Meadow walked through the doors with Tommy next to her. She was cupping a hot chocolate while looking very much at home.

  “Hey guys, we thought we would wait for the epic kiss to be over before we came out interrupting.”

  I laughed, fighting the urge to run my thumb over my now swollen lips. “You look cozy!” I pointed to her, up and down.

  She shrugged. “I am. It’s so beautiful here.” I looked at Tommy, who’s resting his massive tattooed arms on the porch railing. His baseball cap flipped backward on top of his head wearing a white wife beater and worn jeans. He looks like someone from the wrong side of the tracks— from my side of the tracks.

  “Is Melissa still upstairs?” I asked Meadow and she laughed around the rim of her cup.

  “Yeah. Ryder, your walls are thin.”

  Tommy chuckled, looking to me. “She’ll be here all night.”

  “Of course, she will,” I muttered before looking to Meadow. “Should we break girl code and leave her here?” I looked at Ryder. “If Ryker is a serial killer, could you ask him not to touch her face? Her mom would lose it if Melissa looked like shit, even in her coffin.”

  Ryder laughed, shaking his head. “Her face is not something you should be worried about, but you can both stay here.”

  “No ride on the first date,” I repeated sternly. Maybe trying to convince myself also.

  “Technically, this is the second,” he answered, lifting his beer bottle in the air around a small smirk.

  “Almost running your brother over outside of a swingers bar isn’t classed as a date, Ryder.”

  “Says who?” he asked with a smirk before adding, “No ride. Got it.” With a mischievous glint in his eyes.

  Looking up to Meadow, I notice her eyes fixed on the ocean, her face relaxed and content. “Do you want to stay? We can go?”

  She shook her head. “I’ll stay in a spare room.”

  Ryder directed her to the nearest room and I followed him up to the master bedroom. He opened the door and waited for me to enter.

  “Wow,” I whispered, “this is some room.” The bed was a Californian king bed. There was a chest at the end that looked large enough to fit two of me inside. Opposite the door was one large glass wall which overlooked the ocean, and to the right opposite the bed was an en-suite bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe. Everything was clean and plain, like he never spent any time here, which he probably didn’t. He stepped into the wardrobe, opened up a drawer, and threw one of his T-shirts at me.

  I laughed. “I half expected this to have Twisted Transistor printed on it.”

  He chuckled, slipping off his T-shirt and throwing it onto the floor. “Don’t tempt me…” He unbuckled his belt buckle and my hand threw up, covering my eyes.

  “You need to put sweat pants or something on…” moving my fingers around, gesturing to his body, “…there’s no way you’re only wearing briefs in bed with me.”

  He smiled with a laugh. “What? Don’t trust me?” Pulling his bottom lip into his mouth around a cheeky smirk, with his lip ring clinking under his teeth.

  I shook my head. “I don’t trust me,” I said, pointing to myself.

  He rolled his eyes, throwing on some gray sweat pants that displayed his beautifully built body. Every muscle popped out showing its residence, a perfect V shaping the sides of his eight-pack abs and lining right down below, disappearing under the loose pants. Biting down on my lower lip, I try to hide my smile. His body stilled as I dragged my hungry eyes back up to his.

  “If you look at me like that again, I’ll throw your fucking rules out the window,” he growled before coming back to the bed.

  I smiled, turning my finger for him to spin around while I slipped his shirt over myself and removed my dress underneath. His shirt fell just above my knees, so I was good.

  I hoped.

  For now.

  “You can turn around now.”

  He spun back around, his eyes ran slowly up and down my body, making me feel a little self-conscious. When I met his eyes, I could see the smile in them. He laid down, patting the spot next to him. “Get in.”

  Kneeling down, I climbed under the covers with him and pulled the blanket up around my face. He turned the light from the bedside lamp off before the darkness of the night took over, with the only light coming through from the moon shining over the ocean. I turned to face him, the light shading around the curves of his face showing his sharp but rough features. It’s scary how much he and Ryker look alike, but their personalities so different. He placed his arms under his head and turned to face me.

