The Beginning—A Duet: Ryder & Two Worlds Colliding (30 page)

He pinched my ass, and shoved me toward another door. Through the large, darkened glass windows, I could see the people beneath us. This was a really cool place to check the crowds from without them even knowing. The one-way windows were covered with mirrors on the outside so it looked like décor, not a security office.
Damn.

“Floor round,” he barked as we entered the room. “Thirty minutes, minimum.”

The two guys nodded. “Sure, Colt.”

“No, please stay,” I begged. Shit; I didn't want to be alone with Cowboy. They ignored me. Treating me as if I were thin air, they stuck earphones into their ears and left the room.

“Strip, babe. Take it all off,” he commanded.

“Colt? I hardly know you. Can we have a drink, and get to know one another first?” My previous ideas of wanting to fuck a stranger were sounding dumb to me now.

“Why not?” he drawled, his eyes raking my body appreciatively. “The guys won't be back for a while. Plenty of time for a good fuck, huh?” He opened a cupboard and brought out a bottle of bourbon and two glasses. Maybe if I had a few drinks in me, I'd forget about Ryder and let Colt take me, hard, so I could get Ryder out of my system. Yeah, that was exactly what I needed. Another man’s cock riding me, replacing Ryder once and for all so that I could move on. The message was loud and clear. Ryder didn't care—he didn't love me, or even want me.

Move on, Jade, the sooner, the better.

“God, you’re beautiful. I can't believe you don’t have a man.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “What makes you say that? Maybe I do have a man.”

“No fucking way would your man let you come to a club dressed like that, putting out like that on the dance floor. You were practically begging to be fucked, and it looked like you wouldn’t care if it was right there in front of everyone. And letting a stranger touch you the way you let me touch you . . . I bet your pussy is so wet right now.”

Sweet Jesus. When Lexi told me to imagine it was Ryder, I must’ve let all my longing take over if that’s what Colt saw. And why was it so fucking sexy when Ryder spoke to me like this, yet I was offended by Colt’s direct ways? What made it different? Dirty talk was dirty talk, right?

Grow up, Jade. Stop living in the past, hoping for Ryder to come back. Do what the women in your romance novels do. Let this hunk of a cowboy ravish you—give you pleasure. Yes, my pussy was wet, but not because of Colt. But why waste that? He didn't have to know about my thoughts, that I was imagining Ryder . . . that I was wet and throbbing because I imagined Ryder was watching me dance.

“Give me another drink, Cowboy,” I said, trying to sound cool and mature. My head was starting to spin, and I even started to relax as Colt stroked up and down my thigh, his hand going higher every time, closer and closer to my pussy. It was a matter of moments before he explored further . . .

He kissed me, hard and passionately. Colt was in to me.
He
really wanted me. He pulled me into his arms, his raging erection making his intentions perfectly clear. His hand slipped to my breast, and rubbed over the nipple.

“Mmm babe, you feel so soft. I can't wait to taste you,” he murmured at my ear as he lifted my dress to my hips, exposing the garter belt and matching thong I wore.

“God, you’re hot. That’s sexy as fuck,” Colt groaned as he stroked over the fabric, feeling my dampness. He spun me around so that I was facing the window, my ass naked to his eyes. My back arched as he stroked the orbs of my flesh before he pushed me forward so that I had to place my hands on the glass to keep my balance. I felt the music vibrate through the glass, the beat of the drums echoing in my heartbeat.

Fleetingly, I wondered what had happened between Lexi and Razor. Was Rebecca okay? I hoped she wouldn’t be mad at me for leaving, but I had little doubt that she’d have male company regardless.

I bit into my lip as Colt stood behind me, grinding his erection into my ass while both hands fondled my breasts.
Did I really want this?
Below me, hundreds of people swamped the dance floor—a throng of bodies gyrating against one another. It seemed like a mass orgy moving in time to the music and strobe lights.

My gaze fell on a man, standing with his hands on his hips, totally disconnected from the rest of the mob. He looked so out of place, it was hard to miss him. I sucked in a breath when I recognized him.
It was Ryder.

The most bizarre thing happened next. Ryder actually looked up, directly to where I was standing, with another man making his moves on me. As if he was drawn to me, Ryder scrunched his eyes, rubbing his chin, staring in my direction. I knew he couldn’t see me through the mirrored windows, yet it felt as if he was looking at me.

