Page 94 of Ryder
I groaned, and helped her help me up and back to the bed, but I didn’t plan to stay there. She was right that I needed food, and I knew I had some tins of soup and stuff there. Something light would be good.
She was in the kitchen, while I grabbed a t-shirt to drag over my head.
“I thought I’d make you some soup. You can eat it slowly, and we still have some of those crackers you got for me,” Tori said, stopping me in my tracks as I stood up.
“I was just gonna do that.”
“Sit down. Please, this is the least I can do.”
I grabbed my phone and checked the time.
“It’s not even four in the morning, babe. That’s a weird ass time to eat soup. Maybe I should try and wait a few hours.”
“Like hell.” She was already heating up soup in a pan, so I shrugged, and grabbed another tall glass of water.
“Go and sit. I’ll bring this over.”
“You’re eating too, yeah?”
She frowned at me. “It’s barely four in the morning, Ryder. That’s a crazy time to eat.”
“Touché.”
She served a small bowl for herself too though, and it struck me just how amazing it was, to just be looked after like this. The thing I’d realised by having her here with me, was that I’d spent way too long having to do everything alone. If I ate with anyone, it was down in the clubhouse, or out at a bar or somewhere. I’d never just eaten in with someone, but it was something I could see us doing often.
After we both ate, we went back to the bed for a while, and snuggled together to try and sleep. I couldn’t sleep. I felt oddly wired, but I heard Tori’s breathing slow down and become regular and even, as she fell asleep in my arms. Who knew that one replay of our first meeting would have her feeling safer around me? Safe enough to snuggle with me in the damn bed?
I wished I could remember what had gone on while I’d been drugged. It was the most bizarre experience to wake up tied to my own bed, and not remember why I was there, or what had happened in the time I’d been out of it.
Strangely though… for the peace she seemed to feel now, I already knew I’d do it again. And again. So maybe this really is love. Either that, or I’m a really fucked up motherfucker, suffering from some bizarre kink I didn’t even know I was into.And so it was a shock when we were interrupted later that morning, by an unexpected visitor.
A fist thumping against my door was our first warning. I felt Tori flinch at the sound, and kissed her forehead, before I slithered out of the bed, and walked to the door. I’d dressed in lounge pants and a t-shirt when we ate our crazy early breakfast, so I wasn’t too worried about flashing anyone, but before I unlocked the door, I checked to make sure Tori was well hidden by the bedding. I didn’t want to have to tear anyone’s eyes out right now.
“Yeah?” I stuck my head through the gap in the door, and faced a tired looking Reacher. There was bruising around his nose, and I almost asked him what had happened, before I remembered being the one who’d gifted it to him. We hadn’t really spoken since, but only because I’d been locked in with Tori.
“Brother, we’re gonna have to disturb both of you from your cave today.”
I glanced around for a prospect, finding none lingering outside.
“I sent him to bed. We’re taking the detail off your door. Look, you both need to get dressed and come downstairs. We have visitors, andnot the kind you keep waiting.”
Thirty
Ryder looked concerned whenhe came back from the door, and he crouched by my side of the bed, reaching for my hand.
“They need us downstairs, babe, but you’re gonna be safe, okay? I won’t let anything happen to you.”
I had this bizarre urge to pull him back into bed, and hide there with him. Why would his brothers need me down there? What were they planning? Was there going to be retribution for what I did, after all?
“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice a weak whisper.
He smiled gently, reaching out to slide a curl of hair away from my eye.
“He just said we have visitors, and we can’t keep them waiting, so get dressed. No need to worry about anything else, just pick what you feel safe and comfortable in.”
I knew instantly what I wanted.
“Can I wear something of yours?”
