Release (Iris Series)

by Lynn, Rebecca

  She coughed a little and averted her eyes, blushing furiously. She removed her hand, and gave him an exasperated look. “Yes, because I love being pissed off.”

  “Being pissed off can lead to some pretty sweet make up sex,” he winked.

  She shook her head and rolled her eyes.

  They spent the next several minutes enjoying the delights, and talking about the restaurant, and its “Farm to Table” philosophy, which Ryann loved. She told him that she and Ayanna had always wanted to eat at the restaurant, but it was so difficult to get a reservation. Ayanna was going to be so jealous.

  Jeremy asked her about her family, and Ryann talked about how her mother moved from Scotland to New Jersey when she’d met a handsome young artist from America who had been studying abroad. They’d married, moved to the States, and Ryann was born shortly after, but her father had discovered early on that he wasn’t interested in being a family man. He’d left when she was about a year old.

  “That must have been hard for you guys.”

  “It was. But my mom is a tough Scottish woman. She worked two jobs, and eventually became a paralegal. That’s where she met Tony, her second husband. He’s a great guy, and I’m glad they found each other.” She hesitated, then said quietly. “Your mom mentioned that you lost your father when you were still a teenager. I’m sorry.”

  He looked up sharply. “When did she tell you this?”

  She was beginning to wonder if she should have mentioned it. “After the showing, when you were getting the paperwork for her to sign.” Pause. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

  He nodded. “No, that’s ok, I was just surprised. I’m not sure why she told you.”

  She didn’t want to mention the fact that Tabitha was trying to help her see that maybe she could find love again, like Tabitha did. He might think she was implying something about their relationship, and she didn’t want to make him uncomfortable.

  But thinking about him as someone who could potentially be another love for her caused her to blush again, and she began to fidget. He didn’t elaborate on his father, so she let the subject drop. But this led her thoughts to the question she had been wanting to ask him earlier when the food had first arrived.

  “What’s going through your mind right now?” he asked, looking at her intensely.

  She looked up, and cleared her throat once more. “I was just curious...what Jennifer Edwards is to you. She said your families knew each other.”

  He put his fork down, took her hand again, and waited until he had her complete attention. “Jennifer Edwards is nothing to me, Ryann.”

  “Did you ever...were you ever in a relation - ...did you ever...” she stuttered.

  “Did I ever fuck her?”

  She looked up at him, resigned to hear the answer she didn’t want to hear, and sighed. “It’s none of my business.”

  “No.”

  “I know. I’m sorry, it really isn’t any of my business.”

  “No, that’s not what I meant. I meant no, Jennifer and I never had a relationship. Our families have known each other for years. We travel in the same social circles, and full disclosure, we kissed a couple of times a few years back, but I learned early on that she wasn’t a woman I wanted to enter into a relationship with. She’s certainly made it known over the years that she’s interested, but that interest hasn’t been returned.”

  She continued looking at him and took a deep breath, hating the fact that they even shared a kiss. “When a beautiful woman throws herself at a man, most of the time the man wouldn’t care if he liked the woman or not.”

  “I’m not most men. And I’ve told you before. I’m not indiscriminate when it comes to choosing who I sleep with.”

  “Ok.” Pause. “It really is none of my business.” She whispered, and looked away from his gaze.

  He leaned forward and took her hand. “Ryann, in less than an hour, I’m going to have you naked on my bed licking every inch of your body. So, I think you have the right to ask anything you want to. I have nothing to hide.”

  God, could her face get any redder than it was? She looked past their private alcove to make sure no one heard him.

  He smirked, and said, “So, say it with me: ‘Jennifer Edwards means nothing to Jeremy.’”

  She smirked back. “Alright, you’ve made your point.”

  Then he cocked his head, and examined her...deep in thought. “My turn.”

  Because he was sitting so closely to her, he was able to reach under the table to casually put his hand on her thigh. He stroked it lightly with his fingers, as if to calm her before even asking his questions. However, if it was meant to calm her, it was having the opposite effect. She felt electrically charged.

  She looked at him, stalling. “What, you want to know what Jennifer Edwards is to me? Absolutely nothing. Less than nothing.”

  He gave her a look that said, ha ha. Then he waited.

  “What do you want to know? There isn’t much to tell, I can promise you that,” she laughed lightly.

  “That’s what I want to know.” He skated his fingers down to the hem of dress, then began stroking his way back up her thigh again, this time under her dress. “How many men have you been with, Ryann?” he asked quietly.

  She didn’t know why she was embarrassed to answer the question, but she was. Adding that to what his fingers were doing, she could barely get the word out. She cleared her throat, and croaked out, “One.”

  His face was expressionless, and he nodded his head, but his fingers were still dancing on her thigh. The tablecloth, and the darkness of the corner hid what he was doing from any eyes in the restaurant. “Your late husband was the only one?” he whispered, his eyes fixed on her.

  She nodded, her face heating again, and her breath coming out in shallow spurts.

  He swallowed audibly, then he leaned forward to put his nose to her neck, where he inhaled. At the same time, he let his fingers graze over her mound through her panties. She nearly jumped out of her skin, but he held her in place while he whispered in her ear, “Good.” Pause. “You have no idea how much I want you right this second. If we weren’t in a public place, I would have you up against this wall fucking your brains out right now,” he said huskily.

