Chapter 20
Ryker James, my man, the one who makes me laugh and sigh and turns me on with just a look, had a dress delivered to the penthouse. For me. It was waiting on the bed in the primary suite when I got home after the scrimmage.
He bought me a dress. And shoes. The kind with red soles.
How in the hell did he manage to do that? We’ve been on the go, pretty much nonstop, since we got to Seattle just yesterday morning.
Is he some sort of magician?
The man himself walks into the bedroom, and his eyes immediately find me. His lips tip up in the cocky smile I love so much.
“Did you have fun today?” he asks me.
“Of course I did. The question is, did you have a good day p>
Ry nods, watching me. “Being on the ice with the guys was great, and Aiden’s a fucking natural. The fact that you didn’t force him to play junior hockey is mind boggling p>
“You try to force a teenager to do pretty much anything he doesn’t want to do.” I shift on my feet and bite my lower lip.
“What’s wrong, Trouble p>
“Nothing’s wrong. It’s been really good to see Aiden relax and laugh. To be comfortable around your friends. Thank you for including him p>
For referring to him as your kid. I’m shocked I didn’t lose it and crumple into a blubbering mess as soon as Ry said that.
He narrows his eyes on me.
“Aiden belongs wherever we are, sweetheart p>
Swoon.
I chuckle and tuck my hair behind my ear. “I always had a crush on you, but if I’d known just how dreamy you can be, I would have embarrassed myself years ago p>
He slowly walks to me and ghosts his knuckles down my cheek.
“Always?” He tips his head to the side as his eyes roam my face.
“Pretty much p>
“Fuck, was I just blind? Or stupid p>
I smirk. “I think things worked out the way they were supposed to. Now, I have another question for you p>
He kisses my forehead, sending little sizzles of electricity down my body. “Ask, baby p>
“How did you do this?” I point to the dress and shoebox on the bed.
“I made some calls,” he replies with a shrug, as if it’s nothing at all.
“I could have brought something from home if you’d given me a heads-up p>
He shakes his head. “I wanted you to have something new. And I wanted it to come from me p>
“Thank you p>
He brushes my hair back over my shoulder, and there are more sizzles.
“You’re so fucking beautiful, you take my breath away p>
Hello, butterflies. Welcome to the party.
“I haven’t even gotten ready yet.” My hands glide up his T-shirt-covered chest and then into the thick dark hair at the nape of his neck.
“Doesn’t matter.” He presses his lips to my forehead again and then moves them down to my lips for a soft kiss.
“When are we leaving p>
He checks his watch. “In about an hour p>
I feel my eyes widen as I gape up at him. “An hour? Ryker, I need more than that to get ready p>
“No, you don’t. Just put the dress on, and you’re good to go. I told you, you’re fucking gorgeous just like this p>
I blink at him. “I need a shower. A full hair-and-makeup situation. I don’t know where we’re going, but if I’m wearing that LBD, I need to get ready p>
His eyebrows climb. “LBD p>
“Little black dress.” I boost up on my toes so I can kiss his chin. “Now, get out of here so I can get sexified p>
“Baby, I’ll take you against that wall right now to prove how goddamn sexified you already are p>
I laugh and bat at him to make him move. “Don’t distract me. I’m in a time crunch. It’s a good thing I brought all my makeup with me. What are you wearing p>
He smirks at me. “A suit p>
“See? I need to get ready. Go away p>
“I have to get ready too p>
I roll my eyes and start stripping out of the Blizzard sweatshirt and jeans that I wore to the rink earlier. “It takes you twenty minutes to get ready p>
He’s watching me intently, those dark eyes molten as they journey down my body.
“I don’t have time to give you a show, Ry p>
He doesn’t walk away, and I can’t help but roll my eyes as I step out of my jeans and then saunter into the bathroom so I can get the shower started.
“Need help in there?” he asks.
“No. Seriously, I don’t have time to waste here p>
“Being inside you is never a waste, sweetheart p>
Jesus, the things he says should be inside naughty greeting cards.
Exactly fifty-eight minutes later, I finish zipping up the back of the dress and turn to look in the mirror.
