For Her Pleasure (The Pleasure Series Book 2) (9 page)

Mackenzie sighed as his jaw grazed her cheek and then she was purring. Her hands were sliding up and down his back while his were at her hips, drawing her tightly to him.

Her hand came up to caress his face, first along his jaw and then across his cheek and neck. When she rubbed her thumb along his mouth, his lips closed gently on the pad and she stared at him. There was no denying the desire burning in his eyes.

The singer’s last notes faded into silence. Ryan took her hand and was leading her off the floor when Allen stepped into their path.

“So you decided to come.”

She had hoped to have gotten through the entire evening without a confrontation, but she should have known Allen would want to make sure she saw his lovely date.

Mackenzie straightened her posture and turned to face him. “Why wouldn’t I be here? This evening has nothing to do with you.”

She noticed the slim beauty standing beside him, sizing her up in a single glance. Allen smirked and dragged his arm tighter around her waist. “And I see you haven’t wasted any time flaunting around your latest conquest,” he retorted coolly.

His words cut through her like a knife.
How dare
he
!

Then, behind her, a voice cut through. “Speak to my girl again and it will be the last thing you ever say,” Ryan warned, the tone chilling.

Mackenzie placed a hand to his chest and felt the muscles contract as if he was ready to react.

Allen stuttered but remained silent; his fist jammed into his pants pocket.

Her mouth curled into a mocking half-smile as she regarded the two. “At least
he
isn’t married, which unfortunately I can’t say the same about
you
. How many kids did your wife say the two of you have…
four
?”

The woman’s catlike gaze narrowed on her face before turning to Allen in horror. “What is she talking about?” she asked.

Mackenzie released a cynical laugh. Smiling, she shifted her eyes to Ryan and said, “Come on sweetheart, let’s get back to our table.”

* * *

“You seemed very passionate about helping the cause tonight. Thanks again for donating.”

Ryan turned his vehicle at the corner and headed down Main Street, one of the main attractions of Sheraton Beach. The area boasted mom and pop stores, entertainment and restaurants. There was something for just about anyone.

He glanced at her briefly, then turned and gazed out the window as he maneuvered through the evening traffic. “When I was eight, I lived in a battered women’s shelter with my mother and sister.”

“What?” Mackenzie startled and turned on the seat. “I’m sorry, I didn’t…” Her voice trailed off as she reached over and squeezed his hand. “Was it your father?”

He stared at the road, trying to scale back the overwhelming emotion he felt. Tonight’s cause had brought back so many painful memories for him as a child. A time in his life he had tried so hard to forget.

“I don’t remember my father. He had a massive stroke when I was four,” he began. “By the time I was eight, my mother had married my sister Delilah’s father, Clayton Cole.” Ryan made a right at the corner and then continued at a moderate speed as he remembered the devil he had once called his father. “He knocked my mother around for just smiling at him the wrong way. We never knew what kind of mood Clayton was going to be in when he got home, so we would do whatever we could to make sure the house was clean, and Mom always had dinner ready on the table.” He paused and gave a lackluster laugh. “But it was never good enough. Sometimes I think he just looked for an excuse to hit us. I remember one time he beat me so bad I couldn’t go to school for an entire week.”

“Oh no,” Mackenzie wailed. “Did you ever tell anyone?”

He gave a rude snort. “Who could I tell? It was just my mom and us and besides it would have only made matters worse. He took his anger out on her enough as it was, that I couldn’t bear to see him hurt my mom anymore.”

“What made her finally leave him?”

His gazed narrowed on her face.
“When he broke my sister’s arm.”

“Nooo!”

Ryan nodded and pulled into the parking lot to her complex. While turning off the car, he saw the sheen of tears in her eyes. “He wouldn’t even let my mom take her to the hospital, so she waited until he left for work and took us both.” He hated that his voice was heavy with emotion. “I remember the lady from social services walking in and telling Mom either she did something or she was taking my sister and I into protective custody. Mom said no one would ever separate us, so she packed a suitcase and we moved into a battered women’s shelter.” His heart clutched painfully at the memories.

“Good for her,” Mackenzie said in a shaky voice.

Ryan reached out and brushed away the tears he saw running down her cheeks.

“Clayton came around begging and trying to get us back, but somehow my mother found the strength to divorce him and move on with her life.”

He closed his eyes and the two of them sat there for the longest time not saying anything, instead just listening to their steady heartbeats. It had been a long time ago and yet he couldn’t believe how shaken he was. He felt like that eight-year-old little boy again, trying to protect his mother, crying for his little sister. Back then he had no control over his life. Now he did. Ryan dragged a hand across his bald head with disbelief. He couldn’t believe he had shared something he had tried for years to forget. But what scared Ryan most was he couldn’t think of ever telling anyone about that part of his life, but with Mackenzie, he wanted to share everything.

Finally, their eyes met and held in the dimly lit parking lot and Mackenzie was the first to speak. “Did your mother ever marry again?”

He shook his head. “No, she has a hard time trusting again.”

“What about you?”

He pinned her with his gaze. “I trust you.”

