'Holy Shit!' Emma exclaims, staring down at my phone. I came down to Manhattan to meet her for lunch. 'Did you reply?' She looks up at me expectantly.
'No way' I laugh. What would she recommend I say to that? It's got me completely stumped.
'And he called you?'
'Yes.' I nod, raising my eyebrows.
She places my phone back on the table. 'I think he really wants you.'
Is it? It actually makes things a lot harder. What does he want with someone like me, I look nothing like the women he date. Emma was more his type, she's far more daring than me. She would have replied with something shocking and suggestive, and probably made his jaw drop. She had long blonde hair that was as vibrant as her personality. She's confident, strong minded and determined.
'I don't think so' I muse, picking up my third cup of coffee. '
'Anyway, he's only doing this cause of what I wrote. I don't want any men in my life.' I like the fact that I sound sure. 'I'm enjoying being single and carefree.' I add. I don't think I will do well in a relationship. I always made an excuse saying it was cause of work but now I think I was happy being single, I don't have the time for a man. I was doing well with work and I don't need a distraction.
'Really?' Emma asked raises her brows, I know she didn't believe me.
She was the complete opposite of me, I think she loves dating and meeting men. I was happy for her, I know she was looking for the right one.
'Yes.' I confirm.
'Whatever helps you sleep at night' She grins as the waitress approaches with our lunch.
'I'm just going to the bathroom.' I get up, leaving Emma eating her chicken salad.
After using the toilet, I stand in the mirror re-applying my lip gloss and fixing my hair . It's behaving today, so it's down, curly and tumbling all over my shoulders. I brush down my skirt and pick a few hairs off my shirt. My phone rings as I make my way back to the table. Taking it from my bag, rolling my eyes when I see it's him again. He's probably wondering where my reply to his inappropriate text message is. I'm not playing games with him.
I huff at my phone, stabbing at the reject button and stuffing it in my bag as I continue down the corridor. 'Oh God, I'm Sorry!' I splutter, slamming straight into a chest.
This chest is a very firm chest, and the intoxicating fresh water scent that's washing over me is way too familiar. My legs refuse to move, and I know what I'm going to see if I look up. His arm is already wrapped around my waist to steady me, my eyes level with the top of his chest.
'Reject?' he says softly. 'I'm wounded.'
I push myself away from his grasp, attempting to regain my composure. He looks stunning, wearing a charcoal suit and crisp white shirt. He looked very different from the night at the club.
'I'm sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going.' I step to the side , but he grabs my elbow, halting my escape.
'Just tell me one thing before you leave, Myra.' His voice woke my senses, and I find my eyes travelling up the leanness of his body until our eyes meet. His face is serious, but still stunning. 'How loud do you think you'll scream when I fuck you?'
WHAT? 'Excuse me?' I manage to splutter around the lead that held my tongue.
He half smiles at my shock, placing his index finger under my chin and pushing my gaping mouth shut. 'I'll leave that one with you.' He says releasing my arm.
I flash him a displeased scowl before I walk back to the table as steadily as my boneless legs will allow. Did I really just hear him right? I slide myself onto the chair, immediately glugging down my coffee to try and moisten my parched mouth, but I think I need something stronger.
When I look up at Emma, she's openmouthed, exposing half chewed chips and bread. It's not attractive. 'OMG, don't look but Ryan Kingsley is here!' she whispered alarmed looking down at her food.
'Who?' I look around, simulating unawareness. Acting like I didn't just barge into him.
'Him,' Emma points with her fork. 'Look!'
'Oh yeah.' I grate, acting like I don't care. Only if she could hear my heart beat.
'He's coming over. Fuck, he's hot!' She looks at me.
Go away, go away! I pick up a stray piece of lettuce from my sandwich and start nibbling at the edges. I'm tense all over, and I know he's getting closer because Emma is nearly off her seat. I wish she would shut her bloody gaping mouth! A fly could go in.
'Ladies,' His low, throaty voice prickles at my skin, doing nothing to relax me.
'Hi,' Emma spits, chewing rapidly to rid her mouth of the obstruction to speech.
