Ray of Light

by E. L. Todd

  Kayden and Jessie both stared at him like he was too good to be true.

  Jessie pulled my ear to her lips. “Oh. My. God.”

  “I know,” I said with a nod.

  “And you’re totally fine with me going for him?” Jessie asked. “Because I’m gonna.”

  I laughed. “He’s all yours.”

  Jessie looked up to the heavens. “Thank God.”

  Ryker introduced himself to the girls. They shook his hand with weak grips, mesmerized by how pretty he was.

  I was still attracted to Ryker, but my infatuation stopped after I got my kicks. I explored that avenue as far as it would go. Then I hit a dead-end. I wasn’t the type of girl to keep ramming into a brick wall until it came down. I’d rather turn around and find a different route.

  Ryker stood beside me. “Excited?”

  “You know it.”

  “So, I guess that means we’re coworkers.”

  I laughed. “No, you’re my boss. I guess I can’t get that hammered tonight.”

  “It’s okay,” he said. “I don’t like stiff employees anyway. Besides, my dad is really fond of you. He’d be disappointed in me if I let you go.”

  “In that case, I’ll probably be stealing a lot of paper clips and pens.”

  He laughed, showing his nice smile.

  We moved to the front of the line and handed over our tickets. Then we filed into the stadium and found our seats on the floor. We were just ten rows back so we were close. I didn’t need to worry about any heads getting in my way.

  I was sitting between Zeke and Rex. On the other side of Rex was Ryker. Jessie sat beside him. She was making it a little obvious she was interested in him. Playing it cool was the best way to go, but Jessie had her own approach. She had the perfect hair and body, so she didn’t need to worry about playing games. If she wanted something, she just took it.

  I wasn’t so blessed.

  “I can’t believe you slept with him,” Kayden said. “He’s soooo fine.”

  “I know.” I’d probably picture that night when I had a session with my vibrator.

  “And you’re going to let Jessie scoop him up?”

  “I really don’t mind. He’s not boyfriend material.”

  “The perfect ones never are…”

  There was an opening band that played for nearly an hour. I occupied myself by eating nachos and drinking Coke. Zeke split it with me, and he kept eating all the good parts, where the chips were almost completely covered with melted cheese.

  “Dude, get your own.”

  “Why?” he asked. “I can just be a freeloader. It’s much easier.”

  “You’re a doctor. I should be mooching off of you.”

  “I thought I wasn’t a real doctor,” he teased. “You can’t play it both ways.”

  I shoved the rest of the nachos into my mouth and tried to get them down. “Now you can’t eat them.” I tried talking with my mouth full, but it was difficult.

  “I hope you choke on that.”

  I managed to get everything down after a drink of my soda.

  Zeke eyed his watch. “I hope it starts soon.”

  “Why? Is your bedtime soon?”

  He gave me a glare before he tickled me. “What did you say, punk?”

  I laughed then pushed him off. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry.” I sat forward and crossed my legs.

  “That’s what I thought,” Zeke said.

  I felt eyes drill into me, and I could tell which direction they were coming from. When I turned to the left, I saw Ryker staring at me. He held the gaze without looking away. I was the one who turned first.

  It was weird.

  The band finally came out and the show began. They immediately played all their best singles, and that’s when I started jumping around and singing at the same time. Kayden was into the music too. Zeke was fun no matter what we did, so he sang along with me.

  Rex stood there, almost looking bored.

  Ryker watched the band, looking cool and indifferent. Jessie kept clapping and tapping her hip against his. His hands were in his pockets, and every few seconds, his eyes moved to mine.

  Eventually, I faced the other way so our eyes wouldn’t cross paths anymore. I didn’t want him to think I was looking at him. I really wasn’t. I just kept feeling him looking at me.

  Zeke grabbed my hand and started to spin me in place as we danced together. We were having so much fun that I forgot about Ryker’s drifting looks and just had a good time. The beer, nachos, and soda were all kicking in at the same time.

  And I got lost in the music.

