Chapter 9
Ryder
My ass hurt. And not from getting fucked like I’d planned. And honestly, I wasn’t sure if I was pissed at Connor or impressed. From day one that guy had me pegged. And now, without hardly lifting a finger, he’d put me in my place.Again. I felt the sting of wounded pride. But a part of me wasreallyenjoying it. And by a part of me, I definitely meant my cock.
I scrambled to my feet, refusing to take the hand the stranger offered me. My pride stung worse than my tailbone, and heat crawled up my neck as I felt everyone’s eyes on me. Getting dumped on my ass wasn’t part of tonight’s plan. But neither was being rock hard because he called me agood boy.
“You okay?” the guy asked, his name already forgotten in the wake of Connor’s rejection.
“Fine,” I muttered, brushing dirt from my jeans. I forced a laugh, trying to play it cool. “Guy doesn’t know how to have fun.”
But the damage was done. Everyone had seen Connor dismiss me like I was nothing. He literally just dropped me to the ground and walked away without a second glance. I’d never been so humiliated. Or so turned on.
I watched Connor’s broad shoulders disappear into the darkness along the creek, and something in me couldn’t let itend like this. I’d never chased anyone in my life. They always chased me. But Connor Martin was different. He saw through my bullshit, called me on it, and instead of making me want to run, it made me want to follow.
“I need to go talk to him,” I said, already moving in Connor’s direction.
“Dude, take the hint,” the stranger said, grabbing my arm. “He’s not interested.”
I yanked my arm free. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I pushed past him, ignoring the whispers that followed me. Let them talk. I didn’t care what any of these people thought of me. All I cared about was catching up to Connor and... and what? I wasn’t even sure. I just knew I couldn’t let him walk away from me again.
The music faded behind me as I followed the path along the creek. The moon was nearly full, casting enough light to see by once my eyes adjusted to the darkness. The air was cool against my flushed skin, and I realized I was breathing hard, my heart racing with something that felt like fear.
I’d never felt this way before. Never wanted someone who didn’t immediately want me back. Never been so completely dismissed. It was maddening and exhilarating all at once. I felt like a goddamn basket case.
I spotted him ahead, a dark silhouette against the silver ribbon of the creek. He’d stopped at a bend where the water pooled deeper, sitting on a large rock that jutted out over the surface. His profile was sharp in the moonlight, jaw clenched tight as he stared out at the water.
I approached slowly, making enough noise that he’d hear me coming. The last thing I wanted was to startle him.
“Go away, Ryder,” he said without turning around.
I stopped a few feet away from him. “No.”
That got his attention. He turned his head slightly, just enough to see me from the corner of his eye. “What do you want from me?”
The question hit harder than I expected. What did I want from him? Sex, obviously. But it was more than that. Something about him drew me in. I wanted… to know more, to figure out what made him tick andwhyit spoke to something so deep within me.
“I just want to talk,” I said simply.
“Don’t lie to me,” he growled, turning away from me once more. “I’m too old for lies and games and bullshit.”
I took a deep breath. Maybe it was time to try a different approach. “Fine,” I said. “Do you really want the truth?”
He just shrugged. “I doubt you can manage it, but sure.”
“The truth is,” I began, my fingers trembling. “The truth is that I want you to fuck me. I want you to bend me over that rock, use my body, and leave me in a heap. I want you to choke me, spank me, and bruise me until I’m a puddle on the ground covered in cum.”
Connor’s eyes flashed in the moonlight, dark and dangerous. I watched his shoulders tighten, his hands curl into fists on his thighs. For a moment, I thought he might push me into the creek.
“You think that’s what I want to hear?” His voice was low, controlled. “That you want me to use you like a cheap fuck?”
I swallowed hard, stepping closer. “I think it’s what we both want.”
He stood suddenly, towering over me, and I had to fight the urge to step back. Up close, I could see the tension in his jaw, the way his chest rose and fell with each carefully measured breath.
“You don’t know the first thing about what I want,” he said.