She gave him a smile that caused his stomach to flip-flop. He reached across for Mackenzie’s hand and brought it to his lips, then kissed her fingers, one at a time. She was a godsend. She understood him. Not many women did, or maybe he just never allowed anyone to get close enough to him so he could find out. But Mackenzie had always been different.

Ryan claimed her mouth in a deep kiss, and when he finally withdrew, both of their breaths were labored, hearts beating erratically in the silence that surrounded them.

He tried to think of something witty to say to lighten the dark mood, but his body was wound too tight with a combination of emotions that were too intense to decipher.

They finally went inside. Mackenzie locked the door and when she swung around he watched as she nervously licked her lips and the pure need in her amber eyes was his undoing every time. Every cell in his body ached for release that only Mackenzie could give him.

He dragged her into his arms and brought his mouth down over hers. She slid her hands up his chest and around his neck, kissing him so hungrily his head spun. His fingers were already lowering the zipper at the back of her dress. The need for her was so intense his muscles began to shake. No other woman would do, because what he was feeling went far beyond a sexual accommodation. It was something deeper that he wasn’t quite sure, yet, he was ready to explore. All he knew was he couldn’t wait much longer to join their bodies as one.

Ryan backed Mackenzie over to the couch, gently pushed her down onto the cushions,
then
covered her body with his. She released several whimpers, urging and coaxing him to deepen the kiss.

“Ryan,” she
choked,
voice thick with desire.

“I’m right here babe,” he told her as his lips trailed across her bare shoulders, pausing to drink in the scent of her skin.

What’s happening to me
?

He felt conflicted with both wanting and needing her so bad his heart ached. He had made a vow to never need another woman again, and yet, with Mackenzie he was almost willing to risk everything, and it scared the hell out of him. All of his internal guards were shattering and if he had any sense left, he would wait until he had a better hold on his emotions before he made love to her again. But the way she felt in his arms, the feel of her mouth against his made him a goner. Ryan couldn’t—correction—didn’t want to stop. Instead she made him want to take the risk and see the possibility of where things could lead. And that frightened him to the bones.

“I want everything you have to offer tonight.”

His words caused her to whimper his name and moan in agreement. He lifted up and slid his fingers behind her back, removed her bra and revealed her breasts. Ryan then wasted no time. Lowering his mouth, he found the hardened tips and suckled hungrily. Mackenzie arched off the couch deeper into his mouth and the sounds of her moans sent a thrilling flood of heat right smack to his groin area.

“Mack, I need to be inside you now.”

“Yes,” she whispered and spread her legs giving him more space between them. He reached out and touched her so intimately her back arched off the couch. Ryan lowered her down onto the floor, in front of a gas fireplace and rolled her panties down her legs. And then with their eyes locked in an ever intensifying connection, she watched him as he shrugged out of his jacket and then his shirt and tossed them onto a matching chair. “How bad do you want this?” she purred and bit her lush lip as her slick fingers played between her legs.

He shuddered at the erotic image before him. He would never, ever get enough of looking at her naked body. “Oh, you’re about to find out.” And Ryan was back between her thighs so fast he had to force himself to slow it down a notch and breathe before he hurt her or himself. He brought her legs up around his waist. His cock twitched and thickened with anticipation. Her pussy was right in front of him. Her intimate folds were wet and parted and he could see cream glistening, and knew he was the cause.

“Oh God,” Mackenzie said with a soft sigh. “I’ve been waiting all evening for this.”

Ryan was so aroused he was seconds from losing his mind. “Give me a minute, otherwise this isn’t going to last long,” he admitted in a strained voice,
then
settled his hips more firmly between her legs.

“It doesn’t matter. I have nowhere else I’d rather be,” Mackenzie whispered, and then she slipped her hand between their bodies and wrapped her fingers around his penis. “You’re worth losing sleep over,” she whispered cupping his balls ever so gently until Ryan hissed.

“Damn,” he ground out, his control slipping. “You don’t play fair.”

“Sounds like I need to be punished.” She moaned out the end of the word as he plunged into her.

“Shit!”
Being inside her again far exceeded any other time.
Mackenzie was rocking her hips, surrendering everything to him and he hadn’t quite realized how explosive their bodies were as one. Then there were her soft whimpers and the sight of her full breasts bouncing with each push. Ryan braced his elbows on either side of her head then buried his cock to the hilt. The feel of being buried so deep inside caused his eyelids to roll shut and a growl to escape his lips.

“Ryan,” she moaned his name as her body arched.

“I could stay in this pussy all night,” he hissed.

“And I have no problems with that,” she whispered.

He pounded between her thighs. Mackenzie cried out his name, digging her nails into his back, urging him to drive deeper inside. He took her mouth in a kiss that captured her deep groan.

Ryan let out the breath he’d been holding, drew back his hips and thrust back into her releasing every frustrating thought he had felt tonight, letting go of pent-up feelings. Mackenzie slid her legs up his until her knees hooked around his hips, locking him against her. Ryan clutched her hips, driving higher and harder, trying to calm himself down before he thrust too hard and hurt her. But he was frustrated that she made him feel things he just didn’t want to feel, that he had allowed his guard down for the one woman who had always been his soft spot.