Published by Silver Publishing Publisher of Erotic Romance

A SILVER PUBLISHING BOOK

The Superior Jewel
Copyright © 2013 by Hurri Cosmo E-book ISBN: 9781614959328

First E-book Publication: May 2013

Cover design by Reese Dante
Editor: Jamie D. Rose
Logo copyright © 2012 by Silver Publishing Licensed material is being used for illustrative purposes only. Any person depicted in the licensed material is a model.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden.

All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

If you see "free shares" offered or cut-rate sales of this title on pirate sites, you can report the offending entry to
copyright@spsilverpublishing.com.

This book is written in US English.

PUBLISHER

www.SPSilverPublishing.com

NOTE FROM THE P

UBLISHER
Dear Reader,

Thank you for your purchase of this title. The authors and staff of Silver Publishing hope you enjoy this read and that we will have a long and happy association together.

Please remember that the only money authors make from writing comes from the sales of their books. If you like their work, spread the word and tell others about the books, but please refrain from sharing this book in any form. Authors depend on sales and sales only to support their families.

If you see "free shares" offered or cut-rate sales of this title on pirate sites, you can report the offending entry to copyright@spsilverpublishing.com.

Thank you for not pirating our titles.

Lodewyk Deysel
Publisher
Silver Publishing
http://www.spsilverpublishing.com DEDICATION

To Alison, you're the best

TRADEMARKS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Mack truck : Mack Trucks, Inc.
Glenlivet scotch: The Glenlivet Distillers Ltd Corp Facebook: Facebook Inc
Twitter: Twitter Inc
BMW: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Corporation
Chevy Blazer: General Motors
Rolex: Rolex Watch USA, Inc.

CHAPTER ONE

Beautiful. Dark, shiny hair that begged to have fingers running through it, a body that… wow, needed to be tasted, licked from those perfect ear lobes all the way down… okay, Ryan couldn't see much more than a long, tanned throat before all that smooth, wonderful skin was hidden away beneath clothes someone this utterly stunning should never have to wear. He wanted to nibble on those unseen nipples and drill his tongue into that concealed belly button. And lower still until…

Shit !
He was fucking gorgeous, just like the first time Ryan had seen him, which coincidently had also been the only other time Ryan caught himself admiring a man. Oh, he had certainly appreciated other men before—but who hadn't? He appreciated the cut of a particular suit and whether or not it looked good on a particular person. He appreciated a good hair style or maybe even a nice, muscular body once in a while. But never had any of those thoughts descended right to his cock. He had never before thought about touching a man or for crying out loud, licking a man. But now…
The first time Ryan had seen the handsome man was a good two months ago when Ryan had been cornered by a former employee in the bathroom at the law firm where he worked. Being a paralegal usually entailed nothing more than being immersed in stacks of books or glued to the screen of a computer. Rarely did anything exciting ever happen other than maybe a close deadline. But unfortunately for Ryan, after one stupid week on the job, he had become embroiled in an ethical issue with Greg, one of the other employees. Greg ended up being fired. He then quickly decided "the new boy" was wholly to blame for it. After several phone threats from the guy, something Ryan never mentioned to anyone, Greg slipped into the men's room on the second floor near his former employment. Ryan had made it a habit to stop in right before heading home. Greg was waiting for him.
Ryan should have been more on guard than he was. He honestly didn't think Greg had it in him to attack. But that wasn't the only reason he should have realized something was up. When Ryan walked toward the bathroom, he did see someone duck through the door while another man turned away and walked a couple of paces down the hall. Unfortunately, Ryan thought nothing of it.
"You son of a bitch! You fucking got me fired! I'm gonna show you what happens to assholes like you!" Greg had hidden behind the door and jumped Ryan when he came in. Now he had Ryan up against the wall with one large hand around his throat and another pinning Ryan's left wrist to the wall. Ryan was trying to pry the hand away from his throat but the guy had slammed him pretty hard. The pain blasted through his head, making it hard to even think, much less try to save himself. Opening his eyes proved no help either because the room was spinning—not to mention he couldn't breathe. Suddenly the guy released his throat, grabbed the front of his shirt along with his tie, hauled him from the wall, and drove a fist into Ryan's stomach. Ryan doubled over then went to his knees. "Yeah, asshole. Maybe you want to suck my cock! Maybe that will be partial payment, huh?" Ryan watched in dizzy horror as Greg unzipped himself. Was he laughing? Suddenly there was a loud, thumping noise coming from outside the door.
The door opened and Ryan painfully turned his head and in walked the most gorgeous creature he had ever seen. The fact he was thinking that about a man would come back to him later. But right now, even though he was still having trouble focusing, he was able to look right into the beautiful man's eyes. Was this his savior? He silently pleaded to the man for help. He wasn't sure if Greg meant to do serious damage or not, but before Ryan went down, he caught the overwhelming smell of alcohol on Greg's breath. Greg's problems on the job had been compounded by that very thing.
The beautiful man stopped just inside the door, taking in the scene before him. He was rubbing his right fist with his left hand. Ryan thought he saw blood. "Am I interrupting something?" His eyes came back to rest on Ryan, who stared back up at him crazily, thinking just how fucking sexy that voice was.
"How the hell did you get in here?" Greg's words were now a bit slurred. Towering over the kneeling Ryan, he could see Greg weaving a little. "Kyle? Kyle!"
The beautiful man winked at Ryan then turned his attention fully on Greg. "Oh! Kyle's the name of the guy outside the door here?" He jerked his head back toward the door he had just come in. "Nah, he can't hear you. I think he's napping right now." He flexed his right hand as he cracked his knuckles one by one. "You see, I saw the two of you slinking around outside the bathroom making sure no one was in here, making sure the coast was all clear. I decided to watch to see what kind of third grade prank you were trying to pull. But when this guy approached the bathroom"—Ryan, who remained kneeling on the floor, startled when the man pointed at him. Color rose to his cheeks too as the man stared into his eyes—"it became obvious he was the target. Figured he needed rescuing." Those beautiful eyes left Ryan's again. "Your good buddy, Kyle, out there, tried to stop me. He didn't get too far." He switched hands as he cracked the knuckles of his left hand and chuckled.
"What? You came to this asshole's rescue? Well, you're too late." Greg growled then kicked Ryan hard in the ribs, sending Ryan off his knees and into the wall behind him. The rest was a blur. He heard a loud, long scuffle, some swearing, and that sweet, beautiful face was suddenly right in front of his. Ryan jerked back in surprise with a slight whimper.
"Hey! Hey. Just me. I'm not going to hurt you." He cupped Ryan's face in his large hands. "Are you okay? Should we get you to a hospital? Call the police?"
"No… please, I'm fine." But his head did hurt and where he was kicked burned like a bitch. If he thought about the punch to his stomach, he could feel that too but the other two pains were worse. "Could… could you step back a bit? I can't seem to…" He was trying to put his feet back under him but he didn't have enough room.
The beautiful man put his hands under Ryan's arms and gently lifted him to his feet. Ryan cried out when the man swung him around and set him up on the counter near the sinks as easily and tenderly as if he were lifting a child. The man's face was close when he put him down and Ryan had the distinct impression he was going to be kissed because time had stopped when they stared into each other's eyes. But someone breathed and the man blinked, and the moment passed.
He whispered into Ryan's face, "Let's take a look at you." He pulled back, putting a single finger under Ryan's chin and lifting. His other hand lightly examined Ryan's throat, caressing, tickling. "Hmmm. Looks like there might be a little bit of bruising here. Was that jerk choking you?" Ryan felt a shiver and for some reason his cock came to full attention when those fingers traveled down the front of his chest. He released Ryan's chin when Ryan tried to nod. "Bastard," he breathed. "To think this beautiful skin has been discolored, even temporarily, by such an idiot. I should have kicked him harder. But don't worry, I'm pretty sure the bruises he's going to have will outdo this one." He reached up and softly touched Ryan's neck again. "But obviously that isn't all he did. May I look further?" Without waiting for Ryan to agree, he started pulling on Ryan's shirt, dragging it out of his pants and pushing it up toward his chin.
"Hold on! What are you doing?" But the man didn't pay any attention to his protests. He simply pushed him back against the mirror with the hand bunching up his shirt and finished baring Ryan's abdomen. When the man's warm hand touched Ryan's stomach, the shiver he had felt earlier turned into a full out tremble that started at the base of his cock and shot right up through his heart. Ryan began breathing heavily when the stranger's hand explored his abdomen, stroking and pushing gently. Did Ryan just feel him rub over his nipple? Crap! He had to be bulging very noticeably in his pants right now and if he didn't stop that hand soon, he was going to embarrass the hell out of himself.
"You're so beautiful. So… amazing," the man whispered. "Does it hurt at all when I do this?"
Oh fuck! Hurt? No, but it sure as hell shouldn't feel like that either! Ryan finally grabbed the man's hands and pulled them away. "Wait… please… I'm fine. Really." But his voice was gravelly and hoarse and sounding winded. What the fucking hell? How hard had he hit his head to react like this to a man? He scooted off the counter and stepped away from his rescuer, pulling his shirt down as far as he could but suddenly feeling naked in front of those dark eyes.
The beautiful man looked a little winded himself as he wiped his forehead. He cleared his throat, put his hands on his hips, and cocked his head to the side with a very concerned look on his face. "Are you sure? Maybe I should take you home with me? Watch over you to make sure you're not—you know—hurt… or anything." He cleared his throat again.
"No! I am perfectly normal. I mean, I'm fine. I'm perfectly fine. Thank you for… well… thank you… for…" Crap. He was rescued again and this time by a total stranger. Lately it seemed to be happening more and more often. From his professor in law school who had gotten him out of a tight spot, to his roommate's father who called in a favor and got this job for him, and now this. It appeared as if he couldn't even protect himself. I'm so damn pathetic.
A slight noise broke the sudden silence that had fallen and the man reached inside his coat pocket for his cell phone. He looked at it with irritation then rolled his eyes when he evidently saw who was calling. He glanced back at Ryan. "I'm sorry, but I have to take this." He swore under his breath. He pointed a finger at Ryan. "Stay right here for just a minute. I'll get rid of who this is and be right back. Please don't leave." He pushed a button and held the phone to his ear. He shot a look back at Ryan. "I mean it. Stay there." He walked out of the bathroom muttering through clenched teeth into the phone.
Ryan felt like he had been run over. He turned slightly and caught his reflection in the mirror. He looked like he had been run over. His shirt was hanging askew, his hair was wild, and there was definitely an angry bruise starting to form under his chin. He lifted his shirt to examine the beginning bruise there too when the door opened again. But it wasn't the beautiful man. It was a group of men who walked in this time, laughing and chatting, but they stopped short when they saw Ryan. Ryan recognized them. They worked on the fourth floor at an advertising firm. He didn't know any of their names but the man who walked in first, leading the group, had propositioned Ryan once in this very bathroom. They all looked shocked for just a moment then the first man grinned and ducked down as he pretended to look under the doors of the stalls. "You doing someone in here, Ryan? Maybe I should take a number? Get those pretty lips wrapped around me?" He laughed, but the others looked confused and uncomfortable.
Now, of course, to add to his disheveled look, Ryan knew he was blushing hard with more shock and embarrassment. He ducked his head low and pushed right through the group still standing just inside the door and he darted from the bathroom. He took off for the elevators, hearing someone yelling at him to stop but he ignored it. I just need to get out of here.
Too late he remembered the beautiful man.
I didn't even ask his name.

CHAPTER TWO

Just because Ryan didn't know the man's name didn't mean he didn't fill Ryan's dreams at night. In the dark when he slid his own hand into his pants and rubbed his hard cock to completion, it was the nameless man's large warm hands he imagined on him.

And now, months later, that same man stood there, one polished shoe on the deck railing of the ship. Dressed in black suit pants and a crisp white shirt, the cuffs unbuttoned and sleeves rolled up to his elbows, he looked like he was just coming off of a long day at the office. This time Ryan noticed the beginnings of hard muscle peeking out from under the rolled sleeves. He wanted to touch that muscle—feel those hands on him again. He wanted to taste his skin, to run his fingers through the dark hair blowing slightly in the breeze. Ryan could only see his profile this time but the chiseled features he remembered made him long to see the man up close and personal again.

