It took a little longer for Ryan to recover from the ordeal, but that wasn’t surprising since this was all new to him. But by the time we returned to his car and he’d buckled Abby into her seat, I could feel the heat in his gaze when he turned back to me. I was so distracted by the sudden change that I wasn’t prepared for what came out of his mouth next.
“How did you know how to handle that?” he asked. It wasn’t suspicion in his tone, precisely, but I could tell by whatever it was that he knew there was a story behind it.
And this is what I’d wanted, wasn’t it? So, before I could get caught up in his piercing gaze, I blurted it out fast, “Ryan, I need to talk to you about something. It’s important, but I think we should wait until Abby’s in bed tonight.” There, I’d said it. Well, I’d said enough to commit myself to the conversation I should have had two days ago, and that would have to do for now.
He was silent for a moment, assessing me with eyes that seemed like they could see right inside my head. But then he nodded and opened the car door for me.
Unfortunately, since it was only nine in the morning by the time we’d finished with the park, I still had the entire day to keep playing the upcoming conversation in my head over and over again. I kept trying to figure out how he’d respond…what he’d say. In the end, though, it came back to one simple truth: it had been a little misunderstanding. How angry could he possibly be? And if I was wrong, and he was going to be angry about it, it was better that he decided to throw me out now. It would be worse later if Abby grew more attached to me. She would be the one to pay the price then.
But as I stood outside his office door, the task seemed substantially more daunting than it had during the umpteen times I’d reasoned and rationalized the little white lie. Of course, the task seemed more daunting at the moment primarily because of what had happened between us the night before. I was worried that I’d take one look at him and everything else would fall away, that the only thing I’d be able to think about was his mouth and his hands, and the way his lips had felt on my body.
I was stalling. I knew it. I’d been standing outside his door for nearly five minutes. Eventually, he was going to open the door, and I was either going to look like a fool or an eavesdropper.
So, mustering every bit of self-control in my possession, I knocked on the door, ignoring the way my hand was trembling, and I pushed it open when I heard his voice on the other side.
He was sitting at his desk and his eyes grazed over me from head to toe in a slow sweep. His gaze seemed to burn hotter with every inch, and if I hadn’t been trying desperately to avoid a repeat of the night before, I would have smiled to myself, relishing the ego boost.
He’d stood up without saying a word and came around the desk. It seemed increasingly difficult to find my voice the closer he came.
He didn’t stop until he was right in front of me, and even then, he didn’t pause for more than a second. And then his arms were around my waist, pulling me hard against his body. I opened my mouth to protest but no words came out. I knew this was a bad idea, but just like last night, I didn’t want to resist.
He swooped down then and captured my lips beneath his, surprising me with the ferocity of his kiss, even more, potent than it had been the night before. His tongue delved into my mouth, gliding against my own and I couldn’t help but abandon all rational thought. I moaned quietly at the sensation his kiss had sent coursing through my body, and I wrapped my hands behind his neck, once again twining my fingers in the short hair there.
No more debate. No more backing down. I wanted this. I wanted Ryan Cade and he was right here for the taking.
I tried not to focus on what I was doing, letting my hands wander at will rather than trying to figure out what they should be doing. But just like last night, his hands seemed to know exactly what they were doing, grazing down my back and up again before coming round to slip between us. He cupped my breasts in his hands, squeezing more firmly than he had the night before, but it felt just as good. In fact, it felt even better.
My hands were kneading the firm muscle of his back when he stopped suddenly, and I couldn’t help but wonder briefly if I’d done something wrong.
“I want you naked, Emma,” he said then, dispelling my worry, but what he wanted registered seconds later.
I tamped down the nerves that fluttered through my stomach as he grabbed the hem of my dress and yanked it off over my head. I was naked except for a skimpy bra and thong set, more naked than I’d ever been in front of a man.
He stared at my body for a moment, his eyes grazing over every inch and leaving a tingling trail in its wake, but he seemed restless, impatient.
Before I knew what he was doing, his hands were back and he tore off my bra in one, swift movement. The lacy fabric fell to the floor in a now-useless little heap.
He leaned down and sucked a nipple into his mouth and I couldn’t stifle the small cry of pleasure that escaped my lips. He sucked harder, and the sensations seemed to ripple straight down between my thighs. And then harder, and the exquisite mix of pleasure and discomfort threatened to drive me insane.
I grabbed for the hem of his shirt and pulled it up. He released my nipple just long enough to let me tug the shirt upward and off. I ran my hands over the flesh I’d exposed, grazing over the hard planes of his chest.
He stood up straight and his lips covered mine once again, and I felt a swift tug on my hips as he tore off my thong. I was naked. I’d only walked into his office minutes ago, and already I was completely naked, half my clothes in shambles on the floor, and I wanted more.
I’d always imagined my first time would be slow, maybe even gentle. I’d never in my wildest dreams imagined this passionate frenzy. And I wouldn’t change it for the world.
I pressed my breasts against his bare chest, relishing the feel of his skin against mine, but he grabbed my hips then and pulled me hard against him. I froze, stifling a gasp. I could feel the hard length of him through his pants and he was…massive.
He chuckled against my lips. “You’re good for a man’s ego,” he whispered. And then he took a small step back, just enough it seemed to reach between us. I would have wondered what he was doing, but I didn’t have to. His fingers found my clit, and then he slipped lower, parting my lips and sliding along my slit.
“God damn it, Emma, you’re soaking wet,” he said and a thrill shot through me at the heavy desire in his voice.
And then he was lifting me off the ground like I weighed no more than a grocery bag of feathers, and he spun around and laid me down on the edge of his desk, swiping off everything on its surface behind me.
He unzipped his fly and his cock sprung free, and I tried to keep my jaw from dropping to the floor. It was…well, it made my mouth water and my pussy ache at the same time just looking at him. I watched, fascinated, as he sheathed himself in a condom faster than I could have gotten the damn package open, and then he was pushing my thighs apart and stepping between them, pausing for only a brief moment to look down at me.
His eyes were focused on my pussy, and I felt more exposed than I’d ever been in my life. But I didn’t want him to stop looking; instead, his eyes on me sent my own arousal rocketing even higher