Does he know what that does to me when he calls me that?
Ryder slides the paper across the island where Les is standing. Her smile lights up her face. “I knew you could do it.”
I’d been working on this fordays,running every program I could think of, and I still couldn’t get past his security system. I was starting to doubt myself because I couldn’t find the stalker either, so I got up early this morning and started again. When his live feed popped up, I almost fell out of my chair trying to get in here.
“It’s live,” I tell them. “I can see everything in real-time.”
“We never had any doubt you would get in,” Ryder says, squeezing my thigh under the island.
It still surprises me when he openly touches me, and how he kept me protectively tucked against him last night made me fall even harder for him. I knew from the first day I loved Les, and last night cemented my feelings for Ryder. I know he’s taking things slow with me, and I appreciate it, but I’m ready to take it to the next step. I just don’t know how to tell him.
“That is why you’re the office-dwelling mad genius,” Gage jokes, placing his hands on either side of Les’ hips, leaning in to look at the paper.
Les elbows him in the stomach, making him grunt. “I told you to quit calling him the office dweller.” It’s something he always calls me as a joke. “Besides, he’s not quite the office dweller anymore.”
Gage rubs his stomach with a frown. “No, he’s playing with the big dogs now,” Gage grins. “That fucking jab yesterday,” he says, mimicking my punch to that guy’s face. “World-class, baby.”
Dex slides onto the stool on my other side, slapping me on the back. “Perfect form, and that dude’s nose was definitely broken.”
I almost felt bad about that until I remembered the look on Leo’s face when he said it. He looked like he was on top of the world right before that, leaning against Gage, then his face fell, and I reacted. Besides sparring with the guys, I’ve never hit another person in my life. I’ve been doing a lot of things I never had before, like holding a gun to a person in a threatening way. That slimeball from the garage pulled a gun on Les, though. I know she can handle herself, but that doesn’t mean we can’t help her. I want to be more involved in everything they do, but I know she doesn’t want me to be. I need to grow some balls at some point, and now feels like the right time.
Leo walks towards Les, and Gage growls, caging her back into his arms. “Back off. You hogged her all night.”
Les laughs. “Yes, he did,” she says suggestively, looking at Leo around Gage’s arm.
Gage clamps a hand over her eyes. “No sexy eyes.”
Les laughs again. “What the hell is sexy eyes?”
“Those eyes you get when you want one of us to rip your clothes off and fuck you on the closest surface,” Ryder remarks.
That’s what I want from him.I can feel my face blush at that thought.
“I don’t do that,” she says, pulling Gage's hand from her face with a grin. She knows she damn well does.
Dex snorts. “You’re doing it now.”
“I am not,” she argues, trying not to laugh.
“You’re a dirty, dirty girl,” Gage says, kissing the side of her neck.
“Would you want me any other way?” she taunts.
“Naked. Preferably very naked,” Gage jokes, stepping back from her next elbow jab.
Leo swoops in, laying his lips on hers in a kiss that heats up the kitchen.
“Fucking hell. Not in the kitchen!” Micah yells, causing them to break apart, grinning at each other.
“This isn’t your house, Micah,” Les reminds him. “I can do whatever or whoever I want in the kitchen.”
His mouth pops open. “Why would you scar me like that?”
“Like you haven’t ever done something like that,” Ryder says with a laugh, laying his arm on the back of my stool.
“Of course I have, but I don’t tell my niece about it,” Micah argues with a shudder.
“I didn’t tell you anything just now. I just simply pointed out that if I wanted to fuc….”
