42. Sloane #4
That sexy, crooked smirk curves the corner of Ronan’s mouth. “You’re trying to poach people from my list. I don’t know. That might cost you.”
“Oh yeah? How much?” I ask before really thinking that question through.
The mood in the room shifts in an instant as Ronan’s gaze skates over my face, along my neck, dipping down to my cropped tank top, his eyes like fingertips trailing over my skin. Can he see the gooseflesh that’s erupting?
That same headiness I felt in his office yesterday swirls around us now, taunting me, threatening to pull me under with its spell.
“I need to get back to the office,” Ronan says softly, apologetically, even as his square jaw clenches.
I swallow against the flare of nervous excitement as I stare him down, my body vibrating with need. I want this man. Here, now. I want him, and I think he wants me. This can’t be me misreading the situation a second time. “Are you sure?”
“That I need to? Yes.”
My adrenaline surges. “Do you want to?”
A strangled sound escapes him. “Sloane.”
I can’t hear myself think as I step in between his splayed thighs. “It’s a simple question.”
“But it’s not a simple answer.” He reaches up.
My hair clip suddenly loosens, and my hair tumbles down around my shoulders.
“No, I don’t want to leave.” A cool, calloused hand slips around to the back my neck.
“But I’m not sure you’re up for what I want.
” His thumb drags back and forth over my skin.
The touch radiates all the way down to my suddenly hardened nipples. Heaviness swells deep inside my belly, my body aching to feel his hands all over me. Everywhere.
It’s been so long since I let a man’s hands on me, and I’d like the memory of those particular hands—Cody’s—erased from memory. I’m tired of being so guarded all the time. Hell, I’m thirty-one and I’ve never had sex because it was there, in front of me, available.
At this moment, I just want to feel .
Emboldened by something I can’t understand and throwing caution out the window, I whisper, “Try me.”
Heat ignites in his eyes with my invitation, and the seconds seem to hang between us. “Fuck it,” he curses, pulling me forward, our lips colliding in a crushing kiss.
I haven’t been kissed like this … ever. I’ve never been kissed like this, with such pent-up energy.
Ronan’s like a bull released from its cage into the rodeo ring.
Somehow, I’m ready for it—I think a part of me has been since the day Ronan walked into the Sea Witch for the first time.
My hands settle on his head, my fingers weaving through his silky hair, gripping small fistfuls as our mouths meet each other’s intensity, our tongues stroking each other as we both seem desperate to get closer.
I’m vaguely aware of Ronan’s free hand sliding up under the hem of my shorts to grip my ass, the tips of his fingers teasing dangerously close to sensitive flesh. I want him closer. I want to feel him everywhere .
With ragged breaths, I break free from him long enough to hook my thumbs under my shorts. With a quick tug, they tumble to the floor, along with my panties. I shake them off and then peel off my top and unfasten my bra, letting it fall to the floor with the rest of my clothes .
“Oh, fuck me.” A pained expression fills Ronan’s face as his eyes rake over my naked body.
“I plan to.”
With lightning-quick movement, I’m off my feet, Ronan’s powerful hands seizing the backs of my bare thighs as he pins me against the kitchen wall.
Our lips collide once again, the tempo and fervor even more intense as my fingers fumble blindly with the buttons of his shirt, throwing the two sides open so my hands can drag over his beautiful torso, memorizing its hard curves as they make their way down.
He adjusts his stance, giving me access to unfasten his belt buckle, then the zipper, before pinning me to the wall again, this time freeing his hands to wrestle his pants and briefs down over his hips.
“Oh fuck.” I echo his earlier words as his erection springs free, hot and heavy and rigid. My fist just barely curls around it when Ronan leans into me, lining our bodies up.
I abandon all thought as I guide his tip into my entrance.
We both curse and moan as Ronan sinks into me, each skillful roll of his hips helping him bury himself deeper.
I cling to his shoulders, momentarily overwhelmed by the size of him, the fullness almost too much. I love this feeling, as my body stretches and primes itself, welcoming him in. I don’t want him to stop or even slow.
Ronan begins thrusting with reckless abandon. I’m vaguely aware of the rattling pictures but I ignore it all, my cries growing loud and unabashed as he fucks me against my kitchen wall, our lips a messy tangle of tongues and ragged breaths, my hands groping his straining biceps.
“I’m coming,” Ronan hisses suddenly, his fingertips digging into my flesh. Seconds later, his deep, guttural cries fill my house as his cock pulses inside me.
The intoxicating fog that swirled around us seems to lift instantly, and with it, the sinking realization of what we just did hits me.
Oh my God.
