Ryder's Storm, page 11
He tossed the washcloth on the bedside table, then lifted the duvet and helped Scarlet crawl underneath it, before he joined her.
“But I’ll let you recover a little first,” Ryder said and pulled her into his arms. “I took you hard. You’re probably sore.”
“I’m not.”
He laughed softly. “Don’t you want to cuddle a bit, or do you only want me for sex?”
“Are you for real?” she asked, amazed that he would suggest to cuddle when he was already hard again, and clearly ready for more sex. “Most other men would—”
“I’m not most other men,” Ryder replied.
She smiled. “You’re right.” She slid her hand down his body and touched his cocks. “You’re not like other men. Far from it.”
Ryder tucked her against his body, spooning her, his cocks wedged against her backside. “Tell me about yourself, Scarlet. You’re obviously not just the studious young woman you pretend to be. There seems to be so much more to you. Why do you hide those parts of you?”
Ryder was right. She was hiding parts of herself. “Same reason as you. I don’t want to get hurt.”
He pressed a kiss into her hair. “I would never hurt you.”
“I know that now.” How she’d come to this conclusion, Scarlet didn’t really know. But she knew what she felt. “When I’m with you, I feel safe.”
“I am your bodyguard, you know,” he said with a smile in his voice.
She laughed, but then turned more serious. She wanted him to know that being with him was different, special. “When I’m with you, I feel like I belong.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know, my whole life… it always felt somehow disjointed. My family is like a patchwork. This is my father’s third marriage. I guess he was never very lucky with women, until now, until he married Claudia.”
“What about your mother?” Ryder asked.
“She died when I was fourteen.”
“I’m sorry. That must have been hard. How did it happen?”
“Heart attack. She was only forty.”
“She must have had a heart condition then. In general, it’s rare for women your mother’s age to have a heart attack. That’s tragic.”
Scarlet sighed. “I never knew about a heart condition. I was still a kid and probably too self-absorbed to notice. Though I remember that she was sick on and off, but I never knew it had anything to do with her heart. Dad was crushed after her death. We all were. Joshua too.”
“Joshua?”
“My half-brother. He’s my dad’s son from his first marriage.”
“Did his first wife die too?” Ryder asked.
Scarlet shook her head. “No. She left him when Joshua was only a year old. She divorced him and left Joshua with him. She had no interest in children, never even wrote him a single birthday card. Luckily, Joshua was too young to remember her, and when my dad married my mom, she became his mother. And when I came along shortly afterwards, we were a real family for a while. Joshua would have been twenty-seven next month.”
Ryder squeezed her tightly. “He passed away? Oh, Scarlet, I can’t even imagine how I would feel if I lost my mother and my siblings. I would be devastated.”
“It was hard for Dad and me. Claudia was a rock for Dad to lean on. They’d gotten married only four years before Joshua was killed. I remember where I was when I heard of the shooting.”
“The shooting?”
“Yes. It happened just outside a nightclub. A man pulled a gun without provocation and shot Joshua. A couple of other people were injured too, but they survived. Joshua didn’t. He died right there outside the club. The paramedics tried to revive him, but they couldn’t.” She felt tears well up in her eyes at the awful memories.
“Shhh, baby, I’m here for you. You don’t have to tell me more if it’s too painful for you.”
She turned her head halfway so she could look at him. “I want to tell you about it. Because all these events, my mother’s death, my half-brother’s murder, they turned me into who I am today.”
Ryder stroked his knuckles over her cheek. “You’re a strong woman.”
“I wasn’t always. But I had to become strong. After Joshua died, everything changed for me. Dad became overprotective. He believed, and still does, that Joshua’s death wasn’t the result of a random shooting. He thinks that Joshua was targeted because of him. Dad has made many enemies over the years with the business decisions he made.”
“So they never found the shooter?” Ryder asked with interest.
“They did. They found him a day after the shooting. He was dead. A self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.”
“Did he have connections to your father? Is that it?”
“No. The police couldn’t find any connection to Joshua or my father or any of his business associates. Dad believes that he was a contract killer, and that the real culprit is still out there. That’s why he made sure that I got into Stanford, so I could live at home under his watchful eye. And when I transferred to the University of San Francisco last year, he insisted on a bodyguard. Had I said no, he would have never let me move into our house in Pacific Heights. But I wanted some freedom, you know, some autonomy.”
“Of course you did,” Ryder said. “Everybody your age wants that. It’s part of being an adult. We all have to stand up for ourselves.”
“Yes, but it’s not always easy. I don’t want to hurt my father by pushing back too hard, but I don’t think he understands what I’m going through. I feel trapped.”
“I’m sorry. I know that overprotective parents can be difficult to deal with.”
“Are yours like that too?”
Ryder chuckled. “In some ways, but not in others.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“As part of my training at Scanguards, I went to Baltimore for a few years, learning everything I could from a great group of, uhm, other bodyguards. My parents trusted me enough never to worry about me, or to demand that I come home more often to visit. They let me find my own way. And now that I’m back, I’m spending more time with my family again. I know it may sound odd to you, but I actually like living with them again. Granted, at thirty, that may sound like I’m not independent—”
“You’re thirty?” She turned in his arms. “You look way younger.”