  She was momentarily stunned by his words. His fingers stopped their stroking and rested at the seam of her panties. It took her a moment to process, then with a breathy reply, she said, “Wow...all because I’ve only been with one man?”

  “Make no mistake, Ryann, I would want you regardless of how many men there’ve been,” he said, his voice taking on a low sensual quality. “But, it’s that sexy innocence thing again. The fact that I’m only the second man to have you...I can’t wait to get you back to my place. Right this second. I can’t wait to watch you come when I’m inside you.” He licked his lips and looked at her possessively. “Let’s finish up and get out of here.”

  …..

  They left the restaurant 10 minutes later, and were met by Manny outside. Once they were in the car, he crowded her space slightly, pressing his thigh into hers, then put his arm around her, pulling her up against his side. The arm around her curled up so his hand could play with her hair. He buried his face into it, and then planted soft kisses along the side of her face.

  “Thank you so much for dinner,” she murmured. “It was incredible.”

  “It was my pleasure,“ he murmured back kissing down her neck.

  She was afraid of going up in flames, and was trying to keep up the conversation...but with much difficulty. “I can’t wait to tell Ayanna. She’s in the culinary business. She actually studied abroad at a culinary institute in France, and is hoping to become a food critic extraordinaire,” she said with a smile.

  “We’ll have to take her sometime.”

  Ryann looked up at him quickly. “Really?”

  He smiled down at her. “Sure,” then he kissed her nose. “We should introduce her to my cousin, Janie...she was the one who catered my
mom’s showing. They’d probably hit it off.”

  Before she could respond, his leisurely and heated gaze moved to her mouth. “God, I dream about that mouth of yours.” He swooped down and began to nibble at it. “So fucking delicious.” His tongue swept in, and began kissing her in earnest, his hand now buried in her hair. His other arm encircled her as he continued making a feast of her mouth.

  She felt like she was drugged. Her limbs felt heavy, but her senses were floating. She was drowsy from his kisses, not to mention all the wine she’d had.

  His hand began kneading her breast, and then his thumb and forefinger began plucking at her nipple. She whimpered, not wanting the feelings to ever end, and she tried to get closer to him. Returning his kisses, her own tinged with desperation, he groaned in her mouth, then released her lips and began kissing her neck, his affection becoming more aggressive.

  She couldn’t think. She knew they would be at his place shortly, and there was no other place in the world she would rather be. She didn’t want to think anymore, or analyze. She just wanted to feel, and let him take her. Any way he wanted her.

  She whimpered and moaned, while he continued to dominate her senses. Within the next few minutes, the car was slowing. He leaned up, his eyes glittering with anticipation.

  “We’re home.”

  She tried to focus on her surroundings. Her sex was drenched from wanting him, and she needed to get her bearings again before getting out of the car. She straightened her dress, just as Manny opened the door.

  After both of them got out, Ryann smiled, “Thanks for the ride, Manny.”

  “You’re welcome, Ryann,” he smiled. “I look forward to seeing you again.”

  “Thanks, Manny,” Jeremy said. “We won’t need you anymore this evening.”

  “Yes, sir.” He nodded respectfully to both of them, and returned to the driver’s side of the car.

  As Jeremy led her up a grand staircase to the entrance of a beautiful old three story brownstone, she asked, “Where are we located right now? I can’t get my bearings.”

  “The West Village.”

  When they walked inside, Ryann was in awe. Below her feet were wide pine wood planks stretching across the expanse of the first floor. It was obvious that the space had been reconfigured to a more modern floor plan. She could see straight through the living room, all the way back into the kitchen, where she assumed the staircase was, since she couldn’t see it in the front. Exposed brick on the two side walls met the adjacent walls painted in a deep, but soft, slate gray. Leather furniture in camel colored tans were the main seating pieces, along with what looked like custom made side tables, coffee table, and chairs peppered throughout. In addition, there were gorgeous original paintings on the walls, some of which she recognized as his mother’s.

  Currently she was admiring the sturdy but ornate chair in the corner, with skillfully carved etchings along the top. The chair, which looked like it could’ve been seen in a Medieval period film, was acting as an easel, and propped up on its seat was an abstract painting done in vibrant colors. Finishing off the room were Aubusson rugs in slate blue, burgundies, and browns scattered over the floor. The eclectic warm style immediately drew her in, and she wanted to sink into one of the sofas.

  Her eyes drifted back to the kitchen, where she saw white cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, and what looked like black cement counter tops. More exposed brick, and gray walls enclosed the area.

  But what was probably her favorite part, were the windows. There were tons of them, letting in the purple and pink of twilight from the outside. The space was incredibly inviting. She couldn’t wait to see the other two floors.

  She stood in the middle of the living room waiting for Jeremy to take the lead. He hadn’t said anything since they’d gotten inside. He walked behind her, removing her purse and tossing it on the sofa. Then he began to slowly circle her, stopping in front of her, toying with her hair, stroking her face, her lips.

  “Do you want anything? Water or something like that?”

