by Gower, Hazel
She crossed her arms pushing her breasts up to me like an offering. “Doctor Who is not ‘one of those shows.’ It’s a classic and until now, I thought it was a part of everyone’s childhood. I mean who hasn’t watched at least an episode or two?
The outrage in her voice had a chuckle escaping me. I sat the pizza on the coffee table along with hers and brought her to me. Unable to resist I captured her lips to my own and kissed her. She was just too cute. Her hands slid around my neck and she eased over to straddle me.
My fingers found the edge of her shirt and slipped under it trailing up her torso and ticking her ribs. She squirmed at the feather light touch on her skin and pushed away with a giggle. “I was having a serious discussion with you. Don’t distract me.”
I couldn’t help my smirk as I gazed at her. “Serious discussion? I’m not sure why you would think my lack of watching a T.V. is serious.” Her huff and eye roll had my dick throbbing. She looked so cute and I was enjoying our banter.
“It totally is. It tells me your childhood was lacking.” She winked. “I’m going to have to educate you. My dad has the old original Doctor Who series, but today I think we’ll start with what’s on Netflix. The new series.” She got off my lap, and for a moment I considered dragging her back and telling her not to bother, that we could watch it another day and we could continue my exploration of her body, but at the look of excitement on her face, I let her go. Divinity set up Doctor Who, grabbed her pizza and snuggled up against me with a huge grin on her face. “I’m sure you’re going to love this.”
I didn’t bother replying. I shoved pizza in my mouth, wrapped an arm around my woman, and relaxed back into the sofa.
I didn’t want to admit it, but after two episodes I was hooked. By the end of the third, no matter how into it I was, I fought to keep my eyes open.
That was when Divinity struck. “My dad got caught up for another week. I, um, I still haven’t— Well you see, I wanted to tell you, er…” Then in one rush without a breath she blurted, “That when Dad comes home I’ll be staying with him and Arron.”
Opening my eyes, I picked Divinity up and settled her so she straddled me and I could look into her eyes. “No. You live here now. With me. You are mine.”
She shook her head. “No. You moved me in here. I told you I need to see my dad and help him settle in when he comes home. We’ve gone over this, and I don’t want to talk about it again.”
I didn’t want to be without her. Arron was old enough he could settle in with his father without Divinity. I didn’t want to have to sleep by myself or come home to an empty house. The last couple of weeks with Divinity had been great. I loved coming home now. I loved knowing that even if I came in at the crack of dawn I could ease into bed and she snuggled straight up to me in her sleep. I loved telling her what I could about my day. She relaxed me. I wasn’t living a night without her again. “No. Your Dad’s a big boy and Arron is old enough that he can handle him.”
Her sigh was loud and when she pouted and her eyes dropped and it looked like she was going to cry, I knew I was a goner. “Please just for a night. Two, max. Dad doesn’t sound good. Please. It will give me time to tell him about us and everything that’s going on. Please.” The tremble of the lip and her pleading gaze got me. My woman had me wrapped around her little finger.
“Fuck,” I growled and narrowed my gaze. “No more than two nights. Promise.” Her eyes wouldn’t meet mine and I caught her chin and turned her so she locked eyes with me. “You’re mine Divinity. I’ve been patient as much as I can with you. I’ve tried not to be like my family with their other halves, because I want you to want me. I want you to trust me and get to know me at your pace. I’m hoping this will help you fall for me sooner.” I winked and she sighed, leaned down, and snuggled against my chest.
“I promise no more than two nights.”
I rubbed her back and she moaned into me. She loved her back being scratched, rubbed, and massaged. “I’ll miss you if you stay longer. Who’ll warm the bed for me?”
“Hey!” She punched my chest and I chuckled at her weak attempt to hurt me. From experience, I knew she could hit harder than that.
“I mean it. I’ll miss you. I’d rather you didn’t stay, but two nights I’ll try and handle. I’ll worry like crazy with you away from me because if you’re at the base, how will your guards be with you?” With everything going on at work I prayed that nothing got back and affected Divinity. The mysterious X and this drug case were getting worse. More and more people were overdosing and they were arresting dealers of all types.