Before he even knew what he was doing, he let out a quick moan that made it clear he very much liked what he was seeing. A second later he sucked in his breath when he remembered he was standing right next to his girlfriend.

Well, former girlfriend, but still he should be admiring her and not a man, damn it.

And to his further immense embarrassment, the man turned at that moment and caught Ryan staring—even gawking at him! The guy had to be able to tell what he had been thinking because Ryan was now blushing so hard he probably fucking glowed.

"What's wrong with you?" Cheyenne looked up at him, wrinkling her nose.
Ryan cringed at her tone, feeling guilty as hell for having had her notice his sixteen shades of red face. "Just… admiring the view." No lie. He had been. But shit. He liked girls. He was not into guys.
Well, apparently I'm into this guy.
Cheyenne sniffed when she turned her attention back the way Ryan had been looking and oh fuck right at the man too. He was sure of it. Why the hell couldn't there have been an attractive woman walking by? There might have been—not that he would have noticed. No, he only had eyes for the hot guy against the rail. Oh crap! Hot guy? Really? "It's just water," she said with a snarl, "lots of cold, endless water. It's making me ill."
Ryan was relieved she didn't seem to know he had gone gay for a moment. Well, okay, more than for just a moment but that other time was nearly two months ago. However, her comment did hit home. Things had pretty much ended between them and he had questioned this 'date' with her more than once over the last couple of days. He had made these plans some months in advance because of Cheyenne's desire to cruise the ocean. Yes, he knew, of course, Lake Superior wasn't the ocean, but it was certainly close. If you looked back to where they had come from, you could see the land but looking forward to where they were going, it was simply open water. Sure, the color of the lake was definitely not the same. It wasn't the light, beautiful turquoise color of the ocean. Lake Superior's deep, cold water was dark blue, almost navy—like that guy's eyes. And the trees that lined the shore were pine, not palm. But when you were out on the water like this, it didn't take a lot of imagination to believe.
The four hour dinner cruise in and through the Apostle Islands had seemed the perfect romantic evening, maybe even a way to get things back on track between the two of them. Not that Ryan truly wanted her by his side anymore. It was just hard to let go of things. It seemed he had to have things wrested from his hands before being able to look back to see he shouldn't have had those things in the first place.
Like law school. He had received great grades, flew through most classes, but suddenly anxiety hit like a Mack truck and getting out of bed became an almost impossible thing to do. It took one of his professors nearly breaking into his apartment, who simply patted him on the knee after listening to all of his inane fears and told him he would take care of everything. And he did. At first Ryan was scared shitless leaving school but after being assured he wouldn't 'lose his place' and could come back anytime to finish, he was finally able to see it was the exact right decision.
Becoming a paralegal just made sense to him after that. Thanks to his former roommate's dad, it had also been easy.
However, Cheyenne was not happy about his decisions at all.
Things changed drastically between them then. He had a hard time admitting it but her anger at him came from his sudden abandonment of his desire to become a lawyer. He didn't want to think she was so shallow, that the money and status of being with a lawyer would be powerful enough of a lure to make her decisions for her. But he could no longer ignore the fact his off again, on again girlfriend of nearly two years was not who he thought she was. He had seen the signs—subtle but noticeable—and he had ignored them. However, after he dropped out of school and took the paralegal job, her distress and disbelief had made him finally come to the conclusion she had an agenda in mind when it came to who she would end up with. The sweet smiling Cheyenne had turned into something rather ugly. She argued with him endlessly about not abandoning law school but he had finally recognized he was burned out and not convinced anymore being a lawyer was in the cards for him. He only wished she could support that.
It was perfectly clear she didn't. It was also perfectly clear she expected something far different for her life and Ryan no longer filled that expectation.
He remembered when they first met she told him she grew up never having enough. She told him about being sick to death of the secondhand clothes she had been made to wear and being ridiculed because of them. She hated having to use lunch vouchers in school instead of paying for her meals like the other kids. She even had to stay behind three days a week to help with kitchen duty while the other kids ran off, she was absolutely sure, pointing fingers at her and sticking out their tongues— making fun of her because she was poor. She vowed the day she walked out of high school and her mother's house, she was done scraping the bottom of the barrel.
Evidently, that was where paralegals were.
Of course, he needed to cancel the date.
But here they were, aboard the Superior Jewel, taking a romantic dinner cruise.
"What do you mean making you ill? You're the one who insisted we come."
"Well, you weren't going to get your money back, so I made the sacrifice."
"Sacrifice? Is that what this is? How can that be? You've never cared in the past how my money was spent."
"Ryan, let's talk about this later," she said in an exasperated tone. "I simply said the view was just endless water and honestly not that much to look at. I didn't mean anything by it." She sniffed again. "Although the man over there is nice to look at… in fact…"
He hazarded a look back, knowing full well who she meant. Sure enough, the man had turned fully around and leaned with his back against the rail now, smirking. Ryan was totally certain it was directed at him. The last thing he needed was for this gorgeous stranger to start making fun of his momentary lapse in reasoning or repeat anything of what had happened the last time they met. Cheyenne was sure to call it pathetic and things were shaky enough with her already.
As if on cue, the man launched himself from the rail and started to walk in their direction. Cheyenne, who had been holding onto Ryan's jacketed arm, let go and smoothed the front of her perfectly pressed red dress. She looked stunning in the thing. Even if he were, for some reason, going gay, he couldn't miss the fact the skin tight dress Cheyenne wore to perfection showed her figure off in extreme—which made it, he thought, a little inappropriate for a date. He had heard her girlfriends refer to the short, tight, low cut piece of red fabric as a 'guy getting' dress. Didn't she already have a guy?
Well, maybe not.
The closer the man got, the more nervous Ryan became. Would he say anything about the rescue? Would he finally ask about why Ryan was kneeling in the bathroom in front of some guy lowering his zipper? Crap. What must he have thought? But maybe he was looking at Cheyenne. That was it, he was looking at her. Relief swept through him. Of course, the stunning man was looking at Cheyenne!
The man stopped not three feet in front of them, his height towering over Ryan's smaller five foot seven frame and even further than Cheyenne's five foot five
"Good evening." His low voice caught Ryan completely off guard. The rumble raced down his spine in what could have been a visible shiver and went straight to his cock. Great. Let's get a fucking boner on top of it! Still smirking, the man offered his hand to Cheyenne, who shyly placed her hand in his and Ryan watched as he brought it up to those amazing lips and—good grief I'm admiring the guy's lips now—kissed the top of it, his eyes darting back to Ryan. "My name is Branwyth. Jansen Branwyth."
The look on Cheyenne's face told Ryan she was probably peeing her panties. "I'm… I'm Cheyenne Christy. Are… are you the Jansen Branwyth, of Branwyth Designs?"
"I am very happy to meet you, Ms Christy and yes, I am that Jansen Branwyth." Damn but his voice was getting to Ryan, just like it had the first time. So sexy—the sound actually vibrated through Ryan's lower half. Mr Branwyth then slowly turned to Ryan and offered the same hand to him. Ryan, his brain firing on stupid, had a wild vision of Mr Branwyth also taking and kissing his hand. How fucked up was that? If the situation wasn't so damn embarrassing, he would have laughed. But it would have only proven he had totally lost his mind and he did want to end this dinner cruise on a good note, not with Cheyenne having to call the people who carried the strait jackets. "And you are?"
Did he not remember they had met before? Well, not met, exactly. Neither one of them had the chance to get a name, however it seemed he didn't remember at all. But then again, why would he? Ryan was obviously the only one who had been so totally affected by the man's presence, the man's hands… oh. "Ryan Madison." Wow. It sounded… normal. "Very pleased to meet… cough… you…" Fuck. He had to keep going didn't he? He had done just fine on the name, remembered it and everything, nevertheless he had to keep right on talking and fuck it up. Damn it! But then Jansen had actually reached out and took Ryan's hand in his large, warm one and fuck he remembered when the man touched his naked chest that time. Oh those lips—what would those lips and maybe that tongue feel like on his palm? Instead he simply shook his hand, damn, just a shake and still holding, then letting go, sliding away. What the hell? Sliding away, like a caress? Shit! Was the guy making fun of him? Well, Ryan did blush like a fucking teenager at him. At least he wasn't turning away in total disgust or outright calling him on it in front of Cheyenne.
"Nice to meet the both of you. I understand the meals here are excellent. Is this your first time on board?"
Was he asking Ryan that question? Ryan had already tripped over just an introduction and now the guy expected him to actually carry on a conversation? "Um…" was all he could manage as the burning color rose and took over his face.
"Yes." Cheyenne came to the rescue, stealing those beautiful eyes and riveting attention away. "It's our first time! We are very excited to have this experience." She turned herself toward Ryan, brushing her breasts against him, forcing both men to glance at her very exposed cleavage. She cooed at Ryan, "Who did you say the chef was again?"
Really, Cheyenne? Like I would fucking know who worked in the kitchen or you would even be interested in such a thing? But even if he did know the chef's name, he would not be able to make his mouth and brain work at the same time to actually tell her anyway.
This time Mr Branwyth came to the rescue. "Oliver Settingson, I believe." He winked at Ryan, as if they were sharing a deep secret. Then he leaned in close to Ryan. "I understand his filet mignon with the merlot reduction is out of this world." He made a private show of licking his lips and Ryan felt his cock jump as he watched that tongue. "Simply fantastic," he purred. He straightened back up and to Cheyenne said, "Of course, so is his cheesecake."
"Ohhh! I love cheesecake." The smile on Cheyenne's face surprised Ryan. He was aware of her facades—the faces she put on for the public, her public— but this smile was genuine. Or at least he thought it was. That smile may have even been what he had first been attracted to. There was precious little else he could recall at this moment he truly remained attracted to, but her smile definitely was beautiful.
"Yes, women usually do." Stepping closer to Ryan, he elbowed him. "It's like an aphrodisiac and gets them in the mood, right, Ryan?" He laughed. Pure music was all Ryan could think. His laughter was pure music. "Well, I do hope the two of you have a wonderful dinner as well as a wonderful time aboard the Superior Jewel. If you'll excuse me?" He nodded at Cheyenne, then at Ryan, holding Ryan's eyes a little too long. Then he walked away, slightly bumping into Ryan on his way past. He excused himself again, letting those words slide directly into Ryan's ear in a near whisper.
Oh! A shiver passed through Ryan in a millisecond and left him nearly breathless.
"Wow!" Cheyenne grabbed Ryan's sleeve and pulled hard. "That was Jansen Branwyth! Jansen Branwyth, Ryan. I knew it! I looked over there and just knew it was him. I thought only a representative of Branwyth Designs was going to be here but Branwyth himself? This was totally fate meeting him here. Did you know he's been responsible for launching the careers of tons of graphic artists, including Gloria Johannson? You remember her? I introduced you guys once about a year ago. Anyway, she has no talent whatsoever and if he can make her famous then he is going to be thrilled with me. I've seen pictures of him but they just don't do him justice because in person the man is gorgeous. He has to be filthy rich too. It just sends shivers up my back. Oh, Ryan, I need to talk to him and show him what I can do. If I could get him to look at my portfolio…"
Her words were like a bucket of cold water. Hearing her going all giddy about meeting the man like he was some sort of celebrity pissed Ryan off. This feeling was jealousy, right? Jealousy of Branwyth! And not of Cheyenne just because she might be someone the man may actually be interested in and Ryan wasn't. It wasn't that at all.
They had turned and walked down the deck leading up to the dining room and he let his anger boil over. "You're not going to go off chasing the guy like some lovesick puppy. He's obviously on this cruise to relax. I'm sure he's with a guest too and you're not going to interrupt!" Yeah, he had to be here with someone. How could he not be? The man was fucking beautiful and simply oozed masculinity and power. He had to have any number of women hanging off his every word and both arms as well. He closed his eyes, willing the sudden wave of depression to subside but then suddenly remembered something Cheyenne had just said.
"What do you mean, 'you heard there was only to be a representative'? Is that the real reason you didn't want me to cancel this trip? You were job hunting?" Fuck. How stupid could I be?

Cheyenne looked up at him, her 'innocent eyes' securely in place—as if he couldn't see right through it. "Well…"

"Ah damn. That was it." He shook his head, wishing he for once was able to develop the backbone she constantly told him he didn't have and said no to the trip. "Why didn't you just tell me? I would have let you have the tickets to yourself. Why did you have to drag me along?" Now that even sounded whiney to him.