  Ryann looked at him, and shook her head no, slowly.

  He leaned in. “I want something,” he whispered in her ear, causing shivers to run up and down her spine. Without further ado, he lifted her in his arms, and strode toward the kitchen taking her up the back staircase. His bedroom was located at the top of the hall, where he walked in, and set her down at the side of the king size bed.

  He turned on the lamp on the nightstand, and she took in as many details as she could. Chocolate brown walls, with all other accents in cream tones: comforter and linens, a comfy overstuffed chair, throw rugs in creams, beiges, burgundies, and browns. She glanced back at the nightstand, another custom piece she presumed, and noticed there was champagne next to it.

  She looked at the champagne, then at him with one eyebrow raised. She teased, “Plying me with more alcohol, Mr. McCallister? I don’t know that I can drink another drop if I want to remember this tomorrow morning.”

  He said with a lazy grin, “Oh, you’ll definitely remember this in the morning. I’m going to make sure of it. And don’t worry, I’ll find other uses for the champagne.”

  Before she could figure out what that comment meant, he slipped off his black cashmere sweater, tossed it on a chair.

  She watched fascinated. It had been so long since she’d seen and been so close to a man’s chest. A gorgeous man’s chest, at that. Washboard abs, a dusting of dark hair. Lean, ropy muscles in his arms.

  She audibly swallowed, and reached out to tentatively touch his flat stomach. His muscles jumped, then he wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling and licking at her neck.

  God, his body felt so good against hers. It was so...hard.

  “I can’t wait to see every inch of you. I don’t know where I want to start first.” He leaned back. “Let’s start with this.” He carefully took her necklace off, then reached for the hem of her dress, and pulled it up over her head.

  She stood there in her see through panties and bra, with her high heeled sandals… so nervous. It had been a long time for her.

  He looked at her breasts encased in their sexy black lingerie, and she could feel her nipples harden even more at his intense perusal. She began to fidget, clear her throat, and hold her hands together down at her waist.

  He reached her hands, and held her arms out to her side. He was breathing heavily still looking her up and down, and finally looked at her flushed face. “God, you are so beautiful.”

  He leaned down, and put his lips to the top of the flesh spilling out of the C cups of her bra. He continued to kiss, until he leaned down to her right breast and nipped at her very erect nipple. Then he suckled it through the lace, leaving a wet spot on the fabric. She moaned, but he still had her hands out to the side. She needed to touch him.

  He let go of her hands and reached around her to undo the clasp, then slowly removed the bra down her arms, tossing it behind him. He looked back at her, put his hands on her waist, then moved them up to hold her breasts, swiping his thumbs over her nipples. It took him a long moment before he said in a husky voice, “I’m speechless, and as you can imagine, that doesn’t happen often.”

  “Jeremy,” she breathed. Having his shirtless chest so close to her felt delicious.

  He continued to tease her with his fingers, and leaned in, kissing her temple, her eyelid, her cheek, then her lips. His hands left her breasts and reached around her back to her waist, as he got down on his knees and looked straight ahead to look at her see through panel in the front of her thong. He quickly looked up at her, then back down to her sex.

  “God, woman. Please tell me I’m seeing what I think I’m seeing.” He looked up at her.

  She breathed out a nervous laugh and nodded, steadying herself with her hands on his shoulders.

  “I just saw you last night. When did you have time?”

  “Lunch break,” she said with a saucy smile.

  “Thank God for lunch breaks,” he whispered, then he leaned forward
and inhaled. Softly, he brushed his lips over her mound through the fabric. He made her stand last night when he did this. She didn’t know if she would make it standing again. She could feel herself swaying already.

  Still kissing her lightly through the panel of her panties, she put her hands in his hair and began pulling at it. He moaned, and grabbed both of her ass cheeks, lightly gripping them and taking the elastic of her panties through his teeth, snapping it lightly.

  He stopped momentarily to slide her thong down her legs. She stepped out of them, and he put them in his pocket. He grinned mischievously at her, and brought his lips to her pelvic bone and kissed. “My new mission in life is to take all of your panties. After you’ve worn them of course, so I can continue to smell you. I love the way you smell,” he said as he buried his nose into her.

  He gently pushed her back until her legs hit the side of the bed, and she fell back. He brought her legs up over his shoulders and kissed his way up from her inner knee to the crease in her leg at the top of her thigh. Then he took her labia in his mouth and sucked gently.

  She strained toward him and let out a breathy, “Jeremy...”

  “You’re so smooth, baby. God, I love it.” Then he placed her feet, still in heels, on his shoulders, and spread her knees wide. “How many times do you think I can tell you how beautiful you are tonight?” He reached a finger up, and dragged it through her cream to rub it into her swollen nub at the top of her sex. “So pretty and pink,” he said, his lips against her.

  She was squirming on the bed, and letting out little sounds that spoke of her arousal. And she could feel that arousal dripping down her thighs.

  Then he flattened his tongue and kissed her with an open mouth, sucking and nibbling. She bowed up off the bed, pressing herself more fully into his mouth, her hands grabbing onto the bed linens. He continued his onslaught, and while doing so, dipped one finger inside her...then two.