McKenzie Cousins Box Set Four: Books Ten, Eleven, Twelve

by Lexi Buchanan

  Slipping my feet into the matching red high-heels, I twirl in front of the mirror, knowing I look hot. I feel uncomfortable, though. This is going to be the first and last time I’m ever in anything remotely like this. I’d much prefer yoga pants and a t-shirt with everything covered. Even a skater dress with a pair of boots is preferred.

  Inhaling deeply, I grab my purse and quickly leave the hotel room before I can change my mind. In the elevator, an older man and his wife join me on the floor below. My nerves are so profound at this point that I’m surprised I’m not hyperventilating on the floor. The man only stares, making me so uncomfortable that I scramble out and quickly walk outside to where the doorman gives me a second glance before whistling for a cab.

  My heart pounds until I arrive at the club. The moment security spots me, I’m waved through into the beautiful place. In part, I wonder whether or not Ryan has said something to security because each night I’ve been here, I haven’t had to wait outside. That first night I had for a short time until the security guard had taken pity on me waiting alone. Kenza is a popular place and the word is that nothing illegal goes on at the club. The McKenzie family has a strict policy on the subject of drugs or any kind of underhand dealings.

  Thinking of Ryan, he’s already behind the bar serving drinks to the flirting ladies. He appears distracted from where I’m standing, while he’s keeping an eye on the dark-haired man. The man has been at the bar for the past few nights.

  A throat being cleared drags my gaze to Rob leaning across the bar toward me. His eyes are full of mischief as he looks me over before casting a glance toward his boss. He chuckles. “What can I get you this evening, Gretchen?”

  “Water, please.”

  “Coming up.”

  I swallow around the lump in my throat and force myself to concentrate on the man getting me a bottle of water from the small fridge behind him.

  “Are you sure you don’t want anything stronger?” He asks me this each evening.

  I shake my head and notice his eyes shift to my hair that falls around my shoulders.

  “I have a feeling the boss is going to need a drink when he catches sight of you.”

  “Oh.” My legs feel weak as the man disappears to serve other customers.

  His words give my confidence a boost, so before I end up on my ass on the floor, I move into my corner. It’s challenging to keep my gaze elsewhere, but I read an article online last night about ignoring the man you want. It said if he’s as interested in you, then being ignored will irritate him and have him making the first move. So, I’m trying that out. If it doesn’t work, I’ll be leaving a negative review.

  Keeping my gaze away from the bar, I search around looking for a man—a red herring. I find him. Medium build with shaggy blond hair. He’s in a group of three men drinking beer. He’ll do. He appears safe because his attention is on his friends as they talk. I don’t want to encourage anyone to approach me. I shudder at the thought and would have no clue how to handle that situation. I’m not all that sure how to handle Ryan if I’m honest with myself. Something is compelling me to go after him. It’s not only lust. I want to be near him. I do want to experience being in his arms again, but there is more to it than that. I wish I could put my finger on it. However, I can’t.

  “I haven’t seen you before.”

  I’m pulled from my woolgathering by the guy I’ve been staring at. My stomach dips as he moves closer, his eyes staring at my boobs.

  “Gretchen!”

  I jump, hearing my name shouted seconds before an arm wraps around my waist from behind.

  “Don’t fight me,” Ryan hisses, moving me to his side.

  “I saw her first,” the man glares, making no move to go away.

  “She’s been mine for four fucking years.” Ryan tightens his hold and marches me from the central part of the club, down a hallway, and into an office.

  He lifts me by the hips and plonks my ass down on his desk. His eyes, when I work up the courage to meet them, are dark and heated. I lick my lips and watch his eyes narrow before I feel his hands on my legs. They slide upwards and he pushes my knees so that I open to him. He wastes no time and grabbing my ass brings me up against the front of his jeans as he steps between my spread legs.

  His face is inches from mine as I wrap my hands around his biceps. There is a lot of strength in this man and I want it all. I want him.

  I slide my hands up over his shoulders and feel him shudder at my touch on the nape of his neck.

