Page 75 of Breaking the Rules (Roaming Devils MC 1)

She led him into the house. The large foyer was big enough to be a room itself, with a staircase that led up to the second level. The dining room was off to the right and she walked that way. “Are you hungry? Dad cut off your dinner time earlier.”

“Sure.” He pulled her back against him and kissed her. “As long as you eat with me.”

She fixed him another plate of beef stroganoff and some rolls. Her parents had apparently gone to bed, which gave them time alone. She never really thought her father would be okay with Ryker staying in his house, but sometimes he could surprise her. They sat at the dining room table, with him at the end and her beside him. She still felt on edge about everything. Of course, she wasn’t exactly comfortable with Ryker staying at her parents’ house either. Not after the whole scenario when they were younger.

“You okay?” Ryker asked.

“I’m tired.”

Ryker scooted his seat out. “Come here.”

She went to him and sat in his lap. There were a lot of things she’d never understand about him and probably some that she didn’t want to know. She leaned in to kiss his cheek.

“I never finished my shower.”

His hand slid underneath her shirt. “Go ahead. I’ll be up in a minute.”

“I’ll wait.”

Ryker finished the few bites of food left on his plate, and Ella carried it to the kitchen. He drank from the bottle of water she gave him, watching as she rinsed the plate and put it in the dishwasher.

“Did those guys say anything to you?” he asked.

“Not really.” She turned to face him and flipped the light off. “I think they were watching me, though. They knew I was alone.”

She led him up the stairs to her childhood bedroom and flipped the light on. Nothing sounded better than sleep. She glanced over to the bathroom and back at him.

“Will you come with me?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Of course.”

Ella went to the bathroom and turned the shower on. Swallowing hard, she undressed and slipped inside the shower. The hot water cascaded down her body and she reveled in it. Ryker leaned against the vanity, watching her.

“I don’t really care what you do, Ryker.” She poured shampoo into her hands. “I don’t. You’re not a bad guy in my eyes. You never were.”

She lathered her hair and rinsed it clean. “I don’t like being lied to, though. You have to respect me enough to give me the truth if you want us to work.”

“What exactly do you think the truth is?”

“I don’t know.” She poured coconut-scented body wash onto the pink loofah. “I’m scared you’re going to get bored with me. That I’m going to get attached to you and you’re going to walk away.”

“You really think I cheated on you?”

“I don’t know. You won’t tell me what you did.”

He rubbed his temples. “I went out of town to find my father.”

“Did you?”

“You don’t need to know that.” He met her gaze. “I assure you sex was not on my mind.”

“You’re not bored?” She rinsed her body and turned the shower off. He handed her a towel and she wrapped it around herself. “I just feel like I’m holding you back or something. That you’d rather have some girl shaking her tits in your face or waving her pussy around for anyone that came near. I don’t get why you’d want me. I’m not that girl. I wear scrubs, for crying out loud. I don’t even own a thong.”

He gave her a small smile. “I had those girls, Ella, and there’s nothing there. You’re beautiful and you’re kind. You see the good in people when the rest of the world sees nothing but the bad. We’re complete opposites. You’re an amazing person and I’m lucky to know you, much less actually be with you. I don’t know why you want me, to be honest. I’ve tried to keep distance between us, but I can’t say no to you. I can’t do what I know is right because that means I have to let the greatest person in my life go. I don’t want anyone else. I mean it. I can’t explain it. I just want you.”

“You’re not tempted a little bit?”

He shrugged. “I am human. I am a man. I do admire women. It’s not something I dwell on, though.”

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