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Mindlessly, I reach up and touch where the cut was on my cheek.
“Mitch became so angry about it. He threw me against the wall and hit me over and over. My head was on fire, and my face burned from the cuts.” I take a deep breath. “His hand went over my throat, and he had this look in his eyes, this hatred. I swear at that moment, I had no idea who was standing in front of me. Mitch squeezed so hard, I thought he was going to kill me right there in his office.” My body starts trembling from adrenaline now coursing through me at the memory. Salty tears sting my eyes and cheeks. “That’s when I knew I had to leave. I knew right then and there that if I didn’t run, he would kill me. Maybe not that day or the next, but there was no doubt he would eventually.”
Ryker reaches over and pulls me onto his lap. “Shh.” He holds me close to him, running his hands along my back. “I just … I don’t understand how he could go from someone you wanted to marry to an abusive asshole.”
I squeeze tighter into Ryker. “It was right after he took over as CEO to his father’s business. I don’t know much about the company. Something with financials … I honestly have no clue. He travels a lot, does things with numbers; it’s completely out of my wheelhouse. And he wasn’t always an asshole. Mitch was actually a nice guy before all that. I mean, he got upset and angry, but people have emotions. Except he never laid a hand on me. Ever. Until the first time he did, of course.”
My hands rest on Ryker’s chest and I can feel how wildly his heart’s beating beneath it.
Biting my lip, I take a deep breath. “I’m scared he’s going to find me and drag me back to New York. If he does that …” I trail off, knowing that if I go back to New York with him, I won’t make it out alive.
“Zo, look at me. Listen to every fucking word I’m about to tell you. I won’t let anything happen to you. Nothing will ever happen to you; I swear on my life. I’ll do everything in my power to protect you and keep you safe. Understood?” His hands are gripping the sides of my face. There’s a viciousness in his eyes, not directed at me, though.
I sniffle, more tears overflowing.
Ryker brings my face to his and kisses my nose. “You’re safe with me. I’ll protect you. I promise, Zo.”
He takes a shuddering breath, and then his lips come crashing down on mine.
Chapter 10
Zoey
Ryker gripsthe back of my neck. His mouth falls from my lips and trails kisses along my skin. Slowly, he turns me, lowering me onto the blanket. Ryker boxes my head in with his strong arms on each side.
Our eyes meet, and his darken with desire. Reaching up, I caress his face, pulling him back down to me. He presses a searing kiss to my mouth, and I lose myself to the intensity of our mouths moving together. Ryker’s tongue slides against mine, and he lets out a low growl as his hand moves under the hem of my shirt.
My skin burns from his touch. Every nerve ending is igniting an inferno. My breath catches, and I pull away. Our chests move rapidly in unison.
“Ryker, not out here,” I say between breaths, my hands gripping his shirt.
Nodding, Ryker jumps out of the truck bed and holds out his hand. “Let’s go.” He helps me onto my feet and into the cab.
He runs over to the driver’s side and slides in, starting the truck, but leans over and places a soft kiss on my lips before we drive off. My hand moves to the tingles that are left on my lips from him.
When we get back to the house, we both jump out. Ryker sprints over to my door and picks me up without hesitating. My breathing is heavy as his lips softly brush against mine. As my fist wraps around his shirt to pull him into me, my eyes meet the desire in his. My back hits the hard surface of the car. Ryker’s warm breath floats along the skin of my neck. A soft moan escapes my lips, and I feel his grip on my sides tighten as my hands travel up his chest and around his neck. My skin ignites from his touch as a burning need for him to be inside me grows.
My hands thread through his hair, and I pull his head back. My lips trace kisses up along his neck, eliciting a growl from him.
“I need to get us inside, darlin’.” Ryker’s voice is hoarse.
“Please.” My hands move to cradle around the back of his neck, and he walks us inside.
The moment the door closes, Ryker backs me against the wall, and our flame reignites. In an instant, his lips are on mine. We both move to touch as much as we can of each other as our desire grows. Our hands are pulling and grabbing anything on our bodies as our tongues clash against each other. A whimper escapes me as I feel his hand reach under my shirt. Ryker grinds against me, and we both let out groans.
We stop for a moment and stare at each other, breathing hard. He’s waiting for a confirmation that I want this, so I give him one. “Room.” That’s the only word I’m able to get out. He nods and carries me to his bedroom.
Ryker deposits me softly on his king-sized bed. The grey comforter underneath me cools my burning skin. He stands at the end of the bed and removes his shirt, reaching behind himself and tugging it with one hand over his head.
His entire body is hard. I can see the lines and definitions of every muscle. My tongue wants to lick every crevice, every tattoo covering him. My nipples harden at the sight of him standing in front of me. He’s utter perfection.
I start to pull my t-shirt up over my head, but his hands come to mine and stop me.
Ryker shakes his head. “No, let me.”
My hands immediately fall to my side, and his reach down to the skin that’s exposed. His fingers trace along my stomach, leaving goosebumps trailing behind them. His fingers find the hem of my shirt, and he slowly lifts it up over my head and off me. He pulls me up so I’m sitting at the edge of the bed, and then his legs straddle mine.
“You’re beautiful, Zo.” Ryker bends down, and his lips softly caress mine. My hands find his chest, and I gasp at the hardness of his body. I move down to the button of his jeans. He softly stops me. “Hold on, let me enjoy you, Zo.” He slowly moves to unhook my bra, sliding it down my arms and throwing it behind him.