Page 55 of Ryder

“You swore you two were done, Ryder. How the fuck did she kiss you?”

“We are done. She caught me by surprise, landing one on me when I was feeling vulnerable.”

I scoff. “How was she even close enough to kiss you?”

“Baby, it was a misunderstanding. She’d seen me vulnerable the night before and she was worried. She woke up with strange ideas about us getting back together, but I put her straight. I love you, end of.”

I’d pause in my manic pacing at his words and I can tell by his face he instantly regrets them in the way he winces. “Woke up?” I repeat. “She woke up where exactly?”

“Okay baby, before you fly off the handle let me explain. I got drunk, like so drunk I passed out. I woke and she was…”

Rage courses through me. “Do not tell me she was in your bed, Ryder, do not say those words.”

“We were fully clothed, I had no idea she was even there. Nothing happened, I promise.” I try to leave the room, needing distance between us but he blocks my path. “Neve, you promised to let me finish”

“I am so mad, like crazy mad,” I hiss, clenching my fists.

“I love you. Nothing is going on with me and Sassy. I put her straight and told her that from now on she needed to stay the hell away from me. I want to see Alfie away from her. She agreed, she apologised-”

“She did not apologise to me. She sat in her fucking office talking to me about Harlee’s trauma,” I yell. “Neither of you said a word.”

“Look, she’s due any second to drop Alfie off, please calm down. I swear it was one time and a massive mistake. I love you. I told her that and she accepted it. Don’t let this come between us, Siren, I’m begging you.”

“How would you feel?” I ask, arching a brow. “If I’d kissed another man, an ex, even. Finn for example?”

He doesn’t like the image I just put in his head and his fists clench at his sides. “I’d understand that you love me,” he grits out through clenched teeth.

“Bullshit,” I yell.

“Okay,” he snaps, “I’d rip his fucking head of. But I wouldn’t love you any less, baby. You’re my everything. My world. You and Harlee are my future.”

“And she knows that, does she?” Sassy enters the club and Ryder groans. “You really should have timed it better, babe,” I spit, pushing past him and heading directly for Sassy.

She looks surprised as I march up to her. She releases Alfie’s hand and he rushes off to find Harlee. “Do you have something you need to say to me?” I snap.

Her eyes glance past me, probably to Ryder. “Did I miss something?” she asks innocently.

“Yeah you missed the part where you stupidly tried it on with my old man thinking that shit was okay. Well let me tell you something, you stuck up bitch. I am his ol’ lady now and I won’t let that shit slide. You keep your manicured witchy fingers to yourself and we’ll get along just fine.”

I feel Ryder behind me and he places his hand on my lower back, letting her know we’re a team. She nods stiffly. “Understood.”

I turn to Ryder, reaching up and placing a kiss to his lips. “You let another bitch kiss these lips again and I won’t be so understanding, do you hear me, Ryder?”

His eyes blazed with heat and he tugged me in for a deeper kiss. “Understood, Siren.”

The tattoo gun switches off and I blink away the memories. Ryder smiles proudly at his name on my skin. “Fuck, Siren, that shit is hot.”

Ryder

I stare around at the packed-out club. Brothers have travelled far and wide to come here to celebrate me and my old lady.

Neve leans into me. “Everyone is so nice,” she whispers. “Just thinking that all these people will be here for me and Harlee, blows my mind. We’re so lucky.”

“I’m the lucky one, Siren.”

I’d offered to buy us a house, one where we could grow our family, but Neve was set on staying at the club full-time. She clearly loves this huge family of bikers and that makes me happy. It takes a special kind of woman to put up with us.

Mya rushes over and grab’s Neve’s wrist, “Let me see.”

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