Chapter Seven

Ryder

She looked at me curiously. Then her look turned to one I had seen more times than I cared to remember.

She didn’t believe me.

I wanted to explain everything, but at the same time, I didn't want to talk about fighting. I wanted to get to know her. Her glare softened, and she asked me a few more questions before I changed the subject.

“So, you now know my last name. What’s yours?” I asked.

“Marous.”

“And just how long are you in Vegas for, Zoey Marous?” I asked.

“Until Monday. We’re going to a runway show tomorrow night for a new line that’s coming out. The boutique I work for knew I was planning to be here and asked me to check it out.”

“That sounds right up your alley,” I said.

She smiled. If I could just sit here and stare at her smile all day, I’d be happy forever.

“It is,” she said. “I love checking out fashion in other places. New York tends to get a little over commercialized, and it takes away from the real designers, in my opinion. Seriously, who wants to wear a dress covered in peacock feathers? I get it, but at the same time, I want to make clothes for the everyday woman. I can assure you that a lot of runway shows, at least televised ones, aren't even close to what most women want to wear. Most of the time we want to put on a soft dress or pants, look cute, and do our work.”

“Peacock feathers, really?”

“My whole rant and that’s what you heard,” she said with a giggle.

“What can I say? You said peacock, and I was immediately picturing a crazy dress in my head. Can you blame me?”

She just shook her head, smiled, and picked up her menu.

I looked down at mine, searching for the biggest protein load I could find. I needed to put as much in my body as I could. Not getting the right diet was the worst part of being away from home. Everything was so regimented within my walls, but out here, it was insane to try to get what I needed.

“You find anything you like?” I asked her as she placed the menu back on the table.

“I think I want the butterflied chicken breast with asparagus and candied pecans.”

“That sounds amazing,” I said, still looking at the menu in my hands.

“What about you?” she asked.

“I think I'll have that and the eighteen-ounce ribeye with steamed green beans and mashed cauliflower,” I answered, looking over the menu to make sure the sides were what I wanted.

“You’re going to eat all that?” she looked shocked.

“I have to protein load and meat is usually the best way to do that without shakes.”

She seemed to understand and smiled. “It's a lot of food, that’s all.”

“Well, I do like to eat, so it's a good thing I picked a career that requires it,” I blurted out, not thinking about her dislike for my chosen career. Her smile fell a little bit. I didn't understand why she was so against fighting. I usually had women falling all over me because I was a fighter.

As if she was reading my mind, she started the conversation all on her own. “For some reason, fighting concerns me. I don't understand it. Why you would risk your personal health for sport?”

“Well, it isn't really any different than football or hockey if you think about it,” I explained.

“It is different. They are wearing gear, they have some protection, and their main object isn’t to injure their opponent.”

“Okay, I’ll concede that point, but they still suffer from the same issues we do. Concussions are just as common in those two sports as ours. We learn to protect ourselves when we first start out.”

“I guess you’re right, but the thought of watching someone you care about get beat up hurts my heart.”

“Luckily for you, I have never been beaten up, so you won't have to worry about that too much.” I was trying to lighten the mood and maybe end the talk of my job. It seemed to work because she laughed.

A few minutes later, our food arrived, and she did the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen a woman do. She dug in. She didn’t try to be prim and proper or impress me by acting like she didn’t need to eat. She ate. Eventually, though, she slowed down and began pushing food around her plate.

She watched me as I ate and I watched her as she picked at her chicken.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I don't know. I like you, Ryder. I really do. But what are we doing here? I’m not a one night stand kinda girl, and I don't know how we could have any kind of relationship, if you were even thinking along those lines, when I live in New York, and you’re here.”

“Just so happens, I live in Connecticut for most of the year. I fly out and do some training here in Vegas, usually in the winter. I probably would have moved, but I don't want to leave my dad yet, so I keep my apartment in Connecticut.”

“It sounds like you have it all figured out.”

“As far as my career goes, I do for the most part. Just need to fill a couple holes along the way. As far as you and me are concerned, I don’t really have a game plan. Kinda figured we could just go with the flow. It doesn't have to be defined.” I smiled and lifted my wine glass to my lips. A gesture she mirrored.

