I smile, wrapping my arms around her. “I’ll chase you until forever, Little Trouble.”
Thirty-Eight
CORA
Ilean against the balcony railing, taking in the breathtaking view from my hilltop home. The sun peeks over the horizon, painting the sky in soft pinks and oranges. It’s been a crazy couple of weeks, but with Ryder with me, I feel like I can conquer the world again.
I haven’t received any new messages since Richard was arrested, and life is starting to be normal again.
“Good morning,” Ryder’s deep voice rumbles behind me.
I turn, a smile playing on my lips, but it falters as my breath catches in my throat.
Ryder stands before me, gloriously naked, every muscle in his body sculpted by the soft morning light. His tanned skin glows like polished bronze, each sinew and line of his form a testament to strength and power. He looks like a god who’s stepped straight out of a myth—my god.
“See something you like, Little Trouble?” A mischievous grin spreads across his face.
I swallow hard, my gaze trailing over his body, soaking in every inch of him like he’s the last drop of water in a desert. “Looks like you forgot something,” I murmur, my voice turning husky with desire. “Clothes, maybe?”
“I didn’t forget anything,” he says, his eyebrow arching. “You, on the other hand, are overdressed. Lean on the railing and lift your dress.”
My breath hitches, heat pooling low in my belly. His voice, low and commanding, ignites something primal within me, something that craves his dominance. But my love for the game, for the thrill of teasing him, overrides my immediate surrender. “And what if I don’t?” I challenge, tilting my chin.
His grin turns predatory, eyes darkening with lust. “Then I’ll have to make you.”
“You’ll have to catch me first.” I dart my tongue out, wetting my lips. Before he can react, I dodge around him, sprinting back into the house with a squeal of laughter.
I don’t wait to see if he’s following. I know he is. The sound of his footsteps, heavy and determined, echoes behind me as I fly down the stairs, my heart pounding in my chest. I dart into the first room I see—the kitchen, its sleek surfaces and shining appliances a stark contrast to the chaos I’m bringing with me.
I hide behind the island, trying to steady my breathing. My eyes dart around, looking for an escape route, but Ryder approaches already, his footsteps slow and deliberate.
“Cora, you know I’ll find you,” Ryder calls out, his voice low and filled with promise. “There’s no use hiding. You can’t run from me.”
I bite my lip, the thrill of the chase making my blood sing. I inch toward the door on the other side of the kitchen, hoping to slip out before he catches sight of me. But just as I reach forthe handle, the door creaks open, and there he is, filling the doorway with his broad, imposing frame.
“There you are,” he says, his voice a dangerous purr. “Thought you could get away, did you?”
I let out a startled yelp and spin around, making a dash for the back stairs. I take them two at a time, my lungs burning with exertion. Ryder’s laughter echoes through the house, full of amusement. He’s enjoying this as much as I am.
At the top of the stairs, I veer to the left, slipping into the library. I press myself against the wall, trying to make myself as small as possible. My heart races in my chest, every beat a countdown to when he’ll find me.
Damn. Not the best choice. The library offers little cover—floor-to-ceiling bookshelves line the walls, with just two plush reading chairs in the center. There’s nowhere to hide.
I crack the door open, just a sliver, enough to gauge the situation, but the creak of the stairs sends me slamming it shut again.
He’s here.
“Little Trouble? Where are you hiding?” Ryder calls out, his voice low and dangerous. “You’d better show yourself, or you’ll pay for this behavior. You know what happens to naughty girls, don’t you?”
A shiver runs through me, my thighs already slick with need. The thought of him catching me, doing whatever he wants with me, turns my body into a quivering mess of desire.
His footsteps approach the door. I dart behind one of the chairs, crouching low, my heart threatening to burst from my chest.
“Hiding in here, are we?” Ryder opens the door. “You know, even if you ran to the other side of the world, I’d alwaysfind you. I’d find you and fuck you because you’re mine. You’re fucking mine, baby.”
“Fuck,” I whimper, my core throbbing at his possessive words. The sound escapes before I can catch it—did I say that out loud?
Ryder chuckles. “You like that, don’t you, my Little Trouble? Your pussy’s begging to be filled, to be fucked. You want to be under me while I fill you with my cum, taking you in every way I see fit.”
