by Terry Spear
“It’s because of the money you have, isn’t it?” Benjamin finished his beer.
“I’m sure that has all to do with it,” Ryder said. “Her money draws people like you who are eager to meet up with her.”
Benjamin rose to his feet. “I meant because I don’t have the kind of money she has, wiseass.”
Ryder smiled. “Exactly. Because you don’t have the income she has, and you’re drawn to her wealth.”
Benjamin took a swing at Ryder, but he was expecting it. Instead of knocking the guy out, he dodged the blow, and Benjamin took another swing.
“Give it up, man. She’s not interested in you, and you need to take it like a man and go home. Hell, you’re not upset she’s dumped you because you care so much about her, but because you lost a chance to be with someone who makes so much money.” Ryder knew just the type.
“What about you?” Benjamin was still swinging at Ryder. And missing.
“What about me? I met Lexi before I knew who she was, and I was totally under her spell. It had nothing to do with her wealth.” Ryder thought about maneuvering over to the pool and giving the guy a good dunk, but he was trying to get Benjamin to listen to reason first. He didn’t want to hit him when he needed to be fresh for a real fight with the bad guys, and he didn’t want to give Lexi a new list of enemies. Though he supposed if he’d thought about that beforehand, he really should have stayed out of it and let her handle it.
“Ryder’s right,” Lexi said. “We have no common interests.”
“We’re wolves.” Benjamin was red-faced, but at least he gave up trying to hit Ryder.
Ryder was wary he might try to sucker punch him.
“That’s not enough of a connection. I’m sorry it didn’t work out between us, but I really need to get on to other business, Benjamin.” Lexi smiled in an amiable way.
“I’ll walk you to the door,” Kate said.
“Thanks, Kate.” Lexi got up off her chair, handed the sunscreen to Ryder, then walked to one of the chaise longues where she stretched out on her tummy.
That was Ryder’s cue to slather the sunscreen on, but he didn’t like that Kate was walking Benjamin out by herself.
“I’ll go with you,” Mike said to Kate.
Relieved, Ryder nodded to Mike and Kate as they headed inside the house. Mike cast him a smirk. Ryder joined Lexi at the lounger and took the cap off the sunscreen. The smell of the sea filled the air, and the salty breeze blew her hair about. Then they heard Benjamin and Mike arguing in the house.
“I was going to handle him on my own just fine, you know.” Lexi sounded more relaxed now, and then they heard the door shut and Mike and Kate talking as they returned to the patio.
“Sorry, Lexi. He just annoyed me,” Ryder said.
“Thanks for not fighting him back.”
“I wanted to save up my strength for the really bad guys.”
She chuckled.
She was beautiful, and he was amazed at how she’d built up such a successful business. It made him feel like a bit of a slacker. But he also felt privileged to work for her.
“Did you have any trouble sending Benjamin on his way?” Lexi asked Mike and Kate.
“No. I think he thought he could try something else to win you over, and I’m sure he was really frustrated that he wasn’t able to knock Ryder out,” Kate said.
They all laughed.
“I was trying to be the nice guy. He didn’t want to see me in a real fight,” Ryder said.
Chapter 22
Ryder began applying the coconut-scented sunscreen on Lexi’s soft skin, massaging her legs with a relaxing touch. He made sure he covered every inch of her skin so she wouldn’t burn, but also continued to gently knead her muscles, working his way up. Then he rubbed it onto her back and shoulders, neck and arms. She turned over and smiled up at him. “I’ve never had a pool boy before. You sure do a great job of applying the sunscreen.”
“I’ve never been one before.” Ryder smiled at her. “But I always try to do my best at any job I do.”
“Well, you’re doing great.”
Mike brought her a mai tai. “I thought you might be ready for a fancier drink this time around. Enjoy.”
“Thanks.” Lexi sat up and took a sip. “Wow, this is great. I bet Aidan’s missing the two of you already.”
