He eyed her suspiciously, as if he didn’t quite believe her, and a funny ache began to develop in her chest. She wasn’t used to Ryan being this cold toward her and she didn’t like it. Not one bit.
“C’mon...” She tossed her purse and briefcase on the chair in front of his desk and walked around to sit on top of his desk. “Don’t be mad. I really did mean to call you, but I was exhausted and, quite frankly, it’s all your fault.”
“My fault?”
“If you hadn’t kept me awake for nearly three nights straight, I might have gotten some rest.”
Her statement finally produced a smile and the pain in her chest began to subside.
“All right. Well, you’re here now...what did you want to talk about?” Ryan asked.
“Talk?” Jessie said with a grin. Standing, she sashayed over to the door and locked it. She was thankful his office wasn’t all glass or had a sidelight. They would have all the privacy they needed for what she had in mind. “I wasn’t exactly thinking about talking.”
“Oh really?”
“Oh yes. I’m sure there’s another activity we could come up with.” She walked back to him and, before he could move, she covered his mouth with hers. The kiss was every bit as ravaging as it always was between them. Tongues seeking, tasting, taking everything. Jessie hadn’t thought about what she would say when she’d come to Ryan’s office. She’d assumed they would discuss their future. But when she’d seen the frown on his face and obvious displeasure with her, she knew one way to put him in a better frame of mine.
She’d thought she would be in control of the situation, but she quickly found out she was wrong as his fingers deftly unfastened the buttons on her pink silk blouse and tossed it to the floor. “Ryan...” she began, but he was already disposing of her black bra to expose her breasts.
“I thought we weren’t talking,” he said, quickly spinning her around so she was bent over his desk.
Any thought of her being the one to establish the rules and boundaries of their affair quickly vanished when his roving hands were everywhere. When he came to the hem of her black pencil skirt, he pushed under and up. His warm palm slid across her buttocks and over the panel of her thong. Jessie trembled and her breathing quickened when he began kissing her neck and his fingers rubbed the place where she ached for his touch.
But he didn’t reward her with what she wanted. Instead, he tipped her head back and his tongue plundered the cavern of her mouth. He was dominant and claiming her, and Jessie yielded to the passion he evoked in her. She wanted him. Now.
“Please.” She knew she was begging, but she had no control when she was with Ryan.
Ryan’s fingers pushed the silk scrap of material aside to probe her damp, hot sex. Jessie gasped as delicious sensations curled through her. She arched into his erection and shamelessly rubbed her bottom against him, desperate to get off. That only seemed to aggravate him and she heard the rip of material, rustle of a packet and the tug of his zipper. Then he was there. Right there. Nudging her thighs apart and surging inside her.
Their lovemaking was wilder and hotter than anything Jessie could imagine. She was bent over and Ryan was holding her hips while he established a devastatingly fast, hard rhythm that had her moaning in pleasure as any element of control she thought she had was shattered. And when Ryan thrust again, his harsh groan was mingled with her orgasm as they both climaxed together.
Afterward, he spun her in his arms and claimed her mouth in a slow, deeply sensual kiss that made what they’d shared even more profound.
When their breathing finally returned to normal, Ryan pulled away to discard the protection, asking, “Was it good for you?”
Jessie smiled as she rebuttoned her blouse and pulled down her skirt. The thong, lying in tatters on the floor, meant she would have to go without underwear, which felt even more sinful. “What do you think?”
“I hope I wasn’t...”
She blushed. She’d never been as uninhibited as she was than when they were together. “You were just right.”
After zipping up, Ryan sat in his chair and pulled Jessie into his lap. “I suppose we should have that talk now.”
“You mean the one where I was going to tell you I wanted to see where this goes? You mean that one?”
His face lit up as if he’d won the Super Bowl. “Yeah, that one.”
Jessie stroked his cheek with her palm. “I like you, Ryan. I think you know that. I like you a lot and I’m not exactly sure where this is leading, but I’d like to find out.”
