by Grace Gervas
"So,whatareyouguysgoingtodo?Imight'veruinedyour workbecauseofmyfoulmouth!"Sheworried. "We'llhavetorevisethedesigns,nowayout."Heshrugged. "Besides,weweren'texpectingago-aheadrightaway,everyone knowshowdemandingRyanis;helikesthingstobeperfect."
WiththatClairehadnothingtoargue;sheknewRyanwell enoughtoknowthatfact.Theyarrivedthelobby,andwhile headingout,herphonebuzzed.Shefrownedseeingthatitwas Ryancallingher;sheansweredafteralittlehesitation.
"Whatisitsir?"Shebarked.Nathanhaltedasshestopped moving.
"It'sRyan,I'mnotyoursir!Don'tgoanywhere,waitforme." Ryantoldherfromtheotherend. Shefrowned."Ihavetogobacktotheoffice,ifthisisn't aboutworkthenpleasestopwastingmy--"shestoppeddead whenshesawhimapproachingfromtheanotherelevatorthat wasforexecutivesonly.
"Thereyouare!"Ryansaidbeforehangingup.Hemarched towardsthem,surroundedwithhisauthoritativeaurathat evidentlyprovedhimabossamongeveryoneelse.Hestopped beforeNathanandtoldhim,"YoucangoaheadbyyourselfMr. Panther,IhavesomewheretogowithClaire."
Clairegawped,andsodidNathan."Oh--okay!"Nathan repliedbeforeexchangingglanceswithhispartner. "Howdareyou?"ClairesnappedathimonceNathangone. Ryangrabbedherbythewrist."Comeon,let'sgetoutof here!" Shepulledoffsavagely."Stopit!I'mnotgoinganywhere withyou!Whodoyouthinkyouaretoordermearound?"She raisedhervoice,obliviousofthefacttherewereseveralSK employeesatthelobbywhowerecurrentlytakingnoteof whatevertheirbosswasdoing;Ryandidn'tgiveadamn.
"Oh,doyoupreferIdragyoubyforceorcarryyoulikea sackofrice?"Heasked. Seeinghowserioushewas,Claireendedupgettingpulled awayfromthelobbywithhishandholdinghers.Ashealways did,RyanopenedthepassengerdoorforClaireandsheshe stoodtheremotionlessindicatingshewon'tcomplyofwhatever hewanted.
"DoIhavetouseforceagainClaire?Isaidgetin!"He repeatedforthethirdtime. "IsaidI'mnotgoinganywherewithyou!Can'tyougetthat inyourthickskull?"Shescreamedathim,andheonlyrolledhis eyes.
"Ohyoureallylovechallenges,Damnit!"Ryansnapped,and whatfollowedwasClairebeingpushedinsidethecarlikeachild. "Ryan?Ryanstopdoingthismad--"Claireputaresistance butallinvain;shewasalreadyinandthedoorslammed afterwards."Youanimal!"Sheyelledafterhimandearneda crookedsmilefromhimashepacedaroundtopossesadriver seat.
Theridecommencedinaboveaveragespeed,withClaire pantingmadlywhilechirpingaboutgoingbacktowork,andhow angryandsickhemadeherfeel.Ryanpaidnoattentiontoher ranting;instead,whileatit,hepluckedhiscellphoneandmade acallduringwhichshewasglaringathimwithbewilderment. Sheunderstoodrightawayhewastalkingtosomeonefrom Starlight.
"YesIt'sme!"Hesnappedoverthecall."ClaireLevywon't returntoworktoday,Ineedherto..."hekeptsayingto whomeverhewastalkingto,bossily."Right,Good!"Andhehung up.
"What...whatareyoudoing?Areyoucrazy?"Claire snapped."WhatdoyoumeanI'mnotgoingbacktoworkand thatyouneedme?Whatfor?"
Ryansmiled."Crazyagain?Ithoughtyoualreadyhavean answerformymentalstate,OhjustshutupClaire,Itwilldoyou good!"
"You'resick!Soverysick!"
"Seatbelt!"
"What?"
"Isaidputonthedamnseatbelt!"Herepeated,inmoreof anorderthanasimplereminder.Withaheavy,frustratedsigh Clairecomplied.
