Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
O kay, it was official, he felt like shit.
Ryder sat back on the couch, wincing. He wasn’t surprised to find Vander’s Nob Hill apartment was nice.
It was on the seventeenth floor, and a corner apartment, so there were windows everywhere.
Bright-white walls contrasted with the wide-plank wood floors.
The windows had black frames, which made all the kick-ass views of the city look like artwork.
The furnishings were sleek and modern, but still comfortable.
The open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area was long and spacious and tall, green indoor plants here and there added some color.
Vander had dropped them off. First, he’d stopped by their apartments, and Siv had collected some clothes and toiletries for them. Vander had also left the first aid kit from the X6. For now, this was home for the loved-up Ryan and Stella.
Siv was out making sure she was seen by the Fosters’ security guy. Ryder struggled with his shirt and finally got it off. He was a mass of throbbing pain.
He heard the front door open, and a second later, Siv strode in holding a shopping bag. Her gaze went straight to him, running over his bare chest before settling on his bruises. Her face darkened and she swiveled, and headed for the kitchen.
“This place is gorgeous,” she said, opening the fridge.
Ryder grunted. “Yeah, Vander owns a few investment properties. Easton has more. I think he owns half the damn city.” He watched her fill a glass with water. “Did you spot the Foster’s guy?”
“Yeah. He wasn’t trying very hard to be stealthy. Stella walked past him twice, and stopped close by to take a phone call.”
“My wife is so badass.”
Her head jerked up, and she eyed him for a beat. Then she came back with a glass of water in one hand and two ice packs in the other.
“Take these.” She handed him the glass and tipped two pills onto his palm.
Ryder did as ordered.
She sat beside him, wrapped the first ice pack in a towel, and pressed it to his side.
He hissed.
“Hold that.” She wrapped the second one and pressed it to his collarbone where a lovely lump and bruise had formed.
Ryder eyed her bent head.
“You’d make a great nurse. You don’t have one of those little white dresses and hats, do you?”
She shot him a look sharp enough to slice.
He laughed, absorbing the pain it caused. “I didn’t think so, but it was worth a try.”
Siv rolled her eyes. “How’s the pain?”
“Manageable.”
She reached out and touched another bruise lightly. “I don’t like seeing you beat up, Morgan.”
“I’m not a fan myself.”
Then she shocked him, and leaned over and pressed butterfly-soft kisses to his bruises.
Shit . His cock went hard. It didn’t care that he’d been beaten up, it just cared that Siv’s mouth was on him. He didn’t move as she kissed each mark. When was the last time anyone had kissed his hurts?
Usually, it was him patching up other people. His heart clenched. Damn, this woman—with her tough shell and big heart that she hid so well—was getting under his skin.
She sat back and stared at him for a moment, then rose. “I’m going to order some dinner. What do you feel like?”
“Um, Thai, if you like it.”
She stilled. “I love Thai food.”
“Make sure you get some pad thai. And I like a green curry.”
“I love pad thai too.” Siv pulled out her phone, wandering toward the windows as she placed the order.
Ryder decided to change. His jeans were covered in dirty alley muck. He rose, absorbing the throbs.
“What are you doing?” Siv demanded.
“I need to change.”
Her mouth flattened. “I’ll get some clothes for you. Stay there.” She disappeared into the master bedroom where their bags were, and returned a moment later with gray sweatpants, a white T-shirt, and a small, brightly wrapped gift, with her name written on it.
She passed him the clothes then held up the box. “I found this at your place. What is it?”
“Clearly, it’s a gift for you.”
She stared at him like he’d just said he was from Mars. Hell, did no one spoil this woman?
She swallowed. “You don’t have to—”
He grabbed her wrist. “I like getting you gifts. Go on, open it.” He reached for the fastening of his jeans. “I’ll change.”
He expected her to turn, but he should’ve known better. He shoved his jeans down and she watched, her gaze lazily traveling down his body.
Annnnd his cock got even harder.
Siv could hardly miss it, tenting his boxer shorts. He awkwardly pulled the sweats on.
“Let me help you.” She helped him pull his clean T-shirt on.
Hurting, he dropped onto the couch. Damn, he hated being weak.
“You’re in pain.” She sat beside him, still holding the gift.
“The painkillers will kick in soon. And I’ve had worse.”
She raised a brow.
“On deployment. Got into a few scuffles. Worst was when I had badly injured soldiers to deal with, and insurgents attacked. We got out, but we were a little battered.”
He’d lost two men. One had died before Ryder could help him. The other had died in Ryder’s arms.
He still woke some nights, blood on his hands, hearing the death rattle in the man’s chest.
