“I know this good tapas bar down the street. Or this good place to go hiking. It’s called Inspiration Point.”
“Sold. Take me there.”
“My pleasure.”
His dimples crinkle as he smiles, and our eyes lock. The magnetic force pulling us together can’t be denied, and before I have a chance to process what’s happening, our faces are pushing together.
His lips sweep across mine, soft and gentle. There’s hidden strength behind them, though, a glimmer of the power he possesses. Ryan’s hand drops to the back of my neck, and his other one presses into my back as we kiss.
Sweetness like berries flows over my tongue and combines with the earthiness of his cologne to create a strong, heady scent. My head spins. I’m suddenly weightless. The way Ryan’s lips mess so perfectly against mine has the rest of the world floating away.
I press against him, our hips knocking gently together. He responds by increasing the pressure of his hands, and I wrap my arms around his neck.
My skirt is too tight, my blouse too restricting. I want to feel every inch of Ryan against me. Does every bit of his skin taste the same, or is each part subtly different?
His tongue snakes across mine, and I open my mouth wide, accepting what’s turned into a hungry kiss. With one smooth move, he’s spun us around, and he’s walking us back. When he lands on a couch, he breaks the embrace and looks up at where I stand in front of him.
“I really did want to cook you dinner, you know,” he says.
He pauses, probably thinking it’s his duty to do the gentlemanly thing and tell me we don’t have to take things any further. I’m so far gone at this point, though, so desperate to experience the effects of his full attention, his attempts at being chivalrous don’t do anything for me.
“Are you hungry?” I seductively ask, taking a step toward him. My heels ring in the silent room.
“No,” he huskily answers.
It’s the last bit of information I need. I’m on him like a hungry wolf, my tight skirt stretched to a nearly ripping point as I straddle his thighs. Ryan plants one hand on my knee and uses the other to pull my face closer to his. This new kiss is hungry, fevered.
I splay my hands across his chest, relishing the heat filling my palms. As we kiss, his hands work their way lower and lower. They pause at the top of my waist, and I push my weight forward, meaning to show him that it is absolutely, perfectly all right for him to touch me anywhere he pleases.
Ryan lets out a primal growl, and his tongue digs deeper into the back of my mouth. Fire spreads across my arms, down my back. A fever is taking me over, and I’m going to go insane if I don’t get what I need.
Settling all of my weight against his lap, my mound brushes against the hard rock there. Ryan lets out another wild noise before deftly standing up and flipping me around.
We’ve switched positions, with me sitting against the cushions and him getting onto his knees in front of me. His eyes stay on mine as he pushes my skirt up to my hips.
My heart is thudding, and a bout of shyness comes over me. But as much as I want to look away, I can’t. There’s something about Ryan’s deft yet deliberate movements. It’s the way he lightly massages my thigh, taking his time going higher and staring me down. There’s a gentleness to his actions. He makes me want to give myself over to him completely.
My pounding pulse has taken up residence between my legs, where wetness soaks through my panties. Ryan gently nudges the fabric to the side, and I arch my back as the fresh air hits the skin there.
His face disappears between my thighs, and floods of pleasure shoot through me.
I can’t help myself. I writhe under him, bucking my hips up at his face as I gasp. Both of his hands find mine, and our fingers intertwine. He holds my hands tight against the cushions, his grasp firm and sweet.
There’s barely even time to think about how good Ryan is at this. I’m exploding with a fierceness, my fingers tightening around his as I cry out.
Wearing a wicked grin, Ryan straightens up and stretches his arms above his head. I watch each of his movements, eager not to miss anything. I want him twice as much now, if that’s even possible.
His eyes flit over me. “You probably hear this all the time, but wow… You’re gorgeous,” he breathes.
My face warms. Despite the fact that I’m exposed in front of him, it’s a compliment that still gets to me.
He offers his hand. “Want to see the master bedroom?”
Giggling, I allow him to pull me to my feet and down the hallway going off from the living room. Just as I suspected, the penthouse is massive, with lots of small rooms off the hallway.
