As I jot down the part about not pulling out of the parking lot until three of his guards give me the signal, the front door opens.
Ryder steps in. His eyes find mine immediately.
His expression is unreadable—not the look of a man whose plans succeeded.
And for a half second, it feels like we’re back at square one.
Like he’s looking at me as nothing more than an accessory to the house. An employee.
And I brace myself for that pain all over again.
Keeping his eyes locked on mine, he shrugs off his coat. Then he tosses something to Gunnar.
“Excuse me and Miss Jane, please,” he says, waiting for him to walk away.
Ryder stays where he is, just staring at me.
He doesn’t move closer.
“So?” I ask.
“So what?”
“I finished my job with Kylie.”
“I’m aware.”
“Did you finish yours?”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to let me in on what you had to do to finish it?”
He doesn’t answer.
Instead, he crosses the room, closes the distance in three strides, and pulls me into his arms like he’s afraid I might disappear.
My back slams gently against the wall as his mouth finds mine—hungry, forceful.
He kisses me like he’s making up for lost time, like he’s trying to memorize every part of me again.
His hand slips under my shirt, palm searing against bare skin, while his other arm braces beside my head.
His lips drag along my jaw, down my neck—biting, tasting—before crashing back to my mouth.
When he finally breaks the kiss, his breath is ragged.
He rests his forehead to mine, chest heaving, fingers still gripping my hips like I might vanish.
“It’s over,” he whispers, his voice hoarse. “It’s finally fucking over…”
End of Episode 14
Decisions
14.1
Ryder
