How to Avoid a Billionaire(22)

He chuckled. “James isn’t just a butler. He handles quite a few personal tasks and some business.”

She held up a hand. “Never mind. I get it.”

“Come here to me.”

She drifted into his arms, and he kissed her lips. She ran her hands up his chest and stretched to her toes to lock them behind his head. Ryder squeezed her at the waist and moved around to her ass to do the same there. Her pussy clenched in anticipation of more, but he drew away.

“I have something you might like.”

“What?”

He walked away, and she followed until they reached a room she realized she hadn’t seen, a theatre room. She’d always dreamed of having a house with one in it. Several rows of cushiony chairs lined one side, and at the end a gigantic screen filled the wall. Ryder walked through a door at the back, and she heard switches clicking. The next instant, the screen lit up with the opening DVD menu to a sci-fi B movie.

She burst out laughing. “You did not get that movie.”

He stuck his head out of the door and winked. “I did, and there are others. We can watch them when we’re not sailing or doing other interesting things.”

“I told you I love sci-fi. You didn’t mention you like them too.”

He returned holding a remote and led her to the couch in the middle row. “I have to have some mystery, angel.”

“That’s mystery?”

“Yes.”

“You’re nuts. I can’t keep up with you. One minute I think I’ve got you, and the next I’m lost.”

He sat down and drew her into his arms. His lips on her neck sent chills racing down her arms. “Don’t worry. I’ll always find you.”

Melanie blushed. Yup, her defenses were crumbling faster than she could mentally reinforce them. When Ryder got up to get them a drink, she gave herself a lecture and waited for his return. Afterward, they sipped red wine and laughed at the low budget movie. She sat between Ryder’s legs with his arm around her middle and leaned on his chest.

He pointed at the screen. “Watch here when he turns around. You’ll see the zipper in the suit.”

She gaped. “I never noticed that. I’ve watched this movie three times. You weren’t lying.”

He shrugged, a sexy grin lighting his expression. Her heart pounded, and it had nothing to do with the danger the heroine was in on the screen. Ryder’s gaze slid from her face to her cleavage, and he followed his line of sight with his fingers. One button popped open at his prodding, and then another. She moaned when he skimmed the line of her bra and pushed farther to brush her nipple.

“Look what we have here.” He gave the tiny peak a pinch, and she caught her bottom lip between her teeth. The low rumble from his moan raised chill bumps on her arms. “You’re a naughty woman. Why are these so tight?”

“I don’t know,” she quipped. “Might have something to do with you playing with them.”

“And if I were to go lower?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He clicked with his tongue and the roof of his mouth. She tried to roll away from his hand when he reached for the button on her jeans. Before she could hit the floor, he caught her and dragged her back. Lightning fast movements landed her face down on the couch and him behind her, straddling her hips. Ryder leaned over her, large hands pinning her wrists to the cushions.

Melanie thought fast. “Ouch!”

Ryder’s weight disappeared in an instant, and he had her in his arms standing at the side of the chair. The concern in his expression stopped her lie cold.

“I hurt you. I’m sorry, angel. Tell me where.” His gaze raked her form, but she wiggled to get down. He set her with caution on her feet, but he didn’t let her go. “I forget my size and strength sometimes. You’re so small…”

“I’m not that little!” A thrill raced over her at his words. “If you weren’t a giant…”

He tried to scoop her up again, but this time she ducked and ran from the room. He chased her. Melanie’s feet slipped over the marble floor in the hall. She headed for an ornate wooden door beneath the stairs, which looked like it might lead to a dungeon in her overactive imagination. She almost went down before she could grasp the handle, but Ryder’s strong arm came around her waist, and he hauled her off her feet.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

He freed her, but she had nowhere to go. Her back against the door and his hulking form blocking escape, she considered her options. When an idea came to mind, she grinned, and Ryder narrowed his eyes, his stance stiff as if he expected her to duck him out again. Instead, she tilted her head to the side and reached to stroke his cock through his slacks. Ryder’s shaft twitched under her touch, stiffening and growing. She stroked it from his balls to the head and moaned as if he were already inside her. He growled his need and grabbed her by the shoulders to thrust her back. She brought a knee up to run slow and easy along his outer thigh.