Her hands went to the nape of his neck in an eager movement, pulling his lips more firmly to hers. She opened her mouth, and his tongue didn’t hesitate to gain entrance. Hers met his to tease and tantalize. It was a duel of pleasure that he didn’t want to win.
His body hummed with a need that only Phoebe could ease.
She pulled her mouth away.
“Aw. What’s wrong?”
“The baby kicked.”
Damn. He’d forgotten all about the baby. How could he? Because he was so focused on his hunger for Phoebe. He stepped back far enough that he was no longer touching her.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Silly, you weren’t hurting me.” She took a predatory step toward him. “Babies kick.”
“I shouldn’t, we shouldn’t …”
“Come on, Ryan. We’re adults. I’m certainly aware of the facts of life, and I’m sure you are, too. So we both know that what we were doing wouldn’t hurt the baby. I want this. I want you. From what I could tell, you wanted me.”
That would be an understatement.
“I’m going to my bedroom. I hope you join me. If not, please lock up on your way out.”
She went up on the tips of her toes, kissed him and left the kitchen. Ryan stood there with his manhood aching and the choice of a lifetime to make.
How like Phoebe to be so direct. If he joined her, could he remain emotionally detached? He already cared more than he should and certainly more than he was comfortable with. But if he didn’t, he would never know the heaven of being with Phoebe. There was no decision. A beautiful, desirable woman that he wanted was offering him the world. There was no question of whether or not to accept.
CHAPTER EIGHT
PHOEBE SAT ON the edge of the bed in her room. A lone lamp burned on her bedside table. She’d never been so brazen in her life. But how else was she going to get through to Ryan? She wanted him desperately. Needed his calm caring, his reliability and assurance in her life. It was so quiet in the house that she feared he’d slipped out and gone home. Seconds later her heart thumped against her ribs at the sound of footfalls in the hallway.
He’d stayed.
Ryan hesitated at the door. Their gazes met, held. He removed his tie and jacket and dropped them over the chair, then he stalked across the floor and pulled her to her feet and into his arms.
This was where she belonged.
His mouth met hers. She opened for him. Their tongues mated in a frenzied battle of touch and retreat. Heat flowed through her, strong and sure, pooling low in her. Ryan’s lips left hers and he buried his face in her neck. He nipped at her skin. The desire that flickered in her blazed.
He gathered her dress along one leg, sliding a hand under the fabric. She hissed as his fingers touched her skin. His hand glided around her leg until it found the inside of her thigh and squeezed lightly. She shivered.
Ryan removed his hand. He met her gaze. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he turned her around.
“What …?”
“Shush,” he all but growled. He gathered her hair, running his fingers through it. “Beautiful,” he murmured, before placing it over a shoulder.
There was a tug at the top of her dress. He opened the zipper. The tug ended and his lips found the skin between her shoulder blades. A shudder traveled down her spine. His mouth skimmed over each vertebra to her waist. There he spent some time kissing and touching with the tip of his tongue the curve of her back.
She began to move but he said, “Not yet.”
Ryan’s fingertip followed the same path upward, then his palms until he brushed her dress off her shoulders. She crossed her arms, preventing the dress from falling away from her breasts.
He kissed the length of the ridge between her neck and arm. “So silky.”
Phoebe sighed. This was too wonderful. “Let me turn off the lamp.”
He guided her to face him. “Phoebe, look at me.”
Her eyes rose to meet his gaze.
“You’re beautiful.” He placed his hands on either side of the baby. “That’s a new life you’re carrying. There’s nothing more amazing or natural than that. Please don’t hide it from me.”
If she could have melted she would have. “You’re sure?”
“Honey, I’m more than sure.” Ryan moved closer to bring his taught length against her belly, leaving her in no doubt of his desire.
It was an empowering thought to know that was all for her.
Stepping back, he took both her hands and opened her arms. The dress fell away, leaving her breasts visible, cupped in a lacy pink bra. Her dress gathered on her belly. Ryan gave it a gentle tug at the seams and the dress pooled around her feet on the floor.
