“Yes. A stubborn ass woman who thinks she’s untouchable,” Ryder says, standing up from the loveseat so fast it causes Holden’seyes to widen. “Mywoman that I won’t let someone get their fucking hands on because she doesn’t want to listen to us.”
“I’m notyoursto tell what to do, Ryder,” I reply, standing up. No way I’ll sit here and let him tower over me, even if he’s on the other side of the coffee table. “I can take care of my damn self.”
“You don’t even know when you’re being followed!” Ryder yells.
I snatch the pictures from the table and toss them at his chest. “Neither do you,” I hiss. They hit his chest and flutter to the floor; when they settle, the one on top is the one with one word. Mine. Ryder and I stand there in a staring stand-off, both breathing heavily.
“Okay,” Dex says, standing up from his chair. “Let’s talk about this calmly.”
“Fuck that,” I tell Dex, pissed the hell off. I jab my finger at Ryder. “We might be involved now, but I’m still the fucking boss.”
“You might be my boss on the streets,Il mio sole, but in here, you aren’t,” Ryder grits out. “My number one job is to fucking protect you. Let me do that. Letusdo that.”
“He’s right, Pretty girl,” Gage says quietly.
“It’s just some pictures!” I say and throw my hands in the air. Do they think this freak will jump out of them and grab me?
“Very personal pictures, Baby,” Leo adds, and I whirl on him. He gives an apologetic shrug. “I agree with Ryder.” I look around the room, and all the guys are nodding, agreeing with him also.
Fuck this.I don’t need them dictating what I do.
I storm from the room and make it just past the kitchen when one of them grabs my arm, spinning me around. I come face to chest with Ryder. I look up, and his eyes are entirely black, showing how pissed off he is. Good. Because I’m fucking pissed too. I jerk my arm away, and his lips peel back from his teeth.
“You don’t get to walk away this time,” he snarls, stepping into my space. “I let you after your little tantrum about Leo, but this is bigger. This is about your fucking safety.”
“My little tantrum?” I ask, my voice calm. I’m anything but calm. “You could have gotten him killed.”
“I didn’t. Any one of us could die the moment we step out those doors.”
“Exactly! I’m not hiding in this house like some precious princess!” My voice is rising again, and I can’t seem to keep a lid on my temper.
“No one said you had to hide,” Ryder says, stepping up close. I take a step back. He advances until my back hits the wall beside the stairs. He presses closer until his body is pressed against mine, and I have to look up at him. “You would know if you shut your damn mouth and open your ears.”
That’s it.
I let my body deflate like I’m giving up the fight. As soon as I see him relax, pushing me further into the wall, I make my move.
I run my hands up his chest and shove him away, using the wall as a support. He stumbles back, and I sweep my leg behind him, knocking him off his feet. He hits the floor hard, and I’m on him. I wrap my hand around his throat, applying pressure while sitting on his stomach. I see the guys running from the living room after hearing Ryder hit the floor but don’t even spare them a glance.
“You don’t talk to me like that,” I grit out.
His eyes glitter with defiance, and I know he’s fighting a war within himself. He can buck me off at any time, and he hasn’t made a move. He narrows his eyes. “I wouldn’t have to if you let us do our fucking job.”
I apply more pressure to his throat as a warning. “I tell you when to do your job, and I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Baby girl,” Dex says quietly. “You need to let go.” My head snaps up, and Dex raises his hands in a placating way, and I frown. It’s a typical tussle between Ryder and me. It happens all the time, so why the hell is he talking to me like I have a knife to Ryder’s throat and not my hand?
“Il mio sole,” Ryder says, and I look down at him. He grabs my hips and shoves me down over his obvious erection. He grinds his hips up, and I realize this exchange turned Ryder on. I move my hand from crushing his windpipe to squeezing just below his jawbone, cutting off his air supply, testing a theory. His eyes roll back in his head, and I swear he just bit off a moan.
I tilt my head to the side, temporarily distracted from my anger. “You like this, don’t you?” I squeeze tighter when he doesn’t answer, and this time he doesn’t try to bite back the moan. It comes from deep in his chest, and he grinds his hips up again while holding me over top of him.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” I hear Gage chuckle.
I lean down until my lips are hovering over his, my hand still on his throat, loose enough so he can get air. “Answer me,” I demand.
“Fuck,” he grits out. “Yes. Okay? Yes, I fucking like it.”
I lick across his top lip and pull back before he can kiss me. I have to admit I like this too. Something about taking control of Ryder like this has my panties soaked. Now isn’t the time, though. Ryder and I have some things to discuss, which don’t include him sinking his cock inside me. “Bad boys don’t get fucked,” I tell him, grinding over his hard dick and then jumping to my feet, leaving him panting on the floor. “They get to walk around with a hard cock while listening to me fuck someone else.”
