Chapter 31
Ryder leaned back on one elbow, looking down at Rayna where she lay on the blanket beside him. She was so damn beautiful. Her dark hair was spread out around her, her brown eyes lit with joy as she recounted a story about when she was younger and she and Matty were camping outside by the barn alone. Unable to stop himself, he trailed a finger down the velvety soft skin of one arm, loving the way her full, pink lips curved into a smile laced with love for her brother. She was perfect, everything about her, and she was his.
“Tell me,” he said curiously when her story was over, “if things had turned out differently, what do you think you would be doing now?
“What do you mean?” she asked, and he groaned at the way the tip of her tongue snuck out to wet her lips. She did that often, and it drove him fucking crazy.
“I never would have pictured you as an FBI agent,” he told her honestly. “Actually, I never would have thought you would work in law enforcement at all.”
“Me neither,” she admitted. “I hated guns back then, and was afraid of the littlest things.”
“Like?”
She looked away from him, out toward the water. “Anything and everything. I grew up knowing Diego was hunting us. I imagined him in every corner, under every bed. I was terrified of the dark, of any unfamiliar noise.”
“Really? I don’t ever remember you being scared when we spent time together.”
“I wasn’t thinking about Diego when I was with you,” she murmured.
“No?”
“No.” When she didn’t elaborate, he asked again, “So, what did you want to be when you grew up?”
Turning her head back to look at him, she smiled. “What did you think I would be?”
“A teacher,” he replied instantly. “You always had a book in your hand. I thought maybe you would teach English or Reading to elementary students someday.”
“Close,” Rayna said, glancing back out over the rippling water. “When I was younger, I did want to be a teacher, but that changed the older I got. Reading was my passion, and the more I read, the more I wanted to not only read my books, but to live in them as well. They made it so that I didn’t have to think about what was really going on in my life. I would come up with stories, spinning fairytales, and pretending I was the heroine. I was always going on an adventure, being saved by a knight in shining armor, falling in love.”
“You wanted to write about the stories you wished you lived in?” he guessed.
A sad smile forming, she nodded, “Yes. I wanted to give some other child, one who might be going through something like I was, a chance to dream.”
“You can still do that, Rayna” Ryder encouraged, leaning closer to her. “You can do anything you set your mind to, sweetheart, I know it.”
“No, I can’t,” Rayna sighed, meeting his gaze again. “I don’t have any fairytales in me anymore, Ryder.”
“Then we need to make some,” he whispered, capturing her lips with his. He refused to let her feel like she had no hope left. He wanted to show her how much she meant to him, how much he cared for her, and so much more.
Slipping his hand under her shirt, Ryder slid it over the soft skin of her belly, groaning low in his throat as he moved it up to cup her full breast, covered in silk. Rayna gasped as he slid his hand under the material, grazing her nipple with his thumb, arching into his hand, she cried, “Ryder!”
“I love it when you say my name like that,” he rasped, licking at her neck as he squeezed her nipple lightly.
“Like what?” she moaned, her body trembling under his hands.
“Like I’m all you want. All you need.” Ryder slid an arm around her shoulder, and lying down on his back, he pulled her over on top of him. Grasping her shirt in his hands, he slipped it up over her head and dropped it to the ground beside them.
Sitting up, Rayna straddled his hips, and slowly started to undo the buttons on his shirt. “That’s because you are.”
Ryder helped her get rid of first his shirt, then his boots and pants, her declaration ringing in his ears. He was all she needed. That was good, because he felt the same way about her. “Rayna.” He wanted to tell her how he felt. That she was the first thing he thought about in the morning, and the last before he went to bed. That he never wanted to go another day without hearing her voice, and feeling her touch. That she lit up his world, and he was nothing without her. But, she covered his mouth with a finger, silencing him. “Not now,” she whispered. “Not yet.”
“Why not?”
“We aren’t going to talk about why. Not today, Ryder. Today is our day, remember? I don’t want to bring anyone or anything into it. It’s just you and me.”
