Chapter 4
RYDER
My desk is protecting my dignity right now.
I bring it out in her. Yes, Sir. I’m so hard it hurts.
If this woman set foot in Venom, I’d be intrigued.
And that’s something I haven’t felt in recent months.
Not even with Tessa, if I’m honest. Aspen has piqued my interest with her observation of my food earlier tonight, but this—alone in my office—has me questioning my judgment.
I figured I needed a project to keep myself busy, but this woman might be a little too much of a distraction.
I never mix business with pleasure, and I don’t date. I decided it wasn’t fair to drag some unsuspecting woman into my world. Sure, I’ve had ‘girlfriends,’ who are submissives, but they all came to the table with their eyes wide open.
“I’m just kidding. Sort of. I’m just the right amount of ball-busting.” I can imagine multiple ways to introduce her to my balls that would be so wildly inappropriate. I need to focus on the task at hand and pray that my hard-on subsides because I’m fucking hurting.
“Does Monday work for you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’m not that much older than you,” I say in an attempt to stop my cock from standing at attention. If she calls me Sir one more time, I’m going to lose it.
“I know. You’re twenty-nine.”
“What else do you know about me?” Stop looking at her perfectly pouty blush-pink lips.
“I’m not a stalker, I promise. At least not a harmful one.
You’re inspirational with what you’ve managed in such a short period of time.
I’d be a fool not to research how you did it.
I’m three years younger than you, and I am a waitress in your restaurant with no prospect of making the food I love. ”
“Until now.” I delight in the sweet smile that transforms her face, reaching her eyes, twinkling like stars in the midnight sky.
“Are you serious? I would crawl on my hands and knees to make you a plate of food.”
“I look forward to that, Aspen.” I regret it the second it leaves my lips, when her eyes go wide as saucers. This is not the setting to say something like that. If I were at Venom, no one would bat an eyelid if I told my submissive to crawl naked on her hands and knees to me.
“I…”
“It was a joke.” Maybe.
She gives a nervous laugh, wringing her hands, unable to look at me.
“Come in on Monday at noon. I’ll have been to the markets and gotten fresh produce for the day. You can create a dish for me, and we’ll go from there. If you’ve got the chops in the kitchen, I have no problem taking you on.”
She sits in stunned silence for a few seconds before her gaze snaps to mine.
“Can I go to the market with you?” This girl has spunk.
I just gave her the offer of a lifetime—according to her—and she wants more.
I like her already. You make your own destiny, and I recognize a kindred spirit when I see one.
“Demanding little thing, aren’t you?” I lean back in my chair, steepling my fingers under my chin.
“I’m sorry. I just want to see your process, start to finish.”
“Your wish is my command. Meet me here at seven.” An honest-to-God squeal escapes her as she thrusts her hand across the desk.
The second my hand connects with hers, a spike of adrenaline catches me off guard, and by the look on her face, she feels it too.
It’s not until I look to where our skin meets that I notice bruises around her wrists.
“What’s this?” She attempts to extricate her hand from my grasp.
“Nothing. It’s fine.” The closer I look, I notice they are finger marks. Someone had her in a harsh grip to cause something like that.
“Who the fuck did that to you?” My blood begins to boil.
“It’s nothing.”
“Like hell it is. You have fucking fingerprints on your wrist. I’m going to ask one more time, and I want a goddamn answer.”
“It was a guy in my building. He asked me out. I said no. He grabbed me, and I handled it.”
“What’s his name?”
“You don’t need to know that.”
“And what if it happens again?”
“It won’t.”
“I’ll accompany you home.” What a fucking scumbag. I’ll punish a woman with pain if she wants it. I would never lay a hand on a woman in anger. Guys like that deserve to try it on someone their own size.
“No, thank you.” Women don’t say no to me.
“It wasn’t a question.”
“I’ve had one man try to exert power over me today. I don’t need another one.” It hits me like a ton of bricks, square in the chest. Is that how women outside of the lifestyle see me? Some demanding asshole misogynist. Maybe they’re right.
“I didn’t mean it like that. I would never… I’m…” Fuck. I’m floundering right now. I never stumble over my words.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but I can handle myself. I’m a big girl. He knows to walk the other direction if he sees me again.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what? You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“For the male species.” For wanting to step in on your behalf. For being turned on by how fierce you are. The list goes on.
