Joan Pickart - Tall, Dark And Irresistible

Ryan smiled. “There you go.”

The tension of what had just transpired dissipated when the gooey, cherry-smothered pieces of cake were set in front of them. The tension was gone…but not forgotten.

When they were driving away from the restaurant, Carolyn asked Ryan if he knew where he was going to build his dream home.

Ryan nodded. “I have a piece of land that was given to me by my parents on my twenty-first birthday. It’s a Sharpe family tradition to be given a piece of undeveloped property on the big twenty-one. We can sell it, keep it, build a home on it, whatever suits our fancy.”

“How marvelous. And you like the location of your land?”

“Oh, yeah,” Ryan said, nodding. “It’s on a rise and has an unbelievable view of the city lights.” He paused. “Would you like to see it? We could drive up there right now in this vehicle, even though there aren’t any paved roads leading to it yet.”

Ryan laughed. “There’s a new one for you. Instead of asking if you want to see my etchings, I’m suggesting that you look at a bunch of dirt and scrub weeds with me. Classy, huh?”

“To the max,” Carolyn said, smiling, “but I’d enjoy it, I’m sure.”

“Okay. We’re heading for the hills.”

Twenty minutes later, after a drive that slowly left the city behind and gradually gained altitude as Ryan wove his way upward, he stopped and turned off the ignition to the SUV.

He crossed his arms on top of the steering wheel and swept his gaze over the fantastic view of the city lights that spread out below as far as the eye could see in all directions. He looked over at Carolyn, who had undone her seat belt and was leaning forward.

“What do you think?” he said.

“It’s breathtaking,” Carolyn said, awe ringing in her voice. “Oh, Ryan, what an incredibly beautiful view this is. I could sit here for hours and just drink in the sight of it. It’s so perfect it looks like a postcard.”

“Mmm,” Ryan said, nodding. “Yes, it does, now that you mention it. Would you like to get out so you can see it firsthand instead of through the window?”

“I thought you’d never ask.” Carolyn laughed as she opened the door and slid off the seat.

They met in front of the vehicle, and Carolyn wrapped her hands around her elbows as a chilly breeze caused her to shiver.

“It’s windier up here than down in the city. This isn’t such a hot idea, Carolyn. You’re obviously getting cold.”

“Oh, a few minutes won’t hurt,” she said, then shivered again.

Ryan stepped behind her and encircled her with his arms, stepping close to nestle her to him. Carolyn stiffened for a moment, then relaxed, savoring the warmth of Ryan’s massive, powerful body.

Oh, he was so strong yet so gentle, she mused. She was definitely not cold any longer. The heat emanating from Ryan was suffusing her, swirling inside her, causing her heart to quicken its tempo. That heat was growing hotter, beginning to burn within her with licking flames of desire.

Move away, Carolyn, she ordered herself. This was dangerous, was too intimate and… It was as though she and Ryan had been transported to another world where no one existed but the two of them. And in this world there were no rules of conduct that must be followed. They were free to do whatever felt right and real, theirs.

Oh, yes, she had to step forward, out of Ryan’s embrace that was muddling her thinking, and she would. In a minute. Or two. Three at the very most.

“I think,” Ryan said, his voice husky, “that I’d design the house so that there was a big deck in the back, here, so I could sit in a lounge chair and enjoy this view whenever I wanted to. What do you think?”

I think my bones are dissolving, Carolyn thought. She really was going to end this unbelievably romantic moment and replant her behind safely on the seat in Ryan’s vehicle. She certainly was. In…just…a…few…minutes, give or take a couple.

“That sounds like a great idea,” she said, ignoring the weird trembling of her voice. “Right up there on the top of the list with the fireplace and the garden tub.”

“Oh, man, Carolyn, you feel so good in my arms. You smell like flowers, do you know that? You hair is so silky, so…”

“Ryan…”

He shifted from where he stood to stand in front of her without totally releasing his hold on her. In the silvery glow of the millions of stars in the heavens their gazes met. Of their own volition, it seemed, Carolyn’s hands floated from where they still cupped her elbows to encircle Ryan’s neck.

And then he lowered his head and kissed her.

Oh, my, Carolyn thought.

Oh, yes, Ryan thought.

The kiss was tentative at first, then deepened, as Ryan parted Carolyn’s lips and slipped his tongue into the sweet darkness of her mouth that held the lingering flavors of chocolate and cherries.

Hearts beat in wild tempo, and heat licked throughout them. Flames threatened to consume them with an intensity of want and need neither had experienced before.

Ryan lifted his head slightly to draw a quick, sharp breath, then tilted his mouth in the opposite direction and claimed Carolyn’s lips once again.

Slow down, Sharpe, Ryan thought suddenly. He was losing control, was close to the edge. He had to stop kissing Carolyn now…right now. But, oh, man, how he wanted her. She was responding to him in total abandon, giving as she received. But he didn’t want to do anything to frighten her, cause her to refuse to see him again. He had to get a grip.

Damn it, Sharpe, let go of her.

Ryan broke the kiss, grasped Carolyn’s shoulders and eased her away from his throbbing, aroused body. She blinked several times, then drew a steadying breath.

“My…goodness,” she managed to say, with a little puff of air.

“No joke,” Ryan said, taking a step backward. He dragged one hand through his hair to keep from reaching for her again. “I think…we’d better go before— If I kiss you again I’m afraid I’ll…” He pointed to the SUV. “Get in the vehicle.”

A bubble of laughter escaped from Carolyn’s lips. “Do you want me to salute first, now that you’re barking orders at me?”

Ryan smiled, then drew one thumb over the soft skin of her cheek, causing a frisson of heat to slither down her back.

“Ah, Carolyn,” he said, “you are so special. I like being with you more than I can say.” He chuckled. “I don’t exactly hate kissing you, either, but I don’t think I can handle a long discussion about that part at the moment. Come on. I’ll take you home.”

Carolyn matched his smile and nodded. Ryan encircled her shoulders with one arm to lead her to the vehicle, but she hesitated, turning her head to look once more at the gorgeous view of the city lights below, etching it indelibly in her mind.

“Thank you for sharing this with me, Ryan.”

“Sure,” he said, as they started forward.

Except, maybe it had been a mistake to bring Carolyn up here, he thought, frowning. This was the place where he’d hoped and prayed he’d obtain the inner peace he sought.

But now? Carolyn had been here. Carolyn had shared kisses so incredibly passionate with him here. Carolyn’s image might hover here, haunt him in the future, make him ache with the want of her, emphasize his aloneness. His loneliness.

Knock it off, he told himself, as he assisted Carolyn onto the seat and closed the door. Why go looking for trouble that wasn’t even a reality? So he’d brought a lovely woman to his land, and they’d shared a couple of kisses under the stars. It wasn’t that big of a deal.

Was it?

Late the next afternoon, Carolyn stifled a yawn as she and Ryan peered at a display of green peppers at the outdoor farmers’ market where they were shopping.

She glanced at Ryan to be certain he hadn’t noticed, that like a sleepy toddler, she was very much in need of a rejuvenating nap, and was relieved to see that he was concentrating on the vegetables.

Being out in the fresh air, Carolyn mused, combined with the fact that she hadn’t slept well the previous night had caused the yawn to nearly escape from her lips. No, she hadn’t slept well because she had been consumed with thoughts and…yes, with desire.

For Ryan.

When he’d kissed her good-night just inside her door last night she’d come unsettlingly close to asking him if he wanted to stay, if he wanted to make love with her. She’d been so shocked by her own wanton yearnings that she’d stiffened in Ryan’s arms, causing him to release her and step backward.

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