Anna’s heart warmed to hear those words. She hadn’t known Ryan as the playboy he apparently used to be, but she absolutely believed that the Ryan she knew, was a mature, kind man who was clearly committed to his friends and to his work.
Wanting to stand up for Ryan, she said, “I don’t think I should take that much credit. He’s an amazing man, all on his own.”
Callie was quick to respond, placing her hand on Anna’s shoulder. “Oh, he absolutely is, but trust me when I say you have been a catalyst for him. It’s as if he has finally figured out for himself how amazing he can be and is living up to that at last.”
With that, Callie slid back over to her side of the booth, before nudging Jake and whispering something in his ear that made his eyes widen and a heated look come into his eyes. They both stood up and said a quick goodbye before they grabbed each other’s hands and ran toward the back door, Callie’s giggle echoing back into the empty bar.
Ryan turned to Anna with a grin. “Well, it doesn’t take an idiot to guess what they’re rushing off to do. Are you ready to go home?” He slid out of the booth and reached a hand down to help her.
She let him pull her up, before wrapping her arms around his stomach. She looked up at him with an answering smile. “Yeah I’m ready. But you know, Sally asked to have Samson over tonight because she misses him, so I’m not in a rush to get to my house…”
The heat that came into Ryan’s beautiful blue eyes was such a confidence boost for Anna. His obvious sexual attraction to her was so empowering.
“I’m not going to lie, sweetheart, I’m dying to be inside you again. I really want to see you spread out on my bed. Can we go back to my place tonight?”
The heat that was always smoldering between the two of them, like the coals in a banked fire, sparked into flames that sent a wave of heat straight through her. Feeling bold, she slid her hand down his torso to cup his already firm cock through his jeans. Marveling at the fact that she could feel him hardening just from her touch, Anna simply nodded at Ryan, before using her other hand to pull his head down to meet hers in a passionate kiss.
Ryan quickly took command of the kiss. His mouth captured hers in its protective embrace. Passion radiated between them as their tongues tangled, awakening a deep desire within her, unlike anything she had ever felt before. She had never been with a man who could be equal parts gentle and powerful, romantic, and erotic, all in one kiss. As his hand slid confidently up her neck to tangle in her hair, she moaned at the sensation of the slight tug on her scalp. She felt a soul-deep surrender to his blissful protection and in that instant, she knew that Ryan would guard her heart and her body from anything.
* * *
Ryan honestly didn’t know if he would ever get enough of Anna’s kisses. They were a drug he never expected to become addicted to, yet here he was chasing another high.
Breaking apart finally, he was pleased to see the flush on her cheeks, and noticed she was breathing just as heavily as he was. This woman affected him in a way no one ever had before, and he damn well loved it.
“I need to get you home. Now, before we do things in this bar that Jake would murder me for.” Ryan paused for a moment. “Come to think of it, who the fuck knows if he and Callie have already screwed around in here.”
Anna’s tinkling laugh was becoming his favorite sound ever. If he could hear nothing but that for the rest of his life, that would be a pretty damn fine life.
“Well, I’d rather not make it even more awkward to work here, thank you very much. It’s hard enough wanting to kiss my boss every time I see him.”
Anna’s coy smile drove him crazy. So crazy he had to make her laugh again. “Wait. You want to kiss Jake? What the hell!”
The giggle and eye roll she gave him in response was perfection. Seeing Anna as a relaxed and happy woman made Ryan feel ten feet tall for his part in helping her let go of her fear.
“Alright, you goof, let’s go. Take me home and then… take me.” Anna winked saucily as she pulled him down the hallway toward the back door. All he could do was laugh and follow the woman of his dreams.
* * *
The drive to Ryan’s house was blessedly short. Anna was surprised by how the teasing banter at the bar had been a major turn on for her. There was something about the way Ryan made her feel at ease that was far more attractive than any grand gesture.
Ryan pulled the truck into a parking spot in front of a low apartment building. In the dark she couldn’t make out much, but it seemed to be well maintained. He hopped out and quickly jogged around to her side of the truck to open the door and help her down—not that she needed it, but his chivalry was touching.
He led her in through the front door and quickly to the elevator. When the doors closed behind them, he spun her around and pushed her against the wall. Possessed by passion, their hands grabbed at each other, reaching beneath their shirts, desperate to find bare skin to touch. Anna moaned as Ryan alternated between nibbling and gently sucking at the skin on the side of her neck and along her collarbone. Her hands dug into his firm abs, before snaking around to grab his ass and pull him even closer to her.
“Oh god, Ryan.” She gasped as his lips continued to torment. She was burning up inside, desperate to reach the privacy of his apartment. When the elevator finally came to a stop, Ryan swept her up into his arms and strode purposefully toward his door. Proving his strength by keeping her in his arms, he somehow managed to unlock the door. Once inside the dark apartment, the overwhelming sexual tension magically eased. The urgency was gone, replaced by a mutual need to slow down and savor the connection building between them.
He continued to kiss her as he slowly peeled off her jacket. In between pressing his lips to her skin, he spoke in a voice that was agonizingly low and seductive. “I’m going to get you naked, and feast on your body, worshiping you.”
She was incredibly aroused by the heat behind his words, but Anna was aware that after a full shift at the bar, she was not exactly fresh. The idea of showering together, hot water cascading down Ryan’s muscled body, was so erotic, she knew she had to make that vision a reality. She leaned back just far enough that he had to stop kissing her, which made him raise his eyes questioningly.
“Trust me I want that too, but we both smell like beer and sweat. How about a shower first?”
Ryan grinned wickedly at her, a twinkle in his eyes. “I like it. Get down and dirty while getting clean.”
With that he smacked her lightly on her ass before leading her down a short hallway to a small yet tidy bathroom. She watched him open the door to the shower and turn the tap on. As the water began to warm up, his eyes turned back to her with an intense look of passion. He slowly lifted her shirt over her head, before leaning down to press a soft kiss between her breasts. When he then lifted his own shirt over his head, Anna let her fingers trail up and down his torso, watching his nipples pebble in response when her nails lightly scraped over them.
Back and forth they slowly undressed each other as steam billowed out of the shower, enveloping them in a dense heat that mirrored the heat building inside their bodies.
