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  Mia’s whole body tensed, and adrenaline spiked her blood. For several long moments, she didn’t know what to say or do. In the end, she dropped the earpiece with the mic packs.

  Ryan had been right about Jamie. She was, at the very least, controlling the outcome for better ratings.

  Even though Mia’s rational brain gave the command to get in the limo and go home, she sought out the production van and knocked on the door.

  Jamie slid it open and beamed at her. “Mia, how are you? Are you okay? I can’t believe how uncomfortable that must have been for you on the boat. We tried to bring it in sooner.”

  “You can cut the shit. I know it was all your idea. I know Dorian was following your instructions.”

  Jamie sighed and folded her arms. “You have a lot to learn, Mia. And while we’re on the subject of areas of growth, you need to be aware not to show too much favoritism toward a specific Prince Charming.”

  “This is about me and Ryan.”

  “Yes, and frankly your onscreen chemistry with Mr. Matthews is ratings gold, but you need to appear a little more like you’re giving everyone a chance. It’s like with a soap opera couple. The audience wants them to get together on the surface, but they tune in every week because conflict is keeping them apart. And we need to keep you two apart for a little longer. Dorian helps us do that.”

  “I’m sorry, but this is my life. It’s not like you can script it.” Jamie never had any intension on being her mentor. She’d been using her for ratings and for show ideas. A cloud of smoky dread unfurled in her gut.

  Jamie laughed. “Honey, just how did you think this worked? Consider me the show runner. And these are men; they can be moved to have strong feelings. We’ll merely stir the pot.”

  “Jamie, that’s not the kind of show I wanted to do.”

  “Well, maybe you need to think about your career path, honey. Because this is how shows get made.”

  With the curtain peeled back, Mia couldn’t believe what she’d signed on for. She only had another couple of weeks until the proposals had to be turned in, and clearly Jamie wasn’t going to help her. Mia would have to find another way to get her show made if that’s what it took. She wasn’t giving up. Maybe all Jamie needed was to see the final proposal and she’d understand the vision. Or maybe I’m deluding myself.

  Chapter Twenty

  For the next two nights Mia worked on her proposal and spent her spare time pouring over all the outcomes of the show since Jamie had taken over as executive producer. Now she needed reinforcements. She just wished it didn’t feel like she’d walked into the devil’s lair and offered her soul and her body.

  By the time Ryan rang her doorbell, her eyes were crossing. Between her usual workload and her proposal, and four dates a week, she was exhausted. But it wasn’t like her to sit back and pretend everything was okay. She led the way into the kitchen and brought down two glasses from the cabinets.

  “Do you want a drink?”

  “Sure. So what did you need me for, Mia?” His raspy voice washed over her like a caress. Every word laced with innuendo and promise. Mia barely suppressed the shiver rolling down her spine. She locked her jaw to keep from moaning out loud.

  Maybe she should have suggested they go somewhere else. Though that could have meant the damn cameras would have followed, and Jamie had been livid the other night when Mia had managed to ditch them to go to dinner. Dragon lady had posted one guy at the entrance to Mia’s apartment. And whenever she left her place, another three showed up to follow her around in case anything exciting happened, which it never did. Which was why she’d directed Ryan to the least used entrance in the building. Everyone assumed it was a fire door, but if someone had the keypad code, it would let them in.

  Ryan’s focused gaze made it hard to think about anything but his lips. Actually, not true. She was also thinking of orgasms.

  “I-I’ve been looking into the show and into the Prince Charmings.” With more difficulty, she added, “I think you were right about Jamie.”

  His brows shot up. “I’m sorry. I know you wanted her to be in your corner.”

  Yeah well, wishes didn’t always come true. “And I’m sorry I lost my temper and called you an ass hat.”

  One of his brows slowly lowered. “You know, I don’t think you called me that to my face.”

  She laughed. “Entirely possible that was internal.”

  “Why don’t you tell me what you found?”