I still don’t know what kind of sorcery this man had to work, but the dress and shoes fit perfectly.
The dress is off the shoulder and form fitting through the bodice, with a loose skirt that hits me right at the knee. Add in the heels, and the pop of red on my lips, and I’m feeling damn pleased with myself.
With the black clutch that he also got me in my hands, I stride out of the bedroom and find Aiden, Mac, and Ryker standing in the kitchen, talking.
“Whoa,” Aiden says when he sees me.
Mac grins.
Ryker turns around, and his jaw fucking drops.
Mission accomplished.
He’s so damn handsome in an all-black suit, with a black shirt and tie, with his hair styled. He looks like he belongs on the cover of a freaking magazine.
“I guess we’re staying home,” he says as he walks toward me.
“Why p>
His hands slide around my waist and down to my ass.
“Because men are going to be checking out what’s mine all goddamn night, and I’ll get arrested for homicide p>
“Easy, killer.” I run my hand down his tie and breathe him in. He smells amazing. “You’re so handsome, Ry p>
“They’re gross,” I hear Aiden say to Mac, and I chuckle.
“You’re still taking me out, because I buffed and polished myself within an inch of my life, within the allotted time frame, and now I’m excited to go p>
“It was worth every minute, but there’s something missing p>
“Did I forget mascara again p>
Ry laughs and shakes his head.
“What is it p>
He kisses my forehead and pulls something out of his pocket, and my breath catches.
It’s a blue box. The kind that comes with a white bow and has Tiffany written on the top.
“Ry, you don’t have to buy me things p>
“I like buying you things.” He nudges the box toward me. “Open it, Trouble p>
I tug on the bow and then open the box and feel my heart pound at the sight of the gorgeous diamond earrings tucked inside.
“Okay, these are too beautiful to pass up. I’m keeping them p>
He chuckles and takes one out of the box so he can affix it to my ear. “They’re perfect for you p>
They’re pear-shaped diamonds, easily a couple of carats each, and as he fastens the second earring, I can’t help but think that they’d be perfect for anyone.
“Thank you p>
He kisses me, careful not to smear my lipstick, and then I hear Mac say, “Turn and smile at the camera. You guys got all gussied up—we need a picture p>
After posing for a few quick pictures, Ry leads me to the elevator.
“Come on, I have to show my girl off tonight p>
“Where are we going, anyway?” I stop short and hold up a finger. “Hold that thought. Aiden p>
I walk back into the common area and see Aiden poke his head up over the couch.
“Yeah p>
“Be good.” I smile at him. “It’s my job to say that, you know p>
“I think I need to say that to you,” he retorts, making Mac laugh his ass off.
“I raised a smart-ass,” I say to Ry as I walk back to the elevator. “Okay, now where are we going p>
“I should probably warn you,” Ryker replies as he presses the button for the parking garage. “About six months ago, I bought tickets to this charity dinner thing p>
“And that’s where we’re going p>
He nods.
“What’s the charity p>
“I forget the exact organization, but it’s for kids p>
I narrow my eyes at him. “I don’t buy that. What’s it for, Ry p>
“It benefits foster kids p>
My heart softens even more.
My God, I’m in love with this man.
“Then I’m so glad we’re in town for it. Is it one of those silent auction, fancy-dinner situations p>
“No auction.” He clears his throat. “It’s a mini concert p>
The doors open, and he leads me to his sporty little Porsche, opens the door for me, and helps me into it before rounding the hood to the driver’s side.
“It’s a benefit concert? Why are we all dressed up, Ry? Concerts are casual p>
His lips tip up into a smile.
“This one is different. It’s held at someone’s home p>
I blink at him.
“Okay, start talking, James. What in the hell is going on p>
It’s a beautiful summer night in Seattle as Ry pulls out of the parking garage and merges onto the freeway.
