Just One Kiss (Very Irresistible Bachelors Book 2)

by Layla Hagen

  “When?” I asked, loving this man even more.

  “Before coming down here. She was still at the house.”

  “Oh my, I bet she was surprised to see you. What did you talk about?”

  “Let’s just say we’re good. But I can’t tell you more.”

  “Ryker! Come on.”

  He shrugged, but I could tell he wouldn’t relent. What was going on? I felt like something was being kept from me.

  “Fine, you won’t tell me what you and Avery spoke about. But I at least want to know what you told Mom to win her over that fast.”

  “That you and Avery are everything to me.”

  I was itching to touch him again. Grabbing his T-shirt with both hands, I pulled him toward me while at the same time rising on my tiptoes. I caught Ryker’s smile right before he claimed my mouth. Wow. I’d prepared myself for a chaste kiss, not this. Ryker’s kiss was so deep, so possessive that it completely consumed me. My entire body lit up.

  I went back and forth from my toes to my heels, then back up because I just had so much heat and energy coursing through me that I couldn’t stand still.

  He bit my tongue teasingly before doing the same with my lower lip. I shivered lightly.

  “Ryker, what if someone sees us?”

  “We’re in the middle of nowhere,” he countered. His eyes were dark and determined. He traced his thumb lazily up and down the strap of my tank top, as if he was just moments from pushing it away.

  “You New Yorker, you! The neighbors here are very nosy.”

  “The houses are far enough away.”

  “Sort of... but they’ll know who it was.”

  “How?” He kissed my cheek, tracing his mouth all the way to my ear, as if he needed at least this much contact.

  “Well, you’re the hottest man around here, and you’re mine. They’ll put two and two together.”

  He pressed his fingers against my lower back, smiling against my cheek.

  “Hottest guy in town, huh?”

  “That’s the only piece of information that registered?” I taunted.

  Instead of answering, he brought his mouth to mine again. He’d stoked a fire in me before, but this... this was a downright inferno. I placed my palms on his arms for support only at first, but then I drew them down his torso, lingering on his chest before making my way down that six-pack I loved so much. When I reached just below his belly button, he groaned, capturing my wrist, stopping my descent.

  “Heather... don’t.”

  “Oh, I see. So you can kiss me until my panties are on fire, but I can’t fondle you? This is a two-way street, you know.”

  His eyes flashed. Oh, wow. I’d meant that as a warning, but I had a hunch Ryker saw it as a green light to push his previous shameless agenda.

  “Heather....” His voice was almost a growl, and experience taught me that when he reached this point, I had two, maybe three minutes until he unleashed his full power of seduction on me.

  “Why don’t we go inside the house?” I suggested.

  “Excellent idea.”

  I laughed, lightly pinching his ribs. He caught my hand, holding it for a brief second before surprising the hell out of me and twirling me around, hugging me from behind, kissing the side of my neck. I laughed, just melting against him, touching his arms, every part of him I could reach. At this rate, we’ll never make it to the house. But I was completely okay with that.

  ***

  Ryker

  “How long are we staying?” I asked as we approached the house.

  “Well, Avery will be here until Monday evening, but you and I should probably go back on Sunday.”

  “Yeah... I’ll use Monday to catch up on everything.”

  The second we were inside, I curled an arm around her waist, pressing her against me, wanting as much contact as possible.

  “Looks like we have the house all to ourselves,” I said.

  Heather narrowed her eyes. “Is that code for something?”

  I grinned, pressing her even tighter to me. “What do you think it’s code for?”

  “Something dirty. You’re very creative in that department.”

  “You think?” I moved my fingers in a slow, circular motion on her lower back. I wanted to hold her for a beat. The last twenty-four hours had taken a toll on me too. When I’d listened to Heather’s voicemail, for a few excruciating seconds I’d thought I’d lost them both. I kissed her until she hummed, curling her fingers onto my arms, but I needed her closer—I needed to know that I owned every part of her. Her lips were a little swollen when I pulled back. I traced the contour with my thumb, smiling.

