Ultimate Prey (Book 3 Ultimate CORE) (CORE Series) (43 page)

He grinned and pictured the dead men. “All of them.”

“It’s been a while since I killed anyone. Sounds like a great way to seal our partnership. I’m balls in.”

“I’ll make sure you don’t regret it.”

He wanted Zack completely on his side. He wanted his sympathy. He wanted the man following him and helping him finish his hunt. Even the best hunters sometimes needed to bait their prey.

And Zack would eventually make excellent bait.

Chapter 16

Ryan Monahan’s House, Everglade City, Florida

Friday, 3:06 a.m. Eastern Standard Time

LOLA’S MOOD HAD taken a sour turn during the drive to Ryan’s house, and she regretted not going back to the rental. If this was his way of treating women, then no wonder his dog had been the only female gracing his bed. Since they’d left the souvenir shop, there had been no talking. No hints that he’d remembered what had happened in the tent. Only uncomfortable silence.

Then again, maybe she had Ryan wrong. After all, it had been a long day, and his shift of behavior could have nothing to do with her and everything to do with exhaustion.

He pulled the truck into his gravel driveway. “This is it,” he said, killing the ignition and opening the door.

She wished it were daylight so she could have a better look at his house. In the dark, with sconces hanging off the front porch, the house looked more like a cottage. When she stepped out of the truck, she instantly smelled saltwater.

“You’re on the water,” she said, following him up the porch.

When he unlocked the door, Sadie shot inside, then immediately took a spot on the couch in what Lola assumed was the main living room. “Yep,” he said, then finally looked at her, his eyes holding disappointment and…hurt. “It’s the perfect place to blow off steam.”

Her stomach tightened, and not in a good way. “You heard my conversation with my mom.”

He kicked off his boots, then left them by the door. “Yep,” he said, turning his back and tossing his keys on the kitchen island.

She grabbed his arm, and forced him to face her. “Would you stop with all the ‘yeps’ and listen for a sec?”

“Lola, there’s no need to explain. I heard what you said to your mom. You came here for a shower and sex, nothing more, which is fine with me. I haven’t gotten laid in a while and could use a good fuck.” He pulled off his t-shirt. “With the way you kiss, I’m—”

“You’re a dick,” she said, moving for the door and pulling out her cell phone. Hopefully someone at the rental house could pick her up from Ryan’s. She had no intention of being his latest lay, not with the asinine and crude way he’d treated her.

“Because I just summed up the reasons why you came here tonight? You’re a big girl. Call it what it is. Sex, fucking…like you said to your mom, this isn’t love or forever.”

Her finger hovered over Dante’s cell phone number. “Is that what you want?” she asked, stunned he’d brought up love and forever. Up until a minute ago, she would have loved the chance to explore a relationship with Ryan. Only distance would prevent any sort of exploration. Which, plain and simple, sucked. She liked him, was attracted to him and thought they’d meshed.

“Sex? Hell, yeah.”

That hurt. Pocketing the phone, she turned and faced him. Shirtless, he leaned against the island, his pants undone and hanging open, exposing those damned boxer briefs. She’d love to run her palms over his hard chest and kiss a path to where the light dusting of hair disappeared beneath his boxers. Yes, she’d come here to have sex with him, but not to just blow off steam. She wanted to pleasure him, solidify the friendship and trust they’d developed today and show him that she…cared. Love and forever. She wasn’t foolish enough to think they could have that, but for one night, it would have been nice to pretend.

She raised her gaze to his clenched jaw and furrowed brow before meeting his eyes. Despite the anger hardening his face, his eyes held hurt, along with regret and uncertainty.

“Aren’t you calling for a ride?” he asked, his tone gruff.

“I don’t think so.”

He pushed off the counter and immediately invaded her space without touching her. “Why?”

She placed her palm against his tense jaw. “Did you hear me tell my mom that I thought you were a great guy? The way you’re reacting to what I said to her—to keep her off my back by the way—this isn’t the real you.”