Ronan’s body stiffens against me with each new heaved breath. He seems to have realized our mistake, too, as he peers down between us, to where we’re still joined. “I don’t know what happened. I never skip?—”
Gigi’s cuckoo clock chooses that moment to pop out of her colorful, refurbished home and noisily announce the noon hour, making us both jolt.
“What is it about this place and loud birds?” he complains.
Shit . “I have to go. I’m late.”
“So do I.” Ronan pulls out and sets me on the floor. In seconds he has his briefs and dress pants secure.
Suddenly, I’m the only completely naked one standing in my kitchen and I’m nowhere near as brave or confident as I was before.
I dive for my shorts and T-shirt, skipping my bra as I hastily redress.
“I have to cover AJ’s shift. He called in sick.
Probably wants to avoid an awkward conversation until he can officially quit. ”
“You sure you don’t want me to ax him?” As fast as my fingers worked to undo those buttons on Ronan’s shirt, his seem to be working double time now to refasten them.
“No, we’ll manage.” Somehow. “But thanks, I appreciate your help.” Without Ronan, the Sea Witch would be in deeper trouble than it already is.
And this has turned incredibly awkward.
“I’ve got to get these names in within the hour or Belinda will kill me.” Grabbing his laptop, he moves for my front door.
“Right. The vise …” On balls that just unloaded inside me.
I squeeze my eyes shut, still in shock over how quickly that got out of control.
“I’m on the pill,” I blurt, though that’s only half the problem.
“And I’m clean.” I got tested as soon as I found out Cody had been cheating on me and haven’t been with anyone since .
“So am I,” Ronan promises, but the tension hasn’t released from his shoulders as he reaches for the doorknob.
“Can you please not tell anyone? About what happened.”
A dark chuckle escapes him. “I promise, you don’t have to worry about that.” With that, he steps out.
And stops dead on the porch.
“Frank!” I smooth a hand through my hair as I spot the looming form standing in the middle of our parking lot. “When did you get home? Ralph didn’t make a sound.” He gives a signature two-crow salute whenever the black truck pulls in.
“About five minutes ago. And yeah, he did.”
That’s impossible. I couldn’t have missed that terrible racket.
Could I have?
Frank’s brooding gaze rolls from Ronan’s untucked dress shirt to me.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“Needed this.” He holds up a wrench. “I thought you were covering AJ’s shift.”
“I am. I’m heading there right now.”
His gaze drops. “Like that ?”
I cross my arms over my chest, hyperaware of the bra I left by the sink. “Right after I change.”
“And I’ve got to get back to work.” Ronan trots down the steps, laptop under his arm, heading for his car.
That is covered in chicken shit.
“Sorry, they do that sometimes.” I wince as he pauses to inspect an especially large dropping on his hood. That had to be Ralph.
With a headshake more to himself, he calls out, “Remember the deal.”
“Huh?”
Peering over his shoulder at me, he meets my gaze, and a thousand different things seem to flitter through those eyes, none of which I can read. “The signs.”
“Oh, right. Yeah, they’ll be down.”
He hesitates. “Good doing business with you.” With a wink, Ronan slides into the driver’s seat. The engine purrs a moment later and then he’s gone, his taillights disappearing around the bend of bramble.
Frank’s arms haven’t uncrossed and now that heavy glare is settled on me. “What kind of business are you doing with the hotel?”
There’s no avoiding this. I may as well confess. “I have an arrangement with Ronan. He won’t hire more Sea Witch staff, and I’ll clean up the property line.”
Frank shakes his head. “I regret asking.”
“We were going to lose seven more people. Seven! We wouldn’t be able to operate like that. Now, it’s only two.” I break the news about Amanda and AJ.
He seems to consider this. “Does Gigi know about this plan you hatched?”
“I told her, yeah.”
“And?”
“She said to take the wins when we can.” Who knows how many more losses are waiting for us down the path.
His lips twist with displeasure. He’s still not convinced.
“Look, Wolf Hotels couldn’t care less if they don’t get these specific hires. But losing them all at once will break us.” I echo Ronan’s rationale.
“Yeah, I don’t like it, but …” He pinches the bridge of his nose. “The signs were the only condition with that guy, right?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?—”
“ Yes .” I hold his gaze so he can see the truth in my answer. “Ronan’s actually a good guy.” And fucking me against the wall was not part of the deal .
“I’d make sure none of them find out about this or there might be blowback. It definitely won’t be good for morale.”
“They’re not going to. I’m not telling anyone except you and Gigi.” Not even Rebel and Skye need to know.
With another headshake, he ambles for his truck. “You’re gonna be late for your sail.”
“I’m leaving in three minutes.” I run for the door.
“Hey, Sloane!” Frank calls out.
“Yeah?”
“Your clothes are on inside out.”