by Jennah Scott
“I know, I know, you’re the big brother type and I’m in for all sorts of pain.”
“Me? Well, yeah, I’d beat on you, but her daddy’s the one you’ve really got to worry about.”
James shook his head. “I have got to quit forgetting about the daddy.” He shoved his fingers back through belt loops and nodded at Ryker.
“So. Where are we at today?”
Just like that, the two men left their personal lives aside to delve into something much more personal. The restoration of the forty-six Chevy.
Chapter 27
Angel glanced around the apartment for her phone, Ray’s ringtone screamed at her, but the damn thing was out of sight. Not surprising since there were tarps and paint lids and welding supplies covering the floor.
Putting her ear to the floor, Angel felt the vibrations to the right and followed them until she flipped over a piece of the blue tarp protecting her.
Ray knew not to call unless it was an emergency. She may not have been an artist, but after three years of friendship, Angel made sure Ray knew when an artist went into the zone they needed to stay there.
“Everything okay?”
The words popped out, it’d been a long time since she’d worried about people or situations that didn’t directly involve her. Actually, since her mom died and her dad looked at her like a painful memory, Angel had tried not to worry about other people’s feelings. The one time she ’fessed up, came clean, had been one of the worst nights of her life. Being belittled and socially ruined for speaking the truth hurt only slightly less than the pain she felt for doing it to herself. If she would’ve kept her mouth shut she supposed none of it would have happened. But the deceit of it all would have rotted away her spirit and no man was worth that.
“I think so, but I need you. I’m confused and you know I’m not good at this stuff and I need your advice.”
“Ray, honey, you need advice now? I was home all night and this morning, what changed since then?” Angel picked up her thinnest paint brush and dipped it once into an adhesive and then into a can of silver glitter.
“I saw James and he asked me out.”
“Okay, that’s great, right? Isn’t that what you wanted?” Angel touched the very tip of the brush to a dark orange spot on one of the yellow spindles of metal surrounding her newly deemed throne.
“Angel, you don’t even know James.”
With the phone cocked between her shoulder and ear, Angel placed the brush’s handle in her mouth and grabbed for a smudge brush.
“Angel?”
The glittery brush fell from her mouth and landed in the can of purple paint she’d ordered from Ryker. The paint that started all of this madness. From the project to her heart, everything came back to Red Light Body and Paint.
“Damn it. Yeah, no, I’m here. Dropped my brush. I know he’s the guy from the bar. Ryker keeps me filled in on the rest with his truck and all that. So you’re confused about what?”
“Well, I mean, the way we danced was up close and personal but other than that we don’t know each other. So what should I do? What do I expect on this date, you know? Should I wear one of my sun dresses or jeans? I mean, he said it was for a light meal … what do you think that means?”
Smudge brush in hand, Angel dabbed at the glitter on the metal trying to get it to spread out the way she envisioned. “Well, I think you should see what happens. Wear a dress, those are cute on you. I don’t know, just be yourself.” Angel cursed as the phone slipped from her shoulder and hit the floor. “Ray, honey, you’ll be fine. You’re wonderful. Why don’t you go ask Ryker what he thinks of these developments?”
She was losing her vision. Angel had been working furiously all afternoon to shade the perfect amounts of orange and pink into the yellow. She wanted the back of the throne to look like rays of sun at sunset bursting forward. The glitter added to the sunset illusion, like twilight, sparkling stars just waiting to shine. All of her art spoke to her, but this one was the first to move forward, to be a beacon of hope for the future, and it looked like her hopes and dreams, even to her.
“I can’t, James is with him. Are you going to come home tonight? Maybe we can grab dinner and a mo—”
“Shit!” Angel watched in horror as a drip of yellow paint landed on the purple of the throne. “Ray, I gotta go, just talk to Ryke, okay?”
Too busy cursing at the paint and trying to decide on a quick fix, Angel didn’t bother taking care with her phone. She slammed it shut, then grabbed a fresh cloth and prayed the purple was dry enough and she was fast enough to get the traitorous yellow paint off of it.
