Bound For You: Men in Blue, Book 6

by Jayne Rylon

  “No.” Even if he hadn’t already been booted out of one home today, she wouldn’t turn this into a repeat performance. It was unequivocally true. Some people might grate on her in close quarters after spending so much time by herself, but not Ryan. Or Ben. Probably.

  Unless he was acting like an idiot as he had been earlier today.

  “Despite what you saw before, I’m not the kind of person to get my feelings hurt easily.” Ryan stopped what he was doing and crossed to her, crouching at her feet. “If you need some space, I’ll go.”

  “No, don’t.” She reached out and held his face in her hands. “You’re always welcome here.”

  “Just not for Netflix and chill?” He raised a single brow, making her want to launch herself at him and prove him wrong right there on the kitchen floor.

  “Not today is what I said.” She rubbed her thumbs over his lightly stubbled cheeks, tougher than they looked.

  “What happened this morning was a result of months of shit piling up. This afternoon wasn’t the part that caused the hurt—it was the day that stopped the pain. The day I finally quit letting other people dictate how I feel and when I act on that.” Ryan swallowed hard. “I’m not saying I’m not screwed up inside, but that’s really not anything new. It’s been this way for months. I hate that I might have done the same to you by not pursuing the potential I felt between us. I don’t want to keep being stupid, Shari.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah. I think I should rectify my mistakes as soon as fucking possible.” He leaned forward and captured her mouth in another kiss. It sizzled. Despite their earlier performance, it caught her by surprise.

  Could it be like this every time—shocking and brilliant?

  She hoped so and was willing to try it a hell of a lot more to be positive.

  Shari lifted her hands to bury her fingers in his sun-bleached hair. When she inadvertently tugged on it some as she tried to worm even closer, he groaned into her mouth. The intensity of his kiss ramped up as if he’d put her gas range on full blast. A flurry of his tongue, lips, and teeth, showed her exactly what she did to him. His enthusiasm had a similar effect on her.

  If they didn’t stop soon, they’d escalate this straight to table-smashing proportions.

  The only reason she didn’t shout whoopee and go for it, the hell with dinner first, was because her brother had meticulously handcrafted the furniture. She couldn’t stand to lose another piece of her family when so few remained.

  Damn.

  As if Ryan felt her slight hesitation, he pulled back enough to separate them. Barely. His eyes opened slowly, showcasing the gorgeous cerulean glow of his sleepy stare, drenched in lust. Framed by golden lashes, his gaze—hell, all of him—took her breath away.

  Or maybe they’d been kissing so long she was about to pass out.

  Either way, she wasn’t prepared for what he said next.

  “So…if you have some objection to getting naked with me other than how you think I should feel right now, you should probably mention it before we finish dessert.” He grinned before rising, staying bent over only long enough to kiss the tip of her nose. “Because I’m about to pump you full of energy that I will gladly help you burn off later. Sound like a plan?”

  “Uh huh.” She blinked up at him a few times. A grin threatened to split her face.

  “I’m glad you’re onboard.” He caressed her hair a few times then glanced at the section of his apron distorted by his obvious erection with a wry grimace. He must have been going commando beneath those soft gym shorts, which rode impossibly low on his hips. “I’d better get back to work.”

  As he left her proximity, having utterly transformed her forever, she wondered aloud, “I thought you were submissive. Damn, Ryan.”

  An answering smile seemed to have taken up residence on his face. “That can mean a wide range of things, depending on the person. Besides, every situation is different. Just because mangoes are my favorite fruit doesn’t mean I don’t eat strawberries too.”

  Huh. Well, when he put it like that, it seemed simple.

  Maybe it was.

  He was adaptable, flexible, and so damn sexy she couldn’t imagine being more fascinated with someone for the rest of her life. Maybe she’d had it wrong all this time. Had her infatuation with the roommates been driven by her cravings for this man? Ryan could be enough for anyone. He amazed her.

