Seducing Avery (11 page)

“I saw the pictures. I know what you did in London. Or should I say whom?”

“I didn’t
do
anything. Except business.” His gaze narrowed when he must’ve realized there were pictures.

She let out a cough.

“What do you want from me?” Ryker said indignantly.

“Nothing.”

****

He knew he owed her an explanation, but how the hell could he explain what he hadn’t figured out? “Look. I’m sorry about any photographs. But that
is
my life. It happens everywhere I go.”

“Is there always someone on your arm gazing up into your eyes?”

“It’s to a woman’s advantage to be seen with me,” he said not ready to explain further. But he would tell her something. “The event I lend my name for…”

“The event I just executed? For orphans? What does that have to do with anything?”

Frustration ticked a muscle in his jaw. “It’s the reason I don’t go.”

“Convenient excuse,” she said flatly.

“Then the story becomes about me and the speculation of who I’m dating. The message of helping orphans gets lost.”

Avery stopped, looking like she let that sink in for a minute. The tension in her face muscles sent another ripple of guilt through him.

“Makes sense, actually,” she conceded.

“Nothing happened in London.” And he was still trying to figure out why not.

Her gaze slowly rose to meet his. He pulled her into his arms. Never one to say more than needed saying, he surprised himself in the knowledge he wanted to tell Avery more.

“You didn’t call after the first day. Then I saw the pictures,” she said, stiff against his chest.

“I’m sure it was confusing.”
Confusing.
Now that was a good word. “The party I attended was hosted by my mother.”

“Do you go to all her parties?”

“If I’m in town. We do keep up public appearances. You’ll meet her at the party.” Avery of all people should understand a family having a public and a private face. “I’m sure we could keep each other awake all night exchanging stories of the nightmares of our childhoods, but—”

Her brow lifted.

“I’d rather take you to bed. I missed you. And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry,” he said. There was something about being near Avery’s warmth that made him feel better. It had attracted him to her in the first place. She was the one person who could give him everything he’d ever wanted in a woman.

He loved that about her.

Love?

He crushed the thought. Love required trust.

Of one thing he was certain, love wasn’t something he wanted or needed. The only person he could really trust was himself.

Chapter Ten

Before Avery realized it, the morning of the big party had arrived.

Still sleeping, Ryker pulled her against his chest and nuzzled into her mass of hair. She felt beautiful in his arms wearing nothing at all. She smiled. The outfit wouldn’t work with company around. She slowly peeled herself out of his arms to get dressed. The day was bittersweet because it also signaled her time on the island was almost over.

She had arranged for Kyle to take her into town across the harbor so she could buy a beautiful dress. She had only brought work suits, and she found herself wanting to fit into tonight’s crowd.

When she arrived back at the villa, she slipped into the bedroom to try on her glittery cocktail gown one more time for the boost of confidence she needed to wear it.

It might not have been her first choice, but she wanted to fit into Ryker’s world. At least for one night, and then she’d go. She couldn’t help but stare at the woman in the mirror. Not that she wasn’t beautiful. She was. But was it her? Was she trying to be someone she wasn’t?

Oh, forget it.
She crossed her arms over her chest.

Ryker strolled in and froze. His lips compressed into a tight line when he saw her before he had a chance to catch himself and force a smile. “This is why you went shopping?”

Avery caught the flash of disapproval in his bronze-like eyes. “You don’t like it?”

He moved to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling into her hair. He was shirtless, and his broad, muscled chest felt warm against her back. “It doesn’t matter. It’s fine. It’s just a dress.”

She pulled away. His disapproval stung. “But you don’t care for it?”

He stood there, his expression told her that he was irritated and didn’t want to spell it out for her.
But what?
What didn’t he want to spell out? His disapproval? Had Avery finally succumbed to the seduction of fairy tale worlds, thinking this would all work out if she wore a pretty dress and pulled her hair up? Was every woman doomed to eventually trip into that mythical pothole?
Damn.

“It’s a pretty dress.”

