Id rather fight for it.
Panic filled her at the thought, true and heart-stopping panic, because she instinctively knew, she wouldnt be able to resist. No.
Youre scared. I know. I know, Suzanne.
Im not scared.
Im not like them. Im not like the other men youve let in your life. Im willing to fight for this, not just walk away when it gets tough.
Is that what had happened to her? Had no one, including herself, ever fought hard enough to make it work?
Im going to fight, he warned her. Fight for you.
Very bad idea. Her voice shook, because she knew hed fought for his family, his life. And hed fight for her. Oh, God.
He put his mouth to hers, and with nothing more than a light, gentle, soulful touch of their lips, her entire body came alive. So did her heart.
No, she whispered, putting her hands on his wrists to pull him away, but somehow she ended up just holding on. I dont want you to fight for this.
Why not?
Because you have a will of steel. I know you do, after all youve been through.
This is a different kind of fight altogether.
It was, and she knew it. This was a fight of the heart and soul. One she was in no way ready or able to resist. Slowly she shook her head. Reached behind her. Grabbed the ice cream and clutched it to her chest. You should go.
I want you, Suzanne. I want to hold you, touch you. Bury myself in you. I want to be with you, see you smile, laugh. Live.
Thats fighting dirty, she whispered, voice thick. But I can fight dirty, too. Reaching out, she grabbed a very cold fistful of the now slightly melted ice cream, pulled up his shirt and slapped the ice cream low on his belly, just above his jeans. And though she went a bit wobbly at the feel of his warm, hard stomach, she locked her knees together and lifted her chin to nosebleed height.
He sucked in a harsh breath and his jeans gaped, allowing the ice cream to slide down, down, down and out of view. A strangled sound escaped him.
She clapped her hand to her mouth.
Eyes hot, he politely took the spoon from her. Dipped it into the ice cream.
And smiled the smile of the very devil.
Ryan. She laughed and backed up. Right into the counter. Ryan.
Yes, that would be my name.
I dont-
Yes? he cocked his head. You dontwhat?
Well She smiled a bit nervously. I dont think theres any cause to act like children here- The words ended with an abrupt gasp as he let the ice cream fall off the spoon and down her half unbuttoned, half off her shoulders dress.
Still smiling, he then put his hand over the center of her chest, fingers spread wide, and pressed, smashing it into her skin.
Shocked by the cold, she panted. Okay, maybe an ice-cream fight is a bad idea.
Ill agree. So heres a different kind of fight for you. Hauling her against him, ice-creamed chest to ice-creamed chest, he let out a slow smile that started her heart pumping. Fight back if you dare, he whispered before putting his mouth to hers.
10
REMEMBER. Thisisjust sex, Suzanne panted when they both broke free from the kiss for air. Her chest rose and fell as if shed been running uphill for an hour, the pulse beat wildly at the base of her neck. Just sex, she said again. Right?
Ryan could feel her vulnerability as his own. You want me to be honest?
Her eyes clouded. Clearly she wasnt sure if she wanted honesty or not, and in the face of her confusion, he felt the most overwhelming, most unexpected tenderness.
Maybe we shouldnt talk, she said.
Disappointment tasted like the bitter chocolate ice cream on his bottom lip. You want me to go?
Yes.
Good. Because while his body throbbed, his mind actually agreed. He took a large step back.
Yourewalking away.
Walking away, he agreed.
Good.
Great.
He had no idea who made the first move, they simply, suddenly, lunged at each other. Ripped at clothing. Sank fingers into hair. Kissed so deeply he had no idea where her mouth ended and his began. Ryan, my God Her voice was ragged and filled with hunger.
I know. We have to-
Yes.
He lifted her up, set her on the counter and stepped between her thighs in one motion, then groaned when she arched to him, sliding against his erection so that his eyes crossed.
Here? She practically mewled it. Now?
Here. Now. He tugged the bodice of her dress down, catching it on her arms, pinning them to her side. Oh yeah, that worked for him. Opening her bra, spilling her breasts free, his knees nearly buckled at the sight of them, full and creamy, with rose nipples budded tight, begging for his attention.
Ryan, free my arms. I want
But he wanted, too, and taking advantage, he lifted the spoon and dribbled the soft melting ice cream over her bared breasts.
She sucked in a hard breath, and the chocolate-covered curves jiggled for him, making his mouth water. He had to unhook her ankles from behind his back to work her panties down, but then was able to dribble more ice cream over her quivering belly. Her inner thighs.
Ryan She jerked when a drop hit at the vee of those thighs. Thatsgoing to besticky.
