by Lia Ellison
“Why not? I can help you, and you can trust me. I don’t even know this Zavarelli guy.” I went over to him and placed my arms around his neck.
“I won’t put your life at risk. This is my business, and I’m going to take care of it.”
“But if I’m going to be your girlfriend, then it’s my business too. Especially if something might happen to you.”
“Lexi—”
“Don’t Lexi me.” I put my finger over his lips. “Do you want to be with me or do you want a girlfriend who will sit at home, worry all the time, and wait for you to come home? Because the last thing I’m going to do is be trapped in some house because it’s not safe for me to even breathe on my own. No. Forget it. And if I go with you, I might be of use to you. You know couples tend to be less suspicious because everyone thinks they’re so into each other and don’t see anything else?”
A frown creased his brow. “If you get killed because of me, I’ll never forgive myself.”
“I’ll be careful, and you can protect me. Come on. I want to be your partner, not a bird in a golden cage. If you’re not ready for that, then I don’t know what the point of any of this is.” I let go of him.
He caught my arm as I turned to leave.
“No, wait,” he said.
“So we’re both going?” I grinned.
“We are,” he let out a sigh, and I pressed my lips to his.
Chapter 9
“ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT to do this?” Ryker eyed me carefully.
“Yeah, I’m sure. Are you? Maybe you don’t want your men to overhear anything.” A smile tugged on my lips.
Since we were already in school, and I really felt like some roleplaying would really make up for at least some of what Ryker had done to me while we’d been going to school here, I thought we shouldn’t miss the opportunity that had so nicely presented itself to us.
But maybe Ryker didn’t agree with me.
If that was the case, then it would be a shame, but oh well.
Maybe another time.
“I don’t care if they overhear something or not,” he said. “I’m not ashamed of what I like.”
“Okay. Then give me that paddle.” I grinned, and he handed me the heavy piece of wood with anticipation in his eyes.
My insides clenched with desire just at the sight.
The classroom we were in was exactly like it had been years ago, with desks, chairs, and everything still intact.
There were even some books on a shelf, and some chalk for the blackboard. It was all so damn realistic, especially because I was sitting at the teacher’s desk.
“Drop your pants and underwear, and bend over the desk, Mr. Cavano,” I said as I got to my feet, tapping the paddle against my palm.
Ryker glanced at me with a small smile on his face before he obeyed. My core was tingling as I came to stand behind him, admiring his perfect ass that was going to look so damn good in red.
“Ready?” I asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, and then I lifted the paddle and brought it down hard on his ass.
The thud it made when it connected with his skin resonated through the room, and he let out a small gasp. But I didn’t give him time to recover as the paddle landed across his cheeks once again.
It didn’t take long for his skin to start turning red as smacks rained down on him. He jumped a little a particularly hard blow over his already bruised flesh.
When I focused my attention on his sit spot, he let out a groan, but he didn’t move out of his position.
I gave him a few more quick smacks, and then I placed the paddle on the desk next to him.
He was breathing hard as I splayed my fingers over his heated skin. I gently caressed his burning cheeks, my fingers slipping toward his throbbing cock.
He tensed as I brushed him with my fingers, but then I let go of him.
“Come here,” I said as I unbuttoned my pants.
As he pushed himself up, I pulled my pants and underwear down my legs so it wouldn’t get in the way.
My center was already dripping with need, so I settled the chair and spread my legs wide.
Ryker’s gaze was full of hunger and longing as he made his way toward me. I didn’t even have to tell him to get on his knees.
He dropped to the floor in front of me, and when he blew a hot breath against my core, I trembled with lust.
His tongue traced a circle over my inner thigh, and then it trailed across my slit, tentatively at first, teasing me.
I got hold of his hair, gripping the soft strands, and shoved him toward me.
His tongue slid inside me then, and when it started to move in and out, I threw my head back.
He lapped at me, sucking and licking until my whole body was on fire. His tongue swirled around my clit, pressing gently, and I had to grab onto the desk so I wouldn’t topple over.
I felt one of his fingers push their way inside me as his tongue kept dancing over my clit. The delicious ache was growing stronger and stronger, and soon I was writhing, my thighs closing around his head.
That only made him lick harder, and when he hit just the right spot, my orgasm shook my body like an earthquake, leaving me gasping for breath.
Ryker lifted his gaze to me, my juices coating his mouth, and I loved the look in his eyes.
He was mine.
Completely and utterly mine.
I could see it in his eyes.
“More,” I said, and he bent his head again, his tongue curving inside me.
His finger joined in again, and then another. As he moved them in and out of me, his tongue teasing and toying with my clit, I groaned.
I’d never thought anyone could make me feel like this. It was as if I was flying.
The world around us didn’t exist, and Ryker clung to me as if I was the only thing keeping him alive.
When my release hit me, little tremors surged through me, and I was panting for breath. My fingers were tightly wound in Ryker’s hair, and I cried out, his name on my lips.
When his gaze met mine, he was smiling at me. The pleased and proud look on his face made me pull him up to me so I could kiss him.
