The hawthorne brothers a.., p.53
The Hawthorne Brothers: A Complete Billionaire Romance Collection, page 53
I take off my coat and throw it on a chair. “What about a beach-themed party? That can be done indoors. We can have palm trees and sand.”
“Sand?”
Ryker heads to the bedroom. I follow him.
“Or just palm trees and hammocks and beach chairs.”
Ryker goes into the closet. He sits on a stool and takes off his shoe.
“You do know the wedding is going to be on a beach, right? An actual beach.”
“Which is why the wedding shower also has to be on a beach, even if it’s just pretend,” I tell him. “Nat said some of the guests won’t be able to make it to Jamaica so we’ll bring the beach to them. On a grander scale, of course.”
“Okay. Maybe instead of sand, we can just decorate the room in gold. Golden tapestries. Golden linens.”
I nod. That sounds like a good idea. And I just had another one.
“Or we can have a luau.”
Ryker stops in the process of taking off his other shoe to give me a puzzled look. “A luau?”
“Or maybe just the dance part. You know…”
I hold my hands above my head and rock my hips.
Ryker grins.
“What?” I ask him. “You don’t like it?”
He deposits his shoes on the shelf and stands in front of me. He tucks his hand under his chin.
“I’m pretty sure what you’re doing is more of the belly dancing they do in the Middle East.”
I chuckle because I realize it is, then shrug.
“Who cares?”
I rock my hips faster. My breasts jiggle. I look at Ryker.
“Do you like it?”
He doesn’t answer, but I can see the interest in his eyes as he stares at my breasts. My heart races.
Hmm. Let’s see if I can turn that interest into something more intense.
I peel off my shirt as I continue dancing. Then I slip out of my pants. Ryker’s eyes narrow.
Now that I’m just in my underwear, I dance more passionately. I turn around, stick out my butt and wiggle it. Then I glance over my shoulder and slap one cheek playfully.
The fingers under Ryker’s chin move. Is he starting to get the urge to touch me? I wonder.
I’m waiting.
He doesn’t make a move, so I decide to turn up the volume. I turn to face him and touch my shoulders, then run my hands over my breasts. I put my hands on my hips as I swing them, slipping my thumbs inside the garter of my panties. I playfully stretch the garter at the sides before pushing my panties down. Once they reach my knees, they fall the rest of the way and I step out of them. I kick them aside and step back to lean against the wall. I lift one arm above my head and hold Ryker’s gaze as I lick my lips. I slip my fingers past them and suck.
Lust flickers in Ryker’s eyes. The lump in his throat moves as he swallows. Still, he doesn’t make a move.
I have one last one left.
I take my wet fingers out of my mouth and drag the tips down the middle of my chest. Once they get past my navel, I spread my legs.
That does it. Ryker finally moves from where he’s standing and rushes over to me. He grabs my wrist and pins both my hands above my head as he looks into my eyes.
“You’ve been very naughty. You know that?”
“Yes, I have,” I purr. Then I give him a mischievous grin. “So, what are you going to do about it? Are you going to punish me?”
I lift my leg and graze my knee against the bulge in his crotch. He draws a breath.
“You asked for it.”
He pulls his tie off and wraps it around my wrists. A shiver goes through me.
“Ooh. Bondage. That’s—”
Ryker cuts me off with a fierce kiss as he pins my wrists above my head. When he’s done, I gasp for air. Inwardly, I grin.
If I had known dancing could push Ryker over the edge like this, I would have done it a long time ago.
My grin vanishes and my thoughts scatter as he licks my ear. Then he kisses my neck roughly, then nips my shoulder. Afterwards, he sucks one of my breasts through my bra. My nipple tingles and strains against cotton.
I suddenly wish I could take my bra out of the way, but I can’t. I can only moan as he sucks on my other breast. Then his lips trap my nipple through the cotton. I moan.
Mmm. Good… but not enough.
