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  “Call Lina and tell her you’re taking the day off. Just spend the day here with me, please?”

  She was never so tempted to call in sick. She needed this; hell, she’d earned this. “Okay, I’ll do it.” She reached into her purse. “Just give me a minute.”

  “I’ll meet you out back. Let me fire up the hot tub.”

  “But I didn’t bring a swimsuit.”

  He laughed. “You won’t need one, baby.”

  Ryan knew he was coming on strong, but no matter how hard he tried to rein it in, he couldn’t. His feelings for this woman were clouding his judgment. He’d fallen for her beauty and poise the first night he saw her, but as he got to know her better, he was learning that he loved everything about her. She was strong and smart, but she was also compassionate and driven. She was loyal to those she loved and determined to stand on her own two feet. The women he’d dated were more than willing to coast on his dime, but Alana wouldn’t hear of it, and that fierce independence was perhaps her most appealing quality. It was also the trait standing between him and what he wanted. She wasn’t going to let him help her, but the pace she was maintaining wouldn’t allow for the kind of relationship he wanted, so he had to find a way to break down her defenses, earn her trust, and convince her to accept his help.

  He’d shed his clothes and slipped into the hot tub before she made her way out to the manicured backyard. “I was afraid you’d changed your mind and bailed on me,” he said, grinning. She’d replaced her dress before walking outside. He’d have to remedy that, soon.

  Her eyes traveled down his chest. “Don’t think I didn’t think about it.” She licked her lips. “But I’m glad I didn’t.”

  “A bottle of white wine is chilling in the mini-fridge over there.” He pointed to a wraparound stucco and stone structure that housed a mini-kitchen and stone barbeque. “Can you grab it for me? There’s a corkscrew in the drawer beside the sink and wine glasses in the cabinet above.”

  She looked around, admiring the grounds. “You’ve got quite the set-up here.”

  He was suddenly embarrassed to be living in the lap of luxury while she was struggling financially. “I can’t take any of the credit. The house was like this when I bought it.” Not that he hadn’t paid for it and then some.

  “Still, it’s beautiful,” she said.

  He watched her standing at the counter, her back to him. Her platinum blonde hair fell down her back, brushing her waist. He couldn’t wait to feel those silky tresses blanketing his chest when she rode him later.

  She returned with the requisite items in hand and proceeded to open the wine bottle like a seasoned pro. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  He decided to take a risk and come clean. “I’ve waited for this a long time, having you here with me.”

  She passed one of the glasses to him. “What took you so long to make your move?”

  “I had a girlfriend.” He chuckled. “To tell you the truth, I had a hell of a time getting rid of her.”

  She regarded him over the rim of her glass. “How so?”

  “She wasn’t ready to let go, but I knew she wasn’t what I wanted.” He knew exactly what he wanted in a woman, and she stood before him, looking every bit the sexy vixen who’d claimed the starring role in his dreams.

  “What do you want, Ryan?” she asked, licking her lips.

  He didn’t hesitate when he said, “I want you.”

  Smirking, she said, “You’re very good at stroking a girl’s ego. I’m sure you’ve had lots of practice.”

  He didn’t blame her for being skeptical. She’d be crazy to take everything he said at face value, but he was determined to prove to her that he was sincere and committed to making this work, no matter how much it cost him. “Set your glass down,” he said.

  She did as he asked, waiting for the next command.

  “Strip for me, nice and slow.”

  He was surprised she followed his lead without question. Could he be that lucky? Finding a woman who was strong and independent outside of the bedroom, but sexy and submissive when he needed her to be? “Turn around. Let me look at you.”

  He saw the first sign of hesitation. She actually thought he was judging her instead of admiring her? She was flawless. Bronzed and toned. Her succulent tits were proportionate to her tiny waist. Looking at her, the doctor in him was hard-pressed to find fault. He wouldn’t change a thing. “You’re beautiful,” he muttered, sensing she needed his approval.

