Chapter 10
TEN
RYKER
Casey’s touch tingled my still-sensitive skin.
I didn’t understand what came over me, but he was right.
I’d wanted to mark him, to make him all mine.
Nuzzling into his hair, I breathed him in, all musk and spice.
This was crazy. What did this college football star see in me?
Would he tire of me at some point? When he did, it would hurt like a motherfucker.
I couldn’t help falling for him. If things continued like this, it was inevitable, no matter how much I tried to stop it.
“What’s happening in your brain right now? You’re pretty quiet.” He brushed a hand down the back of my head.
“Nothing, just um…” Should I ask about tomorrow? I lifted my head and gazed deeply into his green eyes. God, he had amazing eyes. “Wondering about tomorrow.”
“I’m picking Wes up around seven for our workout, and then I’ll drop him off and shower at home. So, be ready to leave by around one. Does that work?” Cupping my face, he skimmed his thumb across my cheek.
“Yeah, but what about lunch? I could make us sandwiches for the car ride.” I had a feeling he wasn’t used to homemade sandwiches, but why spend money at a restaurant when I had food here? I chewed the side of my lip.
“Sure, that sounds great.” Raising his head, he planted a quick kiss on my lips. “Should we clean up?”
“Yes, and you should probably get home. We both have an early morning.” I rolled off him and sat on the edge of the mattress, my cum sticky and drying on my chest. Tomorrow we’d sleep in the same bed.
After a night of cuddling with him, my heart would be fully his.
I knew it. An ache buried deep in my chest. Fucking Ryker, what have you gotten yourself into? But I couldn’t stop myself.
He stood and strolled over to me, placing his hand on my back. “Are you okay? You’re worrying me.”
“I’m fine.” I rose and forced a smile. “Come on, let’s use my bathroom.” I shouldn’t keep calling it Mom’s in my head. It was mine for now.
After dressing, I walked Casey to my door. I had to get out of my fucking head and quit worrying.
Casey stopped and faced me, brushing my hair off my face. “Ryker, I’m looking forward to tomorrow.” Grabbing my nape, he pressed a drawn-out kiss against my mouth. “We’ll enjoy this, and I want you to forget all the day-to-day bullshit in your life. Okay? Just let me do this for you.”
With a nod, I said, “Okay.” Maybe this would be good for me. When was the last time I left town and had a vacation? Shit, maybe back when I dated Lori? A smile tugged my lips. “I’m looking forward to it too.”
Wes crept from behind the wall into the hallway. “You two done?” He lifted a brow.
“For now.” Casey tossed Wes a mega-watt smile. “I’ll never be fully done with your brother.” He kissed my cheek and focused on Wes. “Go to bed, kid. I’ll be here at seven to pick you up, and there’s no reason for you to be late this time. Ryker will already be at the shop.” He ticked his head.
With a scoff and an eye roll, Wes disappeared behind the wall again.
Did Casey mean that? Did he know how the words sounded as they left his mouth? Or was he just perpetually optimistic while I was…not? I patted his lower back. “See you tomorrow.”
“Yep.” He gave me one last kiss and left my apartment.
I rummaged in my toolbox for a crescent wrench when Dylan strolled to my side. I’d been replacing a blower motor on an older Jeep Cherokee. The hot summers made everyone’s cars overheat or their AC go out. We’d had several already this week. “What?”
A smirk floated over Dylan’s face, and he planted his hand on the edge of my toolbox. “How’s it going with golden boy?” He tilted his head. “You’ve been sort of quiet today.”
“I’m working, which is what you should be doing.” With a snicker, my attention drew to him. He had an oil change and tire rotation to finish.
“Come on, man, what’s up?” He poked my shoulder.
With a long exhale, I said, “It’s going well. He’s taking me somewhere for the night. Up North, I think, since he told me to pack sweats.” How badly would Dylan tease me?
“Up North, huh? Are you taking his fancy BMW?” He wagged his brows. “Better bring the lube.” He cackled and picked up a bottle of engine assembly lube from the shelf next to my toolbox.
“Dude, don’t be an idiot.” With a snicker and a shake of my head, I said, “He called his dad, who’s a lawyer, and he thinks they can find a lawyer here to review my mom’s case for free.” I clenched my jaw. “I think it’s a long shot, but whatever.”
“Your mom did nothing wrong except trust in a guy who told her he loved her.” He scoffed. “She shouldn’t be in jail and shouldn’t have been charged with anything.”
“We’ll see.” I rubbed a tight muscle in my neck. “Anyway, Casey is out with Wes now, and he’s picking me up around one today.” So, I had to be done at the shop shortly after noon to shower and pack our sandwiches. I shouldn’t be dawdling.
