Ryder (Knights Corruption MC Series Book 5)
Page 25
When we’d finally made it to the front of everyone gathered, I passed my bouquet of red roses to Sully, who’d readily agreed to be my matron of honor, her husband standing next to Stone, clasping him on the shoulder while giving me a slight nod and a smile.
My soon-to-be husband took a step toward me and reached for my hand, my father kissing my cheek before releasing me. Two of the most important men in my life shook hands, mutual respect emanating from them both.
“I can’t wait to get you naked,” Stone whispered in my ear before ushering me to stand in front of Father Houston, the priest who’d come to marry us, the same one who’d performed Riley’s baptism.
The flush of my cheeks made Stone laugh. No one had heard what he’d said to me, but one look at my face and they could surely guess.
As I faced the love of my life, barely listening to the priest as he talked, autopilot kicking in as we repeated our vows to each other, I lost myself to Stone’s piercing gaze.
So much had happened during our relationship, both good and bad, but we’d persevered.
Fate could’ve dealt us a different hand altogether.
Cancer could’ve stolen my life.
Stone could’ve been killed, multiple times over the course of the past couple years.
But none of that happened. Instead, I was given my happily ever after—the man of my dreams, and two wonderful children I loved more than life itself.
Well, soon to be three. I had yet to tell Stone my little secret.
Kaden
Fifteen years later
“Come on, Riley,” I groaned, chasing after her while she ran toward the back of the clubhouse. “I didn’t kiss her. I swear.” Damn, she’s fast. Increasing my stride, I caught her by the wrist, spinning her around before she could fight me. A gust of wind kicked up, strands of her blonde hair shielding her angry gray eyes from me. Until she swiped them away, glaring at me in the process.
“Let go, Kaden,” she whisper-shouted, trying to tug free from my hold. But I wasn’t gonna let her go until she heard me out. I wanted to shout that I didn’t do anything wrong, that I’d been the one who was caught off guard when Tracy Flemming planted one on me after school the day before, but I had to make sure to keep my voice low enough so no one heard me.
We were at our fathers’ club. Everyone had gathered earlier for a barbecue, and the last thing I needed was for Riley’s dad to catch us. The man was seriously scary when he wanted to be. I overheard him telling her that he’d shoot any boy who dared to put his hands on her.
I was too young to die.
I’d been able to convince my dad’s best friend that I’d watch out for his daughter, that I would make sure no guys came near her. Little did he know I had an ulterior motive for promising such things, that I was the guy staking a claim on his daughter, albeit privately for the time being.
“Not until you let me explain. It wasn’t what it looked like.” The fire in her eyes turned me on, my almost seventeen-year-old hormones wreaking havoc inside my body. I risked a step closer, which only pushed her to retreat until her back was flush with the concrete wall behind her.
“I know what I saw.” She threw her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes. Riley Crosswell was so damn spirited . . . and I loved it.
I loved her, and it was time I reminded her of my feelings.
I moved swiftly, slamming my mouth over hers before my tongue begged for entrance. Moments later, she groaned into the kiss, and I knew I had my opportunity to make her see the truth for what it was.
I only had eyes for her.
My heart belonged to her. Always had, ever since we were kids.
Unexpectedly, she tore her mouth from me and shoved me backward, her hands in front of her in case I tried to come too close again. “Did you sleep with her?”
“No!” I lowered my voice before I drew any unnecessary attention. “I would never do that. She kissed me, baby. I didn’t kiss her back. I swear.”
“Well, obviously she thought she could. Seeing as how no one even knows we’re together.”
“You know how your dad will react,” I reminded her, feeling the anger start to bubble inside me, pissed I couldn’t openly claim Riley for my own.
“I know,” she conceded, looking away from me before chewing on her bottom lip, something she did right before she was about to cry.
“Don’t be upset. We’ll figure something out,” I promised, lifting her face to mine before I kissed her once more.
Riley
Life wasn’t fair. Kaden Marek was the boy I’d loved my entire life, yet I couldn’t tell anyone. My dad would seriously freak if he found out we’d been secretly seeing each other, and he was so damn stubborn—something my mom often complained about—that there would be no convincing him to allow the relationship.
Not only did I have my dad to contend with, but every other man in the club. I swore they made it their personal mission to make sure I grew old alone. The only exception was Kaden’s dad, the president of the Knights Corruption. He smiled whenever he saw Kaden and me together. Sometimes I wondered if he suspected something, although he never said anything if he did.