  Heather poked my chest with a finger. “You look a little too full of yourself.”

  “So?”

  “So that means you’re going to try and seduce me.”

  “Not just try. I will.”

  She rolled her eyes. I pinched her ass, enjoying immensely the way she pressed herself into me.

  “Okay, okay,” she answered quickly. “Want to see my room?”

  “Gladly.”

  Heather smiled shyly before taking a step back. I intertwined our fingers as she led me up the stairs, bringing the back of her hand to my mouth, kissing it. A small shiver ran through her. I smiled against her skin. Heather chuckled, looking at me over her shoulder.

  “Here you go again, being pleased with yourself.”

  “Can’t help it. You’re giving me too many reasons.”

  “I see. So it’s my doing. Since you’re in such a great mood, I’ll try again; what did you and Avery talk about? Just saying, if you don’t tell me, she will.”

  “No, she won’t. I asked her not to.”

  She jerked her head back. “And she agreed, just like that?”

  The corners of my mouth twitched. “We might have to get a dog.”

  Heather burst out laughing. “Serves you right for thinking you can negotiate with Avery.”

  “Hey, it got her on my side.”

  “Still conspiring, I see,” she said as we climbed the last step. I whirled her around so we were face-to-face. Her eyes widened a little.

  “Don’t knock it before you try it. It’s a survival strategy in the Winchester family. Get as many members on your side as possible, or you’re never going to win any fights.”

  “But we’re on the same team,” she said, obviously confused.

  “Only on certain topics.” I smiled, kissing one corner of her mouth, then the other I walked her backward toward the bedroom, already slipping my thumbs under her tank top, caressing her soft skin until I felt goose bumps.

  “So you’re continuing to conspire behind my back?” she asked once we were inside.

  I grinned, closing the door. “Always.”

  She took off my shirt and jeans, stopping every few seconds, looking at me.

  “I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of the view.”

  “Music to my ears.”

  I dragged my fingers up her arm, drawing circles over her shoulders and neck. Her breath was already shaky with anticipation. I kissed one corner of her mouth, moving my hands up to her breasts, where her skin was still a bit damp from her swimming session. I couldn’t wait to sink inside her, to indulge in her. She was here. She was mine.

  I took off her top, running my mouth along the rim of her bikini bra, hooking my thumb in the elastic band underneath, following it all the way to the clasp at the back. After getting the bra out of the way, I teased her breasts with my fingers and my tongue until she had goose bumps everywhere. I moved my mouth down her body until I was on my knees. She guessed my intention before I went for the button of her shorts and undid it for me. I tugged the pants down, holding her to step out of them. I got rid of her panties next, then gripped her hips, but instead of seating her on the bed, I guided her to the wall.

  “Oooh, right. You don’t even need a bed. A wall is enough. You....”

  The rest of her words faded. I parted her legs, placing one thigh on my shoulder
, kissing the inside of it, sliding two fingers toward her opening, slowly, teasing, tempting. I loved feeling her come apart so fast, feeling her want me.

  When I slid a finger inside her, she bucked her hips, nearly slamming into me. I nipped at her clit, working her up slowly, savoring every second.

  She came spectacularly, arching her back and gritting her teeth. She pressed her fingers against the wall so hard that I knew she was going to leave marks on it.

  Pulling back, I rested on my haunches, one elbow on the bed, patting the mattress. She blushed furiously, drawing in deep breaths. I watched her intently as she lay down.

  Her chest was moving up and down rapidly. I drew a finger from one nipple to the other, then back, teasing her. I wanted to bury myself inside her, but I also wanted to indulge in foreplay, explore every part of her.

  I rose to my feet and kicked off my boxers before focusing on Heather again. Lying on the bed too, I kissed up her legs, alternating between biting and licking all that smooth skin.