I realized as I watched her lips open and take in the wine that I wanted her more than I could remember wanting a woman ever. I knew she wasn't that kind of girl, but I wanted to mark her. Make her mine in every sense of the word. As much as I enjoyed women, this was the dreaded cliché. She was different. I had to know this woman, and it was clear she wasn't the type I could fuck and leave. She was the type that made you a better man. The type that would hold all your shit together when it was falling apart. The type that you held onto for dear life and hoped like hell she would love you back.

“It's nice to meet a man that has a plan,” she complimented, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Nice to meet a woman who knows what she wants out of life,” I countered.

“Dessert?” the waiter asked, appearing out of thin air.

“I am so full.” She exhaled and shook her head. “But if you want something, then please feel free. Don’t hold back on my account,” she said with a smile as though she already knew I would order.

“I’d like that strawberry dessert you have,” I said. I’d had it before. It was to die for.

“Yes, Mr. Rollins. It will be right out,” he replied and then disappeared as stealthily as he had appeared.

“I have no clue where you put all that food!”

“I could eat more, but I figured you didn't want to sit here for another hour,” I said with a laugh, but I meant it. “I usually eat five to six thousand calories a day, some days more, some days less.”

“What?” Her mouth gaped open. “Seriously? Six thousand? A day?”

“Yeah, I average more like five, but after a fight, I'll eat more. Plus, during the training up to the fight, I tend to work harder and longer each day, so it goes up and down.”

“Does your weight change too?” she asked, the look on her face genuinely intrigued.

“Not usually. I stay around 185 but will go five pounds either way.”

The waiter reappeared. “Your dessert, sir.” He placed the plate of strawberries sitting on a bed of cream on the table, and I looked over at Zoey.

“You want a bite?”

She eyed the strawberries, then her eyes playfully turned up to meet mine. “Yes, I believe I do.”

“Hard to say no when it’s in front of you, isn’t it?” I teased.

“When it looks so delicious, yes, it is,” she shot back, never taking her eyes from mine. A jolt of energy passed between us and part of me wanted to toss the dessert aside and replace it with her lips. I refrained.

“The best part about this is the part you can’t see. You see, there’s a layer beneath the surface that you have to dig down to reach,” I informed her. The way one corner of her mouth turned up, I knew she picked up on the hidden meaning.

“Is that so?” she asked. “And just what is hiding underneath what I can see?” Her question was just as veiled as my earlier statement.

She was intelligent and that made her all the more attractive. But I wasn’t about to make it easy for her. I leaned in, like I was going to be serious and give her some insight into the man behind the muscle, then I pulled a bait and switch.

“The buttery croissant under this cream. Here.” I dug into the layers and made sure there was a little bit of it all on the spoon. I moved the spoon over toward her, and she reached for it, but I pulled it back and then offered it again. She slowly licked her lips and I felt blood rush toward my cock. When the spoon reached her lips, she parted them slowly. I pushed the spoon in and watched as her eyes closed and a small groan escaped. My dick swelled. Just watching this woman’s mouth had me hard. I wanted her more than I had before.

“It’s good, yeah?”

“Oh my god, that is the most amazing thing I have ever put in my mouth.” She moaned again, then winked at me.

I wanted to make a smart-ass comment, but I was afraid it would ruin the moment. She was flirting with me. Straight up flirting. I didn’t think I had ever had a woman flirt with me. I was more accustomed to them throwing themselves at me and I just always took what I wanted, and what they wanted to give. But for whatever reason, I was waiting for all the cues from Zoey.

We finished the dessert together. Even though she kept saying she was full, she kept taking the bites that I offered her. Every time her mouth wrapped around the spoon, I saw her mouth wrapping around my dick. My erection was uncomfortable and pushing against my slacks. For once in my life, I wished I had worn some sort of underwear. The slick material rubbing against my overstimulated skin was almost unbearable.

“Have you had a chance to see the Bellagio fountains?” I asked her as I placed my credit card over the bill and nodded for the waiter to pick it up.

“Not yet,” she said.

“Wanna come?” I sent a wicked grin her way and watched as she adjusted in her seat. Maybe she was feeling the heat between us as well. Hell, I was pretty sure everyone in the restaurant could feel it.

After I got my card back and signed the slip, I stood and reached my hand out for hers. She took my hand, and I helped her from her seat. I didn't let go of her hand as we made our way around the tables to the exit.

