Read Online Strip Me Bare by Marissa Carmel - Free Book Online Page B

over the
ocean; he even captured the fluidity of the waves.
    “It’s amazing.”
    “I want to start my own company. There’s a
huge market out there for freelance artists. Book covers, web
design, all kinds of shit. I think it could be lucrative.”
    I run my hands through my hair and sigh
resigned. This is so fucking difficult.
    “I also want something else,” Ryan pulls me
into his arms, but I’m reluctant to go. “I want the wife and kids,
the white picket fence, and all that American dream bullshit. And I
want it with you.”
    I wilt in his arms, “Me?”
    “Mmm hmm. I’ve always wanted it with you. I
want to be the father I never had and the husband my mother was
cheated out of. So if I have to take off my fucking clothes to make
the money I need, I’ll do it. And I pray you want me enough to
suffer through it. Because I promise I’ll make it up to you for the
rest of my life.”
    “Ryan,” I heave a sigh.
    “Please, Alana, just try,” he presses.
    I’m wracked with indecision. “Do you have any
idea what my life is going to be like the next three years? I’m
going to law school, Ryan . It’s a full time commitment,” I
tell him, because I want him to understand that he’s not going to
have much of me once school starts.
    “What does that have to do with
anything?”
    “I just want you to realize, having any kind
of relationship with me is going to be a challenge.”
    Ryan scoffs, “You think I can’t handle you
being in law school? That I won’t compete for your time?”
    “I just want you to be prepared. It has to be
my sole focus.”
    Ryan smiles. A wryly, arrogant smile. Like
he’s telling me to bring it on. “Alana, I lost you for five years,
you really think I’m going to let a little thing like law school
get in my way? I’ll fight infinity if I have to, to keep you by my
side.”
    “You sound pretty sure of yourself.”
    “I am sure of myself. I know what I want. And
if you can deal with my challenges, I sure as hell can deal with
yours. So, can we try?”
    Try? I stare at Ryan blankly. Can we try?
    “Maybe,” I cave; unsure about the
outcome.
    Ryan breathes a sigh of relief, “I can live
with maybe, for now.” He leans in to kiss me, but we’re interrupted
when his phone rings.
    He shoots a dirty look at the dresser, then
moves to answer the phone.
    “Hey man,” he says as he picks up his watch
and checks the time. “Yeah I’m on my way. I won’t be late, stop
hassling me,” Ryan glances over at me. “Yes. Yes,” he smiles then
looks away, “you’re an asshole, I’ll see you in twenty.”
    “Who was that?” I ask, and for some reason I
feel like I was part of that conversation.
    “Divan, he was checking up on me. Thinks he’s
my mother for some unknown reason.”
    “Who’s Divan exactly?”
    Ryan smiles with a cagey expression, “You
probably know him as the Dominator.”
    Holly’s petrified eyes flash in front of me.
Then I remember when he came to get Ryan while we were on the
street.
    “The one with the nice smile.”
    “Nice smile? Not many women describe him that
way,” Ryan laughs.
    “Well that’s what I noticed.”
    “Well, don’t notice too much, okay.” Ryan
kisses me possessively then slaps my ass right before disappearing
into the bathroom. “And be here when I get out,” he orders through
the door.
    Baby, I don’t think I could go anywhere even
if I tried.
    I walk with Ryan to Culture, it’s a few
blocks from his apartment and on the way to the train. It’s a warm
spring evening and there are more people on the street then one
would expect for a Thursday night. As we make our way up to the
club, I can see the line already forming outside. I recognize
Lorenzo checking IDs. He looks like a bad-ass Big Pun weighing in
at three hundred pounds and sporting a thick black goatee. We
aren’t twenty yards from Culture’s entrance when the shouting and
cat calling starts. Half the women know Ryan’s name. Well, Ryan’s other name.