TheyhadasilentdriveuntilRyan'scarpulledoverintoan undergroundgarageatsomefancybuildinginaveryravishing street.Clairewantedtoopenhermouthbutdecidedtokeep calm;dealingwithRyanusingwords,hasbyfar,provedtobe totallyuseless.Hegotoutthecarfirst,andopenedthedoorfor hisangrycompanion.Clairescowled,andwithmuchreluctance, whichmadeRyanchuckleasshedramaticallydroppedoff.
"Nowwhat?Whereareyoutakingme?"Shebarked. "Justfollowme!"Hesaidandasalways,shetriedtoprotest.
Ignoringherresistance,hegrabbedherhandanddragged herwithhimtowardsaveryhideouselevatorthatwasdown there,andbothentered.
Heseemedtobetheonlyonewithanaccessanditdrove themuptothefoyerofsomeapartment,agradapartmentthat leftClairealittledazzled.Itwassuchabeautifulandfancy apartmentwithanoceanviewviait'senormousbaywindow;it lookedboyishandstyling.
Clairemovedtothewindowandstaredoutsidefora momenttocatchherbreath,beforeturningaroundwithher armsfoldedacrossherchest,readytobattlewithhim.
"AndmayIknowwhatisthisplace?"Sheaskedinaserious toneofvoice. "Myhomeofcourse!"Ryanansweredwhiletakingoffhis jacket,followedbythenecktieandheadtothelargeopen kitchenunravelledafterthelivingroom.
"Whatwillyouhave?Wine,coffee?"AskedRyanwhile moving. Shescoffed,unabletobelievehisutterlyconfidentgestures. "OfcourseIdon'twantanything!"Shereturned"Justtellme whyyoubroughtmetoyourhome,asyouclaim,whileIshould beworkinglikeeveryothernormalpersonsoutthere?"shekept whining.
Ryancamebackwithabottleofwater;heopenedand gulpedahalfofit.Thenhesatdownandorderedhertodothe same.ForonceClairedidasasked,butwithmuchdifficultyas herheelskepttappingthefloorrestlesslyuntilRyanfinally decidedtospeak;
"Whyareyouignoringme?I'vecalledyoutwicethis weekendandyoudeliberatelychosetoignorethemall,and evenmytexts!"
"Ohyoumeanyourtwomissedcallsandonemessage?" ClairerepliedsarcasticallyandRyannarrowedhiseyes."You musthavereallytriedyourbesttoreachmewiththosesleazy attemptsofyours,huh?Imeanthreetrialsandyou'rehere complaining?"
Ryan'slipsturnedintoanamusedlaughterwhenhelooked atherface."Soyouthinkitwasn'tenough?WouldyoupreferI calledyounonstopandsentyoubundleoftextsinstead?"
Clairegotup,flustered."No!Ineversaidthat."Shereplied, andhearchedhiseyebrows."I'monlysayingthatyoucould have,wait,you'reonlytryingtoevadethemainissuehere.Why weevendiscussingthis?"
"Becauseyouwantto?"Ryansaidinmockery.
"Ofcoursenot!Ryan,justtellmewhatallthischarade's aboutsothatwecangetitoverwith!I'mnotinthemoodtoplay
yourgames!"Shetoldhimstrictly.
"Nothingmuch,Ijustwantedtospendtimewithyou; becauseImissedyou!" "Doyouevenlistentoyourself?"Clairegawped.Itwas impossibleforhertounderstandhimevenalittle."Doyou really?"
"Mostofthetimes!"Heanswered. "YouaresuchabastardRyanStevens,whodoyouthinkI am?Aslutwithnodignity?OhIknow,apoorCinderellawhois mistreatedbyherevilstepmom,andonedayshefindsahiding shelterinthearmsofaPrincecharming,isthatit?"Sherapped andRyanremainedquietlisteningtoherwhim,hiseyes glisteningwithbothpleasureanddiscomfort.
"I'veneversaidsuchathing."Hesaidcalmly. "Idon'tknowwhyyoubroughtmehere,butI'msureDoris doesn'thavetheslightestidea."Shetoldhim."AndifImay, pleaseletmeaskyouthispolitely."shesaidhaltingly,andsat nexttohimsoastolookhimcloselyintheeyes."Pleaseletto go."
