Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 100441 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100441 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Ryder leans back in his seat. “What do you feel like for dinner?”
“I could go for some Indian.”
“Hmm, spicy food is not really the right choice for what I have planned later.”
The cheeky look on his face takes me off guard. Oh, yeah, this could totally work between us.
“I have no idea what you mean? I’m innocent.”
Ryder scoffs. “Of course you are, but fine. If you want Indian, we’ll get Indian.”
I narrow my eyes. “Something else instead?”
Ryder smiles triumphantly. “I know what to order.”
I’m not sure if we should take this further tonight because we’re in this weird area between dating and not, but I want the possibility.
Being the Ryder Kennedy would make dating hard. Being a single father would make it harder. He can’t date like a normal person.
It kinda takes the romance out of it a little, but being with him might be worth it.
He orders, and while we wait, Ryder leads me into the fancy, put together part of the house, where he tells me to land my ass on the big, soft sectional couch in front of the big-screen TV.
“You know, I’m under no illusion that you actually have your shit together, so this side of the house doesn’t intimidate me like it used to.”
“You say such sweet things. I’m totally put together and proper and not at all dysfunctional.”
“How many times over the last few hours did you check your phone to see if there was anything from Maggie?”
Ryder scowls. “Just for that, you don’t get any popcorn.”
I grab my chest. “Hit me where it hurts.”
He smiles. “I’ll be right back.”
Okay, so I might have been bluffing. This part of the house still makes me feel like I don’t belong here. Especially when left alone.
I shift on the seat, trying to get comfortable, but the softness reminds me that the reason I don’t fit is because I’m not used to being in expensive places.
Which is weird considering my brother’s place isn’t exactly a hole, and I’ve never felt out of place there. Though, sometimes when I leave the pool house and venture into the main house, I feel like I’m intruding, even though Chord and Brenna assure me I’m not.
The pool house is more what I’m used to living in. Small, basic, and no-frills.
Ryder eventually comes back with a giant bowl of popcorn and a heap of candy.
“Where have you been hiding this?” I sit up as he splays it all out on the coffee table.
“In the big kitchen. Far away from little eyes who would want to eat it all. You’d be surprised how many artists need a sugar kick while recording.”
“Yeah?”
“Harley used to be the worst. Our handlers had to guard him. While they were keeping an eye on our drug use, they also had to make sure Harley wasn’t sneaking out and filling up on M&M’s.”
“Who knew Harley Valentine was such a badass.”
Ryder laughs. “Right? He loves the hard stuff.”
He takes the spot next to me, and I lean back, resting my arm along the top of the couch.
“What do you want to watch?”
I lick my lips. “Don’t care.”
Ryder’s blue eyes fill with heat. “Is that how it’s going to be?”
I reach for a Twizzler and shove it into my mouth. “Yup.”
His hand grips my shirt—well, his shirt—to pull me close, but I stop a breath away from his mouth.
“Don’t hurt your pretty face.”
He tilts his head. “Huh?”
I move his hand from the shirt and smooth it out. “Your pretty face.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“Never claimed not to be.”
Next thing I know, I’m on my back with Ryder on top of me, his mouth on mine, his hand in my hair, and I know without a doubt there’s no way we can go back to how we were before.
What we have is too pure.
Ryder’s hand slips between us, rubbing over my cock.
Okay, so it’s not entirely pure, but it’s natural.
It’s … indescribable.
I don’t want to put pressure on him or us or what this could potentially be, but I need him to try, and I’m not sure he’s there yet. I’m not sure he ever will be when his focus is one hundred percent on Kaylee.
It’s admirable, but he also needs to learn to take something for himself.
I want to be that for him, but it’s a tough situation.
If this doesn’t work out, it could break all three of us.
Chapter Seventeen
Ryder
With Lyric’s lips on mine, it’s hard to remember why I have my no-dating rule.
When we’re like this, pressed against each other, grinding and feeling each other up, it’s easy to forget who I am.
I’m not Ryder Kennedy or someone’s father, and I’m not a guy from a boy band.
I’m a man who has absolutely no control over his lust.
In the past, I was never sex-driven. It was always kind of a bonus if I got some, and I can’t think of a single time I’ve ever been desperate for it.