"I didn't want to go by myself. You wouldn't have come if I had told you and do you think I would have trusted any one of my 'back stabbing any chance they get' girlfriends, like fucking Gloria? And now that it's Jansen himself aboard… well, at least I know you're not going to go after him like they would have. You're safe." She had been in front of a mirror hanging on the wall in the corridor, fussing with her hair as she talked, but finally turned to face him. "Besides, water under the bridge… so to speak. You're here now, so deal with it."

Ryan had an overwhelming urge to giggle. If only she knew what he had been thinking. She wouldn't think he was so 'safe' anymore. He did manage to keep his near loss of composure to himself, though. "Why didn't you just make an appointment to see him like any normal person?"

"He doesn't see people. Not anymore, anyway. Plus, there's a waiting list to get into his companies and I just don't want to wait." She said it so matter of fact, like it had all been planned this way from the beginning.

"So, basically, you came on this cruise just to meet up with Jansen Branwyth?"
She sighed heavily, as if it truly was a bother for her to have to explain things to him. "Ryan, please don't tell me you actually thought I wanted us to get back together, did you?"
He stared at her, not quite knowing what to say. This was not the Cheyenne he thought he knew. This was a self-absorbed, selfish, rude person—not the sweet, beautiful lady he had believed for two years she was. She evidently didn't think she needed to impress him anymore, so he was seeing the real Cheyenne and he didn't like this new person. Confusion and anger rose like bile and left a bad taste in his mouth. It probably wasn't the best moment in the world to trot out a backbone. What he needed was a moment or two alone.
"No. No, I didn't think you wanted to get back together." He glanced at his watch. "Look, it's about an hour until dinner. I need some time"—he held up his hand and stopped her from saying whatever it was she drew in her breath to say—"by myself. I'll meet you at the entrance to the dining room in about forty-five minutes. Without waiting for a reply, he turned on his heel and headed around the corner of the deck. When he was out of eyesight of her he leaned back up against the wall and closed his eyes with a sigh.
What a disaster. If he could leave the ship right now, he would, but he was trapped. He prayed the dining room they would have to enter soon was somewhat larger than the size of the ship would indicate. But even if that wasn't so, there was no reason to believe they would have to sit anywhere near Jansen Branwyth—a beautiful man who didn't seem to remember at all saving Ryan from whatever fate Greg had in store for him that long ago evening. He had swept into that bathroom just like a hero, vanquished the villain, and with a few quick warm touches, effortlessly shattered Ryan's belief in who he was. Now he was going to have to watch as Cheyenne pulled out all the stops in going after that amazing man and there was absolutely nothing he was going to be able to do about it. "Crap, I need a drink," he mumbled to himself as he pushed off the wall, "or maybe several."
Ryan found a deserted bar near the back of the ship and sat on a stool. The bartender had already poured him a scotch and he gulped half immediately. Why, why, why had he allowed Cheyenne to talk him into coming on this thing? Why had it been so damned important that he hold onto this relationship with her when he should be glad she finally showed her true colors and seemingly without any kind of regret at all? He absolutely hated he felt this way, like somehow he truly was the loser she was not-so-subtly hinting he was. His brain knew it didn't matter what she thought, especially since he knew leaving law school was the right decision, but his heart kept reminding him he had considered going back several times since then, due to her reaction alone.
Thankfully, he had yet to do it so far. If he ever did, it would have to be for a better reason than to win Cheyenne back.
"This seat taken?"
Oh fucking crap. The low, growly voice once again traveled right up his spine then crashed back down into his cock, jump-starting it back to attention. Why in the hell did this guy's voice do that to him? What the fuck was wrong with him? "Um"—Ryan looked back and up into those amazing dark eyes and forcibly cleared his throat—"no."
A waft of fragrance flowed over Ryan when Jansen sat down to the left of him and ordered his own scotch. After the bartender set the glass in front of the man and he took a long drink, he turned his whole body to face Ryan— who once again was staring. Jansen chuckled while Ryan jerked his eyes away but he was absolutely certain Jansen could see the bright red on his face again. "So, why are you sitting all alone? Where is Ms Christy?"
"Oh, you know women." He forced a small laugh that sounded exactly that—forced. "She needed to fix her face or something." It wasn't meant to be a lead-in to basically ask Jansen if he too were waiting for his dinner date, but he found he was holding his breath, hoping for a clue.
"Ah, yes. I do know women and yours is quite attractive. Are the two of you married? Forgive me for prying but I don't see a ring." He reached over and ran the middle finger of his right hand gently up and down the empty ring finger of Ryan's left hand. The sensation sent visible shivers up his back.
Ryan stared at his own hand for a moment then darted his eyes over to Jansen's left hand, noting Jansen's was bare as well. "No… we aren't even together any…" Wait. That was way too much information for a total stranger. "We're not married." He pulled his hand away.
Jansen chuckled again. "Really? Well, she needs to snap you up, Mr Madison, or someone else just might swoop in for the kill." He sipped his drink as he watched Ryan.
Ryan stammered a bit. "I… what…" Shit, he could feel the red shooting up his face again. He hadn't blushed this much in one day ever. It was clear Jansen was having a great time teasing the shit out of him. Ryan chose not to finish whatever it was he intended to say because basically it was gone anyway. He simply seemed to go brain dead in Jansen's presence. He lifted a slightly shaking drink to his mouth.
"So, I've been meaning to ask you, why did you run off that day?"
Ryan shot a look back at Jansen when his glass hit the bar, tipping over, but thankfully away from both of them. "Shit!" He grabbed a couple of napkins and attempted to wipe up the mess. The bartender was instantly there with his bar rag and took care of it. "Sorry."
"No harm," the bartender said, "Let me replace it for you." He grabbed a new glass, poured another scotch, and put the glass on the bar in front of Ryan. For some reason he nodded at Jansen.
Odd. I'm the one who spilled it. Why acknowledge him? "Thank… thank you."
"My pleasure, sir." The bartender winked and walked away. Ryan heard Jansen snort.
He turned to him and was about to ask what he was snorting at when he realized Jansen had just admitted he did remember that day. "I… I never really got a chance to… you know… thank you for that time."
Jansen took a sip of his drink and set the glass down on the bar. "No. That wasn't necessary, but you ran off like someone was chasing you. Didn't you hear me call out to you?"
Ryan looked up at him. "That was you? I didn't think… I thought it was—"
Jansen's eyes narrowed. "So those guys who went into the bathroom after I left. Did they say something to you? Do anything?"
Ryan blushed hard again and turned once more to stare at his drink. "No. They didn't."
"Liar."
Ryan remained silent as he twirled the glass in his hands.
"I should have known. I should never have left you—or I should have at least made you wait outside the bathroom where I could have kept an eye on you to make sure you were safe. Does that happen often, you getting attacked like that?"
Ryan jerked his head back to stare at Jansen wideeyed. "No! It's just… I mean, I don't need protecting."
"Well, I think maybe you do," he said softly. "Maybe you don't understand just how attractive and completely defenseless you are." He reached out and moved a strand of hair off Ryan's face, ending in a caress to his cheek. Ryan closed his eyes and lifted his chin slightly, relishing the touch, trusting the touch. He shouldn't allow this. People could be watching. But this touch… One finger became two then maybe even three. Ryan couldn't tell. "I meant to get your name and the story on what was going on with those morons. I'm so sorry I ended up leaving you before you were safe." His warm fingers continued to caress. "You seem fine now, though." Jansen cleared his throat and took his fingers away. "Have they been back?"
Ryan turned away, feeling dizzy, giddy, and now embarrassed. He shook his head as he brought his own hand up to his throat. He really never saw the first guy, the one who had been hanging around outside the door, so he had no idea if he ever saw him again or not, but Greg had disappeared for good, it seemed. Ryan had ended up telling his supervisor the next day what had happened since the bruises on his throat were pretty noticeable. He would have worn a turtleneck sweater to hide them, even in the middle of spring, but he didn't own one.
For a while his supervisor insisted he have an escort to and from his bus stop, as well as to the bathroom and the library, but nothing else ever happened. Ryan glanced back at Jansen. "No. But thank you for… for what you did. I'm not sure what would have happened if—"
"Well, it doesn't matter, because whatever that asshole had planned, failed. How about those others?"
"You mean… they… no, they leave me alone too."
"Good. That's good news. I'm glad you're okay." He smiled that beautiful smile.
When Ryan smiled back, Jansen looked shocked but kept smiling. He closed his eyes for a moment then leaned in close to Ryan's face and whispered, "Maybe later we'll discuss what you can do to really thank me." He picked up and drained the rest of his drink and rose from his chair, his groin becoming clearly visible when he did. The man didn't seem in too much of a hurry to move away. Ryan couldn't help but stare wide eyed at the bulge forming in Jansen's pants. Instead of being shocked, Ryan wanted to reach out and touch it; he wanted to see it. "I'll see you later," Jansen growled.
Ryan tore his eyes away and looked up in time to see him wink. "Yeah… see you later." Geez. What was that all about? Now he was so damn hard he would have to sit there for a minute and hope to hell he could calm it down before he was late to meet Cheyenne.

CHAPTER THREE

Jansen had noticed the couple before they boarded. It would be hard not to notice the woman. Her red dress screamed 'I'm available', although it was obvious the two were together. Unless the young man was her brother, the garment seemed over the top. Yes, he noticed the woman first but the man drew his attention shortly afterward. Slight in height and build, not someone he normally would notice, the young man still stood out as striking just like he remembered. The boyish blond waves made the man look a lot younger than he probably was and his flashing eyes—he remembered they were blue—made Jansen want to know what he was angry about because he looked angry, or maybe defeated, standing there on the dock. Jansen couldn't quite tell which—the way the man's shoulder's slumped one moment and went rigid the next. Jansen certainly didn't like the way the young man seemed to shuffle his feet, shoving hands into pockets, then taking one out and raking it through his hair.

Then seeing him in a suit of sorts—a pair of khakis, a tan button-down shirt and a brown jacket slightly on the large side—made him look like he had on his father's clothes. The loose, maroon tie made him seem younger yet. If he remembered correctly, it was a similar fit he was wearing that day too. The young man looked like he would be far more comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt. Jansen found himself wondering what he would look like without clothes—what deep shades of embarrassment he would turn if commanded to stand naked to be admired. He had thought the same thing the day he rescued the young man from that attack. He had been so adorable, trying so hard to not react to Jansen's advances. He let his eyes wander now over the young man's body, imagining the reality beneath the bulky jacket. He thought the contours very nice indeed. Maybe he wasn't quite his type but Jansen would love to hear the blond panting beneath him as he was taken.

Except, he was with that flashy woman and Jansen made it a point to never become involved with a man in a relationship. It wasn't as if he was possessive or anything. He didn't do commitment. He just didn't like all the baggage that normally came with someone cheating on a partner. Even so he had thought of the young man often since that day. He had even gone back to the building several times to see if he could spot him again, wishing he had at least gotten his name before he had run off. However, Jansen now chose to push all those thoughts of him away. Although he had to admit, after some of the fantasies he'd had, it was going to be difficult.

Then, standing on the deck, he was shocked when he turned around and met those beautiful blue eyes openly staring at him. An invitation? Perhaps. However, she stood beside the young blond and if he had been into women, he would find her striking as well. In fact, the two of them made a picture perfect couple. Too bad for her the man she was with was gay, something else he seemed to be clueless about. Jansen hadn't missed the bulge in the man's pants that day when he pushed off of the counter, even though he tried his best to hide it.

But was he with the woman? At the bar, Ryan had seemed to indicate it might not be the case. He hadn't really finished the sentence but he wasn't sure how else it could have been interpreted. And when he ran into Cheyenne just a bit ago, she had flat out told him they weren't. But why were they aboard the Superior Jewel together? Had they had a fight? Was that what he was seeing when they were first boarding? Maybe they were out on the deck right now 'making up' while Jansen sat quietly with a drink in hand at a corner table in the dining room watching the door and waiting for their arrival. Am I waiting in vain?

