“Shit,” he says, dragging his hands down his face. “I’m so sorry, man.” He pulls himself up, his hands gripping the frame of the open door. “Aston, man, I’m so fucking sorry. I thought you were Jax. I had a bad dream.” He holds out his hand. Aston takes it, and Ryder hobbles closer, pulling him in for a man hug. A gut-wrenching pain hits me deep in the pit of my stomach. Ryder is having nightmares about Jax already.
“I’m good.” Aston, smiles warily, patting Ryder on the back. “How’s the leg, man?”
“I’m not sure,” Ryder answers.
I step back, pulling the jacket tighter as the cool night air blows against my barely covered skin. I hop out of the car and straight over to Ryder. “Are you okay? Shouldn’t we get you to a hospital?” I rest my hand on his arm, concerned about how bad is injury is.
“It’s good. Marco is sending someone. Hospital isn’t an option,” he murmurs.
“Why?” I ask with concern. “I can’t lose you, Ryder,” I say with total honesty. And it was the truth. Right now, he’s all I’ve got, and I’m pretty sure he’s all I need.
“Too many fucking questions will be asked, Pip…”
“But what if you get an infection? Or have some sort of internal damage?” I say with a sigh. “That could be a lot worse than a few questions from the police.”
He spins on the spot, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. My eyes focus on that grin.
“What?” I say with a chuckle, confused by his reaction.
“I’m just surprised you fucking care so much,” he says, wrapping his muscular forearm around my small waist and pulling me to him. I let out a little shriek as his gesture surprises me.
He drops his head, rubbing the tip of his nose against mine delicately.
“Of course, I care,” I say in a hushed voice; my throat suddenly dry as I say those words out loud.
“Fuck,” he quietly growls. “Let’s get inside before I do something I shouldn’t.”
A wave of heat sears through me at the intention and intensity of his words. I’d fought my attraction to Ryder. Scared by his aggressiveness, I fell for what I thought was his brother’s softer side instead. Only to find that wasn’t the case at all. It wasn’t a softer side; it was manipulation. He made me fall into his web of lies; I believed he actually liked me, and he got close just so he could screw me over. I feel so stupid for thinking he liked me. I feel stupid for fighting my attraction to Ryder. And judging him. I saw what I wanted to see. I didn’t look deep enough because if I had, I would have seen the real Ryder. The one who risked his own life to save mine. The one who hides a big heart behind a scary pretense. I shiver as the thought of what might have been flashing through my mind.
He takes my hand in his, linking them. We walk to the entrance of the dingy looking, two-story motel. The partially broken neon sign outside flashes the words Motel. Glancing back, I see Aston helping Layla on the way in. I open the door, allowing Ryder to step in before me. I can tell by the look on his face that he’s trying to hide his discomfort. His face is that ashen color, and despite his dismissal, I know he’s suffering. I watch as he struggles over to the small reception desk. The smell of the place hits my senses as we make our way further inside. It’s a musty combination of stale perfume and years of cigarette smoke. I watch as Ryder leans through the small hatch, speaking to the middle-aged woman sitting on the other side. I look back, holding my arm out to Layla who steps into my embrace. I glance upward, smiling at Aston.
“Thank you for everything,” I say to him.
“You don’t need to thank me. I’m just doing what I’m paid to,” he answers, his voice monotone, his lips pulling together in a tight line as he attempts to smile.
“Right,” I say, slowly nodding my head and not really knowing how to answer that. “How’s the, um, neck,” I say, loosely waving my finger to his neck.
“Fine,” he mumbles, narrowing his eyes at me a little. I can’t help but chuckle inwardly at Mr. Personality.
“How are you holding up?” I ask, looking at Layla. Her pretty face is a mess. She has redness around her eyes and nose from all the crying she’s done.
“I’m fine, honestly,” she says with a little sniffle. Her body shakes as she crosses her arms to keep warm.
“Let’s hope the rooms have heat,” I say with a little wink, and her sad face offers me a small smile.
“I can’t stop shaking,” she whispers. I pull back, linking my arm through hers.
“It will get better. I promise,” I say, hoping my words hold some truth.
