The Tycoon's Proposal(37)

When she stepped into the room, she was embarrassed by the loud growling in her stomach the smell of the food caused. Ryan raised his brow at her and gave her a smile. She chose to ignore him and made a dash for the food. She didn't care how it made her look.

"When will you actually start listening to me?" Ryan asked her in such a conversational tone of voice it took a few moments for the words to actually sink in.

"I'm not your possession, your call-girl, or your employee and therefore I don't have to listen to you," she stated back at him in the same conversational tone.

"You'll learn."

"I wouldn't hold your breath in anticipation of that. No, wait a minute, go ahead and do just that. I'm sure it won't take too long," she said sugary sweet and batted her eyes at him.

Ryan laughed out loud. He really could get used to her being a part of his life on a permanent basis. She was good for his huge ego, or at least for taking it down a notch or two. He didn't think he'd ever get her tamed but he was sure going to enjoy trying.

They finished up the food and Ryan shut the light off and pulled her down next to him. Unbelievably, he was still tired. He never slept more than about six hours a night but he had a feeling by the time they got up it would be more likely ten hours that particular night.

Nicole held herself stiffly in his arms to show her stubbornness but that got too uncomfortable for her and after a while she finally relaxed and they both fell asleep.

Ryan knew they'd both won some of the smaller battles that evening but over-all he'd won the war. He'd gotten exactly what he wanted, with her in his bed. He'd make sure he woke up with her still in his arms. It may have been a small thing but to him it was a matter of a stick being drawn in the sand and her learning not to cross it. 

Chapter Nine

"There's absolutely no way I'm going to another one of those parties with you and that's final," Nicole said. She placed her arms across her chest and glared at Ryan.

"We have an agreement and if I want to parade you around to ten of those parties a week, you won't only go but you'll do it with a smile plastered across your face," he yelled at her.

He hadn't yet seen her put her foot down. He may have thought she'd been stubborn before but the last party he'd made her attend had been miserable and the women had been piranhas. Neither Jasmine, nor Trinity had been there and she'd fought tears the entire time and wouldn't put herself through that again.

"I don't care about the stupid agreement. You're expecting too much," she told him.

"The only reason you were miserable at the last party was because of your own stupid stubbornness," he mocked her. She'd refused to wear the dress he'd purchased, or the jewelry that lined her drawer. Instead she'd worn some discount dress and had looked like she should be attending a back yard barbeque. Of course the socialites had ripped her to shreds.

He'd been angry with her for refusing his gifts and ignored her most of the night and they'd both walked away from the evening ticked off. He didn't even want to go to the stupid party they were fighting about but accepted the invitation because he wanted to punish her. He knew it was stupid but she had a way of really getting under his skin.

"Well you can take your party and stick it up your … " he didn't let her finish her words. He grabbed her in his arms and smashed his mouth down on hers. She angered him more than any other woman but she also ignited his passion just as strongly.

It was several minutes before he found the will power to release her from his grasp. He held her in his arms, satisfied by the look in her eyes. She may fight him every step of the way but when she was in his arms her body betrayed her. She wanted him as much as he wanted her.

"You'll be ready by seven tonight," he told her and walked from the room. She smiled at the closed door. He really had another thing coming if he thought he'd get his way. If he didn't like how she was behaving, then he could kick her out. She didn't like the feeling that thought caused in her gut. She may think he was a pompous jerk half the time but he was also the boy she'd loved more than any other.

What really scared her was falling for the man he now was. He was beautiful, caring, family-oriented, and made love with so much passion she never wanted to let him go afterward.

Nicole got ready for work and left her room. She crept down the stairs, grateful he was nowhere around. She jumped into her car with a smile. Her car was another point of contention between them. He'd actually had the gall to go out and buy her a new car. It sat untouched in his oversized garage. She refused to drive it. She really wanted to, more than she would ever let him know but she was too afraid she would like it more than she should.