  He saw the gleam of confidence in her eye when she turned around, and he knew he’d unleashed her inner bad girl.

  Looking around, she asked, “Is this private? I mean, can anyone see us back here?”

  He set his arms on the back of the tub and watched her, waiting. “Would it matter if they could?”

  “No.” After widening her stance, she slipped a finger between her legs and began tickling her clit.

  “Spread your pussy lips. I want to watch your juices trickle down your leg. But I want you to pull away when I tell you to, got it?”

  She nodded, obviously lost in her own pleasure.

  He could come right there, just watching her. “Slide a finger inside your pussy, baby.” He groaned when she complied. “Good, now another. That’s it, thrust in and out, hard and fast. Imagine that’s my cock filling you. I want to see another finger inside that pussy.” He moaned, trying to keep his eyes from drifting closed. He didn’t want to miss a moment of this.

  “Oh God,” she whimpered. “I’m so close.”

  “Stop!”

  She whimpered. “But I…”

  “I said stop, right now.” No way would he sit back and watch her take her first orgasm. He wanted to administer it. “Sit down on the edge of the tub and spread your legs.”

  She wasted no time meeting his demands. She sat down, edging forward until she was level with his face as she spread her legs. “Is this what you had in mind, Doc?”

  “Wider.” He loved that she was bare, and he could see the evidence of her arousal. Her beautiful pussy was pink and swollen, weeping for his tongue. He licked his lips hungrily, desperate to dive in and taste her. “God, I’ve imagined what you would taste like. I can’t wait to find out for myself.”

  “What are you waiting for?” she asked, bracing her weight on her hands. “Come and get it.”

  With a savage growl, he consumed her. Her essence tasted sweeter than honey on his lips, and he knew he would never get enough.

  She brazenly rotated her hips, trying to control the depth of his tongue, but he would have none of it. He would give her what she needed, but only when he was ready. He swirled his tongue over her clit in tight circles, slipping his tongue inside of her when her breathing became labored and he knew she was ready to explode.

  “Please,” she cried. “God, Ryan, I can’t take much more.”

  “You can and you will,” he warned. He had waited too long to allow her to rush him. He intended to take his sweet time devouring every inch of her body until she was satiated. She wouldn’t even be able to entertain the thought of making love to another man by the time he finished with her today. Just the thought of another man tasting her like this made him crazy.

  “Oh, yes, that’s it. Right there…” She leaned back on her elbows, propping her heels on the edge of the hot tub as he continued to suck on her clit.

  The intense throbbing against his lips prompted him to lap at her juices until he was satisfied he hadn’t missed a drop. God, he wanted to do that all over again, and later he would. Right now, his cock felt like it would explode. “Come here,” he said, taking her wrist and pulling her down in his lap. “Do you need me to wear a condom?” he asked, nuzzling her neck.

  “I’m on the pill, but…”

  She had every reason to be cautious. She didn’t know him or anything about his past. As a doctor, he understood the danger of unprotected sex better than most, and he hadn’t been willing to take that risk, until now. He wanted to be her last lover, and
he intended to make sure she was his. He didn’t want a barrier between them, ever, but he was willing to respect her wishes. “I promise you I’m clean, but if you need me to go in the house and get a condom, I will.”

  She looked at him over her shoulder. “It’s okay. I trust you. Is that crazy?”

  He kissed the back of her neck, reveling in the shudder he felt move through her. “No, sweetheart, it’s not crazy. I’d never hurt you, just let me prove it.” He wanted to tell her he was already falling for her, because he knew he was, but she would probably scoff at any claims he made right now.

  He spread her legs and positioned her pussy in front of one of the jets.

  She bucked against him. “No, I can’t…”

  “Yes, you can,” he said, licking the sweet spot he’d discovered at the back of her neck. “Just relax and slide down on my cock.”