She must have seen the worry in my gaze because as she looked up at me she reached up and stroked my cheek. “I promise before I leave the base I’ll call the bodyguard. No matter how unnecessary I think they are, I can see they make you feel better.” She kissed both my cheeks before resting her lips on mine. “I like that you care enough about me to think I need them. Thank you.”
She kissed me again before resting her head on my shoulder. I held her to me and enjoyed just being together.
Since moving in with Ryder, Arron had become more independent. He was getting driving lessons so he could get his P’s and drive by himself. Oakley or Andrew, or as I have now come to call him, Shithead, came and picked him up and one of them dropped him off some time in the afternoon. They even took him to his lessons. Mickey had even told me—in one of our lessons— how impressed he was with Arron and his change of attitude. I hated to admit it but Oakley and Shithead, were good influence on Arron and it didn’t hurt they helped free up a lot of time for me to spend with Ryder or just relax.
My dad was coming home early Friday morning, I worried how this would affect Arron and his progress, but I hoped with me staying a couple of nights and telling Dad about Ryder it might take pressure off Arron. I intended to spend as much time as I could with Ryder. He had a rare day off, so I swapped a shift with one of my workmates and now on Monday I was working, but I had all day to spend with my man today. While he was in the bathroom this morning I turned off his phone and hid it. Today was my day. I didn’t care if anyone died or Ryder was needed to save the world. Today he was all mine.
I was driving his luxury BMW SUV, and I was in love. I didn’t think he was getting his car back. “I’m just letting you know now that by Monday night when I’m back from Dad and being at the base, this baby is going to be mine. Arron can have my old car. I’m claiming this.” I caressed the steering wheel. The car practically drove itself and with its plush leather seats and every technological advancement, I was in heaven. Sure, I had no idea what a good eighty percent of the stuff did, but it all looked so cool.
“If you want it, it’s yours.” I glanced over at Ryder in time to see him shrug, like giving me a car that was more than my wage for a couple of years was not a big deal.
I shook my head. “You do realize how crazy that is? You just giving me an expensive car. Normal people just don’t do that.” Groaning, I sighed loudly. As much as I wanted to have the car, I knew I couldn’t. Sure, I’d drive it every chance I got, but I couldn’t just take something like this no matter how much I might like it. I wasn’t with Ryder for his money. Sure, it was nice, but I wouldn’t care if he didn’t have any. I’d learned to save and work hard for what I had.
“I’d give you anything Divinity. I want you happy. When you’re happy. I’m happy. If this car makes you happy it’s yours. It’s not like I don’t have the money to buy a new one if I wanted to. I have lots of cars though.”
“I don’t want it. I love the car, but I don’t need it to make me happy.” I reached over and grabbed his hand and linked our fingers. “I don’t care about your money. I love pretty shiny things and name brand stuff, but I worked hard for everything I own. I know that money doesn’t grow on trees. I’ve lived on a budget and can honestly say I was happy. I am happy now, but I just want you to know.” I squeezed his hand. “That I’m not with you for your money. I could care less for it. I’m with you because you st
ormed into my life and wouldn’t take no for an answer. I’m with you because, every time you’re close my stomach flutters and a calm soothing feeling washes over me. I’m with you because you, not the guards you have on me, make me feel safe. I’m with you because every time we touch I get tingling coursing through me and I throb for more. I’m with you because you listen to me, and lastly I’m with you because you’re you, Ryder, who is becoming someone very important to me.”
His moan had me giggling. “Mmm, if you weren’t driving right now I’d so have you pinned and showing how much I want you after that little speech. You’re beyond amazing and I know you don’t want my money.” He brought our entwined hands up and kissed my knuckles.
“Thank you.” I concentrated on the road going over the directions of where I needed to turn in my mind. I didn’t want GPS on as where we were going was a surprise for Ryder.
“So where are you taking us?”