Jansen smiled as he thought of the young man's response to being discovered staring, those wide eyes and deep blush. He absolutely loved the young man's reactions and Jansen could not stop himself from rubbing it in one more time. But, afterward, instead of being past his desire of the little game, he found he wanted to play with Ryan some more. He had not been this turned on in a long time and especially not by some little perfectly clueless virgin— although the virgin part did intrigue him.

Jansen's mind wandered back to his encounter with Ms Christy in all her red glory shortly after leaving a very confused Ryan alone with his drink at the bar. "Mr Branwyth, how lucky I am to run into you again."

She came up hard against him, pretending to trip. Jansen's automatic reaction was to catch her and hold her up. It had been an obvious ploy, to fall into his arms. But, even though his reaction was instinctive, being a gentleman, he wouldn't have let her fall anyway. He did smirk thinking about the struggle she would have had getting back to her feet in that dress. "Careful, Ms Christy. You don't want to suddenly find yourself flat on your back."

She laughed prettily—a merry, tinkling sound. Jansen, however, found himself thinking how fake the reaction was and wondered how she had accomplished learning such a thing. "Flat on my back… why, Mr Branwyth, are you flirting with me?" She had latched onto the arm that had stopped her from falling, allowing her ample bosom to push hard against it. "I do have to say, that was a bit clumsy of me."

Jansen highly doubted 'clumsy' had ever been a word anyone used in the same sentence with Cheyenne Christy. He pulled his arm out of her grip and pushed her to stand on her own. "Well, please watch out in the future." He made to walk away but as he expected, she stopped him.

"Wait, Mr Branwyth… Jansen. May I call you Jansen? I was wondering if there was some way the two of us could get together later, maybe over cocktails? I might have an interesting proposition for you…" She had once again come up against Jansen's chest, shamelessly rubbing against him and looking up at him with one long, manicured fingernail pushing on her lips. "Pleeeease?"

There was no doubt in Jansen's mind this look was supposed to be sexy. It simply looked cheap to him. "Ms Christy, are you not already with someone aboard this cruise? Yet you seem to be coming on to me. Maybe I'm misinterpreting the signals here, so please forgive me if that's the case, but I do not mess around with people who are already attached to other people." If nothing else, it would force her to leave him alone and, at best, she might let it spill Ryan and her were no longer an item.

She took the bait. Looking up at him, once again her eyes trying to convey total innocence. "You mean Ryan? Oh! No, no, no. We're only friends. We used to be together but not anymore. He's too flighty for me—too confused lately."

Jansen raised an eyebrow but remained quiet. Staying silent was the best way to obtain information.
She laughed a bitter kind of laugh. "Actually, he quit law school in his third year. Can you believe that?" She smiled again, a hand finding its way to Jansen's chest.
Jansen took a deep breath and let it out. "Some people aren't cut out for law and it sometimes takes going to law school to figure it out. There's nothing wrong with that."
"Are you kidding me? He was nearly at the top in his class. He would have had his pick of firms once he graduated and he could have named his own price. But now he's some lowly research clerk barely scratching out a living and that's supposed to be better?" She let out a huff.
"I see." Jansen once again extracted himself from her hold. "But isn't happiness the point? You really should at least like what you do."
"There is no money in what he likes to do. I can't believe I wasted… well, never mind that." Not seeming to notice at all Jansen's constant attempts at retreat, she once again put a manicured hand on his arm. "I am completely unattached, so you have all green lights." She smiled up at him and winked. "Sooooo, if you have a moment later on…"
Jansen made a show to look at his watch. "Look at the time! If you don't hurry, you'll be late for dinner."
She wound her arm around his and beamed up at him. "Let's go together then!"
He pulled free again, becoming agitated with her persistence. "I have to do something first, Ms Christy. Please go ahead without me." He inclined his head toward her. "I'll see you in the dining room." This time she allowed him to leave but there was no question she was pissed. As he walked away, he heard her stiletto crack hard on the deck.
He stopped into the men's room to wash his hands, anger welling up in him. Then Jansen headed into the dining room. He was pleased it looked to be a full house and he took his assigned seat by the window. But now sitting here, remembering that conversation, his mood darkened again. How dare that bitch come on to him? And keep coming on to him? He truly hoped there was nothing between the two of them and Ryan really was only a friend, as she put it, because he deserved better. Jansen should be happy he wouldn't end up breaking his self imposed policy of never disrupting a couple. It looked like Ryan was indeed free of Cheyenne. But he was beginning to believe Cheyenne was someone who chose to use hearts as stepping stones without an ounce of remorse and the fact Ryan had become involved with someone like that, possibly hurt by someone like that, really pissed him off.
Instead of working at trying to rid his mind of Ryan Madison, Jansen decided to see if indeed there might be a reason to keep him there.
Taking another sip from his drink, he thought about the fact he never did this; he never waited for anyone. He should simply retire to the back bar, have a waiter bring his meal to him, and forget all about Ryan. He still had a ton of work to do. Just because he was aboard the Superior Jewel for a few hours did not mean he could be lazy. It didn't matter that a man he had been obsessing over for the past two months, a man he had no way of finding until tonight, suddenly showed up on board either.
Just as he was about to rise from his chair to leave, he saw them. Her red, hourglass figure nearly glowed at the door. Her shiny black, cascading waves fell around her shoulders in perfect submission. She wore model makeup and those nails. If he looked around the room at that very moment, he knew he would find at least half the men staring with mouths open and half the women staring with abject jealously at what now stood in the doorway.
No question, Ms Cheyenne Christy studied the art of attraction and played her part well. But her manner was also practiced and cunning, as he watched her scan the crowd, looking for him. He knew firsthand she wasn't someone who gave up easily. When she caught his gaze, she had the talent to actually blush when she shyly looked away. He supposed she intended for him to think of it as innocent eye contact. He knew better and once again he found himself becoming irritated that she was on the prowl even on the arm of her date—'just a friend' or not. He was actually quite surprised at how angry he was at the moment, as if by being so it could somehow right the wrong this woman seemed intent on committing. Even if he were into women, this one he would avoid and have a brilliant time doing it. He had done it before when confronted with obnoxious, self-absorbed, money hungry women. He would pick out of the crowd the dowdiest looking wallflower he could find and flaunt his attention on her rather than on someone like this seemingly shrewd, calculating bitch. What that true innocent was doing with her, he didn't know but he fully intended to find out. Of course, innocents usually did end up in the arms of those who took advantage of them.
The young man needed rescuing again.
For the first time in his life, he decided to step into what he originally believed to be an established relationship. Whatever it was between them, he intended to take Ryan away from it. He huffed. Stealing the man would not be the challenge. The real challenge would come when he finally had the younger, smaller man alone with him in his bedroom.
But he was totally up for it. Literally and figuratively.

* * * *

"Come on, Cheyenne. Please? This table is fine." Ryan tried to whisper the words, incredibly embarrassed the waiter stood right behind him with a frown, basically tapping his foot. He had not had the time or the courage to look and find Jansen Branwyth. All he knew was Jansen did not grace any of the tables closest to this one and so this was the best table in the house as far as he was concerned.

"No! I want one closer to the windows." She huffed, basically stomping her stiletto and pointing further into the large space.

"But, Cheyenne, you've made it clear you don't even like Lake Superior. Why do you suddenly have to sit near a window?" As Ryan looked in the direction she had been pointing, his stomach turned. Shit. There he fucking sat—at a table totally alone and watching them. Well, watching Cheyenne, which had to be the reason she wanted to sit 'over there'. Could this night get any worse?

"I am sorry, madame"—the waiter's nose went up along with the side of his lip—"but this is the table assigned to you and your guest. Please accept my sincere apologies if this table is not to your expectations."

"No," Ryan pleaded. "This table is fine. Thank you." He turned again to Cheyenne. "Please, Cheyenne. Let's just get through this night, okay?" He took the chair the waiter held for her and told her with his eyes to sit down.

She stood for a moment glaring at him then walked to a chair on the other side of the table, most likely so she would face toward Jansen. She waited for Ryan to come around to seat her. Ryan let out a breath, simply grateful she gave in. Besides, better she face Jansen, because he sure as hell did not want to. His stomach was still doing little flips every time he thought about the man and what he'd said. He walked over to the chair and pulled it out for her. She slowly and artfully sat down, pulling on her too tight dress and making a show of placing the napkin in her lap. She looked up at Ryan with murder in her eyes. "Fine," she said under her breath, "but you owe me."

Ryan gave her a smile, knowing it came out more like a grimace. He made his way to the chair he had held for her originally, sat down, and looked up at the waiter. "Scotch and soda—easy on the soda—please?"

The waiter smiled a warm smile at Ryan. "Of course, sir." Then he turned toward Cheyenne, the smile disappearing and turning back into a frown. "And for the madame?"

