Nothing. Angel went to him and kissed his cheek.
What was that for? he asked.
Actually, Angel said. It was nothing at all.
And with a long look at Suzanne, she left.
Suzanne busied her hands with another tray.
Shes a good person, she said, not looking at him.
Thats because of you.
You havent seen her at the crack of dawn on a school day, he murmured, coming close. Dont give me credit where its not due.
Ryan-
He put his fingers to her lips. Hear that?
When she spoke his fingers brushed her mouth. All I hear is the music.
Exactly. It had gone soft, dreamy and slow. Taking the oven mitt out of her hands, he drew her close.
There was nothing in her but need so she went against him, then pressed closer still. They rocked together a little, for the longest time, just being.
When the second song came on, he shifted closer still, and so did she. His hands molded her body.
She returned the favor. She couldnt help it, the feel of his big body against hers drew out every emotion she had, and apparently there were quite a few more than shed imagined.
He had one hand low on her spine, the other, entwined with hers, lay against their thighs. Gently gliding his jaw to hers as they swayed together right there in the middle of the kitchen, he sighed.
And so did her heart.
The music seemed to flow through her, through them, until she couldnt tell where she ended and he began. He was passionate, earthy and, she suspected, rather demanding with those he brought into his heart.
Knowing that only made hers beat faster.
And yet the physical contact wasnt enough. She wanted to tell him some of what she was feeling, only those feelings were so jumbled up and confused, she didnt think she could put words together to justify them.
She had actions though, and didnt actions speak louder than words? She lifted her face to his, wanting that connection, the deep, soul-searching kiss only he could give her.
He gave it, and at his sound of pleasure, she melted into him. It was the most erotic thing shed ever done, body to body, mouth to mouth, fully dressed, imagining them otherwise. Shed never felt so hot in her life.
Then, as all good things do, it ended. The music died away.
And Suzanne pulled back. Idbetter get busy.
He ran his thumb over her lips, the ones hed just been sucking on. This cateringits working out for you.
Oh. Well. She backed up, turned to the sink. Its doing okay. For a hobby.
Am I just a hobby, too?
Uh She turned on the faucet full blast. Resist, Suzanne.
But suddenly she didnt want to resist. She wanted him, and more of the amazing feelings she always had in abundance when she was with him.
She wanted that more than she wanted anything. Whipping around, both a smile and his name on her lips, she faltered.
Because he was gone, leaving her standing there under the harsh glare of the kitchen lights, body aching and burning.
Just as shed probably done to him over and over.
IT TOOK HER another hour to clean up the job. Ryan never came back.
By the time shed packed up and got everything in her car, it was late.
Still, she found herself outside Ryans place with her hand raised to knock.
This was stupid. She had no idea what to say to him. Lowering her hand, she turned away, then swore out loud. Then she whipped around again and knocked before she could change her mind.
Ryan answered the door in low-slung sweats and a pair of wire-rimmed reading glasses hanging by the earpiece out of the corner of his mouth. He had a book in one hand, a pencil in the other, and seemed less than pleased with the distraction.
Ryan answered the door in low-slung sweats and a pair of wire-rimmed reading glasses hanging by the earpiece out of the corner of his mouth. He had a book in one hand, a pencil in the other, and seemed less than pleased with the distraction.
Until he saw her. Suzanne?
She managed a little smile, though in truth she was so nervous she felt a little sick with it. Hi. Stepping close, she pulled the glasses from his mouth, put her hands on his bare chest, leaned in and kissed him.
Shock held him immobile for only the barest of beats before he dropped the book and the pencil to put his hands on her hips. But instead of pulling her close, he held her away, so that she couldnt arch her hips to his. Areyou alone? she asked.
Yes.
He was alone, he wasnt pulling her close, and she didnt know what to do. Staring at his amazing body, into his deep, deep eyes, her mind racing frantically, she slid her hands over his chest. She simply couldnt stop herself. Over his hard pecs, his beaded nipples
Suzannewhat are you doing?
She took some comfort in the fact his voice was low and strained. And underneath his sweats, he wasnt able to hide a thing, including the erection she yearned to rub up against. Ryan
He just looked at her. Not coldly, no there was nothing cold in his gaze as it held hers, but neither was he going to help her.
Please dont let me be too late. I want to make love with you, she whispered, feeling her face heat there in the dark on his porch.
You mean you want to have sex?
