Free Hook Up by Miranda Baker Page A

shoulder.
    Ryan stared from her to Alisa and back again with an arrested expression. “Seriously?”
    “Mark didn’t tell you?”
    Ryan slowly shook his head. Desire lit his eyes and he pulled her back into his arms.
    Her brief respite was over, but it had been long enough to bring her to a decision. Bonita was right—she had been hiding, but there was no point in hiding anymore, and she couldn’t fight an emotional battle on two fronts, hers and his. Maybe her best option was surrender.
    “One night,” she said.
    “You spent one night with Alisa?”
    “No, I dated Alisa for a month. One night for us,” she clarified.
    That would keep it simple. He wouldn’t expect anything more from her, and she wouldn’t be left hoping he would call. Her pulse picked up speed as she remembered how good it had been between them. Experience would only make it better now. She wasn’t a shrinking violet virgin anymore. She had studied the male sexual response so that she could help her clients. Ryan wouldn’t know what hit him, and she wouldn’t have to go home to her vibrator tonight.
    His hand smoothed the curve of her waist and hip. “Probably not going to be enough.”
    “Take it or leave it.” She pressed into him, pliant and wet just from memory. Bare skin, shared breath, freedom. Please take it.
    “It goes against everything I believe in to accept the first offer.” His fingers slipped into the deep-backed V of her dress and caressed her spine. His leg slid in between hers. He pulled her close, too close for comfort.
    A quiet gasp escaped her lips. Her thighs trembled from the effort of not grinding against his leg. They were in the middle of a dance floor. She may have agreed to have sex with him, but she wasn’t going to do it here. She lifted her head. His lips held a wicked curve and his eyes were alight with triumph and something incendiary. Oh, this man was dangerous.
    She reached behind her waist to grasp his wrists and pull them away from her body. “That was a demand, not an offer—and I need to read you before we do anything.” She hadn’t completely lost her mind. Now, it was better for her to know everything.
    “I have nothing to hide.”
    “Good.” She put her hands on her hips. “Is that a yes on both counts?”
    “You drive a hard bargain.” He grinned, as aware as she that he was hard too.
    She crossed her arms. “I don’t like surprises.”
    “Were there surprises last time?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
    Crystal remained silent. He took her hand and tugged her off the dance floor. “Never mind. I don’t care. You’ve got a deal.”
    She paused to scan the room, locating Bonita just a few tables away. A stunning blond was handing her a drink. A double, from the looks of it. She caught Bonita’s eye and raised her hand in farewell. They exchanged a look that would have required an entire conversation for most people.
    “She doesn’t waste any time,” Ryan observed.
    “It’s not what you think. Let’s go,” Crystal said. “Unless you’re hungry.” She waved an arm at the buffet.
    “Not for food.” He urged her toward the door.

Chapter Six
    His rental was a sleek red Porsche Cayman, and Crystal looked like an exotic black panther lazing in the leather seat.
    “Your place or mine?” he asked.
    “Yours,” she responded without hesitation.
    He wondered what her home looked like. Would it be an apartment or a house and did she decorate her surrounding as creatively as she decorated herself? He pulled out of the parking lot, shaking his head at his curiosity. Tonight wasn’t about her taste in furniture. It was about scratching an itch and putting the past where it belonged—behind him.
    He’d left Come Again this afternoon with more questions. First and foremost, why was she denying the attraction between them? In spite of all evidence to the contrary, she said she didn’t want him. She was lying—but why? Because he hadn’t called ten years ago? Why did she care?