  “What’s that look for?” He briefly met her stare in the range hood as he began to slice and dice vegetables with an impressive amount of skill and speed. She’d have chopped her fingers off already if she’d attempted that.

  “Just thinking how incredible you are. Special,” she admitted.

  “A freak of nature, you mean?” He shrugged.

  “Only in the best sense.” Shari stood and crossed the kitchen. She couldn’t help repeating her earlier gesture. Wrapping her arms around him, she slid her hands beneath the apron. Of their own volition, they stroked down his sleek torso and over the ridges of his cut abdomen. It was a luxury to touch him, finally, like she’d dreamed of so often. Molesting him while he cooked could quickly become her new favorite pastime. “I’ve never met anyone like you before. Someone who interests me as much as you.”

  “Keep that up and I might cut off something important.” He sighed and his steady motions hitched.

  She couldn’t help herself. Shari allowed her hand to brush over his package, testing the weight of his goods for a moment before teasing him verbally to go along with her brief caress. “It feels pretty big, Ryan, but I don’t think it’ll reach up onto the countertop.”

  He cracked up at that. Then spun slowly enough to keep from whacking her with his elbow or stabbing her, but fast enough to dislodge her.

  Ryan pointed with the handle of the knife. “Go. Sit. Let me cook for you, woman.”

  “How can I say no to that?” She left him with one last peck on the side of his neck, since she couldn’t quite reach his mouth without him accommodating her. A hiss of air left him in a rush. It didn’t turn her off to hear him give in to arousal. In some ways, that thrilled her more. Knowing she finally had a right to do what she had felt for a while now flooded her with glee.

  She hoped he cooked fast.

  From her outpost at the kitchen table, she studied his every move. Watching him became a feast for her senses. Confident and competent, he never hesitated in his preparations. Meticulous, he never rushed. Not even when flames were shooting from a pan or three different buzzers were ringing. The kitchen was his bitch.

  So she didn’t realize he’d finished until he had already started carrying armfuls of dishes to the table.

  Shari rose. “Here, let me get some of those.”

  “No, please. Sit.” For a man who liked to take orders, it seemed like a command. “I want to do this. For you.”

  Oh.

  Servitude.

  Shari remembered Lily talking about all the ways her submissives showed their affection for her. The concept of service hadn’t quite made sense when they’d discussed it. How could it help partners communicate their dedication to one another? How did someone find it enjoyable to wait on another human being?

  Here, in the moment, the feeling made perfect sense to her. And she was honored.

  It wasn’t sexual, necessarily. Though his graciousness made her shift a bit in her seat, uncrossing and re-crossing her legs to ease some of the ache he inspired in her pussy by showing her exactly how much he cared. It erased months of doubt with a single action. Far more than hashing things through could have.

  If it made her guest content to do this, she certainly wasn’t about to stop him. “I’d like that. Thank you.”

  He smiled his signature slow, wide grin. The one she hadn’t seen on his handsome face in far too long.

  Ryan placed things in front of her in a very specific pattern and order. The pomp and precision of it all intimidated her. The last thing she wanted to do was screw up after he’d gone to so much effort.
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br />   “I can’t wait to dig in. I have no clue what this stuff is, but it smells divine.” She peeked up at him. “I hope you don’t expect me to eat with my pinky out and take tiny nibbles. I only have one kind of fork and I’m starving.”

  He didn’t laugh. Didn’t answer right away, either.

  Oh no, had she offended him? Her stomach wobbled, and not because of the scrumptious smells that left her salivating.

  “Would you let me feed this to you?” He held a tray with yet more dishes and a decanter of aerated wine out on one hand, a towel draped over his forearm. “Or is that too…weird?”

  Shari felt a flame as bright as the one he’d seared their dinner with fly along her nerve endings. She squirmed in her chair, wet at the thought alone.

  “No.” She shook her head when his smile dimmed. “I mean, it’s not too strange. Sure, I’d like to try it, if that’s what you want.”

  “I do.” He stared at her with such awe and reverence, she would have thought she rescued someone from a burning building or discovered the cure for cancer instead of granting a simple, if unconventional, request.

