Chapter Eight

THE WORDS SOUND MUFFLED to her ears, and if she weren’t sitting down, Norah would most certainly feel as if she would pass out.

“But he is in jail,” she hears someone’s deep voice point out from around her and then a reply, “Do you have any idea how easy it is for someone in the Mob to have a double? It’s almost common practice. And see, Anthony Moretti burned off his fingerprints decades ago so if he does the same to his double it's almost impossible to catch.”

The heaviness settles on Norah, forcing her down into the dark depths of the blackness that surrounds her. She’s slipping, grasping on anything to pull her free but the hand is out of reach. She’s drowning in her own fear and despair with no one to save her.

“Norah?” she vaguely makes out the call until she feels light, weightless as if she’s flying. A scent surrounds her. The smell of something warm, something solid, and something loving. It beckons her, offers a reprieve from the depths, and she grabs it with both hands.

“Norah, are you okay?” Ryker asks as he cradles her in his arms holding her close as if he is afraid she may slip away.

“What happened? I . . . I think I passed out.”

“You did, but you weren’t out long. What is the last thing that you remember?”

“Um, I remember you leaving and then Alexis and you coming out on the deck, and I think I remember her saying something about – my father! Oh my gosh,” Norah cries out as she sits up quickly almost knocking Ryker in the chin with her head. “Are you sure? Positive?” she asks as she eyes Alexis.

“I’m positive. I’m so sorry,” the normally gruff female says in kind.

“What are we going to do?” she returns her gaze back to him and asks.

“I think the question is what do you want to do? Do you continue on with your plan which I am still not behind and try and capture your father. Or do you live your life fearing he may come after you? They still want you for whatever it is they have planned.”

“What if I’m not sure? On the one hand he’s still my father, though I haven’t seen him in God knows how many years but in my heart I’m not sure if I could turn him in. And on the other hand, I know without a doubt in my mind that the device isn’t what he’s after.”

Alexis perks up and inquires, “What do you think he wants?”

“Leverage. See he can only do so much damage with the device and only ten of the prototypes. But if someone, i.e., the commissioner, believes that by having Dr. Lewis and me my father could produce more of the implants. It’s really nothing more than gaining power. My father wants full reign of the streets, and he’s going to do whatever he can to get it. He’s power hungry and determined and will stop at nothing to get what he wants.”

“Even if it means taking you?” Ryker asks.

“Especially if it means taking me. I’m nothing more than a pawn, and as much as I love him because he’s the only family I have left, I can’t have him hurt any more people.”

“So you’re still going through with it?” he asks as he pins her with his gaze, his fearful eyes sending shivers down her spine.

“I don’t think that I have a choice. If I don’t, I’m afraid of what he’ll do next.”

She watches as Ryker’s face falls, his crestfallen expression burning a hole through her heart but she knows that if she doesn’t do this, her father will continue to hunt her down until he gets what he wants.

Ryker’s free hand runs through his hair, tugging at the longer locks and sucking his bottom lip into his mouth.

“Ryker,” she whispers as she tries to explain to him why she needs to do this. Not just for herself but for him too. They can’t be together with this hanging over them and if her father so much as gets a whiff of her being close to someone so famous it wouldn’t take but a well-placed attempt to destroy something and someone she loves.

“No, I get it. I do. It just aches to think about you putting yourself in danger. And to think my biggest fear was you being subjected to the paparazzi. They pale in comparison to this.”

“We still have another problem,” Jameson calmly states from his position at the dining set with their mother. “Let’s just say this all goes to plan, and we capture him to send him off to jail . . . the works. We still need to get the device and Dr. Lewis. And worst case scenario we can’t capture him, what then? I’m still tinkering with the program to run Norah’s software to disable the scanner, but I created the original to be ever-changing so trying to build something that will match and mimic it is like plucking a needle from a haystack.”

“You can do it, Jameson,” Ryker assures, and Norah feels a sense of relief that the brothers are on better terms.

“Duh, never said I couldn’t. Just said it is challenging. I need y’all to keep it in mind though. We’re not out of the woods until Norah can shut down the program.”

The group spends the next hour discussing how they plan to fool and capture Anthony Moretti. Norah is to go to one of the most public places, the market, and park a car in the farthest area of the parking lot. And then they discuss backups and creating a routine in case the group doesn’t try to take the bait the first go round.

It’s around 10 p.m. when everyone begins to trickle out of Ryker’s house or up to the bedrooms they occupied the night before and he has never been more thrilled to have everyone leave.

“Finally,” Ryker says to Norah and Jameson as they plop down on the couch in unison. The boys stack their feet on their coffee table simultaneously as she sits between them and both fiddle with their phones.