  “A loosely pieced together conspiracy theory, but not much proof tying Jamie to any wrongdoing.”

  He shook his head. “I’m not buying it. There has to be something. We might have her on sweepstakes tampering, but there’s got to be something more.” He planted his hands on her granite countertop. “She as much as told me that I could write my own ticket to my own show if I took her direction. She said she could manipulate the outcome.”

  “And you have it on tape?”

  “Yeah, but I can’t use it.”

  “All she wanted was for you to spy on me?”

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “She hinted that she found me attractive.”

  “As if that’s somehow news. You do so well on the show because of that pretty face. Hell, it looks like you’ve been etched in stone by one of the masters.”

  He cocked his head. “I thought I wasn’t that good-looking.”

  A snort of laughter bubbled up before she could stop it. “I may have been irritated with you at the time.” More soberly, she asked, “You’re certain she was coming on to you?”

  “I know a proposition when I hear one. The suggestion was clear. If I wanted preferential treatment in some way, more camera time or whatever, the way to do that was through her. And in exchange…”

  Irrational jealousy tore through her chest. “In exchange, what?” She crossed her arms.

  “She’s smart. She never said it on tape, but it was clear she was asking for my stud services.”

  “Eww.”

  “If she tried that deal with me, she had to have tried it with others on the show. In particular, our returning members. I need to get close to one of them.”

  “There were also a couple of past contestants that have sent in complaints that the show is rigged. You can follow up with them.” She handed him the file she’d put together.

  “Thanks, I know you’re risking your job.”

  “If I’m going to dance, it’s to dancehall and not because somebody is pulling my strings.”

  She was desperate to kiss him. To feel him tug her bottom lip between his teeth. Ducking her head, she said, “You’re staring at me.”

  Ryan nodded. “Well, yeah. Have you seen you?”

  She laughed as he used the line she’d first used on him when they met. “Yeah, I’m a hot commodity, or haven’t you heard?”

  “Oh, I’ve heard.”

  Mia chewed on her bottom lip and another moan tore from him.

  “Mia?”

  “Yeah?”

  “This isn’t a booty call, but I’m sort of desperate to kiss you.”

  Now or never. She could hold onto her baggage or she could have some fun. “You know, maybe a booty call isn’t so bad.”

  * * *

  Ryan stalked toward her. “That’s good, because I was really hoping this would turn into one.” He slowly slid his arms around her waist and pulled her into his body. With a groan, he took her mouth under his, teasing with his tongue. And she opened for him on a sigh. She tasted like cinnamon and apples, and he never wanted to stop.

  He angled his head and deepened the kiss, dipping his tongue into her mouth, drawing hers out and teasing. As he teased her, she looped her arms around his neck and brought her body into close contact with his, rubbing her nipples against his chest.

  Ryan snuck his hand under her T-shirt, and she rocked her hips against him. With his thumb, he teased a circular pattern around her belly button.

  She was so soft, everywhere, with skin like satin. He could spend hours tou
ching her, savoring every inch of her skin, but her breathy moans urged him on. Sliding his hands up her torso, his thumbs grazed the underside of her breasts, and the rest of the blood in his brain migrated south. His cock throbbed painfully against his thigh and he bit back a curse.

  He traced his thumbs over the lace of her bra to the taut nipples beneath. With a frustrated snarl, he picked her up and settled her on the counter. She started to quiver when he stroked his thumbs over her nipples. When he closed his palm over her full breast, Mia slid her hands into his hair and tugged.

  Mia rocked her body against his, and the thick pulsing lust coursing in his veins made it impossible to think. He craved more. Needed more. His hips jerked. He was so desperate to get closer, be inside her and possess her.

  “Wrap your legs around me, Mia.” Sucking on her bottom lip, he waited for her to comply. When she didn’t, he teased her lip with his teeth. “Did you hear me, sweetheart?”

  “Yeah, I just can’t seem to move.”