He grasped both sides of her face and brushed his lips across hers. “So would I. So would I.”
Eleven
Ryan couldn’t believe he and Jessie were an item. They weren’t exactly boyfriend and girlfriend, but they’d definitely crossed the threshold of being more than just lovers. He’d been so angry when he’d thought she’d stood him up, but then she’d come to his office to apologize. His emotions had been somewhat high if the way he’d taken her from behind on his desk was any indication.
However, what came after was even more precious. After packing a bag at her apartment, much to Becca’s obvious approval, Jessie had returned to his penthouse that evening and had rarely left since. And that had been two weeks ago.
They’d both agree to keep their relationship private and to not tell either of their parents. Ryan’s motives were clear because he didn’t want the Hathaways getting their hopes up until he was sure exactly where they were headed. Jessie’s parents, he wasn’t so sure of. Was she still not ready to stand up to them and all their expectations to tell them she’d made a decision for herself and chosen Ryan over Hugh? That rankled him.
Ryan wanted Jessie to say she was completely done with Hugh, but he supposed it was hard, given she’d been with the man for over a decade. He was having to exercise patience when it came to Jessie. He didn’t want to move too fast or to rush her into something she would later regret.
Instead, he was enjoying how easy it was for them to be together. After work, they’d usually congregate on the sofa with their laptops and work. He’d whip up dinner in his superb chef’s kitchen, which was outfitted with a Bosch electric cooktop stove, Fisher & Paykel refrigerator and microwave, and chrome appliances. He was a pretty good cook having learned to survive after college.
Sometimes they sat out on his private terrace with a glass of wine. Other times, they’d get takeout and catch a Netflix movie on his built-in concealed television on the wall and make love until the wee hours of the morning until they were both spent yet fully satisfied.
Their relationship wasn’t always sunshine and roses. They’d argued once when she’d heard him calling Allison Randall for an update on scheduling his second interview with Black Crescent. Jessie had made it very clear she was vehemently opposed, but then she’d backed down when he’d told her he had no news to report. Ryan knew it was just a matter time before they both had to take a stand, but he was enjoying their relationship until then.
One day last week, he’d surprised her with front-row Broadway tix that one of his clients had given him. But tonight, Ryan had planned something special.
He would whisk her away to an enchanted garden for a private dinner. He’d arranged it with a friend who had a membership at the garden. A client of his, Theo Morales, was a local chef who owned a farm-to-table restaurant and he was preparing a feast for them to enjoy. Ryan was already dressed for the casual evening in dark jeans and a black button-down sport shirt.
When Jessie arrived at his penthouse that evening, she was still dressed in a suit and wearing heels. Her usually straight hair had started to wave up because of the humidity from the hot July evening.
“Hey, babe.” Ryan took her briefcase from her and handed her a glass of wine.
“Thank you,” Jessie said, kicking off her heels and plopping down on his leather sectional. “It’s been a l
ong day. I’m so glad we can just kick back and relax.”
“Actually—” he sat beside her on the sofa “—I was thinking we could go out tonight.”
Jessie glanced at him. “Do we have to? I was hoping for a quiet evening in.”
“We do. It’s nothing fancy. But I promise you, you’ll enjoy.”
She eyed him suspiciously.
“Trust me.”
After showering, Jessie changed into slim-fitting jeans, which had Ryan salivating at her pert bottom, a floral-print blouse and espadrilles. He could tell she’d flat-ironed her hair because it was back to being bone-straight. She looked cute and sexy as hell, but then again, he always thought that. Although it had taken them a long time to go from friends to lovers to a couple, it was so natural and felt so right, it was like it was always meant to be. He didn’t want to think that it could all go away if he accepted the job at Black Crescent.
“You ready?” he asked, snatching his phone and wallet off the console table.
“I am, but I’m curious as to where you’re taking me.”
“You’ll see.” Ryan grabbed her hand and they took the elevator down to the first floor. A cab, waiting outside, whisked them away to the East Village to the Sixth Street and Avenue B Community Garden.