"Claire,"Ryanutteredwhenherealizedthechangeonher facialexpression;thehintofchallenge-orientedwomanwasall gone.
"RyanStevens,Sir,pleaselet'sfinishtheprojectpeacefully andgotowherewetrulybelong."Shesoftlysaid."Yes,Iadmit thatyou'vemanagedtoshakemeupforamoment;Iforgotmy place,myprinciplesandevenmydignity;butyouknowwhat? That'sasfarasI'mwillingtogo.I'mdonewiththis,Ican'tafford tobetheotherwoman,theevilone!"Shegotupslowlyandtook herhandbagbeforewalkingtowardsthedoor.
"SothisisallaboutDoris?"Ryansnapped. Shestaredbackathim,wonderingwhatwasreallythe matterwithhim."Yeahit'sallabouther."Sheranted."So,canI gonow?"sheblurtedoutplainly.
Ryanwalkedoverandstoodinfrontofher;hisfacetakinga seriousturn."Areyoufeelingguiltyorsomething?"heasked. Washeserious?Sheletoutasmirkandbitherlipssavagely. She'dstartedtothinkhewasreallyoutofhismind;thatshewas probablydealingwithamentalpatient,asylummental.
"YourgirlfriendDoris,"shestarted."doyouevenloveher?" Sheaskedhimflatly.Itwasaquestionshewasburningtoask himforawhile,andseeinghimneutralfacemadehersmile exhaustedly.
"Doesitmatter?"Hequeried,andshehuffedatiredlaugh. "Itwasastupidquestion,wasn'tit?becauseyouknowwhy? Peoplelikeyou,don'tevenknowwhatloveis;letalonehowto loveanyone!"Sheaddedinalowvoice,andRyanburstedout laughing,whichmadeherwayangrier;sheswallowed.
"Let'ssayyou'reright."Hereplied,asifplayingwithher. "YouthinkI'majoke,right?"Thistimehereyeswerefilled withtearsthatwerereadytofallasshecoldlyglaredathim. "Whatifsheweren'tmygirlfriend?Wouldyouhavespared methedrama?"Ryanasked. "Thedrama."Claireutteredsoftlytoherself.Shepressed herlipstogethertocatchabreathasheremotionsstarted gettingthebestofher."Okay,SoifIsayyes,whatwouldyoudo? Wouldyouleaveherforme?"Shesnappedoutaloud.Ryanwas silent,anindescribablesilence."See?Youcan'tevenanswerthat! JustletmegoRyan,andforgetaboutmeasIwillyou!"
"Doyouwantmetoleaveher?"Heaskedatlast. "Canyou?"Sheretorted.
"Doyou?"Hesnorted.
"No!Justdonothing,asshole!"Clairebarkedandreached forthedoorwhichwasalreadyconfusing;therewasoneregular door,andalsoanelevatordoorthatrequiredapasscode.
"Youwon'tbeabletogetoutofhereClaire,unlessIlet you!"Ryanspokehaughtilybehindher.Sheclenchedherfists angrilybeforeturningaroundandpumpedintohischest;his cynicsmilewidenedandhefirmlytightenedherbythewaist. "Youcan'tescapemeClaire!You'llneverescapeme!"Heplaced hisforeheadagainsthersbutshejerkedaway.
"Don't.Even.Think.AboutdoingthatRyan!"Clairesaid betweenhergrittedteeth. "Ohyeah?Andwhatwillyoudo?Beatmeup?Screamfor help?WhatClaire?Tellme!"Hegrinned,whilebreathingunder againstherneck;sheshuthereyesinattempttolockher treacherousfeelings.Shetriedtowrigglearoundjusttogetout ofhisstronggrip,butasexpected;itwasafool'serrandandshe wasonlyexhaustingherself.Ryanheldherfirmlyfrombehind, herhandstwistedbacktorefrainanykindofstrongmovefrom heruntilsheclearlysaid;
"Okay,Okayyouwin!Justreleasemyhands,ithurts!"she surrenderedwhenalreadyoutofbreath. "VeryGood!That'swhatIlikeClaire;whenyou'repoliteand obliging!"Ryanutteredwithabigsmilebeforereleasingher hands.That'swhensheturnedaroundandstartedhittinghim nonstoponhishardchest.
