Ray of Hope (Ray #2)

by E. L. Todd

  “And you are. Bring him along.”

  My eyebrow rose. “You want a big, hairy dog in your palace?”

  He shrugged. “I know you two come as a pair. Besides, your hair gets in all my sinks and drains anyway. Not much different.”

  Now my eyes narrowed.

  The corner of his mouth rose in a smile. “Grab Safari and let’s go.”

  There’s nothing I wanted more, but I knew I shouldn’t leave Rex. “I’d love to but I really should stay here…” I leaned forward and pressed my mouth to his ear. “Rex is really stressed about the grand opening tomorrow.” I pulled away.

  He was irritated all over again, but he didn’t make an argument. “I get it.”

  “I’m sorry…”

  Rex came to the door and nodded to Ryker. “What’s up, man?”

  “Just wanted to stop by and see Rae.”

  Rex grabbed another beer from the fridge. “Are you going to his place?” His question was directed at me.

  “No,” I said quickly. “He just came to say goodnight.”

  Rex wasn’t buying it because he wasn’t as stupid as I claimed he was. “I don’t know what’s going on here, but I have a feeling it has something to do with me.”

  Ryker spilled the beans. “I wanted to take both her and Safari back to my place, but she wants to stay here with you, which I understand.”

  Rex was about to drink his beer but lowered the bottle again. “Rae, I’m fine. Go.”

  “I really don’t mind staying—”

  “Dude, I’m okay. You put it all in perspective for me.” He patted me on the shoulder. “Go live your life and stop being a loser who hangs out with her brother and dog too much.”

  Ryker nodded. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.” His eyes turned to me, and his irritation was palpable.

  “I’ll see you at the opening tomorrow.” Rex walked into the living room and disappeared from the entryway.

  Ryker looked at me with victory in his eyes. “Grab your bag and let’s go.”

  Safari folded his ears when he thought Ryker was taking me away.

  “Safari, you’re coming too.” Ryker patted his thigh and whistled. “Come on, boy.”

  Safari raced out the door and nearly knocked Ryker to the floor.

  Ryker chuckled as he righted himself. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him that excited.”

  “Me neither.”

  ***

  Ryker shut the bedroom door so we could have some privacy from my spoiled dog. He pulled his shirt over his head then dropped his sweats. He wasn’t wearing boxers underneath so his cock popped out, hard and ready to go even though we’d just walked inside.

  “Damn, you’re hard up, huh?”

  “What gave me away?” He walked toward me, his cock long and proud. He sat at the foot of the bed then leaned back and pulled the pillows under his head. His dick lay against his stomach, and without saying anything, he told me what he wanted.

  “Are you trying to tell me something?”

  “Yep.” He wrapped his hand around his shaft and slowly moved up and down. “I’ve been thinking about that pretty mouth all day. And since you were such a pain in the ass for the past two hours, you owe me.”

  “I owe you?” I forced an attitude even though I didn’t have one. I’d gladly suck his dick without him asking. His cock was absolutely beautiful and did the most amazing things to my body. I didn’t mind cherishing it with my tongue.

  “Yep. But when you’re done, I’ll owe you.” He gave me a smoldering look. “Think about it that way.”

  “That does sound tempting…” I removed my sweater and jeans, taking my time as I stripped down to my bra and panties. His eyes were glued to my frame, and he watched me with a gaze so hot it burned my skin. I watched him swallow the lump in his throat. When his cock twitched, I knew he liked the mini strip tease I just gave him. I unhooked my bra and let it fall to the hardwood floor with a quiet thud. Then I turned around so my ass was in his face. Slowly, I pulled my panties over my ass and down my thighs, exposing every inch slowly, dragging it out as long as possible. When I reached my thighs and exposed my slick folds, I heard him moan from behind me.

  I smirked then kicked my black thong away. I kneeled between his thighs, my tits touching his balls as they hung over the edge. They were warm and tight, anxious to release the seed he’d been building up all day.

