Chapter 16 - Ryker #2
“Think what you want.” I sigh loudly. “Did you learn to appreciate nature?”
The waterfall had been as beautiful as I’d remembered, and I’d enjoyed sitting there, watching it, without any of the usual annoyances from civilization.
Until Liam had started chattering, of course.
“Um.” Liam flashes me a grin. “No. Not even a little. I prefer toilets. Next time, we go glamping.”
I shudder at the image. “You can go ‘glamping’ on your own. I’m not doing that bullshit. What’s the fucking point of camping if you aren’t enjoying nature as it’s meant to be enjoyed?”
“Oh, come on. We could do a resort, too. On a beach somewhere, with hot cabana guys bringing us drinks…” He sighs happily. “It would be amazing to get away for a real vacation.”
“Hot cabana guys?” I repeat. “You mean the resort staff? At a resort? Where you don’t even take in the local environment?”
Liam blinks at me. “I mean, you can go see the sights in between all the pampering,” he replies. “But that’s… What? History and shit? I can learn that on TV from the comfort of my home.”
I roll my eyes.
Why did I think taking the little brat anywhere was a good idea?
“You realize if you want me to ever take you places, you’re going to have to get used to roughing it?” I say. “Because I like camping, I like nature, and I don’t enjoy being surrounded by that many people all at once.”
“What about what I like, though?” Liam challenges me. “We have to do things I like sometimes, too. Getting everything you want makes you spoiled.”
I burst out laughing. “Really? You want to lecture me about being spoiled? Mr. Born With a Silver Spoon in his mouth?”
“Sometimes it’s like I’m choking on that fucking spoon,” Liam mutters. He drums his fingers along the center console.
“You do look better choking with my hands around your neck.” I smile at him. “Is that why it gets you off? Finally having somebody tell you what you can and can’t do?”
Liam falls silent, his brows furrowing. “I have no idea,” he says after a long moment. “Maybe. I guess? I don’t like it when most people do it, though, so probably not. It’s just… you.”
I find myself scowling.
There are other people who choke him? There are other people who leave marks on him?
“I thought you weren’t fucking other men anymore.” I hate how gruff my voice sounds.
“What?” he asks. “Oh, no, I’m not. That’s not what I meant. I meant I don’t like it when people tell me what I can and can’t do. Usually, that just makes me do the opposite thing.”
I relax, even though I know it shouldn’t make much of a difference to me whether other people are slapping him around.
He’s a fucking brat, but…
Shit.
Maybe I do want him to be my brat.
“I’m going to put a tracker on your phone,” I say. “So you don’t do something really stupid.”
“Um.” Liam considers. “I don’t know how having a tracker on my phone would stop me from doing anything stupid. It would just leave evidence if I did.”
“It would remind you not to go home with strange men,” I say. “Or to strangle them while you have your phone on you and can be easily tracked. Not that you should be strangling anyone right now anyway, not with the added scrutiny.”
“I’m not planning on it,” Liam protests. “I’ve been a very good boy. I didn’t stop going out, because that would be suspicious as fuck, but I haven’t done anything stupid since then.” He lets out a dramatic sigh. “And even if I did, no more calling cards.”
“It’s been… a month? And the last five days were with me,” I point out. “You’re itching to do something stupid again. I’m putting the tracker on your phone.”
Even though he whines, he doesn’t protest again. “Okay, fine, sure. But I get to take it off if I feel like it.”
“Of course. Then I won’t know where you are, and I can’t stalk you, and I can’t turn up unannounced…” I smile when I hear Liam’s sharp inhale.
He pulls out his phone. “What’s the app I’m installing?” he asks, only to scowl. “Never mind. Still no reception out here. When are we getting back to civilization?”
“About half an hour. We should be good when we near the interstate again.” I pretend to think long and hard. “You can add me to your contacts. Text me so I have your number.” I rattle off my phone number.
He hurries to enter it into his contacts. “Done!” he says brightly, any remnants of the scowl gone. “Now I can get in touch with you any time I want.”
“My phone is on silent whenever I’m at work,” I warn. “I text back when I feel like it. Don’t expect to have constant contact with me.”
Liam rolls his eyes. “Yeah, okay. So you’ll have constant eyes on me, and you can answer when you want. That doesn’t sound fair.” But he’s still glowing. “You gave me your number,” he says smugly. “Now you’re stuck with me.”
“I’m going to add you as Brat,” I say. “And I’d better not be in there as ‘Ryker.’”
“You’re in there as ‘Rider,’ just like you are on the guest list,” he says. “And I won’t text anything incriminating.”
Now I’m even more worried that he might be stupid enough to do that.
“Don’t make me regret this,” I say.
“I would never,” he replies solemnly, though his lips twitch into a smirk. “So what’s this shit about the Winters gang, anyway?”
“Their gang got eaten up overnight. The leader died, the oldest son was arrested, the younger son disappeared.” I unpause the podcast. “Be quiet if you want to actually learn.”
He manages to keep his commentary to a minimum, and my phone buzzes with the new text once we get back to an area with reception.
I wonder how soon I can drag him out again.
I should wait at least a month.
But I’m already imagining him spread out for me, begging for more.
Maybe I really will need to surprise him when he least expects it.