Saved by quick thinking Angel grabbed her phone off the floor from where she’d dropped it and checked the time: four-thirty. Ryker would be closing the shop down soon and heading over to “take care of her.”
She still had to fight the urge to roll her eyes when she thought of it that way. Even while it touched her heart and made her feel all the sappy things girls always claimed to feel, Angel fought to control it and keep some of her sanity. But keeping her sanity didn’t mean she couldn’t look forward to ticking down the minutes until he knocked on her door. Ray was the only other person who knew where her studio was and she wouldn’t tempt fate by showing up unannounced.
Alone, in her studio with everything that showed her heart and her true emotions, she found herself living for the moments she shared there with Ryker.
Chapter 28
Friday morning Angel stretched in the comfort of her bed. Ryker had convinced her the night before that while he enjoyed dining with her and watching her work, he’d like to know that she took some time off for herself too. She tried to act like it bothered her, like he thought she didn’t know what was best for herself, but ultimately his adoration and her aching back won out.
Angel’s wiggling toes poking out of the end of the blanket. Poor little piggies needed to be painted. Ever since she’d found both the piece of scrap and her peace of mind, Angel hadn’t wanted to leave the studio. Working on her throne and watching it come to life gave her more than a hope for her future. It seemed to prophesize it. She would be successful. She would end up happy. She would enjoy the roots she’d grown. No one would be the wiser of her past and the secrets she kept. It was all there in the glorious pieces of metal she’d welded, molded and painted. Her lips curved up in a smile, it had never felt so good to wake up.
With her big pink robe wrapped around her, Angel ventured down the hall in search to Ray. To her disappointment the only thing she found was an empty room. When were they going to see each other again? She remembered their phone conversation a few nights ago. Ray wanted to go on a date with James and wondered what to wear. It occurred to Angel that she had no idea how the night ended for her. If Ray even went was up in the air. As was the case when Ryker came over, Angel forgot most of the rest of the world.
Ray’s truck was gone. She was most likely doing scrap runs where she’d be bored on the trip from town to town. Angel grabbed the house phone and laid on the couch, remote in hand ready to surf the channels until she woke up a bit more.
After five rings, Ray answered, huffing and puffing out of breath.
“Hello?”
“Good morning, lover. I wanted to talk to you about the date. I can’t believe I missed it. How was it?”
“Angel, now isn’t a good time.” Her friend grunted. Angel heard a loud bang, then Ray suck in a deep breath.
“Why aren’t those brutes helping you? Don’t they know how to treat a lady?” Angel laughed.
“Yeah, no, apparently they don’t. Isn’t Ryke coming over?”
“He is in a little bit. Feels good, ya know? Having a strong man want to take care of me, especially since I’m more than capable of it myself.”
“Uh huh, okay, I’ve got to go. We’ll talk tonight.”
The line went dead and Angel pulled the phone away to make sure she hadn’t hung up by accident. Shrugging off the dismissal, Angel set the phone down and dozed t
o the sounds of old sitcom reruns.
When a light touch brushed her shoulders Angel jolted awake. She sprang to her feet as her arms came up in a defensive blocking stance before her eyes cleared.
“Whoa, Angel, it’s just me.” Ryker held his hands up, chuckling the whole time. “You look so innocent when you sleep.”
“Jesus, Ryke. I could have killed you.”
Ryker let out a hearty laugh. “With that stance? I think I could take you.”
“Oh shut it.” Angel collapsed on the couch to catch her breath. “What time is it?”
“Noon. I thought it would be an appropriate time to come over.” Ryker lifted his eyebrows and looked around the downstairs of her home. “Are we alone?”
“Yeah, but Ryke, I’m so disgusting right now.” Her hair felt like a grease pit. She needed a shower and to brush her teeth before Ryke tried suave moves on her.
“Good news then, I happen to love a dirty girl.”
“Seriously?” Angel couldn’t help the laugh that escaped. “That’s really the best line you’ve got right now?”