He laughed. “Family genes. We all look younger than we are.”
“And you don’t mind living with your parents? Aren’t they constantly checking up on what you’re doing?”
“They don’t really have the time or the inclination to do that. They both work. Dad’s a director at Scanguards, and Mom’s a physician.”
“Is that why you work for Scanguards? Because your dad works there?”
“I can’t imagine doing anything else. Guess I was born to protect others. We all were.”
“You mean Nessie? Is she a bodyguard too?”
“No, but she works for Scanguards too. Community outreach, and a few other pet projects. But Ethan, my younger brother works as a bodyguard too.”
Scarlet now remembered that Nessie had mentioned her brother’s name. “All five of you live in the same house?”
“Yep, not far from here actually. Mom and Dad converted a huge Edwardian house so that we all have our own private space. Mom and Dad have their own little love nest on the top floor, and Nessie, Ethan, and I share the second floor. And the first floor is for everybody. It works just fine. We get time as a family, and time alone when we need it.”
Scarlet smiled. “It must be nice to be a real family.”
“It is. You’ll see.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “You’re planning to introduce me to them?”
“Well, you heard my sister. She wants to meet you. And since she can’t keep a secret to save her life, I’m sure the rest of my family is already aware that I’m in… that I’ve met someone.”
It didn’t escape Scarlet that Ryder had wanted to finish the sentence differently. What had he wanted to say before correcting himself?
That I’m in a relationship?
Or that I’m in love?
Scarlet tamped down her excitement. She didn’t want to expect too much. They’d only known each other for a few days. Time would tell if they were really made for each other, or if the explosive attraction between them would fizzle out quickly.
20
Scarlet stirred, but didn’t open her eyes, not wanting her dream to vanish in daylight. The warm body pressed to her back felt comforting, and the arm slung across her front was muscular. She felt hot breath at her nape, and something hard against her backside.
“I know you’re awake.”
In a split-second everything came back to her. “Ryder.” She turned in his arms. “I was afraid that I only dreamed this.”
He chuckled and lifted the duvet. “You mean this?”
His twin cocks were as hard as the night before.
“Yes, this, you.” She smiled. “You’re still here.”
“Of course I am. I’m doing my job: guarding your body.” Ryder dipped his head to her breasts and began licking them, while his hand already swept down to the juncture of her thighs, where her sex still pulsed with the memory of their lovemaking.
He bathed his fingers in her pussy, which was already drenched with her juices.
“Is that part of your job?”
He lifted his head a fraction. “I take my job very seriously.”
She smirked, and Ryder suddenly pulled her on top of him so she straddled him before she even knew what he intended.
“But if you’d like to take the lead, I’m game.”
Scarlet lifted herself onto her knees, while she looked at his two cocks. “I never thought I’d have to say this, but I’m having a hard time choosing. They’re both equally perfect.”
“Take the bigger one,” Ryder said with a grin. “And if you’re a good girl, I’ll let you have both of them later when I’ve gotten us the lubricant.”
“And what if I’m a bad girl?”
With both hands he gripped her backside, before he slipped one finger, still wet from her juices, down her crack. “Oh, then I’ll have to tie you up and punish you before I take you with both cocks.”
“Then maybe I should be bad,” she murmured and pushed against his finger, until he slipped inside her anus one knuckle deep. The feeling was exhilarating.
Ryder looked at her, his eyes shimmering almost golden again. “Have you ever had a cock inside here?” He pushed his finger deeper by another knuckle as if to emphasize his words.
Heat charged through her, and she closed her eyes and tilted her head back. “No, never. Nor any fingers.”
“Good,” he said, and she could hear male satisfaction in the tone of his voice. “Because I want to be the only one who takes you like that.”
His possessive statement sent a shiver down her spine, and a moment later, Ryder was pumping his finger in and out of her anus in a steady, slow rhythm, his eyes locking with hers now.
“It feels good,” she admitted and took hold of Ryder’s larger cock, adjusted the position and impaled herself on him.
“Fuck!” Ryder cursed, and thrust his finger deep.
“Oh my God,” Scarlet let out, her breath rushing from her lungs. “That’s even better… oh… oh!”
“Wait until I replace my finger with my second cock.”
She bent forward, bringing her face to his. “I can’t wait.”
He captured her lips and kissed her, while he continued thrusting in and out of her. She was so close, her orgasm already on the horizon. Just a few more seconds, a few more thrusts and—
Ryder suddenly stilled and took his lips from hers. “Do you hear that?”
Dazed, she shook her head. “Hear what?”
“Damn it! The garage door. Somebody is opening the garage door.”
Frozen in place, Scarlet listened. Now she could hear it too.
“Crap!” Scarlet cursed.
“Nobody can find me in your bedroom,” Ryder said and pulled himself out of her. “Or they have a valid reason for taking me off your security detail.”
Scarlet nodded. “I know.”
Ryder kissed her on the lips. “Take a shower and get dressed. Stay in your room, until I know who it is.”