That’s one more detail to add to my article. Zach Garner pays really well.
There’s no time for any other thoughts, though, because we’re in the bedroom and Ryan is picking me up.
I yelp in surprise as he deposits me on top of a desk. He’s against me fast, his lips on my neck and his hands in my hair. I can’t even keep my eyes open, his touch feels that good.
Dropping my head to the side, I give him better access to my throat and fumble for his belt. It comes undone in record time, and Ryan momentarily pauses the frantic sucking on my throat to step out of his pants.
Twisting his hands in my panties, he yanks those off as well and tosses them over his shoulder. His boxers drop, revealing his smooth, thick length. Off goes his shirt. Finally, he’s fully naked, the most perfect specimen ever of manhood standing in front of me.
I’m already unbuttoning my blouse, eager to get rid of all my clothes. Ryan helps me, pulling the blouse and bra off and tossing them to the floor. Cupping my breast in one hand, he lowers his face and takes my nipple between his teeth. Unbelievable pleasure laced with a tinge of pain makes me drop my head back against the wall and groan.
Ryan keeps sucking and twisting, alternating his attention between each breast. My need is getting even stronger, making me feel like I’m about to scream.
Wrapping my legs around his back, I pull his hips closer to mine. His hot length pushes dangerously close to my opening, and I twitch from need.
But still Ryan takes his time. Wearing that sexy smirk, he takes a step back and rifles in the desk drawer before pulling out a condom and rolling it over his shaft. I start to take off my red heels, but he stops me with a hand on my ankle.
“Keep those on,” he commands. “I like them.”
I obediently nod. When slipping on these heels this morning, the last thing I thought was that my day would end this way. I used to suspect anything red was my lucky charm. Now I absolutely know that’s the case.
His heated gaze on my face, Ryan takes the base of his length and guides it against my opening. I give against the pressure, my body eagerly stretching to accept him. Slowly, he slides in, widening and filling me up.
Shivering in pleasure, I cling to his shoulders. His ripped muscles move beneath my fingers as he leisurely pumps in and out, taking his time and claiming every inch of my channel.
The ecstasy is already building in me, each swift jerk of his hips taking me higher.
Seizing my calves, Ryan holds my legs up. I’m on display, my red heels high in the air and my pencil skirt still bunched around my waist. There’s not a shred of self-consciousness left in me, though. I’m gone, lost in a place where there’s only Ryan, me, and these animal desires.
His gaze bores into mine as he drives into me. It’s too much to handle, too intense. I have to look away, but I can’t. Sweat rolls down Ryan’s temples, neck, and chest. I reach over and trail my fingers through it. At his pecs I hesitate, but then tug slightly at the pert nipple there.
Ryan speeds it up, pounding into me faster and faster. My back hits the wall, and my legs bounce in his hands. I explode, euphoria taking me over.
I’ve barely come down from my high when Ryan is picking me up again and carrying me over to the bed. He sets me on the edge of it, and I stay on my hands and knees, arching my back and showing that I�
��m ready for him. I think I know what he wants, and I’m more than happy to give it to him.
Taking a handful of my hair, which was so perfectly styled in a low bun this morning but has by now come completely undone, Ryan gets onto his knees on the bed and enters me from behind.
I brace myself, not sure how rough this is going to be, but he’s amazingly gentle. He’s giving me just what I crave all over again, methodically stroking over my sweet spot. I push my hips back, hungry for more. Ryan responds by pulling my hair a little harder.
Still pushing into me, he leans forward and plants his mouth on my neck. The sensation of his sucking there adds to what I’m already experiencing, and I start to shake all over again. A second orgasm flies through me, making my legs shake.
Ryan lets loose, grinding into me so fast my breasts shake and I nearly lose my balance. He groans and stills, his lips sucking greedily at the nape of my neck. With synchronized gasps, we both collapse onto the bed and roll to our sides.
