Seduced

'I'd like to think you will.' He dared to reach out and touch her, gently stroking his thumb along her cheek. A sense of satisfaction filled him when she didn't retreat. 'Just think about it, okay?'

And in the meantime, if the only way to dissolve her defenses was to use seduction, then they'd at least enjoy themselves in the process.

Chapter 5

Jessica sat in front of her computer, unable to concentrate on the medical reports she needed to transcribe for the doctors that employed her services. Thanks to Ryan's parting remark the night before, she couldn't think about anything else except his invitation to his firm's Christmas party.

She'd told him no, and meant it. She'd told him she wouldn't change her mind, and she meant that, too. She couldn't envision herself in a room crowded with attorneys, smiling and trying to make polite small talk and acting as though she approved of what they did for a living. She harbored too many resentments and bitter memories to advocate the legal profession, especially those who represented divorce cases and went against their opponent with greedy intent.

What Ryan was suggesting was ludicrous, and impossible. The complications of involving herself with him on such a personal level had the potential to break her heart. Not only was his career choice a problem for her, but his aspirations didn't leave much room in his life to devote to building a lasting relationship. Nothing permanent could come of them being together.

Sheknew that, so why couldn't she just consider Ryan a friendly acquaintance and keep their association at that?

Slippery, sensual, erotic sex.

She groaned as those words echoed in her mind, as they had all night long and into the early morning hours. Yeah, she admitted that particular promise had something to do with her preoccupation with Ryan. He'd shown her a glimpse of that temptation, and she'd be lying if she said she didn't want to experience the full spectrum of pleasure he'd introduced her to, and take those voluptuous sensations to their inevitable conclusion.

There was no denying she was itching to try something new, to be a little rebellious and break past the caution that had ruled most of her life. She'd been a good girl for so long, and now she wanted to live a little, embrace the passion Ryan evoked, and see where it all led.

She sighed, her belly clenching with desire as she recalled the skillful range with which Ryan had used his mouth on hers. Whether log, slow and lazy, or deep, hungry and rapacious, his kisses had the ability to bring her to a fever pitch of excitement in no time flat. Her lashes fluttered closed as she imagined his mouth elsewhere, and her breasts swelled in response to the visual fantasy. She bit her bottom lip, aching to feel the heat of his breath on her skin, the silky stroke of his tongue across her tight, sensitive nipples, the wet suction of his mouth closing over her…

The phone on her desk rang, startling her out of her reverie and setting her heart to a frantic pace. Last night before he'd left her place, Ryan had told her he had a long, busy day at the office today, and had catch-up work to handle on Saturday, so he wouldn't be able to see her until Sunday. He'd requested she come by his house on Sunday so they could finalize the menu and other party matters, so she wasn't expecting him tocall. She knew he was busy with work, and was irritated with herself for wanting it to be him on the phone.

Forcing the gorgeous, sexy rogue from her mind, she picked up the line and answered with a breathless, 'Hello?'

'Hey, Jess, did you forget about me?'

Jessica winced. Her sister. She'd been too distracted by the results of Ryan's cake seduction, then their discussion, to return her call last night. And today, well, she was still distracted. 'Actually, I was just going to call you back.'

'I guess I saved you the dime. Where were you last night when I called?' Brooke asked, displaying those protective sister instincts that she'd honed since the age of thirteen.

Tasting a slice of euphoria.'I, uh, was having dessert with a friend.'

The excuse slipped from her tongue, as truthful as she'd allow. Including the fact that Ryan had been her companion for the evening would only serve to rouse Brooke's curiosity, and promote questions she didn't want to answer. Once the New Year's Eve surprise reception was over, her contact with Ryan would return to a minimum, as it had always been. As it should be. And her sister would never have to know that her association with Ryan while planning the party had included his thrilling attempts at seduction.

'Well, I hope you had a fun time.'

Sexy, sinful fun.

Knowing she'd never get any work done this morning, she saved and shut down the document she'd been typing, and turned the conversation to the reason why Brooke had called. 'You mentioned that you received an invitation for a New Year's Eve party at Ryan's,' she said lightly, careful not to give any part of the surprise away. 'Are you planning on going?'

'Yeah, it sounds like a fun way to bring in the New Year. How about you? Are you going to go?'

She grinned at her sister's assumption, and affected a convincing reluctance on her end. 'What makes you think I'd get an invitation, too? I mean, Ryan isMarc's friend, and it's not as though he and I are exactly buddies.'

Last night, they'd come damn close to being lovers. 'Oh, come on, Jess,' Brooke replied in a teasing tone. 'Both Marc and I agreed that Ryan wouldn't pass up the opportunity to see you. If he's having a party, you'd be invited.'

Except the whole entire party had been her idea, and if anything,she'd invitedRyan. 'I was invited,' she admitted, playing along for her sister's benefit

'And?'

'I haven't RSVP'd yet,' she said, forcing an indecisive tone to her voice. It wouldn't do to let her sister think she was anxious.

'Say yes,' Brooke encouraged. 'It'll be fun and you'll have a good time.'

Say yes.Ryan's invocation last night whispered through her conscience, as did her pitifully easy surrender. And shehad reneged on her promise, but with good reason.

She shook the incident from her mind, determined to put it behind her. 'All right, I'll go,' she said, coiling the stretchy phone cord around her finger. 'Besides, it might be a great way to meet someone new and interesting.'

Brooke laughed. 'I doubt that's why Ryan invited you, but I'll let the two of you work that out at the party.'

Jessica let the implication in her sister's comment slide. Over the past year, her sister had witnessed many encounters between her and Ryan, the sparks and teasing and flirting, as well as the attraction she'd fought to keep at bay. And in a matter of a week, Ryan had chiseled through those carefully constructed defenses. Shoring them back up after last night was more difficult than she'd imagined.

She rocked back in her chair. 'So, how's married life?'

'Blissful.' A content sigh echoed over the phone lines. 'Absolutely wonderful.'

Jessica smiled. Her sister's relationship with Marc Jamison hadn't been easy at first, and certainly had been complicated, but with the respect and love the two shared they'd managed to work through the issues and problems that had stood in their way.

'I'm glad everything worked out with Marc,' she said sincerely. Her sister's first marriage had been less than ideal, and it warmed Jessica that Brooke had found a man who was her equal. It gave her hope for herself. 'He's a great guy, and you deserve to be happy.'

'And so do you.'

Another lecture she didn't want to hear. 'I'm perfectly happy with my life,' she automatically said, then veered her sister onto a different topic before she had a chance to call her on that particular fib. 'You wanted to talk to me about Christmas?'

'Oh, yeah. Marc and I were thinking about spending the holiday in Tahoe skiing. I wanted to make sure you