Page 80 of Clashing
“Okay.” I gave her another quick embrace. “Goodnight. Love you.”
“Love you too, babe.” She waved at me on her way out.
I danced to the bar.Nothingcould kill my mood.
Well . . .
Ryker remained on his usual stool. His glower implied unhappiness. He stared at me like he expected me to say something.
I wouldn’t give him the benefit. I owed him no explanation. We weren’t together and he didn’t want to date me. He said he didn’t sleep with that woman, but he also didn’t tell me why they left together.
Shit.It didn’t matter what happened and the fact was, he was involved with a married woman. I wasn’t okay with that. Plus, he told me he had no feelings while I wanted a relationship. I shouldn’t feel guilty. Ishouldn’t.
But I did. A little.
His gaze burned into me for the rest of the night and unfortunately, I was closing. Which meant no escaping if he decided to stay.
He stayed. Of course he stayed.
I avoided him at every opportunity, but the bar fell silent when the last patron left. I had to face him. “We’re closed.” I flattened my palms on the bar and met his intense gaze. “Go home, Ryker.”
He crossed his arms. “You’re going out with that guy.”
I wished he wouldn’t cross his arms. It put them on display, and I had more important things to think about. Likenotsleeping with someone who didn’t want to be with me.
I lifted my chin. “Yes.”
His jaw clenched. “No.”
“It’s not your choice.”
“Still a no.”
“Still not your choice,” I snapped, pointing at the door. “Go home. We’re closed.”
He stood, nostrils flaring. “You’re not fucking going out with him.”
Damn him being hot when mad.This was ridiculous. I leaned over the counter. “You have no say!”
He leaned over the bar as well, fingers almost touching mine. “You’re not going.”
“You can’t control who I see.”
The arguing brought us closer, enough his warm breath coasted over my lips. So close I spotted the flutter of his pulse against his neck. Our glares faded as electricity sparked between us. His eyes darted to my lips, and I couldn’t stop myself from licking them.
Grabbing the back of my head, he crushed my mouth to his. I should’ve pushed him away, but my nerves ignited. A moan toppled out of me and his tongue slid between my lips. He bit my bottom lip and sucked it into his mouth. I whimpered and he dragged his teeth off, his gaze meeting mine in a way that reminded me why I had such a hard time saying no to him.
“You’re not going,” he growled, hopping over the counter. “You’re mine.”
He caught my face with his hands and kissed me again. Pushing him away would’ve been the wise thing to do. But I wasn’t wise. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer while my eyes stung. I missed himsomuch. I missed kissing him. I missedfeelinghim.
He groaned, lifted me, and dropped me on the counter. Yanking my legs apart, he nestled between them and pulled me closer, right against his erection.
God.I missed him all right. He fisted my hair and pulled my head back, exposing my neck. He planted his lips on my skin, sucking where I was most sensitive. He clamped his teeth on the hollow of my throat, and I whimpered, wrapping my legs around him.
“Fuck, I missed you,” he murmured.
My heart ached.Missed me.He missed me. I clung to him, deepening our kiss. His hand lowered to my inner thigh, and I clenched. His fingers grazed my core, and I broke our kiss, letting my head fall to his shoulder.
