Chapter 21
When Ryker said he was going to have his way with me, it was the most absolute promise ever. After grabbing something to eat, we came back to the hotel and the marathon romp started before we pushed through the hotel door. Matter of fact, it started in the elevator when his kisses were powerful and his hands roamed. There wasn’t any slowing him down and it ended up being extremely late when he finally let me sink into a deep sleep—depleted and sated.
I wake up to his fingers feathering along my skin and turn my head slightly to greet him with a smile. “Good morning.”
“I got you a coffee and a bagel from downstairs,” he says.
I examine his half naked body. “You went like that?”
He licks his lips. “No. I went naked. But I thought it would be pretty indecent of me to climb back in the bed with you naked so I threw on my shorts.” Sarcasm drips heavily in his tone.
I playfully smack his chest and he rolls on top of me, shoving a knee between my legs. I grimace at the ache in my legs.
He hums conceitedly. “Am I a reminder of last night in those sexy legs?”
I frown, shaking my head. “No. After you went to sleep last night, I snuck out and went for a run through the city.”
He laughs.
I trace the outline of a purplish stained bruise on his cheek. “Are you not sore?”
He tilts his head slightly. “Nah. Dull ache. Nothing out of the ordinary, and nothing I can’t handle.” He licks my neck, curving to the bottom of my chin. “I like knowing my girl worries.”
Happiness glimmers in his eyes and it chokes my heart. I close my eyes, hiding the emotions. “I need you to do me a favor.”
Long pregnant and silent seconds tick by forcing me to open my eyes. He’s leery, curiosity heavy in his eyes as he peers at me.
“I need you to teach me. I want to learn—”
“Sweetheart, you don’t need any teachings.” By his tone, he’s insinuating a very different subject.
I smack the top of his shoulder. “No, you horn dog. I mean your fighting.”
A mixture of understanding and bewilderment storms into his eyes.
I continue. “I’m really happy you won, but I hated what I had to witness. Horrified, actually. I don’t want to feel that way about something you’re so passionate about, so I want you to teach me so I can understand it better. I don’t want to be scared anymore.”
A powerful and intense adoration pours from his view and grips my heart. “You keep talking like that and I’m going to make you my wife.” His eyes flash wide like he just scared the hell out of himself, but he doesn’t move.
My pulse disappears. “We’ve, um…” I stumble for words.
“I didn’t say it’ll be tomorrow, Whit,” he says unconvincingly. He pushes up and off me. “We have to hurry up. The plane leaves soon.”
The plane ride was more quiet than normal. Our conversation only consisted of short and unimportant things while the ones with his coaches and Kyce were full of interesting subjects—fighting of course.
We landed an hour ago, threw our bags into the back seat of his truck, and took off for Jackson’s house. He’s held a tradition that whenever he wins, he celebrates it with Gracie. He says she’s his good-luck charm.
“RyRy!” Gracie squeals, leaping out the front door and into his arms. “You won!”
“Did you have any doubts?” He hugs her.
She leans back, pushing off his shoulders, trusting his grip on her legs, and squeezes his cheeks. “He punched you one too many times. You slacked off really bad.”
Ryker lets out a deep rumbling laugh and sets her down. “You should be my coach.”
She smiles up to him just as Jackson appears at the door. “Congratulations on the win.”
Ryker tips his chin. “I’ll bring her back in a few hours.”
What do you think an eight-year-old and her uncle who just won an MMA fight would do for a celebration? Whatever it is. Whatever you just guessed…you’re completely wrong.
After driving forty-five minutes, we pull into a go-kart race track.
I’m officially being beaten by both of them who obviously have way more experience than I do. This isn’t their first time here or doing this. My first lap, I screamed like a scared chicken shit the whole way around while gripping my steering wheel so tightly, I think I lost circulation. By my second lap, I started feeling more courageous. My screech disappeared and I floated into the corners better. And now, on the third lap, I am on their tails listening to them banter back and forth.
They repeatedly steal quick glances between each other and yell random things over the loud purr of the engines. I catch up and bump into him. He twists in his seat looking behind him and sticks his tongue out at me before yelling something about crazy women drivers. Gracie takes advantage of his distraction and slams her hot pink car into his black and orange one. It sends him into the railing, ricocheting back off it and I zip past him just in time for the checkered flag.
Second place for my first time behind the wheel of a go-kart isn’t so bad.
Gracie squeaks her excitement, bouncing in her seat as she pulls into the lane to park. I’m right behind her. She unbuckles and jumps out of the car, twisting her hips and flailing her arms on the sidewalk, doing her little victory dance.
She high-fives me. “Team work. Girls against boys. We win!”
I giggle watching Ryker approach, feigning anger. “You two cheated.”
“What’s wrong? Don’t like getting beaten by two girls?” I quip.
“Yeah,” Gracie adds crossing her arms still triumphant.
He squints and lets the smile finally burst through. “Next time, you two won’t stand a chance.”
Gracie giggles and skips out in front of us. Her long hair is pulled into a ponytail, swaying from side to side. Ryker’s watching her and it swells my chest. There’s no denying how much he cares for her. And it only deepens the affectionate side of him he continues to surprise me with.