Making the First Move

"Just a couple more steps and you're there." Ryan slid his arm around Sophie's waist and nudged the taxi door closed. As the car pulled away from the curb he glanced at the veranda of her cottage-style home, thankful she'd left the porch light on so they wouldn't have to navigate the brick pathway in the dark.

She clutched his hand and snorted. "Someone's moved the house! I can't make it that far."

Ryan smiled and stepped around in front of her. He clasped her upper arms and waited for her blue eyes to focus on him. One of the straps on her slip-like crimson dress had fallen off her shoulder. He tugged it into place, ignoring the spark of desire inside him. "You're okay," he said. "You're a little drunk, that's all."

She scoffed and tilted her head to stare up at him. "I am not. I'm nearly as tall as you."

He laughed as his gaze passed over her. She'd definitely grown over the five years he'd known her. Back when they first met she'd been a bubbly sixteen year old living with her parents, while he'd just started his own landscaping and gardening business at the age of twenty-two.

At the time her parents had hired him to give their garden a complete overhaul. While he worked there Sophie became his shadow, following him around at every opportunity, complimenting his dark hair and the muscles he'd acquired through his work. Although he'd pretended not to notice, her crush on him had been obvious.

After that initial job her father had arranged for him to do regular maintenance and Ryan kept in touch with her family over the years. While he worked on expanding his business and Sophie studied to become a nurse, their friendship grew. Now when he looked at her, he no longer saw that innocent teenager.

Tonight her long brown hair framed her face in a tousled mass and the gloss she'd worn earlier had all but faded from her lips. An overwhelming urge came over him to press his mouth there. He leaned in to kiss her forehead instead. "C'mon," he said. "Let's get you to bed."

"Wait." Sophie held onto the forearms revealed by his rolled-up shirtsleeves, swaying as she smiled at him. "I wanted to tell you something that I've been thinking about for a while."

Given the chemistry building between them lately Ryan had a fair idea what she planned on saying. As much as he wanted to hear it, he preferred the idea of her telling him when she had a clear head. He slipped his fingers into her hair and massaged her temple with his thumb. "It's getting late, Soph. Why don't you tell me tomorrow instead?"

Sophie made a soft sound of pleasure, resting her cheek against his chest. She wrapped her arms around his waist and sighed. "Remind me if I forget," she said. Her dress dipped low in the back and she wasn't wearing a bra. He couldn't resist sweeping his hand over her exposed flesh, sliding his palm up and down her spine. Her body trembled and her expression filled with contentment.

Ryan gave an inward groan and scrubbed a hand down his face, deciding he'd had about as much as he could handle for one night. He urged her along the front path and helped her step onto the porch. She fumbled with her key, then shoved the door open and stumbled inside. Thankfully her housemate had gone away for the weekend so there was no need to keep the noise down.

Sophie slapped the light switch and dropped her purse, bracing herself against the archway leading into the living room. From her previous history Ryan knew she'd either fall asleep on her feet, or get a second wind and want to continue on with their night. He chose another option and swept her up into his arms. He kicked the door shut, enjoying the sound of her shocked laughter as he strode with her down the hallway.

He used his elbow to turn on the light in her bedroom and glanced around the space he'd only been in a handful of times. Drapes blocked the view of the street outside and she'd looped some kind of purple gauzy material over the curtain rod. Bright yellow linen covered the bed and a bookcase sat in the corner, so stuffed with well-worn paperbacks it looked about ready to tip forward.

He crossed the room and lowered her to her feet, urging her to take a seat on the edge of the mattress. Ryan knelt before her, glancing up at her as he went about unfastening the tiny buckles on her shoes. "Are you okay?" he asked. He tossed one shoe aside and worked on the other.

"I'm great!" Sophie flopped back on the mattress, letting her arms drop out to her sides. "I'm fantastic."

"You're hammered." She chose that moment to hiccup and it made him laugh.

"I was having so much fun with you. One drink just led to another and...Well, you know." She stretched her arms above her head and yawned. "Is it officially tomorrow yet? Do you want to hear my secret now?"

He removed her other shoe and gave her feet a quick rub. "I get the feeling you're going to tell me anyway."

