Ryder (Player Card Series Book 3)

by Ellie Danes

  “I’ve gotta get a run in and y’all gotta go,” I announced, throwing a towel over the bar on the treadmill. I clicked the incline and started my warm up. Tristan walked over and tried to talk to me, but I raised my hand and shook my head.

  “You want me to win. No more talking. I have to work now,” I informed him.

  He’d had all of my attention for most of the day, and I needed this. It felt like forever since I hadn't run in the morning and I had to burn off some of this stagnant energy.

  Tristan nodded in understanding and pointed at his phone. I would call him tomorrow. I needed to get this workout in and then grab a nap. I was exhausted, and the small amount of sleep I had gotten wasn't enough. But it was damn worth it. I’d needed to see her.

  I ran hard for forty-five minutes then cooled down for another twenty before showering. I made a quick stop to meet Dad before heading home. We had a brief early dinner and I bolted.

  I walked straight to my room when I got home and fell on the bed face first.

  While I knew all of the bullshit that went along with a Pay-per-view fight was necessary, I wasn't feeling it. I felt like a puppet. All these pictures and media releases were getting to me. I had to stay focused, eye on the prize, but damn it was hard. I had Zoey on my mind all the time, and then Tristan would call, not to mention Amy was calling too, and Dad was planning my workouts to try and keep me busy.

  I’d been in the gym half the day yesterday running the gauntlet. I was shaking from sheer exertion when I was done. Dad had laughed and slapped me on the back, ragging me about getting soft. I wasn't. I wasn't sleeping well. And the three hours I had last night were amazing. I was starting to realize that I wanted Zoey in my bed every night. Her soft body fit perfectly against my hard one—she was made for me. I slept better when she was next to me. I dozed off thinking about her.

  * * * * *

  My phone rang a few hours later, and I answered.

  “Hello?” I said groggily into the phone.

  “I’m sorry, love. Were you sleeping?” Zoey asked.

  “Yeah.” I laid my head back on the pillow.

  “I'll let you go so you can go back to sleep.”

  I looked at the time. “No, it's fine. I need to get up and eat and then watch some film before I crash again.”

  “I wanted to say thank you for coming last night.”

  “I'm glad I came,” I smirked.

  “Yeah. I see what you did there,” she said with a chuckle. “And I’m glad for that too. I’ve missed you terribly and maybe seeing you last night made that worse.”

  “I get it. I can't wait till this fight is over, and life settles a little. I don't like being away from you.” I sighed.

  “I know. If this line takes off, I'll be able to quit my job, and then I can come anytime I want.”

  “I can't wait for you to come anytime you want.”

  “You, sir, are incorrigible,” she informed me.

  “What are you wearing?”

  “I am not going there,” she laughed.

  “Oh yes, you are,” I said into the receiver. I hung up on her and then went straight for Facetime.

  “Are you serious right now?” She smiled. Her hair was pulled up on top of her head, and she looked like ‘the girl next door.’

  “You look beautiful.”

  Her eyes narrowed in concern. “And you look tired.”

  “I may be a little, but I am always down for an orgasm.”

  She flushed, one of my favorite things to see her do.

  “You just like to watch my face turn red, don’t you?” She gave me that knowing look.

  “Maybe,” I answered. “You’re kind of adorable when you get all embarrassed.”

  “Lucky for you I love you, mister.”

  “Yes. Yes, it is. I’m the luckiest,” I winked at her and she shook her head at me.

  “I know you’re tired. Get something to eat and call me before you go to sleep tonight. Love you.”

  “Love you too, babe.” I blew her a kiss then disconnected the call. I flopped back on the bed and closed my eyes.

  Chapter Thirty

  Ryder

  With less than ten days before the fight, I had to get my moves down to a science. Bret had been studying Santiago and had his maneuvers and sequences down pretty damn well. The problem was that Bret was a lot smaller than Santiago, so I wasn't sure if it was actually going to help me or hurt me. We’d been sparring every day, and I knew what I needed to do.

