Chapter Seven

Annie and Ryan didn’t say anything else to each other until the plane landed and the pilot turned off the fasten-seatbelts sign. Thank God he’d slept most of the flight or he might have caught her ogling him. Time and again she’d had an overwhelming desire to touch him—all over—but wouldn’t that have been something? She shuddered as she imagined him waking up to find her stroking his cock. Besides, even if he were willing to take their Kyle game a step further, in the end she’d still be the same girl she’d seen in the restroom mirror at Finnigan’s—with the red, swollen eyes from heartbreak.

No way. She was done being that woman.

“Did you rest?” he asked her.

“No. I’m too excited to sleep.” She stood in her new sandals that made her feel sexy. If only balancing in them wasn’t such a struggle, not to mention her toes had gone numb by the time they reached the jetway. “Not too late to book your return flight home. I’ll even pay for it.”

“Not a chance.” He stopped at the door and let her go first, following her up the ramp then through the terminal to baggage claim, where they waited in silence. When their bags arrived, Ryan reached for hers.

“I’ve got it. Not a little girl, remember?”

He rolled his eyes but let it go.

Annie liked her independence, and usually Ryan didn’t have a problem with that, but lately he wanted to do everything for her, like this whole following her to Vegas thing. Was it really about being protective? Did he simply not trust her judgment anymore, just because she was adding some zing to her boring life?

Whatever. She was done arguing with him since he obviously wasn’t going to budge.

“Did you reserve a car?” he asked as they started to leave baggage claim.

“No, I’m going to get the shuttle to the hotel. I don’t plan on leaving the Strip. Everything I’m looking for should be within walking distance, or at my hotel.”

“So you’ve indicated,” he said, his jaw muscles flexing.

The shuttle was easy to grab, and it took less than thirty minutes to get to their hotel. A pirate show was going on in front of the resort, and Annie stopped for a moment to watch. It was crowded, and Ryan stood close behind her. She felt his hot breath on her neck and the image of him wrapping his hands around her waist and attaching his lips to the spot where she could feel him breathing ran through her head. She shivered, closing her eyes for a second to shake it off.

From there, Annie checked into her room. Ryan managed to land the room next to hers thanks to the very “helpful” front desk clerk who wanted to make sure they’d enjoy their stay. As they walked through the casino toward the elevator, his arm brushed hers and she imagined Ryan grabbing her, shoving her against the wall, and kissing her passionately.

They made it up to the fifth floor where their rooms were. She slid her key card into the lock and pushed the door open, taking in the tidy, spacious room. Wanting to be prepared for anything, she’d opted for an upgrade with a small dining table and kitchenette. The king bed looked huge and comfy. Realizing Ryan had followed her in, she turned to face him and saw his gaze stuck on the bed. “Ryan?”

He jerked. Cleared his throat. “I’m kind of hungry. Do you want to grab a bite to eat with me or do you want to start trolling Vegas for men?”

She nudged his arm, feeling the mass of muscle there and getting a little chill. “Both sound enticing. That’s a tough one,” she said with a smile. “Lunch sounds great, actually. Give me a bit to change and clean up to get the feeling of ‘airplane ride’ off me.”

“Good.” Ryan looked her up and down, slowly dragging his eyes over her body with such erotic intensity that she actually felt her face go hot and a gush of moisture between her legs. His tongue darted out just slightly between his parted lips before he said, “Okay, see you in a bit.”

Annie closed the door behind him and leaned up against it, trying to catch her breath. She tried to shake off thoughts of Ryan as she put her things away and got ready for an afternoon out in Vegas. She put on a short-sleeve, form-fitting red dress first. It ended just above the knee and looked nice, but it was also practical. It moved with her and was really comfortable.

She’d just finished getting ready when there was a knock on her door.

It was Ryan, and he let out a low whistle when she let him in. “Wow. I thought you were giving me time to talk you out of going for the one-night stand.”

She blushed, but didn’t know if it was from Ryan’s comment, or the fact that he knew she wanted to try a one-night stand. “Will you stop it?” she scolded again. “Right now, we’re going to lunch. But my plan starts full force tonight.”

“Are you getting the tattoo tonight? Tomorrow?”

“Nope. Monday. That gives me today and Sunday to scratch off the other items on my list, and then I’ll end the weekend with a tattoo. I’ve researched and made an appointment at a popular shop. Great work and a pristine reputation. I figured it wouldn’t make sense to get the tattoo first.” She smiled seductively and raised her brows. “Limits where a guy can put his hands. And mouth.”

His eyes widened slightly, and red flags appeared on his cheekbones. “So, where’s the tat going?”

“I haven’t decided for sure,” she told him. “What do you think?”

