Romeo for Hire

by Ali Parker

  “I missed you so fucking much.” I growled and lowered my lips to her neck.

  She gasped and wrapped her arms tighter around my neck. Tangling her fingers in my hair, she pulled me against her. We moved backward, bumping into things in our haste to get to the bedroom. When we finally did, Candice pulled my face back to hers.

  Her lips were urgent against mine. Her fingers clawed at my clothes, ripping them off my body with an impatient need that I couldn’t help but share.

  I kissed her harder and faster, sliding my tongue into her mouth and memorizing the taste of her. My hands never slowed as they moved down her body.

  We kissed ourselves into oblivion. Gasping and breathless, we fell against the bed and lost ourselves in one another. Her naked body was the only thing that was real to me and mine to her.

  My skin was on fire as Candice traced her nails down my spine. She was below me, her brown eyes staring up at me with passion and need. I kissed her roughly and lost myself.

  At last, I knew she’d forgiven me completely. For everything. We were starting over, and something told me that this time would be even better than before.

  Chapter 70

  Candice

  Everything that happened after that first kiss was a blur. We stumbled into the bedroom and tore at each other’s clothes. By the time we fell back against the bed, we were both naked and on fire.

  My skin burned hot as Ryan trailed his tongue down my stomach. He nibbled the sensitive spots on my hips before burying himself between my legs. I gasped and writhed as he attacked my clit. Right now, his tongue was my favorite thing about him.

  He brought me to the brink within seconds. I poured over for him, shaking and reaching for him desperately.

  Ryan pulled himself back up my body, his lips colliding with mine. I wrapped my legs around his waist and ran my fingers down his back. My nails dug into his skin as my need became unbearable. I couldn’t wait another second.

  “Ryan.” I breathed. “I need you.”

  “I’m right here, baby.” He kissed me hard. “I’m right here.”

  “Take me,” I begged. “Fuck me.”

  Grinning wickedly, Ryan lifted me into the air. He flipped us over and set me down on top of him. With his strong arms still wrapped protectively around my body, Ryan lowered me on top of his rock-hard dick.

  He groaned as my wet folds engulfed him. I watched as his eyes rolled back and his head leaned back.

  My lips found his neck while he thrust his hips upward, burying his cock so deep inside me, I couldn’t breathe.

  And I didn’t want to. I rode him harder than I ever had, giving myself over to him with complete abandon. I lost myself in the feel of his body inside my own. Every cell in my body ignited as Ryan continued to make me his.

  He grunted and gasped, gripping my hips so hard, I thought his fingers might fuse to my skin.

  “Candice.” He growled and wrapped one hand in my hair.

  Pulling my head back, he sucked on my neck and moaned while I picked up speed. My second orgasm was seconds away, and I needed to feel that release.

  Shoving him down on the bed, I took control.

  My hands trailed down his chest as I rocked my hips back and forth. Ryan’s cock throbbed inside me, making me want him even more than before.

  Pleasure started in my toes, making them curl and bringing a scream of ecstasy to my lips. I came so hard, it made Ryan moan and lunge forward.

  His face was buried in my tits when his own pleasure shot through us both. Trembling, Ryan pushed me down harder on top of him and held my body to his. His breathing was ragged. Hot rushes of air sprung from his lips and washed over my chest.

  I wrapped my fingers in his hair and held him tighter, lowering my lips to kiss his head again and again.

  “Holy fuck.”

  Ryan groaned and slowly pulled me off him. I collapsed onto the bed and wiggled my fingers for him to join me. Laughing, he fell down beside me and kissed my stomach, then my tits, then my neck, and finally my lips.

  “I love you.”

  “I love you, too, Ryan.”

  “God, I missed that.” He moaned and moved further up the bed.

  “Is that all you missed?”

  He wrapped his arms around me and held me against his chest. With a sigh, he shook his head and lifted my chin so I had to look into his eyes.

  “Are you kidding?” he demanded. “Candice, these past few days have been a living hell without you.”

