Chapter 34
THIRTY-FOUR
ryder
One minute I’m talking to Claire and the next, something shifts in the air, forcing me to turn around.
The world around me disappears, the music fading to a dull thrum as the crowd blurs into insignificant shadows. Even Claire’s voice sounds distant to my ears as my eyes lock onto Noia standing across the room.
Holy. Fucking. Christ.
Wearing a crimson dress that hugs every curve of her body as if it was painted on, the neckline dips low enough to make my mouth suddenly go dry.
Hair falling in golden waves around her shoulders, her toned legs are highlighted by black heels that make her look like she just stepped out of one of her own novels.
My eyes lock with hers and the next thing I know, I’m striding across the room.
I stop just close enough to catch the subtle scent of her perfume. My hands itch to touch her, to verify she’s real and not some sexy figment of my imagination.
Right. Like I’m one to talk.
“You’re here,” I manage, my voice rough.
Her lips, painted the same deep red as her dress, curve into a smile that nearly brings me to my knees.
“I am,” she answers with a hint of nervousness in her voice. “Is this okay? The dress, I mean.”
“Okay?” I can’t help the incredulous laugh that escapes. “Kitten, you look fucking incredible.”
The woman beside her clears her throat dramatically. “And apparently, I’m invisible.”
Tearing my eyes away from Noia takes all that I’ve got, but I manage to offer my hand to her friend. “You must be Sasha. I’m Ryder.”
“Oh, I know exactly who you are,” she says with a knowing smirk, shaking my hand. “Noia has told me all about you.”
“Has she?” I glance at Noia, whose cheeks are now flushed my favorite shade of pink.
“Don’t worry,” Sasha winks. “Only good stuff. Well, mostly.”
Before I can respond, Sasha narrows her eyes and leans in close, studying my face with an intensity that almost makes me take a step back.
“Huh.”
The sharp smack of her palms when they connect with my face echoes loudly enough to turn a few heads. Pressing her fingers firmly into my skin, she kneads and squishes my cheeks like they’re made of fucking Play-Dough.
“You really weren’t giving me shit, were you? He is real,” she says to Noia, eyes wide with disbelief as she continues massaging my face.
“Jesus, Sash.” Noia shifts awkwardly and sighs. “Of course I wasn’t.”
The initial shock takes about another ten seconds to wear off. “You ‘bout done?” I ask, my question coming out muffled from between my squished lips.
Sasha’s eyes go wide before she quickly drops her hands and takes a step back. “Oops. Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” I say, rubbing my jaw. “Last thing I expected was an impromptu face massage.”
“Had to make sure.” Sasha looks a little dazed. “I mean, Noia told me everything, but seeing is believing, ya know?”
“Right. Well, now that we’ve established I’m real and not just a figment of anyone’s imagination,” I say dryly, “how about I buy you ladies a drink?”
“God, yes.” Noia looks mortified. “Something strong.”
“Come with me.” Placing my hand on the small of her back, I guide her toward the bar. The moment my fingers touch the bare skin exposed by the cutout in her dress, my dick gets hard.
Jesus.
Sasha follows behind us, but when we reach the bar, her eyes snag on something across the room. “I think I’m going to explore,” she announces. “You two kids catch up.”
Noia’s friend disappears into the crowd, leaving us alone in our little bubble amidst the chaos.
“Your friend is...” I search for the right word.
“An incorrigible smart ass?” Noia grins.
“Something like that.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
I glance over Noia’s head to see Sasha making a beeline straight for Jax, who’s leaning against the wall near the DJ booth scrolling through his phone. She flips her red hair over her shoulder, and even from where I’m standing, when he glances up, I can see his eyes widen with sudden interest.
“Well, would you look at that,” I murmur, nodding in their direction. “Your best friend just found mine.”
Noia turns to follow my gaze, her eyes widening slightly. “Oh shit. That’s your best friend? Sasha’s going to eat him alive.”
“Jax can more than handle himself,” I chuckle, signaling the bartender. “Two whiskeys, neat.” I glance at her. “Unless you’d like something else?”
“No, whiskey’s perfect, thanks.”
The bartender pours our drinks, and I shift closer. I let my fingers drift in slow, deliberate circles against her spine, loving how she shivers beneath my touch.
“You wore this dress on purpose, didn’t you, kitten?” I ask, my voice dropping to a low rumble only she can hear. “To drive me crazy.”
I feel more than hear her breath catch, smirking when she tries her best to maintain her composure. “You’re reading too much into it. It’s a party, so I dressed up.”
I smile against her hair, keeping the slow torturous circles swirling over her lower back before dipping my fingers just slightly beneath the fabric. “Liar.”
The bartender slides our drinks across the counter. I hand one to Noia, making sure our fingers brush as she takes the glass.
“To slow-burns,” I wink, clinking my glass against hers.