“What kind of tattoo are you thinking of getting?”

“I have a picture that’s special to me,” she told him. “It’s a little group of flowers, and it’s really colorful and feminine. I love it.” It actually reminded her of the first bouquet of flowers she’d ever received from a guy. Ryan had bought her peonies for her high school graduation.

“Let me see,” he said.

She tensed and hesitated, wondering if he’d recognize the tattoo’s significance. Unlikely. She took a piece of paper out of her purse and unfolded it. She handed it to him, and he studied it for a few seconds. Then he said, “Come here.”

Her eyes widened. Was it just her imagination, or had he issued that command in the same sexy, husky voice he’d used on the phone with her last night? “Excuse me?” She winced at how her voice quavered, but she couldn’t help it. The memory of everything she’d done last night—at his urging—made her feel hot and shaky.

The vault, she told herself. Lock it in the vault.

“I want to hold the sketch against you and see what our viable options are.”

His voice was definitely deeper than normal. But his face was composed. Hesitantly, she stepped closer to him. He held the picture up to the side of her arm and shook his head.

“Too military there.”

“Military?”

“Yeah, you know, soldiers get tats on their delts. And guys named Bubba that work out too much. I don’t think you fit either bill.”

She laughed weakly. “Hmm… Soldiers and guys who work out are usually pretty yummy, though.”

Ryan stepped closer. “Not as yummy as firemen, though, right?”

Like she was going to touch that question with a ten-foot pole. Not.

He slid the picture along the thin material of her dress and lowered it to the top of her thigh. Through the crisp paper, she felt the warmth of his touch. The pressure from each individual fingertip. Annie’s pulse raced, and she began to feel lightheaded before she realized that she was holding her breath.

“Not quite right either. Turn around,” he told her.

She turned her back to him, and he lifted her hair and set it to the front of her shoulder. His fingers brushed her neck, and she shivered. Goose bumps prickled up both her arms, and she hoped he wouldn’t notice. He held the picture to her upper back between her shoulders, and she heard him clear his throat.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing. Your—I mean, I love the curve of your back. I always have.”

“Let’s hope the man I meet tonight loves it, too,” she said, frustrated with Ryan. There he went again, giving her assurance that he’d found her attractive before she’d lost weight. Why was he pulling that on her suddenly? He’d just been comfortable with the “pudgy” Annie, and wasn’t big on change when it came to his friendships. That’s all. Changing majors, changing jobs, changing bed partners…well, that was a completely different story altogether.

He continued sliding the paper down and rested it on her lower back. He placed a hand on each of her hips as he held the picture against her. Annie’s mouth had gone extremely dry. It seemed like he was taking an extraordinarily long time in that area.

“Any ideas?” she said, trying to hurry him up before she keeled over. God, the things they could be doing with his hands in that position.

“I think this is the spot,” he said.

“Like a tramp stamp?” she said, twisting around to see and scrunching her face up.

Ryan grinned. “Are you opposed to it because of the name or for another reason?”

She breathed a sigh of relief as she felt him release her, and at the same time she missed his touch.

She turned toward him. “I didn’t say I was opposed to it. But you’re right, I don’t like when people call it that.”

“It’s just a name,” he said. “Who cares what people say? It’s what you think that counts.” He reached out then and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. “Just like whether you label yourself nice or naughty doesn’t mean a thing. You’re a complex person. Engaging in a wild weekend won’t change who you are deep down.”

She frowned. “People do change, Ryan. This is really important to me.”

“I got that, Annie. I’m just wondering why you’d want to change anything about yourself.” He stood too close again, and Annie struggled to breathe. “It’s not like you don’t date, or you couldn’t if you wanted to. Why not let a relationship manifest itself naturally in order to have sex?”

“Like you’ve always done?” she asked, thinking how hypocritical he was being. “Besides, you’ve been out of town for a couple of months. How do you know I wasn’t having sex every single night while you were gone? Maybe I just can’t get enough so I wanted to give Sin City a whirl.”

Ryan smirked, and she wanted to punch him. “You haven’t changed that much, Annie. That’s what confuses me about all of this. Why have you suddenly decided to pick up a stranger? That’s not the responsible Annie I’ve known and loved all of these years.”

“Maybe you don’t need to know or understand everything about me,” she said.

“Maybe I don’t,” he said. “But as long as I’m asking questions that you don’t want to answer, let me ask you this—how many guys have you actually been with, Annie?”

“Are you seriously asking me that?” she said, shocked by his nerve. But then again, this was the same guy who’d so casually suggested she have phone sex with him. How was it possible she didn’t know Ryan as well as she’d thought?

He shrugged. “A one-night stand is heavy-duty stuff. I’m wondering if you’re experienced enough to handle it.”