“Hey. Ryder?” Siv touched his jaw. “Where did you go?”
“Afghanistan. The memories dull, but they never go away.”
She nodded and he saw understanding in her blue eyes. “I lost a teammate once.”
He grabbed her hand. “You were special forces.”
She nodded. “I joined the Norwegian Army, but it wasn’t long before I was flagged for Jegertroppen.”
“What’s that?”
“An all-female special forces unit.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
He held up a hand. “Give me a second. I’m imagining an entire team of badass females.”
She shook her head. “After a couple of years, I moved to the main Forsvarets Spesialkommando, FSK. I loved it.” She dragged in a breath. “But it isn’t always easy.”
“No, it’s not. What happened?”
“We were on an oil rig. Terrorists had taken it over and had hostages. My team infiltrated to rescue the hostages and take control back.”
“Didn’t go to plan?” He threaded their fingers together.
“No.” She gave a harsh laugh. “That’s an understatement. One terrorist saw that they were losing and detonated explosives. I was tossed against some equipment. I had a concussion, broken ribs. I was pretty beaten up.” She pulled in a breath. “My friend, Rolf…”
Ryder squeezed her fingers.
She gave him a sad smile. “Part of the platform tilted. He slid and I reached for him. I missed him by an inch. He didn’t survive the fall off the platform.”
“I’m sorry.” She’d been hurt, concussed, but she’d still tried to save her friend. Typical Siv.
“Rolf had saved me on a previous mission. I was pinned down and out of ammunition. He broke cover to get to me. He saved my life.”
“And that’s how you should remember him. I know the guilt is always there. That you didn’t try hard enough, didn’t move fast enough, that you should have done something differently. Every patient I’ve ever lost, I never forget. I always wonder what I should’ve done differently.”
“Ryder.” Her face changed. “You save lives.”
“Not always.” He gave a final squeeze of her fingers and waved at the gift. “Open it.”
She tore the wrapping off and opened the small rectangular box.
Then her chest hitched.
She pulled out the silver chain with a circular pendant on the end. The pendant was covered with an intricate design.
He nodded. “It’s a—”
“Viking shield,” she said.
He nodded. “I saw it in the window of this little shop near my place, and knew it was perfect for you. Beautiful and badass.”
She stared at him.
Ryder tried not to fidget. “The guy in the shop assured me that it was a Norwegian design. I hope he wasn’t lying.”
“It’s beautiful, Ryder.”
He smiled.
Then she moved and straddled his lap. She was careful not to bump his chest.
His pulse jumped and he gripped her hips. “Siv—”
Her mouth collided with his.
Damn . She kissed him hard, deep, and with a groan, he pressed his mouth closer and took control of the kiss.
She tasted like the best flavor—sweet, but spicy. He pulled her closer, need like fire in his gut, but bumped his injuries. He hissed.
“That’s enough.” She slid off him.
“ No —”
“You got worked over today, Ryder. I’m going to make sure you rest.”
He scowled.
Then she leaned over and bit his lip. “But once you’re better, then I plan to fuck you, long and hard.”
His aching cock throbbed, and he groaned. “You’re trying to torture me.”
She just smiled.
Ryder ignored the pain and tumbled her onto the couch.
“Ryder, your bruises!”
He braced himself over her. “I just want you to know that you’re mine, Siv. Soon, I’m claiming you. I’ll taste and touch every inch of that fine, long body of yours. I’ll make you come so many times, you’ll be sobbing.”
Her chest hitched. “ Ryder .”
There was a chime at the door, and he let out a growl.
“That’ll be dinner,” she said.
He helped her up, but caught her hand one more time and squeezed her fingers. “You’ve been warned.”
* * *
Siv ate another mouthful of pad thai noodles. Yum . So good.
She eyed the TV and watched the NFL game. “No!”
“Your team is going down, my badass goddess.”
She shot Ryder a look. He was sprawled on the other end of the couch, shoving a mountain of food in his mouth. The man must work out constantly to stay in such good shape.
“Or should I say gudinna .” He waggled his eyebrows.
She fought back a smile. “I’m not your goddess.”
“Yes, you are. How about skatt ?”
Treasure . She wrinkled her nose.
He ate another mouthful of noodles. “I know. M?nestr?le .”
Moonbeam . She laughed, but deep down, she was touched he’d taken the time to learn the Norwegian words.”
“No, it’ll definitely be honningblomst .”
Honeyflower . She shook her head and forced herself to look back at the game.
The man was just too tempting. Her team wasn’t having a great quarter.
“My team looks tough and scrappy. They’ll fight back.
” She was cheering on the San Francisco 49ers.
It seemed right to support the team of her new home.