  She took a deep breath as he gripped her waist and guided her down, inch by agonizing inch. He wanted nothing more than to ram his cock into her and thrust with the ferocity of a man possessed until he shot his hot come into her, marking her, claiming her. The image of pulling out and shooting all over her tits infiltrated his mind and he groaned, sinking his teeth into the sensitive skin at her collarbone. He wanted to see his seed glistening on her rosy, taut nipples. He wanted to mark her as his in the most primitive way.

  “What are you thinking?” she whispered.

  Dare he tell her? “I’m thinking about making you mine.”

  She moaned, grinding into his cock until he felt her soft ass rubbing against his tight balls. It obviously turned her on that he was attempting to stake his claim, and that gave him the courage to continue. “Your pussy is mine from now on, got it?” He squeezed her nipples to reinforce his point. He knew he was taking one hell of a risk making demands so soon, but he couldn’t be satisfied with less than all of her. “Damn it. I want to hear you say it, Alana.” He lifted her hair, licking a path down her neck to her shoulder. He tried to maintain control as she rode him like a champion bull-rider. “Tell me.”

  “My pussy is yours,” she whispered. “All yours.”

  He moved them closer to the jet-stream, forcing her to endure the intense pressure directly on her clit.

  She gasped, trying to move back. “Ryan, no…”

  “My pussy, which means I get to decide, right?” He turned her face, kissing her cheek. “I’d never hurt you, baby. My only goal is to give you pleasure. I may push you outside of your comfort zone, but I’d never do anything to disrespect or degrade you. You know that, right?”

  She nodded her head, closing her eyes as she gave herself over to the pleasure.

  He watched the play of ecstasy contorting her beautiful face, and he wanted to tell her in that moment that he was falling in love with her, that he had been since the first day he laid eyes on her, but he held his tongue and watched her ride out the wave of another orgasm. “Let’s try this from another angle,” he murmured. He grabbed her waist and forced her to bend over so he could take her from behind. After leaning over, he drove home until she was gripping the edge and meeting him thrust for thrust. He wanted their first time to last forever, but he knew he was wound too tight to hold off for much longer. “Baby, I love…” Gritting his teeth, he forced the thought out of his head. “The way your pussy feels wrapped around my cock. Uhhh…” He moaned. “God, when you milk me like that…”

  “You mean like this?” She squeezed his cock in a vice-grip, intensifying the sensation. “Oh God, Ryan, I’m gonna come again.”

  He waited until he felt her pulsing around his shaft before he finally gave in. Just thinking about spurting hot bursts of come deep inside of her kept him hard long after his cock should be spent. He couldn’t imagine ever getting enough of her.

  Chapter Three

  By the time they were tucked into the middle of his king-size bed under the down duvet, Alana was on the verge of falling asleep. She hadn’t felt so comfortable in a man’s arms in years. Who was she kidding? She couldn’t remember ever feeling this way, and that scared the hell out of her. Dr. Ryan Lang was every woman’s fantasy, which meant probably dozens of women out there right now were fantasizing about trading places with her.

  “What’re you thinking about, gorgeous?” he asked, kissing her shoulder.

  After rolling onto her back to face him, she decided ending it now was best, before she got in too deep. “I should probably get going, Ryan. This was amazing, but…”

  He sat up and glared at her. “Don’t even think about telling me this ends here and now, Alana. I meant what I said. You’re mine now.”

  No man had ever had the nerve to say that to her before, and she had to admit his possessiveness turned her on, big time. “It would never work. You’re busy with your career. I’m busy with mine. I don’t have time for a relationship.”

  “That’s too goddamn bad. You’re gonna make time for me, for us.” Raking his hands through his tousled hair, he sighed. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to snap at you, baby. But there’s no way I’m can let you go now that I know for sure...” He paused, as though considering his next words carefully. “I’ll admit I’ve imagined what it would be like, but honey, you’ve exceeded my expectations.”

