Chapter 6

The last time the guy called me this frequently was five months ago when I stormed out of his hotel room, wishing I would never lay eyes on him again.

Of course, that notion was laughable. Short of moving out of New York, I was unlikely to get that particular wish granted.

We ended up meeting again and again, and every time, I came away hating him a little bit more.

Craving him a little bit more, that snarky voice mocks.

I decline the call with a savage flick of my thumb and fling the offending phone on the bed. Then I whip off the towel on my head, drying my hair in vigorous jerks, something I tell my clients to never do. But I need to dispel these horrid thoughts.

What could he possibly want from me this time?

I remember those early morning calls just before Brooke and Xavier’s wedding. How I managed to come away from that with my sanity intact is beyond me. The man just gets under my skin like no one ever has.

I enjoy teasing men and calling the shots, but Ryan is like uncharted waters, wild and unpredictable. I hate the way something inside me trembles when he’s near. I tell myself it’s the sheer size of him, but I know better.

I glare at the phone until it finally stops vibrating. Then, I head to the kitchen to fix myself a much-needed sandwich. I’d skipped breakfast because my stomach was in knots this morning.

I’m just settling at my kitchen table and loading up my laptop, ready to power through some client bookings when the doorbell rings.

Awesome! Must be the delivery for the new makeup brushes I speed-ordered yesterday.

I refasten my robe’s belt, take the towel off my head and fluff out my hair. Then, I quickly pad across the living room and pull the door open without even checking the peephole.

I’m shocked to see it’s Ryan.

He fills my doorway, tall and imposing. His hair is sexily mussed, like he’s been running his fingers through it. This time his eyes aren’t cold. They’re scorching. Helplessly, my own eyes rove over his tailored black shirt. It contrasts with his tanned skin and lovingly molds to his torso.

I catch myself and yank my gaze back to his before it has a chance to descend even lower. And I find his own eyes haven’t quite made it back to mine because they’re busy roaming all over my silk-clad body.

Shit. I thought this was a quick delivery.

I jerk the edges of my robe more firmly together. “Ryan?”

His smile widens. “Rose.” My name sounds like a prayer rolling off his lips.

The last time he was here was the very first time I saw him in person. He’d drenched himself trying to help me repair my leaky faucet.

That seems like ages ago. Before I got to know the real Ryan. The bossy one.

The dom with the big ass dick.

I feel my face flaming, and I immediately want to kick myself for going down that stupid lane.

“Why are you here?” I snap.

“If you’d picked up my calls, I wouldn’t be here. You look good, by the way. Very good.” He gives me another slow once-over, and I want to grit my teeth against the ripples of awareness coursing through my skin.

“I would think you’d take the hint and stop calling.”

He loses the teasing smirk. “Rose, I need to speak to you. It’s important.”

I cock my head in disbelief. “What could you possibly need to talk about? What, you’re tired of recycling all the floozies in Manhattan?” At the rate Ryan goes through them, it’s a real possibility since he has a habit of doing more than one woman at once.

“Can I come in, or do you want to talk out here?”

“Whatever it is you’re selling, it’s a no from me, so I don’t see the point of us talking.”

“Jesus, woman, give me a break. You should hear me out on this.”

“I’m not sleeping with you, Ryan Anderson.”

Ryan laughs. Actually holds his belly and laughs. I’d love to say that I hate the sound tickling my ears, but that would be a lie. “That is a very easy yes since I have no desire to sleep with you, Rose.”

Some of my animosity melts away in surprise. And a little bit of hurt. “You don’t.” It’s more a statement than a question.

“Me, you, and a bed? Hard pass. Not even if you say please. Can I come in now?”

I grudgingly move away from the door and turn to the living room, leaving him to follow. I go to sit on the couch.

He follows me, shutting the door behind him. Immediately, my tiny apartment feels even more constricted. As he moves toward me, my eyes are again drawn to his body.

Why does everything about Ryan have to be so sensual? Like he does everything in slow motion so you can take in every nuance of his movements. I shake myself out of my mental fog and wait for him to join me.

He drops onto my couch and faces me, and I try not to notice how his tight shirt stretches against his broad chest.

“So, what do you want?” I want to get this over with as quickly as possible.

He glances at me, and unlike his usual behavior, he doesn’t look away. Instead, he stares. And I soon get why Ryan doesn’t look at people for long. Someone must have warned him it’s too intense.

I break eye contact, suddenly uncomfortable, but not before I see his brows furrow in concern.

“Have you been crying?” Ryan asks.

“No, I haven’t.” My foot taps against the thin living room carpet.

“Yes, you have. What’s the matter?”

I can’t believe this. The last thing I want is for Ryan to see me vulnerable. I leave my seat, needing to put some distance between us. “Really Ryan? You know, it actually sounds a bit strange coming out of you. Almost like you care.”

His smile falters. “I do care, Rose. Why would you think I don’t?”

I roll my eyes. “Of course, you do. I’ve got a vagina.”

Ryan rears back, his smile now completely wiped off his face. “Okay, listen. We aren’t going to do this anymore. However much you can’t stand me, you’re going to be civil and respectful. So, Rose. That was your last free pass. Open your mouth and talk to me like that again, and I’ll spank you.”

I gasp in outrage and blink in rapid succession, unable to believe his audacity. “Not unless you’d like to leave here without your balls, you wouldn’t dare lay a finger on me, jackass.”

“As long as we understand each other.” We stare at each other until he looks away, gritting his teeth. “Look, what I want to propose isn’t going to work unless we find a way to get along.”

“I highly doubt that I can see eye to eye with you on anything.” I snap.

“You managed okay before, Rose, I’m sure you can figure it out again, just as soon as you let go of your rage. Why are you so angry anyway?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I turn away, suddenly finding the view of the brick wall opposite my apartment very fascinating.

“The look in your eyes just now tells me you know what exactly I’m talking about. God, Rose, can you fucking hold a grudge. I already apologized. Squash it already and move on.”

I don’t realize he’s left the couch until I feel his heat on my back mere seconds before his hands circle my upper arms. He bends toward my ear and whispers, “Let it go.”

My lids flutter closed. Goosebumps, unlike anything I’ve ever felt, cover my entire upper body, and my nipples harden to achy points. If I turned around he’d see them poking through my silk robe.

“I’ll think about it.” I’m proud of how steady my voice is.

For a few moments he simply waits. Then he says. “No.”

“What?”

“No, this stops right now. It’s been five fucking months Rose. I’m sorry I shocked you. I misread what I thought you would like.”

A flash of irritation hits me. “So just because we exchanged a bunch of calls you thought you knew me? There’s nothing to apologize for. Absolutely nothing. I was the idiot. I was horny and drunk so at that point anyone would do. Even someone like you.”

Okay. I probably should not have said that. The tension crackling from him tells me he didn’t appreciate that comment either. But what can I say? The guy makes me nervous and I run my mouth.

“I see.” Ryan’s arm suddenly circles my waist and pulls me flush against him. He spreads his palm on my lower belly, holding me in place. I feel his arousal digging into my butt and resist the urge to move against the hard bulge.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I have to fight to keep my voice even.

“What I promised I’d do. I’m going to spank you. Then you’ll get on your knees and apologize. On my cock.”