Page 75 of Rival to the Billionaire

I don't know what's going on in her head, or in her heart. I don't know if she's forgiven me for being gone for so long. I don't know if she wants me back in her life.

But what I do know is that I can't leave her, not now. Not ever again. Not until I know she's safe, not until I make her safe.

Safe enough to not feel that she has to carry the entire weight of the world on her shoulders. Safe enough to not feel like she has to fix everything by herself.

She deserves so much better than I ever gave her.

My stomach tightens, but I'm not entirely sure if it's from my hangover or the feelings filling my chest.

Especially when she nuzzles in even closer to me, her pulse beating against my chest, the quiet citrus fragrance of her hair filling my nostrils.

She turns slightly, reaching for my hand and burying it in her hair, her fingers sinking into the soft mass, then curling down.

"Ryder," she says and my eyes snap open, surprised to find her looking so peaceful.

"Hey," I whisper.

"Hi," she whispers back.

"How are you feeling?" I ask, trying to slide out from under her, but she holds me in place, tightly. "I noticed the empty mini-bar bottles on the other side of the room. Guess that explains the liquid courage you had last night."

She slaps playfully at my bare chest. "Don't be silly. Yes, I had some wine to drink, but I feel fine."

I swallow, my stomach muscles tightening and a smile pulling at my cheeks. "I'm glad. I hope that means you feel better."

"Can't get much better than this," she says, kissing the inside of my wrist, and then moving her lips to each of my fingers. I shiver as my muscles twitch and pull into tight, rigid knots.

I can't get over what it feels like to have her in my arms. "What time is it?"

"Late. Or early. I'm not sure anymore."

I roll my eyes, trying desperately to process how long we've both been asleep. Didn't take long for slumber to find Jen last night. Not after the orgasm I gave her.

I'd have given her plenty more if we hadn't been so exhausted after all of the tension spilling out of us. I check the time: 6AM.

Still time to enjoy the morning before today's conference activities begin.

I yawn. "We got time. How about some breakfast to start the day off right?"

"I think I might be able to take care of that," she says, jumping out of the bed.

I watch Jenny reach over, her naked breasts slipping against the bed sheets, and open the drawer. She pulls out a room service menu and props it on my chest to open.

"Breakfast in bed," she says, smiling.

"Sounds good. Some good breakfast, a shower, and then we'll head down to the conference."

Jenny's sculpted brow rises. "Together?"

"Together." I'm not sure how we'll manage it—or rather how I'll manage to pretend like I don't want to bend her over every available surface, but I'm sure we can figure it out. I move over, feeling better than I have in days. The knot in my stomach is starting to loosen a little.

"Good God," she sighs, still looking over the breakfast options. "I don't even know what to pick. I mean, look at all of this. I want it all!"

"Aw shit. That Buffy-like appetite of yours means I'll be ordering enough food for ten men."

"That's a challenge I'm willing to take on," she says, her sass rising as she wiggles her eyebrows at me. She holds up a menu, waggling it at me. "Want to order everything?"

I laugh. "You're really going to hold me to my word?"

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