Chapter 3
Angel.
Why did he insist on calling her that?
Perhaps the more pertinent question would be why it affected her so?
Neither question was she intent on answering right now or thinking on for longer than necessary.
It’s necessary.
She ignored the chant from her body as she didn’t need to be more attracted to this stranger she had picked up along the side of the road. Crunching the ice, she noticed the flare of heat in his incredible gaze. A heat which reflected deep within her own body.
“Do you have a side preference?” She pivoted and ambled over to where her bag remained open on the foot of the bed. Breathing a bit easier once away from his powerful presence, she sucked in another piece of ice.
Only a bit easier, that man still affects me. The room isn’t that big.
Truth be told, she didn’t think it would matter how big the room was, Ronan Milo had this way of making her skin and body come alive.
“I’m between you and the door.”
The finality in his tone caused her to glance at him over her shoulder. No room for give in his expression. He stood there, feet shoulder-width apart, arms crossed over his large chest, the plastic cup of water appearing so delicate in his hand as his other stroked his beard while he stared at her.
Her belly flopped at the expression on his face. Determination. Possessiveness. Lust. Hunger.
Swallowing down her moan, she nodded and grabbed the top of her bag, flipped it closed, then picked up the strap and moved it back to the chair.
“Sounds like a plan.” Straightening, she tucked a wayward curl behind her ear and moved back to the bed where she skimmed the bags of food he brought.
Cheddar and sour cream chips lay there and she reached for it before hesitating.
“Whatever you want, angel, it’s yours.”
God, the way that word angel rolled off his tongue was unfair. Her body softened, wanting to spread open for him to manhandle her and do with as he pleased. It had been so long since a guy had touched her, held her. Made her feel…well, anything.
Holding onto that knowledge, it was just her overactive, or reactive, body she didn’t put too much into her hunger for him. I can control this.
A resolve that flickered when she lifted her gaze to find him, right behind her, enveloping her in his heat. She didn’t know where his cup went but he was right there. All of his over six feet of hard bodied, bearded male.
“Vivyan.”
His lips twitched, an action she picked up on even though it was partially hidden by his beard and mustache.
She blew out a slow breath before turning to face him completely.
He stood so close, the backs of her knees brushed the mattress edge.
It wouldn’t take much for him to push her back and lower his larger form over her. She whimpered.
Ronan’s gaze darkened but he didn’t move, didn’t say anything.
“You’re not going to call me, Vivyan, are you?”
An easygoing shrug of one broad shoulder. “Probably not.” He firmly shook his head. “Definitely not. I’ll call you ‘angel’ or,” he speared her with his striking sapphire gaze beneath those thick smoky lashes, “mine most of the time.”
Ignoring her body’s reaction to him and his words, she realized was going to be a thing so long as they were together. Not that she didn’t have practice in doing that, but it would be hard because she would love nothing more than to allow him to take her to heights, she knew would be incredible.
Doing her best to make a joke out of the situation, she smiled and poked at him with her finger on the hand holding the cup. “You are trying to get a rise out of me.”
He stepped into her touch. “You’ve gotten one out of me.”
Holy shit. There was no joking or teasing in his phrasing. She couldn’t help it, her gaze dropped to his crotch. No disguising the hard length pressing against the jean material. Did he shift and try to hide it?
No.
This man reached between them and gripped his hardness in his jeans. The move making his thickness all the more prevalent for her hungry gaze.
“All for you, angel.” He gave himself another squeeze before releasing his length. He put his mouth by her ear. “Anytime.” She swore he sniffed her skin. “Any fucking time.”
Again, there was no stopping her whimper as need slammed her. Wetness coating her, preparing her for what she knew would be amazing.
I’m not the one men desire, not if there are options and I’m not going to allow myself to be a placeholder.
Holding onto that mental pep talk, she smiled and shook her head. “Bet you say that to all the women.” Not giving him time to speak, she forged ahead. “Thank you for the chips.”
She slid to the side, stepping away from the warmth he emanated and picked up the chips before making her way around him, the long way, to get to her side of the bed.
One more ice chip in her mouth, she sat by the head of the bed, crossing her legs as she set the cup on the bedside table.
Inching back until her back hit the headboard, she pulled open the bag top.
Ronan raked his gaze over her, his lips twitching.