Cheyenne shot the waiter a glare. "Don't call me that! Bring me a Cosmo."
Ryan touched the waiter's arm when he turned back to Ryan. "Thank you."
Once again the waiter smiled. "Please, sir, call me Alfred." He bowed slightly and left.
"What now, Ryan? You flirting with the wait staff?" She laughed.
Ryan blushed hard yet again. Crap. He knew she had no clue how close to the truth she had come but it still made him dizzy. His drink could not get here soon enough. He had tossed back only that one before he ran back to the dining room doors to meet Cheyenne. Of course she wasn't there, no big surprise. He finally found her on the other side of the boat. "What are you doing?" he had asked her. "Why didn't you meet me at the dining room doors? We're going to be late."
She had sniffed, obviously angry for some reason but a reason she didn't seem to think Ryan needed to know. She pasted on her dazzling 'Cheyenne smile', put her arm through Ryan's, and tugged him in the direction of the dining room.
"I was just chatting with Jansen. He is such a flirt. It's a good thing you and I aren't together any longer because you would have been livid. He asked me to accompany him to the dining room but I told him I was going to sit with you. However, we will be getting together later for a drink and… well, whatever should follow, I guess." She giggled. "He is just such a charming man."
So he was charming to her too? Flirting with her too? Asshole! He asked her to sit with him then he asked her on a date? Damn it. Why did it hurt so badly? It felt like a fucking heart attack. Of course he would pick the girl. Even if Jansen were bisexual, he would pick the girl.
I am nowhere near bombed enough for this night.
Cheyenne leaned over the table with a look of pure disgust. "No kidding? Are you seriously flirting with that waiter?"
"No, but I really do wish you would stop drooling all over Mr Branwyth."
"Really, Ryan?" She leaned back again, digging into her small pocket purse for her lip gloss. "Are you jealous? It's so not like you." She quickly reapplied her gloss then took out a small mirror, checking on her hair and whatever else. Why did women think primping at a dinner table was ever appropriate?
Suddenly two hands appeared on the table on either side of Ryan and a very hot presence leaned over his head. He could feel the heat of the tall body through the fabric of both his shirt and jacket and even before the man spoke, he knew who crowded into his personal space. "Who is drooling all over me? This beautiful young lady… or this intriguing young man?" The last part Jansen said once again directly into Ryan's ear when the man leaned over farther yet, making Ryan's heart skip several beats and his cooled off member jump back to attention.
"Jansen!" Cheyenne probably would have clapped her hands if they had been free. She quickly threw her mirror back into her clutch. "How lovely to see you again so soon." Ryan watched wide-eyed when Cheyenne all but batted her eyes at the guy. Could she be more obvious? Of course, Cheyenne believed in beating the hell out of the bush as opposed to anywhere around it. Subtle as a jackhammer, she went full out after everything she ever wanted. At one point she had wanted Ryan. Now it seemed increasingly clear she wanted Jansen.
Shit.
It seemed increasingly clear he probably did as well.
What a fucking turn of events.
"Excuse me?" Ryan recognized the icy tone of the waiter who had returned, hopefully with alcohol. Jansen hesitated but removed himself from behind Ryan's chair and stepped to the side. The waiter set a very full drink in front of Ryan. Ryan watched as one eyebrow went up on Jansen's face. The waiter frowned at Jansen then set Cheyenne's Cosmo down in front of her a little harder than necessary. The waiter's smile returned when he looked to Ryan again. "Is there anything else I can do for you prior to your first course?"
Oh hell. Was this night really only just beginning? Who the fuck's idea was it to make this date an inescapable nightmare? Oh wait. That's right. Mine. "No. Nothing. Thank you." He thought to once again reach out and touch the sleeve of the waiter but after Cheyenne's sharp words, he held back.
"Jansen, is it possible you are dining alone?" Cheyenne could hardly contain herself. Ryan could no longer stand to watch. He picked up his glass.
"Actually, sadly, I am, Ms Christy."
Oh crap. Ryan wished the guy would just shut off the fucking sexy voice. Ryan's pants were becoming slightly uncomfortable.
"Please, call me Cheyenne."
Funny, Ryan thought. Her voice sounded awfully strained. He wondered briefly what was wrong but he refused to look at her. He raised the glass carefully to his lips. He didn't want to spill a drop.
Cheyenne continued. "Would you like to join us?"
Ryan sucked scotch right into his lungs and dissolved into a fit of coughing, complete with tears.
By the time he got himself under control, a new place setting had already appeared at their table, along with another chair in which Jansen now sat. "You don't mind, Ryan, do you? No one should eat alone." Cheyenne's tone sounded pouty but well pleased.
Jansen seemed pretty proud of himself as well. "Are you all right? I had the bartender upgrade your drink—a bottle I brought on board from my own private collection. I probably should have warned you. I guess I assumed you would sip, not guzzle." He chuckled.
Still wiping tears away Ryan looked up at Jansen's smirk. Damn this guy. He obviously flirts with anything that moves. It's probably why the waiter was upset because he was quite sure the Jansen so called charms were working that end of the ship as well. And now he had the audacity to turn it back on him? "That was not the reason I choked, Mr Branwyth. Thank you, but I never asked you to upgrade my drink." Ryan's face felt on fire.
"Please, call me Jansen and I know you didn't ask for the upgrade." Jansen seemed to purr. "But I wanted you to have the best this ship can offer." He leaned forward, closer. "Like I said, this is from my private collection, not available at the bar. Have you ever had eighteen-year-old Glenlivet?"
Eighteen-year-old scotch? Fuck. "No, but—"
"Oh, Jansen! Thank you for your amazing kindness! What did you give me?" Cheyenne had reached out and taken hold of Jansen's arm. He couldn't help but turn to her. Ryan watched as Cheyenne leaned close while she swirled her finger in her drink. Then she brought her finger to her mouth and proceeded to suck on it with her eyes closed. "Mmmmm. Tastes absolutely fantastic." She slowly pulled her finger out then slipped it back in. Again she opened her mouth so they could both watch her wrap her tongue around it, as she continued to moan. Ryan felt himself becoming embarrassed for her sake. What the hell is she doing?
Did he really need to ask that? She was trying to seduce Jansen. But having glimpsed the real Cheyenne, this little act was stomach-turning at best. How could someone so beautiful be so repulsive? Crap. He couldn't take this anymore. He needed to escape from this mess.
"Actually, Ms Christy, I know little to nothing about vodka. You have the bar pour… whatever that is."
Could it be the man had not been affected by that little act? Even so, it was almost worth having witnessed it to see the look of complete and total shock on Cheyenne's face. But that look quickly morphed back to seductive after a brief pass through what Ryan would have guessed was anger. Ryan knew the big guns were going to come out now. When Cheyenne had something—or someone—in her sights, she was relentless. He almost felt sorry for Jansen. "I… I see. Well, I could teach you what you don't know." She moved her hand to Jansen's palm and began using a finger there as well, tracing little circles in a very slow motion. "I'm quite good at teaching things. In fact, I'm very good at many things…"
Ryan startled when Jansen jolted back in his chair. He sat wide-eyed when Jansen's face turned ashen in color then his eyes narrowed at Cheyenne. "I have no doubt you are." He pulled his hand from her touch and turned back to Ryan, as if he were waiting for Ryan to chime in on this stupid conversation.
Ryan just stared at him, not knowing at all what to say. Then suddenly he remembered Jansen asked him a question. "No, I haven't had eighteen-year-old scotch ever. I'm sorry, Mr Branwyth. I mean Jansen. I didn't mean to be rude. Thank you. This was very kind of you."
"Not at all and you don't have to thank me. I wanted to do something nice for you and I was happy to see you like scotch. I knew you would like this." Ryan realized Jansen was looking at him with a heated stare that did far more for him than Cheyenne's seductive play with her fingers ever could have. But it seemed Jansen flirted with everyone and he could not allow himself to be taken in anymore—not by him or Cheyenne. Besides, with someone like Cheyenne about to pounce on you, no red blooded man could resist or would be allowed to escape. He certainly hadn't. Her relentlessness wore people down and she always ended up with what she wanted mostly because people gave in, including him. It was the reason he was here in the first place. He saw all of that now. How utterly fooled he had been. And even though he felt nothing in losing Cheyenne, he was almost sick at not having a chance with Jansen. Shit! Ryan closed his eyes for a moment, reining in his emotions. His mind may get it all now but his cock refused to give up. It seemed to think it was used to this man's touch after nearly two months of pretending. He couldn't stay at this table, however to leave he would have to stand up but standing would show things he did not feel comfortable revealing. However if he sat here, he wasn't sure what he would do, but fighting for Cheyenne definitely was not a possibility.
He opened his eyes, being careful not to look at Jansen. "I am sorry, Jansen, Cheyenne, but I need some fresh air. Please continue your dinner without me because I think I will excuse myself for the duration of the meal." He rose shakily to his feet, fully aware of the only slight, but still very noticeable, bulge in his khakis. He watched in horror as Jansen's eyes traveled down his body, stopping right at the swelling. The insufferable smirk came back and his eyes remained riveted. Fuck. To top it off, his traitorous cock jumped. No way could Jansen have missed that little show. He had to leave. "Please don't mind me. Have a great meal." He picked up his drink and left the table.

CHAPTER FOUR

Jansen watched Ryan walk away, very much liking the round ass flexing when he walked. He loved the fact he planned to soon be seeing those mounds naked, quivering under his ministrations. It seemed Mr Madison might be ripe for the picking, seeing he had quite the hard-on when he scrambled to vacate the table. Having your girlfriend basically fall into the lap of another man would certainly not have that kind of an effect. Leaving her with him wouldn't either but it was clear he was hurting. Was he not over her and seeing her do this was tearing him apart? He was glad at least that his being here allowed Ryan to leave the table. He wouldn't have otherwise. He turned back to Cheyenne and huffed at the fact she had no care whatsoever for the amazing creature she just let slip from her life. He could hardly have any respect at all for someone who did not appreciate the perfection that had just walked away from this table, or for someone who could wound another so easily without so much as a backward glance. And then having had her hand rub up and down his thigh after everything he had done to discourage her advances simply went beyond arrogance and bordered on sick obsession. She was a fool. It was a moment or two before he could fully come back to the fact the woman had been talking to him.

"So what do you think? Is it possible?" With her last sentence she had reached out yet again and was running a perfectly manicured finger up and down the skin on his arm. He slowly pulled his arm away.

"I apologize, Ms Christy, but I am afraid you will have to repeat what you just said."
She almost breathed frustration but caught herself in time. Little tiny, shiny beads of sweat popped out on her forehead. "Please call me Cheyenne. I said, or rather I asked, if you thought there would be room for me under your wing at Branwyth Designs. My calling and passion is graphic arts and I know I'm talented. I could show you my talent if you like… my portfolio, preferably in private, if you know what I mean. I promise I will not disappoint you."
Of course he knew what she meant. She had reached further now, still trying her damnedest to look and act sexy. He hadn't been sure about how to proceed but with this little performance he figured there was little he could do at the moment. He leaned forward. "Ms Christy, I am always interested in talented people. I am also impressed with your persistence. Not happy with it but definitely impressed." He saw her flinch. "Call my office next week. I'll have someone take a look at your portfolio and we can go from there." He leaned back and downed the rest of his drink. He wanted to leave the table himself but he was a gentleman and there was no way he would leave a woman to fend for herself, no matter if she were a lady or not. Although he was sure Cheyenne Christy 'fended for herself' quite well. If they weren't on a boat, he would call a taxi and send her home but that wasn't an option right now either. "Now, no more talk of business. I'm going to go and refresh my drink. Go ahead and start without me." He was about to rise when Cheyenne spoke up. He didn't miss the calculated look on her face.
"I'm going to visit the ladies room. Get me another Cosmo. I'll be right back."
Jansen smirked at the fact she had commanded him to perform for her and expected to be obeyed when she deposited her napkin onto the table and made a show of walking away. She also actually thought he was watching her ass swinging. But even though others in the room might be, he was not. The sight of her was actually starting to make him ill. So instead he began to make preparations in his mind as he made his way to the bar. He would have to watch it though. It would not do to drink too much. He wanted his full faculties later on. Alcohol tended to dull senses he wanted to have sharp tonight.
* * * *

Ryan had finished his drink pretty much immediately upon exiting the dining room and was contemplating going for another. He should have tried harder to savor the taste of this one because he would never have the opportunity to taste eighteen-year-old scotch again. He now leaned out over the same railing where he had seen Jansen when he first boarded the boat. He had to admit thinking about the man for the last two months had really fucked him up. He thought it had been a harmless exploration, a simple fantasy. But now… shit. How could he be obsessing at all, much less be obsessing about a man? And he was so hard because of this obsession he fucking hurt. If he let his imagination go where it wanted to go, he would come right in his pants without even touching himself.

Oh, but he didn't want to touch himself. He wanted Jansen to. In fact, all that crowded into his mind at the moment was Jansen's lips and how they would feel wrapped around him, sucking him in, swallowing him down… Even if the man simply unzipped his fly, pulled his rock hard cock out, and rubbed him a few times, it would be all he could take anyway. Jansen would never get his hot mouth anywhere near Ryan's cock before he would shoot a fucking mile.

He wished like hell this night could be over—not only because he was done with Cheyenne—completely done with Cheyenne—but he also honestly needed relief from this pain. Even though he could be somewhat discreet in one of the bathrooms, he did not think the damn thing would go down even if he jacked himself off, not with as hot as he was feeling right now. It might take the rest of the weekend in fact before he was able to walk totally upright again.

"Ryan?"

Ryan jerked around at the sound of Cheyenne's voice. What was she doing here? Was she here to apologize or just to gloat? Was she going to try to suck him back in too? One guy just wasn't enough? He laughed to himself. Well, it was no longer up to her anyway. He had had enough of not only her, but of dating women, apparently. He turned around, trying to affect the same pose Jansen had earlier. He failed miserably. "So, you getting together with Jansen?"

"Of course. He's also invited me to come to his office next week." She was silent for a moment and Ryan turned his head to look at her.

"What?"

She cocked her head to the side and narrowed her eyes. "You just seem… I don't know, weird tonight. I came out to make sure you were okay."

