Page 14 of Clashing

Chapter nine

Frustration and Secrets

Ryker

W ell rested. I hadn’t experienced it since I finished my tours as a Marine. Things happened, and I hadn’t been able to sleep well. Last night, with Scarlett on top of me, her naked body blanketing mine, I slept like a baby. No nightmares. No anything except bliss.

I wasn’t supposed to stay the night, but it was so goddamn comfortable.

I wasn’t supposed to wake up and immediately fuck her again, but I couldn’t keep my hands off her.

Acting like this was misleading her. I wasn’t a relationship guy.

I didn’t spend the night or cuddle. So why the fuck did she have this effect on me?

“Ryker, are you listening to me?” Conrad asked.

I blinked, the whir of his old desk fan a reminder of the bail bondsman I sat across from. “What?”

“I said he’s in Nevada.” Conrad dropped a folder in front of me on his laminate desk. Sunlight filtered in through dusty blinds and illuminated stagnant dust mites.

“Got it.” I snatched the coffee-ring-stained folder. “I’ll take care of it.”

“What’s going on with you?” Conrad reclined in his office chair and clicked his pen.

“Nothing. Just didn’t sleep much last night.”

He smirked. “Another girl?”

“Something like that.” I pulled at my collar and stood. This office was stuffy, and he never wanted to open a window. “You got my check for the last one?”

He nodded to the plastic bin on the right of his desk. “In the bin.”

I picked up the envelope with my name and inched toward the exit. “I’ll call when I have him.”

“Take it easy, Ryker. Get some sleep for Christ’s sake.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I waved at him as I exited.

Conrad paid each time I brought a criminal in after they skipped out on a court date. I worked with others, but Conrad was the most consistent and bugged me the least.

I stuffed the file in my jacket and zipped up before getting on my motorcycle and heading to the bar. Going there was always something I looked forward to, drinking and hanging out with the few people I tolerated, and sometimes taking someone home.

Now, though, my shoulders tensed because Scarlett was there, and I had to tell her no more hooking up.

I didn’t want to. I wanted to have her several more times. I wasn’t sure what it would take to get her out of my system. If a whole night with her didn’t do it, what would? She was still on my mind too much.

It had to stop. I only hoped she wouldn’t be pissy about it. I parked in my usual spot and went inside, bracing myself to see her. Except, Tammy was at the bar, and Scarlett was nowhere to be seen. Tammy’s eyes lit up, and she waved me over.

I nodded to her. “What’s up?”

“There’s something wrong with the light in the storage room.” She drummed her fingers against her tattooed arm. “Scarlett’s been trying to fix it, but we can’t get it to come on. We already tried a new bulb.”

Alone in the dark with Scarlett. That felt like a fucking trap. I’d have to keep the door open.

I shoved open the saloon doors leading to the kitchen. “I’ll take a look.”

“Hey, Ryker!” Dave, the cook, yelled as I passed by.

“Hey, man, how’s it going?”

“Good. Gonna fix the light?”

“We’ll see.”

Continuing, I turned the corner and came face to face with the storage room door.

It was already open a crack, so I slipped inside without much noise.

Finding Scarlett bent over a counter, watching a tutorial on her phone about lights, stopped me in my tracks.

She had a little lantern in the center of the room that provided light for me to appreciate and curse the vixen.

Her forearms rested on the counter, her ass sticking out of her booty shorts, waiting to be smacked and mounted.

She didn’t notice me when she paused the video and climbed a stepladder. Flashlight in hand, she studied the socket. As she reached up, her shirt lifted, and I wondered if God existed and was fucking with me.

No. Be strong. I could do this. She was just a woman. I’d faced worse than a woman. I paused behind her and frowned at her attempts to identify the problem.

I rubbed my jaw. “What are you doing?”

She gasped, and when she spun around, lost her balance. I reached out and caught her before she fell, which brought her tits right into my face. Yeah, some deity was fucking with me. “Happy to see me?” I asked, looking up at her, leaving my chin between her tits.

“It—” She licked her lips. “It was an accident.”

“Hmm.” Let her go. Get your face out of her perfect tits. Instead, I kissed one, then nuzzled between them and kneaded her ass.

“Ryker,” she mewed, her hands knotting in my hair. “I’m working.”

“Working too hard. Time for a break.” I lifted her off the stool and carried her to the counter she’d been bent over.

Twisting my fist around her hair, I pulled her mouth to mine. My tongue chased after the taste I couldn’t get enough of, and my hands roamed the body I itched to touch again. I squeezed her ass and pulled her flush against me. Her hands snaked under my shirt, fingernails scraping my back.