Norah snags her phone from where she left it this morning on the end table and powers it up. As she waits, she thinks about how this moment is never one that she had imagined. Of course, she never suspected that she would ever be on the radar of a musician, let alone a world famous rock star. She had envisioned herself spending many lonely nights collecting cats from the local shelter.

The operating powers up on her phone and she is immediately ambushed with multiple messages from an unknown number.

(Unknown): You can’t hide.

(Unknown): I’ll find you.

(Unknown): Not much longer now.

(Unknown): I see you.

The last message is sent from this afternoon so she wonders if her father had been waiting for her the entire time and knew she would have to go back to the lab.

Did he know about the implant?

“Hey, guys -,” Norah begins but then Jameson interrupts.

 “Is this awkward or is it just me?” Jameson asks, and both she and Ryker laugh it off.

“Yeah, definitely,” Ryker agrees as Jameson stands from the couch and begins walking toward the stairs.

“I’ll see y’all in the morning. And maybe keep it down this time,” he says with a flash of a smile in Norah’s direction causing her to forget about the text messages.

“He can’t hear anything. Don’t worry. We have sound proof insulation throughout this entire place,” she smiles up at him and he leans forward to press his lips against hers. “Mm . . . I think we should head upstairs too. What do you think?” he asks as he whispers in her ear and nips at her earlobe. A breathless moan escapes from between her lips, and she doesn’t even need words to agree. Ryker knows precisely what she wants – him.

He takes her and pulls her from the sofa, kissing her one more time before he guides her toward the front of the house and up the stairs. In a flash, they enter his bedroom and Norah finds herself flying through the air as he tosses her on the bed. A giggle erupts from her body at his powerful way.

“Are you still sore?” he asks as he begins yanking off his clothes and tossing them haphazardly around the room. Ryker pauses for a moment waiting for her response, and as she shakes her head, he removes the remainder of his attire. He stands before her naked and proud while she lies on the bed still dressed in the comfortable clothes she had tugged on earlier.

As she skims his magnificent body, all hard lines, chiseled muscles, she can’t help but think about how perfect his body is. Ryker is the definition of strong and lean. And while he may not sport any tattoos, he still gives off the bad boy vibe with the way his eyes demand her attention. A craving latches onto her as she stares at his engorged cock and she feels a hunger unlike any before.

Without a word, she slips off the bed and onto her knees and slithers up Ryker’s body until his cock is directly in her line of sight. His large stiffness should frighten her, but her hunger is too powerful, too insistent.

Norah leans forward and runs her tongue under the expanse of his cock, licking him from root to tip, loving the way his body jerks and he moans at her curiosity. Surprisingly his skin feels as velvety on her tongue as she had imagined.

Needing more of him, she wraps her hand around the base and slides her hand up and down watching as the softness hardens further within her grasp.

“This is a gorgeous cock, does he know that?” she says to herself until she feels his hand push through her hair, weaving his fingers in the strands, and tilting her head upward.

“Did I say that out loud?”

“Yep, and thank you. I’m rather fond of it. Especially when it’s near your mouth.”

“I’ve never done this before.”

“You don’t have to do anything, sweetheart.”

“But I want to. I want to taste you. I want to make you feel good,” she looks at his cock and then back at him to find Ryker staring at her with such love in his eyes that she feels warmth spreading all over her body.

“There really is no wrong way to do it. I promise whatever you do will feel fucking fantastic. Just don’t bite it. That shit hurts,” he laughs under his breath until she places her mouth on the tip and he hisses in response.

Norah opens her mouth and slides his cock past her lips. First just the tip, the mushroom head skimming past her lips effortlessly then as she pulls back she slides more into her mouth until his cock is touching the back of her throat. Norah had thought she had a strong gag reflex but as she’s able to take more and more of him with each pass she considers that Ryker must be the addendum to the rule.

“God, that feels so good, princess,” Ryker growls as his hand tightens in her hair.

Soon she finds herself held in place by Ryker’s hold as he begins thrusting into her mouth on his own. He tilts her head back at the right angle so that he slides down her throat and right back out again. As her saliva builds in her mouth, dripping out of the corners and with every pullback, Ryker’s thrusts quicken.

“Fuck, I’m gonna come, baby. Do you want it?” he asks as his wild eyes take her in. She nods her head and then swallows reflexively, and that causes Ryker to lose himself down the back of her throat. His warm seed fills her mouth and travels down her throat as she swallows.

Norah glances up at Ryker to find him standing stiffly with his hand still thrust into her hair and his eyes closed tightly. His still hard erection falls from her mouth, and she sits back on her heels looking up at him submissively.

“Was that okay?” she asks nervously, wanting to please him and maybe herself as well.