“So you know who Will Montgomery is p>
I blink at him. “The Super Bowl–winning football player? Of course p>
“He’s a good guy. Anyway, his family runs this charity. Apparently, it’s close to their hearts, and you know that if it’s for foster kids, I’ll jump on board. Will’s nephew is married to Sidney Sterling p>
My mouth goes dry. “Sidney Sterling, the megastar who sells out arenas all over the world p>
“That’s the one.” He reaches over and slides his hand up my thigh, under the hem of my dress, caressing my skin. “Christ, you look gorgeous tonight. I’m tempted to pull over and fuck you here in my car p>
“Ry, there’s no room for sex in this car. Now, focus. Are you telling me that we’re going to a Sidney Sterling concert? Not only are her shows sold out, but the resale tickets go for thousands p>
He smirks over at me. “You’re cute p>
“Ryker p>
“First of all, I could pull you over onto my lap and fuck you just fine, sweetheart. I’ll prove it to you before the night is over. Second, we’re going to a private residence on the cliffs for dinner and a private Sidney Sterling concert p>
My mouth is hanging open, but I don’t really care. “How many tickets were sold p>
“One hundred p>
“How much were the tickets p>
He flicks his gaze over to me and then back to the road.
“How much were they, Captain p>
His jaw flexes. “A hundred grand p>
“A hundred fucking grand? Each p>
“Each, Wills p>
My heart is going to simply bounce right out of my chest.
“Do I want to know whose house we’re going to? If you say Oprah, I will have a heart attack, Ryker. I’m not kidding p>
“Not Oprah.” He’s laughing now, and I want to sock him in the nose. “Leo Nash p>
I’m certain I’ve heard him wrong.
“Leo, Grammy winner, lead singer of the iconic rock band Nash. That one p>
“He’s the only one I’m aware of p>
“Oh My God! I would have had hair-and-makeup people come to me, Ryker p>
“Why? You’re fucking stunning. You look amazing. Listen, I know this could get boring p>
“Boring p>
“—and as soon as you’re ready to go, you just tell me, and I’ll whisk you out of there p>
“You think it’s going to be boring p>
He smiles that huge, full-on smile that I love so much and eases off the freeway onto an exit ramp. “I love it when you get all worked up, Trouble p>
“I’ll hand it to you. When you decide to surprise a girl, you go all out p>
“I try p>
He’s still chuckling when he turns onto a driveway and shows his tickets to the security guard at the gate. We’re given instructions on where to park, and before I know it, I’m walking around a massive stone house to an area that looks like something out of my wildest dreams.
A rich-people dream.
Puget Sound is in the background, calm and blue as the sun sets behind it. Tables are covered in pretty pink linens and place settings, and people are already seated and talking, or wandering around, mingling.
Servers walk through with trays of champagne, and I can’t ignore the little stage set up with instruments and microphones, and I am so out of my element.
But there’s no time to be shy, because Ryker’s recognized immediately, and we’re drawn into conversations about his retirement.
I’m surprised by how many people offer condolences about Ray.
And Ryker never leaves my side.
“Ryker.” Will Montgomery himself approaches us, his arm wrapped around a pretty redhead—I assume his wife—and shakes Ry’s hand. “Congratulations on your retirement. I wasn’t expecting that. What are your plans now? Aside from what we’re doing, of course p>
What are they doing?
“I have a ranch in Montana that needs my attention,” Ry replies and glances down at me. “And excuse my manners. This is Willow, my girlfriend p>
“Hello.” I shake Will’s hand.
“My wife, Meg,” he says, and I shake her hand too.
“I’m a fan,” I tell him unapologetically. “You lead in and continue to hold the record for all-time passing yards, passing touchdowns at fifty-two in one season, and, well. I could go on, but you already know your stats p>
Will’s smile spreads over his face, and Ryker squeezes my hand.
“Great, his head’s about to get really big,” Meg says, shaking her head with an amused grin.
“I like your girlfriend, Ry p>
“I do too,” Ryker says with a smile in his voice. “Her mind is a steel trap for stats p>
“So what made you start this particular organization?” I ask Will, who smiles at his wife.
“That’s on me,” she says, pushing her hair over her shoulder. “I was a foster kid. Leo was actually in some of the same homes as me. Anyway, it can really suck, and we’re in a position to help. So we help p>
“And now, with Ryker joining us, we’ll be able to help more,” Will says, and my eyes fly up to Ryker, who’s frowning down at his untouched glass of champagne.
