For the second time in twenty-four hours, Ryan was speechless. He was having a hard time believing that the woman in her arms and his PA for three years were the same person. He had to admit, he had some doubts when they first arrived especially when they had encountered Vanessa. He was amazed by how she put her in her place both there and at dinner. The memory was still fresh in his mind. He realise now that she didn't know she just moaned earlier. It was low but Ryan heard it. Then they went ahead and fed each other. That was so intimate and sexy that part of him wished she wasn't acting because he sure as hell wasn't. He had watched as her tongue tasted the meat first before her lips closed on the fork.
Fuck, that was hot. Everything about this woman was hot and he wanted her. He wanted her the morning she agreed to his proposal. He wanted her when they got married. He wanted her everyday since she started living with him. He wanted her earlier when he saw her in this dress. He wanted now as her breasts were pressed against his hard chest, his hand on her smooth skin. His fingers traced her skin as his palm settled on her lower back and she saw her pulse quicken. Her shoulders were raising and falling rapidly.
Good. She was just as affected as he was.
Ryan let his gaze fell from her slender neck to her collar bone and those shoulders. Imagining the taste of all that temptingly tanned skin under his tongue made his mouth water. He swore he could taste her. He grunted as his cock swelled at the thought of licking every inch of her.
"You're staring." Her blue eyes latched onto his.
"You were amazing."
"Well, I aim to please." she said.
Smiling, he just barely resisted the urge to lean in and kiss her. Instead he twirled her and brought her back to him.
"You dance well." She smiled at him and he found himself tracing his finger on her lips. Slowly, Ryan eased his finger away from her mouth, caressing her cheek as he did. He saw her swallow hard and his throat suddenly dried, the heaviness of arousal building in his limbs. That heaviness grew as he took a subtle step forward, dissolving the distance between them. Their thighs brushed,not so close that they'd draw attention but close enough to inspire all kinds of sensual images in Ryan's mind.
All of a sudden, no one existed but him and Claire. He grabbed the back of her neck and brushed his lips against hers. Every muscle in his body tensed as she slid her arms around his waist. She pressed her body against his, her hands clutching at his back.
You should stop this. He agreed with his mind.
So then why was he holding her head, tilting her face towards him? Then they were kissing, slowly at first before her arms twined around his neck. Her scent was intoxicating, addictive. He tasted the wine from earlier and the flavor urged him to take more, to deepen the kiss. He stroked his tongue along hers, exploring, absorbing, teasing. The way she moaned into his mouth, slid her tongue against his, matched him stroke for stroke, told him that she wanted him as much as he did her. Suddenly he wanted her naked beneath him as he drive himself into her over and over again until she cries out his name.
"You two should get a room." Ryan tore his mouth away from hers to look at his stupid brother who looked slightly drunk. He fought the urge to tell him to fuck off.
"Well, it's not a crime to kiss my wife." he smiled down at Claire who was still trying to catch her breath. He stared at her slightly swollen lips and wanted to kiss them again. " What do you want, George?"
"Father is looking for you."
"Why?" George just shrugged. He could probably guess what his father wanted to talk about. He turned to Claire, "Will you be okay?"
"Yes."
"Don't worry, bro. I'll take care of your lovely wife for you." Ryan wanted to punch his stupid face. Nobody was allowed to touch her not while he was still alive.
Okay, possessive much? Ryan ignored the sneer from his conscious.
"I promised Rachel that I would look for her." she said to him.
"Okay, I'll be back soon." he gave her a quick kiss before disappearing into the crowd.
He spotted his father standing with his grandma. Ryan could only assume that whatever they discussing was pretty tense because they didn't even notice him until he stood in front of him. He spoke before either of them said anything.
"Whatever you want to say, we will discuss it tomorrow. I just left my wife with George and I don't want him harrassing her, okay?"
"It's okay, grandson. We will talk tomorrow." His father wanted to object but a stare from his mother shut him up. He didn't want to think about whatever that was. Right now, he just wanted to get back to Claire.
He spotted her immediately, trying to get away from his brother. If he said anything to her, he was going to kill him. He quickened his pace and he was within earshot when he said to her, " He doesn't deserve you. A woman like you doesn't deserve a bastard like him."