She chuckles at that, a soft smile kissing her lips. “That’s a hefty apology. I’ll settle for taking you up on your offer to come and work with you on Monday.” She’s shutting down the conversation.
“Deal. I hope you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and get dirty.” God, my traitorous cock is ruling my brain function right now.
“I’m always ready to get dirty.” Jesus Christ.
“I’ll see you at seven sharp.”
“I’ll be here on time. Thank you so much, sir. I can’t tell you how excited I am to work with you.”
“Ryder.”
“Thank you so much… Ryder.”
As she’s about to take her leave, I can’t help myself. “If I ever see bruises on you again, I won’t ask permission to root out the shit stain that did it to you. I’ll hunt them down.”
Her breath hitches, the rise and fall of her chest betraying her silence.
I think on my feet, realizing a woman like her isn’t used to having a Dominant reaction to such things. Although most men feel it, they keep it leashed.
“I look after my staff, Aspen. If you have a problem, work-related or not, you come to me.”
“That’s nice of you to offer, but I can deal with my private life. I’m here to work, and I will give you my all.” This woman has some fire in her belly, and I both admire and am exasperated by it.
“How are you getting home?”
“Subway, as always.”
“Will you at least let me drive you home? The subway isn’t exactly safe at this time of night for a beautiful young woman. I know you can handle your private life, but at least let me keep up the ruse of being a gentleman.”
Her soft smile lulls me into a false sense of security before she opens her mouth. “Are you telling me you’re not a gentleman, Mr. Stevens?” Mischief dances in her eyes like a water nymph in the moonlight.
“Not even one little bit.”
“I don’t believe you. Everything I’ve seen or heard about you would suggest otherwise.”
“Maybe I only show what I want people to believe about me. Either way, can I drive you home?”
“I guess. It would be nice not to deal with late-night pervs for once.” I have to fight my nature to insist that she be driven home every night, but I barely know the woman.
“Follow me.” I lock up, and we make small talk as we walk to my car, chatting about food. When we reach it, she whistles.
“Oh, you are Richie-Rich.”
“I worked my ass off to get where I am now. This was my dream car, so I bought it when Dulip took off. I know it’s flashy, but like I said, it represents what I achieved.”
“You don’t owe me an explanation. If I manage to do half of what you have, I’ll consider myself successful.”
I unlock the car and open the door for her, watching as she slips into the passenger seat with effortless grace. It’s hard not to notice how beautiful she is, and as I round the car, I take a deep breath. I can’t let my mind wander to the things I’d like to do to her, right here, right now.
As the car roars to life, our easy conversation dies, and the air between us is suddenly claustrophobic. “We can ride around as long as you like, but if you don’t give me your address, I won’t be able to take you home.”
“I’m sorry.” She rhymes off her address, and I’m surprised that it’s in a swanky part of town. She’s definitely not earning enough at Dulip to afford an apartment in that building.
“No apology needed. I’d be happy to drive around for a while.”
“Dropping me off at home is fine. I really could have taken the subway.”
“You’re a ballbuster. I get it. Just don’t shoot yourself in the foot. I’m offering you the chance to show me what you’re made of in the kitchen. If you pass it up out of pride, you’re an idiot.”
“Don’t hold back.”
“Not my style.”
“My food is the one aspect of my life that I will absolutely accept your help.”
“Good girl.” It slips out before I catch myself.
An awkward silence follows as I navigate my way to her apartment building. She doesn’t even look at me as she gets out of the car. “Thanks for the ride, Mr. Stevens. I’ll see you Monday at seven.”
“You’re welcome, Aspen.” I idle at the curb for a few minutes, pulling out my phone and typing a quick message to Flex.
Me: You still at the club?
Flex: I’m just not into you that way, bro.
Ever the smartass.
Me: You wish I wanted to swallow that minuscule dick of yours.
I laugh as I press send.
Flex: Yeah, right. I could hit a homerun for the Yankees, swinging my massive cock.
Me: That was weird.
Flex: Yeah. If you tell anyone, I’ll kill you.
Me: Are you at the club or not?
Flex: Yeah. Helena went home a couple of hours ago, but I had some work to get caught up on. What’s up?
Me: I need a drink. A stiff one.
Flex: What is your obsession with my dick? It’s not getting stiff for you.
Me: I’ll be there in twenty.
Flex: Cool. I’ve got a nice bottle of Scotch with our names on it.