“Regular couple?” she barks a laugh. “Now there’s a joke!”
“Why? You don’t think I can be convincing as an adoring fiancé?” I ask.
“You? Hardly,” she snorts.
“Awww, angel, don’t be cruel,” I murmur, stepping closer and cupping her cheeks. “You know you’re my one and only.” I brush my lips slightly over hers, and she makes a low sound deep in her throat. When I close my mouth over hers, she splays her hands over my chest. As the kiss deepens, her fingers curl into the front of my shirt until she’s clinging to me. When I raise my head, her eyes are slightly glazed, her lips parted. I chuckle as I push her away.
“Convincing enough?” I taunt.
“You bastard!” she chokes out, stepping away from me.
“On the other hand, you could always stay here alone, entertaining yourself with King Dong until Whitlock’s thugs come back? Or maybe Daddy will arrange the next stealth attack.” I know I’m being cruel, but the damn woman won’t see reason.
“I can take care of myself,” she says sullenly, but her voice lacks weight.
“Andy, but these guys mean business,” I say. “Let me stick around until it’s safe.”
“Why?” She frowns at me. “Why would you do that?”
I tilt my head because I don’t actually have an answer.
What the fuck are you doing, Ricci?
“Think of it as an investment. I might need your services someday,” I answer.
“You’re going to need a pediatrician?” She lifts an eyebrow.
“Well, considering you’re supposed to be carrying my kid, I might just,” I answer.
“Ugh! Don’t go there!” she grumbles. “I can’t believe my mother just assumed…”
“That you’d been knocked up? Has it happened before?”
“You asshole!” she hisses. “Why the fuck would you think that?”
I know it’s a low blow, but she’s riling me up with her steadfast determination to keep me at arm’s length. Though if I had half a brain, I’d realize that even arm’s length is too close to Andy Carter. I should be further. Like in Australia.
I shrug. “Who knows? You like to play fast and loose. You’ve made it clear you think I’m only good for fucking—”
“Maybe you are,” she sneers. “Not that I need you for that.” I wrap a hand around her wrist and yank her toward me.
“Is that so?” I say against her lips. Her breath is coming faster now, her chest heaving against mine. “Shall we put that to the test?” Her eyes flare as if daring me. And I’ve never been one to pass up a dare. When I pull up her t-shirt until her bra is exposed, she doesn’t move to stop me. Nor does she object when I yank the lace cups down to let her tits spill free.
I pinch her nipple sharply, and she makes a sharp little growling sound. It’s utterly irresistible, and I capture her mouth to swallow the noise as my hands rove over her chest. Within a minute, her back is arching, and she’s pressing her mound against my stiffening cock. I tug her pants over her hips and slide a hand beneath her plain cotton panties. They’re already damp when my fingers delve between her folds.
“Jesus…you’re wet as fuck,” I moan and move my mouth down her throat, my teeth grazing the sensitive skin there. “Why do you spend so much time arguing with me when you’re clearly desperate for my cock?”
“Fuck off,” she gasps out. “I don’t want—” but she doesn’t finish her sentence as I spin her around and bend her forward over the kitchen counter. The sight of her cotton-clad asscheeks is enough to make me groan. I yank the fabric down and slide my fingers along her crack until I’m met by the gaping lips of her pussy again. “Oh, God!” she hisses as I thrust my fingers deep. I wrap her ponytail around my fist and tug her head up, keeping her back arched sharply.
“What was that?” I murmur into her ear. “You don’t want what?” I keep pumping my fingers in and out of her until she’s twisting her hips and riding up against my hand.
“Mmmm…” she moans, humping back at me.
“Shall I stop now, Andy?” I keep my voice low against her ear. Her cheeks are flushing in a way that’s becoming familiar to me, so I slow my pace. When I circle a fingertip around her clit, she squeezes her eyes tightly shut.
“No,” she finally whispers.
“No, what?” I ask. Goddamnit, everything is a power struggle with this woman.