“I love you,” Kaden whispered into the kiss. Pulling back, he stared into my eyes, his the most expressive blues I’d ever seen. So much so I was surprised we hadn’t been found out yet. Whenever we were around our families, like that day, he would stare after me, and when I’d catch him, he’d give me a sexy smirk before looking away.
“I love you more.”
“Not possible,” he argued, his hands going from my waist to underneath my ass, lifting me until I wrapped my legs around his waist. He used the wall behind me as an anchor.
His biceps flexed as he held me, the corded muscles of his chest surely contracting beneath his blue T-shirt. I’d seen Kaden naked a handful of times, his body like a work of art, but it was only last month that we’d decided to finally have sex. At first it’d been a little painful, but the six times we’d been together since then were nothing short of electrifying.
Lost to teasing touches, heavy breaths and soul-scorching kisses, neither of us heard him approach.
“Whoa!” he shouted. “What the hell is goin’ on here?”
I broke the kiss, unhooking my legs and planting my feet on the ground before pushing Kaden back so I could turn and face the intruder.
“Uncle Trigger,” I pleaded, my eyes practically bugging out of my head. “Please don’t tell my dad. I. . . . We just. . . .” I clamped my mouth shut because I couldn’t think of what to say to persuade him not to rat us out.
Within moments, his expression changed from shock to amusement.
“I won’t say a thing, sweetie. On one condition.” His smirk made me wary.
“Anything,” I promised. Kaden reached for my hand, but I batted it away, not wanting to add fuel to the fire. Although the damage had already been done; he’d seen us groping each other, practically dry humping against the back of the clubhouse.
“You have to promise that whenever you do tell your father, that I’m there to see it.” He laughed, and I wasn’t quite sure if he was serious or not.
“Why?” Kaden asked the question, just as baffled as I was.
“Let’s just say it’ll be the sweetest karma.”
If you are a new reader of my work, thank you so much for taking a chance on me. If I’m old news to you, thank you for continuing to support me. It truly means the world to me.
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Also, I mentioned Cutter’s daughter, Kalista, and her husband, Eli, in this book. But did you know that they have a story of their own? Torn came out in December of 2015.
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/> To my husband, thank you for always holding down the fort so that I can pursue my dream. I love you!
Clarise (CT Cover Creations), you are so freakin’ talented, woman! Ryder’s cover is AMAZING, just like the rest of the series. You’ve done a brilliant job and I cannot wait to work with you on my next project.
Kristin and Becky (Hot Tree Editing), your suggestions and comments have really helped to polish the final book in the KCMC series. I couldn’t have done it without you.
Kiki, and all of the amazing ladies at The Next Step PR- I don’t even want to think about navigating this wonderful book world without your encouragement, knowledge and support. I’d really be lost without you.
Ruth, I’m so excited to have you in my corner. You’ve been extremely helpful, especially during the final stretch of Ryder’s editing when I had no time for anything else. I look forward to our chats and love that you love my men as much as I do.
Elmarie, thank you so much for taking the time to beta read yet another book for me, although something tells me you were looking forward to Ryder. I can’t wait to chat with you about my upcoming project.
Beth, thank you for your continued support. You cheer me on when I’m nervous, and celebrate when I succeed. You rock!
To all of the bloggers who have shared my work, I’m forever indebted to you. You ladies are simply wonderful!
To all of you who have reached out to me to let me know how much you loved my stories, I am beyond humbled. Thank you so much, and I’ll continue to do my best to bring you stories you can lose yourself in, even if it’s only for a few hours.
And last but not least, I would like to thank you, the reader. If this is the first book you’ve read from me, I hope you enjoy it. If this is yet another story from me you’ve taken a chance on . . . THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!
S. Nelson grew up with a love of reading and a very active imagination, never putting pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard until 2013.
Her passion to create was overwhelming, and within a few months she’d written her first novel, Stolen Fate. When she isn’t engrossed in creating one of the many stories rattling around inside her head, she loves to read and travel as much as she can.
She lives in the Northeast with her husband and two dogs, enjoying the ever changing seasons.
If you would like to follow or contact her
please do so at the following:
www.snelsonauthor.com
Email Address: snelsonauthor8@gmail.com
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Standalones
Stolen Fate
Redemption
Torn
The Addicted Trilogy
Addicted
Shattered
Wanted
The Knights Corruption MC Series
Marek
Stone
Jagger
Tripp
Ryder