“Princess, if that were any better I would have died. You would have sucked the life right out of me.” Suddenly his eyes open and he looks down at her with his sexy half-grin growing on his lips. “Now, get your beautiful self on that bed because tonight I want to fuck you so good that you forget your name.”

 

*

 

RYKER FOLLOWS HER ONTO the bed, loving the way she sways her hips in his view knowing that it is driving him wild.

“Where do you want me?” his little seductress asks as she perches before him on all fours.

Captivated by the soaked pussy before him Ryker doesn’t respond. Instead he reaches out and swipes his hand across the folds watching as Norah’s body shakes. His thumb sneaks into her slit and backs out again as he coats her pussy with more wetness. Norah groans at his intrusion and drops her head and shoulders onto the bed, raising her hips higher in the air.

“You look gorgeous like this. Your pussy displayed just for me. You like it when I touch you like this, don’t you?” Ryker asks as he continues to slide his thumb in and out of her sex as he coats her folds in her own heat.

When Norah doesn’t respond Ryker raises his hand and slaps one of the perfect globes of her ass. She yelps in response and her muscles tighten around his thumb. “Ah, fuck. You like that too, don’t you? You like it when I spank you.”

“Yes,” she replies hoarsely as she rocks her hips back against his hand.

With her bottom right in his reach, Ryker uses his other hand to grip one of her cheeks before spreading it away from the other, opening her pussy more. Unable to control the urge Ryker leans forward and places his mouth over her clit and sucks it between his lips as his thumb continues to probe in and out of her sex.

“Shit,” she exclaims, and Ryker smiles against her pussy feeding off of her reaction to him.

Exchanging his thumb for his finger, Ryker thrusts the digit in and out of her body while he uses his other hand to stroke her folds and circles her clit. Her arms and legs begin to shake beneath her body, and Ryker knows that she is close to falling off that cliff.

“Come on, baby. Give me one, and then I’ll fuck you.”

Her body clenches around his finger, and he knows that she’s going to explode in seconds so he’s surprised when she asks, “Promise?”

“Hell yes, baby. My cock wants to be inside you more than anything.”

Finally, she lets herself go, and Ryker leans forward to taste her release with his mouth, holding her body steady with his hands. Norah tries to relax on the bed, but Ryker quickly pulls her hips back up and aligns his cock at her entrance.

“Now I’m ready for your request,” he claims right before he plunges deep inside her.

Ryker stills and allows Norah to adjust to his size, her tightness squeezing him so firmly he’s afraid he’ll lose blood to his cock. His hand travels down to her sensitive clit and as he circles the nerves her body bucks, sliding his cock out and back into her sex. Causing them to both groan simultaneously.

He starts slowly, guiding himself in and out of her warm sheath until her hips begin to move in the opposing direction. Their sweating skin smacking against each other with every thrust as their speed increases. Soon Ryker reaches over and wraps his hand around a fistful of her hair and tugs at it as she rises onto all fours. His other hand clenches her hip as he slams his cock inside her over and over.

Abruptly Ryker pulls free from her channel, and she moans at the loss as she peers over her shoulder, her brown eyes shimmering in desire.

“I want you to ride me, princess,” Ryker challenges as he moves across the bed and grabs her around the waist. Somehow he maneuvers them so that he is lying on the bed and Norah is hovering above him, a nervous look on her face as she bites down on her lower lip.

He reaches down and grabs the base of his cock then travels it back and forth through her folds watching as she releases her lip and her body begins to relax. Positioning himself at her opening, he grits his teeth as she slowly slides down his cock inch by glorious inch until he has filled her to the hilt. She rocks her hips back and forth in a steady beat, learning, testing, and Ryker reaches up and grabs one of her soft breasts, caressing the nipple with his thumb.

“You look beautiful like this. Taking what you want,” his husky voice says.

Norah’s nervousness blossoms into a craving and she smirks at him, her eyes glimmering with a secret of her own. She leans forward to rest her hands on his chest and begins to slide up and down his cock, her ass bouncing up and down as it swallows him deep inside her pussy.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” Ryker shouts as her movements hasten, her eyes closing as she takes everything she can.

Ryker knows that if she keeps up at this pace, he will explode soon, so he startles her by sitting up and sinking his hands into her hair, kissing her passionately. Their tongues duel as they fight for command of the kiss and her body tries to rock against him, but he moves one of his arms to her waist holding her in place with a steel grip.

Resting on the bed once more Ryker looks up at Norah whose mouth is pink and plump and he almost regrets pulling away from the kiss.

“Put your hands on my chest,” he commands as he snakes his hands down to her waist and holds her body still.

With his heels pressed against the bed Ryker jerks his body upward, sinking his cock inside her core before withdrawing again. He repeats the motion over and over as Norah gasps and moans above him. She cries out his name as he thrusts inside her loving the way her body clenches around him.

