Read When You Were Mine (Adams Sisters) Online
Authors: Adrianne Byrd
Ryan’s tone remained soft but firm. “Laurence is with Carlina. His current fiancée.”
Instant tears sprang to her eyes and he quickly, gently wiped them away. “Maybe fate is what brought you here--brought
us
here.”
“You’re better at this than I thought,” she whispered.
“I’ve never been this inspired.” He closed the small space between them and extracted a kiss. His body temperature rocketed as he swallowed her moan and pulled her closer.
Ryan couldn’t believe how good she tasted, how soft she felt. A part of him wanted to analysis what she was doing to him, the other part wanted to get lost in the moment.
Thick, massive clouds of confusion filled Joey’s head, while her mind and body was out of sync. She loved Laurence, so why was she kissing some sleazy director? Well, maybe not sleazy…sex-starved?
Then again, it was hard not to kiss him, and harder still to stop kissing him. His lips were like nice soft pillows and he had a way of setting her body on fire.
His tongue delved into her mouth and stole her breath. Impulsively she wrapped her arms around his neck and clung for dear life.
Suddenly, she had a moment of clarity. If she went through with this, she could be making the biggest mistake of her life. She loved Laurence, so why was she allowing this sex-starved director to untie her robe?
She needed this, she argued back. She needed the comfort he offered. It didn’t matter that he was using her. She was using him, too. Didn’t that make everything all right?
Ryan peeled the robe from her shoulders and then broke their kiss so he could gaze down at her naked body. “Perfect,” he whispered.
His words brought another rush of tears to her eyes. Laurence never looked this adoringly at her, and he certainly never declared her as “perfect.”
“Hey, what are these for?” He kissed away her tears and cupped her breasts. They filled his hands completely, and she held her breath as his head descended lower. At the slight flicker of his tongue across her taut nipple, she shivered and arched her back to give him better access.
Ryan chuckled, flicked his tongue again and was rewarded with another soft moan. He slid out of his robe.
Yes. I’m back in the game.
The moment the thought crossed his mind, Joey firmly pushed at his chest and ended his tender suckling.
Her eyes roamed his naked body. Judging by the muscles and the chiseled contours, he was an athlete. He suddenly exuded a strength she hadn’t noticed before. “You’re perfect, too,” she said and meant it.
A small smile curved his lips. “I’m glad to hear the lady is pleased.” His fingers lazily circled the dark lining of her breasts before he bent his head low for another taste.
“I hardly know you,” she said in between heavy pants.
“My name is Ryan Scott Donovan. Born and raised in Los Angeles. I’m forty-five, drug and disease free and I earn a pretty descent living directing movies.” He pulled her back to him and refilled his greedy mouth with her succulent breast.
“What…what about me?” she asked.
“I know all I need to know,” he mumbled shifting to the other breast. His body ached and throbbed in a way that was foreign to him.
Joey roamed her hands through his short-cropped hair and then held him steady while he sucked, licked and tugged at her nipple.
Gently, he eased her back until she laid flat against the blanket. His patience strained while struggled to pace himself. She felt tiny beneath his large hands, but he loved her slight curves and thick bottom.
Pressing his knees between her thighs, Ryan smiled when she willingly opened her legs for him.
“But I love...Laurence,” she whispered.
“I know. I know. I just want to make you feel good.” He dipped his finger inside of her, pleased to find her slick and ready. “Don’t you want to feel good?” He slid in another finger.
Vigorously, Joey nodded while her chest rose and fell like as though she raced a marathon.
“Good, then we’re on the same page,” he whispered as his fingers stroked her smooth and steady.
Joey’s deep moans caught in her throat, and then transformed into begging whimpers. She still didn’t know what the hell she was doing and why she was enjoying it, but she did know that she didn’t want him to stop. This was just a one-night fling. It didn’t mean anything.
Ryan had no plans to stop. He knew what she wanted¾what she needed, but currently he was caught up in his game of cat-and-mouse. His strokes slowed and he watched in pure delight as she wiggled her romp to urge him on.
