He eyes me warily but turns around and starts clicking away on his keyboard. Mere seconds pass before he’s found her. Jesus Christ, he really is fast. “Do I even want to know how you learned all this?”
“Real talk, Ryker? You dated my mother for a minute. You’re not my father, so fuck off and mind your own business,” his expression is flat and brokers no room for discussion. Alright then.
“Understood,” I nod. “Roll the tape from where you found her.”
“Please, Axel, can you roll the tape?” He mocks. “Sure thing, Ryker. Since you asked so nicely.”
Oh my god. I don't remember him being quite so snarky. “Please, Axel, can you roll the tape?” I repeat through gritted teeth.
He points to the screen in front of him on the bottom row. “There she is.”
I watch my girl on the screen, fucking sneaking out the employee entrance with another server. And she has all of her stuff in tow, staring off in the direction of the bar. Fuck.
I’ve searched everywhere and I’m at my wits end. I tried calling her several times and left at least half a dozen embarrassingly frantic voicemails. I don’t know if I’m more worried or pissed off that she ran, but ultimately I’d just like to know why she didn’t talk to me first.
I’m sitting in my car, with my window down, staring into space when it hits me that there’s one more place I haven’t looked. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner.
I pull up to her apartment ten minutes later. Looking up, I see a light shining in the window. She’s here. And now I’m seriously considering that tracker again.
It takes me all of twenty seconds to get to her door. “Arabella Olivia Bradley, you better open this fucking door or I swear to god Iwillkick it the fuck down.” I really don’t give a flying fuck about the door. I’ll replace it if I have to.
I hear footsteps on the other side of the door, followed by the unlatching of the deadbolt. She pulls the door open and stands there looking up at me with wide eyes.
“You sounded like the big bad wolf just then.” Does she think this is a fucking joke? And why is she answering the door wearing next to nothing?
My blood starts to boil in as it starts pumping harder and faster, then my breathing becomes ragged.
“You fucking left,” I huff. “Why?”
“I did,” she frowns. “Ryker, I saw her touching you and it made me realize that lines are starting to blur. I’m starting to develop feelings and I need to protect myself–protect my heart. I knew what I signed up for, that this was just an arrangement we made so I could learn, but seeing her hands all over you. I’m nothing like her. I’ll never look like that, no matter how hard I try and I don’t want to be what keeps you from having who you really want.”
I step forward until I’m fully in her apartment and I’ve backed her up to the arm of her couch that sits square in the middle of the room. I slam the door behind me and lock it for good measure.
Reaching out, I snake my arm around her, grab a fistful of her soft curls and tug her head back until she’s forced to look me in the eyes. Her pupils dilate and I can feel the last ounce of my restraint slipping away.
Leaning forward until my lips brush her ear, I nip her earlobe gently and tell her, “Sweet girl, don’t you know? All I see is you.”
She shakes her head slowly and I can tell her brain isn’t fully processing what’s happeningorwhat’s about to happen.
“Then you haven’t been fucking paying attention.”
And then I slam my lips to hers, claiming her like it’s the last thing I’ll ever get to do.
31
Arabella
I’ve been able to prepare for a lot of things in my life, but Ryker Hart storming into my apartment, pulling my hair and whispering in my ear that I’m all he sees is nothing I could have seen coming. I wish I had words for what I’m feeling, but they aren’t coming and I’m not even sure my brain is fully functional in the wake of it all.
And that kiss.That kiss.When he pulls his lips from mine, dizziness consumes me as my fingers brush my tingling lips. Fire burns deep in my belly and I never want to extinguish it. In fact, I want him to do it again.
“I know you don’t believe me,” he says, low and soothing. “But you will when I’m done with you. Come with me.”
He releases my hair and grabs my hand, pulling me into the bedroom and tossing me onto the bed.
“Strip,” he commands and my brain stutters.
Am I dreaming?