  Ryker watched me, his eyes so dark they were nearly black. His hand snaked up my shoulder until it got a fistful of hair. His signature move was to grab me by the back of the neck, like a predator watching over prey. He grabbed his cock by the base and lifted his head until it rubbed against my lips like Chap Stick. “Now I’m not sure if I want to fuck your mouth or your pussy.”

  “Who says you can’t do both?” I pressed my lips to the tip of his cock and gave him a wet kiss, absorbing the bead of lubrication his body produced.

  He moaned under his breath, watching me with pure fascination.

  I grabbed his base and moved his hand out of the way then licked the upper part of his shaft like a lollipop. I took my time, dragging my tongue slowly around the head of his cock where he was most sensitive. “Mmm…”

  He gripped my hair tighter, gently pulling on my scalp. “You like that, sweetheart?”

  “No. I love it.” I opened my mouth and pushed his cock to the back of my throat. I could only take half of him because he was too long. If I pushed any farther, I would engage my gag reflex—and that wasn’t sexy. My hand massaged his balls as I moved him in and out of my throat.

  Ryker placed both hands behind his head and watched me, enjoying the show as much as the experience. His cock was unnaturally hard in my mouth because he enjoyed it so much. His hips moved slowly, rocking himself into me. “Fuck, you give amazing head.”

  I pulled his cock out of my mouth. “Only when I really enjoy it.” I gave him a dark look with my eyes before I kept going.

  “You like sucking my dick, sweetheart?”

  “Oh yeah.”

  His hand returned to the back of my hair. “I want this to last forever, but I really want to fuck you.”

  I kept going, challenging him to stop me.

  He didn’t. He continued to guide my mouth up and down his length. He pushed me farther than I wanted to go by a few centimeters, but I didn’t gag. Sweat formed on his chest, and his breathing increased. His cock twitched in my mouth, and I knew he was approaching his threshold.

  I loved pleasing him as much as he loved being pleased. His eyes darkened and somehow turned lifeless because his mind was high in the clouds. All rationale had disappeared as he ascended into the realm of complete pleasure. The desperation to come filled him, and he fought with little restraint. “It’s coming.”

  “Give it to me.”

  He took a deep breath and pulled me down his length, releasing deep in the back of my throat. “Fuck…” His fingers dug into the back of my neck, and his hips thrust slightly, making sure I got every drop.

  I sucked everything off his tip before I pulled him out of my mouth. Semi-hard, his cock landed against his stomach with a gentle tap. He was soaked in my saliva, and his balls loosened after the explosion. “Whenever you’re ready.” I crawled up the bed and laid my head on the pillows. I spread my legs and waited for him.

  He didn’t hesitate before he crawled up the bed and pressed his face between my legs. His tongue darted out and began the intense pleasure session. He sucked me aggressively, wanting to give me head that rivaled the kind I’d just given him.

  I stared down at him with my fingers deep in his hair. My thighs were spread wide apart, and I enjoyed the scorching heat he gave me. I didn’t think about all the women who’d been in this bed before I came along. I only thought about the magic we were making in that moment. No man had ever made me feel so satisfied. Ryker never left me hanging, and he worked to make every experience better than the last. He would never know how much I appreciated that.

  “Come,
sweetheart.” His eyes looked into mine as he licked my clit hard.

  His precise touch and the desire in his eyes made my body obey his command. My fingers dug into his scalp, and I felt my hips contract automatically as the orgasm hit me like a freight train. “Oh god…”

  He sucked me harder, making it hit me hard and long.

  “Yes…yes.”

  ***

  I washed my face and got ready for bed even though it was early morning. I pulled on one of his t-shirts and a new pair of panties since my other pair was soaked. Then I opened the bedroom door and let Safari inside. “Ready for bed, Safari?”

  He immediately jumped on the bed and made himself at home.

  Ryker lay in bed with his hands behind his head. He eyed Safari with an amused expression. “Just don’t pee on anything, alright?”

  “He won’t.” I rubbed my dog’s head and gave him a kiss. “He’s a good boy.”

  Ryker watched our interaction. “Sometimes I wonder if you like him more than me.”

