“You want it. I want it. What’s to stop us?”
“We just met.”
“And?”
For the life of her a reason did not present itself. He leaned even closer, and his breath warmed her lips. She shivered and raised her hands to push him away but instead curled her fingers into her palms before she made impact. She needed him closer. Over and over, she searched her mind for an excuse as to why she shouldn’t do this. She needed to make a rational decision, but rational wasn’t what she really wanted.
If she gave into Ryder, she’d be having sex with a man on the first date. Not that she hadn’t had sex with a man the first night she met him before. She’d had a one-night stand or two in her past, but she had put those experiences behind her, preferring a relationship. Ryder tempted her past reason. His sexiness went beyond any of those previous men. He put them to shame just standing there not touching her but raising her temperature all the same.
She licked her lips and managed to turn away, facing her vehicle, but that position caused her ass to brush his thigh. “I should go.”
To her surprise, he backed up. “I won’t pressure you.” The about face threw her for a loop, but she could read nothing from his expression. “I had a great time talking to you. May I at least kiss you good night?”
“Um, sure.”
That was her first mistake, allowing this man free rein of her lips. The chaste peck deepened into an all-out onslaught of her mouth. He splayed fingers across her jaw and tilted her head back. From the first touch, a cry of pleasure was wrenched from her. She parted her lips even before he thrust his tongue between them. Noise from the restaurant faded away along with the traffic. A low rumble of need rose from Ryder’s throat as his tongue swept along the interior of her mouth. He drew back and she thought she’d live through the experience, but he did so only to capture her bottom lip and suck it between his. She creamed her panties and struggled for breath. Her hands came up without her meaning them to, and she tangled fingers in his shirtfront. Dragging him closer, she kissed him with abandon. Ryder’s hands at her waist brought reality crashing back, but before she could do anything, he released her and stepped away. He stuffed his hands in his pockets.
“I apologize. I had no idea your mouth would be that delicious.”
Melanie grabbed hold of the door handle behind her. “It’s fine. I…” She hesitated. Her body had ignited from the first touch. One kiss wasn’t enough. She craved more. “I don’t live far from here.”
She reviewed the state of her apartment in her mind and recalled she’d cleaned it a couple of days ago.
Ryder’s gaze burned into her. “Are you sure about this?”
“Definitely.”
He agreed to follow her in his car, and fifteen minutes later, they arrived at her apartment. She fiddled with the lock, and he nabbed the keys to let them both in. Ryder barely let her take two steps before he dropped kisses along her neck. Her purse hit the floor, she kicked off her heels and tried to climb his big, hard body. Ryder lifted her like she weighed nothing and carried her down the hall while she wrapped her legs around his waist.
At her bedside, she climbed down and pushed him back, although she felt his incredible strength as if he wouldn’t give in. She struggled to calm the ragged breaths. “I have to take a shower.”
His blue eyes flashed excitement. “By all means.”
She contemplated darting into the bathroom and slamming the door in his face but changed her mind. Ryder wet played in her thoughts, and she couldn’t shake the image loose. She toyed with the top button on his shirt. “You’ll join me?”
His answer was to pinch each button open, exposing a chest free of hair but hard as steel when she ran her fingers over it. Beneath her fingertips, his heart raced, and she explored at her leisure, slipping across to his darker, flat nipples. They called to her to lick and tease, but if she got started they might not reach the shower.
Ryder grabbed her hands and pinned them to her sides. “If you do that, I’m going to throw you on that bed and take you right now. Is that what you want?”
Hell yes!
“I’ll behave.”
“For now,” he chastened her.
When he released her, she bent to remove her pantyhose and bit her lip at the sight of his tented pants. Even before he lowered his slacks along with his boxers, she knew what she would see. Ryder had to be nine inches and thick as hell. He had the whole package—handsome, rich and hung. What a woman wouldn’t give to have him on a permanent basis. She needed to be very careful and guard her heart.