“Can we do it later?I’m a littletired.”
“No problem.”
“Can I turn the radio on?”
“You can do anything you want,sweetheart.”
That nickname sent tingles up her arm.Remembering the way he looked at her at the apartment made her puther thighs closer together.
She huddled in her seat and shivered,wondering if Ryker picking her up tonight meant something else.He’d said he wasn’t interested in her, not that way, and yet sheswore she didn’t mistake the look of pure want on his face justnow.
At a red light, Ryker reached over frombehind.
“Sit a little forward,” he ordered.
She did as he asked, and he put his comfyand worn black leather jacket around her shoulders.She leanedback, gripped the collar of the jacket, and took a whiff.
“What?Does it smell or something?I justhad that laundered.”
“No, it’s not that.I like how it smells ofyou.”She blushed, realizing what she just said.
After that, it was a silent drive back.Shefelt a little awkward.Sky had shut him down when he tried to talk,but this was her Ryker.Unlike her ex, he would listen.Sheregretted her actions and decided to do a better job of opening upto him.
“Did you have plans tonight?Like a job, ora date or something?”She tried to sound casual, but crap, hervoice became a little wobbly at the end.
Who Ryker saw was none of her business.Henever had a problem when it came to women.She overheard some ofthe Severin women talking about him when she paid Giovanni a visitin his office years ago.However, if she strained her mind, shecouldn’t remember Ryker having a girlfriend when they’d livedtogether.
“Let’s get one thing straight.There’s onlybeen one woman I’ve been interested in.”
“Really?Who?”Sky didn’t dare hope, becausehe’d crushed her heart before.
Thinking back two years ago, she understoodhim a little better now.Back then, she might be twenty-one,legally an adult, but in many ways, she’d also been a shelteredyoung woman.Her own blood might’ve abandoned her, but she gotadopted into a bigger, warmer family instead.Ryker had wanted togive her twenty-one-year old self a choice, a chance to see theworld beyond the limited scope of his own.
“You know who.”
It took a couple of seconds for the words tosink in.“You told me you only saw me as a younger sister.”
“I made a mistake, one I’ve regretted sincethe day you left.”
Her chest tightened.She couldn’t hold backall the frustration and anger she kept inside her heart anymore.“Why didn’t you say anything?You could have picked up the phoneand called me.”
Sky fisted her hands on her lap beforelooking at his profile.Ryker wasn’t a guy women would typicallycall handsome.He was rough on the edges, didn’t have anyhesitations when it came to violence, but he’d always made her feelsafe.She waited for his answer, and he seemed to take his time, toconsider his next words.
“Because I’m a fucking selfish bastard.Iknew if I heard your voice again, I’d drive up to where you wereand take you back with me.I want you for myself, but if I didthat, I’d clip your wings.”
She didn’t know what to say to that.Herheart beat so wildly that she grew certain it could burst out ofher ribcage.How often had Sky imagined Ryker saying those words toher?
His next words blew her completely away.
“I won’t make that mistake.Ever.Now thatyou’re coming back with me, I’m going to make sure you won’t everleave.”
Chapter Three
“Sky?We’re here,” Ryker said, parking hiscar opposite his apartment building.
He cut the engine and looked over, smilingat the sight of Sky, leaning against the windows, snoring softly.His jacket looked oversized on her, but seeing her wearing hisclothes summoned possessive feelings inside of him.Mine,hethought fondly.
Sky opened her hazel brown eyes, lookinggroggy, half-asleep.“Here?”
