by Cher Carson
“Hmm, I love the way you taste. When’re you going to let me suck your cock?”
The image of her on her knees, sucking him off, flashed through his mind. “Soon, honey. Soon. I’m thinking we may need to forget about this fundraiser tonight.”
She slapped his chest, laughing. “No, I want to go; it’ll be fun to meet your friends and colleagues.”
He winked, licking his lips as he eyed the sticky sheen coating her superb tits. “Fine, but I can’t promise you’ll be able to walk by the time I’m finished with you.”
Chapter Four
Alana walked into the ballroom on Ryan’s arm feeling like she’d just won the lottery. He was the sexiest man in the room, and he was hers, at least for tonight. She wanted to believe the sweet things he said, but only time would tell whether he was being sincere.
Ryan held her hand as he led her to one of the beautifully decorated tables at the front of the grand ballroom. Judging by the position of the table, and the lavish floral centerpiece and adornments, they were seated at the head table. Conversation amongst the older couples seated at the table ceased as soon as they arrived.
An older gentleman on Ryan’s left rose, extending his hand. “Glad you could make it, Ryan. And I see you managed to bring the prettiest date in the room, yet again.” He winked at the lady seated to his left. “Except for my Judith, of course.”
“Oh stop,” his wife said, the color rising in her cheeks. She rose, embracing Ryan. “So good to see you again! It’s been too long, darling.”
“Likewise, Judith.” He kissed her cheek soundly. He glanced at the curious spectators seated around the table as he slipped his arm around Alana’s waist. “I’d like you all to meet Alana Miller.” He squeezed her waist, obviously trying to put her at ease. “Sweetheart, I’d like you to meet Dr. and Mrs. Smythe.” He gestured to a couple to her immediate left. “Dr. and Mrs. Collins, and Dr. and Mr. Morris.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she said, trying to decide whether she should make her rounds shaking hands or simply take her seat. Before she made up her mind, Ryan made the decision for her, pulling her chair out. “Thank you,” she whispered, grateful he’d thought to intervene.
“Tell us, what do you do, Alana?” Dr. Morris asked.
Obviously these people didn’t believe in wasting time. “I’m running my father’s car dealership at the moment,” she said, picking up her water glass. She needed something to coat her dry throat. She was rarely nervous meeting new people, since it was mandatory in her line of work at the dealership, but being sized up by a roomful of doctors was unnerving, to say the least. “Unfortunately, he’s fallen ill and he’s no longer up to the task.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Dr. Morris said.
“What did you do prior to that, Alana?” Mrs. Smythe asked.
She suspected they were waiting for her to tell them she was an exotic dancer during her down time. “After I earned my MBA, I started a jewelry design company. We were doing quite well until I had to put that on hold to help my father.”
“Interesting,” Mrs. Collins said, shooting Ryan a side-long glance. “Brains and beauty. I do believe this is a first for you, my dear. Dare I say, at forty-two, you’re finally ready to grow up?”
Ryan laughed, settling his arm along the back of Alana’s chair. “I won’t be forty-two until next month, Joan. Don’t rush me.”
Alana tried to dismiss her irritation that they were talking about her as though she were a prize he found at the bottom of his Cracker-Jack box. “Ryan and I just met,” she said, between clenched teeth. “I can assure you it’s not serious.” That should put them, including him, in his place.
Judging by the grim expression on his face, it worked.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Joan said. “It’s about time he found a nice girl and settled down.”
“I’m working on it, Joanie,” he said, folding his hand around the back of her chair. “Looks like it may take a little longer than I thought.”
She set her napkin on her lap, trying to avoid their dinner companions’ intense scrutiny. Apparently their disagreement was the most action these old busy-bodies would see all night.
“Tell us about the new clinic, Ryan,” Dr. Collins said when the awkward silence lasted a minute.
“Not much to tell yet,” he said. “We’re still in the planning stages.” He looked at Alana pointedly. “What I need is a good business consultant to help me get this off the ground.”