He liked that she could barely talk, that she was out of breath already. Not if I lick it off first.
Her eyes went huge. Youre going to-
Watch. Bending, he put his hands on the tops of her legs, spread them even wider, groaning at the view that presented. God, youre beautiful. And she was, all hot and wet for him, dotted with chocolate topping he couldnt wait to eat off.
She gasped when he lowered his head. Wait.
He lifted his gaze. Problem?
Its just thatIno ones ever Closing her eyes, her cheeks went bright red.
No ones ever put his mouth on you before?
Eyes still closed, she shook her head.
He felt a flash of anger at the other men in her life, which was quickly replaced by a surge of satisfaction. Hed be the one to show her what it should be like. Open your eyes, Suzanne.
When she did, he slid his hands up her thighs until his thumbs met.
When she did, he slid his hands up her thighs until his thumbs met.
She let out a helpless little hum.
With the pad of his finger he smeared the chocolate right over the center of her. Now.
N-now?
Now Im going to lick you, just as I promised.
Oh. Well
He licked her.
Oh!
Mmm. Chocolate-covered woman. He licked his lips. My favorite flavor.
Ryan, I- The words turned into a little whimper when he licked her again. He liked the rough, needy sound she let out so much he just kept at it.
Ohmigod. Ohmigod.
When he switched to a nibble, then sucked her into his mouth, she nearly bucked right off the counter. He simply slid his hands beneath her, cupping her delectable butt in his hands and held on. Licking. Sucking. More licking. In a minute, she was on the edge. Then her every muscle tightened, trembled, and he waited for her explosion.
Instead, she tried to close her thighs. Stop!
Damn, the magic word. He lifted his head. Her arms were still pinned at her sides, her fists clenched, her every panting breath making her bared breasts shimmer and shake.
Then he looked into her wild, glazed eyes. Her wild, stressed out eyes. RyanIm going to
Come? he asked gently. Youre going to come?
Her hair flew into her face when she let out a jerky nod, and his heart constricted with such affection he could hardly breath. But thats good. He stroked a finger right over the plump, turgid flesh hed just been sucking on. Really good.
Her entire body twitched upward, seeking more of that touch. But-
I want you to. Lowering his head so that his breath brushed against her hot, hot body, he whispered, Come in my mouth, Suzanne.
And with the next stroke of his tongue, she did exactly that with thrilling abandon.
WHEN SUZANNE could open her eyes, she stared at Ryan, shocked. Shed come. In his mouth. Shed come in his mouth.
Good? he asked with a smile that might have been smug if it hadnt been filled with so much tight need.
She opened her arms, and straightening, he stepped right into them, but she needed more, too. She tugged at his shirt, sucking in a breath when he pulled it over his head and tossed it aside.
He was beautiful. Beautiful. She already knew that, but seeing him up close and personal, touching him, gliding her fingers over his hot, hard flesh
Tell me you have a condom, she said in a low voice she didnt even recognize as her own. Shed never in her life made the first move, but she was shameless now, and hed made her that way.
I have a condom.
Shocking herself, she undid the button of his pants. Reached for the zipper. The rasp of metal on metal seemed loud in the room where the only other sound was their ragged breathing.
And Suzannes breathing was very ragged, more so when she slipped her hand inside, past the melted ice cream and wrapped her fingers around him. He was fully erect, needing release, and she was so desperate for the same thing she could hardly contain herself.
Your bed, he said.
But she shook her head. She didnt want to wait that long. Here.
He fascinated her, he had from that very first day when hed dropped out of that tree, but this, right here right now, was taking that fascination to another level and she knew it. He was real, much more real than anyone else shed let in her life. He had hopes and dreams. He was physical, astonishingly graceful.
Powerful.
And aroused. For her.
She wanted him, wanted him in a way that went beyond the physical, and she was going to have to face that. Later.
His fingers were shaking as he put on the condom. Watching him was the most erotic thing shed ever seen.
Ryan?
His gaze, hot and heavy, lifted to hers.
Hurry. She slipped her arms around his neck at the same time he caught her up and hauled her to him. With her wrapped around him, he turned from the counter and faced the table. One swipe of his hand sent her mail and a couple of books to the floor before he sat her on it. He was strong and hard, and shed never wanted anyone as she wanted him. He took her face in his hands, and when they kissed this time it was no simple, gentle touch but a deep, wet, hot statement of raw hunger.
They were both lost in it. He bunched the material of her skirt up past her waist. She used her toes to shove down his pants. He pulled a breast into his mouth, teasing the chocolate-covered nipple with his tongue while she guided him to where she needed him most.