When his lips met mine, I let out a low growl. My fingers closed around his cock, and a smile spread across my lips.
I gave him a few tugs, and then I let go of him.
“Pull your pants up,” I said. “Bullies don’t get rewards.”
“Does that mean you don’t think I’m a bully?” Amusement flashed in his eyes as he pushed himself up to his feet. He winced as he pulled up his pants, his cock still hard. “You let me taste you, didn’t you?”
“Ah, so you think that was a reward?” I laughed as I got to my feet. I was a bit unsteady at first, but then I got my panties and pants on.
“Wasn’t it?” he said.
“I guess it was.” I wound my arms around him from behind, and then I gave him a sharp smack on his ass.
He let out a small gasp, and I moved my hand so I could brush my fingers over his shaft through his pants.
“Still think it was a reward?” I let go of him.
He was breathing hard as he turned around to face me, his eyes swirling with so much emotion.
“Yes,” he breathed before pressing his lips against mine.
“Good,” I said when we broke apart. “Now you can sit over there and tell me everything about what we’re supposed to do tomorrow.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He grimaced, but then he sat down in the hard chair.
Watching him squirm was my new favorite thing. I couldn’t imagine sitting was comfortable right now, especially with his erection grazing against his pants.
“Oh, and sit still. Or I might have to spank you again.” I flashed him a wide smile.
Chapter 10
I TOOK A DEEP BREATH as I walked out onto the terrace. The air was fresh and smelled of the sea. I hadn’t expected we’d have to travel so far to find Ryker’s target, but I was glad I was with him.
Hell, the s
andy beach and the sea in front of me were so damn beautiful, and the two-story house where we were staying was modern and really nice.
Actually, I wished we could just stay here.
Forever maybe.
“Why didn’t you want me to come here with you?” I asked Ryker as he stepped out onto the terrace.
He was so damn hot in his unbuttoned white dress shirt and white pants that were hanging low on his hips.
“Because,” he said as he wound his arms around me from behind, his lips brushing my ear, “I’ll forget what I need to do and just stay here with you.”
I turned around in his embrace. “Would that be so bad?” I searched his eyes.
“Not really,” he said. “But I still have work to do.”
“And your men and their families depend on you. Yeah, I know.” I got hold of his shirt, pulling me to me.
His lips grazed mine before he kissed me with so much passion that it warmed me all over.
“Maybe once all of this is over and we have some time for ourselves, we can come here again,” he said, rubbing his nose against mine. “Or we can go somewhere else. Anywhere you want.”
“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s handle your problem, and then we can have fun. How does that sound?”
“Wonderful, but I don’t think it’ll be that easy.”
“So you won’t just walk down the beach where Easton and Zavarelli are waiting, shoot them, and come back to me?” I teased.
“They’re not here. Or at least I don’t think they are at the moment.”
My brow furrowed. “Why are we here then?”
“Because Easton’s wife is hiding here. If I get her to talk, I can find Easton. And if I find Easton, I know Zavarelli will be close by.”
My frown deepened. “His wife? What are you going to do with her?”
He pressed his lips into a tight line, as if he was debating whether to tell me the truth or not.
“Ryker.” I shot him a warning look. “We said we wouldn’t do this. What the fuck are you planning to do with her? Torture her for information? Kill her?”
“I’m just going to scare her. That’s all. She lives alone. I can get into her house and I can get her to tell me what I need to know.”
“Is she a gang member too? Or just a gang leader’s wife?” I asked.
“Just his wife. I don’t think she’s involved in any of his business. He wouldn’t let her.”
“Right. So he’s an asshole. Got it. But how is any of that her fault?”
“It’s not. She chose to be with him.”
“Ah, so someone can just come here and torture me because I’m your girlfriend? Because I chose to be with you?”
He licked his lips. “I won’t let anything happen to you ever again. I promise you that.”
“But we’re not really talking about me here. I’m just saying that she’s innocent in all this.”
“She is, but—”
“Isn’t there another way you can get her to tell her? What if she gets seriously traumatized even if you don’t kill her? What if she ends up having nightmares for the rest of her life? What if something goes wrong and she hurts herself or you?” I didn’t like any of this.
He hadn’t mentioned this part of his plan to me before, and now I could see why.
“Lexi... When you got kidnapped because of me, did any of them care about your—”
“You don’t have to be like them!” I said. “Just because your world is full of death and torture, and I don’t know what else, doesn’t mean you have to go down to their level. You can be better. For you. Not for them.”
“You do realize that I’m leading a gang, don’t you? I can’t afford to waste them or be nice to my enemies. They’d take me down in a second.”
“I’m not asking you to be nice to your enemies, but that woman isn’t your enemy. And no, I don’t care she’s Easton’s wife. She’s not part of his business, so she’s not your enemy. There has to be another way.”
He let out a sigh, then pulled out his phone, showing the screen to me. “This is her,” he said. “Her name is Cassie. Do you think I want to torture her for information?”
I cocked my head as I studied the photo of a fierce-looking blonde, gray-eyed woman who was holding a shotgun in her hands. “Yeah, actually, I don’t think you want that. She looks dangerous.”