"Really? That's big of you." He looked away. Maybe if he ignored her, she would go away.
Of course, she didn't. "You're upset I'm with Jansen."
It was a statement, not a question. He turned his head to look at her again. "I suppose wanting to be with Jansen can't be helped. He's… he's pretty amazing…" Shit! Did a guy have the right to say that about another guy? Probably not. Kick, kick, kick.
She gave him an odd look. "Yeah, pretty amazing. So, what are you going to do?"
Ryan laughed as he thought about his very immediate need and how completely insane it would be if he truthfully told her 'what he was going to do'. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine." Or at least he would be when he finally had some privacy. He turned back to the rail, hiding his still-eager body part. "This thing between us has been over for a while anyway. I can't blame you for going after him." Is that something I should even be saying?
Shit. He was so fucking jealous. He hurt over the fact she was going to get Jansen and he… he wouldn't. "I… wish you luck."
"Oh. Okay. I just… want you to be sure it's what you want."
There was something strange in her tone and even though he noticed it, he chose to ignore it. "Cheyenne, does it even matter what I want?" Even though Jansen seemed 'interested' in Ryan, there was no way he could be, not with Cheyenne around. He even realized he had wanted Jansen to have been the one to come after him after he left the table, pleading for him to leave Cheyenne to be with him. But that kind of thing, the guy chasing after the guy, didn't even happen in the movies, much less real life.
"Well, it does matter what you want. At least it does to me because I have this very funny feeling you want Jansen. At first I was thinking you were jealous of another man flirting with me, someone aggressively showing that kind of interest. But now I think that may not be the truth. Is it?"
Ryan stared at her with wide eyes. If he had been smart, he would have stayed emotionless because emotions were something Cheyenne could work with, either for your good or your detriment. Ryan was pretty sure she didn't want anything good for him right now. "What the hell are you talking about? I'm not gay…"
"I didn't say you were gay. I said you were hooked on Jansen. Well, you can't have him because he belongs to me. So stay away from him and I won't tell him the sick thoughts you have been having about him. Believe me, if he finds out, he'll have the shit kicked out of you."
If Ryan's eyes could have opened wider, they would have. "What… what do you mean, the sick thoughts I've been having?" Fuck. Did she know?
She smiled then—an evil smile. "I will simply tell him how you jack off to his picture you took out of Light and Flash magazine and how you say all this dirty stuff about what you want to do to him. I'll tell him you stalk him on the internet, Facebook, and Twitter and how you know every little detail of when he leaves for work in the morning from his penthouse downtown to when he goes home at night. Don't mess with me, Ryan—and don't mess with him. Because that's what I will tell him."
Man! Ryan sure as hell did not have a clue how to tell the personality of people. It wasn't like he had a ton of friends either who could have warned him off of her. How could he have been so taken in by the sweet and innocent act he had been seeing all this time? She was a demon. And she would do what she said, truth or not. "You mean, Cheyenne, that's what you do, isn't it? You're the one stalking the poor guy, aren't you? I honestly should let you tell him so he can see what a wacko you really are." Jansen seemed to be a powerful man. He knew nothing about him at all but he seemed to be wealthy at least and wealthy people tended to be rather closed minded. He had no idea how Jansen would react even if he swore to the man everything she just said was a lie.
Well, not totally a lie. Most of it wasn't true—yet.
He had no choice. "I promise to stay away from you and Jansen."
He watched her eyebrow go up. She was also back to clicking that stiletto on the deck, making a tap, tap, tapping sound.
"One question, Cheyenne. What did you tell him about us? I mean, you and I both know this thing between us was over and suddenly I am very happy about that, but I would like to know what it is you told him." Maybe if he learned Jansen was an asshole who would horn in on someone else's relationship he would be able to get over the guy.
Cheyenne smiled again. "That we were just friends." She laughed then as well. "I think I still have to do some convincing though. He was quite cold to me at first, thinking we were a couple. But now, clean slate." She winked.
Wow. A man with scruples. Shit, that wasn't going to help. "Well, you sure as hell weren't that honest with me. Don't worry, I feel sorry for Jansen, not myself. Oh wait! Did I just mistake you for human? Sorry. Please forgive me."
"Oh, get over yourself, Ryan! Go get a date with that waiter for all I care! He sure seems to have the hots for you! It's sick the way you turn men's heads just as much as you turn women's! I'm thrilled I no longer have to think about competing with you."
"Competing? Are you serious? Why would you think you were competing if you were with me in the first place? You mean to tell me the whole time you and I were even going out you were already looking for your next victim?"
"I sure as hell started to the second I realized you weren't going back to law school. To think, all the time I invested in you and you simply walk away. You had a future, Ryan. Now you have nothing. You make me so damn angry. The hell of it is, I really did like you! We had something special and you fucked it up!"
Ryan shook his head. "You really are a piece of work, Cheyenne." God, I need another drink. "You know, I'm glad this happened. I like this 'clean slate' thing. Good. So I take it I don't have to wait for you when we dock? Hold on. Let me put it this way. Have a good life, Cheyenne. See ya." Oh crap, he shouldn't be stalking off like some spoiled brat but he couldn't help it. Besides, where the hell was he even going to go? The other side of a boat that was far too small now? Great plan. Damn it! Where's the fucking bar?

Ryan found the bar and he decided since he needed to drive, he had to slow down on the alcohol. He basically nursed another scotch—inexpensive scotch—and soda. As it was, he probably was still going to have to call a taxi and come back tomorrow for the car. But paying overnight rates in the parking lot of the marina was not something he looked forward to either. Alfred brought him a plate of incredible food, including a huge slice of cheesecake. He smiled when Alfred showed up and put the plate down in front of him. The waiter blushed and said since it was already paid for, there was no reason he shouldn't taste the chef's talent.

The waiter also slipped him his cell number, quickly squeezing Ryan's thigh before running off, back to the dining room. Shit. Seemed Cheyenne was right. The guy had been hitting on him.

As soon as he left, the bartender told him the plate had actually been sent out by Jansen himself. He even gave up his own piece of cheesecake to make sure Ryan's 'sweet tooth' was satisfied. Ryan wasn't sure how to take that. It seemed odd for him to give the sweet cake to Ryan and not to Cheyenne, especially after his little gets them in the mood comment. But he supposed it was the consolation prize. It didn't matter. The fact it came from Jansen and Cheyenne wasn't going to get it made the creamy dessert that much sweeter to eat.

And competing with her? When the fuck did that start? Sure, they seemed to always be surrounded by any number of men at any given time whenever they went out, but he had always thought it due to Cheyenne's allure, not his. But now, as he thought about it, some of those men had maybe gotten a little too close, had maybe been a little too touchy. Ryan had passed it off as a guy thing. He had learned to do it himself, reach out and touch. It was totally innocent on his part. Maybe it hadn't been for some of those others.

None of it mattered anyway. When it really counted, he had lost out on the so called competition even before he realized it had started. He would call foul but the game was already over. He lost. This crappy feeling wasn't because Cheyenne threatened him either. It was strictly due to the fact Jansen was going to be leaving the boat with someone who wasn't him. As messed up as that would have been to him not three months ago this moment of selfrealization slapped him hard. His heart was truly breaking for something he had never even had the chance to experience.

* * * *

When Cheyenne arrived back to the table with a self-satisfied smile, Jansen knew she had probably done something nasty. She slid into the padded chair with a practiced ease no doubt to show off her ability to bend. If he were truly interested, it had been a teasing taste of one, or perhaps two, of her more appealing assets. He smirked at her arrogance. She thought she had him all wrapped up. But he had other prey on his mind—a more elusive animal. "So, where did you go?"

She winked at him. "I went to talk with Ryan. It might be presumptuous on my part but I wanted to let him know he didn't have to wait for me when we dock." She reached out to rub her hand on his arm. "I hesitate to tell you…" She looked up at him with worry in her eyes. Jansen couldn't help but admire her talent at being able to pull up all of these emotions at will. "It's just that…" She looked down at her hand on his arm and gripped it harder as if she were going through some emotional turmoil. "If I had only known…"

Jansen sighed. "Known what, Ms Christy?" Her face came up and there was fire in her eyes. "I've told you time and again, Jansen, call me Cheyenne!"

There . The first serious crack in her composure. It wouldn't take a whole lot more and her true nature was going to be showing itself. He raised an eyebrow. The fire was instantly gone and replaced with a pout as her bottom lip came out.

"I'm… I'm sorry. I'm just… just upset! To answer your question… well, there's just no other way to put it. Ryan's gay and here's the part that… that… oh, I just know you're going to be upset. Believe me, I was—shocked even!"

"Out with it, woman."

Her eyes went big for a millisecond then her chin went up. "He's after you. I can't believe some of the things he's told me he's done. He heard someone from your firm was going to be on board, which is the reason we're even here. But don't worry. I told him to stay away from us or you would have him beaten to a pulp." She shook her head and shoulders in a fake shudder. "I can't believe I didn't know that about him. He's sick."

The twist Jansen felt in his stomach took him by surprise. Could he be all that upset over the fact this bitch may have just wounded his prey? He couldn't quite keep the anger from his voice. "What did you say to him?"

She flinched slightly at his tone but recovered quickly. "Well, just that. He's a sick man and I told him to stay away from the both of us. Not to talk to us or try to approach us ever again." She took a long, what she must have thought of as sexy, sip from her Cosmo, running a red-nailed hand lightly down the front of her throat until it reached her ample cleavage where Jansen realized she had expertly drawn even his eye—again.

Damn this bitch! She was something. He had to hand it to her. But the only thing it changed was the actual capture might be a little more involved. He now had to clean up the possibility his quarry might very well think his sights were on the woman. Ryan might try harder to escape when escape became possible. He glanced at his Rolex. He had time. He would let Ryan wander the ship, thinking he was alone and off radar. But when the time came, Jansen would make it abundantly clear he would never allow escape. And in the meantime it didn't hurt to make sure he was well fed. Jansen had a feeling his cute little target also had a sweet tooth.

But he had this nagging need now. He actually wanted to run out to the deck, find Ryan, and wrap his arms around him, protecting him from the likes of this witch sitting next to him doing her best to make him hard with the way she was eating a cherry tomato. He had never been so not turned on.

The feeling of wanting to protect someone was very new for him. Could it be in a couple of short meetings with this man, he had become enamored with Ryan? In all of his nearly forty years on this planet, was it possible he had finally met someone he was interested in for more than a conquest and a quick slam?

If it were the case, then he had to make doubly sure he did not allow Ryan to escape. Ever.
"So, Ms Christy, I take it you have a problem with gay people?" Again, he did not do much to mask his anger.
"Well, no. I… it's just… I don't want to date one."
"I see. So since Ryan is gay, according to you, you won't try to date him anymore?"
"Of course not."
"Good to know. Let's eat, shall we? This steak looks amazing." He went to work silently on his meal. He wished he could have been sharing it with Ryan, asking him what he thought of the absolute tenderness of the cut, the flavor of the reduction, the aroma of the mixed spices. It was something he was quite sure someone like Cheyenne could never appreciate but he supposed he was being a little unfair in that assumption. However, he was caring less and less about what it was Cheyenne Christy thought about anything.
* * * *

The end of the cruise could not come soon enough for Ryan. He had spent the rest of the evening chatting away with the bartender but when the dinner guests started to come out onto the deck to watch the ship navigate back to the darkening shoreline, Ryan decided it was the last place he wanted to be. He had unfortunately finished his last drink and even with eating the inspired meal Jansen had so thoughtfully provided, he was not going to be able to drive legally—just one more reason to be thankful the charade of his relationship with Cheyenne was over. He would not have to listen to her tirade of him being so immature as to think he could not drink and drive. She did it all the time, mainly because she truly hated taking taxis. She would ask if he really thought he would be caught. It never mattered to her 'being caught' was not the reason he chose to be safe. His own life came in number two or even three against that of the person in the car with him or the possibility of taking out some unsuspecting person out there with his stupidity if he drove under the influence. It truly had nothing at all to do with being caught. If he ever drank so much he ended up not making the right decision and got behind the wheel, he hoped and prayed he would be caught before he made some mother or child cry at a bedside or worse yet, a graveside. No, he did not want that kind of responsibility.

He also did not want to see Jansen being all lovey with Cheyenne. He let the loop play in his head of the two of them kissing, giggling, and touching. It had been similar at first for them too, although in retrospect Ryan did have to admit he followed Cheyenne's lead. He mimicked what she did at the time, thinking it had to be her desire for him to do those things when in all reality he was maybe just not that into her—'her' now, being the operative word. Because touching and kissing was all he wanted to do with Jansen. He almost ached with the need.

So he kept up a race going from starboard to port, and bow to stern, making sure he simply kept moving. He avoided eye contact with most people but ended up having to acknowledge a few. He smiled and laughed appropriately but always kept his feet moving. He never spotted them which was good… sort of. He truly became torn between wanting one last glimpse before he never saw the man again and simply forcing himself to forget he ever met him. He even went as far as to look at other male candidates, including Alfred, to see if he could as easily forget about Jansen since it seemed both he and Cheyenne could forget about him. But even as he battled with those thoughts, it was simply a way to allow tomorrow to come. He would permit himself to be lulled into this false state of complacency, however only until he was alone behind his apartment door, in the privacy of his own bedroom, with lights off.

He would finally let his heart truly break.
It looked like this time he would have to rescue himself because it would be a while before he would get over this night.
Or Jansen Branwyth.

CHAPTER FIVE

He spotted Ryan a few times, darting around like a lost child. Jansen's heart went out to him. He in truth wondered if Ryan was upset about losing Cheyenne or if he was simply trying hard to do what he had been told to do. It was an interesting thought, submission to someone else's commands—a thought that he would definitely need to explore later. The other thing that was clear was he simply didn't do this, thinking so much about a partner, even a future one. Ryan, however, seemed to be different. With Ryan, it seemed to matter to him what his conquest thought and felt a lot more than it had in the past. And in fact, when he even thought the word 'conquest', it seemed more now like an insult, offensive even. Normally it excited him to use such adjectives with the men he went after.