“I’m just so very thankful we made it out of there. That I’ll get to see my friends and family again. Something I thought I’d lost forever. I just don’t know that my life will ever be the same again.”
“You have your family and friends. They will help you through this; I’m sure of it.” I try to reassure her. And she is lucky. If there was one person I’d want here with me right now, it would be my mom.
“It might never be the same,” I say, breaking away from my internal thoughts, “but live your life. Make every second count. You’re strong, Layla. Don’t let what happened break you. Take the broken pieces and make you a stronger version of yourself.”
“I never thought of it like that,” she mumbles; her feet scuff the floor as she fidgets nervously. Her head slowly lifts, her face less tense, and her smile a little wider.
I feel a hand on my lower back, which catches my attention. I turn to see Ryder’s eyes burning into me. “Ready?” he asks.
I answer silently with a slow nod of my head. I look down, noticing he has three keys, each with a well-worn brown tag. He turns, handing one to Aston then another to Layla. Her eyes widen, and the look of fear appears on her face. I look back and forth between them and see he recognizes it too.
“Don’t worry,” he says calmly, “it’s a connecting room. We are just on the other side if you need us.” He rests his broad hand on her tiny shoulder.
“Thank you,” she croaks out.
“Us?” I ask, interjecting. “What? We’re sharing?”
“You fucking betcha,” he almost sings. He steps closer, his mouth so close to my ear. “If you think I’m letting you out of my sight, you can fucking think again.”
I tremble. The effect of his words on me is unexpected. His words are a turn-on, and as I lock onto his hungry, lust-filled eyes, I swallow hard as the excitement grows between my legs.
“Follow me,” says the receptionist, snapping me from my thoughts.
We step out of the way and allow her past, back out into the courtyard. “This way,” she instructs thrusting her hand forward. She shuffles her feet on the floor as she leads us to our rooms. She stops just a few feet away from the entrance. “This is your single room,” she says thrusting her thumb over her shoulder at the door marked 113. Your adjoining rooms are just this way.” We follow her a little farther before she stops outside number 140 and 141.
“This is you,” she rushes out. “I will send your visitor to you the moment he gets here,” she says.
Ryder thanks her before pushing the key in the lock. She turns and shuffles back to the reception area.
I spend an hour with Layla in her room. We spend some time talking about what will happen in the morning and going over what she should and shouldn’t say to the police. Layla is a smart girl and getting her home is my main priority, but for now, she needs to rest. I say my good night and wander back to the adjoining room where Ryder is. The EMT that Marco sent has been seeing to his leg, and I’m just hoping there isn’t anything to worry about.
I knock lightly, hoping I haven’t interrupted something. I open the door slowly, peeking through the small gap.
“Pip.” He calls me as a beautiful smile spreads across his face. I open the door a little more, sliding through and closing it quietly behind me. I look over at him on the bed. He’s wearing nothing but his underwear, his body on show. I stand with my back against the door, unable to move my gaze from the
definition of his muscular body. I bite the corner of my lip, nervous to finally be alone with the guy who saved my life. The guy driving my body insane. Every hair on my body feels like it’s standing on end, and the heat and excitement pools in my stomach. I can feel the heat rush to my cheeks as they flush. I drop my head in an attempt to disguise it.
“What did the EMT say?” I ask, my eyes flitting to him for a second.
“He cleaned and dressed the wound. Gave me some pretty strong painkillers,” he says, stepping from the bed and slowly making his way over to me. I’m frozen to the spot with no idea of what to do. He stops right in front of me, pressing a hand against the door on either side of my head.
“I should really shower,” I say with a gulp.
“Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Glad to hear it,” I say, biting the corner of my lip.
“Fuck,” he says with a low growl. “Do you have any idea how difficult the past few weeks have been for me? Wanting you so fucking bad, needing you like the motherfucking oxygen I breathe, but not being able to have you. I fought it every single day. Because of him. Because of my fucking brother. I can’t believe what he’s put you through. I’m so sorry, Pip.”
“This isn’t your fault,” I reassure him, resting my hand on his cheek. He leans into my touch, his eyes fluttering shut. “You warned me. You told me to stay away, but I didn’t listen.”
