Sullivans 06 - Let Me Be the One

twice, three times into the pleasure his thick heat gave her just at her core. A low groan came from his throat and as she arched into him just one more time, he pressed his mouth to the hollow of her neck and licked against her skin.
    Oh God, that one slow stroke of his tongue was almost enough to pitch her over the edge. Just a few more brushes on her overheated, oversensitive skin, just a handful of thrusts against him, and she’d not only be the kind of woman who made out in the back of a cab...she’d also be the kind that climaxed in one.
    But, amazingly, it wasn’t her sense of propriety, it wasn’t even a last grasp at self-control that had her shifting back on his thighs just enough to keep from imploding. It was the fact that her hands were even more insistent, simply craved the chance to finally touch the man she’d only been able to admire visually for so long, that had her refocusing on the planes and hollows of his face.
    She could have explored Ryan’s face for hours—the slightly irregular bone over the bridge of his nose where he’d once been hit with a baseball, the peaks and valleys of his upper lip, the bristling stubble across his chin and cheeks that scratched at her fingers and palms, the perfect curve of his earlobe, the strong beat of his heart at his pulse point.
    How different, she had to wonder, would all of this feel against the insides of her thighs rather than her hands?
    And would she find out tonight?
    The decadent questions had Vicki shifting closer to him again, and her eyes fluttered open. Until now, Ryan had always been the one to kiss her. Right from that first night in the cocktail lounge when their game of pretend had begun, Ryan had been the one to claim her mouth in the gentle kiss.
    They both knew he could take anything he wanted from her right now, even in the back of a cab. He was bigger. Stronger. And she wanted him. Badly. And yet, he remained perfectly still beneath her.
    Watching her with those dark eyes.
    Waiting, as if to see whether she was brave enough to demand from him what he’d demanded from her in the bar.
    Vicki told herself her heart shouldn’t be thudding so hard in her chest over yet another kiss. But it was.
    Because she knew this was so much more than a kiss.
    It was the difference between allowing herself to be seduced by Ryan...and being an equal partner in seduction.
    Ryan hadn’t said a word, but she could hear his voice just the same. Come on, Vicki. Just one little kiss. Give it to me. You know you want to.
    As if he’d said the words aloud, his dark eyes lit with the humor that was never far from the surface, the perfect combination of wicked and daring, safe and sweet.
    That was when Vicki knew she was a goner.
    Not just for one kiss.
    Not just for one night.
    But forever.
    They’d make love tonight. It would be beautiful and thrilling and, likely, the culmination of every sexual fantasy she’d ever had.
    But Vicki didn’t need to sleep with Ryan to know that he’d already conquered all the corners of her heart.
    And that making love would likely cause irreparable damage between them come morning.
    She kissed him anyway.

Chapter Seventeen
     
    Vicki’s mouth was a soft press of sweetness against Ryan’s lips as she finally kissed him.
    God, she tasted good. He loved the way her tongue found his before pulling back slightly to stroke against his lips and teeth.
    Even more, though, he loved the fact that she’d finally reached for him.
    Not just with her mouth on his, but the way she’d put her hands on his face and closed her eyes as if she were sculpting him. Sitting in the cab with all of his clothes on and her hands on him, he’d felt naked. And completely transparent. As if Vicki had a direct line to his heart...and soul.
    He’d wanted her to know it all, everything he didn’t know how to say but couldn’t stop feeling.
    When the taxi driver hit the brakes hard, Ryan was glad for the excuse—for any excuse—to hold her even tighter. He’d never felt anything as good as having her in his arms and when she’d been rocking into him a few minutes ago, he’d been close to losing it fully clothed.
    She tried to slip off his lap as he reached for his wallet, but he wouldn’t let her go until the last possible second. Still, he held fast to her hand so that she couldn’t leave the cab until he did, too.
    The taxi sped away from them, and in the light of the streetlamp outside his front gate, Vicki’s beautiful face was