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

“How long you’ve been here?” she asked and the look in his eyes told her long enough to have seen the drama unfold.

He laughed low. “You always did pick the losers.”

Not at all interested in another lecture, Mackenzie turned away but before she could put some distance between them, Ryan reached out and caught her arm with his hand. “Where are you going? I want to dance.”

Without even waiting for a response, he led her up the steps onto the dance floor. A slow song she barely recognized was playing. Ryan drew her into his arms and once she was pressed up against him, she exhaled. He smelled amazing. It was a woodsy scent that he had made his own. Large arms looped around her waist, urging her to fit closely. His body was hard and strong, just the way she liked it. Automatically, her hands found his forearms. His skin warmed her fingertips. As they moved together she felt his rock hard abs, brushing against her breasts. Obviously, her nipples beaded in response. His wide shoulders blocked her view, but she didn’t give a damn.

“I think I need to keep an eye on you,” he whispered close to her ear, sending electric pulses through her bloodstream.

Mackenzie tilted her head back and gazed up into his eyes. “Why’s that?”

“Because you seem to migrate toward trouble.”

She tilted her chin up in a gesture of defiance. “And hanging with you would be an improvement?”

He mumbled against her ear, “You could do a lot worse.”

“That’s not saying much,” she replied with a laugh. Everyone knew Ryan had a reputation of being a heart-breaker.

“At least I don’t have a wife,” he teased with that spine-tingling voice of his. One hand rose to encircle her slender neck. Goodness, he was so dangerously seductive. No wonder women fell at his feet.

Her smile became a smirk. “Okay, you got me there.”

His eyes caught hers once more and this time she lost herself in the sight. He was so handsome with a square face that was undeniably masculine and beautiful chocolate-brown eyes framed by long, dark lashes. How many years had she spent fantasizing about Charlie’s best friend, wondering what it would be like to date him… to share his bed? Oh, she’d lived in Sheraton Beach all her life and had heard the rumor. She had even seen some of the women Ryan had dated and she had never thought any of them were what he needed. Most were superficial or high maintenance. She never could understand why he even wasted his time.

The song was captivating and she found herself
gyrating
her hips to the beat. One of Ryan’s hands was at her waist and the other at the center of her back, holding her body against his, causing her nipples to ache. Her heart was pounding like crazy and she was certain he felt it as well.

He guided her into another dance routine, which she followed easily. While they gazed at each other, Ryan continued to caress her and a tremor shot through her body, making her shiver in places he hadn’t touched. She stared up into eyes that were dark, compelling, and downright tempting, and at that moment Mackenzie knew exactly what it was she wanted to do.

Her heartbeat pounded louder than the music surrounding them as she said, “You’re right. I could do a lot worse. What would you say if I told you I wanted a lot more than your eyes on me?”

His eyes narrowed a bit. “What are you saying?”

There was one thing she wanted. After that entire fiasco and trying to be committed to one man, she wanted to just live wild and reckless for a moment.

Mackenzie leaned forward, wet her lips and replied, “When am I going to get my chance with Ryan Young?”

She felt his body stiffen. “Are you serious?” he asked.

For a moment she almost regretted her proposition, but the twinkle in Ryan’s eyes spoke volumes. She had his attention. Everyone knew his reputation of dating women for two weeks before moving on to the next. Now was her turn.

“Do I look like I’m playing?” she purred and his eyes never once left her face. “You think maybe you can pencil me in for fourteen days on your calendar?”

Before she had a chance to hear his response, Kaelyn appeared beside her. “Mackenzie, I’ve been looking all over the place for you,” she said then looked up at Ryan and smiled.
“Hey Ryan.
Thanks for coming.”

Following a grin, he replied, “I wouldn’t miss it.”

The song ended and Mackenzie moved away from his touch.

“I just heard what happened. Can we talk?” Kaelyn asked as her eyes searched hers.

“Sure.” Mackenzie looked to Ryan. “Thanks for the dance.” She was prepared to turn away, but he caught her arm and sent her heart racing fast. “Yes?”

She stared up at him. His dark eyes heated, filling her with a longing that was nearly unbearable. “We didn’t finish our conversation.”

Swallowing, she replied, “Why don’t you surprise me?” With that Mackenzie pulled free of his grasp and followed her best friend off the dance floor.

*
 
*
 
*

As Ryan watched Mackenzie’s sweet, round ass sashay across the room, excitement oozed over him like hot lava.

When am I going to get my chance with Ryan Young?

When the words first escaped her lips, he scanned the ceiling and the corners of the bar looking for a hidden microphone, a camera, or something, anything that said he was being
punked
. But not only did he not find any hidden devices, Mackenzie didn’t even bat an eye. In fact, she was serious. Dead serious, he realized as his eyes locked with her determined gaze. Now her question was hanging on the end of a hook, waiting for him to bite.

Her request still echoed in his head as he watched the sway of her lush hips that was more than enticing. That petite light-skinned woman had a body that was beyond perfect with medium breasts, an itty bitty waist and ass for days. Add that to her short pixie haircut,
catlike, amber-colored eyes,
and lush mouth, and you had a woman who did wicked things to his libido.

