Page 33 of A Lot Like Love
“Please tell me I have my own room?”
Ryder spun around to find Chloe on tiptoe behind him, leaning to look over his shoulder. When he turned, she ended up peering straight at him instead.
“The bed’s a super king. There’s plenty of room for both of us.”
Chloe stroked a finger down his chest before pushing back and turning. “You better hope so, otherwise you’ll end up on the floor.”
Ryder watched her go, pausing so she was a few steps ahead of him before he followed. Her jeans were like a second skin, hugging her butt and showing off her long legs. Black heels made her even taller than she was, even though she barely reached his shoulder, a leather jacket covering the low-neck tee that he’d been so close to getting off of her on the jet. She acted like she didn’t know it, and maybe she didn’t, but the girl was pure sex on a stick. The only thing better than looking at her rear view would be seeing her bare. Preferably beneath him.
“Ready for a cocktail?” Ryder called out.
Her mouth was tipped up into its delicious smile. “Always ready, cowboy.”
Ryder had never found women that hard to read, but Chloe was impossible. One minute she was blowing cool, the next steaming hot.
Chloe listened to the water running and finally relaxed. Being with Ryder was fun, but she felt on high alert all the time, always trying to come back with a quip to match his, flipping between wanting him and wanting to run every other second. She flopped down on the bed and stared at the ceiling, before sitting up and surveying the room properly. It was old-school luxury—gilded frames, luxurious fabrics, and extravagant furniture. She jumped down and stripped, taking off her jeans and T-shirt and rummaging through her case until she found what she was looking for. The dress was simple, black with a plunging neckline, tight to just below her knee when she stepped into it. Something that she knew would make Ryder stop and stare.
She slipped on her heels, four-inch black suede pumps, and then reached for her makeup, carrying it over to the antique table just past the foot of the bed. A huge gold mirror hung above it, and she bent forward to inspect her face. Chloe unzipped the bag and took out her concealer, dabbing it under her eyes and to her chin, before lightly touching up her foundation. She was distracted only by the view—the suite looked out over the city, and she could imagine how amazing it would look lit up at night. She glanced back at the bed, plump with an oversize comforter and too many pillows—would she be lying in there alone admiring the view come darkness? She smiled to herself and went back to applying her makeup.Unlikely.
The sound of running water stopped and she hurried to finish, spritzing some perfume to her neck and into her hair, then adding a quick dab between her breasts.
“Is that for my benefit?”
The husky drawl made her turn, heat flushing her body. Ryder seemed to know exactly what she was thinking, and the way he was staring at her with only a towel tucked loosely around his waist was making her squirm. She was sick of telling herself why she couldn’t have him, especially when he looked like that.
“My breasts like it,” she told him, setting down the bottle and squaring her shoulders, “and so do I.”
He raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling to her breasts, then slowly inspecting the rest of her. His body was immobile, the only movement his eyes.
“Well, do you like what you see?” she asked, her breathing raspy.
“I do,” he replied. “You look amazing.”
So do you. She bit back her reply, keeping her mouth clamped shut. It would only take her crossing the room and slipping that towel down to have him naked, and she bet he’d make fast work of her dress.
“Are you going to put some clothes on or do you want to stay in?”
He shrugged. “Up to you. I hear the room service here is good.”
She hadn’t been expecting that response. “I’m ready for that cocktail you promised me, actually.”
Ryder placed one hand over the edge of his towel as he walked, padding across the thick carpet and stopping less than a foot from her. His big body towered over her, his wet hair dripping onto her when he bent his neck low, too low. Chloe held her breath as his mouth hovered over her cleavage, but it was his nose that touched her skin, gently, so that she could barely feel it. Only she was so hypersensitive when it came to Ryder she’d have felt him breathe on her.
“You smell as gorgeous as you look,” he whispered, raising his head just as slowly and stopping when he got to her lips.
Ryder leaned in, his mouth so close to hers, teasing her, but she refused to move, to invite him in. But just as she was about to push him away, to swallow and stop holding her damn breath, he leaned in and kissed her, as lightly as he’d nudged at her breast. His lips were so soft they were almost painful.
“I don’t want to ruin that beautiful lipstick of yours,” he whispered, his mouth barely brushing hers as they spoke. “Not yet.”
Chloe shut her eyes, inhaled the scent of his just-washed hair, the citrus of his cologne. She wasn’t going to beg him, it wasn’t her style, but the more he teased her the more she hated herself for wanting him so bad.
“Maybe never,” she finally murmured back, but Ryder was gone, backing away then turning.
She was about to tell him thathewas the goddamn tease, and then he went and dropped his towel, showing off a muscular backsdie that had her sucking in a breath. Chloe bit her lip and just admired the view. He wanted a reaction from her and he wasn’t going to get it—she could punish him later for trying to rile her up. She only wished she’d had a glimpse of the front view as well as the rear.
“Are we going to talk tactics tonight?” he asked, pulling on underwear and then a pair of dark denim jeans.
“Maybe,” she said, wriggling her dress down a little farther to show off more of her breasts. Two could play at this game, and just like Ryder, she was used to winning.
