Open your eyes. Watch.
Her cheeks flushed. I-
Watch, he repeated a bit shakily now because he was dying, dying, to sink into her. No holding back, you promised.
She swallowed hard. Now, then. Ryan, now.
After I taste you, he whispered, and put his mouth to her.
With the first stroke of his tongue, she bucked right into his waiting mouth. Perfect. With his second stroke, she let out a sobbing breath and gripped his ears so tight it was possible hed never hear again.
Who needed to hear, he thought, and stroked her. And then again, until she was thrashing beneath him, requiring him to hold her still to keep his mouth on the mark.
Who needed to hear, he thought, and stroked her. And then again, until she was thrashing beneath him, requiring him to hold her still to keep his mouth on the mark.
Ryanplease!
Obliging, he sucked her hard into his mouth, and she came in wild shudders that nearly triggered his own release right there on the sheets. Getting a condom on was tricky, but he managed, then guided himself to her creamy center.
Her eyes, dazed, held his. Yes. Now. Now!
His beautiful, passionate, impatient Suzanne. He pushed deeply into her, then deeper still.
Please, Ryan!
Oh yeah, he would please. He gripped her hands with his, linking them together as he kissed her again, and then again, making love to her mouth as hard and deep and as urgently as he was making love to her body.
This time when he withdrew, then thrust home, there was nothing gentle or slow about it. Suzanne. He couldnt help but say her name in wonder, and again in awe, as, fingers and mouths and hearts linked, she took him to a place hed never been before.
When her muscles tightened around him, when she came again, he strained against doing the same. But he couldnt have held back to save his life.
Burying his face in her hair, he didnt even try.
HE AWOKE with the sun on his face. For a moment he hovered in a dreamy state, half-awake, half-asleep. He wore only an erection and a dopey grin, both a direct result of the memories of last night.
It was his own little miracle that shed come to him in the first place, and he still didnt know why, but he would. After he woke her up properly, by kissing every inch of her body, of course. It was only fair to return the favor, as last night, after finally falling asleep in each others arms, hed awakened with her mouth on him. That wasnt a memory hed ever forget. Hed fisted his hands in her wild hair, wondering what hed done to deserve her in his life. Then all wondering had ceased, and so had thought, when shed swirled her tongue over the tip of him in tune to her stroking hands. Hed thrown back his head and surrendered as she delivered him the orgasm of his life. Hed still been in the throes of aftershocks when shed climbed up his body and tangled her tongue with his.
Hed been with his share of women, far less than hed been reputed to have, but still He knew what was out there, knew what was expected. He knew how to have recreational sex. He knew how to pleasure a woman, and be pleasured in return.
And never, not once, had he lost control. Not the way he had with Suzanne.
With those three little words of love on his lips yet again, he opened his eyes, rolled over and reached for her.
Only he was alone.
Completely alone.
SUZANNE HURRIEDLY stripped down and stepped into her own shower. She had so much to do, but being in the hot water, with the steam rising all around her, caressing her bodyit sidetracked her with thoughts of last night.
Soaping up, her touch reminded her of Ryans touch. She smiled dreamily, her brain whirling on high without her permission. Ryan didnt even have to be in the room to lighten her heart, and shed never felt anything like it, not with anyone, including three ex-fiancés.
Shed never allowed herself to feel anything like it.
Should she take the time to shave? She ran a hand up her leg and shivered with more memories. Ryan had used his fingers, his mouth, his body to keep her sated. She even bore physical proof, a whisker burn on her throat, one on her breast, and yet another on her inner thigh. Then there was the delicious soreness between her thighs.
He loved her. Loved her. Ryan Alondo loved her.
She knew he hoped to seduce her into accepting that love. If only he knew. He already had, and not just with his body. Hed seduced her with his wit, his smile, with the way she felt when she was with him.
She wanted to do the same for him. Shed better hurry. She had a lot to do.
THAT AFTERNOON, Angel delivered an envelope to Ryan at his office.
I already have todays mail, he said, distracted by the stack of bills he had to pay, the bids he had to put together and the fact that his heart had been torn in two.
It didnt come by mail, Angel said cryptically, and dropping the envelope on his desk, walked out of his office.
Angel! He frowned when she didnt come back-when did she ever listen to him?-and opened the plain white envelope wondering what now.
It was an invitation.
Since hed never had the social life everyone thought he had, he didnt often receive such things. But someone was having a party.
