“But what abouther? The girl, what doesshewant?”
“Apparently, she has no interest in finding a soulmate. She just wants to be a mom, and say what you will about James, but he has good genetic material.”
“This can’t be the easiest way for her to become a parent.”
“I dunno. Maybe it’s family pressure, or maybe she just doesn’t want to be a single parent. I mean, James would provide for everything. He’s responsible like that, even if he has no interest in romance or feelings. I’m not even sure he has them. So a marriage of convenience might be just what they both need.”
“Well, the Pages CEO sounds unhinged, frankly. What if they have a daughter? What if the kid doesn’t evenwantto go into business? What if James meets this girl and they hate each other?”
He shrugs. “Not our circus, not our monkeys.”
I shake my head. I still think the whole thing sounds insane, but what do I know? I fell for my stepbrother, and it’s working out better than I could have hoped, so maybe I shouldn’t be judging.
I put down my wine and wrap my arms around Ryan’s neck. “You know what sounds nice?” I purr. “Thai food.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to try my boeuf bourguignon?” Ryan laughs.
“Never been surer in my life.”
He dips his head, brushing his lips against mine. He kisses me again, a little deeper, his tongue just dipping into mine. “Could we have dessert first?”
Then I’m in his arms, my legs around his slim waist as he carries me to his bedroom—ourbedroom, now. Rose petals are scattered across the duvet, the lights already dimmed. Ryan was clearly prepared.
But so am I.
“Wait,” I gasp. “I didn’t give you your present yet.”
Ryan nips at my earlobe. “It can wait.”
“No, it can’t. Put me down and take a seat on the bed.”
Groaning, he does as I say. He leans back on his hands, his legs spread, looking annoyed that I’m making him wait. I grab the hem of my modest black dress, pulling it up my thigh until there’s a glimpse of red lace. Ryan’s eyes widen, his pupils widening as he stares at my legs. I pull the dress up even higher, over my head and off my body.
“Holy…fuck, Pippa,” Ryan mutters.
I do a little spin, showing off my outfit. Black bra and garter belt, woven with red ribbon the exact color of my lipstick. There are little red rosettes on the top of my thigh-high stockings, and the panties are both tiny and crotchless.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Ryan.”
Then I drop to my knees in front of him. Ryan goes completely still, like a wild animal who just spotted a hunter. Like he doesn’t dare move right now. I rub my hands up and down his thighs, gazing up at him.
I can feel his eyes moving over me, catching on the way my breasts press against the black lace when I take a breath. I knew he’d love this—he loves me in black, but he goes crazy seeing me in any kind of red.
“Fuck, you’re a pretty picture,” he moans, cupping his hand around my jaw. He tilts my chin so I’m looking up at him. There’s a nice pair of trousers and a button-up shirt hanging in the front of his closet, clearly the outfit he intended to wear before cooking got away with him. Instead, he’s in a short-sleeved T-shirt and gray sweatpants—which, I’ll never tell him, he looks much hotter in.
“I want to show you how good I can be for you.” Reaching into his waistband, I pull out his already-hard cock. I pump it in my hand a few times, relishing the weight of it.
His eyes are hooded as he stares down at me.
With a grin, I drag my tongue over the slit on his head, tasting his salty pre-cum. I love that he’s already weeping for me. I run my tongue up the thick vein on his lower half, relishing in the way it pulses against me.
“Fuck, Pippa,” he gasps. “Your mouth feels unreal.”
When I wrap my lips around his head and swirl my tongue around the tip, he moans, his eyes squeezing shut. That’s not right—I want him to feel his eyes on me, admiring how I’m on my knees for him. I fist his base, squeezing a little too hard. Hewinces, and I pull away just long enough for me to say, “Watch me, please. I want you to see your present.”
He brushes my hair back behind my ear. “You’re right. I should watch how stunning you look while you swallow my cock.”
Grinning, I wrap my mouth around him again. I slide lower on him, my hands on his thighs for leverage. Ryan’s eyes don’t leave mine as I work my way down his cock, his width too much to fit comfortably in my mouth. It’s hard to work myself past the halfway point, where he seems to fill my mouth entirely. His cock lies heavy on my tongue, and I force myself to swallow.
