by Melody Anne
Ryan knew he was going straight to hell but he didn’t care. He wanted her and now he had the chance to get what he wanted. He would get from her what he wanted and when he was finished he’d walk away. Then maybe he wouldn’t feel the ache. She would never know he’d already arranged the surgery and had Patsy moved the night before.
She didn’t know that even if she walked right out the door and told him to go to hell he’d still help Patsy. He’d loved the little girl when she was only a couple years old and toddling at his feet. He’d help her without requiring anything. But on the other hand why not get something out of Nicole if he could. He looked straight into her eyes so there would be no chance of a misunderstanding.
“I want you in my house, in my bed, at my beck and call. You’ll be here for me night and day for whatever I need until I’m bored with you. Then I’ll set both you and Patsy up in a decent place since apparently you’re homeless at the moment and have nowhere for her to recover,” he told her. He added the last part to drive home her desperate need of his help.
He watched her expression as his words registered. Her eyes widened in comprehension and if he would’ve seen only horror in her expression he would’ve backed off but it wasn’t the only thing he saw. He saw passion in her eyes and a quickening of her breath at his words. She wanted him, he was sure of it. He would bet his entire fortune on it. He also knew the moment he won. He saw the slump of her shoulders and she lowered her eyes in defeat.
“I require an answer, now,” he commanded. He didn’t want to give her any time to change her mind.
“What choice are you giving me?” she yelled at him, as a tear slipped down her cheek. She’d never hated the man more than she did at that moment. How could she not do whatever it took to keep her sister safe? It appeared the man knew everything and if the people at the hospital found out they were currently homeless, they would take Patsy away for sure and she would be placed in foster care. Nicole had managed to do just fine keeping them both safe until Patsy had come down with heart disease.
They were both survivors and she knew they would get back on their feet again. She only had to guard her heart from falling in love with Ryan all over again. She didn’t know how that was possible if she’d be sleeping with him. Since Ryan, she’d been unable to give her heart or body to any other man.
Ryan refused to be swayed by her tears. For all he knew, she was letting the water works fall, as all women did, to get her own way. He turned from her and poured himself a shot of bourbon. He knew it was much too early in the day for a drink but it was either that or pull her into his arms and he wanted to save that for later.
“You’ll, of course, move in immediately as you have nowhere else to go and you’ll act as if you’re completely over the moon for me when we’re out in public. I think we’ll get along fine as long as you do as I say,” he told her with an expression that said he was completely serious.
A shudder ran through Nicole. She didn’t know what she was more afraid of, the fake relationship or that she wasn’t horrified to be with him. She should’ve been revolted at the thought of having to stay with him when he was treating her so callously, but she wasn’t. She was grateful Patsy was going to be okay.
“I need to see my sister,” was all she said to him.
“We can head over there now. Her surgery has already been arranged,” he told her. She snapped her head up at his statement. If he’d already arranged the surgery he must’ve been sure she would say yes. She’d never felt more like a high priced call girl in her life. She’d just sold her soul to the devil but she could live with herself because she’d done it for her sister.
“You were so sure of yourself?” she finally said to him, finding some of her backbone once again.
“I didn’t have any doubt you’d put your sister ahead of yourself. After all, you’ve always been willing to self-sacrifice,” he mocked her. She stood up, turned on her heels and left, not knowing where she was heading. She had to get away from him before she slapped the smug look off his face.
Before she made it more than a few steps, he was there whipping her around to face him. They glared at one another, neither willing to back down.
“I think the occasion needs to be sealed with a kiss,” he practically purred at her. Before she had any time to react to his statement, his lips pressed down onto hers and her world exploded.
She refused to open up to him at first but as his tongue flicked along the seam of her lips, she quickly lost her will-power. He pressed her lower back into his body, where she could feel his obvious arousal, causing a gasp to escape her lips, giving him access to her mouth. He dipped his tongue inside and all thoughts of resisting him dissipated.
His hands ran up and down her quivering body and he had her melting in a matter of seconds. No other man had ever kissed her like Ryan and she was grateful he was holding her up because her legs would’ve given way long ago. Before she knew what she was doing her arms wrapped around his neck to pull him closer and she fell into the kiss with a passion that shocked both of them.
He continued to love her mouth with his tongue, while his hands worked their own magic on her needy body. She wanted more and wiggled as close as she could possibly get to him. She cursed the clothes that kept them separated.
He finally pulled away from her and she whimpered her displeasure of him doing so. His glazed eyes came back into focus, as he looked down at her flushed cheeks and beaded nipples, which had been pressed so tightly against him moments before. She started to regain her composure, realizing how wanton she’d acted and he saw the shutters fly over her eyes. He lifted a mocking brow at her, which caused her temper to boil.
