by Janice Lynn
He’d been seduced from the moment he’d met her and had instantly wanted her.
Now, she was above him, her hot center pressed over where he ached as she kissed him into oblivious pleasure.
He was oblivious. To all reason. To logic. To common sense. To everything except McKenzie.
When she moved against him, Ryder couldn’t keep his hands off her any longer and skimmed them over her back, tracing her spine, cupping her sweet bottom gliding against him.
“Touch me,” she moaned. “Please, Ryder, touch me. I need you to.”
He planned to touch. Every last inch of her.
Excitement filled him as he slid his hands beneath her T-shirt and pulled the material over her head, revealing her bare chest beneath.
Her bare chest that had him arching upward to wrap his mouth around a pink tip.
Her thighs clenched at his waist as he gave a gentle suck, then he moved to the matching peak.
She leaned forward, supporting her upper half by placing a hand to each side of his head, giving him easy access to the treasures he’d uncovered.
He suckled, teased, licked and nipped until, moaning, she arched, then sat up enough to support her weight on her knees to each side of his hips. Her hands tugged on his T-shirt. Ryder raised his upper half from the floor, making removal of his shirt easier.
“You have a beautiful body,” she praised, running her hands over his shoulders, then down his chest to mere inches away from where her lower half met his.
“As do you,” he assured her, reaching for her breasts again. “As do you.”
They kissed, touched, grinded against each other, until both were desperate for remaining clothing barriers to be gone.
McKenzie moved off him, and he helped strip away her pajama shorts and underwear.
When he reached for the waistband of his pajama bottoms, she covered his hand with hers.
Please don’t stop me, he thought, at the same time as he had no doubt he’d do just that if it was what she said she wanted.
“I don’t have protection,” she said instead, disappointment shining in her eyes.
Relief filled him.
“I do. In my wallet.”
Mixed emotions crossed her face. “Of course, you do.”
He paused in reaching for where he’d left his wallet on her nightstand. “Did you want me to say I didn’t have protection? We don’t have to do this if it’s not what you want,” he reminded her.
They shouldn’t do this. Deep down he knew that. He also knew it would take a stronger man than him to deny McKenzie if she wanted to make love with him.
“I do want this, so very much, only...” She closed her eyes. “It makes sense you’d have protection. I’m glad you have protection, and yet...well, I guess it makes me aware of how much more experienced you are than me.”
Ryder snorted with a bit of irony. Once upon a time he’d had an active sex life, but not since moving to Seattle. Quite the opposite. Sex for the sake of sex had quit appealing years before.
“It might surprise you how long it’s been since I’ve had sex.”
For months, he’d wanted only one woman and she’d belonged to another man.
Tonight, she belonged to him.
Her body.
Her mind.
Her heart?
* * *
Self-conscious that she was naked and had stopped him prior to his removing his pajama bottoms, McKenzie nodded, although she wasn’t sure if she was agreeing with his comment that how long it had been since he’d had sex would surprise her or if she was nodding her agreement with the thought that he should be naked, too.
Had it really been that long for him?
Did it matter? She wanted him. He wanted her—for the moment, at least.
For now, that was enough.
Rather than say anything more, she finished the job he’d started, pulling his pajama bottoms and underwear off in one movement with the help of his lifting his hips.
Her breath caught at the true magnificence of his body. She visually traced down his shoulders, his chiseled chest, down his abs to where a trail of hair pointed to pleasure. Just wow.
Her gaze lifted to his. “You’re sure you’re really a heart surgeon and not a professional athlete?”
She’d thought he looked the part of a television doctor in the past. Seeing him naked reinforced her thoughts that his body was made to be admired.
She admired. Oh, how she admired.
His brow lifted. “Who better to take care of their body than someone educated on the benefits of exercise and proper diet?”
“True.” Not that McKenzie hadn’t enjoyed every bite of the cake and goodies served at the wedding—she had. “But I don’t know of any real-life doctor who looks like you.”
“I’m not the only one who works out.”
“You’re the only one who makes my fingers want to do this.” She traced her finger over his chest, down his abs and happy trail in the pattern her eyes had previously taken.
Ryder sucked in air, his stomach muscles tightening. McKenzie thrilled at his reaction to her touch, that there was no denying that he wanted her.
Yet when she went to touch him where he strained toward her, he grabbed her hand, stopping her.
“Not yet. If you touch me there, I’ll have to have you soon thereafter.”
McKenzie’s thighs clenched at the prospect, her whole body tingling. “Isn’t that the idea?”
He shook his head. “My idea is to touch and kiss every inch of you first.”
His words set off explosions in her head, in the pit of her belly, at her very core. She always had thought him a smart man. They’d go with his idea. Most definitely. Because she wanted him touching her, kissing her.
Every inch of her wanted to be claimed by him.
“Oh. Okay.”
