The Model: A Workplace Romance

by Layne, Harlow

  Yes, please!

  His chuckle was deep and low as he pulled me out of the elevator and down the hall to our room. “I see you like the sound of that idea. Why don’t you let me play with yours tonight and let me show you how much they turn me on?”

  “I’ll never say no to that.”

  Ryder slipped the card into the door as my hands went around his waist from behind. My fingers deftly undid first his button and then the zipper before reaching inside his pants to pull him out. I loved that he didn’t wear underwear. It was just one of the things about him that turned me on.

  “I thought you were tired.”

  My hands slid up his rock-hard abs. “Not anymore. I want to feel you inside of me, and then I can fall asleep. I’m desperate to feel the weight of your body on mine. To feel your hands trace along my heated skin, and for you to fill me with your cock.”

  “Fuck,” he moaned. “You have no idea how sexy you are, do you? I was going to try and be good and let you get some sleep, and then you had to go and say that.” Leaning down, he bit through the fabric of my t-shirt and bra to pull at my nipple. Lifting his head, he smirked down at me before he whipped my shirt over my head and had my bra off in one-second flat. Bending down, he helped me out of my shorts and panties with care before he popped back up. His hands were already pulled at his waistband when he ordered in a voice deeper than I’d ever heard it before. “Get on the bed.”

  Backing up to the bed, I laid down and watched as Ryder stalked toward me, his long legs ate up the space between us. Moving onto the bed, he straddled my chest with one hand going to the headboard. Raising up onto his knees, he inched closer, and I watched in wonder. I had an idea where this was going and wondered if he could read my mind. Did he know how much I wanted to taste him?

  With his free hand, Ryder gripped his length and rimmed my lips with his pre-cum. “Open your pretty little mouth for me and suck my cock. I want to feel it in your throat.”

  Obeying his command, I opened my mouth as he fed each glorious inch passed my parted lips until his mushroomed head hit the back of my throat. I wasn’t great at deep throating, but damn if Ryder didn’t bring out the inner slut in me and make me want to try until I was a champion.

  “Swallow me, my sexy girl.” Relaxing my throat, I swallowed and gagged, making me have to breathe deeply through my nose. Ryder held back and watched me as I tried again. This time when I was successful, he slid the rest of the way in and growled out. “Are you ready for me to fuck your pretty mouth?”

  My only reaction was for my hands to grab his ass and push him forward. That was all the signal Ryder needed. He didn’t hold back as he thrust deep and pulled back only to do it over and over again. His deep moans caused my clit to throb. I moved one hand between my legs and circled my bundle of nerves.

  “Oh, God, I don’t know what I want to watch more. You touching yourself or your lips around my dick.”

  My answer was to swirl my tongue around the thick vein underneath as he pulled out almost to the tip.

  “Fuck,” he moaned. His face looked almost pained as I sucked on the tip. “I…I want to be inside of you when I come. I want to be the one to bring you pleasure now and always.” He pulled out and sat back on his haunches. “Come, let me fill you with my cock.”

  I couldn’t deny that I’d much rather feel Ryder inside of me.

  With my hands on his shoulders, I slowly lowered myself down on his length. Ryder’s hands rested on my hips as he watched inch by inch of his magnificent cock disappear. Closing my eyes, I relished how he filled and stretched me. When I was fully seated, I opened my eyes to see his normally blue-green orbs were dark with need.

  His thumb grazed along my bottom lip. “I love seeing your lips swollen from sucking my cock. There’s nothing hotter.”

  Slowly I started to move, rocking back and forth and then up and down. One hand grasped onto the back of Ryder’s neck, and the other tangled in the long hair at the top of his head.

  Ryder started to move with me. His arms lifted me and pulled me down as he surged up. Each time I moaned and clutched him a little harder as he brought me closer and closer to the edge. It wouldn’t take long with how worked up I was and how he always seemed to know exactly the right thing to do to bring me the most pleasure.

  His thumb found my clit and circled hard and fast. Heat flooded my body as a rush of electricity raced down my spine and up my legs, converging at the epicenter between my legs. My back bowed as I threw my head back and screamed out his name.

  This man was magic. He was a god in bed and the keeper of my soul.

  I stayed suspended in the air as he continued to drive to his own release. With one last thrust, he called out my name with a long groan. We stayed like that until our breathing slowed, and our hearts weren’t threatening to beat out of our chests. Slowly Ryder lifted me off him and gently laid me down on the bed.

  Disappearing into the bathroom, he came out with a warm wet washcloth that he used to tenderly clean me up with. Once he was done, he dropped it on the floor and settled in beside me. He pulled the covers over us as I moved into him. I didn’t want to be away from him for a single second that wasn’t necessary.

  “Are you feeling better now?” Ryder wrapped his body around me, one leg nestled between mine, and his arms held me close.

  “Much.” I snuggled deeper into his hold.

  “Good, let’s get some sleep.”

  I closed my eyes and instantly started to drift off into dreamland when I felt Ryder kiss the top of my head and whisper. “I can’t wait to make you mine tomorrow.”