Alana shifted in her seat, refusing to look at him. “I know a couple. I can give you their names if you like.”
“Alana,” he growled, sending a clear warning to her and everyone at the table that she was treading into dangerous territory by baiting him. “I thought I made it clear; you’re the one I want.”
She smiled sweetly, looking around the table. “Obviously he thinks all he has to do is snap his fingers and he’ll get whatever he wants.”
“Damn it, Alana,” he muttered under his breath.
“Will you excuse me?” she said, rising.
He grabbed her wrist. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”
“I’m going to the ladies’ room. Or do I have to ask your permission first?”
Gaping at her, he let her hand fall to her side.
She practically ran to the ladies’ room, trying to avoid the on-lookers’ curious stares.
Two ladies, a blonde and a brunette, were touching up their make-up at the mirror when she walked in. They glanced at each other, smirking. “Oh no, what did he do this time?”
“Excuse me?” Alana said, leaning against the closed door. “I’m sorry, were you talking to me?”
“You’re here with Ryan, right?” the attractive blonde asked, turning to face her. “What did he do, suggest a ménage a trois your first night?” She laughed, nudging her friend. “I’m telling you, that guy is crazy.”
The brunette in the skin-tight dress joined in her laughter. “Honey, you don’t have to remind me. I have first-hand experience with him, remember?”
The blonde clapped a hand over her lacquered mouth and said, “That’s right! He did you and that psych nurse in the staffroom, didn’t he? Did he even lock the door?”
“What does he care? He can do whatever he wants since he started banging the administrator.”
“That’s true.” She sighed, shaking her head. “He really is a pig. We should just tell him to fuck off the next time he calls in the middle of the night looking to get laid.”
“Yeah, but that man can do things with his tongue that most men couldn’t do with written instructions and a guide.”
“You’re right about that.” A shiver moved through the blonde, making her enormous tits bounce up and down. “God, I get turned on just thinking about it.”
The brunette took a step closer, crowding her against the sink. “Anything turns you on, you horny little bitch.” She pulled her closer just as Alana slid out the door, giving them some privacy.
She felt like such a fool for believing him. As she sprinted out the front door, looking for a taxi, she vowed she wouldn’t allow herself to be taken in by a sexy, sweet-talking stranger again.
By the time ten minutes passed, Ryan was getting antsy. Where the hell was she? Shifting in his seat, he looked over his shoulder.
“Would you like me to go and check on her, dear?” Joan asked, reaching over to pat his hand.
He wanted to play it cool, pretend it didn’t matter, but he was past the point of trying to maintain his dignity. He wanted her at his side, now. Hell, he would settle for having a strip torn off, as long as she was still speaking to him.
“Would you mind?” he asked.
“No, of course not.”
Ryan tried to join in the conversation as he waited for Joan to return, but he couldn’t focus on anything until he saw Alana.
A few minutes later, Joan returned, a dour expression on her face. “I’m sorry, dear. It seems your young lady has left.�
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He stood quickly, almost toppling the heavy chair. “What are you talking about? Where the hell did she go?”
“The doorman told me he called a taxi for her a few minutes ago.”
“Shit,” he muttered, tossing the napkin on the table. “I’ve got to go. I’m sorry,” he said, casting a glance over his shoulder as he made his way out of the crowded ballroom. With perfect timing, the twin turbos cornered him before he could make his way to the door. “You’ll have to excuse me, ladies,” he said, trying to avoid being cornered. He knew from experience these two were relentless.
“What happened to your girlfriend?” Jade said, grinning.
“You saw Alana?” he asked, his heart racing. Shit, this could not be good.
“Yeah, we ran into her in the bathroom. We were just telling her about your antics, you bad boy,” Tara said, licking her lips as she reached around to grab his ass. “Have you got time for a quickie, Doc? We won’t tell her.” She crossed her fingers over her chest. “Promise.”
