Chapter Twenty One
Ryker
It’s been a little over a month since Charlie and I found our way back to each other. It’s been fucking incredible. We laugh, we joke, we argue, and then we fuck. A lot. We can’t seem to get enough of each other. If I’m not seducing her in the kitchen, she’s attacking me in the shower.
I’ve learned quickly that Charlie’s not as meek as I’d first thought. The girl has attitude, and fuck me if I don’t love it. When she gets angry, her cheeks flush and her little fists ball up at her sides. It’s so fucking cute. To shut her up, all I have to do is kiss her and the next thing I know, she’s climbing me like a goddamned tree. Like I said – fucking incredible.
I spend most of my days running around doing shit for the club, leaving Charlie on her own for most of the day. I always make sure to get home early though, so I can spend time with my girl. The couple of times I had been late, I’d found her asleep in my bed, looking completely fuckable, wearing nothing but my Kings of Korruption t-shirt. Both those times, I’d woken her with my tongue between her legs. I don’t know which of us loves that more. My girl tastes fucking divine.
Today though, I got done with my shit early and headed into the city, stopping at a popular antiques store. A fucking antique store. The things I do for this woman.
Charlie had told me about the antique vase that had once been her grandmothers, and how she’d always kept it full of fresh flowers because they remind her of her mom. I know it had broken her heart to lose that vase, so I’d found her a new one. I know it’s not the same; it’s not a family heirloom, but it is old, and it is beautiful, and I know she’s going to love it.
Pulling into the driveway, I climb off my bike and open the saddle bag, taking out the shiny white, ceramic vase. I’ve filled it with a fresh arrangement of summer flowers that the lady at the florist said any woman would love. Fucking flowers. I can’t believe I’m doing this shit.
I climb the stairs, careful to keep the vase behind my back, just in case Charlie peeks out the window. Walking inside, I see that I shouldn’t have worried; Charlie doesn’t even know I’m home. I stand in the doorway watching her, grinning from ear to ear.
She’s wearing a tiny pink tank top and a pair of cut off jean shorts, hair in a messy bun and earphones hanging from her ears. The mop in her hand is flying across the floor as she shakes her sexy little ass to the music, singing the lyrics to a Def Leppard song at the top of her lungs.
Still grinning, I take another step into the room. She catches the movement from the corner of her eye and screams, hand flying to her chest.
“Jesus Christ, Ryker! You scared the shit out of me!”
I chuckle. “I see that.” Moving towards her, I grab her by the hip and pull her to me. “You’ve got some sexy moves, baby. You’re gonna have to do a little strip tease for me later.” I wink.
She laughs. Her laugh is incredible. I love hearing it and work hard to get it; often. “Yeah. Think you could handle it?”
I grin at her and lean in, placing my lips on hers. “We’ll just have to find out, won’t we?”
Wrapping her arms around my neck, she smiles widely at me. I straighten, still keeping the vase behind my back with one hand.
“I got something for you today.”
She looks at me and tilts her head to the side. “You did?” She puts out her hand, wiggling her fingers. “Gimme.”
I chuckle softly. Pulling my arm from behind my back, I present her with her vase of flowers. If her gasp is anything to go by, I think she likes it. She presses both hands over her mouth and just stares at it. Ok. Maybe she doesn’t like it.
“I know it’s not the same, but it’s an antique like your other one. I just thought you might like something new to put your flowers in.” I feel awkward; like I’ve done the wrong thing. She keeps staring at it, a few tears shining on her cheeks. “We can take it back and you can pick out one you like. It’s no big deal.”
She gasps again and snatches it right out of my hands, hugging it to her chest. “You will do no such thing, Ryker Cole. It’s perfect.”
I can’t help but smile widely at her. Ok. She likes it. It didn’t seem like it at first, but what the fuck do I know? Women confuse the shit out of me.
“Where did you get this?”
“I went to that antique store downtown.”
“You went to an antique store?” Her tone is incredulous.
“Babe. You needed a vase.”
She keeps the flowers clutched to her chest and tears fill her eyes. “Do you have any idea how much I love you?”
Her words cause my heart to drop right into my stomach. I’d told her I loved her well over a month ago but she has yet to say it back. I’d ignored it, wanting her to say it when she was ready, not just because I’d said it to her. That didn’t mean I didn’t wonder though.
Grabbing the vase from her hands, I set it on the hall table. I wind her ponytail around my fist and grip her waist tightly. I pull her to me, pressing her body into mine. “Say it again,” I growl. I need to hear her say it again; to prove I hadn’t imagined it.
She holds my eyes. Placing a hand on the side of my face, she uses her thumb to caress my cheek. “I love you, Ryker.”
Fuck. I pull her face to mine and claim her mouth with my own, kissing her hard and deep. I pour all of my love for her into that kiss, feeling all of her love for me when she kisses me back.
