Chapter Seventeen
Ryker
I tried to keep myself busy so I wouldn’t think about Austen. I did the dishes, folded some laundry, and then watched the game on TV with a cold beer sitting on my knee. But my thoughts trailed to her anyway.
I eyed the time, wondering if her dinner was finished yet. I wanted to ask her how it went, if that piece of shit managed to say something to make her forgive him. I sincerely hoped not. The second I looked at him, I didn’t like him. It ticked me off that he kept hunting down Austen like he was entitled to her time.
When ten o’clock came and went, I started to get worried. Did they make up and now she was going back to his place? I knew Austen well enough to know that was extremely unlikely. Even though she still had feelings for him, she wouldn’t sell herself short like that. She was better than that.
But that didn’t stop me from stressing out.
When I couldn’t take it anymore, I caved. I texted her. How’d it go?
The three little dots didn’t show up on the screen. Her message box was completely empty. I wanted to say something else, but that would make me look like a clingy weirdo. I shouldn’t have texted her to begin with. If she wanted to talk about it, she would have called me.
But I kept glancing at my phone anyway, hoping for those three little dots.
There was nothing.
I started to get worked up all over again, thinking about their clothes falling into a pile on the floor. I pictured his hands all over her body, his lips treasuring her skin like she was his again.
I nearly crushed my bottle in my hand.
Finally, the three dots appeared.
Thank fucking god.
Can’t really answer that through a text message.
Then come over. I wanted her here anyway. If she was with me, then she wasn’t with him.
I’m on my way.
I cleaned up the apartment and tossed my beer because I wasn’t in the mood to drink anything. I was just anxious to hear her story, to know what happened between them over dinner.
She finally walked inside, looking stunning in the black cocktail dress she wore with heels. There was no way he sat across from her at the table and didn’t think about fucking her.
My arms circled her waist, and I brought her into my chest, cradling her like a gentle flower. I kissed her because my mouth was so eager for hers.
She kissed me like she always did, with the same eagerness and affection.
Once my lips and hands touched her, my natural instinct was to head to the bedroom and move between her legs. That was the way we communicated—with our bodies. My hands gripped the fabric of her dress but refrained from yanking it over her hips. I finally pulled away and looked at her. Her expression wasn’t easy to read like it usually was. Now I was in the dark, unsure what she was feeling. “What happened, sweetheart?”
She told me everything Nathan told her, that he didn’t leave because he wanted to. He was essentially blackmailed because of one stupid mistake that he made. Then the hole he stood in got deeper and more complicated. It tore their relationship apart. “He seemed sincere about the whole thing. I don’t think he’s lying.”
I couldn’t believe Austen had a friend who would do that to her. She was so nice and loyal to her girlfriends. She didn’t deserve that. “Lily needs to get her ass kicked.”
“She’ll get what’s coming to her. Karma works that way.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.” I ran my hands up and down her arms, being as emotionally available as possible. “You didn’t deserve that after sleeping with Owen. That was totally blown out of proportion.”
She rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it…”
“Anything else happen?” Nathan must have had another motive to sit down with her and confess the truth. He had years to do it, but he waited until now. The reason was pretty obvious to me.
“He asked for another chance.”
I held her gaze as I waited for her response. Even with the explanation, his behavior was inexcusable. That hookup in the bar never should have happened, not when he had a beautiful woman waiting for him at home. But I didn’t tell her that because she already knew my opinion about the matter.
“I said no.”
I tried to mask my relief as much as possible. I wanted to sigh, but I stopped myself from doing it and giving away my feelings.
“Now that I know what really happened, I feel better. I guess knowing it was much more complicated than him simply falling in love with someone else makes things easier. It wasn’t because of me. It wasn’t my fault.”
“Of course it wasn’t your fault. You shouldn’t have even thought that to begin with.”
She shrugged and looked away. “After he left me, I swore off men for the rest of my life. I wanted to be alone forever, never trusting anyone. But now this gives me hope. Maybe I can get better and be normal again.”