  While she absorbed his visual praise, he set down the tray, then plucked her from the chair just as quickly. Ignoring her surprised yelp, he settled her in his lap. “Here, sit on me. Get comfortable.”

  Shari found it was easier than she thought. She wiggled around until they fit together, her back to his chest. His legs cradled hers. If there was something long and hard pressing against the small of her back, she opted to pretend that it was his clothes bunching up instead of his very respectable hard-on.

  Otherwise, she’d never make it through the first course without turning to gorge on him.

  “Here, start with this.” He held out a single mouthful of something frilly on a large serving spoon. “I had to improvise a little.”

  So busy staring at the colors and textures of whatever the hell it was he brought to her lips, she didn’t open fast enough.

  “Should I tell you what everything is, and what it’s got in it, to make sure you like it?” He cleared his throat. “I should have asked first, I guess.”

  “No, this is the kind of food you just shut up and eat.” She grinned. “I trust the chef. I hear he’s fantastic. It’s just that it’s so pretty. It seems a shame to wreck it.”

  Ryan hugged her to him with his free arm. “Thank you. Seriously, though, it’s meant to be enjoyed. Go ahead. Eat it.”

  Shari hummed. It did smell amazing.

  It was right about then that she realized she hadn’t even had a snack since breakfast. Suddenly, it seemed like she could snarf every last morsel piled on the table before her. She opened her mouth and Ryan slipped the spoon between her lips. Somehow, the simple act fed more than her body. When had anyone bothered to take care of her?

  Since she had turned sixteen, she’d lived up on this mountain, alone, guarding their house and tending to the sanctuary the ranch had been for her brother, when he could find his way home. This was true decadence.

  Shari gladly accepted the offering—the appetizer coupled with Ryan’s care—and began to chew. Crunchy, tangy, and all-around delectable. A soft moan escaped her, inspiring his chuckle.

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  He should, and she would have told him so if her mouth wasn’t full of the beginnings of what was sure to be the best meal of her life.

  By the time Shari swallowed, Ryan had prepared another incredible treat. Something containing scallops and a rich cream sauce this time. The flavors that burst over her tongue were nearly enough to distract her from the heat of him, the press of his muscles along her body, and the perfection of their fit. Almost, but not quite.

  It did take her a while to realize that he wasn’t eating, however.

  When she did, the realization embarrassed her. The first plate was nearly cleaned already. He shouldn’t have to sacrifice for her or anyone. Not anymore. “Ryan, where’s yours?”

  “I’m not very hungry,” he said softly. “Honestly, my stomach’s been in knots since we left.”

  She had no doubt that without intervention, he would suffer.

  “Take some for yourself.” It wasn’t a suggestion. Without question, he did as she told. When he’d chewed and swallowed, she performed her best Mistress Lily impression, trying to muster up some serious sternness. “More.”

  “I don’t want to take anything away from you.” He shook his head behind her, nuzzling her hair in the process.

  “You’re not. You’re giving to me by allowing us to share this experience,” she promised. Angling her head, she stared up at him. “As phenomenal as your meal is, I can’t enjoy it if you’re sitting there going hungry, or too upset to eat. You mean more to me than that, Ryan. Don’t piss me off by assuming otherwise. What kind of shitty friend would that make me?”

  He kissed her cheek ever so softly, then nodded. Silently, he dug in as if those first few tastes had reminded his insides that he was ravenous…for more than simple food. She hoped their connection nourished him as much as it had her. He’d been putting himself last for entirely too long.

  While he ate, she trailed her fingertips along his forearm. The muscles there bunched. He clutched her to him as if afraid she might slip away while he attended to his own needs. So she murmured reassuring nonsense to him as he took his fill.

  After several bites, he relaxed and his stomach gurgled softly beneath her.

  “Better?” she asked as he dipped his face to rest his forehead against hers.