“You don’t know me,” he said, taking the hem of her sweatshirt and jerking her closer.

“I know that your mom didn’t raise you to treat women this way. You’re generous and considerate. You’re also smart and perceptive.” She cocked her head slightly as it dawned on her that Ryan might be purposefully pushing her away. The hunt—for now—was over. They were back to reality, not sharing kisses and promises in a dark tent. “You said you liked me.”

His gaze drifted to her mouth. “I do.”

“I like you, too. I’m sorry you overheard what I said to my mom. I meant what I said about you being a great guy, and that there’s more to you than how you look. I didn’t mean what I said about blowing off steam.”

His imploring eyes met hers. “Then what did you mean?” he asked, letting go of her sweatshirt and gripping her bare waist.

“I know our jobs and where we live will prevent us from dating. Even if they didn’t, and you’re not interested in dating, we still have right now. I want to be with you tonight. After what we went through today, I want to show you that…I care about you.”

“I would be a fool to give up the chance of being with you.” He ran his hand up her back and pressed her breasts to his chest, then shoved a hand through her hair, knocking her limp ponytail free. “I didn’t mean the things I said, either.”

“Then why’d you say them?” she asked, wrapping her arms around his back.

“Because you’re gonna leave.” He took a fistful of her hair and tugged, causing desire to zip through her body. “And I already care…too much.”

“Show me.”

The corner of his mouth slid into a cocky, sexy half-smile. He bent, quickly removed her boots, then lifted her and forced her legs around his back. “I promised I’d wash you first.”

She twined her arms around his neck again and gave him a kiss. “You did. A massage, too, if I recall.”

When they reached the bathroom, he set her feet on the tile, then turned on the faucet. “Very nice,” she said, admiring the huge tiled, walk-in shower, which had a large wall-to-wall bench and two rain showerheads.

He gripped the bottom of her sweatshirt, along with her tank top, and pulled the clothes up her body, then over her head. He stared at her simple black cotton bra. “This is what’s very nice.” He reached behind her and quickly unfastened the hooks, then he slipped the straps down her arms. “Beautiful,” he murmured, before grazing his lips along hers.

The tips of her nipples rubbed against his chest. As he tortured her with barely-there kisses, she slid her fingers beneath the waistband of his boxers and pushed them down, then palmed his tight rear. His hard length brushed along her stomach. She pushed a hand through his hair, slid her other hand between their bodies, then stroked him.

With a low groan, he deepened the kiss and pinned her against the wall. She curled her tongue over his and continued to move her hand over his thick erection. Steam from the shower licked at her exposed skin, enhancing the desire, the ache to have him inside her.

He pulled back, then dropped to his knees. She pushed her fingers through his hair as he removed her leggings.

“I knew it,” he said, and kissed her stomach. “I’ve been wondering all day if you were wearing a thong or nothing at all.” He kissed her belly again. “Good thing I didn’t know there was nothing underneath these pants. I don’t think I would have behaved myself in the tent.”

She chuckled, and gave his hair a gentle tug. “I was disappointed you
did
behave. After seeing you in nothing but soaking wet boxers—”

He slid a finger between her thighs. She moaned and closed her eyes.

“Stop bringing that up or this will be the fastest shower on record,” he said, slipping his finger from her. He pulled off her socks, then took care as he removed the bandage covering her blister. “Your foot is going to sting when the water hits it.”

“I’ll be fine. Just lose the rest of your clothes.”

He gave her a quick grin, and shucked off his socks and pants, then pulled her into his arms and simply held her.

She’d had sex with four different men. Each one had been a boyfriend whom she’d dated for months before giving herself to them. While she had just met Ryan, for some reason, being naked in his arms was more intimate than when she’d been held by any of the men who’d been before him. Which would make leaving him that much harder. To know that there was a guy who could possibly be her everything, yet she’d have to walk away and go on with her regular life…

“Why do I feel like you’re in your head again?” he asked, and kissed her temple.

