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I was afraid to open my door in the morning. Would he be in the living room? Would he be gone?

I wasn’t sure which one I wanted either. I needed to assess the situation. First, a hot guy wanted me. I mean, he asked me last night, right? I think, now I wasn’t too sure where our conversation was going. Had he asked me to sleep with him? I had thought he had, but now I wasn’t too sure.

My brain was quite foggy with all of the events from last night. Also, I still had the image of Ryder saying my name as he came. And, I wanted to know why he said it. Was it because I had walked in the room? The way our eyes connected when I entered the break room that night, was more intense than anything I’d ever felt.

With bravery and pride, I exited my room and searched my house high and low but that fucker was nowhere to be found.

Where did he go?

No note, nothing. So, I continued on my daily routine, and when it was time to get ready for work I wondered if he’d be there.

It was Saturday night so chances were high I would see him again, and I didn’t know why but I was nervous.

Walking into work, my eyes searched everywhere for him. I didn’t want to come off needy, or psycho but let’s face it- I kind of felt both.

Marissa cornered me in the break room as I stashed my bag into my locker. Her long brown curls and deep dark eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Hey, so I think tonight is the night,” she said as she came to stand next to me. Wearing a tight t-shirt a few sizes too small and even tighter jeans, her red lips curved into a smile.

“I’m sorry.” I turned around to face her.

Her deep red lips and saucy attitude was something I had always loved about her.

“I think tonight I am gonna try to sleep with Ryder.”

Scratch the part about loving her, right now I wanted to rip her eyeballs out. Why was I getting so upset? I shouldn’t have been getting so angry, but something inside of me snapped and this little primadonna standing in front of me could tell I was agitated.

I just huffed and continued placing my bag in my locker as she grabbed my arm. “Hey chica, you okay?”

“Yeah, I’ve just had a lot on my mind,” I said. Yeah, like Ryder. I couldn’t shake him, every time I closed my eyes he was the only thing I could see. I wanted to fucking quit, walk out the door and never look back. But, come on let’s not be immature here, I would endure my shift, make my money, and hopefully head home alone.

I shrugged off Marissa and pretended I was fine as we made our way out into the club. The place had not opened yet, and we were busy setting up when Ryder strolled through the front doors looking fuckable as hell.

His long torso was covered by a dark gray t-shirt with the club’s logo across the front. Tight jeans, and what was this…a cowboy hat? I’d never thought cowboy hats were sexy until Ryder Drake decided to put one on his gorgeous head.

He walked like he didn’t have a care in the world, and when he saw me…gawking, yes, I was gawking…he winked.

Fuck me. He strolled behind the bar and high-fived Mark the other bartender. They chuckled to each other like they were in a high school gym locker room and I blew out a breath and turned away.

The club was sure to be busy on a Saturday night, and I made sure I had everything where it needed to be. I was in a sour mood, and tried to lighten up. Until I saw Marissa flirting with Ryder and my sour mood turned downright devilish.

In the first few hours of operation, I hung back and tried to stay away from everyone. I watched as Marissa and Ryder’s flirting became over the top, and then watched as he ran his hand down her cheek. The moment his hand made contact with her stupid skin, I couldn’t turn away. He tilted his head sideways and his eyes met mine from across the room.

No one was in the club except for the alcoholic locals who always showed up first to grab the best seats at the bar. When Ryder watched me as he ran his hand down her cheek, he brought her face closer to his.

His eyes were still hooked on mine and he leaned in and kissed her on the lips. Right! I know, he fucking kissed her, and my anger boiled. It exploded out of every pore in my body and I broke eye contact and headed into the restroom.

I took a deep breath as I slammed my way into the restroom, gripping the sink for support. What the hell just happened?

Breathe, Helena, hell, breathe. Why did I care if he kissed Marissa? I wouldn’t have cared two days ago, but now for some reason I cared. Shaking my head, I tried to gain control of the situation and return back out into the club to make some money. That was the most important thing, not some lame ass bartender, who had a habit of staring me down all the time.

Why had he said my name? Why had he stared at me while he kissed Marissa?

With no answers to any of my questions, I pulled out my phone and saw I had a missed text from Grant.

Hey, headed to your work tonight with some friends. Can’t wait to see you.

