by Ali Parker
“What do you want to do today?” I asked.
Shrugging, Candice sank farther down in bed. She closed her eyes and faked a dramatic yawn before pretending to snore.
“Sleep?” I poked her ribs. “No way. We only have today and tomorrow. We have to make it count.”
“But sleep,” Candice whined. “I’m so tired. So, so tired.”
Poking her again, I rolled her onto her back and pinned her to the bed. She squirmed, giggling and swatting at me playfully.
I tickled her ribs until her cheeks were flushed and her breath ragged. I paused just long enough to kiss her lips and hear her sweet moan in my ears. Then, I tickled her again and jumped out of bed before she could stop me.
“Up!” I teased. “It’s a beautiful day. The city awaits.”
“Fine!”
Candice groaned and slowly got to her feet. Shooting me a glare, she pranced into the bathroom and turned on the shower. I listened to the water fall. A grin spread across my face as an idea took form in my brain.
Just as Candice stepped under the water, I stepped into the bathroom. I caught a glimpse of her bare leg disappearing, and my dick twitched with need.
Following her into the shower, I poked her ribs one last time. She jumped and squealed, spinning around to face me with a mixture of annoyance and amusement.
“You scared the shit out of me!”
“I’m sorry.” I laughed. “I just couldn’t resist.”
“Come here.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me roughly under the water. Hot streams fell over our faces as we kissed. It was insane how immediately my body reacted to hers. In seconds, I was rock-hard, my breath coming in dramatic spurts that I couldn’t control.
Sex with Candice was always intense, but shower sex … God, it was even better.
We finished at the same time, collapsing against the shower wall and chuckling to ourselves. The hot water helped bring us back down to Earth quickly. I stood back and watched as Candice tilted her head back, her dark brown hair falling in sheets down her perfect back.
When she looked back at me, though, her eyes darkened with emotion.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, worried. “Did I do something—”
“No,” she said quickly. “No, not at all.”
“Then, what is it?”
She hesitated for a fraction of a second before sighing and stepping toward me. Her face tilted upward, her lips searching for mine. I kissed her once before pulling away and silently waiting for an explanation.
“I was just wondering something,” she finally said.
“What’s that?”
“What do you do on your Romeo dates?”
There was no accusation in her question, but my stomach tightened all the same. We’d always kept my job out of our conversations, even after Candice had found out the truth about the Romeos. It was just never something I wanted to talk about, and I thought she felt the same.
“They’re only fake dates.” I shrugged. “I do what I can to build up the woman’s confidence, make her see she’s worthy of love.”
“But, how?”
“Are you asking about sex, because—”
“No.” Candice closed her eyes for a second. Opening them again, she said, “I know you don’t sleep with your clients. I guess I’m just curious what a Romeo date looks like.”
“Well, I can show you.”
Candice jerked her head backward as a nervous smile slowly spread across her lips. Eyeing me closely, she let her head fall back under the water.
“I’m serious.” I touched her hips gently. “I can show you. Give you the true Romeo experience.”
She looked back at me. “Haven’t I already had it?” she asked.
“What do you mean?”
“That first date we went on,” she said. “When you were being all stiff and scripted. Remember? I called you out on it, and then we started talking about Paisley and you relaxed. Wasn’t that a true Romeo date?”
“No.” I laughed to myself. “God, no.”
Candice frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“Babe, nothing was ever just a job with you,” I said. “Even that first date. I wasn’t being awkward because of the Romeos, I was being awkward because you scared the shit out of me.”
“I did?” She grinned wickedly.
“Of course. I knew you were more than a client, even then.”
Still grinning, Candice kissed me lightly. She pulled back and blinked up at me, those gorgeous brown eyes of hers so effortlessly holding my gaze.
“I can show you now, though,” I said. “Tonight.”
“Yeah?”
“Sure.” I kissed her nose. “You can go back to bed for a while. Sleep. Relax. Order room service. I’ll go out and make all the preparations.”
“You’ll be gone all day?” she asked with a pout.
“For a few hours.” I shrugged. “I’ll pick you up at five. We’ll make it an early dinner.”
Candice thought about it for a second. Her curiosity won out as she kissed me one last time and grinned.
“Sure,” she said. “Why the hell not? Be my Romeo tonight, Winters.”
***
Hours later, I found myself standing outside the hotel room door. Candice was inside, waiting for me, but I suddenly felt nervous.
I ran my hands over my new suit and looked myself over. The black of the suit looked great on me, but I wished they’d had a charcoal grey. That had always been my color. The shop I visited was small, too small to have a good collection, so I made do.
Dinner reservations were set at one of the nicest restaurants in town, and outside, a horse-drawn carriage awaited.
I told myself everything would be perfect, that there was no reason to be nervous, but I knew that was a lie.
With a deep breath, I knocked three times and took a small step backward. I heard Candice’s high-heels clicking as she made her way to the door. When she pulled it open and smiled, my nerves vanished. I couldn’t think of anything other than how gorgeous she looked.
“As always, Smart.” I kissed her cheek. “You look incredible.”
“Thank you.”
“Now.” I offered her my arm. “Shall we?”