I didn’t want her to be normal again. I wanted her to stay broken just like me, as selfish as that was. “Even if he never told you the truth, not all men are like that, Austen. There are plenty of men who are honest, faithful, and extremely loyal. Don’t let one bad one ruin your opinion of the rest.”
“I know…”
“I’m glad you didn’t give him another chance.” Since she’d already made her decision, I didn’t feel guilty for saying it. “You deserve someone better than that, someone who can get their shit right the first time around.”
She gave me a weak smile, the kind that was forced. “Thanks, Ryker. You’re always so sweet to me.”
“Not true and you know it.” I moved into her and cupped her cheeks with my hands. My fingers touched her soft hair, and I inhaled her scent. “You know I’m rough and mean when we’re naked together. But you like it like that.”
Her hands wrapped around my wrists, and she gave me an affectionate look. “I do.”
I pressed my mouth to hers and kissed her, adoring her soft lips as they moved against mine. My fingers dug into her neck, and I felt my desperation creep to the surface. My need grew in intensity until my breathing grew deep and rugged. I wanted to be buried inside her, but now it was for a different reason.
I wanted her to be mine.
***
“Damn, that woman is fine.” John nodded across the bar to a woman in a tight black dress. She had blond hair and blue eyes, looking like a Barbie doll.
I glanced in her direction then turned back to him. “Did you see the game last night. I can’t believe—”
“That’s it? You aren’t impressed?”
“Impressed by what?” I drank my beer as I stared at him, unsure what he was talking about.
“I said that woman was hot, and you changed the subject to sports.”
“What do you want me to say?” I countered. “She’s hot. So what?” There were beautiful women all over the city at any given time. If you tried to look at them all, you were going to get serious neck cramps.
Liam returned from the end of the bar with a new beer in hand. “It’s because he’s seeing my sister.” He stood between us and eyed the people having a good time under the dim lighting. “He’s tied down at the moment.”
“You’re tapping Austen?” John asked in surprise.
I immediately turned angry once he talked about Austen like she was some kind of piece of ass. “Don’t talk about her like that.”
“Ooh…there’s my answer,” John said with a laugh. “How long has this been going on?”
“We aren’t seeing each other,” I corrected. “We just hang out. That’s all.” I kept it PG, even though Liam didn’t seem to care either way.
“Until she breaks your heart like all the others,” Liam said. “Give it time.”
“She’s not gonna break my heart.” I didn’t have a heart to break. Rae did a pretty good job of ruining me for the rest of my life. “And I’m not going to break hers. We’re really good friends.”
“You mean, you’re really good fuck buddies,” John corrected.
I glared at him again. “If you don’t want a broken jaw tonight, I suggest you watch what you say.”
“What?” John asked innocently. “Are you saying I’m wrong?”
No. He hit the nail right on the head. “Just don’t talk about Austen like that. If you can’t do that, then don’t talk about her at all.”
Liam eyed me with a concentrated stare. He held his beer but didn’t take a drink, focused on my reaction. He exchanged a look with John before he looked at me again. “Ryker…do you have feelings for my sister?”
“I wouldn’t be hanging out with her if I didn’t,” I snapped.
“But like, real feelings,” Liam said. “It almost seems like—”
“We’re really good friends.” I wanted this interrogation to end then and there. “Yes, you’re right.” I downed my beer then silently excused myself to the restroom, wanting to avoid their idiotic assumptions and questions.
I walked into the hallway where the bathrooms were located and pulled out my phone. What are you doing? I fired off the message instantly and watched the dots appear.
Eating a slice of greasy ass pizza.
I immediately smiled, like the guys didn’t just piss me off. Sounds hot.
I’m pretty much making love to it.
I chuckled out loud without caring if anyone saw me. I’m so hard right now.
The sad thing is, I’m not sure if you’re joking.
Well, I am always hard when it comes to you. You’ll never know until you check yourself.
I’m out with Mad and Jenn right now, so I’m not sure if I can make that happen.
How long will you be out with them?
Who knows? There’s been talk of going racing.
Racing?
At an indoor track with electric cars.
I smiled because the idea of her racing in a little car was adorable. Now that’s really hot.