When did something like that start bothering me?

Actually, he knew exactly when it started. Less than two months ago.
He smirked as he once again saw the young man round the far corner of the deck. Jansen stepped back, pulling a very chatty Cheyenne with him. Because Ryan was trying his damnedest to comply with Cheyenne's dictate and stay out of sight, Jansen would do what he could to help. His stomach did another little twist. No… it wasn't his stomach. It was his heart. Wow. So this is what it felt like to fall. Ha! Not so bad.
"What are you smiling about?" Cheyenne purred, leaning into him, mistaking his pulling her into the shadows as a ploy to have more body contact.
He looked down at her and thought about all the people she had to have hurt on her hurried, careless climb to find to a man she thought worthy of her. But karma had a way of showing up when one least expected. He planned on helping karma along tonight. "Oh, just having some fun little thoughts, is all."
She giggled and pulled closer. "Well, I do hope they are about me because I am having some very wicked thoughts about you."
He chuckled. Oh indeed, at least some of the thoughts are about you, Cheyenne.

The Superior Jewel finally docked and the guests laughed their way onto the wide wooden platform, heading out through the building housing the ticket office and some higher end shops and on toward valet parking. Jansen held Cheyenne back, as he watched the guests disembark. He would only leave once he had clear sight of Ryan. He would be cutting it close but it was better to do it this way, he decided, than to try to spot him later. He didn't want to take the chance of missing him. Then he saw him talking with that waiter again. There was another little twist in his heart. However, this time the feeling seemed very different. This was what jealousy felt like? Odd. Not pleasant like the possessiveness he felt earlier when contemplating the many ways to make Cheyenne suffer for hurting his Ryan. His? Plus he no longer considered the young man prey, either. Interesting.

Prey or not, he would not escape.
He led Cheyenne off, knowing now Ryan would probably wait until everyone was gone and they were pretty close to the final guests leaving. "Come, Ms Christy. I need to hail a cab."
"Cab! You mean to tell me you don't have a car? Something you will need to know, Jansen, I hate cabs. And what in the world were we waiting for anyway?"
The cracks in her smooth façade were snapping and opening wider. "I have my reasons, Ms Christy. Hush now."
"Fuck! How many times do I have to tell you? Call me Cheyenne!"
"No, Ms Christy. I will not." He pulled her along to the end of the dock and quickly through the posh building. He was now on a mission. His cock knew it too, becoming hard all on its own with only random thoughts of the young man he hoped to have under him soon.
They came out to Valet and he had the attendant motion for a cab.
"I can't believe you didn't bring a car! I fucking hate cabs!"
"Please watch your language, Ms Christy. It seems especially foul coming from your mouth."
She looked back at him, shocked he had corrected her in such an offhanded way. For the first time he thought her arrogance slipped a bit. She suddenly seemed less confident. When the cab pulled up, Jansen opened the door for Cheyenne and she smiled shyly as she slid in, making room for him to come in beside her. But he closed the door and leaned in the passenger side of the front and handed the cab driver a few bills. "Take her where she needs to go."
"What?" she screamed. "What are you doing? You're not coming with me? I thought… I thought…" Cheyenne was almost spitting; she was so angry.
"Well, honey, you thought wrong. You were never my target. If you had paid attention at all tonight, you would have known that. But you let your arrogance get in the way and decided to do things your way, never listening to a word anyone else, including me, had to say. Normally I do not make it a practice to announce who I intend to seduce but in your case, I think I will. Ryan was my target all along. He's the one I want. Really want. And I plan on keeping him safe, tied up, and locked away from bitches like you. I also plan on smothering him in every conceivable joy I can find and spoiling him until he can't live without me. So, to mirror what you told him—stay away from us. Stay away from him. You don't deserve him."
"So you're a filthy… you're one of them too? I spent the evening with two of them? I can't believe—" Jansen waved the cab on without listening to the rest of her tirade and it pulled away. He had tossed another twenty in the front seat as incentive for the driver to hurry. He relished the screams of frustration he heard as the car sped up on its way out of the marina parking lot.
"Did you mean that?"
Jansen swung around to face Ryan and suddenly his heart was racing. Damn but this man was something to see. He could not for the life of him understand the way things happen in a life. Yes, Cheyenne did not deserve him but he had done nothing grand or wonderful to deserve this creature either. Now since he knew he needed to, he would work on it. "Mean what?"
"That you"—he blushed adorably and Jansen's cock came to rapt attention—"you wanted me? I was your target?"
Jansen walked toward Ryan. Not fast. He didn't want to scare him. The chase had just begun, so he needed to be steady and slow. "Yes, I did."
Ryan took one small step back as Jansen continued to close the distance. "Why? Why me?"
"Why you?" He had reached him, could touch him. Instead he simply got up into his personal space again, standing so close in front of him Ryan would have to take two steps back in order to be at a comfortable place. Ryan didn't move. He stood his ground. Bravo, little one. "Because my heart decided you were the one."
The young man's eyes went huge. Hell, Jansen's heart actually jumped too with his sudden declaration. "I… I'm the one? What… what do you mean?"
Jansen reached an arm around Ryan's thin waist and pulled his groin up against his own. Fuck, but that felt good. He ground into him just to show what the night ahead held. "Let's discuss it in private, shall we? Will you come to my place with me, let me show you what I mean?"
"Are you really going to… tie me up?"
The flush on Ryan's face deepened and suddenly the tightness of Jansen's pants became almost unbearable. "Mmmm. I might. Scared?"
"No," Ryan whispered.
Oh fuck. He was going to blow like a teenager.
He grabbed Ryan's hand and pulled him toward the attendant, tossed him his marker, and told him to hurry. There would be a large tip in it for him if he got his BMW back here in four minutes. He got it back in two. Jansen gave him a fifty when he shoved Ryan inside. "Wait! What about my car?"
Through the still-open door, Jansen asked, "What is it?"
"It's a Chevy Blazer. Blue." He held up his marker.
The attendant came forward. "No problem, sir. We'll keep a close watch over it. See you tomorrow?"
Jansen nodded his head, slammed the door shut, and raced to other side of the car. His place was a good fifteen minutes all the way downtown. He wasn't sure he was going to be able to make it that far.

* * * *

Jansen fell in, snapped his seat belt, and started the car, nearly all in one motion. Ryan paled at the speed the man now moved. He looked down at the bulge in the man's pants and just as quickly looked away, his face suddenly burning. Then, unexpectedly a large hand landed on his thigh and squeezed. He turned to Jansen.

"I have to warn you, I have not been this turned on in a long time. I plan on really messing you up tonight." He cupped Ryan's growing bulge.

Ryan let out a yelp and grabbed at Jansen's hand but the man held firm, kneading and sliding his hand even farther down between Ryan's legs. Ryan had no choice but to spread them wider.

"Oh yes, open to me! Fuck, Ryan, I'm going to come in my pants like a kid; you get me so hot. Open your pants and slide over here so I can have a little appetizer before the feast."

"You're… driving. Is that all right?" Ryan was getting hotter by the minute too. If he did what Jansen asked, though, he would come way too soon. But the need to obey Jansen was strong.

"Of course it's all right. I'm not going to do anything. In fact, I just want to see it, that's all. Touch the tip with my fingers so I can have a taste. I plan on sucking you dry in a little bit, but for the moment, just give me a taste."

Oh shit. Suck him dry? He had never had that done. Not ever. Ryan started to undo his pants and he heard a moan from Jansen.

"Come here… slide them off your hips. Yeah, I want your bare ass so I can touch that too. Oh fuck, Ryan. You are so fucking hot."

Ryan slipped his pants down to his knees, no easy feat with a seatbelt on. He had never done anything like this in his entire life. The leather on his ass felt weird and sexy at the same time and having Jansen glancing back and forth from the road to his stiff cock sticking straight up made not coming almost impossible. Ryan took hold of his weeping member with both hands and stroked it once, spreading the pre-cum down.

"Lean closer. I need to do that."
"I think you should wait…"
"Ryan, you are such a fucking tease. You will pay

for this. Be prepared. I am going to paddle that beautiful ass of yours—you wait and see. I'm going to make it red as a tomato and then I'm going to fuck it into the sheets."

Ryan paled at such plans, knowing he shouldn't be so turned on by them but he continued to stroke. Then Jansen grabbed Ryan's closest hand and brought it to his mouth. He licked Ryan's palm hard then licked again and again. It took everything in Ryan not to come. He pulled his hand back with a whimper.

"Shit, Ryan." Jansen's voice was hoarse. "You taste great. I can't wait for you to come down my throat."
Ryan started to pant, desperately trying to regain some control but having that image in his mind was not helping. Then he realized they were pulling into an underground garage.
"Better put it away for the moment. I don't want anyone else to see my treasure."
After releasing the seatbelt Ryan pulled his pants back up and hurried to try to stuff himself back into his pants but his swollen cock would not cooperate. The car had come to a stop and Jansen had unbuckled himself by the time Ryan was going for a third attempt.
"Fuck that." Jansen leaned over and slapped Ryan's hands away. He grabbed the still-open pants, yanked them back down again then went down on Ryan's hard member, swallowing him whole. Ryan screamed he was so shocked and the sensations that rocketed through him were excruciatingly incredible. Jansen worked him hard and fast and there was no way Ryan was going to be able to hold back. He started to shoot harder than he ever thought possible. Each pulsating wave that hit him threatened to drag him under with its power. Jansen kept sucking hard, his throat working the tip. Jansen dug his fingers into Ryan's ass, kneading and flexing.
Finally Ryan's orgasm ebbed and Jansen allowed the very spent cock to fall from his mouth. He smacked his lips when he righted himself in his seat, looking very satisfied. "I knew that would be amazing." He smiled when he looked at Ryan. "You need me to carry you?"
"No," Ryan managed. He tried to pull his pants back up but his hands were too weak, still recovering from the bliss, to do it. He had never come like that, ever. Crap. He really wanted to do that again. Finally, when Jansen opened Ryan's door, he was able to pull his pants up past his hips again. Negotiating the button and zipper was not going to happen. He looked up at Jansen, as if he would have the answers.
Jansen chuckled. "Yeah, liking that look on your face right now. Like I can do anything." He leaned down snaking an arm around Ryan's back, put his lips right up next to Ryan's ear and whispered, "You haven't seen anything yet." Ryan shivered as Jansen helped him up and out and leaned him against the car. Ryan felt him fumbling with his pants but then his cock was being caressed. "This is so beautiful. I really need to get you upstairs." He simply ended up pulling Ryan's shirt out and with its length, covered Ryan's exposed manhood. Ryan marveled at the fact having Jansen near him like this, just touching him, started to fill his cock once more.
Jansen pulled him to an elevator where they rode to the eleventh floor. Keeping hold of Ryan's hand as if he thought he might try to run away, Jansen pulled him down the hallway to a set of double doors. He pulled out a key card and inserted it into the lock. In a moment they were inside. Immediately Jansen slammed Ryan up against the doors on the other side and took him into a deep kiss. Jansen's tongue forced entry into Ryan's hot mouth, exploring and claiming, fast and furious, as he started fumbling with his clothing. Ryan, just as eager to see Jansen naked, reached up to start undoing his tie and nearly had it off, when his hands were slapped away.
"No. Not yet."
Soon Ryan stood devoid of clothes, not quite sure how it happened so fast, and Jansen stepped back, pulling Ryan to the center of the room. Slowly the man circled him. Ryan tried to turn with him but Jansen told him to stand still. What the hell was he doing? Ryan felt like a horse at auction or a slave being examined. He didn't have the muscle build a lot of men did, even though he tried. His body just wasn't buff. Being under this kind of scrutiny was unnerving.
"I told you to stand still."
"What are you doing?" Ryan's voice came out strained.
"What do you think I'm doing? Admiring, anticipating, imagining, memorizing." He stopped in front of a very red-faced Ryan. "Ahhh. Yes. That's it. Exactly the way I imagined you would be when I did this."
"You imagined… this?"
"Damn right, I did. All fucking evening. But I have to tell you, from the moment I first saw you, I have built some very vivid imaginings around you."
The color on Ryan's face deepened. "What… else…"

CHAPTER SIX

Jansen marveled at the sight. It had been a long time since he had been this aroused, yes, but he had never been this moved. An overwhelming desire to envelop this man, surround him and never let go, flooded through him. He closed his eyes for a moment to gain back his control. Yes. He would allow desire to come out but only a little at a time. Again, he did not want to scare the young man who stood so expectantly, so patiently for him, so naked, in his living room. "We will have plenty of time for discussion later." His voice sounded gravely. "Right now, no words. Right now, we make love." He took Ryan's hands again and led him down a wide hall to a bedroom. He flipped a switch on the way in and a gentle light filled the room.

