Nate interrupted and shot down her excuse. “Will be fine and do you really think your sister is starving?”
Worrying her bottom lip, Rylee slowly shook her head. “Well, no. There’s plenty of food. I put a pot roast in the slow-cooker this morning. And well, it is really late. She’s probably in bed.”
“Then that isn’t an issue. What do you want, Rylee? For once, think about what you want. What you need. Say yes, Rylee. Come home with me and let’s explore exactly how wet I can get you and I promise to talk you through every orgasm since I now know how my accent affects you.” Rylee closed her eyes. So he had heard what she’d said to Cora. Embarrassment rushed to her face, but when she opened her eyes, his blatant megawatt smile was her undoing.
She knew it wasn’t a good idea. She knew it was a mistake to let anything else happen between them, but she wasn’t ready for it to be over. The closer she got to him, the risk of falling for him would be impossible. But even with her brain telling her to get up and leave, her heart had her agreeing. “If you’ll never bring that up again, okay.”
He smiled down at her and helped her up. She bent and picked up her blouse and inspected the ripped buttonhole and missing buttons. “I’m not sure I can wear this.”
“Here.” He tossed her one of his t-shirts from a closet behind his desk.
“Can I use your bathroom to clean up?”
“No. Leave it. I want you to feel me dripping out of your pussy and know that I’m going to be back inside you as soon as we get to my house.”
She gulped. “All righty, then.” Grace was probably asleep and wouldn’t need the groceries until morning anyway. She sent off a quick text letting her know she was spending the night with a friend. Grace would assume she was with Cora. And Rylee wouldn’t correct that assumption.
Chapter 7
Nate
* * *
As the morning light brightened the bedroom, Nate glanced down to appreciate the view of Rylee’s body pressed against his side. One of her creamy smooth legs was thrown over his and her head was resting on his chest. He gently caressed her from hip to shoulder. She moaned, shuddering for him in her sleep, and he stirred at the memory of the night before, and how responsive she had been to his touch.
He’d reached for her several times and she’d never failed to need him as much as he’d needed her. He’d always known they’d have chemistry, but what he was feeling for her was a complication he hadn’t anticipated. He’d been worried that Rylee would grow feelings for him; now, he was scared he would be the one with a broken heart.
He’d had such a hard time keeping his focus at work before he’d slept with her and now, knowing what it was like with her, touching every inch of her hot body and feeling it beneath him, would be impossible to ignore. He’d never experienced anything so…confusing before.
The men in his family had fallen quickly for their wives. He’d heard the story many times of how his dad knew from the moment he’d seen his mom walking toward him that she would be his. But she’d been too young, and he’d sent her away only for them to come back together years later. And now, even over the span of many years, their love had only grown stronger.
SuMartra men fell hard, fast, and forever. He’d always laughed before when he’d heard that, but he wasn’t laughing now. He thought that Kiersten had been his forever love, but after only one night with Rylee he knew that wasn’t true. With Rylee, he could see their future together in a way he never could with Kiersten.
And after coming to this earth-shaking conclusion, Nate had no idea how to proceed.
“What are you thinking about so hard?” Rylee tipped her head and looked up at him.
He kissed her forehead and grinned when she sighed. “Good morning.”
“Oh no, you’re avoiding the question. Does that mean you have regrets in the light of day?” she asked, and he didn’t like the insecurity in her voice.
He flipped her under him in seconds and held himself above her pressing his already hardened cock against the place that assured her full attention. “Does this feel like I have regrets?”
She gave him a coy grin and his cock twitched. “No. That feels…painful. Maybe I could help?” she offered valiantly.
His cock literally jumped in agreement. He groaned, “Oh, Rylee. What are you doing to me? I have absolutely no control when it comes to you.”
She kissed down his neck and flicked her tongue over his nipple. “Control is overrated.”
Nate groaned, “I completely agree.” He teased her with the head of his cock and each shudder and gasp sent a spiraling spark through him.
“Stop teasing, Nate. I need you inside me. Now.”
She whimpered when he notched himself at her entrance. She was already wet for him and he slipped in as she cried, “Yes.”
Her legs opened wider and her back arched as he plunged deeper and moaned when he was completely seated in her heat. He was already fighting his need to come, and he’d never lost control. Ever. It was Rylee. She did this to him.
He rocked his full length out to the tip and back in, brushing her clit with each stroke. He nipped her bottom lip until she opened for him and he mirrored his thrusts with his tongue. The shimmering ache began to build, and for the briefest of moments, a soulful connection stirred as if they truly had become one. One heart beating wildly, one mind devoid of any thought other than each other, driving toward their one singular purpose.
“You’ve got to come, Rylee,” he begged. Adjusting his hips, he switched up the angle until her gasp told him he was in the right spot. He increased his rhythm and was rewarded when her muscles began to quake and tighten around him.
“I’m…I’m…” she stuttered incoherently.
The pressure intensified, swelling, and building, higher and higher until she cried out and crashed so hard the wave of her orgasm fisted around him, making his whole body shake.
With a growl of determination, he thrust in even deeper, and faster, until the burning pressure of his own release shot through him. His muscles tensed with each shuddering spasm, but he didn’t stop until he’d given her everything he had within him to give.
