head resting on his shoulder. “This is crazy, right?”

Ryan nodded, a slow smile spread across his handsome face. “Crazy hot.”

“Hot?” I laughed, unable to remember the last time a man had called me hot.

“Hell yeah.” He grinned and gave my ass another squeeze. “When a beautiful woman wants you so much she can’t control herself, that is crazy hot. The craziest of hotness.” He kissed me long and slow, a hot tease for a long moment before he pulled back. “And if we were alone, I’d show you just how hot it makes me.”

I shivered at the promise of his words. “Looking forward to it, Ryan.”

“Come on, Persephone, back to the movie.” Ryan wrapped an arm around me and kissed the top of my head.

I laid my head on his shoulder and rested one hand on his thigh while we finished the movie. It was just like any other movie night we’d had over the years. Only better.

Much, much, better.