“Please,” she begged.
“Please what?” He nuzzled her neck and drew the thin flesh in between his teeth.
“Please,” she continued, seemingly unable to say much more.
“Is this what you want?” Ryan deepened and quickened his stokes. “Hmm?”
She tried to speak, but no words came.
He slowed down. “I can’t hear you?”
She bounced her body against his hand, blending his name with, “Y-yes!”
Her body’s honey flowed freely as her legs trembled around his hand. Ryan’s mouth returned to her marble-hard nipples and less than a second later her body trembled violently with her orgasm.
Refusing to stop, Ryan slid in his thumb and gently massaged her swollen nub.
Joey’s hips came off the floor and she squirmed to get away from him, however, he dogged her every inch. Before she could catch her breath another body quake erupted and left her writhing beneath him.
He was ready to clinch the deal when she stopped him.
“Not here,” she said softly as tears crested her eyes. Her hand glided lazily down his face. “Take me to the bed.”
Her dark lustily gaze trapped his own. “You got it.” He climbed off of her.
She smiled as he slid his arms beneath her. No words were necessary as he carried her toward the main bedroom. When he reached the king-sized bed, he laid her down and was unable to pull his gaze away.
She really was perfect.
Joey curled onto her side and smiled. “You have any protection?”
Ryan snapped back to his senses and remembered the condoms in his robe. “Don’t go away. I’ll be right back.” He sprinted out and raced to the fireplace. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” he praised and dug the two condoms out of his wallet and sprinted back. He was certain he’d made an Olympic track record back to the bedroom.
“I’m back,” he sang, easing up to the bed.
Joey remained curled in the same position he’d left her, yet she was fast asleep.
“Joey?” He sat down next to her and gently rocked her shoulders. “Joey?”
She didn’t move but emitted a soft snore.
He continued to shake her. “No, no. This can’t be happening.”
Unfortunately, it was.
Chapter 16
The Adams family argued nonstop over who all should head out to Italy. Sheldon regretfully backed out because of her budding tribe of rug rats.
Marlin didn’t see the point. “Joseph is a grown woman and is more than capable of taking care of herself.”
To show exactly what she thought of that statement, Michael twirled a finger at her temple and waved off her father. “Joseph is emotional. The only thing she is going to do is make a fool out herself in front of a man who doesn’t want her. She should just cut her losses.”
“Is this the same woman who had brow-beat, hog-tied, and dragged her man kicking and screaming to the altar?” Peyton joked.
“The last thing I want is for Joey to make the same mistake I made.”
Everyone’s eyes darted to one another, but no one spoke.
“I’m definitely going,” Michael added, not noticing the room’s sudden silence.
“Count me in,” Frankie said.
Flex folded his arms. “I’ve never been to Italy.”
The girls’ heads swiveled in surprise in his direction.
“Don’t you have to go back to Georgia?” Lincoln asked. “What about your job?”
“I still have a week left of vacation. How long will it take to club Joey over the head and drag her back home?”
Peyton turned her inquiring eyes toward her husband.
“What?” He frowned. “The house is finally finished.” He inched closer as he lowered his voice. “We haven’t finished christening the rooms.”
A few snickers rippled around them; but when Lincoln glanced back, everyone managed to straighten their faces.
Peyton pressed her body against him and encircled her arms around his neck. “You know, we could treat it like a second honeymoon.”
“We?” He blinked. “I have an art show to get ready for. I can’t just take off to Italy.”
“Then if you’re going to be busy, you’ll hardly notice I’m gone.”
“You’re going to go to Italy without me?”
Sheldon, Frankie and Michael glanced at each other and shook their heads.
“I’m sure you’re going to be just fine without me.” Peyton patted his chest reassuringly. “Just no wild parties while I’m gone.” She leaned up on her toes and planted a kiss against his cheek. “But when I get back...anything goes.” She winked.
“P.J., I’m still in the room,” Marlin mumbled under his breath.
For the first time since Joey’s disappearance, the close-knit family erupted with laughter.