With his arms around me, his chest pressed against my back, I close my eyes and listen to the pounding in my ears. My whole body is abuzz, like it’s been struck by lightning. Ryan’s breath tickles my ear, but it’s also soothing, an even exhale I can count on.
What next? Now comes either the awkward or amazing part. He might ask me to leave. If he does, I’m out. No groveling for me.
Or he might want me to stay. If he does, what does that mean? Is this a one-night stand, or the pre-show to that date he mentioned.
It doesn’t matter, is all I can think. Those are the things I worry about too much. Right now, all I’m really aware of are Ryan’s warm arms around mine. I fit so easily against him, and it’s such a secure place to be.
Still, I should get up… I should…
I try to open my eyes, but they’re too heavy. One more minute, and then I’ll stand. Just one more minute of lying here in this perfect moment…
Chapter 4
Ding. The familiar sound of my phone receiving a text pierces my skull.
Groaning, I reach in the direction of my night stand. My fingers brush against a pillow instead.
Wait a second.
In a flash, it all comes back. I pop my eyes open, taking in the mess of sheets and blankets surrounding me. Last night… The bar… Ryan…
Warily, I sit up. The bedroom is empty, the curtains drawn to let in the morning sun. There’s no sign of Ryan, though.
“Oh my God,” I whisper, pressing my palms against my face. I slept with my article’s subject’s assistant… Talk about using your womanly wiles to get ahead.
Except that’s not why I slept with Ryan. The two of us had a real connection. It’s just that now, in the light of day and without any liquor in my system, I clearly see how what happened the night before might look.
“Good morning.”
I drop my hands from my face to see him standing in the doorway, straightening his tie. He’s just as delicious-looking as he was twelve hours ago.
“Hi. What, uh… What time is it?”
“Almost seven.”
Seven. That leaves me just enough time to run home and change before I have to be back at work, so long as I order a car and don’t bother with public transportation.
I scan the room, finding my clothes folded in a neat pile and my purse and notebook sitting next to them. From inside my tote, another ding sounds. Whoever is texting me really has something to say.
“You probably have to get to work,” I say, quickly climbing from bed and snatching my clothes. I yank my panties and skirt on, conscious of his eyes on my back the whole time. There’s a nervous knot forming in my stomach. Despite what we did last night, or maybe because of it, I’m now super nervous.
Deftly pulling on my bra and blouse, I take a seat to slip my high heels on.
“Sorry if I’m keeping you. I’m ready to go now.”
His hands are in his pockets, his cool eyes on me.
“It’s fine. I run on my own schedule.”
“Mr. Garner won’t be mad if you’re not in the office at a certain time? Even if he’s not there?”
“No.”
“Okay.” I walk to him, taking all of my things with me. “So, Ryan, I had a really nice—”
“Actually, Ryan is my middle name.”
“Oh. Okay…”
He looks down at me, perfect jaw and lips only mere inches away.
“My first name is Zach. It’s Zach Ryan Garner.”
My stomach drops, all the way from the penthouse to the bottom floor.
“W-what?”
The slightest hint of a smile plays on his mouth, but a full grin never emerges.
“Zach Garner,” he repeats. “CEO of Zarner Technologies.”
“Why did you…? How can you…?” I’m babbling, unable to mask my anger. For someone whose job is asking questions, I suddenly can’t get so much as one out.
Ryan—Zach—puts his hands on my shoulders. There’s something condescending about the action.
“I had a great time last night.”
“Okay.” I shake my head. “What does that have to do with anything?”
He blinks, his expression impossible to read. Maybe I’m being mean, but I couldn’t give less of a fuck. This guy lied to me, misled me. He had me thinking he was someone he wasn’t.
What’s worse is that I just had sex with the subject of my article. I was already feeling guilty about doing it with Zach Garner’s assistant, and now I’ve found out I’ve actually done it with Zach Garner himself!
“Why would you do this?” I ask. “Why would you lie to me about who you are?”
His hands drop.
“You said yourself that Zach Garner is elusive. He doesn’t just give it up to the media.”