Slowly her eyes opened, and he saw the same curious question in their depths. He had no answer for her. What they’d just shared transcended anything he’d ever experienced before. He smiled and kissed her jaw and her neck before gently rolling off. “You make me speechless, Rylee Haywood, at a time that I should be able to articulate a romantic ending to what just happened.” A strange feeling twisted in the area of his chest.
“I don’t understand it either, Nate. Being with you isn’t what I expected. I don’t know if I can be what you need. I thought this would only be about sex, but that… Whatever that was, it felt like more. And I know that I can’t handle anything else, or want anything else. Maybe this should end here. Now.”
Nate’s heart lurched at the thought of never being with her again. But he saw in her eyes a painful past. “You’ve been hurt?”
Her gaze drifted down, “Yes. Badly. I’m not proud of what happened, but I was involved with a man who I found out after a year was married, had two children, and a pregnant wife. I was the other woman.”
Nate’s fists clenched. He’d love to have a few minutes with the man that put that look on Rylee’s face. “That wasn’t on you, Ry. You have nothing to feel guilty for. You have such a pure goodness inside that you expect the best from people. Unfortunately, people can let you down. I won’t let you down, Rylee. I know we weren’t expecting to find this, but honey, isn’t it incredible that we did? I mean, most people go through a lifetime without finding…”
“What, Nate?” she asked, looking to him for the answer. “Without finding what?”
Nate could tell by the panicked look in her eyes that she wasn’t anywhere near ready to admit what was going on between them. He wasn’t, either. He still kept too many secrets. “Rylee, what we just had tonight. I want more of that. Can’t we just enjoy what we have?”
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Her questioning eyes searched his. “You mean keep sleeping together?”
He nodded and held his breath. He wanted so much more than that, but he’d start with just keeping her from running.
She looked away, working it out in her mind. “But nobody can know. And I have to be home for Grace and the girls when they need me. Plus, my shifts at Thirsty’s will make it hard to find time.”
Another reason for her to stop working at that dive bar. “I’ll agree, but let the record show, I’m not a fan of keeping our relationship secret. Why is that necessary?”
“For one, I don’t want to reward the guys at work with that silly betting pool about when we were going to get together. And because it will make it weird at work, especially when it…ends.”
He didn’t even like the sound of that. “Why are you already creating problems when there may never be any?”
“You don’t know me, Nate. You only know me from work.”
Nate cringed—Rylee didn’t really know him, either. Now would be the time to tell her, but he held back. “Then give us the time to get to know each other.”
That determined, stubborn chin rose and the same challenge sparked her eyes. “Fine. But nobody can know.”
He got out of bed and pulled her up, taking note of how her gaze ran over his naked body. He felt himself react. “Fine. Now come on, we need to shower or we’re going to be late for work.”
Rylee snorted, “And you think showering together will be faster?”
“Not necessarily, but it will be memorable.” Nate gave her a wicked grin and threw Rylee over his shoulder, chuckling when she squealed, and then, with a hand on her bare backside, walked proudly into the bathroom. They were going to be late, but Nate didn’t care.
Nate stuck his head in Rylee’s office. She was one of the few employees with a private office. Except one whole side was windows that looked out over the ink room. So, no privacy there. “Hey, Rylee. Can I see you in my office for a minute? I need your input.”
Rylee glanced up from behind her laptop, her lips pulled into a grin. Yeah, he’d been having emergency needs in his office for the past two weeks. All because of her rules. “Sure, just give me a minute. I’m just finishing up a call with Deke.”
Deke had a shop in Carlton, about an hour away. Did Rylee have a thing for the man? He supposed some women could possibly find him handsome if they liked that muscly look.
He evidently didn’t do a very good job hiding his jealous streak because Rylee was giving him an amused look. “What does Deke want?” he asked.
Her grin grew as she moved the phone toward her ear, “He just wants to send me a picture to consult on a coverup. I’ll be sure to tell him you said hello.”
He glared. “My office. As soon as you’re done.”
He was waiting on her, and as soon as she walked in, he closed and locked the door, pushing her against it with his body molding against hers. The anxiety he’d been feeling eased the moment his lips touched hers. He kissed her thoroughly and deeply until he felt her knees give way. Resting his forehead against hers he fought for breath, “I’ve been dreaming about bending you over my desk and that’s going to happen in about thirty seconds, so take your panties off, or I’m going to rip them.”
She didn’t hesitate to hike her skirt up and shimmy her panties down her hips with only a few wobbles on her unsteady feet. “Is this the input you were talking about?”
Nate chuckled as he walked her backward to his desk. “I was doing fine until I caught you watching me with this bottom lip sucked between your teeth.” He tapped her lips with his thumb. “And then you looked at me and I knew you were remembering last night and what I did to you on the kitchen counter.”
Rylee shivered from the memory. “I thought that might work.”
Nate was shocked, but not surprised. “You did that on purpose?”
She shrugged, but her eyes said it all. “Maybe.”
