Page 31 of Bloom and Burn
“I hope that’s enough to convince them,” he says, reaching out for the tall grass on the side of the dirt path.
“I know that Em and I are both charmers and you did say you didn’t mind moving the Blooming Orchid, but I have a feeling there’s some other, bigger reason you agreed to help us. Surely, giving me your mom’s number would’ve been enough.”
As I wait for a reply, I notice a wooden bench in the clearing off the side of the trail, so I steer Ryan there. He lets me place my hand at the low of his back, and despite the jacket he’s wearing, his warmth still seeps into me, stirring me up.
We sit. The space isn’t much, so we scoot close to each other, which only exacerbates my current predicament. But I am a gentleman, even if my dick wishes otherwise in this very moment, so I steel my nerves and keep my hands to me.
“You are right.” Ryan twists his body toward me and faces me. “I’m not doing this entirely out of the kindness of my heart. Sorry to disappoint you, if that’s what you thought.”
I reach out and gently squeeze his shoulder. “Disappointing is not the word I’d use. Intriguing, maybe.”
He bites on his lip and I can’t help but zero in on his pretty mouth. “I mentioned I wanted to expand the business, right? So the Blooming Orchid becomes more than just a flower shop. My mom has always been against that. She has her ways and her opinions and anything that strays from them is wrong. I’ve been wanting to stand up to her, but I guess I never got the courage… Or the timing was bad. And then you and Emily showed up at my doorstep.”
His fingers play with the zipper of my jacket as sparks dance in his eyes.
“You saw that as the perfect opportunity to rebel against her.”
He chuckles. “I did. Couldn’t let it slip. You see, if I manage to relocate the Orchid, it’s my win. If mom gives in once, the rest will follow, especially once the profits go up.”
Ah, I see. Smart. “Should I be worried that you might toss me aside once you get what you want, Mr. Opportunist?”
His eyes go wide. Mine too, because, fuck, I didn’t really mean to say that. I wanted to tease him, but it somehow came out less like a joke and more like a genuine question.
“And here I thought that was what you were doing. What use does a billionaire have for a nobody like me once you’ve got what you came here for?”
Maybe he’s right, if I was your typical billionaire. But money has never been my end-goal, just a necessary evil I have to deal with so I can help Emily and others like her.
Leaning in, I inhale his flowery scent. It’s sweet and lovely like his impish smile, tickling my resolve until I’m wondering why I’m even trying to resist the urge to kiss him.
“Well, it seems like my plan to charm the flower shop owner might have backfired.”
“Oh?” He leans in too, nuzzling his nose against my neck. “How so?”
Our lips meet for a feather-light kiss. “Because he might have charmed me in the process?”
He hums, nipping his way across my jaw. “I think I like that development.”
Our mouths meet then, eager and hungry. His lips are soft when I prod past them, inviting as they open and let me in. We start the kiss slowly as if to savor each other’s taste, and I can’t get enough of him. Peaches and vanilla explode in my mouth, pulling me deeper and deeper as the kiss turns from soft to desperate. I’m going mad, I’m tingling all over, and it’s all because of this man. I found him in a small town, in the most unexpected place, but that somehow makes our encounter more monumental. He could’ve become my enemy, a thorn in my side, but instead he’s turned into an ally eager to help.
“I can’t get enough of kissing you,” he whispers when we pull apart so we can replenish our air.
I smile as the hair on the back of my neck stands. And then I dive right back in. He chuckles and loops his arms around me, pulling us closer together. I welcome his eagerness, using one hand to grab the back of his head and the other to hold onto his hip so I can keep him right whereI want him. He moans in pleasure or agreement, smiling into the kiss. Taking that as encouragement, I slide my hand lower, between his legs. He squeezes them, trapping it there.
“Fuck, Jack…”
My head spins as heat rushes to my cock. I want him naked even though we are in the middle of the woods. Anyone might walk in on us at any moment, but that somehow only fuels my arousal. I’m not the exhibitionist type, generally, but Ryan is making me second-guess that.
“What do you say we go to my car—” I start to say when a group of three men pop out from around the corner, where the path leads into the cliffy part of the woods.
We pull apart abruptly, like deer caught in headlights. His flushed cheeks betray what we were up to though, but that only widens my grin. To whoever dares interrupt our awesome make-out session, it will be blatantly obvious that Ryan is mine.
“Oh, shit! Jack, is that you?” a familiar voice says as one of the three men jogs in our direction.
I squint, trying to make out the guy’s features. Next to me, Ryan clasps my arm and tenses palpably.
“Hi, um…”
“It’s Greg! We ran into each other the other day at the café.”