  Knowing that he still wanted her as much as she wanted him gave her a thrill. Sex with this man could easily become a dangerous obsession if she wasn’t careful. “Ryan, you could have any woman you wanted. You don’t want to waste your time with me.”

  He slid down, coaxing her into his arms. “You’re the only one I want.”

  She had no idea how this could work. As it was, she didn’t even have time to shop for food most weeks. How was she going to fit a relationship into her schedule? She worked from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. five days a week, eight hours on Saturday, and Sundays were devoted to preparing for the demanding week ahead. Even if she could carve out an hour or two on a Saturday night or Sunday, she knew that wouldn’t be enough to satisfy a man like Ryan.

  “If things were different, if my time were my own…”

  He brushed his lips against her temple. “Just give it a chance, sweetheart. Please.”

  His plea broke down her defenses faster than posturing would have, and she sensed he knew that. “I have a lot of responsibilities. My family and my employees are counting on me to turn this business around. I don’t even want to think about what would happen to my parents and my brother if I screwed this up.”

  “Tell me,” he said quietly. “What would happen? What’s the worst case scenario?”

  She squeezed her eyes shut. She wouldn’t even allow herself to consider that possibility. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

  “Too bad,” he said harshly, prompting her to open her eyes.

  Gaping at him, she said, “Excuse me?”

  “You’ve been hiding from this for too long, Alana. It’s time for you to face it like a big girl.”

  How dare he patronize her! He had no idea what she and her family went through this past year. “Go to hell,” she said, sitting up. She threw her legs over the edge of the bed, but he hauled her back against his chest.

  “You really think I’m going to let you go?” He wrapped his arm around her waist, nuzzling her ear. “We’re going to figure this out, you and me. You don’t have to do this alone anymore, sweetheart. That’s what I’m trying to tell you.”

  Closing her eyes, she tried to find the strength to argue with him, but she was tired of struggling. Maybe he was right; maybe it was time to give in. Accepting his check and walking out of here knowing the dealership her father spent a lifetime building still had a fighting chance would be so easy, but her pride wouldn’t allow her to take a handout, no matter the circumstances. “I can’t accept your help. This isn’t your problem. I need to figure this out for myself.”

  “Oh yeah? How’s that working out for you?”

  She knew he was angry, frustrated that she wouldn’t accept his help, but she had to look herself in the mirror,
and she couldn’t do that if she allowed him to bail her out of this mess. “I’m doing what I have to do. I know you may not understand, but that’s not my problem.”

  “Okay, look, I don’t want to argue about this. If you don’t want to accept my help, I’m okay with that.” He turned her into his arms. “Tell me about your family. Explain to me why this is so important to you.”

  Could she really open up and tell him everything? It was either talk to him or wind up in the fetal position on some psychiatrist’s couch because, as difficult as admitting this was, she knew she was approaching her breaking point. “You want the worst case scenario? Okay, my parents will have to file personal bankruptcy, the business will go under, all those people will lose their jobs, my brother will have to drop out of medical school, call off his wedding…” Just verbalizing her fears sent tremors moving through her body.

  “It’s okay, honey,” he whispered, stroking her hair. “We’re not going to let that happen.”

  She didn’t need a white knight riding in to save her from doom and destruction. What she needed was paying customers to buy her more time to turn things around. She had a viable plan in place for making the business profitable again. It required hard work, time, and a little luck, but it could work. It had to work.

  “Do you think your father will ever be well enough to run the business again?” Ryan asked.

  “No. As it was, my mother was pressuring him to retire. He’s almost seventy. She wanted to travel before they were too old to enjoy it.” She sighed. “I don’t know if that’s in the cards for them now.” She felt like a whiny brat complaining about her father’s condition when Ryan had lost his own father not long ago. But as a daddy’s girl, seeing her larger than life father as half the man he used to be was a bitter pill to swallow. “I’m sorry; I don’t mean to burden you with my problems. I’m sure you have enough of your own.”