#
Joey slept like a baby.
After two days of sleeping on hard benches or curled up against cold stone, her body surrendered to the bed’s plush, downy softness and her mind had just drifted away.
Shifting against the pillow, her face was suddenly bathed in rich sunlight. She stretched and moaned, and then moaned and stretched; she didn’t care to open her eyes. In fact, she had no desire to leave her safe cocoon any time soon until...
“Welcome to the land of the living.”
Ryan’s honey-coated baritone oozed into her head and elicited a soft smile, but she still made no effort to get up.
“Please tell me you don’t intend to lie there all day.”
“And what if I do?” she asked, finally peeking from behind her mesh of long lashes. “Are you going to have hotel security throw me out?”
“Now there’s a novel idea.” He crammed a cigar into his mouth.
Joey picked up on his irritation, but she refused to be baited by it. She felt too damn good and frankly, he was still looking pretty good in his robe. Her smile evaporated.
What am I thinking?
Slowly she pushed herself up on the pillows. When she did so, the sheet slipped and exposed her apple-sized breasts, but she quickly retrieved it.
“Are we suddenly modest this morning?”
“N-no.” She flustered. “It’s just--”
“Things change with the light of day,” he finished for her. His eyes were hard and challenging.
She was the first to lower her eyes. “I’m sorry I fell asleep on you.”
“Are you?” He walked toward the foot of the bed and sat down.
Though she didn’t look up, the weight of his stare dragged her shoulder down a few more notches. “Maybe I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
“But you are now?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re still in love with this Larry character?” His voice tightened, but she couldn’t tell whether it was with anger or annoyance.
“Yes.” To her surprise, he laughed. Joey glanced up. “What’s so funny?”
“You are.” He stood and continued laughing. “I guess it’s just human nature to want the things we can’t have. It seems I have the same dysfunction. His eyes pierced her and she quickly understood his meaning.
“But you don’t know me.” She clutched the sheet tighter.
“Calm down. I’m not looking for a lifetime commitment.” He snickered, shaking his head. “I’m thinking along the same lines you were last night.”
“A one-night stand?”
“Well, one that doesn’t include snoring.” He winked and zapped the seriousness out of his tone.
Joey’s smile returned. “Sorry about that. Did I keep you up?”
“Nah. I slept in the other room after a long--very long--cold shower.” He slid his hands into his robe and mumbled. “So much for ending my dry spell.”
If nothing, Joey had perfect hearing. “What dry spell?”
Ryan blinked, realizing what he’d said aloud. He quickly became flustered. “Uh, well. Nothing. It’s nothing.” He couldn’t help it, but he squirmed beneath her stare. “Room service is bringing up breakfast. I’ll let you get dressed.”
“Wait.” Joey scrambled to climb off the large bed, while gathering and wrapping the bedding’s top sheet around her body.
It didn’t completely work; Ryan caught a flash of her left butt cheek as she stood up.
“There’s something you’re not telling me.”
Hoping to avoid interrogation, Ryan turned and strolled toward the door. Though her legs weren’t as long as his, she managed to catch up with him before he crossed the threshold.
“C’mon.” She caught him by the arm. “Give. I told you everything. Why are you holding out? What dry spell?”
“It’s nothing,” Ryan said again. His eyes didn’t quite meet hers.
Joey laughed as she guessed. “Don’t tell me a well-to-do director like you hasn’t had sex in a while?”
“No…it’s not like that. I mean...”
“Models, actresses, groupies--the world is your oyster,” she reasoned, but her gaze kept him under tight scrutiny. “No. You wouldn’t have a problem
getting
a date. So that leaves...”
“It leaves nothing.” He pulls back his arm and then immediately sighed with relief at the light tap at the door. “Ah, breakfast. I don’t know about you but I’m starving!” He sprinted toward the door.
Joey wasn’t fooled.
Ryan opened the door and greeted room service with a boisterous “hello” and literally became as animated as a cartoon character as he gestured their stunned waiter into the room.