You guys wanna come?
I definitely didn’t want to hang out at this bar and check out the women hanging around. They were just blurs to me. Why would I pick up a woman when I already had a fine little number I could call at any time? I’ll check with the guys. Our evening is pretty boring, so they’ll probably say yes.
Where are you?
At a bar.
No sexy ladies?
None that I can see. I shoved my phone into my pocket and walked back to the guys at the bar. “You guys wanna go racing with the girls? They’re heading to a track with electric cars.”
“Madeline gonna be there?” Liam blurted.
“Yep. So is Jenn,” I answered.
“Ooh…Jenn is hot.” John downed the rest of his glass and set it on the counter and tossed the cash on the table. “Let’s go.”
We left the bar then walked up the sidewalk, passing other New Yorkers as we went. “What’s happening with you and Madeline?” I couldn’t tell if they were exclusive or not. He didn’t hit on other women, but he was still checking them out.
“Went on a few dates.” Liam walked with his hands in his pockets. “Taking it slow. Don’t want to scare her off.”
“Don’t play games either,” I said. “If you like the woman, just tell her.”
“You’re one to talk,” he said with a laugh.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I stared at him as we walked.
“You’re so sprung off Austen. You guys aren’t just casual friends. I warned you about her, but you didn’t listen to me.” He shook his head in disappointment.
“We are just casual friends.” When we started fooling around, I didn’t expect it to last this long. And I didn’t expect to be so fond of her. But I found myself wanting to spend time with her even when sex wasn’t involved. But that didn’t mean my feelings were anything less than superficial.
“You didn’t even look at that woman in the bar,” Liam argued.
“Because she wasn’t that pretty,” I countered. “That’s all.”
Liam clearly didn’t believe me. “Do what you want, alright? It doesn’t make a difference to me either way. But be honest about it. If you aren’t, you’re gonna get your heart stomped on. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Thanks for the warning,” I said sarcastically. “I forgot your sister is such a monster.”
“She’s not a monster,” Liam argued. “She’s just a heartbreaker. Plain and simple.”
I’d been seeing her for almost three months, and I didn’t get that vibe from her whatsoever. She was harmless and honest. She met with Nathan and even forgave him. A cold person would never do that.
“You’re my friend, and I don’t want you to get hurt,” Liam said. “That’s all. I think you’re falling for her, and you don’t even realize it.”
“Trust me, I’m not falling for her.” Rae was still on my mind almost every day. I wanted her face to disappear from my dreams. I wanted her presence to disappear from my heart. She was happy with another man, and I needed to move on with my life.
“Whatever you say, man.”
We arrived at the racetrack and paid to get in. The girls were already there, sitting at a table sharing a plate of nachos. Their helmets were set on the surface, large racing helmets the pros used.
I wanted to laugh when I pictured Austen wearing one.
“Hey.” My eyes were on Austen when I walked up to their table. “Didn’t you just eat pizza?”
Austen popped a chip into her mouth before she stood up. “Yeah, but it was only one slice. And drop the judgment, alright?”
“No judgment.” I smiled before I wrapped my arm around her waist and kissed her on the mouth.
She stilled at my touch like she didn’t expect the affection.
I didn’t even realize what I did until the damage was done. When we were around our friends, we kept our hands to ourselves. The wedding was a one-time thing. But the second I looked at her beautiful blue eyes, I lost my train of thought and reacted off instinct.
I pulled my hand from her waist and cleared my throat. “You ready to race?”
She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Yeah, definitely. I’m not gonna go easy on you though. So be prepared to get smoked.”
“You’re gonna kick my ass?” I smiled again when her comment broke the tension. “You just keep getting hotter and hotter.”
She rolled her eyes and turned back to the group. “Let’s hit the track. The losing team buys the next round.”
***
The women smoked us.
Bad.
I wasn’t even going to sugarcoat the defeat. It was obvious it wasn’t their first time on the track.
Austen and I walked back to my apartment after we said goodbye to everyone else. “Where did you guys learn to drive like that?”
“Madeline and I have been doing it since we were kids. So don’t feel bad.”
