Once we had eaten and the guys helpedme clean up, Grayson went to get a shower and Ryder and I settledon the couch and he clicked on the television.

About two hours later, while sittingsnuggled up to Ryder’s side with his arm around my shoulders, awave of sadness crashed over me. I should be thankful I had a placeto stay and someone to protect me. These two guys didn’t owe meanything. I chose to stay at that other club when I could haveallowed CPS to intervene. So now I had to deal with the fallout ofmy decisions. Even though losing my parents wasn’t my fault. But Icouldn’t help the mini pity party that consumed me at the moment.Why couldn’t I have a normal life? A boyfriend and a baby with saidboyfriend? “Ryder, am I a charity case to you?” I slapped my handto my mouth. “I’m so sorry. That’s not fair. I didn’t mean to blurtthat. I think it’s my hormones.” But my baby ones or sexual ones?But either way, I shouldn’t be making things difficult for him. Hewas giving me a place to stay and protecting me because he had agood heart. I had no right to question that.

Twisting on the couch, he faced me.Then he cupped my face in his hands and swiped his thumbs across mycheeks. I hadn’t even realized I was crying. “Hey. It’s not likethat. It’s just . . . ” He swiped one hand down his face and apained look filled his expression.

“I’m sorry.” Why couldn’t Ileave well enough alone?

“You have nothing to besorry about. Come here.” Rising from the couch, he tugged me alongwith him back to his bedroom.

A million things swirled through mythoughts. Were we just going to bang this out? Would I be okay withthat? Would that be enough to satisfy me for now? Would it give mesomething to work from and provide me some solace andencouragement?

But instead he walked over to hiscloset and pulled a vest off of one of the hangers before steppingup to me and offering me the cut. “I want you to wear my vest.Wearing it will make people think twice about messing with you. Itmeans you belong to me. As much as you can.” His eyes held a briefhaunted look.

However, in the next instant,something tender passed behind his eyes, but I couldn’t quite placeit and wasn’t sure I hadn’t only imagined it. Because I so badlywanted it to be something more. I needed to feel something otherthan used, violated, and discarded. And I was so desperate to haveanything with him even though I really wanted it all.

Holding the garment in my hand, Istared at the Twisted Flames patch and the words “Property ofRyder” underneath it. “Is it because of what happened to me? Do youthink I’m dirty? Is that why you don’t want to actually be withme?” I was too afraid to ask him about Jensen, but my emotions weredemanding some sort of explanation as to what was wrong with me.And maybe the fact that I had been assaulted by his enemy made himrepulsed by me, even if it was only on a subconsciouslevel.

“Fuck no.” He dragged hishands through his hair in frustration, accidentally tugging out theband so that his dark strands fell wildly around his face. “Takeoff your clothes.” He growled.

Blinking at his order, I was takenaback for just a moment. But I wasn’t afraid of him. Not even anounce. But I wasn’t sure I wanted him to see me naked. Although Ihad been wanting him to touch my body since I had met him and hecouldn’t really do that if I was fully clothed. After setting thevest on his dresser, I slowly slid my top over my head and thenunclasped my bra and dropped the two items to the floor. Keeping myeyes trained on the pile of clothes I was starting, I unsnapped myshorts and tugged them along with my panties down my legs andstepped out of them.

Reaching out, he took my hand in hisand led me into his bathroom. “Look in the mirror Sage. Look at howbeautiful you are.”

My eyes collided with his in ourreflection a split second before his hungry gaze devoured me. Myskin heated under his intense fiery stare. Standing behind me, hemoved my hair over one shoulder and kissed the bare skin herevealed. “So soft and sensual. And I love you using my soap. Itmixes beautifully with your enticing scent. It compliments yournatural fragrance and makes you even more alluring.” His lipstraced up to my ear where he gently nipped the lobe.

A shiver raced up my spine and mypussy clenched.