Great, more pissing. I ran my fingers through my hair as I straightened my shirt and headed back out.

When I came out of the bathroom I noticed three things:

One, Ryder had a line of women trying to gain his affection, and he laughed and smiled to them all as he poured their drinks and every once in awhile took his hat off and waved it in the air, eliciting catcalls from the women.

Two: Marissa was on the opposite side of the room, busy with tables.

Three: Grant was heading right for me.

Oh tonight was going to be a blast. Grant never normally visited me at work, actually I couldn’t tell you a time when he had ever stepped foot inside Club Arrow.

We had only known each other for about a month or so, and met through my best friend Waverly. We had an instant attraction to one another, and started sleeping together shortly after. But, we both made it very clear we wanted a no-strings attached kind of ordeal, and up until last night that’s all it had ever been.

“Hey sexy,” Grant said as he put an arm around me.

“Hey.” I led him to one of my booths lining the dance floor and his friends followed. There were six men altogether. With Waverly being one of them. I pulled Waverly aside and wrapped my arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug as he kissed my cheek.

Hell, fab girl, you look hot.” Yes, Waverly was your typical flamboyant, homosexual male. Every girl needs one as a best friend, and if you don’t have one….well then you need to seek one out, immediately. They’re awesome.

I kissed his cheek back, as he snapped his fingers. “Something’s different about you.” Waverly stared me up and down and then pulled me away from the group of men he was with.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said.

“Yes, there’s something going on. Spill it.” He stood there waiting patiently for me to tell him, nothing. Nothing had changed since I last saw him, absolutely nothing…except maybe a new attraction to a huge playboy.

I glanced in Ryder’s direction and even though he had thousands of women (okay not thousands, about twenty) feigning for his affection, his eyes were glued to mine…again. Fuck.

Waverly followed my gaze, and let out a low whistle when he caught sight of Ryder.

“Who is that stud, and how do I get one?” Waverly spoke in a low voice. It was the lowest I’d ever heard his voice go, and I cracked up at the sound of it.

“Believe me, he has issues.”

“I don’t mind a little issues, didn’t say I wanted to marry him. I just want to play with him.”

“Well, have fun,” I said as Waverly’s eyes were still trained on Ryder’s.

He twirled around as if he was struck by lightning. “Did you and he, did him and you. Did you guys fuck?”

“Classy,” I said, chuckling.

He turned all the way around, and grabbed my shoulders so he could gain my full attention. “Did you?”

“No, we didn’t.” I pushed his hands off me, and walked away from him. Walking up to Grant’s table, I took their drink orders.

Work sucked sometimes, I plugged their order into the computer, and made my way over to the bar. With tingles in my tummy, and a little nervous energy I grabbed a tray and waited at the server area at the end of the bar for Ryder to make my drinks.

When he saw me approach, he left the women in mid bar trick and rushed over. Leaning his arms across the bar, he smiled to me…a pretty big, dazzling smile.

I was in trouble, I knew it.

“Hey, Helena.” I swear he talked normal…but when he always said my name it always came out in a breathy, hot whisper.

“Hey.” My eyes darted around, and I tried not to make eye contact. My words sputtered, stuttered, and damn near wouldn’t come out of my mouth properly.

“Did you want me to come over tonight? We could play around, maybe even fuck,” he said in a serious whisper.

My cheeks flushed and I stood still. “Umm, no thanks.”

“What is with you Helena? I know you want me.” He chuckled as he stood his body upright.

“Oh, you think so? Well, I have news for you…I don’t want you, never will.” God, I sounded like a fifth grader, the snooty kind who always had all the right answers and told on everyone in class when the teacher turned his back.

“Well, I have news for you too. I could have anyone in this bar tonight, and I want you.” His cocky attitude was grating on my every nerve. Even though him saying he wanted me, kind of made me hot. And, I won’t lie, every bone in my body was anxiously awaiting his touch, I couldn’t believe he was talking to me in such a manner. As if.

“What about Marissa?” Oh goody, don’t let him know I’m jealous or anything. God, I sounded pathetic.

“What about her? I could go home with her tonight if I wanted.”