“It sounds like he’s really into you, Ryker.” He wrinkled his brows. “How do you feel about him?”
“I like him. I’m into him.” The memory of the fantastic blowjobs crept through my head, and heat swept my cheeks. “He’s fucking great in bed.” I snuck my lower lip between my teeth.
“Yeah? Better than Lori?” With a chuckle, he rested his arm across the edge of the toolbox.
“Way better than Lori.” I huffed and glanced at the engine of the Cherokee. Should I confide in Dylan? Why not? I couldn’t talk to Wes about this shit. “What do you think Casey’s deal is, though?”
“Huh? What do you mean?” Dylan wrinkled his forehead.
“Like, what does a guy like him, you know, good looking, wealthy, fucking star quarterback who’s headed to the NFL, want with a guy like me?” As my chest pinched, I breathed through it. Fuck, I’d spilled all my guts.
“Dude, you’re good looking and someday, you might have a chain of auto repair shops and be wealthy too.
You’re hardworking, and look at what you’ve done for your brother?
” With his brows knitting, he slapped my shoulder.
“Don’t sell yourself short, Ryker. He’s lucky to have met someone real.
I’m sure all Casey’s been with are bimbos and himbos, you get me?
” He locked his gaze on mine. “You’re a catch, and I’m not saying it to float your boat. ”
With my gaze dropping to the floor, I nodded. “But what if he tires of me?” I twisted the wrench in my hand. Why was I so damn insecure?
“If he does, he’s stupid and a loser.” As his gaze hardened, he said, “And if he hurts you, I’ll kill him.”
Scoffing a laugh, I said, “No, you won’t. If he hurts me, life will go on. I’ve been there before.” Like the time Lori left me for another guy. It smarted, but I moved on eventually.
“Bro, Casey’s seeing you while you’re at your lowest. You’ve been one grumpy motherfucker since your mom went to jail, and he still asked you out.
Somehow, Casey saw the real you, and I know he had some walls to crush, but he did it.
Give the guy some credit and give yourself some.
” With a scowl, he stepped away. “You need to get over yourself, man.” He pointed at me.
“I want to see my old buddy back, the one who smiled all the time and made crappy jokes while we worked.” He laughed and picked up an oil filter from the shelf.
“Enjoy yourself with Casey and stop being such a Debbie Downer.”
“I’m a guy, so it’s a Danny Downer.” With a chuckle, I ducked my head into the engine compartment.
“See? Crappy jokes like that.” Dylan opened the lid on the Ford truck he’d been working on.
Shit, Casey would be here any minute. I rummaged through my duffel bag, resting on Mom’s…
my bed, one last time. Did I have everything?
With my luck, I’d leave something important behind, like my underwear.
Nope, I had three pairs for only one night away.
But hell, you never knew when you’d need to change them.
“Ryker, Casey’s here.” Wes called from the main room.
This was it. I’d had to leave whatever it was behind and suffer. My pulse thrummed in my ears. After zipping my bag, I hefted it over a shoulder and strode into the main room. I’d been so flustered, I hadn’t even heard Casey’s knock.
“Hey, gorgeous.” Casey, the epitome of preppy in a gray polo and black shorts with his designer sunglasses holding his bangs back, jogged to me, grabbed both my cheeks and planted a hard kiss on my mouth. “You ready?” He beamed at me.
I blinked and ran my gaze over my t-shirt and athletic shorts. I should have dressed better. Fuck. “I-I think so. Um, should I change?” I made to turn, and he grabbed my arm, stopping me. “No, you look great.” He glanced toward the kitchen and hopped on his toes. “Did you make the sandwiches?”
“What?” Oh shit, the sandwiches. “Yes, they’re in the refrigerator.” I scrambled into the kitchen and snatched the bag along with another bag, holding the few beers we had left and a half-empty bottle of Jack, the only liquor I’d had in the house.
Wes stood in the corner with a smirk on his face, his ass leaning against the counter. “Have a good time, bro.”
“Yeah, uh, thanks.” Stepping to Wes, I said, “Now, you behave and don’t do anything stupid.” I didn’t need to end this vacation early because Wes got in trouble.
“You mean don’t do anything you did at my age?” He snickered and held his hand up for a bro-shake.
“Exactly.” I shook his hand and side-hugged him while glancing at my keys on the counter. He had his license…“If you need something, you can take the truck but please, be careful.”
“I know.” He sipped from a bottle of water. “Don’t worry, I’m stocked with frozen pizza and shit. I’ll be fine.”
“Okay.” As I walked toward Casey, he grabbed the bag of booze.
“We’ll be drinking this later tonight.” Casey threw a peek and a smirk at Wes, who up-nodded at him. “See ya, Wes.”
“See ya.” He waved at us as we strolled through the door.