With his hands on her hips, he did exactly what he’d said. With a flip of her skirt to expose her delicious ass and a hand flat on her back, he pushed her down until her cheek rested on the smooth glossy wood of his desk. With a foot, he widened her stance and groaned when her pink pussy lips glistened up at him. He couldn’t help running a finger up the crease to move some of the moisture down to her swollen clit. She whimpered as he circled the distended nub. “If you scream, everyone out there is going to know what we’re doing.”
“Just fuck me, Nate,” she begged.
Fuck, this woman was perfect for him. “You’re beautiful, Rylee,” he said and dropped to his knees, because as much as he wanted to do exactly what she’d asked, he needed her taste on his tongue more. She cried out and a grin split his face as his tongue followed the same path as his finger did earlier. He let his tongue tease her clit. She moaned, and he knew how paper-thin the walls were. “They’re going to hear you come, Ry,” he reminded her just before sucking her hard, then had to still her thrashing with a hand to her back.
“Oh, God,” she murmured. Her fist went to her mouth to muffle her sounds and he chuckled that she thought that would help. He doubled down on the swirling of his tongue caressing her clit and slid a finger inside. He felt the tension of her muscles gathering in intensity with every lick and pull of his lips. With each pulse of his fingers, she gripped him tighter and tighter until, with a keening cry, an orgasm slammed through her.
He couldn’t wait any longer; he flipped her over because he wanted to watch her come again. And she would. Nate didn’t bother taking the time to remove his shoes and pants; he simply unzipped, and his cock sprang free. He pressed inside before the tremors had subsided and with each thrust felt them building again. “Look at me, Ry.”
Her lusty eyes slowly obeyed and as he teased her clit with a finger, they both came in a crashing wave that left them both struggling to breathe. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard and long. The waves of their coming were still washing over them as he tore his mouth from hers and stared into her eyes. “Rylee…” He wasn’t sure what he was going to say, probably something neither was ready to hear. Rylee must have picked up on that, because her finger landed across his lips.
“Don’t Nate. Just don’t. That was perfect and I just want to hold on to that and nothing else.”
With a nod, he helped her step back into her panties, and tucked himself in. Before they left his office, he took her hand and pulled her in for another kiss. He was afraid she was in for a great disappointment because with one look at her very fucked face, everyone would know. He didn’t care.
They’d only taken two steps out when the noise level in the ink room quieted and all eyes turned their way. Mouths dropped open and then someone started clapping, which turned into a rousing and robust cheer. Rylee froze and he felt her body stiffen beside him. Her panicked eyes turned to him and he shrugged. “I guess they know now.”
The pleased grin on his face was probably why she socked him in the stomach, then stormed into her office and slammed the door. But he wasn’t worried, because for a fraction of a second, he’d seen the relief of their outing in her eyes. He knew it wouldn’t help his case, but he threw his head back and laughed.
Chapter 8
Rylee
* * *
Rylee had her elbows propped on her desk with her head in her hands when her office door creaked open. She didn’t even look up. “I don’t want to talk about it, Cora.”
“Yeah, like I’m going to let you get out of it. And may I just say…that was a stellar performance.”
Rylee groaned; her face flamed hotter. She raised her head and narrowed her eyes on her friend.
Cora hopped up on her desk, tipping her colored pencils. “Just tell me—when did it start?”
Rylee frowned at the disarray and began to sort the mixed-up colors into ROYGBIV order. “Just so you can announce the winner? No, thank you. I still can’t believe you’re taking odds on my sex life. That’s just wrong, Cora.”
&nbs
p; Cora rolled her eyes, not affected in the least by Rylee’s scolding. “Honey, from the sounds coming from Nate’s office, I’d say you’re the winner here.”
Heat flared up Rylee’s neck and cheeks, and she let her head bang down on her desk. How embarrassing. “Cora, stop. Just stop. How am I ever going to show my face again? The guys…you know how they are. I can never live this down.”
Cora must have seen how upset she was because the teasing tone of her voice changed, “Everybody in the shop loves you, Rylee. And besides, Nate gave everyone a dressing down and threatened to fire them if they so much as looked at you wrong.”
“He did?” Her heart gave a happy lurch that he didn’t want anyone to make her uncomfortable.
“Yeah, so can’t you at least tell your friend what’s going on?” Cora asked, batting her lashes dramatically.
Rylee leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms, completely confused at how to explain or even put a name to what she and Nate were to each other. “I would. If I knew myself.”
Cora studied her before asking, “So how long has this been going on?”
Before she answered, Rylee let her eyes narrow on her friend in warning. “Almost two weeks. And if you say anything about that ridiculous bet, I’m going to scream.”
Cora’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Two weeks!” she shouted. “You kept this from me for two weeks?”
Rylee couldn’t remember ever keeping anything from Cora. “I’m sorry, but Cora, I’m scared. I never expected us to last this long. I thought we’d hook up a few times and that would be the end of it. But it’s starting to be so much more than that, and I can’t allow that to happen.”
Cora’s eyes saw too much. “Why, Ry? Is it because of your mom?”
Picking up her favorite pencil, the purple one, she shrugged. Of course, that played a big part. “You know what she’s like. And you know my history with guys. Case in point—Terry.”
Over Ruled: On the Wild Side Series Page 5