  This wasn't going to be a one and done fight. This was going to be a bloody battle that ended with someone leaving the ring on a stretcher. I only hoped it wouldn’t be me.

  Zoey had no clue how intense it was going to get, and I sure as hell wasn't going to tell her. To make that matter worse, Zoey wanted to be ringside. I had talked to Amy about it and tried to get her to make sure Zoey would be in the skybox Tristan had rented, but Zoey was adamant about being by the ring. I wasn't sure if it was the right thing or not, but I was going to try to talk her out of it.

  Once I was in the ring, my concentration had to be on Santiago, and I knew that. Besides, girlfriends ringside wasn’t exactly a good idea for anyone. My dad was going to be ringside with Curtis and Bret, but he’s part of my team. Ultimately, I planned to be holding the belt at the end of it and everyone was welcome at the ring then.

  Tristan called me and said, “We have to meet with the press at two p.m. for weigh-in and then a short chat with the media for both of you guys. He’s gonna try and get your goat, but I know you’re better than that. Eyes forward and looking through him. You are both going into this undefeated, remember that.”

  Tristan had told me all of this about forty times over the last few weeks. I didn't need to hear it again.

  “I got you, Tristan, promise.” I hung up the phone and sat back against the lockers.

  I was as ready as I could get, and all I could do now was win. I kept telling myself it wasn't like one loss was going to be the end of my career if I didn’t win. That wasn’t negative thinking; it was the best way to keep the nerves and stress at bay. My dad kept telling me there was nothing else to go over and nothing else to practice. I just had to do it. I had to keep my mind clear and be in that ring one hundred percent. That meant talking to Zoey about her watching the fight from the skybox with Amy and Tristan. I knew the phone call was probably not going to go very well. I lifted the phone and shot her a quick text to see if she could Facetime for a few minutes.

  “Hey!” She smiled as her face came into focus.

  I needed to see her while I was explaining this. I needed to know how she was taking it.

  “Hey.” I smiled back.

  “You all done for the day?” she asked.

  “Yeah. Can we talk?”

  “Sure, give me a minute.” She started walking and then was in a stairwell. “I'm still at work, I'll be done in a couple of hours.”

  “You can call me later if you need to.”

  “No, it's fine.”

  “Okay. So, here’s the thing. I know you want to be ringside and I want you there, too. But with this being my first Pay-per-view fight, I think you should probably be up with Tristan and Amy. If you’re close and I hear you yelling, I may get distracted, and that could get really bad, really fast.” I smiled and pleaded with my eyes for her to understand.

  “Well, I admit, I’m a little disappointed, but I do understand.”

  “There is nothing I want more than for you to be right there and the first person I see when I win this, but in order for me to win this, I have to be beyond focused on Santiago.”

  “Sweetheart, if you think that I’ll be a distraction, then I’ll sit with Amy and Tristan. I don't want to be the reason you lose.”

  “It would never be your fault—only mine.” I wanted her to understand that I needed her there, just not ringside.

  She smiled and blew me a kiss. “I know you’re stressed and I also know that you've got this, that we've got this.” Sh
e smiled again and then turned her head. “They’re calling me, I have to go. I'll call you when I get off. Love you.”

  “Love you.” I smiled as the screen went blank.

  Her reaction had been better than I could have hoped for. The more I learned about this woman, the more I was ready—or at least I felt I was—for her to be my forever. I thought about her constantly, and I wanted her to be home when I got there. I had never been domestic, but the few times we had been together, it was everything I wanted.

  It reminded me of talking to Dad about his relationship with my mom last week. We’d met briefly, and he’d been very serious.

  “The first time she smiled, I knew,” Dad had said. “I wanted to see that smile forever, and there was nothing I wouldn't have done to make that happen.”

  “I feel that way about Zoey, I think.” I’d clasped my fingers in front of me on the table, a little nervous just thinking about it.