What I wouldn’t give to know what he’s thinking.
Then again…his gaze had her core clenching and she wasn’t sure if she could handle his thoughts. He definitely didn’t hide them.
Vivyan was determined not to ask him but her mouth didn’t get on the same page as her thoughts.
“What?”
The word slipped out.
He’d left his cup on the dresser by the television and paused in his trek to the bathroom when he turned toward her.
“Just enjoying the view of you against the headboard, angel. Only thing better will be when you’re naked, legs spread so I can see that pretty pussy of mine, glistening and waiting for my thick cock as I have your taste on my tongue.
And no, I don’t say any of that to other women.
” He stepped into the bathroom, closing the door behind him and she moaned as need hammered her.
Breathing hard, she moved the top of her shirt back and forth from her heated skin for a moment before settling back and popping a chip into her mouth. It took two more before the taste resonated with her.
“He’s merely flirting with me.” Her words echoed in the room, silent aside from the sounds of the shower running behind the closed door.
Men didn’t usually flirt with her, especially with not such blatant words. And under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t appreciate such talk but with this man, hell, everything was thrown out.
Unsure how long she had until he came back out, she fanned her face a few times, ate another couple pieces of ice and had just put two more chips in her mouth when the door opened and he stepped out, wrapped in nothing but a towel around disgustingly lean hips.
She choked on the chips as she stared at his chiseled chest, washboard abs and arms that made the phrase “arm porn” completely understandable. It took her two tries before she could find a way to stop and swallow like a normal person.
He smirked, his hair slicked back, water droplets dripping down from his beard to land upon his tanned skin. His chest hair begged for her to touch. Her nipples pebbled at the thought of rubbing them along his body.
“You okay, angel?”
With slow movement, she withdrew a chip and popped it in her mouth. “Fine.” A slow shrug. “I’m off the road, warm, and have my favorite chip.”
“Good.” He turned to his bag which remained on the chair he’d dropped it on.
As she stared at an ass that was unfair—in her opinion—for a man to have.
Holy shit, it was incredible, even covered in a towel from a maybe two-star hotel, his ass was something to ogle.
She curved her fingers into her palm until her nails dipped into the skin.
She wanted nothing more than to sink them into his ass.
Mark him. Bring him closer to her. Hold him deep inside her.
She reined in her imagination and focused on not acting the fool. Breathing calmed she took a slow blink and opened her eyes in time to see him drop the towel.
Holy shit.
Holy.
Shit!
Covered by the towel his ass was incredible. Completely naked, this man was…good god, she didn’t even have the words and she worked in a library for god’s sake. Sculpted marble.
No, not true. Marble is cold and this man, is anything but cold.
Damn near swallowing her tongue as he bent over to step into the dark gray joggers. No underwear. She bit her lower lip and released it as he turned toward her, watching her as he swiped up the towel he’d worn.
There went that damn smirk once more.
Unable to help herself, she skimmed her gaze over him stopping, yet again, on his crotch. Gray sweats, why was it gray sweats?
The white drawstring didn’t do a damn thing other than point down to the length of his cock, highlighting it even further. Not that it needed help to get her attention.
He returned the towel to the bathroom then grabbed the bottle of water and his cup before heading back to the bed.
Moving down her side, he paused by the table, giving her a perfect view of his bare chest, those delicious looking abs, and his hard cock, pressing into the material of his gray pants.
She nearly held her breath while he stood there, teasing her.
Not really, all he’s doing is topping off my water.
Then before he walked away, he bent down, stomach muscles flexing and picked up her phone which had slipped off the bed and set it by her thigh, his touch shooting a wave of electricity through her.
Without a word, he went to what was going to be his side of the bed and stretched out next to her. Somehow, his broad shoulders encroached into her space, brushing against her as his weight brought her closer to him.
She worried her lower lip as in her periphery, she watched him open a bag of Cheetos and pluck some out, her gaze moved down his legs to his bare feet.
When did feet get sexy?
“Is there anyone you need to call?” She chewed another chip. “I’m not sure if you have a phone with you.”
“No one is worried about me, angel.” He held out a Cheeto to her mouth and she allowed him to feed it to her before she realized what happened.
“Vivyan.” She ate the offering and mimicked the action in his direction, holding the chip to his mouth, hairs from his beard brushing against the heel of her palm.