Reaching around me, he placed his handabove my pounding heart. “And in here too. You are beautiful inhere too.” He skimmed his hand down to my stomach. “Never once didyou ask me to help you find a way to get rid of what’s growinginside of you. I’ll help you deal with what happened to you, butyou will have a constant reminder but you don’t care. Because youare beautiful inside, you don’t blame the innocent growing inside.Just like I don’t blame you. I’ve wanted you since we found you. Itwasn’t just Grayson who wanted to bring you home. I did for otherreasons as well. I want to touch you, Sage. Can I touch you? Can Ihave your body, Sage? You can have mine too. But that’s all I canoffer you. I’m sorry I can’t give you what you deserve. And I knowit’s not fair to ask this of you. But I am asking.”

I was positive he hadn’t been withanyone since we had met. And it would be no hardship to let himhave me. Besides, it wasn’t like I was new to this. But this timeit would be with someone who at least cared about me in somecapacity. I wouldn’t be used and discarded. Maybe I’d even get anorgasm out of the deal. My body thrummed with excitement over thepossibility of one that didn’t come by my own fingers.

“I want you to touch me.”My words puffed out on a breathless exhalation. “I want you to usemy body.”

“Thank fuck, but your bodywon’t be used, Sage. It will be worshipped and treasured. I’m goingto make this as good for you as I know it is going to be for me.”He pressed open mouthed kisses from my ear down to my collarbone ashis hands trailed up from my belly to cup my breasts. “I want totaste you all over.”

“I want that too. I want toexperience that. I’ve dreamed of it.” My eyes drifted shut on asigh. But popped open when he spun me around to facehim.

“You’ve never had a man’smouth on you?” His stunned look would have been comical if ithadn’t been dimmed by his anger.

“No. I was only good for –”

His mouth slammed down onto mine andhis tongue attacked the inside of my mouth and tangled with my ownin the most delicious way. When he broke our kiss, we were bothpanting. “I will make sure you are blitzed out of your mind beforeI sink into your beautiful pussy. I don’t want to ruin this timefor us but know this; you should have always been pleasured first.Giving of your body is an exquisite gift to anyone. That shouldnever be demeaned. You are not good for only one thing. And eventhough I haven’t experienced it yet, I am damn sure you are farbetter than good.” He shot me a wink.

It was funny to think about the act ofgiving myself to club members as being a gift to be treasured. Butmaybe that was how the brothers in his club treated their women.Misti and Angel seemed happy and it wasn’t because they belonged toany particular member.

Taking my hand in his, he led me backinto the bedroom and over to his bed before pushing me gently ontoit. “Move up into the middle and get comfortable. I’m about toenjoy some dessert. And I savor delicious treats. I can’t wait tohave you coming along my tongue.” His eyes smoldered with heat ashe stared at my pussy.

A thrill shot through me along with ahealthy dose of nerves. What if I wasn’t as good as he imagined?Maybe that was the reason no one ever took their time withme.

My face must have given something awaybecause he lifted an eyebrow and frowned.

“Do not doubt how sensualand tempting you are. Those other douchbags know nothing aboutpleasuring a woman so they made you feel as if it was you. I willbe proving how amazing you are. Your body will be satisfying myhunger as well. I’m already delirious with need so don’t you worry;I’m going to come so hard in your pussy my other head mightexplode. But first I need to taste you all over.”

He slipped off his vest and sat it onhis nightstand. Then reaching behind his head, he pulled up on thecollar of his t-shirt and tugged it over his head. After droppingit to the floor, he unsnapped his jeans and slid them along withhis boxers over his hips, down his muscular legs, and kicked themaway.

My breath caught when I took in thesize of his penis, long and thick. And the fact it was jutting outat me like a heat seeking missile.

Moving one hand to his erection, heshot me a cocky grin as he gave his length a couple slow strokes.“Yeah, it’s pretty impressive. But don’t worry. I know how to get agirl good and ready for him. You’re not going to feel anything butimmense pleasure. Trust me?”