He was so screwed. What the hell had they told Alana? “No, I’ve got to go.” He pulled the doorman aside, trying to be discreet when he slipped him a hundred dollar bill to supply Alana’s address. The hotel staff knew him well, too well. He often brought one-night stands here instead of taking them to his home. Consequently, they saw him pass through with more women over the years than he cared to count.
Still, the doorman was reluctant to share the information. “I’m so sorry, Dr. Lang. That is against company policy.”
After peeling a few more hundreds off the roll of cash in his pocket, Ryan said, “I don’t give a shit about your policy, Albert. I need to find that woman, now.”
“Sir, I can’t help you. I’m sorry.”
Ryan knew from previous conversations that Albert was a retired welder and he needed this job to put food on the table. Ryan couldn’t live with himself if he did something to cause Albert to lose it. “Fine,” he said, stuffing the money back in his pocket. “I understand.”
Albert attempted to pass the single bill back to him, but Ryan shook his head. “Keep it, for your trouble.” He smiled. “Don’t worry; I’ll track her down myself.”
“Good luck with that, sir,” he said, tipping his hat. “She sure did seem upset when she left.”
Thankfully, she was listed in the directory, and he found her telephone number and address on the short drive to her home. His GPS guided him to an unfamiliar part of the city, and he sat in his car seething as he stared up at an apartment building that had fallen into disrepair with no visible signs of security. Was she crazy? A beautiful, single woman living in an environment like that was just begging for trouble. He’d ream her out about her living situation later; right now he just needed to see her.
He stood in the hall banging on her door as he punched her number into his cell. He heard her moving around behind the thin wood panel, so he knew she was trying to avoid him. Like hell. “Damn it, Alana, open this door before I wake the whole goddamn building!” he shouted.
Finally the door flew open and she stood barefoot, glaring up at him.
He swallowed, trying to ignore the fact that she looked even more beautiful now than she had earlier. Her face was scrubbed free of make-up, and she was wearing a short, white eyelet nightgown that fell just above her knees with tiny straps that would break with one quick snap. “Jesus,” he said, reaching out to touch her. “You are so sexy you take my breath away.”
She pushed him hard, trying to slam the door in his face.
He managed to stick his foot in the door before she could close it. “Damn it, just give me a minute to explain,” he pleaded, feeling his one chance with her slipping through his fingers. He never got rattled. Those who knew him described him as unshakable, but what he was feeling now could only be described as full-blown panic. “Please, baby.”
“Don’t you call you me that!” It was obvious she’d decided to give up on beating him in a physical battle when she stormed away, leaving the door partially ajar. “I don’t want to see or talk to you ever again!” she shouted. “Forget you ever met me.”
If only he could. “Sweetheart, I know you may have heard some things about me tonight…”
She turned on him, her light hair framing her face. “You’re a man-whore.”
A beat of silence passed and he knew she was waiting for him to refute her claim.
When he said nothing, she pointed to the door. “That’s all I need to know. Get out before I call the police.”
He knew he was running out of time to plead his case, and he had no idea where to begin. “Can we sit down for just a minute, please?”
She gestured toward the non-descript taupe couch. “Be my guest. I’d rather stand.”
Sighing, he claimed the seat offered, dropping his head in his hands. “I’ve slept around a lot over the years, but I’ve always been careful.”
She snickered. “That’s supposed to make me feel better, knowing I won’t get some nasty STD?”
“Baby, you’ve got to know I’d never put you at risk that way.”
“What I know is that you’re a dirt bag. You don’t respect yourself or the women who share your bed.”
“Honey, I’m not going to deny that I’ve played the field. I’ve slept with a few of the nurses at the hospital, including the women you obviously met in the restroom…”
“Not to mention the administrator?” she asked, folding her arms.
“How did you know about Colleen?”
