Page 17 of Bonded Chaos

Ryker chuckled darkly, and, godsdamn, the sound…didsomething to me.

Warmth flooded my core, and liquid fire pooled at the apex of my thighs.

My body was a lust-induced traitor. Clearly, she had forgotten that he was the enemy.

Ryker stalked toward the bed before settling on the edge opposite me. I watched as he removed his boots and tossed them to the side, not bothering to put them away.

The action irked me more than it should have.

Next, he reached over his head and gripped his tunic in his fist before dragging it over his body.

I bit my tongue to stifle a groan.

He obviously spent a lot of time training.

The muscles along his back rippled and strained with each movement, and I couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like to be pressed beneath his muscular frame.

My mouth went dry, and I had to shake my head to break the trance I had fallen into.

No. Nope. Not happening.

Pull yourself together, Cadence!

Ryker stood abruptly, and I held my breath as the sound of his belt buckle being undone echoed around the space. He gripped the waistband of his trousers, and his forearms flexed with the motion.

“Wait! What are you doing?” I cried just as Ryker was about to pull his trousers down over what were undoubtedly thick, toned thighs.

I felt his smirk before I saw it.

Ryker peered over his shoulder at me, his gorgeous face framed by a wayward strand of his snowy hair, that knowing smirk pulling up the corner of his full lips.

“I’m getting ready for bed, Cadence.” Without further warning, Ryker shoved his pants down his legs, and I was suddenly face to face with the toned globes of his bare ass.

“What is wrong with you?” I hissed, slapping a hand over my eyes.

Not that I didn’t want to look. Rather, I wanted to look too much.

And if I allowed myself to be pulled into his intoxicating orbit, I knew I’d sink so deep I’d never be able to find my way back to the surface.

I needed to hold on to my rage.

I needed to remind myself who this man was to me.

The bed dipped next to me, and I tensed as I waited for Ryker to make his next move. A rough, calloused hand gripped mine, and Ryker pulled my palms away from my face.

“Don’t be embarrassed, Cadence. It’s just a body,” he cooed. “Unless, of course, you’re not acquainted with the male form.”

I scoffed. “If you think I’ve been waiting around for you to grace me with your presence, Ryker, then you’ll be disappointed.”

Ryker’s jaw tightened, and all hints of teasing fell away, leaving only menace in its wake.

“Who?” he demanded.

“That’s none of your business.”

Before I realized what was happening, Ryker was on top of me, his large body pressing me into the mattress as his hand circled my throat.

His grip was firm, but not tight enough to cut off my air.

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