Then he thrust into her, making them both cry out. Using the table for leverage, he pulled back and thrust again, this time going higher, deeper. And then again.
Looking at him, holding his dark, dark gaze, she burst right out of herself, yet another orgasm, with shocking ease, when such a thing had never come easy for her, never. Always, shed had to strain and strain, and often had just settled without.
Not now, though she had the sinking feeling it wasnt the time or the place, but the man.
Oh, yeah, it was the man.
He kissed her again, and touched her face. Drew her hands to his chest and moaned his encouragement when they lowered. And she felt, unbelievably, another tightening within her body. Struggling to keep her eyes open, she watched as he drove her higher, then higher still, and at the end, threw his head back, her name on his lips.
Just watching him, so untamed, so uninhibited, hearing him say her name in that ragged voice, triggered her third-her third!-orgasm of the night.
But even as the lights exploded inside her head and her body shuddered with the insane pleasure of it all, her mind rebelled. And held back.
Because this was nothing but a single episode. An end to a means. A temporary diversion.
And no matter what her heart cried as Ryan gently put his mouth to hers, no matter what she really yearned for, she wouldnt let herself sink into him.
Shed keep her heart out of it.
FOR RYAN, he came back to earth in slow increments. If that was just sex, he said, too weak to lift his face away from Suzannes neck or open his eyes. Ill eat my shorts.
This was greeted with silence.
Forcing himself, he pulled away from the soft skin of her neck and looked at her.
She, however, hopped down from the table and bustled around, gathering clothes, tossing his to him.
Suzanne?
She turned away, staring out the window, into the dark, dark night.
Hey. You okay?
She hugged herself, and when he put his hands on her shoulders, she stepped forward, and away from him. Of course Im fine. Perfectly fine.
He had a good idea what was going through her head. She was very busy distancing herself, convincing herself that everything was still the same. But she was wrong, nothing was the same, and it wouldnt be ever again. What just happened wasnt the norm for me, I want you to know that. Hed been with other women, hed even done it in a kitchen before, once with whipped cream, but even that hadnt been close to what hed just shared with Suzanne. Chocolate ice cream or not, this hadnt been just sex. When shed been in his arms, hed feltwhole. And when hed sank into her body, shed shattered him, heart and soul.
Its late, she said. Im sorry. And she walked out of the kitchen. A moment later he heard her bedroom door shut.
Leaving him standing there in the kitchen with his ego on the floor at his feet next to his pants.
TWO MORNINGS LATER Suzanne stood in the same kitchen in which shed allow Ryan to eat her up, literally. Chocolate was involved this time as well, though not quite in the same mind-blowing manner.
She was putting little dollops of frosting on top of cookies, preparing a dessert tray for her third catering event of the week. A luncheon, a referral from the party shed catered at Ryans.
Ryan.
Only two nights before hed rocked her world right here in this very kitchen, looking at her with those dark, dark eyes as if she could quite possibly be the one for him.
And shed ruined that by walking away.
Which had left her lying in bed, staring at the ceiling for two nights running, wondering which exact gene shed inherited that had made her such an fool.
With a sigh, she popped another fattening cookie into her mouth. It made for an even dozen. The chocolate melted in her mouth, the cookie dissolved beautifully.
Well, good. If she couldnt keep her personal life on track, at least she made a hell of a cookie.
AFTER THE LUNCHEON, Suzanne drove through South Village, trying to clear her head. Everything had gone smooth. Better than smooth. Shed booked two more jobs for the following week.
Pretty good for a hobby, she supposed, and ignored the little voice that said it should be more than a hobby.
Maybe she just hadnt been born to be regimented, responsible or serious.
It was afternoon and the streets were humming with action. Businesswomen were out on break shopping and lunching. Men were watching the women shopping and lunching. There were bikers, walkers, joggersall talking, laughing or, in the case of a roller-blading teen, singing at the top of his lungs. Scents from the sidewalk cafés contrasted with the scents of Southern California air-flowers and smog.
Suzanne stopped to buy a newspaper, thinking she still needed a job, then drove around some more, checking out a few newer cafés and restaurants.
She came back to reality when she ended up at Ryans office.
To get out or not, that was the question now. She wondered what it meant that she couldnt come up with an excuse for being there other than the simple one. She wanted to see him.
Hey.
At the husky voice in her ear, she jumped. Ryan stood next to her car, looking so good her hands itched to touch, though his smile seemed a bit strained and there were things in his eyes thatoh, God, the things in his eyes.