“Where to?” she asked.
“Don’t worry about that,” I said, putting on my best Romeo persona. “Tonight is all about you, Candice, and I promise to make it everything you’ve ever dreamed of.”
“Wow.” Candice snickered. “Is that one of your usual lines?”
It was, but I didn’t want to admit that. Instead, I led her to the elevator and pressed the button with a flourish. She laughed and followed me inside, standing close to my side as the door slid closed and the elevator carried us down to the lobby.
Outside, Candice’s eyes fell on the horses and her jaw dropped.
“Wait.” She held up her hand. “Your clients get horse-drawn carriages? Now I feel cheated.”
“Not all my clients get this,” I said. “I’m giving you the platinum package. We’re going all out tonight, Smart.”
Candice rolled her eyes but let me help her climb into the carriage. I settled in beside her, and we were off.
It didn’t take long to reach the restaurant where our table was waiting for us at the back of the dining room. Candlelight flickered over the tablecloth as I pulled Candice’s chair out and smoothly placed her napkin on her lap.
“Such a gentleman,” she teased.
I babied Candice through the entire dinner, constantly brushing her hair off her shoulders and kissing her cheek. She seemed to enjoy it at first, but when it came time to order, the Romeo experience was too much for her to stand.
“She’ll have the lobster ravioli,” I told the waiter. “With a side of risotto. And me, I’ll have the filet mignon please.”
The waitress left, and Candice turned to me with narrowed eyes. Grinning, I blinked innocently.
“What?” I asked.
�
�You’ve never ordered for me,” she said. “Ever.”
“Because you hate it.”
“I know.” She glowered. “So, why tonight?”
“You wanted the Romeo experience, right?” I asked.
Her eyes widened. “You order for your clients?” she asked blankly. “God, they can’t even order their own food?”
“Remember, these women are mostly fresh out of long-term relationships,” I said kindly. “Most just made it through vicious divorces. They need to be doted on.”
“But ordering food?” she asked in disbelief. “Come on.”
I laughed and lifted my wine glass for a toast. Candice was still annoyed by my ordering for her, but she lightened up as the evening began. It wasn’t until the check came that her annoyance came back with a vengeance.
“You’re not paying,” she said firmly. “Come on, Ryan, this is ridiculous.”
“Do you think a Romeo would ever let a lady pay for her own meal?”
“I’m the owner, CEO, and president of Smart Cosmetics,” she spat. “Of course, I should pay.”
“I’ve paid before,” I reminded her.
She glared across the table as I slapped down my credit card and winked. By the time we left, her arms were folded over her chest. She refused to look at me as I helped her back in the carriage and sat beside her.
Chuckling to myself, I lifted her fingers to my lips and kissed them gently. She rolled her eyes but didn’t pull her hand back.
“So, this is it?” she asked. “Compliments and misogyny?”
“Misogyny?”
“Yes,” she snapped. “A woman can order for herself, Ryan. And, when that same woman clearly makes more money than you, you should let her pay for dinner at an expensive restaurant.”
“You’re upset.”
“Yes!”
“Why?”
She gaped, unable to answer. We both knew this was what she’d asked for. And as I watched Candice’s frustrated face, I suddenly realized why I’d been so nervous about this night. Candice Smart was the last person who would enjoy a Romeo-style date, which was exactly why I loved her.
“Can it end now?” she finally asked. “Date over? Just us?”
“Sure.” I laughed and kissed her forehead. “Just us.”
She sighed gratefully and melted against me. We held each other all the way back to the hotel room. As we stepped inside, Candice kicked off her heels and collapsed onto the couch.
“Ugh.” She leaned her head back against the cushions. “That was exhausting.”
“Here.”
I sat down beside her and pulled her feet into my lap. My thumbs kneaded into her heels, and she moaned with pleasure.
“Wait.” She sat up with a jerk. “Is this more Romeo stuff?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I can honestly say I’ve never given a client a foot massage before.”
Candice narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Never?”
“Not once.”
Relaxing, she laid back against the cushions and closed her eyes. Snickering to myself, I rubbed her feet until I felt all the tension drain from her body.
“I can’t believe women like that,” she said softly.
“It’s just not your thing.” I shrugged. “You, my love, are already confident. Why should you need some man to come along and boost your self-esteem?”
“True,” she said thoughtfully. After a short pause, she added, “I did like the horses, though.”
Chapter 74
Candice
My feet were curled in Ryan’s lap, my legs bent at the knees.
I ran my finger through his hair while he traced gentle lines over my skin. Wrapping one arm around my legs, Ryan wound the other behind my back and pulled me roughly against him.
Gone was the sweet, innocent massage. My desires had taken hold of us both as I brought my body closer and closer to his. Until finally, Ryan couldn’t take it anymore. He reached for me, and I went to him, throwing one leg over his waist and straddling him.
His hands flew to my ass, cupping my cheeks and rocking my hips back and forth over his already hard cock. Our lips danced together, setting the rhythm for the rest of our night.
In seconds, my skin was hot and my legs weak with need. The longer we kissed, the hotter it became. Our hands groped at each other’s body, frantically trying to fulfill the only need consuming us now.