When his mouth starts moving down, excitement churns in my veins. I hold my breath in anticipation. When his lips descend between my legs, I gasp. But then he moves on to planting kisses on my thighs.
What?
Ryker grabs my arm and leads me to the bed. He doesn’t throw me on top of it, though, like I thought he would. Instead, he takes off his belt, his pants and his briefs. His stiff cock springs into view.
He sits on the edge of the bed and spreads his knees.
“I think you know what to do.”
Yes, I do.
I kneel between Ryker’s legs and hold the base of his cock with both of my bound hands. Then I start to lick his cock. At first, Ryker watches me keenly, silently, as I drag my tongue up and down the length of him, making sure I get every inch wet. Then he lies down on the bed.
I continue licking, delighting in every heavy breath I draw from him. I even lick his balls and hear him grunt. When I wrap my lips around his cock, he hisses.
Like before, I take as much of him as I can inside my mouth and swallow. He shudders. I move my head just a little and the tip of his cock hits the roof of my mouth. A curse leaves his lips. His fingers grip my hair.
I suck on his cock as he strokes my hair. Then I start to move my head. He pulls and I stop.
Ryker lifts his head. I release his cock and meet his gaze.
“Come here,” he says.
Here? Where?
He crooks a finger, so I climb on top of the bed. I lean over because I think he wants a kiss, but then he turns me around so that my ass is facing him.
Okay.
He grabs my thighs and pulls me back so that my legs are on either side of his head. Then I feel his fingers on my other pair of lips. He parts them and pushes his tongue in. I gasp.
He stops. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
Right. His thick, hard cock that’s right in front of me.
I take it into my mouth once more and move my head up and down. My hair falls like a curtain over my face and there’s nothing I can do to sweep it away so I close my eyes and focus on my task, something easier said than done as Ryker’s tongue slithers inside me.
Fuck.
I stroke him as he strokes me, fighting a shudder each time the tip of his tongue brushes against one of my sweet spots. Then his fingers replace his tongue. He pushes them deep inside me and I take my mouth off his cock to let out a moan.
For a few seconds, my mouth goes slack as he teases my nub. I barely have the strength to keep myself on my quivering elbows and knees. Then he starts moving his fingers in and out of me and I go back to my task. I wrap my lips around his cock and try to match his pace.
I don’t know if he’s close. His cock keeps throbbing and leaking inside my mouth. I know I am. When he starts playing with my nub again while stroking me, I stop moving. Pleasure ripples through my veins and gathers in my belly.
I’m close. Does Ryker know it? Can he see it?
Maybe not, because he suddenly withdraws his fingers and pushes me off him. Or maybe he stopped on purpose to tease me. That’s why he has that gleam of mischief in his eyes. Whatever. I don’t care as long as he continues.
He gets up and climbs on top of me. Then he lifts my arms above my head and kisses me tenderly.
Strange. Of all the things Ryker has done so far, this tender kiss makes my heart beat more wildly than any other. It quells some of my frustration, but at the same time it makes me want him more.
“More,” I whisper after he pulls away.
He settles between my legs and gives me a push. My head hangs from the edge of the bed. My fingers nearly touch the floor.
He lifts my hips and enters me with one thrust. I cry out. After just a few thrusts, I come undone. With nothing to hold on to, my hands clench into fists. Cries and moans spill from my lips as my body trembles.
Ryker doesn’t stop. His cock rubs against my insides, which are still on fire from my orgasm, and I continue to tremble. He only pauses to push my bra up. Finally, my breasts are free.
I feel his lips around one of them, holding it captive as his thrusts rock my body. My nails dig into my palms.
He lets my breast go and I feel it jiggle with its twin. I’m dancing again, but this time, Ryker is in control of my movements. All I can do is gasp and whimper as he pounds into me, faster and faster.
I come again, I think—I’m not even sure if I ever stopped coming. My eyes roll to the back of my head.