I need her. I need to fuck her. I need to bury myself inside her, mark her somehow. Fuck. She loves me.
Breaking the kiss only long enough to whip her shirt over her head, I rub my hand across her stomach. Feeling the scars on her belly, my gut twists a little. I need to find a way to get rid of those fucking things. Every time I see them or feel them, I think of what that crazy fuck did to her. I hate that he can invade our bedroom, even if it is only in my thoughts.
I pull my lips away, reach for the button on her shorts and slide them, and her panties off her hips. Turning her away from me, I press her front into the wall. “I can’t wait, Charlie. I need to fuck you.”
She grabs my hand and slides it down her belly. Using her finger, she presses mine over her clit. “Then shut up and fuck me, baby.”
Jesus. Nobody has ever turned me on like Charlie. I need to hear her say it again.
Sliding two fingers deep inside her pussy, I rub the heel of my hand on her clit. Wanting to hear her voice, I pinch her nipple, causing her to cry out. “Say it again.”
She pants heavily, her breaths ragged and stuttered. “I –“ Moaning, she grinds her hips down onto my hand.
“Fucking say it!”
“I love you, Ryker,” she gasps out.
I yank my fingers out and drive myself inside of her, pinning her to the wall with nothing but my dick in her pussy and my hands on her hips. Fucking Christ, she feels magnificent.
Crying out, she places her hands flat on the wall and uses them to help her drive her hips back onto my cock. She is so fucking tight. We’d both been tested for STD’s and Charlie had been on the pill for a full month now. To be safe, we’d been using condoms as well, until her birth control was in full effect but I couldn’t wait any longer. She is so silky and wet. Feeling my baby with nothing in between us makes my eyes roll back in my head. She needs to come soon; I’m not going to last.
“Come for me, baby,” I growl into her ear.
She gasps and pants, still driving her hips back into mine. Her body shakes and her pussy clenches me like a vice, milking every ounce of pleasure from my cock, pushing me over the edge. We come together, our bodies totally in sync.
Still buried deep inside of her, I reach up, gripping one of her tits in each hand. I pinch her nipples hard, causing her pussy to squeeze me once again. “I fuckin’ love you too, baby girl. So fuckin’ much.”
She moans but turns her head to mine, capturing my mouth in a hot, claiming kiss. I pull away and catch her eyes. “Move in with me.”
A laugh bubbles up from her throat. “What? Ryker? You can’t be serious.”
I just continue to stare at her, my face showing her just how serious I am.
“Ryker!” She turns in my arms, disconnecting us and faces me. The look on her face is serious and grave. “Baby, we’ve barely known each other for two months.”
Grasping her face in my hands, I stroke her cheeks with my thumbs. “Charlie, I love you. I want to be with you. You’re my whole fucking world. That’s not going to change. You said you wanted to live. Let’s live, baby. Move in with me.”
Her face softens and her eyes search mine. She tilts her head into my hand, nuzzling her cheek against it. “Ok, honey. Let’s live.”
I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her to me, lifting her feet up off the floor before kissing her hard and fast. “I fucking love you.”
She smiles widely. “And I love you.”
Fuck yeah. She loves me.
***
Charlotte
I’m just putting the final touches on my makeup when the doorbell rings. Ryker pops his head out of the shower and looks from me to the open door of the bathroom.
“It’s ok, honey. I’ll get it.”
He looks at me for a moment before nodding. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
I head out of the bathroom, hurrying down the hall towards the door when the doorbell rings again. The prospects are coming to help Ryker move my stuff from my apartment to his house while I’m at work. I’d protested that I wanted to do it myself, but Ryker had insisted I shouldn’t be doing any lifting. He wouldn’t budge so I’d reluctantly agreed. It wasn’t like I had much of a choice. Besides, I was busy today anyways. This is my first shift back at the nursing home since my attack. I’m looking forward to it; to getting back to life.
Pulling the door open, I pause when I see that it’s not the prospects. Reaper stands in the doorway, jaw tight, his eyes on me.
“Uh … hey. Ryker will be right out.” I pull the door open wider and gesture to the inside of the house. “Come on in.”
He doesn’t take my invitation. He stares at me, intensity burning in his eyes. “Actually, I wanted a word with you. If that’s cool.”
Shocked, I nod, unease swirling in my belly.
“I was a dick. That night …” He spears his fingers through his hair and lets out a deep breath. “I shouldn’t have said the shit I said to you. I’m glad my boy has you, and I’m glad you’re ok.” His words are growled but I know this is his way of apologizing. I also know this isn’t something he normally does.
I owe this man my life, so I don’t make him work for it. I forgave him long ago. Smiling up at him, I place my hand on his arm. His eyes follow my movements before flicking up to me, surprise evident on his face. “Thank you, Reaper.” I hold his stare. “For everything. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.” I give his arm a gentle squeeze.