“It wouldn’t have made any difference. They had this all mapped out from the start. Whether you had been with him or not.” He sighs heavily.
“I fought my feelings for you too, you know. I wanted you, but I was scared because you were the hothead, and I fell for his lies. I chose the safe option, constantly trying to push you to the back of my mind and smoldering anything I felt for you. But I shouldn’t have fought what my heart and body were telling me. I listened to what I thought was the rational part of my mind, wanting to believe that Jax was the one. But it was never him, Ryder. Only you.”
His mouth crashes down on mine, and my feet suddenly leave the floor. He kisses me passionately as I open my mouth, deepening the kiss between us. It’s messy and frantic, but it feels so good. Spinning, he walks us over to the bed, dropping me down. I let out a little shriek and feel saddened by the lack of contact. He crawls over me, his mouth on mine once again, but this time, it’s small kisses, each one soft and intimate.
“I’ve never wanted anything as much as I want this. To finally hear you say you want me as much as I want you.” He drops onto his side, no longer able to remain his position over me as the look of pain crosses his face. Lying next to me, I turn to face him; his forearm wraps around my waist pulling my small frame close to his body. His thumb caresses my back underneath the oversized jersey I’m wearing. Our eyes connect. His heavy, lust-filled eyes are fixed on me. I look deeply into his bright green eyes as if I could get lost in them. The look of wanting and longing in his gaze sends a rush of wetness between my legs. The heat of his naked body radiates against mine, and I am lost in sensations of skin against skin. I had no idea he could have this effect on me, that my body would react with such burning desire. He drops his head, resting it in the crook of my neck as his hand wanders from my lower back to my ass. His tender touch works under the seam of my pants, and I writhe, wanting him to touch me desperately where I long to feel him the most.
“Do you really want this, Pip? Do you really want me?” His voice is deep and smooth and causes every hair on my body to stand on end. “I don’t want to be your consolation prize. I only want this if you really want it too.”
“Yes,” I cry out. “I’ve never been more sure about anything in my whole life.”
He hooks a finger into the waistband of my panties. Within seconds, they’re gone and replaced by his hand. My heart rate accelerates, and I’m pretty sure the only sound I can hear is the thudding of our hearts. My skin feels like it’s on fire, and every one of his touches is like silk against my skin. I reach for the hem of the jersey, pulling it over my head. I need him. I want him. I want the touch of his hands on every inch of my body.
I hear him suck in a deep breath. Glancing at him, I see his eyes are narrowed and pinned on me.
“That’s my fucking job,” he says with a smirk. “Let’s not rush this,” he breathes, his eyes suddenly full of uncertainty. We lie here skin to skin, our bodies flush, and I feel like I’m drunk off him. Everything about him is intoxicating. The look in his eyes, the touch of his hand on me, and the smell of him overwhelm my senses.
“I don’t want to take it slow,” I say, almost breathlessly. “Touch me, Ryder. Dammit, make love to me,” I demand. His eyes widen, surprised by my abruptness. It’s unlike me, but I need to feel his hands on me once more. My face heats with mild embarrassment, but he finally bends down, kissing me with everything he has. I feel it. It’s needier than before, with an edge of aggression. He works his tongue against mine, and the taste of him is so divine. I cling to his every touch, kissing him back with intensity, with everything I have. I want to get lost in him at this moment and forget the past twenty-four hours even happened. Within a second, the pace of our kiss quickens, and his hand moves back to caressing my bare ass. I need more. I want more. I feel around, trying to locate the band of his underwear. I manage to hook in a finger. But as forceful as ever, he takes over, sliding them down just enough to free his straining erection. He nuzzles my neck, and I can’t help but take in his size. I swallow down the lump in my throat, wondering if that’s going to fit. He parts from me, just enough to notice that I’m eyeing his cock. He wraps his hand around himself, working it up and down.
“Like what you see?” he says with the biggest grin I’ve ever seen.
I chuckle, covering my face with my hands. I’m not as sexually experienced as he is.