Oh, fuck it. One last time.

“What if someone comes in?” she breathed against my mouth.

“I guess we better make it fast.” I turned her around and palmed her breast while I cupped her pussy. “Are you wet for me, baby?”

Breathless already, she ground her ass against me. “Yes.”

“That’s my girl.” I undid the button on her shorts, then yanked them down. Bending her over, I pushed my finger inside her pussy.

My cock twitched at the generous coating of arousal. She was soaked already. Goddamn her. I stroked inside until she squirmed, then undid my jeans and shoved them down. The moment my cock freed, I slid on a condom and thrust into her.

“Ryker,” she whimpered, clawing the counter.

“Scarlett,” I panted, adjusting to her warm, enticing pussy. “Brace yourself, baby. I’m going to fuck you hard.”

She gripped the counter, and I slammed into her, making her moan too loud for where we were. Possessiveness reared its head, and I covered her mouth. No one else got to hear her sweet voice.

“Shh.” I pounded into her. “Someone will hear us and tattle.”

Her sounds muffled by my hand, she rolled her ass against me again, sinking me deeper with each thrust.

I wasn’t gentle. I didn’t build up to anything. I fucked her with reckless abandon, and she let out noises that echoed in my head better than any song. Even muffled, they fucked me up and made me so sensitive I’d come too soon. Again. To avoid embarrassing myself, I played with her clit.

Finally, she came, and I followed immediately after, unable to hold it in anymore. I uncovered her mouth and smacked her ass. She let out a guttural sound and arched her back. I smacked it again. And again. Each time, she released a noise of pleasure so exquisite I needed more.

“Scarlett.” I wrapped my hand around her throat and pulled her against my chest. “You’re so fucking sexy. What the hell am I going to do with you?”

She closed her hand over mine. “Whatever you want.” She tipped her head back until our gazes collided, hand tightening mine on her throat. She inhaled sharply, her mouth parted and eyes pleading.

If I wasn’t fucked before, I certainly was now. She was as depraved and insatiable as me.

“Fuck.” I squeezed her throat until she gasped. “Get in the bar before I fuck you again. I can not be alone with you.”

Spinning her around, I lowered my mouth to hers. She sighed into the kiss and walked her fingers underneath my shirt.

Her mouth dragged off mine and drifted to my neck. “Maybe I want you to fuck me again,” she whispered, raking her nails over my torso.

“Fucking hell.” Potent desire almost clouded my judgment. “I can’t right now. Get your sexy ass out of here.”

A swift smack to her ass later, she squeaked and she lifted her brown eyes to meet my blue ones. Unable to tear my gaze away from those bedroom eyes, I dropped my forehead to hers.

She cupped my face and brushed her thumb across my cheek. “I’ll have a scotch waiting for you.” Her soft lips teased my cheek with a kiss that lingered on my skin long after she strolled out.

It made no sense, but what she did—her hand on my face, a kiss against my cheek—it spread a warm sensation through my chest. Staring in her eyes like that . . . It was so much more intimate.

I didn’t like intimacy. I liked fucking.

Yet, she’d infiltrated my thoughts. As if that wasn’t bad enough, her saying to do whatever I wanted with her threw out all hopes of this time being the last. I had to have her again and make good on her offer.

One more night. No more. Danny would return tonight, anyway. It would have to be over after that, and I’d have to make that clear to her before we started. It wasn’t fair to do it any other way.

Once I fixed the stupid light, I returned to the front. Music and chatter greeted me when I stepped through the doors and scanned the room for Scarlett. I found her at a table with some of my guys, throwing her head back with laughter. My jaw clenched, and I walked over.

“Ryker.” She swept her tongue over her lower lip. “Are you going to sit here?”

“Yes,” I said gruffly, grabbing a chair.

“I’ll get your scotch.” Her hand grazed my shoulders as she walked away. My skin tingled from the contact, and I rolled my eyes at myself. Why is her touch so powerful? My gaze remained on her until she was a fair distance away, then I turned a glare on the rest of the table.

“Easy, you don’t need to say it.” Francis held up his hands, light reflecting off his bald head. “We know.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Say what?”

Benny sipped his drink, blond hair falling across his eyes. “That she’s off-limits."

“Right.” I set my hand on the table. “Because of Danny.”

“Danny?” Nick arched a scarred brow and drummed tattooed fingers against the table. “Come on, Ryker. Danny may be oblivious to the two of you, but trust me, no one else is.”