  Ryan drops his forehead to mine and holds my gaze. “You looked at me. Tonight, you looked at him. I didn’t like it.”

  “It got your attention,” I whisper.

  “You’ve had my fucking attention for four years, Gretchen.”

  “Then why have you ignored me?”

  Breathing heavily, Ryan catches his breath when I wiggle my hips, rubbing on the hardness pressing against my softness. “When I saw you in the club for the first time, I told myself I had to go six months without sex. It’s been two up to your arrival here. I had four months to go.” He rotates his hips. “I lasted days, Gretchen—fucking days before I came after you.”

  Frowning, my hands drop from around his neck and I push him away, wiggling from his desk. I stumble slightly in the high heels and end up dropping down into the chair opposite his desk. He looms over me, as I ask, “What you’re saying is that you’ve abstained from sex for two months and I’m convenient?”

  Ryan narrows his eyes and very slowly perches on the desk. He crosses his ankles and grips the side of his desk. My eyes stray to the bulge behind his zipper—that he doesn’t try to hide—before I drag them up to his face. The asshole smirks.

  “There is nothing convenient about you, Gretchen.” He pauses. “Four years ago, you blew my head off with that kiss.” His jaw twitches. “I had to jerk off three times that night before I could sleep.”

  The pulse between my legs throbs while I feel my breasts swell, my nipples tight as I inhale nervous breaths. Ryan’s gaze dips and as he stares at my breasts, he grows thicker between his legs.

  Averting my gaze, I feel a blush creeping up my neck and onto my face.

  Ryan gently grips my jaw in a large hand and turns my attention back to him. “The reputation that proceeds me is from when I was fresh out of college and really enjoying life. That hasn’t been me in a long time.” He winces. “I’m not a choir boy. However, these days you’d think so.” He clears his throat and moves to sit behind his desk.

  My body feels alive from the way he’s looking at me and I find my voice has deserted me. What I’d say to him, though, is unclear because all I want to do is walk around his desk and sit on his lap.

  34

  Ryan

  “Gretchen,” I hiss, my composure close to breaking. Doesn’t she realize how much I want her? How many times I’ve imagined her lying on my desk while I lick her pussy.

  The innocence surrounding her tells me to go slow. However, I wish my body would get the message. My cock is hard and thick, leaking precum in my pants with how aroused I am for the beautiful girl. Her sexy legs are smooth and begging for me to continue touching. Gretchen’s arousal is easy for me to see in the way her breathing has changed. Her round breasts have swelled, and the hard tips press against the material of the thing she calls a dress. I struggle to look away, especially when I’m wondering if she has a nipple piercing.

  My eyes watch as she fidgets in the chair before slipping her tongue between those plump lips and licking along them. I have a visceral reaction to the tempting girl with the head of my cock, ready to fly off. The image of those red lips wrapped around me has my eyes snapping closed while I concentrate on breathing through my frustration. “We need to talk. Just give me a minute.”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” she whispers. “Ryan?”

  I open my eyes and see her head tilted to the side with a frown on her beautiful face.

  “I’m an asshole.” Standing, I hold my hand out. “Let
’s get out of my office.” My fingers wrap securely around hers. And much to her delight, I bring her hand up to my lips, where I leave a lingering kiss. I love how her cheeks go rosy when she has my full attention.

  “I don’t suppose you have a t-shirt I can borrow?” she asks her tongue once again, slipping between her lips. It might be a nervous gesture, but it turns me the fuck on.

  What did she ask? T-shirt!

  “Why?”

  She sighs. “Now I have your attention, I’d be more comfortable if I were covered back up.”

  I give her a wolfish grin and chuckle. “You have no idea how much I appreciate this dress.” I trail a finger down from her collarbone to above her belly button. Her skin breaks out in goosebumps, hardening her nipples. My hand is so close and I’m dying of curiosity.

  Holding her gaze, I slowly stroke the skin at her side before moving my hand upwards and slipping it inside to cup a full breast. Gretchen catches her breath, trembling from my touch. She grabs hold of my biceps, clinging to me. Her head drops back and she moans.