  “Yes. Thank you.” His fingers trembled on the fork before her. She didn’t really know how else to comfort him, besides maybe relying on distraction.

  “I’m ready for more. Maybe some of that…” She lifted her chin toward the main entrée, which looked like steak in a thick pan sauce. Notes of wine and truffles, maybe, reached her a moment before she took the meat off the fork Ryan held for her, his hand cupped beneath her chin in case she dropped something. She didn’t.

  They went on like that for a while, her sampling and him providing. It got easier and easier to ask for what she wanted each time she did it. Maybe the problem all along had been his nature…and hers.

  Shari had been searching for some sign that what she felt for him and Ben was mutual. Had Ryan been waiting for either Shari or Ben to take the first step before laying it out there? Probably. Well, she was done making this harder on them both than it had to be. As for Ben…he was going to have to catch up or miss out.

  She wasn’t so greedy that she had to have both of them or nothing.

  This was plenty. Or at least it could be.

  Lost in thought, they ate together, enjoying every crumb Ryan had prepared for them. Especially dessert. He fed her mango mousse off his fingers, letting her lick them clean after each mouthful. If she lingered, sucking on him, no one could blame her.

  Shari and Ryan sighed in unison when he wiped them both clean with a linen napkin she hadn’t used since her last Thanksgiving with her family, then settled her across his lap so she could cuddle against his chest, damn near knocked into a food—and testosterone—coma.

  “Wow. That was…spectacular,” she murmured against his neck, loving the smell of seared meat and herbs that perfumed his skin.

  “You gonna fall asleep on me?” He didn’t seem disturbed by the idea.

  “Bed does sound amazing right now,” she admitted, then realized how it might have sounded.

  “You didn’t come up with any objections, and dessert is probably half digested by now,” he reminded her.

  “I don’t want to rush you. I know today was a hard day.” She kissed him gently, letting her lips linger. It was enough to taste him, to soak in his warmth and the smell of caramelized sugar that remained on his mouth.

  It went on for a while, their careful exchange. Her fingers twined in his hair, thrilled by how it tickled her knuckles with silky softness. Dazed, she blinked hard when he pulled away long enough to whisper to her.

&nbs
p; “It was awful. You’re helping make it so much better.” He stole another sample of her before confessing against her lips, “I would love to sleep with you, but I never imagined tonight would be my chance. I’m not prepared. I don’t have any protection with me. That doesn’t mean I can’t take care of you, though. I would kill to do that.”

  “Oh, Ryan, Ryan, Ryan. While you were comparing the not-fancy-enough fungi they had in stock at the SuperDuper Mart, I was being somewhat more practical.” Shari grinned, then reached around to where she’d hung her purse on the back of the chair. She dipped her hand inside and withdrew the jumbo box of condoms she’d purchased.

  Just in case.

  “I could kiss you right now.” He nuzzled her neck and did one better, licking her right beneath her ear, sending shivers along her spine. “Oh wait, I already did. I’m going to again, too. Until you’re begging me to undress you…and more.”

  “Why don’t we go upstairs first?”

  8

  Shari prepared to lead Ryan to her room. Otherwise, they might never make it out of the kitchen. The hardwood floors weren’t exactly the stage she had in mind for the slow explorations she’d love to indulge in for the rest of the evening. After waiting an eternity to be intimate with him, or any man she truly cared for, she didn’t want to be rushed.

  She climbed from his lap, groaning at the loss of contact. Before she could take two steps, Ryan swooped in behind her. He lifted her off her feet and cradled her in his arms. “Is it okay if I carry you?”

  “Kind of late to ask, isn’t it?” She laughed as she looped her arms around his neck.

  “I’d rather you gave me permission,” he rasped, “to attend to you like this. Better still if you want to order me around. Be direct so I know what will please you the most and can do exactly that. I hate guessing or assuming that if I take what I want, you’ll get what you need too.”

  When he said it like that, she could totally understand the appeal. How many times had she wished for things to be simple between them? Now he offered her the opportunity to eliminate any misunderstandings or speculation.