I grunted and folded my arms over my chest. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Francis chuckled. “It means you two make eyes at each other every time you’re in the same room.”

“And the shameless flirting,” Benny said. “You’ll have to ease up on that when Danny gets back.”

“That’s fucking ridiculous,” I scoffed. “She’s off-limits because of Danny.”

“Just because of Danny?” Nick nudged me. “Well, Danny doesn’t need to know, so I guess I’ll make my way over and get to know her a little better.”

My lip curled. “Don’t you fucking dare.”

Nick’s smug expression as he sipped his drink boiled my simmering irritation. The other two mirrored it. I closed my hand into a fist against the table so I wouldn’t throw it at their faces.

“Here you go.” Scarlett placed a glass in front of me.

“Thanks, sugar.”

I reached for the drink, but she swiped it and stepped away. Cocking her head, she planted a hand on her hip.

I tsked . “Oh, come on.”

She retreated another step and shook her head. That fiery spark in her eye warned me she could do this all night.

“Thanks, Scarlett .”

“That’s better.” She returned the drink and sauntered off.

Her hips and ass swayed as she walked, providing a view no sane person could ignore. She disappeared behind the bar, and I tugged on my lower lip. All three of the assholes with me sniggered.

I scowled. “What?”

Francis cleared his throat. “Nothing.”

I dipped my fingers in my glass and flicked scotch at him. He didn’t speak again. Nick did. The cunt.

“Just that you’re so fucking pussy-whipped after a few days with this girl.”

I swallowed my drink in one gulp. “I’m not.”

“No? She didn’t just make you call her by her name?”

Collecting my glass, I stood. “Shut the fuck up.”

“Hey, man, it’s all good. The guys really like her, anyway,” Francis said.

“What do you mean by that?” I worked my jaw. She was mine.

“Not like that.” Francis waved his hand. “They enjoy talking to her. She’s a sweetheart and has a good sense of humor.”

“It better be the talking they like,” I muttered, heading to the bar. I sat on my stool, and Scarlett approached with more scotch.

“I would’ve gotten you a refill.” She filled my glass and pouted. “You didn’t have to come over here.”

Fucking hell. That pout.

“I got tired of their company.” I shrugged, taking a drink.

She giggled. “That didn’t take long.”

Fucking hell. That giggle.

“I’m not that social, Scarlett.”

“But you always show up with a group of people.”

“I like them in small bursts. I like to drink alone.”

“Why?”

“I just do.”

“You’re weird. Do you want anything to eat?” She braced her elbows on the bar and dropped her chin to her clasped hands. The position made her tits press together, and her shirt hung low enough to show her lacy, black bra.

She was killing me.

I inched forward, my nose almost touching hers. “Just your pussy, sugar. I’m craving something sweet.”

Pink blossomed on her face in record time. “Dessert later is all yours. But do you want something right now?”

“I’ll take a burger like you had the other night. You made it look damn good.”

She bit her lip, but it didn’t suppress the smile. Flipping me off, she walked into the kitchen and out of sight. I was still staring after her when Danny ambled around the corner.

“Hey, Ryker.” He grinned. “You take care of my girl?”

I mean, in a way.

“Danny,” Tammy greeted before I could, wrapping her arms around him briefly. “Is there a reason some guy would call asking for Scarlett, and then she’d freak out and ask how to block the number?”

I tensed. Why didn’t she tell me he called?

Danny clenched his fists. “Did he give a name?”

“No.” Tammy’s sandy blonde ponytail swished as she shook her head. “When I asked, he said to tell her it was an old friend. Then when I gave her the phone, she freaked out and hung up real fast.”

“I’ll talk to her.” Danny gritted his teeth and disappeared behind the doors.

Tammy turned her attention to me. “I don’t suppose you know?”

“Why would I know?”

“Next time, shut the door,” Tammy said, wrinkling her nose. “Actually, no. Next time, don’t do it on shift. Surely you can keep it in your pants long enough to wait until after work.”

“Don’t say anything,” I hissed.

“What do you take me for?” Tammy huffed. “If you hook up in the supply closet with the door open, you’re kind of asking to get caught. You’re lucky Danny didn’t arrive a few minutes earlier.”

She had a point. Tammy returned to work, and I really wasn’t concerned she’d say anything. She wasn’t a gossip.

That wasn’t the problem at the forefront of my mind. My problem was I had a pretty good guess who’d called for Scarlett, and a stupid nagging in the back of my brain wouldn’t stop asking why the hell she didn’t tell me.