  “I do.” I said it without shame. “He’s been my best friend for years. He can’t be replaced that easily.”

  “I guess I’ll have to step it up.”

  “Really have to step it up.” I turned off the bedside lamp and got into bed.

  Ryker immediately snuggled with me, his arm hooked around my waist. His gentle breaths fell on the back of my neck, and his concrete chest pressed into my back. With every breath, his chest pushed against me, reminding me he was real and not just a dream.

  “Thanks for letting Safari stay here.”

  “I’ll bend over backward to be with you, Rae. But I think you already knew that.”

  Chapter Two

  Rae

  The second the doors were open, it was packed.

  Families and friends scattered throughout Groovy Bowl. Some hit the lanes right away with their teams and began to bowl. The younger crowd hit the arcade and the pizzeria while the parents went to the small bar tucked in the corner.

  I wasn’t the least bit surprised.

  “Dude, we actually have customers.” Rex stood in a Groovy Bowl t-shirt. It was a tie-dyed shirt with a bowling ball in the center. “People really came.”

  “Of course they did.” Jessie was dressed like a beauty queen like always, her hair straight and designer jeans tight on her hips. “Just from the outside, this place looks awesome. How else would people want to spend their Saturday?”

  “It’s so cool.” Kayden looked at the place in complete awe. Of everyone in the group, she seemed to be the most impressed. “Can I buy a t-shirt?”

  “You can’t buy one,” Rex said. “But I’ll give it to you.”

  “Come on, let me buy one,” she pressed.

  “No,” Rex argued. “Your money is no good here.” He walked off to get the t-shirt from behind the counter.

  Zeke turned to me. “Looks like we did it.”

  “I think it’s safe to say this place is gonna be around for a long time.” The crowd would thin out in a few weeks, but after a big opening like this, customers would be steady. Zeke and I came up with an idea to give out awards to the people who bowled the best for each month, and we expected that would bring even more people in.

  “Now Rex can calm the hell down.”

  “And move out.” That was the part I was most excited about. Ryker could stay at my place and make my life easier. He could walk into work whenever he wanted, but I had to be there at the same time every day. When I stayed at his place, I had to get up even earlier just to get ready. And I wasn’t a morning person to begin with. Besides, Safari preferred to stay in the apartment. He made it work at Ryker’s last night, but I knew he wasn’t comfortable there.

  Zeke chuckled. “You can finally get your life back. What are you going to do when he’s gone?”

  “Sterilize the place.”

  He laughed. “You’re going to have to use some serious bleach. Some stains won’t come out.”

  “Maybe I’ll just move.”

  “Now you’re thinking outside the box.”

  “Should we get some pizza?” Jessie asked. “I’m hungry.”

  “Me too.” Kayden rubbed her stomach like she hadn’t eaten in days.

  “Sounds like a plan.” Just when we turned to walk to the pizzeria, Rex returned with a handful of t-shirts. He handed them out.

  I held mine up to my chest. “These are so cute.”

  Zeke took off his shirt, showing off his powerful pecs and washboard abs.

  Jessie whistled. “Damn.”

  “Wow,” Kayden said. “Someone overuses their gym membership.”

  Zeke smiled as he pulled on the Groovy Bowl t-shirt. He was too humble to say anything, but his smug grin said he appreciated the compliments. “It’s good material. Really soft.”

  “Everything feels soft when you’re made of concrete,” Jessie said.

  Zeke smiled again.

  Rex narrowed his eyes like he felt left out. “Hey, I’ve got a nice physique too.”

  “Prove it,” Jessie said.

  “Yeah.” Kayden’s eyes were wide like Christmas ornaments on a tree. “Prove it right now.”

  I held up my hand. “Please don’t. It’s been such a good day, and we wouldn’t want to ruin it by throwing up on the new tile.”

  Rex ignored me and took off his shirt anyway.

  Jessie whistled. “Damn…I’m not sure who has the nicer body.”

  Rex flexed a bicep, showing his prominent muscles and his lean build. “It’s not even a close contest, ladies.”

  Kayden continued to stare at him, her jaw open.