“But you don’t approve?” she asked, trying to process his response. She would have thought he’d be pleased.

“Those are your words, not mine. Besides, I can think of better things to do than talk about your dress.”

Avery couldn’t place what it was she saw in the back of his eyes, except for disapproval. And, maybe a hint of regret? Her stomach dropped. Maybe he had realized bringing her out to his friends, his social circle was a mistake?

Well, she didn’t have to stand there and take being someone’s regret.

“We can discuss whatever you want. Like when am I finally getting off this island?”

“It’s fine. But wear whatever the hell you want,” he said bitterly.

“I can see that you hate it, so forget it.” And here she’d almost believed him about that woman in the photos. “Will
she
be here?”

“Who?”

“The woman from the pictures. Is she one of your friends too?” Anger had a heat rash crawling up her chest.

“Where is this coming from?” he ground out.

“You never really answered my questions about her.”

“I told you nothing happened.”

“As in you didn’t sleep with her? Or you stopped yourself in time?”

“I didn’t sleep with her. I didn’t try to. Look. She was all over me. I said no. End of story.”

“Why not?” she demanded, flushed and angry.

“Because I wanted to be with you instead.”

Anger at realizing he hadn’t been completely honest with her before had her head spinning. Forget that he’d just said he wanted to be with her. “Just not in this dress.”

“You’d look beautiful in whatever you wear. I—”

“Fine then. Fine.” She ripped the clothes off and stood before him completely bare.

He didn’t say a word.

“No more dress,” she practically screamed at him. “Better?”

His gaze was narrow, and his back teeth were grinding as he stalked over to her and spun her around to face the mirror. He pulled the pins out of her hair so it came tumbling down in long cascading pools around her shoulders. “Yes.”

His bare chest pressed against her back and sent her heart racing. A swing of the pendulum turned passion into anger, and Avery stood there, flushed, hands planted on her hips looking like a hellcat.

Her lips gave into a momentary pout before they thinned, and she said, “Fine. Then this is what I’ll wear.”

“When you should be quiet, you challenge me. I find that very sexy about you, Avery.” His thumb brushed her nipple, making her back go rigid and her entire body zing and hum with electricity. Awareness circled low in her belly.

She shouldn’t allow it. She shouldn’t give in to his smooth, practiced talk and let him tear down her defenses so easily. Didn’t he have a quick answer for everything? And wasn’t that the first clue someone lied?

“No. Not this time,” she said but she didn’t budge. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from the smooth silhouette of her body against his strong masculinity.

“Oh,
God
. And how your body reacts every time I touch it,” he said thickly. “And this, this is perfection.” His finger ran along the curve of her hip. Another hand came up and buried inside her hair, and he pulled her head back to expose the skin of her neck where his mouth tantalized her.

She dug her fingers into his jet hair as she threw her head back and her body shuddered. A hot achy feeling fired down her legs.

“I want to be inside you.”

His mouth closed around her nipple, and she moaned as he licked and sucked until it pebbled.

She took his hands in hers and returned them back at his sides as she held his gaze. “Not yet,” she said. This time she would be in charge.

Avery walked him back to the bed where he sat on the edge. She took his erection in both hands and then leaned over, her breasts pushing down on his legs at his knees. A primal gasp growled from him as her fingers closed around his tip. She slowly slid up his thighs until his erection was pressed between her breasts. She rubbed him up and down inside her cleavage, squeezing him.

****

Ryker’s body was enflamed. When he could take Avery’s stroking and teasing no more, he wrapped his arms under her legs until his palms rested on her bottom and lifted her up until her mouth found his.

Ryker spread her legs around him and eased her down on his full erection. She was wet and ready for him. With his hands firmly gripping her waist, he thrust his hips forward and buried himself deep inside her.

“More,” she moaned.

He bucked harder, filling her completely. He pumped faster as her fingers dug into his back. Ryker had to struggle for control. His tongue slid down and caressed her nipple, and then he nipped as he thrust his erection to her core.