  “Really?”

  “Really.”

  “In that case.”

  I grinned slyly and slowly climbed out of bed. I wrapped a thin sheet around my body and looked down at his naked body with lust in my eyes. Reaching for his hand, I led Ryan across the bedroom. We passed by his bag, which neither of us could remember bringing in.

  “We must have kicked it.” Ryan laughed. “We were pretty desperate.”

  “Speak for yourself.”

  “Ha. Ha.”

  Ryan frowned as I led him through the living room to the balcony. The glass was still in place to protect us from the rain, but I wanted to show him the beauty of the city.

  “Look at this,” I said softly. “Have you ever seen anything more incredible?”

  “Yes.”

  When I looked behind me, Ryan’s eyes were roaming over my body. He grinned when he noticed me looking. Laughing, I led him all the way to the glass, so we could peer through.

  Ryan wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder. I closed my eyes and breathed him in, remembering that not long ago, I never wanted to see him again.

  The thought was too much to handle. I whipped around and claimed his lips, kissing him breathless. When we finally pulled away, a dazed look appeared in Ryan’s eyes.

  “What was that for?” he asked weakly.

  “Just remembering how shitty the past three days were,” I said. “And because I want you.”

  Ryan raised his eyebrows. “Now?” He glanced around. “Here?”

  “Are you afraid of a little adventure, Winters?”

  Ryan’s grin was devilish and didn’t stay in place for very long. I dropped the sheet to the ground, and Ryan reached for me. He kissed me hard and fast, tangling his fingers in my long hair and pushing me roughly against the glass that surrounded us.

  Our kiss was hot, and my skin lit itself on fire all over again.

  Desire pooled between my legs as Ryan lowered his lips to my neck. His movements were frantic and hurried as if he couldn’t possibly wait another second to have me again.

  Flipping me around, Ryan pressed me against the glass and slowly trailed his fingers between my legs.

  “Fuck.” I gasped. “Ryan.”

  “Have I told you lately that you’re sexy as hell?” he whispered.

  “Prove it.”

  Ryan moaned and spread my legs. My breath fogged up the glass as Ryan slid inside me, his hands gripping my hips and pulling me back against him.

  “Ryan.” I moaned and closed my eyes with pleasure.

  Ryan’s hips flew forward, his body slamming against mine and making me cry out with need every single time. I moaned his name and let myself lose control. Screaming into the heavens, I threw myself back against him while he brought us both closer and closer.

  His hand came down on my ass and the vibrations were more than I could take.

  “Ryan!”

  I cried out his name and came hard and fast, but Ryan wasn’t done with me. He pushed himself forward and turned my head to the side. His lips found mine, his tongue sliding deep into my mouth.

  I moaned against his lips, my legs trembling and my entire body begging him for more.

  Gasping, Ryan wrenched himself away from my lips, but his movements didn’t slow. He ran his hands over my back, and I could feel his eyes on my ass as he thrust his hips forward. Wrapping his arms around me, Ryan lifted me into the air and turned me around to face him.

  I wrapped my legs around hi
s waist, his dick still buried inside of me.

  Ryan walked me backward, pressing my back against the glass and fucking me harder and faster than he ever had.

  I held onto him while yet another wave of pleasure rocked through me. It was too much for Ryan to handle. He buried his face in my tits and shoved us both against the glass, his breathing coming in desperate gasps, wrenching itself from his chest and sending him shaking as he held me.

  Slowly, Ryan lowered me to the ground.

  We were both shaking as we sank onto the first chair we could find, our bodies still tangled together.

  Ryan’s lips found mine, and he kissed me softly. His hands trailed down my arms and my back, massaging me gently while our breathing slowly returned to normal.

  “That was—” Ryan began, but he fell silent, still unable to form a coherent sentence.

  I didn’t blame him. My body was exhausted. I curled myself up in his lap and held onto him. When I finally stopped shaking, I sat up to look into his eyes.