  “Tell me something no one knows about you,” I asked, watching how his arm muscles flexed under his head. My mouth dried out as my heart rate picked up.

  “Like anything?” he asked, his voice raw and deep.

  “Anything,” I whispered my response.

  “I was dirt poor when I was young. Both Ryker and I know what it’s like to be hungry. My parents walked out on us when we were five. They left us in the house with a note on the table for my aunt who was picking us up the next day for our first day of school, saying that they didn’t want us. The first five years of our lives were horrible to say the least. My parents sold everything we had to support their gambling problem. Down to the doorknobs on the doors. When my aunt came over the next day she was relieved. She said she could finally have both Ryker and me without my parents interfering.”

  I propped my head up on my hand. “I’m so sorry, Ryder. That’s horrible.”

  He shrugged. “It’s no biggie. I got over it a long time ago. They did us a favor by leaving.” I decided if I ever saw his mother, I’d probably box her right in her face. He turned to me with a smile. “Your turn, what’s your story? The parts you can share, that is.”

  I laughed. “I like that you know that much already.”

  He shrugged. “I know your brother. I’ve known him for years.”

  I raised my eyebrows in surprise. “Where has he been hiding you?”

  He laughed a deep laugh. “Not underground, so that’s a bonus.” I found that comment interesting. Just how much did he know about my sometimes psychopathic brother?

  “Well, my mom left Blake and me when I was a baby. She woke up one morning deciding that the ‘MC life’ was too much for her. My dad told us that she wanted to take us with her, but he wouldn’t let her. Somehow, I’ve never believed him. Probably has something to do with the fact that I haven’t seen or heard from her since. Anyway, my dad raised Blake and me on his own. He gave us his all, then he died in a car crash with two others. The day I found out was the worst day of my life, and believe me, I’ve seen some shitty days.”

  He wrapped one of his arms around my waist, pulling my body flush up against his. “I’m sorry, baby,” he whispered into my ear, engulfing me in his smell and his touch that caused his smooth skin to glide softly off my fingers.

  “Ryder…” I warned.

  He leaned his head down to the crook of my neck, under my ear and chuckled. “What?” His voice vibrating against my neck. I closed my eyes, biting down on my bottom lip to stop me from moaning out a raw needy moan and climbing on top of him like a sex-crazed monkey. I was just about to repeat ‘no riding on the first date,’ when his soft, slick tongue slid across my collarbone, running up my neck and under my ear. Goosebumps broke out all over my skin, my body wanting nothing more than to rub itself all over him. Pulling back his head, he smiled, placing a kiss on my lips. With my breathing a little ragged, I tried my hardest to calm it down, but as always, my body was a stubborn bitch who listened to no one but herself.

  My eyes hooded, I internally gave myself a pep talk about how desperate it would look if you throw yourself at him. So, I changed the subject.

  “Melissa said that you haven’t been pictured with women before. Is it because you’re too busy licking them in the bedroom?” I was completely serious, but he thought it was funny.

  “No, I just work extra hard at keeping my private life sep
arate from the media.”

  “You must work really hard. Considering the paparazzi follow you guys everywhere.”

  “I do. I have a PA that makes sure all the finer details are always clear.”

  I couldn’t help it anymore. Reaching up, I ran my hand through his hair, its soft tresses falling perfectly between my fingers. His blue eyes, turning dark with need.

  “I’m about ready to throw away all my rules right now,” I whispered.

  He smirked, his strong muscled arm pulling me into him. “Keep your rules. Tomorrow is a new day.” Realization set in, and I smiled. “Sleep. You’re going to need it,” he mumbled into my hair.

  The next morning, my eyelids were alight from the sunlight beaming in through the big glass window. I threw my hand over my eyes. “Holy shit,” I mumbled in my sleep voice.

  Before I could even open my eyes, Ryder’s arms wrapped around me, picking me up and placing me on top of him.

  “Ryder!” I squealed in surprise. “I have morning breath! I need to brush.”

