Ryder lays her down and moves to kiss the crook of her neck. Slipping his hands under her shirt, he cups her breasts that fill his palms perfectly. Parker tugs at his shirt, and once it’s slipped off and over his head, she runs her hands up his newly defined abs. He reaches down to tug at her tank top and she lifts her torso off of the bed to allow him to pull it off. Reaching behind her, she unhooks her bra.

Ryder reaches out and slowly slides the straps down her arm and kisses a trail following the strap. Once he’s discarded the bra on the floor, he moves his mouth to her breast, teasing her nipple between his teeth.

“Oh,” she moans as his hand finds her other breast. “I miss this.”

“I miss you,” he says looking in her eyes. “I miss all of you. Here. With me.”

Parker brings her mouth to meet his as she reaches down to unbutton his jeans. He moves to kiss her jaw and neck, and she breaks the kiss so they can both rid themselves of their remaining clothing. Lying down, they’re both naked minus her engagement ring. She slips it off and sets it on the bedside table. Tonight, there’s nothing in-between them.

She reaches down and grabs his erection in her hands, stroking it long and slow. He groans. “Kid, you always know how to touch me. How to unman me.”

“It’s just like riding a bike,” she giggles. “Actually, it could very much be like riding a bike, both physically and theoretically.”

“I would be honored to be your bicycle for the evening.”

“I bet you would,” she says climbing on top of him and straddling him. “You use a condom every time with Vanessa?”

“Yes.”

“Absolutely sure?”

“Absolutely. I got tested last week. I’m clean.”

“Good,” she says and slides her wet pussy slowly down his cock. “I like it this way better.”

“Me too,” he growls and moves his hands to her hips, guiding her as she rides him. “You feel like home. Where I belong.”

“I still love you,” she whispers. Tears fall from her eyes.

Ryder applies pressure with his hands to stop her movement. “Why are you crying?”

Parker laughs through her tears and shakes her head. “I don’t know.”

Sliding her off of him, he moves her beside him. Sitting up on one arm, he looks down at her. “Talk to me.”

“I miss this. I miss you. I miss the intimacy we once had. I guess it’s just overwhelming.”

“We don’t have to do this,” he says, pulling her close to him.

“I need this,” she whispers. “Please. I need you. Even if it’s just for tonight.”

Rolling to hover over her, she moves her legs to give him access. He slowly inserts himself into her and flexes his hips against her.

“I need this,” she whispers again as tears roll down her face. “I need this.”

He claims her mouth as he thrusts slow and deep into her. The tears don’t stop, but he can feel her muscles start to spasm around him. “Come, baby. Come.”

She moans as the orgasms take over her body, and she cries out his name as she reaches her peak.

“Parker!” he growls as he lets go inside of her.

They lay together, his now flaccid cock still inside her, for a few moments before he slowly eases out of her. Moving to lie beside her, he pulls her against him and pulls the covers over them.

“Thank you,” she says into his chest, kissing it softly. “Thank you for not making me leave. Thank you for giving me this.”

“Thank you for knowing I needed you. Our connection is still so strong.”

She falls asleep into a peaceful slumber next to him. He lays awake listening to her even breathing as her chest rises and falls. “I love you, too,” he whispers before closing his eyes as well.

When Parker wakes the next morning, she’s enveloped by Ryder. His arm is wrapped around her naked waist, and his manhood is pressed against her backside. On the bedside table beside them, she sees her engagement ring, and she knows what she has to do.

Her feelings overwhelm her, but she’s determined to make things right. Carefully slipping out from under his arm, she is successful in not waking him. She needs to leave, and as much as not waking to tell him kills her, she needs to do this. She put herself in this position. As quietly as she can, she gets dressed and slips out the sliding door.

Walking to Paige’s house, she gets into her car. Pulling out her cell phone, she notices seventeen missed calls from Jacob. Ignoring them, she calls Mason. After the fifth ring, he answers in a sleepy voice. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, I have to leave for a bit. I need you to keep an eye on him, okay?”

“Who is it?” Paige’s voice asks from the background.

“Is that Paige?”

“Uh,” Mason stammers.

“Damn it, Mason! You and your redheads. If you hurt her, I’ll kill you.”

“Are you sure threatening death is a smart move considering who you’re related to?”

“That’s exactly why I’m threatening it. You know I’m serious. And capable.”

He laughs. “I got him. Don’t worry.”

“I’ll be back today. I have to go and do something.” She hangs up and doesn’t notice Ryder watching her from the living room window.

Ryder wakes up to the sound of the sliding door shutting. Fully opening his eyes, he sees her engagement ring is gone, along with her. He feels empty and cold and alone.

Getting up, he walks to the window to see Parker sitting in her car talking on her phone, and she laughs. Is she talking to Jacob? Was last night just a way of saying goodbye? Is she really gone this time? A sinking feeling settles in his gut as his phone rings.

Parker arrives at her apartment in record time, and she’s surprised to see Jacob standing in the kitchen as she walks in. “You’re home.”

“Where have you been?”

“What do you mean? You know I was back in my hometown.”

“You haven’t been answering my calls. I got worried, so I called Paige again. She didn’t answer either. So, where have you been?”

“Vanessa, Ryder’s kind of girlfriend was killed. I was worried he’d start drinking again, so I checked on him.”

“Did he?”

“He was about to. I showed up before he did anything stupid.”

“You went to his house?”

“Yes. That’s where he lives.” Although she knows she should be sympathetic to his feelings, she also knows he’s not going to like where this conversation ends.

