Page 14 of Ryder

“I’m gonna make things better for you, Siren. For you and Harlee,” I promise, knowing that I mean every word. Neve turns her head slightly, pressing her lips against mine. I continue to move, slow and gentle, dragging out the warm feeling building between us. This doesn’t feel like all the other times. We’re not fucking. We’re making love. And for me, that’s a first.

Chapter Eight

Neve

I lie awake watching the sun rise. Ryder’s words are running on loop through my mind. I’ve known him a little over a week and he’s making promises of protecting me against Finn, the man who’s ruined my life and continues to do so. I sigh heavily. Involving Ryder in my mess would be a huge mistake. There’s already some kind of animosity between the pair and Finn’s warned me to stay away from him. But I can’t deny Ryder’s words gave me some hope. The thought of having him around, makes me feel happier inside.

Ryder stirs beside me, instantly feeling around until his arm hooks around my waist. He pulls me against him and his erection pokes my thigh. I smile. Does he ever get soft? “Morning, Siren,” he mumbles against my hair. “I could do with that coffee if the offer still stands?”

I sit, holding the sheet against my naked body while I look around for my clothes. Ryder reaches beside the bed and retrieves his own shirt, passing it to me. I smile to myself as I pull it over my head, inhaling his musky scent. When I stand, it almost comes to my knees.

Downstairs, I set up a tray, unsure of how Ryder takes his coffee, and load it with sugar, milk and two cups of black coffee. I head back upstairs and am about to go into the room when I notice Ryder is talking to someone. I pause, not meaning to listen in, but unable to stop myself because his hushed tone makes me suspicious.

“Brother, I can’t send the video now, Finn was a complete dick to her, if he sees the recording of us fucking, then he’ll take it out on their daughter. We need a new plan.”

I stand frozen to the spot with a rush of emotions ripping through me. And somewhere in the back of my mind, I hear that negative voice telling me it was always too good to be true, who the hell was I kidding thinking this gorgeous biker was ever going to look at me, a run down, single mum, controlled by her abusive ex. I scoff to myself, shaking my head. I’m an idiot.

I take a deep breath before using my foot to push the door open wider and stepping into the room. Ryder immediately pulls the phone from his ear, disconnecting the call without saying goodbye.

“I wasn’t sure how you took your coffee,” I say with a forced smile as I lay the tray on the bed.

He stands, he’s completely naked and not at all ashamed as he heads for the en-suite. “I need the bathroom,” he says with a wink.

I glance at his mobile lying on the bed, still lit up and showing his home screen. I glance back to the bathroom where the door is now closed. I snatch the device up before I can change my mind and go straight for his gallery to check his videos. I notice the first video is recorded a few days ago and my thumb hovers over the play button. I need to see it for myself so I don’t make a fool of myself. I press play. The video is shaky at first, and then the phone is placed on to something solid, pointing at an empty desk. I skip it forward until I come into view, with Ryder kissing me. I watch him push me against the desk, his mouth hungrily travelling over my body. I’m so mortified, I don’t hear Ryder come back into the room right away, and when he clears his throat, I look up.

“There a reason you’re looking through my phone?” He looks mildly irritated and I resist the urge to scream at him.

Instead, I place it back on the bed. “Is there a reason you have a video of us together in your office?”

His expression changes and for a brief second, I think he’s panicking. He soon recovers, stepping closer. “It’s not what you think,” he begins and I roll my eyes. “It’s not. Things have changed.”

“That’s not what I asked, Ryder. Why the fuck is there a video of me on your phone?”

He places his hands on his hips and bows his head while he thinks up his next line of bullshit. “I admit when I found out about you and Finn, I came up with a stupid plan to get him back. But now I-”

“Just go,” I snap, unable to hear his plan. “We don’t need to discuss it because it’s pretty obvious, so please save me the humiliation and just leave.”

“If you’ll just let me explain,” he begs.

I begin to grab his clothes, ripping off his t-shirt and adding it to the pile. “I don’t need you to, Ryder. I get it, okay. Of course you’re using me, it’s obvious isn’t it. I mean, why would you even look at me?” I say, my voice shaking with hurt.

“It’s not like that.”

“But it was,” I yell, shoving his clothes to his chest and holding them there until he finally takes them. “It was exactly like that and I was an idiot to think otherwise.”

“You’re not an idiot,” he mutters, beginning to dress. “If you’ll just hear me out.”

“I can’t stop you sending that video to Finn,” I say, grabbing my own shirt and pulling it on. “But know that he will take my daughter from me, and that will be on you. Whatever the deal is between the two of you, it isn’t my fault.”

“I won’t send it to Finn. I’ll delete it now.” He grabs the phone and opens it up, showing me as he presses the delete button. “Until last night, I had every intention of sending it,” he admits. “But now . . . well things have changed.”

“Because I found out,” I say, beginning to strip the sheets from my bed.

He tries to help but I yank them from his grip. “No,” he argues, “Because last night was different between us and you know it was.”

I shake my head, dumping the sheets in a pile on the floor. It was just sex, Ryder. We hook up, that’s what we do.”

He balls his fists at his sides angrily. “Bullshit, Neve. You know it was different, you felt it as well as I did.”

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