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“You heard me. It’s your turn. I’m going to watch.”
She shook her head. “I can’t.”
“I think you can. I went first so it’s only fair that you go.”
She dragged the blanket with her and turned to find him sitting on the bed where she had been.
“Let it go.”
She shook her head. “I’ve never stripped before.”
“Look at me, Lucy.” His words were said so softly yet with such force that he left her no doubt he’d accept nothing less than her compliance. Her gaze found his.
“I want to make love to you. All of you. Your mind, body and soul. I want a strong, self-assured woman in my bed and I know you are that woman. Let the blanket go.”
She fought a war in her mind. Part of her wanted to let the blanket fall but the insecure side screamed not to. Ryan’s expression never wavered. He believed in her. Did she believe in herself?
Taking a deep breath as if preparing to jump off a cliff into water, she let go. Unable to stop herself, her arms covered her breasts.
“Put your arms down. I want to admire you.”
Her confidence level wrenched upwards. Ryan wanted to admire, not just see.
“You are a goddess. Your hair is gorgeous. The way it falls over your breasts and flirts with your waist. I want to feel it all around me. Caress all the places it touches.”
She bit her bottom lip.
“Now your socks and shoes.”
Lucy bent to do his bidding. Her breasts hung before her and she knew without looking that his focus centered on them. In a fit of courage she pulled her hair away so that he had a clear view.
When her gaze met his again, his held a pained look. His eyes were hooded and his lips tight, as if he was working to restrain himself. Still she hesitated at the snap of her jeans. What if he didn’t like what he saw?
“Lucy.”
He wasn’t asking, he was demanding that she meet him halfway. She flipped the button and unzipped her jeans. With a shimmy, they fell to the floor. Ryan’s look flicked downwards but quickly returned to hold hers. She stepped out of her pants and stood before him in her pink panties.
“All or nothing, Lucy, your choice. This can start here or you can run and hide.”
The last words made her loop her thumbs in her panties and shove them down.
She didn’t miss his gasp in the silent room.
“Perfect. Completely perfect in every way. Come here.”
She gradually moved toward him. His eyes held her mesmerized. He hadn’t touched her but his gaze spoke of admiration, desire as it stroked each part of her body.
Ryan widened his legs and she walked between them until her knees touched the bed. He placed his hands on her waist. They trembled slightly. That encouraged her. It was empowering to know she affected this strong, highly intelligent man so.
He pressed his lips to her belly.
A quiver ran though her.
“You’re a beautiful woman. Every silky inch of you.” His lips slipped upward in a caress that made her skin tingle. “All glorious woman,” he murmured against her ribs before his mouth moved down the curve of her hip. “Perfection.”
He liked what he saw.
Lucy’s hand cupped the back of his head and held it there. For the first time in a long time she felt like a complete woman, whole again. This man before her had just given her a precious gift.
Ryan leaned back on the bed and pulled her on top of him. “I want you, Lucy. Now. I don’t think I can wait any longer.” His lips found hers and his kiss was hot and demanding.
She shifted, settling more intimately against his hard body, and deepened the kiss in answer.
Minutes later he rolled, taking her with him so that she was beneath him. “Let go a sec.” She did. He stood, found his pants and pulled a packet from a pocket.
“You were so sure of me you had a condom in your pocket?”
“Just a man with a dream.”
Ryan lifted her against him. Carrying her to the top of the bed, he sat her down and pulled the covers back then eased her under the sheets. He came down beside her and she watched as he sheathed himself.
“We’ll go slower next time, I promise. But right now I’ve got to have you.”
He entered her. When she tensed he stopped and eased away but returned and went deeper with each movement. Lucy spiraled higher, higher until there was nothing but bliss.
Ryan was but one thrust behind.
Could she be in love? Yes, she already was.
Lucy woke to the sun shining and sounds of a steady heartbeat beneath her ear as her cheek rested on Ryan’s chest. He lay on his back, one hand thrown across the huge bed and the other curling over her bare hip beneath the sheet. She wadded a corner of the material in her hand and pulled it up to cover her breasts.
He’d proved more than once during the night that he didn’t find her post-baby body less than fascinating. In fact, he’d taken time to express with words as well as actions that he appreciated her body and found her desirable. No dip or crevice had been overlooked. He’d spent an inordinate amount of time along the insides of her thighs. She warmed deep within from the memory.
From where her head rested in the arch of his shoulder, she watched as she skimmed her palm over the soft mat of hair covering the center of his chest, seeing the individual strands dance. Lifting her hand a fraction of an inch higher, she let her hand just tickle the ends of each curly hair. She found all of him irresistible. Too much so.
Was this the beginning of something truly wonderful or was she headed for heartache all over again? She wanted what Alexis had but could she trust herself enough to know if this was real? Could her heart stand devastation again?
She sighed heavily.
“Hey, what was that for? You could make a guy feel insecure, sounding like that.”
She placed her lips on his chest and turned to look up at him. “First thing in the morning and you’re already fishing for a compliment.”
“I don’t have to fish. I know how good I am by the way you put all those extra syllables in my name as you climax.”
She buried her face in his shoulder. A smile of pure satisfaction crossed her lips. The man knew how to make her feel wanted and special. She stroked his hair. “And I found out when that Irish in your speech makes an appearance.”
“Great.” He kissed the top of her head. “I have a ‘tell’?”
“Oh, I could tell all right.” She giggled as her hand traveled lower.
“Lucy.” That soft Irish burr became stronger, circling her name like a caress. “You want to hear more?”
“I think I just might.”
A long satisfying hour later, Ryan asked, “Is there anything special you’d like to do today? I have to check in at the hospital but I’m all yours after that.”
“I don’t know…”
“How about I make breakfast then take you to the St. Regis Hotel for afternoon tea.”
“You like tea? I think of you more of a baseball and hotdog guy.”
“I am, but the season hasn’t started yet. I’ve heard my sister talking about going to tea and how much she enjoyed it. I just thought you might like it as well.”
“So you like froufrou? Amazing.”
“Froufrou?” He curled up his nose.
“You know—tea, violin music, garden parties.”
“Hell, no!”
She laughed at the appalled look on his face.
“Really, tea at the St. Regis sounds wonderful. I’d just like to be dressed appropriately. So while you’re at the hospital I’ll go home and change.”
“Sounds good.”
Ryan dropped Lucy off at her place and went to the hospital to check on his patients. He stopped in his office long enough to make reservations at the St. Regis Hotel. He already missed Lucy and it had only been a few hours since he’d seen her. She had an effect on him like no other woman had ever had. Snatching his sports jacket off the coat rack in
his office, he went out the door with a smile on his face. A decision about where their affair might go didn’t have to be made today. They’d just enjoy being together and see where that led.
He climbed the steps to Lucy’s apartment two at a time, unable to wait to kiss her again. He’d made fun of his brothers-in-law and rolled his eyes when they’d acted like this about his sisters. He hoped they never found out that he was walking around with a syrupy smile on his face. If they did, he’d pay for all the times he’d laughed at them.
At his knock on Lucy’s door, someone opened it. Was he at the correct door?
