Chapter 20
Ryker
“Heather, you look amazing.”
“Thanks. Come in.”
“What’s that smell?” I asked as she led me to the living room.
She glanced at me over her shoulder. “Roast beef.”
She’d cooked for me? That was… I had no idea why that got to me.
“It’s my favorite.”
“I know. I asked Skye.”
“You called my sister to ask what my favorite meal is?”
“That’s right. I’m excellent at following recipe instructions. And I’m proud to announce that I now even own a meat thermometer and know how to use it. At least, for your sake… I hope I do.”
I swallowed hard. She’d called my sister? Just to surprise me? No one had done anything like that for me. Her gaze turned from playful to uncertain.
“I overstepped boundaries, didn’t I?”
“What? Hell, no.” I grabbed her by the waist, turning her around so she was facing me.
“You just surprised me, that’s all.”
I captured her mouth. I’d been dying to do that ever since she’d been at my office today—kiss her like I really meant it… which lately translated to not stopping, not wanting to let her go. Especially right now, after this welcome.
“Thanks, Heather. You didn’t have to go to so much trouble.”
“It wasn’t too much trouble.”
“Liar.”
“Fine, I am lying. I spent the entire afternoon running around like a crazy person. So even if you don’t like it, you have to say you like it.”
She was avoiding my gaze, moving up and down on her toes.
“Am I making you nervous?” I brought my hand to her face, touching her lips with my thumb.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I… I don’t know,” she said.
“There’s no reason to be nervous. It’s just me, baby.”
Coming home to you .
The thought just popped into my brain, completely unexpected. But hell if it didn’t sound right. Feel right. I’d never had anything like this before.
“And I’ll like your roast beef even if it’s burned to a crisp.”
She buried her head in my neck, chuckling. “Hey. Don’t jinx it.”
“Come on. Let’s check on it together.”
“Okay.”
She led me to the kitchen, proudly pointing to the oven.
“How does it look?”
I knew before I even opened it that the beef was completely dry. But she was so nervous already that hell would freeze over before I admitted it.
“Like it’s ready.”
I carried the food to the table while she brought plates.
“How did Avery take leaving for Arizona?” I asked as we were about to sit.
Heather looked at me warmly. “Thanks for asking. She was psyched. She’s always over the moon when Mom takes her. I’m more emotional than her. I’ll be melancholic the whole week.”
She sighed deeply, her smile fading. I moved closer, touching her neck with the back of my fingers. “I’ll distract you from that.”
“You are amazing at distracting me, that’s true.”
“And I haven’t even used my best weapons yet.”
“Oh, I see. Keeping the best for when we’re alone?”
“That’s right.”
That brilliant smile was back on. Mission accomplished. I skimmed my hand down her body, cupping her ass, pushing her hips against me. Damn, I was already turned on. Her eyes widened.
“Wow. You plan on starting right now?” She batted her eyelashes, running her hands down my chest.
“No. Just giving you a taste.”
She frowned, stepping back. “Tease.”
I grinned, happy I’d managed to take her mind off Avery’s trip.
“Let’s eat. I’m starving,” she said.
We sat at the table, helping ourselves to beef and potatoes. Heather watched me intently.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked.
“Trying to check if you really like the food.”
I had a great poker face. Staying calm and composed despite the stock market’s volatility was a job requirement. But in my personal life, I’d rarely had to use it.
“Heather, stop fretting. What are your plans for the week?” I changed the subject smoothly.
“I have a few deadlines coming… but I’ll come by the Northern Lights and watch you play.” In a lower voice, she added, “Then I’ll take you backstage and jump you.”
“Why are you whispering?”
Giggling, she shrugged. “Habit, I guess. When are you playing?”
“Tuesday.”
“I’ll be in the front row. I can’t wait. You’re walking seduction with that guitar.”
I touched her legs under the table. “Don’t need a guitar to seduce you.”
She blushed, biting her lower lip. “That’s true, you don’t.”
We chatted about our day until we cleared our plates, because neither of us had really eaten much of the meal. It wasn’t bad, just well cooked—I’d have to interrogate my sister to see what she was up to.
Heather jumped out of her seat screeching, “Oh my God, I completely forgot the wine.”
She started to go to the kitchen, but I caught her hand, pulling her back, and sat down with her right into my lap.
