She knew what he was trying to say. That he wanted to make love with her, but nothing else about their relationship was going to change. He hadn’t suddenly fallen in love with her. He wasn’t promising her anything more than a night in his bed.
Cassie stared at his face, at the handsome lines and the need tightening his mouth, at the light in his eyes. For her it was a question of regret. Which would she regret more? Turning him away or being with him, knowing that it would never be more than a physical relationship.
She waited for the debate to begin, but there was only silence in her head. She loved Ryan. She knew him to be a good man. Despite his attempts to keep their relationship completely professional, he had stolen her heart and there was no way for her to get it back.
She’d already felt the passion of their kisses. Now she wanted to know the rest of it. She wanted to be with him in the way women had been with men since the beginning of time. As he didn’t want a romantic relationship, she had to remember that this wasn’t going to mean the same to him as it did to her. Eventually, she would have to get over him and find someone else. He wasn’t going to be the last one…was she willing to let him be the first?
“No regrets,” she said.
He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles, then he led her to the stairs and up to his bedroom.
The room they entered was large and dark. “Stay here,” he said.
He moved through the shadows. A lamp clicked on by the king-size bed, casting dim light in all directions. Cassie stared at the bed, then at Ryan. They were really going to make love. She and Ryan. She wasn’t sure she believed this was happening.
“Why do you want me?” she blurted out. “I’m nothing like the women in your life.”
He returned to her side. “What do you know about the women in my world?”
“Just that they’re nothing like me. They’re in business, or computers. They travel, wear sophisticated clothes, go to the theater and understand about wine. That’s not me.”
He took her hand again and pressed his mouth to her palm. “Maybe that’s what I like about you,” he told her. “That you’re not in competition with me, that you care more about making Sasha happy than being seen in the right kind of restaurant. Maybe I like that you’re honest and good, and that you don’t even know there’s a game, let alone understand the rules.”
Game? “What game?” she asked.
He licked her palm. A shiver rippled through her and she thought she might have to sit down.
“My point exactly. I’m not claiming to understand you completely, but all the surprises have been positive ones. You’re a good person. I enjoy your company, and you’re sexy as hell.”
She grinned. “Really?”
“I swear.”
Sexy, huh? She’d never thought of herself that way. She was just plain Cassie Wright. Nothing special. Except now, with Ryan nibbling on the inside of her wrist and her whole body threatening to go up in flames, she felt very sexy and alive.
He dropped her hand and hauled her hard against him. Before she could catch her breath, his mouth was on hers, his tongue plunging inside. She met him and gave back all that he offered. When his hands slipped under the bottom of her sweater and started moving up, she didn’t think about being shy or afraid. All she could do was hold herself away a little so that he could slide up to her breasts.
She’d waited for this for so long, she thought as his fingers stroked her skin. She felt him trace her ribs, then the band of her bra. At last his right hand moved up and cupped her breast.
The contact was different from what she’d expected. Firm, yet gentle, and certainly better in every way. He squeezed, then took her tight nipple between his thumb and forefinger. He rolled the beaded tip and sent jolts of pleasure through her. Her knees threatened to buckle, her thighs were on fire. She had to hold on to him to stay upright.
“Ryan,” she whispered against his mouth. “Oh, Ryan.”
“Tell me about it.” His voice was thick. “I can’t believe what you’re doing to me. I want you so much, I’m about to explode.”
He stepped back and with one quick, practiced movement pulled her sweater up over her head. The night air was cool on her bare skin. Cassie didn’t even think about covering herself, despite the fact that Ryan was obviously staring.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said and stroked the valley between her breasts. “I thought you’d be perfect and I was right.”
He’d thought about her? Naked? She felt a shiver in her tummy.
He took her hand and drew her to the bed. Once she was seated, he crouched down and removed her shoes and socks. He quickly did the same to himself, then settled next to her. As he kissed her, he lowered her to the mattress.