I shudder, recalling every time he called me agood girl. My feminism flew out the window when he whispered those two words in my ear.
Lathering shower gel into my body, my knees buckle when I reach between my legs. A shudder shakes me, lust igniting every nerve and thought.
God, I’m hopeless.
I don’t indulge this growing need. My fingers aren’t half as skilled as Ryder’s. It’s his touch I crave, so I switch the water off, towel dry, and get dressed.
Ryder loves my curves; the way he stares at me whenever I’m wearing tight clothes is a dead giveaway. With that in mind, I lock myself in the spare bedroom, a plan in mind. Koby and Ryder’s voices carry from the kitchen, the subject of their conversation upsetting my stomach. With much difficulty, I file it away, focusing on the task at hand.
I shimmy into a pair of high-waist jeans and pull a white, spaghetti-strap tank top with a low V neckline over my head. It accentuates my boobs, pressing them together in the most delicious way, the valley between them reduced to a thin line.
Draping my damp hair over one shoulder, I tiptoe barefoot into the kitchen.
“Morning,” I say, a ball of heat swelling inside my chest when Ryder’s eyes find mine. He gives me a slow once-over, his nostrils flaring when Koby glances over his shoulder.
“Morning.” He grins, holding his hand up in the air. “High five, little minx. Well played.”
“I don’t think I understand but sure, high five.” I clap my hand against his.
“Last night,” he clarifies, explaining nothing. “Ryder here almost broke a leg chasing after you and the blond.”
Oh... Right. When I followed that guy into the restroom, I only had one goal in mind: exorcise Ryder from my system. I didn’t stop to consider anyone else’s reaction.
“Desperate times.” I shrug, turning my back on them. “Coffee, anyone?”
“Yeah, please,” Ryder says.
“Not for me. I’ll leave you two alone.” Koby’s words are soundtracked by his stool scraping against the tiles. “I’ll see you both tonight.”
Ryder walks him out, then leans against the kitchen doorframe. His heated gaze follows my moves until I settle two cups of coffee on the breakfast bar.
I look up, the scraps of their conversation I overhead bouncing in my head. “If I ask a question, will you lie?”
“I’ve never lied to you, Bianca. I won’t start now.”
“I heard Koby talk about Noretto and Jax. He said Jax is coming toScarletttonight... Is he coming to take me?”
Ryder’s on me in a flash, his hands finding my face. “No one’s taking you, Bianca.” He wraps his arms around me, holding me against his warm chest. “You’re safe. I promise. Jax wants a meeting with Carter. He won’t touch you.”
The raw sincerity in his tone calms me right down. I nod, inhale deeply, then push away from him, taking a seat at the breakfast bar.
“Now, about last night,” he starts, leaning against the cupboards. “How are you feeling?”
“A little sore,” I admit, sipping my coffee.
“Not what I meant. I meant your head. Give me the emotion that’s uppermost right now.”
I didn’t expect that question. It’s loaded. Far from my comfort zone. The answer will shape our relationship going forward. I’m not naïve enough to think we’re suddenly a couple because we fucked, but maybe if I stop holding my cards so closeto my chest, Ryder will realize there’s more to me than the cold bitch I show the world.
My lungs expand, filling with oxygen before one word, onerealemotion makes it past my clenched teeth. “Fear.”
His features relax, a shadow of a smile gracing those sinful lips that marked every inch of my naked skin. He stalks closer again, then leans in for a kiss.
And those silly butterflies must’ve multiplied overnight; there are at least ten thousand wings flapping in my tummy. His tongue slips inside my mouth, tasting, teasing, and amplifying the throbbing need between my thighs.
“Fear is good,” he whispers, breaking the kiss.
“Good? How’s itgood?”
