Page 10 of Laying it Bare Biker Style: Ryder

Inside the kitchen, he strolled overto the refrigerator and snatched a bottle of water and a bottle ofbeer. He handed me the water. “I know how to take care of someoneas far as protecting them goes but beyond that, I’m at a loss. I’lltry to do better.”

“I think you’re doinggreat. You didn’t let me starve.” I unscrewed the cap and took along swallow. Damn I was thirsty. Maybe Ihadbeen unconscious fordays.

“That was only because Ineeded to eat as well.”

Chuckling from the living room drewour attention in that direction. Grayson was sprawled in therecliner and clicked on the television. “That is probably true.” Hetook a pull on his own beer.

We strolled into the living room andplopped down on the couch.

Ryder slung his arm around the back ofthe cushion and tugged me to his side.

I didn’t think it was a territorialthing because I was pretty sure Grayson had all but shoved me intoRyder’s bed. Maybe it was a comfort thing. The ride did an amazingjob of calming me, but my life was far from troublefree.

“What are you doing back soearly? I couldn’t imagine her backing out.” Ryder put the bottle tohis lips and took a swig. “Well, maybe if she had never been with abiker before, the allure could have given way to a healthy dose offear.”

“No anxiety in the bedroom.Well, we didn’t make it to the bedroom, the kitchen counter workedperfectly. The first ride was spectacular.” A carnal grin crawledacross his face, but morphed into one of exasperation. “However,when I wanted to take her for a spin on the bike she was all juicedup from sex and riding a great high from her multiple orgasms andall for it. And she was fine while I was barely going twenty fiveto get out of her neighborhood to hit some back roads. But nosooner did I have the Hog soaring at forty five; I thought she wasgoing to stroke out. Her arms closed around me like a vise and notin a good way, and her legs started flailing, and she startedscreaming and not in delight. I worried I was going to crash thebike. So I pulled over, got her calmed down, and took her home,keeping the speedometer to twenty five. I feel a little bad. Iwouldn’t mind seeing her again, but I think she was embarrassed. Itried to tell her that riding isn’t for everyone and I wasn’t mad.And I wasn’t. Just disappointed. I like to go for a ride after agood fuck.” He took another long pull of his beer. “But you looklike you thoroughly enjoyed yourself on Ryder’s Hog.”

“I loved it. I can’texplain the feeling that overcame me. But I don’t need to becauseyou ride; so you know exactly what I’m talking about.”

“One of the greatestfeelings in the world.” He raised his bottle to me.

So I lifted mine in response. It feltgood to be a small part of something.

About two hours later, Ryder and Iheaded back to bed.

I may have slipped out of my clothesin front of the girls, but I wasn’t at that point with Ryder yet.So I stepped into the bathroom with the pajama set and changedbefore brushing my teeth, using the toilet, and washing my handsand face. Then I returned to his bedroom to find him standing therein only a pair of black boxers, his dick impressive as it pushedagainst the material. “I usually sleep naked, but I’ll make acompromise. And I see the girls had some smarts and brought yousomething other than a t-shirt to sleep in. Not that you haveanything to worry about. I already told you, I won’t try anythingwith you. That’s not why you’re in my bed.”

And I still didn’t think it was a badidea. But remembering his earlier reaction, I amended my initialresponse. “I’m not worried. I trust you.”

“Get comfortable.” Hegestured to his bed. “I’ll only be about ten minutes. I’m going tograb a quick shower.” Then he strolled into thebathroom.

Thinking he’d appreciate it, when Islid under the covers, I stayed near the edge of the bed. If it wasthe side he normally slept on, I’d shimmy to the other.

When he came out, he gave me a nod.His hair hung in loose waves around his shoulders and my fingersitched to run through the damp strands. Switching off the light onhis nightstand, he climbed in on the other side. “If you needanything tonight, make sure you wake me.” Then he rolled over,giving me his back.

Which was completely fine because hadhis chest been facing my direction, I would’ve had a difficult timenot curling into it. I didn’t need to feel loved, but I did feelsafe and that was good enough for now. I rolled to my side anddrifted off.

But at some point during my serenesleep, my peaceful dreams had morphed into a nightmare of epicproportions, possibly giving me a glimpse of the attack I couldn’tremember while I was awake. But in this nightmare things transpiredin vivid detail, causing me to suffer every immeasurable pain, hearevery piteous plea for mercy, and see every cruel sneer thatcrossed my attacker’s face. Screams tearing from my throat and mybody thrashing around like it was being electrocuted finally madethe terror stop.

I jerked up in bed, Ryder’s handclasped around my arm and his gaze on me intense.

“It’s okay, Baby. I’ve gotyou. Do you want me to move closer?” He stared at me like I was acornered wild animal.

My entire body was shaking and Icouldn’t figure out what I wanted at the moment. “Give me aminute.” I wiped at my face. Sweat and tears covered my cheeks. Whycouldn’t I remember experiencing something so horrible? Althoughmaybe this was just what my brain thought had happened to me. Butit was so real. Gaining some semblance of control over myself,although my heart still thudded wildly in my chest and my breathingwas erratic pants, I nodded my head at him.

He scooted over and pulled me into hislap. “Just a nightmare or something more?” He ran his hands gentlythrough my sweaty strands.

“I think it was my attack,but I can’t be sure. Why don’t I remember when I’m awake? I don’tunderstand. But it was awful. He kept hitting me, in the face,punching me in my stomach. I felt the knife ripping into my skin.Why don’t I remember? Although I think I just did.” I nestled myface further into his chest. So solid and safe; I wouldnothave been able toresist curling into this to go to sleep earlier, if it had beenoffered.

“He might have drugged youso you wouldn’t remember.” Ryder’s voice came out like gravel,possibly from sleep but I was betting it was more from tamping downanger. “Which one of those Pyro Devils bastards did this to you?I’ll rip him apart.”

“I didn’t recognize myattacker. Unless I just put a nameless person to the image. He wasso violent.” I sniffled. Tears were still streaming down my face,but I didn’t want to snot all over his chest. Maybe in a moment Icould slyly use the bottom of my tank to wipe my nose. I froze fora moment. Oh my God. More images from my nightmare filteredthrough. When I had awoken in their place, I hadn’t felt pain otherthan my face and arms but just moments ago, caught up in my terror. . .

I shot out of the bed and raced to thebathroom to drop down in front of the toilet and vomited. Theshaking returned with a vengeance as I heaved the contents of mystomach into the commode.

Ryder was there a second later. Hehelped me hold my hair out of the way. But I was pretty certain Iwas done. There wasn’t much in my stomach. Grabbing a wash clothfrom the closet, he wet it with warm water and wiped my face beforescooping me into his arms and carrying me back to his bed. After hegently lay me down he crawled in beside me and wrapped me into hisarms.

I sobbed into his chest. What hadhappened to me? And why?

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