  25

  Ryder

  WASHINGTON

  “Mom, Dad, meet my wife, Lexie.” Not how I was planning on introducing her, but when they eyed the rings on our fingers the moment we stepped inside, my brain went on the fritz, and I said the first thing that came to me. At least I didn’t blurt out she was pregnant.

  My dad stepped back, crossing his arms over his chest while my mom’s eyes got round with delight. She clasped her hands together and held them in front of her heart. “Is this the young lady you were telling me about? The one you like and who’s so talented.”

  If she wasn’t, that would have put a damper on their meeting.

  “The one and only,” I confirmed. Pulling Lexie closer, I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and kissed her temple.

  “It’s so nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Williams. Ryder has said such lovely things about you.”

  “Oh, you call me mom, dear. I won’t have you call me anything else, do you hear me?”

  “Yes…Mom,” she answered back uncomfortably. I wish I could have seen her face, but I also hoped she’d one day love my mom. Lexie deserved a mother figure, and I knew mine had always wanted another child and would want to adopt Lexie into the family as soon as she got to know her.

  “Now, you both need to give me a hug.” My mom went for Lexie first.

  Lexie gave her a tentative squeeze before she stood back by my side. I stepped forward and picked up my mom, giving her a big bear hug. It had been too long since I’d last seen her. She had gained some more of her weight back, which was good, and her hair had grown out into a short bob. I loved seeing her happy and healthy.

  “It’s so good to see you, Mom.”

  “It’s good to see you, too, my baby boy. I wish I had known you were bringing a guest, or I guess I should say a wife home with you. I would have—”

  “And that’s why I didn’t tell you. There’s no need to overwork yourself.” She always kept the house spick and span and now wasn’t any different. If I thought for one moment she would be embarrassed, I would have given her a heads up.

  She swatted my back before pulling away. “Why don’t we all go sit in the living room, and you can tell me why we weren’t invited to the wedding.”

  “We really should bring our bags in before it gets dark.” We’d come from rather warm temperatures in Vegas to the cold of Washington, and it would onl
y be worse once the sun went down.

  “Fine, go get your things and clean up, but then we’re going to sit down and have a long talk over dinner.”

  I stifled a laugh. She made it sound like she was going to give me the birds and the bees talk. It was a little too late for that. I couldn’t wait to see the look on her face once she found out she was going to be a grandmother.

  The second we stepped outside, Lexie turned toward me with wide eyes. “Your dad hates me.”

  When her chin started to tremble, I pulled her into me. I hated to see her cry, but I was getting accustomed to her tears. Lexie cried at the drop of a hat these days. “No, he doesn’t. He doesn’t even know you.”

  “Tell me the truth; is it because of my hair and tattoos?”

  “He’s not like that. I promise he’ll warm up to you.” At least I hoped he would. My dad had never reacted that way to my girlfriends in the past. And although Lexie was twelve years my senior, she looked like she was twenty-four, so I knew that wasn’t what was eating at my dad.

  Pushing back enough to look up at me, Lexie tried to blink back the wetness in her eyes. One lone tear traveled down her cheek. “So, you do admit he does have something against me.”

  Wiping her tear away, I leaned down until our foreheads met. “I admit he wasn’t acting his usual self, and for that I’m sorry. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable while we’re here.”

  Lexie squeezed her eyes shut. “Maybe I should go back to LA and…” she huffed, “I don’t even know. We haven’t talked about what we’re going to do yet.”

  What was she talking about?

  Taking a deep calming breath, I tried to be patient. Why hadn’t she mentioned anything on our long drive up here? “I thought we were in this together. I was planning to talk to my parents and explain to them why I would be going back to LA with you instead of being here for Christmas.”

  “We never talked about it.” Stepping out of my arms, she wrapped her arms around herself. “Why are we so bad at this?” Her voiced hitched.

  “Because all we’ve been doing is working, having sex, and sleeping for the last week. I need you to be able to talk to me and tell me what you want, so please tell me what you need. Do you want us to leave now and go back to LA?”

  She looked up at me with sad eyes. “Not us, but maybe me. I know how much you’ve missed your family and how much they mean to you. I’d never ask you to not spend time with them.”

  She didn’t get it. “Where you go, I go. What do you say we take our stuff inside and break our other news to my parents?”

  “Why not?” She threw her hands in the air.

  “Hey,” I said as I backed her up against the car, “my mom already loves you, and I know my dad will too.”

  The corners of her lips tipped up. “You told her about me.”

  “Of course, I did. I don’t keep anything from her, and you are no exception. She told me to follow my heart and not to give up when you changed your number. And I never did. I didn’t know how long it would take to get you back, but I wasn’t going to stop until you were mine.” I kissed the corner of her mouth. “Never did I think I’d walk into that room, and you’d be standing there, or our little surprise.” I kissed the other corner of her mouth as I rested my hand over her stomach. “Promise me you’ll talk to me, and I’ll do the same. I know it’s only been a week, but we’re a team now.”

  Tears built in her eyes and glinted in the fading sunlight. The sun had dipped behind the mountain, and the temperature had started to drop while we were out here. “I like being on a team with you.”

  “Don’t cry. This is a good thing.”

