Page 52 of Dirty Salvation

Now, Zara knew just how stubborn of a man Rider really was. Not that it came as any surprise, the president, after all, would have his way with all things, it was why he sat at the head of the table, and why his boys followed his orders. Stubborn.Bossy.

Temptation perched on her shoulder like a fat devil whispering how much she wanted this man.

Equally, her fear came home to roost, ultimately, she listened to the latter because it had won out every single day for three years so how could she expect to be different now, wrenching out of his grasp before the way he was rubbing his lower half of his body drove her mad.

She was inhaling hard, her eyes drawn down hooded, almost ashamed, clouded with emotions she didn't want to face or speak about. "You're unbelievable," she said and grunted when he only smirked at her. "It's not a compliment, Rider. No! Don't you come near me right now.”I can't think when you're near. "I will clean your clock. I mean it."

One hundred megawatt grin pointed at Zara, but as she'd warned Rider didn't advance forward. His body language said all he needed to, he was feeling smug that he'd affected her.

"That's some sexy talk, baby."

He made her heart flutter.

But, nothing had changed in the last hour to think she could ever be with him again. She was fucked up. Suffocating inside her own mind.

Damaged was as damage does, so Forrest Gump had said, or something to that effect.

"Why don't you explain what the problem is? You want me."

I do not.The lie wouldn't fall off her tongue. Instead, she backed up, grateful of the sudden noise of men arriving back to the clubhouse. A stomp of feet and deep voices, she saw them pile through the door. Rider's eyes narrowed when he saw her retreating towards the private rooms. "Icy..." his voice warned. "This is not over. Don't fuckin' run away from a conversation, are you a coward now after everythin'?"

She threw him a scowl. "Not cool."

"None." His growl low for her ears only.

"What?" she blinked confused by his change of direction.

"You asked how many girlfriends I've had since we fucked each other. I never wanted an old lady, baby. Now I do."

Now he did.

Now. He. Did.

******

Rider saw the moment Zara was going to bolt. She was breathing so fucking hard he could see the heave of her tits, he tracked the motion greedily, his gaze lapping at her in-lieu of his tongue that whetted to lick the sweetest tasting peaks again, but fuck it to hell, she was withdrawing from him, her eyes erratic and wide shaking her head from side to side.

He was losing this argument. Losingherbefore he even had her.

He was pushing, he knew it, much too fucking soon, but his chest ached to see her afraid of her own shadow, he'd never aspired to take care of anyone, now that's all he could think about until his back teeth ached from the fucking control it took not to take her over.

His club had been swarmed in cops asking too many questions just a few hours ago, thatshouldhave been the priority, and here he was getting in touch with his feelings with a woman who was all about avoiding him.

He didn't like it.

“Listen to me. You’ve had a long week so shit seems a little worse than it really is. This isn't anything to get your panties in a knot over." behind him, his brothers laughed their way into the common room, but it was Zara who had his eyes. Dark persuading eyes that didn't even want to blink and break their contact, she was a bolting gazelle. "Zara..." she didn't listen to his warning tone.

"Rider. This is too much. I need to think; you--- I can't think when you're around. Just leave me alone, okay? You're asking for something I don't have."

It was herpleasespoken in a small defeated voice that tore at him the most and he found his jaw growing tight, a thick lump in his throat when he nodded agreement, though it killed him, eyes tracking her as she spun around, walking off quickly down the long corridor that led to his room.

He recognized her escape for what it was; survival instincts.

"Motherfucker...goddamnit" His face showed disappointment.

Fists clenched at his side. Hadn't he justfuckedthat up royally?

He couldn't have done better if he'd tried with both fucking feet shoved in his trap.