She grabbed a throw pillow from a nearby chair and fired it at his head. “I hate you! I can’t even stand the sight of you. Just get out…” Her voice broke on the final word and she sank into the chair, burying her face in her hands.
He got up and went to her, crouching beside her chair. He was desperate to touch her, but the vase at her elbow looked heavy, and if she snapped and hit him upside the head with that, it could kill him. “I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you, Alana.”
She looked up at him, her face streaked with tears. “You know what hurts the most? I allowed myself to believe you. I walked in there on your arm tonight feeling special, as though you had chosen me above all the other women you could have been with.” Shaking her head, she sniffled. “What I didn’t realize is that I was one of many, wasn’t I?”
He berated himself for the actions that led to her anguish. He had a long way to go to prove that he was worthy of her. “I meant what I said earlier. I haven’t been able to get you out of my head. When I came to you today, it was because I wanted you and only you.”
“Have you really slept with more than one woman at a time?” she asked, swiping at the tears on her cheeks.
He dropped his head, wishing he could plead the Fifth. “I have.”
“Why?” she asked. “One woman’s not enough for you? Today…”
He took a chance, cupping her cheek in his palm. “Babe, today was everything I imagined it would be and so much more. You’re more than enough woman to keep me happy, forever.” More than anything, he needed to make her believe that he was finally looking for forever, with her.
“I don’t believe you,” she said quietly, looking at her clasped hands. “Men like you are never satisfied with one woman.”
“Men like me?”
“I dated someone just like you once. He said and did all the right things, made me feel like I was the only woman in the world for him.”
He knew right then and there she was holding him accountable for her ex’s sins. “But he was sleeping with other woman while you two were together?”
“There were dozens of them.” She swiped at the tears still streaming down her face. “My friends tried to warn me, but I refused to listen. I wanted to believe that he loved me, that we would get married after graduation.” She reached for a tissue, fisting it in her hand. “We were looking for apartments, planning a wedding…”
He reached for her hand to still the subtle tremble. If he ever got his hands on this guy, h
e’d be happy to administer the punishment he deserved. “Go on.”
“He thought I was away visiting my family for the weekend, but my flight was canceled due to foggy conditions. I thought I’d surprise him, but it turns out he surprised me.”
“He was in bed with someone else?” he asked, trying to imagine what that must have done to her.
She looked at him with such contempt that he was certain she saw her ex in his eyes. “Not just one girl; there were two. Apparently he’s not the only one who likes to experiment with multiple partners.”
“Baby…”
She pushed his hands away. “If you touch me, I swear to God I’ll scream.”
He squeezed his eyes shut, pinching the bridge of his nose. “What can I say to convince you that I would never cheat on you? I may have slept around in the past, but if you’re willing to give me a chance, I swear to you, I won’t let you down.”
“I don’t believe you.” She looked him in the eye. “And I don’t trust you. I think you’re just like him. You’ll say or do anything to get what you want.”
“Alana,” he said, his voice breaking. “I’ve never felt this way about anybody. You’ve got to believe me.”
“I’ve wasted more than enough time listening to your lies. I want you gone, now.”
“I’m not leaving until you agree to…”
She picked up the cell phone on the table at her elbow. She punched in two digits and said, “This is your last warning. You can leave on your own, or I can arrange a police escort.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Try me.”
Chapter Five
Three Months Later
Alana was eating cold Chinese food from a cardboard take-out container when her brother, Justin, barged through her office door.
“How’d I know you’d still be here at 10:00 at night, sis?” he said, rolling his eyes as he claimed the seat across from her. “It’s pathetic. You really need to get a life.”
She was tired of everyone telling her that. The one time she’d tried, it was an unmitigated disaster. At least she’d gotten a sale out of it. When it came to buying the car, Ryan was true to his word. If he thought he would score points with her just because he’d spent a small fortune on a new car, he must have been disappointed when he learned she’d passed the sale off to one of her salesmen so she wouldn’t have to see him again.