Page 13 of Ryder

“So I know you know that I have someone watching you.” I held my hand up as she started to speak. “I actually have a couple. They alternate. It’s to keep you safe. I always thought my cousins overreacted with all the security they have around them, but now I have you, I understand why.”

“I don’t need any security. I’ve never be—”

“I hope you don’t need it, but dating a Silverman, we’ve found out, can be dangerous. We have enemies. Not everyone is always happy about our family’s success.”

“I can look after myself. And really, we’ve only just started this thing. I mean who would want to harm me?” She shook her head, her hair whipping my chest.

“I have learned firsthand that you are capable of looking out for yourself, but you’re not bullet proof.”

“Ha, guns are banned in Australia.”

“Yes, they are. That doesn’t stop people from obtaining black-market weapons, as much as we police try. It also doesn’t stop a knife or other weapons. You wouldn’t believe some of things I’ve been assaulted with as a cop, so for those reasons alone, I’ve made sure you have someone watching over you. Now we’re going to be dating and being together out in public. I want you to make sure you always have guards with you. I called Chad, my new head of security, before you came down and he and the others are going to introduce themselves.

“Oh, and I don’t want guards.” Divinity eased around to straddle my lap and stared up at me. “I’m flattered that you want to protect me, but I don’t need bodyguards.”

This was a battle I wasn’t willing to lose. Her safety came first, especially with what the Devil’s Queens had told me. “Divinity, I don’t think you understand how dangerous things can be. My cousins’ wives have been attacked and shot at. Guns may be illegal, but they’re around for people to get their hands on. Chad and his team have stayed back because they haven’t seen any threat to you and we haven’t been seen together. Things have changed now and I need to know you’ll be safe. I can’t be out or working and worrying about you.” Brushing a strand of hair form her face I gently tucked it behind her ear.

Her sigh was loud as she puffed out a breath. “I’m probably one of the safest people. I spend most of my time, when I’m not at work, at home on the base. As you have learned it’s not easy to get into. I highly doubt your security could, especially when you couldn’t.”

Fuck. I hated that she was right about the base, but when she wasn’t there she was vulnerable. “You need to have a guard when you’re not on base. How about we make a deal?” I had a feeling if I gave her some control she would compromise. “You have the guards when you leave the base. I promise at work you’ll barely notice them.”

Her eyes closed, but it didn’t shut off her expressions. I knew she was thinking. Her lips pursed and then she nibbled on her lips. I just bet if her eyes were open I would be able to see her thinking through her options. After a moment that felt like an hour, she grunted and her eyes snapped open and narrowed on me.

“I’ll meet Chad and his team. They don’t come onto the base. To be fair, I’ll call them when I’m leaving. That way they won’t have to wait around all the time. They will not make trouble for me at work and they will stay as invisible as possible.”

For now, it was the best I was going to get. I didn’t like her calling, but I would give her a chance and if I found she broke this rule, we’d change and do what I wanted. “Fine, but if I find out you’ve gone out without them or if anything happens to you, we’ll do it my way.”

Her smile was blinding and I couldn’t suppress my groan. As I stared into her beautiful dark brown eyes and her shining face, I knew I was a goner. This woman already had me wrapped around her little finger.

I WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND MEN. Boys. Arron beat up Oakley and now they were like best buds and Arron didn’t want to move to a new school. What. The. Fuck. For the second day in a row I’d gotten a message from Arron saying not to worry about picking him up from school as Oakley would give him a lift home after they hung out. I intended to ask Ryder what the hell was going on when I saw him for our date tonight. I told myself for the millionth time that the flutter in my stomach was not because I was nervous, but because of something I had eaten that didn’t agree with me. I was even surer now as I stared at my overflowing closest, undecided about what to wear, my stomach rolling and dancing. I always knew what to wear.

My closest barely fit all my clothes, and only a quarter of my shoes. I loved shoes and matching outfits and bags. My father had tried to raise me as a tomboy and to a certain extent I was, but when it came to fashion I was, hands down, the grisliest girl. My clothes and shoes were my armor. My way of reflecting how I felt. They set the stage.

So what I wore tonight was important. I needed to figure out what I felt and what I wanted to reflect. Just because I’d already fucked Ryder, didn’t mean I wanted him to think I was easy. It didn’t mean he already had me in the bag. That I was his and he didn’t have to work to get to know me or gain my trust.

Shoes. I needed height so I didn’t have to crane my neck so much when we were standing, and to show off one of my favorite assets, my legs. I may be short, but I had great legs, even if I do say so myself. I brought out a loved pair that matched my new favorite color, green. They weren’t the rich deep green like Ryder’s eyes, but lighter.

Next to decide on a dress, or skirt and top. I didn’t fool myself into thinking pants of any sort would be right for this date. As much I wanted to say I wouldn’t jump his bones so quickly again, I wasn’t so sure of myself and it was always good to be prepared. Skirts or dresses always had easier access. I had a style, though, and I stuck with it. My body was perfect for nineteen fifties pinup style. My goal tonight, classy, but with a bit of sexy sass. I chose a black fitted halter neck dress that flared at the waist, with red roses and green stems and leaves that matched my shoes.

By the time I was in my dress with my hair done and make-up on, I was already late and had ignored two calls from the front gates. They always said the good things come to those who wait. Or was it the longer you wait the better it is? Crap, something like that, I was sure. When the phone rang this time I answered, not even waiting to see who was on the other end. “I’m on my way. Let Ryder in or wait for me.”

“Miss Divinity, Mr. Silverman is on his way with your brother Arron.”

“Oh, okay. Thanks for letting me know.”

“No problem, Ma’am.” I rolled my eyes at Kyle’s formal words. We’d lived here for less than a year, but I was already on really good terms with all the guys who were stationed at the gate. We didn’t usually speak so formally anymore, the only other times in the last month or so that Kyle had called me Miss and Ma’am was when one of his superiors were around. Great, that meant that the base was on high alert and everyone, and everything, was watched more thoroughly. That gave me a bounce in my step as I went to the door. I knew now that Arron would be safe and there would be no uninvited guests while I was out tonight.

I reached the bottom step in time to see the door open and Arron come in followed by Ryder. As Ryder stepped further into the house my breath caught and my knees became weak. Wow, the man was delicious. The black suit pants with the light blue button-down dress shirt tucked in made him look like a GQ model. His was so big, so thick, that he more than filled out his clothes and it was all muscle. His tats could be seen creeping out of his collar and didn’t they just make me want to follow them.

I took my time ogling him, devouring every piece of his amazing body, smiling at his curling lips and groaning with lust as his green eyes darkened with unrefined passion. The butterflies in my stomach intensified and my skin tingled. These feelings were special. I was smart enough to know that the feeling I got when I saw or got to touch Ryder was rare. That not many people got the weak-in-the-knees feeling every time they looked at the man they were with.

“You look beyond beautiful, vixen.” His husky voice had me blushing like a school girl on her first date.

“You don’t look so bad yourself.” He was more than handsome. He was edible. I wasn’t going to tell him that though, he already had a massive ego and I was surprised it fit through doors.

My stomach flip flopped as he smiled and his dimple showed. Crap, he was so gorgeous and I knew if I gave him an inch, he’d take a mile. I barely knew this man and he’d rendered me speechless with just a heated look. He turned me into a sex craved nympho. We needed to go before I thought about the power he had over me and chickened out, going back up to my bedroom to shut the door and curl up in a ball.

Strutting to him, I grabbed his hand and practically dragged him outside yelling, “Bye Arron. Love ya. See you in a couple of hours.”

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