  “Zeke definitely has the better bod.” There was no contest in my eyes.

  Zeke turned to me then nudged me in the side. “Like what you see, huh?”

  “A lot better than Mr. Albino over there.”

  “Hey,” Rex snapped. “It’s been raining a lot lately.”

  “Zeke isn’t pale as snow,” I argued. “And he lives in the same city.” Zeke had a tan look to him, but I didn’t know where it came from. I knew he did a lot of biking, but I couldn’t picture him doing it shirtless.

  “He’s a dermatologist,” Rex snapped. “He probably put some chemicals on to make his skin look like that.”

  “Yeah,” Zeke deadpanned. “It’s called vitamin D.”

  “Where do you get that?” Rex asked. “Do they have it at Rite Aid?”

  Unanimously, we all turned to the pizza parlor. “Let’s get some lunch,” I said. “I’m burning way too many calories trying to understand that dipshit.”

  ***

  Rex showed the girls the bar, the place they were most interested in seeing. Zeke and I ate more than everyone else, so we were always the two left behind. I took another slice and went to town on it, trying not to think about the six-mile run I’d have to take tomorrow to make up for this evening. I sighed when I realized how much my feet would hurt halfway through the run.

  Zeke sipped his soda, his eyes on me.

  “Seeing anyone?” He mentioned he had a hookup not too long ago. Maybe he did a back-to-back.

  “I went out with this woman last night.”

  “How’d that go?”

  “It was okay.” He wiped his greasy fingers on a napkin. “I don’t think I’ll see her again.”

  “Why not?”

  He shrugged. “Didn’t feel anything.”

  “Did you sleep with her?” I knew I could ask him questions like that point blank. He did the same to me.

  “Yeah.” He didn’t show any guilt for his one-night stand. “It was good, but I don’t know…just not interested.”

  Zeke was the perfect catch. He was sweet and thoughtful, and he was honest and loyal. Someday, he would make the perfect husband and father. Whoever ended up with him was one of the luckiest women on the planet. “You’ll find the right girl. She’s out there somewhere…”

  He quickly averted his gaze and drank his soda. “Yeah…I’m sure I will.”

  �
��It sounds like you aren’t really looking for something serious.”

  “I’m not.” He sipped his soda again, chugging it like water. “Just playing the field right now. I’ve been going to the bars after work and have been getting lucky with the numbers.”

  “It’s not luck,” I said with a serious expression. “You’re a perfect ten, Zeke.”

  He set his soda down and stared at me—hard. “You really think so?”

  “Hell yeah, I do.” Even if I were gay, I would still think it. “When you don’t call those women the next day, they’re probably so disappointed. Trust me on that.”

  He nodded slightly like he didn’t know what else to do. “How’s it going with Ryker?”

  “Good.” We’d spent the last month doing the same routine. Sometimes we went out to dinner, but most of the time, we just went to his place and hooked up. I didn’t mind because the sex was awesome, but I was starting to worry our relationship was too superficial.

  “Sounds like there’s more to the story.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because your answer is one word. You usually talk more than that.” He pushed his empty plate to the side and rested his elbows on the table.

  “I guess…I’m a little concerned about it.”

  “Because?”

  “There’s a one-word question.”

  His smile deepened. “Don’t be a smartass. Just answer the question.”

  “I’m concerned because we don’t do much talking.” I didn’t elaborate on that part because Zeke could fill in the dots. “I know him, but I don’t really know him. It seems like he likes me, and I believe he does, but then I also wonder where this is really going. But it’s way too soon to ask that kind of question.”

  Zeke remained silent, being a good listener.

  “So…I don’t know.”

  “Maybe this is just a fling. Maybe it’s supposed to run its course, and you guys are supposed to go your separate ways. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

  “Yeah, but that’s exactly what I was trying to avoid.”

  Zeke knew exactly why, so he didn’t say anything.

  “I just don’t want to get my heart broken again. It sucks.” I sighed when I remembered how excruciating it was.

  “He can’t break your heart unless you allow him to. So don’t let him.”