“What about you?”
“Don’t worry, I can get ready in less than three minutes, and that includes a shower.” He grabbed his clothes and shoes from the floor and rushed to the door. He opened it quietly, then listened, before leaving the room and closing the door behind him.
Scarlet jumped out of bed the moment he was gone, then raced to the door and locked it. If Derek was back, she didn’t want him to be able to barge into her room. She equally dreaded seeing Claudia. By now Derek had probably told her that Ryder had beaten him up and had the evidence to back it up: a bloodied nose and probably other bruises too.
On her way to the bathroom, Scarlet glanced at the clock. It was shortly before eleven o’clock. She had to do a double-take, but she’d read the time correctly. She and Ryder had slept for far too long. She would have to use her trusted excuse that she’d studied all night to explain why she’d overslept.
She jumped into the shower, and allowed the warm water to caress her skin reminding her of how Ryder had touched her and made her feel loved and wanted.
~ ~ ~
Ryder chucked a bottle of blood, which he’d kept in a small thermos in his overnight bag, before taking a thirty-second shower. Three minutes after hearing the garage door for the first time, he walked down the stairs into the foyer, fully dressed and looking impeccable, expecting to see Scarlet’s stepmother. Instead, a man was walking down the corridor toward the kitchen. Or rather, he limped slightly. A small suitcase stood in the foyer.
“Scarlet? Honey, are you home?” he called out.
Ryder cleared his throat, making the man pivot. He looked younger than he was, despite the gray at his temples. He was handsome and fairly slim. Ryder could guess who this was. “You must be Mr. King.”
Brandon King nodded and walked toward him.
“I’m Ryder Giles, your daughter’s bodyguard. Are you all right, sir?” he asked pointing to King’s ankle, which he now saw had a bandage around it.
“Slipped in the bathroom a few days ago,” he said.
“Sorry to hear that. Pleased to meet you, sir.” Ryder extended his hand in greeting, and King shook it.
“I wish I could say I’m pleased to meet you too,” King said. “Where’s Scarlet?”
“Upstairs. I believe she’s studying.”
“Good.” He motioned to the living room. “You and I need to have a word.”
In the living room, King turned to him, his expression stern. “I’ve been made aware of your behavior.”
Shit! Had somebody seen him and Scarlet together? Impossible. “Sir?”
“My wife’s nephew made a complaint about you. You assaulted him. In my house, and without provocation! I can’t tolerate somebody like you in my—”
“Without provocation? There was plenty of provocation!” Ryder growled.
“Then you don’t deny that you broke his nose.”
“Is that all I broke? I rather hoped that he had more injuries after the thrashing I gave him.”
“Mr. Giles! How dare you? You’re lucky he’s not pressing charges. But under these circumstances, I can’t allow you to remain in charge of my daughter’s security. Pack your things and leave!”
Ryder didn’t move. “I can’t do that, sir!”
“What the—”
“I was doing my job, sir, protecting your daughter. Had I not interfered, he would have raped Scarlet! Right here, in this room.”
Stunned, King stared at him. “That’s… that can’t be. Claudia told me herself that Derek and Scarlet went on a date and that my daughter flirted with him.”
“Oh, yeah? And in which book does it say it’s okay to rape a woman if she flirted with the guy before?” Furious now, Ryder took a step toward King.
“There must have been a misunderstanding,” King claimed.
“Scarlet said no. I don’t know how you interpret that word, Mr. King, but in my book, no is no. It’s immaterial if your daughter flirted or not. He put his hands on her despite her protests. I heard her scream from my post outside.” While this wasn’t technically true, because he’d entered the house for another reason, it was the gist of it.
King ran a hand through his hair clearly trying to digest the news. “You don’t know my daughter the way I do.”
Ryder doubted that, but he didn’t interrupt.
“She’s not stable…”
“What do you mean?” Ryder asked, surprised at the statement.
“Scarlet has episodes during which she doesn’t know what she’s doing. Maybe that should have been made clear to you before you got this assignment.”
“Are you saying she’s schizophrenic?” Ryder shook his head in disbelief. There was no way Scarlet wasn’t of sound mind. There was nothing wrong with her, absolutely nothing. She was perfect in every way. “Scarlet is as sane as you and I.”
“I’m afraid she isn’t. The doctors have never been able to diagnose her, but just because there’s no label for it, doesn’t mean that she’s not sick. She is.” King looked to the picture of a woman on the mantlepiece, then back to Ryder. “Just like her mother. She too had these episodes where she would get violent and unpredictable. So, Mr. Giles, perhaps you saw what you saw, Derek putting his hands on her, but he may have simply tried to defend himself during one of her episodes. It’s not the first time that she’s acted hysterical. And my wife assures me that Derek is a gentle young man who would never—”
“You believe your wife and her nephew rather than your daughter?” Ryder was outraged. “Your daughter needs our protection. Derek made threats toward her. I was there. I saw what he did. Your wife wasn’t even in the house! She gave me the night off, making me believe she would be staying here in the house to watch over Scarlet.”