The heat nearly took my breath as we exited the air-conditioned building.

“I could never get used to this heat,” she spoke as we walked toward the famous fountains.

“I don’t know. I love it. It's so different than back home, and winter isn't even a thought to this state. It's great to be here when it's seventy degrees and people are wearing long sleeves and coats.”

“Seventy, really? That’s like summer in New York,” she said.

“It's different out here, but still amazing.”

We walked about a mile down the strip, discussing the differences between Vegas and the east coast. When we neared the Bellagio, I spotted a secluded area that was shaded from the sun. The fountains ran every hour on the hour during the day. I glanced at my watch. We had about ten minutes to wait. I led her over to the wall in the shade, rested my back against it, and pulled her to me, placing both of my hands on either side of her. I rolled her around so she was pushed against the concrete wall with one swift motion.

“Please tell me you feel this,” I whispered against her cheek then rested my forehead to hers. Knots formed in my core.

“I do,” she responded softly, then smiled and leaned into my chest. Her arms wrapped around me and pulled me closer.

I kissed her, and not in the soft way I had planned. I crashed my lips into hers and ground my pelvis against her. She groaned as my tongue slipped into her mouth. It wasn’t the kind of kiss that should have been shared in public, but this was Vegas, the city with no rules. My hands snaked around her and drew her even closer, wanting her to become a part of me. Her small hands ran over the ridges of my muscled back and clawed at my shoulders.

When I heard the first fountain shoot off, I pulled away and smiled, placing a soft kiss on her lips before turning her away from me and positioning her so that she could see the fountains in all their glory. I knew she could feel my erection pushed against her back, but she watched the fountains and oohed and ahhed as each note to the song was matched with movement by the water. She leaned back into me, her head falling back on my shoulder.

“This is amazing,” she muttered, still focused on the display. “I bet this is gorgeous at night. I’d love to come back and see that.”

“That can be arranged,” I whispered in her ear.

She wiggled against me as she laughed. I groaned and wanted to reach between us to adjust myself, but she wouldn't let go of my hands. The fountains ran for the length of the song, and when they finished I turned her around once more, kissed her again — this time slowly and tenderly like I had intended the first time. When she pulled her lips from mine, I tugged her away from the wall and we started our walk back to the hotel. The moment we walked into the lobby, a girl came rushing toward us.

“Hey!” the girl yelled as she ran up to Zoey and hugged her. The man behind her barely even acknowledged Zoey.

“Where have you been? We’ve been looking for you forever. Rick wants to go to the Mob Museum.”

“I think I'll pass,” Zoey said, but her friend was suddenly not listening to her.

“Um, hello.” Her friend looked at me and smiled then gave Zoey one of those looks girls give each other when you know they’re having a private conversation without words.

“Oh, sorry. Annette, this is Ryder. Ryder, Annette.” Zoey waved between us. “And that’s Rick,” Zoey added as if she had to just to be polite.

“Very nice to meet you, Ryder,” Annette said as she looked me over then pulled at Zoey.

“You that fighter from last night?” Rick asked me.

“Yeah.” I watched as Annette talked to Zoey. The girl’s hands were moving all over the place, and Zoey was laughing.

“That was some fight last night. It's nice to meet you, man.” The guy put his hand out but my attention was on Zoey and trying to hear what she was saying. Her friend's face was squished up in a scowl. I wanted to laugh.

“Okay then.” I heard Rick say, but I didn't really care. Still, they were with Zoey, so I tried to save a little face.

“Oh, yeah. Sorry, man. Nice to meet you.” I glanced at him, shook his hand and then turned my attention quickly back to Zoey. She was smiling, and I didn't, no couldn't, look away. It was a beautiful thing and should not be taken for granted. She laughed again, pushed Annette away, and turned to walk back to me but was pulled again by her friend. I could barely make out some of what was being said.

“Are you really?” Annette asked her.
“I might,” Zoey giggled.

It was all I could hear.

When I looked back toward Rick, he was watching a girl walking by with a tiny white skirt and literally turned his whole body to look at her.

“You see that?” he asked me.

“Nah,” I replied looking back at Zoey. She was walking toward me and smiling, her arm looped through her friend’s.

“We should all do dinner,” Annette announced.