“Don’t get smart with me.”

“He didn’t go to the bar. He was at home with two forties I had to empty down the drain.”

“Did you fuck him?”

His brazen question catches her off-guard. “What?”

“You heard me.” His voice is colder than she’s ever heard it.

“Who are you right now? This isn’t you?” This may not be the man she’s known for the past two years, but maybe this is who she turned him into. Maybe she did this.

“I’m pretty sure my fiancé just spent the night with her ex and had sex with him. It sounds like how I should talk.”

“So, you’re trying to be someone you’re not?”

“If you cheated with him, yeah. I feel l have the right to be whomever I want.”

“He wouldn’t talk to me like that.”

“I’m pretty sure he would. From what you’ve told me. He’s an angry drunk.”

“I don’t like this version of you,” she says and backs away. His volatile tone is making her anxious.

“You never answered my question.” His face is blank and impassive.

“Yes.”

“Seriously?” He gapes at her. “You fucked him?”

“It wasn’t something I meant to happen. I never wanted to do that to you.”

Jacob slams his fist against the counter. “How the fuck do you expect me to get over this? We’re supposed to get married, and I’m just supposed to forget it ever happened?”

“I’m sorry.”

He takes a deep breath to calm himself. “Well, you’re home now. We’ll figure out how to deal with it.”

“I came here to get something things. I have to go back.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Excuse me? My psychotic killer brother is on the loose, and I’m one of the only people who actually knows enough to be able to help stop him. I can’t stay here, Jacob.”

“He’s a cop. He’s a big boy. He can take care of himself.”

“I’m going back, Jacob. You can’t stop me.”

“Then I’m going with you.”

“No, you’re not.”

“Then you’re not going.

Parker sighs. “You don’t get to order me around. I made a terrible mistake, and I shouldn’t have cheated. I should’ve come home and talked to. I’ve been avoiding this conversation for months now.”

“What the hell are you saying?”

“You can’t order me around, Jacob. You can’t run my life, and you deserve better than me.” She takes off her engagement ring and sets it on the island. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re seriously ending our engagement for that country hick deputy who cheated on you? I guess you kind of deserve each other.”

“First of all, he’s not a country hick. Second, I’m not going to be told what to do and how to act by anyone, especially the person I was engaged to.”

“You never loved me, did you?”

Parker sighs in frustration and stuffs the stack of mail on the counter into her purse. “I do love you Jacob. I’m just not in love with you.”

“If you leave, we can’t get past this.” He’s all over the place, and Parker knows she needs to get out.

“Do you really want to try and make a marriage work with someone who just told you she’s not in love with you?” She moves into the bedroom and pulls out her suitcase. Grabbing everything she needs, she stuffs it all into the bag.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m getting the things I came for.”

“If you leave now, you can’t come back. We will be done. I won’t take you back.”

“I wouldn’t want you to take me back after what I did. But, technically, I can. We’re both on the lease. But I understand. I’ll talk to Jesse and see if he can take me off the lease effective immediately.”

“You’re really done? You’re just going to leave?”

“Jacob, I’m really sorry. This isn’t how I wanted us to end. This isn’t the conversation I wanted to have. Not like this.”

“You’re leaving your only home for him? I can’t believe you’re that stupid!”

“This was never really my home. I was trying to force it to be. I was trying to force us to be what I thought I needed. I’ll come back for the rest of my stuff.” Pushing past him, she heads out the door.

As she heads to the elevator, she knows she won’t see any of her things again. And considering how irrational he’s acting, anything she left will be trashed. Probably along with the apartment. As she reaches the ground floor, she stops at the landlord’s office and knocks.

“Parker,” Jesse Neubauer says as he answers the door. “How can I help you?”

“I’m just wondering how a lease works in a situation where one resident moves out unexpectedly. There’s a really good chance Jacob will damage the place, and I just want to know what to expect.”

“Come inside,” he says. “Give me one minute.”

He returns a couple of minutes later from her office and hands a piece of paper to Parker. “What is this?”

“It’s a form stating you’re forfeiting your deposit and transferring the lease solely into Jacob’s name. He will be responsible for all expenses and damages as of today.”

“Done,” Parker laughs and signs the form. “If he gives any trouble, let me know. I’ll pay for everything.”

“I’ll bring the form right up to him so he’s aware before he decides to trash it too badly.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll see if I can get the rest of your stuff sent back to you. Leave me the address you’ll want anything shipped.”

“It’s fine. I have everything of importance. I’ll replace everything else.”

“It was nice getting to know you, Parker. You were one of my favorite tenants.”

“We rarely ever talked.”

“And that’s why you were one of my favorites. Paid on time and never complained. I hope everything works out for you.”

“Me too. And thank you, Jesse.”

Parker leaves and gets into her car. She lets out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. The relief she feels almost makes her feel lightheaded. Opening her purse, she reaches for her phone but sees a familiar white envelope with familiar handwriting. Shit.

Dear sister,

I’ve stumbled upon the perfect target without realizing it. It’s the perfect revenge. I knew the moment the flowers matched the walls. They won’t even know it’s coming, but the impact will be severe and devastating to Ryder. I can’t wait to see how it plays out!

See you soon,

K

Parker grabs her phone and calls Ryder. No answer. She calls Paige. No answer. She calls Mason. No answer. Sam. No answer. Ryder again. Right to voicemail. She’s about to try Mack when Paige calls her.

“Paige-“

“Kane killed Ryder’s mom.”