I watch as Tiffany leaves, her bright orange dress disappearing from view.
Glancing around with no real purpose, my body stiffens as I catch Ryder nearing me, all dolled up in that sexy suit like he’s walking out of a magazine.
He casually stands next to me, crossing his arms, and leans against the wall, almost posing.
Maintaining his attention elsewhere, he hums, “You really are stunning tonight. Guys can’t keep their eyes off you.” His scarred brow furrows as he holds my gaze. “Kinda wish I could let them know who their competition is.”
I shift slightly, wishing I had recorded those words so I could play them all night while we have to stay apart. “I got a fake boyfriend, thank you very much.”
He laughs with a boyish grin, running his thumb along his chin. The smile reaches his eyes, and I love how he looks when his guard is removed. “Alright, that was cute. Don’t even got a response to that.”
The heat in my chest spreads further like melting wax, my mind racing like I’m eighteen again with no real care in the world.
Leaning in, I eye his face as I say, “Good luck tomorrow, by the way. I hope today went well.”
He moves his gaze off of me, watching others as they walk by, many heelsclickingon the stone. “Saw a few guys I missed. Hope I don’t have to fight them. Got all the dumb shit out of the way with everyone wanting to ask what the hell I did for three years. Gave a death glare or two at some competition. I mostly just want to leave now, so I can focus on tomorrow.”
“You’ll kill it. You’re scary as shit in the ring.”
Something un-removed from all of this flashes through his eyes. “What I really want is to take you somewhere private and enjoy watching you take that off and see what kind of fucking underwear you have on. If Andrew wasn’t such a mother hen, I would.”
My heart lodges in my throat, my body weightless against his words. Eager for more of him, I quietly reply, “I’ll just have to put this on again for you one day, but I might leave the underwear off for that.”
Ryder rolls his eyes and gradually looks away, his breathing deepening as a wanton smile lingers on his face. With a husky overlay, he grunts, “You’re killing me, Jules.”
A soft glow at being called “Jules” once again pads any sensation of lust and hunger.It sounds so natural on his tongue. I’m almost possessive over it. “I admit some fault there. I like making you squirm.”
Ryder shifts and glares at me like he wants to grab me, throw me over his shoulder and carry me to the first private room we can find. For a moment, the expression is so deep I think he might.
Then the heat in his eyes completely fades. “Camera is coming.”
With the camera also comes Andrew, informing us they want a picture of the team. Ryder stands next to me and places his hand around me, gripping my hip as I press against his chest, breathing him in.We all smile except for Ryder, Rob waving to speak with what has to be his new investment after the pictures.
Ryder leaves without looking at me, along with Andrew, who finally clears me to go back to the hotel.
Pulling out my phone to call an Uber, I decide to get a glass of wine at the hotel bar and take a nice bath. Perhaps even find a book, or watch something on my phone. I’m still processing that I seriously took a sexual and romantic leap with Ryder and that he’s actually returning it.
I’ve only known him for about two months, but even then, I feel like he gets me to some degree.
As I wait by the lobby door for my Uber, I notice a blonde approaching that seems keener on me than some of the men that night. I frown when I realize she may have been the one staring at Ryder earlier.
Something lurks in the woman’s gaze that is wholly uninviting.
The blonde is my height, maybe a few inches taller, with a figure like Marilyn Monroe, accentuated by the tightness of her azure dress. Her nose is small, her lips well-defined, and her smile clean and beautiful.
The woman’s brown eyes captivate me, although it’s a captivation born out of concern, as something intense burns in that foreign gaze.
“Hello. My name is Heather,” the woman carefully says with a honeyed voice.
“Hello,” I curtly respond, forcing a polite smile. I glance down at the Uber on my phone—it’s still five minutes out, even though I’m in the city.Of course, when I need it most.
“I work for Legends,” Heather clarifies, looking around as if searching for someone.
“Oh yeah, he’s really impressive,” I reply with a dulled expression, not necessarily paying attention.
“I hear you’re with Ryder?”
I narrow my eyes. “Yes, I am.”