“Good idea, I think you should do that.” No, I didn’t, I didn’t want him and her to sleep together. My mouth was betraying me, but I couldn’t think straight.

“You want me to fuck her?”

The way he threw the “f” word around made my insides tingle, even though he was talking about someone else enjoying the pleasure of receiving him.

“Ryder, I don’t care what you do.” Yes, I did…you and I both know I did.

“Okay, but listen, there is no way I am letting you go home so you can get your kicks from that mother fucker.” He pointed across the bar toward Grant, and I turned around to see Grant watching the exchange between Ryder and I.

“What is your problem?” I asked.

“You, you’re my problem it seems.” He played with a cup that sat next to him on the bar as he stared at me with his big, blue eyes.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Like this morning, I woke up with my usual hard on. I tried to jerk off and I couldn’t get the image of you out of my head.”

Oh my God, I was floored by his admission, and didn’t know what to say.

“Okay.” I fumbled over the word.

“So, I figure if I could fuck you and get it out of my system, then I’d be fine.”

“Oh, but of course. You could just fuck me and all will be swell. Yeah, I don’t think so.” I said, sarcastically.

“It isn’t like that, Helena,” he said staring deep into my eyes all sexy and shit.

“What’s it like then?” I needed to get the drinks over to Grant and his friends, and with a glance I noticed a few more of my booths were being filled with partygoers.

“One night, I’m just asking for one whole night with you.” He pleaded to me with his eyes, and I couldn’t turn away.

I grabbed my drinks and placed them on my tray as I walked away. My mind raced with the possibilities, yes, I was considering his preposterous plan. One night, what could it hurt?

One night to get this sexual energy to disappear between us, one night to completely forget about him and things could go back to normal.

I handed the drinks off to Grant and his friends as Waverly stared me down, he knew. Of course, he did. It's like he had some crazy spidey sense.

Heading over to my other customers, I went through my routine in a daze. Ryder’s eyes were still glued on me throughout the night, and I couldn’t even speak to anyone.

Hours passed, and my mind was still cloudy. I was just going through the motions, making my money and not interacting with anyone. Grant and his friends finally left and as I kissed Grant goodnight, my mind was stuck on Ryder.

My body wanted Ryder in the worst possible way, my mind was still unsure, but as I contemplated his request I felt giddy with the chance to sleep with him. Was I really thinking about doing this?

Hell, yeah I was, he was hot, sexy, and I was sure he was housing a complete package in his pants. The whole kit and caboodle, the things erotic stories are written about.

I couldn’t understand why I wanted him so fiercely. My whole adult life was made up with random boyfriends, and sexual partners. I’d had sex before, but never enjoyed it like I would read about in romance novels. I had orgasms before, but I would never use the word explosive to describe them. Mind-boggling sex wasn’t something I’d ever had. I enjoyed sex, I’m not saying that I didn’t…it’s just it wasn’t something that overpowered me in a way that would gravitate my life.

Even when I had sex with Grant, sometimes I would be silently thinking in my head about other things. Like, did I remember to turn off the oven, or did I lock the front door. Even with other boyfriends, sex was great and I enjoyed it, but I was the type to have one orgasm, and then be done.

It amazed me how some women would talk about the multiple orgasms they would have and how sex lasted for hours, to me sex lasting longer than fifteen minutes grew tiresome for me, and I would pray the guy I was with would hurry up.

But, for some reason my body was growing needy with one stare from Ryder. My legs shook and my insides churned, wanting to feel his touch.

So yes, by the end of the night, when Ryder hung back and waited for me to grab my things from my locker, I smiled with the realization that tonight I would get to lick him everywhere. And, when I say everywhere that is what I wanted more than anything.

“Hey, so have you thought about it?” Ryder asked me as we walked out of the back doors of the club.

“Yes.”

“Yes, you’ve thought about it, or yes you agree?”

“Yes, to both.” I blushed.

“Holy shit, are you kidding?” His smile was huge as his eyes searched mine to be sure I was indeed taking him seriously.

“Yes, one night Ryder.”

He almost jumped for joy at my statement, but in a cool manly type of way not in a Richard Simmons type pansy-ass move.

One night, I would spend one night with Ryder and the sexual energy we both felt for each other would evaporate, or so I thought.