Ryder smiled. “Yeah, one of the guys said Aidan has been after them to get some cooking and bartending lessons from us.”
“I bet.”
Kate sat down at the umbrella table where she’d set up her laptop and began to tap on the keyboard.
Ryder motioned to Lexi’s front. “Did you want me to do more?”
“All of me can burn. So sure.”
He began to work on her feet, then shins and thighs, loving how she purred while he massaged the sunscreen onto her skin. He smiled when he smelled her pheromones kicking into first gear, something Benjamin hadn’t done for her. He massaged her stomach and the swell of her breasts. Her nipples were already poking against the green fabric of the bikini top. He was trying not to notice too much. He slathered her arms and throat. “Did you want me to put some on your face?”
“Yes, thanks.”
He carefully applied it to her face, making sure not to get it too near her eyes, and she sighed.
“Just perfect,” she said when he finished up.
“Yeah, I agree.”
She chuckled, left the lounger, and patted it. “Lie down and let me put some sunscreen on you now.”
He was really surprised she would offer, since that was his job. He felt like he should object because he was the hired help. He realized how much that bothered him. He finally willed himself to lie down on the lounger and let Lexi pamper him a bit. He wouldn’t have had any problem with this if Kate and Mike hadn’t been there. Then it would have been just the two of them. Even though Kate and his friend weren’t watching them, they could hear what was going on. Though he was glad they were here to protect Lexi should anything go wrong.
Once Ryder was stretched out on the lounger on his stomach, she began applying the sunscreen. Immediately, he fell under her spell, her hands sliding all over his skin: first his legs, then moving to his arms, shoulders, back, and neck. She was giving him the same treatment, not just applying the lotion, but gently massaging his muscles too. “Man, I’ve never had a massage before, but I’d hire you in a heartbeat to do those daily.”
“You and me both. I was afraid I was going to fall asleep on you. Okay, flip over,” she said.
This was the hard part. His arousal was tenting his board shorts, and he really didn’t want her to witness how much she had turned him on with her touch.
“Come on. I want to swim.” She tugged at the back of his board shorts.
“I can get this.” He knew she realized why he was reluctant, but she was having fun playing with him.
“Yeah, you sure can. So, turn over.”
“How often do you lather up the guys you’re dating?”
“Just Benjamin, but don’t worry. I asked him to put some sunscreen on my back, and he did. Nothing more than that. Then he asked me to put the lotion on his back. And that was that.”
“Okay, but don’t laugh.” Ryder rolled over and she smiled, taking in his appearance. She seemed to be enjoying herself, so he smiled too.
“Hmm, all these strong, beautiful muscles.” She continued massaging him—his arms and hands, his legs and feet, his torso and neck, all of which kept his erection firm and wanting. She finally applied some sunscreen on his face and sighed. “You are so firm all over.” Lexi offered her hand to him. “Come swim with me.”
Ryder wanted so to pull her into his arms and kiss her like there was no tomorrow. “Is that what a pool boy does?”
“This one does.”
Ryder wasn’t going to be asked twice. H
e took her hand, then rose from the chaise longue. He walked with her to the pool, and when she released his hand, he dove in. The water was warm and silky, and he surfaced to see where Lexi was. She was sitting on the edge of the pool and slipped into the water. He swam over to join her and caged her against the side of the pool, wanting the intimacy after she’d gotten him all worked up. Her pheromones were just as wild.
“My biggest fear, you know,” he said, nuzzling her cheek, “is that I’ll be so busy wanting you, I won’t be able to protect you like I should.”
“I want you here for me. I know it’s crazy”—she rested her hands on his hips—“since we haven’t known each other that long. But I want you for more than just a bodyguard. I hope you know I’m teasing you about the pool-boy part.”
He kissed the water off her cheek. “I love that part of the job.”
She chuckled and kissed his chin. “Good, because during the summer, we’ll be spending a lot of time out here.”
“I know you’re really interested in me as a model for your product line.”
