I just hope this doesn’t blow up in my face, and I lose Ryder for good.
Chapter 20
Dex
This morning, I had a text from Les telling me she had to take care of something before we paid a visit to Moretto. That something has to do with the sappy way she and Ryder are staring at each other.
I’m glad to see it because I was starting to worry they wouldn’t be able to fix whatever’s between them. I was also afraid I would have to fucking kill him after the state Gage found her in at Micah’s. After they brought her back to the house, they took her outside by the pool with wine and got her to talk to them. They were out there for hours, but when she came back inside, she seemed to be back to herself. I wanted to go out there, but I couldn’t comfort her the way they do, and it pissed me off. It’s not for lack of trying because I want to move past the mental block that told me all touch is terrible, but I can’t, so that’s why I told her she needs to push me.
Last night watching Gage and Leo make her come, I wasalmostthere. She looked at me with those blue eyes, begging me to touch her by taking off her shirt and revealing those gorgeous tits. I made up my mind and then fucking froze. I had a moment of such intense panic that I thought I was going to puke. Then I ran like a coward.
How much longer is she going to be so understanding? She hasfour other guys who can make her happy. Hell, even Holden. They don’t know it, but I saw what went down by the pool, heard Gage coaching Holden on how to pleasure Les, and my feet stayed frozen to the ground. We never had sex, but I know what it’s like to watch her come apart for you. Her body is still so fucking responsive.
“Earth to Dex,” Les says, waving her hand in front of my face.
“What?” I ask lamely. I was so far inside my head that I didn’t even see her standing beside me.
“I’ve said your name like four times. You okay?” she asks, concerned. Concerned because I ran out of the living room like my ass was on fire.
“I’m good,” I assure her.
“Okay,” she says doubtfully, not that I blame her. “How are we doing this? Just us or full crew?”
“I think we go full out on this asshole,” Gage says, walking into the kitchen. Gage spots Ryder leaning on the counter and squeals like a fucking girl before running and jumping into Ryder’s arms. Ryder stands up to catch him just in time before Gage knocks him over. “You’re home!”
“Damn it, Gage,” Ryder grunts, peeling Gage off him. “Yes. I’m home.”
Gage whips his head between Ryder and Les, then grins like a fool when his gaze lands on Les. “That’s where you snuck off to this morning.”
She shrugs nonchalantly. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Gage advances on her. “Snuck out of here with those fucking shorts on that I love.” He walks her backward, then cages her against the counter in between his arms. He runs his nose up her neck, making her shiver. “Smelling good enough to eat.”
I watch Ryder for a reaction and see the tightening of his eyes. I still wonder if he can do this.
“Oh, trust me,” she purrs. “He did.”
Ryder chokes on a laugh, all uneasiness disappearing from his body. “More than once,” Ryder says, his eyes heating up.
Gage groans. “Tell me more.”
She wraps her arms around Gage’s neck. “He fucked me so good, Gage,” she tips her head back with an exaggerated moan, “In his bed. On his desk. In the shower.”
Gage steps back and looks down before looking up at her. “Now look what you did,” indicating what I assume is his hard cock, because mine is just as hard. I see Ryder subtly adjust his through his jeans.
“You asked.” She pecks him on the lips before ducking under his arm. “Where’s Leo?”
“Shower,” Gage replies, jerking his head towards the stairs.
“I think he should go with us,” Les says, surprising all of us. “One, I agree we need a full force against Moretto for breaking the rules, and two, Leo needs to know what he’s getting into.”
I acknowledge that with a nod. “I agree. I say we ride into Moretto’s territory and see who he has on the streets.”
“You want to take someone untrained with us to go against another family?” Ryder asks with a muscle ticking in his jaw.
Les raises an eyebrow. “I thought we moved past this. “
He slices his hand through the air. “It has nothing to do with this being Leo.”