Hey, she said back. Ijust wanted to She couldnt remember. Um
He looked at the newspaper on the passenger seat. Job hunting?
Still.
Whats up with the catering?
Its just-
A hobby, he said with her, then smiled.
It is.
I know it. What I dont know is what youre so afraid of. He said this softly, without any censure or reproach.
And maybe that was why she was able to give him a helpless smile and admit the truth. Its the usual.
Failure?
She nodded, struck dumb by how well he understood her. Had anyone ever understood her so well?
Suzanne, dont you love catering?
Of course.
Dont you love being in charge of your workday?
She sighed. Yes.
Are you making money at it?
She nodded, then covered her eyes. I know, I know, itd be a perfect way to get responsible.
I meant its a good way to make you happy.
No one had ever worried about her happiness, no one.
Suzanne, just because your past relationships havent worked out, doesnt mean youd fail at this.
When she would have looked away, he leaned in and touched her face. Made her look at him. And since were listening to what I thinkI think I am very glad those other relationships didnt work out. That was fate. You running your own business is fate. And Suzanne? Were fate, too.
She closed her eyes. Ryan.
Come to dinner with me.
Bad idea. Im not hungry.
Then lets go walking.
Im
Anything, Suzanne. His voice was low, his eyes fierce. Lets do anything, even just stand here and stare at each other.
That wouldnt work either. Shed made a promise to herself, and no matter what he did to her insides, she had to keep that promise. It was all she had. Ive got to go. Im sorry, she whispered, and reversed out of the lot, praying she didnt run over his foot.
She made it back home before she let herself think.
She needed ice cream. Nope, she couldnt even count on that as comfort food any more because she couldnt eat it without thinking of wild, hot, on-the-table sex with Ryan.
Chips, she decided as she climbed the stairs. She could go for a big bag of barbecue chips. Yeah, that would work, there was absolutely nothing sexy about a bag of chips.
Unless of course they were scattered across the magnificent body of one Ryan Alondo. Now that would be sexy because she could start at his toes and eat her way up his long, lean form and-
Bad Suzanne, very bad.
Shed have to skip the chips, too.
Taylors front door was open. Shed been out shopping at estate sales again, Suzanne thought with a fond grin as she skipped her place and stepped into Taylors living room. A three-foot-high brass frog greeted her, as did an ornately carved wooden umbrella holder and a glass shelving unit upon which sat a collection of pewter figurines from Alice In Wonderland.
She knew Taylor couldnt help herself, that collecting was firmly entrenched in her blood, but to gather more stuff when shed only have to sell them off to finish the building? Suzanne wondered how long before they were both out in the street.
There were voices in the kitchen, several low and male, and at least one female, but it was the gathering of men that made Suzannes heart start pumping.
Ryan? Had he beat her here for some reason? Taylor?
Come on in!
Suzanne did with pitiful eagerness. There were two men at the table, bent over a set of plans. There was also a young woman, her dark hair cut spikey and close to her face, with a multitude of earrings up one ear. She wore frayed jeans, a handkerchief for a top and sported a diamond in her belly button. She sat filling out something on a clipboard. Hey.
Taylor sauntered across the small room toward Suzanne as only Taylor could. Whats up?
Suzanne lifted a brow. Youre the one with a kitchen full of people.
Oh, well. Its a busy morning. She lowered her voice. Those two at the table are presenting a bid to renovate the building. They took one look at me and decided they could bend me over a barrel with the price. Of course Ive cheerfully informed them they were sorely mistaken. Theyre now groveling and figuring out how to lower their price like good little boys.
Only Taylor. And the interesting looking woman?
Thats Nicole Mann.
At the sound of her name, the woman with the clipboard looked up. She had the most unusual gray eyes Suzanne had ever seen. Taylor jerked her head, indicating Nicole should follow her and Suzanne out into the hallway.
Suzanne, Taylor said when they were all in the hallway. This is Nicole Mann. Shes applying for a place here. Im thinking the loft will be ready by next week. Unless you want it back.
No, Im set where Im at. Suzanne smiled at Nicole, who didnt quite smile back. The loft is great. Nice view of the city now that the trees are gone.
I dont have the time to breathe much less appreciate a good view. Nicole handed the clipboard to Taylor.
All filled out? Taylor skimmed the form. Youre a doctor?