I’m going to have to tread firmly but sensitively around her.

“Do not involve the girls in this,” I warn her. “I’m going to be very pissed if you try to use them.”

“I won’t,” she says quickly, and I hope to God she’s telling me the truth. I will go berserk if she thinks she can use the girls to get back together with me, because that would just be setting them up for heartache.

I rub at my temple, as a headache has just started throbbing. It’s been a hell of a few days, and the one person I want to be with right this very minute can’t be because maybe our paths just aren’t supposed to merge.

Chapter 18

Gray

I tap lightly on Ryker’s hotel door with just the knuckle on my middle finger. I look left and right about ten times in the five seconds it takes for him to open up, terrified that someone will see me lurking here. I still haven’t gotten over the sick feeling in my stomach that occurred when Zack and Kate pulled up in Ryker’s driveway yesterday morning and may or may not have seen us. I have no idea because I haven’t talked to Ryker since then, other than a few short texts checking in with each other.

He seemed a bit preoccupied, and I just figured things were a bit crazy for him with Ruby’s injury. This drove me batty, because when someone you care for is under stress, you should be able to be there for him. And in my mind, I know I should quit bitching about this because there’s just no way around it at this time. If I have to order my priorities, right now my career and reputation take first prize.

The door swings open and the butterflies swarm when I look at him. He’s had time to get out of his suit and put on a pair of workout shorts, and his hair is still damp from the shower he took at the arena after the game. God…that chest. Those arms.

Mmm. Those eyes. I could get lost.

Shaking my head, I step in quickly and he swings the door shut.

He looks tired. Really, really tired.

But not so tired that his hand doesn’t immediately come out to cup behind my head, pulling me straight to his mouth. He gives me a sizzling kiss that electrifies me from the inside out. I’ve never had this type of physical reaction to a man before and I know exactly why. It’s because I’ve never had true intimacy with someone.

Sure, I’ve had sex, and over the years since I became an adult, I’ve not been shy about it. I like sex. It feels great. Orgasms may be one of the best things ever created about the human body. If it didn’t feel so good, our species would have died out long ago.

But with Ryker, everything is intensified, and I am brilliant enough to know that comes from my having true feelings for him and the fact that he’s such a good man. It increases my attraction to him and makes every part of my body super sensitive to just the barest touch from him.

His kiss morphs…turns more erotic. His other hand comes to my hip and pulls me forward so he can press his erection into me. My blood rages as I kiss him back.

He pulls away from my lips, only to move his mouth to my neck, still just holding me by the back of my head with one hand and my hip with other. I’m amazed by his strength and determination…he seems like a man on a mission. But then I remember the fatigue I saw in his eyes and my concern pushes to the forefront of my mind.

With a tiny push against his bare shoulders to get his attention, I ask, “How are you doing?”

He lifts his head and stares down at me. Eyes darkened with desire but still no mistaking the ravages of stress on his face. “I’m fine, why?”

My hand comes to his face. “You had a rough few days with Ruby’s injury.”

For just a brief moment, his eyes soften and I think he might even give me a smile of gratitude for being intuitive about him, but then I see indecision war deep within. “I’m good,” he says, and dips his face back toward mine.

I lean back to avoid his kiss. “You look troubled. Want to talk?”

“I want to fuck,” he says determinedly, and jerks me into his body. Reaching down, he pulls my skirt up to bunch around my waist, and then he’s lifting me in his arms. My legs automatically tighten around him and his hands go to my ass. “It’s been too goddamn long and I want to fuck you.”

Okay, fine…if I must.

Ryker kisses me again as he walks me toward the bed where he unceremoniously dumps me on it. I bounce slightly, but then he pins me to the mattress with his body, his hand going immediately between my legs. This is new, this almost urgent manner in which he’s handling me, and it causes me to worry more. Not that he would hurt me, but that he might be hurting himself and trying to drown himself in distraction.

Is that all he needs from me? Or maybe he’s just taking that because he thinks that’s all I can give to him right now?

He pulls my panties to the side, slips his fingers in. My hips punch up, seeking more contact. With his face buried in my neck, he strokes me to life, making me hot, wet, and achy.

My breath hitches when he lifts his hips, takes his hands from in between my legs to push his shorts down, and the next thing I know he’s pushing into me. I’m wet so I can take him, but there’s still a bite of pain over his quick invasion. It’s immediately soothed by his second stroke, and then he’s all-out fucking me hard.

Face pressed back into my neck, his hips pistoning fast, he uses my body well. It feels so good.

My hands come up to thread my fingers in his damp hair and my pelvis flexes to meet each thrust.

He groans, bites down into that muscle that runs from the base of my neck to my shoulder, and drives into me harder. My orgasm ignites, flares, bursts so fast that I cry out in stunned surprise and my fingers pull at his hair involuntarily.