  I’m in dangerous territory now because I don’t want to make love to this girl in my bar. I want to spread her out on my bed, where we can stay for a long time.

  Her reaction, though, is an aphrodisiac and with my thumb and finger, I hunt for the hard nub. When I find it, I nearly fucking come in my jeans at the feel of that pierced nipple.

  I tingle from the top of my head to the tip of my toes and everything hard in between. Gretchen moans, her breasts heaving with every twist and tug I do to her nipple. I can’t get enough and have to see it.

  Pressing her up against the wall with my hips, I shove the material covering her beautiful breasts out of the way and know I’m about to react like a fucking teenager.

  The silver ring is hooked through a nipple and I can’t hold off any longer. I don’t know why a nipple ring is turning me on, but fuck if I don’t care. She’s the sexiest girl I’ve ever seen. Capturing the bud in my mouth, I let my tongue play with the silver in between sucking and tugging with my mouth and teeth. The other doesn’t go unattended as I squeeze and rub with my fingers while Gretchen rubs frantically against my cock.

  With my balls ready to explode and my cock leaking precum behind my zipper, I finally come back to my senses. Holding Gretchen steady, I slowly lick around her nipple before lifting my gaze. Her cheeks are flaming red while she struggles for breath.

  Good!

  I’m glad I’m not the only one having a hard time—no pun intended—pulling back. My hands tremble as I cover her gorgeous tits before resting my forehead against hers. “A nipple ring,” I whisper, unable to hide the lust in my gaze knowing what she has hidden under her clothing.

  Gretchen swallows hard and says, “I’m a good girl. I don’t do anything spontaneously.” Her cheeks grow hotter and I grin in delight.

  “I’d say that was spontaneous combustion.”

  “Yes, well.” She pauses. “I was teased on my twenty-first birthday for being more into reading than being wild. So,” she smirked, “I showed them I could be wild if I wanted to and got the piercing. I went in and made an appointment. Paid. Told the woman I’d be back after I had numbed the coming pain.”

  “In other words, you got drunk as a skunk before letting someone touch your boob, huh?”

  “Something like that.”

  “Well, whatever led up to you having it done, I’m really grateful.” I wiggle my brows and kiss the tip of her nose. “It’s such a big fucking turn on.” Shoving a hand to the front of my jeans, I rearrange my cock into a more comfortable position.

  “I took a chance coming here, Ryan. This isn’t like me. At all.”

  “Why did you keep coming back?” I wrap my fingers with hers, needing to keep the connection we have going. I want her to talk to me and not be embarrassed.

  “I wanted you to remember me.”

  I burst out laughing. “I never forgot you. I spotted you the first night you were in my club.”

  She winces. “I’m in town for a few more days.”

  My stomach drops, hearing a few more days. She can’t leave now she’s back in my life.

  “Ryan?”

  “Move in with me,” I blurt before I can form any other words. “I mean, I have space. There are two bedrooms upstairs. You’ll save money not staying in a hotel, and unless you have something to do in Boston, then…stay with me.”

  We’ll share a bed.

  Letting out a loud breath, she moves away and my fingers twitch to pull her back so that she’s close. Having her across the office means I can no longer smell the light flora scent that I get a whiff of every time she moves her head.

  “I didn’t think this far ahead. I only wanted to get you to notice me. I wanted to know if what you made me feel four years ago had been real.”

  “And was it?”

  She nods, giving me a shy glance. “I can’t just move in with you.”

  With the way she hesitates, I know she wants to. “I’ve never had another woman in my apartment.”

  She raises a brow and laughs. “You expect me to believe that Mr. Casanova?”

  I deserved that after my reputation, but it hurts hearing it from her lips.

  “Ryan?” She reaches for me, pressing her hands against my chest. “I’m sorry. I was teasing with that name. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m not like that. It’s just all so sudden. One minute I’m in the club in this ridiculous dress desperate for you to notice me, and the next, we’re all hot and bothered in your office, and then,” she rapidly inhales and exhales, “and then, you’re asking me to move in with you.”