“I think this arrangement will work out just fine, as long as you continue to be such a tempting little thing,” he said to her with mockery in his tone. He was trying to cover up his own powerful reaction to her and he was doing a damn fine job of it.
“You really are despicable,” she lashed back at him. He laughed at her temper, all the more turned on by it. Her glare hardened. He released her suddenly and she almost crumbled to the floor. Only her shear will-power kept her standing straight.
“I may be despicable but you want me and this will be mutually pleasurable,” he drawled.
“Or, I’m just one fine actress,” she said, while smiling sweetly. She then made a very hasty exit when she saw the murderous expression enter his eyes. She locked herself into a bathroom, where she stayed until she had her breathing under control and her features blanked. She wouldn’t let him know how much he affected her. He already had too much power; she couldn’t give him her control too.
Ryan thought about chasing her down and proving to her there was no way in hell she’d been acting. He’d felt her coming apart in his arms from a simple kiss. When he finally took her to his bed and made her truly his, she would be screaming out his name.
He would’ve done just that if he was in control of himself. As it was, he could barely stand and was afraid the day ahead would be a painful one. She did things to his body no other woman had ever been able to accomplish. He wanted her and that night he would finally have her. He’d never wanted a day to end so badly.
When she finally returned to the den, they both looked at one another coolly. He would let her have some space, only because he needed it as well. She gathered her purse and they left for the hospital. He had all day to anticipate the night to come.
Chapter Three
“I missed you last night, Nik,” Patsy said when the two of them stepped into the room.
“I’m so sorry Hun, I got caught up at work but I came as early as I could this morning,” Nicole said to her sister. “You probably don’t remember Ryan,” she added.
“Ryan, is that you?” Patsy asked and a huge smile spread across her hollow features. Ryan couldn’t believe how weak and small she looked. She’d been full of life as a young toddler and though she was beautiful, she looked so ill it nearly brought him to his knees. He sat on the ed
ge of the bed and she eagerly took his hand.
“I’m sorry you’ve been in so much pain,” Ryan told her with a suspicious tightness in his throat. He tried to clear it, uncomfortable with the feeling.
“I missed you,” she told him, almost accusatory.
“I’ve missed you too, little one, and I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you,” Ryan told her.
“I’m glad you’re here, now,” she said, with a child’s honesty.
“Me too,” he said, surprised by how much he meant the words.
“Are you and Nicole together again?” she asked hopefully.
“We are,” he simply stated.
“That’s so cool. Nicole has always loved you,” she said, with the innocence of youth. Ryan looked over at Nicole, who was blushing scarlet. She glared at him and shook her head before turning to her sister.
“You’re going to get your operation, baby,” Nicole told her as tears well up in her eyes.
“Really?” Patsy asked with disbelief as she looked from Ryan to Nicole.
“Really,” Ryan told her. She held out her arms and he gently pulled her close to him. She was even tinier than he’d originally thought. His heart ached, as he felt her tiny frame through the thin hospital gown.
Ryan and Nicole sat in her room for hours visiting and keeping her spirits up; until she could no longer stay awake. She fought going to sleep but finally drifted off. Ryan quietly led Nicole from the room.
No words were spoken as they walked from the hospital. He led her to his car and they made their way back towards his home. She’d been able to dampen down the nerves, while she was visiting with her sister but now she was nervous. She knew he expected her to sleep with him and she didn’t know how to respond to his request.
They pulled up to the house and there were a couple of cars in the driveway. Ryan blew out a breath of frustration when he spotted the vehicles, giving Nicole a look she didn’t understand.
“Well now we are going to test your acting skills. Remember what you agreed to,” he snapped at her, before leading her from the vehicle. She looked at him quizzically and followed him into the house.
“About time you got back Ryan, did you forget about the barbeque?” Derek said, as he stepped around the corner.
Nicole got a shock as she saw Derek and Drew, a couple of women and some kids. She stood there like a doe in headlights, not knowing what to say. She hadn’t seen Ryan’s cousins since they were all kids. She’d once loved them so much and although they’d tried speaking to her after her and Ryan broke up she’d found it too painful and cut all ties.
“Is that you, Nicole? I haven’t seen you in forever. You look great,” Drew said when he realized who was standing next to his cousin. Before she knew what was happening, Drew walked over and engulfed her in a huge bear hug. She felt the tears stinging her eyes at the easy acceptance he offered.
“Now who’s this gorgeous woman you’re mauling?” Trinity asked good naturedly.
“Trinity, this is Nicole. She and Ryan used to be all hot and heavy when we were teenagers. Nicole, this beautiful woman is my wife, Trinity,” Drew introduced them.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Nicole,” Trinity said and shocked Nicole by stepping forward and giving her a big hug.