He’d probably been to where I was taking him at least a hundred times, with it being so close, but I hadn’t ever been and a friend told me there was a lot of carting the devices around and lifting them up and down stairs. So I was taking my muscle man so he would carry things for me. “Wet’n‘Wild. I know you’ve probably been there a lot, but I haven’t e—”
“Not a lot. Maybe two times.” I caught his shrug in my peripheral vision. “I haven’t been in years, maybe a good ten or so. We went overseas for our holidays and we always had a pool at home, so didn’t see much value in coming and waiting in lines.”
“Oh. Lines. I didn’t think. Um…” It never occurred to me that lines would be an issue. Aussie guys, well Aussies in general, weren’t big on waiting and lines. I wasn’t a fan either. “I was hoping that us coming during the week and when it wasn’t school holidays or boiling hot, might help with the lines. What do you think? Should we chance it or do something else?”
“No. I think that was great thinking and Wet’n‘Wild sounds fun.”
I bounced in my seat. “Yay! I have it all planned out. I printed a map and a battle plan.”
“We need a battle plan?”
“Of course. There is a certain way to do theme parks, and if not done right the adrenaline doesn’t reach its highest.” I nodded eager to let him in on my plan of attack. “First, we do the small rides, like, Super 8 Aqua Racer, and River Rapids, then we move on to middle ones, Mach 5 and Blackhole. Then we relax before lunch by Calypso Beach, eat and then move on to the harder, more edger rides like, Kamikaze and Tornado, but we save for close to or last, AquaLoop.”
I liked his deep laugh. It always sent a shiver of warmth through me. “You have our day all planned out?”
“Totally. I just hope we have enough time to do everything.”
We’d been at Wet’n‘Wild since nine forty-five, in time for it to open at ten. Three hours later I was starving. Ryder had gone to get us food and I had found us a table with an umbrella.
“Hi baby.” The deep gravelly voice wasn’t the one I was expecting, and Ryder never called me baby. I shivered in disgust. I hated when people used that as an endearment. I mean, I wasn’t a child or baby, why would I, or any woman want to be referred as one? My father, when he was in a good mood, called me his baby girl. That was alright because I was his child but for a man to use it to refer to me made me cringe and put me off them as soon as they spoke.
I turned towards the voice and was surprised to see not one, but two big guys covered in tattoos with a wicked glint in their eyes. I’d seen that look before. I must look like an easy target. Sitting on my own, looking relaxed and with not a care in the world. I just bet, these guys thought I was with a girlfriend or the guy I was with was some preppy cute young collage kids. Ha. Boy were they in for a shock that not only could I kick their arses, but I was sure Ryder could take them on without breaking a sweat.
“I’m not a baby, and you’re in my boyfriend’s seat.”
Both guys chuckled like I’d said something funny, I had a feeling they had been in the sun for too long and might have a bit of heat stroke. “I’m sure a pretty little thing like you could handle real men like us. What do think about leaving your little boyfriend and coming and trying us? I promise you’ll have fun.” I was sure now that the heat had gotten to them, because they were talking like cocky idiots.
“Are you two for real? Is this some kind of joke?” I saw out the corner of my vision, Chad and Leo, two of Ryder’s bodyguards and guys who watched me move in. I was surprised to see them. I hadn’t realized they were with us today. I laughed the closer they got and I noticed how white Chad’s legs were to the rest of him. They were both wearing board shorts, I guess to blend in.
“Want to tell me why you’re seating in my seat and leaning so close to my woman?” Startled, I almost jumped out of my seat at Ryder’s grumbling, growly voice. The sound sent a shiver of need straight through me to tingle at my core. Damn. The man was potent.
“Silverman. We were just introducing ourselves.” The man with eyes so brown they almost looked black spoke.
I turned back to Ryder who didn’t seem bothered at all. He picked me up, sat down in my chair and placed me across his lap. It happened so quick I didn’t even react. I just settled against him. “Razer and Darkness, what a nice surprise. Are you here for fun or business?”