“I’m plenty experienced,” she snapped. The truth was, she could count the number of men she’d had sex with on one hand, but she’d been in a relationship with them all, so it was multiple times and in multiple positions.

The corners of Ryan’s mouth turned downward. “So if he’s into something kinky, you’ll be okay with that? Because it’s not like you know this guy. Who knows what he’ll be into? Or maybe you’ve already done kinky?”

“Kinky like what?” she asked.

“I don’t know. What if he wants to spank you?”

Annie’s face burned. Ryan was losing his mind.

“Well, I am here to be naughty,” she said. “Maybe that would involve a good spanking. If not, I’ve got bondage tape in my bag.”

“And I’m betting it’s still in the package. What about dirty talk? Do you like a man who can give it to you dirty?”

“In the right situation, sure,” she said.

“What about last night?”

Annie felt her face go even hotter at the mention of their phone conversation. “What about it?” she asked.

“Did you like it?”

She couldn’t do it. Couldn’t look him in the eye anymore. She turned, only to catch her reflection in the mirror above the hotel dresser. She looked as aroused and edgy as she felt. “Which part…exactly?”

Ryan positioned himself just behind her. “Hmm…how about the part where I told you to touch yourself while I sucked on your nipples? Did you like that part, Annie?”

She could see him in the mirror, standing only millimeters away from her. She could feel his breath on the back of her neck, and now she could vividly picture him sucking on her nipples. Was he trying to turn her on?

“Yes,” she finally breathed out. “That part was…okay…”

“Just okay? I must have been doing it wrong.”

“No, I think you were doing it right.”

“What else did you like, Annie?” he said, even closer to her ear now. She had a vision of him slipping his hands up around her from behind and cupping her breasts.

She shivered, closing her eyes, and whispered, “I liked it all, Ryan. Obviously more than you did.”

“What makes you think I didn’t enjoy it?”

“Are you saying you enjoyed it?” She turned to face him, wanting a clear view of his face when he answered her. He was acting all flirty, but when she’d put it out there for him last night, he’d turned her down.

Ryan blinked and took a step back. He looked at her for a long time, and then he said, “Last night was about you.”

“And Kyle.”

He frowned. “Who is this Kyle guy, anyway?” But then he shook his head. “Never mind. Don’t answer that. My point is, I was hoping you’d see you have other options and not go through with this trip. I failed.”

Maybe he meant she’d failed him. Suddenly, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the very thing she’d wanted to avoid—Ryan judging her or finding her lacking somehow, even as a friend—was happening. That knowledge, along with his stubborn presence and her unwavering feelings for him, ripped a hole inside her. “Is that why you’re playing with me now? Getting all close? Trying to tease me with what I can’t have? So you can prove that I’m out of my league when it comes to you and other players?” She blinked furiously when she felt tears filling her eyes.

Ryan immediately looked horrified. “Fuck, Annie. No.”

“You’re right, Ryan. I don’t have as much experience as you. Or Kyle. But I’m going to change that. I’ve had very naughty thoughts for awhile, and I’m finally going to let myself indulge. Now you can either have lunch with me before you head back to San Francisco, or you can leave right now. Either way, I’m making my own choices.”

Annie’s legs were shaking as she grabbed her purse, and headed toward the door. Before she got there, Ryan stopped her with a gentle hand on her arm.

“Annie, I’m sorry. I—I don’t know what got into me. Why I asked those questions.” He rubbed a hand through his hair, his expression pensive. “I’m just worried.”

She hung her head and stared at her cute new sandals and flirty pedicure. Why was she even bothering to lose weight and wear new clothes? She’d been fooling herself with this whole “Get Over Ryan” plan. Deep down she was afraid she knew why she’d wanted to surprise him with her new look. Part of her had hoped he’d take one look at her and miraculously realize he’d loved her all this time.

Instead, all she’d done was worry him.

She didn’t fight him when he hooked a finger under her chin so she’d meet his serious gaze. “You are the most important person in the world to me, Annie. Forgive me. Please?”

Her heart melted. Like she could resist the guy anything when he said things like that, looking at her like he’d die if she stayed mad at him. It wasn’t his fault he didn’t return her feelings. With a final sniff, she nodded. “Fine. But lunch is on you. And I don’t want to hear your opinions about my list while we eat.”

“But—”

“I mean it, Ryan. Either you drop it for now or we’re going to have some serious problems.”

His jaw ticked as he struggled with what to say, then he finally nodded. “Fine. I won’t talk about your list over lunch. Now can I please have a hug?”

He didn’t wait for her answer before enfolding her in his arms. In that moment, she forgot about her list, forgot about being naughty, and just hugged her friend.