by Nana Malone
“Something like this belongs in a museum or something.”
“Well, how about a safe? It was my mom’s.”
With trembling fingers she reached out but stopped just short of touching the casing. She knew she’d sound weird if she told him she wanted to smell it. There was nothing like the smell of book paper. “I can’t believe it.”
“So what do you say, well worth coming up here with me, even though you suspect I have ulterior motives?”
She grinned. “Absolutely. Thank you for showing me this.”
She studied him carefully as he placed the prized book back in his safe. Plain and simple, she wanted him. He knew how to make her body hum, and he might not be down for a permanent relationship, but he was just right for a fling. Maybe it was time to let go. If she let go a little she’d maybe actually have some fun.
Fun. She could do with a bit of no strings fun. “Ryan?”
He turned to face her, his hands in his back pockets. “Hmm?”
“Remember when Jezzie interrupted us?”
His gaze turned molten, and he took her hand, tugging her to him. His hand cupped her face, and their gazes locked for several seconds, then he dipped his head. When his lips touched hers, a low moan made his chest rumble against hers.
Licking into her mouth, he stoked the flame in her body to full roar. He slid his tongue over and against hers, tasted every corner of her and coaxing her tongue into a game of chase.
When she did, he slid his hands down over her backside and picked her up. Walking them over to the bed, he didn’t break the kiss. With every adjustment of positioning, he angled his head and delved back in for another kiss, like he wanted to devour her.
When her back hit the mattress and he lowered some of his weight onto her, directly bringing his now throbbing cock directly into contact with the part of her that ached for him, Mia groaned.
As they kissed, he ran his hands over her face and dug them into her curls, occasionally tugging a little, letting her know he wasn’t always under control.
As he kissed her, he rocked his body into hers, and in involuntary response, Mia rocked into him as well, rolling her hips in time with his.
Chapter Twenty-four
Mia loved kissing him. Every stroke of his tongue was like a delicious brand. Like he was staking his claim.
Ryan slid his hands down her arms, and she did her best to keep them in place. As his skilled fingers traced a delicate path from her biceps, to her face, over her throat and her collarbone, she anticipated his touch, bowing her back, inviting him closer.
When he barely skimmed over her breasts, she moaned. “Ryan.”
“Yes, Mia,” he mumbled as he kissed one of her ribs. “Is there something you need?”
“Please…stop teasing.”
He chuckled low then lifted the hem of her T-shirt. “Only because you asked so nicely. And because I’m a little obsessed with your breasts.” He had her top and her bra off in seconds, tossing them into a corner. When his attention returned to her, he stared in awe.
Gently, Ryan slid his hands up her torso until he cupped her breasts. His low satisfied moan let her know he wasn’t as in control as he seemed. He wanted her just as badly as she wanted him. Her core pulled tight when he teased one of her nipples with his lips, lightly dusting over the peak, never applying more pressure. Another tease designed to make her insane. While his mouth toyed with one nipple, his deft thumb rolled over the other in gentle circles.
Desperate for more—more pressure, more of his mouth, more of his fingers—Mia slid her hands into his hair, gently tugging him closer. Silently begging him to love her.
She could feel the shift in him immediately as his shoulders bunched. He made a muffled moan against the pebbled peak of her nipple before he took her into his mouth and sucked gently.
His big body pinned down her hips, and all she could do to seek relief from the pulling need was raise her hips slightly in an attempt to get closer, rubbing her heated core against him.
His fingers plucked and rolled her nipple, building the tension coiling inside of her. When he switched his focus to her other nipple, he slid his hand down her torso, shifting his weight to give himself more room.
His fingers fumbled with the zipper as his impatience grew. Finally, he tore his lips off her breast and shoved away from her. When she mewled a protest, a harsh grin flashed over his beautiful face.
“Oh, I’m coming right back. I just need to touch you, and you’re wearing far too many clothes right now.”
“So are you.”
“I like how the lady thinks.”