Shed hurt him, even though shed looked Angel right in the eye and said she couldnt. She could, and she had. Not sex, no.
He didnt look convinced, so she ran her hands down his arms to his hands, which she entwined in hers.
He still held himself rigid.
She simply leaned in closer and put a kiss on the corner of his grim mouth, then slowly made her way over his firm lips to the other corner.
His eyes drifted shut, his thick lashes fanned against his cheeks.
Please, Ryan. She outlined his lower lip with her tongue, and ripped a deep shudder from his big frame. Please? Let me love you.
With a rough groan, he hauled her close. Thank God. Hauled her up and against his big, hot body, whirled around, stepping over the threshold, kicking the door closed behind them.
No holding back, he grated out.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, but he held her off another moment, looking into her eyes with a fierce look of intent. Say it, he demanded.
N-n-no holding back.
Promise.
I promise, she whispered.
Shed barely gotten the words out of her mouth before hed planted her up against the front door, his big frame holding her there, which freed up his hands to run them boldly up her body, touching every inch of her.
Heaven. Being touched like this by him was heaven on earth. Ryan, Ive been such a fool about this.
Yeah. But I love you anyway. He held her head in his big hands, holding her still while he ravished her mouth, before lifting a fraction of an inch. Are we clear on that, at least? I love you, fool.
14
WHEN SUZANNE just stared at him, mouth open, eyes wide, Ryan figured he should be sorry for letting the words slip, but he wasnt. Her cheeks were flushed, her mouth wet from his kisses. The pulse at the base of her neck was frenzied, her breaths were coming in short little pants as she fumbled behind her for the door.
Let me guess, he said, not especially kindly, as shed ripped him right open. You have to go?
I
Having her this close again stirred him beyond belief. His heart raced in tune to hers, and he spread his fingers over the small of her back. All I can say isdont.
You love me.
Yeah. I wasnt looking for that to happen, believe me. I thought I had all I needed. He offered a grim smile. I was wrong, as it turns out. Ive never felt this way before. He whispered this, saw her eyes sparkle with unshed tears. Slowly he slid his jaw to hers while his fingers glided up and down her back, very lightly. I know you think youll hurt me, but-
Ryan-
Im a big boy, Suzanne.
I know. I know. Ryan
When he bent his head, she met him halfway, and it took only an instant for their bodies to remember how good it was between them. Their hands fought for purchase-skin, clothing, it didnt matter. Ryan couldnt touch her enough.
With his mouth on hers, he lifted her up against him, and though he was insane with wanting her, he managed to get them down the hallway to his bedroom.
Hed actually straightened his bed that morning.
Setting her down beside it, he tore the blankets and sheets free and turned back to her. Suzanne-
Shed crawled on the bed and had come up on her knees, making every thought dance right out of his head. He moved to the edge of the mattress until his knees bumped it. They were face-to-face now, and slowly, so slowly, he reached out to run his hands down her sides, her hips, to her thighs, which he gripped the backs of and pulled out from beneath her.
With a gasp she fell to her back. Ryan.
Right here. He followed her down, meeting her waiting mouth with his, sucking in a harsh breath when she danced her tongue to his. He pressed his hips forward to show her what she did to him, and in response, she dug her fingers into his butt, pulling him harder against her.
Oh yeah, he liked that. But they were toodressed.
Surging up, he skimmed off her clothes, flinging them over his shoulder one piece at a time to her breathless laughter. By the time he got to his, she was lying there open and gloriously nude, waiting, her hips arching just a little, which drove him right out of his living mind. Finesse flew out the window as well, so that when his legs got tangled in his sweatpants, he simply tore them off. She let out another laugh that backed up in her throat when he bent to her breast.
With a little growl, he sucked hard at a tight nipple, catching it lightly between his teeth, making her clutch at his head, holding him to her as she cried out.
Oh yeah, he liked that, too. By the time he repeated the torment on her other side, she was panting his name with every breath.
Gliding his hands down her body, down her gloriously lush body, he watched as he touched her, as her eyes glazed over, as her head thrashed back and forth on his pillow, and thought this is it for me. She is it for me.
Love me, she whispered.
Always. He skimmed his fingers down her thighs, then back up, between them now, parting her, exploring her tight, damp center. He found what he sought and gently squeezed.
She let out a strangled gasp and thrust against his hand. Love me, she said again, and reached for him. Please, Ryan, love me.