“Oh, Little Trouble, if I wanted to hear you scream, that’s not the way I’d choose.” My cock twitches as I think of the wayI would choose. “I have much more pleasurable methods in mind.”
She bites her lower lip, a flush creeping up her neck. “You’re terrible. And wonderful. Now let me open my gift before I drag you back to bed.”
She digs through the styrofoam to get to what’s inside. “Ryder?” she calls, looking at me.
She chokes up as she pulls out the delicate cup inside. Then another, and a saucer. “It’s a tea set.”
“Yes.” I smile, my eyes stinging as I watch her get so emotional.
“And it’s antique. In perfect condition. Even the gold trim is in good shape.” She examines the cups from every angle. “How did you find it?”
“At the antique market you took me to.”
“It must have cost you a fortune.”
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t give you, Cora. If you asked for the moon, I’d go to NASA and train as an astronaut to bring it to you.” Nothing is worth more than watching her in this moment. Her face flooded with emotion.
She’s sobbing now, and I gather her into my arms, holding her tight. “Thank you,” she whispers against my chest.
“Happy birthday, my love,” I murmur into her hair. “Now, about that promise I made earlier...”
Her answering laugh is both wicked and full of love. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Twenty-Nine
CORA
Iremain seated in the car, staring at my house. The familiar two-story colonial looms before me, its white paint gleaming in the afternoon sun. I’m the one who asked to return home, citing commitments and my business. Yet I can’t bring myself to exit the vehicle.
“What if that silent witness is in there?”
“No one’s inside. I just swept the place. It’s clear.” Ryder stands by the car door, his muscular frame blocking out the sun.
“We should have stayed in Montana until this guy is found.” Images flash through my mind. Hiking through pine-scented forests, Ryder’s hands kneading dough in the rustic cabin kitchen, our bodies intertwined. I shiver, remembering his calloused hands on my skin, the taste of his lips, andthe way he made me cry out in ecstasy night after night.
“Too late now, baby. We’re already here,” Ryder’s deep voicerumbles.
“What if he comes here to kill me?”
“Then he’ll have to go through me first, and I’m pretty tough. I eat guys like that for breakfast.” He flashes a smile, but his eyes remain alert, scanning our surroundings.
Despite my anxiety, I can’t help but roll my eyes. “Oh really? And here I thought you preferred pancakes.”
“Pancakes are for amateurs. Real bodyguards fuel up on bad guys and bullets.”
I laugh, some of the tension easing from my shoulders. “You’re ridiculous.”
He shrugs, his smile softening. “But I got you to laugh, didn’t I?”
I shake my head, my heart racing for a different reason now. “I don’t want anything to happen to you. I can’t handle that.”
“It’s my job, Cora. To protect you at all costs.”
“I hate when you call me Cora. I want to be your Little Trouble.” I never imagined I’d grow so attached to a nickname I initially despised. Now, I crave it. I don’t want to hear him use my real name. It makes everything feel so formal, so impersonal.
His expression softens. “Come on. Let’s head inside.”
He extends his hand, and I exit the car, wrapping my arms around him. We enter the house, and I collapse onto the plush leather couch, twisting my neck. “My neck hurts.”