  “Hey, you.” He smiled, his eyes soft. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  He kissed me, barely brushing his lips against my own before he stood up. He set me down on the chair and moved to get the sheet I’d discarded moments earlier.

  Wrapping it around me, Ryan kissed me again. His eyes held my gaze. We stared at each other for a long time, neither wanting to break the connection we shared.

  I could have stayed in that moment forever, just looking into Ryan’s face, sure of his love for me.

  “I have something for you,” Ryan said. He grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet. I moaned in protest, but he just smiled and led me back inside.

  I followed without a word. I didn’t know what he had, but I didn’t care. After being with him again, I would have followed him anywhere.

  His fingers gripped my hand as he pulled me gently back into the bedroom. Part of me was hoping for round three, but I kept my desires a secret as Ryan bent down beside his bag. I sat on the edge of the bed, the thin sheet still wrapped tightly around my naked body and watched as Ryan unzipped the bag.

  When he emerged, his hands were closed around something familiar. It was the back of a canvas, a hurried black signature scribbled in acrylic paint in the bottom left corner. Frowning, I looked at him and waited for an explanation.

  “What’s that?” I asked.

  “It’s something I saw on the street a couple of days ago,” he said. He sat down beside me and hugged the canvas to his chest. “This old man was selling paintings, and I couldn’t pass it up.”

  I held my breath as Ryan turned the canvas around. My eyes fell on the painting of the man embracing his lover, a single tear sliding down his cheek.

  I’d seen the painting before, of course. At the time, I’d hated it so much, I wanted to shred it with my own fingers. Now though, something was different. Seeing the painting in Ryan’s hands made it beautiful.

  “I don’t know why,” Ryan said. “But it reminded me so much of you. There was something haunting and heartbreaking about it. It’s like their world is crashing down around them, but they still have hope, you know? Like they know everything is going to be okay.”

  “How did you—”

  I could barely speak. Did Ryan know about the painting? Did he know I’d seen it? That I’d talked to the artist?

  “I’ve seen this,” I finally said. “I was walking in the marketplace the other day, and I stopped to look. The old man, he only paints lovers.”

  “I noticed that too.” Ryan smiled. “I can’t believe you were there.”

  “Yeah.” I nodded and slowly reached for the painting.

  Running my hands over the brushstrokes, I felt tears spring into my eyes. I thought everything was perfect before, but now, I didn’t know how they could ever be better.

  “This is incredible,” I whispered. “Thank you, Ryan.”

  “Of course.” He wiped a tear from my cheek and lifted my chin. I looked at him as worry lines creased his forehead. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” I sniffed and looked away. “I just can’t believe you found this. I was so angry when I saw it before. That artist seriously pissed me off.”

  Ryan laughed. “Yeah, he was a little mushy for your taste.”

  “A little?” I scoffed.

  “Okay, a lot.”

  “But I get it now.” I sniffed again.

  Ryan smiled and kissed my temple. Pulling me against him, he held me close while I stared down at the painting in my hands.

  Chapter 71

  Ryan

  Morning came early. I opened my eyes and slid my hand across the cool bedsheets, searching for Candice. My arm kept moving, but my fingers found nothing. Candice was gone. For a split second, I was overwhelmed with panic.

  “Hey, Winters.”

  Candice’s voice echoed sweetly through the abandoned bedroom. Sitting up, I saw her standing in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe. She grinned and sauntered over to me with a tray poised gracefully over her palms.

  “Morning, Smart.” I grinned back. “What’s all this?”

  “Breakfast.”

  She laid the tray over my legs and crawled into bed beside me. Lifting the silver lid up with a flourish, Candice waved her hand dramatically over the spread.

  “Looks amazing, doesn’t it?” she asked. “I’ve been spoiling myself on room service since I arrived.”

  “If anyone deserves it,” I said, popping a grape in my mouth, “it’s you.”

