“Order up, Lola!” Slim yells and I do my best to give him a smile. The truth is I don’t feel like smiling. My head hurts, my feet ache, my back is tight—and that’s just the beginning of my ailments. My chief complaint is that I’m almost through my entire shift and Ryker hasn’t shown up. He’s always here. Always.

I feel so stupid. Why did I have to sound so pathetic? Why couldn’t I have just played it cool? If Tina had been in my shoes she would have just attacked Ryker and been in his bed that night. I had to act like a stupid, terrified virgin. How do I ever expect someone like Ryker Stone to take me serious if I can’t even act like an adult around him?

I put the round of beers a group of customers ordered down on the table. I’ll be glad when these idiots go home. There are four of them here for a bachelor party. Hell, they were shitfaced when they got here, and their comments are getting more lewd with each round. I’m doing my best to avoid the grabbing hands. One of the men thinks to get smart and trips me. Because of these damn heels I wear, I can’t keep my balance and fall straight into the lap of the loudest drunk of them all. He’s also the one that is supposed to be getting married.

He latches a hand painfully onto my breast. I cry out in shock and hurt. I’m trying to calm my panic, getting ready to bring my serving tray back against the man’s face when suddenly the hand is gone.

“You think you can touch what’s mine?” Ryker growls in a voice so cold and so deadly it feels like everyone and everything in the bar comes to a complete standstill.

“Hey, man, we’re just trying to have a little fun. Dressed like she is, she’s asking for it. Don’t worry, we’ll treat her good,” the idiot says, obviously not seeing how dangerous the situation is. Everyone else can sense the violence coming from Ryker, including his friends, because they’ve gone quiet.

“Lola, get up,” Ryker commands—and it is most definitely a command. Until that moment, I was so intent on watching Ryker that I didn’t realize I was still sitting in the man’s lap. I quickly get up, nervously moving aside.

“Ryker—” I start, but one look from him stops the rest of the words in my throat. He’s pissed. He was mad last night, but that pales in comparison to the fury coming off of him right now.

“Slim,” he calls out.

“Yeah, man?”

“Unlock your office,” he says, but his gaze is glued to the man who grabbed my breast. He’s still holding the asshole’s hand and it’s an intense grip. It’s the type of hold that I know will leave a bruise. Maybe the guy is starting to sober up too, because he’s not trying to fight with Ryker, or even get away from him. He’s barely breathing—almost as if he’s afraid resisting too much will unleash the anger Ryker is carrying. The man is obviously smarter than I gave him credit for.

“Buddy, listen. We don’t want any problem. I didn’t know she was yours. No harm, no foul here. What do you say?”

“Lola, go to Slim’s office and wait for me,” he says and his voice drops down. It’s much quieter now, almost deadly.

“Ryk—”

“I’m barely hanging on right now, Lola. Do it and do not argue,” he all but growls out.

I should be terrified. The anger and force behind Ryker’s words should chill me. The look in his eyes as he’s staring down at the drunken asshole who hurt me should make me run away. Instead, I’m excited. I won’t lie; I’m nervous as hell. But Ryker Stone just called me his in front of everyone in the bar. His.

“Okay, Ryker,” I say softly, touching his shoulder as I walk around him. He takes his gaze away from the other man—just briefly.

“When I get back there, Lola, you better have your ass bared and bent over the table.”

“What? Ryker, I…” I cannot believe he is saying these things, let alone in front of everyone.

“I told you to protect yourself and to be careful. You weren’t. It’s time you find out what happens when you jeopardize what’s mine.”

“Now, listen here. I know—”

“You offered yourself to me last night, do you remember, Lola?” he prompts.

God, I should be humiliated he’s saying these things, but the truth is I’m excited, aroused.

“Jesus. You’re all fucking crazy,” the drunk slurs out. He’s jerking his hand away now, but it’s useless. Ryker’s not about to let him go. All he manages to accomplish is making Ryker angrier. Ryker shifts and maneuvers so the man is now standing up. Ryker spins him around so he’s facing him, then drives his elbow into the man’s side, causing him to bend in half, crying out in pain.

“Lola?” Ryker prompts again.

“I remember.” I swallow, wondering now if it is nerves or excitement making me feel more than a little dizzy.

“You told me to tell you what I wanted first. So I’m telling you. When I get back there you better be in the position I want you, the way I want you, and ready for your punishment. Do you understand?”

“Ye…yes,” I stutter, wondering why my nipples pebble at his instructions. I can feel how wet I am now, my panties soaked clean through. His crass words and demanding tone should turn me off, but it doesn’t. At the very least, I should be embarrassed that the entire bar is listening and knows what Ryker will be doing to me soon.

I’m not—not really.

I hold my head up all the way to the back of the building where the office is. Out of the corner of my eye I see Tina and I know she’s looking at me with envy. I can’t resist smiling.