Unworthy Heart: The Donnellys, Book 1 (8 page)

“You think so, huh?”

She rose from the bed and knelt on the floor in front of him, gazing up into his eyes. “I know so.”

He leaned back on his hands. “Since you insist.” His tone was casual, yet the bulge in his pants said anything but.

Like unwrapping a present, she unbuckled his belt and pulled down his zipper. She loved presents. She tugged on his pants, sliding them down his hips a bit and then sat back on her heels, gazing at the swollen head peeking from the top of his boxer briefs. She touched the drop of arousal on the tip and raised her finger to her lips, licking it clean. “Mmm. I want that.”

Ryan tried to suppress a groan, but failed. “Tell me, what specifically do you want, Maiya?”

Her gaze darted to his. “I want to suck your cock, Ryan.”

“It’s all yours.”

Chills raced through her. She dipped her head and licked the length of his shaft through the thin material covering him. His breath came out in a rush and he raised his hips off the bed.

She stopped when she reached the top of his boxers and then swiped her tongue over the slit of the head, licking another drop of arousal. She hooked one finger over the lip of his boxers and, taking her time, pulled them down.

His shaft, flushed and swollen, bobbed against his abdomen. How long would he last? She wanted to know, and reveled in the power she had in that moment. He was hers. This man—this pretty boy. He would be hers…forever.

The thought came out of nowhere, and shocked her. No, this was just sex. Right?
Yeah, yes. Just sex.
She circled his shaft with her hand and the warmth of him sank into her palm. “You’ve got a gorgeous prick.”

He flexed his hips and she stroked the solid flesh. He wasn’t overly long, but he was nice and thick. Anticipation thrummed through her. Maiya couldn’t wait to feel him inside her, stretching her inner walls. She clenched her thighs together and her clit throbbed in time with her heartbeat.

“Suck me, Maiya. Now.”

A shiver ran down her spine at the growl lacing his command. She never would’ve thought it possible, but she couldn’t help but love how he sent her body into a tornado of erotic responses by only telling her what to do. She leaned forward and circled the rim with her tongue, once, twice, and then sucked the head between her lips.

“Ah, fuck. Yes.” He jerked his pelvis forward. “That’s it, baby, let me feel your hot tongue.”

Maiya moaned and sucked him deeper, until the head bumped the back of her throat.

“Fuck me with your mouth.”

Oh, hell yes!
Humming, she drew her mouth back up the length to the tip. Maiya wrapped her palm around the base, swirled her tongue around the rim again, and then took him back in. With her other hand, she massaged his sac.

With each pass of her tongue and mouth, Ryan panted and thrust his hips forward. He gripped the back of her head, controlling her movements. A shudder ran through her body from top to toe. Yes! This is what she wanted from him. The sting in her scalp from the hold he had on her hair only made her wilder, hotter, wetter for him. She whimpered and sucked harder.

“Yeah, baby. Oh yeah. Suck my cock. Swallow it,” he ground out between clenched teeth.

Maiya gazed up at him. His face was a hard mask of sexual tension—lips pulled tight into a thin line, nostrils flaring with each hard breath he drew in. Seeing him affected in this way, affected by her, was hot as hell. Maiya kept her movements slow; deliberate—taking him into her mouth—stroking her tongue along each inch. With the image of him burned into her mind, she closed her eyes and let out a deep-throated moan around his cock.

He gripped her hair tighter and thrust to her throat. “Fuck, yes!”

Eyes closed, sure of how she must look to him, she sucked harder.

Ryan exploded. His climax hit and his body seized beneath her. His semen spurted into her mouth, coating her throat. She swallowed, and swallowed again. More and more he came, and she took every ounce.

As his cock finished its pulsing between her lips, he let go of her hair and fell back on the bed. Maiya drew her mouth off him, but continued to lick at the head and shaft, cleaning any drops she missed.

He caressed the back of her head. “That was unbelievable.”

“Liked that, did you?” She giggled.

“Yes. I like it when you giggle too.”

She pressed her fingers to her tingling lips. “I seem to have developed a habit of it around you.”

“That’s the kind of habit a man could get used to.” He reached for her. “Come here, baby. You missed a drop.”

She climbed onto the bed and lay on top of him. “Where?”

He licked her chin, and then covered her mouth with his. Spreading his hands out on her lower back, he pulled her tighter against him.

Breaking from his lips, she propped herself up on her elbows and kissed his jaw. “You’re overdressed.”

“I believe you’re right.”

“Of course I’m right. I’m always right.” With a giggle she pressed her lips to his throat.

“You always giggle when you’re right?”

She nipped his earlobe. “Maybe.”

He rolled them and then moved between her legs. “Bet you think you can get away with anything using your little giggle now, hmm?” He kissed her again.

She moaned, stroked her tongue over his, and tilted her pelvis under him. Maiya was more than ready to have him inside her.