“So she’s not so innocent anymore.”
“No, I didn’t say that. All I’m saying is that she doesn’t look like someone who would respond well to threats and torture, and she’s very likely going to try to blow your head off. Look at her. I bet she knows how to use that shotgun, and you’ll be in her house.”
“What I do is risky. It’s always been.”
“I know, but I think we can try another way. What exactly do you need her to tell you? Where her husband is? Do you think she talks to him on the phone?”
“Yes, that’s what I need, and no, I have no clue if she talks to him regularly, but I bet she knows where he is or at least how to get to him.”
“Okay. How about we try to get inside her house? And then plant some bugs? If she talks to him, you might be able to figure something out.”
“You want to break into her house?”
“No. She’ll invite us. We just need to play our parts well.”
Ryker’s eyebrows shot up. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“We can disguise ourselves, and she doesn’t even know what you look like, does she?”
“Why waste our time?”
“So you don’t have to torture a woman. Isn’t that enough?”
He didn’t say anything for a few moments, but then he nodded. “All right. We’ll try it your way, but if it doesn’t work, we’re doing it my way.”
I nodded.
That was something I could agree to, but I really hoped my way would work. Maybe I didn’t know Cassie, but I didn’t want her to suffer for something she had no part in.
Sure, her husband was completely entangled in it, but what did that have to do with her? Or maybe I was just hoping that there was a way for me to accept Ryker’s job.
But I still didn’t think I could be like Cassie and just wait for my husband while he did who knew what who knew where.
That just wouldn’t work for me.
Maybe Ryker and I could find middle ground, because if he we couldn’t, I didn’t know how this was ever going to work.
Chapter 11
WE’D BEEN WAITING FOR Cassie to show up, and when we finally spotted her in her huge garden, we headed in her direction.
“Are you sure this is the right place?” I said loudly, gesturing wildly and looking around as if I were lost.
“Yeah, I am,” Ryker said as he fumbled with a huge map. “It should be right here.”
“But it’s not!” I said in a high-pitched voice. “How could you do this to us? You ruined everything!”
“It wasn’t my fault, honey. I swear this is the address that said on the app.”
“Do you see the fucking house? Do you see it, huh?” I stomped my feet right in front of Cassie, who was looking at us with suspicion and mild curiosity. “I can’t believe our honeymoon is ruined. Everything is going to hell!” I sat down on the ground and burst into tears.
“Honey, don’t cry. It’s going to be fine. We’re going to find something else.”
“With what money?” I yelled. “We paid everything we had for that house. For our perfect honeymoon. And now it’s all ruined. I want to go home.”
Small sobs shook my body, and I was hoping Cassie would fall for our little act.
“We can’t,” Ryker said. “The plane doesn’t leave until tomorrow morning.”
“So what are we going to do? Sleep on the street?”
“We can sleep on the beach. It can be romantic.”
“Romantic?” I waved my hands at him. “What if there’s a storm? What if we both fall asleep and someone attacks us? What if I need to go to the bathroom?”
>
“We’ll figure something out. Maybe we can ask around. It’s possible the address we got is wrong and our house is waiting for us just down the street.”
“Oh, stop it! We’ve passed through this area for about fifty times already. It’s not going to manifest itself.”
“Excuse me,” a female voice behind me said, and I jumped up. “Is everything all right? Do you need help with something?”
“Um, do you maybe know where this house is?” Ryker pulled out his phone and brought up a photo of a house that wasn’t even in this town, but Cassie didn’t have to know that.
“No, I’m afraid I don’t.” She shook her head.
“See? It’s not here! It doesn’t exist!” I glared at Ryker and broke into tears again. “Our honeymoon is ruined!”
“Are you sure?” Ryker asked Cassie. “We rented it online for our honeymoon, and this was the address we got.”
Cassie glanced at his phone again. “No, there’s nothing there.”
Ryker sighed. “I guess we’ve been scammed then.”
“Why is this happening?” I asked. “I should’ve never married you! It was bad luck from the start. First the rings and now our honeymoon.” I turned toward Cassie. “Can you believe he lost his wedding ring only an hour after our wedding?”
Ryker wrapped his arm around me. “Shh. We’ll figure something out.” He focused back on Cassie. “Do you maybe know of a place where we could stay for the night? Something cheap, maybe? We were supposed to have everything with the house that we rented, but now...”
Cassie bit down on her lip, her gaze going from Ryker to me, and I really hoped she wouldn’t find us suspicious.
It was better for her if she didn’t because Ryker’s plan for her wasn’t pleasant at all if mine didn’t work out.
“You know what? I have a big house just for myself. My husband is currently away. You can stay in one of the rooms tonight.”
“Oh, my god. Are you sure?” I asked, turning my hopeful gaze to her. “We don’t want to bother you.”
“It won’t be a problem,” she said with a kind smile.
“See, honey?” Ryker said. “Maybe we’re finally going to have some luck.”
“Thank you so much. I swear you won’t even know we’re there,” I said, taking hold of Cassie’s hand. “We left our bags just down the road because we couldn’t carry them anymore.”