“It’s a big deal,” Meg adds, and I’m so damn proud of my man, I let go of his hand and loop my arms around him.
“I’m proud of you p>
He kisses the top of my head. “I’ll tell you more later p>
“I’ll hold you to that p>
“We have to go welcome everyone,” Meg says and smiles at me. “It’s really nice to meet you p>
“Same here. Thanks for doing this. I love it p>
Ry and I stay standing where we are as Will and Meg take the little stage and Will reaches for the microphone.
“Hello, everyone,” he says, catching the crowd’s attention. “I wanted to take a moment before dinner starts to say thank you for being here, and for supporting our Foundation for Foster Kids. We sold every single ticket for this party, and I know it’s not because I’m pretty to look at p>
That gets him some laughs.
“I know you’re here for Sid, and we’ll bring her out in a bit. The ten million dollars that we raised here tonight is going to go a long way toward making some kids’ lives better. For that, I am deeply grateful. Now, before we go, I wanted to quickly introduce you to my new cochair of the organization, Ryker James p>
Everyone turns to look at Ry, who smiles and gives them a wave. He kisses my temple and then joins Will on the stage.
“Thank you,” he says. “I’m proud to be here. I know what it feels like to be a kid without any options, and if I didn’t have the adoptive parents who took me in when they did, I likely wouldn’t be here, at this fancy party, hanging out with the likes of all of you p>
I swallow hard and brush a tear aside.
“So it’s an honor to help this organization in any way I can. And yes, we raised ten million dollars tonight, but we’re always taking donations p>
He winks as everyone laughs, and then steps aside, and Will takes over again.
“Have fun tonight, everyone,” Will says, and then Ryker is back at my side.
“We have so much to talk about later,” I say to him before cupping his cheek and kissing him sweetly. “You’re incredible p>
He just smiles, and we go back to mingling.
I can’t believe it, but as time passes, I actually loosen up. Even though I’m surrounded by movie stars and elite athletes and celebrities that I never thought in a million years I’d ever be in a room with.
Is that Vaughn Barrymore, the actor?
Holy shit.
Dinner is delicious, and then I really need to find a restroom.
“I’ll be back,” I say to Ry, who frowns down at me.
“Where are you off to, Trouble p>
“Restroom p>
“I’ll go with you p>
I shake my head at him. “I’m fine p>
“I’m not.” He holds my hand and asks for directions, and then he’s tugging me inside the house, and we find the powder room that guests are welcome to use.
“I’ll be right out p>
I’ve just washed my hands and am drying them when the door opens. Ry slips in and then shuts and locks it behind him.
“I don’t want to watch you pee, Ry p>
His lips quirk up, and then he gestures to my clutch. “Do you have lipstick in there p>
“Sure, I p>
But I can’t get another word out because his lips are on mine, and my back is against the wall.
“I want my hands in your hair,” he murmurs against me, “but I won’t mess you up. Everything else is fair game. Got it p>
“Christ, Ry, everyone is right there p>
“Then you’d better be quiet. Can you do that for me? Can you be a good fucking girl and stay quiet while I fuck you like I own you in here p>
Holy shit.
“Ry p>
He grips my face and makes me look at him. “Answer me p>
“Uh, yeah. I can stay quiet p>
He brushes his lips over mine. “Good. You’re so fucking incredible, Wills. Out there talking with those people like you were born for it, your sexy-as-fuck voice seducing me all damn night as you walk around in this dress, with those shoes p>
“You bought them,” I remind him, and he grins against my skin as he kisses down my neck.
“And I’m damn proud of myself for it.” He reaches under the hem of my dress and works my underwear down my legs, brings them up to his nose and breathes in deep. “These are already wet p>
I can’t even reply. This might be the sexiest moment of my life.
Ryker unfastens his pants and pulls his already-hard cock out, then picks me up, braces me against the wall, and plunges right inside me.