  He shook his head. “I don’t care about that. Come here.” He wrapped his hand around my neck and pulled my head down to him, joining his lips into mine. I kissed him back, matching his pace, throwing off his T-shirt that I’m wearing. He pulled back, circling his hands around my hips and looking over my body. “Damn,” he mumbled with a smirk. Bringing his lips down to my nipple, he begins lightly pulling on it with the right amount of suction, the warmness of his mouth surrounding me like a blanket of pleasure. I threw my head back, grinding myself into him. “Fuck,” he growled, grasping onto his sweat pants and pulling them down. His cock sprung free from his briefs, and I tried really hard to not look at it like a cock deprived lunatic, but even his dick was sexy. He was huge, the veins surfacing under the skin were pulsing in need—need to be worked on.

  He rubbed his thumb over my panties, sliding them underneath and tearing them off quickly.

  “Ryder! Those were my favorite!”

  “I’ll buy you new ones,” he mumbled into my neck, squeezing my ass. Lying back down on his back, he pushed my body up to him, so I was straddling his face. In one swift move, he grasped my hips and pulled my body down onto his mouth.

  “Oh my God,” I moaned as his tongue slid up my slit then circled around my clit. Running his tongue down more, he slips it into me all the while never missing a beat with caressing my clit with his thumb in the right pressured motions. “Ryder,” I whispered out a soft moan while shamelessly riding on his tongue.

  “Yeah baby, come on my tongue. I want to taste your sweet pussy all over my face.”

  Holy hell.

  Feeling the familiar build begin inside me, he picked up the pace, switching his tongue and fingers around. His finger curled perfectly inside of me, rubbing my G-spot with tender roughness while his tongue absolutely destroyed my clit. My orgasm crashed into me suddenly, and he dipped his tongue back into me, licking and savoring every little bit of my release.

  Just as my mind was spiraling down from the epic orgasm I’d just received, he flipped me over covering my body with his, the weight of his body pushing me into the bed. Running my hands up his fully tattooed arms and up to his neck, he slid his hands up my body and over my breasts, massaging my nipple with his thumb before bringing his mouth down to mine, licking around the rim of my lips. Dragging my hands back up to his neck, I tugged on his hair lightly with a smile. Gripping onto my thigh, he propped my leg up on his hip, before pushing into me in one, strong move.

  “Fuck you’re tight,” he grits out while descending into me. I feel myself slowly stretch to accommodate his thick length. Moaning, and licking my lips, I looked up at him while he repositioned himself. Pulling out slowly, he pushed back into me in gradual, rough movements. With each one, the tip of his cock caressed my G-spot sensually like my own personal pleasure stick made to hit my exact spot every time.

  “Shit,” I said, gripping onto his back, surely leaving a few claw marks as he filled me deeper, circling his hips into me. My eyes rolled back, my mouth opened, as his pace picked up faster. He dropped his lips back down to mine, running his tongue over mine while squeezing my nipple as his cock pounded into me in perfect rhythmic fashion. I tensed, ready to explode.

  “Let go, baby.”

  On command, I let it all go as my second orgasm delivered itself around his dick. The pulse of his shaft pushing on my walls, before his body collapsed down on top of me with his breathing ragged and his head in the crook of my neck. Laughing against my neck, he kissed my collarbone before pulling out of me and removing the condom, tying it up and throwing it in the bin next to his bed. Swinging his legs over the side, he threw his jeans commando-style and left them unbuckled.

  “You hungry?” he asked, his hair all messy, giving a new meaning to ‘just fucked hair.’

  I bobbed my head. “Yep, I am now.” Picking up his T-shirt that I was wearing off the floor, and throwing it back on, he was waiting patiently for me by the bed. When I went to walk straight past him to the door, he pulled me back by the back of my T-shirt and spun me around.

  “Don’t leave without kissing me, woman.” Gripping my chin with his hand, and pulling my face up to his lips.

  “Ryder?” I said, looking into his eyes though his hadn’t left my lips.

  “We’re going downstairs to eat. I’m not actually going anywhere…yet.”

  He smiled. “I know. I just want an excuse to kiss these fucking amazing lips,” he told me running his thumb over them before his hand glided to the front of my stomach, finding home on my pussy. “And these ones too.” I shoved him and laughed. “Stop.”