“Nothing is going to change the way I feel,” he told her, hoping she saw the truth in his words. “I mean it, Rayna. Nothing.”
“Good,” she said, removing her jeans and panties, and straddling him once again. Sliding her hands to the front clasp of her bra, she undid it, slipping it off, baring her breasts to him.
Grasping her hips, Ryder raised her up some, and brought her down slowly on his hard cock, groaning loudly when he was enveloped by her wet heat. “I love the way you feel,” he rasped, arching his hips to bury himself further inside. Rayna rose, sliding up his cock, before falling slowly back down, pushing him in even deeper. Watching her, he nearly came when she brought her hands up to cup her own breasts, tilting her head back, and playing with her nipples. “Baby,” he growled, tightening his hold on her hips, and increasing his pace, “that is so fucking hot.”
Rayna lowered her head, looking at him with eyes wide with desire. “Feels so good,” she moaned, letting go of her breasts to put her hands on his chest. Taking over, she adjusted her hips, and began to move faster and faster. “So close,” she panted, “Ryder!”
Ryder slid his fingers over her head, grasping a handful of hair. Tightening his grip, he met her thrust for thrust, and soon was following behind her as she screamed his name when she came.
After a moment, Ryder loosened his grip on her hair, but tugged her down for a kiss, then held her close to his chest. “We should get our clothes on,” she finally whispered.
“Why?” He lightly stroked a hand down her back, not wanting to let her go.
“What if someone is out there? Watching us?”
“There is no one around here but you and me,” he promised, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close.
“But, what if there is?” Rayna insisted. “They could have a sniper rifle, and be watching us from anywhere.”
“Then I would die a happy man,” Ryder said, flipping her over onto her back, and covering her mouth with his before he started to move inside her again.
Chapter 32
Creed and Katy were waiting for them when Ryder and Rayna arrived back at the house later that afternoon. Creed was leaning against his truck, Katy sitting on the tailgate. Rayna could tell by the look on Creed’s face that he had somehow found out about the day before. Not bothering to sugarcoat it, she dismounted from Whisper, dropping the reins, and placed her hands on her hips. “I didn’t come to you when it was over because the FBI had jurisdiction. The man is dead and gone, and that is all that really matters, Sheriff.”
She was aware of Ryder coming up beside her and placing a hand on the middle of her back in reassurance. Rayna leaned into his touch, her eyes locked on Creed. She had come into his town, stirred up trouble, and killed a man. He had every right to be pissed, even if it was an FBI case.
“I disagree,” Creed replied, copying her stance, glaring down at her. “I was getting ready to leave the house last night, when my mother called to let me know that you were going to stay here.”
“It was safe,” Rayna said defensively. “I wouldn’t have come otherwise.”
“Rayna, that’s not what I’m trying to get at.” Creed removed his Stetson, raking a hand through his thick hair. “Look, I know I have been a jerk lately, and I apologize. It has nothing to do with you.”<
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“I know,” Rayna responded quietly. “You are just worried about your family.”
“Yes,” he agreed, replacing the Stetson, “but all of that changed yesterday.”
“How?”
Creed’s gaze left hers, going to his brother. “I realized exactly how much you have come to mean to Ryder,” he said. “I should have seen it sooner, but I was so busy trying to protect my family, that I missed the most important thing.”
“What’s that?” she whispered, stepping back slightly to lean into Ryder’s chest. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.
A slow grin appeared on Creed’s lips, and he said, “You are family, Rayna.” Rayna teared up as Creed continued, “I should have been there for you yesterday, but it took awhile for me to pull my head out of my ass. I’m sorry. You should not have gone through what you did alone.”
“It was better that you weren’t there,” Rayna said, crossing her arms over her chest. “There is a good chance one of us would have been killed if you were.”
She felt Ryder’s hold tighten on her, and he muttered in her ear, “I think we better talk about this later.”