Vaguely, I feel Ryker’s thrusts become erratic. Then he pulls out. I hear grunting and the sound of skin rubbing against skin. A moment later, I hear a spurt. I feel warm drops of cum on my stomach and my breasts.
I keep my eyes closed and stay still. I’m too tired and dizzy to move. Ryker pulls my legs so my head is on the bed. That feels better. He unties my wrists and pulls my shirt down. When I open my eyes, I find him staring straight at me.
They’re back to normal now. No. Not exactly. I can still see a glimmer of excitement in them. And a flicker of warmth that sends my heart racing again even though it hasn’t quite recovered from all the sex we just had.
Ryker presses his lips against my forehead and the warmth coats all of my skin like a soft blanket. I smile.
Ryker brushes a few strands of my hair off my cheeks. “Are you okay?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
I can’t promise him I’ll behave from now on, though.
“Good.” He kisses my cheek. “Because we have a wedding shower to plan, you know, not to mention the bachelor and bachelorette parties after. Maybe you can have your luau or your pool party then.”
“With male strippers?” I ask.
Ryker frowns. “Oh. You’re still not going to behave, are you?”
He starts to tickle me. I laugh.
“Ryker, stop!” I shout as I try to slap his hands away between giggles.
He goes on.
“Stop! I promise… no strippers.”
Finally, he stops.
“You promise?”
I nod. “I promise. Natalie wouldn’t like that anyway.”
His eyebrows furrow. “But you would?”
I chuckle. Why does he look so much hotter when he’s jealous?
I pinch his cheek lightly. “The only male stripper I want is you.”
“Oh. Does that mean I have to strip next time?”
I grin. “That would be fun.”
“Hmm. I’ll think about it.”
And I’ll look forward to it.
Ryker seals my lips with another kiss. I stroke his hair.
“By the way,” he says as he pulls away. “What was that Natalie was whispering to you at lunch?”
“Whispering?”
For a second, I don’t understand what he’s talking about. Then I remember that Natalie teased me about bringing a date to Jamaica.
“Nothing,” I say.
“Really?” He threatens to tickle me again.
“Really,” I tell him. “She was just saying how hot you are.”
Ryker’s eyebrows furrow. “She said that?”
I hold a finger to my lips. “Don’t tell Joel.”
“Okay,” he says as he puts his hand down, though he still looks confused.
“How about you?” I ask him. “What are your plans for the bachelor party? Any strippers?”
“No strippers,” Ryker answers. “I promise.”
And I believe him.
“As for my plans, they’re a secret.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “Really?”
“Really. Anyway, that’s my problem. Our problem is the wedding shower. That’s the one we really have to work on.”
“Oh, that’s not a problem,” I tell him. “I’m sure we can throw a great wedding shower together.”
“Sure?”
I lift a finger. “But first, I need a shower.”
I get off the bed and walk towards the bathroom so I can wash the sticky stuff off my skin. When I’m almost at the door, I stop and turn around.
“Want to join me? We can talk about the wedding shower in the shower.”
Ryker grins and gets off the bed. “Why not? I hear a lot of good ideas happen in the shower.”
“You bet.” I reach an arm out to him. “We might just discover the best idea for the most spectacular wedding shower of all.”
Chapter Sixteen
Ryker
“I have to give it to you and Claire, Ryker,” Joel tells me as we grab a quick drink at the bar in the corner of the hotel ballroom. “This is spectacular.”
And I can’t help but agree. Claire and I have outdone ourselves.
After a few discussions—some in the shower and some in bed—we finally decided to go with a classy, beach-themed party. To represent the sand, we have curtains with golden sequins and gold tablecloths plus two different kinds of parfait with plenty of crumbs. To represent the blue sky, we have blue lights illuminating the ceiling and blue cocktails. Then of course we didn’t forget the ocean. We have plenty of seafood. We have bubbly champagne. We have flowers arranged like pieces of coral in the middle of every table. We have seashell napkin rings that the guests can bring home along with hourglasses filled with sea salt.