“Yeah, oh. Okay.” His words were half-teasing, but his eyes glittered in ways she’d never seen him look at her. In ways she’d never seen any man look at her.
Pure male power and possessiveness. She was his and he planned to claim his prize. Her.
* * *
McKenzie saw stars. Lots and lots of stars.
Which was pretty amazing since she lay on her bedroom floor, gasping for air, basking in the glow of having had really great sex, the best sex of her life.
The best sex of anyone’s life.
Had to be.
And that was with them trying to keep quiet so as not to wake anyone else in the house.
McKenzie had wanted to scream out in pleasure several times, and almost had with her last orgasm, but Ryder had caught her cry with his mouth as he’d toppled over the edge with her.
The man was incredible.
Pure and simple.
His intelligence, his kindness, his body that moved with hers in a primal rhythm she’d never danced before, one of pure, orgasmic pleasure.
She’d done a better job with picking out a fake boyfriend than she ever had picking out a real one.
“That was better than I thought it would be.”
McKenzie’s happy haze dissipated. Still breathing hard, her heart hammering against her ribcage, she rolled over to look at him. “Did you think I’d be bad?”
Chuckling, he rolled onto his side, too, and faced her. “I thought you’d be wonderful, and you were. More so than I’d thought possible.”
“Nice save.”
“The truth.” He cupped her face. “You were there. There was nothing mediocre about what we just shared.”
“You’re very good,” she admitted.
“As are you.”
He’d certainly made her feel good, made her feel sexy, as if he’d read and aced the manual to her body because he knew every trick to eliciting a response.
And, although sh
e was still breathless from what they’d just done, she put her hand against his chest, felt his heart, still beating as erratically as hers, and took comfort that she wasn’t alone in what she’d just experienced.
And because she could, she leaned over and kissed where she’d touched.
“McKenzie, I don’t think you should—”
“Shh...” she whispered. “I know it’s too soon. That’s okay. I just want to touch you. Slower this time.”
Because she wanted to make as many memories as possible before the sun rose and their time in Tennessee ended.
* * *
As with the previous morning, Ryder beat her out of bed. Literally bed for them both as at some point during the night, they’d moved from his pallet to her bed and she’d slept next to him.
Not necessarily cuddled against him, but his arm had been around her when she’d dozed off into exhausted, but happy sleep.
She’d missed that arm when she’d awakened, missed the man she’d hoped to wake next to and even, perhaps, kiss good morning, too.
She supposed it was no wonder she’d slept late. There hadn’t been a lot of sleeping going on during the night and she suspected it had been almost morning when they’d moved to her bed.
That she’d enjoyed the night so much frightened her. She was just out of her relationship with Paul less than a month ago. She’d asked Ryder to come with her because she hadn’t wanted to jump into a new relationship and had never dreamed she’d become so emotionally entangled with him.
Had never dreamed they’d have done the things they’d done last night.
She needed to be careful. Ryder was a great guy, a phenomenal lover, but that didn’t mean he’d want anything more than this weekend with her.
Did she want more than this weekend?
That hadn’t been her goal when inviting Ryder. Quite the opposite. She’d planned to return to Seattle, take time to enjoy the city, enjoy life and her amazing career, to take some time for herself, no boyfriend required.
Which left her where this morning?
McKenzie wanted coffee but opted for a shower and full face of makeup prior to making her way to the kitchen.
“Morning,” her mother, Mark and her cousin’s family greeted.
But McKenzie’s eyes zeroed in on one person. One person who had mumbled a good morning, too, but who had barely glanced her way. Was he as confused about how they should act this morning as she was? Trying to figure out what last night had meant? Or if it had meant anything at all other than that they were physically compatible?
Very physically compatible.
How did one act the morning after the most amazing sex of her life which just happened to be with a pretend boyfriend and her family was there to watch her every move?
No wonder he couldn’t look at her.
“You slept late this morning.”
Leave it to her brother to point that out.
“I’m still on Seattle time.” True, although it had nothing to do with her being the last one to rise.
“I can’t believe you’re already leaving,” her mother sighed. “I don’t want you to go.”
“Me, either,” she admitted. “But I love my life in Seattle.” She really did. “You should come visit.”
“I will,” her brother commented and was the only one to do so.
McKenzie understood that. She was petrified of flying but forced herself to do so on occasion. Roberta hadn’t flown since her husband died. McKenzie doubted her mother ever would, again.
She walked over to her mother, kissed the top of her head. “I’ll come home again soon, Mama. Maybe at Christmas if I can arrange my schedule to be off work for a few days.”
“That would be wonderful.” Her mother patted McKenzie’s arm, then reached out and placed her hand over Ryder’s forearm and did the same. “You’re invited, too, of course.”
Ryder, who’d been watching the interplay while still avoiding making eye contact with McKenzie, gave her mom a half-smile. “Thanks. I’d like that. I’ve enjoyed my first visit.”