Tilting her head back, Rayna whispered, “If you want, but you won’t like it.”
“All I know is that your boss called and chewed me out because I obviously wasn’t doing a good job assisting his agent. He said they came close to losing you, Rayna.”
“Fuck,” Ryder growled, burying his face in her neck. “I’m not leaving you alone again,” he vowed. “I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
“Don’t worry, Ryder,” Katy said, from where she now stood beside the sheriff’s truck, “one of us will be with her at all times. That bastard won’t get near her.”
Rayna pulled away from Ryder, lifting up her hands, palms out. “You can’t do that,” she told them, in shock that they wanted to protect her the way they did, but knowing Diego would not show his face if they were around. “I’m here to do a job, and that job is to draw Diego to me and take him down. I work for the Federal Bureau of Investigations,” she stressed, “they don’t let just anyone in. I am fully trained, and I am good at what I do. I will be fine.”
“We protect our own,” Creed said, “that means you, Rayna.”
Rayna felt a piece of her heart that had been broken for years begin to mend at that moment. She’d been without family for so long, but suddenly these people were stepping up and claiming her as one of their own. They did not seem to care that there was a price on her head. She was all that mattered to them, and they would fight for her. “It means so much to me that you would do this,” she choked out, “but I will never be free of that bastard until he’s behind bars. The only way for that to happen is to get him here, but he won’t come if I have a house full of law enforcement.”
“No,” Ryder agreed, “but he won’t be intimidated if it is just me, a cowboy.”
Creed’s eyes narrowed as he considered what Ryder said, before slowly nodding his head in agreement. “True.” Looking him up and down, Creed demanded, “Are you sure you are up to it?”
“Yes.” Ryder’s response was quick and decisive, and before she knew it, they were putting the horses in their stalls and going to the bunkhouse to pack a bag for Ryder. It seemed he was coming home with her, and his siblings were going to take turns staking out her farm during the night from a distance where they would be able to help if needed. Knowing she would not be able to keep him away, and realizing her time at the Caldwell’s place was quickly coming to an end, Rayna finally agreed to their plan. It would be safer for everyone if they left soon. Diego could already have someone else on their way to Serenity Springs, and as much as she enjoyed her time at the ranch, she did not want to lead any of her enemies there.
After saying goodbye to Charles and Cara, and thanking them for their hospitality, Rayna walked to her car, waiting for Ryder to put his bag in the back seat before sliding in the front. Taking one last look around, she got in the driver’s seat and headed home, her perfect day with the man she loved was over.
That night in bed, Rayna cuddled close to Ryder, and quietly told him what happened to her the night before. She did not leave anything out, because she refused to lie to him, and omitting the truth was the same as a lie to her. When she was done, Ryder traced the Band-Aid on her arm, his body rigid against hers. “This is where the knife got you.” It wasn’t a question. He had seen the wound the night before, but hadn’t asked any questions, probably because he knew she wasn’t ready to talk about it.
“Yes,” she said softly, covering his hand with hers, “but it was just a flesh wound. It doesn’t even really hurt.”
“And this one?” He moved his hand up, his fingers trailing over a scar on her shoulder.
“That’s from the accident,” she whispered. “once the car stopped rolling that night, a man appeared and fired at us. One went into each of us to make sure we didn’t survive.”
“But you did.”
“Yes,” she agreed, “I did.”
Ryder laced his fingers with hers, kissing her hand and holding it against his cheek. “What happens when this is all over, Rayna?”
She knew what she wanted to happen. She would give everything up in Virginia in a heartbeat, to spend the rest of her life in Serenity Springs with him. But she could not make any promises she might not be able to keep. She did not have it in her. “Let’s just concentrate on surviving,” she murmured, “and worry about the rest later.” Reaching down, she grasped the hem of her nightgown, and edged it up over her hips. She knew it was wrong to distract him with sex, but she could not talk to him about the future when she had no idea if she would even have one. Right now she just wanted to concentrate on the present, and the man who was sliding up her body and inside her, and making her believe in fairytales again.