  ***

  I was dead tired after the concert. All I wanted to do was curl up with Safari and go to sleep. All the jumping around and singing wiped me out. There wasn’t enough coffee in the world to keep me awake.

  We stood in the endless line as we tried to file out of the stadium. It stretched on forever, so I knew we would be there for a while. Getting a cab would be nearly impossible.

  “You holding up, champ?” Zeke asked.

  I rubbed the corner of my eye. “Just tired.” I yawned loudly, feeling my eyes moisten in response.

  “Want me to carry you?”

  A sarcastic laugh escaped my lips. “No, it’s okay. I’m not a child.”

  “You weigh as much as a child.”

  “Maybe one that developed early.”

  We slowly moved to the front of the line. After thirty minutes of standing around, we finally reached the sidewalk.

  “We’re never going to get a cab now,” Rex said. “We’ll get there quicker if we walk.”

  Walk home? I’d rather sleep on the sidewalk.

  “I drove,” Ryker said. “I can take someone with me.”

  Jessie twirled her hair and batted her eyelashes.

  “Well, Jessie and I came in my car,” Kayden said. “What about you guys?”

  “We took a cab,” Rex said. “Why don’t you guys take Kayden’s car, and we’ll go with Ryker?”

  “It’s a two-seater,” Ryker said. “So, I can only take one person.” His eyes moved to mine.

  I was too tired to think and solve this problem.

  “Rae looks exhausted,” Ryker said. “I’ll take her while the rest of you take Kayden’s car.”

  Jessie’s excited look immediately disappeared. She crossed her arms over her chest and pouted in protest.

  “Rae can stay with us,” Zeke said. “Rex will go with you.”

  Ryker met his look while keeping his thoughts behind his eyes.

  Zeke did the same.

  Now I felt like I had two protective brothers. “Look, I’m too tired for this right now. I’ll go with Ryker, and you guys take Kayden’s car. End of story.” I walked to Ryker, feeling sluggish and groggy.

  Rex would normally argue, but he was making an effort to back off. “We’ll meet you there.” He turned around with the others and headed for the car.

  Ryker walked with me, and then he snaked his arm around my waist. “You look like a zombie right now.”

  “I know…” I leaned into his side and rested my face against his chest.

  He chuckled. “You really danced your ass off tonight.”

  “Yeah, I tend to do that.”

  “You cold?”

  “No, just sleepy.”

  He guided me to his car in the parking lot. When we approached the Lamborghini, I squinted at it. “You drive this?”

  “Yep.” He hit a button on the passenger door and it moved upward.

  I watched it rise. “Whoa…”

  He grabbed my hand and helped me inside. “You can buckle up, right?”

  “Yeah.” I leaned back with my eyes closed and felt for the strap with my hands. When I found them, I buckled them together.

  Ryker hit the button, and the door began to close again. After he came around to the driver’s side, he started the car and left the parking lot.

  I looked out the window for a while until I couldn’t keep my eyes open. They closed,
and I was too tired to open them again.

  “Want to go to my place?”

  His place? “Why?”

  “It’s closer, and there’s less walking involved.”

  I liked the less walking part. But I didn’t want to have to leave his apartment the next day and come home. Besides, it was a little weird if I stayed there. “Nah. My place is fine.”

  ***

  When I woke up, the door was open and Ryker was helping me out. “Home sweet home.”

  “Yes. My bed is so close.”

  He put his arm around my waist and walked me inside the apartment building. “So…are you and Zeke a thing?”

  “Me and Zeke?” I blurted.

  “Yeah.” He walked with me up the stairs to the eighth landing.

  “No,” I said quickly.

  “Really?”

  “Yeah.”

  “It just seemed like something was there.”

  “He’s just protective of me because I’m like a little sister to him.”

  “And that’s it?” He seemed incredulous.

  We finally reached my floor. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m very close with my friends.”

  “And maybe you haven’t noticed how close Zeke is to you.”

  Was I just really tired or did that not make any sense? “What?”

