her breasts sliding against the silk of the blouse. Ryan was still watching
her, but his gaze had drifted back to her silk-covered breasts.
“I’m
glad he’s late. It gives me a chance to talk to you for a minute.” She was
standing directly in front of Ryan and she placed a hand on his arm. The scent
of his cologne reminded her of the other times she’d been in his office, the
times he’d touched her. The times she’d wanted to push him away.
“I’ve
been thinking…quite a bit. About making partner, and other…things.” She dropped
her voice. “A great many things.”
She
took a step closer, placing her hands on Ryan’s chest. He tensed briefly at her
touch, a faint frown creasing his forehead.
“Melody…something’s
changed.” He cocked his head, looking at her closely, eyes narrowed.
Her
heart was racing and she hoped Ryan would attribute it to passion and she
forged ahead. “I’ve changed, I guess. Things are different now.”
“Different
since your trip? Is there trouble in paradise?”
His
mouth quirked up in a smirk. “I had the impression everything worked out for
the best, with you and…your client.” Ryan relaxed slightly, leaning into Melody’s
touch. She ran her hand slowly over the starched front of his shirt.
She
cast her eyes down, shaking her head slowly. “It’s not what I thought it was
going to be. Seeing someone in their own setting, where they come from…you were
right. It’s all beneath me.”
Melody
moved forward, closing the small space that still separated her and Ryan. Her
breasts were pressed against Ryan’s chest, her hands still over his heart. He
slowly slid his hands down the curve of her bare spine, palms coming to rest on
her hips. His fingers clenched against her, rucking up her tight skirt.
“I
think you’re a smart girl. I’m glad you’ve seen the error in your ways. It’s
not too late to make some changes. But we have a client due here any minute.
I’m not sure this is the time to take this further.”
Melody
kept her hands on Ryan’s chest, raising her eyes to meet his. “There’s always
time to take things to the next step. Don’t you want me to succeed? I want to
make partner; you want to help. I’m not asking for…well, let’s say we have time
to start the discussion. We can always finish it later…much later.”
She
stood on tiptoe, hesitating briefly before her lips brushed his. His breath was
warm on her mouth and as she held his gaze the caution in his eyes gave way to
the hunger and lust she’d seen there before.
Her
heart thumped painfully against her ribcage but her voice was steady.
“I’m
yours, Ryan. Same page, same sentence. Same words now.”
His
lips were on hers, hard and possessive, his hands pulling her hard against his
body. The intensity of his kiss made her gasp. There was no pleasure in this
kiss, it tasted of total control, all take and no give.
Moving
with all the confidence of knowing he owned her, Ryan’s hands moved up her
back, sliding around to cup her breasts. With ease he parted the silk, slipping
his fingers beneath, his thumbs skating across her nipples. Melody squirmed,
not from pleasure but from repulsion. Her movements only made Ryan hold her
tighter, his kiss deepening, his tongue forced against her teeth.
At
the soft knock at the door, she broke their kiss, pressing herself forcefully against
Ryan, hands gripping his shirt. She turned her head, saw the doorknob turning,
the door swinging open. Ryan looked between her and the door, suddenly wary. He
tensed beneath her hands, his fingers briefly convulsing against her
breasts. She cried out in pain and surprise.
The
door swung open wide. Lori was frozen in place, the doorknob slipping from her
grasp, the door banging against the wall. Behind Lori was Logan, eyes dark,
body tense, fists clenched at his side.
“Ryan!
You bastard. Let her go.” Logan strode into the office as Ryan pushed Melody
away. She stumbled against the table,
Learning to Kill: Stories