  “I know it’s a good thing.” She rested her hands on my biceps. “I never thought I’d have any of this. I’m happy. This,” she pointed to her eyes, “it’s these damn hormones. I can’t control when I cry, and it’s stupid.”

  Leaning down, I kissed her nose. “It’s part of being pregnant, and I promise I won’t hold it against you. Now relax.” Taking her hands, I held them between us and kissed her knuckles.

  “Is this what it’s always going to be like with us?”

  “Me kissing you?” I pressed my hips into her and brushed my lips against hers. “Every chance I get.”

  “Not the kissing. I’ll never tire of your kisses or you for that matter. What I was talking about is you talking me down, making everything okay. Normally, no one can calm me down, but a few simple words from you, and I’m putty.”

  Damn, that made me feel invincible. Little did Lexie know, she did the same for me, and I knew it was because we were meant for each other.

  Bringing our hands up, she used them to hold my face between her hands. “Thank you for coming back into my life.” Pressing up on her toes, our mouths locked. Her tongue met mine in a dance that was our own, slow and passionate. When we broke apart, I was left panting. Little puffs of breath skated across my skin as Lexie spoke the most beautiful words. “I love you.”

  It was strange that we’d only said the words a few times, and every time I heard them, my heart rate sped up.

  The front door squeaked open. “Ryder, honey, is everything okay? Do you need some help bringing your things in?”

  “No, Mom, we’re fine. We’ll be inside in just a minute.”

  Lexie pressed her forehead into my chest. “Oh god, I’m making the worst first impression ever.”

  “I promise you’re not. Now let me grab our stuff.” It would take me at least two, maybe three trips to bring everything in. I’d learned my wife didn’t know how to pack lightly. She had two large suitcases and a large bag of toiletries to stay here for a week.

  Lexie started to grab one of the suitcases until I pulled it out of her hand. She stood with a pinched look on her face and her hands on her hips. “What are you doing? I’m not an invalid.”

  “I know you’re not, but my momma raised me right, and she would kick my ass if I let you carry your suitcases in.” Especially if she knew how heavy they were.

  “So, this is you being chivalrous and not because I’m pregnant?”

  “Remember, I’m a good guy?” I kissed her cheek and pulled all our luggage out of the car.

  Lexie swung her purse over her shoulder and smiled at me. “Of course, I remember.”

  “And Lexie?”

  “Yeah?” She turned back to me.

  “I love you too, and our baby.”

  A bright smile spread across her face. “If I hadn’t been sick for weeks on end, I wouldn’t believe we made a baby, but we did.” Her hands rested over her stomach as she looked over her shoulder at my parents’ house. “I hope they take the news okay.”

  “They will, and they’re going to love you both. I promise.”

  I managed to get everything upstairs with only two trips, and when I brought the last of our stuff inside, I found Lexie taking my childhood bedroom in with a twinkle in her eye. It wasn’t much. The walls were light blue with car posters scattered throughout. I didn’t have any trophies since we never had the money for me to be in any sports, and there were no posters of women in bikinis since I didn’t want to disrespect my mother. The same navy bedding still covered my bed. It was probably boring to the outside eye.

  “We should probably head downstairs. We can unpack later if you want.”

  Lexie bit her bottom lip before she nodded as I held out my hand for her to take. With our fingers intertwined, we started to descend the stairs and make our way to my parents.

  “Your room is cute. I’m not sure what I thought it would look like, but—”

  “Probably half-naked women covering every inch of my walls.” Leaning down, I nipped at her chin.

  “Something like that.” She grinned.

  “I can’t wait to bring you back up here and get you naked once my parents go to sleep.”

  “No,” she backed away until her back hit the wall in the hall, “there will be none of that while we’re here. They already hate me enough.”

  Intern
ally I rolled my eyes. I wished I could convince her that my parents didn’t hate her.

  “Don’t be so hasty, or we’ll be leaving first thing in the morning.”

  “Oh please,” she lightly swatted my arm. “You can go without for a week. You did before.”

  “There’s been no one else but you since we met.” Lacing our fingers together, I pulled her down the stairs. “Now stop stalling, and let’s go make a good impression.”

  Lexie squeezed my hand but said nothing as we made our way downstairs and into the living room where my parents were sitting on the couch side by side, waiting. My mom’s face was lit up with happiness while my dad’s knee bounced in agitation.

  “I’m sorry we took so long. Ryder was showing me his room and—”

  “That’s perfectly fine, dear.”

  “We understand since it’s your first time here,” my dad said, and both he and Lexie frowned.

  What the hell was his problem?

  Lexie and I both sat on the love seat. My wife trying to sit as far away from me as possible, but it was a tiny piece of furniture that put us close together, no matter how hard she tried. Putting my arm around her shoulders, I pulled her close to my side and flashed her a smile. “Relax. He can smell your fear.”

  “Not funny, dimples.”

  “When did you two meet?” My father directed his question at Lexie.

  “Now, Jim, you know the answer to that. I told you all about her after Ryder called home and told me all about her.”

  “Well, maybe I want to hear it from her.”

  That was strange. Seriously, what had gotten into my dad?