Flipping her onto her back Ryker quickly positions one of her legs over his shoulder without pulling out of her body. With his cock buried deep at this angle, he reaches forward and rubs her clit with this thumb. He’s close, his release building in his spine, the tingles threatening to release at any moment.

“Come now, princess. I need you to come.”

She follows his command and reaches her pinnacle, her muscles pulsating in waves around his cock as she milks his release from him. He stills above her until every last drop of his seed is deep inside her body.

“That was fucking amazing,” Ryker announces as his cock slips free from her lithe body and he catches his breath.

Norah nods her head, her body exhausted from its use. He lies on top of her, careful not to crush her body, and frames her face with his hands.

“You’re incredible you know that? Not just because of the sex, even though it’s freaking mind-blowing, but because you’re this strong, capable woman. I’m honored that you let me be a part of your life.

“Am I supposed to cry after sex?”

Ryker chuckles and presses a kiss to her shoulder.

“Crying is usually only reserved for virgins, and you lost that right yesterday.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

“I just want you to know that I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Inclining toward her Ryker closes the space between their mouths until they’re both lost in the kiss. His cock awakens and it seeks out her sex.

“Already?” Norah asks as she pulls away and looks down their bodies.

“He’s insatiable. Just ignore him,” he explains as he kisses Norah again, ravenous for her taste.

“But what if I want more?” Norah whispers brushing her lips against his.

A growl unleashes from Ryker’s chest as he slides his cock into her warm channel savoring the feel of her walls as they tighten around him.

“I hope the guys have earplugs. It’s going to be a long night,” he jokes as he makes love to Norah in the fading light of the sky.

 

 

RYKER LOOKS OVER AT the alarm clock on the nightstand and sighs as he watches another number tick by. After their lovemaking Ryker had fallen into a dead sleep with Norah in his arms, but around 3 a.m. he woke with a start and hasn’t been able to fall asleep. That was over an hour ago.

He loves the feeling of Norah sleeping soundly against his chest, but he is restless. Sliding his arm out from beneath her head Ryker slips out of bed, yanks up his jeans from earlier, and grabs his music notebook and his acoustic guitar.

Out on the back deck, the full moon shines brightly on the yard. Because of the fence he can’t see any glowing eyes of deer or any other animals save for a few birds and owls up in the trees in the distance.

Sitting on the outdoor sofa Ryker focuses on the Cape Cod, one of the lights in the living room burning into the night and he knows that Gary, his security guard, is awake. The man can go on an hour or two of sleep; Ryker never understood how he did it.

Staring at his notebook Ryker reads over the lyrics to a song that he had been playing with earlier in the day while Norah had been in the shower. An upbeat love song that he is struggling to piece together as a whole. He taps a beat out on the neck of the guitar before he lets the music in his head flow out through his fingers to the strings.

It takes a few tries but out of the blue the missing part rockets through him, and he plays it out.

“Yes,” he says out into the crisp fall air as he jots down the lyrics and notes into his writing pad.

Tossing his things onto the sofa, he runs his hands through his hair with a smile on his face.

Damn, today ended up being a decent day after all.

His mind finally settling, exhaustion rushes over him and the need to have Norah in his arms forces him to stand from the sofa. But as he looks up, he sees a red light off in the distance in the upper tree line.

“Oh, shit!” he whispers as he ducks down but he isn’t quick enough and the bullet courses through his shoulder.

Despite the pain surging through his shoulder and arm Ryker jumps from the porch and runs like hell toward the area where he had seen the red light. He knows that it’s stupid, especially since he is unarmed, but his protective instincts have taken over.

With his hand pressing against his wound, he hears the pounding footsteps of Cohen and Eli as they rush from the house toward him.

“Shooter,” he achingly points out as his pace slows and his vision blurs, the blood loss taking a toll on him.

Cohen continues to chase in the direction Ryker aims his hand while Eli hovers over Ryker and pulls his hand away from the wound.

“Shit,” Eli says as blood pours from the opening down Ryker’s chest and he immediately feels himself drifting into unconsciousness. “Oh, no. Stay with me, dude.” Pressing his shirt to the open wound Eli ducks under Ryker’s other arm to help him walk back to the porch. “I sure as fuck hope that you have a first aid kit inside.”

“There is one in the kitchen. EMS grade.”

“Good because we need a hell of a lot of anticoagulants.” Eli looks down to him but all Ryker can make out is a blurry shape that looks similar to a head. “Dammit,” Eli murmurs under his breath as he practically drags Ryker the rest of the way.

“Shit,” Ryker whispers just as the blackness closes in and pulls him under.