"Youanimal,howcouldyoudothistome!Howdareyou--" sheyelledbutinaninstance,hermouthwassilencedbyRyan's hotlipsclaiminghers,andherhandswereforcefullyrestrained toherbehindandmadehertrappedandhelpless."You--"she keptfightingback,buttheheatthatstartedbuildingupinside herbodymanagedtoceaseallhermoves.Sheslowly,and gradually,yieldedtoRyan'ssweettortureandsensualassaultas herockedhistongueinaverytantalizingway.
"Can'tyou--"Ryanspokedamidstthekissing."Justbeas quiet--"headded."Asthis?"Heliftedherandsheencircledher legsabouthiswaist.
"Ican't--"Clairebreathedthewordstohismouthwhile pressinghardtowardshim."You.Are.Abeast!"Shewrappedhis neckandcontinuedhavingthetasteofhislipsasheheavily droppedheronthesectionalcouch.
"Thebeasthuh?Ilovebeingthebeast!"Hesaidandripped offherblouse.
"Ryan!"Clairescreamed."Howcouldyou!"Shesnappedbut hiscarnivorousgrinmadeherdecideitwasn'tworththesweat. "Ican."Hesaid,hiseyesfilledwithdesirestopossesher,as hepeelingoffhisshirtthatwasalreadyunbuttoned. "Brute!You'resuchabrute!That'swhatyouare."She mutteredwhilepullinghimovertoherfacehungrily.Withher hipsswayingbeneathhisweight,shefelthimgrowingagainst her;hislustfuleyeskeptmockingherwhilekissingandteasing everysensitivepartofherbody,withoutundressing;wellexcept herrippedblousethatwaslyinghelplesslyontherug.
"OhfuckitClaire!Youdrivemenuts!"Ryangrumbled feelingherfingersslidinghismanhoodwhenshesuddenly flippedhimoverandunbuckledhispantsinaswift.Hergrinding ontopofhimwasenoughtoturnhispredatorylibidoawake.
"Shutup!"Sheorderedandhebithisbottomlipssmilingly. "Naughtylittlething,OhdamnitClaire!"hemoanedwhen herlipsfilledhiminwithanupanddownrhythm.Itwas anothertragicendforClaireLevy;againshewasinthearmsof hernewAchilles'heelandwhathemadeherfeel,wasbeyond reasons.Shewouldn'tstopscreaminghisname,andbeghim nottostop;whichRyangrantedwithpleasure. CHAPTER11
Itwasalreadyafternoonastimewentby,withthetwolyingon thecouch.Clairedecidedtostopoverthinkingandjustlivethe momentafteralltheattemptstogoagainstRyanthatendedup failingmiserably.
"Whydidyoudestroymyblouse?NowIdon'thaveanything towear!"shelamented.ShewaslyingoverRyan,andheonthe sectionalsofa.
Hechuckled."IwasinahurrytoundressyouIguess!"he answeredflatlyandClairejoinedthechuckling. "You'resocrazyyouknow?"shetoldhim,whilstplaying withhisdark,low-cutbeardthatsheseemedtoadmirethemost amonghisfacialfeatures.
"You'vesaidthatamilliontimesalready."Ryanreplied,with hishandsalloverherbody.
Clairegiggledathismischievoustouchonherbehind. "WhatareyoudoingRyan?"
Hesmiled."Exactlywhatyoulovemedoingamongother things!" "Psycho!"Sheuttered."Well,Ineedtousethebathroom, whereisit?"ShesaidwhiledetachingfromRyan;hegaveher thedirectionswhileatherfeet.
"Ohthatshirtlooksbetteronyou,andthoselonglegsare sosexythatIwanttospreadthemapart!"saidRyanasClaire startedwalking. Sheburstedoutlaughingathisobtuseremarks."You shouldseeashrinkRyan,andnewsflash;Ilovemyblouse betterthanyourscentedshirt!"
"ButIthoughtyoulovedmysmell?Whathappenedto that?"
"ShutupRyan!"Shescreamedfaintlyashersight disappeared,leavingRyanlaughingdelightedly.