Colt’s hand moved to my groin, but before he could slip his fingers under my panties, I bucked my ass and shrugged him off me.

“Let go, Colt. This isn’t happening tonight.” I pulled my dress down, trying to regain my dignity.

“Babe,” he groaned. “What do you mean? I want this, you sure as hell want this—”

I held up my hand. “Sorry.” I shrugged. “It’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind.”

“Are you fucking serious?” He raised both eyebrows, and his lips drew into a thin line.

“As a matter of fact, I’ve never been more serious in my life,” I replied as I fixed my hair.

“Well, it doesn’t work like that around here. Just so you know, I don’t take no for an answer. You are a cock-tease; I get that now. What do you want, babe? You want me to beg? Does that get you off?”

With my mouth gaping, I shook my head.

“Ah, you want me to force you, take you rough. Sure, sweetheart, I can fuck you hard. No problem. That’s it, yeah?”

My throat went dry. Jesus, I was in trouble. “N . . . no,” I stuttered.

He threw his head back and laughed. “Fuck me. I get it now.
Money
. I never thought that’s what a classy woman like you would want. How much?” He walked to a drawer and pulled out a wad of cash. “You’re lucky you’re so fucking gorgeous, and that I’d be willing to pay to fuck you.”

Fully aware that the door was locked and I needed a code to get out, I had to play my cards right. “No. I don’t want your money—” I stammered. “I just want to leave.”

“Pretty baby, that’s just not going to happen. I’m hard for you. The more you resist, the more it fucking turns me on. I like fight in my woman. I grew up on a ranch—I like things rough. It going to be fun to tame you, baby. Fuck, yes.”

The wad of cash landed on the wooden table with a thud. He rounded the desk, lust burning in his eyes as he closed the distance between us. The circular room was cramped; there wasn’t space for me to maneuver, unless I crashed through the glass. However, I had no doubt that would be impossible. This was most likely shatterproof glass. Plus, Colt had positioned himself between me and the door. Even if I knew the fucking code, I still had to get passed him.

“You look so sweet and innocent, but I bet you fuck like a tiger.” His top lip curled into a lewd grin. Colt grabbed hold of the fabric at my neckline and ripped the top open with one hard tug. I heard the buttons scatter on the floor.

“Colt. I'm not looking for trouble. I like you; you know that, right? But I'm an old-fashioned girl. I just want to move slower.” Panic had risen in my chest, and my mouth went dry. I was going to need every skill in my arsenal to get myself out of this damn fix I’d gotten myself into.

“Tonight you can count on one thing.
I am going to fuck you
. Long and hard, up against the window, so that you can watch the people below us while I make you cum.”

“Please, Colt. Let’s go down to the club and get a drink. OK?” I would beg if I needed to.

Colt pushed me against the glass, his mouth on my chest, hungrily licking over my skin.

“No. First, we fuck. You’ve teased my cock long enough. This is a soundproof room. You can scream as hard as you like when I make you cum, because nobody can hear you. Besides, the noise from down there—”

The door burst open. Stunned, both our heads jerked toward the intruder. I could have cried with gratitude. My eyes locked with stormy grey ones. Ryder stood there, fists clenched, his face contorted in anger.

“What the fuck, man? Get your fucking paws off my woman,” he roared, ready to punch the cowboy in the face.

With three long strides, Ryder stood in front of me. He looked me over, taking in the ripped top and fear in my eyes.

“Jade. You OK?” he rasped. He didn't touch me. And he called me Jade. Not Princess. Not even bitch. Just Jade.

But . . . he’d said I was his woman . . .

I just stared at him, at a loss for words. Did he really mean that? Should I be happy he saved me? Again? And how did he know where to find me?

My heart beat wildly in my chest.

His woman.

M
arcus was a prick. There was no denying that. But at least he was screwing some other bitch. This Cowboy, on the other hand, was trying to screw my woman.

Over my dead fucking body.

“Who the fuck are you? And how did you get in here?” Cowboy yelled, clearly not happy about the intrusion.