“I don't know if Ryder has time tonight. Maybe another time,” Zoey said.

“It's fine if that's what you want to do,” I smiled down at Zoey.

I looked over her shoulder at Rick who was still woman watching. I get that men will look, but he was being disgusting. And for me to say that was a stretch. Even though I wasn't a girlfriend kind of guy, I still didn't act that way even when I was with a casual date. It was disrespectful and rude.

“I don't know,” Zoey said to Annette. “Just keep the calendar open, and we’ll be in touch a little later. We ate such a big lunch, and I don't know if I could even think about eating again.”

“Okay, I'll text you when we get back,” Annette told her.

Zoey leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, and Annette and Rick left.

Their little encounter had drained all of the heat from between us and I wanted it back. I had been euphoric for the last two hours, and that kind of connection with Zoey was definitely becoming a drug I wanted more of.

“So, you coming?” She smiled as she started to walk away. I took a couple of steps and caught up with her, placing my hand on her lower back and leading her into the casino. We played craps for a while, but she wasn't nearly as lucky today as she had been last night, so I convinced her to play blackjack with me. She leaned against my thigh as I played. I kept contact with her at all times. Rubbing her back or forearm. She was leaning between my thighs, and the intensity was screaming between us. I wanted nothing more than to go caveman on her, throw her over my shoulder, and take her to my room where I would cover her with my body and claim her as mine. The look in her eyes told me she wasn't thinking it was such a bad idea.

“You want to go?” I whispered, my mouth close to her ear.

“Yes.” Her tone said she wasn't exactly sure what she wanted to do, but her eyes told me she wanted me.

I was certain she wasn't the kind of girl to sleep with some guy she’d just met, but for whatever reason, it looked like she at least wanted to be alone with me. I didn't know what to do. I had no idea if she intended to allow it, but I knew what my instincts were telling me, and that was to get inside of her as soon as possible.

I guided her away from the table and toward the elevator. Once we were inside, I pushed her against the wall and covered her mouth with mine. We were pushing and pulling at each other before too long. The kiss was temporarily interrupted when the doors opened, and we stepped into the hallway. I picked her up and carried her down the hall, my mouth on her neck, her moaning with pleasure as I kissed and nibbled. The warmth of her body against my midsection bled through our clothing and encouraged my erection. She pulled the key card from my hand as I set her down in front of the door. Once the light was green, I shoved the door open and pressed her against it. She laughed a throaty, deep laugh that made me want her even more.

“I want you,” I mumbled between kisses.

“Then take me.” Her voice trembled as she looked up at me. Her words weren't as confident as her eyes, but I was too far gone to care. She wanted it enough to say it aloud, and she didn’t have to tell me twice. I lifted her and pushed the bar over the door once it closed. When I made it to the couch, I sat with her on my lap and placed my mouth over her dress just above her collar bone and bit gently into her flesh. Her back arched into me, pushing her breasts further into my face. I reached behind her and pulled the drawstring holding the halter-neck dress together. The dress front fell to her waist. For a brief moment, I admired her until she ground her hips into mine. My mouth immediately covered one hard nipple. I wanted to feel her squirm, feel her want me as much as I wanted her. Her mouth traveled over my neck and caused goosebumps to break out across my flesh.

“Mmmm.” The sound slipping from between her lips did something to me I couldn’t explain. I lifted her and walked toward the bedroom, but I only made it to the wall just outside the bedroom door where I pinned her with my hips. I kissed up her chest and moved my hand up her thigh reaching for the softness nestled between them. When my middle finger brushed across her panties, her breath rushed out. She pushed her hips towards my hand, and I almost came in my pants because it was such a turn on. My dick was so hard at this point it hurt. I needed relief, but I couldn't stop my hands from their exploration. All I wanted was to touch her.

The heat was intense as I worked my fingers over her panties. Her breathing changed and grew shallow and irregular. She reached out and rubbed my erection, pushing in just the right spot.

I had to change our current situation. I pulled her from the wall and turned, walking toward the bed. This time, I laid her back and worked my way down her body, making sure my lips touched every inch of her skin. I pulled the dress the rest of the way off, and her panties with it. Then I stopped to truly admire how stunning she was. I locked her hands beside her body and intertwined our fingers.