When the cab pulled up outside the black wrought-iron gates, Jessie turned to look at him. “What’s going on?”
“Wait for it.” He paid the cabbie and slid out of the backseat to stand on the pavement and helped Jessie from the cab. Theo was waiting for him at the entrance.
“Ryan!” Theo grabbed his hand and pulled him into a one-armed hug. “It’s good to see you. Welcome to 6 & B Garden.”
“Thank you, Theo. This is my lady—” he circled his arm around Jessie’s waist and pulled her forward “—Jessie Acosta.”
Theo grasped her hand and placed it to his lips. “A pleasure.” He released her hand and looked at Ryan. “Are you ready for a feast for the senses?”
“Absolutely.” Ryan smiled, glancing down at Jessie. “Lead the way.”
Theo opened the gate and led them through a maze of ornamental shrubs and lush evergreen trees, past the garden plots for many of its members. On the way, Theo pointed out the different variety of fruiting trees, flowering shrubs and innumerable herbs, flowers and vegetables.
“This is amazing,” Jessie said. “And the members keep this all up?”
“Year-round,” Theo commented. “But now we’re part of a nonprofit corporation comprised of a board of directors, many of whom are garden members, along with some community leaders. Everyone wants to lend their expertise and support, and because of that we’ve been going strong for decades.”
“I never knew,” Jessie commented.
“Wait to see what your man has in store for you.”
Several minutes later, they’d come to a beautiful decorated trellis with string lights, lanterns and large urns of colorful seasonal flowers everywhere. And in the middle of it all was a candlelight dinner for two.
“Well, what do you think?”
* * *
Jessie was overcome. She couldn’t believe Ryan had gone to all this trouble for a Wednesday night date. They’d been spending so much time together, she hadn’t spent much of the last weeks in her own bed. She hadn’t wanted to be separated from him—and that scared her. Was she getting in over her head? She’d pretty much ignored calls from her folks in Falling Brook and Hugh in London. She was sure they all wanted to know what was going on and hoping things would return to normal. But they wouldn’t. Couldn’t. At first, she’d felt guilty for abandoning her family, but for the first time in her life, Jessie felt free and liberated. Able to do what she wanted and be damned with what her parents or anyone else thought about it.
Instead, she and Ryan had only grown closer. They spoke everyday on the phone whenever she could take a break at work and texted often. And at night...well, that was off the charts. Ryan made love to her with such passion. He knew her body so intimately, probably better than Jessie ever did.
And now he’d done this. Something so romantic but yet completely Ryan. “Thank you. I love it.” She couldn’t resist smiling from ear to ear.
“Come.” Ryan held out the chair for her. She sat and he joined her, sitting across from her. A large cloche covered both place settings.
“I’ve quite the meal planned for you lovebirds,” Theo stated, “but for now, enjoy the salad, straight from the garden.” He lifted both their domes. “It’s a shaved trumpet mushroom salad with a truffle vinaigrette. Hope you enjoy.” He quickly left the area, leaving them alone.
“Ryan, how did you manage this?” Jessie said, glancing around. “It’s magnificent.”
He shrugged. “I rented the garden out for the night so we could have privacy and enjoy the surroundings.”
Jessie’s heart sang with delight and she blinked away the tears at the backs of her eyes. “Thank you. No one has ever done anything like this for me.”
His gaze met hers and traveled over her face, searching her eyes. “You deserve it, Jessie. I hope you know how much the last couple of weeks have meant to me. And I wanted to do something meaningful.”
She nodded, overcome with emotion. “You did. You did.”
The rest of their dinner was nothing short of superb. Theo went all-out with the second course of duck à l’orange with glazed turnips picked straight from the garden. The dessert was a delicious lemon meringue tart with a compote made from the fruits in the garden. Jessie dabbed her napkin at the sides of her mouth.