She smiled. “Yeah, well, there is that.” Lexi kissed Ryder’s cheek and pressed her body closer to his arousal.
He had to admit he was doing a lot of things he wouldn’t normally be doing. He wanted to be with Lexi, even if he stepped out of his comfort zone a bit. He was thinking they needed some alone time. As long as Mike and Kate could protect them. Ryder glanced at Mike and Kate. She was busy on the computer, ignoring them. Mike was still at the edge of the bluff, watching the boats.
Ryder wanted to share Lexi’s bed with her. Wouldn’t she be safer if he was right there? Even with Kate in the room next door, she wasn’t close enough if someone should break into Lexi’s room from the backyard.
He kissed Lexi’s lips, and she encircled his neck with her arms. “I think you’re working your way into my bedroom.”
“Bed,” he corrected, smiling.
She laughed and kissed him on the mouth, then parted her lips for him. He slipped his tongue into her mouth and stroked hers, and he groaned, wanting to take this to her room where they could really have some privacy. He was so ready to come.
“Can you make it out of the pool without too much discomfort?” She kissed his mouth again.
He chuckled. “Hell, yeah. What do you have in mind?”
“Let’s take this to my bedroom.”
“Now you’re talking.” He boosted her out of the pool and then climbed out, his wet board shorts molded to his erection.
She smiled as she looked down at his swimsuit. “Sorry I made you wait so long to do something about that.” Lexi grabbed a towel from her lounger.
Ryder grabbed his towel and wrapped it around his waist, but then he reached out to take her towel and dry her first.
“You’re offering to dry me off?” Lexi asked, then handed him her towel.
He smiled. “Yeah, I figured that’s part of the job.” He began drying her shoulders and then her back and legs.
She turned so he could dry her front and himself, and then pulled the floral cover over her bathing suit, took his hand, and headed for the back door. “Going inside for a bit,” she told Kate.
Kate didn’t even look at her and just said, “Okay, yell if you get into trouble. Mike and I will come rescue you.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll be there as her first line of defense,” Ryder promised.
“You sure will be,” Kate said smiling.
Then Lexi and Ryder headed inside the house and she hauled him down the hall toward her bedroom, appearing eager to have her way with him. Just as eager as he was to be with her.
“Do you still want me to stay in the guest room tonight?” He was hoping she’d change her mind.
She just smiled. “We may be rethinking the room arrangements.”
He sure liked that idea. Not only because he thought he could protect her better, but because he wanted this to go much further between them.
Once they reached her room, she closed the bedroom door and smiled wickedly at him. This was a side of her he had rarely seen, and he was ready to explore. He rested his hands on her shoulders and kissed her mouth, his hands sliding to her breasts, her nipples fully extended, poking at the damp bikini top. His board shorts were just as damp, and he was eager to dispense with the wet garments right away.
He slipped her bathing-suit straps down her shoulders, kissing one shoulder, then the other. She sighed with pleasure, her hands caressing his waist, her touch sizzling. She shivered and he removed the wet bikini top, dropping it to the floor. Her breasts were full, her nipples fully erect, enticing him to lathe them with his tongue. When he ran his tongue over them, she gasped and tightened her hands on his hips. “Oh…my…god.”
Smiling, he slid her bikini bottoms over her hips, pressing warm kisses on her cool skin all the way down her legs. She rested her hand on his shoulder, pulling her feet out of the bottoms. He nuzzled her neck and felt her pulse leap, his body still hard with need. He leaned down to kiss her mouth, and she began to slide his board shorts past his hips.
“We have kind of an obstruction to our progress here.” She slid her hand over his steel-hard erection and curled her hand around it, firing up his blood.
He wanted her on the bed now, in his arms, feeding into her desire like she was feeding into his. “You’ll have to take care of it.”
“I will.” She pulled his board shorts down and released his cock, which was boldly stretching out to her. “Magnificent.”