A cough from the doorway had all three of us turn our heads. The burly bouncer that had shown us the way into the club was standing there, looking uncomfortable. He shrugged as he tried to explain. “He’s from the Scorpio Stinger MC. Ryder got me this job. So when he asked me to open this door for an emergency, of course I complied.”

“Well, get the fuck back to your station.
Now
. I’ll deal with you later.” Cowboy was losing his shit, but I wasn’t finished with him yet.

Fisting his shirt and twisting it so that Cowboy’s face was mere inches from mine, I growled. “Just ‘cause we have a deal with your brother, and because you probably didn't know that this is
my woman
, I'm letting you off this one time. But . . . if I even see you looking in her direction, never mind touching her again, I will cut off your dick and feed it to the birds. Got that, Cowboy?”

On the way up the stairs, Clive had filled me in on exactly who the fucking cowboy was I'd seen pawing Jade. And, luckily for him, he was still fully clothed. I guessed that I’d just made it up here in time.

Not many people would know about this security room, but fortunately, I remembered because Cowboy’s arrogant prick of a brother had shown it off when he gave us a tour around the place a few weeks ago. Doing business with the club had paid off.

When Jade just vanished in to thin air, I nearly lost my fucking mind. She’d acted completely out of character dancing like that, so I knew she was alcohol-fueled, and wasn’t thinking rationally. And the way the fucking Cowboy was all over her . . . I wanted to fucking make him bleed for that.

But there were more important things to deal with right now. I had to make it right with Jade. I was praying like fuck that she’d take me back—that I hadn’t fucked up completely, and that it wasn’t too late.

Christ, maybe she wanted Cowboy to screw her, and I was the one out of line here?

I squeezed my eyes shut for a few seconds as I dealt with that possibility. I'd royally fucked up this one precious thing by acting like a dumbass prick. I'd rejected the love she’d offered me, so I couldn’t blame her for moving on. But it would hurt like fuck.

“Ryder? Why are you here?” she whispered, her voice hoarse and shaky.

I shoved the cowboy hard so that he staggered backward, landing in a chair. Luckily he was not as dumb as he looked, ‘cause he just stayed there, his mouth gaping as he stared at us.

“I came for you, baby.” My voice cracked as I said the words. She had to know how I felt about her—that I wanted her with every fiber in my being. That I couldn’t breathe when I was away from her.

“You did?” She gasped, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears.

“Yeah.” I grinned, feeling like the idiot I was. “Don’t want to live without you, Princess. You’re what gives my life meaning . . . makes it worthwhile to get up in the morning. If I ain't got you, I ain't got anything.”

I pulled her into my arms and just stared into those pools of blue. I wanted to see the answers there—I wanted to look deep into her soul, and see if she still loved me as much as I fucking loved her.
If she was just as lost without me.

What I saw made my heart leap with joy. Her eyes shone, not from her tears, but with unadulterated love. Fuck, how did I ever deserve this? A woman as perfect as Jade, loving me? But I would take it, and show my gratitude every day for this blessing that the universe had finally given me, by worshipping her.

“You’ve got some explaining to do, Biker Boy.” A small smile touched her lips. Fuck, she was going to make me pay. My lawyer girl was smart.

Taking hold of her chin, I raised her face to mine. Dipping my head, I brushed my lips over hers. Christ Almighty. This was what I’d been missing. Just the feel of her lips against mine and I was hard for her. She held my heart—and my life—in her small hands. Did she even understand the power she held over me? It would take me a lifetime to explain that to her.

A cough from the chair brought me back to the present. “Fuck me. The two of you are going to set this place on fire if you carry on like that.”

“You’re fucking lucky I have my woman to take care of, and don’t have time to kick your balls right now. Get us a room.
Now
,” I barked at him.

Above the club were a few guest rooms for VIP club members. Cowboy’s brother—who wore a similar king-sized cowboy hat—had proudly shown them off on our tour. No expense was spared to make them as luxurious as possible, so the prick had been bragging about all their features, including the expansive mirrors on the walls and ceilings.

While I was looking for Jade and Cowboy, I’d prayed that he hadn’t taken her to one of the guest rooms. Those would be harder to get into—I doubted that Clive would have the code to get in there. Something drew me to the security room instead. The pull was so strong, I had no choice other than to follow my gut instinct and go there instead of investigating other possibilities.