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The last time he was here was the very first time I saw him in person. He’d drenched himself trying to help me repair my leaky faucet.
That seems like ages ago. Before I got to know the real Ryan. The bossy one.
The dom with the big ass dick.
I feel my face flaming, and I immediately want to kick myself for going down that stupid lane.
“Why are you here?” I snap.
“If you’d picked up my calls, I wouldn’t be here. You look good, by the way. Very good.” He gives me another slow once-over, and I want to grit my teeth against the ripples of awareness coursing through my skin.
“I would think you’d take the hint and stop calling.”
He loses the teasing smirk. “Stella, I need to speak to you. It’s important.”
I cock my head in disbelief. “What could you possibly need to talk about? What, you’re tired of recycling all the floozies in Manhattan?” At the rate Ryan goes through them, it’s a real possibility since he has a habit of doing more than one woman at once.
“Can I come in, or do you want to talk out here?”
“Whatever it is you’re selling, it’s a no from me, so I don’t see the point of us talking.”
“Jesus, woman, give me a break. You should hear me out on this.”
“I’m not sleeping with you, Ryan Fairchild.”
Ryan laughs. Actually holds his belly and laughs. I’d love to say that I hate the sound tickling my ears, but that would be a lie. “That is a very easy yes since I have no desire to sleep with you, Stella.”
Some of my animosity melts away in surprise. And a little bit of hurt. “You don’t.” It’s more a statement than a question.
“Me, you, and a bed? Hard pass. Not even if you say please. Can I come in now?”
I grudgingly move away from the door and turn to the living room, leaving him to follow. I go to sit on the couch.
He follows me, shutting the door behind him. Immediately, my tiny apartment feels even more constricted. As he moves toward me, my eyes are again drawn to his body.
Why does everything about Ryan have to be so sensual? Like he does everything in slow motion so you can take in every nuance of his movements. I shake myself out of my mental fog and wait for him to join me.
He drops onto my couch and faces me, and I try not to notice how his tight shirt stretches against his broad chest.
“So, what do you want?” I want to get this over with as quickly as possible.
He glances at me, and unlike his usual behavior, he doesn’t look away. Instead, he stares. And I soon get why Ryan doesn’t look at people for long. Someone must have warned him it’s too intense.
I break eye contact, suddenly uncomfortable, but not before I see his brows furrow in concern.
“Have you been crying?” Ryan asks.
“No, I haven’t.” My foot taps against the thin living room carpet.
“Yes, you have. What’s the matter?”
I can’t believe this. The last thing I want is for Ryan to see me vulnerable. I leave my seat, needing to put some distance between us. “Really Ryan? You know, it actually sounds a bit strange coming out of you. Almost like you care.”
His smile falters. “I do care, Stella. Why would you think I don’t?”
I roll my eyes. “Of course, you do. I’ve got a vagina.”
Ryan rears back, his smile now completely wiped off his face. “Okay, listen. We aren’t going to do this anymore. However much you can’t stand me, you’re going to be civil and respectful. So, Stella. That was your last free pass. Open your mouth and talk to me like that again, and I’ll spank you.”