My face warms. “So instead you pretended to be someone you’re not, someone who doesn’t exist…” I stare him down. “Or does Ryan exist?”
“I have several assistants, none with that name.”
“Good to know,” I dryly snap.
His face is closed off, the opposite of what he showed me the night before.
“I haven’t gone this long flying under the radar without knowing how to play the game, Noelle.”
“You still didn’t have to lie to me, to…bring me back to your apartment while letting me think you were someone else.”
“When the night began, I had no intention of bringing you back here.”
“Huh.” I cross my arms. “You don’t have to explain to me. I think I understand perfectly what’s happened here.”
Pushing past him, I stomp my way down the hallway, shame coursing through me. Not only did Zach Garner deceive me in order to evade an interview, but he employed the same tactic to use me for sex.
Was anything that happened in that bar real? Were his smiles genuine? His claim that he also likes the outdoors true?
At the end of the hall, I spin on my heel to face him.
“Thanks for a night of complete lies.”
He wasn’t smiling before, but now his face falls.
“I have to—”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. Protect your assets, blah, blah, blah. You didn’t have to take advantage of me in order to do that.”
His jaw tightens.
“Have a good day at work, Noelle. Once you get there, maybe you can deliver a message to your boss for me. Tell Ethan Ford that the next time he wants to send one of his lackeys to get some dirt on me, he should try being a little more subtle about it.”
I open my mouth to respond, but I’m nothing more than a fish gulping against the air. He knew. How did he know?
I haven’t read anything in the trade magazines or blogs about Mr. Ford taking over the Franciscan Tribune. The public shouldn’t know anything about his newest acquisition. Yet, somehow, Zach does…
He stares at me, that unreadable expression making my blood boil.
I wish I could tell him off, wish I could flip him the finger and tell him to go to hell. But I can’t. Despite
the fact that he just pulled the wool over my eyes, he also showed me an amazing time last night—one that was full of connection and passion. And even if it was all a lie, I can still feel the aftereffects of the high. I want to hate him. But I can’t just yet.
Without another word, I leave the penthouse, letting the door slam shut behind me. I repeatedly jab my finger against the elevator’s call button, keeping one ear cocked, waiting to see if he’ll come after me.
But of course he doesn’t. Why would he? I’m nothing but a lackey to him—his word, not mine. I’m no good for anything but a little bit of fun. Oh, yeah, and for being his personal delivery service.
The elevator opens, and I quickly step in and close my eyes. It’s not until I’m on the bottom floor that I open them.
Around the corner from the building, in a semi-safe spot between a bakery and a lawyer’s office, I pull my phone from my purse to see who’s been texting me. There’s nothing but a long stream of messages from my best friend, Claire, asking me if she left her phone charger at my place, because she ‘really needs it’ and she will ‘probably die’ if her phone does.
“Not now, Claire,” I mutter, putting the phone away.
I stare out at the busy street, my head buzzing. How did Zach know so much about Mr. Ford? And, better yet, why does he even care?
Is there something else going on here? Could they…know each other?
Suddenly I get the sense that there is a real story here—a juicy, potentially life-altering one. But it’s hidden deeper than a newbie like me can hope to dig.
Chapter 5
Today I’m not worried about being late. There’s only one thing on my mind as I enter the office building. I need to know what’s going on here. Not just for my article, but for myself as well. I’m about to explode with a need to know. It’s the kind of hot desire I’ve never felt for a story.
Mr. Ford and Zach know each other.
They must. Or else they are business rivals, and spar from a distance. Either way, there’s some kind of secret connection there.
Although I left Zach’s building feeling downtrodden, like the story had turned into too much to handle, once I got to my studio apartment and jumped in the shower, I realized it’s actually a gift. Before, I was struggling just to find an angle. With this new information, I could be on to something. Now if I can just find out more about the connection the two men have…
Protect Me - A Steamy Bodyguard Romance (You Can't Resist a Bad Boy Book 5) Page 55