  Aligning our hips, I drew my cock from her clit all the way down to her entrance. She gasped, rolling her hips. I slid inside her the next second, and nearly came.

  “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I groaned. Her inner muscles still pulsed from her last orgasm; her nerve endings were still sensitive.

  I moved in and out, pushing up on my elbows so I could watch her, drink in the way her expression changed—from chasing pleasure to being overwhelmed by it.

  The second she surrendered to her second orgasm, every muscle in my body burned and tightened, but I didn’t want to let go just yet.

  Straightening up, I hooked my forearms under her knees, pulling her toward me. I wanted her at this angle, where I had a perfect view of her breasts bouncing with every thrust. She rode out her wave of pleasure until she was spent, barely able to meet my movements. Smiling, she clenched her inner muscles.

  Fuck.

  My hips shot forward. Pleasure blindsided me, licking up my spine, spreading to my limbs. I wasn’t in control of my body anymore. I’d never felt anything like it.

  “Fuuuck, Heather.”

  I stopped midthrust, the breath knocked out of me, and fought for a lungful of air. When she clenched her inner muscles again, I gave in to my orgasm, losing myself in this woman completely.

  I wanted to stay entwined like this, but knew I was crushing her with the weight of my body, so I shifted a few inches to the right.

  She rolled on her side, making room for me. I lay down on my side too, facing her.

  She grinned. “Watch it. Don’t scoot too far back, or you’ll fall out of bed.”

  I laughed, moving closer until our fronts were touching. I hooked her upper thigh on top of me.

  “Speechless, are you?” she teased, running one finger from the corner of my mouth down my neck. Her skin was damp, her hair clung to the back of her neck and temples, but she was right, I was even more out of sorts than she was. Time to change that.

  I rolled her on top of me, chuckling when she yelped.

  “What’s this for?” she asked, bracing her palms on my chest.

  She was grinning. I wiggled my eyebrows. “I’ll show you speechless.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Heather

  On Sunday evening, Ryker and I returned to New York. Avery was coming tomorrow with Mom, who’d decided to spend the whole week here.

  “I have an idea,” Ryker said as he pulled out his phone to order an Uber.

  I grinned. “Oh, yeah?”

  “Spend the night at my apartment.”

  “Why did I know you were going to ask me that?” I teased.

  By way of answering, he just wiggled his eyebrows. I was still racking my brain for ways to make him tell me what he and Avery had talked about. They’d exchanged secret glances in Arizona , but I couldn’t get anything out of her, hard as I tried.

  As soon as we stepped inside his apartment, all my worries slammed back into me. I hadn’t told him yet about my issue with the landlord, because he honestly had enough on his plate and I didn’t want to add to that. I could still stay in my apartment until the end of the month, but that was it. I just had to figure something out. I always managed to come out ahead.

  Aside from the office issues, there was a new gala coming up in three weeks, and he had plenty to do.

  “How’s the gala coming along?”

  “I’m going there tomorrow evening, meeting with the moderator.” A few seconds later, he added, “Want to come with me?”

  “When? Mom and Avery arrive at seven.”

  “Before that.”

  I grinned. “Sure. That would be fun.”

  Ryker grinned back. “You’re looking for any excuse to be at the ballroom.”

  “Just like you use every trick in the book to get me here. We all have our weaknesses.”

  “True,” he said, sitting on the couch, already opening his laptop. I curled up next to him, yawning. I had no idea how he still had energy to prepare for tomorrow. All I wanted to do was go to sleep. The weekend had been great, but I didn’t really get a chance to rest. Despite tomorrow being Memorial Day, Ryker still had to go to the office.

  “Holy fuck. Owen was fired.”

  I straightened up. “What? On what grounds?”

  “Apparently senior management considered him reaching out to Dawson a bad idea, just like we did.”

  Ryker was silent then as he started reading his emails. I wondered if that would have any implications for him and what they could be. I kept watching him, admiring the calm and collected way in which he dealt with difficult situations.