Ryan saw George grab Claire's hand and that's when his beast came to life but before he got to his brother, a loud clap echoed in the room, bringing the entire crowd's attention to Claire and George who was massaging his stinging cheek.
"1- Never ever touch me again otherwise I'll castrate you. 2- Don't talk about my husband like that. What kind of a brother are you? It's not his fault you will never amount to anything in this life other than having the Gordon's name to your ass!"
Third time today he just stared at the woman in front of her. She had gone from being hooded with desire five minutes ago to having murderous eyes now. He didn't know if he should be afraid or bow at her feet. Only when she had calm down did she notice that everyone was staring at her. He walked towards her and relief washed on her face when she saw him.
"Let's go home." she nodded but stopped after two steps. "What's wrong?"
"I'll be back." she let go of his hand and walked straight to his grandmother.
"Grandma, I'm sorry for your party." his grandmother laughed, confusing her and everyone else.
"Are you kidding? This is the most action I've gotten in a long time. You should visit me soon." Claire hugged her and she returned it.
She moved to his father. "It was nice meeting you, Mr Gordon. You've a very nice-" Ryan almost laughed. She was adorable. He saw her looking at the ceiling-"home." His father just nodded at her but there was a hint of a smile on his face. Finally it was Rachel who looked like she wanted to stuff her in her bag and just ran away. They ended their goodbyes promising to call each other tomorrow.
"Let's go home husband." He found that he liked the word coming out of her mouth. He entwined their hands, kissed the back of her palm and strode off to the main entrance.
***
What had she done? How could she be so reckless as to slap his brother in public like that? Even though the bastard had practically asked for it, she should've known better than to behave like that.
Now she had damaged Ryan's reputation. She could already see the headlines in tomorrow's paper and every news station in the city: Billionare Gordon slapped by a secretary.
The ride back to Ryan's place was quiet. She could only imagine what he was thinking now. Maybe he would terminate their contract and possibly fire her from his company. What would happe to her mother now, to Marcus?
Claire didn't even notice when the car pulled into the driveway, just when Ryan had opened the door for her, helped her out and thanked Jerome who drove off.
"I'm sorry." she said when they were inside the house.
"For what?"
"For embarrassing you today. I understand if you want your money back and break off the contract." she started untieing the straps on her heels.
"Now why would I do that?"
First it was Vanessa, then George now even the stupid shoes were tasting her patience. "Let me." She hadn't registered Ryan's words until he knelt in front of her and brought her foot to his thigh. One hand worked on the straps of her heels while another rested on her calf.
"Why would I terminate the contract, Claire?"
She had the answer in her head but she could trust to open her mouth and not let out a moan when those big hands were touching her.
Deep breaths Claire, deep breaths. As if that would work.
"Because I embarrassed?"
"Says who?" he was now on the foot.
"Everyone who will read the paper tomorrow." she was amazed by how she was able to utter words at a time like this.
"Do I look like I care what people think, Claire?" she wished he would stop saying her name like that.
"No." his fingers brushed her big toe then another and another; was he playing with her toes?
"You've beautiful feet with beautiful toes." she glanced down at him and instantly wished she hadn't. Their position was so erotic Claire swore she came right on the spot. He slid up slightly grazing her body in the process. Images from the dance floor clouded her mind. His lips had been warm and tasty. And his tongue, the man knew how to use his tongue. She wondered if it will be the same to have his tongue thrust into her pussy just like he did with her mouth. She raised her face and her eyes fell on his lips. She wanted to feel those lips again. Her gaze locked in with his and she saw desire in his eyes and knew he was also thinking about their kiss. She wet her dry lips with her tongue and Ryan followed that motion.
"So how was dinner?" Martha's voice caused her to jump away from Ryan to which he just smirked and walked towards the stairs. He murmured a good night to Martha and climbed the stairs, which Claire shamelessly followed with her eyes until he was out sight.
"Tell me everything." she smiled at Martha's love for gossip and they walked into the kitchen where a plate of brownies were waiting for her.