Now that we were alone together, I grabbed her hand and interlocked our fingers.
She didn’t tense at the touch, but she glanced down at our joined hands.
“I do feel bad. We got our asses handed to us.”
“Well, practice makes perfect.”
“I could practice for a year and still not be as good as you.” We entered the apartment and took the elevator to my apartment. Once we were inside, we both entered the bedroom automatically. “But I’m awesome at bowling. So I’ll kick your ass, then.”
“I like bowling.”
Now that we were alone together, my hands immediately went for her clothes. I held her gaze as I pulled her top over her head and unclasped her bra. I’d undressed her so many times that the action was instinct. I went for her jeans next, kneeling down as I pulled them off. I kissed her legs as I pulled the jeans from her ankles, spreading soft kisses against her warm skin. I loved everything about her—particularly these gorgeous legs.
I pulled her panties off next then pressed my mouth against her nub. I kissed the delicate skin tenderly, teasing her clit until I gave her the kind of pleasure she craved. Her breathing increased, and she gripped my shoulders for balance.
I wanted to keep tasting her pussy, but my cock was hard and angry in my jeans. He was anxious to be free, to fuck this woman with all the aggression built up inside him. I rose to my feet then positioned her at the foot of the bed. I liked taking her like this because I could get deep inside her, giving her every single inch of my cock with every stroke.
I dropped my jeans and boxers but left my shirt on, too anxious to care about getting naked. I rubbed my length over her wet pussy, lubricating myself and playing with her throbbing clit. Then I shoved myself inside her, feeling the slickness I was used to.
It felt incredible.
We both inhaled together, our quiet moans tangled. My hand moved behind her knees, and her hands gripped my wrists. I thrust into her slowly, taking my time to enjoy her phenomenal pussy. Every time I was inside her, I felt more like a man than I did before. “Austen…” I leaned over her and moved my chest against hers. “This pussy…”
She craned her neck so her lips could reach mine. She kissed me with her soft lips, her tongue meeting mine. “I’m in love with your cock…” Her tongue darted into my mouth, tasting like tequila.
I moaned into her mouth as I moved, giving it to her harder and deeper. She knew exactly what to say to get me worked up. My head moved in and out, soaked with her arousal. I could feel it every time I moved, to sense her powerful desire. One thing I loved about being a man was making a woman wet. I got to directly reap the benefits, and she got to have an incredible orgasm.
I spoke against her mouth. “I already want to come…” She tested my endurance. She was so sexy, so perfect, that I couldn’t hold my concentration. The moment I was inside her, I didn’t want to last. I wanted to explode and feel the fiery explosion deep inside my gut.
“Come.” She tightened her grip on my wrists. “We’ll keep going anyway.”
When she gave me her explicit permission, I couldn’t hold on. I always made my women come first, but I knew it was one of those nights when we wouldn’t be getting any sleep. It wasn’t a quick fuck before bed. It was the beginning of a long night.
She gripped my ass and pulled me deep inside her, a heated look in her eyes. Her nipples were hard and pointed to the ceiling, and her pussy was tight around my cock. “Give it to me, Ryker.”
I couldn’t last any longer, not when she gave me a command like that. Balls deep, I released with a groan, dumping all of my seed far inside her pussy. I breathed through the explicit pleasure, feeling the sensation move from the tip of my cock to deep within my balls. “Fuck…”
Her eyes darkened as she watched me come, her tongue darting out and licking her lips. She moved her hands across my stomach and up my chest. “You look so sexy when you come…”
“Yeah?” My cock slowly softened inside her, but I still felt the high from my orgasm. I was satisfied but also eager for more at the same time. I moved my hips and continued to rock inside her even though my cock was no longer hard. With that look in her eyes and the feeling of her drenched pussy, I would be hard again within two minutes.
Austen began to play with her tits, flicking her thumb over her nipples then leaning down to lick them.
That sped up the process.
I was harder than I was before and motivated to make her feel as good as I did. “That pussy isn’t going to be able to hold all my come by the time I’m done with you.”
“I expected nothing less.”