  “I can feel you watching me,” he said playfully.

  “What? You’re smoking hot when you’re all focused like this.”

  Chuckling, he shut off his laptop, placing it to the side, turning to me. Before I realized what he intended, he awkwardly pulled me toward him and I climbed onto his lap.

  “Stay here tomorrow too?” he asked.

  “Yes, sir. On second thought... why were you and Avery exchanging all those secret glances in Arizona?”

  Ryker laughed, feathering his fingers around my ankles. “Are you trying to negotiate, love?”

  “Yes. Is it working?”

  Smiling devilishly, he moved both hands all the way up under my skirt.

  “No, but you have all night to keep trying.”

  ***

  The next morning, Ryker left the apartment early, but I slept in until eight. I had two articles to work on but had more than enough time to finish them.

  I was making myself a coffee at Ryker’s fancy machine when Danielle called.

  “Morning,” I greeted.

  “Hey! So, I have some news for you. I don’t know if you’re aware, but Owen was fired from Pearman. Apparently there was some disagreement there with management, I don't know the details, but that changed our management’s perspective.”

  “I’ve heard.” I didn't want to share anything else, since Ryker told me everything in confidence.

  “Anyway, I spoke with our higher-ups again, and they’ve decided to publish your article after all, but they want you to rework it a little, include Owen’s departure and emphasize how Dawson’s article played a role in it.”

  Holy shit. I was suddenly bursting with energy and hadn’t even touched my coffee.

  “Sure! I’ll get on with that right away.”

  “You’re also getting your bonus. Finally made them sign that. It’s there, in black and white.”

  “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

  My mind was already spinning with ways to weave the recent developments in the existing piece I’d written.

  As soon as I ended the call, I texted Ryker to tell him the good news.

  Ryker: Sounds like we have a lot to celebrate tonight.

  My fingertips tingled as I typed back. Something was telling me that my man had a plan... and it went beyond just finalizing the gala preparations.

  Heather: I’m all yours.

/>   Ryker: Music to my ears.

  A huge weight had lifted off my shoulders, because this meant I could finally persuade my landlord not to evict me.

  I got to work right away, rewriting sections of the article, not even bothering to take a shower until I realized it was four o’clock. Holy shit! Ryker was going to arrive any second now. We were going to the ballroom together.

  I showered quickly, putting on the clothes I’d traveled in yesterday.

  I heard the front door open just as I finished my makeup.

  “I’m ready, I’m ready!” I exclaimed, running to the foyer.

  “I’m a little late, so you’d better be ready.”

  I checked the time on the wall clock. “Holy shit, you’re a lot late.”

  “Had an errand to run,” he said vaguely. “I see you’re in a great mood.”

  “Well, yes I am. I’m super happy with the way the article is coming along. Danielle also said I’m getting my bonus earlier as well.” And since things had settled for him at the office and I was handling things with my landlord, I decided to share that with him too. “I was a little stressed out when they’d told me they weren’t going to publish the piece, because I knew I’d be evicted without that additional money. But now I can send him confirmation of my income so that should put his mind at ease. Anyway, I’m sure it’ll all work out.”

  Ryker looked at me with a confused and dark expression.

  “Why didn’t you tell me this before?” He actually sounded a bit hurt that I didn’t share it with him, and it made me feel a little uneasy. I should have told him before now, it was silly of me really, but I hadn’t wanted to burden him with everything else he had going on.

  “Well, I thought you had enough to deal with already, and anyway, now it’s all cleared up.”

  If I thought this was going to appease him, damn was I wrong. If anything, his expression turned even darker. He stalked toward me until he was right in front of me, nearly pressing me into the shelves.

  “Heather, we need to talk.”

  “Okay.”

  “I don’t want you to do this. Doesn’t matter if I have a deadline, shit hits the fan in the family, or anything else. You still tell me, okay? We’re in this together. I want to be there for you to help you whenever I can.”