“And whoever gives in first,” she says before taking a sip.
“That’s gonna be you, kitten.”
With a snort, she takes another sip, eyes locking with mine over the rim. When she lowers the glass, there’s a perfect imprint of her red lips on the edge and all I can do is imagine the same imprint smudging the base of my cock.
It’s at that moment Claire chooses to appear. “This must be the famous Noia!”
Reluctantly, I drop my hand from Noia’s back. “Noia, this is Claire. Manager, mentor and a royal pain in my ass.”
“Charmed,” Claire says, looking Noia up and down with open approval. “Well done, Ride. This one’s definitely way out of your league.”
Noia laughs, extending her hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Ryder’s told me a lot about you.”
“All petty little lies, I’m sure,” Claire winks. “We’ve all been dying to meet the woman who’s got our boy here walking around with his head in the clouds.”
“I do not have my head in the clouds,” I growl.
“Sure, buddy.” Claire pats my shoulder. “It’s not like you haven’t been spacing out for days, checking your phone every five minutes.”
Noia’s eyes dance. “Is that so?”
“Don’t listen to her,” I mutter, taking a long sip of whiskey. “She’s full of shit.”
“Oh, I’m definitely listening,” Noia grins, leaning in close. “What else has he been doing?”
Claire’s smile turns wicked. “Well, there was that time he was so distracted he accidentally tattooed ‘No Ragrets’ instead of ‘No Regrets’—”
“That never happened,” I interject, glaring at Claire. “Now she’s making shit up.”
With a grin, Clair raises an eyebrow, then turns back to Noia. “But seriously, it’s great to finally meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too.”
“Come on.” I gladly place my hand on the small of her back again. “Let me introduce you to some other people before Claire starts making more shit up.”
“Oh, yeah. There’s much more where that came from!” Claire calls after us as I quickly guide Noia through the crowd.
“Everyone is staring,” she whispers, pressing closer to me.
“Can you blame them?” I murmur against her ear, wrapping my arm around her waist. “You’re the most beautiful woman in the room.”
Her cheeks flush pink again, and it’s all I can do not to drag her into a dark corner and show her exactly what that dress is doing to me.
I introduce Noia to Lizzy and Owen, who immediately make her feel welcome. Lizzy, in particular, is thrilled to meet her.
“A romance novelist?” she gushes. “That’s so cool! I’ve always wanted to write a book.”
“You have?” I ask incredulously.
“It’s not as glamorous as it sounds,” Noia laughs. “It’s mostly just me in my pajamas, drinking too much coffee and talking to my cat.”
“Still, how cool would it be to create whole new worlds and characters,” Lizzy sighs dreamily.
When I catch Noia’s eye, something unspoken passes between us. If Lizzy only knew just how real those characters could become.
“It has its moments,” Noia says softly, her eyes never leaving mine.
The temperature in the room seems to spike about ten degrees. I’m about to suggest we step outside for some air when Jax shows up, Sasha in tow.
“Jax,” I nod, noticing how comfortable he and Sasha look together. “I see you’ve met Noia’s best friend, Sasha.”
“We’ve been getting acquainted,” Sasha grins. The mischievous glint in her eye tells me everything I need to know about what direction they’re heading tonight.
“You’re Ryder’s partner?” Noia asks.
“Co-owner,” Jax corrects with a grin. “Equal partners in ink and crime.”
“And bad jokes, apparently,” I mutter, which earns me a punch in the shoulder.
Sasha’s expression turns coy as she swirls her cocktail. “Jax was just telling me about your apprentice days. Something about you passing out during your first piercing?”
I shoot Jax a death glare.
“What?” He grins at me maliciously. “It’s a good story! Big, bad Marine gets taken out by a needle and a little blood.”
Noia’s eyes widen with delight. “You passed out?”
“I did not pass out,” I growl. “I got lightheaded.” I shoot Jax another scowl. “There’s a difference.”
“He hit the floor like a sack of potatoes,” Jax stage-whispers. “Pretty sure Claire has it on video somewhere.”
“That video better miraculously disappear,” I warn, with no real heat behind it. The way Noia is laughing, eyes bright, makes it impossible for me to stay annoyed.
“I’d pay good money to see that,” she teases, running a finger down my arm.
The simple touch has me leaning in, lips nearly grazing her ear. “Keep touching me like that and I might have to whisk you off into a dark corner somewhere, kitten.”
Her breath catches, but she recovers quickly. “Promises, promises.”
“We should go get another round,” Sasha announces, grabbing Jax’s arm. “You two want anything?”
“We’re good,” I answer, eyes still locked on Noia’s.
The moment they walk away, I slide my hand around to the small of her back. Tucking my fingers into the lower part of her dress, I tug gently on the hem of her panties. “Dance with me.”
With a shiver, she nods and allows me to guide her to the dance floor where the DJ has slowed things down.