He reached his arms up and over his back, yanked his shirt over his head, and carelessly tossed it aside. Mia’s mouth watered. He really was beautiful to look at.
He went for the button on his jeans next, and she waited with bated breath. Time slowed as she held her breath for the reveal, waited to see—but he felt like teasing her and only removed his jeans and not his boxer briefs.
“Now, it’s your turn.”
Her turn? Yes please. She fumbled for the button of her skinny pants, and he tsked.
“What I meant was I was going to undress you. If you don’t mind, I’ve sort of been looking forward to this part.”
When he talked to her like that, voice low and deep and raspy, gaze hooded, and tongue peeking out to moisten his lips, it made it very difficult to think or move. His gaze stayed trained on hers as he unlooped her pants then lowered the zipper. But his interest shifted when he started to pull them down.
Ryan licked, then sucked in his bottom lip as he peeled the fabric away, exposing her red thong. “Have I mentioned I love you in red?”
What was taking him so long? “Duly noted,” she muttered as she reached for him.
“Oh, no, it’s still your turn. I’m not finished undressing you yet.”
Frustrated, Mia tossed her head back onto the pillow. “Do you plan on using your eyes to finish?”
His grin flashed quick, but the usual carefree glint was gone. Now he looked like a predator with his pray caught in a trap of his making. “You’re lucky I’m so desperate to have you, but one of these days, I plan on taking my time, as long as it takes to drive you crazy.”
“I’m already crazy,” she said as she clutched the pillow behind her head.
“No, not nearly enough.” With aching slowness, he hooked his fingers into the elastic of the thong and slid it down her legs. His breathing grew harsher, and he sucked on that bottom lip again. When his gaze slid over her again, then locked with hers, he whispered, “You are so fucking beautiful.”
In that moment, she believed him. The way he looked at her, it felt like he was worshiping her body.
With his boxer briefs still on, he slid back to his previous position nestled between her legs. “Now, where did I leave off again?” He nuzzled one breast, then the next. “See, I told you I’d be back.”
He tucked her more closely against him, and her hot center aligned with the cotton-clad, straining length of him. Even through the fabric she could feel the heat of his intensity. How much he wanted her.
When his hand dipped between her thighs, she parted them to ease his way. When the tip of his finger met her slick folds, he moaned. Mia held her breath, the tension coiling tighter and tighter inside her.
Skilled fingers stroked her slippery folds, making her crazy. After teasing her some, Ryan slid a finger inside her slick channel just as he nipped the skin above her breast. “Mia, you are so perfect. Hot. And tight. So damned tight.”
She moaned as he fingered her. Plucking the strings that led directly to nirvana, he teased her with the slow retreat, only to enter again and again. He added another digit, and Mia rolled her hips into his penetrating hand.
Stroking her G-spot, Ryan slid his lips over her collarbone and along her jawline. When he reached her lips again, he grunted in satisfaction as her hips bucked. And then he sucked on her tongue in time with sliding into her slick center. His he
avy erection pressed into her thigh, and she moaned.
With a groan, he pulled back from their kiss, and she mewled as she tried to follow his lips. His gaze scorched her.
“Jesus, what are you doing to me?”
Mia gasped for air. Her brain scrambled for purchase, but her body took over by arching her hips into his hand again.
Ryan muttered a curse and squeezed his eyes shut. As his fingers stroked her to the edge of orgasm, her name fell off his lips again and again. Mia held tight onto his shoulders. She rotated her hips around and around until he swore again and rubbed his thumb directly over her clit.
Her orgasm ripped through her, laying destruction to every nerve and cell. Unable to think, she threw her head back, giving herself over fully to the sensation.
“Jesus, you’re so hot.”
Mia couldn’t even lift her lead, let alone move her lips to whisper his name.
Slowly he withdrew his fingers from her. “You don’t think we’re done, do you? I have so many more tricks up my sleeve.”
