Chapter 14 #2
Ryder can sit wherever he pleases, but I don’t think I can be anywhere near him after what happened last night in his bedroom. I’m scared he’ll somehow know I touched myself afterward. Or worse, that he starred in my sex dream.
Ryder peeks at me from the corner of his eye. He drags his gaze down my body as I shift in my seat and wince at the sting in my bottom. His icy exterior cracks as he smirks. “Don't let Jaxon know what you think about him being married to Dahlia.”
My back straightens, and I sit a little higher. “H-how did you know?”
“You’re not as quiet as you think you are.” He turns back to his phone, his smirk widening.
Heat creeps from my neck to my cheeks. I don’t want to analyze what he said, because it would lead to more questions about what he means. It’s already driving me mad, wondering why he got hard last night while spanking me.
I mentally swat away the thoughts. I’m getting off track here, and Ryder is finally talking to me.
“And you’re okay with that?” I ask.
He turns his head, and the same heated look from last night makes an appearance. “With you not being quiet?”
Fuck. I can’t breathe.
“That’s . . .” I shake my head and lean away to put more distance between us. It doesn’t clear my head as I had hoped it would, because Ryder’s lips curve into a knowing smile. He knows exactly what he did. I grind my teeth. “That’s not what I meant.”
Ryder raises an eyebrow, amusement still reflecting in his eyes.
“You’re okay with Jaxon and Dahlia being . . . together like that?” I say.
Ryder’s face falls, and he locks away his emotions as he turns back to his phone. I hate it when he does this. How he builds an icy wall to close the world out. “It’s not for me to decide.”
“They’re brother and sister,” I say.
Ryder cocks his head as he assesses me with the same perplexed look. “Do you think it’s wrong?”
My head rears back, and I try to force out the immediate answer. Yes, it’s not okay to date your sibling. When I part my lips, nothing comes out.
The corner of Ryder’s lip curves into a slight smirk as he goes back to his phone.
He didn’t answer my question, though. He has to be okay with it because why else would he have spanked me like that last night?
Thick with sexual tension. Squeezing my ass and playing with the butt plug. He got hard and didn’t try to hide it.
My thighs clench together, and I shift my hips to stop the thumping in my clit.
Ryder is in the same room with me, so it’s not a great moment to get aroused. I glance toward the staircase, wondering if I should excuse myself so I can handle this alone in my bedroom.
“If you don’t take care of your problem, sis, I will.” Ryder pitches his voice lower.
My gaze snaps to him, my jaw hitting the ground. “Excuse me?”
Ryder locks his screen and peeks at me with the same hungry look. Gone is the emotionless mask, and I don’t know if I can lie to myself any longer.
“It turns you on, thinking about a brother and sister fucking, doesn’t it? It’s why you’re squirming. Or were you thinking about last night?”
My heart bangs against my ribs like a drum.
Ryder leans toward me and rests his tattooed hand on the sofa’s cushion, close to my thigh. I envy the damn couch. Having him so close isn't enough.
He’s your brother.
He’s your brother.
He’s your brother!
“How’s your ass feeling, doll?” he murmurs with a conspiratorial smile.
I choke on my words and stutter out, “Fine.”
Ryder’s gaze drags down my body and lingers on the juncture between my thigh and ass. He clicks his tongue and returns his attention to my face. “That’s too bad. I’ll go harder on you next time.”
“Next time?” I screech.
I wince, realizing I could have woken up our parents. Ryder grins, proud that I proved his point about me being too loud.
Lowering my voice, I say, “There won’t be a next time.”
“We’ll see about that.” He stands and crowds my space as he moves in front of me. My breath catches in my throat as he bends and places his hands beside my thighs. Shadows fall on his face, darkening his blue eyes.
The way he’s looking at me should scare me, but I know deep in my bones I’m safe with him.
Ryder’s face hovers close to mine. “Are you still wearing the plug?”
I shake my head.