Chapter Twelve

Ryan rested atop her soft body, his head still spinning from the blowjob she’d given him. He pulled away from her lips and shifted from between her legs to lie beside her. They faced each other in the darkness and he stroked her hair and back.

She nuzzled and kissed his neck and tugged at the buttons of his shirt. When she got them all undone, she parted the two halves revealing his chest. Sitting up, Ryan rolled the shirt off his shoulders, and then lay back down, facing her.

Maiya trailed her tongue from his neck down to his chest. With warm hands, she stroked his skin, following the path her tongue took. She pushed him on to his back and he let her.

At that point, he’d let her do anything she wanted.

Maiya’s long hair tickled his chest and raised his flesh into goose bumps. He ran his fingers through it and raised his face to the top of her head, breathing her in. Coconut and lavender.

She continued her exploration of his chest with her tongue and stopped to lick and suck at one nipple. He gasped when she bit it, and tightened his fingers in her hair. Maiya moaned.

She liked it. She liked everything he did to her. In the conference room, Maiya’s body had answered his commands. She’d melted under his touch and orgasmed when he told her to. Tonight, he spanked her a couple of times, and she didn’t protest. On the contrary, she’d shown her appreciation by her hot pussy getting wetter for him.

She moved to the other nipple and he groaned. To him, this woman was such a complex mystery. He traced the designs tattooed on her right arm. A Day of the Dead girl, with a floral background. A mask, much like the one she hid behind, was painted on the girl’s face. Maiya had so many sides to her; he could spend years discovering them all. But, she’d eat him up and spit him out before he even got past the first one. Ryan was certain of it.

The thought sobered him.

He smoothed his hand down the back of her head. “Maiya, babe. Hang on. I need a minute.”

She stopped and looked up at him, her lips swollen and wet. “Oh, okay.” She pulled away and knelt next to him. “Everything all right?”

“Yeah, yeah.” Ryan sat up. “Everything’s fine.” He kissed her cheek and stood. “I’ll be right back.” He buttoned his pants, and headed for the bathroom.

After shutting the door, Ryan leaned on the counter. Panic sped through his veins like a virus and he ran his fingers through his hair. Fuck, he couldn’t do this. She’d never want a man like him. As for his son, what would she want with a child? Wild like she was, Maiya wasn’t the kind of woman who stayed home and did the family gig, and he was beginning to think he might want that from her.

Ryan stared at his reflection in the mirror and licked his lips.
Damn.
He could still taste her
.
Turning away from his reflection, he opened the door and walked into the room. He needed to get out of there. Now.

Maiya had pulled the blankets down and lay beneath the sheets. Her red hair was spread out on the pillow, a sharp contrast to the white case beneath it. He stepped to the foot of the bed and caught her gaze. “Maiya?”

“Yes?”

“I need to go.” He reached for his shirt.

She sat up, clutching the sheet to her bare chest. “What? Why?”

“I forgot I had something I need to take care of.” He put on his shirt and turned to find his tie.

“You have
got
to be fucking kidding me, right?”

“No.” He sighed. “I’m sorry, I just…” He found his tie and shoved it in his pocket. “I have to go.”

“I knew it. I fucking knew it.” She slapped a hand down on the bed and turned her face away from him.

He stopped and stared at her, though he couldn’t see her face. “Knew what?”

“Just go, Ryan.”

“Look, I had a good time tonight.” He ran his fingers through his hair, feeling like the biggest asshole on the planet. “Come on, Maiya. Don’t be this way.”

“Go, Ryan.” She swiped her fingers across one cheek. “Thanks for dinner.”

Was she crying? Why was she crying? “Maiya, I thought…” He took a breath. “I don’t know what I thought. I’m sorry.”

He left her room, closing the door behind him. Why did it feel like he shut the door in her face?
Because I just did. Shit.
He’d talk to her tomorrow and try to explain. She’d understand. He hoped. But who was he kidding? Ryan wasn’t sure he understood. He just knew there was too much to risk. His heart on the line was only a small part of this; he had to consider Jacob too. It was better this way. At least that’s what he kept telling himself as he got into his car and pulled away from her hotel.

Maiya covered her face with her hands. What the hell just happened? Everything was fine from her perspective. Son-of-a-bitch. How dare he do this to her? Anger vibrated through her limbs, but, if she was honest, it was disappointment that made her skin feel tight. And a boatload of hurt. This was the ultimate rejection. Maiya got up from the bed and tossed on some sweats and a T-shirt. She needed a damn cigarette.

When she got downstairs and lit up, she sent a text to Jodi.
Dinner was awesome. Came back to my room. We fooled around. A LOT and then he stopped and just left! WTF??? I’ll talk to you tomorrow. I’m too upset to talk now. Luv u.