Chapter 33
Lyssa opened the door to her apartment, a huge yawn slipping out. It was in the middle of the night, and she was just getting home from a couple of hours of fun with one of the cute cowboys she’d met at the diner. She knew it was wrong. She was there undercover, and her mission was to pass information from her contact in the agency to Rayna, not sleep with Clyde Walker who worked at the bar down the street. But she was so bored, so she went to see him at The Cavern, and one thing led to another.
The last few months had made her realize that she was not cut out for undercover work. She wanted to be where her skills were needed. She wanted to be out in the field, chasing and catching bad guys, not babysitting another agent while she waited for one to possibly show up. She had no idea how she’d drawn the short straw, but she hoped it was almost over.
The thought no sooner came to mind, than she was grabbed from behind, her door slammed shut behind her, and she was shoved up against the wall, a large knife held to her neck. “Hello little girl,” a deep voice said, “we have been waiting for you.”
Lyssa’s eyes were wide in shock, and she struggled to free herself. The knife bit into her neck, and a trickle of blood ran down her skin. Her training kicking in, Lyssa brought her knee up, slamming it into the man’s groin. He cursed loudly, lowering the knife just enough that she was able to butt her head into his. “You bitch!” he roared, bringing his arm back and letting his fist fly. Excruciating pain filled her when he connected with her face, and she screamed out in agony as she stumbled back into the wall.
There was laughter in the background, and then, “Bring her over here, dumbass, and tie her to the chair. Let’s see what she will tell us.”
The man in front of her grasped her chin tightly in his hand, squeezing her jaw, while he pounded her head back into the wall again and again. “Fuck that, we don’t need to tie her down. She won’t get the chance to do that again, and I want to play.”
“I said bring her over here,” the other guy ordered, obviously the one in charge.
Lyssa fought with all her might, but in the end she found herself tied to a chair, with nowhere to go. “Who are you?” she
managed to gasp, her ears ringing loudly, and one eye nearly swollen shut. She had a bad feeling she knew exactly who they were, and now that she was bound to the chair, she was screwed. Why the hell had she thought she wanted to be in the middle of a lot more action?
“It doesn’t matter who we are,” the first man spat. “The only thing that matters is what I’m going to do with you after Frankie here talks to you.”
“Frankie?” Oh shit, she was right. Every mob had to have a Frankie, and this one was Frankie Barker, Diego’s main muscle. This was not good. The man was known by many for his torture skills. He knew how to inflict pain like no other.
Sitting down next to her, Frankie reached out and wrapped a blonde curl around his fingers. “What’s a pretty young thing like you doing working for the FBI?” he wondered out loud. “I could think of a lot better things for you to be doing.”
“Like what?” she muttered, even though she told herself to be quiet.
“Like sucking my cock,” the other man grumbled.
“Ignore Rocky here,” Frankie said, slowly letting the curl slide from his finger. “He gets a little excited sometimes.”
Rocky, she thought as she turned to get a good look at the other man out of her good eye. Rocky Masters, famous for using his fists to mutilate and murder. She had definitely fucked up visiting Clyde for some fun, instead of staying home with her gun close and ready. Now the damn thing was in her purse over by the door, and she was tied to a motherfucking chair with nowhere to go. “I have no idea what you are talking about,” she finally spit out through clenched teeth, the pain in her head overwhelming. “I’m just a waitress.”
Frankie pulled a small notebook from his pocket and flipped it open. “Alyssa Monroe Taylor, age twenty-five, height five feet, six inches, weight one hundred thirty pounds. Never been married, no children. Lives at 213 Lily Street in Virginia. Father passed away from cancer ten years ago, mother lives with her sister in Florida.” Stopping, he looked at her. “Do I need to go on?”
Saving His Soul (Serenity Springs Series, #3) Page 15
