The door clicks shut, and I throw the lock.
Dropping my keys on the console table, they hit the wood with a clatter much too loud for my rattled nerves.
Ryder’s heavy boots thud behind me, and I spin, heart jack hammering against my ribs. “Don’t you have an ice pack you need to shove against your face or something?”
He grins, swiping at a smear of blood on his lip again before slowly licking it off his thumb. “I’d be grateful if you helped me out with that, kitten.”
My pussy pulses as I track the way his tongue slides over his thumb. With a scowl, I shove past him and head into the kitchen. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re adorable when you’re homicidal. Guess we’re both winning tonight.”
I flip him off and rummage through the freezer until I find a frozen bag of peas and toss it over my shoulder.
Without so much as a flinch, he catches it one-handed.
Show-off.
“You’re lucky I didn’t smash that glass overyourhead,” I mutter.
“Sweetheart, you could punch me in the nuts, and I’d still say thank you.”
I whirl to glare at him and suck in a breath.
Shirtless and sprawled out on the couch, Ryder has his head tipped back, bag of frozen peas pressed against his jaw.
Dark bruises bloom across his ribs under tattoos twisting over muscle.
Rolling his head to the side, he gives me a once-over before locking eyes with mine.
Heat licks down my spine, and my mouth goes dry.
“You’re staring,” he rumbles, smug smirk breaking across his face.
“No, I am not.”
“Yup. You are.”
“Your face looks like it got stomped on by a horse,” I growl.
His laugh is rough and stupidly sexy as he stretches his arms over the back of the couch, flexing his abs.
Fuck me sideways.
Cheeks burning, I look away, pretending to beveryinterested in organizing the mail on the counter.
His voice drifts across the room as a lazy tease. “You realize you picked your first bar fight tonight, right?”
“I didn’tpickanything,” I mumble, tossing an envelope to the side.
“You smashed a glass over a guy’s head. That’s pretty badass.”
I glance up at him from beneath my lashes. “You’re impressed by that? Seriously?”
He grins. “Kitten, I’m half in love.”
I snort, shaking my head. “And I’m sure you’re half brain-dead from all those hits you took to the head.”
“Meh.” He drops his head back against the couch and closes his eyes. “Only the good half.”