  “My reputation has followed me through the years since I first started working at Kenza.” I cover her hands and press them into my chest. “I promise, Gretchen.” I kiss her forehead and add, “No girl, unless we’re related, has stepped foot in my apartment. It’s my space and I’ve never welcomed anyone in there. It irritates me having family visit me, if you must know. So, the fact I’ve asked you to move in there with me is a huge step for me too. However, I’m serious. I don’t want you in Boston. I want you here with me. Four years ago, I walked away because I didn’t know what the fuck had happened to me when I kissed you.” I chuckle. “You scared me to fucking death.”

  “You’ve been in my dreams ever since. My lips tingled that night, not to mention other parts of my body.”

  “Is that so?” I try to hide a laugh, unsuccessfully I might add. “Parts of me tingled too.” I press a lingering kiss to her cheek. “So, tomorrow, we’ll pick your stuff up from the hotel and move you in here, right? I’ll give you a key.” I slip an arm around her waist and tugging her close, drop my face into the curve of her neck. “Please say yes.”

  “My heart’s racing,” she murmurs.

  “Does that mean, yes?”

  “What if I don’t want a separate room?”

  I tighten my hold around her before slowly separating our bodies. The caveman in me wants to say, “fuck it,” and yank her panties off and have her spread out on my desk while I pound into her. Unfortunately, the decent guy in me forces my body to get ahold of itself. “If you’d rather share my bedroom, I won’t have any complaints.”

  “Didn’t think you would, but it’s nice to have it confirmed.”

  “We’re still in the office, which isn’t a good idea as I can’t keep my hands off of you.” I open the door and taking her hand, move us into the hallway. “I forgot you wanted a t-shirt.” I glance around. “Come to the bar with me for a few minutes and then I’ll get you settled upstairs.”

  “I can go back to the hotel tonight.”

  “Hell, no!” I wince at the sharpness of my words. “It’s okay.” I squeeze her hand. “I have this need to make sure you stay where I put you.” Stopping abruptly, she slams into my back. I turn and grip her shoulders. “I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with me.” I shake my head. “Look, I know I’m coming across controlling, but I’m not, okay?”

  “Oh?” She co
cks a brow and it’s the hottest thing.

  “Maybe a little bit,” I concede.

  “I’ve already agreed, Ryan. I don’t have any plans to leave.”

  “Good.” I quickly kiss her smiling lips and putting her in front of me, walk her toward the bar and Rob, who can’t wipe the smirk off of his face.

  35

  Gretchen

  Relaxing in Ryan’s huge bed, I can’t sleep no matter which way I turn. The t-shirt he gave me is comfortable, but I have a belly full of nerves. He showed me the spare room after getting me a shirt to wear and left me to decide which bed I wanted to sleep in.

  I’d chosen his room the moment I’d seen his unmade bed. I knew it would smell of him, which probably explains why I’m struggling to sleep. It’s late, gone two in the morning and Ryan has only just come back into his apartment above the club. The soundproofing works its magic because I haven’t heard a sound. Not even the sound of traffic in the street has gotten through the windows.

  Feigning sleep, I wait with anticipation as I sense Ryan standing in the doorway of his bedroom with his eyes on me. I know this without even having to turn my head and look at him. I’m not sure whether to let him know I’m awake or to continue pretending I’m asleep. While I’m trying to make my mind up, I hear the rustling of clothes. The light in the bathroom goes on, followed by the shower.

  Willing myself to sleep before he climbs in the bed, my eyes snap open when I hear a loud groan. The sound suddenly cut off, followed by a curse.

  My body grows hot and uncomfortable when I realize he probably did more than shower. Heat rushes into my cheeks and I feel my nipples tighten into hard buds. I swallow around the lust rising and try not to fidget. The man is going to kill me with need at this rate.

  The light goes off in the bathroom and I try and listen for his footfalls. However, my pulse is throbbing so hard through my ears that I can’t hear anything. The bed dips and then I feel him sliding under the covers with me seconds before a warm arm wraps around my belly, tugging me against him.