Sophie pushed herself up to a sitting position and wrapped her arms around his neck. He looked up at her, taking in her full lips and the way the dimple in her left cheek appeared then disappeared. She leaned in close and pressed her lips to his jaw in a lingering kiss. Her mouth moved to his ear and she whispered, "I think you should have sex with me."

His heart pounded and a wave of lust rolled through him. He wanted to throw her against the bed and tear that flimsy red dress off her. He didn't know when he'd started seeing her in a different light. The shift in their relationship had happened so gradually it had snuck up on him. He only knew every time he looked at her now he felt this pull to get his hands on her. "I want you," he said.

"But not tonight," she guessed.

Her indignant expression had him wanting to kiss her until neither of them could breathe. "I know pretty much everything about you, Soph, including the fact you're a virgin."

She shrugged her shoulders and the movement sent one of the straps slipping down her arm. He couldn't tell for sure if it had been intentional. "It's up to me how and when I give it up," she said.

"If I'm involved I have a say in it, too."

Sophie lifted her shoulder again. The remaining strap took a slide down her other arm, lowering the neckline of her dress until only her hardened nipples seemed to be stopping it from falling to her waist. "I could seduce you anytime I want to, Ryan."

"Is that right?" A smile crossed his face and a dozen images filled his mind, all of them erotic. He caressed her thighs, not surprised when they parted beneath his touch.

"It wouldn't take much," she continued. "All I'd have to do is let my dress drop."

She did just that, exposing herself to him. He should've expected it, but it still hit him like a punch to the stomach.

Her breasts were pale and firm, the curved undersides begging to be cupped by his calloused palms. Her nipples were small and pink, inviting the flick of his tongue. Goose bumps spread over her skin. Despite her bravado, he heard her shallow breaths, saw the uncertainty in her eyes. He wanted her with an intensity he'd never experienced before now.

"Please." She moved closer to him, opening her legs so they framed his thighs. Her arms snaked around his neck and she sent him an imploring look. "I want to know what it's like. I want to feel you inside me."

He closed his eyes to shut out the view of her. If he didn't, he wouldn't be able to keep it together. "You're drunk," he said. "You don't want your first time to be like this." He wrapped one arm around her and hugged her to him.

"I don't care." Sophie took his other hand in hers, lifting it to caress her breast. His thumb grazed her nipple and she drew in a sharp breath. "I just want it to be with you." She placed soft kisses across his cheek, working her way towards his mouth. Her back arched, pushing her breast further into his palm.

His control snapped. He couldn't help it. A growl rumbled in his throat and he picked her up, dropping her further back on the bed. Her mouth opened in surprise and her breasts bounced as she fell against the pillows. Before she could recover, Ryan moved up her body and grabbed her wrists, holding them above her head. His chest rested against hers, his hips wedged between her thighs. Their gazes locked and he saw the look of triumph in her eyes. Love, lust, desire -he didn't know what the fuck it was- charged through him.

He kissed along her collarbone, dipped the tip of his tongue into the hollow at the base of her throat. She let out a low moan and hooked her ankle over the back of his thigh. His lips caressed the soft curve of her jaw, nibbled at the lobe of her ear. The pull to take what she offered almost got the better of him. He'd pay her back for the torture tomorrow.

"In the morning I'm all yours," he said. "But for now...I'm bigger and stronger than you." He ground his hips against hers, letting her feel how hard he'd become and show her just who was in charge here. He leaned down and licked her nipple, taking pleasure in the way her body writhed beneath him. "And it's not happening tonight."

:*::*::*:

Sophie rolled onto her back and stretched, turning her head on the pillow to check the clock on her bedside table. She draped her arm over her forehead and smiled, surprised that she'd slept until noon.

She'd started out sharing a few drinks with friends, but as the night went on the group became smaller. Eventually it had just been her and Ryan tucked away in a corner booth at their favourite pub.

She slipped her hands beneath the sheets, closing her eyes as she recalled the way he'd looked at her in the dim light. With the band playing in the background and the Saturday night crowd filling the bar it had felt like they were tucked away in their own private world.

Sophie skimmed her hands over her bare breasts and frowned, losing her train of thought. She normally wore pyjamas. How had she...?