  With a chuckle, he helped her into position then deposited her on her couch. He levered over her to not drop all his weight on her at once, then he slowly eased on top of her, his throbbing dick directly against her core.

  Ryan lifted the hem of her shirt. Her smooth cinnamon skin beckoned. Trailing kisses up her taut belly, he sought out one of her nipples. Through the lace fabric of her bra, he suckled and drew her in deep with his tongue and lips, then with the barest hint of teeth, he grazed the peak. Mia bucked beneath him, and his cock begged for relief.

  He teased first one nipple, licking it, suckling it, while his fingers played with the tip of the other. Every tug sent a stab of lust through his body.

  But he couldn’t get enough of her. Finally, he pulled her into a semi-seated position and tugged her shirt over her head. The bra followed in short order, and Ryan forgot to breathe. Her breasts, full and heavy, with dusky rose tips beckoned to him. He laid her back gently and settled himself directly between her thighs again.

  Mia raised her hips, rubbing against him like a cat. Each time her heated center came in contact with the rigid length of him, he struggled for control. But he didn’t know how much longer he could hold on.

  Ragged breaths tore from his chest. “Mia, please stop moving. I really want to be inside you when I come.”

  Beneath him, she whimpered. “So close though.”

  “I was not kidding about needing to see you come.”

  Ryan dipped his head again, breathing over the perfect peak of her breast. With every movement over her nipple with the stubble of his chin, her hips lifted, and she reached for him. She gasped when he secured one nipple and sucked her deep into his mouth.

  Mia threw her head back and moaned his name when he suckled harder. Desire thundered in his blood as she held him to her nipple. He ached with the need to be inside her.

  His hand at her hip, he traced the line of her thong under the cotton of her leggings. He tugged gently, and as fabric gave way to silky, cinnamon skin, he kissed the path of sinful heaven exposed to him. First her hip, then the divot where her leg met joint. Then her belly button.

  Mia lifted her hips to aid him as he removed her leggings. He discarded them somewhere over his head and then swiftly yanked his shirt off. With trembling fingers, she reached up and traced the pads of her fingertips over his abdomen.

  “You realize you look airbrushed, right?”

  Ryan chocked out a strangled laugh as he nuzzled her belly button again. “What?’

  She nodded. “Someone overdid it with the photo-shopping of your muscles.”

  “I promise you, all real.”

  He kissed his way back up her body. When he reached her lips, he took his time savoring her. Everything about her taste careened him toward orgasm. The way her tongue met his, even as he dipped and retreated into her mouth, simulating how else he wanted to join their bodies. How he wanted to stroke into her with his cock. How desperate he was to be inside her.

  His fingers stole under the fabric of her thong, and excitement ripped at him. He knew what came next. Her dewy slickness. Her sex tugging at him while he explored.

  He slid a finger inside her heat, and they both gasped and the base of his spine tingled. Shit. He wasn’t even inside her, and he was ready to come.

  He wanted to tease an orgasm out of her, and he wanted to take his time doing it. But it seemed like Mia had other plans. Working her hand between them, she pulled on his belt. Once she yanked it through the loops and tossed it away, she unbuttoned his jeans. Ryan watched intently as her graceful hand slowly slid his zipper down.

  When Mia slid her hand into his jeans, he stopped breathing. Delicate fingers wound around his erection, and all higher functioning stopped. All his focus went to where her pussy milked his finger and her fingers milked him.

  She stroked him again, and his brain shut down. All he registered was the warm silk of her palm caressing the straining head of his dick. She lingered over the head of his cock, using her thumb to spread the moisture gathered, teasing the hypersensitive ridge.

  Ryan squeezed his eyes shut. The urge to come, a strong, beating pulse in his malfunctioning brain. Come. She wants you to come. You know you want to. Each beat of his heart sent thick, lust-laced blood through his veins straight to his dick.

  She watched his response from under a hooded gaze. When she licked her lips, he gave serious thought to begging her to wrap her lips around him so he could get some relief. But he was torn. He also wanted to prolong the feeling, prolong that sex-crazed current running through his body, making it hum.