  He pointed toward his wardrobe. “Top drawer, put some briefs on. I’m not having you walk around with no panties on. Not with Ryker here.” Laughing, I made my way to his wardrobe while he ducked into the bathroom.

  “Ryker is with Melissa,” I say, looking around the massive wardrobe.

  He scoffed. “Today. He won’t go there again. We have a no seconds rule, and Ryker is the master at it.” My eyes narrowed, even though I knew he couldn’t see me.

  “So this is the end of us then?” Pulling my hair tie out of my hair and tying a knot on the waist of his briefs to stop them from falling down. I was fluffing up my hair when I suddenly saw the roof. “Ryder! Oh my God. Put me down.”

  Placing me back down, he runs his hand over my head. “I think you’re an exception.”

  Tilting my head, I asked, “Oh? And why is that?” His eyes narrowed, his hand grazed over his stubble. “Because you’re fucking different and that’s all I’ve got. I’ve never been with a girl who doesn’t tell me shit I want to hear. These girls, they’ll laugh at your jokes even though they’re shit. They’ll go along with anything just because it’s me. They’re people pleasers and fake. From that first encounter with you, I knew you were different. If that were any other girl who almost ran Ryker Oakley over, they’d be apologizing while flicking their hair or some fucking stupid shit like that. Not you, though. Oh no,” laughing to himself before continuing, “You yell at him and call him a douchebag.” He brought his eyes back to mine and I smiled at him.

  “He is a douche. He could’ve scratched my car. And if my low pro tires didn’t cost so much, I would have run his ass over.” Shrugging, before walking with him out of the room. His body jolts my arm, as he laughed silently, kissing the top of my head from under his arm.

  “See…different.”

  The following two weeks were much like this. If I wasn’t at Ryder’s, he was at mine. We were more at his house, though, just when Ryker decided to throw one of his parties, then we would end up at my house. I was right, Ryker just wanted Melissa on a one-time basis, and hadn’t paid her any attention since their one night. Apparently, this was nothing new for him. But she was opening her boutique soon, so that had been keeping her busy. Meadow and Tommy ended up good friends, but that’s all. Meadow said she had no feelings for him like that, they just shared the same passion for helping kids.
She went to check out ‘New Home’ with Tommy, starting work there as soon as possible. That left me having to tie up my loose ends in New York before deciding if I wanted to take the job I’d been offered in Hollywood Hills being a fashion assistant. Over the two weeks, Ryder and I had established a solid relationship. We hadn’t defined anything, I think we were both ignoring that detail, because once you put a label on something it tends to complicate things. I felt like we’d been living in our own bubble for those two weeks, where it was just him and me. Every now and then, he’d go out and grab food or send Tommy or Leo out to get some. When I would leave, I’d take the beach walk way out because the paparazzi were constantly parked outside his gate. The last night we had together, we were swimming in the ocean at midnight after we both had a few too many beverages. It was something I would forever remember…

  “What does this mean?” I asked Ryder, running my hand over the tattoo on his upper arm. It’s a little boy in the corner of a room surrounded by a cage. The front of it has a woman with angel wings, spreading the bars open. It has a beautiful sadness to it.

  “What do you think it means?” he asked his voice low and rough.

  Tilting my head, I swallowed. “I think the little boy is you, and the angel is your aunt.”

  Nodding his head, he wrapped his hands around my legs, hooking them around his waist, the water making me feel as light as a feather.

  “It’s beautiful,” I answered, gazing my eyes over it.

  Shrugging my comment off, he placed his lips over mine softly before answering, “I adore my aunt more than anyone. This tattoo is only the truth in what our situation was.”

  My smile stretched wide. “She sounds lovely.”

  He wrapped his hand around my neck. “I know you haven’t got any tattoos, I’ve inspected every little part of this magnificent body.”

  I shook my head. “No. I haven’t found anything that I’ve wanted.”

  Running his hands down the spine of my back, he smiled. “Fair enough. I get that.”