Her heart raced and she shot up in bed, holding the sheet to her chest. She scanned the room, but there was no sign Ryan had even been here in the first place. She didn't know whether to feel relieved or disappointed that he'd gone.

She let out the breath she'd been holding and rested her elbows on her knees, thinking back to the final moments from last night. She'd pleaded with him to sleep with her and he'd turned her down. Her cheeks flushed at the memory. If she hadn't been able to recall what happened next it would have been enough for her to not want to face him again anytime soon.

He'd told her he was all hers. Her stomach fluttered and a smile appeared. She sat and thought about it for a while, trying to decide on the best course of action. She wanted to call him to apologise for her behaviour and thank him all at the same time, but it wasn't enough. Sophie really needed to see him.

She showered, brushed her teeth and threw on denim shorts and a lavender tank, deciding not to bother with a bra. With any luck her clothes wouldn't be on for long. She left her hair flowing loose and slipped her toes into a pair of sandals. After one final check in the en suite mirror, Sophie hurried from her bedroom and headed down the hallway, trying to remember where she'd left her handbag and keys.

She spotted them on the floor beside the front door. A feeling of urgency spurred her on and she rushed forward.

"Going somewhere?"

Sophie stopped short, her skin warming at the sound of his voice. He'd stayed.Of course he'd stayed. She moved to the living room doorway, her heart pounding so hard she wondered if he could hear it, too.

Ryan stood in the centre of the small space. He must have used her housemate's bathroom because his dark hair was tousled and damp and his feet were bare beneath his jeans. He'd left enough buttons undone on his blue shirt that she could see his chest. Her gaze shifted to the couch where she noticed a folded blanket draped over the arm.

"You didn't have to sleep out here," she said, moving further into the room. She hooked her thumbs in the belt loops on her shorts and glanced out the window. Sunlight trickled through the pear tree in her front yard and a car horn honked in the distance.

"I didn't have a choice last night," he said.

Her attention shifted back to him and the playful gleam in his eyes had her biting her lip to hide a smile. "Sorry about that."

"No, you're not."

Sophie gave up the pretence and laughed. "No, I'm not."

"Come over here."

She grinned, caught up in the moment. "Why?"

One dark brow lifted. "Apparently you've got some moves. I want to see them."

The memory of her bragging that she could seduce him came back to her. Sophie decided to rise to the challenge rather than let him get the better of her. She narrowed her eyes and planted her hands on her hips. "You don't believe me?"

His gaze travelled over her, slowly enough that it had desire swirling in her belly. "The boob flash was one thing, but I have my doubts about your other abilities."

She walked over to him, fighting against a smile. Her hands itched to touch him, but the anticipation was just too much fun and she didn't want to give in to the need yet. "You think because I haven't had sex before it means I don't have any other tricks up my sleeve?"

"You're not wearing sleeves," he pointed out. His hands closed over her breasts without warning, lifting and massaging her flesh with strong, firm strokes. His thumbs swept over her nipples, once, twice, and then he stopped. "You're not wearing a bra either."

Just like that he'd thrown her off balance. She ached to have him do it again. Her nipples still tingled from his touch and although he no longer had his hands on her, the heat lingered. "I, uh..."

"See?" He bent his head and took advantage of her open mouth, giving her lower lip a gentle nip. "You talk big, but you can't back it up."

She raised her eyebrows. "I begged you to have sex with me last night.Youturned me down."

"I wouldn't exactly call it begging." He clasped her face in his hands and touched his lips to hers. "It was sexy as hell, but when I'm deep inside you I'd rather have you sober. I want your eyes rolling back in your head because I'm fucking you hard, not because you've passed out."

Sophie wanted to drag him to the floor and tear at his clothes. She yawned instead. "That got me all fluttery inside."

Ryan appeared as if he was trying not to laugh. "You look a bit worked up." His hands delved under the hem of her top, smoothing over her tummy, then her ribs. His thumbs brushed the undersides of her breasts. "Are you okay?"

Her eyes drifted closed. Her breath caught in her throat and she let it out in a trembling laugh. "Uh huh."

Ryan chuckled. He caressed the sides of her breasts and ran his palms over the tips. She shuddered and leaned closer, surprised at how little control she had over her own body. He pressed his lips to her brow, left a warm peck on each cheek. He kissed her eyelids and nuzzled the soft skin beneath her ear. His voice deepened, she heard the huskiness creep in around the edges. "That was pure torture last night," he said. "I've never wanted anyone so much." His hands swept around to her back, sliding up and down her spine.