Ryan’s life as a Romeo faded into the back of my mind. While he kissed me, I thought of nothing else. My fears, my worries, everything disappeared. All that was real were Ryan’s perfect lips.
Lifting me into the air, Ryan turned us around and laid me roughly on the couch. His hands were already flying to my clothes, pulling my dress over my head, and sliding my panties easily down my legs.
My own hands were busy working on the buttons of his shirt. I reached the last one and shoved the shirt off his shoulders before desperately reaching for his pants.
We were naked and in love, the only thing standing between us our own flesh.
Ryan pressed down on top of me. I raked my nails over his back, pressing the pads of my fingers into his muscles and moaning at the sensations rocking through me.
His lips found my neck, then my tits, and then my neck again. Our lips locked together until neither of us could breathe. Ryan’s fingers trailed between my legs, my own wrapped around his dick, pulling him gently toward me.
With a growl, Ryan shoved me back against the couch cushions and poised himself above me. A wild glint flashed in his eyes, and I grinned. Finally.
He rubbed his fingers hard over my clit. My eyes and head rolled back, my back arching upward while I silently begged him for more.
The wetter I became, the faster Ryan moved his fingers until finally, a rush of ecstasy overwhelmed me. At that exact moment, Ryan thrust his cock deep inside me, burying himself in my orgasm while it still shook through my body.
“Fuck.” He moaned and pressed himself deeper.
I held onto his back while he gave himself over to his desire. I’d never seen Ryan so uninhibited, so needy for me. We’d had amazing sex, the best sex of my life, but this was different. This was everything. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t even see as Ryan fucked me so hard that my head bounced against the arm of the couch.
“Fuck, you’re perfect.” He growled and threw himself forward.
His hands gripped my thighs, lifting my legs onto his shoulders. Holding onto them, Ryan moved his hips harder and faster than ever. The new position made me feel every inch of him, but it still wasn’t enough. I wanted everything he had to give.
Reaching my hand up, I touched his and squeezed his fingers between my own.
Our eyes met. Holding my gaze, Ryan led us both to the brink. He gripped my legs tighter and turned his head. Rolling his tongue over my toes, he took one between his teeth and sucked hard.
That was all it took for me to come for a second time.
“Ryan! Oh my god!” I moaned and threw my head back, my hands desperately searching for something, anything to hold onto.
Ryan dropped my legs and grabbed my hands in his. Pinning my arms above my head, he rocked his hips faster than before, dragging my orgasm out for so long, I thought my body might actually give up.
It didn’t, but I never fully recovered from that second orgasm before a third began to build.
Ryan’s dick was like lightning inside of me, igniting fires and lifting flames until we were both engulfed.
“Candice,” Ryan breathed. His voice was weak and ragged, and with one look in his eyes, I knew he was close.
I held him tightly as he lowered his head to my neck. His lips pressed into my skin while my legs flew around his waist.
He rocked together, our motions slowing down as we felt the end coming near. We wanted to make the moment last forever, to remember everything about our last night in Seattle.
“Fuck,” Ryan moaned, reveling in the feel of me. “Oh, fuck!”
&nb
sp; He shot forward, his dick throbbing inside of me. Falling forward, Ryan kept his face buried in my neck, his lips dancing over my throat as he trembled in my arms.
My legs fell away from him, all my strength gone after three orgasms. After a few minutes, even my arms gave out. They slid off Ryan’s back and hit the couch with a thud. Laughing lightly, Ryan kept kissing my neck until the sensations were too much.
“Stop.” I giggled. “I can’t breathe.”
Still laughing, Ryan sat up with a groan. His legs were shaking uncontrollably as he pulled himself to his feet, dragging me along with him.
“Where are we going?” I complained.
“To bed.”
He tapped my ass gently on our way. The tiny impact was enough to send more waves of pleasure rolling through me. I moaned and almost fell to the ground, but Ryan caught me and helped me into bed.
Crawling up to the pillows, I tried to catch my breath.
“That was fucking amazing,” I said as Ryan fell onto the pillow beside me.
He laughed and slapped his hand over his chest, unable to speak. We laid beside each other, not touching, but feeling each other’s presence as surely as if we were. Our bodies were too fried for physical contact.
“Best ever,” Ryan finally said.
I turned to him with a grin. “You think?”
“Uh-huh.”
I giggled and rolled over to face him. With my hand on his chest, I stared down at his face until his eyes slowly blinked open.
“I think it’s Seattle,” I said, feigning seriousness. “This place makes everything better, even sex.”
“Maybe.” He laughed. “Or maybe, it’s just that we’re always improving. God, tomorrow’s going to be even better.”
“What makes you think you’re getting any tomorrow, Winters?”
“Oh.” He raised his eyebrows. “I will.”
Slapping him playfully, I lay down on his chest. His arm moved automatically to my body, fingers tracing a path down my arm. We’d lain in this very same position countless times before, but for some reason, this time felt different.
Maybe I was right, maybe it was the city. Or maybe Ryan explained it perfectly, we were just getting closer every day. Either way, I didn’t want to break our connection. Not ever.