Ryland had the grace to look a little bit sheepish.“You know I didn’t mean it that way.That night with you was the best night of my life, but --”
“But…” I interrupted him.“The story of my love life.”I yanked my arm free of Ryland’s embrace and put some distance between us.“I love you but… I’d take you home to meet my family but… I really want to be with you but…”
Sasha rose from her seat, smiling brightly.“How about I go make some coffee?That’ll give you two about ten minutes to get your stories straight.”
“I don’t need to get my story straight,” I snapped.
“Well maybe you need to hear me out without going off the deep end.”Ryland got to his feet, striding across the floor toward me.
He looked like a cougar stalking its prey, and I certainly felt like a cornered animal.It was a bit of a turn on, but there was no way I was going to admit that to him.
“I don’t go off the deep end.I think things through carefully and come to a logical conclusion.”I felt proud of myself for sounding so calm.
“I’m sure you do.”He just kept coming, pulling me into his arms and once again taking possession of my lips.
He really had to stop doing this.He was way too skilled at it.His lips seared across mine, sending my libido into overdrive.Where on earth had he learned to kiss so well?A tiny flicker of jealousy for all those faceless women who’d touched his lips died almost before it came to life.If the end result was my knees melting like hot fudge in a summer heat wave, I could live with it.
“Oh, get a room!”Sasha laughed as she flounced out of the room.“I’ll be back with coffee in ten minutes.You’d better be done by then, or else not be in my living room.This is just way more than I need to see.”
When Ryland finally removed his lips from mine, I was too stunned to speak.Damn, he was good.
“So.You and my sister are roommates.”It was a statement, not a question.
I nodded.“We met in college.Hit it off.”
“You ever meet the parents?”
I snorted.“Once.They did not approve of their little heiress bumming around with a tree-hugging liberal.”
He nodded slowly, still holding me in his arms.“Yup, I can hear Mother saying just that.She tries to pretend I work for some super-secret government organization, keeping the world safe for democracy.She just can’t bring herself to admit I do something as tacky as chasing poachers.”
I giggled, and he kissed me again.I really had to stop letting this happen.Problem was, I didn’t think I could manage that.Maybe once he’d kissed me again…
I turned my body full into his, winding my arms around his neck and giving his lips my undivided attention.
“Ahem.”Sasha cleared her throat.
This was getting downright embarrassing.I felt like a teenager who got caught kissing a boy in the coat closet.
Plastering a bright smile on my face, I disentangled myself from Ryland.
He let me slip out of his arms, although he kept possession of my hand.Fair enough.At least it no longer looked like we were about to devour each other whole.
Searching for something to break the awkward silence, I gave Ryland a nervous smile.“Did you catch the poachers?”I didn’t have to fake interest.After my harrowing experience on the island, I had a vested interest in seeing those horrible men brought to justice.
He shook his head.“Not yet.I let the case go to one of my colleagues.Two of them, as a matter of fact.I wanted to get back here and see if I could find you.”
My heart jumped.The smoldering look in his eyes was enough to melt the ice under a polar bear.
“I really screwed things up with you,” he continued, “and I didn’t want you to think I looked on our night together as a cheap one-night stand.”
I had flat out told Sasha the whole thing was just that -- a massively wonderful one-night stand.I snuck a peek at my roommate from beneath my lashes.Great.Incurable romantic that she was, Sasha’s rapt attention was focused on the pair of us, a knowing smile on her lips.
“Ummm.”Oh, that sounded intelligent.“I really didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”
“I know.You thought you could just use me for your pleasure and then walk away.”Ryland sounded decidedly smug.“But when I want something, I go after it.And you, my adorable little bear chaser, definitely fall into the category of something I want.”
Crap!I had to get to the shelter!