“You’re beautiful,” I said, and placed a kiss right below her belly button. I trailed my tongue down to the thin line of hair that led between her legs. I pushed them apart and when my mouth made contact with the sensitive area just above her opening, she tensed up and pushed me away.

“I've never...” She tried to pull away from me, but I wasn't having any of it. Knowing I was going to be the first man to taste her made me want this more than I wanted to be inside her.

“Just lie back and relax. I’ll go slow,” I assured her.

I reached again and pulled her legs apart, looking at the wetness that shimmered against her skin. She was tense and unreceptive, but she didn't tell me to stop.

“You okay?” I asked, checking in again.

She nodded.

“Really? We can stop anytime, but whatever we do, I need a yes or no, sweetheart.”

“Y-yes,” she stammered.

“If that changes, all you gotta do is say so. We can stop anytime.” She was into this; I just needed to get her to relax. I kissed around her thighs and used my fingers to move around her folds. I pinched her clit between my fingers. Her hips moved with each squeeze. Her eyes were tightly shut, so I leaned in and ran my tongue up her slit. She moaned in response, so I did it again, only this time I pushed my tongue inside of her. Her hips bucked against my mouth, and she grabbed my hair, holding my mouth closer to her. I continued to move my mouth over her, but when I pulled her clit into my mouth and sucked lightly, she squeaked out a small sound and her legs slammed on both sides of my face has her body shuddered. She was shaking and groaning with every movement my tongue made.

“Stop, please, stop,” her trembling voice pled. I licked a couple more times, just to feel her shiver, and then placed a small kiss over her clit before I pushed her legs apart and moved myself up her body, kissing along the way. She was shivering and covered in goosebumps. I placed my lips to hers and laid down on top of her. She gave me a lazy smile when I pulled back.

“I need you to fuck me now,” she said in a whisper.

The directive was so hot, I almost came on her belly.

“Yes, ma’am.” As much as I wanted to push balls deep into her, I needed a condom. As I pushed up from her to get one, she followed me. She reached for the front of my pants and ran her hand over my erection. Reaching for the zipper, she pulled it down, and my erection sprang free. As I watched her mouth lower to it, I pushed her back.

“As much as I want you to do that, it can't happen. As soon as your mouth hits my skin I’m gonna lose control and I need to be inside of you for that.” Turning down her beautiful lips wrapped around my cock was not an easy thing to do. As much as I wanted that, it wasn't something I could handle. In fact, I wasn't sure I could ever handle it.

She pouted, but pushed back up on the bed. I ripped the package with my mouth and blew the piece out.

She was splayed out in front of me, and for all the women I had been with, I had never felt more like a virgin than I did at that moment. It was going to be a battle to keep from releasing as soon as I pushed inside her. She reached down and ran her fingers over her pussy and I licked my lips, remembering how she tasted.

After donning the condom, I crawled up the bed and licked my way up her body. When I felt my tip bump against her, I grabbed my dick and pushed it back and forth over her lips just to tease her. Her hips rose to meet me, and I took advantage and pushed inside of her. With each inch I advanced, I could feel her expanding, but the tightness was almost painful. I pulled back and then pushed in again, gaining a little more depth each time I repeated the motion. Before long, I was slamming into her and had to slow myself down. She moaned my name, and I was in way over my head, literally. I leaned down and covered her body with mine, catching her mouth as I stilled inside of her. I needed a second to think about something other than how good she felt. Her insides hugged every inch of me, and I couldn't believe I was about to blow my load like an inexperienced teenager. I knew she was special, but I hadn't realized just how special.

She pushed against my shoulders, so I rolled over onto my back. She climbed on top of me. I knew it wasn't a good idea, but at the same time, I wanted to see her like this. She flipped around, facing away from me, giving me a full view of my dick as it slid in and out of her. No. This wasn't a good idea, at all.

“Oh, damn, Ryder,” she moaned as she rocked down onto me. I grabbed her hips and pushed up until she was on her knees in front of me. I pumped into her, feeling her tightening around me, and when her pussy clamped down on my dick, I shoved in as far as I could and came on a yell. I pushed three more times before falling back against the bed, pulling her with me. Sweat trickled down my chest, and I cringed when I felt my dick slip out of her, causing her to giggle.

“That was...I don't even know how to describe it,” I mumbled between heavy breaths.