She groaned as her hands rose to his shoulders for support until her back arched, nipples stiffened, and muscles tensed. Her breasts pressed hard against his chest as he grabbed her tiny waist and helped force her back and forth in perfect motion with him. Faster. Harder. The eruption mounted from deep inside them both.

Hot tongues searched inside mouths, hips bucked back and forth, hands pulled, tugged, and caressed. He thrust and plunged and breathed her name until she climaxed so strongly, so overwhelmingly and physically powerful, her entire body quaked with aftershocks in perfect unison with his.

He gently laid her on the bed and left the room to shower.

****

There was so much left unsaid. Avery wanted to go into the bathroom and explain but suddenly felt awkward about bursting into the room, which was probably ridiculous. Maybe it was just the argument that still had her riled. Or that she’d been so jealous. She wrapped herself in a blanket and sat on his bed to wait. She needed a minute to clear her thoughts.

He reappeared ten minutes later with a towel wrapped around his waist and his body still glistening. He moved to the window and glanced outside. He didn’t look in the mood for a party.

“Why is your mother here?”

“Alexandria? Avery asked, shocked. “I told her no.”

“Looks like she didn’t listen,” was all he said before he stalked toward the door. “As for my plane, you may have it whenever you wish.”

Avery’s heart flat-lined the second he turned his back. Slipping on her clothes, she headed downstairs to face Alexandria.

“Why are you here?” Avery demanded.

“Don’t be silly, dear. You invited us.”

“No. I didn’t. Wait a minute? You said us?”

Bits climbed out of the other side of the limo.

If her anger could light a match then she would’ve lit a forest fire. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw other limos arriving and had no intention of making a scene. “Follow me. But you’re both in deep trouble.” She located one of the villa staff and explained the situation that two unexpected guests had arrived and could share a room.

Alexandria protested, but Avery cut her mother short. “You shouldn’t be here at all. You’re not in a position to make demands,” Avery whispered through gritted teeth. She hated how fury made her voice shake.

She would get them handed off, march back upstairs, and pack. No sense dragging out her departure.

On her way, she cut through the kitchen to avoid any other arriving guests and the informal cocktail reception going on in the front hall. It was a relief to see Kyle there in his kitchen, cooking up something that smelled wonderful.

“Guess we’ll be seeing a lot of each other today.” Avery painted on a smile while she took a cup from the counter and filled it with coffee.

“Imagine my frustration at the prospect,” he said with a wink and a grin.

“Looks like people are here.”

“Yep. There’s nowhere to hide now. Here.” He held out a large spoon. “Try this.”

Avery did. “Delicious.”

“But it needs something.”

“No, it’s pretty perfect how it is.” Funny how geniuses in their craft could pick apart something others would view as brilliant.

“Nah,” he said. “Not perfect. It needs something. A spice. Let’s see here.” He pulled out a cabinet that must’ve held a hundred or more bottles of herbs. “Curry paste.”

“Really?”

“Just a pinch.” He scooped the tiniest bit onto his finger and knocked it into the pot before stirring. “Now try.”

Avery blew on the spoon before testing it. “Wow. You’re absolutely right. I don’t know how you’ve done it. Tasted perfect before. But
this
. This is better.”

“A little pinch of spice to liven things up is all it needed.” He rocked his head in approval, then turned up the radio to a contemporary rock song. “Used to tour with this band when we were young.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Bet I could fill a book with what you don’t know about me,” he said ruefully.

Or people in general, Avery thought. And especially men. Alexandria Chase had far more experience in that area. As did Bits.

Speaking of her family, Avery needed to step out and face the music sometime. She was not happy about their arrival, and they needed to be reined in before they became the center of attention.

“Remind me to ask you what that means later,” she said with a smile.

Avery moved out the back door to avoid the crowds gathering inside and came around from behind the house where she could blend into the bushes. A picture froze her faster than an ice cube dipped in the Bering Sea. Alexandria and Bits setting their sights on Ryker. For a tiny moment she feared they would give him a piece of their minds on her behalf, but she blinked her eyes clear, only to see wide smiles on their faces as they approached him.