  Candice grinned again and leaned in for a kiss. Her hair was still messy from last night, and I knew my breath smelled awful, but from the way we sank into each other, neither of us cared.

  “Do you think it’s all behind us now?” Candice asked, pulling away from my lips just long enough to speak.

  I kissed her softly before I sighed and leaned back. She looked at me with those wide, curious brown eyes I’d grown to crave.

  “I think so,” I said. “But with your mother, who the hell really knows?”

  Candice scoffed darkly. Her face fell as she turned to stare out the window. My joke fell heavily on her ears in the most humorless way.

  “I was kidding, Candice,” I whispered.

  “I know.”

  She turned to me and tried to smile, but we both knew it wasn’t real. Brushing my hand over her shoulder, I tried to read her mind. It was useless. I’d never seen her so closed off, not even after the horrible incident at the banquet.

  “What are you thinking?” I asked nervously.

  “I hate her.” She closed her eyes and shook her head, her fingers curling into fists on her lap. “I really do. I thought I could get over it, but I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive her for this.”

  “You should.”

  Even I was surprised by the words that fell from my lips. I’d spent days despising Deborah Smart, but now that Candice was back in my arms, I could barely remember why.

  “Look.” I cleared my throat and picked up the tray. Laying it carefully on the floor beside the bed, I turned back to Candice. “She did some pretty fucked up things. No one’s denying that. But—”

  “But what?” Candice snapped. “There’s no excuse.”

  I held up my hands defensively. “You’re right, but she’s your mom, and she loves you. You can’t ice her out forever.”

  “Why not?” Candice hissed.

  “Because that’s not who you are.”

  She held onto her rage for a few seconds before letting it slip away. With a loud groan, she ran her hands through her hair and tugged on her brown locks.

  “I’m so frustrated!” She threw her head back and landed softly on a pillow. “I just want to stay here. In Seattle. Can we do that?”

  “Sure.” I shrugged. “For how long?”

  Candice pursed her lips thoughtfully. As she fixed her eyes on mine, her lips fell into a wicked grin. She rolled onto her side and wagged her fingers for me to join her.

  I
lay down beside her and she threw her leg over my waist. Pulling me closer, she kissed me so deeply that my head spun. I closed my eyes and sank into her, wrapping my arms around that perfect waist and pulling her on top of me.

  “Forever,” she whispered against my lips. “Forever and ever and ever and ever …”

  ***

  A light drizzle fell from the cloudy sky as we walked through the streets of downtown Seattle. There was only one place Candice hadn’t yet visited, and she was desperate to cross it off her list.

  The Space Needle rose up in front of us, higher than I expected. Coming to a stop at the bottom, Candice turned to me. She tugged on my arm, beaming with a childlike excitement.

  I hesitated before following her inside. Heights had never been my thing, but the way Candice’s eyes were lit up, I knew I couldn’t tell her no. She bounced up and down on the elevator ride up. Her enthusiasm reminded me so much of Paisley that I could have sworn my daughter truly belonged to her.

  “What’s so special about this anyway?” I asked. “It’s just a really tall building. Right?”

  “It’s an experience.”

  “How would you know?” I demanded. “You’ve never been to the top.”

  “Well, after today, I will have.”

  Candice stuck her tongue out at me and curled her arms through mine. Leaning her head on my shoulder, she wiggled with anticipation. I laughed and kissed her hair. It didn’t matter where we were. Not anymore. Just being with her would always be enough.

  We made it to the top, and Candice was like a kid in a candy store. She flew to the nearest window and peered outside. Her eyes roamed over the city beneath us before turning upward toward the heavens.

  “It’s incredible!”

  “It’s all right,” I teased, but Candice was right. The view was insane. I’d never seen anything like it. Despite living in a city full of skyscrapers, there was something different about this place. It held a dreamlike quality that New York didn’t.

  “Have you ever thought about leaving?” Candice asked softly.

  I whipped my hand around to face her. She was still staring through the window, her eyes narrowed and darkened with longing.