  The firm pressure she applied on each down stroke of his length sent fiery tingles down his spine, and he stilled her hand. He dropped his forehead to hers. “Fuck, I want to come so bad.”

  She slowed her pace but didn’t stop. Leaning in, she whispered, “Isn’t that the point?”

  Shit, she was going to kill him. His knees threatened to buckle. “Mia…inside you…fuck.” Ragged breaths tore from his chest. “This way—” No matter how many ways he tried to rev the engine, his brain refused to come online. “I…I—” But then her inner walls clamped tight around his fingers and there was a slight quiver. It reminded him that he wanted to see her come more than he wanted to come himself.

  Snapping his free hand around her wrist, Ryan shook his head. “Oh, no you don’t. Ladies first. Always. You keep touching me or, God help me, make that face like you’re wondering how I taste, and I’ll forget that.”

  “You’re the only one who gets to explore?”

  He stroked a thumb over her clit, and Mia threw her head back. “Oh, you’ll get your turn, I promise.”

  “Ryan…” Her voice was thready.

  God, she was so sexy. “Open your legs wider.”

  Mia complied without question and dug her nails into the flesh on his shoulders. “Ryan, please…”

  His ears rang, and he struggled for control. Touching her was addictive. With each slide and retreat of his finger, her satin skin pulled at him. The ringing continued and it took him a moment to realize that it wasn’t internal. Abruptly, he lifted his head. “Mia?”

  A voice from the hall called out, “Anybody home?”

  Her brain must have come online the same time his did because she started shoving at his shoulder. “Oh, God, Jezzie.”

  “What the hell is a Jezzie?” he asked.

  “More like who,” a throaty feminine voice said from the hall.

  The voice coming from the door had him scrambling back and tossing the throw over a nearly naked Mia.

  Mia squeaked and vaulted herself over the side of the couch. “Ryan, this is my sister, Jezzie. Jez, what are you doing back?”

  A stunner of a woman hung back in the doorway with her gaze averted up. “Apparently, I’m interrupting.”

  Chapter Twenty-one

  “Dude, you okay?”

  Ryan glared at his brother while he took another swig of his beer. No. He was not okay. He felt like he was in one of those c
ommercials for Viagra that told men to seek medical attention if they had an erection for more than four hours. Try days. Weeks, ever since he’d met Mia.

  “What do you think?”

  Reece raised a brow. “You got woman problems. You want to talk about it, talk show style, or what?”

  Ryan looked around. “Funny, I don’t see a box of tissues anywhere.”

  His brother’s grin flashed. “I figured I’d let you use my sleeve. C’mon. Just tell me what’s up. I haven’t seen you this tense since you told Alana you were leaving it all behind and you wanted her to come with you.”

  Fuck. Like he needed that reminder. He’d been sure about walking away but so nervous about telling her. When he looked back on it, he supposed he’d always suspected she loved the lifestyle more than she’d loved him. It had made him physically ill for days. But in retrospect, that had only been a precursor to how he would feel when she didn’t want to leave with him.

  “Mia—it’s nothing like that.”

  “You mean because this time you’re the one who isn’t being entirely honest?”

  Ryan scowled. “Thanks for that.”

  “Sorry. But I’m calling it how I see it. Far be it from me to suggest a relationship. Hell, considering I’m allergic to such things, I’m not exactly an advocate. But maybe a little honesty is called for. You seemed like you were maybe coming up for air after years. You know, letting yourself care about someone. Imagine how she’ll feel when she sees what you write about her and the process.”

  Ryan scrubbed a hand down his face before slouching back against his chair. “I’m looking for a way out. I have another lead. If I bring Chris something more compelling, she’ll back off the Lonely Girl angle.”

  “I hate to break it to you, but that’s cheating. The truth will come out eventually. The fact that you were going to write about her at all will piss her off. The fact that you deliberately kept it from her will kill whatever thing you two have going.”