"Are you even listening to yourself?" Claire snapped, unbelieving. "Who do you think I am, Ryan? A hooker you can have whenever you feel bored and horny? A foolish woman with no dignity at all just because I shamelessly fucked you once?"

"None of that," Ryan prompted coolly.

"Oh, I know." Claire laughed, biting her bottom lip rather tightly. "A poor Cinderella who is mistreated by her evil stepmom, and one day she finds a hiding shelter in the arms of the Prince charming, is that it? You think I'm helpless and lonely, in need of your company, huh? Well, I'm not you bastard! And I don't need you!"

Ryan's lips twisted at her final remark, and he looked hurt. "I haven't thought of you as any of that, Claire," he said softly. "I think it's all in your head, and I'm not asking you to need me."

It was the truth. Everything Claire thought and felt about Ryan's intention was a whisper of her fear.

What if it was just pity drawing him to her? He'd witnessed her worst not once but twice. No one stayed for her.

Why would he be an exception?

"Please, Ryan, let me go," she begged him softly.

She knew it wasn't a good idea to argue or keep staying in his exorbitant penthouse where she didn't belong.

"Claire," Ryan called gently; the cynic air surrounding him was all gone. "The truth is-"

"No, Ryan, we're done with this!" Claire interrupted. "Why are we going in circles, for God's sake? I won't be the other woman. No, I deserve more and clearly you can't give me that!" She was ready to go and forget him.

This time she was determined.

"So this is all about Doris?" Ryan shot back.

Claire halted.

"Yeah, it's all about her," she replied boldly, and truthfully, eyes on Ryan. "So can I go now?" She needed to leave.

"Are you feeling guilty or something?" Ryan asked.

Was he serious? Claire let out a smirk and bit her lip savagely.

"Do you even love her? Your girlfriend, I mean. Do you?" Claire was suddenly curious about Ryan's true feelings.

"Does it matter how I feel about her?" Ryan queried, equally curious.

"It was a stupid question, wasn't it?" Claire laughed sinisterly and shook her head. "I don't think people like you even know what love is, let alone how to love someone."

Ryan's jaw tightened. He suddenly looked devoid of joy, pained even, but none of his reactions impressed Claire.

What was he thinking of? She wondered nonetheless.

"Let's say you're right." Ryan sighed, his eyes dark and livid. "But what if Doris wasn't my girlfriend? Would you have spared me the drama?" He sauntered toward her, his voice as mean as his words.

"The drama?" Unexpected pain shot into Claire's heart. She scoffed, unable to believe that he could actually tell her such a vile thing. "You think this is a drama?"

"Yes," Ryan replied crisply while marching closer, barefoot. "Women are so good at thinking they know what love is. What? Because you read many sappy romance novels? Or watch foolish romance movies filling your heads with fantasies?" He smiled, but pain laced his contempt. "In reality, Claire, you women are the first creature who introduced betrayal in the world. In the name of love, of course, which you think you know so much." He stopped right before her, gazing down at her with pure menace like a king of hell.

"You're fucked up!" Claire gritted her teeth. "Yes, we know what love is! We value it! We don't toy with it as you men do." A teardrop fell down her face-a little ghost from the past male disappointment. "You are such a bastard, Ryan Stevens," she spat and turned around to leave.

"You haven't answered my question!" Ryan barked. "Would things be different if she weren't my girlfriend?"

Claire stopped, clenching her fists hard. She despised him. His guts. He was ridiculing her feelings. Was it just a game of power for him? What did he want from her?

Taking a deep breath, she slowly whirled around and asked, "If I say yes, will you leave her for me?"

Ryan couldn't respond right away. Conflict swam in his intelligent eyes that lacked brilliance at the moment.

"See? You can't even answer that," Claire muttered and laughed so briefly that it felt like a huff. "Just let me go, Ryan. And forget about me as I will you."

"Do you want me to leave her?" Ryan asked.

"Can you?" she retorted.

"Do you? Do you want me to do it, Claire?" A step closer, and his body touched hers.