  “I know you look at her the way a man in love looks at a woman. I think she may be the best thing that’s ever happened to you. Finding a woman who can deal with your lifestyle, the fans, media, and Tristan is a bonus. It’s obvious that she loves you.”

  “I feel the same. I just hope she can hang in there when it gets bad. When the reporters go after her. You know as well as I do that they will, and I don't know if I can handle it.”

  He’d folded his hands in front of him and gotten very serious. “Son, I love you, and I know you are capable of making sure she is safe, but don't protect her. Don't hide things from her. Anything that happens needs to be front and center, always. I loved your mother, and I never lied to her, not once. Okay, maybe a few times but that was always over presents and surprises. She knew my heart and more importantly, my soul. You may not believe me, but the soul is where we hide things we don't like about ourselves, but you have to lay it all out and let her accept everything about you.”

  “Why show her the ugly things?”

  “Women have a talent for finding things out, and you don't want to be in that position, ever. If there is any advice I can give you as a father it’s to always be honest, and be an open book. With the possibility of you being somewhat famous, it will be even more important for you to be honest all the time.”

  “It's not like I lie to her all the time, jeez.” I smiled as I lifted my hands and rubbed my face.

  “You may not mean to, but we do, and then we have to come clean, and that feels the worst.” He’d laughed and signaled our waiter for the check, and I knew our talk was coming to a close. “Just be true to yourself, and everything else will follow. She’s a good woman, and you deserve to have someone like her in your corner.”

  Dad always had a way of putting things into perspective. It’s why I made sure he stayed involved in my training. He kept me focused when it seemed I was losing sight of things. And I really needed to stay focused if I was going in the ring with an undefeated veteran fighter.

  I pulled myself up and headed for the shower. I washed and thought about the moves that I would have to do to take Santiago down. I had it all planned out in my head, but I also knew that improvisation was even more reliable.

  Curtis and I had been round and round about several moves and why I should or shouldn't use them, but I knew what worked best for me. I wasn't trying to be an ass, but I didn't want them to make me feel like my jab wasn't good enough or my grappling needed work. I needed to be lifted up right now. They didn't mean any harm, but I knew I was walking a thin line of control as it was.

  I needed to see Zoey—I needed a release from all of this pressure.

  Talking on the phone and Facetime sex was great, but it wasn't the same. The more I thought about her, the harder my dick got. I reached down and ran my soapy hand over my cock and groaned. I could hear her voice as I stroked myself. Trying to pull a release from my body, I dropped my head and filled my mind with visions of her. Her soft curves and perfect breasts danced in my mind. I felt the build-up to an orgasm and pulled harder. The release wasn't nearly what I wanted or needed, but it was enough for the moment—short-term satisfaction.

  I needed long-term satisfaction, though. Something needed to be done.

  * * * * *

  I pulled my bag from the overhead compartment and made my way to the exit. I would see her in a few minutes, and there was nothing I wanted more. I scanned the crowd of people and didn't see her. I looked up and down the platform, but I didn't see her anywhere. My shoulders slumped as I started to walk toward the escalator that would take me to the street. My bag was slung over my shoulder and my head down looking over my phone when I was hit. The shock and force of another body hitting mine pushed me backward. Losing my balance because of the bag, I landed on my ass.

  “Holy fuck!” I called out.

  “Ryder!” Zoey shouted and then started laughing.

  “Zoey.” I purred into her ear as I pulled her against me. We sat on the floor in the station and kissed. People walked around us, but I didn't care. All I cared about was the feel of her mouth on mine and her body in my arms. I had waited too long for this, and I was going to enjoy it.

  “I'm so sorry I wasn't here to meet you off the train. I got caught up at work and then realized what time it was. I ran three blocks.” Her smile was quick before she dropped her mouth to mine again. Her hands were pulling at my hair, and my erection was growing. It was painful against my jeans. I didn't want to, but I had to get out from under her.