'Myra?' he prompts. I wave my piece of lettuce at him to acknowledge his presence but without having to look at him. He laughs lightly.
Out the corner of my eye, I see his body slowly lowering until he's squatting at the table next to me, but I still refuse to look at him. He rests one arm on the table, and I hear Emma cough and splutter on the remnants of her food.
'That's better,' he says. I can feel his breath on my cheek.
Reluctantly, I look up through my lashes and find Emma gawking at me all wide eyed and yes he's still there talk you idiot! I can think of nothing to say. Once again, this man has rendered me useless and speechless.
I hear him sigh. 'I'm Ryan Kingsley, pleased to meet you.' I see his hand reach across the table.
Emma takes it eagerly. 'Ryan?' she splutters. 'Oh! Ryan ,' I can feel her glaring at me accusingly. 'I'm Emma. Myra mentioned she interviewed you recently.' I mentally slap myself, why was she acting like she didn't know him.
I scowl across the table.
'Oh, she mentioned me?' he asks softly. I don't have to look at him to know he's displaying a smug, satisfied face at this news. 'I wonder what else she's mentioned.'
'Oh, this and that,' Emma flips casually, but it's too late to back track on her previous statement. I throw her my filthiest look.
'This and that.' he counters softly.
'Yes, this and that.' Emma affirms.
Fed up of the pointless little exchange that they both seem to be enjoying, I take the situation into my own hands, turning my eyes onto him. 'It was nice to see you, goodbye.'
Our eyes latch immediately, and I'm ruined by his sludgy brown eyes, all hooded, dark and demanding. I can feel his breath waver and it draws my eyes away from his, but only to his mouth. His lips are moist, slightly parted, and his tongue slowly creeps out of his mouth, running a leisurely path across his bottom lip. I can't take my eyes off him. Without any encouragement at all, my own tongue responds happily licking my bottom lip. It betrays my effort to appear unaffected. I'm so affected.
This is crazy. This...whatever this is...it's just crazy. He's over confident and arrogant, but probably has the right to be. I desperately do not want to be affected by this man.
'Nice?' He leans forward, grasping my thigh, causing hot liquid lava to flood my groin. I shift my legs, squeezing my thighs together to restrict the pulsation that threatens to break out into a full, hard throb.
'I could think of lots of words, Myra. Nice is not one of them. I'll leave you to consider my question.'
Oh, good Lord! I gulp as he leans into me at half height, pressing his damp lips against my cheek, holding his kiss forever. I clench my teeth in an effort not to turn into him. That not I wanted to kiss him again.
'Soon.' he whispers. It's a promise. He releases my tense thigh and rises. 'It was nice to meet you, Emma.'
'Hmmm, you too.' she responds thoughtfully.
He strides off towards the back of the bar. We are never coming here again. Good God, he walks with purpose and it's sexy as hell. I close my eyes to mentally gather myself. It's completely hopeless, I was still a mess. I turn back to Emma, finding accusing bright blues gawking at me like I've just sprouted fangs.
Her eyebrows hit her hairline. 'Fuck me, that was intense!' she spits across the table.
'Was it?' I start pushing my sandwich around my plate.
'You better stop with the fucking bullshit now, or I'll shove this fork so far up your arse, you'll be chewing metal. What question are you considering?' Her tone is fierce.
'I don't know,' I brush her off. 'He's attractive, arrogant and a player' I try for vague.
Emma lets out a long, over amplified whistle. 'I've never experienced that before. I've heard of it but never witnessed it.'
'What are you talking about?' I snap.
She leans across the table, all serious. 'Myra, the sexual tension batting between you and that man was so much, even I was horny!' She laughs.
'He wants you bad. He couldn't have made it any clearer if he'd have spread on the table.' She points, and I actually look.
'You're imagining things.' I snort. I know she's not, but what can I say?
'I've seen pictures, and now I've seen the man in the flesh. He's hot...for an older guy.' She shrugs.
'I'm not interested.'
'Ha! You keep telling yourself that.'
I scowl across the table at my best friend. 'I will.'
'Let me know how that works out for you.' she shoots back.