“Maybe not. But, it’s the best line I have to get you in the shower with me.” He grabbed her hands and pulled her off the couch.
“No, Ryke, I need that shower space to myself, I have a routine.”
“And you’ve known me to listen to ‘no’ how many times?” The mischievousness of his grin was enough to know she was in trouble, the kind of trouble she longed for with him.
“Ryker,” she warned, resting her hands on his chest to keep some distance between them.
With no trouble at all, Ryker wrapped his arms around her waist and slung her over his shoulder.
“Ryker. Put me down.” But even as she attempted to sound stern, her laughter over-powered her words.
At the bathroom door, Ryker sat her on her feet and stripped off his shirt. The broad muscles of his chest always took her breath away. She trailed her fingers across his midsection, taking time to trace his perfect skin with so many pictures etched on it. When his muscles twitched beneath her touch, she giggled.
“Your turn.” His blue eyes pierced her, burning her flesh and building her desire.
Slowly she untied the robe and slid out of it, revealing the thin white tank top she’d slept in and short pink and red striped shorts. His fingers lifted the hem of her shirt, knuckles brushing against her side as he slid it gingerly up her chest and over her head. Her nipples perked up, thanks to the cool room. Angel shivered and fought to bring an arm up to cover herself.
“You better turn that water on if you plan on keeping me naked. You know I don’t like when I’m cold.”
Ryker raised an eyebrow and slid past her, rubbing against her bare skin as he did. When he bent to turn the water on, Angel slipped out of her shorts and underwear and waited for him to turn around.
His eyes widened as he took her in. “Good girl. You know you’re more beautiful every time I look at you?”
“Quit sweet-talking me, Ryke, you’ve already got me naked.”
And still, she bit down on her bottom lip. She wanted to tell him he already had her, all of her. That he made her want to stick around and better herself. Not like this, she wouldn’t get that close to the L word naked. It wouldn’t mean anything then. When Angel finally said it, it would sure as hell mean the world.
Ryker tested the water then slipped out of his pants and boxer briefs. His erection slapped against his stomach, making Angel’s mouth water and her sex moisten. She stepped into the shower and looked over her shoulder. “Come on, Ryke, don’t you want to clean me up?”
Rather than reaching for the soap to lather her body with bubbles and caressing her skin with her loofa or taking the time to wash her down when he stepped in the shower, Ryke turned her around and pressed her back against the cold tiles of the wall. His chest rose and fell in sync with hers, the fine hair on his chest rubbed against her nipples sending a shock of pleasure to her core. He knew her body, knew what she needed when she needed it. Ryker’s tongue opened her lips, explored her mouth before stealing away to pepper her neck with small bites and quick kisses. She gripped his biceps, her nails digging in deep enough to leave marks. Angel moaned at the feel of his mouth moving lower down her stomach.
“Ryke.”
“Hmm?” He continued to kiss across her hips, down her legs, he had to feel the butterflies beating their wings against her abdomen and the muscles in her legs quiver.
“God, I want you,” she pleaded.
“How bad?”
Angel fisted his hair and pulled his face to look at her. “Get up here and take me.”
“Naughty little girl.” A growl rose from his throat and he rose. “You think you get to set the pace here? Is that what you want, my angel?”
“No. But I want more than your tongue on me. Please, Ryke. I’ve missed you.”
Ryke’s hand roamed across her skin, the water from the shower chilling each spot. It wasn’t cold, but his touch warmed her to molten temperatures. He took her right nipple between his teeth at the same time he plunged two fingers between her hidden lips. Angel jerked against the palm of his hand that now rested against her throbbing clit.
“You had me last night,” he whispered against the underside of her breast.
“And it’s been too long.” Her chest rose and fell faster, her breathing turned to a pant.
“Mmm. I’m spoiling you. Maybe I shouldn’t have talked you into a shower. Let you suffer a little longer.”
“I suppose that would have been okay if you never wanted to get laid again. Since I would have cut off your balls.”