She sighed and enjoyed the way his body molded against hers. “Maybe I am,” she answered honestly. “Maybe I like the way it feels being held by you.”

He leaned back and met her gaze. “Maybe I like it, too.” He gave her a kiss. “Come on, I promised to wash you,” he said, then opened the glass shower door and led her inside.

The hot water was pure bliss, but nothing compared to the open-mouthed kiss Ryan gave her once they were inside. He kissed her with a passion she’d never experienced, spearing his fingers through her wet hair and possessing her mouth with raw desire.

He tore his lips away and reached for the shampoo. After pouring some in his palm, he rubbed his hands together, then turned her so her back was to him and massaged her head. His erection nudged the small of her back. She grabbed the bar of soap off the shower shelf, lathered it, then reached behind her and slid her soapy hands along his length.

He tugged at her hair. “Keep that up, and you can forget about the massage,” he said against her ear.

She pushed her rear back, brushing it along his arousal. “I’ll take an IOU.”

He spun her around. When she saw the hunger in his eyes, her breath hitched. “Remember what I said in the tent before you kissed me.”

She grinned. “You mean before you pinned me to the ground?”

He held her head under the shower spray, rinsing the soap free. “I didn’t hear you complaining.”

“No, you didn’t.” She reached for the shampoo, poured a bit in her hand, then rubbed it into his hair. “But I do remember you saying something about me not wanting to know what you’re thinking about.”

He pressed a soapy hand along her breast and captured her nipple. “Want to know what I was thinking about?” he asked, and tugged her nipple.

Desired rippled from her breast, straight to her sex. She moved her hands from his hair down his broad shoulders to his hard chest, until she gripped his erection. “Absolutely.”

He pressed her down against the wide tiled bench, then moved to his knees, spread her thighs and dipped his head. He stopped, his mouth inches from her sex, and shifted his gaze to hers. Then he slowly ran his tongue along her labia.

She watched him, so damned turned on she couldn’t look away. Ignoring the sting to her blistered foot, she raised it to the bench, then held his head, making sure he didn’t let up until she was ready. As skilled as his mouth was, that could be never.

When he spread her labia apart and zeroed in on her clit, she gripped his hair. “Don’t stop,” she said, breathless, as the first tremors of an orgasm rippled and stirred.

He pressed two fingers inside of her, pumping in and out. The rhythm of his fingers, the way his tongue slashed across her clit…it was too much. It was—

She let out a harsh groan as her orgasm exploded and sent goose bumps across her skin. Sated, winded, she sat stunned until he kissed his way up her stomach. He stopped at her breasts, palmed them and drew a nipple in his mouth. The rough tug and pull to her nipple had her wrapping her legs around his back. She urged his head away from her breast, then leaned forward and kissed him, tasting herself on his lips and tongue.

“You’re so hot,” he said, his voice husky as he pulled away. He took her hand and stood.

With his erection in her face, she couldn’t resist. She grasped his length and took him into her mouth.

He let out a hiss of air, gripped her wet hair and tugged until the head of his erection was poised at her lips. She flicked the tip of her tongue along him, then hummed another moan when he slowly guided himself into her mouth. She sucked him, stroked him, loved the way his legs shook and his breathing grew ragged. Loved the intimacy, the hunger he generated inside her, the freedom to touch him the way she’d been aching to do since she’d seen him standing half-naked at the marsh. But she wanted more.

She gave the tip of his length a final suck, then kissed it. He quickly lifted her, turned her to face the tiled wall and set her knees on the bench. Water poured between their bodies. She braced her hands against the dewy wall and looked over her shoulder, just as he pressed his arousal against her sex. Inch by inch, he filled her. When he was fully seated, he gripped her hips, pulled out, then thrust. Over and over. She groaned and rested her cheek against the tile. Closed her eyes and let the sensation of him filling her wash over her.