His gaze fixed on her breasts. He sucked in a breath and she crossed her arms again.
“Please, don’t. You’re amazing. I want to admire you.”
“They’re so large.” She couldn’t look at him.
Ryan lifted her chin with a finger until her gaze met his. “I don’t know a man in the world who doesn’t love large breasts. Especially if they are his to admire.”
The heat building in her grew. Ryan knew how to make her feel beautiful.
He removed her arms. Using a finger, he followed the cleft of her cleavage. Her nipples pushed against her bra as they swelled. A tingle zipped through her breasts. His finger traced the line of her bra first over one mound and then the other. She swayed and Ryan slipped an arm around her.
With a deft movement of his fingers he unclipped her bra. He slipped it off one arm. His tongue followed the same path as his finger. On the return trip, he veered off. At the same time his free hand lifted her right breast, his mouth captured her nipple.
Her womb contracted. “Ryan …” she muttered. She wasn’t sure if she was begging for him to stop or to continue.
Ryan supported her as she leaned back, offering herself completely to him. Her hands went to his shoulders in the hope she could steady her body and her emotions. His mouth slid to the other nipple. Her fingertips bit into his shoulders.
Ryan’s hand traced the line of her undies until he reached her center. It brushed her mound and retreated. Her center throbbed with the need for him to return. Using the arm around her waist, he pulled her toward him until she was no longer leaning back. His hand swept the other strap of her bra off and down her arm, letting the undergarment drop to the floor.
She looked at him. Ryan’s gaze was fixed on her breasts. His hand reached up and stopped millimeters from her nipple. It had the slightest tremor to it. She would have missed it if she hadn’t been watching. They both understood the facts of life well and still these moments of passion were overwhelming. He touched the tip of her nipple with the end of his finger.
Something similar to lightning shot through her.
“So responsive,” Ryan murmured in a note of satisfaction as he ran a finger gently over her skin. It was as if a breeze had come through. He did the same to the other breast.
Phoebe quaked all over. There was something erotic about watching Ryan touch her. Her nerve endings tingled. She had to touch him. See his reaction.
He moved back and lifted both her breasts, kissing each one in turn. Taking a nipple in his mouth, he traced it with his tongue and tugged. She bucked against him.
“Clothes.” The word came out as a strangled sound. “I want to see you.”
A noise came low in his throat. Leaving a kiss on the curve of her breast, he stepped back. Undoing his tie, he jerked it from his collar and began unbuttoning his shirt.
While he did that she released his belt. She ran the back of her hand down the bulge of his manhood. His body’s reaction to hers was stimulating. It gave her a boldness she’d never had before. She backed away until her legs found the side of the bed and she sat. Looking up at Ryan, she caught his gaze. “Come here. It’s my turn.”
His shirt fluttered to the floor. He stepped close enough for her to touch him. Finding his zip
per, she slowly lowered it. Her hand moved to touch him but he stopped her by capturing her hand and bringing it to his lips. “Don’t.” The word sounded harsh with tension. “I don’t think I can control myself if you do.”
Phoebe pulled her hand from his. Sliding her hands between the waist of his pants and his hips, she pushed. His trousers fell to the floor. He wore red plaid boxers that didn’t disguise his size. Ryan was no small man anywhere.
He kicked off his shoes, then finished removing his slacks. Leaning over, he jerked off his socks.
Phoebe reached out and ran her hand through his hair. Her fingers itched to gather the mass and pull him to her. Had she ever been this turned on? She wanted Ryan beside her, on her and in her like she’d never wanted before. Her hands slowly slipped from his hair and Ryan looked at her. He nudged her back on the bed and came down beside her.
“I want to touch you like you did me.” Phoebe rolled to her side.
He faced her.
Her heart leaped at his unspoken agreement. The lovemaking between Joshua and her had always been fast and desperate, never slow and passionate, as she was experiencing now.
Ryan wasn’t sure he could stand much more of Phoebe’s administering. As it was, he gritted his teeth to control his need to dive into her.