Why in the hell had he taken her to a nice dinner? Why come up to her room? She leaned back on the bench and listened to the occasional passing car. Confusion raced through her mind. Making sense of this was impossible. Everything had been perfect, hadn’t it? They hadn’t had sex, not real sex anyway. She got off, and he did too, but didn’t he want to close the deal? Maybe he didn’t think she was good enough for actual sex.

The way Ryan knew her body scared her. The way her body responded to him scared her more—but, she hadn’t wanted it to end. Even now, her body still tingled. Maiya wasn’t the kind of woman who took orders from anyone, the bedroom was no exception, but she found she
wanted
to please him. The more she acquiesced to what he wanted, the more he wanted her. It was a dance. A choreographed masterpiece. And though she’d never done this routine before, she fell right in step with him. With ease and without thought, she gave him what he wanted and then he turned all his pleasure on her.

It was power. And it was wonderful.

Didn’t he understand, or did he simply not care? He couldn’t realize the gift she’d given him. Maiya shuddered and rubbed her arms. She’d given him her heart before they even got to the hotel room. With willingness she laid herself bare and leaped off the ledge.

Instead of catching her, he let her fall.

Maiya brushed away the wetness dripping down her cheeks and took a drag of her cigarette. Damn, this stung. She’d get over it though. Come hell or high water, she’d do it. No matter how much it hurt right now. Maiya would head home tomorrow and wouldn’t have to see him in person for a while. Sure, she’d have to deal with him on the project, but outside of that, she wouldn’t speak to him.

This wasn’t supposed to be some sort of happy-ever-after. People like her didn’t have happy endings. They just did what they had to in order to survive. This was no different.

Ryan Donnelly was about to become a mistake she put behind her. Not the first, but God willing, the last. She put out her cigarette and headed inside. “Pick myself up, dust myself off…” She sang getting on the elevator. A bath and a good night’s sleep were in order. Tomorrow was her last day in town. She’d work, meet with her team, have lunch with Jodi and be on her way back home. Home was safe.

She ran the bath and her phone buzzed with a reply from Jodi. Glancing at the screen, Maiya tied up her hair and then slipped into the warm water without responding. She closed her eyes and tears ran down her cheeks.

Tomorrow was another day, but it was still today. And right now, today sucked.

Maiya soaked until the water cooled, and then made her way to the bed. Her chest ached and her head throbbed from crying. She turned on her side and curled herself around a pillow, willing the visions of Ryan to leave her mind. But she had a feeling it would be a while before they were gone.

Damn him.

Guilt burned hot in his gut and Ryan cursed himself a thousand different ways on the drive home. He knew he hurt her. She’d be fine though. Her pride might be a little bruised, but that was all. Yeah, and maybe if he kept telling himself that story he might believe it. The burn crept up to his throat, bringing with it a vile taste of regret.

Ryan stepped into the dark kitchen and set his keys down harder than normal. He’d fucked up his chance with her. He knew it. Hell, she’d started crying. He could still see the subtle trembles in her shoulders. She hadn’t wanted him to know though. Maybe she was just frustrated.

His ex had used tears to get what she wanted. But that was Tammy. Maiya, in spite of being like his ex in many ways,
was
different. He knew on an instinctive level she’d never do something so low. His regret intensified and Ryan cringed. In contrast, she’d tried to hide her tears.

He opened the fridge and stared at the contents—staring but not seeing them. He blinked and pulled out a beer. Dinner had been amazing. Good food and easy conversation, all with an amazing woman—an amazing woman who he’d left naked and crying in her hotel room. Christ, he was an asshole.

The cold brew flowed down his throat and he mulled over the drive from the restaurant to her hotel. The moment had been surreal. He’d held her hand the whole time and soaked up the soft music she harmonized with. Pure splendor, and he hadn’t wanted it to end. With the lights from the freeway and the dashboard reflecting her profile, Maiya had looked like an angel. With a deep sigh, Ryan tossed the empty beer bottle in the recycle bin and headed for the shower.

The water was as hot as he could stand it and he stood under the spray, arms braced on the wall. The steady stream beat on his head and shoulders. Damn, he’d blown it. Maybe he should call her. No. She’d never want to speak to him again, he was sure. He’d deserve her silence after what he’d done.

Curling his hands into fists, he pressed them against the tile.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
He shook his head and reached for the soap. After he’d finished cleaning up, he stood a few more minutes under the spray. No amount of soap and water was going to make him feel like less of a dirtbag though.

Ryan climbed into bed. Tomorrow was Friday, and her last day in town. It was for the best she was leaving. He rolled on his side in the empty bed. She was leaving, but he didn’t want her to go.

His last thoughts before he fell asleep were of her and how she’d looked in the hotel bed under the sheets: A red-headed, tattooed angel… With heaven in her eyes, and hell between her legs.

No, he didn’t want her to go…but his son. He needed to remember what was best for Jacob.