  “If you want me to fuck you right here on this dirty floor then keep moving your hips like that,” I whispered in her ear and watched as the flush ran up her neck and covered her face.

  “Oh.” Her eyes widened.

  “Exactly. Let's go.” I pushed her away so I could get up. We started toward the street. I pulled her to me and wrapped my arm around her shoulders. She grabbed my hand and held it right above her breast. I ran a finger over the cup of her bra and kissed the side of her head.

  “Are you free the rest of the day?” I watched her hair move as my breath hit it.

  “Yes.” Her voice was a little deeper and breathy.

  “Good.” I walked a little faster than normal, trying to get to her place. I needed the peace that being close to her brought. With all the meetings tomorrow, I knew I wouldn't see her until late in the day. She wasn't able to get off work before the fight, but she was off for the four days after.

  “I can't walk that fast in these heels,” she complained. I looked down at her then lifted her in my arms.

  “Shall I run?” I teased her. She looked into my eyes and then reached to take my face in her hands. When our lips brushed, it was different. It was full of commitment and trust. Something I hadn’t noticed there before.

  A few minutes later, I stood by her door and waited while she let us in. Once we were in her apartment, I was moving so fast that I didn't even see Annette on the couch. She said hi, and I called out a “hi” back, but I kept walking.

  “I’m gonna head out for a bit,” Annette shouted to us. Zoey acknowleged her as I swept her into the room.

  Once we were inside, I kicked the door shut and locked it, and then tossed Zoey on the bed. I jumped her. There was no other way to explain it. I wanted to get inside of her as fast as possible. I needed the connection, and I needed it right then.

  “Please.” She rotated her hips against me.

  “Fuck,” I cursed at the sound of her begging and ripped at her clothing. I heard the fabric tear, and then I saw her rosy skin. I leaned down and kissed her collarbone, tracing my mouth along her skin until I wrapped her nipple in my lips. She bowed off the bed and forced more of her breast into my mouth. Her hands were running down my back, and I felt her pushing at my jeans. I lifted up and looked at her.

  “You need it too?”

  “God, yes.” She pushed me up and stripped out of her clothes. I smiled at her, I couldn't help it.

  “Why the fuck are you still dressed?” she asked me.

  I was so busy watching her that I di
dn't even think about getting out of my clothes. She reached for me, but I pulled away and pushed her knees apart and then dropped my body until I could rub my nose over her clit. When my tongue snaked out and hit her, she shivered and grabbed at my hair, yanking me closer.

  I pulled the first of many orgasms from her before I took my jeans off and pushed inside of her. I wanted to feel her, I needed to fuck her, but my mind had other plans. Our lovemaking was slow and soft and exactly the connection I had been thinking about for days. It was more important than the release. I hadn't realized that until this very moment and it was an explosion into my psyche. I knew at that moment, more than ever, that she was it for me.

  “You are my home, Zoey. Always have been and always will be.” I kissed her softly.

  “I love you.” She kissed me back and wrapped her arms around my neck. I didn't want to pull out of her and lose the link, so I let myself soften inside of her. She didn't move, and neither did I. I guessed she needed the connection as much as I did.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Zoey

  I already knew that I loved him, but when he said I was his home, my heart exploded inside of my chest. I was expecting him to fuck me hard and fast, but he had made love to me. Slow and soft. I was ready to let him use my body to get what he needed, but he hadn't.

  He arranged us so my back was against his chest. “I want us to live together,” he said softly in my ear.

  I turned in his arms so I could look him in the eyes. “You—you do?”

  “I want you with me all the time,” he said. “I wanted to wait until after the fight, but I needed you to know just in case anything happens. I need you to know where I stand. I love you, and I need to make sure you are on board with my future plans. I know you have plans and I don't want my future to engulf yours, but I want you. If this isn’t the thing you—”

  “Yes.” I interrupted him.

  The smile that broke across his face was brilliant. He looked like a kid opening the best gift on Christmas. “Really?”