“Theo, dinner was magnificent. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. I hope we’ll see you both soon?” He glanced at Ryan. “Maybe at our next public event we’re hosting?”
“We definitely won’t be a stranger,” Ryan said and looked over at Jessie. “Care for a stroll?”
“Would love one.”
They took a leisurely walk through the gardens, taking time to admire the different species of plants and vegetables while smelling flowering lilacs and sunflowers. When they ended back up at the front gates, Jessie stopped and spun into Ryan’s arms. She tilted her head back and pressed her lips against his. He grasped her to him, claiming her lips languidly as if they had all the time in the world, as if she belonged to him. And she did because with each stroke of his tongue, Jessie couldn’t bear to tear herself away from him.
Eventually, Ryan lifted his head. “Let’s get back to my place,” he murmured.
“Yes.”
Jessie didn’t remember the cab ride to Ryan’s. All she could think about was getting Ryan alone and naked. Naked being the operative word. As soon as they were in his private elevator, riding to his penthouse, they were all over each other, kissing and touching. When the elevator dinged, they didn’t even separate, they just continued kissing.
Shoes were kicked off and shirts began flying everywhere, followed by their jeans. By the time they reached Ryan’s bedroom, there was a trail of clothes behind them, but they were both thankfully naked. They joined together with such intensity in a mass of limbs on the bed that Jessie felt she would pass out from the excitement. Instead, she heard a purring sound in her throat when Ryan slid inside her and they became one. She writhed, clinging to him as the entire world fell away and Ryan was her anchor. When their release came, Ryan shouted and Jessie cried out because they’d reached paradise and it had never felt so good.
Those were her last thoughts as she drifted off to sleep.
* * *
Could life get any better? Although Ryan hadn’t heard any more about the Black Crescent opportunity, he knew he was still in the running, so he was taking it one day at a time. He also knew that, at some point, he would have to make a decision, but for now he was enjoying the ride. He was discovering new things about Jessie each day. She was breaking out of her parents’ shadow and doing what w
as best for her.
It was an attractive quality, Ryan thought the next evening when he and Jessie attended one of his favorite activities. They were volunteering at a local school’s food bank, stocking shelves with peanut butter, jelly, canned goods and snacks. After learning many children didn’t eat after they left school, Ryan had wanted to get involved and had been donating money as well as giving his time to help stock groceries for children to take home with them for the weekend.
Ryan’s special treat last night had really touched Jessie and she’d showed her appreciation when they’d gotten home. Ryan smiled when he thought about her hands and mouth on him. He’d thought he’d worn her out and, with her hard day at work, he’d assumed she’d want to stay in tonight. Instead, she agreed to accompany him.
“Why wouldn’t I come? Do you think I’m that much of a diva?”
“Of course not,” Ryan replied. “You’ve never talked about giving back, is all.”
“I should,” Jessie replied. “Our family was one paycheck away from needing their services after Black Crescent went bust. We almost left Falling Brook and moved in with my grandparents in Brooklyn.”
“I’m glad that day never came,” Ryan said.
“It wasn’t easy. Although my dad was employed after the crash, ultimately, it was my mother who put in long hours at the dealership, often working overtime until eventually she was made office manager.”
“Does she resent your father for never recovering from the disaster?”
Jessie stopped filling up the food bag and looked at him. “That’s a fair question, but one I’ve never asked her. My parents’ marriage has always been somewhat of a mystery to me.”
“Why is that?”
“They sleep in separate rooms. She has her job and clubs, while he stays at home and broods. I’ve always wondered why they’re still together. I suppose it led to my trying to be helpful after Black Crescent collapsed. I just wanted them to be happy again and they were when my exposure to the O’Malleys led me to date Hugh. And so I’ve continued fulfilling their expectations for my life and future, but I’ve been unhappy and dissatisfied for a long time. I want what your parents have. I’ve never seen two people as in love with each other as your parents are.”
Insatiable Hunger (Dynasties: Seven Sins Book 3) Page 10