He nods his head and noticeably swallows. Knowing that he’s not comfortable with this whole conversation, I pull away and step aside so he can come in. “You want a beer?”
He follows me in slowly. “No.” He pauses, clearly uncomfortable. “Thanks though. We gotta be goin’ soon.”
I nod, at a loss for what else to say. Just then, Ryker comes out of the bathroom. He looks from me to Reaper, eyes assessing the situation. Looking back to me, he asks, “Everything cool?”
“Yeah, honey. I was just offering Reaper a beer. You want one?” I smile at him, showing him that everything is completely fine, and he has no need to worry.
He shakes his head. “Nah. We gotta get you to work, and I got shit to do today.” I smile up at him and he winks. “Go get your shit. We gotta go.”
The smile still on my face, I head off to the kitchen to grab my “shit”. I can hear Ryker and Reaper talking in the other room.
“What’s up, Reap?” Things had been strained between the two of them for a while. I don’t know what had happened, but I have a feeling it’s because of me. I know the tension has bothered Ryker though. He doesn’t have many close friends, and Reaper is important to him.
“Just thought I’d come by and help you guys get Charlotte’s shit moved.”
“Yeah?” I stand in the kitchen, holding my breath, waiting to hear what he says next.
But it’s not Ryker who speaks. It’s Reaper. “Yeah. You should know, I had a word with Charlotte.”
This is followed by silence. I peek around the corner and see Ryker staring at him; assessing. Reaper stares back. Ryker seems to find what he’s looking for because he lifts his hand and claps it down hard on Reaper’s shoulder.
“Glad to have your help, fucker. You can ride with the prospects.”
Reaper’s face contorts. “Fuck that. I take my bike. I’ll meet you at her place.” He turns, stalking out of the house.
Entering the room, I approach Ryker as he chuckles after his friend. “Everything ok, honey?”
He pulls me into his arms, smiling down at me before sliding his nose along mine. “Yeah, baby girl. Everything’s great.”
He leads me out of the house and down the driveway to his motorcycle. I love riding on it now. The fear I used to feel about bikes is long gone. Ryker and I take leisurely drives on it all the time, and now, even though he thinks I’m joking when I say it, I want one of my own.
I wrap my arms around him, taking in his scent and let the feeling of flying carry me away. I’ve never been so content with my life. I’m moving in with a man I love, who loves me back just as fiercely. I’m going back to a job that makes me happy. My sister is almost done paying back her debt, and apparently has found her own motorcycle man to take care of her. I’d met him, and although he’s a little scary, he really does seem to care about her. For the first time ever, I feel free. I am living.
Ryker pulls up to the entrance of the nursing home and I swing my leg over, climbing off the bike like a pro. He grabs my waist, pulling me up against his side and smiles at me.
“Have a good night, Charlie.”
I smile back and lean in to kiss him. “You too, honey.”
When I pull back slightly, his eyes are narrowed on something behind me. His jaw clenches, but before I can turn around to see what he’s looking at, he pulls me into him once again. His lips capture mine with a burning intensity. Even now, I’m amazed at how one kiss from Ryker can cause my heart to race.
I part my lips in a gasp and he takes full advantage, sliding his tongue along mine; tasting me. I tilt my head, swept away by the love I feel for this crazy man. He reaches down, gripping my ass and pressing me against his thigh. He continues tangling his tongue with mine and I grab onto his leather cut, oblivious of my surroundings and enjoy the ride.
My heart is pounding, my head swimming, when he finally pulls back. He grins at me, eyes crinkling at the corners. I try to catch my breath and lean in, giving him one final peck on the lips. He grabs the back of my head, keeping his lips on mine and rumbles, “See you tonight, baby girl.”
I smile against his lips. “See you tonight.”
Slowly, he releases me and I take a step back. He winks as I turn towards the building – and then it makes sense. He was staring at Jeremy. Jeremy stands by the entrance, face pale, a bouquet of flowers clenched in his fist.
I whip back around and glare at Ryker. “You –“
“Now he knows.” The matter of fact way that he states it causes anger to burn low in my belly.
“Why don’t you just pee all over me? Mark your territory.”
He chuckles. “Not into that shit babe, but I’m willing to try it if you are.”
I narrow my eyes at him causing him to burst out laughing. He is so infuriating sometimes.
“He needed to know, Charlie. Now he knows.” I roll my eyes, making his smile wider. “Have a good night, baby girl. I’ll be here at eleven to take you home.”
Forgetting my anger, my belly flip flops when he reminds me of “home”. Our home – together. I can’t hide my smile. “See you tonight.”
I turn again, noting that Jeremy is gone, and without a backward glance, hurry into work.