Of course, those were mostly Claire’s ideas, which is why I’m very proud of her, but I did throw my support behind each one. And book the ballroom.
Joel pats my back. “Maybe we should have asked you two to plan our wedding.”
I take a sip from my glass of gin and tonic. “Very funny.”
That would definitely take a lot more work. Then again, I’m quite confident Claire and I could pull it off. If there’s anything I’ve learned these past few weeks, apart from the fact that Claire loves to shave my beard, it’s that she and I work extremely well together. I don’t think there’s anything she and I couldn’t pull off.
“So…” Joel taps his glass. “How are things going with that woman you’ve been sleeping with? You haven’t said much about her.”
The woman I’m sleeping with? Oh, right. He thinks there’s someone else, and I’ve let him believe it so he won’t find out I’m with his sister.
“There still is someone, right?” he asks.
I nod. “Yeah.”
I’ve decided to lie to him as little as possible just so I don’t get confused and slip.
Joel looks around. “Is she here?”
“No.”
I haven’t seen Claire yet.
Joel gives me a puzzled look. “You didn’t invite her?”
“I did. She didn’t want to come. Fancy parties aren’t her thing.”
“I see. That’s too bad. But you get along? Everything’s good?” Joel leans forward. “And I don’t mean just in bed.”
“Yeah,” I answer. “Everything’s good.”
He puts a hand on my shoulder. “Promise you’ll introduce me to her sometime?”
I nod. “I promise.”
I’ve already promised Claire I’ll tell him about us after the wedding.
After the wedding. That means there isn’t much time before Joel stops talking to me. Hopefully, like Ethan said, he’ll come to his senses before long and start talking to me again.
Joel’s eyebrows furrow. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re dying of cancer or something.”
“What?”
I shake my head in disbelief and grab his glass.
“I think maybe that’s enough.”
I chug down the contents.
“Hey!” Joel complains.
I set down the empty glass.
“Do I still look like I’m dying?”
He snorts. “You look like a jerk who stole my drink.”
I laugh. So does he.
“There you are.”
We both stop laughing as Natalie approaches us.
“I was wondering where you two were.” She sniffs Joel’s breath. “You haven’t been drinking already, have you?”
“Just half a glass,” I answer for him.
Joel frowns.
I turn to Natalie. “We can’t have him looking like a fool right next to his beautiful fiancée, can we?”
She smiles. “No, we can’t.”
She turns to Joel.
“You can look like a fool all you want later at your bachelor party, but right now, we are going to make sure our guests enjoy this lovely party that your best man and your sister put together.”
Joel gives her a salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Speaking of your sister, where is she?” Natalie looks around. “I haven’t seen her. I thought she was here before anyone else.”
She looks at me.
“Have you seen her?”
“No,” I answer.
She frowns.
“I’ll go look for her,” Joel offers before I can.
He starts to walk away but Natalie grabs his arm.
“Maybe I should do it. What if she’s in the restroom?”
“Didn’t you go there earlier?” Joel asks.
“Maybe I missed her. Maybe she’s in another restroom.”
Joel takes Natalie’s hand off him and kisses it.
“I’ll find her. I’ll be right back.”
He leaves. Natalie sighs.
“Oh, dear. I sure hope I haven’t gotten sweet Claire in trouble.”
I look at her with creased eyebrows. “Trouble?”
Natalie moves closer to me. “Promise you won’t tell Joel.”
“Promise.”
If Claire’s in trouble, I want to know. I have to.
“Claire is seeing someone,” Natalie whispers. “What if she’s with him now and Joel walks in on them?”
For a moment, I feel confused. Then I realize Claire is playing the same game with Natalie as I am with Joel.
“Don’t worry,” I tell Natalie. “I’m sure that’s not going to happen.”
A hundred percent sure.
Still, she looks anxious. “But what if—?”
Just then, Joel and Claire walk into the ballroom. Natalie places her hand on her chest and breathes out a sigh of relief.
