Truly

by Carmel Rhodes

  “I thought it wasn’t the size of the boat but the motion in the ocean?” he asked. His voice was like hot fudge, slow, thick, and sinfully good. He eyed her, waiting for her to speak. His gaze held so much intensity it caused her cheeks to heat. She was fucking blushing, and James Michele Manning didn’t blush.

  “That’s a lie created and perpetuated by dudes with small dicks,” she smirked. Her tongue swept over her top and bottom lip, and Ry’s eyes shifted down to her mouth. Good, she was desperate to take back control. This man, with his tattoos and steady gaze, unnerved her. Jamie wasn’t a damsel in distress and she didn’t do vulnerable.

  Ry laughed, a deep belly laugh. The sound sent a rush of moisture between her legs. “You’re probably right.” He chuckled again, ignoring the stool behind him, leaning into her. “What’s your name?” His gaze dropped from her lips, down the length of her body, and back up again. He was eye fucking her, and discretion was not in his vocabulary.

  “You know,” Jamie said, angling away from him, “there are plenty of empty chairs. You don’t have to hover over me.” His closeness diminished her ability to make rational decisions, and nothing about the way this man made her feel was rational.

  “I kinda like hovering over you,” he murmured, closing the space she created.

  He was trouble. Jamie could see it dancing behind his hazel eyes, and fuck if she didn’t want him, but unfortunately, she gave up trouble for lent. “Look, you’re hot and everything, but this isn’t happening,” she waved between them, “so enjoy the show.”

  Jamie slid her phone out of her back pocket, and fired off a text to Lo.

  Jamie: I’m at the bar. Hurry your ass up!!!!!!

  “Tiff, babe,” the blond hottie called the bartender in a voice that made her thighs clench.

  Breathe James, he’s just a man. Just skin and bones, breathe.

  “What’s up Ry?” the woman asked in a voice that made her sound like a baby. Jamie had to fight to keep from rolling her eyes; she never understood why women did that. It was annoying and men couldn’t possibly like that shit.

  “A shot of fireball for me and one of those fruity, Swedish fish ones for my little, Kitty Cat here.”

  Tiff nodded, looking from Jamie to the man, then back again. “Sure thing,” she murmured, her face awash with disappointment. Jamie wanted the bartender. The bartender wanted Ry. Ry wanted Jamie. They were all screwed.

  “Kitty Cat? Do I even want to know?”

  He grinned a mischievous grin, one that had her clenching her thighs. ”You look like you have a pretty pussy.”

  Yep, he was trouble.

  Jamie was a lot of things, and modest wasn’t one of them, but even she had to pick her jaw up off the bar after that. “You are so lame,” she huffed incredulously, all but throwing her phone down. “I’m embarrassed for you. There’s no way that has ever gotten you laid.”

  “Get your mind out of the gutter, Kitty Cat,” he said finally sitting on the damn stool. “I was talking about a pet.”

  Jamie snorted, narrowing her eyes at him. “Ry, is it?”

  “Ryder” he nodded, entirely too pleased with himself.

  “Well, Ryder, you’re full of shit.”

  Tiff set their shots on the counter, looking to Ryder expectantly. “Let me know if you guys need anything else.”

  He nodded but never took his eyes off Jamie. “I’m full of shit?” he asked with a raised brow.

  “Yes, filled to the brim.”

  “Well, Kitty Cat, if you play your cards right, you might have the pleasure of being full of me,” he smirked, staring at her denim clad thighs, “and for the record, I bet she’s pretty too.”

  Jamie picked up the whiskey and knocked it back without flinching. “You’ll never know.” Her voice was surprisingly strong considering the way she felt inside. She wanted him just as badly as he wanted her, but she was going to fight the attraction like hell because she could tell by spending five minutes with him, Ryder had the potential to fuck up her life. Jamie then lifted the Swedish fish shot and gulped it down before hopping off the stool. “Thanks for the drinks.”

  He grabbed her hand, “At least tell me your name.”

  “You gotta earn that, Ry,” she purred, winking playfully at him.

  Jamie did her best to keep her composure. Part of her wanted to fuck him right there on the bar and another wanted to kick him in the nuts. She had slept with plenty of assholes in her time, but never one who made her feel like Ryder. Never one who set her world on fire.

  Don’t even think about it James.

  Lo needed to get there fast before Jamie found herself covered in Ryder’s sin.

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  Caleb, thank you for reminding me that this job is supposed to be fun. I love you. Forever. Always. QB Tyler, I’m so grateful that I get to go on this journey with you. You keep me sane. You keep me humble. You push me to do better. Love you friend. Geranda Smith, you keep me in line. You keep me writing. I couldn’t do this without you. Rookies: Helen Wilder, Kelesy Cheyenne, Harlow Layne, Erica Marselas, Danielle James, Rose Croft, Gemini Jensen, Melissa Spence, Alexis Rae. A girl is nothing without her gang, Thank you for all the love and support. Lori, Suzan, Erica, Kelly: BEST BETAS IN THE WORLD. Seriously, your input has molded this idea that lived inside my head into a story. I’m beyond grateful. Denise Reyes, I am so thankful for you and everything you do. Stacey Blake, You never stop blowing me away. Thanks for making my book babies beautiful. Kristen Breanne, you help turn my stories into books. Leslie Middleton, thank you for saving my ass!! The Army: Ride or dies. I do this to make you guys proud. Readers: Thank you for going on another journey with me!

  Writer of words. Mother of Joy. Wife of Compassion. I like to write stories about real people who go through real struggles and come out the other side stronger. I also like to write smut. Welcome to my brain. It’s a little screwed up, but always well intended.

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