“Heather. Stop. Fretting.”
“Yes, sir.” Grinning, she placed her hands on my shoulders. “I just want you to feel good here. Maybe you’ll stop by again.”
“I will. You’re not getting rid of me, Heather.”
“Yeah?
I kissed up her neck, nibbling at her earlobe before rising from the chair and placing Heather on the empty portion of the table. She leaned back on her palms so I had all the access I wanted. I moved my mouth down her chest, teasing that soft skin, claiming it inch by inch.
I needed her, and I needed her right now. I couldn’t focus on anything other than kissing her, touching her, but one thought nagged at the back of my mind: I wanted to be more than a fun time for Heather. I wanted to be so much more. Claim every part of her, make her mine.
Odd thoughts for a flirt like me but that’s how it had been since the beginning with Heather. Just one look and I was hooked.
Her dress had three buttons running from her neckline to just above her stomach.
Opening them only gave me a teasing look at her soft skin and bra, but I needed more.
I pulled her dress over her head before taking a step back so I could see her better.
She was wearing a flesh-colored bra and matching panties.
They drove me crazy. How could she be this beautiful?
I wanted to touch her too much to linger at a distance.
I lavished her breasts with attention, kissing the upper part that rose out of the bra cup.
She wrapped her legs around me, her heels digging in the back of my thighs.
Jesus, I needed to move her somewhere more comfortable before I completely lost control, or I’d fuck her right here on this table. I pulled back, laughing when she looked up at me with a pout.
“Let’s go to the bedroom.”
“Why? I like the table.”
“I need a bed for what I have in mind.”
“Ooh. Okay, then.”
She pushed me away playfully, jumping down from the table. I kept my hands to myself while she led me to the bedroom. The second we were inside, she turned on a lamp.
“So… this is my humble bedroom.” She paused and looked nervously around. “A bit small?—”
I didn’t care about any of that. I pinned her against the door with my hips, licking her lower lip.
I unclasped her bra before lowering myself on my haunches.
I dragged my fingers from the sides of her knees up her thighs, watching her skin turn to goose bumps.
Her breath quickened as I moved higher. She gave me a nervous laugh when I hooked my thumbs in the elastic band of her panties.
She had absolutely nothing to be nervous about, but I knew telling her that wouldn’t help.
I was going to show her. I lowered her panties down her legs, watching her, looking her straight in the eyes as she stepped out of them.
Then I hooked her right knee on my shoulder, kissing her inner thigh until I reached her apex.
I kissed that soft skin until she scratched at the door.
“Ryker,” she whispered before burying her fingers in my hair. Feisty. I loved it. I moved my mouth on her, feeling her breath become increasingly more labored.
Fuck, I was so hard it was painful. I needed to be inside her, but I wanted her to come first. When the leg she stood on wobbled, I cupped her ass cheeks, supporting her.
I pressed my fingers on her skin, tilting her ass forward, changing the angle a bit.
She was just where I needed her to bring her over the edge.
I pulled her clit between my lips until she came hard, curling her fingers in my hair. She almost lost her balance.
“Ryker,” she whispered in a shaky voice as I kissed up her body. I wanted to claim every inch of her as mine. When I captured her mouth, she hummed against me before biting my tongue teasingly. I blindly pulled at the buttons of my shirt.
“You’re going to ruin your shirt.”
“Don’t give a fuck. I need you now.”
She smiled against my lips. “I’m on board with that.”
Between the two of us, I got naked real fast. Heather drew her fingers down my chest while I walked backward.
With a sassy smile, she pushed me down onto the bed, climbing on top of me.
I loved watching her take what she wanted.
She kissed my right shoulder before moving down my chest, licking and nipping.
I fisted her hair, tilting her head until we had eye contact.
“Heather….” My voice was almost a growl.
“I am finally getting a chance to explore,” she said with a grin. “And I’m going to take advantage.”
I cocked a brow. I was so hard that I was seconds away from claiming her.
I kissed her long and deep. I sucked on her tongue, pulling her flat against me so my cock was trapped between us.
She moaned, gripping my shoulders, pushing her hips forward, rocking herself against me.
The skin-on-skin contact drove me insane.
I gripped her hips, moving her on the bed so she stood on her knees. Then I turned her around, pressing down on her back until she was on all fours.