“Come on, don’t be shy,” he teases, grabbing my hand and positioning it on his huge cock. I shuffle forward until I’m sitting on the edge of the bed and he’s standing in front of me. I wrap my hand around his impressive girth. His hand is on mine and guiding me up and down the length of his cock. I watch as his head falls back. His eyes close tightly, and small groans leave him as I continue to work him, squeezing harder and working faster. He arches his back, before straightening up, leaning forward and pushing my back flat against the bed.
“Hey,” I moan.
“Pip, I ain’t coming all over you from a goddamn hand job. There’s only one fucking place I wanna be, and that’s buried deep inside that pretty fucking pussy of yours,” he growls. Reaching toward my face, he cups my cheek before trailing a finger down and over my breast. He flicks his thumb over my erect nipple, my sex clenching in response to having him touch me again. He dips his head, sucking and licking my nipple repeatedly. My breathing quickens as the sensation of having him tease me intensifies. His fingers trail over my exposed stomach, making their way down to where I need to feel him the most. My breathing soon becomes panting, and my panting quickly turns to small moans.
My body is on fire, and Ryder is to blame.
His fingers slide between my legs, and I open them, needing to feel him there.
“Oh god, Ryder, I need you so bad,” I cry out.
“I can fucking tell, Pip. You’re so fucking wet for me.”
He slides his fingers between my folds, catching and teasing my clit. Over and over. I moan out loudly.
“Shhhh,” he says, his lips crashing down on mine with aggression. Taking me, claiming me as he continues to work over my clit, each touch sending me closer and closer to the edge.
“The only sound I want to hear is you screaming out my motherfucking name,” he breathes into my ear. He works me over and over, my sex pooling as my excitement grows, and I move closer to the edge.
“Oh god,” I cry out. “Close. I’m so damn close,” I say breathlessly. I drop my gaze to meet his, his lip curling wickedly at the side. Beads of sweet line his forehead.
“Tell me you want me. Tell me how badly you
want me.”
“Yes,” I breathe out; my breaths labored, my body tightening and clenching as I feel myself getting closer. I’m ready to feel him completely. For him to take me, to own me.
“Tell me,” he growls. “I need to hear it fall from those beautiful lips of yours.” He lifts his finger to my lip, his hand shaking as he runs his thumb against my bottom lip. I let my eyes drift shut.
“Ryder, I need you, Please…”
But I don’t need to say another word. That was all that Ryder needed to hear, all that he wanted.
He pulls me closer to him, positioning my ass right on the edge of the bed. Reaching down, he takes himself in his hand, positioning his cock at my entrance. He works it up and down my slit, and a small moan escapes me. I need so desperately to feel him inside me. With one swift thrust, he plunges into me deeply, causing me to cry out, the pleasurable pain of him filling me completely. He starts slowly, the thrust deep, and so fucking good. The burning sensation of him causes me to arch my back, wanting him to drive deeper and give me everything he has. The way the head of his cock feels as he pulls out and thrusts back in causes my head to drop back, and a haze washes over me. Every single damn time he thrusts, he hits that sweet spot inside, the one that makes me feel like I’m seeing stars.
“Fuck, yes,” he groans as he pushes deep inside me. My moans become louder and more frequent, and I couldn’t care less who heard me. This is everything. The connection between us, the euphoria of this moment. I press against him, working in time to his thrusts, needing more. He increases the rhythm until he’s pounding relentlessly. My body trembles, my stomach tightening in response. The frenzy builds, and our lips crash together as we kiss deeply. I’m not sure how much longer I can hold on. Every one of his thrusts hits the right spot. My desire builds. I close my eyes, trying to hold on, wanting us to fall over the edge together, but it doesn’t work. I can’t help the sudden orgasm that spreads through me. The heat. The erratic pounding of my heart as I clench around his cock, still working inside me. I moan louder, my back arching away from the mattress, my legs tightening around his waist as I ride it out. Dizziness takes over me, the orgasm weakening my muscles. Ryder’s thrusts become angry, consuming, and possessive as he tries to find his own release.
The edge of forever: A Blackhearts twins novel (Book two) Page 5