Everything in him was on high alert as he watched the women disappear around the corner toward Mackenzie’s office. He would allow her a few minutes to speak with Kaelyn,
then
he was going after her. There was no way he could continue to ignore the heat that had been raging through his blood. Not now. Not after her proposition. Not after he’d been fantasizing about this moment for years.

Since Mackenzie was Charlie’s cousin, he’d done everything he could to keep his libido in check. He tried to ignore her wonderful scent. He’d tried not to notice that sexy smile or that smart-ass mouth of hers. Even though he’d spent countless hours imagining her gorgeous mouth swollen from his kisses, the other images pinging across his brain were erotic. He was confident she was a dominant lover, a woman who was determined to give as good as he got, and just thinking about her straddling his lap, had Ryan hard and aroused. Hell yeah. Now that she was ready and willing to give him what he’d been dreaming about, there was no way he could deny what was stirring in his blood a moment longer. Not with his body responding to the idea. With a raise of his hand, he ordered a Corona, and by the time he was done sipping, he put the bottle down hard on the counter and headed toward the office in back.

Ryan pushed through the crowd of guests, laughing, talking and drinking. Out the corner of his eye, he spotted Kaelyn and Ashton. Shit! His eyes swept the room. Where was Mackenzie, he wondered? Hopefully she hadn’t found someone else to dance with because if she had, he had every intention of claiming her and making his intentions known. A quick glance at the stage, he sighed. Mackenzie wasn’t there.

He maneuvered through the crowd and made his way to the back of the building. Mackenzie’s office was on the restaurant side near the restrooms. It was packed. More customers were waiting. He shoved open a door with his hip and moved down the narrow corridor. If he was lucky, she was in there alone. A few seconds later, he exited her office with a frustrated line across his forehead. She wasn’t there.

“Can I help you?”

He startled as he practically ran into the restaurant manager.
Kimalea
.

He grinned, sheepishly, and said, “Sorry, I was looking for Mack.”

A soft smile tilted the tall woman’s lips as she pointed to the rear. “We ran out of vodka so she went down in the basement to retrieve another bottle.”

Ryan nodded
a thanks
, then pushed through the kitchen and down the short flight of stairs to the storage area where there were rows of unperishable supplies. He had been here enough times to know the liquor was kept in the vault in back. With determination, he moved across the concrete floor and turned the corner to find Mackenzie standing on a step stool reaching for a box that was still too far away.

“Hey let me get that,” Ryan said as he rushed over and caught Mackenzie just as she jerked at the sound of his voice and landed in his outstretched arms. “Sorry about that.”

She stared up at him, face flushed, lips red, eyes wide with alarm. “You scared me!”

“Sorry.” Slowly Ryan lowered her to her feet but he still held her close. He noticed that she was looking at him chewing nervously on her lush bottom lip. Had she changed her mind, he wondered? He hoped the hell not. He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had turned him down. Nor had he ever had to pursue them. They came to him freely and easily. But she was different. Now that his mind and body was fixated on Mackenzie, nothing or no one else would do.

“What are you doing down here?” she asked and he was well aware of the tip of her tongue as it darted out and slicked her bottom lip.

Ryan had to bite back a groan. Her mouth was full and tempting and it made his stomach feel inverted. “I came to surprise you.” Ryan hauled her to him, pressing her breasts against the wall of his chest.

“Oh really?”
Her lips parted slightly as if in invitation. “I didn’t mean—”

 
“I don’t believe in wasting time.” His lips crashed down on hers.

* * *

At first she went completely still, so shocked she didn’t have a chance to respond and yet once he angled his head and deepened the kiss, her body came to life. She couldn’t resist. She didn’t want to, not with Ryan. When his tongue pushed past her lips, Mackenzie whimpered and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Ryan’s mouth was firm and possessive and for the first time she didn’t care if it was business hours and she was on duty. The only thing that mattered was she was finally kissing Ryan. They always say be careful what you wish for because you might get it, yet it was nothing at all like she had imagined.

It was far better.

He lowered his fingers along the length of her spine and then down to her waist, pulling Mackenzie
flush
against him, and she felt his erection against her belly. She gasped. The rumors had been true! Moving against him, she moaned at the electrifying throbbing that had started between her thighs.

Her breasts felt heavy, her nipples hard, announcing to him just how aroused he made her. The taste of his honey-sweet lips sent waves of sensation through her body and pulsed hard between her thighs. She wanted him. She wanted him to show her everything she had heard about him and more, because she was certain there was a whole lot more to this man.

Mackenzie moved her hands along his biceps, then around to his chest. His pecs were hard.
Firm,
and perfect just like everything else about him.
 
She wanted to feel Ryan without layers of clothing between them. She wanted—

“What the hell is going on in here?”

She jerked back as if she’d been burned. “Allen? Why are you here?” she asked the tall, brown man towering in the doorframe.

He ignored her question and said, “Who’s this bum?”