He didn't do much in the way of décor. He kept it simply what he thought of as a lake theme, expensive but uncomplicated. The king-sized bed with a navy comforter along with bed stands on either side, and a solid oak dresser, dominated the room. A single, navy rug enhanced the wood floor. But his pride and joy were the laid-back watercolors of Lake Superior adorning the walls, both calm and crazy with storms. He would tell Ryan about those watercolors someday, about going to school once with some pretty different goals in mind, but that would be for another time.

Right now he had other needs.
He pushed a compliant Ryan down onto the bed, climbing between his legs, spreading them apart and leaned in for a kiss. He tickled Ryan with his tongue, asking entry this time and Ryan opened up. Not only that but Ryan's arms had gone around Jansen's neck and he pulled him in closer and tighter when Jansen thrust into his hot mouth. Oh, how he wanted to plunge his hard cock into this. But for the moment, he only plunged his tongue. Soon. Maybe even tonight. But if not, there would be another time. In fact, there would be many other times. His cock jumped hard then, just with the thought this young man would soon belong to him. He broke the kiss and raised himself up enough to take off his shirt and pants. Ryan's eyes went wide when he took in Jansen's huge, thick, weeping cock and looked up at him in a panic. Jansen smiled and pinned the man to the bed as he started to try to leave it. "Shhh, it's all right. Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. Trust me." He dove in for more mind-bending kisses to distract the young man. The first sight of his member shocked most, delighted them as well. It was clear Ryan was more than just a little nervous knowing where Jansen intended on putting it.
He let his fingers move all over Ryan's tight body, touching and rubbing soft, smooth skin. Ryan began to relax again, buck his hips for more friction. Jansen wrapped his hand firmly around Ryan's once again very hard cock and Ryan jerked back out of the kiss with a loud moan. "What… what are you going to do?"
"Shhh. I told you; it's going to be just fine. I will only do what you want me to do and it will all feel good. I promise."
"Yeah? That feels good… what you're doing."
"See? Only what feels good." He rubbed harder, wanting to take Ryan into his mouth and swallow him whole again. But he had other plans this time. He reached over to the bed stand and grabbed the lube and a couple of condoms. He threw the condoms on the bed and opened the lube. When he poured some out on his fingers, once again Ryan tensed, rising up on his elbows. "Hang on, hang on. Just this…" He grabbed Ryan's cock again and rubbed the lube all over. He was rewarded with another loud moan as Ryan flopped back onto the bed.
"Oh fuck! That… that…"
"Yeah. Feels good."
"More… oh fuck, more…."
"Yes, fuck more…." He spread the lube down— down to Ryan's balls, back up, back down, pushing hard on the area between his balls and love hole, eliciting teethclenched cries and more bucking of hips. Jansen bent over Ryan again and took him into another deep kiss. With one lubed hand, he gently stroked Ryan's cock and with the other, he ventured farther down, exploring Ryan's pucker by rubbing lube onto it then moving past, dragging his finger along the deep crevice between those two velvety orbs. He suddenly remembered he meant to spank that ass too. Mmmm, maybe later. Ryan remained relaxed, most likely trying to stay caught up with all the sensations. Jansen was determined to keep him unable to. He moved down Ryan's throat, kissing and sucking, but not enough to make long lasting marks. He moved all the way down to a nipple and taking it in his mouth, he nipped, licked, and sucked, sending Ryan into an arch. Moving to the other side, he did the same thing to that one as well. Ryan moaned his appreciation.
"Like that?" Jansen breathed onto the wet, very erect nub. He received in answer another moan. He smiled. Then, while his tongue played with Ryan's nipples, he grasped the tip of Ryan's member harder, as he rubbed a firm slick thumb across the slit, back and forth, back and forth. He went back to Ryan's entrance with his other hand and pushed a slippery finger past the first line of defense. Ryan lifted his butt right off the bed and cried out. Jansen recognized Ryan danced far too close to the edge and he quickly gripped the base of Ryan's cock, then reached down and pulled hard on his balls. Once again Ryan cried out.
"Ouch! Damn it! Why…?"
"Don't want you coming again yet. Call it payback." He chuckled.
"Payback?" Ryan moaned when his own hands found Jansen's hair. He pulled him up enough so he could take Jansen's cock in hand. Jansen sucked in his breath as Ryan's long fingers wrapped around and pulled. Oh shit! Talk about wanting to come. He allowed himself to enjoy Ryan's fingers for a few moments before gently pulling away and going back to work on Ryan's opening. It seemed his Ryan maybe enjoyed a little bit of pain. He squirted more lube directly on Ryan's crack and this time rubbed between those gorgeous mounds harder, entered without fanfare, and once again watched those hips leave the bed— that glistening weeping staff jumping and bobbing in the air.
Jansen slowly moved his finger in and out, as he grabbed Ryan's member again and kept pace with his hard finger strokes in Ryan's ass. Ryan thrashed around, but eventually lifted his hips to help with the penetration angle. Jansen's own cock needed attention soon. It was painfully swollen from just watching this innocent discover new and wonderful sensations. Ryan's moans and cries were both sexy and endearing. Jansen stopped and let go of Ryan's cock as well to squeeze more lube on his fingers and pushed two in at the same time. Once again those hips came up.
"Yeah and you love it, too, don't you? I think you just might be into pain."
"No! I… oh! Fuck! Jansen, fuck, that feels… oh shit, I don't know…"
"I do. It feels fucking fantastic. You're just about ready." He added a third finger.
"Fucking ouch, Jansen. Shit that hurts!"
Jansen chuckled and rubbed more lube onto Ryan's harder than ever cock and pushed a fourth finger in as he once again pulled hard on Ryan's balls, effectively stopping his orgasm. Ryan thrashed back and forth now, nearly delirious with pleasure and pain—just where Jansen wanted him. He scissored his fingers, shoving them father with each thrust. Finally, unable to stand it any longer, he removed them, suited up his weeping, neglected cock and lined it up at Ryan's shiny, well-lubed entrance. "I'm putting it in now, Ryan. It's going to burn like a bitch at first but you're going to love it." Jansen had no doubt he would too. If Ryan didn't come on the entry, his next orgasm would be in the first few strokes. It was fine. He wasn't going to last either. He moved his hips forward and watched the tip of his thick cock disappear into Ryan's ass. He kept up the pressure as more and more vanished between those two round orbs, the pressure amazing, the tightness wonderful. He stopped and rested for a bit, about three inches in, battling his excitement back under control. He listened as Ryan panted through the invasion with wordless groans. His eyes were partially open and looking at Jansen, totally in another world. Jansen's heart seemed to actually miss a beat when he thought about the fact he had brought this amazing creature to that place. Yeah, this was definitely a very different experience for him.
Jansen continued his quest to the far interior of Ryan's ass when he began to rock back and forth, gaining more ground with each thrust. Ryan jerked on the bed, his groans becoming rhythmic with each mini plunge, and Jansen couldn't help but pump his cock in time with his jerks. It would be over very soon for both of them but he wanted to be all the way in. He had to change it up. Pulling out a couple inches he slammed back in, right to the balls. A scream ripped from Ryan as his cock began to shoot out white ribbons so hard they hit the head of the bed and the spasm that rocked through Ryan's ass squeezed Jansen so hard he winced in pain. He waited out the strong pulses, listening to Ryan cry out his name again and again. Finally, Ryan started to come back to earth, the pulses were not as intense, and Jansen began to move. He grabbed the lube again and squeezed some more out onto his own cock as it slowly moved in and out and once he was well lubed, he moved faster, plunging into Ryan's hot depths. It was too hot; it was too much. A few more fast strokes and he came hard himself. He leaned over Ryan gripping the bed sheet as he slammed through the first couple of powerful spasms. He had not had this hard of an orgasm in ages, if ever. He savored the moments, pushing himself as deep into Ryan's ass as he could go. He heard the gasps and loud moans from Ryan but then realized it was his own cries he was hearing. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the spasms subsided and Jansen collapsed onto the bed beside Ryan, pulling out of the young man's most likely very sore ass. He held onto the condom so it didn't fall off, also realizing his cock was truly spent. There could not be a drop left in him.
After a few minutes, he dealt with the condom and cleaned them both up, then gathered a now-sleeping Ryan into his arms. Shit, that was amazing. But there were a million other things he wanted to do. A fucking million. And when he got through all of those, he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt he would want to start all over again. He had been kidding when he told Cheyenne he was going to tie him up and lock him away… sort of. But now he didn't even want the young man to leave the bed. And they wouldn't, either, for at least the rest of this weekend. After he saw how it all went, he would have to make some decisions but in his mind he was already moving Ryan in with him, putting a ring on his left hand, and mentally looking up his lawyer's name to change his will. Jansen was never one to go half way. He would let these new feelings develop as they would need to. He would also have to allow for Ryan to catch up—but his heart was confident he would. Simply put, Jansen was not a stupid man. This was what love had to be and if it wasn't, who needed it? If this wasn't love then love be damned. He wanted this feeling.
As he drifted toward sleep, he hugged the warm body closer. To think he almost didn't take the cruise. Even though he loved Lake Superior—had loved it all his life— he had almost handed the task of checking out his new purchase to his assistant. Other than simply walking along its cold shores or taking the occasional fishing trip, Jansen had never truly interacted with the lake. When the opportunity came up to buy the Superior Jewel, he did. He smiled when he thought about the fact it had probably been Ryan's own firm where the young man worked that handled the legal work and purchase for him. It was likely the reason they had met two months ago, when Jansen had been there to sign all the papers.
But he almost didn't go tonight. He was simply too busy. Thankfully he heeded the voice that told him he needed to be aboard that ship. Yes, tonight he went to check out an investment into a lifelong dream and brought home the dream of a lifetime.

* * * *

Ryan woke up to the sound of someone breathing next to him. He was startled at first then remembered the whole evening in a wallop to the brain. The man beside him was Jansen Branwyth. It wasn't the woman, Cheyenne Christy. His life had just taken the wickedest turn he had ever had the pleasure of living through. His memory tripped over the words Jansen had used, 'my heart told me you were the one'. He was thinking too much and he was probably going to end up getting massively hurt but he had already tumbled off the cliff. There was no way back up. Okay, maybe tumbled wasn't quite the word to use. Leaped. Jumped. Flung himself off—those fit better.

He looked at the sleeping face lightly touched by moonlight. So beautiful. More gorgeous than he truly deserved. He moved his hands to find and touch Jansen's flaccid cock, wanting almost desperately to do to Jansen what Jansen had done to him earlier, bring him to such heights with his mouth he would never find his way back to earth. He fondled a little more when he felt the heat rise. He smiled when he realized Jansen's cock was filling with desire as well.

Well, whatever happened, happened, he guessed. He would let Jansen make those decisions. Right now, he was hungry. He whipped the covers back and dove onto that beautiful, amazing, tasty flesh.

This time it was Jansen who screamed.

Nice.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hi, my name is Hurri Cosmo and I am a happy ending junkie. I always have been. You can be pretty assured everything I write will have one. I am not big on angst. I believe we get enough of that in real life so when I go to read something, to make the real world go away for awhile, I will most likely not chose something that will make me cry. So I write for those people who, at least occasionally, feel the same way. I'm okay with the fact I will probably never write anything "important" but I guess I will have to see where my imagination takes me. I would love it if you would come along.

Web:

http://hurriCosmo.webs.com/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialHurriCosmo?ref=hl

Twitter

https://twitter.com/HurriCosmo

Blog:

http://hurriCosmo.webs.com/apps/blog/

Email:

hurricaneCosmo@hotmail.com

ALSO BY HURRI COSMO

Available from Silver Publishing

Until You
The Superior Jewel

CAPTAINS OF THE WOLF The Astral Mage