  “Never mind.” He guided me to my door. “You have the key?”

  I stuck my hand into my pocket and searched for it. “Yeah…” My fingers kept searching, but I didn’t find it anywhere.

  Ryker watched my movements. “Did you lose them?”

  “No. I think I forgot them.” Why did I have to be so stupid right now?

  “That’s not good.”

  “It’s okay. Rex will be home in the next half hour. I’ll just sleep by the door.”

  “And you think that’s a good idea?” The sarcasm was heavy.

  “There aren’t too many weirdos in my building. I’ll be fine.” I slid down to the floor and leaned against the wall. My eyes were lidded. “You can go. You don’t have to stay here with me.”

  Ryker didn’t step away, but he pulled out his phone. He made a call, and I guessed it was to Rex. “Hey, how far away are you?”

  Rex’s voice came over the line. “Like, a zillion hours away. There was an accident on the freeway, and we’re stuck in dead traffic.”

  “Really?” Ryker asked. “Because Rae forgot her key to the apartment. We’re standing outside it now.”

  “Well, it’s going to be at least an hour and a half, but I’m guessing two.”

  “Okay.”

  The wall wasn’t the most comfortable place in the world, but I could sleep there if I had to.

  “I’m taking her back to my place. She wants to sleep outside the apartment, but I’m not gonna do that.”

  “That’s fine,” Rex said. “I’m sorry my sister is so stupid.”

  “It’s okay,” Ryker said with a chuckle. He hung up then stuffed his phone into his pocket. “Did you hear all of that?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then let’s head to my place.”

  “Ugh…”

  He grabbed my hand and helped me up. “I hate to imagine how much worse you are when you’re drunk.”

  “You couldn’t handle me.”

  ***

  The elevator took us directly to his apartment and into his living room.

  “Man, I wish I had that in my apartment.”

  Ryker chuckled before he guided me inside.

  I headed straight for the large couch in front of his TV. There was a blanket just over the back of the couch, and I planned to snuggle with that since Safari wasn’t around.

  Ryker pulled me away. “Come with me.”

  “I don’t need a guest room. The couch is fine.” And it’s closer.

  Ryker took me into his bedroom, where he immediately started stripping down to his boxers.

  “Uh, what’s going on here?”

  “Shh. Just get into bed.” He pulled my shirt over my head then removed my jeans.

  I was too tired to care, and he’d already seen me naked so there were no surprises.

  He laid me on the bed then pulled the sheets down before he tucked me in.

  Once my back was on the mattress, I remembered just how comfortable it was. The sheets were made of silk, and the blankets kept my body warm from the cold that pressed against the windows.

  Ryker got into bed with me then pressed his chest against my back. His arm hooked across my chest and reached the opposite shoulder. Without thinking, my hand automatically rested on top of his.

  Then I fell asleep.

  ***

  Before I opened my eyes, I knew it was noon. The sun was shining through the windows. It was unusually warm for Seattle. My mind was awake and ready for the day, but I didn’t want to move.

  Then I remembered where I was.

  My eyes opened, and I saw the thick arm wrapped around me. Ryker’s gentle breaths fell on the back of my neck. His scent washed over me, and I could feel his chest brushing against my back with every breath he took.

  What the hell?

  I slowly moved from his arms, wanting to leave without waking him. His arm slid past my body then fell on the bed. I got to the edge and looked around for my clothes. They were missing, and I couldn’t believe even my panties were gone.

  Why wasn’t I wearing them?

  Did I sleep with him again?

  I was pretty sure I didn’t.

  Just when I was about to stand up, a strong hand grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me back to bed. I turned over to see Ryker staring at me. His green eyes were dull from sleep. His hair was messy from rolling around on the sheets. The sleepy look in his eyes was sexy. Why didn’t I ever look like that when I woke up? “Going somewhere?”

  “I was trying to sneak out.” I blurted out the truth without thinking about it.

  “Without saying good morning?”

  “Yep.”