“I’d love to get on my knees and eat you,” he growls against my lips. “To worship you the way you should be right now, but we don’t have time, and if I don’t feel your sweet little pussy wrapped around me, I might go out of my mind p>
I tip my head forward and bite his shoulder, trying to keep my screams inside.
“Good girl. Fuck, you take me so well, Wills p>
“Oh my God,” I moan against him, already so close to coming.
Suddenly, there are voices outside the door, and my head whips up and my gaze locks on his.
He presses his hand to my mouth and slowly shakes his head as he continues to pound into me on long, hard thrusts.
“Shh,” he whispers and then leans in to press his lips to my ear. He grinds the base of his cock against my clit. “Come for me, baby p>
I whimper and then quiver around him in a spectacular climax, and he follows me right over, grunting as he grinds into me.
“Shit,” I whisper.
“Did I hurt you p>
I chuckle. “No. Holy fuck, Ry p>
With a satisfied smirk, he lowers me to my feet, my legs shaky and weak, and then quickly cleans me up the best he can, and I fix my makeup. Aside from flushed cheeks, I don’t look any worse for wear.
“I need my panties back p>
“Not a chance, sweetheart p>
“Ryker p>
“Ready p>
I glare at him, but he just smiles, opens the door, and when he sees the coast is clear, leads me back to our table.
“Look, Trouble,” he says, “we’re just in time for the concert p>
“You’re a menace, Captain p>
“Never claimed otherwise.” He kisses my temple as we sit, and then the evening turns completely surreal as Sidney herself takes the stage and starts to sing my favorite song of hers, “Life in the Slow Lane p>
The woman plays for almost two hours. Leo Nash joins her for a couple of duets, which feels like a dream.
And when it’s all over and we’re back in the car, my gaze turns to my man.
I’ve known him more than half my life.
And yet I forget that there’s this side to him. This wealthy, celebrity, elite-athlete side that I so rarely ever got to see. By the time he was über rich and famous, I had a little boy at home to tend to, and Ryker was still just my best friend that I spoke to on the phone all the time.
“Who were you supposed to take to this tonight p>
Ry’s gaze whips to mine, and he scowls. “What p>
“You bought two tickets six months ago, Ry. Who did you plan to bring with you? It’s okay—I know there were plenty of women before me. Neither of us was a virgin p>
But man, I hate thinking that he originally had another date lined up for tonight. I don’t want to think about him with anyone else. But did he buy these earrings six months ago too? Were they meant for someone else?
He blows out a breath. “Do I have to fuck you again already, in this car, to remind you just how goddamn obsessed I am with you, Wills p>
“I’m not doubting that. It’s just a question p>
“I’m not even going to think about any asshole who’s had his dick inside you before me because I’ll just want to track him down and make him choke on it p>
“Ry p>
“But to answer your question, I was hoping Gid would come with me.” He shrugs. “He donates to this organization, too, and I thought I’d bribe him into coming out for it. But it worked out well, because I had you with me, and you were amazing tonight p>
His praise makes me smile.
So no. The earrings are just for me.
“Gideon wouldn’t look as good in these diamonds as I do p>
He smirks and kisses the back of my hand.
“But back to what you said about our pasts. I’m not going to write you a list of all the women I fucked,” he continues, and my smile fades. “You don’t want to know that, Wills p>
“No. I don’t want to know that. And I don’t want you to do that either p>
“Good. I don’t want to know about your past either. As long as we’re both healthy and safe, and on the same page, we’re fine p>
“Agreed p>
“But I will make one thing crystal fucking clear right now, and I want you to listen to every word I’m about to say p>
I link my fingers in his and hold on to him. “I’m listening p>
“It doesn’t fucking matter who was here before. For either of us. Because there will be no one else.” I feel my jaw drop for the second time tonight, and he glances my way. “You’re mine. You’re all I see. You’re all I want. That’s never going to change p>
“Okay p>
“Okay.” He gives my hand a squeeze. “Now, what was your favorite part tonight p>
“When Sidney and Leo sang together. What about you p>
He huffs out a laugh. “Fucking you in the bathroom, sweetheart p>