“I was here for fun. Imagine my surprise when I spotted you. I called the Prez and Darkness here decided to come and join the fun.” Razer, I knew now, was the guy who had first spoken to me. Darkness was the one with the eyes that matched his name. “The Prez wanted us to tell you something.”
I wished for a moment I could see Ryder’s face, but I didn’t want to turn my back on these men. Now I’d heard them talking I was sure that that wouldn’t be a good idea. “Now isn’t the time. I’m off duty and with my woman.”
Darkness smirked down at me and I was sure I felt ice flow through me. “It won’t take long and you can have your time with your pretty little lady. You have two weeks to find out who the new guy is who’s honing in where he shouldn’t, before we start war to get rid of him.”
I felt Ryder tense beneath me, but only enough so I would know. I was sure if I wasn’t on him and didn’t know him the way I did, I wouldn’t have caught it. “Noted,” he snarled. “Now, let me finish my day with my girl.”
The men didn’t say anything as they left, but they did knock into Chad and Leo.
“Fuck.” Ryder turned me and tilted my head up so we were eye to eye He stroked my cheek and brushed his lips over mine. “I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about. They approached us. I have a feeling that has to do with work, but it felt like more.” He was a detective, but this felt more personal.
His sigh and the fall of his eyes and the dip down of lips confirmed what I thought. “They’re a part of The Devil’s Queens, and let’s just say they are not fans of the Silverman family.” His lips feathered over mine. “There are reasons I have protection on you. The motorbike group they belong to is one of them.”
Resting my forehead on his I closed my eyes and just breathed him in, his woody pine smell invaded for a moment before the scent of fresh fries and fish and nuggets floated to me. “Mmm, I’m hungry. Let’s eat. I understand more now why I needs the guards.” Leaning back, I kissed him quickly before getting off and to the other seat. If I stayed on him we wouldn’t eat and I’d make-out with him, uncaring where we were or who was watching.
I sat and grabbed my chips and nuggets. I didn’t bother looking for Leo and Chad. I knew they would have left, but be close by if needed. “Will you be able to stay or do you need to work?” I shoved a chicken nugget in my mouth and waited and hoped he didn’t need to leave after what the two biker guys just told him.
“Nah, today is all about you. I can deal with what they said tomorrow.” He waved his hand like he was waving away the problem.
I wanted him to be sure. He’d been working a lot and had told me his work was crazy right now. I didn’t w
ant him to get in trouble for not reporting something important. “Are you sure. I’ve had an awesome time so far.” I winked at him. “I mean, I’m sure I could get Chad or Leo to carry the tubes, rafts, and stuff, up all the stairs for me for the rides. I mean that’s why I brought you anyway, so I had a strong guy to do all the hard work.” I batted my eyelashes dramatically.
With his mouth full of food, he tried not to smile, but I didn’t miss it. He swallowed and flexed his arms. I giggled. “Who would you dig your claws into when you get scared? I wouldn’t want you to break anything. So I’ll stay.” I rolled my eyes at his putout tone. I liked that Ryder got my sense of humor. I was really starting to fall for him.
I wasn’t happy. Not only was Divinity going to stay at her father’s house to help him settle in tomorrow for a couple of days, instead of spending my last hours with her, I sat in my home office reviewing the overdose drug cases. I was getting nowhere, which just heightened my frustration. No one knew who the boss was. Everyone knew him as X, and said he always wore some type of mask. The three people the precinct had sent undercover had turned up dead. The female had stayed in the longest, but had the most gruesome death. Messages carved into their skin were addressed to me, taunting my inability to figure out who the head honcho was and stop the drugs from getting to the public. They had gotten me taken off the case as my captain felt it had become too personal to me.
If it wasn’t for Divinity I would spend all my time working on solving this, but as she told me over and over the last week, if I didn’t take a break and step back I’d burn out and miss something major. We’d gone to movies and she even took me shopping twice, once for clothes and another for food. My fridge was now full. I couldn’t remember if it had ever been.