Was that what she wanted? Another woman to be abandoned for her sake? Claire thought.

"No! Just do nothing, you asshole!" she barked to his face and flounced away from him.

She reached for the elevator door but she couldn't open it without a passcode.

"You won't be able to get out of here, unless I let you," Ryan said right behind her.

"Open the door, Ryan." Claire briskly turned around to confront him-only to bump into his chest. "Open the damn door!" Her anger flared, and all she wanted was to hate him for good.

"I will," Ryan replied. "But know that you'll never escape me no matter how hard you try."

"Oh yeah?" Claire tilted her head to one side, giving him a laughter rife with ire. "Because you'll just lock me up here like the coward you are? Or what-damsels in distress ignite your darkest kink?"

"No, sweetheart. If I lock you in here it's because deep down you want me to. Perhaps a bit of restraint on you is one of your darkest kinks, Claire." Ryan's confident answer baffled her to some degree. His ardent eyes were on her lips, and the proximity of his breath made Claire's hover. "When you kissed me that night," he whispered, pressing his forehead against hers, "you unlocked me."

What the fuck was he saying? Unlocked him?

"Don't try any funny business with me, Ryan." Claire jerked away-her head did because Ryan hauled her waist with one arm. "Open the door." She couldn't meet his eyes.

"And what will you do if I don't? Tell me, Claire, what will you do?" he whispered into her ear, his voice as deep as the pits of the abyss.

"I thought you said you won't do anything against my will," Claire returned in a shaky voice, heat searing through her so treacherously.

"I won't. But right now I know you want to be here, Claire. I dare you to tell me I'm wrong." Confidence oozed in Ryan's voice. "Tell me. Is leaving what you truly want?"

No.

Yes but no.

Fuck! She wanted to be here but...

"No, Ryan," she breathed. "Let me-"Ryan's lips fell on hers, shutting her up with a tight hold of her body, possessively as always. "Ry-" She couldn't say another word.

She kissed him back.

Their mouths tangled tongue to tongue. The kiss was strong, and, and none of the reasons mattered the more their bodies searched for a threshold of intimacy they deeply desired each time they'd get close and talk or argue.

"Can't you," Ryan snapped between her lips, "just be as quiet"-he kissed her hard-"like this?" and lifted her briskly.

Automatically, Claire wrapped her thighs around his waist, using her arms around his neck to anchor her body in his arms.

Fuck, why was she so weak over him? Claire cursed herself inwardly as Ryan carried her back to the living room.

"I hate you," she whispered breathlessly and her lips locked back with him for a few seconds. "You're the fucking beast and I shouldn't be here."

Wordless, Ryan lay her on the sofa. Her breath shallowed; anticipation knocked her off to stillness. There was no going back. She desired this man like no one else, and it was addictive. Toxic even. He was her Achilles' heel. Not good. She hated the fact.

But what to do? He wanted her too.

"A beast. Hell, I am." Ryan ripped her blouse off, making the buttons splatter helplessly over Claire's chest. She gasped, shocked and aroused at the same time. "And you don't need to love me, Claire, just don't walk away."

"Ryan, why?" she snapped.

"Because I can," he said, his eyes filled with a desire to possess her the more he stared at her perfect breasts hiding beneath the white bralette. "Jesus, you're going to kill me, Claire." He peeled off his shirt in a frenzy.

No, he was going to be the death of her. Claire thought, gawking at the sculpted abs of his toned torso that seemed to be accustomed to weightlifting and frequent sit-ups.

God help me! Claire could not wait.

"Kiss me," she uttered, and Ryan's hungry mouth was once again on hers, taking her impatiently.

With her hips swaying beneath his weight, grinding against him, Claire felt his length growing and her clit pulsing. He kissed and caressed every sensitive part of her body, without taking off the rest of her cloth. Dominantly, he bound her hands behind her waist, refraining from touching him.

Strangely, it amplified Claire's thirst for challenge and desire to be strained. She suddenly flipped him over, surprising him, and climbed on top of him, straddling him. Painting, she swiftly unbuckled his belt. He smiled like a fool; he loved her competency.