"Don'tbemad,I'mtellingthetruth."Hescreamedafterher. Fewminuteslater."Whatareyoudoing?"ClaireaskedRyan whenshereturnedfromthebathroom;hewasinthekitchen, andsmiledatherwhenshejoinedhim."Areyoutryingto cook?"sheadded.
"Trying?Iamcooking!"hereplied,whileslashingapacketof rawpastawithvegetableslyingonthecountertop. "Wow!Youcancook?"Clairegaspedandhenoddedwitha smallsmile.Hemovedtothesinkandstartedwashingthe veggies."Isuckinthekitchen,Idon'tknowhowtocook anything."shesaidplainly,anditwasthetruth.
Ryanlookedatherarchly."Youdon't?" "Atall..."shesaidtruthfully,whilechewingarawcarrot; shewasleaningagainstthecabinetoppositetowhereRyanwas. "Surprised?"Sheaskeduponhissilent.
"WhywouldI?Iwasn'tplanningtohireyoutobecomemy cookoranything!"heansweredwithaslightbrushofhiswet handonClaire'scheek,causinghertosquint,andhesmiled. "Besides,I'magreatcook;youdon'tneedtoworryabout meals!"hewinked.
"Hah!WhywouldIevenworryaboutthat?It'snotlikeI'm goingtolivewithyousomeday!"shereturnedlaughingly. "Whynot?"askedRyan.
"Becauseit'simpossible;it'llneverhappen."repliedClaire. "Neversayneverbeautiful."
"Beautiful?That'sBruno's,you'rebeingunoriginal!"
Heshrugged."WhatcanIdo?Mylittlebrotherwillhaveto forgivemeforstealingwhat'shis." "Whatdoesthatmean?"shequestionedhimandheonly smiled."RyanI'mtalkingtoyou?Doyouactuallybelievethat you'vestolenmefromBruno?That'sridiculous!"
"Ohit'snot,he'samantoo!"heansweredandClaire burstedoutlaughingathisnaiveideaaboutBrunolikingher; shebelievedotherwise.
"Heis,butnotapsychoassomeoneIknow."shereplied. TheycontinuedbickeringandthelaughterfilledRyan'scold apartmentthatseemedlifelessabouttwohoursago.Theylunch wasfinallyready,andtheyhaditinthebreakfasttableinthe kitchen.
"So,howisit?"RyanaskedwhenClairetookaforkfulof pasta. "Um..."shestutteredwhilechewing."It'sperfect!Manyou surelyknowyourwayinthekitchen.It'sverydeliciousjustasit looks!"
Ryanclaspedhishandstogetherwithreliefandhadone himself."Mm...Iamthebest!"
Clairerolledhereyes."Modestyisneverinyourdictionary, isit?"sheremarked. "Ohit'snot!"saidhewhilediggingin,andbothshareda brieflaugh."Ahbytheway,"saidRyanhaltingly."youwere awesometoday,duringthepresentation!"
"WasI?"Clairetagged,blushingly. "Youwere.It'slikeyoutookallthewordsfrommymouth; wehadexactlythesameideaandIwassorighttoincludeyou intheproject."
Shesmiled."Iknowright?It'sincrediblehowwehadexactly samethoughtaboutthedesignsand...wait,itwasyou?"She glaredathim."OhIsoknewthatithadtobeyouwhopulledthe strings!"
Ryanonlyshruggedwhilesippingthepineapplejuice."Well youkeptwhiningthatyouwantedtodosomerealjob,soIdid whatIcould...andbelieveme,itwasthebestdecision!"He said,hiseyesplayful.
"Iwasn'twhining!"Clairesnapped."Iwasonlyventing." "Isn'titthesamething?"
"Noit'snot!"Sheargued."Butwell,notthatI'm
complainingthatyoudid;Ijusthopeyouwon'tintervenewith myworkagain.Imean,Idon'twantanyonetothinkI'mgetting specialtreatmentsorsomething,whichisexactlywhatIgot!"
Whilestaringatherwithamusedeyes,Ryanasked."Why wouldyoucareofwhatotherpeoplethink?"