“It’s nice to meet you, too,” Nicole said shyly.
“Now it’s my turn, stranger,” Derek said and stepped forward lifting her off her feet and spinning her around. “It’s so great to see you.” Jasmine stepped around the corner and spotted Nicole.
“I haven’t seen you in forever,” she said, throwing her arms around her. Nicole hugged her back, grateful to see a familiar female face. “How have you been?”
“I’m great,” Nicole told her. “I didn’t know you and Derek got back together,” she added. She remembered when Derek left and the devastation Jasmine felt. She’d been feeling her own pain from one of the Titan cousins and felt sympathy.
“Yes and it’s been amazing. It looks like these Titan boys are finally waking up,” Jasmine told her with a wink. Nicole didn’t know what to say.
“Yes, Nicole and I ran into each other again and we realized we simply couldn’t live one more second apart,” Ryan said. Nicole thought only she could hear the sarcasm in his tone. She had to fight not to flinch when he gave her a look that seemed to threaten her not to contradict him. She turned away from him, finding it difficult to look into his eyes.
“Well, we have to catch up and figure out ways to torture these men,” Jasmine said and led the other two women away, leaving the men to watch them go.
“So what’s going on with you? I adore Nicole, you know that, but I still remember the utter devastation you felt when she walked out of your life,” Drew asked his cousin. Ryan wasn’t ready to tell his cousins the truth. It made him too much of a cad and he didn’t want to see the disapproving look in their eyes.
“We ran into each other and realized the spark was still there, so decided to pursue it,” he finally said. He thought they may take exception that in reality he was blackmailing her into his bed. Hell, he’d kick their asses if they did the same thing. It was much easier to notice other people’s flaws than your own and he wanted her too badly to stop what he was doing, even knowing how wrong it was.
“She’s even more gorgeous now than she was as a teenager,” Derek said, with a wiggle of his brows.
“Back off, you’re a married man,” Ryan told his cousin, feeling an irrational urge to mark his claim. He knew Derek was a happily married man but Ryan found he didn’t like any man making a comment about her. Derek simply laughed at his cousin, before the three of them headed off towards the pool.
“So spill Nicole, we want all the juicy details of how you two got together and what you’ve been up to,” Jasmine demanded of Nicole. She actually relaxed, sitting in the presence of a familiar face and a new friend. There was something very reassuring about having women to talk with, who were nice and understanding.
She found she wanted to spill her guts to them but was afraid Ryan would be furious and then refuse to help her sister. She didn’t think he’d stop the surgery but she wasn’t taking any chances. She still had feelings for Ryan so she could be as honest as possible.
“My sister’s in the hospital and I didn’t have anyone to turn to or talk with so I called Ryan. He was there instantly and the minute I saw him again all those old feelings came right back to the surface,” Nicole said in as simple an explanation as she could.
“Your sister’s in the hospital? What’s wrong with her? How can we help?” Jasmine fired off a bunch of questions with a look of concern on her face. Nicole explained about the heart surgery and before long she was crying with Jasmine and Trinity holding her hands comfortingly. It was so nice to have someone to lean on and simply cry out her heartache. She’d been holding it in for the last several months.
She hadn’t allowed herself to break down and cry even once, because she knew if she were to let go she wouldn’t be able to pick herself back up again. She realized she wasn’t falling completely apart though. She was actually feeling supported by the two amazing women.
The men walked in and saw the three teary women and were instantly on alert. They looked at one another in a panic and knelt down.
“What’s wrong, Baby?” Derek asked with concern.
“You don’t need to worry, Derek, we’re simply women and this is what we do,” Jasmine told her husband with a watery smile.
“You know we have to try and fix it,” Drew added as he rubbed along Trinity’s back.
“That’s because you’re the most honorable men we know but we really will be okay,” Trinity told Drew. Ryan stood motionless as he stared at the three women. He didn’t have the right to fix Nicole’s problems as he was responsible for causing half of them. Everything in him said he needed to pull her into his arms and hold her until the tears faded away, though. He had to remember what she’d done to him. Otherwise he was afraid she’d quickly have him wr
apped around her finger once more.
“Now boys, give us more time together, then we’ll start making dinner,” Jasmine said to the men. They reluctantly walked away, though they mumbled to each other about emotional women.
Jasmine and Trinity continued to comfort Nicole until all the tears ran dry. They slowly pulled themselves together and headed toward the kitchen. There was a household staff who normally cooked but sometimes it was soothing to prepare a meal together.
“I hear Joshua crying. I’ll be right back,” Trinity said, walking over to grab her infant from his car seat.
“He’s beautiful,” Nicole said with longing. She’d never allowed herself to even think about having a baby. You had to have a relationship first and she didn’t have the time for one.