His only visit? How crazy that his doing what she wanted, pretending to be her boyfriend, left her unable to know how to take anything he did or said when her family was around. Would he really like to come back or had he just said that?
Ugh. McKenzie’s brain hurt. She had no one to blame but herself. But the smiles on everyone’s faces all weekend, the lack of worrying about how heartbroken she’d been when she moved to Seattle and no new worries over Paul having done the same just over a month ago had been worth it.
Odd, it seemed a lifetime ago since she’d been involved with Paul, planning to spend the rest of her life with him, and yet it really hadn’t been that long ago.
McKenzie got her coffee, joined the others at the table, and pretended that she wasn’t hyperaware of Ryder being next to her.
She’d not had awkward mornings-after with Clay or Paul. At least, not that she recalled. Then again, she’d not had incredible nights with them, either. Just... She glanced toward Ryder, willing him to look up and smile at her, anything, just some sign that things were going to be okay. That when this was all said and done, they’d at least be friends.
McKenzie never got her smile.
The morning passed quickly with lots of family stopping by to say their goodbyes.
No one commented on the tension between her and Ryder. It seemed impossible that they couldn’t have picked up on it, and she wondered if they knew what they’d been up to during the night.
They’d kept the noise down. At least, she thought so. The reality was, she’d been so caught up in Ryder, she really didn’t know how much noise they’d made.
Regardless of what her family knew or didn’t know, they’d given lots of heartfelt goodbyes, well-wishes and pleas to come visit again soon.
McKenzie would.
Hopefully she’d make it home at Christmas or the week after Christmas.
By the time they were in the rental van on their way toward Nashville Airport, McKenzie was an emotional mess. From saying goodbye to her family, to knowing she was about to board a plane, to not knowing how Ryder really felt about what had happened between them.
She gripped the steering wheel tighter than necessary, cast a glance toward where he fiddled with his phone.
“Thank you for coming with me, Ryder.”
He looked her way. “Sure thing.”
“My family loved you. The trip couldn’t have been any more wonderful. I really do owe you.”
“I’m glad it all worked out.”
Maybe they would have progressed to beyond pleasantries, but Ryder’s phone rang.
McKenzie could tell the call was from someone at the hospital. When that call finished, he made another, checking on a patient. Was he purposely avoiding talking with her?
Was he worried she’d read too much into the night before? Afraid she was going to expect more from him?
Did he not realize the thought of diving into another relationship scared her almost as much as flying?
She sighed.
He’d given her what he’d agreed to, gone above and beyond. What had she expected? For him to date her a few years, then dump her?
Much better if they had their one night and left it at that.
Only the thought that they’d go back to how things were before didn’t feel right. She didn’t want that. She wanted... She didn’t know what she wanted, but not for them to go back to completely avoiding each other.
They had an hour to kill at the airport, found seats near their terminal, but were surrounded by other passengers waiting on their flight, precluding any real conversation.
Ryder wandered off, came back with a book, and started reading.
Yep. That was a sure sign he didn’t plan on them talking on the plane. Maybe he thought there was nothing
more to say and wasn’t suffering from the same mental tug-of-war that she was. And not just the one with flying anxiety and logic that she’d be fine.
Ugh. She dug into her bag, pulled out a prescription bottle and took her anxiolytic tablet. Maybe she wouldn’t fall asleep on him this time. If she did, well, at least she wouldn’t have to sit in five hours of uneasy silence.
If she made it through the flight.
She’d done so well up to this point, not having a single panic attack while checking into the airport. Possibly because she was so distracted by the man next to her.
Think happy thoughts, she told herself over and over.
Unfortunately, her most recent happy thoughts all seemed to star Ryder.
After they boarded the plane, got settled into their seats, Ryder turned to her, his gaze full of concern. “You doing okay?”
Emotions hitting her that he’d finally looked at her, really looked at her, that his eyes revealed he wasn’t indifferent, she nodded. “I think so.”
“Good.”
But when the plane started moving, making its way toward the runway, McKenzie changed her mind, wondering if she was going to come out of her skin.
Breathing was difficult. Sweating not so much so.
Don’t do this, she ordered herself. She was fine. This was ridiculous.
Only sitting in the seat was becoming more and more challenging.
“You got this,” Ryder assured her, taking her hand. “Just take a deep breath and let it out slowly. You can do this.”
It was the first he’d touched her since they’d fallen asleep next to each other after a whole lot of touching and she almost cried out at the burn of his skin against hers.
McKenzie’s poor nervous system must have been on overload at the onslaught of sensations holding his hand added to her already hyped-up, under-attack neurons.
She stared at their entwined hands, tried to form words to ask him where they went from this weekend. That conversation would distract her from where she was, that she was about to fly.
Then again, his answers could trigger anxiety of its own.
The thought of not seeing him, spending time with him, hurt, but the thought of continuing what they’d started would cause pain unlike any she’d ever known.