She reached for him with a limp arm. Her temperature slowly rising again as he nuzzled her neck. Ryan rolled off of her for a split second and snagged a condom from his bedside table. Fascinated by every movement of rippling muscle, Mia watched as he shucked his boxers and sheathed himself. When he rolled back, he parted her thighs with his leg before settling into the juncture between her thighs. Mia gripped his shoulders, scoring his flesh with her nails as the tip of his cock nudged her cleft.
Inch by inch, he slid into her. He squeezed his eyes shut and dropped his forehead to hers. “So fucking tight.” He retreated an inch, the slid back in. Retreat, slide, retreat, slide. Finally he surged forward, seating himself inside her. Mia met him halfway by raising her hips.
For a long moment, he held his breath, gritting his teeth against the need. Slowly, he started to move, canting his hips until Mia bowed her back. He stroked deep and strong, making her shudder, then retreated until he was almost all the way out. Sweat slicked her body as he made love to her. His intense gaze never wavered, burned into her soul.
His whispered caresses made her just as hot as his hands, “…You are so hot… Stay here all day… Never want to stop…”
But soon, even the words were impossible, and tingling started in her toes. As she curled them, the sensation rocketed through her calves, then thighs, and up her back until she couldn’t take it anymore. Mia broke apart and held onto him for dear life as convulsions of ecstasy wracked her body.
It was like that was the permission he was waiting for. And he slid kisses along her jaw line, eventually nuzzling her neck. Picking up the pace, he tucked her tight against him, taking her body like she was meant for him and they were meant for this. With a shiver, he collapsed.
Chapter Twenty-five
With her eyes still shut, Mia took stock of how she felt. Body, blissful. Some soreness but in a delicious way. Slightly achy and still wanting him. God, what if she’d become a Ryan addict? Like she could only feel this good with him.
She had some aches from where he’d lost control a little and gripped her too tightly. And there was a slight ache at the back of her head where he’d pulled her hair. She smiled a little at the memory. He hadn’t let her have much rest. Hell, he’d barely needed a breather. He’d mumbled something about pent-up sexual frustration from when he’d first met her.
She also took stock of her emotions. Relaxed, happy. A little uneven. But what did she expect? Last night had been hot sex of the felt-like-she’d-never-had-good-sex-before variety. She was supposed to feel uneasy and shaky, right? Especially since she didn’t know where this was going.
Stop. Just enjoy while you can.
Ryan tightened an arm around her waist before kissing her shoulders with oh-so-soft lips. “I know you’re awake, beautiful. Your breathing changed.”
She turned to peer at him in the darkness. “You’ve been watching me sleep?”
He chuckled softly and toyed with a curl that had fallen over her cheek. “Maybe.”
She frowned. “Weren’t you supposed to pass out or something? Or do I not have the right touch?”
Using his teeth, he scraped her shoulder. “You know full well that I couldn’t control myself with you. Even now, I’m too fucking keyed up to sleep.”
Keyed up? Okay, that was a start. She snuggled further into his arms, bringing her ass into direct contact with his rigid erection. “What do you want to do about your state? I can’t very well leave you like this, after all.”
He groaned when she did it again. “Mia.” He nipped her shoulder. “It’s not nice to tease.”
“Who said anything about teasing?” She reached an arm behind her and wrapped her hand around the rigid, pulsing length of his erection.
A curse ripped out of his throat, and he sank his teeth into her flesh, sending shivers down her spine.
Yeah, the biting was totally hot. Especially when he accompanied it with the sweet smoothing of his tongue over the injury. It made her shake. His hips rocked into her waiting palm. Gently, she spread a drop of moisture over the head of his dick, and he tightened his hold on her. With a whimper, he nudged her hand again. “Fuck, I want you so bad…again.”
Heat flooded her core the moment he spoke. She loved how he talked to her in bed. Outside the bedroom, he was so playful, so fun. Inside the bedroom, he was all business. The business of giving away orgasms, that is. He knew his way around a woman’s body. Knew how to please, tease, tempt.
