A hint of an easier expression changed his face from hard and unyielding to devastatingly sexy once more.
“Avery and Olivia are much more forgiving than me,” he explained.
She smiled at his obvious affection for his siblings. As an only child, she envied them a caring, older brother. At least she’d had Alex, she thought and glanced around looking for the man who’d brought her here. She found him on the dance floor, still with his mother, and relaxed.
“Back to introductions,” Ian said. “You know my name; now it’s your turn.”
“Riley Taylor.”
“Alex’s girlfriend,” he said with disappointment. “I saw you two walk in.”
That’s what he thought? “No, we’re friends. More like brother and sister than anything else.”
His eyes lit up, and she caught a glimpse of yet another expression—pleasantly surprised. “That’s the best news I’ve heard all night,” he said in a deep, compelling tone, his hot gaze never leaving hers.
At a loss for words, Riley remained silent.
“So, Ms. Riley Taylor, where were you off to in such a hurry?” he asked.
“I wanted to rest my feet,” she admitted.
He glanced down at her legs, taking in her red pumps. “Ahh. Well, I have just the place.”
Before she could argue—and if she’d realized he’d planned to drag her off alone, she might have—Ian grasped her arm and guided her to the exit at the far side of the room.
“Ian—”
“Shh. You’ll thank me later. I promise.” He pushed open the door, and they stepped out onto a deck that wasn’t in use this evening.
Sticky, night air surrounded them, but being a Floridian, she was used to it, and obviously
so was he. His arm still cupping her elbow, he led her to a small love seat and gestured for her to sit.
She sensed he was a man who often got his way, and though she’d never found that trait attractive before, on him, it worked. She settled into the soft cushions. He did the same, leaving no space between them, and she liked the feel of his hard body aligned with hers. Her heart beat hard in her chest, excitement and arousal pounding away inside her.
Around them, it was dark, the only light coming from sconces on the nearby building.
“Put your feet up.” He pointed to the table in front of them.
“Bossy,” she murmured.
Ian grinned. He was and was damned proud of it. “You’re the one who said your feet hurt,” he reminded her.
“True.” She shot him a sheepish look that was nothing short of adorable.
The reverberation in her throat went straight to Ian’s cock, and he shifted in his seat, pure sexual desire now pumping through his veins.
He’d been pissed off and bored at his father’s ridiculous birthday gala. Even his sisters had barely been able to coax a smile from him. Then she’d walked into the room.
Because she was with his half brother, Ian hadn’t planned on approaching her, but the minute he’d caught sight of her alone at the bar, he’d gone after her, compelled by a force beyond his understanding. Finding out she and Alex were just friends had made his night because she’d provide a perfect distraction to the pain that followed him whenever his father’s other family was near.
“Shoes?” he reminded her.
She dipped her head and slipped off her heels, moaning in obvious relief.
“That sound makes me think of other things,” he said, capturing her gaze.
“Such as?” She unconsciously swayed closer, and he suppressed a grin.