"Idocare;Iwanttobeaccreditedfairandsquareandnot becauseI'msleepingwithmyboss." "Don'tworryMs.Challenge,IonlydiditbecauseIwanted togiveyouanopportunity;forwhichbyfar,you'veprovedtobe worthyof,I'mjustwaitingforournextmeetingtofinallysee whatyoucando."saidRyanandClairethankedhimforthevote ofconfidence.
"IthinkI'vegotsomeexplainingtodowithNathan;thanks toyouramazingindiscretionSir!"Shechangedthecourseof theirconversation;andhedidn'tseemtoappreciatetheturn.
"Don'tcallmeSir!Andwhydoyouhavetoexplainanything toPanther?"Ryanbarked. "Becausehe'smysuperior,andthankstoyouhecannow completepuzzleofwhat'sgoingon.Youcould'vejustwaitedyou know,didyouhavetodragmeinfrontofeveryoneincluding yourownemployees?"Shereturned.Onceagaintheirbickering started,andneitherofthetwowasreadytobackout.
"Idon'toweexplanationtoanyoneClaire!"Hesnapped. "And,whatisthiswithPanther?Areyouclosetohim?" "OfcourseI'mclosetohim."Shesaid."Wearecolleagues, weworktogether,andhe'smyboss!"
Andsnorted,whilesliding theplateaside;somethingthatRyantookhintat,andfrowned.
"Finishyourfood!"Hegrowled.
"Excuseme?"
"Isaid,finishyourfood!Iwanttoseethatplateclean."He repeated,withathundervoicethat'sscarierthanthefirst. Clairesighed,annoyed."Whydoyoualwaystreatmelikea child?
"Becauseyou'rebehavinglikeone!"
"I'mfullRyan,I'vehadmyfill,isn'tthatareasonenough?" shelied.
"Ohnoit'snot!You'regoingtofinishthefuckingfood,and you'regoingtostopwhining!"Heordered. "Don'tsayI'mwhining!Ihateit!"
"Thenstopdoingit!"
Tiredofhistyranny,Clairedecidedtogobblethepastaas quicklyaspossible,whilelookingsternlyathim."Icleanedthe plate!Areyouhappynow?"shequipped,mouthful.
"Very!"Ryanprompted,andbeforehecouldhearoradd anythingmore,hiscellphonebuzzed;heansweredfewseconds later."YesHarrywhatisit?"Hesaid,eyesonClairewhokept scowlingathim;heletoutoneofhisevilsmilesspeciallyforher, andshereturnedaharshglare."Areyousureaboutthat?"He frowned,andClaire'sfacetookasimilarexpression."Alrightdo whatyouhavetodo,I'llbetheresoon!"Hesaidbefore disconnectingthecall.
"Whatisit?"Claireaskedhimwhenhegotupfromhisseat. "I'mgoingbacktotheoffice."Ryanrepliedwhilegulpingthe halfofhisjuice.
Shegotupherfeettoo."You'regoing?Whataboutme?" "Iwon'ttakelong,you'llstayhereandI'lltakeyouhome later!"
"Areyoukiddingme?WhydoIhavestayherebymyself? I'lljustgohome!"Shestartedclearingthetableinahurry. "Ohyouwill?"hemocked."How?Inmyshirt?That'sgood, goaheadandleave."helaughed. Clairefumed,ahandonherwaist."Yourippedoffmy blouseonpurpose,didn'tyou?"sheaskedandheshrugged. "Youdidittotrapmehere?SothatIwon'tleave?WhyRyan?"
"BecauseIwantyouinmyarmstonight!Period!"He announcedproudly. Clairewastoodumbfoundedthistimetoevenretaliate;the manstandinginfrontofherwasofficiallyinsaneinhereyes. Shewipedherfaceinattempttogeteverythingstraight,and againshehadnothingtosay.StaringatRyan,hewasjust smilingasifwaitingforhertorattle,whichsheendedupdoing;
"WhataboutDoris?Whatifsheshowsuphere?" Ryanreplied."Shewon't!" "Howdoyouknowthat?" "Iknowherwellenoughtoknow!"
OhmyGod!Clairegaspedinwardly."Fine!JustgoRyan,I'll stayherelikeaprisoneruntilyoudecidetoreleaseme!"She answeredindefeat.