Unable to find any words, she just whispered his name as she stroked him. The pulsing heat between her legs was unrelenting. Reminding her that she needed him inside her, stretching her, scorching her flesh, making her come…again.
Mia moaned as Ryan dragged his lips down her spine. “Oh, my God, you’re insatiable.”
He chuckled. “It’s not my fault. You’re so fucking sexy. I mean, what’s a guy to do? How am I supposed to resist this body, that face, that smile?” He kissed the spot just over her ass and mumbled, “This ass.”
Mia giggled. “We can’t stay in bed all day. I have to go. I have work. Hell you have work. You have a story to write, and I have a show to finish sketching.”
Ryan placed a smacking kiss on one cheek. “Woman, I’m trying to seduce you here.”
She squealed and squirmed in his arms. “You’ve seduced me already. Three times to be exact. You should be passed out. And let’s be frank, I’m going to be walking funny for a week.”
His bold, rich laugh bounced off the walls. “Hey, let’s not forget about the time you seduced me.”
She flushed. Just thinking about licking the length of him again was enough to make her wet. The way he’d fisted his hands in her hair, guiding her. “Ryan, you can’t do this to me. I’m only so strong.”
He chuckled low. “I’ll be gentle and quick. Let me make you feel good. I want to taste you again.”
So tempting. The thought of his lips on her again, his thumbs parting her flesh, his skilled tongue teasing her clit…She moaned. She wanted him on her again. Wanted to do nothing but curl into his arms and explore that beautiful body the way he explored hers. He’d taken his time all night with all her; she wanted her turn. But she really did have to get to work. Taking Delilah’s advice, she’d reached out to one of the section producers to bounce ideas off about her show. He obviously couldn’t produce it for her, but he could let her know if she was on the right track. And she needed to prep. “Ryan, I need a rain check, okay.”
He kissed her other cheek. “Are you sure about that? I could make it worth your while.”
Mia rolled over and tossed the sheets over his head as she scrambled up. “Nope. You’re a bad influence. Left to you, we’ll be locked up in here all day.”
He snatched the sheets off. “All day? Try all month.”
“You know, we’ll eventually need to eat.”
“Honey, this is New York. We can have food delivered.”
She watched in awe as he climbed ou
t of bed, all lean muscled body, the image of perfection with his sex-rumpled hair and sexy smirk. He was one of those people who woke up looking like an underwear model. Stubble, mussed hair, insane abs and all. Totally unfair. Because, she didn’t need to touch her curls to know they were a frizzy, dry, completely tangled mess. Natural hair was like that. She’d tied it into a bun on top of her head before attempting to sleep, but as Ryan hadn’t had any plans on actual sleep, somewhere during the night—like when he was busy tugging on it as he loved her from behind, oh yeah that—he’d loosened it. And now she’d pay the piper. It would have to go into a beenie or something. She’d deep condition it later tonight.
He paused and fixed her with an intense gaze. “You keep looking at me like that, and I’m dragging you back to bed and burying my face between your thighs until long after you beg me to stop.”
Yes, please. Mia cleared her throat and shifted on her feet. “Sorry, you’re just incredibly sexy to look at.”
A mischievous smile spread across his face as he stalked her.
Deftly scooting out of the way, she skipped to the shower. “If you hurry, you can join me in the shower.”
Ryan looked up at the ceiling. “There is a God. Mia Donovan, wet and soapy, has been a fantasy of mine.”
After their shower, which consisted of Ryan soaping up only his favorite parts of her…repeatedly, they were dressed and ready to go in under an hour.
She kissed him lightly before turning to go. “Thank you for last night.”
But Ryan wasn’t going to be deterred. He deepened the kiss. “What was your favorite part? The time against the door or when I laid you out on my table? Or maybe it was when I was pulling your hair. You seemed to scream the most then. I want to conduct research so I do that first next time.”
She could only laugh as she swatted him on the arm. “I was talking about dinner and hanging out. I needed it.”
“You want to tell me what happened?”
She sucked on her bottom lip before answering. “On my date with Dorian, he brought a woman.”