  He smiled liked he was amused. “Well, I’m glad I stopped you.” His arm moved around my waist then he kissed my neck and jawline.

  His kisses felt good like last time, but also intrusive. “Whoa, what are you doing?”

  He moved his lips to my ear. “What does it look like?” He moved over me and ran kisses along my jaw until he found my lips. He gave me a slow kiss full of purpose.

  My logical mind became blurry for a second. “I should go…”

  “Or you could stay.”

  “I must look like Rob Zombie right now.” My hair was probably a bed of knots, and my makeup made me a perfect extra on The Walking Dead.

  “Not at all.” He brushed his lips past mine. “You look beautiful.” He said it with such sincerity I lost my train of thought. “I like the way you look in the morning.”

  “You do?” My hands drifted to his biceps, noting the prominent muscles there. I was losing my train of thought again. Ryker distracted me with his pretty words.

  “Definitely.” He kissed the corner of my mouth and burned me with the heat.

  Now all I wanted to do was lie there and enjoy the gorgeous man on top of me. He had everything I could ever want. He was handsome in a classic way, his body was perfect, and he was sweet and reserved at the same time.

  But I couldn’t go down this path again.

  “I should get going. I need some coffee and pancakes.” It was Sunday. We always had breakfast at the apartment and watched football, along with playing some board games.

  “How ironic,” he whispered. “I have both.” He didn’t get off of me. In fact, he started kissing me again, moving to my neck and chest.

  Anytime he touched me, it felt amazing. With just his lips, he could make me writhe. “Ryker, you’re super hot, but I can’t do this again.”

  “I’m super hot, huh?” He kissed my stomach.

  “Yeah. But it’s best if I just leave.”

  He grabbed my thighs and separated them before be pressed his face between them. Those
amazing kisses touched my most sensitive area, and I immediately arched my back and lifted my hips in response.

  Ryker kissed and licked the area, giving me the best head I’d ever received. His tongue worked my clitoris before it slipped into my passage.

  I writhed all over again. “Oh…”

  Ryker kissed me harder, igniting my entire body in flames.

  In the back of my mind, I knew I needed to leave. I had to end this. But my body wouldn’t listen to me. It was enjoying this way too much.

  He rubbed my clitoris with his thumb and cherished the rest of my body with his mouth. His warm breaths fell on the sensitive area, highlighting all the pleasure. He pushed my body and mind to the edge of ecstasy.

  I was at the edge and about to fall into sweet oblivion. My body temperature rose a few degrees. My quiet moans turned into screams. My fingers dug into his forearms, and I prepared for an orgasm that burned me with white-hot flames.

  Just before I hit my threshold, Ryker pulled away.

  “No…”

  He crawled up my body, a slight smile on his mouth. His lips were coated with my fluid. They shined like lip gloss. “Stay.”

  “You’re such a jerk.” I dropped my head on the pillow with defeat.

  “I’ll keep doing it if you stay.”

  My body wanted to give in so I could return to that sweet heaven. Ryker was so good with those damn lips. Where did he learn to do all of that? Oh yeah, all the women he’d screwed over the years. “I want to but…it’s not a good idea.”

  “Yes, it is. It might not be as good as last time. But there’s a good chance it’ll be even better.” He gave me a kiss, wanting me to taste myself. Then he opened the nightstand and pulled out a foil packet.

  “No. It was fun as a one-time thing, but we can’t keep doing it.”

  “Why not?” he pressed. “Why can’t it be a two-time thing?”

  “Because it becomes a slippery slope. It becomes complicated. We’ll no longer be friends. We’ll be friends with benefits.”

  “I don’t see the problem.”

  “I don’t want that.”

  He sighed as he looked down at me. “What do you want?”

  “I don’t know,” I said with a shrug. “To be friends.”

  “Your wet pussy tells me otherwise.”

  “Well, when you fuck it with your mouth like that, it doesn’t have much of a choice.”

  His eyes darkened at my words. “Sweetheart, I’m not letting you leave until I get what I want.” He parted my thighs with his and positioned himself over me.