"I know the feeling," she whispered. Her breathing turned shallow. She wanted everything from him and at the same time felt as if she couldn't take any more.

He gave her a long look and pulled her against him to claim her mouth. A sigh travelled through her and she relaxed in his arms. His mouth was so sensual and thorough as it moved over hers that she lost herself in the kiss. He swept his palms over her back, pressing her close. Her senses heightened and she threaded her arms around his neck, standing on her toes to kiss him back.

Her limbs trembled. He touched his tongue to hers and it took her a moment to realise that the whimper she'd heard had come from her. His tongue delved further and her stomach quivered. She'd been kissed before but never had she felt as if her knees would buckle under her.

He broke the connection and pulled back, then leaned in again to give her mouth another soft kiss. "Come to bed with me," he said, his breath warm against her skin. "Let me take care of you."

Sophie pressed her lips together to savour the taste of him, taking in the features she'd grown to love over the years. His eyes were a cool blue, his lashes thick and dark. The damp ends of his messy hair glistened in the early afternoon light. His tanned skin and the whiskers covering his jaw gave him a roguish appearance, the sudden quirk of those sensual lips only further adding to his appeal. Her affection for him overwhelmed her. "Let's go," she said.

Ryan gave her a smiling kiss and swept her from her feet. She wrapped her arms and legs around him as he walked with her to the bedroom.

:*::*::*:

"I can't believe you're in my bed." Sophie had already stripped off her shorts and shoes and now knelt on the mattress wearing a thin cotton tank and a skimpy pair of panties. She'd opened the drapes just enough to let a sliver of natural light into the room.

"Neither can I, but I'm quickly getting used to the idea." Ryan lay sprawled beside her fully clothed, his hands clasped behind his head as he regarded her with amusement. Seeing him lying here all masculine and gorgeous against her buttercup yellow sheets had to be the most enticing thing she'd ever seen.

"I've been around naked male patients at work," she said, climbing over him and straddling his body, "but when it comes to this kind of thing I don't really know what I'm doing."

"It's okay." He shifted his hips until his erection nudged her in the most intimate of ways. "I'll just grit my teeth and try to get through it."

"I appreciate that." She wanted to laugh at his humour, but the idea of finally being close to him in this way had her fingers trembling as she reached out to unfasten his shirt buttons. "I've even watched porn for tips, you know."

He smiled. "That's my dirty girl."

Her heart thudded and something sweet unfurled inside her. She stopped working on his buttons and drew in a long breath, letting it out slowly in an effort to calm the emotion that had crept up on her.

Ryan curved his hand around the back of her neck and urged her closer. "Tell me what's wrong."

She traced the faint scar in his eyebrow and kissed his cheek. "If I'd been doing this with anyone else right now I think I'd be scared," she said, "but it's you. I've wanted you from the moment we met and...well..." She looked into his eyes and moistened her lower lip. "It's you."

"Aw, Soph." He clamped her to him with one hand at her hip and the other tangled in her hair. His mouth met hers and the intensity of his kiss left her breathless. He broke away and brushed his thumb over her lower lip. "With the age difference between us and all those warning looks your dad used to give me, I didn't start thinking of you that way until recently."

"It doesn't matter," she said. "I'm just happy you see me that way now."

He held her close and gave her a deep, searching kiss that made her skin flush with heat and her body pulse with pleasure. The more he touched her, the more difficulty she had controlling herself. She rocked her hips, slowly, rubbing herself against him, feeling his rigid length through her panties. Denim rasped her inner thighs. His hands moved to cradle her ass, his palms warming her skin. He slid his thumbs along the cleft, massaging her cheeks, pushing her down to meet his shallow thrusts. Sophie gazed at him while his strong hands guided her movements.

"You're so hard," she whispered. "I can feel you right...there."

He groaned and kissed her. "Tell me where."

Their mouths were so close their breaths intermingled. "Mmm...my pussy. I feel you against my pussy," she said. Sophie moved her hips a little faster, pressed a little harder. She couldn't get close enough to him.