Page 50 of Clashing
He pointed at me as he scooted toward an approaching customer. “Watch the sass.”
“What are you going to do? Chase me around the bar? Which bad knee is going to hold up the best?”
He threw me a dirty look before greeting his customer. Swirling my drink, I considered what I could sell to get the money. Dan welcomed a few more customers, then returned with a determined glint in his stubborn hazel eyes.
“If you tell me, I won’t pay the whole thing.” He held his hands up in a false show of surrender. He would absolutely pay the whole thing. “Why don’t you tell me how much you’re short?”
“Not happening. I’m an adult, and I like taking care of myself. Likeyoutaught me.”
“I didn’t think you were actually paying attention,” he muttered. “You were always painting your nails.”
“Painting my nailsandlistening?” I gasped. “I pursued art when I should’ve been performing acts. No one would believe I could multitask those two things.” I leaned across the bar dramatically, my hand to my chest. “Could you imagine the ticket sales?”
His flat expression showed no amusement. “Definitely more than you’d get going into comedy.”
“Oh, come on, you used to love the comedy nights I did!”
“They were cute when you were nine and had much less attitude.”
I stifled a laugh and arched a brow.
He sighed. “All right, you always had an attitude. But it was less directed toward me.” He gestured to himself as if he were mortally wounded. “You get pictures of your wall for me?”
“I did.” I snatched my purse.
“Send them to your mama too.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I dug through every crevice and pocket of my purse but came up with nothing. “Crap, I think I left my phone in the truck.” I handed him my bag, and he tucked it behind the bar. “I’ll be right back.”
Summer heat slouched my shoulders when I stepped out into the alley and hurried to my car. Unsurprisingly, my phone sat in the cup holder. Retrieving the device, I stuck it in my dress pocket with a stupid grin. This sundress was my favorite because it was cute but also had pockets. I sunk my hands in them because I could, and my phone vibrated.Maybe someone already ordered a commission.
A message notification from an unknown number stilled me. I didn’t recognize it, but I did recognize the area code.
Unknown:Did you get my letter? I want to talk.
Screenshotting the text, I then sent it to the officer I’d been in contact with about Todd trying to get ahold of me. Once it sent, I blocked the number and dropped my phone in my pocket like it infected me. Like he did.
No.I refused to allow him to control me through fear. I took a few deep, shaky breaths until my heart stopped trying to escape. Everything would be fine.He can’t hurt me anymore.One more meditative breath later, I entered the bar through the rear door.
Ryker exited the men’s bathroom as I made my way down the hallway and we almost collided. I stumbled and he steadied me, his gaze doing a full body appreciation.It’s ridiculous how easily this man distracts me.I clenched as his eyes darkened.
His fingers dug into my waist and his biceps flexed, making the ink etched on them come alive. “How you feeling, sugar?”
Oh, God, I missed his hands on me.
I flattened my hands on his chest and caught my lip between my teeth. “Good now that it’s over.”
He grunted, glanced around, then retreated into the bathroom and yanked me with him. The lock clicked into place seconds before he caught me in a kiss so hard it pinned me to the wall. I moaned into his mouth, and he groaned, bunching up my dress. His teeth dragged off my bottom lip as he moved to my neck, his tongue and teeth scraping my skin.
I lost my fingers in his hair, a heat I didn’t mind so much coursing through my nerves. “Ryker,” I hissed when he yanked my dress to the side and bit my shoulder, all while his free hand groped my ass like he hadn’t touched one in years.
Calloused fingers hooked in my underwear, and he knelt, peeling them off as he lowered. I stepped out of the underwear, and he threw my leg over his shoulder, then reduced me to a puddle when his face dove between my thighs.
His tongue traced all the paths he’d laid out before, ones that turned me into a heaping mess. My knuckles bleached, my fingers tangling in his hair tighter and tighter, as if that’d help me stay quiet under his delicious assault. I was close to the edge when a thrill skittered up my spine at the sound of his zipper. I muffled my moan with my hand. One last flick of his tongue pushed me over the edge. The waves of pleasure didn’t subside before he picked me up and slammed his cock into me.
“Oh,” I whimpered, clutching his shoulder and wrapping my legs around his waist.
“Fuck.” He buried his face in my neck while he fucked me, the light stubble on his jaw scratching my skin. “I missed your tight pussy.”