He took her in his arms and they began kissing, naked, their aroused bodies melding together, his cock rubbing her mound. Caught up in the heat of the moment, he covered her mouth with his. She licked his lips, and he opened his mouth to her, inviting her to join him, his cock twitching with need. Everything about her felt right to him—her scent, her touch, the pleasurable sighs she made. Tongues connected, he tasted the mai tai Mike had fixed for her earlier. The pineapple, oranges, lemon, lime, hint of almonds, and light rum made her taste like a fruity delight.
“Delicious.” He moved his hands over her breasts, loving the way her skin was soft and warm and her breasts firm and high.
“Hmm, you are,” she whispered against his ear, her hands roaming over his shoulders, down his back, and over his bare ass. “I thought so from the moment I saw you rescuing the bear cub—all naked and muscular and determined.”
Then they were kissing again, and they ended up on the bed. He was on his back, her straddling him. It was as if she was claiming him, and he liked the notion. She pressed her breasts against his chest, and he drew his fingers through her silky strands of hair.
Ryder had been waiting for Lexi all his life. He knew she was the one for him. He wanted to mate her right then and there. No waiting. Yet, he felt Lexi might need more time to get to know him, and so he would hold off asking…for a little while. He didn’t think he could hold out for long though.
* * *
Lexi was certain Ryder wouldn’t ask him to mate her. She had to tell him in no uncertain terms that she was ready for this if he was, and she had every intention of doing so, right now.
Ryder stroked her hair, and she felt swept up in his touch. She was glad to have him, Kate, and Mike all working for her but being her friends too. She couldn’t believe how much they meant to her, and she didn’t want to ever go back to the way it was when she couldn’t see her father and she was all on her own. It didn’t matter how many dates she went on, she wasn’t giving him up for anything. Ready to go all the way, she just hoped he didn’t want to make her wait.
She cupped his head with her hands and kissed his cheek and then his lips. He sank his tongue into her mouth and stroked her tongue in a sexy way.
She slid her fingers down his beautifully sculpted chest and licked his chin, tilting hers up to kiss him deeply again. He was magical—his touch, his kisses,
the heat, and his pheromones. When they came up for air, she hit him with the proposition. “I want you for my mate.”
“The catch is I have to work at it,” he said, smiling down at her, looking like the happiest wolf in the world.
“Oh, yeah, starting now.”
He began to kiss her again, slowly, building up the heat and then passionately filling her with overwhelming emotions—of lust and desire and need and want. He wasn’t holding back, and she was so glad for it.
She felt intoxicated with his strength and gentleness and kissed him fervently back.
“I love you, you know.” Ryder paused to run his hand over her breast.
“Yeah, I know. Just as much as I love you. That’s why I wasn’t waiting any longer for this.” She loved his hard body, his aroused cock, the lustful look in his eyes, and the way he stroked her breasts in a way that said he loved caressing her. Her nipples erect and aching, she soaked up his touch.
He nipped her earlobe, and she nipped his in return.
She felt sexy and frisky when she was with him, both as a human and a wolf. She loved being with him. His hand swept down her stomach, and he ran his fingers between her legs, touching her mons, stroking her into the next world. He nuzzled her breasts, and she couldn’t have stopped the hot desire flooding every cell as he carried her off, making her come. She cried out, not caring if the whole wide world heard her.
* * *
“Are you ready?” Ryder had hoped it would come to this eventually, but he thought it would take longer to convince her. He was glad she had a mind of her own and didn’t waste time deciding.
“Yeah, let’s go.”
He smiled and pushed his cock into her, slowly at first, and then he covered her mouth with his and kissed her thoroughly. He began thrusting his cock between her legs, seeking to climax and hoping to bring her there again. His plunges intensified and all he could think of was being with her forever, that this was only the beginning.
He pulled out of her and pushed in again and then he felt her surrender to another climax, the convulsions wrapping around him in a fevered pitch. He loved it. He was on the verge of coming, just another couple of thrusts, and then he exploded inside of her. “Love you,” he groaned out.