"You can't win every round, Mister Stevens." She kissed his pecks, running her wet tongue down her sternum afterwards.

"Oh, you don't say, Miss Levy." Ryan's chest heaved and his abs tightened as his muscles flexed.

Smiling, Claire began grinding on top of him, subtly, while tugging the tight waistband of his white boxer. He grunted, and she loved the sexy sound he made. She leaned over, kissed his tight stomach, and then the big bulge between his legs before he slowly freed his length.

A hard erection sprung out, and Claire's smile widened, almost child-lchildlikeanted it all for herself. And man, he had it good... and big! Holding him in her hand felt weird but she was a big girl. She'd done this before and with Ryan, it was more exquisite.

She lubed him with her saliva and stroked him well. Ryan emitted that manly growl of pleasure, shutting his eyes at the feel of her tongue at the tip of his cock. How she enjoyed worshippediped look. The fact that he wasn't immune to her touch warmed her.

She loved how he wanted her.

He didn't seem to mind her character flaws or physical defects.

She felt perfect with him.

"I still hate you," Claire muttered out of nowhere.

Angrily, she flipped her hair; it fell massively to one side. Ryan's eyes flew open, and his stare was impatient, but soon he began to smile when adjusted herself down, still straddling his thighs, and then drew her head down toward her pointed erection.

"Fuck, baby," Ryan groaned when her mouth drew his cock in, half wahalfwayng him.

"Shut up, Ryan," Claire ordered, fixing her hair once again to the side.

"Yes, ma'am!" Ryan chuckled, his hands unhooking the back of her bra to free her other reserves.

Claire wanted to drive him nuts. To pay him back for haunting her memories every day and night. And God knew she was doing it. Ryan flexed his hips, moving up and down while clutching her hair in his first.

"Oh, God!" he groaned, begging her not to try to stop.

And she didn't.

Ryan almost exploded into her mouth when she pulled back and said, "You gotta earn that one," while catching her breath.

Ryan laughed mirthfully.

"Fine. Come here!" He hauled her closer, gripping her waist and back simultaneously. "You're perfect, baby. So damn perfect, Claire. You can hate me all you want but we're perfect together." His lips slammed over hers, and by now it felt like kissing was their mutual favorite dessert.

Claire loved kissing him. And he seemed to adore every little thing they did together.

"Now I'm gonna make you feel good, baby," Saying this, Ryan pulled her skirt up and slid her panties down, just enough space to ease his hefty fingers inside her.

"Oh..." Claire grunted into his mouth when he started rubbing between her folds, teasing her clit, and smoothly entering the core.

God, she was wet-for him.

"You're so ready." Ryan grinned a coquettish grin like an Icarus to the sun. "I want you on top. I want to see your face when you come for me, Claire." He made her sit on his lap, ever slowly until she buried his cock into her sex.

A sharp moan escaped Claire, then a giggle at the tight feeling of his erection inside her.

It was overwhelming. But in a good sense. Although she lacked expertise in the sex department, Claire's nympho could hardly disappoint. She was aware of her libido, and she knew how to search for pleasure like an instinct and Ryan let her claim it, steering her waist in cadence to her moves.

Eyes shut, Claire moaned nonstop, tossing her head back. God, it was magical!

As though she was performing miracles, Ryan groaned in response, clutching her bouncing breasts from time to time, and even sucking her nipples. Empowered by his lead, Claire hugged him tighter, moving up and down, faster, circular in motion, over and over again.

"Look what you're doing to me! Fuck!" He was going crazy, and she was speeding up, her moaning loudly.

They kept kissing, grinding, deeper and harder each time, moving in synergy. It was perfect. If felt rightly so. How was she going to stop seeing him now? Claire wondered, almost achingly. He was the end of her-she could feel it-and even more when she exploded in his arms, screaming his name.

_______

A/N: Okay, I'm done with Claire! Is Ryan that hot or is she just dumb? Well, pretend I'm not the writer 😂😂