He doesn’t seem convinced. The muscles in the corner of his jaw thrum. “Are you lying?”
“Why does it matter?”
Ryder’s eyes narrow. “If I bend you over and check for myself, will I find the toy stretching your tight asshole?”
My core spasms, clenching around nothing when I’m dying to be filled with?—
I mentally shake my head to remove the dirty thoughts about Ryder. I dig my nails into the silky material of my sleep shorts. “You shouldn’t be talking about your sister like that.”
“Answer the question, Madison,” Ryder growls.
“I’m not answering.” I raise my chin, putting on an appearance of strength when all I want to do is escape Ryder and the feelings he’s bringing out of me. Feelings I’m ashamed of.
Ryder smiles. “Then turn over and show me your ass.”
My blood sets on fire, and I’m unsure if it’s from anger or lust. Maybe both? “No. You’re not the boss of me.”
Ryder leans closer. “I’m your brother. I think that’s enough authority to tell you to avoid doing something stupid like that.”
“Or what?” I snap. “You’ll hit me again?”
“Oh, doll. I didn’t hit you. I spanked you, and you loved every second of it.” He bends forward until his mouth is right beside my ear. “You were so wet. All that cum coated your pretty pussy and thick thighs. No one will ever know. It’ll be our little secret.”
I squeeze my eyes shut and focus on my breathing so I don’t hyperventilate and pass out. There’s no way the brother I grew up with is talking about my pussy. When I said I wanted a relationship with Ryder, I didn’t mean this .
Liar , the tiny voice whispers.
My fingers curl deeper into the silk shorts. I turn my head so I can talk directly into his ear. “Aren’t you embarrassed about this?” I breathe. “You’re my brother.”
“ Step brother,” he growls.
“We grew up together.”
“Why did you wear the butt plug?” Ryder asks, completely dismissing what I said.
“None of your business.”
“Did your fiancé put you up to it?”
I cringe at the insinuation I would do anything for Justin. He’d have a stroke if he found out I’m a sex worker.
Ryder’s eyebrows scrunch together, and he frowns. “Are you doing it for another man?”
My heart hammers faster. I swallow hard and glance away. He catches my chin and forces me to look at him again. Anger brims in his darkened irises.
My silence is digging my grave. Ryder will tell my dad about my side gig, forcing me to give it up.
I haven’t saved enough for me to leave yet, so that’s a fucking problem.
Maybe it’ll be enough of a wake-up call to the both of us.
Whatever’s happening right now is wrong.
The lines have blurred, and this entire interaction has spun out of control, with little time to turn back.
“Are you talking to other men?” Ryder growls.
“No.”
Ryder’s expression darkens. “Don’t fuck with me, sis.”
A shudder rolls through me. I’m so fucked up for enjoying it when he calls me his sister.
I rest my palms on his bare chest, my fingers curling into his soft skin.
My plan was to shove him away from me. Instead, I slip my hands behind his neck and ease him closer to me.
Ryder’s nose bumps against mine, and our lips brush.
He sucks in a breath, and something changes in his eyes. It’s dark, primal, and hungry.
“Am I not allowed to play with myself, big brother?” I whisper. I hope this is enough to push him away from me.
“Don’t say that,” he growls. His hand slips from my chin and settles around my throat. He squeezes with enough pressure to tell me he could take my life if he wanted to.
Then the blurred lines fade as he drops his gaze to my parted lips. I hold my breath, silently begging him to kiss me.
Footsteps from the second floor fill the silence.
Ryder’s attention snaps back to my face, and shadows creep over his features as he scowls. The walls shoot up and close my access to his emotions before he shoves me away and puts space between us.
I suck in a shaky breath, filling my lungs with oxygen that doesn’t smell like amber and cypress. The lust-filled haze parts, and realization slams into me.
The footsteps on the second floor draw closer and descend the stairs. Ryder turns and storms out the back door, likely to hide in his room.
I sag in my seat and close my eyes.