He watched her expression as his words registered. Her eyes widened in comprehension and if he would've seen only horror in her expression he would've backed off but it wasn't the only thing he saw. He saw passion in her eyes and a quickening of her breath at his words. She wanted him, he was sure of it. He would bet his entire fortune on it. He also knew the moment he won. He saw the slump of her shoulders and she lowered her eyes in defeat.
"I require an answer, now," he commanded. He didn't want to give her any time to change her mind.
"What choice are you giving me?" she yelled at him, as a tear slipped down her cheek. She'd never hated the man more than she did at that moment. How could she not do whatever it took to keep her sister safe? It appeared the man knew everything and if the people at the hospital found out they were currently homeless, they would take Patsy away for sure and she would be placed in foster care. Nicole had managed to do just fine keeping them both safe until Patsy had come down with heart disease.
They were both survivors and she knew they would get back on their feet again. She only had to guard her heart from falling in love with Ryan all over again. She didn't know how that was possible if she'd be sleeping with him. Since Ryan, she'd been unable to give her heart or body to any other man.
Ryan refused to be swayed by her tears. For all he knew, she was letting the water works fall, as all women did, to get her own way. He turned from her and poured himself a shot of bourbon. He knew it was much too early in the day for a drink but it was either that or pull her into his arms and he wanted to save that for later.
"You'll, of course, move in immediately as you have nowhere else to go and you'll act as if you're completely over the moon for me when we're out in public. I think we'll get along fine as long as you do as I say," he told her with an expression that said he was completely serious.
A shudder ran through Nicole. She didn't know what she was more afraid of, the fake relationship or that she wasn't horrified to be with him. She should've been revolted at the thought of having to stay with him when he was treating her so callously, but she wasn't. She was grateful Patsy was going to be okay.
"I need to see my sister," was all she said to him.
"We can head over there now. Her surgery has already been arranged," he told her. She snapped her head up at his statement. If he'd already arranged the surgery he must've been sure she would say yes. She'd never felt more like a high priced call girl in her life. She'd just sold her soul to the devil but she could live with herself because she'd done it for her sister.
"You were so sure of yourself?" she finally said to him, finding some of her backbone once again.
"I didn't have any doubt you'd put your sister ahead of yourself. After all, you've always been willing to self-sacrifice," he mocked her. She stood up, turned on her heels and left, not knowing where she was heading. She had to get away from him before she slapped the smug look off his face.
Before she made it more than a few steps, he was there whipping her around to face him. They glared at one another, neither willing to back down.
"I think the occasion needs to be sealed with a kiss," he practically purred at her. Before she had any time to react to his statement, his lips pressed down onto hers and her world exploded.
She refused to open up to him at first but as his tongue flicked along the seam of her lips, she quickly lost her will-power. He pressed her lower back into his body, where she could feel his obvious arousal, causing a gasp to escape her lips, giving him access to her mouth. He dipped his tongue inside and all thoughts of resisting him dissipated.
His hands ran up and down her quivering body and he had her melting in a matter of seconds. No other man had ever kissed her like Ryan and she was grateful he was holding her up because her legs would've given way long ago. Before she knew what she was doing her arms wrapped around his neck to pull him closer and she fell into the kiss with a passion that shocked both of them.
He continued to love her mouth with his tongue, while his hands worked their own magic on her needy body. She wanted more and wiggled as close as she could possibly get to him. She cursed the clothes that kept them separated.
He finally pulled away from her and she whimpered her displeasure of him doing so. His glazed eyes came back into focus, as he looked down at her flushed cheeks and beaded ni**les, which had been pressed so tightly against him moments before. She started to regain her composure, realizing how wanton she'd acted and he saw the shutters fly over her eyes. He lifted a mocking brow at her, which caused her temper to boil.
"I think this arrangement will work out just fine, as long as you continue to be such a tempting little thing," he said to her with mockery in his tone. He was trying to cover up his own powerful reaction to her and he was doing a damn fine job of it.