She whimpered when he jerked his hand from her body and spun her around to face the wall. Warm water cascaded over her back, warming the now-cool skin. Ryke took one wrist in each of his hands and raised her arms over her head, her cheek rested against the tile.
“Threats will get you nowhere with me.”
“I was counting on that.” Feeling the broad head of his dick pressing against her ass, Angel pushed back.
“Are you okay with this?” Ryke bit her ear lobe and Angel thrust against his hips once more.
“Absolutely.”
Ryker moved down her neck, his lips singeing her skin where they touched. “Don’t tease me.”
“Mmm, I thought I was begging, not teasing.” When she wiggled again his cock slipped between her cheeks.
A place she knew he wanted to be. Her sex throbbed with desire, his hands cuffed around her wrists made her heart race.
Angel brushed her lips against his. “Don’t you want it?”
Ryker let go of one wrist then captured both wrists in his other hand. He swept the free hand down her arm, side, and over the curve of her ass. He massaged her cheek while he whispered in her ear. “Keep your arms above your head.”
She nodded.
“Spread your legs, sweetheart.” Angel spread her legs until her feet touched both sides of the tub.
Ryke took both of her cheeks in hand, pushed them together and pulled them apart in a slow, tantalizing massage.
“There’s lube in the drawer closest to the shower.”
“Always prepared. Although, I can’t say I’m happy about the thought of other guys being in the shower with you.”
“There aren’t other guys. I use it to get jewelry off. Did you know it works on sticky zippers too?”
“Of course you’d use it for stuff other than sex.”
She closed her eyes and listened as Ryke reached out of the shower for the lube. Anticipation made her skin tingle, her pussy drip with her arousal. When he returned there was no hesitation, no further delay. One slick finger breeched her hole then another. Ryke scissored his fingers, spreading her, preparing her. Angel flinched at the pain, her muscles tightened. He paid attention to every move she made and with his free hand reached around to play with her clit. The distraction helped her relax enough he was able to insert a third finger without too much more pain.
“Don’t let me
hurt you.”
Angel shook her head. Her hands pushed off the wall, but she didn’t let them drop below her head. She couldn’t talk. The pain from his fingers in her ass and pleasure from his palm on her clit warred with each other to take control. It was a sensation she’d forgotten felt so good. His fingers slipped out and a wrapper crinkled behind her. The sounds of him rubbing the lube on his cock kept her on edge.
He pressed the tip of his cock against her tight bud. “Breathe, sweetheart. Relax.”
Ryke waited for Angel to relax her muscles, she patterned her breathing after his. He pushed the tip further in until he breeched the ring and slid in a little more. Angel took a deep breath; he was so much wider than she’d experienced before.
“Ryke, move,” Angel begged, and pushed back, shoving him all the way in. Her stomach, her breath hitched. After a couple of seconds the pain turned to pleasure and she wanted more. Now the tightening in her belly wasn’t from fear. Her orgasm built, swirled low in her body.
“Oh God, Angel, this is … you feel so fucking good.”
Ryker found his pace, his finger sliding into her folds and driving her wild while he thrust inside of her. He circled her clit again, pressing on her exact spot until her breath caught and her orgasm built so hard and fast that she didn’t even breathe.
“Are you ready? I’m there.”
Angel sucked in oxygen and made herself breathe. “Yes, please.”
Together they came with a scream. Ryke leaned against her back, his head rested on her shoulder. Angel fell against the wall, suddenly exhausted.
“You never stop surprising me. How do you do that?”
Angel shrugged. “I wanted to make you happy.”
Ryker laughed. “Mission accomplished.” His arms came around her and his softening cock slid from inside her.
“I don’t think we got the shower I wanted.”
“Nope. We got something so much better. Shower later, sleep now.”
Angel couldn’t argue with that. Ryke stepped out of the shower, threw the condom away and toweled off. She let him wrap her up in a towel and carry her to bed. The last thing Angel remembered before dozing off was Ryke’s lips against her temple.