He wondered if Suzanne would cater it. If shed ever admit to herself and the people in her life that thats what she wanted to do.
Damn, stubborn woman-
He opened the invitation and stopped thinking altogether.
Dear Ryan,
You are cordially invited to the opening of my catering company, Earthly Delights.
Tonight, seven oclock. RSVP isnt necessary.
Please come,
Suzanne
AT SIX OCLOCK Ryan walked into his kitchen. Rafe was rifling through the refrigerator. Russ sat at the table in front of a plate of leftovers, having clearly already helped himself.
And then there was Angel, who sat on the counter eating Ryans last can of Pringles.
Hey, they all said to him, mouths full.
The mooches. I thought you all had places to live. Other than here. Ryan went for a glass, filled it with water and downed it. Hed have preferred a beer, but he had a feeling he was going to need all of his wits about him tonight.
At Suzannes.
Shed be busy, of course, with the opening of the catering company he was surprised shed even admitted to having.
Far too busy for him.
Rafe still stood in front of the open refrigerator, staring inside. Im still starving.
Ryan rolled his eyes, as his brother had been born starving. You can eat at Suzannes.
Suzannes?
The opening. He shoved Rafe aside and shut the refrigerator door. Surely she invited all of you.
Angel, still on the counter, kicked a dumbfounded Rafe. Of course she did.
Well, drive yourselves over there. Ryan knew he had little to no chance in hell of talking his way into Suzannes bed, but he didnt have too much pride to try.
Rafe stood there blinking slowly. But-
Angel kicked him again and smiled brightly at Ryan. Of course. You go ahead, welluh, catch up with you. Hopping down, she took Ryans arm and propelled him to the door. You go ahead now, bye-bye.
Before Ryan could shake her off, shed shoved him out his own door and shut it.
Bye-bye to you, too, he muttered, and got into his car.
HE PARKED in front of the building where it all began, where hed first dropped out of a tree and seen the woman who would change his life.
It seemed like a lifetime ago, not just a month ago.
Hed certainly lived a lifetime since then, and had seen where hed like his future to go. But apparently wanting something and getting that same something were two different things.
Seeing Suzanne again in a casual atmosphere, especially after last night, was going to rip his heart right out. But shed clearly come to some important decisions about her life and its direction, and hed be there. Hed smile and talk, even laugh if it was required. Anything to help her in the evening ahead.
And if in the process he was crippled by anguish and regret, well, it wouldnt be much different from how he felt right now, would it.
The building had slowly started to change to better fit its surroundings. With the trees tamed, and two gone completely, it had a more lived-in look, despite the fact that the two storefronts on the bottom floor were still empty. Empty but not deserted, as the dust and grime had vanished under someones careful care.
And thanks to Taylors insurance, the hole in the third floor loft was nearly mended. There was much more to be done, a complete renovation, in fact. Hed helped Taylor narrow down all her contractor bids, and had suggested several reputable engineers. The rest of the antiques shed been collecting for so many years would fund the project. In no time, she and the building would be on their way to shining prosperity, fit for its South Village address.
Closer now, he could see a sign in the window of the bottom left storefront unit.
Coming Soon!
Earthly Delights
Catering by Suzanne Carter
Shed decided to open a shop as well? He couldnt believe it, and his heart nearly burst for her.
Even as he ached for himself.
Expecting a crowd in her apartment, wondering if shed purchased any more furniture than the kitchen table he knew so intimately, he went up the stairs.
At his knock came nothing but a rustling, then a low oath.
Suzanne?
More rustling, then a harried, Yes! Come in!
Stepping inside, he took in the place with one sweeping glance and smiled. Nope, still no furniture, but the living room and its floor-to-ceiling windows sparkled clean and smelled like lemons. On the clean hardwood floors, shed placed a few throw rugs that added a lived-in touch.
She had a live potted tree by one window, which looked similar to what had crashed through her loft window not too long ago.
At this blatant, obvious laugh-at-life, he grinned.
There were candles everywhere, along the walls, on the wide wooden window sills, all lit, casting a lovely glow on the early evening.
There was also one glaring detail he hadnt failed to notice. Except for him, there were no people. No celebration, no friends, no customers. No one. Suzanne?
The swinging kitchen door rattled but didnt open, and he heard another low oath. You okay? he called out.
Imnearly ready- Damn it.
Cocking his head, he moved closer. He reached out to open the door, but paused when he heard a soft rain of more oaths.